Hey can I buy you a drink?

Posted on Thu Jan 23rd, 2020 @ 10:26pm by Commander M'Mira & Lieutenant JG Tomer Chaim & Ensign Connor Turner & Lieutenant Commander Ziq Chura & Lieutenant Commander Briegel Foster & Lieutenant Nealey Snowdon & Lieutenant JG Kara Quinn-Chaim & Lieutenant JG Shannon Cosantior & Petty Officer 1st Class Grace Hudson & Petty Officer 3rd Class Katlyn Monroe & Kristiina Peltola

2,156 words; about a 11 minute read

Mission: Mission 3: Diplomacy, what’s that?
Location: 401 Officers Club

The petite figure of Petty Officer third Class Katlyn Monroe sat alone at one of the corner tables in 401 Officers Club. She had her back facing firmly to the wall, a glass of some amber liquid stood on the table, condensed water slowly sliding down it's cold surface onto the table. The nurse had recently joined the crew of the station after being cleared for active duty again by Starfleet. Her bright blue eyes stared at nothing since Katlyn was lost in her own thoughts and memories, the drink all but forgotten about. Instead of the station and the comforting sights of the officers club, Katlyn's mind wandered along dark and difficult memories, the abandonment of the Churchill, the cries of the wounded... Watching the pods be extinguished one by one and being powerless to do anything but bear witness to it all.

Outside of the medical staff, Katlyn tended to remain professional, almost as if she sort deliberately to prevent the formation of any friendships that were not strictly necessary for her position and career within Starfleet. She was a great nurse, hard working and talented. But it was clear that there still remained a hurt inside of her. Katlyn ignored the music and the lively chatter of the other officers, lost down her own dark vaults of memory, reliving the nightmare in the present age.

A long and lanky gentleman walked into the officer's club. He had short cropped hair and wore glasses. As he walked in, he gave a worried look backwards and then darted towards a table that was outside the line of sight from the door. Nervously, he wrenched his hands and kept his back towards the wall. He did not try to engage anyone in conversation but waited patiently for someone to come and serve him.

“Hey sweet,” Kristiina Peltola said as she approached the fresh face. “Not seen you about here, you new?”

Connor looked up at the new voice. His eyes grew wide as he looked at the red head with her hair tied back in a ponytail. Her penetrating blue eyes looked into his and he immediately looked downward. That was no help as he noticed her perky body. Quickly, he averted his eyes and found a spot on the table that had to be much more interesting. "Um, uh, no. Not new. Um, just don't, um, come in here, um, often..." he stammered.

Katlyn was knocked out of her thoughts by the sounds of nearby voices, she blinked rapidly and turned away realising she had been seemingly staring at another officer. He was speaking to another woman. She reached forward and sipped her drink, pondering things before finally saying. "Hey." She did not really wish to get to know others too well, but there could be no harm in learning names at the very least. After all she did not want to dwell on past horrors forever, regardless of how much she may have wished to avoid repeating those very same mistakes.

Not knowing who this person was, Connor was a little intrigued. He was concerned that perhaps he put the woman on the defensive. Oh, God! I've insulted her! That's not good! I don't mean to be rude. What should I do? What should I do? "Um, uh, I'm Connor," he told her, avoiding looking at her and holding out his hand for shaking. "Perhaps, um, you would, um, like to uh, have a drink?"

“Lots of new faces round here at the moment. Don’t suppose any of you are engineers? Need my ship...repaired.” Petlota said not wanting to give away that jet ship had been impounded by the former station Commander. Now her life was spent drifting the commercial hub.

Katlyn nodded slowly, picking up her glass to indicate that it was fine with her. [b]"I'm Katlyn."[/b] She introduced herself in turn. The nurse glanced at the other woman. [b]"I'm not... I don't know anyone from engineering to ask sorry."[/b] She was not much help to her unfortunately, Katlyn sipped her drink and looked away awkwardly.

Connor's face picked up momentarily, his eyes sparkling slightly with the knowledge that someone needed an engineer. "I, um, well, I am an engineer," he told the nurse. "What, um," he looked down at the table, making it easier for him to speak. "What seems to be the problem with your ship? I, um, tend to specialize more in computers, but, um," he replied, making the mistake of looking back up into Katlyn's eyes, "um, I am, um, more, um, than competent, to, um, repair, um, well, your, um, ship." His face started to redden.

Shannon wasn't sure why she was even here, she wasn't exactly outgoing enough to love 'nights on the town' but even she had to admit yet another night closeted with her data PADDS was slightly less than appealing. So she was here on a little break. She found an empty table in a corner and slide into it.

"Still a computer engineer might know more than a nurse in regards to ship's systems. At the very least he might know who to ask." She had no idea as to who to ask in regards to ship repair. But her current companion might be able to assist Petlota with the trouble affecting her ship. Katlyn herself happened to be glad that her current posting with Starfleet was to a station rather than a ship. There were still too many raw and dark memories, too many ghosts not yet allowed to rest to enable her to stomach working aboard a ship again.

She anxiously sipped her drink and turned her gaze to the table.

Connor noticed that Katlyn cast her gaze to the table and tried to keep his fixed down on it, as well, despite the occasional peek at her, which would immediately cause hesitation, "I could, uh, take a look, well, at it, if you, um, wanted me to."

