Chicken Nuggets Taste So Good (Part 1 of 2)

Posted on 24 Jan 2025 @ 9:16pm by EMH Mark X-C "Shirley" & Lieutenant JG Hovar Kov & Chief Petty Officer Katja Becker & Petty Officer 2nd Class Donald Andrews & Petty Officer 3rd Class Yasmin Aquino & Petty Officer 3rd Class Isla Sheridan
Edited on on 25 Jan 2025 @ 5:21pm

2,190 words; about a 11 minute read

Mission: Episode 20 - Reconstruction
Location: USS Galileo-A - Deck 3, Counselor's Office
Timeline: MD 09, 1920 hrs

[ON]

Unlike most Klingons of Hovar's acquaintance, Hovar had spent a lot of time on Earth. His time with the humans were numerous because of his parent's diplomatic obligations with the Federation. Therefore, he had a lot of time to spend with the other human children. One thing that he had developed a bit of an appreciation for was the various aspects of human cuisine. The various cuisines of China, Japan, Korea, Mexican, French, German, Italian, and so many fusions of other cuisines filled his stomach with absolute delight. Some of them did not sit well with him, but one that did was the strange food called chicken nuggets.

In a way, chicken nuggets were a master food to him. Small pieces of white chicken fried in oil that have various seasonings and sauce combinations that solved a variety of culinary tastes from the not so spicy to the absolute intestine burners. While there were other nuggets on the menu, Hovar went for a small platter of nuggets: spicy, garlic and herb, and plain breading with ranch, sweet and sour, and BBQ sauce. There was also a wide variety of drink selections that was at his disposal, but he went for his go to: chilled pomegranate juice. He said grace, reached his hand to a spicy nugget, and dipped it in ranch.

Right as he was about to chow down, he heard the office door chime. There was a reason why Hovar was in the Counselor's Office instead of his own quarters. Hovar had to play catch up with all of his training, counseling files, and he wanted to eat. Of course, Hovar had to be prepared to know that he never really had any time off. He was open and available to everyone, no matter the time.

"Come in."

The short and stout Petty Officer Yasmin Aquino appeared before the opening door. Yasmin was an uninvited guest, mainly because Hovar invited no one, but considering that Yasmin was before him, he welcomed his friend.

"Hey Chaplain, do you have..."

Yasmin took a deep breath as her eyes became as wide as the Alpha Quadrant and her lips puckered like she was about to take advantage of the priest. She moved her small legs forward as she saw the platter of food before Hovar, and her.

"Are those spicy nuggets?"

Hovar looked at her and he nodded.

"Jalapeño and red chili. They are called Christmas nuggets."

The Petty Officer stood still, hovering over Hovar's shoulder as the smells entered her lungs. They glanced at each other, and they glanced at the food. Really, Hovar was suspecting he would eat alone, but he quickly learned that any idea of denying someone chicken nuggets was cruel and unusual. Hovar glanced to the corner of the room, where there were chairs available for group sessions.

"Pull up a chair, have a seat."

Yasmin stood up, placing her hand over her chest and spoke with a mocking innocence.

"Oh no, Father. I couldn't."

Hovar gave her a parental glance, which made Yasmin chuckle as she grabbed a chair and joined the priest at table. Hovar smiled and shook his head as Yasmin took a nugget and started eating. Hover smiled as he was about to eat his own...

A sudden shimmer of particles swiftly manifested in the room directly behind the chaplain with a soft hiss which discreetly announced the arrival of a new crew member. "Please state the nature of the medical emergency," came a distinctive female voice. The ship's EMH curiously shifted her feet and rotated around room to scan it while noting only two crew members present and a plate of fried protein chunks set between them. A choking incident, she surmised. Her unorthodox ginger head of straight shoulder-length hair accompanied a set of green eyes which snapped first to a Klingon male then to a Human female. Which one of them was in distress?

A respiratory emergency was about to take place as Hovar closed his eyes as he deeply inhaled, unable to cope with the fact that for the second time, he was denied his nugget. Of all the beings aboard the ship, it had to be the EMH that interrupted him. He wanted to laugh, but he found himself unable to know why he wanted to laugh. What he did know was that he wanted to tell Yasmin that they're gonna have a crucifixion.

Yasmin was equally confused as the EMH stood there. Unless the EMH can enjoy chicken nuggets, she had no idea why she showed up. Computer malfunction? Or has the Galileo developed some sort of sentience and it wants to sample the cuisine?

"Umm, no medical emergency here, at least not yet if those nuggets are as spicy as they claim to be."

Yasmin pointed at the small pile of nuggets that was resting at the table.

The photonic doctor frowned with a hint of rancor glinting in her holographic eyes. "It seems you are simply consuming food. I received a program 'invitation' to arrive at this destination at 1930. I assumed..." She stopped and started to read the room to the best of her ability. "Is this a 'social gathering'?" she started to interpret.

Instead of a look of curious frustration, Hovar had a look of genuine curiosity. He set his nugget down on his plate, fully denying his dinner for the moment. He looked at the EMH and he had a look of curiosity, disbelieving curiosity.

"Umm, no I don't have any public events, not that I know of."

He looked to Yasmin, who as an Operations officer could explain a few things. Yasmin, to help her priest, asked the computer,

"Computer, what are the crew recreational activities for right now?"

The computer kissed Hovar's cheek...

"Dinner: Chicken Nuggets at Counselor's Office. Host: Chaplain Hovar Kov. Time: 1930 hours."

The Klingon rushed over to the nearest PADD, much to Yasmin's best efforts to hold her laughter in. He logged in and he went to his schedule, specifically to the event that Hovar made.

"Where did I go wrong? This was just supposed to be a private event. For my eyes only..."

