Dolass System: Federation Space
Stardate: 53352.1
"Qu' batlh matlh je, Qu' batlh matlh je, Qu' batlh matlh je, Qu' batlh matlh je…"
Tigranian sat cross-legged on a flat stone underneath a bright blue-green sky. Qo'nos' sun slowly rose in the east on the endless horizon.
"Qu' batlh matlh je, Qu' batlh matlh je, Qu' batlh matlh je, Qu' batlh matlh je…"
The cliffs directly in front of him led down almost 50 meters to crashing waves below. He was dressed in a loose-fitting, black silk jacket and baggy black silk trousers. A group of five Klingon monks in an identical manner of dress sat in a circle around him.
"Qu' batlh matlh je, Qu' batlh matlh je, Qu' batlh matlh je, Qu' batlh matlh je…"
The group faced the ocean, but held their eyes closed and repeatedly bowed forward with the beat of their chanting.
"Qu' batlh matlh je, Qu' batlh matlh je, Qu' batlh matlh je, Qu' batlh matlh je…"
The captain clasped his hands together in front of him, a strand of black beads wrapped around his right fingers. A brass tIq ghob dangled from their end next to his wrist. He repeated the chant with a hypnotic rhythm over and over again.
"Qu' batlh matlh je, Qu' batlh matlh je, Qu' batlh matlh je, Qu' batlh matlh je…"
Tigranian had first read about the Monks of Eastern Islands several years before. They believed that chanting the "Daj qeylIS qaD," or the "Challenge of Kahless," over and over again granted them clarity, wisdom, and inner peace.
"Qu' batlh matlh je, Qu' batlh matlh je, Qu' batlh matlh je, Qu' batlh matlh je…"
For over eight hundred turns, members of their order have chanted the words, "Qu' batlh matlh je" or "Duty, Honor, and Loyalty," non-stop 26 hours a day in a plea to the Unforgettable to bring further enlightenment for all Klingons.
"Qu' batlh matlh je, Qu' batlh matlh je, Qu' batlh matlh je, Qu' batlh matlh je…"
Most modern Klingons decried them as backward mystics. Even Torlek wasn't very enthusiastic about their particular branch of faith, but something about their desire to strengthen their souls through meditation caught Daniel's attention.
Hoping for a little more peace and enlightenment himself, Tigranian had set a goal to chant "Daj qeylIS qaD," for at least an hour every morning before his day began. Surprisingly, it seemed to be working. At the very least, it cleared his mind and prepared him to meet the challenges this galaxy seemed constantly dedicated to throwing at him.
"Qu' batlh matlh je, Qu' batlh matlh je, Qu' batlh matlh je, Qu' batlh matlh je, Qu' batlh matlh je, Qu' batlh matlh je, Qu' batlh matlh je, Qu' batlh matlh je, Qu' batlh matlh je…"
The sound of a sea bird cawing over their heads preceded a cool sea breeze bringing the fresh smell of the salt air to his nostrils. Tigranian felt a small smile crawl across his face.
The monk's abbot slowly raised his left hand and rang a bell three times. It's deep, atonal sound echoed across the rocks around them. Tigranian opened his eyes and climbed to his feet. He turned towards the abbot and bowed deeply.
"May the spirit and example of Kahless the Unforgettable guide you through the trials of this life," the abbot said to the captain with a bow of his own. "Qapla'."
"Qapla'," Tigranian replied solemnly. "I may not see you for a few days, but I'll be back," he said turning towards the sky. "End program."
The far east of Qo'nos disappeared back to the gray, gridded pattern of the holodeck.
"Computer, time?"
"The time is 0657 hours."
Tigranian had just enough time to return to his quarters, shower, and change. He and Laria were due in sickbay at 0800 sharp. Alex and Annabeth would be waiting for him. This would be a day he remembered for a long time.
****
Laria and Tigranian entered sickbay together. Annabeth sat on an examination table in the surgical suite rubbing the back of her neck. Alex perched on a stool next to her making adjustments to a strange looking piece of equipment. It had two long silver arms jutting out from a central black box. Each arm terminated in a 30 centimeter long piece of square black plastic.
Everyone was in uniform. Even the miracle of new life wasn't enough to delay any of their duties to follow.
"Hey," Alex said jumping up and walking over to the Tigranians. "We're almost ready. Laria, if you want to have a seat…"
"No," she replied shaking her head. "I want to be a part of this to."
"Ok," Alex said with a nod. "You can stand right back here." She pointed to an open space behind the machine before turning to Tigranian. "Dan, can I get you over here?" Alex grabbed him and maneuvered him next to Annabeth's bed.
"Hey, Number One," he said trying to hide his nerves with a chipper attitude.
"Dan," she said wiping her sweaty palms on the sides of her black pants.
"Ok," Alex said adjusting to the arms of her machine. "This is it."
"Alex, what exactly is this thing?" Tigranian said looking at the device.
"It's a surgical transporter that's been modified specifically for this procedure. Tren helped me replicate it yesterday down in the cargo bay."
"So, he knows about this?" Annabeth said nervously.
"No," Alex said shaking her head. "He just knows that two members of the crew need some help conceiving. And even if he did, it's not like he's a stranger to four-party reproduction."
"However, I feel like the crew is going to start asking questions when they see the ship's first officer smuggling a beach ball under her blouse over the next few months…" Laria said.
"We'll cross that bridge when we come to it, L," Tigranian said.
"Are you ready?" Alex said looking at her wife.
"Ready…" Annabeth said as much to herself as Alex.
