Harriet
Posted on Tue Nov 26th, 2024 @ 6:41am by Senior Chief Petty Officer Harriet Hastings
Edited on on Tue Nov 26th, 2024 @ 9:02pm
1,672 words; about a 8 minute read
Mission:
The Foragers
Location: E-Woks, Empok Nor.
Timeline: Day After Get the Party Started
Harriet worked up her hair into a bun and let it swing loosely at her back as she walked through Empok Nor’s concourse. She was actually glad to be away from the ship and dressed in civilian garb, though it was a simple skirt, long-sleeved turtle-neck sweater and knee boots. The weeks on Valiant, the death of the Ambassador and the fight with Pirates were just the tip of the iceberg and Valiant’s COB needed a break and she’d messaged an old friend when they were ordered to Empok Nor for shore leave.
With some hush hush things going on in the near future, the Chief Engineer gone off she knew she’d be pulling duty more and more there. Which was fine, but for now she just wanted some time off.
Now all she had to do was find HIM.
He’d watched her for about two minutes, having spotted her exiting from the VEQ (Visiting Enlisted Quarters) lift easily enough and followed her out of habit. Bashful hadn’t seen her in nearly three years, but she hadn’t changed. Sliding up behind her, he waited until her attention dressed right and he slid in next to her and said out of the corner of his mouth, “Why, Hasty Hastings, as I live and breath. How’s things?”
Startled, Harriet chided herself that she shouldn’t have been surprised. But he had always liked to surprise people. She stopped and punched him affectionately in the arm and said, “Bash. I Keep telling you not to do that. How’s things? Mostly where they’re supposed to be, don’t you think?” She said striking a pose as the station’s inhabitants streamed around them. Both were old hands and didn’t take much notice to the flow of persons.
He laughed and looked her over, nodding. “Mostly, I think,” he said with a glint in his eye. “I think the left one might have dropped a little.”
She punched him again and he shied away with a laugh, then offered her his arm. “Good to see you Hasty. Been what, three years?”
“About that she confirmed,” she said as she linked arms with him and the joined the flow through the stations promenade. “How’s Madi?”
“Growing like a weed,” Bash said, subtly guiding her through the way toward a lift that would take them to an upper level. “She send her love and is excited to see you again, though it’ll probably be tomorrow. They’re on a field trip today. Their teacher convinced one of the Marines with E&E training to do a lesson on finding edible flora and fauna for the stations Pioneer troop. They’re camping on a forest moon over that way.”
He gestured with his free hand and Hasty shook her head. “Over that way? What’s that mean?”
“Three, four light years, some place called RODNE IV,” Bash said dismissively as they stepped off the list and began winding their way through the level till they came to a small hanging restaurant that looked over the stations botanical bay. The smell of the foliage from down below wafted up and they waited at a hostess station.
“That’s kinda vague,” Hasty said as she glanced around the place and took in the name E-WOKs printed vertically on the wall where they were standing. The menu was painted also and she noted it was primarily a vegetarian place with some fish dishes.
“I’m a vague kinda guy,” Bash reminded her as he caught site of the host who was dressed in a what reminded him of scrubs of a violet color who bustled his way over and made a half bow while doing a circular motion away from his body with both hands as he said, “Welcome to E-WOK’s,” the Bajoran said. “Elvis welcomes you to enjoy your visit. Good to see you again Mr. O’Neil. And you’ve found a friend. How wonderful. If you’ll follow me please?”
Bash crossed his eyes and stuck his tongue out at the back of Dorran’s head.
Harriet caught Bashful making a face and actually giggled as they wound their way through the eatery. The Host pulled out her chair for her and gave Bashful a look. “Ahh, so grown up Mr. Danger is my middle name the Bajoran quipped.
“Well it is,” Bash said as he slipped into his own seat. “Told you it’s not my fault dad thought he was funny.”
“Yes,” Dorran said nodding. “I’m sure he was. Patty you didn’t get that trait from him.” Looking to Harriet the Bajoran held out his hand and said, “Nice to meet you miss. Call me Dorran. Old friend of Bash’s or perhaps family taking pity on someone so poorly adept to adulthood?”
“I’m Harriet Hastings,” Hasty said with a laugh. “Old friend and I hope a new friend to you Dorran. My friends call me Hasty so please do.”
