Rigel or Bust (Part 2 of 3)

Posted on 12 Dec 2014 @ 3:44am by Rear Admiral Lirha Saalm & Commander Allyndra illm Warraquim & Commander Luke Wyatt & Lieutenant Aria Rice & Nesh Saalm & Lieutenant JG Dorian West & Command Master Chief Markum Quinn & Clarence Pearl & Petty Officer 1st Class Siren Hex Saalm

2,559 words; about a 13 minute read

Mission: Episode 07 - Sojourn
Location: Starbase 84 - Deck 123, Upper Promenade Bar
Timeline: MD 08 - 0835 hrs

Previously, on Rigel or Bust (Part 1)...

Having set up the bar with copious amounts of alcohol, Clarence had to admit it seemed to be doing alright. People were getting drinks. The lucky couple seemed happy from what he could see. He picked up the cocktails, placing them on a tray. The drinks were green...a homage to the Orion woman. On the top was a red strawberry, a homage to the redhead by her side. The drinks were tropical flavoured...it was a mixture of the yellow pineapple juice and the blue orange liqueur that had rendered the drinks green. Together with some strawberry vodka it had created this drink. And he thought it tasted decent. Fruity, the strawberry giving it a bit of a sour twang, the orange adding the perfume and breaking through the sweetness of pineapple...it worked. He hoped it worked for the others as well.

Lirha poked at her green drink with a straw to stir it and mix the flavors some more, then took a long sip to taste it. "Mm..." she mumbled, clearly happy with the strange concoction as she sipped some more of it. She couldn't exactly discern which specific ingredients were in it, but it tasted like a fruity blend of some sort with vodka. There was only one thing missing on this special day; more vodka.

And Now, the Continuation...

[ON]

"Mister bartender, may I have another shot of the vodka you used to make this drink? On the side, please." she requested in an effort to stiffen her drink. "It is very good, by the way. What is it called...?"

"It's a strawberry vodka...I've extracted the flavour and infused it. I tried doing it with proper real strawberries in the vodka, but the flavour changed too much..." he smiled as he got the chilled shot glass and poured some of the vodka in, putting it on the side for Lirha.

"Well...it is quite delicious." The commodore took the shot glass and quickly poured it into her cocktail, then swirled it around with the thin straw. "You seem to have a talent for mixology, mister..." Lirha left the sentence open-ended in an attempt to get the man to fill in his name for her.

"Pearl. Clarence Pearl," he said and gave her a warm nod as he moved to put the bottle away. "And thank you. It's a science and an art. And hey, it makes me happy to make drinks that people enjoy and smile about. And not...you know...spit out. Because nooo one wants to see that, you know?" he chuckled, watching Lirha for a moment.

"It is good to meet you, Mister Pearl. And no, I would not care to see someone spit out their drink. At least not this early in the morning." Late night after too many drinks was one thing, but Lirha's belly was beginning to grumble and her appetite was starting to demand something delicious. "Do you have a food menu I can look at?" she proceeded to ask.

He nodded, smiling as he got the food menu for her. "Any staff here would be happy to bring you whatever you desire..." he chuckled at that, pulling back from her.

Allyndra watched the group out the corner of her eye and continued with her drink. The cares were starting to fall away just as she finished her cup and then ordered another. That got a glance but she ignored it and finally decided it was time to join the group down the way. She knew the young Orion woman, what was her name? Ah yes, Nesh, the memory came. She had helped with the DNA scissor thing that had helped keep the Commodore from being recruited into the Borg. The other one with her though was unfamiliar to her and her only real encounter with the Commodore's intended she had only seen on the floor of her sickbay. Moving toward the group she made a polite little cough. "Pardon me, I did not want to interfere with family but neither did I want to be stand-offish either." Allyndra lifted her mug and said, "Too the happy couple," and took a good hard pull of the heavy wine. She then looked at Nesh and raised an eyebrow, "Introductions?"

"What, you're saying I look different with some blood inside me?" Siren gave a friendly smile, shaking her head lightly, clearly glowing with it all. "Siren Hex, presumed 'Intelligence', that's the con I have going anyway," she glanced to Lirha, giving a slight wink.

Allyndra did not comment on Siren's comment. That whole incident had been a...she could not help the pun, messy one. Instead she just added, "And looking peak of health and with a glow if I may dare say."

