Swapping Stories

Posted on 27 Oct 2024 @ 1:12pm by Commodore Harvey Geisler & Lieutenant Commander Theodore Marsh III

2,547 words; about a 13 minute read

Mission: Bait and Switch
Location: Talons Lounge
Timeline: June 20, 2390 || 1800 hours

It had been a day since the Black Hawk jumped to warp bound for Gavara IV. Morale all around the ship was unpleasant as survivors from multiple ships and Unity shared space with the crew. Harvey took note of many of the dejected faces on his way to Talons. While he did not recognize many of faces he saw, he knew their expression well. He'd worn it multiple times throughout his career, notably during the war, and when both of his previous commands had come to premature end.

To say that he related to their plight was an understatement. Harvey also knew that there was little he could do to ease their suffering and frustration, aside from regrouping and reassigning the survivors elsewhere so they could get back to doing what they did best.

The day had progressed without finding clues to the identity of the unknown attackers, and the ship itself had suffered from several internal situations with the survivors. Security had handled those threats in admirable ways, but Harvey knew the badge-on-badge crime was hard for anyone to handle. Even now, as he approached Talons and seeing the memorial wall that was continuing to grow, Harvey found himself wondering the same question as everyone else...

How the hell were they going to get out of this one?

But now was not the time to ponder that question. He was due to meet Theodore Marsh in Talons for a rare occasion: drinks and stories. This should be a pleasant distraction indeed.

=====

“I’m heading out,” Teddy said to the blue-skinned yeoman sitting outside his office. The anteroom of the Operations Center had a desk for a yeoman as well as two small shared workstations for any on duty operations staff to use as needed. A replicator was built into one wall with a master system display next to it. “Make sure Ensign Hall gets the updated code for the planetary sensors. And nudge Chief Fl’va-fl’v about the new replicator consumption projections. With all these extra people onboard, we need to stay on top of bulk matter stores.”

The yeoman smiled, as Bolians are prone to do. “Of course, Commander. If you have a second…”

“I’m due to meet the Commodore, so maybe another time,” Teddy was quick to offer, not wanting to get pulled into another long conversation about breeding voles or tongo strategies or whatever odd topic the yeoman wanted to talk about this time.

“Of course, Commander.”

Teddy left the Operations Center and walked down the corridor to the closest turbolift.

=====

Walking into Talons, Marsh posted up at the bar to wait for his CO.

Marsh did not have to wait long. The doors parted and the commodore entered the lounge. It’d barely been a day since they left Unity’s debris field, and the morale hadn’t changed a bit. Talons was both full and quiet, two measures that should not be sharing space together.

“Commander,” greeted the Risian barkeep, wiping the counter in front of Marsh. “What’ll it–”

The woman paused when the Commodore pulled up to the bar next to Marsh. “Commodore!” she said in surprise. “Sorry, sir, we just don’t see you around here much.”

Harvey smirked as he settled into his seat. “Don’t get used to it. Scotch, double.”

“Straight to the dark liquor…..what did I get myself into?” Marsh ribbed. “Rum and Slug-o-cola please. And maybe a bowl of pretzels. Thanks.”

The barkeep gave Teddy a strange look before going to get their drinks.

Harvey chuckled, turning to Marsh. “It’s been a hell of a week. Andorian ale just won’t cut it tonight.”

“Hopefully it's not the company,” Teddy joked. Then he leaned in. “Any place onboard to get the real stuff? There are times that synthehol isn't the fit for the evening.”

“Sweetheart,” said the barkeep returning with the drinks, “here we serve the real stuff. Well, at least to the actual crew. Can’t be too careful with all of the extra hands we just recovered.”

“Delightful! We're going to be good friends then, I think. And make my next one a Sazerac.”

Teddy lifted his drink. The mess in his glass, thankfully, tasted much better than it looked. Or smelled. “First tried this as a dare. Turns out it's not that bad.” He took a gulp. “So, you've known the admiral for a while?”

The Commodore couldn’t help but laugh, which was stifled quickly when he took a healthy swig of his scotch. “Was that dare with a Ferengi?” Harvey laughed again and added, “A while is an understatement. We went through the Academy together and were roommates for a long time. No matter the rank, we’ve always been on a last-name basis.”

