<USS Avalon> Arrival of a Ranger: Walker T. Ranger

"Arrival of a Ranger"
By Walker T. Ranger
 
Location: Shuttle 'St.  Johns'
 
"Walker. You will find the love of your life in  Avalon." The old man's voice 
had held absolute certainty.
 
Walker thought back to that long ago  conversation, the doubts and 
absurdities still in his mind. 'Avalon, yeah  right.'
 
As they dropped out of warp to join the local  docking traffic, the pilot 
called back, "That's your ship, isn't it,  Sergeant?"
 
Walker stood from the bench in the passenger  compartment, and moved forward 
to look out the flight deck window. "Say  what?"
 
"Then that isn't your assignment, Sergeant?" The  pilot looked and felt 
puzzled. "That's the ship name and registry I have on the  transfer orders I 
have 
for you..."
 
Walker scanned the station again, finally  spotting the ship at one of the 
far pylons. "Oh. Her. Avalon, yeah, so  I'm told."
 
The pilot, feeling a relief she dared not show,  simply banked for the 
station. This had been a strange ferry. First, the Bolian,  now this guy... 
both 
doubting their assignments. She shook her head slightly,  just as Approach 
Control contacted. After dealing with them, she set up for  final efficiently.
 
Walker leaned against the back of what was used  as the co-pilot's chair, 
watching the view before glancing down. "I apologize.  I've had some stuff on 
my 
mind, beside the fact I've been all but demoted for  the start of my stint on 
Avalon."
 
She sighed. "The powers that be at Command are a  strange lot at best, 
Sergeant. Best not to even try to figure 'em out, unless  you want a headache 
and 
still be puzzled afterwards."
 
"Yeah, Regellian Marine Command couldn't believe  when they read the orders 
initially." Walker shrugged slightly.
 
She took a better look at the man. "Oh. Exchange,  eh? Command's not supposed 
to screw with your commission..." She frowned.  "Regellian CinC's probably 
gonna be real angry."
 
"Wouldn't know. I was out in the field when I got  the orders; my unit CO was 
spitting force-whips when I left." Walker  sighed.
 
She started chuckling. "Ouch. I've been hit with  a Ferengi force-whip. Those 
things hurt." She had, in fact, been a  Ferengi captive for six months.
 
Unaware of what his words were about to do,  Walker grinned and commented 
offhandedly as he looked back toward the station,  "The Ferengi have nothing on 
the Regellian force-whip."
 
She instantly cringed at the mere thought, and  the shuttle skewed as a 
result. Cursing softly, she corrected, then landed,  trembling. "That is way 
uncool, if true. Those Regellians sound  cruel!"
 
"Excuse me?" Walker arched a gold-brown  eyebrow.
 
She turned to him, her expression raw with her  memories. "I was a captive of 
the Ferengi for six long, hellish months! The fact  that you state that the 
Regellian force-whip is even more painful than the  Ferengi one frightens the 
hell out of me, mister!"
 
Walker cursed lightly. "That's another difference  between the Regellians and 
Ferengi. We don't go whipping willy-nilly. Though  even when it's warranted, 
it's only a handful of lashes. Ten, max." Sighing, he  swiveled the co-pilots 
chair around and sat, "and I know you likely haven't  meant insult, but as an 
aside, I'm of Regellian nationality."

She paled.  "Oh, God." Her statement was that of someone badly shocked, and 
was a bare  thread of sound. "D-don't hurt me! I didn't mean..." She shuddered 
and tried to  concentrate on the post-landing checklist, but found it hard to  
concentrate.
 
Cringing in pain, Walker forcefully held back the  chuckle that still wanted 
to erupt, as he held out his hand. "Ranger, Walker T.  It's a pleasure to make 
your acquaintance, miss? And no harm, no  foul."
 
She exhaled shakily, then said, "Irene Kelly  Mastersen." She didn't mention 
the fact she'd been recalled to duty only three  weeks after she'd been 
rescued.
 
"Wanna hear something absurd?" Walker  grinned.

She chuckled uneasily. "Sure. Could use a laugh or two." She  tapped the 
wrong control at that moment and an alarm sounded.
 
Walker blinked, then scanned their boards  quickly, having some knowledge of 
Federation shuttles.
 
Blushing furiously now, she disabled first the  alarm, then corrected the 
overfeed to the port engine.
 
