[USS Tempest] SoS 'ej puq
- From: TKilyle@xxxxxxx
- To: usstempest@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Thu, 4 May 2006 06:31:41 EDT
SoS 'ej puq*
by Empet, Nat Lynley, Roberta Dashman, Kaine, Cassiel Calhoun, Hamish Ross,
& Lindsey Craig
*Mother and Son
The tall Klingon woman towered over her accompanying staff, her chain mail
and fur cloak flowing around her as she stormed up to the airlock that
currently held the USS Tempest to DS9. Pausing only briefly to glance at the
communication panel, she stabbed at it. "I am General Empet, daughter of the
house
of Topian and Chief Ambassador of the Klingon people. I demand access to
your ship."
Upon hearing the sharply worded demand, Nat wondered if offering to spell
the comm officer while she grabbed lunch was still a good idea. He opened the
comm and offered his best, most polite smile. "Good afternoon, madam. I'm
Nathaniel Lynley, the captain's aide and the crew liaison. If you would be so
kind as to tell me why you need access, I'll see what I can do to arrange
it."
"I demand to see my son," she said sharply, her dark eyes fixed on the
Human's. "Kaine, son of Tren. Either bring him here or let me on."
Perhaps someone needs to take into account the throng of families that will
be on station, Nat thought ruefully. "If you'll be patient a few moments,
General, I'll see if I can't find the gentleman," he said smoothly before
putting her on hold. Nimble fingers tapped his comm badge. "Yeoman Dashman,
is
Mr. Tren with you?'
"Yes, Chief, he is," came Roberta's reply.
"Excellent. Could the two of you come up to the bridge? There's a message
waiting for him."
Kaine stared at Roberta with a confused expression. "What can that be
about?" he mused, giving her a cuddle as he creaked to his feet.
"I have no idea," Roberta admitted, "but I wouldn't be too worried. The
chief would say if there's something wrong."
"Lead the way then, Cliodhna," he chuckled. "My addled brain is too soft to
remember directions any more."
By the time Roberta and Kaine reached the bridge, the relief comm officer
was back, allowing Nat to greet the two at the lift exit. He offered Kaine a
smile. "Ah, Mr. Tren, it's good to see you again. I've got a somewhat
impatient lady waiting on the line for you."
"A lady?" he asked, still puzzled. "Who?"
"Perhaps we should step into my office," Nat suggested , nodding toward the
doors.
Kaine nodded, taking Roberta's hand and holding it tightly.
Nat sat on the edge of his desk as Roberta and Kaine filed in. "Now that
we've got a bit of privacy," he said, "why don't you have a seat and I'll tell
you who I've got on hold. Lovely lady but she seems a might...hmm...shall
we say, firmly charactered."
"Firmly charactered?" Kaine asked, a sinking feeling in the pit of his
stomach.
"I expect she'll be thoroughly angry with me: your mother," Nat admitted.
Kaine instantly pushed to his feet, span around and headed for the door.
"Tell her I died. Tell her my honour is in tact. I don't want her to see
this. I don't want her to be near me."
"Kaine, stop," Roberta pleaded. "She's your mother."
"I will certainly not lie to the lady, sir," Nat said in a firm but kind
tone. "Roberta is quite right. She wants to see her son."
"No," Kaine said even as he stopped. "Her son died. He died a warrior's
death protecting his father. This is just a shell. See? It's not a lie."
"Listen to me, my young friend," Nat said as he stood in front of Kaine,
looking up at him. "I do realize the lady is Klingon an therefore not the
same
as my own mother but I can categorically say that all mothers have something
in common: they want their children to live well. Did you live well or as
well as you could?"
"I do now but not then," Kaine said in a harsh voice. "You don't know..."
"Shall I refer her to HoD Kadir or Dr. Calhoun for answers as to that then?"
Nat asked.
"Do as you like, just don't make her see this," Kaine said sadly, trying to
get past Nat.& "I don't want her to see this shell."
"I am not making her do anything. I just believe a mother would listen
rather than just look. I cannot believe you come from such shallow stock,"
Nat
replied, not budging an inch.
Kaine hissed angrily, wrapping thin but strong fingers around Nat's collar.
"Careful, Human."
Roberta stared wide eyed. The chief was deliberately provoking the man.
She wasn't sure who needed the protection more: Kaine or the chief.
"I'm always careful, my friend," Nat said easily. "I repeat my prior
statement, though. Is the lady so shallow souled that she would judge only on
appearance?"
The hiss became a growl and Kaine started to shake with restrained violence.
"She is honourable, Human. More than can be said for you."
"As you wish, Mr. Tren. If she is that honorable then you have no reason
not to see her: as one warrior to another." Nat retorted.
