As my fist slammed into the leftmost Nausicaan's bony temple, I had to be extremely careful to pull my blow. Augments weren't exactly something that was accepted in the Federation, and even Cybernetics were seen with suspicion. To that end, I made sure to pull my punch just enough for it to be something that a non-augmented Human might be able to do if they were hiding a Vulcan Grandparent. Vulcan strength was typically three times that of a fit, normal, human and that was a fairly well-known phenomenon. Demi-Vulcan Burst Strength was a thing that having a Vulcan Grandparent allowed for. A Human with a Vulcan Grandparent could tap into that Vulcanoid strength for a brief period.
Granted, it wasn't the five times normal human strength of a Klingon or Augment, but it would be enough for the Nausicaan to feel it, especially as I used the Force to trip him up at the same time using Telekinesis. My fist made contact, and the combination of the Power of Comprehension from Amestrian Alchemy and the Power of Alakhestry allowed me a flash of insight into how the Nausicaan's Physiology worked. I realized that it was the Adrenal Gland that supercharged the Nausicaan Regenerative ability and that a blow to the base of the Skull would largely bypass the bony carapace of the skull. If I could hit it the right way, and I could use the Force to cheat that, I could effectively cause the Nausicaan Adrenal Gland to stutter-stop, turning off his regeneration.
As the Nausicaan fell to the floor, however, the Force screamed a warning at me and forced me to dodge as the other Nausicaan lunged for my right side with his blade. Apparently, I was now the bigger threat. I hit the ground in a shoulder roll, dodging the blade and coming up to my feet next to a broken pool cue. I scooped it up off the floor and snapped off a parry just in time to knock the dagger of the Dagger-Wielding Nausicaan off course. A bit of Force Telekinesis allowed me to extend my parry into the side of the pool table, where the edge of the dagger sunk in with a thinking sound. A Muay Thai-style push kick slammed into the Nausicaan, sending him stumbling backward past the second Nausicaan who had shoved himself off the floor, and into Tom Paris who was swinging a punch for the First Nausicaan's head. The First Nausicaan fell to the ground as Tom hissed in pain, shaking his bruised hand out from hitting the Carapace.
Meanwhile, the Second Nausicaan was charging in to tackle me, attempting to bear me to the ground with brute force. Thinking quickly, I hopped up onto the Pool Table as his bumrush sailed through the space I had been in just a few moments prior. As he sailed past me, I drew on the Force to guide my boot as I kicked out, smashing it into the base of the Second Nausicaan's Skull and hitting my target with the Adrenal Gland. As the Second Nausicaan collapsed to the floor, it collapsed a table onto its side and cut open the skin on its forehead, the cut bleeding into its right eye. As it pushed itself up, wiping the blood out of its eye, it suddenly seemed to realize that the cut wasn't healing like it was supposed to.
With wide eyes and a snarl, the Second Nausicaan reached for a Disruptor at its belt. It pointed it at me with a muttered curse in Nausicaan and I had just enough time to cast the single Ferromantic Spell that I knew, disguising my mystic gesture and incantation with muttering and the collapsed table, putting the furniture and my body between myself and anyone who might see, other than the Nausicaan. As the Disruptor malfunctioned, it electrocuted the Nausicaan, sending him to the ground, burned, electrocuted, but still alive.
"Man, that was lucky! Disruptor Misfires only happen if you don't maintain your weapon often enough. I guess that guy figured he didn't need it." Grinned Tom Paris.
I turned to see the Cadet scooping up the Gold-Pressed Latinum from the Pool Table with a shit-eating grin on his face. I nodded at him as he pressed the Nanopulse Bayonet into my hand. I cocked an eyebrow at him and he simply shrugged.
"You took down a Nausicaan all on your own. I can't figure out how, but you did. You earned that. I'll make do with Thing Two over there's Latinum." He offered.
"I'm Quarter Vulcan on my mother's side." I lied.
"That'd do it. Burst strength's a hell of a thing, I guess. How'd you get his healing factor to slow down?" Questioned Tom Paris.
