Hot Pursuits, Part Two
Posted on May 17th, 2002 by T'Kirr

T’Kirr and Brad Ruder

Brad walked down the corridor with nothing, wearing nylon wind pants with a white strip up the side and his shirt, a cotton T-Shirt. His hair spiked back with hair gel. He had dressed casual, as was his custom. He rode the turbolift to deck ten, stepped off and went down the corridor to T’Kirr’s door. He nervously tapped the call button.

In her quarters, T’Kirr finished slipping into her casual dark green vest and black slacks, her favorite and just about only style she would wear when not in uniform. She walked over to Shurata lizard’s enclosure and watched it chew indifferently on its dinner of salad.

Brad, now anxious, pressed the button again…

T’Kirr turned, hearing the door. “Come in.” T’Kirr took a deep breath as the door opened. She would get past this as she did everything else. How hard could it be?

Watching the door open, Brad stepped into the room and saw T’Kirr. He smiled, simply because she was even more beautiful when not in uniform. Walking over to her he opened his mouth and nothing came out. Now embarrassed, he finally spoke, “I know you said no flowers, but I couldn’t resist on bringing them to you.”

T’Kirr lowered her eyes to his hands, searching for what she hoped he didn’t carry. Not finding anything, she created a puzzled expression. “I don’t understand.”

He tapped his combadge, “Computer, initiate transportation program Ruder Omega Delta 2.” Within a second or two, the Brinari Orchids appeared in his hands and he smiled. He handed them to her, hoping to see an emotional response.

He was certainly creative. T’Kirr straightened, but couldn’t hide the rise of her brows. “Creative, yet I am curious as to why you thought I would have changed my preference of the flowers’ location.”

“Taking artistic license. Try being a little less Vulcan for a moment, could you? Tonight is going to be fun and enjoyable, I want you to be able to like it.” He looked down at his chronometer and shrugged, “My Holodeck time starts in ten minutes, we should be going…after you…” Brad motioned towards the door waiting for the lady to go first, as was a gentleman’s custom for centuries.

T’Kirr stared at him for a moment, crossed the room and slipped the flowers in a vase, then started to exit. She thought to herself, “Perhaps you might try being a little less Human?” The reptile hissed as she walked past and out the door.

Brad stared back at the lizard thought to himself, “Is there a chance for me with her?” He walked out after her and down the corridor, and they came to the turbolift. The doors opened and he again waited for her enter. T’Kirr entered the lift without comment. He entered in after her. “Deck 9, Holodeck 2.” He muttered as the doors closed, obviously this would be a dull evening, but he could make it more interesting. “So, what family do you have?”

T’Kirr responded promptly. “My mother and father.”

Brad shrugged with impatience, “Would these mysterious parents have names?”

“My father, Vallin, and my mother, T’Ram.” T’Kirr forced her eyes >from the turbolift’s boring, but safe wall, to Ruder’s colorful, but dangerous eyes.

“Good, good. Any brothers or sisters?”

“No.”

Brad stood there a while, he wanted nothing more than to kiss her lips. He forced himself from doing so. He waited for her to ask him about his family, when she didn’t, he chimed in. “I have my father, mother, and a brother.” He looked to her to say something, but she didn’t. “Kegan, my brother is married. My mother, Karen is the greatest mom in the universe. Curtis, my stubborn dad, has his times.”

T’Kirr perked a brow. “‘Has his times’?”

“He is stubborn and feisty sometimes. Those are his times, you get away from him or you get walloped for it.” He looked down; talking of his dad made him unhappy. “My dad has a rare brain disease, there isn’t a cure. They give him about a year or two and he is gone.”

T’Kirr grew curious. “This disease causes him to become aggressive?”

Brad laughed, “On occasion, yes. Other than that it affects his memory a lot more often than it makes him violent.” The turbolift stopped on Deck 9 and Brad walked out ahead of T’Kirr, which was odd, not gentlemanly.

T’Kirr didn’t seem to notice. She followed Ruder to Holodeck 2, glancing about nervously, hoping no one would be passing them before they reached their destination. She had calmed a bit at the thought that the flowers were in her quarters, safely out of sight. Brad stopped at the holodeck’s doors and he waited.

“Computer, run program Theta 17 Gamma.” The computer program started and the doors opened, this time, he again motioned T’Kirr ahead. They entered a little street, with a cobblestone path. Ruder followed in T’Kirr and they gazed up a large hill. “The restaurant is at the top of the hill.”

T’Kirr nodded, grateful for the distracting sights they passed. She could already see that Ruder had put much effort into this program. “Impressive design. I have never been to this place on Earth.”

“The ancient Romans were one of the best architects of the time. Now the wonderful world of technology phases this part of the world. Kind of like every other part of the universe. All but a couple of things have been replaced.” He messed with his pants and then continued. “The Roman Coliseum was one of the Seven Wonders of the World. Now it is the only left.” Brad pointed to a huge stone structure to their right. “The restaurant is around the corner.”

