A Little Bite - Part I
Posted on Tue Apr 25th, 2023 @ 3:14pm by Commander Steven Greco & Lieutenant Evelyn Stewart & Char & Lieutenant Commander Keishara Davaris & Gunnery Sergeant Matewa Natana
Edited on on Mon Jul 3rd, 2023 @ 10:51pm
1,673 words; about a 8 minute read
Mission:
Prologue: Centre Predominate
Location: USS Moore - DMZ
Timeline: MD 001: 2030hrs
The Bolian bar keeper, Char, smiled to himself as he took another order at the bar while hearing the party of bridge officers and the gunnery sergeant having a good time. He prided himself on providing a comfortable atmosphere.
The lounge was originally designated as a multipurpose space for various activities and functions, but the previous captain had seen the potential as a lounge and bar and commissioned the work to be done to transform the space into a proper lounge and social gathering location on the ship during the Dominion war.
Though not originally fond of the name, The Demilitarized Zone, shortened over time to ‘The DMZ’, Char understood the relevance for the tired veterans and didn’t push to change it once he took over running the place.
Leaning back into the corner of the comfortable leather couch, Stewart looked at the group. “So what does everyone think of our little Romulan guest joining us aboard?”, she asked the group in reference to Amarok.
Kei had a flagon of bloodwine. Don't ask where she got it but she always kept a bottle or 5 behind the bar in the DMZ and Char always looked after her. It was not irregular that her security had to break up a few fights here and there and sometimes she looked the other way when it suited her and helped the crew.
"What's one more pointy eared crewmember?" Kei asked rhetorically as she took a swig of her drink. "I still can't believe they've given him a provisional rank..." she scoffed.
"Department head as well." Matewa commented. "In charge of the science geeks."
Stewart downed her shot of whiskey and held out her shot glass to Kei to pour her some wine. She didn’t know much about the woman, just that she was El-Aurian and had a close relationship with the captain, whatever that meant. She wasn’t going to hold that against the tactical officer though.
“Yeah, but I will say this for Romulans, unlike Vulcans, at least they are honest about being liars.” Evelyn commented about the hypocrisy of the race she grew up around. “But seriously, I hear he’s been raised away from the Empire and spent years in the Federation.” She commented about the information she got from Remy Naal.
Kei looked at Evelyn and scrunched up her nose as she looked at the outstretched arm and small glass. Grumbling she poured some of her bloodwine into the container. She could feel the woman's curiousity when she looked at her.
"True." Keishara replied. "Vulcans claim to never lie, but we know that is not always the case. Though it sounds like this Romulan is more Human than his own kind then. It'll be interesting to see what he's like..." she took another drink from her own flagon.
"So he's like a neutered Romulan?" Matewa half asked.
Stewart laughed with everyone else. “I guess so.”, she commented before swigging back the shot of bloodwine and reacted to the taste. “God…I’m sorry, Commander but your bloodwine is off.” She half tossed the glass on the table before reaching for her ale to wash down the residual flavor.
“If you’d like, I’d be happy to introduce you to my supplier. Authentic, nothing manufactured about it.” She explained, passing judgement on the inferior wine with a playful smirk. She had enough experience with telepaths and empathy to know when her thoughts were being read. She let herself remain open for now.
"My wine is fine. Clearly it is your pallet that is 'off'." Kei said as she sipped the fine wine. "Picked this bottle up in 2325. Nothing manufactured about it and completely authentic." she picked it up and stared at it. "Helped sow the seeds the year before. Nothing like disappearing on a Klingon vineyard." She did however pick up on the playful nature of the comment. "Although, I am always open to trying different harvests." she smirked back.
Evelyn smirked and nodded in understanding. “Ahh so you prefer something old and bitter then, like you.” She teased playfully with a smile before taking a long sip of her Trakian ale. “I prefer something younger and dry.”
"Ah, like a reflection of yourself." Kei nodded. "Immature and boring." she teased back. The toing and froing was very much enjoyable. "I am only 230 you know... in your years I am... like 21."
"So, you're old and immature? Bitter and boring?" Matewa jabbed the proverbial knife in.
"Shut up, Matewa. Don't think just because you're a marine I can't throw you in lock up for being a smart ass." she glared at him but he knew she was being all bark at this point.
