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The weight of recent events start to sink in as Sa'Rahn joins the away team to the diplomatic conference on Antica. Perhaps things are looking up!
Jeez that took longer than I wanted it to, finally worked through that writer's block. Onto the next.
I hope you enjoy reading!
Leave a comment and let me know what you think please! I love reading them, anything is appreciated! :)
“Admiral’s log, stardate… uh…” Growing up on Cait, Sa’Rahn had been taught at an early age the days of the week and hours of the day, just like any other cub obviously. But the strings of seemingly random numbers Starfleet used to tell time had never been easy for him to grasp, even after nearly a decade of service. He knew the calendar date, and how to convert it to Federation standard, but it still took him a moment to do the math in his head. While he was still thinking, the ship’s computer eventually chirped, notifying him he had been silent for too long and the recording had paused, “Agh… Computer, what’s today?” Sa’Rahn grumbled, rubbing the creases of his wrinkled forehead.
“The current stardate is 88612.93” The computer’s automated voice responded.
“Right, right… Put that in please.” Quite a few years had passed since Sa’Rahn had been required to record an official mission log. Granted, dictating reports had been all too common for him years ago while still serving under Captain Fort’yive. But now that his job was completely sedentary, like most things from his past, he’d fallen out of the habit.
Streams of water dripped from his bare body as Sa’Rahn reached to shut off the shower faucet. A momentary shiver jolted him, the hot water that drenched fur quickly turning tepid. Clearing his throat, Sa’Rahn reached for a towel to dry himself before he continued, “Computer, resume log. It’s been eh… ten days since we received orders from Fleet Admiral S’ttel to attend the conference on Antica. Following those orders, the Alpha-Caitian IV has had an uneventful voyage to Beta Rennar so far, and we're entering the system on schedule as I speak. I’ve been informed the Antican Ambassador Budȧh R’D of the Ant’lirca Pack has been elected to serve as our host, or representative for the evening. He’s expecting us shortly.” Sa’Rahn explained, sounding out each individual letter of the Ambassador’s unusual title. He shook his head a little, almost certain he pronounced it incorrectly.
Forcefully rubbing the towel through his thick fur to dry his head, he added, “I’ve uh… I’ve tried to prepare with what I could find on Anticans. I’ve never met one before, so I'm not entirely sure what to expect. If it were up to me, I would love for someone else to take over for me… I’m not great at diplomatic stuff. Records say they’re hunters… semi-nomadic culture? In a lot of ways they appear to share similar customs to Caitians. If it were any other species I’d be more interested I guess. Morley doesn't speak very highly of them, so I’m not sure what to think.” Sa’Rahn’s ears perked as he visibly paused, towel still dangling under his armpit. The weight of what he just said suddenly sunk in. This log, however trivial, would inevitably be reviewed before it was archived in Starfleet’s endless database. For the first time in years, he was starting to reconnect with his brother he hoped! Implicating racism on the part of the Captain likely wasn’t a wise step towards that goal. “Uh… Computer. Delete that last sentence…”
The computer chimed again as it complied, erasing his mistake.
Sa’Rahn closed his eyes took a moment to gather his thoughts before saying anything further he might regret. “Um, in many ways, Anticans seem to share similar customs to Caitians. I’m looking forward to meeting the Ambassador… and learning more about their culture… End log.”
A sharp twinge of pain shot up his spine as Sa’Rahn struggled to wrap the bath towel around his waist. The small of his back was killing him, right above where his tail and hips connected! Granted, Sa’Rahn always had back pain these days, due to his weight, but he had learned to live with it. This however was far, far worse. Every inch of his body was sore. Rolling out of bed, sitting down, getting dressed, even the simple act of tucking a towel under his belly was a trial. All this because Morley had been working him to the bone with his exercise sessions every day! Of course, it hardly amounted to what most would consider even a light routine, but his body wasn’t accustomed to the conditioning. Part of Sa’Rahn cursed his brother, it all felt so pointless to even try. He wasn’t going to lose any weight; pitifully failed attempts in the past had convinced him of that long ago. It wasn’t as simple as just limiting what he ate or how he acted!
Despite those feelings, deep down, Sa’Rahn honestly did want to change. Countless things had gotten harder for him to do over the past few years, especially with Iris lately. It was hard to stay determined, seeing little to no immediate reward for the suffering he would endure. But the alternative future he saw ahead for him scared him gravely. Mixed emotions and fears warred against one another in his heart, it wasn’t fair. As much as he griped and groaned about the exercising and limiting his diet, he kept telling himself he was doing the right thing.
The steamy bathroom mirror squeaked as Sa’Rahn ran his hand across it, his fur soaking up most of the moisture and leaving streaks of water in its wake. His coat was a scraggly mess, but nothing a little grooming couldn’t fix. Getting cleaned up and dressed for the day though was the last thing on his mind. Over the past week, Sa’Rahn had slowly come to terms with just how much distress he had caused himself, his heart, and those around him in the last few months. Originally, he chalked his behavior up to his usual cluelessness; Sa’Rahn knew he wasn’t the brightest in Starfleet. He would tell himself he was a decent person, or at least he wanted to believe he was. But Sa’Rahn knew all too well his actions, or more specifically his lack there of, spoke louder than his intentions. He didn’t mean to act so selfishly, but lately something just hadn't been sitting right inside him. Maybe it had something to do with giving up the opportunity to run that abandoned K-13 station. The scare of his first real heart attack; that seemed more likely. Whatever it was, he would need to figure it out soon.
Despite the things still pressing on his mind, Sa’Rahn paused to admire himself in the mirror as he clipped his pips to his collar. Having set aside some time over the course of the voyage to Beta Rennar, he finally had gotten around to replicating a handful of new uniforms that fit properly, as well as a dress uniform. A gentle smile creased his lips for a moment as he tucked his thumbs behind his belt buckle proudly. He looked good in a fresh uniform; it was pleasing to not feel stuffed into his suit.
That fleeting perspective quickly faded however as thoughts of his present situation returned. Iris was still cross with him, nothing had changed that. She still hadn’t kicked him out of his quarters yet, much to his surprise, nor had she said anything further since their fight. Both her silence and her general attitude towards him lately made it clear she was still mad however.
With time running out before he had to leave, Sa’Rahn still wanted to take his brother’s advice from last week and ask her to join him at the conference as his date. While eating breakfast that morning, he had paged Morley, much to his brother’s annoyance, to triple-check if he was willing to follow through with his end of the offer. The rest would be up to Sa’Rahn however. Scenarios of what he should say or do had been repeating in his head without letup since he awoke, yet he still had nothing to show for it.
Straightening his cuffs as he stepped out of the bathroom, Sa’Rahn gradually came to a stop as he noticed Iris on his side of their bed, kicked back and lounging up against the pillows, attention focused on a datapad in her hand. She was likely reading some Betazoid fashion magazine or maybe watching one of those drama vivid series she followed when bored. Iris wasn’t part of the ship’s crew, or even a member of Starfleet any longer. That career ended years ago when she had been declared a temporal refugee. Now, she lived as a passenger under house-arrest more than anything. No duties or tasks were expected of her; her time was her own.
Still unsure of what to say, Sa’Rahn continued to stand there idly, fidgeting with his uniform. With a growing tightness in his chest, he could feel what little courage he’d mustered draining from him. With nothing to do but hope for the best, he slowly lifted a hand, trying to get her attention. “I-I… um…” He mumbled sheepishly, taking a single step forward. Iris, however, never once glanced his way. Either she failed to hear him, or she was still actively ignoring him; he couldn’t tell which anymore.
Slowly his heart sank as it became apparent his efforts were in vain. Sa’Rahn shamefully clasped his hands together over his stomach as he looked away. Words couldn’t describe his regret; he truly was sorry for how he had treated her. But what use was it anymore, she was obviously ignoring him. Feelings and empty apologies weren’t going to fix anything.
Morley and the rest of the away team were likely waiting by the transporters already, he couldn’t afford to be late. Heavy hearted, Sa’Rahn quietly turned to slip out. But, before he could leave, his guilt dragged him to a halt. He was giving in again! A shiver rolled down his spine as he leaned to one side. The universe had been generous enough to offer him a second chance. He couldn’t just let this pass by!
Shutting his eyes, Sa’Rahn tried to calm his emotions before finally turning back. “Flowe-… Babe, I haven’t-… I-…” He stammered, a little more courage backing his voice. Iris’ attention was eventually drawn from her datapad as she felt him move to sit on the edge of the bed at her feet, the mattress caving to his weight. Laying his hands in his lap, he said, “I’m… I’ve, been thinking. You know… I’m a pretty lucky guy… I’m lucky to be in Starfleet, I’m lucky to have a comfy, safe job. I’m lucky to have so many people willing to help me when I don’t deserve-…” He paused, checking to see if Iris was ignoring him or not. She seemed to be listening. “But, I… I forgot… how lucky I am to have you in my life. You’re the best thing that’s ever happened to me, Iris…! And I forgot that… I was stupid, and selfish, and… and I didn’t think and…” Sa’Rahn raised a hand to his face as his eyes began to water, “Babe I’m sorry. Please… I’m so sorry I hurt you. I try not to be selfish… I don’t mean to be! But, I know I am…” Sa’Rahn then twisted to his side, reaching out to touch her foot, trying to show he was telling the truth. “I should’ve trusted you. I do trust you! I just… I didn't want to scare you. I thought I could handle things on my own… When I had my-… it didn’t, ‘hit’ me like I thought… I wasn’t… worried about it? I was more like… I don’t know. Indifferent? But! Not because… like…! I'm sorry babe…” He whimpered, “Please, I'm sorry…”
Regarding him for a moment, Iris set down the datapad. Leaning forward with both hands on her knees, she replied, “Don’t treat me like I’m some helpless child who needs protection from everything, ‘Rahn. I can handle myself. And that’s not even why I’m upset. You know that.”
