GTA: Part 2
Posted on Wed Feb 12th, 2025 @ 6:36pm by Commander Rhupert Tyree & Lieutenant Katya Davi & Lieutenant Amy Gordon
2,342 words; about a 12 minute read
Mission:
The Foragers
Location: Crash Site Bar / Wolf's World
Timeline: Two weeks after Get the Party Started
Nob was holding court. He sipped at a fine (at least his last victims had thought it so) Betazoid wine. He didn’t necessarily like the wine, but thought the faintly luminescent violet matched his stolen finery. He was dressed in a tailored suit of clothes he’d taken as payment at a card game.
It almost fit like it had been made for him. The cuffs were a little short and the open seam at the neck rode up his paunch of a stomach. But he was pleased with the look and made sure none of his crew disagreed with him. Currently there were four. A pair of Orions (male and female) who worked his engines and a short, stout Cardassian with bad skin who fiddled endlessly with his cup.
Nuak didn’t like the wine any more than Nob did, but he drank what the boss drank and would swap glasses with his captain occasionally, since Nob also didn’t like other people drinking his expensive booze. The Cardassian glanced about the bar with a critical eye on the construction. In a distant lifetime the Crash Site had been the saucer section of crashed Constitution class Federation ship. It had been gutted and highly modified of course, but it was a testament to the Federation shipyards that the integrity remained. Structurally, anyway.
The din of the bar ebbed and flowed, sounding normal to Nob’s ears as he toyed with the male blue Orion’s back. Nob had bought the pair a few years ago in a package deal and they’d been apt members of his crew, earning his trust enough that they accompanied him most places.
Rhu had moved up to the third tier and was leaning against a more or less solid looking railing that overlooked the ground bar and others below. He was biding his time and letting the spacers around him get used to his presence when the female Orion, moved up beside him and said, “You look like you’re on the verge of making a mistake.”
Turning, Rhu met her eye (after letting his eyes take her in from heel to crown). “Well,” he said, “Here you know the story of my life and I don’t even know your name”
"Cadice," the short but fully stacked, blue skinned female Orion said with a smile that promised many things. "Engineer's Mate of the Gasser Plug. Don't think I've seen you around..."
"Wright," Rhu responded. "First names Logan. Or you Clot...been called a lot of things. I'm currently...between berths."
Cadice considered him, sidling closer, "When you aren't in your berth, what do you do...You." She smiled a toothy grin at him then and finished with, "Logan."
"Helmsman," Logan (Rhu) responded after taking another sip at his Nettle. "Is the...Gasser Plug hiring?"
Shrugging, Cadice glanced back at Nob who was paying more attention to her brother right now. Which was fine with her. "Kinda sorta. Our Captain, Drulg Nob, might be looking for a few hands. You Police. Federation?"
"Not police. Only Federation so far as I grew up on WayFar and spent a few years disappointing more than a few people in the Merchant Marine. Been moving from ship to ship over the past four years or so," Rhu said, giving out some of his cover identity information.
Cadice looked him up and down herself. Logan looked the part, but then he would if he was law enforcement. "Last ship," she asked. "You know we'll have to check you out."
They were getting to the point quick, Rhu thought as he glanced at the Orion. "The Clamman Wasp," Rhu said, "Under a Captain Pelegras. Freight hauler stopped in here two days ago and cashiered me. Plegras doesn't have tolerance for some things. I became one of those things," Rhu recited.
Kat/Kimi reached the third floor and took a good look around, not very impressed with what she saw, but that was probably good for what she needed. She looked at Rhu and a woman, then at the other two. She wasn't sure if she should wait or speak, so for now she chose to watch first.
Natasha had taken the last bite of the meat upon the skewer as she stepped onto the floor of the third level. Feeling a fragment caught between her teeth, she used the sharp end of the skewer to get the offending piece of meat. Checking her breath quickly, Natasha popped into her mouth a small mint, before walking directly up to where Nob was seated. She had her hands showing that she wasn't carrying anything in her hands, just to allay the possible fears that his people may be worried.
"Greetings Nob, a certain Barkeeper, had mentioned that you were looking for some crew for your ship. I am looking for some work." She paused for a moment to look at Nob's outfit having an expression of admiration. "And might I say you, look magnificent."
Nob blinked back at the abrupt address and looked the woman over as he used the back of his hand to wipe some of the wine away his lips. "Magnificent, hey? That's a new one, "the balding man said, looking Natasha over. "There might be some work available, but we don't know you." He made no move to offer her a seat, looking her over with curiosity. Nob idly pushed his comb-over over his left ear and pushed the Orion back toward a chair.
Amy watched all this, of course she did take the brash way, however at times there needed to be some brashness utilized. "Of course you do not know me. I am someone who travels from one job to the next, and like I had mentioned, the barkeeper, Mudfoot" adding the name to her spiel." they had mentioned that you were looking for people to do some work for you. My name is Natasha Scott, entrepreneur one who can get her hands on items that are needed. And also, someone not afraid to work for a living either, be it moving cargo, cleaning cargo bays. And also, a trouble shooter when needed."
Nob listened to Natasha rattle off, deciding she was full of bravado. "Well," he said non-plussed, "It sounds like you are incredibly accomplished. What need do you have of Nob, hey? Sounds like you're doing me a favor?" Mudfoot hey? Yeah I might have work. Or an opportunity maybe. But I don't know. You sound a little bit like trouble. Or is trouble chasing you? Why else would you be here."
