Shore Leave Interrupted: Anna and N'Vok

Posted on Tue Jun 16th, 2026 @ 10:00pm by Lieutenant Commander N'vok Holv & Lieutenant Anna Esquivias & Lonian Royal Sovereignty

Mission: Season 6: Episode 7: Crossroads of Destiny
Location: Niea IV :: Tafavera
Timeline: MD4 - midday
1047 words - 2.1 OF Standard Post Measure

Tafavera sat on the cliffside on the west coast, just north of the Lontune Peninsula. Tall conifers created a cosy, cabin-like environment around the town and the landing pad. A moderate sea breeze rustled the grasses and shrubs around the landing pad. The town had grown over the last decade, but the original infrastructure was preserved as an historic artifact. It was reported that this place had some of the best hikes on the planet.

In the town square, a stage had been set up, along with chairs, refreshments, some vendors, and an area for dancing. On the stage, a group of five were playing through a number that almost had a jazz-y feel to it, and people were milling around, enjoying the music while chatting or exploring wares.

"This reminds me a lot of Earth jazz," Anna said as she slid her hand into N'vok's. "It is interesting how similar music seems to crop up again and again among humanoids. Look at Klingon opera and Andorian blues."

N'vok nods. "And Tellarite rap. I did a casual study of comparative music while I was teaching, as it seemed like an interesting way to introduce parallel cultural evolution to the students."

"So why can music be so similar sometimes?" she asked.

"Well, that is actually much debated," said N'vok. "But some of it is obvious; there are only so many ways to produce pleasing sounds at the early stages of development, so all cultures work from a similar base of sounds. Equally, we tend to use music to express similar things, so these are the primary axes that music seems to develop along."

"Only so many ways to make pleasing sounds?" she asked. "But why would the same sounds be pleasing for different species?"

"Because so many of us are humanoid in shape and construction, we, generally, find the same bands of sound pleasant," replied N'vok. "Horta, for example, do not as a general rule appreciate or even perceive music as we think of it."

"I get it," Anna said unconvincingly.

"I do admit, I have trouble finding the appeal of the Terran bagpipes or the Kazon screechhorn," says N'vok.

"The Kazon..." Anna said, as if struggling to remember who they were. "Delta Quadrant, right?"

He nodded. Before he could add anything, a ripple of applause filled the air as the song finished, and after a beat of silence they began again into a different song. The tune became swing-like, inviting some of the spectators near the stage to go dance. Everything seemed to move in beat with the music.

N'vok offers his hand. "Shall we?"

Anna placed her soft hand in his. "We shall."

N'vok bowed over Anna's hand and led her to the dance.

Anna moved close to him. She danced easily. She simply enjoyed the movement, the closeness, the music. For now, she didn't try to talk over it. Her smile was warm and genuine.

The others dancing welcomed them readily by sharing space with them, a language that needed no words. A couple people spun with their partners, some expecting it and others pleasantly surprised. In front of some of the vendors, a pair of guards were slowly strolling and talking between themselves. On the edges of the group, a child gleefully stomped along with off-rhythm steps.

As the dance progressed, the guards looked across the crowd. One then pulled a datapad from a pocket and looked between it and the crowd. They positioned themselves on the edges of the dancing group, and when Anna and N'vok got close, they signalled with their hand to grab their attention.

N'vok nodded in the guards' direction, in case Anna had not seen them, and maneuvered the pair over to them.

Anna nodded and walked over with him.

"Forgive the intrusion," one of the guards began. They ignored the Lonians who gave them space. "Could we have a moment of your time?"

"Certainly, officers," N'vok said, uncertain of their rank. "Is there some problem? "

With a nod, the guards led the pair to the side so the music and public presence wouldn't be so intrusive. The taller of the guards, a male, held out a datapad. "We're conducting an investigation. Do either of you happen to know this individual?" On the datapad was an image of Teevs, his name beneath the image in several alien languages.

N'vok raised an eyebrow. "Of course, he is our guide. Without him, it is unlikely that we would be here. Has Mister Teevs been hurt?"

The male guard replied, "he has been accused of treason, and part of our investigation is to uncover why."

"Teason? Against a person or polity?" N'vok asked. "But it seems unlikely in either case. Are you investigating Mister Teevs or the cause of the accusations?"

"The latter, and we're investigating the person," the guard answered. "He has no prior criminal record, and the investigation is to figure out why someone like him would commit such an offense."

"Why he did it?" Anna asked. "You're not even going to consider the possibility he might be innocent?"

"We have evidence that indicates otherwise," the guard replied. "He was found in possession of illegal weaponry. You say he served as a guide... perhaps you may have seen something while he was aboard your vessel?"

"We are under instructions to cooperate with the local authorities," said N'vok, "so we will be happy to help. But the leap from weapons charges to treason seems like a stretch,"

"There might also be exculpatory evidence," Anna pointed out.

"He already admitted to it," the other guard mentioned. Dismissing a glance from the first one, he continued, "but that aside, the weaponry came from a known enemy of the Sovereignty. Bringing it here means there was intent to use it. Maybe not by him, but by whoever he is working with."

"We can share more information if you join us at the precinct," the first one said. "We don't wish to cause the public unnecessary alarm, especially since the threat has been mitigated."

"We have no wish to disrupt the festivities," says N'vok. "Let us go so we can get this sorted."

With a nod, the guards got closer before muttering something into their communicators. Then, a transporter beam enveloped the four of them.