Star Trek: Starbase 777 - market-square

The closer to the edge of the gardens that the team got, the louder the noise from outside became. It appeared that while the gardens themselves was a place of serenity – or seminarity maybe – outside was where things changed. A pavement from the gardens led down into a market square, bustling with far more people than the team had encountered before. It appeared that the Undine here were working, pretending to be normal vendors. There were food stalls, people selling hand-made crafts and ornaments… And there were already eyes on the newcomers. New people to sell things to!

"Oh...food...would one of you do a scan to make sure its edible? I won't lie when I say I could use a snack...to be tactically prepared of course." He said as they approached the market, and the different smells of food hit him all at once.

Were it physically possible for a person to have their eyes turn into physical cash registers and make a cartoon sound effect, Vara’s would have. “On no I didn’t bring any money!” She said with a smirk as she lightly moved forward. “I’ve been meaning to learn about conflict resolution-“

Copia did exactly as she was asked and pulled out her tricorder to scan the food around them and see if it was edible. Looked like... "Affirmative, sir. The food in this market is displaying organic levels of vitamins and minerals sufficiently in their chemical makeup, concluding that they are indeed edible."

He resisted the urge to facepalm and instead whipped around to look up at Vara with a deadpan expression. "Please for the love of all that's holy resist the urge to...illicitly acquire goods...pretty please, for me?" He said, blinking his eyes in a cartoonish exaggerated manner, hoping that sarcasm would be a way to get through to the intelligence officer.

23:38

"Thank you Lieutenant...good to know" He added on as they troopered ahead.

It took a minute for Copia to process what Vara was on about, but when she did, Copia ensured that she would display proper responsibility. "I will ensure she does not fall victim to such urges, sir," Copia said respectfully before turning to Vara. "Vara, no stealing. That's an order."

“Aw Copia, normally I tend not to listen to uniformed people, but I’ll make an exception for you.” She said as she raised her hands. “Fine, no stealing! I’ll be a good gal for today.”

"You think the gold on the outfit could be used for money?" Allan asked, tilting his head as he walked up to one of the stalls. "I'll find out? And yea, likewise, I'll be a good boy," he said with a little salute thrown Tevis's way as he walked up to a stall and asked them if they had any food available for the exchange of a small piece of the gold on his outfit.

Copia thought quickly. "Tell you what? When we get back to the station, I'll let you have one of my dresses or pairs of heels that I have from formal events! So you have something you can look forward to after the mission." (edited)

As the away team started making their way through the market – that really was bustling, making it difficult for them to stay together and also hear one another over the noise – there was a shout from a nearby merchant. “Hey, you lot!” A Klingon shouted and pointed to them, and for a moment it looked like they might be in trouble… “…Look like you could be doing with a fine meal of freshly cooked gagh!” Meanwhile, Allan’s enquiry to one of the other vendors was given a negative. Unfortunately, they only used GPL.

Vara beamed as she leaped forward with a Cheshire grin. “I keep a fine collection in my quarters, but I’ll take it! I like gifts just as much as I like doing…other things. Your a sweetheart Copia!.” She said before moving to the vendor. “Ooh! You make a fine meal it looks like!” She said with a hum.

"A meal would be nice! But, are you sure its sanitary? There's no way something smelling that foul could be fresh!" He exclaimed, falling into the 'argumentative Tellarite' trope in the hope of getting a free meal for the team.

The Klingon chef seemed to be happy with Vara’s response, but significantly the opposite with Tevis’. It didn’t actually smell foul, but Tevis’s assessment was probably better than Vara’s. Given that gagh was meant to be eaten alive and this ‘man’ had cooked it until it was piping hot, it definitely wasn’t that good of a meal. “Of course it’s sanitary! It came straight from, uh-“ He scrambled to tug a cover over the replicator behind the stall. “-the gagh catchers this morning!”

