*****
Title: Power Couplings
Author: ZensoParadox
Rating: PG
Summary: RS friendship, all. Reed and Sato begin with crossed wires and wind up amid the power couplings on account of vegetarian Klingons and Tribbles?
Disclaimer: The character names belong to Paramount. This fiction was written solely for personal enjoyment.
POWER COUPLINGS
CHAPTER 1: SEEKERS
Bukah appeared on the viewscreen and Lieutenant Malcolm Reed cringed when he recognized the Klingon female. Getting knocked unconscious by her had not diminished the encoding of her features.
Ensign Hoshi Sato picked that exact moment to glance over her shoulder at the Lieutenant. She obviously recognized Bukah as well, but the mischievous smirk on her face didn't help Reed's chagrin.
The Lieutenant threw back a look that said Just-You-Wait before informing Captain Archer, "Sir, there are only minimal defensive weapons on the ship."
Sato ignored the threat and merely started planning her next strategy for getting a blush out of Reed. The Communications Officer opened the comm channel so the Captain could respond.
"It's good to see you again, uh, Captain Bukah?" began Captain Jonathan Archer. The vessel before them was not a standard Klingon vessel.
"Captain Archer, I have no status, I am merely Bukah the Hunter. My ship is the Light Bringer. We could use your help." Bukah offered an expression that should have been a warm, friendly smile, but somehow failed to make it past predatory.
Archer was jarred to even hear such a request from a Klingon. He motioned to Sato to mute the bridge and asked, "Is the UT working?"
Sato nodded her head as she turned to note the incredulous stares of all the bridge officers. Even Sub-commander T'Pol had an eyebrow almost disappearing into her bangs.
"Sir, the UT is operating perfectly and I can verify the translation is accurate--although I would have said Seeker instead of Hunter."
Sato cleared her throat gently as she ended. She bit her lip to prevent her tirade of the way the UT simply failed to adjust for subtle changes in semantics. From his station Reed recognized the gesture and quickly decided to avoid eating with Hoshi and Travis tonight. The Professor was certain to give one of her lectures during which he invariably inserted foot into mouth. He saw Travis swivel his direction and shoot him a warning look. Desertion was not an option, it would seem.
"We'll be happy to help in any way that we can, er, Bukah."
The Klingon turned to a male colleague who remained standing stiffly. Bukah nudged him slightly with her elbow and the Klingon finally responded after clearing his throat. He barked, "I am Gurtag, the Hunter."
"Seeker," corrected Sato for the Captain in a singsong voice. She began altering the code so the UT's Klingon-to-English translator would accept the word.
Gurtag looked at Bukah once, pressed his lips together, and continued, "We have a cargo of special animals that must be delivered. The habitat is designed to maintain the juvenile status of our cargo, but it has broken. P--ugh--plezepusfxit."
"Hoshi, what was that last bit?" Archer was again graced by a Klingon's friendly smile. It was an experience he could do without repeating.
"Sir, I believe it was 'Please help us fix it.'" Sato couldn't help the smug smile that appeared on her face. Linguist 3, UT 0. This was going to be a good day. She finished modifying the UT's translator, but she would keep track of every time the word Seeker was accessed as part of her tally. She couldn't wait until dinner when she could regale her dining companions with her brilliance.
"Please dock your vessel with ours. I'll send over my Chief Engineer to take a look." Archer smiled warmly, hoping that the Klingons wouldn't retaliate. They merely bowed. The Enterprise was soon coupled with the Light Bringer.
-----
"Greetings, human brothers," said Bukah with a graceful bow once the vessels were docked. Gurtag merely mumbled and concluded with a grunt. He remembered to bow when Bukah gave him a sideways glare.
Archer exchanged a look with Trip Tucker. Klingons didn't offer greetings. "We're happy to help, but I must say, I am curious. Your demeanor is not what I would typically expect from Klingons."
Bukah nodded lightly. "We are Seekers, Captain. After our last encounter, I discovered the Light. The Light brings us harmony, lets us see our place in the universe. We follow the ways of peace and harmony. I serve the Light, as does Gurtag."
