The ship was en route to Mogotis with the supplies they received from Starbase 86. Everyone was getting the ship ready for whatever was going to happen next. The command team had given out the orders for battle ready and kept the ship on high alert because they might be entering a hostile situation quite soon. But overall, the crew was in good spirits as they had enough fate in each other and the command team to pull through this diplomatic issue. 

Stretching out, Adrián was happy that the final administrative work was done and could now focus on being a chief engineering officer. He also filled the second officer position for a long time, but K’Nala stepped up to get trained for this position. Now, he was standing in the science labs, helping out with some replacement requests for panels that broke down. 

“Get the conduit replaced, Ensign. It’s the cause of the panel being funky,” Adrián pointed out, placing his arms over each other. He saw the ensign nod in his direction, starting to replace the conduit as he crossed his arms. “Watch out that you …” A spark comes from the panel as he shrugs. “Don’t touch the regulator while replacing it. You should know the basics Ensign.” 

“Yes sir, sorry sir! I will pay more attention to it.” The Ensign shrugged a bit as he quickly resumed his duty. 

Nodding with a sigh, Adrián knows that these training moments are vital for onboard operations, but that doesn’t mean he is enjoying them. 

“Do not be too harsh on the boy; he is still learning,” a voice said from Adrián’s side, startling him a bit, seeing Suto standing there. “Did I surprise you, Commander?”

She looked surprised briefly at her direction but not by her sudden standing there. Adrián was captivated by Suto’s beauty as he snapped out of it and looked at the Ensign. “What the…” He mutters to himself and looks back at her. I… need to be harsh. These are basic repairs, and when it matters, my team needs to be ready to do the task without fault and minimize error.” 

Suto looked at him for a few seconds until she broke her silence, seeing that Adrián was getting uncomfortable. “Are you well, Commander? Do you need medical aid?” 

Looking back at Suto, a bit confused, “What do you mean?” Adrián didn’t know quite what Suto was aiming at.

“Your cheeks are getting red. Are you experiencing any discomfort? Do you have a fever? I can use my tricorder to check if you like.” Suto was already grabbing the tricorder to get it ready for a scan.

Blinking a few times, he saw a slight blush on his cheeks as he looked at the panel’s reflection on the wall. He sighed, shrugged simultaneously, and placed his hand in Suto’s direction. “No need Lieutenant. I feel perfectly fine. It’s…just hot here,” Adrián tried to get out of the topic, feeling embarrassed. “You know…working on placing heavy panels does heat the body, so it’s normal.” 

“But Commander, I have taken most of the equipment here,” the Ensign replied with a smirk in Adrián’s direction.

Adrián narrows his eyes. “Yes, that is why you are sweating like a pig. You should get a shower after this task, Ensign. Representing your department is quite important.” He smoothly counters the Ensign. 

Giving a brief nod, admitting his defeat, the Ensign resumes his duties on the panel.

“Commander,” Suto kept quiet in this interaction until now, “I would like to thank you for repairing these panels. I know you have been quite occupied with your work. I hope I can provide service to you in any other scientific regard.” 

Giving a nod in her direction, she said, “You…are welcome. But you do not need to do any service of such sort. It is, after all, my duty to provide engineering assistance.” Adrián looked back at the Ensign, who was grinning. Why did he feel a bit awkward? This conversation felt like a flirt. When he thought that, he looked briefly at Suto, who was looking at the panel, and looked back when Suto noticed him looking at her. 

“Well, Commander, thank you for doing this. I will not keep you up any longer.” She gave a brief nod in his direction, and with a short glare, she returned to her duties and walked away.

Looking over his shoulder as Suto walked away, she had quite the move and suddenly heard the Ensign talk, looking back in his direction.

“I think she might like you, Commander. Maybe you should accept her request for aid in scientific matters.” The Ensign smiled in his direction. “She is a good-looking woman, sir.”

Rolling his eyes, he clicked against his teeth. “Get back to work, Ensign. ” Adrián ordered him as he saw the young man get back to work and then stood to activate the panel, seeing it come back to life. “Good, get ready to leave.” He turned around and walked to Suto. Taking a deep breath, he said, “Lieutenant Scott?”

Suto looked up from her PADD in his direction. “Commander Valerio, what can I do for you?” 

He points over his shoulder. “We finished the repairs on the panels; I just wanted to report that.” Adrian awkwardly nods, scratching behind his ear as he looks toward the Ensign, who looks back at him with expectations. Adrián shrugs and looks back at Suto. “Additionally, I was wondering if you…are interested in a dinner?” 

Looking surprised and confused at the same time at Adrián, she thought for a second, “I am thankful for your services, Commander, but I am in no position to go …out on a dinner for you. This would be impossible scientifically as we have slight compatibility.”

Gasping for air in surprise, Adrián said, “Right… yeah…sure… understand.” Adrián felt instant discomfort and nodded in her direction, “I better get going. I don’t want to keep you from your work.” He tried to recover from this embarrassing moment. Clapping his hands together and turning to walk back to the Ensign, “Good day, Lieutenant.” When he reached the Ensign, he gave a stern look. “Not a word…” He exits the lab with the Ensign following him.

Suto looked at Adrián leaving the lab and blinked a bit. But looking back at the PADD, she came to a halt in her thinking process as she wondered why her heart was going fast. Suto wondered why this was happening as she started to leave. “I will be at sickbay for a moment; if anything is urgent, please ask Lieutenant Bruno.” Not waiting for an answer, Suto left the sickbay.