Ah, so it seems they'd run into someone who was as much of a rookie as he'd pretended to have been back in the garden...this could be either a way to get some information, or some chow, either way, it was certainly an avenue to explore. "Even a common idiot would know you don't cook gagh! What are you, some kind or conman?!" He exclaimed, before leaning forward and leveling the 'Klingon' with a conspiratorial grin. "Perhaps someone didn't do their research as well as they could have? It really would be a shame if I had to report this to your supervisor..." He said, before pulling back and offering them a understanding smile. "With gagh cooked this poorly, the least you could do is offer us a sample! So we can see if it is truly as good as you say!"

Once again... not a word. Not one single solitary word from Copia. She needed to learn and she needed to observe.

“Oh! and maybe something else fun! Like money!” She said from behind Tevis. “I just really need to buy a gift for my girlfriend, and it’d be a shame if I reported to your supervisor that you would be caught within seconds on a real market!”

”I’m not going to give you my money!” He exclaimed. It appeared that the positions had swapped and now Tevis was the favourite, not Vara. “I – uh – I can get you the uncooked gagh if you’d prefer! Don’t tell the supervisors, please.” He now sounded very timid for a Klingon. “I’ve finally gone a week without reverting, if I mess up again I don’t know what they’ll do with me… Probably send me downstairs and make me oil the thermionic generators or something boring!”

And all Copia could do was facepalm. There was no amount of facepalm that one could facepalm that described how much facepalm Copia was facepalming. She already gave Vara an order not to steal, she didn't want to reprimand her friend for this! Hopefully Tevis would say something about it instead?

After a while of asking the vendor if there really wasn't anything at all he could give instead of GPL, including 'acclaimed goods and services including but not limited to:' and a whole following list - turned out none of them ... so eventually, he went back to the group, tilting his head curiously at the seemingly chaotic scene going on. "Hi, um... is it ok?" He asked to the group, looking from Tevis to Vara and then the gagh... cooker? Everyone knew gagh wasn't supposed to be cooked.

Tevis leaned forward and offered the 'Klingon' a soft, understanding smile, mouthing 'no worries, I won't tell', before responding in a tone full of gruff bravado once again, speaking loud enough that the Undine's coworkers and supervisors would seem impressed from the 'chef's' abilities at playing his role. "As you should! I suppose you do have honor then, as there is nothing more honorable than attoning for your mistake!" He said, once again throwing the 'Klingon' a wink, and gesturing for the team for join him, knowing they likely wouldn't get a snack break again for the duration of the mission. "Let us eat! And perhaps not get sick from this vile gagh!" He bellowed, playing in to the rouse.

There was a sigh of relief from the Klingon, shoulders sagging as he exhaled. “Oh, thank you,” he spoke to Tevis. “I’ll get better at this thing, I swear! Here-“ he took a large bowl of cooked gagh and placed it into Tevis’ hands. At least it looked well spiced. “It’s not as if we normally eat anyway. Maybe to us it’ll still taste okay.”

Vara saw Copia’s facepalm and blew a kiss. “You love me.” She whispered in a joking manner before sitting down. Lightly scanning the shop for anything….she could grab,

Tevis lowered his voice as he responded. "It takes time! What matters is that you're getting there!" He said, before taking a moment to consider why he was encouraging the enemy...force of habit he supposed. With a shrug, he took a couple of bites and passed it along to the next member of the team that could use a snack.

Well... Copia did love Vara, after all, so she wasn't wrong there. But Vara certainly did have the quality of elusive-little-shit-ness that Copia actually quite admired. She wished she had that quality, being able to evade so many different people and security systems without being detected. Copia had the feeling Vara would certainly teach her many useful skills, besides the fact Vara was a thief. And when Copia looked at Vara scanning the shop for anything she could grab, Copia realized what was going on. Instead of chastising her, Copia very softly, and very discreetly, whispered to Vara. "Vara... please," Copia said to her. "If not for anyone in uniform, then just do it for me. You and I have gone through too much heartbreak and hurt to forego this mission. I promise you, whichever dress or pair of heels you want that is mine, you can have it. I promise. But please... please, not now. I'm begging you. You could get hurt or captured... and I can't lose you." Copia made sure she was quiet and didn't attract any unnecessary attention to herself in doing this. Copia's eyes were filled with that same fear and emotion that she had while speaking with Undwari in the long term brig. The same fear she felt thinking she was responsible for the Undine setting off the auto-destruct.

