Starjammin'
A/N: The next few chapters will focus on Ashley and her new family. I want to focus on Ashley for while for reasons that will become apparent once we get further into the story. Also, I'm building towards the moment some of us have been waiting years to see and want to do it right. Also, for those interested, I haven't forgotten Javik—I'm just waiting for the right moment to bring him in. I already have his introduction blocked out. However, I need to set the stage properly, so certain things need to happen first. The first of those certain things will be happening in the near future. Don't worry, everyone's favorite Prothean will arrive—eventually.
Boarded Nausicaan Pirate Ship—Celes Sector
"We've got to move quickly before the captain or one of his flunkies decides to space the cargo or some idiot in engineering gets a wild hair and activates the self-destruct." Nelia exclaimed as she and her teammates beamed aboard the Nausicaan corsair the Spoiled Princess had been engaged with, now dead in space thanks to a phaser and photon torpedo barrage.
"Right." Ashley affirmed, "How do you wanna play it?"
"Shels and Rana, you're with me." Nelia decided, handing out the assignments. "We'll take care of engineering. "Ash, you and Twes…"
"Take the bridge." The former Alliance marine nodded before speaking to her asari friend, "We're on our way." Smiling at her asari teammate, Ashley joked, "You've been practicing hard with your biotics. Looks like you're going to put all that to work. Take care of the boss and Shels."
"Will do." The asari scientist responded as she smiled at her Betazoid lover. "Don't forget our holodeck date tonight, Twes. We're going to the best restaurant on Thessia and then dancing and partying at Fellessa's."
"Wouldn't think of missing it, lover." Twesata grinned back, "Look out for yourself."
"Don't forget!" Nelia exclaimed as the second team began to make its way to the bridge, "We need the captain alive so that he can cough up his codes."
Nodding her head, Ashley answered back, "Right. Keep the asshole in one piece."
"You don't have to keep him in one piece." Shelana chuckled, "Just make sure he lives through it."
"All set!" Nelia exclaimed, "Let's get it done."
Pirate ship—engineering
"Rana! Quick! Before he presses that button!" Nelia shouted in alarm, pointing to the Nausicaan chief engineer at his console. "That's the self-destruct!"
"Got him." The blue-skinned asari replied as she cocooned the engineer in a stasis bubble, "It won't hold long."
"Doesn't have to." Shelana grimaced as she and Nelia cut down two Nausicaans, one charging at the Andorian with a neuro-whip as the other leveled a disruptor at the green Orion next to her.
"That's the last of 'em." Nelia sighed as the stasis field containing the Nausicaan engineer began to dissipate. "No you don't, asswipe!" The Orion rogue growled as she fired her phaser, stunning the pirate. Rushing to the console, Nelia shook her head, "Fucker must have disengaged the primary matter-anti-matter containment, but didn't have time to cut off the backup system. That's what he was doing when we burst in on him."
"So…" Rana nervously inquired as she and her Andorian teammate took a quick count of the stunned and dead. "…how close were we to blowing up?"
"You don't wanna know." Shelana grimly replied as she and her partners, after slapping the stunned pirates in restraints, tagged them for transport to the Spoiled Princess's brig.
Tapping her comm badge, Nelia called out, "Belen? Got three assholes tagged for transport to our brig."
"Locked on and ready to transport when you're ready." The team's Ferengi engineer/bartender/fixer responded.
"Beam 'em over." Nelia commanded as she motioned to the door. "I've got the engines stabilized now. First order of business, check on Ash and Twes..."
Again activating her comm, the green Orion woman called out, "Nelia to Ashley. How's it going?"
Pirate Ship—Bridge
"Nelia to Ashley. How's it going?"
"Kinda busy here now, Nel." Ashley quipped as she fired her phaser rifle at a Nausicaan who had been using a console for cover, stunning him.
"First officer!" Twesata shouted, pointing to a large pirate wielding what appeared to be a disruptor mini-cannon. "Shit!" The lovely Betazoid shouted as she dived for cover just in time to avoid the deadly barrage coming from the oversized weapon.
"Need a hand?" Ashley bantered, quickly dispatching her opponent with a combination kick and blow from the butt of her rifle. "Damn those bastards have tough skulls."
"Nah…I got it." Twesata smirked as the first officer gave her the opening she needed for a precision shot from her sniper rifle, tagging the Nausicaan in a vital organ. "Don't think we have to worry about him spreading his genes around anytime soon."
