The Hunter and the Hunted

The Lexington

Commodore Robert Wesley's new mission left him feeling distinctly uneasy.

Assist a Taurek Hunter in tracking down Tarnokh Aggadeen, an ancient criminal…

Starfleet Command had been clear.

You are to show the Hunter, and his companion, every courtesy, and to offer them every assistance that lies in your power.

The Taurek Hunter, stood over two meters in height, clad in dark robes that were almost…priestly. His skin was dark, his black hair was long, bound back by a simple leather band. Golden eyes, pupils slit like a cat's, stared back at Wesley.

The man was a walking armory; a great-sword shared space with what looked like a Klingon Bat'leth, both sheathed across his back, a star-fleet issue heavy phaser at his side, and a few daggers…here and there…

Commodore Wesley was sure there were a few items he had missed.

The Taurek's companion was diminutive, likewise dark of skin, and female. She looked Terran, but the Commodore was fairly sure she wasn't.

"I'm Guinan," the woman made the introductions. "My friend is Kaiel."

"Pleased to meet both of you," Wesley introduced his Command Officers. "First Officer Steven Anders, Science Officer Leanne
Crewes, and Ship's Doctor, Dr. Rosario. Why don't we adjourn to the Council Room?"

Once there, coffee, and tea served-Kaiel preferred plain water-Wesley got down to the business at hand.

"This…Tarnokh Aggadeen…He lived around a million years ago?"

"Yes," the Taurek nodded. "That is so. You doubt he can still live after so many years?"

Well… Wesley shrugged uneasily.

The Enterprise, under Captain James T. Kirk, had come across a few cases of possible immortality. But, apart from the case of the man who called himself Flint, most of those, the Organians, and the entity who called himself Trelayne, seemed to be of a different order, a higher order; not bound by the strictures of flesh and blood.

"Aggadeen," he began. "If he is still alive-"

"He is Taurek," Kaiel interjected. "As am I. We are Deathless. Our deepest ancestors-whether in blessing or curse-gave us this, that we may never die. I was in the first years of life when Tarnokh turned against all that is right, and sought lordship over those who were ephemeral…the Short-lived."

"There was war?"

"There was war, Commodore," Kaiel nodded. "Eventually, we, who wished the Ephemerals to live freely in their own lives, we prevailed. But whole empires were blasted, entire species wiped off the face of the galaxy. We brought Aggadeen down, we wounded him. But he escaped before we could enact Justice upon him for the trillions of deaths he had brought upon the galaxy."

"And you've been hunting him for all of these years?"

"Yes, Commodore," it was Guinan who spoke. "The Hunters of the Taurek are pledged to find Tarnokh Aggadeen, and bring him to Justice."

"Why are you here?" Commander Anders asked Guinan. "You're not Taurek."

"My people listen," the woman said. "We listen. We prevent misunderstandings. The Taurek Hunters are…unlike anyone you people have ever met before, and the Speakers-the Rulers among the Taurek-thought it would be a good idea for one of my people to accompany the Hunter."

"To prevent misunderstandings…" Wesley raised an eyebrow."

"To prevent misunderstandings," Guinan's eyes twinkled.

"Okay…" Wesley put his coffee down. "You've been hunting for Aggadeen a while now. Any idea where he might have gone?"

"If you will allow us to set the course," Kaiel spoke up. "I have the coordinates right here."

He produced a data disk from the folds of his robes.

Anders took it at Wesley's nod.

"Hope this doesn't take us close to Klingon or Romulan space," he muttered as he headed off to the Bridge.

Luckily, the projected course went nowhere near hostile territory.

"Looks like we're going to the Omega system," Wesley looked at the course dotting along the viewscreen. "What do we know about it?"

"Long range scans from a year ago indicated the Fourth planet was Earth-habitable. The Exeter-under Commodore Tracey-was dispatched to investigate a little over six months ago."

"Ron Tracey?"

"Yes, sir."

A good man, a good friend…

Wesley took his seat in the Captain's Chair.

"Set course for the Omega System. Warp Four."

"Warp Four, aye," the helmsman announced.

Then, the Lexington was off, into the warp, heading for the Omega System.

And Tarnokh Aggadeen.