Posted by Lieutenant Junior Grade Janna Kingston (Counsellor) in Calloway/Hammor Quarters- Meals & Machinations

Posted by Lieutenant Commander Faye Calloway (Chief Intelligence Officer) in Calloway/Hammor Quarters- Meals & Machinations

Posted by Lieutenant Commander Daggum Hammor (Chief Engineer) in Calloway/Hammor Quarters- Meals & Machinations

(snip)

Faye grinned. “So Gallren is part Orion. Not a big deal. But him covering up Dag’s mother’s crimes and makign sure the cases are dismissed is a problem. If she tries to claim a right to inheritance, then it will go to court and we will have enough evidence to have the whole thing thrown ut, Though honestly I suspect the threat of all our evidence may deter them.”

~Faye Calloway, CIO

“And if the court doesn’t throw them out, there’s always the closest airlock.” Daggum said without the slightest hint of humor. He finished stirring for a moment and turned and looked at Janna. “We aren’t in this for any gain, Janna. I hope you know that. We just want to… finally… set some past wrongs right and maybe close a chapter or two of sagas that are Faye and me.” He took a deep breath and sighed. “I mean, it’d be really great to not have to carry around a lot of this garbage we have.”

Hammor, CE

Janna’s gaze was penetrative as she took in the whole that was Daggum. A sly smile slipped onto her lips. “I fully believe either and both of you could make someone miserable if you truly thought it was required but vindictive and selfish are not terms I would ever use for you two. You’re allowed your peace, Daggum,” she said, giving his arm a reassuring pat.

“Damn right.” he said with a grin.

She turned to Faye and held out her hands. “Now, since dinner is almost ready, I insist I help. Plates and cutlery? I’ll set the table. Unless were serving from here of course.”

~Janna Kingston, CNS

Faye pondered for half a second. “We can serve from here, but”-she pivoted at the hip and reached into a drawer, collecting cutlery-“you can set these out. Thanks!”

“Oh! And my mom said you can call her on the Asimov for the questionnaire. But send a message ahead so she can and I quote ‘tell the others to piss off for a while’.” Faye snorted. “I would say she can get away with that because she’s the first officer these days but it’s far more likely that they are just scared of her. The smart ones, anyway.”

She flicked her gaze to Daggum. “Autism assessment,” she said more neutrally. “There are questionnaires Janna has to complete with family members. I’m lucky I actually now have someone who knew me as a baby and child. Had this all come up earlier, I don’t know that it would have been so straightforward.”

~Faye Calloway, CIO

Daggum nodded. That made sense on a number of levels, he thought to himself. “Yeah… I think the only person on that ship that isn’t afraid of her is your Pops; and that’s probably just because he’s as crazy as she is.” He looked at Jenna. “Fay should tell you how they got married.” and he laughed.

Hammor, CE

Janna set the cutlery in their places and moved back to the kitchenette. “Oh? From what you’ve told me, your mother is not one to be impulsive, so it had to have been pretty amazing to generate that kind of reaction.”

~Janna Kingston, CNS

“Amazingly crazy… but yeah.” Daggum SA d with a smile. “But they found matching crazy in one another, so it works.”

Faye snorted. “Oh, I think the word you’re looking for is epic. See, people like them in their situation would just simply elope. And they did, but it involved some wacky psqeudo church over subspace and they were rather drunk when they did so. Woke up the next day, realized what they had done adn decided to go with it,” she said, bursting out laughing.

She turned her gaze on Daggum. “Do you think my mother would murder me from so far away if I showed Janna the vid?”

~Faye Calloway, CIO

“I think Pikelsimer would, but it’s okay. I can distract him.” and Daggum laughed. “I’ll tell him I made a still in the Engineering shop.”

Hammor, CE

Faye threw her head back adn laugh. “Aww, he’ll be so proud. And goodie, story time!” she said and grabbed Janna’s hand, all but dragging her over to her computer. Dinner could wait.

Surprised by being suddenly dragged away, Janna tossed an amused look at Daggum. No one could ever say Faye wasn’t enthusiastic!

Her hands flew over the keys and a moment later a vide appeared and began to play:

---

The video showed two sides of a vid call. One side: a remarkably sober looking Shara and Micah on the couch they currently sat on, dark of night in the window behind them. On the other, an Andorian woman with long white hair with beads in it. Her face was painted to resemble a rising sun in yellows and oranges.

