A flash of white light, and the Captain and Commander stepped into a grand five-story restaurant adorned with massive glass windows spanning its far side. Tapestries and banners, representing every known faction, adorned the walls and ceiling, swaying gently in the air. Each banner the same size, no particular order, each an equal.
"Welcome to the Melting Pot captain." Neil leads Anzyl inside, "we'll be using this for all the major social events, dignitary banquets, weddings, ceremonial events, etcetera."
Anzyl gasped, struck by the sheer size of the rooms. "Interesting name, I thought it was called 'Rear 30', you know, like '10 Forward' and such…"
"Ah, Captain! Over here!" A somewhat familiar voice called out.
Not far sat two aliens, one was in gold and black starfleet uniform, the other jungle green robes.
The one in Starfleet uniform stood up and adjusted his uniform, "I'm Keten sir!" and stretched his hand out to shake the men's hands "Kobali of the Delta Alliance." This humanoid stood about average height, pale pink skin, and purple spots on his bald head, and pointed ears.
Anzyl shook his hand, feeling a sense of Deja'Vu.
"Nice to meet you, Keten. Why do I get the sense of Deja'Vu meeting you?" Anzyl inquired.
Keten nodded shyly, "You probably did sir, or at least my, dimensional… clone…? Sorry, I'm still trying to wrap my head around it. You probably know me as Harry Kim."
"I literally… just spoke to you, Captain Harry Kim on the USS Rhode Island no more than a week ago…" Anzyl struggled to understand.
"Yes sir.. You probably did… I, I'm sorry… but…" Keten stammered nervously.
"I think I can assist this Captain." the woman in green robes stood up, "Diela, Enaran, also of the Delta Alliance" she bowed softly. She was an older woman in her late 50's, curly red and whiting hair, with a matching jungle green mesh headband on her head. "I am also your ship's counselor, and have been assisting Keten here with his second birth and his transition from Human to Kobali."
"Ah yes!" Anzyl shook her hand enthusiastically, "My telepathic counselor, thank goodness! I was hoping to meet you!" Then turning to young Keten, recalling the Kobali's unique feature, "I read the reports of the Kobali. They reproduce by reclaiming corpses of other races that have died, and through a virus reanimate the dead bodies into new members of their race. Are you saying Mr. Harry Kim here died, and was reborn as Keten?"
Keten went pale, "Oh god… that DOES sound horrible when other people say it…"
Diela shot a look at the Captain, expressing her displeasure.
"That's what I have been trying to work through with Keten…" She suddenly looked worried at some tables on the far end. "Captain, you will have a problem in a few seconds."
Just then, a Jem'hadar stood up from his table and punched a Hirogen man in the face, "You want a Hunt, I am here as your Prey! Skin me and make me boots if you dare!"
The Hirogen stood up to face his opponent. He had tan pebbled reptilian skin, bald with crested ridges on his head, and wore shiny cobalt armor that resembled a dragon hunter or some mythological knight. "I will skin you where you stand!"
Chaos erupted as a Jem'Hadar and a Hirogen engaged in a violent confrontation. Anzyl, channeling a commanding presence, bellowed "ENOUGH!!!" but the brawl had already begun.
"O'Reilly to Security!" Neil tapped his combadge. "Report to the Melting Pot. Zide'Mok, get in here! NOW!"
In mere seconds, flashes of white started flashing and several Jem'Hadar security officers, along with Zide'Mok and Veirik appeared.
The Hirogen sitting nearby stood up ready to fight to the death. The fight between the two ignited into a full blown bar brawl between the Jem'Hadar and Hirogen.
Zide'Mok yelled and shouted at his underlings, tearing a few off their chosen foes, but the Jem'Hadar bloodlust was in full force, as were the Hirogen's hunter/prey drive.
Blades were drawn, and with flashes of steel, specs and drops of amber Jem'Hadar blood began to shower and rain down.
Anzyl stood there shaking his head in disbelief, this would never happen on a Starfleet vessel, what did he get himself into. Instinctively, he protected Diela and moved her behind him.
"Stand back, Captain," Veirik, calm and cool, approached like a special ops operative with a fully armed and charged phaser rifle.
Neil instructed, "On Stun, Veirik."
Veirik nodded, pushed a button and opened fire, shooting out bright orange energy bolts at each target, every hit a headshot. Hirogen and Jem'Hadar immediately fell over unconscious.
Anzyl tapped his combadge "Praxas to Sickbay, incoming wounded, lacerations and phaser burns."
"Thanks captain, what races are involved?" Two of Three spoke over the com.
"Hirogen and Jem'Hadar." Anzyl shook his head in disbelief.
"Understood captain," Two of Three replied, "Downloaded now, send them whenever."
Letting out a disappointed sigh, Anzyl spoke, "Alright, let's get them to sickbay."
"Understood captain." Veirik acknowledged, pushing another button on his rifle, and fired again. This time, blue energy bolts, and when they hit their target, they flashed white and teleported away.
The tension in the Melting Pot subsided, but still many of the other species were shocked at what just went down. Chairs tossed and broken, glasses and flatware strewn about, puddles of amber and purple blood pooled on the newly laid carpet.
"A blood bath on deck and we haven't even left the space dock…." Anzyl shook his head to Neil and the others around him.
Diela, sensing the Captain's disquieting thoughts, approached Anzyl, "You will be alright. You are not alone, and you ARE the right man for this job."
Smiling softly, Anzyl thanked her. "Thanks, Diela."
"And Yes, I will gladly take the left seat on the bridge." An unexpected offer that surprised Anzyl.
Anzyl's face lit up in shock,
"I know your time with Alia, you pretty much rely on having a telepath on the bridge next to you." She said walking past him, and turning to Keten, "See you tomorrow Keten, in my office this time."
Captain looked around at the mess in his pristine state of the art, mess hall, "Praxas to Orega," he tapped his combadge. "Send a clean-up crew to the Melting Pot, and make sure they can remove Jem'Hadar blood from the carpets."
"Understood, Captain."
Anzyl turned to Neil and Veirik, "Well done gentlemen, I am going to my quarters. I still need to unpack, and unwind from today's events. "
Neil nodded back, and Veirik saluted.
"Well that could have been worse, and Veirik." Anzyl Turned to him, "Nice shooting, glad you're on our side," and walking off towards the pads he shouted back, "Number 1, I'm off duty, you're in charge."
Veirik saluted with a proud smile, and Anzyl, stating, "Captain's Quarters," vanished in a flash of white.