Tucker bit his lip at the thought of Bukah being a pacifist. He still remembered the bruise on Malcolm's lower back from the Armory Officer's last encounter with the woman. Tucker turned to her with a charming smile and said, "Well, I'm happy to help anyway that I can, Bukah. Just show me the way to this habitat."
Gurtag looked displeased at this turn of events. He felt his anger rise at Tucker's overly friendly manner. He interrupted to say harshly, "I'll show you the compartment."
Tucker noted the possessive look Gurtag threw at Bukah and put a stern expression on his face. He wasn't about to give the man the wrong impression. "Well, that'll be fine. Lead the way."
As the men walked off, Archer said, "Bukah, I'd like to invite you and Gurtag to join us for dinner tonight. I'm sure Chef will find something to your liking."
"We are vegetarians, Captain. Fresh vegetables and fruits would be welcomed," said Bukah with a slight smile.
Archer coughed to hide how his jaw had dropped at this announcement. He couldn't wait to tell T'Pol.
-----
"I think I found the problem, Gurtag. Here, let me make these adjustments. That ought to do it," said Tucker with a satisfied smile. He rubbed his hands together as he considered the job.
"Good, we can leave now," said the Klingon.
"Captain Archer has invited us to dinner. We'll stay," said Bukah as she joined them, completely ignoring the displeased look on Gurtag's face. The two Klingons moved to confront each other and Tucker noted the heavy breathing from both parties. A low growl was beginning in Gurtag as he drew closer to Bukah.
"I'm sure the Cap'n can move dinner up earlier. We understand that you need to be on your way with your cargo," said Tucker. Whatever the two were about to do, Trip figured he didn't want to witness it.
Gurtag merely grunted before turning his back and sulking. At that moment, Sato entered calling out, "Commander, you're needed in Engineering."
"Well, now, I feel real special. They couldn't just call me on the communicator?" asked Tucker as he collected his tools.
"I came to see if the upgrade on the UT you have is working properly," said Sato. And to see how many points she had racked up from the UT, she thought.
The humans turned when they heard a cooing noise. Bukah had removed one of the animals that was emitting the noise from the habitat.
Sato's face lit up in delight as she saw the furry little animals. It seemed to emit a purring noise when Bukah stroked it. "What a lovely creature! What is it?"
Bukah had a genuine smile on her face. "They're tribbles. They can identify those who seek the Light. The habitat is maintained so that they don't mature and begin reproducing."
"May I?" asked Sato impulsively, but she wasn't disappointed. Bukah put the tribble into Sato's hand and the Comm Officer began to stroke the soft fur. "It's wonderful. It makes me feel calm, peaceful."
"Yes. Tribbles are very sensitive. The children are impatient for their arrival."
Bukah gathered the little tribble back into her hand at the same time Gurtag turned to see what was going on. The little creature hissed when Bukah got near Gurtag, but Bukah ignored the outburst and returned it to the habitat.
"Thanks, Bukah. They're lovely," said Sato sincerely. She took the UT from Tucker while they walked back to Enterprise.
"Odd for Klingons. You don't think they're hiding something, do ya?," said Tucker.
"I think you're spending too much time with Lieutenant Reed, Commander," said Sato with an easy smile.
"Jealous?" asked Tucker with a knowing grin. It was difficult to make Hoshi Sato blush, but he had found just the right circumstances that would send her cheeks into a lovely rose color. Of course he would pay for it later.
-----
On the Light Bringer, Gurtag stared at the tribbles in their habitat. Bukah was a special Klingon female and it was just Gurtag's luck that he had become attracted to her. He sensed her response to him, but knew that unless he could hold a tribble without it fussing, he would never engage her in a combat of passion. Although Seekers espoused pacifism, this did not change the mating rituals set forth by their biology. He opened the habitat again and began his daily exercise. Bukah soon called him away and he hurried to her side. The tribbles were left unattended--and with a habitat that wasn't quite sealed.
*****
Author Notes:
Written April 3, 2003, and posted at LD. 11 pages. Written before tribbles were introduced on Enterprise.
No reviews are necessary. Thanks for reading.
