With the start of the New Year came a slough of promotions and commendations for the staff of SB901. Most of these were simply referred to department heads that they might be conferred directly to the recipients. Kitty, however, took great pride in promotions to two of her department heads... this, despite the fact that she'd only been in command two months.
"Lieutenant Junior Grade K'Tag, for outstanding performance at your current grade and for distinguished service to Starfleet, is hereby promoted to the rank of full Lieutenant, with all the rights and privileges pertaining thereto," Kitty said as she replaced the black pip with a gold pip on K'Tag's collar. She stepped back. K'Tag saluted smartly. Kitty returned the salute, a little less crisply.
Kitty proceeded to the next recipient of a special honor. "Lieutenant Junior Grade Kassia, for outstanding performance at your current grade and for distinguished service to Starfleet, is hereby promted to the rank of full Lieutenant, with all the rights and privileges pertaining thereto." Kitty then proceeded to replace Kassia's signature. Salutes were exchanged.
"There is an additonal award to present. On Stardate 61334, then-Brevet
Ensign Kassia, while being held captive by the B'aku, used her telepathic and empathic abilities to devastating effect to demoralize the enemy and provide valuable intelligence to friendly forces, resulting in the capture of a high-ranking B'aku officer and the rescue of both herself and another Starfleet officer. For this action, and upon the recommendation of two superior officers in the field at the time, Lieutenant Kassia is awarded the Bronze Star. As the senior officer present in the field at the time, and by special request, Colonel Tarik will present the award."
Tarik stepped forward and very smartly attached the ribbon below Kassia's combadge. He then stepped back and saluted her. She returned the salute.
"This concludes our presentation ceremony," Kitty said. "Liberty call at the Easy Inn, 1800 hours. Have fun!"
The Easy Inn was already full of people in the midst of celebration as Kassia and Tarik entered. Lazarus was busy filling drink orders and checking on food orders. Kassia still couldn't believe she had been promoted and was still reeling about her Bronze Star.
"Saurian Brandy for this table, Lazarus. Just leave the bottle," Tarik said.
"Are you sure that's wise, sir?"
"It may not be wise, but it sounds like a damn good idea to toast the new lieutenant!" Tarik replied.
Kassia smiled brightly as she met Lazarus' eys. He saw the new pip and nodded.
"Okay! One Saurian Brandy Bottle for this table!" he said with a smile and went off to get it.
"You know, I still can't believe it!" Kassia said. "I mean, being promoted is wonderful! But the Bronze Star... I mean, I know you and Paul put me in for it... but to be honest, I really didn't expect anything..." she said, her green eyes gazed at him all serious, but a gentle smile touched her face.
"We tried for the Silver Star, but it got downgraded. These things nearly always do, but at least they promoted you in the bargain," Tarik said. "Took them bloody long enough, but with the war I imagine there was quite a bit of backlog."
The brandy arrived at the table. Tarik uncorked it and held it in the air. "To new promotions!" he said at the top of his lungs, then began drinking lustily from the bottle to the accompaniment of much cheering. He then slammed the bottle on the table, wiped his mouth with his sleeve, and looked at Kassia. "Your turn!" he said, grinning evilly.
She looked at him and grinned raising her eyebrows. "So this is a challenge, huh?" she asked. "To the crew of this station! The best in Starfleet! She said with a lilt in her laugh as she grabbed the bottle and drank just as lustily though her eyes squinted a bit as the liquid burned her throat a bit. She barely heard the cheer of the crowd around her. She slammed the bottle down on the talbe and looked to Tarik with a playful smile. "Does this mean its you're turn again?" There was a definite devilish glint in her green eyes.
A chant built up in the bar. "Go! Go! Go! Go!" Tarik noticed that his new medical corpsman, Jayme Alcon, was amongst the loudest. Good to see her let her hair down, he thought as he picked up the bottle and drained it further to much cheering. "You could say that," he said with a smirk. "Now another drink, to lower your resistance!"
The liquor made its way into Kassia's system and she licked her lips, looking as Tarik in a very devious mannor. She took the bottle and gazed at the crowd. She felt the emotions building up and enjoyed the energy from it. She smiled big and took the bottle. "We'll see what happens, won't we?" she said, as she downed more of the liquid. She heard the chanting and it only furthered her to take more of the firey drink. As she took all she could, she put the bottle down and gazed at the crowd with a look like a cat that ate the canary. "And now I believe its your turn once more, love." She gazed into his dark eyes.
