"Off the Grid"

[Kansas_Jones 0]

(This is a stand alone background log for the Mirror crossover series that Prell (Westler), Kairi (Daena) and I (Kansas/Left Ear) are working on. Kudos to Kairi for getting the idea ball rolling.)

 

04.05.07

ISS Agincourt ICC-81762

“Off the Grid”

 

Lieutenant Commander JoNs casually tossed a small piece of raw meat across the main area of her living quarters. Right before it hit the decking, a seemingly harmless potted green plant reared up and opened one of its bulbs, exposing several rows of sharp little teeth. The carnivorous plant snatched the meat from the air. She made a mental note to replenish the t’Venus sFly’Traps food supply soon.

 

**Blip**

 

JoNs moved toward the small desk, where her personal communications padd rested on the surface. The flashing characters on the flat screen indicated that the incoming message was from her family ship – the Dark Fury – but it really didn’t look all that dark and furious though. The ship was a thirty year old freighter with a few additional bells and whistles and mismatched hull plating. She usually rotated the frequency and bounced it from several communication relays to ensure privacy and to conceal the transponder signal of the ship.

 

The Caitian booted the image over to the larger main desk console. The image of M’Rirr JoN’s filled that screen. His caramel furred face broke into a smile and his whiskers turned upward with happiness. “Well what do you know - it’s our favorite prodigal daughter.”

 

Kansas smiled back at her older cousin. “Good to see you M’Rirr. How are things?”

 

“Things are going very well. We just scored a nice little profit from a cargo supply run. I’ll transfer you to over to Left Ear, hang on.”

 

MVess “Left Ear” JoNs had taken over the captaincy of the vessel seventeen years ago at age twenty five. She was a good captain, and inherited much of her skill from her father, the former captain of the Fury. Within seconds, the camera angle switched over to the auxiliary engineering console on the Dark Fury’s bridge. M’Vess’s scarred visage filled the screen and for a quick moment, Kansas was catapulted back to past events.

 

She had gotten the “Left Ear” tag when a faulty manifold on one of the ships scout shuttles had exploded due to the carelessness of a then fourteen year old Kansas. The younger Cait hadn’t repaired or secured the manifold properly, causing it to explode, and M’Vess had been caught in the explosion, leaving small gashes on her left ear and lower left jaw. Thankfully, she was not seriously injured, but any equipment needed to be properly maintained on a Cait ship, as the ships were necessary to the continued existence and survival of a family. Carelessness just could not be tolerated, and as a consequence of the incident, Kansas did receive a bit of a thrashing from her captain and Elder Guardian. It marked the first and only time M’Vess would raise a paw to the younger Caitian, and Kansas had come away with a life lesson regarding responsibility.

 

“Kitten! It’s about damn time.” A wry smile twisted her muzzle in greeting.

 

Kansas’s own muzzle twisted into a smirk. M’Vess always did have a way with words. Blunt, that was the word. She was the only being that still called her Kitten, and since Kansas basically worshiped the ground she walked on, Left Ear was “allowed” to call her “kitten”.

 

“Hello Guardian…anything blow up in your face lately?”

 

And thankfully, the elder Caitian shared the same off the bulkhead humor as her younger cousin regarding the incident. At the time, it had not been funny at all, but over the years, it had become a running joke between the two women.

 

Right on cue, the older female fixed her with a stern expression and pointed a clawed paw at Kansas. “Yes, you may think you’re a bad ass with that Empire uniform on, but you’re not too old that I can’t still cuff the bejeesus out of you….” She was interrupted when a guffaw of laughter from M’Rirr sounded from off screen at the statement, stopping the tirade. M’Vess joined her brother in the laughter a moment later.

 

Kansas as well had a huge smile on her face, exposing her incisor fangs. “It is good to see you again Guardian. You and M’Rirr. How is everyone? And mother and father?”

 

“Your parents are very well…”

 

Living off the grid as the JoN’s’ family did - or tribe Honor Scar as they were more commonly known - as well as most of the Cait ship clans and tribes, you caught up with one another when you could. Sometimes it was during a layover on Cait, other times it was in a distant space port or via communications as they were doing now. Left Ear spent the next few minutes updating Kansas about everything that had happened since they had last spoke, almost four months ago. Even the imperial officer with her service to the Empire, lived of the grid in a sense; she never knew where that next mission would take her, or if she would return from her duties.

 

Left Ear continued. “The Claws welcomed the birth of twins two months ago, and one of the Prides married a female from another fleet. We all give the marriage eight months tops, but anyway. And the SS Lynxcis recently joined with us, crewed by the Crimson Pelts. ”

 

Kansas’s ears perked up at that. “Good family. So that means the clan numbers five ships now?” In recent years, with various members dying, or ships moving on to greener space scapes, it had become necessary to try and bulk up the fleet. Thankfully, there were always enterprising Caitians looking for a good clan fleet to work with, family or no.

