Star Trek:
The Nara-Maru Files
Chapter Four
It had been several days since the Nara-Maru had left the Enterprise on her course towards the Iolian Homeworld and having passed safely through the Adama Corridor, they had entered an area of space as of yet unexplored by the Federation itself. Having been taught how to operate the unusual controls of the vessel by her daughter, Admiral Mayu Hirayama sat at the helm of the vessel as she adjusted the course once more to avoid a small gravitational anomaly directly ahead before once again engaging the autopilot of the vessel. With a large smile on her face, she stood from the seat and left the bridge towards the quarters where her daughter had been living for the past several days. As she entered the private quarters she was shocked by what she saw. Candles lay on the deck in a circle, barely lighting the room as her daughter and her friend knelt facing each other their eyes locked as they cupped each other's jaw gently as they seemed to breath in unison of what appeared to be almost romantic embrace.
"What are you doing?" She said in shock.
"Please mother, silence" Asami said quickly. "And close the door…"
"Good Sam, you are close… focus on the moment"
"What are you doing?" Mayu said once more.
"You are fighting it once again you need to focus" Teela said quickly. "Good, can you see it?"
"Yes!" She said with a deep gasp as sweat poured from her body. "It's changed and beautiful"
"Good, now project it… into your mother's mind as I taught you"
Shock echoed over the Admiral as her eyes instantly closed while an image appeared in her mind, a gentle shoreline at night with three moons high above as the waves gently crashed against the shore and a warm breeze flowed over her as she saw herself stood on the sands, feeling it beneath her feet.
"How did you do that?" Mayu said quickly.
"I am breaking the link between us Sam…" Slowly their hands slipped away as Asami took a deep breath. "You are showing enormous progress, if you continue with the exercises I taught you, you will be soon ready for the next level of your training"
"I will. I promise… did you see it mother? Did you see and feel the sands?"
"I did, how is that possible? Your abilities have never been that strong" Mayu said with shock.
"Teela has been helping me to refine my abilities. Now, do you understand my choices mother?"
"I do. I can still see the image, feel the breeze and sand beneath my toes… for a moment, I thought I can hear your voice in my mind"
"The image will stay with you forever mother, the calm serenity of the… place helps me unwind, only you and Teela have seen this place" She said as she took a deep breath and slowly exhaled.
"Is it real, where is it?" Mayu said quickly.
"It is… a combination of places Mayu, a place your daughter created in her mind as I instructed her. Sam, we should continue this at a later time. What is our position?"
"We should enter your home system within a day. May I ask a personal question to you both?" Mayu said slowly, carefully choosing her words.
"I know what you are about to ask mother, we both do. And in answer of your question, no… we are not involved in that way and if we where it would be none of your or anyone else's concern"
"My people are… what you would conceder as… Bi-Sexual. Although your daughter is a remarkable young woman, we have not engaged in any intimate act other then our minds joined together as I assist her with her abilities" Teela said quickly.
"Forgive me, I had to ask" Mayu said quickly. "I shall leave you two alone with your work, good night ladies"
Slowly nodding to them both, she left the room slowly as Asami looked at her closest and possibly only friend as she laughed slightly.
"You lied!"
"I know, I felt it would be… easier on her not knowing. As you know Sam the telepathic bond that we both share is very intimate for my people, reserved for those who have chosen their mate. Although we have not… been together, every time I connect with your mind and we both feel what the other feels… we become one entity with the most intimate act anyone can share with another we share our very life force"
"I feel that each time, maybe someday…" Asami smiled gently.
"I would like that, someday… when you are ready we can explore that level together"
Captain's Log: Delayed Recording…
Five days before I recorded this Log Entry, we arrived at what we now know as Iolia Prime. A small Star System on the very rim of the Galaxy beyond Federation Space and I can honestly say this, the descriptions by the Freighter Captain Asami Hirayama has not done this planet justice as it is beauty beyond belief. It appears as if they have created a vast city from a strange crystal-like material which grows naturally on their world. From the instant of our arrival, we have bad been greeted as honoured guests by the people of this world and their government leaders a Monarchy lead by above all else, the Brother of the freighter Engineer, Teela herself. After a tour of their major cities, we had hosted a formal delegation on board the Enterprise after a tour of the ship itself. However, in sixteen hours we are due to return to Federation Space, Vice Admiral Mayu Hirayama will remain behind as an honoured guest as she has been granted a temporary Ambassadorship to the Iolian People.
