[ What Pavel hasn't told Hei, he's picked up from the surveillance bugs hidden at the young man's home. Although, in Hei's defense, what Pavel has told him is quite substantial. Enough for him to mentally compose a handful of dossiers, in any case. Details about Spock, Kirk, Uhura, Sulu and McCoy. Having Pavel aware of Hei's real identity puts him under enormous personal pressure to watch the young man's activity, to check if he doesn't let slip anything incriminating about 'Li' to his crew. Sometimes Hei still thinks the smarter choice would've been to erase Pavel's memory entirely. But then he and Pavel would be strangers. Hei wouldn't be able to waltz into parties like this. To observe and catalogue but also just do nothing but (try to) relax. Take an interest. Interest of a novel kind -- not to do with combat or risky experiments or stargazing or food. ]

[ It's something of a rarity -- but Hei almost enjoys it. (Almost.) ]

What does the science officer do? [ Another mouthful of beef. No crunching this time. But 'Li' clearly doesn't notice the flecks of BBQ sauce smearing his chin. ] Collect information on all the stranger things in space? Because I'm sure there must be hundreds.