Carpathia IV: Episode 87 - Sodality Ceremony
Conference Room, NCCS Shadowdancer
The ringship from the Elai Enclave, stuffed full of tokki eager for Kit's sodality ceremony, was already in attendance when the Shadowdancer arrived at Polaris Deep. Too big to dock at the station, the ringship kept a short distance away and used shuttles and runabouts to ferry representatives to the station and to the Shadowdancer.
Kit saw for himself several days ago the Toski Kari render the Savea clan impotent and arrest his father. Nevertheless, he was still keen to join the Elais quickly to fully erase any claim the Saveas could have of him. With a ship full of Elai tokki and Reylen, the officiant of the ceremony, ready to go, little waiting was needed. Kit requested the ceremony on the Shadowdancer's bridge, with his shipmates, a smattering of Elai tokki, and a live holo feed to the ringship. To this, Aire heartily agreed. For him, a side benefit was that he did not have to leave his ship and accidentally run into Admiral Zhang. If nothing else, he wanted to remain Captain at least until this ceremony was done.
Aire really expected Admiral Zhang to call him to her office as soon as they docked. Strangely, she didn't, which was fine with him. He'd have to face his consequences soon enough, but not now.
Despite the presence of all the senior officers, smartly dressed in their formal uniforms, plus several Elai tokki, the bridge looked strange with most of the consoles and chairs removed. From the lift doors, two lines of Carpathians wound along the bridge and ended by Reylen and the big viewscreen in front, a perfect vantage for the video feed to the ringship. Only one person was missing and he appeared from the lift just in the nick of time.
Ramei: I'm not late, am I? It's so rare that I get to wear this, I forgot how to do up all the bits.
Minnie: Just made it, Lieutenant. Looking good for a change, there.
Ramei grimaced and put his hand on his hip. The tokki, however, were especially focused on Ramei's twitchy ears.
Ramei: For a change?
Minnie: Not covered in engine grime.
Ramei: Well, yes, I suppose so Chief. Thought I'd wash myself up good. You're looking pretty ungrimy yourself.
Aire, standing at the front near Reylen, called out.
Aire: Ramei, you're up here, to the left of Lieutenant Pendergast.
Ramei nodded and squeezed his way through the sea of people to his position. Once there, he could feel an intense, nervous energy spilling out all over. The source: Amenaru.
Amenaru: I can't take it anymore! I'm going to go see him.
Before Amenaru could do anything rash, Nalma grabbed his shoulder and pulled him back.
Nalma: Amenaru, I told you, Kit starts his day alone, comes here alone, and leaves as a part of us. That's how this goes and he knows that.
Amenaru's ears deflated so completely, anyone looking at him could almost hear the pbbtht sound like a balloon being released of all of it's air.
Amenaru: I know... It's just...
Amenaru didn't have to wait. The lift doors opened and out stepped Kit, dressed in a traditional, silken outfit. As Nalma told Amenaru earlier, it was tradition that Kit would choose the embroidery, and he selected a lovely floral pattern with pearl chain accents.
Amenaru had a delirious smile on his face while Kit slowly made his way through the long line of tokki and Shadowdancer crew, stopping to great each person along the way with a customary ear rub. Despite Kit's general aversion to being touched by people he didn't know, he didn't seem fazed by this. Indeed, he seemed to enjoy it. Amenaru watched in gleeful anticipation as Kit inched nearer. He'd never touched Kit's ears before and very much looked forward to that.
Kit's ears were soft and surprisingly hot to the touch. It was all over in a just a few fleeting seconds and Kit moved on to Nalma. The last to give the ear rub was Aire and then it was time for Reylen to give his address.
Reylen: Greetings, friends. This is a historic moment for both the Elai Enclave and for Tokkastra. Never has a sodality ceremony taken place so far from Tokkastra or involved so many friends from other worlds. How fitting that this ceremony would take place docked at a station built for interspecies cooperation and on a ship with such a diverse crew. Let this moment mark a milestone for all our species.
Reylen looked away from Kit for a moment to glance around at the crowd, both at his fellow Tokkastrans and Kit's shipmates.
Reylen: Before we may begin the sodality ceremony, I ask who amongst you will vouch for the character of Kit Savea?
Nalma glanced at Aire and nodded. Understanding his cue, Aire stepped forward with Nalma.
Nalma: I am Nalma Silaron and I have known Kit for five years. I attest that Kit Savea possesses a keen mind and robust character. If not for him, we would not have been able to communicate with the blob creatures we met.
The other tokki and Shadowdancer crew thumped their chests with their fists one time and cried out in unison with a sound that resembled a cross between a military hooah and a dog's woof.
Aire: I am Aire Valro, Captain of the NCCS Shadowdancer. I have only known Kit for a few months, but I attest that he is quick-thinking and possesses a strong spirit. During the battle with the Vashta, it is highly likely that this ship and its crew would not be here if not for Kit on board.
Once again, a chest thump and woof. Reylen nodded as Aire and Nalma stepped back.
Reylen: Powerful testimony indeed. With that, we ask that...
Reylen stopped mid-sentence upon noticing that Teren stepped forward, conspicuously clearing his throat.
Teren: Ahem.
