The Vulcan goodnight

Posted on Sat Dec 14th, 2024 @ 4:28am by T’Shan & Rom K'Ress

513 words; about a 3 minute read

Mission: Masters of the Stars [2]
Location: Guest Quarters, USS Challenger
Timeline: MD -11 (Three days after DownTime)

“I wanna go to the holodeck.” Rom squealed. The part-Caitian, part-Kzinti four-year-old had been saying as much since T’Shan arrived. She had been pestering the ship’s XO and COB for some task she might perform since the first hour of the two-week crossing from Federation Space to DS13. After a series of biting incidents, two of which required surgical intervention, no Starfleet childcare staff were willing to take on the job. They were about to put together a holographic minder for him, until she volunteered.

“You cannot go to the holodeck. You have used up your private use hours and your public access privileges have been revoked after the incident with the ship’s class pigeons.” T'Shan said, standing across from the couch he sat on.

“I told you, I thought they were holograms.” Rom said with the sort of petulance only a child can produce in earnest. Although he was only four, Kzinti were walking and talking inside six months. Rom matured at roughly twice the speed of a human. By ten he would likely be a fully developed adult, at least physically.

“Even if that were so, you did not have the right to interfere with their activity. That is why Commander Letayo will not accept your excuse, and neither will I. I suggest you spend time reading. If you wish to exert energy, we can go to the pool or the arboretum.” T’Shan explained. “Alternatively, if you prefer, I can read something to you.”

“I hate books. And I hate the pool. And the arboretum is boring, its just a bunch of trees. I want to go to the holodeck!” T’Shan could tell his mood was getting exacerbated to the point that his Kzinti aggression response would begin to kick-in. It was something she had recognised in her own biology from her Andorian adrenal system.

“No. And I will not entertain further discussion of it. Your three options are pool, arboretum, or reading. You may also wish to nap, or view an audiovisual program. I will assist you in your preferred goal, but if you continue to insist on options you know are not available, I will leave you in timeout.”

The boy snarled, and T’Shan knew he had turned. He leapt at her, claws long, teeth bared, aiming for her neck.

Her response was subtle but swift. She reached out her arm to perform a nerve pinch, her precision and accuracy were such that he was unconscious even before he would have made contact with her, had she not stepped around him. He flopped to the floor harmlessly.

After a moment she picked him up and put him back on the couch, laying a pillow under his head. She estimated many more involuntary naps in his future.

T’Shan wondered what Ambassador Velt or the boy’s mother did when he misbehaved. Probably nothing. Sent him to the holodeck, she deduced. She sat next to him and began to read. Only a week and a half to DS13, then he's his father's responsibility again.

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