"Imposing Oneself"
(Previous Post: Tallulah's 'Dark Stranger')
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Stardate: 60320.1700
Setting: TANGIERS ORBITAL, Main Level, "The Astral Lounge"
After arriving and checking ito his room, Kreddar
Brell AKA Lieutenant David Dawson, former CEO of the
Federations Starship ANUBIS lurked in the shadows, his
eyes locked onto one Siltrish Brakas, AKA Commander
Sabrina Rikar. The CEO and now well reknown bounty
hunter smiled inwardly somewhat as to the ease Sabrina
fell into her role. He was somewhat bored and wanted
to keep his new found skills fresh. It looked as if
the ExO had everything in hand so he decided to try
his hand in the casinos.
==================================
Dabo, roulette, hang em high poker and slot machines
as far as the eye could see greeted the golden hazel
eyes of the undercover Starfleet officer. After
getting about 5K in credits, he made his way to the
poker table.
"Damn lucky bastard you" the human male said to the
Tellarite player who simply snorted.
"Luck has nothing to do with it Colonel... only
knowing when to play you hand or when to fold."
Colonel Sam Tuckett, Starfleet Marines retired down a
shot of Saurian brandy and gritted his teeth.
"One more hand like that Manno my friend and I'll have
your hide stretched across my living room floor."
"Gentlemen, there's no need to argue, besides... the
longer you talk, the colder the cards get... so why do
we..." as the blonde looked up to the imposing giant
standing over them.
"Would you like to join in sir?" the dealer asked.
"What's the stakes?" Brell said as the colonel shook.
"Damn son... that voice could scare the dead."
"Makes my job easier" Brell said as he took a seat and
looked at the dealer.
"The game is 7 card draw, nothing wild. Opening bid is
500."
Brell dropped 500 credits on the table as the other
players anted up.
"So... what brings you here talk, dark and..." her voice
trailed off as she loked him up and down.
"Leave the boy alone Sammie... aint been at the table
5 minutes and you're sizing him up already."
"Well... who am I to shy away from something I like
Colonel... besides... I like 'em big'" she said as she
winked at Brell as manno rolled his eyes and snorted.
"In his defense... not saying that he needs any, I hope
you're a better lover than a poker player."
Brell looked at all three players as the dealer dealt
the cards. First two dealt to the players were dealt
face up.
"King of hearts for the colonel... 2 of diamonds for
the lady, 3 clubs for the Telle... and 2 of spades for
the gentleman..."
Everyone waited for the second card.
"King of clubs for the colonel, 2 of hearts for the
lady, 4 clubs for the Tellie... and 10 spades for the
gentleman."
The other cards were dealt face down. Brell looked at
his. With his 2 so far, he received the jack, king,
and queen of spades... and the 7 of hearts. Brell was
looking at a royal flush with is first hand.
Now... Brell had to step aside and the engineer's mind
came into play. There was a million in one chance of
*ever* being dealt a royal flush with your opening
hand as David's eyes searched the faces of the other
players.
"Fold" the Tellerite said.
The colonel laughed. "Cold feet boy?"
"Cold cards" he snorted as he threw them in.
"Well... I'm in this to win it... I say... 500" and he
tossed his credits in.
"See" Sammie said.
"See 5... raise 10" Brell said as the colonel eyed him
heavily.
"I believe you're trying to bluf me son... but I aint
buyin... see 10 and raise 10"
"Call" the lady said handing the dealer 2 cards. The
colonel gave one so did Brell. After receiving their
cards, the colonel smiled.
"Aint no way in hell I'm loosing this hand. 10." he
said.
Brell looked at his cards all but the new one. He felt
the woman stroking his leg with her foot as he cast a
glance at him and was smiling.
"10 and 10" Brell said.
"Fold... too rich for my blood." she said as the
pressure increased. Inwardly, David smiled. They were
trying to pull the bait and switch with him. His
grandfather taught him that trick when he was a boy.
In poker games, sometimes a couple will act like
complete strangers to get a single player's confidence
up. Then go in for the kill and run off with the
winnings. Even though David had access to over a
quarter million credits, he was no ones fool.
"10... and 20" the colonel said knawing on his unlit
cigar.
"Call" Brell said throwing in his bet.
The colonel wiped a bead of sweat from his forehead
because this dark figure was harder to read than
cattle futures back home in Texas.
"You're bluffin me boy. But its gonna cost you to see
this hand. 20... and I raide you everything I got.
That's over 50K in credits."
"See" Brell said pushing his credits to the middle as
the colonel flipped all 5 cards at once.
"Full house boy... sorry for your luck" as he reached
for the pile as David's hand came down on his wrist.
"Not so fast" he said... and he prayed that the
untouched card was the one he wanted. He flipped his.
"Son of a bitch! Dip me in batter and double fry me."
Sammie nearly bolted from her chair. "A royal flush?!"
as brell reached for the credits. He stacked them in
the tray as the Tellerite stood.
"I'm *so* done... with luck like that on your first
hand... I'm gone" and he quickly left.
Brell gave the dealer 1K in credits.
"For your troubles" he said as he stood to leave as
the colonel stuck his cane in front of him.
"Just like that? You're gonna take my money and
leave... just like that?!"
"Name of the game Colonel... you win you loose... and
*you* lost" as Brell walked off.
Brell went back to the pay window and re-deposited his
winnings save a few hundred credits back into their
combined account when he overheard something.
"It was a beautifully planned attack... to draw that
Starfleet ship into the open and pick her apart."
David glanced in the direction and saw a Romulan
talking to a Cardassian.
"It was genius T'Preel if I say so myself."
"I have to give credit to you Gul Zulot. It was your
ship and the information and cargo we looted will keep
us supplied for a while. But why did you let the human
go? I know Starfleet would have paid a king's ransom
for his 'safe' return."
"Then you don't know the Federation like I know them
T'Preel. They don't bargain for prisoners... something
to do with a treaty they signed hundreds of years ago.
But, alas, he was useful. He was a true soldier... to
the bitter end."
"But to place him back in the pod? What did that
serve?" the Romulan asked.
"To serve as notice. I *can* be merciful... even
though I know he was close to death. Helps my
conscience."
David blood started to boil. He prayed that this
wasn't as he thought the conversation was going.
"But he was so young...."
"Humans grow and breed their young for this life.
Remember that. I'm sure that his marine superiors gave
him a honorable burial. But enough of that... we need
to concentrate on our next target."
"What did the reports tell you?" T'Preel asked.
"That in 3 days, he'll arive. And when he does, we'll
grab him."
The Romulan laughed. "Are you sure he's on the
AVALON?"
**AVALON?!** David thought... but the AVALON was de-commed years ago.
"James Simmons will never know what hit him" and they
walked off.
David stood innocently at the window as they passed as
he made a note of their faces... their features... their
voices. His luck *must* be changing. He found his
brothers killers *and* they were planning to kidnap
his captain... but what they didn't know was that James
Simmons was already on the station. He needed to talk
to the captain... he wanted to rip them apart right
there but he remembered all the warnings he'd
received... this was a Intel gathering mission...
...but it didn't say that those bastards would live
to see the end of it.
====================================
as
Kreedar Brell
"A Starfleet officer...that's all I am and that's all I'll ever be." 2005 post #166
Stardate: 60320.1730
Setting: TANGIERS ORBITAL, 3rd Floor
Julian Knight (d_dawson)1@yahoo.com)
Bounty Hunter
aka
Lieutenant David Dawson
Chief Engineer
USS ANUBIS NCC 18501
- Avery Brooks as Captain Benjamin Sisko,
Commanding Officer of the Federation Spacestation Deep Space 9
