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Post by CO_Capt_Savage on May 4, 2018 1:26:23 GMT
Location: Sol, Mars, The Qul'tuq Family home. "Coming home"
Kyle stepped off the transporter pad at the community Transport facility, the rolling red hills of Mars was something he’d not seen in close to six years, not since he graduated from the Academy. He stepped out of the open facility onto the sandstone walkway that lead towards the houses not too far in the distance. He had spent the last years of his childhood here after his mother retired from Starfleet. It felt smaller to him.
He strolled down the pathway and stopped staring at a sandy embankment, this place held a significant moment for his family, his father who had been thought dead had appeared here, a bloody mess. A small part of him hoped that his brother would stumble over that hill and fall at his feet now too, but only a slight breeze and particles of sand came over.
He turned and continued on along the path next to the familiar building, he glanced up at it squinting in the sunlight. His brother and sisters had spent a good deal of time at this care facility when they were younger, it seemed a lifetime ago. A smile slowly spread on his lips catching the sounds of laughter from the children inside.
Continuing down the sandstone street, he could see his parents house in the distance, it was slightly upon a hill, and set into the side of a rock face, it was one of the more unique homes under the dome. Part of the home was built right into the side of a hill. It was one of those things when you have two parents with engineering backgrounds and they have a little too much fun designing a home.
It was kind of poetic, his parents met at the shipyard in orbit during the construction of what would eventually become their ship the Dark Angel back during another war. Kyle had to wonder how much history there was in that fight that matched the current state of things. Horn’s people were intelligence officers, but they never claimed to be Section 31, but back then they didn’t exactly advertize. They made a play to overthrow the Federation government as well, but they had far more sinister plans to conquer the galaxy, and that just didn’t sit well with the political environment even then.
“Well aren't you the spitting image of your father.” a voice caught his attention as he stared up at his parents home, not realized that he had stopped walking.
“Ms. Bo’att’n.” he said turning to greet the older Bolian woman. “I’m not sure if that’s a compliment or an insult.”
“Little of both.” she said with a smile.
“How have you been?” he asked shifting his pack.
She shrugged. “Oh you know, growing old, watching the sand stir.” her town became more solemn. “Sorry to hear about your brother. Taken too soon.”
He nodded, and there was an awkward silence that hung between them.
“Well don’t let me keep you, say hello to your mother for me.” she said and slowly turned and walked back toward her home.
Kyle stood a moment longer staring at his family’s home then started up the hill that led him to the walking path to the front door. He glanced back at the small town before starting up the stairs, before he had a chance to get past the first stair the door to the home slowly swung open. His mother stood there with her arms crossed, her hair had greyed some since he had last seen her, and she was starting to show her age.
“It’s about time!” she said.
He smiled, and slowly climbed the rest of the stairs. “Hello Mother.” he said.
She smiled, and stepped forward embracing him. “It’s good to see you. I’ve missed you.” she said hugging him tighter. She didn’t seem to want to let go, and he honestly did not either. “I figured it would be a few years before I got the chance to see you in person, especially with this damn war on.” she said slowly pulling away, holding him at arm’s length.”You’ve grown.”
“That does happen. I didn’t think I would get a chance to get back here for some time as well. I’m glad for the opportunity, but not so much for the circumstances.” There was a somber tone to his voice as he spoke.
His mother reached out and took his bag off his shoulder. “Your father’s in the back, and your sister is likely in the kitchen still. I”ll put your bag in your room. Go say hello!” she said and started towards the stairs with his belongings.
He watched her disappear up the stairs, it was obvious that she was not herself. She was in pain, a pain that was deeper than just the loss she was feeling. The thought had not struck him before now, and he realized that his parents were getting old. Kyle frowned at the thought, and then started for the kitchen.
Passing through the swinging door into the kitchen he smiled at the sight of his youngest sister, she was sitting at the bar against one of the kitchen counters clearly deep into some textbook he assumed it was likely for school. He slowly crossed the room. “You know you have a perfectly good study, or a bedroom, and even after all this time you still study in the kitchen.”
She looked up and gave him a sneer. “Nope, this is where I do my best work!” she said sliding off the stool.
“Oh no, I beg to differ. I’ve had your cooking!” he said with a wide grin.
She punched him in the arm, then embraced him. “It’s been a while.” she said as she released him, and then slugged him again in the other arm. “You don’t write!” she said sternly.
“Not exactly one of my strongest traits.” he said rubbing his arm. “You’ve got a good punch there, you sure you don’t want to join up and spend some time with Starfleet Security?”
She shrugged. “Not my thing.”
He nodded. “Probably a good thing given the state of things.” he said, there was an edge in his voice. “It’s good to see you.” he said.
“Dad’s back there.” she said pointing towards a familiar set of closed door.
“Thanks sis.” he said and kissed her on the cheek as he passed. He came to the door and stood there for a long moment before reaching for the handle. He had passed through these doors far few times than he should have. He sighed deeply and then pushed through the door into the family training room. His father sat in the middle of the floor on a mat, he looked serene, calm even.
Kyle stepped down onto the mat, and slowly moved around looking at the various weapons and armor situated on stands and in cases around the room. “The collection has grown.” he said.
His father simply nodded. “Some long lost family heirlooms, and other owed debts.” his father said as he slowly stood.
Kyle stopped in front of a traditional Klingon Armor set, it was battered and showed signs of battle, there was even signs of blood still on parts of it. “Whose armor is this?” he asked peering closer to examine it.
“My father's.” So’koth said.
“Where did you find this?” he asked looking back at his father. Unlike his mother his father had not aged a day, it was a horrible face of his past. He would likely outlive them all because of what was done to him.
“Do you remember shortly after we retired the Dark Angel I took a few months absence from the fleet?” he said coming to stand next to his son.
Kyle nodded looking back at the battered armor, and then the D’ktag on the stand next to it.
“I went looking, I found his ship impacted on a planet deep in Klingon Space, the body was decayed beyond recognition but the armor was telling, as was the DNA.” he pointed to the traditional Klingon knife. “That blade belonged to the man who killed my father.”
“Did you find him?” Kyle asked.
So’koth nodded. “We had words.”
Kyle knew what that meant, more than likely he avenged his father in some way in accordance with honor. He slowly scanned around the room and his eyes fell on the six sets of armor lining the one wall, along with a variety of weapons. He moved over and stood in front of the set that was his own. He reached out and touched it. “I never really had a chance to use this.”
His father moved over with him, staring at the set next to his own which was nearly identical outside of the name etched in Klingon Writing. “Neither did your brother.” there was pain in his voice, and for all his attempts at hiding it Kyle could hear it.
“Why did you insist on calling us by our Terran names?” Kyle asked running his fingers across his name on the armor.
“It was a decision that your mother and I agreed would be best for all of you.” So’koth said looking over at his son. “You always had the opportunity of using your traditional names, why did you not?”
“Easier that way.” Kyle said.
“Hov Qup” So’koth said. “My young star.” he said turning to his son and embracing him, he held him tightly, then pulled away. “Guests should be arriving soon.”
“Some are already here.” a Familiar voice said from a darkened corner of the room.
“Still after all these years, you still do that.” So’koth said turning to meet the voice.
The figure slowly stepped out of the shadow, his black duster covering most of his body. The man might as well have stepped out of one of those old western holonovels. Slowly looked up uncovering his face, though he had aged Kyle recognized the man and his usual entrance. “Hello Mr. Horn.” he said.
Sokoth walked over to his old friend and embraced him. “It’s been a while.”
Nate nodded. “Been busy.”
“How are things on Pinnacle Station?” So’koth asked.
“Quiet. Sorry that we have to meet again under the circumstance.” Nate said. “Nice collection, I believe I have a few things of yours to add still back on the station.” he said looking around.
“K’lyn will want to see you.” Sokoth said. “Come my friend, you’ll have to regale me with stories of your exploits.”
Nate nodded, and the two of them left the room heading back out into the Kitchen.
Kyle stood staring back at his armor, he had never worn it. But it was a coming of age tradition that every Klingon received their armor. Even if they were never meant to use it, and while his parents were not traditionalist they respected both of their culture, but didn’t push it on their children. They wanted them to find their own way.
Kyle took a deep breath and headed back out to join his family, soon they would be greeting there extended family, the crew of the Dark Angel. Even though most had retired, or moved on they all maintained contact. You don’t entirely lose touch with people you spent so much time with in the trenches during a war, and most need that connection to remind them of who they were and where they came from.
A couple of hours later…
“You wanted to talk to me.” Nate said, appearing in his usual fashion behind Kyle in the family gym.
There was a long silence before he finally spoke. “I need your help.” Kyle said turning to meet the man’s gaze.
Nate nodded. “I’m listening.”
“I want to know who killed my brother, and where I can find them!” he said, the distinct sound of anger slipping into his voice.
Nate stood in silence watching him for a long moment, before he turned and started walking around the room. “Vengeance is a messy game. I don’t think you want to walk that path Kyle.” he pulled a broken Jem’Hadar weapon off a shelf turning it over in his hand. “I was with your father when he took this from the First that it belonged to.”
