Guest of the Empire - Part One

Posted on Mon Mar 2nd, 2020 @ 11:14pm by Commander Autumn Yamaguchi & Lieutenant Commander Ajal Yamaguchi

Mission: Mission 49: The Stars Look Down
Location: Various Locations - USS Spirit of Winter
Timeline: 1630Hrs - November 9th, 2391

Music Soundtrack: 'You are Loved' by Josh Groban

Lt Commander Autumn Yamaguchi was tired, it had been a long day with several trying cases but now she was going off watch and she wanted nothing more then to go home, strip off her clothing and spend an hour soaking in the tub.

She turned the corner as she walked down the hallway. 'Maybe after a nice soak in the tub, I'll go try out that baseball program I've been meaning to try for awhile now..' she thought to herself as she said aloud. "Yeah, Lord knows Autumn, you're just going to sit around and not do anything because... you lost something.."

Yamaguchi did not even realize what she had said aloud.

"So.. What has Autumn Yamaguchi lost..?" came a voice straight out of her past. Autumn skidded to a halt, as she slowly turned her head, the astonishment was clear on her face as she found herself face to face with her Klingon lover from her time on the IKS Hurgh'maS. "Ajal?" she whispered. "It can't be you... can it?" she whispered, more to herself then to anyone else.

It was indeed Ajal, she was trying a new hairstyle as she had let her hair grow longer then she had it when the two were previously serving and working together. "It is indeed I." as the taller Klingon woman spread her arms. "What?" Ajal inquired.

"I never expected to see you again..." Yamaguchi said softly.

"Yeah... Well... Here I am!" Ajal announced herself loudly. "I am to serve this ship... For glory and ..... Yeah you get the idea."

Autumn blinked her eyes. "Well.. Um... I umm... .. umm.." she paused. "That statement was truly soul crushing."

Ajal peered down at the smaller woman standing before her. "Autumn... Take a deep breathe... Also we should have this conversation away from prying eyes and ears... No need to help the rumor mill grow in strength, right?"

"Ummm. Right.. Yes.." Yamaguchi responded. "My home is this way." as the larger Klingon woman followed the human woman, the top of Autumn's head came to Ajal's chest. Also Ajal's arms were the size of Autumn's legs. What could the Klingon say on the matter when asked about the differences in sizes between her and Autumn who was far smaller and to all appearances, far weaker then she herself was. Ajal shrugged as there was honestly nothing that either woman could or would say on the matter. Ajal had learned a great deal from Autumn when they served together on the Hurgh'maS that strength came in many forms, not just size alone was the telling factor.

Autumn reached her destination moments later, she tapped the door release, the doors parted like the red sea waiting the passage of the israelites out of egypt. Autumn stepped forward and entered her home away from home. "Come on in..." Ajal followed Yamaguchi into her home in silence.

"I was expecting something more.... decorative like my new place."

"I didn't like the trappings so I removed what I did not wish to keep, I instead display items that reflect who and what I am." as she regarded the one foot tall statuette of Khaless and Molar fighting it out. It was a keepsake that Ajal had bought for her during one of their various leaves together. Autumn had kept it as the centerpiece of her living space. It had cost Ajal a great deal of money but she didn't dare mention that to Autumn but she was glad that her lover had kept it.

"You kept it." Ajal commented with a smile. "I see you still hear the cry of the warrior.... calling you to battle, calling to glory...." the larger Klingon regarded the smaller human before her. "What are you Autumn...?"

"I am both.." Autumn responded. "I fight my own battles in my own way.... Not all enemies can be killed so easily... or with such finality.... you taught me well."

"I did yes.." Ajal smiled. "I am glad to see you took so much of what I taught you to heart... I had expected..." she stopped herself lest she sound unhappy with her lover's choices or her own decision to leave the empire.

"You expected me to forget and go back to my old ways...." Autumn responded, a soft smile playing at her lips.

"I did... Yes." Ajal answered bluntly. "I see my fears were in error."

"No." Autumn responded. "Not in error... Just... Misplaced." the smaller woman kicked off her boots and then slipped off her jacket. "So... What in Kahlesses name are you doing here?"

"I wanted to see how the other half lives.." Ajal explained. "I have.... desired to reconnect with you since we were separated... Nog't followed you here because you inspired him to be better then he was... and I decided to follow him and you across... Now I serve both the Federation and the Empire."

"A most honorable goal...." Yamaguchi turned her head as she turned to face Ajal. "Tell me Ajal... Who commands your allegiance.?" the question was inflammatory, provocative and depending on the one asking, it was also a major insult to the person being asked the question.

Ajal knew this question was coming. "In case something should happen to the alliance between the empire and the Federation." she paused. "I'm not ready to make that decision yet Autumn, you know that."

Yamaguchi nodded, knowing full well that she was out of line with her question. Ajal would have been well within her rights to take retribution in whatever form the Klingon desired but wisdom allowed her to keep her composure. "You are not fond of the Empire?"

"Not in its present state... No." Yamaguchi responded. "Serving with the troops of the empire allowed me to gain an insight into them and it taught me much too."

Ajal regarded the smaller woman as she waited in silence, so she turned and went over to the replicator. to give Yamaguchi a moment to process her thoughts on the matter. "If silence keeps you... then I will break it for you.." Ajal responded with a smile. "We've had this discussion before... after those two troopers died.."

"Yes." Autumn responded. "You remember?"

"How could I forget..." Ajal responded. "When you were lost inside, I was there to find you...." she paused. "When you lost your way in darkness... I helped guide you."

"I know." Yamaguchi responded. "They asked me... to grant them an honorable death... Both had been too crippled to live... One of them could be healed but he demanded I grant him Mauk'to'vor."

"Thanks to you... He sails with the black fleet in Sto'vo'kor." Ajal responded. "Even though you grieved for him and his comrade."

"Beqs Seqram and Qanqor.." Yamaguchi responded quietly. "I never quite got past it.... Oh I know they both were from noble houses and they both appreciated that it was a human granting them an honorable death by the Hegh'bat." Autumn's eyes sought out those of the Klingon woman standing before her. "Did you know that both house heads contacted me to express their thanks and admiration... That a human could fulfill a Klingon's dying wish.."

Ajal regarded her with a soft expression on her face. "It did not help you cope however."

"No.." Yamaguchi responded quietly before she let out a sigh. "In any event... I've not eaten yet.... have you?"

"No." Ajal responded. "I did not seek to impose upon you."

"Oh Ajal, you've not changed at all." Yamaguchi responded with a sigh before she smiled. "I don't have any Klingon food as I did not know you were coming."

"I have come to prefer human food as long as I take a nutritional supplement once a week, as prescribed by your ships medical officer."