The Tea
Posted on Mon Jul 20th, 2026 @ 9:48pm by Lieutenant Commander Casey Virel
731 words; about a 4 minute read
Mission:
Episode 2: Mine of Taurus
Location: Crew Lounge
Timeline: 0730, the morning after date with Nate
Lieutenant Junior Grade Owen Asher was on a mission this morning. His friend and gossip partner, Casey Virel, has been incommunicado for the over twelve hours. The two of them typically exchanged at least one message in the evenings, even if it was just to say ‘Good Night, Hoe.’ But the young Flight Control officer and auxiliary craft pilot had not heard a single peep from the Ops Chief. Which meant one of two things - either the old man has fallen asleep early, or he was up to something. And because Casey never went to bed early, Owen suspected the latter. Either way, he would find out.
Owen stopped to check his reflection in a glossy system status panel. He had, of course, checked himself before he had left his quarters on deck nine; but, a lot can happen in eight minutes, especially in a turbo lift car with two others. His sandy blonde hair was perfectly coiffed, held in place by a glossy sheen of hair gel. Everything was in order. He nodded to himself once, then entered the Crew Lounge.
As Owen had suspected, Casey was already there and drinking from his ever-present favorite coffee mug. And he was smiling. Not his usual half-smirk, but a genuine actual smile. He was happy about something. How dare he! Owen thought. That bitch isn’t allowed to be happy without sharing with his bestie. Owen replicated a cup of Colombian medium roast, then took the seat opposite Casey.
“Owen,” said Casey with a wider-than-expected smile. “Hey. Good morning.”
“Shut up. I’m mad at you, Hoe”
Casey furrowed his brow, a classic sign that he was confused. “Say what?”
“What was going on last night? You always message me. And since I can’t seem to get laid, you’re the closest thing to a love life I have.”
“I was…busy.”
“Lies, bitch. You were up to no good.”
Casey took a long drink from his black coffee. “Was I?”
“You were,” retorted Owen, putting his coffee mug down in the table with an audible thump. “I can smell Tea a light year away. You better pour.”
“I just had a…nice evening. A nice dinner.”
“With…?”
“Does it have to be with someone?”
“If it was ‘nice’, then it probably was. Out with it.”
“Since you won’t let this go…I had dinner with Nate.”
“Oh, it’s ’Nate’ now, not ‘Lieutenant Voss’ ?”
Casey put his coffee mug down, and gave the younger man a mock-stern look. “Don’t you have anything better to do than harass me?”
“Not when the Tea is piping hot, sweetie.” Owen leaned forward, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial half-whisper. “How was it?”
Casey paused for a long moment, like he was looking for the right words. “It was…great actually. I replicated a four course menu.”
“When we have dinner, I get nachos and beer. But ‘Nate’ gets a four course banquet. I see how it is.”
“Maybe I like him better.”
“Casey, Casey, Casey. You’re killing me. Do I need to wring all of the details out of you? How long did he stay?”
“He left around midnight.”
"And did you....?" Owen let the question trail off, although the meaning was quite clear.
"That is none of your business, young man."
Owen took a long drink from his cup. "I'll take that as a no, then. Is there gonna be a date number two?"
Casey shrugged. "We didn't schedule one. But yes, if I have anything to say about it."
"You're usually a lot more forthcoming with the details," Owen quipped. He placed his hands on the table, palms down. "Which means you must really like this one."
Casey blinked a few times in rapid succession. The young Lieutenant had a way of making him see things that was uniquely...Owen Asher. For all of his bluster and coarseness, Owen was one of Casey's most loyal friends and confidantes. He was the adopted little brother that Casey never really asked for, but got anyway. "I do, actually," Casey finally replied.
"That all I need to know. If it doesn't work out I got your back, bitch."
Lieutenant Commander Casey Virel
Chief Operations Officer
USS Scharnhorst
Lieutenant Junior Grade Owen Asher
CONN Officer/Auxiliary Craft Pilot
USS Scharnhorst
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