Hello, Kitty! - Part 1

Posted on Sat Jan 10th, 2026 @ 12:54pm by Civilian Lily Blake & Petty Officer 2nd Class Khlynt Medan

1,581 words; about a 8 minute read

Mission: Prologue: To Boldly Go
Location: Corridor
Timeline: Day 13

ON:

"Here kitty, kitty..." the young girl was moving slowly down the corridor, a stuffed unicorn held securely under her arm, a steadfast companion in her quest. She was slightly stooped as she walked, as if looking for something, her features a mixture of hope and excitement, tempered with a need not to startle. "Little kitty kitty...pretty kitty kitty..."

Khlynt had been on the holodeck, so he wore black trousers, a pale purple shirt and a long waistcoat. Around his neck hung a dark purple silk scarf and he wore boots with more shine than you'd get out of Starfleet. He stopped when he saw the girl, with the unicorn. She didn't look lost. She looked like she was looking for something. He gave a small smile when he heard her words and he stepped forward, but stopped a few feet away from her. "Hello there," he said and crouched down to be more on her level, balancing easily in that position. "Have you lost something?"

Lily grinned to him, her blue eyes wide with excitement as she pushed some wayward dark hair out of her face. "I heard a cat!" she declared with all the certainty of a child. "I did! It...meowed in the door, but there was no one there!" she spoke to him fearlessly, as if they'd known each other for years.

He smiled at that, a warm smile that seemed more open than how he greeted adults. His blue eyes were warm with it as well. "Ah, maybe it went for a little walk. I'm Khlynt, I'm a counselor here. What's your name?"

"Lily Blake," she declared before getting a hold of her unicorn and holding it out to him with a wide grin. "And this is Valiant! She loves kitty cats. I really wanted to show her..." she sighed wistfully.

Khlynt tilted his head slightly as she presented the unicorn, taking the gesture with the same seriousness one might afford a diplomatic introduction. He reached out gently and gave Valiant a formal nod. "A pleasure to meet you, Valiant," he said solemnly, before looking back to Lily, the corner of his mouth curling into a gentle smile. "She’s a very brave companion, I can tell." He straightened from his crouch but didn’t rise to full height, keeping himself at a comfortable level so he wouldn’t tower over her. "You know," he said thoughtfully, glancing down the corridor as if considering it carefully. "Some cats don’t like to be seen. They’re shy. But they do like to be followed...especially by someone with a good heart and a strong unicorn." He glanced back to her, voice gentle. "Maybe...if we walk very quietly, very patiently, we might hear it again. What do you think, Lily Blake? Shall we go on a little expedition?"

"Yeah!" her heels lifted with delight before she fearlessly took a hold of his hand to walk alongside Khlynt, ready for their starship safari. "I love animals...they're so clever and cute...I see lots on the holodeck, but real ones are tricky..."

"They are," Khlynt said softly, watching her face with eyes that had seen galaxies burn and children lost. He pushed it down, a slow breath escaping him. His tone held no surprise, only something gentler, older. "Animals know more than we give them credit for. Maybe starships make them... a little more cautious. All that humming beneath the walls. Too many footsteps, not enough quiet." He looked down at her small hand in his, fingers curled trustingly around his own. His grip shifted, just slightly, warm and steady. "But they know a kind heart when they feel one."

"Oh I hope so..." Lily gave a soft, happy sigh at the words, finding the idea of it adorable. "I really, really, *really* want an animal friend, but Mummy says it's too much 'sponsibility...but she's a boss now, so...she's 'sposed to be good at 'sponsibility..."

That confirmed it. She was Captain Scarlet Blake’s daughter. Khlynt offered a faint smile, watching her with quiet warmth. "Your mummy…has a point." His voice remained soft, unhurried. "She looks after everyone on this ship, all at once. And still finds time to be your mummy." He crouched a little again, as if letting her in on something secret but kind. "If she had to walk a dog, feed it, train it…she might have less time for tea parties and adventures with Lily Blake and Valiant the Brave." The smile touched his eyes now. "So maybe…she’s saving that time for you."

