Exploring Durango

Posted on Sat Oct 11th, 2025 @ 11:34am by Lieutenant Commander Deanna Celes & Commander Jonathan Grayson & Lieutenant JG Kate Kono & Chief Petty Officer Aaron Geiger

5,297 words; about a 26 minute read

Mission: Wild Wild West
Location: Planet - Durango City

Deanna walked with Aaron down the dusty road towards the religious facility that was in view at the end of the road. The hustle and bustle of this town was just like what she had experienced in a holodeck, only more real. She could feel the emotions of all those around, sense their thoughts. If she wanted to do a deeper dive telepathically, she could and they'd be completely unaware. The one thing she sensed was apprehension, and she understood it. Those walking around viewed anyone unknown with suspicion and apprehension.

She glanced in the direction of Aaron, "You seem to be handling things here with relative ease. Do you not find this all fascinating or perhaps disturbing?"

"Ah, well." Aaron gestured around them. "The longer I stay in Starfleet, the further I go, the less I feel I understand the world. So I guess you could say I've become comfortable being uncomfortable." He finished with a grin.

Continuing to make their way to the church, Deanna noticed a trio with a large wagon, two of the men with shovels scooping up manure and loading it into the back of the wagon. "Strange, some of the things people did as professions in this period." She noted ahead of them, next to the church was a wrought iron fence, which was different than any other fences that she could see, as the others were made of wood, and inside the fences area appeared to be what she believed to be graves, along with markers. "Tombstones' she muttered aloud, "a graveyard. This might be a great source of information, assuming we can take a look without anyone taking a close look at us."

"I can look somber. We can always say we're paying respects." Aaron followed Deanna past the iron fence and began looking at each stone marker alongside her. "Naming conventions seem to be reminiscent of American English around the same cultural time period. Looking at the date ranges, seem to be a lot of children. Was that common?"

Deanna nodded. "I would say that Dr. Howard would be quite busy updating the medical facilities and treatment here. Should anyone ask, we are just here paying general respects. Don't want to make it seem like we are here for anyone in particular." Deanna took a quick look around, "Keep a watchful eye and I am going to scan the area, see what can be learned." She took out her tricorder and discretely scanned.

Aaron watched people in the general vicinity outside the graveyard going about their business. A wagon trundled by, wheels creaking and horses clomping, its back open carrying a large number of burlap sacks stuffed with an unfamiliar harvest. Across the street a tall man was wiping the windows clean, stepping aside to admire his work Aaron could see the familiar candy cane like decor of a barber shop. Children giggled and chased each other down the wooden deck that stretched in front of several storefronts. A mixture of scents wafted over. Bread was being baked not far from there, mixing with the smell of burning coal from the furnace of a smith nearby pounding out horseshoes. Whatever was actually going on here, and however these people came to be here seemingly frozen in time, it appeared that society was functioning like anywhere else.

"Other than the whole, several hundred years in the past Deanna things look, well normal." Aaron shrugged. "I have so many questions, how did they get here? Why are they stuck in the 1800s? Left alone they would develop spaceflight on their own, would they develop differently than Earth did? Sorry, none of that is particularly helpful."

Deanna closed up her tricorder and pocketed it inside her jacket. She walked over to Aaron, "Humans aren't that different from a lot of other species as far as technological development is concerned. Your race had its Dark Ages after all, and without it you would've done the things that came after two or three centuries earlier. But the main proponents in those advances were the need for them, the resources to create them, and people. If these people came here from the point in Earth's past that it appears they did, they arrived here before the American Civil War and before the so-called Gilded Age. They are somewhat technologically stagnant because the events that pushed innovation haven't occurred for them. But they have managed to at least keep the technology level that existed from the period they started from, even have made some minor advancements. I think we'll find some other surprises yet; we just have to look under all the rocks" she replied with a smile. "Let's check inside this church, see what we might learn."

Aaron pushed one of the large double doors open, revealing well cared for but simple sanctuary. Light streamed from windows high up from the walls creating beams within the floating air particles. It was quiet, their footfalls seemingly deafening with each step. He looked around, not seeing anyone seated at the pews, the altar area separated by a low wooden rail also seemingly empty. "Perhaps the priest of some sort is not here at the moment Deanna?"

