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Thread: Star Trek RPG - Mission #4: "Codex Aelyrr"

  1. #201
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    Cooper sits down, bumps Collins with his hip in a friendly way, stretches and pulls out a canteen. He offers a drink to her.

    Kylah finds a listing for a musical-instrument repair shop, also in Thoth. She and Rangin beam down and find themselves alone on a quiet street. The shop is just a few steps away.

    Woizera, an Ethiopian woman and environmental systems expert, and Davis, a communications specialist from Australia, are sipping coffee and enjoying the sun. "Don't be silly; it's no intrusion," Woizera says to Graham. She gestures to an empty chair as a waiter walks up. "Join us?"
    Last edited by Elendil's Heir; 30 Apr 2015 at 02:03 PM.

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    Kylah is furious with herself. Why did she tell Velir the zither story before he even asked about it? As a result he clearly expected her to go through with this plan, and so she had to go through the farce of looking up the music shop.

    Now they are here and she has no idea what to do. Of course her zither is not broken and she has no desire to break one of the precious crystal strings merely to shore up her story--although she will, if necessary.

    She turns nervously to Velir. "I will be just a moment," she says, her voice weak. "There is no need to come in with me. Perhaps there are other shops you can look at in the meanwhile." The feeble attempt to put off the inevitable embarrasses her. She has told far bigger lies to much more frightening people than Velir Rangin. Yet she is acting like an amateur instead of the expert liar she is. Without waiting for him, she heads to the shop.

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    "Uh..." Graham hesitates, then shrugs and smiles slightly. "Sure, a drink wouldn't kill me. At least, not on a planet with a large human population." He takes a seat. "Have you been on the Yorktown long?" he asks them, directing the question at both.

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    Collins takes a swig from the proffered canteen, hands it back, and sighs. "This is a great view. let's hang here a while, then later we can grab some dinner." As she lays back, she clasps her hands and stretches her arms above her head. "Phew!" as she catches a whiff of herself, "after we shower and change." she laughs. Jeremi has not felt this relaxed since before being assigned to the Yorktown. She puts her hands behind her head and watches the clouds as they pass.

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    Kylah, to her relief, finds that the shop's door is locked. The keypad message reads Sorry, closed for the day. Please come back tomorrow..

    The cafe waiter asks Graham, "What will you have, sir?"

    Woizera says, "We both transferred from the Achilles about eight months ago. We were bunkmates at the Academy and have been lucky enough to be able to stick together since."

    Cooper takes the canteen back from Collins, kisses her, takes a swig himself, and lies back next to her. He closes his eyes and basks in the sun. "Whatever you say, Jer, is A-OK with me."

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    "It's my first time here--to your café, and Anubis. Is there anything you'd recommend I try?" Graham asks the waiter.

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    As Rangin sees Kylah standing by the door which obviously is not opening he walks up and peers though one window, the inside is dark and quiet with a few instruments displayed. "I don't see anyone in, I guess its closed." He turns to face her as yet again she looks down, not meeting his gaze.

    "You know, you never mentioned you played the zither, it takes a lot of skill as I understand it. If I asked politely, once it has been repaired, would it be possible to see you play it?"

    Rangin looks around, the street quiet and the other people around far enough away as to be inconsequential, "And more importantly, I owe you an apology if you are willing to accept it, and an explanation if you are willing to hear it?"
    In the land of the blind, the one-arm man is king.

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    Kylah self-consciously holds her bag more closely to her side. "Playing an Elasian zither is difficult, but I am not an expert. Merely passable. But if it would please you, yes, perhaps I will play it for you. Sometime." She is torn between wanting Velir to be kind to her and wishing he would remain aloof, to make her decision easier.

    "As for an apology... you do not owe me anything." Her eyes lift to meet his briefly, then return to looking at the empty store. "I put you in an uncomfortable situation and imposed myself on you. I am the one who is sorry." Now she turns to stare up and down the street. "I wonder if there is a pub or bar nearby," she says hurriedly. "I would like to see some local color and those places are usually good options..."
    Last edited by choie; 01 May 2015 at 12:53 PM.