Natasha's shoulders drooped slightly as if her bubble of bravado had a slow leak in it, there was still the gleam of self confidence in her eyes. Her voice was quiet, as she answered Nob "Isn't everyone running from one sort of trouble, either personal or even from someone in the capacity of a lawman? Everyone has their own kit bag they pack around trying to smile as they try to escape their problems." Natasha giving small smile. "And my introduction? Call it a try to impress? Or desperation of needing a change of scenery. Some people like the bon vivant upfront personality, looking for new horizons." giving a slight shrug. "Yes I know what I do can come off as over-confidence, but I am also looking for a new opportunity as well. When it comes to a gamble, at times all the cards need to be laid out. Even the dice needs to be rolled and wait for the next lucky break, of which I felt would be signing on with you. Considering it as a change in my luck for the better, if that would happen with you, my being part of your crew." Amy did wonder if she wanted to also mention about the card player she had lost her money to, Daniel Watkins, that man was someone who could be trouble.
Nob took a puff at the acrid cigar that smoldered in his left hand and then sipped at the drink from his right as he considered this newly's words. She was either nervous or acting nervous. "Luck is luck. We make our own. But if it's work you want, well. Maybe. I'm looking for an extra crew. I might know where there's a ship that needs to be picked up. What kinda skills you got."
Before Amy could answer she heard a voice that made her look back, it was Daniel Watkins. "Natasha, Natasha-"
Kimi moved further into the room where she would be seen and where she'd have a better view of the others. She wasn't sure approaching Nob directly would be the best option, but Amy did, so she'd see how that went. And Rhu was talking to the overly-endowed woman. That left the one that looked like he was related to the Buxom Blue, but he was over by Amy and the man she assumed was Nob. She tucked a wayward curl behind her ear. She'd have to go past Amy to talk to him, which wasn't a good move.
So, she decided she'd wait for one of the two minions to approach her first. While she did, she listened to the sounds around her, noting how much this place needed some operational maintenance. That might come in handy if she had to convince this group of her potential worth.
Nuak stood and circulated, leaving Nob to his interview. Cadice had approached another spacer from the look of him and the Cardassian noted a woman who had been talking to that yakker bartender. Sliding through the small crowd, he approached yet newly arrival and said, "I'm Nuak. You're a new face."
She looked him over and nodded. Now to see if she could get hired. She didn't sense that anyone but Rhu was as a telepath, but she kept her shields tight, just in case. "New to this place, anyway. Name's Kimi. Kimi Drake. I was told I might find work here." She tucked a wayward curl behind her ear. "I'm kinda unemployed at the moment."
Nuak looked her over again and said, "Depends on the work. Always someone looking for something. I'm Nuak. What can you do for me Kimi Drake?"
She met his gaze and smirked. "My talents are in communications, transporters, and repairs. I'm not an engineer, though. I don't mess with power, just things that use it. I'm here because I don't like some holier-than-thou captain telling me how to do my job--or where--for nothing."
"So, what you're saying, Kimi Drake," Nuak said thoughtfully, "Is you don't take orders well. You'll go a long way working on someone else's ships." The Cardassian began turning away, his eyes looking over his crew and the people around them.
"No, that's not what I said." She wondered if Nuak was hired for his brawn and not his brain. "I said I'm tired of working for Federation types who don't know my job but think they can tell me how to do it, or how to live my life. So, I'm looking for a new start and someone said I could get it here." She cocked her head to one side and considered him. "Look, if you want me to prove I'm worth hiring, there's a discordant resonance in the air filtration system that's off. I could tell you by how much, but it doesn't matter. Let me just say that if it's not fixed, it might last another week, then it'll burn out, stinking up the entire facility. I'll fix it if your boss gives me the go ahead. Then he can decide if I'm worth his time."
Nuak smiled, if you could call it that, and turned back. "Well. So, there's some fire there. We have no concern with this busted Federation tech, though I'm sure you could get hired for piece work with your friend Mudfoot." Running a hand over his jaw, the Cardassian said, "But, do that and I'll look the work over. If it looks like you're not trying to sabotage the place. Or kill us all. Then we can use you." He let his eyes drift over her form for a minute then his smile widened. "If you're good. We can keep you busy."
"Oh, I'm good. I'm also not interested in staying in a place like this, but I'm happy to use it to show you what I can do." At least with repairs. She ignored his not-so-subtle innuendo. Her skills were for hire, not her body. She took out her hyperspanner and headed to the access panel nearest the noise.
Someone had done a shoddy repair job and used far too many wires. Two of them were sparking. She first stopped the sparking, then connected the right wires to the right power conduit and bypass the initial damage. The place needed a lot more work, but the owner probably knew that. All she needed to do was clean this up and stop the noise and the potential fire. If she had more than a couple of tools on her, she could have done a bit more, but this should suffice.
Leaving the extra wire in a ball at the bottom, she stepped back so Nuak could see her work. As she did so, she noticed the lights were a little brighter. She'd have to let someone know about the problem later.
Nuak glanced at the now more disheveled woman and then up at the lights and smiled, "Well. You can run maintenance anyway," he commented. "I suppose we can check you out on other things. The Captain can always use fixers."
Behind them, a commotion broke out and and Nuak could feel the fight coming.
Sighing, he said, "Might have more to fix almost immediately."
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