Star Trek RPG - Mission #3: "Some Other Side of Paradise"

[general_urko]

Graham scowls, feeling certain he doesn't own any clothing nice enough to make him look like he fits in at a place like this. Then again, I don't exactly look like I belong with the "beautiful people" in general, he thinks. Remembering that the resort has spa and fitness facilities, he requests a short-sleeved shirt and pants that would be suitable for a workout. Maybe folks will think I'm a trainer. Or some intergalactic princess will assume I'm a wealthy a retired boxer, he muses. That thought calls to mind his evening with Bennett: yeah I know I'm an idiot but I still want to get her a little something while we're here. He has no idea what--he's not sure which he dreads more, making a dumb decision on his own, or asking her roommate T'Var for advice.

Well, Cec...Lt. Bennett...did ask me to keep an eye on her, he thinks.

He turns toward T'Var. "Ah, hey Doc, you heading over to medical? Want some company on the way?"

[anyrose]

"When we're ready," Collins tells the group, "we'll pair off again. This time, Graham with Kylah, Rangin with T'Var, and Delaney with me."

[CatInASuit]

Rangin will get something slightly more relaxed and casual to wander around the resort. There's that linen suit he had while dealing with hotter climes looking for some interesting wildlife. Perhaps slightly better than what he may have gone hiking in and can just about pass for the evening meal. It's been well cleaned and repaired since he was last chased up a tree.

"I'm looking forward to seeing the medical area, I've a few questions to ask," says Rangin.

[choie]

Kylah is surprised by the changed pairings--she and Collins are the only ones to swap partners--but of course says nothing. She's nervous about being paired with Graham. He has fortunately been discreet regarding what happened the other day in the rec room, not mentioning it at all to her, but the awkwardness between them hasn't dissipated--at least, not on her side. She's still not convinced he believes her side of the story.

Refocusing on the matter at hand, she realizes neither Graham nor Collins have revealed what they learned. "Did you and Mr. Graham find any new information, Lieutenant? What are your impressions of the resort?"

[WES]

T'Var will wear the tan robes of a Vulcan traveler. Simple and comfortable.

"I look forward to your company at another time," the doctor tells Graham.

She is pleased to continue this journey with Rangin. He asks good questions and handles himself well in any situation.

[anyrose]

"We got nothing but short unrevealing answers." Collins admits, "I'm hoping the former staff and guests will speak more freely. But maybe in civvies, we'll get more."

[Elendil's Heir]

There's a bathroom adjoining the conference room and, although not every Federation member society has a nudity taboo, each of the landing party takes a turn in there, changing into civvies. Each keeps his or her phaser-1 and communicator; those with tricorders may retain those, and Dr. T'Var wisely decides to keep her medikit. Collins arranges to have the party's Starfleet uniforms and, at his request, Delaney's engineer toolkit to be beamed to the research station for the Yorktown group's return this evening.

Mr. Wilson appears to be more delayed than expected.

[choie]

Kylah wasn't planning on changing to her sun dress today, but since Collins has ordered them to do further looking around undercover this afternoon before dinner, she decides to go ahead and wear the pale green dress with the open shoulders. It's a relief to remove her Starfleet regulation high-heeled boots and slip on her more practical while far more dainty bronze sandals, the straps of which criss-cross over the curve of her calves. She ties the matching bronze belt around her waist and is satisfied with her appearance. Casual, not too revealing, and fortunately there's a pair of pockets just large enough to slip in her phaser on one side, and her communicator and tricorder on the other. I will definitely need a purse for tonight, she thinks. I cannot imagine a gown that would manage to hide all these tools.

Finally she leaves the bathroom for the next officer. And is surprised that Wilson still isn't back yet.

[Elendil's Heir]

Kylah finds the tricorder is indeed just a bit bulky for her outfit.

[CatInASuit]

Rangin nods appreciatively as Kylah passes by him when he goes in to change, returning shortly in a well kept linen suit, which has obviously seen a lot of use.

He adjusts the cuffs to make sure they are level and check the small bulges from the inside pockets are not too obvious. |He then slings the tricorder on its straps jauntily over one shoulder and waits either for Mr Wilson to arrive or for them all to leave.

[choie]

Scowling at the recalcitrant tricorder, Kylah walks up to Graham and looks at him hopefully. "Since we are to be surveying the spa together, would you be able to help me? As you can see, I am unable to handle such a bulky tool comfortably--perhaps you can think of a better place to put it?"

She notices Rangin's suit and appreciates how well he looks in it. In her opinion, the bulges don't mar his appearance in the least.

