[Joint Sim Post] The swapping of water (Pt 1)

Posted on Wed Nov 21st, 2018 @ 3:53am by Commodore Domingo Martinez & Captain Harrold Anderson & Lt Cdr Sarah Sanchez-Gillman & Lieutenant Alexander Newman & Ensign Emily Patterson & Peyton Patterson & Carla Wilda & Captain Bervag Bers & Captain Daniella Le Williams & Commander Jazin Ijaan & Commander T'San & Captain Xalanth & Lieutenant Avril Taylor & Commander Thorrin & Lieutenant Alyssa Walker & Lieutenant JG T'para & Crewman Recruit T'Meela & Crewman Recruit Samantha O'Donnaghue Meran & Crewman Recruit Kerja Aanyo & Dan & Nidria Rilog & Colonel Ellis Ijaan & Major Charlena Dilucca & Lieutenant Commander Drakord
Edited on on Sat Dec 8th, 2018 @ 12:14pm

4,822 words; about a 24 minute read

Mission: [JM USS Shanghai] S1, E7: The Dragonian Code
Location: Various Dragonian Residence Quarters
Timeline: MD001 1500 hrs

Dragonian Residence Quarters:
Xalanth's Personal Homestead

A smile was spread over T'para's face as she felt her husbands fingers move gently around her face. The blue paint felt itchy on her skin before settling as she looked into the mirror. The line and offshotted jagged lines wrapped around her face. " Does it look good?" She said as she stood up and turned to look at her mate who finishing dressing in the outfit he needed to wear for the ceremony.

" I've done the best i can. I was never good at the paint." Xalanth said with a grin on his face as she finished before offering his hand to her. Linking arms with her husband they both stepped out off the apartment that his grandmother had given him for there stay. " You ready for this?" He asked her.

" Always ." She replied as she smiled to her husband before the two of them joined the crowd of Starfleet officers heading for the square.

***

Dragonian Residence Quarters A-2

Harry was in temporary quarters, his daughters beamed down for the occasion. Kerja wanted to stay on the USS Shanghai, to be close to her mother. She was still being treated. But her condition had yet to change.

"Do we really have to do this, Captain." Asked Carly, a little annoyed she had to attend some alien water ritual.

"Yes." Simply said Harry, as walked over to a mirror, and prepared to adjust his uniform when he heard a knock at his door. "Someone get that please?" Asked Harry waiting for Kerja or Carly to get the door.

Carly remained silent, and looked to Kerja. "Well be the good little daughter, and do what daddy tells you." Said Carly with a snarky attitude towards her.

Kerja sighed and just walked to the door. This was one of those moments she really missed her mom. She opened the door and saw Charlena standing there. She was silent a second. Then she turned around. "Father, your girlfriend is at the door." She looked back at Charlena. "Major, please come in. Can I get you anything?"

Charlena looked to Kerja and smiled. Charlena actually liked Kerja. She was at least raised right. "Thank you, Kerja, that is kind of you. I would like an herbal tea." She nodded to Carly and then walked to Harry.

Harry was relieved to see Charlena, he smiled as he walked over to her, and gave her a big hug. Then walked back over to the mirror, adjusting his uniform.

"You look fine." Said Carly as she went on. "Let's get this over with, so we can go back up to the Shanghai." Insisted Carly, as she started to walk over to the door. "If you were more like your marine girlfriend, we would be leaving now." She said with an annoyed look on her face.

"Watch the sass, Carly. I am almost ready." He said, now messing with her. In truth he was ready a few minutes ago, but this was payback for the little practical joke she played on the crew. Bolites and glitter.

Kerja gave Charlena her tea. Charlena nodded and looked over to Harry. "Captain, you look great." She smiled. "Ready, when you are."

Kerja shrugged. She was ready when she got here. She had no idea why her father was stalling.

"Alright then, lets go." Harry said, as they left the room. He was trying to decide in his head how to change Carly's bad attitude. He needed help with that. But who to ask?

***

USS Shanghai

Thorrin had been working mostly around the clock since his arrival on the Shanghai. It was rather surreal. When he finally got some time to himself he decided to continue working. This time on his pet project the timeline. So there he sat at his desk with the timeline laid out before him and his greatest nemesis, his undoing stared him in the face. He sipped his amontillado wine, and breathed "Janeway..." His eyes just stared at the screen as he drank and thought about what would be...

***

Dragonian Residence Quarters A-3

Avril was not sure why she was given a room. She would have preferred to visit the city some more, but they were told after the ceremony, they would be able to spend time in the city. Avril shared a room with Alexander Newman, they did this on purpose. She was sitting on the coach with him. Straddling his lap. They were passionately embracing themselves. His lips were warm and filled with passion. Both officers were fully clothed. Avril felt like a young teenager, making out with a guy she just met and liked. The moment was intense for her.

