There was a moment, it had been known to happen, where Tw'eak would reach a level of stress and concern that her concentration would filter out both her ability to see and her ability to think. At the moment, all that she knew was that one of her friends, and former officers, was sitting before her in a replimat on Deep Space Nine, while a few light-years away, another friend of hers, a former Starfleet officer, was waiting to speak to her. The inner voice of reason in her head told her there was no way the two things were unconnected. The inner tactical-officer voice in her head was already planning, contingency-planning, and working on plan B for whatever might be going on. The problem was that she had no idea what the two could possibly have in common as a reason to talk to her.
T'uni, for her part, may have been basking in the glow of Tw'eak's anxiety, for all Tw'eak could tell. She was maddeningly Vulcan at the moment, engaging in a lengthy sip of her spice tea, presumably in an effort to deflect from having to tell her what was going on. This may have been consideration on her part, but it was extremely frustrating to the non-Vulcan at the table. No matter how much she might have learned about controlling her emotions over the years, the urge to flip the table was relentless.
"Please tell me I didn't travel two sectors just to watch you have a drink," Tw'eak began.
"I am merely attempting to complete my beverage in order to move away from this place." T'uni took another sip. "It is not secure to talk."
"And you know a place?"
Another sip. "Indeed." Then another.
"Look, I'll get you another tea if you'll just come on already."
"On the contrary, Admiral. It is imperative that we remain here for a reasonable duration of time."
"And why is that, exactly?" Tw'eak sat back in her chair impatiently.
"I believe we are being observed."
This got Tw'eak's attention. "I suppose I should've made myself a little less conspicuous."
"It would have been far more beneficial for you to suppose that upon your arrival." T'uni looked up from behind her mug, using it to mask her mouth. "There is grave danger. We must be extremely cautious."
"You know, I've been a tactical officer for a long time, and one of the things they always tell us is, when giving direction to threatened or targeted individuals, starships, whatever, it's best to give some indication of the nature of the threat. You know, so the recipient isn't-"
"I find your lecture less than helpful," T'uni said, cutting her off. "I am not here officially."
"You- you're not?"
"In fact, I have taken a rather considerable risk. Were it not one I deemed worthy of taking, I would have regarded it as a most illogical folly to venture here." T'uni took a long last drink from the bottom of her mug. Then she stood up, gestured to the replicators, and asked a little too loudly, "May I get you anything, or would you prefer to complete our negotiation in the cargo bay?"
Tw'eak stood up. "I'd rather conclude our business, thank you," she replied in the same tone.
T'uni gestured towards the nearest lift and the two of them walked briskly together towards it. Tw'eak ushered T'uni into the lift, then turned aside a Ferengi who appeared to be in a bit of a hurry. "Sorry, pal, this one's taken."
"But you're headed to the cargo bay," the Ferengi replied quickly.
"Yeah, but where we're going? You're not." The door closed, and Tw'eak shrugged through the shutting doors.
Cargo Bay Two was deserted. This was probably intentional. T'uni took a few steps ahead of Tw'eak, around a number of stacked cargo containers into a separated compartment formed by their shape around them. She produced a small amulet from around her neck which appeared to be the IDIC icon, as much a symbol of Vulcan philosophy as of the planet itself. At her touch, it unfolded into a four-sided transmission disrupter. "I believe we can talk freely here, once I have ensured we are not being monitored telepathically."
Tw'eak watched as T'uni knelt, placing her hand to her head. "Are you-"
"I will require silence."
"...okay, then," Tw'eak said after a moment, earning a scolding glance from T'uni.
"We are not being monitored at present." T'uni took a deep breath. "It is something of a relief to see you."
"You've gone to a great amount of trouble for me. I appreciate it."
"Indeed. As you are no doubt aware, there has been persistent traffic from the Klingon Defense Force regarding your whereabouts."
"Yes, I've heard. They seem to think I've become their captive."
"In that regard they may have been misled by their actual captive, whose identity our operatives were only able last week to determine."
"Actual -you mean some other Andorian is posing as me?"
"That would depend upon whether you would consider your sister to simply be 'some other Andorian'."
"My sis- which one? Sassil? But she's been missing for years, presumed to have been lost with the Incheon."