Deanna looked around. This church wasn't large, but it was elaborate. It fit more in line with the ancient cathedrals that she had seen on Earth in her travels. St. Patrick's in New York, Notre Dame in Paris, St. Peter's in Rome. "Aaron, you may have more knowledge on this, but this place seems out of place. I'm not the historian on Earth history, but this looks more like the ancient cathedrals of the Catholic faith from things I have seen. But my understanding of Earth history would indicate that this should be more rustic, more in line with frontier Protestant movement."

*******

As Deanna and Aaron headed in the direction of the church, Jon looked at Kate. "Alright, let's go and see what the general store has to offer in both goods and information and please remember what Deanna said." He looked at Wolfie, sitting patiently at their feet. "You can come too. be good, we'll get you a bone."

As they entered the store, Wolfie stopped in his tracks. Kate urged the dog to follow, but the wolfdog stood up on its hind legs and scratched at a sign next to the door. Kate looked at the label. No Varmints or Critters Allowed

"Oh... Okay. Hey, just stay here, okay? I'll be back. We'll get something for you, cutie..." Kate smiled and pet the dog a few times - or wolf, rather. Wolfie seemed to understand the gist of what Kate was saying and dutifully stood by as she and Jon entered the store.

Kate could breathe a little better once inside the store; it smelled of leather and cleaning supplies - a welcome respite from the continual aroma of horse manure.

"So we're staying the night out here? I thought we'd go to the ship. Maybe we could beam up to the ship once in the hotel room?" Kate asked. "You know, transport back into the room the next day?" Kate mused as she browsed a shelf. She reached to a bottle.

Coke Cola - with 20% more Real Cocaine! "Even some of the products are similar to Earth in some regards!" Kate held onto the bottle of soda as she continued to look around. "I hope they have bottled water."

Jon gave an exasperated look. "We'll talk about it later." He replied simply noticing the clerk looking at them. "We're new in town and we thought we'd look and see what you offer in the ways of goods and supplies."

The clerk eyed Jon and Kate. He was an older man, dressed in clean dark pants, an off-white shirt, adorned with suspenders, and a tweed reddish-brown jacket. He scratched slightly at his handlebar mustache and spit some of what he was chewing into a tin can near a mechanical currency registration machine.

"Figured as much. Just tryin' to ascertain the connection between you types, cuz yer two's look just about as far removed from these here parts from each other as you to me..."

He leaned under the counter and pulled a bag out.

"Seen' as the slanter gungirl tamed the town mut, ya might as well take'm some this here grub. I ain't trust many outsiders but hear-you-me, anyone a dog can trust, I'd invest more my fair shair, I reckon."

Kate smiled at the store clerk, or probably, the owner, walked over, and accepted the bag.

"Thank you!," Kate said.

"You even old enough to know how to use that smoke wagen?" The clerk asked, pointing to Kate's guns.

Kate was confused at first and then understood about a second too long.
"Jon thought it was safer than letting me continue running with scissors."

The man behind the counter crossed his arms over his tweed jacket and laughed so hard the elixir bottles rattled.

"That settles it. Yall might be strange but I like ya. If there are any queries, just send them my way I'd be happy to oblige your wonders." With that, he went back to his backstock and Kate continued shopping with Jon.

"Right about that sir, She's my adopted daughter." Jon said simply. "Thank you for the food for the dog as well. As for using that gun, don't let her fool ya. She's a dead shot. Say, there is a question you can answer, other than us, any new arrivals in town?" he than walked closer to the man. "You got any of that lilac perfume or soap?, Youngin here loves the stuff. I think she bathes in it."

Youngin... Kate mouthed the words jokingly to Jon after he said it. She had been used to people mistaking her age long before she ended up in the 24th Century. She must smiled at him and shook her head.

"Why certainly," he opened a counter next to the ammunition and pulled out two bars of soap a scrubbing brush, and a brochure from whoever made the soap because apparently, in this culture, companies wanted to make absolutely clear where their products came from since there was no PaDD data.

"The rooms above the saloon have the largest bed, however, the hotel across the street is more -- family territory, if ya' understand. Single beds though, with bath and they provide water and stove to heat it. Enough to fill the tub. Unlike the saloon which they really only care bout'... Well, you know."