Title: Power Couplings
Author: ZensoParadox
Rating: PG
Summary: RS friendship, all. Reed and Sato begin with crossed wires and wind up amid the power couplings on account of vegetarian Klingons and Tribbles?
Disclaimer: The character names belong to Paramount. This fiction was written solely for personal enjoyment.
POWER COUPLINGS
CHAPTER 1: SEEKERS
Bukah appeared on the viewscreen and Lieutenant Malcolm Reed cringed when he recognized the Klingon female. Getting knocked unconscious by her had not diminished the encoding of her features.
Ensign Hoshi Sato picked that exact moment to glance over her shoulder at the Lieutenant. She obviously recognized Bukah as well, but the mischievous smirk on her face didn't help Reed's chagrin.
The Lieutenant threw back a look that said Just-You-Wait before informing Captain Archer, "Sir, there are only minimal defensive weapons on the ship."
Sato ignored the threat and merely started planning her next strategy for getting a blush out of Reed. The Communications Officer opened the comm channel so the Captain could respond.
"It's good to see you again, uh, Captain Bukah?" began Captain Jonathan Archer. The vessel before them was not a standard Klingon vessel.
"Captain Archer, I have no status, I am merely Bukah the Hunter. My ship is the Light Bringer. We could use your help." Bukah offered an expression that should have been a warm, friendly smile, but somehow failed to make it past predatory.
Archer was jarred to even hear such a request from a Klingon. He motioned to Sato to mute the bridge and asked, "Is the UT working?"
Sato nodded her head as she turned to note the incredulous stares of all the bridge officers. Even Sub-commander T'Pol had an eyebrow almost disappearing into her bangs.
"Sir, the UT is operating perfectly and I can verify the translation is accurate--although I would have said Seeker instead of Hunter."
Sato cleared her throat gently as she ended. She bit her lip to prevent her tirade of the way the UT simply failed to adjust for subtle changes in semantics. From his station Reed recognized the gesture and quickly decided to avoid eating with Hoshi and Travis tonight. The Professor was certain to give one of her lectures during which he invariably inserted foot into mouth. He saw Travis swivel his direction and shoot him a warning look. Desertion was not an option, it would seem.
"We'll be happy to help in any way that we can, er, Bukah."
The Klingon turned to a male colleague who remained standing stiffly. Bukah nudged him slightly with her elbow and the Klingon finally responded after clearing his throat. He barked, "I am Gurtag, the Hunter."
"Seeker," corrected Sato for the Captain in a singsong voice. She began altering the code so the UT's Klingon-to-English translator would accept the word.
Gurtag looked at Bukah once, pressed his lips together, and continued, "We have a cargo of special animals that must be delivered. The habitat is designed to maintain the juvenile status of our cargo, but it has broken. P--ugh--plezepusfxit."
"Hoshi, what was that last bit?" Archer was again graced by a Klingon's friendly smile. It was an experience he could do without repeating.
"Sir, I believe it was 'Please help us fix it.'" Sato couldn't help the smug smile that appeared on her face. Linguist 3, UT 0. This was going to be a good day. She finished modifying the UT's translator, but she would keep track of every time the word Seeker was accessed as part of her tally. She couldn't wait until dinner when she could regale her dining companions with her brilliance.
"Please dock your vessel with ours. I'll send over my Chief Engineer to take a look." Archer smiled warmly, hoping that the Klingons wouldn't retaliate. They merely bowed. The Enterprise was soon coupled with the Light Bringer.
-----
"Greetings, human brothers," said Bukah with a graceful bow once the vessels were docked. Gurtag merely mumbled and concluded with a grunt. He remembered to bow when Bukah gave him a sideways glare.
Archer exchanged a look with Trip Tucker. Klingons didn't offer greetings. "We're happy to help, but I must say, I am curious. Your demeanor is not what I would typically expect from Klingons."
Bukah nodded lightly. "We are Seekers, Captain. After our last encounter, I discovered the Light. The Light brings us harmony, lets us see our place in the universe. We follow the ways of peace and harmony. I serve the Light, as does Gurtag."
