Fresh Start(Dirae Chronicles), Khiy

The Lost Puppy

To say Admiral Kanryth was good to herself was understatement central. Vice Admirals got a relatively hefty credit allowance, and Kanryth had spent most of hers on an 18th century colonial manor house with enough gardens to lose an army in. Right now, however, the only occupants were one frantic twelve year old girl and one stressed out babysitter.

Chloris Kanryth had just spoken to her mother and was running about the house like a demon gathering everything she 'thought' she would need for joining her mother aboard ship. After an hour she had managed to fill two large cases and was making a serious dent into the third.

She was rummaging through the drawers of an antique sideboard in the main hall in an attempt to locate a necklace she had managed to lose a few months ago, a fact she had skillfully concealed from Morgana by using the innate abilities of any twelve year old only child - winding the parent around her little finger.

He was old but Grant still knew how to get around security systems like a mischievous Starfleet Cadet. His rough features barely visible in the moonlight as he dragged the young annoyance along with him. Perhaps he would have left the kid at the gate but then he didn't want to meet up with a Romulan later on if anything happened to the boy. At least the payment he was getting was worth it, even if the old bitch who lived here tossed him a prison somewhere, she couldn't touch his money.

As they walked into the beam of the porch light Grant winced once his face was no longer hidden by the darkness. His dark mashed hair was glued to his forehead by the sweat which was now collecting and flowing down in beads. His chin covered by black and white fur made it clear what a ragged looking figure he was. Reaching out with his free hand he pressed the chime to the home.

With little regard for her safety she padded over to the door, pressed her hand to the scanner, and pulled the large wooden door open. Peeking round the edge of the door her eyebrows shot up at the sight of the man in front of her, and her nose wrinkled at the stink of sweat. "Um... are you lost?" she ventured.

Seeing the young girl Grant chuckled out loud, from his lips the intense smell of liquor poured out. Immediately slamming his foot against the door to make sure she didn't in a moment of fright shut it, Gant grunted "I'm looking for the lady of the house, Is the Vice Admiral in? I have urgent business with her."

While the man talked Khiy stood to the back, his head and ears covered by a tight ball cap. Around his body was an overcoat and from the obvious trail it left behind him it was many sizes to big. Though he appeared stoic and distant from what was going on, inside he was fearful.

Chloris had had the benefit of her mother living at home for the last six years. As head of Starfleet Internal Affairs, Morgana hadn't had to leave Earth, and Chloris had seen how people tended to react to the well known Admiral. So she stepped out from behind the door and drew herself up, looking as authoritative as a twelve year old in pajamas can. "Why would the Vice Admiral want to speak to a drunk sweaty old man?"

Grant's grin quickly faded to a frown "What did you say?!" Reaching forward he grabbed the young girl by the hair pulling her aside as he stormed into the home. "Where is the Vice Admiral?" In a drunken rage he began to shake her furiously by the hair.

Khiy was unsure of what to do since he had been told not to interfere with anything and to do as he was asked. Yet she couldn't have expected this, the man was beating around a harmless girl. As flashbacks bit into his mind Khiy went into action, with incredible speed Khiy severed Grant's grip on the girl by snapping his wrist. The loud pop sound proceeded the heavy screaming which soon came as Grant recoiled on the floor.

Getting a hold of himself Grant stood up eyeing the boy with range "Punk! I don't care how much she is giving me. I'm going to show you what happens to stupid kids!" Cradling his injured hand in his gut Grand slapped Khiy to the floor with his left hand. The boy didn't even flinch as he was knocked down. Turning back to the girl he smirked "Go call mommy."

Chloris' arrogance had been firmly dispelled. She didn't make a sound but the tears were pouring down her cheeks as she picked herself up off the floor. She swallowed and nodded; if he really wanted to speak to mommy she wasn't going to stop him.

She silently took a step towards the door and pressed a button, a silent alarm that would alert Morgana that there was something wrong at home. "She'll be here soon," Chloris muttered.

Rubbing his broken wrist Grant took the liberty of making his way deeper into the home and onto an empty couch. Staring at the boy still laying on the floor he laughed "You're quite pathetic, no wonder they wanted to get rid of you." Looking at Chloris he smiled in an attempt to be sweet "Got any liquor around here darlin?"

"No." She said, flatly. She sidestepped across the room towards the fallen boy, never taking her eyes off the old drunk. He wouldn't be getting close enough to touch her again any time soon.

By the time Chloris had stooped down to check the poor boy was still breathing, which he was, the sparkle of a transporter beam appeared around her. Admiral Kanryth and four of her marine guards appeared around her.

Morgana made a cool appraisal of the situation. One young man lying inert on her hall rug, her daughter checking on his condition, and an ugly drunk intruder on her couch. All in all it took her under two seconds to level her phaser at Grant. "You've five seconds to say something to stop me shooting you. Use them wisely."

"Oh yes, the rumors were true! You are a bitch!" Grinning Grant stood up as if willing to temp fate with the woman in front of him. "Listen here lady, I ain't here for trouble, and I just came to make a delivery when that little bee decided to sting me." His gaze was at Chloris as he mentioned the latter. "So if you'll let me complete this delivery I'll be on my merry way. Or I can just." Pulling a square device from his pocket he laughed "Blow us all to bits."

The Admirals phaser didn't waver. Her thumb slid the setting up from stun to maximum disintegrate. If he made one more move she'd vaporize him, possible bomb and all. "What delivery?" She asked icily.

