9

Several hours later, Roberts retreated to the aft compartment. She was in heavily patrolled traffic lanes so it was safe to let the computer do some of the flying. When she arrived, the lights were already dimmed and Macen and T'Kir were asleep on one bed, fully clothed and spooning. Roberts felt a pang of jealousy and stripped off her uniform jacket and blouse. She pulled the other bed's blankets over herself and nodded off.

She was awoken by her passengers having breakfast but she pretended to sleep. They quietly moved to the cockpit and she waited for the alarm to go off. When it did she used the bathroom to relieve herself and brush her teeth. Then she grabbed a quick bite to eat and joined the others in the cockpit.

She'd done some research after they retreated to the passenger lounge. She was assigned to Starfleet Intelligence and routinely handled confidential flights with priority passengers. She was startled to discover that SI considered Macen and T'Kir to be top priority subjects as well.

SI's records contained a brief overview of their careers but she knew more had been left out than included. She asked them some general questions to get a better handle on what had been presented. This conversation dominated all topics for the four days that it took to reach Serenity. By the time the runabout docked and the airlocks were opened to the station, Roberts was in awe.


Macen and T'Kir registered with the Security officer attending the landing and then gave Roberts directions to Quark's local franchise. Up in station Ops, the registry caught the attention of the deputy administrator who reported it to Ephrim Zyrain. Zyrain didn't believe the form despite it being confirmed by biometric data.

"Alert Security." He ordered, "I want these people's identities confirmed."

"Yes sir!" the deputy went for his communicator.


"They sealed it." T'Kir frowned as she saw the external lock emplaced over the door.

"You can't mean to tell me you can't pick this lock." Macen scoffed.

"Watch the wisecracks, buster." She went at it and stripped the lock off in fifteen seconds. Freed, the door's sensors registered them as being the rightful inhabitants and opened so they could enter.

It was dark inside and T'Kir called for the lights. Everything was where they'd left it and was kept clean by the regular maintenance routine of the cleaning `bots. T'Kir immediately headed for the bedroom where she began to strip. Testing the sonic shower, she found it to be perfectly in order and soon basked in its emissions.

The doors opened suddenly and Macen had his hand on his phaser but saw it was station security and relaxed, "How can I help you?"

"Could you and your companion accompany us to the Infirmary? We need to settle a dispute as to your identity." The Security Chief requested.

"My wife is in the shower but she'll be out in a moment." Macen promised.

Several minutes later the bedroom door opened and T'Kir looked fierce. Wearing a V-necked black leather duster, a black tank top, black leather pants, and black Angosian combat boots. Added to the effect were her utility belt and holster.

"Now we c'n get this show on the road." She testily declared.


Kort's jaw nearly dropped out of his head, "Macen! T'Kir! You're free!"

"Doctor, can you confirm these individuals' identities?" the Security Chief asked.

"Didn't I just do that?" Kort thundered.

"Very well. I will inform Director Zyrain that the misunderstanding has been cleared up." The Chief announced.

"Tell Zyrain that I'll be paying him a visit tomorrow." Macen stated.

The Chief gulped and bustled his people out of the Infirmary. Kort was still beside himself.

"I don't know how you did it but thank Kahless that you have." He exclaimed.

"Admiral Forger told me the team's hit a rough patch." Macen said ruefully.

"Yes, they have. They're all about to quit." Kort regretted to say.

"How's the crew of the Obsidian doing?" Macen asked.

"Wonderfully. They are thriving, except for Hannah." Kort said. T'Kir bristled at the news of her best friend doing less than "thriving". Kort picked up on this and softened the blow.

"She just feels underutilized. The entire team does. At first the reduced workload was a relief but now they crave a challenge." Kort described the situation.

"Well I have a challenge for them. One that's going to require everyone being at the top of their game." Macen replied.

Kort smiled, "Excellent. The Obsidian is returning to port today. Can I inform them that you're here?"

"We'll be at Quark's for the next few hours. Send everyone there if they come calling." Macen instructed.

"Gladly." Kort beamed.


The Obsidian met the docking collar with barely any vibration. Tom Riker praised Hannah Grace on it and she shrugged. What was one more tedious duty in a day full of them?

Riker could sense her frustration but there wasn't anything he could do about it. His wife, and Trill Sciences Specialist, was manning OPS for Yeriden, who was ill, "Tom, Ephrim Zyrain is on the line for you."

