USS Dark Fire (IC)

[The_Weeping_Angel]

Stardate 29870526.1035

Dark Fire:​

“Major K'alena of the MACO Force has sent an officer to be your escort. They should be here shortly.”

Half an hour later a knock at her door indicated the Marine’s arrival. When she opened, the door two Marines in combat fatigues stood outside the door, and although they weren’t heavily armed, they did have sidearms, stun gloves, and stun baton’s.

“It’s our understanding we’re to escort you into the Red Section.” One of them said to her. “We ask that you try not to antagonize anyone or start a fight.”​

 

[sereneotter00]

◅ XIANA MARLOWE ▻​

Was the Red Section this dangerous? She had underestimated the security she’d be provided. Xiana was thankful, of course, but she wished getting a drink where she wouldn’t be recognized wasn’t so much of a hassle. She couldn’t help a soured look. “I appreciate your assistance, both of you, but I didn’t anticipate this,” she motioned to the two with her hand, “degree of security.”

Xiana extended her arm to hang her lab coat beside her door. She excused herself and took a step into the hallway, verifying her door was closed before addressing the marines. “I’m thankful for your availability, but I’ve changed my mind. You’re dismissed,” she stated, turning in search of the nearest bar. She didn’t want to stand out if unnecessary, but she didn’t want to truly risk her well-being if she asked her escorts to keep their distance. She’d just have to watch her liquor.

It took some time, but she found a lonesome location. She expressed her gratitude to the bar’s attendant for their repertoire of Earth’s alcohol and took a seat at the bar, quietly nursing her drink as she went over the day’s event; half with curiosity, half with reluctance. The sharpness of her liquor on her tongue was comforting.

 

[milkmaiden38]

Hora

Captain Hora was headed down to the engineering section to check on repairs. She was repeating the limerick she had made up about herself.

“There once was a federation captain named Hora,
Who fucked everything like she lived in gomorrah
She gang-banged her whole crew,
Until her cunt was oddly askew
Now men say “her evil box is like pandora’s”

She sighed “To biblical, and most people don’t know about Gomorrah or the Pandora myth” she told herself as she walked into main engineering. She saw Shino and Riley kissing. Her first reaction was surprise. She had almost fucked Riley and she had fucked McLeo. Now those two were fucking each other? As they finished kissing, Shino said “Riley, you totally stoked my life with those engine tweaks. You are like the best wave ever!”

“Do I have to kiss people down here to get my ship repaired?” Hora asked as a joke.

“Captain” LT Doji Fay came rushing over. “How can I help you?”

“What is the status on the repairs? I want to get underway as soon as possible” Hora said

“I can show you the status on our repair tracking displays over here” LT Fay explained as he lead the Captain the damage control watch station.

 

[The_Weeping_Angel]

Stardate 29870526.1045

Reeves:​

After writing all the death reports and the letters to family members Reeves started working on reviewing whom was next in line for promotion on the security team. He had several potential candidates, though none of them had stood out as much as Aegeri, yes he’d been rough around the edges, but he’d been competent and well liked, even when chastising someone he wasn’t.. hadn’t been.. mean about it.

Afterwards he went about the ship, performing his daily random inspections.​

 

[sereneotter00]

◅ XIANA MARLOWE ▻​

With an exception of discipline, the woman decided to indulge in her cravings for once. Through a cloudy vision, she hoped her journey back to her quarters was as smooth as her beverage selection.

Xiana couldn’t help it, and it was with the company of her drinks that she realized how homesick she was. She missed the stillness of Earth. She missed the chirp of the birds that made a stop in her grandmother’s trees, planted before Xiana inherited the house she grew up in. She missed her usual locations, the smell of wood, and even the noise of traffic.

Her glee for being on board was still there—it had been something she had been looking forward to for so long—but it came with so many conflicts so far. It wasn’t that she expected an easy gig or that she realized she had it easier than those above her, but she had made the mistake of expectation.

Pushing some hair out of her face, she eyed her fifth—or sixth?—empty glass and brought her legs up with her on the chair. Thankful for having opted for pants, she rested her arms on her knees, followed by her chin, as she stared off into the distance. Her thoughts felt like static.

