"Strange scents"
 by Lieutenant jg T'Kang
 Chief Tactical Officer - USS Tempest


T'Kang had enjoyed rustling the Cadet out of his slumber 
and bringing him up to the Tempest bridge without warning.  
Cadet Borns had responded remarkably well under the 
circumstances.  The Klingon's little spot check revealed the 
budding Tactical officer to be a quick thinker and also quite 
capable of focusing his full attention on a task, even when 
pulled from a warm bed in the middle of the night.   It was 
more than enough to convince T'Kang to recommend Cadet 
Borns for a promotion to Ensign.

After drilling the sleepy Cadet for over an hour in the middle 
of the night, T'Kang let him go back to his quarters.  "There 
is a long day ahead tomorrow Cadet.  Inspections 
throughout the Tempest and I intend for the Tactical 
department to show very well.  So get some rest."

"Yes sir Lieutenant."  Borns smiled.  He knew he'd made a 
good impression on the Chief after not getting rattled when 
awoken from a solid sleep and called to duty.

"Dismissed."  T'Kang said evenly.  Then watched as the 
Cadet exited the bridge.  Soon he'd have to put Soran 
through the same thing to see how he handled changing 
conditions.


The rest of T'Kang's evening past relatively calmly.  A few 
crew members made reference to the Klingon's odor which 
T'Kang didn't quite understand.  He even took to sniffing his 
arm pits but notice no offensive odor or anything even 
closely relating to "lilacs".  With a furrowing brow, T'Kang just 
dismissed it as more childish teasing that "humans" seemed 
to enjoy so much.


The following day, T'Kang was asked to report to Medical for 
a quick examination.  He didn't understand why, but decided 
with the inspection coming up shortly he didn't want to cause 
any disruptions, so he agreed to be poked and prodded by 
Doctor McGrath and an odd fellow named Pease that had a 
strange scent.  Here the officers on the bridge were teasing 
the Klingon, saying he smelled like lilacs, while this officer 
had a scent nothing like any other he'd ever come across 
before.   T'Kang decided not to say anything about it though, 
since once offended, Doctors tended to always find more 
extensive tests to conduct.   T'Kang was growing impatient. . 
. . he wanted to be back at Tactical before Lieutenant 
McQueen started his inspections.   Finally McGrath released 
him.


The Inspection of Tactical went well.  McQueen found all 
things as they should be, commenting on what a good job 
Tactical was doing on board the Tempest.  With that out of 
the way, T'Kang decided he could start planning on how to 
drill Soran this evening when his comm badge signaled.

It was McGrath again.  +taps+ "Sorry to interrupt you again 
Lieutenant."

T'Kang reached across his uniform, rolling his eyes at the 
lighted dome canopy above the Tempest's bridge.  +taps+ 
"Go ahead *Doctor*."  the Klingon growled with a hint of 
contempt.

+taps+ "I forgot to have you go to see Ross to have your lab 
work taken care of.  Do you think you could report there now 
and have him take a few samples of your DNA?"

T'Kang let out a heavy sigh.  +taps+ "Is that really necessary 
Doctor?  I've got inspections to attend to today."

+taps+ "According to Lieutenant McQueen, Tactical is done 
already.  He said your department did very well.  
Congratulations!  I'll tell Doctor Ross you'll be there in a few 
minutes Lieutenant.  McGrath out."

T'Kang closed the channel and let out a frustrated growl.  
There was little he could do to avoid more poking and 
prodding. . . . McGrath hadn't gone for the 'I have work to do' 
line.  So the Klingon reluctantly left the bridge to report to 
Ross' laboratory.

Buzzing in, Taylor let the burly Klingon enter, taking note of 
his displeasure at being back at the lab.

"Why so impatient Mister T'Kang? You seem awfully upset 
about being summoned here." Doctor Ross observed while 
readying his test equipment.

"I do not understand why these tests could not have been 
postponed to a time more convenient to me."  T'Kang 
grumbled as he sat down on the biobed.

Taylor laughed in a jolly manner.  He had a good personality 
when it came to dealing with people, even grumpy Klingons 
like T'Kang.  "Sorry about that T'Kang.  But you have to 
admit, if we left your scheduling up to you, we'd likely never 
see you in here."

T'Kang looked at the chuckling officer and then glanced 
away.  "You are probably right.  Let's get this over with. . . ."

"Now this won't hurt one bit T'Kang.  Just sit back and relax."  
Taylor instructed as he began scanning the Klingon's arm.  
"So what did you think of Doctor McGrath and Pease' 
examination earlier?" Ross probed.

"It was a waste of time."  T'Kang grumbled.

Another chuckle.  "I imagine you thought so Lieutenant.  But 
seriously, as a professional and a Starfleet Officer, how 
would you evaluate the examination they gave you?"

T'Kang glanced over at Doctor Ross, not fully understanding 
why he was asking.  "I do not understand Doctor.  It was an 
examination.  I've had them before."

"Um hum, um hum.  Sure you have.  Everyone in Starfleet 
has.  But, did you notice anything. . . . out of the ordinary 
during their testing?"  Taylor asked.

With suspicious eyes T'Kang regarded Doctor Ross.  He 
wasn't sure what Ross was after, but he didn't see any harm 
in telling him.  "Nothing out of the ordinary.  Except maybe 
for Doctor Pease."

"Really?  What was wrong with Doctor Pease?  You didn't 
like him?"  Taylor asked, finishing his scans.

"I don't like any Doctors when they are poking and prodding 
me Doctor. . . . . no offense." T'Kang explained gruffly.

"None taken my friend."  Taylor smiled, "Then what then?"

"Well, you might find this strange but. . . . Pease had an odd 
scent about him.  I can't remember smelling anything quite 
like it before."  T'Kang explained.

"Perhaps he was wearing an odd cologne, or simply needed 
a bath Lieutenant."  Taylor suggested, putting his scanner 
away.

"No Doctor.  Each person has a unique scent.  We Klingon's 
are especially sensitive to our senses.  We use them in the 
hunt.  And while each human has a slight difference from 
each other, they all have the same general fragrance, no 
matter how badly they try to cover it up with oils, perfumes or 
perspiration.   But Pease. . . . he smelled different.  It was 
almost as if his scent was not fully human."  T'Kang 
explained.

Doctor Ross has finished his scans and just stood there 
absorbed in what the Klingon was saying.  When he didn't 
move or respond for a moment, T'Kang added, "Are you 
finished Doctor?"

Ross was shaken back out of his thoughts.  "Hu?  Oh, yes.  
Sorry.  I have what I need T'Kang.  Thank you for coming in.  
You've been most helpful."  Taylor smiled.

Getting up off of the biobed T'Kang straightened his duty 
uniform.  "I am happy to be leaving."  the Klingon grumbled 
before walking out of the lab.

Reaching across his chest, Ross activated his 
communicator. +taps+  "Ross to McGrath, come in Doctor."

+taps+ "McGrath here, go ahead Taylor."

+taps+ "I think I may have more information for you 
regarding Doctor Pease.  Do you have a minute?"

+taps+ "Sure thing.  Why don't you meet me for lunch and 
we can discuss it while we eat?"  McGrath suggested.

+taps+ "That will be fine.  See you in a few.  Ross out."

Taylor closed the channel and contemplated what the 
Klingon had said about Pease.