“Tell Trixie again how you remember the way to Sisko’s place in this maze,” the showmare stated as we rounded another corner.
“I’ll put it to you this way,” I replied as we hurried along while trying not to develop an unsightly sweat. “I was there once before when Quark told me to hand-deliver a PADD filled to bursting with general requests and complaints; once you’ve been somewhere as important as the captain’s quarters, you never forget the way.”
“Quark had you hand-deliver an important list to Captain Sisko?” Trixie asked in confirmation. “Why didn’t he just do it himself?”
“He said something about me being less likely to be stopped by Odo, the station’s Chief of Security at the time.” I explained. “Heh, you should’ve heard what the captain when I handed it to him. He looked at it for about five seconds before asking me if bringing the bad news to Quark would make up for having to travel all the way across the station just to hand him a PADD.”
“And you said…”
“Basically, I couldn’t say “yes sir” and get out of there fast enough!” I replied with a laugh. “I always liked Sisko a little more after that; seeing the look on Quark’s face when I returned and told him flat-out that every single proposal had been rejected the span of about 10 seconds was worth the three hours I spent cleaning gunk from the inside the replicator units that night!” Trixie smiled and shared in a laugh as we finally reached the captain’s quarters.
I couldn’t help but notice my companion quickly adjust her hat and cape as I pushed the door chime button. I gently patted her head, hoping she’d calm down enough to at least stop fidgeting.
“Come in!” a low baritone voice called, prompting the door to open. “Glad you two could make it,” Captain Sisko exclaimed with a smile as we entered his quarters. Though not lavish by any stretch of the imagination, the captain’s room was certainly comfortable. Sisko always struck me as a man with simple tastes, a preference proven by the modest furnishings and a mere few tasteful decorative items.
“Glad to be here, sir,” I replied, shaking the captain’s hand. “I think it’s safe to say we haven’t had a home-cooked meal in…” I paused momentarily to think about it. “How long has it been, Trix?”
“Since those homemade crepes we ate at Starbase 234 two weeks ago,” the showmare answered promptly.
“…Okay, so maybe not that long,” I admitted just as my stomach made its opinion known.
“Your stomach sounds like it disagrees,” Sisko replied with a knowing smile. “Well, I believe you’ll both be pleased with what I’ve prepared for tonight. In fact, we can eat as soon as Captain Remy arrives, which should be right away.”
“What are we having tonight, sir?” I asked, giving the air a small sniff as did Trixie.
“I’ve prepared a traditional creole dinner for us,” Sisko explained as he led us to the ‘kitchen’/dining area. As Trixie and I beheld the veritable feast on the table in front of us, our eyes widened in anticipation and both of our stomachs rumbled simultaneously. “We’ll be dining on catfish fritters served with mushroom catsup, cornbread, pork sausage, potato salad, and a good old-fashioned crawfish boil,” he finished, gesturing to a large wide-rimmed bowl full of steamed crawfish.
“I…I don’t even know what to say…” I mumbled as I all but drooled over the spread in front of me.
“And for Miss Trixie, I have prepared some juicy bell peppers stuffed with cheese and seasoned tomatoes,” Sisko added, setting a tray down on the table. I watched amused as Trixie’s gaze followed the half-dozen grilled vegetables on their journey from the captain’s hands down to the table. She licked her lips and looked up at Sisko.
“T-thank you very much,” she said quietly but with a smile. “Trixie…I really appreciate your consideration for my, uh…pony diet...”
“It was no problem at all,” Sisko assured her with a smile of his own. “I did a little research before deciding on tonight’s dishes. I was sure that Equestrian ponies were herbivores but I wanted to make sure so you could enjoy the evening as much as we could.”
“I’m sure it will be delicious, captain,” Trixie replied with a little more confidence. “It sure smells amazing and there are few things this show-pony appreciates more than a good cheese. I’ve actually never had potato salad either.”
“As long as it’s not a cheese wheel, right?” I added with a wry grin, prompting Trixie to roll her eyes. Yeah, even having been amended, her previous opinion on the trustworthiness of wheels seldom failed to get a grin out of me.
“Well then I’ll be sure to give you the recipes for both,” Sisko said as the door chime went off again. “Then you’ll be able to replicate some for yourself any time.” He turned to me. “Mr. Stevens, would you mind getting the door while I get us some wine?”
