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91
Episode 02: Cosmic Imperative / Re: CH 2: S [Day 01 | 1435 hrs] When Trolls Dance, Vulcans Growl
Last post by EnigmaTales -
[ Lt. JG V'lana | Sickbay Lobby  | D. 21 | V. 2 ] Attn: @Ellen Fitz  

Pub crawl. V'lana had never heard of it, but she found the idea of discounted drinks rather tempting. She banished these thoughts for the time being, and concentrated on Cross instead. His comments regarding transfers from the Versant or the Endeavour made her thoughtful, and she could only imagine how hard it had been to replace those who had been lost. For everyone involved.

"It's very much like a holodeck program.", V'lana nodded. "I read reports, and all I can think is 'well this doesn't exactly make narrative sense, I should contact the author and complain'. It doesn't really get through to me that this is real life, and that those... characters... were real people. A good few still are around, and I worry meeting them will feel... weird. Because frankly, seeing it as a holodeck adventure without emotional impact keeps me afloat right now. I concentrate on the medical reports. Someone got boiled alive while swimming in a body of water during a volcano erruption. That's... "

She didn't know what to say, and took a deep breath. It was horrible to read about, but again, there was no emotional impact just yet. She hadn't known these people, or if she had, not well.

"I haven't really reconnected with anyone yet. Trying to take it slow, focus on work.", she shrugged. "And yes, I will be seeing a counsellor. It should be mandatory after stasis anyway, and I have zero interest in a mental breakdown somewhere along the line. I wouldn't be working if I thought that was bound to happen, though." She quickly assured him, realising that she had a tendency to overshare things as means of connecting to someone. She had always done that, and it had gotten her into trouble more than once. And yet, it felt like the best approach to things.

"Either way. If you're up for it, I would like to try the sound-therapy I spoke about. You can try .... anything else in the meanwhile, but if the headache picks up again, I'd like to see you back here. And perhaps keep track of what it is you're trying, how it affects mood and headache, and so on. There's a lot you have to figure out, and I find keeping track of new things you try can help with that."

She smirked.

"So yes, keep a diary." 
92
Interregnum 01-02 S2 / Re: Day 17 [2200 hrs.] Aftermath's Embrace
Last post by EnigmaTales -
[Lieutenant J.G. V'lana | Arboretum | Deck 22 | Vector 03 | USS Theurgy] Attn: @Dumedion

Self reflection. V'lana hated it, but she was quite obviously decent at instilling it in others. Arven's confession regarding his renewed self-awareness as social creature didn't surprise her - they all were - but it did remind her that she would have to rebuild her social circle eventually. Just not right now. Or maybe right now. The doctor was certainly a good start, and thus far she imagined him to be one of those people you could claim to be your "friend" but actually only spoke to once or twice a year. Just the right level of social interaction (aside, well, her actual job) she was looking for.

"Food?", she asked, apparently having forgotten that nutrients, too, were a base need for her species. "You tell me. Can I even digest any of that at the moment?"

She usually got a supplement that helped her body digest nutrients that weren't in the form her biology was made for. Back home, most dishes were based on specific strains of fungus. V'lana found those meals comforting and delicious, but very few other people found that thought appealing. "I will say I crave what we cook at home. My mother used to make a soup I got when I was sick, and although I don't feel sick as such, I think I can get away with the 'look at me, I was in stasis' card a few more days."

Making fun of it certainly took the edge off. Perhaps Arven was a bad influence on her.

"What is it you usually eat when you feel... not-sick, but a little worse for wear? I am happy to take recommendations."
93
Episode 02: Cosmic Imperative / Re: Ch 5 S [ D02 | 0600 hrs.] Old Friends Die Hard
Last post by Ellen Fitz -
[ Hirk tr’Aimne | Wet Market | Avra Trel | Romulus ] @rae  @Pierce

His heart had been beating like the tiny, venomous nei'rrh since they passed into his home planet’s atmosphere. But not out of fear. No, Hirek was not afraid. Regardless of what happened to the Starfleet crew, he now considered colleagues, and regardless of what happened on these missions, Hirek did not feel fear. Ihir'aenha; he’d been destined to be here like this. His family had survived numerous terrors from the Tal’Shiar for him to be here at this time and in this place. So, if Hirek felt anything, it was a combination of elation and determination.

