Slug O Cola Delights

Posted on Sat Aug 15th, 2020 @ 4:04pm by Captain M'Mira & Lieutenant Oliver Radrick

1,619 words; about a 8 minute read

Mission: Mission 3: Diplomacy, what’s that?
Location: Gik'tal

Oliver walked awkwardly beside Livia as they made there way out of his quarters toward the promenade of the station. He was so used to doing everything alone that it felt unnatural to be heading to dinner with her, which most likely showed as he fidgeted with his combadge as he walked.

"So I was hoping to take you to Gik'tal's. The Bregit lung they serve is amazing and when you pair it with Slug O Cola it is just perfect. I have not been on Station for a long time; but long enough to do business with some of the local merchants. DeRok of House Ram'tal runs this place and he keeps a supply of my product on ice for me when I dine there."

Livia smiled politely at Oliver. He seemed to be a wheeler and dealer and that worked well for all of her purposes. "That's very kind of him. I look forward to sampling the wares."

Gik'tal's was located further down the promenade away from the main more attractive businesses. It almost looked closed by the primitive sign that hung above the establishment that read Gik't with the al's missing having been scratched off.

Oliver walked ahead of Livia into Gik'tal's which was a smaller single level room with a bar in the back with a door leading into a kitchen and about five tables placed randomly around. He took a look around and saw that the place was empty except for a drunk older Klingon at one table on the other side and a two Tellarites in the middle arguing.

He recognized the Tellarites having meet them earlier when they argued with him for over two hours about why they should be allowed to transport highly explosive unregistered canisters of Onster onto the station.

"Let's sit closer to the bar" Oliver said as he continued forward hoping DeRok would be working today and was just in the kitchen. It would prove most embarrassing if he could not get his supply.

"I'm somewhat surprised that you do not want to find a dark corner for just the two of us," Livia retorted.

"It would be unbecoming of me to slink in a dark corner while in uniform even if off duty." That was of course not true and would break no regulations but Oliver was becoming nervous around Livia. She seemed to have some sort of pull on his emotions. He struggled to keep things about the business.

"HA HA OLLLIE" a loud voice appeared from the kitchen and a large Klingon figure approached from around the bar at a fast pace heading for Oliver.

Oliver stood quickly and dodged a swing at his face from the hammer sized fist of the Klingon.

"You may be stronger but remember I will always be more prepared and quicker. Honor is not only in strength of the body but of the mind." Oliver said as he embraced the Klingon in a friendly hug.

"Excuse me allow me to introduce a fri....business associate of mine." he stood aside so the Klingon could see Livia.

Livia smiled at Oliver. He was not your standard Starfleet Officer and she was amused by his lies. Perhaps he would be useful to her. Time would tell. Livia looked over at the Klingon and gave him a winning grin. "It is a pleasure to meet you. Oliver here says that you have the best Klingon cuisine. I wish to see if he is nepwI' or if he is a man of honor."

"HA I like this female already." DeRok spoke loudly. "I am DeRok Son of SeMok" he introduced himself and approached her.

"Q'aplaH! DeRok, Son of SeMok. I am Livia daughter of Sagan. Well met, DeRok." She gave a secret smile at Oliver. "I look forward to determining the mettle of Mr. Radrick here."

"Okay....Okay we all know each other now. DeRok get us some Bregit lung and two bottles of my stock." Oliver was slightly taken back by how well Livia addressed the Klingon.

"HA I will bring you the best Bregit Lung you have ever had tasted." DeRok put an arm around Livia and shook her strongly. "Then perhaps some Blood wine to wash down that Ferengi filth you drink." He laughed deep and gripped Livia tighter.

Livia grinned at DeRok, "And then we will sing of our glorious victories," she told him.

"HA YES. Let me get your food to you before Ollie hear gets to jealous of our new friendship." DeRok disappeared into the back.

