I Remember You

Posted on 02 Nov 2016 @ 12:52am by Rear Admiral Lirha Saalm & Ambassador M'rayr Eisovo

1,252 words; about a 6 minute read

Mission: Episode 12 - Recluse
Location: USS Galileo - Deck 2, Mess Hall
Timeline: MD -06 - 2120 hrs

[ON]

M'rayr Eisovo entered the lounge, and was grateful of the lateness of the hour; the lounge was empty and dark, meaning he could occupy the bar without having to worry about an interruption. While his security codes from his time as a starship captain were no longer active, areas like the mess hall were hardly restricted. The main doors opened with one touch to the console. From there, the Caitian ventured in behind the bar in order to take stock of its contents. Whoever the bartender was, he maintained ample provisions of real-world alcohol -- and mixers.

Withdrawing a flat bottle opener, a cocktail shaker, Plymouth gin, Bianco vermouth, Benedictine liqueur, and Angostura bitters, he took to pouring and mixing the ingredients in accordance with what he remembered about them. He was half way done when the doors to the lounge re-opened, and the Caitian most assuredly believed that the Galileo's rightful bartender had caught onto his antics

An Orion stepped through instead. M'rayr's brow furrowed, then eased, for he knew she was no bartender. "Lirha Saalm. Or should I refer to you as Admiral Saalm, now? A belated congratulations on your numerous promotions, by the way." He greeted upon recognizing the Galileo's commanding officer, grabbing the mixer back up so his work could resume. "I hope you don't mind, but I didn't feel like sleeping."

The sound of a distinctive yet familiar voice rang through Lirha's ears, prompting her to swivel her head to determine from which direction it came. Galileo's bar and lounge was relatively sparse with personnel for the hour which made locating the source an easy task. Her eyes soon settled on a very tall Caitian with a single blue eye and sand-colored coat of fur. She had met but only one six-foot-five Caitian in her life, and he appeared to be the exact same man. What exactly he was doing on board the tiny Nova-class, however, was another story.

"Oh," she replied, a bit taken aback by the man named Eisovo's presence. "Well...hello there. M'raryr?" she asked, making sure it was in fact him with a tilt of her head.

M'rayr nodded. He could see the gears in her brain turning and catching up with her. Despite the number of years which had passed since their brief introduction during some seminar on earth that he couldn't even recall, she hardly looked any different. But it wasn't as though he'd been able to study her closely enough to see all those details he might have missed, either.

That Lirha had referred to him by name only instead of his former rank made him feel that much more retired. Without the urge to say anything more, he finished his mixing, took out one, then two separate cocktail glasses, set them on the table, and began pouring.

"Oh..." Lirha blushed, the emerald skin on her face flushing to a deeper forest green color. She shook her head lightly and held up a hand to refuse the beverage. "Thank you, but I am with child," she explained then motioned to her hidden belly bulge. Technically she with children, but that detail could wait until she was pressed to elaborate.

A small smile crossed M'rayr's lips. He pulled the extra glass back where it would sit waiting to be consumed. Perhaps he would, perhaps not. M'rayr didn't usually enjoy the sensation of drunkenness, although he did prefer a pleasant buzz. "Another congratulations is in order then, Admiral."

"Thank you. And I am very willing to celebrate," she offered, "as long as it is synthol." It wasn't the tastiest of beverages and didn't quite pack the punch of the real thing, but it was nonetheless a tolerable substitute. "I see it did not long for you to find your way to our bar..." she then teased.

M'rayr was in the process of sipping his test beverage when the admiral's quip reached his ear. He smiled, then nodded. "I doubt the synthoholic version of this particular recipe would do it any justice, I'm afraid. I have been working on it for a few months now." He gave Lirha a wry grin. "There's not much more for a retired starship captain to do these days... except for find a hobby. Mixing drinks has been mine. Although, I couldn't tell you why." He took a sip, washed the flavor around in his mouth, and swallowed with a grimace. "It's still not quite right..."

She tilted her head curiously. it wasn't like she'd shed never hear of a similar story in the past -- a former commanding officer or admiral who eventually became a drunkard to escape their past. Not that that was the Caitian's style...at least, she hoped. "There is an old Earth adage about 'idle hands'," she grinned.

"That there is." M'rayr admitted, looking back up to Lirha. His eye cast a gaze down to her uniform... one in which he caught himself envying her for. What it had represented for him over more than two decades of service was beyond anything he could describe. And yet what he'd lost... wearing it... was even more so.

The Caitian was eager to interrupt his train of thought. He didn't want to go down that path tonight. Even though his stay aboard the Galileo would be brief, he wanted to consider it memorable. "Thank you, once again, for permitting me to come aboard. Civilian modes of transportation are acceptable; but nothing beats the..." his voice bristled with the next word, "...feel of what it is to be on a Starfleet vessel."

Lirha shrugged and waved her hand to dismiss the notion of his passage being a burden. "I think your years of service in the Fleet has earned you a trip or two across the quadrant in a capable vessel," she smiled. "What are your future plans, if any?" she then wondered.

M'rayr waved the question off with a dismissive wring of his wrist. It was not done as an affront to Lirha. "I will spend some time at the Starbase... take in the sights, so to speak. I've spent so much time in that uniform you're wearing while all my attention was on duty and honor that I never thought to enjoy myself while I was at it. After that, I am not sure. Perhaps visit Khitomer, and take in the sights there as well."

"Take in the sights of the starbase?" she repeated with a skeptical glance. "...As if you have not already spent countless hours aboard them." Lirha listened to his explanation which she could understand from a certain point of view. The mention of Khitomer was rather interesting, she noted. "I was not aware Khitomer had become a tourist destination..."

"It's not... technically," M'rayr admitted. "But perhaps it should be. After all, Khitomer is where peace between the United Federation of Planets and the Klingon Empire began." He paused in contemplation. "I hope that a visit will prove... inspiring." M'rayr turned back to Lirha. "So... Admiral. If you'll pardon the curiosity, what brings you to the mess hall at this late an hour?"

She blinked and tilted her head to the side as if the answer was so plainly obvious. "Food, of course," she grinned. "It is hard to eat for three people and I find myself craving cooked meals instead of replicator rations," she elaborated. "And you?"

[TRUNCATED]

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RADM Lirha Saalm
Commanding Officer
USS Galileo

AMB M'rayr Eisovo
Chief Diplomat
USS Galileo

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