"Drowning our Sorrows"

[Kansas_Jones 0]

07.10.07

USS Agincourt NCC-81762

“Drowning our Sorrows”

Written by: Lieutenant (sg) Odile Condacin and Lt. Commander Kansas JoNs

 

Kansas stood gazing out the small picture window in her quarters, not really focused on anything. The day had been hectic anyway, and topping it off with the Kreval incident…what a total cluster frag. She had finished up what reports she could, and finally retired to her quarters, cleaned up, and changed into Fleet issue workout attire. Mmmrph…tomorrow was another day.

 

The door chime rang, and the cat's visitor shifted her weight a few times. She waited for the kitty to open the door impatiently, bouncing the container she held from arm to arm.

 

JoNs ignored the chime.

 

It rang again, twice, thrice... four more times in rapid succession. "Come on, Kitty... Catnip can wait," she muttered under her breath.

 

"Well...dang. Whoever you are, you are persistent. Enter!" The computer recognized the pre set voiceprint command and obediently whooshed open the door. JoNs turned to greet the arrival.

 

"Ah, there's a good cat!" A jovial Xenexian entered, holding out the contents of her arms happily. "I come bringing something to share. We both need it."

 

Sad green eyes fixed on the science officer, and a weak smile followed. "Oh?" The feline security officer moved closer to Odile, stopping next to a low coffee table with various report Padds strewn across the surface.

 

"Here." She placed the bottle on the table, pushing aside the Padds assembled upon it. "For us. Do

you have glasses?"

 

She flipped a curious ear back at the bottle. "Aye, I do. And they are even clean!" JoNs then walked over and busied herself gathering the glasses from the small kitchen area, tail swishing. Her movements were stiff, the soreness incurred from the Gareem away mission not quite dissipated as of yet. The feline returned to the small living area, glasses deftly held in nimble paws. "And the occasion is?" To be honest, she did not feel like entertaining; her tone came out flat.

 

"Soothing woes?"

 

Kansas looked at Odile, but did not say anything. Suddenly, her green eyes welled with tears. She cleared her throat and looked down as she set the glasses on the table top. "Woes. Too many damn woes if you ask me...." The felines tone was sepulchral.

 

Something stirred the Xenexians icy heart, and she put her arm around the shorter feline. "I know. The best we can do is... work on them... and forget them when we can. I pledge for 'forget' tonight."

 

Kansas was a bit surprised at the kindness employed by Odile. ".....I look really bad don't I?"

 

"Yeah. But I don't look much better."

 

"This is true. And what will we be corrupting ourselves with tonight?" The gold feline gently disengaged herself from Condacins arm, giving the Xenexian a quick squeeze of thanks on the shoulder with a paw and offering a small smile.

 

"Amaretto. It's from Earth. It's sweet, smells like almonds and cherry, and makes all the trouble go away."

 

Three paw digits pointed to the heavens. "Three conditions - we do not lay waste to a bar, pull a Day and compromise sections of the ship, and let's remember we both have duty tomorrow. Deal?"

"I'm running beta shift. It's all good." Odile smiled slightly. "Deal."

 

A genuine, happy grin greeted that. "I myself have opted to come strolling in for the beta shift as well, depending on circumstances...and the late night steeped in Padd Work. Rank does have the privileges." JoNs reached for a glass.

 

"Oh yes." She took the bottle in one hand, twisting the cap in the other until it finally opened. "For you... though you know, most don't drink this pure..." She poured the liqueur as she spoke, smirking slightly.

 

An ear flipped back. "We can always dilute it with some water intake..." Kansas eyed the concoction.

 

"No no... that might spoil it. We're hardy females. We can handle it!"

 

"Right. Remind me of that when I am attempting to figure out why the ship is going sideways...” Kansas took a swig of the liqueur. ".....Ack! Ack!....", she made a face,"...that stuff is nasty, it is the worst...." and promptly took another shot.

 

”It's sweet." Odile cringed as she took a shot. "Saccharine. Disgusting." She also took the second.

 

The felinoid officer's thoughts clouded over again. "Do you know what I keep replaying in my mind Condacin?"

 

"Painting bars?"

 

She chuckled. "While that does occasionally invade my nightmares, along with a rather ticked off Colonel employing the brig...no, that is not what I speak off." Her countenance changed, her eyes becoming distant. "I'm ten years old again, playing on a side street near my parent's house in San Francisco....myself and some friends are playing "Starship Officer".....

 

"I'm the security chief, leading a scouting team. All goes well, we defeat the bad guys....it was so simple then..." Her eyes, a bit haunted, latch onto Odile. "....I really had no idea it could be like this..."

 

"Poor kitty," she crooned. "You know... I never dreamed of being in Starfleet. I never even dreamed of being a scientist, but security just... security and soldier are different."