"Chief, shut up," Roberta hissed urgently.
Thin fingers wrapped around Nat's throat and squeezed. "I am not worthy of
being seen, Human. Stop pushing this. Leave it alone."
Nat took a very slow breath. The man might have lacked strength but what
little he had was quite considerable. "I'll ask once more, sir: is the lady
so
poor a warrior that she judges allies and enemies by appearance alone?"
"She is not," he hissed. "Do not dare even imply it again or I'll kill you
where you stand."
"Then give the woman credit and stand before her as the warrior Roberta sees
you as," Nat rasped.
Kaine threw the human back with disgust, slumping onto a chair in
exhaustion, panting softly. "This," he gasped, "is why. I can barely stand,
let alone
be a warrior."
Nat staggered back a step or two, rubbing rather carefully at his neck.
"I'm going to need a decent ale after this," he muttered softly. Then he
straightened out his uniform shirt with a pass of his hand and sat in a chair
across from Kaine. Roberta, it seemed to him, had been struck silent. "Talk
to
me, Kaine," he said, using the man's name finally. "What I see is a man who
did his duty to the best of his abilities in the circumstances that he was in.
I've heard quite a bit about you from the others and not one of them has
maligned your status as a warrior. In fact, you ought to hear what HoD Kadir
said about you and Roberta."
"What did he say?" Kaine asked softly, raising tired wary eyes to Nat.
"Good that the Hybrid finally found someone to take care of him? If he even
breathed that she's not ever inch the strongest woman then I'll..."
"Nothing of the sort. I was referring to what happened before you were all
freed. I heard how you protected the weaker when you could, used your
strength to help your fellow prisoners," Nat began, his voice a bit scratchy.
He
looked Kaine dead in the eye. "And it was your idea that Dr. Calhoun ease
that
one warrior's suffering so that he could die a warrior and not be sent to
Gre'Thor. That, my friend, is the mark of a man who is not only a brute
beast.
That is the mark of a warrior, who thinks of the whole picture and not just
himself."
His eyes flicked toward Roberta and he almost smiled. "As for what he said
about Roberta...I'll tell you later. It wasn't anything terrible but it is
also something I would not repeat in front of a lady."
Kaine's lip turned up in a snarl but he nodded in acceptance of the
compliment. "Then send HoD Kadir to see my mother. She would be more pleased
with
him as a son or a surrogate."
Empet paced. All of her aides ducked for cover as she made another turn in
front of the airlock, her cloak lashing around her like a whip. "How dare
they keep the Klingon Ambassador waiting," she yelled. "There will be
repercussions for this!"
"Oh I think not, Kaine," Nat said, shaking his head. "Shouldn't a warrior
sing his own praises?"
Finally, Roberta added in her own two cents, still wondering if Nat had
completely lost his mind. "Kaine, it isn't boasting to take credit where
credit's due but there's something else involved here, too. How can I steal
you
away from your mother if you aren't there?"
"Then don't steal me," he said simply. "Take me as I am."
"I already have, Kaine, but I'd like to meet the lady," Roberta said as she
reached to take both his hands. "I want to tell her what a fine son she has."
"You're both determined," he sighed, laying a gentle kiss on Roberta's
knuckles. "I suppose we should get it over with."
"Please?" she asked softly before laying a kiss on his cheek.
Again, he sighed but then nodded to Nat. "Go on then, let her aboard.
She's probably worn a hole in the carpet outside."
"Or quite possibly throttled the guards at the airlock," Nat said with a dry
chuckle. "One moment then." He tapped at the open comm connection and
offered the ambassador his easiest smile. "I do beg your pardon for the
delay,
madam, but I wanted to make sure that my own office would suit Mr. Tren's
needs since he has none of his own at the moment."
Her eyes sparking, Empet rounded on the console. "Do not beg, little man,
simply open this airlock before I do it with my bare hands."
"And don't think she won't," Kaine muttered from off-screen.
Laughing would have been even more suicidal than provoking Kaine had been so
Nat bit the inside of his cheek to keep a straight face. "Of course, madam.
I'm sending the authorization to the guards now. One of our Security
officers will escort you here."
The moment the doors opened, Empet was through them and storming on ahead.
She ignored the Security guard, they were irrelevant. All she wanted was her
son, nothing else.
Nat was tidying his desk up, not that it needed it, when a frantically
beeping text message popped up on his screen. He looked up at Kaine and
Roberta.
"It seems the lady general is full steam ahead and left her escort in the
dust."
"Sounds like her," Kaine grumbled, hanging his head between his knees.
"Hang in there, my friend," Nat murmured while Roberta simply rubbed his
back.
