Post 284: Can I Get Fries With That?

Stardate:70704.1600
Title: Can I Get Fries With That?
Author: Commander Dabin Reece
Scene: Runabout Hiawatha/Bridge, USS Independence
Time: Concurrent with Between the Devil and. . . by Zanh Liis

[Stand by for transport to the bridge.] Lt. Windsor said.

Dabin Reece let out a heavy sigh. This had not exactly been part of the plan.

Starfleet had been considering having Lily T'Ana installed as the full time Chief of Science on the Independence, and had had the audacity to request Dabin rendezvous with the Indy for her evaluation. It couldn't have been an accident that he received that request one day before cashing in his significant amount of shore leave for a much-needed retreat with his beloved Jaine Hood on the Trill home world.

So as Jaine, who had no doubt reach Trill in her own runabout by now, waited patiently for him, Dabin now had little choice but to wait for transport from the Independence.

[I'm sorry, we have a bit of a problem here at the moment, but we are ready for transport.] Came Windsor's voice at last, almost five minutes later. Dabin was anxious to get through this as quick as possible and be on his way, and the words 'bit of a problem' did not inspire confidence in his prospects of being on Trill any time this year.

He stood up, secured his console, and a moment later found himself on the bridge of the Independence. He looked around, searching for a familiar face- Salvek, Kellyn, Liis- none of them were here at the moment. Neither was Morris or Tues. "So, um, who are you people?"

"Who are you?" Windsor asked, balking at the audacity of the question. Reece flipped him a PADD encoded with his orders. Windsor read it, and set it down on the console beside him.

"Unfortunately we are not able to communicate with Lt. T'Ana at the moment. We've lost the com line to the holodeck, which she's inside at the moment."

"Can't I just go get her?" Reece asked, tapping his foot impatiently.

"We can't get in the holodeck at the moment, malfunction."

"Dude, you're like seriously cutting into my happy time. Look, I'm friends with Salvek and Kellyn. Are they here? If you are having problems with the holodeck they are the ones to ask."

Windsor shook his head, unable to know just what to make of this science officer Starfleet had sent. "Sorry, they are on the holodeck too."

"Oh, and I suppose the rest of your command crew is all locked up in there too, with little Arie to boot, right?"

"More or less. If you'll excuse me we have a lot of work to do. Why don't I escort you to the conference room, sir."

"O-M-G!" Exclaimed Reece, one letter at a time. "You're trying to ditch me? Where is Zanh Liis, I demand an audience with the Great Temporal One. Or failing that, your Captain."

"At the moment, Zanh Liis IS the Captain."

Reece rolled his eyes, "Oh I get it, I've transported to one of those alternate universes. This isn't the one where humans eat Trills I hope, that would really suck. Speaking of which, I'm hungry."

Just then the turbo lift doors opened, and Captain Gilmore in his jeans and white shirt, fresh from the Holodeck, stepped out onto bridge.

Reece, seeing the aging man with his thick beard immediately thought of one of his favorite figures from Earth culture, the Gorton's Fisherman.

"Oh fantastic! Drive through! I'll take some popcorn shrimp, fish and chips with extra tartar sauce, and a bowl of chowder."

"Mr. Windsor, who is this man?" Gilmore asked, ignoring the impudent Trill.

"Commander Dabin Reece sir. Sent by Starfleet to evaluate Lt. T'Ana for possible promotion to Chief of sciences."

"Dude where's my fish?"

"Where is Zanh Liis? I demand to know what's going on below. My ship is turning into a circus."

Windsor straightened, sensing Gilmore's frustration. "Sorry sir, I wasn't expecting you. I believe she's on her way up here and should be here soon."

"Indeed, she thinks I'm on my way to my quarters at the moment."

"Your ship?" Asked Dabin quizzically. Wondering if he had just ordered fish from the ranking officer. "Are YOU Captain Gilmore?"

Just then the turbo lift door opened once again, and out stepped Zanh Liis into chaos.

"What is our status, Captain?" Gilmore asked, snapping off the final word. Liis tried to address him, but was cut off by Windsor.

"Zanh Liis, all attempts at contacting the holodeck have failed." Again, Liis tried to speak, and was cut off.

"Liisy baby!!!!! Hows' bout a hug? Called Reece from across the bridge.

Zanh Liis' face turned white as a ghost. "I think my head just officially exploded."

Windsor explained, yet again, why Dabin Reece was on the ship. Liis chuckled to herself.

"You want to talk to Lily T'Ana? YOU want to talk to LILY T'ANA?"

"You don't look too good Liisy." Dabin observed. "Have some fish with me. If it ever arrives." Reece cleared his throat.

Zanh Liis grabbed Dabin, by the wrist, and dragged him towards the turbo lift.

"Whoa hey, I appreciate the reception, but I'm still with Jaine. Matter of fact she's probably waiting for me on a beach in a bikini right now, maybe even less."

"Oh no my little Trill friend, if you want to talk to Lily T'Ana, you're going to help me get her out of the holodeck. The sooner you do that, the sooner you can be on your way to see your sweetheart. Interested?"

"Very." Reece admitted.

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Commander Dabin Reece
Guest Starring Science Officer Dude
USS Independence