Bringing Down The House: Part 3

Posted on Tue Dec 19th, 2023 @ 1:46am by Lieutenant Michael Amato & Ensign Carter Page & Ensign Tobias "Toby" Dienstag & Ensign Erahlik Ezazzan

0 words; about a 1 minute read

Mission: Mission 5: The Price of Paradise
Location: Deck 5: Dr. Amato's Quarters
Timeline: M5 MD06 (2268.07.29) 1900

Erahlik let his chuckle die down, then added his own "small talk" piece. "I see that most humans have forward facing eyes," he said in an attempt to "small talk" with his new acquaintances. "I have done research on your evolution. You are a natural predator species as well, though you mostly lack tails. We Gorn use ours for balance so we may strike swiftly. Why do your kind lack it? Do you cut it off at birth?"

"Ah... We evolved to the point where we used our brains and our tools to do the work with us," Toby responded with a chuckle. He was intrigued at the Gorn trying to emulate him. Dora would often do the same. He didn't think the Gorn fully understood what he had meant. The Captain was definitely good at throwing parties, which were usually lavish, wild affairs and put theirs to shame... Rank had its privileges though. "Another usually topic is gossip," he added, "Such as, I heard for this mission Commodore Anderson is coming aboard. The Captain served under him for years."

"Ah, I see!" Erahlik replied. He understood a bit better. This time he didn't emulate Toby's chuckle. Instead, he listened. The topic of Gossip was fascinating. "So you mention this Commodore due to his importance and relationship to the Captain, correct? I assume others would know about him, thus they would share their input? I have conducted similar conversations."

A moment of silence as the Gorn thought. Then, defeated as if trying to figure out a joke, the Gorn asked, "Why is this Commodore important?"

"Well he commands Starbase 10 and our forces in the area," Michael commented as he went to the bar to refill his drink. "I hear the Commodore is dying for some time on a ship again... But I doubt that's it."

"No one really knows why, that's why people gossip... They try and guess at what the meaning of reason behind an occurrence is," Carter offered as he walked over to the buffet table. "We all can guess as to why the Commodore may be here, but we really have no idea," he said, "My guess is it has something to do with a mission the Caption and the Commodore were involved in..." He started to fill his plate with some shrimp cocktail and some cheese.

There was an easiness here present in the atmosphere of the room. It looked small, but actually felt wide as a canyon. Open and comforting as the people talked freely without guilt or fear of the Gorn they were in the presence of. Erahlik calmed significantly as he saw and felt this. Things began to flow naturally or at least as natural for a member of his species.

Erahlik dared to moved forward - casually - as he also took a plate behind Carter. He filled his plate with things that smelled nice; first the shrimp, then the Pork Taquitos (which he had never heard of but it smelt acceptable), Chicken Tamales (which he also never heard of before), and some of the delicious smelling Southwestern Nachos (which he also never heard of before and had likely been the source of the pungent smell which had initially revolted him, but now seemed rather appealing). He found a place to sit nearby shortly after taking a glass of Salpicón de Frutas which was apparently a cocktail mixture of Latin fruits and vegetables. He was starting to appreciate this culture!

"I do not blame the Commodore in that case," the Gorn opined as he snacked on the Southwestern Nachos first. He found himself, despite his earlier revulsion, absolutely loving it. "Mmmm! Whomever cooked this .... this Nacho .... oh! ..... it is absolutely divine. I must admit before when I entered-" he quickly swallowed his bite "-I had smelled this and felt revolted. But now my tongue tastes it, my throat swallows it, and my belly holds it. I am in absolute bliss to this meal!"

He then quickly began snapping into the Tamales and gave similar sounds of appreciation.

"You're welcome," Toby responded with a smile, "My father is a chef.... Trained me as one too, for all the good that did them. My parents still own a restaurant in Baltimore."

The Gorn sipped at the Salpicón de Frutas. For a few more moments he was absolutely taken by the drink and food, before finally finishing both and sitting back with a content sigh. There was a realization here. He had been missing out on this, something that before was pure obligation. Now, slowly, over the course of this evening and prior days events, he was coming to terms that despite any honor-bound obligation he still had his own will to consider.

"I'm sure your parents would be proud of your accomplishments," Erahlik ventured. "Mine are, to some degree. My Father is the leader of Clan Ezazzan and had, for a time, saw me permanently stationed to his business fleet. When the opportunity for Starfleet arose I was surprised how eager he had been for me to join. It is always difficult to gauge my Father, but I see within him a proud parent to his once hatchling. My mother was always the more conservative type, though she expresses her appreciation in different ways."

A moment of thought, then he added, "My mate and parents have always been adamant that I am now the public figurehead of our Clan, however it wasn't until my mate encouraged me to venture beyond those feelings that I permitted tonight to happen. I'm glad I did."

He looked to Toby. "What of your parents? Your family?"

The young man nodded, "Well like I said, my parents own a restaurant in Baltimore. My Dad was a veteran of the Four Years War, Petty Officer first class, was a cook on the USS Ajax, then he retired used his education benefits to go to culinary school then he worked in quite a few high end restaurants before he and my Mom started the place in Baltimore in the Inner Harbor. Focuses on seafood and also Central European cooking. My parents are originally from Vienna, Austria. Just me, no siblings. My grandparents are long passed. No real other family except for Mike and my friends," he said, "I suppose that's why I talk to everyone, otherwise you're alone."

Erahlik nodded. Toby seemed to have two good parents who nurtured him. Their lives after their service seemed to be rather tame and pleasant. Telling by how delicious the food was that the Gorn just ate, the education they instilled in their son was definitely worth it.

"I was the ... first to hatch among my clutch of six. I was given the role as eldest in our clutch and granted the most attention by my parents. I did my best to give that attention back to my clutch-mates. The second-eldest and brother of our clutch, S'taand, took over my mantle when I departed home for the family business. I sometimes keep appraised of my clutch-mates and as far as I'm aware, they all made it past rites and are fine additions to Clan Ezazzan and Fathers business."

 

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