Cmdr Herrick: The Chorus (Part 2 of 2)
Mark P
((The Evening Star, Set ???, Location ???))
Ensemble: Welcome!
The musical number finished, everyone struck a pose per the autocue and froze in position. The whites of Josh’s eyes moved left and right, locked in expressions amongst the lot.
It was only after a full ten seconds that folks started to loosen up, just as Josh felt a small bead of sweat roll down his back from hoofing it in heels for the whole number and holding the unnatural half-squat position.
As some of the folks walked off the stage, Josh mused, pulling an Alora and following them. But it seemed that someone had other designs for them.
PR3ST1G: Ah! Snape, Joni, Adora, Mirelle!
That wasn’t their names, but this individual was looking directly at them while holding an envelope, waving them over with one of their tentacles.
What was no longer surprising for Josh was that Alora was the first one to head toward her, and Josh followed quickly behind.
DeVeau: Yes…miss?
And then it clicked; he quietly uttered the thought aloud before
Herrick: (quietly uttering aloud) Adora… oh, Alora…
He quickly shut his mouth, realizing that he shouldn’t stray too far from whatever this environment’s masters wanted. So that meant Mirelle was Michelle, Snape was Trake, and he was… Joni?
The first officer glanced down at himself. Well, if the shoe relatively fits.
Promontory/Winters: Response
PR3ST1G: As you all know, this is the final voyage of the Evening Star, and then we will all have to find new employment.
She ended the statement with an over-the-top sigh only a diva could exude. The idea of recommending that they (re)join Starfleet popped into his head, but that was dashed away by the autocue coming back to life.
[[AUTOCUE: “ADORA: IT WON’T BE THE SAME…YOU’RE A LEGEND.”]]
DeVeau: It won’t be the same. You’re a legend!
As Adora Alora said her line, the screen flashed up new text.
[[AUTOCUE: “JONI: I BET YOU’RE LOOKING FORWARD TO RETIREMENT!”]]
Josh uttered his statement rather dryly.
Herrick: I bet you’re looking forward to retirement. oO Blech. Oo
[[AUTOCUE: “MIRELLE: YEAH, BUT HEY, IT’S RETIREMENT! AFTER ALL THESE YEARS, YOU CAN SIT BACK, RELAX, AND DO WHATEVER YOU WANT!”]]
Winters/Promontory: Response
[[AUTOCUE: “SNAPE: YEAH! NO MORE LATE NIGHTS AND BRIGHT LIGHTS WITH PEOPLE WHO DON’T CARE OR APPRECIATE YOUR SINGING!”
Winters/Promontory: Response
[[AUTOCUE: “EVERYONE LOOKS EXASPERATED AT SNAPE. SOMEONE GIVES HIM A SLAP UPSIDE THE HEAD.”]]
This gave Josh some pause; he did look exasperated, but more so at the situation. Was this their way of enforcing punishment for Trake taking some liberties? He glanced at the other officers, resting his eyes on his commander.
Well, a line needed to be drawn somewhere.
And then… and then Michele gave him a thwap on the back of his head. It took everything to keep the surprise off Josh’s face.
Winters: Speak for yourself!
Lean in… or lean out?
He gave Trake a faux playful nudge on the shoulder.
Herrick: Ahhh Snape, you never were able to land a joke well.
Well, it seemed decided as he finished off with a forced laugh.
Promontory: Response
There was a small pause… was she getting some form of instructions, that is, if she was real? It could be similar to a holodeck processing unexpected parameters. Either way, a moment later, she lifted the envelope that she was holding.
PR3ST1G: I may not be a headliner anymore after this voyage, but I do still have friends in the business. Joni, Snape, I know you have plans to get married on the last day, and you are all so close, so I made sure you’re all posted together.
Was a sham TV marriage in a chaotic region of space binding? Where were they going?
Perhaps the priority of those two questions should have been reversed, but Josh watched with interest as she pulled out some official-looking paper that he couldn’t decipher.
DeVeau: You have? (glancing to the other officers) Where?
PR3ST1G: I’ve made sure you’re all going to be together. And even better, you’re going on the brand new luxury cruise liner - the Solar Empress!
A sarcastic inflection of ‘oh goodie’ crossed his mind, and he hoped that no one here could read his mind. The autocue switched over to displaying information on their new ‘home.’
In stylish lettering, the name of the vessel appeared, along with text flying in from left, right, and below: opulent, premier, luxurious.
Winters: The Solar Empress. Impressive, does that come with a new contract?
Josh continued to play along.
Herrick: And better tippers…
Promontory: Response
Winters: I don't know about you guys but I think a new contract is warranted for such a prestigious gig.
Looking at Trake, and then the woman, before batting his potentially extended eyelashes.
Herrick: Don’t you want us to send us off on our honeymoon well?
PR3ST1G/Promontory/DeVeau: Response
Michele stepped closer to Promontory and leaned her shoulder against his.
The head thwapper stepped closer to Trake and leaned shoulder to shoulder with him.
Winters: Oh, I think we are well worth the time. Especially if you want us to keep raking in the big money for you.
She looked to Trake, seemingly waiting for him to chime in.
PR3ST1G/Promontory/DeVeau: Response
Winters: It's gonna be a blast when this party really starts. The fireworks are going to be off the charts.
Did she have explosives on her that he was unaware of? If that’s what she was getting at. Or perhaps they could destroy it somehow, but they might just wake up somewhere else. It was then that Josh realized music was starting to creep back into the environment, and the autocue started to flash IMPROV.
Well, that was the thing about musicals…
Herrick: ♪♪ It’s our time, our time to rise, our time to shine… ♪♪
His voice faltered slightly toward the end, slightly hoarse from attempting to sing without practice or warm-up. He should have mirrored what Trake was doing earlier.
PR3ST1G/Promontory/DeVeau: Response
Herrick: ♪♪ Now’s our chance, shake it off, shake it off, and just dance. ♪♪
As if it were the voice of the gods, the sound of the ensemble backed him up.
Ensemble: ♪♪ … and just dance. ♪♪
PR3ST1G/Promontory/DeVeau/Winters: Response
He offered his hands out to the nearest individual. Paired back to back, perhaps they could dispense with some of the characters and find their way to whatever control room existed.
Herrick: ♪♪ Let’s get it started in here. ♪♪
PR3ST1G/Promontory/DeVeau/Winters: Response
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