T’Kirr looked up at the great architecture. “I have heard very little about the Romans, but from what I have heard, they were quite masterful in their creations with stone.”

“You bet, here we are.” Ruder stepped up to a little cafe. And waited for T’Kirr to enter.

She walked in and studied her surroundings. They were acceptable. T’Kirr’s eyes followed the fancy columns up to the ceiling, where great arches spanned between artistic paintings. The cafe had looked smaller from the outside. Leveling her eyes, she examined the exquisite red carpeting and dark, elaborate furnishings. “Very nice.”

He was glad she liked it, he pulled out the chair for her, hoping she would take it. T’Kirr met his eyes, as if to say ‘thank you,’ and sat. The richness of the place began to seep in, and she took a deep breath. Detailed program, indeed. Perhaps she would even enjoy the evening!

A waiter, fat and was definitely of Italian descent came up, “May I get either of you fine people anything?” He looked a T’Kirr. Brad smiled.

“I will take an Italian Soda, peach if possible. And for her…” Ruder looked over at her, now both were staring at her.

T’Kirr tried not to analyze the situation too much. She looked at the waiter. “I will have an ‘Italian Soda’ as well. Do you have blackberry?”

The fat waiter jotted something down on his notepad, “For a beautiful woman like you, we have anything you want.” He hand both Ruder and T’Kirr menus. “I will be back shortly for your order, call me if you need me.” With that, he walked away.

“Italian Sodas are good, you’ll like them.”

T’Kirr’s eyes followed the waiter as he left, then looked at Ruder. “I can tell you programmed him.” She wore the shy shadow of a teasing expression.

“Are you calling me fat?” He laughed.

T’Kirr gripped her menu, eyes confused. “Why would I refer to you as overweight when you clearly not?”

“Just a joke, lighten up.” The fat waiter walked up and put the drinks down, peach for Ruder and blackberry for T’Kirr. “Here you folks go, are you ready to order?”

Ruder adjusted his menu, “I am, what about you?” Ruder’s eyes gazed to T’Kirr.

T’Kirr again looked from the waiter to Ruder, then down at her forgotten menu. “I’m unaccustomed to what is generally served here.” T’Kirr opened her menu, unsure what the names listed meant.

“Can I suggest something?” Brad said as he clasped his hands on his menu.

T’Kirr looked up. “Of course.”

“Try the spaghetti. It is great. Pasta boiled and mixed with tomato sauce and other random vegetables.”

T’Kirr looked up at the waiter. “I’ll have that.” She closed her menu and set it gingerly on polished the marble table. The waiter picked it up with Brad’s menu and tucked it under his flabby arm.

“For the gentlemen, Spaghetti and Meatballs, and for the lady Spaghetti. Would you also like meatballs ma’am?”

She stared back at him. “No.”

“Are you sure? The meatballs go great with any pasta.” Ruder got up and looked the waiter in the eye, trying not to sound mean.

“The lady said no, please leave it at that.” The waiter looked threatened, “Of course, sir. Two plates of spaghetti, one with meatballs, coming right up.” T’Kirr raised a brow, wondering to herself if that had been programmed, finding Ruder’s overreaction quite amusing. She could tell he was enjoying himself. That would make two of them, but she kept alert and stayed on guard.

Ruder sat down in his chair, pushed it in, and resumed conversation. “So, are you enjoying yourself?”

“It is a pleasant atmosphere.” T’Kirr picked up her fork and examined it.

“It is an eating utensil.” The fat waiter walked up with two bowls of salad. “These are on the house, I apologize for pushing the meatball topic earlier.”

“Thank you.” Brad said as the waiter turned around and disappeared through a kitchen door. “Greens, right up your alley, huh?”

“Pardon?”

“Greens, salad, you eat a lot of it, don’t you? You are a vegetarian.”

“Yes, this should prove to be… an appetizing meal.” T’Kirr poked her asparagus carefully with her fork. Ruder finished off his salad quickly and watched T’Kirr eat. He felt weird watching her, but he saw something in her that he hadn’t seen in anyone in a long time. A fiery spirit. The waiter came and took the salad plates and replaced them with the plates heaping with spaghetti.

“Here you go, enjoy yourself.”

“Thank you.” Brad grabbed his fork and began spinning the spaghetti around, and then placed it in his mouth. T’Kirr sat still, studying her new meal resting heavily on her plate.

“I don’t believe I can eat all of this.”

Ruder smiled, “I told you to be ready to eat. If you can’t eat all of it, don’t worry. I don’t care, eat what you can. I won’t be offended or anything, I doubt I will be able to eat all of this either.” T’Kirr copied Ruder’s fork movements and made sure each forkful was the perfect bite-size. As she ate, she watched Ruder, wondering what he was thinking. He seemed to have quite an eager outlook on life, and even though his emotional ways seemed excessive, he didn’t hesitate to slow his pace when he outran her and show her respect. She had been annoyed about the flowers, but he seemed to know what she was nervous about, and the problem had been avoided by leaving them behind.

