Las'Tai was .. Having fun. The Terran's *party* was a chaotic mix of music, intoxicants, dancing and all around uninhibited behavior. It did not matter what crazy thing someone did, there was always someone to cheer them on and encourage the act, if they did not straight up join in on whatever what going on. So far she had seen them run up to complete strangers and embrace them in a hug, despite the strangers protests and attempts to get out. She had seen them dance on tables, play fight, sing, both out of tune with the music and something else they called *shanties*.

Whenever one of those started up everyone would join in within a few sentences, making them an impromptu chorus, like the ones she knew from back home. But these songs were about a life she had dreamed of without knowing it. They sang of getting intoxicated, freedom, of going where you wanted, when you wanted. Of being unbound by rules and laws, of living!!

She was enthralled by those songs and did her best to remember the words so she could sing them whenever she wanted. She found it hard though. music was not common amongst her people and so, most of them had very little rhythm. She learned the chorus of the shanties though, as they were repeated after every verse.

She also noticed members of the boarding strike teams disappear in groups of 3, only to return shortly after, looking extremely satisfied with themselves. She decided she wanted to know so she approached Jesper.

Jesper saw her coming and quickly finished talking to the trooper standing next to him before turning to Las'Tai as she approached.

"I hope the party is to your liking" He said, smiling as he did. Las'Tai had never seen him smile and immediately became suspicious.

"What is going on sir?? i see the strike teams disappear and reappear and i want to know why."

Jesper returned to his sour expression before replying "Well well well, quite the observant little soldier... Might as well tell you now, might save us some trouble in the future." He took a deep breath before speaking with a serious tone.

"There are Kloxna on this station. Kloxna that wishes the captain harm and you captured. My teams have been disappearing to take care of them when they became isolated. And before you complain, they merely knock them out and hide them away. I dont need station security on my ass when i finally get to party. So do us all a favor and stay with the party, preferably near Jeanette. She might not look like it, but that woman has a savage right hook" Jesper looked almost truly happy for a moment, at what was obviously a fond memory of his.

He shook his head for a moment before continuing, "The captain will bN quite safe. With 2 other Terran's, even if they are women not trained for combat, nothing short of a full assault team would try to attack him, let alone be able to harm him. Besides, he IS armed, despite station rules prohibiting it and scanning for any weapons."

He grinned like a madman during his next words.

"Too bad for them that i learned a long time ago they only screen for metal alloys. Not thermoplastic polymers. And while a gun made entirely from polymer wont last long, it should be more than enough of a deterrent and have a long enough functional life to get him through a firefight, maybe even 2, though i would not try."

Las'Tai was shocked to her core. The security screeners were standard all over the galaxy except for Terra and the Terran's refused to explain why. Now she knew. They were able to smuggle weapons past any security checkpoint in the galaxy, except for their homeworld. "Do all Terran's know this?" She wondered.

"No, it is not common knowledge, but i am far from the only one aware of this" Jesper said, as if reading her thoughts. "Just stay close to the group and you will be fine. You want a beer? I would offer something stronger, but i have no idea if your system is geared to handle ethanol in larger amounts"

At the mention of the cleaning agent she exclaimed "are you consuming ethanol?!!?"

"Yes?? but watered down of course" Came Jespers reply, "drinking it pure makes it hard to control how much you get. Also, disinfecting yourself from the inside is generally a very painful experience" He added with a chuckle. "Try the beer, it's less than 5% Ethanol in the entire can"

Las'Tai had taken intoxicants before, but as far as she knew, ethanol was a mild poison to her people. She hesitantly tried drinking the beer after making sure she could see the doctor. The taste was very weird and she could feel the slightest hint of ethanol as she drank it, but nothing bad seemed to happen. Slowly drinking the beer, she turned ter attention to enjoying the party once more.

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Eirik was feeling a pleasant buzz from the alcohol as he lead the 2 ladies back towards his ship.

"Are you really the captain of that?" The woman in his right arm asked as they turned the corner to the hangar and walked towards the ship.

"Indeed i am. Watch this.." He breathed deep and bellowed to the ships guards who was busy doing anything other than their job "WHY THE FUCK ARE YOU NOT GUARDING THE SHIP YOU USELESS WORMS!!!!"

The 4 guards looked like deer's caught in the headlights as they all turned their head towards the yelling and upon seeing the captain, scrambled like mad to get to their posts. They hated when he wanted to show off for female company.

"Apologies captain!!" they all said at the same time, standing to attention as they did so. The women giggled drunkenly and Clung to Eirik as they walked inside the ship and headed towards the captain's cabin.

The crew they passed said nothing, but they all exchanged looks. Better put on some loud music, this was going to be a looooooong shift.

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Las'Tai was feeling funny. her head was spinning, her body was tingling and everything was just so much fun! She was on her 4th beer and she felt like she finally understood the spirit of being at a party. Suddenly the doctor was in front of her.

"Are you feeling okay Las'Tai??? how many beers have you had??" He asked in a concerned voice.

Squinting her eyes in concentration, she slurred out "thisss sshould be my fffourth one"

The Doctor grabbed the can out of her hand "EY!!" Came the reaction from Las'Tai before the doctor looked her straight in the eyes

"If you drink much more, you will get very very sick Las'Tai. And while i may be able to cure you, i dont feel like spending tomorrow in the infirmary, watching over a Kloxna who lost her self control." Knud said sternly.

Las'Tai became serious at the mention of self control. "How did i become so unhinged??" she thought to herself. Then her eyes focused on the beer can in Knud's hand. THERE!! That was the reason she lost her self control. she made herself a vow right there. To never get comfortable around alcohol again.

Suddenly remembering the captain leaving, she looked at Knud and asked. "Why did the captain leave with those 2 females?? They were not bonded to each other but it still looked like he was bringing them to his home"

Knud looked uncomfortable at the question and said "Why don't you ask the captain when you see him again? Im sure he would be better at explaining it" Before he practically ran over to some of the other Terran's

"That's exactly what i'm going to do" She thought to herself, before she once again turned her attention back to the party.