Fun and Mischief on Bajor

Posted on Mon Jun 9th, 2025 @ 8:33pm by Lieutenant Cadence Tyree & Lieutenant Rynna Csira & Ensign Rose MacGregor

Mission: A Day In The Life
Location: Bajor
2071 words - 4.1 OF Standard Post Measure

It was a tight squeeze on the shuttle that Cade's friends had offered a ride down to Bajor. Rose thought it was a great amount of fun. It reminded her of the one time in Academy where some of the students wanted to try out a historical crazy event of how many people could fit in a VW bug, the record was said to have been 57 people in some accounts, the other though which was deemed more official was 20. Rose was a participant in that endeavor, utilizing the holodeck. It was a great puzzle to solve how to fit that many into that vehicle. They had people of various sizes. Compared to that, the ride in the shuttle was quite comfortable. The mood in the shuttle was quite festive, and the energy level was phenomenal. Rose's eyes sparkled with delight with watching and listening.

There was talk about things they were wanting to do, the food they wanted to eat, the dancing and sights to see. When the shuttle landed upon the ground, and the passengers exited, Rose looked around, hearing the music as it drifted in their direction. "That sounds fun. I take it you two were here earlier." looking at Cade and Rynna.

"Yesterday, yes. But we only got to a part of the festival," Rynna said. "The question is, where do we want to start today? And how do we want to pace ourselves?" She thought it would be nice to use a garden, museum, or temple as a bit of a rest from some of the more energetic activities. Today she was dressed in a pair of mahogany-colored pants with several small zippered pockets and a sleeveless v-necked blouse in a shade of honey that complemented her hair and skin color. Tiny brown flowers decorated the neckline and sleeves. It was festive and comfortable.

Cade walked with his two new crew mates, keeping pace as they moved from the spaceport toward public transportation: grav-rail cars that would take them into the city proper. Today, he’d chosen a short sleeved shirt in a gold tinged yellow with white and darker gold patterned striping. This was worn partially unbuttoned over his favorite hawthorne colored hemp/cotton blend work pants. And as always, his boots, though he’s changed their color to a soft nut brown for the day.

He’d added the handful of Bajoran charms they’d collected yesterday around his throat and added a Betezoid rope bracelet to his left wrist. A pair of brown tinted, circle frame sunglasses shaded his eyes. As they walked, touches of the festival were everywhere and he gestured toward some of the holo advertisements that the glowed along one of the walls. 

“They’ll be doing temple ceremonies most of the day I think, with all public buildings on full display here. I did get wind of an a Cardassian Oralian Way exhibit the Bajoran Central museum has chosen to put on display, which I wouldn’t mind seeing.”

"Let's start there," Rynna said. She'd left her Bajoran charms behind, hoping to collect more today. "Then see what catches our interest."

Three hours later
Sitting on the steps of the Central museum, Cade enjoyed the sun pushing down at him and the tactile feel of the ferrocreate tiled masonry under him, though he'd be ready to be up and moving soon.

Mostly he was enjoying the days company. And the ice cream.

Tasting what had been described as Munueberry cream, he bit into the cookie-like cone base, letting the cool creamy berry goodness melt in his mouth. Using his thumb, while still holding the cone, to clear cream from his lips he said. "Well. The ice cream was a good idea."

"Ice cream is always a good idea." Rynna licked some wayward cream off her thumb. "I don't know why I've never heard of this before." Today, she'd discovered that several vendors had tiny charms for sale. Now, she wore several on a necklace and several more on a bracelet. Her grandmother would be pleased as she liked to wear charms. Rynn had purchased two to send home before she left the station. "The question now is, dancing or nature next, because I'm always up for either."

With a mischievous grin, Cade said, "I was talking to the museum's diversity speaker. I suggested they hold a Betezoid Discissai dance. I think I had them just about sold on it until she found out all you're suppose to wear is body paint, jewelry and a smile. They turned flame red."

Shifting slightly, he looked over and asked, "What about you Rose? What would you like to do?"

Rose was quite pleased with the new clothing she had gotten a few hours back. A hunter green peasant blouse which could be worn off the shoulders, a pair of loose fitting black pants which had drawstring at the waist. And a pair of dark brown high top moccasins which hit just below the knee cap. They fit rather comfortably. She looked over towards Cade, between bites of the ice cream cone, the flavor being a berry of some sort. She wasn't quite certain as of yet. "Well either sounds great, but... perhaps nature would be best. You see, while I was buying my new outfit, someone had handed me a list for a scavenger hunt. "

"A scavenger hunt?" Rynn didn't mind, but she wanted more information. LIke, when did it start and what did you get if you won? Mostly it was because she was curious, but if the hunt started that morning, they would probably be too late to do much. not sure, she turned to Cade "What do you think?"

"Sounds like fun to me," Cade said as he ate the last of his cone. "Depends on the experience rather than winning, though winning is the point. Then there's cheating...."

