VonDrake

The waves crashed against the rocks below, a light roar amongst the steady hum of the sea breeze. A slight chill ran across Ryan's body raising the hair on his arms even through his long sleeves. He instinctively reached to pull his jacket a bit tighter, only to immediately realize that it was currently wrapped around the shoulders of Crystal Oxley, his girlfriend. He put his arm around her pulling her close against him. She instinctively laid her head against his chest as they watched the rockhopper penguins gleefully hopping across the tidepools below, searching for their next meals. "I wish our lives were that simple" Crystal wondered aloud, as one of the penguins arose from the ocean with a fish, sending its compatriots into a frenzy. She had been a little more distant over the past few weeks. It was no secret why. Their graduation was now less than 2 weeks away. With her due to depart for her first duty assignment 2 weeks after, and Ryan to depart just a week later. As that day crept closer, both of them had silently acknowledged the inevitable, they were going to be separated. She had been assigned a coveted spot at the Daystrom Institute, while Ryan had been assigned to the USS Excalibur. Ryan kissed her forehead. “Simple? Dodging Harp Seals and Orcas for your meals? Nosy humans like us encroaching on their seaside just to watch them wander around? No thanks.” “I just mean socially, we all have to worry about survival, especially in Starfleet.” “Well actually, the rockhoppers have a pretty compl....” “Ryan...” she interrupted him. He stopped his thought. She was one of the few people that would put up with his rambling, and even she wasn't willing, she'd just quietly interject with a simple thought to change the subject, or just a quick chiding as she had just done. “Sorry,” he apologized to her. He let it hang in the air a bit before speaking again. “You've been thinking about it too, haven't you?” The meaning of “it” was implied. He felt her nod against his chest. They had been avoiding the subject, almost pretending that the issue would just magically resolve itself. “No time like the present, I guess.” Ryan said, with a hint of resignation in his voice. He could feel her tense up against him. “I love you, Ryan.” she said, her voice barely audible over the breeze. Those words, even after the thousandth time, still gave him goosebumps. “But I just don't know how it's going to work.” Ryan didn't say anything, he didn't react. Those thoughts mirrored his, he just hadn't had the courage to put those thoughts to words yet. He didn't know what to say, if he was being honest with himself. The moment of inevitability he had been thinking about constantly over the past month had come, yet he had no idea how to respond. “So is this goodbye then?” he blurted out. It's not what he wanted to say, but it was the first thought to cross his mind. “Do you want it to be goodbye?” she replied. “No” he responded quickly. Letting his answer hang for a few seconds. “But if it has to be, I want to spend every second of the next month with you. I don't want to say goodbye until you're walking onto the shuttle and I want that last memory of you to be that smile of yours. That's all I'll need to see to know that it was all worth it.” Ryan felt Crystal's body relax against his. As if a weight had been lifted. Ryan felt relief too, but mixing in with that relief was a dull pain. The pain of realizing that this was it. But it was goodbye on their terms. He had seen many of their friends and classmates struggling with the same decision. Some had just been avoiding it like they had been, others had allowed the tension to eat away at them, eventually causing a fight and breaking it off that way, other had pledged to try and maintain a long distance relationship. The latter had crossed Ryan's mind, but it wouldn't be fair, to either of them. Crystal's research and Ryan's duties required their full attention. The didn't need to be bothered with the work of maintaining a long distance relationship. Even if they were able to make it work. “Why'd we have