A Day at the Beach: Part 1 The Morning

Posted on Sun Mar 25th, 2018 @ 4:13pm by

Mission: Mission 6 - Azzia
Location: Azzia
Timeline: MD 03: 1000 hours
1513 words - 3 OF Standard Post Measure

Deacon sat on the concrete wall that separate the main beach from a public park. It was a typical day, sun was shining, burning off the fog from the cold water welling up the deep fissure out in the middle of lake Do`govi. He had taken the `Rosies` to White Cliff Bay on the shallow end of lake where the cool white sands had shoaled up. Most of the crew went up to the north side, toward the beach bars and the ‘clothing optional’ areas promising to return by the time Lorenzo had finished cooking. This left Deacon with a smaller group. The chef and the ship’s doctor (the latter having his family in tow)
The chef seemed a nice enough guy, he was busily setting up some coals in order to cook a meal.

It had been some time since Lorenzo had been to a beach. Not quite sure of himself he had worn a pair of bright blue shorts with wave patterns running across them, and a vibrant tropical shirt, covered in pineapples and palm trees. He has brought a large bin full of food with him, and was setting up a Barbecue to cook on

While the chef busied himself with his barbecue pit, Deacon's mind settled again on the Romulan. It was hard to get a read on the Doc. On the way down Deacon thought he could feel tension radiating off the poor guy as his kids were getting wound up at the thought of swimming in a real lake. Each of the girls asked him dozens of questions as he shuttled the group down from the ship.

“How deep is the lake?” one of them asked. “Will there be kids there?” said the other “Can we build sandcastles?” said the first, “Is there any ice cream?’ Both asked in unison

To which Deacon answered “250 meters” “Probably, It’s a family friendly spot.” “I think you have to ask your Dad.” “Well there are frozen fruit stands.”

Then came the inevitable, “Are there monsters in the lake?”

“Well there are animals in the lake.” Deacon admitted, “I don’t know if you’d call them monsters, but some can get pretty big.”

“Like what?” both said at the same time.

“Don’t want to spoil the surprise.” Deacon answered cryptically with a wink to Lhaes. Unfortunately, the Romulan missed the exchange, he just stared out the viewport at the lake getting bigger and bigger as they approached.

Now Deacon looked out at them sitting close to the shore line, Lhaes watched his two daughters like a hawk. Though they were the necessary safety items, and were properly covered in sunscreen, Lhaes still didn't want them to move too deeply into the water. Galan was sitting close by, puttering away in the sand under the protection of a somewhat large umbrella.

Lhaes did enjoy being out in the sun, even though he didn't seem to tan that easy. He didn't, however, like to be this close to the water.

“Hey Doc,” Deacon yelled interrupting the Romulan’s train of thought, “Sun’s hot, want something to drink?” he asked setting down a large metal cooler. “We have some bottled water, along with some fresh squeezed fruit juice and some fruit slush and of course, beers.” Then looking over at the Lorenzo he yelled, ”How about you chef? Thirsty?”

"Chief," the Romulan greeted back, "just water is fine please." He had turned briefly, only to return his gaze back to the girls in the water. "Don't go out too far Liviana!" he called out, waving the little girl back. "Evaste! You're out too far, come back!"

Lorenzo grinned at the Engineer, "You are my savior friend, I will happily accept one of your beers."

"One cold IPA coming at you," Deacon threw the bottle which Lorenzo expertly caught. Then his eyes returned to the Doctors family.

The girls waved back at their father, while splasing each other. They were about waist deep in, huge smiles on their faces. They didn't consider themselves to be in any kind of danger.

But danger was indeed coming, or at least a small storm of hyperactivity that was racing up the beach at warp 12. “Chaacha Dee!!! Chaacha Dee!!!” screamed the deeply tanned horde that wrapped their tiny arms around Deacon’s lower legs.

“Chaacha Dee!!! Pick me up,” the girl beaconed. Deacon complied rocketing the girl into the air, letting her go and catching her as she fell back down, much to her delight. Of course, the other two children demanded their turns as well. The throwing and catching continued until the little girl came back around for her third throw.