"That Delivery" Grant motioned to the boy on the floor. "Brought me a great deal of Latinum, so I had to make sure he got here in one piece. Though I didn't say nothing 'bout bruising him." Moving forward Grant stared down the Marines as he approached Khiy who was laying motionless on the floor. Stopping about five feet from him and Chloris Grant smirked "Take off his hat."

"This phaser is set to kill. Get out before I decide to take my chances and use it. And don't make the mistake of thinking i'll ask a second time." Grant might have been able to stare down a marine, but he'd little to no chance against a fifty year Starfleet veteran who'd handled more misfits and troublemakers than most penal colonies.

Grunting he nodded "All rightly then." Pulling an isolinear rod from his pocket he dropped it onto the carpet. "I made my delivery." With that he disappeared in a fizzle of blue light.

Kanryth turned to the lead Marine. "Sergeant, have a squad beam down and secure the premises. And have that disgusting man tracked down, shot, and arrested for trespassing, assault, and possible kidnapping."

Sergeant Bergstrom merely saluted, though he was personally eager to fire the shot himself. "Right away Admiral." He turned away and issued the orders as Kanryth knelt down beside her daughter. "Are you all right, sweetheart?"

Chloris just slumped into her mothers arms, willing and eager for the protection only a parent can provide. "I'm okay, mom.. but.. i dunno who this boy is, he's hurt. The ugly fat guy hit him and I can't wake him up."

As if on cue Khiy stirred, not much at first but he slowly started to come to. Sitting up he instinctively wiped the green mix of blood and drool from his lips onto the dark sleeve. Looking around he was slightly stunned to be surrounded by so many aliens, completely defenseless.

Morgana stroked Chloris' hair as she watched the young man in front of her stir. She looked up and motioned for the marines to back off before turning her attention back to the apparent teenager. "You're safe here, son. Can you tell me your name?" she asked gently.

Khiy swallowed nervous unsure of how to answer this woman. She was clearly an authority figure in Starfleet.something he had always seen as the enemy. But she didn't look like the enemy, at least not human. Why was he here? Why did she send him here? Pushing himself backwards Khiy remained silent before finally answering in an unusual accent. "I'm not certain."

"That's okay, my name is Morgana Kanryth and this is my daughter, Chloris." The little girl offered a weak smile before returning to her cuddle. "Do you know where you are?"

"Earth." Khiy responded carefully. It wasn't exactly that he was told he would be taken to Earth or that he knew he was on Earth. Khiy just overheard the guy talking about it.

"That's right. This is my home." She paused slightly, sitting down on the floor opposite the boy in an attempt to appear more harmless. "Any idea why you were brought here?"

Khiy stood up and walked to the Isolinear rod that lay on the carpet. Picking it up he walked over to Kanryth and held it out. With that he slowly removed the tight cap around his head and dropped it onto the floor. Through his mangled and disheveled dark brown hair the points of his ears were very noticeable. "I was told to give that to Kanryth, but I have been ordered not to view it."

Morgana accepted the rod and looked it over. No markings, not that she had expected any. She looked back at Khiy. "You're a little young for orders, aren't you?"

Khiy didn't know how to reply to that since he was old enough for the Gai'Shian. Opening his mouth to reply he quickly closed it as no words streamed forward. A look of frustration clearly expressed itself on his face as he stared ahead.

"Well," Morgana looked at him with a mix of pity and sympathy, "would you like to see my ship? My daughter and I have to go onboard soon." It was obvious to her that the young man was a Romulan, but what he was doing here or why was a mystery. She was just hoping whatever was on this isolinear rod would clear the matter up.

Looking around Khiy was in a foreign and perhaps hostile environment. Even if he did leave here he wouldn't know where to go. If it was indeed Earth then he was surrounded by humans who he had been told would enjoy ripping his limbs off if he ventured to far. There was no other choice for him except to follow Kanryth "It would honor me."

Chloris watched this exchange with great curiosity. She didn't really understand honour, but she chose this moment to stand up. "You'll like the Dirae. I was born there, you know." she said, almost as if it entitled her to special treatment.

Khiy turned to Chloris and nodded "Then it is an amazing vessel."

Morgana just let her daughter do the talking. Sometimes, she thought, the best person to reach a child was a child. The Admiral got back to her feet and watched as Chloris offered him her hand. Chloris remembered how he'd tried to protect her. "Come on, i'll show it to you."

Khiy accepted her hand and followed.

Morgana stepped up behind her daughter and touched her commbadge. "Kanryth to Dirae, three to beam up." The transporter beam engulfed them, whisking them across the distance to Dirae in a microsecond.

Vice Admiral Kanryth Commanding Officer, USS Dirae

&

Khiy tr'Rllaillieu, The Lost Puppy

Chloris Daze

It was quiet in Admiral Kanryths quarters. Morgana had left about fifteen minutes ago to resume the tasks of getting a ship crewed and moving in less than a day, leaving Chloris 'in charge' of their guest. Right now she was sitting on the couch watching a passing ship wondering why the boy was taking so long in the bedroom.

Khiy stared at the wall panel as if in any moment the jumble of symbols would flow together and make sense to him, but that didn't happen. Just standing there and staring at the panel was all he could do. Everything here was so foreign to him, he was completely lost.

Chloris didn't take too long to get bored. Khiy had only been alone in the room for about three minutes when she stuck her head round the door. "Heya, you okay? You're taking ages."

Khiy barely frowned lowering his head at the girl "I apologize, forgive me." Turning back to the wall panel he pointed at it "I do not recognize the symbols." though he didn't look too bothered by that fact his eyes showed his frustration as they gazed unyieldingly at the symbols.

Furrowing her brow, Chloris finally stepped fully into sight and moved up to the panel. "It's just the library computer. You don't know standard?" she asked, not even considering the boy was foreign. She still didn't even know his name.