 

[The_Weeping_Angel]

Stardate 29870526.1100

Walking into the bar the Klingon woman glared at everyone around her as she made her way to the central bar, as soon as she sat down a glass filled with a thick dark liquid was slid in front of her. The beverage vanished down her throat in one continuous motion before she placed the empty glass back down.

She wore the fatigues of one of the marines, but she lacked rank or name strips. Just another one of the thousands of marines on board the ship, ready to be sent to death - or glory - at a moments notice. She carried no weapons other than a single blade at her hip.

Looking over at the Counselor she grunted a greeting, then motioned for the bartender to change her drink. Vulcan wine. Thin and clear it burned it’s way down her throat as she swallowed. The potent drink numbed her tongue after a moment.

Bellowing at the top of her lungs she began to sing.. or chant?

"tlhIngan bang bom tlhab

tugh mate beast qem jIH
flesh, cobalt jIb tear rip
metallic jeD rip qIj vo' DapIHchugh
ghaH ghob'e' nasty, Hegh mInDu' qul
Hurgh qab leathery
uglier Dunmo' tay embrace
dungeons Hurgh foreplay yInISQo' maHvaD
DeSDu' muSHa'ghach objects hurling jej
ravDaq pound, lojmIt pach maH
bey HoS jachpu'DI' DeSDu' morg maS
roar rur heavenly ghe''or Qo'noS vergh
jaQ neH rIQ qet bangwI'
Dub inflicted Hoch latlhpu'
rol taj jej taj
'ej HIv Ho' sharper
'Iw 'uQ'a' Hoch latlhpu' maH
ghob wej qa''a''e' pemHov lust"​

 

[sereneotter00]

◅ XIANA MARLOWE ▻​

Xiana was overdue in her cultural research by the looks of it. She had nodded at the greeting in acknowledgement, but was startled at the singing. Fixing her position, she watched as the other went on with their chant, catching the few words she could understand but being utterly confused otherwise. In her typical condition, she would be hiding behind her hair, hiding her red face at the attraction of attention. In this condition, she watched quietly until the Klingon finished.

“Darling, you sounded wonderful but I’ll need an interpreter for the next verse,” Xiana said, the rim of her glass finding her lips again. “Was that drink so inspirational?”

 

[The_Weeping_Angel]

Stardate 29870526.1105

“It’s Klingon poetry,” The female replied. “A reminder to myself that even the passion of battle can only be mirrored by the passion of a Klingon heart.”

Downing a shot of Andorian ale her eyes crossed at the biting liquid. Served at temperatures below that at which water froze it settled with a liquid heat in a stomach before warming the insides. Few species drank it, fewer enjoyed it.

“The death of comrades, warriors after my own heart inspired me to drink, and celebrate a death well deserved. They died in battle, their blood hot with fury. Not in their sleep, old and alone, in their beds.”​

 

[sereneotter00]

◅ XIANA MARLOWE ▻​

She watched the stranger down the liquid, almost feeling her expression. Something about these other drinks was so intense. The reminder of that overwhelming coffee earlier almost made her grimace.

“It’s kind of you to celebrate them,” Xiana began, a faint slur to her voice, “but I’d have to disagree. As beings so selflessly dedicated to protecting others, a death of old age should’ve been their exit.”

She polished off her drink. “Goodness should never end so horrifyingly. It’s unfair.”

 

[The_Weeping_Angel]

Stardate 29870526.1110

“Warriors deserve to die in battle, fighting to the last breath, not of old age like a coward shivering in fear at the dark. Klingons are warriors to the marrow, unlike some races. We have diplomats to deal with cowards, and warriors to deal with the rest.”

Another shot came her way, this one burning with a green flame before she downed it without extinguishing the flames. “You should drink like a Klingon, without fear, awaiting the next challenge to come your way.”​

 

[sereneotter00]

◅ XIANA MARLOWE ▻​

“Then Klingons need to reconsider their perspectives. Truly, what’s the point of fighting to persevere if you’re not attempting to live the most out of life? Isn’t the entire point of putting any effort to make your environment a little easier?” she replied, motioning for the bartender to come. She wouldn’t admit her curiosity at the woman’s choices of drink, but her usuals were already so pleasant. At her request, the bartender handed her scotch.

“No thank you, peach. I’d rather drink like a human: slow, steady, and hoping the next ounce helps me time travel into tomorrow,” she smiled, raising her glass. “What was your name?”