On another note, I am pleased to report that Lieutenant Worf is due to receive a long over due promotion to Lieutenant Commander which will come into effect once we reach Federation Space…
Returning to the planet once more before he left, Picard met up with Admiral Hirayama as they walked through one of the outer areas of the planet's Capital city towards a large industrial estate which was dominated by what appeared to be a large hanger which had been created using the same materials as the rest of the planet's structures. As they entered, the saw the small Freighter in the centre of the internal space surrounded by crates, boxes and what appeared to be several different modules seemingly designed to fit inside the ship itself as two large sections of the ship had been removed giving the vessel an unusual appearance while the young commander and owner of the vessel slowly walked along the isles of the crates with a large computer pad in her hand whilst being followed by what appeared two large men as she gave her orders.
"My next run is to Calass Three, with the medical supplies… we will need the deep-freeze module installed on the port-side for transport. After which our next drop off is the first run of the Sem'Tac Contract… since I don't know what that is yet, have the utility module installed… it's climate controlled and we can adjust the gravity individually if needed"
"Yes Ma'am" Called out both men.
"I just wish I knew what this contract was for… I hate working in the dark. Dismissed!" She said with a smile.
"Asami!" Called out the Admiral. "What are you doing?"
"Ohh hello! I see that you found me… transporting cargo and whatever needed has it's down-side. Paper-work. And lot's of it!" She said slowly.
"Indeed!" Picard and Mayu said in unison.
"The Iolian ministry of Transport allows me a lot of latitude when accepting assignments, in-between assignments, we go where we please and do as we wish. Payment in any forms we like… mostly technology we can use on the ship itself…" Asami said as she walked towards them casually. "… Take the… Ablative armour for example. Three years ago, we where hired to take medical supplies to a world where they had an outbreak of a rather nasty virus, our payment was an upgrade of the hull armour and schematics on how too repair or replace it. As a part of my, our deal with the Iolian Ministries… we gave them those schematics for use on their own transports and cruisers… But we are now working on a new system which will replace the old Abalitive Armour"
"An interesting choice of payment" Picard said quickly, seemingly disapproving.
"Captain Picard, I can hear your disproval's from here… that armour has saved my ship more times then I can count. What they used to call… Privateers on earth still roam beyond Federation Space and laws, what that armour has saved me in repairs has greatly increased our so-called 'Profit-Margin' the less time spent here in repairs, the more time we spend earning and also keeps us ahead of our competition. Ohh, speaking of which. I know that you are close to Chancellor Gowron, would you ask him… politely to release Paul West and his ship?" She said with a large smile.
"What?" Picard replied quickly.
"Don't be upset Captain, West has been a pain in the ass for many years, snaking contracts from us… trying to undercut us. Once, he even tried to steal my ship. Pay-Back is as much of a BITCH as I can be, he won't be happy when he finds out that I took a contract that he was after but I'll deal with that later… Ohh, as for my payment? Would you please transfer 25% to Rempak Anchorage courtesy of Mister Grilk and Nino, I owe them, send another 25% to Gowron for his troubles"
"Of course. What about the other 50%?" Picard said with a half yawn.
"Give 25% to the Iolian planetary funds and the rest, whatever you feel like. I hate having that stuff around. The repairs and replicator was enough of a payment for the both of us. If you will excuse me, I have some… unusual artefacts to catalogue" She nodded with a gracious smile.
"Artefacts?" Picard said, seemingly peaking his own personal interests.
"We don't just ship around freight or people Captain, on occasion we will… claim salvage rights on vessels that we find, assuming that it peaks our interest of course. Five weeks ago, we came across something interesting, a ship that had been adrift since before I was born and I've been aching to get inside of her for a look around. Don't worry mother, Captain. It isn't Starfleet or anything that can get me into trouble, if anything does happen… the Iolian government will look after me, they always have"
"Are you sure Asami?" Mayu said quickly.
