Cmdr. Alora DeVeau & PR3ST1G - "Waiting In The Wings"
Amanda Nordstrom
(( The Evening Star ))
The group had found themselves smack dab in the middle of a musical and like before, they started to follow along. There, they found themselves playing alongside someone who looked like the same species as the ‘director’ from the previous detective noir. As they interacted, the female paused, and Alora thought the director/actress hesitated not because it was called for in the script, but for some nameless reason. However, it came off as something else, as if the woman was considering their words, or maybe pondering over that final voyage. Finally, a second later, she recovered. Although PR3ST1G didn’t have a mouth, or if she did it was beneath the veil of tentacles, the expression turned pleasant, indicating a smile. She lifted the envelope in her hand, but didn’t bother handing it to anyone.
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.
It was only then she finally pulled out what lay inside the envelope and pulled out a piece of paper. On it was official looking print, but it didn’t make any sense - it was simply to look like something formal was written there.
DeVeau: You have?
Alora glanced at her companions before asking - and she didn’t even need the prompter to tell her what to ask!
DeVeau: 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!
On the screen flashed a brief introduction to the new cruise starship - opulent, premier, and luxurious.
Winters: The Solar Empress. Impressive, does that come with a new contract?
Herrick: And better tippers…
Promontory: Sounds like it. I hear it’s pretty highfalutin.
If the ‘director’ didn’t understand what they were saying, she managed to keep that from showing on her face. Or Alora just had a harder time interpreting such alien features, but she thought she had a handle on it.
Winters: I don't know about you guys but I think a new contract is warranted for such a prestigious gig.
Herrick: Don’t you want us to send us off on our honeymoon well?
The woman looked at them and another ‘smile’ appeared, but beneath it was a sense that she thought they were absolutely stupid - and they weren’t exactly following the script.
PR3ST1G: Of course you’ll all have new contracts. The Solar Empress will be launching from the very dock where the Evening Star will end her final voyage, and you’ll be brought on board then. After…
Rather than nodding, one of the tentacles lifted up and indicated Josh and Trake.
PR3ST1G: the wedding of course.
DeVeau: That’s good. It means they can’t breach any agreements without consequences.
Promontory: Seems only reasonable, since we’ve been such excellent performers here!
On that, Alora had to agree. Everyone had fallen into the situation with a lot more grace and skill than most people might have given them credit for.
Winters: Oh, I think we are well worth the time. Especially if you want us to keep raking in the big money for you.
Trake nodded, but PR3ST1G’s tentacles wavered a little bit as if she was confused, or uncertain. That didn’t last long at all, and might have gone unnoticed by most, but Alora was scrutinising the person carefully, trying to figure things out.
PR3ST1G: Oh not for me. After all, I’m the headliner, not the owner, and as we said, this is also my final voyage.
Something was in those words, and Alora caught it. In the woman’s voice, the sadness that penetrated them wasn’t fake. It wasn’t an act. It was real.
DeVeau: Yeah.
Alora responded, her own tone lowering, a hint of sadness coming into her voice alongside PR3ST1G’s.
DeVeau: It is…isn’t it?
Promontory: I’m sure the final soriee will be a real blow-out.
Winters: It's gonna be a blast when this party really starts. The fireworks are going to be off the charts.
Did they have fireworks? They probably did considering how much of what they experienced had come from Humanoid shows and movies. However, Alora also had a sense that something else was in Michelle’s meaning as well, and she glanced over at the woman.
At that point, music began to play, and a single word flashed up on the screen: IMPROV.
Improv? Interesting.
The captain began to tap, then Herrick began to sing - and honestly, he had a really nice voice!
Herrick: ♪♪ It’s our time, our time to rise, our time to shine… ♪♪
Promontory: ♪♪ New adventure, will it be scary or fine… ♪♪
Then Trake came in, harmonising. Oooh, the Butler really did have a lot of talent!
Herrick: ♪♪ Now’s our chance, shake it off, shake it off, and just dance. ♪♪
Ensemble: ♪♪ … and just dance. ♪♪
Then Trake began to dance - and so did Alora. Rather than singing, she focused on moving to the music, silently, but enthusiastically contributing to the scene. Although it was more difficult, she still did her best to watch PR3ST1G’s response. Who internet, walked stately off to the side to allow the people their moment to shine center stage, a smile that looked sincere upon her face, but Alora got the distinct impression she wasn’t happy
Winters: Response
Then Josh began to dance!