The Klingon chef seemed content with Tevis’s reassurance and he headed back behind his own stall, leaving the away team be. Copia and Vara’s conversation might not have been overheard, but it didn’t stop someone from catching Vara perusing the other stalls. “Oi,” a new person called – a Rigellian, presumably one of the other merchants. “You in the purple. I’ll trade you anything in this stall for that funky outfit of yours. I like it.”

"I do think the purple one is the most funky. Out of all of them," Allan commented, looking at Tevis and smiling as he took some of the gagh, staring at it for about two seconds before eating some, chewing it and grimacing a little before he swallowed. "Tastes... fine," he said, despite his personal opinion.

Copia's eyes darted to the Rigellian, offering anything in the stall to Vara. Fuck... she attracted too much unnecessary attention! Just like she was ordered not to! She didn't mean it, all she did was try and talk Vara out of stealing anything! Copia played out the different scenarios in her head - Vara going over, trading her outfit for anything in the stall, only to be captured or hurt. Or, Vara saying no, and the merchant not taking no for an answer to get their hands on the outfit at all costs. With that, Copia shot a look at Tevis for his direction. She did not want the decision to fall on her.

The Rigellian quirked an eyebrow ridge as Copia looked over as well. “The red’s nice too,” he commented. “I’d take that one instead, if you want to trade. Got fiiiine items from all over the Alpha and Beta Quadrants. Even the Ferengi can’t get their hands on wares as good as these. C’mon over, have a look.”

He looked towards Copia and shrugged. "Use your best judgement Lieutenant. I would think in a situation like this one, you would be able to put those command skills to good use!" He said with a slight smirk, not bothering to hide the slightest bit of teasing in his tone. If Copia truly ended up needing help, he would step in, but for now, he was content to share a snack with Allan and let Vara and Copia do what they think best, figuring two young officers like them could use the experience...after all, whats the worst that could happen.....

Copia was about to say yes to the Rigellian's offer before... wait... there was something that... oh no. Ohhhh no... if that Rigellian wasn't a Rigellian, meaning they were a Undine in disguise, they could use both Copia and Vara's uniforms combined with their shapeshifting abilities to pass as Copia and Vara without being detected. So, Copia decided against it, remaining safe and keeping everything under control for both herself and Vara. "They're not for sale or for trade, sorry," Copia said to the Rigellian.

The Rigellian looked disappointed, but nodded his head. He propped both his arms up on the surface of his stall and leaned forwards to keep chatting to the other two. “Dang, that’s a shame. Could you at least tell me where you got ‘em from? Specific replicator pattern? You guys are all matching – you going to some specific training session or something?”

Copia didn't really know what to say to that, so she improvised on the spot, while sticking to facts that she already knew, or things she could easily remember from looking it up in the past. "Dunno, really. Wasn't my doing. I just got handed the clothes and I put them on. I'd have to ask my supervisor, they know a thing or two about fashion, if I say so myself." *Technically, Copia wasn't lying. She did just receive her uniform, she didn't hand-sew or make it from scratch. Plus, while Tevis wasn't technically her supervisor, he was in this mission, so she was telling the truth. But, she didn't specify that Tevis was her supervisor, so she could leave it open and just let the Rigellian wonder. * (edited)

She hummed as she stood next to Copia with a sigh, “Yeah it was a real spur of the moment deal.” She looked to Copia and gave her a squeeze on the hand to indicate she’ll be on her best behaviour. “For you,” She muttered before returning to the conversation. “To be honest, this is kind of a tacky outfit! I’m not sure if you’d get many buyers!”

”Ahh, that’s fair,” the Rigellian mused, seemingly content with Copia’s explanation. He was a bit disappointed in truth: how come he got placed as some merchant while these guys got to go around looking cool? He figured they must be training to take the place as Starfleet officers, and that’s why they got the fancy outfits and equipment. “You think it’s kind of tacky? How come? Bit scratchy maybe?” At that he actually scratched at his neck, pulling his collar aside with the other hand. “I don’t like this whole ‘clothes’ business.”

