Cat and Moose, Part 3

Posted on Tue Dec 16th, 2025 @ 2:23pm by Senior Chief Petty Officer C'Hira Summers & Lieutenant Commander David Erickson

1,216 words; about a 6 minute read

Mission: ARYL 1X04: All the Friends We Can Get
Location: Kannok
Timeline: Shortly after "A Message of Peace and Friendship."

Last time on Star Trek: Ark Royal:

As they stepped inside, David realized that they were being given privacy to change.....together.

"Well....sweetheart," he said, with a wry smile, "I hope they gave us something our size." He turned around a bit and shook out his new outfit in preparation to change.

"It's what you get for your boldness, nya," C'Hira said, her back turned to him as she undressed. "I just hope there's room for meow tail." She examined her new outfit and saw that it wouldn't be a problem; the crisscross pattern the fabric made would expose the small of her back, low enough for that sweet tail freedom.

Finishing getting undressed, she spared a peek behind her, and saw that David was starting to put on the new trousers before he was ready. "Commyander, you risk having a violation there."

And now the conclusion...


David was down to his boxers, thankful he listened to his mother about wearing something clean and modest at all times, and turned in surprise. "What could I possibly be violating?" he said, turning to ask. His eyes went wide as he realized C'Hira hadn't dressed yet and he blushed hard. "Sorry, C'Hira," he said, lowering his eyes a bit. "You um...you mentioned a violation?"

" 'Any article of clothing or accessory produced outside the Drenkul Republic or produced via non-traditional technique, even if it appears to be traditional Drenkul attire, is prohibited'," C'Hira recited. "And I think the police might actually check, nya."

David mulled it over. He wasn't about to get thrown in jail for his underwear, and at this point, what was left to be ashamed of? "Well, if that's the case...." He screwed up his courage, hooked his thumbs and removed the violation. He then quickly turned and grabbed the pants provided and slipped them on, as well as the tunic and adjusted them quickly, questioning his life choices as he forced his eyes to the wall to give her back some illusion of privacy.

"Alright, all done," C'Hira said as she put the final touch on her outfit. "Meow do I look?"

David adjusted his tunic and pants, smoothing things out and turned around, annoyed the blush hadn't left his cheeks. He looked C'Hira over and gave her a nod of approval, and felt a genuine smile spread across his face. "As beautiful as the day I married you," he said, his usual flippant tone coming back. He took their clothes and quickly folded and bundled them together. "We'll have to get these things transported with the foodstuffs," he said. He offered her his arm. "We should go before they wonder what we're up to." He gave her a wink.

“Of course, nya, husband of mine,” she replied, taking his arm, purring gently as they left the changeroom. She handed the bundles of clothing to Sripat. “Please have these beamed up with meowr purchases.”

“As the lady requests,” the shopgirl replied, bowing her head low. “My master asked me to tell you that his brother’s restaurant is on this road. Exit left and walk three blocks. You will see Pryd Lam-Kannok’s Bistro just beyond the gate into Sector Four.”

“Thank you, nya.” C’Hira paused a moment, hesitating to move on. “What’s your name, nya?”

“Sripat Pinnya-Senkatra,” she answered. “You honour me by asking.”

She nodded and gestured for her and David to leave the shop. “I’m hungry, nya.”

David gave a polite bow to Sripat and they left the shop, walking down the road. Shopkeepers were no longer staring at them with as much trepidation and a few nodded politely. David nodded back, his eyes constantly sweeping the area. As they crossed through a checkpoint into Section Four, every passerby stopped to look them up and down, seemed to sigh with relief, then continued on their way.

David kept his arm around C'Hira the entire time as they reached the restaurant. "All right," he said, "so far so good."

A man keeping his head bowed brought them to a table, assuring them that a menu had been ordered on their behalf, which the chef would start sending out as dishes were ready.

C’Hira took the seat that David had pulled out for her and then waited for him to sit too. “You notice something ameowt their names?” she asked. “That Sripat girl wasn’t from this planet, nya.”

"I did notice," David said. "Evidently they're to remind people of that every time they identify themselves." He kept his voice low, leaning in and taking her hand as if they were whispering a more personal conversation. "I'd worry it would create somewhat of an 'us-them' mentality."

"I think that's the purrrpose of it," C'Hira said, quiet enough that only David could hear.

Worried the walls had ears, David switched subjects. He kissed her hand as he held it in his and thanked whatever Gods were listening that Karane wasn't there to smack him. He did wish it was her hand, but he was glad she wasn't here being 'diplomatic.' "You know," he said, his voice back to a reasonably normal volume. "I once thought of just enlisting."

“Oh?” C’Hira asked, blushing as he held and kissed her hand. “What appealed to you, nya?”

"Well, the academy had its allure, but enlisting meant a quicker path to shipping out. Then again, I don't know if I could have survived petty officer's bunks. Ensign's bunks were rough enough," he gave her a grin.

The CPO laughed. “It wasn’t so bad. You make lifelong friends in those cramped, uncomfortable spaces, nya. Also lifelong enemies but those were rarer, nya.”

The first course came out, an aromatic and pleasant dish of some kind of steamed shellfish. C’Hira licked her lips, but noticed the waiter keeping his eyes to the ground as he brought it.

David watched the waiter carefully, and then quickly scanned the room. There was a quiet murmur of voices as other diners conversed quietly. He tried focusing on any one conversation but couldn't make out their voices. The few people who noticed him looking scowled at his intrusion into their privacy and he quickly looked away. The serving staff all stood quietly to the sides, or patrolled to refill glasses with water. Everyone had their eyes to the floor. The patrons did not look up to acknowledge their servers, nor did the servers initiate any conversation. At one table, a patron raised his hand and made a gesture. A waiter immediately rushed over, the patron made his request, and the waiter bowed and hurried away.

David looked at their own waiter who had finished filling their bowls and very quietly said, "thank you. Your service is excellent."

The waiter glanced at him so quickly and timidly it made David reflexively worried that someone would come over and reprimand the young man. The waiter nodded to him and then walked away silently.

David looked at C'Hira and took a breath. "I think we're going to have an interesting report for the Captain," he said.

“That we will, nya,” C’Hira said. “In the meantime, let’s eat, nya!”


END

SCPO C’Hira Summers
Quartermaster

David Erickson
Chief Navigator

 

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