"Yes mother. I can handle myself, I am no longer the child that left Earth many years ago. And the… Iolian government has an interest in keeping me save and round. They love me and I have no idea why…" She said with a wink. "Captain Picard, when does the Enterprise have to leave?"
"In fourteen hours" Picard said with a smile.
"Before you leave, I'm going to send you fourteen of the best Steaks you've ever had. From what I hear, Commander Riker considers himself as a chief… these things are perfect"
"Okay?" He said with a slight frown.
"Trust me Captain. Mother, I have a lot of work to do, may I see you this evening?"
"Of course" Mayu said quickly.
"I don't think that I will see you before you leave captain Picard, but safe journey home… and I look forwards to our next meeting"
Shaking his hand politely, Asami nodded towards her mother before she turned and seemingly disappeared into the many rows of crates and equipment which had been lined around the large room as Picard smiled slightly as she shook his head and spoke.
"She is… an interesting young woman Admiral"
"Yes Captain, that she is…" She said as they both walked away slowly. "And I am very proud of what she has become, just don't tell her I said that. That's an order captain"
As they both reached the doors leading to the outside, a voice echoed both of their minds 'I heard that Mother!'. Quickly turning around, they saw a large wall slide open as the faint image of a bronze coloured ship came into view before the walls slide closed as the Admiral turned towards Picard with shock as she spoke.
"Is it my imagination, or did that look eerily like…"
"An old Cardassian mid-range Scout-ship" Picard said slowly.
On Stardate 50569.6
(Federation Station Deep Space Nine. Two Years Later)
With business booming at the Ferengi owned Bar on the old Cardassian Space-Station, Quark had considered many times of expanding his own personal empire beyond the Station itself, possibly the nearby planet of Bajor or into the dangerous territory of the Gamma Quadrant itself although that was not a prospect that the Ferengi would enjoy, an expansion into the Gamma Quadrant would create vast opportunities for his style of bar tending and recreational activities nevertheless, Quark had heard through his long line of informants out in the galaxy that a suitable space was due to open in a nearby Starfleet facility. Having Starfleet as the so called 'Land-Lord' on two of his properties was not what he wanted, especially as he knew that the commander of the Starbase would not be as lenient as Captain Benjamin Sisko.
Observing his patrons had become something of a hobby to him since the Federation had taken over and especially in recent conflicts between the now friendly Klingon Empire and the every deadly Dominion had taken it's toll on the station and her crew. Standing by the end of the bar, he attempted to make up stories in his own mind as to what those around him where thinking at the moment as he chuckled too himself while he watched the ever humorous Doctor Bashir and Chief O'Brian as they attempted to explain a joke the bane of his existence, Security Chief Odo. With Starships and Freighters ducking at the station all of the time, he had come to know many of those who passed through his doors until two women entered and caught his attention as he instantly stood upright and pushed past his brother at the bar to serve the two women himself.
"Brother?" Complained Rom.
"Don't mind him, he's an idiot! What can I… the OWNER of this establishment do for such lovely young ladies today?" He said with a seemingly creepy smile.
"They say that you can… acquire things which other's can't" Replied the human looking woman.
"I have some talents that others don't. what do you need?"
"Ohh this is a big one Quark, you see… we require an audience with the command staff of this station and more importantly, Captain Sisko himself" The alien woman said quickly.
"From the points on your ears I'd say you're a Vulcan. However, the spots on your neck have a trace of Trill, I have no idea about the markings on your chest though" He said as his eyes drifted down too her cleavage.
"Hey, Our eyes are up here Bar-Keep! My name is Asami, or Sam if you like… I have some… business with the Captain, although he doesn't know it yet"
"Why don't we go someplace… private and discuss this…" He said with a smile.
For a brief moment, he seemed too stop in his tracks as he grabbed his head in pain while the alien looking woman smiled as she looked into his eyes and laughed, a laughter which attracted the attention of Odo who quickly turned and stood from his seat while Bashir and O'Brian did the same.