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    The waiter hands Graham a small datapad with a menu listing several dozen kinds of coffee, tea and other mild liquid stimulants, as well as pastries and cakes. He says with a smile, "You can't go wrong with the Anubis Arabica blend, sir, if you like strong but smooth coffee."

    After Graham has ordered, Davis says, "We've only been on Anubis once before, a little over a year ago, when the Achilles stopped by. This café wasn't even here then. We just saw it when we beamed down and decided to try it out." She looks at Woizera, then back to Graham. "There are some nice shops and stores in this part of town, and art galleries, too, if you're into that. The museum district is within easy walking distance, and the botanical gardens are worth a look. Memorial Park is great if you want to feel some honest-to-God grass under your feet."

    Woizera nods. She sips her coffee and asks, "Were you looking for anything in particular, Mr. Graham?"

    A short walk brings Kylah and Rangin to a more lively, crowded street. There are several bars and restaurants; none is a pub, as such.
    Last edited by Elendil's Heir; 01 May 2015 at 01:06 PM.

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    Having accepted the waiter's recommendation, Graham sips his Anubis Arabica blend, which is indeed good.

    "You're both one up on me--having been here, and still with your bunkmate from the Academy, both. Of course," he adds, "Most of my Academy class has been fossilized by now."

    Or drummed out of the service if they weren't more than an ensign by now, he thinks, but does not say.

    He can imagine walking through an art gallery--with Bennett on his arm, because...because she reminds you of Jane.

    Despite the fact that the coffee is smooth, he almost chokes on it. He clears his throat and replies to Woizera.

    "It's silly. Stupid, really...but I suppose if you could keep your eye out...I'm looking for a snowglobe. You know, the little glass thing you shake?"

    Something in the back of his mind is saying "Booker just shut up," but he doesn't. "I was talking to N-- Lt. Onn in the...earlier. When I described Scotland's weather she seemed to like it, which is...ah, rare to say the least. I thought she might find snow...uh, interesting."

  11. #211
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    T'Var will definitely want to visit anything of a cultural nature -- history, music, etc. She would also like to learn more about the inhabitants and their daily lives.

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    Kylah keeps walking a little ahead of Velir and examines each bar they come across. She knows very little about what she is seeking, but enough to know that anyone willing to trade her credits for untraceable cash will not be found in a pleasant, tourist-driven establishment. If there is any bar that looks less respectable, somewhat out-of-the-way, perhaps even rough or seedy, that is the one she will enter.

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    Neither Woizera nor Davis know what a snowglobe is. Davis says apologetically, "Pradell's is a nice, big department store just down the street, and it had a lot of Earth merchandise, as I remember. They might have something like that."

    T'Var beams down to the Anubis Historical Center, a very large, ultramodern museum with interesting exhibits on the settlement of the planet. Anubis was discovered and charted by the early Starfleet exploratory ship USS Daedalus, the captain of which was fascinated by Egyptian mythology. The early settlers, who arrived a few years later, had to deal with several varieties of fierce and hungry local predators and recurring epidemics, but eventually tamed the planet and laid the groundwork for its current safety and prosperity. T'Var sees that there are several concert halls and performance spaces not far away with all kinds of different music. The people of Anubis seem, by and large, to be much like the people of any other large Federation world. The great majority of the populace is Human, but there are quite a few Vulcans, Andorians, Rigellians and Tellarites, too, as well as a smattering of other races.

    After going down another side street, Kylah sees several bars which look less than reputable. The least presentable of all (although it is a close call) seems to be Ysobel's, which looks like it hasn't been cleaned or painted in a year or three at least. Inside it is dark and dingy. A Bolian bartender looks suspiciously at her when she enters. Two scruffy-looking Human men and one woman are sitting at a table together, talking urgently; they fall silent at the sight of her. The other four tables are empty, as are two booths.

    http://en.memory-alpha.org/wiki/Daedalus_class
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    No matter how hard he tries to speak to Kylah, she seems distracted by one thing and then another. He wonders what she is really up to as she passes bar after bar and finally stops outside the seediest looking one in the street, although alley would be a better term.