Tucker bit his lip at the thought of Bukah being a pacifist. He still remembered the bruise on Malcolm's lower back from the Armory Officer's last encounter with the woman. Tucker turned to her with a charming smile and said, "Well, I'm happy to help anyway that I can, Bukah. Just show me the way to this habitat."
Gurtag looked displeased at this turn of events. He felt his anger rise at Tucker's overly friendly manner. He interrupted to say harshly, "I'll show you the compartment."
Tucker noted the possessive look Gurtag threw at Bukah and put a stern expression on his face. He wasn't about to give the man the wrong impression. "Well, that'll be fine. Lead the way."
As the men walked off, Archer said, "Bukah, I'd like to invite you and Gurtag to join us for dinner tonight. I'm sure Chef will find something to your liking."
"We are vegetarians, Captain. Fresh vegetables and fruits would be welcomed," said Bukah with a slight smile.
Archer coughed to hide how his jaw had dropped at this announcement. He couldn't wait to tell T'Pol.
-----
"I think I found the problem, Gurtag. Here, let me make these adjustments. That ought to do it," said Tucker with a satisfied smile. He rubbed his hands together as he considered the job.
"Good, we can leave now," said the Klingon.
"Captain Archer has invited us to dinner. We'll stay," said Bukah as she joined them, completely ignoring the displeased look on Gurtag's face. The two Klingons moved to confront each other and Tucker noted the heavy breathing from both parties. A low growl was beginning in Gurtag as he drew closer to Bukah.
"I'm sure the Cap'n can move dinner up earlier. We understand that you need to be on your way with your cargo," said Tucker. Whatever the two were about to do, Trip figured he didn't want to witness it.
Gurtag merely grunted before turning his back and sulking. At that moment, Sato entered calling out, "Commander, you're needed in Engineering."
"Well, now, I feel real special. They couldn't just call me on the communicator?" asked Tucker as he collected his tools.
"I came to see if the upgrade on the UT you have is working properly," said Sato. And to see how many points she had racked up from the UT, she thought.
The humans turned when they heard a cooing noise. Bukah had removed one of the animals that was emitting the noise from the habitat.
Sato's face lit up in delight as she saw the furry little animals. It seemed to emit a purring noise when Bukah stroked it. "What a lovely creature! What is it?"
Bukah had a genuine smile on her face. "They're tribbles. They can identify those who seek the Light. The habitat is maintained so that they don't mature and begin reproducing."
"May I?" asked Sato impulsively, but she wasn't disappointed. Bukah put the tribble into Sato's hand and the Comm Officer began to stroke the soft fur. "It's wonderful. It makes me feel calm, peaceful."
"Yes. Tribbles are very sensitive. The children are impatient for their arrival."
Bukah gathered the little tribble back into her hand at the same time Gurtag turned to see what was going on. The little creature hissed when Bukah got near Gurtag, but Bukah ignored the outburst and returned it to the habitat.
"Thanks, Bukah. They're lovely," said Sato sincerely. She took the UT from Tucker while they walked back to Enterprise.
"Odd for Klingons. You don't think they're hiding something, do ya?," said Tucker.
"I think you're spending too much time with Lieutenant Reed, Commander," said Sato with an easy smile.
"Jealous?" asked Tucker with a knowing grin. It was difficult to make Hoshi Sato blush, but he had found just the right circumstances that would send her cheeks into a lovely rose color. Of course he would pay for it later.
-----
On the Light Bringer, Gurtag stared at the tribbles in their habitat. Bukah was a special Klingon female and it was just Gurtag's luck that he had become attracted to her. He sensed her response to him, but knew that unless he could hold a tribble without it fussing, he would never engage her in a combat of passion. Although Seekers espoused pacifism, this did not change the mating rituals set forth by their biology. He opened the habitat again and began his daily exercise. Bukah soon called him away and he hurried to her side. The tribbles were left unattended--and with a habitat that wasn't quite sealed.
*****
Author Notes:
Written April 3, 2003, and posted at LD. 11 pages. Written before tribbles were introduced on Enterprise.
No reviews are necessary. Thanks for reading.