Hovar went to the EMH as he tried to make sure that he did everything right.

"You see, I set myself an event so I knew not to work, I put it in my information and..."

To his shock, Hovar accidentally selected Public availability instead of Private. The blood drained out of Hovar's face as he realized he accidentally posted a public event for the entire crew to see. Sighing in defeat, he logged out of the PADD, which fell on his desk at the same time Yasmin fell on the floor laughing loudly.

"Indeed, this is a social gathering. You are more than welcome to have a seat and join us."

The EMH frowned and tightened her eyes with a discerning stare to both crew members. "I'm a doctor, not a socialite," she huffed and folded her arms across her prominent chest. Then her green irises softened ever-so-slightly. "But seeing as I have no pending duties, I'll explore this opportunity for engagement." She did as instructed then sat in a chair the furthest away from the table.

The Klingon pondered for a moment as he finally was able to enjoy his chicken nugget. Granted, it was now soggy, but it still had the kick that he so desired. Yasmin had gotten back up onto her chair and ate some with him. Of course, being a Hologram, the EMH would not feel inclined to join them in the culinary pursuits of mixing up flavors. However, Hovar was a Chaplain, and he had an idea.

"This doesn't have to be a social call, Doctor. Think of this as...an informal group pastoral-counseling session. Anyone can come, join me at table, enjoy good food, and be able to discuss people's stresses and concerns...kind of like a debriefing only no one is taking notes, anyone is free to enter and leave, and who knows, maybe there are enough of others."

Hovar motioned in her direction.

"This could help you as well. I have no idea how, but it might."

An inquisitive look graced Shirley's delicate features in a display of superior visual programming by her creator. "Help me? With what? I wasn't aware my program was operating with any inefficiency. Standard operating procedures also require me to maintain medical confidentiality for all crew members under my care. I cannot 'discuss' their stresses or concerns."

Hovar thought about it for a moment, and then he came up with something as Yasmin chowed down on some spicy nuggets.

"I am not talking about medical charts or confidentiality rules or any "on the job" mindsets. For this time we are not Star Fleet officers or petty officers or crewmen, and neither you are an EMH. I believe that we are all equal, regardless of race or construct. We are all subject to the same dangers and the same vulnerabilities, including death. However, the founders of my religion told me to have unity of spirit, sympathy, love of neighbor, a tender heart, and a humble mind; and, to invite everyone, regardless of rank or station, to dine with me. As my brother once told me before he excommunicated me, we are brethren before any other rank."

Hovar shrugged as he grabbed a normal piece of chicken nugget and dipped it in his little cup of sweet and sour before he concluded:

"I do not see why a hologram needs to be excluded."

Shirley quickly processed the junior lieutenant's words then analyzed them within her program's cognitive matrix. She frowned with mild confusion. "I'm a photonic life form - I am, in fact, not vulnerable to the same dangers as humanoids. My program's development and the nature of my existence should be proof enough." Pursing her lips, another thought came to the forefront of her mind. "If you've been excommunicated, why are you still practicing religion?" Was he a rogue chaplain? Did Starfleet know? Perhaps she should update her crew database with this new information.

Hovar had a look of surprise on his face as he looked at the EMH, completely curious as to why she would proclaim such nonsense. He thought about it for a moment as what he just said, and he realized where the confusion would come from. This made the Klingon laugh a little bit.

"Oh no! I am not excommunicated from my church. I am excommunicated from the Klingon Empire."

Yasmin, who had just eaten a garlic nugget, looked at Hovar with a curious expression. She had a guess as to why, but she wanted to make sure.

"Is that because you are a priest?"

Hovar nodded sorrowfully. The trauma was still fresh in his mind.

"For the price of converting and ordination, I dishonored my family, my house, my Empire. It was decided that in order for my parents and my siblings to be spared from humiliation, I was honored with the Rite of Discommendation by my father, my mother, my brother, and my sister. I am no longer Hovar, son of Greb'uss, of the House of Kov. I no longer have a father, a mother, a brother, or a sister. I am a "that" or an "it." I am no longer a Klingon, I am an object. If any Klingon were to speak to me, even to advise me that something happened to my House or my family, unless a special ritual was performed, they would share my shame. When I die, the shame dies with me."

Hovar became silent again as he took another plain nugget and dipped it in a spicy mustard sauce, eating it casually.

Though he preferred to spend his shore leave as far away from the ship as possible the door to the counsellors office opened and Donald stepped inside, curious about the 'Chicken Nuggets at Counselor's Office.' event that had shown up in the ships event log. "Hey, I heard something about a 'chicken nuggets' event?" he said as he entered, very surprised to see the Emh of all things in the room too.

Hovar looked behind him and he saw another individual enter his office. Smiling, Hovar stood up, towering everyone, and he motioned for the rather large spread of chicken nuggets and sauces that filled the large table that Hovar had set up.

"Yes. There's regular nuggets, garlic and herb, spicy, some others and a few sauces to develop your own tastes. This is an informal event so no need to be formal. We are shipmates before any other rank."

Hovar then pointed to the other attendants to what was supposed to be Hovar's dinner, but it became a public event.

To be continued...

[OFF]

--

EMH Mark X-C "Shirley"
Medical Officer
USS Galileo-A
[PNPC Tarin]

CPO Katja Becker
Medical Officer
USS Galileo-A
[PNPC Sera]

Chaplain [Lt JG] Hovar Kov
Chaplain
USS Galileo-A

PO3 Yasmin Aquino
Operations Officer
USS Galileo-A
[PNPC Kov]

PO3 Isla Sheridan
Engineering Officer
USS Galileo-A
[PNPC Vala]

PO2 Donald Andrews
Engineering Officer
USS Galileo-A
[PNPC Mimi]

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