Posted by Civilian Runa Siff McKenzie (Teacher) in Earth - What Part of ‘Get On The Ship’ Do You Not Understand? (Tag Runa McKenzie)

Posted by Civilian Capall McKenzie (Colonial Intelligence Agent) in Earth - What Part of ‘Get On The Ship’ Do You Not Understand? (Tag Runa McKenzie)

Posted by Civilian Runa Siff McKenzie (Teacher) in Earth - What Part of ‘Get On The Ship’ Do You Not Understand? (Tag Runa McKenzie)
Posted by… suppressed (9) by the Post Ghost! 👻
snip

A woman came through the door, light brown hair and a complexion that looked like she was in the sun a lot, but a huge smiled, “Lady Runa!” She took a deep breath and walked over and hugged Runa, and then looked at Ashran, “Susie said you asked for me.”

Ashran waved a hand, “This is Lord…Mr? I am sorry I did not catch the title. Capall McKenzie. Lady Runa’s husband. We have an idea that he couldnuse your help with. Marissa took a seat on the opposite end of the couch from Ashran. “How can I help?”

Runa

“Mister is fine by me.” Capall said. He looked at Marissa and said “I am going to be designing some holodeck programs for the instructors. Ashran says you have an eye for detail and thought that might be something you are interested in. If you would like to assist, I would welcome the help.”

Capall McKenzie

Marissa nodded. “Of course. I’m happy to help. I haven’t done more than play around with programming, but I used to be a program tester. I’m pretty good at spotting things others might miss.”

Marissa

Capall nodded. “Good. We are starting as soon as the instructors get me their requirements. When they start arriving, I’ll let you know and meet you in the holodeck. That work for you?”

Capall McKenzie

“Yes, thank you.” Marissa started to get up.

“We are going to teach the children camping skills. Can you help Mr McKenzie recreate our campsite?” Ashran asked.

“Oh I think so. I have some pictures from our trips too if that will help.” Marissa paused looking concerned. “This won’t be saved anywhere else will it? It could be used to identify location if we make it exact.” She looked at Ashran, “similar setting would be okay? We are safe, but people back home…”

Ashran reached over and patted her hand. “Similar will be fine. I am more concerned with the equipment and environment than recreating home.” Marissa nodded and the tension dissipated. “Yes I can do that.”

Ashran and Marissa

He nodded and said “Absolutely. But just so you are aware, I have isolated and locked down all Clan records and systems from the outside. You can create anything you want. The only people that can access the files are us, and you have nothing fear from anyone on this ship. I promise you that.”

Capall McKenzie

Runa nodded, “If he says it’s secure, I promise it is. He is kind of brilliant at it.” Marissa gave Runa a half smile. “Old habits. We are ready, or we think we are, but I think it will be harder than we thought.”

Runa thought it would, “Who all came?”

“Myself, Marissa, Kelsey, Paul, and Caitlyn for the adults. And then Susie, Aiden, Oyne, Krezik, Polly, and Tamara for the kids,” Ashran listed off.

“Susie looks good, Ashran. How are you two doing?” There was an hint of an ache there. “We are making our way together. I miss Janna every day, and Susie does more so. But we have each other.”

“Mr McKenzie would you be willing to let one of the children help? Aiden is really, well I don’t know if he is good with computers and programming, but he likes them. He prefers them to people.”

Runa

“Keeping in mind that might be detrimental and to not let him go overboard, absolutely.” Capall said. “And I may even have some files he can read that will teach him some things. I’ll have to look.”

Capall McKenzie

“Oh I agree, but I hope putting that interest to work might help him come out if his shell. I want to say he is shy, but that isn’t really the right word. He however wants to start school with the other children.” Marissa said.

“He is the oldest, he wants to set the example. He knows the others are nervous and he is trying to act like it’s no big deal,” Ashran explained. “Well what else can we do or answer?”

Runa

Capall said “Well… how about we go slow. Engage where you feel comfortable. And we will reasses in a month or two. I will say that the closer we get to Oed V, the more we will need from everyone. So while I don’t want to force anyone to participate and assist, at some point it is going to have to happen. We have some time right now. We can go a bit slow. But make sure all of your people know… everyone is nervous right now. And scared. And feelinga bit lost. Right now, everyone out there is closer to you than you might think. That’s a solid bit ‘a common xground for ya ta build on. Just a thought.” Capall looked around and then stood and held out his hand. “Sir, it has been a real pleasure meeting you. If you or anyone here needs anything… anything at all… please let Runa or myself know.” He looked at Marissa. “I’ll send you word when I’m ready to start. It’ll be some long hours in the holodeck, so be prepared… okay?”

Capall McKenzie

Ashran stood and shook his hand. “The pleasure is ours. And congratulations to you both.” He offered Runa a brief hug, “Now I better go make sure Susie hasn’t replicated gallons of chocolate and gummy bears for lunch.” He chuckled and headed toward the back. Marissa nodded, “I will be ready. It will be good to do work I used to do.” She shook Capall’s hand and then Runa’s. Runa led them out the door and when the door closed she removed the shall from her hair back to her shoulders.

Runa

He looked at her as they walked down the passage. “So the shawl. What is the significance?” he asked they got the lifts. The doors opened and he selected the Lounge.

Capall McKenzie

Runa waited for the doors to close, “Susie was kidnapped by a woman with blonde hair. Her grandmother actually. I always try to cover my hair when I see her. That won’t happen in life, but at least in her home, I can give her that understanding.” Runa leaned back against the wall as the lift moved. “She was doing better, in fact she rarely got frightened or noticed, but then Janna, her mother, died and the fear came back.”

Runa McKenzie

“Do the people see a therapist? A counselor? They need professional help if they are going to process all that.” Capall said. The doors opened to the Lounge…

And to chaos.

