Ensign Natasha Cole - Dancing and Duty

[Natasha Schell]

(( Main Mess Hall - Deck 3, USS Artemis-A ))

  

Cole: Could be worse, could be forty years older and still an Ensign. ::laughing::

 

K’Wara: Well, pretty sure a temporal anomaly doesn’t hand out pips, so he’s living that nightmare now.

 

Tho'Bi: ::to Bancroft:: Could be much worse, Ferengis collect debts even after the Captain airlocks you ::beat:: there's no escape. 

 

Meris: I am beginning to suspect the object of this game is simply to be the last player with any latinum.

 

Bancroft: ::cocking an eyebrow, grinning:: Meris… that’s exactly the object of this game.

 

The figure broke into the spotlight. Mad, bad, and dangerous to know. Holo-NOT-Q.

 

Holo-NOT-Q: Sorry to disappoint you Ensign! You won't be increasing your profits this turn…. Oh, I know, the Universe can be so unfair. ::glint in the eye:: …and it's about to get a whole lot less fair! ::snaps fingers::

 

With a flash of white light. A holo-lute appeared in the Andorian’s hands.

 

Meris: Who is this supposed to be?

 

The Holo-NOT-Q looked offended but turned back to Tho’Bi.

 

Bancroft: ::fascinated:: If I’m not mistaken, that’s a crude simulacrum of Q – omnipotent being, professional nuisance.

 

Cole: Wonder if this version will be obsessed with Tho’Bi.

 

Holo-NOT-Q: Sing for your supper, Andorian! …or lose all your money and forfeit the game ::smiles::

 

With another bright flash of light the Holo-NOT-Q was gone, but the spotlight remained. It fell on the lute holding Andorian. 

 

K’Wara: Well, that’s certainly a twist. 

 

Meris: Is that a flute?

 

Bancroft: ::softly:: No… please, no.

 

Natasha couldn’t contain her laughter prompting Tho’Bi gave a rather accusative look at his roommate. 

 

Cole: ::still laughing:: You got this. 

 

Tho’Bi looked as if he was trying to recall anything passable for music, until he began to sing and the lute played along.

 

Tho'Bi: ::passible singing:: Vrel’sha’mar, vrel’keth’nor. Zal’norash kethni’del. Kagh! Kagh! Kagh! Vrel’sha’mar, vrel’keth’nor. Zal’norash kethni’del. Kagh! Kagh! Kagh!

 

Meris: ::to Tho'Bi:: An impressive cultural display, Ensign. ::light clapping::

 

Bancroft: ::one eye closed, muttering:: Thank the stars that’s ov–

 

Cole: ::clearly surprised:: That was actually impressive.

 

K’Wara: Bravo-

 

Tho’Bi continued on into the second verse.

 

Tho'Bi: ::passible singing:: Lex’jal’tor, vrel’keth’nor. Zal’krasha kethni’del. Kagh! Kagh! Kagh! Lex’jal’tor, vrel’keth’nor. Zal’krasha kethni’del. Kagh! Kagh! Kagh!

 

The spotlight clicked off. The regular game lighting snapped back in. And the lute was gone. The words “Challenge Competed” rotated above them.

 

K’Wara: Very good! Bravo, Tho’Bi.

 

Tho’Bi: ::to K'Wara:: Thank you. Sorry about the second verse.

 

Meris: I would be interested in learning the etymology of that song, Ensign Tho'Bi... ::a beat:: ...at a suitable time, of course.

 

Cole: That was actually impressive.

 

K’Wara: It was a great rendition. I like music as much as the next one, but I wouldn’t dare call myself an adept vocalist. That was an Andorian song, I take it?

 

Tho’Bi: ::to K'Wara:: Yes. I sang it with my mother when I was young. She is an Engineer too. It is a song of her clan - the Birev clan.

 

Tho’Bi: ::to K'Wara:: ...the Engineer's clan. ::smiles::

 

K’Wara: Interesting. Can’t say I’ve heard much Andorian music in my life. ::nods:: I like it.

 

Meris: It's not Tamarian throat-singing... but an impressive rendition nonetheless.

 

Natasha caught Roy flick his eyes to Meris for a brief moment. Wondering what that was about she turned to Lieutenant K’Wara, it was their turn.

 

They ended up paying a not-insignificant-sum of latinum to the Holo-NOT-Grok as their version of the USS Voyager unfortunately had bought an entire cargo-load of not-quite Self Sealing STEM Bolts, and had to buy replacements for the entire load from the quality-guaranteed stock of the Grok Brothers, complete with a lecturing word of caution from Holo-NOT-Grok about Rule 17..

