A Man's Gnome is His Castle
Posted on Wed Oct 30, 2019 @ 4:59pm by Lieutenant JG Camille Lévesque PhD & Commander Cullen Walker & Lieutenant Penelope Naroot & Lieutenant Nicole Anderson
Edited on on Wed Oct 30, 2019 @ 5:25pm
3,296 words; about a 16 minute read
Mission:
Nibiru
Location: Camille's/Nicole's Quarters
Timeline: After the Fight
Penny ran down the corridor, her Sari fluttering behind her like a blue and gold comet tail. She skidded to a stop in front of Nicole and Camille's quarters, bouncing on her toes with pent up energy. She rang the chime and didn't hear anything so, without thinking it through, she overrode the door and ran inside, wanting to avoid anyone seeing her.
She stood against the wall by the door, breathing hard. She suddenly heard noise from the bedroom and realized she was interrupting. She cleared her throat, but it didn't quite reach the couple. "Hel...help!" she said as loud as she could.
The suite was suddenly silent and after a moment Nicole peeked out, wrapped in a bed sheet. "Penny, what the hell are you--" she stopped, seeing Penny's face. "Are you okay?"
Penny shook her head, eyes wide.
Nicole rushed up and gave her friend a hug, holding her tight. "You're shaking," she said, looking worried. "What happened?"
"Can't...process....unknown....error...." Penny said, shaking hard.
“Mon Dieu!” Camille exclaimed. “What’s wrong with her?”
"I don't know, she's freaking out," Nicole said. She forced Penny into a chair. "Sweetheart, slow down. What's wrong?"
"Walk-walk-walk..." Penny stuttered.
"You were going for a walk?" Nicole guessed.
Penny shook her head. "He-he-walk-kill-no..." Penny sputtered.
“She’s not making sense,” Camille observed. “But I’m not sure if it’s a mechanical failure or an emotional one. I’ve been this upset before, too.”
"We may need Torres," Nicole said. "But first, let's try shocking her cognitive system to jar her out of her system loop."
“How?”
"This," Nicole said, winding up and delivering a hard slap across Penny's face, eliciting a small scream of shock. It had the desired effect, however, as Penny went silent in surprise, giving herself a chance to pull together.
"What happened?" Nicole said, kneeling in front of Penny.
"CommanderWalkerinvitedmeonadateontheholodeckanditwasabarbaricfightclubandhisbrotherwasmurderedwhywouldheshowmethat?Idon'tknowwhattodoorwhattosayitwashorrificandIamsoscared!" she said without pause.
Nicole blinked and stood up, looking at Camille. "Okay....did you get any of that?"
Camille gently stroked Penny’s hair and looked Nicole in the eye with a glint of anger. She slowly nodded. She was used to people talking quickly. She’d gotten enough to understand what had happened.
They sat Penny down on the couch in between them and helped her calm down till she was breathing normally. "So he showed you his brother's murder at an underground sparring tournament....on your first date?" Nicole said.
Penny nodded. "He slipped a note in my door saying to dress formal and meet him in the holodeck. He said it was a date."
"Well...he is part Klingon," Nicole said. "Maybe this was his way of flirting."
"This doesn't match any research I've done on flirting," Penny said.
“That’s because it doesn’t sound like normal flirting,” Camille observed. “There might be a rational explanation, so let’s not overreact yet.”
Nicole sat back. "Well, I'll go hand him his bollocks.” This prompted an eye roll by Camille, remembering the word ‘overreact.’ “What were you doing on a date with him? When did this happen?"
"I was giving him his piloting recert," she said, looking at them. "You two are still due, by the way." She sat back a bit, putting her head on Camille's shoulder. "He's interesting. I was studying him a bit while we talked, and I thought he was flirting. We talked about going surfing, or scuba diving. He was nice...it just jumped so far so fast..."
"All right...take a breath, and try to calm down. I'll go speak to the Commander and see if we can get this straight," Nicole said. She moved to their bedroom and threw on a simple tank top and shorts, putting some slip-ons on her feet and walking out the door purposefully.