"No harm," Walker grinned as he swiveled back to  face her. "My great-great 
grandfather has a gift that the Regellians call  ForeTelling." He paused to 
chuckle. "Now admittedly, he hasn't been wrong yet,  but he's foretold that I 
will find my lifemate on Avalon." Walker paused as a  thought came to him. 
"Wait. 
Avalon, I always thought he meant 'Avalon', not the  Avalon." He looked 
between her and the outside in  confusion.
 
"A-avalon? That's myth!" She started laughing.  "Mythical island somewhere 
near Britain, supposedly." She looked at him, still  laughing. "And the irony 
of 
your assignment also being named Avalon..."  She closed her eyes and tried to 
force herself to calm, but found it  difficult.
 
"Now you see why I've been preoccupied?" Walker  grinned, "It sounds absurd, 
but with this being the Avalon..." He left  the statement, still fully 
confused.

She nodded. "And since you're not  going to be riding the outside of the 
ship, you would be in  Avalon."
 
"There is that." Walker chuckled.
 
She then cursed as she realized something. "Blast  and damnation!" She was 
clearly unhappy.
 
"Hmm?" Walker looked to her confused, though not  about his grandfather this 
time.
 
She sighed, feeling defeated. "I need to report  to the Counselors aboard." 
She frowned. "I'm so decidedly not over that stint on  Ferenginar." She 
grimaced, "And I hate headshrinkers like the  plague!"
 
"I don't like'm myself," Walker chuckled.  "Wouldn't happen to know how I go 
about getting items inspected by Security,  hmm?"
 
She laughed, but the sound decidedly didn't have  a healthy ring to it. "Go 
to the Security front desk and show 'em the cases?"  This was so overtly 
sarcastic that Walker didn't react. "Seriously, just call  for a Security-check 
as 
you board station." She looked at him apologetically.  "Sorry for the sarcasm."
 
"Sarcasm is fun, though my cousin outwits me more  often than not." Walker 
grinned as he stood.
 
She stood as well, then shook his hand.  "Hopefully I'll still be in 
Starfleet when you return this way." She knew she  was dangerously close to 
being 
disqualified for mental reasons.
 
Walker grinned slightly, "If they toss you out on  your ear, message me. I 
might be able to help you."
 
She nodded. "I'll do that, if I can remember your  name once they trank me." 
This last was very rueful and an admission of what had  happened more than 
once before.
 
"Just recall Earth's old Texas lawforce, the  Rangers." Walker grinned.

"Or the old Terran TV series?" She grinned  back. "Chuck Norris was pretty 
cool in that one."
 
"You wouldn't believe my middle name if I told  ya," Walker grinned and 
started for the passenger compartment.
 
She chuckled. "Texas, isn't it?" She waved. "I  gotta scram."
 
"Aye, though I wasn't named after the show."  Walker grinned as he grabbed 
his cases.
 
She just nodded before she preceded him out of  the shuttle, almost running 
now.
 
Location:  Izar
 
Walker blinked, but followed at more of a sedate  pace as he started looking 
for a proper security detail, his two cases giving  him a good workout even in 
Federation gravity.

One of the security  personnel patrolling the shuttlebay shouted, "Halt! 
Stand your ground!" He was  tall for a Human, but fairly typical for a 
Regellian.
 
Walker laid his cases down, then looked to the  officer. "Could you possibly 
help me?"
 
"Yeah. Guess you want that stuff checked...or  chunked."
 
"Chunk it, you pay for it." Walker grinned  slightly, "Checked, if you 
please."
 
The man, having heard that last more than once,  muttered, "Or if I don't, I 
suppose, Sergeant?" He waved to the first case.  "Open it."
 
"Regellian Great Katana," Walker dropped to a  knee and cracked the case, 
then flipped it open.
 
"Great galaxies and silver birds!" The man then  whistled. "Looks deadly."
 
"Only in the right hands," Walker  grinned.
 
The man muttered, "No, it'd be safe in the right  hands. In the wrong hands, 
even more deadly. Maybe not to the enemy it was meant  to defeat, though."
 
"True enough," Walker grinned, "luckily I only  train with it."
 
He nodded. "Approved. Next." He shook his head.  "Knowin' you Regellians, 
this may take a while. Some of you lot seem to carry a  veritable armory with 
you."

"But not me," Walker grinned as he closed the  first case, then cracked and 
flipped open the second, larger case. "Rapiers,  foils, and one other set of 
fencing/duel weapons."
 
The man nodded. "They look," he scanned with his  security tricorder, "and 
scan as legitimate. Care to show me your ownership  papers for the lot of them?"
 
