Names and Blades

Posted on Mon Aug 31st, 2026 @ 5:21pm by Uhlan Shizune Nakai Perez & Lieutenant Commander Savin & Centurion Hatham tr'Krotash

3,856 words; about a 19 minute read

Mission: Chapter IX: Shady Business
Location: Mess Hall, Ourainavassa
Timeline: 2387-10-17, evening

Perez was glad to be back in space. Life on the colony for the past few months had been a nice change of pace, but between hauling construction materials, scouting out the surrounding area, and sparring with the militia, a routine had settled in far too soon. And while some people thrived in routine, Perez was the opposite. All the quiet had provided far too much time to think about things. Things like the past, the future, and identity. Who, really, was this person that called themselves Perez?

With a sigh, Perez took another the beer they'd been nursing for the past half hour. Since Renée had elected to stay on Haven to continue teaching the locals how to properly run a tavern, the mess hall for this trip was practically a replimat with fancy furniture, a definite downgrade from the usual real cooking and genuine alcohol that was served. And it was quieter than usual. Too quiet. "Why does the universe want me to think so much," Perez muttered to themselves as they picked up their PADD from the bar. On the screen was a simple form - an official name change request, halfway filled in. Of course, with no central governing authority involved with Ourainavassa or Haven, such paperwork was not really necessary, but it would feel more official. Really, all that was needed was to inform the Captain of the decision to use a different name, and she would take care of the rest with the quartermaster and the colony's Council.

As they placed the PADD back down, Perez spotted a familiar face walking into the mess hall. A chat with the hulk of a Romulan that had become one of their best friends would definitely serve as a welcome distraction. "Yo! Hatham! Fancy a beer?"

Catching sight of his friend, and Romulan ears easily picking up the word 'beer', Hatham headed over with a big smile. "Absolutely. You buying, Perez?"

Perez chuckled. "It's free anyway, but sure." They leaned over the bar and poured a pint, placing it in front of Hatham. "At least Renée left the kegs on board. So, this stolen cargo. Reckon we're going to have to bust some heads to get it back?"

Hatham took the pint with a laugh. "We may need to pick up some extra kegs on Drozana," he said taking a healthy swig. "I figure if the merchant could get the cargo back, they wouldn't need us, so yeah. Kinda looking forward to it, actually. It'll be a nice change of pace from hauling and lifting construction material."

Having entered a few paces behind Hatham, Savin took a seat at the bar as well but kept a slight distance. He could see the two were friends and he didn't want to intrude. Instead, he settled for observing them from a few stools away. Involuntarily, he arched a single eyebrow in surprise as Perez simply went and retrieved drinks on his own.

"Oh absolutely. I'm looking forward to an actual proper fight, too. Not just practice matches with opponents I could easily defeat with both hands tied behind my back. Seriously, that militia needs a lot of work." Chuckling at their own joke, Perez noticed Savin sat a few seats away. "Evening, Doc. Barkeep stayed on Haven, so it's self-service. What's your poison of choice? Careful, though, this is real stuff. Not that synthehol crap they have on Fed ships."

"Poison?" The already arched eyebrow climbed a fraction higher. "I have never consumed alcohol so it is probably not wise for me to do so." He didn't move to get any closer to them just yet. "Anything non-alcoholic you can recommend?"

"If you're not after alcohol, no point reaching behind the bar," Perez replied with a shrug. "Replicator's the only source for that kind of thing without Renée here."

"I see." There was a brief pause as he continued to study the two men, their bearing and composure. "Is it recommended that I try this?" He asked uncertainly, "I do not wish to become impaired in my ability to communicate." He was willing to try it, but only under certain conditions. As he considered the options, he shifted, still trying to figure out which was the best way to carry the dagger Kaiae has given him. Frustrated, he pulled the dagger and sheath free and laid them on the bar beside him. Still within reach, but not in a manner that was threatening to others.

"If you've never had alcohol, I don't know, but most vulcanoids aren't going to get even a little buzzed by a pint of beer," Hatham replied. He eyed the sheathed knife. "Not much to worry about with that, either. Even if you turned out to be an angry drunk, I guarantee Perez and I could handle you."

"I am not concerned about that." Savin nodded towards the blade. "I am still trying to find a good way to carry it, this is my first dagger. I have never wielded one before." It was quite an admission, but it was safer to be truthful he felt. "And I agree one beer will not harm me. In regards to handling me, perhaps... I can handle myself in a fight."

