[sb118-valkyrie] JP: Lieutenant Is'Kah Xiron and Lieutenant JG Ghee'looth Xiron - Welcome to the BBQ - Part 1

[Colgin]

((Nor’shalgah Neighborhood, Harbortown, Equatorial Provence, Andoria))

 

In the kitchen, serving trays and bowls were filled with the traditional foods of Horbortown and Andoria’s Equatorial Provence as well as some fusion favorites that had become popular in the neighboring Tarran and Bajorian enclaves. Mir’looth called to some of the nearby families, and soon, a dozen bodies were conscripted to take the food out to the yard behind the house.

The backyards of all the houses on this side of the lane were connected to a long clan park. Red piney trees with blue and gray needles dotted the yard, and the ground was carpeted with blue-green grass-like vegetation. Dozens of people who were both Ghee’s neighbors and extended family were out enjoying the fading light of Andore, the center of the star system, as it was methodically being eclipsed by Andor, the gas giant this world orbited.

Mir’looth directed her troop of ‘volunteers’ to where every dish, tray, or bowl should be placed on a long wooden table. Seeing Is’Kah, she pointed to a warming element on the table for her pot of Pa’ka stew.

Mir’looth: Thank you for the help, dear. ::reaching into her apron, she produced a small isolinear chip.:: The Kardola clan recipe book. I marked Ghee’looth’s favorites on it. Please, don’t go sharing that.::She placed the chip into her daughter-in-law’s hand:: Go have fun with Ghee. I think she may need some company.

Nodding, Is’Kah took the chip and slipped it into a pocket.

Is’Kah: Thank you, Grand Zhavy.

Grinning at her, Is’Kah went to find her partner. The patio area directly behind the home was buzzing with activity. One little zhen girl ran by, stringing along a paper glider in the shape of some flying reptile. Even smaller children chased after the pair. Adults were seated in wood-like park chairs, most drinking Andorian Ale, but beverages from across the Federation could be seen. Ghee’s cousin Ketch’looth was under one of the piney trees talking to a human throuple. The group spilled out beyond to some of the neighboring patios.

Ghee was in a cluster of older Andorians near the tree line. One gruff thaan with a Starfleet delta on his shirt was hunched over an old holo projector, using a tricorder from three generations earlier. Next to Ghee was a bench with several phasers, some Starfleet, some Andorian, and some that looked like they belonged more in a museum display case than at a backyard party.

Ghee and her Charan father, Ghee’garie saw Is’Kah coming toward them and went to greet her. Ghee’garie:: He laid a rough worker's hand on Is’Kah’s shoulder.I hope the kitchen was not too arduous for you, Lieutenant.

Is’Kah: Is’Kah, not Lieutenant.

He said the title almost as a joke, but also as a boost. Ghee’looth wagged her antennae in the Andorian equivalent of an eye roll.

Ghee’looth:: leaning into Is’Kah.:: Welcome back.::beat:: Did Zhavey give you the clan recipe book?

Is’Kah: She did I have so many meals to make now.

Ghee’looth’s antennae bounced with joy at the news.

Ghee’looth: Everyone here is a veteran of Starfleet or the Imperial Guard. Grand Uncle Th’theilen is trying to get his old holo projector working, so we can do some trap shooting.

Is’Kah: I could take a look, but it looks like he figured it out.

The gruff Andorian, Grand uncle Th’theilen stood up with a grunt.

Th’theilen: There it works. One of you has been screwing around with it.

Ghee’garie: I don’t understand why you don’t replicate a new one.

Th’theilen: In my fleet we did not give up on a machine and conjure a new one from thin air. We got our hands dirty and fixed them.

Th’theilen grumbled as he went over to the bench of phasers and picked up a 2260’s era phaser rifle. The weapon was large and awkward shaped, but the old man tucked into his shoulder with practiced ease. He quickly opened the prefire chamber, nodded and closed it, then brought the rifle sights to his eye.

Th’theilen: Release!

A bright orange and red spinning hologram shot with the speed of a Terrestrial bird from the holo projector. It arced in the air on its way to the tree line before a pink and purple beam from the ancient phase rifle hit it. The projector made an electric sound and projected into the open sky in Andorian script, a point for Th’theilen.

