STF

Plaza Exchange - A Night On The Town

Posted Sept. 29, 2022, 4:39 p.m. by Civilian Yavia Crockett (Nurse - Sacred Heart Hospital) (Jennifer Ward)

Posted by Major General Charles Tenkiller (Vice-Commander, Colonial Customs and Defense Agency) in Plaza Exchange - A Night On The Town

Posted by Lieutenant Sharah Fayth (Chief Star Fleet Medical Officer) in Plaza Exchange - A Night On The Town

Posted by Major General Charles Tenkiller (Vice-Commander, Colonial Customs and Defense Agency) in Plaza Exchange - A Night On The Town
Posted by… suppressed (16) by the Post Ghost! 👻

(snip)
Tenkiller steered them onto the road and said “I was hired for the CCDA out of Star Fleet. I’ve been here all of about six months. I don’t think I had even really heard of Oed before Cal… General Harris… had been given command. He hired me a few months later.” He put the car on auto and looked at Yavia. “What brought you here? The promise of daring adventures? Or maybe the massive amounts of overtime you all put in.”

Tenkiller

She turned slightly in her seat toward him. “I found myself in need of a new job. At the time Sacred Heart was struggling. They have a great teaching program, but they weren’t pulling in enough experienced staff. Oed like any colony on the edge of the Federation is rough and dangerous at times. After the need for the dome the colony was, is still trying to rebuild. I’m a d@mn good nurse, and I could do good here. So I came.” She brushed one of the ribbons at her temple back. “And out here there is always the chance for adventure…if you don’t work too much.”

Yavia

“That is always the catch, isn’t it.” Tenkiller said with a grin. “Trying to fit in adventures between meetings, disasters, and patients.” The car veered off the main road and onto a side street. Tenkiller looked around. The buildings had a rougher look around them than a lot of Oed. The streets had fewer people out. And the car garnered looks from more than a few people. Tenkiller looked at Yavia and said “Don’t worry. Its not as bad as it might look.” The car turned a corner…

And they drove into a carnival.

She met his gaze calmly, with a hint of curiosity to her voice, “I’m not worried.” Her gaze locked outside the window as they turned the corner. There was almost too much to see. Lights, sounds, colors, people were everywhere.

Lights abounded, and people were busy buying and selling wares of all kinds. The car turned slightly around the perimeter and came to a stop by a door with a Naussican standing by it. “Thats the place.” Tenkiller said with an excited smile. He got out and trotted around the car and opened the door for Yavia.

Tenkiller

Yavia slid out of the car, one foot followed by the other before she stood and stepped to the side so he could close the door. She paused for a moment enjoying the assault on her senses. The lights and movement, the cacophony of voices and banging and shuffle of wares being examined, packaged and packages juggled. The confusing mixture of food aromas, scents of various bases and perfumes. Then her gaze landed on the door and the Naussican and the stark stillness compared to the life moving around him. She slipped her hand onto his arm. It had not escaped her notice earlier that unlike most that made a big deal of coming into contact with a Deltan, Tenkiller did not. It was refreshing. “And what is this place?” she asked as they approached the door.

Yavia

Tenkillet looked at the Naussican and said “Heya, Jorg. How’d you do on that Grislein-Abcar game?” The Naussican shook his head. Tenkiller smiled and said “Told ya, my man. Abcar starting defender was out and they were the lynchpin of the whole defense. Without them, Abcar was D-U-N done.” and he chuckled and pulled a slip of Latium from his pocket. “Here, cover your loss and make sure you stop betting! Mannix will have your ass if they found out!” Jorg smiled, a wholly unpleasant sight in a Naussican, and said “Thanks, Skip. I’ll stop. You’re right.” and he opened the door for them. “Carrie has your table ready.” Tenkiller nodded and patted the hulking form on the shoulder and he led Yavia inside.

‘Inside’ was a narrow flight of stairs that went steeply down for about ten meters and opened into a large space filled with tables, booths, a massive bar, and a stage. The air was filled with the aroma of fresh cooked food and exotic spirits, and the place was almost empty. Here and there sat a couple or an individual, but for the most part it was quiet. The place was lit, but not too brightly, by sconces and shaded lights hanging from the ceiling. The tables and booths were just far enough apart to allow for private conversation. And the bar, setting on all four sides of the large square, sat on a raised section in the middle of the room.

Tenkiller looked at Yavia and said “This is one of Oed’s best kept secrets. Welcome to Diamond Jim’s Speakeasy.”

Tenkiller

Yavia looked, waiting for the stairs to open up into the main area. There was a lovely aroma of food and the heady scent of spirits, coupled with the still noticeable woodsy scent of Tenkiller’s cologne or maybe soap? The climate was pleasant but the shaded lights and polished wood made the place feel warm and welcoming with the soft light and on dark wood. The plush velvet covered seats invited a person to relax and soak in the atmosphere. “Now this is lovely.” Her fingers trailed across a panel of the wood. “And a very well kept secret, at least from me. I’ve never heard of it. How did you find out about it so quickly?”

