Naissance; Jason 's Paths
STAR TREK:
Project Naissance
"Jason's Paths"
By Robert Scorpio and Kubwulf
With special character and technical advice from development from;
Mistral
Hellsgate
Spockkid05
Vippy
STAR BASE 218
Mechant Section
While Lal was on one side of the merchant section, Jason Hauck was on the other side, also enjoying a Jumja-Stick of his own. He didn’t want to spoil his appetite, so he took small bites. He was looking forward to eating some Klingon Food, thanks to a couple whiffs of Gagh his nose had the pleasure of sensing moments earlier. Putting off eating a large meal for now, he headed towards the shop front that boasted the most electronics and latest Holo-pod modules.
The proprietor, a Kantari, eagerly showed LTJG Hauck around the store, pointing out some of the more recent additions, many from his own people. Jason was drawn to the stories of robots and monsters, fantasy and tales of knights and chivalry. He also liked the Ancient stories of magic and fiends, demons and myths. Its one of the reasons people always made fun of him at the Academy. And yet, never-the-less, he enjoyed the tales. He favored selecting a few of the more interesting ones and ignoring the popular titles like “Vulcan Sex Slaves” Hauck paid the Kantarian and left the store. Glancing at the chrono on the wall, he headed towards the eateries on the second deck to meet Lal.
Ordering the Gagh he had smelled earlier, Hauck sat down next to Lal who had already began sipping at her lubricant from a small metal container. As Jason pierced the exotic meat with a fork a shadow fell across the table. Pausing with the food half-way to his mouth, Ltjg. Hauck looked up to see two Klingons standing over him. The taller of the two burly Klingons swept his hand across the table, dumping the plate of food into the young officer’s lap.
Swallowing hard, Hauck looked from the pile of food in his lap to the two much larger aliens. Thinking of his earlier promise to himself, Jason Hauck, Ltjg of Star Fleet placed his fork on the table and stood up in front of the brown skinned Klingon. Looking up into the fierce eyes he tried to recall everything he had learned of Klingons back in school. Nothing had prepared him for this. But he stood his ground. He wouldn’t dishonor Star Fleet.
The taller of the two Klingons, the one standing in front of the Star Fleet officer looked over his left shoulder to his friend. “MaQDar!” he said, gesturing slightly to the human. The gesture hit Hauck in the chest, driving him back a step. At this the Klingon grew angry and growled at Jason, who still refused to back down in front of the now silent patrons of the eatery.
Roaring “Baktag” at the uniformed human the Klingon raised his fist in challenge.
“Hey! He’s not a “slimey weakling” or a “piece of dung”! He’s a Star Fleet officer!” offered Lal, still sitting on the other side of the table.
Flabbergasted, Jason stuttered, “He said that?” Lal just nodded her head. Muttering more Klingon insults the taller one once again took the lead closing the distance to the fresh faced Ltjg. with a large pace forward. Without thinking, Jason did the only thing his panicked mind could think of. He drove the heel of his hand upward into the Klingons ridged nose. The Klingon, surprised stopped in his tracks and wiped blood from his nose. Staring in disbelief at the blood on his hand, the alien glared murderous intent at the confused Star Fleet lieutenant.
For his part, Jason stared in mixed horror and astonishment at the Klingon. “I-I-I’m s-s-s-sor…” swallowing hard Hauck started over again. “I’m sorry?” The words came out softly, turning into a near squeak at the end. The Klingon, enraged that this Human would dare draw blood on him reached behind his hip and drew forth a wicked looking knife. Shoving the stuttering Jason Hauck over the table the Klingon quickly followed, knife raised high, and shouted, “You have dishonored the house of Kor’af, human!! Today will be a good day to die for you!”
Jason closed his eye waiting for the knife to slam home when he felt a very large object cover his chest. Opening one eye Jason saw his vision mostly blocked by a very large arm. The arm ended in the hand that nearly covered his chest and was attached at the shoulder to a very large, very angry looking Nausiciaan. Near to fainting at the thought that he avoided death from a Klingon knife to death at the hands of a Nausiciaan Jason nearly missed the next words exchanged between the hefty aliens.
The Klingon, not to be denied, looked up to the towering Nausiciaan and claimed, “This Human is a coward. All beings part of this “Project Naissance” are cowards! What kind of warrior saves helpless animals? I tell you they are weaklings!” The Klingon’s spittle sprayed the Nausicaan’s face.
The Nausiciaan stood up to his full 8 and a half footr height and balled his hands into fists. In his halting way of speaking the giant spoke softly. Softly for a Nausiciaan anyways. Pointing to his own chest he said, “Bak’ooth. Naissance. You. Call…me…coward?”
Blanching, the Klingon quickly sheathed his knife. Without saying another word, he turned, bumping into his companion in his haste to be gone. The two looked back to the Nausiciaan who merely stared at them, still standing over the astounded Star Fleet officer, before walking swiftly towards the exit.