Kate understood perfectly what he was saying but since Jon put it into her role to be the aloof 'youngster', she fell into the role and looked at Jon all clueless.

"The hotel sounds queter. Those saloons get weird at night. Everyone sounds like they're in pain over there in those rooms at the last town that had a saloon and a hotel above it. It was like, all the women were moaning and saying weird things... You could hear it from all the windows.."

Kate was rubbing the part in now, just having a great time watching the store owner turn various shades of red. She liked the guy but she considered it policy to poke at anyone who assumed she was under twenty, just a little. She tried not to smile too wide.

"Well, yeah, I -- I suppose it's just normal. People feelin' strange things at night when they should be sleepin'," the clerk shot back with his quick wit and winked at Jon. "Try their whiskey. Best in town, if ya want to take a gander to the saloon. We ain't got too many ruckus folks come but when they do, they all sit in the usual places within them. We ain't no cosmopolitan, but we aint' the Atlanta Corral either."

"Hmm. I think we'll take the hotel, don't want Katherine here exposed to that. They grow up sooooooo soon." Jon told the clerk. And with the hotel having baths, she can use that lilac soap. I just hope she doesn't use the whole bar. How's the food in the diner? They got ant specials? We should know about?"

"Steak all day every day," the Clerk said with a wide grin. "I know you Chinky types like ya fish but not much of it served. They might have rice but doubtful."

"Kate shrugged her shoulders and shook her head.
"I can eat a steak."

"Ya' look like you could use some," the clerk said with a chuckle.

Kate couldn't be mad at the man that gave her food for her new wolfdog. She just smiled back and looked to Jon.

"Can't go wrong with steak and she can pack it away. She has an amazing appetite." Jon replied and then to Kate, "We'll see if they have potatoes as well." back to the clerk he said. "Thanks for the information and the food for the dog. Sorry for taking up so much of your time."

As they stepped back out onto the street with several things bought from the store in their bags, Kate leaned over to Jon while feeding Wolfie with her other hand.

"You know, we could technically just do a transport and return to the room and we don't have to deal with this soap stuff," Kate said. "Besides, are we really spending the night here? I thought it was just a quick recon mission and we'd be back before we know it. I wasn't prepared to spend multiple days here." She looked down to Wolfie.

"You could use a bath though! I'll scrub you up a whole bunch!"

The dog seemed to understand her and its eyes went wide like it wouldn't be willing to be clean. Kate giggled as Wolfie growled at the comment but still stuck with her like glue as they walked down the boardwalk to avoid the crap-ridden streets.

"We are not beaming back up to the ship." Jon repeated. "We're to find out how these people got here. So, get used to being here. And when we get to the room, we're going to have serious discussion and if you wish to beam back to the ship after this discussion feel free and remove yourself from the away team."

Kate raised a brow at Jon.
"Did I do anything wrong? We got information from the store clerk, we know where we can stay, and got..." She leaned over to look into the paper bag Jon was carrying to see just what he got. "... stuff."

She sighed as they approached the hotel.
"All I'm saying is that it sounded like a quick trip. I didn't know we were going to stay longer. I'm fine with it. I just wasn't aware it was going to be an extended stay."

Wolfie made a cute little ruff sound as If it understood what she was saying even thoguh the dog had no grasp of the English language. At least, not yet.

Jon shook his head at her, "We'll talk about it in the room." He repeated as they walked towards the hotel, Wolfie walking by their side. Arriving at the front of the hotel. he looked at Wolfie. "Stay here, we'll see about getting you into our room." With that he walked inside and headed for the front desk, Kate at his side.

A small man with quick nervous eyes and large hands in a bow tie greeted them. "Yes sir, how can I help you?" His eyes drifting toward Kate but he made no comment. Jon answered with a smile, "Need two rooms with baths." The man nodded, "Of course sir, we have two rooms for you and ah...." "My daughter. Is there a problem?" Jon demanded sharply. "Oh no sir!" The clerk replied visibly shaken by Jon's reply. He handed Jon two room keys. "Your rooms our on the second floor, end of the hall." Jon nodded, "Thank you." and handed a key to Kate. "Let's get to our rooms."


