In too deep

Posted on Fri Jul 25th, 2025 @ 1:34pm by Civilian Dreya & Lieutenant JG Jean-Baptiste Dorsainvil & Josef Forstinger & Corporal Eden McKenzie & Civilian Tyson Miller & Civilian Killian Jones

2,236 words; about a 11 minute read

Mission: Bombs or Bombshells
Location: Credition, Freecloud
Timeline: MD 01, Early Evening

Outdoor Patio, Firefly Grill

Dreya laughed softly as she reached over and put her hand on Killian's thigh. "First of all, I can't believe you talked me into coming out here, but I'm glad you did."

"They way people talk about this place, I was always intimidated to come out here, but there are some really nice places."

"Told you so," Killian replied with a hint of a smile. It had been a good decision for the Gambit's Cross crew to come back even though Zoe was nowhere to be seen, and there was just something about Dreya that made him keep the smile on his face. "I told you, and you," he looked to Tyson, "I occassionally have a good idea or two."

Sitting across the table, feeling like a bit of a third landing thrusters, Tyson grinned softly and nodded as he responded. "My great grandfather had a broken pocket watch that showed the right time twice a day too." He then glanced around the bar, wondering what he was going to do if these two started to get cozy with each other.

Talia Park and Fly

Nearby, Raez, a female Nausicaan who was pretty without realizing it, sat in the small shuttle waiting for her partner to return with further orders and a fresh bite to eat. In back was the cargo, largely unknown to her, other than inside the larger shipping container she was sworn to protect was a smaller container of some kind protected by a forcefield. The entire package was 4 by 4.5 meters and took up the bulk of their small shuttle.

They were also under strict orders under what could and could not be discussed over comm lines - even encrypted ones. Hence why her partner had left to meet with one of their colleagues for further orders.

Meanwhile, inside the shipping container-and protected by the Forcefield was a half cylindrical tube like structure-giving off a constant whirring noise like a machine on its last legs. It drew a significant amount of power though, having been ripped away from something yet kept active. Despite the obvious wear and tear as well as edges of rust that would make most dismiss this as perhaps nothing more than Junk, there was obviously something stored inside-and that something could be very valuable, dangerous or both.

Raez wasn't privy as to the contents of the package she was charged with guarding, just that it was valuable and they were to guard it with their lives. Literally.

Sharris Alley, near Firefly Grill

Zaygh left the shuttle at the appointed time and walked toward his usual spot in Sharris Alley to wait for updated orders from their commander. His comm alerted an incoming communication before he'd reached his location.

Zaygh opened his comm line, "Zaygh."

"We have a new potential buyer, tomorrow at noon. Be ready thirty minutes early. Coordinates will be sent."

He clicked the comm shut, his thick fingers tapping the side of his thigh. A new buyer. Another set of hands, another set of eyes on the container. Another chance for something to go sideways.

He started moving again, boots scraping over the cracked, sun-bleached concrete. His mind drifted, not for the first time, to the cargo itself--even to a brute like him, he knew it wasn't just merchandise. Nobody risked this much heat for simple flesh.

He exhaled sharpy through his nose, shoving the thought away. Feelings about cargo were for softer men. Men who didn't make it long in this line of work.

Whatever, he thought. I'm paid to keep watch, not to philosophize.

* * *

McKenzie had accepted the invitation from Tyson to go to dinner with him on a double date with a friend and his partner, which had come out of the blue as they'd spent the night together and then she hadn't heard anything else from him since. The social anxiety in her had almost stopped her from going, but her friends had worked their magic with her and eventually convinced her to go.

Walking past the alley, Eden slowed her pace as she overheard the short conversation and tilted her head to the side, taking the information in and making a mental note to pass it on to Fulvia after her dinner date as a quick search of her bag came up empty for something to scribble the details on.

Eventually finding the Grill, Eden took a couple of deep breaths and clenched and unclenched her hands a few times before walking in and spotting Tyson, giving him a small wave and smile as she walked over to him and the others, a tall guy with black hair and a woman with light brown hair, both of whom had their backs to her.

When Tyson's eyes locked on Eden waving at him, his mood improved, though he was careful not to let it show too much. He did smile, though, as he stood and moved across the bar to meet Eden halfway.

"Hey, um, I'm sorry I'm late..." Eden said meekly. For some reason Tyson felt like a comforting presence where the anxiety lessened, but there was still something slightly off that kept it anchored there. "Thank you for the invite though, it was nice to hear from you." What she'd overheard was still on her mind but pushed to the side briefly.

An easy smile crossed his face as Tyson replied. "It's okay," he began, waving away her apology, before he continued. "I'm glad you could make it." He paused as he stepped a bit closer and added with a lower voice, "You look great, by the way."

A blush crept across her cheeks and the bridge of her nose at the compliment as another smile formed. "Um, thank you, shall w-we," she paused for a moment at the stutter and mentally chided herself, "Shall we go and meet your friends and have dinner?"

Tyson nodded. He then put his right arm around her shoulders and guided her back to the table. "Alright! Now its a party!" He said with a grin. He signaled for the roving waitress to cone over to their table. As he continued ued to speak, he pulled out one of the chairs for Eden to sit in. "Killian, Dreya, this is Eden. We met the other night over at that other bar across town. Remember, the one with the throwing axes?"