*Vara blinked, she would probably make a tacky joke if he was more her type, but she continued * “Yeah same bruv, it’s odd! The natural form is so much better!”

Lama, who had been wandering behind the group finally got his senses about him and skipped over so he could see what everyone else was doing. He got weird vibes from this whole place, it was really not the best time to be an empath, but this was his chance to prove his family's mental training was not in vain. "Actually I like the outfit, I look badass and of course I'm sexy all the time," He responded right after Vara with a cheeky grin.

Welp. Better Lama do it than herself or Vara. Of course, Copia cared about Lama. But Lama was security, he had experience with this sort of thing. So! To take the attention away from Copia and Vara, Copia let Lama take the spotlight on this. (edited)

“Natural form is so much better, you’re right.” It would appear that now, instead of searching for their generator, away team one was having snacks and chilling with some random fake Rigellian instead. “Even if that outfit is scratchy, it does look kind of sexy, you’re right. But if you like it then you wouldn’t be interested in my offer, right? Trade your outfit for any of my wares? That purple suit is nicest, but the yellow one would do.”

It just dawned on Copia that they were most likely behind the other teams in getting to the generator. She needed to think of an escape plan, and fast, and one that wouldn't be conspicuous. "Say, do you have any specific hours of operation? We just stopped for a snack, any chance we can come back another time if we change our minds?"

“Please come on, I’m the sexiest here.” She with a smile to Lama. “For sure, it’s not that we’re not interested at all, just not right now!”

"Oh you wanna go-- i mean yeah, we can both be sexy," No arguing during a mission, that was Lama's first rule! He wanted to argue with Vara, because he was clearly the sexiest, but no, they had a mission to complete. "Yeah, we'll pass with the trading for now, we gotta uhh, wander more," Lama told the Rigellian as he leaned to the side, hoping to get a view of their back. No reason aside from he wanted to see the two bumps of their spines! Not to be that guy, but Lama was very interested in the spines. He also opened up his mind a little, wondering if maybe he could sense any telepathic activity. He was not a full telepath, but if any Undine wanted to communicate with him, well, he was practically leaving his door open. With all the 'mess' hidden, Lama made sure actual details about his life and such were hidden behind mental walls. The last thing he wanted was the Undine to see the time he performed his own rendition of 'Warbird Attack Patterns' for his final at the Tal Shiar training Academy. It was the most cringe moment of his life.

There was a thumbs up from the Rigellian. “You can both be sexy with your funky, scratchy outfits. I’m closing up shop at about half four, if the sun keeps its course and doesn’t glitch out and make it night time early. Stop by any time. Honestly – you’ll like the wares.” He held up a necklace that looked a little tacky. It was the sort of thing you might buy when on holiday and going through a tourist shop. “I’ll keep the best aside for you guys.”

“Aw thank you sweetheart! Come now Copia, let’s get going.” She said as she grabbed her hand and tugged her away. “Let’s stick together, don’t wanna be picked off and separated.”

Copia gave a nod to the Rigellian. "Sounds good, thanks! We'd best be off, looking forward to coming back here!" Copia nodded to Vara before heading back to the group with her. "You're doing very well, Vara," Copia whispered discreetly to Vara. "I'm proud of you. I mean it. I am so, so proud of you. You're a completely different officer than you were during--- the first round."

At the ‘sweetheart’ mention he blew a kiss to Vara, before letting the away teams head onwards through the bustling market square. People still tried to get their attention, but quietly their tricorder beeped. With the more they walked through the markets, the closer they were getting to the generator console.

Vara smiled as she twirled around to give a roll of her eyes at Copia in a joking manner. “Please Copia, I’m very good at this officer thing! But don’t worry, I’ll be on my very bestest behaviour for ya.” She said with a smile. “Your worth it.”

Allan walked with the group, still a little unclear about things, but he did have the tricorder telling him where to go, at least. "Sooo... we go over there?" He asked, pointing at the tricorder screen and looking around the group. "Right?"

The tricorder screen indicated to keep going out of the market and through to an area that appeared to be housing - a #residential-square.

With a wave, Tevis left the 'Klingon' and moved on with the team, following the direction of the tricorder.