The glasses clinked together, and they stared into each others eyes as they sipped the wine. It would be a swift recovery with Lataro by her side. "Well Jon, I have to report for duty. I have Gamma Shift tonight. I wish I could stay here with you."
"I wish so too."
"Well, you can come by the bridge a little later."
"Captain Maruu gave me a few days off, and I think that I don't necessarily want to be there on the bridge until I have to. He may think that I will want to work." He smiled.
"Maybe so. I have to go," she said, finishing her wine and getting up.
"Okay," Lataro said putting his glass down and following her lead. He walked her to the door. "I have got Alpha Shift so I will see you, I guess at the changeover."
"That is fine, Love," K'Lara said, leaning over giving him a quick kiss.
"I don't think so, Commander," Lataro said grabbing her and holding her tightly. "You need to say goodbye to me the proper way."
"And how is that, Sir!"
"Like this." Lataro pulled her close and passionately kissed her. After a few minutes of their passionate embrace, she finally pulled away.
"Whoa. You took my breath away. I almost don't want to go to work."
"Then don't."
She smiled. "Sorry. Duty calls," she said. Lataro just looked at her and realized that usually it was his duty that was interfering with their relationship, but this time it was hers.
"Nice."
"I know. Well I gotta go. I love you," she said, kissing him one more time.
"I love you too."
Through the door, K'Lara hurriedly ran making sure that she wasn't to be late. Lataro turned around and looked at the dinnerware and thought to clean his quarters. Afterwards, he decided that he really didn't want to stay home, so he decided to go to the forward lounge for a drink. Through the corridors, he saw many crewmembers who occasionally smiled at him and said, "Hi." He casually responded accordingly and finally reached the forward lounge.
As he entered, he took a moment to absorb the newly decorated lounge, a thing that he hadn't done since Dweezle came aboard some months ago. Lataro was impressed at what Dweezle and Lazarus had done to the lounge. Lataro remembered when the lounge was a simple place with a small bar with a few table which faced towards the view ports. Now, it was a double decked club rivaling Quark's on DS9. Finally he approached the bar where Dweezle was doing his normal bartending duties such as wiping the counter and glasses. "Dweezle. What is the strongest drink you have?"
"Hmm," Dweezle said, putting his hand on his chin in a mock "Thinker's" pose. "I may be able to conjure up something for you."
"Fine. Do it."
"Okay. I hope that you can handle it."
"Well I was quite a drinker in my Academy days, so I think I can handle just about anything you could throw at me."
"Okay." Dweezle reached under the counter and pulled out a five flasks of different colored liquids. All of them looked unpleasant, but as Dweezle mixed a few drops of one, a large amounts of another, the colors changed to a bright orange pulsating concoction that had a small amounts of steam rising from it. "Here you go, Commander. The Dweezle Dazzler."
Lataro looked at the shot glass and smiled, "The Dweezle Dazzler? Couldn't you have come up with a more original name."
"Nope. Just drink it," Dweezle said, slightly perturbed.
"Okay, okay," Lataro said as he picked up the glass. He raised it to his mouth and paused as the steam rose and touched his lips. It was warm and caused his entire face to tingle. Wow. This is going to be some drink! Lataro put the glass to his lips and downed it. It burned his throat, causing him to cough as the liquid oozed down his gullet. "Whoa!"
The effects of the drink were immediate. Lataro's entire body was tingly and he was light headed. He turned around and propped his elbows on the edge of the bar and slouched. "That was damn good! How about another?"
"Sorry. One per night per person! Give it about 60 seconds. You are going to wish you never drank it."
"Are you kidding?" Lataro said with a sloppy smile on his face. The Dazzler was taking effect giving Lataro the euphoria of the alcohol. He was drunk from the one shot and he was loving it. "You know something? You are absolutely right. I don't need anything else."
Commander Lataro slouched up against the counter and looked over the club. In a far table he noticed a cute girl sitting all alone, and he didn't want that to happen. There was no reason why such a beautiful girl to be at a club all alone, so Lataro bee-lined his way to the table and sat down. "Hello! Mind if I sit?"
"No, Commander. Be my guest," the girl said. She was sitting their reading a few PADDs and put them down. "So what can I do for you, Commander Lataro?"
"Oh you know who I am? I seem to be at a disadvantage. I don't know who you are."
"I am Lieutenant Junior Grade Jenara Shylo Tomme. I am the new Chief Science Officer," she said, extending her hand.
Lataro reached out for the hand, but seeing triple, even quadruple, made it difficult to grab the right on. "Pleasure to meet you, Lieutenant," he said sloppily.
"Commander are you all right?"
"Please call me Jon!"
"Um, Sir, are you okay?"
"Jon!" he said stupidly. "Call me Jon!"
"Okay...Jon...you have been drinking."
"Yes, Ma'am, but it was an itsy-bitsy-little one," he said, making appropriate finger gestures.
"Sir, I think it would be a good idea for you to return to your quarters."
"But, Lieutenant, we are here to party. So let's." Lataro stood up, but, as if the ground moved from underneath him, he fell to the floor face first.
Dweezle walked up to the Lt. Tomme and smiled, "I told him he couldn't handle it."
It was 0030 and the decks still had numerous people walking through it. Occasionally merry laughing was heard that echoed loudly in the intoxicated Commander. "Oh!" he moaned as he was leaned up against Lt.