Perez swung themselves over the bar and laughed as they pulled a pint for Savin. "Those are some mighty brave words there. You know, there are three people on this ship you absolutely should not say that to. Two of them, you just said it to. Not going to lie, though. I'm curious to see how warranted that confidence is."

Accepting the drink, he sipped it carefully though his eyes never left the others. He suppressed a shudder but braved another sip. "An acquired taste perhaps," he commented dryly. "I have been practicing with Vulcan weapons since I was about three or four, my sword since I was about eighteen. This dagger, I have not been able to use. I have also been practicing Suus mahna since I learned to walk." All in all, he seemed fairly confident though he had been warned about either's skills.

Hatham boomed a laugh. "So, you have about the training and skill as any kid in my family. Except you've learned only a single purely defensive form of hand-to-hand." The big Romulan smirked. "And apparently don't know how to use a knife."

"Purely defensive," Savin confirmed, "and I did just sat I do not know how to use this." He picked up the dagger and showed it to them. He couldn't understand why this was so amusing. "And according to Vulcan standard and Starfleet standard, I am well trained."

It was Perez' turn to laugh out loud, although it sounded far less menacing than Hatham's, and more like a little girl having a giggling fit. "Federation Starfleet," they pointed out when they finally caught a breath. "Hatham here has spent several decades in service with the Romulan military. Gorn, Klingons, Federation, Dominion. And then he became a mercenary. Yeah, you say you are well trained according to your standards. Hatham is exceptionally trained by his."

Caught in his own fit of chuckles, driven to near gasping with laughter by hearing Perez giggling - a sound he had never imagined from them - Hatham echoed the absurdity of Savin's cited standards. "...Vulcan... ...Starfleet...", he snickered, "...standards!" He slapped the table as another huge laugh escaped.

Finally getting control of his laughter as Perez listed his experience, he nodded to them with a smile. "And Perez here has spent a good chunk of their life fighting in Imperial Starfleet, and then helping us against pirates, Syndicate, and Tal'shiar. They cleared half an entire pirate ship on their own."

"I mean, now you're exaggerating a bit." Perez blushed. "You and Ash did your fair share of the fight as well on the Bedford, remember? Anyway, I think we have proven our point. You may have training, sure. But that means nothing compared to real combat experience."

"I do not have that much combat experience no," Savin acknowledged, unwilling to back down now. "And I know I have plenty to learn in this community, but I am not inexperienced. I am not unskilled." He stared at each of them in earnest, his hand still folded around the dagger, his other still around the glass of beer. "I made a vow to Kaiae," he added, "that I would learn, and that I would not fight without clear boundaries."

"Between the two of us, we'll get you proficient with that little cutter in no time," Perez replied, shrugging. "Can't have anyone on the crew who doesn't know how to handle a blade, after all."

"True." Hatham nodded agreement. "You'd probably be no match for Gable, but being willing to carry a blade puts you ahead of most Federation medics. Arnason won't even use a phaser unless it's on stun." He considered that there might be other weapons training where Starfleet standards would need to be improved upon. "How good of a shot are you? Do you have any experience with disruptors, or just phasers?"

"I can handle a proper blade," Savin countered, offering a faint smile, "just not one this... short. I can use a phaser but it has not my preference. Anyone can put someone down with a phaser, but where is the honour in that?" He let the words sink in as he considered Hatham's question. "I have never handled a disruptor, but with a phaser I am a good enough shot. Not excellent, but good enough."

Perez raised an eyebrow and turned towards Hatham. "I'm starting to like this one. Surprised he hasn't started to try and psychoanalyse me yet, though. Haven't met a shrink that didn't eventually."

"Willingness to improve to Galae standards of 'good enough shot' goes a long away," Hatham agreed with a grin. "And we all try to psychoanalyze you - getting in your head is the only hope anyone has in a sparring session," he laughed.

"Bold of you to assume that even I know what I'm doing half the time," Perez giggled. "It's not like I think about my moves much, it's just instinct. Anyway, what I meant was the rest of it all. I know I'm a mess, so I don't need anyone else to tell me that."

"I try not to when I am off duty," Savin explained patiently, "and I do not see a mess." He nodded towards Perez. "I see a confident young individual, with a strong sense of honour." It wouldn't do to tell what he senses, he realises just in time. "I will accept all the help I can get in improving to meet your standards." This time he nodded to Hatham. "I defer to you."

"Thank you," Hatham inclined his head to the man. "For now, let's get how you carry sorted out. What have tried so far?"

Savin stood and showed them the various positions he has attempted: under his tunic at the right side so that he could draw it left handed, across his back, even in his left boot. "I am not certain I am able to carry this concealed," he confessed.