[general_urko]

Graham can't help but chuckle at Kylah's question. "Heh. How about up Wilson's a--" he stops mid-sentence as her hopeful stare makes him think he might be reacting with an Earth colloquialism that she isn't familiar with. "Uh, yeah I can see there isn't much place to--I mean...why don't I just carry it?"

[Elendil's Heir]

The landing party gets squared away with its accoutrements just as Wilson returns. He is alone. He says nothing about the group's civilian clothes, but smiles and says, "I apologize for being late; something came up but I think it's resolved for now. I hope you all had a good lunch? Good. Shall we go to the Introduction Room now to see guests exposed to the spores? Adm. Hardin and his aide have now been through orientation and are in that group."

Only Dr. T'Var notices that Wilson has a very slight limp that he didn't have before.

[anyrose]

"Mr Wilson," Collins asks in as polite a voice as possible, "Do you have to handle these "situations" often? I would think that in a place like this, everything would go smoothly."

[CatInASuit]

"Once could be considered unfortunate, but twice in one day...", Rangin whispers quietly leaving the rest of the sentence unsaid, but the implication clear.

[WES]

T'Var is curious as to how the admiral and his aide are doing. Perhaps they will be more forthcoming about this place. Then again, they may not be in any condition to rationally evaluate the situation. The doctor sighs. Something is not quite right here and speaking with guests Mr. Wilson has chosen probably won't help them get much closer to any real answers.

[Elendil's Heir]

"Typically, yes, I would delegate some of these issues," Wilson says with a somewhat rueful smile. "But we have three VIPs being introduced today - four, counting the admiral - and it's hardly a 'typical' day." He leads the Starfleet officers from the conference room and down the hall. Mr. Khövsgöl, who was apparently waiting in the hall, falls into step behind them.

[choie]

Kylah examines Wilson with a furrowed brow, then slips through the group of crew members until she's next to T'Var. She touches the Vulcan's hand lightly to establish a telepathic contact.

His cheerful humor is a ruse. I can sense that he is definitely worried about something, and hiding it to keep us impressed with this facility.

[general_urko]

Graham's surprised to see Kylah sidle over to T'Var and touch the doctor's hand. It had seemed to him that Rangin and Kylah had some kind of thing going: but maybe he was wrong. This might explain why the Vulcan had seemed to be unusually affectionate toward Kylah, he thinks. But also it makes asking T'Var questions that might help shed some light on the incident with Lt. Ferguson a lot more complicated...

[CatInASuit]

Rangin notes Wilson's words about four new VIPs, includig the vice-admiral, but makes no mention of his aide. He pulls out his tricorder and checks it to make sure it working as expected.

Then he starts scanning for any spores in the area.

[anyrose]

"You know we're here to assess the spa for contract renewal." Collins tells Wilson, still keeping her voice polite, "So far, all we can report is that you've had a couple of situations that required your personal attention." She watches his face for reaction. "And when we looked around unescorted, we were herded back here. This does not make for a positive review."

[Elendil's Heir]

Rangin's tricorder is properly functioning. His scan detects spores in only one place, inside the building, several dozen meters ahead to the right.

Wilson says calmly, "You can also accurately report, I hope, that you've been given the chance to see everything you've asked to see; that this is a large, well-appointed and well-run resort; that the guests you've spoken to are satisfied and happy; and that our dining options are first-rate."

[choie]

Kylah raises an eyebrow, but quickly changes her expression to a pleasant, open one. "Of course, Mr. Wilson," she says warmly, deciding that since she's already on record as being a potential shill for the resort, she might as well continue the ruse--it might make him more willing to allow her access to various areas if he believes her unbiased... or even better, biased in has favor. "All you say is indeed true. To be fair, sir, I have been the only person able to speak to any guests, and it was only two of them. Perhaps once my colleagues have the same opportunities to speak with your customers that I have had, they will share the opinion that the resort is well-run."

[WES]

T'Var gives Kylah a nod of understanding. The doctor pays close attention to her surroundings -- sights and sounds. Also, the tone of Wilson's voice. What is he hiding?

[WES]

"Mr. Wilson, I do not wish to pry, but I noticed that you are limping a bit," T'Var says. "I hope you were not injured while dealing with one of these situations requiring your personal attention."

[Elendil's Heir]

Wilson nods and smiles at Kylah's remarks. "Thank you, Ensign. I appreciate that."

To T'Var he says, "It's nothing, thanks. I'll get by."

[choie]

Kylah looks worried. "Oh, I did not even notice you had hurt yourself, sir. I hope it does not bother you too much. I'm sure Dr. T'Var would be able to treat you quite easily if you wish."

