Surefoot 49: Tooth and Claw

I am Her Teeth, and I am Her Claws.

I am Her Purr, and I am Her Roar.

I will Defend the Living, and I will Avenge the Dead.

And I will give my life to protect the Motherworld and Her people.

And now, she fully understood what those words meant.

Sasha Hrelle, Lieutenant of Starfleet, Kaetini of the Caitian People, reached up, drew out her sword, clutched it with both hands and swung out towards Eukanna's neck, a part of her wondering how easily a head can be actually be separated from a body.

As it turned out, with her blade's nanosharpness and Arakanium durability, very, very easily.

Eukanna's body let go of Ctuuri's tail as the body lost contact with its head, dark wine-red blood spurting from the neck wound as it dropped to its knees, and then fell forward.

The room went silent, except for Eukanna's head, rolling through its own blood to stop by a table leg.

Sasha raised her blade, checking its integrity, finding it bloodstained... but undamaged, and ready for more.

As was she.

"RIP HER TO PIECES!" one of them howled.

The nearest ones charged towards her.

She spun and went into action, her years of training in related sword skills from Weynik, her friend Eydiir and her cousin C'Rash coming back to her, driven by a nova-hot righteous fury that suffused her arms, making her swing out, slicing open throats and hacking through arms, legs and tails, blood spraying around her, mixed with shrieks and cries that drove back the smarter ones to the walls of the main hall.

Not that she would spare them today.

Ferasans climbed onto tables to leap high towards her, only to find themselves sliced open with the tip of her blade, their guts dropping out of them like the contents of a broken sack, while she spun around, alternating slices with stabs now, not giving her prey a chance to anticipate her moves. She even picked up severed limbs and flung them around, or used them as additional weapons.

Three of the Ferasans overturned a table to use as a shield, charging towards her.

She stopped in the centre of the blood-carpeted room, reached into her vest and drew out the gun she had checked out of the Ajax's Armoury: a .666 Magnum ballistic pistol, a black monster with a thunderous roar and a kick that nearly made it fly out of her grip, its explosive, fragmentary bullet turning the table, and the three Ferasans behind it, to splinters.

Sasha spun in place, firing again and again, taking down handfuls of Ferasans at a time, the shots and the screams drowning out her own roar of primal rage.

She felt Ferasan bullets hit the back of her vest, the impacts travelling even through the armoured plates there, and she dropped and dove under a table, cutting open the legs of Ferasans in her way, using them as living shields when whoever brought in the pistols tried to follow her.

Then there was more gunfire - but nothing was coming her way. Instead, more Ferasans were falling... but not by her hand.

*

Weynik quickened his pace when he heard the cries, tightening his grip on the pistol, ready for anything.

Except for what he found in the Main Hall.

There was his young Second Officer, her blonde hair shaved on one side, her scalp emblazoned with a red pawprint, performing a deadly ballet as she pirouetted around, wielding her Kaetini sword against literally dozens of surrounding Ferasans.

And making a literal bloody mess of them all.

Blood caked the walls and tables, and the floor was littered with corpses and severed limbs, the stench filling the air, and as the battle progressed, with the Ferasans at the perimeter of the lethal storm that was Sasha, Weynik saw the fury in her face, and knew the worst had happened to Ctuuri.

Sweet Hemra, Esek, what have I let your daughter become?

Several Ferasans at the edge of the slaughter overturned a table and carried it forward towards Sasha - only to find the table and themselves ripped apart by an explosive shot from a handgun Sasha produced. A handgun she used on more of them, regardless of whether or not they were actively attacking her.

This had to stop. Regardless of what happened to Ctuuri, she could not carry on like this. They had to go-

Ferasans swarmed in from another door, carrying firearms- Sasha wouldn't stand a chance.

Weynik drew his own weapon, aimed and fired repeatedly, bringing down the Ferasans shooting at Sasha.

The remaining Ferasans who could flee, fled, leaving only Sasha and Weynik, and Nauveh and the Jem'Hadar, who had their weapons aimed at the Starfleet officers. The room was silent, but for the moans of the maimed around her, and the Vorta rose to her feet. "Well... that escalated quickly."

