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Episode 99. All Fired Up... Total Flop

Book 1 - Episode 99 - All Fired Up... Total Flop

Context

Coordinated Universal Time
Friday, October 18, 2024 - 9:02 PM
Location
  • Tellar Prime
  • Zorek Spaceport
  • K'hoka Khol'a's Cafe-Cabaret
  • Galarium
Timeline
Schak'Irra Timeline
Previously

On Tellar Prime, Enterprise's crew is still trying to gather the sum needed to pay Gornok, the mechanic tasked with restoring the ship. After an agreement with K'hoka Khol'a, a runaway Orion woman turned owner of a clandestine cabaret, Agnes Rodriguez and her officers prepare to entertain a wealthy Ferengi fond of sensual shows. Thanks to the Dermalizer, an antique Tellarite machine with dazzling effects, Angie Chen emerges transformed, golden, smooth, and radiant, convincing her companions to try the experience. In a few hours, the small group learns to dance, sway, and play the cabaret game. The plan: charm the customer, collect the latinum, and leave.

Characters

Name Affiliation / Branch Title / Rank Species Original Timeline
Agnes V. Rodriguez NATO / Special Fleet Captain Human Schak'Irra Timeline
Angie Chen NATO / Special Fleet Commander Human Schak'Irra Timeline
Vexoriana-Lyss'ra Tarsi Starfleet / Temporal Division Commander Andorian Prime Timeline
T'Met Starfleet / Temporal Division Captain Vulcan Prime Timeline
Robert Gomard NATO / Army Colonel Human Schak'Irra Timeline
K'hoka Khol'a Independent Étoile Diamantée des Astres Pétillants Orion Schak'Irra Timeline
Blunderbust Braggart Independent N/A Ferengi Schak'Irra Timeline

Manifest

USS Enterprise
Affiliation NATO
Location Docked at Zorek Spaceport
Captain Agnes V. Rodriguez
First Officer Angie Chen
Artificial Intelligence Lingua (Unofficial)
Pilot Eric Corda
Communications Emilie Flores
Operations Charlene Savea
Tactical Vexoriana-Lyss'ra Tarsi (Unofficial)
Science T'Met (Unofficial)
Advanced Weapons Eros Vitos
Security Robert Gomard (Unofficial)
Sickbay Victor S. Calpel
Counselor/Consultant Manu
Custodian Manu
Passengers
  • Robert Gomard's squad
  • 4 Vulcan survivors from Schak'Irra
  • Emmanuel Macron
Detainees Vladimir Joseph Putin and his bodyguards
Ground Team
  • Agnes V. Rodriguez
  • Angie Chen
  • Robert Gomard
  • Tarsi
  • T'Met

TL;DR

The evening begins. K'hoka Khol'a, mistress of ceremonies, welcomes her Ferengi customer: Blunderbust Braggart, a greedy merchant with a loose tongue. While he is already negotiating the purchase of a house cocktail recipe, Colonel Gomard, infiltrated as a fake customer, tries to pass as a Gomardian from an invented planet so as not to reveal Earth's existence. Then comes the fateful moment: Agnes Rodriguez, captain of Enterprise, takes the stage, abandoning her uniform for a cabaret-worthy outfit. Under a wash of lights, she launches into her act while Angie and Tarsi tinker with the decks and T'Met comments on the situation with her unshakable logic. But the verdict falls: the Ferengi, immune to her charm, drops barely one bar of latinum. The team understands that they will have to be much bolder.

Story

K'hoka Khol'a disrobes and heads toward the galarium with an enchanting smile. With two sharp claps of her hands, dim light and a light mist fill the room. Under the entrance arch, the customer stands waiting impatiently to be received by the owner of the place.

K'hoka Khol'a

Welcome to L'Étoile Diamantée des Astres Pétillants. I am delighted to see you again.

Blunderbust Braggart

Your Jadian beauty suits you perfectly, enchanting creature.

K'hoka Khol'a

Hee hee... You certainly know how to flatter a lady. I remembered your rule number 112.

Blunderbust Braggart

Hmm, never trust a clothed female. A golden rule that deserves a much higher place in the Grand Book of Acquisitions.

K'hoka Khol'a

You know we respect your customs and your rules here. Shall I seat you at your usual table near the stage?

Blunderbust Braggart

Yes, as usual, your best table... Who is that drunk guzzling beside it? I have never seen his species.

K'hoka Khol'a

Pay him no mind. He is, uh...

