Ensign Basso Laika - Foolish Hearts
Basso Laika
((QIn’HuD Mines, veHrom’nagh))
Within the mystical, benamite crystalline grotto, Ruktah finally made himself known. Though suffering from a previous injury, the mighty Klingon held presence, hiding himself with the reflective pillars.
Basso: Gankech and his associates were taken into custody by the local authorities.
Gnaxac: Were they threat-t-t-ening you?
Ruktah: I can only speak of Gankech who was working to restore his honour by helping us to leave this cursed place, veHrom’nagh. Until he became spooked by the sight of another from my House, and began to change his mind. Nuch!
Echoes of his movements and voice reflected all around them. Laika searched for the source with no success, but felt more at ease. If Ruktah shared the details of his plan, then perhaps further conflict could be avoided. Talking usually helped, at least, that is what the courses taught her.
Basso: Is that why you are hiding down here?
Gnaxac: Why d-d-did you run away?
Finally, Ruktah appeared from the amethyst mirage, ending the cat and mouse game. No longer did he hide behind these benamite mirrors, yet J’nara was still not in sight. His arm bled from a previous wound, but it did not seem to phase the Klingon. He shot a piercing gaze at Gnaxac, enough that Basso sidestepped to place herself in front of her superior officer.
Ruktah: Run!? We do not run, Ferengi!
J’nara: But we are leaving.
Behind Ruktah, J’nara appeared radiating with a periwinkle aura, her voice commanding more strength than her beloved. In traditional Klingon fashion, her clothes emphasized both her noble background with the strength required to enforce it. Klingon politics remained foreign to the young ensign, but she was not blind to the love shared between them.
Basso: So, you are alive.
Finch: You’re going to wait it out here and then make your way to the nearby spaceport to properly disappear.
J’nara: You are perceptive.
Basso: Hm, Lieutenant Pace was right after all.
She doubted Pace’s theory at the beginning. All evidence pointed to them remaining here on the planet, deep within the mines, yet the plan was simple all along.
Gnaxac: Response
J’nara: It happened quicker and less organised than we had planned. He came to our chamber wanting to back out, and during our transport he tore the necklace from me.
Basso: Were it not for his half-hearted attempt at hiding the evidence, we wouldn’t have expected you to come down this far.
Gnaxac: Response
With the confessions of the two heirs, the mystery unraveled. Gankech was a willing accomplice at the beginning, yet the threat of Ruktah’s family dissuaded further help. In a frantic state, he tried to stop their plan, only to then fail at hiding his involvement. If Ruktah and J’nara did not enlist the help of such an amateur, she doubted they could discover them in time.
J’nara: He designed it. He was also supposed to remove any traces we left behind, such as records, and any camera footage. I can only assume that in his last minute cowardice, he did not.
Finch: Actually, love, he did change some of the camera footage. But it was a bit half-hearted, like his attempts at hiding the necklace and the relay components.
Basso turned towards Finch for guidance. They were trusted to find the missing heirs, but what now? Were they responsible for ending this elopement and bringing the heirs to their respective families? Though, would it be wrong to deny these two lovers their freedom?
Basso: That answers Gankech's behavior.
Gnaxac: Response
Maybe this was why she struggled with Klingon politics. Honor remained a nebulous concept to Basso, especially in regards to politics within Klingon nobility. Their actions could be argued dishonorable with deceit and secrecy, yet is the pursuit of love not an honorable goal?
Basso: I can’t be the judge of your actions, but it seems Gankech’s reckless behavior was not your responsibility.
Gnaxac / Finch / J’nara / Ruktah: Response
Basso shrugged off her backpack and reached for J’nara’s necklace. What would they tell the families? That Ruktah and J’nara escaped the colony to elope? She handed the necklace to Finch to make the final decision.
Basso: It is their necklace. I’m not going to pretend to be an expert in Klingon law and culture, but I don’t see any crime here.
Gnaxac / Finch / J’nara / Ruktah: Response
Fin
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Ensign Basso Laika
Security & Tactical Officer
USS Gorkon
G240204LB1
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