Something You Don’t See Very Often

Posted on Sat Dec 9th, 2023 @ 2:08pm by Commander Lorut Vila & Lieutenant Commander Ukram Gocx & Commander Vianola Paxidor & Lieutenant Commander Jared Rush & Lieutenant Commander Frasier Greene & Fleet Captain Maxwell Culver & Daniel Martinez

2,605 words; about a 13 minute read

Mission: First Contact
Location: USS Intrepid: Scotty’s Bar
Timeline: MD3: 1800 hours

Max walked into the ship’s bar for the first time since the ship had launched. He was dressed down, wearing a plain black t-shirt, blue jeans and black chukka boots. Dani was with him, promising to join Max for this event before taking the man home and putting him to bed. In his opinion, Max was working too much. Unlike Max, Dani was dressed to stand out in a red t-shirt that for like a second skin, slim cut black chinos and black leather pointed toe shoes that gleamed in the blue lights of the bar.

“Over there,” Max said, pointing at a table with a good view. The would turn their chair to watch. It was that simple.

“Well, I’ll be damned,” the bartender exclaimed. “Captain Culver in my bar!” It was a clear dig at Max for not taking to time for the ship’s lounge.

“Two Selayan sunsets,” Dani ordered from the man, his Spanish accent sounding almost aggressive when he said it.

Vila came into the bar for her break - she'd left Chet on the Bridge - the man liked the Big Seat, and she really didn't understand why HE hadn't been given the role of XO over her. She assumed it was some kind of torture that Albion had cooked up, but she couldn't be certain. She approached the counter. "Synthehol. And the Larish pie," she said. No introduction, no niceties, just a plain request. She simply nodded to the others, but kept her focus on the man at the till.

She settled in, sipping the synthehol and poking at the pie. It smelled a little off, but then, it never smelled like her mother's, did it?! She looked around. Why were there so many people here? She picked up her plate and headed for the Captain and his boyfriend.

"Look who the cat dragged in. I haven't seen you here since we launched," Vila said. She should know, she was OFTEN in the bar when she was off duty. Apparently, also while she ON duty, but in her defense, the mess hall replicators weren't able to do Larish pie and Vila secretly hated Hesperat except for her own.

“It’s a special occasion, Lieutenant Commander Rush was going to meet us here to watch the USS Opal drop out of her Slipstream tunnel. It’s not something you see everyday,” Max explained.

Vila simply shrugged. "I see," she said. "Well. I guess...have fun? I am just taking my dinner break before I go back," she said.

Jared strolled into the bar mid-shift knowing the arrival of USS Opal was imminent. Slipstream technology installed on the ship was another reason Rush wanted to be there, and gladly accepted Captain Culver’s invitation.

He greeted the bartender and ordered a drink. “Hey, Nick, can I get a club soda with lime? Still on duty.”

“Coming right up, Jared. Seems like a crowd gathering over there by the window,” Nick said.

“Right on time, I guess. The USS Opal is scheduled to rendezvous. Slipstream drive… you believe that?”

“Never heard of it. Here’s your drink. Enjoy,” Nick teased.

“Never heard of it?! Where ya been hidin’…..?! Hang on, you’re yanking my chain, aren’t ya, bubba? I can tell that look on your face. You got me. I’ll see you, Nick. Thanks,” Rush answered.

“Jared.”

Rush joined the Captain and several of the other senior officers at the window, anxiously waiting for Opal’s arrival.

“Cap’n, Commander. I’m looking forward to this. I’ve read about slipstream, but to see it in person. That will be something to see.”

“Welcome Jared,” Max greeted Jared. “We saved you a good seat,” Max added, indicating one of the barstool chairs.

Dani smiled. “He won’t admit it, but your Captain is excited to see the ship come out of slip slide drive.”

Max tried and failed to keep the smile from forming on his face, but he was able to keep the laughter from erupting. Probably for the best, unless Max wanted a smack upside his head. “Slipstream,” Max corrected Dani quietly.

“Can you blame him, Dani? This is exciting stuff. The tech has not been fully integrated throughout Starfleet yet, so I don’t know the particulars. The engineering is amazing. Thanks for the invite, sir. This is gonna be fun to watch.”

"Hi," Vila said, settling into a barstool herself, and picking at her Larish pie again. She should've had the burger but she was trying to eat lighter.

