Flashback - Diane Carey [0]
"ANTHRAXIC CITRUS PEEL, ORANGE JUICE, WITH JUST A hint of papalla seed extract. It's an experimental blend."
"The success rate of your culinary experiments has not been high."
Lieutenant Commander Tuvok squared his shoulders despite the fact that he was sitting down. He consistently resisted Neelix's offers to find some combination of live growth and replicated fruits and vegetables that a Vulcan would find palatable. Consistently resisted, yet continually returned.
The plume on Neelix's head caught the unforgiving lighting of the starship's mess hall and virtually flickered its pastel colors, making the Talaxian's mottled skin appear almost yellow as he tilted a bit to one side and poured his brew.
"Ensign Golwat tried some yesterday, and she thought it was delicious. In fact, she had a second glass. And she never has seconds."
"Ensign Golwat is Bolian," Tuvok pointed out with some irritation at the comparison. "Her tongue has a cartilaginous lining. It would protect her against even the most corrosive acids."
Taking on the attitude of a sad monk, Neelix requested, "All I ask is that you try it, Mr. Vulcan."
Tuvok eyed him, then eyed the coffee, sniffed it, took a tentative sip, and waited for his tongue to dissolve.
Coffee, with a flavoring of fruit. And a few other added aromas for which there was no complementary flavor.
"Impressive," Tuvok offered, registering a certain satisfaction through the stoicism of his Vulcan nature.
Neelix rocked on his heels and smiled. "I'll start squeezing that second glass. Breakfast is coming right up. Porakan eggs."
"Porakan . . . ?"
"The most flavorful eggs in the sector!" Neelix threw over his shoulder as he moved off. "Scrambled with a little cream cheese, dill weed, and a touch of rengazo. A galactic favorite."
In the galley, he began some orchestration that involved sizzling and popping sounds, and spoke through the portal.
"Now, these eggs were not easy to prepare. After we picked them up on Porakas Four, I had to sterilize them in a cryostatic chamber for three days.
And then each and every one of them had to be parboiled inside the shell with a-"
"Neelix," Tuvok interrupted, wondering how each and every egg was somehow different in the vernacular from each egg or every egg, "I would prefer not to hear the life's story of my breakfast."
"On Talax," Neelix went on, unfazed, "it's traditional to share the history of a meal before you begin eating. It's a way of enhancing the culinary experience. My mother was brilliant! She could make every course, every garnish, come alive like it was a character in a story. My favorite was the one about the crustacean who-"
His words were consumed in a tongue of flame that burst from his stove. Neelix jolted backward, arms flailing, then immediately recovered and snatched a towel.
Tuvok pushed out of his chair and hurried there, but by the time he arrived, Neelix had put the fire out.
"What happened?" Tuvok asked.
"Some sort of power overload," the Talaxian said, staring curiously at his stove as if it would explain if they remained patient. "I'm afraid it decimated your breakfast. This is what my mother would call a tragic ending."
Tuvok eyed the stove, but saw no other explanation. "Engineering has been making adjustments to the plasma conduits to accommodate a new energy source. It may have created a thermal surge in the galley systems."
"Janeway to Tuvok," the comm system said with a
faint crackle, implying there was indeed some problem in the systems. "Please report to the bridge. Mr. Neelix, I'd like you to join us as well."
"Aye, Captain," Neelix responded before Tuvok had a chance. He looked up. "What do you think is happening? Why would the captain want me to come to the bridge? Do you suppose she could've heard about my new coffee?"
"Possibly," Tuvok said, "although doubtful."
"Then something exciting must be happening!" Neelix chirped, gasping. "Let's hurry! A new discovery, perhaps! A way to get you and all your crew-mates back to your own people!