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The Deltan - Dagen and Reia

Posted May 30, 2022, 12:46 a.m. by Lieutenant Junior Grade Reia Shandy (C Intelligence -Comm Officer) (Catt Bennett)

Posted by Lieutenant Commander Dagen Thor (CE) in The Deltan - Dagen and Reia

Posted by Lieutenant Junior Grade Reia Shandy (C Intelligence -Comm Officer) in The Deltan - Dagen and Reia

Posted by Lieutenant Commander Dagen Thor (CE) in The Deltan - Dagen and Reia
Posted by… suppressed (19) by the Post Ghost! 👻
They moved out in a bit of a cluster. Dagen took the time on the slow semi-tour to wax poetic on the Genesis and different features that it had, mainly things behind the bulkheads. His dad seemed interested, but his mother shifted closer to Reia to talk about her dress and fashion and shoes and her trials with any and all computers. But eventually they got to the tube exiting the ship and onto the more expansive station promenade where they could spread out a little more.
Dagen

Reia knew that Dagen could go on for quite some time about the inner workings of the Genesis. She didn’t tune him out completely but the conversation between Dagen and his dad because a comforting background for her while she spoke with his mother explaining her reasons for this fabric over that fabric. Why some things worked better in the heat of the climate in her home land of Australia. Even the thought of fine Trill wool made her melt. She was glad to see the expansive station before them. A change of scenery was good for the soul.

“Which way do we go again?”

  • Reia

Dagen honestly didn’t have a clue. He didn’t really look. The station promenade was on a kind of oval, he knew so eventually they’d get back around and see everything. If they got the right level. “Let’s just keep going. We’ll wind around eventually.” His dad raised a brow and a glance. “And we’ll find a ‘you are here’ display in time to get our bearings.” That was the nice thing about not just having been on a ship for this long - that it was an enclosed space and he could get to know it well - and that he was an engineer where he would know it more intimately, but he had been associated with building the Manhattan. Being outside of that familiar space was .. unusual. Perhaps that was why he liked just being on the ship.

Sure enough, when they came to it they found they were two levels down from it. They took a lift up. Transparent aluminum bulkheads to one side and above them giving them an ample view of the planet below and the ships of various sizes moving slowly about. Starships. Transports. Worker Bees. Shuttles. He slowed down to watch them. “Dagen, restaurant?” his father urged. “You did this sort of thing when you were six.”

Breaking out from his watching, he coughed. “Uh, sorry. I think it is just around the bend here.” Whether by plan or by fortune, indeed it was. A broad doorway of darker metal was emblazoned by a small plaque with silver lettering saying ‘The Deltan’. A podium was outside and a ‘doorman’ stood behind it wearing a suit just shy of a formal tuxedo. He was pale skinned and bald of early middle years.

“May I help you?” he said in what sounded to be a thick European accent that didn’t seem entirely ‘Earth like’.
“Reservations under Thor?” Dagen said, inwardly crossing his fingers.
With a tap on the podium a screen lit up. “Yessss,” he said slowly, then glanced at them each in turn as though assessing and counting. “We have you here.”
“Uh, Manuel has been recommended to us. Would he be available to serve us?”
A brow came up. “Not many ask for him.” Dagen flashed a glance at Reia and did a real quick shrug of ‘ummmm’. “However it can be done. Please follow me.”
- Dagen

They were lead into the restaurant which was much lighter and airier than Reia had been expecting. There was soft music playing from somewhere above and she could smell fresh water as if they had been walking by a stream or lake but, as her eyes adjusted to the softer light, she could see no water source. The tables were set a fair distance apart giving the illusion of privacy and some even had curtains drawn around them.

“I believe this is yours.” the man said pulling back a curtain to a large stonework table appointed with very comfy chairs.

Bowing slightly he pulled chairs out for the ladies and withdrew quietly.