"Well it looks like you have made yourself a new friend." Oliver now saw why she was chosen to speak for here employer. He was certain she adapted to any situation extremely well. He envied her personal communications skills.

"So...um...how long have you been in this position....the job I mean" Oliver tried his hand at becoming personal versus the direct business route he normally took.

"A few years," Livia answered simply. "How long have you been in yours? And does Starfleet know of your side business?"

"Its been nine years and Starfleet only knows about the items I have to register at the ports. Its not against regulations to operate a side business." It did however, have many rules and regulations to how he was allowed to operate, but he was not about to go over that with her.

Just then DeRok returned with the food and placed the plates in front of them. The lung looked like it was just freshly removed, dripping and wet. The plate it was served on looked extremely used and was a solid metal with Klingon markings around the rim of the plate. The Slug-O-Cola had a light frost to the outside of the bottle.

"Well done DeRok it looks great. If you would also bring me a Slug-O-Cola that is not from my stock but of the standard you sell." Oliver said with a smirk on his face.

He turned toward Livia "I know you may think this is a set up but if you will see my bottle has the manufactures seal and the other bottle will also have the manufactures seal. The difference in taste is so simple to notice....well just try and see." Oliver realized he might have been getting to aggressive and excited with his tone and pulled back.

"Seals are easy to counterfeit, Mr. Radrick," Livia informed him. "You nearly pulled off Rule 214...." She gave him a smile similar to that of the cat that ate the canary. "Nine years, you say. And exactly what businesses would those be in?" Her smile became wider as she stuffed in some of DeRok's Bregit Lung. She slammed her fist down on the table, stood up, and exclaimed to all that could hear, "Best Bregit Lung in the sector!" After a second, Livia sat back down and smiled warmly at Oliver, "Do you think that will do for your friend?" Nonchalantly, she unsealed the Slug-O-Cola and had a sip, all the while smiling bemusedly at Oliver.

"Praising his food will go straight to his ridged head." Oliver laughed slightly and took a huge bite of the lung and a deep chug of the Slug-O-Cola. "Well I think I have done all I can in showing you a great deal unless of course there is more you require, but don't forget rule 292." Oliver was beginning to enjoy the back and forth with someone who fully understood the rules of acquisition.

"Are you implying that I am a fool?" Livia asked, her eyes looking downwardly at Oliver. "You say that this is a bargain, but that makes me think of Rule 294. I simply wish to apply rule 217 and make sure that there's something in this for me."

Oliver thought of Rule 203 and realized this one had very sharp teeth.

"I shall make this offer. I will deliver one case which contains fifty bottles to any registered federation vendor with delivery included but I request in return a recreational meeting with you at a later date on the holodeck. This meeting would require your boss to release you from duty during this time. I wish to...get to know you better." He would take a loss on the bottles, but the transportation would be no cost to him because he would use federation channel loopholes to move the product. Plus if he could closer to her then he could get closer to her boss and perhaps furnish a dealing that would prove most profitable and he could send the profits back to his father's station to help him elevate his debts.

Oliver knew it would be hard to refuse an offer on basically free product, but would she be willing to sell her own time in exchange for profits to her boss. This would prove to Oliver where she stood.

"You certainly know how to properly ask a girl on a date," Livia replied with a seductive and mischievous smile. "Very well, I accept. Fifty bottles to the Hot Shots Cafe by noon of the day you wish to have a date." Her smile became more secretive. "A girl does like to dress to impress."

"I can have the delivery made in three days." Oliver said as he entered it into his data pad. "Now let's celebrate the closing of this deal." Oliver Chugged down the last of his Slug-O-Cola then stood up with a belch and yelled. "Q'aplaH! DeRok BRING THE BLOOD WINE".

"Three days, then," Lidia gave a short laugh and then a smirk at Oliver. "Blood wine will wash this down nicely."

DeRok supplied endless rounds of Blood Wine and the shouting could be heard throughout the station.

 

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