Forgotten Glory – Dancing Girls
by HoD Ro' Matlh & Soghla' Terri (Tell) Hope & Soghla' Marie St. Helene & Ne' Mariaa'n Si'van

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Title   Dancing Girls
Mission   Forgotten Glory
Author(s)   HoD Ro' Matlh & Soghla' Terri (Tell) Hope & Soghla' Marie St. Helene & Ne' Mariaa'n Si'van
Posted   Wed Mar 19, 2014 @ 4:21am
Location   Ballroom
Timeline   T 5:00
Tell thanked her dance partner and walked off to see if she could get to Marie who was darting in and out of the crowd.

Marie dashed across to where Tell was pushing through the crowd.

Bon appetit,” she said as she thrust the plate in Tell's hands. She tried to duck away before a word could be said. She wanted no more to do with whatever was going on but she doubted she would be so lucky; not where Tell was concerned.

Tell almost shoved the tray into the startled hands of an Orion serving woman as she reached out to grab Marie's arm.

"Just wait a damned minute," said Tell dragging Marie back. "Where the hell are we?"

Marie twisted and wrenched herself free. She grabbed the plate back of the green skinned woman.

“I think that’s mine,” Marie said as she grabbed the plate. “You know the boss’ attitude to us serving other staff’s tables.”

The Orion hadn’t heard of any such thing but the momentary hesitation as she thought about the comment was all Marie needed to escape with her prize.

With plate in hand she stepped back to Tell. “My apologies, Lady Theressa,” she said politely. “You are at a function hosted by the Corporation. I believe it is an arms fair.”

An arms fair? thought Tell, cringing at being called Lady Theressa. The only thing I know about arms is how to aim, fire and kill. I know nothing about buying or selling, that's up to someone else to do and not anything to do with me.

"No, it wasn't your fault," replied Tell hoping that she might be able to glean some more information out of the Orion. "I'm just a little confused as to what is going on."

Marie saw Tell casting around as if looking for someone and guessed it was the Orion. Maybe Tell was in league with her. No, Tell and an Orion? I don’t believe it! Even so, she joined in the hunt. She spotted her on Tell’s blindside.

Marie tapped Tell on the arm. “Over there,” she whispered in Tell’s ear.

The Orion, Maria'an, chose now to speak up, "Actually, I know quite a bit about guns; they've been my stock in trade for awhile now. Like, I know those guns in your hand are charged and ready to fire. Yet I still have no clue what's going on."

Tell looked at the Orion and thought about asking the obvious even though she was unsure why, "Which one would you recommend for me?" She peeked under the covered lid.

Marie lifted the lid a bit higher so she could see too. I like this one,” she said, tapping the Flaming Rita. “Maximum damage over a wide range. I could have a lot of fun with this. For you, I’d go with a disruptor. You have better aim than I do.

Mariaa'n reached in to take the grenade, "Better for distraction," she explained, "Not much chance of me getting a clean shot in this place and I think I'd rather be killed than caught, especially with who's chasing me."

Marie didn’t like the sound of that. “Ah.... Who’s chasing you?” she asked.

Weapons? thought Tell. Why would they need weapons here? It seems peaceful enough. She looked around her trying to figure out what they were supposed to be doing. She looked down at the disruptor in her hand as words poured out of her mind. Protection, escape, cause a disturbance, rescue someone or something. Where was Ro' in all of this? She was missing something what was it? I have the better aim, Marie said. Why would she say that? Unless, no, couldn't be that obvious, could it?

She looked at Maria'an and then at Marie. "So, just who is it that we have to kill?"

“I vote for everyone,” Marie said. “Just joking,” she added quickly when she caught Tell’s apprehensive look. “Whatever we’re meant to be doing, I don’t think we’re meant to be doing it here. These people look like they have no more clue what’s going on than we do. I suggest we exit as quickly as we can.” She turned through 360°. “Only problem is, I don’t know which exit we should take. I think we can rule out the kitchen but other than that....”

There was a sudden scream as one of the women nearest them saw the weapons. Many of the people around them reached instinctively for their own weapons that they were not carrying. People fanned out in a wide circle leaving the three women in a growing clearing.

Coming through the crowd was the man identified as Treman of the corporation. He looked angry.

"What is the meaning of this?" he demanded as he approached. "No weapons were to be brought within the complex. How did you get these in here?"

Tell acted on instinct and held the weapon up against Treman's head. "I don't know much about this weapon" she told him "I prefer a knife but I am pretty sure if I squeeze this trigger at this close a range well, you know what would happen."

While Tell was speaking, fragments fell back into place. “The Corporation. Yes. You tried to have me committed. I won’t say I’m not certifiable but making me think I was in your institution was a low act. Now you want us to do your bidding for you. You ensured we would be found here with these weapons.”

She turned to the crowd. “See those ships out there. They’re about to give you a first hand demonstration of just how good Corporation weapons are. All they are waiting for is the word and the person to give the word is standing right here.”

As if on cue the fighting in the skies stopped. All that could be seen was an ambulance taking off from the Hospital next door.

Treman smiled crossing his arms and spoke to the crowd, "Ladies and gentlemen, there is no cause for alarm. Some dissident, local rabble most likely, are trying to upset the proceedings. This is the reason it is always best to come to the Corporation for your weapons. We are not put off by a trio of serving wenches. Security, remove the distractions."

Two large grey figures moved through the crowd like icebergs amongst cruiseliners. These were Tectonics, the silicone base life form the Corporation tended to use as hired goons. Most standard weapons had little effect on their rock hard anatomy. You really needed something like a plasma Caster to cut them down. Luckily, there is one of those on the plate still that no one has claimed.

Marie looked at the Tectonics, down at a plasma caster lying unclaimed on the plate then back up at the Tectonics. “Don’t know about you, Tell, but I think we just got out-hustled. I’m for out of here and I don’t mean an orderly retreat.” She grabbed the plasma caster then bolted for the nearest exit. She might have had concerns only two minutes ago but now the old adage, any port in a storm, most definitely applied.

Tell quickly followed behind her the sooner they were out of here the better. Live to fight again and all that. she thought

"Let them go," Treman sneered, "See how every opponent of the Corporation quails and runs!"

Maria'an sighed, "Ah hell"

She then lobs the grenade in the rough direction of Treman, watching the crowd scatter away from it. Then running after Marie, mumbling, "Exit Stage left, Tout de suite!"

Chaos erupted behind her. The flaming shrapnel grenade went of with a satisfying noise, though none of the women turned to watch. There was something about three homicidal women armed with weapons that caused the crowds to part and let them through. However, when the explosions started, everyone rushed for the exits, carrying the women along with them.

If it wasn't for the advanced security system monitoring everything, they may have been able to slip out with the crowd unnoticed.