Wedding Crashers

Posted on Thu Jan 4th, 2024 @ 6:14am by Nollel Livaam (*) & Mykaia Kylo-Zahn & Curtis Vaan

Mission: Fractures
Location: SS Mary Rose - Cargo Deck
Timeline: Fracture - March 2394
1723 words - 3.4 OF Standard Post Measure

Stumbling out of the holodeck, Curtis and Kaia were immediately hit by a wave of what felt like dizziness and vertigo. It didn't take more than a moment for them to figure out something wasn't quite right. Mainly because the corridors looked a little different; pre-retrofit, by the looks of it.

"Wasn't there a holodeck door there like, ten seconds ago...?" Curtis wondered aloud, poking at an empty wall. He groaned slightly. "This is a thing, isn't it? Like a weird space anomaly thing. We're all mixed-up and back-to-front. I swear if we've ended up in some sort of mirror-universe thing I'm gonna lose it."

Kaia, who had next to no experience with anomalous adventures, stood staring at where there door had been with a much lower capacity for processing the legitimacy of their unexpected relocation. "I'm...not sure. Maybe we just came out the wrong way?" It took only a look from Curtis to cast her eyes to the side, awkward and embarrassed at what sounded like a pretty weak explanation now that the words had left her mouth. Turning slowly, the Risian didn't have the same sense of disorientation, being far less familiar with the parts of the ship she didn't venture to often, which was honestly most of it. She was, however, a little light-headed and, she realised, quite ridiculously thirsty. "What should we do?"

"This way." Curtis started walking one way down the hall. Then after a few paces, he stopped, turned, and started walking back the other way. "This way. I think." He scratched his head, feeling turned-around. "They really should label things better..." he grumbled.

"Let's just go this way," Kaia suggested gently, indicating the first route Curtis had chosen. "Surely it can't be that different to what you're used to?" It seemed a rather optimistic hope but it was a sincere effort to bolster both their spirits, a veer towards the hopeful rather than her fellow Risian's usual brand of wry defeatism. Taking him by the hand, Kaia smiled as she gave it a squeeze and then turned her attention to their surroundings as she attempted to navigate. "What would be the best place for us to try and locate? Sickbay maybe?"

"Something recognisable," he answered, looking for markers or familiar indicators. "Hmm...cargo bay." He halted sharply, Kaia almost tripping over him in the process. "Wait. Do you hear that? It sounds like...music?"

"It sounds kind of celebratory." There was no mistaking the hopefulness in Kaia's tone, a continued effort to find the bright side of an otherwise thoroughly confusing situation.

Grasping her hand, Curtis cautiously continued forward, rounding another hallway until they could see the open door to the cargo bay, and some sort of event taking place beyond. He shared a look with his companion. "Did anyone tell you about a party?"

"I don't think so." As a bartender, Kaia suddenly felt the weight of obligation regarding the crew's social antics. If she wasn't directly involved in the staging of them, then at the very least it seemed expected that she'd overheard plans for every last impending shenanigan. "Is it someone's birthday?"

"If it is, I totally forgot to get them a card," Curtis replied.

“No birthday. Just a pre wedding party.” Said a young child as he ran between the pair into the cargo bay. The Cargo bay looked different than a normal compartment of that type. There were orbs of lights transforming the utilitarian space into a cosmic haven, strands of soft, radiant lights drape across metal crates, casting an ethereal glow as well as materials draping across them.

“It is my pre wedding party.” A soft familiar voice explained. “Crew are invited though.” The voice added as Nollel stepped closer to the pair adjusting her dress.

"Nollel? You're...wait, I thought you were already married?" Curtis frowned, trying to figure things out. She looked a little younger, maybe because she was dressed in finery. He glanced at Kaia. "If this is some sort of practical joke...I mean, I wouldn't put it past Laney, but to rope you all in would be impressive work..."

Nollel looked at the man confused and raised a perfect eyebrow at his statement. “I have never been on a date before let alone married thank you. You must have me mixed up with some one else.” She said haughtily. She had no idea who they were or who Laney was but talking to them meant she did not have to venture further into the room.

Kaia, who had shrunk instinctively behind Curtis whilst maintaining a vice-like grip on his hand, watched the older woman warily. She knew who Nollel was, there was no way to get fresh stock without dealing with the woman, but the Risian didn't think they had socialised very often. The sheer amount of intimidation radiating from the blonde was explanation enough as to why.