Vianola had slipped in quietly. She didn't like the limelight too much and in her mind was somewhat of an invisible person in most circumstances. Some may disagree given vibrant hair and noticeably strong Irish accent when spoken, but she still felt like she didn't stand out. "Just a water please." she asked the barkeep.

Max noticed Vi and Vila both come in and order their drinks. “Lorut!! Vi!! Come join us, we still have a few seats,” Max offered.

Vila considered for a moment. She stood, and moved to the mens' table. "Thanks," she said. "I don't have much time, though I know that Chet can handle himself," she said. She was trying-though not well-to set...well. Some kind of example, anyway.

Jared scooted his chair next to Vila and gave her friendly elbow poke. “Listen, Vila. The way I talked to you this morning. I’m sorry. You didn’t deserve that and I want to apologize. Friends?” He stuck out his hand in a handshake gesture.

Vila looked suspiciously at the man for a moment. "Same. I was a bit...tired. I usually work nights, and with the Helivans here, my schedule is off. The Counselor is teaching me some breathing techniques," Vila said. She shook his hand, and smiled a genuine smile. "Anyone want some fries?" She wrinkled her nose, the ridges across the bridge become two lines as she did so. She didn't like French fries with Larish pie.

“I would love some. Thanks. You didn’t replicate any ketchup, did you? Gotta have some ketchup with French fries,” grinned Commander Rush. “I like the way your ridges look when you smile. You should do it more often, Commander.”

She handed the man her fries. "No, I didn't. The only thing worse than replicated French fries is replicated ketchup," she said, wrinkling her nose again. "Thanks," she said, not knowing what else to say. "I'll keep that in mind," she said.

“You’re right. Replicated ketchup just isn’t the same. So, Larish pie? Never tasted it. Or any other Bajoran food, except for maybe Hesperat. I like it. Especially when it’s a little spicy. You don’t care for it?,” asked a seemingly sincere Commander Rush.

Vila shrugged. "Sometimes," she said. "The ones from the replicator are nothing like real Hesperat," she said. She pushed her plate towards the man. "Feel free to finish mine," she said. "I don't mind," she said. She also had a salad, so she ate that. "I prefer this anyway," she said. "Maybe I'll make you some real Hesperat sometime." It was more or less an aside, not because she had any intention of whatever he was up to.

“I’m alright for now, but thanks for the offer. I’m hoping this mission goes off without a hitch. Get the Helivans safe and sound, so we can get some exploring done. Problem solving and ops are my forte, but I’m an explorer at heart,” Rush said. He turned to the First Officer to see what she would say.

VIla nodded. "Same. I was the Chief Science Officer here before I was promoted," she said. "I would rather figure out why the replicator is so terrible," she said. "But my time to do those sorts of inquiries is limited now." She missed it terribly-for thirty years, most of her adult life, she'd been a chemist and biologist. Now, she was second in command on a ship full of weirdos. She wasn't sure how or why.

“Never say never, Commander. If the sciences still hold your interest, and you’re passionate enough about them, you can make the time. The role of First Officer is vast and at time all-encompassing, but you need to do the things that make you happy,” replied Rush.

Vianola did move closer as well. If felt like a battle she didn't need to fight and most of this crew was different from the one she'd left. Some still remained, S'Tera, Rena, Aurora, and of course Max, but it still felt different. One thing she did prefer though was being on a ship. Say what you want for fresh air but at least in space you got to travel.

Vila smiled at Vianola as she approached. "Hi," she said. "How are you enjoying your evening?" She stabbed the Larish pie with her fork. "Besides being forced to eat this stuff?" She held the piece of pie on a fork tine. "I really need to teach the cooks how to make this properly."

Vi returned the smile Vila offered. "Oh no forced eating here... could do with a good feed though, or so my mother tells me." she indicated her rather small waistline and a slight roll of her eyes. Her mother always harped on about her being too skinny. "I do think we need a proper kitchen set up for meals. Replicated stuff gives you just the right amount of everything you need... but I miss fatty foods just being fatty and bad for you." she chuckled.

Vila laughed heartily. "My mother says the same, but because I need to have "birthing hips," Vila said. "I keep reminding her that I am nearly fifty years old, and that ship has long sailed," she said. Though it was more because of the Cardassian's "experiments" than her choice, but still. "And yes, there's no point in eating just to exist. It should be pleasurable," she said. Perhaps the two women could be friendly after all.

