Chapter twenty

"How are you feeling?"

"I realize that you are now Chief Medical Officer aboard the Diamond, but I must ask you to refrain from asking me that question. If I am in medical distress I will seek your advice."

"I'm sorry, Salen."

"Do not apologize. If you are going to serve on this ship you must appear strong at all times."

"There's no one else here." Joanna as her new male alter ego gestured around the empty sick bay.

"It would be good practice for us both to act as though there are others present at all times."

"Yes, Sir." Joanna said seriously. "Why did you come to Medical?"

"The planet below is known for its provisions. If there is anything you wish for your Surgery that is not aboard now would be an excellent time to purchase it."

"The Diamond has a state of the art Sick Bay." Joanna said approvingly. "However, I would like a spectral neurochemical recomposit machine."

"What is that?"

"Well for one thing it is really expensive."

"Expense is no issue aboard the Diamond." Salen assured.

"Then I would like one."

"You have still not told me what it does."

"It is used in the production of drugs. I could use it to redesign the Vuladin and hopefully find something that is less lethal."

"I am sure the original creators of Vuladin had such technology, and they were unable to produce a less toxic form."

"They were trying to treat something different. Please."

"Can this machine do anything that will also benefit the humans aboard?"

"With the right ingredients the recomposit can make any drug in the Federation Database. If a new or rare disease breaks out on the Diamond it could save the entire crew."

"In that case I will attempt to find one."

"Just ask for a recomp, anyone who is really selling one will know what you mean."

Salen nodded and headed back to the bridge. Once there he asked Tyger and Steel to report to the bridge. He relayed the information about the recomp to them and asked them to travel to the planet to purchase one. Tyger was well known for his love of technology and he instantly knew what Salen was talking about.

"You know with a touch of reengineering you can get a recomp to make a liquor that puts Romulan Ale to shame in its ability to knock you on your ass." Tyger smiled.

"I do not believe the new CMO has alcohol in mind." Salen replied.

"What's he like, anyway?" Tyger asked. "I haven't met him yet."

"I do not know much about him myself." Salen lied.

'Diamond?' Cobalt's voice came over the intercom.

"We are here, Cobalt." Salen answered.

'We've got our man, and we're ready to come home.'

"Transport, did you hear that?"

'Yes, Sir.' The transport tech replied.

"Bring them home."

'Aye, Sir.'

"How do you like being second in command, Dingo?" Tyger asked.

"I can understand why Flash did not wish to have the job."

"Amen." Flash added from his place at the helm.

Tyger and Steel both chuckled and headed down towards transport on their shopping mission. Salen sent a message to General Kinler back at Starfleet Command to let them know the mission had gone well so far. Salen handed command of the bridge back over to Flash and headed down to transport to greet Razor.

When Salen arrived at transport Cobalt and Ice had just handed over their captive and were heading towards the ajoining locker room to change. Salen followed them into the locker room. Cobalt and Ice were chatting with one another about some beautiful woman that they had seen when Salen arrived.

"Where is Razor?" Salen asked.

"He stayed behind for a 'drink'." Cobalt chuckled.

"I have come to learn that when a human uses that tone that they do not mean what they have just said."

"Razor met a girl and he stayed behind to see if he could talk her into sleeping with him." Cobalt clarified.

"Knowing his silver tongue I'm sure he'll succeed." Ice laughed.

"Once again, by 'sleeping' I assume you are referring to sex?" Salen asked.

"Well Razor certainly didn't stay behind because he was tired." Cobalt smiled as he pulled off his phaser suit. "Don't worry, Dingo, he'll be back in an hour."

"It will take an hour, but he won't be back for two." Ice teased. "No Dog returns right after so that they can brag later that they lasted longer."

"I do not understand this conversation." Salen said flatly. "However, I find it unacceptable that you allowed him to stay behind alone."

"He's Colonel now, Salen. We didn't leave him behind, he ordered us away." Cobalt explained. "Don't worry, Razor can take care of himself."

Salen gave them a doubtful expression before looking back towards the transport room.

"Salen," Cobalt said seriously "if you go down to that planet and interrupt Razor he will kick your ass. I don't know if you've noticed, but there aren't many ladies aboard this ship and Razor refuses to join us when we take Shore Leave on planets with legal prostitution. So when he comes across a willing piece of tail it's best to just back off."

"Tail?" Salen repeated confused.

Cobalt and Ice exchanged an amused glance with one another and shook their heads sadly. Salen decided against seeking further clarification and just resigned to the fact that they were probably right. Razor could keep himself out of trouble for an hour or two. The planet below was not a rough or unsafe one, just outside Federation territory.

Still feeling a little uneasy Salen retreated to his quarters. He wanted to go see Joanna again, but he knew that if he spent all his time in Sick Bay that the men would quickly start to talk. One of the disadvantages of being higher in the ranks of command was the fact that the rest of the crew kept a closer eye on you. The mood of the Commanding Officers was an important factor in the lives of any crew.

Salen did not want to be seen pacing for the hour or two that it was going to take for Razor to return to the ship. In the confines of his quarters Salen paced in peace. After a while Salen decided that hiding wasn't really a good solution either and went to return to the bridge. Flash was still sitting at the helm.