 

[milkmaiden38]

Hora

Hora walked away from the damage control briefing feeling confident the ship would be repaired soon. The ship’s self-healing capabilities were amazing. Replicators produced the correct repair parts, those parts beamed into place, as repair crews or robots attached the item.

Hora was walking back to the bridge when a new limerick hit her. She said it out loud as she rode the turbo lift.

“There once was an AI named Dark Fire,
That during sex, drew the captain’s ire.
the AI would not lick
And only used his dick
Now that AI has been re-wired”

She giggled to herself, and then remembering the AI listened to everything she added “No offense Dark Fire”

 

[The_Weeping_Angel]

Stardate 29870526.1115

“I’m K'alena Daughter of K’Goz,” The Klingon woman said. “Most people would time travel further than one day, if they could time travel at all. Ah you want to pass out and wake up tomorrow.” she understood, slapping the doctor on her back. “That’s good humor, for a human.”

Dark Fire:​

“I do not take offense, as I have no emotional programming.” Dark Fire replied. “Though as I understand it, you use sexual comments and gratification a great deal. More-so than most other Orion females.”

 

[sereneotter00]

◅ XIANA MARLOWE ▻​

“Pleasure to meet you, K’alena, daughter of K’Goz. I’m Xiana, daughter of David and Estefania Marlowe,” she answered. “But you can call me Xi.”

“Now, will you introduce me to those eccentric Klingon drinks, or are they as harmful to humans as they look fun?” She asked, turning fully in her seat to look at K’alena.

 

[The_Weeping_Angel]

Stardate 29870526.1120

“They are harmful, but isn’t that the fun of it? Human drinks are harmful to humans, but you still drink the poison.” K’alena commented gesturing to the bartender for two drinks. When he deposited a semi-opaque blue liquid she slid one over to Xiana. “Romulan Rice wine. It burns like Ferengi farts in your lungs. But it won’t kill you. Usually.”

Throwing the liquid down her throat she tried to not taste it, since that was half the battle. Non Romulans compared it’s flavor to licking a warp nacelle.​

 

[sereneotter00]

◅ XIANA MARLOWE ▻​

Xiana shrugged. She wasn’t wrong. Granted, humans could at most make her groggy come morning. She had never tried other races’ drinks… or anything really. Earlier, she was determined to start familiarizing herself with others. What better time than now?

“You have a point,” she acknowledged, taking her glass and observing the liquid carefully. On Earth, her wine was decanted if she could afford it, or swallowed directly from a box if she was tight on her finances.

Noticing the other’s reaction, she took a deep breath. “Well, if it kills me, tell my superiors to spare no expense in my final outfit. If I ever go out, I want the peace of knowing I looked pretty,” she said, quickly drinking the wine until her glass was empty. K’alena wasn’t kidding—Xiana felt like she had been punched in the chest, her throat begging for any other texture. “Shit, are you sure this isn't lethal?"

 

[The_Weeping_Angel]

Stardate 29870526.1125

“No,” K’alena replied as she blinked. “I hear it’s good for cleaning plasma coils as well.” she added with a smile.

Another glass was slid in place, this one smoking as it bubbled away. “Ataxian mead. Quite potent.” she said before downing the liquid and slamming her fist on the counter several times as the burning liquid seared her throat and burned her stomach. “Better than blood wine.”​

 

[sereneotter00]

◅ XIANA MARLOWE ▻​

Paired with the various drinks she had previously, Xiana’s vision was showing signs of impairment. If her increasingly heavy eyelids didn’t indicate it, her easy amusement did. It would’ve been wise to wait until she had sobered up to add more drinks. It would’ve been wiser to not have sought out drinks at all. Xiana of tomorrow would crucify her, but Xiana of today snickered at the other’s reaction.

“At least I enjoy scotch! Do Klingons not have chasers or fruit cocktails? You keep torturing yourself when you don’t have to,” she commented, sitting up to push her platinum hair out of her face. She wasn’t used to having it down, much less with any strand out of place. “You’re like a… like a beverage masochist.”

 

[The_Weeping_Angel]

Stardate 29870526.1125

“A drink to lessen a previous drink is ridiculous,” K’alena replied. “Klingon’s except a challenge, we do not lessen it. That would be like using Ferengi to fight a battle for us, before we went in to fight the battle ourselves. Weakness is not tolerated in Klingon society.”

