The Romulan Star

Posted on Sat Feb 25th, 2023 @ 1:41pm by Lieutenant JG Evelyn Stewart & Fleet Captain Maxwell Culver

3,914 words; about a 20 minute read

Mission: Mission One: Goodwill Tour [Part One]
Location: Golden Towers-The Romulan Star
Timeline: MD8:19:00

With the base docked for days, Stewart decided to take advantage of what the city had to offer. After her strange encounter with Callan days earlier about StAX and his desire to free his husband, she decided that she most certainly needed a drink.

Studying the reports of the Golden Towers, she was interested by the review of a restaurant called The Romulan Star. If the reviews, both from customers and from the local government were to be believed, it had some of the best jumbo Romulan mollusks on the planet. They used the local sea life to develop a unique blend. She was very familiar with jumbo Vulcan mollusks with it being a speciality of Senril’s growing up, but she was inspired to try a Romulan version of the meal.

The restaurant was noted for having a strict dress code, so she replicated herself a proper navy floor-length dress that would meet Romulan standards of decorum, while still making her feel attractive and went to keep her reservation.

Max had spent the morning and afternoon surfing the north beaches of the Golden Towers. Since he had been in the city, between working and playing, he’d gotten a deep tan, his light brown hair lightening to almost blond by the days’ sunshine.

Thinking he might get the night off, and away from the ship and crew, Max had made a reservation at one of the most recommended restaurants in the city. He wore a suit, all black - reminiscent of the Senator’s suit the night they arrived. It was unusual for him.

Stepping inside, he stood at the host’s podium, but his keen eyes already spotted Evelyn Stewart.

Judging by the mostly Romulan staff and guests, Evelyn was not the most welcomed diner that evening. She made a point of speaking only in Romulan; she was far from fluent, but knew enough to get by and gestures would help gain the staff’s favor. She quietly thanked the server when he poured her glass of Romulan Ale, ignoring the curious look when she said to leave the bottle, as she was dining alone.

Max thanked the host but indicated the only other alien in the upscale restaurant. Walking over to where Evelyn was seated, he politely asked, “May I join you? One insult to the Romulan sensitivities is better than two.”

Evelyn turned and had to bite down on her annoyance at the captain before it showed. She gave a polite smile that clearly wasn’t genuine as she nodded. “Of course, Captain. Please, have a seat.” Evelyn respectfully asked a passing waiter to please advise her waiter another person has joined her table and a second menu would be necessary.

“I’m assuming Romulan ale is fine with you. Or would you like them to bring a drink menu for you as well,” she asked more to be polite, switching from Romulan to English.

Max smiled. “I’m not on duty or in uniform, so you can call me Max. Romulan Ale…to be honest, I’m kind of getting sick of it. I’ll call it a starter until the server returns,” he replied casually.

“It gets the job done.”, Evelyn commented somewhat haughty. She was still frustrated by their previous encounter on the base’s bar. “So what brings you here? You don’t strike me as someone who enjoys Romulan customs or their food.”

“It came highly recommended by our Romulan friends. It had five star recommendations. I wasn’t aware our kind wouldn’t be welcome here,” Max admitted. “As for the Romulan ale, I’ve been drinking it since we got here. In the Federation, it was outlawed, that made it special. Here it’s like water, not so special anymore.”

Evelyn poured them each a very healthy glass while they waited. “I wasn’t aware you had any Romulan friends.”, she commented. She observed Max’s more flamboyant demeanor didn’t seem to win over any of the locals, especially their XO. “And as I said, it gets the job done,” she said as she took a long sip.

Max slugged back the Ale like it was water. At this point, it had lost the nice catch it had had when it was a rare commodity. “You’d be surprised how many Romulan friends I have, Evelyn.” Max winced inside, using her first name felt wrong.

He could sense that she felt something about his personality would leave him feeling alone among the Romulans. “A pleasant dinner and reception with the Senator in charge of this city state has gotten me friends in high places.”

Evelyn nodded in agreement that she didn’t exactly feel. She slugged back her own drink and poured another glass. “So what brings you to my table?” she asked casually, overlooking the menu.

“A familiar face is better than these mistrustful, dare I say it angry, faces surrounding us. Besides, whether you like me or I like you doesn’t matter, when we are together in place like this, where we face racism, we present a united front, Evelyn.”

Max watched as the waiter approached their table. “Aldebran whiskey. Bring the bottle. Your Romulan ale has lost its sharpness.”

“A shame then. Ale has higher alcohol content than Aldebran whiskey. Perhaps, but I was something with a slow burn tonight. Wouldn’t you prefer a slow burn night with a woman?! Max asked just on the verge of flirtation.

