Part Three: Travel

Posted on Wed Jun 24th, 2020 @ 3:19am by Lieutenant JG Vecon Fick
Edited on on Fri Jul 10th, 2020 @ 5:49pm

Mission: Death in Paradise
Location: Various
Timeline: After "Still Friends?"

---Months later---

Fick put the last of his things in the case and grinned at K’Laus. “So yeah… you’ll like my mother. She’s going to like you too. My father… just… just don’t take him personally. He’s grouchy and serious all the time. Are you excited to go to Risa?”

“Your father...he’s one of the scrunched up wrinkly nose people?” asked Lieutenant K’Laus. The Klingon had enough general knowledge of species and the word Bajoran was on the tip of his tongue. “Or is it on your father’s side that you get the nudist sunbathing with the fair hair and sunkissed skin?” he said teasingly.

Fick laughed. “Yes, love. He’s Bajoran. My mother is the nudist. He’s got ridges like me... “ He rubbed the bridge of his own nose and stuck his tongue out at the Klingon, playfully. “They’ve got a nice house. My father works for the public works commission taking care of the flower beds and stuff. You never know what kind of job my mother is going to have. Sometimes she likes to change it up for a season, but she mostly works for the government too. At least you won’t have to put up with people who aren’t accepting…” He paused for a moment. “Well… my father might not be, but it’s just cause he doesn’t like anything that’s not his idea in the first place.”

The truth was K’Laus was actually more nervous than excited about meeting the Fickers. “To answer your question, yes. I’m excited to go to Risa,” he added only somewhat truthfully. It was probably evident by his body language and the near tremble in his tone of voice that he was at least marginally concerned.

Fick stopped what he was doing and moved closer to the Klingon. “Hey… it’s gonna be okay. My mother’s gonna love you,” he said gently. “Really… just… ignore my father. He wouldn’t like it even if you were some heiress that was going to make the whole family rich or something… so he’s just… like that.” He reached out and patted K’Laus’ shoulder. “You gonna be okay? Tell me what you’re thinking about.”

The Klingon took a deep breath. “I will be alright. I just have never met anyone else’s parents before. At least not parents that were not Talarian. Your parents are from two different cultures, both which are different from my own,” he replied. “What if they do not like me? I’ve heard stories about other species and Klingons. That’s not even factoring in I was raised by Talarians,” he added.

Fick was shaking his head. “Hun, you don’t understand Risians. I could come home with a yellow alien covered with spots and my mother would love it. You don’t have to worry about her and she’s the one that’s gonna feed us and let us stay at the house.” He chuckled. “My father always lets her have her way. He probably won’t even be a problem. He’s just gonna make faces and go to his rooms. Mom’s gonna want to know all about the Talarians though… so she might ask you a lot of questions.” He paused for a moment, looking at K’Laus honestly. “If you don’t like it we’ll leave and I’ll go with you. Okay? We can get a hotel room.”

“It would be rude to eat her food and leave. We will stay at the home whether I like it or not” replied K’Laus. “It is the Talarian thing that makes me more worried. The Klingon factor is something I am used to, but I am not very used to sharing my Talarian culture with anyone,” added the lieutenant. “Your father sounds subservient to your mother. That is something that would never happen in Talarian society. Women would never be placed above men. I do not believe your mother would be too interested in learning her role in my peoples’ society,” explained K’Laus.

Fick laughed. “Yeah, she wouldn’t be happy about that at all, but she’s not going to judge your people or you because of that. Besides. I’m not a woman and we do just fine. I think you’re more modern than where you’re from. Do you think you can make it the week without trying to make my mother subservient?” he joked.

Lieutenant K’Lus grunted. “I am more modern because we do not live and work where I am from. Where I am from would be perplexed at our relationship, if not only because neither of us are women and thus not easily determined as to which of us is subservient to the other,” replied K’Laus. He then looked Fick over and smugly smirked. “Well, perhaps not so perplexing,” he added.

Fick raised his eyebrows at the Klingon. “Oh really?” he asked in humor. “I’m gonna remember that you said that, but seriously, she’s not going to hold anything against you. If she asks just tell her the truth,” Fick said simply.

“It is only honorable to speak the truth. So, the truth she will hear whether she likes it or dislikes it,” he replied.

Fick nodded with a grin. “Exactly. There won’t be any problems then. Believe me, my mother is honest too. Sometimes a little too honest.”

The Klingon nodded. “If anything, then perhaps we can bond over that similarity. I have been accused of being too truthfully honest aboard the Pandora,” he said calmly. “However, I have also been told that I do not share my ‘feelings’ enough either,” he added. “I suppose if I had shared my feelings more honestly, Lieutenant Mindo would not have had such an unpleasant experience with me.”