"Good." Ashley nodded, "Let's get to the Captain before he jettisons that cargo."
"I saw him running this way!" Twesata pointed, "He's heading for auxiliary control. "Nelia can cut him off."
"Right." The former Alliance marine acknowledged, tapping her comm badge. "Nelia? We need you and Rana to intercept the captain before he reaches auxiliary control. We'll pursue from our end."
"Gotcha!" Nelia replied, "We're on our way."
"Where do you think you're going?" Nelia called in a teasing voice to the Nausicaan pirate captain as she fired her phaser. Missing the target, she cursed, "Fuck. Get him Rana!"
"One stasis bubble coming up." The asari scientist replied as her biotics flared.
"I see you got him." Ashley grinned as she and her partner joined the others.
"Yeah, but we better be ready for when that bubble wears off." Shelana cautioned as she leveled her pistol at the Nausicaan.
"Good idea." Ashley grinned as she and the other girls all pointed their weapons at the pirate just as his biotic cocoon collapsed. "Uh…Uh…" The former gunnery chief smirked, her finger resting on the firing button of her phaser. "Unless you want one hell of a headache."
Taking the captain's disruptor and slapping him in restraints, Nelia stared into the Nausicaan's eyes. "Code to access cargo hold. Now!"
"Heh." The Nausicaan grimaced as he spat at his interrogator. "Fuck you green bitch."
Wiping the saliva off her face, Nelia pulled back her hand as if to deliver a hard slap across the face, only to knee him in the groin instead. Chuckling as the pirate doubled over in pain, the roguish Orion spoke to her Betazoid teammate. "Twesata? Would you do the honors?"
"Do I have to?" The lovely raven-haired telepath pouted, "You know I hate digging into Nausicaan minds. They're so…filthy."
"It's a dirty job…" Shelana quipped with a snicker.
"But someone has to do it." Twesata sighed, "Oh…all right…but you all owe me drinks and drugs next shore call."
"Deal." Nelia grinned as her Betazoid friend flashed an evil grin before speaking to their prisoner.
"I promise…" The telepath purred, "This is going to hurt." Moments later, scowling as she gazed down on the whimpering Nausicaan, Twesata announced. "Got the code…and there's something else…" Her scowl a dark glare, she delivered a hard kick into the Nausicaan's kidney region. "Part of their cargo are slaves."
"Where is he taking them?" Nelia asked, also staring down at their prisoner.
Frowning, Twesata replied, "Starbase 114—the shithole of the quadrant."
"That's where you were assigned before you resigned your commission, wasn't it Twes?" Ashley asked as their prisoner let out a brief whimper. Glaring at their captive Nausicaan, the former gunnery chief snapped, "Shut up, asshole!"
"Yeah." Twesata replied with a grimace. "He's supposed to meet up with a Ferengi freighter commanded by a Daimon Mok. It's all tied into a Syndicate operation running there."
"Was the Syndicate around when you were there?" Shelana inquired of her friend.
"No." The Betazoid shook her head, "At least not in any force. Okay…yeah…I bought the occasional mind altering substance or pleasure toy from a dealer who was probably a lower level Syndi type, but I don't remember there being any real presence to speak of."
"First we check up on the prisoners in the cargo hold and get them out of there. Then we go to Starbase 80 to drop them and our Nausicaan guests off, and then to Starbase 114 to find out what's going on." Nelia proposed, "Sound like a plan?"
"Works for me." Ashley replied as the others on the team nodded in agreement.
"Great." Nelia affirmed she tapped her comm. "Hey, Bel. We've got one really plug ugly Nausicaan captain waiting for transport to our most secure and uncomfortable cell. We're also going to have some passengers join us soon. Be extra nice to them…they were being shipped as cargo for the slave market."
"Will do." Belen responded. "Got the perfect cell for our captain and I'll prep the guest rooms for our passengers."
"You're the best, Bel." Nelia grinned, "We're on our way to the cargo hold to free the prisoners. Also, we're going to need you to do some appraising for us after we get a look at the rest of the cargo."
"Just let me know when you're ready."
"Beam the bastard over." Nelia commanded as she turned to her teammates. "Okay…let's check up on those prisoners and see what else they've got down there."
Cargo Hold
"Oh God!" Ashley gasped as she opened the door to the cargo section and entered along with Nelia and the rest of the team, "The smell!"
"The force field holding them in their cell must have went down during the fight." Nelia observed, covering her nose in an effort to hold back the nausea building within her.