Weynik kept his weapon raised at them, as he carefully stepped over the bodies and body parts and approached Sasha, who had her own pistol aimed in their direction. "Lieutenant?"

She didn't answer, didn't look away from the remaining targets in the room.

Nauveh remained the picture of smug confidence. "I sincerely hope you have sated your desire for vengeance, young lady. If not, be advised that as quick as you and the redoubtable Captain Weynik might be with your weapons, my Jem'Hadar are at least as quick with theirs."

"Lieutenant Hrelle," Weynik repeated, following with a softer, "Sasha, their ships will be here in four minutes. We have to go. Don't let the Major's sacrifice be for nothing."

Sasha started unblinking at the Vorta... before aiming her weapon to the ceiling.

Weynik kept his eyes on the Jem'Hadar, but opened a channel. "Ajax, two to beam back, hurry!"

Nauveh smiled simperingly. "Victory is Life."

"You'll have neither," Sasha declared.

And fired shots into the transparent canopy overhead.

The Jem'Hadar fired energy bolts at them in response, but already the transporter beam had taken hold of Weynik and Sasha, slipping them into another quantum state. But Weynik could still see, see the bullets from Sasha's gun shatter holes, the holes joining and multiplying into fragments that blew outwards into space, the explosive decompression taking the no-longer-smiling Vorta, the Jem'Hadar and the dead and dying Ferasans around them up into the void with a roar-

-And then he was stepping down from the transporter platform, tapping his combadge. "Bridge! Get us out of here and back to the Fleet! Maximum Warp!" He felt the ship lurch and jump into warp almost immediately.

Then he noted the Transporter Chief's look of astonishment past Weynik.

He turned to see a blood-spattered Sasha standing there, the pistol dropping out of her left hand to hit the platform, but the sword remaining fixed in her right hand, shock and exhaustion calcifying her expression as she stared at nothing at all.

Weynik turned back to the Chief. "Wait outside. Nobody comes in here. Nobody. Understood?"

The Chief nodded. "Aye, Sir."

Weynik watched the young Bolian depart, and turned back to his Second Officer, approaching her cautiously. "I'm so sorry about Major Ctuuri, Sash. He was a good, brave man. We could not have escaped without him."

She swallowed, still staring at nothing as she responded in a hoarse voice, "I- I have to get a report to the Caitian Planetary Navy- inform them of his loss-"

"I'll take care of that."

"And- And the antiproton scanner the Dominion gave the Ferasans- the Caitians need to modify- modify the resonance frequencies-"

He reached out and took her hand, his voice gentle. "Sasha, it's over. Stand down."

His touch seemed to sap her remaining strength, and she sank to her knees. "He's- He's gone- I- I couldn't save him- I was too late- too late..."

Her subsequent words collapsed into sobs, horrible raw sounds softened with Weynik's hold around her.

*

Weynik kept his composure as he faced the two individuals on separate screens, but though he knew they were light-years apart in their respective headquarters, the tension between the two made him feel like one of them was ready to leap across and attack the other.

No guesses as to which would attack first.

Admiral Ian Trenagan, Head of Starfleet Intelligence, with a head of swept-back snow-white hair, broad nose and Shakespearean style of speech, leaned back in his chair and regarded Weynik. "Well, I can't say I'm not disappointed in your performance, Captain."

Weynik mirrored his pose. "Well, I can't express how your disappointment makes me feel, Admiral."

"You turned a simple reconnaissance mission into a crisis that almost cost you your ship, your crew and your life. And gained us nothing in terms of Intelligence."

On the other screen, Fleet Captain Ma'Sala Shall grunted, the ink-furred older Caitian female offering a hint of fang. "You need to eat more prunes, Admiral, it'll help with that constipated outlook of yours. The Ajax confirmed that a preliminary meeting was arranged between the Ferasans and the Dominion, that technology had already been exchanged... and that he escaped with his ship and crew intact, unlike the Blacktalon."

Trenagen's face tightened with a barely-concealed contempt. "Such slovenliness of attitude may be acceptable in the Caitian Navy - and the Caitian Secret Services - but not in Starfleet. As for you, Captain, your report regarding the events onboard the Blacktalon following your rescue is minimal to the point of non-existent. Particularly involving the actions of Lt Sasha Hrelle."

