Downtime 3

Posted on Mon Dec 9th, 2024 @ 8:39pm by Captain Rhenora Kaylen & Commander Jennifer Baldric & Commander Jenna Ramthorne & Commander Savar cha'Salik hei-Surak Talek-sen-deen & Commander Dean House & Lieutenant Commander Thriss Kla'ren & Lieutenant Commander Aurora Vali & 2nd Lieutenant Connor McQueen & Lieutenant Commander Bonnie "Bon-Bon" Durnell

Mission: Character Development
Location: Quarks - DS9

Through one of the upper viewports the Bajoran wormhole flared into life, it's blue hues casting shadows from the windows. It seemed angry, unsettled even, making Baldric question the beings that supposedly lived within. Were they really Gods?

She broached the topic to those near her. "What's your opinion on the wormhole? Is it a temple of the Prophets? Subspace anomaly? Both? I'm curious"

"The Bajoran religious leaders as well as the populace feel it is a temple and as such a home for the Prophets." Savar replied.

Jenna raised one brow, "How very factual Mr. Savar." She took a long drink. "We come to drink and have a good time Commander Baldric and you want to wax philosophy and theology? Well, some of us, our Captain Kaylen to mention one, has been there, has seen them." She spun the liquid in her glass absently. "Now I don't believe in Gods, per se, but I believe in her and trust what she tells me."

Baldric listened carefully as Jenna spoke, taking in the utmost faith in the ship's former Commanding Officer. "Aren't you new on board though? Or have you served with Captain Kaylen before?" She asked curiously.

It was refreshing to not have someone know of her reputation. She downed the rest of her drink in one gulp. "You could say that. When she was on the 'D', I was right there with her. Watched her rise to Rear Admiral status and fall back down again."

Jenna's eyes glazed over as she thought back to those days and her own rise to Captain, and subsequent fall from grace. "It was a difficult time for all of us."

“I can imagine it was” Aurora offered as she stood looking out on the stars before turning to stand with Savar. “If you ever need to talk about it, I’m always happy to listen.”

Baldric noted the tone in the last sentence of Jenna's and made a mental note to ask her about it later if she was comfortable. "It must have been something serving in the glory days. I fear Starfleet has lost its shine lately. Too much war, too much loss" she turned to Aurora and gave her a hug. "I love that you care so deeply about everyone. Not just on a professional level, but deeply."

"I personally can't remember the last time we were sent on an exploratory mission, save getting thrown through a subspace eddy." She said generally before addressing Baldric directly. "One thing you'll learn about the Sunfire, we go out with best intentions, shit gets real and we return battered but not beaten, mostly." She finished with some hint at the unknown finality of it all.

"Perhaps Command will hear your words and send us an exploratory mission to do such that. To seek out and find new life forms. To go where no one has gone before." Savar replied with a touch of hope in his tone.

"Would be a change of pace, I imagine." Jenna joked as she tapped the bar for a refresh on her drink.

Baldric grasped the bottle they had purchased between them and refilled Jenna's glass, and those around her that were nearly empty. "I'll see what I can do to get us on an exploration mission. Surely Starfleet still has some systems out there that nerd cataloguing. And I said Cataloguing...nor crashing on. I've heard of the track record..." Baldric laughed, knowing that most present would have felt the impending doom of the Sunfire going down at least once.

Dean had wandered of to...of course...get food. He did stay distant while he was eating out of courtesy. Though, he had heard every word of what was said while he was over there. He'd missed the Wormhole conversation, but he could quickly chime in and see what happens. "Thank you," mention of the glass refilled.

"It's always easy to try and dismiss something that is unseen. Something that one people or culture believe in. Be it a deity or what ever you want to call it. I personally believe in God, as in Earth, one God, everything. However," taking a drink, "If you do believe in something, you don't. Maybe you have faith in a rock. Maybe that rock is God. Or Gods. There's something out there, some where, that made.." motioning around them. "All of this, us."

"Yes...the exploration..I know of something we can investigate and explore actually." Dramatic pause, "When was the last time anyone explored space right under our noses."

Baldric raised an eyebrow at the unusual deep conversation that she wasn't used to hear coming from Dean. He didn't normally show his serious side and she appreciated his vulnerability.

"I guess it would be...comforting...to have faith in something bigger. I've never felt it though but when I look at certain people you can almost see it. That trust in something bigger." She mused for a moment then took another sip of wine.

"What is this 'under our noses' by which you speak?"

"Well you see my dear, Jennifer." Dean smirked considering that they have met before a number of times, putting an arm up around her shoulder. "You can see it, and you don't have to follow any of the rhetoric. Though, you could at least pick your own view for something to cling to. Even if, say, it's just the trust in those next to you that do have that kind of Faith."

