Marcus pulled up a chair at the bar and ordered. "Whiskey neat." He looked around and noticed that the main population of the bar seemed to run heavy on Marines, dockers, and Fleet. The bar was clean, the band was loud, the food was good, and so business was brisk . . . except for bartending. Marcus noted that the only person working the bar was Troy Nevalla, who was efficient but not able to keep up with the volume of orders.
Marc sat back and just watched and noticed several patrons move to the bar and demand their drinks . . . or to see the owner/manager. Troy, paused in his pouring to discuss things in a calm collected voice. The patrons either left the establishment or returned to their tables to wait. It wasn't long before those who had taken their seats started to hassle the wait staff or other patrons. Some of the disturbances were averted by marines who stepped up to protect other patrons but most importantly to protect the employees of Soma. He watched as Troy shook his head and twice almost stepped from behind the bar to go help break up the problem makers.
Finally. Marcus stood, moved around the end of the bar, stepped behind it, removed his leather jacket, and rolled up his sleeves. He grabbed one of the bar towels and noted the various glasses, bottles and mixers. "What the hell do you think you are doing back here?" Troy planted himself nose to nose with Marcus.
"I know you run this 'gin joint,' and right now you're on the verge of a riot. So, I am volunteering to help back here."
Troy spotted two more tables explode into pushing and shouting matches, "Know anything about mixing drinks?"
Marcus laughed, "I'm Marcus Alcon, retired Major, Starfleet Marine Corps. You can call me 'Marc'. I think I know a little about drinking." He smiled.
Troy sighed and sent the tray of drinks he'd been mixing out with one of the waitresses. "Okay, Here is a PADD with all of the recipes for drinks and food items. We bill here for the bar orders. The staff does the table orders." Troy paused and sipped his juice, and then decided, "I'll handle the table orders and leave you to deal with the bar orders."
Marcus worked the bar and had them happy in no time. He saw the back logged orders of stuff for the floor and started in on a couple of the trays for Troy, who was pouring and mixing a large order for a party that had been patiently waiting. Marcus sent the tray he'd finished out and after making sure the bar customers were still okay, moved onto filling another floor tray, and sent it out while Troy and another waiter took the large order to the very far corner. Marcus looked around and saw that the several meals had appeared in the window from the back room and pulled several drafts for the tray and sent it out.
Troy appeared and found that all of the current and back orders had been cleared and the general atmosphere of the establishment had calmed. The band was between sets and the various screens were playing various sporting events from throughout the Federation. Troy sat on the bar stool he kept behind the bar and watched and finished his juice, while Marcus handled the few orders that were coming. An hour later the band was back, and some of the crowd had thinned out. Troy stood, pulled a whiskey neat, and handed it to Marcus. "Thank you, for your help tonight!" Troy indicated the drink, and said, "the drink and anything you want to order from the back is on the house."
Marcus took a sip of his drink and had over the course of the evening memorized the menu, just smiled. "I've spent several very enjoyable evenings here at the bar and of course with some of the Marines. But, I don't remember you ever working the bar alone, during the rush hours."
He poured himself a tall glass of brewed ice tea. "Normally, I don't." He took a sip of the tea and looked around the bar, then said, "The young woman I had back here quit last night after getting cornered by some of the less- than-upstanding members of our society. She's okay, but admitted it hadn't been the first time she'd been hassled and since she's just finished her degree in Education, she's going to go teach." Troy smiled and then said on a more serious note, "Security caught those involved." "I've posted a part time position with the base's employment agency."
"I'm currently unemployed, here visiting my daughter, with the thought of putting down permanent roots." Marc took another sip of his drink and watched as Troy fill a couple of drinks. "I would be willing to fill in until you find a replacement."
Troy saw a group of Marines get up and leave as the band closed for the night. "Your last name is Alcon?"
"Yes," Marcus nodded.
Troy laughed. "Your daughter is Jayme."
Marc smiled and nodded. "Guilty."
Troy started laughing and slapped Marcus on the shoulder, "She's a good kid. The Marines help keep the peace, and have helped with other jobs when I've been in a bind." He noted the time and watched as the crew moved in and started cleaning up. He punched in two salads and cheesesteak sandwiches for both of them. "Okay, I just ordered dinner. Do you want to stick to whiskey or drink something else?"
"Dinner . . . hmm. I'll switch to coffee--black." Picking up a cup, he poured his own and poured a cup for Troy when he got a nod. Both cups on a tray with the carafe, Marc followed Troy to a cleaned table not far from the bar. For the next several hours while clean-up and bookkeeping were done, they talked and it was decided that until a more suitable applicant showed Marcus would help with the bar keeping duties during peak hours or maybe even fill in when Troy needed to be elsewhere during the early hours.
Finally, the lights out, both men left and secured the enterance.