Posted by Lieutenant Junior Grade Adebowale Mbala (Dentist) in The Fantail Dragon
[snip]

After Miranda’s visit Joe had gone about with all the final touches to make the place presentable. One of which beside the drink bar was actual food. Joe had brought a nice supply with him. Along with this he had had three non-flame cookers. He was finally ready to t open the place up formally in the next few hours. After he had everything plugged in, polished and ready to go Joe placed the open sign up.

 Now Open the Fantail Dragon   mixed drinks cocktails, and beers. 
 Fresh food: Tonight's offering, Beer battered fish, home fried potatoes and salad.

Joe being all set up sat and waited lest someone should notice the place on his first opening and decide to stop in. He sat at the bar sipping a cranapple juice and reading the latest news.

Ade had heard about the changes at the Fantail Lounge… er, Fantail Dragon. He hadn’t made it to the Green Dragon on Deep Space - K5 as he had been too involved in a big Poker game with the Auditors Department down on the lower levels of the station. he regretted that now, as from what he had heard, it sounded like a good night. So, he was very interested in what Joe had made of the old Lounge on the limited budget the Captain would have given him.

When he arrived he initially couldn’t see anyone else there yet, then he saw Joe at the bar with a drink. Ah! Well! If Joe has a drink then it must be open, he thought.

“I wouldn’t want to see you have to drink alone!” Ade told Joe.

Joe looked up from what he had been reading, a photo, err article of questionable taste and smiled at Ade as he approached. He put the magazine away and said to Ade , with a broad smile on his face, “Well sir welcome to the Dragon! And you’d be right we are open. So what would your poison be this evening or would you care for a small bite to eat?”

“Well, I am hungry…” Ade replied, “and those plates of fish over there look appetising. I’ll have that please. And to drink, I’ll have… do you still make that potcheen in your bath?”

Joe turned to go get the fish dinner when he heard Ade ask for something quite different. ” Pochin you say? ” Joe chuckled. “Well technically it’s distilled. and nothing to do with a bathtub as I am aware. Just pots and some copper tubing and such. And technically I don’t have any but if you’re really a sporting sort I can scare you up a sip.”

With both Cross and Hunter busy with the physical evaluation of the new recruits she left sickbay and made her way to Fantail dragon ‘’Hi guys ‘’ she greeted both the dentist and Joe ‘’Have you settled in?’’ she asked sitting at the bar.

The nursing officer was feeling quiet relaxed and in an - easy going mood ‘’ Ah’’ she sighed ‘’ Those two are as toxins as the suppose gases in the nebula.’’ Taking hold of the dentist’s hand in hers Kate smiled and asked how he was , while politely telling Joe for a glass of lemon juice.

“I’m in good health,” Ade replied, “but I just lost a ton of credits in a card game. It’s my only vice… well it’s one of them anyhow!”

‘’What!’’ Kate exclaimed ‘’ Are you addicting to gambling..oh dear me ‘’ she shook her head in disapproval.

“No, I’m not addicted to anything… well, probably to Nicotine… but not to gambling, anyway!” Ade replied. “It’s only that for all that I like it, I’m clearly not very good at it!”

‘’Well then I suggest you stick to your profession’’ Kate teased.

Ade didn’t take put downs disguised as jokes very well. If he did have any faults, then that was certainly one he would subscribe to.

“Kate,” he replied, “I’m sure that the Universe will never run out of patients that require bandaging by nurses, but dentists like me have been replaced by specialist robots with transporter-based devices, which remove complete teeth and their roots with minimal pain. This new technology and ways of working mean that my profession is practically finished. I’m just another employee thrown upon on the scrapheap of Progress!“

“Mind you,” Ade added, “there’ll be a big queue at my office when the machines go offline!”

Joe having already greeted the dentist just minutes before waved to Kate as she entered. “Good evening to you all! Joe spoke asked Kate . “And what will it be for you Kate? Lemon Juice? Something to make life better? A bit of a fish dinner perhaps?”

