Posted by Lieutenant Miriam Cross (Chief Medical Officer) in Cross heading to the Dragon bar

Posted by Civilian Joe Milligan (Bartender) in Cross heading to the Dragon bar

Posted by Lieutenant Miriam Cross (Chief Medical Officer) in Cross heading to the Dragon bar
Posted by… suppressed (10) by the Post Ghost! 👻
At last some free time ,the CMO left Hunter in charge and made her way to the Dragon bar wondering why Joe wanted to see her. On entering she looked around and on seeing him waved .Sitting on the stool bar Cross waited for him to come over .

Cross CMO.anut won’t be dirty!”

Joe looked quickly around and not seeing anyone he leaned over the bar quickly and hugged Miri. ” Because everyone needs a hug.” he said simply. ” You have presents from Stella and DNesh. Joe said laughing.
” To quote D’Nesh she got shower presents so that Doctor’s little peanut won’t be dirty.” Joe then began laughing so hard that his eyes teared up “That child is something.” he sighed speaking of D;Nesh. “She’s a childish bundle full of curiosity, laughter, sheer amazement and a genuine liking for people. ” She’s like a human toddler in a grown woman’s body.”

‘’And a thief!’’ Cross exclaimed ‘’ What she did would make others question the crew of the Merrimack ,has that thought occurred to you ‘’ it wasn’t a question but a rather a statement.

<<<Joe then went beneath the bar and started laying all the presents on the top of the bar. Most were clothes. Clothes of all colors along with a silver earring. Jo e smiled at Miri as she looked at the earring and Joe said simply. ” Yes. D’Nesh . Something about showing he’s born free.” They then muddled through all the piles of onesies and then Joe lugged up the heavy crate. The crate was made of wood with the company where it had been purchased stamped on the top. F.H. Mudd Emporium.
Then he brought out a pry bar and began to pry everything off. Once they were done Joe could only whistle.

She looked at the new clothes and then at the earrings ,where they for her? In any case she put them aside with the clothes .Cross wasn’t expecting anything else ,so when Joe put the crate on the bar her eyes widened wondering what was inside.

There in front of them was a three-foot-long cradle In the part where the baby would lay was a thick, soft cloth. . The rest of the thing was a ship. The ship was made of long stands of silver to form at the sides of the ship. At the bow of the ship as the figurehead was King Poseiden gazing forward to unknown worlds. At his side leapt dolphins. Down the side of the boat there were crafted waves slashing against it with more dolphins as if they were watching over the voyage of the ship and whoever was within.

The CMO stood staring at it ,she had never seen anything like it.

Above where the baby lay was the handle. It was smooth blue metal with grips so that one wouldn’t drop the cradle when moving it. Hanging down from the handle were various silver suns when her bells and moons between these. All of the moons and suns would make noise once the baby was old enough and coordinated enough.
Joe could only shake his head as he looked at the thing. He looked at Miri fully expecting her not to like it. ” Well, ” he asked. ” What you think of that?”

Joe Milligan Bartender

’’ Its awesome ‘’ she finally said ‘’ Victor’s own little ship , dear this must have cost you a fortune ‘’ she was about to tell him to be careful with money but for now said nothing Cross will leave that for another time .For the first time she mentioned their child’s name , the one she chose , still at the back of her mind she knew that their son won’t stay with them for long ,the day shall come to hand him over to Joe’s family just like Glen’s son who lived in Paris .
Yet it was a decision she choose , her career seem more important then raising her son.

Cross CMO.

Joe couldn’t help but to chuckle before he spoke to Cross saying.” Well as much as I’d like to take the credit fot I really can’t. It seems that Stella mentioned to D’Nesh that they should have a baby shower for you. ” Joe had to smile as he looked at the ship. He then turned back to Cross and said, ” Well it seems that D’Nesh speaks about seven languages fluently as her people were traders. The problem is though sometimes she runs them all together mixing the meanings and the words. So, when Stella said baby shower D’Nesh thought that human babies were born dirty. She’s been quite obsessed by it now actually and is really concerned about little peanut. Oh yes that’s the name Stella has given Victor for now. So when the girls were on the station, they picked this stuff up. The ship it seems was D’Nesh’s idea and she talked Stella into it. In her words it was just the proper thing to take a poor little peanut anywhere he wished to go. As long as he was washed first of course.”

<<<Joe then laughed as he looked at the ship and shook is head. He was about to say something about D’Nesh’s love for gaudy things when something occurred to him. He stopped still as his jaw dropped. He looked at Cross and in the next second was lifting her in his arms. ” Victor? ” He shouted joyously. ” I love you finally gave him a name! I shall tell the girls that he is a peanut no more!”

Joe Milligan Bartender

It seemed that he had liked the name but as for the rest of the sentence Cross had no idea what he was talking about , still she smiled.Cross could appear to smile in an unsettling manner because her eyes did not appear to harmonize with her lips.