“No problem, sir,” I answered with a nod. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Trixie and Sisko engaged in conversation. I couldn’t help but smile at the happy look on my companion’s face as they bantered back-and-forth. In fact, I was so distracted by how pleased I was with how Trixie was doing that I almost completely forgot that someone was waiting for me to open the door. I hit the button, revealing none other than Captain Remy.
“Mr. Stevens, how are you?” he asked warmly, shaking my hand.
“Can’t complain, sir,” I replied as we made our way to the dining area. “Although, I think the better question is, how are you doing?” In the brief pause that followed, I was sure I caught a brief flash of anger and sorrow; only his training and professionalism allowed the flash to dissipate as quickly as it flared. “Um…I’m sorry, sir. I shouldn’t have…”
“It’s okay, Mr. Stevens, I know you didn’t mean anything by it,” Remy assured me in a more subdued tone than the one he’d greeted me with. He took a deep breath before continuing. “You’re right to ask, though. The last few weeks have been anything but easy. In fact, I’d be remiss if they haven’t been some of the most difficult days I’ve ever experienced.” He then cleared his throat and quickly wiped an eye. “But that’s…how things go sometimes, especially in the line of duty. Things happen, things well beyond our control. The best way to deal with that knowledge is to learn from it, prepare yourself for it, and use everything you learned to prevent it from happening again.”
“Words to live by, sir,” I agreed as Benjamin and Trixie joined us, the former offering us each a glass of red wine. Despite never having tried red wine before, Trixie and I each accepted a glass, the showmare keeping her glass aloft in a light-blue magical glow.
“I agree,” added Sisko, prompting Trixie to nod. “Sorry to eavesdrop like that, old friend. It’s just that I’ve been worried about you, as I’m sure many others are. To lose one’s ship…is never easy. In fact, it’s one of the most painful experiences a starship captain can endure.” There was a pause as we all nodded.
“Trixie…I would like to propose a toast,” the showmare stated rather suddenly. She looked up at us and, seeing our encouraging expressions, took a deep breath before continuing. “During my time on the Repulse, it…well, it became my home, if only for a few weeks. But it wasn’t just my home, it was home to a lot of others, too. Others who were brave and smart and willing to do whatever it took to protect the billions of lives depending on them. It was truly a great and powerful ship and I will always cherish my time aboard it.” Trixie then cleared her throat and levitated her wine glass. “To the brave crew of the U.S.S. Repulse!” she exclaimed.
“To the brave crew of the U.S.S. Repulse!” Sisko, Remy, and I echoed in unison before we each took a sip.
“Here, here!” Sisko added while Remy knelt down to regard the showmare at eye-level.
“Thank you for that, Miss Trixie,” Remy said, grasping one of her forehooves in his hands. Trixie didn’t seem to mind and simply offered a small understanding smile in return. “I promise that no one aboard that ship will ever be forgotten, nor will our gratitude for their service.” He paused briefly before continuing. “In fact, I would be extremely grateful if you wouldn’t mind saying a few words at the commemoration ceremony.” Trixie’s eyes widened at the request while Sisko and I exchanged looks of mild surprise.
“M-me?” she stammered, clearly surprised at Remy’s request. “Y-you want Trixie…I mean…me… to speak at the ceremony…for the Repulse?” She lowered her head as if suddenly fascinated by the floor. “M-may I ask why?” she asked quietly.
“I’ve actually been giving this a fair amount of thought,” Remy assured her. “When Starfleet finalized the commemoration, Admiral Tuvok approached me and asked if I had anyone in mind who could offer a few words about the ship and her crew.” He then took another deep breath and appeared to be struggling to maintain his composure. “It was terrible to think about but I realized that…well, there was only one other person besides myself who could do it. Please don’t misunderstand,” he added hastily. “Even if that weren’t the case, I still would’ve chosen you to help represent the ship.” It took every ounce of willpower Trixie possessed to maintain her composure and not succumb to the paradoxical combination of Remy’s kind words and her own painful memories of that terrible day.
“Even though you were only with us for a short time, you performed any and all duties asked of you as if you’d been with us since the ship was launched. You proved to be a valuable member of the crew and believe me when I say that I wasn’t the only one who noticed.” Trixie sniffed and wiped a tear away as Remy continued. “You gained not only my respect but the respect of all who worked with you and bore witness to your dedication. What I’m trying to say is…thank you, Trixie, not only for your hard work and dedication but also for saving my life. I regret not doing so earlier but I thought that now was as good a time as any.”