"Sons of bitches wouldn't even let them bathe or give them a place to piss and shit." Twesata, barely restraining herself from retching, scowled as she took in the tableau in front of her. Motioning to her lover, she gestured towards the small group of Romulans wearing tattered or no clothing huddled together. "Let's see what we can do for them, Rana."
"Right." The asari scientist agreed as she slowly approached the prisoners, calling out to them in a gentle voice, "Hello? I'm not going to harm you. I'm a doctor. Can I come closer so that I can take a look at you?"
"They've got slave collars on." Shelana glowered as she pointed to the metallic bands around each of the prisoner's necks. "One of them gets out of line…"
"We all get hurt." One of the prisoners, an elderly woman, answered.
"I'll get those collars off." Nelia announced as she opened her kit and took out a tool. Examining the old woman's collar, the lovely green Orion sighed, "Gotta be careful. Assholes put in an explosive device to prevent tampering."
"Can you get those collars off without blowing everyone up?" Ashley asked, her eyes watering at the sight of the miserable refugees holding on to each other.
"Yeah." Nelia responded as she knelt down next to the old woman. "I just have to be careful." After several moments of slow, cautious work, the Orion engineer let out a breath as she removed the collar, "Got it." Turning to a young child, she declared in a supportive tone of voice, "Let's get that thing off you." Speaking to the other refugees, she announced, "I'm going to take all your collars off, but I'm going to have to ask you to be patient because it's going to take some time."
"We're not going anywhere." One of the prisoners, a teenage boy, replied as he let out a snort.
"That's the spirit." Nelia grinned back at the boy.
"Let me take a look at you." Rana pleaded as she slowly approached the elderly woman. Kneeling down next to her, she took out her medkit and went to work. The old woman flinching as she took out her hypo, the asari doctor explained in a calm, soothing voice. "I have to inject this and a couple others. This one…" she held up the hypo in her hand, "…is a combination vitamin and nutrient shot, this one…" Rana took out a second hypo, "…is a broad spectrum antibiotic to kill any infections or parasites. Finally…" she pulled still another hypo from her kit, "…this one is an analgesic. It'll help relieve any pain you're feeling."
"Give them to me." The teenager interrupted. "Watch me take the drugs, Lorekeeper. When you see that I am all right, then you'll know everything is going to be fine." Nodding her head in assent, Rana injected the young man with the three hypos. "See Lorekeeper. I feel better."
Nodding her head in approval at the teenager's courage, Ashley inquired, gesturing at the old woman who was now receiving her injections, "Lorekeeper? Is that like a storyteller or…"
"A little bit storyteller…" The youth began to explain as a middle aged Romulan male cleared his throat.
"The Lorekeeper is also a chronicler. She…"
"I keep the old stories for those who come after." The old woman interrupted after receiving her injections. "Of Romulus before our home died. Of how our people came to be."
"She reminds us of who we were, who we are and what we are capable of in this dark time we live in." The man interjected.
"Who are you?" Shelana asked as she, along with Twesata, helped with triage and care of the other refugees.
"My name is Kamov." The Romulan male, dignified even in his distress, responded. "I am…was…Maiori of my people. These…" He inclined his head at his fellow survivors, "…are now all that is left. I was entrusted with their care…and I failed them."
"You did no such thing." Another Romulan, this one a middle-aged female, declared. "It was the Nausicaans. There were too many and they were too well armed. We didn't stand a chance."
"Explain." Nelia encouraged as the rescue effort continued.
"We're from one of the isolated colonies." The woman answered back, "Drius IV…on the far rim of the Tau Dewa block."
"Ugly place." Twesata explained to her extra-universal friends. "Much of that sector used to belong to the old Romulan Star Empire until Hobus. Since then, it's become something of a free for all with the Romulan Republic, Sela's Empire, Obisek's Remans, the Tholians, Federation, and Klingons all grabbing their pieces and taking advantage of it all are…"
"Pirates, smugglers, raiders, con artists, wildcatters…" Nelia interjected with a knowing grin, "The law's pretty much what you make of it out there. You can make a lot of latinum smuggling if you know what you're doing."
"So it's something like the wild west." Ashley concluded, Shelana nodding her head.
"If you're referring to the old human expression…" The lovely Andorian confirmed, "Then yes, that's a pretty accurate description." Turning to the Maiori, she inquired, "How long has your colony been there?"
"Not long." The Romulan replied, "We mined dilithium in the Hafnir System…
"The Elements cursed Ferengi who owned the mines treated us as slaves." The middle aged woman angrily spat out.