"Put it on speakers." Riker ordered. Grace was locking down her board when Zyrain spoke.

"Do you know Brin Macen and T'Kir are back? Why wasn't I informed of this? Are they fugitives?" Zyrain fretted.

"T'Kir and Brin are back?" Grace asked in a hushed voice.

"Excuse me, but where are Macen and T'Kir?" Riker asked.

"They were last seen in the Infirmary." Zyrain responded.

Grace bolted for the turbolift and vanished out of sight.

"Hannah! Wait!" Riker shouted after her. As the lift doors closed he snarled, "Goddammit!"

"Easy, Tom. She's understandably excited." Danan pointed out, "She'll calm down once she sees T'Kir."

"I just don't want this to get out of hand. A mad rush for the airlock could get someone hurt." Riker complained.

"I think it'll be okay." Danan said with a twinkle in her eye.


The lift deposited Grace on the appropriate deck and she barreled through those lining up early to disembark. She plowed through them shouting, "Make a hole! Coming through!"

Training and the desire to protect oneself from the mad Kelvan facilitated her quest as the crew gave way. She sprinted for the airlock, which Radil Jenrya got open just in time. Grace flew past her and broke into a dead run, breezing past Station Security.

"She can't do that!" one of the Security officers complained.

Radil smirked. The Bajoran enjoyed seeing the station crew thwarted, "It seems she already has."

"Is there a problem?" Celeste Rockford asked as she approached the airlock. She'd moved out of the way for Grace and knew something dire must be up.

"Your crew can't blow past the checkpoints. We're here to verify that you're all authorized personnel." The security officer said.

"Do civilian transports and freighters have to undergo this check in?" Rockford asked.

"No." the officer said, suspecting a trap.

"Then I don't see why we should either." Rockford said.

Riker and Danan arrived at that point and Rockford jerked a thumb in Riker's direction, "He's the captain. Argue with him."

"Wait a second." Radil interrupted, "Before anyone argues with anyone, why did Hannah blow through here like her life depended on it?"

"Macen and T'Kir are back. They're in the Infirmary with Kort." Riker answered.

Rockford dropped her bag and bolted down the corridor. The security guards grew angry, "Damn it! There goes another one. You're hereby ordered to report to Director Zyrain!"

"Gladly." Riker pushed past the guards and the rest of the crew followed.


Grace ran into the Infirmary. Not seeing T'Kir or Macen she looked to Kort, who was sitting in his office smirking.

"Where…?" she began.

"Quark's." he said and she took off again. She ran through the entrance into Quark's restaurant and froze. Her eyes and other senses desperately sought her friend. She suddenly realized that they were seated in the middle of the room at the largest table.

T'Kir grinned ear to pointed ear. She rose and met Grace halfway to the table and embraced her tightly. After several minutes had passed they separated revealing tears streaming down Grace's face.

"Are you cryin'?" T'Kir asked with some concern.

"I'm just so happy you're back. They convicted you and they hauled you away. They wouldn't let me see you or write you or anything." Grace lamented.

"Well, I'm out now so we don't have to worry `bout it anymore." T'Kir consoled her.

"Thank the stars for that. I…" Grace began when Rockford interrupted.

"It's true!" she exclaimed from the entrance to Quark's. She stumbled into the restaurant in a daze. Macen steadied her by taking hold of her shoulders. He held her for a heartbeat and then he hugged her. She melted into the embrace.

Macen let go of her and she whispered, "I'd almost given up."

Macen smiled, "Can't have you doing that."

"But how…?" she faltered.

"Let's wait for the others before we delve into that." He suggested, "In the meantime I'm buying drinks."

Lug, the proprietor, arrived with an order padd. Rockford looked relieved, "Bourbon, no, make it a double."

Grace ordered a screwdriver while Macen and T'Kir stuck to a malted for her and a vanilla milkshake for him. Grace asked why they were drinking the obvious treats.

"I think we deserve it, Hannah. Besides, they aren't 'nutritional' so they weren't allowed to the prisoners on Yuros." Macen explained.

"Good enough for me." Rockford said from her seat beside Macen. T'Kir sat on his other side and Grace sat beside her. It was a gathering of family.


Riker charged into the Infirmary. He didn't see Macen. Kort suddenly bellowed out, "Quark's!"

Riker and Danan headed there and saw the gathering. Riker stopped on the other side of the table from Macen, "I can't believe you're here."

Macen rose and shook his hand, "It caught us by surprise as well."

