Traditions

Posted on Sun Jun 15th, 2025 @ 4:04am by Captain Mira Rodale & Commander Kevin Lance & Lieutenant Betaras K'ner

2,586 words; about a 13 minute read

Mission: The days of our lives
Location: Star Fleet HQ, Earth
Timeline: Current

on:

In later years, Kevin would come to the conclusion that he should have never doubted the ability of someone with Shen Th'rosk resources to find anyone at anytime. Presently, however, his former classmate's talent bordered on the uncanny and he was surprised to find Shen awaiting his arrival on the teleporter pad.

"Seventeen!" the Andorian called out in greeting, "About time you arrived."

Kevin's reaction was a mixture of delight and suspicion. Delighted to meet up with his old friend but suspicious on what shenanigans he had in mind. Shen's enthusiasm was always infectious and it was well nigh impossible to deny any of his schemes of pleasure. Still, Kevin was getting married tomorrow and he didn't want anything to get in the way of that.

"Shen," Kevin adopted a stern countenance as he returned the greeting, "What are you doing here?"

"Attending a boring symposium on aviation technological developments," Shen answered with a roll of his eyes, "but now that you are here, things are looking up. How would you like to go fishing?"

The fishing that Shen preferred did not involve aquatic wildlife. "Sorry, Shen, I can't," Kevin responded, happy to have a legitimate reason to turn down his old teammate.

"Why not?"

"I'm getting married and still have a list of things that need to be accomplished before tomorrow," Kevin stated.

Shen's grin grew, if at all possible, bigger. "So your little Trill is finally going to make an honest man of you!" he said.

It was hard not to return the Andorian's smile. "I guess so," Kevin answered.

"Then it is a good thing that I am here," Shen continued taking Kevin's arm, "We'll knock out your list in no time. But first things first. Who is going to be your best man?"

Kevin hadn't pick one yet. He knew very few people on Earth outside of the Norris' crew and their ship wasn't scheduled to arrive until after the ceremony. "I'm thinking of asking our Chief of Security," he said.

"Not anymore," Shen protested, "I claim privilege as your teammate to usurp that title. Any don't worry. I will forgo the traditional post-nuptial copulation with the bridal party."

Kevin colored at Shen's mention of the Andorian marriage traditional. A feeble "Thanks," was all that he could muster.

"What are you planning to wear?" Shen continued without taking notice of Kevin's discomfort.

"Ah...I was thinking," Kevin babbled in relief, "of wearing my dress uniform."

"That old thing?" Shen mocked, "Seventeen, your bride-to-be deserves better than that. No. No. You need a proper suit. I have just the Savile Row tailor for the job."

"Aren't you supposed to be in the symposium?" Kevin asked suspiciously.

Shen shrugged, "They already took attendance and I doubt that anyone will seriously miss me."

And with that, Kevin was being swept up in yet another of the Andorian's madcapped capers. As the transporter dematerialized his body, he wondered what Mira would say.

=================================

{guest quartets, Starbase one}

“Captain Rodale,” the voice on the other end of the communicator vowed, “I swear upon my oath as a Star Fleet Officer and my noble rank in the Andorian Imperial Guard that I will have Kevin at the alter at the prescribed time.”

Mira frowned So much for traveling together, she thought. “I see” was all she got out while Thor took her communicator.

“Mira, continue to pack, my dear. I’ll have my men bring all of your things and both children’s belongings to my ship.” Thor smiled at her and waved her away.

He held the communicator and waited until she walked into the other room. “He had better. If he misses any part, I’ll hunt you both down…”

Taking a deep breath, he let go of his anger at the fact the man had not even asked for Mira’s hand and he wasn’t even going to travel with them. Then he started to say what was expected of Kevin.

“The handfasting represents their commitment. the tie should be a braid of blue leather, ivory and gold silk about 4 foot long. It’s the colors of the Goddess Frigga. It should also be on Friday, but I understand why she needs it done quickly and quietly. He is expected to bring a family sword but since that isn’t possible, get a sword. It symbolizes her fully being under his protection and serves as his oath of loyalty to her and the joining of two families. Symbel is the wedding feast. He should be part of hunting the boar down but seeing as neither of you are warriors, I don’t think you could hunt one. I suppose Mira could do that. Then, the Drinking Horns. I have that and the mead. Oh yes after the wedding under the stars he will carry Mira into and across the great hall to drink the ceremonial drink together. Then there is the month long honeymoon focusing on each other.” What else was he forgetting?