"No." Khiy shook his head at the girl. When he was younger he was taught how to speak several languages to test his thinking skills. However when it came to learning how to read he was only taught Romulan Basic, since slaves would never need to read anything outside of Romulan.

She just blinked. She didn't know anyone who couldn't read standard. "Oh, uh, you read anything then?"

"Rihannsu." He replied..

There was no way Chloris would have made the connection between Rihannsu and Romulan. She just nodded as if she knew exactly what he meant. "We can fix that. See, you just ask the computer to change the language. Computer, change the panel display to.. Re..hannsu." The system beeped and the display represented itself in the Romulan language. Chloris still didn't make the connection.

This perhaps would be a time when most smiled but while impressed Khiy remained pretty much expressionless. Turning to Chloris he bowed his head lightly "Thank you." Moving his eyes back towards the panel he quickly gazed over all the information.

"You're welcome." She chimed. "If you need the computer to do something you just talk to it. You can make it read stuff back to you as well if you cant find a display to use." she informed him, feeling like the authority on all things Dirae.

Khiy nodded noting that on this ship unlike those he had served on everything is more automated and voice command centered. It was different, especially for one who did not speak much. "It is different." He replied to Chloris. "Thank you for your assistance."

"S'okay." Chloris glanced around the room. It was bigger than what most Ensigns had onboard ship, and it was still just one of her mums guest rooms. The standard decor didn't do much to fill it. "This place is pretty boring. You don't want any extra stuff?"

"Extra stuff?" Khiy asked. Again Chloris just looked at him for a moment. "Yeah, like games and stuff? Or pictures for the walls? Oh! And you *have* to get more clothes don't you, you didnt even bring a bag!"

"Games?" He wasn't sure what she was referring to exactly. "I'm not sure." Khiy replied. He did have a bag at least when he was on that man's ship, but he left abruptly so Khiy probably didn't have a bag any longer.

"We're going shopping." Chloris declared. She spun round and marched out to the living room, picking up the credit chit that Morgana always left for her. "Come on, i've plenty of credits, mum won't want you running around like a... ragamuffin!" She smirked to herself and waited for him to join her.

"Very well ma'am." Khiy replied to Chloris at her order. Following her into the living room he wondered what a ragamuffin looked like. It sounded dangerous to him.

"Ma'am?" Chloris wrinkled her nose. "Thats what you call old ladies! Just call me Chloris. Now come on, you're gonna love deck thirty two, they've got *everything*." Without waiting for a response she just took him by the hand and pretty much towed him out the door. Twelve year old on a mission!

Isolated Among Company

Khiy remained still as Chloris had asked him to stand there while she went in and scouted a shoe store. He was already holding four bags of clothing, all of which she said 'Looks good on you.' To Khiy this was all overwhelming, he personally didn't see the need for so many distinct outfits. He normally only had three or four, and two of those were his uniform.

All around him there was the hustle of people, this vessel was much different from every one he had ever been on in the empire. Though he had not met anyone distasteful Khiy felt isolated among company. This was not his home.it was so much different.

Hearing footsteps behind him he turned to see if it was Chloris but instead he was knocked to the floor by a larger man, a human. Standing up Khiy immediately lowered his head "My apologies."

The man frowned "Watch where you're going next time kid."

As the man continued on his way Khiy went to his knees and began picking up the bags on the floor stuffing the sprawling contents back into them. Lifting up a T-Shirt he noticed a familiar emerald insignia hidden beneath it. Picking it up Khiy stared at it longingly, how long had it been? Too long.

Sliding it back into his pocket where it belonged he finished picking up everything just as Chloris exited the store. Accepting the two new bags from Chloris he followed as she continued down the square.

A young girl with a straggling lost puppy in tow.

Shopping Spree

The mall was a distant memory. Chloris and Khiy had just returned to the Admirals stateroom, the latter carrying a total of eight bags. Some of the larger things Chloris had decided he needed were being delivered by the quartermasters office later. In almost every way, she was just a smaller version of the Vice Admiral Minus the uniform.

"Okay, just drop 'em there and we'll sort these out!" While the intention had been for Chloris to get Khiy what he 'needed' she had been quite generous to herself too. Morgana never, ever, checked the credit statements. Chloris could have bought a small moon and she probably wouldn't have noticed.

Covered by the baggage Khiy slowly slid off the layers from his arms and then dropped the bags that he had around his neck to the floor. Stepping back he gazed at the incredible pile of 'stuff' that the young girl had accumulated. A lot of which he was uncertain about.they were so different from what he was used to.

Chloris Kanryth wasn't that naive, however she might act. She watched Khiy drop the bags and stare at them and she giggled. "You've never had this much stuff before have you?"

Khiy turned to Chloris and shook his head "No." It was true that he never had that much stuff. Yet it was always a case of him not needing much, as long as he had clothing and food he was okay. Even in the Gai'Shian he was content. The truth was he didn't know what to do with all the stuff she had gotten him.

"Okay, well..." she paused and frowned at him. "You really should tell me what to call you. You know my name, and fair's fair you know."

He didn't know but what he did know was his name "Khiy." he stated.

She smiled at the progress. "Khiy. Cool, well, the thing is Khiy you can't just wander around in the same old clothes all the time. That'd be just *boring*! And you need different clothes for different occasions. Like... you can't wear the same clothes to the beach as you wear to a party. Get it"?

Khiy who had never worn more then a few different outfits in his entire life just shook his head in bewilderment. "I am sorry, I don't understand. I will trust what you say however."