Behind them the door to the bar opened again marking the arrival of Doctor Greene, nearly always the last to arrive for everything - a habit he'd not yet lost from his time as a civilian before enlisting late on in life. This maturity often set him aside from his peers as they threw themselves vigorously into new adventures blindly, his more reserved approach was at times frowned upon but hadn't held him back from enjoying the company of others.

The gathering ahead of the Opal's arrival hadn't been mandatory but had drawn a crowd. Frasier too was intrigued by the new propulsion Slipstream the Opal boasted and wanted to see its dramatic arrival in person. Similar to Captain the CMO had chosen to dress down for the occasion opting to leave the crisp white of his duty uniform behind in favour of comfortable jeans and check black shirt.

"Good evening," he greeted the collection already seated at the window. "Glad I haven't missed the show."

“Hey y’all! I don’t get to say this often, but the Opal is coming in in three, two, one. Mark!” Nick said with his cheeky vibe.

Max watched out the windows, excited by the sight, but if warp seemed like a blink and you’ll miss it situation, with the Opal, you simply watched it exist. One minute there was empty space, the next second, there was a ship in that space. Max thought there would be more…anything.

To be honest, Max was disappointed. Dani looked at his boyfriend. “Was that it? It is just there?” Dani asked, he sounded disappointed too.

Vila, too, had blinked and missed it. She looked at Jared to her left and the Doctor standing there, at her right. "I suppose that WAS it." She shrugged. "Ah, well. The best way to see it is at DS9, anyway," she remarked. Being Bajoran, it held a special place in her heart, and being part of the "forced labor" that helped to build the station made it even more of a special place to her. "Anyway. I should return to the bridge. We know how Chet gets when he's in the chair too long," she joked. She stood up to use the recycler. Was she...having a good time?! Weird.

"I must admit I was expecting something...more," Greene stared at the distant ship with the shared disappointment.

“I agree with ya, Doc. Kind of a letdown. Thought it would be more ….. majestic,” Rush commented.

Max shook his head. “I suppose I’d better make contact with the Opal’s command team. It would benefit us to ask them to dinner.” Max looked at Dani apologetically. It meant more work for him. Dani’s smile dropped to disappointment.

"Good idea," Vila shot over her shoulder as she left to return to the bridge. "I'll be on the bridge if anyone needs me. And if they do, it better be good!" she said, trailing down the hallway.

"Woah, wait a moment," Greene spoke up reaching out to catch both Max and Vila before they hurried away. "Chet and the others are more than capable to using the com." He looked between the two Commanding Officers half wondering which one of them would chide him first. "You two haven't stopped for an age or taken a moment for yourselves. Sure bring over the Command team or whomever, but keep things light. Leave the duty to the morning."

Max could feel Dani’s eyes like fire on the back of his head. He took a deep breath and let it go. “If I invite the Opal’s command team over, it’ll be nothing but talk of business,” Max admitted. “You’re right, Frasier. Tomorrow, we move that rock. Tonight is for a little relaxing and some heavy sleeping. Commander Lorut, let the Opal’s CO know we’ll have breakfast and talk business then.”

Vila had turned around at the Doctor's exclamation. "I can do that, Sir," she said.

“After that, give Chester the bridge and get some sleep. You’re integral to this mission. I’d like you to sleep well and join us in the morning, well rested,” he said, his voice leaving little doubt it was an order.

Vila made a face. They both knew that wasn't likely but she nodded.

He took Dani by the hand and headed off duty for the night. Suddenly, he stopped. Realizing he’d left a little room for Vila to reason her way into a duty shift. “Commander, that thing about sleep? That was an order,” he clarified. “Sorry for the anticlimactic entry of the Opal everyone!”

"Will do," she said. "Thanks for the chats, gentlemen, Miss Paxidor," she said. Then, she was gone.

Frasier blew out the breathe he was holding having been sure he'd overstepped with his interruption. It was a relief that Culver could see the logic in his words, though judging by the exchanged glances with in Mr Martinez there was an alternative motion at work. Ah, those were the days he thought fondly before heading toward the bar and unwind for the evening.

Looking at Dani Max winked. ’The rest of my evening better not be as anticlimactic,’ he warned telepathically now that he was getting the hang of not turning humans into zombies with his telepathy.

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