Shops and Dives Ahoy Pt 1 Chance Encounters

Posted on 15 May 2019 @ 1:21am by Lieutenant JG Lilura Karakalakss & Captain Jonathan Reynolds & Commander Amelia Fox

Mission: Shakedown
Location: Starbase 308 - Main Excursion Deck
Timeline: MD2 - 1930 hours
1829 words - 3.7 OF Standard Post Measure

ON:

Lilura stepped out of the turbo-lift and paused for a moment. She looked around the spacious area, which was easily four decks in height. This was the main Promenade for any crew and visitors of the Starbase. Sure, there were rings just for enlisted, just for officers, just for command officers, but this deck, this one catered to everybody, so it would have the best mix of the very good to the shady, which was what she was looking for.

She was dressed in a light green blouse, dark green pants, a belt pouch, along with her leather corsett, forearm and shin bindings, and her family symbol at her throat. Of course, she was barefoot besides having on some nice, discreet jewelry.

Lilura grinned as she came up walked up to the discreet sensor entryway to the plaza. There was an Ensign flanked by two PO2 crewmen. The ensign nodded to Lilura and motioned her forward, saying, "ID, please." She dutifully handed it over and he checked it. There was a beep from the desk in confirmation and he handed it back to her. "First time in the Promenade, Ma'am?"

Lilura nodded, gurgling sounding from within her chest. "For this StarBase, yes. I am looking forward to checking out the food, shops, and bars, not necessarily in that order."

Ensign Theroun chuckled, then said, "Please, pass through the scanner, and we can get you on your way."

Lilura motioned her tail towards a set of yellow striped red wrist bands, saying, "Better get those ready, I'm going to need them."

Delf raised an eyebrow, but got them ready as Lilura passed through the scanner. Alarms showed up as PO2 Kipst said in a low voice, "Whoah, yeah, sir, ummmm.." Delf looked at the display, then dutifully handed over the bands, saying, "You weren't kidding. I gather you've done this before. Please, enjoy yourself... umm, there is antidote on hand, just in case?"

Lilura gurgled in her chest and said, "Yes, there is antidote in you're main medical, and, unlike Soliquoy, there is time to get it and save the person who so kindly pissed me off so much I had to use it to protect myself. Hasn't happened yet, but... " The Ensign chuckled and waved her on her way.

Wearing the warning wrist bands, Lilura began walking along the shops, looking for knick knacks that would catch her eye, a coffee shop for a snack, or an interesting dance club or bar to check out.

"Woah, mum look ....." Eddies eyes suddenly grew into saucers. "Dragon lady. That's got to be Dads Engineering chief. Lets go say hello, can we can we?" the young quarter betazed said excitably.

"I don't know she looks pretty," Charlotte said nervously. "Big ......"

"Well of course shes a Soliodaran you know," Eddies eyes gleaned as he grabbed his mothers hand and dragged her up behind the lady in question.

"Excuse me, excuse me are you the Andromeda's chief engineer?"

Lilura was paying attention to an unusual windup Mechanical Merry-Go-Round in a 'Stranger Finds and the Unusual' shop. She sensed the two coming up behind her, one adult female and one almost teen male, and so moved to the side in thinking they were attracted to the stuff in the window. However, when the young boy asked specifically about her, she realized this wasn't the case. She took note of their types... typical humanoid for the female, something a little different in brain structure for the male... could be hybrid, could be just an abnormality considered normal for him.

She turned around to smile at the two, then crouched down to be more level with the young lad. "Why yes, young sir, I am the Andromeda's Chief Engineer. My name is Lilura Siana Karakalakss. Please, call me Lilura." She glanced up at the mother and said, "and Please, same for you." She looked back at the boy, "So, how do you know me and what I do, if you don't mind my asking?"

"My dads the Captain," Eddie grinned. "Eddie," he held his hand out. As far as he was concerned this was the coolest alien he had ever met.

Lilura held out her hand to shake Eddie's. However, before she could answer, his Mom spoke out.

Charlotte however was just looking with her mouth open slightly in wonder. She caught herself suddenly. "Eddie no. We can't just go interrupting your fathers senior staff in their time on the starbase. I am so very sorry Ma'am," she said.

Lilura glanced at Charlotte, but then returned her attention to Eddie. She replied to Eddie, "Hiya Eddie, Lilura." She tussled his hair, then stood up to now talk with his mom. She replied to Charlotte, "Evening, Eddie's Mom, please, call me Lilura. As you're a civilian, you do not need to say Sir or Ma'am, you're our superiors. Then, no apologies needed. The inquisitiveness of the youth keeps us adults realizing our minds need to stay open to discover what is next around the corner. That said," she held out her hand, "What is your name, if I may ask?"

