In The Shadows
Posted on Sun Feb 19th, 2023 @ 12:33pm by Ensign L'johk Adams & Lieutenant Commander Tiandith 'Tia' Tobru & Lieutenant JG Lyras
2,011 words; about a 10 minute read
Mission:
Episode 5 - Objects In Motion
Location: Voltar City
You would never have found a more wretched hive of scum and villainy and they needed to remain cautious, Tobru led them into the bar, Adams following behind with Lyras. The smells of tobacco and other substances one would smoke assaulted their senses as the entire room fell silent to look at the new comers.
Three individuals took interest in the newcomers. A Tellerite, a Nausican and a Kzinti were at a table having a drink. The piggish little eyes of the Tellerite, "Have you heard of this joke? A human, a Klingon and a Romulan walked into the bar." he started.
The Nausican looked at his Tellarite tablemate, "What's the punchline?" The Kzinti just yawned before he took a large gulp downing half of his tankard before answering. "Don't know, but I'd be willing to provide it."
The Tellarite shook his head "Just wait and see what happens."
"Bar keep" Adams called as he crossed the room, indicating that Tobru and Lyras take a seat at a table. "Three of these blue milk things!" pointing at a Nausicaan with a blue milk moustache.
He collected the three drinks and made his way over to the table to sit down.
"I'm not feeling so comfortable in here Tia!"
"Out of the three of us, you are the most likely to actually fit in," Lyras pointed out, "with your heritage that is." He wrinkled his nose at the blue coloured beverage which was set in front of him. "Do you even know what this is, or whether it is safe to consume?"
Tia shook the glass and it jiggled a little as a small bubbles rose to the top and popped as it reach the surface. "I would agree with Lyras that you definitely fit the look of the place far better than us." she said shrugging and going in for a drink. Risks be damned.
It had a strange consistency, almost like yoghurt but it was nice enough as she wiped her own blue moustache from her top lip. Tia had noted the 3 boorish men as they entered that had started a joke up at their expense. They still eyed them at the moment. Well, the Tellarite has returned to his drink but the Nausican had not dropped his gaze from Tia.
"We need to try and see if anyone in here knows about the Cymbelen. Whether that be stories its here, people they know who may take us to it, or even if there is someone that can 'sell' us some with information. Goal here is to get the stuff and get off this rock with limited loss of life." Tia looked around. Loss of life would be the best wording of it, people would be getting hurt here either way.
"I suppose we should ask around about a medical testing facility... See if anyone knows of anything in the area?"
Adams brought the empty glass down having knocked the contents back like a shot of bourbon. "I'm sure one of these individuals should know something!"
"Who better to ask than a doctor," Lyras mused as he pushed his drink away, untouched. "You two could be my assistants, if anything...my ignorance may yet come in handy, correct?" He looked at either of them. "Perhaps I should ask them?" The Vulcan quietly indicated the trio that was already keeping an eye on them. "Or do you think I cannot handle myself?"
The Kzinti's sharp hearing heard the Romulan's words. "I don't know if you can handle anything, let alone yourself. One little snap and you'd be broken in two." he growled out.
"How much are you wanting for that wench there?" the Tellarite remarked, pointing at the blonde woman. "Or are you hers."
"She belongs with us," Lyras said smartly, looking towards Tobru, "and I do believe she is in charge." He didn't smile, his eyes were cold as he regarded the Tellarite. "Now back off, unless you can tell us anything about a nearby medical facility we need to visit."
Adams remained relaxed but he was ready to defend his superior officers should the need arise. Tobru he could see would handle herself but Lyras, he gave the burly hybrid some pause.
There was no warning, both the Kzinti and the Nausican were across the space between their table and where the Romulan and Klingon were at. The Tellarite he just deliberately set his mug on the table and in a swift motion, he pulled a phaser aiming it towards the human. The Kzinti went after the Romulan and the Nausican after the Klingon. They were wanting a fight and were gonna get one.
Adams moved swiftly, almost bizarrely graceful given his muscular build, his fist clenched as he brought it from his hip in a powerful uppercut, catching the Nausican square on the chin. Something cracked along the Nausican's jaw but he kept coming.
The pair locked into a grapple and tumbled across the table next to theirs sending two Orions and a Bolian running for cover.
Lyras was surprised by the feline's swift jump across the room and the Kzinti was on him before he had any decent time to respond. Not a fighter at heart but still trained to defend himself as needed, the Romulan hybrid reached to nerve-pinch the feline while trying to keep the feline's claws and teeth away from his throat. "I do not wish to kill you, because I have sworn an oath not to," he hissed through clenched teeth, "but I will if I am forced to."
The Kzinti threw an arm up and caught Lyras across the cheek with a claw. A small tear formed and a droplet of blood began to escape from him. "Kill me?!" he hissed. Seeing the motion of the Romulan's hand, the positioning of his fingers indicating a nerve pinch had panicked him slightly as he knew one small squeeze and he'd be out cold. "You'll need to be quick boy." and he lunged at him.
