[USS Juno] Visiting the Dragons

Posted on Fri Aug 3rd, 2018 @ 5:39am by Major Charlena Dilucca & Captain Xalanth
Edited on on Fri Aug 3rd, 2018 @ 5:54am

2,041 words; about a 10 minute read

Mission: [USS Shanghai] S1E2: Encounter in the Abyss
Location: Holodeck
Timeline: 05/14/2394 1500hrs

Xalanth was always happy to get some time to spend with his girl. Being the head of a starships security left him with only a limited time, but he was always determined to spend as much time with them as possible. Having collected the two from school and giving a glare to a few kids who he knew had been teasing Travla they were now heading for the holodeck.

The turolift stopped as someone else wanted in. The doors slid open as the marine commander stepped in.

" Captain Dilucca it's nice to see you again. " The dragonain stated politely.

"Hello, lieutenant, off for the day, sir?" Charlie asked. She looked down to the two children. She saw the resemblance with the tactical chief so assumed they were his. "Spending your times with the kids I see." She smiled to the kids.

" Yes. My two daughters Yazar and Travla. I was going to take them to the holodeck they want to see part of my homeworld. " The lizard replied.

" Would you like to come?" Yazar added.

"Well,"Began Charlie. "I wouldn't want to impose on your trip with your father." She said.

" Oh, it would be no trouble. As long as you'd be willing to do a little flying." Xalanth replied.

"Oh well, in that case I would love to join you. What do you mean by flying?" She asked curious.

" You'll see. You'll like them i assure you. " Xalanth replied with a grin as he headed for the holodeck. Stepping through the door the lizard called out. "Computer activate program Xalanth three. "

The room changed into a large metal structure that looked like a mixture between a stable and an airport. The temperature was very hot with a unique smell hanging in the air. With a unique rumbling, one of the bays slid opened as it's resident stepped out. It was an enormous two story reptile that walked on it's two massive wings with a dull yellowly scale colour. It was if a earth Wyvern had walked out of a fantasy book.

" Dilucca may i introduce Salasha the matriarch of my clans Yarnvan flock. We'll be using her and a few others to reach the cave." Xalanth said walking over to the beast and giving her face a rub as calmly as a human would do a dog.

Charlie was a bit overwhelmed by the appearance of the creature, but she wasn't scared. She looked amazed as he rubbed the creatures face. "Matriarch? How much different we are. Well, let's get on with it then. I never flown a Wyvern before. Sure would proof to be interesting."

" Yazar can you get yourself and you're sister on Natuga?" The dragonian asked to which his two daughters nodded as a second smaller beast walked out of it's pen. The security chief pointed upwards to the beast neck were a large armour piece lay on it's neck. " As the safety features are on we don't need the full gear. Just climb up to the armour and get seated. " He said as the beast lowered her neck to make it easier.

Charlie climbed up on the neck and sat down. She could feel the creature move under her, which was a strange sensation. She wasn't scared, but she felt a little clumsy. She held on a bit, not to fall of the beast.

" You okay girls?" xalanth called to his daughters to which Yazar replied " Ready dad."

" Hold on." He said to the marine captain as he tapped the flying reptiles side. Shaking the ground it stood up and headed for the opening. Spreading it's massive wings she pulled herself into the sky closely followed by it's companion. The hot wind blew past it's riders as the beast took to the skies and pulled away from the stables which was reviled to be the top of a massive crawler as the two rose into the desert skies.

" It's beautiful isn't it." He said to the marine commander as the seemingly unending sea's of sand that spread out far beneath them.

"Oh yes, wondrous." She replied. She held tightly to it and looked down over the dessert. She wasn't scared. But amazed by her surroundings.

The two beast flew across the sea of desert until in the far distance a single lone mountain rose out of the sand. Its sides had been worn smooth by the winds. High atop the rock a smooth flat surface stuck out from the rock that the flying lizard-headed towards. They landed with a tump allowing their passengers to step off. Off to the side, an entrance lead deep into the cave. " Not far now. My clan's founder found this place long ago when he was hunting for water out here. " Xalanth said as he lead the way down the tunnel.

Charlie walked down the tunnel and looked around. "And your clan lives here?" She touched the tunnel walls. "This looks amazing."

" No my clan lives on the three crawlers we have. There isn't enough water here to keep us all going." The lizard replied as the tunnel opened up. A blue light shone through the cavern from which water bubbled up from underground. Artwork dotted the wall and hang from the ceiling all showing dragonains in acts of bravery and valour. " My clan's little piece of paradise. The heart of the mountain that guards are legacy " He said warmly.

" We were welcomed into the clan by the elders here. " Yazar said her blue eyes glowing as they gazed around the cavern.

"It's beautiful," said Charlie, "I am honored to be here, well not actually there, this is still a hologram, but still, thank you for sharing this with me."

