What now?

Posted on Sat Jul 18th, 2015 @ 7:40pm by Samanthia Akiashiro & Colonel S'er'in'e

Mission: By Dawn's Early Light
Location: Warp 12

S'er'in'e found himself in Warp 12, of the couple of time he'd frequented the establishment he found that he was made to feel welcome and for the most part left alone, which was a relief considering the stares he was so often used to getting. A mix of feelings lingered inside, a large honourable chapter of his life had been closed, a Captain of the SFMC no more. Now just...S'er'in'e.

He ordered a traditional Caitian drink and found a vacant table to seat himself as he listened to the music play, the odd conversation or two from around him. The drink was a fair approximation of the real thing and served its refreshing purpose but did little to ease the mind as it contemplated what it would do next. He wondered if Corrine was ok, he'd not seen her since his return and in light of the past felt his sudden appearance might throw her off, if he could get that far now that his clearances had been removed.

He had in his hand a list of ships that were leaving to travel in the direction of the homeworld, at current calculations and schedules it would be a trio leg trip to Cait. Cramped but it would serve it's short term purpose at least. He felt bad, his friend Corrine had pulled strings to acquire him the bed and perhaps now it would soon be vacated just as soon as it settled into it's frame.

A dark day indeed

Samanthia entered the Warp-12, with her electronic notepad. Moving gracefully s she ignored the guy that was with her, talking away about how his firm was going to be putting in a regional office on the station to help facilitate moving his company freight. She came to stop, looking at him. "I have my own established contracts with freighters and freighter captains that I use."

"We off..." He began again, but was interrupted by Samanthia.

"No." She glared up at him. "Not interested as..."

Now it as her turn to be interrupted by him. "better rates and broader merchandise." Giving her his best smile.

Samanthia sighed and turned from him as she began to move to the bar only to be stopped by him grabbing her arm. "You haven't signed the contract yet!." He spoke menacingly to her. Unaware of S'er'in'e sitting just a few feet away from them.

"Let me go, before I have you thrown out." Samanthia warm voice gone cold, glaring up at the man that held her.

"Not until you agree to sign the contract." He growled back at her.

S'er'in'e saw Samanthia, she bumped into him earlier resulting in being coiled by his tail to prevent himself from falling and an injury. It didn't take much to tell things were not right. He stood up when he saw the firm and clearly unwelcome grasp this man held on Samanthia and S'er'in'e despite not being Starfleet still held his teachings and upbringing dear. At over Seven feet tall and 520lbs this small male would soon have impressed upon him the error of his ways.

"I suggest you let the female go." S'er'in'e spoke slowly and clearly, his large hand coming to a rest on the shoulder connected to the arm harshly holding Samanthia, despite the feline tones to his voice it did make clear his meaning. Standing beside the pair now his plan was to distract, detach the two and maneuver himself between Samanthia by using his tail to guide her behind him and a side step to block view between her and her unwelcome guest, thus bringing attention to himself. He just needed the opening.

The man looked at S'er'in'e and let go of Samanthia. "This isn't over with by a long shot, Miss Samanthia." He shrugged off the Caitain's huge hand paw off his shoulders, as he moved way straightening his jacket, only to be tripped by her. He stumbled a bit as he got his footing again. Much to his embarrassment a few patrons snickered at his bumbling.

Samanthia pivoted watching the man leave, glaring a him. She had signaled her staff not to serve him. A few Bouncers were moving in for the rescue, paused as they saw the big Marine Caitain Captain get involved. They quickly sized up the situation, pulling out discretely tasers if the Caitian became a problem.

Samanthia turned and face S'er'in'e. "We meet again," Giving him a warm smile as she rubbed the spot she was grabbed at. "Thank you." She gave hand motions to the bouncers it was all clear.

S'er'in'e watched the man leave, the scene on his departure no doubt suitably humiliating for the individual to perhaps prevent his return. Once he was out of sight S'er'in'e turned his attention to Samanthia who was rubbing her arm. "We do indeed." He replied. "Please, forgive my intervention, this is your establishment and I only sought to help." He saw her rubbing her arm. "Are you hurt?"

Samanthia looked at her arm where she was grabbed. "Just bruised is all." She was sounding a bit frustrated. Turning to look at the departing man from her club, being discretely escorted out. "His time will come." She whispered more to herself than anyone else.

Looking back at S'er'in'e. "What ever you order is on the house." Samanthia gave him a smile reserved to customers with a trace of warmth. It was obvious her mind was elsewhere at the moment.

"Thank you, but I have just finished a drink and was about to leave until I saw the altercation between you and that individual." S'er'in'e replied softly. Resigning from Starfleet was still heavy on his mind but he knew he did the right thing. It had to be done. "Would you happen to know where I might peruse the stations employment selections?"

