Hasperat for Two - pt2

Posted on 02 Aug 2024 @ 6:39pm by Commander Calliope Zahn & Lieutenant Commander Christophe Leblanc

Mission: M4 - Falling Out
Location: OC Promenade
Timeline: Late Evening MD26
1825 words - 3.7 OF Standard Post Measure

The lift down to the promenade was shared with a mix of civilians and crew on shift change. On one of the level stops, Calliope was unintentionally separated from Chris in the lift as a Grazerite family with small kidlings forced the doors to hold for them to back up a triple stroller into the space.

Calliope hugged the mother and they exchanged pleasantries while one of the toddlers rubbed greasy hands on the walls and the legs of everyone he could reach.

“Chief Lex Navine’s family.” Calliope explained as the mob of them left the lift before them. “You probably heard him up in traffic control once or twice.”

“I have.” Chris said, watching as the family went their own way. He had been attentive to the toddler and had even played a silent game where he pretended not to see the kid, and then catch his staring. He hadn't always liked kids, but in recent years, he started to feel his lack of family; his lack of legacy. “Cute kids. It looks like you’re close to them?”

“I’m not sure, I mean, what counts for close?” she asked as she oriented herself and then picked what she thought was the shortest path to their destination. “We worked together for a few weeks.” That had been before she’d been removed from her office. “He’s had me over for some family events. I think they’re just nice to everyone.” Probably she was a charity case for them. But she didn't mind. It was nice to see simple family life between the rest of it. “Lex is a talker. If you get him going he’ll hold you down by the ear for hours.”

“Ah.. just what I need.” he said with a smile as they walked together. “That sounds like my entire afternoon today. Probably my next few days as well. We might as well invite him down.”

“I like using him as a social smokescreen,” she approved with a smirk.

The hasperat place was literally called “The Hasperat Place” written in Bajoran lettering above the countertop where orders were taken, with the register at the end. Small tables were interspersed in the open area, only slightly recessed from the promenade walk.

“I've certainly seen this place in passing. There’s just so much on any large station to see or do that one can’t be blamed for feeling a bit overwhelmed.” he said, looking at her. “This is your first station assignment, isn’t it?”

“Yeah. No starting small on some regula, working my way up. Straight to Stardock.” She said as she studied the options to pick from, refreshing her memory. “It probably feels like the frontier to you after working Earthdock.”

“Earth Spacedock isn’t the highest ranking institution when it comes to the Corps of Engineers, but she is certainly the center of Starfleet’s Engineering universe. I was the Chief Engineer, but I was so busy schmoozing, talking, and drinking wine that I hardly got a chance to use my genuine hard skills. I suppose that’s why they gave me the job. Maybe I’m better at talking than I am in the Engine Room.” he said. He was a good schmoozer, and he knew that. He wasn’t sorry for himself or for that fact, and he actually enjoyed that aspect of his job. Typically. “I will admit I missed solving problems on the edge of adventure. I assumed my assignment here would bring some fun, but antagonizing my predecessor and working on a runabout was all I could manage so far.”

He stepped up to the line and waited behind the person in front of them. It was fairly busy, but the supper rush was mostly over, so most were getting their food to go. “Do you wish to eat here? If not, I have some Bajoran spring wine in my quarters.”

Tactically, she didn’t answer right away, moving to place her order and effectively skipping him in line. When she’d picked the wrap and the sauce and the green and the filling and the Bajoran girl behind the counter asked her if it was for there or to go, she figured out her decision. “To go.” And paid for her own.

Chris certainly wasn’t bored, and that was rather important for him. He wasn’t trying anything, per se. She was beautiful, but newly divorced and not exactly emotionally available, especially considering the position he held on the station. Yet, somehow, she managed to split the signals she was sending him perfectly in half. Going to be alone with him in his quarters; intentionally denying him the assumption of a quasi-date paying might imply. He shrugged internally. What did it really matter anyway? They both like hasperat and wine.

He stepped up next and made his selection, going with a dark meat option along with a combination of spicy sauces that might have challenged a Bolian. When the Bajoran girl behind the counter asked him for there or to go, he gave the same answer without fanfare. He then paid for his meal and stepped away.

“Well, it was a lovely and informative visit to the Promenade.” he said, walking up to her. “Would you like anything else? Some dessert, perhaps? Or we can lean on the replicator for that?”