  • Reia

As they took seats Dagen’s father leaned in and whispered, “I’ll bet they don’t have ketchup here.”
“Likely get kicked out if we ask for it,” Dagen replied. It was surprising and especially so that Angel, a Vulcan, thought this place not just logical but a place to recommend.
As he sat a short person .. a midget really came up, dressed in a tuxedo. “Good morning. Or good luncheon. Or anything in between,” he said in a European-ish accent. It was hard to fit. “I am Manuel.”
Equally strange Dagen thought.
“Something to drink to start?” He inquired, clasping his hands behind his back. He bore a closely trimmed beard that almost matched his dark hair.
“Uh, juice, guava,” Dagen said.
“Coffee for me,” his father added.
“Tea, strongest you have,” his mother said.
They looked to Reia ..

Reia hadn’t glanced down and seen if there was a menu as she slid into the seat and took Dagen’s hand under the table.

“I’d like a mimosa please.”

“Ah, the brave one. You’re the one to watch,” Manuel said with a distinct nod and look that was of evident ‘fun’. He took no notes at all but kept his hands clasped behind him.

“Menu’s are on the table displays. Special at the moment is an Andorian Omelette - Andorian because they add a kind of pungent cheese native to the world. But very tasty when accompanied by the house salsa and spices. Served with mixed fruits.”
- Dagen ..

He waited a moment longer then said, “I will be back with your things. Take your time looking.” Turning sharply on a heel he moved off.

Reia’d eyes sparkled and she decided to have a little fun with the boys.

“Can you tell me how many types of bacon are on the menu and which would pair well with this omelet?”

  • Reia

Dagen rested his hand on Reia’s knee and squeezed at the question. Dagen looked at his dad. “I’m guessing that any amount if it’s replicated.” His father was scanning and said, pointing to the table. “I see two on the menu that is actually cooked here. I’ve had the maple smoked from Earth but not the Klingon spiced boar bacon. Really, any bacon pairs with food. Or just it itself. But I’d try the Boar Bacon with it.” Dagen shrugged. “I’ll accept the expert’s advice there.” He winked at his dad and smiled at Reia.

“He would make a bacon sandwich,” his mother said in a tone that translated to ‘he’s incorrigible’. “The only good thing about replicators is that it tastes like the real thing but is actually good for you.” She wrinkled her nose. “Personally I’m not sure that that is appropriate. Just like synthehol.” She rolled her eyes slightly and shook her head in quick, short motions. “I’m favoring the Centauran Garlic Salad with Terran Salmon.”

Dagen hadn’t really looked yet so focused his attention there, scanning the options and not really recognizing a lot and so looked for familiar things, opting between a kind of skillet or their ‘house burger’ that appeared wonderous in the photo sample. Silently he debated ..
- Dagen

Reia smiled and laughed at the banter. The thought of bacon sandwiches reminded her of her grandfather and his little garden where he managed to grow the most amazing tomatoes. Seeing Dagen looking at the menu, she leaned in and pointed out something on a lower corner.

“What? You’re not going for the massive mountain of protein? Steak and eggs topped with cheese and, OH LOOK, bacon of your choice!” she said with a laugh.

  • Reia

Again, Dagen’s hand gave her a playful squeeze. “You’re pointing this out because you want it, and you want me to get it so that you can eat off my plate and take yours back with you.” He winked at her then at his father.

“I see nothing wrong with that,” his mother said with a wink directed to Reia. “That is the natural order of things after all. Then, once things are back home and you might be interested in them to eat we can come back and eat off your plate again. Besides, it keeps you trim. Where would you be if we weren’t looking after you. You should be thanking us.”

Somehow his mother could turn anything to her advantage .. except where it involved technology. Dagen had been eyeing more so that skillet. Surely that had sufficient protein in there, even with his wife’s carnivorous tendencies. “Which of that,” he said, pointing to that mass of protein that was clogging his arteries just by looking at it, “Would you be plucking off my plate first?” he asked.

Dagen

Reia made a habit of trying not to eat off Dagen’s plate. She knew that a lot of men didn’t find that as endearing as women like to think they did. Every once in a while though, she just couldn’t stop herself from sampling his food choices. So perhaps his mother had a point.

“Well, the bacon of course.” she said with a wink.

  • Reia

Dagen winked back at his wife. “Which is why I tend to get a double order, for just such emergencies,” he said.