"Listen very carefully Ferengi. We request a… meeting with the Captain and his staff and no, I have no interest in your… OO-Mox. If you do not agree… how about we contact a friend of ours, Liquidator Kolarr and inform him of your… side business?" The alien said slowly.
"Brother? Kolarr is the only Ferengi who can not be bought for any price" Rom said with shock.
"Thank you Rom, I know that!" He said with shock.
"Teela, I think he got the message" Sam said with a smile.
As she let Quark go, a form appeared at their side followed by two others as a voice called out behind them as Quark coughed slightly.
"Is there a problem here?"
"No sir. And who are you?" Teela said with a smile.
"Constable Odo, Chief of Security" He said with pride.
"Ohh, How about a hug? I feel insecure" Teela said quickly as Bashir and O'Brian hid their laughter.
"Perhaps we should continue this from a holding cell ladies?"
"How about not?" Asami said graciously. "I have a business proposal for the Captain of this station, one that he will find… irresistible"
"I find that hard to believe" O'Brian said from behind them.
"You are Miles Edward O'Brian? You once served on the USS Enterprise? A few friends of ours speaks very highly of you" Asami said quickly with a smile.
"Really? Who?"
"Commander La Forge, Captain Picard… Even Worf spoke of you, too name but a few" Asami replied with a smile.
"Why do all of the women know that Klingon?" Quark growled under his breath.
"What? You know him Quark?" Teela replied with shock.
"Lieutenant Commander Worf, is onboard" Odo replied.
"Really? Forgive me, we've been away for a while. Constable, Quark… I apologise for our behaviour, we've been out on the deep-range for so long. Would you mind arranging a meeting with the Command Staff? We have something that you may want or need"
"Any arrangements go through me!" Quark said quickly.
"Quark!" Odo warned.
"Please? Quark… we're sorry…" Reaching into a bag over her shoulder, Asami pulled out a single brick of Latinum and placed it on the bar before Quark as his eyes opened wide with greed. "Payment for your… troubles. Constable, Contact Commander Worf and give him our names, my name is Asami and this is Teela, inform him that we request a meeting with the Command Staff,. If it makes you feel safer, you can have a full security detail in the room with you of your choosing"
Station Log, Stardate 50569.9
At the request of Lieutenant Commander Worf, I have agreed to a meeting with the two mysterious women who have requested this meeting of the senior staff. After communication with Captain Picard, I have decided to proceed with caution in my dealings with Miss Teela and Miss Hirayama with regards to their telepathic abilities which they have sworn not to use.
Entering the Wardroom of the station and under guard from two Bajoran security guards along with two Starfleet officers, Teela and Asami looked around the room as they nodded slightly before they saw Worf sat near the man who they knew was the Captain.
"Worf!" Asami said with a smile. "Damn, you look good"
"Miss Hirayama, Miss Teela… please, take a seat" Sisko said slowly.
"Of course sir. Worf, we have to catch up later… We've got a crate of Blood-Wine that will make your head spin clean off the morning after"
"Of course" Worf said with a stoic nod.
"Well Captain Sisko, this in an Amazing station" Teela said as they both sat. "Not quite as… rough as Rempak. Ohh Worf; just a little FYI… We're not allowed back there, ever!"
"I am sure that I will… grieve later" He said with a slight smile.
"Down to business people…" Asami said with a wink to Worf. "I trust that by now, you know who we are? Well, we have an offer that will… make your year Major Kira"
"What, Me?" She said quickly.
"Ohh and before you walk out of here… you WILL hug the both of us, I Guarantee it. A few years ago, we where heading home from a run… we found a vessel dead in space…." Asami said slowly.
"… Normally, we don't claim salvage rights. But this ship spoke to us. We took it back home and well, took her apart a few weeks later, we salvaged parts that would keep us running for years and the rest we either sold for scrap or destroyed. We found a vault inside that ship, carefully hidden…" Teela said with a large smile.
"Is there a point ladies?" Kira said quickly.
"Yes major, be patient" Asami said with a wink as she slid a Starfleet Pad across the table towards her. "On that Pad, is a list of what we found in that… Vault"
Quickly browsing the Computer Pad in her hands, they began to shake slightly as she rechecked the tablet once more before she looked up with a shocked smile as she handed it to Commander Sisko.
