Romance Is In The Air
Posted on Tue May 27th, 2025 @ 5:25pm by Petty Officer 1st Class Tobias Beckett & Ensign Hoa Nhi Nguyen
Edited on on Tue May 27th, 2025 @ 6:22pm
2,163 words; about a 11 minute read
Mission:
Episode 16 - Silent Cries
Location: Main Mess Hall - Deck 2 - USS Pioneer
Timeline: MD008 1800 hrs
Nhi was sitting outside the SCIF. She decided for a change to just wait outside. She was pretty sure after last time Commander McGowen increased security. And she was just an ensign. It's been a while since she had seen Tobias and she missed him. During the events with the commander being possessed they hadn't had a chance to see each other. They had a little break now and she was going to use it to the fullest. She would just wait for him to come out and see how things would go.
Tobias ran his nad through his hair as he sat as his station. He hated that he had been asked to report on his superior. He had developed quite the affection for Rowena and while he understood the need to keep an eye on her, he hated that he was one of the people being asked to do that. He exhaled a cleansing breath through his nose and stood up to stretch. He would take a walk around the ship and clear his head.
Tobias locked his computer and stepped out of the Scif he saw Nhi standing there and blushed. It had been some time since he saw her and now that he did he was at a loss for words. "Ummm... Hey Nhi... I mean ma'am how goes today?"
Nhi tilted her head a little when she heard him speak. "Why so formal, Toby?" She said laughing. "I know I haven't changed out of my uniform. But there is no need for that." She winked.
Tobias sheepishly looked around to make sure that there was no one who can see. "Ummm... I just didn't want you to get into any trouble. Regulations and so forth. I was just going to take a walk around the ship. Take a break from all the analysis. Would you like to take a walk with me?"
Tobias had just finished speaking and Nhi just clung herself to his arm. "Pfft...regulations, I am not on duty right now. This is my time, I will spend it however I want. And I want to spend it with you, so yes, I would like to take a walk with you."
Tobias had made sure to set the recursive algorythm before locking his station down. He worked on decrypting a message that had come from deep within Cardassian space on an old Federation frequency, one used by the Maquis. At the moment he speculated that it was something from Calvin Quaid. But there was no evidence as of yet. "Alright then lets take a walk. We can stop by the Mess Hall. I can use a meal." He said with a chuckle as he stepped out of the SCIF with Nhi on his arm.
Nhi nodded in agreement as she spoke, "Oh yes, I could use a meal too, I don't think I had anything decent since breakfast." Her stomach seemed to confirm her assessment as it growled. Her face turned red at the sound.
It always seemed awkward when Tobias smiled as he did it so rarely. Yet here he was smiling. "You know I love a girl who can eat." As they made their way to the Mess Hall they seemed to have the image of two lovers out for a stroll. In fact they recieved a few looks as they went. Tobias hoped that Nhi would not get in trouble for fraternization. There were after all regulations about officers and enlisted.
Nhi just walked carefree next to Tobias. She really believed that what she did in her off times was her own time. And she really enjoyed her time with him. She was really serious about exploring this with him. She never felt this way about anyone before and wasn't ready to let it go so soon.
When they arrived at the Mess Hall Tobias found an empty table and motioned for them to take it. "Can I get you anything?" He offered to be the gentleman and fetch their food.
Nhi smiled and replied, "Oh I am starving...hmmm..." She hummed thinking about what she was feeling like eating. "I really would like to have something with chicken." She needed to think about it.
Tobias made his way to the replicators and ordered two helpings of gumbo with rice, some water and some crusty bread. He brought the food to the table and set it out. "Here is one of my favorites. It has chicken, shrimp and sausage in it. A little spice too. Really flavorful. I hope you like it." He sat down and tucked into his meal.
Nhi pulled the plate towards her and looked to the food. She breathed in the smell of the food. "Mmm...this reminds me of home. I do love me a little spice." She started to eat. She really loved the combination of chicken and shrimp. "Mmm, thank you, I love this."
Tobias smiled broadly. He was exceptionally pleased that she enjoyed the dish. He took a few bites as well as was actually amazed. For something that came from the replicators this was exceptional. "I am glad you enjoy it. I want to say thank you for getting me out of the SCIF, and back into the world in general. You are truly an amazing person." To some, it may have seemed that he poured it on thick. However, it was the truth. His performance on duty had improved as well as his general demeanor. All since he started dating this amazing woman.
Nhi smiled back as she chewed her food and swallowed. "No problem. I am glad you enjoy my company. And I don't mind pulling you out of the SCIF now and then to get you back in the world. I like the world. It has me in it and it's better with you in it." She giggled, but she did mean every word of it. There was a slight hint of her childish, playful self. But she seemed a lot more mature since she started dating Tobias.