Th’theilen: Take care of your tools and they will take care of you.::looking over to Is’Kah and Ghee’looth:: There is the current fleet. Let’s see what they know. You see one of these? And don’t tell me it was in a museum. ::Opens the prefire chamber and holds out the weapon to the younger officers.::

Taking the rifle, Is’Kah quickly made a couple of adjustments. Frowning, she lifted the rifle to her shoulder and looked down at the sights. Lowering the weapon, she made another adjustment before rechecking the alignment.

Is’Kah: Pull!

After the holo disk shot out, Is’Kah tracked it before taking a snapshot, striking her target.

Is’Kah: The phase converter was three microns out of alignment, causing your shot to shank to the left by three centimeters. It was manufactured in 2263, and that year was known for phase converter issues. All of the Qin’s rifles were from that year, leaving Lieutenant Doucet vexed about fixing every type 3.

She held the rifle out for Th’theilen to take back.

The old Andorian took the rifle back, snapping the chamber back to safe like a range pro.

Th’theilen: It was off but for Andorian windage.::Looks to Ghee and then to Is’Kah:: Even those holodecks would not have shown you intimate details of firing one of these.::His antennae moved accusingly from Ghee to Is’Kah::

Is’Kah: Ghee and I recently visited 2264 and met the Orgainans before they acted like pacifist Qs.

Th’theilen: 2264? I first joined in 2258. Did 10 years on a Constitution-class. So, you were in a time anomaly? Was it real or some pocket world? I always wanted to meet James Kirk.

Is’Kah: It was an alternative universe that ran slower than our own. Sadly, we did not meet Captain Kirk, but I did discover how beautiful my sh’za is in a red scant.

Th’theilen: Well, I was a security red shirt. Survived too.:: Motions to one of his nearby family members.::Well you are old fleet too, I guess you rate the honors of old fleet.

An old, curved bottle was brought over to the trap shooting bench. It had a wide mouth with a large cork stopper and a green ribbon tied to it.

Th’theilen::To the niece handing him the bottle:: Thank you.::To Is’Kah and Ghee:: Romulan Ale. I picked up six cases back in that brief window of open relations.::He slowly poured three shots.I know, I know this is openly available now that the Star Empire has fallen, but for two centuries, this was the only Romulan Ale that was not smuggled. It has never been replicated or gone through a transporter. This is the real article, and I wish to drink it with the two of you.

Ghee’s antennae were nearly straight up; she was shocked at what was on offer.

Ghee’looth: Thank you, Grand Uncle.

Th’theilen: You two fought the Borg on Frontier Day. I fought the Klingons once, and they are an unforgiving enemy. But they have honor. The Borg are soul stealers:: clinks his glass to the two ladies.:: To lost shipmates.

The old Andorian tossed back the glowing liquor with a relish of an old man pretending to be young again. His face winced at the strength of the drink, but he quickly recovered. Is’Kah threw the shot back, flashing to her mission to rescue that damnable freighter. Fifty-seven dead because of her error. The death of that crewman flashed across her mind’s eye, causing her to close her eyes as she fought the guilt. She had honored those lost on Frontier Day, but she still needed to have those killed by that Briknar tattooed on her shoulder blade.

The small hybrid’s control was in danger of slipping, forcing herself to shift into thinking in Vulcan. Her body language shifted as her face lost all expression, her voice returning to its well-worn path, a monotone; at least she tried, as her voice quivered on the last few words.

Is’Kah: Shipmates are never lost, merely marching far away. May we have a long life before we join them.

Th’theilen: Well said. Say, for Vulcan ears, you speak a lot of sense.

Ghee’looth: Grand Uncle!

Turning to Ghee, Is’Kah’s head tipped slightly to the side.

Is’Kah: Sh’za, do you remember where our bags ended up? I brought something to share with Th’theilen.

Ghee’looth: They are probably in my room, second floor, third door on the left.

The hybrid dipped her head in thanks, remaining in her Vulcan mask.

Is’Kah: I’ll get it.

Th’theilen: Is she ok?

Ghee’looth: She is so much more than a Vulcan, but sometimes she is just a Vulcan.

Th’thrilen’s antennae twitched at that.