"T'lessa is correct." The Maiori acknowledged. "He paid us just enough so that we could meet our debt payments for the goods and services he offered in his company store and clinic."
"Damned robber baron." Ashley cursed under her breath. "Just like Exogeni on Feros."
"Not all Ferengi are like Belen." Nelia cautioned her extra-universal friends, "I've dealt with Madran…the Ferengi who owned that mine…a time or two. Regulan bloodworm would be a pretty good description of him. If you're negotiating with him, you have to be very careful to pay attention to both the letter and spirit of the contract and always watch out for the knife in the back." Racking her memories, the roguish Orion woman recalled, "The last I heard, his operation on Hafnir got busted up by the captain of the Belladonna—last year, I think…"
"I remember her…" The teenager interjected, "Trill woman. At first I thought they might have been Terran Empire…"
"She and the women with her wore short skirts and midriff baring tops." The Maiori explained, "And the men wore uniforms that looked a little like the Starfleet uniforms that were worn in my father's time, but different. More…"
"Decadent." The Lorekeeper sniffed.
"Sounds like an Empire ship and crew defecting—probably after getting rid of the senior commanders first. Terran Empire ships do defect from time to time." Twesata mused, further elaborating, "The captains and crews do it for a variety of reasons. In some cases, they don't like how the Empire does things, so the first chance they get, they bolt. Often, the captain or someone the captain's close to, does something to get someone higher up the food chain angry and so they get out while they can."
Her lips turning up in a sardonic grin, Nelia quipped satirically, "Neuro-lash…agony booth…all sorts of ugly stuff. One thing about the Empire…it's very creative when it comes to inflicting pain."
"Starfleet Intelligence is very careful about Imperial deserters. There's always the risk of a plant, and Terran Imperial Intelligence is pretty damned good." Shelana interjected, filling out the rest of the explanation, "But if they're capable and prove they're not going to stab us in the back, they're usually brought in. Very often ex-Imperial captains have experience in handling matters conventional Starfleet officers don't have."
"Especially if missions or assignments involve intrigue, intelligence gathering, or just plain old-fashioned head smashing." Nelia finished as the last of the prisoners was examined and treated. Turning to the Maiori, she smiled warmly, "We're going to beam you up to our ship now. A Ferengi named Belen will be there to greet you. He's also going to go over the other cargo the Nausicaans took. If there is anything of value to you in that cargo, then you're welcome to it."
His eyes falling on a small statuette, the stately Romulan elder declared in a low voice, "That figurine. It is a likeness of my grandfather. He served in the Imperial Navy, rising to Commander before he was killed in battle against the Klingons. I never met him, but my parents and the Lorekeeper would always tell me stories about his battles."
Walking over to the treasure pile, Ashley carefully picked up the statuette and carried over to the Romulan leader, handing it to him reverently. "Here, Sir. This belongs to you."
"Thank you." The Maiori responded, choking back a sob as he reminisced. "He once took on a Klingon warrigul pack of D-5s with his old warbird. Defeated them all."
"He sounds like a remarkable man." Ashley remarked as memories of the stories her parents told her and her sisters of her grandfather resurfaced, "My grandfather also served." Taking a deep breath, she recited in a low, mournful tone, "Lives of great men all remind us we can make our lives sublime, and departing, leave behind us footprints on the sands of time."
"That's beautiful, Ashley." Rana said in a low voice, "Where's it from?"
"A human poet." The former Alliance marine replied with a winsome smile, "Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. He was a favorite of my father's."
Taking a deep breath and exhaling, Nelia called out to the two medics, "Twes? Rana? Are the refugees ready for transport?"
"Just a second!" Rana shouted back, "Sir…" She pleaded, speaking to the Maiori, "We'd appreciate it if you allow me, Twes, and our EMH to give you and your people a proper physical back on the ship." The asari medic pleaded, "While we've taken care of most of the obvious and major problems here, we'd like to be sure there isn't anything that we might have missed."
Nodding his head in acknowledgement, the Maiori stood, dignified even in these disgraceful circumstances, and saluted with hand over heart, "Of course, we will. I thank you for myself and my people. If there is ever a way we can repay our debt to you…"
"Just get better and find yourselves a good place to live and start your lives." Ashley interjected with a compassionate grin, her words echoed by her teammates, "That's thanks enough for us."
Tapping her comm badge, Nelia called, "Belen? Do you have everything set for our guests?"