"I've never seen the point in hiding your weaponry," Perez admitted with a chuckle. "But then, I'm not Romulan. As a Terran, carrying openly is just how I've always seen it done."

"The point is so no one knows where to watch before you draw," Hatham explained. "Though open carry has its own perks." Considering what Savin had just said, he tipped his head thoughtfully. "I'm guessing you're left-handed then. Since you haven't trained with a short blade, it might be worth learning to use your right for it. That way if you can fight sword in left with knife in right to block or stab on a pass. And anyone seeing that you favor your left will expect the knife to be holstered for draw by that hand, so having it set up for right-handed draw will give an advantage of surprise."

"I am left-handed," the counselor confirmed, continuously shifting his attention between the two to keep track of what they were saying. "And that actually does sound like a good idea, especially since I am unfamiliar with this weapon. That still begs the question on how or where to conceal it, or carry both dagger and sword all the time. I was advised not to carry my sword for now."

"That depends on the kind of sword you use," Perez remarked, taking a sip from their beer. "Using a small blade in your off-hand is a common practice in pretty much all civilisations that have developed one-handed bladed weapons. Humans, Vulcans, Romulans, Orions, even Klingons if they're not using a full bat'leth. Either that, or you dual-wield two blades of equal length, like with my twin short swords. There are many ways of doing it."

Savin nodded in understanding to that statement. "I can show you the sword if you like," he offered after giving a brief description of its appearance. "I have never learned to use two weapons at once, but now seems like a good time to start. I do appreciate the suggestion of learning to wield this," he indicated the dagger, "right-handed. This means I would carry it on the left, correct?" But the how or where were still technicalities that needed to be refined during training.

"Yes," Hatham confirmed. "You'll probably want to try different options too. Since it isn't your dominant hand, you need a placement that is easiest for you. My off-hand knife is in the front of my tunic." He pulled the hilt just high enough to show it. "That gives the advantage of also blocking strikes to my chest, and if lose my main knife or have to throw it, I can also draw with my other hand."

"I carry my short swords on my back, so I draw right with right, left with left. There was an ancient empire back in Earth's history, over two thousand years ago, whose frontline soldiers carried their swords on the right side of their belt so they could draw them easier while carrying shields." Perez shrugged. "You'll just have to try a few options until you find the right one for you. Although," they added with a smirk. "Not much point carrying that little needle there around if you don't know how to use it. Daggers really aren't my thing, one of the Romulans would definitely be a better teacher there."

Hatham smiled. "Daggers have their place. I can teach you. I spent a chunk of my teen years being trained to step into a Weapons Master role once my father aged out. Might as well put that to good use."

"Needle?" Savin queried, not certain he has understood this correctly. Yet he offered a light now to Hatham in gratitude. "Thank you Hatham, you will find me a committed student. Though out of interest, what kind of weapon has your preference?"

"Even needles can take an eye out," Hatham said with a shrug. "My preference in weapons depends on the situation; different weapons are better for different types of combat. But few battles go as planned, so it's best to not care about preference and simply be prepared to fight with whatever's to hand."

Well that certainly didn't help his confusion but Savin decided it was probably better to let that go. "So basically carry more than one backup weapon?" He queried curiously, though he wasn't quite keen on that idea. "Would it not be wiser to disarm the opponent before a fight becomes necessary?" He was certainly curious to see if such a thought even occurred to the other Romulans.

"Would be nice, sure," Perez replied with a grin. "Doesn't usually work, though, not with the kind of people we've had to deal with. You're not going to talk the Tal Shiar out of killing you if they decide that they want you dead."

"I doubt that I could talk anyone set to take my life out of it if they are set to do so," Savin remarked, "but the how on disarming an opponent with a blade eludes me." He picked up the dagger with his left hand and held it firmly. "Could you show me? Disarm only, without harming me please." He was aware of the crowd, knowing he looked ignorant but he didn't care. This was about the prospect of being able to hold his own in the future.

if Hatham's initial thought on the question of carrying back-up weapons had been along the lines of 'Duh, doesn't everyone?', this question made him wonder what Starfleet actual taught at their Academy. He'd worked with Federation Marines during the Dominion War, so he knew not all of their services were hopeless. Then again, the Marines had been habitually dismissive of 'fleeties'. Still, he was shocked by the question. He was pretty sure even Gunnar knew how to handle a knife attack (though that may have been from T'Ango teaching him). "There are multiple ways to do that, though I can only promise minimal harm. Do you want me to show you what I'd do from us both being seated here?