The entire time he’d piloted the flitter to Avra Tel, Hirek had fought against the temptation to lean back and fill the vehicle with his laughter. He doubted either the Andorian or the human would understand his mirth, not when so very much could go so very wrong and so very quickly. Every molecule of his body reveled in being once more under the Romulun sun, his senses filled with the sights and sounds and smells of the familiar. Just as he fought the temptation to laugh like a child playing in the surf of Uulma, Hirek similarly found the desire to turn the flitter northeast, touching down on the cliffside closest his ancestral home. To once more hear his father’s voice, feel his mother’s grip as she took hold of his hand, feel the warm sand of his home beneath bare feet…these were things he desperately craved but knew he could not partake of, not yet.

If they successfully connected with this reunification network, they could have more allies against the Tal’Shiar. And they would need as many allies as possible to take down the tyrants.

With these thoughts in mind, Hirek’s features were forcibly neutral as he led Nysari and Alana through the wet market area of Avra Trel toward their meeting point. It’d taken him the entirety of their flight to the city for Hirek to remember where he’d heard the name Belas tr'Rehu before.

He’d been a brief colleague of his mother’s before she’d been ousted from her position at the Imperial War College. As an assistant professor in the Reman affairs department, the two had rarely crossed paths; the only reason Vaed'rehai t’Aimne shared stories with her family regarding tr’Rehu was that he’d gotten himself removed from the college, most notably. After a public disagreement with one of the department lead’s decisions on the Reman curriculum, tr’Rehu had gone to the lead’s office and doused the man in Reman blood gathered from a Reman blood bank on campus.

Hirek had conveyed this history to his mission mates as soon as they’d landed at an out-of-the-way docking port. He’d had to use his cousin’s credentials to obtain the flitter and process the landing procedures and hoped that by the time his cousin took notice of this fact, their mission would be over, and there would be no risk in explaining to the man in person his reasons for doing so.

Pausing in their journey to study the wares of one of the stalls, Hirek spoke with the older woman manning the stall, seeking to haggle a price for the fish. He pretended to be dissatisfied with her ending price and dismissed the deal, leading Alana and Nysari further into the wet market. It’d be too obvious if they moved through the market without stopping here and there to haggle and study the wares. He was thankful the market wasn’t terribly full at this hour when Alana spoke. Hirek dropped his voice to a whisper when he responded to Alana’s question.

“The less talking, the better when we aren’t with tr’Rehu. Neither of you speaks fluently enough to pass as locals or visitors from another continent. At best, you could maybe pass as a colonist, but that presumption would go away mighty fast the longer the conversation took place.”

He again led them to a booth, this one with a number of different fishing hooks and other such paraphernalia on display. Hirek haggled again and, this time, purchased three items, passing the traditional hook dangling from a chain to Alana and the miniature bone dirk to Nysari. He kept the fishing line for himself.

“The area we’re meeting tr’Rehu in is a unique geographical feature for this area. It’s known as yy'a dochaisam cove, or dead speech cove. The materials of the rocks and the formation of the cove kill echoes, making it the perfect place to scheme.” Hirek smirked, tossing Alana a wink. “And fish in the tide pools.”
94
Interregnum 01-02 S2 / Re: Day 6 [ 1300hrs. ] Let's Get Physical
Last post by Ellen Fitz -
[Hirek tr’Aimne | Personal Quarters |  D. 17 |  USS Theurgy ] Attn: @Sqweloookle

The doctor’s clearly stated interest in physical intimacy surprised Hirek but not at all in a negative way. Hirek supposed it was naïve of him to presume that all Starfleet personnel would respond to his audacious overtures with the same resigned and collected manners as his handler and the captain had been, as well as those on Madsen’s team who had been among the first he’d met during his defection. It was a welcome difference from his expectations and carried with it the potential for a more pleasurable experience while onboard than what he’d expected.

