Talking of Life, Death and Dinner

Posted on Sun Jul 7th, 2019 @ 4:16pm by Lieutenant Commander Mnhei'sahe Dox & Ensign Varnok Jahal
Edited on on Mon Jul 22nd, 2019 @ 9:11am

Mission: Fractured Fairy Tales
Location: Ten-Forward
Timeline: 2396

After a long day of onboardings, first with the Hera's First Officer, then to the Chief Medical Officer, the Intel Chief and finally the Captain herself, Ensign Varnok was both drained and very hungry. The Cardassian Ensign glanced down at the PaDD in his hand to call up a place to eat.

He could have easily returned to his quarters and used the replicator there but wanted to study his fellow crewmates a bit. He often sought to observe the comings and goings of others. The Ensign liked to think it helped keep his observational skills sharp.

Arriving at the Hera's primary lounge, Ten-Forward, the tall Cardassian stepped through the doors. He could feel eyes on him as he glanced around the room. Heading over to the bar, he was thankful that it was fairly busy and he couldn't hear any whispers.

Shaking his head slightly as if to clear his thoughts, he found an open spot and waited patiently to be acknowledged by the young, haggard-looking human serving drinks. Turning, the man called over, "I can grab your order in a moment or I can send over a server. If you're eating in you may want to take a seat. They fill up fast on most nights."

Scanning the room, Varnok saw an empty table in the far corner by the windows. Smiling, he motioned towards the table with his head and made his way to sit down as the bartender nodded back, "Someone will be right there."

Sitting with his back to the bulkhead, Varnok looked longingly out the window at the surrounding stars. He sat thoughtfully for a moment of how far he has traveled in life and then slowly turned his attention to the room.

As he began to people watch, the doors wooshed open again and a short, thickly built red-headed officer in Crimson stepped in, her nose buried in a PaDD. Not bothering to stop at the bar, she made a bee-line to the table Varnok was sitting at.

Arriving at the table, Lieutenant Mnhei'sahe Dox was slightly surprised to see anyone sitting there. "Huh... Oh, pardon me. I didn't notice anyone sitting here."

The awkward Romulan woman glanced around, seeing only an empty seat at the bar. "Uh... Pardon again. Good evening."

Varnok thought quickly that this must be her regular table. "You may join me if you like, there seems to be limited seating tonight."

Pausing for a second, Dox gave the Ensign and his gray Intel uniform with a single solid pip a very quick once over. A crewmember she didn't recognize immediately made the suspicious young pilot slightly weary. But there were many crewmembers she had only ever seen in passing and she didn't want to be rude. "You appear to be correct. Thank you, Ensign..."

Leaning a little heavy on 'ensign' and trailing off to fish for a name conversationally, Dox sat down at the offered seat, while thumbing her PaDD's controls to call up the ships crew records.

A wry smile crossed the Cardassian's face, Romulans are so prickly. Standing slightly and gesturing to the seat across from him "Ensign Varnok, pleasure to meet you Lieutenant Dox" he replied in fluent Rihan, the Lieutenants native language.

Immediately, the hairs on the back of Dox's neck went up. As she sat, his profile came up on the PaDD she had been thumbing at her side. Whoever her was, he was an official crewmember. Silently, she chastised herself for being so preoccupied with her bonding ceremony that she had not kept up with new crew onboarding information.

"You have me at a disadvantage, Ensign Varnok." She replied in standard English. "I've not yet had the opportunity to read your file, while you've clearly read mine."

"My apologies Lieutenant I meant no disrespect.'' nodding to the PaDD at her side,'' I see you have found my record." The young Cardassian smiled sincerely at the Romulan officer. "I hope you will find it acceptable."

Just then the slim brown haired waitress that had been making her rounds to the other tables appeared. "Are you eating tonight Lieutenant? Turning towards the striking Cardassian, she coyly said "and what may I get for you...Sir?"

While taking a moment to read her PaDD openly now, Dox replied. "Just a cup of brhon caelis, black. And a plate of salted lehe'jhme fruit please, Leanna."

Ordering a light snack and a strong cup of Romulan coffee, Dox nodded and put her PaDD down on the table with a satisfied but ever so slight smile. "I have a dress to fit into, so I'm eating light. Your order, Mister Varnok?"

Noticing the way Leanna kept glancing at him Varnok looked at the girl directly caught her eyes and ordered "Cup of ginger tea and hasperat, please ...Leanna is it?" Watching the younger woman blush from head to toe, nod and retreat to the kitchen with their orders. He chuckled slightly and turned back to the redhead seated across from him.

