Job hunting, green style

Posted on Sun Aug 2nd, 2009 @ 9:51pm by Walter Jones & Lee Pierce

1,482 words; about a 7 minute read

Mission: Session One - Jailhouse Rock
Location: Starbase 376
Timeline: Backpost

Another Starbase, another day and still no new job. Lee had to do something about it and soon. the Orion nurse hadn't been out of work for long but she didn't like to stay out of a ship for long. She was used to being moving and just a few days without a ship to call home was enough to start getting on her nerves. Thankfully, that seemed to be Lee's lucky day and after checking the opening positions ads at one of the stations at the promenade she found the SS Warden.

A civilian ship in needed of a nurse. That had Lee Pierce written all over herself. With a smile across her features, Lee answered the ad and asked to see the captain about the position on his ship's sickbay. She felt her contact information and decided to spent the next hours on the food court. The Cardassian menu was quite cheap that day and cheap was also something Lee had been looking for.

Jones walked over to the food court, he hadn't eaten yet and that was where the information that he had been given said that Lee would be. Taking a look around, the usual low life scum of the universe had assembled, but a young Orion girl stood out. Taking a guess that was her, Walter walked up and sat down at her table. "Did you eat already? Or were you waiting for me?"

When the man sat down, Lee was startled at first but oddly enough his attitude own her over right away. It was like she knew she was going to like him because of the way he joined her at the table. "Captain Jones..." the Orion nursed said almost spitting the last bite of a Cardassian type of sandwich out. The plate in front of her was empty and she felt rude for having eaten already. Lee swallowed the food and cleared her throat. "I was just trying something...I haven't actually eaten yet," she lied and it was clear in her face. "Do you like Cardassian food? I'm more of Klingon food these days but they have a good discount here." Lee said the last part lowering her voice and leaning in towards the captain. "Oh, how rude of me," she exclaimed then. "I'm Lee Pierce...unemployed but hopefully not for long."

"Walter Jones, nice to meet you." Jones stood up and started to walk over to the mess line and motioned for Lee to follow him. "We did have a doctor aboard, but I'm not sure. He kind of bugged out on us. I've looked over your papers, you seem like you'd be a good fit for our rag tag bunch." Jones looked over the "slop" that was sitting on the chow line and decided on what looked to be a close approximation of a cheeseburger. "You want something? My treat?"

Lee followed suit when the captain stood up and went over the mess line. She listened to him comment on the doctor they had and her papers. The green skinned woman had great experience in her field but her official degree was so very fake. She didn't know whether Jones had found that out and had decided to give her a chance or he still didn't know. Either way, Lee chose not to ask or disclose the truth behind her nursing degree. She figured she could share later down the road after Jones saw her in action.

"Sure," the Orion nurse said with a broad smile as she surveyed the chow line. Lee wasn't saying no to free food. She didn't know when she would be eating again after all. These kind of life they led had this sort of problem. "Whatever you are eating. Thanks boss."

Jones looked up at the Bolian man behind the counter. "I'll take two cheeseburgers, 2 sides of fries and 2 sluggo's.." He turned back to lee as the man got the food ready. "If you are interested, you are essentially going to be treating phaser wounds, broken bones, illness... all kinds of medical things. I can give you room and board for sure." He turned back to the Bolian and pressed his thumb on the data pad then handed one of the trays to Lee. "It is going to be dangerous out here... but it looks like you are up for it."

"Thanks," Lee said when he handed her one tray. He was going to spoil her with all that food. She hadn't eaten that much in a long time. "Oh, dangerous is like my middle name," the green skinned girl said flashing the captain a grin. "Ok, not really," she went on quickly. "But I grew up in a ship with all kinds of people and my last gig was aboard a Klingon smuggling ship yeah I'm up for it," Lee stated casually like it was the most normal thing to say and it was in a way. It would be weird if she was trying for a job aboard some fancy Starfleet vessel. Then she'd be out of her element.

"Good!" Walter sat back down at the table and took a bite of the burger and scowled a bit. "Must be old Klingons chopped up in this thing." Jones took another bite of it then looked at Lee, "You were a nurse on a Klingon ship? In the experience I've had with them, they'd rather die then be wounded, and they don't get sick. Must of been pretty boring huh?"

Lee sat down and took a long and deep breath to take in the smell of the food. it didn't suck at all. It smelled quite well or maybe her standards were very low these days. "Not boring at all," the Orion girl stated, taking a bite of her food. She chewed the burger bite for a moment. "Not all the crew were Kilingons and there was always the people they beat up for information or kidnapped, " Lee pointed out softly again like it was the most normal thing in the world..universe. "And the captain not always could find a replacement so even if the Klingon wanted to die he was getting patched up," she flashed Jones a grin. "So...never boring," she added and tried the fries. "This is quite tasty," she remarked, mostly to herself. "So, all your crew is new or you have some old buddies around?" Lee asked, genuinely curious. "It's always good to have old buddies because not everyone can be trusted...specially in this line of work," she pointed out.

"Well most of them are new crew, just picked up the ship really, but my first mate is an old friend." Jones took another big bite of his burger. "So, you sound pretty trustworthy. Anyone who would let a stranger order them food from this slop is at least." Walter smiled at the girl. "So how about it, would you like a job?"

"I try to give people the benefit of doubt," Lee affirmed as she ate her fries. "But I'm not really naive. Besides," she added with a shrug. "I've eaten here before so I knew if the food were going to harm in any way it wouldn't have mattered who ordered," she grinned at the captain. "And yes, I could really use a job. I get restless if I'm not aboard a ship. I guess growing up on a ship does that to you. So, if you have me I'd love to patch up your crew."

Jones finished the rest of his burger and looked at Lee. "Yeah, and by the sounds of it we are going to need it." Jones stood up and pushed the rest of his fries over to Lee. "We are down at docking ring 5, well you know where we are. Come on down and bring your stuff. I'll see ya down there." Jones smiled at her and walked out of the cafeteria. For some reason she seemed to young to be out here in the middle of all this but freighting takes all kinds.

"I'll be there...." Lee began, standing up as Jones walked out. "Thanks captain," she added cheerily. "I won't disappoint you.

She had a job and that was wonderful. The Orion girl sat back down and took a deep breath as she leaned against her chair. She now had work which meant food on the table and shelter. Things were definitely improving. It was just a matter of finishing her meal plus the captain's fries and get going. It was a good thing she had a good metabolism because Lee had eaten for like three people.

The green skinned girl looked over the counter and let out a sigh. "Hmm dessert..." Lee muttered with a short laugh. Next time maybe, She grabbed what was left of her meal and headed out. She had a ship to catch.

 

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