"It's the Adrenal Gland that supercharges the Healing Factor. Nausicaans have a spot you can hit at the base of their skull that'll let you stutter-stop it with shock. It's sort of like how if you punch a guy in the heart hard enough you can stop it beating for a moment." I answered.
"Huh, well, listen, this was a riot and all, but we really oughtta get out of here. Pierre disappeared into the back room, so he probably is on the comm with Starfleet Security right now." Informed Tom Paris.
"Right. We should go, then." I nodded.
"Unless you feel like spending the day in holding?" Queried Tom Paris with a chuckle.
"Lay on Macduff." I insisted.
Tom and I headed out of the Sandrine's Bar, with me tossing down a few more slips of Gold-Pressed Latinum to cover the damages. That got an odd look from Tom Paris, but he didn't comment. Mind you, I had a way to explain any cultural differences. There were a few Early United Earth Colonies that hadn't joined the Federation after the Earth-Romulan War. I'd read up on one in my Tower's Library called Hurada Three to use for a cover story to match my Vulcan Grandparent lie.
Tom didn't ask, instead, he led me off down the street and into a nearby alley to wait out any potential Security Detachment. Sure enough, the telltale whine and shimmer of a transporter activating disgorged a pair of Yellow-Jumpsuited Security Officers, who then headed into Sandrine's Bar. Tom let out a breath I hadn't even realized he'd sucked in before heading down the Alley to the next street over from Sandrine's. I followed him and we stepped inside a nearby Cafe.
"Listen, I gotta thank you for the save there. I'm not exactly sure I could've taken two Nausicaans at the same time. Especially not while they were armed like that. I'm Tom." Thanked Tom.
"Jan." I introduced myself.
"You're not from around here, are you Jan?" Asked Tom.
"Nope. First time on Earth, actually. I'm from Hurada Three." I fibbed.
"Heard of that planet. One of the Early United Earth Colonies that decided to maintain independence after the Federation was founded. Like Europa Nova only on the other side of the galaxy, right? Out near the edge of Federation Space? I heard there was talk of contacting the Big Polity out that way, what was it, Tamaranians?" Questioned Tom.
"Tamarians, and good luck. They speak entirely in Metaphors. Universal Translators won't work for them." I smirked.
"Huh, I guess you'd know. Hurada Three's got to have a few contacts for trade out that way." Shrugged Tom.
"Mostly the Tamarians, Ktarians, and a few other worlds. Bor, Kiyu, Nezha, Elzbar, Ayvren, Vurox, and so on." I nodded.
"Right. Well, anyway Jan, it was nice meeting you, but I need to head back to my Dorm. I'm in my last year at Starfleet Academy, doing a year at their satellite Campus in town. If I'm caught out of my dorm by Starfleet Security when a fight broke out at one of my known hangout spots I'll be on my last warning before a suspension. If I get suspended, there's no way I graduate this year." Huffed Tom.
"Right, I forgot how you Earthers are about Starfleet. Can't handle not graduating on time?" I queried.
"Perish the thought. My Old Man's an admiral though and if I cause more trouble it'll be my head." Grinned Tom.
"Fair enough. Nice to meet you, Tom. Try not to need more bailing out." I waved at him.
"Sure. Later, Jan." Nodded Tom.
Then, with a jaunty wave, Tom Paris made his way out of the Cafe before turning down the street. For myself, I purchased a few croissants with some leftover Gold-Pressed Latinum and a cup of tea. Fortunately, this place was a real Cafe and not a Replimat. I dunno how I'd handle replicated food. Probably not well, since I recalled it not tasting exactly like the real thing. I always was picky when it came to weird tastes, after all. It took fifteen minutes to eat the three croissants because I wanted to savor the taste of real French croissants from actual France. When I finished my light snack, I headed out of the Cafe, whistling a Jaunty tune as I strolled down the street toward a nearby alleyway.