to meet at the academy?” Crystal asked after another long silence, her voice betraying the tears Ryan could tell she was trying to fight back. “Why couldn't we have met somewhere else, some place that can't tear us apart like this?” Ryan found himself fighting back tears. He had thought the same exact thought at least 100 times. There was no right, or wrong, or “fair” answer to that question. “I don't know. But it wouldn't change the fact that' I wouldn't change one second of the past 2 years.” Crystal turned around at buried her head into his shoulder, gripping him tightly. He wrapped his free hand around her. She wasn't sobbing, but he could tell she was crying. He closed his eyes as his tears began to fall. He didn't know what to say, or what he could do to comfort her. He was as lost and in pain as she was and words just seemed worthless at the current moment. “Are you crying?” Crystal asked, her voice still shaky and muffled against his chest. “Maybe” he replied. He had never cried in front of her before. In fact, he couldn't recall the last time he had cried. Crystal pulled her head up and looked up at him, her eyes red with tears. She wiped a couple of his tears away from his face. “Really? Ryan of the House Von Drake? Conqueror of Klingon warriors? Sole survivor of Professor Sulok's Vulcan history class? Reduced to tears by a 5'3 engineering Cadet?” she mocked him lovingly. “Your reputation is going to take a hit.” As much as he hated that nickname, Ryan couldn't help but smile. “What can I say? None of them had my heart like you do.” He leaned in and gave her a kiss. A long, passionate, kiss. It reminded Ryan of their first kiss. Now, like then, it just felt like more than a kiss. As they their lips parted, the tears had subsided. Crystal look up into his eyes. “Now, if I remember, you reserved the boat house for the entire weekend, right?” Ryan nodded, “Yes, we just have to have the keys back to my parents by 1700 hours on Monday so they can get it ready f...” “Ryan...” she interrupted him again. “Sorry...Yes. We do have it to ourselves for the weekend.” “Then take me back there and let’s spend the rest of the weekend in each others arms.” He gave her a quick kiss “That sounds like a great idea.”

Ryan took a deep breath...in...and out…Then again, calming his nerves. He felt the wind against his face, slightly rustling his hair, the chill raising goosebumps on his arms through his light coat. The ocean crashed against the shore. His mind was centered, his body was calm. The dock was his favorite place to do his exercises. The ambience always settled him. With another deep breath he brought up his wind and fire wheels and into a ready stance. Thrust...Thrust...Inward Block...Part the wild horses mane… His eyes remained closed, these movements were second nature to him. Parry...Downward block...White Crane Spreads his wings… It was his instructor that taught him how to incorporate the wind and fire wheels into the 24 basic movements. Ryan found it easier to focus with the wheels in hand. And 14 years old, he was showing alot of promise with the rings. Brush knee...Play the Lute… A bellow of laughter echoed in the distance. One, no 2 people. Ryan ignored it and kept going Repulse Monkey...and again...again...again. “What’s the matter ko’tal? Too weak to spar with a living opponent? “Hold the ball... Slash… Parry.” “Answer me, nuchpu’!” The voices were getting closer. They sounded Klingon. His uncle, Michael, who was in the boathouse came out and interjected. “Pardon me! This is a restricted area, sir. I must ask you to leave the premises immediately. Ryan opened his eyes in time to see the Klingon’s break out in laughter at his uncle, continuing to move towards the dock. “Excuse me! But the security force has been notified. Please leave!” Ryan could hear the fear in his uncle’s voice as the obviously inebriated assailants kept moving forward. Single whip...Sweep...Parry...Thrust. “Out of the way p’tagh!” The taller of the two Klingons said, picking up the older human and tossing him into the water. Ryan could feel his heart rate