Walker was in his quarters. He was preparing to take his suit off. He messed up tonight. Something acceptable by Klingon Culture and Asatru Culture, he messed up and thought she would understand. The day we are no longer a child in our souls, is an important day. The quest we take on that day is important. It is a right of passage. In both cultures, you share that with a woman, who seems to Express interest. He must have misunderstood.
Nicole walked down the corridor, arms folded and rang Walker's chime, tapping her slippered feet.
Walker went over to the door and pushed the button for the door to open. He was still in his suit. He saw Nicole. He saw her body language. He stepped to the side and held his hand for her to enter. As soon as the door was opened, "Is she okay?" His room had a mixture of items from his mixed Heritage. It was a lot of Viking and Asatru stuff. There was Klingon and Vulcan things. Based on his tone, he was worried about her. He motioned to a chair.
Nicole stepped inside and looked around a moment, then took a seat in the indicated chair, crossing her legs and sitting back as if she were in her office. "Not particularly," she said. "So, because I am a generous person, I'm going to give you a whole sixty-seconds to explain what happened and so help me if you miss a detail...." she left the rest hanging in the air.
Walker looked at her, "In Heathen Culture, the faith of my father, in a woman seems as if she may be declaring intent to court, we share with her a story of how we became a man, when our soul was changed. For me, the incident was recorded. It was the death of my brother and my inability by rules of conduct and honor from doing anything in that exact moment. It is what put me on the path of going after criminals. I failed to do proper due diligence, she isn't Heathen. I have never had a non Heathen Woman show any interest in knowing me for more than an activity partner. " Most on Earth didn't practice the old faiths. "I gave her the same opportunity to walk away that I would give a Heathen woman and that I would report myself for misunderstanding her intent to get to know me." He looked at her, "By the ways of my faith, she is hurt because I didn't do my due diligence, then it is the same as if I physically put my hands on her." His faith had high standards for behavior.
"Which is why my first instinct was to cut your DaynguHs off and hand them to you on a stick." Nicole growled. She sighed and rubbed her eyes. "My people aren't religious. We gave up the Old Ways when we left Vulcan. Our faith is centered in the science of numbers and how they affect and are affected by the natural world. So the rules and trappings of religion are sometimes lost on me. But that discussion is for another time. Right now, there is a crying girl in my quarters who needs an apology. You may consider this akin to physical abuse, but unlike actual physical abuse, this can be resolved with words. Some context, I think, would go a long way. Her main problem right now is she doesn't understand why you would show her something so awful. Explain why, and she may understand."
Walker looked at her, "Done. If words will start this process of Healing, then I will start there." He walked over to the replicator, "Computer, a copy of The Havamal, English Translation." He returned, "I am willing to apologize in person, if it won't make things worse." He smelled the air and chose to ignore it. His baser instincts have done a bang up job so far.
"All right," Nicole said, standing up. "Follow me." She led him out of his quarters and down the corridor around Deck 3. As they approached her quarters, she turned and held up a hand. "Give us a moment for modesty's sake?" she said.
Walker waited until he was told to come in.
Nicole turned and walked into her quarters to find her two favorite people sitting together on the couch. Penny had changed into a similar tank top and shorts combo and Camille was also similarly dressed. Nicole walked over to the couch and sat next to Penny as well. "He'd like to apologize and explain," she said, quietly.
Penny looked at them both, steeled herself and sat up straighter. "All right," she said, quietly.
Walker came in and sat down. He put a book on the coffee table.
Nicole patted her hand and stood up, going back to the door. As it opened, she beckoned him in, then returned to the couch and sat next to Camille, letting Penny take another seat across from the Commander.
Camille nodded to the XO respectfully, but gave Penny’s hand a quick squeeze before sitting down properly on the couch.
Walker spoke up, "I don't have much experience with Non Heathen women showing interest. In Heathen Culture, when a woman appears to show interest, we tell the story of the day we become men. It is called Boasting your Tale. We share the moment our soul changed and The Quest we undertook to become me. That POS looking me and my brother in the eyes and pointing at us, changed me. I decided to bring him to justice, but more, if I could I would try and make sure no one went through that. I would protect people. I didn't explain what and why I was showing you. That caused you distress. I'm sorry."
"I see," Penny said, quietly, head tilted as she processed.
