"He did what?!?" asked Jo incredulously.
"You heard me. He pinched my butt," repeated Lee. "The little rat...."
"How rude," was Sam's shy contribution to the conversation.
The Banshees were walking towards the commerce section of pylon 3, heading for their usual breakfast stop at the El Taco. Garek was tagging along as well this morning, keeping Kimmie company.
"Well, the little perv got what he deserved, if you ask me," declared Max. "Maybe getting busted back to ensign will teach him a lesson."
"Yup, said Garek. "Not every man is a perfect gentleman like me."
No sooner were those words out of his mouth than Kimmie gave a startled little squeak and practically jumped out of her shoes. "Ouch!" she exclaimed, rubbing her tushy. "Why you rotten...!" she yelled at Garek, grinning. "I'll get you for that!"
"Gotta catch me first," he called back over his shoulder as he sprinted down the corridor. Kimmie was after him in a flash. Passers-by scrambled to get out their way, and the pair quickly disappeared around the next corner.
"Kids...," said Max, rolling her eyes in mock disapproval.
A minute later, the rest of the gang caught up to Garek and Kim. They were standing out in front of the El Taco looking in. There was a long line at the counter that stretched nearly to the door. A big Lurian was at the head of the line apparently holding things up, arguing with the hapless teenager behind the register. For some reason there was schplict all over the front of the Lurian's clothes, and dripping into a growing puddle on the floor directly underneath him.
<<< OOC : Morn on DS9 was a Lurian >>>
In spite of herself, Lee watched this unlikely drama unfold. >From the other side of the kitchen, she saw the ruggedly handsome manager Rick approach the situation and begin placating the livid Lurian. From over her shoulder, Sam said, "Oh there's that ruggedly handsome manager Rick. I know he can settle the situation."
Lee gave her an amused and curious glance, but quickly returned her attention to the scene within. Behind her, she heard Jo tease Sam in a sing-song voice, "Sam and Rick sitting in a tree. K - I - S - S - Ooof!" She heard the elbow connect with the stomach, and the teasing abruptly stopped.
Meanwhile, the Lurian had calmed down somewhat. Rick was apparently negotiating a peace settlement between his register person and the customer by bribing the customer with a tray of free food. The Lurian reached tentatively for the tray, trying to decide if his quiescence could be bought with a free burrito. His hand closed about the edge of the tray -- apparently it could. He lifted the tray and contemplated its contents for a moment, then upended it on the register person's head.
Schplict and burrito innards splattered everywhere -- all over the register person, all over the counter and all over the next person in line behind the Lurian -- and all pandemonium broke loose! Food began flying everywhere. Back and forth from one end of the dining room to the other, as all the rest of the customers joined in on the fracas. It was a real knock-down-drag-out food fight -- no mercy was shown, quarter was neither given nor asked for.
Through the center of the tossed tacos, chucked chimichangas and shooting schplict containers, handsome Rick strode, arms raised, shouting to be heard above the cacophonous dim, pleading to both customers and employees for order to be restored. Miraculously, his manager uniform had remained unstained, the careening comestibles always missing him as they whizzed past on their way to some other target.
He planted himself in the eye of this furious fast-food frenzy and shouted at the top of his lungs, "People! Desist!" His bellow rang throughout the dining room and out into the corridor where the Banshees stood watching, transfixed. When the echo died, there was not a sound to be heard; everyone had stopped in mid throwing motion, stunned into instant petrification.
Surprised himself at the result of his order, Rick blinked once or twice, then smiled in satisfaction. It was good to know that his voice commanded such respect and obedience from those around him. The smile quickly faded though. As one, every customer in the place and even his own employees turned towards him. With a mighty roar, they hurled all the food that was left at Rick. He instantly disappeared from view under the rapid-fire pelting of brown gooey Mexican food.
The last Lee saw of him was a vaguely man-shaped mass on the floor covered head to food in refried beans, dripping with schplict, but then an massive glob of beans splattered on the window in front of them blocking their view.
Startled by the impact, they took a collective step backwards.
"Umm. Let's eat someplace else," said Sam.
"Good idea," said Lee, and the Banshees and Garek made a quick getaway.