“Which may come with two plates,” Manuel said easily, having appeared out from nowhere it seemed. He was pushing a hover tray that bore the drinks. It settled on the table well within reach of everyone to take. “When you are ready just press the tab on the table for when you wish to order your meal.”

“Well I’m ready,” his father said. “I’ll do the omelette special with whatever bacon you recommend to fit that.”
“Cheater,” his mother said with a mock frown. “The Centauran Garlic Salad and salmon for me.”
Dagen felt under the phaser but winged it. “Your ah, skillet special looks really good.” And had enough things for Reia to sample too. “And, you couldn’t put together a kind of bacon platter?” That totally didn’t exist on the menu …
“I’m sure the chef would be delighted to try his hand at that,” Manuel said smoothly.
Eyes turned to Reia …
- Dagen

Reia set her mimosa down and flipped to another page of the menu that contained mostly seafood dishes.

“The triple shrimp ceviche please and make it a large. Don’t skimp on the hot sauce either. And if you could please be so kind, bring me a dark chocolate cappuccino after this mimosa. I’m still trying to pretend it’s morning.” she said flashing a dazzling smile to everyone on the table.

  • Reia

“It may take you into the afternoon to eat all that,” Dagen said with an amused grin at his wife’s appetite. Or he could say appetite’s as she approached many things in the same fashion. He turned his attention to his parents who, still, it surprised him that he was actually talking to them in person. How long had it been? His dad had a little more grey spreading from the temples more and a few more wrinkles about the mouth. His mother .. was pretty ageless. The only time he had seen her noticeably age was from her depression after Dagen’s brother had died on the Enterprise E that sparked his sister Deela to run away from home. That too had caused an abrupt turn in his own career and a leave of absence and potential charges pending on him from Starfleet in what turned out to be a futile search for her. “And you two. Tell us about that cruise of yours and how on earth did you get talked into a cruise?”

“My errant sister,” his mother said, “suggested it and goaded us into it.” Dagen was about to interject to ask ‘which one?’ but kept quiet. He could feel still the effects of that bracelet gift from Aunt Clara, his fingers curling and uncurling at Reia’s knee to feel her skin under his fingertips and his nails lightly coursing against her. “We are retired now and thought, why not? Empty nesters. Well, Deela is still there but she’s looking after the house for us. I told her to not do anything that Clara wouldn’t do. So she’s pretty much got it made.”
“Just so long as the house isn’t full of cats when we get back,” his father mused.
His mother gave his arm a tap. “Anyway, we were feeling cooped up. Your father needs a hobby that gets him out of the house and out from underfoot, and so we were walking all over one another. And the brochure holo looked nice. We got to tour one of the Andorian Icefields. Did you know they have a crevasse that, they say, has not been explored to its depth and formed part of their mythologies of the underworld and the like? The sounds coming from it were utterly unworldly. One could almost believe they were demons about to rise and pull you down after them.”
“The wind,” his father mouthed quietly to them and made a shrugging gesture with his face.
“We stayed in a lovely hotel there overlooking that glacier that was made of ice. The hotel. The glacier was, obviously.” Her hand made a twirly motion. “And …” she continued on easily until they could see Manuel coming with yet another hover tray laden with the meal …
- Dagen, CE

Reia watched Dagen’s parents intently wondering if they would be like that in twenty or fifty years. All the while she could feel Dagen’s hand on her knee, his nails lightly grazing her bare skin were sending shivers to interesting places.

Finally, somewhere in the middle of their story, she reached down and put her hand firmly over his. Leaning in, she kissed his cheek close to his ear and whispered, “You’re a very bad man.”, before turning back tot he rest of the table.

Dagen replied only with a quick smile and not so quick wink. He noticed Manuel approaching and grudgingly lifted his hand. He would need that for eating or, at least, reaching for the bacon. He noticed that whatever their standard bacon order was, a double helping was quite a lot. All the better. As Manuel placed the dishes thanks to a remote and the hover trays - he was pretty adept at that! - he noticed a refill on all the beverages as well. Still he was not too sure quite what Angel saw in him to single him out. He peeked at his PaDD. The filter repair was in progress but had a flag on it for materials in queue. Had they really been working that poor filter that hard? He glanced at his wife before closing the display.

