"Family"

[Kansas_Jones 0]

April 12, 2006 (2397)

USS Agincourt NCC-81762

“Family”

 

S’rrch JoN’s appeared quietly in the doorway of the home office. M’rree, his wife of forty years sat working at the desk console; she sensed his presence, acknowledged by turning an ear toward him, then she turned her head and smiled up at him.

 

M’rrees smile vanished at the concerned expression on her husbands light caramel face. She got up and moved toward him, the waning daylight filtering through the windows casting sparkles on her tawny fur. “What has happened?”

 

The family pet, a domesticated Earth cat by the name of Molly, happily bounded into the office at that moment, intent on greeting the new arrival from the work day. However, she stopped cold, meowed softly, and then sat down on her haunches. She somehow knew that all was not well with her Caitian owners.

 

S’rrch placed his briefcase on the stained wooden flooring and then took M’rrees clawed paw in his own.

 

“The JDK supervisors received a communiqué from Fleet Command today. Of course, we were not told everything. What we do know is that six starships have been commandeered by hostile forces. M’rretts ship, the Agincourt, has been confirmed as one of the taken ships.”

 

M’rree registered disbelief on her face and then the two bond mates embraced. Molly hesitated and then with a low purring murmur approached the pair, rubbing up against their legs. The cat then quietly left the office, leaving the Caitian parents alone with each other.

 

For a starship to be taken by force, let alone six of them, this did not bode well for a crew. Either they were dead, incapacitated, or rendered unable to resist by circumstances. Each scenario engendered worry as well as sadness. The JoNs’ were now left not knowing if their only child was alive, dead or hurt.

 

Some beings would say, unkindly, that it was callous for an only child such as M’rrett to choose a sometimes dangerous career as a Starfleet officer. That she should have chosen a “safer” career, perhaps get married, have children.

 

Thankfully, the JoN’s’ were not quite as close minded. Of course, why they would more then welcome the addition of a grand-kitten to the family…they had taught their daughter to make her own decisions. She was raised to follow her heart and her head. And she had matured into an independent woman, more then capable of making her own decisions and choosing a path.

 

The chosen path had been Starfleet. And that path had been respected, as two adults to an adult child. All three of them were well aware of said risks…although this awareness did not necessarily make it any easier, this much is certain.

 

The Caitians disengaged from their embrace and faced one another again.

 

“We were told nothing today in the Academy records office. JDK Security is now on standby?” M’rree directed the question toward her husband.

 

He regarded her with his deep golden eyes. “Yes, for now. Later, if and when the situation warrants, we are to assist Fleet Security with the evacuation of the Academy campus. Hopefully…the evac will not be necessary and Earth’s air space is not breached….” S’rrch trailed off; there was no need to complete the sentence.

 

M’rree continued. “I assume that M’Vess knows.”

 

A weak smile penetrated S’rrch’s tense façade at the mention of his cousin, a Fleet officer like his daughter. “It is a safe assumption that the old prairie cat knows, and probably more then we do at this point. But, we don’t contact her.”

 

M’rree nodded her confirmation and understanding. “We say nothing to the family on Cait as well…until we know more…” She trailed off as well, and then cleared her throat in a purring trill. “We’ve both had a long day. I really do not feel like it now, but we should both eat something.”

 

S’rrch took his wife’s paw in his and they both exited the office area, not knowing that they had a captive audience. Molly had been keeping watch in the shadows of the hallway, her black fur almost making her invisible. The cat again re-entered the room. She padded over to a small, stuffed toy and sniffed it.

 

The small toy was a silly little thing, a fat, rounded, stuffed green and yellow Le Matya that M’rrett had brought home for the cat on her last leave. Molly played with it constantly, batting it around and chasing it all over the house. Mrree and Srrch enjoyed the antics of the family pet with her toy.

 

Molly picked the small toy up in her mouth and galloped out of the office, heading up the stairs to the second floor bedrooms. She went quickly into M’rrett’s bedroom and then jumped up onto the bed, gently placing the toy on the bedding. Molly then lay down beside it, curling into a ball.

 

The domesticated cat, in her own way, must have understood that all was not well. She had somehow sensed the sadness, and now held a vigil of sorts, similar to her Caitian owners.

 

They all waited on information concerning the commandeered ships, their crews, and one Starfleet officer in particular.

 

Lt. M’rrett Sh’aow “Kansas” JoN’s

Tactical Officer