A Night at Quevrik's (Part 1)

Posted on 05/14/2020 @ 1:37am by Captain Cian D'Anvers & Lieutenant JG S'Lace & Ensign Noah LeBlanc
Edited on on 06/22/2020 @ 7:43pm

Mission: S1E3: Visit to Starbase 375
Location: Starbase 375 - Quevrik's
Timeline: Day 1 at 2000

Quevrik's occupied a space that could have made four good sized shops or at least that was the nature of the complaint filed to base commander by the merchant's association. Or would have been filed. Quevrik had the lobes for business and he understood the value of indulging certain proclivities when it suited his business model.

While the Federation preferred neutral, inoffensive color schemes, Quevrik's was awash in light and color. If it could appeal to the senses, you'd find it at Quevrik's. Delicate scents wafting from a wait staff picked for their beauty, ready to entice every strip of latinum out of your accounts. Sparkling lights. Laughter and a flow of drinks and food to the limit of your finances. The main room was dominated by a bar with a spread of tables; to the rear was a dance floor and raised stage for the bands that played accompaniment to Sylanne, a Delta songstress, that held the audience in thrall.

S'Lace had not wanted to leave the ship; she had wanted to stay in her quarters with the cat and read a book. But with great reluctance she realized part of the duties of being a department head was interacting with other department heads, getting to know and understand them. And there were sometimes politics involved; it was unwise to antagonize one's peers.

She opted to dress in civilian clothes rather than her uniform; soft black boots and slacks, a long sleeved sand colored tunic with her ahn woon wrapped around her waist like a belt. She approached the bar and a gaudily dressed Ferengi tender approached with a smile.

"And what can we do for you?" he inquired with a snaggle-toothed smile, "Some Altair water, perhaps?"

"Scotch," S'Lace replied, "And you can leave in the alcohol."

The bartender blinked, then said, "Coming right up..."

Quevrik's was a spot Noah tended to avoid while sitting furloughed. Every time he walked passed he saw nothing but fights, but he made an exception tonight. Word had gotten around that most of the senior staff were patronizing the bar. Sure enough, Noah had to duck out of the way as two Nausicaans were whaling on each other. He saw station security running to the scene. Tabarnak, he cursed under his breath as he walked through the doors.

The bar was filled with a variety of patrons, several of which were wearing Starfleet uniforms. He noticed Dr. S'Lace sitting at the bar, the only other officer he recognized. "Good evening Doctor," he said as he stopped at the bar, "Left Dalgliesh at home I see," he added with a smile.

"Not for his lack of trying," S'Lace replied, giving the ensign a polite nod, "I have reluctantly accepted I will have to move into the former Chief Medical Officer's quarters in order to provide him more space."

"Priorities I suppose," Noah responded as he gave a nod to the bartender, "A lager if you would..." Noah would have preferred a Molson, but he wasn't expecting miracles this far out. He sat down at the stool next to the the Doctor. "If you require assistance with moving, I can lend a hand," he said, "I'll just have to remember to take an antihistamine beforehand."

As one of the newly arrived crew members, Emryi didn't know anyone though that didn't matter much. Two years of roaming the galaxy with friends had given her mad skills when it came to being comfortable wherever she was. She entered Quevrik's and stopped just inside the door, taking in the feel of the place, letting the emotions wash over her, while she looked around. A born telepath, crowds didn't bother her in the slightest. She loved the feel of minds surrounding hers; there was a comfort to that she would never admit to in any call home to her parents.

She ordered a drink from a guy with a ready smile and found a spot to stand near the dance floor. Swaying slightly to the music as she listened.

"Excuse me for a moment Doctor," Noah said, drink in hand.

"Good evening Ensign," Noah responded. He had recognized her face from his department's roster, "Sorry to interrupt... Noah LeBlanc." He smiled at her, she was rather pretty, what could he say?

"Good evening," Emryi said and flashed a grin as the waiter came back with her drink. "I'm Emryi ... or Em." She paused a second, taking in his features, and then nodded. "This is my first assignment out of the Academy. I hear it takes a year for the shiny to disappear from the pips but the person who told me might have been a touch ... jaded?"

Noah laughed, "I've heard stories about that, better steer clear from Chief Ch'zorit, unless you've already run into him. He's been known to eat ensigns. He tried eating me already," he said, "Welcome to the crew, Rook. I'm sure you'll be ok." He smiled. The music wasn't exactly his taste but at least it wasn't overpowering.

Emryi chuckled, a warm ripple of sound, as she shook her head. "Haven't seen him yet but honestly, the fear got burned out of me that first year at the Academy. And really," she said with a gesture that caused her drink to slid lazily up the side of her glass, stopping just short of spilling, "there's just too much to be excited about. I mean, we're the lucky ones. We get to see what's out there ... maybe even first."

Noah gave out chuckle, "Yes, I suppose we do," he said, "But don't get too close to the sun... Your wings will melt." Noah couldn't help but smile since it wasn't long ago he was a lot like Emryi, but the Pioneer's mission to the Badlands had taught him. There were plenty of things unresolved from those days.

"Icarus, huh? That's almost insulting," Emryi said as she paused long enough to take a sip before continuing "and yet, said with a smile." She sighed softly. "Look, I'm happy. I'm starting a new chapter in my life and for one night, I'm not going to let the grim realities, of which I'm well acquainted believe it or not, interfere with my having a good time. Fair enough?"

"It wasn't meant to be an insult," Noah responded, his smile fading, "Just a friendly observation. I'll leave you alone if I'm killing your good time." He started to walk away.