“I’ve heard of that crevasse, I’ve always wanted to go exploring there but I’m not as fond of the cold as others I’ve known. Your cruise does sound lovely though.” she said trying to hold up her end of the conversation.

  • Reia

“Hold that thought,” he said as they shifted plates and utensils and the like around. The skillet was colorful and hot. Glancing to Reia’s shrimp heaped up all he could think was that they must have impoverished a reef for all of that there. Still she’d polish it off and then look to his plate for more. Between bites of her salad his mother continued the monologue about their travels and how they had come up with an idea of visiting when they found out they were close enough to make it. “Now then, dear,” she said to Reia, “what can we do for you two?”
- Dagen

That question took Reia by surprise and she chewed her first bite of succulent shrimp very slowly. She had managed to get all three types of shrimp in one bite with a healthy dose of the hot sauce she had requested extra of. So, for the moment at least, she was very content.

Picking up her napkin she dabbed very politely at her lips before attempting to find out exactly what that question meant.

“Uh… I’m not certain what you mean by that. Unless there’s something Dagen needs to tell me, we’re doing pretty well. I like our life on the Genesis and if the need, or the orders, to transfer ever come up we’ll deal with it then. No, I really don’t know.” Reia shook her head and looked down at the shrimp.

  • Reia

Dagen’s dad chimed in. “Believe it or not this is something we’ve talked about, ah, but not to Dagen. The cruise is fine, quite fine, and I can see how being aboard a ship, even one like you are on, is a wonderful job. Now you know that Deela is looking after the house but we’ve given her the cabin. She needs that space and she wants that isolation and peace and the living off the land. We’ve moved into a condominium as you know in recent years as it is just the two of us. What we are saying is that you two aren’t going to be jet setting about the galaxy forever. Whether you have children or just want to retire or do something different is utterly in your court.”

Dagen’s mother, dabbing at her mouth, seemed to have suddenly murmured something quietly that may have been ‘grandchild’ .. but his dad continued.

“We want to help you in settling in a home. A place you can go to when you’re not out here. That is yours. And where you can look forward to be in. And yes, while your Starfleet pretty much allows you to replicate anything for free, not everything outside of here is, and land and a home certainly isn’t. We’d like to help you settle in a home, or acquire it anyway. Wherever you’d like. Trill. Earth. Somewhere in between.”

Dagen replied, his hand sliding down to Reia’s lap to clasp hers. It came as a surprise to him as well apparently, though the giving of the cabin to Deela had been a shock, even if he could see it good for his sister. He looked to Reia, unsure of what to say.
- Dagen

Reia was able to hide her thoughts fairly well but, she squeezed Dagen’s hand hard in surprise. She had also caught Dagen’s mother murmuring the word grandchild, that was something they had actually never discussed. Given the unique genetics that were involved she was fairly certain it couldn’t happen but, that could be a discussion for another time.

Dagen winced; Reia’s grip could be .. substantial at times. Somehow he had felt something like this was coming with the build up. Still hearing it was not the same as thinking it. Later he would suspect that it was that surprise that stopped a yelp from coming instead of the wince that did.

“That is incredibly generous and, truthfully, quite a surprise. My grandfather own’s quite a bit of land in Australia so I understand what you’re saying about land and home. I don’t know exactly where that will be for us though.”

She shook her head and looked to Dagen in desperation. This conversation was definitely something she needed help with.

  • Reia

Dagen’s look to Reia was less that of desperation but one of ‘hey, it’s good’. “Thank you,” he said, his own mind scanning star charts at the same time. They settled quickly in that old Type F shuttle that was in the Manhattan hold but also where Dagen had called home for the years that he was on Outpost 42. That was the epitomy of homelessness in a way and his parents were offering a home.” That is incredibly generous mom, dad. We ah,” he started ..

“Yes, I know you don’t know where. Why would you just yet, but it is something for you two to think of. Earth, even with blue skies, would be fine,” his mother said. “What we would like to know is if you wish to have this offer. And we will leave it to you to inform us when you have figured the where out.”

About this point Manuel had appeared, “Everything is to your satisfaction?” He came laden with replacement drinks and some additional bacon.

