Jayme arrived off the transport from Starfleet Command. Her orders were cut a standard week ago while she was on leave and since she had no plans decided to head for her new assignment on SB901. The main terminal was busy with people in uniform and civilian dress. At a nearby kiosk Jayme asked a young woman wearing a Starfleet uniform for directions. "Excuse me, but can you recommend a good lounge to kick back in?"
Kassia immediately smiled, her green eyes looking over the woman. "If you're interested in something quiet, the Easy Inn is a good place. That's down that way. You can't miss it. If you want something a little more livelier there is a dance club over that way called Soma. Of course, there are several places throughout the commerce section here."
"Really? Any of them have good food? And are there public lockers nearby to store my things in until my housing assignment is straightened out?"
"Well, the Easy Inn is suppose to have good food," Kassia smiled. "But aside from Christmas dinner I haven't eaten there in a while. By the way, I'm Kassia. The Starfleet Counselor here, and you are Jayme Alcon?" she asked, though she already knew.
"Yes, I'm Jayme Alcon." The woman with long blonde hair met Kassia's green eyes and smiled, "Just transferred in for the MEF as a corpsman." Jayme looked to her own chest where her last name and first initial was stenciled to her jacket and then back up to Kassia's eyes. "I'll take my chances with the Soma."
Kassia smiled again. "My brother works there, but I have to warn you, it gets pretty loud sometimes! Though tonight, it shouldn't be too bad... Follow me and I'll take you there..."
"Hey, know any place where I can stash my duffel?"
"Sure, you can keep it in my shop if you'd like. It's right over there," she said, pointing to a shop that had a sign that read Kassia's Cave Of Curiosities and Mystery.
"You sure?" The newcomer turned and looked into the shop across the hall. "I thought you were the station's Counselor... you're a shop keeper?" She asked slightly confused look passed across her face.
A gentle laugh came from Kassia. "I was a shop keeper here first... Then I became a Starfleet Officer... It all happened rather fast... But here I am." She lead the woman into her shop. Danni stood behind the counter and smiled.
"Kassia! How are you? Are you staying long?" Danni asked brightly.
"Not really. I want you to keep my friend's bag here for awhile, okay?"
"Sure! Anything you say, boss!"
"Partner!" Kassia corrected.
Jayme put her duffel down and briefly rummaged around for her sketch pad, pencils, and to make sure she had her ID and orders in a zipped pocket before turning back to Kassia. "I believe I owe you a drink for this hospitality my friend."
Together both women moved out of the shop and down the concourse toward the club Kassia had mentioned. As they walked Jayme noted various shops, clubs, and restaurants along the way. After a few minutes walk they reached the entrance. The windows were dark but vague shapes could be seen inside. Music with a lot of base could be heard as well as felt in the corridor. Jayme followed Kassia inside and to a booth.
She watched as Kassia waved to someone at the bar. The bartender smiled and waved back. As a waitress came up, he waved her away as he approached.
"Hey, Troy!" Kassia smiled. "This is my new friend Jayme."
"Hello, Jayme," he said, with his dark eyes gazing at her under his ridged brow. "What can I get you to drink?"
Jayme looked at Troy and instantly knew that Kassia and Troy weren't friends but family. She looked at Kassia, then cleared her throat, Double bloody Mary and I'd like to start a tab if possible for Kassia and me."
He smiled. "No problem! Someone has to pay for the drinks!" He laughed good naturedly. "And what would you like, Kass?" he asked.
"I'll take a Sarbanian Sparkler," she smiled.
Troy nodded and walked away.
"So what do you think of him?" she asked.
Jayme smiled and watched the man walk back to the bar to place their orders, "Wonderful eyes, not a bad looking back side from what I can tell." She sat back and undid the fasteners on her jacket and made herself a bit more comfortable setting her sketch book on the table. She looked over at Kassia's sparkling and amused eyes. "I think I've been set up.... it wasn't coincidence that the first person I run into on station happened to be the Counselor... i.e. you. And what is a Sarbanian Sparkler?"
Kassia smiled brightly. "Well, I didn't really plan our meeting," she said. "But it's good we met! As far as the drink goes, it was invented by a Sarbanian bartender. Its made with several different fruit juices and Sarbanian Rum. It's a wonderful drink! And that happens to be my brother serving us..." For a moment, she saw Jayme look at her and at Troy and back to her again. Kassia and Troy looked nothing alike. Kassia had green eyes, and what looked like Trill spot and yet she wasn't exactly a Trill. And Troy had dark eyes and prominent brow-ridges.
The new Lieutenant slid her feet up into one of the vacant seats and relaxed. "Ooo -- sweet and fruity drinks!" She gave a mock shiver. "Your brother, you say." She watched as he returned with a tray containing their drinks and what looked like some sort of puffed crisp nuts. He had an extra drink which he set into the empty chair where he promptly sat between both women "So where are you from?" He asked looking Jayme over spotting the Marine symbols and Medical insignia.
"Mars Colony." she paused, "But most recently advanced training at Starfleet Command." She replied taking a sip of her drink and finding it hot and very strong."
