Velvet Vaudeville - The First Meeting - Part II
Posted on Mon Jun 29th, 2026 @ 7:30am by Lieutenant Katya Davi & Lieutenant Mira Jayde & Lieutenant JG Ruby Rojas & Commander Daynah Ral & Commander Rhupert Tyree & Lieutenant Commander Zuub & Lieutenant Amy Gordon & Ensign Nyx Calder
1,859 words; about a 9 minute read
Mission:
Post Cards from Past
Location: Valiant Cargo Bay
[PREVIOUSLY]
When everyone had arrived, Kat asked them to gather around. "Thank you for coming. We're forming up a vaudeville team. If you don't know what vaudeville is, there are vids in the computer. Basically, we're going to put together a number of acts and perform them on some starbases. Everyone should prepare at least two acts so we can rotate them a bit. And we'll have some group numbers. For now, I'd like to know what you can do or what you'd like to do, either solo, with someone else, or in a group. And, since this is my idea, I'll start." Yes, there had been some discussion while people were gathering, but not everyone heard about the knife throwing.
[CONTINUED]
This was the hard part for Kat, as she'd kept her practices a secret. "I've been working on a couple of fan dances and two or three old Broadway songs. I'm also willing to be part of a group number."
"What are or would the rest of you like to do?" she asked, looking around the group. "If you don't know, that's fine. We can talk about options."
Rhu cleared his throat and said, "For my part, I'll be dressed as a mime and do some juggling and be generally annoying as only a mime can be. It'll let me be in costume and circulate without being really noticed."
Kat nodded, then grinned. "I like it. I hear mimes are good with their hands."
Amy turned her gaze to the others. "I do know how to do magic tricks, and can either sing or play an instrument." She added, "even do a little bit of dancing."
Zuub looked at Kat and said, "Lieutenant Gordon told me I was throwing knives. I was not aware that I was required to have a second job." The Andorian's antennae started to wobble unsteadily.
Nyx looked from Zuub to Kat, then back again, as if the entire concept of a “second job” had just offended her on a spiritual level.
“Doc, sweetheart, throwing knives at people is not a job. It’s a public service with applause.”
She shifted her weight, then lifted one hand. “But fine. Since apparently we’re doing résumés for crime theatre, I can do escape stuff. Cuffs, ropes, locked crate, dramatic countdown, somebody in the front row wondering whether Starfleet HR knows about any of this.”
Her grin sharpened, too bright and too pleased.
“Nothing lethal. Probably. Just enough panic to make people forget to watch their pockets.”
"That will definitely draw attention," Kat said, noting it down on a PADD. "I like it. And if the doctor is your assistant, that's two for both of you."
"I was thinking I could tell a few jokes." Richard said.
Zuub's antennae started to writhe more noticeably as Nyx talked about escapes. She told Nyx, "You like cuffs, lockdowns, and cuffs, do you?" The Andorian's antennae furiously twittered in excitement. "I think that playtime is nearing...."
Kat turned to Zuub. "That is better left for a private conversation."
Then she turned to Richard. "Great. I'll put you down for that. Everyone likes a good comedian."
Amy listened to what was being spoken of what they would want to do, and could do. What Katya had mentioned, that gave Amy a bit of a smile,
Fan dancing, that was awesome. And that took skill to do such. She'll have to talk to Katya about that later on.
Nyx and Zuub, it looked like they would or could be center stage which would make for easier movement to do some information gathering, Which would suit Amy just fine.
When in the intelligence game, best to not be in a focal point to where someone might recognize said person. Definitely would need to work on a personae, and look.
Something like that could even be beneficial for one of her personas she's not utilized in a while.
"Perhaps a little song, a duet perhaps." Amy looking over towards Katya.
"Yes," Kat replied, liking the idea. "Maybe Sisters from White Christmas."
Nyx’s grin went still for half a second, then came back worse.
“Kat, you say ‘private conversation’ like that doesn’t immediately make it sound more interesting.”
She rocked back on her heels, eyes flicking to Zuub’s antennae with open, shameless delight.
“And for the record, Doc, I like escaping things. Cuffs, locks, sealed crates, bad contracts, people with weapons, rooms with only one exit.” Her smile sharpened, bright enough to hide the teeth under it. “Threaten my life and apparently my brain gets sparkly. Healthy? No. Useful? Constantly.”
Then she lifted both hands towards Kat, all mock innocence.
“But fine. I’ll behave. Publicly. Mostly.”
Kat grinned. "That's all I ask." Her own track record was tamer, but she, too, behaved. Mostly.
Zuub told Nyx, "You are delightful. Did you know that?"
Nyx opened her mouth.
Nothing came out.
That, more than anything, seemed to annoy her.
A faint flush crept up under the freckles across her cheeks, and she looked away for half a second like the cargo bay wall had suddenly become fascinating.
“Aw, c’mon,” she said, recovering a little too fast. “You can’t just say stuff like that to a girl. Makes it real hard to keep up my cool, mysterious reputation.”