Tobias took a few more bites of food. At the moment he was unsure where this relationship was going to go. For the first time he did not seem to care he was just there for the ride. "So, perhaps we should learn a little bit more about each other. Why don't you tell me what kind of music you like to listen to."
Nhi ran her hand through her hair when he had asked her that question. "I am half Vulcan and half human." The tone in her voice was more serious and mature than she could ever make it sound before. "But i am very emotional, I am going to be honest about it and that reflects in my preference of music as well. I love the Earth's 20th century pop and rock music, some metal and RnB. And surprisingly Jazz is quite interesting too." She turned back to her food, sticking her fork into it. "And what kind of music are you into?"
"I tend to enjoy opera. Particularly that of the 19th century Earth. It has a relaxing and calming effect on me. Often when I am in the office working on data I listen to it so I can focus." Tobias smiled he found himself not only enjoying this woman's company but he hoped she would let him kiss her.
"Oh...opera...I have heard a few things from opera. I can't say I hate it, but I don't know if I will voluntarily put it on to focus." She looked a moment to her plate and then back up to him. She gave him a warm smile. "But then, I am security and you are intel. We do need other things to focus on our work. But I can tell we do like about the same food. So I think that is a win. Specially for our second date."
Tobias blushed slightly when she mentioned that this was their second date. The idea of him dating was not something he had just a mere week or so ago. Her statement prompted him to stammer a bit when he tried to speak. To cover this he took a bite of food, chewed and swallowed. That did the trick he had the ability to speak normally, at least for now. "That reminds me. I need to ask. Where do you see this going?" He wanted to ask her if she would go steady but thought that was entirely too corny and old fashioned.
Nhi was about to take a bite from her food. Where did she see it going? It was an excellent question. She put her spoon down. She leaned back and looked at him. "Honestly...this is our second date. When I first saw you I thought you were interesting, I wanted to meet you, get to know you better. And I was right. I feel different with you. Like I am a different person, if that makes sense. I think I would want this to progress. I don't know how you feel about this."
When she said that it felt as if a weight had been lifted from his shoulders. The nervousness that he felt about her not feeling the same faded away. "I feel exactly the same. It seems to me that life is different when I am with you. It is not so humdrum. In the interest of total honesty, I was surprised that you were even interested in someone like me."
"Someone like you? You mean an enlisted? I am not really sure in the light of things that really matters. We work for the same organisation with the same goal. I don't see it as a problem if it doesn't interfere with our duties. Your rank and status shouldn't really matter." She moved her spoon through the food. "Unless you mean something else with that."
The rank difference had not even occurred to Tobias. Although now that she had mentioned it, if things continued he thought that someone higher up should be made aware. But, that discussion could wait. "Actually, I meant something different. I am not the kind of person who others usually find exciting, or even fun to be around. So, it surprised me that you are interested. Someone as beautiful and vivacious as you. It is something that I never thought would happen."
Nhi scratched her cheek thinking about what he just said. "I see..." She wasn't really sure how to respond to that. She looked at him. "Well...I am not sure what to say. Yes...you are not like me, but I don't really put much value into looks. Aside from the fact that I think it is irrelevant, I don't think you don't look so bad. So maybe I am attracted to your personality. I do think I am a little out there sometimes and I feel like you ground me and I do need that sometimes."
"Well then we should make one hell of a couple." Tobias said as he took a few more bites of his meal. They continued to get to know each other as the meal progressed. The more that Tobias learned about Nhi the more he found her fascinating. As the meal finished he looked at her across the table. "Would you like to take a stroll."
Nhi smiled warm and genuine when he asked that. "That sounds lovely, I would definitely want to take a stroll with you. Anywhere particular you want to go?" She looked back to him. She had a great time once again.
"The Garden Cube on the Pioneer. I heard it is beautiful there and that Commander Maren did a beyond wonderful job. Thought perhaps we should go have a look." Tobias said as he stood up and offered his hand for her take.
Nhi took the offered hand as she stood up herself. "That does sound lovely. I haven't seen it myself either." She hooked her arm around his. "And I really think we should plan our next meeting. We can't keep meeting like this." She giggled.
"Well we can make those plans as we take that walk. Come." Tobias did something he had not done for as long as he could remember. He walked out hand in hand with a woman. It seemed that Nhi had put a crack in the rather thick shell that encased Tobias Beckett.
Nhi smiled. "Sounds like a plan." She then followed him. She didn't realize the change sh caused him, but she was aware how different she was around him. She felt a little more motivated.
A Joint Post By
Ensign Hoa Nhi Nguyen
Security Officer, USS Pioneer
Petty Officer First Class Tobias Beckett
Data Systems Analyst, USS Pioneer
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