Yavia

Tenkiller chuckled and said “The first customs violation that came across my desk, actually. The former owner was smuggling Romulan ale in. When we busted him, his head chef Carrie took over. Annnd that would be her.” and he indicated a human woman with brilliant blue and green hair walking towards them. “Major General, great to see you! Please, follow me. I saved a great table for you.” She led them around the bar and to a booth off the left side of the stage. Tenkiller motioned for Yavia to sit and then he did the same. Carrie handed each a real menu and then said “Appetizers and salad courses, but I was thinking of going off-menu for you guys. So… what do you like?” and she looked at Yavia.

Tenkiller

Yavia sat and slid over on the booth, her palms gliding across the surface and settling into the seat of the booth. She half turned, her gaze scanning the space to determine what made this a ‘great table’. Then she turned her intense gaze on the chef. Taking in the vibrant blue and green hair, the clothing, the aroma of cooking dishes that clung to Carrie. “I like complex meals. Whether that is a single dish or varied complex and simple dishes paired together. A combination of aroma, flavor, textures, and spices meant to tantalize the tongue.”

Yavia

Carrie smiled and said “Do you like spicy?”

“I love it.”

Carrie nodded and said “I know just the thing. SO. Im gonna send over some wine and a few little nibbles and let you to do what you do. And if there is anything I can do for you, just let me know.” She looked at Tenkiller and said “She’s slumming, being here with you you know.” and he grinned. “She lost a bet. This is the punishment.” and Carrie laughed and then looked at Yavia. “Dont let his charm and swagger fool you. Underneath he’s actually a decent person.” and she winked and turned and walked away.

Yavia didn’t say anything but she grinned at the woman and glanced at Tenkiller giving a thorough once over again.

Tenkiller looked mocked shocked and said “Why I never! Insults from the staff!” and then he smiled at Yavia and shrugged.

Tenkiller

Yavia turned her full attention on him, her voice incredibly soft, just enough to create the feeling no one else could hear what they were talking about. (Even though there was no one close enough to hear anyway.) “Decent and wickedly playful with charm and swagger. I think I won whatever bet it was I supposedly lost. Do you gamble often, Tenkiller?”

Yavia

“Only on horses and women, V. Only horses and women. ” and he grinned as the server came over with some small plates of tapas and an assortment of canapés. Another server came by and brought a bottle of Rigellian green wine. They poured two glasses and then walked away. Tenkiller slid a glass to Yavia and picked up the other. “To new beginnings?” and held the glass to her.

Tenkiller

“Ah, and we have no horses on Oed.” She smiled, she did like the sound of ‘V’. She lifted the glass the stem hang between her fingers, the glass resting in her palm. “To new beginnings.” She swirled the glass twice and then sipped the green liquid. Setting the glass down she reached for one of the canapés. “What do you do when you are not rushing to the defense of helpless lady doctors and nurses?”

Yavia

Charles laughed once. “Defenseless! Yeah right. May the gods above and below help anybody dumb enough to try and mess your crew back there at the hospital. Im fairly certain that my people are really o ly there to type up the incident report.” and he laughed again, grabbed one of the tapas, and popped it in his mouth. He chewed and picked up his wine, took a drink, and swallowed before saying “Trust me… I believe wholeheartedly that the bat wasn’t there as a prop.” He took another sip and then said “As to what I do… well, if I ain’t at work I’m usually at home. But in the odd and infrequent bits ‘a freetime I get, I wander the city. Sometimes I try and find cool places for a drink or a meal. And sometimes I ask pretty girls to join me.” and he grinned and winked.

“What about you?”

Tenkiller

Yavia laughed, “You may be right.” She lifted the glass and then followed a drink with a tapas. “When I’m not working or trying to catch a nap between shifts, I’m outside. Exploring the green spaces. I adore the city, but we are stuck inside for hours. I enjoy the air and sunlight so I prefer to explore where I don’t have to go inside. Especially now that the dome is gone. There is a sports park a few blocks from my apartment. A good place to practice my batting technique.” She took another canapé, taking a small bite, savoring the flavor and texture. “You said she is the chef? These are absolutely delightful.”

Yavia

Skip nodded. “Chef and owner. When Diamond Jim got pinched, the Prosecutor wanted to close the place down. Well, you close a place like this… in this particular location, well, no tellin’ whats gonna pop up. And it woulda dumped a couple dozen people on the street with no job. So… the chef and I worked out a deal. She takes probationary ownership and operates the place with regular inspections by the police. After a year, if they haven’t been linked to any illicit activity, she gets it all. Lock, stock, and barrel.” He took a drink and said “What kinda batting do you do? And do you play for anyone right now?”

