Path to Kal'hyah pt2

Posted on Thu Feb 27th, 2014 @ 12:51am by Fleet Admiral Mike K`Wor Bremer & Colonel Danny Lennox & Lieutenant K`Wor & Commodore Leon `Lee` Pike & Brigadier General David Hurd Sr & Sergeant Major Marcus Pepper & Sergeant Maal son of Torg

7,953 words; about a 40 minute read

Mission: Mission 85 - Q-uality Time Aboard Starbase 400
Location: Starbase 400/IKS Sar'Cho
Timeline: Following 'Path to Kal'hyah pt1'

OFF: This is a LONG one...


ON:

Vorak walked in surrounded by an honor guard, the Klingon warriors sang as they slowly marched in. Vorak walked at the same speed and moved down the center of the room, the warriors filtered out into two lines and walked down either side of the room. All carrying staffs with flaming torches on the top of them and with pain sticks and daggers on their belts. As the warriors stopped in two lines they started to bang the base of the staff's on the floor and started to sing a little louder. Vorak reached the party and nodded at them he then turned around with his back to the party and faced the door. Two guards with Halberds took up position on either flank of the general. Vorak was wearing his ceremonial Armour with a silver baldric which had the family crest and a few battle honors showing on it.

The singing got louder and the pounding of the staffs grew louder all of a sudden it stopped and the only sound in the room was the crackling burning noise of the torches and various fires lighting the room. As one the Klingons dropped to one knee including Vorak as one of the brothers who ran the house of Pir'up Pa entered the room.

Marcus strolled in wearing full ceremonial Klingon Armour, he wore a gold baldric with the family crest at the top and battle honors covering the entire length of it. Instead of his Sergeant Major rank he was wearing his house rank of General. He was also wearing a leather cloak which was made from an extremely dangerous animal he managed to kill single handed. By his side a young adolescent male who had been given the honor of carrying the Bat'leth of the house champion and joint leader of the house. The bat'leth itself looked strange until upon closer inspection you could see the surface of the weapon was etched with names of every battle it had been used in and every soul it had claimed.

Marcus walked towards the party and as he was half way across the room the warriors stood and started to chant quietly.

Vorak stood as his uncle arrived and announced his his full Klingon title.

"Warriors of the house of Pir'Up Pa, Warriors of the Sar'Cho and our guests....today we are honored to have our greatest warrior present. Today we welcome Sa' M'kus undefeated house champion and lord of the house of Pir'up Pa" Vorak yelled in Klingon, he took a drink from a large container then handed it to Marcus who took an even bigger drink. The container was full of a very potent klingon ale, Marcus had his fill and then walked to the group and handed it to Mike.

"Hope your all ready for this" he said with a smirk

Bremer smirked as he glanced back at everyone gathered. He knew none of them were truly ready for the journey before them. He then looked back at Marcus and took a drink from large Klingon tankard...a drink nearly as big as Marcus had but out of respect for the host and his house, he made sure to hold back a little.

Bremer then gave a respectful nod as he returned the tankard to Marcus, then he turned to face everyone gathered. "Prepare yourselves. This will be a mental and spiritual journey, filled with song and fellowship. You will be required to endure six trials...deprivation, blood, pain, sacrifice, anguish, and death."

"Death?" Q2 repeated aloud.

K'Wor was a little nervous too, but tried to high it from the 'all powerful' yet powerless Qs, "Don't tell me the omnipotent is scared."

"I'm not scared...I just don't want to die." Q2 replied with an uneasy tone.

While listening to Bremer, Lennox reached over and grabbed a piece of food from the table that was set for a feast, but before he could take a bite K'Temoc grabbed his hand, "There's no food for those on the path to Kal'hyah."

Lennox looked puzzled, but set the food back.

"The food is there to temp us, to lead us off the Path." Bremer added so everyone knew not to touch it.

Lee stood there with his family looking around at everyone and waiting.

Duval had not moved as he regarded the food with disinterest as he had done his research on what little he could find about this particular rite but most of his attention was on Pepper whom he had more questions about then ever before, one thing however was made brutally clear to Duval and it was that Pepper was an unknown factor in his equations.

A Marine sergeant major making it to the rank of General in the Klingon military, for Duval this was a major shock as he raised an eyebrow, when this was finished he was going to try and find some answers to his small horde of questions. "You will not die Q." he commented quietly. "You will however be made to face death." he added.

Vorak walked over to the table with the food on it and inspected the banquet. He motioned for a few of the Klingon warriors to stand behind the table which they did without saying a word.

"As it is has been pointed out, this is to temp you from the path" Said Vorak as he nodded at Marcus.