Herrick: ♪♪ Let’s get it started in here. ♪♪
People began to make their way toward the door, the music played, and Alora fell into step almost as naturally as a duck takes to water.
Promontory: ♪♪ Solar Empress, you must confess? Are you real, no or yes? ♪♪
Twirling around, Alora came face to face with another man from the ensemble, then matched his movements, the two seemingly in sync, and still they moved closer to the door. PR3ST1G stood and watched, the overseer of their prison.
Herrick/Winters: Response
Promontory: ♪♪ The E’ening Star sets, we settle our debts. A new dawn rises yet. ♪♪
By that point, Alora couldn’t see Josh. Where was Michelle? Then, more of the ensemble came onto the stage, two lines, one from each side, aiming toward the opposite of each other. Alora saw the door and caught sight of Josh and Michelle again and she started dancing closer.
Herrick/Winters: Response
Promontory: (loudly) ♪♪ Solar Empress, is more than a guess; It’s our future, nothing less! ♪♪
And then the music stopped on Trake’s note. He had certainly dipped into the dominant, so it felt a natural place to end. Around her, everyone froze, and Alora did too. Then, everyone relaxed and PR3ST1G’s fake smile came on once more. Lifting her hands, she called out.
PR3ST1G: Let us make our final voyage the best one yet!
With that, the scene went dark.
Quietly, quickly, people began to move. Alora found herself sort of chauffeured by the moving bodies to the very door she, Michelle, and Josh had been trying to get to. Craning her neck, she saw the same thing happening to Trake, and she hoped he would come along. If the scene was dark, that might give them a minute.
More bodies pressed around her and people quickly rushed through the door and toward the back of the stage. Alora started to follow, but a hand pulled her back, and she realised it was PR3ST1G, who was escorted by another person of her species. Josh and Michelle were with her, and as the crowd moved, when Trake came by, he too was pulled aside.
One by one, the ensemble filed past through the opposite door until it was empty save for the two aliens and four starfleet officers. Music started up again, and the group remained face to face with the ‘director’.
PR3ST1G: I was right in my choice. You are all extremely talented.
But Alora wasn’t going to beat around the bush.
DeVeau: Let us go. You have no right to force us to do this and take us from our home.
Herrick/Promontory/Winters: RESPONSE
PR3ST1G’s laugh was interesting, higher pitched than Alora thought it would be, if she had thought about it at all. The octo woman gazed at each of them with her bulbous eyes, determination in her gaze.
PR3ST1G: I have every right, because our people take the right.
The tentacles at the bottom of her face swayed and undulated, before the tip of one rose, like a hand pausing a conversation. She had more to say. Alora gazed at her through narrowed eyes.
PR3ST1G: However, we both have things we want. If you help me, I will help you.
Herrick/Promontory/Winters: RESPONSE
Alora loved musicals, but she didn’t want to be stuck in one where she had no power. Where was Shyla? She hadn’t seen her daughter at all, and she hoped fervently that she was safe. Had she been taken with Bini? The thought of her daughter rose up in her throat, but there was no way to get to her. Not yet. However, they would find a way. They had to.
Music that had played outside suddenly stopped, but PR3ST1G didn’t seem concerned at all. A second later, they could hear voices, and Alora thought the word ‘captain’ came through. That spurred a glance toward Trake, but if they were on a luxury cruise starship, there would obviously be a role for the make-believe vessel.
DeVeau: Well, what do you want from us?
PR3ST1G: This story has a parallel to real life. See this musical to the end. Don’t just play in it, embrace it.
She paused, then glanced up. Time was running out.
PR3ST1G: There are people here who would do whatever they can to get rid of me. Help me complete this story. You will gain fame, and your freedom. If you don’t…you might gain infamy and risk cancellation.
Another brief pause was followed by a warning.
PR3ST1G: We have thirty seconds until we must be back on stage.
Herrick/Promontory/Winters: RESPONSE
-- Commander Alora DeVeau Chief Science Officer USS Thor & Matriarch of the 15th House Betazed M239008AD0
