Royal Flush (Part 2)

Posted on Wed Feb 3rd, 2021 @ 12:03pm by Lieutenant Xia Idris & Lieutenant Kaol Ralaa & Sublieutenant Renee Hernandez

891 words; about a 4 minute read

Mission: Chapter III: The Hunt is On
Location: Drozana Station/The Lonely Star
Timeline: 238701.18/Evening

Renee was ushered to the table, and she took a quick assessment of the other players. She was not here to draw attention to herself or win the whole thing, but she needed some legitimate funds to supplement the "allowance" that the Section had given her. The fact that she could even buy into this game was a surprise. Although not as surprising as the large Ferengi. She quickly turned away; there was no reason to stare. Renee definitely thought she could at least beat the dopey looking Romulan with the very attractive woman near him. She smirked and nodded in their direction as she continued to assess the table.

Kaol sat at the table and took a deep breath. He was going to have to play this game soon. He looked around the table and caught the smirk and nod of a Human woman with long brown hair and a tight red dress. All of these people seem to have an air of danger about them. He took a nervous sip of his drink.

Xia’s eyes noted the Human woman at the table, dark hair and eyes, good looking. She flashed a smile as their eyes met, but then turned her attention back to Lexianna.

“If the players will take their seats please,” the Caitian said, being replaced behind the bar with a large Klingon woman in a tuxedo. The Caitian took the dealer’s chair at the table, her thick, fluffy tail sashaying as she took her seat and shuffled the cards.

Xia studied the other players. The Human woman, the Ferengi Dys, Kaol, a Bolian woman, a Human man, and a Trill woman. The Caitian started to explain the rules. It would be straight seven card Texas Hold’ Em. Once your chips were gone, you were out of the game. Breaks would be called every two hours, and spectators were asked to keep their voices down.

The first hand was dealt and Renee looked at her hand, an 8 of spades and a 9 of spades. Not necessarily a great hand, but not bad. She quietly anted up and continued to observe the other players. One of her greatest skills to the Section was her ability to read people and manipulate them. Well, that last part was why the Section made her a handler for their operatives. She never found that part of the job enjoyable. If she were to be totally honest with herself, she never found any part of that job enjoyable.

Kaol looked at his cards. Nothing. A 2 of hearts and a 10 of clubs. He folded immediately.

Xia made her way around the fringe of the room, heading for the other Betazoid. Lexianna turned just as Xia approached, and smiled. “Hellow, sister,” she greeted.

“Fancy you being here, Lexi,” Xia said. “You’re with the Ferengi?”

“And you’re with the Romulan,” Lexianna pointed out. “No doubt helping him cheat?”

“Just security,” Xia said. “He would be offended if I helped him cheat.”

Lexianna tilted her head. “Just enough of the truth not to be a lie,” she said, as if tasting Xia’s words on her tongue.

“And what are you to Dys?” Xia asked.

“His major domo. I handle his affairs,” she said. “He likes having a Betazoid on retainer. It gives him an edge in negotiations.”

“He could have any Betazoid,” Xia pointed out. “He has a Thalion sister.”

“He obviously knows quality.”

Xia smiled. Then she and Lexianna hugged. “It’s good to see you again,” she admitted. Dobri Tora’s trainees were scattered throughout the quadrants, and Xia didn’t get to meet many of those who went through Project Thalion.

“I just wanted to make sure we weren’t going to be getting in each other’s way tonight, Lexi,” Xia said.

Lexianna raised an eyebrow. “You planning something against Dys?”

“I won’t touch Dys,” Xia promised.

Lexianna smirked. “Again, just enough truth…”

Xia just smiled.

“I don’t want any trouble with a sister,” Lexianna said. “I’m assuming neither do you. Now that things have settled here, I was about to go for a walk, get some fresh air. This room is entirely too stuffy with the station air handlers out. How long do you need me gone for?”

It was Xia’s turn to raise an eyebrow. “You would do that?”

“For a sister,” Lexianna said. “And you’ve promised no ill intent toward my employer. Let’s just say Dys pays well, but he likes his female employees...available,” she said dryly.

“Ew…”

“There are some perks.” Lexianna’s eyes drifted over Xia’s shoulder, and Xia looked to note the blonde woman standing behind Dys, Cassandra, her mark for the evening.

“I see,” Xia said with a smile back at Lexianna. “You always did like blondes.”

“With Dys distracted by the game, I wouldn’t mind taking Cass out for a snog in a closet somewhere,” Lexi admitted. “Unfortunately, Dys doesn’t like anyone fraternizing with his females if he’s not sharing. One of us should stay in the room.”

“Maybe I can help out. Go get your air, then relieve your girl. Then maybe we can arrange for me to cover for you while you grab some alone time with her.’

“I’ll...think about it,” Lexi considered with a smile.

TBC

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