Presentation

Posted on Sun Nov 20th, 2016 @ 10:40pm by Colonel S'er'in'e & Samanthia Akiashiro

Mission: Indomitable Will
Location: Quarters

Taking but the briefest of times to tour the station Mar'ess was satisfied though hardly impress with that her Warrior called a posting. Displeased that someone such as he should be 'wasted' in this place where she was confident she could find a posting more suited to his training and prestige.

"Where is Samanthia, the Human mated to Warrior S'er'in'e?" Mar'ess spoke to a console marked for general enquiries. She was here on an official function now so her personality had changed, her escorts stood patiently observant of their surroundings.

"Samanthia Akiashiro is located in her quarters. Deck 1403." The Computer replied.

"Take me there." Mar'ess spoke. Lights lit up on the wall spaces leading the way, a Turbolift did most of the work as they rode it along the spine of the massive station.

***Deck 1403***

The doors opened and right away they were faced with the Security Checkpoint. "I am here to see Samanthia, Mate to S'er'in'e. You will take me there." Mar'ess spoke.

Things heated up quickly when one of the guards also touched Mar'ess to stop her, the two escorts immediately went on the defensive standing between Mar'ess who had stepped back and Security. "No alien touches the Overseer unless she wishes it." These two escorts had served Mar'ess for nearly 21 years, the three of them had formed a unique relationship. Signals by a twitch of an ear, the way the tail curled a certain way, all relayed what Mar'ess wanted without verbal command.

Security Guard nodded, "You have my apology. But you must wait here till Miss Akiashiro signs you folks in before you're allowed past this checkpoint." Being cold and professional. Even though his hand did dropped closer to his side arm.

His partner manning the console watched with interest as he made a discrete call to get Samanthia. A brief exchange of words passed, then paused. The guard looked up at the three Caitians. "May I have your names please?"

"You are in the presence of Overseer Mar'ess of the Sha'lee'it Warrior Caste, we are her guardians." One guardian spoke while the other still ready.

"My Guardians bear no names, they protect, a name would identify them, for what they do that is something we avoid." Mar'ess spoke.

Once the names were given, the Security Guard resumed his conversation. Then he looked up at Mar'ess. "Please have a seat. Miss Akiashiro, Samanthia will be here shortly." He pointed to the lounge like chairs that surrounded the Central spine that housed the turbolifts and other important conduits that kept the station functioning.

Unamused but realising that there was no avoiding the situation Mar'ess sat with her guardians standing to each side of her observant and alert.

Several long minutes passed with the Security Guards from several checkpoints kept an eye on the visiting Caitians. Two of the corridors were busy with people and personnel coming and going. The last two, one which Mar'ess tried to access remained quiet and lifeless.

Samanthia appeared coming from the low lit corridor and paused at the Security Checkpoint. She was wearing a nice business dress outfit; pleated skirt that came mid-thigh, low heel mary janes, blouse under a feminine cut jacket. The Security Guard pointed out the trio of Caitians. "They came to see you."

Samanthia nodded. She moved passed the checkpoint and up to Mar'ess. "We meet again. You should've called ahead and I would've met you at the docking port, Mar'ess. I hope your flight was pleasant."

The Guardians knew Samanthia, images of her had been shown to them. "Samanthia." Mar'ess rose still having trouble pronouncing the name. "Perhaps we could speak somewhere privately." Her tone formal, almost regal in a way but she was in the presence of outsiders, face had to be maintained.

"As you wish," Samanthia motioned them to follow. "Your Security must turn their weapons over to Checkpoint Guards. Due to recent troubles with the station." She paused at the checkpoint and signed them in.

The Guardians surrendered the small blades they had within wrist and forearm guards. They were non to happy about it but with claws that were specially treated to remain sharp, they could handle themselves.

Once past the Checkpoint, Samanthia led them up low lit corridor showing the history of the Akiashiro back to the time before Star Travel was thought about, mixed in with well manicured plants and doorways leading off to private residence. They came to their apartment. "Please come in," Once the door was open to admit them.

The guards stood outside the door as Mar'ess had instructed but not before handing over a small box they were carrying. "I hope you are well." The doors closed behind her as soon as she stepped in. "How is our Warrior?"

"He has recovered from his ordeal after being stranded on a planet with the Captain. I was on my way to see him." Samantha spoke softly, "Please have a seat. Can I get you anything to drink?" Getting polite hostess bit out of the way so they could get down to business. "If you like, I can get you in to see him. So that you can give his mother comfort that as a mate I'm doing my best to take care of 'Our Warrior', my mate."