“I know.” Kyle said a little too sharply.
“You were about four if I remember correctly. There is a lot I’m sure you remember.” he said setting it back on the shelf. “Your father was also looking for vengeance. It didn’t make him feel any better when he got it, and through the person this man killed was not as close as blood, but that person was family, and he nearly died going after this man.”
“But he had you to watch his back.” Kyle said.
Nate nodded. “Indeed, and who’s going to watch yours?”
“I don’t know.” Kyle said. “Not yet anyhow.”
Nate nodded. “What will you do if I give you this information?”
“I need more than information.” Kyle said.
Nate nodded again. “Yes, I know.” he stopped again looking at the Batl’leth hanging over his mother's armor. “Why should I help you go to your likely death, your mother might have my head. I’m not sure that is wrath I want following me around.”
“You don’t have to tell them.”
“Oh but I do. I respect your father and mother and the friendship we’ve built. I won’t hide this from them.” he said. “You should be the one to tell them.”
He shook his head. “My father should be the one going after them, but he’s not going too. He’s too tied up in his own career, and hiding from his family responsibilities.”
“Your father did his time, don’t you think he deserves to finish his career quietly?” he shrugged. “I think everyone who served on the Dark Angel should have that option.”
“Maybe. But this is different.” Kyle said.
Nate stood in silence staring at the array of weapons surrounding his father and mother’s Armor. “My brother drove me to the point of Vengeance. It nearly killed me, and a lot of people that I cared about. If you do this it could have far reaching consequences that may not catch up to you right away. It may come after the ones you love or friends instead of you. Vengeance has a way of doing that.” he paused a moment picking up one of the Bat’leths on the wall and turned it over in his hands. “Are you sure you want that?”
“I understand.”
“I don’t think you do, but I also know that if you're anything like the rest of your family you have determination, you’ll find this information with or without my help. I will give you what you want, and I will provide you with some materials to hopefully help keep you alive. When your done here, come to Pinnacle Station.” he said returning the Bat’leth to the wall. “Understand this though. I am going to tell your parents, or at least your father. He can decide what to tell you mother, and they probably will try and stop you.”
“I understand.” Kyle said again.
“I hope you do.” Nate said, and he was gone in the snap of a finger.
Kyle stood staring at his armor on the wall, he pulled his dress uniform tight a bit aggressively, anger and frustration was clearly starting to get the better of him.
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Post by CO_Capt_Savage on May 4, 2018 2:24:24 GMT
Kyle stood at the back of the room and watched as all the amazing people who survived through the trials of the Dark Angel paid their respects to his fallen brother and his family. He had not seen this many of them in one place, not since the inquiry into the loss of the Dark Angel A all those years ago. The entire ceremony felt as if it was dulled, like he wasn’t really there. Watching as each person spoke about his brother, even some of his surviving shipmates had showed up to pay their respects. He was certainly loved by his fellow crewmates, which only served to boil his blood further.
“You know you two were so small when you were delivered. Right smack dab in the middle of another conflict, another battle that we scraped by on.” a familiar voice said from behind.
Slowly Kyle turned and found a familiar face with multicolored hair. “Doctor Kestra.” he said, and hugged her deeply. “It’s been a long time.”
“Life has a tendency to do that.” she said.
Kyle nodded knowingly. “It has indeed.”
“I was thrilled when I found out you two had decided to join up with the fleet. Your parents must have been so proud.” Kestra said.
Kyle nodded, his mind was worlds away. He was trying very much so to be present but he couldn’t help it, he knew she was still talking but none of it was registering. To him she sounded like subspace noise, badly garbled communications. He didn’t mean to be rude, he was just stuck, he felt hollow. He felt her hand on his shoulder, and then she was gone to join the rest of the guests.
Slowly he pushed his way through the crowd himself, towards the front of the room. He stood there staring down at his mirror image. Keith looked so Serene laying in his coffin. They had recovered his body some time after the attack. His mother was ever grateful that her son was returned to them mostly unscathed, the effects of vacuum had managed to stave off most of the unpleasantness that came in death, and he was still being held in a stasis field. He didn’t look as though he had died, it look as though he just fell asleep.
“Are you ready?” his father's voice pulled him back to reality.
Kyle looked over at his father who had joined him. “No.” he said softly. His voice wavered.
“We must honor his sacrifice.” his father said softly. “He would have wanted it that way.”
“He died in combat, he died a warrior's death.” his mother said as she appeared next to the two of them.
Kyle looked all around him as his family joined them around their slain brother, his youngest sister was on the verge of tears. She could barely look at him. His father looked proudly at his son, and his mother was unnervingly calm and serene.
As his father laid a hand on the glass surface of the casket, a quiet came over the room, and when he finally spoke, it was in such a proud and commanding voice, Kyle felt his chest tighten and the sadness of what he knew was to come gripped him, for a moment he thought he might lose his composure.
“naDev jIQot jul bo'Degh, puqloD so'koth. ghaH juH qul'tuq 'ej QuQ 'Iv Hegh qaStaHvIS Hembogh DujDaj quv. puqloDwI' await vIbejDI'-batlh-qor lojmIt. bISolnISbe'taHmeH yIyep, SuvwI' jIqapruppu' paw!
(Here lies jul cha'par, son of So'koth, of the house Qul'tuq who died in honorable combat. The gates of Sto-vo-kor await my son. Beware, a warrior is about to arrive!)
A low rumble began to rise from his father, but not just from him from his entire family. He felt it too like a beast working its way out of his chest from his heart, it was almost as if on instinct, the low rumble grew into a growl, and then burst forth from each of them as they gave warning to those in the afterlife who were waiting for their son, a call that symbolized that a warrior was about to arrive at the gates of Sto-Vo-kor.
It felt like time had stopped, the silence was almost unnerving, it hung in the room like a heavy fog. Kyle could hear the beat of his heart in his ears, it was like someone had begun beating the drums of war, his blood boiled, and it only served to feed the need for vengeance. Kyle nearly jumped out of his skin as his father’s heavy hand fell on his shoulder. The two of them locked eyes, and for a moment he thought that his father understood what was in his heart.
He felt his mothers hand run across his back, she always had a way of quieting the riotous hot headed soul that was the Klingon heart, he had seen it between her and his father, and as he and his siblings grew up and learned hard lessons about controlling one's anger and the responsibility of strength that came with the Klingon heart.
His mother offered a reassuring smile to him as she turned back to the gathering. “Thank you all. We are honored you could be here to help us send off our son.” she said.
Kyle watched as everyone stood and his mother and sisters made their way out, and then slowly everyone followed them out. The doors swung closed behind the lasts guests, the soft sound they made echoed in the now empty room.
“Goodbye my son.”
Kyle turned and found his father staring down at Keith, his hand on the casket, he felt his chest tighten once again and for one of the few occasions he saw his father cry. His fists clenched in anger, and fury. It had been too much, he had maintained his composure and unlike his mother who had finer control over her emotions due to her Vulcan heritage his father was the exact opposite of that coin, and he had never seen his father express true sadness, not like this. He felt his own chest tighten again, and a single tear ran down his own cheek. He reached out and laid a hand on his father’s arm.
Sokoth wrapped his arms around him, and nearly squeezed the breath out of him he was holding him so tight. They stood like this for a long time, his father’s chest heaving.
“Its okay father.” Kyle said. “They will pay for this.”
Several moments passed in silence, his father regained his composure. He held Kyle at arms length looking at him. “Don’t stay long.” he said and squeezed his shoulders before heading down the walkway and out the doors.
Kyle felt as if something knocked the wind out of him as soon as the doors shut, he fell down onto the platform. He felt his chest heave again, and he struggled to keep his composure. It felt as if all the wind had been knocked out of him. He had never seen his father like this, never so vulnerable. One of the strongest men he had come to know and this had taken that image and crushed it. Kyle understood, he felt much the same as his father. But it crushed him even more to see his father reduced to such sadness.
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Post by spacedaisy on May 4, 2018 2:39:57 GMT
This is so tough to read... I can't tell you how many emotions this dredges up for me.
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Post by Einar on May 4, 2018 6:40:34 GMT
ooff. Amazing writing and I am very invested in this story
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Post by CO_Capt_Savage on May 6, 2018 23:50:57 GMT
K’lyn paced heavily across the padded floor of the family gym, her anger and frustration was palpable. So’koth stayed at arms length knowing that when she got like this she could be volatile. He didn’t just need to see her fury but felt it through the bond the two of them shared, something that had been brought about all those year ago by a meld performed by T’lok to bridge their two minds to save So’koth, it seemed nearly a lifetime ago. “No!” she said stopping suddenly. She turned and eyed her son, “You will not do this!” she said sternly.
“Then who will if not me?” Kyle asked sharply in return. “Neither of you are going too!” he said.
“No, I forbid it!” she said again returning to wearing a hole in the floor with her pacing.
“Honor Demands it!” Kyle said lashing out at both his parents. He had meant his words to cut deep. “If you two wont, then I will!” he could feel his frustration and anger rising, it was taking every fiber of his being not to say the things that rushed through his head.
