Shore Leave Miss Adventures, Part 1

Posted on Thu Nov 28th, 2024 @ 12:35pm by Captain Remy Johansen & Lieutenant Commander Razka Kas

2,111 words; about a 11 minute read

Mission: Shore Leave & Ship Repairs
Location: Barisa Prime
Timeline: MD 2

The Holana landed in warehouse district of the capital city, Kas taxied his vessel into the small hanger he’d rented this area had a large amount of crime, Remy had raised an eyebrow when he’d given her his flight plan. The Starfleet guidebooks advised against visiting this district and most Starfleet vessels gave standing orders to Ensigns to stay out of this area. Kas was both proud and a little sad that Keena wasn’t with him, he missed his ‘little co-pilot.’ Of course, he’d probably be landing the other side of the city. She going on an outing with (I’ll figure that out). He had given the child a special communication device in case she needed him, the device was in a pendant that had been her mother's.

Kas got out of the Holana set his security system and checked in to the hangers computer, it was an automated system that allowed for anonymity. Kas had left his COMM badge in the should, but he’d set up a civilian COMM. device to receive messages if their was an emergency. This was the first time he had time to himself since he’d taken custody of Keena and he was going to enjoy it.

“When I said you need to get back out this isn’t what I meant,” Bella sighed has walked out of the Hanger with him.

Kas laughed and looked at the bag she was carrying, “There plenty of onboard if you want to sleep here.”

“We have different ideas of what plenty is,” Bella signed. “I’ve got a reservation at a resort. I’m not spending my shore-leave sleeping in a shuttle.”

“Did you want to use the Holana’s transporter?” Kas offered.

“No there’s a Transport Station a few blocks away,” Bella shrugged. “I like to take in the local scenery.”

“Be Careful, Sister.”

“I was about to say the same to you,” Bella grinned. “Let's not have a repeat of Daxa IV, I don’t know if the Capain would bail you out.”

“I can take care of myself,” Kas said dryly. “I don’t want to explain to Keena why her Papa was in jail.”

Bella smirked. “You know where to find me if you need anything.”

Kas watched her leave, then walked down the block to a warehouse. Inside, he handed a Ferengi a PADD and a small bag. The Ferengi gestured for him to follow, opening a bay door to reveal a line of hover bikes. Most had clearly seen better days, but Kas made his way to one at the back—his reservation. A quick check confirmed the engine and thrusters were in excellent shape, though the modifications made it anything but street legal.

“You’ll find it’s everything you asked for,” the Ferengi said with a crooked smile. “I see you’ve got enough latinum to cover the cost, so I’ve deactivated the tracker.”

Kas tossed the tracking device back to the Ferengi. “I’ll take it a step further.”
The Ferengi scowled. “That wasn’t authorized! If you scratched the paint—”

“No one will notice,” Kas sighed. “Count the latinum I just handed you. That should cover the reinstallment.”

Kas opened a compartment storage compartment on the back of the bike. There was a small metal box made of a green alloy with his clan's crest imprinted on it. Kas looked at the Ferengi.

“A tall man in a hood with a tattoo like yours left that,” the Ferengi explained, nervously. “He said it was dangerous.”

Kas gave him a shark-like smile. “That warning was for you, not me. Thank you for the heads up. I have places to be.”

Kas mounted the bike and fired up the engine, causing the Ferengi to jump back. He chuckled, speeding out of the warehouse at a pace that most would consider reckless. The grin that spread across his face felt foreign—it had been years since he’d ridden a vehicle like this.

Kas activated the bike’s shield to keep the wind out of his face as the bike climbed several meters into the air. Kas checked the city map on the HUD display and headgear for a string of bars a few kilometers away. He maneuvered the bike through the narrow streets with exceptional skill. He was looking for a tavern that had been recommended by one of his less reputable associates. Kas landed the bike in front of a grimy-looking building the sigh read.

ASTAROTH’S DEN

The large Hybrid parked the bike beside a row of battered vehicles, nodding to a loitering youth nearby. He tossed the kid a few coins and said, “Watch my ride, and there’s more when I come out.”

Kas stepped into the bar and a large masculine humanoid sized Kas up before speaking. “Weapons check!”

“I left my arms elsewhere, I’ve come for some good spirits and companionship,” Kas said simply.

The bouncer merely grunted, waving him through. Inside, Kas noted that several patrons carried poorly concealed melee weapons. The "weapons check" was clearly more for appearances than enforcement. He ignored the curious glances as he made his way to the bar, where three bartenders struggled to keep up with the rough crowd. Kas liked the vibe, he often found the formality of Starfleet disingenuous. He preferred the company of honest outlaws.

“Bloodwine?” one asked.

“No, I’ll try something local. How’s the ale?”

“Most travelers find it bitter. I’d recommend the mead.”

“Mead it is,” Kas nodded, taking a seat at the bar.

Before long, a Caitian woman sidled up beside him, purring for attention. She leaned in, lightly brushing his arm. “Here for the arm wrestling?” she asked, her eyes gleaming. “I’d put my latinum on you.”

