INT. USS FORGER – JELAL AND RAHN’S QUARTERS – NIGHT
The room is dimly lit, with a small circular table in the center surrounded by five chairs. Ensigns JELAL DARVEN, ALEXANDRA CASEY, CONOM RAHN, and TAI ZH’RANNI
are seated around the table, each with a stack of poker chips in front of them MUNCHKIN, a robotic exocomp hovers over a seat as well, a pile of poker chips sits in front each of them.
JELAL
(shuffling the cards)
Alright, everyone, let’s see who’s got the best poker face tonight. Casey, Munchkin big and small blinds are yours this round.
MUNCHKIN
(tossing in chips with his micro tractor beam)
Having no face, I posess the highest probability of winning that contest.
CASEY
(Chuckling)
Not so fast. I’ve been practicing my Mahak face all week for this game. You’re all in trouble!
CASEY waves a hand over her face going from excited to neutral with the pass of her hand.
CASEY
(looking around at the others and raising a single eyebrow)
See?
RAHN
(chuckles)
Very logical, Lex but all the practice at poker faces in the galaxy won’t help if Zh’Ranni has another lucky streak tonight.
CASEY
(tossing in her chips)
No kidding.
JELAL deals everyone two cards face down which they check privately as the banter continues.
Zh’Ranni
(smirking)
Luck has nothing to do with it, Rahn. It’s all about skill and strategy.
MUNCHKIN
(beeping)
Your probability of winning, ensign Zh’Ranni, remains uncertain.
CASEY
Oooh, Tai want me to get you something from sickbay for that burn?
Zh’Ranni
(to Casey, lightly)
You shut up
(pointing at Munchkin)
And I’ll make you pay for that tonight, Nuts and Bolts.
(tosses chips in)
Raising ten.
RAHN
Here we go again, call.
(tosses down chips to match Zh’Ranni’s bet)
JELAL
I’ll call.
(tosses in chips)
CASEY
(Tossing in chips)
Call. How’s it going with your bridge buddy, Con?
MUNCHKIN
Call. What is a bridge buddy?
JELAL
Someone on senior staff who’s friendly with you.
Zh’Ranni
(Throwing in chips)
Call. In Con’s case it’s the Commander. Talk about luck.
RAHN
(tossing in chips)
Call. The Symbiosis Commission wanted us to talk, that’s all.
CASEY
(grinning)
Sure, but I bet Malk was pissed when he heard, right? His arch science rival having the XO’s ear.
RAHN
(Rolling his eyes)
He is always pissed off.
JELAL
Hey, hey Lex, we don’t use the M-word in here. Our quarters are like the monastery at lake T’Jalla.
CASEY
The what at where?
RAHN
A sanctuary from worldly troubles on Bajor, apparently.
JELAL
Exactly. Okay here comes the flop.
CASEY
Like a Pakled-
EVERYONE ELSE
-at a pool party.
CASEY
Said that one before, huh?
MUNCHKIN
You have, three out of the last four games.
JELAL deals three cards face up in the middle of the table, a queen of hearts, a jack of spades and a three of diamonds.
JELAL
Bet’s to you Lex.
CASEY
(tapping table)
Check. Okay no M-words. And even so Rahn, that’s good, chatting with the XO. I’d have killed for that when I was starting out.
MUNCHKIN
Raise, 20. Is a bridge buddy required to work strictly on the bridge?
RAHN
We just talk about symbiont stuff. And no Munchkin, any senior officer counts.
MUNCHKIN
(Pleased and confident)
Then Lieutenant Commander Mourad is my bridge buddy.
CASEY
You could do worse.
Zh’Ranni
Seeing your twenty and going ten more. True, he’s hot.
MUNCHKIN
Odd his body temperature always reads within range for an Orion of his age and projected metabolic rate.
RAHN
(putting down cards)
None of those cards help this hand, I fold.
(Looks to Munchkin)
She means he’s physically attractive, Munchkin.
MUNCHKIN
(beeps with confusion)
Are bridge buddies potential mates? My affection for Lieutenant Commander Mourad does not go beyond appreciation of his kindness and admiration for his skills at engineering.
The others all laugh.
ZH’RANNI
No, no I just meant he’s nice to look at, not saying Munchkin or anyone else has to mate with him.
JELAL
Calling. I wouldn’t mind but we all know who Tai wants.
The Turn Is coming up.
JELAL deals another card a queen of spades.
MUNCHKIN
Wants as a bridge buddy or a mate?
CASEY
(tosses in some chips)
Call. Don’t look at me, ‘Kin.
RAHN
(Getting up for drinks)
Ask her, Munchkin but on the other hand Jelal is just dying to snitch.
ZH’RANNI
(Rolling her eyes)
I’ll save you the trouble, Jelal.
(to Munchkin)
These shath’keth think I have a crush on Castillo.
MUNCHKIN
Raise five. What is a crush and are these shath’keth correct?
RAHN
(pouring a glass of green booze)
A crush means an attraction to someone.
JELAL
(smirking)
And are we correct?
ZH’RANNI
Vorsh no
ZH’RANNI’S cheeks turn a darker shade of blue.
CASEY
Nice shade of blue you’re turning Tai.
ZH’RANNI
(laughing)
Shut up.
(to RAHN)
And I’ll take a drink Con.
