A Little Hole in the Wall

Posted on Thu Nov 10th, 2022 @ 6:52pm by Fleet Captain Maxwell Culver & Commander Vianola Paxidor & Colonel Galen s'Khev

2,407 words; about a 12 minute read

Mission: A Deserted Planet Is No Tragedy
Location: Ihhuein ei'krih: Korak’s Bar
Timeline: MD 4: 1815 hours

Max entered the bar alone, having asked Vi to stay back - just at the entrance. They had dropped their Starfleet uniforms and made their illegal venture to Ihhuein ei'krih on their own. Now, Max looked around for Colonel Galen s’Khev. Starfleet Intelligence had information that indicated he would be the best “leader” to talk to about resuming a Starfleet research operation on the O-class planet.

Max smelled the air, the transports had their own odor, but this place was worse. He remembered the smell of vole shit on Empok Nor. It wasn’t something one forgot. The bar smelled a lot like that but mixed with some smell he couldn’t quite place. Like rotten flesh or an abscess. He couldn’t believe people were eating and drinking here.

Intelligence described s’Khev as bald and severe in his look. Max spotted him right away. He moved to the booth that was empty except for the Romulan. “Colonel Galen s’Khev?” he asked, already knowing it was him.

Galen had been enjoying a Romulan Ale as he mulled over the assignment he had been given. Up until yesterday, he was the XO of the IRS Donatra. He had also been working on keeping things in relative order in the colony. This was why he received orders to transfer to Triton Seabase to work with Starfleet. This was something he had no interest in doing. However, the Tal Shiar really gave him no choice. So, he sat and stewed in his anger. He decided to avoid checking in until the anger cooled. A strange voice pulled his thoughts to the present. "Colonel will do just fine. What do you need?"

“Well, quite a lot of things, Colonel. First, allow me to introduce myself. I’m Captain Maxwell Culver; I’ll be commanding Triton Seabase here, with your permission, of course.”

Vi scanned the area from the door. She did not like this one bit and both she and Culver stood out like very obvious sore thumbs. With their slightly paler complexion and fair hair they were not hard to see. Culver had ordered her to remain at the door, the entrance to the hellhole of a building that smelled like something had died in it and looked like it had been hit by a torpedo but still people chose to life their lives in this type of place.

There was a smash behind the bar and Vi looked over. The bartender had dropped a glass and she shook her head removing her hand from the hovering position above her phaser. It wasn't on show but beneath a small leather jacket she was wearing.

It was funny that even though they weren't in uniform it was blatantly obvious who they were... the only silver lining on that front is that people would assume Human, not El Aurian.

She began to move a bit further into the room, the very thought of leaving her Captain so open didn't sit well. Okay so she was already defying an order, and so quickly, but it was for his own protection, and she wouldn't see him come to harm if push came to shove.

---

= Bar =

Vi walked over to the bar and looked at the stool. There was a thought, one about sitting on it but instead she poked it and a strange colour of dust rose from it. She chose to stand.

"Can I have an ale please?" she asked the man behind the bar. "Preferably in a glass that won't kill me."

Max looked over at the bar with the sound of the crash and caught the blond hair of Vianola. Seeing the blue ale produce, and her face when she caught him eyeing her, Max indicated another ale for himself. Then he motioned with his head for her to come join them before the conversation got much deeper.

"Make that two." Vi said as the man grumbled and poured another.

Grabbing the two glasses she moved over to the table with the Romulan and Culver. Setting the glasses down she looked at between them both. "I couldn't just stand by the door," she stated.

Max smiled sexually; he ran his fingers through her blond hair. “Too much to look at in here,” he admitted.

Leaning closer, it appeared he was kissing her. Instead, he was giving orders. He didn’t like the looks they were drumming up. “Unbutton and unzip my jeans, on my left hip, I have a tattoo. Trace the outline. I’ll explain later. After that, pretend to do…other stuff.”

It was a bit of an odd request, understandable given the looks they drew but still a little out there for a way to stop attention being pointed their way. Vi's youthful and impulsive side just went along with it... it sounded like a bit of fun in a dingy place.

She did as Culver asked whilst he spoke to the grumpy looking Romulan. She slowly unbuttoned his jeans, then the zip loosening their grip on his well-toned body to discover a rather unique tattoo. This however was not the time to talk about that as she began to trace it with the tip of her finger as he had asked.

“Anyway, Colonel, I’m told your friends are encouraging you to accept the terms of our offer. I’d heard they want you to take a Starfleet commission to Commander. You can imagine how useful having a Romulan by my side would be. A Starfleet cause would become a joint cause between our people. The Federation is even willing to ‘gift’ this world to you.

I’m sure it isn’t entirely your decision,” Max stopped and passionately kissed Vi, surprisingly she was unsurprised. He ran his fingers through her hair again and placed his right hand on her left breast as her hand continued to appear to be putting on everything but a magic show beneath the table.

Most of their attention had redirected elsewhere. A group of Orions watched them still, a Terran hidden in a back booth and a half dozen Klingons were obviously trying too hard not to be watching the trio.

“The decision,” Max said, wiping lipstick from his mouth. “That’s up to the Tal’Shiar. Or what’s left of it,” Max finished.

The good thing about empathic senses is the knowing of when someone is about to do something based on their feelings or know there abouts. Max's kiss came in as his feelings peaked and she expected it no sooner than his lips were on hers. She slid her hand down the inside of his jeans and raked her fingernails up his thigh. She was enjoying this a little too much, his touch on her did stir her ever so, but she was never one to stop having a good time as long as she knew what was going on around her.