"That would be against regulations." Chimed in the fresh faced yeoman, Chiharu Hirano.
"Who brought her?" Kei threw both hands up. "I don't need someone running to daddy when she hears a bad word." Kei referred to the Captain.
Chiharu crossed her arms in a huff and sucked up her drink through a straw.
Stewart laughed outright at the exchange before turning her attention back to Kei. “I’m hardly boring and only slightly immature.” She teased the older woman.
Before Stewart could add another friendly jab, Greco walked up. “At ease.” He said, seeing the yeoman moving to stand. He gestured towards the bar to buy everyone another round on him. “May I?” He asked the group, but his attention was on Kei. He didn’t need to be an empath to know she wasn’t thrilled with him.
Kei wasn't going to stand anyway. She was off duty and comfortable in he chair. His eyes were on her, she knew not why or what the fascination was but still she looked up at him and gestured to an empty seat. "What brings you to the DMZ Commander?"
Steve gave his usual bright smile as he settled into his chair. He thanked the waitress when she came with everyone’s drinks, ordering a pint of beer for himself. With that business resolved, he turned back to the El-Aurian to answer her question with a shrug. “I heard this is the place to be after one’s shift on this ship. I like to be with my crew, make sure everyone is having as good a time as they can.” He said honestly.
Steve knew he was a likable guy and he had a good rapport with his last crew. He didn’t see why he couldn’t with this one.
Kei gave a single nod in acknowledgement of his answer and looked around the room. It was full of life, love and some drunks but it was a room she'd spent many a night in over the past 13 or so years and she was happy to have it.
"Welcome to the ship!" Chiharu almost shouted at him in excitement at new blood, almost as if she was also trying to get on his good side.
Kei rolled her eyes and shook her head. Chiharu's voice always went straight through her. She turned to Char and mouthed 'cut her off now' with the slow movement of her hand across her neck.
She then turned back to Greco, "Yes sir, welcome officially to the Moore. You're not a real crew member until you've had a drink in here." she raised her flagon across to clink it with his glass.
Steve smiled at the yeoman to keep from laughing at Keishara’s actions and letting on he caught it. “Thank you Chiharu.” When his drink arrived he thanked the waitress sincerely and took a sip before crossing his legs to settle in. “By the way, Commander. We are off duty so it’s Steve. ”he corrected his chief of security. “Now…what were we all discussing?”
Sure, Sss-teve." Keishara said a bit uncomfortably. "Keishara, or Kei." She referred to herself whilst trying to be more friendly. "It was toss up between either throwing Chiharu or Matewa into the brig for being pests..." she shrugged and took a sip of her drink.
Steve laughed at the thought. “Come on, I’m sure Matewa isn’t so bad and Chiharu is harmless.” He commented.
Stewart shrugged. “I don’t know, I was already in the brig by the age of twenty at the Academy. It’s a sort of rite of passage…” She mused with a smirk, gladly accepting the second pint.
"See!" Kei gestured with an open palm towards Stewart. "Someone gets it!" Keishara smirked. "All the good stories end up ending with someone in the brig,"
When everyone laughed, Steve shook his head in amusement at his chief tactical and helm officers. “I see where I’m going to be spending the most of my time when it comes to disciplinary actions.” He said good natured, giving both women a friendly smile.
"Well, we need to give you something to do." Kei winked at him without realising. "Plus I'm sure Chiharu will keep you busy with her sheer enthusiasm and overbearing personality." she teased as Chiharu went to speak before changing her mind.
Stewart pointed at Chiharu with the hand lifting her glass to her mouth. “Smart. You are learning.” She said to the crewman before she took a long sip of her ale. “So this is what you all do for fun around here?”, she asked not complaining but trying to move the conversation along.
"What? Drink?" Matewa asked rhetorically. "That's what I do mostly. Not a lot for a marine to do when we're not on the ground popping shots at people."
Keishara raised both her eyebrows at him as she looked his way.
"Well, we train with security of course." he added justifying the marines place on board. "Kei is quite generous with her time and seeing as how we are without a CO she has kept us busy. Aside from that I hold boxing competitions every so often. I'm sure others do other things."
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