S1, SS4: What A Surprise
Posted on Sun Jul 19th, 2026 @ 3:46pm by Ensign Emily Bowman & Ensign Sebastian Roydon
3,470 words; about a 17 minute read
Mission:
Episode 2: Mine of Taurus
Location: Starbase 870, Night Club
Author's Note: This story takes place between episodes 1 and 2.
Location: Starbase 870, Night Club
Sebastian had already made it onto the station, he wanted to get off the ship for a bit and enjoy the night life. He was still a little sore at Emily, her comments kind of stung a bit. But he also felt guilty at the same time because he knew that she was being sincere when she tried to apologize and he was kind of a dick about it.
He made his way to the local nightclub scene on the station, the music was loud and when he made it through the line he went inside and saw how massive the place was. He walked over to the farthest point the room was a little quieter over there. He was wearing nice comfortable formal wear. He didn't want to look like a slouch and he didn't want to wear his uniform he just want to be treated like a normal person. The waitress came over and took his order, after a few seconds she walked back over with the drink and food.
Sebastian was grateful it was not synthohol. That stuff was disgusting. He debated about ordering a simple beer, when the waitress came back over, she had placed down a hard cider. He took a small step from the drink, and looking around the room trying to get a feel for the place. He could see other people having fun on the dance floor, he can see girls and guys dancing girls and girls dancing and even guys and guys dancing. None of that bothered him. He was happy for all of them.
Over the past couple days he had been feeling kind of lonely. Things between him and Kaayu did not seem to be working out. She was nice and she seemed interested but at the same time she was constantly busy with her responsibilities and her religious practices; their timing just seemed off, so they both agreed to be friends. Especially good since they had to work together on the ship.
Emily was on the dance floor, dancing shamelessly with her date. She'd started the night with three girlfriends but they'd been chatted up in a nearby bar by four handsome officers who made an excellent case for drinks and dancing. That led them to the club where two of them stayed at the table and Emily and Daphne hit the floor with their dates, dancing together. Dancing might be a generous term as she and her date were against each other so much if they were any closer they'd phase through each other.
She was about to suggest they abandon the club entirely when her date went stiff and stopped moving. She looked at up him, then turned to see where he was looking, and saw a pretty blonde looking around the room. She spotted them and frowned, turning and leaving the club quickly. Emily's date didn't bother with an explanation, not that one was needed at that point, and ran after her, leaving Emily standing unsteadily.
She stumbled through the crowd, the drinks hitting her a bit, trying to adjust her already short dress back down into position and adjusting her top, the silver, shimmery material catching the lights of the dance floor. When she emerged from the crowd, saw a familiar face sitting at a lone table. She scowled and walked over, dropping into a seat next to him and half shouting at him over the music. "So is your night gone to shit too?"
"I just got here, you seem out of breath." Sebastian said, wondering why she was sitting next to him. Part of him did feel guilty about their last conversation. Was this a sign from the universe to clear up his past wrongdoings with her? Sebastian was not sure, but he decided to approach the conversation smartly.
"Yeah, well, dancing is one of the few fun aerobic activities I go for," Emily said, looking at him sideways. "You don't really come off as a dancer, though."
"What do I come off as?" Sebastian said, curious to see what she was going to say. The truth was, he was not really a good dancer, but he liked to dance on occasion. Tonight though, he just wanted to get off the ship, and relax for a bit. He did not expect to see Emily at this night club.
"More the 'buy her a drink from across the room' type. Let her see you're cute and come to you while you wallflower a bit," Emily declared, her words a bit slurred. "Because you are definitely the 'buy her a drink' type. Speaking of, why do you not have one? Why don't I have one? I can't sit here and do this without something in me." She let out a whistle for a server, flagging one down. "I don't care what you bring me, just something to make me smile," she said as he approached, then slumped back in her chair, hitting Sebastian in the arm to signal him to give his order.