"Sickbay's ready for them and I've prepped guest quarters. I'm also looking forward to appraising whatever goodies you've picked up."
"I don't know what I'd do without you, Sweetie." Nelia purred, "Beam us and the cargo up now. I think we're done here."
The Spoiled Princess—lounge
"How are our guests?" Nelia asked, sipping her antarean sunrise at the bar with Shelana on one side of her and Ashley on the other.
"The pirates are behaving themselves in their cells." Belen chuckled as he refreshed everyone's drinks, "Twes commed before you came in. She and Rana are just about through giving our Romulan friends their physicals. They said they'd be up after they're done."
"Great." Nelia exclaimed. A wicked grin on her face, she further inquired, "So…what's our take for this job looking like?"
The Ferengi fixer replied with a wide grin, "Even after the Romulans took whatever heirlooms or articles they wanted, we still have enough to make this a very profitable day. Enough so that I can think about putting in an extra dabo table or two in the casino and make some other renovations I've been thinking about…"
"You oughtta think about poker and blackjack tables. Not to mention a bigger dance floor." Ashley joked before taking a swig of her beer. "Might bring in more customers."
"She's got a point." Nelia remarked as she held out her glass for a refill. "You know how packed the dance area gets during Comet Days or when Risa or Andor are in season."
"Hmmm…" Belen mused, "You're right. We're in the perfect spot to catch the tourists coming and going."
"Not to mention how crowded everything is when Grym comes to unload his stuff." Shelana added with a chuckle.
"He does bring in extra business with what he calls his 'grab bags'. For some odd reason people love them." Belen remarked. "And dancing makes people hungry and thirsty which means more trade for the bar and the restaurant." His thoughts now turning back to the casino, Belen considered his options, "A couple of tables for the hewmon games…klin zha for the Klingons…latrunculo for our Romulan guests…a tongo table or two…house edge depending on the game…" Taking out his snuff box, Belen took a pinch of beetle snuff and snorted it into his nostrils. After a healthy sneeze and several moments pondering the question, the Ferengi merchant grinned, "Now…how big a cut should I take? Thirty percent profit sounds reasonable."
"Might want to knock that down a bit." Nelia advised, cautioning, "You know how Klingons get if they think they've been cheated."
"Good point." The bartender quicky backtracked. "Better make the cut average out at ten—maybe fifteen—percent. I can cut the margin down since I won't have to pay licensing fees for those other games as I will for the dabo tables and I'll still have a healthy profit."
"Not to mention less likely to end up looking down the business end of a bat'leth." Shelana laughed as she held out her stein. "How's about a refill and we can drink to the new casino?"
"Resort." Belen corrected as he refilled everyone's drinks. "I'm going to turn Drozana Station into the next Argellius."
Spoiled Princess—Sickbay
"We did not have much for the pirates to steal, but what they did take was of great sentimental value to some of us." The elderly Romulan Lorekeeper sighed as she cradled in her hands a cracked plate with a raptor engraved in the center, vandalized by one of the pirates with what appeared to be an acid so that its wings were removed. "This was passed on by my father, who was also a Lorekeeper, who received it from his. The eldest in my family line have been Lorekeepers ever since the Sundering. It was a symbol of our role—to remember and pass on to the younger generations the deeds of those who came before so that they, in turn, can pass on these traditions to their children and grandchildren." Her lips turning up in a sad smile, the wizened storyteller asked the young asari tending to her, "What of your people? Do you have a Lorekeeper?"
"Our matriarchs pass on their wisdom and counsel to the young." Rana replied with a tender smile of her own. "Some are political leaders, while others sages."
Holding the plate in her hand, the Lorekeeper shook her head sadly, tears rolling down her cheeks. "One time, the Nausicaans would not have dared attack a Romulan world. We were feared and respected by all. Now look at us…" she shook her head as she gestured at her fellow survivors, "Beaten…a scattered people held in contempt. Maybe…" the old woman sighed as she regarded the mutilated raptor in her hands, "…maybe…we needed to be humbled in this way. Chastened, we learn from our mistakes…we grow. We will endure." The Lorekeeper proudly declared, holding her head up, "We are Romulan."
"You will indeed endure, Matriarch." Rana respectfully replied as she inclined her head, "We're done here. You may join the others if you'd like."
"Thank you, young woman." The elderly Romulan replied, "Thank you for listening to an old woman."
"You did a good job handling your patient, Doctor."
Recognizing at once the southern accent of the ship EMH, a slight smile appeared on the asari geneticist's lips. "Thank you, how many patients are left?"