"Oh!" Nesh vaguely recalled the Akkadian doctor through her various visits to the Medical department, though they rarely interacted. "I'm Nesh, and this here is Wintrow." Despite throwing most of the formalities out of the window, she gestured toward the taller cadet, smiling. "It's nice to meet you again, ma'am!"

"Ma'am," Wintrow replied, offering his hand in greeting, "it's a pleasure to meet you. I have heard a few things in passing, but I'm pleased to finally meet you in person. Incidently, may I congratulate you on your upcoming wedding?"

Allyndra nodded, "I remember you. You helped with the DNA scissors. An excellent job Cadet Nesh. Cadet Wintrow," Allyndra did not shake hands though she was pretty sure he was not from a culture that was adverse but just in case. "Pleased to meet you. Allyndra illm Warraquim, but please just Allyndra."

"Ma'am," Wintrow replied politely, not in the least offended by the lack of a hand being offered in greeting. He didn't mind at all even though he was no telepath. "If we're informal, then please, call me Wintrow, or just Win."

"Always, especially in my sickbay. I am not one for such things, but that is me," Allyndra smiled and with her chin nodded toward the Lirha. "Oh, and Win, please ma'am, I think I just felt another twenty years pile on. Now if I can without getting in trouble can I buy you two for drinks? It is a long flight to Rigel and best be....what is it humans say? Lubricated I believe?"

"Lubricated?" The half Betazoid teenager blinked. "Sure, you can buy me a drink, but only if I can get the next round." He smiled, having absolutely no idea what he was getting himself into.

Siren laughed softly, shaking her head as she motioned to them. "Oh don't you worry, there will be time for plenty of rounds...today and on the way. I intend to get one in myself . I think we should have a new rule where all the guests have to be as euphoric as the brides."

Allyndra laughed at that, "As long as I don't have to bite too many people." She saw a blank look or two and added, "In our bite, is a euphoric compound, said there were a few run ins in the distant past with Lirha's ancestors."

"You... bite people?" Wintrow shied away from the doctor a little, not sure what to think of that news. "For fun?"

Allyndra was just feeling the effects of the alcohol and smiled at the young cadet. "Didn't you know? The ship's doctor is vampire." She really did not like that term but the alcohol was loosening her inhibitions. She smiled a bit wider and showed the tiny sharp inner teeth. "Would you like to try?" she asked. "All in the name of science and new experience of course."

Eyes focused on her teeth, Wintrow hesitated. Vampires were fascinating for sure and he'd read about them in Earth folklore but he'd never known they really existed. He stood frozen, considering her offer and against better judgement, he nodded. "If you wish," he murmured, wondering if this really was a good idea. Then again, if it was euphoric, maybe it'd help him relax a little?

Lirha couldn't help but overhear the cadet's conversation with Allyndra, and she looked up from her food menu to give Siren a private look of dismay. Had the cadet really volunteered to be bitten? In public? Did he not realize it was probably a joke? Well...Lirha hoped it was a joke. Maybe it wasn't? Maybe she just needed another shot of vodka so she could stop caring?

Allyndra took Wintrow's arm and pushed the sleeve up. She held it a moment but caught Lirha's look. Perhaps she shouldn't but then he had offered. She brushed her lips on the wrist and then pulled back. "Perhaps I should not."

Wintrow held his breath, shivering as he felt her lips against his wrist. But while he felt the brush of teeth, he didn't see any broken skin, didn't feel any sting of a bite. "Up to you doctor, I will not hold you accountable," he murmured to her. Perhaps, he reasoned, it might help him loosen up just a little. "Go on."

Allyndra chuckled just a little. There was a bit of distraction as another couple came in and approached the group. She used that distraction and said quietly to Wintrow, "There will be a small sting."

She took the wrist and almost like a kiss she touched her lips but this time let the tiny sharp inner teeth puncture the skin. She did not let herself linger long, just enough to get a taste of him. Warm, rich, but there was a slight bitter aftertaste from the adrenaline. She grabbed a napkin and then let go and pressed it to the wound. "Not deep and not long, should stop in a moment or two," she said and then waited to see if he felt any of the after effects.

The boy gasped as he felt the brief sting and watched in fascination as she covered the tiny wound up. He smiled at her, starting to feel a little giddy and warm all over. It took a few seconds until an odd calm and happiness seemed to wash over him. A state of being, he hadn't experienced in a fair while. "This is amazing doctor," he whispered, staring at her with a bright smile on his face, dark blue eyes sparkling.

