Heart to Heart

Posted on Fri May 9th, 2025 @ 2:35pm by Commander Kevin Lance & Captain Mira Rodale

3,083 words; about a 15 minute read

Mission: The days of our lives
Timeline: Current

on:
{Distinguished Visiting Officer's Quarters}

Mira was surprised at the space Kevin has been given. She half expected to see a Klingon woman here but they were alone.

"We should put the kids down," Kevin said once the doors to the outside were closed, "then we need to talk."

Mira's dating experience was limited but even she knew that "need to talk" meant that there was bad news coming.
She gave a little nod but said nothing.

{children’s bed room}

Kissing Kolar on his cheek she covered him with a blanket “promise if you take a little nap you can pick dinner and I will give you a surprise.”

He nodded “promise not to go bye bye”

“Promise sweet boy.” She gave him a smile. She glanced over at Ashla. She had stayed asleep.

{Living room}

Mira got a Raktajino and sat on the couch waiting on Kevin to explain or confess. She felt nervous and tense wondering how bad this conversation was going to be.

“I am not certain when all of this started, sometime after my duel with Ambassador Sheris, I think,” Kevin began.

Mira blinked what duel? She thought in confusion but that would put what ever had happened.
“Three years ago,” Mira observed.

Kevin furrowed his brow in thought. “I guess so,”

Kevin answered, “The time I lost in the Matrix messes with my perception of the passage of time. After the duel, Admiral Desai said that I owed him a favor after covering up the affair. Soon after, I was approached by a mysterious humanoid that I started to refer to as Shadow.

“And you are just telling me this now?” Mira asked pointedly.

Kevin was silent at the implied rebuke for a moment, then continued on. “At the time, I wasn’t certain what Shadow wanted or even if he truly existed. He never left any evidence of his presence, never appeared when other were around,” he paused and looked Mira in the eye, “How do you think Captain Intermezzo would have reacted to a crewmember talking about an invisible friend?”

But was he a friend? Mira Thought as she sipped her Raktajino still she remain silent letting him say what he needed to.

Kevin nodded at the shared implication before continuing, “Over the years, Shadow has appeared with instructions to guard and protect you. He never asked for anything that put the ship or crew at risk…well, not greater risk than we were already in…”

Mira gave a nodded so he felt no harm no foul “and I am guessing he asked you to abandon me and what? “ she blinked a few times thinking was this Shadow part of her being kidnapped? That didn’t add up if this Shadow wanted Kevin to protect her.

Her eyes widened “oh by all that it holy you are only with me because you was ordered to protect me? Is there someone that ……you remembered and want to be with?” she asked quickly before she lost her nerve. That would fit with what she heard. Mira blinked back tears as fast as she could. She would not cry.

"They use my devotion to you as a weapon to get me to do their bidding," Kevin replied, resting his forearms on his knees as he leaned forward.

Mira frowned “I don’t understand. How can your feeling for me be used as a weapon? You know I would do anything for you?” She almost asked had they threatened her but he had just say that guy wanted Kevin to keep her safe. So that didn’t make sense.

The face of the Romulan Nauarchus, Saeihr, as she succumb to the Gorn venom flashed in front of his eyes. I you knew what I have done to keep you safe, he though before saying, "Shadow and those he works for know that there isn't any length that I wouldn't go to protect you. And the galaxy is full of those who would do you harm."

Kevin looked away for a moment then continued. "Your abductors left little evidence of their presence at Beta Antares and even less of a trail but I was determined to follow and find you. With or without a ship."

Mira nodded “I sent a message to you on the USS Biko. When we were trapped on the other ship. I piggybacked a message on their system. I got ahold of Chin to make sure you got it. He said you sounded indifferent and you had taken a transfer to the USS Biko. Then aboard the ship I was told you were going to an engagement party. Later I was told you accepted an betrothal to lady Shan’nara of House Har’lok and ran off with her and your child. “ Mira bit her lip “was she in the Matrix with you?”

Kevin did not turn to meet Mira's eye. "My assignment to the Biko was a ruse," he explained, "I was only on that ship for a couple of days before another of Admiral Desai's mysterious minions came aboard to replace me, to give me an alibi for the real mission Shadow wanted me on. Chin's message must have gotten to my stand-in which would explain the indifference. He probably didn't know what to make of those three words."

He leaned back on the couch and looked at Mira. "I was transferred to a spy ship disguised as a merchant vessel, tasked with escorting the heir to the House of Noggra to Amir VII where he was to be betrothed to the heiress to the House of Har'lock. At the time, it seemed odd that I was needed but upon later reflection, I think that you were supposed to be sent on that mission had you not been abducted."

Mira frowned he hadn’t answered about his betrothal “I was told I would be part of killing an Orion mob boss. Their plan was not well thought out and because they kidnapped me to do it. I thought rebellion was my best option. I or i should say we stole a ship to come back home. " she gave a little nod.