Kate's voice echoed in the dimly lit corridor. "He was probably just curious about why we were getting two rooms." The floorboards creaked beneath their feet as they reached the end of the narrow hallway, its faded wallpaper peeling at the corners. Wolfie's nails clicked rhythmically against the worn wooden floor as he padded along behind them.

The brass key felt cold and unfamiliar in Kate's palm. Unlike the flat, jagged hotel keycards she was accustomed to, or even the antique skeleton keys from Earth's history museums, this one was peculiar—a slender, burnished cylinder with three needle-like teeth protruding from its tip. She aligned it with the oddly shaped keyhole, its tarnished metal plate engraved with swirling patterns she couldn't decipher. The key slid in with a soft scraping sound, but refused to turn despite her efforts.

"That or just the whole Asian and British thing," Kate muttered through gritted teeth, throwing her slight frame against the stubborn door, her shoulders straining. "I don't know if adoption was common here—or even exists on this planet. It's strange how I keep forgetting we haven't traveled back in time, but sideways—to an entirely different world with its own history." She stepped back, rubbing her sore wrist, her reflection fractured in the cloudy mirror hanging opposite.

"I don't get it," she sighed, the frustration evident in her furrowed brow. "There must be some trick to it, or they've given us the wrong keys altogether." Her words hung in the musty air.

Jon watched in silence as Kate struggled with the door key or rather getting the door to open. "Or perhaps it is as simple as you having the wrong room key." He handed her his key, "Try this. When you put the key in turn the door knob at the same time." He suggested.

Kate twisted the key and doorknob simultaneously, and the door popped open with a cheerful squeak that seemed to say "Ta-da!" in her mind; a sound that seemed to mock her previous struggles. She froze in the doorway, mouth hanging open like a broken puppet, eyebrows shooting toward her hairline as if attempting escape from her face altogether. A snort-laugh erupted from her nose before she could stop it.

"Well, slap me with a space squid and call me Captain Obvious," she groaned, twirling the key around her finger like a miniature baton. "Next I'll be requesting your expert assistance with the ancient art of shoelace tying or perhaps a dissertation on how to successfully operate a spoon." She curtseyed dramatically, nearly toppling sideways into the doorframe. "The USS Washington's most brilliant mind in Intelligence, defeated by alien door technology. When you empty that paper bag out, I can put it on my head, sir." She sighed and tilted her face toward the ceiling, her dark eyes tracing the hairline cracks in the plaster as if searching for divine intervention. Her shoulders slumped in theatrical defeat, the corner of her mouth twitching with the effort of containing further sarcasm. "Thank you," she finally managed, each syllable dragged itself reluctantly through her clenched teeth like a prisoner being hauled to the gallows. The words hung between them, brittle and forced.

Jon shook his head and despite himself he grinned at her. "Don't worry Kate, your secret is safe. I won't tell anyone how you were defeated by a simple room key." The last said as it was accompanied by a soft laugh. "Though Deanna might learn of it if she scans me. "Is there anything else you need help with? Like turning down the bed? Opening a window, using the bath tub? I'll give you lessons on the use of a fork and spoon later." His voice full of sarcasm. "Oh, by the way you are welcome."

Kate's eyes narrowed to mischievous crescents as she leaned against the doorframe, one eyebrow arched so high it threatened to disappear into her hairline. A snort-giggle escaped through her teeth like air from a punctured balloon.

"God help me, but I'm terrified to even approach that bathtub," she declared, gesturing wildly toward the open rental-room that Wolfie walked into with flailing arms. "Knowing my luck, I'll strip down to my birthday suit only to find myself wrestling with some Victorian water torture device complete with pulleys, levers, and possibly a trained monkey just to get a trickle of lukewarm water. Are there any special incantations I need to recite? Sacrifices to the local water deity? Perhaps I should prepare a small offering of soap and towels before attempting to commune with your 'ye-olde-west' plumbing? Am I going to find some contrived Rube Goldberg Machine?”

Jon nodded his head as Kate rattled off (Sarcastically of course) various actions she could take to get water into the bath tub. "Yes, yes, yes, no, no monkey. Yes and yes. Better yet walk over to it and see if you can turn the faucets on." His eyes twinkling in delight. "Or if all else fails, look sad and forlorn and I'm sure gallant knight will help you in your hour of need."