Finally, after a pause, during which we took the necessary time to digest such a heartfelt expression, I smiled as Trixie did the same, nodding whilst wiping away the tears that had built up since Remy had first addressed her.
“T-Trixie would be honored to help commemorate the Repulse in any way she can!” she exclaimed, nodding fervently. Remy smiled and offered a slow, appreciative nod of his own. It was then that, as if to punctuate such a momentous occasion, the showmare’s stomach voiced its displeasure at being kept waiting. Sisko smiled as Trixie’s cheeks went beet-red. “I-I’m sorry, it’s just that it’s been a really long day and…”
“Please, don’t worry about it,” Sisko assured her gently, holding a hand out in forgiveness. “I think it’s time we sat down, don’t you think?”
“Oh, yes sir!” I agreed rather eagerly.
“Seeing as you’ve been going on about your cooking prowess all day, I’ve been looking forward to this myself,” Remy added as we all sat down, each of us occupying one side of the slightly-rectangular table. Trixie’s muzzle lit up as Sisko gestured to a slightly higher, cushioned seat that proved to be the ideal height for Trixie as soon as she sat upon it. In fact, it raised her up enough that she could talk to any of us face-to-face. Good old-fashioned southern hospitality, I thought with a grin. Leave it to Sisko to be the perfect host.
“Trixie, would you care for a stuffed pepper?” Sisko asked, offering her the tray of grilled vegetables.
“Oh, yes please!” she replied, eagerly levitating two onto her plate. She couldn’t help but take a sizeable sniff of the steaming peppers. “They smell delicious,” she added, prompting a smile from Sisko.
“Well, then by all means, dig in!” he replied as we helped ourselves. Having never experienced a traditional Cajun meal before, I eagerly took Sisko up on his offer and soon had a rather generous portion of everything on my own plate. Ever mindful of culinary etiquette, Trixie cut small bite-sized morsels of stuffed pepper by manipulating her small dinner knife with her magic.
“How is it?” Sisko asked as Trixie’s first pepper disappeared from existence.
“These are the most amazing peppers Trixie’s ever eaten!” she replied eagerly. “Cole wasn’t kidding when he said you’re a true chef!”
“I see that my reputation precedes me!” Sisko said with a laugh before turning to Remy and I. “How about you gentlemen?”
“This has…” I paused, trying to come up with an answer that could do the metaphorical orgasm taking place in my mouth proper justice. “This has got to be the single best meal I’ve had in…I don’t even know how long,” I replied honestly.
Allow me now to properly express my feelings regarding how I experienced this meal: every bite seemed to make everything better. The catfish fritters were rich with flavor and perfectly cooked, crispy on the outside and soft on the inside, made even better when paired with the tasty mushroom catsup. The pork sausage, while a little on the spicy side, practically dripped with juice with every bite I took while the creamy coolness of the fresh potato salad restored balance to my palate after the intense flavors of the grilled meat. I had never tried cornbread before but, as I’d quickly come to expect, it was perfect as well; moist yet slightly crumbly with a cake-like consistency, it was a refreshing treat when I needed a respite from the heat of the spicier (and still delicious) choices. And let’s not forget about the main event, the crawfish boil! Sucking the juice from each one before eating the flesh inside, as recommended by Sisko, was a great way to properly enjoy one of the most time-honored Cajun dishes of all time. In fact, I felt the sudden urge to make a stop by Earth and indulge in it again, this time from its birthplace, Louisiana, deep in the south of the former United States. Hell, even the wine was going down just fine, despite me not being much of a wine connoisseur. However, after seeing Trixie down her second glass, I made a mental note to drop by France for a bottle or two.
In short, everything was perfect.
“I agree with Mr. Stevens,” Remy added through a mouthful. “You’ve truly lived up to your reputation, Benjamin. Everything is absolutely sublime.”
“I’m glad to hear it!” Sisko exclaimed. “So, Mr. Stevens,” he continued, turning his attention to me. “We haven’t had a chance to properly catch up yet. What have you been doing these past two years?”
