Lt JG Wil Ukinix - Rabbits

[Danny Lee]

((Upmarket Bar, Rixx, Betazed))

 

::Keehani and Wil had made their way to bar in the busiest area of Rixx.  A half empty bottle of red wine from the Napa Valley on Earth sat in front of them.  Wil had told Keehani his life story.  Now it was Keehani’s turn to tell Wil about her and her grandmother Vaxa’s story.

 

Wil swirled the glass in front of him and took a smell, before taking a mouthful, as he listened intently to Keehani.::

 

Keehani: Our great grandparents had been wanting to marry one of their children into another house, for so many years – including your grandfather, which I understand is the main reason why he left. 

 

Ukinix: ::Nodding:: Based on what Grandpa said, sounds about right.

 

Keehani: Yes.  He was betrothed to a member of the Sixth house.  I can’t remember her name.  The arrangement involved lots of land.  When your grandfather left Betazed, the Sixth house were upset.  To appease them, our great grandparents offered them *more* land in exchange for the betrothal of Grandmother to a male member of the Sixth. ::Ironic smile::  She told me she would have gone through with it too.

 

Ukinix: Why didn’t she?

 

::Wil took a sip from his drink::

 

Keehani: She had got pregnant with someone else.

 

::Mid sip, Wil spat out the contents of his drink back into his glass.::

 

Ukinix: Bloody hell, what is it with our grandparents – what are they, rabbits?

 

Keehani: What do you mean… What’s a “rabbit”? 

 

::It was going to be too hard to explain what a rabbit was… and why that reference was relevant.::

 

Ukinix: I mean… it seems my grandfather and your grandmother weren’t afraid to be – hmmm, “amorous”.  For the greater good of their house apparently.

 

Keehani: Most of the noble families don’t act like normal families.  But, the Ukinix family?  They were the worst of all of them.  The other houses hated them.  ::Pondering:: It’s ironic though when you hold up a mirror to someone and they don’t like what they see.

 

Ukinix: So, who did Raxa get pregnant with?

 

Keehani: “Itum Ral”, my grandfather.  He was one of the agricultural scientists employed by the Ninth house.  When our great grandparents found out about him and her pregnancy, they threatened to strip Grandmother of her title, but with all the legal action happening involving the other houses, they couldn’t.  It would have weakened them legally and politically.  So instead, to get her out of the way, Grandmother was offered a plot of land in the Piri Islands.  Grandmother and Itum gave birth to a boy, Cigrun.

 

Ukinix: Your father?

 

Keehani: ::Nodding solemnly:: Yes.  And during the occupation, he met my mother.  They both died, but not before they somehow managed to get me back to Grandmother while I was still a baby.   

 

Ukinix: You never knew your parents?

 

::Keehani shook her head.::

 

Ukinix: I’m so sorry.

 

Keehani: It’s fine.  Grandmother raised me.  I think of her as my mother.

 

Ukinix: What happened to your grandfather?

 

Keehani: He died during the initial Dominion invasion.

 

::Wil put his hand over his mouth.::

 

Ukinix: Oh geez.

 

::Keehani simply shrugged.::

 

Keehani: It’s so normal for me.  All I’ve known is my Grandmother.  I don’t think about it.

 

::Regardless, Wil felt bad for her.  They were almost the same age, but with very different upbringings.::

 

Keehani: ::Smiling:: But it’s nice that you feel that way.

 

::Wil gave Keehani a small smile, before looking down.  There really was going to be no hiding his feelings on Betazed.::

 

Ukinix: “Ral”.  So Raxa took Itum’s family name?

 

Keehani: Not initially.  During the invasion, the Ukinix family members died.  All of them, except for Grandmother.  Once the occupation was over, the other houses moved in and took control of the Ninth house.  They asked Grandmother to abdicate her title, and when she refused, they threatened to take her plot of land away from her.  Eventually after some legal battles, they settled on letting her keep her land and her title, provided she changed her family name – and mine.  So here I am.  Keehani Ral.

 

::Wil nodded, and then sat silently, before letting air out through his cheeks.::

 

Ukinix: We’ve had very different upbringings.

 

::Wil took a large gulp of his drink. Keehani put her hand on her cheek, and smiled.::

 

Keehani: The only family I’ve had is Grandmother.  Until now.

 

::Wil took in a sharp breath.  Yes they were family, but...::

 

Keehani: I know you’re feeling hesitant Wil –

 

Ukinix: This may be a dumb question.  But I need to know.  Why do you want Vaxa to take the Ninth house back?

 

::Keehani’s faced suddenly showed a steely, determined expression.::

 

Keehani: Because she is the rightful matriarch.  This is about justice.

 

::Wil nodded.  She may well have been right, but he felt there was more to it.::

 

Ukinix: And land?  Power?  Privilege?

 

Keehani: ::Shaking her head:: I am an exopolitics student at the University of Betazed.  Many students don’t feel that Betazoids are being governed correctly.  As a member of a house, I would get to have a say on governance.  I would give Betazed students a voice.

 

::Wil placed his hand on his chin and a finger over his mouth, as he studied Keehani.  He sensed she meant what she said, but there was more to it.::

 

Keehani: It’s my Grandmother’s birthright.  My birthright.

 

::Keehani leaned forward, and looked intently at Wil.  A small smile came to her face, that Wil judged to be almost wicked.::

 

Keehani: *Our* birthright.  If I’m successful, we can restore Astradem’s title.  Think about what that might mean for you.

 

::At that moment, a nerve was hit.  Wil raised his hands and showed his palms to Keehani.::

 

Ukinix: Woah, woah woah.  Woah.

 

::He took a deep breath through his nose, before continuing.::

 

Ukinix: I’m a Starfleet officer.  I’m fine and dandy with my life as it is, thanks very much.  So is *Astrad*.

 

Keehani: Fine, but –

 

Ukinix: No.  There is no but.  Until a few months ago, I was just a guy from Earth starting a new career.

 

::Wil finished the remaining contents of his glass, as he stood up.::

 

Ukinix: I’m on Betazad because one of my fellow crew mates is attending a funeral. I’m here to support him.

 

Keehani: Wil-

 

::Wil tried to hold back his anger.::

 

Ukinix: Yeah nah, this doesn’t feel right.  I’m really really sorry about your family.  And your grandmother, I genuinely hope she gets better.  But, ::pointing:: if you think you can use *my* grandmother, distant family that you’ve never met before –

 

::Wil pointed back at his own chest.::

 

Ukinix: - *my* family – and upend their lives for nothing other than your own selfish purposes?  Yeah, it’s probably best we don’t keep in touch.

 

::Keehani let out a frustrated sigh and placed her head in her hands, as Wil left the bar.::

 

 

 

 

 

Lieutenant JG Wil Ukinix

Engineering Officer

USS Veritas

V239511WU0