An exaggerated roll of the eyes was Chloris' response. "You're nearly as bad as the Tellarite girl I went to school with! But thats okay, i'll teach you what you need to know. So... tell you what, just ask me stuff you think you need to know, okay?"

Khiy turned to her and nodded, though he really didn't know...what he needed to know.

Sitting down on the couch Chloris waited patiently, for about thirty seconds, before speaking. "Okay.. so.. ask?"

Khiy just turned and looked at her.

After a moment of them staring at each other Chloris decided to change tack slightly. "Uh-huh. Lets play a game then, you gotta have played before, right?" she looked at him suspiciously.

"Game?" Khiy looked even more confused now, he never played any games...he never had the chance to...

The little girls' mouth just dropped open. "You've *never* played a game before." She stared for a moment. "'kay we gotta fix that." She rummaged around in the shopping bags and threw a tracksuit at him before clutching one herself. "Go change!"

Without waiting for an answer, Chloris darted into her own room and started changing as soon as she'd locked the door. "Never played a *game* before?" she repeated to herself.

Dropping the tracksuit on the floor Khiy didn't know where she wanted him to go so he just started to remove his clothing in the middle of the Quarters. Once he had slipped everything off Khiy reached down and picked up the track suit putting it on. It felt different from clothes he had worn before.it was interesting.

A couple minutes later Chloris bounced back in wearing a white tracksuit. She'd stuffed her hair into a ponytail, about the only thing she could do with her curls. She stopped straight in her tracks as she noticed Khiys' old clothes at his feet in the living room. "Khiy.. you're supposed to change in your room.. what if my mum had walked in?!"

Khiy looked up at her and frowned "My apologies."

She blinked. "I guess you really are foreign. That's okay. Just remember you have to change in your room. Or in the bathroom if you're having a shower." She shrugged. "Just not anywhere that someone else could walk in... 'kay?"

Khiy nodded. "Understood"

She just looked at him and wondered if he was ever going to disagree with her on anything. "Come on, we'll go down to the gym. I like hoverball so we'll try that." She moved towards the door and glanced at him, "How fast are you?"

Khiy thought about her question for a moment before answering "My reflexes are above average." An understatement to any extent. Following her to the door Khiy was wondering what hoverball might be.

Ground Rules

As Khiy followed Chloris he listened to her describe how hoverball was played and the rules he would need to follow. Though most of it seemed to spin out of his head as he tried to comprehend bits and pieces of what she was describing. From what little he did understand, it seemed to be a simple and strait forward activity.

The girl led Khiy onto the court and closed the door behind them. She handed Khiy the racquet and moved his hands to the proper gripping points. "See, hold it just like this. You wanna watch me for a minute?"

Khiy looked her unsure of how to respond. In his mind he has pictured something completely different and was a little baffled but he didn't want to make a mistake. "I will do whatever you feel is best."

"Okay then, i'll start off slow. You come in and play when I say." She really was trying to make him relax, but he still looked like he was fixed with splints. Chloris bounced the ball a couple of times before sending it flying towards the target in front of her.

The ball bounced straight back as she'd intended and she easily sent it hurtling off towards one of the side targets. She knocked the ball around the court for a minute, deliberately taking it easy, then tapped the ball towards a target intending it to bounce towards Khiy. "You're in too now!"

Khiy's eye brows perked as he watched the ball, did she intend for him to hit it? Turning to Chloris he asked "Do you wish for me to hit it?" just as the ball ricocheted off the target and hit him in the middle of the forehead with a 'thud.' Khiy didn't even flinch as he looked at her waiting for a reply, but a light green outline of the ball was visible on his forehead.

A laugh escaped Chloris' lips before she could stop herself. "Yes.. Khiy.. we take turns at hitting the ball towards a target. The first person to miss a target or to miss the ball loses a point. Make sense?"

Khiy nodded and turned his attention back to the court, and stood silent. In his mind he was going over the dimensions of the area considering of all the directions the ball could move and how he would want to react in each scenario.

Chloris picked up the ball and bounced it off the floor a few times with her racquet before hitting it an easy tap towards the target. She let it fly a little off centre so it wouldn't bounce off Khiys head again if he just stood there. Inwardly she was also trying to decide where to take him next, because this certainly didn't seem to be his game.

As the ball moved towards him Khiy gently tapped it towards the next target with little effort. It was the first time in awhile that he had a chance to exercise his visual acuity and skills. For the last month he had been cooped up in a ship, doing nothing but sitting or standing. This was different, but welcome to an extent.

"See? I knew you'd get the hang of it!" Chloris deftly lied as she sent the ball whizzing back towards the target, playing it very easy so the poor boy could learn the game. She knew her mother had let *her* win for years, so she was kind of passing the favor on.

Khiy reminded silent as he watched the ball streak towards him. He wanted to be a little more aggressive but he didn't have permission so for now he took it with calm and gently sent the ball off to its next target. As it left his racquet he turned to Chloris "Permission to be aggressive?"

This time Khiy didn't hold back as he spun around 180 degrees gaining incredible momentum when doing so sending the edge of his racquet slamming into the ball. As he came to stop he watched the ball slam into one of the targets, ricochet off, and then slam into a second target before flying towards Chloris at an awkward angle.

Taken completely by surprise Chloris didn't stand a chance, at least not much of one. She pivoted on her left heel and fell backwards towards the deck. As she fell her body moved far enough to let her hit the ball a swipe as it flew towards her.

Unable to aim properly, she was just lucky the ball hit the target, but it would be another easy angle for Khiy. She hit the deck backside first, rolled over her shoulder, and bounced back to her feet in a move that would have made a cat choke up a hairball.