Letting a hum of satisfaction rumble from his chest as Elro’s fingers traveled the length of Hirek’s ears, he angled a lopsided smile at the man. “Vulcans are not the only ones with sensitive noses, dear doctor. And some species carry a certain ‘under’ scent even if they try to disguise their natural smell with perfumes and colognes. I have not met enough Betazoids to know if your scent correlates with your ‘under’ scent, but yes, you DO smell…delicious.”

Hirek didn’t move as Elro began to close the gap between them, enjoying the moment for what it was, but he did crack a mirthful smile when he heard Elro’s stomach grumble before they could press their lips together. Hirek accepted Elro’s hand and used the momentum of gaining his feet to finish what Elro had started. Stepping into the doctor’s personal space until they were chest-to-chest, hip-to-hip, Hirek lightly brushed his lips over Elro’s lips.

“As I thought,” Hirek licked his lips as he abruptly removed himself from Elro’s warmth, “delicious.” A playful smile played at the muscles of his face. Hirek continued to the replicator, where he stopped and stood staring at it, hands clasped behind his back. “My home is the largest producer of jumbo mollusks on Romulus. If you like seafood, I know a recipe with these mollusks, but I doubt your replicator would know the terms or precise spices. I suppose it will take time to train it, but if there is a way to pair what the replicator knows of mollusks with aromatic herbs and tangy zest over a bed of sweet and sour rice, that could be a close equivalent.” Turning to look over his shoulder at Elro, Hirek cocked another smile. “Perhaps some Romulan ale to go with it?”
95
Episode 02: Cosmic Imperative / Re: CH 2: S [Day 01 | 1435 hrs] When Trolls Dance, Vulcans Growl
Last post by Ellen Fitz -
[ Lt. Cmdr. Cross | Sickbay | D. 21 | V. 3 | “Ranger” of USS Theurgy] Attn: @EnigmaTales

Chuckling at her comments on voices and his cursing, Cross sighed. “I had some friends back at the Academy who took me on what they called a ‘pub crawl’ in Edinburgh. There was singing and dancing at every pub we went to, and if THAT was the kind of singing expected of me, I could hold my own. It was basically whoever was loudest or could hold the note the longest got the discount drinks.” His lips pulled upward in a sly smile. “I managed to get a few free drinks that night.”

As V’lana shared some of her experience of being in stasis and waking up again, Cross found himself picturing Blue and a number of others who’d been on the Versant or the Endeavour.

“There were a few of us who survived multiple fuck-ups and transferred in after the Versant incident,” Cross spoke after a moment of silence following V’lana’s sharing. “I can’t say anyone particularly resented our being here and integrating into the crew in positions former friends had been in, but there was certainly a period of time that it was difficult on all sides. And I can understand what you’re saying, looking back on recent events and feeling like it's some fictional storyline to a holodeck horror program. I’ve not been in stasis yet, and I feel like that sometimes.”

Cross let his gaze wander around the nearly empty room before asking, “Have you reconnected with friends onboard?” Wincing, he sighed. “Sorry, didn’t take into consideration that your friends may have been killed during stasis.”
96
Episode 02: Cosmic Imperative / Re: CH 2: S [Day 01 | 1857 hrs] Expectations
Last post by Ellen Fitz -
[ Lt. Cmdr. Cross | Arboretum Cafe | D. 20 | V. 3 | “Ranger” of USS Theurgy] Attn: @joshs1000

“When you get a chance, I highly recommend you take a look at the Reaver. Especially as an engine connoisseur.” Cross was silent for a few moments, enjoying the first bites of food to take the edge off his hunger. Patel shifted her singing from love ballads to a more upbeat blues style, and Cross inwardly sighed. Much more preferred in these circumstances. Wiping his mouth with the napkin, Cross paused in the meal to continue the conversation. “If you can, what are the primary elements that must be present in an engine to make it particularly ‘good’ or noteworthy?”

