07-18-2024, 01:36 AM
Beka wasn’t really sure how to describe what she was feeling. The redhead in the dragon dress definitely couldn’t fade into the background but she had felt like she wanted to. Things with Mara had gone from zero to 100 and then back to zero again so fast the doctor’s head was still spinning. But most importantly, they’d patched things up.
That’s big. I don’t have to spend the next however many months looking over my shoulder. Really did not want to have to deal with another Chief of Security who couldn’t stand the sight of me. Been there before. That sucked…
“Okay everyone! It’s time for even better fun! I’m going to get us started with Karaoke!! Lets crank it up!”
Ju’s timing was impeccable, and she took the stage with a joyful rendition of a song Beka was sure she’d heard before but couldn’t place. All the same, it was tough not to be impressed with just how contagious the young Engineer’s enthusiasm was.
Sydesh looked over as the group was joined by another. Silently she judged his style choices - sneakers and a blazer was a combination that hadn’t worked in the 21st century, and it didn’t work any better now - but he seemed pleasant enough as he made his introductions. Right up until…
“You know, a few weeks ago I did a study on how drunk people returned to their quarters at night. The results were staggering!”
Mara groaned audibly.
“That was terrible,” the Bandaran said.
“Yeah, it was. You should definitely take a hike.” Beka joined in with a waspish grin. “I’d hate for you to ramble on. But that pun was the right moment to walk off.” There wasn’t a pun war anywhere that the redhead would back down from.
"Will you be singing some Karaoke, Tarek?" Aeryn asked.
“If I may? I have someone in mind for next!”
Beka was genuinely surprised to see Ensign Halee, the tiny Bolian woman having picked out a shimmering purple dress for the occasion. The doctor had had a few singing lessons with Halee and felt like she’d made some progress, but that had dropped off since her injury and she hadn’t picked it back up yet.
“Hey Halee. Good to see you.” Calleja was watchful, apparently suspecting some kind of trap.
“Hello Mara dearie,” Halee said with a beaming smile, drawing a wince from Calleja. “And Beka too,” she continued. “Doctor, you should come and see me more! You were doing so well. Although now I get to meet Commander Miller, I understand why your priorities might not be singing,” the Bolian teased with a curtsey to the Chief Science Officer. “But you can make it up to me. I’m here for a reason…”
Beka was laughing by this point and missed the pointed gesture between Halee and Mara.
“Remember how I told you that my next goal was to get you to perform in public?” Halee said. “And, well, here we are!”
“Oh no, I am not getting involved in this again!” Beka said sharply, putting herself on the other side of Aeryn from the glowering Mara. “I made that suggestion and she would have broken my legs if Aeryn wasn’t here. But for what it’s worth, I agree. I would love to hear this secret voice.”
“Don’t push your luck,” Calleja threw back, but there was no menace in it. “If you don’t mind, me and Halee need to have a little chat.”
The Bolian was forcibly steered away by the Security Chief, and Beka turned back to Aeryn and Tarek.
“OK, that was unexpected!” she said. “Mara dearie? I’m saving that one for when she’s got a mouthful of drink! Although I’m probably best off making sure I’ve got a good head start and a clear exit route,” the redhead joked.
There was a heated exchange between Calleja and Halee, and then Sydesh was gobsmacked to see the Amazonian Security Chief actually head for the stage.
“Speaking of unexpected…” Beka said.
After all the build-up, Mara’s opening was actually difficult to listen to. The lack of confidence really showed, and Beka saw the all-too-familiar signs of self-doubt and frustration starting to build on the woman’s face.
I feel for her. All that, and she’s flaming out.
But then Mara closed her eyes and hit the chorus, and Beka felt a gentle ‘wow…’ escape her lips. The rest of the performance was every bit as good as Halee had told her it would be, and the redhead was shaking her head in amazement as the song wound down.
“Where the hell has she been hiding that?” Beka asked Aeryn. “Like, sheesh! If I could sing like that you’d never get me off the mic.”
Up on the stage, Calleja moved onto a second song with a brief introduction. When she started rapping in Korean, that was enough of a departure, but then when she broke out the dance moves, Sydesh burst out laughing and applauded loudly.
“Come on, get up here if you know the moves!” Mara called. “And if you don’t, what the hell, try it anyway. Beka? You owe me! Bring Aeryn! Ju? You gotta know how this goes…”
“Oh, it’s on!” Beka said. “Come on, let’s go! We can do this,” she said, gently nudging Aeryn.
As Mara worked her way through the next verse, Beka led the way to the stage, hoping that others would follow her lead. The doctor had confidence to burn lately and she took up a position behind the singing Security officer, ready for the chorus.
