=/\= The Brewery - Kinsi =/\= The Brewery was a small shop that carried several different brands of tea. Elsie Oppenhimer owned and operated the small business with her sister-in-law Maggie Clarke. The two frequently would take a break mid morning and mid afternoon together. They would sit at the small table at the back of the shop and try one of the teas, especially if a new one came in. They would talk about many things mostly their husbands and Clive, but occasionally something more interesting presented itself. Elsie smiled at Maggie as she sat the full freshly brewed pot of tea on the table next to the assortment of shortbreads. "Clive is getting to be so tall," Elsie began as she poured first Maggie's mug of tea and then her own. "Has he grown out of another size of pants," Elsie asked. Maggie nodded, busy setting out some oat biscuits on a delicate china plate. "That boy never stops growing!" she stated, brushing a few crumbs aside. "...and his appetite..well...he'd eat us out of house and home given half the chance. ...Thank you dear..." Maggie slid her cup and saucer nearer. "...and how's Gus?...his feet better yet?" "Well, they we're doing better until those extra duty shifts started," she stated as she gave Maggie a knowing stare. "How has Donald's back been doing," she asked. Elsie scowled a bit knowing the extra duty shifts weren't probably any good for him either. Maggie adopted a martyred expression. "Well...its all.. 'oh my poor back' and 'you don't know what its like' but what did I tell him?... did he listen?... No!! 'Don't try to lift that on your own' I said...and what did he do?" Maggie left the question unanswered and sipped her tea. "Mmmm...this is very nice," she said dismissing thoughts of Gus and Donald and his back. Elsie had taken a sip of her own tea, "It is nice. Its that new one good for your health with a hint of cinnamon." She took a bite of one of the shortbreads. "They both would be doing much better if..." Elsie left the phrase unfinished as a stranger walked into the small shop. As the stranger stepped back out Elsie's look became concerned as she said, "You know Clive didn't stop by yesterday afternoon for his usual snack." Maggie, mouth full of oat biscuit, nodded quickly, swallowed the sweet snack and patted her lips with a napkin. "Ah ...I meant to tell you about that. He made a new friend. You'll never guess! He came home and told me he and the others had been playing 'tag' with someone called Athena," Maggie said getting into full flow. "I ask you...strange name for a little girl but there we go...any way...he went on and on about her..apparantly she's very pretty and full of fun. I said 'Why don't you ask her to play sometime?' and he gave me one of his withering looks...you know..how he does...and said 'Mother...she isn't staying here..she's off the new ship.' "The new ship," Elsie questioned, "but I thought..." She paused in thought and then continued, "But I'm almost sure that's a SSF ship and they don't have children aboard. Do they?" "SSF?...are you sure?....well, that's what Clive said....how strange." Maggie frowned into her cup and then took a sip of the new tea."Yes..very 'cinnamony' " she agreed. "I've seen a few of the crew now you come to mention it...but no children." Elsie smiled tightly, "I'm almost sure that's what Gus said and its why he and Donald are pulling double shifts." She took a few sips of tea as the two women thought for a moment. "Did you see that couple that were practically hanging onto each other. I don't think I ever saw them not touching some where." "You mean that tall man and the brown haired girl?....they took a shuttle you know....though exactly what's wrong with the accommodation here I can't say." She glanced out of the window to see who was passing by. ".....but it obviously didn't suit them..." she added with an offended air. Elsie followed Maggie's gaze and looked out the window as well. "That's another one of them," Elsie said as she angled her head toward the window and the passerby. "He must be someone important on the ship cause he's the one Gus pointed out to me," she paused to take a sip of tea, "he's not to be upset. I think is what Gus said about him." Maggie peered at the figure, craning her head to watch him as passers by blocked her view. "Yes...that's what Donald said too...Whatever he wants he's got to have.Its not an ordinary 'stop over' you know." she said turning back to Elsie. "Donald said as how the ships here.." she leaned forward and whispered " on a spy mission...checking up on the base...how its run..you know." She sat back in her chair. "Really," Elsie said with a note of disgust. "I heard ... can't remember where ... that the counselor on that ship is a betazoid." Elsie refilled both mugs warming up the little bit that was left in the bottom of each. "Oh well...say no more...thank you dear....mind readers they are...." Maggie took another appreciative sip of the tea. "Donald told me some woman was running around on the promenade...testing security they thought. Really...its amusing that they think we can't see through their games...who would believe an SSF Helm officer would 'almost' run into the base." Elsie sighed, "I know... they've been quite obvious, I think." Elsie took a sip of tea and said thoughtfully, "I wonder why they would choose a woman to test security... a woman seems like such an unlikely choice." "Probably what they want us to think," Maggie said biting into another biscuit."...and did you know...... that pair you mentioned..the tall man and the skinny woman?..well... he went into the flower shop and left her outside. She was standing there pretending to be a visitor....so what did she need two holdals for?..mmm?...what do you think?" "Probably for some other trick to try and play on Security. Although you'd think they'd try to be less obvious. It makes you feel safe to see how they work doesn't it?" Elsie had an amused look on her face. She ate the last bite of her shortbread and looked out the window as she took a sip of tea. She furrowed her brow and said interestedly, "Isn't that Clive? Who's he talking to?" "Where?" Maggie asked shifting in her seat the better to see her son "Oh!...I don't know..." "She's very pretty whoever she is," Elsie said quietly. "How old do you think that woman is? Do you think we should alert Donald or Gus and have her checked out," she asked. "Mmmm..." Maggie considered. "Elsie?...you don't think...that's not...could that be....Athena?" Maggie turned her head sharply to her sister-in-law "Surely not!" Elsie gasped, "Oh... I wouldn't think so... but.." She paused in thought for several seconds as she watched how Clive seemed to be trying to get the woman to move faster past the shop. "I wonder how we could find out," Elise said her thoughts aloud. Maggie got to her feet. "I'll go and ask her!" she said and headed for the door. Athena nodded to Clive and they took off running. "Well, that won't work now, Elsie said as she came to stand beside Maggie. "I'll say something to Gus that way Donald won't have to worry," she continued as she placed a comforting hand on her sister-in-law's shoulder. Fortunately or unfortunately the late afternoon customers started to come into the shop keeping both women busy. =/\= End Log =/\= Maggie Clarke NPC apb: Rangi & Elsie Oppenhimer NPC apb: Athena