Relaxation and Wine

Posted on Mon Feb 18th, 2013 @ 12:13am by Lieutenant Saith i-Ki Baratan & Sergeant Maal son of Torg

3,406 words; about a 17 minute read

Mission: Mission 82 - The Aggressor
Location: Ensign Baratan's quarters

Maal had just left his quarters after speaking with Lee and checking on him. He also said a few not so nice words in Klingon to him for not being careful on the outside of the Pegasus, but was glad he was ok. They had also talked about Saith, so Maal had decided to go pay her a visit and try to cheer her up. He had a dozen orange roses and a bottle of Klingon blood wine he had from his on private stash in his quarters.

He reached her quarters and pushed the door chime and waited.

Saith sat on the sofa in the semi-darkness. She was staring off into space, literally, when the door chimed. She started and sat up then frowned. “Who can that be?” she asked herself as she rose from her seat.

As the door slid open her frown turned to a smile, “hi.”

Maal handed her the roses and the bottle:"These are for you my darling."

She took them with a somewhat bewildered look. No one had ever brought her flowers before! She pulled her gaze from them and smiled at Maal, “thank you, come in.” She moved out of the doorway and headed for the replicator. She set the wine on the table and turned to face the replicator, “Computer, I need a vase.” She looked at the flowers again, “six inches in height, three inches in circumference,“ and then with a long forgotten memory making an appearance she added, “to look like lead crystal.”

While the vase materialized she turned to look at Maal and favored him with a brilliant smile, “I have never had flowers before; they are beautiful. Have you eaten yet, or should I make something to go with the wine?” She placed the flowers in the vase, added water and set the ensemble in the middle of the table.

He stood there looking at her and smiled:"No I have not eaten yet."

She made her way around the table and encircled Maal in her arms. She smiled up at him.

Maal put his big arms around her and smiled down at her then leaned forward to kiss her passionately, picking her up off the floor.

Saith allowed herself to be completely enveloped in Maal’s arms and felt her feet leave the floor. His kiss was passionate and she returned it the same, but there was an unexplained nervousness lurking in her mind. After a moment that seemed to both last eternity and fly by he broke their kiss.

After a couple minutes of kissing he put her down and broke the kiss then looking deep into her eyes:" jIH muSHa' SoH."

She smiled at him, her eyes on his “I love you to.” Nerves jangling through her she moved out of his arms, hoping the shadows of her soul had stayed out of her eyes, “what do you want for dinner? Would you like to sit while I make something or should I replicate something?” Her words came out in a quick tumble of questions.

She knew she was avoiding, asking about mundane issues. She was nervous about how much Lee had told Maal, but she wasn’t sure she wanted to discuss the mission, her past, or her future on the Star base with him right now. She noticed her hand shake as she reached for the cabinet for placemats and utensils. She tried to still her hand before he noticed.


He walked up to her and put his arms around her waist from behind:"You can make us something after you tell me what's wrong?"

Saith tensed slightly as Maal’s arms encircled her. She loved that he cared, that he was strong, and that he was there . . . still, she needed to resist her tendency to run away from things. She shrugged in answer to his question.

Maal stood there not moving behind her:"I know something is wrong cause Lee told me that something is."

She sighed, relaxing a little in his arms, “nothing, and everything. It is a long list” She laid her own arms and hands on his and leaned her head back into his shoulder.

“I don’t know how much Lee told you, but it is really sort of everything. It’s Vid-Lotijila, it’s me, it’s my disastrous and potentially destructive relationship with Bremer. I am not sure I won’t end up in the brig, or worse. . .” she paused. “Did Lee say anything about my childhood?” she asked, knowing in that instant that if not, she would tell Maal herself.

Maal just stood there with his arms around her holding her:"Lee didn't tell me anything about your childhood he said to talk to you about it. Yes do know about with the Admiral."

Saith closed her eyes and sighed softly trying to decide where to start. “I did not mean to, tell Lee anything but I was upset and he is a good listener,” she had a slight catch in her words as she tried to hold back the emotions. [He’s going to think I am stupid if I cry every time we are together] she thought.

“Lee thinks that my anger issues stem from what happened when I was young.” She glanced up over her shoulder at Maal’s face. “I always said my father taught me not to trust anyone. He taught me a lot actually, and all in a bad way.” Turning her eyes back to the floor in front of her, Saith briefly considered moving to the sofa, but right now she wanted Maal’s strong arms around her so she stayed quiet and still.

Maal just stood there listening to her as she talked.

“I am not sure what my father did for a living exactly. When I was small, I thought he was some sort of diplomat, but that isn’t true. I was much older by the time I figured that out.” She snarled.

Her voice went soft again, almost whispering the secrets she had carried so long. “When I was six, we attended some big function. I remember my mother spending a lot of time getting her and me ready. It was at the Capitol and I know the Praetor was in attendance. There were hundreds if not thousands of people there,” She paused squinting remembering things she hadn’t previously remembered.

