Posted by Civilian Cort Belanger (Executive Assistant to Lt. Gov.) in You Won, But Did You Really?

Posted by Civilian Dorma Fen (Governor’s Assistant) in You Won, But Did You Really?

Posted by Civilian Cort Belanger (Executive Assistant to Lt. Gov.) in You Won, But Did You Really?
Posted by… suppressed (1) by the Post Ghost! 👻

(snip)

She looked at him and her eyes sparkled with mischief. “Cort… I’m talking about him being killed.” and she chuckled. “You have to know that long-tenured Governors on Oed V are the exception, not the rule.” and she chuckled.

Dorma Fen

Cort wasn’t laughing. He reached for his glass of wine and lifted it before pausing and setting it down with a sigh. “I do, and I understand why everyone jokes about it and why it can even be necessary at times. But… I can’t.” He shrugged.

~Cort Belanger

“Fair enough. You’ll have to tell me why sometime.” At that moment, a new dish arrived. The bearer was a Romulan, and as he walked out… he tripped. The two plates went high in the air, and in almost slow motion Dorma and Cort could see his eyes widen in shock and disbelief even as they cam crashing down on the floor. The Romulan just stared for a moment in utter horror… and the burst into tears and got up and fled back into the kitchen. Dorma sighed heavily and looked at Cort. “Excuse me.” she said and stood up and set her napkin on the table and walked into the kitchen. A few moments later a few students came out and cleaned up the mess.

Eyes wide, Cort nodded. “Of course.” That was gut-wrenching to watch and it had to be even more so for the student.

It took a good fifteen minutes, but eventually Dorma stepped out of the kitchen. She walked slowly out to the table with a new bottle of wine and sat down and poured a glass for both of them. She lifted hers… and downed the contents in one go. “Sorry. That was not fun.” she said with a heavy sigh.

Dorma Fen, Governor’s Aide

Cort nodded. “I can only imagine how devastated they are. Things happen, but after all that time and effort, it’s such a shame. Are they able to re-do the dish or is there not enough time?” he asked before taking a heavy sip of the wine.

~Cort Belanger

Dorma shook her head. “No. They also failed to have the spare ingredients for a second dish. Well, they didn’t fail to have them. They screwed up the first time they made the dish and that was their second attempt.” She poured herself more wine. “It is heartbreaking. I just wanted t-” and she was interrupted by the kitchen doors swinging open and a tall human male and the previous student, eyes still red from crying, walked to the table. The human carried two 0lates whose aroma was the very definition of mouth-watering. The red-eyed student looked up at the human and the human simply said “Go ahead .”

The other student spoke in barely a whisper. “Chef. Sir. I present to you a Halitian steak tare-tare with… with…” and the human leaned in and said “Peppercorn and horseradish sauce and Rigelian Burgundy mushrooms.” The student took a shaky breath and said “Peppercorn and horseradish sauce and Rigelian Burgundy mushrooms. Enjoy.” and they turned to walk away when Dorma said “Stop. Grant?” she asked as she looked at the human, “What is this?” Grant looked at Dorma and said “I am simply helping Detrel being his dish out, Chef. Can’t have him tripping again, now can we?” Dorma cast a look at Cort and cooked an eyebrow. She looked back at Grant and said “So you are telling me this is his dish?” Grant nodded once emphatically. Dorma nodded slightly and then looked at Detrel. “Detrel… is this your dish? Is this dish prepared and created by you and you alone?” Detrel looked at Grant almost pleasingly, and then cast their eyes to the floor. “No, Chef. It is not.” Dorma’s jaw clenched. “Set it down. And then get everyone out here. Now.” Her tone had an edge that could cut the steak in front of them. “Yes, Chef!” both said and theyvset the plates down and bolted for the kitchen.

Slowly, the students trickled out and formed a line about ten feet from the table. Dorma stood up and looked at all of them. “Fraud. Cheating. Culinary plagiarism is what this is.” She began to walk back and forth in front of them like a drill instructor berating new recruits. “This is how this is going to work. Anyone of you who wants to tell me the truth… that Grant made this dish-” and she pointed the table, “- and Detrel is passing it off as his own… step forward.” She stopped paving and waited. There was a few exchanges of glances, and one of the students started to move but a hand fell on their shoulder. For many long, silent, miserable moments… nothing happened.

And then Dorma smiled. “Good. You have learned. A kitchen isn’t just the chef. It’s everyone in it. A kitchen rises or falls based on the staff. Because it is the ENTIRE staff that makes the food what it is. From the chef, to the sous chef, to the dishwasher… everyone relies on one another. Now… Grant.” and she moved to sttand in front of him. “You showed great leadership and poise, and you put into action the number one rule which is the food must be served well. And you tried to save your fellow cook. I commend you. And I will talk to the recruiters coming in personally about you during the job fair.” She moved in front of Detrel. “You know I cannot pass you now, correct?” she said softly. Tears welled up in his eyes and he nodded. “But…” Dorma continued, “… I can allow you to retake the course next semester. Practice. Cook every chance you get. And get out of your head. Just. Cook. Nothing more.” Detrel’s eyes went wide and he nodded vigorously. Dorma nodded and then said “Clean up. I want the kitchen perfect before Mr. Belanger and I are done with your grades.” and the students all said “Yes Chef!” in unison and walked quickly back into the kitchen.

Dorma took her seat and exhaled a long, slow, breath. “Sometimes I really love this job.” she said with a smile and she took a drink.

Dorma Fen