"No, thank you." Declining the offer of a drink. "Has S'er'in'e told you to expect me or why I am here?" Mar'ess asked. She doubted he did but on the off chance at least.

"Nooo-ah.. I take this isn't a social call either. But some sort of test to see I'm worthy to be his mate." Samanthia suspected this would happen sooner or later. She had read documentations where Non-Caitians had to take some sort of ritualistic test or trials to be accepted into the Caitian Society on equal terms. She gave a look around the main room of the apartment. The lighting was pleasant to Caitians and human alike. Some baby pamphlets still out where she had left it. Both Caitians and Human dietary stuff and care.

"No." Mar'ess placed the box on the table. "As a female you are free to choose who you take a Mate. Our Warrior, his position and prestige grants you privileges, rights and authorities. You have chosen a very worthy Mate, as you noticed when you came to our world a score of females were presented to him." She sat down, offered or not. "You have been with our Warrior for some time, we have news that you are planning for children." She opened the box slightly and pulled out a smaller box. "In this are herbs, you may boil them in water and drink. To you they may not taste well, but they will help your attempts when you begin them." Unaware that medication had already been offered.

Samanthia took a seat across from Mar'ess, yet within easy reach. She smiled at Mar'ess. "We've already taken steps in having children." She accepted the herbs anyways hoping they was compatible with the human physiology. She would have test done on the herbs before she took them. "Yes I've noticed when we did visit Cait, that there was a lot of feminine attention directed towards S'er'in'e. I am the one he favored over the others. Don't get me wrong. There are some very beautiful Caitian queens his gaze lingered on, but he chosen me to be his mate. And I him."

Samanthia settle back in her seat, watching Mar'ess. Letting her take in the view of how the common room was decorated. The Paw Print casts arranged on the wall amidst her selection of paintings and pictures. His cargo crate shelving that held Caitian scrolls and tomes along with her textbooks and Datapads. His big Lazy-Boy chair that accommodated his tail and physique. Glimpse of the kitchen past the divider that showed Caitian utensils neatly arranged amidst the more human sized ones. The easy co-habitation of both cultures and gender easily mixed to a well lived in look of occupancy. Both neither dominated yet shared an equal prominence in viewing. It showed he had an equal voice in their relationship and she was comfortable with it. She was relaxed in composure in the presence of Mar'ess, to curl her legs up next to her on her chosen seat with her shoes flopped carelessly on the floor before her chair.

"By being his Mate your position within our culture, Caitian or not comes with...benifits I believe would be the Human term." Mar'ess observed Samanthia. "On the Homeworld you have a sizeable estate, cared for by the province of residence while you are away. A monthly income to support you while our Warrior is on duty, while you are Human you are afforded what ever health care you require and support you should need." She paused to let it sink in. "Should you need aid to conceive, injury or later life then it would be granted you. With taking a Warrior as Mate you have a choice. You may bear children and raise them as a Human would any other, or you can take the path S'er'in'e took and be trained by the Caste. There is no pressure placed upon you to pick one over the other."

Hearing the perks from just being mated to S'er'in'e was very interesting. Having a stipend beyond the Akiashiro's control made her eyes widen a bit with interest. "I can claim this estate anytime I chose if I decide to leave here?" Samanthia asked a bit timidly as she gave thought to the implications of becoming a land owner. Even her parents never owned land. Not even when they lived on Earth. She was more attentive to Mar'ess.

"The estate is already yours. It was finalised a few standard days after you departed the Homeworld. His Father dutifully informed us you took him as your Mate and the rest was taken care of." She rose and walked to the wall mounted monitor. She produced an information padd from her sleeve and activated it, a few presses later and the information appeared on the larger monitor.

"The estate is quiet sizable for his rank and position. I have taken the liberty of translating the estate into Human terms for you." Mar'ess took a step aside allowing Samanthia to see.

Samanthia followed and moved to view the information. She worked the controls till she could see what the estate looked like from an Ariel view. "Can I exchange it for a coastal one?" Samanthia looked at Mar'ess. She remember her trip to Cait and they had some very beautiful coastlines and nice size waves for surfing on. She returned the controls back over to Mar'ess. This was looking very promising.