"Any information Kiosk about the promenade." She relaxed even more in his presence. "If you want I can put feelers out." Samanthia smoothed out the short sleeveless white mini dress she was wearing that displayed a lot of leg ending in pearl high heels. Her long hair was pulled back into a ponytail. "If I may ask, why you need such information?" Gently grabbing his arm, way a lady would do to a gentleman and gently lead him to the bar as she showed interest.

Allowing himself to be lead to the bar he turn to face her, return the interest. "I have resigned from Starfleet and find myself in the position of seeking something else or returning to the homeworld." He answered her question. Her beauty did not go unnoticed, nor her attire. He would have complimented such but in light of stepping in just now with the rude individual such a compliment might come off wrongly interpreted.

"Sounds like what I did when I started managing a lounge, awhile back." Samanthia smiled, liking the soft warm feel of his furry arm. Wondering if he could be discrete if she brought him along as a chaperone to keep the Merchant Brothers away from her. "But I was more prepared in departing Fleet service." Once at the bar, she let him go to settle at the bar, motioning him to join her.

S'er'in'e joined her, stopping beside her, returning his arm bent at the elbow for her to hold which he'd noticed she'd liked given the gentle hold she had on it before. "I admit I was not as fully prepared as I would have liked." S'er'in'e spoke. "May I offer you a drink?" His treat for the lovely lady.

"I would like that, But I am needed elsewhere at the moment." Samanthia looked thoughtful, thinking of the Brothers and how pushy they was. "I've a better idea. Have you been up to the Observation Deck? If we hurry, we can catch a tropical storm over the eastern seaboard of the main continent on Archa IV? They're quite spectacular from this point of view."

"I would be most honoured." S'er'in'e replied as he indicated with his arm for her to lead the way. It had indeed been something he'd not seen before and she was willing to show him this spectacular marvel.

Samanthia smiled at S'er'in'e, "Lets go!" Softly exclaimed, leading the way out of Warp 12. She moved gracefully, next to him. "I see you're settling in nicely on the star base." Pausing at the closest turbo-lift and tapping the summoning button.

Following Samanthia S'er'in'e easily kept pace as she moved leading the way, it seemed this storm was quiet the attraction for her given her enthusiasm of the event and S'er'in'e had to admit he was interested in seeing it also. Considering he was much taller than Samanthia she had no trouble setting the pace and keeping it, her movements were fluid and swift, which S'er'in'e guessed was from much practice of the years.

It was a quiet trip to the observation room. Samanthia moved over to the big viewing windows that showed Archa IV in the distance. As promised, there was a big storm brewing with flickers of lighting shooting through it. Lighting up myriad formation of swirling clouds as it moved slowly to the north with another tropical storm merging from the east into make the first storm explode in beautiful display of lighting and swirling clouds over a darkening continent.

The view was indeed spectacular, when he was younger he was often caught in storms as part of his training, to see one from orbit however not only rewarded him with fond memories of home but also the view.

Samanthia spoke softly, "Excuse me." Did the bathroom wiggle, "I'll bring back drinks." She scooted off leaving S'er'in'e at the view port watching the storm. She moved down the walkway between the viewing chairs. Bumping into a gentlemen as she passed him by. He followed without saying a word till they was pretty much secluded.

"Of course." S'er'in'e watched the storm but his ears caught the break in stride of Samanthia, her pearl heels made that possible. He turned his head to see her leave, the light of the stars reflecting off her dress but also another individual, his keen eyesight making him out as if following her. In light of the earlier incident with the male in Warp 12 he felt the need to follow and ensure all was well. What took them nearly 20 seconds to cross and exit the room S'er'in'e did it in a fraction of the time.

Following would prove little trouble, Samanthia's scent was fresh on his arm and though able to pick up the scent of the male, hers stood out clearly enough. Cautiously, carefully S'er'in'e followed.

Samanthia and the man she was with stepped off the corridor into a room, shutting the door behind them. "This better be good, Mister Isotep." She spoke softly to Isotep.

"Just checking on my Agents. A feline?" Isotep looked at her. "I had hopes for you. Specially when that Andorian wench left the station. The was cleverly handled by you." He paced, looking over the vacant meeting room.

Samanthia shrugged, "she was unique and free spirited. Some people can't handle star base life." Samanthia sat on the edge of the table. She spoke softly watching him pace.

"I have an agent that passing through. Can you provide the agent a place to stay?" Isotep leaned back against viewport sill, letting the ambient light silhouette him.

"Way things are going here on the station. Probably not." Samanthia spoke looking at him. "With all the trouble with the refugees and my upcoming trip. Akiashiro tightening down on Security. I can't move through out the station without an Security Overseer."

"What about on the Archa IV? Your apartment?" Isotep spoke, casually watching her.