“No, it does not.” His mother said. “You want to end up next to your brother? I will not bury you too!”
“You won't!” Kyle snapped back.
“You don’t know that.” she said again stopping and this time pointing. “I forbid it!”
Kyle shook his head. “You cannot stop me!”
K’lyn turned to her husband for support as he had been unnervingly quiet during the entire exchange going back and forth with her son as he laid out his intentions to go after the people who caused the untimely death of his twin. Nate had told his parents, and then left them to work it out.
“Yes, honor demands it. But it does not have to be you, or us that exact this vengeance. You have to understand that going down this path…” he stopped as Kyle held up a hand stopping him. So’koth felt his anger spike, and he fought to keep it in check.
“No, you know how long it will take Starfleet to go after those that did this. There is no grantee that they will ever find the person responsible. If one person goes they would have a better chance at finding them and exacting justice. Why of all people would you deny this. You know this is the way of our people. You yourself took vengeance for your father, you’ve done it for your crew.” he pointed now accusingly at his mother. “You did it too when you took Nate’s brothers head on the bridge.” he shuddered with fury. “How can you deny me this!” he had not realized he was shouting, and it became clear as the door swung open and the concerned look of his sisters standing in the door.
“We were trained, and we did not have options like you do now.” K’lyn said, her voice becoming calm and collected. Clearly her Vulcan control reigning in her emotions.
“You had a choice!” Kyle said sharply again.
“No, we didn’t.” So’koth said. “I made a decision that put is in a position where we had choices but they were never the easy ones. No one else listened to us, or supported us. Everything we did was damn near on our own and you know that.” his father said, the edge in his voice gave warning to his own rising frustration and anger.
Kyle could feel his blood boiling as he stared at his parents. They had been pleading with him not to follow this path. Maybe they were right, it was reckless, and irresponsible but he was resolute in his decision. “They will pay!” he said through his clenched teeth.
K’lyn stared at her son, she opened her mouth to say something but stopped and then slowly she left the room, stopping at the door for a moment long enough to look back at her husband. “Talk some sense into him.” she said, and pulled the door shut taking his sisters with her.
Kyle slowly looked back at his father, he was standing in front of the display cases staring at his armor. He shook his head, and reached out to pick up the Bat’leth from its cradle turning back to him. “You are not ready for this.” his father said, his tone one he had not heard many times before. It was serious and yet sullen.
“Maybe not in your eyes.” he said sharply.
His father nodded, then tossed the Bat’leth to him. “Strike me.” he said. “If you can put me on the ground you will have my blessing.” he said and shifted his weight. “If you cannot put me down, and old man who’s been out of combat for a long time then how can you expect to do so in the field, on your own.”
Kyle felt his pulse quicken, his father had clearly laid down a challenge and what Klingon wouldn’t respond in kind. He dropped the weapon into his hands just like he had learned so long ago, and practiced on occasion. He knew his father was the better fighter, even in his old age if you could call it that. He felt his rage rising, he might not be able to take down his father with skill alone, but his anger, his rage would give him what he needed.
“Come on then!” So’koth said gesturing him forward.
“Your unarmed.” Kyle snapped.
“I don’t need a weapon to put you on the mat son.” the statement cut deep and only fueled his anger.
Kyle charged his father he came at him swinging the blade in a diagonal motion, his father stepped aside allowing the blade to slip past him and with a couple well placed blows sent him away still on his feet, he continued the turn and brought the blade around to which his father danced backward out of the arc with ease, then stepped in catching the blade as he counter swung. The next two blows were so quick Kyle didn’t see them, he just stared up at his father who now held the Bat’leth to his neck.
“Not good enough!” his father said through clenched teeth. “How do you expect to survive on your own if you cannot even at least hold your own against an old man!”
Kyle climbed to his feet, not willing to relent. He charged his father letting out a tremendous battle cry. He moved aside to avoid the Bat’leth as his father thrust it outward, and managed to connect with a couple of blows one of which managed to dislodge the Bat’leth from his father's hands.
So’koth snapped a fist up catching Kyle across the face, then the next thing Kyle knew is he was airborne soaring through the air only to collide with the display case which held but the sound of clattering weapons and items followed him to the floor as they were dislodged by the shear violence of the act.
Kyle shook his head shaking away the buzzing and swirling vision, he pulled himself back to his feet in time to see the door to the room closing behind his father. He stood there wiping the blood away from his nose. He had not been delusional enough to think he would win in a fight fair or not against his father, but he had to try. He had to prove in some way that he could do the hard thing. He took a deep breath, and let it out. He felt the hot hatred and anger abate little by little, and pulled a small box out of one of his pocket and opened it. “I’m going anyway.”
Hours later…
“He’s gone.” K’lyn said, standing in the door to the gym, her hands on her hips.
“I know.” So’koth said turning back to his wife. “You knew he wasn’t going to give up on this foolish errand.”
K’lyn nodded, she was fighting tears, but couldn’t stop them when she realized that her sons Armor and gear was missing from the displays. Her heart just couldn’t hold back the sudden sadness and the feeling that she may never see her son again.
So’koth moved over and held her for a long moment. “He will come back to us.” he said. Though she knew that might be the case it may not be the way that she had hoped, alive. “He’s a clever kid.”
She didn’t say anything but held her husband. He was right, stubborn ran in the family and she knew that he was right they could not have stopped him but they had to try. Now all she could do was hope that he returned from his foolish errand alive. “Was throwing him at the display case meant to dissuade him?” she asked pulling away finally, staring at the case full of dislodged items.
So’koth nodded turning back to the case himself. “Yes. If at least to show him he was not prepared, to put it into his head if he did decide to go do this that he is going to need help, and has a lot to learn. I only hope that message got through in the way I intended.”
“You couldn’t have just said that?” she asked.
So’koth shook his head. “No, you know how stubborn we can be, he was beyond listening.”
She nodded knowingly. “Indeed I do. Damn you Qul’tuq’s and your stubborness.”
“Your just as bad and you know it.” he said.
She nodded knowingly again. “He has to come back.”
“He will.” So’koth said.
“How do you know?” she asked watching his expression.
“He’s our son.” There was a hint of pride in his voice. “He’s resourceful much like we were. He will find a way to get home.”
She regarded her husband for a long moment, then her mouth opened to say something then she stopped considering her words. “You knew this would happen!”
He nodded knowingly. “I did.”
“And you let him go anyway?” anger was creeping into her voice.
He nodded. “As I said, we were not going to be able to stop him.”
“Damn it So’koth.” she said rubbing her temples.
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Post by Einar on May 7, 2018 7:40:29 GMT
keep it up! I am loving these
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Post by CO_Capt_Savage on May 11, 2018 8:22:50 GMT
Location: USS Volga NCC-73414
“Getting the bearings”
“Computer what is our ETA to Pinnacle station?” he asked as he secured the last case in one of the extra rooms on the runabout. He closed and locked the door and slowly made his way aft into the rear lounge.
“ETA four hours and twenty-seven minutes to marker one.” The computer’s voice called back to him.
Kyle took a deep breath closing his eyes for a moment then slowly opened them letting the breath out, he still felt the aggravation that burned inside of him after his encounter with his parents. He felt there was no other argument that needed to be made, they did not wish him to go on what they considered a fool’s errand. He felt he had to make things right for his brother.
Part of Kyle thought that maybe he would settle down and come to his senses, but the part of him that burned, the Klingon side would not let this stand. “Computer play something from Gav’ot toh’va!”
The computer immediately began playing the familiar sounds of Klingon Opera, and the sound level was perfect for the room. “Good choice.” He said to himself, he took a moment to replicate himself a mug of Raktajino, and a sandwich settling into a couch situated against the large panel windows at the back of the craft. The stars beyond streaked by as the vessel traveled on its way. He knew that those streaks of light were more likely debris that the navigational deflector was pushing out of the way as the vessel push through space at the breakneck speed. But it never changed how he felt about that sight.
“Incoming transmission.” The computers voice called out suddenly snapping him back to reality.
“Identify the origin.” He said standing and crossing the room to a small workstation.
“Transmission Origin is from the Sol System, Mars, Kayleigh Qul’tuq.” The computer said.
Kyle stared at the blinking button on the console, and the slight trill of the communications system signaling the transmission waited for him. He shook his head, and reached forward and hit the button, and looked up to find his sister staring back at him.
“What are you doing Kyle!” she said sharply.
He stared at his sister, he felt his chest tighten as it became clear that she had been crying, her eyes were bloodshot and still bore the signs, but he remained Stoic. “What needs to be done!”
She opened her mouth to say something, then stopped. “I know it seems like you’ve got to do this, but you don’t. I do…”
He held up a hand. “Let me stop you right there. Our parents could not prevent me from doing this, what makes you think that you can? I’ve made my decision. I’m a damn adult, and I will do as I feel is right. Honor demands this debt be paid in full. I will make it so, simple.” He said leaning back in the chair crossing his arms in defiance.