Sebastian was a little surprised that she hit him in the arm, he hadn't even thought about another drink. But he decided to keep the peace that he would order something. He had not planned on spending any time with Emily tonight. He came to the station to have a good time. Granted she was on his mind, but he didn't think that they would have any interaction tonight. But fate seemed destined, to make sure that they did.
"So what's eating you?" Emily said.
"Pretzels and cheese, I know not very healthy." Sebastian said, not wanting a health lecture. He had a sneaky suspicion she would rip him a new one for his choice. Most doctors and nurses he knew, never liked officers eating comfort food.
"I didn't say 'what are you eating,' she said, raising her voice over the music. "I said 'what's eating you?' You have a sour look on your face. What's your deal?" Emily said.
"I was not sure if you were going to lecture me on comfort foods. So I was bracing for a lecture." Sebastian pointed out to her.
"Okay, first off, I don't lecture, I advise, because I am wise beyond my years," she said, loftily. "Secondly, I wouldn't lecture you now. No one comes to a night club for healthy food...or drinks...or sex....or anything, really. And third, pretzels are vital for absorption."
She plucked a pretzel out of the bowl and chewed it as the waiter came back with a Samarian Sunset. He flicked his fingernail against the glass and the clear liquid turned the red-to-orange range of a deep sunset and he nodded to her. "My hero," Emily said, picking up the drink and taking a long sip, smiling at the waiter. "Well, things are picking up," she said to Sebastian, sighing and leaning back in her chair, kicking her feet up on another chair.
"How do you figure that?" Sebastian said noticing that she is getting very comfortable.
She shrugged. "I have a good drink. That's an improvement over not having one. You have pretzels and cheese, so that's good for you. And you're no longer sitting alone, so that's a step up too."
"Are you my life coach now?" Sebastian asked, with a playful and teasing tone. He also grabbed a pretzel and dipped it into the cheese sauce as a smile at her and then took a small bite.
"Oh, now that is a good idea," Emily said, downing the rest of her drink and signaling for another. "Emily Bowman: Life-saving Nurse, Sex Therapist and Life Coach. I absolutely need to replicate business cards that say that." As the server came over she swapped her empty glass for a full one and took another long sip. "Good idea," she said. "Maybe I can coach you into getting more adventurous than pretzels when you go out," she teased.
Listening to her say sex therapist, made Sebastian spit out his sip of his beverage. "Emily!" Sebastian said in shock, he did not expect her to say that.
She looked at him with a mixture of surprise and amusement. "What?" she said. "Please don't tell me you're one of those puritanical types." She shook her head and took another long sip. "Yes, the hot, well-built brunette in the short, strapless dress is aware of sex. Oh, how will the moral framework of the Federation ever hold together?" She rolled her eyes at him and nudged him with her elbow. "Or are you just being adorably shy?" She nabbed another pretzel, tossed it up, caught it in her mouth and looked at him expectantly.
"Well you're definitely right about the hot well built brunette, not sure about the rest of it though." Sebastian said with a warm smile on his face, as he grabbed another pretzel at the same time she did and fought her a little bit playfully, over the cheese.
"Good save," Emily said, smacking his hand away as she dove in for a dip with her pretzel. They chewed quietly for a couple minutes, watching the crowd dance as Emily worked her way through her third sunset. "So what was your plan tonight, exactly? Sit here, eat pretzels, wait for the local pretzel groupies to come over and check it out?"
"Well the plan, has work so far!" Sebastian said hoping his line wasn't too cheesy, but not letting his confidence down. It could have been a couple of drinks in his system giving him the courage, or maybe it was her magnetic personality, but either way he decided this is probably his best opportunity to prove her that he was interested. "Not that I'm complaining, I love your company."
"Oh now you love my company," Emily said teasingly. "Well, now I know what it takes to get to you." She smirked and swapped out her glass again with the passing server who was at the ready. "So, is this your first assignment, too?" she said, her 's' sounds extending as she slurred slightly.
