The Voyages Of Ker'Tak and Skye

Epsiode 5: A Feild of Jin-Wheat

"So the treaty went through without a hitch after we left?" Mekt'Ta was astonished.

"Yessir, it was signed and considered an absolute success by the Council!" Skye beamed proudly.

"Excellent, Human Skye, why don't you finally accept your promotion? As Sugeron General of our starship *Galatica*?" Mekt'Ta offered her the promotion then and there.

It felt wrong to Skye to accept such a promotion. Especially after Gia had confided in her.

"Sir, I cannot except the promotion, I was only fulfilling my duty," Skye formally refused it *again*.

Mekt'Ta was furious, naturally. Human humility befuddled him, as it was stretching to the point that it prevented her advancing.

Everyone expected the humans to succeed, and they had in several ways, and everyone expected them to use their prowess and adaptability to overtake those of other species.

So why stay below? In lesser ranks?

"Why not?" Mekt'Ta wanted answers. Skye went red in the face as a burning shame filled her mind. Her eyes began to water as her hands balled themselves into fists.

Ker'Tak was stunned by the sudden surge of emotion making itself clear in her demeanor. She refused to look up at either of them.

"I can't tell you why I keep refusing the promotions, sir," She said in a hardened tone, "I wish I could, but I can't."

"As your Captain, I demand you answer. Everyone onboard this ship wants to see you succeed, Human Skye," Mekt'Ta buckled down,    "Why don't you take the promotions? Speak truthfully."

Skye looked up at Ker'Tak, almost as if to ask them for the answer. But they didn't know. Of course Ker'Tak didn't know, nobody did. It was true that these promotions were handed out all willy-nilly, or that it hadn't been discussed with Skye's human crewmates.

Everyone was buzzing about the potential within humanity, and now it was being put to the test..

Skye knew the risks, the possibilities that could open up, the *status* that came with these promotions.

"I will not take it, Captain, because it would stand against my morals. I cannot accept something that I know I haven't fully earned in my own right," Skye stared Mekt'Ta dead in the eye, tears welling in her eyes, "None of my work is truly mine alone, I had assistance from several others, and I cannot take credit for that work in good conscious."

She avoided outing both Gia and the Captain, but admitting that she *never worked alone*.

Mekt'Ta shook his head and his horns started glowing a harsh, dark yellow. Disapproval, and disbelief.

"I certainly doubt that, Skye," Mekt'Ta sighed. She could feel him probing around, trying to figure out exactly why she wasn't taking the promotion. The light turned from yellow to a bright pink as he found it.

"You know?"

"Yes sir, I do," Skye sighed as Mekt'Ta backed down.

Ker'Tak was befuddled by what had just transpired. Out of nowhere the Captain had stood down, yielding to Skye's obviously unsatisfactory explanations.

"Ex-CUUUSE ME! SISSY YOU BETTER NOT HAVE-!" Gia stopped upon seeing Skye and Mekt'Ta talking as Ker'Tak walked away to work with another patient..

Her expression dropped as Skye gave her the thumbs-up. Their little sign for if feelings were mutual, from back on Earth, had slipped into her gestures.