Does this tea come with gin in it?

Posted on Sat Jun 25th, 2016 @ 1:06pm by General Janice Fultian-Bremer & Lieutenant General Jewel 'M'lara' Dartt & Lwazanda Ral Daughter of the Fifth House of Betazed

1,579 words; about a 8 minute read

Mission: Episode 91 - Bremer vs Bremer
Location: Starbase 400
Timeline: MD2 1020hrs

Lwazanda looked more like herself than she had for some time. She wore a knee length coat dress in Ruby Red with a matching red hat. she had a certain bounce to her step that had been missing for far too long.

Today she had elected to walk the Promenade, but decided she could use the company. So she made her way first to the Bremer apartment to see if Janice wanted to join her. After hearing a rumour about Mike, Lwazanda thought Janice might want to talk was well.

Janice was still in panic mode. She'd not be allowed to talk with Mike after he'd been arrested last night, or before he'd been taken off the station. She'd spoken Cobb and requested to see her husband, and after the rude JAG officer smarted off to her, Janice punched him in the nose breaking it. It didn't help the situation, but it did make her feel better for that instant.

She knew K'Temoc and the rest of the crew had a plan, but she didn't know the details. For now, all she could do was wait, worry, and wonder. Christopher was a school and Janice tried to keep herself busy, but wasn't working, he mind was racing.

Finally, a chime of the door brought her to the here and now. She prayed it was Mike and she ran to the door. Opening it she had a huge smile on her face, but seeing Lwazanda there instead of her husband the smile faded away.

"Oh, it's you...hey." She didn't mean it to sound as cold as it did, but she wanted Mike home.

"Get Ready." The Betazoid said, "We're going for tea." Lwazanda looked her friend in the face. Something was clearly troubling her. "Unless you want to invite me in, we can have tea here."

Janice smirked, she knew her friend was trying to cheer her up. "I'm really not in the mood right now. I have so much on my mind."

Lwazanda crossed her arms. "Janice, I'm not going to let you sit here alone." She uncrossed her arms and placed her hands on her hips.

Janice nodded. "Thank you. Where are we going?"

"There's a little Bajoran tea room I've been meaning to try." Lwazanda recounted passing by the little shop many times while walking the Promenade. It never looked very busy, so Lwazanda thought it may be the best place to talk.

"All right." Janice replied. She could use a drink, and tea would be a better choice than what she craved. "If the tea is awful, you better have another place on standby." Janice tried to flash a smile.

Lwazanda couldn't help but laugh. "Deities no dear. They don't serve tea." She placed a hand on Janice's arm. "It's a bar."

Janice felt cold, she wanted a drink so bad, but she couldn't....she shouldn't. She'd promised Mike she wouldn't drink. Janice had battled alcoholism for years off and on and she really felt like she'd finally over come it.

"Shall we?" asked the Betazoid woman. "I have a feeling we have a lot to discuss."

"Um, Lwazanda. I can't, I'm an alcoholic. Recovering. I haven't had a drink in a while and I really don't think now is the time." Her expression was one of shame, she didn't like admitting this to anyone.

A look of remore occupied Lwazanda's face. "My Deities. I'm so sorry!" She bit her lip. "Why don't just stay in?"

Without waiting for an answer, The Betazoid pushed in. "Where's your replicator?"

Janice relaxed and let a small smile cross here lips. "It's over there." She pointed. A moment later the door chimed and Janice ran to the door hoping it was Mike or at least some news.

Jewel looked at the door opened and looked at Janice, "Hey." She said trying to smile, she had a lot on her mind she wasn't sure how to process everything. She then noticed Lwazanda and rolled her eyes but didn't say anything. "Can I come in?" Jewel asked her own sister.

Janice nodded.

Lwazanda had not yet noticed Jewel. She crossed to the replicator and ordered a large pot of ettaberry tea, along with two sizeable cups. She turned to return to Janice. "Oh my Deities. Still as handsome as ever." She said, holding the tea tray tight. "So good to see you Major." She set the tray on a nearby table.