Taking a breath, not out of any issue, just before he took a large drink to finish his glass off. Though there was a Dabo girl there to refill him with some Andorian Brandy, the crap kind that Quark was giving away for free since he couldn't sell it. "Under our noses, Commander, would be. Just how often do we actually look into our own solar system. The galaxy is forever shifting, changing. That includes, 'home.' " by home he meant Earth, and by Earth he meant the heart of Starfleet and the Federation, not the planet necessarily by itself.

"Pretty sure some of us have been doing some serious self-reflection in the past few years." Jenna dropped her sly comment before elaborating. "After the Breen attack and the Changeling conspiracies, Starfleet as a whole has been reevaluating itself from within."

"Whoooo! That's a Dabo!" Bonnie shouted from the Dabo table, her arms shooting upward spilling her drink or what was left of it all over the patrons sitting next to her. She had been drinking and lightweight that she was, she was visibly growing more drunk by the minute.

"There's always room for.." Dean heard Bonnie and glanced over. "I should.. probably go get her, shouldn't I. Or, do we let her have her fun. She's not hurting anyone."

"Others may not be amused by Bonnie's exuberance and spilling her drink over them." Savar pointed out. Noting several scowls on annoyance from the patrons next to Bonnie.

"It is DS9, and all types of beings here. We don't know all of their customs or temperaments. I'll go get her." Finishing his drink in one toss back. Turning Dean started towards the Dabo table in the middle of the room. Swiping another drink off of a tray that a Dabo girl was carrying. Tossing that back as well and setting it down on another tray as he passed by. Stopping behind Bonnie, not saying anything yet. Looking to the patrons, but not saying anything yet to them either. It could play out peacefully.

Her level of excitement was high, despite the fact there seemed to be four spinning tables before her. She had placed all of her bet, minus one bar, on the same set and was watching, waiting. The noise, the atmosphere, the emotion was high and then the wheel stopped and the crowd roared. 'DABO!" She celebrated with them, bouncing up and down before turning and seeing Dean. There was a high-pitched squeal shortly before she leaped at him, her arms wrapping around his head, which was suddenly buried in her chest.

"I won!" She proclaimed, not realizing the Gronk sitting next to her was reaching for her winnings. His spiny covered bald head and long fingers moved to sweep her gold into his own bag.

He had been continuing his people watching and watching the crew have their conversation as the night continues on. The excitement at the Dabo table had caught his eyes and when he saw the would be thief make their move, Connor had swiftly moved from his seat to come up on the Gronks flank, taking out a small dagger that he had stowed up in the left sleeve of his duty coat he placed the point into the Gronks spine. “I would suggest that you just as quickly put the girls latinum back on the table and escort yourself out of this bar before this steel pushes further and severed your spinal cord..”

Baldric swiveled quickly as the commotion was heard. She waited to see if a senior officer was required to interview. She didn't want to make a scene but would if she had to.

The Gronk was immediately nervous but maintained his surely nature as he spoke. "Aaaah we did not feel the Staaarfleet femaaale would mind aaas she haaas so much, blessings to offer." His species tongue rested on the alpha character and rolled it as he spoke. His long hands raised to show he was not holding a weapon.

He began to rise, his almost 7 foot frame was tall but scrawny. "Come our friend, no raaash behaaaviour is needed. We caaan certainly work the detaaails of an aaarangement, yes?" By the time he was standing there appeared three more Gronks from a shadowed table in the corner, each standing tall as well.

Savar watched with alert eyes at the scene before him. "Aurora. stay here." He said in an even tone as he continued to watch to see if any additional assistance would be needed.

Aurora nodded, she had Sidak and her unborn child to protect, she wasn’t going to get into a fight.

It seemed things were indeed starting to escalate. Even Quark had paused what he was doing and withheld pouring any more drinks lest they get spilled in whatever was about to go down. "Now now, let's not get hasty" he commented as he saw Savar and then Baldric rise. "I'm sure Mr Gronk would love some more Dabo crests, on the house! Perhaps some mote tubawine?"

“Maybe she would, maybe she wouldn’t” he shrugged slightly, “But then again, that is not really for you to decide on your own now is it?” Connor saw out of the corners of his eyes the three others that had moved into the light. He shifted his feet so that he could make a move swiftly if needed. “I suggest if you value your height.. you tell your friends that the situation is under control and have them sit back down.”

Baldric waited, moving to stand beside Connor, arms crossed over her chest. Quark hurriedly grabbed some dabo chips stashed for occasions such as this and bustled over. "On the house Mr Gronk..."