RAHN
Sure. And guys focus up I’d like to get through the first hand without the night devolving into another game of ‘Kirk, Marry, Stun’
MUNCHKIN
I will return to the game shortly, but I remain curious about crushes, do all of you have them or just Tai?
JELAL
No.
CASEY
(blushing)
Nope.
RAHN
Ha!
ZH’RANNI
Nice shade of red there-
CASEY shakes her head to ZH’RANNI a pleading look flashing between them.
ZH’RANNI
(covering)
Hey Con, where’s that drink?
RAHN
Coming, coming, relax.
RAHN delivers ZH’RANNI’S drink and sits down.
JELAL
(chuckling)
So much tolivel at this table tonight. bet’s to you Tai.
ZH’RANNI
Call and what does Tolivel mean again?
CASEY
It’s Bajoran for bullshit.
RAHN and MUNCHKIN
(talking at the same time)
Actually…
JELAL
(cutting off RAHN and MUNCHKIN)
Thanks guys, but I got this. Lex is right but it’s a softer word it means fool’s talk. From-
MUNCHKIN
(unable to help themself)
The Bajoran proverb “lies are the language of fools”
JELAL
(chuckling)
Thanks Kin.
ZH’RANNI
What’s a not so soft version? And now it’s your bet.
JELAL
Oh
(tossing in chips)
Call.
(answering ZH’RANNI)
Kostavel
(giving an apologetic look to the shrine in the corner of the room)
Picking up where his roomie left off, RAHN speaks.
RAHN
It means wraith words, sort of like more venomous destructive lies, right? (looks to JELAL)
JELAL
Right. (smiles) Whatever you do don’t say it to the Captain. Anyhow, here’s the river.
JELAL places a 5th card down face up a five of diamonds.
CASEY
(sighing)
Useless. I’ll fold.
MUNCHKIN
(lights blinking in thought)
Raise five. A question, is Ensign Jelal’s focus and reverence for Captain Tanar a crush?
CASEY, ZH’RANNI and RAHN burst out laughing in surprise ZH’RANNI spitting out her drink.
JELAL stares gobsmacked.
MUNCHKIN
(Pleased)
Did I say something funny?
(seeing JELAL and suddenly concerned)
Or something wrong?
ZH’RANNI
(drying the table with her sleeve)
Definitely funny.
JELAL
(to ZH’RANNI)
Heh.
(to MUNCHKIN)
It’s fine, you’re not the first to wonder that, but no I don’t have a crush on Captain Tanar. She and I come from the same dustball of a planet and now she’s one of Starfleet’s youngest captains, that’s it, I’m proud to serve with her.
RAHN and CASEY share a subtle knowing look, there’s more to it than JELAL is letting on and so far he’s only told them what it is.
MUNCHKIN
I understand, if there was an exocomp captain in the fleet I’d be inspired as well.
JELAL
Hey, ‘Kin, maybe it’ll be you one day.
MUNCHKIN
Unlikely, if I join Starfleet it will be as an engineer and Commander Mourad says engineers rarely go into command, because they’re too used to actually putting in work.
JALAL and RAHN laugh, CASEY AND ZH’RANNI roll their eyes.
CASEY
(laughing)
Boo.
ZH’RANNI
Don’t listen to Mourad, he’s just jealous, all the best officers wear red.
JELAL and RAHN
(together)
Boo.
All laugh, JELAL glances at his cards.
JELAL
Guess it’s my turn and I fold.
JELAL puts down his cards.
RAHN
Just Munchkin and Tai now, interesting.
ZH’RANNI
Well, Sparky, like the man said, it’s just me and you what’s it going to be?
MUNCHKIN
Well, Ensign, given your stated skill I should bet cautiously but as Ensign Casey would say, you only live once, I am all in.
MUNCHKIN’S tractor beam pushes all their chips into the center of the table.
ZHRANNI
(chuckling)
My kind of exocomp.
ZH’RANNI pushes all her chips to the center.
JELAL
(leaning over and elbowing CASEY fondly)
I see you continue to be a good influence, Lex.
CASEY
(winking)
I don’t just wear red because I look great in it, I’m a leader.
RAHN
Okay enough building suspense, show those cards.
ZH’RANNI and MUNCHKIN both flip their cards, MUNCHKIN has two pairs fives and jacks ZH’RANNI has three queens.
ZH’RANNI
Ha
The others groan. Not this again.
JELAL
And the streak continues.
RAHN
Yes, and you also both went all in on the first hand.
CASEY
This is why we play here, Rahn, we’re the worst. If we were any good we’d play at Mourad’s game in engineering.
ZH’RANNI
Speak for yourself Lex.
JELAL
(to the group)
Start over?
MUNCHKIN
Acceptable. As I am out of chips.
CASEY
And were not playing for money anyhow.
JELAL
Great.
(slides the dealer token over)
Lex, your turn to deal.
CASEY
Alright let’s get those cards guys.
The group passes her their cards which she shuffles. MUNCHKIN pushes everyone’s chips onto the center with his tractor beam, and RAHN helps divvy them up.
ZH’RANNI
(taking a sip of her drink)
So, Lieutenant Mahak, Counselor Ondren, Lieutenant Shan, Kirk, marry, stun?
All groan as the camera pulls back out of the quarters to the exterior of the Forger as it continues on at warp.