An Unexpected Meeting with the CO
Posted on Wed Jun 21st, 2023 @ 10:19pm by Commodore Tyler Malbrooke & Lieutenant Vura
Edited on on Wed Jun 21st, 2023 @ 10:46pm
3,439 words; about a 17 minute read
Mission:
Episode 14 - The Poseidon Adventure
Location: The White Stag Pub Poseidon Station
Timeline: MD004 1700 hrs
It was hard to get peace on a Starbase as a Deltan. Everywhere that Vura walked, she could sense the eyes upon her. Whether it was because of her natural pheromones or because seeing a Deltan away from Delta IV was akin to seeing a Leprechaun, it did not matter. Then again, maybe some people appreciated her sense of fashion.
From head to toe, every inch of Vura was immaculate. Her bald head shined, but not so brightly as to reflect light. Her cool peaches and cream face showed no flaws, highlighted with some light pink blush on her cheeks and ruby red lipstick. Her ears had large hooped earrings. Her neck had a long drooping necklace that plunged towards her bosom. A V-necked red dress with an asymmetrical hem emphasized her legs as she walked. Each wrist had three bracelets in alternating silver and platinum designs.
A break was in order. She had yet to set foot on the Pioneer. It was docked now and she did not think it would be wise to rush onto the ship. The commanding officer needed a break too. She would find the time to come on and introduce herself soon.
Walking into The White Stag was not so much a choice but one of convenience. She had walked about the Starbase for some time and she needed some rest and some sustenance. She headed directly to the bar and inquired with some innunendo of the person behind, "Is there something that you are known for?"
Mickey enjoyed people, especially his patrons. At the moment his pub was filled with warmth and love and happiness. The arrival of the USS Pioneer had breathed some air into the station and by extension the pub. Some of the crew of the ship had already ran into his establishment and as was tradition they were greeted with a toast. His revelrie was broken for the moment by the arrival of the most beautiful, and yet most interesting looking woman he had ever seen. "Aye m'dear dere is. I be Michael Taggart but ye can call me Mickey. Dis be me pub and me family. We are known for just about anyting you can think of. But in particular Scottish delecasies from Earth. Now put ere dere and pull up a stool. Whaddya have?" The heavy accented Scotsman held out his hand for a shake.
"...that shows us the spot that teases and pleases and spreads diseseases." Tyler had just finished his recitation of a rather colorful toast. Those around him broke out in boisterous laughter. Calls of "good one Captain." and "Well met Captain." came from some of Taggart's regulars. For his part Tyler sat down in his seat near the fire and sipped his mead. This place reminded him of one just like it on Empok Nor. He wondered if the owners knew each other.
Amused by the accent and his courtesy, Vura delicately held out her right hand and took Taggart's. Her bracelets slid down and made an audible chime-thunk sound against the bar counter. "Nice to meet you," she practically cooed. "However, it will be very difficult to pull up a stool when you have my hand. It will also be difficult for you to get me something when we are holding hands, don't you agree?" She gave him a small wink. "So, which will it be? Continue holding hands or stool and drink?"
Mickey smiled and gave the woman a wink. It had been some time since he was taken by a lass and this woman took all of him. "Perhaps stool, drink, den I take ye hand again." He released her hand with a rather dashing smile. "Now whaddya have?"
"Surprise me," Vura answered. "I'll just get myself a stool and then I'll be right back." Her bracelets jingled lightly as she turned and searched for a stool that she could drag back to Mickey. As she looked around, she continued to observe her surroundings with a sense of wonder.
Tyler noticed the woman who walked in, as did most of the people in the bar. It was a sight to see a Deltan, not only are they ethereal in beauty but they are a rare sight to see in the fleet. In fact Tyler knew of only three, one served aboard Kirk's Enterprise and the other two now served on his ship. This woman was one of those two. Rather than introduce himself he decided to observe the woman off duty. Tyler, like many, knew that was the best way to evaluate someone.
