<USS Avalon> Vevayâs Dinner with the Captain

Vevayâs Dinner with the Captain
By Captain Keith Ketchum and Petty Officer 2nd Class Vevay Davis
 
Mumbling to herself, Vevay reread the invitation to dine with the Captain. 
Both Cross and Quinn were busy with numerous interviews and Gibson was 
following 
them around like a little lost sheep. Not that she minded an evening with a 
charming and powerful man, but she got the impression that he was a bit of a 
nutcase. Especially considering the damage he's done to this ship, she mused. 
But at least it showed that her superiors considered her more than capable. She 
wouldn't let them down, secretly vowing to herself that she would do her best 
to use this as another opportunity to get information out of him.
 
The door to the Captain's quarters was upon her before she really took 
notice. Straightening her uniform and slipping a mirror from her pocket to 
check her 
hair and makeup one more time, Vevay pressed the chime and waited.
 
Keith wasn't sure what to expect from his dinner with Ms. Davis. He had 
expected that Quinn or Cross, would have accepted his invitation, even though 
he 
had been avoiding them.
 
Emeril was busy preparing a dinner across the hall in the Captain's dining 
room.
 
He had just finished getting ready and had sat down with a book when the 
chime rang, âEnter.â
 
Oh man, oh man, be cool, sophisticated, come on Vevay, no nerves.  
Straightening her uniform one more time, she walked through the door. The 
quarters were 
luxurious, to say the least. Well, more luxurious than she was used to. 
Enlisted never get the snazzy places, she thought. Vevay saluted smartly to the 
Captain and then extended her hand in greeting.
 
âGood evening, sir, thank you so much for inviting me. I have to offer the 
apologies of my superiors. I'm afraid they are completely engrossed in the 
investigation.â Her smile was bright and bubbly, as she tried to give the 
impression of being just a secretary to the important people. Yeah, coz that's 
what you 
are. 
 
âQuite understandable, I had hoped to meet themâ, not meaning this, âbut 
they seem to have jumped right into their work.â He put the mark in the book, 
an 
actual hardcover, on the table, the title fully showing, 'Prodigal Son ' by 
Anderson Tate, and stood.
 
At that exact moment Emeril entered, âDinner is served.â
 
âThank you, Emeril.â Offering his arm to Vevay, âShall we?â
 
âOf course.â With a smile and a nod, she followed him into the dining area.
 
They walked out of his quarters and across the hall to his dining room. 
Emeril followed and once they were seated he continued, âWe will be starting 
with 
Salad Hermine, which is a chicken salad with chicory, celery and truffle, then 
the soup will be Potage Ambassadeur, a split pea soup with bacon, sorrel and 
lettuce. Then our main course will be Feuillets de Saumon aux Asperges, a puff 
pastry with salmon and asparagus and a lemon butter sauce, and for dessert 
Tulipes aux Trois Fruits Rouges, biscuit tulips with fresh red berries.â He 
walked over and took a bottle of wine from the chiller, âAnd the wine will be 
a 
Chardonnay, 2352 from the Picard Vineyards.â He opened the bottle and poured 
two 
glasses.
 
âThank you, Emeril, sounds lovely.â Emeril hurried to the kitchen to bring 
out the salads.
 
âI'd like to propose a toastâ, taking his glass, âTo good food, and good 
friendship.â The glasses clinked, and they both took a drink.
 
The wine was exquisite. Vevay smiled at the clearly charming man in front of 
her. The first course tasted like heaven and the two of them made very light 
conversation between mouthfuls. Neither was uncomfortable but the formal 
atmosphere never truly left the table. Course followed by wonderful course 
passed in 
front of them and slowly even Vevay's substantial appetite began to be sated.
 
âYou are quite the host, sir. I will be sure to make Lt. Cross jealous when I 
tell her of the food.â Looking into his eyes, she smiled again.  âDo you 
entertain many people, Captain?â
 
âUnfortunately, I do not, but I am planning on seeing about dinners with 
department heads or departments themselves, to make sure that I am also 
approachable.â He decided that now was the time to jump in to try and get 
info, âI 
understand that Cross and Quinn have started the interviews of my officers, do 
you 
know how that is going?â 
 
âTo be perfectly honest, sir, I am not really at liberty to say. I'm sorry. 
That I know of, they have only interviewed a handful anyway.â Glancing up, 
she 
saw a little nervousness in the Captain's eyes. She decided to change the 
subject, before he kicked her out for being a 'nobody'. âI have to say, it's 
good 
to be moving again. I tend to get itchy feet when I'm stuck somewhere for too 
long. As much as I enjoy working for Lt. Cross, I hated that station.  I need 
to be moving, you know?â
 
âI quite understand. Even for leave, I'd rather be moving than at a station 
or planet side, unless of course I was visiting my daughter or father on 
Earth.â
 He felt that even though she wouldn't tell him anything now, perhaps, she'd 
let something slip if it became more personable. âAny favorite spots for 
you?â
 
âYou mean to visit?â She shook her head and then something struck her and  
a 
girly smile played over her face. âYeah, actually. There's this little cove 
on Earth. It's in Scotland, a small village called Muchalls. They have this 
lagoon; I guess you'd call it. And cliffs!â Her eyes glazed over as she 
remembered it. âIt's been years since I went there. I love rock climbing and 
when we 
visited Earth I would to climb all the way round the coastline from Muchalls to 
Stonehaven. It's where I went when...â, catching herself in time, she quickly 
sipped her wine to cover the end of the sentence.
 