"Of course, if I may dig into my seabag without  getting a plasma burn in the 
back?" Walker grinned teasingly.
 
The man chuckled. "And I've not even drawn my  phaser. Sheesh." He shook his 
head. "What on Earth did you do to shake up  Mastersen? Never seen her 
actually run toward Medical wing before!" He  frowned. "If you've hurt her..." 
He 
trailed off, but the threat was clear  nonetheless.
 
"Only an unintentional verbal flashback trigger,"  Walker grumbled to himself 
as he dug through his seabag for the PADD noting  ownership of all his 
weapons.
 
The man shook his head. "She had a rough time of  it after she got kidnapped 
by that Daimon and his nasty crew." He shook his head  sadly. "She may never 
fully recover." He looked through the PADD's content and  nodded. "You're 
clear. Thought you people were assigned in pairs?"
 
"We are," Walker chuckled as he placed the PADD  back in his bag. "Assume my 
exchange mate is already aboard." He shrugged.  "Since I've not actually 
boarded the ship, I don't know yet."
 
The security man chuckled. "Let me phone this in,  then escort you to the 
Avalon's berth. You are headed to the  Avalon, right?"
 
As Walker considered the question, he called in.  "Atmore to Main. Checked in 
Mister Ranger. All clear."
 
"Aye." Walker chuckled, "And we won't even get  into what my 2x great 
grandfather said."
 
He blinked. "Your great-great grandfather's still  alive?! That's unlikely 
even for you Regellians, isn't it?"
 
"Don't actually know if he is. Was last time I  spoke to him. Though yes, 
he's older than dirt, as the saying goes." Walker  checked the latches on the 
second case before shouldering his seabag and  grabbing both.
 
Atmore goggled for a moment before remembering  another bit of odd lore about 
Regellians: the fact they were immensely powerful.  "Oh. Guess you ain't 
gonna need help." He chuckled.
 
"I'm at the edge of my limit even in Federation  gravity," Walker grinned, 
"But I've got it."
 
The man laughed. "Ok. Want an anti-grav sled, so  you don't drop stuff?"
 
"I'll make it," Walker chuckled, "I'll be  shipping some of this back to my 
parents. As I told Irene, my unit CO was  spitting force-whips as I left, so I 
thought it prudent to pack in a  hurry."
 
The man shivered. "Yeah. Buggin' out when your  CO's spittin' that sorta 
thing is pretty wise."
 
"Why I didn't pack some of it off at one of my  transfer points," Walker 
shrugged, "Haven't a clue."
 
Atmore nodded, then chuckled. "I've done that,  too. Why don't we simply put 
it all on a grav-sled, head to the parcel-service  office here, and get that 
done right now?"
 
"Sounds like the best plan," Walker grinned. "And  before you say it. The 
journey never begun is never completed."
 
The man just started laughing at that, clapping  several times. "Oh, and you 
stole my thunder all right! Let's get while the  getting's good, eh?"
 
"Let's roll!" Walker chuckled.
 
The man nodded, then summoned one of the  grav-sleds before carefully 
assisting the cases onto it. "Your sea-bag obviously  goes with you, as does, I 
expect, the smaller case?"
 
"Aye. I don't plan on dueling anyone in  the crew," Walker chuckled, "but I 
can just holodeck or borrow weapons, if I  do."
 
Atmore nodded. "Let's go." He tapped a control  and the sled began to trail 
them by a full pace. As he entered the turbolift, he  held the door open and 
tapped a command. The sled, obedient to it, slid inside,  then to one side.
 
Walker leaned against the lift as he waited for  the ride. He shook his head 
as the ForeTelling came forward again.

"Deck  Thirteen-Fifty-Two, Section Eighteen-Golf." The man's tone was crisp  
professionalism during the command. Once the turbolift responded, he grinned 
and  waited the trip, which he knew would take nearly three minutes.
 
"What do you know of the Avalon?" Walker  looked to the man.
 
"She's Starfleet, I think. Other'n that, not  much."
 
"About as much as myself," Walker  chuckled.
 
The man stated, "She's been through some  interesting times. That much seems 
apparent. Just exactly what is not entirely  clear. Someone's keepin' mum. For 
once."
 
"Wonder why they needed noncom marines," Walker  pondered.
 
"Non-coms? That's odd. Supposed to be  officer exchange here."
 
