Can’t say no to a drink

Posted on 18 Oct 2018 @ 11:43am by Commander Luke Wyatt
Edited on on 23 Oct 2018 @ 4:15pm

1,966 words; about a 10 minute read

Mission: Episode 17 - Crystal of Life
Location: USS Galileo-A - Deck 2, Callisto Bar
Timeline: MD -144, 2130

[ON]

Of all the places Luke had spent in the last few days getting himself aquatinted with the ship, he had yet to visit Callisto bar; and though it was still being fitted they were serving drinks. That being said when Luke walked in he was surprised to see how busy it was. There was a hive of noise and people moving around, either to and from tables or dancing. Luke opted for a table yet to be occupied just offset away from the bar, door and closer to the viewing windows and sat down, it didn’t take long to order a drink which he asked the bartender for a Whisky straight no ice. Sitting there with his drink Luke allowed himself some time to reflect on the last few days and all the new people he had met and all the old ones he caught up with.

As Luke was deep in reflection, he heard a voice emanating from the bar, one which was unmistakeable. "Excuse me," said the female voice with a distinctive accent, clearly frustrated at the difficulty of trying to get the attention of a bartender at a crowded bar. "Excuse me..."

Snapped from his thoughts at the sound of a frustrated but familiar voice Luke turned to see Tuula struggling to get a drink. Finishing his first glass of whisky he stood up and made his way to the bar. “Having trouble?” He asked making room next to the woman. “What’s your poison?” He said with a smile.

"Death in the Afternoon," she replied, turning to look up at Luke, her neck tattoo coming into his view for the first time. A smile appeared on her face, accentuated by her dark lipstick. She was relieved, not only at the fact that she had some help to get her drink, but also at seeing a familiar face she hadn't seen in a while. "Sometimes it's hard to get people's attention when you're only chest-high," she added forlornly, as though between her hair, tattoos, and makeup, she ever had issues attracting attention.

“I find it very hard to believe that you, Tuula Voutilainen find it’s hard to attract attention” he joked turning to the bar tender and order his drink of whisky and her Death in the afternoon which sounded completely unappealing but then again that’s just how Tuula operated. The bartender didn’t take long to get to work and soon Luke had both their drinks. “I have a table if you’d like to join me?”

"Ooooh, that would be great!" exclaimed Tuula, before following his lead back away from the crowded bar. As he placed the drinks down in front of her, Tuula pulled herself up to the table, pushing a chair aside. "So, Luke, it's been a while..." she said, reaching for her drink. "Anything exciting going on in your life? A new flame, perhaps?" she added, raising an eyebrow at him before raising her drink.

Luke chuckled as he took his seat opposite Tuula, "Nope no new flames, an old one perhaps but I don't think it set out for all this relationship business, I seem to not do so well in that department. What about you? Anything interesting?"

"No, sadly, me neither," replied Tuula before taking a sip of her drink. Though it was synthahol, the flavour was almost there. Despite the cloudy nature of the emulsification, the first sip always had an effervescent texture. "I think most men are intimidated by an intelligent, successful, attractive woman who knows more about their anatomy than they do," she added in a matter of fact tone.

Luke nodded listening to Tuula, he did like how she talked. She always had a way of words. "That does sound interesting, do you know a woman like that?" He teased sipping his drink.

“Oh please,” replied Tuula with a dismissive wave of the hand at Luke’s gentle ribbing. Leaning forwards, she placed an elbow on the table and a finger on the rim of the glass, taking up a flirtatious posture, one which put her chest tattoo on display. “It’s not like you could handle me either.”

He shrugged "I guess you have a very valid point there, and just what kind of guy would be able to handle you?" Luke asked wondering what it was Tuula would want from a guy. "Just in case I see any future boyfriends out there for you, of course."

"Someone strong, yet gentle. Someone with a good sense of humour and who is open-minded, but willing to stand up for what's right." For a brief moment, she started longingly out the window at the stars. "Someone who isn't afraid of intelligent women..." As she turned back towards Luke, a hint of a smile appeared on her lips for a brief moment “and someone who isn’t afraid to try new things," she added as her hand brushed against his knee.

Electricity coursed through him from the point she had touched sending his leg hairs to stand rigid. "Well," he said catching himself to take a drink. "I'm sure there's a few dashing young men on the ship who wouldn't say no to something advantageous."

Tuula smirked in response; by now her hand had worked its way up to her neck, her finger curling around the metal ring on her spiked collar. "Well," she started, tugging slightly on it, "let me know if you find any."

"I swear you'll be the first to know, just inform me if I need to inform medical of any broken hearts you leave in your wake," He said sipping his drink again the liquid flowing down his throat smoothly and silky. "Have you spoken to any other of the crew from the previous ship?" Luke asked curious to see how she thought of the current sombre mood.

