Off to the Big Top

Posted on 05 Jan 2014 @ 12:06pm by Lieutenant Asahi Kita & Rear Admiral Lirha Saalm & Ensign Matthew Plumeri & Lieutenant Theron Rhodes & Senior Chief Petty Officer Keval zh'Erinov
Edited on on 05 Jan 2014 @ 2:50pm

2,460 words; about a 12 minute read

Mission: Episode 05 - Solstice
Location: Starfleet Academy to New Sunnyvale, California
Timeline: MD 10 - 1820 Hrs

ON

The only disadvantage Asahi saw to returning home were the nippy January nights. Winter had to have been one of Asahi's least favorite seasons, if only because of the weather. Even with two layers, the tiny blonde could feel the bite of the evening air.

But, despite all this, he had more important business to attend to. He was surprised that there were people who took his offer to visit a circus, but pleasantly so. Asahi loved sharing his family's past time with others, and that made sense, seeing as a circus was meant to be shared. He had hoped Mor'an would have showed up, but it seemed she had other things to deal with.

Currently, he had sat himself down in his grandmother's hovercar just outside of the Academy's front gate. The car, admittedly, was a bit more clunky than he remembered it to be. Then again, he was much smaller, and, at the time, thought the vehicle to be much more majestic than it really truly was.

And eight years had not been all that kind to 'The Beast.'

As Asahi waited for the others, his fingers strummed lightly on the steering wheel. This trip was bound to be entertaining, to say the least.

Theron walked up and smiled, "Hello Asahi. I hope I am not late." He had never been to a Circus before. This would be a new experience for him.

Keval had taken a little longer to arrive. He had intended on getting there early, had even left early in fact. But the crisp air was so invigorating. He just could not resist taking the long route to Asahi's house. He was dressed in just a thin pair of chinos and an A shirt.

"Hello Asahi, Theron," he greeted.

The taxi ride from Starfleet HQ to the Academy grounds had been a short one, but Lirha was nonetheless excited to be going out for the night. Circuses were a rare form of entertainment for her and she didn't remember visiting a performance since she had been a child. Stepping out of her cab near where Asahi and company were waiting, the Orion thanked her driver then made her way over to the group. She wore a long-sleeved black dress barely suitable for the cool evening weather, and her hair was let down and flowed loosely around her shoulders. "Good evening," she greeted the group as she approached.

Ensign Matthew Plumeri, visiting friends that were a year to two years behind him walked briskly from the offices of the Ancient and Alien Civilizations division of the history department. It bothered him, even still, that it seemed that the company, the many armed monstrosity that was Universal Spacecraft Systems, was ever growing and now had an entire wing of the Engineering School with their name on it. Old words of, "...unwarranted influence..." echoed in his mind. He pushed them aside, far too excited about getting his hands on some, just ten percent of the data that the USS Galileo had collected from Setisar VI. He was so excited that he had almost forgotten to leave on time for the front gate. He hustled to catch up and was relieved when he saw a group of persons most of whom he did not recognize, except for the Commodore.

He hailed them, "Hey?! Are you guys going to the circus?" He asked as he arrived and then added with a grin, "Or...ARE you the circus?"

"Oh, no one's late just yet." Asahi smiled at the group, overly excited that he had anyone showing up at all. Careful to make sure he nodded greetings toward everyone, he smiled. "We're only waiting on one more before we get going."

At Matthew's comment, he chuckled. "Depends on which one of us you're asking. Some of us might come from one."

Matt laughed as he noticed another person coming towards them.

Abbey approached the gathering group nervously, as she did her bag slipped down her arm and in an attempt to recover it she almost fell over. Steadying herself and recovering the bag, pulling it over her shoulder she slipped a loose bit of hair behind her ear and smiled up. "Hello, are you guys for the circus?"

There were so many people Asahi didn't really know! But, that was all about to change. "Yes we are." After a pause, he stepped out of the driver's side of the car, holding his hand out for handshakes and the like. "I'm sorry, I don't think I've met most of you, aside from ah... Commo-dore... Saalm here. Manners go out the window when I'm all excited. Name's Asahi Kita. I'll be your tour guide on this wild ride to the circus." He waggled his brow and grinned.