Reylen's eyes widened and the other tokki murmured to themselves. Though Nalma's and Aire's little speeches were rehearsed, almost scripted, Teren's bold interruption was obviously not part of the plan.
Reylen: It appears that we have another who would like to testify to Kit's character. Please proceed.
Teren: I am Lieutenant-Commander Teren Unas, Chief of Security of the NCCS Shadowdancer. I attest that Kit Savea has a resourceful mind and caring temperament. If he had not been with me on our first away mission together, I may have suffocated to death before we could reach medical care.
A woof even more robust than the last two. Before Reylen could say anything, Amenaru jumped out, twiddling his fingers.
Amenaru: Um... I am Lieutenant Junior Grade Amenaru Pendergast, Chief of Operations of the NCCS Shadowdancer. I attest that.. uh... well... I don't know what to attest that hasn't already been said, but Kit makes me want to be a better man. I would probably still be an ensign if he were not in my life.
Woof! This time, Reylen held out his hand, even though it looked like Teek might be next, but everyone kept their positions after Amenaru stepped back.
Reylen: If I may offer a testimony myself, I am Reylen Elai, Fourth Junior Rector of the Elai Enclave and though I have only known Kit for a few days, I can see that it is plainly obvious that he has earned the enthusiastic respect of his shipmates. If anyone objects to Kit's application to join in sodality with us, speak now and suffer my ire for the rest of your days.
On the topic of unscripted events, this certainly seemed another one of those, for while the other tokki were silent, they did glance around at each other with eyebrows raised.
Reylen: Very well. Let us continue.
The ceremony continued for a good 45 minutes, most of it comprised of speechifying on Reylen's part. There were several long stretches Reylen espoused the Elai's fondness for principles of inclusivity and the freedom to seek one's own pleasure. The Carpathians on the bridge didn't know if that was a normal part of the ceremony, but either way, it surely felt like a deliberate dig against the rigidity of the Saveas.
Finally, Reylen produced a collar, signifying the ceremony's end.
Reylen: Kit Savea, are you prepared to declare sodality to the Elai Enclave at the reception this evening?
Kit: I am.
Reylen: I shall now attach your collar.
Kit bowed deeply, presenting the back of his neck to Reylen, allowing him to place the collar snap it in place. Kit rose and, for the first time since the ceremony began, turned to face everyone.
Reylen: I present Kit Savea of the Elai Enclave.
The Carpathians applauded while the tokki in attendance on the bridge and on the ring ship gave a hearty hooah.
Reylen: We'll all head over for the reception in about an hour. For now, let's allow Kit to meet some of his new bretheren.
As everyone began to mingle and chat, Amenaru hastily made his way to Reylen.
Amenaru: I'm sorry if I messed up the ceremony.
Reylen smiled and wrapped his hand around one of Amenaru's fluttery ears.
Reylen: Not at all. There's no set way for these things to go. Still, you have your lines memorized for the reception like I taught you?
Amenaru: I do.
Reylen: Then all is well!
The hour was not only a chance for Kit to get to know some of the Elais, but for the Carpathians as well, in a more intimate, quiet environment than could be afforded at the reception. Not long after the designated hour passed, Joust skittered across the ceiling and nodded to Aire, who then informed Reylen that it was time.
Reylen: Okay, everyone. Time to head to the reception. Let's put the Carpathians in front with Kit!
It was a bit of a logistical issue to get everyone down the lift, with groups of ten at a time going down, starting with Kit and the bridge crew. They patiently waited for the rest to follow and, when everyone was there, they headed to the boarding doors to the station.
Once in the docking arm, Kit, at the head of the group, turned to where the tokki runabout was docked, but Aire gently steered him toward the large rotunda at the center of the station.
Kit: Aren't we going to the tokki ship?
Aire: Nope. We're going to the station rotunda.
Confused, Kit followed along to the doors at the end of the docking arm.
Kit: That's an awfully big space for my reception.
Joust sprinted ahead to the control of the massive airlock door.
Joust: Not big enough, really.
Joust tapped the door control and it slowly opened, revealing the rotunda. Right away, the entire complement of the Shadowdancer, standing in the front, began to applaud. Behind them was a row of three dozen tokki, all lying on their backs and hammering on drums suspended above them with their feet. Behind them, hundreds more tokki and others from the station. The entire area was awash with people with barely even enough room for the stage in the far end.
Kit stood fast where he was, looking left, then right, then left and right over and over, each time trembling more and more until he finally sunk to his knees with his hands covering his face, fully in tears. Aire kneeled with him and gently wrapped his arms around Kit's shoulders.
Aire: I asked the crew for volunteers to stay with the ship to man critical systems during the reception. Not a single one wanted to be left behind. I had to poach some crew from other ships.
Through his tears, Kit only managed to croak out one word.
Kit: Nobody?
Aire: Not one. You are probably the one person on the ship that everyone knows best, handling all the communications systems and reading out the weekly announcements.
Joust: I know Rhalma told you that we wouldn't come for you. Never forget that we will always come for you.
Kit rubbed his nose and slowly stood, aided by Aire. Kit stepped forward, once a tokki who thought nobody could love but now knew that he was loved more than he ever thought possible.
Commissioned art in this episode from:
AvareonArt
Zelbunnii
Thatwildmary
Colourbrand
