Not the best of first impressions

Posted on Fri Jul 31st, 2026 @ 1:15am by Lieutenant JG Connor Carey & Ensign Melantha Hastings

1,395 words; about a 7 minute read

Mission: Flight Of The Valkyries
Location: Lounge
Timeline: Before battle

Connor walked into the lounge, it wasn't what peoples norm would do for relaxation, most would go to the bar, this was for a quieter place for where people wanted to think, to talk without the music, the alcohol, and rowdy atmosphere. Sure he liked those places, but this wasn't the time.

Melantha and Charlee were sitting by the window looking out at the stars. Charlee had her head in Melantha's lap and Melantha's hands were in the dogs fur. She had escaped her cabin, because it was not looking good there.

"You know if you squint real hard you could see earth just next to that star on the right." Connor replied as he walked up. "This seat taken?"

Melantha looked at him carefully turning her head. "No its not taken" she said. Her accent was very strong, from what was known as the British isles. "And I doubt you can see Earth at this distance, squinting or not."

"That obvious eh." He replied as he sat. "Haven't seen a dog onboard, when did you arrive."

Charlee looked towards his voice. "Only a few days." Melantha said calmly. "I am a counselor."

"Ah so your under Lt Commander Johnson. I wouldn't try to hide anything from her, being betazoid." Connor replied. "Even being half betazoid, I have a hard time."

Melantha looked at him. "Are you trying to make me scared of my superior?" she asked puzzled. She had, of course dealt with Betazoids. They had been part of the counseling group she had, had when she had first came out of cryo.

"No, in fact she's probably the one to least fear."

Melantha tilted her head. "Well she is very busy so I have yet to meet her."

"That she is. After i guess she will be even more. The main battle is only half the mission, its often the aftermath that is the hardest, what they don't truly prepare us for. Coming from a long list of security and counselling family members, I got both sides. Minored in counselling, my twin sister minored in security and is working as counsellor on the Voyager-A."

"I will admit that I have little knowledge of the battles. I have been busy settling in." Melantha replied.

"So where are you from?" Connor asked he settled into his seat.

"Earth. Near Hastings."

"My fathers homeworld. We have a nice little plot of land in North America." He got up, looked over to the replicater. "Im grabbing a coffee... or whiskey... whichever is stronger... care for some."

"No thank you." Mel replied. Charlee's head came up as he stood and watched Connor carefully.

"Would he like anything?" Connor asked as he noticed the dogs attention focus on him.

"She. Charlee is a girl. And no, she ate already. And Snacks are not always good for dogs."

"Right." He grabbed his drink choosing instead for an andorian ale. Sitting back down he faced the window.

After a moment of silence Melantha's good manners wared with her social anxiety. "I apologise. I am not used to conversations with people in new places."

"You are uncomfortable. Understandable, new scene, new people."

"In a very real way. I am not from this time."

"Got that sense as well... how are you adjusting. Not just humans, it would be a big deal for me as well." Connor replied, "I don't believe i introduced myself, Lt Connor Carey, i'm assistant security and tactical of the ship, while the chief is away i'm acting chief."

"So you have read my file then?"

"As a security officer, especially in charge temporarily, my job is to know the people I protect on this ship. However, what I felt from you seems like when you say time. I feel like it is more... extended than some people might say. Ive heard of some being trapped in a time loop for over 100 years. Met a few but what I get from you its more..." Pausing he took a breath. "Sorry, being an empath has its disadvantaged. Im Human, but Im also betazoid. Mothers side, which is how your boss is my relation."

"I was born in 1973." Melantha said calmly as possible. "I went into a cryo sleep in 1996."

"And secretly freaking out?"

"No so secretly. I was woken in 2393. So i have had a few years to 'get used to things'. Work in progress."

"You will see that everyone in todays time, is a work in progress, so you will fit right in." He gave a reassuring smile.

"Yeah - that's not true at all" Melantha said calmly. "I grew up in a time of Automobiles and the infancy of the World Wide Web. It shows I am not from here."

"If you look at it in a technologically way, that is true, we have advanced. But spiritually, and mentally. Not all that much..."

"oh? How so?" She questioned.

"As much as we don't want to admit it, we are still guided by greed, sex appeal, and trying to be better than the guy next door. Its on a different scale. But its still there. We still have issues internally both with our civilians, and within our military. politics are still rampant, still no one can get it right, and we are constantly trying to avoid wars. Some are unavoidable."

"Do you use medical science to create super humans?" she asked.

"Wish I could say that we don't. But we do... Dr Julian Bashir is one. However not every one that is created is like him. Some, have trouble fitting in with society, so we have special places for them. Not jails, but a place where they can feel accepted. For the more dangerous ones... that is on a case by case scenario."

"Yes well, When you face an army of them, let me know because from where i am sitting, Earth has changed a lot."

"The eugenics wars. Right..." He paused, "well then... care to talk about it. Over dinner. My quarters. I'm sure there are things you still keep to yourself, you may want a friend to talk to about. Not some shrink?"

Melantha considered it. "That is rather sudden" she said carefully so not to give offence. Charlee sensing Mel's mood start to shift, moved closer to her.

"It is an offer, which you can decline with no offense. Remember I'm an empath. I sense some... discomfort with what I offered."

"Sorry its been over 400 years since i dated so I am very rusty. And even then i never went to someone's home on the first date."

"Date... well... I've invited. Commander Johnson over for dinner, previously. Does that mean it was a date?" Connor replied as he leaned back. "I mean, if you want to take it as a date, I'm not going to argue." He smiled. "I mean your attractive woman, love for animals which I look for, and being rusty myself being out of the dating loop for the past 7 years. Not as long as you obviously. But I've never been good at it."

Mel stood, nerves flooding through her. "This is a key reason why I should have stayed on earth." She muttered as she wound the leash around her hand. "Customs have changed a lot. Inviting a woman back to your house is like a date or sex and frankly not something i want to deal with."

"Ensign... I apologize, I did not mean to make you uncomfortable. I just thought if you wanted to talk somewhere more private..." He paused before. "Look, my mother is a counsellor. She often reminded that people my want privacy when talking. If you feel like going to a quiet coffee spot here on the ship, that is also acceptable. more people, but not being spied on." Finally taking a drink. "Just to confirm. People didn't invite friends over for dinner, just for the sake of eating dinner?"

"After just meeting? Its not done."

Connor raised an eyebrow. "Then I apologize, my intentions were nothing of malice." He stood, finished his drink before walking over to the replicator. "If you will excuse me Ensign. I've got to... water my plants. I forgot to this morning." He smiled, gave a nod, and headed out the door.

"Have a good day." Melantha nodded and with Charlee moved to another area of the room to settle her nerves.

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