Shakedown #94"
By: Miranda, Lounge Manager, [RNPC]
Patia Zoei, Chief Counselor, [PC]

Stardate: 58203.07 1245

Counselor's office

Zoei tidied her desk. Once her papers and writing utensils were in order, she adjusted the picture frame on her desk. Touching the glass, she made a mental note that tonight she had to write the long overdue missive to her family back home. Being busy was beginning to be a convenient excuse to avoid writing home. This is not something her mother would approve of from her.

Sliding her chair back, she rose from her work station. Crossing to the replicator, she laid her empty glass on the tray. Turning, she strode to the door. With a soft whooshing sound, the door slid open and she was in the corridor. Her stride long and confident, she walked to Miranda's.

==Mirandas==

As she walked into the popular pub, Zoei glanced around. She surveyed the room, seeing several crew members who had recently passed through her office. Eyes were quickly averted as people noticed her glance. It continually surprised her how many people were apparently afraid of her. As she watched entire tables of people close ranks, she decided her best choice would be to eat at the bar.

Holding her head up, Zoei walked across the room, smiling at Miranda as she noticed her. Hands on the bar, she had to stand on the tiptoes of one foot to slide onto the stool. There were some definite disadvantages to having short legs, she chuckled to herself.

"Hello, Miranda, how are you today?"

"Hello counselor, what can I get for you?" Miranda smiled.

"I will have a bowl of your broccoli cheese soup and a tall glass of milk, if you don't mind?" Zoei slumped slightly on the stool.

"Coming right up," said Miranda as she went to the food replicator and placed the order. She quickly returned with the soup and Milk. "Here you go." Miranda looked at the counselor and then said, "Are you ok? You look likr you have had a rough morning."

Zoei smiled softly and shook her head. "I am just fine, thank you for asking. Some days are just longer than others. I have never been able to understand that, they all have 24 hours, but they definitely don't add up the same. How are you today?"

"I am just fine," replied Miranda. "Business has been really good today."

"I suppose many people have a little extra time on their hands with the trouble with the warp engines." Zoei sipped at her soup. It was just as good as last time. "This soup is wonderful, yours is the best I have had since Mom's."

"Thanks, I brought quite a few replicator patterns with me. This is one of my favorites too," said Miranda. "

Zoei scraped her spoon across the bottom of the bowl, then finished her glass of milk. She laid the spoon and glass in the bowl and pushed them toward Miranda. "Thank you again, it hit the spot perfectly! I can hear my files calling. I had best get back to them. I hope you have a wonderful afternoon."

"You have a good afternoon as well," said Miranda as she scooped up the dished and returned placed them behind the bar. "Come back again, sometime. I have a new drink that I think you would love."

"Thank you, I will have to take you up on that," Zoei stepped away from the bar, turning toward the door. She surveyed the room, the camaraderie she could see with each group of people. It was like separate rooms in one big hall. Eyes straight forward, she strode from Miranda's.