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Captain's Ready Room
3:00 PM
"Come in."
The lifemates stepped inside the Ready Room. Their Captain was sitting at his desk where he had
apparently been reading a report. He looked up as they approached. "Crewmen Alyen and L'Naym."
"Glad that you remember us, sir," L'Naym said with a smile.
Alyen smiled as well, although he was a bit nervous. Greeting a Captain while he was sitting casually
with a friend in a lobby was one thing. Greeting him formally in his Ready Room was something else.
And while nothing ever seemed to intimidate his beloved lifemate, parts of his boyhood shyness were
still with him.
"Never forget a face." The Captain's smile was friendly and he gestured to the two chairs in front
of his desk. "Have a seat.
"So what can I do for you both?" he asked after they were seated.
"Actually, Captain, we wanted to do something for you," L'Naym responded. "We've both been
assigned Alpha Shift for the next few days." She took a breath. "And we were hoping to invite you
to share a meal with us tomorrow evening."
The Captain's eyebrows rose in surprise and she continued. "You see, sir, meals are very important
on Nlia. When one has gained a new leader it's customary to invite them to one's home for a meal
as a sign of loyalty and respect. It's a very old tradition and it's not always performed or accepted
but we felt led to offer it to you."
"We're aware that you might consider it inappropriate for two crewmen to make such an offer to
a Captain," Alyen spoke for the first time. "And if you refuse we'll understand."
"But if you'd consider it, we'd be honored," L'Naym finished.
"The honor is mine, Crewmen," the Captain said quietly. "I would be happy to share a meal with
you both."
Both Nlians' eyes widened and then a beaming smile broke out over L'Naym's face. "Wonderful!
Can we expect you tomorrow at 1800 hours? Room 487?"
"Tomorrow evening, 1800 hours," their Captain promised. "I'll be there with bells on."
END
