CHAPTER II
K-10
The Enterprise, now under Xon's command, had been in warp for 4 hours. Nobody but Xon knew where we were going. Everyone was nervous, since they didn't know what was going on and they saw what little nervousness Xon showed.
"Drop out of warp now, Lieutenant", said Xon.
"Yes sir", said Ilia. When they dropped out of warp, everyone saw the space station in front of them. There were many ships coming in and coming out, so it appeared to be a pretty popular place.
"Where are we, Lieutenant?" asked Sulu to Xon.
"This is space station K-10", said Xon. "It's a place full of ruffians, outlaws, intergalactic criminals, and other scum of the universe".
"If I'm not being rude for asking", said Uhura, "but why go there if all it is a hive for trouble?"
"I know someone who lives there", said Xon. "His name is Lore. He's part of Starfleet's Temporal Police of the 24th Century. He travels through time and space seeking out justice from people who violate temporal law. You might consider him my 'friend'".
"Incoming message from the station", said Uhura.
"Onscreen", said Xon. Then a portly man in ripped up, cheap clothes came on the screen and gave the whole crew a frown that could make a man miserable, even if he was in pure ecstasy.
"What do you want?" said the man.
"I'm here to speak with a friend", said Xon. "It's really important".
"Okay, okay, I'll let you in", said the man. "But you'll have to leave the ship outside the station. It's way to big to go into our garage."
"Thank you for your kindness", said Xon.
"Lay off", said the man. He then ended the communication.
"Uhura, Chekov, you're with me", said Xon. They all then left the bridge and entered the transporter room. They then energized to the last place they would ever want to stay.
When they beamed aboard, they found out that it wasn't the nicest of places to stay. The walls were rusted and the people were surly, but they all knew that their stay here was of great importance. So they followed Xon to the bar, which wasn't any better than the rest of the place. There was an assortment of many races, but the races that were present were of the mean, brutal kind. There were fights going on at every corner, Orion Slave girls showing off their stuff, and drugs being sold at the tables. Xon ignored all the stares and threats that followed his visit and walked up to one Mugato, who was smoking Chc'Rck, a strange tobacco variation found only on Aldebaran III.
"I don't think this is such a good idea", said Chekov. "One of those things nearly killed Kirk and McCoy once".
"That is an illogical assumption", said Xon. "If he was as savage as the one that attacked the captain why would he..."
"MY POINTY EARED BUDDY!" exclaimed the Mugato. He then ran up to Xon and hugged him. "How are you? I haven't seen you since that old Alpha Centauri mission! Who are these buddies? Bless my horn, you're a lieutenant commander now!"
"Yes I am", said Xon. "These are two of my colleagues: Ensign Pavel Chekov and Lieutenant Nyota Uhura. Chekov and Uhura, meet Cromman."
"Pleased to meet you", said Cromman. "So, what can I help you with?"
"We are in a state of crisis, basically", said Xon. "We were supposed to undergo peace talks with Emperor Kitumba of the Klingon Empire, but we were attacked. We then round up an rebellion of Klingons and their Tholian helpers..."
"Wait a minute", said Cromman. "You said the Tholians helped the Klingons?"
"Yes", said Xon. "They made some sort of deal".
"That's totally unlike the Tholians", said Cromman. "The Tholians have always disliked the Klingons, due to their close proximity to each other. What did the Klingons offer the Tholians?"
"Ten million credits", said Xon.
"WHAT?!" exclaimed Cromman. "YOU BELIEVED THAT? Every Academy Cadet should know that independent races such as the Tholians shun credits. Didn't they teach that to you in the academy?"
"I took Biology instead of Cultures", said Xon.
"Dammit", said Cromman. "You should tell your captain to go into Tholian space. The answers might be there."
"But my captain's not here", said Xon. "He and a few other officers were taken captive by Klingons."
"Well you better hurry", said Cromman. "You might not find him in one piece if you wait to long." Then, out of nowhere, Chekov came flying through the air and landed on their table. Then three Klingons came running over to the table with spears in their hand. They were ready to kill.