Mira called out from the room Kolar had been using.

“We can’t stay a month uncle, and you had better be nice, Shen is Keven’s friend. You can’t kill him…… well, not without reason.” She added before she moved to the master bedroom and looked through the clothing she had packed. Then pulled out a off white silk dress and held it up to her as she looked in the mirror. She bit her lip. Well, this wasn’t Viking at all. She suppose she could find something on earth that was.

=================================

{The Guardsman, Saville Row, London, Earth}

“Who was that?” Kevin asked from the pedestal, he was standing on as the tailor fitted the wedding suit to his body.

Shen to a sip of the amber color liquid in the crystal snifter. “I was talking to your beloved but was interrupted by a norse gentlemen,” Shen replied, “He was very rude.”

Kevin thought a moment and then said, “That was probably Thor, Mira’s self-proclaimed uncle.”

“Then I suppose that there is no chance of avoiding the association,” Shen pouted, “Will he be giving her away?”

“I would hope that Mira would present herself without being handed over like a prisoner exchange,” Kevin commented, “but Thor is a traditionalist.”

“Speaking of tradition,” Shen continued, “does your family have a sword?”

Kevin tensed under the tailor’s fitting. He had never told Shen the truth about himself, avoiding the subject altogether when possible, but he couldn’t brush off this question. He was quiet for a moment as he observed Shen through the fitting room mirror. The Andorian was preoccupied with a PADD as he sipped his drink. “My family was a long-line of merchants and bureaucrats,” Kevin offered cautiously, “No need for anything like that.”

Shen nodded and looked up from the PADD. “Then you have an opportunity to establish a new family tradition in one.”

“Melee weapons haven’t been part of the Star Fleet uniform for centuries,” Kevin pointed out, “Not even for ceremony.”

“True,” Shen replied, “I can get with the Andorian consulate and find the best swordsmith on the planet. Do you have a blade preference?”

“I am most adept with the hidden blade,” Kevin mused, “but am partial to a rapier.”

“A parry and thrust man, eh?” Shen smiled, “I think that a rapier could be managed. Let me make a few calls.”

=================================

Thor frowned as he ended the call with someone called Shen, then went to find Mira, she was holding a silky little nightgown and looking at herself in a mirror.

“come on Mira, put your nightgown in the bag and we will get you ready to be married.”

Turning Mira frowned. “I was planning to wear this at the wedding. It’s not a night gown. It’s Andorian silk.”

Thor frowned at her. “That is not a traditional Viking wedding dress.”

Mira laughed. “I never said I wanted a traditional Viking wedding. I said I wanted to be married by you and in your village to Kevin in a simple and small ceremony. I have already lived through a few different weddings to Kevin but he doesn’t remember any of them. I want this wedding a mix of Kevin and myself. Not the characters in the Matrix. I want a little bit of Trill, human and Viking.” She carefully folded and put the dress away in her case. She looked over her shoulder at Thor and smiled hoping she hadn’t insulted him. “ok; all packed, let’s go.”

As they stepped out of the room, Awal and his family joined them. She handed her bag to Awal. “Are some of our people on the ship?”

He nodded. “Nod and Korra took Zimia and the kids earlier.”

Mira gave a nod. “Take your family and then we will follow behind you. Once we are all on the ship, K’ner and whoever she put on guard duty will join us and we leave.” She gave a smile, if anyone noticed her they would think she is just out for a walk. Mira was dressed in civilian clothes. Black pants, her black boots, black tank top and black leather jacket. She slipped her arm in Thor’s. “Do you think we will get away with this?” She asked him in a whisper.

“They haven’t exactly ordered you to stay on the base. They are just thinking you will be to afraid to leave and I didn’t tell them otherwise.” He chuckled.

=================================

{ Barden}

In no time at all Mira was on the ‘Barden’ a ship her uncle owned. It meant beard in his language. She sat down in the chair in-between Kolar and Ashla, then buckled up.

“I hope they are behaving.” Her eyes met Zimia’s.

“Perfect little angels.” Zimia smiled. “Are you getting nervous?”

Mira slowly shook her head no, then said, “maybe. I thought after how long we were separated, Kevin would have stayed with us.”

Zima nodded. “So who is going to be your maid of honor?”

“My what?” Mira asked.

“Well, Kevin will be picking a best man for him.”
Mira frowned. “What? No I want a best man and it will be Kevin.”