Rynna looked at him with wide, mock-innocent eyes. "Starfleet never cheats. We just bend the rules a little...but only for a very good reason."

"Ahh," Cade said with deceptive seriousness. "But in this case we are on leave and not representing the Fleet. So, what they don't know..."

Chuckling, Rynn shook her head, but the sparkle in her eyes showed that she wasn't opposed to what he said. "It does sound like fun, though. I'm game."

Crowding close behind and to just beside Rose, Cade looked over her shoulder, reading the list. "A Topiary hunt? I heard something about the Topiary...when the Cardassian's occupied Bajor they destroyed a lot of the statuary and monuments during reprisals or by accident. The natives took to gardening forestry projects more and began pruning and forming statuary from that. I've heard some of them are very fun. And it'll hit some touch points of getting out into nature and exploring the city."

"I love the idea of a topiary hunt." Looking from Cade to Rose, Rynn grinned. "I think the only question now is, where do we begin?"

"Well," Cade said. "Looks like they have some things spread all over. According to the pamphlet, they used this opportunity to level the playing field. Apparently there's a bird topiary atop the museum..."

After a minute he said, "At least that's kinda sorta what that riddle seems to indicate."

A bird topiary on top of a museum?! It reminded Rose of the gardens on top of the Museum of Natural History in New York City. "I would love to see that, lets start there!" Feeling rather excited about this.

"It's not unusual for a building to have a roof garden of some sort. Why not a topiary?" Rynn asked. "I think it would be a great place for one. You have an interesting garden with a great view."

It took a few minutes before Cade found the lift to museum's roof, which had been turned into some sort of a representation of an orb of the prophets. Doors open to the air and golden light portrayed by various flowers, and golden leaves from a unique bajoran tree called a Shimri that started out with golden shoots which turned green at the end of season. Casting about, he noted birds and other animals depicted throughout the display and he sighed.

"Of course it couldn't be that easy," he stated, crossing his arms. "There's got to be more to the clue..."

"What are we looking for, exactly? We could split up and cover more ground. Is there something in the clue to help us find the right one?" Rynn grinned. "As long as it doesn't involve some sort of ritual where we dance naked under the full moon, we should be fine." Swaying her hips, she danced in a circle. "Okay, that would be fine, too, except the moon won't rise until the competition is over."

"Supposed to be a bird, crafted from a tree bush or...something that refers to an orb of the prophets, based on the overall theme of the garden. Each of the items on the list is suggested by the garden or area it's set into. So, which Orb might this represent and then what bird..."

Cade then paused as his brain fully processed Rynn's comment and he grinned, "Well. There are all sorts of moons. There are a couple of Betazoid interpretive dances I could teach..."

Rynn had to admit to herself that she was curious. "There are stories that indicate my ancestors may have come from Betazed. I may have to learn some of those dances...for historic reasons, of course."

She turned to Rose. "Or we could buy some long, flowing dresses that will be suitable for dancing in the moonlight."

"Talking about dancing in the moonlight skyclad? Though we could get some flowing dresses as well." Rose remarked with a bit of a laugh."Either way, I'm game."

Looking at Rynna, her interest piqued, "Where are your people now? And where are you from?" It was a surprise to Rose finding this out about Rynna, this though was a way to get to know who she will be working with.

"I'm from a world nobody's heard of called Fareni. We're part of the Federation, but not that close to most trade routes." Rynn shrugged. "Legend says that the founders of the colony had Betazoid roots."

"A long lost Betazoid colony," Cade asked, then his question turned into a comment. "Fascinating. How do you lose a whole colony. We'll have to look up the records some time and see what can be found."

"We're not true telepaths, but I can hear it if someone talks directly to my mind. And my gran says I have second sight." Rynn shrugged. "I doubt it means anything significant."

"I believe in second sight, little flashes of something that might come up. Or a future happening." Rose having an interested gaze. "I have heard of a village that appears at a certain time once per century, in my home country, Scotland. Tis but a legend, Brigadoon. Though there had been tales of a traveler wandering in meeting the people of the village, then leaving. Only to return to that place where nothing is there, only a hill covered by heather, gorse with a small stream below. Once a century they arrive."

"My gran believes in stories like that," Rynn replied.

"I am definitely wanting to get to know more about your people." A light flashed distracting Rose, "Hey is that part of the scavenger hunt? Or shall we just don't go into the light?" giving a laugh.

Rynn didn't get the joke, but assumed it was one. "There's one way to find out." With that, she headed off to see where the light came from.

Eyeing his two companions, Cade followed. "Ghost stories around the fire and stories passing along old stories and traditions were and are a part of a what holds a community together," he commented. "Though I have heard stories of lights called Dat Lla that would lure travelers to their dooms. And of course various beautiful appearing monsters that did the same."

Eyes twinkling he said, "You two aren't leading me to my doom, are you?"

"Astray, yes. Amok, yes. To your doom...remains to be seen," Rynn said, smiling beatifically.

Rose glanced at Cadence and just smiled.

END