‘’Yes please a cold glass of lemon juice ‘’ she twitched her nose at the sight of the fish and shook her head’‘No thanks Joe ,I could never bring myself to eat fish, I’m a vegan..em but I won’t say no to some chips ‘’ Kate smiled while at the same wondered if she could bring up the subject about Cross .

‘’I don’t mean to pry Joe but don’t you find Cross’ s company a bit particularly hard to handle …with all intents and purposes ?’‘.

Joe was in the middle of delivering Kate’s chips to her when he heard the end of the question about Cross. He laughed loudly and almost dropped the chips. He handed Kate her chips and said, “To answer you ma’am she fits me. You see I’m not a proper man and I need to be roughly handled at times.” Joe thought it over and chuckled. “If you’ve ever heard the story of the wild American mustangs and how they evolved from all the fancy European horses into the short sturdy and and mostly cantankerous and evil horses that they became then you’d understand why I sometimes need a spur or a harsh word.”

Kate took the chips and started munching while attentively listening to Joe .She had no idea about the mustang and even less so the word cantankerous
‘’I understand Cross is a nice person to have around most of the time but..but ‘’ the nursing officer wracked her brains for the right words ‘’ Can you handle her when she gets out of control and you’ll get more then a harsh word from her ‘’.

She knew Cross all too well ‘’ A few weeks ago I made the mistake of asking if Hunter was alright among the inhabitants and for some reason she flipped,guess it was the wrong time to ask, since she had just found out you were leaving but how was I supposed to know!’’ she exclaimed raising both hands in the air.

Joe looked at Ade and smiled. “It’s times like that you simply have to nod your head and smile at Cross. Then of course give her room to breathe. As in enough room that if she decides to throw something you’re out of range. “

‘’Really?’’ Cross asked, no one had see her entering the bar ,as usual the doctor could some how walk without making any noise and it had nothing to do with the gene.Her demeanor was inexpressible while waiting for Joe to come back ,meanwhile she turned to the dentist ‘’And how come you’re always grumbling that your profession is a thing of the past ......maybe its time to acquire a new skill, go for a new career , any talent? capabilities ?’‘.

Ade turned at her voice, and raised his glass to Cross at that comment, “Maybe, because I enjoy grumbling? …and because I have no other talents?”

Joe then went over for a moment to get a drink quickly for another crewman before returning to Ade. “The thing about Cross,” Joe began is that she’s like a lot of storm clouds on the horizon. She might turn into a much-needed summer shower or a hurricane there’s no telling!”

“Well, I like her straight-talking,” Ade replied. “She says things the way they are, without sugar-coating them, and you do know that dentists have a problem with sugar coating don’t you!”

‘’You got some nerve Milligan talking about me while in my presence !’’ she got closer to the bar ‘’ A double shot of vodka, I am on my break besides there isn’t much going in sickbay.....say does your nemesis Hunter know you’re here ? .

 Joe went to get Cross's drink and came back with it promptly. "There you go doctor hopefully the medicine you need. And then smiling just a bit he said ,"And you should know I've never taken Hunter too seriously. He takes himself serious enough for three people.

Kate did her best to hide her anxiety knowing that the male doctor had no idea of what awaited him during his free time ‘’I..I best be going goodbye ‘’ and with that she disappeared .

‘’Say Joe, Kate could do with some counseling she has this obsession and is passionate about Hunter who in turn has no idea of how much the N.O gets excited when ever he as much look her way ‘’ Cross picked up her shot and drowned it ‘’ I use to think he was not attracted to women or maybe he has some physical problem but seeing him gong with that dark skinned bombshell I realized I was dead wrong .....fill my glass counselor ‘’ .

It seemed Cross was on the edge of the Hurricane ,she had already disrespected Ade ,Kate and Joe.... she had been idle for quite sometime.

Joe shrugged and said, “And maybe the things he was doing on the station was just a show. Maybe he needs to convince others and himself on occasion. I mean Kate is a fine young girl. For companionship and friendship if nothing else. “

• Ade, dentist

Joe Milligan Bartender /Counselor