When Vura sat back down Mickey was ready. He placed a pint glass on the bar that was filled with a golden liquid. The drink both swirled and blended as it bubbled with carbonation. "This lassy is called a Bee Sting. Tis a specialty round dese parts. It is half da finest cider and half mead." He poured one for himself after he slid the glass to her. Mickey raised his glass. "Me friends, one and all, me patrons, me family raise ye glasses as a new person dares ta join us, we few, we precious few. Now let us welcome her in the traditional way wit a toast." He pulled a rope that hung along a post, a small bell sounded.
Most of the patrons in the bar responded in shouts. "Aye Mick a toast as the custom." "Here's to the new comer." and things of the sort came from patrons. Tyler for his part raised his glass with a small glint in his eye. A Deltan in this environment is either going to be the greatest social experiment he has ever seen, or the worst. "Aye, let's see what the lassy has fer us." Tyler shouted into the din.
Mickey Taggart raised his hand to quiet the crown. "Well me friends as is the custom we welcome a weary traveler from the cold of space. So, because this traveler is a fetching young lass I offer a toast fer da ladies. Here's to the men of all rank and classes..." Taggart addressed that line to Tyler and other male Starfleet officers of rank in the pub. "...Who through lasses and glasses... Will make themselves asses!" He laughed and drank a deep draught from his glass. He was joined by a lot of laughter from the patrons who in turn all took gulps from their respective drinks.
Vura took her glass and raised it, laughing melodically and toasting with the others. She took a small sample of the drink and let it sit in her mouth for a fair amount of time. Her eyes savored each sensation of fizz, bitterness, and sweetness as they independently passed over every taste bud in her mouth. So lost was Vura in the sensations that she nearly did not hear what started coming out of Mickey's mouth next.
"Now lassy they be expectin a fine toast in return. As is custom..." Mickey whispered to Vura. Tyler for his part raised his glass again. "Does our new compatriot have some words for our humble souls." Again the patrons could be heard responding to Tyler as they asked for a toast from her.
"A toast you say?" Vura asked amused and simultaneously stalling for time. "Let me see.... It is most difficult to come up with a toast that could compete with yours...." She hummed for a moment and then raised her glass. "Very well, here's a toast for all those who come and never return and those who return and never come." The innuendos were obvious, but it seemed to Vura that such statements would be appreciated by this crowd.
Tyler whistled in reply to her toast. Not only was it a good toast but it taught him volumes about the woman who would become his counselor. She knew how to handle a situation and turn it to her benefit. Now the question was could she navigate the situation to learn what she needed. For the time being he decided to keep his presence unknown to her.
A few whistles as well as comments "Now that's a keeper..." came from the crowd in the pub who raised their glasses and drank to the newcomer. Mickey smiled broadly. "You'll do, aye you will do." He clinked his glass with hers. "An, ere's to you lassy. Welcome to da White Stag an yer new home Poseidon Station. You be well met and are family now. I jus realized dat ye ne'ar gave ye name. So whad do we call ye?"
Vura leaned in towards Mickey, her necklace pulling away from her body as she did so. In a sultry voice, Vura informed Mickey, "What you would like to call me will have to be reserved for your dreams." She then pulled back and gave a short laugh, her necklace falling back towards her bosom. Vura's voice moved to a more silky tone and said, "My name is Vura." Her lips flowed over the "V" in her name like velvet and when she hit the "r," the letter was rolled as gently as a wave lapping upon the seashore.
"I wish that I could call Poseidon Station my home," she informed Mickey and the others. "However, my lot is to be assigned to the USS Pioneer. It came in earlier today and away it shall take me. But until then, I shall enjoy what time I can with all of you and I appreciate the warm welcome."
Mickey laughed boisterously. "Well den dearie I believe you may have made quite the impression. You see da man over by da fireplace? Da one who jus finished a toast as ye walked in? Why he be yer Captain. Dats Captain Tyler Malbrooke commanding da USS Pioneer. It does. Don look now he's lookin dis way."
