I Remembered Each Flash - Part Three

Posted on Mon Mar 2nd, 2020 @ 4:23pm by Division Admiral Thomas Lasky & Lei "The Thunder King" Shen

Mission: Mission 42: A House Divided
Location: High Orbit - Deneva
Timeline: 1000Hrs - September 4th, 2391

Lt Commander Tom Lasky brought the runabout Delta One Five out of warp over Deneva. He smiled as he regarded this world as home even thorough he was not originally from this world. He didn't miss the deserts of his homeworld as Earth was something he had stopped considering home long ago. He found that Deneva was more welcoming and more accepting.

More to the point, he preferred the cold and the snows rather then the heat and the sands. "Zara." he called. "We're here.." as he tapped the display before him. "Requesting landing clearance from Deneva local traffic control." he added.

The response came back. "Okay. We're cleared to descend to the surface.." he checked the local weather forecast. "I hope you brought your long johns." he added with a chuckle.

Zara smiled, "I did. You told me it was cold here... Why? Were you exaggerating?"

"Well... It's gonna get ugly down there... In about an hour or so... they expect to have a Blizzard with whiteout conditions." he reported as he drove the Runabout into the atmosphere. "Take a seat... you'll enjoy this." he paused. "Cleo however won't."

"I got a nice warm sweater and jacket for her," Zara assured as she sat and pulled the dog up into her lap to reassure the pup.

"Alright." Lasky responded. "This place does have something of a military setup with a sizable facility buried deep inside the mountain.... Daniel Yamaguchi, his wife and I helped to build this facility."

"Sounds very comforting," Zara smiled. She felt very exposed lately, since her captivity.

Lasky smiled as he tapped the display. "This is runabout Delta One Five to Lafayette landing facility, two souls and several pets aboard. permission to land?"

"Delta One Five. permission Granted. Lei Shen is expecting you."

"I understand. Tell sensai... Its good to be home."

"Confirmed. Your approach looks good." came the response.

"Come 'ere Cleo," Zara smiled as she began to snap in the dog's parka and pulled the leash through the hole on the back of the dog's coat. "We're going for a walk, Sweetie."

Lasky regarded the clouds as the Runabout plunged into them, as the runabout's windows became opaque with white. "We'll be landing in a few minutes." he commented as the clouds parted and the monastery came into view. "Home... sweet home." Lasky smiled.

Minutes later the runabout was secured in a decent copy of the average Starfleet hanger bay, except there were a lot of civilian craft rather then starfleet issue craft around. Lasky went over to a shorter asian looking guy who bowed. "Tom Lasky, Welcome home."

"Lei Shen." Lasky bowed in return. "Its good to see you sensai."

"Come, we must talk.... is this your mate?"

"Zara Tane... Meet Lei Shen... Lei Shen, this is Commodore Zara Tane." Lasky did the introductions.

"Just call me Zara," the Trill insisted as she bowed in respect to this man. "Tom speaks very highly of you, Master Shen."

Lei Shen returned her bow with one of his own. "Welcome then Zara." he responded. "We do have a winter blizzard approaching so we will need to get you settled quickly." he explained. "Most of our living quarters are inside the mountain itself, the monastery is outside however." he inquired. "We have you two billeted in one of our guest rooms... We do get visitors every now and again... and we can't expect them to know our ways.." he explained.

"Daniel Yamaguchi was like that." Lasky explained. "T'Rae adjusted easier." he added with a smile.

"Well... you will be happy to know that both are on their way... with their children too...."

"Thats great news Sensai.." Lasky responded.

"Well, shall we go?" Shen inquired with a smile. He then regarded the dog. "Will the dog be alright with the living arrangements?"

"She'll be fine," Zara insisted as she sat the dog down on the floor and extended the leash on her green retractable so Cleo could walk more freely and do her business in the proper areas. "I have always been a fan of your people's culture, Master Shen."