Walker looked at her, "This story is who I am. Training with Vulcans, Training with Klingons, Jujitsu, and Heathenry, none of that showed me evil. It was just words. Where you recognise evil, speak out against it, and give no truces to your enemies." He pointed to the book, "Verse 127. That is The Norse book of knowledge, given to my human ancestors by Odin. Until that night, those were just words. Vulcans treated me like I was less. Klingons called me a Mongrel. Heathens only cared about my deeds. I'm sorry that I caused you pain. I was just trying to share with you a defining moment in my life. "
Penny took a deep breath. "All right," she said. "I'll accept your apology on three conditions."
Walker nodded, "Go ahead."
"One, warn me before a bombshell, all right?"
Walker nodded, "My word."
"Two, you give me your word that you won't treat me any differently on the bridge. If we're on duty, this never happened. Do you swear?"
Walker nodded, "I can compartmentalize."
"And three..." she took a breath. "You owe me a surfing lesson."
Walker nodded, "No sharks in the holographic water. If I have an emotional reaction, I can't eat a hologram. I don't enjoy killing. I will try to learn to surf."
"Don't have to learn, just have to show up," Penny said. She nodded. "Then we have an agreement." She stood up and leaned over, hugging him. "I'm sorry for your loss," she said, then stepped back. "Thank you for coming to talk."
Walker looked at her and hugged her back, "There is more to that story including the two broken arms in my medical records." He thought for a moment, "Was this a date that went sideways and you asked me out again to make up for it?"
Penny tilted her head, mulling it over. "I am giving you a second chance at a first impression," she said. "I would like to get to know you, but a bit more slowly, so I can understand you."
Nicole smiled to herself, secretly proud of her. She looked at Walker. "For what it's worth, Mister Walker, thank you for coming over and helping us sort this out. It saves me the trouble of patching you up in Sickbay tomorrow morning." She gave him a wry smile.
Camille matched her smile. “Part Klingon, Part Vulcan, Part Human Heathen or not, you don’t stand a chance against us when we defend our own!” She giggled and held up her hands in an awkward fighting pose, knowing how ridiculous it looked, given she was the smallest of the four present.
Nicole sat back and regarded her girlfriend. "I am so embarrassed for you right now," she said, trying not to giggle as well.
Walker looked at Penny, "I'm glad." He looked at Nicole and grinned, "You do realize that with three quarters of my lineage, threatening me is like hitting on me? If that is the game plan, when Camille finishes running my blood, she will discover my body creates an enzyme during sex and combat that helps my body heal."
The giggling stopped immediately as Nicole's and Camille's jaws wound up in their laps.
"Funny you mention--" Penny started.
"BEEP, BEEP, PENNY!" the other two shouted in unison.
Nicole sat up a bit straighter against the back of the couch, eyeing him. "Thank you for that informative tidbit, Cullen," she said as professionally as she could. "Remind me to give you a full physical later."
After clearing her throat, Camille adjusted her glasses and gave Cullen a polite but professional smile. She wouldn't let on, but she was very curious about that blood sample now! She had never heard of such a phenomenon before! Her mind wandered with the learning potential that was before her. She had begun digging up the old McCoy and Arras papers, but that was just scratching the surface! She foresaw a project that would last a good while.
Walker heard the beep beep, "Is that something I should know?" Walker grinned, "My physical is due in about three weeks."
Nicole recognized that glint in Camille's eye. "You're interested aren't you," she said, in a bit less than a whisper.
"Interested?" Camille asked, in a similar not-quite-quiet-enough-to-be-a-whisper tone. "He's fascinating."
"Oh I agree, fascinating," Nicole said, eyeing him hungrily. "I'd be curious to 'run a few tests' myself."
"I have the blood sample, but that won't be enough." Camille eyed him with curiosity and eagerness. "That won't tell me about strength, endurance, stamina. We need to see how he works."
"Well we wouldn't know much until we cut him open," Nicole said, casually.
"We don't all heal like you do, Nicole," she said, chastising the doctor but not taking her eyes off the prize. "Then again, he might come in close second. Repeated tests. Multiple lacerations. Broken bone or two. Not both legs at once though, that's rude."
