Fleet Captain Addison MacKenzie - The Unexpected

[Addison MacKenzie]

(( Molly Malone’s Irish Pub – Deck 225, Deep Space 224 ))

After what seemed like an eternity, Captain MacKenzie had returned to Molly Malone’s, focused on sinking her teeth into what she considered some of her favorite bites in the galaxy. In anticipation of the first taste of chicken wings, her salivary glands were on overdrive as the barkeep brought the basket of crispy, greasy, saucy goodness and set it down in front of her face. Just as she was about to bite into her first wing, there was a voice from behind.

Lyara: Fancy seeing you here captain!

Any previous comfort or pleasure felt by the commanding officer quickly fell from her face as she stared forward.
 
Maybe if she chose not to answer, she could pretend she wasn’t the commanding officer of the Artemis for ten minutes.

She took a quick breath in through her nose and plastered on a smile before swiveling in her chair to face the Bajoran woman.

MacKenzie: Ensign – fancy running into you here. Welcome to Molly Malone’s. Is this your first time?

Lyara: Yes, it is. I’ve never been in this part of the galaxy before.

And yet, she’d managed to find an empty barstool right beside the captain. Addison gestured to it.

MacKenzie: Won’t you join me?

Lyara: I’d love to!

Lyara offered a smile and took the stool. As she sat, the Trill bartender returned and slid a menu in her direction. While the Bajoran took a moment to look at the menu, Addison was reminded of the wing in her hand as a thin trickly of grease started to make its way from her palm to her wrist. She took a casual bite of the wing – savoring them would now have to wait – and then pointed the half-eaten wing apathetically in Lyara’s direction.

 

MacKenzie: How is your arm, Ensign?

Alroyo glanced at her arm as though she needed the visual affirmation of her healing.

Lyara: My arm’s doing good. Thanks to your handiwork of course.

Addison returned her attention to the wing, rocking her head back and forth.

MacKenzie: It was a patch job. If you haven’t had Dr. Adea give you a formal look at, you need to.

Lyara: I’m gonna get a check up since there’s some minor pain every once in a while. Like when you work out but it’s just a little more intense.

MacKenzie: Could have been a lot worse.

They were both aware of the junior officer’s carelessness. Addison only hoped that the lesson had been learned.

 

Lyara: Any recommendations?

Lyara looked in her direction and motioned to the menu. Addison leaned over to take a look. It had been so long since she looked at a menu, she couldn’t remember exactly what the pub had to offer, but once she got her eyes on it, there were several things that she remembered.

 

MacKenzie: ::holding up a wing:: These are always a good place to start – some of the best in the galaxy, in my opinion. I seem to remember a former colleague from my days on the Resolution who was a fan of the potato skins. And the pizza.

Lyara: Response

Addison simultaneously shook her head and wagged her finger.

 

MacKenzie: The hasperat is a mistake. The heat is pitiful and the taste is underwhelming. Save yourself the disappointment.

Lyara: Response

MacKenzie: Hasperat is a favorite of mine, Ensign. (beat) I’m sure there are many things about me you might not expect. ::holding up the wing in her hand as evidence::

Lyara: Response

 

Tag, and TBC!

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Fleet Captain Addison MacKenzie, M.D., Ph.D., FASFS
Commanding Officer
USS Artemis-A

Captains Council Member at Large

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