Lunch at the Replimat

Posted on Thu May 21st, 2020 @ 12:17pm by Lieutenant Xalanth & Lieutenant JG Matthew Plumeri

1,894 words; about a 9 minute read

Mission: Episode 106 – Stalemate
Location: Starbase 23 - Promenade - Replimat
Timeline: MD04 1100

[ON:]

STARBASE TWENTY-THREE - PROMENADE REPLIMAT


Despite his reptilian face, the lizard had a clearly visible smile as he chuckled at the video that was playing on the small screen in front of him. With some replicated food from his home and news of his daughters could always make him feel better and the recording sent to him by his mates was doing just that.

He speared another one of the balls of meat from his plate and popped it into his mouth. Life was good.

It was busy here today. LTJG. Plumeri simply had to get out of the lab and take a walk-about. Deciding that a wee bit of lunch was in order, he went to the Promenade. The place that was least busy was the replimat. He was starved. When it was his turn he ordered something quick. "Vulcan spicy tomato soup and a grilled cheese sandwich." The nutritious, delicious food materialized before him. He took his tray and tried to find a seat.

There was this giant lizard guy. He looked really cool too. He looked like a bad ass mo-fo that you do not want to mess with. Matt thought to himself, ~I bet this guy is fun to be around. With a face like that - scare the shit outta ya just looking at him!~. Plumeri approached, "Excuse me, Lieutenant? Is this seat taken sir?"

" It's free and please call me Xalanth." the lizard said with a reassuring tone as he extended his hand for a shake. " Just getting some lunch whilst i read the mail from my family. "

Setting the tray down and then taking a seat, "Thank you Xalanth". Matt returned the handshake and then said, "Replimat is rather busy today." Settling in he asked Xalanth, "I'm still new around here, I don't think I've ever met someone like you before? Certainly not in Starfleet. Do you work on Starbase Twenty-Three? Or are you visiting from another ship?"

" I'm sure you won't have. I'm the only one of my people in the fleet and dragonia is very far away. " the lizard said as he took another sip from his drink. " I'm here for additional security until we take starbase 400. Then I'm taking over the XO job for security. "

Matt took a bite of his grilled cheese and dipped it into the tomato soup. He was hungry. When he finished the bite he said, "OH?! Hey! I'm with Starbase 400 too. You're Security, I'm in the Science department. I haven't ever heard of Dragonia. Can you tell me where it is? Like...where is the closest astronomical landmark that I might know?"

" Oh out past the southern border of the federation and on from the Takara system. It's the binary star system you call Mani. Though we just call her home. " the lizard replied found memories of home filling his head. " We come from the desert planet caught in the middle of the two stars. The federations just managed to get an embassy with us and permission to enter are space."

Matthew listened with interest, "Huh, learn something new everyday. It must feel weird to be the only one of your species in Starfleet? What made you wat to join?" he asked as he took another bite.

" It did at first, but I'm use to it by now. As for why I joined the fleet that's a very long story. Want to hear it.... I'm sorry i never got your name." the lizard replied calmly.

Swallowing a drink of water, "Mmmm. I'm Matt Plumeri. On a starbase as big as 23 and an even bigger starbase like 400 you'll likely never run into me again. My discipline is in History so I'm always game on for a good story. What's a nice Dragonian like you doing in a Starfleet? That has to have been an interesting decision. Not without some opposition yeah?" he took a big bite of grilled cheese and listened.

" Oh, I'm in the fleet because Starfleet killed me." The lizard said calmly his face turning into a grin at the expression on the humans face. " it's a long story that can go back to my people's war with the Yor, but I'll skip to the important part. I was a forward rail gunner of one of our ships patroling are people's borders. We detected unkown ships coming towards us so as-is are peoples standard greeting we armed weapons and began to approach slowly. Sadly captain Burnham off the USS Andrew panicked and opened fire without even attempting first contact. I was dragged out of the damaged forward section where I was declared dead. No breath, no heartbeat or brain activity. It was an hour later that I came to in the storage bay surrounded by the dead. I staggered out into the corridor and all i heard was the screaming of the word Zoltac. The closest thing I can think of in human cultures that is similar to a Zoltac is Draug. My clan tried to help me, but I was shunned by my people. With no were else to turn to i left are home system and took up bounty hunting on the federation border. During one of these bounties, I came into contact with Captain Trenton McRaven. He took pity on me and offered to sponsor me for the academy. I took him up on the offer and here i am." The lizard finished a smile on his face.

