Unearthing roots - Part Two

Posted on Wed Mar 11th, 2020 @ 2:51am by Department Master Chief Petty Officer Stephen "Orthos" McKnight & Major Daisy Rohr-McKnight
Edited on on Wed Mar 11th, 2020 @ 2:51am

Mission: Mission 69: Tienn's Fall from Grace
Location: Watchman Station
Timeline: 1800Hrs - April 29th, 2392

Daisy turned waited for her mother to respond to her call. Zydu appeared on the screen. She saw the look on Daisy's face.

"Daisy! is everything okay? Is Edward alright?" Zydu asked with concern.

"No Mother, everyone is fine. Edward, Orthos, the baby, and I are all fine." Daisy calmed her mother.

"Oh, that's good," she replied. "So what is wrong?"

"Mom, tell me about House Tanj," Daisy asked coolly.

Zydu's face turned sour. "Of all my children, I'm not surprised it is you who asked."

"What's that suppose to mean?" Daisy asked. "Is it because I'm the under achiever in the family?"

"What?. No!" Zydu replied. It took her a moment to gather her thoughts. "Very much the opposite. Of all my children, you are the most balanced. Your brothers and sister are all masters in their fields but besides their narrow focus, they haven't any other skills or abilities. You've led others and started a family. I'm very proud of you. And I knew it what be you because of all my children you're the only one that showed an interest in your Klingon heritage, no matter how much I tried to dissuade you."

Daisy was a little taken aback. "Oh, I wasn't aware you felt the way about me."

"Well, I thought it was obvious," Zydu told her.

"Well, thank you." Daisy thought for a moment. "Now back to my original question. Are we of House Tanj?"

"I was, you're not." She told her. She took a deep breath before continuing. "Our House was in a blood feud with House Argul. This was before the civil war. They almost succeeded in exterminating House Tanj. I lost two brothers. I wanted Kralasha, my younger sister to come but she felt honor bound to stay. I thought they were wiped out."

"So we are we in any danger?" Daisy asked.

"Not as far as I'm aware. A refugee from the civil war told me that House Argul was destroyed during that fighting." Zydu told Daisy.

"Thank you, Mother," Daisy replied. She then looked at Orthos, who was out of the view screen area. "Anything to ask my mother?"

Orthos regarded his wife in silence before he took one step to the left, entering the field of view so Zydu could see him. "Hello, Zydu," Orthos said, his tone was soft and quiet which could mean a few things. "How ya been?" he inquired, still in the same tone.

"Hello, Orthos." She replied in a flat tone, not sure if this will be a friendly chat.

"Tell me something?." Orthos inquired. "Is HoD Kralasha the head of House Tanj?" he inquired. "Also. Could you give me a little background into the dispute regarding House Tanj and House Argul... Mostly so I can make sure that there are no threats to Daisy or our children..." Orthos indicated his wife with a gentle sweep of his left hand as he spoke. "Zydu. I have no interest in yelling at you or being unreasonable towards you. It's not my place... But I have concerns I wish to address..." Orthos spoke softly. "If you would be so kind?"

"Your first question I can only guess at since I haven't seen my family in four decades. Daisy is the one who had the last contact with them." Zydu answered. "As far as the dispute goes I can only go by my personal memory. If I remember correctly one of my great uncles killed a member of their house in a duel. They claimed that we cheated and that is how the feud started. I know they were aligned to House Duras. From what I was told House Argul was killed off during the last civil war along with most other House Duras supporters."

Orthos nodded. "Fair enough... I can look into the matter... Should you wish to be sure they are all dead?" he inquired. "I leave the choice to you."

"I have no interest in that matter, thank you," Zydu replied.

"But I do," Orthos responded. "I take threats to my wife and her family most seriously." he regarded her. "Thirty years... Three years or three hundred years. It's ultimately unimportant... I'm going to look into it.. and if they are around... then I will...deal with that if and when the time comes.."

"Let me tell you something Orthos." Zydu addressed him. "I lost most of my family in this wasteful feud. I watched my two uncles come back to our estate without their heads. I watched my twelve-year-old brother get disemboweled in front of me. The men of House Argul who did that told me that if I renounced my House and left the Empire I would be safe and ignored. I left my home and renounced my lineage. In the eyes of a Klingon, I may be a disgrace but my children could grow up free of the violence of my youth. All my children live without threat unless they invite it. I care not for that self-destructive culture I was born into."

Orthos regarded her, he had no idea of what to say to her explanation so he held his silence for a moment. "I see.." was all he could say, he shifted his gaze to Daisy for a moment. "I will keep my eyes open for these honorless dogs and if they start.... Then I will erase them from existence."

"Orthos," Zydu spoke up. "Please mind what you stir up. Some Klingons have long memories. Sometimes too long for their own good."

"Zydu...I will keep that in mind." he then smiled at her. "Besides. I like to think I'm a little more subtle than going into something like this with phaser rifles blazing."

Zydu simply nodded and broke contact. Daisy looked at Orthos. "Now what?"

"Now I look into the matter regarding House Argul..." Orthos responded. "I also think I need to meet your siblings... Which is... overdue, considering I married into your family. I should let them know that I exist... and when they show up, do not wear your uniform."

"That's the thing Orthos," Daisy replied. "I haven't seen my family in years. The only reason I know they are alive is because no one has told me they died."

Orthos blinked, he honestly wasn't sure of what she meant and then he asked 'Do I want to know.' He inhaled. "Do I dare ask.... what these guys are like?"

"Pretentious academic know-it-alls," Daisy replied. "They don't even like each other."

Orthos regarded her as he tried to picture all of this in his head, yet he failed rather pathetically. "Umm... that does not compute." he paused. "Give me a moment... Let me reboot my brain..." he sighed. "Okay... nevermind. I don't want to meet your... siblings... If.. I can use the term loosely."

"Know you know why we don't have family reunions," Daisy told Orthos.

"I was afraid you were going to tell me something along these lines.." Orthos sighed softly. "Anyway... Do you wanna finish dinner?" he inquired.

"Yes, that would be nice," Daisy replied. "And we need to name our daughter."

Orthos regarded her, a gentle smile appearing on his face. "We can discuss that later after his lordship has retired for the evening."

"Sounds like that will work," Daisy told Orthos as she went back to her food.