Alex felt like he was a young kid too. The officers, were not acting very professional. But that was okay, neither of them were in the public view. He held her, and caressed her back as she continued to make out with him. His heart was racing and accelerating. When he heard strange bells in the background. He stopped for a moment. "I think duty calls." He said, but not really moving. He started to kiss on Avril's neck.

"Damn." She said, as she got off of him, and started to walk over to the mirror to fix her hair. Avril had left her dress top jacket on a chair, right next to Alex's jacket. She did not want to look like, she had been making out with Alex. This was a diplomatic function. So impressions were everything. She started to fix herself up. She noticed Alex walked up behind her. And started to get ready. "We should be going."

"Let's go then." He softly said, as reached for her hand, and pulled her in close to him. He gave her another kiss, as they both started to walk towards the door. Alex could not believe how he was acting. Almost teenage like.

Avril smiled, but stopped him. They needed to go, not that she really wanted him to stop. But this was also her first diplomatic function, that did not result in someone shooting at her.

***

Dragonian Residence Quarters A-4

Emily had spent the little bit of free time, lecturing Peyton on diplomatic protocol. He hated every moment of her lecture. He understood why she was doing it. But no one liked to be lectured.

"I got it." Peyton called out, as he moved away from Emily. She was trying to readjust his bow tie.

"No Peyton, you..." She started to say, as she started to grab his neck again. "Let me do...." She said, trying to struggle with him to do it.

"Em.." He said, as he gave up and let her fix the bow tie.

After a few moments, she had finished. "There, handsome as ever." She said, as she started to work on her uniform.

"Do you hear that?" Asked Peyton, hearing others outside.

"It's time, let's go." She said, as she motioned for them to leave the room and follow everyone.

***

It wasn't long before Xalanth, T'para and the others arrived at the central square. It was already packed with dragonians and a few Federation personnel were already there. The amount of dragonain special forces here still in their desert survival gear trobled him. He still hadn't seen his father and that was worrying.

Still, he had something more important to do. Ging T'para a hug he made his way to the other side of the stage.

Avril and Alex left the room, and followed the others to the ceremony location. She was a little nervous, this was her first diplomatic function. She walked silently, right next to Alex. "You ready for this?" She whispered, so only the two of them could hear each other.

"Ready as I ever will be." He said, as he followed Avril and the sea of people. They were all heading to the water ceremony.

Peyton was offly quiet, which was a shocker to Emily. "You know you can speak?" Emily told him, as they started to walk down the hallway.

"Do you think Sam will be here?" Asked Peyton.

"Yes, you too are spending a lot of time together." Suggested Emily. She was curious what was going on between the two of them.

"Were just friends, the one I want is normally unreachable. But she will be here tonight." Suggested Peyton with a grin, as he started to think of Carly. Something about her, really sparked his curiosity.

"Captain Anderson's daughter, not a good idea." Said Emily, with a concerned look on her face.

"Relax, I said she is unreachable, did I not?" Asked Peyton.

Avril was still walking with Alex, she doing her best not to listen into the chatter of others. "What are you doing after the ceremony?" Asked Avril, hoping they could spend some time together in the city.

"Not sure yet, hoping to spend more time with you, if that's okay?" Alex asked. Hoping he was not being to aggressive.

"I would like that, I was hoping to explore the city, once we are free to do so." Avril said with excitement in her tone.

"I would like that, the Dragonian structures is simply amazing." Said Alex, as he looked around, continuing to be amazed by what he was seeing.

*****Ottawa, Captain's quarters****

Ellie straightened her uniform. And looked at her hair. She then turned over to straighten her husband's uniform. She didn't need to, but she was in a fiddling mood. Wanted everything to be perfect. Parties we're her thing. And it's been a while she could let go a bit and enjoy herself.

"Ellie. It's straight, honey" Jazin said. "Although making sure never really hurt I suppose" he smiled.

***
Dragonian quarters A-5

Dan was now wearing something that wasn't his chef's uniform. He was a bit nervous. He was honored to go to a party of the Dragonians. But this was the first time he was attending a party as a guest. He took a deep breath and then looked at the kids. "T'Meela, Orson. I think you are big enough to go on your own. But I don't have to tell you two, stay in the designated areas, stay out of trouble and be back before curfew."

T'Meela looked to Orson. Her parents weren't that strict. Somehow she was happy with that. "Father, we will comply to your orders." She looked to Orson.