“Very nice,” Dorran said approvingly as he adjusted the settings on their table and said, “The special of the day is a black pepper stir fry with choice of Langa, which is similar to Earth’s Tofu, or today’s fish special is Cardassian Snava grown in the stations’s aquatics farm below the botanical bay. Both are highly spiced beyond the black pepper so Elvis is requiring medical responsibility releases from his patrons today.”
Bashful looked dubiously at the holo-release Dorran had conjured up and then pressed his palm to his copy, making it disappear as he looked at the Bajoran, “That’s dramatic. Always with the Dramatic. I’ll take the Langa. Extra dramatic for spice level. And iced tea. Sweet.”
“Of course you will,” Dorran said. “But the spice level is referred to Burn me Brenda. Remember that if Elvis asks. He’s very proud of the whole thing.”
Hasty worked to keep from giggling again and palmed her own release saying, “I’ll try the Snava then. They’re like shrimp, right? But maybe very dramatic shrimp,” She added with a crinkle in the skin at the top of her nose as she smiled. Oh and lemon water for me.”
“Cardassian’s with dramatic seafood,” Dorran drawled as he gave Harriet a winning smile. “Oh you’ll do!. Now let me get those orders in.”
Amused, Hasty took the place in. It was mostly full with a few tables left, but it was early-late afternoon. As opposed to early evening. Station time was odd since a majority of people aboard were from different places on different times.
“Where were we before Dorran?” Bash said, settling back as he adjusted the wrap shirt he was wearing and settled into his chair.
“I think you were being vague,” Harriet told him. “Strange with Madi out in the boonies someplace.”
Bashful shrugged that off, “There are twelve Pioneer scouts. A teacher. Two parents and a platoon of Recon marines circling those kids. They’re safer than we are,” Bash assured her. “The marines are on maneuvers and the Fates help any that actually get seen by the kids..”
Harriet laughed at that and settled back in her own chair, “Well that’s a relief. If she’s as much trouble as you were…are.”
“Bah,” Bash said as he leaned back while Dorran brought their drinks then bustled off to help more customers. “I’m too busy to get into trouble any more it seems. The station does keep us jumping but it’s mostly trivial stuff. Good environment for Madi though. She’s really growing up. How’s it being a COB on a glorified work bee?”
“I bet,” Harriet said as she sipped from her lemon water. “Valiant is a good ship, and the work is non-stop. You’d hate it.”
“I would,” Bash confirmed with a grin of his own.
They talked for a few more moments before Harriet heard singing as a light baritone was doing a rendition of Elvis Presley’s Love Me Tender. Glancing over her shoulder she saw a Tellarite in a white chef’s outfit that was adorned with rhinestones making his way toward them holding two steaming dishes.
“Hello there. Hi there,” Elvis boomed as he stopped by their table and set the two dishes down in front of them, beaming first at Bashful then at Harriot. “Welcome to E-Wok’s my dear. I heard Bashful had an actual friend and I had to come see for myself! I’m Elvis. Nice to meetchya.”
His accent was horrible but Harriot loved him immediately and said, “Thank you so much, Elvis. That smells delicious.” She did her Very best not to laugh at the pompadour.
“That looks great Elvis,” Bashful agreed. “I wish you and Dorran would stop making it seem like I’m anti-social. I just don’t like most people.”
“Right. Your story my friend,” Elvis said, clapping Bashful on the back while giving Hasty a wink. “I understand you’re Hasty,” he told her. “Please take your time to enjoy my food though?”
“I’m called Hasty,” Harriet said, patting Elvis on the arm. “I can’t guarantee I won’t scarf down that food though. We’ve been on ship’s rations for a month and without a Chef for three.”
“Horrible,” Elvis shivered. “Ship’s rations. I bet you’re running old Gamma model replicators aboard Valiant. Yish.” He slapped Bash on the back and said, “Right. It’s getting cold. Enjoy my friend and new friend.”
Then Elvis was walking off, singing picking up the verse of Love me Tender where he’d dropped it.
Harriet picked up her chop sticks and looked over her dish then glanced at Bash whoes eyes were following the Tellarite with a glint of humor. Then he looked back at her, “Elvis has left the front of house.”
RSS Feed