tagh paQDI'norgh
Posted on Nov 22, 2016 @ 12:24pm by Lieutenant Cantor Von
Edited on on Nov 22, 2016 @ 12:24pm
Mission: Aftermath
"tagh paQDI'norgh"
(cont'd from "A Mystery" written by the amazing author Tiffany)
- Translation from Klingon: "Teaching Begins"
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LOCATION: Office of the Secretary of Starfleet, San Francisco, Earth
SD: [2.16]1122.0956
SCENE: Outer Vestibule
Cantor Von forced himself to stare at his data PADD and scroll through FedCom - er, FedNews - current events and tamp down his curiosity about what was happening inside Martine's office. He knew enough from his bond with the Secretary of Starfleet that she was greatly concerned, but he hadn't pried any deeper, respecting his former lover's privacy in her conversation with Captain Kane.
The Betazoid thought of Martine. Did he still love her? Yes - in a manner he would always love her. But he was IN love with D'Mara. The pragmatic side of him injected reality into his thoughts; he would never see D'Mara again. For all intents and purposes, his relationship with D'Mara had been a six year fling and nothing more. Then why such sadness when that realization was tamped into his conscious thought?
---
LOCATION: RIS T'Korex, Deep in Gamma Quadrant Space
SCENE: Recreation Room
TIME INDEX: Between five and six years ago
Cantor Von blocked D'Mara's first kick and parried her second kick, but missed the knife-hand strike that struck his jaw and sent him harshly into the padded floor with a grunt. By the Chalice, they were strong. Like their Vulcan brethren, Romulans had the same strength that was superior to most other races. And D'Mara, like any other Romulan, was no exception. She helped him up as he tasted blood in his mouth.
"So this is your vaunted Starfleet Martial Arts, I take it?" the Chief Engineer spoke in accented Standard. "It did not fare well against its superior Romulan counterpart."
Von wiped the blood from his lip, glanced at it, and looked back to her. "It's a little unfair considering the strength difference."
D'Mara laughed. "Strength should only be a minor part of the tactical equation, Cantor Von! Have you not studied Andorian Kharakom or Vegan Tosharra?"
Von blinked. "No, I'm not Andorian or Vegan."
"Ah, you've not been blooded," D'Mara replied, nodding understanding.
"Blooded? I've been in combat before, Centurion D'Mara."
"In personal combat?"
"No," replied Von. "It was an engagement at Alpha N-"
"Then you have not been blooded. Does Starfleet not have that custom?" she asked, genuinely curious.
"We're not a military orga-"
"Yes, yes," she interrupted. "Federation propaganda is used as comedy in the Star Empire, so I am familiar its usual fiction." She thought for a moment. "The Sub-Commander ordered me to teach you something about the Romulan culture." She nodded, thoughtfully. "I now know what that contribution will be."
---
TIME INDEX: One hour later
Cantor Von stood in his light work out clothes with what seemed to be green-colored metal plating strapped to to his forearms, upper arms, thighs, shins, and sides of his torso. He also wore a Romulan security helmet. D'Mara stood only in what she had been wearing previously, a light-red form-fitting tunic made of thin cloth.
"Cantor Von, as you have not been blooded in personal combat, I will grant you the honor of learning one of the many martial arts of the Romulan Star Empire. The name of this art is Kormerek. This is a very direct and violent martial art, one that many Romulans view as less than....
The Betazoid started unstrapping some of his metal protection. "Yeah, that's not happening."
D'Mara blinked. "What are you doing, Cantor Von?"
Von looked up, disbelief in his eyes. "We just had this talk about your superior strength, and now you want me to practice a martial art with you that has, as one of its goals, to break the bone." The Betazoid laughed. "We may have comedic propaganda, but we're not stupid, D'Mara. I like my bones and joints in their original state, thank you very much."
D'Mara approached Von and put her hand over his, stopping the disassembly of his ad hoc body armor. "Are you afraid?"
He looked directly into her eyes. "Of getting my bones broken? Yes. Very much so."
She sighed. "Cantor Von, my intent is not to harm you. I am specifically teaching you Kormerek because it is looked down upon by most Romulans - and thus rare - and because it is the application of leverage and motion, rather than brute strength, that drives this martial art. I believe that this style would be most beneficial to you in the future." She helped Von put the body plating back on. "This protection is merely an additional layer of security for you."
She stood up and went back to her original position. "Besides, our medical center has been loaded with very comprehensive skeleton reconstruction techniques for Betazoids."
Von looked at her with a deadpan expression. "Was that a joke, D'Mara?"
She smiled. "Let us begin with the basic maneuver of Kormerek. It is known as Durasha. It translates to roughly 'fist smash' in Federation Standard."
Cantor Von took a deep breath.
---
LOCATION: Office of the Secretary of Starfleet, San Francisco, Earth
SCENE: Outer Vestibule
TIME INDEX: Present
Von smiled at the memory. D'Mara had been a good teacher. And the T'Korex, indeed, had facilities that could reconstruct skeletal breaks for Betazoids. It had definitely been used more than once.
He looked up at the doors and then to Liam who typed away busily at his console. Martine and Kane had been in there a long time and he wasn't sure if he was suppose to wait or not.
*Well, if I'm going to be in Limbo, I might as well go all in,* he thought to himself and returned to his PADD.
---
NRPG: Many credits given to the incredible Romulan source book Way of D'era.
TIFFANY: You're proliferative writing is awesome. To quote a deceased genetically enhanced warlord, "You task me."
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Marko J. Sertic
aka
Lt. Cantor Von
In Bureaucratic Limbo, per Captain Kane