"Of course, Mr Dan." Orson replied with a nod. "I wish no trouble with anyone"

T'San came out of the other room. Dan held out his arm and T'San hooked her arm in to his. "Ready?" he asked. She nodded. "Yes."

***

Xalanth waited patiently for the last of the crowd to arrive making sure to remember the lines. With a signal from his grandmother, the light that bathed the city vanished left the stage in darkness. With a crash a light illuminated T'para from where she was standing.

" In the beginning, there was the night. The creator's first creation. Yet she was wild and uncontrollable. " the hybrid said calmly into the mic clipped onto her head.

" So in there fear they created fire to burn her from existence." He said as the light illuminated him. Both of them stood up and moved to the center of the stage. As one they wrapped arms around each other before speaking again. "but fire was taken by nights beauty and refused to burn her."

"As night was taken by fire strength, passion and heat and she refused to fight him."

" As one they turned on the creators and birthed a race so powerful they fled back into the nothingness from which they came. FRom them came us and all the generations to come. We are dragonians and for tonight we remember them as we meet as one with new friends and old. " They both said as one there voices bombing out over the square. Both drew the glass water bottle from each others waist and handed it to the over.

" I offer my water as a sigh that I am a freind. Let us drink." They said at which many of the senior dragonains had been also holding out the glass water bottles to the senior starfleet personnel."

Alex looked over to Avril, as he took a class water bottle from a dragonian representative. He smiled as he thought to himself, here goes nothing. "Thank you, please accept my water, let us drink together." Politely said Alex, as he waited for the dragonian delegation to start drinking the water, so he knew it was proper time to do so.

Harry and Carly both took their water bottles. They looked very stylish, the bottles did. Harry felt honored to be on the Dragonian homeworld, and preparing the swapping of water. Harry reached out his hand and his water bottle to a fellow dragonian delegate. "Thank you, please accept my water, let us drink together." Said Harry and Carly. They practically repeated what Alex had said. Carly was annoyed that she had to partake in this, at least the Dragonians look cool and fierce like.

Avril had followed suit. She had given the customary greeting, and then waited to see what was next in the ceremony. This was all very new to her. And she did not want to screw this up. She looked at the delegation leader, waiting to see what the next course of action was going to be.

Xalanth and T'para both opened their water bottles and both swallowed the content. As the others did likewise the light above the city lit up bathing the whole square in bright light. The music changed to a more positive upbeat sound as the dragonain and his hybrid mate both said as one " and now let good times be upon us."

Across the square, dancing began as booze was beginning to be handed out. Xalanth and T'para both did there best at dancing, but it was clear that Xalanth was no were near as skilled as his mate.

Alex smiled as he looked at the Dragonian and his mate. They were happy and dancing. You could see the love in their eyes. He started to notice others, start to dance. "Avril, would you love to dance?" Asked Alex, as he reached out his hand. Waiting for her to take it.

"Love too." Simply said Avril as the two officers started to dance on the floor. She had a big smile on her face. They were dancing a form of swing style. She was being toss and turned, and generally loving it. Never in her life, had she had such fun. What a stress reliever she thought. Especially after the transfer from the USS Juno.

Harry watched as the others started to dance. He looked to his girls and then at Charlena.

"Seriously?" Asked Carly as she looked to Harry. She had a disappointing look on her face. She could not believe people and dragonians were dancing. It was just water she thought to herself. She was to naive and young to understand fully, what was going on here.

Harry looked to Carly. "Yes, and here we go." Said Harry, as he grabbed Carly's hand and dragged her out on the floor, dancing with his daughter. He really did not ask her.

Harry wanted to show her, it was okay to lighten up a little, and have fun. The type that did not harm others. At first he noticed that she was resisting. But he had a way about him, and after a few moments, she started to smile, as they both danced, to the upbeat music. She would never admit it, but it was fun.

Avril noticed Harry and Carly dancing, she was closer to Kerja and Charlena. As she danced close by, she looked over to Kerja and said. "You should dance with your father, why should Carly have all the fun?" Asked Avril, as she continued to dance with Alex.

Kerja just shrugged. Carly seemed very dominant, and her father seemed very charmed by that fact. She looked away from the two.

Charlena put her hand on her shoulder. "Look, kiddo, Carly is your sister, I am not sure what your feelings are towards her, but I had a sister once. And I accidentally killed her. I still miss her so much. And my father is a drunk dead beat."

Kerja nodded. She took a deep breath and walked over to Carly and tapped her on her shoulder. "May I cut in?" She asked.

