Post 275: A Toast

Stardate: 70703.0959
Title: A Toast
Author: TC Blane
Scene: Holodeck Four– USS Independence
Time: After “Castle on the Holodeck”

After his discussion of the evenings poker game with Salvek, TC turned his attention back to relaxing in the sun. The rays felt good on his skin, even if he would not be getting a tan. The sun, the surf, and the lazy breeze made for a perfect day on the holodeck.

He was born in the heartland of North America where the only ocean they had was the sea of rolling grasses of the Great Plains. His family however took their summer vacations to the coast every year. He always liked the beach even as a kid. Growing up he had always wanted to get a house on the beach.

He glanced back at the palace like structure behind them. Of course he never figured his dream house to be anything like this one. He shook his head, must have been something growing up in this kind of life. He turned his attention back to the simulated ocean and the rhythmic sounds of the crashing waves.

He mind drifted back to a trip he had made to Suraya Bay on Risa. It was a “business trip” for Starfleet Special Ops, a Babysitting job for a Bajoran politician who life had been threatened but had refused protection. It was during this assignment that he got to see the Lohlunat, the Festival of the Moon. He always wanted to go back for a real vacation but it seemed that time never permitted it.

The sound of laughter caught his attention and he turned to see Arie laughing joyfully as she hopped up and down on the sand castle that she and Salvek had constructed, much to her fathers chagrin.

Sunshine, having seen the joyous child having fun ran over to join her. Jumping up and down and running circles around the young girl, which just fueled her laughing, the dog would stop every now and then to bark and dig up another part of the castle.

A smile crept across TC’s face as he watched the spectacle. *It had always been easier to destroy then to create. Fun sometimes too.* He thought to himself. He laughed, which drew a few other smiles from his shipmates gathered on the beach. As the sight of the young girl and dog wrecking the sandy masterpiece brought laughter to him it also carried with it a pang of regret.

While his career had been fulfilling and mostly successful it also up to this point had not allowed him to concentrate on much of anything else, including his personal life. It was one of the few regrets that he had about the life he had chosen for himself.

He shook his head. * Enough of that. * He scolded himself. *I’m here under orders to relax.* He got up from his towel and made his way over to a small cooler that he had brought with him.

He popped open the lid and pulled out a small stack of clear plastic cups. Placing them on the lid of the cooler to keep them out of the sand he then withdrew a dark bottle of wine. Wiping the water from it he inspected the label. “Ahhh, Faugeres St. Emilion Red.”

He withdrew a corkscrew from the cooler and twisted it into the bottle. When he was happy that it was into the proper depth he pulled out the cork with a resounding pop. The sound drew a few gazes from the gathered crew. He pulled another object from the cooler and put it into his back pocket.

TC allowed the wine to breathe for a few moments before collecting the plastic cups and standing. He made his way around the beach distributing the cups and filling them half full with the red wine.

“What is it?” Fox asked as she sat up onto her towel to accept the glass of wine.

TC smiled as he poured some wine into her cup. “It is a Bordeaux red blend from the Faugeres Winery in St. Emilion France. Its ten years old, and one of my personal favorites.” Fox’s eyes raised in surprise.

“Hey just because I play in the mud does not mean I don’t like to live in the clouds.” He answered her look. TC continued handing out the cups as he spoke. “I’ve been saving it for a special occasion and I think this classifies as one.”

When he reached Salvek the commander held up his hand. “Vulcans do not drink.”

TC smiled as he pulled a bottle of grape juice from his back pocket. “I got you covered.” He grinned as he poured the juice into his cup. “Enjoy.”

Once TC was sure that all that were assembled had a glass he returned the bottle to the cooler and turned back to face everyone. He held up his glass.

“A toast.” He waited until he had everyone’s attention. It was then he noticed that N’Dura was missing from the gathering. He wondered if Klingons were a beach going people.

“To us, to our ship, to our crew and to the future. For us and for those we helped, may we continue to forge new friendships among other worlds,” He paused, gazing at the assembled crew, “and ourselves.” He stated softly.

As they all took a drink from the cups under the bright warm sun, he knew that this crew, this ship, would be something special. He smiled at those gathered.

“Drink up, I have another bottle.”

Lt. (jg) TC Blane
Acting Operations Chief
USS Independence