"An Orb?" Sisko said as he read the manifest.
"Two, actually. One is a fake, the other is Ohh… so real, along with several artefacts which had been looted from your planet during the Cardassian Occupation"
"Are you sure they are both real?" Jadzia Dax said slowly. "There have been a number of fakes…"
"Very sure Commander Dax. From the visions that I had received while close to the Orb, if it ain't real… I'll keep it myself" Asami said as she blushed deeply.
"It gives the observer… very… sensual visions, bordering on intensely Erotic" Teela said as she blushed herself.
"I see" Sisko replied with laughter. "And what would this cost us?"
Standing slowly, Asami stretched out her back as she walked towards the large windows and looked out into eternity before she turned slowly and spoke with a smile.
"Sir, you misunderstand us. Unlike many people that we know, we are not here to profit from religious artefacts that belong to the Bajoran people… it is a gift…"
"What?" Kira said quickly.
"Yes Major, you heard me. We are simply returning artefacts that belong to the Bajoran people" Asami said with a smile.
"Wow!" Bashir said quickly.
"I wish we had more to give Major, some of the artefacts are centuries old, and I must also apologise…"
"For what Miss Hirayama?" Sisko said slowly.
"I hope that you can forgive us, before we realised what we had… It was not treated with the respect that a religious artefact deserves. In that event, we are both willing and have donated five bricks of Gold-Pressed-Latinum each, to the Bajoran war orphan's fund as reparation"
Although the Federation itself does not use currency in any form, their dealings with the Ferengi had taught them much as the command staff gasped at the overly generous donation that the two women had made. Standing from her chair quickly, Kira walked towards Asami and wrapped her arms around her as she smiled deeply with a slight laughter in her tone as she spoke.
"We have to do something for you… what do you need?" Kira said quickly.
"We're fine" Asami said with a smile. "I told you, you'd hug me before I left"
"Actually, a small favour?" Teela said quickly.
"Name it, it's yours" Kira replied.
"Teela, this is not their problem" Asami said with a deep sigh.
"It can't hurt too ask?"
"Name it!" Said Kira quickly.
"Major!"
"I'm sorry Captain, but this is an internal matter for the Bajoran people, and it might go easier with the blessing of the Emissary?"
"Very well Major. What is Miss Teela?"
"Well, it's embarrassing really. A year ago, we replaced our ageing warp nacelles with a newer model which had been specifically modified for our ship and since our core was less then two years old, it was a quick and easy fix…" Teela said slowly.
"Six months ago, our port nacelle died. After limping home at warp two on a single nacelle, we made repairs once we got home… but, we've had to rebuild it twice since. Could you spare someone to look at the engines?" Asami said as she turned a deep shade of red. "We're both engineers, but this is beyond the both of us. The last time it failed, we almost lost the ship due to an overload"
"This morning, I had a rather… lengthy call with Captain Jean-Luc Picard…" Sisko said with a smile. "… He told me about you two. You trade technologies for your services as freighter operators…"
"Captain Sisko We…"
"Calm down Miss Hirayama" Sisko said with a smile. "He also told me about you did for Starfleet and that you asked for very little in return just a refuel and re-supply. Chief, when you have a moment, take a look at their ship. I'll contact Bajor and inform them of your… gift"
"I can spare the time tomorrow morning sir" O'Brian said with a nod.
"Thank you, both of you" Teela said quickly. "There is something else I wish to add…"
"Here it comes" Said Bashir.
"Not like that Doctor. We know about the Defiant, we have something that may help you with your hull armour…" Teela smiled.
"She's right, their ablative armour matrix is much more efficient then what we're are using. I'd like to know how?" Worf said with a smile.
"Of course Worf, With the captain's approval of course?" Teela said with a gentle smile.
"And what do you… want in return?" Sisko said, expecting a rather lengthy reply.
"Simple Captain. The Dominion do not know about my Homeworld and my brother… the Regent, would like to keep it that way" Teela said with a large smile.