Whisking into a turbolift, Empet called out for it to take her to this
Lynley's office. Her arms folded, she glared at anyone who dared make the
lift
stop on its way there. Her irritation like a palpable field around her, she
exploded out of the lift and descended on the room, knocking hard.
"Not one for door chimes I see," Nat said as he stood up. Rubbing at his
neck where he was sure there were bruises forming, he strode to open the door.
He didn't dare smile at the woman but he did offer her a respectful nod.
"Madam Ambassador, I'm sorry our escort was not up to your liking but welcome
aboard the Tempest."
"Where is he?" she demanded. "Where is my son? Why do you keep him from
me?" Her piercing eyes darted around the man in the doorway but the people
inside she didn't recognise - another Human and a walking skeleton... With
deep
horror, more at herself than anything, she realised who that skeleton was.
Colour drained from her face and she pushed past Nat. "Kaine!"
Roberta could feel the tension in Kaine and slipped her arm around him. An
angry mother, never mind an angry Klingon mother, wasn't something she really
wanted to face but there was no way that she'd leave him alone. He needed
her.
"My son," Empet rasped, kneeling down on the floor at his feet. Warm hands
clutched at his cheeks, horrified at how thin he was. "We did this to you."
Fear and pain filled eyes met his mother's as he shook his head. "The
Dominion did this to me. Get up. Powerful warriors do not kneel before the
infirm."
"No, a mother might simply be grateful for the return of her warrior son,"
Nat murmured from the spot he'd retreated to by the door.
Empet lifted her head to Nat and nodded without saying a word.
"Please," Kaine asked, all but begging. "Get up. Don't kneel before me.
I'm not worthy of that."
"And what has my son done to be unworthy of my love?" she asked softly,
staring into his eyes.
Roberta kept her silence but she squeezed Kaine's hand gently, willing him
to be strong. This first step was so very important.
"I killed him," Kaine replied in deep grief.
"Killed..." Empet paled even further but didn't let go as she worked out
who 'he' was. "The Dominion killed your father. Powerful warriors do not
blame themselves for things beyond their scope of influence."
"I'm not powerful," he replied in a whisper.
"You're more powerful than you know. You live," Empet said simply. "My
only son lives despite everything. And he's a brave and strong man to stand
up
and admit that he lives. You do live, don't you?"
"I sincerely doubt a dead man or a coward would have had me with my feet
dangling off the deck," Nat said bemusedly as he rubbed at his neck and the
bruises it had acquired.
Roberta looked up at Kaine and added, "No dead man loves me like you do
either."
Love? Empet glanced over her shoulder to the slip of a Human. Well, slip
compared to any decent sized Klingon woman. But right at that moment, she was
irrelevant and to be dealt with at a later time. Right now she needed her
son to look at her. "Kaine, son of Tren, do you love your father?"
"Yes," he said, colour touching his cheeks.
"Then behave like you honour him. Stand tall and look me in the eyes," she
demanded.
Slowly, he raised his eyes. His mother was staring at him as if he was her
son. For some reason he couldn't fathom, it chilled him inside that such a
strong woman, someone who had known the old Kaine, could see him as he was but
know he would be as he should.
"There now, are you going to introduce me to the woman who claims access to
our house?"
Roberta supposed she should have behaved as a Klingon woman would have and
shoved herself in the lady's path but that wasn't right. Not yet. But
neither did she shy from her gaze.
"Cliodhna," he asked, lifting his hand to beckon her close. "My Cliodhna,
this is my mother, Empet of the house of Topian. Mother, this is Roberta
Cliodhna Dashman, the woman I intend marrying."
"I thank you for raising such a strong warrior son and I will do honor to
him," Roberta said steadily.
"I know you will," Empet said with certainty. "If you do not, you will
answer to me. He may be a warrior but he's still my son."
"Madam, I am in no way old enough to be Roberta's father but she has been my
yeoman for a good ten years or so. Believe me, I think you'll find her
worthy of your house and your son," Nat stated, the smile coming back into his
eyes.
"I have heard of you, Warrant Officer Lynley," Empet told him after settling
her dark, hard eyes on him. "You're an honourable man."
"I'm honored to hear that, madam," Nat said quietly. "I couldn't have done
half of anything I did without Roberta's help. She's a wonderful lady."
"High praise," Empet said smoothly, flowing to her feet and pulling up to
her full, impressive height. "When do you intend marrying?"
Kaine flushed and groaned. "Let us enjoy each other a while before having
to go through all of the..."
"Boring old tradition?" Empet sniffed in amusement. "My son has never been
the true blooded Klingon in all senses of the word."
