Chapter 35

It was not quite five to twelve at midday. Doctor Philips entered the noisy and very full bar lounge then sat down at a vacant table and waited for K'Rissel. He had waited patiently for about fifteen minutes without a drink and was about to give up and leave when his fellow medic, McMeres strolled in. He appeared quite pleased with himself.

"Hello Kirean," he said cheerfully. "Haven't seen you in here before. Something special?" The Krackatowa chief surgeon chuckled. "Got a date my friend?" This time it was Philips's chance to laugh.

"I have," he said smugly.

"Well that makes two of us." McMeres replied. "I suppose she hasn't turned up."

"Not yet. I imagine there is still time." The other doctor nodded.

"Best of luck." McMeres pulled up a chair and was about to sit down. "Fancy a drink?" He said with exaggerated cheer.

"Sure," said the other doctor with a slightest shrug of his shoulders. "What are you having?" The physician shuffled in his chair.

"Probably my usual, Moon Beams on the rocks." Philips laughed in response.

"What do you drink that stuff for?"

"Then what do you suggest?" Said McMeres.

"Maybe Andorian spice burn."

"Never had it. What is it?"

"God man, you do lead a shallow life. Once you taste this stuff you won't know what hit you," he said with a grin. "It's a mixture of Andorian brandy, mixed spices from various planets around the galaxy, cream soda, Whisky, and Bonjabba juice. Very exotic combination."

"Fine. Get one for me."

"Only if you can handle it. Don't know if your lady friend will put up with you if you're completely bombed."

"I'll be fine," he said trying to convince him. Philips got up and went to the bar.

A few moments later he returned carrying two bright green tall tumblers on a tray. He placed down a frothing glass in front of McMeres and one for himself. Philips took a large gulp and savoured every taste. "Go on," he said to McMeres. "Try it." He cautiously picked up the glass sniffed the concoction and screwed his face up.

"Oh god, that stuff smells like a dead cat." He said in disgust. Philips laughed and slapped his glass down on the table while smacking his lips.

"Your not supposed to smell it," he said. "Just gulp it down, but whatever you do don't sip the stuff it..." But it was too late. The other doctor turned a bright shade of crimson and choked loudly while holding his throat.

His reaction had drawn attention to the table. Philips sunk down into his seat. People had stopped their private chatting and were now staring at him.

"God sake keep it quite," said Philips softly with embarrassment. McMeres managed to get up and hobble to the bar. At the same time he was gasping for air and rubbing is burning throat.

"Water," he gasps. The barman chuckled to himself.

"Didn't anyone warn you?" Said the big burly Gorn in his gruff voice. McMeres managed to shake his head.

"Is that stuff safe to drink?"

"Nobody complained before," snapped the Gorn.

"Water." McMeres managed to say a little louder. The Gorn roared with laughter, which made the whole room vibrate. He slapped down a huge beer glass of water in front of him.

"Better stick to soft drinks in future boy!" He said, then turned and disappeared into an adjacent room behind the bar.

"Hello stranger," said a feminine voice coming from behind him.

K'Rissel had been late due to speaking to Saavik about what was going to happen once she got to Earth. She would remain there until her son was well enough, then she had the freedom to go wherever she pleased.

The other children were reunited with their parents, which was a delight. People had been very dubious as to whether they were still alive. They too would remain on Earth for the time being.

McMeres heart sank. He assumed that K'Rissel had seen the whole incident much to her amusement and his humiliation. He turned and saw her smiling pleasantly at him. Berger saw the woman who he had been waiting for up at the bar. He rose from the table and grabbed his drink then rushed up. She saw him and a radiant smile flashed across her pretty face.

"Doctor Philips," she said pleasantly. "I believe you have met Kirean."

"Yes," he said a little confused.

"Then let's order," she said.

McMeres looked at Philips with a baffled expression then pointed to himself then at Philips. Realisation struck them. He whispered just soft enough not to catch the woman's attention. "We've been had. Where the hell did you...?"

K'Rissel hadn't been joking when she said females of her planet could choose as many males as she wanted, but at the same time! It made the two men feel very foolish and ashamed.

