Posted by Major General Charles Tenkiller (Vice-Commander, Colonial Customs and Defense Agency) in Plaza Exchange - Skipping Class

Posted by Lieutenant Commander Sharah Fayth (Chief Star Fleet Medical Officer) in Plaza Exchange - Skipping Class

Posted by Major General Charles Tenkiller (Vice-Commander, Colonial Customs and Defense Agency) in Plaza Exchange - Skipping Class
Posted by… suppressed (16) by the Post Ghost! 👻

(snip)
“No they hired the Director of medical and social services. She’s political and runs policy and the wider resources. She doesn’t run the day to day at the hospital. That would be the chief of staff, but they left, and I was asked to fill in until they were replaced. Dr Helaky is the assistant chief of staff and he does a lot. Dasca knows, I told her at our first meeting.” Sharah shrugged, “Honestly I love it. I love heading up the hospital and running that side of it. If I were asked to choose, I would honestly choose Sacred Heart over Star Fleet right now. At least I think I would. I’ve met with the new colonial director once. She will handle policy and resources and what not I guess, but honestly she scares me.”

Sharah

Charles looked at her directly. “Scares you? Why? Is there a problem?” he asked. It wasn’t just his concern for her speaking, either. It was his protective streak he had for the colony and its people.

Tenkiller

Sharah sighed and listened to make sure none of the staff was near enough to hear. “She is…misguided. Dr Helaky and I were trying to explain the dynamics on Oed to her and she’s, for a Star Fleet officer who says she’s seen a lot, timid. Or comes off that way. That isn’t what scares me though. We were discussing the arrival of the Vren and she was saying she had told Hysrushi she would hold a medical symposium to share medical knowledge. Which I think is a really good idea. Then she started talking about how we needed to use this as an opportunity to ‘sneak scans of the Vren’ so that we can learn how to hurt them and defeat them if necessary. That bothers me on so many levels Charles, but I get it, even if I don’t agree. She goes on to say if we can get them to agree to scans then they will want to scan us. Then she asks us,” she looked at him and the deep concern and revulsion was plain on her face, “which species is the smallest demographic on the colony so the Vren can scan them.”

Sharah paused letting that sink in. “Helaky lost is cool. Honestly I don’t think she understands how bad that request was. I volunteered. I’m not afraid. She refused because I am the same species as the governor and her priority is the safety of the governor and the colony and she can’t allow that.” Sharah shook her head, “I told her we aren’t spies or soldiers, we are doctors. Our goal is supposed to be collaboration and learning, not sneaking around like spies. That we can’t make strides forward if we are tying to undermine the efforts before they start. After a lot of argument and discussion we did agree that any information gathering should be left to those hired to do such things. I don’t think she is a bad person, but her ideas…the way she expresses them…”

Sharah

The rolling waves of disgust and anger were palpable, but Charles held his temper. “That’s not only disgusting, its f~<king criminal. No way we’d let her do that. Hell, Colonial Intelligence would be pissed if they heard that. Which I think they should, so they can keep an eye open for trouble from that office. Gods above… revolting.”

Tenkiller

Sharah nodded, she felt the same way. “I told her if she was concerned about that type of thing, she should go talk to Dir James about it and let him handle it. I hope he set her straight. She was quite angry when we were offended by her idea. Can you imagine…being that person, some every day citizen, come to Oed to start over, alone, away from your people, someone very little known, and then asked, and I doubt it would be a request, to allow the boogie man to give you a medical exam? Instead of one the people who are supposed to protect you, volunteering so no one else has to? Just the…” Sharah’s voice shuddered and she shook her head. “Helaky is threatening to quit over it. I haven’t spoken to the woman since, but I won’t let her do it. It might ruin relations between Fleet and the colony, but I can’t let her do it.”

Sharah

Charles shook his head and said “8 haven’t been here a whole long time, but I don’t think you doing that would jeopardize anything. But what you say she is suggesting sure as hell would.” He shook his head again and then said “Hey. Let’s go to lunch. And then we’ll go home and see if the house is still standing.”

Tenkiller

Sharah moved, slidding onto his chair with him because she could and kissed him. Totally uncaring of the server that came to check on them and made a hasty exit. Before she got up she hugged him simply for the closeness. She looked at him under the brim of his hat grinning. “Now we can go eat.” She stood and after they paid walked back toward the street. “I have never been in this area, where should we go?”