“We’ll start with an order of Water Home Oysters on the half shell and the fried calamari with marinara sauce. Would you like something as well, Evelyn?”

“The jumbo Romulan mollusks for the table,” Stewart said to the waiter in Romulan, thanking him. She waited until he left before she took another long drink.

Once the waiter was out of ear she turned her attention to Max. “For the record, I wasn’t the one who had a problem. You did. I wasn’t breaking regulations.”

The Aldebran whiskey was deposited on the table quickly. Max downed the whiskey and refilled it quickly, downing a second glass. “You know the regulations require us to be fit for duty. I’ve made several exceptions to this rule for a few people, Evelyn. I’m not singling you out, for the record.

“And while we’re at it, I received a good dressing down from the holo-doc, if that makes you feel any better. So all I’m asking is that you come to work with a minimal attitude and, better yet, a minimal hangover.”

Evelyn sighed out her frustration through her nose. She had expected a quiet evening alone, not having her commanding officer invite himself to her table and nag her about her lifestyle and habits. “I thought you wanted to keep things more casual this evening,” she said about his insistence to bring up duty matters.

Max sighed and tossed up his hand to dismiss the subject. “You were the one that brought it up, Evelyn.” Max made a motion for the waiter to bring a new bottle for each of them.

Max leaned back. He was just starting to feel the buzz of the alcohol and his Executive Officer had warned him not to get sloppy drunk in public.

Evelyn hadn’t eaten since morning and her empty stomach was getting full on strong alcohol, but that did little to slow her down. Pouring another glass for herself, she eyed the captain. She remembered how he got beyond intoxicated, giving her a run for her money as far as his alcohol consumption. “Is this why you were given such a backwater post?” she asked sarcastically, gesturing to the bottles and glasses that were full to various amounts.

Max smiled. “Cute,” he chuckled. “I’m the first in a new story of Starfleet exploration. I’m Zephram Cochran. I’m Jonathan Archer. One day, even in my lifetime, there will be a USS Culver and maybe even a Culver class before I die.”

Max paused and drank some whiskey. It no longer burned and he wanted something else after this bottle. “If I can broker a peace with the Romulans here, I’ll be remembered forever in Starfleet. I’ll be remembered with names like James Kirk, Hikaru Sulu, Rachel Garrett.

“I volunteered for this position, Evelyn. Now, that’s me…what’s your real story? A Starfleet profile can only say so much about a person and a rank is just a rank.”

Evelyn laughed at Max’s drunken assertions of his future as she thanked the waiter for bringing the mollusks and their plates. She shook her head and finished her glass, unsure how many drinks she had had at this point. Her eyes flicking up when he asked her about what her story was.

Normally, her guard would be up at such a topic. However, the less formal setting and warm glow of an alcohol induced buzz loosened her lips. “I am exactly Command doesn’t put in their reports. The best damn pilot in this fleet,” she asserted bluntly, confident in her abilities, “but also their biggest screw up.”

Added matter of factly as she served herself some of the food as a distraction as she spoke. “The thing about Starfleet is they say they want the best and brightest, but they don’t like independent people who think for themselves.

“They want everyone in lock step, following orders blindly.” She said as she took another drink of her drink. “The truth is unlike you, I have no delusions of grandeur. This is it. This is what my career is going to be. I have no future, the same as it has been for five years. It’s only logical to accept it,” she said as casually about the sad truth that she had come to terms with years ago.

By the time Evelyn had finished talking, Max had eaten about four oysters, the taste of the ocean pervading his senses. He wondered when he would tire of sand and surf. When he would envy snow and cold and mountains.

And then he was back with Evelyn. “You know, honestly, you sound like an independent woman who can fly the fuck out of anything,” Max said, his own intoxication starting to hit him. “Starfleet Security could use you, for fuck’s sake, you’d be perfect for Intelligence. Why ARE you sitting behind a tub toy to correct something it can do itself?” he asked, realizing that he’d become a little louder than he wanted.

He put up a hand. “vəˈhɛrh,” he said to those around them, meaning ’I’m sorry’. If nothing else, his highborn Romulan was improving.

Evelyn waited until the Romulans stopped staring and went back to their meals before answering him. “I thought half the captains and admirals knew…” she commented dryly, taking a bite of her mollusk which proved to be quite good. The Romulans using more spice and flavor in their version, which she appreciated immensely.

She took her time, both savoring the flavor but also stalling for time to think of how to explain before she answered. “I entered the academy in the Intelligence program. I got top marks. I was actually projected to graduate a year early and begin specialized training. But then…” Stewart sighed heavily as she shook her head of the memory of everything that happened her sophomore year. She closed her eyes and took a slow, deep, breath before continuing, notably more somber.