Sa'Rahn’s eyes drifted down as he nodded. His whiskers quivered with each word he breathed, "I… should know that. I should know a lot of things because their supposed to be obvious. I know I’m not that smart… We’ve been together for six years, but… I feel like a nervous little cub around you…”
Although Iris remained stiff, his words weren’t completely lost on her. Over the past week, she’d also grown tired of holding a grudge. Seeing Sa’Rahn on the brink of tears cut her, but after learning what he’d done, what he’d hidden from her, she couldn’t be so careless as to just let her mate slip into hurting himself again. His weight, his size, had always been an allure to her, but his health obviously came first! Brushing a few stray hairs from her forehead, Iris stretched out her hand to stroke the soft fur on his face, wiping away a few tears. “I love you, you big cat. Don’t you get that by now? Why else would I want you to take care of yourself?”
Sa’Rahn instinctively trembled at her touch, gently nuzzling his chubby cheek into her palm. “I… You’re right. I’m sorry, I should’ve…” He inhaled, taking in her scent. “I’m so sorry…”
“Promise me.” Iris interrupted, guiding his attention towards her. Brows narrowing, she stared him straight in the eyes and repeated herself with steel in her voice, “I don’t care if it’s slow, or if it takes a long, long time. Promise me you will take better care of yourself. Promise me you won’t keep things like this from me, and let me help you.”
Sa’Rahn’s jaw hung as he stared into her eyes. A whimper slipped out of him, but he couldn’t help but hesitate before saying anything. “I, erh… I’ll tr-… I-… I promise.”
Iris only offered a faint, slightly hopeful smile in return.
Looking at her, Sa’Rahn gathered that if there was going to be any real opportunity to ask her to join him this evening, this would be it. “Babe… Flower, listen. I um… I wanted to… I wanted to ask you… uh, I don’t understand politics much. And, I expect this Antican, diplomatic, conference, thing is going to be pretty boring. Heh… So, I was uh, was wondering if you… If you might want to…” The more Sa’Rahn rambled on, the more he realized he still hadn’t come up with anything useful to say. “I mean. It’s just going to be a bunch of old men calling each other bad names for a few hours. But, there’s a dinner I hear, and… the city, I looked up where it’s going to be and… I’m actually not sure if it’s a city, it might be more of a town, or a village maybe… but it looked nice in the pictures! And-… erm…”
A mildly-amused grin grew across Iris’ face before she finally had the courtesy to interrupt him, saving him from himself, “Why Sa’Rahn, are you asking me on a date?”
A single nervous chuckle escaped him as his ears flattened. “I still get as nervous asking you out, don’t I, huh…?”
“Well I think it’s cute.” Iris responded, patronizingly patting his cheek. “You know I can’t leave the ship, big boy. Your Admiral friend put his neck on the line just to get me into this quadrant.”
“I know, just-... We haven’t been on a real date in a long time, and I want to make up for what I’ve done, and…” Hoping the evening might earn her trust back, Sa’Rahn hesitated with his words, not wanting to let her know it was actually Morley’s idea for her to accompany him. Although feeling a little guilty for quoting his brother almost directly, he continued, “Just, let me worry about it, ok? I really want you to be with me tonight. Please?”
“Hmm… I'll think about it.” Iris smiled slyly, staring over him a moment.
“Does… does that mean yes?”
“It means, I'll think about it.” She repeated herself, making sure to add a certain level of mystery to her voice.
While things seemed to be turning in his favor, Sa’Rahn couldn’t help but worry she might still turn him down. He could feel his throat closing up as he choked on his tongue, hoping a gamble to press the issue further wouldn’t backfire on him. “You know, you’ve been looking for an excuse to wear that long, black dress with the sparkles down the side I got you back at Deep Space 4 last year. You could always-…”
“You mean you’ve been looking for an excuse to see me wear it again.” Iris laughed, seeing right through his ploy. She smiled at him though, recalling how much he liked that dress. “You just like what its got going on in the front. And it’s wine, big boy, not black.”
Sa’Rahn lowered his ears a bit, feigning embarrassment as he smiled a little too. “Heh… yeah ok, you got me on that part.” Lifting his eyes up to meet hers again, he chose to ask one final time, “So…?”
Iris’ eyes roamed around the bedroom as she weighed his apology and offer, gently rocking back-and-forth where she sat. There was no way for her to know how he would manage to get her passage off the ship, though she had to admit, the promise piqued her interest. She considered giving him her answer, but chose to remain silent instead, offering him a familiar look he well knew.
That glimmer of hope was all Sa’Rahn needed to lift his spirits! This was the first real breakthrough since their fight he’d managed, he wasn’t going to waste it. “Um, g-good. Good. Great!” He stammered happily, whiskers fluttering as he spoke. Rising from the bed with a huff, Sa'Rahn lightly brushed out the wrinkles that had formed along his uniform. Arching his back and sucking in his stomach, he nervously tried to present himself the best he could. Hesitating at first to do anything, he reached out his hand to Iris as if to speak again, only to quickly draw it back and glance between her and the door. Surely he was running late by now, and didn't want to be late for his first away mission in almost three years! But still believing he was treading on thin ice left him unsure if he should push his luck further. “I have to…”
“Go.” Iris finished for him, nodding. “Maybe I’ll poke around for that dress…” She added teasingly.
With one final look, a smile grew across Sa’Rahn’s furred lips before turning to leave. Scanning the corridor around once he left, making sure no one might see him, Sa’Rahn completely let his guard down as he slumped against the closed door to his quarters. The sickening mixture of emotions he had been holding back finally came crashing over him as he clutched his chest. He could feel his heart pounding, threatening to burst with each beat! Closing his eyes, Sa’Rahn tried to focus on his breathing, waiting for the pain to pass. He was just thankful there had finally been some kind of progress between himself and Iris! He still had a lot of work to do before things would be back to normal, but for now at least, he could rest assured that he was on the right path.
Only once his breathing had slowed and managed to regain his composure did Sa’Rahn continue on his way to the ship’s transporters, thick tail wagging happily behind with each step. Whatever might happen at the conference, however boring the whole ordeal would inevitably be, at least Iris would be at his side. That was certainly something to be grateful for!
Sure enough, his brother and a handful of officers were ready and waiting when he arrived. “Admiral, you’re here. On time too…” Morley spoke up upon seeing his brother enter. “For once…” He mumbled seconds later under his breath.
“Good, good to hear.” Sa’Rahn panted, trying to catch his breath. As he happened to glance at his brother, he quickly realized Morley was wearing a different uniform, unlike the usual Captain’s uniform he commonly saw him in. This one had different coloring; white spanned across the shoulders instead, with a vibrant strip of red denoting his class beneath it, separated with shiny gold trim. “I don't think I’ve seen that uniform before… Did you just replicate it?” He asked quietly while moving to stand beside his brother.
“What? No. I've had this for years…” Morley replied dryly, a tone of annoyance coating his voice. “I haven’t had a reason to wear it until now.”
“Ah, well, it looks good on you.” Sa’Rahn offered, trying to be friendly. Just as his attention was starting to drift however, he happened to notice something unusual. Although stiff as a brick as always, he couldn’t help but notice Morley appeared considerably thinner than usual, and he seemed be struggling to breathe too, but just slightly. Puzzled, Sa’Rahn gradually leaned forward and back, examining him curiously.
Morley’s patience for the day was already growing thin after a pointless incident report he had to file that morning. His brother’s scrutinization wasn’t helping. Finally having had enough, he turned and angrily whispered through his teeth, “What are you doing!?”
“What’ve you done? It’s like you lost ten kilos overni-…” Sa’Rahn began to reply softly so as not to alert the other officers in the room. He stopped however when he noticed a particular set of wrinkles on Morley’s uniform in the back, faintly outlining something shaped like a large strap beneath the fabric. Sa’Rahn dropped his head quickly in the attempt to stifle his laughter as it all made sense to him. “Heheheh… You got to be kidding me… Morley, are you wearing a-…?”
“Shut it!” Morley growled, a little louder than intended. He paused before speaking again, noticing the minor outburst had gained the momentary attention of others. “It’s not a-…! It is a male support unit. Many Pakleds and Tellarites use them on active duty. Starfleet even sponsors them.” The more Morley tried to defend himself however, the more Sa’Rahn continued to giggle.
“Ha heh, why are you-…”
“It’s none of your business!” Morley grumbled softly, realizing he was only fueling a fire.
Although it took a minute, Sa’Rahn eventually managed to stifle his laughter, though the notion still made him chuckle when he thought about it. While taking a moment to catch his breath though, he happened to notice Morley holding something small and grey in the palm of his opposite hand. Whatever it was, he held it tightly in his grip, rubbing his thumb over it for some reason. “What’s that?” Sa’Rahn asked.
“It’s nothing.” Morley grunted, glaring at him for a second before quickly pocketing the trinket.