"Of course not. He's part Trill," Roberta stated, smiling up at Kaine,
reaching to tickle to spots she could reach.
Frowning at the slight giggles that started from the tickling, Kaine clasped
her hand in his and kissed it. "You'll never let me get too serious, will
you, Cliodhna?"
"Not when you smile like that--no," she said pertly. She looked at Empet,
careful not to smile showing teeth, and said, "The other Klingons speak so
highly of him but I don't need to hear it. He's shown me how strong he is on
his own."
"What do they say of my son?" Empet asked proudly.
She squeezed Kaine's hand lightly before beginning. "They've said the same
things to the chief here, too. I've been told time and again how Kaine
protected the weaker prisoners from the JemHadar or took their work for them.
And
it was his idea that a fellow warrior be allowed to die like a warrior
rather than from the injuries that were inflicted upon him. There was no
knife
available so Kaine asked another prisoner to do what he could."
"A warrior's death for a warrior," Kaine said gruffly. "No wasting away
like a weakling invalid. He fought and died bravely."
Empet's heart roared with honour at her son. How could she not be proud of
him and overjoyed to have him back?
"That was HoD Kadir's brother," Nat said quietly. "He's rather grateful
that his brother won't be in Gre'Thor."
Kaine just grunted but Empet turned and nodded. "If he had been mine, I
would be grateful that my own son was where his father is."
"Apparently Xenexian's have a warrior's ethic as well. Dr. Calhoun did what
was right," Roberta said.
"Is he the man who has taken care of my son?" Empet asked.
"Yes, he is," Nat offered. "He was the CMO of a Starfleet ship before he
was captured and is now our CMO. I understand he was quite pleased to see
Kaine when Roberta took him to Sick Bay to visit."
"I would like to meet him, I wish to thank him for taking care of my son,"
Empet declared. "Take me to him. Now."
"Are you quite certain that you wouldn't rather have the captain escort
you?" Nat asked carefully.
"Now," Empet growled to Kaine's deep embarrassment.
"As you wish," Nat said as he headed for the door, "but I do have to warn
you very strongly about something. Don't startle the man. He doesn't deal
well with that."
"Do I look like a fool to you, Warrant Officer?" she asked, her eyebrows
disappearing in her chain mail headdress.
"Ah, no, madam, you certainly don't," Nat said with a straight face.
"I certainly hope there aren't any loose chairs in the room if that
happens," Roberta said softly to Kaine.
"Could be quite amusing to watch," Kaine said with a sick chuckle. "She is
imposing but smug at times. It would be nice to see her brought down to the
level of real people."
Cassiel had long since perfected the art of sleeping while standing up but
it had become an art form for him in the camp. There was, thankfully, nothing
going wrong for the moment so a few seconds of rest would do no harm. He
was even calm enough to allow his perpetual escort a moment to eat lunch out
of
his sight.
Empet followed wordlessly as she was led to the Sick Bay. Her eyes swept
across the many filled beds and a rare moment of horror and pity took her.
She
threw it aside as foolishly Human and instead saw them as seasoned warriors
returning safe from a long and weary battle. "Show me the man," she said
softly.
"The tall blond haired gentleman in the warrant officer's pips over by the
main console," Nat said quietly, offering a quick smile to one of the men who
was awake.
Empet thanked Nat and made her way toward the man. "Dr Calhoun?" she asked
carefully.
Strange voices. No! They've come for me. The freaks and that crazy big
eared bastard...Cassiel had his hand wrapped around a tricorder and was poised
to strike before his eyes were even open. He halted the instrument's progress
bare inches from Empet's head before he awoke.
"Are you insane?" he snapped. "You could have ended up dead! Gods that was
stupid." His arm shook with the restraint of not following through, the
tricorder still poised to strike.
Dark eyes glanced up at the tricorder then down to where she held a knife
near his throat. "No, I would not." Empet smirked at the young man as she
resheathed her knife. "Your reflexes are impressive though."
Bright hazel eyes glanced down at the knife as it went back in. Lax,
C'ss'l, you were lax. No, not true, there were no women there. Still...
"All the
more to kick M'k'n'zy's ass when I see him. Who are you and what are you
doing in my sick bay?"
"My name is Empet, daughter of the house of Topian and mother of Kaine, son
of Tren. I am here to see the sort of man who saved him. You are..." She
looked him up and down but snorted. "Not entirely as I expected."
Cassiel realized that Kaine was there, too, and tossed him a friendly wave.
"Never saw a Xenexian before, did you?" he asked casually, ignoring the fact
that his heart was still pounding in his chest. Not a ghost. A man.
H's'l'ng's man.