“Yeah. We’ll see if I dodge indigestion.” She knew her limits and hasperat was spicy. Calliope took a fistful of napkins and a complimentary bag of kava chips from the end of the counter to throw in her bag, handing a second to Chris.

Chris took the lead on their way back to their section of the station. This time, as they stepped onto the lift, Chris was the one to see someone he knew. They settled next to a Romulan woman in service gold with the rank pips of a Lieutenant, full lips, and a conspicuous figure. She took note of both of them as they approached, a polite smile on her features.

“Tali, what are the odds?” Chris asked, noticing her somewhat closed posture. That was nothing new. Despite spending quite a lot of time around humans, the station’s Power Lead still gave all the signals of being Romulan.

“On a station this size, sir, the odds aren’t very good.” she said, and her smile blossomed, communicating a friendliness her body language didn’t.

“Callie, have you met our new Power Lead? She transferred aboard station at the same time as me.” Chris offered. “Lieutenant Tal’an is very talented. Sometimes, I think she’s trying to steal my job.”

Tali allowed a womanly giggle, mirthful, but not light. She shook her head, causing her raven hair to tussle.

“I couldn’t do it half as well, sir.” she said, and then fixed her green eyes on Callie. “It’s nice to meet you, Commander.”

“Hello, Lieutenant,” Calliope transferred her bag to her other hand to offer one to shake. “Commander Zahn. Sorry, I haven’t been around to meet everyone. They have me running around on patrols.” At first, Calliope mistook her for a Vulcan, but unless she was one of the minority reactionaries to their core teachings, it was clear she was talking to one of the rare instances of a Romulan officer. While that piqued all sorts of curiosity, Calliope decided against quizzing her on her life in the breadth of a lift ride. Lieutenant Tal’an probably got enough of that sort of thing as it was. “You’re liking the work? Your department head isn’t saddling you with all the task lists and calling off early?”

“Commander Leblanc lives in his office, I hear.” Tali said with a smile. “Though I wouldn’t know personally. I haven’t been invited down. He reserves that privilege for the important people, I think.”

There was amusement in her tone and something else that was daring; challenging. She didn’t give the impression of an officer talking to senior officers, though she didn’t step out of line explicitly.

“I heard Pathfinder kicked ass out there.” she said, looking to Callie for a response. “Rumor is you all were ambushed by pirates.”

“Pirates? What?” Chris asked, his brow narrowing. Clearly he hadn't heard these rumors.

“That got around quick.” In truth those sorts of things did. Her crew wasn’t under any gag orders and she’d had to call ahead for repair arrangements and make sure the brig was ready to accept eight intakes. “We were ambushing before we were ambushed. But that was probably left off in the rumor mill.”

“Not really as interesting, no. But I heard it went well after all the drama.” Tali said, eying Leblanc. “Just in case you don’t ask around again next time, sir, I call the next Pathfinder mission.”

“I’ll keep that in mind, I’m sure.” Leblanc said in a way that seemed jokingly dismissive. It was clear to him that his style of leadership was distinctly different from his predecessor, and the tight cloud of worry and tension that the engineering department had embodied was starting to loosen a bit. He’d noticed the wellness report had fewer instances of engineers seeking counseling this month, and that told him alot. As the door opened, he gave Tali a smile. “Be at your best tomorrow. There are many expert eyes about.”

“I won’t embarrass you.” Tali said, her tone again quite casual, though she always kept within the bounds of her station otherwise. “Good evening, sir; ma’am.”

As Tal’an left the lift car, Calliope spent the next few moments lost in thought. She couldn’t recall Lance even introducing her by name to any of his subordinates. If he even remembered their names, it was beneath him to account to them anything like a personal life. She remembered when they had first arrived, that she had spent a lot of effort to know his team leads’ names and to encourage them where Lance hadn’t. There had probably been a lot of reorganization and turn over in the year since. She probably could name very few of them any more. Well. She could start with this Lieutenant Tal’an at any rate. The doors opening again on their deck brought her back to the present.

Chris stepped out into the corridor again, and the two of them made their way to the door to his quarters. He glanced at Callie, his eyebrow raised.

“So, Pirate ambushes, hmm?” he asked as he input his code.

“It wasn’t exactly an ambush. The timing was just interesting. For everyone.” She waited to say more until getting inside, first taking a moment to look around, curious if he was as bold in decorating his personal space as he had been with his office…