Col. Robert Gomard Army

Heeey, are you talking about me? I am the...

K'hoka Khol'a

He is a Gomardian!

Col. Robert Gomard Army

Uh, yes, that is exactly right! I would even say I am a Gomardian from planet Gomard.

Blunderbust Braggart

Planet Gomard? Never heard of it. What sector is it in?

K'hoka Khol'a

He arrived aboard the refugee freighter docked at the other end of the pier. In fact, I even thought of you by recruiting some of their females for your greatest pleasure...

Blunderbust Braggart

Pah, if they are as repulsive as he is, I do not think you made a good deal. Believe me, I'm an expert in that department...

Col. Robert Gomard Army

Heeey, big monkey! In my civilization, I am recognized as an exceptional specimen, and our females are the biggest pains in the neck in the entire galaxy.

Blunderbust Braggart

Ha, ha, ha. I bet they cannot hold a candle to Tellarite females and their nasty targ tempers.

Col. Robert Gomard Army

Say that again, you bargain-bin Dumbo!

Blunderbust Braggart

Your insults are pathetically, hopelessly pathetic.

K'hoka Khol'a

Gentlemen, calm down. I brought you a little refreshment. On the house: the Slug-o-Khol'a.

Blunderbust Braggart

Hmm, this is not the traditional cocktail...

K'hoka Khol'a

Indeed, I took a few creative liberties: 91% Slug-o-Cola mixed with 9% Luhvian liquid, a pinch of Orion spices, a few crushed Jenjoran berries, and a dash of Orion nectar.

Blunderbust Braggart

You have undeniable talent, my dear. I will buy the license to your cocktail right now for 100 bars of latinum. You only need to sign at the bottom of this document.

Without hesitation, K'hoka signs, and the Ferengi hands her a purse filled with the precious metal. Satisfied with the transaction, she claps both hands to announce the start of the show. The spotlights illuminate the stage, and background music begins to resonate.

Cmdr. Vexoriana-Lyss'ra Tarsi

That is the signal. Agnes, you are first on stage.

Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez

Well... here goes nothing. Wish me luck.

Cmdr. Angie Chen Number One

With this zombie music, you are going to need it.

Capt. Agnes V. Rodriguez

Pah, we've got to change that. Angie, do something.

Capt. T'Met

Why change the music? This is a classic from the Tellarite Ode to Joy.

Cmdr. Angie Chen Number One

Don't worry, Agnes. I've got my MP3 player. We're going to set the place on fire!

Capt. T'Met

Fire? That would be ill-advised.

Cmdr. Vexoriana-Lyss'ra Tarsi

Oh, T'Met! It is a human expression meaning we are going to liven things up.

While I'm on stage performing for the Ferengi, Angie and Tarsi improvise as DJs.

Cmdr. Angie Chen Number One

Damn, there is no USB port on this thing!

Cmdr. Vexoriana-Lyss'ra Tarsi

Don't panic. I'll transfer your files with my implant in the blink of an eye.

Cmdr. Angie Chen Number One

Wow, that's fast.

Cmdr. Vexoriana-Lyss'ra Tarsi

Hurry up and build that playlist. Our asses are on fire!

Capt. T'Met

I can assure you that our pants are in perfect condition.

Cmdr. Vexoriana-Lyss'ra Tarsi

Do not add fuel to the fire, T'Met!

Cmdr. Angie Chen Number One

This one's perfect... trash this one... this one's awesome, keep it... this one sucks, ditch it... I think we're ready to bring the fever! Tarsi, hit it!

Cmdr. Vexoriana-Lyss'ra Tarsi

Sending it!

As Peggy Lee's Fever drifts through the Galarium, the Ferengi is not exactly overflowing with joy, unlike Colonel Gomard, who radiates wonder as I reveal myself bit by bit.

Col. Robert Gomard Army

Go, Agnes! Yahooooo! That's the show of the century!

Blunderbust Braggart

So, is she the famous Gomardian you recruited?

K'hoka Khol'a

Yes, her name is Agnes. What do you think of my new acquisition?

Blunderbust Braggart

Meh, not great. Everything about her is underdeveloped. I'll give her one bar of latinum out of pity.

K'hoka Khol'a

How incredibly generous of you.

Blunderbust Braggart

I know. It is one of my greatest qualities. Hehehe...

K'hoka Khol'a

Agnes, you may step down and send in the next girl.

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