Although curious to know what his brother had chosen to hide, he gathered it might be best to not push the issue. Changing the subject, Sa’Rahn quietly asked, “So, what should we expect down there? With the conference and all?”
Rolling his eyes to the ceiling, Morley sighed in frustration. “Naturally. You failed to prepare for this at all, didn’t you…?”
“I did some research during lunch yesterday…” Sa’Rahn replied, defending his laziness a little.
Sighing, Morley replied, “I only know what I learned back at the Academy, and what others’ve told me. They’re primarily hunters, culture centers around it. Honor and truthfulness, typical garbage like that… They’re tribal, uncivilized. I still don’t know how they’re in the Federation…” He shook his head slowly, shifting weight from one foot to the other as he glanced at the others in the room. Keeping his voice low, between him and his brother, Morley continued, “Despite their intelligence being about as advanced as a retarded cub with a fork, they’re kind is arrogant enough to believe they’re somehow superior to other species. Guh…”
“But, they're warp capable, right?” Sa’Rahn asked, “A species can’t join the Federation without some level of warp technology. Do you mean ‘uncivilized’ like how Caitians are? How back home we live more rurally than other species?”
“No.” Morley answered sternly. “They may have some level of technology, but it’s spread thin. I’ve heard it’s common for some of their kind to still be using sticks and stones as tools. They’re centuries behind us.”
Sa’Rahn merely nodded a little in response, finding his brother’s distaste for a species he had yet to meet a little strange. “You don’t seem very eager to meet them?”
Morley shook slightly as he drew in a deep, releasing an irritated sigh before answering. “This is my first away mission in years. Because of you… As disgusting as they may be… I’m not about to pass this up. So as far as the record is concerned, I’m elated to meet our respected Federation neighbors.”
“Admiral, Captain, I’ve just been informed we’ve received permission to beam down to the Capital of Sarti. Whenever you’re ready, Sirs.” The transporter officer on duty suddenly spoke up, motioning to the pads.
As Sa’Rahn followed behind his brother and the accompanying away team, Morley slanted his head back to him, forcefully whispering, “Look just… My reputation needs this. I need this…! Just. Don’t say anything down there. Let me do the talking. Go and stuff your face at whatever buffet they’ll have and keep your mouth shut!”
Despite his brother’s hurtful words, Sa’Rahn could understand his reasoning. Morley’s career had largely been stunted by his own promotion to Admiral years ago, albeit not intentionally. The outburst at the hospital back on Cait had come as such a surprise; Sa’Rahn only wanted things to get better between them if possible. If a peaceful evening was all Morley was asking for, it was worth it in the long run to oblige.
Although Sa’Rahn was reasonably comfortable using transporters, like most Starfleet officers, the thought of his body being ripped apart at the subatomic level to be rebuilt somewhere else still made him feel uneasy if he dwelled on it. With one nod from the Captain as they moved into place, the transporter officer slid her fingers across the controls. Sa’Rahn briefly closed his eyes as blinding light consumed him, spiriting them all away in an instant.
Sa’Rahn’s eyes sprung open however when he suddenly felt something spattering on his face, twitching a little at the sensation. Landing gently on his fur and uniform were crisp white snowflakes falling from the night sky above, evaporating from his body heat almost as soon as they touched him. Back on Cait and throughout his career in Starfleet, it was rare he saw actual snow.
His nose scrunched up for a moment as he breathed in the heavy air around him, the thick and sharp scent of seawater and cold humidity prickled at his lungs. It was a little hard to take in at first, though it reminded him of home after a minute. There was clearly an ocean nearby.
As Morley and the rest of the team readied themselves, Sa’Rahn’s attention wandered to examining his new surroundings. They were all standing in roughly the center of what appeared to be an ornate open plaza at the base of a tall building, brown and pastel-colored tiles lay beneath their feet. It must have been the capitol building of the city, or some other important place, he reasoned. The structure’s walls curved up and forward like a fish’s gaping mouth, as if about to swallow them whole, with even more shelled layers mimicked the same design above, like the back of a Terran Armadillo. Arches and pillars supported the outstretched canopy of stone, creating a complex, yet visually simplistic aesthetic.
The other buildings and houses that could be seen in the distance all had similar designs as well, each with some form of cover or awning that faced towards the far off ocean, opposite the light snowfall. The hazy glow of torches and bonfires illuminated the town around them, breathing life into the lonely city.
The sky looked so much different to him than it did back on Cait, or from the comfort of the Alpha-Caitian IV. Although one might mistake it for a pale rainbow at first, dual glowing ellipses of the planet’s moons spanned an entire third of the sky above, one in front of the other. Gasses in the upper atmosphere spread an auras of blue and yellow-green vapors, through which the stars shone like diamonds.
Sa’Rahn’s attention was interrupted when the what felt like electricity arced through the air for an instant. The muscles in his neck tensed and as his hackles twinged. It was like a ghost had passed over him! Looking around though, nothing seemed to have changed. His left ear instinctively twitched a moment later when a faint, almost silent hum reached him. If it wasn’t for his species’ heightened senses, he almost certainly wouldn’t have heard it. Following the sound down to his chest, Sa’Rahn noticed the small engraved insignia on his combadge now glowing a light blue. It all finally registered to him; the artificial gravity inhibitor Chief Kent had installed must have activated upon detecting the transporter, or perhaps his distance from the ship triggered it. Gently touching it, he found the metal to be mildly warm; the micro-generator obviously active.
Sa’Rahn’s heart sank as he continued to blankly stare. Although the feeling was almost intangible, the badge no longer felt like a piece of his attire or a symbol of Starfleet, but rather a ball-and-chain. Remembering the Doctor’s instruction, he likely couldn’t survive without his badge while planetside anymore. While no less free of body than he was just a few seconds ago, he couldn’t help but feel crippled. His father’s pleading words back on Cait echoed in his mind.
“No one said anything about snow...” Commander Ra’gruff, the Captain’s first officer who had joined the away team suddenly spoke up.
“You got a problem, Commander?” Morley returned, giving him a look.
“No, Sir.”
“I think it’s sort of pretty.” Sa’Rahn commented as he listened to the two banter, trying to divert his thoughts. “It is cold though…” He shuddered, only now noticing the temperature as he gradually adjusted to the planet’s freezing weather.
“Does anyone else hear that?” One of the ensigns of the party off to the side openly asked, raising a finger as if to point to whatever they heard. Lingering in the air around them, carried by the steady breeze, were the sounds of distant crowds bellowing ritualistic chants. Tribal drums and sharp cries of flutes followed behind them, but failed to accompany the slurred voices.
Sa’Rahn had suffered through a variety of music from many species over the years, his own culture’s being his favorite obviously, but this merely sounded like moaning to instruments, much like Terran classical ‘heavy metal’ he reasoned. “It sounds like… music?” He asked.
“Music of the soul, to be precise, Starfleet.” An aged, gravelly voice suddenly corrected. Slowly hobbling up to the group came an elderly male Antican, his slim wooden walking stick in hand tapping the stone tiles of the plaza with each step. A little heavyset and hunched over, it was clear he was rather old. He was clad in a dark purple cloak, sparkling jewels interwoven into the mesh-like fabric, torn and tattered at the ends. Fraying patterned scarves hung around his neck, swaying gently in the breeze like flags. Huddled close behind the man like a entourage trailed a pair of guards. They were younger Anticans, decorated in polished armor with helmets that fit over their long faces like masks, carrying ornate weapons that had the appearance of muskets. “It is the hearts of the Rit'lhir Pack, pouring out to summon the hand of Mesnic to keep watch over the coast.” The older Antican explained, leaning both hands on the carved head of his cane.
His face was similar to that of a hairless Terran badger, but with a series of rigid lumps like a woven seam holding his head together, running up between his eyes and across his elongated skull. His skin was a muddy brown color, leathery and wrinkled from age. Long white, silky hair streamed from his face, from where one would expect eyebrows to be and sweeping down across the sides of his head, flowing around his ears like rocks in a riverbed. More fur sprouted from the tips of his jawline, forming three meticulously trimmed beards, along with two stubby tufts that looked like a moustache on either side of his small black nose.
“Ah, Ambassador Budȧh.” Morley turned upon hearing the Antican’s voice, his face contorting into a wide, warm smile to greet the man. Stretching out an open hand, he added, “It’s a pleasure to finally meet you, Sir. Thank you for having us as your guests this evening.”
The Ambassador, however, returned no such courtesy as he remained, dryly staring at Morley’s waiting hand. “A ‘guest’ is one of whom you wish to bear, one you invite into your tent.” The Antican began to reply, his lips curling into a sneer, revealing jagged teeth. “You are no guest. You were not invited to this summit. I would wager your desire to be present here, is equal to that our own.” Morley’s smile cracked for a only a moment as he retracted his hand politely. “Your thanks is appreciated but not required, Starfleet. Our kind is a part of your Federation. We had no say in your presence, as I’m sure you are aware.” The Ambassador added, waving him off. “What is your title again… ‘Commander’ or something?”
Clasping his hands behind his back, Morley nodded. “I’m Captain Noa’Tek of the starship Alpha-Caitian IV. This is Commander Ra’Gruff, my first officer.” Morley explained, motioning to the Caitian on his left.
“‘Hmm…” The Ambassador grunted, uninterested in the pleasantries. His attention wandering, the Antican glanced over to Sa’Rahn who was trying to distance himself from the conversation, as Morley had asked him to before. The old man’s eyes narrowed as he stalked up to him, carefully examining the obese Caitian. He chuckled a bit, reaching out with his cane to poke Sa’Rahn’s belly as he said, “I am inclined to believe you are the ‘Admiral Noa’Tek’ I was informed would be joining us, no? You most certainly exceed the description provided.”