“I’m always up for a test of strength,” Kas grinned, sipping his mead.
She led him toward the corner, where several large humanoids gathered around an arm-wrestling table. A pair of Nausicaans was locked in a brutal contest, the larger of the two slamming his opponent’s arm down with a heavy thud. Kas watched a few matches before sitting down at the table.

“You think you can beat me, Klingon?” the victorious Nausicaan spat.
Kas simply offered his arm. The Caitian woman tied their hands together, and the match began. Kas braced himself, steady against the brute's strength. He tuned out the rowdy crowd, focused on the task at hand. With a single, powerful motion, he drove the Nausicaan’s arm into the table.

A towering Klingon woman stepped up to the front of the crowd slow clapping to the Nausicaan's defeat. Her towering height was emphasized by her high heeled boots, and fiery red hair that spilled down her back in wild curls. A closer look revealed she was definitely a hybrid, her forehead ridges weren't as pronounced, and her eyes were a golden amber color.

"Take Pierrg to the back, and give him a good meal and a nice drink from his mother's teat if you need to. Whatever it takes to get him ready for his next fight," the woman said with a wave of her hand.

A crew scrambled to escort the Nausicaan away, the Nausicaan giving the woman a curt nod as he left the table.

"Who is this stranger that defeated our current champion?" The woman demanded.

Kas paused for a moment letting the woman's question hang in the air, his nostrils flared slightly as he took in her scent... 'She was Klingon that much was obvious and... Well this could prove interesting,' The Hybrid thought. Kas face remained passive.

"I'm just a drifter who likes a good challenge,' Kas smiled. "Now my glass seems to be empty, and that's the only thing that could possibly tear me away from this engaging conversation."

A barmaid approached the table with a tankard of mead, "On the house for a current winner."

Kas lifted his drink to the woman and discreetly smelled it before offering a toast. "IwlIj jachjaj"

"Now that you've defeated the champion, you must sit for the next contest. You keep 20% of the pot," the woman stated taking a few bold steps toward Kas where he sat, waiting for his response before giving him any further information.

“Make it 40%,” Kas looking the tall powerful woman in the eye.

Kas threw his head back and laughed. “I said I was a drifter, not a vagrant. Make it forty percent. I'm not interested in your table scraps!”

The woman smiled at Kas and stepped in even closer, taking one of his long braids into her hands and gently letting it fall. "I like a man who knows what he wants," she said moving her hand to his shoulder and letting her gaze fall there, and then over his body. "I do have a business to run, though. Thirty percent, and the drinks are on me."

Kas paused a moment before caressing the hand she'd placed on his shoulder. "I accept your offer and your hospitality, you may call me Kas."

"Well, Kas. Tell me, are you thirsty?" She licked her top lip, letting her tongue flick her teeth as she narrowed her eyes then straightened the length of her body out as she circled the hybrid's chair making sure he could get a good look at what she had to offer.

"Yes," Kas said with a spark in his eye as he took in the view before him. “And what shall I call you?”

"For tonight you can call me Gala. Depending on what you bring to the table, I may let you call me a little more." Gala stood up abruptly, "Stalesh, my new friend Kas is thirsty, make sure he's taken care of."

"Pace yourself, Kas. You've shown up on a busy night," Gala warned.

"I always do," Kas said.

Kas removed his outer cloak and put it on the back of his chair, revealing his sleeveless tunic. He stretched and flexed his tattooed arms to prepare for the matches ahead.

A large Lurian was ushered in as Gala disappeared into the shadows of the room. Sounds of bets being place filled the room as the Lurian did a turn and raised his arms for the crowd before sitting down.

"Final call, final call!" The moderator called out before tapping a button on his console. "Bets are closed."

The Lurian blinked a few times then lifted his bulky arm onto the table and put it into position and waited for Kas to do the same. Kas gave his opponent a look of quiet focus, as he placed his arm on the table. The Caitian woman tied their hands with a leather strap. The Hybrid barely acknowledged the signal to begin, as the Lurian pressed against his arm. Kas locked eyes with the man as their arms flexed but remained stationary. Kas pushed the crowd's din out of his mind and focused on his breathing. He held his position for nearly a minute and a half continuing to lock eyes with Lurian without blinking.

"Is this arm-wrestling or foreplay!?" A Nausicaan jeered.

The Lurian blinked and Kas drove his opponent's arm into the table in one smooth motion. A sickening pop was heard as the Lurian cried out in pain. Kas released the man's arm and moved away to allow others to help the Lurian away from the table.

Staff from the bar, and those who seemed to be specifically in Gala's employ came and went from the arm wrestling arena as more opponents trickled in, Kas defeating nearly half a dozen more challenges, though not all quite so easily as the Lurian. As Kas was waiting for the next challenger to come forward, the staff started taking some of the furniture away.

Gala stepped back out of the wings, but by design the shadows made it nearly impossible to determine exactly where she came from. The table that was in front of Kas was now gone.

"The broken wrist in your first round wasn't ideal. When all the bets are on you, the house looses. You lose. If I had realized you were so naive, I would have given you a lesson," she said haughtily, though not cruelly.

Kas sat quietly and smiled at Gala, he saw no reason to argue. So he answered with silence in the way of his people.

She made another point of sizing him up, taking a good look at him as if he were a piece of meat during his silence.

~tbc~

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