[Elendil's Heir]

"I'm fine, really," Wilson says, and walks a little faster.

[choie]

Kylah glances at T'Var and purses her lips, scowling very briefly. She doesn't bother sharing what she's sensing from Wilson, because it's just too... diffuse. He's definitely evading the truth--anyone can see that without empathic abilities. Still, Kylah can sense that he actually thinks he needs to keep this a secret from them. And she cannot determine why.

None of this seems useful to share with T'Var. But it's far too familiar and she clamps her mouth shut in consternation. It is Waite all over again. We might as well be trying to get information from the Sakathian researchers.

She just hopes there's nothing even nearly as dangerous lurking behind Wilson's troubled thoughts.

[general_urko]

Graham frowns. It's only after T'Var mentions it that he notices Wilson is limping. How the hell did he get injured at a place like this? Graham wonders. He weighs Kylah's tricorder in one hand for potential use as an impact weapon. Given my luck, we'll probably run into a mugato between here and the spa, he thinks.

[WES]

"I am gratified to hear that," T'Var tells Wilson. "And I am certain the medical staff here would be more than capable of rendering you assistance if needed."

[Elendil's Heir]

Wilson says, "Thank you, yes, I'm sure they would."

He leads the Yorktown landing party into a large, airy room. There are couches, chairs, low tables, and tasteful art on the walls. One wall, however, is mostly taken up by a large window.

Six people are in the room, including Mrs. Hsu, Vice Adm. Hardin, Lt. Cmdr. Ebling, and three others. There is a young human male in an outlandish outfit, whom you all instantly recognize as the interstellar multimedia superstar Lord Fastolfe. Another is an older, frail-looking human woman in subdued, tasteful clothing; she looks vaguely familiar to Collins. The last is a tall, well-built Rhaandarite male, apparently middle-aged, in an expensive-looking suit. Fastolfe is the only one sitting down, sprawled in a chair with one leg flung over the chair arm; his eyes are closed. The others are standing and chatting quietly with each other nearby.

Kylah is aware at once, without even trying, that Delaney has become intensely excited and is controlling himself only with difficulty.

Rangin's tricorder now indicates that there are spores less than 20 meters away.

More on Rhaandarites: http://en.memory-alpha.org/wiki/Rhaandarite

[CatInASuit]

Rangin moves quietly around the room to look through the window.

[anyrose]

Keeping one eye on the vaguely familiar woman, Collins goes over to talk to the Admiral and his aide. "I trust everything is going well, sir?" she asks Harding.

[Elendil's Heir]

Rangin sees that there is a plain, unadorned room beyond the large window, with two doors on the far wall, and the outlines of several panels on the left wall.

The admiral and his aide greet Collins in a friendly way. "Yes, all's well, thank you, Lieutenant," the Comptroller General says. "We've completed orientation and had a nice lunch."

His voice seems to rouse Lord Fastolfe, who jumps to his feet. "Wilson!" he barks, in a voice famous across the Federation from songs, movies and public appearances of all kinds. "You're back. Is my house ready? The yellow house?"

"As I explained, sir," Wilson says, striving to be polite but clearly a little annoyed, "that particular residence was reserved by one of our other guests. I've asked, and unfortunately, she is not willing to move to another house. I'm sorry, but you will be staying in the blue house I showed you earlier."

"Unacceptable," the celebrity says, growing angry. "For as much as I'm paying for my stay, I expect the house of my choice."

[choie]

Kylah raises her eyebrows at this spectacle of a man before her. Fastolfe would fit in perfectly among her family with such an imperious attitude--indeed, he could be a male version of the former Dohlman. Most likely he will calm down once the spores are introduced. But it seems to her that Wilson would do well to make some accommodation for the silly but influential celebrity. Curious to see how Wilson handles himself, she says nothing, though a few different solutions to the problem spring to mind.

Meanwhile, Kylah moves to Delaney, fascinated by the rush of emotions he's evincing. Is he a fan of Fastolfe? His reaction to seeing the three ships this morning--dropping his datapad--certainly indicated he recognized one of them, and considering the man's name was emblazoned on one of them, Fastolfe seems the likeliest candidate. But it's hard to believe a grown man, particularly this man, would be so flustered and thrilled by a mere performer. And there had been annoyance there too. What could that be about?

"I beg your pardon, sir," she murmurs under her breath to her scouting partner from earlier in the day. "Do you know him?"

[general_urko]

Graham wonders if he's been too hard on Wilson. I'd be unpleasant too if I had to constantly deal with a bunch of rich jerks, he thinks. As Fastolfe grows angry, Graham nonchalantly moves to a place where he's between the celebrity and the admiral, facing Fastolfe.

