Food Friends
Posted on Fri May 6th, 2022 @ 8:45pm by Lieutenant Paul Michael & Captain Edmund Merrick
Edited on on Wed May 11th, 2022 @ 2:51am
1,151 words; about a 6 minute read
Mission:
Episode 12 - Risin' To Risa
Location: Empok Nor Market
Timeline: MD009 1600 hrs
Paul looked around the market, searching for some ingredients to cook dinner of him and Lyna.
90% of the people on the station used replicators.
If only they knew where the food came from.
Replicators. Built on the premise of synthesis of organic and inorganic materials via arrangement of subatomic particles.
Organic materials.
Human waste by products.
Edmund was browsing through the market, looking for fresh herbs and other vegetables he could use, he also wanted fresh meat. Whether it was fish, chicken, pork or something close to beef, mutton or even rabbit. He just wanted to eat something real. He was rather happy to find some potatoes, which he looked forward to frying up in some butter and oil. He reached out to look at a vegetable a red leaf lettuce picking it up and examining it. This looked rather good. He picked several other vegetables which found their way into the shopping basket he had over his arm. Now to find where the meat was. He noticed someone nearby, a man with dark hair, who looked like he was shopping as well. Maybe he could help point the direction to the meat area.
"Excuse me sir, are you familiar with this market and if so.. do you have any idea where I can find the area to purchase some meat?"
Paul looked at the stranger. "I shop here all the time. The meat section is in back. I'm going there myself. Follow me." Paul started walking towards the back of the store. "Names Paul Michael."
"Edmund Merrick, and thanks." Edmund following after Paul. "Are you a citizen here? Are you part of a ship's crew?" he couldn't help but ask, it was in his nature to find out information as well.
"I'm the ship's chief pilot. I take the orders and send the Pioneer on it's way. I also handle all the runabouts and shuttles missions as well." He looked at him. "I'm trying to work on my Bajoran cooking. My finance is Bajoran, and I need to work on my Hasperat. I never seem to get the spices right. What are you looking for?"
"The USS Pioneer, you don't say. I'm part of the crew as well, I'm the Marine XO newly minted." Merrick chuckled. then he answered Paul's question. "I'm trying to figure out if I want to make a stew or bbq my choice of meat. Or just have a steak with all the fixings, or chicken with all the fixings. I just want the real stuff." he smiled. "Hasperat, that is a good dish to eat."
"This is the place to get the real stuff. That have everything from all over the galaxy. How they get it?, I don't know, and I don't ask. One word of warning, make sure you order correctly, or you could wind up with Targ steak." He kept walking. "Here we are. Hey Bruno!"
A male alien, of unknown species, walked out of the office and headed towards them. "My good friend Mr Paul. Always good to see you. What you need today, eh?"
"Nothing today, just wanted to introduce you to a new customer. This is Lieutenant Merrick."
Bruno, not his real name but one he goes by most times, walked over to Merrick and grabbed his hand. "Pleasure to meet you, Mr Merrick. Any friend of Mr Paul is a friend of mine. What you looking for, eh?"
Merrick shook the man's hand firmly and had a bright grin. The thought of a juicy steak came to his mind, " Do you have anything akin to a beef steak, and also some chicken. " Edmund hoping that he would have it. Though he has had targ steak before too.
Bruno paused, then answered, "We have beef steak available...but I don't know what 'chicken' is. Let me check." He pulled his pocket computer and checked. "Ah, yes...chicken...a bird like creature, native to Earth." He put the device away. "Sorry we don't have any...can get for you though."
Edmund nodded, "Maybe later, I'll have some of your beef steak though and thank you." He said to Bruno, then he turned to look at Paul, "What will you be getting here?"
"Since I am learning how to prepare Bajoran food, my finance is trying to learn human food." He motioned to Bruno, who quickly went to the back of the shop where his storeroom was. Bruno quickly returned with a package. "She's starting with meatloaf, which is a somewhat easy dish." Paul responded.
"That is a good dish to start with, my mother made good meatloaf and wasn't dry. " he mused. "What is your favorite sort of dish you love to prepare?" regarding the helm officer.
"Steak, Big, Juicy. Medium well...but...and there's always a but. my fiance is trying to get me to eat more vegetables and less meat. So, starting next week, salads 5 days a week, meat 2 days." Paul smiled. "Once they get you, you're never the same again." He smiled. "You got anyone?"
Edmund laughed, "Yes when you have a significant other, they tend to make sure you eat properly. Though it was a battle in the kitchen when my wife was alive. At times we got into a food fight." his smile turned slightly sad. "I used to have her have her, but she's not around anymore. Her name was Vivian, she was an engineer."
"Something happen to her or did you both transfer off?"
"She passed away, losing her life in a battle to save the ship we were on. She ended up being the only one that could go into engineering. She knew the chances of her making it out were slim but, she couldn't let the rest of us die." Merrick shook his head to clear it.
"Hey, I'm sorry, I didn't know. I guess that most of us have a similar story. But she sounds like one hell of a person."
"Yes she was and she'd be punching my shoulder about now if she heard me talking like this." Edmund giving a grimace and rubbing his shoulder at the memory. "She packed quite the wallop." his demeanor changing at that memory. He laughed slightly "She'd say, stop that."
"Well, I'm sorry if it touched a nerve. Anyway, I should be getting back to my quarters, before my fiancé sends out a search party."
"Don't worry, you're good." Edmund replied. "You have a great evening with your lady and I'll see you around, and it was great meeting you." the man holding out his hand to shake Paul's hand before he went on his way.
A Joint Post By
First Lieutenant Edmund Merrick
The Cure Executive Officer, USS Pioneer
Lieutenant Paul Michael
Chief Flight Control Officer, USS Pioneer
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