A Romulan, A Carjoran, and A Gorn Walk Into A Bar... Part I
Posted on Wed May 31st, 2023 @ 2:33pm by Petty Officer 1st Class S'kaadaar & Petty Officer 1st Class Kaylara Loran
Edited on on Wed May 31st, 2023 @ 9:03pm
0 words; about a 1 minute read
Mission:
Episode 14 - The Poseidon Adventure
Location: After 11 - Deck 11 - USS Pioneer
Timeline: MD007 2100 hrs
Paisley, Jayna, and Kaylara walked into After 11 to get a drink after climbing the wall in the gym. It wasn't very crowded as many were on shore leave, but there were still several people at the bar and at tables, both alone or in groups.
"Bar or table?" Kaylara asked.
S'kaadaar sat alone at a table nursing a blood wine. Most people it seemed were afraid of her, but she'd done nothing to warrant this, so when three women walked in together, she waved a clawed hand, and called out, in what she hoped was a welcoming voice. "Hey, you three, if you need a table, there's room here."
Jayna turned to the Gorn and smiled. She looked like she could use some company. To the others she said, "Table. Let's join her." She headed over to S'kaadaar and took a seat. "Hi. I'm Jayna. We'd love to join you."
Kaylara, one step behind, nodded. "I'm Kaylara. Hi." She took a seat next to the Vulcan. "Nice to meet you."
Paisley smiled. "Ensign Paisley P'rar. How are you?" She said.
"Hi, I'm S'kaadaar." She said with a toothy grin. "Nice to meet you all."
"What department are you in?" the Romulan asked. Color gave a general idea, but not always the specifics.
Although Jayna hadn't met her before, she was aware of who S'kaadaar was, as there weren't many Gorn in Starfleet, so she ordered a glass of pomegranate-blackberry juice and listened.
"I'm Security." S'kaadaar said. "As an augmented Gorn, with Klingon battle training, I figured it was the best place for me. She added.
"It sounds perfect." Kaylara grinned. "I'm in intel. I'm told it's a fitting place for a Romulan."
"Wow, an augmented Gorn?! Cool. I am the Damage Control Specialist," she turned to the barman. "Hey!! Can I have a Kanar please?" That was why she had to work out so much!
Kaylara took the opportunity to order a vodka.
"I was part of a Klingon experiment to make shock troops." S'kaadaar said. "I was the only one of my troop to survive a training accident."
Paisley raised an eyebrow. "Dang. That must've been...an experience." She said. "What made you give it up?"
"The Klingons ended project and fire bombed the training grounds, I was lucky to be in a cave with a geology that protected me from orbital bombardment." S’kaadaar said. "I was rescued by a Starfleet vessel later , after the Klingons had gone."
Paisley just shrugged. "Wow. Lucky you." It was all she could think of. "Well, I am glad you're alive," she said. It was the dumbest thing she'd ever said, and she blushed purple-the red color against her grey skin caused some weird color combinations. She sipped the Kanar, hoping it would take the edge off of her awkwardness.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to embarrass you, Paisley." S'kaadaar said.
Paisley shook her head. "You didn't. I embarrassed myself. I ask too many questions, talk too much," she said. "It's ok."
"That's an incredible story," Jayna said. "I'm glad you survived." She still found it barbaric that the Klingons would choose to kill all the Gorn when their project ended.
"Thank you, Jayna." S'kaadaar said and sipped her blood wine. "Does, anyone want anything to eat?" She asked. "My treat." She added.
Paisley shrugged. "Sure. Hesperat souffle. I've been thinking about Bajor lately." She had been trying to track down her mother's family, to little avail. She DID learn she had an uncle but not much more. He was in Starfleet also, but she wasn't sure she wanted to approach him. Or her father about it.
"Are you from Bajor?" Jayna asked Paisley.
Paisley shook her head. "No. My mother was. During the occupation. I was raised on Cardassia Prime," she said. "My father insisted I be raised as Cardassian even though I am mixed race." She shrugged. That was a different story for a different day, or at least after a bit more Kanar. "But I have been there once and I'd like to go back."