Curtis glanced at Kaia momentarily, then back to Nollel. "You're kidding right? Laney? Seriously, this is either some impressive acting or something really weird is happening. We were just on the holodeck, and..."

"This ship has a holodeck?" The blonde perked up at the thought of there being something on board that she could escape to."Where is it?" She wondered thinking is strange with all her exploring that she would not have found it before now.

"You know, the holodeck down the hall? We just had it installed?" Curtis frowned, and put his attention back to Kaia again. "Am I going crazy? Tell me I'm not going crazy."

"I don't think you're going crazy, unless both of us are." There was just enough hesitation in the bartender's voice to leave room for the possibility. In the absence of very concrete reference points, Kaia was scrabbling to piece together what information she could from the unfolding confusion and her gentle frown, directed at Nollel, only deepened as she realised the woman really didn't seem to recognise them. Or, at the very least, her. "We're sorry, we just didn't realise you and Burnie were going to have a service on board as well." There was a degree of calculation to the comment, and the Risian's gaze watched very carefully for how it was received.

Nollel looked more and more confused. "I do not know who this Burnie is. The man I am going to be marrying tomorrow is called Liem." She pointed to a man who looked huge but had kind eyes and was speaking softly to a woman who looked similar to Nollel.

"Maybe we are crazy..." Curtis sighed. "I've never seen that guy before. Are we still on the SS Mary Rose? What year is this?"

“Of course you are.” Nollel said taking a step back in worry at the question they were asking. “2394.” She whispered as the man called alien came over.

“Hello. Do we have more guests?” He said handing the blonde a large glass of red liquid.

Curtis eyed the drink, a moment of temptation in his mind at the suggestion of joining for a beverage. But then Nollel's words clicked properly in his head. 2394. That wasn't the current year. That was...the past?" He slapped his forehead. "Not time travel. Come onnnn..." he groaned.

Liem raised an eyebrow but did not comment. “What are you going on about? This is not a nice trick to play right before someone’s wedding!” Nollel said haughtily. She was no longer having any of it from them they were just too strange. Captain Gregnol would be hearing about how his crew were acting weird.

"We're sorry, it's been a bit of a strange day." Rallying her composure to step up and take control of the conversation, Kaia adopted a bright smile and looped her arm through Curtis, using a pat of his hand as a caution to hold his tongue. "He gets like this when he's enjoyed a little too much of the open bar service. Allow me to congratulate you both on our behalf. You look beautiful," she directed at Nollel, hopeful that it was enough to smooth over the initial confusion.

Nollel looked between the pair as Liem put a gentle arm around her waist and squeezed her against his side. "She does. I am a very lucky man." The miner said gently making Nollel look up at him with sad eyes before she nodded.

"I am sorry too. It has been a long week. We have been travelling." The blonde put a hand to her head and plastered a smile across her face trying to find her equilibrium again. She had to make the best of a bad situation just like Liem was. They could be happy together if she just let things go as everyone wanted her too.

"I reckon we have been 'travelling' too..." Curtis sighed. He touched Kaia's hand, trying to jerk his head to suggest they make a swift and hasty retreat. "Certainly not finished with either. Uhm...enjoy your day?" He leaned into speak to Liem in a lower voice. "Purely out of curiosity: how fond are you of explosions?"

Liem raised an eyebrow looking at the man confused. “What do you mean?” He asked quietly as Nollel looked at the pair having a conversation in a low conversation.

Exasperated, Kaia fixed Curtis with a pointed look and, once again, tried to dig him out of a hole of his own devising. "Risians tend to deploy a lot of fireworks at their bonding ceremonies." Her warm smile, she hoped, radiated the casual confidence of one assuming to interpret her partner's cryptic meaning. "Our resident computer genius here is convinced there's a market for holographic alternatives."

Nollel nodded not at all sure but she could see her mother and father watching her intently trying to work out what was going on. “I see. Li I am going to join the party.” Nollel said wanting to get away from the strange pair. She still wanted to check with the Captain around it all but it could wait a bit until tomorrow.

Curtis watched Nollel and her 'groom' disappear back into the party and glance back at Kaia again. "He doesn't even like explosions. He's nothing like Burnie..." he grumbled. "Come on, we should figure out a way out of here..."