"So, you came on board earlier today. New crew transfer, specifically requested by Commander Paris. That answered enough of my questions for now." Taking on a more relaxed posture, Dox looked much less anxious than she did initially. "And you've had at least some time to read up on my file. I would assume a few other members of the command crew as well. But I would guess you've not been fully caught up on our most recent mission?"

" No I have not been briefed on the current affairs Lieutenant" the Ensign replied. "I have just been glancing over the personnel files and some of the other files Commander Paris gave me access to."

Leanna appeared abruptly almost as if she rushed to the table, and started to place their respective orders in front of them. The smell of the spices of the Bajorian fare intertwined making Varnok mouth water. Taking a deep draw off the tea... "Mmmmm ... thank you, it's delicious, Leanna"

Picking up her cup of coffee, Dox blew lightly on it and took a sip as she began to speak. "I didn't think so. I'll have to apologize for my initial suspicious behavior. I'm normally more on top of new crew onboardings, but have been distracted with personal matters."

Talking over the rim of her cup, the red-headed Romulan continued. "But you should know that due to the recently concluded Artan pirate tribunal, there have been several assassination attempts made against members of this crew. One aimed at me, specifically, that led to the death of a crew member."

Putting her cup down on the table, she grabbed a piece of fruit and took a bite. "So, I hope you can forgive my moment of suspicion at an unfamiliar face who knows who I am."

"Under those circumstances, anyone would be wary." Varnok stated. "I hope it does not reflect badly on me." Brows narrowing he continued, 'Is this something we should be concerned with continuing in the future?"

"I hope my initial suspicions don't reflect badly on me, Mr. Varnok." Dox replied with a light smile. "As for being concerned, I'm neither security nor intelligence, but I'd say yes. The former Queen may be gone, but she laid a great many plans against the Captain."

Then Dox took another bite of her salted fruit. "But that's work talk and I remember my onboarding. I'm pretty sure you talked about work all day long. Answered the same two or three questions more than a few times." Smiling, the red-headed Romulan took a sip of her coffee.

"Yes, it has been a long day. I had the feeling when you approached the table this is your usual table? I can see why you like it ." The Cardassian grinned back and gestured towards the window. "I was musing to myself when you came upon me, that I am a long way from where I started." Finishing his tea Varnok raised his cup in hand to get Leanna's attention. The brown-haired waitress hurried over with another tea.

Rolling her eyes slightly at the young waitresses now clear interest in the Cardassian Ensign, Dox continued to nurse her coffee. "I like the windows. I was born on a freighter. I've lived in space most of my life. The view makes me feel at home wherever we are."

Looking out the windows, Dox had an almost serene expression. "There's Stellis 4. The Agrellian cluster. If you're curious, Cardassia Prime is...." The seasoned pilot wiggled her finger and pointed at a spot on the wall behind the bar. "35.6 light-years that way."

Looking down at the spot Dox had pointed to. Varnok chuckled"Thank you, although I have not seen my homeworld since I was 14 yrs old. My parents worked off-world quite a lot."

"No worries." Dox replied, taking a sip of her coffee. "I was piloting that same freighter I was born on full time by the time I was ten. Learned star charts before that. That said, I've never actually set foot on ch'Rihan... on Romulus... before."

Changing the subject off of herself for fear of the topic getting melancholy, Dox followed up on Varnok's earlier comment. "What did your parents do?"

"They were scientists, terraformers to be precise for the Cardassian government." the Cardassian Ensign looked quietly out the window, " We were on our way back to their outpost on Septimus III, when we were intercepted...." Varnok trailed off quietly.

Nodding lightly, Dox continued nursing her coffee and replied in a serious tone. "The Dominion war?"

"Yes... I was 15 at the time. I was one of 5 survivors on our shuttle. Starfleet found us adrift and mortally wounded. Whilst the others chose to an established refugee camp, I chose to return to Earth with Starfleet." Varnok gave a wry smile "Little did I know how it would change my life." Looking at the red-headed Romulan, he cocked his head slightly and asked: " If I may ask, how did you end up in Starfleet?"

Sitting back, Dox realized that her cup was all but empty and waved down their server for a refill. But it was largely a distraction as she pondered how best to answer the question. The topic of her childhood was not her favorite subject and it was one she had worked hard to move away from.

But Varnok had been honest with her and she felt that it was only right to do the same. As her freshly refilled cup returned, she took a slight breath. "I have two records, Mr. Varnok. My official record, which you've seen. And a sealed one that only the Captain, Commander and Intel command have read. That said, most everyone that knows me on this ship knows the contents of the real file by now, so it's only fair."