"I speak of Lieutenant Dashichal Zh'abbas."
"Dashii?" Tw'eak was dumbstruck. "No, she- she's on the Majestic. They're due in spacedock in just a couple more weeks."
"According to the Majestic's captain, your sister never returned from shore leave aboard Starbase 39-Sierra approximately a month ago."
"Why wasn't I informed?"
"Starfleet regulations make no provisions for informing the siblings of missing crew members of their whereabouts, with the exceptions of several species who-"
"But why-" Tw'eak wondered why her parents hadn't gotten in touch with her. True, her shreya would undoubtedly have nothing good to say if she even knew, and her charan would be unlikely to bring the matter to her attention, expecting her to go charging off halfway across the galaxy to- "Wait. What can I do?"
"At the present time, relatively little. I can assure you that any action will be against regulations, specifically-"
"That's not what I want to hear right now, T'uni."
"Nevertheless, you must yield to the logic of the situation. Your orders-"
"My orders are hardly relevant right now, T'uni. Starfleet has me floating around with a task force in the back end of the universe, and I don't even get to-"
"Starfleet has given you command of a task force, in keeping with your rank and expected station. You must comply with their orders."
"Tell me where she's being held."
"I do not believe that yielding such information would prove-"
"Tell me, or I'll find out some other way."
"I am sorry, but I cannot."
T'uni held firm, remaining silent, looking away from Tw'eak slightly. The fury rose inside Tw'eak, a deep and abiding concern for her younger sister, whom she had looked after for so long, whom she had more than once before rescued from her poor decision-making, and she found herself staring down her Vulcan friend in a rage, her antennae leaning forward far enough to nearly curl around. "T'uni."
"I have already committed a grave violation of my orders in coming-"
"And you're telling me I can't do the same thing!?"
"Unlike you, I am capable of reasoning logically with this situation. I felt it would be prudent to inform you of your sister's predicament. However, I will say no more."
"But you know more. You know where she is."
"I do."
"So tell me," Tw'eak pleaded.
T'uni merely looked away. After a moment, she said, "I anticipated you would find it difficult to be provided with such limited information."
"Is anyone looking for her right now?"
"There is a warrant for her arrest in Starfleet territory."
"A warrant?"
"Dereliction of duty."
"But she may have been kidnapped!"
"That is a possibility we cannot discount."
"So tell me where she is already. You know they're not going to raise a fuss looking for her - those warrants can remain posted indefinitely. I think there's even one still out for Sassil, and my brothers too. Probably for both my parents who died in this damned war, as well." Tw'eak took a half-step towards her friend. "She's one of five surviving family members I have left, T'uni. There used to be twelve of us."
"I am aware of the complexity of Andorian family relationships."
"Damn it, T'uni - I have to get her back. If there's a chance- nobody in Starfleet will be able to do this - not like I can."
"I must insist. I cannot be the source of that information."
Tw'eak's eyes felt frostbitten with fury. Unable to control herself, she lunged at T'uni, who appeared surprised for a briefest moment before deftly knocking Tw'eak aside. Crashing against the unexpectedly solid wall of cargo, Tw'eak leapt to her feet, once again attempting to grapple with the Vulcan, and once again finding herself clattering heavily into a cargo container. T'uni leapt into action this time, her legs coming down on either side of Tw'eak, pinning her to the floor. For the first time, Tw'eak appreciated her friend's physical strength, deceptive for her size like all Vulcans, as she was able to hold Tw'eak down with a single hand despite Tw'eak making every effort to grapple free, panting and frantic to elude her friend.
"Please do not force me to the indignity of utilizing a nerve pinch upon you," T'uni said calmly.
This made Tw'eak relax, lean back, and laugh desperately.
"I do not understand how you can find humour in this moment."
"Just- it's just- damn it, T'uni, she's my little sister. I didn't think anything of it when I didn't hear from her in so long... she's out there and I've been aboard ship... she'll die out there."
"That also is a distinct possibility." T'uni went to move, then returned to her position. "If I should resume a standing position, you will not attempt to attack me again."
"Whole lot of good it did me."