"You're drunk; this is definitely a side I wasn't expecting to see of you. You're right I do love the company, I would ask you to dance but I'm not sure if you can handle it right now." Sebastian said, noticing that she was the least more approachable this time. Or maybe it was him that had changed, it was hard to tell at this very moment. But either way he was happy to see that she was showing some kind of interest in him. He had a feeling that Emily was going to take him up on his offer to dance, mainly out of competitiveness. It was slightly a challenge to her by saying that she was intoxicated.
"I am so not drunk," Emily declared. "Just a bit tipsy." She stood up on slightly wobbly legs and turned to glare at him, folding her arms over her chest. "And I can outdance you off the floor any time," she said defiantly.
He stood up and grabbed her waist to help hold her up. "I have no doubt that you could out dance me on or off the floor," he continued to hold her by the waist, as she found her balance.
She struggled for a moment and then paused looking at him as she felt him press against her. "Yeah...well...damn right I can!" she said. "So...are we going to go prove that or what?"
"We could, or I could be a gentleman walk you back to your room. I'm a little worried that you can stand on your own without me holding you," Sebastian said, with a warm and sincere tone in his voice. He didn't want to ruin the moment, but he also felt like he should be a gentleman take her home.
Emily's eyes narrowed. "Oh, I see how it is," she said, poking him in the chest. "You talk a good game, but when it comes time to put your latinum where your dancing shoes are, you don't have the lobes." She shrugged at the look on his face. "It makes sense when you don't think about it." She huffed. "All right, all right, but you don't have to carry me, I can walk fine." She took two steps in her heels and wobbled precariously, then straightened and held herself together. "All right you can keep near in case I trip," she said.
Emily was an impressive woman, he smiled admiring her determination. "Why thank you my lady, let me be a gentleman and walk you home." He said not waiting for her to respond in following her gently putting his arm around her shoulders just to make sure she stood properly. He could smell the sweet perfume that she was wearing as they started to walk away from the club.
The walk all the way back to her modest quarters on the ship was relatively quiet, save for her grumbling about the uneven carpet every time she stumbled. As they got inside she sighed and held onto him as she reached down and pulled off each shoe, stepping down onto the floor and sighing with relief.
While most ensigns had, at best, dormitory housing, or, at worst, Ensign's Row bunks, Emily had the benefit of a small set of private quarters, being the head of the nursing department. It was a bed, a one-person desk and a replicator, with a small bathroom attached, but it was enough for her and a guest to be comfortable.
"That's better," she said, tossing her shoes aside. She reached behind her, but was having trouble reaching the top of her dress with any kind of coordination. "Little help?' she said, pointing towards the fabric seal at the top.
Sebastian was debating about leaving, seeing her getting comfortable and situated in her room when she asked him for help. "All right, promise you behave yourself if I do," he said with a playful tone in his voice. He expected to get hit by her, even if it was playfully. He meant it teasingly, after he helped her get her zipper down he was going to leave and be a gentleman for the night.
Emily rolled her eyes even though he couldn't see it. She sighed as the seal released and let the dress fall to the floor, the lack of anything under readily apparent as she kept her back to him. "All right, a good sonic shower should help," she said, heading for her bathroom.
Sebastian was a little dumbfounded, he didn't look as she slipped out of her evening attire. He was afraid to speak, cuz he didn't want to sound like a bumbling idiot. He was trying to be respectful and not imagining her naked, in the shower.
She leaned back out of the doorway, almost letting him see her. "Just going to stand there?" she said, expectantly before disappearing again.
"I don't know if this is a good idea you've been drinking, and I I don't want to screw this up." He said, fighting his temptation to just barge his way into the sonic shower. He kept telling himself that his friendship with her was more important than a one night stand with a drunk woman.
