"A Surprise"

[Kansas_Jones 0]

1.16.07

USS Agincourt NCC-81762

“A Surprise”

 

JoNs offered a friendly wave to the Ieu’ani tavern owner – who had been good natured regarding the debacle that had destroyed half her bar – as the transporter effect took her. She had completed her required “duty shift” of repair at the tavern, and it was time to get back to her regular duties on board the Agincourt.

 

The felinoid exited the transporter room and started down the corridor toward the main security offices. She felt absolutely miserable. The medication was wearing off, so her hangover was back with an intensity, she could not look at food without having the desire to snarf, she had bruises from the bar brawl that she really couldn’t remember getting, her back hurt from the manual labor of getting the tavern back in order, and she had smashed her left paw with an energy repair tool.

 

She was also avoiding everyone if she could help it Spending time in your own brig tended to do that to one’s happy sense of being, and she just wanted to keep a low profile for a few days.

 

“CHIEF LIEUTENANT KITTEN!”

 

And then of course there were those who found you. JoNs turned as Master Chief Keltex came up behind her in the corridor. His shouted tone did nothing for her headache. She had given up last week trying to get the Klingon security officer to call her JoNs. Some battles were best left unfinished. Hey, at least the rank was correct.

 

“Master Chief, what can I do for….GAH! Mrrph!”

 

The stocky, older Klingon grabbed her in a bear hug.

 

“I welcome you to the select few of us that have spent time in our own brig!! BWA HA HA HA!”

 

Wait, is this a good club to belong too?

Keltex…::gasp::….I really…enjoy…breathing…”

 

The silver haired Klingon released her, and she doubled over, hands on knees. I will not snarf in the corridor…there is no pain…I am one with strength.

 

“Ha Ha! Come with me now.” Before she could recover, Keltex proceeded to grab JoNs by her uniform jacket, throwing her over his shoulder and walking briskly down the corridor past the security offices.

 

“MASTER CHIEF KELTEX!”

 

“Oh calm down. You chiefs are all the same. Enjoy the ride, and this way I am sure that you will come!” He held her powerful hind legs in a definite arm lock.

 

“Manhandling an officer! Willful abduction!”

 

“Yes, yes. Terrible things.” Keltex continued walking with strong, confident strides. “Ah! Petty Officer Zimm!”

 

Oh gods.

 

“Master Chief, uh, Lieutenant JoNs?” Zimm looked totally stunned.

 

Keltex continued, as if this sort of scene was completely normal. “Zimm, I accept the joint training invitation. My Dingos will meet your Wolves on the battlefield. Qapla!” He offered his fellow enlisted comrade a toothy smile.

 

Zimm snapped out of his state of shock. “Very well Keltex, we will see you 15:00 hundred tomorrow in the secondary training holodeck. Uh, Lieutenant JoNs?”

 

Kansas adjusted her positioning diagonally across the big Klingon’s back so she could gaze at Zimm upside down from under Keltex’s armpit. “Yes Petty Officer?” she asked with as much decorum as she could muster.

 

“The details of our training session I will be transmitting to your office, if you could sign off on them?”

 

“No problem Zimm.”

 

“Thank you sir.” Zimm nodded politely, and with an amused smile, went on his way as Keltex continued on in the opposite direction with his irate furred charge in tow.

 

Kansas seethed, and mentally drew up a rather blistering report regarding Keltex’s behavior. She kept her mouth shut as Keltex talked the entire way regarding honor among brawlers, and past tavern brawls that he himself had been in. The master chief then stopped outside of the doorway to crew quarters, waving his hand in front of the sensors for admittance.

 

Once inside, the Caitian felt her weight shift as Keltex set her down on her own two feet. She immediately shifted into a fighting crouch, fists ready in case the Klingon tried to grab her again. He went over to a nearby locker and rummaged, eventually bringing out a flat plasteel container in the shape of a rectangle. Kansas couldn’t help herself and she looked on with curiosity, slowly coming out of her fighting stance.

 

Keltex looked at her seriously, but with his ever present twinkle. “This, along with a few treasured items, I managed to bring with me from the Gideon. This is yours.” He thrust the container at the Caitian.

 

She took it, silently regarding the enlisted Klingon. She stayed quiet, and opened the container. Inside was a baldric of leather and steel, a smaller version of the one that Keltex himself wore. The craftsmanship was very old and beautiful, but durable. JoNs looked at the enlisted officer, a bit confused. “Keltex, I…”

 

He put a gentle hand up for her to stop. “I give that to you JoNs.”

 

“Oh, no, Master Chief, I am unable…”

 

“Yes you are able. I have no House, I represent my own. That belonged to my great great grandmother, and it is mine to do with as I please. I invite you into my home. Will you perform the ceremony with me?” He indicated some nearby candles and wine next to a ceremonial dagger.

 

Kansas’s thoughts swirled, and she wondered what had happened to his ancestral house and family, but her response was prompt and strong. Her instincts had always told her that Keltex was a good man. “I accept. But may I ask – why?”

 

Keltex offered her a smile and said, “you have spunk, and you would do the House honor,” as if that explained it all.

 

The Caitian merely inclined her head in respect to the elder Klingon.

 

Keltex took the ancient baldric and began preparing the candles and wine – oh gods, more alcohol – for the ceremony.

 

Kansas watched him work and then quipped. “I do hope there won’t be much blood.” Her tail swished excitedly.

 

Without missing a beat, the Klingon replied, “Oh, no, there will only be a little amount of blood.”

 

“A little? Say what?” She had been kidding.

 

The Klingon let loose with a belly laugh and socked his security chief good naturedly on the shoulder, sending her lurching a few inches to the right. “I like you Lieutenant Kitten! We will have glorious brawls together!”

Edited January 17, 2007 by Kansas_Jones