Interests and Prejudice

Posted on Wed Apr 3rd, 2024 @ 8:06pm by Commander Kevin Lance

Mission: Blood wine and vengeance
Location: In Orbit around Qo'nos
Timeline: Current

on:
{Admiral’s Yacht}

Kevin sat alone on the flight deck of the USS Lionheart running diagnostic checks on the ship’s flight control systems. He didn’t want to run into any problems on their return journey to Starbase 364. He once again regretted not bringing Lieutenant Walker along but the ship’s engineering chief petty officer knew his subject and rapidly diagnosed and repaired any anomalies that Kevin found. Still, very few of the systems displayed any anomalies so Kevin was left to consider the events of the day and speculate about their impact on his relationship with Mira and Kolar.

The task had seemed simple. Go to Qo’nos and get Kolar. J’pok had been a complication, of source, but more of an obstacle to be overcome than a true problem. But then vaguerities of Klingons honor and politics reared its ugly head and Mira was forced into becoming a major player in that mess. Which meant that he would be forced into dealing with Klingons much to his disgust.

Individual Klingons, like Kronnelti and Thall, weren’t bad especially if they could be removed from their environment. But as a whole, Kevin had come to learn that Klingons were cruel, brutish and arrogant, more concerned with their warped concept of personal honor than with the well-being of others, especially the weak or sick. It was a lesson hard-learned from his childhood and he was glad that Kolar would be spared their “tender mercies”.

Mira had seemed content to avoid further associations with Klingon even while enjoying their cuisine and customs. Kevin doubted that she relished the idea of having to lead the House of Rasmehlier, despite her excellent leadership and martial skills, but she would be bound by her sense of obligation to the members of that House. Which meant spending more time with Klingons.

Then there was the matter of the Klingon nanny, Tanom. Kevin stretched the shoulder that she had injured at the thought of her. He had gotten an Extremely Mediocre Housecall before Mira returned to the ship but the shoulder was still sore. He was willing to forgive Tanom for attacking and injuring himself, she was after all only protecting her charge, but he was uncomfortable with the idea of her caring for his son. While the EMH had been treating Mira, he and Tanom had had a heated, although quiet, discussion with both making veiled threats about the harm they would do to the other if Kolar came to harm. They had parted as adversaries but at least she had a clear understanding of his opinion on the matter.

Kevin wondered gloomily what the change in Mira’s status meant for their relationship. He doubted it changed either of their feelings about the other but he couldn’t shake the feeling that had it not been for Kolar, Mira’s responsibilities towards her Klingon house would be enough to make him end things. Maybe even transfer off of the Norris. Fortunately, their son kept Kevin from making a rash decision.

Mira had said that Kolar being his son wouldn’t change anything. In reality, it changed everything.

“A copper for your thoughts,” a familiar voice offered.

“Don’t you even knock?” Kevin asked, surprised that he wasn’t surprised.

“And spoil my grand entrance?” the man in black replied mockingly.

“What do you want?”

“To congratulate you,” the man said brightly, “It was little noisier than I had intended but we achieved our goal.”

“Which was?”

“To strengthen Chancellor Martok’s position and weaken those opposed to him,” the man in black continued, “Not only was Captain Rodale able to eliminate her opponent, your rescue of your son drew the enemy’s attention at a crucial moment.”

“What?” Kevin exclaimed, “I was the diversion? Am I a pawn in your little game?”

“More like a knight,” the man responded judiciously.

“Did you plan Kolar’s abduction?” Kevin asked, his anger rising, “If I find out that you did, I will kill you.”

“Relax, Commander, we had nothing to do with J’pok taking your son. But you will admit that it gave the perfect excuse for Captain Rodale to come to Qo’nos,” the man pointed out, “I must say that I was quite impressed with the way that Chancellor Martok used the situation to maneuver her into leading House Rasmehlier. The male has the heart of a spymaster.”

Slightly mollified, Kevin sat back in the pilot’s chair and crossed his arms, “What is your game?”

“The same as yours, to safeguard the Federation,” the man said spreading his hands, “It may seem odd, strengthening the Klingon Chancellor to make the UFP safer but we foresee a day when the Klingons, and the Romulans too, will be part of the Federation. They are far too volatile at the moment, so we must subtly nudge them into greater stability.”

Kevin’s opinion was that it was a fool’s errand but he held his tongue.

“You have done well, enjoy the fruits of your labors,” the man said before vanishing, “Get to know your son and bask in the warm glow of his mother’s appreciation.”

Kevin tried to go back to the systems diagnostics but the man in black’s comments intruded upon his own musings about his relationship with Mira. He finally gave up and walked to the Admiral’s quarters. He knocked softly but when there was no response, he opened the unlocked door.

Vaytoc looked at him lazily from the end of the bed. Mira was on top of the covers, asleep in the middle of the enormous bed with her arms around a sleeping Kolar. Watching the two of them sleeping peacefully settled Kevin more than anything he thought possible. After a moment, he crawled onto the bed and snuggled up behind Mira. He laid his arm beneath Mira’s so he could hold both her and Kolar, then closed his eyes and let the exhaustion of the day overtake him.

He too was asleep in a matter of minutes.

:off

Lieutenant Commander Kevin Lance
Executive Officer
USS Chuck Norris