K-10
The Enterprise, now under Xon's command, had been in warp for 4 hours. Nobody but Xon knew where we were going. Everyone was nervous, since they didn't know what was going on and they saw what little nervousness Xon showed.
"Drop out of warp now, Lieutenant", said Xon.
"Yes sir", said Ilia. When they dropped out of warp, everyone saw the space station in front of them. There were many ships coming in and coming out, so it appeared to be a pretty popular place.
"Where are we, Lieutenant?" asked Sulu to Xon.
"This is space station K-10", said Xon. "It's a place full of ruffians, outlaws, intergalactic criminals, and other scum of the universe".
"If I'm not being rude for asking", said Uhura, "but why go there if all it is a hive for trouble?"
"I know someone who lives there", said Xon. "His name is Lore. He's part of Starfleet's Temporal Police of the 24th Century. He travels through time and space seeking out justice from people who violate temporal law. You might consider him my 'friend'".
"Incoming message from the station", said Uhura.
"Onscreen", said Xon. Then a portly man in ripped up, cheap clothes came on the screen and gave the whole crew a frown that could make a man miserable, even if he was in pure ecstasy.
"What do you want?" said the man.
"I'm here to speak with a friend", said Xon. "It's really important".
"Okay, okay, I'll let you in", said the man. "But you'll have to leave the ship outside the station. It's way to big to go into our garage."
"Thank you for your kindness", said Xon.
"Lay off", said the man. He then ended the communication.
"Uhura, Chekov, you're with me", said Xon. They all then left the bridge and entered the transporter room. They then energized to the last place they would ever want to stay.
When they beamed aboard, they found out that it wasn't the nicest of places to stay. The walls were rusted and the people were surly, but they all knew that their stay here was of great importance. So they followed Xon to the bar, which wasn't any better than the rest of the place. There was an assortment of many races, but the races that were present were of the mean, brutal kind. There were fights going on at every corner, Orion Slave girls showing off their stuff, and drugs being sold at the tables. Xon ignored all the stares and threats that followed his visit and walked up to one Mugato, who was smoking Chc'Rck, a strange tobacco variation found only on Aldebaran III.
"I don't think this is such a good idea", said Chekov. "One of those things nearly killed Kirk and McCoy once".
"That is an illogical assumption", said Xon. "If he was as savage as the one that attacked the captain why would he..."
"MY POINTY EARED BUDDY!" exclaimed the Mugato. He then ran up to Xon and hugged him. "How are you? I haven't seen you since that old Alpha Centauri mission! Who are these buddies? Bless my horn, you're a lieutenant commander now!"
"Yes I am", said Xon. "These are two of my colleagues: Ensign Pavel Chekov and Lieutenant Nyota Uhura. Chekov and Uhura, meet Cromman."
"Pleased to meet you", said Cromman. "So, what can I help you with?"
"We are in a state of crisis, basically", said Xon. "We were supposed to undergo peace talks with Emperor Kitumba of the Klingon Empire, but we were attacked. We then round up an rebellion of Klingons and their Tholian helpers..."
"Wait a minute", said Cromman. "You said the Tholians helped the Klingons?"
"Yes", said Xon. "They made some sort of deal".
"That's totally unlike the Tholians", said Cromman. "The Tholians have always disliked the Klingons, due to their close proximity to each other. What did the Klingons offer the Tholians?"
"Ten million credits", said Xon.
"WHAT?!" exclaimed Cromman. "YOU BELIEVED THAT? Every Academy Cadet should know that independent races such as the Tholians shun credits. Didn't they teach that to you in the academy?"
"I took Biology instead of Cultures", said Xon.
"Dammit", said Cromman. "You should tell your captain to go into Tholian space. The answers might be there."
"But my captain's not here", said Xon. "He and a few other officers were taken captive by Klingons."
"Well you better hurry", said Cromman. "You might not find him in one piece if you wait to long." Then, out of nowhere, Chekov came flying through the air and landed on their table. Then three Klingons came running over to the table with spears in their hand. They were ready to kill.