After taking a lengthy sip of his drink, Cross expanded further from his position. “Let’s take guns. A tool I have to have ready or employ often from my position. Granted, I’m sure it’s the same with an engine as it is with a gun; not one gun suits all circumstances, so context for purpose and use comes into play. But some basics would be a good weight of the weapon to the carrier, the ergonomics of shape and ease of use, which is connected to overall size, the trigger mechanisms, sights, slide manipulation if it is present, rate of fire, and type of fire. But all that aside, the materials used to make the components and materials of the gun also impact all that.” Cross gave a half shrug. “I’m picky on the barrel finish, the sights, the lock time, and slide if it has one.” Cross drew an intricate pattern in the condensation on the outside of his glass. “I used a gun once that had this barrel finish and firing that thing,” his lips pulled back in a smile of feigned physical pleasure, “It was one of the most pleasurable experiences I’ve ever had with a gun. As odd as that might sound.”

Leaning forward again to tuck back into the remainder of his meal, Cross nodded toward Lok’s plate, “I can take the unwanted bits if you like.” He indicated the discarded vegetables.
97
Episode 02: Cosmic Imperative / Re: CH 2: S [Day 01 | 1700hrs] Cross on the Titan
Last post by Ellen Fitz -
[ Lt. Cmdr. Cross | Lower Gymnasium | D. 14 | V. 2 | “Ranger” of USS Theurgy] ATTN: @Krajin

Cross sighed, shaking his head in resignment. “Trying to tell the difference between the Savi that aren’t fuckers and those that are is more difficult than trying to determine if a pointy-eared hobgoblin is merely a prissy Romulan or a typical Vulcan.” He rolled his shoulders before answering Winters’ question. “I don’t think it is wise to turn off your mind or morals while on a mission, which I suppose is connected to what you said about ‘honor’ in a fight. And the excuse of ‘I was just following orders, ’ but those orders were absolute shit, and you knew they were is a bunch of crock. Suppose the successful completion of the mission lends itself to keeping the crew safe and is in line with supporting the mission of Starfleet and the Federation before they went tits up with the Infested. In that case, I think there’s a time when boots on the ground need to do the mission and leave the politics to the politicians and the diplomats.”

Cross was ready for the turnabout in their sparring, cracking a smile of delight when Winters added a tail sweep on his pivot. He loved a challenge like that and excelled at responding to the unexpected. Cross gave Winters nonverbal praise and encouragement to continue with that sort of training, reflecting on the Kzinti’s anecdotes about tail-pulling.

“When you set me up with a story like that, starting with military-esque incidents and then mention Risa, you bet your furry ass I want to hear about Risa.” Cross laughed. “Let me guess, folks are as obsessed with your tail as they tend to be with pointed ears?” He used a mitt to point towards his own ears, only barely bringing the mitt back down in time to catch one of Winters’ jabs. “I’ve never spent much time on Risa. Always found the concept a bit…intimidating. I feel more confident and comfortable facing down a half dozen Jem’Hadar than a half dozen scantily clad ladies on a Risan beach. I can concentrate and think more clearly in the one situation more so than the other, and I’ll let you deduce which.”
98
Alternate Universe Stories / Re: Sprinkles on a Soup Sandwich
Last post by Ellen Fitz -
[ Lnc Cpl Hirk tr’Aimne | Bravo Base | Gila DN6 | Imperium Frontier Space ] ATTN: @Hans Applegate

Hirek spit out a mouthful of green blood. “At least my friends are prettier than your girlfriends, Knox.”

No longer privy to a fight, the crowd reluctantly dissipated, allowing the pair a clear path to the mess hall. Hirek laughed to himself when he noticed the line to get into the “service” hall was longer than the mess hall. It wasn’t surprising that most of the men during their off time would rather have a fuck than a tray full of subpar food, especially when they could get a hypospray with essential nutrients just before their mission deployment that kept them from feeling hungry for the duration of their missions.

