They met the tlhIngan, one named Orvun

whose shack was filled with animals of all species

but unlike Cirqce, whose people were health-firm

these were hurt, insane, damaged, diseased

either mistreated and abused by warbird soldiers

who thought warriguls were things and not feeling beings

or tormented by harsh experimentation

of the Imperial Science Hall of Great tlhInganese

many were strays who came when they wanted

knowing this place to provide some safety

many were brought in by friends, strangers, neighbors

who might find one lying still on the streets

the smell was indescribable, a slight lingering mix of

feces, urine, blood, and moldering food

Orvun was constantly scavenging for resources

to take care of his growing family brood

The captain and doctor offered to beam down

med supplies, boxes of replicator rounds

but Orvun refused- if he were caught with supplies

stamped "Starfleet Federation" they would impound

all his people and gas them or play target practice

confiscate his belongings and send him for a round

of hard unending labor in the ubiquitous prisons

and it would not be prison that would break him, but the sound

of his family fighting desperately from being found.

As it was, the authorities tolerated this amusing

eccentric tlhIngan who didn't do much harm

and sometimes would send them a beautiful pelt to

keep them appeased and look away, charmed.

"They don't know I was once tlhIngan HoD

on my way to be director of their science program

I once believed that our kind was superior

that it was our right destiny to expand

that we held the truth to all other species-

I'd forgotten these other species include friends

I have always grown up with warriguls, sargh, vlghro'

I know their expressions, personalities, scents

I have been with some from birth to the moment of death."

He looked away from them.

"In order to complete youth tlhIngan war training

they tell you to find an egg of bo'Degh

care for it, keep it warm until hatching

feed it milk mixed with worms, seeds and old bread.

On the day that it spreads its wings to start flying

break its wings and its beak, tear the eyes from its head

bring the body still living to HoD and be rewarded

your first stripe for completing what you started.

I was ready and eager to kill alien species

believing that they had no right to live

I never thought the right was not extended

to other Qo'NoSians who are blameless

so I left- and leaving was not easy

I was imprisoned, tortured, humiliated and arraigned

but after the ordeal I managed to get out

and build this place to live out my days.

The time goes by caring for all of my people

this empire has even less space for those deemed

outside its circle of life-worthy species

but we get by. That is life in the main:

do not live on your knees."

Warning: Cruelty to animals.