Subtle Shiftings

[Victria 0]

"It occurred to me that we've not formally met." Lieutenant JoNs leaned back in her seat as she watched Victria attempt to access one of the consoles in the security office. "Strange to have stalked an escapee together and not have been introduced."

 

"Fellow Hunters need no introduction. I suspect that stalking is the same everywhere," Victria remarked without glancing up from the infernal computer system. She still had not totally meshed with Federation technology, though she was much better at reading the language. Her scowl deepened as she pressed yet another button and the screen refused to display the information she needed. She bared her fangs in frustration.

 

"I had that same reaction the other day," Left Ear commented, her own fangs bared in a slight smile. "Sometimes this technology can still have its quirks."

 

"I could live without it. Such crude technology," Victria muttered without looking from the screen. She pressed yet another sequence of buttons and information began to scroll across the screen. It was not, however, the records for which she'd been searching. Balling her fist, she turned her chair away from the console before she smashed it to pieces. "But to your first comment, I do know who you are and that you are called Left Ear."

 

"Aye. And you are Victria? Have you been serving on the Excalibur long?"

 

"No. Not long, though sometimes it seems the opposite." Victria tapped the tab on her collar, indicating her status at a provisional Ensign. They still hadn't managed to get her into a proper uniform, though. "I'm sure you outrank me."

 

Left Ear inclined her caramel-maned head in respect to her fellow crewmate. "My rank is that of a junior grade lieutenant. I am a transfer from Sky Harbor Aegis. Or rather, what remains of Aegis. I felt the need to... reapply... to starship duty." She had no desire to further expound on the subject, and hoped the woman wasn't the prying type.

 

"A career officer, then." Victria did not quite contain her contempt, though it was directed more at the idea than the officer. "Excellent timing on your part. I'm sure it is only a matter of time before the Scorpiad overpower the ship and blow us all into oblivion."

 

Left Ear's tail lashed once. "Those Scorpiads are damn annoying little petaqs."

 

"I am not quite certain what a 'petaq' is, but can guess at the meaning." Her ice-blue gaze studied the other female for a moment. "They are a determined enemy."

 

"That they are." JoNs left out that they were butt ugly as well. "What is it that you wish to access?" She pointed toward the console with a paw.

 

"Sensor records of their ship in our last encounter with the Scorpiad. I might be able to pick out and translate any communications that were otherwise missed." Frowning as yet another error message was displayed on the screen.

 

"May I?" JoNs reached a tawny furred paw to the console, and entered a series of commands, bringing up the required data. "Now, before you get angered, it took me five hours to figure out those shortcuts to the information. And, then there is always the swift kick method."

 

"I was afraid I might damage the console, as in put a hole through the casing." She smiled thinly, studying the information as it scrolled across the screen. Adding to the previous sequence, she shipped the entire package to her private quarters to review at her leisure. It would probably take hours to sift through all the data, but she had little else in her off hours except visit the holodeck. She fed as little as possible and slept even less. "Your help is... appreciated. I'm not sure what would happen if I suddenly turned violent in Main Security."

 

Deadpan, the Caitian replied with, "I am sure it would be mass chaos, carnage, extreme panic. Sounds like fun." She purred a bit and offered a smile. "No worries, as I am glad to help. Now, you had mentioned you are of the Al-Ucard?" Her eyes gleamed with a feline curiosity.

 

"Yes." Closing down the search - she at least knew how to do that - Victria straightened and returned her attention to JoNs. "Victria, of the House Mordan. Nightstalker. Hunter. Pawn of the Scorpiad, as are all my people. They have many such races they use in such fashion, of which our latest guest is an example."

 

The security lieutenant responded in kind. "MVess, of the family JoNs, tribe Honorscar, and clan Shadow Pride. I gather you have had dealings with these...things before? And I apologize for my crassness - I am not a huge fan of bugs." The Caitian decided to save her questions regarding "Nightstalker" and "Hunter". One crisis at at time.

 

"Dealings." Victria bared her teeth again. "An interesting way to put it. You should delve into the reports on my people for the entire history, but to summarize - they created my people for a specific purpose, abandoned us to our own bloodlust when we were no longer useful, and reclaimed us to throw us blindly at the Federation when they decided another conquest was necessary."

 

Her investigative instincts going on all thrusters, JoNs regarded the woman. "Yet, you serve here on the Excalibur?" There was no malice and no accusation in the tone. "And your... bloodlust? You require this to live?" The Caitian was merely attempting to understand her fellow security officer.

 

Her gaze narrowed slightly and she frowned. "As I owe your Captain my life, I find it prudent to do as he requests. I was given a provisional post in exchange for certain knowledge and information and allowed to remain here without being a prisoner." It didn't mean she had to like it, however.

 

Victria did not mention her own biological functions and the thirst that drove her. The Caitian could access a medical report if she wanted the details. Or offer herself as a meal, if she wished. She repressed a slight smile, though she did study the other female's scent to gather what information she could.

 

Left Ear was a bit more blunt then the average Caitian. "You don't seem very happy regarding that situation." Crossing her arms, she leaned a hip casually against another desk console.

 

"Would you be?" Her expression serious, she watched JoNs carefully. After a moment, her lips curved into a slow, wicked grin. "Let's just say that I have problems with authority. Any authority. And I find the lack of sport on board this ship tiresome."

 

A mischievous smile played on the Caitian's lips. "Problems with authority? I'll keep that in mind... Ensign. Authority does have its place, I will admit to that. However, there are times when it can be cumbersome, shall we say? As for the hunting as sport, I don't believe I can help you with that, but I do have some interesting holo programs - they combine stealth with tracking a target, relying solely on your own personal skills?"

 

"Something in which I would be interested. I have my own programs, but they are all random scenarios. Anything new would be welcomed." Her nostrils flared slightly. "So you do not Hunt? Those claws of yours are simply for show?"

 

JoNs paused for a few seconds, choosing her words carefully. She eyed the Al-Ucard. "Killing or maiming with our claws is very much considered a modern social taboo in my culture. I keep them trimmed, as do most of my kind. However," she wiggled her paw digits as the claws slid out. "They are very much functional." A wickedly mischievous grin bared the Caitians fangs as well.

 

"And do the killing of holographic creatures fall under the category of 'forbidden' in your culture?" Though she knew that some Federation species considered the baring of teeth to be friendly, a part of her still considered the act to be a challenge. Her upper lip drew back off her fangs, but she did manage not to hiss.

 

"What one does on their off time is their own affair. I myself do not kill during holodeck time." Her fangs still showing, she gave Victria a hard stare.

 

"That's a pity." Victria glanced away for a moment as several people in the area had paused in their work to watch the exchange. Her slight snarl slid into an easy smile and she chuckled. "Perhaps this is not the place to discuss such things. Though I'm sure some of the males in here would pay to see... a cat fight."

 

Relaxing, JoNs purred a bit. "Aye, this is a conversation best saved for later. Base creatures they are, these males."

 

"Nice to formally meet you Ensign Victria." Left Ear offered a paw to the Al-Ucardian

 

Victria glanced down to the offered hand, but clasped it without hesitation, remembering not to squeeze too hard. It was a greeting, not a challenge. "And you, Lieutenant JoNs. Welcome to ship security." This time her smile had a little more 'friendly' in it and a little less 'I could rip your throat out if I wanted'. She was slowly getting the hang of it.