McMeres took a big gulp of his water and thumped down the glass. K'Rissel waved her hand at the Gorn barman.

"Mister waita!" She yelled enthusiastically. The Gorn came and pounded his two colossal green claws down on the bar.

"Madam," he said. K'Rissel smiled at him sweetly.

"My your a...hefty boy ain't ya." she said ogling at him. The Gorn growled at her. "What exactly are ya?"

"Gorn," he said.

"Well Mista Gorn we would like to order." McMeres glanced across at Philips.

"She knows what she wants. Doesn't she?" He said.

"She'll be trying to catch the eyes of our little Gorn friend here."

"I'm off," said McMeres. K'Rissel turned after hearing him and her face dropped.

"So soon?"

"Um, I've got to...there is a patent which needs my immediate attention," he said with a stutter. It was a poor reason for an excuse, but it worked.

"Oh." Her face suddenly lit up and turned toward Philips and the Gorn. "Oh well perhaps another time," she said cheerfully and turned back to the conversation with the Gorn. Philips on the other hand realised he had no way to escape. McMeres hopped it and left.

"Do you want a drink?" Offered the doctor finally. He had to say something.

"Oh yes please me luv," she said still gazing at the Gorn.

"Keep him to yourself," he muttered. He sighed and realised that she was more interested in the Gorn than himself. She muttered something to the large reptilian Gorn. He actually responded with a loud reverberating laugh and a display of four large sets of pointed teeth, which automatically gave the good doctor the shivers.

How could he compete with a Gorn? The woman had strange tastes. Perhaps he'd be better off leaving her to her own devices.

Her Gorn friend placed a most unusual cocktail in front of her. She giggled and sipped it through a long straw. The Gorn gazed at Philips.

"One gram of latinium."

"What?" Said Philips.

"ARE YOU DEAF?"

"No, not at all my friend."

"Then pay me or your be in trouble." Philips frowned. When was it established that he had to pay for K'Rissel's drink! The Gorn made a deep sepulchral sound.

"What 'av I done?"

"PAY."

"All right all right, but I'm afraid my friend that I haven't got it here with me." The Gorn rose up to his full height and walloped the table with his large fist. Philips always had a suspicion that all Gorns had a grudge against him. Why? He didn't know. Suddenly K'Rissel stepped in. She smiled sweetly at the Gorn and stroked his big green hand delicately with a pearly white manicured finger.

"Come on now me luv. Let's not fight about this." The Gorn's eyes narrowed. "Let's talk about this like civilised people. I'm sure Doctor Philips will..." She gazed at him for a second, "...give his share later."

"All right," said the Gorn in a low dangerous voice. K'Rissel turned to Philips again.

"I'm afraid I must decline your invitation to dinna," she said a little quietly.

"You are?" He with exuberance. "I mean you are?" He changed his tone and made a pathetic attempt to sound sorry, but was actually working. Whether K'Rissel sensed the lie he didn't know. As a matter of fact he didn't care either.

"Yes I'm really sorry," she said in a pleading voice. "Mr Gorn had promised to take me to the holodeck. And guess what?"

"What?"

"When we get to Earth Mr Gorn is going to take me to New York." She chucked with delight. I've always wanted to visit there. I hear it's got the most fantastic space museums."

"That'll be nice," muttered Philips. God knows what he's going to show her on that holodeck. He thought. The doctor remembered reading something about holodecks. They could replicate any situation any place and anywhere. It was a pity that Krackatowa never had such a device. The USS Nova, being a fairly new ship had only been installed with the holodeck a short time ago. For a long time a hologenerator which could project situations and places within the special complexity of a holographic room and was powerful enough to recreate from memory chips, it was almost a fairly tale away, until now.

"Have fun," muttered Philips. He put down the empty glass and wandered over to the table where he and McMeres had sat. He had planned to consume McMeres full glass since he had left it there. Besides it was a waste to leave it. When he got there the glass was gone. Philips sighed and left.

In the background he heard K'Rissel's dirty laugh at one of the Gorn's equally dirty jokes. It was true she was quite a woman and one who had got around too judging by her manor.