I rounded the corner into the alleyway just as the Dragon Pulse from my powers of Alakhestry warned me that I'd picked up a tail. It didn't feel human, more Humanoid. Had the Nausicaans escaped holding and come back for round two? I wouldn't put it past Starfleet Security to lose them. They were Modern-day replacements for the Redshirts for a reason, after all. I strolled into the center of the alley and decided that I'd stand my ground. I beat Thing One and Thing Two already, after all. I could do it again fairly quickly. Especially since in the alleyway, I wouldn't have to worry about onlookers watching me cast magic or use Chi-based Super Strength.
To my surprise, however, it wasn't the two Bar-Fighting Nausicaans that rounded the corner, but once more Tuvok. The Coffee-skinned Vulcan glared at me and folded his arms in front of his chest. I shook my head and barked out a laugh at his appearance. Of course, the Vulcan equivalent of Inspector Javert wouldn't give up the ghost. Why in the world did I ever think that would happen? I really should have known better.
"All right, I'll bite. How did you track me down?" I asked.
"It was not hard. I came across a report of Nausicaans in a bar fight who claimed their recently maintained disruptor malfunctioned on them in the middle of a fight. I saw how you made the security field on the window in President Amitra's Office malfunction. I simply followed the logic trail." Informed Tuvok.
"Starfleet Security works fast, it seems. It's only been fifteen minutes. I did change my appearance, though, so I'm a bit surprised you still found me even with that." I pressed.
"It was your body language. You carry yourself in the same way you did when you were in President Amitra's Office." Responded Tuvok.
"Apparently, I need to study how to fix that." I sighed.
"It would seem prudent. However, it will have to wait. I will be taking you into custody now." Insisted Tuvok.
"Lieutenant, if you couldn't do that with a squad of Security Troops at your side, what makes you think you can do it now?" I questioned.
"Simple. I already have." Answered Tuvok.
Suddenly, I felt a tingle as a whine started up out of nowhere. That Vulcan Sonuvabitch had jury-rigged an emergency transport! I guess he had learned something from serving under Sulu after all. I couldn't help it, I barked out a laugh.
"Well played!" I laughed.
Then there was a flash of light as the transporter took hold and I found myself deposited in a cell somewhere else. Tuvok was standing outside of my cell with a neutral expression on his face, the little shit. I figured I would burst his bubble before apparating away to deflate his Ego. Of course, he'd claim he didn't have one, being a Vulcan, but I knew better.
"You know this won't hold me, right?" I queried.
"You are referring to your teleportation trick?" Asked Tuvok.
"Yeah, Apparition. I was able to get from Paris to Marseille and that wasn't even half my range. I can escape this no problem." I boasted.
"You may think that, however, I would invite you to check the window behind you." Intoned Tuvok.
I turned around as Tuvok pressed a button on the wall and a set of old-school metal shutters retracted into the frame of a transparent aluminum window. As I watched, the window shutters fully retracted to reveal a black sky with two, rocky, moons and a red, dusty, plain outside. Mars, Tuvok had transported me to Mars. Sneaky of him.
"I thought you might attempt that again. As you can see, I prepared for it. Welcome to Utopia Planetia. An advocate will be arriving shortly, then we can get your interview over with." Nodded Tuvok.
Before he turned back to his Padd, I swore I could see the ghost of a self-satisfied smirk cross Tuvok's face. . .
XXXX
AN: The next chapter is already up on my Patreon, so check the link in the threadmarked post if you guys feel like throwing me a couple bucks to get chapters in advance. Everyone who does is super appreciated and I can't thank my patrons enough.
All right, here's the next part of the Star Trek Mini-Arc. We get the barfight, plus a bit of interaction with Tom Paris and the Return of Tuvok. Tuvok did his homework. He didn't know how far Jan's Apparition went, but he figured it wasn't interplanetary. Not if Jan was still a corporeal being and not say, a Q-like energy being. Fair dues to Tuvok because he was right. Now Jan has to figure out how to get out of here, back to Earth, and to his Tower.
At any rate, the next chapter will involve meeting the Advocate, Jan's interview/interrogation, and the first part of his escape from Mars.
Stay tuned. . .