Trouble with a Capital T

Posted on Mon Jul 4th, 2022 @ 6:00pm by Lieutenant Kevan Dash & Ensign Kateyo Fenn

Mission: Shore Leave
Location: Club Zandamex
Timeline: After the Tournament
1431 words - 2.9 OF Standard Post Measure

Teyo made his way over to the bar and tried to get the attention of one of the barely dressed staff. The club was dark, lit only by neon lights that pulsed and danced along with the music. Teyo nodded his head along with the rhythmic pulsing and the bass of the music that rippled inside the very middle of his bones. All around them, aliens from all over the galaxy packed into the ginormous building; some were dancing, some were enjoying the private areas, some were looking for love, and some were just out for a good night, away from the responsibilities of their day-to-day lives. Teyo fell into the latter category but as always, was open to where the night wanted to take him.

Teyo finally ordered two drinks from the barman and handed one to his unlikely drinking buddy. "Good game today," the Trill said as he clinked his glass against Kevan's. He took a gulp of his beer and placed the glass on the bar. "Thanks for joining me tonight, I honestly didn't expect you to agree."

"Why not? We won, and looked good in the process." Kevan grinned. "I don't know about you, but that deserves celebrating." He took a swig, glad for the fact that it was just Teyo and not any of the others - especially the ones that would have a problem with two guys out on the prowl and looking for some fun with the locals. As wingmen went, he figured Teyo would be the least likely to get him into trouble - or maybe that should be the most likely.

"Well I know that we have had our... run-ins in the past," Teyo said, thinking of all the times he and the other Trill had butt heads. "I'm happy we can put it past us."

"So long as we don't have any wet blankets bringing us down along the way," Kevan agreed, thinking of how there might be a few people on that list. "Honestly, I think some people just have a fetish for spots..." he smirked, starting to toss a glance around the club to see if there were any reasonable prospects on offer.

"I'll drink to that," Teyo said as he gulped another mouthful of his drink. "I've said it before, and I'll say it again, the spots are very sexy." He was also scanning the club, trying to find like-minded people who he and Dash could show their spots off to. He caught a couple of natives, a male and a female, sitting in one of the booths. They looked too similar to be together, and if Teyo had to guess, he would say they were siblings. They were doing shots, which was initially what caught Teyo's attention, they were clearly up for some fun. He nudged Dash and moved his head in the direction of the pair.

Catching his eye, Kevan followed the look and made a quick assessment of his own, coming out with a similar conclusion. An unspoken nod later, and the pair of Trill officers were maneuvering into position.

"Excuse me?" Kevan went first, leaning against the edge of the booth next to the girl. "We're from Starfleet security. We've been hearing reports of someone stunning in the club. I can't think of anyone else fitting that description..."

The woman looked the officers up and down, and then took a sip of her drink. "Your turn," she eventually said in Teyo's direction, clearly not impressed with Kevan's pick-up skills.

"Baby, you’re hot enough to jump-start a Vulcan's pon farr," Teyo said without a moment's hesitation.

The male native laughed, the female looked less impressed than she had at Kev's line. "Oh let them join us Jasti," the male said. "If they're willing to embarrass themselves like this, I'm sure we'll have a good laugh." Jasti rolled her eyes but ushered them into the booth at her brother's request. "I'm Buxtat, this is my sister Jasti," the male said.

"Kateyo and Kevan," Teyo said as he pointed to himself and Dash in turn, "and we're Starfleet's finest," he added with a grin.

"And what are Starfleet's finest doing in a dive club like this?" Jasti asked.

"Celebrating our athletic talents. We beat some local team at Stellager this afternoon, perhaps you heard about it?" Kevan winked as he slid in next to her. "We're kind-of a big deal."

"I heard about that. You lost some people a lot of money betting against you..." Buxtat commented. "But their fault for a bad investment."

"What can I say? We're bound to defy expectations, right?" Kevan grinned.

"Hell yeah we are," Teyo said in response to Kevan's remark as he bro-fived the other Trill.

"You are not like other Starfleet officers I have met in the past," Jasti said as she eyed the men curiously. "Is this a ruse to take advantage of us?"

"Do you have anything worth taking advantage of?" Teyo grinned.

"Maybe they're Trill smugglers?" Buxtat added with a smile. "They warn us about Ferengi and Orions, but maybe the real threat is the Trill?"

"Oh we're plenty dangerous, but not in that way," Kevan said. He winked at Jasti. "Unless, that is, you like dangerous men..."

"This one is very mischievous," Jasti said. She was trying to sound annoyed but it was obvious that she was enjoying the attention.

Teyo was about to say something about engaging his tractor beam when two muscled men, from a species he didn't recognise, approached the four in the booth. From their demeanour, Teyo guessed that they were after a quiet word and he sighed internally. This is not how I wanted the night to go.

"Are these men bothering you Jas?" The bigger of the two asked.

"Friends of yours?" Teyo asked the pair.

"They were here earlier but they were boring so I sent them away," Jasti said in a boring tone.

"We are back now, so your Trillites can go get your worms scanned or something equally disgusting," the slightly smaller one said.

Teyo looked at Kevan, the smallest of smiles on his lips.

"Speaking of worms, your mother was asking me last night - how's the cream working?" Kevan fired back at the newcomer, almost without missing a beat. He could hear Jasti snort into her drink behind him as the first man's face turned a little bit crimson.

"Watch it little man."

"Hey now, let's stop talking about your hobbies, there's a lady present," Kevan continued, making a deliberate motion towards the man standing next to him.

"And for the record, we are just Trill, from the planet Trill, maybe pick up a galactic map once in a while," Teyo said, a wide grin on his face.

"I'll show you galactic map," one of the beefcakes grunted as he punched Teyo straight on the nose.

It wasn't a clean punch but it had caught Teyo enough to whip his head back a bit. Teyo paid the man in kind and sent a punch in his direction, putting his full weight behind it. The alien stumbled backwards and crashed into a table full of drinks.

A little distracted, Kevan felt the punch to his gut before he saw it. The wind almost knocked out of him for a second, his training kicked in and he retorted with a jab of his own. As a second swing came in he grabbed the wrist, twisted and then turned it into a little judo throw in a similar direction to his compatriot.

"Hey!" At least one of the bar's staff were already making moves to intervene.

"I was just starting to enjoy myself..." Kevan sighed, feeling the rib shot but bearing through it.

The alien who had punched Teyo was clambering to his feet, he looked ready to dive straight on Teyo, but luckily the bar staff and bar security were already descending on the group. Teyo raised his hands in surrender, the last thing he needed was for Finn to give him a formal reprimand over a silly bar fight. "Don't worry, we're gone," he said before they had a chance to kick him and Kevan out.

"I've never had four men fight over me before," Jasti said, a little smugly.

"I wasn't fighting for you," Teyo said as he nursed his bruised cheek, "I was fighting for him," he pointed at Buxtat who blushed slightly. "Come on, let's get out of here, a private party of four is way more fun anyways."