“Keeping on my toes, sir,” I answered. “After I got my ship, I pretty much stopped at every Starbase and large station I could find, looking for work.”
“Oh? You must’ve had some interesting experiences.”
“I’ve had my fair share,” I replied with a chuckle and a slow nod. “I’ve done almost every job you can think of without being a Starfleet graduate.”
“Have you ever thought about enlisting?” Remy asked, surprising me. Now that was something I’d never considered. Both of my parents had graduated with top marks from very prestigious schools, which undoubtedly helped them become diplomats.
Actually…what if I were to enlist in Starfleet? Would that be a good move or was I better off remaining a courier? And what would Trixie do? Join with me and become the very first Equestrian in history to serve in Starfleet? It was an intriguing idea, one that we would have to have a little chin-wag about.
“I…to be honest, sir, it’s not something I’ve thought about much,” I answered truthfully. Until now, anyway, I thought at the same time. “Why? Do you think I’d make a good recruit?” I asked.
“As a matter of fact, I do,” Remy replied quite seriously. “I think you have the makings of a fine officer and with proper training and experience, you could really make an impact in the Federation.”
Wow. To be honest, hearing that from a man of Remy’s stature was a little overwhelming. It was high praise to be sure, although I wasn’t sure if I deserved it. Sure, I’d gotten us out of the odd scrape but in reality, it was Trixie that did most of the work. If Starfleet recruiters focused solely on sheer talent and work ethic, Trixie was a shoe-in for instant acceptance. I mean, what could beat the ability to conjure up a photonic fleet without the need for large, power-hungry photonic capacitors? Not to mention the fact that even the most modest form of magic was tremendously useful. If anyone had chance to succeed at the Academy, it was the Great and Powerful Trixie.
Huh. Talk about food for thought.
“Um…thank you, sir,” I half-stammered. “I’m glad you think so and I’ll definitely give it some serious thought.”
“Good idea; take as much time as you need but don’t forget about it. I’m sure you could do very well there.” Remy added. “What do you think, Ben?”
“From what I’ve read, I have to agree,” Sisko concurred. “I believe you’d make a fine addition to Starfleet. In fact, I’d be happy to co-author up a letter of recommendation with Captain Remy if you’d like.”
I was floored. Two captains willing to recommend me to one of the most prestigious academies in the Federation? It was almost too good to be true. While I wasn’t ready to commit myself to it just yet, they were making it very difficult not to commit to it right then and there. Then again, this was Starfleet Academy. They didn’t just let anyone in; as much as I hated to admit it, I didn’t know if I could handle that kind of academic responsibility. After all, besides primary and middle school, I’d had to work to support myself, which didn’t leave much time for education. Needless to say, I was more than just a little out-of-practice.
“…I don’t know what to say, sir,” I managed to say. “I’ll definitely think about it and if I decide to, you’ll be the first to know.”
“Sounds good,” Remy replied, pushing his now-empty plate away.
“What about Trixie?” I asked before I could stop myself. Everyone at the table, Trixie included, looked at me. Realizing there was no going back, I took a deep breath and pressed on. “I said…what about Trixie?”
“Cole…” Trixie began before pausing, unsure of what to say.
“From what I’ve read and from what Remy’s told me, I’d say that that’s a very real possibility,” Sisko replied thoughtfully. “I don’t believe that we’ve had an Equestrian enlist in Starfleet yet; in fact, I’m fairly sure that Trixie is the only one who has actually gone off-world. Now, I might be wrong but given how much attention Starfleet has dedicated to Equestria in the last couple of years, I believe that one day, we’ll see some Equestrians serving on Federation starships.”
“Maybe even commanding one,” Remy added, winking at Trixie, causing her to smile and blush. “‘Captain Trixie’ has a nice ring to it, don’t you think?”
“I like it,” I said with a shrug. “What do you think, Trix? How would you feel about having 5,000,000 tonnes of starship at your fingertips…I mean, hooves?”
“It’s an…interesting idea,” Trixie admitted. “For now though, Trixie is more than happy to travel around the galaxy and entertain wherever she can.”
“That’s the spirit!” Sisko exclaimed. “If you find something you’re passionate at, you should stick with it.”
“Agreed,” Remy added. “That’s exactly why I took another command; I feel that my duty to Starfleet and the citizens of the galaxy isn’t over yet. There’s a lot about to happen and I intend to be there for as much of it as possible.”