Tyler saw Mickey lean in and speak to the woman at the bar. He knew in that moment his cover was blown. Now it was time to see if the Counselor would come to meet him or leave him to his frivolity.
"Is that a fact?" Vura asked Mickey slyly. "The Pioneer commanding officer here...." She clucked her tongue against her roof mouth and then let her tongue trace across the inner side of her upper lips as she formulated a plan. "What's his favorite drink, Mickey?"
"Seeing as dis is da first time he has been here I wouldn't know if it is his favorite. But he has been drinkin mead and cider since he walked in." Mickey replied as he thought he would get to know the Captain and his crew as time went on. It was a point of pride with Taggart that he befriended all Starfleet personell.
"Wonderful. Now, prepare that for me and I think it is time that we meet. It is my turn to have a little fun...."
Mickey poured a glass of mead. The think yellow fluid seemed to congeal in the wine glass. "Here ya go. One glass o mead."
"That's it?" she asked Mickey with slight incredulity. "Well, we'll give the man what he wants...." With that, she took the mead and sauntered over towards the Commodore.
Once she got over to him, she handed him the mead and said, "I've always found that it is not as much fun to watch as to participate. Hopefully, you're not the exception." She grinned mischievously at the Commodore.
"And I have always found it fun to watch, people watching I believe is what it is called. Have a seat Counselor." Tyler said with a grin. There was a part of him that was glad to have the upper hand here. It seemed that the Deltan woman rather enjoyed have the upper hand in the few social dealings that he had watched. She certainly threw Mickey for a loop. "Let's make a deal before we chat any further. I will stop being a Captain and lower my proverbial shields if you stop being a Counselor and not evaluate. Well, that and keep those pheromones to yourself. Don't tell me it is uncontrollable. I have known too many Deltans to know that is not true. Hell, there is a Deltan on the Pioneer as we speak. So, what do you say?"
"You have a deal, Captain." Vura then delicately pulled a seat out and took her time sitting herself down in it, letting the Captain observe every movement she made as she did so. "I'm not here on a professional visit. Though, I am a little surprised to hear of another Deltan on the ship. There are so few of us in Starfleet. As to my pheromones, I'm not in the habit of spreading them around to just anyone, so have no fear. I mean, we Deltans get enough attention without spreading them to every being in the universe. And then I'd have to deal with all the attention and stalkers.... Sounds like too much work and we're here to relax, aren't we?"
"I would completely agree. As to the attention, I think it is exactly as you said. There are not many of your species in Starfleet and so people are innately curious. I had never met any of your kind. That is until Chief Llaxia came aboard. In fact, believe it or not, there are still some in the fleet who perceive you as a myth. Well within the fleet and without. When we get back to Empok Nor I am going to have to introduce you to Gul Raasuur. He thinks Deltans were made up by Starfleet." Tyler leaned back in his chair and sipped his bee sting. "Now I have to ask you the same thing that I ask all my new officers. Why? Why the Pioneer? And please do not tell me that the ship has a storied history and great missions etc... I know that is a line most officers use to stroke a Captain's ego."
Tyler also knew that Vura would be evaluating him whether she wanted to or not. So, he decided to take the bold approach and just start laying cards on the line and see how she handled them. He looked to see how she handled the stress of certain social interactions. This was something that was important to him in a Counselor. Tyler often relied on his Counselor to also be his diplomat and advise him in such situations.
"A myth, am I? Well, that should be interesting to confront such a person. Of course, many hold onto their beliefs so long that even when confronted with facts, they will deny their existence." Vura shrugged lightly and nonchalantly.
"As to stroking egos, I have no need for that. Besides, caressing is more fun...." Mischief played in her eyes as she allowed the innuendo to sit. She then straightened in her chair and said, "You asked why I came here. You had a Chief Counselor position open. It was time that I moved on from my previous position. So, here I am. It could not be simpler."