Dagen

When Reia was stressed sometimes her inner carnivore got the better of her. Reaching out, she freely helped herself to the bacon and merely gave Manuel a goofy smile. After he had left she returned to the conversation.

Dagen wondered if there was an all you can eat protein bar about that Reia could run out of business by virtue of her appetite. Manuel passed her an approving look in reply before magically drifting away again.

“I love my blue skies just as much, I suspect, as Dagen loves his purple ones. So, maybe if we ever decide to retire, we should find a lovely little place with green ones.” she said hoping to lighten the mood.”

  • Reia

“Green skies. How ghastly,” Dagen’s mother commented in exaggerated form that elicited a laugh from his father.
“The sisters had color wars when growing up,” he chimed in. “And still do. They could share a closet - a very large closet - and never have an issue of getting clothes mixed up.” That was rewarded by a feigned tap on the arm.
“We simply know what we like in colors. I can’t be blamed if my sisters have atrocious fashion choices.” A shake of the head and rolling of the eyes emphasized that. “You dear dress exquisitely.”
Dagen nodded his agreement and lifted his glass in a silent toast while casting a glance at the plunging neckline his wife boasted.
- Dagen

Reia laughed and smiled a bit. It was hard to screw up a black dress. Her grandmother had instilled that in her.

“Well, Intel sometimes has you playing dress up so, I’ve had to kind of learn on the fly I guess.” she explained.

  • Reia

“Ohh, so real spy stuff?” his father asked.
“Come now,” his mother replied to him. “They don’t do that kind of stuff anymore. That’s all holos and dramas. It’s all computers now. Nobody does that cloak and dagger stuff anymore. Isn’t that right, dear?” she asked to Reia.
“They must do some. Can’t live off of a keyboard. Even you have to visit your sisters to get the real dirt.”
“It’s called sophisticated. Real Jimmy Binder stuff.”
“Gives one a reason to dress up go out to exotic locations.”
“You and your imagination. Really.” She leaned in to talk conspiratorially. “He has quite the lurid imagination. He’d be thrown off Betazed I’m sure.”
All the while Dagen munched on a slice of bacon, amused, while his hand traced along Reia’s leg almost absently. This kind of conversation was normal for him growing up and it was almost like being young again listening to them.
- Dagen

Reia merely smiled and winked.

“Well, you can’t chase all of your ghosts behind a keyboard. Other than that, I’m not telling, I took and oath.” she said conspiratorially as well.

Her father in law persisted though, warming to this. “But, what ‘do’ you do? I mean, you travel from place to place, and if the vids are right, you do good and be helpful and the likes. What do you do in between? Do you check up on the crew for spies? Freelance stuff? Maybe other things like the old SETI group on Terra who does work from a distance for the fleet? Surely some stuff must be mundane to tell a good yarn about.”
“Dear, she’s married now. From what I remember about Dagen and being about is that it would be a full time job taking care of him.”
“It’s called taking an interest, love,” he said, then clarified, “My old job was fixing satellites and other communications gear. It gets one to wondering especially when some of the satellites and things had a little ‘more’ in them than just a transmitter, you know?”

Reia was aware of Dagen’s hand on her bare thigh. Oh that man was in so much trouble when they were next alone but, for now, she simply reached out with a fork and stole a chunk of meat from his delicious looking skillet. The look in her eyes dared him to do something about it.

  • Reia

“The carnivore and the vegetarian,” Dagen said, trailing his fingers along the inside of her knee and thigh. “You the carnivore and me the poor vegetarian because all his meat gets stolen.” His eyes were smiling and then winked.
Dagen

Reia looked from father to son and smiled.

“Well, I have voracious appetites for my marriage and my job it seems. I certainly don’t steal all of your meat. You need to keep up with me and my higher metabolism sweetheart so maybe you should order a rack of ribs to go.”

She turned back to her father in law and gave him a mischievous look.

“Well between amazing things I do for the Federation that I really can’t tell you about, I just spend time among the crew. There is a lot of time between missions. I basically spend it studying where we’ve been and where we’ll be. It also helps being the comms officer.” she explained.

  • Reia, CIO/Comms

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