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Briegel, Paul and Nealey headed down to the Officers' Club where the rendezvous was taking place. The latter almost decided against going but changed her mind after Briegel suggested that she might enjoy it. After finding themselves a table Briegel and Nealey sat down whilst Paul went up to the bar to get some drinks for them.

"This seems nice" Nealey commented.

Briegel nodded. "Yeah it does"

Kara had considered visiting the Officer's club, I had been a long day but she didn't want to seem anti-social by not dropping in. She looked at Tomer, who was walking along with her. "Do you think we should drop in for a little while? I don't want people thinking we're not very social.

Tomer answered his wife, "I would not want to be anti-social at all. My only concern is your health and that of our future Captain in your belly." He laughed affably. "No alcohol for you. I hear they serve the real stuff out here. And if there's any smoke, it is back to quarters with you. Understand?" he asked, lowering his voice and his eyebrows at Kara.

"Perfectly!" Kara nodded and smiled. She loved it when Tomer's protective side came out. We'll just stay for a little while" She stifled a yawn. "It's been a long day & I would seriously love one of your magical back rubs, both this little one and I enjoy that!" Walking inside she smiled as she saw Nealey already there along with Briegel. She made for a neighbouring table and sat down to take the weight off her feet.

Shannon saw a couple coming to table near her and nodded politely as they sat down before returning her attention the wait staff who came to take her order.

"You can have as many backrubs as you want. Front ones too," Tomer said greedily. "Even if it is just for our future Captain." He caught Shannon's eye and dragged Kara with him. "I think she wants our company. Let's make sure that she has it." He promptly took a chair and let Kara sit on it first before taking his own next to hers. Without further adieu, he amiably said, "I'm Tomer Chaim. This is my wife, Kara. We just transferred here from the USS Kumari. I'm the Assistant Chief of Security and she's the new Chief Counsellor.”

Kara smiled warmly as she greeted Shannon. “I hope you don’t mind us joining you?”

Thinking it was her own fault she made what she thought was simple, polite, eye contact she watched the whirlwind and his wife sit down, "Um no that's fine." She replied after a moment, then she remembered manners, "Shannon Casantior, Intel."

"It's nice to meet you Shannon." Kara offered a warm smile. "Tomer, would you get us some drinks please? You know what I like." She offered a smile.

Obediently Tomer rose. "Of course, I will. I'll be right back." He gave his wife a peck on one of her forehead spots and headed off to get some drinks.

Kara waited for her husband to leave the table before turning to Shannon. "I'm sorry if Tomer made you feel uncomfortable, his heart is in the right place but he doesn't always stop to consider things."

Shannon smiled a soft smile, "It's ok I sometimes forget eye contact can be a dangerous thing with the outgoing." She said making a small joke, deciding to try to roll with it. Finding Kara to be, thus far, less of a twister than her spouse.

Tomer returned with two drinks and kissed his wife. "There you go, Besherta." He then placed his drink in front of where he sat and said, "How silly! I forgot to get you a drink. What would you like, Shannon?"

Shannon gave a small smile, "It's quite alright..." She said as a previously ordered drink appeared, "No need but I do appreciate it." She said politely, "Have a seat." She did not say 'if you can hold still long enough', she kept that gently bemused thought to herself.

Tomer did just that, moving his seat practically on top of Kara's. He kept his body tightly close to Kara's. His eyes roamed the room darkly, peering for any threats.

Kara couldn't help but smile as she watched Tomer scanning the room like he expected an attack at any moment. She turned to Shannon, "As you can see my husband is very protective."

Shannon smiled, "It's quite wise." She said her internal memories of the own dangers in her life not showing on her smiling face. It would be nice to have someone like that watch her back, alas. "The universe being what it is and all. How are you two finding the Faltan?" She asked conversationally.

"We've only just arrived," Tomer answered. "The Commander seems unique," he settled upon after a small pause. "But a base seems like a better place than a starship to raise a child."

Kara nodded in agreement. "It does indeed. This is the first time we've served aboard a station, up until now it's been starships so this will be a change."

"Well," Tomer hedged. "I did attack a Klingon base...."

"You did?" Kara looked at her husband curiously. "You haven't told me about that one, so do tell me more!"

"It was before you were on Kumari, Besherta. The exact mission before, in fact."

Kara nodded. "Well that explains it then!" She grinned.

"What do you mean?" Tomer asked his wife, confused.

"Just that I wasn't aboard then, so no reason for me to know about the Klingon base attack." Kara smiled as she looked at Tomer.

Tomer grinned back. "And therefore, there was no reason for you to worry, either." He nuzzled his wife gently, content that she did not have to hear any of the gory details.

Shannon smiled more at the couples by play than anything. She could tell they really cared for one another and was pleased for them. "He's not wrong in his reasoning, in Federation courts one can't retroactively be held accountable for a new rule or law." She offered lightly in support, pleased her night seemed to be looking up with possible new friends as they continued their conversation.

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Briegel, Paul and Nealey were sat around their table reminiscing about their time on the Kumari. It was a difficult time for them all at one point or another - but one thing they all unanimously agreed on was that it had brought them together as inseparable friends. Briegel had become the older sister Nealey never had and the Australian was forever grateful for everything the engineer and her husband had done for her.

The chef raised his glass to toast to the future - with Briegel raising her glass of wine and Nealey her glass of orange juice.

"To good times ahead" Paul said.

Briegel nodded. "I'll drink to that."

"Me too" Nealey said.

 

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