Perhaps she had mastered it due to her rough upbringing to survive , endure and carry on to make it through.

Cross CMO.

I love the name though. ” Joe said as he sat her down and then took her hand and led her to sit at a stool at the bar . He went behind the bar and began to to fix her a cup of tea. ” Oh an explanation. ” Joe began to speak upon seeing Miri’s puzzled look. ” Little Peanut is what Stella started calling the baby. ” He said as the water began to heat. ” It’s something her people call babies still in the womb because of their shape and all I suppose. So then D’Nesh started to pick up on it. And after the part about a baby shower got added in. Well D’Nesh got really confused. ” Joe walked over and set Miri’s tea down in front of her and said,” But now that the baby has a name, we’ll tell them.”

<<<Joe’s face beamed with happiness as he looked at Cross. He seemed to be so happy that he might overflow with it as he said,” Now he will be known as Victor!”

Joe Milligan Bartender

Cross realized how much Joe was looking forward to being a father ,she had made the right decision no matter what Hunter thought. They had already lost a son and she knew that he was never far away from their thoughts.

Seeing D’Nesh sitting behind Joe she remembered ‘’Joe Hunter gave her medication for the pain ,the twerp gave her a bottle, could you keep it and give her two pills every four hours , I doubt she has any idea about OD and might take more to dull the pain and the dentist shall fix her broken front teeth when she’s feeling better ‘’.

Cross CMO

Joe replied to Cross saying,” Sure’ I’ll watch out for her. I’ll put her in her cabin and tell her to stay there for a couple of days or she won’t get her favorite soup . Which just in case you wonder happens to be upside down lollipop chicken noodle soup. ” Joe laughed and shook his head. ” Not to worry sometimes with her it’s a lot easier to nod your head and go along with what she wants. I mean she never asks for too much.” Joe then pulled Cross to him across the bar and kissed her again asking her. ” So is the tea alright?”

Joe Milligan Barman

’’ Yes please ‘’ Cross responded while looking at D’Nesh , she could no help but notice how close Joe was with the Orion ex slave ‘’ Do you remember when she first came to the bar ,questioning what she was doing on the Merrimack ? Did you think this was some kind of deception , conspiracy a plot to sabotage the ship ? ‘’ .

With her chin resting in the palm of her hand the CMO sighed ‘’Wish I was back at her age , causing a headache to our Captain....Joe why did I mellow down? Why don’t I need that constant stimulation? The pregnancy perhaps or it starts to diminish as I get older? If only I knew my father ‘’ in her tone Joe would pick up the longing ,a yearning desire .

Cross CMO.

Joe could only burst out in laughter. ” Well in MY memory at least I think the first time you started to mellow down was the first time you saw me back here and proceeded to throw things at me. Not on one occasion but twice. And the third time I didn’t retreat, and I just held your arms against you until you tired out and stopped thrashing around trying to hit me. ” and smile as he said ,” Thank

” As for her ,” Joe said looking at D’Nesh , I think she is what she appears to be. No more than a victim of circumstance and possibly a very young one. That’s the reason I asked you about Orion physiology. She acts very young or has been very sheltered. Either way I don’t think she has a bad bone in her body. “He could only look at Cross then as he listened to her. ” I don’t know I don’t think that’s a bad thing love. A young you would have killed me!” he laughed.

Joe Milligan Bartender

Cross listened attentively, from D’Nesh physical Hunter had seen the scars on her back .The poor Orion must have gone through hell as a slave but she kept silent unable to tell Joe for the CMO was bound by confidentiality ,all she said was ‘’ No slave have an easy life ,maybe that is why she bit and kicked Hunter when he took her to sickbay for she had no idea as to why and neither Hunter at that point knew ‘’.

Cross sipped her tea ,she remembered every detail .What he had been wearing ,the bags in his hands , the exact words Joe had said ‘’ If I didn’t kill you when you came to say goodbye as the COS ,you don’t have to worry about the future ‘’.

Cross CMO.

Joes brows crinkled and he asked her. ” Slave? Why would anyone make her a slave? I’m afraid you have me lost there. “

Joe Milligan Bartender

Cross looked at Joe as if he had sprouted two antennas ‘’Are you kidding me ,what did you do at the academy ..daydreaming!’’ She gazed at D’Nesh, her green skin glistening as if oiled ‘’ They make excellent dancers, taught from a young age ,whipped if they don’t perform well and dress scantly . Most release pheromones which affect the male crew and the Orions put them to good use , but Hunter during the medical found that she is one of the few who don’t produce this pheromones ‘’ the CMO eyed him suspiciously ‘’If she did I wouldn’t have left her here with you! Anything else you might want to know ! ‘’ the female doctor exclaimed.

Cross CMO

‘’Well ?’’ Cross asked waiting a response from Joe ,it wasn’t like him to be lost for words.

Cross CMO.