Tracking Party: Exchange Rate

Posted on 03 Jul 2021 @ 9:00am by Lieutenant Theodore Winslow & Commander Calliope Zahn

Mission: M2 - Sanctuary
Location: Monsoon Casino, Stardust City, Freecloud
Timeline: BACKSTORY ~four months before the recovery of OC Immediately Following Tracking Party: Noodles
1713 words - 3.4 OF Standard Post Measure

Designed on top of a slight hill the Monsoon Casino was a hive of activity and business from the people milling around at Dabo tables to people at the slot machines. No space was not used and everyone was watched by the Orion’s that ran the place it seemed by the amount of people around that night.

For the most people kept out of trouble but there almost seemed to be an atmosphere around the place to Indigo. It has an amazing decor from the high ceilings and ponds of water that were everyone to remind the clientele of what happened in monsoon season but it just felt off to her.

“Anyone else feel a bit… closed in?” Indigo wondered as she weaved through a pair of Klingons that were attempting to prove to the other who was better at the slot machines.

Someone grabbed Calliope by the elbow and she instinctively whipped around prepared to strike, when she discovered the face of an elderly Flaxian woman with thinning grey hair and age spots.

“Excuse me, miss, which way is the Windfall Lounge?” She held out a printed chit. “Is this meal credit still good? I’ve had it since last spring.”

“I’m sorry. I don’t work here.”

“You don’t?”

“No, I’m just visiting too.”

“Oh. Are you sure?”

Calliope was too dumbfounded for a moment to answer, suppressing a laugh. “I mean, I’m pretty sure I don’t. They haven’t cut me any checks.”

“You look like you work here.”

“Sorry. I hope they honor your meal token.” Calliope offered her a sweet smile as she reclaimed her arm. She was fairly certain she did not in fact look like she worked at the place, not being dressed in any of the variant uniforms, and wearing a cocktail dress and her hover jewelry and traveling with friends, but it wasn’t the first time she’d been lumped into an assumption just because she was green. At least this assumption was fairly benign as generalizations went. “Good luck,” she wished her honestly.

When Calliope looked back up, she saw Bear explaining to the Klingons, “Works best like this,” and spitting on his palms before pulling the lever.

“Oh, that’s so unsanitary!” Ryder protested.

But the machine gave up a couple of roll’s worth of coin.

“Ah, ah? See?” Bear punched his new friend in the shoulder and they both laughed triumphantly.

“Gross.” Indigo murmured herself as she watched the interaction. She shook her head before starting to look around trying to see a sign or someone that looked like a weak link in the workings.

“I do believe I spied the exchange desk back at the Lobby,” Dr. Ryder hitched a thumb over his shoulder. “I’m going to see if anyone there recognizes our troubled young fellow. If you wouldn’t mind joining me, Ms. Indigo? Some Watchdog credentials could perchance jog some memories.” There was no sense striking out and having to ask her help again afterward like they had with the noodle stand, if they could start right out with the proper approach.

“Of course not. You seem the more hygienic person to follow.” She cast a look back at the man with the Klingons and shook her head. “It is just Indigo.” The woman said quietly offering a small smile, already putting her hand in her pocket to pull out what he would be needing.

Walking along together, Dr. Ryder moved back towards the counters with the protective glass and when he felt out of earshot of his companion said, “Let’s just say Mr. Baranovski maintains his immune system the old fashioned way. Through either exposure or alcohol.”

“Well I suppose someone has to keep to the old ways.” Was all she could think to say as they arrived at the screen. She could not really comment - alcohol was something she knew very well.

Behind the counter were three Orions in the Casino’s maroon service tux and tie uniforms, each servicing a different customer trading in currency or cashing their chips in or out. One was a little lankier than men of his species, and he had a carefully trimmed mustache that hid his upper lip, and his hair was grown out and tied into a neat pony tail. Ryder selected his line.

“Hi there. I am looking to exchange some credits from Daucina that my partner has given me to play. Is that possible?” Indigo asked and watched as the man looked around wildly. Indigo held up her credentials against the glass as the orion was just about to turn them away to get someone.

His eyes almost crossed when he saw the badge on his window and he gulped, the motion of which could be tracked down with his Adam's apple. “I need authorization to exchange Daucinian credits anymore, ma’am.”

