League Night, Part I

Posted on Thu Feb 19th, 2026 @ 2:08am by Petty Officer 2nd Class Zal Rixi & Lieutenant Commander Xalanth & Lieutenant JG T'Para MD & Lieutenant JG Leilani & Lieutenant JG Fulvia
Edited on on Sun Mar 15th, 2026 @ 3:43pm

1,056 words; about a 5 minute read

Mission: The Menagerie II
Location: Holodeck 4, Deck 7
Timeline: 1800 Hours

The holodeck program smelled of waxed wood and cheap canned soda.

Rixi stood in the middle of it all, her Starfleet sports uniform sticking slightly to her sides. Lanes stretched out in long, gleaming rows, pinsets standing at the end of each one like little toy soldiers waiting for the signal to march. The overhead lights buzzed a little, giving the bowling alley a rustic charm. Somewhere in the arcade off to the side, a claw machine being worked by a child gave off beeps and chirps as they gave chase to a plushy prize.

She turned in a slow circle, unsure where to begin. Holographic bowlers swung their arms, sent spheres skimming down the polished wood lanes. Others shouted encouragement or groaned in disappointment, their voices blending into a frenzied cacophony.

She bumped into someone--young, lanky, eyes bright behind thick glasses. "You here for league night?" he asked, almost polite enough to be cautious.

Hesitating, the young man continued. "Don't forget to register if you're the designated driver--free sodas."

"No," Rixi said, shaking her head. "I'm not here for... league night."

She tried to remember what Vashti had told about bowling but being Bajoran and never having heard of any sport beyond springball, she felt like she was in a deeply alien world. "I need to rent a lane... and... shoes--shoes! I need a lane and some shoes."

He nodded like it was obvious now. "Right. Counter's over there." He pointed with a long finger toward a small wooden kiosk at the side of the room. "Bowling shoes. They'll hook you up."

Rixi nodded a thanks and moved carefully toward it. The man behind the counter was hunched over a ledger, a stubby cigar jutting from the left corner of his mouth. Smoke curled lazily upward through a thick black moustache. He squinted at her as she approached. "Size?"

She tilted her head. "Starfleet size twenty-two."

He snorted. "Don't think I got that one."

Rixi blinked. Then she took off one boot and placed it on the counter. It looked small, almost fragile next to his hands. He studied it for a second, tapping a finger on the counter. Finally, he reached behind him and produced a pair of well-worn brown-and-taupe bowling shoes, sliding them toward her. "Seven and a half. Should do you."

"That will be fine," she said, immediately slipping them on. They were tight at first, then loosened as her foot seemed to mold into them.

"Reservation?" he asked, blowing a puff of pungent smoke in her face.

Rixi shook her head. "No... but I expect a group."

He grunted, leaned over the counter and pushed a switch. The lights of lanes eleven and twelve flickered a few times and then came to life. Pins shimmered as if they were being roused from slumber. He scribbled on a paper sheet, then slid it toward her. "Score sheet. Don't lose it."

"Thank you," Rixi said, taking it and her boots.

The holodeck seemed to shift slightly. She glanced toward the area she arrived from and saw the holodeck doors appear and slide open, the lighting from Deck Seven spilling into the program. Her chest tightened, anticipation and something more she couldn't name. She tucked the paper under her arm and took a small, careful step forward, toward the glossy lanes, hoping Xalanth and family were finally arriving.

The door quickly slid open again, though this time, Xalanths three wives. All were wearing the standard gym gear, with the exception of Fulvia, who wore a black t-shirt with an image of some fantasy warrior woman riding atop a red dragon breathing jets of fire. T'para looked around and, seeing Rixi gave her a warm smile. "Rixi it's so good to see you again."

"I'm so happy you came," Rixi said, coming to stand in front of them. "Nice that you all could make it. Have you ever been bowling before?"

"I've not, but these two have." Fulvia replied with a smile and a gesture. The hybrid and the betazoid smiled. "We both did bowling back on earth so we can walk you through what needs to be done." Leilani said with her own warm smile.

Rixi nodded, though her eyes had already wandered back to the lanes. "That would be... appreciated," she said. "Vashti explained it, but only in theory."

She gestured with the score sheet, then hesitated. "This," she added, holding it up like a relic, "appears to be important."

"We'll need that for keeping score. " T'para responded. "Valor can you write are names down while we get the shoes?" She asked Fulvia who nodded before jotting down her and her sister wives' names.

"I wonder if Xalanth will be joining us. He's showing the kids round his mother's ship." the Roman explained.

Rixi's shoulders sank just a fraction. It was brief but telling. She slowly made her way to their lanes with T'Para and Leilani, careful not to show disappointment at the thought of the Dragonian not coming to bowl with them.

"Did he say he wasn't coming?" Rixi inquired, examining a bowling ball.

As if the universe could hear them, the door opened and in stepped a certain red lizard. "Ladies, how wonderful to see you all." He said with a warm smile on his reptilian face. "Shivninth is going to look after the kids for us. "

"You know she's going to be teaching them to count cards by the end of the night, right?" Fulvia jokingly smirked as she did up the laces on her feet.

"Yours started teaching Yazar how to sword fight." He replied as he sat down next to the blond-haired Roman, gently ruffing her hair before rubbing his head against hers affectionately.

Rixi felt the disappointment lift off her shoulders like a heavy, wet coat she hadn't realized was there until it was gone. She straightened without thinking, glad to see her friend's arrival.

"Glad you made it," she said warmly.

"As if I would miss being in the company of four beautiful women. Let's hope i don't embarrass myself like the first time i tried bowling. First time i slipped on the alley and left two teeth embedded in the floor. " He replied with a reptilian smile.

~To Be Continued: League Night, Part II~

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