STF

Dead Man Cooking

Posted July 7, 2020, 11:50 a.m. by Lieutenant Pretha Oberon (Security Officer / CRIT Leader) (Melissa Aragon)

Posted by Captain Alexander Cochrane (Commanding Officer) in Dead Man Cooking

Posted by Civilian Vorraye Anders (Diplomatic Attache) in Dead Man Cooking

(Takes place after “Deja Vu… Dinner and a Chat” with Raye and Cochrane)
( https://www.star-fleet.com/core/stf1/manhattan/posts/87687/ )

SNIP

He poured both glasses full and said “So I was a chef on Risa. Loved my job, really did. I had a huge kitchen to play in, carte blanche to create what I wanted, and a staff…” and his eyes went wistful, “… such a great team. Good at their jobs, passionate about food… just all of them… wonderful, wonderful people.” He took a drink and the jaw tightened again. “One day, one of my juniors cooks came in to work. She was always so happy and excited, had a real future… she came in with a bruises and a black eye. I asked her what happened but she said she got mugged… but that spark, that light… it was gone. I didn’t push, but a few days later she broke down in my office. Told me what happened…” and his hand clenched the edge of the table so hard his nail beds turned white. “The guy used her… broke her… turned off that light in her. Man, I tell you… I came unhinged. Almost destroyed my office. She was scared, I was angry… whole staff got involved in consoling her and trying to keep me from going after the guy. Finally… finally we all decided that it wasn’t gonna stand.” and he took a big drink.

Once more she dared to reach out and rest her fingertips lightly on his hand in reassurance and support as he spoke. Her own face sharing that anger at something like that done to someone so worthy of better.

Harv pulled his hand back, obviously not comfortable with the gesture, but it seemed to be a subconscious action.

“We knew who the guy was, knew the police were useless. So we… and I mean the whole kitchen crew… we came up with the idea to hold this big banquet. Invite everyone whose anyone. Including him. We wined and dined the rich and famous… and powerful. And when it came time for dessert, all of us came out and took a now, glad handed stone of the super important guests…” and he looked her dead in the eye.

“And when I got to him I pulled a fillet knife outta my sleeve and slid it between his ribs and into that p$@!k’s heart. Left it there and walked out the door. He goes face first in his tiramisu a few seconds later… and voila. I got a five thousand strips of latinum bounty on my head courtesy of his bosses in the Syndicate. And here I am… after being killed in a fluke warp core malfunction or some garbage. I guess somebody liked what I did.” and he chuckled.

Harv

Her heart skipped a beat but she didn’t pull back from him where they touched. “I’m glad…” was all she managed for a moment. She took another ling draw of her wine and shook her head. “Someone like that definitely deserved worse, but you did it. That’s all that matters. And yes, I am sure there were plenty who approved.” She smiled softly and nodded her head to him. “I’m glad you are here, she is safe and you did what you did. I wouldn’t be able to go on record, saying it of course. But if I had been there,” she smiled, “I would have helped.”

Raye
Diplomat

He looked at her and a dismissive huff came from him. “Safe? Honey… I’m stuck in the Delta quadrant for probably the rest of my life and she’s dead. You might wanna brush up on the term.” and he chuckled and downed his glass and refilled it.

Harv, Chef

She frowned and pulled her hand back. It would have surprised her more if he hadn’t pulled back from her. “You never said she was dead. And as for being here the rest of your life. There are ways to change, to go back. Change identity, even your face if you are willing to deal with the pain and recovery. And I am sure, with enough of the right contacts, you could even possibly get out of being ‘stuck’ here if you wanted it.” She leaned back and crossed her arms. “Alive and out of reach is ‘safe’. It’s not fun or enjoyable, or even desirable. But sometimes you have to give those up to be safe.” Something crossed her eyes in a fierce and swift look that gave her away as someone having been in that situation before.

Raye
Diplomat

“She died a few weeks after the banquet. Did it herself. At least the Syndicate didnt manage it. And I already changed my face. And I died. And moved literally half way across the galaxy. And yet…” and he raised his glass to her, “… here we are after you’ve been yelled at for asking. So exactly how safe am I really? I figure it’s just too much trouble for a merc or bounty hunter to come get me.”

Harv, Chef

“I’m sorry about her, Harv. Honest I am. As for you, anyone looking you up would find you dead. The only reason I asked one step further was because ‘dead’ and ‘just served me dinner’ didn’t match. That was all. Anyone else, unless on this ship, would see you were deceased and let it be. So yes, despite my stupidity and nosiness, you are safe. I’m sorry you aren’t where you wish to be, or still doing what you enjoyed in cooking for the upper echelon in some fancy restaurant.” She moved her chair back and nodded to him. “I do apologize if I’ve upset you. And you have my word, I’ve not looked further, nor asked, nor anything else that will get either of us in more hot water than I’ve already poured. I’ll leave you to the ‘good stuff’,” she nodded to the rest of the bottle. Her own glass she drained the last of in a single draw. “And again, I’m sorry, Harv. Honest I am. I’ll be back this evening to get the Captain’s dinner with mine. I look forward to whatever you have on the menu.” She rose up and started collecting her salad plate and the bowl Harv had brought her.

Raye
Diplomat


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