Unsure how to react, Sa’Rahn gulped and straightened his posture, sucking in his stomach. “Um, yes, Ambassador.”
Morley’s brow lowered as he looked at the two of them, his patience already fearing thin.
A sly, crooked smile slithered across the Ambassador's mouth, a low growl of approval rumbling deep within his chest. Firmly patting Sa’Rahn’s soft arm with his three-fingered hand, his grip lingering afterwards, he explained, “This one intrigues me, yes… I grew curious upon hearing an Admiral of the 23rd Fleet would be joining us. I have read much about you… I look forward to getting to know you this evening…”
Lifting his fist to his mouth, Morley noisily cleared his throat. “Although… Admiral Noa’Tek is present as an observer.… so with all due respect, Ambassador, I was chosen to represent the Federation this evening.”
The Antican glanced back at Morley, unimpressed with his attempt to assert dominance. “Do not presume to mince my words, Captain. My comment was to include you all…” Finally letting go of Sa’Rahn’s arm, the Ambassador stepped back. Tilting his head like a confused puppy, his beady eyes closed in on Sa’Rahn’s badge suddenly. “Your… little brooch. Its appearance is different from others I have seen of Starfleet. Why does yours glow with life?” Curiosity guided the Antican’s hand as he slowly reached to prod Sa’Rahn’s badge with his stubby finger like a child, only to exaggeratedly reel back, startled when it chirped at him!
While Sa’Rahn and the away team refrained from showing any sort of amusement at the old man’s antics, a few of his entourage readily snickered. Barring his sharp teeth, Budȧh spun around and barked at them all, instantly silencing them all! Reaching up and clunking the metal helmet the taller of the guards with his butt of walking stick, he addressed the group. “Bagh… Forgive me. Standards of the Pack Council has been lost in the passing decades. Spineless runts who know nothing of manners fill our ranks! No respect for their elders…” Lifting his eyes to the starry sky above, he added, “The southern winds are not kind to bones of my age. Come. All of you. Inside. We would not want our… ‘guests’ to freeze to death this night.”
Although Ambassador Budȧh continued to ramble on, mostly complaining, about the snowfall and something to do about a another pack, Sa’Rahn’s attention gradually drifted as the group moved into the building. Polished, granite-esque stone tiles decorated the floor in large rectangular slabs; tall aerated arches sprouted from the walls like fingers to support the distant roof above. A thick carpet of mossy white growth covered the ceiling, splashed with a riot of colors and broken by strands of hairy vines hanging from the thick mass. Warm diffused light radiated from behind it, casting dancing shadows mimicking that of treetops on the corridors below. Purple and black tapestries hung from every other pillar, depicting stylized scenes of Antican history, nature, and hunting. Tall, yellowed stained-glass windows were set intermittently throughout the long hallways that connected everything, their pattern sporadic and seemingly random. This must have been the Antican Capitol building, or at least one of them, Sa’Rahn reasoned; it looked like nothing he had ever seen before! It was far more ornate than he had anticipated.
Pausing a moment as the rest continued to walk, the Ambassador glanced to Sa’Rahn who was lagging behind. Barking and waving his cane, the Antican motioned him to take his place in the group alongside him at the front. Torn between following what his brother had asked and not wanting to cause a scene, Sa’Rahn lowered his ears as he placed his hands behind his back, upping his pace a little to match the Ambassador’s. Although not looking, he could clearly feel Morley’s scowl boring a hole through him as he did so.
“Perhaps I have been presumptuous in my words. I do apologize Admiral.” The Ambassador began to say, using his free hand to enunciate his words. “The Federation seemingly enjoys sending outsiders to our peoples’ private affairs. A petty act of distrust. I am certain you can understand my position.”
Sa’Rahn merely mumbled something unintelligible in response, unsure of how to answer.
Morley’s jaw tightened as his eyes darted between his brother and the elderly Antican in front of him. Moving closer to the two, he commented, “I do apologize, Ambassador. We meant no intrusion to your people. This is all merely standard procedure, I assure you.”
“I am well aware this is the Federation's ‘standard’, Captain! It is always their prerogative to stick their noses into the business of their so-called ‘allies’ under the guise of friendship.” The Ambassador snarled. “Neither I nor my people appreciate your envoys being forced upon us! However… I must admit this… at least your Federation sent a species similar to our own this time.” He grunted, offering a half-smile as he looked to Sa’Rahn. “On the last occasion, your party comprised of Terrans… and before that those blue skinned… things…”
“Andorians?” Sa’Rahn asked.
“No. These did not have feelers…” Budȧh explained, wiggling his fingers above his head mockingly.
“Bolians, Ambassador Budȧh.” One of the guards spoke up from behind.
“Ah yes, Bolians…”
“They smelled awful!” The other guard added.
“Mhmm, arrogant things.” The Ambassador agreed, growling. “At least your species is concerned with proper hygiene. Needless to say, I took particular interest when I was informed a band of ‘Caitians’ would be arriving. I am at least somewhat pleased you will be representing the Federation’s presence, Admiral.”
Morley was almost certain now the Ambassador, for whatever reason, was purposely trying to antagonize him! Perhaps the man got some sort of sadistic pleasure out of tormenting those he deemed inferior, much like a Tellarite. Regardless, Morley had resolved some time ago he wasn’t about to back down to the old windbag so easily. “Again, Ambassador. The Admiral here… is merely accompanying my party… He does not speak for the Federa-…”
Stamping his cane forcefully on the ground, the Ambassador promptly halted, turning to address Morley directly. Wagging his hand in the air, he exclaimed, “I have decided the Admiral shall act as representative for your little group this night. I care little to whom your precious Federation has given authority, Captain!”
Morley’s whiskers fluttered angrily as he struggled to contain the growing resentment building within him. However, just as he opened his mouth to correct the Ambassador one final time, his combadge chirped, interrupting him. Taking a discrete breath to calm his nerves first, Morley tapped the badge on his chest, saying, “Go ahead…”
“Sorry to bother you Captain. Some of the cadets on board have requested to break orbit to visit the neighboring system’s asteroid belt to research some mineral compositions for their Academic studies.” A voice explained calmly.
“… Wha-, asteroids, seriously?” Morley replied, clearly frustrated.
“I don’t write the exams, Sir.” The voice chuckled. “I estimate the round-trip would take approximately four hours. We’ll be out of comms range during the trip. With your permission, that is, Sir?”
Rubbing the bridge of his muzzle, slowly swaying his head, Morley sighed, “Agh… understood. Go ahead. I’d imagine the assembly down here will take longer anyway…”
“Acknowledged.”
Sa’Rahn’s heart dropped into his stomach as he listened to the conversation. His brother hadn’t made arrangements for Iris to beam down yet! She was still on the ship! This evening was the only chance he had been given to fix things. If the Alpha-Caitian IV departed from the system, his promise to Iris would be ruined! He had to do something! “Morley…!” Sa’Rahn hoarsely whimpered, desperately trying to gain his brother’s attention!
Noticing Sa’Rahn panic as he silently mouthed the words ‘Iris! Please!’, Morley rolled his eyes, tapped his combadge once more, “Commander, belay that. I need you to take care of something for me first.”
“Yes, Captain?” The voice asked.
Morley hesitated to respond, not wanting to officially involve his brother or the other officers present in the crime he was about to commit by bringing Iris to the surface. Looking to the elderly Antican a moment, he covered his hand over his badge, explaining, “Excuse me, Ambassador. I need to speak to my science officer in private a moment. You go on ahead. I’ll catch up.”
Budȧh merely snorted in response, dismissing Morley with another wave of his cane. “Very well, make whatever call you need.” Waiting until Morley was just out of earshot, the Ambassador turned to Sa’Rahn, saying, “I dislike the arrogance of that one… Tell me, Admiral, are you aware of what that was about?”
“Um, yes…” Sa’Rahn replied, quieting his voice to speak to the Ambassador personally. If Iris were to join him as his date, it would likely be best if their host knew she was coming. The Antican had made it quite clear their presence wasn’t appreciated. A random alien woman showing up on their doorstep probably wouldn’t end well, he gathered. “There’s ah, one more joining us tonight, Ambassador.”
“Oh…? Gruh, another of your officers I presume…” The Ambassador scoffed.
“No. Er… my mate.” Sa’Rahn explained, lowering his tone even further. “I-…er, promised I would show her your world. She… doesn’t get out much.”
“Buhahaha!” The Ambassador suddenly howled, clutching his belly with his free hand as he threw his head back. Reaching up to place a hand on Sa’Rahn’s back, he offered a wide, toothy grin. “I am most pleased to hear this… For I knew I would be proven right! I knew I would enjoy getting to know you better, Admiral.” With a little shuffle to get his aging bones moving, the Antican continued hobbling on ahead, the rest of the group following behind promptly. “I look forward to meeting this ’mate’ of yours. You and your spouse shall take seat at my table this evening as my guests! Please, tell me all about this person of yours. I swear on my honor you shall have an enjoyable time this evening, Admiral.” Ambassador Budȧh exclaimed heartily, motioning Sa’Rahn to keep up the pace.
_________________
-To Be Continued…
The weight of recent events start to sink in as Sa'Rahn joins the away team to the diplomatic conference on Antica. Perhaps things are looking up!