Marcus took a few steps over to the table, he looked at the warriors stood behind it then reached out for the food. He managed to get his finger tips on a nice big juicy apple when three pain sticks were shoved into his gut. Marcus gritted his teeth in pain and staggered back a half a pace and with a great amount of difficulty and effort he stopped himself from doubling over or dropping to one knee. After a moment he stood upright, smiled and let out a breath.

Looking at the food, Col. Hurd reflected inwardly, ''It sure does look good.'' But, knowing what was expected of him, he simply stood at attention. Although inwardly he was craving the food, he knew that it was a matter of honor that he not touch it. Instead, he simply looked around the room, and waited to be addressed, smiling, again inwardly, at Q2 and Q3's facial expressions, and the fact that they were well and truly scared.

It had been a really long time since Bremer allowed his Klingon half to really come out. He'd trained and practiced years to suppress much of his Klingon side...especially his temper.

But this...the Path to Kal'hyah allowed him to express himself and let his Klingon side out...without the concern. Bremer looked around the room, then started to sing...

"Ka vek ko lee ko
Eh to che mah lo
Tah oo-wah kah esh to pah deh ah reee!
Yah bosh-ah! Yah bosh-ah!
Yah bosh tomah!"

Col. Hurd, noticing the song the Admiral had started to sing, joined in with him, his voice booming.

Lee chuckled and shook his head then looked towards Hurd:"Your klingon needs some work there Colonel."

Cracking a very thin smile, Col. Hurd said, '' Belive me, Captain, i know it does.''

Duval rumbled as he softly chuckled. "My Klingon is none-existent Captain."
he commented as he turned his attention from where he was looking to the
larger then average Betazoid male who was speaking.

Marcus joined in the singing, he was smiling and put his hand on Duvals shoulder pronouncing the words as he sang them to try and teach him some of it.

Duval watched the other mans lips move as he tried to follow along and after a few minutes was able to get a decent song going but he managed the pronunciation.

Lee smiled:"It's ok Duval, Klingon is interesting to learn, Sgt. Maal here am sure would teach you."

Duval raised an eyebrow. "I will consider it... if you'd be willing to learn Vulcan."

Maal looked towards Duval and nodded then started singing with his brother Morath.

A few minutes later after the first son was finished, Duval began to sing an old Terran song called 'Song of the Lonely Mountain' from a Terran movie called 'the Hobbit'

"Far over the Misty Mountains rise, Leave us standing upon the heights
What was before, we see once more, Our kingdom a distant light"
He breathed out and then back in.

"Fiery mountain beneath the moon. The words unspoken, we’ll be there soon For home a song that echoes on and all who find us will know the tune." his voice never wavered. "Some folk we never forget. Some kind we never forgive. Haven’t seen the back of us yet. We’ll fight as long as we live. All eyes on the hidden door. To the Lonely Mountain borne. We’ll ride in the gathering storm. Until we get our long-forgotten gold"

Duval dragged out the last few notes as he breathed in. "We lay under the Misty Mountains cold. In slumbers deep and dreams of gold. We must awake, our lives to make. And in the darkness a torch we hold"

Duval proceeded. "From long ago when lanterns burned. Till this day our hearts have yearned. Her fate unknown the Arkenstone. What was stolen must be returned" he inhaled again. "We must awake and make the day. To find a song for heart and soul"

Duval proceeded quickly. "Some folk we never forget. Some kind we never forgive. Haven’t seen the end of it yet. We’ll fight as long as we live. All eyes on the hidden door. To the Lonely Mountain borne. We’ll ride in the gathering storm. Until we get our long-forgotten gold. Far away from Misty Mountains cold." Duval dragged out the last note as he fell silent, he knew he had a good singing voice and it was something he was proud of.

The Klingons gathered swapped looks with each other as they kept an eye on Duval. Most of them didn’t understand the words, but all that mattered was the song wasn’t Klingon.

K’Temoc smirked, he was leaning Vulcan so even he didn’t know every word that was sung, and while he appreciated the song and its meaning…this was a Klingon ritual. “I believe we better keep with the Klingon theme.”

Bremer nodded, “Agreed…stoke the fire!”

One of the Klingons nodded with a grunt with a toothy smile as he stoked the fire causing it to roar and the heat to increase.

Duval blinked as he paused a moment, he slowly turned to K'Temoc with a look of cold malevolence on his face. "If you don't like my singing... Captain" he pronounced the word like it was an insult. "Then please... say so... I promise I won't be offended.... too much."

K'Temoc laughed, "Trust me, I would." He then walked closer to the fire for a moment before walking to the other side of the room.

“How hot is it going to get in here?” Q2 asked K’Wor.

“I’m not really sure, much I’d guess. It’s supposed to help you see a vision I think.” K’Wor replied.