"Hi," Eden replied with a smile as she took the seat next to Tyson. She felt extremely out of place, the odd one out, the intruder on their little date. Maybe a drink would calm her nerves, maybe next round.

"Ah, so you're the one he ditched us for." Killian finished the mouthful of beer he'd had in his hand before placing it back on the table. So far he was two beers deep and the night was only just getting started. He'd already made his own silent judgement on her and found something was off slightly but put it down to her nerves and meeting new people. "You want a drink or something? My shout." The question was directed at both the ladies as he slipped past Dreya.

"A, um, white wine would be nice, thank you," Eden tipped her head in thanks as she looked between Tyson and what was her name again, Dreya? Rather than just clenching and unclenching her hands under the table, Eden made she to find Tysons hand and hold it, the feeling of a comforting presence returning, "I hope I'm not crashing anything by just showing up out of the blue?"

"I'm glad for the company," Dreya said with a smile. "I'm Dreya. I know these guys have things they want to talk about, but are too polite to make me feel left out. Now they have someone to leave me with while they go grab drinks at the bar." Dreya winked at Killian, her smile letting him know she was okay with a little mischief.

Killian rolled his eyes at her with a half grin on his face before he looked to Tyson, "These two will be fine, let get those drinks." He appreciated Dreya and was happy she wasn't by herself.

Eden looked to where Tyson and his friend had disappeared to, suddenly feeling the crushing weight of the social anxiety coming back causing her to take a deep breath in and out again and close her eyes briefly. "It's nice to meet you, Dreya. I'm, um, not real good with meeting new people." She offered an apologetic smile to the other woman. Dreya seemed nice and genuine.

A quick look around to check the exits showed there were a couple, which was good. "I have a question, if you were to overhear something being discussed that could lead to people either getting hurt or arrested or rescued, depending on how you look at it, what would you do?"

"I'd definitely want to keep people from getting hurt," Dreya said without hesitation. "And arrested. I mean, if they are doing something to hurt people, well they probably deserve it."

"Well, that's really interesting to know," Eden said cautiously. "I don't know if I should be saying anything, but I think I overheard someone talking about a potential new buyer for something, so I'm assuming it might be to do with," She leaned in slightly closer, "smuggling of some type." She was way out of her depth and comfort zone for anything that didn't have to do with fixing things and keeping to herself.

"Around here, could be anything," Dreya said somewhat dismissively. "No regulations on trade, very few regulations on what you can sell, so business that might be illegal in Federation Space is arguably legitimate out here. Though you did get smugglers too for sure. Local police aren't as... kind as Starfleet, but can sometimes be easier to evade."

Killian and Tyson had got the drinks and come back towards the table and it was easy for Killian to see that Dreya was an expert in striking up conversations. The new girl Eden, however, something was different yet familiar about her. She held herself with the same attitude as a Marine, like he used to, so maybe she had family members in service and learned it from them. The more interesting thing he realised though, was the topic of conversation she was holding with Dreya.

Slowing his walk slightly to not be completely obvious, Killian strained and overheard a couple of key words like "potential new buyer" and "smuggling", so it could have meant a pay day for the crew.

Coming to sitting back down next to Dreya, Killian looked at Eden and pushed the glass of wine towards her. "You're a Marine, right? Or come from a family of them?" She nodded and her eyes went slightly wide like she was a deer caught in the headlights of an oncoming car, and it made the corners of his mouth turn up with a half grin. "What's your rank and specialty?" He could have a lot of fun with this if she cooperated.

Eden swallowed the bit of wine she'd drunk before answering, "Corporal, and I'm a Combat Engineer on the USS Astrea. I'm also a mechanic by trade so I fix the vehicles when they get broken." She could feel the anxiety start to rise at the sudden interrogation and she quickly put her hands under the table to cover any tics that might start. The comforting presence of Tyson's hand covering her own was enough to push the anxiety down for a bit.

"Right." Killian nodded, the mention of the Astrea reminded him of something he'd been meaning to follow up on. "1st Lieutenant Jones, former Marine XO of the USS Marybelle. Your Captain is Remy Johansen, yes?" Another nod from the woman in front of him confirmed it. "I've been meaning to have a little catch up with her at some point, so thank you for that." He took up his drink in one hand and drunk from it before placing it back on the table and looking at Dreya who gave him a look. "What? It was just a couple of questions, that's all."

"So you on leave or an operation?" Dreya asked. She gave Eden a small smile and kept her tone light, but she had her concerns now that they knew who she was. Though they never really talked about it, she had a feeling that Killian and Tyler's activities wouldn't always be Starfleet approved.

Eden wasn't quite comfortable with the shift in tone of conversation but chose to push the feeling aside. "We're here for something, an operation of sorts, but I'm not really privy to too much information as to what it is, unfortunately." It was true, she had no idea what was going on, she just went where she was needed. "What are you guys here for?"

Killian raised a brow at the vague reason she'd given and motioned between him and Tyson, "We're in between jobs at the moment."

Dreya lifted her glass to her lips, though she wasn't particularly thirsty. She continued holding her glass in front of her face, like a mask of sorts as she eyed the individuals around the table. It seemed like everyone there was hiding something.

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