“Do you have enough merits for a ‘service’ session?” Hirek tossed the question to Knox as they stepped forward in the mess hall line. “I bartered mine to a dope on a rope. Really didn’t want to take that fire watch.” Hirek gave a nonchalant shrug. “Not my fault things went fugazi during that watch and the dope and that whole section of the wall got blasted because the red team in labcoats fucking around with the new tech. I got my merits back, but I’m thankful I kept my skin.”

With trays laden with sustenance that barely passed as food, the pair grabbed the first unoccupied slots available at a nearby long table. With so many missions running simultaneously, some to get tech and fodder for the lab coats, some to merely maintain a presence on the planet, some to further their “borders” on the planet, and some to do fuck all that Hirek knew, the mess hall was always buzzing with activity as the servicemen came and went as they were able.

“Cross told me they found signs of another group on their last exploratory patrol,” Hirek spoke under his breath. He doubted there were many at this point who hadn’t heard the rumors, but since it wasn’t an official report yet, they’d likely lose merits if they were caught discussing it openly. “Lines up with what you saw last time we were out there. Now the question is whether or not they’re friendlies. What’d you want to bet that’s what we’re going to be sent out to find out on our next mission?”
99
Parallel Universes - "What if?" / Re: [2376] Entanglement of Chaos
Last post by Ellen Fitz -
[Ens. Enyd Isolde Madsen | Mador Base | Cardassia Prime ] ATTN: @RyeTanker

The wheels on the bus go round and round,
            Round and round
               Round and round
The wheels on the bus go round and round, all through the city.

Pain exploding across the nerve endings of her face interrupted her mental retreat. Enyd’s head jerked left and right, the tendons in her neck working overtime to try to stabilize as Luske Ontatt continued to slap her across each cheek in turn, spewing questions at her all the while as if it was entirely possible to answer in the midst of the slaps. The sudden electric shock sent Enyd’s mind wheeling in and out of present time and her childhood. So disassociated from her body at this point; while she felt the pain and responded to it with noises and flinches, she also felt as if everything was happening to someone else and she was merely an observer.

Thoroughly dissatisfied with Enyd’s lack of cooperation in inflicting pain directly, Luske turned his attention to Zark. Enyd clenched her fists. After the first few blows, she almost snapped back into her mind and body. The temptation to do something, anything, to prevent further injury to Zark nearly choked her. But then Zark yelled at her the encouragement she needed to remain aloof. Keeping her battered face wiped of emotion, Enyd watched the beating with unseeing eyes, falling back into the musical library of her childhood.

O soldier, soldier, won't you marry me with your musket fife and drum?
O no sweet maid, I cannot marry you, for I have no boots to put on.
So up she went to her grandfather's chest, and she got him a pair of the very, very best
she got him a pair of the very, very best   
And the soldier put them on.

Luske’s breath tickled the hairs on her neck. Her mind desired to comprehend, to tune into his words, but Enyd found her mind. She battled her desire, imagining her desire as a slimy lizard creature and an armor-clad warrior, swinging her swords at the lizard and ducking behind rocks to avoid the spit acid her desire shot at her. Her left sword glowed with a brilliant blue light, and her right sword pulsated with a green energy. Her greaves were the color of polished shungite, her cuisses like an auralite…

Enyd was still coloring and designing her armor, almost ready to move on to the ornate inscriptions on her swords when suddenly her mind snapped back into her body at the sudden press of chapped lips against her bloodied ones. Trying to reel back with an instinctive recoil, Enyd’s eyes crossed as she looked down her nose at the man kissing her. When Javec pulled back from the unexpected touch, his lips were colored crimson with her blood.

“Are you there now, Enyd?”

“Wha…” Enyd blinked a few times, looking over Javec’s shoulder to note the rest of their team pouring in and sweeping through the room.

“Here,” he took the knife from Enyd and pivoted to cut Zark loose as Enyd had been earlier instructed to do, “you both look terrible, but you’ll both live.” Javec winked at Zark, “Do you need a recovery kiss, too?”

Behind him, Enyd used the remains of the chair she’d been strapped in to get to her feet. “What happened?”

