Lt. Commander Tahna Meru - History Doesn't Repeat, But It Rhymes
Tahna Meru
((Seedy Pub, Lower vIq'mItlh City))
After the initial stares from the pub patrons on account of their group not being Klingon, they didn’t draw any more strange looks. Someone else entered the bar alone, wrapped up in a large coat, and ordered a mug of something at the bar before sitting in the corner under the speaker. Only a few Klingons here were alone, and most looked to be dressed for work. But being the odd one out, while curious, wasn’t a sure sign the newcomer was bad news. Ensign Spelvan slipped away to the bar to get drinks.
Tahna: It’s rainier than I thought it would be. I wonder if there’s anything else to do after drinks.
Neathler: Klingon opera?
Auricsdóttir: That I have never liked.
Meru didn’t mind Klingon opera, actually, though it would never be among her favorite musical genres. Too loud. She watched the Vulcan make his way back to their table, weaving around a group of Klingon patrons, a tray of drinks balanced in his hands, and then…
CRASH.
Spelvan fell, the drinks spilling on the floor, the tray he’d been carrying shattering. Meru flinched, and Commander Neathler, being closer and slightly faster, was there before she could act, helping the ensign back to his feet amidst the mess.
Tahna: Are you alright?
Spelvan: ::struggling to keep his voice even:: I am unharmed, not to worry.
Auricsdóttir: That is good. It looked like a hard fall.
Spelvan: Perhaps someone else should have gone to the bar, I apologize. I - ::pause:: Could one of you assist and acquire some towels so I can clean this?
Neathler: No need to apologise, why don’t you return to the table and I’ll get this cleaned up. ::She briefly looked up to look Spelvan in the eyes..:: Although I doubt the owner wants his establishment as clean as we expect it to be.
As if summoned, a young Klingon arrived with a bucket and rags to clean the floor. He swept away the broken pieces of tray and picked up the mugs, before doing a rather poor job of cleaning up the spilled bloodwine.
Auricsdóttir: :: Watching the floor being "cleaned" :: It does seem that way.
Sami shouted out an order for another round of drinks to the bartender, and Meru heard several other patrons laugh. She couldn’t be certain they were laughing at the Starfleet officers, but it was a fairly reasonable guess. Meru hoped the attention they’d drawn had fed into the “dumb tourists” look. Surely they’d expect Starfleet to be less clumsy.
Neathler: Another four of these. ::She ignored the laughs and comments from the other patrons and returned to their table.:: We might have gotten some attention.
Auricsdóttir: With luck, the right people noticed.
Spelvan: I suppose we did not cause a fight, at the very least.
Spelvan didn’t seem to be bleeding, despite the shattered tray, but he was visibly shaken by the ordeal, and might have hit his head. Meru couldn’t blame him, she was just glad he seemed to have wounded little more than his pride. Though without proper scans, she’d have to take him at his word as to whether he’d injured his head.
Neathler: You sure you’re okay?
Spelvan: I should be examined by a doctor once we are back on the ship, but for now my functions still appear to be normal.
Meru nodded.
Auricsdóttir: Looks like our new drinks are here.
The bartender delivered their drinks this time, probably to avoid the smashing of another of his trays. He wore a mocking grin as he slammed the tankards down on the table
Bartender: You want some instructions on how to drink these?
He didn’t wait for an answer, just returned to the bar. At some point, the Klingon who had taken up residence under the speaker must have slipped out, as he returned to the bar accompanied by a woman. She found somewhere else in the bar to take up residence, while he returned to his spot under the speakers. Odd, but…well, there were explanations besides drugs. The woman wasn’t acting odd at the moment.
Neathler: Makes you wonder what both did, right?
Tahna: I’d rather not.
Spelvan: The answer seems clear.
Meru raised the glass of bloodwine to her lips, as if to drink from it, but didn’t actually take a sip. The scent was strong enough to convince her she didn’t want to try it sober, even if she hadn’t been working. And the environment was uncomfortable enough without adding intoxication.
Auricsdóttir: Bloodwine is not so bad as I thought.
Neathler: That depends how much you drink from it. Or manage to drink from it.
Spelvan: ::taking a look in his tankard, which had a fly floating in it and pushing it away:: I have already fallen once today without the help of... intoxicants.
Astrid and Sami both took sips of the bloodwine, while Meru and Spelvan did not. Meru swirled her mug absently.
Auricsdóttir: Perhaps we should have some food with the drinks?
Tahna: If it’s gagh, I think I’ll pass…
Spelvan: I believe... I will pass on that as well for the time being.