"Once or twice. I've met your M'k'n'zy," she said, pronouncing it
perfectly. "He impressed me only marginally more than Picard once did."
"I hope you took a good look at his face because it isn't going to look that
way when I'm through with him," Cassiel told her with a smirk, slowly
lowering the tricorder. He also realized that Nat was there too but shrugged
it
off. If the captain wants to yell at me, she can. Stupid to startle me that
way. "Good thing I'm not out to impress anybody then, eh?"
Kaine snorted with laughter, leaning heavily on Roberta to stop from falling
over. "It's hard work impressing my mother, friend. She's a hard woman."
Cassiel grinned. "I'm pleased to see you laughing, my friend," he said, his
eyes bright with amusement. He stared up at Empet and said, "That's a good
man you have there, ma'am. I'm proud to call him friend."
"And I am proud to call him son." She placed a hand on his shoulder and
stared into Cassiel's eyes. "Thank you."
"It was an honor, ma'am. I'd apologize about the tricorder but, well, I'm
not sorry," Cassiel said with a careful smile.
"As would I for the knife but again I shall not and for the same reason,"
Empet laughed deeply. "Come, have a drink with us. Just something soft. I'm
no fool to think I can feed my son up no matter how much I want to."
"I think we could both do that.. Just one moment, though," he said.
Tapping his comm badge, he added, "Renatus, topside if you will. I'm taking a
break."
"About time, damn it," came the hissing reply.
"Where is there decent drink?" Empet asked.
"The only civilized tea on the ship is in my office," Nat said mildly, "but
otherwise the lounge is quite well appointed."
"Which ever is best," Empet said. "Just so long as the coffee is strong and
fresh."
Roberta sniffed in amusement at the look on Nat's face. "The chief doesn't
drink coffee, ma'am. I think the lounge would be a better bet."
"No..." Empet shook her head as if something were stuck in it. "Heathen
Human."
"So I've been called many a time though I do hope you will excuse me, madam.
I'm meant to be on duty," Nat said with a slight bow.
"I am a high ranking Ambassador," she said, "and a General who has served
her people for longer than you have drank tea, Warrant Officer. I would
respectfully suggest that this is your duty. Or would you rather run back to
your
Captain and tell her first?"
"I would never run, madam," Nat said with a straight face, "it isn't
dignified but I concede your point. Though, if you'd like Captain Craig to
join us,
I'm certain I can ask her to."
"Yes, I believe I would like to meet the woman who has caused such stirs in
the Alpha Quadrant without even being here," Empet nodded. "Go and find your
captain, we will be in the Lounge."
"If you will excuse me a moment then," Nat said, striding off to find her.
Once he was out of Sick Bay, he ducked into the nearest briefing room.
"Lynley to Craig. Captain, I do apologize for the short notice but we have
company."
Lindsey tapped her badge and lifted her eyes from the reports on her desk.
"Company of what kind, Nat?"
Nat coughed softly, both to clear his thoughts and to give his neck a break.
"Ah well, a now slightly more mollified Klingon mother, Lindsey, that being
General Empet. The lady demanded to see her son."
"Damn," she sighed. "We got any more high rankin' parents or relatives of
those folks?"
"Not that I'm aware of but one never knows. Believe me, she was quite vocal
about seeing the man immediately. Roberta is escorting her and her son to
her lounge and she would like to meet you," Nat replied.
"I'll be there in five minutes," Lindsey said. "Just got one more thing I
gotta do."
Roberta looked up at both Kaine and Empet, happy to see them together, then
tugged slightly on Kaine's hand. "Follow me. I know where everything is on
this ship by now."
"She is my compass as well as my anchor," Kaine laughed softly, following
her easily.
The look in her son's eyes soften some more of the worry Empet felt. After
finding the craft with everyone dead except her son, who simply wasn't there,
she believed he had been taken and tortured or killed as an example. He was
clearly weak but there was something in him that shone and it brightened
Empet's hope just a little.
"You must have left for DS9 as soon as you got word then, ma'am?" Roberta
asked.
"Of course, how could I not?" Empet asked.
"You never know. I've heard a few of the men worry that their families
wouldn't want them or forgot about them," Roberta said sadly.
Her comm badge chirped just then. "Lynley to Dashman. We'll be with you in
a few minutes, Yeoman."
"Brave woman, your Captain, to keep me waiting," Empet observed.
"Mother," Kaine warned in a soft voice, "don't stir things here. I like
these people."
"And Captain Craig really is very brave," Roberta added. "You have no idea
how hard it is for a woman to become a ship captain, even in this day and
age."
Empet snorted at the woman. "Has my gender missed your observation? My own
people are still very patriarchal. Not to mention having to deal with yours
in council."
