04-16-2024, 07:28 PM
As Thorn sat, staring out into the blackness of space that was punctuated only by the subtle pin pricks of stars, her eye caught the reflection i the window of someone approaching her table. They walked very softly, but she made a point to turn and face them, letting them know she was aware of their presence. There was a twitch at the corner of their mouth that gave the tell of an effort to restrain themself from grinning in return.
The man was a Klingon in a Security uniform. She didn't recognise him, but that was not surprising, since she had not yet met most of the crew. The uniform was sharp and clean. His movements were smooth and refined. He was carrying a steaming mug and very politely asked, in a deep voice that was even deeper than that of her friend Talion, "May I join you?"
He had even given a hint of a bow as he asked, which was something that was unique behavior to Thorn, especially from a Klingon. It had the desired effect though and felt slightly disarming to Kalli, so she relaxed a little as she gestured to a chair and replied, "Certainly."
There were things about this Klingon that Thorn couldn't put her finger on at first, but he seemed different than others she had met. Most Klingons were loud, aggressive, unkept and, to put it bluntly, had a certain smell to them. This man was none of those things. His deep voice was softened to the point of almost being soothing. His manners and movements were more like a cat than the stomping beast she had encountered in her past. He was very well groomed and...there was a hint of something, but it was certainly not unpleasant. She wasn't sure if it was coming from him or his beverage though.
He took the offered seat and said, "Thank you, Lieutenant Thorn." His use of her rank made her double check his own, which was Lt (JG).
"Have we met before? You strike me as someone I would remember."
This time he did smile, if briefly, revealing well kept teeth, another thing to set him apart from the other Klingons she had encountered in her past. "No, I don't believe so. As a Security Officer, I made myself familiar with the faces of the manifested crew. It's what I consider an occupational necessity, though I assure you that, as a professional officer, I took care not to invade the privacy of the crew in the process."
This impressed Kalli a little and she continued, "So, what brings you to this table then, Lieutenant..."
He quickly picked up on her drawing out his rank reference enough to hint that she didn't know his name in return, "Ah, forgive me, my name is Gath." He glanced around the room and then answered, "As an Engineer, I'm sure that you notice things about the structure and functionality of certain things before others might. As a Security Officer, I notice things as well, but from a different perspective. In my case, I notice who appears to be a threat or who might be an asset. You, for example, are one of the few people in the room who is armed, though you do well in keeping it well concealed. I'm a man of contingency planning and that makes you either a possible threat who is very cunning, or a possible ally who believes in being cautiously prepared. In either case, this is the table I would most wish to be at. Should you unexpectedly turn out to be a threat, I would be positioned to be between you and any target. Should something unpleasant happen and you are, as I highly suspect, a good choice as an ally, then you're likely someone I would feel comfortable to have supporting my flank. So as you can see, either way, this becomes the most obvious choice for me. In addition, I am not shy."
At that last, he offered his hand and a warm smile, "I'm pleased to make your acquaintance."
Now it was Kalli's turn to smile as she shook the hand that wa offered. His grip was firm, but not forceful. She also finally placed the smell, "Is that licorice I smell?"
"Ah, yes, that would be my herbal tea. It has many ingredients, but one is licorice root. There is a blend of wild cherry bark, cinnamon bark, orange peel, ginger, clove, black pepper and a few other such ingredients, but I find it flavorful and relaxing. I find that it helps me to focus."
With a smile and narrowed eyes, Kalli asked, "Are you SURE you're a Klingon?"
Gath gave a small chuckle and looked at his cup in front of him for a moment, "Yes, the ridges do tend to give it away, but I think you're referring to my lack of being the kind of Klingon who shouts his glorious victories in battle while demanding more blood wine."
Kalli returned his chuckle, "It's more than that. You're different in other ways too, but I would sum it up with the oversimplification of you not having those ragged edges of a damaged blade. Yours is a smooth and sharp edge that cuts cleanly and with purpose."
Gath looked up from his drink and his smile grew wider and warmer, "Are you SURE you're not a Klingon?"
The man was a Klingon in a Security uniform. She didn't recognise him, but that was not surprising, since she had not yet met most of the crew. The uniform was sharp and clean. His movements were smooth and refined. He was carrying a steaming mug and very politely asked, in a deep voice that was even deeper than that of her friend Talion, "May I join you?"
He had even given a hint of a bow as he asked, which was something that was unique behavior to Thorn, especially from a Klingon. It had the desired effect though and felt slightly disarming to Kalli, so she relaxed a little as she gestured to a chair and replied, "Certainly."
There were things about this Klingon that Thorn couldn't put her finger on at first, but he seemed different than others she had met. Most Klingons were loud, aggressive, unkept and, to put it bluntly, had a certain smell to them. This man was none of those things. His deep voice was softened to the point of almost being soothing. His manners and movements were more like a cat than the stomping beast she had encountered in her past. He was very well groomed and...there was a hint of something, but it was certainly not unpleasant. She wasn't sure if it was coming from him or his beverage though.
He took the offered seat and said, "Thank you, Lieutenant Thorn." His use of her rank made her double check his own, which was Lt (JG).
"Have we met before? You strike me as someone I would remember."
This time he did smile, if briefly, revealing well kept teeth, another thing to set him apart from the other Klingons she had encountered in her past. "No, I don't believe so. As a Security Officer, I made myself familiar with the faces of the manifested crew. It's what I consider an occupational necessity, though I assure you that, as a professional officer, I took care not to invade the privacy of the crew in the process."
This impressed Kalli a little and she continued, "So, what brings you to this table then, Lieutenant..."
He quickly picked up on her drawing out his rank reference enough to hint that she didn't know his name in return, "Ah, forgive me, my name is Gath." He glanced around the room and then answered, "As an Engineer, I'm sure that you notice things about the structure and functionality of certain things before others might. As a Security Officer, I notice things as well, but from a different perspective. In my case, I notice who appears to be a threat or who might be an asset. You, for example, are one of the few people in the room who is armed, though you do well in keeping it well concealed. I'm a man of contingency planning and that makes you either a possible threat who is very cunning, or a possible ally who believes in being cautiously prepared. In either case, this is the table I would most wish to be at. Should you unexpectedly turn out to be a threat, I would be positioned to be between you and any target. Should something unpleasant happen and you are, as I highly suspect, a good choice as an ally, then you're likely someone I would feel comfortable to have supporting my flank. So as you can see, either way, this becomes the most obvious choice for me. In addition, I am not shy."
At that last, he offered his hand and a warm smile, "I'm pleased to make your acquaintance."
Now it was Kalli's turn to smile as she shook the hand that wa offered. His grip was firm, but not forceful. She also finally placed the smell, "Is that licorice I smell?"
"Ah, yes, that would be my herbal tea. It has many ingredients, but one is licorice root. There is a blend of wild cherry bark, cinnamon bark, orange peel, ginger, clove, black pepper and a few other such ingredients, but I find it flavorful and relaxing. I find that it helps me to focus."
With a smile and narrowed eyes, Kalli asked, "Are you SURE you're a Klingon?"
Gath gave a small chuckle and looked at his cup in front of him for a moment, "Yes, the ridges do tend to give it away, but I think you're referring to my lack of being the kind of Klingon who shouts his glorious victories in battle while demanding more blood wine."
Kalli returned his chuckle, "It's more than that. You're different in other ways too, but I would sum it up with the oversimplification of you not having those ragged edges of a damaged blade. Yours is a smooth and sharp edge that cuts cleanly and with purpose."
Gath looked up from his drink and his smile grew wider and warmer, "Are you SURE you're not a Klingon?"