Swindle Attempt
Posted on Mon Jul 12th, 2021 @ 1:02am by Commander Dean House & Lieutenant Commander Sandra "Phantom" Risa & Lieutenant Chester "Duo" Maxwell
Mission:
Gamma Quadrant
Location: DS9, Quarks
Timeline: Backlog - Current
Dean was alright with the change of ship. It didn't completely matter what class. Though he'd started to get fond of the Liberty. At least most of the crew were transferring also. There was that. Sitting down at the bar in Quarks for the moment until he needed to actually head over to the Sunfire. Not exactly sure what he wanted yet as far as food or drink.
Duo poured himself another glass of kanar. As he put it to his lips he noticed another Starfleet officer sitting alone at the bar looking over a menu. "The foraiga here isn't bad here...or it used to be. If you're thirsty, the voodai is sweet."
There was a glance over at Duo a moment, "No..I don't think my cup of tea. I'd get some gagh, but I'm pretty sure it's not fresh or live." Checking the rank pips, "Lieutenant Dean House."
Duo took a swig of kanar. "Lieutenant Chester Maxwell...but no one calls me 'Chester.' I go by 'Duo.' It's a family nickname. Nice to meet you."
"So just what? Maxwell? Ah, Duo then. Nice to meet you as well."
"Gagh, huh? I never had a taste for most Klingon food. I prefer my food dead."
Sandra had walked in just long enough to hear someone mention gagh, "Gagh? You mean to tell me I can get gagh here?" she said looking at both men sitting there. "Gagh is great when it is fresh and live. There is a Klingon place that does sell some great gagh and rokeg blood pie, but I don't suppose either one of you know where a girl can get a good decent real beef hamburger all dressed up?" Sandra added smiling warmly.
"Hmm?" Giving a look from Duo to Sandra. "I was mentioning exactly what you said. I like it but it has to be live and fresh. As for the hamburger, my quarters don't count. And unless Quark lets others get near what little kitchen he has back there. I think there's another place on the upper Promenade."
"Ugh! Quark can't make a hamburger if he tried. But if you say that there is another place.....", she added, "Then maybe all three of us could go before I board the Sunfire. I swore up and down that before I leave here I wad going to eat a real beef burger with all the trimmings. Replicated burgers don't come close to the real thing....Lieutenant?"
"I'm not exactly against doing that. It's called Gordy's. Really good." Dean gave a smile lightly.
"Sorry....Lt. Cmdr Sandra "Phantom" Risa CAG & CFO, and you are Lieutenant?" she said extending her hand in greeting. "I keep forgetting to introduce myself to new crewmates, so embarassing....really," she added.
"Dean House. A pleasure." Taking her hand lightly and giving it a shake a moment. "New ship for me, not new crew. At least..not with most of us transferring."
Duo stood, "Lt. Chester Maxwell, but please call me 'Duo.' I'm also transferring to the Sunfire as Chief of Security. A real burger sounds fantastic. I haven't had once since I was back on my family's ranch in Texas."
"Texas? Cool beans......oh speaking of beans, I got ahold of a baked bean recipie that will knock your socks off", Sandra said. "Southern home cooked baked beans with....you know......a kick," she finished giggling.
"You will have to send the recipe to my replicator when you get onboard the Sunfire." Duo clapped his hands together and gave a smile, "So, I believe there was beef somewhere on the station, and I need it now."
The group left Quark's through the upper exit. Standing outside the upper promenade exit was a young Ferengi, wringing his hands. As the group passed he whispers, "Starfleets...I overhead you were looking for hu-mon be-ef. I can get you some, better than any on the station. Come with me?"
That was already suspicious. Why not follow it through though, they could catch something illegal. That would look good before their first mission. Dean gave a motion to the other two that they should follow.
"Oh a mystery hey.......great," Sandra said softly. "I love a good mystery. Let's follow but becareful ok?" she added..
"Tis why I motions, but you are the ranking officer. I do agree though. I just hope he doesn't mean actual Human flesh..." Dean turned on heel, they could still small talk. "Where in Texas, Duo? I was born in Dallas. Well Grapevine, but it is a subsidiary."