 

K’Wara: Sometimes I’ve come to realize since joining up with Starfleet. Despite space travel being such a common thing, not many people actually do it, certainly not civilians. ::looks around as the turn passes:: Did any of you travel much before joining up?

 

Tho'Bi: Ferenginar, a few times. Places around Deep Space 3. Some non-Federation worlds - which was cool.

 

Meris: I never left the J'naii homeworld before the Academy. Off-world travel is virtually unheard of among my people.

 

Bancroft: Here and there with my parents while they were still on active commission, but they retired to South Carolina on Earth when I was still pretty young… eleven or twelve, I think. The next time I went to space was at the Academy. How about you, el-tee?

 

K'Wara: Response

 

Cole: When I was a child and my parents were still together, we would travel for various assignments my parents had. Once they divorced … travel was more sporadic.

 

Holo-Ferengi: Captain... The USS Enterprise NCC-1701 REFIT must... journey to Deep Space Station K7 to... collect a shipment of... Quadrotriticale grain and... transport it to Sherman's Planet. Do you... accept this challenge?

 

Meris: That sounds vaguely familiar…

 

Bancroft: ::turning to Meris:: Something to do with trouble– I mean, tribbles?

 

Cole: I heard a rumor they were created by a scientist that had no clue what he was doing.

 

K'Wara: Response

 

Tho'Bi: Challenge accepted.

 

The Holo-Ferengi laughed so hard his wig fell off - except it wasn’t a wig anymore, but a chirping, trembling lump.

 

Tho'Bi: Uh oh.

 

Meris: Is that a…

 

Bancroft: ::barely concealed glee:: This is so entertaining when it’s not happening to me…

 

Cole: ::glancing at Roy:: I couldn’t agree more. ::smiling at Tho’Bi’s misfortune

 

K'Wara: Response?

 

A holographic avalanche of Tribbles buried Tho’Bi.

 

Cole: ::scooting back:: Don’t fight it. Just accept your new role as the Tribble Throne..

 

Meris: Oh dear…

 

Bancroft: ::giggling:: Classic.

 

K'Wara: Response.

 

Tho'Bi: ::grinning:: Look out, Doc! You’ve got one under your nose.

 

Meris: I must disagree. What is under Doctor Bancroft's nose more closely resembles the larval stage of the burrowing fen worm from my homeworld.

 

Roy smoothed his mustache with thumb and forefinger.

 

Bancroft: ::laughing:: You two say ‘unwanted pest’. I say ‘distinguished’. Starfleet says ‘technically within regulations’. Everybody wins.

 

Cole: I think it’s a bold choice. Half-21st-century cop, half-villain in an old Earth western.

 

K'Wara: Response.

 

It was Meris’s turn, since theirs was skipped last round.

 

Holo-Ferengi: Quantum slipstream drive!

 

Bancroft: ::patting Meris on the shoulder:: Ooooh, good spin, Meris!

 

Tho’Bi: ::to Meris:: Shaslex n’fellex ::smiles:: Slide don't slip… it's Graalen ::shrugs:: Andorian, it means, Good Luck.

 

K'Wara: Luck does certainly seem to play a good part in this game. ::smiles:: Bad luck seems more prevalent thus far.

 

Cole: They all can’t have horrible consequences … Can they?

 

Meris watched their aircraft carrier piece travel through a tunnel and emerge over a familiar blue-green planet.

 

Meris: Is that Earth?

 

And, orbiting at the edge of the Sol System, was Starbase One.

 

Bancroft: The Blue Marble itself, indeed!

 

Cole: Indeed it is.

 

Holo-Ferengi: Congratulations! You may purchase Starbase One for 200 bars. An expensive purchase, but with comes a 10% royalty on all penalties paid by others because, as Rule 62 states, 'The Riskier the Road, the Greater the Profit!'

 

Meris: Oh my... I will purchase Starbase One.

 

They handed over the 200 bars. It was Roy’s turn and the Difiant zipped along the board landing on Vulcan.

 

Holo-Ferengi: ::grinning:: Aha! You’ve landed on Vulcan. You may purchase it for 150 bars.

 

Roy reached for his stack of latinum–

 

Holo-Ferengi: ::raising a finger:: However, in order to earn the right to purchase Vulcan, you must first complete a required Pon Farr Audit.