“My brother, well half-brother really, was accused of selling weapons illegally to D’Ghor who was making another attempt to stage a coup against the Klingon Chancellor and the High Council.
He was killed while in Starfleet Security’s custody en route from K-7 to Earth to stand trial. “

I just so happened to had started seeing the Federation Ambassador to the Empire when this happened. Despite having nothing to do what happened, and being throughly investigated myself, it was deemed inappropriate for me to continue with the Intelligence program at the Academy. I’m lucky I wasn’t thrown out,” she said bitterly, tossing back the last of her drink before reaching for a new one.

“I knew how to fly from being the pilot on his courier ship for years, so I was allowed to transfer my major. I still don’t know exactly what happened in my brother’s death. Security refuses to give me access to the files or a proper explanation.”

Max had been eating while Evelyn explained her past problems. The food was quickly killing his inebriation, a benefit. He wisely decided that was a good idea. “Well shit,” Max responded seriously. “That’s what you call bad luck compounded by tragedy. Have you ever looked into your brother’s death independently?” he asked.

Stewart shook her head as she focused on her plate, moving the food around for a moment. “The files are sealed. Short of actually hacking into Security’s database, no one would be able to learn anything. It was a Starfleet vessel, with Starfleet personnel.” She took a breath, “Regardless, that was only part of the issue. I made a number of enemies amongst Command. Admiral Weston wasn’t very happy when I not only decked him in the Officer’s Club as a cadet while on a date, but wasn’t expelled from the Academy for it.”

“Well, Weston always was an asshat,” Max agreed, still shoveling calamari into his mouth and avoiding thinking about Tom now that they were work friends. He drank more whiskey.

“I know a handful of people who made it in and out of The Freezer.” Max mentioned the Federation’s largest and most secure intelligence site. “I could poke one or two of them. It’s hard, but not impossible.” He pushed the calamari away now that Tom was on his mind.

Evelyn glanced at him and gave a slight smile. “That’s very generous of you. I’d appreciate that,” she said kindly, swirling her own whiskey. She had little desire to investigate Desmond’s death, but it would help her and Cal with finding StAX and its defenses, if they still are functional.

Max looked at the amber liquid. “I’ve got no problems trying. I might just get a lot of nowhere,” he warned her.

Evelyn gave an appreciative smile, glancing through the drink menu for something new for them to try. “But enough talk of business. What exactly is your deal with that Ranger?” she asked not looking up from the menu. Her tone more light-hearted as she clearly pivoted the conversation to one of gossip.

“The truth?” Max asked rhetorically. He had enough alcohol to loosen his tongue on the matter. Evelyn was among the three. people who knew he’d been poisoned. “That son-of-a-bitch poisoned me with that Purge he gave me. I think Vi wants to shoot him on sight and Galen and the Romulans may do something much worse to him.

“I’ve been giving it a lot of thought,” he stopped and downed something new that carried a hell of a burn. “Technically, Starfleet has jurisdiction, but I’m going to give him over to the Romulans. He used a Romulan poison, so I consider it a Romulan internal affair.

“It’s the least I can do for trying to kill me and destabilize the entire sector by starting trouble between the Federation and the Romulan Empire, such as it is.”

Whatever he just shot walloped him upside the head almost immediately. He felt a strange sense of happiness and well being. His tongue was looser than he could control and he hoped Evelyn wouldn’t ask too many prodding questions.

Evelyn finished her sip. “So no more desire to take him to bed with you?” she asked, not exactly rhetorically. “You were clearly wanting each other back at that party. And I suspect if he wanted to deactivate his pet synth and gone to bed with you that you have put up a minimal fight, celibacy vow on file or not.” She prompted, the alcohol keeping her from hiding her disapproval in her voice.

“Well, we all make bad decisions,” Max agreed. “I’m glad we never got that far. Either way, Jack is not headed to a happy place and we are headed to places that will make us happy, right?” Max asked, actually rhetorically.

Evelyn just shrugged noncommittally. She wasn’t convinced either way. She was just wanting to get by. “I wouldn’t know,” she said quietly.

Max smiled as he started feeling sloppy drunk. Even the food wasn’t helping against the alcohol. “We’ll then, fuck it, we’ll fake it until we make it on happiness, Evie. Right?” Max was sure he was drunk when he called her Evie; he was half expecting a punch to his face.

Evelyn gave Max a cold look as if he just slapped her. “It’s Evelyn, Max,” she said harshly, she didn’t allow anyone except a very rare few in her life to take such liberties in calling her that nickname.

Stewart focused on eating her food, but mostly shuffled the food around on the plate and drank heavily in silence while she attempted to calm down in her drunken state.