She glanced back at Zuub, grin returning crooked and bright, though the blush had absolutely not taken the hint.
“I mean, yeah, obviously I know I’m adorable. Whole package. Premium entertainment. But now you’re gonna make everybody else jealous.”
Her smile softened just a fraction.
"I'm alright with that," Zuub answered, as her antennae leaned forward and twittered.
"I think you two need to go last. Nobody is going to want to follow either of you," Kat said to Zuub and Nyx. There was no doubt they would put on a great show.
She looked around to see who hadn't spoken up yet. "Ruby, what do you want to do?"
"I play the Spanish guitar. I can do flamenco or mariachi music."
Good. That would add more variety to the show. "How about once of each? You can do one or both, depending on the crowd."
Ruby grinned. "Great. I already know what I want to play."
Then Kat looked at Jayde. "What about you?"
Jayde said nothing for a moment. "Not sure. I throw knives, but the doctor will give a better show. I'm also a gymnast, but I don't really have any sort of routine. For now, I can move props until I come up with something." It was a way to get involved and she was stronger than most of the crew.
Kat nodded and wrote down what both Ruby and Jayde were doing on her list. "Anyone else?"
Zuub turned towards Jayde and gave her a considered look, her antennae leaning forward towards her. "Perhaps we can have an act where the two of us toss knives to one another? Can you catch them if I tossed them at you?"
A slow smile spread across Jayde's face. "I should be able to. Yes. But we should start with dull knives, just in case either of us misses. There would be time to move on to sharp ones later."
"Oh, but that would take out all the fun of healing you," Zuub answered. Her antennae wiggled happily.
Jayde smirked. "I'm security. The less time I spend getting healed, the more time I have to do my job. Besides, isn't this supposed to be entertaining, not deadly."
"Yes, of course," Zuub answered, while her antennae twittered. "However, the more deadly that it appears, the better the act, no? So, any practice should test our limits, no?"
"Not until we know each other's skill level and get comfortable with our style. Otherwise, it is simply reckless." Jayde wasn't going to be prodded into doing something she knew had unnecessary risk. She would have to know more about tje doctor and watch her throw knives.
A look towards Jayde and Zuub, both of them creating an act for the newest arrival being brought into the plan as well. Amy had a quiet smile, Katya's idea was definitely blossoming out, and she did like the fact that those were being brought out.
Rhu's idea for what he could add, and being not in the forefront. For herself, she will be part of a duet with Katya. A team, something she's finding wonderful. And once again Amy was comparing what she used to do and what was happening now.
Kat finished writing down more notes, then looked around. "Is there anything else? If not, we can call this done for now. But I would like to meet again in a week so we can each run through our routines--or as much of them as we have."
Daynah stepped forward for the first time during this whole rehearsal. "A word of advice. You are going to need a Master of Ceremonies. Someone who will keep the performance flowing from act to act as they get set up etc. This has to be someone who can command an audience, and be as funny as possible. You have to be able to keep the audience enthralled as the next act prepares."
Trying to hide a smile, Rhu said, "Sounds like a volunteer to me. Thank you, number one. I think you'll do a smashing job."
"I agree. Thank you, commander, I'll write you down." Kat smiled. "Besides, I think you're the perfect person to keep control of this circus."
Nyx looked from Kat to Daynah, then to Rhu, her grin creeping wider by the second.
“Yeah, no, perfect. Number One as ringmaster, Captain Earl Grey as a terrifying silent mime, Doc Delightful with knives, me escaping from something Starfleet probably hasn’t approved yet.”
She gave Kat a bright, entirely unhelpful smile.
“For the record, nobody controls a circus. You just point it away from the expensive furniture and hope the audience claps before Security arrives.”
Her gaze flicked briefly to Zuub, the blush from earlier threatening treason all over again before she covered it with a wicked little shrug.
“One week. Got it. I’ll bring locks.”
"I look forward to it," Zuub answered, her antennae writing in anticipation.
Amy just gave a smile, Kat certainly had a cunning plan, and so did Rhu, now most everyone was involved.
Rhu waited till they were all distracted, then slid from the space silently. The crew was coming together into something unique alright. Just what he and the Federation needed.
May the fates help them.
END
A joint post by:
Ensign Nyx Calder
Chief Flight Control Officer
USS Valiant
Lieutenant Amy Gordon
Chief Intelligence Officer
USS Valiant
Lieutenant Commander Zuub
Chief Medical Officer
USS Valiant
Commander Rhupert Tyree
Master and Commander
USS Valiant
Commander Daynah Ral
Executive Officer
Chief Science Officer
USS Valiant
Lieutenant Richard Dalziel
Chief Engineer
USS Valiant
Lieutenant Katya Davi
Chief Operations Officer
USS Valiant
Lieutenant JG Ruby Rojas
Assistant Chief Operations Officer
USS Valiant
Lieutenant JG Mira Jayde
Assistant Chief Security Officer
USS Valiant
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