"The freighter I was born and raised on was a smuggling ship. My Mother and I were smugglers, moving various contraband and refugees for the Romulan reunification movement in and out of the Neutral Zone. It was... not a life I enjoyed." The slightly more anxious young Lieutenant took a sip of her freshened coffee.

"When I was sixteen, I sabotaged our cloak and got us caught by a Starfleet patrol ship. And to make a long story short, when I was able to, I joined the academy. When I had all but given up, Starfleet saved me." Dox looked out the window as she spoke.

"My mother went into custody with Starfleet Intelligence to ensure my record was sealed and she stayed there for over 16 years." Then, as she spoke, let out a nervous chuckle. "You'll be meeting her, actually. She's on the ship now as an... independent consultant for the Intel department. So It's likely you'll be working together at some point."

The rawness and honesty of this young woman touched the Cardassian. he thought to himself before answering how they both found salvation in Starfleet. "It seems we have Starfleet to thank for our current position. Thank you for sharing your story. It has been a long time since I just sat and talked openly with someone. I am happy you chose to sit down." Varnok smiled warmly at the young woman and thought he may have just found a friend.

"I'm glad I did as well." Dox took another bite of her salted fruit and smiled a little more comfortably. "My first day here was a tense one. My onboardings... some of the... they didn't go all that well and I was a nervous wreck. But I was trying to make my posting here different. Better than my last posting, at least. So at the end of my first day on duty, I came here to try and not be an antisocial wreck."

"That's when Doctor Dael showed up and sat down to talk to me." Dox smiled at the memory. "This is an exceptional ship, Mr. Varnok. Give her a chance and she will transform you."

"I have already been made to feel more welcome on this ship than I ever did at my last post." Varnok stated. Grinning at Dox "Would you join me in celebrating with chocolate? I found I quite like the taste."

At which point, Dox let out a throaty little laugh as she thought back to her own first time in Ten-Forward where she became friends with the ships energetic, El-Aurian Chief Medical Officer, Asa Dael. "You and Doctor Dael are going to get along famously, Mr. Varnok."

"Their love for Chocolate is... legendary," Dox added as she flagged down the waitress with a thoughtful expression. "One chocolate lava cake please."

As the waitress left, Dox smiled lightly. "That was the desert Doctor Dael ordered for us the first time I was here in Ten-Forward. Seemed appropriate. Though, none for me." Then, the young Lieutenant picked up her PaDD and waved it. "Remember. I've got a dress to fit into."

The Cardassian let out a throaty laugh (lending to quite a few glances their way) "Appropriate, it is!" Still grinning " So tell me the importance of this dress, that you are willing to limit chocolate intake?"

"Wedding dress, Mr. Varnok." Dox had a wry grin as the largely off-limits dessert arrived. "So, by all means, enjoy. I'll be living vicariously through you from over here. One bite of that and it will take more than an hour of sparring in the morning to make up for it."

Varnok raised an eyebrow "Wedding? I did not realize congratulations were in order." Taking a large bite of cake the Cardassian smiled devilishly "Are you sure you will not join me?" as he quietly slid an extra fork her way.

"Thankfully for my waistline, I prefer salty, tart treats." Dox replied with a smirk. "Eat your cake, Ensign. Unless you're volunteering to let me work off the calories in the gym sparring with you in the morning?"

The Cardassian Ensign shrugged " I have to admit my palate is not traditional." Taking another bite and contemplating the sweet delicious chocolate in his mouth. "I am fortunate to have a high metabolism, I have rarely put on weight since I reached maturity. I would join you in the gym gladly Lieutenant, if I did not have to prepare for duty in the morning."

"Oh, I hit the gym at oh four-thirty hours, Ensign. Unlike you, I need to put in significant work to remain this not slim." Dox chuckled lightly "But no sparring for me for a few days. I get a black eye this week and it... will not go over well."

Looking at the time on her PaDD, Dox finished off her coffee and nodded at the smiling Cardassian officer. "That said, I need to be heading back to my quarters. Still, lots to plan, but it was a pleasure meeting you, Mr. Varnok. I hope you enjoy serving on the Hera."

The Cardassian Ensign half stood and nodded back, "Thank you for the company Lieutenant, I am sure I shall." As he watched the young Romulan woman leave he surveyed the room and thought to himself, yes I think I will enjoy this ship. Varnok looked out the window one last time before rising to leave for his own quarters and said quietly to himself "Soon Mother, I will find out if you are at peace."

But that was a conversation for another day.