Cat and Moose, Part 2

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

1,293 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:

David's eyes raked over him, and he looked at C'Hira, then back at the shopkeeper. "Finally," he said, breaking into a grin. "A friendly face." He walked up, still with his arm around C'Hira and gave a friendly salute and a nod of his head. "Thank you for the kind greeting, friend," he said. "My name is David, and this vision of beauty is my lovely wife, C'Hira. We're here to procure some supplies for our ship, and possibly a few mementos of our visit. Perhaps you can help us with some of it."

C’Hira gave David a quick glance but then leaned into his arm. “I want to remeowmber this visit. Our first visit to a mew planet as husband and wife, nya. But we also have responsibilities, nya. Food in particular.”

The shopkeeper gestured to follow him. “Let it not be said that Sutep Lam-Kannok never helped a beautiful lady and her charming husband,” he bellowed. “This way, this way!”

And now the continuation...


David's grip on C'Hira relaxed slightly, but only slightly, as they followed the shopkeeper down the street. When they arrived at his storefront, David looked around. "So, we have a list, if you'd care to take a look. Perhaps you can recommend some places for prepared foods to try as well."

“My brother owns a restaurant not far from my general store,” Sutep answered. “Let’s look at this list of yours.”

They reached a shop which displayed in the windows a little bit of everything, from pottery to preserved foods to paintings to ponchos. C’Hira couldn’t read the writing above the door, written as it was only in Drenkul, but did recognize the word Kannok. Probably that first part was his name. Interesting that he would include the full surname in the shop name.

She showed her list to the shop owner. “It’s mostly staple foods that meour chefs can use to extend the life of meour stockpiles. Grains, eggs, fruits. Meats if mew have anything that keeps, nya.”

"A supply of basic spices and seasonings would be helpful as well," David said. "So that we can prepare the food properly."

"Oh ho! You'll be eating like Drenkul Nobles by the time you're done here!" Sutep replied as he examined the list. "Your pantries will burst with delicious Drenkul goods. I can get you everything on the food list and have it beamed to your ship in a few hours! There's just the matter payment. That'll be three thousand two hundred Daht."

"We'll -- nya?" C'Hira was interrupted by the arm around her waist squeezing tighter. She looked at David, brow lightly furrowed.

David looked at her. "I agree," he said, leaning down, putting his forehead to hers. "A wise woman, as always," he said, smiling at her. He looked back at Sutep and smiled, although it didn't quite reach his eyes. "Mister Sutep, I understand charging a quality price for a quality product. I also understand charging a reasonable markup for a reasonable profit. I also took the liberty of researching my wife's list before we arrived. I'm willing to offer seven-hundred-fifty Daht for these supplies, and we'll assume your first price was a mistranslation when we return to you for our next resupply."

Sutep dramatically held his hands over his heart. "You wound me, sir! Not only with your accusation but your counter! If I sell this for seven-fifty, why, my children would starve if I sold at such prices!"

C'Hira looked up at David, her eyes wide. "We can't let his children starve, nya!"

"But I'll make you a deal, because the lovely lady is so sympathetic," Sutep continued. "Two thousand, AND lunch for my favourite shoppers of the day at my brother's restaurant, a taster platter of Kannok delicacies. And! I'll throw in an outfit for each of you, so you can explore our planet's cultural district. You'll not find a better deal this side of Drenkulo, my good friends!"

David looked at C'Hira and smiled, leaning in to nuzzle her ear. "That's two," he said, then stood and looked back at Sutep. "Two times today, my wife has had to remind me that compassion and care should be in all things, even a purchase." He looked at her again and then back at Sutep. "I was prepared to offer a thousand," he said, "but with your generous offer of dinner and clothing, I will increase to eleven hundred. I am prepared to offer 1150 if you can scrounge us up a worthy bottle of something to celebrate with. That, along with my best wishes to your family, is my final offer."

The shopkeeper pointed to David and belly-laughed. "I've heard that humans were tough customers, and I heard right! Good thing you have this lovely woman to keep you compassionate! You have a deal!" His pointing hand opened up and he grabbed David's forearm to shake it. He was much more gentle when he took C'Hira's hand.

He quickly moved behind the counter to open a mechanical cash register. C'Hira followed and counted out exactly 1150 Daht and placed it on the counter, which he excitedly took, counted again, and put away.

He rang a bell which summoned three lovely young Drenkul women, who lined up next to the counter, their heads bowed to the floor. They wore outfits which looked fashionable but, C'Hira thought, showed more skin than was practical for the work a shopgirl needed to do. The neck a little too low, the skirt a little too high, for someone who likely needed to bend over or climb ladders as part of her duties.

Sutep stood behind his three shopgirls and touched them on the shoulders in turn as he referred to them. "Iokina here will box your purchases. She'll signal your ship when they're ready to be beamed up. Sripat will measure you both and select outfits for you. And Chan will go tell my brother to start preparing your lunch. It's been an absolute pleasure serving you two! My first ever Federation customers! Hopefully the first of many!"

The first girl went away to retrieve an antigrav cart and start loading up their order, while the third left the shop and headed in the direction of the cultural sector. The middle one, Sripat, guided them toward the clothing aisles.

"I'm more of a winter," David said as she handed him a set of green clothes and robes. He shrugged and looked at some of the clothing options around. As with many cultures, the men's clothes were largely the same, varying more by function than form. The young woman handed C'Hira a set of clothes as well and beckoned them to follow her towards the back of the shop, where she opened a door to a side room.

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."


To be continued...

 

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