“RAHDHA! DIN! LIA!” yelled a good-natured voice, “Stop harassing your uncle!” the voice belonged to a rather portly woman walking down the beach carrying an enormous shoulder bag.

“CHILDREN! Listen to your mother!” yelled a tall man loaded down with a beach umbrella and several other bags who struggled to keep pace with the woman, “Listen or I shall beat you, beat you harshly!” Of course, given the man’s tone and wide smile anyone could tell it was an empty threat.

Reluctantly the children gave up, finally noticing both Liviana & Evaste who stared at them like creatures from another reality. They reacted to the attention as do children universally, it made them immediately take great interest in the sand at their feet.

“Hello Deacon!” the woman said pressing her forehead to his, then giving the Rigelian a bear hug that felt like it cracked a couple of ribs. “Ah! You are too thin!” she then complained, “You need an Azzia woman to get you in line.”

“I keep telling Yad all I need is you,” Deacon shot back, “but he is unwilling to share.” Which rewarded him with a playful smack to the head. Deacon then turned towards man extending his hands, “Hello Yad.” He said as the two men gripped eachother’s arms and pressed their foreheads together.

“Hello Babba,” Yad replied, “It is too long since we have been seeing you.”

“But we are seeing eachother now,” Deacon replied, “and for that I am grateful.” Then turning around, “May I introduce you to my new friends. This is Doctor Lhaes Sommers and Chef Lorenzo di Julio. Gentlemen, this is Mina and Yad Nadi, close friends of mine. Mina here runs a local restaurant cooking with Yad who also produces the food. They're one of our major provisioning contractors. Chef, you and the Nadi's may have some things to talk about.”

Lorenzo nodded, smiling from ear to ear "One chef to another, learning the cooking techniques and delicacies of another culture? I would be honoured."

"And nothing would bring us more happiness than to share our love of food with you." Yad assured the chef, grasping his hands and touching his forehead to Lorenzo's, "And we would consider it a great honor if you could teach us some of your favorite recipes as well. And please allow me to give you a tour of some of out markets, the spices we produce are unparalleled in their taste and quality."

"Ah, stop being a salesman for five minutes the bot of you," Mina chided and quickly smiled as she threw her arms around Lhaes. All the kids, started to shyly wave at one another.

The Romulan stiffened palpably, a certain tension appearing on his face as he was suddenly pulled into a hug. "Release me," he said softly, and there was an odd tone in his voice that belied his gentle appearance. "Now," he added urgently, clearly not liking to be touched.

Deacon gently rested his hand on Mina's shoulder, "Pyre Chikni, Perhaps you need to treat the Doctor and his family as Khajaana Mehamaani?" He said softly, "Kuchh log pyaar ko samajh nahin sakate hain, Vulcans kee tarah, Neh?"

Mina quickly released Lhaes, looking slightly embarrassed and sad. "Ah, please forgive my presumption good Doctor," She said folding her hands across her belly, "allow you and your family to be our Khajaana Mehamaani, our treasured guests while you are in Azzia. You and yours shall be as beloved as our Baba Deacon."

Lhaes took a step back to reclaim his personal space and smiled slightly. "It's nothing personal ma'am..it's just not a very good idea to touch a Romulan without prior warning or even permission. Given my past, it might actually be dangerous ma'am and I have no desire to hurt anyone, even by accident.

"No offense can be taken good Doctor, where no offence was given," Mina assured Lhas with genuine smile, then she turned to Lorenzo, "AH but you, the most wonderful chef from Ireland." Mina proclaimed with an rivaled joy in her eyes, "I do not mean to give offence to you but may I hug you and pat your most excellent belly?"


OFF::

Deacon Kane
Engineering Contractor an Tour guide
D&T Resupply

Lhaes Sommers
Senior Medic
SS Mary Rose
& Family


Lorenzo Di Julio
Chef
SS Mary Rose