Hot Pursuits, Part One
Posted on April 4th, 2002 by T'Kirr

T’Kirr and Brad Ruder

T’Kirr sat at her table, passing another evening in the Lounge with a good book. All was silent, except for the quiet beeps as she turned the pages.

Ensign Ruder emerged into Ten Forward, another shift down the drain and he was ready for some grub. He looked around, but Jack Calahan must have left for the evening. He spotted T’Kirr sitting a table nearby reading a book.

Ruder soothed out the wrinkles in his suit and nonchalantly walked to her table and sat down and stared at her with some stupid smile.

T’Kirr lifted her eyes from her PADD, confused by Ruder’s presence. “Can I help you, Ensign?”

Startled by the coldness of her words he proceeded, “No, as long as you let me gaze into the abyss of your eyes. A man could get lost in there for hours on end.” He sort of smiled and it seemed as if he drifted into some dream.

Alarmed, T’Kirr almost showed it on her face. She couldn’t believe how frank he was for a Human, for they didn’t know each other that well. His intentions were obvious.

He closed his eyes and scolded himself internally. “Sorry T’Kirr. You look ravishing today. What are you reading? Vulcan Poetry? Vulcan Sonnets? Something else Vulcan?”

“I’ll take that creative metaphor as a compliment. You may… continue.” T’Kirr looked back to her book. T’Kirr continued to look at the PADD in her hands, slightly irritated, but tried not to show it. “It is actually old Human literature. I believe it is titled Beowulf.”

Ruder smiled and leaned back in his chair. “Beowulf. Great story, I read it as a kid.” Brad stood to his feet and walked to a replicator. “Guava Smoothie, extra thick.” He looked at T’Kirr. “Can I get your something while I am up?”

Continuing to look at her book, she merely replied, “No.”

He shrugged. “Are you sure, Vulcan Tea? Vulcan Brandy? Maybe something else Vulcan?” He grabbed his smoothie as it was replicated.

Her ears twitched, and she looked up. “Vulcan brandy?”

“You never know if you want something to relax you. Don’t tell me you have never tried it?” Ruder looked at her, still standing next to the replicator. “Are you sure you don’t want something?”

“It is kind of you to offer, Mr. Ruder, but if I was thirsty, I would have ordered something.” She gazed at him evenly.

“I know it was kind of me, I am a kind person.” Brad said as he sat down in his previous spot. “Why don’t you do something more fun than read? Hey, you could join me for a game of Velocity. It is great, ask Ensign Swiss.”

“I find reading educational, recreational, and an efficient use of time.”
T’Kirr looked down at her book again. “Although you are clearly interested in ‘fun,’ I am not.

“Efficiency, is that all Vulcans think about? I would like to see you smile, cry, or do something that doesn’t make it look like you are more superior than the rest of the people on board.” Ruder said as he sipped his smoothie.

T’Kirr made a small smirk of annoyance, not by Ruder’s request, but in reaction to his assumption. “It is not our way to express emotion, and I am quite sure you are aware of this. My actions are not to portray superiority, only logic.

Ruder smiled devilishly, “Or at least that is what you like people to believe. What are you doing tomorrow night?”

T’Kirr stared at him, blinking only once, very slowly. “Feeding my lizard.”

“Was that an attempt at some sort of joke, Ms. T’Kirr? It was a little dry, but I can help you if you want? And come on, I was serious, what is on your itinerary for tomorrow?” Ruder said as he finished his smoothie.

“I did not lie, Ensign. After shift, I plan on visiting my quarters and tending to my reptile. T’Kirr chastised herself, as she had just opened up a topic for Ruder to pry himself into further.

“Well, afterwards would you like to join me for dinner? I know a great Italian restaurant outside of Rome, since you don’t eat meat. Perhaps you would like to speak of your reptile then?” Ruder said as he recycled his glass.

T’Kirr looked down to hide her closed eyes. Dinner with an excessively emotional Human was the last thing she wanted to do, but he had been considerate in her vegetarian preferences, and saying ‘Yes’ would mean she wouldn’t be pressed to speak about her pet at this time. “Very well. 2100?”

“Sounds great to me. I will you then, I will meet you at your quarters. I am the romantic type, what deck and section? And what type of flowers do you prefer? Orchids? Tulips? Vulcan Kilan Petals? Roses? I can replicate it all!”

T’Kirr became nervous, a most unwelcome feeling. She didn’t want the crew to see her on a ‘date,’ and she hadn’t meant to accept his invitation as such, but she had already agreed to it. Perhaps she could repair her error. “You had mentioned Rome. Are you speaking of which holodeck location?” She intentionally avoided response to the flower question.

“Rome, it is a place outside of Rome, Italy. I made the holodeck program myself. Theta 17 Gamma. And what type of flowers, and you didn’t tell me the location of your quarters.” Ruder said as he grabbed a PADD.

Deck 10, like all other junior officer quarters. I prefer…” She could see no way out of it now. “Brinari orchids, as they have the least offensive scent.”

“Ah, the Vulcan scent glands.” Ruder tapped his PADD noting the quarter location and the flower type. “I will see you at 2100 tomorrow night with a bouquet of Brinari Orchids. Be hungry, the people there will bring you lots.”

“I’d prefer if you left the orchids in the holodeck.” T’Kirr stared deliberately at Ruder. Ruder smirked at her.

After a moment of not flinching, T’Kirr stood, PADD in hand. “2100 hours, meet at my quarters. No flowers.” She walked to the door, which swished around her.

“No flowers, now why would I leave that detail out. Brinari Orchids, they will be fresh.” Ruder smiled as he left Ten Forward the opposite direction of T’Kirr.