Fick laughed. “I think Mindo lived and you’re doing just fine by me.” He leaned over to the Klingon and kissed his cheek. “You’ve been fine ever since then and I love you. Besides, I always find all that gruff stuff rather endearing and very hot.” He smirked.

K’Laus looked at Fick and pondered what it had been like. “My world… the Talarian world that I am used to does not have nearly the dependency of technology that Risa has. Risa is also technologically more advanced. You have tourists from all over the Alpha and Beta quadrants come there, and it is a Federation member world,” stated the lieutenant. “How was it like growing up on what most would consider a paradise world?” asked the Klingon.

Fick shrugged. “I don’t really have a whole lot to compare it to. Earth was a little more hung up about stuff. There aren’t a lot of boundaries on my world. At least personal ones. It was hard for me to adjust too when I went to the Academy. I guess everyone has a love/hate relationship with where they’re from. The biggest problem with Risa is exactly what everyone loves about it. All that perfect weather and tourism becomes really boring when you live there. There really aren’t jobs, aside from tourism and politics. I didn’t really want to be a tour guide my whole life. My parents never really gave me a lot of rules. Of course, they expected me to do well in school… but aside from that… I don’t really know what it’s like to live in a strict environment.”

“Well, I might not quite be ready to bring you along on a trip to Talaria just yet. It’s not a you thing. It is more of a Talarian thing,” said K’Laus, trying to explain his reasoning. “I practically was raised there and I’m still considered an outsider because I do not look like them. If you think Romulans are xenophobic, you haven’t been to the Talarian Republic,” added K’Laus. “In time, perhaps we will stop by and say hello,” noted the Klingon.

He tried to cheer Fick up, knowing it probably wasn’t the best thing to say that he wasn’t ready to show him his home. “I do not know much about the Klingon homeworld and since I am Klingon, perhaps it would be easier to take a trip there together?” offered K’Laus. “The baldric you made is wonderful, but it has only left me with more questions than a true sense of being Klingon. Though I do love it and appreciate it. It has fueled a fire within me to seek the answers I’ve been looking for ever since I was a child on Talaria,” he stated.

Fick moved back over to K’Laus and hugged him tightly. “I understand actually. Please don’t feel pressured to take me home to meet your parents. I believe what you tell me and I’d rather not get strung up by the locals,” he joked. “I’m not offended, my love.” He let go of the Klingon again and nodded. “I think going to the Klingon homeworld would be awesome! For both of us. I love Klingon culture and making that baldric didn’t just spark that seeking answers thing for you. I want to help!”

The shuttle was waiting for them when they arrived in the shuttlebay. Since Fick was a pilot, they didn’t need extra help, so it would just be the two of them the whole way to Risa. Fick was just excited to fly the shuttle. He helped K’Laus load their bags and then slid into the pilot’s seat. “I’m really glad the Captain agreed to let us take this shuttle. I can’t wait to get off this ship and just relax for a little bit. Just you and me and the stars for awhile…” He grinned as he started the pre-flight check.

“Yeah, I guess we are lucky that he was gracious enough to spare a shuttle,” commented K’Laus. “I knew better than to push our luck in getting his Captain’s Yacht again. After our little adventure on Ferenginar, it is surprising he has allowed us to go anywhere together without a chaperone,” teased the Klingon.

Fick grinned over his shoulder and wiggled his eyebrows. “No chaperone is gonna want to see what we’re going to do on this shuttle,” he joked.

“Ensign!” K’Laus replied with a smirk and grunt. “Lieutenant,” he said correcting himself. “That is going to take some getting used to with your cute baby face,” noted the Klingon. Lieutenant K’Laus nodded. “Well, whatever happens in this shuttle had better happen away from the cockpit. Otherwise when we return, someone is going to have a lovely show to watch when reviewing cockpit footage… unless we experience some issues,” teased the supply officer.

Fick snorted. “Issues? You’ve never had any issues.” Fick smirked and started the preflight check of all the systems. “And don’t you let my baby face fool you. I’m older than I look.” He winked at K’Laus. “And I do know stuff. All sorts of stuff.” His eyes roamed over the Klingon appreciatively and he wiggled his eyebrows with a grin.

K’Laus shot a look of fondness and amusement at Fick. “You know lots of stuff because sexual education is taught from an early age on Risa,” stated the Klingon. “Privacy takes a back seat to intimatecy, and when it comes to Risa, your people know how to put the ‘Head’ into Head Start programs,” teased the Klingon. “By the time you were in your middle teenage years, I am sure you knew far more than a Dabo girl.”

Fick busted out laughing. He laughed for quite awhile before he could manage to get a breath in. “Wow, baby. You’ve really been working on those. You should tell some of those to my mother when we get to Risa. She’ll die. Like not literally… like die laughing.”

