[he only half-registers the contents of their discussion, his long strides taking him farther away from them in his eagerness. well, and his own meandering thoughts about the different planets and how the local names for them amuse him immensely]

Hmm? Oh! Well, not much longer actually. I spotted the old girl outside Lab #4 and if you look round this corner here... [he leans past said corner, poking his head out into vast observation deck. an excited smile is starting to grow on his face again as he spots his dear ship]