Matt spoke up. He liked the cooler weather. His home, Fontalis, was cooler than Earth. So, today's brisk weather was just temperate for him. He had changed earlier, for this event, into jeans and a red t-shirt with a faded yellow starfleet insignia on it. He smiled as he spoke and said, "Well, I've been nosing around the Galileo for about a week now. I'm Matt Plumeri, I'm posted to the Nimitz, but got an invitation to get first crack at some of the data that you all brought back from Setisar VII. Very impressive, I might add. It'll take weeks just to catalogue the data and ten times that long to understand it. I thought, I could use a break and when I heard the circus was in town...well...every circus needs a clown right? Well...here I am!"

He gestured with his arms wide and laughed merrily.

"Hello Mister Plumeri," Lirha greeted the young science officer whom she had met briefly before. "It is nice to see you again. I did not realize you were on Earth...I guess you have been busy with your free time?"

He smiled broadly at seeing the Commodore, "Commodore Saalm! Yes ma'am, been here about a week. Galileo's work in the Setisay system was worthy enough that I bummed a ride with Admiral Hurin back here to have a, one of many I hope, first look at it. It was his idea and being that it was and your crew...how could I possibly say no?"

He was really glad to see her again. Professional friendships within the Fleet are always well worth the effort.

"Thanks for having me along. I haven't been to a real circus in ages!"

"Well, it's great to meet you all. We'll be going to scenic New Sunnyvale, California, where the Sumi Circus is currently holding it's anniversary show. There should be plenty of room in The Beast, so don't be shy." He gave the backseat door a firm slam with a hand, and it begrudgingly swung open in response. "... Don't mind any noises she makes, I've checked her myself and she's not going to fall apart or anything."

Theron took the opportunity to hold the door. He smiled and nodded to Asahi. He felt that it was the least he could do to make sure it didn't close on any one. He truly was not too sure about this old, how did she put it? Beast?

Keval opened the door on the other side and held it for the others to get into the car.

Lirha walked around to the front passenger seat of the car, her heels clicking against the asphalt on the ground with each delicate step she took. After climbing in, she rubbed her green hands together then pressed them against the cabin heater while they warmed themselves.

Matt waited until another person got in and then sat down on the backseat. Noticing the interior, he whistled, "Umm-hmmm, they don't make 'em like they used to huh?" Turning to the person next to him he said, "So, you ready for this? I'm Matt by the way."

Abbey was glancing around the interior design of the car before she released that the person she was sat next to was speaking "oh - hey, urm yeah I'm abbey," she smiled.

She was cute! Petite. Nice long brown hair and a gorgeous smile, "Hi Abbey! Are you with the Galileo crew or...?" He went fishing for an answer.

"Yes, just transfered so fresh out of the box!" She gave the best half sitting bow she could "I was on deep space five before. What about you?" She asked returning the question feeling herself get more comfortable.

Abbey had a delightful musical lilt to her voice and he smiled back when she looked at him, "Ah! Exciting then!"

Someone got into the seat next to him and Matt had to scoot closer to Abbey. Now their legs were touching. His feet ran into something and he picked up her pack and asked, Is this yours? I can hold it for you?"

Abbey clutched the bag for a second. He was complete 'ladies man', at least from that was the vibe she was getting from him but in a cute and rebellious way she likes it and even more her dad would not approve. "You know what maybe you should" She smiled before letting go of the bag and settled in, closely with her neighbours for the trip.

Matthew smiled back at her and laughed as he nodded his head as if a momentous decision had been made. And with a grin he said, "Good idea!" And then he stole another look at her shapely legs.

Everyone was in the car on his side and Theron climbed in as well. The car was full of faces, many a few he did not know, but all seemed to be smiling.

"They made 'em this way about twenty years ago. It's a family hovercar." Asahi glanced back with a tiny grin. "I figured it'd be big enough for the bunch of us, though it's a lot smaller than what I remember it being." He turned, soon starting up the hovercar and beginning the drive to their destination. "Shouldn't take too long to get there, twenty minutes maybe, so if it's too cramped, then it won't be for long, promise."