 

"I thought about the Marines," she started as she took a shot, "but they're so formalized. Too regimented. They're great for their parties -- once they get off duty, they're animals and drinkers -- but for a day job? No. I'd rather be studying something for that matter. No, I grew up fighting imaginary Danteri."

 

The feline officer took another sip of her drink, choosing her words wisely; she could already feel the warmth spreading to her extremities. "The Danteri are your demons I gather?"

 

"I'd happily destroy the entire species if I could. In a fraction of a heartbeat." She looked at the bottle, and promptly threw back another shot. "They're vile sub-sentients whose entire purpose is apparently to annoy Xenexians beyond conceivable measure. And now you have an alliance formed with them. It's the Federation's fault, really -- shoving it down our throats. Most Danteri are still rogue -- you have about a ten-Danteri delegation who're pawns of the Federation's diplomacy program. Otherwise? Most Xenexians agree that they're up for grabs -- whoever wants to kill them can. Just don't let the Feddies catch you.”

 

"I didn't get caught." She patted her knife happily, mulling her fifth shot.

 

Kansas poured herself another drink. "I am glad you did not get caught, to be honest."

 

"You're not the only one." She put the dagger on the table. "It's kind of a shame my knife can't partake, isn't it?" Odile didn't quite laugh at her own silliness, didn't quite chuckle -- the high pitched sound was a giggle.

 

"Odile, if your knife ever does partake and begins speaking? I will run like hell the other way, I assure you." a good natured purring chuckle complimented the giggle.

 

The purring suddenly faded, and stark reality lanced through the Caitian security chiefs alcoholic buzz. "Burne was twenty fragging two years old Odile. Twenty two. This was his first veken deep space training assignment....." The alcohol intake corresponded to the language issue.

 

"I know, kitty... but we tried everything. And everything, too."

 

A paw - the one not holding the glass - angrily sliced through the air. "He was the first one I lost. There will be more..."

 

Odile sighed. "I haven't lost anyone yet. I dread the day. See... under this cold, icy, gold-eyed exterior, I actually have a heart."

 

A lopsided smirk exposed some fangs. "I think most of us know you do have a heart," the smirk faded, “…and I do pray to the gods you never lose anyone, really."

 

"I say the same prayers. You know... sometimes I think I should be more religious. Maybe it would have helped." Only half a shot now. "You Caitians are polytheistic, right?"

 

"Whoa whoa - speak slowly to the alcohol muddled feline. Poly-who and what now?"

 

"You worship lots of nice kitty gods, right?"

 

"Ah. Yes - the hunter god, the traveler god, and the like. Some Caitians devote all worship to one, while others may devote their time and prayers to a few." An ear flipped back in curiosity. "And what of your Xenexian worship?"

 

"Gods. There are... hundreds upon hundreds of gods... and more and more in the clan sects... and..." Odile sighed. "They're really out there. I've seen some of them, in the Pit."

 

"The Pit?"

 

"Metaphysical convergence. Hot, arid... sandy. Oh of course it's sandy! The whole fricking planet is sand! But anyway... the lucky -- or unlucky -- see things there. You starve yourself and nearly die of thirst? You'll see something. Most of the time. If you're important." O'd'yl paused, in reverie. "Not that I'm bragging..."

 

Kansas was openly curious. "That does sound similar to a Caitian spirit walk."

 

"Does yours involve little scorpions that sting and bite?"

 

"Uh, no. Think large feline, wolf or lizard type of predators, and the occasional large predatory bird flying about. Scorpians? Oh, ick, for lack of a better term." Kansas took another drink from her glass.

 

"I hate scorpions almost as much as Danteri. Not from the Pit. Would you, kitty mine, like to venture a guess why I hate those arachnid nightmares?"

 

"....is this going to give me nightmares? I am not a huge fan of arachnids. Although, the alcohol is making me brave...”

 

"Cadet training. Gamma Quadrant. Early 2380s. Gods. I hate. Scorpions."

 

Kansas poured them both another shot. "I have a feeling this is going to be interesting, and we will need some more fortification. Compared to that little tidbit of info? My cadet training was downright boring – at least the first couple of tours that I did."

 

"I wish mine was. Enlistees did a stint out on a fully-fledged vessel as trainees. I, um, well, let's just say that the Scorpiad are scary."

 

"Nasty critters. I have an elder cousin – MVess JoNs, more commonly referred to as Left Ear - that tangled with them during one of her tours. She told me the civilian version when I was a young teen. After I enlisted? I got the full on details."

 

"Ahh. I wonder if I met her. What ship was she on?"

 

The Caitian searched her alcohol fuzzed brain. "Uh...something about an Earth legend with wizards and weapons. The Camelot? No...the Excalibur! That was her tour ship during the Scorpiad mess."

 

"Maybe I did. I've met a few Caitians over the years. Normally I just call them Rank Plus Kitty. 'Commander Kitty'. 'Lieutenant Kitty.' 'Cadet Kitty'."

