Post 296: Shuffle Up and Deal Part One

Stardate:70707.1701
Title: Shuffle Up and Deal Part One
Authors: Salvek and TC Blane
Scene: Inside the House
Time: Evening

Salvek made his way to the kitchen. The food had all been cleared away and the table was being prepared for the evening's game.

The holographic sun was making its way to the horizon and the stars began appearing in the sky. His mind went back to the earlier conversation with Lily T'ana. She had been determined to deal with the blood fever in her own way.

Salvek was still concerned that she still as of yet did not know what she was getting into. Salvek was only now completing his seven year cycle, and was still gravely concerned for his own ability to weather this. . .event. In spite of the fact he had been through it many times.

Lt. Samson made his way around the table, setting chips in front over each chair for each player. Spaces were made for K'Pajek, Salvek, Blane, Samson, and MacDougal. Salvek examined the deck. It was a standard Earth deck, a suitable choice for a game of Ferenginar Hold 'Em.

"What are the rules of this game Ensign?" Salvek asked Samson.

"Well, you know how poker works, right?"

"Yes."

"Well, Ferenginar Hold 'Em is based on Texas Hold 'Em from Earth. You are dealt two cards face down, and everyone bets. Then three cards are turned face up, and everyone bets, then another and another till there are 5 face up cards.

"The five face up cards are community cards used by everyone, and your two face down cards are yours alone. Whoever has the best five card poker hand of any combination from the 5 community cards and your two face down cards, wins the pot. The way to win is to know when to bet and when to fold."

"And the players will surely employ the bluff at some point. A highly illogical stratagem."

"Which is exactly why it works." Samson said with a wink.

"So, what makes Ferenginar Hold 'Em different?" Salvek asked.

"Well in addition to the latinum pot the winner for the evening generally gets his choice of the other players wives or sisters to mate with."

"I beg your pardon?" Salvek asked, ready to nerve pinch the strapping Lieutenant if he dared uttered the name "Lair Kellyn" as a possible trophy for the evening.

"Uh, needless to say we'll be dispensing with that rule tonight and just playing for the chips and pride as TC said before."

As Samson continued his work and MacDougal began setting out snacks, TC and Dr. Trind entered the kitchen.

"Commander, there was some weird stuff going on earlier with the hologrid out there. Fish out of water, steam coming up. Maybe you should have a look." Blane requested.

Salvek stepped to the window and looked out to the water, not turning black in the light of dusk. "I see no malfunction."

"But it was right there!" Trind protested, stepping up next to Salvek. She could not see the problems any more, either.

"It was probably a glitch caused by the program having some incomplete parameters. I believe our host was possibly not in the most focused state of mind when she programmed it. I would not worry. Mr. Blane," Salvek asked, motioning towards the table, "Shall we begin?"

TC glanced at Ashlyn and then back to the now seemingly normal ocean water. With a shrug he turned back to Salvek

"OK. Deal them up." He turned back to Ashlyn. "Thanks again for the talk Doc." Then headed for an open chair. Pulling his chair close to the table he took a moment to fill his glass before settling in for a night of cards.Samson began dealing out the cards to the players as idle chat broke out between them."So, are you a gambling man, Commander?" TC asked the Vulcan seated next to him.

"There is rarely a need for gambling in life. Logic clearly dictates a course of action in each situation."

Salvek checked his two cards in the hole, a pair of aces. "I call." he said, throwing a few of his chips in. To his left Samson looked at his cards.

"I'm all in!" declared Samson.

"On the first hand?" growled K'Pajek. "Have you ever played this before?"

"No. But I think my cards are good."

K'Pajek examined his cards, and pushed the slowly towards the center of the table. "Fold."

Blane was next to act, examining his hole cards- a pair of queens. "I'll call you, Mr. Samson."

MacDougal folded his hand, and it was left to Salvek to either call Samson and Blane, or fold his hand. Salvek looked at the chips, and the table, and the ceiling, calculating the odds in his head when suddenly a little female voice was heard in the doorway.

"You can't possibly be thinking about folding pocket rockets, can you Osa-mekh?" Arie declared, having been watching her father play from the shadows.

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Commander Salvek
Acting First Officer
USS Independence

and

Lt. TC Blane
Acting Chief of Operations
USS Independence