It was difficult to say which Elazar hated more: wasting time on shore leave or how excited the crew was for it. The INS Ophelia had successfully docked not long ago, and now he could hear people walking by the training room in gaggles, chattering loudly about their plans and giggling. Positively nauseating. He wiped the sweat from his brow using his sleeve and switched off the welding gun he'd been using to finish the new, more durable pod for simulations. This new one wouldn't be a simple replacement, no - it would be a vast improvement. But with that goal came a somewhat irritating stipulation: he'd have to leave the ship to secure the materials he needed. He could order them and wait for their arrival, certainly, but why do that when he was positively itching to complete the project and there were shops nearby he could visit?
So, with a great deal of reluctance, he found himself joining the stream of crew mates heading planetside the next day. He kept his distance, more out of habit than anything else, and soon found himself exiting the great space elevator at a level the directory indicated would be suitable. Around him, buildings of various sizes were lit by neon outlines and signs. Nearly every sign advertised some type of electronic, weapon, or weapon modification store. The sheer scope of the specialities offered was nearly overwhelming, and Elazar did his best to take it all in as he walked slowly from one end of the "thorn" to the other. The walking paths were quite crowded with species of all shapes and sizes, and neatly lined along the edges were several holographic trees, also neon. As his gaze turned upward, he noted that the entirety of this floor's shell was made of glass. Above, he could see the various ships docked, including their own, and the planet stretched out below, its cityscape glittering faintly through the gaps in the walking paths. Only a fool would overlook the beauty of it.
He finally settled on a small shop about two-thirds of the way back to the elevator advertising holographic equipment. The interior was a bit bewildering, as it was entirely blacklit and electronic music was blaring loudly - This isn't a damned nightclub - but the pricing was as fair as he'd seen in a while, and soon he found himself haggling with the shop's manager. It may or may not have taken a few thinly veiled threats, but eventually he secured an excellent deal on a holodeck light projector and training weapons that would be compatible with it, along with a few minor replacement parts he needed. He sent his purchases off with a delivery droid, and once that was accomplished he spent a bit of time window shopping, not particularly in the market for anything but curious to see what was here. As he walked, it was difficult not to notice that he was the only person from the Ophelia who was alone, and those who made eye contact with him quickly corrected their error upon realizing it.
Sighing, he slipped into a gap between buildings and removed his mask along with the most recognizable bits of his uniform, including his short cape and his dimly glowing knife. He carefully placed them in his bag and re-emerged looking like any other Dina Amor on the street, albeit a tad more grumpy than them. On a normal day he could care less about the impression he made on the others. Personal relationships were frivolous, and he certainly did not have time for frivolity, not now that the stakes were so high with the re-emergence of…No, on a normal day it did not matter. But this wasn't a normal day.
He hadn't been paying much mind to where he was going as he brooded, but he found himself back on the great elevator. Part of him wanted to go back to the ship, either to continue working on the training room or to do more research about this Perseus Galatea. But the corner of his mind that he could keep muzzled on most days was whispering in his ear, and he soon stepped out on the entertainment level. The captain had said something about the pubs here being exceptional.
Night had well and truly fallen now, and the stars above shone in a breathtaking tapestry. He slipped into one that was jammed with people, some of them from the ship, and he was immediately glad he had removed his mask. He slipped onto a vacant stool and ordered a glass of bourbon, enjoying his relative invisibility amongst his peers. Only two crew mates had seen his face, and he doubted either of them would be here. His lips quirked at the corners as he imagined I-6 at the nearby table with some of the security team, advising them about the precise percentage of alcohol entering their bodies and how much of it would be safe.
His bourbon arrived and he took a sip, relishing the warmth settling in his stomach. He tried to imagine what Velshia would be doing here and failed entirely. If anything she was probably using the shore leave to work on a personal project. He hadn't seen her since their return, and the more he drained his glass the more readily he admitted what a shame that was. She was…a fascinating enigma, to say the least.
So, with a great deal of reluctance, he found himself joining the stream of crew mates heading planetside the next day. He kept his distance, more out of habit than anything else, and soon found himself exiting the great space elevator at a level the directory indicated would be suitable. Around him, buildings of various sizes were lit by neon outlines and signs. Nearly every sign advertised some type of electronic, weapon, or weapon modification store. The sheer scope of the specialities offered was nearly overwhelming, and Elazar did his best to take it all in as he walked slowly from one end of the "thorn" to the other. The walking paths were quite crowded with species of all shapes and sizes, and neatly lined along the edges were several holographic trees, also neon. As his gaze turned upward, he noted that the entirety of this floor's shell was made of glass. Above, he could see the various ships docked, including their own, and the planet stretched out below, its cityscape glittering faintly through the gaps in the walking paths. Only a fool would overlook the beauty of it.
He finally settled on a small shop about two-thirds of the way back to the elevator advertising holographic equipment. The interior was a bit bewildering, as it was entirely blacklit and electronic music was blaring loudly - This isn't a damned nightclub - but the pricing was as fair as he'd seen in a while, and soon he found himself haggling with the shop's manager. It may or may not have taken a few thinly veiled threats, but eventually he secured an excellent deal on a holodeck light projector and training weapons that would be compatible with it, along with a few minor replacement parts he needed. He sent his purchases off with a delivery droid, and once that was accomplished he spent a bit of time window shopping, not particularly in the market for anything but curious to see what was here. As he walked, it was difficult not to notice that he was the only person from the Ophelia who was alone, and those who made eye contact with him quickly corrected their error upon realizing it.
Sighing, he slipped into a gap between buildings and removed his mask along with the most recognizable bits of his uniform, including his short cape and his dimly glowing knife. He carefully placed them in his bag and re-emerged looking like any other Dina Amor on the street, albeit a tad more grumpy than them. On a normal day he could care less about the impression he made on the others. Personal relationships were frivolous, and he certainly did not have time for frivolity, not now that the stakes were so high with the re-emergence of…No, on a normal day it did not matter. But this wasn't a normal day.
He hadn't been paying much mind to where he was going as he brooded, but he found himself back on the great elevator. Part of him wanted to go back to the ship, either to continue working on the training room or to do more research about this Perseus Galatea. But the corner of his mind that he could keep muzzled on most days was whispering in his ear, and he soon stepped out on the entertainment level. The captain had said something about the pubs here being exceptional.
Night had well and truly fallen now, and the stars above shone in a breathtaking tapestry. He slipped into one that was jammed with people, some of them from the ship, and he was immediately glad he had removed his mask. He slipped onto a vacant stool and ordered a glass of bourbon, enjoying his relative invisibility amongst his peers. Only two crew mates had seen his face, and he doubted either of them would be here. His lips quirked at the corners as he imagined I-6 at the nearby table with some of the security team, advising them about the precise percentage of alcohol entering their bodies and how much of it would be safe.
His bourbon arrived and he took a sip, relishing the warmth settling in his stomach. He tried to imagine what Velshia would be doing here and failed entirely. If anything she was probably using the shore leave to work on a personal project. He hadn't seen her since their return, and the more he drained his glass the more readily he admitted what a shame that was. She was…a fascinating enigma, to say the least.