“There was music and big long tables of food in hallways with smooth stone floors and wide staircases. At some point I got bored and looked for my father. I saw him going upstairs with two others, so I followed them. They went to a room quite a ways from the party, I could hear the music but it was faint. I looked through the doorway and my father and the men were discussing something, I can’t remember what. One of the other men took out a small gun and was going to shoot my father, but somehow he knew and instead ended up killing the other two. I just stood in the doorway holding my breath. Then my father saw me there, he called me over and looked at me for a long time. I thought he was going to yell at me, but he just stood there and looked."

Saith shook her head, "I don’t know how long we stood there, but eventually he leaned over and handed me the gun. He asked if I had seen what happened and I nodded. He told me that I should never trust anyone and that those men were going to destroy the Empire.” Saith rolled her eyes “I should have known better, but I was young. I laid the gun on the table and we left. Things got real strange after that, some people came to the house and talked to me, then I went to a hospital where doctors talked to me, and then I found myself locked away.”

Saith turned in Maal’s arms and lay her head on his shoulder with her face by his chin. “I had been there about three years, when I finally had an opportunity to see my file, thanks to a distracted officer. That bastard, my OWN FATHER, had told them I KILLED THOSE MEN!” The tears came then and Saith cried for a moment.

Finally, when she could breath again she continued, “And they believed him, after all, I was the last one to hold the gun, I told them I placed it on the table, and I insisted they were out to destroy the Empire. All the things my father had told me, but I hadn't realized he was setting me up." Another pause.

"Finally when I was almost 11, someone came along and got me out of there. Her name was Ecurai. She was the Riov (Captain) of her own ship the RSE Shiarrael. I never did learn how she knew about me, or how or even why she got me out. I know she was related to the Empress and the Praetor somehow, so that was probably the means, but the why . . . well I never figured that out. I spent a year and a half on the Shiarrael as her . . . ward, I guess you could call it. Then when I was 13 I went to military training as all Rihanna children must, and the rest as they say is history.”

With a tearful, but rueful glance she looked at Maal, “Although I did not give him all the details, just the short version, Lee thinks that may be why I have anger and authority issues.” She laughed, but it was a sad laugh. “I did learn not to trust anyone.”

Maal looked down at her:"Your father is what would be called a loD tlhej ghobe' quv (A man with no honor). And yes do agree with Lee that is a lot to do with your anger issues."

Saith grinned up at him, "yeah, probably." She moved out of his arms and went to get glasses, and a corkscrew. Coming back towards him and the table she reached out for the bottle of wine.

"So what happen after Ecuari? How long did you stay with her?"

Saith passed by Maal, and shrugged. She set down the glasses and handed the bottle and corkscrew to Maal. "Will you open this please? I was on the Shiarrael for just over a year and a half. Then I went into the military service as required. I spent the next 4 or 5 years serving on ships. Rihan military service is . . . harsher . . . than Starfleet service. I had two different assignments. One day, I was given an assignment. We were looking for an supposed assassin, bringing him back alive was an option, but not the preferred one, if you get my drift. We located him and took care of the problem." She looked at Maal, "it was my father."

"Anyway, I was still planet-side, not knowing about the Remans, or the instability that was about to occur, when all Hell broke loose, death, destruction, mayhem, fear, and finally the Empire collapsed. I found myself with a bunch of children. . ." She smiled and sipped her wine, "I didn't see myself as a child at the time although I was just barely 18. We were rescued by a federation ship. My dad, Josh Byrne, was a Lt. Cmdr. on that ship. Even though he is human, he seemed to understand me, or at least had the patience to deal with me more than anyone else. Eventually, he and his family adopted me. He is the one who got me into Starfleet, although I am still not sure that is a good thing." She frowned thinking about Bremer, and her very thick file.

He opened the bottle for her and poured some into the glasses:"Just to let you know, be careful with the blood wine. It's a few years old."

Saith considered a smart response, something to the effect that it had better be because that is all she drank lately, but thinking better of it she simply smiled, "ok."

Maal moved over to the table and sat down:"So your saying that you where part of some group that killed your father?"

"Yes, not that I knew it at the time, they were calling him by a different name. I don't know that they knew it, but I knew when I saw his body." She paused recalling that day, "It's funny, but I didn't feel anything really, I just looked at him for a while, then walked away."

Looking pointedly at Maal, Saith continued, "one would think that would be distressing even given what he did to me, but I also walked away wondering if he was an assassin or not. I mean I saw him kill two people, but they started it, it wasn't as if he snuck around and killed them . . . " her voice drifted off.

Staring off into space she seemed stuck in the past. Maal's voice brought her out of it.

"Why do you say you're not sure it's a good thing that you're in Star Fleet?" He took a sip of his own wine.

Saith laughed aloud. A full hearty laugh, "really?" She sat down and sipped her wine, her smile full on her lips.

"Let's see, where to start on my file that is so long it would take weeks to read. . . " She set her glass on the table and leaned forward resting her chin on her fists, her elbows on the table framing the glass. "Insubordination, anger issues, authority issues, prone to fighting and violence . . . and that is just for starters. How I ever got out of the academy is anyone's guess."

