LaSaille Shorts

[Innkeeper]

Heavily Riffed Musket?

Did you mean Rifled?

I clearly did not edit for the spelling cancer. Heavy rifled musket. The same one Paul LaSaille hung in the parlor in Annobellum.

[Innkeeper]

One of Those Days

I hurried back to my to my cabin as decorously as possible. They said in the Academy that there would be days like this. No one ever believes them...ever... even me. I should know better too. In any case it would not do for the crew to see the Captain have a fit in the corridors.

I flopped face first on the bed and did my best not to bust out laughing. I really did. Finally Aleilan came over and didn't quite cold nose me.

**What has you riled?**

I rolled over. **The Bronian Ambassador.**

**Give.**

**It would be easier if they where not Human, really, parallel fashion, some excuse.**

**Give!**

**Formal attire does differ from world to world.**

She was rooting under my back looking for a spot for that nose. **Give!**

**Clown suit, right down to the whiteface and red nose.**

Okay, I didn't hold it in, but at least I had company.


One of Those Days -- Garry Stahl, January 2011


Strange new worlds... Some times the truly strange ones are not so new.

[Innkeeper]

In a Bar

"Captain LaSaille, it is good to see you. I was given the impression you were not the sort of man to frequent bars."

LaSaille looked over the over dressed Orion. "I'm not responsible to your impressions Jant."

The golden man smiled. Then they will have to take care of themselves will they not? Truly, you are not a drinker. This I know of you. Why do you come to the bar?"

Jerry shrugged. "It's a small station. This is where the people are."

"So you watch the people."

"It's a small station. And it isn't the deck of the Kongo."

"Ah, yes. The Human need for something different to look at."

"That could be the reason."

Jant signaled the bartender and took his Dr. Pepper. "Captain, you are one of the most difficult men I know to get a personal answer out of."

Jerry raised an eyebrow. "From an Orion? I'll take that as unusual."

"So, what is the Kongo here for?"

"The usual, sadly. Some poor bastard got his ship screwed up. We pulled the survivors off."

"And you drop them off here?"

"Yes, from here they can arrange for passage."

"Not pirates I hope."

"Not this time. Let's turn the table Jant. Why are you on the back side of nowhere?"

"Because old friend, it is the backside of nowhere."

"On the run again Jant? Not anything I need to arrest you for I hope."

"That would be telling." Jant shrugged, a very Human gesture. "No harm in it. I lifted a cargo out from under the nose of a rival. He holds grudges. I wish to live to spend my money."

Jerry kept his elbows on the bar. "Where was this?"

"Onthar. Oh, it was legal. Natural Order and all."

"But he doesn't see it that way."

"Well, I suppose he does, and if he can get it back, the Natural Order favors him."

The back of Jerry's neck started to itch. **Gun...door** flashed across his mind. He came around from the bar the phaser in his hand before he had finished turning. The trigger in the process of being pressed before the target was plain. The Orion in the door didn't have time to register shock as the beam splashed across his chest. The blaster skittered away from him and he slumped in the door of the bar.

Silence nailed the moment in place. Jerry lightly fingered the phaser in his hand looking for the next threat. Jant looked on in shock. People moved away from the stunned Orion.

Jerry flipped his communicator out with his free hand. "LaSaille to Kongo."

"Kongo, Captain."

"Security to Jango's Bar."

"Aye aye Captain."

Jerry closed the communicator. "This your friend Jant?"

Jant carefully toed the unconscious Orion over. "Yes, that would be him."

"Well today is your lucky day. He gets arrested." He flipped the communicator back open. "LaSaille here."

"Yes Captain, security is on the way."

"Second issue Mr. Steel." He shot a look at Jant.

"Darvn Treasure."

"Find and secure the crew of Darvn Treasure. Their captain just tried to shoot a man in the back over a business deal. I don't want any more trouble."

"Aye aye Captain."

A commotion broke out in the back of the bar. An Orion was trying to get free of his shirt being held by an Ane. Most unpolite language was coming forth. Jerry leveled the phaser on him. "Stop struggling. Hurt her and I'll be most aggrieved." **Part of the crew?**

Aleilan let go of the shirt. **Yes, I think he called in Jant's location.**

The Orion stood his ground covered by the phaser.

The Kongo's security quad came running to the bar. "Captain?" inquired the Lieutenant in change.

"The one on the ground, and this one here. Take them to the brig. We are securing his ship until we investigate."

Security took the prisoners and transported back to the Kongo.

Jant tossed off the rest of his drink. "I guess I should get back to my ship."

Jerry eyes him narrowly. "I think you should, to make sure she stays right there."

"Are you arresting me too?"

"You're a material witness Jant. I would rather not arrest you, so don't do something that would make me, like trying to leave."

"And you intend to get to the bottom of this."

"You know me fairly well."

Jant rolled his eyes. "That isn't always an advantage."