"Sorry. Landlord's daughter lives there also." Samanthia spoke. "Let him or her get temp quarters?"

"You know my agent need to pass through without a trace." He snarled. "That is why you're perfect now for this. A safe place." He moved up to her where she sat. "I could always let drop you harbored Ritorian Spies." Giving her a soft smile.

Samanthia sighed softly, glancing at her watch. "Just use the usual drop to give me the heads up." She stood, forcing him back a step.

"I can live with that," He smile, letting her dominate the situation. "You look ravishing Sammy. You could've gone a lot farther if you let me get you the training."

Samanthia didn't even respond and exited the room. A bit surprised at seeing S'er'in'e away from the view as she made her way back to the Observation Lounge. "Don't tell me you gotten lost?" Recovering quickly.

"Please, I must ask your forgiveness at the situation and what it might appear." S'er'in'e bowed, deeper than his typical greeting which denoted its importance of his words. "The earlier incident with the male at Warp 12, I heard your stride break in the room as you departed and as I turned to see if you were alright I noticed someone following you." He began to explain. "Tracking you was not hard, your scent is on my arm. I do not wish to interfere in your personal life and I am sorry if I have done so, I only wished to see you still safe in light of earlier events."

"I'm fine," Samanthia spoke doing a complete spin on the toes of her feet, giving him a smile as she moved to pass him on the way back to the Observation Lounge. "Thanks for your concern. Is the storm over with already?" Pausing at a replicator near the exit. "What's your poison?" Glancing at S'er'in'e.

"No, the storm continues." S'er'in'e replied as he turned to follow her. "If I may, I know of something you might like." A Caitian drink though reduced in size to accommodate the smaller mouth. It was a light orange with a green swirl in it much like marble. He handed it to her. "Sip moderately but do not swallow." The green alcohol would fizzle on the tongue in a burst of flavor leaving the containing liquid behind with had a fruity taste. "When the effect has died down. Then swallow."

S'er'in'e did the same with a fresh drink, slightly larger than the one offered Samanthia. Tipping his head back he drink and in doing so revealed two large sharp fangs. His mouth closed and the reaction could be seen to take place as his fur wrinkled slightly then eased. "If made with fluids from the Homeworld it is quiet potent." Potent for Caitians perhaps, he'd not considered the strength for a Human.

Samanthia followed the instructions as she drank. Eyes widen at the reaction of the drink, then giggled which ended up gagging, forcing her to swallow the rest. Eyes widen even farther as it sizzled on the way down, tickling her and exploded in her stomach. Then eyes narrows as she made a few funny faces. Suddenly she burped. She shook her head with a wide goofy grin and shook with silent laughter, causing her to give off several smaller burps in a row.

"Oh Gawd! Please excu.." Letting another burp to escape her uncontrolled. ... "I am soooo sorry for being unlady like!"

S'er'in'e couldn't hide the smile much to his facial furs attempt. He watched as she tried to control herself and remained silent as she did so. "It's quiet alright, it happens to nearly all that try it for the first time. Even Caitians." He took the glass from her enabling use of both her hands if she wished it. "There are other drinks available if you wish to try. I am confident there is one more..lady like as you put it."

"You're way to much a gentleman. Got chased out from the Marines for being so tame?" Samanthia spoke warmily to let him know she was teasing him. "This is fine." Heading back to the seat to watch the storm below on the planet.

"Tame, no." S'er'in'e replied. "Few just choose to see the other sides of myself." He finished as he took a seat next to her watching the storm. He was not sure if he would miss the Marines but felt it was a step in the right direction in his life.

Samanthia sipped the drink just enough so that the fizz ended just as she swallowed the drink. "Once you leave the Marines. You plan on returning to Cait?" Looking up at him as a spectacular series of lighting lit up the storm clouds. "This is better than watching fireworks." She softly spoke then took another sip.

"It is an option open to me if I should not find something on the station." He replied. The lightening flashed and grew and faded with intensity as the seconds passed. "It is yes." Fireworks were one thing but actually seeing a storm without being in it was something else."

"I could ask Elder to see if he has an opening ... Security or..." Samanthia looking up at him next to her.

"Of course, to have many options is better than few." S'er'in'e replied returning her gaze.

"Ok. Enjoy the show," She stood up, leaving the glass in the cup holder, "I'll see ya at Warp-12 tomorrow with the application and job listing for Akiashiro Merchant Consortium." She strode off to the turbolift, pausing briefly to remove the ankle killer high heels to walk in her nylon stocking covered feet. Much more sure of herself.

S'er'in'e relaxed into his seat having stood when Samanthia departed, things were looking up, he was not sure what was on offer from the Consortium but looking never hurt. The view enough of a distraction to take his mind off things, the storm playing out before him aiding in the passage of time.