Christmas Cheer (Part I)

Posted on Wed Feb 16th, 2022 @ 10:58pm by Commodore Tyler Malbrooke & Lieutenant Paul Michael & Lieutenant Commander Alyssa Maren & Lieutenant Commander Hermia O'Rourke & Major Cornelius Tremble & Captain Edmund Merrick & Chief Petty Officer Llaxia & Lieutenant Junior Grade Zhara Rynn & Sergeant Azure Thompson
Edited on on Thu Mar 24th, 2022 @ 1:54am

1,960 words; about a 10 minute read

Mission: Episode 12 - Risin' To Risa
Location: Crew Lounge
Timeline: December 23rd 2396 1930 hrs

Lunara finished with her final decoration and stepped back, admiring her handiwork. She grinned and gave a thumbs up to her volunteers, who were just about done themselves. "Thanks, guys. I'll get you drinks at After 11 later tonight."

Zhara smiled. "It looks lovely," she said to Lunara and the others. You did well."

Azure who had volunteered to help with the decoration, reentered the lounge carrying a cardboard cutout of a horned demon, and placed it in a corner. "There." She said. "You can't have Christmas without Krampus." She said with a smile.

"Krampus?" Zhara said, raising an eyebrow.

"Krampus is a demon that accompanies Saint Nicholas, a form of Santa Claus, around and punishes naughty children. My adoptive mother's family are from Austria, where it is celebrated." Azure explained.

"Oh. That's an...unusual tradition," Zhara said. "Although it could be more effective than the lump of coal other cultures use for naughty children."

====

Lunara sent out the message she had queued up:

"Attention Pioneer crew!
Please join us for a Christmas celebration in the lounge! Food and drinks will be available, but please feel free to bring your own food as well!
Hope to see you there,
L. Hol"

The celebration would be a perfect way to meet more of the crew. Alyssa replicated a dark green sarong with poinsettias on it in honor of Christmas. She then pinned back one side of her hair with a sprig of holly on a clip. Satisfied, she replicated a tray of her favorite Mexican caramels and headed for the lounge.

Hermia and Helena arrived. Hermia was dressed in a red sleeveless, knee-length dress. While Helena wore a white dress, with red roses on it, a final gift from her father (read father's assistant). The Mother and daughter brought with them, Irish apple and tullaberry tartelettes and some biscotti.

"Merry Christmas, Lunara." Hermia said to the Trill. "This is my daughter, Helena."

"Merry Christmas, Lunara, I love your spots." Helena said.

"Aww, thanks!" Lunara winked. "If you're a good girl, Santa might get you a set of your own!" She turned to the girl's mother, smiling. "Hey, thanks for coming. You have a wonderful daughter." She still wasn't fond of the idea of children on starships, but she wasn't about to ruin a party with parenting advice.

"That would be nice, but since I'm not a Trill or a Kriosian, it’s unlikely it will happen." Helena said a matter-of-factly.

"Oh, you never know," Lunara grinned. "You know, my last captain once got turned into an Earth dog. Anything can happen!"

Helena face took on a quizzical look, before laughing.

"Mm, and that was before we ran into an anomaly that switched our bodies around. So, who knows? Everything's possible in space."

Paul Michael and Auba Lyna left their shared quarters. Lyna was dressed in a traditional Bajoran outfit that's used for Bajoran holiday, while Paul was dressed in a pair of slacks and a dress shirt. They walked towards the lounge and entered.

Edmund willed himself into coming to the Christmas celebration. This was Vivian's favorite holiday. And she had made it a mission to fill their quarters with all the decorations and knickknacks that went with it. The thought made a smile cross his lips. And also, it brought a tear to his eyes. He managed to put up a small tree in his quarters, with her picture next to it, and the tree sparkled brightly, the lights blinking off and on. Now here he was, keeping another promise to her, not to close himself off and hide in his quarters being all gloom and doom. Edmund even made himself wear the jaunty Christmas sweater she had purchased for him. The sweater had reindeers chasing down Santa Claus, and the bottom half of the Grinch sticking upwards, his upper half stuck inside Santa's present bag.

Surprisingly it still fit after so many years. He did miss her terribly. Edmund snapped his mind into focus, this was a party and he was going to allow himself to enjoy the company, the food, drink and the festive decorations.

"This looks great." Merrick uttered allowing a genuine smile cross his lips, sending his other thoughts to the back of his mind.

Alyssa walked in and set her caramels on the refreshment table, then walked around the room, enjoying the decorations. "They're beautiful," she said. It was a wonderful way to celebrate.

