"That looks absolutely disgusting!" said Kim, wrinkling her nose in undisguised revulsion.
"Yeah, I had to switch off the neural links to my taste and olfactory systems," answered Sam, lifting another spoonful of her breakfast to her mouth.
"What in the world is it?" asked Kim. She herself had only a small cup of coffee. She was much too excited to eat anything.
"Cheese-flavored breakfast cereal," said Sam around an orange mouthful. "With schplict."
"Ugh..."
"The manager recommended it," explained Sam. From her customary corner booth at the El Taco, she had a clear view of the kitchen area. She caught the manager's eye, and wiggled her fingers in a timid toodaloo.
The mysterious and ruggedly handsome manager, Rick, flashed a rapscallion wink and smile at the ladies in return, but was immediately distracted by a loud clatter of dishes crashing to the floor somewhere in the back. Off he went, bellowing at the top of his lungs, "Oye, mensos! Que faltan?!?" and was gone.
Seeing the look in Sam's eyes, Kim ventured an opinion. "Maybe we should plan two weddings right away. What do you say?"
"What would you say to a bowl of cheese cereal in the face?" riposted Sam coolly, shoveling up another spoon of the noxious concoction.
"I give!" said Kim hurriedly, raising her hands in surrender. "Hurry up though. I wanna hit the stores right when they open!"
Sam grunted noncommittally and continued munching her cheese.
Kimmie leaned back in the booth, sipped her coffee, and tried to stay calm. She decided to people-watch while she waited for Sam.
The mysterious and ruggedly handsome manager was still in the back somewhere, but the other El Taco fixture was in his accustomed place. Pep sat on his stool at the front counter as he always did, gabbing freely with anyone with a friendly ear. Restaurant patrons had a hard time avoiding him, since, as a Lurian, he took up a fair percentage of the front counter.
Kim's attention was diverted by a petite, dark-haired woman coming in through the main doors. Immediately, she recognized her as the loud woman she and the other Banshees had shared a shuttle ride to the station with, and cringed inwardly.
Pep saw her too. He'd had his own previous encounter with her. He cringed outwardly as she walked past him to the order counter.
After she got her order, she scanned the small dining room for a seat. There were plenty of open seats, but when she spotted Sam and Kimmie, she made a bee-line for their table.
"Mind if I join you?" she asked.
Sam had retreated into her shell -- the one she wore around strangers -- which left it up to Kim to answer. "Well, actually...." She unsubtly glanced around at the empty tables, hoping this woman would get the hint. No such luck.
"I saw your Starfleet uniforms and suddenly got homesick," the woman said.
"Oh. Well.... In that case.... I guess...."
"Thanks!" said the woman cheerily, dropping her tray onto the table top and sliding into the booth next to Kim and opposite Sam. To Kim's horror, the tray held another bowl of cheese cereal and a carton of schplict. "I have no idea what this stuff is, but the manager recommended it," the woman was saying.
Sticking out her hand, the woman introduced herself. "Ensign Francesca Milano, formerly off the USS Virgo, currently on extended leave."
Kim took her hand and shook it. She introduced herself and Sam. "Lieutenants Kim Tycho and Sam Beckett, formerly off the USS Hornet, currently also on leave."
"The Hornet..., repeated Francesca, furrowing her brow in thought. "Isn't that the ship that disappeared through a tesseract?"
"Yeah...," said Kim, a troubled look crossing her face. She's come to know a lot of the people on the Hornet. "We were transferred just a few days before she disappeared." She decided to change the subject. "So, what brings you to the station, Francesca?"
"Call me Franny," said Franny. "I'm looking for a man."
"Aren't we all?" ventured Sam, uncharacteristically bold. "Some of us have found one," she said, nodding her head in Kim's direction.
"No, I mean I'm looking for a specific man. His name's Benton. Last I heard he was in this sector somewhere. Either of you seen him?" asked Franny, suddenly hopeful, then after the short pause her brain needed to catch up, "You found a man?"
"I'm getting married," said Kim proudly.
"Congratulations!" said Franny.
"Thanks!" said Kim, all smiles. "Me and Sam are going dress shopping today. If she ever finishes eating, that is!"
"I'm finished," said Sam quietly, picking up her tray. She slid out of the booth and took it over to the trash recycle chute.
"Great," said Kim, getting up to follow her friend. "It was nice meeting you, Franny. Good luck on your manhunt." She turned to go, but changed her mind and turned back. "By the way, she said. "I wouldn't eat that if I was you...."
After Kim and Sam had left, Franny eyed the bowl on her tray critically for a long while. In the end though, she stuck with her original decision. "Bah. How bad could it be...."
Minutes later, whisked to the heart of the Promenade's shopping district by pneumatic tubes and people-movers, Sam and Kim stood out front of their destination.
"'Friar Tux Shoppe - Tuxedo Rentals'," read Kim off the big antique-looking shingle beside the door. "That doesn't sound like the right place, Sam."
"Not that one -- next door!" said Sam, yanking Kim's arm.
"'Maid Marry-on's Bridal Boutique'. Much better!"
"Terrible puns though."
Inside the store, everything was frilly and lace. There were floaty, faerie-princess veils everywhere, endless acres of chiffon, and holographic mannequins clad in satin and sequins. Kimmie was in heaven. A pleasant, plump, motherly woman, whose name actually was Marion, helped her try on dress after dress; and after each change, Sam offered her official opinion. Hours sped by in sartorial satisfaction.
Finally, Kim found one she loved. "Would you like to see how you and your husband-to-be will look standing side-by-side?" said Marion.
Kim nodded. "Yes please."
"What is his name, dearie?"
"Commander Garek Loran."
Marion punched a few buttons on a small console on the wall next to the large mirrors Kim was modeling herself in, and moments later, a holographic Garek Loran materialized next to her. The facsimile proffered his arm gallantly to the lady, and she took it. Looking at Kim and holo-Garek, Marion commented, "What a lovely couple!"
Kim looked at their reflections in the mirror. It seemed to her that holo-Garek had a mischievous glint in his eye -- a look she knew all-too-well -- and marveled at the accuracy of the simulation. Then, the simulation surprised her. Holo-Garek winked at her and turned his head to face her. "Hey there, hot stuff!" it said, and planted a kiss on her lips.
Startled, a wide-eyed Kim let out a tiny "Eep!" and jumped back a step, disengaging herself from holo-Garek's arm. Holo-Garek stood where he appeared, but his facial expression had changed from serious groom to goofy practical-joker. Kim studied him closely for a moment. No simulation could be this real, or do the things this one was doing. "Garek?" she ventured, not entirely certain.
"The one and only," said Garek, grinning wider.
"But... How...?"
"Just a little practical application of my new Q powers," explained Garek. He looked his bride-to-be up and down appreciatively and whistled his approval. "You look outstanding!" he said in typical male straightforwardness. "You like that dress?"
"Yeah," said Kim, twirling about so that the floaty faerie-princess stuff swirled around her like a soft, fluffy halo.
"Great!" said Garek. Turning to Marion, he said, "She'll take it." He turned back to Kim, and with the devilish glint still in his eye, he asked, "How about we go looking for something else?"
"Thought you'd never ask," answered Kim. "Let me just get out of this dress."
"Allow me, young lady," said Garek. Lifting his hand with a flourish, he snapped his fingers, and the two of them disappeared in a bright flash of white light, except for the dress, which crumpled to the floor, empty.