The Betazoid turned back to the replicator, and ordered another cup before quickly returning to the others.

"Thank you" Janice said getting a cup. "Jewel, please come in and have a seat."

She sighed at the Betazoid, she took a seat and politely took a drink, "So....how are things Janice?" She said still not processing what she was recently sent by Starfleet. So she was lost in thought to even argue with Lwazanda at this point.

"I'm still trying to find out what's going on with Mike, what's this all about. He'd never just attack an innocent ship and murder the crew." Janice said as she sat down and leaned back. She took a sip of her tea then a deep breath. "I don't know what to do right now."

"I not sure Janice," She said simply having other things on her mind. "I am sure everything will be okay Janice, they always are." She said trying to smile.

Lwazanda poured three cups of tea, and handed them to the ladies. She smiled and tapped her foot, awaiting an appropriate break to tell Janice what she came to tell her. But she instead found herself caught up wondering what incident they were discussing. "My apologies for my ignorance, what's happened?" She asked finally.

She glared at her, "That is something I can not discuss with a civilian." She snapped at the women who she really didn't care for. She was rather annoying and wished to be far away from the women as possible but right now she was with her sister so she would have to deal with it in hopes she don't strangle her yet.

"I needn't point out that I have served the Federation longer than you've been alive." Lwazanda said rolling her eyes at Jewel's comment. She brought her teacup to her lips and took a cautionary sip of the hot liquid.

"I really don't care you're NOT a Starfleet Officer, so therefore you DO NOT need to know, nor will I discuss it with you!" She snapped looking at her, "Janice come find me when 'She' leaves." Jewel said as she got up and headed for the door.

"Such a handsome woman." Lwazanda said to Janice. "Will you tell me what's happened?"

Janice sat there looking at Lwazanda, then back at where Jewel had been. She had enough on her mind and was already emotionally drained, she couldn't take her friends fighting.

After a few minutes to calm herself, she replied. "Mike was accused of attacking a Cardassian ship, killing the crew including a Legate. Needless to say it's put a strain on the Federation/Cardassian Alliance negotiations. More importantly, Mike was arrested buy a JAG Officer. He wouldn't let me see Mike before they took him off the Station...and I don't know what's happened since then."

Lwazanda sat, he mouth hung opne. She was unsure how to responded. They sat a moment in silence, before Lwazanda shook her head and geigned a laugh. "It makes it seem rather silly. You're husband is taken from you, and I willingly send mine away." She shook her head again, setting down her tea cup.

Janice flashed a brief smile at the irony of the statement, then took another sip of her drink. "Maybe, if you still love him, you should tell him before its too late and you can't."

"No."Lwazanda said abruptly. "I wasn't happy." She shook her head, "What will happen with Mike then? Is there anything I can do?"

"I have no idea." Janice said as she slumped in the seat. "I feel so helpless, it's days like this I wish I hadn't retired from the Starfleet Marines."

Janice took another sip, then sat the cup down. "I don't like feeling helpless."

Lwazanda stood, and moved to sit beside Janice. She put her arm around her friend and spoke softly. "It's going to be okay. The handsome Major is going to figure something out."

Janice tried to smile. "Something is just different this time, I can't put my finger on it." She picked up the cup and finished her tea. "Maybe it's me. You know, a few years ago, I'd of just taken the Durga out to get Mike back and find out what was really going on...but that thought didn't even cross my mind til just now." She leaned back.

"Just know that people are doing everything in their power to help. And it's probably for the best that you didn't take it into your own hands, even the best people make mistakes in fits of passion." Lwazanda kept her hand on Janice's shoulder, and used the other to retrieve her own cup and sip.

Janice nodded. She wasn't sure what else to say. What needed to be said? Frankly...she needed a nap, she hadn't slept since this drama began.

Sensing the fatigue in her friend, Lwazanda stood and turned to face Janice. "Why don't you rest, and l'll come back and check on you in a while."


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