Editing Riding Tigers

<span style="color:#800000">''' ''(With thanks to Tony for RPing this conversation with me.  Thanks, Tony!--Maer)'' '''</span><br><br>


'''Sunday, 11 Feb 2519'''<br>
'''Kuiper II Class, ''Summer’s Gift'' '''<br>
'''Constance Space Port, Constance'''<br>
'''Kalidasa (Xuan Wu) system'''<br>
'''12:30 hrs, ship’s time'''<br><br>

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Rina shook out the man's shirt with a snap and folded it quickly.  She'd laundered it but reckoned it didn't need ironing.  Task done, she stuck it under her arm and left her quarters to look for Rick Allen.  She didn't bother checking in the galley or the lounge.  This time of day, he'd be in his container--it was feeding time for Evil Tick and Smudge.<br>
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;As Rick looked over at Evil Tick and Smudge in their terrarium he paid close attention to the actions of the pygmy alligators. Quietly they stared back in Ricks direction opening and closing their jaws, lined with pointy teeth.  It was their signal to Rick, "Feeding Time!!" Rick walked over to the terrarium and reached into a container near by to reveal two fish shaped objects with string coming out of their mouths.  They weren't really fish, but Rick liked the idea of giving the gators a bit of sport before they ate.  He had molded protein paste over some string in the shape of various animals and allowed it to dry. Every day at feeding time he would lower the food into the terrarium and pull the food back and forth so the gators could chase there tasty meal.  Just as Evil Tick and Smudge lunged forward to capture their prey Rick heard footsteps coming down the corridor.<br>
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Rick met Rina at the container door.<br>
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Brought your shirt," Rina said, holding it up.  "Thanks for the loan."  She nodded toward the container.  "How're they doin'?  Eating okay?"<br>
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Thanks for bringing the shirt, I don't have many," Rick said while reaching for the shirt. "I guess the next time I have the chance I should buy a few more. Evil Tick and Smudge are doing fine.  They just got done eating.  Surprisingly they like protein paste quite a bit."<br>
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Clothes are like engine parts," Rina grinned up at him and leaned against the terrarium.  "It never hurts to have a few spares.  As for these guys..."  She nodded toward the two pigmy alligators swallowing the last of their meal. "They can have my share.  Seriously, I think they like the stuff better than I do."<br>
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Rina watched the alligators for a moment and then regarded her boots.<br>
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"About the other night," she said quietly.  "In the hallway."  Rina looked up.  "I don't normally lead a guy on and then reject him for going along with it, but grabbing you was the only thing I could think of to disguise what we were doing.  And I'm not used to anyone putting his hands on me, save Mike.  I hope you weren't...insulted or anything.  You're a decent guy, Rick, and you deserved better.  I'm sorry."<br>
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;As Rick looked into Rina's eyes he began to smile. He never thought that she was leading him on. Pretending to be intimate was the best idea to disguise the plan to obtain the hard drive. "Rina, you don't have anything to worry about. I never though there was anything going on other then trying to hide the hard drive thef......liberation." Pointing towards the gators Rick said, "as for them they would love your protein paste the next time. You can pick them up if you would like. I try to tell every one how friendly they are, but you are all still so apprehensive."<br>
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;“Thanks,” Rina breathed and nodded, relieved.  “I’m glad to hear it.  If you haven’t noticed, I’m not that adept at dealing with people.  Machines, on the other hand….well, let’s just say they respond to percussive maintenance better than humans.  As for me and animals?”  She shrugged.  “I can’t say I’ve had much practice.  But I have to admit, your little guys are awfully cute, in a toothy sorta way.  You really mean it when you say I can pick them up?”<br>
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Yeah, they are perfectly fine to pick up. The only time you need to be careful is when they are hungry and then you just want to make sure not to put your hand too close to their mouths." Rick smiled at the 'gators. They were hard to train at first but with enough patience and months at a time alone in the jungle with nothing to do he managed. "Its not that easy to talk to most people, I think. Especially when you can’t trust most of the people we run into in the 'verse."<br>
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"True. And you can easily say I've got trust issues," Rina snorted. She leaned over the terrarium and grasping one of the gators behind the head with one hand and scooping it up with the other, she lifted it free so she could take a closer look. "Just like lizards," she said, grinning. "We used to have a mess of them in the ivy behind the house, and my brothers were always throwing them on me." Rina rolled her eyes at the  memory. "They were green and about as big around as my thumb...what were they called? Anoles, that's the name. Cute. Didn't have teeth like your babies, though."<br>
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Yes, reptiles are very interesting and come in many exciting varieties. I'm sure they have been used as an annoyance to young girls for a long time. You didn’t have a chance to see the many exotic species of reptiles that Lassek had to offer. If we ever get a chance to head back there I may have to take the crew on an outing. It would probably be best if we dont bring a flare gun this time. Though I really doubt the fire reached the jungle. That clearing needed the fire management any ways to thin out the various weeds."<br>
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Rina leaned over the terrarium again and gently placed the gator back with his companion. She pulled back and paused, stared hard at the soil and plucked something free. She got clear of the gators and brushed off what she held.<br>
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Speaking of teeth...." Rina held it out to Rick. "Looks like one of your guys lost one. Is that normal?"<br>
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;When he took it up, she leaned back against the terrarium and continued, "As for Lassek, I'll have to take your word for it about the reptiles and what-not. If we do go back, can we do it in the winter? Assuming there is a winter, anyway. I thought I'd die from the heat while we were there."<br>
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Smiling, Rick reached for tiny container beside the terrarium and opened it to reveal several dozen teeth. He added this new tooth to the collection "I’s perfectly normal for them to lose their teeth. Actually they probably aren't shedding them as often as they should with the protein paste so I have been thinking of creative 'chew toys' for them to help in this process. The part of Lassek I meet you all in rarely sees low temperatures even during the winter months. There are however other places on the planet with cold winter months. Though they are low on the reptilian diversity there are other interesting animals."<br>
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;“Other animals?  Like what?”<br>
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Oh various mammals and birds for the most part, especially in the colder areas."<br>
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;“Any cats like tigers?”  Rina looked down at the deck and back up at him.  “Promise not to laugh?”<br>
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Yes, several different types of large cats. Sure I won’t laugh," Rick said with a smile.<br>
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Ever since I was little, I've always wanted to ride one. A tiger. Because it reminded me of that poem, you know? And it reminded me of my na--." Rina stopped short and shook her head. "That was another lifetime, another person. I don't know what drove my family nuts more. My running on and on about tigers or tools."<br>
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"I don’t actually know the poem you are referring to, but given enough training you could probably ride a trained tiger now as an adult." Squinting, trying to recall what he had learned about large predatory cats. "Though you wouldn't think it large cats can be very caring and friendly and large tigers can weigh as much as 600 pounds." Rick had to chuckle to himself, knowing that not many people want to know these extra tidbits of animal trivia.<br>
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;“How big do the Siberian ones get?”<br>
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"The males can weigh over 700 lbs. Though that is pretty rare."<br>
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Wow. I think I'll stick to mules, thanks. If they break down, I can always fix them. And they won't try to eat me when I do." She crossed her arms and looked off in the middle distance. "I think the closest I ever came to a tiger was my pet cat. She was a Russian Blue. I called her Veronika and she lasted 15 years. She died a few weeks before I left home. Funny...I haven't been home in over ten years but I can still remember what it was like to walk through the door and miss having her meet me. She'd always wait for me at the bottom of the stairs. She'd sneak into my room during the night and she'd wake me with her purring." She pushed off the terrarium and refocused on Rick. "Listen to me, getting all maudlin like a little old lady. Maybe I should leave before I embarrass the both of us."<br>
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Ha, ha, I wouldn't worry about being embarrassed. Though I guess I can't talk all day or else we wouldn't get any fresh vegetables. I'm in the process of tying to grow some more plants. When the ship was sterilized the biggest problem wasn't them killing off the plants, it was killing the soil bacteria. I'm hoping that introducing a little soil from forested areas may help. Eventually I would like to try to grow some legumes, but I will have to make sure I have the right bacterial community first."<br>
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Rina laughed along with him, glad he wasn’t put off by her sentimentality, then hooked a thumb toward the door.<br>
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"You're right about one thing--we all have work to do and I should let you get back to yours." She sobered and added, "Thanks, Rick. For understanding. The last thing I wanted was to have anything awkward between us. We're a small boat and a smaller crew, and more than anything we'll need to get along if we're to survive the long stretches."<br>
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;She walked toward the door as she spoke and paused on the threshold.<br>
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"If you have anything that needs fixing, just give me a holler. I'll be around." Rina left and popped her head back in. "Oh, and if you can find a way to grow mushrooms? I'd be in your debt. It's been ages since I've had any. See you later. Dinner's in six."<br>
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;And she pulled back and left.<br>
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Rick turned from the door and sat down near the plant growth equipment. It was time to try out a few new seeds and see how they took to the soil. Hopefully this time around they would sprout.