"Your friend is just about finished with the last of 'em." The EMH replied, "After she's done…you two should go. There shouldn't be anything that I can't handle coming up. Now…git! Go on over there…grab your girlfriend…and the both of you get outta my sickbay. I've got work to do and your friends are waiting for you in the bar."
"Just stay off that leg for the next hour or so to make sure the tendons have all regenerated." Twesata ordered as her patient, helped by a young Romulan male, hobbled off on crutches. Seeing her lover approaching, the lovely Betazoid smiled, "Hey. You done?"
"Yes." Rana grinned as she gave her girlfriend a quick kiss. "Doc says for us both to…his words, not mine…get the hell outta his sickbay."
Smirking, Twesata responded after returning her asari companion's kiss, "Then I guess we better do as he says. Let's get changed, get high, and head on up to the lounge."
"Sounds like a plan."
Spoiled Princess—Lounge
"Hey!" Twesata and Rana, wearing nearly see-through chemises, and both red-eyed and very relaxed thanks to their sampling some of the lovely Betazoid's stash of dried Iotian cyloflower, exclaimed as they made their way to the bar and took their seats next to their companions.
"Damn." Ashley noted, rolling her eyes at the sight of the two lovers, "You two look stoned outta your gourds."
"That's cause we are." Twesata laughed as Belen handed her a glass of tulaberry wine and her asari companion a snifter of cognac.
"Yeah." Rana said, her voice slurring slightly, "Twes picked it up when we were on Deep Space Nine."
"You mean you managed to score a drug buy under Ro Laren's nose?" Nelia laughed. "How did you pull that off?"
"Got Morn to help us." Twesata laughed, "He tied her up in conversation while I made the buy."
Smirking, Shelana explained to Ashley, "Once Morn starts telling one of his stories, you've gotta drop whatever you're doing and listen. That Lurian has been everywhere and done everything."
"Next time we get to DS-9, you should ask him about the Lissepian Mother's Day heist of 2365." Nelia chuckled, "He and his pals made off with a thousand bricks of gold-pressed latinum from the Lissepian Central Bank."
"He's a legend." Belen declared in an almost reverential tone of voice. "Quark once told me that there's only one thing he's really scared of: that one day Morn would leave the bar for good because on the day that happened, it was all over—life…the universe…everything."
"So what were you girls and Belen talking about when we came in?" Rana inquired as she swirled her cognac and then, after breathing in the aroma, took a sip.
"Belen's planning on renovating Drozana Station." Nelia replied, giving her old friend a gentle caress on his lobes, "He wants to turn it into a first-class resort."
Nodding her head, Twesata opined, "I like it. Party twenty-four/seven…Don't have to deal with Federation, Republic, or Klingon Empire bullshit…"
"What are you planning?" Rana inquired as she began to come down from her high.
"I was thinking about relocating and renovating the shopping concourse." Belen pondered aloud, "Set it up so that people coming in or going off station would pass through it."
"That's a good idea." Ashley remarked as the bartender refilled her mug. "Remember on the Citadel, Rana, where there'd be clusters of shops near every elevator or transport hub to catch people as they arrived or departed."
"Yeah." The beautiful asari replied with a grin. "I used to like browsing at Elynna's…" Chuckling at the confused looks on her friends' faces, she explained, "It's a shop that caters mostly to asari—fine fashion…jewelry…you know."
"Yeah." Nelia smirked as she drew attention to the bejeweled top and loincloth she was wearing, "A…client…got this for me when he took me on an excursion to Risa."
"I remember that trip." Belen leered, "You took him for at least a thousand strips of gold-pressed latinum as I recall."
"Twelve hundred…but who's counting." The lovely green Orion snickered, shrugging her shoulders, "He got his money's worth."
"So…what did you get?" Twesata playfully teased her lover, licking her lips.
A delicate blue blush appearing momentarily on her face, Rana responded with a sly wink, "A holo of Vaenia…it's erotic asari literature. A classic really." The beautiful geneticist explained before coyly telling her Betazoid companion, "Too bad it's in the other universe…it's a very…stimulating work."
"What about you, Ash?" Shelana quickly inquired, turning about on her stool to address the human who had quickly become one of her best friends as well as teammate, "Where did you like to shop?"
Smirking, the former gunnery chief recalled, "The Citadel Souvenir Shop. It was a little gift shop just as you got into Zakera Ward. Sold fish and models mostly…some clothing…"
"I know the shop!" Rana exclaimed, "Whenever I was on the Citadel, I'd stop over and grab a bite of lunch with the store owner—Deleia. She cut me a discount on the fish."