Is’Kah turned sharply, her spine ramrod straight. Her thoughts were a maelstrom of pain, her mental landscape covered in the blood of multiple species, while the torn body of a crewmate was lying on top of the dead was one of her Engineers from the Ronin. She had failed so many people with her assurance that the shields would hold. Yet, they didn’t, and that led to the death of her crew. Perhaps she was better off as a security officer than an Engineer.

Finding her bag, Is’Kah knelt as the guilt ate her from the inside. She felt a tear slide down her cheek, splashing against the item’s covering. She picked it up with a shaky hand and double-checked that it was still inside its velvet bag. Wiping the tears away, she quickly returned to her partner and new uncle. The small hybrid forced herself to smile and added a little inflection to her words when she approached them.

Is’Kah: I think you’ll like this, Vulcan Brandy, 2025. My family has quite the cellar to age such things.

She quickly poured three shots and smiled at Ghee’looth while raising her glass. Th’theilen took the glass with a look of awe and warmth.

Th’theilen: By the deities! 2025?! ::His antennae bounced in jest:: Trust the Vulcans to have the patience to wait almost 400 years for a sip of brandy.

Ghee’looth: Thank you, zh’yi.

Is’Kah: To those marching just beyond the horizon, may they be judged worthy to walk among the heroes in the fields of Elysium.

She threw the shot back and refilled Th’theilen’s and hers before slamming another one back. The pain from her guilt was slightly burned away by the feel of the brandy searing its way to her stomach.

Ghee’looth could see that her partner was hurting. She sipped her second shot, then placed her arm on Is’Kah’s shoulder. Is’Kah closed her eyes as she leaned against her wife, trying to bury the guilt. If she hadn’t been so confident that metaphasic shields would protect them, then maybe Commander Raga would have ordered the ship to move out of the way. That recommendation haunted the petite hybrid still, worse than anything that happened on Frontier Day. The small hybrid felt a tear slide down her cheek, the guilt overwhelming her control.

Ghee’looth::she whispered:: You are among family and clan. Every person here old enough to hold a weapon will defend you to their last; those too young will remember and avenge you. If you are burdened with survivor’s guilt, almost every person here has lost someone while serving in Starfleet or the Imperial Guard. This is OUR culture.

The approach of Ghee’s zhen broke the moment, interrupting the group taking popshots with their phasers.

Mir’looth: Eclipse is in a few minutes. It would be nice if you were sober enough to light the bonfire?

Th’theilen: Sober as the day I got back to Andoria from the fleet.::fiddles with his pockets and turns to Is’Kah:: how about you do the honors. It is a single-use charge, but it is what the city ordinance allows ::antennae to move back and forth in an Andorian eye roll.::

Is’Kah: I am a Vulcan; I am always sober unless chocolate is involved.

Th’theilen handed Is’Kah the single-use phaser charge for the antique phaser rifle.

Ghee’looth: Just wait until the gong, and once it rings, you just need to discharge the shot into the wood pit so that a bonfire will give us light again.

The Vulcan hybrid checked the rifle, nodding to her partner.

Is’Kah: I am honored, sh’za.

Mir’looth: Oh, look at you two, as cute as a holonovel.::Turning to her uncle.:: Don’t let him sour the mood.

Th’theilen: Well::Beat:: I have been defending this world since you were born.

Mir’looth: Good, then defend the Yemkit sweet salad from the boys from the Gailfic Clan.

Mir’looth moved to Is’Kah, touched her forehead to hers, and gave her an Andorian embrace before returning to the food tables. Is’Kah brushed her mental antenna against the other zhen’s.

Th’theilen: Once the eclipse is total, horns will be blown. Give them a moment and then fire that shot to ignite the pit there.

In the sky above, angry Andor was overtaking the system’s star. The electric lights of the suburban neighborhood cut off just as the planet moved between the moon and the star. The sky was cloudy and had become an ominous pale color. Unlike a sunset, the transition to darkness was not gradual but sudden, like an artificial light had been turned off. For a moment, there was silence as the suburban sounds of kids playing ball or porter traffic stopped. Then came the horns. Most were small plastic horns used by kids, and some were deep brass instruments. A second later, several deep, distant moans of ocean-going ship horns in Harbortown’s bay could be heard echoing through the downtown and into the suburbs. There were then four tinny clangs of the family’s ceremonial gong.

