An evening with a friend

Posted on 05 Jan 2019 @ 12:32pm by Commander Allyndra illm Warraquim & Lieutenant JG Tris Shizn

2,651 words; about a 13 minute read

Mission: Episode 17 - Crystal of Life
Location: USS Galileo-A, Deck 2 Allyndra's quaters
Timeline: MD -58, 1800 hrs

ON:

Luckily the rotation of shifts would put her and Tris's teams to the point that they both had what would normally be evening off. She had sent an invitation to him asking him to stop by. She was concerned about the Andorian and the possible problems with Tholians though from the briefing the intelligence would indicate that the later were not involved. Besides, she thought, it was an excuse to stretch her culinary skills to something other than human cuisine. As such she had studied in her free time Andorian dishes and had the computer actually analyze them. Of course no hologram could make absolute assurances of how a real individual would taste, but at least hopefully she would be passable.

The salad with the Andorian tuber was chilling and the krill-beast and red bat combination was simmering, but the primary smell permeating her quarters was the Andorian spice bread. If she could eat it, she would have for the smell alone was enough to make her almost want to try. Instead she satisfied herself with a small glass of glow-ale. An interesting drink and she was surprised at how potent it tasted even if it was synthol rather than alcohol based at the moment.

---

Tris had been slightly surprised by the invitation to dinner from Allyndra Warraquim. Over the last couple months there had been little opportunity for them to come together for anything other than Ship’s business. Though he was quite pleased by the news, he did wonder if this might be something where she was goin* to have to pass on bad news or something. All that seemed to disappear from his mind as he approached the Commander’s Quarters on Deck 2.

The Andorian actually came to a full stop in a pose with his head up and extended, his hands out as if preventing him from walking into a wall, and his antennae moving quickly forward and backward as if searching for a familiar person, but nothing was there. It was only his oral-factory senses that were completely baffling him. Here he was on a Starship, traveling at warp speed through the galaxy, and he has the expectation of his Aunt Vestki’s cooking. What he was smelling could only come from her kitchen or at least trained by her.

A couple crewmen passed him in the passageway, looking at him oddly, but not stopping to ask ‘why’.

Tris began to move forward again, but slowly, taking definitive steps, smelling a-new with each step until he was standing before the door of Allyndra’s Quarters. All this was very baffling to him. He tried to refocus his mind. He definitely didn’t want to be rude to his friend and ask too many confusing or lame questions. With one more inhalation to confirm that he was definitely at the right door, Tris pressed the door-chime.

Allyndra smiled when she heard the chime. She called out, "Come on in.”

The door whooshed open and Tris stepped in cautiously, smelling with every step.

“I am just putting the finishing touches on dinner. Make yourself comfy. There is glow-ale synthol of course, but whatever you would like."

The Andorian heard Allyndra’s voice from around the bend in the larger quarters. He saw the ale sitting on the low table in the living area and took the few steps toward it saying, “I have to be totally up front with you. The smells of your cooking are wafting out into the corridor, . . . and I have to admit that it all smells amazing.” Tris then reached down and poured a small glass of ale.

Allyndra came around the corner with the spice bread, the steam still wafting off. "I hope it tastes just as good. I have found it is fun to cook, but frustrating when one cannot sample what one is cooking." She set the spice bread down and took a seat waving him to do the same. "Dinner is still simmering, but try the bread and let me know what you think. If you make a face it is alright. Any pointers also appreciated."

After sitting down across from his friend, with the plate between them, Tris reached out, picking up a piece of bread. “The smell is wonderful,” he said smiling so much it showed in his eyes. He then took a bite and closed his eyes as he chewed and made slightly moaning sounds. “Oh, that’s good.”

"Oh good, I hoped it would be."

Tris opened his eyes and took another bite, chewing and enjoying as his laid back onto his hair and to the sides. “This really is so, so good.”

"Well try not to fill up too much, there is a whole dinner left." Allyndra teased just a little. She wanted to ask about his response to the Tholians but decided to wait a bit until dinner. "How have things been. For a relatively small ship it seems things have been keeping us very busy. Myself, I have been learning to diagnose circuitry problems. A bit of cross training in engineering. So far I have not 'killed' a 'patient' yet."