"I am an officer," Walker grumbled, "I willingly  took the demotion. I'm just 
wondering about the rhyme and reason."
 
"I don't see any, brother." The man's tone was  showing his anger now. 
"Nobody should be forced to resign commission just to be  on a specific ship!"
 
"Oh. I didn't fully resign it; Regelis Military  Command wouldn't allow that. 
My Regellian commission is on hold until I return  to Regellian service." 
Walker chuckled, "I'm glad they forced that, or I  wouldn't have been so 
willing. 
May have only been a Senior 1Lt, but it took me a  few years."
 
"Hmph. I'd've had my CO and CinC tell them where  to stick their demotion, 
personally." The man was not impressed. "Not right.  Simply not right."
 
"I'll forgive'm if my grandpop's ForeTelling  comes true," Walker grinned 
mischievously.
 
The turbolift shuddered, then stopped. Several  seconds later, it resumed, 
but at a slower speed. "Not again!"
 
"Hmm?" Walker pushed off the wall at the lift's  shudder.
 
"Damn fools playing with explosives again. Maybe  more of those nardy 
terrorists." The man was clearly not amused. "We've still  got seven decks, 
too."
 
"Explosives?" Walker looked  perplexed.
 
"Yeah. Like things that make other things go  boom?" The sarcasm was biting 
in the remark. "Some of the senior high students  in the Chemistry track have 
had this crazy idea they know how to handle the big  stuff...idiots."
 
"They best be glad I don't know the station's  layout," Walker muttered, 
"It'd be a MART they'd be receiving."
 
"Assumin' this bunch didn't blow themselves to  Hell and back, they'll get 
escorted off-station and deported home...never to  return." This time when the 
turbolift stopped, it chimed, and the man relaxed.  "We got here safely. Thank 
God."
 
"If I knew the layout, they wouldn't even need an  escort. Now pallbearers, 
on the other hand." Walker's grin was  grim.
 
Atmore maneuvered the sled out, then cautioned,  "Murder's not on the ticket, 
hear?"
 
"It's good I don't know the layout, eh?" Walker  grinned as he followed. 
"Regellians just don't tolerate idiocy."
 
The man nodded. "Or being thrown obstacles that  don't belong. I truly 
understand. Been gunnin' for an OXP assignment, but it  hasn't happened. Yet."
 
"Straight security, or did you cross-train with  Marines?" Walker arched an 
eyebrow slightly.
 
"Straight Marine until I got messed up during a  demolition run. Then I went 
Security, since I still had the training to check  folks' stuff in. Beats 
drawin' disability."

"Wonder when the  Avalon is shipping out," Walker pondered.
 
The man chuckled. "Sorry." He then led Walker to  the proper office to 
facilitate the shipping. "I'll go check on the  Avalon for you."
 
"Not what I meant," Walker chuckled, "I might be  able to make a few calls 
for you. Just depends on when the ship weighs  anchor."
 
Atmore turned and left the office, returning five  minutes later. "They'll be 
leavin', according to the board, "at Captain's  discretion", which tells us 
precisely jack."
 
Signing off on the package, Walker turned, "That  is jack." He chuckled, "Too 
bad my combadge likely doesn't have the range to  reach a Regellian relay 
station."
 
The clerk frowned down at it. "Locked case of  swords, eh? That'll require 
insurance and additional shipping fees due to it  being oversized."
 
"No worries," Walker chuckled, "I can pay." He  added banking information for 
them to use. On a whim, he attempted to use the  ansible feature of his 
Regellian badge to reach a relay station.
 
"Regellian Relay Station Alpha-Six. Who is this?"  The woman didn't mention 
whoever it was was very faint indeed.
 
"Regellian Marine, Ranger, Walker T. Currently on  exchange to the 
Federation." Walker paused to allow them to verify his  information. "Was 
wondering if 
you could bounce me through to my cousin, Unit  Commander for Battalion Six, 
Ranger, Thomas."
 
The clerk rang up the order, then attempted to  jack the price by ten 
percent, but Atmore, the alert security man, spotted the  extra keystrokes and 
growled, "Cancel that overcharge, Misty."
 
Waiting for a reply from the relay, Walker looked  from the clerk to the 
security officer and back.
 
"One moment please. Be advised you are very  faint." Eight seconds later, 
Thomas' voice rang out. "State your business, name  first." His tone was 
indicative of a man not interested in dealing with  guff.
 
"Cousin," Walker grinned, "I'm ashamed at you."  Deciding to humor him, he 
stated, "Ranger, Walker T. You happy,  cuz?"
 