Lily looked to him with wide, curious eyes, mirroring the warm smile as she locked the words away in her mind to be tested at a later date. "But I could walk and feed it...I'm good at walking and eating. Do you have a animal friend?"

"Me?" Khlynt smiled as he shook his head, slowly. "No, unfortunately not. I have...been travelling the stars for a while," he admitted as he straightened. "It would be unfair to a little creature." They turned a corner and he tilted his head. "Hm...not many hiding places here for a kitty cat."

Lily's shoulders slumped forward with disappointment, sighing dramatically at the lack of a cat on the horizon. "It musta been a cat transport beam..." she declared with eyes that narrowed in suspicion.

"Cats do have a way of...magically appearing and disappearing," Khlynt remarked as he looked at her, his eyes softening at seeing her so disappointed. "But patience will help. Perhaps we could got to the lounge. You and Valiant must be thirsty after running around searching for the kitty..." he smiled. "You might even be hungry."

Lily's smile blossomed again at the offer and she nodded eagerly before he could change his mind, tugging at his hand. "Please, please...Valiant likes pink lemonade...and...er...milkshakes...and...and...cupcakes! Purple cupcakes...with sprinkles."

He smiled as he walked with her, nodding as he let her lead him. "Perhaps one or the other," he said with the soft indulgent tone he had often used with his own daughter...before giving her everything she wanted regardless. "Or else it might just be too sweet and ruin your appetite for your dinner later. I should also let your mother know where you are."

"Oh...oh!" Lily came to a screeching stop, covering her mouth as she looked back over her shoulder, realising he was right. "Uh oh...Mummy might get cross face cos I left..." she looked up to him with wide blue eyes.

"Alright then," he said and tapped his combadge. "Counselor Medan to Captain Blake. I've run into your daughter, we're going to the lounge for something to eat." It kept it...less accusing on Lily's side. Yet also honest in what was happening. A balance.

A parent's balance.

There was a pause before the reply came back over the comm. "Understood, I'll be there as soon as possible, Blake out."

Lily took hold of his hand, tugging gently to get them moving again, not wanting to waste a moment. "Snack time..."

Khlynt nodded, walking with her as he glanced at the girl. "One savoury sensible snack...and a small sweet one," he promised. "You can pick which one, Lily."

"What'll you have?" she looked up to him with big, curious eyes, wanting to learn more about this great cat hunter.

"Hm," he made a show of thinking it over, because it fitted the narrative of the moment. "Mint tea with sugar...just a touch...for my sensible. And perhaps I shall have a slice of loaf cake to go with it." He looked at her, his eyes warm. "What do you think?"

"Does loaf cake have icing?" she asked, her features taking on a cautious look of suspicion...because what was the point of cake without icing?

"No," he said as he looked at her, giving a small shake of his head. "No, I suspect it won't satisfy you as much as a cupcake will." And he was willing to have her have it. It was silly, really...but her smile meant a lot to him. And she had such a serious face when she was thinking.

Her smile returned at the prospect, and she tugged him along into the lounge with a bright smile, heading straight for the replicator. "Hello Lady in the Ship, may I have a...cupcake...with...er...strawberry goo in it...and...er...pink icing with sprinkles...please!"

Khlynt smiled as a cupcake materialised and he looked at Lily with a smile. "And maybe something to drink too?" he asked, his voice quiet. "Without as much sugar."

Lily looked up to him with thoughtful, narrowed eyes. "Are you a Daddy? You sound like a Daddy..."

Something caught in his chest at the words as he looked down at Lily, at her little face with the intelligent eyes. His voice was trapped for a moment, his lips parting. He finally gave a small smile, trying to make it reach his eyes. "Do I?" he let out a breath and took the cupcake on the plate, offering it to Lily. "I...I was. A long time ago."

"I knew it!" she smiled with delight before taking the plate carefully, biting her lip in concentration. "Uncles like sugar...I bet Daddies don't..."


TBC:

PO2 Khlynt Medan
Counsellor
[PNPC Hanlon]

Lily Blake
Civilian Child
[PNPC Blake]

Valiant
Unicorn Plushie
[NPC]

 

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