Seismic Kisses
Chapter 1
Disclaimer: Voyager and her crew do not belong to me. My imagination only owns an interpretation of them. This holds true for subsequent chapters.
Author's Note: The shuttles I talk about are like the shuttles that take you between airports and hotels. But, my shuttles don't have wheels, they hover. Their interiors resemble the interior of Star Trek shuttle pod.
"Report." Captain Kathryn Janeway sat forward in her chair.
"Plona is an M class planet. Our sensors have detected twenty-seven races in the most populated region." Seven of Nine turned to Lieutenant Commander Tuvok..
"An extensive sensor sweep has revealed no anomalies."
Commander Chakotay tapped his PADD. "My contact, Consolat Trag gave me a rundown of the recreational activities Plona has to offer. There are a number of bars and casinos. The beaches are popular this time of year. The Plons have glampaks, which we know as holodecks. Sports arenas and relaxation halls are abundant. Consolat Trag said the most popular sport this season is glidening. From his description, it sounds like a cross between hoverball and Starfleet Academy calisthenics. With all these ways to have fun and relax, Plona sounds like the perfect place for a vacation."
"The Risa of the Delta quadrant," interjected Ensign Harry Kim.
"If there are no further comments, I suggest we all get packing," said Janeway.
"Although no security risks were detected, I intend to keep sensors online to avoid any surprises," Tuvok spoke up.
"Expecting some old friends to drop in for a nice fight?" asked Lieutenant Tom Paris.
"It is logical to be prepared for our 'friends' even if they never 'drop in'."
"Agreed. Prepare shift rotations to monitor the sensors."
"Captain?"
"You're going on vacation too, Tuvok. That's an order. That goes for you too, Seven. Mr. Paris, set a course for Plona. Chakotay, inform Consolat Trag of our ETA. Dismissed."
***"This is our finest relaxation hall," Loyden stated as they approached the three-story building made from a metal Janeway didn't recognize. The middle level was slightly smaller than the bottom level, and the top level was slightly smaller still. Loyden stretched out a three-fingered hand to open the door for the captain.
"This is…wow," Janeway breathed. The large room was informally divided into many areas. Some people were getting massages. Others were lounging on different shaped chairs and couches. Still others were engaged in some sort of meditation.
"The Plons were the original natives of this planet," Loyden had told Janeway earlier over lunch at a café on the beach. "Our ancestors became famous for their lavish hospitality. Word spread all the way to the gamma quadrant." The two suns were at their zeniths, so hardly anyone was on the sand. But, under the roof of the zizzler with its many fans blowing, Janeway was comfortable.
Loyden picked up his history lesson as he and the captain strolled around the bottom level of the relaxation hall. "By their second century on Plona, the Plons had to build two more hotels, three more casinos, another relaxation hall and a sports arena. Not to mention the various cafes and bars. Every century new structures have had to be added. Currently, we have 17 hotels, 16 glampaks, 14 relaxation halls, 15 sports arenas–-6 of them glidening courts, 18 casinos and hundreds of bars, cafes and specialty shops."
"Impressive. That scent. It reminds me of summers in Indiana."
"Where you grew up?"
"Yes."
"No one knows what the workers here put together to create such a lovely scent. It always makes me think of my sister, Tamil. She and her husband and children live in a village beyond the mountains. They prefer a slower way of life. Tamil and I are very close. We used to spend hours exploring together."
"The music is nice too. I didn't notice it at first."
"The second level has steam and different music, and the third level is completely silent. Would you like to view them or move on to our other attractions?"
"Let's move on. I may come back here later."
"Our next stop is the Onsas, our largest casino."
"This really is the Risa of the Delta quadrant."
"Pardon?"
"Risa is a popular vacation spot in the Alpha quadrant."
There was a commotion on the other side of the street as Janeway and Loyden exited the relaxation hall. Plona security officers were corralling several people into a shuttle. The people were struggling and shouting.
Janeway heard one man shout. "Beware. Prepare. Only five days now. The Great Earthquake is coming. Beware-." As he was roughly shoved into the shuttle, a younger man continued for him. "Prepare. The Great Earthquake is coming. You must be prepared."
A young woman punched one of the officers. When all the demonstrators were inside the shuttle, the doors were sealed. Two officers got into the front of the shuttle, and drove away while the other officers dispersed the crowd.
"What was that all about?" asked Janeway.
"We've been having trouble with protestors. They've got this crazy idea that the Great Earthquake is going to destroy us all."
"The Great Earthquake?"
"Every five hundred years, a great earthquake occurs," Loyden explained as he led the way to the Onsas. "The next one will occur five days from now. But, this time there isn't anything to worry about. Our best engineers have developed a system of containment fields to minimize the damage to this area. These protestors are stirring up unnecessary fear. Well, here we are." Before Janeway could ask any more questions, Loyden launched into the history of the Onsas.
***Tom and Harry sat drinking blana, Plon beer in the Onsas. Harry licked his lips. "Not as bitter as terran beer." He drained his mug and signaled for a server. "What should we do next?" he asked after ordering another round. "Gamble? Explore? Find girls and head back to the hotel?"
"Harry! Is it time to tell you about the birds and bees already?"
"The birds and bees?"
"A 20th century expression referring to sex," Tom clarified as their beer arrived.
Harry blushed and turned away from the server. "Very funny."
They left the table and joined a crowd around an alien tossing orange blocks across a gaming table.
"This game seems to resemble Roulette with the colored spaces and the wheel. What d'ya say, Harry? Shall we give it a try? Harry?" Tom followed Harry's gaze to a woman three tables over.
She wore bright green pants and boots. Her blouse was bright yellow with short, bright green sleeves. Her shoulder-length auburn hair was held back by a bright green clip. She wore heavy make-up, a bright green medallion and matching earrings. Her loud laughter could be heard over the noise of the casino. She stopped abruptly and looked directly at Harry.
"Shall I tell the doc to start working on an antidote for puppy love?" Tom snapped his fingers in Harry's face.
"What? Oh, yeah sure. Let's give it a try." He fumbled in his pocket for change.
"Why don't you go talk to her before she leaves?"
"Why don't you mind your own business?" Harry tried to look more angry than embarrassed. "Where's she going?"
The two men watched as the woman excused herself from her friends and walked toward them.