That's How We Roll

Posted on Thu Jul 20th, 2023 @ 8:04pm by Lieutenant Commander Rayek trLhoell & Lieutenant Commander Klarth
Edited on on Sat Jul 29th, 2023 @ 6:18am

2,729 words; about a 14 minute read

Mission: Short Treks
Location: Holodeck - Bowling Alley
Timeline: Day 10 (Evening- after Alpha Shift)

With the impending arrival of this dimension's Enterprise scheduled for early tomorrow morning, Rayek had contacted Klarth and Commander Arkyn and offered a social entertainment to the pair. This might be his last evening in relative freedom for awhile, spending it alone was not appealing to the Romulan.

At receiving their agreement, Rayek double checked that the ship's holodeck database had the program he was looking for. Yes, there it was - a holodeck program recreation of the original Enterprise's (NCC-1701) bowling alley. It seemed appropriate to play on those lanes.

(see https://memory-alpha.fandom.com/wiki/Bowling_alley )

Recalling that bowling shirts were an important aspect of the game, Rayek quickly programmed individual shirts for him and the others.

( https://i.imgur.com/NjIZvBN - Ull's shirt )
( https://imgur.com/zsVt71O - Klarth's shirt )
( https://imgur.com/foT9r0P - Rayek's shirt )

When it was time, Rayek arrived a few minutes early to set up the holodeck program and even adjusted the settings for the program to actually serve alcohol. Then he waited for the other two to arrive.


Ull shows up to the holodeck at the agreed upon time. He lets out a small chuckle when he sees the bowling shirt appear on him after he enters. He had bowled some in the academy, but it had been a while. He walks over to Rayek and offers his hand for a handshake. "Lieutenant Commander tr'Lhoell, thank you for assisting me in my duties while I have been indisposed. Feel free to call me Ull."

At Ull's arrival, Rayek stood up and met the man with a slight bow - a lingering habit from his time in the Empire, however he straighten quickly and accepted the Commander's handshake. Rayek's grip was firm but not aggressive. Two shakes then he released the Commander's hand. "You are welcome, sir." The term of respect was spoken out of habit. "I'm glad I was available to assist."

It was notable to the Romulan that the Commander offered out his given name. Names were powerful in Romulan culture. He wondered if the Commander knew this.

"Ull, as this is an off-duty gathering, please call me Rayek." With that settled Rayek gestured Ull towards the wall of shoes while he tried to determine the man's familiarity with the sport. "Have you bowled before?"

Ull walked over and selected a pair of shoes that fit him. "It has been a long time since I have bowled. I did it often enough while I was in the Academy, but just haven't found as much time since being on ships. You?"

"I was introduced to the sport three years ago as a team building exercise. I haven't played in over year." The year he'd spent among the Romulan Free State. "I enjoy getting a turkey. It is very satisfying."

Ull smiled. "My roommate at the Academy was the one who introduced me to it." He pauses momentarily gathering his thoughts. "Did you serve a security post before. You seemed to take to it rather well."

Rayek, waited for the Orion to select first before, finding a pair in his own size. Back in his own time, he'd had his own pair replicated. His 'Lucky Shoes' Tess called them. Rayek didn't believe in luck, but he did agree that because they fit so well that his scores did seem to remain consistently high - nearly every one over 200.

At the Commander's question Rayek nodded as he sat on the bench to tie his shoes. "Yes actually. Shortly after I left the Empire, I attempted to join Starfleet as an officer - back in my dimension. I was consistently refused until I changed tactic and attempted to enlist - that - Starfleet Command seemed willing to allow."

Rayek didn't have any bitterness towards their refusal. He doubted his people would have been willing to accept a foreign officer into the Romulan Star Navy had the roles been reversed. It was too huge a risk.

"I was put through 'Boot Camp'," Rayek continued. He didn't offer up that because of one course he was held back nearly a year and half - THAT was too embarrassing. "Then assigned as sec/tac crewman on the USS Challenger. In the space of a year, my Captain promoted me through the ranks from Crewman to Chief Petty, because he recognized my talents were wasted as merely an enlisted crewman. A visiting Admiral also recognized this. After that first year, I was offered the opportunity to challenge the Starfleet Fleet Academy exam and upon passing promoted directly to Lieutenant Commander and offered the position of First Officer of a newly built space station in the Gamma Quadrant, where I also held the role of Chief Security until an appropriate officer could be found to fill the role. So yes, I quite a bit of experience in Security and Tactical." And that was just listing his Starfleet experience. He didn't touch on his 5 year with the Romulan Star Navy or his time the Tal Shiar.