    As he follows Kylah into the seedy establishment, he wonders if he should have just painted a large sign above his head saying "TARGET". If he had known they might wind up in a place like this he would have dressed in something more appropriate, instead of remaining in his uniform. Kylah may think they were looking at her, a pretty face always caught the eye, but uniform always made the local patrons wary. Looking around the room, he inwardly groans, this is the sort of place Kylah would walk into, and probably not out of. She would wave her knives around and get laughed at and get taken for everything she had.

    On the flipside, it was three shades better than the local student handout on Coridan he used to drink in. Rangin relaxes and grins, folding his arms behind her as he waits to see what kind of crazy stunt Kylah is about to pull.
    In the land of the blind, the one-arm man is king.

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    Kylah hesitates when she realizes how few people are in the bar. This will not suit her needs--she cannot speak to anyone privately without Velir seeing. And when she sees the customers' wary expressions, she knows how foolish she was to wear her uniform. Somehow she will have to compensate for this--or find a way to change into one of her other dresses. How will I explain that to Velir?

    Although she is about to leave, to her surprise she discovers that Velir has sat himself down at a table, smiling as if he has just found a long-lost friend. He has not smiled like that at me since we played poker, she thinks, and turns back to the patrons to see what--or whom--he finds so enjoyable.

    With nothing making itself apparent, Kylah sinks slowly down into the chair opposite him. "I did not think this would be so empty. I was hoping for a busier establishment. To--to get a better feel of the locals," she adds awkwardly. "Perhaps we should go elsewhere?"

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    The bartender, with apparent reluctance, comes over. Kylah cannot help but notice that he smells, even for a Bolian. "What'll you have?" he asks gruffly.

    The woman at the other table begins talking to the men, too quietly to be heard. One of the men stares at the two Yorktown officers.
    Last edited by Elendil's Heir; 02 May 2015 at 10:36 AM.

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    Museums and the botanical garden make him think of T'Var, who--as far as he knows--is the only member of the team not attached. Those seem like the kind of places she'd go. He reminds himself to keep an eye out for her if she's on her own and wanted any company.

    The other couples are reassuring: Cooper definitely does not seem like the drug-using sort. And it's not like Rangin was the type who would take Kylah to some seedy dive bar down by the docks. Odds are the rest of the team's having some harmless fun...although nothing as epic as the Quest for the Magic Snowglobe, he thinks.

    "Pradell's--thanks, that's a good lead," Graham says, finishing his coffee. "I should go check it out." He stands and nods to each of his crewmates. "You two enjoy the rest of this fine afternoon."

    Unless there's a reason to remain, Graham heads in the direction of Pradell's at a leisurely pace. Just like being on the beat, he thinks a bit wistfully: police assignments had been among his favorite duties.

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    "Thanks, likewise," the two say, raising their coffees as Graham takes his leave.

    Pradell's is about three blocks away. The sun is shining, a cool breeze blows now and then, the sidewalks are full of people, and stylish aircars purr by on the street. Graham gets an occasional curious glance at his uniform, but sees no other Starfleet personnel, and not a single crime being committed. The main lobby of Pradell's is soaringly high and quite noisy as shoppers come and go. He finds his way to the Small Gifts and Keepsakes department and the sales clerk points him to a display case of paperweights, small sculptures and the like. There are three kinds of snowglobes, each of which look nice; the cheapest of them is about half a week's salary for him.

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    Collins awakes with a start. She didn't remember dozing off. She checks her chonometer, it's been two hours since the got to this clearing. She looks over at Cooper who appears to be asleep. She picks some grass blades and lightly sprinkles them on his face, and awaits his reaction.

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    Graham rubs his forehead. This assignment to the Yorktown is certainly turning out to be expensive. Still no point in buying Nia a cheap piece of crap....

