Full Circle

Posted on Thu Jun 3rd, 2021 @ 11:29pm by Lieutenant Chester "Duo" Maxwell

Mission: Gamma Quadrant
Location: DS9 (Landing Bay 3, Quark's)
Timeline: Current

Soon after the Runabout touched down on Landing Pad 3, Duo and the other passengers of the USS Zambezi stood and gathered their belongings and formed a line at the airlock door. The trip from Earth had been an easy one, uneventful. This was Duo's trip and assignment outside of Sector 001 since he came back from the Dominion War, and he was anxious. His years long ordeal had started here on DS9, and it was bringing along a lot of memories with it, some good, some bad.

(You can do this. Dr. Suvir said it would be like this. Take a deep breath and look alive, we are next.)

The outer airlock cycled and the line began moving. Duo filed out with everyone else. The inner airlock cycled and they stepped out into the corridor. There were a few family members there to meet the disembarking passengers. There would be no one there for Duo...or so he thought.

"Lieutenant Maxwell! Over here!" said a short human female. Her blonde hair was pulled into a tight bun. Duo gave her a quick once over, gold division coloring and a Warrant Officer pip. Duo stepped over to her.

"I'm Maxwell. Let me guess, Starfleet Security? I'll have you know, I only speak with Security when my attorney is present."

"No, sir. I mean, that's not why...what I mean is..." the Chief stammered, looking confused.

"Relax, Chief. It was a joke, and a particularly bad one at that. You'll have to forgive me. It's a long trip from Earth, and traveling my Runabout isn't the best way to travel. How did Archer and company do it?" Duo began to walk, and she followed.

"Oh, haha. Yes sir. Let me introduce myself. I'm Warrant Officer Josette Mackenzie, I'm the Master-at-Arms on the Sunfire."

"Nice to meet you, Chief. By your pips, you can't be bucking for promotion. Do you always meet the new arrivals personally?" Duo inquired.

"Well, no sir. I just saw your name on the manifest. You served on the Sunfire-A with my brother, Lucas" she said.

Duo had to think back, that was several lifetimes ago, or so it seemed. "Oh, yeah. Of course I remember Lucas. How is he?"

Josette slowed her pace and looked down. "He died...in the war. He was on the Majestic."

Duo slowed down next to her, and placed his arm on hers. "I'm sorry. Lucas was a good man. It's a loss to Starfleet. When do you get off duty?"

"I got off before I came down to meet you." she said looking up at him.

"I don't report until 0700. Come with me to Quark's and we will have a drink in honor of Lucas."

Josette smiled. "That sounds great."

They exited the corridor into the Promenade. It hadn't changed much since the last time Duo was on the station. The smells of the Replimat were mixed with the smells of Bajorn incense. Races from all over the galaxy mingled and talked in every space available to do so. The two made small talk on the way until they arrived a Quark's.

-Quark's Bar, Grill, Gaming House and Holosuite Arcade-

Quark's was its usual hive of activity, Frenengi waiters rushing about, the spin of the Dabo wheel, and so many languages being spoken the UT could barely keep up. Duo and Josette managed to find a drink at the bar.

The Ferengi waiter came over to take their drink order. Josette ordered an uttaberry wine. The waiter looked at Duo.

"Kanar." Duo said in a flat tone. The Ferengi gave him a look and hesitated. Duo's demeanor changed. He gave the waiter a reptilian look, a Cardassian look. "You heard me." The waiter scurried off and fetched their drinks. Duo's face flushed red as embarrassment overtook him.

(Good job, Duo. We aren't on Cardassia Prime anymore. We need to do better.)

Josette lightly cleared her throat. "Kanar, huh? I've never tried it...I smelled it once and that was enough for me." She gave a slight smile.

"It's...an...acquired taste." He was speaking slower. The embarrassment was distracting him.

"And where does a human acquire a taste for Kanar? Josette inquired playfully.

"Let's just say, I spent a little time around some Cardassians once...and well, 'when in Rome.'"

The waiter arrived with their drinks and placed them down. He presented a Ferengi PADD and Duo placed his thumb print on it.

Duo and Josette picked up their glasses and raised them.

"To Lucas." Duo said.

"To Lucas, and the Sunfire." Josette responded.

They took a drink.

Joestte put her drink down. "Thank you Lieutenant. That really meant a lot to me. I have some reports to finish. I'll see you tomorrow on the Sunfire."

Duo bid her a good night and turned back to his kanar, thinking of the past.