 

"Yeah, I have noticed that." The statement came out deadpan.

 

"Ahh. Good." A dull smile spread. "That was a nice run, aside from the arachnids. We had coffee. My second chief didn't let me have coffee, but DeCheval did. God I love coffee."

 

"Some chiefs and commanding officers can be total despots." A paw reached to put her now empty glass on the table between them, almost missing the surface in the process. The alcohol was overtaking the feline officers system quickly.

 

Odile giggled again. No mistaking the sound this time. "You're drunked."

 

A paw pointed at the Xenexian. "If I'm drunked, then so are you." Or rather, the paw pointed at the secondary image of the Xenexian. Double vision was a wonderful thing. Not.

 

"I am not drunkened. You are. You missed the table!" She picked up the shot glass, cringing as she poured the amaretto onto the carpet. "Damn. More. You pour please?"

 

Kansas instead managed to clamp a paw on the bottle, recorking it and what little of the beverage remained. It was a fleeting thought, but she had enough sense to know if the two of them didn’t stop now, they both would not make the second shift.

 

"Aww... you're mean, kitty."

 

"No, I'm practi...practicallen....practie....smart. If we don't stop, we won’t make our duty shift's tommorow, hangover pills aside."

 

"But but!" She reached for the bottle. "Damn cats."

 

JoNs walked (read: wobbled) her way over to the kitchen area. She placed the bottle on the small countertop, and then turned to make her way back to where Odile was sitting. She slammed into the countertop and tried to make it look like she had meant to do that. "C'mon, Odile...you can't stay here....I mean you could, but I think you'd do better in your own quarters...Damn counter top. It moved itself in my path." She only managed to keep her balance due to having a tail.

 

"Ugh." Condacin tried to stand, and nodded as her balance stayed relatively solid. "I feel sick, Kitty... I think I need more."

 

The feline officer wordlessly, and with some lack of co ordination, grabbed at the taller Xenexian woman's left arm, draping it over her shoulders; her right paw reached across Odile's back and clamped down on her right side. Both women began heading in the general direction of Condacins quarters.

 

"You're such a good kitty." Odile smiled, happily. "Can I adopt you? You'll get a litterbox, and yarn, and catnip!" They exited JoN's' quarters. "And a little mouse with a bell on its tail... and a round track with a ball in it."

 

"Odile, don’t make me pounce you...whoa wait a minute...listing to the side....ack...mrrrph." The taller woman had unbalanced her feline escort into the bulkhead.

 

"Ack!" She toppled with the kitty. "A little... farther..." Odile looked behind her. "Where's the bottle! We lost the bottle!"

 

"It went for a walk." JoNs was sandwiched between Odile and the bulkhead, and had a great view of the sciences officers chest which was pressed up against the felines right cheek. "Grrrrkk..."

 

"Mmph. Bah!" She righted herself in a brief moment of clarity. "Ugh... bathroom... need bathroom... need disposal..." She entered the dark quarters and slouched again.

 

Once the dead weight of drunk Xenexian was lifted, JoNs slid down the corridor bulkhead. "Oh hell...I should have just had her beamed to her quarters...Odile?"

 

A few minutes later, she exited the lavatory, looking a little pale. "I think I don't drink liqueurs anymore."

 

"Sound medical advice." JoNs remained sitting on the decking. "Feel better now?"

 

"I hate that stuff."

 

Kansas waved a paw in Odiles general direction, as in help me up. "Then why did we drink it again? Oh goody...the corridor is going sideways again...a little help here?"

 

Odile stretched out a hand. "Because it's good for you..."

 

The Caitian officer chuckled and accepted the hand. "Riiiiggght."

 

Kansas managed to focus on Odile. "Drowning ones sorrow...is highly overrated, but thank you for slopping...stopping by. The talk...talking did help." She offered a paw for a handshake.

 

She almost pounced, wrapping the kitty in a giant bear hug. "You're soo cute, puddy tat..."

 

"Gah! Ack! Mrrph! Odile!" Condacin half lifted the smaller woman from the decking. A tail swished from side to side. "Hugging the cat too long!”

 

"But kitty is so cute!" she reiterated, losing her balance and knocking the feline towards her door...

 

... which chose that moment to open.

 

"I am not cute!" The raised voice reverberated within the corridor. "..Oh dear...”

 

"Ack!" Odile was laughing by the time they smacked into the deck. "We really have to do this again some time. I'll bring Catnip Ale."

 

Kansas, who was on top of the science officer and attempting to extricate herself from the jumble of arms and legs and tail, could not help but laugh. "Wait...lets explore this. Our first time we damaged a bar. This time, we have issues getting from my place to yours, which is what? Four doors away, tops." She collapsed in purred giggles. "Do we really want to find out what the third time will be?"

 

"Oh we will. You rest assured we will."

Edited July 11, 2007 by Kansas_Jones