Drinkin' and Discussin'

Posted on Thu Feb 15th, 2024 @ 1:09am by Commander Kevin Lance & Lieutenant Tracey Walker Jr
Edited on on Thu Feb 15th, 2024 @ 11:47am

Mission: Guilty Pleasures
Location: Risa
Timeline: Current

Kevin walked into the Risan bar where Trace was standing at the counter staring into his drink. “So, are we famous,” he asked, “for finding a glorified alphabet block?” He nodded towards the bartender who poured him a drink.

"Not the way it works, unfortunately. Miko will probably add a footnote in his paper about the 'helpers' he had on his dig, but that'll be about it. In ten years, you may be in a bar somewhere and run into a young lady who's in to xenoarchaeology, who's obsessed with the artifacts of exiled Risan Prince Ko'mer, and once you introduce yourself she may say 'The Kevin Lance, who helped Faran Miko find the favorit toy of Prince Ko'mer?"

Trace took a long swallow of his whiskey. "Welcome to fame, Commander." He said sardonically.

Kevin gave a smirk at the thought that any woman would be impressed by such a feeble accomplishment. He took a sip of his own whiskey. It was smokey and went down smoothly. Like most things on Risa, it was pleasurable while being inoffensive.

"I overheard a couple of Risans discussing a deviation in the seismic controls," he commented, "It coincided with the time that we were in Prince Ko'mer's secret chamber."

"Coincidence, no doubt." Trace said. "I don't recall any shifting rubble, do you?" He asked, rhetorically. "Anyway, not all treasure hunts yield treasure, but I appreciate you coming all the same. I'll understand if you want to be excluded next time."

“It was something different and the hike was a good aerobic workout,” Kevin admitted, “Let me know when you are going out again.”

Trace clapped Kevin on the back. "Good man. So, how are your new duties coming along?" He said, changing the subject before Kevin changed his mind.

Kevin grimaced, “The appointment as Second Officer was unexpected. And you know what they say about Second Officers. All the Responsibility, None of the Authority. It’s a lot of paperwork and report reading because you have to be prepared to take over in the unlikely event that both the Captain and XO are unavailable. Plus on so small a ship, I have to cover my duties as Chief Flight Control Officer as well. It’s perpetual double duty. Good thing that the crew gets shore leave so often.” He finished his drink and waved to the bartender for another.

"Yeah, on such a small ship we have to be able to get out from time to time. On the other hand, Engineering is so small I can see anything going wrong without taking two steps." Trace downed the rest of his whiskey and ordered another.

“Before my assignment, I was considering requesting a transfer,” Kevin admitted, “I have been on small ships in the past but they had lower crew to space ratios. And to be honest, I miss the privacy afforded by my senior officer quarters on USS Independence. On the Norris, I feel like I am sleeping at the oars.”

"Fair point." Trace said. "Though, It'd be a shame if you did transfer. I have this feeling that a level head in command would do this ship some good." He said, thinking back to the uproar after Commander Rodale blew the Romulan ship out of the metaphorical water. Perhaps if Lance had been in a position to advise there might have been a better outcome.

“Transferring as a Lieutenant would likely mean that I would only be a Flight Control Officer on a larger ship. Now as a Lieutenant Commander, I am eligible for a lateral assignment to another department head. Being appointed Second Officer changes that calculus. If I request a transfer so soon after been appointed,” Kevin spread his hands, “questions would be asked.”

"Well then maybe you should stay awhile, see how it suits you. But if you do get transferred to a bigger ship, well, let me know if there's an opening in Engineering."

“I was only considering transferring,” Kevin objected, “but if things do work out that way, I will keep you in mind.” He was about to take another drink when the glass was snatched from his hand. He turned in time to see a thin, medium height human female with short blond hair wearing a bikini with a sarong wrapped around her waist slam back the entire contents of the glass.

“Fill ‘em up again bartender!” she called out as she set the glass down on the counter.

It took a moment but Kevin recognized her as Ensign Murphy, the medical officer assigned to Norris after B’ner had been appointed Chief Medical Officer. The woman squeezed in between Kevin and Trace, saying, “I got abandoned by Chin and Rodriguez. The Captain sent out an alert to not be alone so I figured that you two fine strapping lads could protect me!”

Trace scooted down a stool and patted the one in the middle. "You bet we can." He said, holding his glass for the latest pour. He held it up. "To shore leave." He said, taking a large gulp.

“TO SHORE LEAVE!” Nim shouted as she raised her glass in salute.

Kevin pulled out his PADD. There was indeed a general alert to the crew to be on their guard after Ensigns Chin and Rodriguez were mugged. The alert had come in while he and Trace had been travelling back from the Risan wilderness, which explained why Kevin hadn’t seen it.

“So what have you fine gentlemen been up to?”

"Oh, you know, hiking, exploring, that kind of thing. What about you?" Trace said, leaning back against the bar.

Kevin was jealous at the way that Trace was able to so easily slip into conversation with the Ensign. Extroverted women, especially pretty ones, made him nervous and left him tongue-tied.

More drinks were shared and the conversation continued. Kevin ventured to speak when he felt like his contribution had the least chance to be noticed. Nim was laughing at a joke that Trace had cracked when a band in the corner of the bar began playing. Nim polished off her drink and turned to Kevin. “Dance with me,” she demanded.

“What?” Kevin answered taken off guard.

“Dance with me!” Nim repeated, tugging at his arm.

Oh void! Kevin thought, What do I say? “I’m not a good dancer,” he managed at last.

“Spoilsport,” Nim exclaimed. She turned to Trace. “And you good sir? Would you deny a lady in need?”

Trace shot a glance at Lance, his eyebrows raised as if to say, 'Dude, she wants you, not me!' but then shrugged and bowed to the young woman. "I would not dream of disappointing you, my dear."

The two of them made their way onto a dance floor sized area of the floor and danced. Trace wasn't very good at it but the girl seemed to dance well enough for the both of them. "You know," Trace said in a low voice, "You should try him again, gotta give him a chance to warm up. He's a bit out of practice."

"What about you?" She replied, "Wouldn't you be jealous?"

Trace chuckled. "Honey, I'm old enough to be your father. Trust me, that's not a road you want or need to go down." Besides, Trace thought, there were rules about this kind of thing. What was it, half your age plus Seven?

Lieutenant Tracey "Trace" Walker
Chief Engineer
USS Chuck Norris

and

Lieutenant Commander Kevin Lance
Chief Flight Control Officer
USS Chuck Norris