Sokanon's Song

Posted on Tue Mar 17th, 2020 @ 7:45am by Commander Sokanon It'kla & Master Sergeant Gunthar Werner

Mission: Mission 98: Building Our New Home
Location: Various Locations - Starbase Vanguard
Timeline: 1400Hrs - June 13th, 2393

Commander Sokanon It'kla slowly blinked her eyes as she took a moment to adjust the dress she was wearing, it was a simple summer dress that went from her shoulders to her knees, she had left her children in daycare as they didn't need to be with her every moment of every day anymore, a relief for her as the Caitian female only needed to look after her children when she went to pick them up from daycare. At present, however, she decided to eat a long lunch since she had skipped lunch earlier in the day.

She was seated at the bar with a drink as she tapped at the PADD in her hands while she was waiting for her food. Suddenly she heard someone address her. Sokanon lifted her head as she turned to regard Werner. "Gunny. What can I do for you?" she inquired of him.

Werner smiled at Sokanon. "For one thing I'm no longer a Gunny. I'm a Master Sergeant now. Second, I've been cleared of everything and now the guy that sent me to that rock of a penal colony is under investigation."

Sokanon processed all the news he was telling her as she indicated the chair next to her. "Have a seat Master Sergent," she commented. "Let me at least buy you a drink." she paused. "To celebrate."

Werner's smile widened. "Okay then." He said as he walked in and sat down. "I'll have a boilermaker."

Sokanon nodded her furry head, she turned as she raised an arm to flag down one of the bartenders. The man appeared near her almost instantly. "Could I have a Boiler Maker please and another silvermilk."

"Right away ma'am." and he sped off, a man on a mission. Sokanon turned back to Werner. "So how've you been otherwise. Hows Tamara doing?" she knew he had an adult child that he was estranged from but she was curious.

"Tamara is recovering fine. She cowboy'd up and did her job. Lucky for that little shit Sternwald that he was shipped off before I could get my hands on him." Werner answered. "And how is your family."

"My children are well. if being quite demanding of me." Sokanon explained. "Selgae is in the same pride with her two and Watseka is pregnant again, I swear I don't know where she gets the energy for it all, she'll have a million children when she's done. This will be her third litter." she sighed. "She'll have close to fourteen children and I'm having issues with my three. Watseka makes me look pathetic." Sokanon explained with a smile. "But coming here to the Starbase was great, this assignment has done wonders for me and my stress levels." she paused. "It seems like it's been good for you as well."

"Well, I just got the biggest sorry from Star Fleet I never expected," Werner said with a grin before he downed the boilermaker. As he put the beer mug down he still had the shot glass in his teeth. "And don't compare yourself with others. I used to do that and it just got me mad."

Sokanon regarded Werner. "I'm glad things worked out for you." she paused. "your right, I have bad habits I need to cure myself from," she explained as she regarded him for a moment in silence. "How are things between you and Tamara?"

"Things are going surprisingly well between us. I'm sure that will change eventually." Werner replied. Werner ordered up another drink. "Ya know Sokanon. your a stronger person than you think."

Sokanon smiled but it was a fleeting smile, it lasted only a moment. "My children would disagree with you. As would my littermates." she paused for a moment. "A lot has happened in the last eighteen months... I've only just started coming to terms with what happened..."

"Oh?" Werner's interest was peaked. "What have you settled on?"

"I settled for the fact that I was wrong," Sokanon responded. "I decided to settle on this world. If I get stressed, I can always go for a run in the woods. My children will find a measure of childhood here in this world."

"Yeah, a starship is no place to raise children. The holodeck helps but it isn't the same as getting away from everything." Werner told Sokanon.

"Yeah," Sokanon responded. "I never considered a starbase assignment until now. Now I wonder why I never did before.." as she Caitian female realized that she needed to stop dancing around. "Tell me something, Gunther." Sokanon started. "Since when did you calm down... I mean I still recall that fight we had... How are you able to be civil?"

