The Night Begins

Posted on Tue Jun 23rd, 2020 @ 4:55am by Sasha Vieers (Deceased) & Mauricio Arnaldo & Ensign Dorian Rochester (Deceased)
Edited on on Fri Jul 10th, 2020 @ 5:29pm

Mission: Death in Paradise
Location: Paradise Outpost
Timeline: Afternoon

When Dorian Rochester decided to take a trip to Paradise, he was hoping to find a nice quiet corner to drink and forget his worries. Maybe he'd meet a nice local lady who would take pity on his forlorn demeanour, maybe he'd strike it rich on the Casino tables and never have to work again, or maybe he'd be able to figure out what he wanted to do next.

What Dorian didn't anticipate, however, was having to share a traveling cube with Sasha Vieers and her date, Lieutenant JG Vicuno, his superior officer whom he despised. The three happened to disembark the Pandora at the same time and were now were sitting in uncomfortable silence as the glass cube made it's way from the docking ring to the Entertainment level. For their part, Vicuno and Sasha wanted to hold hands and talk excitedly about their date night on Paradise, but with Dorian standing behind them as awkwardly as possible, they remained like stone statues waiting in agony for the trip to be over.

Mauricio Arnaldo was also in the cube but he was blissfully unaware of the impending awkwardness and also already a little bit drunk. He had pre-gamed in the Marine Mess - a process of drinking cheap alcohols before heading out to ensure a quicker buzz - and was now leaning against the corner of the cube, his face planted to the glass as the station went whizzing by.

"LOOK AT THAT!" He cried loudly as they passed the Atrium level. "Maravilloso!" He excitedly pulled on Dorian's sleeve. "Have you ever seen a place like this, my friend?"

"It's wonderful." Dorian replied with a slight sneer, never taking his eyes off Sasha and Vicuno in front of him. "I'm sure it looks ever better for someone who spent the last few months living in a cell."

Sasha tutted as she cast a look back at Dorian with disapproval, "Be kind, Dorian."

"You don't tell me what to do!" Rochester quickly snapped back.

"Ensign." Vicuno turned, a little bit of a smug smirk on his face. "Watch your tone or your liberties on Paradise will be cancelled."

Dorian’s lip turned up in an angry sneer now, as he tried desperately to stop himself from responding to the Lieutenant. Sasha just gave a heavy sigh and turned back to face the front of the cube. Mauricio pretended not to notice the exchange, he just continued to stare out the glass walls, trying not to let the moment ruin his buzz.

Finally the Cube arrived on the Entertainment level and the doors parted. It was filled with the sights and sounds of a busy, modern, thriving complex. A vast array of people were streaming through the area, each heading off to a different quadrant for their night’s activities.

Vicuno and Sasha exited the cube first, but then stopped at an information kiosk so that Vicuno could loudly proclaimed, “We wish to gain a suite at your finest hotel.” He was being purposefully obnoxious with his voice, knowing that Dorian would hear and likely become jealous. Vicuno wanted Rochester out of his department and off the Pandora as soon as possible, but there was a petty side of him that was enjoying torturing Dorian as well. Not just for what he did in the Bubble universe but for how he treated Sasha as well. She had told him all about manipulating her into rising against the Captain and his reckless attempts to break the bubble despite the potential risk to the other survivors. It made his blood boil to think this man was still walking freely through the ship and not in the Brig.

Mauricio placed his arm around Dorian and lead him away. The Marine might have been drunk but he was still observant enough to realise he needed to intervene. “Come now, Mr. Doran. Doreen? No, Dorian. Yes. That’s it. Come to a bar with the Marines and we will drunk your pants off. I am planning to get totally spaced tonight.”

Dorian shook his head, “I’d rather find a shooting range. There’s gotta be somewhere here that’ll let me fire off a few rounds of a phaser rifle. Or maybe something bigger?” There was a small boyish grin on his face, as he imagined being let loose with lots of firepower. Paradise seemed above-board but he knew where to find trouble if he wanted to.

“Rifles are not toys.” Mauricio insisted, “We only use them if we need to. Not because we used to. I meant, want to. Besides, you are Recreation. Not Marines. What do you know of rifles?”

“Spent a lot of time in that bubble.” Dorian replied. “Learnt more than I could ever need.” He shrugged off Mauricio’s arm and walked a step away. “Have a good night, Mauricio. I know I will.”

Rochester began to jog away, heading towards a particular direction. Mauricio just gave a nonchalant wave and stammered off to where he believed the Marines were meeting.

Vicuno and Sasha were now walking hand in hand down the promenade, as Sasha beamed, “I’m glad we’re getting to do this. It’s nice to be off the Pandora for a while.”

“My pleasure.” Vicuno responded, rubbing her arm gently, “Is your headache feeling better?”

“Yes.” She said with a small smile, “Hopefully it stays away. I want to enjoy this evening.”

Vicuno leaned over and kissed her cheek, “We definitely will.” He whispered to her and the couple giggled as they walked.

OFF