"One of my aunts dated him when they were teenagers. His nickname back then was 'Big Z'. At least five other people in my family have served with him too."

Harvey, who was in the middle of sipping his scotch, nearly choked in surprise. "Big... Z...? Are you serious?" The Commodore offered a large belly laugh, having not expected to learn what Marsh had just shared.

"That's what my Aunt Edina says, at least," Teddy said through a big grin. "And I don't knew her to be a liar. Other than when she's inflating estimates for repair times. I guess that's something that the engineers pick up at some point."

"That is certainly true," Harvey remarked. "As a doctor, I got to hear all sorts of engineering secrets from patients. And as a Captain, I tend to let the engineers purposely overestimate. I just know how much slack to give and when." He took a drink and set the nearly empty glass on the bar. With a gesture, he ordered another round for both he and Marsh.

"I remember back at the Academy..." The Commodore's voice trailed off, making sure he had the memory details straight, "We didn't see that much of each other. But when we did... he would always get dressed in the dark. One night he came in, drunk and obnoxious. I tried to sleep, and that didn't work too well. I got my revenge by replacing his cadet uniform with a hot pink shoulders instead of the typical engineering yellow. He was so focused that day, that it took ten hours for him to realize what had happened."

Teddy spit out his drink. "Remind me not to get on your bad side. Pink is not my color," he forced out between bouts of laughter. "That would explain why my cousin calls him 'Fuchsia'. Whenever I asked, he'd tell me 'you had to be there.'"

Harvey laughed, then finished his drink. "It's a little more difficult to get on my bad side these days. Back then, all you had to do was leave a petri dish out, and it was open season." He sighed as a new set of drinks arrived. Harvey slid one over to Teddy, then raised his own glass. "To Fuchsia."

"To Fuchsia!" he cheered, tipping his glass towards Geisler before throwing back. It was nice to be able to have made a personal connection with someone already. As much as Teddy enjoyed being in Starfleet, making friends at a duty station only to be transferred and have to start from scratch, repeatedly, was a little tiring. He didn't think of himself as unfriendly; he'd been accused of the opposite, being too friendly, before. But new assignments always started out lonely.

The Commodore set his glass back on the bar, trying to stifle a cough. Laughter and drinking did not go well, at least when trying to do both at precisely the same time. It took a few moments to regain control. As soon as he did, Harvey quipped, "Man, I never thought I'd hear about that ever again."

Marsh leaned forward, his arms resting on the bar. "You know about the time he got a parasite while on leave and ended up with some sort of parasite on an away mission? Messed with his Wernicke's area. Resulted in expressive aphasia. For some reason, he was speaking mostly in lyrics of old Earth love songs for about a week before it was resolved."

Harvey's eyebrows arched at the revelation. "I did not hear that," he admitted, "and I find myself thankful for that. I would have punched him hourly had I been with him." He chuckled and took a sip of his drink. "My my, how things have changed. We used to hate each other, and now there's not a single person in Starfleet that has my back like he does."

"Funny how that works. I've got a couple of those enemy-to-friend situations of my own. Though none of them brass, so you've got that on me." Teddy thought about one of his childhood rivals who was now Chief Engineer on the USS Teagarden. The two of them had pushed each other academically in school as kids, Teddy nearly always coming in second. Now, whenever they found themselves in the same sector, they'd find a way to grab a meal together.

"Mind if I ask you a personal question, sir?"

The Commodore welcomed another sip of his drink before placing the half-empty glass back down on the bar. "After trading stories about Fuchsia, I don't think I can refuse that request. What's on your mind, Teddy?"

"You seem pretty happy. You've got a beautiful wife, adorable kids, a job you seem to love. What's the secret? A lot of the people in my family have felt like they had to choose between continuing their Starfleet career or having a family. Yet here you are, having it all."

Harvey blinked twice. It was always a gamble, allowing anyone to speak freely. One never knew the question that was going to be asked, and he certainly didn't expect anything so personal of a personal question. He sipped his drink as he considered his answer. After a moment of hesitation, Harvey set the glass down on the counter, then turned to look at Teddy.