Auricsdóttir: :: Speaking low enough so that only her fellow officers could hear. :: So, what now? How do we show we want something more than only alcohol?
Neathler: ::Keeping her voice low.:: I’d say for now, we just observe, see what is happening or not happening. We don’t even know if we could score something here.
Their little group ought to seem harmless enough, after Spelvan’s spill, so if any dealing was happening here, she suspected they hadn’t scared off their targets. Meru kept a careful eye on him, still concerned for the young doctor. He stood slowly, covering his mouth. He looked nauseous. Concussion? Or only nerves? One of those was worse news than the other, and she couldn’t check him with her tricorder at the moment.
Tahna: Are you sure you’re alright?
Spelvan: ::standing as slowly as possible, his hand covering his mouth:: I must use the restroom. ::looking at Samira:: I will be careful.
Meru caught Sami’s glance, and both women shifted in their seats. With Sami’s gaze trained keenly on the restroom, Meru stuck to watching the rest of the pub for unusual activity. It wouldn’t do to be caught off guard now. But if Spelvan didn’t return quickly, Meru would go check on him. She began counting in her head.
Spelvan returned a short while later, looking considerably better.
Spelvan: My health is improved, though some water would be appreciated. ::placing the slip of paper on the table:: I was given this in the restroom. Could anyone translate it?
Could one even obtain water here, or would they laugh and tell you to try the ceaseless rain outside?
Tahna: The extent of my Klingon is a few curse words, I’m afraid. Why were you given the note?
Auricsdóttir: Response
Without the ability to translate it with their tricorders, they’d have to rely on context clues. Spelvan described his encounter, and it seemed they had their first lead. At least two people in the pub were involved in the illicit drug trade, and one was the shifty man seated under the speaker in the corner.
Spelvan: It appears our path ahead is straightforward. ::looking to Tahna:: How should we proceed, Commander?
Tahna: ::Quietly.:: I suppose we should buy some drugs.
Auricsdóttir: Response
Neathler: We should also copy the note and scan it for DNA or any other prints, it might come in handy later.
Tahna: Later, yes.
Knowing Commander Neathler, she hadn’t meant they should scan it right now, but given the way their day was going…best to make everything as clear as possible while maintaining their thin cover.
Neathler: I’d say we continue the party and then follow that guy when he leaves.
Meru nodded. It was a decent plan, but there were so very many things that could go wrong. Spelvan had been identified by the ring as a potential customer, but she wasn’t comfortable sending him to get a sample from the Klingon in the corner for…a variety of reasons. She glanced at the pale Vulcan.
Tahna: Let me see the note.
Auricsdóttir / Spelvan: Response
Neathler: Does anyone spot the guy Spelvan mentioned, or someone dressed differently? All I see are miners.
Meru had looked surreptitiously about the bar for him as Spelvan was telling his tale, but hadn’t spotted anyone lavishly dressed.
Tahna: He’s probably slipped out already.
Auricsdóttir / Spelvan / Neathler: Response
Meru slipped out of her chair with a slight, sad smile for Spelvan, the note in hand.
Tahna: Be right back. ::Quietly, to Spelvan.:: Keep looking sickly. Sorry.
Auricsdóttir / Spelvan / Neathler: Response
She strode across the pub to the Klingon sat under the speaker. She did not want to do this, she did not want to be here, she wanted…she wanted to spare Spelvan the ill fate of her first mission. That gave her some measure of confidence, and she aimed to disguise all remaining discomfort by looking a bit awkward and apologetic as she approached the Klingon.
Tahna: Hey, uh…my friend’s having…withdrawals. We were told you might have something to help.
Meru passed the Klingon the note Spelvan had received, hoping and praying it didn’t say something like “Hey, dumb Starfleeters here!” Hoping and praying this didn’t end with an explosion of drugs in her face, like…
The Klingon snorted a laugh as he took the note and motioned for her to hand over coin. Meru did, hoping it was enough, though she was sure he would
Klingon: Just him?
Meru smiled sweetly.
Tahna: Party’s just starting for the rest of us. The night’s still young.
The Klingon laughed again, and pressed a small glass vial into her hand. Its lid doubled as a dropper, and a shimmering black liquid swirled inside. Meru nodded her thanks and slipped back to the group.
When she reached the table she passed the vial to Spelvan and sat. They could analyze the contents of the vial later, when they were out of public view. She’d have to apologize to him later too, though he wouldn’t be the first ensign on the Gorkon to have a rumored drug addiction.
Tahna: For your withdrawals.
Auricsdóttir / Spelvan / Neathler: Response