Dean was not at all ready to find a face full of Bonnie-kin breasts. That was a new one. Though, if he had to mention it, they were pretty good. A solid seven at least. That also caused Dean to miss stopping Mister Gronk from swiping the slips into his bag. The target was to grab Gronks wrist before he to to the slips. Damn breasts.

Finally pulling back and sizing up the new situations, Turning and giving Bonnie a little 'nudge' behind him, just in case. Also giving a look to the Officers there to hold. "I'm only going to tell you once. They asked nicely. You've been offered compensation as well. If you don't take the apologies, the compensation and 30% of the winnings you just stole, you and your three friends medical bill will cost ten times what you have stolen. I'll even throw in drinks for the night for the four of you." Dean obviously was in intimidation mode, because..he was dead serious. Everyone just wanted to have a good night. He'd end it quickly if he had to, with Connors assistance.

As Bonnie was moved behind Dean she took in the scene suddenly before her, one she had been oblivious to. "Oh my." She whispered as she hurriedly covered her mouth. It was just like her luck to run high and then take an immediate about face.

The Gronk, now caught between his actions, the consequences and the option of rewards, chose quickly to react favorably. "We, friend, will taaake your offerings aaand return the laaadies winnings." He gave a curt nod to Connor and then Quark and Dean. "It is a good daaay to drink aaand be haaappy, yes?"

At his words the other Gronks celebrated with unfamiliar shouts. "Zaaaraaat Begile!" Bonnie would later research the term to discover it as a rite of passage for Gronk youth. She learned the Gronks were in the bar to celebrate and the others had challenged the one as a test of Theifdom.

Baldric sat down again slowly, exhaling in relief as the situation resolved. Things had been tense, but thanks to some quick thinking everyone had gotten out with their dignity and their latinum in tact.

"You OK Bonnie?" She asked as the Sunfire crew calmed.

Granted he didn't know what they were celebrating, Dean was fine now with the agreement. He didn't have to potentially hurt anyone. "Umm..sure. Zaaaaraaat Begil!" Motioning for Quark to keep pouring the free stuff. "Are you," Jennifer beat him to asking Bonnie if she was alright.

She looked from one to the other and nodded, "I'm, um, fine... maybe a wee drunk." She admitted before a bubble rolled up her esophagus and spilled out of her mouth in the form of a burp. She quickly stifled it, "urp, scuse me."

The roll of laughter that erupted from those around dispelled any lingering tension, almost as those the lid had been released from a pressure cooker. Baldric took a long drag of her wine. "Mr House I'm delegating you with responsibility for getting Bonnie home safely"

Savar relaxed seeing the tension melt away like ice cream from a cone on a hot summer day. "It would be most logical for you to do so Mr. House. I am sure Bonnie would be most grateful."

Connor nodded back towards the youths and then his Sunfire crew. Slipping the dagger he held back up his sleeve with a quick motion he faded into the background once more. Looking to his table where he had taken up residence, it was now filled with other patrons so he decided to take his place near a pillar in the back of the room to continue his people watching.

People settled back to their routine of chatting, eating and drinking. Quark topped up the drinks and kept the food flowing, all on the tab of course. Business as they said was good.

Bonnie nudged Dean, "Mind walking me to my quarters?" She asked innocently, her words slightly slurred.

Like an old fashioned Holiday Company party, the food and drinks were good, but the companionship was better. Despite the 'almost' bar fight, people had a good time. As the late hours approached people began filtering away until only a few were left to finish their drinks and find companionship or walk home alone. Jenna finished off the last of her eighth drink, tossed Quark a double slip of latinum before bidding whomever left a good night.

Savar stood with Aurora and Sidak as the festive atmosphere slowly petered out. "Aurora, we should go. We have another appointment to keep." He said softly.

“Of course Imzadi” Aurora smiled and nodded. “We can’t be late for the meeting with your parents.”

"I think I may have to carry you back," Dean smirked a little bit. Giving a motion to Jennifer that he'd be back.

She pressed her fingers against his chest, "No, silly, I can walk." Then she examined her hand. "Wow you're hard... like a rock." Her eyes grew wide before she giggled and clung on tighter to his arm in order not to fall over.

"We'll see about that," also grabbing her winnings before Dean rested a hand on hers. "I do tend to work out, and the augmentation tends to do that as well." Motioning with his free hand out in front of them, "Lead the way, princess."

Jen watched them leave, thinking they made a cute couple but had no idea of the details. Then again, was Dean just flirting? She took another swig and saId Farewell to those that were leaving, while still nursing her drink. The evening was winding down and people heading back to their rooms. All in all, it had been a good night.