"Do you want to join us?" Vi asked the Romulan across the booth. It was an open question and could be taken as one to join in with their activity that she was playing along with, or simply join their cause in working alongside each other on the planet.

Galen watched the show just as the others in the bar had. However, the difference with Galen was that he did not gawk. You don't work for the Tal Shiar without recognizing a distraction technique, and a poor one at that.

"It seems that you are well informed; and misinformed at the same time. If that is even possible. You are correct that I am being urged by my superiors to work with you. You are incorrect in thinking that I would enjoy the prospect of working with you. That I would want that prospect.

"If, and that is still a big IF I chose to work with you then I would never don one of those so called uniforms, or accept a commission in your fleet. I would remain a member of the Romulan Fleet. What is more is that your government cannot gift me something which is already mine.

"Add to that the display you put on here. You have earned no points with me for your conduct here. If you came in and attempt to sway me to side with you. You have failed..."

Max shrugged and shook his head. "Make no mistake," he responded, his tone still jovial. "You've got no choice in the matter, colonel. You're working with Starfleet as my Executive Officer. Our meeting was, at best as courtesy, at worst - as it seems to have become - it's a direct order. Frankly, neither Starfleet, not the Tal'Shiar give a shit about your opinion."

When the server popped by their table, he indicated three more ales. Still appearing happy and slightly drunk, Max continued, "The same is true with the uniform. It was a courtesy, but no one gives a shit. Just don't show up naked, I'm sure the Tal'Shiar would care about that!"

Max looked at Vi who continued to gaze at him. Though she appeared as amused and giddy as Max, he could feel she was ready to pounce, like a caged lion.

"Lastly," Max began the ending of the conversation, "this provocative show bought us enough time and discomfort from about seventy percent of the bar. That's enough to let us know the Klingons near the door and the Nausicaans in the back are still interested, so our cover has been blown. I suspect we'll have the Klingons on a frontal approach and the Nausicaans push us forward into a scissor trap."

The server returned and Max accidently knocked his ale over onto Galan. "Oh! My apologies Colonel. We knew you were a freak in the dark, but even we can't accommodate that level of perversion. Maybe another bar could accommodate your filthy kinks?" Max suggested, indicating their meeting was over.

Galan was chosen as his XO, like it or not. He would show up in his Romulan uniform - the uniform of a dead military. And he may not have liked his show with Vi, but it served their purposes.

Max propped his elbows on the table and leaned forward. He ran his finger down the Romulan's cheek. "You are dismissed, Colonel." Max said quietly, appearing sleepy now. "I'd suggest you leave ASAP...this bar is a powder keg, and someone is about to light the match. They're just waiting for you to leave."

"You know what human..." Galan had been insulted and decided to use the racial term to continue with the lack of respect. "...You have miscalculated much. Some of what you say is correct. I am being ordered to work with you. However, I was given an option. That option would be to resign my commission. I came here for two reasons the first was to think about the future over a nice glass of ale. The second was to meet you and see if it would be worth working with you. Let us just say that you and your hussy have made my decision for me. With that said I think I will remain here and enjoy my drink before I retrieve my belongings. I have fought, bled and worked for the people who live here. They look to me for leadership, if you think that harm will come to me you must be out of you mind. Enjoy your powder keg..." Galan did not want to leave the fleet. He was passionate about returning Romulus to its former glory however, he would not be disrespected in such a manner.

Vi could feel the tension rise somewhat in the bar and truth be told she kind of wanted to get into a fight. She was never one to back down from a fight and she often found it hard to walk away from one when it started. It suited her towards security in one way in respect that she could handle herself but hindered her in another as she fought with her heart sometimes over her head.

She disliked Galen immensely so far and the Captain certainly told him what he thought. Sometimes the traits of a young El Aurian left a lot to be desired and this was probably why their people advised not leaving the home world until at least over 100 unless you were 'supervised'.

Vi leaned in a little as they were leaving. "I don't look to gain points from anyone, Colonel, and as for my conduct... make that comment again when we are alone." she said in all seriousness. "My conduct can be even more unbecoming in private." She downed her full pint of new ale in one go and looked back at him. "You can join us, or don't, it makes no difference to me. I am stuck here regardless now thanks to my own superiors." her tone very unhappy with no attempt to hide that fact. She missed New York already. "Have a blessed day." she added fake near grimaced smile and walked past the Captain in case he had any closing remarks to their new 'friend' and XO.

Galan decided to ignore the lessers. He already could tell why she was stuck there, and that was actually none of his business. If she wanted to test herself against him, he would welcome it. Of course, he would pull no punches and she may wind up dead. However, he doubted it would come to that.

Vi could feel his amusement but not the kind that made him laugh. It was more of a curious amusement with a hint of seriousness, and she knew this would be a man who would not aim for the wall and miss. It was well guarded, like most Romulan minds, their ancestry giving them strong mental abilities and whatnot.

Max looked around, taking stock of the bar. Already the Klingons had moved to close off the front exit. The Nausicaans were slowly moving toward him and Vi, suspiciously or purposely ignoring the Romulan. All three had their hands on their disruptors. The man in the dark corner was missing or had somehow disappeared into the dark, becoming part of it. “Keep physical contact with me and have your weapons ready, Vi. I think we’ve been disinvited from this party.”

 

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