With his shoes tied, Rayek moved to check the balls for one that was weighted 'just right' for him.

Ull also moved to select the right ball. "Well, again I am glad you were here. My career hasn't been that fast, but I have been with security/tactical the whole time as well. I look forward to working with you." He picked up a ball and tested the weight and balance before putting it down and selecting a different one to test. "If I may ask, why did you join up with Starfleet?"

The Romulan only needed to test a couple balls before he found one that fit his fingers nicely and that seemed well weighted. He noted that the Commander did likewise as he expressed his appreciation of Rayek's presence. Then came the question Rayek had been expecting from the Security Chief for a while now - Why had he joined Starfleet? It was very valid question for someone in charge of Security to ask; however because of his concern for temporal contamination, Rayek was limited on what he could say Having selected his ball he placed it on the hopper to wait for Klarth, then sat down before answering.

"Initially, I left the Empire at the prompting of a woman - a human doctor. She was also a Starfleet officer. I met her during my tour of duty as an ambassador's personal guard. The Ambassador had a prolonged illness which she had been attempting to treat - but he eventually died. During the length of his treatment I grew close to the doctor and mistakenly thought that there was something... romantic between us. So rather than return to the Empire where as a former prisoner, my future was uncertain," Slated for execution could be considered uncertain, right? "I instead sought to defect. The Federation accepted my request not long after, and I joined Starfleet in the hopes of rising to a position at least equal to her own so that I could confess my feelings to her - with something at least to offer."

That he'd been completely mistaken about Saqa7 and where her interests lay had been heartbreaking to learn at first, especially after 3 and a half years of close friendship. He still was baffled at how he'd been so blind. But in the end, it had worked out for the best; with Tess plotting with Saqa7 to open his eyes to her affections. Rayek chuckled to himself at the manipulation. Women could be quite devious.

"It didn't work out between her and I, but through her I was introduced to my wife - who was also a Starfleet Medical officer at the time of my promotion to Katra Station. We Romulans will often state there is no such thing as 'luck', nor do we believe in 'fate'. But such concepts are hard for me to deny when it comes to Tess. I feel blessed by the Elements for the opportunity to be her husband."

Ull set his ball down in the hopper as well and then sat as he listened to Rayek's story. "I am glad that it worked out for you in the end."

Ull paused only for a brief second before continuing. "I joined up with Starfleet to get away from my family, and try to make something different of myself." He let out a small sigh as some memories came to the forefront of his mind. "My Uncle was a renowned pirate, and celebrated by a lot of Orions. I have a good chunk of my family that helps out on the side, and even when I was younger I had helped out, though it was only ever moving goods and stores. I was too young to join up with the ship's crew back then. I thought that I would join my Uncle and bring pride to my family when I was old enough. As I got older though the lens that was over my eyes and made me glorify piracy began to lift, until I ended up despising it. I realized that I wanted to help people instead. Once I was old enough I applied to Starfleet and I can't began to tell you the pride and happiness I felt once they accepted me. I pursued a career in Security to help protect those around me." He stops abruptly as though he had thought about continuing and then stopped himself instead.

That Ull offered up some of his own past made it seem that this was an actual conversation and not a disguised interrogation. So far, there was only one person on the ship that Rayek had told his complete story to - that was the counselor - who by her own rules shouldn't be allowed to divulge anything that they spoke of.

Most were aware that he was from an alternate dimension - however few were privy that his alternate dimension was ahead by just over 15 years. Klarth, he had told of his telepathy. And the Captain as recently as earlier today... It was possible the other telepaths on the ship, were aware of his ability but only if they had been attempting to read him - since he was trained to keep his mind constantly shielded. One of the many things taught him during his time with the Tal'Shiar.

As he thought back, the Romulan realized his history with the Tal'Shiar hadn't even come up when he was in conversation with the Captain. Rayek had been prepared at the time of their talk a few days prior to explain it all, but she'd simply trusted to Hadenbeer's assessment of him. He wondered if that information would change her trust in him? However, the longer he waited the more abused that trust might be, if it were to be discovered.

