Lt. Cmdr. Alora DeVeau - "Trapped Like Rats" (Dal/All Shrunken Peoples!)
Amanda Nordstrom
((Ballroom C-10, Starbase 118))
Solaris had left, not only the group, but the ballroom entirely. That left Alora alone with Dall and Valeria. Not that she minded being alone with them, she just was kind of hoping to have more time with Solaris, even if it was at an official function. Ah well, she’d have to make sure to catch up to the woman later - after she looked into that medallion.
Valeria led them over to a table, quite happy, it seemed, that Ishreth had taken her hand. Alora tried hard not to smile, but it came out anyway, amusement tucked into the corners. After they were seated, she leaned over, her green eyes bright as she murmured to the Commander.
DeVeau: I fully intend to collect my dance after this.
Oh, was that a smile she saw? Yes! It was! Tiny one, hint of one, but it was there! Andorians were quite expressive, they just didn’t always show it on their faces, but Ishreth was going over the top. Okay, maybe not over the top, but she’d gotten him to smile! First Janul, now Ishreth. Score!
Dal: I am fully amenable to that. Commander.
Something caught his attention. Not so much his eyes, but those sensitive antennae. As he turned, Alora’s gaze followed, and her expression lit up at the arrival of a newly made acquaintance.
Harper: Commander DeVeau, so nice to see you again. Do you mind if I join you? ::They’d had a friendly lunch but Alex was not sure if they were on first name terms just yet.
Dal: It does look like you are seated at this table. ::he gestured to where the staff was pointing out Harper’s attractive little namecard.:: Welcome. It is good to make your acquaintance.
Ishreth had descended back into his normal, polite, cool manner. It didn’t matter, Alora knew there was more to the man than that and she was determined to bring it out. Later. Not there. Perhaps while they danced.
DeVeau: Hi Alex! Please, yes, join us. And yes, it does look like you’re here with us!
Alora motioned to the nameplate which was right beside her. That suited her just fine.
Harper: Thank you, looks like I’m just in time
Ishreth’s antennae tipped forward and Alora nodded almost in synch with the motion.
Dal: Yes, dinner is about to start, as well as the keynote speaker.
DeVeau: I can’t wait to hear what he has to say. A newly discovered Bajoran artifact. I can’t wait to see what it is! Oh, this is Linn Valeria…
Alora motions to the Troyan who sat with them at the table.
DeVeau: GEC Administrator.
She then turned and her hand motioned toward the man who was on the other side of her, but Alex and Ishreth spoke up before she could.
Harper: Lovely to meet you both ::looking to Dal and Valeria in turn:: Alex Harper, FNS.
Dal: Ishreth Dal, Starfleet.
Alora hadn’t known Ishreth long, but she was beginning to learn that he was a man of decorum and formality. She was rather surprised, however, that he hadn’t used his title along with his name. To her, that seemed quite informal - at least, when it came to Ishreth Dal, Starfleet.
DeVeau: Yes, Ishreth is one of our finest commanders.
She grinned over at the Andorian before their attention was finally called to the stage….
~*~
(time skip – end of dinner)
Meat. It’s what’s for dinner. At least, it was what was for Alora’s diner. Oh she enjoyed vegetarian and even vegan cuisine as well, but she also liked meat. A lot. While not an obligate carnivore, she didn’t ever see herself giving it up - at least, not for long term. It had been quite good, and even better was the pleasant conversation between her and those at her table. Finally, after the meals were consumed, the lights were dimmed, and a hush fell over the room. What was left were pinpricks, like tiny stars in the night, just enough to see by and add a romantic aura to the room. Alora sighed softly. It was lovely. Perfect for dancing...even better if... She didn’t have time to ponder over that idea. Bissk Jevan took the stage and revealed his artifact...an Orb of the Prophets!
It was beautiful. Deep violet, and within, the hue seemed to beat, like a heart, as if life were contained within the sphere. Many of those who weren’t Bajoran were fascinated, including Alora. It seemed there were some questioning the validity of his claim, but as he continued on, doubt began to fade. He was a good orator. He spoke with conviction, he spoke with certainty, and he spoke in a way that engaged and convinced. It wasn’t just how he spoke, but he outlined his reasonings, and they were perfectly sound.
And they stood, with an ovation of applause, stirred by the feelings in the orb. Seeing the perspective of how important this orb was to the Bajoran people. How much Bissk Jevan believed in this orb. And they? The audience? Alora didn’t know about the others, but she couldn’t help but have faith in that belief as well, that it was indeed an Orb.