“Same here,” I concurred. “That’s why I like what I’m doing so much; being a Starfleet courier gives me a job and some direction while giving me quite a bit of freedom to move around, y’know? By the way, captain,” I added, focusing on Remy. “If you don’t mind me asking...what ship did you take command of?”
“I don’t mind at all,” Remy assured me. “Although, correct me if I’m wrong but I think you meant to ask was why I returned to a command position so promptly despite losing my ship and crew.” I hung my head slightly as he looked at me expectedly.
“I…I didn’t just want to come out and ask, sir. Didn’t seem proper.”
“It’s quite alright. I’m convinced that if Starfleet wasn’t in such dire need of experienced personnel, I would’ve taken a leave of absence longer than a week. Unfortunately, the Repulse wasn’t the only casualty and right now, Starfleet needs every ship and man at their posts.” Remy explained. “Right now, my post is commanding officer aboard the U.S.S. Athens, one of the new Sentinel-class star cruisers.” With that, he produced a PADD and displayed an image of the ship for us to look at. “I don’t know if it will be my permanent posting but so far, it’s a fine ship. It may not be the Repulse but it certainly has its charms.”
“Will they build another one?” Trixie asked after studying the picture.
“I’m not sure,” Remy answered. “Officially, it was a prototype intended for deep-space tactical assignments. Still, even though Federation policy has always stressed exploration over combat whenever possible, the sad truth of the matter is that we need more combat vessels to push back the Voth, the Borg, and anyone else threatening the galaxy, to say nothing of the Iconians.” We all nodded in agreement as he turned to Sisko.
“I don’t know how you did it, Benjamin,” he continued. “Being at the frontlines of one of the worst conflicts in Federation history. I was still a lieutenant commander serving aboard the Sierra. We didn’t exactly spend a lot of time on the front but from what I read and heard, the Dominion was a serious piece of work.”
“That’s putting it lightly,” Sisko replied quietly. “I think I’d just had enough and wanted to bring an end to the conflict as quickly as possible. To me, that was enough to make the hard decisions and somehow endure the loss of a lot of good people.” I noticed Trixie fidgeting uncomfortable and decided to intervene.
“Um, I hate to interrupt but can we maybe…talk about something else?” I asked. “If it’s all the same to you…we’d rather not talk about war…”
“Of course, it’s no trouble,” Remy assured me as Sisko nodded. “I was just about to change the subject anyway.” He cleared his throat. “So, Mr. Stevens, how’s the Ranger treating you? Still holding together?”
“As unbelievable as it sounds, she hasn’t fallen apart yet, sir,” I replied with a grin. “She’s a tough little ship.”
“So I’ve noticed,” Remy replied.
“What class was it again?” Sisko asked.
“Nova-class, sir. Short-range science vessel. Perfect size for Trix and I. She’s got all the amenities we’ll ever need.”
“I remember them,” Remy mused. “How did you manage to acquire one? They were phased out for the newer Rhode Island-class several years ago. I thought they were completely mothballed.”
“That’s probably why I got mine so cheap,” I explained. “I kept an eye on them as Starfleet was phasing them out and waited until a few were put out on the market as light civilian cruisers. Of course, a lot of the really useful gear was stripped first so I had to jump through a bunch of hoops and save some more to put even the weakest phasers on her. At least they left the computer alone so I was able to configure it to run most of the ship for me. The ship was already designed and capable of operating with barely a skeleton crew, so it was more or less a matter of making sure the warp core didn’t blow up. Needless to say, that’s why I stopped at so many Starbases. I guess I was just a little paranoid.”
“A little paranoid?” Trixie teased.
“Hey, you’ve seen what we’ve come up against,” I reminded her. “I just like to be ready for whatever’s out there.”
“Good thing you’ve got the Great and Powerful Trixie to watch your back then,” Trixie replied without missing a beat.
“Nothing like a little teamwork, eh Ben?” Remy asked as Trixie and I engaged in some of our typical rhetoric.
“We can always use more of that,” Sisko agreed. “In fact, we need it now more than ever.”
***
Trixie’s personal log, supplemental. Today has been one of the best days I can remember. Between Cole’s amazing gift and the time we spent with Remy and Sisko, I’m starting to feel good again. It’s about time, too! Everywhere we go, something terrible seems to happen! If I didn’t have someone as amazing as Cole at my side…I doesn’t know where I’d be.
