Lt. Flynn - Contemplative

[Aaron]

(( Kidman I - campsite ))

Bit of tequila, a touch of triple sec and a healthy serving of the one and only pineapple juice were mixed into a shaker with a bit of lime and given a little love before he poured it between several iced glasses rimmed with a special salt & sugar combination. From there, he pressed a spoon against the ice of one glass at a time to pour a small amount of an amazing uttaberry grenadine he had discovered, giving the beverage a distinctly red base, with the majority of the drink above it a solid yellow color.

Flynn: Here we go. ::He lifted one toward the group.:: Who’s up for a Kidman Sunset?

Because Bupirninyirring was still way too hard to say….

Parker: Make mine a double...:: to Callie: And for you?

 

Navarro: Double mine too. Please...

 

Ukinix: ::lifting finger:: One thanks, Commander!

 

Lafizatar/Alentonis/Any: Response

 

Kelrod: I'll try it, do you want one?

 

Petras: I’ll pass. No alcohol for me.

 

Kelrod: You might want to add this to the ship's replicator system. All right, let's taste the Kidman's menu.

 

Ukinix: ::Lifting glass:: Here’s cheers, everyone.

 

Navarro: Reminds me of those drinks they inflict on tourists.

 

Parker: Yeah…a little light but not bad…

 

Flynn: I suppose so. ::Chuckling softly:: You learn mixology on Risa you certainly cater to the fanny pack crowd.

 

Lafizatar/Alentonis/Any: Response

 

Ukinix: Best camping cocktail I’ve ever had.

 

With a smile of appreciation he lifted his glass in thanks. In truth he hadn’t done a lot of drink slinging in a while. Normally he might just be sitting around the fire with a bottle of rum to share, but the forever host had an itch to snazz things up a bit. Maybe next leave he would ‘inflict’ his Suraya Bay holodeck program on them. He sipped at his drink, taking a moment to miss his beach parties in the little Risa district of 118 and his friends there.

 

Petras: What’s that for?

 

Ukinix: ::Slight shrug, to Jayla:: I’m glamping instead of camping.  ::To everyone:: Marshmallows, anyone?

 

Antero followed her gaze to wil, who displayed the contents of a container. The Risian couldn’t help but smile that he had beamed over so many supplies. He could give the man a hard time for lazy camping, but then he wasn’t about to pass up his goodies either...

 

Navarro: ::to Hannibal:: How many camping cliches do you think they can manage to wedge in?

 

Parker: Looks like they are going for the record…

 

Kelrod: That reminds me of a story... next to this date a few years ago. Do you believe that there was a day that I got superpowers?

 

Navarro: There it is…

 

Petras: You mean other than what Raissa called your Swiss-Arm?

 

Parker: I can’t wait to hear this…

 

Ukinix/Alentonis: Response

 

Kelrod: :: smiling :: Yes, it was a strange situation. The crew got... cursed, and that affected us at a halloween party on the holodeck. I became a demon with... teleporting powers. Things got weird when we couldn't get out and the ones on the holodeck had to fight a creation that trapped us there and threatened to kill us all. That's why I avoid holodecks during this time of the year. Quite a story...

 

Parker: I don’t blame you. One experience like that is enough…

 

Flynn: ::Nodding:: Reminds me of my own holodeck misadventure…

 

Though that hadn’t been malfunction so much as sabotage...

 

Lafizatar/Alentonis/Ukinix/Any: Response

 

Petras: That means no romantic getaways on the holodeck.

 

Parker: Real is better whenever possible. I guess I’ll tell one now. Any of you been to Jupiter Station?

 

Antero just shook his head as he got comfortable.

 

Lafizatar/Alentonis/Ukinix/Kelrod/Any: Response

 

Hannibal smiled…

 

Parker: You are looking at most likely the only Starfleet officer to be banned from a starbase….

 

Flynn: Banned? ::His expression perked a bit, he cocked his head.:: How does one pull that off and retain a commission?