Signaling for another drink the bartender set two glasses down of a rust colored liquid. Followed by two glasses of the thick dark liquid she’d drank earlier. Drinking the dark one first she held it in her mouth for a minute before swallowing the the sticky thick mass, quickly following it with the rust colored one.

After Xiana had drank as well she smiled. “Prune juice and vinegar.”​

 

[sereneotter00]

◅ XIANA MARLOWE ▻​

She rolled her eyes playfully with a groan. “Are all Klingons this intense? I’m not the epitome of leisure suggestions, but there must be something that drives you besides strength and fighting. On Earth we enjoy things, just to enjoy them. For no reason! There is nothing as delightful as simply not thinking for some time.”

At the new drinks, with the following included, she broke into some coughing. Prune juice and vinegar was a combination she never wanted to have again. Oh, how she missed limes. “Okay, enough sampling. I don’t know if I can stand up anymore.” Xiana propped her arm on the bar surface at a ninety-degree angle, resting her jaw on her hand and fixing her eyes on the other woman. “You know what I’ve always wanted to do? I’ve always wanted to pilot one of these things. A smaller one. I should’ve done that instead.”

 

[The_Weeping_Angel]

Stardate 29870526.1130

“Opera,” K’alena replied. “Otherwise we don’t do leisure, except in battle training.”

Looking over at Xiana as she expostulated on piloting K’alena asked. “A star-ship or a fighter? Maybe a shuttle?”

The human female looked like she’d break if the steering was to tight, but that wasn’t any of her business. Leaning back she belted out a poem, or a death dirge, in Klingon.

“Hurgh choS pum​

‘el qo’
yab Hagh
je’ yu’
vaj ngaS
choS
‘e’ mach yabmey
vorm ngep
Doch ‘e’ tebQeh”

“You’re interesting, for a human.”

 

[sereneotter00]

◅ XIANA MARLOWE ▻​

“Very on brand. If you’re not exhausting yourselves with fighting, you’re exhausting your vocal cords,” Xiana sighed, pressing her lips together in thought.

“A starship. What a lovely word—star. I named my mouse after a star,” she chimed.

She went mute once again when K’alena began to recite. She didn’t have any clue what she was saying, but she hoped it was pleasant. If they weren’t, she wasn’t too worried; the alcohol in her bloodstream was high enough that she’d likely forget otherwise.

“May I have a translation?” Xiana asked, clearing her throat. “Oh no, I’m not interesting. I’m downright delightful,” she grinned. “Are humans on board usually a pain?”

 

[The_Weeping_Angel]

Stardate 29870526.1135

“What’s a mouse?” The Klingon woman asked. Before she translated the poem into human.​

“Dark the shadow falls
entering the twisted realm
of mind bleeding.
Feeding on the questions
which abide in corners
of shadowed cobwebs
that litter minds
worried over
things that still fill anger.”

“Most humans are difficult to deal with. They don’t drink or fight, instead they are engineers or scientists. They are complicated in their thoughts and emotions."

 

[sereneotter00]

◅ XIANA MARLOWE ▻​

Xiana raised her eyebrows. She’d never had to answer such a question. “It’s a rodent, like a tiny pet with big ears and teeth that you treat like your baby because it is in a way,” she explained, “and it’s hairy and its heart beats so quickly, and it reminds you that you’re not alone.”

She paid attention to the poem, nodding every now and then at the profound statements. How many did the Klingon tend to memorize? Unless songs counted, she doubted she had memorized any plainly. “You’re very poetic.”

Xiana hadn’t met a whole lot of humans on board, but for someone who had a high chance of not having gone to Earth, she couldn’t criticize her not seeing how aggressive or prone to addiction humans could be. In a way, she’d rather her new colleague not see that. It kept some fake stability of her species intact. “I can’t say you’re wrong. My entire career is in thoughts and emotions. It’s not as intense as combat, but it can be brutal sometimes.”

 

[The_Weeping_Angel]

Stardate 29870526.1140

“Klingon poetry is best recited in Klingon, translations lose some of the essence. I’ve never had a baby, nor would I want one.”

Sliding another drink to the two females the Bartender raised an eyebrow as they looked at Xiana. Watching a human try and out-drink a Klingon would be one for the stories. Or the Funeral dirge.

“Continue?” they asked. “Or enough?”​