LtCmdr Salkath - Speak Out at the Speakeasy

[Salkath]

((Third Promenade - DS224))

After the return from their eventful last mission on Ura Neteos III, Salkath had not taken the opportunity to check in on one of his mission colleagues, Ensign Lyara Alroyo. During the mission, she had sustained an injury, and Salkath had assisted her at various times during that mission. Curious to know how her healing had progressed, he contacted her for a social meeting.

The two decided on a casual stroll on one of their home base's promenades, and were currently walking idly around one of the lesser populated wings of the promenade and chatting.

Salkath: I am not saying that I would not try hasperat, just that I do not understand the necessity of excessive spice in cuisine. Oral and digestive discomfort does not seem conducive to dining enjoyment.

Lyara: response

Salkath: And you choose this? Willingly, knowing the consequences to your gut? It hardly seems logical.

Lyara: response

Salkath: ::with a deep sigh:: Far be it from me to shy away from experimentation in the name of scientific pursuit. I would try this hasperat dish then, and you can revel in my discomfort while I do so.

Lyara: response

The crowds had dimmed considerably more, and considering this part of the promenade hadn't been overly populated to start with, it became noticeable. Did Federation outposts have 'bad neighborhoods'? In the relative lack of din from passing crowds, the Vulcan was able to pick up a muffled commotion. Not sure if Alroyo heard it yet or not, she nonetheless had to notice him halt and tilt his head to get a bearing on the distant noise.

Salkath: Over there. ::pointing towards a dimmed corridor:: There might be an altercation of sorts.

Lyara: response

As they moved closer to where Salkath had heard the commotion, a long hallway resolved itself with a door to a large dimmed room at the end. Approaching the end of the hallway, the noise also became more coherent. There was the sound of a sizable crowd jeering and taunting, while several voices rose above the din hurling pointed insults at each other. The lighting was poor and the hallway long enough that they could not discern what was happening in the distant congregation from this vantage point.

Salkath: We should go investigate. Station security may need to be summoned.

Lyara: response

Moving cautiously but with purpose, the two Artemis officers descended the hallway. Salkath was under no impression of heroism; they were unarmed and had no jurisdiction here. Whatever altercation was taking place, they needed to determine the appropriate level of response and alert the proper authorities. He looked askance at his Bajoran companion as they moved along, recalling that she was a woman of action. He hoped that she would be of the same mindset as him, though if she was not, at least he knew she was light enough for him to carry.

The hallway opened up into a dingy speakeasy that looked dirty enough to fail health regulations on 27 Federation member worlds. The air was diffuse with smoke and reeked of said smoke and stale alcoholic beverages. There was no music being played, likely because everyone assembled were chanting and jeering. The crowd was circled around four individuals, and these four were taking turns hurling insults at each other. What sounded like boiling tempers from afar actually appeared to be sport up close, and everybody involved seemed to be enjoying themselves. There were no uniforms in sight, either Starfleet or any other polity, so everyone here was either civilians or hiding their affiliations. Curious. Their crimson and mustard Starfleet attire immediately made them outliers in the room.

Salkath: Do you understand what is happening here, Ensign?

Lyara: response

Their conspicuous presence didn't take long to be challenged. One of the four in the center of the crowd saw them, and shouted out.

Human: Oy! Starfleet! What are you doing here?

The crowd quieted immediately, and those standing between Lyara and Salkath and the speaker slowly shuffled aside, parting to create an open corridor. Motioned forward, Salkath glanced questioningly towards Alroyo before taking a few steps forward.

Salkath: We came to investigate the commotion. What is happening here?

This time, the Tellarite of the quartet spoke up. 

Tellarite: Not that it's any business of yours, Pointy, but we're having a roast battle. You mind?

The man (woman? Hard to determine with Tellarites) flicked their ear dismissively, and the meaning of their derogative moniker for Salkath was evident. Salkath sniffed the air tentatively, and got a snoot full of acrid narcotic smoke, but there was no hint of the scents of meat cooking. They would likely need a hypospray of sobering treatment afterwards, but secondary inhalation wasn't the cause of Salkath's confusion.

Salkath: I do not understand.

The crowd erupted in raucous laughter, and Salkath looked pleadingly to Alroyo to see if she understood what was happening.

Lyara: response

A third member of the inner circle barked a response, this time directed at Alroyo. The Klingon woman was angry. Or happy. Salkath couldn't tell the difference.

Klingon: Do you and your pet Vulcan want to play, little girl? This is a game of wit, though, so there is no dishonor in admitting you will be at a disadvantage!

She laughed coarsely, accompanied by the other three 'contestants' and the crowd at large. Salkath did not know Alroyo as well as he would have preferred in a situation such as this, but he was willing to hedge that she would not respond favorably to taunts. He spoke to her in an undertone, hoping to offer calming words.

Salkath: Ensign, exercise caution. We still do not know what is exactly happening here.

Lyara: response

The last of the quartet, an Andorian, spoke haughtily at them. They appeared dismissive, and to be fair, Salkath was ready to be dismissed.

Andorian: What is a roast battle, you ask? I can still see it in the Vulcan's eyes, the confusion. You deliver personalized insults at your competitor, and receive them in kind, until one can no longer retort an original and meaningful insult. Are you game?

Lyara: response

The Vulcan shrugged. When in Rome, insult the Romans, apparently.

Salkath: Are there additional rules? Any protocol that must be followed?

Tellarite: No crying, Pointy. And use your words. Lash out with your tongue if you get angry, not your fists. Otherwise, just spit out insults in turn until you can't come up with something worthwhile. Come on, give me your best shot.

He shared one last look with his colleague, seeking her assurances that they should actually partake in this illogical competition, then shrugged and squared up with the Tellarite.

Salkath: Alright. Well... I hazard that you could not quarrel your way out of an illicit Ferengi excise tax.

The crowd erupted. Was that a good thing or a bad thing?

Tellarite: I damn well could!  ::they grunted, then turned to Alroyo, yet pointing at the Klingon:: You! She has more impressive ridges on her pinky finger than you do on your face!

Lyara: response

((OOC: I asked for it, so have at it! Show how spicy Lyara can be, and don't be afraid to have fun at Salkath's expense either at times, that's what I'm after 😆 ))

TAG/TBC

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Lieutenant Commander Salkath

Engineer, USS Artemis-A

A239111MT0