Run Past

Posted on Sat Sep 29th, 2018 @ 7:38am by Lieutenant Commander Angus Murphy & Commodore Jane Saulitis

Mission: Run Afoul
Location: Ambassador Vayr's Quarters
Timeline: MD 02-0900 Hours
803 words - 1.6 OF Standard Post Measure

Vayr snapped the book shut and placed it on the coffee table. His beak made a slight grinding noise as the top and bottom rubbed together while he thought. The chime on the door brought him back to the present though and his usual expression snapped into place as he went to answer.

"Lieutenant! Thank you for coming. I cannot seem to get my replicator to work, though it might be operator error."

Lieutenant Murphy gave a weak smile at the Creoli's greeting. "Ambassador." He tried to sound okay but birds made him uncomfortably squeamish. Feathers. Beaks. Flapping wings. He felt sickly at he stepped into the diplomatic suite, the remainder of whatever color was in his face, drained. "Let's take a look then," he said, bee-lining toward the replicator where he could focus on something technical.

Vayr quickly got out of his way. Either he was very ambitious or he did not like being diplomatic, not everyone was good at such things the ambassador reminded himself. "I appreciate this." A slight hissing noise came out of his beak when he tried to make the sound of the s. Not wanting to interrupt the man working, but also not wanting the silence to lag he asked, "Are you looking forward to getting under way? My home planet is very beautiful. I'm sure I could arrange a sky tour for you."

Murphy ran a diagnostic from the main control which didn't report any abnormalities in the replicator. "Oh. I'm very excited to get underway." He had to think for a moment about a diplomatic way to say OH HELL NO. He settled on, "You know, I'm... I'm more of a space-guy than a sky-guy... but I'm sure it's a nice offer." He tapped the control again. "So... what are you trying to have replicated, Ambassador?" He imagined a plate of worms or larvae of some kind when he asked the question.

"A plate of Berellian roaches." Vayr clapped his beak together, his body shaking with what was unmistakable laughter. "I am teasing you. I'm actually rather fond of Earth food, I believe you call it steak." His wings stretched out a bit and then folded neatly behind him. "You seem nervous. I do not bite."

"I--- I don't think that's very funny," Murphy noted, casting a glance back toward the Avian. "Let's see..." He pressed a button on the front panel and nodded back to Vayr. "Try it now. Let me see what the problem could be."

Vayr sighed. "Perhaps you would find our females less intimidating." He approached the replicator and ordered himself a large medium rare steak. The Plate shimmered in front of him and his tongue traced the edge of his upper bill. "Smells delicious. Thank you so much." Vayr would no doubt have to put in a word with the Captain about this man. Despite his timidness he had been very helpful.

"Well, I wish I could take credit. I didn't really do much," Murphy gave a light shrug. "It happens sometimes. Things don't work, then I show up, and they do. I like to think it's the ship just missing my attention." Truthfully, Murphy figured it was probably just user error, though. He grimaced a little at how Varys' tongue clicked against his beak when he was hungry. He should probably go before the poor steak got eviscerated. "So... uh... everything else alright, then?"

"Would you like to join me for dinner?" Vayr asked hopefully, though he doubted the man would take him up on the offer.

"Oh," Murphy hesitated. Whatever his unease was, one does not simply turn down a dinner offer from a visiting dignitary. "I... I would be.. uh.. honored."

Vayr looked at him in great surprise and offered a small smile. "You may of course bring someone if you wish, it does not have to be the two of us. I will get the details to you." His wings threatened to unfold in his happiness. "Thank you Lietuenant!"

"Oh," the engineer flinched visibly as the Avian's wings rustled. "I-- I'll see if I can find someone to bring. Just... uh.. let me know when."

"Tomorrow evening? IF you do not have plans. Nineteen hundred hours." Vayr sat at the table with his plate of steak and waited to devour it until the Lieutenant at least had his back turned.

"Pending no other ship emergencies, of course!" Murphy added nervously as he made a beeline to the door. "Nineteen hundred hours!" He added before throwing an awkwardly nervous wave and stepping out into the corridor for air. Surely some kind of maintenance could be scheduled tomorrow evening to pull him away from dinner obligations.

Vayr (pnpc by Saulitis)
Creoli Ambassador to Earth
USS Majestic

Lieutenant Murphy
Chief Engineer and Hater of Birds
USS Majestic