Time changes all
Posted on Sun Jun 10th, 2018 @ 8:05pm by Michael Taggart
Edited on on Sun Jun 10th, 2018 @ 8:10pm
1,961 words; about a 10 minute read
Mission:
Episode 3 - Weary Travellers
Location: White Stag Pub - Empok Nor
Timeline: MD001 1945 hrs
Early evening found Heidy once again on Empok Nor. Determined to make the most of the brief stopover and fully aquaint herself with its character and charm, including its night life. She strolled along leasurly, pausing at the door of a number of places, but passing on until she found herself outside a more traditional place. 'White Stag.' This had to be someone from earth, quite possably a scot, she'd spent a weekend or two in that part during a six month spell on earth, during a slightly wayward period in her life, but that was past she was changing for the better or trying to.
Making her way inside she glanced around and smiled, cosy, and homely, slowly threading her way through the front tables she made her way to the heavy set wooden bar which had a fair few people at it already, sliding into the bar she waited her turn for serving.
Just another evenin at home as Mickey put it was getting underway. The crews of Empok Nor were letting their hair down and the stuffed shirt Calvin Quaid was even seen in the pub from time to time. Mickey wore an ear to ear grin as he looked around at his family enjoying themselves in his home. It warmed the Scot's heart.
He noticed a new comer but she looked vaguely familiar. Someone from his past but he wasn't sure. The woman walked in and took a seat at the bar. "Evenin to ya lass. Welcome ta da White Stag. What be yer poison?" He smiled broadly he loved welcoming new people to his pub. Somewhere in the back of his mind Michael Taggart knew he was living the dream.
"A single malt, something smokey, if you would." Heidy asked with a smile at the genuine and quite strong accent that both confirmed her initial impressions and perfectly fit the atmosphere and look of the place.
"Ach a lass after me own heart. Dis ere is Scotch da real stuff I get it from the motherland." Mickey laughed as he poured one for her and one for himself. "Dis ere scotch is old enough ta buy it's own scotch. Da names Michael Taggart but ere I'm jus Mickey."
"Good to meet you Mickey. Heidy Dilucca, one of the many Starfleet types." She responded to his introduction with her own, not drinking just yet, but keeping a hand on the glass while moving it in small but slow circles on the bar top.
"Das one half of me customers, the other Cardassians. They seem fascinated with the culture of Earth. One o dem even asked me about a kilt. But I am glad to meet you Heidy, there are only two rules here. Da first no ranks, no command. Da second make yerself at hame." He took a swig of the whiskey and smiled. "So did you just blow in on da Juno did ya?"
"I think I can cope with both of those rules." Heidy responded carefully before finally taking a little of the drink in her glass. "Now that's how I remmber the stuff." Glass down on the bartop she shook her head. "Not the Juno, I'm on the Pioneer, short stopover then back out." Leaning her drink for a moment and proving her self up on one arm she asked. "So tell me Mickey, you seem vaguely familiar, are you a Highland scot or a Lowland scot or one of the Isles?"
"You know yer accents lass. I am a Highland Scot, I was born in Inverness. How did you guess?" Mickey chuckled "In truth yer face seems vaguely familiar and I usually pride myself on never forgetting a face. Did ya spend time in Scotland?"
A flicker of guilt or remorse behind the smile and pleasent expression she attempted to keep up at the mention of particular city in Scotland, she gave a truthful if initially vague answer. "I spent a couple of weekends in those parts, I hit three places, Stirling, Aberdeen, and Inverness, I preferred it the further north, although I didn't get to see all of the cities charms for reasons."
"Ah well den ye be needen to come back an visit when ye can." Mickey smiled broadly as he rang a small bell that was behind the bar. As the bell rang the crowd in the bar quieted down. "Tis tradition ere to welcome the new home in fine Scottish fashion. Dere come occassions fer toasts and dis be one o den. So get yer glasses up." Mickey raised his glass and when the bar quieted down he spoke again. "Slàinte mhòr agus a h-uile beannachd duibh." (Great health and every good blessing to you.) Those present responded with here here and alright Mick, welcome home miss etc...
Although the gesture was a welcoming one and as warm and honest as she remembered, there was a part of her that felt unusually self conscious at the moment, she half turned on the stool and raised her glass along with everyone else, turning back to face Mickey she started into what felt like a confession. "As warm as ever, but I you may want to hold off, I hadn't seen all of what the city's had to offer cos I had to high tale out, I wasn't exactly the modal enlisted, fighting and easy morals let's say. Anyways given you lived and worked Inverness, I probably caused you a bit of grief so I'm sorry."