 

Lafizatar/Alentonis/Ukinix/Kelrod/Any: Response

 

Parker: It was a couple years after the Dominion War, and I was on leave. I found myself of Jupiter Station, awaiting a transport to Earth. I met this woman….her name was Trixie…Trixie Matthews. She was beautiful and we spent the evening together and the next morning, we had breakfast and she went on her way. That evening, I was having a drink at The Black Hole, a rather…interesting enterprise which would not be listed on any list as a must see place. In walked five men, along with my last nights’ date…come to find out that the woman I spent the evening with was married, and her freighter captain husband and some of his crew were there to teach me a lesson in humility. From looking at her face he had already hit her once, then to make his point, he hit her again. That was when the fun started…

 

Lafizatar/Alentonis/Ukinix/Kelrod/Any: Response

 

Parker: That was when I hit him, he drew a phaser and took a shot, and missed, hitting the liquor behind the bar, which immediately ignited. It was five on one and we fought from one side of that bar to the other while the place was burning down around us. Sometime during the fight I heard the Yellow Alert klaxon going off, but by the time Security arrived, we were out on the promenade, aided by the fact that I threw two of them through the window, and the bar was totally involved…

 

Flynn: Only five of them? ::He smirked at the mountainous soldier with a reputation for combat capability.:: They should have brought a few more for a fair fight.

 

Lafizatar/Alentonis/Ukinix/Kelrod/Any: Response

 

Parker: Once Security broke us up and the DC party had put out the fire, which completely destroyed the bar, they threw us in a holding cell. The station commander got the full report from the witnesses and he let me go with the admonition that I was banned from Jupiter Station. I haven’t tried to go back since then, but I heard there was a picture in his office with the admonition I was not to be allowed on the station.. I think it’s the only time a starbase went to Yellow Alert for a barfight…

 

Lafizatar/Alentonis/Ukinix/Kelrod/Any: Response

 

Flynn: Well next time I get into a bar fight, I know who I want to have my back. ::He cocked his head playfully.:: I think?

 

Antero had been in a bar fight himself, but it was hardly the kind of story he wanted to share for good spirits around a campfire. It had involved dark politics and corruption from the high up Admiral Kinney that succeeded in fueling propaganda and inciting conflict within starfleet. He visibly lost himself in thought for a moment.

 

((Flashback - 23931015))

 

((Raskor I - The Cove))

 

Rook: Were not here for pleasantries...

 

That was something the Risian was definitely starting to pick up on. The man's expression was one of disdain, hatred in his eyes. How could someone have so much anger toward someone he had never even met? Then a possible explanation dawned on him.:

 

Flynn: Oh, uh...Look I didn't know she was your sister.

 

The two shared an awkward stare.

 

Rook: Think your a funny guy huh? Were you cracking jokes when you were letting my academy roommate die too?

 

The pilot sobered at the statement and sat up a little straighter. Let his roommate die? He didn't even know who this guy was! Then it clicked...It seemed the rumor about him was ready to present itself, and it brought friends...

 

Flynn: If this is about the Avalon...

 

Rook: Yeah you BET its about the Avalon. 

 

Flynn: Look, we did everything we could for them.

 

Rook: Yeah? Like taking your sweet time to back them up at the order of your traitor Captain?

 

He gave the Risian a solid shove, nearly knocking him from his bar stool. So it was like that.

 

The Risian stood calmly, his expression shifting from his usual friendly sociability to something more akin to when he was piloting a vessel through a vicious dog fight. It was easy to underestimate a Risian, people saw that symbol on the forehead and assumed they were dealing a harmless smiling pushover.

 

Antero Flynn was not that Risian. Everyone got the benefit of the doubt, but he had been through too much in his Starfleet career to not be molded into something more. He had faced Iconians, fought terrorists, gone hand to hand with a corrupt killer on Tilanna, and perhaps most effectively trained several times with the Romulan former assassin Shiarrael. He took a step forward. It may be a battle he would lose, but it was one he would fight. A shove he could deal with, but the last comment he would not let go so easily.

 

Flynn: The traitor is the one that sent them to their death.

 

With that, the discussion was over. Time seemed to slow as Rook let out a yell and came in with a wide right hook. Thankful that the man had projected his attack, Antero deflected his fist easily and stepped in with his opposite hand and landed a solid punch to the man's side.

 

Just as he doubled over at the crack of bone, Antero didn't have time to reflect on the pain in his hand as a Caitian elbow caught him squarely in the mouth. It spun him hard, sending him to the floor just as he heard music to his ears.

