<USS Avalon> Being Served

Being Served
by Captain Keith Ketchum, Cadet John Forester, and Ensign Mary O'Donnell

 



"O'Donnell to Captain Ketchum, if it's not inconvenient would you care to join 
me for a drink somewhere?"

 

Keith heard the comm, and wondered what the Ensign wanted now, maybe to really 
shoot him. "I'm currently in Quark's with my son." He was making the final shot 
in their third game, he hoped. He closed the comm for a moment, "So would you 
mind the gal that threatened to shoot your father come by?"

 

"And I've no problem with company," John smiled. 

 

He re-tapped his badge, "Come and join us in Quark's, Ms. O'Donnell."

 

Typical, it's where I was going anyway. She turned round to thank the Indian, 
but he'd vanished like the mist. "Oh well, thanks." She had a feeling he'd have 
heard it anyway.

Entering the bar she caught sight of the Captain and saw he was already with 
company. "I'm not disturbing you am I Sir?"

 

"Not at all, Ms. O'Donnell, just playing some Dom-jot with John. Do you play?" 
Keith thought that maybe that John could use the extra practice before another 
match.

 

"Can't say that I do but I'm willing to learn. Can I get you both a drink first 
though?"

With a smirk at his father, John said, "Two Centaurian Brandies, please." He 
had to, he just had to, he couldn't stop himself. "And whatever the Captain 
wants."

 

Mary eyed him skeptically. "I'd have to see prove of age first young man. 
Although this establishment is sovereign Ferengi soil, I believe even they have 
rules governing serving alcohol to minors."

 

"Minors?" John gaped, his cheeks going red. "How about you just order me fruit 
juice and put it on my father's tab?" He was trying to make light of it but 
this woman was invading something he'd only just found.

 

"Apologies, Cadet. It's what comes of being a publicans daughter. If you are 
indeed old enough I will gladly get you something stronger." She gave him an 
O'Donnell smile. "Even now when I'm not in uniform the only place I don't get 
asked for ID is Belfast."

 

Keith chuckled at the exchange, "Centaurian Brandy, please, Ms. O'Donnell, and 
if you're buying, might as well get the bottle." He looked over at John with a 
knowing eye that the Ensign would probably be charged a boat-load of latinum 
for it. "And when you come back John will teach you the fine art of Dom-jot." 
He chuckled some more.

 

She placed two fingers between her lips and let out a piercing whistle. The 
Ferengi in the room clutched their ears. "Hey Quark get up off your 
Ambassadorial arse and bring over a bottle of Centaurian Brandy and three 
glasses."

 

The elaborately robed Ferengi muttered as he approached the group. "And how is 
an Ensign going to pay for this?" 

 

She unleashed a full-beam smile. "She's not. But if you contact Sean O'Donnell 
in Belfast, he'll send you up a fine selection of Irish Whiskies to cover the 
cost."

 

Quark's eyes brightened at that, and her took her hand and kissed it. "You're 
one of Sean's girls eh?"

 

She fixed him with a warning glare. "Yes, the youngest. I'm sure he's told you 
all about me."

 

The Ferengi dropped her hand like it was on fire, and stepped back. "Oh yes, 
but I'm sure you'd get into a lot of trouble if you hurt the Ferengi Ambassador 
to the Federation?"

She looked questioningly at her Captain.

 

Looking over at Quark, "Don't worry, she'll only threaten to shoot you." Keith 
turned to John, "First a Captain, then an Ambassador, watch out son, she might 
really shoot you, you're only a Cadet", he laughed.

 

John snorted with amusement. "I have my father's thick hide, so she can shoot 
me, it just wouldn't make much difference." 

 

That got a laugh from her. "No, cadets don't usually do things that warrant 
shooting, I usually just punch them out." She cocked an eyebrow at Quark. 
"Haven't you got something Ambassadorial to be getting on with? I don't want yo 
hovering during my first Dom-jot lesson."

 

"Fine I'll leave. But the Captain here is a bit of a hustler, so watch 
yourself!" with that he ambled away.

 

Mary sat down and uncorked the brandy. "Hustler eh? Da' says they're the best 
people to learn from."

 

"So, Ms. O'Donnell, what, besides teaching you the intricacies of Dom-jot can I 
do for you?"

 

She looked down at the table briefly before meeting his gaze. "I would like to 
apologise for my actions at our last meeting. At the time what you were doing 
seemed like cowardice. Having thought it through I can understand why you had 
to do it, but taking a agitated claustrophobic into a room and hiding the door 
didn't really help your case Sir."

 

"Well, next time, Ms. O'Donnell, I'll know not to take the claustrophobic into 
a room without a door. So, apology accepted. And I apologize for dragging you 
into the room." 

 

Keith's gaze moved upward from Mary towards a Lieutenant who walked in the 
door, starting to look around, very interestingly. The Lieutenant finally made 
her way to Quark and seemed to whisper to him. He nodded and finally pointed 
towards their group. Keith watched with some interest, but also so not to 
appear to watch.

 

"So, John, rack em up, and let's teach this Ensign a lesson... of how to play 
Dom-jot", trying to ignore the approaching Lieutenant.

 

John shrugged but did as he was told, offering the Ensign a cue. "You know the 
rules?"

Lieutenant Humphries sighed as she wound her way to the table. Pulling her hair 
out of her eyes, she put on her best smile for the Captain. "Sir? I have 
something for you, sir."

Keith looked up at her, "And what is that, Lieutenant?"

 

Handing over the small velvet box and the PADD she was carrying, she said, "New 
orders and new jewelry, sir."

 

Keith cocked his head as he took the PADD and box. "Very well, I suppose. Thank 
you, Lieutenant." Keith read the PADD quickly, blinking several times, in 
stunned disbelief. Fleet Captain, a rank he had received twice and then later 
gave back... twice. "Lieutenant, are they sure about this?"

 

"Oh yes, sir," Lieutenant Humphries said primly. "You've been served, sir."

 

Nodding, "Never to be free, though." He continued to read on the next mission, 
"The planet R'ish'tka and new to space-flight and warp all at once. Most 
interesting. Lieutenant advise the Admiral, that this has been received and 
confirmed, we'll leave Deep Space 9 within the next 12 hours."

 

"Yes, sir." Then, with a small smile, she added, "You may not be free, sir, but 
I'm free!" before she marched off.

 

Keith chuckled slightly, before walking over to John and Mary, "I'm heading 
back to the ship, we're recalling, please be back on board within 12 hours."

 

Mary raised her eyebrow at the exchange. "Look's like your Dad's either got a 
medal or another pip. So are you still willing to teach me the game?"

 

"I guess," John said with a shrug. "You know the rules?"

 

"Not a clue. But they say you must always experience new things. How long 
before you graduate Mr. Forester?"
 
Keith just shook his head as he gathered his things and made his way back to 
the ship.


                
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