Weynik saw how mention of the young woman's name made Fleet Captain Shall bristle; he knew the Caitian was Sasha's grandmother, of course, but so far it had not been overtly stated during this debriefing. "There really wasn't much to tell, Admiral. Lt Hrelle sent a Security team to rescue myself and my other Bridge officers, and went in search of Major Ctuuri in the Main Hall of the Blacktalon, she discovered he had been butchered by the Ferasans, and the situation... deteriorated. I arrived to assist her, we beamed away. End of story."

Trenagan arched a white eyebrow. "Indeed? Because my own Intelligence reports indicate she took it upon herself to forget Starfleet protocol and challenge the Ferasan Pridemaster to a duel... with a sword... and then went on to slaughter him and half of his Pride."

Weynik stared neutrally. Do you have a spy on my ship, you long stream of piss?

The Admiral continued. "Word has already spread among Ferasan channels about a Tailless Cub that ruthlessly invaded the Eukanna Prideship and nearly wiped out their entire line, along with the representatives from the Dominion. Given Lt Hrelle's singular fixation on Caitians, one can only assume they are referring to her. Do we really need an unstable element like her in Starfleet?"

Weynik saw the angry reaction on Shall's face to his words, but decided to speak first. "Admiral, with respect, I don't give a damn what the Ferasans are gossiping about amongst themselves. They are a hostile power with a hostile history, and are seeking an alliance with our Enemy, and any mayhem they might have experienced, they brought down upon themselves.

As for Lt Hrelle, I have already given an account of the events on the Blacktalon, and I am not prepared to offer anything further... except to reaffirm that she has my full and unconditional approval and support for all her actions on this mission. She is a superlative young officer, and I am extremely fortunate to have her under my command."

Trenagan's brow furrowed. "Well, if Lt Hrelle is as outstanding as you claim, perhaps her skills might be better employed at Starfleet Intelligence Headquarters?"

On her screen, Shall bared her teeth. "And perhaps you should just reconsider that very foolish notion?"

"If I wish for your advice, Madam, I will solicit it. You have no authority over Starfleet matters."

The Caitian leaned in closer to her display camera, filling up the screen. "I believe we've already had a conversation about you interfering with my granddaughter's career, Ian. My kin are under my protection... and the Mother's Claws know where you sleep."

Weynik kept still, as if the two individuals were in the same room with him - Bloody Hemra, she's not just making idle threats - watching this tense interplay between people with an obviously long and contentious history.

Finally Trenagan focused on Weynik once more. "Captain, you and your crew will return to active duty with the Thirteenth Fleet with immediate effect."

"I will, Admiral... once we've met the Caitian escort ship, and returned the Prowl... and Major Ctuuri's possessions, to be forwarded to his next of kin. Fleet Captain Shall, I have included with them a letter of condolence, and a commendation for the Major. We could not have survived without his sacrifice. I understand Sasha is also writing to his wife and son."

Shall nodded politely. "Thank you, Captain."

Weynik turned back to Trenagen. "And Admiral, though most of my crew, including my First Officer, has recovered and returned to active duty, Lt Hrelle is on indefinite leave, and I will be delivering her to the Surefoot. She has worked tirelessly these last few months, and I find I have to push her into using up her accumulated leave."

"Oh?" Trenagen asked archly. "And is that the only reason for her absence from duty, Captain?"

Weynik shrugged. "In my experience, a Caitian needs no reason to want to be with family. Even tailless Caitians."

*

Sasha had started and stopped this message twelve times already. It took Lucky Thirteen to get the proverbial ball rolling, and now she didn't dare stop. "I only knew Tan for a few days, in his capacity as the one who initiated me as a Kaetini... and from the start, he made an impression with me, with his compassion, his warmth, his patience and generosity. And with how often he spoke of his family, with love and pride. He made me feel like I knew you without ever having met you."

Her expression sobered. "I'm not sure how much you will be allowed to know about the details of this mission, but I will say that, for what it might be worth, without his making a brave, selfless act, we would all have been killed, and an enemy of the Motherworld would have gained a new weapon we would not have been ready for.