“A vision of what?” Q2 replied as he whipped the sweat off his forehead with his sleeve.

K’Wor looked around for a moment, a little embarrassed to answer, “I’m not really sure. I wasn’t raised fully Klingon so this is a learning experience for me too.”

Q2 smirked, “You’re not like the others…they seem to hate me even though I’ve never encountered most of them before.”

“Most have either been threatened by Q before…and the hell Q3 put everyone through earlier…I guess they just blame all the Q.” K’Wor replied.

“You don’t?” Q2 asked.

“As long as you” he pointed at Q2, “ don't personally harass me or my family and friends, then we won’t have a problem.” K’Wor replied.

Q2 nodded, flashed a smile, then whipped the sweat away again.

Duval stood there as he felt a wave of emotions come crashing in on his mind as he relieved a few things he'd just as soon forget but to the others, he looked like he was simply standing still except the look on his face otherwise.
He blinked as he came back to himself as he looked around.

Col. Hurd, sweat dripping from his face, said, ''Stoke the fires Again!''

Bremer smirked, he was happy to see Hurd getting into the mood.

Duval's eyes blazed with a cold malice as he smiled. "I'm fine..." but he most certainly wasn't fine, in fact one could almost call him deranged. "So Q... are you enjoying the heat yet?", almost feels like Vulcan's forge..." he paused. "its not hot enough... stoke the fires again... hotter this time..."

Standing there, sweat dripping from his face, Col. Hurd looked around the room, and noticed Q2 and Q3 looking scared, and they also had sweat pouring from their faces. Col. Hurd nodded inwardly, and thought to himself, ''They are not sweating nearly enough.'' Col. Hurd, in a loud and booming voice, declared, ''It is not nearly hot enough, More Heat!''

Pepper looked a little confused, the heat was now so high that his skin had turned bright red and sweat rolled down his face as if he was stood in the rain. He felt himself get a little unsteady on his feet and closed his eyes to compose himself, as he opened his eyes again the faces of the men around him began to change. He found himself in his old marine combat uniform with his subdued Gunnery Sergeant Stripes on his arm, ahead of him was his old squad but he knew this was impossible as they was all dead. He looked around and felt like he was outside, he couldn't remember the name of the place but he knew it well. This is where they all died, this is where they were buried alive. The space port was where he lost everyone. The civilians with Colonel Janice Fultain and Sergeant Worth gone to the shuttles to be evacuated. Gunney Pepper had to hold off the enemy long enough for them to escape. He was seeing flashes of the battle, like small segments of it happeneing and he tried to yell out orders, he tried to change the events but every-time he opened his mouth he was silent everything kept changing. He found himself under the building once again, the original plan was to blow the building up to block the path of the advancing enemy soldiers but they got so close that the building was blown with Pepper and his squad still under it.

Pepper felt his heart racing, he relived being buried alive countless times and still had the nightmares. He could taste the stale warm air and hear as his friends died until he was alone trapped and drinking stale water that dripped through the rubble to survive. He closed his eyes again and when he opened them he was back in the room on the Sar'Cho, his breathing had become heavy and at some point during his vision he had taken his cloak and shoulder pads off. He now stood in his pants, boots and a vest top with the disfiguring burns and scars from his neck all down his left side visible.

He looked at the others, then nodded as he walked towards the gauntlet. His vision was completed and it showed him his greatest fear, the one thing he needed to overcome, his burden.....

Approaching the gauntlet which is a metal walkway with eight warriors stood on a raised platform on either side of it, Pepper stands at the entrance and declares.

He steps forward to the first pair of warriors

"Today I am a warrior. I must show you my heart, I travel the river of blood." he yelled as the two warriors dug the pain sticks into his side. He gritted his teeth in agony for what seemed like an eternity but was just ten very long seconds. After it was over he gritted his teeth stood tall and declared.

"My journey has begun"

At the next pair he shouted "jlbechrup may' vllos."

Once again the pain sticks dug into his side and he fought to stay standing. After they was removed in his almost delirious state of pain crossed with the heat he though he was about to drop dead, he gritted his teeth and yelled with defiance

"The battle is mine. I crave only the blood of the enemy."

He walked forward to the next pair and shouted "HlHlvqa'"

Again the two warriors prodded him hard with pain sticks and he fought to remain conscience, once it was over he he took a breath then said.

"The bile of the vanquished flows over my hands."

Pepper moved to the last pair and said "may'pequ' moH,"

Once again the pain sticks were shoved into his side and as they took effect he growled out in pain. Once it was over he had to use every last bit of strength to remain standing, he took another couple of paces forward where Vorak stood waiting. He put his hand on Peppers shoulder and Pepper did the same to Vorak as he tried to smile through the lasting pain. Pepper turned and waited for the next one to follow him through.