“You promise me you’ll come back!” she said leaning in towards the camera, her eyes narrowing. It was something that seemed to run in the family on his mother’s side, those penetrating and commanding eyes. He had seen those eyes many times before and he found for a moment that he was at a loss for words. In all the years growing up he had barely seen this side of his sister. She barely expressed anger, or any aggressive tendencies you’d find in children. This was something different and for a moment he didn’t know what to do. “If you do not, I will make it my lot in life to find you in the afterlife and make your afterlife something you will regret. Do you hear me Hov Qup!” she said, and he jumped as her fist bounced off the desk in front of her. For a moment he thought she might come through the very screen that separated them.
Kyle nodded, “I will, you have my word!” part of him knew that he might not be able to keep that word, but he would for her sake and the sake of his afterlife ensure he did everything in his power to get back.
“Good.” She said sharply. “Be careful.”
He simply nodded. He could see how conflicted she was but knew that there wasn’t much he was going to be able to do to put her at ease, she stared back at him, if felt as if she might pierce his very soul with her gaze.
“Qapla brother.” She said and then was gone before he could respond in kind. He sat there for the longest time staring at the black screen.
Kyle wasn’t sure how much time had past while he sat there, so many things going through his head. It was only just now that he began to think and understand how underprepared he was for this undertaking. He shook his head and stood, heading back to the sleeping quarters. “Computer wake me when were at Marker four.” He said stepping into the small cabin and slipped into the bunk.
An insistent beeping roused Kyle, he groggily rolled out of the bunk dropping his feet the floor and sitting albeit uncomfortably on the edge of the bunk. He took a moment to slip his boots on. “Where are we computer?” he asked as he stood.
“We have reached Marker four.” The computer said.
He took the short walk down the hall and into the cockpit and stood staring at the space ahead of the Runabout. He had seen this sight a few times in his young adulthood on trips with his father, and even now it was a frightening site, but there was a reason for this. “Alright computer send the signal and once we get the navigational data for the gravitational eddies in that monster overlay them on the screen.” He said dropping into the pilot’s seat.
“Transmission sent. Receiving telemetry.” It said, and a diagram began to appear on the navigational array showing the ever changing and shifting gravitational eddies.
Kyle shook his head. “Why, why would you build a station or put a station in the middle of something so dangerous.” He said, and then changed to a mocking tone that sounded fairly like the Nates. “Because who would be stupid enough to fly into something like this. It offers the maximum amount of security.”
The rolling clouds reminded him of an angry ocean, the swirling clouds of grey’s purples, and angry reds that punctuated the nebula. It almost gave it a monster like appeal, he could only imagine what the first explorers who crossed this region of space when it was initially found.
Slowly he navigated the craft watching for the sudden shifts in the various singularities that appeared at random, and the shifts in volatile gasses, while he was not the best of pilots with a little help from the computer and some prayer he saw the clouds begin to part, and a clearing came into view, and then Pinnacle station.
“Runabout Volga, we have you on our screens now please transmit identification and purpose for your visit.” A voice called over an open hail.
Kyle reached over and brought the ship communications gear and opened a channel. “This is Ensign Kyle Qul’tuq, my business is personal. I’m her to see Nate Horn.” He said.
“Acknowledge Mr. Qul’tuq, please set your navigational system to our computer control frequency and we’ll guide you in. Mr. Horn is expecting you.” He said, and the channel cut abruptly. He waited and watched as the frequency was transmitter to him and gave over control of the Runabout to the stations computer and leaned back for the duration of the ride.
The airlock hatch moved aside as he approached and the he stood waiting as the station side airlocks cycled and he picked up his bag slinging it over his shoulder. A man wearing a grey uniform one he had seen many times in his youth stood waiting for him.
“If you will follow me, I will get you settled into your quarters.” He said, his heavy accent rolling off his tongue. “Mr. Horn is currently indisposed and sends his apologies. But he will meet with you as soon as he can, he asked we make you comfortable for your stay on the station.”
“Who said I was staying?” he asked as he started to follow the man and then stopped abruptly.
The man stopped a few steps away. “Mr. Horn will explain everything as soon as he’s had a chance to finish his current engagement.”
Kyle nodded, and reluctantly followed. He heard the tell tale sounds of the airlocks closing behind him, and something told him that if he tried to turn around now and go back that he would not be able to get back to his craft. They passed through a large set of doors into an open space in the station, it was one of many habitats he could recall on the station. He had attended a few parties here with the crew of the Dark Angel, and with his parents on the occasions they had come to visit. “Place hasn’t changed much over the years.”
“Mr. Horn likes to keep things simple.” The man said. He seemed more like a robot than a man and knowing Nate he very well might be.
Kyle stopped a moment and stared through a clearing in the trees, there was a stage and open area which he had some fond memories of from long ago. His nose caught the scent of pine on the air, artificial or not it still brought back memories. He took a breath and then turned to continue following his usher. “Do you have a name?”
“I’m not at liberty to share that information with you.” He said, his tone remaining flat.
“Why not?” Kyle asked.
The man shrugged, “It’s a rule on the station, we only share what we are authorized with visitors. It helps keep things compartmentalized on this station given the nature of the work we do here.” He said coming to a stop at a lift which opened to admit them. “Level four.” He said as Kyle joined him.
The lift barely felt as if it was moving, and it only took a few moments for them to arrive at the requested destination. He stepped out into the hall knowing it very well, it was where they always housed guests. “These are your quarters for the duration of your stay Mr. Qul’tuq. Please utilize the computer system as you wish. There is a call button for help should you need assistance.” He said gesturing to doors as it swung open.
Kyle nodded and entered the room which was a widely open space, there were two doors visible as he entered, he knew that one of them would be a bedroom and bath while the other was likely either an adjoining room or storage. He heard the door click shut behind him, and he turned staring at it for a moment. He shook his head and took his bag and dropped it onto the couch and glanced around.
There was a sudden audible change in the air it crackled with energy and then all of his belongings he had left on the Runabout appeared in a neat pile in the corner of the room. This caused him to frown, he turned and walked over to the door and it was as he had suspected, it did not open at his approach. “Damn it.” He said under his breath.
He glanced around the room, did he really fall for this. Was this his parents doing? He felt an edge of panic start to creep up on him, and then he hit his communicator and while he suspected it wouldn’t work he was greeted with the sound of silence. No chirp which indicated the channel was open. “No!” he said loudly and sent the device tumbling through the air. He turned and kicked the door as hard as he could, but it would not yield. He knew that would be the case.
His attention was pulled suddenly to the computer console as the same man who delivered him to his new prison appeared on the screen. “Is everything alright Mr. Qultuq?” he asked.
Kyle charged across the room and it took every ounce of his concentration not to pick it up and chuck the device across the room. “No, I am a prisoner!” he said sharply.
The man shook his head. “No, with the current state of things in the Federation we are on a heightened level of security alert, and while it has been some time since you’ve been here you likely do not remember that these security protocols have always been in place.” He shrugged. “No Unauthorized transmissions are allowed while at this facility.”
“But my parents never had issues with communications!” he said, fury creeping into his voice.
“Indeed, they had a much higher security clearance than an Ensign in Starfleet.” He said with a matter of fact like tone that only increased the anger building inside of him. “I mean no disrespect, just telling you the truth of the matter.” He said.
Kyle stabbed at the button on the device that abruptly ended any further conversation. “Damn it!” he said through clenched teeth.
“Is he mad?” Nate’s voice called over the communicator sitting on the desk.
“Yup, he’s getting there.”
“Good. Let’s see how far we can push him.” Nate said.
“You sure this is the right way to teach him?”
“He’s going to need to learn fast to keep his cool, its not an easy task for someone with his heritage. He will come to appreciate what we will be putting him through.” Nate said, and then the communications channel beeped close.
The man shook his head in dismay. “You’re not going to be within arms reach of a pissed off Hybrid Klingon.”
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Post by CO_Capt_Savage on May 13, 2018 17:19:38 GMT
Location: Pinnacle Station 5, Guest Quarters “Conditioning”
Kyle’s eye snapped open and he sat up in a panic, the room was dark but there was a familiarity to it. He blinked and rubbed the sleep away from his eyes and the familiar low hum of Pinnacle Station cleared through the tinnitus like ringing in his ears. “Computer what is the time?” he asked swinging his legs over the edge of his bed.
“The time is 2347 hour.” The voice chimed, this was different than most standard Starfleet systems, it was male and had a slight accent. Kyle had to remind himself that this station wasn’t exactly Starfleet, it was a very old but consistently upgraded station.
There was a time when he and his family, and the crew of the Dark Angel hid away from the Universe when they went Rogue. They had been heavily implicated by Admiral Dwain, one of Keiran Horn’s lacky’s in an attack on Starbase 232, they had no choice but to go on the lamb and work the problem to clear their name.
Kyle let out a resounding sigh and fell back onto the bed closing his eyes. It seemed like only a blink, but something pulled his attention. His senses suddenly alert and his eyes popped open and he started to push himself to his feet, letting out a growl when he realized who he was looking at as the sleep cleared from his vision. “Nate…” he said. “By Kahless’es beard you scared the hell out of me.”
