Walking up to the bar slowly he listened in on the conversation Frost was having with the tall civilian bartender who was trying desperately not to encourage the slurring man without being rude. “-cocked it all up! Burke, tha' buggerer, got wha' he deserved, freezin' like tha', you shoulda seen it. Thought he was me friend, eight years on we served different Captains, made one score afta 'nother then he takes it all! Some mate he was!”
Finn had heard the story already, about Frost dragging Burke off and torturing him until security caught up. The word was Burke lost his nose, a foot, several toes and fingers and swathes of skin to frostbite, something that was obviously planned to not only get something out of Burke, but to enhance Frost's already dark reputation and the tenacity of his nickname.
It would be hard for anyone to ignore that story when they called him Chief Frost or just Frost. “Lexin Dark Blue, please.” Finn ordered as he stopped to stand several stools away from Frost at the bar.
The server ordered his drink from a materializer set into the wall and passed the tall glass filled with dark blue fluid to him. His records automatically reflected the purchase and its impact on his rations.
“Here's a friendly one!” Frost exclaimed as he near stumbled out of his stool and staggered over to sit beside Finn. He patted the younger fellow on the shoulder so hard he was forced to sit down. “Served with me on the Samson, this one did. Tha' was afore Captain took this overlarge boat on with all it's comers.”
“Hi Frost, having a good night?” Finn regretted the words as soon as they slipped off his tongue.
He finished the remainder of his drink, an ounce of amber fluid in the bottom of a stout glass made for large pieces of ice and hard liquor and pounded it back down onto the bar. “No! Steph's left! Cap'n gonna put me off my post tomorrow.” Shamus waveringly pointed at his glass and regarded the slim bartender, who looked back at him witheringly. “More scotch!”
“You're well over your rations sir.”
He raised his command and control unit and ham handedly brought up a display showing his ration status was green, showing over three times the regular usage for the night, but still green. “Y'see here? Ration's good, more scotch!”
“Well, I'm saying you've had enough sir. See? Your friend here has come to take you to your quarters,” the barkeep said, gesturing towards Finn.
“Steph'nie sent ya?” Frost asked as he looked over to him.
Finn had a split second to consider his response and shrugged. “Yup, she heard you were down here and wanted me to help you up to your quarters.”
“Dunna need yer help lad, I'm fine!”
The bartender smirked and reached across the bar, giving one of Shamus's shoulders a firm push.
Frost was well on his way to toppling over and hitting the floor when Finn caught the heavier man and was almost dragged off his stool himself.
Price helped balance him as he walked up behind the pair and quietly said; “It's been a long day.”
Something passed between the pair, the look Agameg gave him communicated something subtly, and the drunken Gunnery Chief got it. Finn chalked it up to respect or familiarity, but Frost actually listened to him and after a moment of looking into the changeling's large eyes he nodded. “Aye, time ta move on afore I find somethin' else ta bugger up.”
Shamus turned away from his stool and staggered to his feet. Price got under one of his arms and as Finn took up on the other side Frost looked over his shoulder to the barkeep and asked; “Bottle 'fer the road?”
The slim faced barkeep laughed to himself and walked away, shaking his head.
The trip through the bar and to the express car that took them to the command deck and Frost's quarters was fraught with comments about how Frost “managed to cock up a chance at real service,” “get cheated outta every penny, an' piss on 'is friends gettin' it back” he even exclaimed; “only true mates! Bloody shifter who can't do humans an' th' engineer who got wi' the first girl he fancied on th' Samson.”
When they finally arrived on the command deck and the express car doors opened Frost greeted the crew members waiting for the lift by exclaiming; “these're me only friends! Alien n' an engineerin' kid!” Most of the half dozen people waiting started and took a full step back out of the way immediately.
Alice was among them and was wide eyed at first, then grinned broadly. “Everything okay?”
“We have it under control,” Price reassured.
“Bollocks! Steph'nie's gone! Cocked it all up, pissed on 'er job an' I don't respect her! Least tha's wha she thinks.”
“It'll be all right.” Alice reassured as she passed them and stepped into the express car. “She's a patient woman.”
The doors closed behind Finn and Price as they started guiding and carrying Frost to the command deck berth. Finn double checked the location of the Chief's quarters and realized they were almost there, it was just around the corner.
Frost was following along, seeming to almost dose off until he brought his head up just enough to realize they were passing right by Stephanie's door. With a sudden burst of strength and a bare minimum of dexterity, he freed himself of Price and Finn's aid. He nearly full on collided with Stephanie's door and shouted; “I'm sorry! I'll explain! On me knees if y'like.”
Finn caught up with him and put a hand on his shoulder; “you can talk to her in the morning.”
He turned to Finn and Price with desperation. “Listen ta me lad.”
“Come Frost, we should leave her be,” Price tried to convince him.
“Nono, lisssentame! Could be there willna be a mornin', every moment's precious. Asides, I'm charmin' when I'm drunk,” he turned back to the door control panel and peered into it, pressing the open button. It buzzed a stern denial in response, showing the door was locked with a flash of red across the control. “C'mon lass! Spent too much time chasin' tha' empty headed pilot girl, dinna notice the great lady right behind 'er!”
The panel came to life, Ashley's face filling the screen. “Come back tomorrow after shift. You're so drunk you should come with subtitles.”
Finn looked to Price with his hand over his face. “I forgot Ash and Steph are hanging out tonight.”
“Sorry Ash, ye had yer chance, tell Steph ta lemmie in.”
Stephanie came into view, looking irritated but dressed for a night out, with her hair up and in a low cut black dress. “Leave me alone or I'll call security.”
“Y'look juicy lass. Jus' lemmie in and I'll make it all better. Forget Burke, tha' buggerer inna worth yer attention. Sorry I dinna notice ye aboard th' Samson, we shoulda been snoggin' years afore!”
“Security's on their way, you should go.” Stephanie said as she walked out of view.
“Love ye lass! You're like I've never seen!”
Ashley came back on screen. “Have a good night guys,” she waved before deactivating the door display.
“Feck!” Shamus exclaimed, pounding his fist against the wall beside the door controls. “She's all dressed ta trot out right after our row.”
“We should go before security gets here,” Price said, putting his arm back on Frost's shoulder and trying to steer him down the hallway.
Around the corner came four security guards in their heavy black vacsuits.
“Oi! Look 'ere, her boys!” Frost exclaimed loudly with a mock welcoming gesture. “Well, let's 'ave a go then! One up, keep it level!”
“Sometimes I wish he came with a dictionary.” Price said as he shook his head, cringing at what he knew was about to happen.
“All right, just relax. We can either take you somewhere where you can sleep this off or give you an injection that'll help you sober up. It's up to you.”