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Cptn d'Ka

Stranger in a Strange Land

Stranger in a Strange Land

Captain Chirakis & Captain d’Ka

 

Smoke curled delicately from cigar to ceiling, its mesmerizing beauty vanishing reluctantly through a jealous vent that sucked its life into USS Missouri’s atmospheric scrubbing system. Gently rolling the cigar between her fingers, Kirel regarded the Sindar Sk’hldh, one of the most potent cigars in the galaxy, each one expertly rolled by Sindar craftsman, and each one containing a specific low-level aphrodisiac. Captain d’Ka, her bond-mate, sat in the chair opposite, drawing slowly on his, inhaling deeply, then slowly releasing its vapors, his eyes closed, content.

 

As she inhaled, her thoughts drifted elsewhere. How long had it been since they had come together? Losing track of time was easy in the midst of turmoil, when the immediate took precedence over the future. And lately, turmoil had been synonymous with Aegis.

 

“Since the devastation of ch’Rihan,” d’Ka answered her unspoken query as he studied his cigar.

 

Her thoughts interrupted, her eyes narrowed.

 

“You are my bond-mate. It is my right to invade your thoughts.” The slightest flick of amusement curled his lips. “Thytrin.

 

“Don’t.”

 

“As you wish,” he replied casually, swirling his Cognac before taking a sip, his broadened smile appearing impish through the delicate crystal glass. “But now I wonder if I should answer your questions about the mysterious mist you have on the station, since I read those also.”

 

“Please do,” she said, summoning restraint, then added, “You enjoy your little game of aggravation, don’t you?”

 

“Oh, immensely,” he chuckled in mid-puff, his lips curling into a smirk. “You succumb so easily.”

 

“Really.” She returned her focus to the Cognac.

 

“Yes, really.” The smirk waned slowly as he flicked the cigar and relaxed further into the chair, cradling his glass in one hand. “But back to the point. This bundle of energy that forms into a shadow is very interesting. For reasons I cannot explain, it is trying to contact me.” He looked straight at her, his expression hinting caution.

 

“Go on.”

 

“Though I cannot literally communicate with it, I can sense its emotions, much as I sense yours.” He pointed his glass in her direction. “I feel its fear, its separation from entities like itself, and its general confusion. Whether it is confused about how it came here, where it is, how to communicate, or something else, I have no idea.”

 

She nodded.

 

“But what I find more interesting is that it is curious.”

 

“Curious?” She flicked her cigar. “In what way?”

 

“In the way that scientists, mathematicians, and engineers are curious. It wants to investigate. It wants to learn. That is why it probes the computer’s databases. That is how it is learning about sound, how to form sound waves, and how to manipulate some into words.

 

"I find its curiosity both interesting and strange. Why would an entity that has been thrown out of its original environment and into one that is totally alien be curious enough to attempt to communicate? I can understand wanting to communicate so it can negotiate, but to learn out of curiosity?” He shrugged and set his glass aside.

 

Kirel stared, rolling those thoughts around in her mind. “Do you sense any ill will?”

 

“None at all.”

 

“Do you believe its curiosity could be a prelude to…” she waved a hand, “...invasion by its species, or by another species, or simply taking over the station?”

 

The captain thought a moment before responding, “I can only say that its curiosity, at this point, seems to be for its own edification. It makes no sense that it would feel trapped, frightened, and confused if it was gathering intelligence for an invasion.”

 

“Hm,” she sighed. “How do you suggest we proceed?”

 

“With caution. And learn as much about it as you can. But now….” he put everything aside, stood, and took her gently by the hand. “Come, Thytrin. It has been much too long.”

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