A spot of tea with a dash of trouble (Part I)

Posted on 27 Oct 2020 @ 8:18pm by Lieutenant C'Tora Kuroka

Mission: R&R - after facing the Planet Killer
Location: USS Andromeda/Starbase 308
Timeline: During R&R
1550 words - 3.1 OF Standard Post Measure

With her future unknown, Natasha didn't want to just sit in her guest quarters on the USS Andromeda. She wanted to go out and do something. It occurred to her that there was someone whom she could talk to, who had transferred to the USS Andromeda. And that was Doctor C'Tora Kuroka. She hadn't seen him for a time and matter of fact there was something she needed to speak to him about. Natasha made her way to medical, and looked about to see if she could find him. Unless he was somewhere else.

"C'Tora, are you here? I was wondering if you'd like to go have a spot of tea on Starbase 308?"

" Natasha!! So good to see you again. Glad to see you made it through that ordeal. That was a bad bit of business with that planet killer. Praise the maker it's over with." He stopped and thought for a moment. " Wait...Did you say Tea? What a splendid idea!" He walked over and talked with a nurse for a moment and came back. " Had to let the staff know I was leaving for a bit. Now shall we go seek out a table with some refreshment and catch up what has happened since we've seen each other last?"

"Yes, let's do that." Natasha said with a smile.

Starbase 308

After they were transported to the base, Natasha said, "There is a tea shop, that I like going to, its called Whimsy Tea Shop and Gifts. It has a small bakery attached to it. Care to have tea there?"

"Well Natasha, You seem to like this Whimsy tea shop. Since I've never been there before, I'd be more then happy to follow your lead and sample their wares." He Gestured for her to lead on and fell in step beside her. " I've had two questions on my mind if you don't mind answering them. First question. Do you know what your going to be doing since the destruction of the Europa?" C'Tora let out a sigh and his voice a bit more of a grim tone. " Secondly. How many did we lose when the Europa was destroyed? We both had a lot of friends aboard her." He asked as they walked towards the shop.

"One thing I can say for certain C'Tora. There was not anyone left on the ship when the Europa went into the Planet Killer. I made certain to check before that happened. And it was confirmed by the Captain of the Merlin, who had scanned the ship as well. " Natasha shook her head, "I was worried that Captain Keading wasn't going to make it, but he was brought to the Andromeda safely. Thankfully I had the forethought to put an signal enhancer on the Captain, before myself and Lieutenant Bumble left the bridge."

Natasha took a look at C'Tora as they walked, "I am still not certain as to my fate nor that of Captain Keading's fate either. We could face incarceration, could have our ranks taken away from us, get kicked out of Starfleet, but it was a decision that wasn't made lightly. There was just so much going on there. And I didn't think we had time to really discuss things with the other ships. I pity the chief of operations on both ships having to go through the paperwork of itemizing the personal effects that people had lost and doing the compensation for the loss."

" I for one am very relieved to hear there was no loss of life on the Europa." he listened as Natasha explained her uncertain future. " Incarcerated? For what, Saving lives?" He almost spat. " If that monster had been allowed to rampage through several sectors how many millions would have died? How many civilizations destroyed or species wiped out due to that thing?" he said with conviction. " The price of one federation starship is a small price to pay in exchange for all the lives saved." He stopped for a moment and sniffed the air. " I smell tea and pastries. We must be very close, Shall we go in?"

Natasha smiled, "Yes, lets go in, we are there. I can smell the aroma of different pastries, including some meat turnovers."

Opening the door to the shop there was a cheery sound of some bells which were above the door. Natasha chuckled, "I love that sound, reminds me of a bakery shop back on Earth I used to go to. A quaint little shop which had the same set up as this."

Inside there were some round tables near the center of the room, and near the back wall beside a miniature water fall that cascaded down into a small pool, were some small square tables, and a mid sized window that looked into a small garden. On the right was where the small bakery was situated with a display of the wares. On the left was the area where the handcrafted gifts were, on shelves made of wood. The floor was wooden, there were wooden rafters with different decorations hanging from them along with some plants in colorful pots.

A young woman with dark red hair was behind the glass case showing the pastries, while another woman came up to Natasha and C'Tora, her hair was a lighter red.

"Greetings! Welcome to the Whimsy Tea Shop and Gifts. I am Evelyn McPhee and that is my sister Avelina McPhee." gesturing to the woman behind the bakery counter. "If you'd like to take a seat, we will be right with you. Or you can go take a look at the pastries there." with a bright smile.

Natasha nodded, and turned to C'Tora, "How about we go sit by that waterfall and look out at the small cottage garden? Or care to go look at the pastries first?"

" Well no one has ever accused C'Tora Kuroka of keeping a lady waiting while there are pastries to be looked at." As they walked towards the pastry counter. He looked at the young lady behind the counter. " Which of these delicious looking pastries would you pair with the mild tartness of a green tea? What would you suggest?"

Avelina, the woman behind the counter, smiled."I do have some shrimp pastries you may enjoy with your tea. " indicating the ones she specified. "Those would definitely compliment the tea."

Natasha looked at the wide variety of pastries offered, her eyes stopped on some cream puffs. "I would like several of those cream puffs." she requested, "And I'll be having ginger tea with some mint." smiling.

The slits of C'Tora's eyes widened as he spied the shrimp pastries and licked his chops. " That indeed would make a wonderful pairing! I will take a dozen of those delightful pastries and a half liter of green tea if you please." After making payment they moved to the table near the waterfall and sat down to enjoy they're treats. "Would you care to try one of the shrimp pastries?" as C'Tora offered one of them to Natasha.

Natasha chuckled, "Nah, you enjoy. I'll keep with my cream puffs and my tea." picking up one of the pastries and taking a bite, savoring the flavor of it. She ate it quickly and picked up her second one. "Really delicious!"

The flakiness of the pastry and the filling melted over his tongue as the flavor receptors exploded and sent signals of pleasure to his brain. A purr slipped out before he even knew it. " Sitting here next to the relaxing sounds of a waterfall, with a good friend and some tasty treats and a lovely spot of tea. What a perfectly relaxing day, What could possibly go wrong?" C'tora put his finger by his mouth and the pointed by the waterfall. " you know, I think I just might put my cot right about there." He said with a grin. " I'm glad we came here together, this is a wonderful idea and should do this more often."

"If it is indeed possible, and if I am still around in this area." Natasha giving a bit of a wistful sigh, before taking a bite out of another cream puff. After a few moments of sublime silence shared with a friend. Natasha gave a bit of a grimace.

"Not that I want to disturb our lovely visit, I need to tell you of a message I had received from your mother. She wanted me to let you know that she is here on the base, attending the medical conference, with your father." giving wry expression. "She expressed her desire for you to meet with her when you had the chance."

C'Tora stopped mid bite and set his pastry down and looked up to the ceiling. "Universe preserve us!!" And shook his head. " I have no qualms about seeing my father. Last time I saw him we went to the holodeck and played a bit rough and we got chewed out by my mother for our minor injuries." He closed his eyes and rubbed his temples. " But my Mother on the other hand... She is the eternal matchmaker. No doubt that she will have a PADD with several friends daughters who she thinks will make a wonderful mates or some new assistant who she will introduce and insist I take her to dinner."