'Family' Reunion
Posted on Mon Mar 22nd, 2021 @ 12:39am by Administrator LordeEmp
Mission:
Heroes of the Hov'hurgh
Location: Deck 27, Main Medical, I.K.S. Hov'HurgH
Timeline: Stardate 901432.7
The halls of the Hov’Hurgh looked undeniably Klingon and yet familiar touches of Federation technology caught the eye. Tenas noted black computer interface panels running along the center bulkheads, so common in late 24th Century Starfleet vessels. Emergency force fields replaced heavy bulkhead hatches making the halls spacious and smoother to walk. The air smelled scrubbed, a bit warm and humid in keeping with Klingon comfort levels. Warriors walked in bulky armor consistent with their era.
Crew members eyed his green skin with suspicion and no little disgust. They knew the Orions as treacherous pirates and enemies; leaders of the terrorist Syndicate. This ship and everyone inside was a living time capsule, a sliver of history shot into the future without knowing the intervening years.
Starfleet would have quarantined the Hov’Hurgh immediately and put their best minds to work on sending the ship back to its proper place in time, never stopping to ask if this might be where the Klingon ship belonged. Tenas felt no concerns as such. He knew the truth or at least, he hoped so.
He stepped into Medical and thanks to Tr’yu’s memory of the place he knew exactly where to go. He passed busy nurses and medics, approaching the isolation ward in the back. He activated his communicator in his hood. “Bridge, this is Tecorin. I’m outside the isolation ward.”
Turning from her conversation with the Doctor and the Borg, VaQ’taj approached one of the wall panels and tapped at it briefly. The security field flickered and dropped, then the door slid open to reveal her adopted Kolari brother. She motioned for him to enter then reset the security code before taking a good look at Tenas.
A figure at once familiar and yet transformed greeted her vision. Tenas appeared just as youthful as she remembered but he stood a few centimeters taller and filled out his clothing like a man, not a youth. His green skin glowed with health, somehow free from blemish and scar despite his violent life. He wore his hair cropped closely about his face but his thick black locks insisted on forming small curls here and there. His eyes sparkled like emeralds, ever ready to crinkle with sly mirth. His smile charmed the coldest heart and promised forbidden pleasure to the wicked.
Familiar marks like the curved sword tattoo tracing the right cheekbone remained. Latinum rings decorated his earlobes per the custom of the Orion people. They bespoke a change in fortune since last they met. He wore a black hooded poncho over matching color leggings with indigo boots. Boots that signaled to all that knew the Kolari language of clothing that he was a privateer. Over the poncho she saw a necklace of chunky, interlocking latinum plates clasped with a trapezoidal plate set with a large sapphire.
A striking difference from the last time they met was a gem at the center of the brow. It was small and smooth, jewel blue in color and it glowed with a soft inner fire. Most striking was how it seemed to grow from Tenas’ brow, as if a natural part of him.
VaQ’taj looked to remind herself that the rascal was dressed. Her body instantly reacted as if he were naked, a trick of his Deltan heritage. As if not enough to tempt her the scent of his hot blood signaled her body in enticing ways. The predator in her spirit roused with interest, forcing a silent curse at his Kolari pheromones.
No sign of weaponry could be seen though an arsenal probably lay hidden under his poncho. His seemingly ill-prepared appearance lulled many an inexperienced warrior into a false sense of security. A deadly mistake Tenas played with masterful skill. As VaQ’taj thought of this the sapphire over his heart glittered as with clever reptilian eyes. She did not have time to think on it as Tenas clasped forearms with VaQ’taj and tugged her into a joyful embrace.
“VaQ’taj,” he greeted in perfectly enunciated Klingon. “be'nI'wI', pe'vIl 'uch, SuvwI' 'ej wej ror ngo' be' ghoghmey vIlegh. qaS nuq SoH?(1)”
Taken aback slightly by the changes in her Kolari brother, the small Klingon woman still returned the embrace heartily, a widening smile of recognition on her face, “Brat! Brother!” she then pulled back to look him over, reaching up with a work weathered hand to grab hold of his chin and turn his head from side to side, “It seems that you have grown into your reputation... a bit. It is good to see you again.”
“Likewise,” Tenas grinned brightly.
The small, red-braided Klingon paused briefly, letting her hand drop from Tenas’ face as she turned to look back to Sthilg and ToQ. She cleared her throat and the smile slipped from her lips. She was still faced with a decision that she had not really been prepared for. After all, it was not everyday that one ran into a... ~an ex-Borg~ the colonel fought to remind herself... that was a member of the defense force.
In all honesty; VaQ’taj did not believe it. It had to be some kind of Borg infiltration trick. It was all too clear in her mind; send ‘freed Borg’ to all corners, let them try to fit back into their old societies. Then when the time is right... BLAM! Drones everywhere and assimilating everything.
“Doctor, this is Tenas Tecorin,” she chuckled a bit, nodding, “You never got the chance to meet my dear friend and brother before the...” there was a pause and a brief, exasperated grunt, before she continued, turning her eye to ToQ, “We will discuss that later.”
As her intense gaze continued to scrutinize the cybernetically augmented Klingon woman, Colonel VaQ’taj said, “I am an honest woman and in that spirit, know this; I do not trust you, ex-Borg. I do not know that I ever will and my reasons are as numerous as the stars. Each bears a face, a name.. that the Collective stole from them in one way or another.”
“If you want my trust, you must earn it like everyone else,” VaQ’taj growled, then gave ToQ a forced smile that did not touch her chocolate colored eyes, “It is only fair to warn you that you are starting with a deficit. I will give you a chance to prove yourself, however. Only after the Doctor has done a full examination, reports to me that you are fit for duty and can assure me that you are not transmitting any strange signals.”
That was… not the reaction the engineer had anticipated of a superior officer of the Klingon Defense Force. A clear presentation of her position, followed by an offer that seemed highly reasonable. Even a smile; likely unfelt, but the expression was one she could appreciate. For the first time since she’d awoken, ToQ’s lips turned upwards slightly as she nodded to her new superior. “Thank you, Colonel. I appreciate the opportunity, and will endeavor not to disappoint you.”
Her thanks given, she turned to Sthilg, placing a finger to the large device that covered her eye. “Doctor, how familiar are you with Borg cybernetics? I can explain some of their functions and positionings to you. You are likely busy at the moment, but I would like to cooperate as much as possible.”
As ToQ and the Doctor began speaking about Borg technology, the tired voice of one of the Federation nurses that had been well enough to volunteer to see to the wounded, broke over the communication system, interrupting them, “Doctor, Commander Harrington is awake.”
“I’ll be there momentarily. “ The doctor replied bringing up the Federation officer’s information on his wrist computer, then turning to ToQ, he said, “We will ssspeak later.”
Looking between the Doctor and the Borg, VaQ’taj nodded curtly, “Inform me when she is ready for duty. Also inform me the minute that you are comfortable allowing the Commander to have visitors. I would prefer that he be awake and present when their transport arrives.”
With that, she lowered the force field and strode out into the medbay, pausing to check on a couple of her conscious wounded as she went. She assured them that even if they did not live to see further battles, they had carried out their duties with courage and honor and that they would be among the celebrated dead. By the time that the green-skinned Kolari and the red-braided colonel left the wounded, Vaq’taj’s jaw was set tightly.
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1. My sister, I see a firm, fit warrior and not a fat old woman. What happened to you?
