Potential Start of the end

Posted on Thu May 13th, 2021 @ 12:33pm by Leiddem Kea (*) & Dixoho Saa (*) & Laurier Cami & Oliver Lucas

Mission: Mission 13: Stowaway
Location: Free Cloud - Tropical Ice Bar
Timeline: MD -02 20:00
1838 words - 3.7 OF Standard Post Measure

Dixoho could not help but love the planet and almost wondered for a few long moments if she could spend the rest of her life there. It reminded her of the center of Daucina and the snow lighthouse she had visited nearly a year ago. It felt like a whole different life ago, she felt like that planets experience was for a completely different person. Freecloud was certainly a fun and interesting place with the constant snow at the moment. It was an excuse to drink more hot chocolate and snuggle under blankets.

She looked up at the people in the barely heated alcove with her shivering just as much as she was despite the bundled up clothing.

“This bar better be worth it Leiddem.” Dixoho said looking up at the sign that said Tropical Ice Bar. There was an interesting combination if she ever saw one. The security crewman had read about it and had sweet talked a local tourist guide into giving them tickets so he could not be blamed but it was nice to tease him.

Leiddem just smiled and winked at the Trill. “You boys and girls will love it.” He was hopeful from the guide that everyone in the group would love it.

"You know I'm not totally comfortable out here-" Oliver mumbled. He'd heard a few horror stories about Freecloud. XBs were typically not all that welcome. He was fortunate that the vast majority of his remaining implants weren't in places people could easily see. As usual, though, he was a bit of a nervous company.

"Relax. We're here to have fun, grumpy!" Cami retorted, giving him a nudge. "And hey - we owe you for keeping us alive, remember? First drink's on us. Or maybe Leiddem. We'll see what happens."

"You are fine," Leiddem assured Oliver as they finally got ushered inside the Tropical Ice Bar. The second they were inside the atmosphere and temperature drastically changed. It was warm enough that Dixoho was stripping off her coat but around them, it was like they were inside an igloo with warm lighting and plants around the ice sculptures.

"What in the world?" Dixoho laughed touch the walls to feel that they were indeed ice cold.

"This place is crazy. But fun!" Cami grinned. "Wish Jea had come with us, she'd love this."

The Betazoid looked at the woman and shook his head. He did not want his sister there of all people. She bugged him enough when he had work he didn’t wanna spend his downtime with her even if she was brilliant and would enjoy it. They need time apart even as teenagers let alone now as adults forced into a situation that neither of them were happy with. “ I am sure she will come here another night on her own time and with her husband and definitely without me.” Leiddem quickly replied with a wink.

"That's what I meant, dummy. Girls night out." She slipped an arm around Oliver's. "And Oliver, too. He can be one of the girls with us." The young ex-Borg looked awkward at the idea. "Now shoo - get us that round of drinks!"

"I am so much more of a girl than Oliver." Leiddem commented as he disappeared off eyeing a shirtless bar tender.

"Trust him to bring us somewhere like this." Dixoho murmured as she pointed to a set of chairs and table in the corner. "Tropical Ice bar? I cannot make out if it holographic or actually 100% real." She admitted with a shrug. It was unusual and typical of the man to take them somewhere like this.

"Nah. Those are low-grade cooling units, and that's a nitrogen-fuelled infuser assembly," Cami explained, pointing at various pieces of tech that had been poorly concealed. "It's properly ice."

"You really do know your technology," Oliver remarked. "How do you remember it all?"

"Spend your life taking things apart and putting them back together again, you'll pick it up," the Bajoran grinned.

Dixoho pulled her hand back and grinned. "Impressive." Was all she commented on as she turned back around to look around taking in the atmosphere. The planet was a haven not just for merchants, oligarchs and traders but for fugitives, outlaws, exiles and spies of every stripe and species, it was potentially the perfect place to get what she needed to survive.

"Not sure they'll let me learn medicine by taking people apart..." Oliver mumbled, causing Cami to laugh out loud and punch him on the arm.

"Hey, cheer up Dix. Leiddem's still at the bar, we can actually have fun," she giggled.

Dixoho smiled and shrugged. "I am fine. I am just trying to spot a queen in exile or something. This place is fascinating." Dixoho commented as Leiddem returned a tray of food and drinks in tow. He slid in next to Dixoho and smiled at the woman. It was complicated with them since Michael had returned and thrown the thing that they had into disarray but he was relieved to see the woman off the ship and looking actually happy.

"I got some food as I have not eaten properly and I thought some of you might not have of." He shrugged passing it all out.