Not even paying mind to the ball Khiy's eyes turned to Chloris with concern "I apologize, did I injure you?" As the ball whirled towards him he kept his attention on the young girl.

The ball bounced around a bit, and Chloris shook her head. "Inj.. no, why'd you think that?" She was a little puzzled, it wasn't like she dropped to the deck all the time but it was far from the worst thing she'd done in a hoverball game.

"Don't be worrying about me, just play and... relax! If there's something wrong i'll tell you, 'kay?" She picked up the ball and tossed it to him, indicating he should serve.

Khiy nodded to her catching the ball "Very well." Completely emulating what he had seen Chloris do earlier Khiy served the ball softly.

With a grin Chloris let the ball pass her and hit it with a perfect backhand stroke, adding to its momentum and sending it towards the top of the target. It hit the wall, bounced back and upwards, ricocheted off the roof and flew back over Khiys head.

Khiy watched the ball fly by him with slight surprise at the girl's ability, jumping forward he reached out and hit the tip of the ball with the racquet. It was just enough to change the direction of the ball's momentum upwards hitting the corner of a target and flying back towards Chloris.

The speed of the ball was just increasing with every touch of the racquet. Chloris neatly sidestepped and slammed the ball back past Khiy and straight into the target, angling it so it would rebound right for his chest. Above them, in the viewing gallery, Morgana Kanryth looked on with interest as the match developed.

Khiy attentively twisted and fell back purposely as the ball move towards him, reaching upwards he hit the ball with the top tip of the racquet sending the ball into a target and then upwards ricocheting off the ceiling and down at almost a 90 degree angle towards Chloris.

She laughed slightly at his cheeky copying of her earlier move as she twirled on the spot, bending back forty five degrees at the last minute for leverage, and walloped the ball back along it's original course, bouncing first off the roof and then off the target. Let him handle that!

Seeing that the ball would move too high for him to reach it Khiy looked around and sprinted towards the wall. Jumping up at a crooked angle he leapt off the wall and sent the racquet into the airborne ball slamming it downwards into a target where it ricocheted and sped angrily toward Chloris.

Meanwhile Khiy twisted midair trying to land on his feet but because he jumped in an awkward position he couldn't straiten himself and instead landed on his stomach cushioning the impact with his hands. As he stood up he could feel and hear the grinding of a broken rib in his chest. Wincing he ignored it and positioned himself for the next attack.

Both mother and daughter heard the bone cracking as clearly as if it had came through a loudspeaker. Unlike Vulcans, their long pointed ears *did* hear better than humans. Chloris shot out a hand and snatched the ball out of the air, instantly regretting it as the velocity was considerable.

She yelped, dropped the ball and racquet, and wrung her hand as she walked over to Khiy. "Khiy, you hurt yourself!" she exclaimed.

Khiy nodded regretfully "I apologize. Did you injure your hand?" He felt responsible for the whole ordeal; he didn't calculate his jump as thoroughly as he should have and in the process injured himself and possibly the girl.

"I'm okay, but you need to go to sickbay! Why'd you not ask to stop?" she asked, looking him over to locate the source of the crack.

"It is nothing." Khiy "I did not wish to slow you down on my account, it is not the worst I have been injured." Bowing to her in apology he winced again feeling the broken rib grind around in his chest.

She rolled her eyes in her favorite sign of exasperation. "Injuries just get worse if you don't treat them! We're just playing, silly, games aren't important. Come on, we'll get you t..."

Before she could finish, the door to the court popped open and Admiral Kanryth stepped in. Her boots clicked on the smooth floor as she walked over to the two children. "Khiy, are you alright? Chloris, what were you thinking playing at that speed on his first match?"

Khiy looked at the Admiral straitening himself through the pain "I apologize, it was my wish. I will accept your punishment accordingly." Khiy bowed to the Admiral apologetically as the rib continued to grind in his chest.

Chloris ducked her head down. She had been showing off and she knew it. She just shrugged slightly. "I just.. uh, he's really quite good mom." It was her best offering. Morgana shook her head slightly at her daughter.

She turned to Khiy. "Now, tell me why I'd be punishing you young man, do you think you've done something wrong? Now hold still there." She unzipped his tracksuit jacket and gently ran her fingers over his t-shirt until she located the cracked rib.

Khiy was silent for a moment as he considered her question. "I was reckless, and I endangered your daughter and injured myself. I will accept your punishment accordingly." Gritting his teeth as he felt her hand touch the break Khiy tried his best to remain still.

Chloris shot him a look, which she quickly cut off when Morgana scowled at her. The Admiral looked at Khiy and just smiled slightly. "Things work a little differently here, Khiy. This was just an accident, and it was my daughter showing off that caused it. You only get punished here if you break the law."

She zipped his jacket back up and patted him on the shoulder. "Hardly life threatening but we'll need to get that seen to in sickbay." She glanced at Chloris. "And you, miss, can go and clean up that mess you left in our quarters."

Chloris mumbled something, kissed Morgana on the cheek, and scampered out after picking up the two racquets and the ball.

Watching as Chloris left Khiy was silent, his expression solemn as he thought about the Admirals words.

Morgana looked at Khiy for a moment, thinking about the information that had been left for her on that isolinear rod. Maybe this would work out for the best; she really wanted to have him checked by medical anyway. "Come on, I'll take you to sickbay and we'll get you patched up. And you don't need to be afraid of anything here, Khiy, if something's wrong or if you hurt yourself you just need to ask for help."