K’Wor watched Pepper with his eyes wide. ‘I have to do that?’ he thought to himself.

There were just some aspects of Klingon life that he wasn’t used to or really ‘liked’, but at the same time he wanted to make his father proud. He wanted to join the great House of Martok like his father, he wanted to be a Warrior…and he knew this was the next step in that process.

He turned to say something to Q2 beside him, but he was gone. K’Wor looked around but instead of the people gathered for Kal'hyah ceremony, he saw his maternal grandparents. ‘How can this be? I haven’t see them in a few years.’ he thought to himself, then he realized he was at his father’s house on Earth and his sister Becca was beside him. She was small, young, and hand a tear in her eye. K’Wor then heard his Grandmother say, “She died saving your father’s life before the Pegasus was destroyed…he’s coming home as soon as he can.”

K’Wor then realized he was reliving events from just over fourteen years before, and when a five year old is told that their mother is dead, their whole world shatters. K’Wor felt a tear roll down his cheek and he watched Becca run off crying in his vision. K’Wor tried to hold back what he remembered saying next, but he couldn’t…he looked back at his grandparents and said, “I don’t want him coming back…he should of died, not her! Not Mom!”

K’Wor lowered his head and closed his eyes. He regretting saying that he’d wished his Father was dead, even as a five year old he knew it was mean and hateful, but he was also hurt and it was then he realized he still to this day held his Father responsible for his Mother’s death…even though now he knew it wasn’t his fault.

As K’Wor looked back up, the vision was gone and the Sar’Cho’s ceremonial room was back. He could feel the heat of the fires, and he knew what his next steps would be. He slowly walked over to the line of Klingons who were looking down at him. He cleared his throat, then declared, “Today I am a warrior. I must show you my heart, I travel the river of blood."

Two of the Warriors jabbed their painsticks into his sides, and K’Wor bared his teeth, trying to hold in the pain.

Stepping forward again, he announced, "My journey has begun!” As the next two Warriors took their stab at him, K’Wor yelled "jlbechrup may' vllos." The pain was intense, like nothing he’d ever experienced, and it took all of his will to move forward again.

"The battle is mine. I crave only the blood of the enemy."

He pulled himself forward to the next two Warriors and shouted "HlHlvqa” Holding the last syllable as long as he could to try and let some of the pain out in his yell as the painsticks dug into his sides.

"The bile of the vanquished flows over my hands." K’Wor took a pause of a second or two before pulling himself forward to the next two Warriors, it was all he could do not to fall over from the pain.

He finally arrived at the last pair and said "may'pequ' moH."Aagain the painsticks were shoved into his side and K’Wor let out a loud yell. These Warriors seemed to take their job seriously and kept the painsticks in contact with K’Wor’s side for a little longer than the others had, but when it was over…K’Wor knew he’d passed the test. He made it through the gauntlet and he pulled himself up to his feet.

Reaching out, he expected Vorak Pir’Up Pa’s hand to meet his, but instead it was his fathers. Bremer helped his son steady himself on his feet as Vorak gave a solid ‘pat’ to the young man’s shoulder. “majQa'”

Bremer looked at his son, a smile on his face. He had no idea what K’Wor’s vision was, but to him it didn’t matter, he was proud of him, He didn’t say anything, just gave his son a hug before looking into his eyes. “I’m proud of the man you’ve become.”

K’Wor was still trying to catch his breath, but he was able to let a smile cross his face, “Thanks Dad.”

Lee sensed something wrong and walked over to Duval:"Sgt. are you doing ok?"

"Aye... I'll be okay..." Duval said before turning his attention from Capain Pike as he watched the young Ensign who was clearly made of some extreamly tough material then Duval had ever imagine d he decided to go for his turn on the gauntlet but before he moved, the shadows seemed to move on their own as he had a vision.

He blinked as his eyes opened wide in shock and horror as he found himself looking at an old friend who was very badly wounded. "Duval... at least you have relized what you must do, old friend.... go make that hot Vulcan thing of yours a happy woman.... you know what she wants from you.."

Duval found he was only able to nod but not say anything. "But you still need to face your demons... they are many and they wait for you..."

Duval was finaly able to get some words out. "I'll be along soon old friend... keep a chair warm and a cold one on tap."

"We will... goodbye old friend." Marcus Farlander smiled as he seemed to face away.

Duval blinked as the shadows seem to mix as they returned to what they were in the holosuite as he sighed softly, he had lost so many good people under his command, a lot of them were friends who had died at the hands of almost every enemy the Federation had ever faced, his vision was completed and it showed him his greatest fear, the one thing he needed to overcome, his burden.....

