Ensign Reine'X - A hybrid and an Orion walk into a bar.

[Reine'X]

((Valhalla Lounge, Deck 4, USS Valkyrie))

A hybrid and an Orion walked into a bar. 

They sat down and ordered food. Reine’X was still in her Starfleet uniform, though no one in the busy establishment seemed to give it a second thought. They were, in a way, conducting interviews. Though so far, it seemed to be going the other way around.

Reine’X: Then I’ll have a steak. Raw. ::She glanced only briefly at the bartender:: All right, I’m listening.

Is’Kah: Bulgogi with white rice. Thank you. ::Zha gave them a smile before focusing on Reine’X again:: Vulcans have multiple types of bonds, but the important one here is the marriage bond. Normally, during a ceremony, a priestess will connect the couple’s katra by putting a sliver of the couple in each other. When I melded with Ghee’looth, well, we fell asleep in each other's arms before I remembered to end the meld. When we woke up, we were married in the eyes of Vulcan and Andoria.

Reine’X: That is truly interesting. So how does it.... I mean, how does it affect you in your everyday life?

Is’Kah: I know how to use a lot of the Andorian Imperial Guard’s martial arts. I also use Andorian pronouns.

Reine’X: Do you want to go back to the way you were before the mind meld?

Is’Kah: No. I don’t wish to. I have seen a possible universe where I was not involved with Ghee’looth. Instead, my name was Is’Kah Doucet, and I have a copy of her katra in here. She was their security officer, and it is because of her that I can complete my duties effectively.

Reine’X: Wait… hold on… is Is’Kah Doucet any relation to our Doctor Doucet?!

Is’Kah: Yes, but no. We were pulled into another universe by the Organians, and I was married to Evie Doucet. That Is’Kah deeply loved her wife, just as I feel about Ghee’looth.

oO The Organians? I read about them in the Starfleet database back at the Academy. This crew has quite a few missions under their belt. Oo

Reine’X: I have some more questions....

Is’Kah: I imagine you do. Hit me with them.

As the food arrived, Reine’X first noticed a plate of cooked red meat with rice that the waiter served to Is’Kah. Her own plate looked somewhat similar; a large steak that was clearly not raw, sat in the center, surrounded by an unfamiliar garnish.

Reine’X: I thought all Vulcans were vegetarians:: she said matter-of-factly, pointing at the small woman with her fork.

Normally, when with Klingons, she wouldn’t bother with utensils. But Reine’X knew better than that, having spent so much time off-world and, more recently, at Starfleet Academy on Earth. One follows social norms when dining with Starfleet.

Is’Kah: Replicator meat is completely vegan. The social pressure Vulcans face is to eat the flesh of the living. This has never been alive. It hasn’t even been grown in a lab.

Reine’X: That makes sense,:: she nodded:: Although, doesn’t the mere sight of meat make you sick?

Is’Kah: It is a view I developed after bonding with Ghee’looth. It was partly to get her to eat more than Red Bat kabobs, as I had to find food she’d like. Then again, she eats whatever I cook for her, mostly Greek food from Earth.

Reine’X: Greeks? I’ve read about them. They certainly knew how to party.

She had read about the symposiums of ancient Greece, and it surprised her that women were not allowed to take part; except perhaps courtesans, who were there to entertain the men. What a backward society, she thought.  

Is’Kah: I fell in love with their cuisine after I started worshiping the Greek Goddess of the Hearth and Home, Hestia, in the Academy.

Reine’X: I must try some Greek food someday.

As she said that, she looked down at her steak in disappointment, still playing around with the food without really trying it. It looked fake, and besides, the meat wasn’t even raw. Of course, Reine’X was familiar with replicated food; especially after spending the past few years at Starfleet Academy on Earth, where she had had the “pleasure” of eating it on numerous occasions. Klingon rations tasted better… oO Well, just sometimesOo she admitted.

Is’Kah: Response 

Reine'X : Oh, yes, that would be great. Thank you. 

Is’Kah: Response

Reine'X : I’m wondering...what was that interview again, the one you wanted to do with me?

Is’Kah: Response

Reine'X : Indeed. I grew up in the First City with my family. Well, with my parents and two brothers. The rest of my family lives on Orion, ::she raised one eyebrow:: I think. 

She managed to omit her uncle. Not that there was any issue (she really liked the man) but she didn’t find it important enough information for this interview.

Is’Kah: Response

Reine'X : I was able to join Starfleet thanks to the Klingon-Federation exchange program , as I'm a Klingon citizen. Though I’m not sure why it’s called an exchange program, since I wasn’t really exchanged for anyone. The numbers of cadets from each side vary every year. I also needed letters of recommendation, which my friends in Starfleet were able to provide.

Is’Kah: Response

Reine'X : I suppose so. I mean, do I enjoy being on the ship so far? I didn’t have any expectations when I came onboard, if I’m being honest. ::And she was being honest.:: The first thing that happened was that I materialized straight into the middle of Sickbay, with no prior briefing about the current mission. So I just went with the flow::beat::an Earth expression.

The tall woman simply shrugged, not thinking too much of it. She was used to being dropped into unfamiliar situations: like that one time she had to deal with the Romulans. She didn’t have much background information on Colonel Hakeev, and yet he already hated her when their paths crossed.

Is'Kah: Response 

Ensign Reine'X
Medical Officer
USS Valkyrie-A
V240302R14