Just ask for help? Khiy wondered if he could force himself to do such a thing. He had always been on the lower echelon of society, asking for help was something he was not familiar with. Even in the Gai'Shian he was on his own, at least until tr'Verelan forced him out of service. Nodding to Kanryth he responded quietly with "I shall try."

She laughed slightly as she led him towards the door. "Don't try, just do. I'm sure you've been taught that every man must stand alone or some similar doctrine, but I promise you'll find that there are advantages to looking after each other too. We help each other when we can, knowing that some day we will be the one needing help."

Khiy lowered his head in shame as he headed towards the door...he had done nothing yet. Would anyone bother looking out for him?

Vice Admiral Kanryth Commanding Officer, USS Dirae

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Khiy

The Broken Child

Khiy remained quiet as the Admiral led him to the Medical Bay of the Dirae. He was still thinking about what she had told him earlier. Once they arrived the Admiral allowed him to go in, she mentioned she was busy and should return to her duty.

Entering the medical bay Khiy was surprised at its massive size, he had never seen one so large before. Walking into the middle of the bay Khiy allowed his eyes to dart around at everyone present, not knowing what to do he just stood there in a confused stupor.

Nemari was just going over the reports - they were expecting a new CMO and she didn't want medical in a mess. She was a bit nervous about things...her first assignment - she couldn't believe she was here. She turned at the sound of voices behind her and nearly tripped over a bio bed as she snapped to attention. The Admiral shushed her and pointed to her young companion.

She watched as the Admiral left and then turned her attention back to the 'patient'. Her eyes widened. The young Romulan male had haunted eyes. She motioned to the bio bed. "Up there" she said crisply. "What happened?"

Doing as the woman asked Khiy climbed onto the biobed sitting strait and erect. He quickly examined her with his eyes before speaking "I was participating in." he paused trying to remember the name of the game he was playing with Chloris. Once it finally came too him he continued "hoverball. I injured myself."

Nemari couldn't help but smile. "I know that game. I play with my brothers all the time. I always lose." She raised the bio bed controls and then asked him to lie back. "Do you hurt anywhere in particular?"

Khiy was hesitant at first to lie down since it would make him vulnerable in an unknown environment but he slowly allowed his defenses to ease and laid back. "I appear to have broken a rib." He replied moving his finger along the jacket to where the break was.

Nemari nodded as her brow furrowed. She tapped the console. A moment later the bed beeped. It was done. She nodded. "So it would seem you are correct." She looked back at the scan, puzzled by what she saw. She looked at the young man. "Can you take your jacket off please" She reached behind her and handed him a thin dressing gown. "I'll turn around. If you'll slip this on. I need to get a better look at the bone density... I want to make sure we knit it back well. We don't want it injuring your lungs if it re-breaks."

Looking at the gown Khiy paused but quickly accepted it remembering the Admiral brought him here and that it would be OK. He wasn't embarrassed to any extent as just stripped down right there in the middle of the medical bay. Slipping on the gown he laid back on the biobed. Looking at the woman he frowned "I apologize for the inconvenience."

She turned back around when she heard him settle on the bed. "There is no need to apologize." She picked up her hand held scanner and brought it near. As she did so, she frowned. The gown was thin, and the lines that ran beneath it across the young man's chest, were evident as shadows. As the scan passed over them, she bit back a quiet gasp. She shook her head and replied calmly. "The rib's been broken before...that's what's wrong." Nemari stopped, her eyes almost filling with tears. What she saw displayed in front of her, was not something she had been prepared for. She took a deep breath.

"I don't know ..." she fumbled for the words. The wounds didn't look recent...and had basically healed...but at the same time, she had to note it in his records. "I have to ask you how you got them" she said quietly.

Khiy saw the look of shock on her face but dismissed it. "Punishment for mistakes by lord tr'Rllaillieu, Gai'Shian training, and combat." He responded without any emotion. To him those scars were earned and deserved, a reminder to obey and never question a superior or his master.

Nemari was human but she didn't miss the flat tone of his response. She didn't understand it either. It sounded like acceptance. She couldn't fathom how anyone could accept what so clearly had been a painful experience. She shook her head as her she passed her instruments over his broken rib. For some reason, it was taking longer to convince the bones to knit than normal. She frowned slightly. "I need to run some tests...You're fine for the moment, but this bone isn't setting right. You'll need to be careful. No hover ball and no heavy lifting until you get clearance from medical."

Khiy stood up nodding to her and slipped off the gown abruptly. Reaching down he picked up the clothes and carefully slipped them on still feeling slight pain in his chest. Turning to the woman he bowed in respected "Thank you."

He started on his way out but stopped abruptly upon realizing he didn't know the way back. Khiy turned to the woman and opened his mouth to speak but stopped and turned back around facing the exit. He didn't want to inconvenience her anymore; he could find his own way back. Hopefully.

Nemari watched him leave. He was...not what she'd expected, so formal. His bone density was still in the formative stages so he was not yet fully grown, even by Romulan standards, yet he behaved as if were. She stopped him before he could disappear. "Don't forget to return for a follow up. If you take a left out the door and go straight down the corridor, the Turbo Lift is at the end of the Corridor. Just tell it where you want to go."

Nemari picked up the discarded gown, lowered the biobed controls and moved towards the office.

Nemari Keosha Heath (a.p.b. Cerywyn) Dirae Nurse

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Khiy

Lost Again

It had been twenty minutes since Khiy found himself wandering the ship completely lost. He had tried to work the consoles like Chloris showed him but they wouldn't react to his commands which left him at a disadvantage.