Javec held out a hand to help Zark up before answering. “Ghin Torlan led us on a counter-offensive. It took us longer than we would’ve liked, thanks to that gas, but thankfully, some of Ghin Torlan’s men had previous inoculation to the gas Ontatt used on us, so they were able to recover us to a defendable position until we regained consciousness. We had a devil of a time finding you two because many of the tunnels have collapsed.”

“Yes,” Enyd stepped over Ontatt's unconscious form, hearing the sounds of continued fighting in an adjacent room. “I vaguely remember Luske asking about those explosions. Any ideas?”

She found the med kit she’d hoped would be in the room and motioned for Zark to come close. They didn’t have time for pretty or thorough work, but hopefully, there’d be something in there to take the edge off the pain. Now that she was “back,” her body was quickly “catching her up” on everything she’d missed in her mental disassociation.

“We’ve found no trace of Ono or Jassarc, so my credits would be on a double-cross of some sort.” Javec kept his gaze moving, monitoring both doors in case anyone unfriendly tried to approach while Zark and Enyd tried to clean up and ready for the next step of this mission.

“Get rid of loose ends that are no longer useful?” Enyd glared at Ontatt. “I suppose we’ll only know if we take him with us. Retreat back to the safe house?”

Javec nodded, using the comm link to relay the message on to Torlan and the others. This very much seemed like a set-up, one against both Ontatt and the rest of them. If it had been orchestrated by Ono and Jassarc, then they’d be better off regrouping elsewhere. Potentially try to flush out the bastards if they were firing on the facility nearby. That was, in fact, exactly what Ghin Torlan responded with. Javec was to take Enyd and Zark to the safe house with Ontatt, interrogate the old Cardassian, and then, potentially, keep him alive and safely hidden if he had anything useful on the Barjoran and Orion until Torlan and his team could rejoin them.

“We need to check in with my CDO in the next hour or so if we don’t want Starfleet descending into this madness,” Enyd added once Javec ended the comm link with Torlan and turned his attention to finding some way to secure Ontatt for their journey. Javec nodded but remained silent as he continued to rummage around. Enyd looked back at Zark and tried to offer a smile, only to immediately wince and let her lips fall back into a grimace. “You okay?”
100
Interregnum 01-02 S2 / Re: Day 6 [ 1300hrs. ] Let's Get Physical
Last post by Sqweloookle -
[ Lieutenant Elro Kobol | Hirek's Quarters | Deck 17 | USS Theurgy ] Attn: @Ellen Fitz

He couldn't really argue with anything that Hirek said though Elro hoped with time, not to mention should they survive the Infested, that he was proven correct about the Romulan finding a home with them aboard the Theurgy. Of course the Federation once Starfleet Command was rescued from Infested control. The Betazoid nodded at Hirek's replies, he smiled at the nod of acceptance for them to help each other and chuckled at the huff he made at his birth and wondered just how old the Romulan is.

But first things first, he smirked. "Do I smell nice?" Elro asked with a wink as he stood up and approached, though he couldn't quite receive clear thoughts from the Romulan, he left his senses open should he be lucky to. He came around Hirek's chair and placed hands on his shoulders. "That's a pity, I was hoping for some intimacy, considering the display you made back at Sickbay." He said much of the sexual tension from the entire exchange since sickbay coming back and they were in private now.

Elro ignored the request about the replicator as his fingertips gently made contact at the back of Hirek's ears somewhere near the bottom then traced them upwards to the tip. As he brought them down the other side so as to softly guide the Romulan to urge his head to fall backwards so they can make eye contact. He brought their lips closer together but just at the last moment before touching Elro's stomach growled.

Clearly the replicator's mention had registered in his subconscious and that triggered his stomach. Elro chuckled embarrassed as he paused. "Sounds like I need a full belly as well," he said and slowly reversed his previous trail along those pointed ears as he stepped back. "Perhaps you could share a recipe from your people that you enjoy with me and likewise?" He held out his hand glad he got the satisfy that odd pointed ears fetish he somehow developed, though the spots one was still around in the background.
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