“It would not be wise nor advisable to kill your mother at this time,” replied the Klingon. “She has not yet had the opportunity to get to know me nor approve or disapprove of our relationship. I would like to wait until she has made her feelings known,” added K’Laus. “I take great pride in what Lieutenant Mindo calls my ‘zingers’,” stated the tall Klingon, crossing his arms.

“Oh your ‘zingers’ are they?” Fick giggled. “Hey, we’re cleared to get out of here. Are you sure that you have everything? I mean I guess whatever we’ve forgotten at this point we can replicate when we get there.” He started to guide the shuttle slowly out of the shuttlebay and into open space. “My mother’s gonna love you. I would be very surprised if it went any other way. I think my father will like you too, but neither of us will ever know it.” He chuckled. “And you’re welcome to try and kill her with laughter right away. My mother’s always had a great sense of humor. Where do you think I get it from?” He grinned innocently at the Klingon.

“You have a sense of humor?” countered the Klingon. “I would have never thought so,” he added teasingly. “Alright, let’s get this thing out of here before the Captain comes and delays our vacation,” noted K’Laus.

“Pft.. he’s way too late now.” The shuttle left the ship and Fick laid in the course to Risa. When he was done laying in the course he turned in his seat and looked at K’Laus with a rather predatory grin. “I do so have a sense of humor. If I didn’t you would have pissed me off a long time ago.” He smirked a little. “So, the shuttle is pretty much gonna fly itself for a while. Got any ideas about what we could do with all that time?”

K’Laus let out a deep gutful laugh. He looked at Fick and shook his head. “I know that you like it when I piss you off. I’ve seen the way you look at me. You have that mixed look of wanting to shout at me whilst you struggle with wanting to jump into my arms and be carried off to bed,” stated the Klingon. “I have some ideas. There’s some talking involved and a little something else later,” teased K’Laus.

“You do know that you’re not really pissing me off, right?” Fick grinned. “Mostly, I just want to be carried off to bed.” He laughed softly. “What do you want to talk about?” Fick got up and went to the replicator. He returned with a drink for K’Laus and one for himself. He offered the drink to the Klingon.

“I know,” said the Klingon. “You are clever and frisky, but I know you like to be scooped off your feet and taken away, carried to the bed and tossed on it.” He stated looking at his lover. “Well, we covered your parents fairly well. I imagine this will only be one of several adventures that you and I will be going on. Ah well, I guess we’ll always have Ferenginar as our first adventure,” added K’Laus.

Fick laughed. “Sometimes everything you say is sexy.” He leaned over and kissed the Klingon on the side of his face. “I loved what happened on Ferenginar.” He snorted. “It was the first time that I thought perhaps you might be flirting with me.”

The Klingon grunted. “Those little beady eyed rats. I still cannot believe they were willing to get so brutal and fire on us like that. Never turn your back on a Ferengi,” groaned the man. “I don’t ask you enough about your days. You received your promotion and aside from congratulating you and having a small celebration we have not really talked about that. What is it like having two pips on your collar?” asked K’Laus.

Fick shrugged. “It still kinda feels like I only have one. It hasn’t really been any different except now they call me Lieutenant Fick.” He laughed. “I still like being Lieutenant Fick and I’m proud of myself for making Lieutenant my first year out, but nothing’s really changed about what I do.”

The Klingon listened and nodded. He could understand how Fick felt, but there was more to this that K’Laus wanted to know. “You are trained to pilot shuttles and you have moved up in rank. You are the Chief Flight Controller, the helmsman of a Luna class starship. You are no longer just an ensign, position aside,” began the Klingon. “It’s rare for a starfleet officer to stay a helmsman their career unless they resign their commission, retire from Starfleet early on, or….” K’Laus did not want to say the last thought. Death was not something he cared to bring up. “What I mean is do you see yourself staying as Chief Flight Controller?” he inquired gently. “Just thinking of the starships named Enterprise, their flight controllers, chief or otherwise, they went on to do a lot in their careers.”

“I don’t know, baby…” Fick moved from his seat and was now attempting to climb into K’Laus’ lap. “I really like flying ships and I’m good at it. If it’s not broken, why try and fix it? I might change my mind and I might not. I mean I’ve got a little bit of engineering, but it doesn’t really interest me like flying does. I’m always trying to think of new ways to get the ship to perform better. A lot of how it performs is based on how well I can calculate. Do you want me to do something else?” He snuggled up against the larger man.

“No,” replied K’Laus. “No, I just want you to do what is right for you and what makes you happy, Fick,” he said reassuring his boyfriend. “I just was curious if you had any career goals ahead. I know once you become a Department Head, some officers take more courses to strengthen their potential towards command with hope of becoming Second Officer,” added K’Laus.

“What about you? We always seem to get to talking about me and my lack of plans for my future, but what about you, babe?” He reached back and touched K’Laus’ cheek gently. “Do you want to be a supply officer forever? Have you ever thought of going to the academy and joining Starfleet proper? No pressure. I just wondered.” He grinned upside down at the Klingon.

