The smell of the astonishing variety of culinary offerings being prepared filled the nostrils of the two blueshirted Starfleet officers as they stepped out of the Type-20 cargo shuttle after landing on Colludia II.
LtJG Moop-sey and Dr. LCdr Sullivan, had both accepted offers to serve as judges for a local cookout/culinary festival in the interior of the mainland.
“MmmmMoopsy! (Smells yummy. Now to figure out where to start taste testing.)” The dimunitive, pudgy, white furred, evolved Moopsy giggled as he cutely hopped down the steps before waddling over to the nacelle and climbing down to the ground.
“Intriguing, I agree.” Amira Sullivan smiles down at her newfound furry friend. She’s tied her hair back in a pony tail like fashion and dawned herself a sundress–with her comm badge overtop, of course. “I’ve worked up quite an appetite for this.”
There was a bevy of tends and huts sitting around a small set of two story structures about 50 yards away. As they scrolled towards the festival ground they could see that the event was well attended, with several dozen people of various species milling around the stands and infront of the booth where the contestants were handing out samples of the different dishes they had prepared.
“Greetings, you must be the judges we requested. Thank you both for coming. I’m Jerrak, the President of Colludian College of Culinary Arts, welcome to the Festival of Spice Mastery.” A short grey haired human man said as he approached the two newcomers.
Amira’s eyes light up at the thought of spicy food. Since she was a little girl, her father was quite adamant about a wide culinary palate. Since then, she’s found a few things shes quite enjoyed; and spice was one of them.
“Mooooooopsy, moopsie. (Spice Mastery? I didn’t notice that part in the invite. Us moopsies are not very familiar with food taste enhancements that activates the heat receptors of our flavour palates. We’re used to a bland calcium rich diet mostly.)” The Trentons Counselor whispered to Sullivan as they followed Jerrak through the festivals main boulevard towards a raised stage with a small table and a podium.
“You’re in for a treat.” Amira smirks, hand on her hip as she walks. “I’ve been consistently preparing to try more food on our way here; spice levels can reach awfully high! Oh, but–you should be fine. I don’t see why a Moopsy couldn’t eat spice if the main palate has been a consistent calcium based diet. To us, thats spicy sometimes!”
“Moopsy… (Fascinating. I will yield to an trust your expert medical opinion…)”
As they walked through the gathering of food lovers there was a few gasps and shrieks of terror. One vendor was even so shocked at the sight of a Moopsy he leapt over his grill and tore through the fabric rear of his tent, sprinting off towards his shuttle as fast as his legs could carry him.
Though the young Counselor was used to it by now he still hung his head in shame. The more ravenous and primal, feral moopsies that his offshoot had diverged from centuries ago had a reputation and perception he could never hope to assauge no matter how hard he tried.
“Bah, ignore them.” Amira leans down and ruffles a hand along the top of Moop-sey’s head, scowling daggers at someone who tries to make a passing comment. “Sometimes you have to hold that head up higher to allow the sunlight to reach your face. Look, someones even coming up now.”
Moop-sey briefly scowled up at Sullivan, he wasn’t some pet who could be mollified by a simple pat on the head, but he quickly softened his expression realizing that Doc was just trying to be nice.
“Are you going to drink my bones.” A young Rigellian child walked up and asked.
“Moopsee (No, young one, I certainly won’t.)” He said jovially.
“Oh, well thats good. I’m Valish, what’s your name?”
“Moop-sy (My names Moop-sey, what’s your favourite cuisine that tou have tried today?).” He said as the childs mother finished sampling a stew and noticed her daughter chatting with a Moopsy.
“Valish, be careful sweetie.” The mother grabbed her child by the shoulder and pulled her away.
“Moopsi (I assure you ma’am, I am no danger to you, your child, or anyone else. It was nice meeting you Valish.)”
The Lt turned and quickly waddled back to Sullivan and Jerrak, catching up to them just as they arrived at the stage.
