PNPC Ensign Poagie- From One CATastrophe to Another
rob mahardy
((The Purr-fecto (Cait model personal shuttlecraft)- Inbound to DS33))
Poagie stretched. The long trip was nearing the end as DS33 was only a few minutes away. He rubbed his still itchy eyes and reached over to grab another dose of allergy medicine from the hypo. Despite its hiss that ensure the delivery of the spray he felt no change just as he’d felt no change the past dozen times he’d medicated.
oO Those ungrateful little furballs are still trying to kill me.Oo
Deep down he didn’t really mean it and truly acknowledged that the Caitian kits had actually helped save his life, although perhaps with the permanent trade off in watery eyes and some difficulty breathing.
((Flashback- Personal Quarters of Manx M’ow, Chief Starfleet Liaison Officer of M’owser Industries, Cait Spacedock))
Taking a deep breath he ducked out of the hallway and into the nearest door.
As the door shut behind him it was hard to see because the lighting did not automatically turn up. It was very quiet save for a soft humming-like sound. He took a few steps beyond the door hoping his eyes would soon adjust.
He stepped on something. He bent to try to pick it up. It was softer than he expected so he fumbled the ball and felt it unravel from his hands to the floor.
oO Some sort of yarn. Oo
His eyes started to make out a large blob in the corner. Actually a number of smaller blobs. This was where the humming was coming from.
oO Not humming. More rhythmic…like snoring…or…Oo
Poagie: Purring.
oO Giant kittens Oo
The pile stirred and numerous little paws stretched.
Poagie took a small step backward, then another.
Pile of Caitian Kits: Mew, Mew, Mew
Several of the bound forth; some rubbing against Poagie’s legs, some wantng to play and starting to jump at the yarn he held. Others just began to wash themselves and a couple were still yawning and arching their backs.
As he stepped back again he accidentally caught one of the kit’s tails.
Kit 1: RAOWWWW! Hiss! Hiss!
He tried to adjust his balance but in trying to avoid stepping on another kitten, he tumbled to the ground.
While some then scattered away several of the kits mobbed on Poagie climbing all over him and licking him with their sandpaper-like tongues.
He shooed a couple off but the litter was not deterred, continuing to rub their soft little heads against him.
Unconsciously, he rubbed at his eyes and almost instantaneously they watered up. With itchy and a runny nose, he began to sneeze repeatedly.
It was then the door to an adjoining room opened.
Manx: What is…
The Caitian entered wide-eyed and stopped mid-sentence. She then burst forward and almost flew across the room.
Poagie: Ahhhhh
He ducked and as she passed over he realized she was not diving at him but at the figure who had entered from the corridor behind him. The Vulcan Intelligence officer leveling the phaser who had just kicked one of the kits from off his leg. Poagie rolled into a ball taking about three of the kits with him as he did.
To Poagie it was all a blur but he heard the phaser go off and caught a glimpse of the hole in the carpet of where he and the kits had just been.
The Caitian and the Vulcan rolled on the ground locked in struggle and several of the kits rushed over to help their mama. The one who’d been kicked away rushed back to Poagie.
As suddenly as it started, the hissing, spitting and screaming ceased as the Vulcan slumped to the ground bleeding from deep scratches across his throat. One kit was still attached to the unconscious traitor’s ankle, fangs embedded through his trousers.
A curt “roaw”-ing sound from their mother brought them all within her reach and away from Poagie. He unconsciously took a step back as she turned to face him. Her eyes narrowed and she stretched her claws.
Manx: Explain
Poagie: I…well… you see…
Manx: Quickly
Poagie: Okay, okay, sorry….
Poagie started in on the whole story and Manx eased her stance as the kits reapproached the Ferengi rubbing themselves all around his leg. The “kicked one” brushed his head repeatedly into him.
Caitian Kits: Mew, Mew, Purr, Purr, Mew
It had only taken a few hours for Manx to make a few calls and straighten things out. After a debriefing from the base commander Poagie was reinstated and ordered back to the Ronin immediately to relay his story to Captain Niac.
Truly grateful for saving her kits, even though she constantly reminded him that he was the one who’d brought the danger into their home to start with, Manx also insisted that Poagie use her personal shuttle to get the information back to the Ronin faster.
((End Flashback))
Poagie started to stretch again…
Poagie: Ahhhhh
He jumped from his seat in panic feeling something brush his leg, just as the autopilot dropped the ship from warp…right into the middle of a warzone.
Caitian Kit: Purr, Purr.
TBC
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Ensign, temporarily
Crewman 2nd Class, Fugitive
Re-instated Ensign Poagie
Science
USS Ronin NCC-34523
R240009IO4