New Blood – Shebeen
by Soghla' Terri (Tell) Hope

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Title   Shebeen
Mission   New Blood
Author(s)   Soghla' Terri (Tell) Hope
Posted   Sun Apr 29, 2012 @ 12:50am
Timeline   After leaving Marie and the Doc
Tell followed her musical gut instinct rather than her blurry eyesight which led her down an old dusty dirt ridden track. The music became louder as she drew nearer, pulling at her spirited soul like a fish caught on a line.

She stood swaying slightly outside 'The Shebeen' an Irish Pub. No matter where you went either planet side or station there would always be an Irish Pub. A sign over the door read 'Cead Mile Failte' (A hundred thousand welcomes. In Gaelic)

She looked down the road she had just come and knew she had taken a few left and right turns to get here. If she went back to her crewmate she might not be able to find this place again. Come to think of it she wasn't even sure where Marie was.

"MARIE!" she bellowed whilst pointing at the pub "...RIE! ...RIE! found this place RIE follow the music ok and its called the ...Shebeen. I'll meet you in there RIE..."

There was no answer but Tell decided to go in anyway rather than wait for her. A poster outside the pub advertised 'St Patricks night.'and everyone was welcome.' On the opposite side another poster was offering Gaelic and Irish dance lessons.
"I can dance pfft dont need lessons" said Tell to no one in particular and went in.

Two seconds later she was thrown out and had just managed to stay upright when a green t shirt wrapped itself around her face.

"Put this on" some one shouted at her.

Tell peeled it away and struggled to put it on at first but eventually managed to dress herself in the oversize green shirt with a shamrock emblazoned on the front and tried once more to get through the door.

This time she was welcomed with open arms and a slap on the back which almost sent her flying. Had she been sober it would have been a different matter altogether but at this moment in time she didn't give a flying fig.

A pint of guinness was thrust into her hands with a shamrock motif on its creamy white head. Nice touch she thought and gulped half of it down. She took a quick look around the Shebeen. There were various Irish sayings on the walls like Never thatch your roof on a windy day. Why should you never iron a four leaf clover? You don't want to press your luck. and this one she really liked May you be in heaven before the devil knows your dead.

She finished her drink and before she knew it another was thrust into her hand. The pub was full that night with Fleeters and Klingons in the required green dress code of the evening practicing their Gaelic. "Phish... too weird" she murmured to herself and wandered further in where she noticed a stage, set and ready for musicians.

Two men stood further back into the shadows and watched the engineer of the FHew eyeing up the various instruments on the stage. They both couldn't believe their luck and hadn't expected her to be at the Shebeen. They couldn't afford to miss this opportunity to bring forward their plans. The timing couldn't have been more perfect.

"So that's her?" asked one of them "Her picture doesn't do her justice."

"Don't get any funny ideas remember who she is" The other warned

"I know, I know stick to plan A and if that doesn't work plan B after that we can always revert back to plan C"

"She's fast and lethal so don't be fooled by her looks. She's been trained well." he warned "But she is one of the best engineers we have ever come across. So play it cool and play it safe like we arranged and no..." but his words were drowned out as the band took to the stage and the place erupted into shouts and cheers.

The two men parted ways, one to move back further into the shadows and the other to make contact with Tell. He was just about to tap her on the shoulder and get her attention but the crowd suddenly surged forward to the front where the band was about to perform. The whole place exploded with music that shook Tell to her very core. She sang with the rest of them and danced just as wildly to love songs and ballads and fast fiddle tunes. It left her elated and on a high she had to come back to this place again.

The band stopped playing for a few moments, talking among themselves as if deciding what to do next. Tell turned when she felt a tap on her shoulder. she had difficulty hearing him as the bar was so noisy so she had to lean closer. He pressed a drink into her hand.

"Great music here isn't it? I'm Chris Maxx whats your name?"

"Tell" she replied. She knew she was being chatted up but in her present state she didn't care and no power on Qo'nos was going to make her leave this place now that she had found it, she might not find it again.

"You like music then?"

"Love it, you?"

"I can take it or leave it but this place is something else."

Tell agreed nodding and drinking at the same time.

"Lets find a seat." and he indicated for her to follow him and Tell would have had it not been for the Irish band leader of 'Sore Fingers' calling out on the mike to the audience.

"Its your turn now on open mike, c'mon you know you want to, don't be shy, just put your name down on the list. There's even a prize" This last remark caused a cheer all round.

A few minutes later Chris Maxx realised that Tell wasn't behind him but instead she was at the side of the stage signing her name on the list. She was second up and he added his name under hers.
Tell looked up at him a small smirk appeared on her lips. "So you can give or take music then? I hope your prepared to do battle because I'm going to win."

"That's fightin talk." The Trill replied "and I accept your challenge."

The first act on the stage had them all dancing in the audience Tell and Chris included and then when it came to her turn she picked up the instrument she preferred and walked to the center stage. The audience was respectful and silent as she lifted up the violin and began to play.

It was a heart felt song full of emotion, rising and falling as the musician took them all on a journey. she lingered and toyed with the piece making it all her own. It was a well known Irish ballad called 'Shebeg and Shemore'. One person in particular still stood in the shadows and was almost moved to tears by the piece. It was the first music he had taught her to play on the violin and he knew it was her call to him, just like she had played it a hundred times before only this time he would answer.

They asked for an encore and by stark contrast to what she had just played she gave them a rather bawdy rendition of 'Do ye want your auld lobby washed out.' which went down very well with them all and caused raucous amounts of laughter in the choruses.

Tell gulped down another drink and swayed slightly but kept going. She suggested a song to the other band members who nodded enthusiastically. When she turned back Chris was standing there with a violin in his hand.

"Lets do battle." he told her "and to the winner the spoils."

She offered him a rare smile as if she had suddenly found a soul mate. "The Battle of Clontarf" she told everyone.

After perhaps one to many guinnesse's and winning the open mike Chris whisked her away out of the Shebeen. The rest became a blur after that but it was the first time she had felt really happy in a long time.

James Hope lost track of them after they left and only hoped that Chris stuck to the plan. He beamed back up to the Fallen and informed the Captain of what had happened. All he had to do was wait for Lt Maxx to bring Tell back to the ship.

Three hours later a giggling Lt Maxx appeared on the transporter pad with his arms around the FHew's chief engineer who was snoring gently on his shoulder. He looked at James and tried his best to sound sober.

"I wish to inform you sir that I think I've just married your sister."

Kill him or lock him in the brig James wasn't sure what to do first.