"Actually I'm an on the Job ensign, finishing up my final year of academy in Stellar Cartography. I ended up leaving so I could have Eddie but this program allows me to get the credits I need to be fully qualified. Charlotte Reynolds, the CO and I are divorced so I'm onboard as we share custody of our son. So I do have to call you ma'am," Charlotte explained. She took the outstretched hand.

Lilura shook with a firm handshake as she replied, "Oh, okay, thank you for that information. So, Charlotte, nice to meet you. And Eddie, tonight, your mother's right, I do have some plans to meet up with the XO and do some clubbing... and unfortunately, anybody under 21 is not allowed." She crouched down, "However, visit Engineering any time I'm around and I'll give you a tour.. and if your mom agrees, I'll take you out for an ice cream and window shopping during the day, you know, let her get some her time in, okay?"

"That's very kind Ma'am," Charlotte said protectively, it wasn't the done thing for someone you had just met to be offering to take your child out on excursions And she wasn't comfortable with that at all, "but I really feel we should both know you better before any ice cream and shopping. However I'm sure the engineering tour would be acceptable. I know Jonathan would be keen for his son to learn more about the ship."

Lilura stood back up, a raised eyebrow upon her face, as the first thought going through her head was, 'Like I would let any harm come to the Captain's child..'. However, she was the 'stranger', so she brushed it away. "I understand, Charlotte, sorry for putting you out. As a direct member of Captain Reynolds' Senior Staff, I offered as any of us would for the Captain and his family, I didn't think about us having just met. Please, enjoy your outing with your son. I will bid you adieu, as well as to you, young Sir."

Eddies shoulders hunched and he looked at his mum clearly annoyed and back at the dragon lady. "Yeah Good bye," the teen decided not to go for an argument.

Charlotte was just as confused. Why had the alien apologized for putting her out. Any mother would have done the same there. Perhaps this aliens species were just overly friendly she mused. Or the Lieutenant was trying just a little too hard to get people to like her. Again such things took time.

"Enjoy the station," she said bowing her head in the way all her years of Betaziod custom and pomp had conditioned her. "Come on Eddie. Your father and I booked a surprise for you. We would have had to raincheck anyway," she smiled and they left the alien to her exploring.

Lilura watched them to, committing to Memory their auric signatures, and then went back to window shopping while waiting for Amelia to join her for some shopping and clubbing.

Having spent the day wandering the corridors and various sights if the Andromeda, Amelia was starving as she arrived in the recreation area on the Starbase. She was still in her uniform and started scanning, looking for the engineer. She immediately spotted Liluria, she was hard to miss and made her way over.

"Hey there! Found anything you like? I'm starving, do you think we could investigate some food?"

Lilura gurgled in humor at the several questions at once. She replied, "Howdy back, not really, and sure, I would love to get a snack in before we hit any bars for dancing and entertainment." She motioned to the expanse of the shops, saying, "Anything in particular you're hungry for? I always willing to try new foodstuffs and am the new visitor here."

Amelia sighed “A big fat steak with all the trimmings and bottle of half decent blood wine would be nice. Does that sound ok to you?”

Lilura responded to Amelia, "Sounds great to me." Realizing Amelia was waiting for her to make the move to get to a restaurant, Lilura brought up her left wrist and activated her wrist computer. As she had already accessed the starbase computer when she had arrived, she immediately brought up a listing of shops for this area. She selected food, dine in, steaks, and seven places lit up. She selected reviews, pricing, and came up with a great reviewed place with a decently priced menu. She touched it, and an interactive map appeared showing the two gals where the Ballinger's Steak House was located. Lilura grinned wide as she noticed it was near an Electronica Discotheque by the name of RandyKat Discoteka. She committed the map to memory, then dropped her arm as the holomap went away. "This way, Ballinger's Steak House awaits."

"Lead the way." Amelia gestured. "So, did you managed to get the command signals uncrossed then?" She asked as they walked.

As they walked, Lilura asked, "So, trimmings. I like grated horseradish, sauteed mushrooms and onions on the side, encrusted peppercorns with a rare steak. Stir fry veggies, salad, and a Shiraz to go with it. Yourself?"

Amelia stomach rumbled "A big T-Bone, rare with sauteed potatoes, mushrooms, creamed spinach, corn on the cob, onion rings are good too with a side of Bajoran shrimp and a large bottle of blood wine, perhaps 2309. I find Klingon Blood wine goes well with steak."

Lilura gurgled in humor, then added, "I'll gladly try it. That is one libation that has not crossed my path yet."

The two approached the restaurant for their evening meal.

TBC:

OFF:

Charotte Reynolds,
Ensign npc Jonathan Reynolds

Eddie Reynolds
npc Jonathan Reynolds

●● Lieutenant Amelia Fox
Executive Officer
USS Andromeda

Lieutenant j.g. Lilura Siana Karakalakss
Chief Engineering Officer
USS Andromeda