Jayna nodded. "I was raised on Bajor during the occupation. My father was Bajoran. It's a beautiful planet." Although she hadn't been back in a while.
Paisley smiled. "I do remember that!! Her family was from the Hedrikspool province," she said. "That's all I know. Cuyu was her last name then." She had found an uncle but hadn't yet had the nerve to contact him. What would she SAY?! "Her family were interned at the Batal camp. That's how...that's how they met." If you could call it that, really.
Jayna looked at her for a long moment, then nodded. She empathized with those who had both Cardassian and Bajoran parentage. Paisley was clearly uncomfortable talking about it. "What made you decide to join Starfleet?" she asked, hoping this was a safer topic.
"Funny story. I left Cardassia in the dark of night, because I knew my father would be upset if he knew I was leaving. Originally, I'd planned to go to school on Earth, but my shuttle took some fire from the Breen, who've been in and out of Cardassian airspace for a while now. I had a full engine failure. Luckily for me, a Federation ship was close by and could give me a tow and guest quarters to the nearest Starbase. My plan to go to college in Europe turned into the Academy." There was more to it than that, but that was the gist. "I had to leave because I was due to be married and I definitely didn't want to do that."
"You made a fortunate escape. Sometimes circumstances make it so that we end up where we were meant to be." Jayna smiled. it was definitely the case for her. "I'm glad you ended up here."
Kaylara raised her glass. "I think we can all say that."
Paisley smiled and blushed a little. "Thank you. I am glad you are all here, too. To new friends!" She raised her Kanar and then took the last gulp.
"To friends," Jayna echoed, finishing her juice.
"Rylek." S'kaadaar called.
A Zeonite male appeared. "Good evening, Ma'am, what can I get for you?" He asked.
"Paisley would like a Hesperat souffle."
"A very good choice." Rylek said. "Can I get you ladies anything else?"
"I'll have a cheeseburger with all the trimmings. And potato chips," Kaylara said, smiling.
"Nothing for me." Jayna checked her chronometer. She wanted to make sure she had time to shower and change before dinner.
Paisley was glad that the subject was changed. "Ooh, who are you having dinner with?" Paisley asked, nosily.
"I have an appointment with one of the Marines," she hedged. It was true...in a very broad sense of the word--but she wasn't going to tell the others that. She very carefully kept her expression neutral. "I offered to help with the Marine Ball." That, too, was technically true.
Paisley perked up. "Ooh, a ball. Is it a date with a cute Marine?" She asked. "What are you wearing? A dress? Class As? A tuxedo? You'd look great in a dark blue." She said.
"Yes, I'm going to the ball with a cute Marine, and yes, I'm wearing a dress," Jayna replied, trying not to grin. "I haven't decided if it should be dark blue or black."
Paisley smirked a little. "Blue is my vote, but wear what you like," she said. "Wanna tell us who or are we going to have to hear about it through the grapevine?" She teased.
"I think I'll let it be a surprise," Jayna replied. This time she felt her cheeks warm. It wouldn't be a secret for long, but she wanted to keep it to herself for now.
Kaylara chuckled. "A good intel officer always knows, but I won't spoil it."
S'kaadaar smiled at the way the others interacted with each other.
Paisley laughed. "OK, then. Hopefully, I'll be able to find out before we leave!" She said. Their food appeared. "How about you, Kaylara? Weren't you invited?"
"No. All the Marines are invited, and some of the senior staff and civilians. I'm too far down the totem pole." Part of her was sorry she wasn't going, but part of her was glad to miss dealing with that much brass.
A Joint Post By
Ensign Paisley F'rar
Damage Control Specialist, USS Pioneer
Lieutenant Junior Grade Mira Jayna
Assistant Chief Intelligence Officer, USS Pioneer
Intelligence Liaison, The Cure
Petty Officer First Class Kaylara Loran
Data Systems Analyst, USS Pioneer
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