Jerrak motioned to the two chairs at the table and went and retrieved something from the podium, “Here are your ceremonial tasting sponsors. The dishes will be presented for you to judges in a few moments. I trust you’re both aware that the decision must be unianimous between the two of you.”
Moop-sey nodded.
“Understood.” Amira sits down excitedly, raising a fork with one hand and drumming the table with the other. “Oooh, this is going to be exciting! My Captain once said a very useful bit of information to us; food is the universal language of the world. A homecooked meal does wonders for ones relationship with another.”
After hopping up onto the chair with a delicate little grunt Moop-sey replied, “My father used to say something back home on Zeebala. He would say, ‘bringing a bone to share shows you care’.”
“That. . .essentially means the same thing.” Amira chuckles as she turns back to the group.
Jerrak then announced from the podium, “Alright everyone, gather around, we are about to being the judging.”
Two white robe wearing humans then walked up onto the stage, both carrying a tray with three bowls on each and placed them infront of the Starfleeters.
The little Counselor loaded a spoonful of what looked to be some sort of thick stew or gulash from the bowl on the left and took a bite. After a few seconds the seering heat of the multitude of spices the chef had used assualted his senses. He could barely taste the food through the flaming hot spices. He fought the urge to cough but eventually was overwhelmed to point where he hacked and flumoxed in his chair as the white robed servers both returned and placed glasses filled with a white liquid infront of each of them.
Instinctively Moop-sey grabbed the cup and took a few large gulps that helped stifle the fire raging in his gullet.
After coughing again, he wheezed, “Moopsy. (It’s good. Very potent.)”
Amira lets out a wheeze as she sips her own beverage, trying hard to savor the taste. The spice level was a bit too much for her as well; but alas, she nods.
“Definitely has. . .a kick!”
After steeling and bracing himself Moop-sey tasted a smaller spoonful of the middle bowl which was slightly less spicy, but still caused his eyes to tear up and beads of sweat to flow down from his forehead and across his face.
“That one’s a bit milder. I like it.”
“Milder, yes. As flavorful? Eh, not too much.” The doctor shrugs as she dabs a napkin up to the corner of her lips.
Moop-sey sipped some of the milky liquid to clear his palate and went in for a buy of third bowl in front of him.
He should have stopped when the spoon nearing his lips caused his eyes to water, but the little Counselor sent the firey substance down his throat.
Within seconds a panic look came over his face as his throat swelled and realized he ccouldn’t breathe. He let out a horrified squeak and began slapping Sullivan in the side of the arm. He gasped for air but couldn’t seem to fill his lungs.
The moopsies body and fur started to turn a dull pinkish colour as he cells screamed for oxygen and his capillaries began to burst.
“Can’t breathe.” He gurgled.
Amira’s eyes widen as she fumbled quickly for her medical tools—promptly knocking over the food onto her lap.
“Oh, Moop-sey! Damnit! Hold on,” She wipes off the food from her lap and quickly pulls out a hypospray, grabbing the fluffy creature by the scruff and holding him in place. “Here, hold on. . .and still. . .”
Moop-sey was beginning to have tunnel vision and his body vibrated in convulsions
With a deep breath, she ejects the hypospray into what she hopes and prays is moopsies’ neck.
“C’mon, breeeeathe. . . .”
“Huk, tggghhh, huuuuh, haaaa” The moopsies airways began open and he started gulping the air coughing.
“There we go! Can’t believe that worked, that’s for human grade. . .oh well. Are you okay?” Amira looked over the fluffy officer’s face, before sighing a sigh of relief.
“What was in that stuff? Am I still alive?…wow, fascinating. I guess we found a winner. If it almost killed a Moopsy number three has to be the champion.” Moop-sey said and clumsily worked his way back to his feet.
“Hard agree. It has a great aftertaste, too!” Amira laughed, patting Moop-sey on the back, and turning to the people. “We vote number three. A clear winner there!”