"Food!" Cami growled, dipping unceremoniously into the shared plate with her fingers. Beside her, Oliver looked both scared and impressed. He shared a look with Dixoho as if to wonder how they'd both been dragged out like this, to a place where they probably wouldn't have strayed on their own.

"Are you feeling all right?" he asked the red-haired Trill.

The Trill laughed at her friends tucking into the food and grabbed some chips before answering Oliver. “I think so. You?” She was not a 100% but she wanted a night of fun with the people who cared about her when she had not cared about herself.

"Could be worse. Could be a Borg cube instead of an Ice cube," he replied, not sure how funny a joke like that might come across from a former drone.

Dixoho looked surprised for a second before she burst into laugher and could not stop. Of all the things he could have joked about she had never expected him to joke about a Borg Cube. She squeezed his hand amused before she shook her head. "You are hilarious Oliver. You should show that off more." She told him. "You know something we make a good Quartet of people. Trill, Human, Betazoid, Bajoran." Dixoho mused. It was why she loved the ship so much, there was such a mixture.

Oliver felt his face flush with embarrassment. His joke hadn't been that funny, had it? He fell quiet again, mostly due to Cami's exuberance next to him.

"That's 'cause we're the dream team, right here!" Cami agreed with Dixoho's sentiment. "C'mon, help yourselves!" She shoved the sharing bowl closer to the quieter two.

"Course we are." Dixoho nodded and took a few pieces of the earth chips before taking a drink of the cocktail wincing at the sweetness. "You got me my favourite drink?" Dixoho said smiling at Leiddem. The man shrugged before smiling. Of course, he would know it, they had hung out enough over the last year.

"Anyone want to dance?" Leiddem asked. Betazoid's were excellent dancers and he wanted to shake loose.

"With literally anyone but you," Cami replied, jumping up out of her seat with a grin. Thumping Leiddem on the arm, she grabbed his sleeve and pulled him with her. "But since you brought us food I figure you earned one." She glanced over at Dixoho and Oliver. "Besides, they look pretty cute together. We should give them some space."

"You like me really. Um... well this is a bit awkward. Me and Dix... well I and she sometimes have a thing." He laughed just a little looking more awkward and embarrassed more than anything. "Well, we did until Michael came back and made things complicated. I want the best for her." He added just to make the point that no matter what she was her friend.

"That girl. She gets around, huh?" Cami tossed a look over her shoulder as she started dancing close to Leiddem. "You guys must think you can be the hero she needs, huh? Saving her from the despair of her sickness?" She rolled her eyes. "From personal experience - she doesn't need a hero. She doesn't even need a man. She just needs to have people who understand."

“Girl? Get around?” Leiddem wondered if she was jealous for a moment before pulling her close as the beat got louder making it hard to hear. “Oh I was never her hero Cami, you are right she does not need a hero and trust me I understand her. We’ve spent the last four years as friends and colleagues.” He shrugged her. He was not the type to be anyone’s hero, he could barely keep himself alive sometimes.

Cami snorted as she danced against him. "Well as someone who literally walked in her shoes, that girl doesn't get enough credit. And she deserves every cute guy that gives her a few minutes of attention." She glanced up at him. "Note that I said 'cute'. You don't count."

The marine nodded. He wanted to say more but he really did not want to spoil his mood when he had most of the people he liked on the ship in one place. "Cause I am too sexy?" He wondered spinning her away from him before pulling her back to him. "She does deserve positive attention but so do you Cami." Lieddem reminded with a small smirk.

"Ugh," she rolled her eyes. "What ever did that girl see in you to even consider having that kind of relationship? Prophets..." Despite her counter, she hadn't broken away from him. Leiddem was a nice enough guy, but not for that. She could dance with him, but it was like dancing with a brother.

“You keep calling her girl but she’s older than you.” He snorted as a shout went up that was for them. “Looks like we have trouble.” He muttered letting her go to rush to the table where Dixoho was lying on the floor.

"Wh-" Cami looked over. "Dix!!" She hurtled across the room leaving him behind to rush to Dixoho's side. "W-what happened?" she demanded.

"Some sort of seizure," Oliver explained. "I've got nothing on me to stabilise her, we need to get her proper medical attention right now."

Leiddem nodded at the other man. They were both medically trained and knew how bad this was. “Cami grab our stuff. Oliver get some communication to the ship. I will carry her.” It was logical especially as he was the strongest. The ship could deal with this especially as the planet could do nothing for Dixoho really. None of the treatments she had been doing were exactly legal and it would raise a lot of questions.