Tyler laughed both at the situation and the innuendo. "It may be that simple for you, but not for all of us. You should know that the Chief Counselor on this ship is cursed. It seems that Counselors arrive, stay for a few months, and then cannot deal with all that goes on and they leave. I do hope that you can hang on for longer than them."
"Gee, Captain, you already cannot get enough of me? And I did not think that I got too close to you for my pheromones to transmit." She grinned at him mischievously. "I don't believe in curses and I am more than certain that I can handle whatever is thrown at me. It could even be fun."
"It's not that I can't get enough of you, it is that I am getting sick of having to break in new counselors. It can get quite tiresome. The Pioneer has put in to dock here for some shore leave. I suggest you take that time to familiarize yourself with the crew files and all that they may need from a Counselor." Tyler was not going to fall for the Deltan charm. He knew better and so he stuck to business for the time being.
"Oh, I plan on getting to know everyone very well, Captain." She gave the man a sly smile. "And I only let very special people break me in." Her smile became larger and more mischievous. Her voice turned to a playful innocent tone and asked, "Now, Captain, you're part of the crew, so I'll be expecting to get more familiar with you, too. So, perhaps, just perhaps, you could drop your shields completely. I don't bite unless you ask nicely."
"I would be happy to... That is if you stop the seductive banter. I have known too many Deltans and I know that is not the standard. So, suffice to say that I am a straight shooting country boy from Oklahoma. That being the case just talk to me straight and you will get farther with me." Tyler paused to sip his mead. "Besides if you keep flirting with me you won't have to worry about what I will do. The missus is a lot worse than I."
"I apologize, Captain, but it comes second nature to me. I'll try to make a concerted effort to be, um, more dull is the wrong words, but how about more sensitive to your requirements. Fair enough?"
Tyler smirked he could already tell that this Counselor was going to be unlike anything he or his crew had seen. He only hoped that she had the skills to go with the banter. "That is fair enough. Now, have you read any of the ship's logs. The crew really could use some talk therapy after everything they have been through. So, I am curious if you familiarized yourself with the events."
"I have not," Vura admitted, while crossing her legs at the seat. "Just transferred and have not been on the ship yet, so I know very little other than you're the Captain and I'm your Chief Counselor. I'll learn fast, though."
"I have no doubt that you will. This crew has been through a lot, more than most. But we lean on each other, have come to depend on each other. The Pioneer is more than a crew; we are a family, and I would not have it any other way." Tyler took a sip of his drink and smiled. The smile hid the feeling that he hoped this woman was not here to break up his family. He knew that Starfleet did not like to keep people together after traumatic events. A quick change of subject was in order before she realized he paused for too long. "But I believe that is enough work talk. When we are here there is no rank. So, Tyler or Ty if you wish."
"You can call me Vura, on or off duty, Ty...." Having tried out the name, she let it roll off her tongue, screwed up her face a little, and then tried out, "Tyler...." Once again, she sat for a few moments while she let the sounds reverberate in her head. She then firmly looked at the Commodore and said, "Right now, I think you're more of a Tyler in my mind. I hope you do not mind if I reserve the right to change my mind. I simply do not know enough about you yet. Perhaps you could fill in some blanks on the ship. Now that I've 'reported in,' I think I should get caught up on all that I've missed."
"Tyler is just fine..." he began and clinked glasses with the Counselor before taking a drink of his own. "Now I think perhaps the best place to begin is actually in the middle. Let me tell you about The Silence a race of beings who made you forget their existence every time you turned away from them..." Tyler was lost in a story and his words faded into the tapestry that was the White Stag. If there ever was a place for heroes and stories it was this pub.
A Joint Post By
Commodore Tyler Malbrooke
Commanding Officer, USS Pioneer
Lieutenant Vura
Chief Counselor, USS Pioneer
Mickey Taggart
Owner, White Stag Pub
Poseidon Station
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