Breakfast

Posted on Tue Jun 25, 2019 @ 1:31pm by

1,765 words; about a 9 minute read

Mission: Plaga Navis
Location: Mess Hall

The sleeping aid that the doctor had given her had seemed to work. She'd slept the night through without nightmares, without dreams, just darkness. It had not been as restful as she'd liked but she had slept that was a step in the right direction. Opting for a quick breakfast she'd replicated an egg and Plomeek and cheese omelet along with some orange juice and a strong cup of coffee.

The hall was full. She'd heard that the new chef would be cooking tonight so there was a big hoopla bout cooked food but for now she'd just put up with replicators. As she wound her way through the hall she found the one unoccupied seat and it happened to be by a window. She supressed a smile and headed there. Like a lion she stalked the table an slid into the empty seat clattering her tray as if daring someone to take the table from her.

Alec wove his way through the crowded mess hall a tray in his hands. After getting Rossa to Sickbay, he made a preliminary report but he still had to give Rhea a full report. he knew she would asl questions he just hoped he had the answers she wanted. He looked down at his tray, it held scrambled eggs, toast and bacon along with a cup of orange juice. he headed for his usual window seat, exchanging pleasantries with some of the crew. Then he pulled up short, someone was sitting in his seat! Judging from the uniform, they were in Intelligence. He sighed, it was bound to happen. he thought after all the table didn't have his name engraved on it. it was just it gave him a few moments to reflect and some time to himself. He looked around for another table.

T'Mira had placed her tray down and began her routine. She removed the salt and pepper shaker from her tray placing them against the wall. She removed the coffee cup placing a napkin under it to protect the table. She tilted her head and deciding the angle was off she moved the cup two inches to the right. She then unrolled her fork and knife and spoon. She placed the spoon face down horizontally to the fork which was also faced down and then the knife to the right. She took the plate off the tray and put it on the table and the orange juice glass right in the center above the plate. Satisfied with the measurements of how they all stood, relative to one another, she placed the tray under her seat for later collections when she took everything back to the replicator.

She noted someone standing close to her observing her. She saw the rank badges and stood. "Commander on....." Deck? no that's not right, Mess hall? Doesn't fit. It came to her. "Commander on breakfast." She said standing at attention. She noted after she'd said it that the phrasing didn't sound right either.

Alec blinked as the female officer, a Vulcan he noted stood at attention and made her announcement. It took him a moment to realize she was talking about him. "At ease Lieutenant." He said with a smile. "It's breakfast. We don't get serious until after breakfast." He smiled again. "Um, do you mind if I join you? Share the table. There doesn't seem to be another one available."

No, "Yes sir," she motioned to the empty place. "Of course." She sat down now that he'd called at ease. She supressed a sigh. Another person at the table....she recalculated and moved all the items in what seemed like exact measurements to allow for a second person. A momentary bit of panic rolled through her. She would have to make conversation...."Would you like me to unpack your tray?"

"Lieutenant relax." Alec replied with a smile, "Believe it or not I've had plenty of experience in unpacking my tray." Even as he was taking the items off the tray and placing them on the table. The juice to his left. The plate with the eggs, bacon and toast in front of him and napkin and silverware to his right. That done he took his own tray and set it to the right and under his seat. He looked across the table at her, "I'm Alec Hunter, executive officer of the Victory." He said by way of introduction.

She gave a nod. "Yes sir. I have studied the crew records. Alec Hunter, Born on Cadamus Prime, height six feet even last weight 190 pounds. No brothers, one sister and your age is thirty seven." She studied him. "There was one puzzling item on your record however."

Alec sipped his juice as T'Mira, reeled of his vital statistics. "Yep, that's me. "A puzzling fact? What might that be? Hopefully I can unpuzzle you." he finished as he took a bite of his toast.

"Your record says you are stubborn as a mule. I ..... do not understand." She tilted her head. "Why would your commanding officers say that?"