rising. He took another deep breath to calm himself again. Maybe if he just ignored them… Cloud hands to the left. “I’m talking to you ko’tal!” Single whip...High pat on ho….THUD His movements were interrupted as the smaller Klingon shoved Ryan to the group. The laughed as Ryan gathered himself. Taking deep breaths “The security force should be here any minute” he told himself. “Until then, just hold your own.” He stood up and acted as if he was going to continue. “You think it wise to ignore me, you p’tagh?” The klingon said moving closer to Ryan again. Only this time, he was ready. With a quick pirouette and a slice, Ryan shattered the flask the smaller Klingon was holding. The larger Klingon bellowed in surprised laughter, but the smaller one was none to happy about losing his bloodwine. He drew his dagger and lunged towards Ryan, who was able to parry the blow away, only to be knocked backwards by the sheer force of the blow. He allowed his body to roll in a backwards somersault, and landed on his knees. He spotted the Klingon in his peripheral vision, still off balance. With a blind slash, he caught the Klingon on his Achilles heel. He roared in pain and collapsed to his knees, only feel the point of Ryan’s elbow on the side of his skull. As his brother collapsed to the ground. The smile and laughter left the larger Klingon’s face. He drew his own dagger. And looked Ryan straight in the eye. “Now you must die, ko’tal” Ryan took a few steps back, on to the outer, wooden part of the dock. He had lost the element of surprise, and hoped that the uneven footing of the planks would at least partially level the field. Ryan was right. As the larger Klingon rushed towards him, he did not account for the first uneven plank and tripped, falling forward and losing his weapon in the process. As he scrambled for it, Ryan quickly trapped the Klingons hand in between the 2 ring, pulling them tightly across the wrist. “It’s over.” Ryan said calmly, yet slightly out of breath. “Please stop.” This klingon hissed at the boy “Why should I?” “Because the security force is here.” Ryan said “And these are sharp enough to slice your hand clean off. The first of the security team reached the dock. Bullock, was his last name, Ryan knew. “Let him go, Ryan, drop your...weapons.” Bullock said, not knowing exactly what the rings were. Ryan obeyed. Backing away as the security team detained the Klingon. The boy and the Klingon never took eyes off of each other. “This isn’t over, ko’tal” the Klingon yelled angerily at Ryan. “Yes it is.” The constable said. “If I see you on our islands again, you have more than a 14 year old boy to deal with.” …… An hour later, after statements were taken and his parents arrived home. Ryan found himself in the boathouse, cleaning his rings. The Klingons had been taken away, one to jail and the other to the hospital. The commotion had begun to die down. The constable came into the room where Ryan was. Ryan nodded. After the security tapes were viewed, the constable decided not to charge Ryan with anything, as he was the one attacked. “You alright, young man?” He asked the boy. Ryan nodded. “I’m fine. My shoulder is a bit sore. But I’ll be fine.” The constable smirked “There are millions of beings in this universe that have ended up much worse than “fine” after battling two Klingons.” Ryan nodded, although he knee his skill with the rings were part of his success. He knew he was lucky as well. “I’ve got a gift for you.” the constable said. Ryan frowned “A gift?” The constable reached into his coat and pulled the 2 daggers from one of the pockets, placing them on the table in front of Ryan. “It’s Klingon custom. They lost them fair and square to you. They’re yours”. Ryan stared at the daggers in surprise. “Really?” The constable laughed “I probably shouldn’t. In fact I know I shouldn’t. But who am I to disobey cultural traditions?” He said with a wink. Ryan stared at them for a few more seconds before picking one up. “So...they’re mine?” He was still in disbelief. “They sure are, Ryan” he paused with a smile “of the House Von Drake”.