[Elendil's Heir]

Delaney, staring at Fastolfe, nods wordlessly to Kylah. He seems almost rapturous.

Graham takes up his position. The celebrity is focused entirely on Wilson and doesn't seem to notice the Security man.

Wilson says, "I understand your frustration, sir, but I can't just throw another guest out of the residence she had reserved."

"Of course you can. I'm Lord Fastolfe."

"No, sir, I really can't."

"Well, then, you idiot, let me talk to her," Fastolfe says. "I'll convince her."

"I'm afraid that won't be possible."

"Dammit. Does she know it's me who wants that house?"

Wilson hesitates. "I'm... I'm not sure I mentioned you by name, sir. But she knows it's... an important guest."

"'Important'?" Fastolfe says. "'Important'? Try 'Far more important, transcendantly more important than any other lifeform on this miserable ball of dirt.'"

T'Var notices a vein throbbing at Wilson's temple.

[anyrose]

Collins turns to face the blustering spoiled brat of a celebrity. She never did care for his works, and now even less that he is showing his true self. She moves over to Mr. Khövsgöl and asks "Is there much of a difference between the two houses? Couldn't you just paint the blue one yellow?" She smiles at Mr. Khövsgöl to show she's only half joking.

[WES]

T'Var finds Lord Fastolfe quite distasteful. The doctor is not familiar with him. Is he acting this way because he truly is a pompous ass or are the spores creating his irritating behavior?

[Elendil's Heir]

Khövsgöl smiles thinly but says nothing.

Dr. T'Var has heard just a bit about Fastolfe before - she'd have to be living under a rock not to have. She would, if she were historically-minded, say he was an odd combination of Mick Jagger, George Clooney and John Dillinger: handsome, multitalented, filthy rich, but notoriously self-indulgent, short-tempered and rumored to have a violent past.

"Sir, I'm sorry, but we just can't let you stay in the yellow house," Wilson says, his voice strained. "If you'd like a refund, Wrigley Resorts & Recreation will gladly...."

"You've got to be fucking kidding me," Fastolfe says angrily. "A refund? Please. Come all this way, just to get my money back and go all the way back? No fucking way. I want the yellow house, and I want it now, understand?"

"I'm very sorry, sir, but...."

Quicker than anyone can respond, Fastolfe advances on Wilson, pushes him down and draws a long Argelian dagger from somewhere in his tunic. "You're not giving me the right answers, Wilson. You just apologize and apologize. Fuck that. Time you changed your tune...."

[general_urko]

Graham drops Kylah's tricorder in order to draw his phaser. He shouts drop "drop the weapon now!" emphatically, taking a step toward the two men with his phaser trained on Fastolfe, held in both hands with elbows bent in front of him.

[anyrose]

Collins also trains her phaser on Fastolfe.

[Elendil's Heir]

Fastolfe looks irritatedly at the two Security officers. He pauses and then, with a shrug and a casual flick of his hand, drops the knife. It lands just a few centimeters from the right elbow of the wide-eyed, heavy-breathing Wilson, and sticks in the floor, point down.

[anyrose]

"Doctor!" Collins says pointing to Wilson as she lunges towards Fastofle. She kicks the knife out of the way

[general_urko]

Graham puts one foot on top of the knife. Keeping his phaser trained on Fastolfe, he says firmly "Lie face down, hands on your head."

[Elendil's Heir]

The knife is sticking out of the floor. It cannot be kicked out of the way.

Fastolfe says to Graham, "I'm not going to lie down. Are you insane?" He moves back to his chair.

Wilson says to Dr. T'Var, "It's all right. I'm OK." He clambers to his feet.

[general_urko]

Graham raises his phaser. "I can search you for weapons whether you're conscious or unconscious--all the same to me. Your decision--for about three more seconds."

[choie]

Kylah exhales heavily. She glances down at Delaney again, curious to see if his adoration of this mercurial popinjay has changed, and then shifts her attention to focus on Falstofe's frame of mind. Is his tantrum over with?

She's a little taken aback by Graham's presumption. is it not up to the ranking security officer, not to mention the mission leader, to make such demands? Normally she would be amused by the thought of Collins's being overshadowed by a junior officer on one of her own missions--certainly Kylah did it often enough on the Sakath research station--but right now Kylah isn't convinced that threatening a guest is in the best interests of their overall investigation.

[Elendil's Heir]

Fastolfe rolls his eyes at Graham and sits down. "Relax, Adolf. Nobody asked you to get involved."

Kylah senses Delaney is a little upset. Fastolfe seems calm now.