 

Above the holo-Ferengi, glowing neon words spelled out:

PON FARR AUDIT
It’s not love – it’s neurological imbalance.

Holo-Ferengi: ::gleefully:: For tax purposes, we must now examine your history of romantic entanglements, whether real or tragically hypothetical.

 

Bancroft: ::blinking:: That… that feels aggressively targeted.

 

The lights shifted dramatically, with just a single spotlight on Roy.

 

Holo-Ferengi: Let’s begin. Question one! Have you ever experienced what the Hew-Mons call ‘butterflies’ in the presence of another sentient being?

 

Bancroft: ::cautiously:: Are we talking literal or metaphorical butterflies? Because I had a very alarming case involving a lepidopterist during clinical rotations.

 

K’Wara: Who knew Galaxy-opoly doubled as such a vicious instrument of existential dread?

 

Cole: ::leaning forward placing her hand on her chin:: This should be interesting.

 

Meris: Responses

 

Holo-Ferengi: ::checking notes:: Acceptable dodge! Question two! During your Academy years, were you ever described as ‘dreamy,’ ‘brooding,’ or ‘emotionally unavailable but in an intriguing way’?

 

Bancroft: ::cheeks burning:: I’ll have you know I was perfectly available. People just needed to look past the sarcasm and extreme emotional deflection.

 

Tho'Bi: The moustache says brooding ::nods::

 

K'Wara: Hey, they’re synonyms for a reason.

 

Cole: Didn’t expect anyone to be psychoanalyzed tonight.

 

Meris: Responses

 

Holo-Ferengi: ::rubbing hands together:: Final question! When facing mortal peril, have you ever envisioned one specific individual as your ‘final thought’?

 

Bancroft: ::reddening further:: I’m invoking the Fifth Directive on that one.

 

Holo-Ferengi: ::gleeful:: Denial and evasion! There might be some hope for you Hew-Mons after all! The audit is passed, you are now the proud owner of Vulcan.

 

A certificate materialized before Roy reading “MOST LIKELY TO NEED A HUG BUT REJECT IT”.

 

Bancroft: ::deadpan:: That’s going on the mood board. Right next to my ‘Live, Laugh, Lock it all Inside’ sign.

 

K’Wara: ::smirk:: Well, now it just feels like you’re hogging the attention.

 

Tho'Bi: ::to Bancroft:: Zhasil hlenz fellexi’flan ::smiles and pats Bancroft on the back:: The warmest embrace melts the coldest hearts.

 

Cole: ::nodding slightly:: Interesting way to frame the power of friendship.

 

Meris: Responses

 

Tho’Bi: ::to everyone:: Fellexi’flan shranek... thas ek'hris ::beat:: But if the heart is frozen solid, there's always the blade. ::smiles::

 

Cole: And there’s the multifaceted nature of Andorian’s peeking through.

 

K'Wara/Meris/Bancroft: Responses

 

Natasha’s turn came and went, resulting in her having to pay of all things a speeding fine, it cost her 50 bars. Tho’bi turn he spun a 19 after his spin.

 

Holo-Ferengi: ::prancing about the table surface:: N-n-n-n-nineteen, nineteen!

N-nineteen, nineteen!

 

The young Andorian looked at everyone, shrugged and shook his head. Natasha returned it with an equally confused shrug. Leaning forward to see if something was amiss with the board.

 

Meris/Bancroft: Responses

 

The miniature USS Enterprise NCC-1701 REFIT landed on a square with a small dusty looking world. The board shimmered into a rugged terrain of rock outcrops and sparse vegetation …then nothing happened.

 

Tho'Bi: Galaxy-opoly Game System Control ::beat:: run dia-

 

A hefty, photo-torpedo-sized boulder had hit the Andorian square in the head.

 

K'Wara: You’re uniquely unlucky in this game, Tho’Bi.

 

Cole: It’s like the game has it out for you.

 

Meris/Bancroft: Responses

 

An outcrop of rock had manifested at the centre of the game, atop it, a large humanoid with green scaly skin, a larger head with extended mouth, full of glistening sharp white teeth.  

 

Holo-Ferengi: Now you've Gorn and done it! You must fashion a weapon from the limited resources around you.  

 

As the Holo-Ferengi spoke next, the various elements appeared, floating in mid-air around the Gorn. 