He said, "You know, there are times when I find myself amazed at what I have. When I first came to the Gamma Quadrant almost three years ago, I was a bitter ol' cuss who didn't see a future beyond... well, beyond Starfleet. I lost my first wife in the service, and I didn't know what else to do but to keep my head down and just walk forward."

Harvey shifted in his seat as his left hand absent-mindedly twirled his lowball. "Then, the Black Hawk happened. People like Kos, Kij, Walsh, Di Pasquale... they broke that outer shell that I thought was impenetrable. Then, I met Joey and rediscovered a piece of myself that I'd thought been lost forever. Together, they all showed me that life is meant to be lived, and lived to the fullest."

"Sounds like the Great Bird is on your side," Teddy said with a smile. He took a another swallow of his beverage before continuing. "I'm not sure if children are in my future, I'm certainly not opposed. I feel like I'm getting to the age where I should be looking to settle down in a relationship but I don't know if I'm actually ready for that, you know? My last two serious relationships....I thought those were heading in a more permanent direction but both ended with transfers to new assignments. Since then, the last two years, I've been focusing on other things and just enjoying what comes along."

He motioned for the server as he finished off his drink. "Some people get pressure from their families about settling down. Mine is so focused on Starfleet careers that personal topics are always secondary. I think I tell myself that the familial career pressure doesn't effect me, but I'm starting to think that maybe it does and that's why I'm single."

The bartender approached. "Bajoran springwine, please. Anything for you sir?"

Harvey looked at his nearly empty glass and considered his options. He was already two drinks in, which was more than he'd consumed in a while. "Club soda," he requested, considering the need to slow down before heading back to the cabin.

"Children are fun," he told Teddy, "but they are a workout. They're not for everyone. The important thing is to just enjoy life, no matter what form it takes. Sounds to me like you're in a perfect place. If and when that third relationship comes around, take full advantage."

The server returned with their drinks, and left just as abruptly. Harvey pulled the club soda next to his nearly empty drink before lifting the whiskey off the counter. "If there's one thing I learned, it's that the position you're in isn't the only one. Where you go, where you get assigned, that doesn't matter. It's what you do with it that does. Unless you're like me, then jobs are very specific."

"That's what I try to do. As my some members of my family remind me, I'm not focused enough on my career. But I figure as long as I'm enjoying myself, everything's good."

"And there's nothing that should stop you from enjoying it," Harvey countered. "I was a lieutenant for a very long time, and the only reason why I found a different career was because of the war. Believe me, there are days I wish that I was still in a research lab."

"I can keep a lab reserved for you," Teddy offered, only half-joking. "Just say the word. I've got some pull with the quartermaster too, so if you need any supplies, I can make that happen."

Harvey blinked twice as a simper expression rolled onto his face. He hadn't seriously considered practicing again, at least not since the outbreak on Yolvanda II a couple of years back. "I'll keep that in mind. Thanks." He emptied the whiskey glass and then exchanged it for the club soda. "And, where it comes to professional development, if it's the center chair you're after, I can help with that."

"I appreciate that, sir. I really do," Teddy replied. "I'll have to figure out what I want first though." As he finished his springwine, he noticed a small gathering of cheerful crew across the room. Among them, was a science lieutenant Marsh had seen around before as well as an engineering non-comm he'd had a friendly chat with several days ago.

"I should let you go so you can spend some time with your family," the Operations Officer said, thinking about how he could go join that other table.

The Commodore grinned, and sipped a bit more of the soda. "Fair enough." Harvey left what remained of the soda on the counter and rose from his stool. He extended a hand to Teddy and said, "Thank you, Teddy, for fuchsia. And, the other stories of course. Glad to have you aboard."

"And I'm glad to be here, sir. To the Black Hawk and our success," he offered, gripping Geisler's hand. "Have a good evening."

After a firm shake and a nod, Harvey turned and left Talons. On the way to the turbolift, he chuckled and shook his head. "Fuchsia! Classic."

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