Kate stepped into the room to find Wolfie already zonked out under the window, his furry face wearing what could only be described as a doggy smirk, tail curled up around him like a fuzzy question mark. Her eyes bugged out when she spotted what passed for bathing facilities. Instead of an actual bathroom with, like, walls and privacy and stuff, the ancient copper tub sat exposed in the corner like some medieval torture exhibit. A rustic cast-iron stove squatted nearby, its chimney pipe jutting through the ceiling like a periscope. On top, a blackened pot bubbled and hissed ominously, steam rising in what Kate could only interpret as a "your turn, fresh meat" invitation.

"Holy wormhole catastrophe!" Kate's arms pinwheeled wildly. "I was totes joking about the contraption, but OMG, there it literally is! This isn't a bathroom—it's like a DIY human soup kit!" She gaped at the ceramic jugs lined against the wall. "No plumbing? Just random water jugs and what's basically a campfire? I can't even!" Kate frantically popped the neck button on her black Japanese Samue outfit, already feeling the sweat of impending doom.

"So, like, basic science and junk—I pour the room temp water in first, double-check the plug thingy, then add the death-water until it's not, you know, skin-melting hot?" Kate asked Jon, twirling a strand of short spikey hair nervously. Maybe sounding semi-intelligent about bath thermodynamics would help her recover from the epic door-fail that made her feel dumber than a Klingon trying to program a VCR.

"Oh will you look at that! Isn't that beautiful?" He said obviously ignoring Kate's dismay. "oh you are in for a real treat Kate. Yes, room temp water first, than hot and when it gets to the temperature you like, then you. Make sure you keep towels close by as you have no privacy and you don't want to be seen in your birthday suit."

"It's weird. Kate said as she already peeled everything off and placed it on a hangar so that they wouldn't get too wrinkled. "What about their laundry services?" Kate kept the full body ballistic mesh on the bed since that was one thing she didn't need washed. "I noticed that the store clerks shirt was once probably what, but now it's this off-white dingey color. But he didn't smell, so I guess some low-end laundry service was available."

Kate brought the silk articles of clothing closer to her face to sniff and it caused her nose to wrinkle. It was as if she could detect every single place she walked through all with one olfactory scan with her nose. She walked around the room in the buff while carrying her Colt-45 look-a-like in one hand, making sure to keep it close by. She placed it under the tub where she could get out fast and reach it if she had to.

"What would be the point anyway, right?" Kate said as she tried applying her sunk-cost fallacy to the idea of getting her clothes washed while pouring water into the tub. "... the moment I walk out of here tomorrow, I'll probably be strolling through more Cigar Smoke, smelly alcohol, and the streets of horse poop." She walked in front of Jon and crossed her arms in front of her chest while leaning aganst that very ill-placed tub. "It's amazing these places even have tubs because they don't seem to care about their personal health and hygene outside of the hotel."

Kate grabbed the hanle of one of the ceramic water jugs and poured it into the tub. She was relieved when she saw that the water actually came out clear.

"I guess they didn't get this water from the same placees the horses were drinking out of," Kate said with relief. "But for serious, aren't you glad that -- we live in our current time? This place is a super-curiosity, but if one stays too long..." She looked at the tub and shook her head. "You actually think this is cool?"

Kate tried to step in but the water was too hot.
"Ieeeh!" She grabbed a towel and wrapped it around herself while looking at the water as if it had just said something offensive to her.

Jon watched in silence as Kate got undressed (in front of him) then cautiously approached the cast iron tub as if it was going to somehow attack her. "I'm sure there is a laundry service in town but we hopefully aren't going to be here that long. As for the water, I noticed a water tower when we came into town and it more than likely gets it's water from a spring which also supplies the town." he looked at the tub and back to Kate, "Our time is infinitely better. However this reminds us of how far we've come and for a few days, yes it is cool."

He grew serious as he got up and shut the door giving them more privacy. He returned to Kate. "Speaking of our time what were you thinking about in the general store? Talking about beaming back to the ship in front of the clerk. Don't answer, I'll tell you. You weren't thinking. bad judgment on your part. Thankfully he didn't hear you. " He looked at her, "You are a good officer Kate but sometimes I wonder where your head is and what you are thinking."