He swallowed some eggs, "Because it's true. I am stubborn. I believe in my capabilities as well as my ability to size up a situation. That's doesn't mean I don't listen to other points of view. I do. However if I feel I'm right, I stand my ground. The worse thing you can do as an officer is waffle or be indecisive."

"Fascinating." She said. T'Mira proceeded to pick up her fork and knife. She cut the slices on her place into even slices and then spread a napkin in her lap. She took three sips of her orange juice and then she took a bit of her meal. She looked out at the stars and then back at the commander. "Commander I have a confession to make. I am not good at holding non work related conversations."

Alec leaned back in his chair and studied her, "Why Lieutenant T'Mira, late of the USS Mercury I find that hard to believe." He paused before continuing, "I read the transfers coming to the Victory." He followed her gaze out the window, then back to her, "Give yourself time, meet the people here halfway and you will be surprised how easy you can start and hold a conversation."

Her head tilted to the side in confustion. "Where would I meet them half way? What is the starting position and the end point? How will that help with conversation?"

"Lieutenant. You and I are having a non work related conversation and you are holding your own well." Alec answered. She was a true Vulcan literal to a fault. "The point being just say hello. Make an inquiry about where someone works and see where it goes. If they mention a hobby ask about it, take an interest."

"But I mostly know where everyone works...hobbies." She stayed silent. "I see." She took a few more sips of her juice and then another bite. "As an intelligence officer I am always interested in what people are working on or thinking about."

Alec nodded, "There you go. Use that to strike up conversations with people. You'll be amazed at what you can find out."

"Hhmmm. I see. I must say the crew here is...interesting. I've met a couple of them. One that would make a Tarkalian Razor Beast run in fear but I might ask her to be my Deputy Intel officer. She is good at finding things out."

"Your the chief. it's your department. Use the people to theirs and yours best advantage." Alec answered as he chewed on some bacon.

She finished her meal and packed up her items. She was just picking up her coffee when something out of the corner of her eye. She looked over momentarily stunned. She watched as the man exited the doors. She'd never get used to that. She'd run across the diplomat earlier and it had been....a rather tense situation. She shook her head. "Apologies. I was thinking of an incident earlier where I almost pummeled the diplomat."

Alec swallowed his bacon. "Mind explaining that? Why would you want to pummel a diplomat? " He asked as he sat back to await her answer.

She took a sip of her coffee. "I mistook him for someone else...it was a misunderstanding. Once I pinched his arm I knew he was real."

Alec nodded but he didn't really understand. He felt like he was missing important information. "Ahhhhh. The pinch test." He answered. "A tried and true means to establish if someone is real or not."

She gave a nod glad that he saw it her way. "He does bare a striking resemblance to the Vulcan God of Death. I had to make sure."

"Of Course." Alec replied. "And are you now convinced that he isn't the Vulcan God of Death?"

"Yes. Quite convinced." She said as if they were talking about eggs and ham an everyday occurrence. She tilted her head to the side and studied him as she took a sip of her coffee. "I must say I am ... quite relieved to have met you. Most people find me odd you seem not to."

Alec smiled at her, "And I you T'Mira. I don't find you odd at all. Those that do must have no concept for the subtlety and the logic in both how you think as well the logic you use."

She tilted her head again, a soft shadow of surprise crept over her. She was intrigued by the people whom she'd come across on the ship. A small corn sized kernel of hope was born that she'd found her forever home. She tried to stamp it out. Getting her hopes up was no an option. "This ship, sir." She searched the words. "Is...fascinating."

Alec took a sip of his juice. "Good word. You have no idea. Prometheus class. She can handle anything that comes her way. Got a great crew with a Captain that's the best. You won't find any better." He said his pride, in the ship, it's crew and captain coming through and now your part of it. SO I formally say, welcome aboard the Victory."

She gave a nod. "Your welcome is appreciated." She packed up her tray. "If you will excuse me commander I should get back to my post."

Alec nodded, "Of course Lieutenant. It was nice talking to you. Again welcome to the Victory. If you ever need someone to talk to my door is always open."

She gave a nod and headed out.

 

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