Last Name: Von Drake First Name: Ryan Age: 23 Race: Human Place of Birth: Falkland Islands, Earth Height: 5'10 Weight: 165 lbs Hair: Brown Eyes: Hazel PERSONAL BIOGRAPHY Ryan Von Drake was born on the Falkland Islands to Sheree and Michael Von Drake, owners of a tourism and site-seeing company on the islands. The third of four children, Ryan was a much more intense and aloof child compared to his two sisters Mika and Vee and his brother Peter. He tended to shun more of the typical beach activities and instead took up various forms of martial arts, predominantly the human practice of Taijijuan and the Klingon practice of Mok’bara. His practice in the former earning him the level of 5th duan in feng huo lun (wind and fire wheels) by the time he graduated the Academy. Although living on an island, Ryan did not much like spending time on boats either. When it came time to help out his family as he got older, he tended to volunteer for more shore duties, like unloading, or helping with docking. Although he did occasionally act as a captain of their whale watching boat. He didn’t mind the actual act of boating, he just preferred to stay on land to practice is martial arts. Ryan is not a confrontational person by any stretch of the imagination. His intense outward appearance belies a calmness and level-headedness which came as a part of his martial arts training. However, it did not prevent him from becoming involved in one of the most notable confrontations in the recent history of the Falklands. He was just 14, practicing with his feng huo lun rings on the dock, awaiting the return of his father’s boat, when a pair of drunk Klingon brothers, Mobacz and M’Qot of the House of K’Hex, came wandering on to the docks. They spotted the young man with his rings. They approached him, shouting disparaging remarks about his practices. The young Ryan, much to his credit initially ignored the two. As they got closer to the boy, they were confronted by Ryan’s uncle, who had also called the local security force prior to stepping to his nephew’s defense. The Klingons easily tossed aside the older man, who landed in the water. Still, Ryan ignored the two belligerent and obviously inebriated pair and continued on with his ritual. M’Qot, not too thrilled with the fact that the boy was ignoring them, pushed Ryan to the ground quite viciously. Again, Ryan got up and continued, only this time, as the Klingon’s approached again, Ryan swung one of this rings towards M’Qot, slicing open his flask of bloodwine with one of the tiny protruding blades. The angered M’Qot then pulled out his d’k tahq and aggressively lunged at Ryan. He was able to parry the blade aside with this rings, falling to the side under the brute force of the blow. M’Qot, due in part to his drunkenness, had also fallen. The quicker and sober Human was to his feet first. The Klingon, now in a full rage, flailed wildly in the direction of Ryan, who was able to catch the blade within his rings and disarm the Klingon, and for good measure, sliced at the Achilles heel of M’Qot, cutting in and rendering him effectively immobile. Mobacz, who was initially amused by the confrontation between M’Qot and Ryan, now flew in with his d’k tahq, only this time, he stumbled on the dock prior to reaching Ryan. Ryan quickly wrapped his rings around the dagger wielding arm of the Mobacz, and pulled them tight against the Klingon’s wrist, trapping it. Ryan then threatened to slice off his hand if he didn’t drop his dagger. After a few tense seconds, and the arrival of the local security force. Mobacz finally relented, releasing his dagger. Ryan grabbed both daggers from the dock and walked away. The two drunk Klingons were arrested and charged with disorderly conduct and assault with a deadly weapon, and as a result were banned from the Falklands for life. Ryan was not charged with anything, as his actions were in self-defense. He was allowed to keep the daggers, despite the protestations of the Klingons prior to their banishment. Thus the legend of “Ryan of the House of Von Drake” was born. Ryan did not much care for the nickname, as his actions were purely in self-defense, and he knew that he would have not stood a chance against two sober Klingons. He also later admitted that if he knew how much of an insult it was to take a d’k tahq, he wouldn’t have done so. Ryan was always an above average student, and had a fascination with Starfeet after meeting a few Starfleet officers in his hometown. With his solid grades and test scores, he jumped at the chance of joining the Academy. During his time there, he joined the Taijijian club, where he quickly became an instructor, and earning 5th duan in the rings. In many of the hardcore academic classes, he was in the top half of his cohort, but otherwise unremarkable. In his field classes and training, he was almost always in the top 5% of his cohort. It was at the academy where Ryan began to let go of some of the aloofness and intensity, opening up more socially. He still maintained a very introverted style, and did lack for confidence when the situation required something other than his abilities in martial arts. He would often outwardly question his statements in both his own mind as well as to those around him and often could become prone to nervous rambling. He tried other hobbies outside of his martial arts, but nothing really sticking. His first ever romantic relationship also came at the Academy, with a human female by the name of Crystal Oxley. The two remained together for the better portion their third and fourth years at the Academy, breaking up amicably, yet still extremely painfully for Ryan. He has attempted to bury that hurt down, but those who know him can see how much it hurt him. All in all, Ryan has performed strongly at the Academy and projects to be a quality officer for the Fleet. He is fit for duty.