    He examines the globes. Maybe I am over-complicating this. The Quest for the Magic Snowglobe... That thought reminds him of a children's book, reminds him...

    Elizabeth hung to the old, faded red fencepost--as tall as she was--as if her life depended on it. She'd extended one skate toward the frozen surface of the pond, then quickly retracted it. This was Lizzy's first visit to Jane's parents house outside of Boston during the winter: it was an idyllic old New England property, complete with skating pond.

    Graham had let Jane--an excellent skater, much better than he was--take a few minutes to enjoy herself on the ice while he started teaching their daughter to skate, figuring "how to stand up" was about his speed as a teacher.

    "Don't worry, I won't let you fall," Graham said encouragingly. Lizzy's glare back said she wasn't convinced...

    She'd only a fallen a few times, and Graham was quick enough to smother her and turn on the way down so she landed on him.

    "That was kind of fun," the third time that happened. Graham grunted as affectionately as he could grunt.

    He clears his throat and returns his attention to the display. Nia likes to swim so much--what would she make of ice skating?

    If there's a globe with a kid or kids ice skating, he picks that one, or the closest to it.

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    Kylah looks over at Velir, wondering if he might wish to order first. He seems comfortable in these surroundings, which is surprising, but it is clear they know little about each other... just as he said last night.

    She returns to the Bolian and searches her mind for something appropriate. "Do you have Andorian ale?" Eyeing the room, she swallows and tries to make conversation. "I suppose it is early in the day for drinking. Does it tend to get busier here later on?"

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    Cooper's nose wrinkles as the grass blades fall on his face and he shifts a little in his sleep, but doesn't wake up.

    One of the snowglobes shows two children, a boy and a girl from the looks of it (although they are tiny), skating on a frozen pond in front of an old-fashioned mill. It's cute and seems well-made. The sales clerk removes it from the case for Graham and takes his thumbprint for payment, drawing on his shipboard account. "Would you like it gift-wrapped, Ensign?" she asks.

    The bartender grunts. "Andorian ale? Sure." To Kylah's second question he says, "Yeah, usually. A few hours from now, it can get crowded. Why?"

    The people at the other table have stopped talking and now seem to be listening to Kylah and the bartender. The man keeps staring.
    Last edited by Elendil's Heir; 02 May 2015 at 09:14 PM.

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    Kylah orders the ale and, in response to the Bolian's question, gives a tight shrug. "I have never been to Anubis before. I am interested in meeting the people who live and work here. Not just those a tourist might see. Unfortunately I will not be here in a few hours."

    The stranger staring at them does not alarm her. Perhaps he does not trust Starfleet. Perhaps Velir reminds him of someone. There are any number of reasons someone would look at us. On the other hand, he might also have connections that could be useful to her. The bartender is the one to ask, but she can hardly do so in front of Velir.

    "I beg your pardon," she says, both to Velir and the Bolian. "Before you get our drinks, sir, can you tell me if is there a restroom I might use?"

    If there is, she will hopefully have to walk past the other table to get there--and if so, she will do so, attempting to determine precisely what emotions are emanating from the group of strangers.
    Last edited by choie; 02 May 2015 at 09:36 PM.

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    Graham smiles slightly. "You recognize the rank insignia? Do you know someone in Starfleet?" he asks. "And, ah, yes, gift-wrapped would be good, thanks."

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    Collins, now with her legs tucked under her tailor style, picks up a few small pebbles and drops them, one at a time, onto Cooper's chest. She sits back, smiles, and waits.
    Last edited by anyrose; 02 May 2015 at 09:42 PM.

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    Rangin is still wondering what Kylah, this is definitely a new side to her, he didn't know about. Maybe they did have more in common than he thought.

    "Nice place. I'll take a Cordas Pale, if you have it?" he politely enquires of the bartender with a flash of toothy grin.

    Rangin gives an acknowledging nod across to the guy who is staring at them and sees if there is any response.
    In the land of the blind, the one-arm man is king.

