224: Cat and Mouse

By Lt. Cmdrs Breaux and O'Sullivan
80316.17
Following Royal Street

-=Holodeck Two, USS Serendipity=-

Breaux noticed the crowd had now assembled in the courtyard below and the group had wasted no time in getting in the New Orleans frame of mind...drinks were flowing, laughter filled the courtyard and Avery decided it was time to join in...Avery downed another two drinks...and steadied himself by holding on to the kitchen bar counter.

He adjusted his collar on his shirt, straightened his jacket, downed the last of his fourth absinthe and headed to the balcony. He reached inside his right jacket pocket and made certain once again that the vial of tropolisine was there. Judging from the feeling he had, he wouldn't be resorting to the drug this evening. He could feel himself weaving slightly as he approached the already open balcony doors. He stepped through the doors and stretched out his arms and called out to the crowd below, "Welcome to the city that care forgot...and none of us that live here mind!"

The remark drew laughter and he made his way toward the stairwell when he spotted O'Sullivan a few meters from the fountain.

The security chief was leaning back against the beautiful, mahogany bar that Trick London was tending in the courtyard tonight. He took his glass, and raised it to Breaux, tipping his head down slowly, then back up until their eyes met.

Breaux gave a nod to O'Sullivan and kept moving toward the courtyard. Smiling and nodding to several of the crew along the path. Breaux stopped, hugged and gave a peck on the cheek to a young blonde from Astrophysics...

Turning back to the bar, Keiran threw back the last gulp of his drink, and scowled. He was in no mood for synthale tonight.

"Something else I can get for ya, Officer O'Sullivan?" Trick asked, leaning over the edge. London was only half Betazoid, but his heritage was something that he didn't publicize because he preferred people to think of him as just another bartender who listened exceptionally well, and understood the problems of the common man. Still, even if he had been full-blooded human, he would have known that the burly Irishman was troubled tonight.

"An empty glass." Keiran replied. London obliged, and then watched curiously as O'Sullivan produced a small silver flask from his jacket pocket and poured its dark contents into the glass. "Thank you kindly."

Breaux slid up next to O'Sullivan, "Contraband?...from the Chief of Security?...who do we call when something like that happens?..." Breaux laughed and patted Keiran on the back.

O'Sullivan chuckled softly. "I prefer to think of it as. . .private stock. For medicinal purposes. I'm still off duty, waiting for clearance to return, so you could also say my only official capacity at this event is to have a good time. Speaking of, how does it feel to be celebrated in such a fashion? Some men crave the spotlight, others run from it as if it were the very devil. Which sort are you, Avery Breaux?"

Avery smiled, "I think this party is for the crew, Keiran. This is a great group...as for me...I keep to myself for the most part...however, Starfleet does have a way of forcing one's hand...doing things you wouldn't ordinarily do...making you step forward, as it were." Breaux nodded to Trick, who winked.

"Nothing shows what a man is faster than the bright spotlight of public adoration," London interjected, gesturing to the exotic array of glass bottles behind the bar in question, then holding up a glass and tilting it side to side, asking Breaux if he fancied a beverage. "And you, Mr. Breaux, are quite the popular man after the role you played in saving the life of one long legged, raven-haired haired Bajoran engineer."

"Yes," O'Sullivan chimed in. "Indeed, bright lights are gleaming down from the heavens and shining upon Mr. Breaux tonight." His comment was shaded with a much darker, deeper meaning than London's had been.

"A damsel in distress...anyone would have done the same," Avery casually took ahold of the bar to steady himself. "I tip my hat to Mr. Rada on his promotion and the...collegiality...of this fine crew." He took London's cue spying the glass in his hand..."Trick...I, like my friend here," he put his free hand on Keiran's shoulder, "am off cycle for the next two cycles...I fear no hangover...I have to admit I've had some absinthe while readying for the party...so I trust your judgment as to what to have next..." Avery smiled and looked directly at Kieran, "Few things can be as dangerous as mixing your drinks."

"Few things are more effective in improving upon one's mood, however. At least, until they pass out cold." London said. "All right, boys, since everyone is off duty here, I'll be back in a few moments with something. . .unique, for you to try. If anyone happens by, tell them I shall return."

Leaving the Security Chief and the Engineering Chief alone at the bar, Trick vanished through the arch for points unknown, and Keiran removed the flask from his pocket again, took a swig directly from it this time, and then eyed Breaux sideways. "So, did you get in touch with your friend, Captain Nolan? I hate to talk shop at a time like this but I wondered if you found any glitches in the comm array." He extended his arm, offering the flask to Breaux.

Breaux didn't miss a beat, he took the flask and downed a shot quickly.

"Now...that...is good. Thanks." He handed the flask back, and thought of the cover up communiqué they had sent Sera to shuttle. "I did. She is going to be on a diplomatic junket and I'll have a chance to meet with her in person. She thought maybe the problem was ionic in nature..." Avery shrugged.

Avery wanted to force Keiran's hand-it was now obvious that this was a project-not something he happened across. O'Sullivan knew more than he was letting on. Avery reminded himself that he had been drinking, and had no intention of stopping-he would measure his words. Gods he wished he'd had a credit for every drinking excursion he'd done working Intelligence. He couldn't resist, "Keiran...you are relentless."

"Only in the doing of my duty, imbibing in a good alcoholic beverage, or pursuing the love of a beautiful woman." Keiran replied, tilting the flask back and emptying the last drops from it onto his tongue. "I'm sure you, of all people, can understand. You're a man of deep convictions, Breaux. Anyone can tell that just by looking you in the eye."

Before Avery could respond, Trick London returned, his hands cradling an elaborately cut crystal decanter, filled with a beverage the color of amethysts.

"Submitted for your approval, gentlemen." He rotated the bottle in the light before setting it down on the bar. "This spirit is Bajoran in origin and the name is, by me, quite unpronounceable. I won it in a game of chance last year, and was saving it to offer to our good Captain at the appropriate moment following her promotion from Commander at her previous post. It was then that I discovered she only drinks coffee."

"A wise woman," Keiran decided. He thought about Zanh a moment, and the thought of her only inspired him to have yet another drink so he'd stop thinking about her. "Pour it, then, man. You game to try it, Avery?"

"We're wasting time my friend," Avery turned from Keiran and set both elbows on the bar. "Beautiful color...no doubt it will make us pay."

Breaux saw that O'Sullivan had seemingly changed his tack and gone away from his questioning about Nolan, so Avery decided to follow his lead and let it go....unless of course, the clever security leader was slowing down the interview and would return to questioning.

"Trick, you're spoiling us bringing out your special stock," Avery offered to the barkeep.

"Is my honor, duty, and privilege to do so." Trick replied. "What will you drink to, lads?"

Keiran thought a moment. He decided to let the rest of the evening unfold as it would- certain that it would be an interesting evening, all the way around. "To honor, to alcohol. . ." He observed a group of the Serendipity's finest female crew assembled by the fountain, "and to the company of beautiful women."

"Amen." Trick said with a sigh, bowing his head as in reverent prayer.

Lt. Commander Avery Breaux
Chief Engineering Officer
USS Serendipity NCC-2012

and

Lt. Commander Kieran O'Sullivan
Chief of Security
USS Serendipity NCC-2012