He waited a moment, hoping she would finish and then gave a look of 
expectation, wanting to hear more, âI'm sorry, I didn't mean to pryâ, 
figuring that 
something bad happened. âBut it does sound like an interesting location.â 
It 
was at that moment, he thought of Tess and Dawson, but soon his thoughts turned 
to John Forester, before bringing himself back to the moment. âI hope that 
the 
dinner met with your approval, would you care to adjourn to my quarters for a 
relaxed atmosphere?â
 
âYes, I'd like that.â Vevay knew she'd made a slip but swore it would be 
the 
last. No reason to tell about that, no point dredging that up with a 
stranger. Family business, as her father always put it. She covered the wince 
at the 
thought of her father by dipping down to pick up her wine glass, even though 
there was barely a drop in it. Raising it to her lips, she tilted her head at 
the Captain. âWaste not, want not, as they say.â
 
âOh, I can get another bottle, and new glasses.â He led the way across the 
hall back to his quarters, and opened the bottle and motioned to take a seat. 
â
So, what made you get into legal work?â
 
Perching on the edge of a very plush sofa, Vevay continued to sip her newly 
replenished wine. âI was sort of recruited into it. I'm a security guard by 
training but not all that good at it, to be frank, and a friend of mine told me 
about an opening for a legal secretary on Station 51. I applied and Alexander 
took a liking to me.â She shrugged. âNo idea why.â She crossed her legs. 
â
What made you get into captaining?â
 
âActually, it came with the territory. I had worked my way up through the 
ranks, Science primarily, but I have had a hand in Medical. I was brought in as 
the Executive on the Avalon under Captain M'Kron, upon his injury and being 
transferred to the Starfleet Medical Facility on Titan, it was then that I was 
promoted to Captain and given the Avalon.  So rather uneventful.  What about 
family? I have a daughter, Tess, who lives with my father, Ambassador Praz of 
the 
Federation Council. My mother has passed, and we lost Tess' mother during 
childbirth.â
 
âI'm sorry for your loss, sir. You must miss her terribly.â She wanted him 
to talk, cover her insecurity by telling about his life. âAnd your daughter, 
you must miss her too. Do you see her often?â
 
âWhen I get the opportunity, I get home to Earth, but we do talk as often as 
we can over subspace. It was a short time that I knew Tess' mother, it was a 
loss at the time, but Tess was more important.â
 
âThat sounds a little cold,â Vevay said before she could stop herself. In 
embarrassment she lowered her eyes. âI'm sorry, I didn't mean... I always do 
this: put my foot in it. I really am sorry, maybe I should go.â
 
âQuite alright, like I said, I knew Tess' mother for a short time, so her 
loss didn't affect me much, and I had Tess to take care of, right from birth. 
So 
my mind was pre-occupied. And you can stay, it's quite alright.â 
 
Strangely relieved, she relaxed back into her seat.  For some unknown reason, 
Vevay was warming to this man.  âHow old is Tess?â  She sipped and watched 
Keith through her eyelashes.  âTell me about her.â 
 
âTess just turned thirteen.  She and my father have been living together and 
traveling the galaxy, on Council business, since she was four.  She will 
probably go into the diplomatic core like her grandfather.  What else would you 
like to know?â
 
âAnything, everything.  You sound like such a close family.  It's nice to 
hear about happy lives, happy families.  It's something I've never...â 
Damnit!  
Why can't you just shut up Vevay!?
 
âYou seem to be guarding your words, Ms. Davis, though you don't know me well 
enough to be open, I fully understand, and in your position, you seem to want 
to retain the upper hand as I am the enemy.â  Suddenly his tone changed, â
We're both here to get information, you from me, and me from you.  That was 
known from the very beginning.  Send someone with your beauty and try to get 
the 
Captain to confess his sins, and make it easier in the investigation of me and 
my actions and mental abilities.  I think it's time to call it a night, Ms. 
Davis.â
 
Coldness inside her reflected his tone and she nodded curtly.  âAs you wish, 
sir.â  She carefully placed her glass down and rose.  Standing to attention, 
she saluted one more time.  âGood night.â
 
âGood night.â  Keith didn't stand or even note her leaving; he just reached 
over to pick up the book he had been reading when the evening started.

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