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    "Andorian ale and Cordas Pale, all right." The bartender gestures towards the back, which Kylah presumes means a restroom is there. As she passes the table with the others, she has a general sense of furtiveness and hostility. The staring man, in particular, is very hostile. He does not nod back to Rangin.

    The sales clerk smiles. "My cousin is in Starfleet. No braid on the cuff means ensign or below, right?" She begins to wrap the snowglobe.

    Cooper stirs and wakes. He squints in the sunshine, and smiles at Collins. "Pelting me with stones, huh? Never been woken that way before."

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    "I thought I'd try something new," Collins says. She kisses Cooper and springs to her feet. "Race you back down?" She asks playfully.

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    T'Var heads to the nearest concert hall. She will check out the schedule of performances.

    The doctor enjoys all types of music, but would definitely like to try something new. She is certain someone will be able to provide her with more information.

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    Graham chuckles. "Can't go much lower," he replies. "Tell your cousin Ensign Booker Graham will buy 'em a drink if we cross paths."

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    On edge after what she has sensed from the man at the table, Kylah glances back at Velir--whom she sees smiling at the strangers--and cannot help giving a little warning shake of her head. Of course he cannot know what she means, but the gesture is automatic. Then she hurries into the restroom, which appears to match the rest of the bar. She does nothing but wash her hands and look in the mirror, trying to take up a few minutes before leaving.

    Look at you. She stares at her reflection. Eyes still red from crying and lack of sleep, her skin blanched except for the circles under her eyes, and an expression that seems haunted even to her. No wonder Velir turned her down last night, if she looked even half this miserable. He is a generally good-natured, even-tempered man. Kylah and all the ghosts that cling to her will not be able to satisfy him, either personally or sexually.

    As much as she cares for him, and as desperately as she wanted to give everything of herself to him, the truth is, having his hands on her last night was torture. Intellectually, she knew it was Velir who was kissing and caressing her, but viscerally it was Jan. What man would want a woman who cannot distinguish him from a single night's horrific mistake?

    She closes her eyes briefly. All this is getting her nowhere. She does not know if she can serve on this ship anymore, and she wants the opportunity to escape, even if she does not go through with it yet. There will be another planet or starbase at some point, she thinks. If she does not have the courage to flee now, she will at least be ready when the chance presents itself again.

    After running her cold, damp hands across her face and through her hair, Kylah ventures out of the restroom in hopes that the Bolian will be back behind the bar. If he is, she will attempt to speak with him as far away from Velir as possible.

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    "You're on," Cooper says, clambering to his feet a bit more slowly, grabbing his stuff and starting after Collins.

    T'Var finds the Thoth Symphony Hall not far away. There is an open rehearsal for Godwinson's 2102 opera Mrs. FitzSimmons and Mr. Bell. The doctor slips into the back of the hall and listens in. She is unfamiliar with the piece; it seems to be about a couple's doomed affair just before Earth's Eugenics Wars.

    The sales clerk smiles at Graham. "I'd be glad to. What ship do you serve on? He's an engineer on the Shanghai."

    Just as Kylah is leaving the restroom - which is, indeed, just as nasty as the rest of the bar; she's glad for her Starfleet full-spectrum immunizations - she hears retching coming from one of the three stalls. She bends down a little and sees the heels and lower legs of someone hunched over the toilet.
    Last edited by Elendil's Heir; 03 May 2015 at 08:16 PM.

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    Kylah is both repelled and startled--she did not realize anyone was in the room with her. It is unlike her to be so unaware of another's presence, especially given this person's state. Maybe that is why she herself felt so bad? Kylah dismisses the thought; she knows she is responsible for her own unhappiness.

    Gnawing on her lip, she waits until there is a break in the unfortunate noise. "Pardon me," she begins, her voice tentative. "Do you... do you need any help?" Please say no, please say no... she prays, glancing longingly toward the exit and then back to the stall. "Is there something I can get you?"
    Last edited by choie; 03 May 2015 at 08:33 PM.

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    "It's always good to stay on the good side of engineers--them, and medical of course. I'm on the Yorktown," Graham replies.