His last words to me were a reminder of our responsibilities: 'No one is born a Warrior of the Great Mother. You become one the moment you decide to act instead of staying still. You become one the moment you decide to speak instead of staying silent. You become one the moment you decide to rise instead of staying seated. You become one the moment you decide to fight instead of staying safe.' He did not sacrifice himself without a thought to you both, because you never left his thoughts. He did what he did because of you both, and because of all the other partners and cubs out there who would be at risk without his taking action as he did."

She paused. "C'Ria: your father was so proud of your skills as a writer, how you were able to reach your readers with the right choice of words, and the truth you put behind them.

I lost my mother when I was younger than you, taken from me before I could ever tell her everything I wanted to say, before she could ever see me become the person I am. I had so much anger and rage and grief, and I kept it all to myself.

Don't make that mistake. Tell people how you feel. You have family and friends who will listen. And I will listen, too, should you wish to contact me. And if you don't feel like talking, then write about it. Don't keep it bottled up.

And know that if either of you need anything that I can provide, I will always be at your service-" She turned off the recording as her door chimed. "Enter."

Madison stepped inside, smiling affably. "I hope I'm not disturbing you."

"No more than usual, Cuddles." She moved to hug him, but then paused at his expression. "What's up?"

His broad chiseled face flushed. "I thought you might have had your hair regrown, and those scars and that pawprint removed, by now. But it looks like you've taken even more hair off."

She reached up, playing with the edge of the thick mohawk cut she had made of what was left of her hair, balancing out what she had lost on her right side. "I had considered restoring myself to look the way I did before. And no one would ever know what I went through. Except me. Things have changed for me, because of my becoming a Kaetini, because of what happened with the Ferasans. I want to show that change." She grinned. "Every girl is entitled to a new look, am I right?"

Madison made a sound of apparent agreement. He tried. He really tried.

And she sighed, half expecting this, and feeling nothing but sympathetic to him. "Jim... I'm complicated. I know I am. I have issues that I still have to work through... but I know that I will work through them.

But I also know that if you're looking for nothing more than some fun and games, then I'm definitely gonna be more than you signed up for. If that's the case, and you want to stop... whatever it is we have going here... I'll understand completely, and won't hold it against you. Not even when I forward your performance reports to Starfleet Command. Probably."

Madison regarded her, smirking. "Well... no one can accuse you of being boring."

"Very true."

His smirk blossomed into a smile. "Why don't we wait and talk about it when you get back from visiting your family?"

"Sure."

They stood awkwardly there for a heartbeat, before Sasha launched herself into his arms, feeling him embrace her back, touch her neck

[she tasted his blood sharp tangy felt her fingers dig into his eye sockets scooping out his eyeballs he screamed into her ear deafening pumping blood God God God]

She pulled back, composed herself, her breath quickening. "S-Sorry- a little jumpy-"

"No, no, I understand. I, ah, gotta go. See you before we get to the Surefoot, okay?"

"Okay." She shooed him away, trying to sound facetious, but failing miserably.

Alone again, the feelings were building up inside her. The pain she suffered. The pain she inflicted. The sounds of the guns and the screams and the smell of flesh and blood and and and-

She thought of returning to her Pummels and her punching bag, before settling for a round of Kaetini mantras and exercise movements. They helped. And helped without causing herself injury.

And on a whim afterwards, she returned to her desk and activated a new recording protocol. "Message for Inclusion in the Kaetini Archives, Temple of K'Gressir, T'Grerish Nein Province, Planet Cait.

Message Follows:

'My name is Sasha Hrelle, of Clan Shall, a Lieutenant on a ship in Starfleet. I was born of human parents from Earth, but from an early age the Great Mother led me on a path that has brought me here, to become the first non-Caitian Kaetini of this esteemed Order. It is an inestimable honour and responsibility I am still trying to fully understand, let alone accept my worthiness to hold.

I don't feel worthy right now, as the following account of recent actions will illustrate. But my mentor, my brother Kaetini, Tan Ctuuri, a kind and brave husband and father who paid the ultimate price for expressing the beliefs and ideals we all share, once told me that a Kaetini who calls themselves Hero is no Kaetini.

And as much as I want to make some grand, dramatic gesture and send back my sword to the Temple... I won't. If I'm not worthy now, I want to be.

And I will be...'

THE ADVENTURES OF THE SUREFOOT WILL CONTINUE...