A Meal and a Chat

Posted on Thu Oct 15th, 2009 @ 4:01am by Commodore Samantha York

806 words; about a 4 minute read

Mission: The Devils Snare
Location: Lounge
Timeline: current

ON

Samantha hadn't been to the lounge yet, having taken most of her meals in her office or her quarters. It was time she rectified that.

She walked into the lounge just after the lunch rush and looked for an empty table.

Ted looked up and saw a woman walk in. It wasn't that busy so he walked to the table himself while the waiters were busy with bussing tables and cleaning. He held a padd in front of him to take her order. She was very pretty. "Hello, Lieutenant. I'm Ted. What can I get for you?"

'Hi, Ted. I'm Sam. I'd like a chicken club and a glass of milk," Sam said with a smile. "How is everything going here?"

Turner looked over the tables. "Well, it's going pretty good so far. Not too busy, and all the staff is here. I'll be back with that sandwich." He left, returning only a few minutes later with a glass of milk, a glass of water, and a chicken club sandwich he had made himself. "Here you are." He set the milk and sandwich in front of her and took the water to another customer before returning. "Sorry about that. Have to keep on top of things, no matter how much I like to talk. What department you in? And what's your usual drink? I need to know these things."

Sam chuckled. "I'm in the science department. I'm also an archaeologist. As for my favorite drink... it depends on my mood. I'm not much for alcohol. I prefer juice and milk. So, I'm afraid I'll have to disappoint you on that score."

Ted smiled. "What makes you think I'm disappointed? One less person I have to drag out of here when they drink too much. You know one Trill ended up dancing naked on the bar? And I can tell you those spots really do go all the way down.

"Oh, my. I'm not sorry to miss that," she said with a grin. "Although I'm sure it was... memorable."

Ted nodded. "You get a crazy bunch on DS5. The kind of crap that happens on shoreleave, you wouldn't believe." He cast an eye around the bar for more drinks that needed to be filled, but there were none. "I know though, that some crazy stuff can happen on Earth, too. Getting screwed on a beach, or nearly killing yourself while orbit diving. Doesn't matter, there's always something."

"Yes, there is. Even on a starship," Sam agreed.

Ted nodded. "I heard about some Marines that decided to jump into a tub of whipped cream and hot fudge from the second tier of engineering. Now that would have been something to see."

She shook her head. "I hope they cleaned up the mess. Hot fudge does not go well with electronics." She was glad her department was more disciplined than that. All she'd encountered was an eager botanist using the pole in the main science lab, now affectionately dubbed "the bat pole" to slide from the main science lab to the botany lab.

Ted chuckled. "Oh, they did. Excuse me." He went and refilled a few more drinks at two tables and came back a few minutes later. "Sorry about that. It happens in this line of work. But yes, they did clean it up and then they were put on waste extraction duty for a month. Ah, good old Greyhawk...the things he got himself into." A dreamy look came over his eyes and he paused, giving a good effect.

"So, I take it you were one of these rabble-rousers yourself at one time?" Sam asked.

Ted shook his head. "No. I just have been around the block a few times. I served on the Andromeda the same time that guy was there. Stupidest idiot you ever saw. But...he's a good Marine. Only problem was he got so bored on the Andromeda that he started instigating crap like that."

"I've heard about the Andromeda. Not a ship I'd like to be on, I must say," Sam said. She was eating her sandwich as she talked with Ted.

Ted excused himself again to check on the customers. One wanted some pepper, one wanted salt. After getting the needed condiments, Ted returned. "Sorry about that. But no, the Andromeda wasn't the greatest ship to serve on. We spent months patrolling empty space, and the crew got in fights just to have something to do. It made my job a nightmare, I can tell you that."

Sam shook her head. "That's really sad." She finished her sandwich and her milk. "That was great. Thanks."

He gave her a warm smile. "Any time. Come back soon."

"I will," she said, returning his smile. "Good luck."

OFF

Lieutenant Samantha York
Chief Science Officer
USS Orion

Ted Turner
Lounge Manager
USS Orion

 

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