“Really? Since when were you told to get authorization?” Dr. Ryder pressed.

“Since a few days ago.” the chequer answered Ryder, but looked at Indigo as though she had asked the question. “There was a guy with curly hair I made the exchange for. I was reprimanded and told that I was supposed to take ID for off-world currency. Which isn’t usually policy.” He leaned into the speaker and was obviously a little shaken. “It was weird. The casino director reprimanded me himself, with three security guys. Not our guys. Outside hires.”

The man was so much more nervous than any other Orion she had met before. The doctor has made a good choice in who to interrogate. “Are any of them still around?” Indigo demanded putting her credentials back into her pocket. It was perfect to have a dress that had pockets just a shame it had no weapons in it.

“I…” He momentarily glanced at his coworker in the next teller station who was busy with a different patron. His mustache seemed to quiver with his lip beneath it. “I’ve said too much. But… uh… I might have heard them talking in the hall. I had been excused and walked around the corner and I took a second, you know, to collect myself. I think they must have thought I was out of ear shot because they started talking.”

Indigo hated dramatic pauses. “Carry on.” She instructed glancing around to see if anyone was observing them but there was no one paying attention to them then and there.

“Something about the ice fairy coming early? And a boat load of gree worms at the end of the week. And some numbers. Honestly it made no sense to me.”

“Ice fairy and gree worms.” Indigo repeated to herself trying to work out what it could mean. She glanced at Dr Ryder and shrugged. She had no idea at that moment but she was sure with a little bit of time they would figure it out.

“I’m sorry I can’t help you,” The mustachioed man said more plainly as his supervisor passed behind him. He looked Indigo in the eye, sincerely hoping the Watchdog would get to the bottom of the strange goings on. It would certainly make him feel vindicated. “I hope you can find another venue for your transaction.”

“Thank you. Come on sweetie, let's go find somewhere else for our credits.” Indigo said, smiling brightly as she looped her arm through the doctor’s tugging him away. Once they got far enough away she looked around spotting the supervisor watching them.

With his free hand, Dr Ryder stroked his own stubbled upper lip and mused while being led away. “Maybe I should try a mustache on for size.” He perked up at a commotion. Back at the slot machines, the sound of Klingon song was breaking out. “You don’t suppose they won a second time already? The odds must be highly unlikely.”

Indigo, amused, shook her head at his musings. “I do believe it would suit you sweetie.” She answered whipping around as she heard the commotion herself. She did not believe in luck or odds stacked for or against. “I do not believe in luck but maybe your colleague is a Klingon tamer. Come on.” She let go of his arm and moved through the crowd to the source of the singing.

Bear did indeed have new friends, and though he knew no Klingon, they were teaching him phrase by phrase a victory song. They had clearly hit the bloodwine fairly hard before the slot machines.

Ryder was amused momentarily, but then cocked his head to one side and tried to scan over the busy room. Too much of his line of sight was obscured by crowds and dabo tables. “Bear, where’s the Commander?”

Bear looked at him blankly.

“I swear, I leave you alone for one minute…”

Bear waved him off as annoying. The doctor was always so critical. “I think she say something about spying mermaid playing dabo.”

“Mermaid? She could not mean the woman was Daucina could she?” The blue haired woman wondered aloud.

“I think so, yeah. Either that or Zahnie maybe seeing things, eh? How many shots you buy her?”

Indigo sighed as she took in the scene with the concern that the woman from Daucina who had caused all of this was in the building. Bear was the female version of her when she was with Kaylin, Krynn and Taev. She could handle him and get him back on track. “Go find her. I will follow you with him.” She instructed the Doctor, watching him leave before she set to work. “Hi guys, can I borrow my friend please?” Indigo asked in Klingon, grabbing Bear by the arm as much follow or else.

“Eh?” Bear grunted in the middle of a Klingon lyric and refocused on their blue haired friend. He offered her one of the coins from the shared winnings to try a slot machine herself. “You want to try your luck?”

"No, and you should not. We need the luck. Lots going on and we need your help. Bye." Indigo assured hauling him off with many complaints from his friends around her stealing him for another adventure. If only it was that simple.