“Oops,” Max answered, his words slurring as he began to droop into his seat a bit more. “I hit the wrong button there, but at least you didn’t break my nose. I half expected you would, and I would have deserved it.”

“Still,” he said seriously, or at least trying to adopt a serious tone. “Fuck it! Am I right?!”

Stewart glanced around the high-end Romulan restaurant before looking at the sloppy drunk that was her captain. She didn’t know much about El-Aurian physiology, but wondered if they had the tolerance for alcohol that Max wished he had. That wasn’t to say she herself wasn’t very drunk, but she knew how to control her impulses while intoxicated, if needed.

Evelyn leaned over to speak softly to him. “I think, perhaps going forward, it’s best to find a more suitable venue for this kind of evening,” she said to him, not oblivious to the piercing eyes of the acceptable patrons on them.

Leaning forward himself, Max whispered back, “Next time, dive bar with no Romulans. They’ve all got sticks up their asses. A bit too serious for my liking. But, if I must sober up,” Max paused and reached into his pocket. He pulled out a dermal patch that Christine had designed for him and placed it on the back of his hand.

Almost instantly the tri-ox compound kicked in and the anti-intoxicant began working its scientific magic, binding the alcohol and deactivating its effects. Now completely sober, Max signaled the waiter. “Check please,” Max asked politely.

“What a lovely evening, Miss Stewart, but I guess you’re right. The venue is far too stuffy for the likes of us. As the Terrans say, “You can dress me up, but you can’t take me out.” He gave a slight chuckle.

As the waiter gathered their bill as quickly as possible, Max added, “The offer stands, next time a dive bar or one of those oceanside places where you have to pay way too much money for a watered down drink. We’ll just have them leave the bottle, hmmm?” Max suggested.

A small part of Evelyn was jealous that Max had the doctor cook up something that allowed him to drink to idiocy, but without the repercussions of his actions in the morning. Still, she finished taking care of their meal, thanking the staff in Romulan before leading them out the door. “Perhaps, Max. I think a place like this isn’t suited to you at the very least.”

Stewart turned to the ship, sighing heavily in exasperation at Max and due to her own intoxication. If she didn’t know the El Aurian’s preferences already, she would have sworn he would try to convince her back to his quarters. “Should I have a security officer escort you back to your quarters?” she teased him.

Max looked askance at her, his eyes squinting with misunderstanding. “Do you think I’m at risk because I got drunk in a fancy, stuffy Romulan restaurant?” he asked seriously.

“I don’t think so, these Romulans are only dangerous if looks could kill. Otherwise, they’re too busy calculating how to get up the next rung of the ladder to worry about my motivations. Don’t you think?”

Stewart walked with Max back towards the base, ready to help him walk straight if needed. “It’s not the Romulans I’m worried about,” she said dryly. “I’m worried about what Vi will do to you if you are found passed out in the base corridor. Or worse yet, the Colonel,” she admitted. There was no small annoyance in her voice at essentially having to babysit her Captain back to his own quarters like he was a freshman cadet.

“I’ll just bunk in my cabin off the bridge tonight,” he said, not feeling quite as sloppy as he thought she felt he was. It was curious to feel her concern though. “It’ll save you the embarrassment of escorting your CO to his door tonight,” he said seriously.

“I’ve dealt with far more embarrassing situations,” Stewart said, leading Culver towards the turbolift to take him to his quarters. Punching an admiral wasn’t the only controversial thing she has done.

“Just don’t throw up on me and we will call it even,” she said dryly, she could see the El Aurian was in no condition to sleep on a couch, even if he didn’t feel it. When they arrived on the deck to his quarters, she led him to the door. “Just drink some water and sleep on your side. You will be fine, Captain,” she said giving the man basic instructions on how to cope.

Max gave her an appreciative, if somewhat defensive look. “This isn’t my first time on the party shuttle, Evelyn. Although I did almost die last time…I’ll be fine as long as no one spikes my supposed remedy.”

Stewart just nodded as they stood at the door. “All right then. Goodnight, Captain,” she said evenly, back to maintaining a respectable distance in her demeanor.

Max guessed the fun was over. Back aboard the ship, Evelyn was all business. “Very good then, Lieutenant. Thank you and good night.”

Once inside, Max kicked off his dress shoes and unbuttoned his pants and vest. Pulling off his jacket, he dumped it on a chair before falling, face first, into his bed and pillows. He had an alarm set for surfing before they left dock, and he knew the alarms was set to wake him. He just wasn’t sure he wouldn’t hit snooze a few times.

When the doors shut, Evelyn just sighed and rolled her eyes in annoyance as she turned to walk back to the turbolift. She started taking her hair down as she headed for her quarters, deciding that she would spend the next day relaxing on the beach to nurse with her hangover.

 

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