After waiting for awhile he was finally able to follow some random person into the lift. As it stopped he also followed the person out and scoured the area trying to see if it was right.but it wasn't. There were several people with yellowish orange collard uniforms running around, different from Kranryth's red. As Khiy wandered the corridor most of the people seemed to not notice his presence.

It wasn't that Barbacane understood or knew a lot about engineering, but two things he understood extremely well were fission and fusion. Those two things drove the entire universe from the largest star to the tiniest planet, and too, they drove this ship through the ever reaching vistas of subspace. Amusing himself without trying to get too much in the way he busied himself around the main core controls, watching as atom after atom collided and exploded creating the plasma driving this machine, this ship.

One thing he did notice however was a young man entering the main engineering control looking quite out of place from the others.

"May I help you?"

Hearing someone speak to him Khiy looked up at the man, who unlike the rest had the same red collard uniform Kanryth wore. Unsure of what to make of him Khiy remained silent while gazing steadily at Barbacane. In the back of his mind Khiy considered what Kanryth said about asking anyone for help, and of course the man was offering his assistance.

"Great, I have a deaf mute on my hands and I don't speak sign language" Johnathon thought to himself still looking at the young man.

"You Can speak Cant you?"

Khiy nodded slowly at the man answering his question. Opening his mouth to speak Khiy found that only Romulan would come out. He was clearly agitated now as he tried to speak again only a jumble of Romulan and universal came out.

Hearing the Romulan Speech coming from the young Man Barbacane tapped his comm badge. "Security, we have a young Romulan on board. I need you in engineering"

Johnathon walked over to the boy. "This is a dangerous place young Man... lets go to the office and relax a bit shall we??"

Frowning Khiy looked around clearly becoming very frustrated "Sssolaere aaarhva." he said aloud causing heads to turn and gaze at him. Lowering his head Khiy went silent again.

Placing a firm but gentle hand on the boy's shoulders and looking down at him Barbacane got the boys attention and motioned in the direction of the office.

"There will be people here to help you out in just a moment Young Man.. till then, we should get out of these peoples way so they can go abut their business."

Getting the message Khiy nodded and walked over to the office. He understood the man clearly but unable to speak something he knew was agitating him tremendously. Walking into the office he just stood still gazing at the wall.

Johnathon could see there was something wrong with the boy simply by looking at his demeanor. Maybe it was some form of mental aberration that he hadn't been treated for or something of that nature, but none the less.. Pointing towards the couch, he asked the boy to sit in a polite manner and walked over to the replicator.

"Computer... One cup Darjeeling tea hot sweet, and one cup of well whatever it is they drink at a young age on Romulus." The computer seemed to take it's time and then finally produced a cup of tea and a cup of well, something else. He wasn't going to ask.

Picking them both up he walked over to the boy and offered the something else to him..."This should warm you up Young Man."

Khiy bowed to the man as he accepted the drink; looking at it he took a sniff. Whatever it was lost on him as well and he didn't feel adventurous enough to try it out. Instead Khiy just watched the man carefully, studying him.

Barbacane walked around the desk and took a seat. Not speaking Romulan he felt at a complete loss for what to say or do, especially as he had never been a parent and truthfully never was one much for children, preferring his own age for acquaintance

"Are you some bodies Son?" he asked cocking his head and looking at the boy quizzically. "Do you know someone on board?".

Khiy shook his head at the first question but at the last he nodded. "Kanryth" was the only word he mouthed.

"Kanryth ehh?? Yes well."

Tapping his communicator again John leaned back in the chair still watching the boy... "Admiral Kanryth... It seems we have a Young Man down here in Main engineering claiming to know you... What do you wish me to do with him?" Still leaning back, He watched the boy and sipped his tea, waiting for the admiral's response.

Johnathon R Barbacane III Esq.

Second Officer, USS Dirae

&

Khiy

Chloris to the Rescue

Chloris Kanryth sometimes felt like she owned the Dirae. Most of the crew knew who she was and afforded her the 'special treatment' and she damn well knew how to play on that. She skipped into engineering like it was her personal domain and asked around for the Commander.

"Can I help you young Lady" Johnathon said looking up from the desk as the young girl walked through the door..

Chloris offered up her sweetest smile. She'd whipped her hair back into a braid so it didn't cover her ears; she knew they usually gave away who she was. "Hi, is my friend Khiy around here?"

"You make friends with Romulans? You choose strange and dangerous allies Young Lady... Barbacane motioned with his head to the couch where the boy was still seated, holding a now cold cup of some unusual concoction that the computer supposed was Romulan in origin and produced as a beverage.

"If you wish," he continued after a pause and seeing the girl still hadn't moved "you may join him.We are waiting for the Admiral to come down and identify him or give me the word to send him to the brig.

Khiy didn't appear attentive to the conversation as he starred down at the liquid he was given, but could hear and understand every word clearly. Perhaps it was the first time he felt among hostile company since being on the Dirae, and indeed it made him clearly uneasy.

"Oh she's busy, you know." Chloris said flippantly as she breezed past Barbacane as if this was her office and not his. "Khiy! How's your rib? How'd you end up down here? The computer could told you where our quarters are you know."

Looking up at Chloris Khiy frowned "I apologize" was all he said.

She executed her favorite facial expression, exasperation, and rolled her eyes. "You always apologize, even when stuff isn't your fault. We gotta work on that." Chloris turned and looked at Barbicane. "Thanks for keeping Khiy safe Mr. Barby." Chloris knew fine well what his name was, but she felt like seeing how much he'd let her away with.

Barbacane looked at her with what must have appeared to be a tinge of frustrated perplexity. "Keeping him? Thanking me?" Young Lady,, I am neither a babysitter of a caretaker, I am not keeping him, I'm holding him until the Admiral appears to clear this matter up. Now. you may join him if you wish or you can run along like a good little girl so that we might actually get some engineering done around here."