"Ach don be sorry for livin lass. Everyone takes a path in this life some more rocky than others. Funny how our paths seem to have crossed a second time. Tis a very rare thing dat. There is always a reason for it when it happens." Michael replied and sipped his drink again. The Stag was packed but he was intrigued by this woman. Somethin about her and he couldn't put his finger on it.
The understanding words and tone brought back the brightness that Heidy usually carried herself with, although experience had taught her wariness, she was drawn to the nonjudgmental and accepting person. Added to the fact that as Mickey pointed out that they were crossing paths again was something intriguing. "Your a kind man Mickey, as odd as it maybe to cross your path again, at let's face the opposite end of the Quadrant. What made you decide to set up on this station anyways?"
"I've always wanted to own a pub. Dere were a lot o dem back home. So I decided to bring it to the people and here I am. Besides it always fun to introduce Scotland to those that have never seen it. The Cardassians are as far from Scotland as you can get." He laughed, "Pardon me a moment." Mickey scurried away for a moment to pour a few customers some drinks and share some laughs with them. He rushed back to his conversation companion. "This is my own little slice of Earth here in Cardassian space."
"A decent slice it is as well." Heidy commented on his return having finished her drink in the mean time. "Although I have to be honest, although I'm human I'm not from earth, at least I wasn't born there."
"Well den let this be yer slice of Earth as well. Where ya from?" Mickey replied as he began to clean some glasses.
"Alta Terra IV, it's a colony world in the Agrama Sector, mostly mining, about twenty light years or so from Bolaris." She answered, making sure to give a few notable markers that people could latch on to, her home still being relatively unheard of. "I'll have another, something from the Isle this time it think." Tapping the rim of her glass gently.
Mickey poured her another drink and then returned to cleaning. "How often do ya make it make home? I mean both yer colony and Earth."
"Earth, last time would be the aforementioned six month, that would be four years ago." Answered quickly that was the easy one, the next one was not so easy. "Last time I was home, home, about two years. I spent six weeks at home before I changed service branches."
"You listen here lassy! You make sure to get yourself home once in a while. There is nothing more important than yer family. Take from someone who knows." Mickey replied flatly, in truth he should take his own advice once in a while.
The importance Mickey attached to family reminded her of a number of persons from years gone by, all seasoned veterans of fleet service. "I know their important, and Starfleet doesn't lock you in to much, if I needed to go I could. But." She paused and took a small sip from the glass. "It's so easy to get caught up with missions, assignments, and just being out here."
"Quite so, quite so. Dat is why I made you folks me family and dis me home." Mickey raised his glass for another toast and almost on cue other patrons in the pub did the same. "Here's to you, here's to me... friends for life we'll always be... but, if we find that we disagree... SCREW YOU HERE'S TO ME!!!!" He broke out in boisterous laughter as did many patrons of the bar. "I'll tell ye wha lassy if yer ever feelin homesick ye jus call on me. You got dat?"
Caught in the spirit of things Heidy raised her glass along with everyone else, spinning on her stool slightly so the res of the bar was now side on to her. She broke into a rarely heard cackle, for the second time this shore leave feeling free to be herself, no pretence, she downed the remaining contents of the glass before turning back to the bar in time to here Mickey honest appeal. "Bey you just made my very short list of comfortable places and persons. I'll remmber for sure. But for now one more, your choice."
Mickey smiled and winked at her. He first produced a bottle of Kanar, then his usual bottle of Scotch, and finally he took a crystal decanter from the back shelf. The decanter contained a blue viscous liquid. He poured an equal measure of each into a glass with some ice. "I call this the Empok Nor. Equal parts Kanar, fine aged Scotch, and even older Romulan Ale. Careful lass tis strong." He handed her the glass and made one for himself. "Well Heidy I am pleased to make yer acquaintance again." He raised his glass again "This drink is to the ships of Nor, The Pioneer, and The Juno long may they serve." Then he lowered his voice "...And here is to you lass welcome hame..." He clinked her glass and took a sip.
Heidy smiled as she watched the ingredients being used and described, as well as the significance of what they could represent. She took up the glass swirlled the liquid around a little before clinking glasses and then taking a sip. "That's unique. Not half bad." She responded taking instantly to the warming, and bear clash of flavors that made it quite so inviting. "Thanks Mickey."
"No worries lass..." Mickey replied. "Whelp, we have a kitchen should ye be hungry. We serve the finest in Scottish cuisine cooked fresh. No replicated mush... If ye be hungry then simply give a shout." Mickey took a look around and smiled broadly.
A Joint Post By
Petty Officer Second Class Heidy Dilucca
Brig Officer, USS Pioneer
Michael "Mickey" Taggart
Owner/Bartender White Stag Pub, Empok Nor
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