Pennies and Fishwrappers

Posted on Tue 24th Apr, 2018 @ 12:06am by Lieutenant Commander Lanis Dhuro MD & Lieutenant Anjohl Gaden MD

744 words; about a 4 minute read

Mission: Brushfires
Location: Riverwalk, Deck 1554

Previously, on Star Trek: Vanguard

Charlie picked up a sheet of newsprint and wrapped two of the fish planks and a generous helping of pommes frittes and handed them to Addams. "Ma'am," he said with a smile, before repeating the process of wrapping for Gaden. "And our fish is actually quite good for you," he said, handing over the bundle. "Omega-3 oils, anti-oxidants, and best of all, zero mercury."

"Zero mercury is always good," Gaden said with a slight grin,"trust me I would know, I'm a doctor."

Addams examined the newsprint and smiled. "I look forward to telling Mr. Clement that his paper is a fishwrapper."

And now, the conclusion!

"Who's Mr. Clement?" Lanis asked.

"Samuel Livingston Clement," Chlamydia answered. "Lives in the American village. Runs the newspaper." She folded back the wrapping on her fish and chips and showed the front page, complete with the 1¢ price. "In the afternoon, one can find him wandering about the village speaking with people and handing out copies. Older Human fellow, white hair, extravagant mustache?"

"Ah. I try to avoid older human fellows," Lanis said. "They tend to want arthritis cures, and I don't do those." He waited as Charlie wrapped up a fried fish filet and chips for him. He sprinkled malt vinegar onto the fish, thanked the man, and then returned his attention to Chlamydia and Gaden.

Gaden scratched his cheek after taking a bite. "That description, that name sounds vaguely familiar, should I know it?" he asked.

"There was a pre-Federation Terran writer who wrote under the nom de plume Mark Twain." Chlamydia tore off a bit of fish from one of her planks and offered it to Thing. It disappeared from her fingers, though Thing didn't seem to have moved. "His actual name, however, was Samuel Langhorne Clemens. The most famous images of him are from his later years; often with mussed hair and a wild mustache. Our Mr. Clement enjoys the comparisons, and plays up the superficial resemblance."

Cautiously, Lanis bit into his fish filet, feeling and hearing the crunch as he did so. "Mm! Hot!," he gasped--but he'd known it would be. Steam curled up from where he'd taken the bite, and he inhaled the aroma of vinegar, fried batter, and fish. "Delicious. Thanks!" he said to Charlie.

Charlie smiled and touched the brim of his hat. "We aim to please, sir."

Chlamydia turned and began walking along the central river's inner shore. The paddlewheeler Mickey went by, and she smiled. "There are benches down here," she explained.

Lanis chuckled. "I've been on my feet for so long today, I think I've almost forgotten how to sit!" He walked with Chlamydia and Gaden and joined them on a park bench. "This is nice, peaceful," he said as he looked out at the river between bites of fish. "You come here often?"

"If I didn't know better,"Gaden said, "that sounds an awful lot like a pick-up line you're using on the good doctor."

Addams chuckled and pointed at the East bridge. "You've been to my home, Lanis. It's just over that bridge and through the woods."

Lanis laughed out loud. "I'm glad you do know better, Gaden, considering she's young enough to be my daughter." He glanced at Chlamydia. "Your house is that close? I guess I've never approached it from this direction. Is the back yard as interesting as the front?"

Chlamydia shrugged. "Oh, it's got the usual... unregistered graves, crow cages." Thing tapped her shoulder and made a vague motion. "Yes, thank you; mustn't forget the topiary gargoyle."

"You have crows that actually stay in cages?" Lanis asked. "Those birds are scary smart. I've seen them unlock cage doors with the finesse of a locksmith."

Chlamydia laughed, one of her rare, full laughs, covering her mouth with her hand. "No, it's..." she stopped, shook her head. "Never mind," she said.

Lanis eyed her. "What?"

She shook her head again and stood. "Gentlemen, as lovely as this time together has been, I have sisters at home, to whom I must express my loathing and devotion before falling into a coma."

"I should probably be going too," Gaden said, " as he shamelessly licked the grease from his fingers. "It's been a very long day, and I have plans for tomorrow."

"Patients to see, reports to write--tomorrow. You both have a good evening. I'm for some hot ginger tea and then bed."

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