Ruder ate silently, watching her occasionally. He wanted nothing more than to hold her, like he had done to only one other person before him. He wanted her to be the next person. He played around with his food a little, and then stopped about halfway through the plate. “I am stuffed.” He gazed at T’Kirr, “How are you coming along?”

T’Kirr put down her fork, leaving a large helping left on her plate. “I think I’m finished, as well.” She looked up at Ruder.

“Good.” Ruder turned around and nodded to the orchestra behind him. They nicely began playing a Vulcan song. Kind of good for dancing, after all it was Vulcan. Brad turned to face her. “Would you care to dance?”

T’Kirr sat rigidly. “Vulcans don’t dance.”

“Would you like to learn?”

“No, thank you.” T’Kirr pulled her eyes away and looked out the large windows, trying to think of something to say to get out of the situation. Ruder looked back at the orchestra and they cut short, causing the dancing couple on the floor to quit dancing and return to their seats.

“OK, whatever works.” He raised his head as if to talk to the person standing behind T’Kirr, but there wasn’t anyone. “Computer, change the Holodeck scenery to the Waterside.” The computer changed the environment so that the two were along on a beach, the waves crashing onto the shore and the sea scent drifting towards them. A full moon lit the beach up. “I come here sometimes to think.” Ruder and T’Kirr sat next to each other on some rock near the water’s edge.

T’Kirr was surprised he had complied so willingly to her request, completely expecting a fight. She shifted as her new seat began to cool her, but the air was warm and satisfying, the light breeze welcoming. “It is very peaceful.” She looked around, confused, “Are we still in Rome?”

“Just outside, actually.” He looked down at his feet; “It is so peaceful. Great place to think.” He raised his eyebrow and turned to the Vulcan, “Wait a second, you enjoy something?” Brad laughed to himself.

T’Kirr looked at Ruder evenly. “Yes. Why, does that surprise you?”

Ruder nodded, “Actually, yes.”

She kept looking at him. “Explain.”

He smiled and got off the rock, slowly walking down the beach. He turned around and beckoned for her to follow him with a wave of his hand, “I don’t know, it just does.” T’Kirr nodded, discarding the subject, and rose from the rock, breathing the crisp, holographic air in deeply. She took her time catching up to Ruder, watching the waves. Brad waited for her to catch up to him and began walking with her down the beach. “Are there any oceans on Vulcan?”

“Yes, though they are small compared to those of Earth’s.”

“An ocean is ocean, I guess. No matter how small.” Brad continued walking down the beach.

T’Kirr felt herself compelled to go into the details of the biological differences. “The oceans of Vulcan, due to their smaller sizes, have quite a different ecosystem. Even though there are fewer species, there is a larger ratio of carnivorous animals due to territorial confrontations.” She looked out at the ocean again. “Earth’s oceans are…quite a bit more scientifically interesting.” Brad nodded, he kind of knew what she meant, but he didn’t really care about ecosystems.

“What about the beauty? Which do you think is more attractive?” He asked, gazing towards her.

T’Kirr turned, still walking alongside him. “There is something nostalgic about the waves slipping along the great sand dunes of our few beaches, but as for under the sea, I have found Earth’s oceans to be far more…colorful.”

Brad shook his head, “No, I want to know which one is more beautiful. Could you find yourself staring into them mindlessly? Which is more soothing, which is more attractive, not by scientific definitions. >From your preference.”

T’Kirr stopped, “Mindlessly?”

“You know, without thinking. Like you find yourself staring at something, without thinking about it. Which one could you do that to? Earth or Vulcan?” He looked at her, almost mindlessly himself.

T’Kirr blinked. “Neither.” She paused. “I believe I explained my preference of Earth’s oceans. I apologize if I was not clear.” T’Kirr gazed at him for a moment, then softly drew in her breath, looking across the expanse of sand separating them from the city. “I have an early shift, and should retire soon. I enjoyed the dinner. Thank you.”

Brad nodded, “Of course, my pleasure. Computer, end program.” The computer beeped in acknowledgment as the scenery around them faded away. The sterile gray walls of Holodeck 2 rose around them and he motioned T’Kirr to the doors of the holodeck. “Ladies first.”

T’Kirr tottered a bit as the shifting sand became solid under her feet, then walked to the recently materialized bay doors.

The two walked up to her quarters, nicely localized on Deck 10. He motioned to the door. “It was a pleasure spending the evening with you.”

She cocked her head a little. “Agreed. Perhaps we can dine another time.”

Brad nodded again, “Sounds like a plan.” Brad grabbed T’Kirr’s hand gently, kissed it gingerly and smiled at her. “I look forward to it, I will see you later then, goodnight.” With that, Brad turned around and walked down the hall. Leaving T’Kirr at her quarter’s door.

She stood, watching Ruder walk away, stunned. An unfamiliar flush tingled on her face, and she wasn’t sure exactly what it was. She felt intruded upon, disliking such contact with her hands, but quickly buried her reaction, knowing he probably had no idea. It was probably a Human custom. She would research it later. T’Kirr turned and entered her quarters for the night, confused, yet fascinated.