 

Holo-Ferengi: Bamboo, Sulfur, Coal, Potassium Nitrate, and Diamonds. But he's the kicker, Andorian ::points at Tho’Bi:: You’ve got the bamboo ::the bamboo appears in front of Tho'Bi:: but… four elements, four teammates. ::the four elements vanish:: which of your teammates has what? And… how much will they charge for it? ::grins:: Will it be money? Information? ….Or favors? ::sniggers::

 

A second chunk of dusty rock arched down onto the Andorian. This time he caught it. 

 

Holo-Ferengi: And don't worry my fellow profit seekers… There's enough Gorn for anyone!

 

With that, the rock-top Gorn began lobbying boulders at all the players. And the Holo-Ferengi broke out into a song, “Gorn Freeeee!”

 

K'Wara: Hmm... Wonder how this board game ended up so popular.

 

Cole: ::leaning to her side to avoid a boulder:: Probably because it spreads the chaos to everyone.

 

Meris/Bancroft/Tho’Bi: Responses

 

K’Wara: Good point. ::thinking:: It’s not unlike art, I guess. Not all art is comfortable or easily palatable. ::notices Tho’Bi’s question:: Oh, hmm... 50 latinum, Tho’Bi.

 

Cole: I’ll give you the component in exchange for ::tilting her head downward, with a direct, intense gaze up from beneath the eyebrows, often with a hint of a smile:: My silence on why I call you Mister Meringue

 

Meris/Bancroft/Tho’Bi: Responses

 

Tho’Bi eventually managed to get the Gorn off the board, and Tamio finished their turn (involving a parking fine as the Grand Magus had purchased the airspace and was implementing retroactive fines.

 

K’Wara: ::nods:: That makes some sense. Guess Galaxy-opoly may be more of ‘working together against unfair odds’ ::gestures with their head at Holo-NOT-Grok:: rather than bringing each other to financial ruin.

 

Cole: Maybe, I think it's also an example of different species interpreting games differently.

 

Meris/Bancroft/Tho’Bi: Responses

 

Eventually it was back to Natasha as she gave the wheel a spin, landing on a 23. As the little NX token moved across the board Natasha leaned back. It was fun getting to spend time with everyone, even with the chaos that was this game. She watched as it came to a stop on a square called ‘The Temporal Twist’.

 

Cole: What does that even mean?

 

As if on cue the Holo-Ferengi sprang out of the board

 

Holo-Ferengi: You’ve landed on Temporal Twist! ::doing a little shimmy:: You have to dance, as you Hew-Mons shake your money maker, or be whisked back to the beginning and lose half your bank in relocation fees.

 

Natasha sat there and stared at the Holo-Ferengi as if it was joking. To her dismay it was not.

 

Holo-Ferengi: You have sixty seconds to fulfil the challenge or it's an automatic forfeiture of all assets.

 

A timer appeared and started ticking away.

 

Cole: ::smirking:: “Fine. But don’t say I didn’t warn you…”

 

She stood up pushing her chair back as she did the lighting change like it had for Tho’Bi’s performance. She started to move slowly with a little hip wiggle, just enough to get a laugh, from who she didn’t notice as she had closed her eyes as if listening to unheard music.

 

K’Wara/Meris/Bancroft/Tho’Bi: Responses

 

After about fifteen seconds of her hip wiggle, she smiled as she opened her eyes and suddenly switched gears and danced with surprising confidence, a mix of smooth body rolls, a playful spin and bouncing between a few poses that were not dissimilar to some of her training poses. As the timer reaches zero she stopped and took a bow as the display showed ‘Challenge Complete’

 

Holo-Ferengi: ::clapping:: Well done Hew-Mon. Perhaps if you lose interest in Starfleet you could find work as a Dobo Girl.

 

Cole: ::trying not to laugh:: Thanks, but that’s not necessary.

 

K’Wara/Meris/Bancroft/Tho’Bi: Responses

 

Richards: =/\= Response =/\=

 

Cole: Sorry everyone, gotta go duty calls. ::looking at the Holo-Ferengi:: I am transferring my assets to the other players.

 

It was a statement not a request. She divided up the remaining bars in her bank and handed them out to everyone.

 

Cole: Good luck everyone! ::to Bancroft:: See you for our adventure later.

 

K’Wara/Meris/Bancroft/Tho’Bi: Responses

 

Cole: =/\= Cole to Richards, on my way. =/\=

 

Natasha paused at the door, glancing back at everyone with a smile. This was the wildest game she’s ever had the chance to play. She definitely needed to hang out with the others again.

 

Tags/End of scene for Natasha.

-----
Ens. Natasha Cole
Security Officer
USS Artemis-A
Writer ID A240205NC4