True to his word, Captain Sisko was kind enough to send his recipes to the Ranger’s computer. As soon as I gets the chance, I’m going to try as many of those vegetable dishes as I can, even if it means learning how to cook Earth foods! Those stuffed peppers were just too good! It’s unfortunate that both Remy and Sisko were called back to duty so soon after dinner but as they said, there’s never a dull moment in the galaxy these days and everyone has to be on their toes. On the bright side, he was able to set some time aside tomorrow for show planning and other details. Speaking of details, I stopped by Quark’s to inspect his list of foods and beverages to serve during the show. Surprisingly, they were quite satisfactory and as much as I wanted to give in to Cole’s pleas to make Quark’s life a living Hell, I have a show to plan and I intend to make it a complete success.
Which reminds me…
This is going to sound bad but I don’t have much of a plan as far as the actual act goes. I have enough material to wow the audience, make no mistake; it’s just that I wanted to make is truly spectacular and unique. I wanted to tell a story that they’ve never heard before. Maybe Cole has one he’d be willing to share, something about this station or something a local audience might be able to relate to. I’ll ask him as soon as he gets back from his holodeck adventures aboard the Ishimura. Usually, I’d be right there with him but I have a show to plan but hopefully, next time I’ll be able to show those necro-thingies how we do things the Great and Powerful way. (End recording)
“Come in!” I heard Trixie call from within her quarters. I did so, finding the showmare laying on her bed reading from several PADDs. “Doing some bedtime reading?” I asked, sitting on the foot of the bed. “Whoa!” I exclaimed as she levitated me to a reclining position behind her, essentially forcing me to ‘spoon’ with her as she read.
“That’s better,” she murmured happily as I wrapped an arm around her and pulled her tightly against me, curling up protectively around her. “And to answer your question, yes. Trixie was hoping to find an inspiring story to tell for her show tomorrow.”
“Oh?” I asked. “That’s a new direction for you. What the sudden change? Don’t get me wrong, I think it’s a cool idea; I’m just curious.”
“Well, Trixie thinks her shows will have a lot more meaning if there’s an actual story behind them, not just feats of magical prestidigitation,” she explained. I nodded respectfully.
“Well, that’s definitely a good reason,” I agreed. “Have you found anything in the database you can use?” I asked, absentmindedly stroking her mane. She hummed softly and pressed herself even harder against me.
“Mmm…Cole…are you petting me?” Trixie asked coyly, complete with a matching grin.
“Sure looks like it. Want me to stop?”
“No! I mean…keep going. It feels really nice...” Trixie all but purred as I suddenly focused on her ears. “Mmmm, you’re distracting me…”
“Sorry. Didn’t mean to change the subject like that.”
“It’s okay, I’ve read all these anyway,” Trixie replied with a sigh as I massaged her shoulders.
“Well, I might have the right story for your show,” I offered, massaging lower and lower until I reached her flanks, stopping at that point before slowly making my way back up.
“Is that why you’re massaging me?’ Trixie mused, taking deep breaths as her body surrendered to my ministrations.
“Kind of. I just wanted you to be super-comfortable. It’s kind of a long story.”
“Well, I can use all the ideas I can get,” Trixie replied, groaning as I made another knot disappear. “Besides, you did give me an amazing massage so I guess you’ve earned the chance to entertain me,” she added with a smirk.
“Oh, I think you’ll be entertained all right,” I assured her. “It’ll also give the chance to explain why Garak was talking about generosity being a virtue.”
“Yes, I was wondering about that,” Trixie admitted. “I’m guessing that the story was too long to tell on the way to dinner?”
“That’s for sure. It took over an hour for Garak to tell it to me and I’m pretty sure he left a few things out just so he wouldn’t keep me all day.”
“Well then, what are you waiting for?” Trixie asked, levitating the PADDs off of her bed before rolling over to face me. She leaned in and kissed me softly, massaging my lips with hers before slipping her tongue into my mouth. It wasn’t our first full-on make-out session but it still managed to catch me off-guard. However, as always, the feeling momentarily passed and I found myself returning the kiss as best I could before she leaned back and snuggled against me with a sigh of contentment. “Trixie’s all ears.”