Kevin nodded thoughtfully. "Sounds like there are competing interests involved," he answered, "Admiral Desai said that they had no idea who had abducted you or where you were taken. I can throw him farther than I trust him but he would be more likely to order us into killing the mob boss, not kidnapping. Regardless, the betrothal went to the Void when Lurkan got himself killed in a challenge."

Mira raise an eyebrow “then how did I become responsible for house Har’lok?”

"Yeah, that," Kevin answered looking like he had bitten into something sour, "Based on the mission briefing, the purpose for uniting the two houses was to keep Har’lok from falling under the sway of Duras. With Lurkan's death, there was only one option."

Mira crossed her arms in a vain attempt to protect herself from the answer that she couldn’t stop him from saying.

"I had to offer Kolar in place of Lurkan to be betrothed to Shan'nara."

Tears began to well up in Mira's eyes, then what Kevin had said pierced the veil of her preconception. "You did what?" she finally managed.

Kevin looked down at his boots and mumbled, "I bought time by betrothing Kolar to Shan'nara."

Mira closed her eyes it was better then hearing that Kevin had gone off with another woman but… “Jeez Kevin” she was speechless. Getting up she pours a few shots of whiskey in her coffee. “How old is she?”

“6 years old,” he told her, frowning as she poured the whiskey

Mira nodded so the little girl he ran off with. “I am guessing no parents and that would make her granddaughter to head of house Har’lok?" At Kevin’s nod, she continued, "He is very old if I remember correctly.”

"He reportedly died last week," Kevin answered.

That would complicate matters, Mira thought as she sipped her Irish Raktajino. “Neither one of the children are old enough to agree and I will not let anyone force marriage on either one of them. Shan’nara is now our responsibility. She will need to be trained to take over her house when the time comes. It’s possible she could fall in love with Kolar or with one of K’lar 3 sons. The Rasmehlier brothers could probably each have a Klingon house to rule. They would be a force to reckon with.“

"That was my understanding as well," Kevin added, "That the children have a choice once they become adults." Although they would be expected to honor their houses' commitments.

She sat down on the couch “ok another child I hadn’t planned for. “ she shook her head a little shocked. “Was that your last bomb because I have a few…” She gave him a nervous smile hoping that was it. She did have things she needed to tell him. Thing’s that weren’t in her reports.

Kevin grimaced. "Shan'nara's entourage included a Klingon puQ'legh, a governess as near as I understand," he explained, "She said that the union between the two houses would not be considered official until the betrothal was consummated. When I said that I would never do that with a child, she explained that she would stand-in for Shan'nara. I refused insisting that Lady Ramehlier would make the decision on who would stand-in for Kolar. I was thinking that Rodriguez would do."

Mira raised an eyebrow “Oh she did? The puQ’legh is nowhere near of any importance. She can’t even make a decision for the house let along sleep with the mate of another head of a Klingon house causing him to break his vow to his mate. Her low morals and disparaging opinion of my house is insulting. Your right I’ll deal with that one. Besides a betrothal is a promise to marry later not the marriage. And a Klingon male would never sleep with someone to make a deal or permit his mate to do so. It doesn’t matter if Shan’nara’s or Kolar gets married later. Because I am the one providing for her and house Har’lok. I will be the one protecting them all. I am the one that has made all the commitments. She can be a daughter or daughter in law. She needs to know what real love is like. “ Mira rubbed her forehead “it’s a good thing there is now 4 bunk beds in my old quarters .”

Mira rubbed her forehead "wait were you using the universal translator? Because they aren't very reliable with the Klingon language."

"Of course," Kevin answered matter-of-factly, "I don't have your gift for languages."

Mira smiled "we will talk with her then"

Mira’s hand came up to cup his cheek “I have missed you so much and all I want to do is kiss you for a few hours”

“Or for as long as the children will let us,” Kevin smiled.

Mira grinned the she gave a little sigh “But lets get everything out in the open first. My information isn’t as bad as yours. I had thought I was talking to Isbethal. She asked me to go on a mission but since you didn’t tell me you had been called away on a mission. I didn’t think this was the one I had to go on. ALL of that is in the reports including the fact the ships name was a lie and it wasn’t Isbethal.“ she nodded to the PADD he had put on the table. “Problem is I recognized some of the people I saw. When I looked them up they were either dead or on different ships. These must be from the Mirror universe.