Chloris put her hands on her hips and looked up at Barbicane. Eye contact was a challenge being that he was two and a half feet taller than her. "My mommy told you I was coming down to collect Khiy! She's too busy to come down here." Chloris stated matter of factly.

"Your Mother said no such thing Young lady and you know that very well.. my choices for you remain the same. I'm afraid and I'd suggest you stop trying your cute routine.. it shant work on me."

"It's no routine.. I really am cute." If she hadn't sounded so serious, it would have been funny. "But we really need to go, Khiy and I have more shopping to do you see, and we wanna beat the rush."

"Cute IS as cute does young lady. Puppy dogs are cute and kittens are cute.. and I don't recall either of those species having two legs or a verbal language. So I suggest that if you have so much to do you go do it.. The young man will be staying with me."

The comparison to dogs and cats confused Chloris, and for a moment she just stared at Barbacane with her mouth open. "I'm not a dog!" she finally spluttered.

"Precisely my point Young Lady, now if you will excuse us we, that is the boy and I, need to speak with the Admiral... you may run along."

Folding her arms across her chest Chloris shook her head. "Nuh-uh, i'll be going with you and Khiy to tell my mom what you just called me."

Barbacane tapped his com badge looking at the young temper tantrum tossing girl "Security, this is Barbacane. I've got a female child down here who is interrupting our work. Please have her removed. Thank you ".

Barbacane had sat back down and was going through some paperwork when a Corporal walked through the door.

Nobby just eyed the child and looked up at Barbacane, stowing the butt of his cigarette behind his ear. "You are 'avin a laff, aintcha? My rear end ain't worth the amount of crap this 'un could cause me wi' the boss!"

Barbacane snapped at the flippant attitude being presented.. "Might I remind you Corporal that you ARE a corporal who has been given a direct order. Now either you execute that order or you wont have an ass left at all.. do I make myself clear?"

Chloris just sat down on the couch next to Khiy, this new Commander wasn't having any of it and she knew she was just gonna have to let this one play itself out. "Oh well. I tried!" she whispered to Khiy.

Though he didn't understand exactly what was happening Khiy just nodded to Chloris acknowledging her statement.

Nobby waved off the Commander and shook his head, a slight look of shock upon it. "Mate, I couldn't care less if ya shoved me knackers in a vice and twisted the bloody thing 'til the cows come 'ome, I ain't touchin' 'er. That one..." he pointed to Chloris, "... is ol' Icey's daught! You *do* know that, dontcha?"

"What did you address me as??" Barbacane walked around to the front of the desk and stood mere inches away from the corporal.

"Oh how the bloody 'ell should I know, I forget meself fro' one moment to th' next." Nobby hoiked the butt out from behind his ear and tried to light it again, to no avail. "Listen." He replaced the butt behind his ear, and put his arm around Barbacane's shoulder, pulling him down into a group huddle. "Yer best bet, if'n ya be wantin' to get rid o' that one, is to give ol' Icey a shout and get 'er over the blower to call the lass. Know wot I mean?"

"I know that if your not out of this office in two seconds, your going to be busted so low your SHOES will have a higher rank. Get out."

By this point even Chloris was mortified at the way this Corporal was getting on. Her mother was going to 'blow a valve' when she heard about this! She hopped off the couch and walked over to Nobby. "Er.. ah, Corporal? Maybe you should just arrest me. You know?"

"As ya wish, mate." He pulled off a half-hearted salute and waddled over to the door, smell drifting behind him. "But ain't no Securitah bloke on this shift gonna touch that one. You mark my words!" And with that, he disappeared.

Barbacane looked at the girl.. "You know him??" he said with some surprise and exasperation.

She watched the fool walk out, then looked at Barbacane. "No.... not really..." she fumbled with her pockets for a moment, "but my mommy will really be angry if she has to fire someone because of me."

"So who is this 'Icey' he was referring too then??"

Chloris blushed, really starting to appreciate the trouble she'd just caused. She played... Barbacane had won, hands down. "The Ice queen..." she mumbled.

Johnathon knelt down so that he was on the same level as the girl. "And who is 'The Ice Queen'??"

"Mymommytheadmiral" Chloris said, biting her lower lip. She knew well enough to wash the cute routine and the i-own-the-ship routine away. Her best chance of escape was the 'I didn't know any better' act.

"Your Mommy.. How sweet.. I'm certain she will be thrilled to know that she's considered the ice queen on board.. And you know this boy?"

She nodded. "Mommy will explain... 's complicated." she was mumbling now, and refused to make eye contact.

"and the Admiral knows this boy??"

"Uh-huh. Some fat smelly man turned up at our house with Khiy, he pulled my hair too." She rubbed her head at the memory. "Mommy wanted to shoot him but he beamed away."

Barbacane nodded as he rose. ""very well then.. you may leave.. the both of you." Sitting back down at the desk and pretending to do some work it took several seconds for him to look up again.. "Your Still here?? Shoo!"

Chloris didn't need to be told twice. She grabbed Khiy by the hand and literally pulled him out of the room. Anyone watching them would have had a lot of trouble telling who was the elder from the way they acted.

A small smile spread across Barby's face as the two dashed out the door.. "Cheeky one that one.. She'll go far someday." he thought as he stood and left the office himself.

Johnathon R Barbacane III Esq. Executive Officer, USS Dirae

Chloris Kanryth Daughter of the Ice Queen

Khiy

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Corporal Nobby Nobbs (a.p.b. Matt)