Duval slowly stepped forward as if weighed down by a great burden as he looked at the eight warriors who waited for him expectantly. "Today I am a Warrior... I must show you my heart!."
he declared with his usual bass growl as if daring them to do their worst to him.

The wave of pain felt like he was swimming in a black ocean under a starless sky and the water
was fire but soon enough it ended as he stepped forward. "My Journey has begun!"

he passed the second two as he roared "jlbechrup may' vllos."

Duval growled angrilly as the two painsticks were shoved into his sides, once it ended he gasped in pain as he growled in defiance.

"The battle is mine. I crave only the blood of the enemy."

He moved forward to the next pair and roared "HlHlvqa'"

Tis time, the wave of pain was much worse, now it was like being buried alive rather then swmming as he gasped in pain when it ended, then he once again growled in rage, the warrior he was lookijng at nodded in approval.

"The bile of the vanquished flows over my hands."

Duval approched the last pair as he growled "may'pequ' moH," as they both shoved the painsticks into his sides as he roared his rage, defiance and his pain that rebounded off of the bulkheads then just like that it was all over as he stepped forward to be met by Bremer and Pepper.

"Thanks guys... give me a moment..." Duval gasped softly as he looked at K'Wor. "Your grandfather would have been proud." he added as he sucked in a lungfull of air.

Lee nodded then walked over to have his turn. Lee's cousins and Maal with Morath stood to each side of Lee with painsticks. He started to walk forward as Maal and his cousin Joe jabbed him in the sides with their painsticks, Lee growled but kept moving forward. Jack and Nathaniel then jabbed Lee in the sides as he growled again and moved forward. He then grunted some before reaching where Morath and another Klingon warrior stood and both jabbed Lee hard into the sides with the painsticks. He finally stopped at the end and let out a huge warrior style growl.

After Lee had completed his trial, Mike stepped down from the end of the gauntlet of Warriors and walked closer to the fire as K’Temoc was stoking it again.

“You all right?” He asked his younger brother.

“I’m good…you know I’ve never had a vision during any Klingon ritual I’ve been apart of.” K’Temoc replied.

“It’ll come.” Mike said in a reassuring tone as he walked a few meters away.

K’Temoc stared at the fire, waiting.

Mike on the other hand had crossed his arms as he faced the flames before slowly closing his eyes. He took a deep breath, settling into an almost meditative ease. He then opened his eyes to the fire and watched the flames dance for a moment before his vision started to blur.

Within seconds he found himself aboard a Federation Runabout, with the massive USS Pegasus-B looming over the drifting craft. Soon, the dark was broken and Mike could see K’Temoc, Coleman, and several Medical Officers looking around. He then heard K’Temoc call his name, and as Mike stepped into the aft section of the Runabout, he came face to face with his greatest fear an moment of sadness…

He tried to look away, not wanting to see two of his beloved children lying dead again, murdered, but he couldn’t. Instead he took a deep breath and met the moment head on. Both Emma and Marc killed by a cold-blooded bastard, little Christopher hurt, and K’Wor missing. It was the worst moment of his life…through the Dominion War, Borg attacks and assimilation, deaths of friends, family, and crewmembers…this moment still burned.

A moment later, Mike’s sight cleared and he could again see the flames of the fire dancing. He took another deep breath as he unfolded his arms and turned to walk toward the gauntlet of Warriors when he saw K’Temoc staring into the fire in almost a trance-like state.

For K’Temoc though, he wasn’t seeing the flames of the ceremonial fire, he was seeing the flames of war aboard the Sovereign class USS Octavian during the early months of the Dominion War. DS9 had recently been retaken, and the Octavian and its Task Force had been assigned to attack the Dominion supply convoy heading for the Argolis Cluster. Another convoy heading there had been raided by the Enterprise-E weeks before, so this convoy was larger with more Dominion warships acting as escorts.

K’Temoc was a young Lieutenant serving at the Operations position, not a position he liked. He preferred Tactical/Security, but that position was already filled when he was transferred aboard Fleet Admiral Casey’s Flagship. Still, the young man felt his Klingon blood boiling as he craved battle…and now the battle was on.

The Octavian and its three escorts approached the Dominion convoy, firing first on a Cardassian troop transport and then a freighter. That’s when the Dominion escorts moved in and attacked. The Saber class USS Sochi was destroyed in moments, but the Octavian was able to eliminate three of the Dominion Attackships…and that’s when things went downhill.

One of the escorting ships, the Defiant class USS Atrius, picked up Human and Vulcan life signs aboard one of the Cardassian transport ships. The Octivan moved in and transported its Marine Platoon aboard to recuse the prisoners, but while the shields were down, the Dominion ships heavily damaged the Octavian. Several Bridge Officers were wounded, leaving only Casey, the Tactical Officer, and K’Temoc alive. Smoke, vapors, and flames filled the air…then the Marines signaled for beam back. When the shields dropped, the Octavian’s Marine CO beamed right into the Bridge beside K’Temoc…and his lifeless body dropped to the deck. K’Temoc looked into the eyes of his dead friend as he body seemed to slowly fall limp and hit the deck with a thud.

