Heavy Is The Brow

Posted on Mon Feb 12th, 2018 @ 2:48am by Commodore Tyler Malbrooke & Chloe de la Vega
Edited on on Thu May 31st, 2018 @ 9:45pm

1,516 words; about a 8 minute read

Mission: Episode 2 - The Enemy Within
Location: After 11 - Deck 11
Timeline: MD003 2330 hrs
Tags: SD 71375.2330

Tyler was in his quarters reading for about three hours as the ship continued to thrum at warp. There had been something that troubled him ever since they left dock. That was the fact that his finger could not seem to find the pulse of the crew. He had heard a buzz around the ship about the lounge and bar on deck 11. He had read the file of the bar's owner and approved her request himself. He sighed and changed out of his uniform If I am going to go there I am going as Tyler not the Captain he thought. He dressed in a pair of jeans, a plaid flannel shirt, his cowboy boots, and hat. Well you can take the boy out of Oklahoma..." he thought with a smile.

As he made his way to After 11 he was greeted with smiles and nods from various crew members. Some seemed genuinely shocked to see the vessel's commanding officer venturing around the ship. He walked into After 11 and took a seat on one of the wooden barstools. "Evening Chloe I'll take two fingers of whiskey and pint of your best stout." He said to the young woman behind the bar with a smile.

It had been a busy night for the opening, but truth be told when you were the only bar in 'town' there wasn't a lot of other options to be had in ways of entertainment or lounging around. In a way it was nice to see others having a good time, even if it was at the expense of how they were going to feel in the morning.

Taking a shot of her own she noted the entry of a cowboy as some heads turned to see their Captain all flanneled up. Moseying over he sat at the bar and ordered some drinks. "No problem Skip." she said turning and preparing his whiskey, some of the finest from Scotland that she had acquired from a reliable Counsellor. Putting it down in front of him she began to pour his pint, "What brings you to my establishment mi Capitán?" she asked, she always liked to throw in her native language when she could.

"Nothing much just needed to clear my head and perhaps get to know this fine crew. Business seems to be booming Chloe." He was going to tell her to call him Tyler but he rather like the way she said mi Capitán, so he stopped himself. Tyler smiled broadly as he scanned the room. It was nice to see his crew letting their hair down, well before there was some intense work to be done. "So tell me, why did you choose to open on a starship? It may be hard to resupply." He said as he turned back to her.

It was an easy question in truth but complicated when you got into the real reason. "Like to be out in open space I suppose..." she said rubbing the side of her face subconsciously where her father struck her. This being the reason she left home, the real reason she went out into space. Escape, and to hide.

Her eyes glassed over slightly before she realised where she was. "So yeah, business is great. First night, no fights and a couple of colourful characters. Life's full of variety isn't it mi Capitán? Why do you want to command these people?" she asked.

"Command these characters, I picked them. In truth I am honored that they allow me to lead them. Anyone fights in here you alert Lt Myles or any of his men immediately." Tyler sized the young woman up and realized in an instant that she might be wise beyond her years. "Is it true what they say about barkeeps?" He asked her smirking.

"That we're super sexy and intelligent? Definitely!" she said with a wide smile, before looking at him in a more serious fashion "They say a barkeep is a mix of a drug dealer and a therapist... you can guess what most of this crew chose tonight." she said gesturing to a table doing some shots they instantly regretted. "Civilization at it's finest. Finding amnesia in the bottom of a glass..." she trailed off slightly reminiscing.

"I would have to agree on all accounts just don't tell the wife." Tyler laughed and took a swing of whiskey with a beer chaser. "I was looking more toward the therapist side. I need you to do me a favor. Starfleet officers have a fear of the center seat. They will not talk to me to tell me their problems or what they may need help with. My counselling staff is sworn by oath to not tell me. So if there is something that this crew needs help with I would like you to tell me." Tyler sighed and looked down at his drink. "Speaking of the bottom of a glass, a shot of tequila for me, one for you and round of drinks for the house on me." He swilled his whiskey again.

"Oh mi Capitán, any more of that talk and I'll definitely swoon." she said with a laugh after it, "Play your cards right you'll drink in here for free for a long time." Chloe added with a wink before listening to the rest of what the Captain had to say. "I suppose I can do that... loose lips sink ships and all that." she said with a simple smile.

Tyler then ordered a round of drinks, one for himself and a tequila at that and one for Chloe, "You trying to get me drunk sailor?" she asked provocatively half joking. "What would Mrs Skip say?" she asked turning her back to him to get drinks ready.

"She would say that I could look but not touch." Tyler laughed. He swigged the last of the whiskey and then assisted Chloe in passing the drinks around the bar. He started to sing as he did so.

Lucky woman... she thought.

"Come, cheer up, my lads, 'tis to glory we steer,
To add something new to this wonderful year;
To honor we call you, as freemen not slaves,
For who are so free as the sons of the waves?"

Tyler continued to hand out the drinks and he found that the more he mingled the more emboldened the members of his crew got. Some even joined in to sing the song that was a favorite among Starfleet Academy.

Chloe watched as Skip galvanised his men and women through song, a truly inspiring act if she had known the words she may have joined in. As she passed out drinks, shots and other assorted liquids it was somewhat nice to be in such a busy environment but still be quite invisible, made her smile.

"Heart of oak are our ships, jolly tars are our men,
we always are ready; Steady, boys, steady!
We'll fight and we'll conquer again and again!" Tyler continued and the crew repeated.

With the song reaching quite the finish the Captain hadn't noticed that Chloe was wearing his hat, and damn if it didn't suit her. If someone was to look at her they may mistake her for an innocent cowgirl...

On the bar Chloe had placed a shot for the Captain, it was her own family recipe with some Spanish flair to it, he was to be her guinea pig.

With the alcohol in his system and his crew riled up. A crew that Tyler had made it known to that he was to be called Tyler not Captain at least when around these parts. He walked back to the bar and found his tequila. "The hat suits you, and looks good on you mi consejero. I can get you one if you want. That one belonged to my Pa." he smiled and raised his glass. "What shall we drink to?"

It was interesting to her that in Spanish he just called her his counsellor, it would definitely be an interesting gig to have the Captains ear and he hers. Maybe she'd offload some of her problems too without having to see anyone official. "You get me one Capitán and I'll wear it with sass." he said with a smile, "How about we drink to never forgetting to have a little fun?"

"To fun" He clicked glasses with the young woman and shot the tequila back. He called her his counselor and he meant it. A Captain should never see an official counselor, but a bartender now that was different. Well in Tyler's opinion at least. "Here is to a long and beautiful friendship." He smiled at her and raised his glass to her again.

"May it be filled with tequila." she raised in back and the night continued.

A Joint Post By

Commander Tyler Malbrooke
Commanding Officer, USS Pioneer

Chloe de la Vega
Owner/Bartender "After 11", USS Pioneer

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