"She's a medic," Kassia replied with a smile. "So you were on Earth for a while then," she said as she looked to Jayme again. "Until recently I've never been very far from the Briar Patch myself. Not that I can remember anyway."
"I did Marine Basic Training on Mars for 4 months, and then was transferred to Starfleet Medical Orbiting facility for 6 months."
"So have you been many places?" Troy asked as he took a drink.
Kassia knew he was genuinely curious about anyone she took an interest in. It was an automatic reflex. But a good one. She had a feeling they would end up friends.
"Not really I spent a tour on the Europa station working as a physicians assistant; then I was on a scout ship where I doubled as a corpsman and back up security officer... those deep space ships are small and the crews tend to be tight and very eccentric"
Jayme took a sip of her bloody mary and smiled at both Kassia and Troy. "Sorry, I'm just a little out of practice on my social skills."
"No problem," Kassia smiled, "We've been there ourselves from time to time so we understand."
"So this is that farthest out you've been," Troy said, he finished his drink and noticed someone at the bar. "Well, welcome to the Briar Patch, Jayme. It can be an exciting place. Excuse me," he smiled as he stood. With a nod he returned to the bar.
Kassia looked at Jayme. "He's right. This can be a very exciting place. But it can also be a place where you can make good friends... Maybe make a home here... Learn to trust people again..." she said. She met Jayme's eyes as she spoke.
Jayme dropped her eyes down as she ran her finger through the water droplets on her glass, "Yeah that would be nice." She looked around and noted the colored lights and festive decorations. "Looks like this place 'decked the halls' to the max."
Kassia laughed. "If you had been here before Christmas, you would have seen the place in all its glory. The decorations will stay up until the New Year, but before Christmas it was incredible here! We had people just celebrating the season like I have never seen people celebrate before! But we all had a lot to celebrate this year," she said.
"Funny how some holidays and beliefs become an even bigger deal the farther away from their origins." Jayme noted a small knot of Marines in uniform entered and stood at the bar waiting for service. "Kassia, how is it you run a shop and are Ship's Counselor?"
"Well, that's an interesting story actually," Kassia smirked. "I came here to be a shop keeper, and just that. The resident mystic," she laughed. "It was by a twist of fate that I ended up as a Counselor in Starfleet." She sighed as she remember the prediction of the Son'a attack she had made. The vivid memories of going to Captain Wallace and making him believe her...
"I predicted an attack on the Station by the Son'a," she began. "Because of that, I became a special advisor and asked to join Starfleet by Commodore Wallace. He was Captain at the time and in command of the station," she explained. "At first I was a Brevet Ensign and I studied very hard. I don't think he expected me to be able to learn as fast as I did, but... I did the studies and went through his review and well... here I am. Station's Counselor. I'm an except to the rule, I suppose," she smiled. "But I never gave up my shop either. So that is how I am both."
"Wow. I would see that as a special calling. Looked like a huge station from my transport and the specs I looked up said that there were 5,000 Starfleet personnel assigned here." Taking a sip of her drink she noted the Marines looking in their direction. She looked back at Kassia, smiling, and added, "It must have been fate that we met... you must be very busy with your position and don't have time to greet all new comers." She reached over and picked up a couple of the snack kibbles that Kassia had been munching on.
"I am kept pretty busy," Kassia smiled. "But not everyone needs therapy. I suppose I'm lucky in that regard. But you know, before coming to this station, my only real family was Troy. Now I have many people on this station I wouldn't hesitate to call family. This is my home. I can't imagine living anywhere else or doing anything else."
"That's great, and I happy for you and Troy." She paused swallowing hard, and said, "Looks like you've been spotted, Kassia. I am a Starfleet Marine and hospital corpsman and my time in any one place is governed by the Powers that Be..." Jayme abruptly swung her feet off the chair and came to attention facing three Marines. "Sir." Using her peripheral vision Jayme could see Kassia smiling and suppressing a chuckle, but what she saw and felt radiating from the young woman bothered her.
"As you were, don't worry. Soma's open territory," Tarik said. "I gather you're new around here, and I haven't had a chance for a face-to-face with you yet. Your name is?"
Jayme hesitated a beat and moved into an at ease stance, and said in a crisp clear voice, "Second Lieutenant Jayme Alcon, sir." She allowed her eyes to wander from the Colonel's, to the woman standing on his left. At the same time both women broke smiles and it was Vansen who moved in and pulled the other woman into a hug and cried, "J.A.! What a surprise... thought you were going to med school?"
Jayme laughed and saw the colonel take a seat next to Kassia. "Yeah, I was but as you know Marine blood calls to the soul... you know." She held her old chum at arms length and noted the wings on the breast of her tunic... thought you were going to be a Marine... not a fly gal."
The brunette placed both fists on her hips and the smile disappeared. "Those are fighting words."
Jayme laughed. "Any time girlfriend! Care to introduce me to the LT behind you?"
"Yeah, well you grunts don't have the monopoly on the Corps, you know," Vansen said. "Allow me to introduce Lieutenant Talia Tigre."