 

Tatash: Break it up!

 

The boot to his stomach let him know that his attackers had no interest in following the Gorn's advice. He would have laughed if he wasn't trying so hard not to lose the contents of his stomach. When the second kick came he grit his teeth and made a grab for it, sending his weight into the knee attached to it, stumbling to his feet as his aggressor fell with a howl at the pain in his knee.

 

Rook: Your going down lizard!

 

Tatash: That's 'Major' to you, boy. ::he snarled, showing off those fearsome, shredding teeth in his tattered snout::

 

Flynn: oO So glad he is on my side. Oo

 

He watched Tatash make short work of the hulking beast of rock. The entire place seemed to shake as he impacted the other side of the bar.

 

Tatash: Back down, or i'll swing you by your tail like a flail. ::he growled at the Caitian who was already unsheathing it's claws::

 

Rook seemed to hesitate at the sight of his stone soldier getting tossed around like a bag of cotton candy. He looked to the Caitian returning to his feet but got a free out as security began to beam in all around them.

 

Officer Nix: Break it up! What the hell is this?

 

Whittaker: Stand down officer, I'm Lieutenant Commander Whittaker of Starbase 118 Operations. I'll handle this.

 

Rook: ::Cradling his side:: These Officers from the Columbia came in and starting roughing us up!

 

Flynn: ::Fuming:: What?!

 

Nix: Kinney said you lot would be trouble. You're all under arrest, bar brawls, punch up's... this ain't the 22nd century and you sure as hell aint Kirk.

 

((End Flashback))

 

The Risian had many happy memories from those times, but there were also a whole lot of messed up situations they had endured. He supposed he had a lot of stories from his time in the fleet, but tonight he was content to listen to the stories of his new crewmates. These were the officers that would make up the cast of many stories he had yet to live, and he enjoyed getting to know everything about them he could. It was a dark thought, but the reality was that one never knew how long they would be together, or sometimes even around at all.

 

Navarro: ::quietly:: Just one thing left…

 

Parker: And…just what have you got planned?

 

Lafizatar/Alentonis/Ukinix/Kelrod/Any: Response

 

Jayla pushed herself to her feet using Kelrod’s shoulder as support.. She cleared her throat and began to sing.

 

Petras: o/~ Can you hear the drums Fernando? o/~

 

Antero smiled and leaned back, his hands behind his head. This was nice, and their voices were beautiful. It was a peaceful moment he would remember.

 

Parker: Wow! You two can really sing!!!!

 

Flynn: I wish I had thought to bring my ukulele.

 

Lafizatar/Alentonis/Ukinix/Kelrod/Any: Response

After a bit more singing, and more than a few marshmallows and Kidman sunsets, Antero stood with a stretch.

 

Flynn: Well my friends, this has been great. I’m going to go see if I can find a spot to make myself comfortable. See if I can’t rest these muscles after our long ride.

 

Lafizatar/Alentonis/Ukinix/Kelrod/Parker/Navarro/Petras/Any: Response

 

After picking up his pack and cleaning up his impromptu bar station, the Risian made his way from the fire and toward the edge of it’s illumination. After a short while, he found himself on his back in a clearing, his hands resting behind his head and he stared up at the stars until someone came into view.

 

Any: Response

 

Flynn: Ah, yeah. I guess I am guilty of being a bit contemplative. ::He smiled in welcome.:: Please...::He motioned to the ground next to him.

 

Any: Response

 

Flynn: There is something about being out here. Just soaking up nature. The feeling of the grass against your skin, fresh natural air in your lungs.

 

Any: Response

 

He leaned forward, his arms propped behind him as he looked to his companion.

 

Flynn: All this time in space, it’s still an adjustment, ya know? I grew up with long sandy beaches, big beautiful oceans, thick green jungles. ::His eyes drifted upwards.:: Every time I look out the window of my quarters I’m reminded how far away all that is. Just a cold vacuum. ::He adopted a small smile.:: It’s just nice to be out here.

 

Any: Response

 

Lt. Cmdr. Antero Flynn

Helm Officer

USS Veritas

C239205AF0