A Pleasant Encounter Over A Meal
Posted on 15 Jun 2026 @ 5:55pm by 1st Lieutenant S'earr & Lieutenant Alexandra Lee
2,372 words; about a 12 minute read
Mission:
General Sim Postings
Location: Starbase 51
Timeline: Current
The turbolift doors parted with a soft hydraulic hiss, revealing the sprawling artery of Starbase 51’s promenade in all its chaotic glory.
1st Lieutenant S'earr stepped out slowly, the deck plates giving the faintest groan beneath the immense Caitian marine’s weight. At seven and a half feet tall, broad enough to nearly fill the corridor, and wrapped in stark white fur striped in black like some ancient Terran predator, he was impossible to ignore. Conversations faltered as he emerged. A pair of junior crewmen abruptly found something fascinating on a nearby directory display. A Bolian merchant stiffened behind his kiosk. Somewhere further down the promenade, a child pointed excitedly before their parent hurriedly lowered the tiny hand.
S'earr ignored it all.
The scents were what held his attention.
Thousands of them.
Spiced targ meat sizzling on open grills. Sweet Orion syrups. The sharp bite of Andorian seafood. Klingon bloodwine. Fresh bread from a human bakery. Something heavily curried from a packed corner café that made his ears twitch with interest. The promenade was a river of smells layered atop recycled station air, and to the Caitian’s predatory senses it was almost overwhelming.
His stomach gave a low, audible growl.
A nearby ensign visibly reconsidered walking in front of him.
Golden eyes narrowed slightly as S'earr scanned the rows of restaurants, bars, food stalls, and crowded eateries stretching along the promenade’s curve. Some looked inviting. Others looked questionable. One appeared to be serving live gagh from a tank that was actively trying to escape.
The massive marine adjusted the collar of his uniform and exhaled slowly through his nose.
“Need food,” he muttered to himself in a deep rumbling voice. “Preferably food that does not attempt to fight back.”
One striped ear flicked as he glanced toward a crowded Klingon grillhouse where someone had just been thrown bodily through the doorway to roaring laughter.
“…Perhaps not there.”
Despite the intimidating appearance, there was a strange uncertainty in the lieutenant’s posture. Starships, combat zones, and marine deployments were familiar territory. Civilian promenades packed with strangers and endless social interaction were another matter entirely.
Still, he had every intention of fixing the problem currently clawing at his stomach.
The Caitian began moving down the promenade, drawing curious looks as pedestrians instinctively parted around him like water around the bow of a ship. His heavy tail swayed behind him as he searched for somewhere with large portions, sturdy furniture, and preferably minimal chance of diplomatic incident.
Surely, on a station this large, there had to be somewhere capable of feeding a Caitian marine. He rounded a corner and saw a venue that perhaps what he sought, he walked to the counter and ordered cooked fish slices, then waited for them to cook.
Noticing the Caitian standing at the aquatic food venue was interesting to the station's anthropologist. She felt like it was sort of cliche more or less to see a cat eating fish. She watched merely to observe as Alexandria was always curious about Caitians and she had served on the Tomcat with one but never really had much interaction with him. She then slipped in to the seating area with her food from the Andorian cafe next door. The seating here was always more peaceful and she could people watch with out making much of a stir.
As she sat she sort of shifted her focus to the aftermath at the Klingon venue. The bots cleaning up the shattered glass and the victim who was now heading to sickbay. When she turned back to the Caitian, he had moved and she figured he got his food and departed. However, she had a feeling of a presence behind her and she she turned her head she noticed he has chosen a seat right behind her. How was she to observe him if he was behind her. She turned her focus back to her food and figured there would be other opportunities to witness him on the station.
Then she dropped her fork and it slid towards the feline and she had to take her chance to interact.
"Excuse me, I am sorry to bother you but I apparently dropped my fork and was hoping I could get it back. Would you mind?" Alexandria asked of the mountain of white fur with deep black stripes.
S'earr paused his eating, ears shifting, when he heard the voice behind him, close in proximity but more importantly, female. He put his own cutlery down and turned to see whom was talking. That's when he saw her. He had some idea of where the fork was as he heard it clatter to the ground.
Rising to his feet he search for the fork and once he found it he used that feline grace and fluid movement, and the double joint in his legs to crouch down to pick the fork up. "Ma'am." He bowed his head, respects had to be paid after all. He held out the fork to her, claws away, between two fingers.
The female had touched it, he'd touch it as little as possible.
"Thank you, Lieutenant. I appreciate it." Lee responded as she took her fork back. "I am again sorry to interrupt your meal. The aquatic dishes here are the best in this star system as they have a farm on the two closest moons for fresh aquatic selections daily."
"S'earr, ma'am" He introduced, he turned his chair towards her and sat. "You did not interrupt, I did not mind, I was honoured to help." The golden sheaths on his ears catching the light, a hint of what appeared to be a thick, aged collar around his neck visible just under his uniform. "I can get you a replacement if you wish?"
He hinted at the now dirty fork, though most noticeable was his softer tone, more gentle appearance when addressing her. Far different were he dealing with a male.
"I appreciate the offer of a replacement but I can get my own." Lee replied. "Are you here waiting for a new assignment or on your way for a personal reason?" Lee asked of the feline fella that seemed different now than the first impression she had seeing him ordering his food.