She picked up the PADD from the table. “Next, the challenges. This is my first opponent Trolon K’tict. I am not completely sure but I think I can take him. IT’S this guy that is going to be a problem Klvll Klingjil he is 7 foot tall and 350 to 400 lb. Hard to tell from the viewscreen. His brother is T’erek Klingjil ‘The Hammer and Claw’ Both are said to be from the Klingjil house only there is nothing on either until a year ago and their cranial ridges do not match their family line.“

Mira let Kevin see how brutal the man was in his fighting skills. Then he turned worried but thoughtful eyes to her. “I can’t beat him," Mira stated, "Just deflecting one of his blows will break my wrist. I think I am going to need my brother-in-law to deal with this. Since we are engaged now I can have someone stand for me. Odd rule I know but K’lar isn’t going to want to lose his brother’s house. Especially now one of his sons will lead it one day. ” She felt like a coward asking K’lar but she knew she couldn’t fight that and win. She had Kevin and the children to think of. “

“Then there is the a rift or wormhole in Orion space,” Mira continued, “letting them come over and maybe taking our people back. I think these two brothers are also from the Mirror universe.”

“So, we will need to find a way to close that off,” Kevin concluded.

Mira nodded. “Last item. Dralohk Antaak this guy might be a problem. The Chancellor’s pick for me to be mated to. He wants dinner and to discuss things the Chancellor has told him and to get to know me.” Her eyes met Kevin’s, “I think you should be there as well. Just so he knows I am with you.”

“Never knew that the Klingons were such romantics,” Kevin quipped, “Thought that a broken nose was their way of asking you to go steady.” He set the PADD back down on the table. “Last thing first,” he said, “We should get married. Immediately."

Mira gave him a surprised look.

“Yeah, it sounds weird coming out of my mouth,” Kevin admitted. He had been the one putting the brakes on making their union official, not that Mira had been pushing him to the alter. “but making clear that we are mated to each other will cut the Chancellor off from that line of reasoning and will liking eliminate the need to go to dinner with Antaak. We can have a small ceremony here on Earth with Thor’s family, then plan something larger and grandiose to satisfy the Klingon hierarchy.”

Mira smiled " I would be happy with the small human ceremony on earth. Klingon weddings take weeks. " she shook her head "There crazy you have to kill things, gather fat make candles, recite Klingon history, fasting." She shook her head again "We can do a visual of the wedding." She bit her lip "you're ok with me having K'lar handle the challenge?" She looked a little worried.

"No," Kevin answered, "K'lar is a fine warrior and would be acceptable if you aren't mated. But the task falls to your mate if you are. Klingon honor demands it and tongues would wag if your husband were to step aside." Her rejection more than a month ago of his offer to second her in the duels a month ago was foremost in his mind, though he didn't mention it aloud.

Mira gasped “you can’t. Granted size wise your more of a match to both men but if you don’t know how to use a Mek’leth.” She stopped “well I chose the Mek’leth with Trolon K’tict I haven’t agreed to any weapons with Klvll Klingjil still he is a brutal fighter. And I think he is working with The Duras house. They all ways seem together.”

"From the video," Kevin nodded towards the PADD, "Klvll relies on his size and strength. He has no skill, no finesse. Like a hammer, he swings repeatedly until he strikes and pounds his foe until he breaks. And his weight is as much a disadvantage as it is an advantage."

She was about to object when he placed an index finger lightly on her lips. He was thoughtful, as he said, "I want to study the video more but I know that I can beat him."

“There are 3 vids of his matches and since I haven’t announced the terms you can use what weapons your comfortable with…..” She swallowed hard “we could put off the marriage and have K’lar fight then get married afterwards.” She offered.

"Mira Angelina Rodale," Kevin said with a wry smile cocking one corner of his mouth, "are you trying to get out of making an honest man of me?"

Mira blushed, “no” She put her hand in his “but I also don’t want to see you hurt. HE” She pointed to the PADD “ is huge and skilled.“ She fast forward the feed until she got to him dropping his sword arm down and hitting through rock when his opponent moved. “My armor will protect my arm and my gloves will do the same for my hand but in order for me to move around nothing is protecting my wrist from that.”

"Impressive," Kevin admitted clinically, "but a waste of energy. And he misses his opponent. Mira, I know you. You would never allow someone to go to certain death in your place. Least of all your brother-in-law. On some level, you believe that Klvll can be beaten. So do I."

“Of course I do. K’lar is a Dahar Master. He puts me to shame with the blade. But Kevin you don’t know how to fight.” She gave him a smile

"Would you care to test that hypothesis, Captain?" Kevin asked.

Mira raised an eyebrow then grinned as she crawled into his lap. “We have time for that later. Right now all I want to do is be in your arms until our little ones wake up. So Viking human wedding? In a Viking longhouse or holodeck?” She smiled.

"We can sort out the details later," Kevin answered as he wrapped his arms around Mira and pulled her in close, "Right now, there are more important things for us to be doing with our lips."

:off

Commander Kevin Lance
Executive Officer
USS Chuck Norris

and

Captain Mira Rodale
CO USS Chuck Norris

 

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