Before K’Temoc draw his phaser, six Jem’Hadar beamed into the Bridge too and a hand to hand fight broke out. The fierce fight lasted minutes, but seemed like hours. In the end, the Jem’Hadar boarding parties were wiped out. There never were any Federation prisoners aboard the Dominion ships, it had been a trap. The Federation ships had to fall back and the rest of the convoy got through.

Later, K’Temoc was took a transfer to the Starbase Marine Corps as a Major and the USS Octavian’s new Marine CO. The events scared the young Officer, but the lessons learned proved invaluable.

Blinking his eyes, K’Temoc returned to the here and now, watching the ceremonial fire aboard the IKS Sar’Cho. He looked back to see his brother standing behind him, and he flashed a smile as the two men approved the line of painstick wielding Klingons. Mike went first, followed right behind K’Temoc. Once they both passed the final two Klingons, they let out loud Warrior roars then embossed each other. The pain was intense, but both men actually felt better for the experance and having come face to face with some of their greatest fears.

Duval watched silently as the others came across the gauntlet one by one as he waited and greeted them all one by one.

Lee stood there waiting with his cousins and Maal and Morath.

Lennox was so hot he felt like he could melt, but he hadn't had a vision or hallucination. He was happy for his friends that had, but this Klingon mumbo-jumbo just wasn't for him.

Lennox then felt the gaze of someone watching him, he turned to see Q3 looking at him...

"What?"

"Oh nothing, just wondering when you were going to walk up there and be all 'Ugh, I'm tough, hurt me' like everyone else." Q3 replied.

"I don't see you making your way over there either." Lennox replied.

"I haven't had vision of anything, other than dying of heat stroke, and that doesn't seem to count." Q3 replied.

"The Warriors and painsticks are a test of will, mental and physical toughness after facing your greatest fear. I may not believe in Klingon traditions, but I do respect them." Lennox replied.

"What's to respect? A bunch of brainless, wanna-be tough bipeds hurting each other." Q3 replied.

Lennox just shook his head and walked off. A moment later, Q3 saw...of all people...Q2 walking up to the start of the gauntlet. Amazingly, he started forward, trying to repeat what he'd heard Pepper, Bremer, and others say before and after being stuck with the painsticks. Q2 screamed in pain, but he continued forward, past each pair of Warriors til he made it to the end, then collapsed to the deck from the pain.

K'Wor helped Q2 to his feet as Vorak let out a hearty Klingon laugh, "Very good Q! There maybe some hope for you after all!"

"Remind me to never do something like that again." Q2 said to K'Wor as he sat back down, trying not to cry from the pain.

"You did well, I think you might of earned some respect here today too." K'Wor replied.

Q3 just stood to the side and watched. He still had no intention of going through the gauntlet himself...but in his own way, he was starting to understand why the others were...

Duval crossed his massive arms over his chest as he had finished recovering from the pain of being stabbed with eight painsticks. "You may yet survive."

Pepper watched the rest of them as they started to wonder through the gauntlet. As he waited he jumped up onto one of the bars near by, they was high enough to hurt if you dropped off them but low enough to jump up too. He knew they had been in the room for a long time but he wasnt sure exactly how long. pretty soon they would all be hanging from the bars, to drop from them meant you had to re-walk the gauntlet. Nobody could leave the bars until everyone with the party had passed through the gauntlet. By the end of this, if you didn't feel close to death you cheated the ceremony.

Duval knew what he needed to do as soon as he saw Pepper do it, he turned and leapt onto the next bar and he held onto it.

Standing there, the heat causing him to pour sweat, Col. Hurd had a vision of his greatest fear. In it, he was standing on a Battlefield, looking out and seeing most of his men laying on the ground dead. This truly was his greatest fear, and all the raw emotion that came along with it almost made him, for an instant, cry.

Coming back to himself, he said, in a deep brass voice, "Today I am a Warrior... I must show you my heart!." With that he walked into the first two Klingon's, who immediately jabbed him with pain sticks. The feeling was almost indescribable pain, and it caused him for a moment to stagger, yet he remained upright and continued to walk down the line.

As he passed the second two, he said, in a proud voice, "jlbechrup may' vllos." The next two Klingon's jabbed him with their pain sticks, and this caused him to stumble and fall to his knees. defiantly, however, he picked himself back up and continued to walk down the line.

As he passed the next two, he defiantly muttered, "The battle is mine. I crave only the blood of the enemy."