In a Bar -- Garry Stahl, November 2010


A short Jerry scene that might become something bigger. I am still noodling on it. Just to prime the pump.

[jayphailey]

2010 is pretty recent!

[Innkeeper]

2010 is pretty recent!

I'm trying to get the mojo back. I have four or five half finished tales.

[jayphailey]

IMHO - "After the Voyage" is better as a set of smaller stories than as one large chunk...


But what the hell do I know?

[Innkeeper]

The Break

The window lit up with lightning shortly followed by a roll of thunder that shook the house. Jerry LaSaille could hear Miss Lilly on the floor below as he worked at his desk in the study. It would be a while before anyone on Earth slept through a thunderstorm after the weather caused by the Whale Probe.

He snapped the PADD off with a sudden decision as thunder buffeted the windows yet again. He made his way down to the kitchen. Miss Lilly looked up from her fussing as he came in.

"Mr. Jerold, you still up?"

"I should ask the same question. It's well past your bed time."

"I find it hard to sleep." She looked out the kitchen window at the beating rain.

"I understand. I came down to raid the fridge."

"Well, don't let me stop you." She peered out the window with the next flash of lightning. "There is someone on the back lawn."

As if in reaction to her statement the outside lights came on followed by a pounding on the door. Jerry shot her a look and went to the door. The rapping was repeated. "Who the Hell?" Jerry opened the door. His son was framed in the opening "Clarke? How did you get here?"

Clarke LaSaille stood on the back porch with water streaming down his face. "Roban. Do you mind if we come in?"

Jerry stepped out of the door. "Come in, please. Miss Lilly, get a robe and some towels please."

Miss Lily went for them at once. "I don't know why anyone would be out on a night like this. Mercy sakes." Her voice fading as she left the room.

Clarke came in followed by Roban, who was equally as wet.

Jerry took Roban by the nose. **Don't shiver, or we'll all be wet.**

**Tall order.** His skin twitched with the suppressed instinct.

"Clarke, get out of those wet things."

Miss Lilly was back shortly with an armload of towels and a robe. Towels were dropped over Roban and Clarke got dry as well while Jerry dialed up some tea.

Jerry then helped Roban get dried off. **Are you staying or moving to join the general herd?**

**It's the middle of the rainy season. Where is everyone here?**

**Tonight, in the ballroom. There might be one or two Ane wide spots left.**

**Thanks.** Roban left the kitchen seeking the company of his own kind.

By this point Miss Lilly had Clarke into the robe and sipping on a cup of tea at the Kitchen table. Jerry sat down as well.

"I suppose the obvious question is what brings you here?"

Clarke looked into his tea. "I had a blow up with Mother. Shouting, arm waving, the works."

"And...."

"I needed to get away."

Jerry took a sip of his own cup. "Crystal City wasn't far enough 'away'?"

"Not this time." The rain continued to vent it's fury.

"What was different this time?"

Clarke sat back pulling the robe around him. "I don't really know Dad. It was the same tired argument, the same emotional appeals. Maybe that is it, there was nothing different, except I have heard it one too many times."

"So why all the way here?"

"Mom might look around Crystal City for me. She won't come here."

"That's likely. What about your work?"

"It will hold. I told Elizabeth I was leaving."

"That will keep you covered. What next?"

"I don't know. Maybe I just need some time to cool off. Time to think without my head being messed with all the time."

"Indefinite stay?"

"Yea, until I can think this out."

"You'll need to call Nairobi in the morning, and let them know you are here. This is Earth, not El Nanth. Bureaucrats so thick you can't help but step on them."

"Ugh, it might be a short indefinite stay."

"Don't make plans now. That will keep till morning."

"Yea, is there anything to eat around here. I left just before dinner."

Jerry smiled. "I was fixing for a kitchen raid myself. Let's see what we can find."


The Break -- Garry Stahl, November 2004


Another character piece with Clarke. Not much else to say about it. There was some Jerry short before it that got subsumed into After the Voyage.

[jayphailey]

Seems like Clarke and his mother are reflecting a groove you were familiar with at the time

[Innkeeper]

Seems like Clarke and his mother are reflecting a groove you were familiar with at the time

I was not as biddable to my Mother. More what Matthew was going through. By 20 I had acquired a wife and that state remained constant.

I was musing last night that I have never named Clarke's mother. She latched onto Jerry during his two years at Starfleet command between the Lydia Sutherland and the Kongo. She went to El Nanth when he took command of the Kongo. The relationship was already strained by the time of Clarke's birth shortly before he took command of the Kongo.

Yes she is Ansisi. Nia in the 22ed century was the first time he married an Ansis woman. It was a much happier marriage.

So Clarke is mocha in color, coffee with cream.

[jayphailey]

Interesting.

What is Clarke up to these days?

Also interesting that his Mom is Ansisi