"I wasn't aware he was so close when I said it," Kate said as she dipped her finger into the tub constantly as if she were waiting for a watched pot to unboil. "If anyone asks, I'll just say I was a Jules Verne enthusiast or something. But anyway..." Kate dipped her finger in a few more times and pulled it back from the death-water. "But yes, I wasn't aware he was there. He must have been bent over behind that counter."

After several minutes she finished with the bath once the water was in the habitable zone. Kate had found a robe and was now chasing Wolfie around the hotel room because it was his turn. Wolfie apparently had an allergy to being clean but he kept that signature happy smirk on his face like he was playing a game with her as he ran around the place to avoid her grasp.

Once finally in the water, Kate used some of the soap on him and the water went from a light brown from the previous bath, to a dark oil slick as the wolf-dog had probably never had a bath in its entire life. Once Wolfie was in the tub though, he seemed to like it despite his initial apprehension.

Once the bath was over, Wolfie had a very chrisp black-and-white coat of fur on him that looked almost majestic.

"Wow, it's like Wolfie is a whole new dog. Fluffy!" Kate squealed as she tickled the furry guy. The dog (or wolf,) loved it as he let her run her fingers through his rapidly drying thick coat.

"What I am saying is be aware of your surroundings. You take nothing for granted and never, ever assume anything." Jon replied as Kate finished her bath and then proceeded to give Wolfie one. When she had finished, e looked like a different dog or wolf. "Wow, night and day difference in Wolfie. I wonder how long he can stay clean."

Kate nodded, her short damp hair still dripping down her neck, leaving a wet patch on her robe's shoulder. Jon's warning sank in like the water still dripping down her back. She'd always prided herself on situational awareness—scanning rooftops for snipers, checking reflections in store windows—but somehow missed a man hunched beneath a wooden counter in a dusty 18th-century general store. The irony wasn't lost on her. She met Jon's stern gaze with another deliberate nod, a silent promise to be more vigilant.

Her attention shifted to Wolfie, whose coat now gleamed like polished obsidian where it was black, stark white patches practically glowing in the dim hotel light. The transformation was remarkable. His fur, once matted with dirt and who-knows-what from his life before he met his new futuristic companion, now stood in plush tufts that quivered with each excited movement. He pranced across the uneven wooden floorboards, nails clicking a happy rhythm, occasionally shaking himself and sending droplets flying across the faded wallpaper. Kate tossed him another strip of dried meat from her pack, which he caught mid-air with a snap of gleaming teeth before pressing his warm, damp body against her calf.

"Are we having some kind of meeting or anything before tomorrow?" Kate asked, cinching her robe tighter against the evening chill. Wolfie sat at attention beside her, pink tongue lolling from his mouth in what looked remarkably like a lopsided grin, his breath caused the lower dangling fabric of Kate's robe to sway back and fourth at her lower leg.

Jon held back a sigh. "Kate." He said patiently, "I said we would meet Deanna and Aaron in an hour at the diner and discuss what we had discovered and we can also decide what to do next. So get dressed and we'll go over and meet them."

Kate nodded and gave her Samue a sniff before reluctantly squeezing back into her ballistic mesh and re-donning everything. She strapped her gun belt on and regelled her hair back into it's palm-tree waves. She knelt down to Wolfie.

"You be good okay. I'll bring you back some food," Kate gave the clean dog a hug before putting her boots back on and grabbing a deck of cards.

"Got some time left over unless you want to jump in your tub or anything," Kate said while giving her sleeve another sniff test.

Jon shook his head, "I'll pass for now and wait for tonight once we're settled in our rooms. Plus, I didn't smell like dog. No offense Wolfie."

Wolfie jumped onto the foot of the bed and curled up into his best imitation of a doughnut. It was obvious he wanted and even needed sleep. Kate reached out and scratched him behind his pointed ears. Kate finished dressing back up into her Japanese Attire, buttoning the top turtleneck and straightening the silk threads.

"Alright, I guess I'll see you in an hour," Kate stepped out with Jon while Wolfie slept. With a twist of the knob and the lock at the same time, the door locked itself and she followed Jon down the hallway.

As the pair walked the hallway, Jon spoke quietly. "Let's hope Deanna and Aaron can shed more light on this situation."

 

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