Seeing as it was a Christmas celebration, Tyler thought it would be nice if he gave the usual bridge crew the night off. So, he decided to take the bridge, with his wife. What better way to celebrate than to do something that you love? Tyler thought. But first he decided to pop into the party quickly and say hello. Captain has to make a showing and all. He stepped in with a broad smile on his face and walked up to Lunara. "You know Counselor this is well done. Great work, this will most definitely raise the spirits of the crew somewhat."

Lunara grinned. "Thank you, sir! It's good to see the crew so relaxed here, I feel everyone could use a break. Sorry if any of the decor is off, in afraid I didn't have many humans helping me."

Hermia carried the food she bought to a table. "Merry Christmas, Skipper." She said to Tyler as she passed.

Tyler smiled as he got a glass of eggnog. "Merry Christmas to all..." He said with a wave of his drink. Hey one glass of synthahol before returning to the bridge couldn't hurt.

Edmund turned when he heard the Captain's voice. "Merry Christmas Captain." greeting his friend. "A nice set up here. To whomever decorated this area it looks fantastic."

Tyler clapped his friend on the back. "Yeah, they did a great job. Just a shame I can't stay too long. Someone has to mind the store while everyone else plays. I am glad to see you settling in nicely. I hope Tremble isn't running you through your paces too hard."

"He's been treating me gentle." Merrick giving a wink, "Possibly it’s the Christmas Spirit. From what I am suspect, I'll be put through my paces pretty soon. And I am looking forward to it."

"Yes, indeed you will, and do not forget to study up on your Starfleet Bridge procedures. You will have a bridge duty as well. This is a test bed for that sort of thing." Tyler added with a knowing smile and a toast of his drink.

"Bridge Duty, better you than me, LT." Hermia said with a smile, passing by, looking for daughter with a drink in her hand.

Merrick gave a nod toward Hermia, and cracking a slight grin, Merry Christmas" as she passed by. "Well certainly looks like I get to blow the dust off of my study books." returning the knowing smile with one of his own. It will be strange to serve on the bridge of a ship once more but hey, it’s something that will happen.

Tyler took a quick and final swig of his drink and set the glass down on the bar. "Speaking of Bridge duty... Someone has to make sure the ship runs while you lot have all the fun. Heavy is the collar that bears the pips." He laughed and stood to head for the door.

'You know Captain, I'll join you for that duty. Nothing wrong with my starting as of now." Merrick looked towards where the other revelers were. After all he did come like he had promised but, he wasn't feeling it. And she didn't make him promise to stay either. He smiled at the Captain. " Besides, might give us a chance to catch up and, I'd be officially reporting in to you as well."

"Very well First Lieutenant you're with me." Tyler said with a grin and the made their way to the door.

====

Llaxia sat alone in her quarters, as she did whenever she wasn't on duty. Lieutenant Hol's message had just come over the ship's PA system, when a familiar voice sounded in her head.

"Dear sister, you can't sit around all night, it’s almost Christmas, and I for one could use a little cheer." Jedeli said.

"You're dead, you can't experience anything." Llaxia replied.

"Hey, that's harsh, and wrong, I can experience things through you." Jedeli said. "and I won't mind experiencing that Crewman Andresen in Engineering, he's so hot."

"Quiet." Llaxia said. "If I go to the Christmas party, will you stop using my mind to fantasise about my workmates?"

"As long as you wear that red dress strapless dress, we look so good in that." Jedeli replied.

"Fine." Llaxia said and moments later she/they were entering the party.

"Oh, those decorations look great." Jedeli said. "Let's mingle."

Llaxia just sighed and made her way to the bar.

Tired and with a lingering headache, Neil made his way to the Crew Lounge dressed in the newly approved service dress gray uniform (black trousers with gold stripe, black button up collared shirt with service scarf (tie), and grey jacket with black scrolling on and rank insignia on the cuffs.

Previously, he might have begged off, but given his new responsibilities, he had felt compelled to show. Pausing to take in the crowd, he nodded to various members of the crew as he passed, approaching the bar and ordered up a Newfoundland Christmas Slush. Wrapped in tradition as he and the Corp were, it only seemed fitting if he went with some of the Hair of the Dog...

"I hear congratulations are in order," Zhara said, taking a seat next to Neil and ordering a glass of white wine. "Zhara Rynn. I'm one of the counselors."

Turning at the voice, Neil took in the brown-haired woman and nodded. "Counselor. Getting your Christmas cheer on I see." Casting his eyes back toward the gathering he said, "It seems the concept isn't overly hard to grasp by other races. I suppose most races share something similar, somewhere along their historical lines."

(To be continued…)

A Joint Post By:

Captain Tyler Malbrooke
Commanding Officer, USS Pioneer