“Since you didn’t answer my call, I came down to make sure you were alright.” He said.
“Why am I locked in here?” he asked.
“Your part of Starfleet, this is a research and development facility. You do the math Kyle.” He said shrugging and walking out of the room. “Get dressed, we have much to discuss.” He said.
Kyle watched him leave and the door snap shut behind him. Something was nagging at him, he had been around Nate his entire life nearly and he knew his mannerisms. Something was bothering the man, as hard as that was to believe. He pulled on a pare of black sweatpants, and a red long sleeve shirt. Slipped on some shoes and headed out tugging his hair back into a pony tale using a leather tie to secure it, he pushed some stray hairs over his pointed ears and strolled over to the replicator. “Raktajino.” He said and watched as it shimmered into being. “Want anything?” he asked taking the mug out and holding it aloft allowing the aroma to help awaken his still groggy brain.
“No.” Nate said standing and staring at him for a long moment. “While this conversation will be short, it is very critical you think about your answer to my statement. If I help you, you have to understand that it may come at a cost. Not a personal one, not right away. As I’ve said the path you’ve chosen can lead to many tragic events unfolding and you will certainly be the cause of those events. I don’t pull punches here Kyle.” He said sternly.
Kyle simply nodded.
“If you agree to my help, its my way or no way at all. And understand once we start on this path there is no turning back.” He said with all seriousness.
Kyle nodded. “I don’t need to think about it, the answer is yes!” he said without hesitation.
“There will be pain, and suffering. You will be subjected to things you couldn’t possibly imagine. But I will help mold you into what you need to be to do what you ask.” Nate said.
“I understand.” He said again without hesitation.
“No, no you don’t.” he said. “But very well then, lets begin.” He said. The sudden shift and movement was nearly unperceivable, and the force at which Nate struck Kyle was so immense it lifted him off his feet. He felt his body hit the ground, and the hot beverage sloshed across part of his body sending a gout of pain through him, but it didn’t matter, darkness closed in and there was nothing, and; slowly even sound faded.
Nate knelt next to him and checked him, he nodded to himself then stood. “Huxley, take him to the conditioning room. And Call K’glan, its time he paid up on his debt.”
The man who had met Kyle and helped settle him in came in with an antigravity sled in tow and looked down at the young man sprawled out on the floor. “Was that really needed?” he asked giving Nate a quizzical look.
Nate regarded him for a long moment. “Are you questioning my methods? How long have we worked together?”
“A long time boss.” He said as he knelt to start pulling Kyle onto the sled. “Just not sure why.”
“Testing his reflexes.” He said.
“He saw me, just didn’t have time to react.” Nate said, a small grin appearing on his face. “That was about on par with his father.” He said remembering the first time the two men had tangled with one another all those many years ago.
“You know what they say, like father, like son.” He said activating the lift. “You sure this is the right way to do this?”
Nate nodded and started for the door with Huxley in tow. “I promised I would look after the Qul’tuq’s. Kyle’s going to go off half cocked and get himself killed, so this is the fastest way to help him.”
“You sure this will work?” Huxley asked.
“Let’s hope so otherwise I may have a very angry mother looking for my head.” He said and disappeared in the snap of a finger.
“You’re no the only one.” He said as he pulled the sled and Kyle into the lift. He fished around in one of his pockets and pulled out two hyposprays one full of a green liquid something reminiscent of Green Jell-O which happened to be one of his favorite guilty pleasures, and the other was a glowing orange liquid, he pressed both to the young man’s neck on either side and held down the triggers and watched as the contents of the vials emptied into his blood stream. “Good luck kid!” he said.
Kyle sat bolt upright in his bed again, his head swam, and he felt as if he had just gone ten rounds with a gorn in the ring, his entire body ached. He got up and walked into the lavatory and activated the sink, he spent a moment trying to wash away the feeling with cold water, but it wouldn’t go away. “Computer time?” He asked.
He crossed back into his bedroom and headed out into the living area stopping abruptly at the door jam to his room, there was flash of light, bright as the sun and the image of his room, he was laying on the floor staring at a broken brown mug, and then he was back. “What the hell!” he said.
“He’s dreaming.” Huxley said looking up from the console at Nate.
“I can see that.” He said pointing to a screen just over the head of Kyle. “He’s resisting. Increase the flow by another ten percent. I have someone to chat with.” He said as he crossed the room and exited into a small office. “Hello K’glan my old friend.” He said greeting the elder Klingon standing in the room.
“Your man said it was urgent and said something about me being able to finally wipe our debt.” He said.
Nate nodded. “Yes.” He said and gestured to a chair.
The elder Klingon lowered himself into he chair and it was obvious he was pained by something, possibly an old wound or a new one that had yet to heal. “What is it that you need of me.” He said.
“I need a copy of your muscle memory and combat experience.” He said without hesitation.
The Klingon regarded him a moment then laughed. “Are you serious.”
Nate nodded.
“How would you propose to do such a thing?” the Klingon asked realizing that he was indeed serious about the prospect. “Such knowledge takes a lifetime of training for.”
“I know,” Nate said. “But we have a device that we believe can make it happen. All you have to do is sit in a chair and endure some discomfort. Regardless if it works or not our debt will be satisfied.” Nate said. “What do you say?”
The Klingon man pondered the request in his head, it was clear to Nate that he was conflicted. “Okay, when?”
“Right now.” Nate said gesturing to the door he had just come out, and then turned heading into the room. The elder Klingon followed him into the room and his pace slowed as he entered glancing around at all the equipment. “What is this thing and how does it work?”
“Does it matter?” Nate asked.
“It’s a memory engram scanner and resequencer.” Huxley said without looking up, he was hard at work locating all the right ones in Kyle’s neural makeup.
The Klingon continued into the room and stood now in front of Kyle staring down at the young man. “I know this boy!” he said and then shot a look at Nate. “His father is So’koth!”
Nate nodded.
“Now I see why you put down such a high price, you do realize this man’s father killed mine?” he said looking down at Kyle.
“It was an honorable death and you know it.” Nate said giving the man a warning look. “Your father killed his and in a not so honorable way and you know that.”
The elder Klingon nodded and slowly turned and dropped himself into the chair next to Kyle. “How does this work?” he asked. “Are you going to cut my head open and rip out the memory centers to give to the boy? How do you make a copy?”
“It’s a complex procedure, very complex. However no, nothing as barbaric as ripping out your brain to study it, but if you’d like it can be arranged.” Huxley looked up sneering at the Klingon. “Just sit back and relax.” He said.
The Klingon nodded and sat back, and then looked as an array of sensors slowly lowered in place above his head, and before he could ask a question he slumped over in the chair, Nate stepped closer and secured him to the chair and then helped to secure his head.
“I have Kyle’s engrams mapped.” Huxley said, and went about the task of locating the same in K’glan. “This will only take a moment since they have similar anatomy. Granted Kyle’s is a little more complex due to his Vulcan Heritage. You don’t think that that will get in the way, do you? We’ve only done a few tests with Vulcan Anatomy in the mix, and they were very resistant to imprinting.” He said.
Nate pondered that thought, he was going over all he knew about the anatomy and neurology in his head, then he turned back. “Do it!”
Huxley looked up as if to try and find any kind of doubt in Nate’s eyes and as he suspected there was nothing but his usual stoic look, he hesitated for a moment and then initiated the imprinting process. It essentially would look at take a snapshot of K’glan’s memory centers that involved muscle memory and add a new layer of data onto Kyle’s essentially giving him the knowledge and ability to access it but would still take time to unlock it. Almost as if it was something learned and then lost and regained again. It was a tricky process and there was no guarantee it would work, or have the desired effect.
Nate watched as a light show played out above Kyle’s and K’lgan’s head, he knew it was a risk, but it was a necessary one. “How long?”
“Close to two hours.” Huxley said.
Nate nodded. “Call me when its done, and if there are any complications.” Nate said as he stepped into a dark corner of the room.
Huxley looked up from the console and blinked noting he had done his favored disappearing trick in the dark. He turned his attention back to the displays showing the progress, it was going to be a long couple of hours.
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Post by CO_Capt_Savage on May 13, 2018 17:20:11 GMT
Kyle slowly sat up; it took a moment for him to clear the sleep from his eyes. The bright lights were disorienting, and made him squint to see. The shooting pain in his head caused him to wince in pain. He slowly rolled into an upright position, and the light cleared. He glanced around slowly and found he was in a medical bay; it was a private surgical suite, which was obvious to him but most of the equipment he did not recognize.
The door slid aside with a faint hiss, and Huxley walked in. “Ah, your awake. How do you feel?” he asked as he crossed to a small rolling table and pulled it over toward him. “Headache?” he asked picking up what looked like a modified medical Tricorder.
Kyle nodded. “Yeah, what the hell happened.” He asked rubbing at his temples.
“You’ve begun your conditioning.” Huxley said.
Kyle shook his head and held up a hand as Huxley went to inject him with something. “It will help with the headache and disorientation.”
