Continuing the Bromance
Posted on Sat Jun 4th, 2022 @ 7:53pm by Lieutenant Commander Liam Reynolds & Lieutenant Commander Hiro Sommers-Yoshida
1,512 words; about a 8 minute read
Mission:
Episode 4 - The Fires Of Hades
Location: The Ferryman
Timeline: Prior to TKon and Iconian daliances
ON:
"Hey buddy," Liam caught up with his best friend. "How are you settling in?"
Hiro stopped and turned. "Oh, hey, Liam. Whither hath't thee been, mine lief cousin?" He grinned, wondering if Liam would know what he was saying. "They're overloading me with work. They must think I'm some sort of miracle worker."
“We’ll buddy you do have a hell of a good reputation. But as your official counselor until the one here claims you I insist you take a break,” he said seriously. “Come on I’ve found a cardassian replicator program that almost passes for Klingon coffee.”
The man of Asian descent sight softly. Liam had a point. He could not go on working and never take a break. "I guess you're right. Where did you find that replicator program? Until now I haven't been able to replicate a decent drink. I count myself lucky that Melinda is able to make a good cup of green tea. Without her I probably be suffering from withdrawal symptoms."
"Actually it was Niska," Liam said with a grin. "And its in the menu at her new bar. Come on, we might be able to convince her to part with it."
Hiro smiled. "Niska. Of course. Why didn't I think of her when I was at the replimat a few days ago. By all means, lets go to her new place."
“So how’s life?” Liam said with a smile.
"It's good. I'm enjoying it. We're more like a real family now since we've decided to get married," Hiro said. "Though we're not seeing each other that much lately. There's too much work that needs to be done, here and at the shipyard."
"How are you liking the new job?" Liam asked. "A lot to get your teeth into and I bet your loving every minute."
"I sure do. It's a lot, but it's a nice challenge. I get to work on both the station and the ships. It can't get better than that." Hiro walked on beside his friend. "And how are you? I hope Counseling isn't overflowing with patients."
"Im not offically assigned to counselling any more. Still helping out obviously but well this one floored me," he told him. "They want me to head up setting up the colony on the planet."
"Ah yes, I remember something about that. I believe the Captain asked you to lead that mission during one of the first briefings on the station, right?" That was how Hiro remembered it. He wasn't sure if he remembered it correctly though. "You'll pull it off. I have no doubt about that."
"I'm quite excited. Who knows what we will find down there," he grinned. "And its close enough to the station to be able to beam back and forth so Kaylee and I needed be apart for long periods of time."
"That sure is an advantage. That's also one of the reasons I accepted the position as Dry Dock Operations Officer. I wouldn't want to be away anymore from Melinda and the kids for a long time." Hiro wondered how long before they would enter Niska's new place but decided not to ask. "Have you picked your team yet? Must be a large one. Setting up a colony involves a lot of work."
"Not yet. Theres a couple of folks I've been in talks with the academy and trying to convince to come join the cause. And well we went back in time, ahhhh smell that Hiro," he said directing him into a doorway. Niskas new place was smaller than the last and clearly she was still working on decor. It hadn't helped that part of it had collapsed during the stations descent back in time. "They have coffee on."
"Back again Liam," a flash of green said behind the bar. "I swear you think you will convince me to open you a coffee tab. Oh .... I remember you," she rose up pulling a box from behind the bar. Smiling sweetly at Hiro, "You were the Engineering chief at the last place. I just have to say, I didn't believe them that you were the bad guy. I left just before they started the trial but I knew you could never be what they made out. You were always to polite and sweet."
Hiro smiled briefly back at Niska. "Thanks for believing in me. It was a..difficult time. It's strange how quickly one can end up in a bad place." Some flashback went though his mind as he talked to Niska. "I'm just glad they figured out I was the victim of a set up and that I was innocent."
"Yes life certainly can change very quickly. Something to bare in mind if your procrastinating," she commented. "Now what can I get you?"
"I could do with a good, strong, coffee." Normally Hiro wouldn't opt for that. But with all the work he was doing now he could use pick-me-up.
"As you desire," she smiled returning to her bar and picking up the coffee pot and two mugs.
"How much have you got to fix?" Liam asked smelling the elixir from the mug her was handed.
Hiro thanked Niska before accepting the mug holding hot coffee. "Pretty much the whole of the Copernicus. She's a mess right now. I can't imagine what that ship's been through."
"And not for the first time," Niska commented. "They keep telling me stories. T'Kon monster, AI's. Everyones now speculating whats on that planet below."
Liam chuckled. "Niska I keep telling you. No ones set foot on it yet and the scan data is, well whacko. And classified. Add scanners to that list," he grinned at Hiro.
"Scanners?" Hiro looked a bit confused after he'd taken another sip from his coffee. "Does that mean more work for me?"
"No. It means hes trying to let me down gently and cannot tell me what he knows. You tried to shield me there Liam but I caught the lie. Something interesting is down there. And I will find out what," she said firmly.
"She's right," Liam said as he watched her go. "Something interesting is down there. Several in fact. And she will hate them. But I can tell you. But you have to stay strum. Orders from higher up."
He lowered his voice. Hiro was senior staff and he could speak to starfleet at his own determined discretion. "Dinosaurs Hiro. Creatures similar to like was on Earth. Before the comet and mass extinction. Scientifically they are fascinated. They want to get an idea as to intelligence. Work out how long they have been evolving. Do their magic where they work out how they will continue to evolve. But the question is who built the ruins?" his eyes twinkled. He loved a good mystery. Kaylee was probably fed up of hearing him go on about these dinosaurs but he couldn't wait to get down there and see one.
"Dinosaurs? Ruins? You sure that's down there? Sensor scans can be garbled in these regions." It had been a while since he'd seen his buddy this excited. If memory served Hiro well, then last time was when Liam had met Kaylee. "So, when is this going to happen? Soon? Or is it still in the early stages?"
"No its down there," Liam said. "Let me give you access to the eyes only." He fiddled around with his PADD allowing Hiro to see what he was privy too. "Soon. Its why I'm here. The Captains asked me to head up setting up the colony. I've half the supplies. We brought a lot with us on the ride over. But we are waiting on the USS Merlin to ferry some further prefabs here on their next R&R time scheduled at the station."
Hiro quickly scanned the contents, but it soon became clear that his friend was talking about the real deal. "Wow. You're weren't joking. How is that possible?"
Liam shrugged. "Who knows. Maybe some aliens took pity of some before they were wiped out. Maybe biology develops more simpler than we think even billions of light years away. Maybe something on that planet just wanted dinosaurs. I cannot wait to explore and try work it out," he grinned at him.
"I believe you. This mystery just begs to be solved." Hiro finished his coffee and placed it down at a spot Niska could easily pick it up. "I'm swamped with work or else I would've liked to be part of your team."
"I know. I tried to swipe you but the captain said no," Liam said. "But you will have to come visit when we get something up and running."
"I'll do just that. I want to see it with my own eyes." Hiro said while smiling. "Now, tell me, how are things with you and Kaylee? It's been too long since we've talked about that part of our lives."
"Best get some more coffee then," Liam waved back Niska.
Cmdr Liam Reynolds
Colony Commander
Lieutenant Hiro Yoshida
Chief Dry dock Ops Officer
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