Sharah

“No idea.” Charles said as they moved out and stepped onto the sidewalk. “But I am starving, so let’s just walk till we see somethin’ that strikes our fancy.” And he offered her his arm and they began to walk.

Sharah slipped her hand onto his arm as they walked. The area was busy and bustling. People moving swiftly from task to task. Here the thoughts swirled with the feelings of being rushed, tired, and harried. Feelings of contentment, dissatisfaction, happiness, loneliness, love, hate, worry, pride. It all ran the gamut, but beside her Charles was deep and glacial.

The area was commercial, with shops and stores, bars and clubs, and small cafes and restaurants. Soon they came to a place called ‘Aria’s Kitchen’ and the smells from inside made Charles’ stomach growl audibly. “How about here?” he asked.

Tenkiller

“It smells good, why not?” Sharah waited as another couple came out the door and then stepped inside. The walls were lined with booths all the way around, with tables arranged in the center. Pale green table clothes covered them all with small trays of small bottles if condiments in the center and menus at each seat. A sign welcomed people at the door and invited them to take a seat. The air was filled with the smell of fried food, fresh bread, and something baking in the kitchen beyond swinging double doors.

Sharah

Charles led them to a booth and, as Sharah was seating herself, he stole a quick kiss. “I really am in love with you, you know that?” he asked rhetorically and then sat down.

He picked up the menu and began looking it over. Slowly, a smile spread across his face. “This… this is a diner! A real, authentic, Earth diner!” and he laughed. The cascade of happiness that swelled and poured out of him was so powerful it temporarily drowned out the rest of the diner and the street outside. “By all that is holy, I’m getting one of everything.” and he laughed.

Tenkiller

It was like cloudless warm sunlight filtered through giant trees, a velvet soft cool breeze off of water, and cool rich dark loam filled with the scent of growing things. It felt amazing. The happiness danced and tripped along her skin as it forced laughter ro bubble out. Sharah eyed the menu, that was going to be a lot of food. It reminded him of home. If he wanted it he could have it. “Okay, my treat. What do you want to start with?”

Sharah

He looked at the menu and then said “We’ll start by splitting some biscuits and gravy and a cinnamon roll. Then I’m gonna get chicken fried steak and eggs.” He looked up at her and said “We could split that too, if you want. You know V is gonna cook tonight and try to care for all of us.”

Tenkiller

Sharah nodded her look turning distant, and then a soft smile. “Oh you know she is already taking care of us. That’s why we are here.” Sharah glanced at the description of the dishes. “Yeah let’s split that too.” The waitress came and took their order. “Anything to drink? Can I get ya’ll some coffee.” Sharah shook her head, “Water and milk for me.”

Sharah

“Coffee sounds great, thanks.” and he nodded at the older human woman as she turned and walked away. Charles looked at Sharah and said “If the food is any good, I’m eating here at least twice a week. Hell, I may just work outta here.” and he laughed.

Tenkiller

“You do that, and Yavia might do something desperate to get you to come home. Like come get a job here and learn how to cook everything on the menu.” Sharah chuckled. “I may just join you, though I don’t think I could work from here.” The waitress came back through the double doors tossing a smile back over her shoulder. She set their drinks down along with cream and sugar for his coffee, and a fresh warm giant cinnamon roll. “It will be another two minutes on the busicutts.”

Sharah

“No problem. Take y’all’s time.” Charles said and the women cocked her head at him. “Where you from, darlin’?” she asked. Charles smiled and said “Oklahoma. North America on Earth. Little place in the northeast called Pawhuska.” The woman grinned and said “Well hells bells… me an’ my husband back there in the kitchen are from jyst outside Little Rock Arkansas! We’re practically neighbors!” and both she and Charles smiled. He looked at her and said “Well… its a small galaxy; but I wouldn’t wanna paint it.” and they both laughed. She turned and headed for the kitchen and Charles looked at Sharah. “This is gonna get ugly with the amount of food we’re about to get.” and he laughed as he picked up a fork and began to work on the massive cinnamon roll.

Tenkiller

Sharah chuckled, Sharah could clearly hear the woman’s thoughts as she informed her husband about the man from Oklahoma and something about hometown treatment. “Oh yeah. You can probably feed the entire orbital platform with what is coming.” Sharah picked up her fork and tore a piece of the roll off. It was warm, the bread still soft, and the icing half melted, and it was cinnamon sugary delight. “Oh..” Sharah washed it down, “This place needs to be on my way to work so I can get this every day.”