 

Numbers meant safety, as well as larger, more lucrative cargo contracts. And, on occasion, some more muscle for participation in the less legal activities. The Shadow Pride Clan was originally formed years ago by the Shadow Prides and the Saber Claws. The Shadow Pride family crewed the largest ship, an old converted Miranda class, and had led the clan since Kansas and her family had joined. Kansas’ family, and the other families, crewed their own ships as well, varying in size and function. The JoNs’s, or tribe Honor Scar as they were more commonly known, usually functioned as the scout vessel, setting up contracts, making first contacts with prospective employers, and getting the “lay of the land” so to speak. In addition to participation in the larger clan-wide contracts, family ships were also permitted to pursue their own stand alone contracts.

 

Left Ear answered, “Yes. With five ships we have a shot at some of the larger contracts. Business should be good.”

 

Kansas smiled. “Maybe send a few of those damn Ferengis packing?”

 

“You know it Kitten. Now, what is this all about?”

 

Kansas quickly entered a series of codes into her desktop console, sending some information to the other ships main computer. “I have a job to pass along, if you are interested. You still have those Foraxian Shrooms in stasis, correct?”

 

Left Ear fixed a mock baleful glare on her guardian child. “If you mean that butt ugly plant that has been taking up valuable space in my cargo hold for about two years? Then yes, we still have it.”

 

The younger JoNs let loose with a bark of laughter before responding. “Good, because I have a buyer on Starbase 718. An imperial officer by the name of Westler is currently stationed there, and he is willing to purchase the Shrooms. He contacted some associates of mine, I in turn was contacted, and here we are. Interested in the job Elder?”

 

“Of course. You’ll be taking the usual fifty percent cut?

 

The mercenary born Caitian with a day job as an Imperial security officer paused for a micro second. ”Well, actually no. Why don’t you take the full payment…”

 

Despite being a few light years away, Kansas swore the temperature in her quarters dropped a few degrees thanks to the look that MVess was winging her way via the video connection. She felt like she was sixteen again and had been caught after joyriding in one of the cargo flitters.

 

“…Oh come on Elder, I’m just being practical. You could use the payment for repairs or upgrades on the Fury, and stock up on medical supplies…” She knew for a fact that the Fury could use a new engine as well as some new injector lines, and the payment for the Foraxians would cover that nicely.

 

“Now you know I taught you better then that.” The middle aged Caitian’s stern expression never wavered.

 

Gods, the woman was getting more stubborn as she got older. “Fine, fine! I’ll take a thirty-five percent cut.” MVess started to protest, and Kansas put a paw up in protest, making sure it was in view of the screen. “No…No! I will not back down ‘Vess. Thirty Five. Use your portion of the cut for those upgrades, and get the little ones some new toys.”

 

At that point, M’Rirr walked behind his sister, bending down so his furred face was in the camera feed, and rested a paw on her shoulder. He looked at the camera, a smile playing on his muzzle. “She says yes.”

 

The interruption had the desired effect, diffusing what could have become a problem situation. Left Ear playfully batted her brother away before turning her attention back to the younger Cait and the business at hand. Her expression had changed to one of almost parental pride. “Very well, I accept the contract. Coordinates?”

 

Kansas was already entering the commands onto her personal Padd and forwarding the information to the main computer on the Fury. “Incoming now.”

 

“I also transmitted the current information of current Imperial ship movement, in case you need to avoid any unwanted attention. It is a week old and probably outdated, but if I try and dig into any current information, it will trip the ‘Court computer alarms. I should know ‘cause my department helped upgrade the firewall programs. Anyway, I’m sure you will benefit from the information in some way.”

 

“Then we are off Kitten. We should have this taken care of in about a week, perhaps less. I’ll contact you on your private channel when the job is complete and we have the full payment.”

 

“Happy hunting Elder. JoNs out.” Kansas severed the connection, backing out of the security communications programs she had running so the originating signal could not be traced to the Dark Fury, or to her. The activity would merely show as random comm traffic from the nearby cargo lanes.

 

It was amazing the skills that could be honed living off the grid. She had learned a lot during her service on the Fury when she had been younger, but the Fleet training had only enhanced them. The Empire simply functioned as her means to an end. She served the empire, yes, but her true loyalties would always be her own.

 

With an amused laugh that turned into a sly smile, the Caitian tossed another piece of raw meat to the sFly Trap.

Edited April 6, 2007 by Kansas_Jones