Food Glorious food...

Posted on Fri Jul 26th, 2019 @ 9:20am by

Mission: For Whom The Bell Tolls
Location: Diplomatic Offices
1582 words - 3.2 OF Standard Post Measure

ON

Tadez had to get the reports; not having a Diplomatic Officer prior to him the data relayed was enormous and he had to get through the routine catching of events into reports. He had also began his checks and requests for additional Data on the projected talks? Not having a lot of information is not the worst thing in the universe but it dd leave him a bit behind the 8-ball. Tadez had a few resources that were outside the normal channels; he also managed to keep friends in he right places. This might come in handy if things go a bit south.

Still; he had the date streaming around him on three screens; the filters were pressed to capacity and still Tadez had been at this for a long set of shift hours. Plainly the task of catching up on what is going on in this region of space will take time. A Diplomatic Meeting is never as easy as it seems and statistically the best laid early plans go awry.

He rubbed his eyes and wondered if he should take a break?

The reports were not going to write themselves; the data cannot collate itself and he could not literally drink a potion to get the data into his brain. Tha meant the old fashioned way of going over the data and see what jumps out at him? He would give it another hour; he had sadi tat ten hours ago, but he is confidant he will get the answer needed.

Having noticed the diplomatic chief hadn't come in for his usual breakfast, Patrick had taken it upon himself to bring the man is usual selection. He had slaved over it, done his very best to create the man's favourite and put it all on a tray. Balancing it on one hand he uses the other to keep the door open. "Missed you for breakfast sir," he announced, sliding the tray onto the desk.

Glancing up he noticed the cook; O'Malley if Tadez recalled correctly?

"Hello Mr. O'Malley, having some extra efforts today?" Giving the usual grin that was Tadez. "Where is Jack, he usually brings me the Breakfast? Not that having the chef attend to my breakfast is bad; just the treat unexpected?"

"Ahh I don't know any Jack sir, as far as I know I'm the only chef..the galley is my domain and I don't usually let anyone besides Tarria use it. And she really only does if I'm somehow unable to." He paused, seeming confused. "My name is Patrick sir, Patrick O'Malley and I'm the chip's chef."

"It is a pleasure to meet you Mr. O'Malley," Tadez stood and gave a slight proper bow. "Allow me to correct myself." Tadez started. "Jack is the person whom I usually meet when he brings me a meal to the Office and to have the Ship's Chef attend to that is a rare honor, Pulling you away from your Galley is not often done and I am appreciative that you have done so." Tadez relayed. "Please accept my apology for any misunderstanding in this; I am usually more... diplomatic when not buried in work."

Patrick nodded. "Well...real and fresh cooked food is better than replicated anyway," he finally said, "I serve meals three times a day, all freshly prepared, with fresh ingredients. the only replicated part is meat, everything else is fresh." He nodded towards the covered plate. "I hope you like it, and I'm sure you'll not want replicated again after you tasted my food."

Tadez smiled as he did an empty stomach; he removed the cover and leaned to take a whiff of the cooked food... is beef supposed to smell tangy? He look at the plate and it seemed to be a well planed and the texture appeared to be approximately right; each chef being unique and thus no two are alike, but there was something of the colors of the spices. It was askew; this is not a correct plate and Tadez got a gut feeling that Mr. O'Malley was being as straight faced as he could be.

"Smells like a unique Dish as expected of a Chef." Tadez said as he took up his fork and started to take a bite...

It was a trick of his extreme training in the Diplomatic field that kept him from widening his eyes and blurting out something; keeping the cool exterior he swallowed with regret. He realized in that instant this was a 'Hazing'; to play a prank of the New Guy. They would expect a reaction and then laugh t Tadez's expense; not going to happen this day, Tadez tried the potatoes and the salt content was mixed with sugar or something white aside from salt.

"I see what you mean about the appeal of replicated food after tasting your cooking Mr.O'Malley, I have defined changes in my opinion of replicated food." He nod with that smile that was natural and diplomatic enough to be a mainstay of his trade. "Complements in the changing of my mind Sir." Luckily Tadez had a strong Rackijino to help clear the pipes. "I do thank you for coming personally, it is a pleasure to meet the man behind the stove and oven."

"Oh I don't rate a sir," Patrick protested mildly, "I'm not even starfleet. My boyfriend is, but I'm definitely not and I've no intention of joining either." He smiled a little. "But you're welcome to the mess any day sir, as I said there's three meals served a day and I can cater special events too. Only recently I catered the captain's wedding here on board."

That was confirmation; the food at that event was good and compared to this showed Tadez he is being razzed.

"I will keep that in mind for any Diplomatic affairs that might come up." He mentioned. "I did enjoy the food at the wedding." He grinned. "You did good work there."

"Aww, thank you. I don't need compliments sir, just seeing people enjoy my food is reward enough for me." Patrick seemed to blush a little at the praise, still none the wiser about his preparation being off.

"Like an artist who likes the people that peruse the gallery and stop to enjoy their work." Tadez smiled. "It is a humble man that does well, not having his opinion based upon the feed-back given him but by observation of the facts."

"I just love to cook...and seeing people enjoy it makes me feel happy." And yet Patrick felt something wasn't quite right. He attended enough diplomatic functions to know a smile wasn't entirely genuine. Especially with the comparison to the wedding. "Is something wrong sir?"

"I was just debating who put you up to it?" Tadez asked as he sat back. "This has a unique taste; like you switched sugar and salt and got the tastes off to do a prank on the new man perhaps?" Tadez chuckled. "It is one of the better razzings that I have had in fleet."

"What?" Patrick's face drained of all colour as he simply stared at the man. "Put me up to what? What tastes are off?" Had he switched something? How was that possible, he had never switched anything in his life, certainly not sugar and salt! What was going on here. "I don't do pranks with food sir, its too precious to waste for something like that."

Tadez took out a tricorder and popped the probe out to scan it. " The sugar contents is really high; you have no pepper in this but some oregano and the cooking did not get all the way through the meat as it is a little more raw that rare." Tadez pointed out. "That would be a gag for a person of your talent so I thought this was a form of a joke." he handed the tricorder; "the readings are pretty confirming that this is not your best cooking."

Patrick shook his head and seemed to be close to tears. "It shouldn't be like this...I checked all the times. My food is never under par, I don't get it..." He looked up, expression one of anguish. "I swear sir, I don't do pranks..."

"Everyone has an off day I suppose; usually when one is emotionally on a high and just a little mistake is made and then it dominoes. Happens to everyone." Tadez tried to assure the man. "I have mistaken a spice or two in my exuberance to impress someone I found attractive or while on that new relationship high." He tried to offer the fact Tadez held no anger or anything but maybe a little understanding he hoped.

"I've never cooked under par," Patrick repeated, "I just don't understand how this happened. I never left it alone either... I know you are not angry with me but it's still very upsetting for me."

"If you take it back I will call it even?" Tadez suggested. "I think I will get back to work and allow you to figure out what went wrong?"

Patrick nodded, still looking very upset. "That might not be a bad idea sir..." He picked up the tray and started to back out of the room. "I'm sorry sir..."

"No to worry, I take it as a mistake and anyone could have a bad day Mr. O'Malley." Tadez said as the man exited.

OFF


Patrick O'Malley
Ship's Chef
pnpc Lhaes

&

Lt. Neenyo Tadez
Chief Diplomat