Chapter 2:  Breakfast at the Jolan

 

Julian was unable to coax anything edible out of the replicator the next morning. Apparently Chief Newstreak still had many repairs to complete. He tried one more time--cat food. Well, the replicator was getting warmer. Remembering Rianna, Julian decided to go see if the Jolan served breakfast. He wondered what Romulans had for breakfast. His stomach growled, giving him more incentive to hurry and change into his uniform.

The Jolan eating area was overrun with people. Julian supposed that most of the replicators on the station must be offline. The mass of Romulans around him all became quiet as Julian approached. He tried to ignore the distrustful stares he was receiving as he made his way to the counter. Rianna came from a back room, which Julian presumed was the kitchen, and her she smiled brightly at him when she saw him.

"Good morning, Doctor," she said. She was sweating slightly. "It's really busy today. Is your replicator broken, too?" Julian nodded. "I don't understand that. We've never had so many replicators break at once…so what can I get you?"

"I know I said I'd like to try Romulan cuisine…"

"But it's too early in the morning," Rianna finished with a smile. "I know how to make some human food. This morning has giving me enough practice making waffles and scrambled eggs." She nodded to a large group of Starfleet officers sitting at a few tables they had pulled together.

"That sounds good," Julian said. "Thank you. I'd also like a raktajino."

Rianna looked surprised. "You drink Klingon coffee?"

"If you don't have it, that's fine," Julian said.

Rianna laughed. "That's just it, I do have it. I make a fresh batch every morning."

"Romulans drink Klingon coffee?" Julian asked.

"Most don't. I personally like it, but I actually make it for my friend Vena; she's the addict," she said with a smile. Rianna quickly made him a raktajino and then said, "I'll bring out your food in a few minutes. You can wait here or you can sit down."

Julian looked around at all the full tables. "I think I'll be eating my meal standing anyway," he joked. "I'll wait."

Rianna went into the back room. Julian attempted to make friendly small talk with a few Romulans seated nearby, but was hardly able to get them to say anything. As he scanned the area, he saw Vena seated in a dark corner at a table for two, but she was the only one there. She was drinking from a large green mug like the one he was holding, and reading.

When Rianna brought out his food, which smelled delicious, he ignored his fellow officers as they waved to him, instead moving toward the Romulan security officer. "Excuse me," he said as he approached. "Is this seat taken?"

Without glancing up from whatever she was reading, Vena said, "No," in a way that told him that she also meant "and you're not sitting there either". However, Julian sat down across from her as though he hadn't noticed her tone.

"My name is Julian Bashir," he said. "I'm a doctor," he said, attempting to start a conversation.

"Is that so?" Vena said without looking up.

"Yes." Julian looked at the remains of a yellow-green shell on her plate. "What did you have for breakfast?"

"Regova eggs," she said simply, still refusing to look up at him.

"Is that a traditional Romulan breakfast?" he asked, still trying to begin a conversation.

Vena let out a sharp laugh that nearly made him fall off his chair. "Regova eggs are a Cardassian delicacy." She continued to laugh, still not looking at him. "I also had zilm'kach, a Klingon fruit. There's nothing Romulan on this table, Doctor."

"If it's a delicacy, how did Rianna get a hold of it?" Julian asked.

Vena finally looked up at him. "She replicated it. It isn't as good as fresh regova eggs, but I happen to like them."

Julian looked down at his own breakfast. "How do I know that she didn't replicate this?"

"Because Rianna refuses to replicate anything unless you ask her for something she can't obtain." Vena looked back down at what she was reading.

"Curious," Julian said, taking a bite of scrambled eggs. They were very good, although they seemed slightly overdone. "Rianna's replicator is probably one of the last on the station working."

"Why is that curious?" Vena asked, sounding completely uninterested.

"Business is booming," Julian commented, glancing around.

"You're not intimating that she sabotaged the replicators, are you Doctor?"

Julian was struck with a sudden sense of déjà vu, though he wasn't quite sure why. He ate some of his waffle before speaking. "I don't recall saying anything like that. Though, as security chief, I would assume that you would know if there was anything sinister going on."

Vena looked up at him again with a slight smile. "Fishing, are we?" Again, Julian felt as though this was something that had happened before. Vena held out her hand. "I'm Vena."

"A pleasure to meet you, Miss Vena," he said, eagerly shaking her hand. Recalling the exchange between Vena and Captain Johnson the day before, he added, "Sorry--Vena. You're just Vena." She smiled again, and then continued reading. Julian thought it best to say nothing.

When he had completed his meal, he asked, "What are you reading?"

"Usually I'd be looking at the passenger list for incoming vessels today," Vena said. "But seeing as Starfleet has seen fit to temporarily revoke my security clearance, and hasn't yet returned it, I'm actually reading a mystery novel."

"Really?" Julian said. "I love mysteries."

"Have you read any Shoggoth?"

"Shoggoth?" Julian searched his memory. "The name sounds familiar, but I have to admit, I don't think I have."

"I wouldn't expect as much. He's a Cardassian novelist."

Julian was surprised. "You read Cardassian novels?"

"Is that so strange?" Vena said, still reading.

Julian looked down at the remains of Vena's breakfast. "You are certainly the most unique Romulan I've ever met."

Vena continued reading, but smiled as she said, "I'll take that as a compliment, Doctor."

"Please do; and please, call me Julian."

Vena raised an elegantly upswept eyebrow. "Are you sure that your commander would be all right with that?"

"Does he have to be?"

Vena shrugged. "I don't know. I'm not the one in Starfleet."

Julian smiled charmingly. "I hope you don't hold my position against me."

Vena rolled her eyes and stood. "I need to go assault your commander, or captain, or whatever they're called in Starfleet and get my security clearance back."

"Wait a moment," Julian said, standing as well. "You can't leave without giving me the chance to ask to see you again."

Vena blinked in confusion. "My office is across from the medical ward."

"No, no, I mean, can we have lunch or…something?"

"Perhaps, Doctor," Vena said with an amused grin as she walked away.

Julian sighed happily and sat back down. He finished off the last of his raktajino and headed to Sick Bay. Today was going to be a good day.