The Last Stand - Brad Ferguson [71]
Bitt paused. “Agreed,” he finally said, tight-lipped. “Dex Portside Sanitation Systems Supervisor, I apologize to you for my conduct. Pralla Portside Consumables Monitor, I offer my apologies to you as well.”
“I’m not finished,” Riker continued. “You will now buy a round for everyone in the place.”
“Everyone?” Bitt asked.
“Everyone,” Riker replied. “Your friends will help you pay for it, of course. You’ll pay half, and they’ll make up the rest. You’ve all offended everyone here by your boorish behavior. Your friends participated in your little game with us just outside, and they followed you in here to see a fight. They share your blame—and they’ll pay, just as you will.”
“‘The detail shares the duty,’” quoted Wiggin with a smirk.
Bitt nodded. “Agreed, Supervisor,” he said, as the others mumbled their assent.
“Very well,” Riker said in dismissal. “Apology accepted. Wiggin, call over a facilitator and put all that into motion, will you?” He suddenly grinned. “Everyone here seems pretty thirsty to me.”
“Right away!” Wiggin chirped. He held up a hand with two fingers extended, and one of the female facilitators hurried through the crowd.
Bitt stood silently before Riker. “Well?” Riker finally asked. “Are you waiting for something, Bitt?”
“I was wondering if, er, that would be all, Supervisor,” the Krann asked quietly.
“Oh,” Riker replied. Clearly, he could impose yet another penalty on Bitt, but he had no idea of what it might be or of how to enforce it—and something in his gut told him that, in any case, enough was enough. “Yes,” he said, his tone magnanimous. “That will be all.”
There was a roar of approval from everyone present, and the music began playing again. Bitt was clearly relieved. One of Bitt’s female friends hugged him hard while the two others, a male and a female, thanked Riker profusely.
Troi saw an opportunity and took it. She bent her head against the renewed clamor to speak to Wiggin. “Would you mind if these people joined us?” she asked him.
“Why, no, not at all,” Wiggin replied grandly. “Plenty of room, plenty of room—and it’s a great day, after all. C’mon, you pot cleaners, drag over some chairs and sit down with me and my friends Dex and Pralla.” He clumsily patted Troi’s hand, and she frowned at the uninvited approach. Wiggin blinked and withdrew his hand quickly.
Understandably, Bitt and his friends seemed hesitant to sit down. “Are you sure, Supervisor?” Bitt asked, ignoring Wiggin.
“Certainly,” Riker told him. “I don’t hold a grudge—and, after all, it’s a great day.”
“It certainly is,” Bitt acknowledged. “Well, thank you, Dex Portside Sanitation Systems Supervisor. I and my friends would be pleased to join you.” Bitt pulled back one of the chairs and sat down. “Come on, all of you,” he said to his friends, a note of surprise in his voice. “We’ve been invited.”
“That you have,” Riker said. “Courtesy of our good friend Wiggin, here.”
“Eh?” Wiggin asked. Then he shrugged and grinned. “Oh, well, a day like this one comes only once every couple of years, and I suppose my account can stand it.” He looked at Troi and winked. “After all, the company is more than worth it.”
Troi thought about it for a split second and then winked back, adding a slow and meaningful smile. Wiggin looked drunkenly blank at her for a moment and then, realizing that she had returned his volley in kind, seemed startled and confused.
Bitt cleared his throat and addressed Riker politely. “Permit me, Supervisor, to introduce my friends.”
“Please,” Riker said. “Call me Dex. And my wife is Pralla.”
Bitt looked uncomfortable. “Uh, well, certainly, Dex and, uh, Pralla. Going antispinward around the table, I am pleased to introduce to you my friends Sharra Portside Electrician Journeyman, Nozz Portside Shaftway Maintainer Journeyman, and Lettana Starboard Plumbing Specialist Journeyman. As you can guess,