Dinner at Ten Forward

Posted on Fri Nov 6th, 2009 @ 6:47pm by Ensign Glen Rucinter & Commodore Samantha York

891 words; about a 4 minute read

Mission: The Devils Snare
Location: Ten Forward
Timeline: Current

Rucinter enters Ten Forward half an hour before 2000 hours. He wanted to feel the vibe of the place before meeting Lizzie. Surprisingly, the bar is not very crowded and he can see no familiar faces, so he heads straight to the observation lounge, placed at the very start of the saucer section. From this place, Rucinter can see the distant stars and the bright whooshing particle that seems to pass near the seems, nothing more than a visual effect of their warp engine.

The vast black area of space, populated with all kinds of stars, planets and nebulae always fascinates him. It's one of the reason he is being here, one of the reason why he chosen a career in Starfleet.

Today was a busy first day for him. Meeting with new shipmates, meeting with the captain, with his superior officer and also Lizzie. Not to mention the working hours, which were pretty intense, but he couldn't say that he didn't expect that. And he loves it, so there's no reason to complain, after all.

He looked around and picked a table so that they both could watch the empty space outside the protective shell of the ship. After a few moments, a young Bajoran lady ask if she could bring something to drink.

"Virgin Mary, please" said Rucinter, as the lady walked to the bar for his drink.

The drink was not bad at all. Not very spicy, but still surprisingly good. "Probably they have a fresh stock of tomatoes aboard, who knows" Rucinter ponders. As he sips from the glass, the Ten Forward's door open and the lovely ensign Jackson enters. She notices Rucinter, smiles and head over to his table.

"Hello," Lizzie said as she got to the table. He must have been early because she'd checked her chronometer before she entered the room and knew she was on time.

"Hello, I'm glad you made it" said Rucinter smiling. "I've just got here earlier to enjoy the view" he added, while moving his eyes from Lizzie to the view-screen on their left. "Except the engineering and the holodeck, this is the best place from any Galaxy class starship" Rucinter said, smiling at his companion for tonight.

"It is an amazing view, isn't it?" Lizzie responded. She loved looking at the stars... almost as much as she loved her trees, but not quite.

"How long are you on board Orion and how easily have you fit in?" Rucinter asks, while the Bajoran lady returns to take Lizzie's order.

"Would you like something to eat also?" the lady ask both ensigns from the table.

Lizzie looked at the Ensign for guidance.

"Well, I was hoping for some of your suggestions, since it's my first time here" Rucinter said, smiling at Lizzie.

"I'm no expert," she admitted. "I've had the stew and most of the sandwiches. They're good. I'm sure everything else they make is good, too."

"Ok, I'll take the a stew then and another glass of Virgin Mary, please" said Rucinter to the Bajoran waitress, turning to Lizzie.

"I'll have the stew, and a glass of red grape juice."

"So, what are you doing when you are not in the arboretum?" Rucinter asked his companion, while taking a sip from his beverage.

"Mostly I spend my time in the arboretum. I read a bit. Sometimes I'll go on the holodeck, but mostly I'm in the arboretum," Lizzie replied. It was true. She spent a good 12 hours a day, most days, in the arboretum. If she wasn't working, she was experimenting with new plant hybrids or some other pet project in one of the workrooms. Sometimes she slept in one of the back rooms.

"Interesting, you made me curious about seeing that arboretum. The ships I was until not didn't have such a facility and it's been a long time since I've seen a tree, not counting the holodeck ones."

"I would be miserable without trees. But, as a biologist, I spend much of my time there. Nature has a way of bringing peace to the soul."

The Bajoran lady brings our food and beverages and takes my almost empty glass, replacing it with a brand new, red glowing, tomato juice with various spices.

"Indeed, having some real trees and plants aboard a starship makes the mission much more endurable, knowing that you have some kind of oasis in this empty space, where you can relax and try not to forget the good old Earth" Rucinter agreed and then looked at the beautiful dish in front of him.

"Mmm, looks delicious" he said. "Bon apetit!"

"Bon apetit," Lizzie echoed, taking a bite of her stew. "Oasis in space. I like that. And it fits. I've always found the arboretum to be a sort of oasis. My fortress of solitude, sometimes."

Rucinter smiled, somehow happy that Lizzie liked his remark. The two of them continued the meal in silence, with some small talk between bites and beverage sips. You can almost read on Ruciner's face the content that he had a good first day on board the USS Orion. The best start on this new career opportunity and the perfect ending for a perfect day, dinner with a lovely ensign, while warping among the stars.

OFF

Ensign Glen Ruciner
Assistant Chief Engineer
USS Orion

Ensign Elizabeth Jackson (NPC)
Botanist
USS Orion

 

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