    "Say, speaking of drinks--is there a bar you'd recommend near here?." He shrugs, admitting to himself he doesn't have any other ideas for what to do now that he has the globe. "I guess I might as well make the most of being off duty."

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    Back at the beginning of the hikers' trail, Collins stretches while she waits for Cooper to catch up. When he does, she runs to him and jumps into his arms and kisses him. When he puts her back down, she says "So, let's go back to the ship and get ready for lunch, yeah? I'll bet there are some really interesting restaurants here."
    Last edited by Elendil's Heir; 04 May 2015 at 12:37 PM. Reason: Meal changed at anyrose's request.

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    Kylah hears the person retch again and then pant hoarsely. "No... s'alright... I'm...." It sounds like a woman's voice. She begins throwing up again, quite copiously, from the sound of it.

    The sales clerk tells Graham, "I like the Park Plaza bar. It's about a ten-minute walk from here."

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    Graham thanks the clerk, makes arrangements for the wrapped snow globe to be sent to his quarters on Yorktown, and heads at a leisurely pace toward the Park Plaza.

    Along the way he keeps his eyes open for any local Starfleet or local law enforcement personnel, always interested in "talking shop" about a new place.

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    Kylah straightens, worried. "Just a moment, you do not sound all right." She leaves the restroom and, as much as she does not wish to, approaches the table of strangers. "Excuse me," she says softly. "I do not mean to interrupt, but is there another woman in your party? If so she appears to be quite ill. You may wish to check on her."

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    Cooper has worked up a sweat. He wipes his brow, says, "Sounds good," and pulls out his communicator.

    Graham also contacts the ship and has the giftwrapped snowglobe beamed up. He doesn't see any other Starfleet personnel, but does see a pair of Thoth police officers, in dark gray uniforms with shiny silver badges on their chests, at a busy intersection.

    In the bar, the woman at the table swears, stands up and goes into the restroom.

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    Having performed her good deed of the day--such as it was--Kylah gives a weak but likely ineffective smile to the remaining strangers and backs up a bit. She then turns to the bar, where she looks for the Bolian and, with a lifting of her hand, asks, "Pardon me, sir. Do you mind if I ask you a question? In private, please, if you would," she adds with a quick sidelong glance at Velir.

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    The bartender doesn't budge. He looks suspicious. "What about? Is this an investigation?"

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    Kylah walks closer to the bar and her fingers clasp its edge, pressing down until the tips are a bloodless white. "No, it is personal. It has nothing to do with Starfleet or your business or... or anything like that. It is personal," she repeats more urgently. She is very aware that Velir must be wondering what is going on.

    Her voice lowers, and she hopes the bartender can hear her; it is probably likely that the strangers might be listening as well, but she cares less about them than Velir. "I need a favor, or--or guidance, that might be the better word. And I do not wish my friend to know about it."
    Last edited by choie; 04 May 2015 at 03:00 PM.

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    Graham ambles over to the Thoth police officers. "Afternoon," he says, pointing briefly upward toward orbit. "Graham...on shore leave for the day from USS Yorktown Security." He gestures around the area. "Seems like a nice place so far," he shrugs slightly. "How are things On the Job here?"

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    Once back on board the ship, Collins asks Cooper, "So, back here in 15?"

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    The bartender lowers his voice, as well, although he still seems suspicious. "What kind of 'guidance' do you have in mind, lady?"

    The cops give Graham the once-over, and the shorter of the two raises his helmet's dark visor, nods and says, "Officer Baker, Thoth Constabulary. This is Officer Kwan. Welcome to Thoth, Mr. Graham. Yeah, it's not bad. This is a nice part of town and most folks are pretty well-behaved. Petty thefts and an occasional medical call are the most excitement we have. Sometimes a fight." Kwan continues looking over the crowd as it goes by.

    Cooper says, "Righto." He goes off to shower and change.
    Last edited by Elendil's Heir; 04 May 2015 at 08:38 PM.