"Ok, then just lie back and relax," she said gently lowering Annabeth onto the bed. Alex leaned over and kissed her. "I love you so much. You are incredible."
"I love you too," Annabeth replied nervously.
"Ok, Dan," Alex said turning to Tigranian. "Stand right here and don't move." She maneuvered him over about a meter until he was standing directly to Alex's left. His heart was pounding but Laria's presence kept him steady.
Alex sat back down on her stool at the machine's controls. She was directly between Tigranian and Annabeth. She then reached up and grabbed one of the machine's arms. She positioned its plastic square directly over Annabeth's abdomen. The other arm's square went directly over Tigranian's groin.
He coughed uncomfortably as Alex adjusted it very close to his manhood.
"Do I detect embarrassment, Mr. Klingon Warrior?" the doctor said raising an eyebrow.
"No, no," he said trying not to make eye contact with Alex as she worked. "It's just this environment is not exactly what I picture when most couples try to conceive…"
"We're not most couples, Dan," Annabeth said still staring at the ceiling. "You should know that by now," she said with an awkward chuckle.
"I could go grab some candles," Laria said sarcastically. "Might help set the mood."
"No thanks, L," Tigranian said finally cracking a grin himself.
"Ok, got a good image from both of you," Alex said looking at a display. "Everyone still good to go?" Alex asked apprehensively. Three sets of eyes gave her an approving nod. "Dan, I need to stand very still. Otherwise you might have more beamed out of there than you'd like…"
"Just how much experience do you have with this procedure?" he asked nervously.
"I practiced on the holodeck a few times," Alex said devilishly.
"Great…" he muttered. Laria reached out and grabbed his hand. He looked at his wife and smiled.
"You might feel a slight tingle. It's ok, that's perfectly normal," Alex said reassuringly. She pressed a button and Tigranian's eyes grew wide as he felt the most unique sensation of his life. He gripped Laria's hand tighter and she laughed.
"I'm gonna have to buy this thing dinner tonight…" he said clearing his throat.
"Got a good sample in the buffer…" Alex said checking her instruments. Alex reached over and grabbed a tricorder. She pulled out the silver cylindrical probe and scanned Tigranian. "Good news, Dan," she smiled. "Everything's exactly where it should be. "Feel free to breathe again.
Alex then turned to Annabeth. "This is it." She reached over and took her hand.
"Do it," Annabeth replied staring into Alex's eyes. Without looking away from Annabeth's gaze, Alex keyed the final sequence. "Energizing."
Annabeth blinked as she waited. She felt a long, warm tingle inside her, and then nothing.
"Is something wrong?" Annabeth asked nervously as the sensation disappeared.
Alex picked up her tricorder again and scanned her wife.
"Captain Geist," Alex said slowly replacing the cylinder in the back of her tricorder. "I have some news you might want to brace yourself for…you're pregnant."
Annabeth bolted upright and wrapped her arms around Alex. Both of them were laughing as tears started rolling down their faces. Tigranian put his arms behind his head and took a gasp of air. He looked over to Laria with concern, but she was holding her hands in front of her face fighting back her own happy tears.
The two women looked over at her.
"Can I…can I" Laria said nervously, afraid to move any closer to their moment.
"L, get over here!" Alex said waving wildly. Laria joined in the embrace as the three women nearly jumped off the deck with excitement.
Tigranian looked at the group with a mix of joy and trepidation. He steepled his fingers as he contemplated how he had just taken part in making a new life.
"Alex," he began before he could stop himself. "Do we know what it is?" he asked as his own voice started to break. She paused and looked down at Annabeth.
"Daniel…" Laria said to him, unsure if he had crossed a boundary.
"Actually," Annabeth interjected. "I kinda wanna know myself."
Alex picked up her tricorder and brought up a chromosomal scan of the zygote. She blinked and looked back at both with a quivering lip.
"It's only one cell right now, but no genetic abnormalities or anything out of the normal. He looks very healthy…"
Tigranian covered his mouth one hand and grabbed Laria with the other.
"A boy?" Annabeth said in disbelief. "We're gonna have a son?" she said jubilantly looking at Alex, her tears starting to flow freely again.
"We're gonna have a boy!" Alex said hugging her wife again.
"We're gonna have a boy…" Tigranian silently thought to himself.
He looked first at Annabeth, still in Alex's embrace, and then over to Laria, still jubilant for her closest friends' good news. His insides cringed as he felt that somehow he was unfaithful to his wife, despite the fact she was next to him the whole time. Tigranian felt ecstatic and ashamed at the same time.
He didn't have long to ponder this thoughts.
"Stone to Tigranian," the wall mounted intercom chimed to life.
"This is Tigranian, go ahead," he said tapping his comm badge.
"Sir, you and Captain Geist might want to get up the bridge. Starfleet Command is signaling us on Priority One Channel. They want to speak to both of you immediately."
"Here we go…" Tigranian muttered. He turned to Alex.
"We're done here," the doctor said to reassure him. "I'll check her again this evening, but until then, Beth should just go about her normal business."
"It won't be her normal business," Laria said rolling her eyes. She turned to her husband. "Is there anything you want in the brig tonight? Something to read? Maybe a sandwich?"
"C'mon, L," Tigranian said. "We both know it can't be like that."
"Fine, be miserable," she muttered.
Annabeth nodded to the captain she was ready.
"We're on our way, Katie…" Tigranian said. Alex and Laria helped Annabeth to her feet before she and the Tigranians headed out to the turbolift.