“Dearly beloved,” the woman began, “… we are gathered here under the blessings of the Universal Harmony and Light-Bearers Church of the Everlasting Love and Harmonious Living Church and Souvenir Store to join these two beings in holy matrimony. Shara Calloway… do you love, honor, trust, cherish, and desire the man next to you? And do you wish him to be your partner in love and light till darkness takes you and you cast into the abyss of the everlasting night never to be seen or heard by the universe again?” Shara looked at Micah and smiled. To anyone who didn’t know her, it looked like a love and adoring smile. Micah, though, saw the struggle to keep from laughing and simply nodded and said softly “Yeah, I know…” “I do.” said Shara. The ‘minister’ looked at Micah. “And do you, Micah Pikel… Pikelsimmer? Piike-simer? Pickalsimmer?” and Micah rolled his eyes at Shara and said “Pikelsimer. Close enough. Lets do this.” and the minister said “Right, Pikelsimer. Do you promise to love, honor, cherish, and satisfy all the needs - both physical and spiritual- of the woman next to you?” and the ‘minister’s‘ eyes focused on Shara and she licked her lips as her words took on a somewhat daydream-like quality. “Even if that means taking on a second lover to help with her most intimate desires… satisfying her while she tells them about how she makes homemade yogurt and cheeses… and wants to raise small horses and sell them to tiny cowboys…” and she shook her head and said “Oh, I’m sorry… What was I saying? Oh yes… do you promise to love and cherish her as your partner and wife until such time as the holy light is vanished from the universe and you are left alone and cold amidst nothingness for all eternity?”

Micah and Sha stared at the screen and then Micah just said “Uh… yeah.... sure. Except that one past with the tiny cowboys.” The ‘minister’ smiled and said “I pronounce you wed! Congratulations. Now.. we have a wide assortment of souvenirs to help you memorialize your wedding. Would you be interested in the -” and the vid ended.

---

It still was hilarious and Faye burst out laughing. “That’s my parents, Janna!” she said, with more laughter. “But you keep that to yourself when you call her for the assessment.”

~Faye Calloway, CIO

Janna laughed hard. “Oh my stars, that is amazing! I’ve never seen anything like it,” she said, trying to catch her breath. “It defies everything I feel I’ve come to understand about your mother, and yet, I can see what you mean. That might be another side to her, but I’m not going to push my luck with someone like your mother,” she said, breaking into a smirk.

~Janna Kingston, CNS

Daggum snorted softly. “Shara isn’t the one I worry about. She’ll just kill you. Micah, on the other hand… that guy worries me at times.” and he chuckled. “Anyone with that much land and nobody coming to bother him?” and he shook his head. “Yeah… they are a match, that’s for sure.”

Hammor, CE

“And a ship. Those two could go anywhere they wanted. I’d be scared of them too if I wasn’t me,” Faye said with a grin as she drained the noodles and dumped them into the veggies that she had been simmering in a light sauce.

Faye held out a plate to Dag and Janna. “Dinner’s ready, help yourselves. It’s a veg sauté on noodles and I’ve done a creamy nut sauce with some herbs. It’s freighter food, but yummy.”

~Faye Calloway, CIO

Janna took the plate and scooped up a modest amount of what looked to be a really nice food. “Nothing wrong with simple food. I mean, I’m just honoured you cooked for me. After our busy days, there’s nothing wrong with the replicator. But, thank you, really.”

She made her way to the table and took a seat. Kingston eyed Faye for a long moment and smirked. “You on a freighter does not actually surprise me. Though I’m rather glad to have you here. Both of you,” Janna said, her smile softening but not disappearing. Was she feeling particularly sentimental lately? Perhaps. But it had been a lng tme since she had had such cumulative camaraderie with her ship mates. In truth, not since her cadet days.

~Janna Kingston, CNS

Daggum waited for Faye to get hers before dumping the remainder of the noodles on his plate. He didn’t eat a lot for a being his size; but a being his size ate a lot. He took a seat at the table and smiled at the two women seated there. He looked at Faye and said “Hun, this smells absolutelyamazing.”

Hammor, CE

Faye beamed at his praise. “Thank you. I will admit that it’s been nicer having a kitchen to cook in than I expected. I’m just glad I know my way around basic ingredients.” She looked over at Janna. “My Dad was the one who did the cooking in our household when we weren’t eating communally. My mom and kitchens don’t mesh well. But she’s very pragmatic about it. It did mean that I learned early how to do basic things, though I can’t say I’m super adventurous with what I make.”

She stuck her fork into the pile of noodles, spearing through a couple vegetables, and gave it a spin before popping it into her mouth. She murmured her approval. “Mmm, I’m happy. But I still can’t wait till I can secure some growing space. It might not end up being the garden I had on the Manhattan, but it will be better than nothing.”

~Faye Calloway, CIO

“Well, after seeing the images you showed me, I agree it might be hard to match,” Janna said, twirling her fork. “But we do have three arboreta. I bet you could do something pretty amazing with any of them. I do not possess growing skills, though to be honest I’ve never really had to test them. Which is funny given I was a biologist in my former life,” she said with a light laugh. Janna didn’t often contemplate her pre-accident life, but when she did, most of the time it didn’t hold pain any more.

~Janna Kingston, CNS

“Well, whatever you need to get started, let me know.” Daggum said with a smile. “I know a guy in Engineering who might help you… with the proper motivation, of course.” he said to Faye and grinned.

Hammor, CE