Kyle eyed the man dubiously. “Nate hit me.” He said flatly.
Huxley shrugged, “Part of the conditioning.” he said applying the hypospray, it hissed as the contents released into his blood stream. “This is just the beginning Kyle, it does not get any easier from here.”
“I knew what I was agreeing too.” Kyle said as his head swam.
“No, I doubt that. Let’s hope that the engram imprinting worked for your sake.” Huxley said and proceeded to scan his head. “You’re going to sleep now. Just rest, your system needs to adjust to the imprinting.”
“Imprinting?” Kyle asked, he tried to focus on the man’s face.
“I’ll explain when the time is right, assuming I’m allowed.” He said.
“What do you do for Nate?” Kyle asked. He had to fight harder and harder to keep conscious.
“Neuro Science mostly, I dabble in genetics as well.” Huxley said. “Kyle, stop fighting it and sleep.” He said staring down at him past the tricorder. “You need sleep.”
Kyle nodded and gave in, it was not as if he had much choice the sedative he had been given must have really been a powerful one as it was difficult to fight against. He watched as black closed in around his vision and the image of Huxley and the medical suite faded.
“Brother.” Kyle’s eyes popped open, and he sat upright, he found himself laying on the ground surrounded by Tall grass. Sitting up, he looked around and in the distance he could see him, his brother Kyle standing at a set of gates, the doors were closed, torches were lit.
“Keith?” he said pulling himself to his feet. He stumbled towards him and the menacing looking gates. “Brother?” he asked as he made his way toward them. The image seemed to shimmer as if going out of focus, and then became normal again.
Keith turned his eyes as cold as they were the day he had seen him in the casket at the funeral. “Brother, help me!” he said pleading as he pounded on the doors. “They won’t open!”
Kyle began running now, his legs pumping as he climbed the hill towards the gate and his brother, the image swam again causing him to stumble and nearly falter, he continued to run. He could hear the thumping of his brother’s hand against the metal and wooden gates. It was like his heartbeat, pounding in his ears. “Brother!” he shouted. “I’m coming!”
“No.” his brother’s voice said as if a whisper, and when Kyle looked up he was at the gates, standing with his brother holding his arms in a warriors greeting.
Kyle stared at his brother’s dead eyes, and then looked up at the gate. “But it is not open, why?” he asked, looking back at his brother. “Why do the gates deny you, you died a warriors death.” He said pleading with his brother.
“There is dishonor hanging over me brother, why have you not sought out revenge for my untimely death!” the words stung, as if he had been smacked across the face. “Why bother?”
“I’m trying brother, I will avenge you!” he said without hesitation. “But I need the tools to do this.”
“And you have them.” An unfamiliar voice said from nearby causing both brothers to turn and look at the newcomer. It was an Aged Klingon male, he was proudly wearing his armor and he approached the two boys as if stalking prey. “You need to reach deep within you and find them boy.” He said, it sounded as though he was accusing him of something.
“I don’t understand.” Kyle said turning to meet the Klingon as he approached.
“It’s within you, that which I have learned all my life you now possess.” The Elder Klingon said as he turned to look at the gates. “You must complete your task for both our sakes. Honor must be satisfied.”
“Who are you?” Kyle asked.
“K’glan, of the house of Korath.” The elder Klingon said with reverence.
“Korath,” the name struck him, he knew that name. “There was one from your house who killed my grandfather!” he said staring at the man, “Why would you help me?”
“It was an old Blood Feud, and I owed Horn a Debt.” He said.
“So we are not enemy’s?” Kyle asked watching the man carefully.
The elder Klingon turned to him and placed a hand on his shoulder. “Oh we are enemies my boy, but not in the sense that I shall come for your life. I cannot say that others will not, and there will be conflict between us you can be assured of that, but I have given my word that I will not hunt you, I can’t if I wanted to anyhow.” He said and the world began to shift as it had before.
“I don’t understand.” Kyle said. “What do you mean you can’t?” he took a step back but stumbled dropping to his knees, his head felt as through someone had suddenly dropped a starship on it. He grimaced.
The Elder Klingon knelt beside him coming close to his ears, whispering. “Blame your Vulcan Heritage boy, were close friends now.”
The world spun as he fell to the ground, his brother’s face and the Elder Klingon faced into nothingness.
“He’s dreaming again.” Huxley said looking up from the monitors, watching his brainwaves and vital signs.
Nate shook his head. “No, this is something else.” He said and pointed. There was a faint line fluctuating along with Kyle’s neural pattern. “Something isn’t right.” He said shaking his head. “Go back over the Ingram imprinting and check the data. Do it now!” he said sharply. “Damn Vulcan heritage.” Nate said under his breath as he left the room quickly.
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Post by CO_Capt_Savage on Jul 6, 2018 5:49:03 GMT
Location: USS Volga NCC-73414 “Waking up”
Kyle’s eyes popped open in a panic, and he startled as he quickly glanced around finding himself sitting in the pilot seat of a runabout. He could not remember how he had gotten here. His body ached, that much was apparent. Touching the controls, he brought them to life and checked the ships systems, which seemed to be in working order. “Computer where am I?” he asked.
“Coordinates 215 mark 3…” the computer began to rattle off spatial coordinates.
“No what ship is this?” he asked. “This is the USS Volga NCC-73414, a Danube Class Runabout.” It responded.
“Kyle.” Nate suddenly appeared on one of the monitors causing him to nearly jump out of his skin. “I apologize that I was not able to see you off, but then again I was never good at such things to begin with. I know you have many questions, but I am afraid you will have to live with knowing that what I have done was to help you, and you will understand what that means when the time is right. I took the liberty of sending your official leave of absence to Starfleet and let them know for the time being you are staying on Odyssey Station while you sort things out, I figure it’s a good place to start. Your orders will read that you are dropping off the Volga as part of your cover. I have left you some items that will help you with your future tasks. I know I cannot talk you out of it, but I can at least try to help you survive. Good luck Kyle.”
He stared at the screen for a long moment after his face faded and shook his head in dismay. “A whole lot of great help you were.” He sighed and bounced a fist off the console in front of him; he blinked noting the leather-bound bracer that was hidden under his uniform shirt. “What…” he pulled back the sleeve and examined it, it looked very much of Klingon origin. He ran his fingers across the thing and found something that was abnormal, there was a button hidden in one of the runes carved into the leather.
He shrugged and pressed the button, and there was faint whine of what sounded like a transporter beam and a faint shimmer around him and his Klingon armor was now covering his body, though it felt lighter. “Okay, that is cool!” he said.
“Computer set a course for Odyssey station Maximum Warp.” He said depressing the button and grinning again as it shimmered out of existence. “That may never get old.”
“Course plotted.” The computers voice called.
“Engage!” he said and got up and watched as the Runabout shot to Warp. He headed back towards the back of the Runabout stopping at the replicator to replicate some food as he realized that the odd sound coming from his body was his stomach protesting. It would take the better part of the day to reach Odyssey Station at the Runabouts Maximum Warp, so he intended on getting some food and rest. As he went to sit down on the couch set along the aft windows of the Runabout, he stopped spotting an unfamiliar sight, an elder Klingon grinning back to him the reflection of the window. He spun quickly and found no one standing behind him. He blinked and turned back only to find his own reflection staring back. He shook his head.
Several hours later…
Kyle settled back into the pilot’s seat of the runabout just as the vessel snapped back into normal space, the runabout slowly rotated on its axis to align with the galactic plane, and the ship slowly turned to Starboard and Odyssey Station came into view. The Station was surrounded with vessels of all sizes, a small fleet in fact. He reached down and took the vessel off its autopilot.
“Attention incoming vessel, you’ve entered controlled space please state your identity and reason for your visit.” A woman’s voice called over an open hailing frequency.
Kyle reached over and activated his communications system. “This is Runabout Volga, Ensign Kyle Qul’tuq aboard. I was asked to deliver this vessel and report aboard Odyssey, I’ll transmit my order’s package and confirmation of my temporary leave of absence now.” He said and went about doing so.
“Thank you, Volga, Docking Pad B, Landing Pad four is your destination, sending coordinates. Welcome to Odyssey Ensign.” She said, and the coordinates and flight path appeared on his navigational computer. He ran his fingers across the controls accepting the flight path and guided the shuttle in.
As he approached the Docking Pad, he took note of the damaged vessels as he past them; some of them seemed to be in a queue for repair others were completely disabled or patrolling around the station. He settled the Runabout down onto the designated landing pad. It only took a few moments for the craft to be lowered and put into its parking space.
He collected his things and tagged his belongings for Transport once he was assigned a living space. He slung his bags and headed for the hatch. It was not a surprise to see such a busy Hub as he exited into a large staging area, it was a typical scene for a Starbase Hub, and this one seemed shared by both Starfleet and Civilian interest. He did not have much of a queue to stand in at the security checkpoint.
“Welcome to Odyssey.” A young woman in a Starfleet uniform clearly a member of security said as he approached. “Reporting aboard or passing through?” she asked running a scanner over him.
He shrugged. “Reporting aboard.”