There was a loud huff and she came back out, not bothering with a towel. "Not drunk. Pleasantly tipsy. Already said." She folded her arms over her chest. "So, are you going to be a hero and salvage this evening for me, or not?"
Sebastian did not need to be told a third time. He picked her up by her ass causing her to straddle him and wrap her arms around his neck, and then he just planted a passionate kiss right on her lips. There was an instant spark between them as they finally got in sync, and he started to walk towards the sonic shower.
Morning came swifter and harsher than Emily would've preferred. Hangovers were still a thing, and hers had started up as if it had a personal grudge against her. She was in a bit of an unusual position on her bed, and something was in her way, but she wasn't aware enough to discern what it was. All she knew was she needed the hypospray she kept on her nightstand for just such an occasion. She fumbled around in the dark, until she thought she had it securely in her grip, and tried to bring it to her neck, but it was stuck, so she tried again before she felt someone knock her hand away.
Sebastian was woken up by a sudden grip. He almost folded up like an accordion, he took a deep breath as he called out in a high-pitched tone. "You got a strong grip."
"Oh, sorry about that," she said, quietly, hoping she hadn't hurt him. "Be a pal and grab the hypospray on my nightstand? And please do it really, really quietly?"
Sebastian traced the edge of the bed, finding the nightstand on his side. He reached around for a cylindrical tool that had a little l shape in the front. "I found it." He turned back to her as he started to trace the bed, trying to find her in the dark. When his hands grabbed onto her waist, they pulled forward automatically, then he immediately looked for her hands and then slipped the hypospray into them.
His move was foolish but it was also slightly clever, without even trying he managed to pull her close again and cuddle her. She was intoxicating to be around, but he didn't want to smother her. But at the moment he just didn't care, being there in this moment just felt right to him.
Emily pressed the pre-loaded hypo to her neck and sighed as the medication kicked in. "That is a relief," she said, stretching and turning over to wrap around him. "Anyway, good morning," she said. "Computer, lights, twenty percent."
The room illuminated and Emily's smartass smile was firmly in place on her face. "Hope you slept well," she said.
Sebastian smiled. "Hi," he said a little caught off guard. He collected his thoughts, and responded. "It was a great night, cuddling up with a beautiful woman." Sebastian said, as he leaned in for morning kiss.
Emily tried so hard to kiss him and keep it passionate but she couldn't stop herself from breaking out into giggles. "'Cuddling up'? Is that what you call what we did? I mean, that's cute and all, but saying you were trying to 'cuddle my brains out' last night doesn't really have the same ring to it, ya know?" She couldn't stop herself from giggling harder but leaned up and kissed his neck. "Was a damn good cuddle, though, just so you know."
"Would rather I say, I fucked out your brains out, last night?" Sebastian said, with a smirk on his face. He pulled her closer. "I want to sa....." He started to say, but could not resist the urge to kiss her. They were very close to one another, and he felt a pull to be close to her. He gently pushed her back, and started to passionately kiss her once again. Then like Emily, he too started to think about the cuddle comment. "Damn it Em." He said, as he pulled away and started to laugh. This would be the last time he referred to sex as cuddling.
"Atta boy," Emily said, grinning up at him. "Stop trying to be charming, and just be you. Works out much better." She got a coy smile. "Now, in keeping with tradition, I owe you an apology."
"And why is that?" Sebastian asked, Emily seem to have it sincere tone in her voice. Which made him a little skeptical. He knew how playful she could be, if the past 24 hours had been any indication of that, she was a very playful type spirit.
"For you being late for your shift," she said in a playful tone.
Sebastian this dumbfounded for the moment, had he really slept in that late? He didn't believe he had overslept. But last night was pretty wild for him. He started to get ready, but he didn't want to let her go. "I don't think I am late." He said as he let the comment just hang there in the air for the moment. He was curious to see your Emily, was going to say anything.
"Well, you're going to be," she said, grabbing him and rolling him onto his back and mounting up for another round.
End
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