Prank me and I'll Prank you Back.

[Karo Veras 0]

All it took was a quick look and a smirk from Private Karo Veras and the bartender knew what he had in mind. He quickly produced a small metal pot and metal spoon and handed them to the Marine. Within seconds, Karo was gone, much to the bewilderment of the other Agincourt crew. He drew a few weird stares as he walked through the promenade armed with stainless steel kitchenware. He didn’t care, however. It was time for some good ol’ fashioned Marine style prankery.

 

 

 

He reached the door of the quarters which currently held about 10 passed out Marines. Sliding through the door silently, he stalked his prey. It was a fellow Private, a field medic, as Karo recalled. He was assigned to the USS Azerbaijan. Smith was his name. He was sleeping peacefully on the bed.

 

 

 

Not for long. . .

 

 

 

Karo slipped into the lavatory, there a variety of liquids and pastes; mouthwash, toothpaste, hairstyling product. . .Karo dumped as much as he could into the pot before returning to the living area. He deftly slid to the side of the bed where Private Smith lay and placed the handle of the pot in the unsuspecting victims hand. Instinctively, the private’s hand lightly wrapped his fingers around the pot. Quietly, Karo then slid to the other side of the bed. With the spoon, Karo began to lightly brush the side of Private Smith’s nose.

 

 

 

The first swipe came from Smith’s empty hand. Not Karo’s intended effect. So he lightly brushed his victims nose again. And like a hammer, it came. . .

 

 

 

If the sound of steel on face wasn’t loud enough to wake up the room, the ensuing scream certainly was. Karo quickly slid out of the room and down the hall his prank successfully executed.

 

 

 

Karo’s exit wasn’t totally clean, however. Unbeknownst to him, another Azerbaijan Marine had witnessed the prank from start to finish, and had already begun plotting his revenge. . .

 

 

 

*****

 

 

 

 

 

Corporal Valdur Gunnarsen had arisen to the unofficial role of Commandant for the duration of this Prank war. He was the Washington to Private Veras’ Cornwallis, or something like that, and he wasn’t about to let some lowly Private get away with pranking one of his brothers. Unfortunately, the private in question, Karo Veras of the Agincourt, had done a decent job of keeping himself hidden. Since Karo’s initial offense on Private Smith, Valdur and his fellow Marines of the Azerbaijan had been able to get off a few pranks on some of Karo’s fellow Marines. But the “big fish” had alluded them. Today, however was the chance to get their revenge. It was Karo’s turn for his patrol rotation on the Agincourt. The Corporal and a few other of his fellow marines off the Azerbaijan had gained access to the Agincourt.

 

 

 

They were unsure if Karo would be aware of the exact identity of the vistors, so it made clean execution of the prank of the utmost importance. Valdur and his “team”, which included a Lieutenant and a Staff Sergeant, both field medics, were able to sneak their way into the Marine barracks area. Their plan was to lace Karo’s bed with an itching powder, one strong enough to require more than just one visit to sickbay.

 

 

 

The barracks were empty, and everything was going swimmingly. . .

 

 

 

Until the power was cut from the barracks...

 

 

 

Valdur and his team did not know what hit them, they were on the ground and cuffed within 30 seconds of the power going out. Their prank had backfired on them….

 

 

 

*****

 

 

 

Karo and Private Miller, one of the newest of the Agincourt Marines blindfolded, gagged, and cuffed the intruders. Hauling them up to their feet, they led them to the gym and sat them down on a set of chairs. One by one, they uncuffed the Azerbaijan Marine contingent and fed them into straitjackets. Without unblindfolding or ungagging them, Karo spoke.

 

 

 

“Corporal Valdur Gunnarssen, 1^st Lieutenant Niro Holas, and Staff Sergeant Jaime Inigo” He began. “You are now in the custody of the USS Agincourt.”

 

 

 

The offending Marines struggled to get out of their jackets to no avail, in the process SSgt Inigo managed to fall off his chair and was now struggling to get back to his feet. Neither Karo or Private Miller was inclined to assist with that effort.

 

 

 

“You are hereby charged with the egregious crime of failing miserably to execute your prank. Your punishment shall be harsh and embarrassing in nature.”

 

 

 

“You are also ordered to turn over any and all items that are nefarious, hijinxy, or prankish in nature.” Karo ungagged Corporal Gunnarssen. “Corporal, you will now disclose the location of any and all items which fit the description stated in my previous sentence.

 

 

 

“The only item that fits the description of your previous sentence will be located in the utility belt of Lieutenant Niro, Private.” His voice was official, much as if he was speaking to a commanding officer. Karo sensed a twinge of anticipation and expectation in the Corporals voice that he didn’t particularly care for. However, he proceded to the Lieutenant.

 

 

 

“Lieutenant Niro, sir!” Karo address his fellow Bajoran Marine. “Do you agree with the statement given to me by Corporal Gunnarssen.

 

 

 

“Private! The statement provided to you by the Corporal is correct!” the Lieutenants voice wreaked of the same tone of the Corporals which began to worry Karo a little bit.

 

 

 

Nonetheless, he knelt down next to the Lieutenant and began to reach into the utility belt sack. As he searched, he felt only a fine powdery substance, he dug his hand deeper into the sack. If seconds later, it hit him. A painful burning itching sensation began to rush through his fingers and palm. Instinctively Karo yanked his hand out of the utility belt sack, which ended up being his downfall. As he pulled the hand out, he managed to bring a fair amount of the offending powder up with it, creating a cloud which wafted up to his face.

 

 

 

Within seconds, Karo’s face began to itch as well. He let out a string of Bajoran curses as he clutched his face. The clutching however, made it worse, has he spread the powder from his face to his other hand.

 

 

 

The Corporal and Lieutenant were laughing hysterically by this name, as was the Sergeant who was still laying on his side, gagged.

 

 

 

“Private Smith! Re-gag and Take these scumbags out of here!” Karo managed to shout in between his curse filled rants.

 

 

 

He could hear the laughs of his adversaries echoing down the hall as he left.

 

 

 

It was time to find a medic.

 

 

 

*****

 

 

 

Corporal Gunnarssen finally was able to gain control of his laughing as he was led to the exit of the Agincourt. Even in failure, he and his team has still managed to succeed.

 

 

 

“Corporal Gunnarssen, Lieutenant Niro, Sergeant Inigo!” the other Agincourt Marine who he had yet to identify said. “You will walk ten paces forward and make a left turn! You will then walk in that direction until you find someone with the heart to take pity on you and release you and your colleagues from your shackles!”

 

 

 

Without response, the Corporal began to walk, counting ten spaces and turning left. He didn’t think it would be long until one of his crewmates found them and untied them. Walking down the promenade in a straitjacket while blindfolded and gagged was a minor price to pay for the physical pain that Karo would be experiencing for the next few days. He couldn’t help but feel a sense of victory for the day….

 

 

 

….right up until he smashed head first into a bulkhead.

 

 

 

This war was not over….