"With the exception of this one here," Roberta said as she squeezed Kaine's
hand, "and Chief Lynley, I'd have to agree with you."
"Kaine has been raised with a deep respect for women," Empet said smoothly.
"If he didn't exhibit it, he would answer to me."
"And that would probably kill me right about now," Kaine observed with a
soft snort.
Roberta smothered a snort of laughter and led them into the lounge. It was
full of Fleet personnel as well as freed prisoners. A few of the latter
greeted Kaine with waves as they entered.
Hamish waved to his friend, ushering them over to his table where he sat
nursing a tea that he wished was a whisky and waited for his love. "You have
guests, Kaine," he called.
"Mr. Ross, this is General Empet, Kaine's mother and the Klingon
ambassador," Roberta said as she led the group over.
Beaming brightly, he nodded to everyone as they joined him at his table.
"Call me Hamish," he said cheerfully.
"Hamish Ross," Empet said softly. "Son of Fleet Admiral Ross?"
"Aye, that's me," Hamish said. "Got to get used to being Malcolm Ross's son
again. It's been a long time."
"Would you prefer we just refer to you as the funny talking one?" Cassiel
asked with a smirk and a teasing glint in his eye.
"Whatever works for you," Hamish laughed brightly. "You could call me the
Scot or Hamish or Robert the Bruce for all I care so long as you don't call me
a number."
"No," Roberta said softly as she laced her arm around Kaine's waist, "no
numbers for any of you. You all have names to be proud of."
"Aye, that we do," Hamish agreed easily.
Roberta gently nudged Kaine toward a seat. "Don't anybody get up. I'll
take any drink orders."
"You serve him when he's capable of serving you?" Empet asked with a smirk.
"No,," Roberta said steadily, "it's an honor as someone who will be his
wife, to serve guests in his House. Well, the situation being what it is..."
"Ha! Men are there to serve," Empet laughed as she watched Kaine rise
again. "Oh sit down, boy. Sit with your woman." The tall Ambassador rose to
her
feet and pushed Roberta to a seat. "I will serve this time."
"I like her, Kaine. She's got a seriously strong personality," Roberta
opined.
"She is my mother and I love her," Kaine said. "I have been embarrassed by
her many times but not now. I thought... I expected her to hate what I am."
"H's'l'ng would like her," Cassiel mused. "Xenexian women are just as
strong that way and still beautiful."
"Women are strong no matter the race," Kaine said as he held Roberta's hand.
"Do you know how many men, of any species, would have trouble agreeing to
that? People think the chief's got something going with Captain Craig on the
side because he works for her. He'd have a fit if he heard that, too.
They're just good friends," Roberta said, lowering her voice slightly.
"Is he not with the Chief Engineer?" Kaine asked, trying not to get
confused. It frustrated him when his mind couldn't follow even simple things.
"He is but some people have nasty little minds," Roberta told him.
"Pretty thing she is, too," Cassiel stated, "but she's no Xenexian."
"Ah, no, I think she's Human," Roberta told him.
"Not as beautiful as my Cliodhna," Kaine agreed. "There are none to rival
her."
Cassiel looked at the two other men sitting at the table. "My friends, when
we are all three back to better health, I say we toast to beautiful and
strong women who make life a better place to be.. That includes lovers,
wives,
and mothers."
Both Kaine and Hamish nodded, smiles on their faces.
"Aye, we should set a date for it, that way we can't pull out," Hamish
suggested.
"Now lets see about that," Cassiel began. "You all really think my
physician brain isn't warring with the Xenexian brain that wants to go out
drinking
to beautiful women?"
"About as much as my common sense wars with wanting to toast to my lovely
Cliodhna," Kaine chuckled.
Cassiel grinned and leaned forward slightly. "I hear even the noisy one has
himself a wife. D'you suppose even Vulcans might toast a family?"
"Oh definitely," Kaine nodded, smiling over as his mother came back with a
tray of drinks, shortly followed by the Captain sauntering in.
"Ambassador," she said easily, "Doc. How's y'all doin'?"
"Captain," Cassiel said brightly, hazel eyes dancing as he eyed Nat
following behind her, "we were just talking about you."
Inside Roberta cringed. Xenexians were sometimes known to have rather
perverse senses of humor. She hoped that the doctor wasn't about to exhibit
it
right now.
"Oh?" Lindsey asked, her eyes twinkling.
"We were going to add you onto the list of beautiful women to be toasted,"
Cassiel told her.
"I should think Captain Hale would be glad to join that one," Nat stated.