"Huh, it sounds like the Dragonian greeting protocol needs to be updated. I can't imagine many people like to stare down an active phaser lock. Even so, a Starfleet Captain should have known better. Well, the best part is that you're here now. Zoltac, Zombie or Draugr - you'll see all three in any staff meeting that goes over an hour." Matt pushed his plate away now that it was empty. "But, tell me, Lieutenant, you must have had family and friends? Weren't they worried about you? Didn't they come looking for you? Living or dead?" Matthew asked him.

" Oh my family did try to help, but the clan was being hurt by me being there. No cities would let us trade with them as would any of the other clans. They claimed i'd crawl in through the windows and eat their children. I couldn't stand them being hurt because of me so I left to help them. Though the ancestors must have had a plan for me as i found my mates among the stars and have my four beautiful daughters. Still enough about me why did you want to join starfleet. " the lizard asked as he took another sip from his own drink.

"Excuse me, just a few more questions please. Your people, the Dragonians are born into a familial unit? A clan right? How can you then just...make a new clan? I mean, how does the hereditary lines get passed on? Let alone when it's with alien species? I have so many questions!", Plumeri asked him.

" oh, I'm still a member of my clan. When my mates joined with me they joined my clan. " the dragonian explained. " My daughters were a question for the monks who mind the holy books, but as it says in the primary codex that only female dragonians can birth dragonians they concluded that my mates must be female dragonians. Just very fleshy ones." he added with a grin.

"Indeed, well ain't that a fine how do you do?" Matt said stroking his chin. "How big can your family clans get? How many mates is...well...acceptable for your species?" he asked curious about the new lizard-man.

Xalanth looked to his wrist and pulled up his uniform revealing a golden bracelet clipped to his wrist. It had a pattern of six stars surrounding a central star. Three of the stars were empty sockets whilst three had been filled with a bright gemstone. Turning it around so that Matthew could see it better Xalnth pointed to the central gem a bright red ruby that appeared to have a small drop of liquid inside it. " The holy books say that a dragonian soul comes into the world it splitters into seven pieces and scatters to the desert winds. Every dragonian through life will find the parts of their splintered soul and through them reuniting will become one. " He said telling the tale he could remember from the old priestess as best he could. " Or more likely the old priest's who wrote the books realized the birth ratio is six female to one male due to the temperature of our planet so came up with the story to keep everyone in line and to stop us killing each other over mates. Well except for the marauders." He said with a twinge of annoyance in his voice at their mention.

"What an interesting and beautiful story. Creation myths have always fascinated me you know? May I see again?" Matt took a better look at the golden bracelet. "Ah! Would you look at that there. MMm..hmmm! Very nice indeed." He sat back in his chair and finished off his drink. "I can see why you would be attracted to the Securatorial arts. You've certainly got the build for it. And your family, your new clan is with you? Will they be on Starbase too?"

" Thank you I made it myself though I was by far the worst at it."the lizard replied with a grin and a slight laugh. " As for my family no there not here. T'para and Leilani are part of the federation embassy group to my homeworld with are children. Fulvia is on an undercover assignment with Starfleet intelligence. I've not heard from her for a month. "

Matthew listened and leat a beat pass, "You must miss them very much. I am sorry for that. But, being that we are new to the crew, you and I, we'll have to keep fast friends. Who knows when I'll see you again in the course of events? Starbase 400 cannot and must not be bigger than our hearts." Matt said in a friendly and genuine tone. "I'm afraid that my lunch hour is gone. I have to be getting back to....whatever it is I do in the Science labs. I'd like to see you again Xalanth. Do you play Parressis Squares?"

" I'm afraid I don't, but I'd be willing to learn if you'd like a game." The lizard responded finishing his own lunch and drink.

Matt smiled, "Aw, hell's yeah man. I can teach you. Looking at the Captain of the Titans over here. Love the Squares! Could use somebody like you. Look at those legs on you man? I bet you can jump...10-15 meters am I right? "

" I can jump a fair bit." The lizard replied with a slight grin. " I'll see you later."

Matthew got his tray together and rising to his feet, "Lieutenant Xalanth, thank you for sharing your table with me. I'm sure that sometime we'll see each other again. I know how to find you so...I will hit you up for a game soon. Welcome aboard sir."

"I'll see you later. Xalanth said standing up himself. " And thank you for the welcome."


[OFF:]

LTJG. Matthew Plumeri
Sciemce Officer/Historian
USS Endeavor
NCC-72802

&

Lieutenant Xalanth
Assistant Chief Security/Tactical Officer
Starbase 23

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