" No problem captain. We are going to be working together. May as well show you why i fight so hard. To keep what i alove afe." The lizard replied his eyes following his daughters.

She followed his look. "How are they doing out here?" She asked. "It can't be easy for them, being different from everyone else, and that 10 year mission the captain is planning for us? Far away from home."

" They were both born in the stars. Yazar was born if fire and Travla was put through far more than any child ever should. When we're apart I feel like part of my being has been ripped from me. I can't imagine life without them and I doubt they could imagine life without me. "Xalanth replied his tone showing his love and concern for the two girls.

"I can't imagine, since I don't have children, but I can understand." Charlie said. "So how is Travla doing now?"

" She's getting better. She won't be able to speak until the docs can fix her brain when she's older. An implant is messing with her brain. At least the animal that did it to her is gone. Now she just has to deal with the stares. " The reptile responded.

Charlena nodded. "I see, they look strong kids, but they inherited a great strength from their father."

" Glad i can give them something. They get their looks and intelligence from their mother. " Xalanth responded a grin on his face.

"There is no doubt about that." Said Charlena.

" Indeed. You mentioned you didn't have kids, but do you have anyone special in your life?" Xalanth inquired politely.

"Not at the moment. As a marine commander you don't really have much time for fraternizing. Not that I would be interesting right now, I just got on board." She said.

" Good to know. I always make sure to know if anyone under my command has people in their life. Just in case......" the lizard began to say before Traval appeared next to him. Sitting down next to her dad she leaned against him. " It's okay sweetheart. Daddy's not going anywhere." he said wrapping his arm around her and holding her close.

She looked to the kid. "You're not afraid someone in your command would come after a handsome dragon like you, sir?" She asked politely. She winked to his daughter. "I have from a reliable source no one would dare to. Your wife maybe Vulcan, but she is also human. Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned, trust me, no one would dare come between you. Or you family. If I were interested in finding someone, there are enough men on this ship to choose from. Besides, I am from a broken family, I know what it's like, and wouldn't wish it to anyone." She looked away from the happy father and daughter moment and was able to suppress a tear upon remembering when she found out her mother cheated on her father and the nightmare it unleashed for their family. She not only lost her mother but also her father.

" You are right about that. Back at the academy, i had plenty of cadets wanting a piece of me. Apparently, I have a very attractive head. I only realised that after T'para told me they'd be flirting with me. Still, my hearts belong to T'para and my children alone. How they dealt with more than one lover is beyond me." He said pointing to one of the murals showed a regal looking male dragonian surrounded by a group of similar dressed females. " Males are a rarity of my planet. The heat makes it hard for eggs to create male embryos so were outnumbered. Me and my brothers were a rarity when they opened up the incubator. Three males in the interior and me hanging around just outside. "

Charlena looked to the mural. "You'd be surprised. Your species isn't the only race that the males as the dominant sex, where males had more then one mate. In fact, Earth had countries up to the 21st century where royals, nobles and rich people had more then one woman as wife. Cause only the rich could afford so many wives. In ancient times it was of course for lineage, as disease and war could diminish the population greatly, so it was expected to have more then one child. But later it was just a status and wealth thing. The more wives and children you had, the richer you were. Women were seen as property rather then an equal as is the norm now."

She looked at all the murals. "Amazing!" She whispered. "You know there are legends and fairy tales on Earth about Dragons. I have always been intrigued by them. Specially the Asian legends. When I look at you, sir, you and your wife, you remind me of a Vietnamese folktale or legend. The Dragon and the Fairy. Where a dragon takes a Chieftain daughter as his wife and gave her 100 sons. One day his sons called him as his sons and his wife missed him. The Dragon returned to the land and told his wife that he was the descendant of dragons and his wife of the fairies, he couldn't stay on the land. He too 50 of his sons and returned to the sea, where he lived and his queen remained on the land with the other 50 sons and founded Vietnam. I so loved that story, I maybe a marine, but I love such romantic stories, I believe in true love, despite what I have been true, and as I look at you at T'Para, I believe it. You are the dragon and she is the fairy. And you belong together."

" A very nice tale. Maybe i am living a fairy tale. People like me don't end up with my mate. You know people said i was mad when i proposed at our graduation. They said it wouldn't last the year. Now, look at us" The dragonain replied grinning as he held his daughter tightly.

"Well, I am certainly a believer," said Charlena. "Oh by the way, we should get going. The Captain is having his promotion ceremony about now." She reminded him.

"Yeah we'd best be going." The lizard said as he stood up and hugged his daughters again. " Now you two another half an hour then home and you do your homework." He said before turning and saying. "Computer arch" To cause the exit to appear.

Charlena followed the dragon and exited the holodeck.

 

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