Lindsey's cheeks flushed bright red and she laughed deeply. "Well now, I
think you're right, Nat. Don't think John'd be too happy if y'all toasted me
without him there."
Cassiel noted the sudden flush in the woman's face and held his tongue.
Fortunately, he had a bit more tact than some others of his race but his eyes
were still dancing merrily. "How about you, Chief? Would you join us?"
"In Rosemary's honor, I most certainly would, though I'd prefer a decent ale
to Klingon blood wine," he said mildly.
"Heathen," Empet grinned. "Do the women get to toast their men?"
"Actually I believe the last word I was called was 'sassanach', madam, and
the gentleman would no doubt agree with you," Nat said, barely able to
restrain a smile.
Roberta glanced up at the captain then at Empet. "I don't see why not,
ma'am. Blood wine would be fine for me."
"Works for me too," Lindsey laughed. "Hamish, you got yourself someone we
can toast you with?"
Hamish grinned. "Aye, Sorcha, she's the most beautiful..."
"We covered that," Kaine laughed.
"And agreed to disagree," Cassiel added.
"Smart move," Nat said, finally cracking the smile.
"I can see this is gonna get complicated," Lindsey chuckled.
"I'll explain it to you later, Captain," Roberta said carefully, unable to
look Nat in the eye.
"You do that," Lindsey nodded, accepting the coffee one of the servers
handed her.
Cassiel smiled slightly, watching Kaine with his mother. His sister was the
only one he had left on Xenex and he'd been afraid to even think about
contacting her. Gods, she could be dead...he shook his head as if to clear
his
thoughts and bring himself back to the room.
Kaine pinched between his eyes for a moment to stem the tide of weariness
that had started to grow. It frustrated him that he didn't have the stamina
of
other men his age, even his father would be more spritely... Letting out a
soft sigh, Kaine closed his eyes and forced himself to stop thinking of the
man. He'd managed it so far. If he thought too long, he'd suffocate in grief.
"You know, General," Nat said as he sipped the tea the waiter brought him,
"when you get back to Earth, you ought to visit my brother-in-law's pub in
London. He might even be persuaded to stock warnog and blood wine."
"There are many pubs in London," Empet said, her eyes drifting to where her
son swayed gently in his seat. "And many of them stock Klingon ales, even if
they are poor reproductions or bad imports."
"Madam, please," Nat said with mock affront, "you've obviously never met
Alfred. I should think that the name of the place would be a hint as to its
libations. George's Dragon is named for the patron of our country and the
mythical beast he slew, though maybe it wasn't mythical."
Empet snorted again, raising her eyebrows at Nat. "There are many pubs
called the George's Dragon in London also."
"How," Kaine said softly, "would you know that, mother?"
"I enjoy Human culture, it fascinates me. One of my current guides is an
Englishman," she explained.
"Yes but only one of those is located in Bromley and has had the honor or
infamy to have me three fourths passed out on the back table," Nat said with a
dry chuckle. He offered Lindsey a curious look. "I never have found out how
you found me there."
"Really?" Lindsey asked innocently, taking a sip of her coffee. "Guess it's
just one of life's lil mysteries, huh?"
"Quite," he said with a fond hmmph.
For a moment, Cassiel found himself wondering about Roberta's prior comments
about the relationship between the captain and her aide but something else
caught his attention. "Hamish, my friend, you have the luxury of your own
nurse," he said with a mischievous grin, "but Kaine and I have a cranky EMH.
We've got orders to get scanned or we get confined to quarters. I don't like
arguing with Renatus. He gets damnably obnoxious."
"Scanned?" Hamish asked, frowning. "Right this minute?"
Cassiel gave the Human a look that said 'shut up and trust me'. "This is
the same lizard who went and tracked me down when I was with H's'l'ng the
first
time," he said with a smirk.
"Best do as he says then, friend," Hamish said, still frowning.
Kaine blinked, not quite realising they were referring to him as his head
fogged and he swayed more violently. Empet caught him quickly, set him
straight then sat back, her dark eyes full of worry. "Do you need help
getting my
son there?"
Cassiel's common sense warred with the need to protect his friend's honor
and dignity. He made a slight motion across the room and almost smiled as a
Marine slowly sauntered over. "I don't think so, ma'am. I'd be pleased to
allow the use of my personal escort," he said as Stan finally made his way
over.
"I'm fine," Kaine said softly, trying for his feet but swaying again.
"Really, I'm fine."
Cassiel put a steadying arm at the bigger man's shoulders, surreptitiously
eyeing Stan to make sure he did the same thing, and leaned in closer.
Whispering just for Kaine's ears, he added, "Yeah but we have to look good for
the
ladies, don't we? And I wasn't kidding about Renatus, that cranky SOB. The
chief's lady programmed him perfectly."
