Rendezvous - Chapter 21

                                                CHARLEMAGNE BOLIVAR 



Free Enterprise  -  Rendezvous - Chapter 21


Tyr remembered that Haxhis was a habitually early Katay. She may have told him four hours, but she would definitely arrive a half hour early. That is why he was sitting in his command chair and waiting three hours and fifteen minutes later.

He was sprawled and casually spinning his knife in his right hand. The wicked looking implement had something akin to an ancient handgun's trigger ring on it. So, he was spinning it like a six-shooter. All crew members, Nietzschean, Human, and the like stayed far away from Tyr when he did that.

At exactly three hours and thirty minutes, Ensign DeMato sang out.

“Sir! I have multiple signatures on long range scanners!”

“Identify.” Tyr said, as he stood, swung and put up his knife with the same efficiency as an Old Earth gunslinger. Billy The Kid, Bat Masterson and Doc Holiday would've been proud.

“Starfleet vessels, Sir. The Eclipse, The U.S.S. Bonaventure, The U.S.S Ticonderoga, The U.S.S. Sun Zui, The U.S.S. Diadochi, The U.S.S. Dauntless, and The U.S.S. Orion.” Ensign DeMato called out. For once he wasn't a nervous wreck, even though he was the center of Captain Anasazi's attention. Therapy was working. . . .

The Eclipse was a Defiant Class vessel and Haxhis' personal flagship. The Bonaventure, Ticonderoga and Sun Zui were Nova Class Vessels. The Diadochi, The Dauntless and The Orion were Voyager Class vessels. More than enough firepower for a private little war.

“We've reached hailing distance, Sir.” Ensign Joanna Sachs, the helm officer called out.

“Hail the Eclipse.” Tyr ordered, he faced the main viewer in a parade rest posture. The view promptly changed from the stars to a giant cats face. Actually, Haxhis looked like a lion, a smaller more feminine version of an Earth male lion, with a smaller mane which Haxhis had neatly braided.

“Hail, Captain Tyr Anasazi out of Victoria by Barbarossa, of the Kodiak Pride!” Haxhis exclaimed.

“Hail Fleet Admiral Haxhistasa of Pride Capricorn!” Tyr exclaimed, topped off with a Nietzschean fist over the heart salute. Tthe Katay had twelve main Prides which were named after the Zodiac.

“Hail and well met, Captain. We will beam over in five minutes.” Haxhis replied, then cut the connection. Tyr snapped out orders, leaving Gilgamesh the comm, as he, Khan, and Tamarra boarded and rode down to the main transporter room.

During the ride Khan started grooming his face. To the Katay public grooming is considered rude and therefore taboo. But, Khan was nervous, and starting licking his right paw and washing his face. . . . . . .

“Khan!” Tyr hissed, at his friend. Khan froze with his tongue still poking out of his mouth.

“Ops! Sorry, Sir!” Khan apologized. He blinked and self consenciously put his right paw down. Tyr rolled his eyes and remembered whom was dealing with. A giant feline. Even though Khan was Human sized and intelligent, he still possessed the same instincts as a common Earth house cat.

“I wonder what would happen if I tossed him a ball of yarn?” Tyr wondered, as the lift stopped. They were about to debark, but Khan held Tyr back, allowing Tamarra to go ahead and hurry down the corridor alone.

“Here's where you will meet the competition.” Khan said, to Tyr.

“Competition . . . . . . . . . for what?” Tyr asked. Khan stared knowingly at his Nietzschean friend. Tyr's expression hardened.

"It had better not be Tamarra . . . ." Tyr rumbled.

“As we Katay like to say: You should've scent marked her.” Khan continued. Referring to the ancient Katay custom of claiming a mate by scent marking them. Once that was done, it was a warning for all competitors to stay away.

However, with Nietzscheans, if two or more Alphas liked the same would-be-matriarch, they would challenge one another, fight for her, and the victor would get to have her. If she wanted him. Since Nietzschean society is matriarchal it would be her choice. So, it wasn't uncommon for the intended matriarch to leave both loser and victor in the dust . . . . ., for a totally different Alpha.

“Have you at least told her you were interested?” Khan asked.

“The circumstances have not been conducive . . .” Tyr started, as they strode down the corridor.

“That's too bad. Those words would have bound her to you. Now, you will have to defend your assets.” Khan warned. Tyr frowned as every one of the tiny hairs on his neck stood on end.

Personally Tyr didn't need that kind of crap right now because he had other issues to deal with. He was looking forward to finally settling the Team Solon problem, plus, the reunion with his old instructor and friend.

Tyr inwardly sighed and resigned himself to jealously guarding Tamarra like a junk yard dog for the duration, until the so-called competition took their leave. Such was the life of a male Alpha Nietzschean. . . . . . . .


* * * * * * *

They arrived and met Lt. Commander Anol plus two of her people already in place. All stood at parade rest until the beaming process started. Then all stood at attention.

Before they even finished beaming in Tyr saw him. Whom ever he was, he stood out among Haxhis' party.

Once they coalesced, the Fleet Admiral and her staff stepped down, they greeted each other and there were introductions all around. She was very gracious to Khan, and Khan did not faint or fall to the deck, nor did he simper, fawn, or make an ass of himself.

But, before they were even introduced, the two Alphas gave each other the “stare down”. That slow calculating look two combatants give one another to assess each others strengths and weakness. Trying to decide whether "I can take him" or "He's not worth my time.".

Mister Tall, Dark and Handsome was the same height and weight as Tyr and just as muscular. Alphas were the crème de la crème of Neitzscheans and thus looked it. All Nietzscheans looked like models for weightlifting and body building holovids, but, there was something very special about Alphas. They had a little extra. They had to in order to attract the best possible mate.

“This is Charlemagne Bolivar out of Athena by Ceaser of Pride Jagaer. He is Captain of the Eclipse,” Fleet Admiral Haxhis introduced, as she pulled her whiskers back. For she recognized the rivalry right away. The electricity crackling in the atmosphere was almost visible, it was so thick.

“Oh . . . . .my. . . . . .God. . . . !” Tamarra thought, as she raised her right eyebrow and gazed coolly at Captain Bolivar.

He was dressed in the same modified version of a Starfleet Captains uniform, which showcased his superior muscle structure, and made allowances for his boneblades. This was Tamarra's first official experience dealing with an Alpha Nietzschean other than Tyr. As if dealing with Tyr was not enough! There was too much Nietzschean testosterone in the room!

“My! What have we here?” Charlemagne thought, and smiled to himself as he and Tamarra were introduced.

“Grrrrrrr!” Tyr thought. If it weren't for their present company, he would've growled and bellowed an open challenge to Bolivar for Tamarra. But now was not the place nor time. So, all Tyr could resort to was "the evil eye" as the good Captain Bolivar checked out Tammara.

“Houston. We have a problem.” Khan thought, and watched the maneuvering and posturing between the two men.

Just then, Tamarra did the unexpected. She tucked herself behind Tyr and stayed there, reminding Khan of how Katay kits hid under their mother when frightened. In essence Tamarra was proclaiming to Charlemagne that Tyr was her protector.

“Good girl.” Khan thought to himself. Charlemagne would leave her alone, for now. That was until he figured exactly what kind of relationship she and Tyr had, other than professional.

“Then Charlemagne will be back with a battering ram and Tyr will be forced to give him a beat down . . . ."

“I would like to see the prisoners.” Haxhis said, to Tyr. Interrupting Khan's train of thought.

“Right this way, Ma'am.” Tyr replied, and led the party out of the Transporter Room to the nearest lift.