Zima laughed. “You get a maid of honor or I guess who ever is closer to you.”

“Kolar.” Mira smiled taking her son's hand. “You want to be my man of honor when dada and mama get married?”

He giggled and nodded yes. K’ner walked by with that detached look she usually has when she's seeing more than is in the room, and took a seat. “All crew is accounted for and we are a go. There didn’t seem to be anyone watching any of you.”

Mira relaxed. “good.” She felt the ship move. “As soon as we land, assign down time and recreation to your team. They deserve it. We will all be staying in the 2nd long house. Bedrooms, fire place and all the food and drink they want. It was Kevin’s responsibility to get the wild boar. But, since he is visiting his friend, we will need to do that. What do you think, Awal? should we try our hand at hunting? Of course any of the crew are welcome to join us.”

"What kind of boar? Now that would be some interesting downtime... Traditional weapons?" K'ner thought back to the later escapades in the matrix and pulled up info on the rite as she watched the metrics of the flight.

=================================

{ Promenade, Starbase One }

Deena watched the edge of her disguise, all in black, feeling the difference in her hair and Mira's. It had been a while since they had played this shuffle game with some of the CO's previous adversaries. Even Kotsoo had gotten into that effort, as funny as that seemed at the time.

Tapping on her leg, she messaged the medic, getting an acknowledgement. Their little subterfuge wouldn't work forever, but they just needed to delay the inevitable search for the wayward captain, until it was too late to intervene. It would be interesting to see how long it would take anyone trying to track her to even realize she'd gone to Earth, and not the runabout Kotsoo would soon be renting for a little moonbase spelunking adventure!

Meanwhile, she and Kotsoo would then be winging it to the capital, then overland to attend the festivities... it was sure to be a wild occasion, even if the newlyweds preferred some quiet seclusion. Those Vikings sure knew how to party!

=================================

{Espadas Mariano Zamorano, Toledo, Spain}

Kevin tested the rapier's weight and balance with a series of feints and thrusts as Shen looked on. The sword was magnificently crafted in the traditional style and had been waiting in inventory for the blade to "find it's master" according the swordsmith. The last couple of hours in the swordsmith's shop had been employed in modifying the blade to perfectly fit Kevin's grip and fighting style. The cost must be outrageous but Shen's coffers were apparently limitless.

"Do you plan to use the weapon in your upcoming duel?" Shen finally asked.

Kevin made a final thrust with the rapier then turned to point it at his friend. "How do you know about that?" he asked, "I only just decided to accept the challenge a couple of days ago."

If Shen was perturbed by the weapon pointed at him, he did not show it. He merely shrugged languorously and said, "I told you that Mira was a person of interest to the Imperial Guard. They know of the upcoming challenges from Klik and Klack. This wedding seems rushed for you so I assume that you are going to stand for your soon-to-be-wife in at least one of the duels."

There was little that passed Shen's notice, Kevin reflected. "I will be accepting Klvll's challenge," he continued as he slid the rapier into it's scabbard, "He is a lot bigger than Mira and a brutal fighter. She has the skill to handle the fight with K’tict but the fight with Klvll is going to be an all-out slugfest."

Shen smiled, "See...I always knew you were a romantic."

Kevin resisted the urge to throw the sword at the Andorian. Instead, he gathered his composure and thanked Shen for his generosity, "...but I need to return to Mira and my family."

Shen shook his head emphatically. "No way, my brother. It is bad luck to see the bride before the wedding and unlike the enlightened view that we Andorians have, human tradition is for the bride and groom to remain apart from each other on the night before the ceremony. Besides, I am hungry."

Kevin closed his eyes to ward off a headache. Mira said that marital unions on Trill weren't really celebrated so that left human traditions as the default and he imagined that Thor would be keeping him away from Mira regardless of how close he was to her. "Fine," he relented, "we'll get some dinner around here then I am going to bed." The sooner he was married to Mira the better.

"Nope," Shen objected, "I have booked us a reservation at a steakhouse in Sydney and then entertainment. I need to test your devotion to Mira to ensure that you are worthy of her."


Off:

Captain Mira Rodale
CO USS Chuck Norris

&

Lt Betaras K'ner
Hazard Team Combat Medic TL-B / CMO
USS Chuck Norris

&

Commander Kevin Lance
Executive Officer
USS Chuck Norris

 

RSS Feed