"Alright... This way." as he turned and led the way down the hallway. "Thank you Zara. I have heard of you though... You do not live up to your reputation which... is a good thing," Lei Shen explained. "Your name has come up a few times recently in conversations. Various people speak well of you... Celeste especially."

"Celeste... your kidding?"

"No... she and Daniel both speak very highly of you... considering what you did for Tarod. The governor also sings you're name too.." Shen smiled softly. "When I heard you were coming, I decided I had to meet you for myself... and separate fact from fiction so to speak."

"I can still be an ass," Zara spoke modestly. "I try not to, these days, Master Shen."

"We all have things we can work on Zara." Shen responded before he turned to Lasky. "Like yourself... for example. I heard what you did.."
Shen regarded Lasky. "What I want to know... is why... you nearly killed Torilla Yamaguchi.."

"He wanted to protect me," Zara tried to apologize for Lasky. "He had good intentions behind his actions."

"I see." Shen responded quietly. "They say the road to hell is paved with good intentions..." as he regarded Lasky. "I'm... disappointed in you Tom.... You should know better then this.."

"Should I give you two a moment?" Zara asked uncomfortably as she bent down to pick up her puppy.

Lasky paused as Shen responded. "No." he commented simply. "There is no need..." he added.

Zara simply nodded and remained uncomfortably quiet. It seemed like a conversation between teacher and student. She was neither.

A few moments later they emerged into a large command center looking area. "This is our command center, aerospace area and weather station." Shen explained for Zara's benefit. Before he turned and led the two out another door, down a series of hallways and into a large dojo area.

A line of children were practicing their combat training, about a dozen in all.

Lasky smiled. "This is our main training area." he explained for Zara's benefit. "I was taught much here."

Zara set her dog down to look in awe of the place. She longed to learn. It looked so easy and precise.

Lasky regarded her as Lei Shen turned as well. He regarded Zara Tane in silence, he could see her interest plain enough. He also noticed the dog sitting down at her feet, clearly waiting on her mistress.

"Zara?" Lasky inquired. "You still with us?"

"That looks easy," Zara spoke with a huge grin as a young child around six flared a staff around her little body. "I can do that."

Lei Shen slowly smiled. "Si. Please come over here."

The six year old with the bo staff stopped what she was doing before she placed her bo back among the other weapons. She came over to Lei Shen before bowing before him. "Sensai."

"Would you mind showing Zara here, how its done?"

Si smiled. "Of course." she turned to Zara. "This way Miss Zara." as she led the much older woman to one of the larger floor mats.

"OK," Zara agreed excitedly, then quickly took her boots and socks off before she walked across the mat and over to Si's area.

Si turned as she made herself comfortable, before she smiled and lifted a hand, before she beckoned Zara to attack her. "Lets dance." the six year old spoke.

"OK..." Zara pulled a standard staff from the rack and held it in her hand a moment before she mirrored Si's stance.

Tane was not nearly as refined in the defensive stance. And she came at the child like someone wanting to use the staff like a baseball bat.

Lasky sighed. "Oh Zara.... Really?" he shook his head.

Lei Shen watched in silence as his youngest waited for the fight to come, he knew in his heart of hearts that he had no need to worry. He had taught all of his kids and he had taught them well but he was still a father.

Because Zara swung the staff high, the child popped her own staff atop Zara's exposed foot, which caused Zara to lean forward. The child then used Zara's momentum to come behind and sweep Tane's legs from behind.

The result was Zara being tossed in the air. She landed on her back with a loud thud to the mat and the Si had smacked Zara's chest to let her know the fight was done.

"Nope..." Zara paused to catch her breath while she remained on the mat. "Can't... do that."

Si simply smiled. "Yes I can." she politely responded, before she bowed to Zara.

Lasky regarded Zara. "You alright?" he inquired.

"Just.... winded," Zara winced as she tried shakily to stand up. All her joints did not like that hit at all.

