Three Couples and a Dinner Table - Part III

Posted on Fri Nov 29th, 2024 @ 2:03am by Lieutenant Fang Lee & Lieutenant JG Zai & Lieutenant Adrianna Baciami

1,259 words; about a 6 minute read

Mission: Stars Around the Well
Location: Zai and Sabastian's Quarters | USS Arcadia
Timeline: Current

ON:

Zai's eyes widened. He tried to cover. "It's a common allergy on Earth I understand."

Vance chewed. "Suppose it is I knew three professors at the Academy when I was there first time round who were, and three of my old ship mates from when Adri and I worked together. I think peanut butter is common too."

Annabelle snorted. "That's a tragedy. I mean peanut butter and jelly is like god send."

Vance grinned. "I agree with you there kid. I used to eat a lot of those when I was a kid."

She shrugged. "Me too. Hated the grape jelly though."

Vance laughed. "I loved it. My sister on the other hand loved it!" He turned to Adri. "Oh my god. Try the green thing that looks like a tree."

Zai smiled. "Steamed Broccoli."

"It's so good." Vance said shoving more into his mouth.

Adrianna shot Zai a look as if demanding that he pull himself together. She could see his mind working. She then chuckled, "Madonna, you'd think that you had never seen a vegetable before. Though, to be fair, Italian cooking does not use a lot of broccoli."

The rest of the dinner was spent smiling and telling jokes and talking about the last few days comparing notes about the dead zone and the shuttles that left. Just as they finished eating Frankie got up. "Zai and Sabastian cooked. Ms. Baciami why don't you and I take the dishes away and grab the desserts."

Adrianna nodded, already instinctually collecting up the plates. "Honestly, I only came for the chocolate cake anyway," she teased, standing up. She loaded her arms up of plates and bowls, evidently used to cleaning up after large dinners.

Frankie put the dishes in neat piles for Zai and Sab to clean afterword. He turned to Adrianna. "Zai told Sabastian and I that you may be able to help locate Annabelle's family. First I know you didn't want to discuss it but I wanted to thank you. Neither Sab nor I know where to look. We've looked over Betazed. He thinks her family is from there I think she may have been on vacation since she's human so anything you can do to help would be appreciated. I wanna know what kind of people could leave her like that and break them into bits." He sighed. "Sorry I don't normally expend this much emotion but if there is a chance I would be grateful."

Adrianna realised that Zai hadn't actually told them. "Vance lost his memories too and I feel that a good deed may go a long way," she shrugged, "I still have some friends in intel. I cannot promise anything, but I can try. Either way, you have to consider that it may not have been about abandonment. Rather a lack of hope-- you did find her lifeless after all. Equally, when I spoke to her about it-- I'm not sure she wants to know." She let the statement hang there. Adrianna felt like she could assume that the reason was that she already knew.

He sighed. "I think that's her giving up...Maybe she is afraid to know. I do have one bit of information that Sabastian does not...I actually never told anyone."

Adrianna nodded for him to continue is she pulled plates for dessert.

"She was found...with a low pulse and bleeding heavy...but a few days later not far from where I found her there was some Starfleet intel guy...the story is on the Betazoid Gazette. Since you're able to maybe you can find out if there is a link. I doubt it cause she was what 18 years old so she couldn't be Starfleet but maybe it's linked." He sighed. "I have no words to thank you for this."

Adrianna was now more certain than ever, but subject to outing Annabelle, she had to wait it out. "Look, the best way to thank me, is to perhaps not mention it. I don't want hopes up, or the pressure. We have a mission to focus on. The sooner it's done, the sooner we can get answered," she smiled hoping that it was a quick way to drop it, "now, if you do not mind-- I came here for the cake."

He smiled. "I promise I won't say anything more. I have to admit the cake was incentive...even if there will be games."

"You could always cause a scene and I'll run off with the cake-- we can cut it in half in the Turbolift and not have to share it or deal with games," she darkly teased, heading back into where the others were, placing the cake in her place setting and a single fork next to it, "what are you all having?"

Zai smiled. "Cheese cake for me."

Anabelle echoed that.

Sabastian, Vance, and Frankie all chose the chocolate cake.

Zai laughed and shook his head. "Seems like everyone but me and Anna love chocolate."

They ate the cake enjoying every bite and some even opted for seconds. When dessert was done and the plates cleaned away the wine was broken out and Zai had fetched his list of games from the desk. He grinned. "This is going to be fun."

Several of those present, including Sabastian, groaned.

Before anyone said anything the door chimed.

"Oh thank gawd," Adrianna chuckled, "I was about to fake fainting." She kissed Vance's cheek and put her hand under his again.

Sabastian could sense who was at the door. He stiffened. Zai saw the reaction and sighed. He walked over to the door and opened it. "Lee Fang, what are you doing here? At this hour?"

Fang sighed and he walked in seeing everyone there. He raised an eyebrow but said nothing. "I came with Nav orders and past Nav charts from some of the freighters for Sabastian."

Sabastian clenched and unclenched his fists. He stood. "Thank you Lieutenant Lee. I will look at the in the morning and give you my thoughts." He walked over and extended his hand. He took the data tape.

Zai had migrated back tot he table. He called from his seat. "If that's all we'll see you tomorrow."

Sabastian was just about to turn when Fang reached out an grabbed his arm to stop him. "Sabastian wait can we talk."

Sabastian's response was instantaneous and rather then a rage filled shove a strike of anger and fear shot through him a fight or flight reflex and he turned tearing out of Fang's grip. He moved back against the wall. "Do not grab me like that."

Fang's eyebrows furrowed. "Jeez I'm sorry Sabastian I forg..."

Zai and Frankie had shot to their feet Annabelle looked at Adrianna shooting her a look to say 'we need to defuse this.'

Adrianna caught the look and walked over standing between the men rather calmly. She dropped her voice for only the two men to hear, "do not make this night be tainted because of poor timing for conversation. If you want to have it out properly, save it for therapy or a boxing ring. Fang--leave. Sabastian-- take a minute and then save us from whatever merde Zai is planning."

Sabastian gave a nod heading to the room. Zai got up. "I'll walk you out Fang." He did just that stepping outside for a moment. He returned a couple minutes later and looked towards Sabastian's empty seat. "He's not back yet?" He felt a little worried.



To Be Continued...

 

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