Places to go, People to meet.

Posted on Fri Jun 11, 2021 @ 12:49pm by Lieutenant Hadir Prenar & Lieutenant Commander Dr. Elisabet Intarrah Ph.D MD
Edited on on Fri Jun 11, 2021 @ 12:53pm

Mission: Episode 4: Infiltration
Location: Lounge
1350 words - 2.7 OF Standard Post Measure

Lise walked into the Officer's Lounge and walked up to the Eagle's chef. "Did we get fresh sushi?"

The Chef responded. "Tuna, Salmon, Halibut, Ahi Tuna."

"The Salmon please. and do you have Fresh Wasabi?" The chef grinned. "Living on the dangerous side, Dr. Granger?"

"Life is more fun when there's a little bit of danger involved. Sides, Wasabi I can handle. Habanero pepper however. Thew...."

The Chef smirked at Lise. "C'mon, Doctor. You'd go after fresh wasabi but not Habenero."

"Wasabi can be washed down. Peppers however cannot." Lise noted.

Hadir ducked his head as he entered the ship's lounge. He never got used to the doorways being designed for humans and not his tall build. In all his years in Starfleet Hadir had learned that the lounge was the best place to get the feel of a new assignment. One could not only learn how the ship was run and how people felt about the ship. But one could see how they felt about a Cardassian being on board. He noticed a young woman getting something to eat wearing a teal uniform. Hadir recognized her as the Chief Science Officer Lieutenant Granger. Without a word he made his way to a replicator and ordered up a glass of kanar. He took his kanar and a PADD and found an open table that was a distance from others. He did not think that people wanted to associate with him as of yet.

"Interesting..." Lise examined the Cardassian enter the lounge. "Pay attention to how you're cutting my sushi, I don't want to choke on it today, please."

"Coming right up, Lieutenant." The Chef placed everything on the tray and Lise picked it up and approached Hadir. She noticed people keeping their distance from him. "Hello... Is this spot taken?" Lise smiled at him.

The trademark Caradssian smile crawled across his face, even though Hadir was a little surprised by the request. "Not at all Lieutenant. Please have a seat. I am Hadir Prenar the new Chief of Security around these parts."

"Doctor Elisabet Katherine Grange. I run the Science Department. A pleasure." She pulled out some chop sticks and separated them. "Scientist, Explorer, Wine Connoisseur, and Eccentric Adventurer. At your service."

Hadir extended his hand and took her's in the renaissance fashion. "The pleasure is all mine. Eccentric Adventurer, well then that makes two of us I guess. If I may ask. What is your field of study?" Hadir leaned back and sipped the inky black beverage that was kanar. He was no scientist, but it did interest him. Besides any woman who would be bold enough to sit with him was worth talking to.

"Oh. Medicine and Astrometrics... The good things in life." She noted. "I was born with a very unique mind. I view it as a strength and weakness. Most math I can do in my head... But it has been a challenge for me to socialize. Most learn how to talk before they learn math." Lise noted. "I learned math before I learned how to speak, then I learned how to socialize through math... it was an interesting mode of learning for a unusual mind, Hadir."

He nodded in agreement. Hadir was not sure what to make of the woman. But he was intrigued. "I can imagine how trying it must have been to grow up in such a manner. Cardassians are social beings centering on the family. As such we are taught from a very young age how to be social etc..." His voice trailed off as he sipped his drink. "I imagine an eccentric explorer would naturally be attracted to Starfleet."

"Mmm... Maybe I was. It seemed to be the adventure I wanted. Of course I was offered may posts and positions." Lise mentioned. "Everything from the most prestigious university and laboratory to even a senior researcher position at the Daystrom Institute. However, arguing hypotheses and theories with arrogant poindexters did not appeal to me. I like hands-on science. It is where we get true answers to our questions." Lise continued. "But now I want to know about you. You joined Starfleet? It couldn't have been easy for you, Hadir. You amaze me."

"Amaze you? I am naught a humble Starfleet Officer..." Hadir began with a broad smile, one that made his green eyes light up. "...You are right that it has been hard for me, there are many that would rather see me in a stockade then in the uniform. Suffice to say that it has been a long road for me to get here. But I am glad to have taken the journey. Despite the cost... If I could change one thing I would have changed the direction my people took so that I could have remained there."

"We need more Cardassians in Starfleet." Lise mentioned. "If we're to mend the wounds on all sides from the Dominion War. It will not be done through fear. You inspire me a great deal. Even if you have joined starfleet to create a life for yourself other Cardassians will know that they can create a future for themselves without the Central Command nor the Obsidian Order." She mentioned.

"That is something that Cardassia is working for as we speak. The Order is gone and the Detapa Council has been reinstated. With the assistance of Starfleet Cardassia is capable of pulling itself out of the proverbial Dark Ages and join the rest of the galaxy. You give me too much credit my dear." Hadir added as a response to her comment that he amazed her. In truth this woman was probably the most fascinating woman he had met thus far.

"And you are way too modest, Hadir." Lise mentioned as she popped some more salmon in her mouth. "We're in starfleet. We join the Federation Starfleet to explore the galaxy, defend the federation, wrestle gorn, and meet interesting, and fascinating, men." She winked. "Not a safe vocation, but damn is it ever fun."

Hadir laughed and raised his glass in salute. "Too right you are, too right you are. However, there are those even in this great fleet that would disagree with you. Those that would especially not want to see me in the same uniform as you. With all due respect I have found that Humans can be even more unforgiving than Cardassians." His green eyes flashed as he spoke. Hadir felt the subtle warmth in his blood, a physical reaction to attraction in his species. He willed the feelings to stop as it was unwarranted and unprofessional or so he thought.

"You aren't kidding Hadir." Lise noted. "I believe it was Ambassador Soval who once said that humans 'have the arrogance of Andorians, the stubborn pride of Tellarites. One moment they are as driven by their emotions as Klingons, and the next they confound us all by suddenly embracing logic.'" She finished her lunch. "This was fun, Lieutenant, We should do this again sometime."

"I agree, perhaps dinner this weekend... Oh, and call me Hadir, Lieutenant is for the Bridge." He smiled broadly, the smile concealed the worry underneath. It had been quite a long time since Hadir asked anyone on a date. Let alone a woman this beautiful.

"Alright Hadir. But you have to let me do some of the cooking, as I have... *Chuckles* liberated Joseph Sisko's Shrimp Creole recipie."

"Well that will make for an interesting story then. I will introduce to some Cardassian cuisine. Until then..." Hadir said and raised his glass in toast as she left. It was said on Cardassia Prime that a man would search for a woman who stirred his blood. Hadir took that to mean he would search for a woman who warmed the cold blood. He could feel a distinct warmth within himself, a feeling that he had not felt in a long time.

Lise stood and moved a distance then turned back. "You're cute when you smile. You should do that more often. Life's too short not to live it to its fullest." She winked and left the lounge.

End.