"Yeah…" Ashley nodded her head, "I ran into it for the first time when Alenko dragged me off with him to help him look for a gift for the Commander's birthday. I remember that it was just after she'd become a Spectre and before we met Liara on Therum…"
"Tell us a story, Mommy…" Twesata jibed playfully as she took a snort of the pharmaceutical in her jewelry box before passing it to her lover who then, after taking a snort, passed it on to Nelia who then handed it off to Shelana.
"I'll pass, thanks, but I will take another beer." Shelana declared with a smirk as she handed the box to Ashley who in turn, also taking a pass on snorting the drug, handed it back to its owner. "So…Ash…what happened?"
Chuckling, Ashley replied as she held out her stein, "I'll tell you after Belen tops this off."
The Ferengi bartender complied with the raven-haired former marine's request with a smile, "Your wish is my command. Now…tell us the story…"
Flashback—Alliance Year 2183
"So, LT…" Gunnery Chief asked in a teasing voice as she and her teammate from the Normandy walked down the Citadel promenade, window shopping while passing by the various stores and kiosks that lined their path. "Any thoughts on what you're getting the Skipper for her birthday? It's only a week away, you know."
His face turning a delicate shade of red at the gunnery chief's words, Kaidan stammered back a response, "I'm open to suggestions…" Passing by a perfume kiosk as a commercial for Asura's Breath played, the biotic exclaimed, "What about this? Think she'll like it?"
"Asura's Breath?" Ashley sighed, rolling her eyes as her companion excitedly pointed at the display as they entered the store and approached the sales counter. Sighing, she muttered under her breath, "LT…you really are new at this."
Spoiled Princess—the Present
"Asura's Breath!" Rana sighed, "One of the few things I miss from our old universe." Drawing her lover closer, the lovely asari explained, "It's an asari perfume—very expensive. It interacts with the body's pheromones." Chuckling, she joked, "It's supposed to make the person wearing the perfume irresistible. I don't know about that, but it always turned whoever I was with on when I used it."
"You need to try my perfume sometime." Nelia suggested with a wicked grin, "It's an Edoan fragrance. Supposedly guaranteed to drive your lover wild…not that I've ever had any problems driving whoever I was with mad…"
Winking coyly at her lover, Rana replied, "I might just do that next time we go ashore." Turning her attention back to her fellow castaway, the lovely asari apologized, "I'm sorry I interrupted. Please…continue…you were saying that you and your companion had gone into Elynna's…"
Flashback—Alliance Year 2183
"You sure you want to get her that, LT?" The gunnery chief cautioned her fellow marine. "It's an alien perfume. It could make her sick."
"I assure you our perfumes are all compatible with non-asari biochemistries and are perfectly safe for use by all non-asari—even dextro-species such as turians and quarians." The asari saleslady declared with a slight note of pique in her voice.
Pausing to give the asari a momentary glare, Ashley advised, "LT…take this from not just your fellow marine, but also a woman, don't go with the perfume or even the sampler sets." Lowering her voice, the gunnery sergeant cautioned, "Sir, I might be out of line and I'm not much of a girly-girl…that's really more my sister Abby's thing…but I do know this…you don't want to give perfume…especially a perfume like this…to a woman unless you're really…and I mean really…close to." Taking a deep breath, the gunnery chief blurted out, "Forgive me for asking, Sir, but…are you really…really…close to the Skipper?"
"That's none of your business, Gunnery Chief!" Kaidan angrily snapped back.
Bracing to attention, the Alliance marine crisply responded, "Aye, aye, Sir."
Taking a deep breath, Kaidan exhaled, softening his voice, "Stand at ease, Chief. I should not have snapped at you, but my personal life is just that—mine."
"Yes, Sir." Ashley, still standing at attention, acknowledged.
Heaving another sigh, Kaidan again implored, "Stand easy, Williams. Look…" he pleaded in an effort to ease the tensions, "…maybe you're right. I'm an only child and…to be brutally honest…" cracking a self-effacing grin, the biotic confessed as he offered an olive branch, "I haven't had much…really any…experience buying gifts for the opposite sex. I'd appreciate any help you could give me. "
Taking her superior officer's peace offer, Ashley relaxed her stance. "All right, Sir. If you want to get her something that she'll like but that's not too forward…the first thing we need to do is go to another store. Besides this place being way too pricy for anyone drawing an Alliance paycheck, it's the sort of store you go to when you want to get your spouse or significant other something…special."