Looking from side to side at the two other Klingons, he said, "HlHlvqa'" They immediately hit him with their pain sticks, and the sudden jolt of pain caused him to drop to his knees, his vision swimming. Fighting to stay awake, Col. Hurd staggered to his feet, and said, "The bile of the vanquished flows over my hands.". He staggered towards the last pair of Klingons. a wide wicked smile on his face.

Col. Hurd arrived between the last two Klingons, and said loudly, "may'pequ' moH." He was immediately hit with the pain sticks once again, and he dropped to his knees, and momentarily blacked out. When he came to, he roared in triumph, and and rose shakily to his feet.

By now, everyone was hanging from the bars except Lennox and Q3.

Lennox was at the start of the gauntlet of Warriors, and even though he'd not seen a vision, he was ready to prove himself...but before he did, he was determinant to make sure EVERYONE went through the gauntlet.

"Let's go Q'.

"You're insane, I'm not going to willing let those Klingon ba..." but Q3 was cut off as Lennox grabbed his arm and pulled him up to the start of the gauntlet. Lennox pushed him forward and the first to Klingon shoved their painsticks into his side.

Once the first two Klingon pulled their painsticks back, Q3 stumbled as he let out a yell. Lennox pushed him forward again as he himself reached the first two Klingons and declared himself, "Today I am a warrior. I must show you my heart, I travel the river of blood."

Q3 screamed in pain again as the second two Klingons took their stab.

When the first two Klingons were finished with Lennox, he wanted to yell out, but he gritted his teeth and tried to control his fast breathing. Again, he pushed Q3 ahead to the third pair of Warriors as he walked up to the second pair.

"Stop pushing, I'll just do it myself!" Q3 yelled back at Lennox just before he was stabbed again, and yet again yelled out in pain.

When the Klingons were done with Q3, he wanted to just fall over, but he also knew if he did Lennox would just shove him forward again..and without his powers he couldn't stop him. So, reluctantly, Q3 stepped forward, looked up at the last pair of Klingons and said, "Do you worst."

The Klingons smirked, and dug the painsticks into Q3's sides...but within minutes it was all over. Q3 laid on the deck, but again Lennox pulled him up and helped him over to the bars.

"I can't believe I'm helping you." Lennox said to Q3.

"Because I'm a Q?"

"No, because you're a self absorbed asshole." Lennox replied has he helped him up to the bars. Lennox then jumped up and grabbed the bars himself. He felt like his arms would fall off, he sides, abs, everything hurt. And even though he didn't believe in Klingon religions of rituals, he respected his friends enough to make sure everyone had completed the tasks.

Q3 hung there, he thought he was going to die after all, he'd ever felt the pain he was feeling now, but in some ways...he now had a respect for Humans and Klingons...or at least the ones hanging around with him. Perhaps this was the lesson Q and Bremer wanted to teach him...and it worked...

Lee hung there watching Q3 and almost had to chuckle at it.


Pepper was just about ready to drop dead exhausted, he knew they had been in this room for a long time but exactly how long he wasn't sure. The temperature was kept at a very high temperature and the lighting never changed. The group had circulated around the bars, the gauntlet and various other trials that had been set up.

Marcus Pepper felt his head pounding, he was hungry, thirsty and felt like he could sleep for a week. His internal clock told him it had been two days but judging from his mental and physical state he knew this almost had to be over. He had just finished his third run through the gauntlet, the heat and fatigue now unbearable. He looked over at the table of food and drink that was replaced as it became old looking, They had just changed it all for the fourth time... at least he though it was the fourth time... in his delirious state he was unsure if his count was correct.

Q3 lay on the floor shaking his head and Pepper was now knelt by his side.

Pepper was looking at one of the brasseries as it was glowing hot with the fire that had been burning inside it. He watched the smoke rise and the flames dance with the shadows behind them. The flames blurred a little and Marcus closed his eyes and gradually and very slowly opened them again.

"Just let me die" Q3 managed with the very little energy he had left.

Pepper helped Q3 to his feet and the two of them propped against each other as they turned to check on everyone else.

"Stay.... on..... feet.." is all Pepper managed to say.

K'Wor and K'Temoc were helping Q2 remain on his feet, while Bremer was helping Lennox. The heat was to the point even a Cardassian would consider it hot in the room.

Everyone was fatigued beyond their limits, but to their credit, no one had really fallen out. Hunger, thrust, exhaustion were all being faught with only will power now...

The doors flung open and a gentle welcomed cool breeze shot through the room. A line of Orion females flanked by a ceremonial guard walked into the room and halted in a line down the middle of the area. One of the guards walked over to a giant gong that had been brought in and with all his might he swing at it making it sound very loudly.

