There’s Something Damn Familiar About This
Posted on Sat Mar 9th, 2024 @ 10:27am by Commander Donald ‘Don’ Key
Mission:
Albion, on Ice!
Location: Sprague’s Apartment - San Francisco
Timeline: Present
:ON:
Sprague: “Why! Bless me, Don! What beams you into this neck of the woods?
“
Key: “'Beware Romulans bearing gifts.' Happy Birthday, Dick.” ::Hands Sprague a blue bottle::
Sprague: “Romulan Ale! Why, Don, you know this is illegal.”
Key: “I only use it for personal use. I've got a border ship that brings me in a case every now and then across the Neutral Zone. Now don't be a prig.”
Sprague: ::Reads the bottle:: “Twenty-two, eighty-three.”
Key: “Yeah well it takes this stuff a while to ferment. Here now, gimme.” ::Takes bottle from Sprague:: “Now you open this one.” ::Passes Sprague a box::
Sprague: “I'm almost afraid to. What is it? Klingon aphrodisiacs?”
Key: “No.”
Sprague: ::Opens box to reveal a pair of spectacles:: “Oh. ...Don, this is ...charming.”
Key: “For most guys of your age, I know they generally prescribe Retnax Five.” ::Pour two glasses of Romulan Ale::
Sprague: “I'm allergic to Retnax Five.”
Key: “Exactly. Cheers!”
Sprague: “Cheers!” ::Takes a big sip of Romulan Ale. His face contorts at how strong it is::
Key: “Happy Birthday!”
Sprague: “I don't know what to say.”
Key: “Well you could say thank you.”
Sprague: “Thank you.”
Key: “Damn it, Dick, what the hell's the matter with you? Other people have birthdays. Why are we treating yours like a funeral?”
Sprague: “Don, I don't want to be lectured.”
Key: “What the hell do you want? This is not about age, and you know it. This is about you flying a goddamn computer console when you wanna be out there hopping Galaxies.”
Sprague: “Spare me your notions of poetry, please. We all have our assigned duties.”
Key: “Bull. You're hiding… hiding behind rules and regulations.”
Sprague: “Who am I hiding from?”
Key: “From yourself, Captain!”
Sprague: “Don't mince words, Don, What do you really think?”
Key: “Dick, I'm your friend. Get back your command. Get it back before you turn into part of this collection. Before you really do grow old.”
:OFF:
Commander Donald ‘Don’ Key
Chief Flight Control Officer
USS Albion