<br><br>
'''Go to [[EPISODES]]''' or '''[[Mutineers Timeline, Season One| TIMELINE]], Season One'''
@@ Line 33: / Line 33: @@
 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;“How big do the Siberian ones get?”<br>
 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"The males can weigh over 700 lbs. Though that is pretty rare."<br>
-&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Wow. I think I'll stick to mules, thanks. If they break down, I can always fix them. And they won't try to eat me when I do." She crossed her arms and looked off in the middle distance. "I think the closest I ever came to a tiger was my pet cat. She was a Russian Blue. I called her Veronika and she lasted 15 years.  She'd sneak into my room during the night and she'd wake me with her purring. She died a few weeks before I left home. Funny...I haven't been home in over ten years but I can still remember what it felt like to walk through the door and not have her meet me. She'd always wait for me at the bottom of the stairs."  She pushed off the terrarium and refocused on Rick. "Listen to me, getting all maudlin like a little old lady. Maybe I should leave before I embarrass the both of us."<br>
+&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Wow. I think I'll stick to mules, thanks. If they break down, I can always fix them. And they won't try to eat me when I do." She crossed her arms and looked off in the middle distance. "I think the closest I ever came to a tiger was my pet cat. She was a Russian Blue. I called her Veronika and she lasted 15 years. She died a few weeks before I left home. Funny...I haven't been home in over ten years but I can still remember what it was like to walk through the door and miss having her meet me. She'd always wait for me at the bottom of the stairs. She'd sneak into my room during the night and she'd wake me with her purring." She pushed off the terrarium and refocused on Rick. "Listen to me, getting all maudlin like a little old lady. Maybe I should leave before I embarrass the both of us."<br>
 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Ha, ha, I wouldn't worry about being embarrassed. Though I guess I can't talk all day or else we wouldn't get any fresh vegetables. I'm in the process of tying to grow some more plants. When the ship was sterilized the biggest problem wasn't them killing off the plants, it was killing the soil bacteria. I'm hoping that introducing a little soil from forested areas may help. Eventually I would like to try to grow some legumes, but I will have to make sure I have the right bacterial community first."<br>
 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Rina laughed along with him, glad he wasn’t put off by her sentimentality, then hooked a thumb toward the door.<br>
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