Then it changed. It all changed. In a brief moment, a sudden lash, as if power in that beating heart had been building and building and building only to become too much to contain and surged outward. There was a flash, violet light consuming the room, and the next thing Alora knew was darkness.
~*~*~
((Pirate Ship Drowning Band - In a living sample cage))
She heard a voice. It wasn’t one formed into a word, but a voice none the less. A long moaning, as if someone were trying to ward off pain. Somewhere, in the darkest recesses of her mind, Alora recognised that voice. It was low. Familiar.
She turned toward it, tried to climb up to it, but the darkness continued to surround her, attempting to drag her back down. She needed to break free, get to the surface, but she was struggling.
Dal: Is everyone… alright?
That voice. It called to her. Not her specifically, but it still called, questioning. Slowly, the darkness decided to give up, not particularly keen on fighting a battle. Slowly, eyes opened, green winking out from beneath dark eyelashes. The view was fuzzy, nothing focused right, though Alora pushed herself up to a sitting position - and wished she hadn’t. It was her turn to moan. One hand propped herself up while the other pressed against her forehead. Her brain felt like it was swimming in a pool of muck and the world spun. DeVeau: Ishreth? What…
But she didn’t complete the sentence. Instead she closed her eyes against the blurriness and dizziness and took several deep breaths. That helped a little. She opened her eyes, and things began to focus - particularly a blue thing. That blue thing being the person she’d heard. Yes, Ishreth.
Anyone: ?
Slowly, the Andorian officer got to his feet, evidently feeling very much like Alora was from the way he moved. She mimicked him, attempting to gain some tracking, carefully rising and pausing until she was certain she wasn’t going to fall over flat on her face.
Dal: Where are we?
Where were they? They were supposed to be in the Ballroom on Starbase 118. They were supposed to be giving accolades to the man who made the major discovery. They were then supposed to enjoy music and dancing. But no. They were somewhere else. Finally, her surroundings came into focus. What the…
It wasn’t possible, was it? Alora turned, almost toppling over ,then gained her balance again. Then she resumed turning. Now she was fully awake, and her head, though throbbing with a headache, was quite clear .
DeVeau: I’m almost afraid to say it...
Anyone: ?
DeVeau: It...it looks like a life sized live sample case.
Dal: Sample case? We couldn’t all possibly fit in a sample case…
Alora glanced around. Ishreth was right. They couldn’t all possibly fit in a sample case. In fact, not a single one of them would have been able to fit into a traditional sample case. But...but...but…
Oh crud.
Oh but they had. And slowly it was sinking in that they were much, much smaller than before – and in a very strange place.
A place they didn’t want to be.
Anyone: ?
DeVeau: I think...this is...a cage. We’re in a cage. How the…
Alora’s hand reached up to rub at her temple and she glanced around. She could see they were in a room and in that room there were other items. The cage into which they had been stuffed was on the floor nestled in between a variety of other sundry items - several of which Alora recognised. Artifacts. Artifacts from the Convention…
Dal/Any: ?
DeVeau: This...this is...it’s impossible.
But it wasn’t. Alora knew as soon as she said it that of course it was possible. They were in Starfleet. They were out in the far reaches of the galaxy. Okay, maybe not as far as some of the deep space stations, but Alora had learned long ago that anything could happen. When would she learn not to question that idea?
Dal/Any: ?
DeVeau: Okay. Is everyone okay?
Dal/Any: ?
She glanced around, her face grim as she realised how many of those with her were friends or fellow officers. From what she could see, however, no one was actually hurt, just suffering from hangover-like symptoms. If that was the worst of it, they could count their lucky stars. Once she was certain everyone was, mostly, all right, just small, she turned her attention to their problem.
DeVeau: Okay. First thing’s first. We have to get out of here.
She turned her attention to the problem at hand. The bars hummed, indicating that they weren’t of physical material but energy. Force field. No...not quiet. Force bars, if there was room in between them, allowing air to circulate through since there was no ventilation system to allow that otherwise. .
DeVeau: Hm. First, we have to figure out how to disable those.
After that, step two - figure out what happened and how to fix it. It was just another day in the life of a Starfleet Officer.
Dal/Any: ?
-- Lt. Cmdr. Alora DeVeau First Officer Starbase 118 Ops al...@blar.net M239008AD0