"Born and raised on Betazed but loved Earth and the Academy. Learned loads from friends from all over including Texas. Fun loving people, crazy accent but fun times. Follow the young Ferengi lad," Sandra said, following him but watching out for traps and tricks.
The Ferengi youth began leading the trio along the upper promenade, turning every few steps to see if they were still following.
"Oh, a fellow Texan? Our ranch is in West Texas, outside San Angelo on the Concho River. I've been to Grapevine a few times." then turning to Sandra, "I've only been on shore leave on Betazed once, but the landscape was unforgettable."
The promenade was more crowded than usual owing to the two Starfleet vessels docked there. The group was able to keep up with the Ferengi youth without too much trouble, only bumping into passerby's a few times.
Dean managed to moved tween the crowds without bumping into anyone a single time, but there was a particular reason for that. "Aye. Supposedly, the man's statue with the lantern and his dog on top of the courthouse, who also built the first jail there, is an ancestor." (Actually mine, but using it)
Walking behind the Ferengi boy, Sandra thought at one point she could smell the cooked beef. "Oh please tell me I am not imagining that!" she said licking her chops as she walked.
"I'm trying to avoid smelling it because well.." Dean motioned to who they were following.
"Oh good heaven's it smells so damn good. Thick juicy delicious, and so succulent and good. How much further do we need to go?" Sandra asked, hoping it wasn't to much further.
"So..." Plops an arm up around her shoulder, "You're good if he meant human meat as in actual humans, regardless of how good it smells?" Dean gave a little shrug.
Duo wasn't paying to close attention to his colleagues conversation a few steps behind him. He was focused on the Ferengi youth, making sure he didn't loose sight of him in the crowd. He did catch a whiff of fresh, grass fed Angus beef being grilled over a bed of mesquite coals. The youth stopped in front of a stall with four stools in front of a bar manned by a short Evora. The youth motioned eagerly for the party to sit down. They did and after they were seated the youth cleared his throat and held an open palm out.
"Oh, yeah. Of course." Duo reached into his trouser pocket and pulled out two slips of gold pressed latinum and handed them to the youth grinned greedily, placed them between his crooked teeth, bit them, and scurried off.
"We want three hamburgers, all the fixings and we need them five minutes ago." Duo told the Evora. It nodded and scurried off the the back of the stall. Duo didn't realize just how hungry he was. He smelled the food cooking, and it was making him a little hungry.
The Evora returned a very short time later with the three plates. It set them down if front of each of them. Duo took the top of the bun off to marvel at this rare find, here on DS9, light years from Earth of all places. He couldn't believe his eyes...his patty was blue!
"Unfortunately he spoke for all of us. I'm sure one of them will take that third with them, but I would like mine with mustard, mayo, bacon, and three patties with cheese." Dean nodded, putting a slip down for compensation.
"Blue burgers? Lettuce, tomatoe, cheese, mayo, and ketchup, please on mine, and a soda please," Sandra said.
"Hold on a second. I've seen some weird things in my day, but never a cow that had blue meat." Duo reached down and picked up his carry on bag and retrieved a tricorder. He flipped it open and scanned the "burger."
In seconds he had the results. "According to these results, there is real beef in here...about 3%. The rest is from three other mammalian species, a reptilian, and 16%...other."
Dean made a face a moment and raised an eyebrow, "Okay then...really now. Can you figure out what the other is?"
"No, the tricorder can't make heads or tails of it."
"I'm not entirely sure we should eat it then. Or I can try it and see if I can determine what it is. I'm at less risk of it killing me, than I believe you two are."
Sandra pulled a small piece off the burger and tasted it. "Seems to taste like a real burger.....", she mumbled chewing and suddenly made a face....."EWWWW! What the hell......this is not what we paid for!" she shouted, glaring at the Evora.
Dean made a face a moment, "Or....she could just do that I guess."
Sandra got up fast, dishes hit the floor with a loud crash. "Get us our money back or I will report you to the station security for fraud and trying to pass inedible food off as 100% edible!!!" she yelled, as her fists came down on the table.
"Whoa...whoa, Sandra. Okay, okay..now lets not get that far yet or you have to rip his arms out of his sockets." Dean looked to the little man, "I suggest you explain."
"He better start explaning or I'm gonna wring it from him," Sandra huffed.
To be continued?