Jeez that took longer than I wanted it to, finally worked through that writer's block. Onto the next.
I hope you enjoy reading!
Leave a comment and let me know what you think please! I love reading them, anything is appreciated! :)
“Admiral’s log, stardate… uh…” Growing up on Cait, Sa’Rahn had been taught at an early age the days of the week and hours of the day, just like any other cub obviously. But the strings of seemingly random numbers Starfleet used to tell time had never been easy for him to grasp, even after nearly a decade of service. He knew the calendar date, and how to convert it to Federation standard, but it still took him a moment to do the math in his head. While he was still thinking, the ship’s computer eventually chirped, notifying him he had been silent for too long and the recording had paused, “Agh… Computer, what’s today?” Sa’Rahn grumbled, rubbing the creases of his wrinkled forehead.
“The current stardate is 88612.93” The computer’s automated voice responded.
“Right, right… Put that in please.” Quite a few years had passed since Sa’Rahn had been required to record an official mission log. Granted, dictating reports had been all too common for him years ago while still serving under Captain Fort’yive. But now that his job was completely sedentary, like most things from his past, he’d fallen out of the habit.
Streams of water dripped from his bare body as Sa’Rahn reached to shut off the shower faucet. A momentary shiver jolted him, the hot water that drenched fur quickly turning tepid. Clearing his throat, Sa’Rahn reached for a towel to dry himself before he continued, “Computer, resume log. It’s been eh… ten days since we received orders from Fleet Admiral S’ttel to attend the conference on Antica. Following those orders, the Alpha-Caitian IV has had an uneventful voyage to Beta Rennar so far, and we're entering the system on schedule as I speak. I’ve been informed the Antican Ambassador Budȧh R’D of the Ant’lirca Pack has been elected to serve as our host, or representative for the evening. He’s expecting us shortly.” Sa’Rahn explained, sounding out each individual letter of the Ambassador’s unusual title. He shook his head a little, almost certain he pronounced it incorrectly.
Forcefully rubbing the towel through his thick fur to dry his head, he added, “I’ve uh… I’ve tried to prepare with what I could find on Anticans. I’ve never met one before, so I'm not entirely sure what to expect. If it were up to me, I would love for someone else to take over for me… I’m not great at diplomatic stuff. Records say they’re hunters… semi-nomadic culture? In a lot of ways they appear to share similar customs to Caitians. If it were any other species I’d be more interested I guess. Morley doesn't speak very highly of them, so I’m not sure what to think.” Sa’Rahn’s ears perked as he visibly paused, towel still dangling under his armpit. The weight of what he just said suddenly sunk in. This log, however trivial, would inevitably be reviewed before it was archived in Starfleet’s endless database. For the first time in years, he was starting to reconnect with his brother he hoped! Implicating racism on the part of the Captain likely wasn’t a wise step towards that goal. “Uh… Computer. Delete that last sentence…”
The computer chimed again as it complied, erasing his mistake.
Sa’Rahn closed his eyes took a moment to gather his thoughts before saying anything further he might regret. “Um, in many ways, Anticans seem to share similar customs to Caitians. I’m looking forward to meeting the Ambassador… and learning more about their culture… End log.”
A sharp twinge of pain shot up his spine as Sa’Rahn struggled to wrap the bath towel around his waist. The small of his back was killing him, right above where his tail and hips connected! Granted, Sa’Rahn always had back pain these days, due to his weight, but he had learned to live with it. This however was far, far worse. Every inch of his body was sore. Rolling out of bed, sitting down, getting dressed, even the simple act of tucking a towel under his belly was a trial. All this because Morley had been working him to the bone with his exercise sessions every day! Of course, it hardly amounted to what most would consider even a light routine, but his body wasn’t accustomed to the conditioning. Part of Sa’Rahn cursed his brother, it all felt so pointless to even try. He wasn’t going to lose any weight; pitifully failed attempts in the past had convinced him of that long ago. It wasn’t as simple as just limiting what he ate or how he acted!
Despite those feelings, deep down, Sa’Rahn honestly did want to change. Countless things had gotten harder for him to do over the past few years, especially with Iris lately. It was hard to stay determined, seeing little to no immediate reward for the suffering he would endure. But the alternative future he saw ahead for him scared him gravely. Mixed emotions and fears warred against one another in his heart, it wasn’t fair. As much as he griped and groaned about the exercising and limiting his diet, he kept telling himself he was doing the right thing.
The steamy bathroom mirror squeaked as Sa’Rahn ran his hand across it, his fur soaking up most of the moisture and leaving streaks of water in its wake. His coat was a scraggly mess, but nothing a little grooming couldn’t fix. Getting cleaned up and dressed for the day though was the last thing on his mind. Over the past week, Sa’Rahn had slowly come to terms with just how much distress he had caused himself, his heart, and those around him in the last few months. Originally, he chalked his behavior up to his usual cluelessness; Sa’Rahn knew he wasn’t the brightest in Starfleet. He would tell himself he was a decent person, or at least he wanted to believe he was. But Sa’Rahn knew all too well his actions, or more specifically his lack there of, spoke louder than his intentions. He didn’t mean to act so selfishly, but lately something just hadn't been sitting right inside him. Maybe it had something to do with giving up the opportunity to run that abandoned K-13 station. The scare of his first real heart attack; that seemed more likely. Whatever it was, he would need to figure it out soon.
Despite the things still pressing on his mind, Sa’Rahn paused to admire himself in the mirror as he clipped his pips to his collar. Having set aside some time over the course of the voyage to Beta Rennar, he finally had gotten around to replicating a handful of new uniforms that fit properly, as well as a dress uniform. A gentle smile creased his lips for a moment as he tucked his thumbs behind his belt buckle proudly. He looked good in a fresh uniform; it was pleasing to not feel stuffed into his suit.
That fleeting perspective quickly faded however as thoughts of his present situation returned. Iris was still cross with him, nothing had changed that. She still hadn’t kicked him out of his quarters yet, much to his surprise, nor had she said anything further since their fight. Both her silence and her general attitude towards him lately made it clear she was still mad however.
With time running out before he had to leave, Sa’Rahn still wanted to take his brother’s advice from last week and ask her to join him at the conference as his date. While eating breakfast that morning, he had paged Morley, much to his brother’s annoyance, to triple-check if he was willing to follow through with his end of the offer. The rest would be up to Sa’Rahn however. Scenarios of what he should say or do had been repeating in his head without letup since he awoke, yet he still had nothing to show for it.
Straightening his cuffs as he stepped out of the bathroom, Sa’Rahn gradually came to a stop as he noticed Iris on his side of their bed, kicked back and lounging up against the pillows, attention focused on a datapad in her hand. She was likely reading some Betazoid fashion magazine or maybe watching one of those drama vivid series she followed when bored. Iris wasn’t part of the ship’s crew, or even a member of Starfleet any longer. That career ended years ago when she had been declared a temporal refugee. Now, she lived as a passenger under house-arrest more than anything. No duties or tasks were expected of her; her time was her own.
Still unsure of what to say, Sa’Rahn continued to stand there idly, fidgeting with his uniform. With a growing tightness in his chest, he could feel what little courage he’d mustered draining from him. With nothing to do but hope for the best, he slowly lifted a hand, trying to get her attention. “I-I… um…” He mumbled sheepishly, taking a single step forward. Iris, however, never once glanced his way. Either she failed to hear him, or she was still actively ignoring him; he couldn’t tell which anymore.
Slowly his heart sank as it became apparent his efforts were in vain. Sa’Rahn shamefully clasped his hands together over his stomach as he looked away. Words couldn’t describe his regret; he truly was sorry for how he had treated her. But what use was it anymore, she was obviously ignoring him. Feelings and empty apologies weren’t going to fix anything.
Morley and the rest of the away team were likely waiting by the transporters already, he couldn’t afford to be late. Heavy hearted, Sa’Rahn quietly turned to slip out. But, before he could leave, his guilt dragged him to a halt. He was giving in again! A shiver rolled down his spine as he leaned to one side. The universe had been generous enough to offer him a second chance. He couldn’t just let this pass by!
Shutting his eyes, Sa’Rahn tried to calm his emotions before finally turning back. “Flowe-… Babe, I haven’t-… I-…” He stammered, a little more courage backing his voice. Iris’ attention was eventually drawn from her datapad as she felt him move to sit on the edge of the bed at her feet, the mattress caving to his weight. Laying his hands in his lap, he said, “I’m… I’ve, been thinking. You know… I’m a pretty lucky guy… I’m lucky to be in Starfleet, I’m lucky to have a comfy, safe job. I’m lucky to have so many people willing to help me when I don’t deserve-…” He paused, checking to see if Iris was ignoring him or not. She seemed to be listening. “But, I… I forgot… how lucky I am to have you in my life. You’re the best thing that’s ever happened to me, Iris…! And I forgot that… I was stupid, and selfish, and… and I didn’t think and…” Sa’Rahn raised a hand to his face as his eyes began to water, “Babe I’m sorry. Please… I’m so sorry I hurt you. I try not to be selfish… I don’t mean to be! But, I know I am…” Sa’Rahn then twisted to his side, reaching out to touch her foot, trying to show he was telling the truth. “I should’ve trusted you. I do trust you! I just… I didn't want to scare you. I thought I could handle things on my own… When I had my-… it didn’t, ‘hit’ me like I thought… I wasn’t… worried about it? I was more like… I don’t know. Indifferent? But! Not because… like…! I'm sorry babe…” He whimpered, “Please, I'm sorry…”
Regarding him for a moment, Iris set down the datapad. Leaning forward with both hands on her knees, she replied, “Don’t treat me like I’m some helpless child who needs protection from everything, ‘Rahn. I can handle myself. And that’s not even why I’m upset. You know that.”