"Hello T'Kir." Riker said. She hefted her glass in salute. Danan came around the table and leaned over and wrapped her arms around T'Kir's shoulders and squeezed. Next she approached Macen and kissed him on the cheek.

"Welcome back." She said and then she rejoined her husband. Lug swooped in and took orders. Both of them ordered stiff drinks as well.


Rab Daggit and Parva were next to arrive. Parva doted over T'Kir and she cried as T'Kir hugged her. Daggit sat down and ordered as Lug hovered nearby. Parva took a seat next to him and also dealt with Lug.

"Where's Jenrya?" T'Kir asked.

"Oh, she'll be around." Grace slyly smirked, "After she visits Kort."

Tasting juicy news in the air T'Kir leaned close and said, "Do tell."


Radil stopped by the Infirmary. The door chime sounded and Kort bellowed, "Quark's!"

"Oh really?" Radil shouted back, "Does that mean you haven't got time for your wife?"

There was a loud clatter and then a crash. A Klingon obscenity filled the air, followed by some dedicated banging noises, and then Kort emerged from the back. He was slightly rumpled but appeared to be unharmed.

"Is it dead?" she snickered.

Kort sighed, "Now I have to get the station's engineers to look at it."

"Nab Parva. She'd love to fix it." Radil suggested.

Kort brightened, "Excellent suggestion."

"Are you free?" Radil asked.

"Dr. Paella relieves me in ten minutes." Kort smiled.

"Then I'll wait and we can go meet `n greet Macen and T'Kir together." Radil grinned.

"Somehow I thought you'd say that." Kort revealed.

Her grin grew as she kissed him, "Don't you just know me too well?"

"I could never know you well enough." Kort replied.

Radil wrapped her arms around his neck, "Good answer."


Back at Quark's, the group had ordered finger foods and snacks to get them by until dinner. Kort and Radil arrived fashionably late. Macen and T'Kir greeted them.

"Y'little scamps. Getting' married without us." T'Kir grinned.

"We would have been there but we were unavoidably detained." Macen managed to say with a straight face.

"You were in our hearts and on our minds during the ceremony." Kort said, "So in essence you were there."

"Aww, isn't he sweet?" T'Kir gushed.

Radil grinned, "Why do you think I married him?"

"I figured it was because of the great shagging." T'Kir said conspiratorially.

Radil laughed, "That too."

"Please, join us and order up. It's on me." Macen said.

"Can you afford this?" Radil wondered, "After all, you just got out of…"

"Prison?" Macen smirked, "Outbound Ventures earned money while we were away and we own Outbound Ventures. Besides, I have untapped reserves of latinum left over from when Barrinor was independent."

"If you're sure, I'm sure." Radil happily conceded.

Macen and T'Kir retook their seats. Riker interjected the next comment, "I suppose we'd better transfer the Obsidian's command codes back to you ASAP."

"That won't be necessary." Macen said, "I'm not here to resume command of the Obsidian."

Conversation died and everyone stared at Macen. He wore a wry expression, "I fully intend to command the investigative unit but I will have no authority whatsoever over the ship and her crew."

"Brin, we tried that. It was a failure." Riker reminded him.

"Prison changes a man. It forces them to re-examine their positions and priorities." Macen said, "Amanda said the crew is thriving under you. Why change a winning combination?"

"But you're still taking control of the SID team?" Riker wondered.

"They're chafing under your leadership. Starfleet is concerned that they lost their premier unit. I'm being reinstated in order to solve the problem." Macen said.

"Are you legally allowed to that?" Riker asked.

Macen explained the details of their release and why it came about, "I've been given a new Letter of Marque and a contract to bring in Bertram Sindis."

"But that's how you ended up on a penal colony in the first place." Danan interrupted.

Macen smiled, "But this time I've been ordered to stop him by any means necessary. It's at my discretion."

"Are you sure?" Danan pressed harder.

Macen handed her a padd, "Here's the contract. Take special note of the language employed."

She perused it for a moment and then her eyes widened, "By the Pools, Brin. This is a blank cheque."

Macen nodded, "Exactly my point. Starfleet has bumped Sindis up to 'Imminent Threat' and 'Clear and Present Danger' status. We're to clean house."

"You're not even going to try and bring him in, are you?" Riker asked.

"I'm open to all options but I'm not letting any other members of the team die at his hand." Macen's tone was one of finality.

No one argued with him over the topic after that.