"Well, well. And what does my cousin need this  late at night?" His tone was 
slightly less annoyed now.
 
"It's not late here cuz, how was I suppose to  know it was late there." 
Walker grinned, "You wouldn't happen to know a unit  that needs at the very 
least 
an explosive trainer?"
 
Thomas paused for a moment. "You mean a  demolitions expert capable of 
training, but maybe not actual demolition  work?"
 
The security man chuckled dryly before  commenting, "An explosive trainer 
might be a tad messy, lad."
 
Walker chuckled at both Thomas and the security  officers' statements, "Yeah 
cuz."
 
Misty, disgruntled, removed the charge, then  deducted the proper amount from 
the man's account. When the amount adjusted down  by half, she blinked. "What 
the hell?! Supervisor!"
 
Walker, waiting for Thomas, arched an  eyebrow.
 
The supervisor came over, checked the tape, then  chuckled. "Regellian 
credits are double Federation, Misty. See the transfer  here?" He pointed it 
out.
 
Walker grinned slightly.
 
She blinked, then blushed furiously. "Big  exchange rate, with no points." 
She sighed. "Permission to take early  break?"
 
Walker looked to the supervisor with a grin.  "Let'r go, she had a heck of a 
shock." He winked teasingly.
 
The supervisor raised an eyebrow, then nodded.  "Go on, Misty. Take double. 
The case is too heavy for you to heave-ho anyway."  He chuckled, as she looked 
briefly ready to scream at him.
 
"It was just light enough for 'me' to heave-ho," Walker grinned teasingly.
 
She, however, wisely simply walked toward the  back.
 
Thomas stated simply, "How fast can this expert  get here? The battalion 
needs somebody else, as it turns out."
 
"Get the higher ups to haggle over it with the  Federations Personnel 
officer?" Walker chuckled at Thomas lightly.
 
The supervisor looked at the case, then looked at  the two men. "Care to lift 
that thing onto the platform? Then slide it this way;  I'll have a cart 
ready." He suited action to words.
 
Thomas grumbled, "What is this about you being a  Sergeant, Lieutenant? 
Something's a bit off."
 
"Someone on the Fed side had to have screwed up,"  Walker chuckled as he 
single-handedly manhandled the case, "I just decided not  to fight it. My 
officership is still on record with R-Marine  Command."
 
"Better be, or I'll take it up with the CinC's on  both sides! This is an 
outrage!"
 
"Your not the only one to agree," Walker chuckled  slightly.
 
The supervisor put the proper labels on the unit,  then carted the case off. 
"Hope they don't mind it taking several weeks," was  his parting shot.
 
Thomas grumbled, "That's good, cousin. I'll get  it arranged forthwith. 
Ranger out."
 
The connection went dead, but what the security  man had heard was 
extraordinary. Since he knew Regellian, he'd understood every  word of both 
sides, as 
he'd proven.
 
"No worries on the time, just make sure it gets  there. The person I was just 
talking to is a unit commander. You don't want him  pissed." Walker grinned 
teasingly before looking back to the security officer.  "Thomas is checking 
into it."
 
The man just nodded. "Let's jet to the  Avalon's berth. Not a good idea for 
you to arrive there after they  leave, hey?"
 
"You said it, not me," Walker chuckled and  started for the main area.
 
Ten minutes later, the security man grinned at  Walker. "You've arrived at 
Avalon. Have a good day!" He then sprinted  off.
 
Waving, and hoping him luck, Walker stepped  toward the hatch.
 
The security guard at the interface saluted, then  stated, "May I see your 
papers?"
 
Reaching into his seabag, Walker pulled out the  PADD and held it out.
 
The man accepted the PADD, scanned it, then  nodded. "Welcome aboard, 
Sergeant. If you don't mind me saying so, you don't  look like a 
non-commissioned 
officer. You look more like a commissioned  one."
 
"I am commissioned," Walker chuckled, "Just not  for this tour."
 
"Dicey business, that. You're on deck twelve.  Your quarters have your name 
temporarily on the door below the  quarters-number."
 
"Thanks," Walker chuckled, "I assume my case has  been cleared?"
 
"We received notice it was cleared something on  the order of twenty minutes 
ago. Go on, willya?"
 
"Goin," Walker smirked and entered the ship,  headed slowly for deck twelve 
and his quarters.
 
< Tag: Command, any crew who happen to see him  in passing >

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