The noise resonated around Peppers head and his headache got suddenly worse, the gong symbolised the end of the fourth day. Pepper staggered over to one of the Orion females who handed him a goblet of ice cold ale, he began to drink as she moved around the back of him and poured cold water over him to cool him off. The relief instant and after four days of hellish warmth the cold water seemed to sizzle as it hit his skin.

The guards began to sing the song of Kal'hyah and with the little amount of energy he had left Pepper tried to join in.

Duval was on his last legs as he felt the wave of what seemed like freezing cold air wash over him as he shivered, with that his legs gave out as he fell to his knees.

One of the Orion's handed him a goblet of ale which was ice cold as she gently hauled him to his feet before congratulating him in Klingon. Something he was able to respond to as he thanked her in the same language.

She received a large pitcher of cold water as she slowly poured it over his torso and frame as he sighed softly.

Pulling himself up fully to his feet, Col. Hurd denied himself water for the moment, and made his way over to Admiral Bremer, and Klingon Sa` Vorak Pir'Up Pa. Saluting them both, and standing at attention, Col. Hurd said, '' Sir's, if i may inquire, did I pass the test and preform with honor?''

Bremer flashed a smirk, "You lived through it, that's passing in my book." He paused a moment, taking a drink of the ale he was given. "You faced the trial with your eyes open, and you didn't turn back. That's the most honorable thing you could have done."

Wiping the sweat from his face, Hurd said, ''Thank you sir, comming from you that is a great honor.''

One of the Orion women handed Q2 and K'Wor their drinks. K'Wor went to take a sip, but dropped the tankard of ale. His muscles were just worn out. Q2 selflessly helped his new friend closer to the door so he could feel the cooler air, the gave K'Wor a sip of ale from his tankard.

K'Wor looked up at Q2, "Thank you." The both he and Q2 dropped to the deck and leaned against the bulkhead.

Duval sat down on the deck as he sipped his ice cold ale, he was never a big drinker as he managed to ignore the bitter taste as his thoughts turned to his mate whom he missed. 'I'll see you soon T'Nae' he thought as he looked around to take stock.

Once everyone started to cool off and relax, a flash of light let everyone know Q was back in the room.

“So...have you finished with your fired and pain ritual, proving how tough” he beat his chest with one fist like an ape would “you are?” Q said with a smile.

Bremer took a step toward Q, “You’re son and Q3 over here also both also completed the trials...and learned a few things while they were at it.”

Q3 and Q2 both stood, with the help of others around them.

“I saw, Q2 over here made himself a new friend...and Q3, well, I think he has a new respect for you small minded mortals.” Q replied, again with a smirk, then he turned to face Q3.

“It took a few Humans to teach me that even us Q need to act with a sense of civility...and an Android to show me that every life is valuable. Those are lessons I hope you’ve also now learned.”

Q3 nodded, “It’s not easy being Human or Klingon.” He took a deep breath, “I apologize for disrupting your Station, Admiral.”

Bremer almost dropped to the deck at the sound of a Q apologizing, while Q himself smiled, and snapped his fingers. A moment later, Q3 smirked, gave a fist pump, and after a bright flash he standing there again in a Starfleet uniform from the early 2370s with Six-‘star’ Admiral’s pips.

Bremer walked over to him, “You still have a lot to learn, so these,” he removed the rank insignia, “have to go.” Bremer flashed the smallest of smiles after ‘demoting’ Q3. “By the way, why are you wearing an outdated Starfleet uniform?”

All three of the Q present answered in unison, “The current style is just too drab...grey on blank, no thanks.”

Q3 then gave another fist pump, and everyone that had been through down the Path to Kal’hyah were cooled off, clean, dry, and in pristine dress uniforms. He then stepped closer to Bremer and with one more fist pump, Bremer’s four-star Admiral’s rank insignia were replaced with Q3’s six-star. Q3 smiled big as Bremer opened up his hands to finish his own four-star pips there, all he could do is shake his head.

“Grand Fleet Admiral of Starfleet.” Q3 said to Bremer, but all Mike could do was shake his head.

Q2 then snapped his fingers, and in a flash, he was back to his usual appearance, “Sorry...the thought of being submersed in water...what you call a shower or bath just doesn’t appeal to me. Besides, the last time I was in water I had to live off Paramecia, and they leave a bad taste in the mouth.” He made a ‘yuck’ face as K’Wor laughed.

Q then looked at Q2,”I saw that selfless act, taking after your ‘old man’ eh?”

Bremer then looked back at his family and friends gathered, then back to the three Q. “You...all might as well attend the weddings too, but NO funny business.” Bremer’s expression changed to a very serious one.

Q looked at Bremer, “We wouldn’t dream of it.”


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