Tris smiled at her levity, and to add his own said, “Ya, me neither.” He then chuckled a little, taking another bite of the spice bread. “

"Ah, tactical, that is something I do not have much of the talent for. Oh I can hit a target and all, but hand to hand like stuff just not what I am built for." She chuckled.

Tris continued, “Actually, we’ve recently completed the planned tactical training with the different Tactical officers and Conn officers.”

"You will have to tell me more but over dinner. I do not want the red bat to get overdone." She got up and headed back. "Anyway, if you want to pull up the table and there are chairs that are the right height against the wall."

“All right,” Tris replied, getting up and moving a couple chairs to the table.

Allyndra returned first with the salad and then with a platter with the krill beast and red bat combination. She poured herself a large goblet of blood flower juice and took a seat. "Well help yourself."

The Andorian looked down at the wonderful food before him, “I don’t quite know where to start. This all looks so good.” He looked up appreciatively with a smile.

"Well you might want to taste a bit of each. As I might remind you, I can only taste just a little and not much of that. So it is just hoping that following a recipe will work. I have long realized that there are nuances that good cooks learn."

“I understand,” the Andorian replied, but then added, “I think. So, I guess I’ll start with a bit of the salad and a bit of the krill beast.” He began to move things onto his plate, feeling a bit of anticipation as he did.

Allyndra sipped the juice enjoying the subtle flavours. This was not replicated juice, but the real stuff. It was allowed as it was non-alcoholic. She nodded and again said, "pointers are appreciated."

Tris had stopped with his mouth open and utensil half way to his mouth with the first bite when her conment was made. He smiled, understanding that she just wanted encouragement and some appreciation for all the work done on the meal. He then took the first bite and began to chew. He closed his eyes with delight and even tilted his head to the side as he chewed. “Mmmm,” the Andorian finally commented, “This really is good. I’m sorry you can not enjoy it with me.” But that didn’t slow him down in taking the 2nd bite quickly.

"I am glad," Allyndra sipped the juice again. "I was not sure what kind of dessert that Andorians liked and it appeared to be something with some more complicated ingredients. I have prepared something, but I think it more like shaved ice with flavouring." She paused a moment not wanting to spoil dinner, but she had to ask, "so, I noted your reaction to the mention of Tholians.”

Tris stopped chewing with a mouth full of food, looking at Allyndra cautiously. After a second looked again down at his plate, continuing his chewing as if nothing was said.

“We, that is Akkadia, as far as I know have never encountered them. All I know is what I read in a medical database. It makes them interesting physiologically, but that tells me nothing else. I would like to be better informed."

He finished swallowing and looked again at his friend, “The Federation database is not the only place where there is knowledge about the Tholians.” He breathed in slowly and sighed, “The Andorian’s have made their own attempts at contacting them in years past.” Tris knew he needed to choose his words carefully. “Some of those contacts did not go as desired, and so were not left in any civilian database or historical record. Some Andorian Fleet Admirals had no desire to have us look bad in anyone’s eyes.”

"Interesting," Allyndra nodded her head as she took in the information. She thought to herself, "so the Andorians have had bad contacts with them as well." She let that thought go and then made a little dismissive gesture. "Well, the data so far would indicate that they are not involved at this point. I am sure there would have been other sign of them. Well," she held out her glass, "here is hoping that we do not have to deal with them."

“Yes,” Tris explained, “I do not believe that they are. While I was part of the Imperial Guard, I heard several rumors, some from even my father, that several attempts have been made by the Andorian Diplomats and a couple warships.” He hung his head slightly in shame. “Some came back with their tail between their legs, while others didn’t return at all.”

"So the Tholians are tough. It would seem their technology is not quite that advanced, but again they are pretty xenophobic from everything I have discovered and thus not a lot is known. Ah well...." she made a sort of shrug, that somewhat odd rolling one. "Well the Twins take them. Let us just enjoy the rest of the evening. I can even enjoy having dessert with you."

