Dining of the Docs

Posted on Tue Jan 16th, 2018 @ 9:07am by Lieutenant Amelia Zano Psy.D.
Edited on on Thu May 31st, 2018 @ 9:52pm

1,581 words; about a 8 minute read

Mission: Episode 2 - The Enemy Within
Location: Lounge
Timeline: MD002 1900 hrs
Tags: SD 71373.1900

Richard stepped away from the bar with a glass of sinthaholic wine and strode a few short steps toward a table and then stopped looking at the array of stars though the ships transparent aluminum window bank. Wine had become his favorite drink it seemed since he found out one of his half sisters had a winery. It didn't matter so much that the fruit was different and from a planet other than earth where his particular glass of merlot had originated. He could see his reflection in the clear surface but he ignored it rather intent on a particular bright cluster of starts. The physician was still in uniform even though the hour was getting later and he should be thinking about turning in.

"I'll bring your order out in a minute Doctor," a woman from behind the bar said in a up beat tone.

Richard turned and smiled at the brunette and nodded, "Thank you Sherri."

For a moment he hesitated and then took a seat facing the window and sat the still untouched glass on the back lit surface of the table then sighed, "Only a few days and you've managed to get yourself in trouble already."

Amelia had decided that the day had been long enough. After dealing with a very stressful conversation with her father, then a rant at her mother about her father she was very much in favour of a drink. A real one.

Walking into the lounge in civilian clothing, as she was off duty after all, she could see it was quite busy. She was surprised, not knowing why really but she'd assumed it was a quiet ship.

Moving up to the bar she caught the attention of the bartender, "Do you have anything real? It doesn't even have to be a lot, I just can't have anything fake right now..." she almost pleaded.

With a broad grin the bark keep nodded and motioned for her to move to the corner of the bar as she grabbed a glass and a bottle from under the counter, "We are docked still so I do have a wee bit of Vulcan brandy." She winked at the woman and tilted her head as the ruddy brown liquid poured into the glass, "Once we are away there won't be anything real here." The barkeep slid the glass onto the counter and sat a napkin next to the beverage, "Will there be anything else Lieutenant?"

"I'll let you know..." she smiled, "I may be back for more, depends how well this goes down the first time."

She had never tried Vulcan Brandy before, don't get her wrong she'd drank quite a lot when she was in her human 'teens' but this had never been on her menu. Hopefully an unfortunate passer-by wouldn't get an unexpected surprise.

Turning to face the room she saw a man with his back to her wearing a blue uniform. Hopefully he was medical as she knew nothing to talk to science officers about. She had to make friends somewhere so why not in her own backyard as she thought.

Walking over she hesitantly spoke, "Hi... hope I'm not interrupting?" she asked. "I'm new on board and am hoping you're medical, not science? Not that science would be bad, I mean if you are I'm sure you're a nice guy and all that... I mean, ehm..." she began to waffle... You think a Counsellor would know how to speak to people...

Richard glanced up at the woman and smiled all through her ramble, "You are in luck, "I'm Doctor Richard Ballston, the Chief Medical Officer. His eyes sparked as he motioned towards the seat other seats at the table, "Please have a seat."

She looked like she wanted the whole world to open up and swallow her, though she was on a ship and that was unlikely... Smiling weakly she sat down and held her drink with her two hands in front of her on the table. "Thank you Doctor, I find medical personnel easier to talk to first before other 'professions'." she replied. "I'm Amelia..." she paused as he waited for a second name, "Zano! Sorry, Amelia Zano. Sometimes I forget Humans like a full name when introducing themselves."

"Relax Amelia," Richard said still smiling at her, "I honestly don't bite and I'm not human." His pale blue eyes sparkled, "It is a pleasure to meet you counselor.

"Good, I wouldn't think that biting on our first meeting would be the best way to start a good relationship." she joked, "You look pretty human, but then again so do I, where are you from Mr Ballston?" she asked.

Richard chuckled, "I'm from Betazed, at least that is where I spent the most time growing up and went to the University of Betazed but I am actually Azzian."

"Betazed is beautiful, I've been there once before and loved it." she said before realising he told her what race her was from. "Azzian? Can't say I've ever met one before, funny how we both look similar to Humans though... makes you wonder." she trailed off slightly getting lost in her own thoughts.

The physician chuckled and offered a wide smile, "You might ask why humans look like us."

Just to the man's left the waitress showed up with his order. She sat a rectangular plate before him. On it were what looked like seaweed wrapped sushi with a small round disk with a yellow fluid with small reed and green specks. The she set of silverware wrapped in a napkin, "There you are doctor, I'm not going to try and pronounce it but it looks wonderful."

"Gov'hosiba," Richard looking up at her, "You should try it sometime, the sauce is amazing."

She had began to feel more at ease here, less stressful in a more peaceful, relaxing setting. Looking at Richards meal she thought it did look amazing, "Can I actually have one of those too please?" she asked, "The smell of it has just made me realize I am starving! I'll need to get my patients to start bringing me cakes as tribute I think." she joked.

Richard chuckled and his eyes sparkled as he listened, "now there is a novel idea."

The waitress nodded and offered a smile, "I'll bring it right out for you," she said as she turned to leave.

"You are braver than a lot of individuals I've met," Richard said as the woman was out of ear range, "I've had encounters with individuals that were too scared to try the food of a different culture."

"Oh no, I love trying new things! Life is not worth it when you don't add a little proverbial spice to it... literal spice is something I am however not so good at." She stopped to think, "Imagine life without variety, I'll hopefully live for hundreds of years... nope, not going to be boring I can tell you that for a fact! Well, not all the time..."

"I think we all hope for lives with a bit of spice in them," Richard offered with a smile as he procured one of the small rolls, "isn't that why many of us join Star Fleet, hoping for a little more out of it?"

"I suppose you're right Doctor, hadn't really put much thought into it. I joined because to help people, learn more about the minds of different species and how they deal with 'life' and its hurdles." she said as her meal was put down in front of her. She mouthed thank you to the server and started her meal.

"Those are the best of motives counselor," Richard said with a nod, "if only I could instill those types of values in all my staff." He smiled broadly at the other woman, "so have you had the chance to meet all your staff yet?"

"Would be an ideal world if we were all idealists." she said half resigned, "I met with Ensign Quinn earlier today, she seems nice and I'm looking forward to working with her. Met Commander Malbrooke earlier this morning too, he'll be one to watch I think... not in a weird way through bulkheads or anything but you know what I mean. How do you find the Pioneer?" she asked.

Richard grinned and tilted his head, "I think this ship is going to take a while to get used to but it's a good one and I look forward to serving on her."

Looking down at her El-Aurian timepiece she looked at Richard and nodded, "I do get a good feeling about this place, everyone has been nice so far so I can't complain, although it's only been two days." she said finishing her plate.

"Stop by medical anytime," Richard said, "it's always nice to have a look round while things are peaceful, you know it won't stay that way." He chuckled, "As much as we might like it to."

"Thank you, I will." she said smiling at him and raising from her seat. "It was nice to meet you, we'll need to do this again. I'd be interested in hearing about Azzians and what they are like."

A Joint Post By:

Lieutenant Richard Ballston M.D. PsyD
Chief Medical Officer, USS Pioneer

Lieutenant Junior Grade Amelia Zano PsyD
Chief Counselor, USS Pioneer

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