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    Kylah's hopes rise a little and she speaks quickly. "It is nothing illegal, just secret. I wish to exchange credits for cash--ideally gold-pressed latinum, but any usable currency would do. I would need a significant amount. And I need the transaction to be untraceable, or difficult to trace, because no one must know about it for some time. Perhaps a third party would have to be involved?"

    She shakes her head helplessly. "That is the guidance I need. Given your job, you must get many different types of customers in here, including some who want to--be anonymous. Who want to leave the planet quickly. That sort of thing. And so I thought you might know or have heard about someone who could help?" After a slight hesitation, she hastens to add: "I am aware I must surely pay extra for this exchange. Some percentage above the amount of cash I would get back. And I am willing to do so, I just do not know how."
    Last edited by choie; 04 May 2015 at 09:04 PM.

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    Graham nods empathetically: a quiet part of town is a double-edged sword. Less of the real ugly shit, but barking dog complaints and lost tourists can get old.

    He instinctively adjusts his behavior, sliding into a converse-and-observe mode as if he'd just been assigned to their corner. "Fights--heh, I'm off the clock now but I've pulled plenty of watches where one of our crew letting off steam gets a bit carried away, ah...interacting...with the locals." He chuckles slightly. "But I'm pretty sure with the group that's down here from Yorktown we won't have any of that today."

    He muses about his colleagues: who'd be the catalyst? T'Var--well, T'Var most likely can kick some serious ass, but is probably able to keep herself under control. Rangin-- He tries to imagine Rangin as a mean drunk. All that comes to mind is Rangin as he is, but with his witty repartee slightly slurred.

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    Velir sits back in the booth, hand wrapped round the glass on the table and looks through the gloom. As his eyes adjust he can feel the ambiance soaking in a like damp sponge down the back of the neck. This was a different kind of alive, not a straightforward standup bravery or heart-thumping flush of love kind of alive. No, this was that nerve-jangling, twitchy, nothing-to-do-with-me feeling where everyone would swear blind afterwards they saw nothing. At least the drink wasn't as watered down as he was gong to expect.

    The one man staring at him obviously either didn't like outsiders or more likely didn't like the uniform. Really didn't like the uniform. The group of three, now two after Kylah spoke to them could be here for a variety of reasons. Criminals, the local drunk squad, or just some who didn't want to be disturbed, Velir wasn't sure, but they would be as likely as any to keep their heads down.

    And finally, Kylah talking to the bartender in low tones and hunched over trying to be as insignificant as possiible. A curled smile crosses his face, she didn't really know what she was doing. A nervous newbie in an establishment like this is a recipe for trouble, even though everyone had to start somewhere. Velir remembered his own introduction to establishments like this, a smoky cesspit called Pallota's, where the only cleaning done was to wipe up the bloodstains. It had taken him and his friends a few regular nights and buying several rounds of drinks for the locals for them to even consider being accepted.

    That didn't change the fact that whatever she was doing was not something she was used to. As he keeps watching the room, he watches the conversation between Kylah and the bartender waiting to see what occurs.

    In fact why would she head into a place like this?
    In the land of the blind, the one-arm man is king.

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    Freshly showered, Collins pulls her wet hair into a pony tail, throws on a clean uniform, and runs back to Transporter Room 3, barely ahead of Cooper. Once the two of them are on the pads, she tells the transporter tech "Put us down in the center of town, please."

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    The bartender rubs his chin and leans closer. "Never heard of gold-pressed latinum, but for a hundred Fedcreds I'll call a guy who might be able to help you."

    Officer Baker nods. "Good to know. Starfleet folk usually aren't much trouble, but of course there's an exception to every rule. You a cop yourself, before you joined the Fleet?"

    Two women emerge from the hallway leading to the restroom, the woman who had been at the table and her sick friend, and both sit down at the table. The man who was staring at Rangin turns his attention to them. They talk quietly. The sick woman does not look healthy at all.

    Collins and Cooper beam back down into central Thoth. About 90 minutes remain in their shore leave.

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