Allyndra pulled the napkin away. It was only a brief thing so she was not surprised to see that there had not been much bleeding. The marks were faint and would fade in a few days. "Good," Allyndra replied. "Now that you feel more relaxed then enjoy the company of your girl and a good drink."

Aria smiled weakly as she walked in, wearing tight faux leather trousers and a corseted top with a hoodie. But her smile wasn't quite as glowing as usual and she wore her comfort hoodie...a sign she was hungover. Beside her was her 'plus one', her unfortunate room mate Dorian West. "Don't chunder, don't chunder..." she muttered before giggling, winking to Dorian to let him know she was just joking. The fried bacon sandwich with brown sauce had helped her hangover just as much as the chocolate milkshake.

"Not over me anyway," Dorian murmured back to her with an arched eyebrow, but there was a small, playful smile on his lips to lessen the sting.

Lirha spotted Aria when she walked into the bar and waved to her, happy the young petite security officer had managed to find them. She looked a bit subdued, not as bouncy and jubilant as usual, but it was also early in the morning and perhaps she was still waking up.

Aria smiled as she waved to Lirha, but didn't approach. She looked busy. Everyone was chatting...it was something else indeed.

Luke half jogged half stumbled into the fray holding a box under his right arm and a duffel bag in the other. Luke was wearing light grey suit trouser and a white shirt which fitted more like a second skin showing his muscular body and his slightly annoying gut that had formed. He had been so rushed of his feet with new workahloic crewman his feelings for Corealina and trying to sort out the mess with the murder investigation he had left it to the very last second to pack, think of a gift and particularly run to the meeting point for the wedding party. Eyeing a few people already amassed he could see Lirha, Hex, Aria, another Orion who he guessed was Nesh Lirha's daughter? Sister? He couldn't remember. There was also another young crewman and Allyndra.

Allyndra turned as another she recognized entered looking frayed. "Ah Lieutenant Wyatt if I remember correctly. You look a bit haggard, perhaps you might let me buy you a drink?"

Looking offended luke shook his head "No way! A gentleman always buys the drinks at least until his money runs out or he is to drunk to speak" He laughed ordering a whisky and coke and another for Allyndra. "So when's this party leaving town?" He asked her.

"I am not sure," Allyndra replied and waved a hand, "we may never leave at the rate we are all enjoying ourselves currently. Thank you," she took a sip of the whiskey. It was nothing like Bloodwine but had its own interesting taste. "However, I will insist on getting the next."

Still standing besides the CMO, Wintrow smiled easily at the new arrival. "Hello," he greeted cheerfully though it was obvious his behaviour was slightly off. Almost, as if he already had a drink too many where in fact so far his drinks had been non-alcoholic.

Waiting for his drink he decided to interact with the fresh new face "Why hey" he said sticking out his hand to return the young man's greeting "And who just might you be? I hope that drink is alcoholic" He added teasingly.

Wintrow took the offered hand and offered a weak handshake. "Wintrow Paragon sir, I'm a pilot." He shook his head, nearly losing his balance as he did so. "No sir, none so far." As he pulled his arm back, two small wounds were visible on his wrist.

Luke shook his head in disappointment "Don't tell me your age but you're having a drink... A real drink" he said signalling for another whisky and coke, doubled over ice. Catching the wound as he returned his attention to the young man he glanced to Allyndra "I am curios Doc if someone was drunk and you drank from them would you to become drunk?" He asked winking at Wintrow and eyed the wounds.

To Be Continued...

[OFF]

--

CDRE Lirha Saalm
Mission Advisor
USS Galileo

Cadet SO Wintrow Paragon
Support Craft Pilot
USS Galileo
[PNPC T'Vanna]

Cadet FO Nesh Saalm
Scientist's Mate
USS Galileo
[PNPC Kita]

Command Master Chief Markum Quinn
Chief of the Boat
USS Galileo

Lt Cmdr Allyndra illm Warraquim
Chief Medical Officer
USS Galileo

PO1 Siren Hex
Intelligence Officer
USS Galileo
[PNPC Blake]

LTJG Dorian West
Counselor
USS Galileo
[PNPC Blake]

LTJG Luke Wyatt
Chief Security/Tactical Officer
USS Galileo

Clarence Pearl
Bartender
Starbase 80
[PNPC Markos]

LTJG Aria Rice
Security/Tactical Officer
USS Galileo
[PNPC Devin]

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