The Nausiciaan looked down at the dirty uniform of Jason Hauk. Gripping the officer’s shoulder, the great strength of Bak’ooth hauled the still light-headed Lieutenant JG to his feet. Nodding in thanks Jason tried, unsuccessfully to get the Gagh off his uniform. The Nausiciaan, not one to mince words strode off, looking back only once and barking, “COME!”
Lal attempted to stop the Nausiciaan by saying, “We’re awaiting our shuttle. Thank you for the…”
She was cut off by a more insistent, angrier sounding, “COME!” from the gaping maw of the alien.
Shrugging, Jason looked at Lal and said, “Do you really want to argue with, or anger, that guy? Let’s go. I’d rather not have him looking for me in anger.”
Jogging to catch up to the long strides of the being that had named himself Bak’ooth, the two Star Fleet officers attempted, unsuccessfully, to engage their rescuer in conversation. The large alien merely grunted now and then and kept up the pace, his long strides eating away at the distance. Lal had no trouble keeping pace, but Jason, as fit as he was, found it hard to keep up. Half jogging, half walking his calves started to burn from the constantly changing speed he was forced to adopt in order to stay with his friend Lal and his rescuer.
Nearly panting Jason asked Bak’ooth, “Where are we going?”
In typical Nausiciaan fashion, a one word response was provided, “Ship.”
Both Jason and Lal stopped dead in their tracks. Jason called after the Nausiciaan. “We can’t go to your ship. We’re waiting for our transport to our next assignment. We appreciate your help friend, but we can’t go with you.”
Jason swallowed hard again as Bak’ooth turned to loom over him. The side flaps of his jaw opened wide and Jason was assaulted by breath both foul and loud. Stepping back, Bak’ooth looked at both of them and spoke in his halting way.
“I am Naissance. One officer. You come. Now.”
Stepping through the two stunned officers, he turned, placed a hand on each of their shoulders and began steering them through the crowd. Lal went along as if nothing were out of the ordinary, while Mr. Hauk paled at the huge hand engulfing his shoulder, the right side of his chest, and still left the last digit hanging off the side. Not wanting to argue with the being that saved him from the Klingons and who could probably break him in half if he wanted to, Jason let himself be tugged along.
Ignoring turbolift after turbolift, Bak’ooth led them through the station going up ramps or even accessing the Jefferies Tubes to climb between the levels. When asked why he wasn’t using the turbolifts the Nausicicaan made a face that Jason could only describe as a smile and responded with the simple word, “fun.” Jason didn’t think this was “fun” but at least it kept him out of public view so he wouldn’t further disgrace Starfleet with his filthy uniform.
Finally, after what seemed like hours, the trio emerged from one of the Jefferies tube’s access hatches into a near deserted corridor of the station. Without pause, Bak’ooth turned left and punched a key code into the panel set next to the airlock. The hatch wheeled open revealing the super-structure’s sparse interior that formed the airlock. Various safety devices lined the cross braces and emergency bulkheads and force-field emitters could be seen standing ready in case of hull breach. When the interior hatch closed, the exterior opened. The Juno stood ready and Bak’ooth motioned them inside.
The Nausiciaan motioned for the two to sit as he pressed a console. A table and seating slid out from the wall along with storage bins for their belongings. Jason asked where they were going and was told that they were headed to Naissance. While Bak’ooth powered up the engines Jason utilized the refresher and put on a fresh uniform. By the time he was finished, the ship had disengaged from the docking clamps and was on its way to Naissance. Bak’ooth had prepared a meal for his passengers and happily motioned Jason over to the table which now sported a third chair. Lal was happily sipping her lubricant and Bak’ooth was smiling.
Jason sat down warily eyeing the food; the split open head of some kind of animal. Fresh blood drained out of the brain and it was adorned, for Jason's benefit he gathered, with white rice as a side dish.
Since Lal was drinking from her silver container, the Nausiciaan slid her plate over to Jason smiling widely.
“You, Naissance. You NAUSICIAAN!” Smiling his toothy smile, the side flaps of his exterior jaw flexing, Bak’ooth made shooing motions to Jason, indicating he should eat.
Looking down at the interesting food on his plate Jason stole a glance at his host to see the large alien digging in with his hands and shoveling the food eagerly into his mouth. Looking at Lal, he saw her smiling around her straw. Not wanting to upset the being that scared two Klingons Jason suppressed a grimace and picked up his fork. A barking laugh came from the Nausiciaan. His mouth full, with the drippings of the bloodied brain, Bak’ooth motioned with his hands, showing Jason that he should eat with his hands.
As he lifted a handful to his mouth, Jason thought to himself that this was going to be one long assignment.
TO BE CONTINUED