Tenkiller

She picked up her glass and chased her last bite with a swallow of the wine. She leaned back in the booth and let her gaze travel around again. “That’s not a bad deal for her, and it has so much character. I prefer line drives, straight down the middle of the field.” She grinned as she set the glass down. “Right now? No. There was some talk of forming some teams among the different colonial departments/agencies, but nothing has come of it yet. Not sure we’d have time for a game every week, much less practice. Every once in a while we manage to patch two teams together and just play to have fun. Do you play?”

Yavia

Tenkiller laughed and shook his head. “Oh no… never was much of a jock. At least… not in the traditional sense.” and he tookna sip of wine. “I was raised on Earth in a small town in the country. My family belongs to the Osage Tribe. So instead of playing baseball or football or basketball… I played Native games and sports. I grew up on a working ranch, too… so I learned to ride and care for horses. Not many of those around here, so I haven’t ridden in a while.”

Tenkiller

“The important thing was that you enjoyed the experience. Baseball is certainly not traditional on Delta IV. With the dome open maybe we will have horses.” Yavia’s head tipped to the side, the metal of the head band glinted and the ribbon swayed slightly. “Osage Tribe? I’m afraid I am unfamiliar.” There were certainly millions of people and groups and cultures amongst the quadrant and the largest group was not representative of the other cultures. She was genuinely curious. “Tell me about it and your native games, TK.” She tempered her next swallow of wine with a tapa.

Yavia

Tenkiller thought for a second. “TK… I like it. But only from you, I think.” he said with a grin. “So my tribe, the Osage, are a group of First Nations Indigenous people from North America on Earth. We were part of the Northern Plains tribes, and were known for being tenacious warriors, skilled hunters and farmers, and preservers of family life. Family was and still is a strong component of our culture.” As Tenkuller spoke of his people’s history,his tone and demeanor changed. Gone was the cocky rake. In his stead was a proud and dedicated historian and member of The People. “Anyways, hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of years ago, people came to the continent from other places and formed a country on Native land. The Indigenous Nations were not treated well. In fact, the country- the United States of America- through treaty and force, stole the tribal lands and removed the Nations and put them on reservations. The Osage, and many other Tribes, traveled a forced relocation now known as the Trail of Tears and settled in southeast Kansas, a state of that new country, on a small parcel of land called the Cherokee Strip. By the time we negotiated the Treaty of 1865, to purchase land in what was known as Oklahoma, the Osage Nation had been reduced in population by 95%. Only 3000 of my people walked across the Kansas border into their new land. Then, through an act of Congress- the governing body of the United States- remaining tribal lands in Kansas were sold, and the Osage were relocated to Indian Territory in Oklahoma, site of present-day Osage County… where I grew up.” He took a long drink. “Sorry. It’s a part of being an Elder. You teach history a lot.” and he chuckled.

Tenkiller

Yavia smiled, “I will be judicious in the use then.” She listened as he shared his history and she felt the pride in him for his history and his people. The story brought sadness to her features. What a devastating occurrence for people to so abuse one another. It was told in only moments but carried the weight of thousands of individuals and millions of moments and stories. “A testament to the strength of your tribe and family to have survived for so long after such tragedies. I imagine it is a great responsibility to pass along such knowledge. Do you miss being with them? Will you return to keep teaching?”

Yavia

Tenkiller gave her a slightly melancholy smile. “I haven’t been home in many years. When I left for the Academy, it was known that I might not return for a very long time… maybe never. We Osage are a pragmatic people when we need to be.” and he smiled. “But, when I was accepted to Star Fleet, the Tribal Council named me an Elder. They told me that I needed to maintain the Osage ways and values, and promoting the Tribe by exemplifying good deeds and strength of character. So… thats what I try to do.” and he took a drink. “But what about you? We can’t spend all evening talking about me and ancient history. Tell me about you. I’m paticularly interested in how a Deltan came to have a human last name.”

Tenkiller

A wicked grin tugged at the corner of her lips, “That’s because I am part human.” She sipped slowly from her wine glass while that sank in. There was quite the myth that other species, though compatible, could not maintain a relationship with anyone not Deltan because the other person would go ‘insane’. Hogwash is what it was - well mostly. “My great great grandmother fell in love with a human man. They loved each other deeply and decided the risks were worth being together. It was important to him, and so she took his name and they moved to the Deltan moon of Cinera. When he died she and my great-grandmother returned to Delta. No, my grandfather did not die from his obsession over my great great grandmother, nor did he go insane. The rock bed on the Cinera had become unstable in the southern region and he was helping to stabilize the area. There was a rock slide and he was crushed. Their story always resonated with me, and so when I left Delta, I changed my name in their honor.”

Yavia


Posts on Oed V

In topic

Posted since


© 1991-2024 STF. Terms of Service

Version 1.15.9