Ensign Tho’Bi - Andorian Subspace Rhapsody

[Tobi]

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

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.

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 lobbing 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.

The Andorian’s antennae picked an awkward shift from across the table. Ensign Meris sat up slightly and produced a small bag from beneath him,

Meris: I have the... oof!

The Gorn had pitched a hefty boulder at the Helmsperson, knocking them back into their seat.

Meris: I'll trade these for a favor to be named at a later date...

As another boulder came crashing down just past his ear, the Andorian found himself tempted to take that deal. He knew though, that Zee would never forgive him.

Tho'Bi: ::to Meris:: Rule of Acquisition Number Eight ::beat:: Small print leads to large risk. ::shakes head:: No deal.

Holo-Ferengi: ::clapping:: Very wise, Andorian. 250 bars of Gold-pressed Latinum! 

The bars of gold-pressed latinum arched towards him.

Holo-Ferengi: ::sneering:: …but tell me, now how will you get your diamonds?

oO One thing at a time Oo

Tho'Bi: ::to K'Wara:: How much?

Bancroft: Response

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.

Tho'Bi: Deal.

oO Progress Oo

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

The Andorian did not know who or what a Meringue was… he suspected it had something to do with the sticky snow, but he couldn’t be sure.

Tho'Bi: ::to Cole:: Fine, deal.

Meris: ::curiously:: Mister Meringue? Isn't that an Earth dance?

Tho'Bi: ::shrugs::

Bancroft: Response 

Thwack. Thwack. Thwack. One. Two. Three boulders smacked off the side of the Andorian’s head. His Andorian temperament got the better of him.

Blue legs stood up. Blue hands grabbed green head and snout. Crack! Green head rotated 180 degrees. Blue hands let go. Gorn dropped onto the board. Lifeless. Blue legs sat down.

The Holo-Ferengi let out an anguished wail. And then bellowed what the Andorian could only assume was the Gorn's name to the Divine Treasury. 

Holo-Ferengi: Gaaaaaaaaaaarrrrrrrrrrry!  

Tho'Bi: ::dead pan:: 250 bars of gold-pressed latinum to look the other way.

Holo-Ferengi: Nice try!

Tho'Bi: 500.

Holo-Ferengi: Deal!

K'Wara: ::nods:: That makes some sense. Guess Galaxy-opoly may be more about "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.

Tho'Bi: ::nods:: We all have our own ways of playing the game. 

Bancroft: Responses

The NX Token of Ensign Cole landed on a square called, “The Temporal Twist”.

Cole: What does that even mean?

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.

Holo-Ferengi: You have sixty seconds to fulfill 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...

The Security Ensign stood up. Spotlight. Started slow. Hip wiggle. 

Meris: It is difficult to dance without music. If one of you gentlemen would like to assist the Ensign...

The Andorian looked around… none of them had any musical instruments.  

A strange, protracted, shimmering tone floated through the air. It was electronic in nature, but sounded like a vocalisation, almost ethereal. The Holo-Ferengi rose out of the center of the board. In front of him was a stand. On the stand, was a flat rectangular box with what looked like a tall chrome aerial, rising up at one end; at the opposite end, a chrome loop extended outwards from the box and back in again.  

As the Holo-Ferengi moved one hand away from the upright aerial, the pitch of the shimmering tone descended into the depths, when he moved it closer, and the pitch soared back up. His other hand kept station above the chrome ring. The higher his hand, the louder the tone.

The tune idled and meandered in an underbaked schmaltz of eerie nostalgia.

K’Wara/Bancrofti: Responses

Fifteen seconds of hip wiggling. The Security Ensign smiled and opened her eyes. Smooth body rolls. Playful Spins. Training Poses?

Timer zero. Security Ensign bows. Challenge Compete. 

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

Meris joined in the clapping. The Andorian clapped too in support of his roommate.  

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

K’Wara/Bancroft: Responses

Richards: =/\= Response =/\=

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

The Andorian watched as his roommate, who had insisted he attend this event, divided up the remaining bars in her bank and handed them out to everyone.

As the Gold-pressed Latinum reached him, the Andorian grimaced a smile in his roommate's direction. Crafty. She was crafty, no doubt.

Dunk! The Helmsperson had failed to navigate the table as they stood up. The Andorian knew that feeling all too well… Risa. Beach. Entire crew.

Meris: Thank you Ensign. It was a pleasure meeting you.

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

Tho'Bi: ::to Cole:: Shaslex n’fellex.

K’Wara/Bancroft: Responses

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

The sneaky Security Officer paused at the door. Glanced back with a smile.

Meris: ::to Bancroft:: What adventure are you going on later with Ensign Cole?

Tho'Bi: ::quiet and serious:: Ensign Cole is going to use Doc Crashcart for target practice.

Bancroft: Response.

Tho'Bi: ::nodding:: We take turns. Usually, she keeps the phaser on stun.

Bancroft/Meris/K'Wara: Response.

Holo-NOT-Grok: We may have one less player but that just means more profit for those who remain! Who will be next to spin my wheel?

The Andorian’s turn rolled round. He spun the Dabo Wheel. Clatter-Clatter. Eight Lightyears. Enterprise Token moved.

The Holo-Ferengi said nothing, but grinned at the Andorian. 

Tho'Bi: ::on the count:: What.do.I…have.to.do…

The Holo-Ferengi grinned widened as the Andorian realised he was singing. 

Tho'Bi: UhOh..UhOh..UhOh..UhOh….Oh.No.

The Holo-Ferengi howled with laughter.

Bancroft/Meris/K'Wara: Response.

Tag/TBC

((OOC: I will leave that like that… I was tempted to make everyone afflicted with the singing, but that seemed a little unfair… hilarious, but unfair. Though, feel free to afflict yourselves… 

Music I was describing was of course the wonderfully awful, awfully wonderful, ‘Prime Specimen/Bottled’ …not actually a Theremin, but that's how Ferengis prefer to play it. https://youtu.be/wqKDnQqtRbo?si=akdywaZk0m_vDc19

Andorian Phrase:

Shaslex n’fellex

Slide, don't slip

Literally translates as 'glide don't slip' and is used to wish someone 'Good Luck'. Typically, the recipient will repeat the phrase back.

https://wiki.starbase118.net/wiki/index.php?title=Andorian/Graalen#Sayings 

))

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Ensign Tho’Bi

Engineering

USS Artemis-A

A240203T11