Tomme who was helping him to his quarters. "Make them stop!"
"It is okay, Commander. We are almost there," she said, walking slowly. They passed a few crewmembers who smiled as the saw their First Officer drunk. However, one group of people didn't but rather broke into a whispering. Lataro quickly responded by saying something stupid to these passersby only to get humorous looks in return. "Jon, I think that it would be best if you stayed quiet. Boy you are plastered."
"No! I am not! I am totally in control of my actions," Lataro retorted sluggishly.
"Fine, whatever you say. Okay here we are. You need to enter your access code."
Lataro reached over and pushed the keypad. The first time though he pressed the wrong buttons and the computer announced it.
<Unrecognized command.>
"Shhhh! Quiet computer!" Lataro squinting.
Lataro tried it again. Same response.
"Here, Commander, let me do it," Tomme said with a smile. "What is it?"
"Umm...two, two, five, two, seven...no wait...two, eight...two, two, five, two, eight."
Tomme pushed the buttons in sequence and the door opened. "Okay, Jon, let's go!"
Lt. Valdago let me off early today. We were really slow so I think that I will surprise, Jon, K'Lara thought as she proceeded down the hall towards Lataro's quarters. Just as she turned the corner, she saw Commander Lataro hanging all over the science officer, Lt. Tomme. K'Lara quickly put her back up against the bulkhead and peered around a brace. That son of a... How could he do that?
From her vantage point, she noticed the young lieutenant push the security buttons on the panel and door came open. Something was said between the two of them that she couldn't quite make out, then Lataro and Tomme entered the room. K'Lara's eyes turned red with anger as she headed for the closing door, but as she finally reached it it shut completely. She began to raise her hand to bang at the door but stopped. Angrily she turned away and walked briskly down the corridor. About 10 paces from the door, she began to run, running first slowly, then faster and faster. Her tears began to well up in her eyes as she entered the nearest turbolift. K'Lara backed up to the furthest wall slipped down to the floor, hiding her face in her hands crying.
"Computer, lights!" Tomme said as she placed Lataro on the couch.
As the lights came on Lataro immediately responded, "Computer, not so bright...35% illumination." The lights dimmed as Tomme sat down next him.
"Sir, you need to go get some rest. Here let me help you," she said as she got back up and grabbed his hands to pull him. However, Lataro's drunken state offered some resistance that Tomme wasn't expecting, and, as she pulled him up, he plopped back down, inadvertently pulling her on top of him and into his arms. Now their faces were within inches.
"You know something? You are a pretty lady," Lataro said in a stupor.
"Thank you, Commander." Tomme made an attempt to break free. This definitely felt very wrong. "Sir, you should get to bed," she said, trying to get back up, but the firm grasp Lataro had kept her down.
Lataro said nothing but was looking straight into a face, a face that didn't belong to his betrothed, but to a young vivacious woman. He reached up and softly ran his fingers along her face. Tomme felt the touch and softly gasped as she looked directly into his eyes. She was shocked at the advance he was making, but realized that he was drunk. The best for him was to be put to bed which she intended to do.
The touch of Tomme's skin seemed to send an electrical surge which pulsated through Lataro's body that jump started his heart. Even as the alcohol had impaired his judgment, his beating heart took control and something inside was telling him to kiss her. The moment was right, a dark room, a beautiful woman who was cradled in his arm, and within inches of his was her pouty lips, ripe for the kissing, but his rational brain which was fighting the battle against incredible odds triumphed. Overpowering the rest of his intoxicated brain and his fast-beating heart, it told him that this was not right and forced him to stand up dropping Tomme to the floor. He began feeling around for something to stabilize him and turned around to face the now surprised science officer. "Um, Lieutenant. Thank you for helping me to my quarters. I...I think that you had better leave."
"Yes, Sir. I think that would be a good idea," Tomme said nervously as she stood up running her hands down her uniform to flatten out the wrinkles.
Inadvertently, her actions emphasized her womanfully form which restarted another battle in Lataro's body. His rational mind thought it had won, but this inadvertent tactic seem to taking its toll on the battle weary portion. Something was flowing inside him, but Lataro's rational mind released its secret weapon to counteract it. "Thank you again."
"Yes, Sir," Tomme said as she hurriedly headed for the door. The door came open and she disappeared. As the door whisked shut, Lataro made his way to the bed and crashed. "Oh boy... What have I done?"
The next morning, Commander Lataro woke up and noticed his clock. It read 0930. "What?!" he yelled as he shot up out of bed. Lataro's duty shift started at 0800. He was late. As he stood on his own wobbly legs, the ship seemed to twist and turn. His head felt like 2000 tons of bricks were piled on top of his head. "Red Alert! We are under attack!" he yelled.
The ship's automated system put itself in to Red Alert. The klaxons rang throughout the corridors and the side panels flashed with red lights.
[Commander Lataro!] his com badge screamed. It was Captain Maruu. [What the hell do you think you are doing?]
"Sir we are under attack!" Oh God! Please stop the klaxons.
[Commander. We are not. There isn't a ship within 1200 light years in any direction.]
Oh boy. I really did it this time. "I am sorry, Sir." The Red Alert was canceled by the captain.
[Jon. Are you planning to take your shift?] Maruu said sarcastically. [Or am I going to have to do it?]
"No, Sir. I am on my way."
[Good! Maruu out.]
He is not happy. What happened last night?