Philosophical Differences

Posted on Mon Jan 26th, 2026 @ 3:55am by Ensign Amelix Milumad & Ensign Devon Hunt

1,231 words; about a 6 minute read

Mission: 1 - Third Contact
Location: Mess Hall
Timeline: MD03 - 1100

Ensign Devon Hunt walked through the doors of the mess hall that seemed to be packed with folks getting their lunch time meals. Walking up the replicator, he ordered a meal, and a drink then looked around the room until he spotted another Ensign alone at a table. Making his way over, he cleared his throat. "Mind if I join you?"

Surprisingly, Amelix was all alone and was mostly sitting still, well, at least for her. Just in the time that Devon had walked up to her, she must have shifted positions at least three times. To her right and left were PADDs that she rapidly swung her head from back and forth. So, when Devon appeared before her, Amelix's head shot straight up, the light reflecting off of her crystal-like formations on her head and into Devon's eyes. "Oh! Hi!" she started, with her speech picking up speed as she went along. "Of course you could join me! I would never refuse anyone! I'm so happy that you're here! I was just reading both of my PADDs and trying to learn the newest information on Denobian microbes on one and every bit of information on Tholians on the other! Wait! I know you! You're Devon! You were at the Batleths game! Are you ready to play again so soon?"

"Perhaps another time," Devon replied as he took a seat. "Are you really all of that stuff at the same time?"

"Of course, I am!" Amelix responded easily and quickly. "Science waits for nobody and there's so much to discover! Don't you study for security? I mean, certainly there must be some sort of special techniques and weapons training, right?"

"Nothing like what you're doing," he chuckled. "Your mind must be pretty complex."

"I'm a bit of an anomaly!" Amelix admitted happily. "You see, not only am I the only Tygarian in Starfleet, but I'm the only FEMALE Tygarian that you're ever likely to meet!"

Hunt tried to process that bit of information. "Is there a reason for that?"

Amelix's eyes widened as the speed of her language quickened. "Which part? That I am the only Tygarian in Starfleet or that I'm the only female Tygarian that you will likely ever meet? I can answer them both or I can answer one of them. Whatever you would please, I would be happy to answer!"

"The anomaly part."

"Oooh!" Amelix exclaimed. "I'm so glad that you asked!" Her speech picked up pace and started to approach warp speed as she continued, "Well, you see, mom was obviously a Milumad and dad was a Nehetan." Amelix said those things like it was the most obvious explanation in the universe. "I grew up hanging out with all of the Ruknee. They're really quite interesting and somewhat mystical. I don't think any of them have ever been wrong about a prediction. When it came time to pick my career path, well, I simply could not decide. So, I took a walk and seomthing fell from the sky. It fell, maybe a hundred feet from me. I picked it up, took it home, and when I got home the Ruknee were waiting. They told me that I was 'The Bridge,' and that I had to leave our home and join Starfleet. No women leave. We're not allowed. So, my leaving was the most wonderful thing in the universe!"unt

Hunt's curiosity had definitely piqued at this point. "So, what exactly did fall from the sky that you ended up bringing home?"

"A rock," Amelix replied disappointed. "I can't figure out what's so special about it. Believe me! I've run lots of scans!"

Devon almost laughed. "Perhaps the rock is simply a rock. And there is no meaning."

"That can't be right! It has to be something more! There's got to be significance, otherwise why would I get sent away? Why am I the bridge? Why be an ordinary rock! None of it makes sense! I have to figure it out!"

Simply placing a hand on Amelix shoulder, he gave his fellow Ensign an empathetic look. "Not everything in life has a meaning. Sometimes, shit just happens."

Amelix vehemently shook her head in the negative. Groans and cries rang out through the mess hall as light refracted from Amelix's head all about the mess and into a number of people's eyes. "No! No! No! I would not have been sent away from home without reason! I was going to live a normal life at home! I would not have been the first Tygarian in Starfleet. There's something more! There has to be! Even if it is fun to be way out here!"

"Technically, no one sent you away from home," Devon mentioned, while taking a bite out of his food. "You made the decision to attend Starfleet Academy and complete it. That is no easy task. Your were bold enough to leave your homeworld into the unknown. Another task that isn't easy. A rock didn't do any of that."

"I would not have been allowed to leave home if it were not for that rock!" Amelix insisted. "No females are! It is the way of our people! But if you were to come home and get in a fight with any of our women, I'd bet you shekels to latkes that you would get your butt kicked!"

Hunt raised an eyebrow in confusion. "So, let me get this straight. Your community believed this rock was significant as well?"

"I don't know!" Amelix admitted. "I just know when I presented it, everyone bowed low to me, told me that I was foretold, and then was shipped off here! So, there has to be something special about it!"

All, Devon could think of at this particular moment was that Amelix came from an entire world of individuals with views that made no sense whatsoever. And to be honest, wondered how she was even accepted into Starfleet Academy. The Ensign could imagine her presenting a rock at interview. "So, who sponsored you into the Academy, if you don't mind me asking?"

"Captain Theron Blackwood, of course!" Amelix exclaimed, as if it was common knowledge. She then lowered her head and asked, "You don't think I belong here, do you?!" Her eyes turned dangerously red. "You don't think that what I am telling you is true! You're just mean!"

"Clearly you made it through the Academy. So, you do deserve to be here. Just not really sold on the idea of rock having significant meaning."

"I hear Terrans have a God that give all sorts of omens! There are the Prophets for the Bajorans! So why not this?!"

"And sometimes even with our beliefs," Hunt explained. "Sometimes things can simply be a coincidence. I could be wrong about your rock. But I have the feeling you might just go through life never receiving the answers you seek. My suggestion would be for you not to dwell on it."

"My suggestion is that you keep your suggestions to yourself!" With that, Amelix stood up and left the Mess Hall, stomping out as she left.

Devon shrugged and continued to eat his meal. Deep down, he hoped that he was never anywhere where he truly had to depend on her. But perhaps reality would kick in for her.

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Ensign Devon Hunt
Security Officer
USS Quebec

Ensign Amelix Milumad
Science Officer
USS Quebec

 

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