The next day on the bridge, Nate found himself reporting for duty a bit early. He was anxious and eager to see Amiyah again, and he was in enthusiastic anticipation of seeing how their developing friendship would play out when working together in a professional setting. He was definitely keen on seeing her again. Her attractive features definitely would improve the otherwise unremarkable landscape of the bridge. Their interactions the previous evening had made him happy and he hoped more might develop between them, given time.

Bouncing onto the bridge with an eager gate, Nate found himself exiting the turbolift nearest the top of the horseshoe. Before his eyes was the one person he was most eager to see. He approached Amiyah without delay. He wasn’t going to stand there all day and socialize, but he figured a brief hello – how was your night, would be appropriate and acceptable.

He walked up behind her and whispered into her ear from behind.

“Good morning.” He said with a smile in his voice. “I had a really great night after you left. How’d you sleep?”

Amiyah was still unsure about the night prior and what had happened she enjoyed it, but she had mixed feelings about what had happened. She stood on the bridge and looked at the turbolift doors as they slid open. She immediately saw Nate and looked back at her console.

He was so chipper to her she kind of looked at him and quietly said “I slept fine.”

Nate immediately noticed an difference in Amiyah’s behavior. Perhaps it was because the environment had changed, or they were at work now, he could not be sure. It may have even been his imagination, but she seemed different somehow. One might have even described her as being colder. Nate had to test the waters to be sure.

“Well that’s good, I can’t say as I got too much sleep at all.” He said with a smile.

Amiyah nodded “I had no trouble sleeping.” She said again with barely any emotion in her voice.

Nate stopped and tried to gauge her emotions through her facial expressions and body language. He couldn’t read either, so he started with a simple and innocent question.

“Is everything okay?” He asked, “Did I do something wrong?”

She looked at him for a moment blankly and shook her head “I don’t know…Nate.” She said quietly. “You didn’t do anything wrong. I just I don’t know this is different for me.”

Nate understood. It had been a sudden and crazed 24 hours. So much had happened. He had never met someone that had this much impact on his life on such a short amount of time. Amiyah was amazing, and crazy, and violent and all the things he loved in a girl. She had taken his world, picked it up and dumped it completely upside down in a single day. And in the middle of all of his crazy nebulous feelings, he never once considered what impact this was having on her.

He smiled and nodded.

“I understand,” He said tenderly, “I just wanted to let you know I had fun last night and I hope we can do it again sometime. Whenever you’re ready.”

Amiyah had a fire in her heart she had never had with anyone else. She walked up to Nate and whispered in his ear “The next time we might get into trouble.”

Nate knew what she meant, but it was impossible for him to stop now. He couldn’t simply turn his feelings on and off like an old fashioned light switch.

“You know what, Amiyah…” He said with an honest pause, “…too late. I’m already in trouble.”

Amiyah surveyed the Bridge seeing if anyone was there when she knew no one was she gave Nate the most passionate kiss he had ever received if she had to guess. “Screw these doubts your mine.”

Nate was taken completely off guard, and found himself momentarily worried that the Captain might walk in at that moment. However, after 25 years of service to Starfleet, if he had to receive a formal reprimand for kissing a girl like Amiyah while on duty, then it was totally worth the risk. He allowed himself to wrap his arms around her and completed the kiss, returning the passion he received.

This was the best day of his life.

“Wow.” Was all he could say; all that needed to be said, really.

Amiyah kissed him again only coming up for air. Something about Nate changed her mind about how she acted. She finally let go and smiled “You better not hurt me Nate or that kiss will be something you regret. You have seen me fight.” She said though smiling before walking back to her console and taking her station again.

Nate smiled and considered the threat real. However, hurting Amiyah was the last thing on his mind. He wanted whatever kind of relationship this was turning into, and he wanted it bad.

“Any man who hurts you deserves to have his face busted.” He said with a charming smile.

And he headed down to his station at the helm. He didn’t know how he was going to get any work done today. There was only one thing on his mind now…