“Says here you’re on a Leave of Absence?” she said as she stopped with the scanner on his wrist. “What’s this?” she asked.
“I am.” He glanced down at the bracer. “A gift from a family friend, call it protection.”
“Protection?” she asked glancing up at him and back down at the scanner.
Kyle nodded. “It’s armor, a family heirloom.”
“Armor?” She looked up again.
“Not sure how it works, it was a gift from a friend.” Kyle said again. “Is there a problem?”
She shrugged. “I don’t see why not. Quartermaster is there if you want billet assigned.” She said pointing to a small office just beyond the checkpoint.
He nodded and collected his belongings. “Thank you.” He said and headed over to the Quartermasters office stepping in. There was no waiting, which in a way made things easy. He walked up to the counter. “Can I help you Ensign?” another young officer asked as he stepped up to the counter.
“Reporting aboard, I need to see about getting some quarters assigned.”
“Orders?” he said holding out his hand.
“Check your computer.” Kyle said.
The man gave him a questioning look. “Ah, alright.” He said and began tapping away at the computer console. “You’re going to be in the Hub, Deck thirty-two, Room number thirty two oh one.” He glanced over. “Did you tag your belongings?”
Kyle nodded. “Aboard the Runabout Volga.”
“Ah, got it. They will be waiting for you in your quarters.” He said as he put through the transport request. “Welcome to Odyssey.”
Kyle nodded, and exited the office heading for the lift, he piled in with the rest of the people waiting for the lift and waiting for everyone to request their destination before finally speaking up for his own destination. “Hub, Deck Thirty-Two!” he said as the lift was already in motion. He had expected that the ride would have taken a long time, but it was much quicker than he expected. He stepped off the lift and started down the corridor. He had been on stations before and this one was no different in the fact that it was a long way around to get to his quarters.
He stopped and punched in his usual security code, the door slid open, and the lights inside the room came up. It was a very generic but comfortable. “Nice.” He said as he stepped into the room and set his bags aside. Checking inside his room, he found his belongings stacked along a wall.
He turned back, settled at the small desk, and dropped into the chair hitting the activation button and punching in his code. “Computer I need a civilian charter heading into Klingon Space.” He said and sat back waiting.
“Specify departure time.”
“As soon as possible.” He said.
“The S.S. Lyra NAR-92117 is departing at 1700 hours from Docking Pad B, Docking port three.”
“Book it!” Kyle said standing and glancing at the Chronometer. He looked back down at the console and keyed up a Station directory.
Kyle left taking a moment to lock down his quarters and made his way back to the lift. “Commercial District.” He said and stood to the side of the lift as others piled in or made way. The lift ride while longer was the last but still was surprisingly quick. He stepped off into the large multi-level commercial district. He took a moment to take it all in. It was like walking into a giant shopping mall on Ferenginar and it looked as if it went on for kilometers. “Wow…” he said to himself.
Kyle strolled down the promenade stopping to admire the occasional wares there was a wide variety of shops and entertainment from all manor of species and backgrounds. He finally came to a stop in front of a shop, he glanced up at the sign “Faith’s Curiosities & Imports”. He was about to push through the doors when a Starfleet Captain pushed through the doors suddenly strolling past him quickly. He nodded. “Captain.” He said but was certain the man had not heard him, it was clear he was agitated.
The Captain was certainly preoccupied as he passed by, he did give a nod, but it was clearly an unconscious thought. Kyle was certain he recognized the man, but he shook off the feeling and pushed through the doors himself stopping to survey the sparkly decorated shop. It was clearly very quickly that the shop had recently opened as the owner or at least one of the employees was still unpacking.
A blond-haired woman turned and smiled. “Welcome, feel free to have a look around. Were still unpacking.”
He gave her a nod, and began slowly walking around, his eye caught one item specifically, it was a blade. He came to a stop in front of it staring at it, he could not help but admire the blade it was clearly sharp, the metal was exotic it bore the resemblance of Klingon Heritage, but as he continued to examine it, he determined it was not.
“You have a sharp eye.” The Blonde woman seemed to materialize next to him.
He nodded. “This was crafted, it was not replicated.” He said leaning in to examine the blade closer.
“What makes you say that?” she asked, an eyebrow arching in curiosity.
He gestured to the blade and looked over, and she nodded, he picked up the blade and ran a finger across several spots. “You can see that it was forged, the fold lines are subtle, the hammering as well. No doubt this was forged.” He tapped the blade on the edge of the display and held it up near his ear. “You can’t replicate that.” He said with a grin. “Replicators have a tendency to remove imperfections so replicated weapons are sometimes easy to identify.”
“You have a keen eye and ear as well it would seem.” She said, nodding. “You’re right of course it was forged, it was made long ago for an Orion Pirate named Tasov.”
“Hummm… Tasov the Terror, or something like that right?” he said turning the blade over and running a finger across the blade.
“Something like that. He never got a chance to use it, some say it is cursed. It has never drawn blood in anger. Each owner has died before they’ve ever had a chance to use it.” She said opening another box, and slowly began pulling the packing out. “Interested still?” he could see one of her eyebrows rise as if she was curious if he would bite or not on the purchase.
He nodded. “Yes actually, how much?” he asked.
“Oh, I could let it go for twenty-five thousand.” She said glancing over at him.
“Twenty-five thousand?” he frowned. “No blade is worth that much, not even a cursed blade.” He said setting it gently back on its display. “Ten thousand maybe.” He said.
“Twenty?” she asked.
“How about seventeen and you throw in the scabbard that goes with it.” He said, with a smile.
“Done.” She said and held out a Padd to him.
He reached out and pressed a thumb to the display authorizing the purchase from his credit account. “Pleasure doing business with you.” He said and lifted the blade back off the stand, and then took the offered scabbard. “I’ll let you know how cursed it really is.”
“I’m sure you will have plenty of interesting stories to tell when you return from your trip Kyle.” She said as he walked towards the door.
“Trip?” he asked stopping to look back.
She offered smile. “Take care of yourself Kyle, don’t be too much in a hurry to join your brother. Satisfy your families honor and have a story to tell your children.” She said and returned to unpacking her box.
He stared at her for a long moment, then pushed through the doors back out into the commercial district, taking a moment to slip the blade into his belt line under his shirt. He stopped only a few times to admire a few more shop windows and then came to a curious sight.
Kyle stood at the large opening to the Arboretum, taking a moment to take in the site. It was massive, the cavernous space, the waterfall in the distance that sat as its centerpiece to the large open space. It was clear that living quarters lined the edge as it was terraced, and while well concealed by foliage a careful eye gave it away. The sounds of children playing and the mingling scent from all the fauna hit him as he started further into the room. Even the scent of the churning water, and the sound of rapids greeted him faintly in the distance.
Slowly he wound his way down a path following it towards the sound of rushing water. It didn’t take long for him to find a stream, to which he stepped off the path following it towards it source. He came into a clearing at the edge of the lake at the center of the massive room, staring up at the water falling from high up he marveled at the sheer engineering of the room. He settled onto a rock, which was conveniently shaped like a chair, though not as comfortable. He stared up into the sky, the lazy clouds floating past above, he could see the gentle breeze moving the trees, and hear it buffet the water causing a slight spray to fall over him, the water was cool, and in away refreshing on his face. He smiled, maybe the first time in days. It was nice to see that even in the middle of a warzone such a thing could exist.
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Post by CO_Capt_Savage on Jul 6, 2018 7:55:14 GMT
"You have been waylaid by bandits..." Location: S.S. Lyra NAR-92117 - In Transit to the No'matt System.
Kyle woke suddenly as he bounced off the wall of his bunk suddenly, and boy did it smart. The sound of the ships engines straining, and the sudden surge was a good indicator they had just fallen out of warp. The Lyra had clearly been pulled out of warp. It wasn’t until the sudden shift in the ship and the sound of a distant explosion pulled his attention telling him that they were in real trouble. He scrambled out of his bunk and pulled his boots on glancing at the three other bunk mates he shared the room with. They looked back and forth between each other unsure what to do. “Stay here unless you hear the order to evacuate.”
Kyle stepped out into the corridor glancing up and down the long corridor. He was essentially in the cheapest rate you could get on the ship, the lighting flickered, and another explosion echoed through the ship and Kyle had to put a hand on the wall to steady himself. “What’s going on?” someone asked popping out from behind a curtain.
“Stay inside, we may be under attack.” Kyle said and started heading towards the ladder that would take him up towards the lounge area where he could contact a member of the crew. As he took his next step he suddenly was propelled upwards, his stomach rolled as gravity had clearly cut out. Explosions echoed through the ship, and as if on queue the alarm to abandon ship began to sound, and lighting began flashing with the alert status.
He could hear people shouting as they tried to figure out how to react to the sudden weightlessness. He caught himself on the ceiling and began pulling himself towards the ladderway. “Use the hand holds along the walls, remember not too move too quickly.” He shouted as he moved along.
He mounted the stairs still weightless and flew quickly up them and onto the next floor, there was a fire in the galley which was causing the lounge area to fill with smoke. “Crap.” He said to himself and began looking around for an extinguisher.