"Traditionally not, however with the use of the landing pad and the estate transport you can be at the waterline in little over 17 of your minutes." Mar'ess sat down again. "What are your opinions of our Caste ways? You know S'er'in'e was taken from his parents when he was very young to be trained, how do you feel about that?"

Samanthia returned to her seat and settled back down. "I'll have to discuss it with my mate. Normally I would be against it. But being his mate. He has much say in how we raise our children." She folded her hands in her lap and glanced at the time. "How much is this stipend will I be getting?"

Pulling the device from her sleeve she activated it again and handed it to her. "This amount each month for the rest of his life, then half upon his death. You retain property and benefits however." Mar'ess replied. "We have tried to convert it to your currency values. I trust it is sufficient?" She was not surprised by Samanthia's answer about the offspring as it came with being a non Caitian mated to one such as S'er'in'e.

When it came to matters of money, she became business like. Looking at the figures. Even the converted rates. She definitely could live very comfortably for the rest of her life. Maybe even with a few trips off planet to various other places in the galaxy. "This started when we became mates?" Glancing up at Mar'ess. Then began doing the calculations to bring everything up to date. "The funds are being held in escrow on Cait and earning interest? Or being invested?" She looked up at Maress.

"Started the moment we were notified of your accepting him." Mar'ess replied. "They are held on the Homeworld province account under your name. They will be available to you when you wish it, you will have to contact the account manager with these details to set up security measures." Then it came to the reason why she was here. "You will have noticed the items S'er'in'e wears on his ears. Do you know what they mean?"

"They display his status within his Caste and Caitian Community." Samanthia stated simply. "How much importance. Is much to my guess. And you being here. The stipend and estate just being his mate. I would make an estimate as being relatively high in the Caste."

"Indeed." She opened the box. "As per his position I am here to present you with this." Inside housed a headband. One that suited his ear sheaths. I hope it is in your size." She explained the purpose of the band, Mar'ess went into detail the importance of the piece and what it means not just for her but also S'er'in'e. "Now you understand why pressure was placed upon you by the presence of the unmated females."

Samanthia smiled at Mar'ess. "I had no worries about competition. It would've been his choice to chose another for his mate if he so desired it. And his duty ... Commitment with Fleet and being assigned here. I knew I had the upper hand or paw." Then her expression turned serious. "Don't get me wrong, I love the big cat. And now is mated for life." She looked at the headpiece jewelry and was impressed by the craftsmanship that went into it. "If it was for status, wealth or for breeding purposes to have strong off springs, any woman desires that if they can't be with the one they love." She paused and looked thoughtful. "I probably missed the meaning by a long shot as I'm not totally familiar with Caitian Culture. That would be my guess."

"I am also here for the purpose of obtaining information regarding the death of another, my information tells me our warrior killed him. Is this true?" Mar'ess spoke, planting the first brick on the road she was planning to walk on.

Samanthia lost interest in jewellery piece and the status being S'er'in'e's Mate. She became suspicious and from her relaxed position to a more feet flat on the floor seriousness business manner-like. "Get out of my house if you're trying to dig up dirt on my mate! It was a legit kill in any eyes of civilised law. He rose to the defence of females other than his race and myself when I was in the paws of the clawless one." Samanthia leaned forward in her seat to show she meant business. "And take your bribery with you." Then stood up and moved to the viewport with her back towards Mar'ess. Signalling the meeting was over with as she stood next to the console with her hand resting next to obviously an alarm button to bring security a running and a gunning. "Security will escort you back to the Central Section."

"Foolish girl." Mar'ess stood and lifted the box from the table after closing it. "You forget to whom you speak, pray to what ever faith you hold that this does not cost you anything further." Mar'ess then stormed out, guardians in tow.

Samanthia watched the three of them leave. She hugged herself, feeling the guilt rise within her at being reminded of the incident. It was clearly S'er'in'e had defeated C'real and honor had been restored. But she was the one that gave the order and it weighted heavily on her. She gave a soft growl once the door to the apartment closed between them.

Security had arrived from the quiet summoning to escort Mar'ess and her escort to the Central Section. They returned the weapons to the guards when they had passed the Checkpoint into the Central Section.

Samanthia left the apartment and took a different route to the lifts to go see S'er'in'e. He was going to get an earful about Mar'ess. She smiled, knowing that they will not be able to see S'er'in'e till she gave the word. Or his parents did. Or he himself did. And knowing his pride. He wouldn't let anyone see him in his current condition till he had a chance to make himself presentable.