Runa started to answer him, but the words died as the doors opened and she cursed in several languages.

Shouting and curses flew back and forth around the room. Red faced McKenzies and Edmans yelled obscenities at other groups of mostly McKenzies, with a few Edmans backing them up. A shrill and painful whistle cut through the din. Capall pulled his fingers from his mouth and yelled “Oi!!! What in the Nine Hells of the Abyss is going on in here?!” and he stepped forward and glared at the clan members. “We don’t answer to you!” yelled one of the mainly McKenzie group. “THE HELL YOU DON’T YA WEE BASTARD!!!” yelled back another from the McKenzie-Edman group. The yelling, cursing, and threats started spewing again until a table went flying through the space between the groups. Capall was pissed. “Alright ENOUGH!” he yelled and then glared at the McKenzie group. “I knew this day was gonna come. But I didnae think ye’d be stupid enough to pull it on a starship!” His accent came in thick and he started to sound more like Seamus than anyone else. “Fine. I’m done tiptoe-ing around this. Ye nae wanna listen ta me? Ye name trust Chief Michael McKenzie to make these decisions? FINE.” He looked at Runa and said “Record this and send it to Michael. No matter what.”

Runa already had her micro PaDD out, getting shots of every single person in the room. She was pissed and as her eyes landed on people they all looked away. There was a firr in her copper brown eyes that was near impossible to look at.

He turned back and looked at rhe crowd that was refusing him. “Clear a space. I’m settling this. MOVE! MAKE ROOM!” he bellowed and began shoving tables and chairs until others grabbed them and moved them out of the way. Capall looked at the dissenting group. “Right of Authority. Right here. Right now. I claim the right to represent Chief Michael McKenzie. I claim to act in his stead for the betterment of Clan McKenzie and Edman. If anyone denies my authority, step the f#ck forward.” There were rumbles from both sides and finally one of the McKenzies and an Edman stepped forward. “You want authority over both, you fight both.” The speaker was one Hagril Edman, a big burly Edman who worked for the horse keepers. “Aye.” said the McKenzie, Russell McTavish, who was married to Capall’s cousin Mary. Capall eyed the two men. “Agreed. Victor speaks for Chief Michael. Come on, bring it.”

The two men looked at one another. Capall wasn’t tall like Seamus and Michael, but he was built. Many didn’t know, or remember, he was also one of the best collegiate wrestlers in the British universities. So, after nodding to each other, Russell and Hagril rushed Capall…

Who promptly dropped to his knees and punched both of them simultaneously in the nethers.

Hard.

The two men stopped as it hit with a tractor beam; and then slowly and quietly fell to their sides on the floor, whimpering. Capall stood up and looked at the two groups- one now smiling and trying not to laugh and the other trading looks of shock, anger, and resignation. “We done here? Anybody else wanna have kids with flat faces?” and rhe pro-Capall group laughed loudly. The other group glared… but then one said “No… Sir McKenzie. The Right has been claimed. We follow you.” Capall walked over to the speaker, an older McKenzie who had been a quiet supporter of Capall’s father, and said “We’re done? Finally? You are going to be a productive and supportive member of this clan from now on? Your word on that?” and he held out his hand. The older man took a deep breath and said “My word.” and shook Capall’s hand in promise.

It was like all the tension in the room and all over was suddenly sucked out of the ship. The man nodded as he shook Capall’s hand, and few from both sides reached across the divide and shook and apologized for threats and slights against the other’s mothers.

Capall walked back to Runa and said “I really need a drink.”

Sir Capall McKenzie

“Go get one.” Runa’s eyes flicked back to the room, she spoke softly, but it carried in the silence. The voice of the shaman. Each word was like a jolt, it carried power, felt by everyone, and not one woman in the room, Edman or McKenzie, would meet her gaze. “Maidens you took an oath to Revna and Mike, to Ragna and Seamus, to me and Capall. More you took an oath to clan. ONE clan. To protect and keep peace.” She pointed at Moira and the little girl tucked behind her legs. Rhen she scanned the room again, every woman, every man, “Your children are watching. You all should be ashamed, I know I am.”

Runa McKenzie, Clan Shaman

Capall looked at the crowd, the McKenzie men in particular, and said “It should never have come to this. And to be honest? I’m not even mad at ya.” and he sighed. “I guess… I guess I just expected better from all of ya.” and he shook his head and walked into the lift, selecting the floor of his and Runa’s quarters.

Capall McKenzie

All Runa could think of was Ashran and Marissa and Susie and the rest, and the utter damage, fear and distrust such a scene would cause. She shook her head and turned and walked out of the lounge behind Capall and slipped silently into the lift with him.

Runa McKenzie

“We are going to our room. We are taking off our clothes. We are breaking open some mead. We are getting drunk and having fun until we pass out.” Capall said matter-of-factly. “And not necessarily in that order.” He looked down at her and said “But I will say… punching those idiots felt really good.” and he laughed.

Capall

Runa was staring at her PaDD and typing away at it. The other four would soon have the video arriving in their inboxes. She tapped send and looked up at him. “Oh I bet it did. Do you wanna see it in slow motion?”

“We may need more mead from storage. I don’t know if we have enough to get drunk with. We need at least 6 bottles.”

Runa McKenzie

Capall smirked. “When I did my risk assessment of this trip, factoring in sociological and psychological changes from Earth to the ship to Oed, this situation came up as a statistically high probability. So… we have three cases in the crate storage next to the room.” The doors opened and he stepped out and went down the passageway to the door past their quarters and opened it, walked in, and came out with a case of twelve earthenware bottles. He looked at Runa and said “Step one. Step two is nudity.”

Capall McKenzie