Talia nodded her head. "Yeah, I think she'll do... for a gun-bunny!" she laughed. "No offense, Colonel."
"None taken," Tarik said. "Just remember -- aviation makes holodeck entertainment programs; the infantry makes history!" he grinned. "Bartender, a round for the table on me!" Tarik ordered. Troy saw him at the table and nodded.
Jayme held out her hand to Lt Tigre. "Glad to meet you." Both women took seats on either side of Jayme and across from the Colonel and Counselor. "Sir. I caught an early transport; might as well check this place out versus hanging in the hostel on a skeleton station watch construction workers in EVA gear. So here I am and with papers that don't cover housing or orders other then to report here," Jayme said.
Vansen nudged Jayme's shoulder, "That would be awful! You'd be unable to grade their assets," with a laugh.
Jayme picked up her drink and took several swallows.
"Talk to Major Jackson; he can get you squared away. We do have Transient Officers Quarters operational. Usually the orders don't include everything when people get sent out here. My command didn't even show up until a month after I got here!" Tarik said. "But talk to Jackson. And see me tomorrow at 1000 hours. In the meantime, relax and have a good time!"
Troy arrived at the table and passed the drinks and menus. "If you guys are drinking then you'd better be eating something to soak it up boys and girls." He turned and headed back to his bar.
Jayme looked around the table as the rest tossed their menus into the center of the table. The talk was quiet amongst the foursome. Jayme opened the menu and was surprised at the large array of food. "Hmmmm, any recommendations?"
"I find the sampler platter very good. It has a wide range of food from all over the galaxy," Kassia replied. "And it tastes great I think!" She leaned into Tarik and his arm went around her.
Jayme smiled and went back to the menu, grumbling to herself. Troy returned and squeezed her shoulder. "So what's the newbie having?"
"I think I'll stick to simple and familiar since I've been living on Emergency Rations for the last several days and might as well have been E-rats since the replicator on the scout packed it in and was deemed non-essential halfway through out mission. One Egyptian Burger with the works." Troy nodded and took the rest of the orders and wandered off. Tarik nodded and then said, "Sounds like that was a real pleasure cruise."
"Well, I think I'll have those, what are they called? Potato skins," Kassia smiled.
"For two?" Troy asked looking at Tarik.
"Definitely, and thrown in some Buffalo wings."
Kassia laughed. "Those sound good too!"
"I'll take a Keptar sandwich," Talia said, "light on the mustard."
Vansen looked to Troy, "Caesar salad with krel, and another round of drinks-my tab." Troy shook his head... muttering to himself 'Marines are drinking tonight... mothers lock up your sons...'
Jayme frowned and started in on her second drink... she'd been dry for over a year and could see the writing on the wall and just prayed the hangover wouldn't be too bad when she had to face the XO and the Colonel, tomorrow. Leaning forward in her seat she pulled off her jacket and hung it over her chair.
Vansen picked up the satchel that she'd kicked several times and noted J. Alcon stenciled on it and pulled the release as Jayme tried to rescue her property. "What's the L-tee hiding in here?"
Jayme lifted both hands and sat back, "spare pair of skivvies, pad, pencil, orders."
Shannon pulled out the pad and handed the satchel to Talia to hold. "Doodles or love letters?"
"Doodles?" Talia asked, leaning into get a better view.
"Not doodles-sketches." Jayme added heatedly.
As Talia looked at them she was impressed. "You're right... These are pretty good."
Kassia watched the women with curiosity. She was glad that Jayme had found people she could talk with already on her first day there. She looked at Tarik. As their eyes met, he smiled at her. He knew what she was thinking. Tenderly he kissed her and returned to watching the girls continue to look at Jayme's sketches.
Jayme sat quietly watching as they leafed through the pages and then passed the pad to Tarik and Kassia. "what was your source for these?" Tarik asked.
"That pad was the one that I had with me on the scout ship -- which the Starfleet Corps of Engineers were using. The funny thing about that tour is we had over a dozen Starfleet engineers and techs onboard and they could fix the food replicator... I had lots of free time to sketch and think I might upload them and transmit them to Starfleet Command."
The food arrived and everything looked wonderful. The sketch book was passed back to Jayme. Everyone settled in to eat and drink.
Kassia got a look at the time and suddenly sighed as she and Tarik finished their drinks and the last of their food.
"Tiyanna's sitter is expecting us," she said to Tarik. "Jayme, I'm glad I had a chance to meet you and come see me any time, but I have to go. I have to relieve my daughter's sitter. "
Jayme stood and reached across the table offering her hand to the other woman, "Been a pleasure meeting you -- and you too sir."
Jayme moved to salute the colonel and at mid-position he reached out his long powerful arm and blocked her from completing the salute. "My office 1000 sharp, Lieutenant. Enjoy the rest of the night. Ladies see that you pour her into an empty bunk in the Transient Officers' Quarters at closing time." With that he took Kassia's hand and they walked out of the darkness into the light of the station.
Kassia smiled to herself as she and Tarik headed back to their quarters. Jayme was going to be just fine. It might take her some time to get used to the station, but she would find her path there. Kassia was sure of it.