Carly smiled, feeling relieved that the spotlight was now off of her. Little miss goodie toshoes can have it. She left the dance floor.

Harry smiled as Kerja took to the dance floor. "So what do you think of the party?" Asked Harry, as he took Kerja's hand. He felt bad for her situation. But she was young, and she needed a distraction, from her mother. Harry hoped she was getting that distraction.

Xalanth couldn't help but smile as he held his mate close to him. Even with his dancing which was so bad it had been jointly referred to as a crime against sentient life he was having fun nothing could.......

" Abomination!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" Yelled a female dragonian who had jumped onto the stage

Harry heard the desperation cry of the female dragonian. He instinctively stood in front of his daughter and the estranged female dragonian. He looked over to Xalanth, and to the rest of his senior staff. He waited to see how the Dragonian delegation handled this outburst.

Xalanth had already drawn his fang blade and stepped in front of T'para as the dragnain had dawn her own blade before charging at the part of them. He readied his own blade, but before she could reach them a metal tendril shot out of no were wrapping itself around her neck and yanked her off the stage.

The crowd had parted as the tendril owner was reviled. A large dragonain clad in the armor of the special forces withdrew the tendril into his armor as he strode toward the female. His face was even more scared than Rathiena barley being more than a mass of scars and metal plates. With a crunch, his metal-clad foot landed on the lizard's neck causing her to screech as she gasped for air.

"Z.....igar...th." She managed to as increased the weight on the lizard's neck.

" Do not insult my family in front of me." He said coldly as he stepped off her neck as he kicked the blade away.

Xalanth and T'para had stepped of the stage as the lizard glanced at them. Giving a slight nod he vanished back into the crowd that parted in front of him.

" Was that?" T'para asked to which Xalnth simply nooded.

" Yes, my father."

Harry was deeply concerned for the safety of his daughters, and for his crew. He looked over to Xalanth. "Commander Xalanth, what was that?" Asked Harry, as his heart was racing fast, and adrenaline rushing through his body.

Avril, was a little scared, with what happened. But with all the excitement going around, she decided to hold her ground. Was it a smart move. Probably not. She really had only two options. Stand your ground, and hope things settle down. Or run.

" It's me sir. " Xalanth said as the dragonian attacker rose and disappeared back into the crowd. " She's one of my people's religious nutters and she believes I'm a walking corpse. She wouldn't bother the rest of you."

"Maybe to be on the safe side, for all concern, maybe we should talk to the Senator, about wrapping up this ceremony." Suggested Harry, wondering what Xalanth had to say to that idea. He was a little curious why the dragonian lady was calling Xalanth, an abomination?

" Well I don't think that will be possible, but we could move the federation personal to the housing area for safety if your worried. " Xalanth said anger starting to build in his voice.

Ellie had watched the whole thing and stepped forward. "Captain Anderson, I understand you want to protect your family, but we are among friends here, we should trust the Dragonians to protect us. Wouldn't we do the same, if they were attacked on our grounds by our own?" She explained. If you can't do the ceremony, we all understand, I can take over for you, so you can take your daughters away from here." She meant it in a friendly way, but she understood the Federation's stake in this party.

"I think that would be wise, at least the children, at this time." Said Harry, as he heard Ellie's comment, and choose not to adhere to suggestion. When it came to the safety of kids, especially his daughters, he did not take chances.

Alex was a little surprised that the Colonel would suggest continuing the party and trusting a foreign dignitary with the safety of your away team. There primary focus, was the safety of the function, not the safety of Federation personal or their children. They had bigger concerns to contend too. "Captain Anderson has every right to be concerned, for the safety of his daughter's. Look how close this estranged dragonian came to us all, before someone had stopped her. The children are not trained in military tactics or combat." Said Alex, wondering if all Marines loved to take chances.

Alex assumed they must have, their lifestyle was more dangerous, the potential for harm was greater. Every marine is a basic rifleman first. He remembered hearing that jargon, when he joined Starfleet. The marine recruiter and the fleet recruiter were in the same office. Alex had respect for the marines but knew deep down in his heart, he could never be a marine.

"We are not at a military facility, Lieutenant," Ellie reminded him. Their homes are and so are their children as well. Do we tell them to be cautious, when we invite them to our party, and a Maquis comes to attack one of our own on the party?" She crossed her arms. "I didn't say he should stay with his children if he didn't feel safe. No one is forcing him to be here with his children. The reason we are here is for the diplomatic presence of the Federation. We wanted to show these people that we are here, and that want to be friends. I did kindly offer to take his place so he could take them to safety."

