Ensign Lera Michaels - Just how does a Vulcan eat a Doubles?

[steve...@yahoo.com]

((Ventral Ring Beta Module, Mellow Mushroom, Deep Space 33))

((During the meal - just long enough to pick up a tag I missed)

Banks: ::leaning in towards Lera:: I see what you mean about the doubles – it looks delicious, but how do I eat it without wearing half of it? Knife and fork, or just pick it up and pray? Or is there a trick to it?

Michaels: It is quite simple.

Lera stopped speaking as soon as she realized that what she had said was only true if you were a Trini, and had been eating doubles all your life. The memory of her first time eating came rushing back with force. The locals who had been with her at the time had laughed and laughed. Her blouse and her slacks had been stained almost beyond redemption. The only redeeming aspect of the experience was the respect she had earned for her ability to withstand the pepper.

Michaels: It is an acquired skill. First you have to understand that doubles are two pieces of soft fry bread overlapping at the bottom to form something like a taco. :: She paused and glanced up at the British woman sitting next to her. Do they have tacos in Britain? :: The filling is a peppery chickpea stew which will pour out if you are not careful. So, You hold it with one hand on the bottom to keep the fry bread from separating and your other hand at the back...

This was getting complicated quickly. Lera frowned and shook her head.

Michaels: Tell you what. The safest, cleanest way is to use a knife and fork, though no Trini... excuse me, no one from Trinidad and Tobago would ever do that.

((Brief Timeskip to after the meal))

Lera stood up and immediately drew the attention of everyone at the table.

Michaels: I wish to propose another toast. Yes. I know. It is probably the sugar speaking. But it is necessary. This time I am proposing a toast to one of our 'cheerful' band. I think it is important that you understand what happened out at the probe.

Zerva: Please do.

C. Matthews: ::mutters to himself:: Cheerful? Ha.

Michaels: Some of you know that I had an EV suit failure while examining Commander T'Dara's probe... which was really a ship killing weapon. The breathing air system of my suit failed and I blacked out. Many of you, I suspect, are aware that being unconscious while outside a shuttle well away from the ship is a sub-optimal set of circumstances. You may not know that Lt. Ras El'Heem donned his own suit and rescued me.

Lera held up her glass and nodded toward Ras' now empty chair.

Ezra, Charles and Banks, who had been listening along with the others, raised their glasses. Richard seemed to be the only one not doing so and it game him a pause.

Richard: :: Squinting at the orange eye :: The fug?

Zerva: ::whispering:: You okay there Richard?

C. Matthews: ::whispering:: What’s a fug?

Michaels: You may not know what happened next. Lt. Ras El'Heem, who has very little, if any, engineering training undertook the task of disabling the probe. Despite suffering a grievous injury and with just seconds to spare before the probe would have fired again... which would have certainly destroyed the ship... the only survivor's would have been Ensign Prix and myself ... and we would have perished in the Ouchita... Lt. Ras El'Heem succeeded.

C. Matthews: Damn right. ::hiccups::

Michaels: We are here today only because of the actions of one individual, Ras El'Heem. Every man, woman and child on Khitomer, :: quick glance at Ezra:: every dog, fruit bat, and several previously unidentified bacteria, every house plant, every fungus, and every tree in the arboretum on Khitomer are alive today only because of what he did.

Lera noted that Ezra smiled at her at the mention of the animals. She favored him with a half grin.

R. Matthews: And here’s to never having a pet.

Zerva: ::whispering mostly to himself:: Well then, I guess you’re never going to get the privilege to babysit Foxy.

C. Matthews: ::whispering to Ezra:: Would you trust him with Foxy?

Michaels: If it were in my power, I would award him a medal, but it is not. That would be insufficient anyway. The best I can do at the moment is to propose another toast. To Lieutenant Ras El'Heem, my hero. The savior of the USS Khitomer.

Banks: To Ras El’Heem

Zerva: To Lieutenant Jg. Ras El’Heem. May he give his all to science as he did medicine!

C. Matthews: To Lieutenant El’Heem!

R. Matthews: And to the continued good times with good people. Everyone, please try not to die. It’ll put a damper on these get-togethers.

Zerva: I’m what they call in security a “red shirt.” I’ll try my best.

C. Matthews: ::chuckles:: I died once. I don’t recommend it.

Michaels: I strenuously recommend against dying... and against having too much sucrose and driving.

Banks: Response

R. Matthews: Let’s also end off this night on a happier note, no more talking about what could have beens and worst case scenarios, yeah? Let’s focus on the fact that we’re all safe and sound here now.

Zerva: ::raising his tea cup again, even though it was empty.:: Here, here.

Banks: Response

Michaels: Hear, hear.

((Brief Timeskip, at the end of dinner))

The conversations subsided after a time.

Zerva: ::Whispering:: It’s getting late in the day. We should probably go. I believe you had something you wanted to show me after lunch?

Michaels: Indeed. I have been doing some work on a few holodeck programs. I have one that is ready to be seen that I believe you will enjoy.

Zerva: ::pulling out his chair and standing up:: I had a good time with you all. Thank you for joining myself and Lera. We’ll have to make a point to do this again on the next shore leave.

Charles frowned and then, moving like someone who had seriously tested their tolerance for alcohol, carefully stood up.

C. Matthews: I think I’m going to… ::hiccups:: …excuse myself as well.

Banks: Response

Zerva: ::waves goodbye and winks at Richard:: Next time, you can pick the restaurant.

Michaels: Are you all right, Charles?

C. Matthews: I’m just… oO Going to find a bar! Oo …return to the ship. ::gestures:: I’ll see you all around.

Banks: Response?

Charles turned to Lera, his face suddenly serious. Taking a moment, he gave her the traditional Vulcan split finger salute.

Charles: ::raises a ta’al:: Dif-tor heh smusma, Lera. (Live Long and Prosper, Lera)

Lera stifled a smile. The words were right though the accent was at least as bad as her own. She returned the salute.

Michaels: Sochya eh dif, Charles (Peace and long life, Charles.)

TAGS/End Scene for Lera


Ensign Lera Michaels

Engineering Officer
USS Khitomer
K240106LM2