"Batlh"

[Kansas_Jones 0]

2.10.07

USS Agincourt NCC-81762

“Batlh”

 

Kansas growled at the stack of data padds still waiting to be processed. Gods that felt good. She growled again as she stood up from her desk chair, letting loose with one of the good ones - long, low, and with malice.

 

A dark head poked around the doorframe. "We've had reports of wild animals on the loose in here; any truth to the rumors?" Harper offered a grin at the Caitian lieutenant.

 

The marine startled her, and she jumped a bit. Embarrassed, JoNs responded. "Yes sir. Wild animal. Present." She raised a paw in the air, smiling a bit sheepishly.

 

The colonel chuckled. "Well, so long as it's only authorized wild animals." She leaned against the doorframe, crossing her arms casually. "Padd-work got you down?"

 

Taking in her CO's body language, the lieutenant relaxed as well, falling into a casual parade rest. "Aye, it would seem so sir. When I wasn't incarcerated or smuggling pets on board, this shore leave did provide a wonderful opportunity to catch up on all the backlogged reports." She glanced down. "Although, it does seem as if a black hole keeps opening here in the office, spitting out new reports constantly."

 

"That'd be a white hole, then. Producing matter..." She shook her head. "But I didn't come to talk science theory."

 

The Caitian cocked her head to one side in curiosity. "What can I do for you Colonel?"

 

"Solve a mystery?"

 

"Always sir." Her curiosity shot into the ozone.

 

"Why is it," Harper said with a lazy smile, "that the mess hall is buzzing about a certain furred lieutenant being carried upside-down through the corridors by a certain Klingon master chief?"

 

Ducking her head in embarrassment, JoNs chuckled. "Yes. The Master Chief is

very...exuberant. I was somewhat...surprised." The felinoid’s green eyes twinkled in amusement.

 

"I can imagine." She tilted her head inquisitively. "Why was the Master Chief carrying you through the corridors?"

 

A tail swish. "Mr. Keltex felt the need to welcome me into the distinguished brawling club of those who had spent time in their own brig." Kansas was hedging with the half truths; she looked as if she had more to say on the matter, but was reluctant to do so with a senior officer.

 

"I wasn't aware there was such a club." Harper pushed off the doorframe, taking a few steps further into the room. "I notice O'd'yl didn't get invited to this club; is it only for goldshirts?”

 

Fighting the feeling that she was being backed into a corner, the lieutenant offered a sigh. "Yes, ma'am, you might say it is a ‘goldshirt only club’. But, with respect, it is something of a personal nature." Honestly, the security officer was still in a bit of shock over the whole matter. Klingon honor and ceremonies - it was enough to make the head spin.

 

“That's fine." The colonel shrugged. "Idle curiosity. As long as I'm not going to have to deal with more drunken fools or break up a brawl between you and the Master Chief." She rested her hands on the back of one of the guest chairs before the lieutenant's desk. "Frankly, I don't think I'd get in the middle of that one, ship's discipline aside."

 

The security chief sighed heavily, bringing a paw to a temple as if fighting off a massive headache. In reality, her pressure had just shot up again just thinking on the whole matter. Harper's questioning was just bringing all of her doubts to the surface again. In silence, she opened one of the desk's recessed drawers, withdrawing a hand crafted steel and black leather baldric, placing it on the desk between her and the marine.

 

Eyebrows shooting towards her hairline, Harper reached out a tentative hand, drawing one finger lightly over the gleaming surface. She whistled her amazement. "A Klingon sash. The Master Chief's?"

 

Kansas nodded, her leonine features wire tight with combined excitement and worry, and the explanation came pouring out. "Yes sir. The trip through the corridor had an underlying reason, beyond some good natured brawler club. He invited me into his House, ceremony and all. The baldric is an heirloom, passed down from a grandmother of his. I dated the piece with a tricorder, and it is well over three hundred years old. I accepted, and it was the right thing to do, I felt it in my gut."