Is'Kah’s heart began to pound the moment the lights went out. The darkness flashed her back to the USS Ronin moments before they were attacked. Shoving her fear aside for the moment, she steadied herself.

Ghee’looth::placing her hand on Is’Kah’s shoulder:: Now, Zh’yi. I can sense the direction of the shot if you can’t see it.

Closing her eyes, Is’Kah reached through their bond, using it to aim. The rifle lanced out, its bright light shooting across the dark, lighting the fire. As the darkness gave way to the bonfire, Is’Kah handed the rifle back, her hands shaking as her guilt crested over her. Forgoing the shot glass, she lifted her bottle of Brandy to her lips and took a very long pull, swallowing a quarter of the bottle before putting it on the table. Grabbing Ghee’looth’s hand, she turned to her partner, speaking in a voice that was low and shaky.

Is’Kah: Sh’za, stay with me. I need you.

Ghee::Pulling Is’Kah into her arms.:: I am going nowhere. Be well, my love. Everyone you see able to bear a weapon is bound to our protection. This is the way of Andoria and the clans.

Is’Kah: I’m there again, and I can’t leave it.

Ghee’looth could feel the anxiety of her partner. The feelings were intense, almost as bad as their shared dream. Like a chill, she could feel her Andorian biochemical response to heavy stress. A calming, focusing effect cleared Ghee’s mind. She touched her forehead to Is’Kah’s, not sure how the telepathy worked, but hoping she could give Is’Kah some of the peace she felt.

Ghee: Zh’yi, do you feel my calm? That is my stress reaction to our shared trauma. Can you share with me how to manage it? Surely our mind is not limited to only what hurts us.

Is’Kah: Just hold me, sh’za. All I want to do is eat three chocolate bars and end up a drooling puddle of nothing.

Ghee: And miss the feast you helped prepare?::She squeezed her partner:: These feelings pass. Please do not let these memories prevent you from making good new memories.

Is’Kah: I don’t want to be in the past, sh’za. Yet, that ::voice cracks as several tears slide down her cheeks:: is w-where I’m always returning t-to that moment. Make it s-stop, p-please.

Ghee::Pointing to the bound fire.Look, you brought back the light. I know you're hurt; I can feel it too. Do you feel my calm? Can you share that?

Closing her eyes, Is’Kah reached across their bond. With great effort, she forced her heart to slow and began to control her breathing.

Mir’looth tapped Ghee’looth on the shoulder and, with her antennae, motioned toward the banquet tables set up in the yard near the bonfire.

Ghee: When you're ready, we can join the family. I want to see what you and Zhevey were up to in the kitchen.

Is’Kah gave her spouse a curt nod, still using their calm to fill her katra. Ghee’looth lightly placed a hand on Is’Kah’s shoulders and guided her in the dark toward the patio. She hoped that her partner could sense through her what she could see with her antennae.

The darkness was only momentary, though. The home and neighborhood lightning came back on just as they neared the gong. A dozen small Andorian children were gathered in a circle around a rail-thin elderly Andorian thaan, with bread nearly to his chest and an antenna drooping with age. The children were dressed up in wigs, paper crowns, and colorful blankets, imitating the traditional deities. Ghee stopped and pointed it out to Is’Kah, remaining silent.

The old clan storyteller, who looked stiff and infirm, was wrapped in a simple beggar’s robe. Weakly, the elderly man gestured to the child to come closer, for his voice was weak from many a lifetime breathing the cold, dry air of Andoria. The larger kids moved toward him, and several of the smaller ones had a parent to help them.

Squeezing Ghee’looth’s hand before letting go, Is’Kah opened her eyes and glanced around. The self-loathing she had buried sometimes returned at the worst possible time, as it did a few moments prior. She had been undergoing therapy, but there were days when something tripped the trigger.

Is’Kah: ~I’m okay, sh’za. I’m in the here and now again. Thank you, you helped me find my way out of the loop I was in.~

Ghee: ~I am here for you.~

 

Lieutenant Is’Kah Xiron

Chief of Tactical and Security

USS Valkyrie, NCC-16418-A

R240101I14

Pronouns:

She/Her (Player and Character)

Zha/Zhen (Character)

and

Lieutenant JG Ghee’looth Xiron

Acting Chief Engineer

USS Valkyrie-A

D240010GX2