"You're not," she said to his retreating back. She left the rest unsaid, since he was leaving, and took a sip of her decidedly non-alcoholic tea instead as her body swayed, side to side, to the subtle beat of the music being played.

Jasmine walked into the bar and looked around. Plenty of people milling about, she thought she might try the Dabo tables. but she ordered a drink first.

"Scotch neat please". Jasmine said.

S'Lace found it better to largely sit and observe. What she had observed was someone with poorer socials skills than her own alienate what she thought was a personable young man.

Perhaps it was his accent, she thought as she noted lieutenant Langtree's arrival. S'Lace heard her order Scotch, she sampled her own. Well, she though with an inward sigh. She had tasted worse.

"Well, I tried, Doctor," Noah lamented as he returned to the bar, "Cultural differences, perhaps?" He set his glass back down onto the bar and ordered a refill, "Although you and I seem to get along quite well."

"Perhaps that is because the act of copulation does not factor into our relationship," S'Lace noted. She nodded to the woman nearby and pitched her voice slightly higher, "Lieutenant Langtree, this is Ensign Noah LeBlanc, the Crazy Horse's new Chief Operations Officer. Ensign, this is Lieutenant Langtree, Chief of Science."

"Perhaps," Noah responded, chuckling at the doctor's observation. "Pleasure to meet you, Lieutenant," he said with a smile, nodding at Jasmine.

"Hi S'lace! Hi Noah, pleasure to meet you. How was your first day on the job? Can I buy you a drink? And please call me, Jasmine," Jasmine said.

"Thank you Jasmine," Noah responded with a smile, "I'll just take another beer... Lager. Doesn't necessarily matter what it is. I appreciate the warm welcome."

"Another lager for my companion, here!" Jasmine ordered.

The waitress came over with a tall mug of the stuff.

"Hear ya go Noah"..Jasmine said.

"Thank you, Jasmine," Noah responded, taking the tankard. He took a long swig and then set it down. "Certainly needed that given how this day and night has been," he said he sighed, "Hopefully this isn't an omen."

"The ensign met my cat," S'Lace explained, "He is allergic to cats. A pity, because Dalgliesh seemed quite taken with you."

"Yes... Unfortunate, but maybe if you stock me up on some antihistamine, then maybe I can stand to be around Dalgliesh," Noah commented with a smile.

"I'm sure the doc can hook you up in sickbay" Jasmine said.

"For convenience sake I could possibly implant a drug release mechanism in one of your sinus cavities," S'lace murmured as she regarded Noah's skull, "Although it may produce intermittent blindness. Some would consider it a small price to pay for feline companionship."

"Ah... I'd rather keep my eyesight if I had a choice," Noah responded with a look of mild shock spreading across his pale face. He set the glass of beer down upon the beer, "No offense meant, Doctor."

"I've heard eyesight is overrated for an operations officer," Jasmine joked.

S'Lace turned to the Science Officer, an expression of mild perplexity crossing her face. She seemed prepared to speak when her eyes were drawn to the appearance of lieutenant Lae'Or.

"Hey Tahlin come and join us.." Jasmine said.

Tahlin entered the bar and ducked as a Nausican staggered drunkenly, only held up by local security. She gave the officer escorting the alien out a commiserating look. "Need a hand, Ensign?"

"No thanks, Lieutenant. Around here, we deal with these people too much. I got it. You go on and enjoy yourself."

"Thanks--I think I will." The Bajoran looked around, seeing the Crazy Horse's CMO, Chief Science Officer, and a male human at the bar. She also spied a young woman with a decidedly sour expression on her face. Deciding to leave the people she knew to their own devices for a bit, Tahlin got herself a glass of red wine from the bar--full alcohol, thank you very much--and headed in the direction of the unknown woman.

"Trouble?" she asked, walking up to her. "Lieutenant Lae'Or, from the Crazy Horse, but you can call me Tahlin if you like."

"Oh, no, Ma'am ... I mean, Tahlin." She spared a withering glance in the direction of a retreating back while she continued. "Curse of being Betazed when you leave among the head-b...I mean, non-telepaths. You say 'no' but that's not the end of it. You get treated to a sometimes vile discourse in the individual's head." She shuddered delicately. "Anyway. The Crazy Horse you said? I've been assigned to Operations on the Crazy Horse."

"Charming... I'm no telepath, but I've developed a good enough sense to pick up some manner of thoughts." She paused a moment. "The Crazy Horse is a good ship, though I'm afraid we're all a bit shaken up from our last mission... Things didn't quite go to plan... But, as we're Starfleet, and we're out here to explore, I expect things will pick up for us. Perhaps you'd like to meet some of our other crew?"

"Absolutely," Emryi said at once. "I do love the notion of exploration." She took a slow breath, as though she could pull the adventure into her lungs, and smiled. "Gotten me into trouble more than once I can tell you."

Tahlin grinned. "I know the feeling... Come on--I'm sorry, I don't know your name."

"Emryi," she said at once. "Emryi Lau."

(continued)

A Post by:

Commander Cian D'Anvers
Commanding Officer
USS Crazy Horse

Lieutenant JG S'Lace
Chief Medical Officer
USS Crazy Horse

Ensign Noah LeBlanc
Chief Operations Officer
USS Crazy Horse

Ensign Emryi Lau
Operations Officer
USS Crazy Horse

Lieutenant JG Jasmine Langtree
Chief Science Officer
USS Crazy Horse

Lieutenant JG Lae'Or Tahlin
Chief of Security
USS Crazy Horse