Sa'Rahn’s eyes drifted down as he nodded. His whiskers quivered with each word he breathed, "I… should know that. I should know a lot of things because their supposed to be obvious. I know I’m not that smart… We’ve been together for six years, but… I feel like a nervous little cub around you…”
Although Iris remained stiff, his words weren’t completely lost on her. Over the past week, she’d also grown tired of holding a grudge. Seeing Sa’Rahn on the brink of tears cut her, but after learning what he’d done, what he’d hidden from her, she couldn’t be so careless as to just let her mate slip into hurting himself again. His weight, his size, had always been an allure to her, but his health obviously came first! Brushing a few stray hairs from her forehead, Iris stretched out her hand to stroke the soft fur on his face, wiping away a few tears. “I love you, you big cat. Don’t you get that by now? Why else would I want you to take care of yourself?”
Sa’Rahn instinctively trembled at her touch, gently nuzzling his chubby cheek into her palm. “I… You’re right. I’m sorry, I should’ve…” He inhaled, taking in her scent. “I’m so sorry…”
“Promise me.” Iris interrupted, guiding his attention towards her. Brows narrowing, she stared him straight in the eyes and repeated herself with steel in her voice, “I don’t care if it’s slow, or if it takes a long, long time. Promise me you will take better care of yourself. Promise me you won’t keep things like this from me, and let me help you.”
Sa’Rahn’s jaw hung as he stared into her eyes. A whimper slipped out of him, but he couldn’t help but hesitate before saying anything. “I, erh… I’ll tr-… I-… I promise.”
Iris only offered a faint, slightly hopeful smile in return.
Looking at her, Sa’Rahn gathered that if there was going to be any real opportunity to ask her to join him this evening, this would be it. “Babe… Flower, listen. I um… I wanted to… I wanted to ask you… uh, I don’t understand politics much. And, I expect this Antican, diplomatic, conference, thing is going to be pretty boring. Heh… So, I was uh, was wondering if you… If you might want to…” The more Sa’Rahn rambled on, the more he realized he still hadn’t come up with anything useful to say. “I mean. It’s just going to be a bunch of old men calling each other bad names for a few hours. But, there’s a dinner I hear, and… the city, I looked up where it’s going to be and… I’m actually not sure if it’s a city, it might be more of a town, or a village maybe… but it looked nice in the pictures! And-… erm…”
A mildly-amused grin grew across Iris’ face before she finally had the courtesy to interrupt him, saving him from himself, “Why Sa’Rahn, are you asking me on a date?”
A single nervous chuckle escaped him as his ears flattened. “I still get as nervous asking you out, don’t I, huh…?”
“Well I think it’s cute.” Iris responded, patronizingly patting his cheek. “You know I can’t leave the ship, big boy. Your Admiral friend put his neck on the line just to get me into this quadrant.”
“I know, just-... We haven’t been on a real date in a long time, and I want to make up for what I’ve done, and…” Hoping the evening might earn her trust back, Sa’Rahn hesitated with his words, not wanting to let her know it was actually Morley’s idea for her to accompany him. Although feeling a little guilty for quoting his brother almost directly, he continued, “Just, let me worry about it, ok? I really want you to be with me tonight. Please?”
“Hmm… I'll think about it.” Iris smiled slyly, staring over him a moment.
“Does… does that mean yes?”
“It means, I'll think about it.” She repeated herself, making sure to add a certain level of mystery to her voice.
While things seemed to be turning in his favor, Sa’Rahn couldn’t help but worry she might still turn him down. He could feel his throat closing up as he choked on his tongue, hoping a gamble to press the issue further wouldn’t backfire on him. “You know, you’ve been looking for an excuse to wear that long, black dress with the sparkles down the side I got you back at Deep Space 4 last year. You could always-…”
“You mean you’ve been looking for an excuse to see me wear it again.” Iris laughed, seeing right through his ploy. She smiled at him though, recalling how much he liked that dress. “You just like what its got going on in the front. And it’s wine, big boy, not black.”
Sa’Rahn lowered his ears a bit, feigning embarrassment as he smiled a little too. “Heh… yeah ok, you got me on that part.” Lifting his eyes up to meet hers again, he chose to ask one final time, “So…?”
Iris’ eyes roamed around the bedroom as she weighed his apology and offer, gently rocking back-and-forth where she sat. There was no way for her to know how he would manage to get her passage off the ship, though she had to admit, the promise piqued her interest. She considered giving him her answer, but chose to remain silent instead, offering him a familiar look he well knew.
That glimmer of hope was all Sa’Rahn needed to lift his spirits! This was the first real breakthrough since their fight he’d managed, he wasn’t going to waste it. “Um, g-good. Good. Great!” He stammered happily, whiskers fluttering as he spoke. Rising from the bed with a huff, Sa'Rahn lightly brushed out the wrinkles that had formed along his uniform. Arching his back and sucking in his stomach, he nervously tried to present himself the best he could. Hesitating at first to do anything, he reached out his hand to Iris as if to speak again, only to quickly draw it back and glance between her and the door. Surely he was running late by now, and didn't want to be late for his first away mission in almost three years! But still believing he was treading on thin ice left him unsure if he should push his luck further. “I have to…”
“Go.” Iris finished for him, nodding. “Maybe I’ll poke around for that dress…” She added teasingly.
With one final look, a smile grew across Sa’Rahn’s furred lips before turning to leave. Scanning the corridor around once he left, making sure no one might see him, Sa’Rahn completely let his guard down as he slumped against the closed door to his quarters. The sickening mixture of emotions he had been holding back finally came crashing over him as he clutched his chest. He could feel his heart pounding, threatening to burst with each beat! Closing his eyes, Sa’Rahn tried to focus on his breathing, waiting for the pain to pass. He was just thankful there had finally been some kind of progress between himself and Iris! He still had a lot of work to do before things would be back to normal, but for now at least, he could rest assured that he was on the right path.
Only once his breathing had slowed and managed to regain his composure did Sa’Rahn continue on his way to the ship’s transporters, thick tail wagging happily behind with each step. Whatever might happen at the conference, however boring the whole ordeal would inevitably be, at least Iris would be at his side. That was certainly something to be grateful for!
Sure enough, his brother and a handful of officers were ready and waiting when he arrived. “Admiral, you’re here. On time too…” Morley spoke up upon seeing his brother enter. “For once…” He mumbled seconds later under his breath.
“Good, good to hear.” Sa’Rahn panted, trying to catch his breath. As he happened to glance at his brother, he quickly realized Morley was wearing a different uniform, unlike the usual Captain’s uniform he commonly saw him in. This one had different coloring; white spanned across the shoulders instead, with a vibrant strip of red denoting his class beneath it, separated with shiny gold trim. “I don't think I’ve seen that uniform before… Did you just replicate it?” He asked quietly while moving to stand beside his brother.
“What? No. I've had this for years…” Morley replied dryly, a tone of annoyance coating his voice. “I haven’t had a reason to wear it until now.”
“Ah, well, it looks good on you.” Sa’Rahn offered, trying to be friendly. Just as his attention was starting to drift however, he happened to notice something unusual. Although stiff as a brick as always, he couldn’t help but notice Morley appeared considerably thinner than usual, and he seemed be struggling to breathe too, but just slightly. Puzzled, Sa’Rahn gradually leaned forward and back, examining him curiously.
Morley’s patience for the day was already growing thin after a pointless incident report he had to file that morning. His brother’s scrutinization wasn’t helping. Finally having had enough, he turned and angrily whispered through his teeth, “What are you doing!?”
“What’ve you done? It’s like you lost ten kilos overni-…” Sa’Rahn began to reply softly so as not to alert the other officers in the room. He stopped however when he noticed a particular set of wrinkles on Morley’s uniform in the back, faintly outlining something shaped like a large strap beneath the fabric. Sa’Rahn dropped his head quickly in the attempt to stifle his laughter as it all made sense to him. “Heheheh… You got to be kidding me… Morley, are you wearing a-…?”
“Shut it!” Morley growled, a little louder than intended. He paused before speaking again, noticing the minor outburst had gained the momentary attention of others. “It’s not a-…! It is a male support unit. Many Pakleds and Tellarites use them on active duty. Starfleet even sponsors them.” The more Morley tried to defend himself however, the more Sa’Rahn continued to giggle.
“Ha heh, why are you-…”
“It’s none of your business!” Morley grumbled softly, realizing he was only fueling a fire.
Although it took a minute, Sa’Rahn eventually managed to stifle his laughter, though the notion still made him chuckle when he thought about it. While taking a moment to catch his breath though, he happened to notice Morley holding something small and grey in the palm of his opposite hand. Whatever it was, he held it tightly in his grip, rubbing his thumb over it for some reason. “What’s that?” Sa’Rahn asked.
“It’s nothing.” Morley grunted, glaring at him for a second before quickly pocketing the trinket.
Although curious to know what his brother had chosen to hide, he gathered it might be best to not push the issue. Changing the subject, Sa’Rahn quietly asked, “So, what should we expect down there? With the conference and all?”
