A strange dinner
Posted on Wed May 19th, 2021 @ 4:47pm by
1,508 words; about a 8 minute read
Mission:
Episode 3 - Fear Is Fear Itself
Location: The cafe intersection
ON
What had happened on that planet Oriana Omega Three, was nightmarish. And Tam remembered, that Minka was in the thick of it, besides the others. She had noticed that Minka prevented Amalia from messing with the console controls of that alien machine. Probably saving them all. Tam realized also that she hadn't talked with Minka ever since the ship had been fixed early on. Well, time for that to change.
She sent out a message for Minka.
"Ensign Sato, may I have a moment of your time? Meet me at the Cafe if you would please."
And Tamaska went to the Cafe to wait for Minka, and to do some minor cooking as well.
Minka pulled a face. This was the woman who had pretty much broken her new baby sister Charlies heart. And the XO. So game face on. No doubt it would be around the away mission. Perhaps she was getting hauled over the coals for kicking the Vulcan in the nuts. At least if it was the Cafe she could discreetly check her rig afterwards, she mused.
"On my way," she responded flicking her now silver grey and purple hair out of her eyes. She at least felt better after seeing those "things" having changed her hair.
She knew very little about this Commander but from the smells as she entered she could at least cook something. "Ensign Sato reporting Commander."
"You hungry?" Tamaska simply stated, "I've got enough here for two and then some. Beef, shrimp, orange chicken. Chow mein noodles, rice and sauteed veggies." giving the last item another stir. "So, how are you doing since the away mission." she looked up noticing the change in Minka's hair. "You hair looks lovely." dishing up the food into bowls, then bringing them out to the table, with spoons for Minka to dish up what she wanted. Setting them down and going back for some empty plates and bowls plus utensils.
"Some days it feels like everyone seems to be trying to fatten me up," Minka said with a laugh. "This looks a lot healthier than what Chief Stoun brings to our meetings in Engineering. Thank you I would try it."
She filled a bowl offered and expertly welded chopsticks trying the orange chicken.
"You didn't invite me here for dinner though Commander," she said after swallowing. "Look I'm sorry I kicked Counselor Horn in the knads but he kept pushing me away when I was trying to get him free from that T'Kon device. He turned into some sort of zombie and those monsters were trying to wake up and get out. I had to try something and that was the first thing that came to mind."
"Minka, you did what you had to do. And I didn't ask you here to chew you out, instead, I wanted to say, thank you for what you did. " Tamaska replied, plying her own chopsticks to eat some of the chow mein noodles and vegetables and some of the beef. "I saw you shove Darcy out of the way before she messed with the console. I believe that you saved us all for doing that. From what I heard, Verona had to shoot the Captain to get him dislodged from the machine he was glued to. We didn't make her go into the brig, as that was the only way for him to be free."
The Young Japanese woman was not expecting that and looked a little stunned. She nodded. "Are both the Captain and Counselor recovering okay maam?"
Tam stopped for a moment between bites and went silent for the moment, then spoke softly, "They both have a bit to do to recover from their experience. I saw Haistro and he looked like he is doing better, though, Horn I have not a clue yet. I will be going to see how he is doing later on. Both of them went through a horrific experience, especially Horn and Olowe...losing a limb it is going to be taking some time to adjust to their current physical conditions"
Tam lowered her chopstick to her bowl, as her hand started shaking, almost losing her food. "Whoops, almost lost my food there. How klutzy of me. " making light of her trembling. "Oh boy I forgot the tea, I'll be right back with it." rising up from the table and going to acquire the pot, cups and assorted loose leaf tea. Bringing it over to the table.
"Okay maam," Minka said not sure what to say. She had not missed the other woman's hand shaking.
"Any favorite sort of tea you like to drink?" Tam asked, her hands steady once more, acting as if there was nothing wrong.
"I quite enjoy Shincha," Minka said filing away the information on her hands shaking. She might mention that to Charlie. She was yeoman to this woman. Although she knew Charlie was actively trying to avoid her wherever she could right now. "I find the first flush of tealeaves sweeter. Not too sweet. I'm not big on sweet but just right. Well for me I guess."
"I agree with you there I don't like things too sweet." Tam adding the leaves that Minka liked and the pouring the water. "So you are doing well enough on the ship?"
“I think so,” she replied watching her hands carefully. “Well I suppose you can tell me. First officers do the crew evaluations don’t they ma’am? Chief Stoun might disagree but that’s only because I stop him having too many pastries.”
Tamaska looked at Sato, "From the reports I have read, you've done really well. You've been invaluable to the ship. And I agree, too many pastries are a bit much, though he probably burns all those calories going through the tubes."
Tam stopped and noticed the direction of Sato's gaze. "Is there something wrong?" taking a glance at her own hands satisfied that they were not shaking. " and feel free to be blunt about something."
Minka didn’t need telling twice. “Your hands shake involuntarily at times. I just observed it. Are you alright Ma’am?” She said bluntly as invited.
Tamaska looked at Sato, "Blast, and no I am not. With what happened on that planet, losing another person, a close friend and with several others of the away team having been severely injured. I don't feel all right." Tam stated.
"I am hoping we get a slight chance to catch our breaths before something else occurs. You and the others have been working almost nonstop with repairs on the ship. I am hoping that you will get a break as well."
“Perhaps a conversation with the counselor would help, when he is feeling better,” Minka offered. “And I’m sure downtime will come.” She sipped the tea. “The rest of it as my grandfather delights in telling me, mizu ni nagasu,” she offered in fluent Japanese. “The water flows ma’am and you cannot overpower nature. You just have to swim.” She said calmly.
Tamaska's eyes widened. "That is something my grandfather had been telling me years back. Thank you for that reminder." her face brightening up. "And I will make certain to go talk with Counselor Horn when he feels better. Actually I need to talk to him and check on how he is doing sooner than later. At this moment though, we're conversing. And do you have any grievances you want to talk about?"
Minko considered that somewhat of a loaded question yet was curious why she was asking her.
"If I had a grievance I would first try work it out with the person in question first and then go see Chief Stoun if I got nowhere there. I mean that is protocol. I would be wasting your time coming direct to you Maam without trying to deal with it officially first."
Tamaska nodded, "Okay, well that is true. Still getting used to being the XO, I still have some of the mindset of Security Chief and I have actually asked my officers if they have had any grievances where I am concerned. Anyway, guess that is water under the bridge."
Minka wondered for a moment if this was about Charlie. Yes the woman had broken the younger girls heart but that was Charlies fight. The woman might suspect she knew about it as she was Charlies friend. She may not like the woman for doing what she did but she was XO which meant Minka had to be professional. She wasn't going to raise a grievance against her for something in their private lives. She stayed silent, wondering exactly what did Tamaska Holt want with her right now.
An awkward silence developed, then Tamaska sighed, "I think I have taken up enough of your time, once again thank you for your quick thinking on the away mission, and saving us."
"Yes maam," Minka said. "Thank you for dinner and the tea."
Ensign Minka Sato
Engineering officer
USS Corpernicus
Commander Tamaska Holt
XO USS Copernicus
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