"Okay, Chief." Alenko replied, inwardly heaving a sigh of relief, "Where should we go."
Her lips finally turning up in a slight grin, the gunnery chief suggested, "That store we passed by earlier had something I think she'd like. Let's go. Hopefully it's still there."
Spoiled Princess-Present
"So…what did he end up getting her?" Shelana inquired before tossing some nuts into her mouth.
Ashley replied with a grin, "We went to the Souvenir Shop where they were selling aquariums and fish…"
"Oh!" Rana clapped her hands almost like a little girl, "Deleia always kept the store stocked with Illium skald fish and Thessian sunfish. She also had the cutest little rodent. I think she called it a space hamster."
"Yeah." Ashley grinned as she took another swig of beer, "Anyway, I remembered the Skipper once telling me that she liked aquariums, so I helped the LT pick one out and some fish to go in it. She loved it." The former gunnery chief fondly recalled. "Said that those were the most beautiful fish she'd ever seen and set it up in her quarters."
"What did you get her?" Twesata queried, taking a sip of her wine.
"I got her a hoodie…" Ashley recalled with a warm grin, "You know…light pullover sweater with a hood attached."
"Yeah." Nelia nodded her head, "Don't like 'em myself, but I've seen 'em around."
"She had a good birthday party." The ex-marine related to her friends, "Don't ask me how he did it, but our requisitions officer scrounged us a real cake—not one of those processed jobs, you know. Pressly and Chief Adams took up a collection and got her an antique brass telescope bound in leather with the wooden box and everything."
"Sounds like it was fun." Shelana remarked.
Laughing merrily, Ashley reminisced, "Tali…she's the quarian we rescued…she didn't really understand what the fuss was about at first, but got into it once she picked up on it. Garrus got the Skipper a new sniper rifle…don't ask." The former gunnery chief snorted as her audience laughed. "And then there's Wrex…"
"Don't keep us hanging!" Rana chuckled, "What did Wrex give her?"
"At first, he wanted to take her pyjak hunting, but we talked him out of that." Ashley recalled with a big grin, "Then Dr. Chakwas shot down his next idea-a bottle of ryncol. Finally…we talked him into taking her out for dinner to Fishdog's—it's a krogan restaurant on the Citadel—for its all you can eat varren night."
"I was dragged to Fishdog's once for a party and didn't like it." Rana frowned as she took a drink from her snifter. "Krogan food's too heavy and gives me gas."
"It sounds like everyone on your ship were close to each other." Shelana noted as she fetched another beer for herself and her friend.
"Yeah." Ashley nodded her head before confessing, "When I look back on it, it did seem like one of those screwy families you see on holovids. Joker was my wiseass little brother…the LT…I guess you could say he was like the big brother I never had. Lieutenant Pressly was the crusty uncle, while Chief Adams was the nice one. And then there was the Skipper. She was Momma—no question about that."
"I notice you didn't mention the nonhumans on your crew." Nelia noted in a soft voice.
"Yeah." Ashley blushed as she sipped her beer. "As you guys already know, I had some issues to work out back then where that was concerned. The more I think about the way I was then compared to now, the more I realize how stupid and wrong I was…about nonhumans and a lot of other things. I've learned a lot both while I was on the Normandy and later with you guys after Rana and I fell through that crazy rabbit hole and we became part of this wild zoo."
"Fighting beside someone will do that for you." Shelana replied with a slight grin on her face. "And…" the Andorian added with a supportive gesture, "…you had good reason at the time to feel the way you did. What's important is that you're moving beyond it."
"Thanks." Ashley responded with a slight grin, "You girls have helped."
Nelia grinned, speaking for the other nonhumans on the ship as the party began to break up, "We're glad you're with us too because…in case you didn't know it, like it or not, you're a part of our little weird and dysfunctional family."
Raising her mug, Ashley toasted back, "Here's to family. No matter how weird or dysfunctional it is!"
Giggling, Twesata giggled as she allowed her girlfriend to lead her away, "I'll drink to that!"
"Good night, Twes! Rana!" The others shouted back as the Betazoid and her lover left the lounge. "I think I'm going to call it a night too." Shelana announced, rising to her feet. "Starbase 80 tomorrow!"
"Yeah…we better all get some rest." Nelia agreed, "Gonna be a busy day tomorrow. G'Night!"