"Anything to report, Flash?"

"Nope. I'm just running some basic diagnostic tests, but the Diamond is passing them all with flying colors. As always."

"You keep her in excellent shape."

"She's my baby." Flash purred. "So...I hear Razor is getting some tail."

"He really needs to learn to conduct himself more like an Officer." Salen sighed.

"He's new to it, not to mention young." Flash shrugged. "On a normal Starship he'd probably be court martialed for this sort of thing, but here on the Diamond he'll actually gain more respect from the men."

"I have never understood why humans see engaging in sex as some form of accomplishment."

"It takes a lot of hard work and skill to talk a woman into it. I can't imagine Vulcan women are easy to get."

"In traditional Vulcan culture a female had the right to force men into a fight to the death to win her favor."

"Wow, harsh." Flash chuckled. "I know you're married to a human, but have you ever been with a Vulcan woman?"

"I do not wish to discuss it."

"I'll take that as a 'yes'."

Salen shifted his weight uncomfortably, wondering how he had gotten himself into this particular conversation. He was just about to change the subject when the communicator in his ear screeched to life.

'Salen! Help!'

The desperate call had been so unexpected that Salen jerked back hard enough to lose his balance. Since the signal went directly into his auditory center Salen was the only one who could hear it. Flash had shouted in alarm when Salen had apparently collapsed for no reason and jumped to his feet.

"Razor!" Salen shouted in reply. "Razor, what's happening?"

"Salen?" Flash asked concerned. "Are you alright? What's going on?"

There had been no answer from Razor and no time to explain it to Flash. Salen scrambled to his feet and dashed down the hallway. Despite his name Flash had no hope of catching up with Salen. When he got to the transport room Cobalt and Ice were just coming out of the locker room, having showered and chanced into their normal uniform. Salen slammed the last coordinates from Cobalt and Ice into the transport machine to beam down to Razor's aid.

"Salen? What's going on?"

"Razor's in trouble." Salen said as he hopped onto the transporter pad.

"Wha..."

Whatever Cobalt had to say was cut off by the transporter activating. Salen found himself outside a closed bar. He broke in the front door and raced into the building. He had to stop for a moment to get his bearings. Salen could hear a fight going on upstairs and ran towards the stairs in the back. Getting to the closed door at the top of the stairs Salen could hear Razor roaring in fury as he battled his attackers.

Throwing his shoulder into the door Salen easily broke it down. Of the six men who had initially attacked Razor only four of them were still standing. Right now two of them were pinning his arms behind his back while the others tried to figure out a way to render him unconscious without killing him. Salen only took one step into the cluttered room before he was noticed.

"The Vulcan!" One of the men cried in surprise. "Kill him!"

"No!" Razor roared.

Salen put his hand on his hip to retrieve his phaser only to realize that he wasn't wearing it. Unconcerned he charged towards the men. Salen didn't even think to fear the phaser that was aimed at his chest. The weapon went off, but Salen continued his charge. Reaching his target Salen lashed out and easily broke his neck.

"Salen!"

It wasn't until Razor cried out in alarm that Salen even began to feel the lancing pain in his chest. The three remaining attackers were staring at Salen in shock and for a moment the fight came to a stand still. Salen looked down and found that bright green was pouring down the front of his uniform. Without the phaser suit the blast had ripped through his chest where a human heart would be.

Enraged Razor broke free and rushed directly to Salen. He pressed his hand to Salen's chest to slow the bleeding as his friend dropped to his knees. There was more commotion as Cobalt and Ice arrived. A volley of phaser fire rang out and there were shouts of alarm and pain on both sides. With his vision beginning to fail Salen wasn't sure what was happening. The air temperature seemed to be dropping fast.

"Razor?"

"Salen, stay with m..."

Razor was cut off as his eyes suddenly rolled back to white. Salen tried to catch him as he fell, but he was having too much trouble keeping on his own knees to prevent Razor from falling. In the end they both collapsed to the hard wood floor. With the last of his strength Salen looked up at their attacker.

A beautiful woman with a phaser in her hand looked down on them sadly. It was clear that she had pressed the weapon against the back of Razor's neck with the setting on stun to bring him down, a shot that could still kill. Salen could hear that Razor was still breathing, but he'd be unconcious for hours after a shot like the one he'd taken. She ordered the last of the men to drag Razor away. Salen tried to stop them, but it only increased the speed at which he was loosing blood.

Struggling for breath Salen brought his hand up to his chest and weakly pressed it against the devastating wound. The woman watched him for a moment before switching her phaser to 'kill'. Salen watched helplessly as she aimed the weapon between his eyes. He tried to speak, but emerald blood choked him and oozed from his parted lips. Tears streaked down the woman's cheeks as she hesitated to pull the trigger.

"I'm sorry..."

Salen closed his eyes and braced himself for the killing blow. The woman stood over him for a brief moment before sighing heavily and walking away. Salen tried to open his eyes once more, but when he did everything was becoming black anyway. With the last of his strength he took his hand away from his chest to reach up to the jewel behind his ear. Although he was always connected to Razor's communicator he had to press against the gem to switch to the Diamond's system. He managed to touch the stone like implant, but it left him breathless.

"Dia...Diamond...Joanna...Jo..."