SURPRISE!

Posted on Wed Apr 21st, 2021 @ 5:11pm by Lieutenant Xavier Leiko & Ensign Kateyo Fenn

Mission: By Artemis' Bow
Location: Operations Department
Timeline: MD-01 (Right after Telepathic Buoys)
976 words - 2 OF Standard Post Measure

Xavier was just leaving his meeting with Lieutenant Keating and making his way to the bridge when he received a call from the Chief of Boat. He hadn't had many dealings with the Bolian, and when he did they were normally in written format, so he was curious why the Chief would be contacting him now.

"Petty Chief Ersh to Lieutenant Leiko."

"How can I help you Chief?"

"Sir, I need you to report to my office, it's a bit delicate."

Xavier arched an eyebrow, the tone in the Chief's voice mixed with his words had definitely peaked Xavier's interest. "On my way."

Xavier turned around and headed for the turbolift at the other end of the corridor. When he arrived at the Chief's office a few minutes later he entered the small room and found the blue skinned man sat behind his desk, looking a bit flustered. "How can I help you Chief Ersh?" Xavier asked. He couldn't help but notice that the desk, which he assumed had to be there somewhere, was buried under a mountainous pile of PaDDs, parts, equipment and who knows what else. Xavier was sure he could see a self-sealing stembolt too.

"Sorry to bother you Lieutenant. Normally I would call security but he said he knew you and he was doing it under your orders. I told him, I said you would have mentioned something to me first, but he insisted..."

Xavier held up his hand, thoroughly confused. "I'm sorry Chief, I have no idea what you're trying to say, please start from the beginning."

Ersh blushed, not quite going red, but a deeper shade of blue, or purple. "Sorry Sir. I caught him, going through one of the crates that we brought on board at the Starbase. I told him it still needed to be checked and catalogued but he said you had ordered him to break procedure."

Xavier was still confused who the Chief was talking about. "Who?"

"Him," the Bolian replied, pointing a thick blue finger in Xavier's direction.

At first Xavier was confused, thinking the Bolian was pointing at him, then he realised that Ersh was pointing just behind him, not realising there was anyone else in the room but the two of them. Xavier turned to see who the cause of this grief was, he was greeted by a familiar face and a mischievous smile."

"Alright Xav?"

"Kateyo! What the hell are you doing here?"

"Surprise!" Was Kateyo's only response. "Miss me?"

"Do you know him Sir?" Ersh asked, looking like he didn't want to believe Teyo's story.

"Unfortunately I do," Xavier said.

"Very well," Teyo said with a wink, clearly trying to wind the Bolian up.

"Be quiet," Xavier said snapping at the Trill as he pinched the bridge of his nose. "Chief can we please use your office?"

Ersh turned a shade darker and looked as though he was going to argue before he remembered that Xavier was his superior officer. "Aye Sir," he said gruffly as he eyeballed Kateyo. He didn't drop his gaze until he left the room and the doors shut behind him.

"Stuck up blue scruff..."

"KATEYO!" Xavier shouted, cutting him off. "What are you doing here?"

"I'm assigned here, obviously," Teyo said with a wide toothed grin. "I got my transfer orders before my shoreleave and came onboard just before the ship left the starbase, I wanted it to be a surprise."

"Well it's absolutely a surprise," Xavier said as he placed his hands on his hips. "Why didn't you tell me?"

"I did," Teyo said. "I told you I had a surprise for you waiting on the ship. You don't seem happy?"

"I thought you meant whiskey," Xavier said honestly. He was happy to see his friend despite being a bit shocked. However, Teyo wasn't exactly the greatest influence to have around and Xavier was trying so hard to fit into his new role on the ship.

"I'm better than 'any' bottle of whiskey Xav," Teyo said, "and I'll keep you warmer at night too."

"Oh I believe that, especially when you make the warp core go boom," Xavier said, finally breaking out into a grin.

"Warp core go boom... Are you sure you're the Chief of Operations?"

"I have the two solid gold pips to prove it, Ensign," Xavier replied as he pointed to the rank insignia on his neck, fully laughing now.

"Finally a smile, I was worried I entered the Mirror Universe for a second."

Xavier rolled his eyes. "I need to get back to work, and I'm willing to bet so do you?" Teyo shrugged, Xavier continued, "So how about we meet for a drink tomorrow after our shifts."

"Not tonight?" The Trill asked, looking a bit disappointed.

"I have plans," Xavier said matter-of-factly. "The price you pay for surprising me, but now we're on the same ship, we can drink whenever we want, within reason," he quickly added. He knew Teyo all too well, give him a sector, he'll take an entire quadrant. "In the mean time, try not to get into any more trouble, I won't bail you out again."

"Yes Sir," Teyo said as he saluted dramatically and clicked his heels together.

Xavier shook his head. Whatever future lay out in front of him, with Kateyo onboard things just got a bit more complicated, and interesting. "Dismissed," he said and watched as Teyo, for once in his life, followed instructions and made his way to the door. "Wait," Xavier said just as Teyo was about to leave the room. "What was in the crates that Ersh caught you trying to get into?"

Teyo stopped in his tracks and turned back to look at his friend. "Whiskey," he said with a wide smile.

If Xavier said it once, he had said it about a million times; the Trill was trouble.