Food First, Whiskey Second
Posted on Sun Oct 5, 2025 @ 6:52pm by Lieutenant Cassia Dravik & Civilian Nyla Thane
1,433 words; about a 7 minute read
Mission:
Time After Time
Location: DS5 - Shanks
Nyla didn’t notice at first. She’d hurried back to her quarters, Aria’s message replaying in her mind. It was only when she set her bag down that she realized something was missing. The book. Lost Civilizations of the Known Universe.
Her chest tightened. It wasn’t just a book. It was the book. It was the book her father used to read to her, one she had carried with her through academies, dig sites, starships and space stations. It had been with her for as long as she could remember and now it was gone.
The urgency of Aria’s discovery disappered. Nothing mattered until she found it.
Nyla hurried back out, retracing her steps with an edge of impatience. The cafe where she had lingered earlier offered nothing. The barista only gave a sympathetic shake of the head. Security’s lost-and-found was no better; no reports, no book. She left her contact information.
Nyla spent the next few hours wandering the promenade, stopping strangers to ask if they had seen a book. No one had. After a while, she began to feel self conscious, as though she looked half crazed chasing after it. This wasn’t like her. She was usually composed, deliberate, never one to lose her center. But this book mattered, and she couldn’t bring herself to rest until it was back in her hands.
After another hour or two, she felt her hope slipping away. She wasn’t ready to admit defeat, so instead she stepped into a nearby bar for a drink. It was an act of denial. She knew it wouldn’t change anything, but it was easier than giving up.
Cassia was on her way to sickbay for a routine check-in when her stomach growled. She hadn’t eaten since breakfast, and by now the hunger was impossible to ignore. She looked around the promenade for something promising, but nothing sounded good. It was one of those moments where you go so far past hunger that nothing sounds good.
After a couple more aimless scans of the promenade, she gave up and stepped inside the first nondescript bar she came across. Perfect. She thought. Exactly the kind of place where you either get a decent meal or regret it for days.
As Cassia stepped inside, her eyes scanning the interior.
In the corner, a woman raised her empty glass to flag the bartender, who nodded and reached for a bottle.
Well, well… It was her or at least she was pretty sure it was the woman which had dropped the book earlier.
Cassia smiled as she walked up to the bar just as the drink was being poured.
"What's she having?" She asked.
The bartender gave her a quick look before answering. “Aldebaran whiskey.”
She’d heard of it, though never had it. Whiskey was whiskey in her book. They all burned the same going down. Leaning against the bar, she nodded to the bartender. “I’ll take one too.”
He finished pouring the first glass, then grabbed another and filled it. Sliding it toward Cassia, he picked up the second, ready to deliver it to the woman in the corner.
Another group of customers tried to flag the bartender down, and he shot them the universal give me a minute look.
Cassia caught the look. “I’ll take that to her.” She said with a smile, hand already outstretched for the glass. “Go on...help them out.”
The bartender hesitated as the other customers called out for a refill.
He looked to her outstretched hand, then to the Starfleet uniform. Between the uniform and the growing impatience behind him, he made his choice and handed her the glass. “Alright, Starfleet. Don’t make me regret it.”
Cassia smiled and took the glass from him. “Don’t worry, I won’t.” She didn’t even finish her sentence; the bartender was already off to the other group. Cassia gave them a brief glance. They were loud, insistent, and probably pass their limit. She turned her focus back to the woman in the corner.
Nyla looked up as Cassia approached. Why was a woman in a Starfleet uniform carrying her drink? A quick glance past her showed the bartender busy with another group of customers, but that only deepened her confusion. What business did this stranger have bringing her order?
Cassia smiled. “Bartender was swamped, so I offered to help.” She said, setting the glass down in front of Nyla. Then, without missing a beat, she added. “Mind if I join?” She didn’t wait for an answer before sliding into the seat across from her.
Nyla’s eyes lingered on the Starfleet officer now seated across from her. The uniform explained the confidence, but not the familiarity. Who was this woman, and why had she taken it upon herself to sit here? “I wasn’t expecting company.” Nyla said.
Cassia leaned back in her chair with a smile. “Most of the best company isn’t expected.”
“Unexpected company is still company." Nyla said. Her eyes tracked the woman’s hand as it dipped into her bag. Curiosity stirring beneath her calm exterior. She still didn’t know who this Starfleet officer was, or why she’d chosen her table.
Cassia smiled as she pulled the worn book free from her bag and set it gently on the table between them. “Maybe this will clear things up.” She said. “You dropped it earlier.”
Nyla’s eyes widened the moment she saw the book, and all composure fell away. She reached for it quickly, almost desperately. She clutched it to her chest as though afraid it might slip away again. “You can’t imagine what this means to me. Thank you.”
Cassia picked up her glass, still watching Nyla’s reaction as she took a sip. “I can tell….” She started to say when the whiskey hit. The burn tore down her throat like fire, stronger than anything she was used to. She coughed lightly before forcing a grin.
Nyla laughed, the book still pressed against her chest. “It takes some getting used to.” She said. “Most people don’t order a second.” She looked toward the bar, then back to Cassia. “We could find you something a little less punishing.”
Cassia shook her head. "No, I'm fine." She lifted the glass again, and took another sip. This time she didn't cough, however the grimace that crossed her face betrayed the burn. She set the glass down. "See? Easy..."
Nyla nodded. “Fair.” She said, lifting her own glass.
She looked at Cassia for a moment, then in a move that would have made most people blanch, she tipped it back and downed the whiskey in one smooth swallow. Her eyes closed briefly as she let the fire settle, her expression compossed. She set the empty glass on the table and smiled.
Cassia raised her brows, letting out a low whistle. "Alright, you win. Next round’s on me." She went to flag down the bartender, when her stomach growled loud enough for Nyla to hear.
"Perhaps food should come before the next round." Nyla suggested.
“Yeah, that’s probably a good idea. Can’t argue with logic like that.” She leaned back in her chair. “Alright then...food first, whiskey second.”
Nyla carefully placed the book into her satchel, fastening it securely before looking back at Cassia. “I suppose introductions are overdue.” She said. “I’m Nyla.” She extended her hand across the table.
“I half expected to stay the mystery woman who delivers drinks.” Cassia said with a smile as she took Nyla’s hand. “Name’s Cassia.”
Nyla shook her head. The weight of losing her book finally gone. The warm burn of the whiskey left her feeling good, and it showed. "No, the drink deliveries can stay with Shanks." She said, nodding in direction of the bartender. "And you can be the unexpected company I didn't know I needed."
Cassia grinned.“Unexpected company, huh? I can work with that as long as I can get some food in me first, and maybe swap this out for something that doesn’t try to set me on fire.”
Nyla smiled. “Food we can manage. And I’m sure Shanks can find you something a little less hazardous.” She lifted a hand, signaling Shanks over to their table.
A post by
Lieutenant Cassia Dravik
327th Starfighter Group The Guardians
Fighter Pilot
Dr. Nyla Thane
Deputy Director of Science, Exploration, and Archaeology
RSS Feed