I think I remember how this goes…
== Anyone else want to join the Artemis dance line?
==
That’s big. I don’t have to spend the next however many months looking over my shoulder. Really did not want to have to deal with another Chief of Security who couldn’t stand the sight of me. Been there before. That sucked…
“Okay everyone! It’s time for even better fun! I’m going to get us started with Karaoke!! Lets crank it up!”
Ju’s timing was impeccable, and she took the stage with a joyful rendition of a song Beka was sure she’d heard before but couldn’t place. All the same, it was tough not to be impressed with just how contagious the young Engineer’s enthusiasm was.
Sydesh looked over as the group was joined by another. Silently she judged his style choices - sneakers and a blazer was a combination that hadn’t worked in the 21st century, and it didn’t work any better now - but he seemed pleasant enough as he made his introductions. Right up until…
“You know, a few weeks ago I did a study on how drunk people returned to their quarters at night. The results were staggering!”
Mara groaned audibly.
“That was terrible,” the Bandaran said.
“Yeah, it was. You should definitely take a hike.” Beka joined in with a waspish grin. “I’d hate for you to ramble on. But that pun was the right moment to walk off.” There wasn’t a pun war anywhere that the redhead would back down from.
"Will you be singing some Karaoke, Tarek?" Aeryn asked.
“If I may? I have someone in mind for next!”
Beka was genuinely surprised to see Ensign Halee, the tiny Bolian woman having picked out a shimmering purple dress for the occasion. The doctor had had a few singing lessons with Halee and felt like she’d made some progress, but that had dropped off since her injury and she hadn’t picked it back up yet.
“Hey Halee. Good to see you.” Calleja was watchful, apparently suspecting some kind of trap.
“Hello Mara dearie,” Halee said with a beaming smile, drawing a wince from Calleja. “And Beka too,” she continued. “Doctor, you should come and see me more! You were doing so well. Although now I get to meet Commander Miller, I understand why your priorities might not be singing,” the Bolian teased with a curtsey to the Chief Science Officer. “But you can make it up to me. I’m here for a reason…”
Beka was laughing by this point and missed the pointed gesture between Halee and Mara.
“Remember how I told you that my next goal was to get you to perform in public?” Halee said. “And, well, here we are!”
“Oh no, I am not getting involved in this again!” Beka said sharply, putting herself on the other side of Aeryn from the glowering Mara. “I made that suggestion and she would have broken my legs if Aeryn wasn’t here. But for what it’s worth, I agree. I would love to hear this secret voice.”
“Don’t push your luck,” Calleja threw back, but there was no menace in it. “If you don’t mind, me and Halee need to have a little chat.”
The Bolian was forcibly steered away by the Security Chief, and Beka turned back to Aeryn and Tarek.
“OK, that was unexpected!” she said. “Mara dearie? I’m saving that one for when she’s got a mouthful of drink! Although I’m probably best off making sure I’ve got a good head start and a clear exit route,” the redhead joked.
There was a heated exchange between Calleja and Halee, and then Sydesh was gobsmacked to see the Amazonian Security Chief actually head for the stage.
“Speaking of unexpected…” Beka said.
After all the build-up, Mara’s opening was actually difficult to listen to. The lack of confidence really showed, and Beka saw the all-too-familiar signs of self-doubt and frustration starting to build on the woman’s face.
I feel for her. All that, and she’s flaming out.
But then Mara closed her eyes and hit the chorus, and Beka felt a gentle ‘wow…’ escape her lips. The rest of the performance was every bit as good as Halee had told her it would be, and the redhead was shaking her head in amazement as the song wound down.
“Where the hell has she been hiding that?” Beka asked Aeryn. “Like, sheesh! If I could sing like that you’d never get me off the mic.”
Up on the stage, Calleja moved onto a second song with a brief introduction. When she started rapping in Korean, that was enough of a departure, but then when she broke out the dance moves, Sydesh burst out laughing and applauded loudly.
“Come on, get up here if you know the moves!” Mara called. “And if you don’t, what the hell, try it anyway. Beka? You owe me! Bring Aeryn! Ju? You gotta know how this goes…”
“Oh, it’s on!” Beka said. “Come on, let’s go! We can do this,” she said, gently nudging Aeryn.
As Mara worked her way through the next verse, Beka led the way to the stage, hoping that others would follow her lead. The doctor had confidence to burn lately and she took up a position behind the singing Security officer, ready for the chorus.
I think I remember how this goes…
== Anyone else want to join the Artemis dance line?
==