Posted by Lieutenant Toveka Brine (Chief Science Officer) in Side Sim - You’ve Never Seen A Dance Like This (Tag CSO)

Posted by Lieutenant Commander Charles Tenkiller (Chief of Security) in Side Sim - You’ve Never Seen A Dance Like This (Tag CSO)

Posted by Lieutenant Toveka Brine (Chief Science Officer) in Side Sim - You’ve Never Seen A Dance Like This (Tag CSO)
Posted by… suppressed (7) by the Post Ghost! 👻

<snip>

The man was nowhere to be seen. Soon, the dancer stopped and a few older men and Tenkiller moved to the center of the circle. Each man wore a necklace similar to the one Tenkiller wore. As they stood in a semi-circle a single teen boy, the first one to speak to Toveka in the crowd, walked toward them. He stood proud and looked very serious. The older men and Tenkiller said something to him, he responded, and the back and forth went on for some time. Then the men conferred, backs to the adolescent.

A few minutes passed, and the teen went from serious to visibly nervous. Finally, the men turned around and handed the teen a small leather pouch on a strip of leather. He nodded and put it on his neck, and then turned and walked a few steps forward. The eldest of the men looked out at the crowd and said “I give you Eric Two Bears.” and the crowd cheered.

Tenkiller

She watched in fascination once more as the young man received his name. She glanced at Donna and spoke softly to not intrude on the ceremony. “Forgive my question, I don’t mean to offend. But is Tenkiller the family name or the one he received at a similar ceremony?”

She watched him as they introduced the newly named adolescent and smiled as she imagined him as the nervous one, shuffling his feet, fearing, for just a second, that he’d be denied.

Toveka

“For us it is both.” she said. “My maiden name is Red Corn. When I married that sack of gravel-” and she jerked a thumb at Cecil, “- I became Red Corn - Tenkiller.” Cecil kept his eyes forward but said “This sack of gravel can hear you. And you know you were damn lucky, woman. Now shush.” and he smiled.

Tekiller

Despite the harsh words, Toveka knew they loved one another. It was evident more in what wasn’t said than what was. “Thank you,” she whispered softer. “And I believe he was lucky as well,” she nodded to the woman in respect. Nothing short of two loving parents could have raised someone as unique and intriguing as the Security Chief.

She watched the remainder of the ceremony and lingered back as the group clustered together for thanks and congratulations. She occasionally looked for the stranger, but it was soon momentarily forgotten as she watched Ten interacting with the kids and families that were there for them.

Toveka

As the crowd started to thin, an alarm sounded. It sounded strange, like it echoed in a chamber… and it was then Tenkiller remembered they were on the Holodeck. He made his way to his parents and said “Hey… we have to go. Communications has to have their signal strength back.” His parents nodded and looked like they would cry… but not a tear was shed. Donna looked at Toveka. “Next time I see you, it better be in the flesh. And I look forward to it, girlie. You just watch out for my boy, here.” Cecil looked at her and smiled and said “It was an honor. I look forward to meeting you for real.” Both looked at Tenkiller and his mother said “You better call more often. Or we may just head out to that station of yours and smack your backside.” and Tenkiller laughed. “You got it, Ma. Promise. I love you guys.” and they nodded and said “We love y-“…

And suddenly they were standing in the black room with yellow grid… on a station millions of miles away. Tenkiller looked around and took a deep breath, then looked at Toveka. “Well… how was that for a second date… girlie?” and he laughed.

Tenkiller, CoS

She was smiling and nodding as the made promises. “I’ll do my best,” she replied to taking care of their son.

As the program ended abruptly, Toveka felt her breath hitch in surprise. Looking at Ten, she smiled and stepped towards him, her hands rising to feel the front of his jerkin. “It was amazing. Thank you. I hope it was enough time for the ceremony and nothing more is happening that you can’t do.”

She shivered slightly and glanced around. Then swiftly she was right back to paying attention to her man.

Her man… it was both a foreign and comforting thought, which for now she kept to herself.

Toveka

Tenkiller said “I need to go change. You wanna have dinner with me? C’mon back with me and you can wait while I change.” and he offered his arm as they made their way off the Holodeck.

Tenkiller, CoS

Toveka nodded and took his arm. “I’d love to.” She followed him off the holo deck and into the halls. Once back in his room, she released him and slid her boots off at the door out of habit.

They had been pleasantly silent and she broke it as the door slid shut behind her. “What name were you given as a child at that ceremony? I was just curious, but you don’t have to say if it’s not something others should know.”

Toveka moved towards him and smiled in understanding for either way his response went.

Toveka

“Tahoma. It means ‘Giver of Water’.” he said and took her in his arms and kissed her. “I’m glad you enjoyed it. Now… let me change. Be right back.” and he released her and went into the bedroom.

Tenkiller

The sweep into his arms made get smile as they kissed. She nodded as he moved to the other room.

Once gone, she glanced around. Pictures… pictures! She wandered from cluster to cluster trying to see if she could find a clue to the man with the braid. There was something about him. And she had to figure it out.

Toveka

The pictures were scattered between paintings, but it wasnt long till she came across what appeared to be a family photo. In it, she could recognize Donna and Cecil, but they were much younger. In front of them were six children of varying age. A child that she could recognize as Tenkiller… but he was probably ten years or so old, stood in the middle. But there… there he was… the young man who had spoken to her exactly as he looked to her not twenty minutes ago.

Tenkiller, CoS

Toveka found the picture and studied it. How? It was impossible!

She turned to face Ten’s bedroom. The second he came into view, she clocked her head in obvious confusion. “How? And who is he” were her questions. She wasn’t mad but she shivered once as she awaited his response.

Toveka
CSO

He looked at her with a confused expression of his own. “Huh? How who is what?” and he walked over to see what she was looking at. “Oh, that. That’s me, goof-ball.” and he laughed. He pointed to the picture and each individual person. “That’s my older sister Abigail. And that’s -” and he pointed to her mystery figure, “- is my older brother Oswego. Those are Lily and Gideon, the twins. And the baby is Mary.” Tenkiller looked at the picture and smiled. “Abigail live in Denver now, she’s a doctor. Mary just went to the Academy a year ago. Doing pretty good so far.”

Tenkiller, CoS

She pointed to his brother. “Ten, he was there. He stopped the kids and ran them off when they…” she shook her head. “Doesn’t matter. Anyway he said to tell you hi. Why would he say that? You were right there.” The was an edge of confusion to her words.

Toveka
CSO

Tenkiller looked at her confused and said “Huh? What are you talking about? Toveka… Oswego, Lily, and Gideon… Hun, they’re dead. They died my senior year of high school. Streptococcus… bad strain. Killed a few dozen folks in Pawhuska before anyone took note, really.”

Tenkiller, CoS