"You know, at first I was really pissed off. Then I cooled off a bit and figured that it was just something that happened. Then the guy that knocked you up decided not to cowboy up and left you high and dry." Werner explained. "I also found out I have a daughter. I mean, it might sound strange but having a kid changes things. I know she is grown up and all but if I act like a jack ass what kind of example am I setting?"

Sokanon didn't really know what to say to that. "Well, I don't know where Nightstar is. He and I did not remain in touch and." she paused. "Because he is of a different species to me, I have to be careful with the kits. They might grow up with medical issues." she didn't know why she was sharing this with Werner but she pressed on with it regardless.

"I thought out breeding created fewer medical issues?" Werner asked. "Or maybe that's just with dogs?"

Sokanon regarded him in silence for a moment as she slowly blinked her dark eyes. "I'm a Caitian and he is an Eeiauoan." she paused. "It would be like you having children with a Romulan. So many bio issues at play here, yes they are like Vulcans but there are subtle differences. Too many of them." she paused a second time. "Of my three, one will be sterile and one will have fertility issues." she sighed softly. "I could always have medical look into the matter and as they are young... It wouldn't be too big of an issue to resolve, assuming nothing has gone sideways.."

"I'm not a complicated or sensitive guy but even I can tell that something else is on your mind when it comes to the kids. They're a big burden and you don't know if you can shoulder it. Am I right?" Werner asked.

Sokanon paused before she nodded her head. "The three of them are very demanding. My elder sister has had three litters... I've had three kids, she thinks I'm pathetic." she hissed ever so softly. "That's because she has her mate who is a full-time stay at home dad, present. He is the father to all sixteen of her children."

"Did she also plan to have kids or was it thrown on her? I'm guessing she had things all set before she pushed out her little ones." Werner mussed. "I think you're doing great. You're trying to watch kids and be an officer. You should feel proud of yourself."

Sokanon regarded him, he truly understood her situation well. "Watseka planned everything, down to the smallest detail like how much food will each member of the litter get and what will their sleeping accommodation look like, also her mate is a full-time dad who doesn't have to work either, except he works as a bartender in one of the high-class lounges. She leaves nothing to chance, that's not how she deals with things... Me. I didn't get that option. I had motherhood thrust upon me when I was not ready." she sighed. "I'm still not ready. Selgae has been a great help as she is more or less in the same boat as me, except her beau is still around. Zuko is presently flagging on the Dreamcrusher and he has their children with him, he's more of a dad then she is a mom. I envy her, to be honest."

"Don't. You're not her." Werner advised Sokanon. Wener straightened up a bit as he was about to make himself vulnerable. "I'm not the sensitive type but I would be willing to help you if you need it."

"You'd be willing to babysit for me?" she inquired, almost hesitantly. "Caitian children do have rather specific requirements.." she commented.

Werner laughed. "Yeah, I know about what Caitian's are capable of."

Sokanon snickered as she got the double meaning of Werner's statement but she decided not to press him on it. "Well Caitians hate chocolate," she commented. "It upsets my digestion," she added. "What's with the double entendre?"

"Well," A sly grin grew on Werner's face, "You were quite the demon in bed. Your body is still smoking hot so I'd imagine things haven't changed."

Sokanon was not sure of how to address that detail, she blinked as she regarded him. "I had no idea you still thought I was... hot." she paused. "That was... quite some time ago.."

"Not that long ago. As I said, you did well keeping your body up." Werner smiled at Sokanon as he looked her up and down.

"Well I do what I can." the Caitian female paused. "Why, do you wish to have sex with me?"

"Darn right and take you out once in a while. You need some out time. And don't worry about a sitter for your kittens, I can have Tamara watch them." Werner explained.

Sokanon paused, this was not what she had been expecting to hear from Werner, especially after what had happened between them but that was then and this was now. "If Tamara is willing and able to watch them, then I will not object." she paused as she finished her drink. "Are you finished here?" she inquired evenly. "If you are then we can get outta here. I should check and make sure my medkit is fully stocked, just... in case."

Werner polished off his drink. "Yeah, I'm ready to go. Afterwards, let's get a nice dinner."

"Alright. Then lets go back to my place." Sokanon answered as she rose to her paws and led them both out of the lounge in silence as she knew of what was to come.