One Last Drink
Posted on Thu Nov 12th, 2020 @ 1:04pm by Lon Nren
Edited on on Sat Dec 5th, 2020 @ 3:28pm
Mission:
Enforced Intermission
Location: "Ten Forward" Lounge, USS Galaxy
"Put the crew picture over by the window. I want everyone to be able to see it." Lon directed one of his waiters. The lounge staff was getting ready for a ship wide celebration. The USS Galaxy had just completed its five year mission to the far reaches of the Beta Quadrant. After five years and numerous scientific and archaeological discoveries the crew was happy to be going home, but not before one last hurrah together.
Over the course of the last half decade, Lon Nren had come to know his patrons. In fact, he was close with more than a few of them. But this was as much for Lon and the civilian staff aboard as it was for the Starfleet crew.
For the occasion, Lon had a special array of foods and cocktails made to represent the mixture of cultures aboard. Andorian redbat, Ktarian chocolate puffs, Bajoran hasperat, jumbo mollusks from Vulcan and much more covered the buffet tables that lined the room.
Lon was a bit of a stickler for detail and moved around the room checking that everything was where he wanted it before the crew started to arrive. "Is the Kanar room temperature?" He asked, walking past the bar.
A Bolian bartender nodded.
The doors parted. as the first of the crew arrived. "Showtime." Said Nren turning to welcome the first arrivals.
Within an hour Ten Forward was busier than ever. It was a celebration after all. A celebration and an ending.
The Betazoid moved through the swelling crowd towards Captain Jarax, a Denobulan.
"Nren!" The CO called out, seeing the Betazoid approaching."My darling Nren." He was clearly enjoying the drinks that Lon had set out for the crew. "Oh I am going to miss you. Say you'll come with me to my next command."
Lon smiled. "I've already been contracted to the Astrea."
Jarax grasped Lon's shoulder. "They don't know how lucky they are." It looked for a moment as though a tear was welling in the Captain's eye. He sniffed it back.
The Captain directed his voice to the room as a whole. "Can I have everyone's attention?" He called, breaking away from Nren. "Five years is a long time. It has made us a family. In our time together our family has grown and become strong." There were some cheers from the crowd. "There comes a time when family's must part ways, forging new paths, this is our reality in the coming weeks. But before that happens, we are together. So let's raise a glass to family."
"To family!" was the combined response from around the room.
Lon couldn't hold back the tears he was fighting, nor could numerous other guests. Soon there were several people crying in the room, not out of sadness. They were sad, but mostly they were happy they'd spent the last five years with comrades who'd grown to become family.
As the evening wound down throngs of people filtered out of Ten Forward until only a few barfly's and Lon remained. Several waiters finished tidying the space, cleaning the remnants of food and drinks from the tables. before clocking out for the night.
At the bar Lieutenant ch'Bari, Lieutenant McDougal, Captain Jarax, and Lieutenant Junior Grade Frav sat while Lon stood behind the counter.
"Last call." Nren said with a smile.
"I'll have another pilsner." Said Sarah McDougal, the ship's Chief of Security.
Lon obliged. "Anyone else?" He looked around.
The Captain and Lieutenant Frav shook their heads.
"Take a shot with me." ch'Bari smirked flirtatiously at Lon. In truth, the Andorian and Lon had once shared a heat filled physical relationship. While things between them had since cooled to a fond friendship, perhaps the emotions of the occasion were causing the flames to re-ignite.
Lon poured two shots of Aldebaran whiskey. He slid one to his blue paramour and lifted his own. "One last drink." He said, throwing the shot back and swallowing it.
