01 something fishy
Lee Crane groaned inward as his best friend Chip Morton, normally spotless in his appearance stomped past him carrying a gallon of vinegar, his eyes closed trying not to gag over the filth that reeked and stained his immaculate crisply pressed uniform.
Cookie had reported a rattle in the waste pipeline in the kitchen and something was preventing the gray water tank from draining into the recycling filters created by Nelson to reduce environmental impact while at NIMR sub pen.
It could be just air, or a spoon. The steps were simple, lock the waste pipes in the closed position, pour 2 gallons of sea water into the sink then unlock the flap, the weight of the water would shift the air or the spoon down into the main holding tank. Lee had passed the job to Chip while he took care of supply paperwork the Admiral needed for ComSubPac.
It should have worked. In the very rare cases it didn't there were always other factors occuring. The next thing Lee knew a sopping wet foul smelling exo was stomping to the showers passed Lee in the hall way. Lee didn't need to ask what had happened. He knew.
Rather than shift the air into waste containment, the Admiral had to have been using the system to clean the under gravel filters of his squid specimen tanks creating a negative backwash that spewed the detritus and ink all over Chip.
Normal sub showered allowed 3 minutes. Officers had an override which could give them five minutes. Somehow Lee wasn't surprised when Chip was still in the shower 20 minutes later. By then, Lee had gone into Chips room and pulled a bathrobe from the back of the door and a laundry bag to gather the uniform. Edith had been kind enough to show the crew how to remove the ink with out bleach holes showing up later. It was far better for Lee to be attending that, then face the glare of Chip.
Upon his return he could here Nelson in the showers speaking with Chip. Getting closer he could smell the detritus along with the vinegar
"...have Cookie bring up what ever pickle juice we have, that should work to neutralize the scent. I'm afraid the ink will just have to wear off in time. Doc will take a look at that rash, he can determine what else you may have come in contact with."
Lee stepped into the shower area. Chips hips were wrapped in a towel, the area where the detritus had hit and soaked through his clothing was now peppered with bright red splotches. His face and blond hair had dark purple black stains splattered across it.
"I've placed your uniform in the washer to soak in cold water... Is there anything else I can do?" Lee asked slipping the small waterproof tin with Chips pins into his bathrobe pocket.
Chip hesitated. "Tish won that benefits auction last month, and she asked if I would take her cousin to La Minuet for dinner tonight. "
" Tish didn't want to go herself?"
" She's been there already with Lola, Tish said her cousin might enjoy the dinner.. Agatha doesn't get out much apparently. I can't go smelling like old pickles and scratching my crotch every two seconds. It's black tie... But a dress uniform will do. Tables under Sweetly, 6pm reservation."
Lee arrived early and was escorted to the balcony directly. From where he sat he could see the lights of the harbor and the panoramic view of the city. He knew it was a fixed menu, though Chip wasn't quite sure what it entailed. Glancing at the other patrons he realized even with his dress uniform, he felt under dressed. It was at that precise moment he saw a young woman speaking with the hostess. He could see the blue jeans looked baggy on the young woman as did the simple white cotton blouse which looked as if it had been washed too many times. Her auburn hair was pulled up in a messy pony tail and a spatter of freckles across her clean scrubbed face was her only outstanding attribute. He could see the hostess shaking her head and realized while he couldn't hear what was being said, the name the young woman was saying sent a cold blow to his chest. Leaving his cover on the table he went over
"Ms Sweetly? "
She turned to face him, her face showed puzzlement.
"My apologies, Mr. Morton sends his regrets that he was unable to be with you tonight, our table is this way..." Extending his elbow he shot a look at the hostess watching her press her lips together as she stood fuming. Lee noticed the hostess wasn't the only person who gave disapproving glances their way, most of the guests were observing her and making soft snide comments regarding her fashion sense.
Agatha sat quietly while Lee pointed out the different ships in the harbor and prattled on about their tonnage and engine speed while they waited for their dinners. Glancing to where she sat he noticed her eyes were closed, her breathing was slow and even.