Rolling his eyes to the ceiling, Morley sighed in frustration. “Naturally. You failed to prepare for this at all, didn’t you…?”
“I did some research during lunch yesterday…” Sa’Rahn replied, defending his laziness a little.
Sighing, Morley replied, “I only know what I learned back at the Academy, and what others’ve told me. They’re primarily hunters, culture centers around it. Honor and truthfulness, typical garbage like that… They’re tribal, uncivilized. I still don’t know how they’re in the Federation…” He shook his head slowly, shifting weight from one foot to the other as he glanced at the others in the room. Keeping his voice low, between him and his brother, Morley continued, “Despite their intelligence being about as advanced as a retarded cub with a fork, they’re kind is arrogant enough to believe they’re somehow superior to other species. Guh…”
“But, they're warp capable, right?” Sa’Rahn asked, “A species can’t join the Federation without some level of warp technology. Do you mean ‘uncivilized’ like how Caitians are? How back home we live more rurally than other species?”
“No.” Morley answered sternly. “They may have some level of technology, but it’s spread thin. I’ve heard it’s common for some of their kind to still be using sticks and stones as tools. They’re centuries behind us.”
Sa’Rahn merely nodded a little in response, finding his brother’s distaste for a species he had yet to meet a little strange. “You don’t seem very eager to meet them?”
Morley shook slightly as he drew in a deep, releasing an irritated sigh before answering. “This is my first away mission in years. Because of you… As disgusting as they may be… I’m not about to pass this up. So as far as the record is concerned, I’m elated to meet our respected Federation neighbors.”
“Admiral, Captain, I’ve just been informed we’ve received permission to beam down to the Capital of Sarti. Whenever you’re ready, Sirs.” The transporter officer on duty suddenly spoke up, motioning to the pads.
As Sa’Rahn followed behind his brother and the accompanying away team, Morley slanted his head back to him, forcefully whispering, “Look just… My reputation needs this. I need this…! Just. Don’t say anything down there. Let me do the talking. Go and stuff your face at whatever buffet they’ll have and keep your mouth shut!”
Despite his brother’s hurtful words, Sa’Rahn could understand his reasoning. Morley’s career had largely been stunted by his own promotion to Admiral years ago, albeit not intentionally. The outburst at the hospital back on Cait had come as such a surprise; Sa’Rahn only wanted things to get better between them if possible. If a peaceful evening was all Morley was asking for, it was worth it in the long run to oblige.
Although Sa’Rahn was reasonably comfortable using transporters, like most Starfleet officers, the thought of his body being ripped apart at the subatomic level to be rebuilt somewhere else still made him feel uneasy if he dwelled on it. With one nod from the Captain as they moved into place, the transporter officer slid her fingers across the controls. Sa’Rahn briefly closed his eyes as blinding light consumed him, spiriting them all away in an instant.
Sa’Rahn’s eyes sprung open however when he suddenly felt something spattering on his face, twitching a little at the sensation. Landing gently on his fur and uniform were crisp white snowflakes falling from the night sky above, evaporating from his body heat almost as soon as they touched him. Back on Cait and throughout his career in Starfleet, it was rare he saw actual snow.
His nose scrunched up for a moment as he breathed in the heavy air around him, the thick and sharp scent of seawater and cold humidity prickled at his lungs. It was a little hard to take in at first, though it reminded him of home after a minute. There was clearly an ocean nearby.
As Morley and the rest of the team readied themselves, Sa’Rahn’s attention wandered to examining his new surroundings. They were all standing in roughly the center of what appeared to be an ornate open plaza at the base of a tall building, brown and pastel-colored tiles lay beneath their feet. It must have been the capitol building of the city, or some other important place, he reasoned. The structure’s walls curved up and forward like a fish’s gaping mouth, as if about to swallow them whole, with even more shelled layers mimicked the same design above, like the back of a Terran Armadillo. Arches and pillars supported the outstretched canopy of stone, creating a complex, yet visually simplistic aesthetic.
The other buildings and houses that could be seen in the distance all had similar designs as well, each with some form of cover or awning that faced towards the far off ocean, opposite the light snowfall. The hazy glow of torches and bonfires illuminated the town around them, breathing life into the lonely city.
The sky looked so much different to him than it did back on Cait, or from the comfort of the Alpha-Caitian IV. Although one might mistake it for a pale rainbow at first, dual glowing ellipses of the planet’s moons spanned an entire third of the sky above, one in front of the other. Gasses in the upper atmosphere spread an auras of blue and yellow-green vapors, through which the stars shone like diamonds.
Sa’Rahn’s attention was interrupted when the what felt like electricity arced through the air for an instant. The muscles in his neck tensed and as his hackles twinged. It was like a ghost had passed over him! Looking around though, nothing seemed to have changed. His left ear instinctively twitched a moment later when a faint, almost silent hum reached him. If it wasn’t for his species’ heightened senses, he almost certainly wouldn’t have heard it. Following the sound down to his chest, Sa’Rahn noticed the small engraved insignia on his combadge now glowing a light blue. It all finally registered to him; the artificial gravity inhibitor Chief Kent had installed must have activated upon detecting the transporter, or perhaps his distance from the ship triggered it. Gently touching it, he found the metal to be mildly warm; the micro-generator obviously active.
Sa’Rahn’s heart sank as he continued to blankly stare. Although the feeling was almost intangible, the badge no longer felt like a piece of his attire or a symbol of Starfleet, but rather a ball-and-chain. Remembering the Doctor’s instruction, he likely couldn’t survive without his badge while planetside anymore. While no less free of body than he was just a few seconds ago, he couldn’t help but feel crippled. His father’s pleading words back on Cait echoed in his mind.
“No one said anything about snow...” Commander Ra’gruff, the Captain’s first officer who had joined the away team suddenly spoke up.
“You got a problem, Commander?” Morley returned, giving him a look.
“No, Sir.”
“I think it’s sort of pretty.” Sa’Rahn commented as he listened to the two banter, trying to divert his thoughts. “It is cold though…” He shuddered, only now noticing the temperature as he gradually adjusted to the planet’s freezing weather.
“Does anyone else hear that?” One of the ensigns of the party off to the side openly asked, raising a finger as if to point to whatever they heard. Lingering in the air around them, carried by the steady breeze, were the sounds of distant crowds bellowing ritualistic chants. Tribal drums and sharp cries of flutes followed behind them, but failed to accompany the slurred voices.
Sa’Rahn had suffered through a variety of music from many species over the years, his own culture’s being his favorite obviously, but this merely sounded like moaning to instruments, much like Terran classical ‘heavy metal’ he reasoned. “It sounds like… music?” He asked.
“Music of the soul, to be precise, Starfleet.” An aged, gravelly voice suddenly corrected. Slowly hobbling up to the group came an elderly male Antican, his slim wooden walking stick in hand tapping the stone tiles of the plaza with each step. A little heavyset and hunched over, it was clear he was rather old. He was clad in a dark purple cloak, sparkling jewels interwoven into the mesh-like fabric, torn and tattered at the ends. Fraying patterned scarves hung around his neck, swaying gently in the breeze like flags. Huddled close behind the man like a entourage trailed a pair of guards. They were younger Anticans, decorated in polished armor with helmets that fit over their long faces like masks, carrying ornate weapons that had the appearance of muskets. “It is the hearts of the Rit'lhir Pack, pouring out to summon the hand of Mesnic to keep watch over the coast.” The older Antican explained, leaning both hands on the carved head of his cane.
His face was similar to that of a hairless Terran badger, but with a series of rigid lumps like a woven seam holding his head together, running up between his eyes and across his elongated skull. His skin was a muddy brown color, leathery and wrinkled from age. Long white, silky hair streamed from his face, from where one would expect eyebrows to be and sweeping down across the sides of his head, flowing around his ears like rocks in a riverbed. More fur sprouted from the tips of his jawline, forming three meticulously trimmed beards, along with two stubby tufts that looked like a moustache on either side of his small black nose.
“Ah, Ambassador Budȧh.” Morley turned upon hearing the Antican’s voice, his face contorting into a wide, warm smile to greet the man. Stretching out an open hand, he added, “It’s a pleasure to finally meet you, Sir. Thank you for having us as your guests this evening.”
The Ambassador, however, returned no such courtesy as he remained, dryly staring at Morley’s waiting hand. “A ‘guest’ is one of whom you wish to bear, one you invite into your tent.” The Antican began to reply, his lips curling into a sneer, revealing jagged teeth. “You are no guest. You were not invited to this summit. I would wager your desire to be present here, is equal to that our own.” Morley’s smile cracked for a only a moment as he retracted his hand politely. “Your thanks is appreciated but not required, Starfleet. Our kind is a part of your Federation. We had no say in your presence, as I’m sure you are aware.” The Ambassador added, waving him off. “What is your title again… ‘Commander’ or something?”
Clasping his hands behind his back, Morley nodded. “I’m Captain Noa’Tek of the starship Alpha-Caitian IV. This is Commander Ra’Gruff, my first officer.” Morley explained, motioning to the Caitian on his left.
“‘Hmm…” The Ambassador grunted, uninterested in the pleasantries. His attention wandering, the Antican glanced over to Sa’Rahn who was trying to distance himself from the conversation, as Morley had asked him to before. The old man’s eyes narrowed as he stalked up to him, carefully examining the obese Caitian. He chuckled a bit, reaching out with his cane to poke Sa’Rahn’s belly as he said, “I am inclined to believe you are the ‘Admiral Noa’Tek’ I was informed would be joining us, no? You most certainly exceed the description provided.”