The Klingon grunted. “I may not have gone through the academy, but aboard the starships I serve on, this provisional rank is Starfleet issued,” he said confidently. “I like being a lieutenant and the uniform is not terrible. I’d consider it, but I would prefer if I could just take a few classes and be given a field commission based on my experience and skill,” stated K’Laus.

“Mmm… experience and skill. I like those in a man,” Fick responded, both flirting and in humor. He wiggled a little in the Klingon’s lap. “You know… I’m not sure I want to be a department head… or an executive officer… or even a ship’s captain, for that matter, but I know I definitely want to be with you. You make me happy.”

The Klingon nodded. “You make me… content enough to continue living,” replied K’Laus. “I may not know too much about my Klingon side and their culture, but I do know that one should consider that high praise from a people so willing and ready, if not eager to die in battle,” added the Pandora’s Supply Officer. “If I died… I would not be around to experience your annoyances. I have grown rather fond of them.”

Fick grinned and turned enough to put his arms around the Klingon. “I’m glad you’re fond of them and no dying. No one is dying.” He kissed K’Laus on his nose. “So… do you want to do any of the touristy crap on Risa when we get there?” Fick asked. “You said you’d never been, right?”

“I have not,” replied K’Laus. “A few Federation starships I served aboard made stops there for shore leave, but I used my time more productively,” explained the lieutenant. “Klingon vessels that I served on were not in the habit of stopping at any pleasure ports,” he said grunting. “It may be prudent to find a small memento to remind me of my time there,” he added.

Fick laughed. “Don’t worry, baby. We’ll probably go home with a bag full of mementos. Probably even some that my mother will give us. I want to go to some of the flower gardens with you. Maybe even watch some of the music shows.” He traced a finger gently over the Klingon’s face.

The Klingon smirked. “A Klingon in a botanical garden,” he stated with a shaking of his head. “I believe there’s an Earth saying about a bull inside of a China shop. I cannot help but feel that is relative to the imagery of a Klingon in one of those gardens,” K’Laus said providing an explanation for his smirk.

Fick laughed. “Look here. You guys enjoy pretty stuff too! So don’t give me any attitude about looking at pretty flowers,” he joked. “There’s plenty of sports stuff too.”

“Fortunately, I am more well behaved than your common variety Klingon, and I’m a little more cultured,” he teased. “I use utensils when I eat rather than my hands,” he added. “Your mother would probably appreciate that.”

Fick laughed again. “Baby, everyone appreciates that. Although, I do still love everything that’s brutish about you too. I do think it’s kinda messed up that people actually believe that Klingon’s don’t have culture, because they most definitely do. I’m sure that the Talarians are similar. Didn’t they have any more artistic pursuits? Like opera? Or poetry? Or maybe painting?” He shrugged and got up, moving toward the replicator. “I mean, even sports can be artistic and creative… you want something to drink?”

K’Laus nodded agreeing with his boyfriend. “Culture gets lost on people when they are warring with one another. For the longest time, the Klingons were blood enemies of the Federation. They were seen as savage and unreasonable. Therefore, most humans and other species never viewed the Klingons as having a culture. You are right though. Klingons do have a culture and a very rich one. The same can be said about the Cardassians,” noted K’Laus.

“As for the Talarians,” he began and looked at Fick with a small smile. “The Talarians do have a culture, but because we do not allow outsiders in very often, a lot remains a mystery to the general galactic audience. The Federation has not been permitted to set foot on a Talarian world more than a dozen times ever since first contact was made. Because we are so technologically behind, Talarians were also deemed inferior and not of much interest to various worlds. There is a reason why the Borg have historically left our world untouched. We’re not much of a threat unless we have allies supporting us, but Talarians do not make for willing bedfellows,” explained K’Laus.

“Well yeah, but you just proved my point as well. I mean just because they don’t let anyone look at their culture doesn’t mean they don’t have any. I mean lots of people and species have “secret” traditions that they don’t share with outsiders. It doesn’t make their culture any less strong or valuable just because no one sees it in public.” Fick retorted. “Risian Mai-Tai… ice please.” It only took a moment for the replicator to produced the drink.

K’Laus nodded and grunted. “There is the Klingon tea ceremony. I have never partaken in it myself, but I have been doing some reading about it. Unfortunately, the tea used in the ceremony is made from plants that are generally medically referred to as toxic to most species, especially humans,” said the Klingon. “I have only come across a few species who can consume to tea without some adverse effect without having to take medication,” he added.

Fick sat down next to K’Laus and grinned, leaning towards him. “I’d take medication to drink the tea with you,” he said in a flirty fashion. “I think that would be really awesome and I’d love to see the tea ceremony. They have one on Risa that they do, but it’s always felt too commercial, like something they do for tourists”.

To be continued…