Station/Klingons: Honoring His Mate

Posted on Fri Aug 29th, 2025 @ 5:08pm by Commander Kehlani & Lieutenant Marz

Mission: The Inner Flame
Location: M-69
Timeline: Current

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Lieutenant Marz walked through the corridors of M-69, having just disembarked from the IKS Bloodsport as it was now docked on the exterior of the starbase. No way would he ever allow his Bird of Prey to be trapped within should someone choose to attack. His crew was looking to maintenance and then they would all meet at Club Bliss for their carousing and for some fresh barrels of bloodwine. Approaching the quarters for his beloved mate, Marz stepped inside as the door opened, his eyes widening in surprise at what he saw. Broken pottery and small items thrown around the stateroom's main room, easily discernable as having been thrown around on purpose. Higan, his son, was standing out of the way of it all in a corner, his face showing concern over it all but not fear. Good boy, he thought. However, standing with her back to him, looking out a viewport, was his wife. She stood tall and straight, her shoulders set as someone wound up like a rabid targ, her hands down at her sides and clenched into fists. Once the door closed behind Marz, Kehlani spun around to face him. Klingons felt sorrow like anyone else, they just preferred to deal with it in ways that most found...unsettling. Like, throwing items around a room, for instance. Knowing his mate as he did, Marz could see in her eyes that she was in mourning. But, for who, or what?

"Wife, you seem on edge. I would know why." Marz stated, commanding an explanation as the male in this marriage.

"Taavis is dead," Kehlani said plainly. "It just came though on the Starfleet message boards."

"Dead!?" Now this was a surprise, thought Marz. "How?"

Kehlani went into explanation. "According to the report it was a malfunction with a plasma manifold. She was killed, along with six others. Lieutenant Kudo was caught up in the explosion but he was not as severely wounded and will recover." By the time she finished her final words Marz was there and took her into an embrace. Not a rubbing of the back, nor the back of her head, but a strong hug meant to convey his support for her emotions. How Klingons conducted themselves in private was their business, but if this had been said in front of others then his reaction would have been far different for appearances sake.

"So, she died while on duty?" Marz asked, this always being a foremost concern for the deceased. He released her and stepped back half a pace. When she nodded at that he made a fist of positive reinforcement. "majQa'!" He said. "She died well, then. If she were Klingon then Sto-Vo-Kor would hail her arrival. I know she meant a great deal to you, parmaq. We shall drink to her memory this evening."

Hearing those words assuaged a good portion of Kehlani's sorrow, but being who she was and how she had lived for many years of her life, she needed something more. "I...I need to cry. But, I hold back because I do not want my husband to see me as weak. Nor my son. I am a matriarch and must maintain the appearance and heart of strength."

"You are my wife and the love of my life, Kehlani. You have taught me much about the galaxy around me, and told me your history. I will honor your need for emotion as you see fit and proudly hold you while you do so." Marz responded. Kehlani was in his arms immediately. Marz waved their son in and he too clasped his mother around the legs and hugged her, seeing her crying. Not an uncommon thing for Klingons to show tears, but the boy knew his mother's heart was broken over the loss of someone she cared for. A couple of minutes went by as they held each other while her emotional display was dealt with.

After crying it out, Kehlani felt much better and stepped back, straightening herself and swiping the offensive water from her face. "Thank you, both of you, for letting me vent that anger and sorrow. Our love is now stronger for it."

"Agreed," said Marz. In Klingon fashion, it was now over that quickly. "I say we visit House of gaH! Then, to Bliss to drink in honor of our lost comrade and friend. What say you?" Higan hooped in place, ready to devour some gaH and whatever else he felt like eating once there. Kehlani smiled at her husband and gave him a nod in honor, for seeing to her needs that were not common among Klingons. His love for her was what made him choose to partake in some of her odd needs now and then.

"I love you, Marz." Kehlani got in beside her husband as they left the stateroom. That was all she needed to say on that topic as they all began to talk excitedly, the parents giving a great amount of attention to their son since his father was here to visit. It was time for some pipius claw, bregit lung, gaH, and a plethora of grapok sauce to go with each dish.

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