Walker started laughing.
"Polite and proper as always," Nicole said, lovingly. "We can get a pint for you as we go."
"I need more than just blood," Camille remarked. "Blood, sweat, and tears, that's what they say, non? But what about lymph and spinal fluid and gastric acid and saliva and--"
"Reproductive fluid. That'll be essential, yes. Well we can always remove the source."
"Peut-être," Camille replied. "Surgical removal?"
"Well he does have two, so one for you, one for me," Nicole said. "That's a reasonable way to share, yes?"
"You're so thoughtful, mon amour. He'll live without them, right? I don't want to damage a specimen unnecessarily."
"Oh yes, he'll have a long and productive life. Not reproductive per se, but productive," Nicole stage-whispered, then looked at Cullen again, smiling.
Camille grinned and staged whispered back. "That sounds fine to me. I wonder what he would think though?"
Walker didn't laugh, "The three of us could just have sex or I could provide you a sample to you in a cup. This was you have a source that continues to function. If you remove them, you have to create stimulation and they will eventually die. Inside of my body, you can continue to get samples." He wanted to keep his junk very much in tact.
"Non, merci," Camille answered with a giggle. "We're just having a bit of fun."
Walker grinned, "Good, I would like to keep those in tact. Completely in tact." Despite the grin, his tone was deadly serious.
"Well that entirely depends on you," Nicole said, matching his tone.
"Okay and on that note," Penny said, blushing crimson. "I think we've interrupted them enough," she said, looking at Cullen.
Walker grinned, "Nicole, while it would be fun to see if you smelling different means you are a different kind of similar to me," he licked his lips, "Penny has said it is time to leave." Then he had a thought, "Wait, when you came here, did you pull a coitus interruptus? Because that is called Irish Magic." The ability to call someone or knock on someone's door and catch them starting or in the middle of every time, is Irish Magic.
Nicole shook her head. "Un pas en avant, deux pas en arrière" she said in Camille's ear.
Nicole stood up and helped the XO to his feet. "While part of me admires the sakals you're showing by continuing to attempt this Klingon-esque flirting, may I say, you have the subtlety of an elephant's prick." She gave him a wry smile. "And before you attempt to explain the other parallels that can be drawn from that, allow me to say tonight has been interesting if nothing else, and thank you so much for stopping by." She steered him towards the door. "And during your physical we'll discuss your grasp of reproductive phrases."
“I think what Nicole is trying to say is, please leave,” Camille added. “It was nice to see you again, and I’m glad we could help, but we’re finished here. I’ll see you on the bridge tomorrow.”
Penny stood up quickly and grabbed her sari. "I'll see him to his quarters, she told them, giving each of them a hug and walking Cullen out of their quarters.
As the door closed behind her, Nicole and Camille just stared at each other in shock.
"What the hell was that?" they said together.
Penny walked down the corridor. "You are...an unusual person," she said after a moment.
Walker grinned, "Outside of Uniform, unless it is a Mission, I am me. In Uniform, I am a representative of Starfleet. My stepmother says if you want a Walker on his best behavior, you present it like a Mission."
"You're very...blunt," she said. "You just say things regardless of how they may be perceived. I suppose that's your Klingon side?"
Walker grinned, "Klingon, Heathen, and being Walker. It is a toss up. I was attempting and failing at going with the flow of the conversation. It is hard to get a grasp on humans sometimes."
"Yeah, tell me about it," Penny said, chuckling slightly. They arrived back at his door and she smiled awkwardly. "I'm sorry things went sideways."
Walker looked at her, "Thank you for trying to understand the faith of my father's family. Thank you for giving it a second chance."
Penny nodded. "Well, goodnight, Cullen."
Walker looked at her. "Would you like to braid my beard?" He motioned towards his door.
Penny's head tilted as she ran through interpretations. "If that is a euphemism, I'll have to decline. If you mean it literally...I'll have to decline. It's getting late." She gave him a smile. "Good night."
Walker grinned, "Not a euphemism. Have a good night. I will explain it later."
Penny nodded. "Good night then." She turned and walked away, heading for her own quarters with a book to read, and a lot to think about.
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