"I can relate to that sense of pride at being accepted by Starfleet - even when they only accepted me as enlisted at first. It was a start... and I could understand their reasons for distrust. There is much in my past that would have given them cause for distrust." Rayek commented... opening the door for questioning. He might not feel comfortable simple divulging the information... but his own mnhei'sahe would require him to answer honestly if questioned.

Ull sat in thought as Rayek was talking. "I think I was lucky when they approved my application. My own past has reason to cause distrust and there already aren't a lot of Orions in Starfleet, at least not that I have seen." He could see that Rayek was ready to answer more questions if necessary, but this wasn't an interrogation, and Rayek had given him zero reason to distrust him up to this point.

Rayek was left hanging, waiting for the inevitable questioning... but the Orion took a different tangent. This puzzled Rayek. Shouldn't the Chief of Security want to know what manner of security risks his Romulan underling presented? Rayek certainly would, had the roles been reversed. In fact, Rayek had already tried accessing the Orion's personnel file to learn all he could of the Chief, but being junior to Commander Arkyn meant that Rayek's security access to his superior was limited.

This left Rayek once more with the unwelcome decision of whether or not to be upfront about his past and abilities with the Commander. He would learn eventually - that was a certainty. But after a moment's consideration, Rayek couldn't think of a casual way to bring it up in conversation. So instead, he kept the conversation light. "I knew of one on the station I was First Officer of. Her name was Jada and she was one of the most effective fighters I'd ever met."

Klarth came in and said "Gentleman, sorry I'm late.... Let's get started! This game is so much fun. I just imagine the ball is the head of one of my enemies and that the pins are my enemies running towards me with bat'leth's drawn."

"Glad you could make it." The Romulan greeted. He chuckled at the Klingon's warrior attitude and imagery, not finding it at all surprising. Pointing the Klingon towards the wall of bowling shoes, Rayek looked to Ull. "I'll play anchor." Meaning he would bowl last. "Ull, start us off. I'll keep score."

Klarth found a pair of shoes that fit him and said "These shoes may contain my feet but they can not stop the power of my throws"

The Klingon's boastful statement prompted a laugh from Rayek, who sat down at the scoring table.

Ull stepped up to bowl. He had a lighter ball and when he threw it he put a little bit of spin on it. It hit the pins and only knocked down 6 of them. On his second shot he put too much spin on it and missed the 4 that were left behind. "I guess I have quite a bit of dust to knock off."

Rayek counted the score and recorded it carefully. "Klarth, you are up next. Show us these powerful throws of yours."

Klarth threw the bowing ball down towards the pins, it rolled with great force and hit the pins dead center. All but one of the pins fell, the last one had been hit but held on for a second, would it topple or would Klarth need to try for a spare? The next second would decide.

Seeing the finally pin wobble, the Romulan half rose out of his seat, anticipating the imminent strike. The pin gave a last teeter before falling over and Rayek raised his fist in celebrate. "YES! Nicely done, Klarth! That's a strike." He marked and X in the box. It was now Rayek's turn.

In scoring, Klarth's next two balls would be counted towards the strike as well.

Rayek left the scoring table to pick up his ball and hefted ball so that it was held just below eye level, sighting down the lane. He aimed not for the pins at the end but took in the lane markings. As he began his approach, he swung the ball down and to his right side since he bowled right-handed. As he neared the foul line, his swing moved forward and he released the ball with a slight spin to it. It rolled forward with maybe half the power that Klarth's throw had but his aim was precise. It hit to the left of the head pin, with just enough force to knock down nine of the pins. Unlike Klarth, Rayek wasn't fortunate enough to have the last pin even wobble. It had been missed completely... the far left back pin.

This was disappointing to the Romulan, who felt a spur of competitiveness towards the Klingon with his beginning strike. "Seems I'm rusty as well." Rayek commented to Ull. He waited for the pins to be reset and his ball to be returned before attempting to at least get a spare. But like Ull, Rayek put too much spin on his ball and it ended up in the gutter just inches before the final pin. So close!!! The Romulan's expression turned sour for a moment in self-criticism before he blanked it and returned to the scoring table.

"First round, Klarth is in the lead with his strike. Ull, you are up again."


To Be Continued ....

 

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