"Not too many..." replied Tuula, her cheerful tone disappearing as her mind went back to Kreanus, the last thing they went through as the old crew. "Of course, I'm happy to be working with Allyndra again. And I did have to report in to the captain when I came aboard..." she added, trailing off as she reached for her drink.

Luke was a little surprised that Tuula had managed to speak to the Captain, "Wow, you got an audience with our Captain? I haven't been trying but neither has she, I had expected to be requested to report to her but I guess she's too busy, it worries me how the lack of security and tactical is being taken into consideration."

"That's odd," mused Tuula, before taking another sip of her drink. "I can't imagine a woman turning down a meeting with you; you are quite the charming one..."

Luke laughed out loud “As hard as it my be, it’s true. Rather frustrating really it seems when I need someone they’re never around and as soon as I need them they’re there like a rash”

"Perhaps you should barge down her office door and demanded a meeting," suggested Tuula, raising her eyebrow at the suggestion of a rash. "After all, you are senior staff..."

Luke considered her for a moment "You have to be joking? I'd sooner be met with the end of a phaser if I thought barging down the captain's door was a good idea, though it would get my sense of urgency across." He said playing the scenario over in his head before deciding that it was indeed a terrible idea.

"Well, I'm sure things will be fine," replied Tuula before pausing to take another sip of her drink. "I mean, we are a science ship, after all. We shouldn't be getting into fights with aliens."

Luke nodded taking a sip of his drink "That we are indeed, in fact talking about discovering things did I hear correctly that we are now the proud owners of a EBH? I dont know what that is but sounds interesting enough that half the female are talking about it."

"Oh, you mean Raven?" asked Tuula, the excitement clearly present in her voice as the conversation changed to a project she was passionate about. "Yes, she's the new hologram designed for childcare. I designed her avatar and contributed to her personality matrix. That's so neat, isn't it?"

Luke nodded "Indeed it is, I didn't know you were so skillfully minded in the department of holographics. You should try writing a holonovel for the crew! We have a long journey ahead of us and im sure they'd appreciate it" He suggested before adding, "Is Raven something Starfleet might invest in fleet wide?"

Tuula pondered the question for a moment. "I'm not sure; she is very much an experimental program. And I'm not sure how she would feel about having copies of her across the fleet..."

"Tuula? You know that if Starfleet decided that your idea, that Raven was something worth installing on other ships that they would? And surely it would be better they use your design and not some half-measure?" Luke asked curiously. "I mean I'd love to have an entire detachment of Holo-soldiers think of the space and manpower we'd save."

"I suppose..." mused Tuula. "Perhaps I will discuss the matter with Starfleet; I can't imagine they'd be happy at our misuse of an EMH though."

He shook his head "Hardly a misuse, you've adopted a program to suit our needs. If anything you should be commended. Look at it this way Starfleet isn't a militaristic organisation so families are the norm on most ships why not have a hologram program to care for the children it'll mean one less person on board, definitely not a misuse" The chief was nicer with his words and wondered why she would think Starfleet would not be happy.

"Perhaps," she added, stirring the ice in her drink. "Say, have you been keeping up with the sauna regiment that I prescribed? Those bones and muscles of yours aren't getting any younger," added Tuula, referring to the last time Luke was in for a medical checkup. While he, like most Marine types, tried to put on a tough exterior during his checkup, Tuula did notice him favouring one side due to a strain most likely received during holodeck athletics. Of course, she had an effective cure-all in store for such a matter, which was regular sauna sessions.

The ex marine chuckeled "Honestly I cant say I have. Would you believe me if I said im to busy and I've been trying to follow your suggestion of a relaxing sauna session." Luke was a sucker to admit it but he just didn't really feel like a sauna spa session was his kind of thing. Boxing, now that sounded relaxing.

"I don't think I would believe that anyone could possibly be too busy for a sauna," countered Tuula. "Unless..." her eyes quickly looked Luke up and down, before locking eyes with him and raising an eyebrow mischievously, "you are insecure about something? Just because it's traditional to sauna in the nude doesn't mean you can't bring a towel, I suppose."

Luke rolled his eyes and let out a sigh "Oh please I am not insecure about anything, I mean look at me I'm basically chiselled from marble" He teased with a chuckle. "I'm just busy with everything that happened, the new ship and everything I promise I'll find the time if you're lucky ill invite you to prove it."

"Excellent," replied Tuula, with a hint of smug satisfaction in her voice, as though she had skillfully lured Luke into a trap. "Sounds like a date."

[OFF]

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Lieutenant Tuula Voutilainen
Assistant Chief Medical Officer
USS Galileo-A

Lieutenant Commander Luke Wyatt
Chief Security Officer
USS Galileo-A

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