Emily was concerned for the safety of her brother. She started to chime in. "I agree with Captain Anderson, I want Peyton to escort Carly and Kerja. Their safety is our responsibility." She said with a big look of concern on her face.

At first Peyton was upset, but then he realized he would be spending time with two hot girls, if Sam came along that would make three. He was loving the idea, the more he thought about it.

Avril remained silent, she not sure where she stood on the topic. If her siblings were on the Shanghai, she would rush them to safety, but they were safe on Earth. And she did not feel qualified to tell the Captain what he should do.

T'Meela and Orson walked on to the scene. They had found Sam and her brother. "Mother?" T'Meela asked looking to her mother.

T'San had just been watching what happened. Dan and T'San walked to them. "Our children can stay with us."

Sam and her brother had no idea what we going on and they went over to talk with T'San a moment. A lot of nodding around. Sam stepped forward and said, "I will be staying here with my brother and T'San's family." She crossed her arms.

Peyton was a little sad that Sam was not coming along. Especially since they were starting to become good friends. But he could not worry about that at the moment. He had a chance to spend more time with Carly. Even though he did not like the idea of a chaperone. He had been a gentleman around Sam, he could be one around Carly.

Carly was less than thrilled by the idea. But she really did not have a choice, she was already in hot water, over the incident with Lieutenant Jexen. Best not to push her luck. Carly, looked to Kerja. "Well you heard father, let's go. Our dashing hero, needs to save us." Carly said, as she rolled her eyes at Peyton.

Kerja looked from Peyton to Carly and then to her father. Then she ran to Charlena. "Charlena, I am scared and I don't want to stay, but please don't make me go with them. I would rather my father goes with me, or you."

Charlena looked down to Kerja. She then put an arm around her and then looked to Harry. "Captain, I am a marine, and I hope one you will listen to. I can definitely understand why Kerja is scared. Who knows what she been going trough with the Crescent. And I may not be a parent, so I don't know what you or Commander T'San is going trough. But I understand both of you when you make your decision. And I also agree with Colonel..." She looked to Ellie, "Colonel Ijaan. These people allowed is in their homes, in their family. We exchanged water from our blood for crying out loud. And I don't think Commander Xalanth, who is a father himself, would allow our children to come down here if he thought it wouldn't be safe. We would be hypocrite to think that a federation gala would be any safer. History has proven that we could be infiltrated as well. Even the Crescent proved that even though they are deep in the Gamma quadrant they were able to get their hands on your daughter and her mother. And children get scared, and parents get worried, which is all natural. But we shouldn't forget why we are here. To make friends with these people who invited us graciously in to their home and families. But we shouldn't forget they are an honorable race captain. You can't seriously believe your daughters are safer with a boy than a detachment of seasoned warriors. I get why you want your daughters away, Kerja doesn't want to be here right now, I understand that. I am not going to force her to stay. But be honest, you wouldn't want her to go with a boy not even old enough to join star fleet, just because you are too proud to leave a diplomatic mission in the hands of someone else. this is your daughter we are talking about."

Harry looked to Kerja, "Okay you can return to the ship, and look after your mother." Said Harry, very annoyed that Charlena stepped over him like that. He was pretty upset. But he did his best, to contain his anger. Harry was not taking chances with his kids, their safety was paramount. Though he was concerned over Peyton and Carly getting alone time together. But there was nothing that he could about that, unless he wanted to beam Carly back to the ship, last time he left her unattended, she got into trouble. "Kerja prepare to beamed back to the USS Shanghai, You will be safe aboard the ship. Check in with your mother.

Peyton looked to Sam, with a goofy smile on his face. "Last chance to join us." He said, hoping that Sam would change her mind, but then partially hoping she would come. She could keep Kerja company, while he got to know Carly a little better.

Sam shrugged to Peyton. "Believe the Marine captain said it great. I don't think I would be safe with you. You are a great guy, Peyton. But It looks like you are way to eager to go with Carly as her chaperone." She didn't have to be telepathic to know that.

The federations personal attention was suddenly drawn upwards as a chirping filled everyone's ears. What appeared to be a black insect flew low over the crowd it's single blue lens slowly scanning everyone.

" it's okay it's a surveillance bio...." Xalanth said before he was cut off. Two dragonian special forces walked in at the flanks of there boss who removed the mask covering his scared face. " A march forty-seven surveillance drone. I had told the senator we should have had them up before the party began. If anyone tries to go for a weapon my men will know about it before they can blink. " He said in a gruff professional vice. " I hope you're not leaving due to are worthless idiots behavior. My men can make sure they don't try anything. " He said before closing his mask and taking another deep breath. It was clear he had breathing problems.

End of Part 1

 

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