 

The Caitian as well reached a paw out to lightly touch the sash. The steel engraving representing Keltex’s house was displayed prominently on the front shoulder area of the sash, the symbol itself doubling as a phraseogram for honor. "It's beautiful, aye. The craftsmanship is unmatched...it is such an honor...adopted...a Klingon House...the respect he is due..." The Caitian’s legs started to give out again. "I need to sit down." She sat down heavily in the desk chair.

 

Harper studied the young lieutenant. After a moment, she asked simply, and quietly, "Why aren't you wearing it?"

 

Her paws placed flat on the desk, she looked from the sash to Harper. "Not wearing it? Ma'am, no disrespect is intended to Mr. Keltex by not wearing the piece. As a matter of fact, Keltex himself has said repeatedly 'All in good time'. I'm not sure what he means by that, but..." The Caitian thumped a paw on the desk. "Rambling. Again. Apologies sir. I don't know sir, other then the fact that I am too overwhelmed right now with the honor." She looked to the marine commanding officer, her expression determined if a little lost.

 

"An understanding man," Harper said thoughtfully. She stepped around the chair and sat down herself. "It is a deep honor, Lieutenant. You are to be congratulated."

 

"It is an honor, and I know that, and appreciate the trust engendered from and by the Master Chief. He is an officer and a true gentleman." Kansas was starting to lose the lightheaded feeling as her pressure stabilized.

 

"Indeed." She leaned back in the chair. "And honor given deserves honor in return."

 

"Yes sir. It is much to, pardon the term, assimilate, however."

 

Harper nodded. "Understandable. But, L...Kansas," she corrected herself, "the proper place for that is not in a drawer."

 

The lieutenant now felt a raging headache forming just behind her right eye, no doubt the result of actually discussing this whole situation with someone other then Keltex. She did have a tendency to keep things all bottled up. "I know Ma'am."

 

Gesturing to the baldric, the colonel said softly, "Put it on."

 

She looked at her commanding officer, head cocked to one side again. "Sir, this is my decision, you do realize that? I just seem to be a bit...lost."

 

"Lieutenant, Starfleet is dedicated to upholding loyalty, honor, and duty... to say nothing of the principle of IDIC. To have been offered such a sign of respect, and not treat it as it deserves..." She groped for words that would convey the sentiment she wanted without upsetting the somewhat jumpy junior officer.

 

Kansas crinkled her nose and raised a whisker at the colonel's small speech, in the classic feline expression of "what are you trying to say oh human person".

 

"You owe it to your new House and to Starfleet to honor the Master Chief's gift as it deserves," Harper said finally.

 

The security lieutenant pulled her attention from the marine commander, and her gaze rested briefly on the Caitian statue adorning one of the wall shelves - a proud warrior, replete with feathers, protective animal skins, and war axe. The Caitian race had its collective roots in a warrior past, and the Klingon race upheld modern warrior customs that had evolved over many centuries. These were two completely different races, yet both could boast a warrior creed. Indeed.

 

Decision made, JoNs stood up from the chair and took the baldric, slipping it on over her head to rest diagonally across her back and chest. The metal gleamed in the overhead lighting, the baldric looking beautiful and intimidating all at the same time.

 

She looked at Harper, a true, happy smile exposing her fangs. "A Caitian Starfleet security lieutenant wearing an ancient sash from her adopted Klingon House. Why not? Colonel, since when do commanding officers go around offering fashion advice? Regardless, it is appreciated."

 

"Since it reflects on the honor of the crew." She smiled. "And I'm glad to see you've made your decision."

 

The Caitian smiled. "I had your gentle guidance, which would have probably led to a rather jarring meeting with between you, me, and Mr. Blue Mat if I did not come to a decision.” Her expression became a bit more serious. “ Colonel Harper, I would like you to know that this type of indecisiveness," she indicated the sash and recent conversation with a quick sweep of a paw, "will never compromise my leadership of the security department, my loyalty to the ship and crew, or my loyalty to yourself and Lt. Colonel Day. You do understand that?” Her tail lashed once in determination.

 

"I would hardly expect it to, Lieutenant." Harper smiled.