Unsure how to react, Sa’Rahn gulped and straightened his posture, sucking in his stomach. “Um, yes, Ambassador.”
Morley’s brow lowered as he looked at the two of them, his patience already fearing thin.
A sly, crooked smile slithered across the Ambassador's mouth, a low growl of approval rumbling deep within his chest. Firmly patting Sa’Rahn’s soft arm with his three-fingered hand, his grip lingering afterwards, he explained, “This one intrigues me, yes… I grew curious upon hearing an Admiral of the 23rd Fleet would be joining us. I have read much about you… I look forward to getting to know you this evening…”
Lifting his fist to his mouth, Morley noisily cleared his throat. “Although… Admiral Noa’Tek is present as an observer.… so with all due respect, Ambassador, I was chosen to represent the Federation this evening.”
The Antican glanced back at Morley, unimpressed with his attempt to assert dominance. “Do not presume to mince my words, Captain. My comment was to include you all…” Finally letting go of Sa’Rahn’s arm, the Ambassador stepped back. Tilting his head like a confused puppy, his beady eyes closed in on Sa’Rahn’s badge suddenly. “Your… little brooch. Its appearance is different from others I have seen of Starfleet. Why does yours glow with life?” Curiosity guided the Antican’s hand as he slowly reached to prod Sa’Rahn’s badge with his stubby finger like a child, only to exaggeratedly reel back, startled when it chirped at him!
While Sa’Rahn and the away team refrained from showing any sort of amusement at the old man’s antics, a few of his entourage readily snickered. Barring his sharp teeth, Budȧh spun around and barked at them all, instantly silencing them all! Reaching up and clunking the metal helmet the taller of the guards with his butt of walking stick, he addressed the group. “Bagh… Forgive me. Standards of the Pack Council has been lost in the passing decades. Spineless runts who know nothing of manners fill our ranks! No respect for their elders…” Lifting his eyes to the starry sky above, he added, “The southern winds are not kind to bones of my age. Come. All of you. Inside. We would not want our… ‘guests’ to freeze to death this night.”
Although Ambassador Budȧh continued to ramble on, mostly complaining, about the snowfall and something to do about a another pack, Sa’Rahn’s attention gradually drifted as the group moved into the building. Polished, granite-esque stone tiles decorated the floor in large rectangular slabs; tall aerated arches sprouted from the walls like fingers to support the distant roof above. A thick carpet of mossy white growth covered the ceiling, splashed with a riot of colors and broken by strands of hairy vines hanging from the thick mass. Warm diffused light radiated from behind it, casting dancing shadows mimicking that of treetops on the corridors below. Purple and black tapestries hung from every other pillar, depicting stylized scenes of Antican history, nature, and hunting. Tall, yellowed stained-glass windows were set intermittently throughout the long hallways that connected everything, their pattern sporadic and seemingly random. This must have been the Antican Capitol building, or at least one of them, Sa’Rahn reasoned; it looked like nothing he had ever seen before! It was far more ornate than he had anticipated.
Pausing a moment as the rest continued to walk, the Ambassador glanced to Sa’Rahn who was lagging behind. Barking and waving his cane, the Antican motioned him to take his place in the group alongside him at the front. Torn between following what his brother had asked and not wanting to cause a scene, Sa’Rahn lowered his ears as he placed his hands behind his back, upping his pace a little to match the Ambassador’s. Although not looking, he could clearly feel Morley’s scowl boring a hole through him as he did so.
“Perhaps I have been presumptuous in my words. I do apologize Admiral.” The Ambassador began to say, using his free hand to enunciate his words. “The Federation seemingly enjoys sending outsiders to our peoples’ private affairs. A petty act of distrust. I am certain you can understand my position.”
Sa’Rahn merely mumbled something unintelligible in response, unsure of how to answer.
Morley’s jaw tightened as his eyes darted between his brother and the elderly Antican in front of him. Moving closer to the two, he commented, “I do apologize, Ambassador. We meant no intrusion to your people. This is all merely standard procedure, I assure you.”
“I am well aware this is the Federation's ‘standard’, Captain! It is always their prerogative to stick their noses into the business of their so-called ‘allies’ under the guise of friendship.” The Ambassador snarled. “Neither I nor my people appreciate your envoys being forced upon us! However… I must admit this… at least your Federation sent a species similar to our own this time.” He grunted, offering a half-smile as he looked to Sa’Rahn. “On the last occasion, your party comprised of Terrans… and before that those blue skinned… things…”
“Andorians?” Sa’Rahn asked.
“No. These did not have feelers…” Budȧh explained, wiggling his fingers above his head mockingly.
“Bolians, Ambassador Budȧh.” One of the guards spoke up from behind.
“Ah yes, Bolians…”
“They smelled awful!” The other guard added.
“Mhmm, arrogant things.” The Ambassador agreed, growling. “At least your species is concerned with proper hygiene. Needless to say, I took particular interest when I was informed a band of ‘Caitians’ would be arriving. I am at least somewhat pleased you will be representing the Federation’s presence, Admiral.”
Morley was almost certain now the Ambassador, for whatever reason, was purposely trying to antagonize him! Perhaps the man got some sort of sadistic pleasure out of tormenting those he deemed inferior, much like a Tellarite. Regardless, Morley had resolved some time ago he wasn’t about to back down to the old windbag so easily. “Again, Ambassador. The Admiral here… is merely accompanying my party… He does not speak for the Federa-…”
Stamping his cane forcefully on the ground, the Ambassador promptly halted, turning to address Morley directly. Wagging his hand in the air, he exclaimed, “I have decided the Admiral shall act as representative for your little group this night. I care little to whom your precious Federation has given authority, Captain!”
Morley’s whiskers fluttered angrily as he struggled to contain the growing resentment building within him. However, just as he opened his mouth to correct the Ambassador one final time, his combadge chirped, interrupting him. Taking a discrete breath to calm his nerves first, Morley tapped the badge on his chest, saying, “Go ahead…”
“Sorry to bother you Captain. Some of the cadets on board have requested to break orbit to visit the neighboring system’s asteroid belt to research some mineral compositions for their Academic studies.” A voice explained calmly.
“… Wha-, asteroids, seriously?” Morley replied, clearly frustrated.
“I don’t write the exams, Sir.” The voice chuckled. “I estimate the round-trip would take approximately four hours. We’ll be out of comms range during the trip. With your permission, that is, Sir?”
Rubbing the bridge of his muzzle, slowly swaying his head, Morley sighed, “Agh… understood. Go ahead. I’d imagine the assembly down here will take longer anyway…”
“Acknowledged.”
Sa’Rahn’s heart dropped into his stomach as he listened to the conversation. His brother hadn’t made arrangements for Iris to beam down yet! She was still on the ship! This evening was the only chance he had been given to fix things. If the Alpha-Caitian IV departed from the system, his promise to Iris would be ruined! He had to do something! “Morley…!” Sa’Rahn hoarsely whimpered, desperately trying to gain his brother’s attention!
Noticing Sa’Rahn panic as he silently mouthed the words ‘Iris! Please!’, Morley rolled his eyes, tapped his combadge once more, “Commander, belay that. I need you to take care of something for me first.”
“Yes, Captain?” The voice asked.
Morley hesitated to respond, not wanting to officially involve his brother or the other officers present in the crime he was about to commit by bringing Iris to the surface. Looking to the elderly Antican a moment, he covered his hand over his badge, explaining, “Excuse me, Ambassador. I need to speak to my science officer in private a moment. You go on ahead. I’ll catch up.”
Budȧh merely snorted in response, dismissing Morley with another wave of his cane. “Very well, make whatever call you need.” Waiting until Morley was just out of earshot, the Ambassador turned to Sa’Rahn, saying, “I dislike the arrogance of that one… Tell me, Admiral, are you aware of what that was about?”
“Um, yes…” Sa’Rahn replied, quieting his voice to speak to the Ambassador personally. If Iris were to join him as his date, it would likely be best if their host knew she was coming. The Antican had made it quite clear their presence wasn’t appreciated. A random alien woman showing up on their doorstep probably wouldn’t end well, he gathered. “There’s ah, one more joining us tonight, Ambassador.”
“Oh…? Gruh, another of your officers I presume…” The Ambassador scoffed.
“No. Er… my mate.” Sa’Rahn explained, lowering his tone even further. “I-…er, promised I would show her your world. She… doesn’t get out much.”
“Buhahaha!” The Ambassador suddenly howled, clutching his belly with his free hand as he threw his head back. Reaching up to place a hand on Sa’Rahn’s back, he offered a wide, toothy grin. “I am most pleased to hear this… For I knew I would be proven right! I knew I would enjoy getting to know you better, Admiral.” With a little shuffle to get his aging bones moving, the Antican continued hobbling on ahead, the rest of the group following behind promptly. “I look forward to meeting this ’mate’ of yours. You and your spouse shall take seat at my table this evening as my guests! Please, tell me all about this person of yours. I swear on my honor you shall have an enjoyable time this evening, Admiral.” Ambassador Budȧh exclaimed heartily, motioning Sa’Rahn to keep up the pace.
_________________
-To Be Continued…
Category Story / General Furry Art
Species Feline (Other)
Size 375 x 300px
File Size 157.6 kB
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