Tris was kind of glad that Allyndra wanted to get off the subject of the Tholians. He knew that thinking more about them might just make him more angry and turn his stomach. And this food was very good, wanting to enjoy it as much as possible. He just smiled, replied with an, “Alright,” and stuffed more of the wonderful food into his mouth.

Allyndra got up and went to prepare the concoction. It was something from a region of Earth called Hawaii which was close to what her home was like. An interesting thing consisting of ice that was shaved so finely as to almost resemble snow. Flavour was added, but in a way that the ice absorbed the flavour rather than the syrup surrounding it. Of course, she had prepared it with Blood Flower flavouring. It gave the ice a bright red blood colour, but with a sweet smell and of course the juice itself was naturally high sugar. She returned with two cups with spoons of the concoction and handed one to Tris.

"If it is too sweet, I can make something else," she said.

Tris accepted the bowl with the red mound in it. He saw the crystals and could feel the very cool temperature through the bowl. This looks just like the Jusconge that my mother would make for us.” He looked to Allyndra and smiled eagerly, “Oh, I think I’m going to enjoy this.”

"I hope so, if it is too sweet I can make something else up." Allyndra took her bowl and then took a small spoonful to let it melt in her mouth and closed her eyes as the cool sweet refreshment tickled her taste buds.

He took a quick half spoon into his mouth and savored the cold flavors as he closed his eyes in delight.

"Oh now that is delightful!" Allyndra exclaimed. "What do you think? Should I open a shop on Andoria?"

Tris opened his eyes smiling, finishing the swallow exclaiming, “Oh definitely.” He wasn’t sure if he wanted another spoonful or should talk. He forced his hand with spoon down and added, ”I think this is the best jusconge I have ever had, but there is something different here that I don’t recognize. What special ingredient did you add?” He was very curious, but not enough for him to not put another spoonful into his mouth to savore.

“It is Blood Flower juice. We cultivate it on Akkadia as a staple. The juice is very sweet and also has several other nutrients in it as well. This is the real thing as the replicator while good misses a few nuances. What the Earthlings would call terroir, the soil affects the nuances of the juice of the flower."

Tris finished another spoonful as Allyndra explained. He replied, “Well, I would say that it is a definite improvement.”

"Sorry not something from Andoria. This is actually from Earth. Something called Hawi'ian Ice." She put the natural glottal stop in there as it was similar to the way Akkadian words worked. "Sort of like a snowcone, but instead of ice crystals it is shaved very thin ice and then the syrup is infused rather than just poured on. When I invited you I thought something icy and cold would appeal to an Andorian." She paused a moment and then looked a little sheepish. "I have to say most Andorian desserts did not look too appealing."

Tris listened intently to his friend as he finished the small portion. “Oh, you are definately correct about me enjoying the cold treat.” After a moment of perspective thought he added, “As to a scientist, I can see how the difference in the crystalline nature of the solid water molecule would provide a different texture and of course flow of the flavors might flow and taste different as it melts.”

"And I am sure Andorians probably are the most consummate critics and artists with ice. I have seen pictures of the ice sculpting contests on your home world. I would love to visit, but alas I would be nothing but a big ev suit. Akkadians do not generate their own internal heat, so coats and such do not do us much good. I would simply go into a torpor." She laughed suddenly. "Of course, it might make me part of one of the sculptures!"

The whole ridiculous concept of Allyndra becoming a lifelike frozen statue made Tris laugh, but at the same time thought that it would be quite pretty. “I certainly wouldn’t expect you to come to Andor. You are right. It is much too cold for your delicate nature.” He placed his hand upon hers and smiled a warm smile of friendship.

She smiled back and nodded. "We’ll just enjoying what we can when we can...sky sailor." She winked.

The reference made the Andorian smile shyly. He very much appreciated all the experiences he had had with Allyndra, and very much looked forward for more in the future. To break the tension, Tris then smiled broadly and listed his bowl, “Any more of the Blood Flower juice?”

"Indeed there is," Allyndra smiled and got up. "Wait until you try it fermented, I think it would rival Andorian Blue ale but an experiment for another time."

OFF:


Allyndra illm Warraquim
Second and Chief Medical Officer
USS Galileo-A

&

Lieutenant Tris Shizn
Conn Officer
USS Galileo-A

 

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