She paused to take a breath and another sip of blood wine. "Then of course there is my situation with Bremer. I rub him the wrong way I guess, and I know he rubs me the wrong way. I can't quit thinking that he represents the hypocrisy that I was brought up to believe the Federation represented, and" she looked at Maal and flushed, "other things." Things she didn't want to say to Maal, because he did not live up to her expectations of Klingons, he was better than she ever expected or hoped for.

"I know I am a lowly Ensign but I think he was wrong at Remu III, the entire mission was wrong. I know he was upset, I get that. I know he wanted revenge, oh brother do I get that!" She was on a roll now, "but he was wrong. No one called him on it. I tried and am lucky I am here at all. And I still empathize with the pirates, I understand them, at least a little. I am still expecting to be put in the brig by Bremer, I think he just hasn't gotten around to it yet!" She stopped, not knowing where to go from here, "I guess what I am saying is that if I have had these issues everywhere, and they are bound to get far worse with Bremer, maybe I should just leave, while I still can."

She reached across the table and took Maal's hand, "I no longer want to leave, but I don't know what to do, and my dad would be hurt. He is the first person I could really count on, and he's human. Then there is you. You're Klingon, I am Rihanna. Talk about having your childhood beliefs shaken" she said quietly.

Maal took her hand then sat down next to her:"Admiral Bremer probably would have thrown you in the brig by now if he was going to, besides Lee is going to have a talk with him about it."

"I suppose," she said hesitantly. "And I have done a Lee asked and scheduled counseling, of course I should admit my own culpability there. Bremer ordered me to do so, but I didn't. Lee barely asked, he ordered, but it didn't feel like it and I did it immediately."

He looked at her:"A lot of Romluans and Klingons have a different view of each other. And it's probably going to be that way for years to come."

"I guess you are right, it just throws me off-balance; knowing I know nothing," she chuckled.

"Maal took another sip of wine:"So what do you think your adoptive father is going to think about you dating a Klingon?"

Saith thought for a moment then smiled, "I think he would listen to everything I had to say, and then he would ask me if you treated me right and made me happy."

She moved closer to Maal, "to which I would say 'yes'." She leaned over and kissed him.

Maal kissed her back "Am glad I make you happy which you make me happy." He kissed her deeply then pulled her onto his lap.

Saith put her arms around his neck and returned the deep kiss. She revelled in his strength, passion, and compassion.

As he broke the kiss he leaned back some "So what shall we have for dinner?"

She laughed, "how about steaks, pasta, and salad?" Her gaze drifted to the beautiful roses he had brought. With a bright smile she looked back at him to see what he thought of her menu.

He nodded:"Sure that sounds good for dinner. So what's on your mind my darling?"

She watched his eyes for a moment, thinking. "Have you ever been afraid?"she asked.

Looking at her hands in her lap she sighed, "I have been giving it some thought ever since my talk with Lee. I think that maybe I am afraid that if I go to counseling, if I change who I am, I won't survive. Does that sound stupid to you?"

He sat there listening to her running his finger across her cheek.

She glanced at the kitchen, "how do you like your steak?" she smiled fairly sure he would say 'rare.' Any other answer would surprise her she admitted to herself. She wondered if such a thing would be a nice surprise or just a surprise.

Maal reached up and gently turned her face to him:"Don't worry about food right now. No it doesn't sound stupid and yes everyone if afraid of something."

Relieved Saith snuggled in his lap, laying her head on his shoulder, "thanks. I don't think I could eat anyway, my stomach hurts." She shifted so she could look at him. "this is stressful."

He looked into her eyes:"I don't think you will change who you are for going to counseling, I think you will improve who you are for the better."

"hmm," Saith considered the idea, "I know that the idea is for me to be less . . . I don't know, . . . combative? but that is all I know, it is what has kept me alive this long. If I get rid of that, who am I? How will I survive?" She shook her head, it sounded stupid to her, but she thought it was because she wasn't explaining it adequately.

He sat there stroking her hair:"You will be who you are. You have survived this long and you will continue to survive for many years to come."

She nodded, "I suppose. . . but there is still so much I need to figure out; how to deal with people like Bremer, how to do my job, even what my job is really. . .I'm not this, but I'm not that. It is never ending."

Maal chuckled:"Stop worrying so much about the little stuff. Everything is going to be ok. I am here for you."

Saith nodded her head gravely, "I should warn you . . . I am a worrier." She couldn't hold her laughter anymore and a hearty heartfelt laugh came from her, "thank you for being here for me." She kissed him.

Maal kissed her back:"Your welcome my love." He then stood up still holding her in his arms, he then put her down:"Now let's go eat I am getting hungry."

Saith smiled, "sounds good, but I still want to cook." She got up from his lap and moved to the kitchen, smelling her roses as she passed by. About 30 minutes later, dinner was on the table, and Saith's thoughts had turned to other considerations. Instead of being subtle, she simply smiled asked Maal outright to stay the night . . .

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