"New assignment. I am transiting to the U.S.S. Tomcat to take up post as its new marine commander." He answered. "And yourself, if you don't mind my asking?" Wondering if she was in a similar position to himself or stained her at the Starbase. "I did not catch your name." He realised in that moment that he didn't know to whom he was talking to, distracted himself by her graceful yet elegant appearance.
"I am Lieutenant Alexandra Lee, I am currently assigned to Starbase 51 as the resident archeologist/anthropologist. I have been a member of the crew of the Tomcat when I was needed for a specific mission. It is a fun little ship." Lee replied. "I have been enjoying my time on Starbase 51 as I have been able to compile my research and all my past mission notes and have started to write a detailed account of all that I experienced on my last mission."
Lee then realized the S'earr's food was getting cold. "I should let you eat while it is still somewhat warm."
"Its perfectly fine, hot, warm or cold it does not bother me." He answered. "Would you care to join me?" He offered boldly. His table or hers he didn't mind, the choice was ultimately hers.
"Actually, I do think rather I would join you. I have to go get a new fork so I will sit with you once I return, if you don't mind." Lee stood up and stepped towards the counter to get a fork. When she returned she grabbed her food and moved to sit across from S'earr.
"This is nice, I typically eat alone and just people watch. This is one of the best spots for doing that. The perfect spot is the arboretum. That is my favorite place on the station to people watch." Lee now felt a little more nervous as she was typically used to sitting alone and this was her stepping outside her normal comfort zone. "As an anthropologist, observing people is my career just like blending into my environment when I am in the field. As a child I was always hiding in plain site with my family and so I made a job out of it. By the way, I tend to ramble about myself when I am very nervous, and I feel am boring you."
"There is no need to be nervous around me." S'earr was used to reactions and emotions, being nervous was low on that list. "My appearance stirs reactions from most but my caste's ways are very strict in my dealings with a female, you are perfectly safe."
He thought to help put her at ease, calm her nerves so used her profession to do it. "If you have questions, ask."
"I know I am safe but I am nervous as I have not researched much on Caitians other than the basics." Lee replied as her feelings slightly shifted from nervousness to more anticipation. She was hoping to not only make a friend but to expand her knowledge. "I would like to learn more about your background and what led you to join Starfleet and become a Marine. That is if you are willing to continue our conversation and share your life so to speak."
"I come from the Sha'le'et caste on the homeworld, the caste system is not strictly enforced on Cait but there are regions that still practice the old ways. It is a matriarchal system with the females holding the positions of leadership, power and authority. They own property like land and home, the male is invited to live with them." S'earr began.
"At a very young age males are taken into training, we train for most of our youth under a Proctor, and the caste is overseen by an Overseer. She is considered the spiritual leader, her word is absolute. I had to get permission from her to leave the homeworld to join Starfleet. She was reluctant because white fur is considered a rare gift in the caste." S'earr continued.
"Tradition is very important to me, our ways have many meanings in a single action, our laws are strict on how we behave, even off the homeworld." S'earr spoke, he paused, watching her reaction, and also if he's lead her to confusion.
"I had no idea that Cait had a caste system. I am also intrigued to learn that it is a Matriarchal Society." Alexandria replied with a sense of awe as she only knew a few Caitians from passing or breifly serving with them on committees or such. "I am more curious about you than I was earlier. I find the details of a society or species very fascinating."
Lee took a drink of her Bajoran tea. "Well, I could keep you here all day listening to you tell me more about yourself and your caste as well as the Cait homeworld. However, I am curious as to when you will need to report to the Tomcat? I would like to continue our conversation and learn more about you." Lee added.
"I am informed they are delayed due to mission circumstances. So we have time to continue our conversation." S'earr responded. "What more would you like to know?"
"I would really like to know your planet's evolutionary arc from prehistoric times to present day. I like knowing the past of a place to help put the perspective on the present. I feel by really understanding the evolution of a culture, it helps in understanding the whole of a present society." Lee replied and realized that likely made her look so nerdy to S'earr.
"So sorry, sometimes the geeky side of me comes out. I am just really into archeology and anthropology that I always like to learn as much as I can. And if the teacher is willing to share that is a huge turn on to my craving for knowledge." She just then realized she was really getting nerdy now.
S'earr was pleased that she seemed so interested, it was a refreshing take on the usual and expected silence of intimidated fear of the predator by others. "I have texts about the history of my caste, it goes back into our history to a degree, it might prove interesting for you. I confess however, it is written in Caitian." Suggesting a translator device would be required.
"I am game and would love to be able to read the texts as I love actual books and scrolls." Lee replied with wide eyes as she was genuinely excited to learn more and maybe even learn a new language in the process. "I also would enjoy getting to learn more about you as an individual and your family. You have been such a pleasure to talk with so far. I think you have a great sense of patience about you and I appreciate your company. I have not had such an enjoyable time outside a party until now chatting with you." Lee replied.
"Im honoured by your words ma'am" S'earr replied, genuinely pleased that he was able to entertain a female with words of history and culture.
"I am the one who is honored from your willingness to share your culture and history with me." Lee returned. "I must admit that I have put off learning more about Cait and the Caitians as I have not had much chance to delve into the topic. But something about you triggered me to want to step outside my normal parameters and talk to you. I guess I feel a pull towards you for some reason." Realizing she was not fully aware of what she was saying but it was the truth.
[OFF]
&
RSS Feed