The Start of Trouble

Posted on Sun Oct 22nd, 2023 @ 12:12am by Ensign Charlotte (Charlie) Washington & Lieutenant JG Astrja Kyan

Mission: Character Development
Location: The Bar
986 words - 2 OF Standard Post Measure

"Would you care to join me for a drink?" Charlie approached her newfound Andorian friend. Having hit it off in ops, she was curious to learn more about the assistant chief. She had a feeling that just maybe they could become real friends. In truth, it was rare for Charlie to find someone that she couldn't be friends with but it was always nice to know more about the new faces in any case.

Astrja shrugged. "Why not, I have nothing planned but reviewing technical manuals. Probably best done after a few drinks in any case."

"That makes sense to me," Charlie smiled and led the way out of ops and into the corridor. "Have you been to the bar yet since you've been on board?"

"Not yet," said Astrja. "Such places are always more fun when you go with friends. What do you recommend? I am more a stimulant drinker, coffee, The, chocolate milk . . ."

Charlie laughed. "Chocolate milk? I've never heard to that referred to as a stimulant but hey, whatever works for you!" It wasn't long before they entered the bar and found a table in the back corner next to the window. "So," Charlie took a seat first with her back to the window and front facing the many people scattered about in the room. Most liked to look out to space, but she found the people more fascinating. "What do you like to do for fun?"

"Meet people, explore, dance," Astrja smiled. "You know, the usual things. I thought chocolate milk and Andorian The were pretty common throughout Ops by now, they certainly were in my class at the Academy."

"Chocolate milk is a classic. Personally I'm more of a coffee drinker myself when I need a stimulant, but now is more of a time for a fun drink than just something to stimulate my brain." Charlie ordered a Fuzzy Jacarine Daquiri and waited to see what Astrja would order.

"Blackberry cider please," says Astrja. "I developed a taste for ciders when I visited England," she explains. "So, who else here should I meet?"

"Oh, now that's a loaded question. Uh, you see that guy over there?" Charlie pointed to a figure across the bar hunched over a drink and a book. "That's Kimeron. Engineering. Great guy, but super gullible."

"That seems like a bad trait for an engineer," said Astrja. "Could get you into real trouble," she mused. "Should we invite him over?"

"I think we should," Charlie let out a sly smirk before walking over and dragging the ensign back to their table.

"Kimeron meet Astrja. She's the new assistant chief of ops," Charlie made the introductions before offering the engineer a seat and returning to her own seat.

"Hello Kimeron," said Astrja brightly. "Where are you from? When did you graduate from the Academy? How are you finding the Athena?"

"Am I on trial here?" He joked. "I'm from Trill, I graduated from the Academy 3 years ago. I've been on the Athena since then and I've found her to be fine ship. I'm enjoying my time here. Nice to meet you by the way. I hope Charlie here hasn't gotten you into too much trouble yet."

Astrja laughed. "Oh, I do not need help to get into trouble." She winked. "Do you want to be on trial? I am sure we can whip something up." She looked around. "And what are you drinking?"

"Whiskey sour," he held his glass up. "One of the guys in engineering said I should give it a try. To be honest, I'm not a huge fan. He said the name was misleading and that it was actually a really sweet drink but I don't think that's the case."

"Try a blackberry cider," said Astrja. "I recommend them. I do not like the hard liquors." She smiled and held up her own drink. "So, what are you reading? I cannot recall the last time I saw someone reading a paperform book."

"Oh, just some mystery romance novel. I'm a bit of a sucker for those, I must admit," he sheepishly smiled. "Paperform books are the best! There's just something to be said about reading a real book. The feel of the paper, the smell of the pages. It just brings the whole experience together."

Charlie followed the conversation, offering small interjections but ultimately starting to drift off in slight boredom until a thought struck. "Hey, I have a proposition for you two...what do you say we get ourselves into a bit of trouble?" She asked with a sly smirk.

"What sort of trouble?" asked Astrja brightly. "Nothing that will get is thrown in the brig? That would be a bad start to my post here on the Athena."

"Oh, no, nothing like that. Have you met Ensign Fenn yet by chance?" Charlie asked.

Astrja shook her head. "No, which department are they in?"

"Oh no," Kimeron pushed back from his chair. "He's in engineering and he's a total mess. I want nothing to do with whatever you two get into if it's going to involve him. You two might not have to work in the same department as him, but I do. So," he politely smiled at his two table mates. "I think I'll head back to my table and finish this book. Good luck to you both."

Charlie laughed as he left. "Fenn is well, a bit of a character, but trust me when I say I'm fairly certain anything we did to him wouldn't be undeserved. At least, that's the rumor I hear and it matches the perception I got the last time I worked a job with him. I was sort of thinking we pull a harmless prank on him. Nothing that would get anyone in trouble and nothing detrimental to Ensign Fenn either, just a bit of fun. What do ya say?"

Asraja finishes her cider and shrugs. "Why not?"