Si came over as she smiled at Zara. "You tried too hard." the six year old explained.

"You're a better student than I ever could be," Zara spoke in awe, once she had her wind back.

"Nope." Si responded as she looked at Zara. "You simply told me what you were gonna do."

"Huh?" Zara blinked in confusion.

"Zara." Lei Shen stepped forward onto the mat. "Let me show you." he picked up a bow staff. "come at me, but slowly." he explained with a smile. "I will not hit you."

"OK..." Zara spoke uneasily, coughed to check her lungs were good, and then picked up the staff.

Everyone was watching and Zara did not like that. It meant she would look even more the fool. But she spaced her grip on the staff evenly, and stepped forward with her right foot. At the same time, she used the momentum to strike high from the left end of the stick. Slowly, as requested.

Shen lifted his hand. "Stop." he responded. "You moved your right foot, shifting your weight behind your strike." he explained softly. "Also.. you favor your left side. I assume you are left handed?"

"Yeah," Zara blinked, unsure what his point was.

"Watch what the other person does when they fight with you." as he shifted his stance. "Si?"

"Yes sensai?" the six year old came over to face her father as he swung at her, she blocked and then she countered with a swing of her own. "Also. Zara... control, control, control... you must have it.. no matter what."

Zara watched them in earnest. The girl was not intimidated at all, to fight the dojo master. And Zara dearly wanted that level of control the child had.

The child and the master fought for some time, but both did it slowly as if to show Zara. "Yes Si, you are learning." Shen encouraged her.

The bout ended as both Master and student bowed to each other. Si came back over to Zara before she bowed to her, out of respect and not out of arrogance.

"You did well, Si." Zara bowed to the girl. "A very well job done."

"So did you Ms Zara." the child responded. "I'd like to spar with you again. Later." the six year old smiled.

"If your master allows it," Zara promised, for she was not exactly part of the dojo.

Shen nodded. "Yes, he does Zara. Should you wish it." he responded. "I will show you to your accommodations. This way."

"I did not know you took on adults with no martial background - well, there is kickboxing," Zara spoke as an afterthought while she shoved her shoes on and then picked up Cleo and held her in her arms as they walked the complex.

"The other instructors and I will accept anyone, providing they are willing to learn and enjoy themselves... Oh and have a good tolerance for pain." Shen added the last sentence almost as a joke. "But what I teach... is for defense of oneself and others.. never for attack."

"I'll think about it," Zara promised wholeheartedly. "I want to settle in first and get to know the place Tom speaks so highly of first."

"Of course but remember to pay attention to the weather system, the climate here can be somewhat extreme for the uninitiated." he explained. "It can change dramatically and with little warning. Blizzards can appear with as little as ten minutes notice and people do often get caught outside in them..."

"Thank you for your concern," Zara spoke appreciatively.

Shen led them to a long hallway with rooms on either side. "These are visitors quarters. We do tend to get a lot of Starfleet personel on leave that come here... clearly word of mouth gets around." Shen explained as he came to a stop before room "Five One One.".

Shen produced two key cards, he slid one into the door, the lock beeped once before he opened the door then he stepped in. "These rooms were looked after by a small housekeeping service." he explained as he handed the two key cards off to Lasky. "You will have a decent view of the Highland Plateau." Shen added. "All the usual amenities are stocked here." he added. "Housekeeping comes around once a day at 10am local time, hang a sign on the door if you don't want them to bother you."

"Thank you," Zara bowed in respect him, though she was sore and tired and wanted to lay down a bit.

Shen returned the bow before he took his leave. "The beds are comfortable... I might have to get the specs and recreate one on the Roanoke."

"It's not necessary, but I appreciate the gesture," Zara laughed playfully as she looked to Lasky.

"The bed dear.." Lasky chuckled softly.

"Oh yeah," Zara sighed happily as she almost skipped inside with her dog.