Kaine grumbled a bit but didn't say anything else, even when his mother
followed them out.
"Take care of my son," she warned.
"Of course," Cassiel told her, not even bothering for a smart remark. "He's
my friend and he's also earned the right. Come, my friend, leave us find
that damned cranky lizard."
Nat made a small shooing motion at Roberta, indicating she could join them
then looked at Empet. "You needn't fear, madam. The good doctor's only
joined us recently but I think the captain might agree that he's been more
than up
to the task of keeping an eye on Tempest and her guests."
"When he returns to Qo'noS with me he will have the best doctors I can find
to see to him," Empet said softly, watching her son steered away.
Nat hmmphed softly. He hadn't thought about it but he realized that he
might very well lose Roberta's presence when Kaine left the ship. He couldn't
see her leaving the man.
"There is a problem with my intention to take care of my only son?" Empet
demanded as she turned to stare at the Human. "He is still a warrior who
deserves a hero's welcome to his home."
"Ah, no, ma'am, there's no problem at all. It merely just occurred to me
that your son's return home would mean my losing Roberta," Nat explained
carefully. "She's a wonderful assistant and she's been with me for years."
"Why would she leave you?" she asked, staring hard. "She is in Starfleet.
There are regulations to prevent people simply leaving on whim, are there
not? Besides, Qo'noS is a hard place for non-Klingons to be. My husband
would
have told you that. He was one of the rarer people who could put up with
Klingon behaviour and not be offended."
"Why?" Nat cast a glance at Lindsey. Surely she understood why. "The why
of it would be a rather simple answer, General. Roberta clearly loves the
man and I know she would ask for leave to go with him and I, personally, would
grant it."
"What for?" Empet pushed. "Good assistants are very hard to come by.
She'll get over Kaine, forget him and be fine."
Lindsey frowned as she sauntered over. "You don't sound like you care too
very much 'bout what your son wants, ma'am."
"I want him home where he belongs."
"My grandfather is quite fond of saying that we worry about what children
will become and forget what they already are. I do believe Roberta sees him
as
a grown man," Nat murmured.
Empet glared at the insolent man, her eyes flaring up. "Why should I not
baby my son? Doesn't he deserve it?"
"You've not once referred to him as a grown man, madam," Nat said steadily,
wondering why he was looking to get throttled for the second time in a day.
"Even if I am her youngest, my own mother refers to me and treats me as an
adult."
"He is my son," she snarled. "My only son. I have no other and, until but
a few days ago, I thought I had none at all. I defy any mother to wish to
take care of her child when she believes they have been lost to them, even
your
own."
"And he is still a grown man, madam," Nat said steadily, not looking away
from her fierce stare. "Something that was denied to these gentlemen for
years."
"Sounds more like it's what you want rather than what he wants that
matters," Lindsey observed easily, silently glad she wasn't the one being
pierced by
those eyes. "You gonna let the guy think for himself for the first time in
five years? Or you just gonna turn his home into a spittin' image of that
place?"
Empet paled but she turned to glare at the Captain. "How dare you insinuate
that I have nothing but my... but Kaine's interests at heart."
"All due respect, madam, but I believe he respects you too much to tell you
that he may disagree with you. A caged bird will sing but it may be because
it's all he has to do," Nat added.
"And what, pray tell, would the wisest people in the Galaxy recommend I do?
Leave him? Run back to Qo'noS? Forget I got him back?"
"Make the choice his?" Nat asked simply.
"And if he chooses to stay here?" Empet pushed. "Will you just click your
fingers and let him stay?"
"That would be Captain Craig's decision, madam," Nat told her. "I merely
sort out her paperwork."
"We need a Klingon Ambassador," Lindsey said slowly after a moment's pause.
"You think of someone to fit that bill, Nat?"
"Ah, well, it ought to be someone with some prior experience, don't you
think? Someone used to dealing with the multitude of Federation and
non-Federation races aboard ship?"
"Someone who's been in the GQ before, maybe?" Lindsey asked idly.
"That would help most assuredly," he mused, rubbing his chin thoughtfully.
"Alright!" Empet huffed. "I will speak to my government. If they allow it,
Kaine will be assigned here as a minor Ambassador. Nothing more,
understand?"
"Captain, do you suppose the gentleman will take the office?" Nat asked.
"I hope so, it'd be good t'have someone like him on this ship. He's a good
man. Should be proud of your son, ma'am."
"I am," Empet sighed. "But I seem to have lost him a second time."
"No, ma'am," Nat said gently. "Perhaps you've only made the bond stronger.
You know he's alive and on his way to being well."
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