"Have I put you to sleep?" He asked quietly.
"Nearly. " She stated honestly. Opening her eyes she sighed. " It's been a very long day for me, and, well, you would do well in reading bedtime stories to children. "
The waiter came with their dinners, grilled salmon steak garnished with a slice of orange and a side salad. There were slices of crusty bread. Lee noticed she only asked for water to drink, and she scarcely touched her meal. He tried to direct the conversation to what she did at her job but she spoke in general terms, repeating what Chip had told him earlier.
It was the fifth time she asked for water that Lee realized the wait staff was ignoring her. Another waiter walked by. Lee spoke up, "Excuse me."
The waiter paused "Yes sir?"
" My companion has been requesting water several times..."
" I will let your waiter know..." The waiter turned to go.
" No, I'd prefer if the manager bring it." Lee said crisply.
" Very well Sir..."
Lee watched as the waiter went to the manager who rolled his eyes before striding over to their table with a false smile.
"I trust everything is to your satisfaction?" He gushed.
Agatha saw Lee lean forward to address the manager. Shooting him a look she said softly "I will handle this." Standing she drew herself up to all of her five foot three height. "No. Everything is not to my satisfaction. Starting with your hostess who refused to even check the reservation list when presented with my name, all the way through a disgusting waste of food for childish spite on filthy dishes and a lazy wait staff who can't even manage to carry a simple water jug over to fill a glass even after multiple requests..."
" Your meal is perfectly fine, your probably just used to the dredges the soup kitchen serves...We do have our standards for our clients that we must maintain after all." The waiter said beside the manager elbow.
Lee heard the sharp intake of breath from her followed by an angry hiss in retrospect he realized when he grasped her by the elbow it would have been better for him had he allowed her to handle it. He was unprepared for the heel of her hand to strike him in a solid blow which left him seeing stars. When his vision returned to normal he saw she was manager looking quite pleased. Lee grasped his coat and guided him to her chair.
"Eat."
"I beg your pardon!"
"Every bite. Eat." Lee said quietly. Confused the manager picked up the unused spoon and scooped a piece of the salmon onto it. The salmon had barely entered his mouth before he spat it out gagging. He reflexively reached for the water glass to find it empty.
"The Nelson Institute will no longer be requiring your restaurants services." Lee said with a growl as he snatched his cover from the table.
Chip was waiting up sitting on Lee's bed in the BOQ they shared when he entered. "What happened to you? "
Lee went to the bathroom and wrung out a cold cloth for his eye. "My fault. Agatha has a sweet right hook."
" And why would you need to know that? Lee, Agatha is Tish's cousin... Am I going to be hearing about the nightmare date with Lee Crane when I see Tish?"
Lee got on the other side of the bed and crossed his long legs. "You should have gone Chip, ink and all. It wouldn't have mattered to her. I doubt it would have changed the outcome of the evening."
"Because?"
"Agatha had planned to wear this slinky cross wrapped silk dress with matching heels, except ten minutes before she was to leave the center she found herself dealing with a colicky baby who threw up all over her. She showered, and changed into what she had in her go bag, jeans and a cotton blouse. Tennis shoes. The staff...well... The institute won't be using their facility's any only did they treat her disrespectful, they sprinkled washing soda over her entire meal. She sat there listening to me blather on about boats and never said a word. What kind of a jerk does that make me?"
"But your eye?" Chip leaned forward.
"I thought she was going to do harm to the waiter... My mistake, I grabbed her arm and she popped me. When the vision cleared I made the manager eat her food, grabbed my cover and went out to the parking area where I found her trying to walk off her anger. I tried to apologize and she said the advantage of being an introvert was it's easy not needing to deal with people who didn't want to be with you anyway."
" Cripes...so that was your blind date?"
" Not quite...I've invited Agatha here for dinner tomorrow with you. She's a sweet girl, I believe you two will have a lovely evening..."
" What's on the menu? I mean..."
" Don't worry, it won't be squid." Lee said ducking the pillow Chip swung at him.