The counselor nodded slowly, minimal harm was acceptable. "Yes," he answered firmly, desperate not to look completely ignorant. "Show me what you would do." He looked around, making sure it was clear this was a demonstration, not an actual disagreement.

"Okay..." Hatham tossed his ale in Savin's face and used the distraction to quickly grab the wrist of the hand holding the knife, twisting and pinning the hand and knife to the bar. Then he plucked the knife away with his other hand. "That's one method," he remarked, offering the knife back. "Of course, the easiest way to disarm someone with a knife is to shoot them."

Savin yelped in surprise as his hand was unexpectedly twisted, too surprised to even retaliate in response as the alcoholic beverage stung his eyes and dripped down his face. "Thank you," he answered instead, putting the dagger back on the counter and rubbing his wrist before wiping the frothy fluid from his face. "That is indeed very effective, I shall remember that. What other methods would you suggest?"

Perez choked on their beer as they burst out laughing. "You really want to start a mock bar fight, eh?", they asked once they managed to recover their breath. "Good thing the barkeep isn't here, she would not be pleased. As for other suggestions, a kick to the groin serves as a very effective disabling tactic. Well, provided your opponent has the appropriate anatomy for that to work, anyway. Trying it on me would be a waste of time, for example."

"No, I am not," Savin answered quietly, though he had a suspicion this would be occurring regardless. "Even if the anatomy is different such an act would still provide a distraction," he countered, "so I would not consider it a waste of time." He paused, taking a very small sip from his own drink, still not liking the taste. "Perhaps we should relocate to a training facility," he finally suggested.

"It's pretty late," Perez replied, shaking their head. "And we're supposed to be arriving at Drozana at some point tomorrow afternoon. But, if you're free in the morning, I'd be happy to kick your ass then?"

"I came here to relax and have a drink. Though it seems I need another one," Hatham chuckled, and reached over the counter to refill his drink. "So, I'll make the same offer for tomorrow."

Savin shoved his barely touched glass forward. "You can have mine," he offered, "and I accept your proposal. Is 0600 acceptable?"

"0600 should work." Hatham nodded. "There's an open spot in the gym we use for sparring, so meet me," he tipped head toward Perez, "or us there."

"Perez?" Savin prompted, "I will meet you both at the gym. I will bring both my sword and this dagger and we will set boundaries in the morning."

"0600 is a tad early for my liking," Perez replied with a shrug. "I'm not much of an early riser most days, especially when we're in transit. But sure, I'll be there. Just be prepared for my morning grumpiness."

"You are welcome to arrive later," Savin suggested. "I shall leave you to your drinks. Good evening." Picking up the dagger he shoved it between the waistband of his uniform and walked away.

"Good night, counselor." Perez sighed as they took a big gulp from their beer. "Well, that'll be interesting."

"Yes. But for all you can tell he was raised on Vulcan, at least he does want to learn," Hatham said, taking a sip of his ale. He nodded to the PaDD beside Perez. "You filling out requisitions in your offer hours?"

"Personal stuff." The young Terran shook their head. "You remember my counterpart from this universe, Shizune? She helped us out against Amelia, and was on the crew of Skidbladnir at Romulus. She asked me to fill in some paperwork for her, so that's what I've been doing."

"Okay, glad you can help her out. She's a good person," he replied, sensing there might be more to it, but they'd said it was personal and privacy was something any Romulan would respect, especially for a friend.

"She is who I would have become, had the Empire not messed things up." Perez shrugged. "But, we can't change the past. Well." They chuckled. "We did have that ability. That trip to save Arnason was fun. But the Captain is proof that no matter you how change history around yourself, you can never change your own past."

"Our pasts make us who we are," Hatham said simply. If the House his parents served had remained worthy, he would have continued in the Galae and then would they be here now? Who knew? If D'era required it, perhaps he would have found himself serving with Areinnye and joined the Orainavassa crew as Kaiae had. But would have been the person he needed to be for that with his mercenary experience? "No matter how they changed you, or used you, I think you're a good person too. Certainly one I'm happy to have fight by my side."

Perez couldn't help but blush. "Thank you. You just helped me make a decision." They glanced at the PADD and nodded. "I was never Ezra Perez. The owner of that name died a long time ago. It's time I become myself. Time I take back my own name. Though, since everyone knows me as Perez, I'll keep that part. Don't want to make it too confusing on Shi, either."

With a grin, they held out their hand. "My name is Shizune Nakai Perez, pleasure to re-meet you."

The human custom of shaking hands would never not be weird, but in this case it felt right to return the gesture. "Shizune Nakai Perez, a pleasure to re-meet you too."

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