"How quick do you need," Lyras growled as he drew his knife with his right hand and slashed with it at his attacker, switching it to his left hand in the same motion. Ducking under a claw, he pivoted and made another slashing motion. The cut across his cheek stung, and he tried to ignore the itchy feeling as green blood trickled down his skin. Blue eyes flashed briefly before the flaring anger was quickly reigned in.
The Kzinti licked the blood from their claws and purred. "Tasty... green blood always tastes yummy." they grinned a toothy grin.
It was then the feline swiped a mug from the table nearby and sent it flying towards Lyras at speed. Behind the mug they were following up with their other paw, claws bared.
Lyras was able to deflect the mug, but not the claw and a searing pain lanced through his right arm which he had raised to deflect the mug. He staggered back a few places, blue eyes bright with pain and no longer contained fury. Only his oaths and training withheld him from pure bloodlust as he stabbed at the vicious feline, hoping to disable him in the process. He wished he could get at his medical equipment to just simply sedate the attacker. "You will pay for that," he hissed as he made another slashing move, while cradling his bleeding arm to his chest.
The Kzinti moved backwards as Lyras slashed at him but they were getting too confident. Moving closer into Lyras giving him opportunity to end the fight once and for all.
Misjudging the speed and direction of the feline, Lyras erroneously drove his blade into its heart. Horror crossed his features as the Kzinti collapsed at his feet as soon as he pulled the blade back.
Tia sighed and shook her head. "It is funny that Tellarites think they are superior in a fight." she eyed him dead on. "I have known many in my 200 years to know that some of you can display great shows of strength and bravery." She had began to rise from her seat and move slowly towards the Tellarite.
"Stop! I mean it!" he yelled back at her, his phaser trained on her. There was a look of confusion as Tia mentioned her 200 years and it dawned on him that she was no mere Human.
"They were Captains, they were fighters for justice and freedom, but most importantly... they were my friends." she was now within touching distance as the man's phaser shook a little.
"I know for one that your phaser has no power simply by the frequency is sings at..." Tia whispered in his ear. "Now, my blade that is resting on your third rib is sharp enough to pierce your skin and your heart. This means you will drop dead from blood loss in about..." she looked him up and down as he began to panic. His eyes lit with a fear almost primal as he knew she had him. "45 seconds given your size my love. Sorry, you're quite the 'Pog' (Tellarite for runt) and I can see why you've been abandoned on this cesspool of a planet."
Tia dug the blade in just enough to sting. "Now, would you like to bleed like a stuck pig, or would you like to help me and get out of this with your life, and maybe some credits?"
"Oh! Yes, mistress!" he began to cower as he dropped his phaser.
"Wonderful." Tia replied closing the knife. "Name?"
"Zav."
"Well Zav, my pet, let us watch your friends fall." Tia indicated to the fight of his comrades.
"Oh, they are not..." Zav began.
"Shhh." Tia said placing her finger on his mouth. "Watch..."
The Nausican roared out, as they hit the table, and head butted Adams. Rolling them both off of the table, at one point the Nausican was on top of Adams and punched him in the face.
"Are we having fun yet?" The Klingon hybrid yelled to his companions his tone almost amused. In truth he was anything from amused and the Klingon rage he usually kept under lock and key flared up and erupted around its self imposed restraints.
Clenched fist impacted the Nausicaan lifting him from the Klingon. L'ojhK was swiftly on his feet and lifting the assailant by the collar of his tunic before rendering him unconscious with a brutal headbutt, his cranial ridges leaving an indentation along the fleshy forehead of the Nausicaan.
"Barkeep, another round!"
"I haven't finished my first round yet. L'ojhk." Tia said wiggling her mug at him. "You sure do make a mess, don't you?" she asked rhetorically looking around the bar and at the unconscious Nausicaan.
However the fight had put either all eyes on them, or all eyes avoiding them as they took down their aggressors quite easily... mostly. The barkeep begrudgingly brought over 3 more blue frothy type drinks and set them down on the table. "No charge..." he grumbled before walking away.
"Guys, this is Zav. He's going to help us, aren't you?" Tia asked him as she stared into his soul.
The Tellarite simply nodded enthusiastically. "Yes, ma'am. Of course. What would you like help with?" he asked and looked around the group.
"We need directions to a medical research facility," an ashen faced Lyras said as he rejoined them, while trying to staunch the bleeding from his arm.
L'ojhK took up the Doctor's medical kit and pulled out what he thought was a Yiridian dermal regenerator and started running it over the wound on Lyras' arm.
Zav looked concerned. His brow furrowed as he thought. It was almost like you could hear the wheels turn in his mind and once he was ready he shook his head as if to knock some cobwebs free.
"There is a medical facility over on Olifumi." Zav scratched his chin. "They increased their security not too long ago, which is strange because all it does is take blood donations and stuff like that."
TO BE CONTINUED......
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