“What are you doing up here?” A voice caught his attention.
Kyle turned in the air to meet the face of a familiar crewman. “What’s going on?”
“Klingon’s attacked us, we need to get everyone off the ship!” he said, there was a hint of panic in his voice. “They will board us soon!”
“You realize Klingon’s don’t take prisoners?” Kyle asked flatly. “They are likely to shoot any escape pods. You would have a better chance to stand and fight them.”
“You would know I suppose!” he said sharply.
“Yes, I would!” Kyle said and pointed to the fire. “Put that out! Where can I find a weapon?”
“Were a personnel transport we don’t carry weapons.” The man said flatly. “A lot of good it’s done us.”
Kyle shook his head and pushed himself towards the door that was open that would take him towards the bridge. “Just put that fire out!”
“You can’t go up there!” he said as he moved across the room with an extinguisher in hand.
Kyle didn’t care to listen, he continued pulling himself along, then stopped himself abruptly as he felt his stomach do another somersault, he had just enough time to pull his legs under him as gravity kicked back in and he landed with a slight off-balance shimmy. “Nice warning!” he muttered to himself and bolted for the bridge.
As Kyle entered the bridge he glanced around at the crew present. Two of them were down on the ground, one wasn’t moving and the other was being tended to by another of the crew. “What’s happening?” he asked moving over to the person he assumed was in charge.
“What are you doing up here?” the man said.
He waved the man’s protest away. “I might be able to help. I’m with Starfleet.” He said surveying the bridge consoles. “What’s our situation?”
“Warp Drive is offline, cores unstable. Were on impulse power but not enough to evade them. What do you possibly think you can do to help?” the elder man said nearly shouting.
“I Don’t know yet, do you have a pilot?” Kyle said as he moved towards what he was certain was the helm. “I’m guessing its him!” he said pointing to the man laying still on the ground.
“Yes!”
Kyle surveyed the console. “You have a core ejection system?” he asked as he surveyed the controls. “I Suggest you order it ejected!”
“Yes, but I fail to see how it helps!” the elder captain said.
“Its unstable, and it could result in a core breach, you have no weapons correct?” Kyle said turning back towards the man. “What alternative do you have?” he watched as the man considered his words and churned over the idea in his head. “We don’t have much time Captain, what are we going to do?”
“Do it!” he said looking over at the man tending to the wounded crewman. “Get me shields!”
The young man nodded returning to his console, playing his hands across the console with practiced ease. “Ejection process has been initiated.”
Kyle was already working the console in front of him throttling the ships Impulse drive past its safety limit. “I’m burning the impulse engines!”
“You’ll pop them!” the young man said alarmed.
Kyle glanced over his should. “It will be short, but we have to put some distance between us and that core. Can you detonate it manually?”
The young man stared at him for a long moment and then nodded the affirmative.
“When we hit ten thousand Kilometers detonate it and shift all our power to the aft shields it might be enough to allow us to survive. Let’s hope it catches the Klingon’s off guard!” he said glancing back at the Captain who nodded.
“Detonating!” the young man said and went about transferring power to the shields.
Kyle watched as the power drained away from his engines, and all he could do was hold onto his chair and hope as the space outside suddenly got as bright as a supernova as the small warp core went critical behind them, and the shields flared trying desperately to defend them from the sudden release of all the potential remaining in the ships warp drive.
The ship shook violently as the shockwave hit them, and the hulls screamed in protest from the stress it was being subjected too, consoles shot sparks and fire, and smoke began to fill the room rapidly. Kyle reached over and punched the ships automated distress beacon which became active almost immediately.
The viewscreen cleared but was showing static now and the occasional image of space beyond. The shaking had stopped. The plethora of alarms blaring from all the consoles on the bridge told them that they did indeed survive but at a large cost. The vessels had sustained considerable damage.
“Are they gone?” the Captain asked as he picked himself up off the floor.
“No, but we did knock out their shields and it looks like their weapons are down.” The young man at the engineering console said. He was nursing a badly bleeding head wound but to his credit he was still at his station.
“Were dead in the water.” Kyle said standing and moving aft. “I’ve activated our distress beacon, hopefully someone friendly will respond.”
“Are you mad?” The Captain asked sharply standing to meet him.
“No, but were not going to win this fight, and the ship isn’t going anywhere. You’d best hope help gets here before they restore weapons.” He said pointing to the faint image of a Bird of Prey on the viewscreen. “At least consider this, we will die with honor if they come for us. It might count for something.”
“Damn you! Where are you going?”
“To find a weapon!” Kyle said heading back to his room passing people who were cowering in their rooms no one dared to say anything as he passed by. None of them had managed to make it to the escape pods from what he could tell.
“What happened?” one of his bunk mates asked as he opened his storage locker and pulled out a bag and withdrew the blade he had purchased back at Odyssey, and a Disruptor which he attached to his belt.
“We fought back.” Kyle said simply. “The fight may not be over.” He slowly nodded to the others and then began walking back towards the Lounge area. He stood watching as the crewman he had told to put out the fire earlier fussed over the Galley making sure it was indeed out. “You may want to find a weapon while you’re at it.”
“What?” the man asked turning to meet him.
“Find a weapon!” he said again as he moved towards the center of the lounge.
Slowly Kyle drew the blade turning it over in his hand so that the blade would run along the back of his arm, he drew the disruptor and waited.
“You think they are going to come here?” the crewman asked, panic clearly in his voice.
“Yes.” Kyle said simply.
The crewman stared for a long moment, then disappeared and reappeared with a frying pan in one hand and a butcher’s cleaver in the other. “I… I don’t know how to fight!” he stammered.
“That’s okay, neither do I.” Kyle said with a shrug.
“How can you be so damned bloody calm right now?” he shouted. “Were about to die and your all serene, what is wrong with you!”
He knew it would be cliché, but he said it anyhow. “Perhaps today is a good day to die!” he tightened his grip on the knife and disruptor as the sound of a transporter beam filled the room. He felt his heartbeat quicken with anticipation.”
“Breath boy, inhale and exhale” it was a familiar voice, it was calming and further drew him back into the moment. Things seemed to slow down for Kyle. He could see the transporter beams slowly materializing the Klingon boarding party, it was only three of them.
Kyle didn’t even question it this time, he just did what he was told. He felt the breath fill him, and then leave and with it the tension and doubt. The fear and apprehension slipped away, the beating of his heart slowed until it was a steady drum in his ears. He could feel the heat of his Klingon blood urging him to combat, but something else was keeping him level. That was the best word he could come up with for the feeling, he was level.
He raised the disruptor, his first shot catching one of the boarding party members as he fully materialized spinning the unsuspecting warrior to the ground in a cry of agony. The second he missed his first shot as he had begun to move, unwittingly towards Kyle. His second shot caught the man in the chest sending him sprawling into a table. The other was almost on top of him when he adjusted, he was already swinging the Bat’leth he had in hand.
“Move and block now!” the voice echoed with urgency!
Kyle threw his arm up moving to his right, he felt the Bat’leth land against the blade and the pressure it exerted but because of the angle the Bat’leth rode down the blade and slipped away, he could feel the burn of a cut along his arm.
“Strike now!” the voice called out again urgently.
He brought the blade up still holding it along his arm and ran it across the chest of the man which his armor took without issue, it did leave a gash and an opening where it has scored the armor.
The Klingon Warrior responded in kind snapping out with an elbow which sent him out of arms reach, both men recovering.
There was a flash of metal behind the warrior, and the sudden report that sounded much like a gong, and the Warrior slowly crumpled to the floor. Standing in his place was the pan toting crewman who looked absolutely horrified at what he had just done.
The warrior groggily began to try to get to his feet.
“Nicely done!” Kyle said, then shot the Warrior square in the chest sending him sprawling back to the floor.
“But…” the crewman stammered pointing to Kyle then the Klingon. “Why?”
“You clearly don’t understand Klingons!” Kyle said and turned to head towards the bridge. As he neared the top of the stairs, he leveled his disruptor and took the single guard holding the bridge crew hostage in the chest.
Kyle walked onto the bridge, taking a moment to glance down at the dead Warrior before moving back to the front of the bridge, he stared out the series of windows, locating the Bird of Prey floating not far form the ship. “Well that is maybe a quarter of their crew.” He was about turn away when something flashed brightly above them. He blinked clearing his vision just in time to see weapons fire from the Antares Class Freighter hammer the Bird of Prey sending it and the remainder of its crew to Sto-vo-kor in a ball of expanding debris and gasses.
“And so enters the cavalry.” Kyle muttered, and glanced back to the others. “Looks like one of your own came to our aid.” Kyle didn’t have a chance to say anything more as a transporter effect took him, and in seconds he was standing in the cargo hold. He quickly put away his weapons and waited for their new hosts to appear. Slowly the rest of the survivors from the Lyra appeared in the cargo hold around them followed by all their cargo, baggage and other items he couldn’t identify. He looked over at the Captain of the Lyra and shrugged. “Better than dead.” He said.
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