Helping The Cook

Posted on Wed Jul 7th, 2021 @ 6:13am by Commander Alexis Agrax (*)

Mission: Cosmos
Location: Starbase Sirius
Timeline: 2396
1072 words - 2.1 OF Standard Post Measure

Kelly walked down the promenade, several shopping bags in hand. With her Dad busy in meetings, she had been given ample opportunity to go shopping. Sometimes, she thought that the various species who had set up stores on the station had the right idea. Although there was arguments for the more egalitarian society that came about from the lack of money used in the Federation, there was something to be said for the simplicity of a monetary transaction. That was something her Grandmother certainly agreed with, much to the chagrin of Kelly’s mother.

The station was somewhat more relaxing to her than the Imperator. She understood that her Dad was a Starship Captain and had little to no interest in a Starbase, but the wide open, cavernous spaces that made up the promenade and corridors on the base were much less claustrophobic. Still, given her current interest in joining Starfleet, there was every possibility she would have to learn to live with the confines of a Starship. It was half the reason she’d asked to go stay with her Dad at the start of the year. She wondered to herself as she walked through the promenade if Starfleet let people make requests for specific assignments. Maybe she could be assigned to the base after she graduated the Academy? Or Starbase One? Then she wouldn’t need to worry about her Mother calling her all the time. Like she had totally neglected to do for the last month.

As she pondered on it, she found herself knocked down as she collided with someone, the bags of clothes and vegetables falling to the floor.

“Watch where you’re going!” She blurted out before she even looked at who she’d walked into “Not like you couldn’t see me, I’m not some short ass!”

Alexis had been looking at her divorce papers on the PADD when she had felt the connection of knocking into someone. For someone so small and compact she was pretty solid. “Apologies.” Alexis stood up straight from where she had instantly gone to help the teenager up. The commander in the yellow tinted uniform raised an eyebrow instantly at the attitude. “Yet I am short dear.” Alexis commented on deciding to retrieve the vegetable and bags seeing the girl had been so rude about an accident.

"Right." Kelly said as she grabbed one of the other bags "I'm sorry. I've just got stuff on my mind and when things don't work out exactly the way they're meant to, I don't do well with it."

Alexis smiled a little. “I do not think anyone alive handles things when it doesn’t go the way they want.” She reminded softly picking up a stray pepper that had rolled off.

"No but my Dad always says I got my Mom's temper. Having grown up with Mom, I agree." Kelly noted, almost laughing as she added "She's the most formidable woman you'd ever meet."

“I do not know you do not look like my mother.” Alexis said, offering the woman the pepper. “What you cooking?” She wondered, interested in all the fresh ingredients.

“Lasagne. There’s an old family recipe I’ve got, tastes absolutely beautiful. They didn’t have the peppers I needed, but those Bolian ones look the part, I’m hoping they taste it too.” Kelly replied, beaming as she accepted the pepper, adding it to her refilled bag “It was always one of Dad’s favourite dinners, and he’s been stressed recently so I asked if we could have lunch. Thought I’d surprised him.”

“Very kind of you.” Alexis nodded. “You got the bag or would you like some help getting it back to your quarters?” Alexis could not see the girl struggle, if this had been her ship she might have grabbed a cadet or crewman to help as she would be needed to return to her duties but here she did not even need to bother as they had shore leave thanks to the ships previous predicament.

“A little help would be nice.” Kelly admitted, handing one of the three bags over sheepishly as she added “I think I may have picked up a little more than I can carry, but the sauce is really complicated and the measures are kind of vague so I didn’t want to run out of anything before I was done, so that meant picking up more.”

“Happens especially with old recipes. My ex was always trying something that was an old family thing and it just never worked because he ran out of stuff so smart.” Alexis assured as she took the bag and indicated for her to lead the way.

“Yeah. My Grandma from my Mom’s side gave me the recipe last time we spoke.” Kelly said, beginning to lead the way “It has a few… Differences to the one my Mom gave me. Actually, a lot. Which explains why Mom’s tomato sauce tastes like wall paper paste.”

Alexis smiled a little but didn’t say much until they arrived at the location. Alexis made a face as she realised deck and location suddenly of who this girls dad might be. “Admiral’s daughter huh?” She finally said before her face gave her away or the girl assumed that she had issues with her dad.

"No Captain's…" Kelly corrected "Wait, did my Dad get a promotion? I thought he was in trouble?"

“I thought you were Lancaster’s Kid.” Alexis said with a blush. Far too many senior officers were on this base with kids for her liking. It was confusing her no end but she was being helpful so at least that was good.

“Nope.” Kelly replied, flashing a cheeky grin as she added “Kelly Winter. Nice to meet you.”

“Alexis Agrax. Chief Security Officer USS Cosmos.” Alexis introduced herself properly as well as was only right.

“Well, thank you for your help, Alexis.” Kelly nodded with a smile as she took the bag from the older woman, shifting her posture slightly to accommodate the extra weight she was now carrying “Hopefully I’ll see you around some time.”

“Your father should appreciate the effort in this.” Alexis said passing the bags over with a smile. She was not on the base for much longer but stranger things happened. “You too Miss Winter.” Alexis assured back before disappearing.