Sharah

“Right?!” he said around a mouthful of roll. He chewed and took a drink of coffee. Oh, it was actual coffee… not replicated. “Ok… you gotta tell V we are taking her and Eela to breakfast tomorrow.” and he chuckled. “Oh no, don’t. We are supposed to be at work.” He laughed as he ate another bite. He grinned as he chewed and then said “Best day at the office ever.” and his foot ran gently against the inside of her calf under the table.

Tenkiller

Sharah grinned, “Do you really think Yavia thinks we are at work? But it will make a nice surprise to bring her here.” The touch made Sharah’s eyes close for a moment as she allowed herself ro simply enjoy the sensations, both physical and emotional. Warmth and a sense of belonging brushed his consciousness as she took another bite. Obsidian eyes stared warmly at him for long moments, while they finished the roll. “I really love you, Charles.”

Sharah

He grinned and said “Yeah… I know.” and he winked at her. A moment later, plates arrived. Chicken fried steak with gravy, mashed potatoes, green beans with bacon and onion, fried catfish, crawfish, corn on the cob, french fries, onion rings, potato salad, cole slaw, meatloaf, and chili. “So my name is Anna Belle. My husband Jackson is back there in the kitchen.” The face of a middle-aged Black human appeared in the window by the door. He waved and grinned. “I normally wouldn’t be all excited about cookin’ for an Okie, but seein’ as we are the way to hell and gone from Earth, I’m glad ta meet ya!” and he disappeared. Anna Belle smiled and said “It sure is nice to meet someone from back home. Its been a few years since we even met someone originally from Earth; let alone by home.” Charles smiled and said “Well, it is our pleasure. I’m Charles, but you can call me Skip. And this is my partner, Sharah.” he said with a gesture to her.

Sharah smiled, “It’s very nice to meet you both.” They both had warm, joyful presences. They enjoyed what they did and were happy and content. Anna Belle though coming off as friendly and no nonsense had a bubbly undercurrent that made Sharah like her instanly.

Charles looked at Anna Belle and said “Our other partner is back home, but we’ll bring her in as soon as we can. She’ll love this place.” There was a spark of apprehension when he spoke that disappeared when Anna Belle said “You do that! Now is she from Earth, or is it just the two of them that lucked out and landed a country-boy Okie?” and she laughed. Charles relaxed a bit and said “Nope. I’m the lucky one. Got two of the prettiest women in the galaxy who love and adore me.” and he leaned to Anna Belle and wiked at Sharah. “Not that I can blame. I really am a catch.” and Anna Belle laughed loudly. “Oh ain’t it the truth!” she said. “I’m gonna let y’all be. You just tell me if ya need anything.” Charles looked at her and said “How’s your tea?” She grinned and said “Sweet or unsweet?” “Unsweet. I’m sweet enough.” he replied and she grinned. “Coming right up.” and she turned and walked away.

Tenkiller

Sharah waited for her to walk away and then pointed a fry at him, “Might want to change that to sweet. You are oozing so much charm your sweet might all leak out.” Then she laughed and popped the fry in her mouth. She glanced at the table and All. The. Food. “I may have to give us something for indigestion. After we eat all this and then go home and eat whatever Yavia is making we are going to be miserable. She pointed at the crawfish and gave it a perplexed look. “What is that?”

Sharah

He smiled. “Crawfish. Earth crustacean. North American cuisine from the southern part of rhe continent. Historically, a poverty food for those who had to subsist off of things found in the local swamps. Also used as bait for fishing. Here.” He picked up one of the bright red mini-lobsters. “Pinch. Pull. Suck.” and he grinned at her and some non-cuisine related memories of her flashed through his mind. He grabbed the head, pinched the tail and pulled it off. He removed the tail meat and held it out to her. “Tail meat is the main goal. When your are done with that, and if you are a true lover of crayfish, your suck the head and get all the stuff out.” He then demonstrated and smiled.

Tenkiller

It was wonderful and nerve inducing that it appeared they were simply discussing the food, but Sharah was flushed a lovely shade of red. Charles knew exactly what he was doing, too. She took the tail meat and ate it. It had a strong mineral flavor, slightly salty and sweet. The texture was meatier than other crustaceans she had tried before. It was very good, and very different than the oysters they had had. Those were lighter, these more filling. Sharah took another, grabbed the head and pinched the tail pulling it off. Not quite as efficiently as he had. She ate the tail meat and then attempted to get the ‘meat’ from the head. That would require some practice, or maybe she damaged it when she ripped the tail off.

Sharah