He glanced through the rear view mirror, grin wide as ever. "I'm not sure how many have been to a circus, or what anyone's heard, but I'm way more than happy to answer any questions. The Sumi is a very traditional Earth circus, so expect elephants and clowns and possibly a bearded lady. I'm not sure if she's retired though-natural bearded ladies are quite difficult to find-and I'm pretty sure the lion tamer that tutored me in math is still there-ah! I forgot to mention. The Sumi Circus is run solely by my mother's side of the family, so I was raised amongst the circus folk."

Theron leaned his head slightly forward to see Asahi when he asked, "So, this will be real people? Not genetically created or altered, and not animatronics, right?"

Asahi immediately shook his head at the thought. "Not at all. The animals are real and there's not been any genetically enhanced beard, muscle, or whatever oddity you may end up seeing. Anything that's 'made up' is purely make-up. The Sumi is very old school."

Matthew was all smiles and enjoyed riding in the hovercar. It was kind of rare for him. He didn't own a vehicle of his own and so this was a real treat.

Keval who was wedged against the driver's side door could smell, along with traffic odor, the fragrance of Asahi's shampoo, he couldn't quite put his finger on what the smell was, but he knew he liked it. "How long before we're there?" he asked.

"Fifteen minutes, maybe a little more than that." Asahi shrugged, before continuing his babble. "There's plenty to do before we actually get to the show. Tons of carnival games and attractions. It's a mostly human show, but the circus attracts a crowd from all over Federation space, usually Ferengi and Denobulan in nature, but I've seen all sorts show interest. Tons of curious dignitaries as well. I have no idea what sort of crowd we're walking into tonight." He tapped the breast pocket of his blazer, grinning. "But we do have advance tickets."

"If we have time, will the tickets let us go backstage and meet the performers and the different animals?" Lirha asked. She was very fond of wildlife creatures and longed for a pet of her own, and the prospect of meeting trained Earth animals and their trainers was tantalizing.

Asahi shook his head. "The tickets won't. You'll be able to interact with the elephants and some of the performers during the pre-show... but I can pull a few strings if you'd like to meet them up close and personal. Everyone's real friendly, so I don't foresee it being a problem at all."

Matthew said, "Lieutenant Kita? I'm down for that! I'd like to meet some of the performers and the animals if you can swing it?" he called from the backseat...or was it the peanut gallery? "All the freshest health foods from Earth too. Hot dogs, cotton candy, popping corn, chocolate dipped pretzels and ice cream cold enough to give you a brain freeze." He turned to Abbey, "You like any of that stuff?"

Abbey turned her head from her view to Matthew and smiled "I guess you'll just have to fine that one out yourself" She tapped the tip of her nose with her index finger before turning back to the window.

Theron knew that Matthew was kidding, mentioning all these foods that were actually not good for a person and could make them sick. But a condition called 'Brain Freeze'?, he looked concerned. The Tandaran had not heard of that malady before.

The rest of the short drive was abuzz with conversation between the passengers. Asahi was nearly bouncing in his seat by the time he had the hovercar parked. As soon as the Beast's engine died down, he peppily hopped out of the vehicle and grinned wide at the others. "Welcome to the Sumi Circus everyone!"

The doors opened to "The Beast" and people got out. When Matt stood up and looked at the spectacle before them he said, "Aww..yeah! We's having a good time tonight! Ow!"

[OFF]

--

CDRE Lirha Saalm
Mission Advisor
USS Galileo

Chief Petty Officer Keval Grayson
Operations
USS Galileo
[PNPC - Nicholas]

Ensign Matthew Plumeri
Science Officer/Historian
attached to USS Nimitz

Lt. Theron Rhodes
Chief Security/Tactical Officer
USS Galileo

CA Abbey-Mae Wyatt
Scientist's Mate
USS Galileo
[PNPC - Wyatt]

Lieutenant Asahi Kita
Engineering Officer
USS Galileo

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