A Friendly Lunch
Posted on Wed Jul 31st, 2019 @ 10:19am by Lieutenant Commander Katherine Malbrooke
Edited on on Tue Aug 6th, 2019 @ 11:17pm
1,425 words; about a 7 minute read
Mission:
Episode 7 - Home Again
Location: Lower Promenade - Deck 6 - Central Core - Empok Nor
Timeline: MD007 1200 hrs
Ameri headed onto Empok Nor for lunch with Kat. They hadn't been able to talk much at the party and she was eager to catch up with her friend.
Finding the restaurant, she entered and headed over to where Kat was sitting. Looking at the waiter who immediately appeared she smiled. “I’ll have an iced tea, no sugar.” She turned to Kat and grinned. “Finally, we can visit!”
The waiter topped off Kat's blueberry lemonade before he left. "It's been so crazy lately, I'm glad we could find any time to chat," she replied. "How is shore leave so far?"
“It was good at first,” Ameri confessed. “But we have this Operations Chief who seems to want to cause trouble.”
"Really? What sort of trouble?" Kat mostly wanted to offer a sympathetic year, but she was also curious about what sort of trouble the chief was causing.
“Dressing down officers on the bridge,” Ameri replied. “Spreading rumors about her staff and others. Apparently I'm an inept officer as well.”
Kat laughed. "You're hardly an inept officer." Then she shook her head. "But for the rest... I doubt Tyler will let that continue. That sort of behavior demoralizes the entire crew."
“I wanted to handle it but Quinn wouldn’t hear of it,” Ameri informed her. “So now I am like the teachers pet because he spoke to her. So did Tyler, it didn’t do any good. She is all by the book and apologetic except when they aren’t around.”
"Of course she is," Kat said. "I've met the type. I'm sorry you had to deal with her." That type generally only respected authority, not others.
Ameri didn’t want to talk about her troubles anymore. “So, have you talked to Tyler about coming on the Pioneer?”
Kat grinned. "I didn't exactly talk to him about it, but your husband made it an actuality."
“Quinn?” Ameri frowned. “Holding out on me, is he?”
"He didn't tell me to keep it a secret." Kat shrugged. "I'll be helping your husband with a project--and transferring to the Pioneer."
“Yesss,” Ameri said her face lighting up. “We will all finally be together!
"I'm looking forward to seeing Tyler every day." The waiter came and Kat ordered a salad.
Ameri smiled. “Are you finally going to make me an honorary aunt!”
"It's long overdue," Kat replied, grinning. "I think Tyler is softening to the idea. If not, I'll have plenty of time to work on him."
“Oh,” Ameri smiled. “Then it is happening! Tyler would give you the universe if he could.”
She smiled. He didn't believe in having families on starships, but she thought she detected some softening in his attitude. "I just want us to be a family like you and Quinn."
“You will be,” Ameri replied. “He misses you so much when we are gone. And I see him with Enya. He wants a family so he is going to have to compromise.”
Kat nodded. "I miss him, too. I was ready to resign my commission and write technical manuals so I could be with him all the time." She smiled. "I may end up doing that yet. But the important thing right now is that I'm on the Pioneer. And we get to spend time together."
“Yes,” Ameri nodded. “One thing at a time. I believe it won’t take him long anyway. He wants a little Kat running around.” She took a drink. “How soon are you joining us?”
"As soon as I get everything wrapped up on the starbase," she said. "So, what else is going on with you?"
Ameri’s eyes filled with tears. “I messed up, Kat.” She shook her head and looked away. “Lieutenant Wakefield was spreading stories about me and others. One thing led to another and I poured a pitcher of water over her head.”
Kat put her hand over her friend's. "I probably would have done the same. From what little you said, I'm sure she deserved it, too." To help Ameri feel better, and to get her to smile, she added, "Can you imagine what would have happened if we'd been there together and both dumped something on her head?"
Ameri smiled. “I wish you had been. She grabbed me by the hair and it is kind of blurred but I felt threatened like she was going to hurt me and I reacted in kind. We gave the mess hall quite a show.”
The more she heard about this other woman, the less she liked her. "If it happens again, sell tickets."
Two large salads and a basket of rolls were set on the table. When the waiter left, Kat returned to the topic. "What did you do that was so unprofessional she felt the need to dress you down on Tyler's bridge?"
“I asked a new crew member if he was settling in okay,” Ameri rolled her eyes and laughed. The first time in days. “Her crew member, like she owned him or something!” She shook her head. “It gets worse, you will have to ask Tyler and Quinn about that I am not certain if I am allowed to tell their part in all this.”
"She got upset over that?" Kat shook her head and grabbed a roll. "There are no words. Just...wow. So, tell me about your daughter."
“Enya is lonely,” Ameri confesses. “There aren’t any children her age. But I got her to take a defense class with me and I see some interest.”
Kat raised an eyebrow. "Really?"
“Yes,” she laughed. “The funny thing is I am really enjoying it.” Ameri took a drink.
"Isn't that what matters?" Kat asked. "Being with your family and enjoying life?" She was to the point where she wasn't content working and seeing Tyler when the ship docked. Now, she wanted more. Thanks to Quinn, she had that opportunity. "So, what else is going on in your life?"
“Rumors of a promotion.” Ameri smiled. “I don’t know where but there are whispers.”
"Yours?"
“I am afraid to hope,” Ameri admitted. “With all that has happened they may feel I am not ready.”
"If it helps, I think you're ready," Kat said encouragingly. "But if not now, next time." She grinned. "Wouldn't it be ironic if they got rid of your problem child and gave you the position?"
Ameri smiled. “That would be poetic justice.”
"It would." Kat paused to eat some of her salad. "So, what do I need to know about the Pioneer that Tyler won't tell me?"
Ameri smiled. “I’m not really the best person to ask that question. Other than parties and crew situations that required my attention I was home with Enya mostly. The crew is close, like one big family but there are undercurrents between some that are always there when you have different outlooks.” She took a bite of her food. “We just came off an intense mission. I can see changes in Quinn, things happened I will probably never know about. And some of the others as well.”
"Tyler has nothing but good things to say about the crew--as he should," Kat said. "I'm looking forward to getting to know them as more than just the Captain's wife."
“That is what I am working on as well,” Ameri smiled. “I want to be taken seriously.”
"All they need is a little time to get to know you," Kat assured her. "You're great at your job, and you have a great work ethic. You also help people feel comfortable--with one or two notable exceptions."
“Thank you for that, Kat,” Ameri said with a smile. “I guess you can’t please everyone.”
Kat nodded. She'd managed to tick off more than one person in her life. The conversation turned general as they finished their meal.
When Kat put her thumbprint on the PADD to pay for the meal and the dishes were cleared, she turned to Ameri. "We need to do this more often."
“Once you are on the ship,” Ameri said with a smile. “We should get together weekly at the least.” She stood when Kar did and came around, giving her a hug. “I am so happy!”
"Me, too," Kat replied, hugging her back. "Me, too."
A Joint Post By
Lieutenant Ameri Ó Flannagáin
Chief Operations Officer, USS Pioneer
Lieutenant Commander Katherine Malbrooke
Mission Advisor - USS Pioneer
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