Tarik didn't wait to have the bottle passed to him. He grabbed the bottle from Kassia and finished it off, then grabbed her and kissed her with full force. The crowd broke out in applause.
As the kiss ended, Kassia gazed into his eyes and tenderly ran her fingers over his lips and then kissed him, but this time tenderly. "So is this how all Promotions and Awards are celebrated?" she asked just above a whisper, as she looked deep into his eyes.
"It's a variant of the standard ceremony. If I'd tried this with any other female officer I'd be in the brig by now!" Tarik whispered back. "And someone else would probably melt my brain out from the inside..."
She laughed gently and bit her lower lip for a moment. "True," she replied with a grin. "Well, so far I like this..."
Just then, they were interrupted by Troy and Kitty. As Kassia felt his presence she turned toward him. The alcohol was making her very happy and giddy.
"Troy! Captain!" she greeted with a big smile.
"Congratulations, Kass," Troy replied, going to her and embracing her. He could tell she was already feeling good. "How's the celebration going?" he asked.
"Oh wonderful!" she replied with a wicked grin and turned her gazed back to Tarik.
Kitty looked on with a smile of her own suspecting what had happened seeing the empty brandy bottle. She knew it hadn't passed Troy's notice either.
"It looks like you're enjoying yourself," Troy said, noting the empty bottle. "I haven't seen you this happy in quite a long time!"
She laughed brightly. "I am happier than I've been in a long time," she replied. "I can't believe I've been promoted and I have been given the Bronze Star! I think I'll be in shock for awhile!" She smiled. She giggled again. "So is there going to be anything else to drink?" she asked as she turned to Tarik, tossing him a devilish grin.
"Why certainly... later!" Tarik replied. "Don't want too much, too soon -- I want you pliable, not unconscious!"
She laughed. "All right, then... later..." With that she leaned in and kissed him again. There was more cheers and hoots from the crowd.
Troy watched smiled and shook his head and then turned to Kitty. He saw that she was grinning like the Cheshire cat as she watched the pair. She she noticed Troy's gaze she shrugged.
"They definitely love each other..." she said, with a sparkle in her eyes.
"Yeah, they do," he replied. "Why don't we get something to drink. I'm sure Lazarus has some kind of juice or soda."
"Oh, I'm sure," Kitty replied.
They walked away leaving Kassia and Tarik to themselves for the time being.
Troy walked up to the bar. "Two Sirian sunberry crushes, please," he asked Lazarus. Lazarus responded with a snort as he produced the two bottles of soda. "This stuff is really good!" he said as he returned to
Kitty's table. He failed to tell her of his true motive behind ordering the drink.
As Troy handed her the drink, she looked at it and smiled. "Thank you," she smiled. "What is it?" she asked as she looked at the unique reddish pink color of the liquid. It looked good.
Sirian sunberry crush. It's very sweet," Troy replied. "It has an interesting side-effect, too."
She smirked as she took a sip. "Oh really?" she replied. "And what would this side effect be?" she asked as her green-brown eyes met his dark gaze, eyebrow raised.
Troy's visual abilities as a Trayvan allowed him to see slightly into the infrared. He could see the slight flush in Kitty's skin as the drink took effect. "Don't know how to tell you this....but it is an aphrodesiac for most sentient beings," he said with a wicked smile.
"Mmmmmm" Kitty replied, "Like I need much encouragement." She laughed as she took another sip of the sweet drink and caressed his face. But she did feel the flush through her body and it did make her feel good if nothing else. "I do like the feel of this though..." She smiled as she took a deep breath allowing it to wash over her. "Thank you..." she said as she tenderly kissed him.
Some individuals noticed the captain and hooted, joined by some others.
Troy recovered from the kiss, breathless, and stood up and took a bow. The crowd cheered even louder. "Send two bottles of this over to that table over there," Troy told Lazarus, indicating Tarik's and Kassia's table. "That should make things interesting!" he said with a laugh.
Lazarus laughed and nodded. "You've got it."
Kitty laughed. "You are wicked!"
"You just now noticed?" he replied, as he sat back down beside her.
She just laughed further, until he gently caressed her face. She stopped and looked at him, relishing the touch of his fingers on her cheek, her lips... down her neck. Then he pulled her to him. His lips crushed hers in a kiss filled with passion. More hoots were heard, but Kitty barely heard them as all her was focused on was Troy and their kiss. The rest of the room had faded away.