"Indeed." T'uni arched an eyebrow. "I commend you for attempting it, as you stood no chance of prevailing." She rose and stepped over Tw'eak, resuming a placid stance with her back to the cargo containers.
Tw'eak rolled over, suddenly tasting a touch of blood in her mouth. "Yeah, thanks." She stood up, rubbing her hip as she did so. "You seriously won't tell me where they're holding her?"
T'uni furrowed her brows, looking downward. After a moment, one of those brows resumed its arch, contemplative, and she nodded to herself. "It would appear, by your conduct, that you will attempt to ascertain her whereabouts regardless of whether I am willing to comply in offering it to you."
Tw'eak half-smiled. "Very logical of you."
"It would therefore be remiss of me to have stood between you and your goal. In the name of our long-standing friendship, and given your rather devoted attachment to your sister, a fact which I have always appreciated, if not understood, about you... she currently resides in a cell on Nimbus III."
"Nimbus." Tw'eak grimaced, not just at the pain in her side. "I hate Nimbus."
"Indeed, it did strike me as being rather unfortunate for one of your kind to be held upon a barren desert world such as Nimbus. However, her captor is the Orion mistress Saraja C'lin. After the demise of Melani D'ian's organization, along with the uncovering of the Tal Shiar installation on Nimbus, she has re-purposed that facility for the housing of particularly lucrative hostages." T'uni looked towards Tw'eak. "Such as yourself."
"I've been there before. That installation is underground. We can get in and out."
"I doubt it. While before, Nimbus was a lawless wasteland, she has put in place a rather formidable coalition. Lethean beastmasters control phalanxes of the sand scorpions native to that world, making approach difficult. There are also numerous Nausicaans, Orions and other slavers who are working together with her, and they comprise a dangerous force. Perhaps even Hirogen as well - reports of their presence on Nimbus are, at present, unconfirmed. But these disparate forces are being drawn together out of concern for their operations. There is talk of a new and growing force attempting to combat the piracy in the region."
"Selkirk Rex and his people?"
"Perhaps. The Romulan Republic also commands their distrust, if not their respect. While we do not know if the Republic is directly engaged against piracy, they may have a task force so inclined. It would be logical for them to isolate, if not completely clean up, the Nimbus system since it lies so close to mol'Rihan."
"I don't have to go myself. During those missions I had Octavia with me. Zed and Aurora, too. There's no reason they couldn't launch a strike, if they were willing."
"Do you believe that any of those officers are expendable?"
"Well... no, not really. But it's a risk we all take."
"In Starfleet service, yes. But they would not be undertaking Starfleet service."
Tw'eak considered this for a moment. "So they wouldn't -damn, you're right."
"Whatever your next move, Admiral, I would advise you proceed with extreme caution. Your death or capture in a rogue operation would certainly motivate Starfleet to act, but your career - presuming you survived - would certainly be at an end."
Tw'eak nodded grimly. "I don't suppose I can talk you into coming."
"I can assure you, by being in this place and providing you with this information, I have already proceeded sufficiently in an illogical manner for one lifetime."
"Maybe I'm rubbing off on you - after all that time I spent with Vulcans, it's nice to know there's one I've helped make a little more Andorian after all."
"It is most fortunate I know you well enough to be aware you mean no insult by such a statement."
Tw'eak shook her head, laughing to herself. "Thank you, T'uni. You've given me a lot to think about. I should probably head back. He's waiting for me, you know."
"To whom are you referring?"
"Selkirk Rex. Has some big information only he can tell me. Wonder what it is."
"In fairness, his sources may be informed in greater detail, or more recently, than I. Intelligence is a powerful branch of service, albeit limited on occasion."
"Again, though. Thank you." She patted T'uni on the shoulder. "I don't suppose you could turn off that device of yours so I can contact my ship?"
"Ah, yes." T'uni reached over and closed the amulet upon itself again. "I will be thinking of you. There is relatively little I can offer by way of assistance, but if I can support you, I will."
"Thanks." Tw'eak patted her sweater. "Sh'abbas to Wolverine. Beam me up."
As Tw'eak dissolved into the transporter beam, she watched her friend's face momentarily arch with concern - a very unlikely Vulcan reaction.