Author Note
This story has been slow to update despite all the interest in it. I'm sorry about that and I hope this extra long chapter makes up for having to wait.
Once again I want to thank Joe Lawyer for his work as my beta reader. Somehow he always finds ways to improve upon my chapters.
Reveiws
ThedemonlordPingu
I don't have any further ship upgrades planned for a while. Well not after this chapter.
RoyalTwinFangs
Yes he will be involved when it comes to restoring Bajor in the future.
Maben00
I'm glad you liked it.
grayiron
That's the first time I've written about time travel without giving myself a headache trying to make sure it all makes sense.
heavyneos
Oh that's sweet. Thank you.
War Sage
I don't know how Centrel Command would react to that news. They don't have much to go on and I doubt they'd ask the Federation if they have any super soilders on the lose. I guess they'd assume Starfleet involvement, but there's not much they can do about. They might even cover the whole thing up so their troops don't start worrying about a super human coming after them.
It's one thing to decided not to have children its another to be told you can't. Having the choice is important.
An augment human/something hybrid could be rather cool. I guess it depends on the species a Vuclan/augment hybrid might not be anything special as Vuclans are pretty impressive already.
Augment Gothic 12
Bar. Frontier Colony
When I'd left Bajor, intending to seek out the Enterprise so that they could hold onto the Orb of Guidnece for me, I had imagined that I'd have to go a long way to find the flagship of the Federation, an adventure fraught with peril, multiple battles with hostile aliens (including battles under the sheets with sexy alien women) and mysterious space time anomalies that needed to be avoided.
Colour me disappointed because, as it turned out, a freaking Galaxy Class Starship was pretty damn easy to find, all I'd done is call Data and had asked him if the Enterprise would be anywhere near Bajor in the near future.
Luckily or unluckily for me, I suppose, it was heading in that direction, for reasons Data couldn't tell share with me, so I'd left Bajor, with Kira in my co-polit seat despite intending to leave her behind, and had headed here to a somewhat independent star system near the badlands, which was an area of space the major powers tended to avoid as it was quite unstable and dangerous.
What hadn't been so lucky was then losing contact with Data, the android stopped answering his calls, and the flagship seemed to have dropped off the radar for a while. Maybe I was going to have that adventure after all!
The lack of contact was how I'd ended up in a seedy looking bar on a frontier colony world, which was somewhat kind of like Mos Eisley. The planet even had two orbiting suns and seemed to be mostly endless deserts. This colony was part of the Federation in the sense only that it was within UFP space, but it was hardly the kind of place the flagship would visit. What was that line of Obi-Wan's about Mos Eisley? Something like "You will never find a more wretched hive of scum and villainy!" This bar wasn't quite that bad, but it was close.
With that in mind it was very unexpected to find a member of the Enterprise's crew in this bar, yet Deanna Troi was right here, sitting at the bar, and I just had to find out why.
"Let me guess," I said to the empathic person as I sat down next to her. "Picard fired you, and you've decided to change careers. You've gone from upstanding Starfleet Officer to semi-slutty looking barfly".
Troi eyed me in surprise for a moment, it was as if she couldn't quite process the ridiculous improbability that I was here. And to be completely fair, it really didn't seem likley that we'd just run into each other in a seedy bar in the middle of nowhere on a planet that was on the very edge of civilization. It hadn't even been that long since I'd seen her on Risa.
"Gothic," she finally said, "that's not why..."
She stopped speaking for a moment, and when she resumed her voice was much lower.
"I'm here on a mission," she told me.
That explained why Data had stopped picking up the space phone, the crew of the Enterprise were up to something oh so sneaky.
"By yourself?" I asked, incredulously.
I found that hard to believe. I was a badass augment who could kill every person in this bar within a few minutes without getting a scratch on me. She on the other hand was a space therapist, not a secret agent.
"No, Commander Riker, and Doctor Crusher are here with me," she said answered softly.
Now that made much more sense; Troi would be an assestasset on a team doing something sneaky due to her mental abilities. She could sense people's feelings and could tell if they were lying or simply holding something back. Helpful if say they were chasing a crook who felt guilty about a recent crime commited against the Federation.
"What about Picard?" I enquired. "Is the good captain around?".
I'd thought long and hard about who I could actually trust the Orb to for safekeeping. I could have taken it to Earth, but the only person I really knew on that boring mud ball was an now rather pissed off ex-girlfriend, and that wasn't the kind of person I wanted to entrust a holy relic to, especially one that belonged to a group of god-like beings who existed outside time. She could try to destroy it out of spite, and it might not be her who got smited for the act.
My other choice was T'Maz, but she was Section 31 and while I was sure she would protect the Orb, she'd probably do that by just handing it over to the organization we both worked for. I trusted Section 31 about as much as you could trust a bunch of cold hearted spies. I didn't think they'd really turn on me, but only because I was too useful to them at the moment. This could change in the blink of an eye if the right circumstance came along. That was one of the reasons why I was trying to improve my ship, knowledge base and wealth after all. More of all three of those meant independence and freedom, and a much better chance for not only survival, but thriving in this galaxy. Anyways, if I gave the Orb to 31 they'd be able to keep it safe, and but I'd likely never see it again. They'd study it and then lock it up somewhere I would never be able to find.
That left the Enterprise as my best and perhaps only choice. I figured that while Picard might carefully study the Orb, as he did rather like artifacts, he wouldn't abuse its power or refuse to give it back when the time was right. He'd understand the importance of returning the Orb to the Bajoran people, also he had the power and influence to protect it in the meantime. Plus he had some experience with time travel so he also wouldn't just open up the box on a whim, he'd understood understand how dangerous such foreknowledge could be.
"Captain Picard has been missing for over a week," Deanna informed me.
I was startled at this because I didn't recall Picard going missing on a mission at this point in the time line and I remembered the seasons of Next Generation rather well. Of course this time line was not playing out entirely the same as the one seen on TV, the lack of any huge Borg attack at Wolf 359 was proof positive of that.
"And this was the last place he was seen?" I asked, now carefully looking around, hoping to jog my memory in case this was some later season episode playing out ealier in the time line.
Picard was a private person, not the kind of guy to hit up a bar, and even if he did wish to, he wouldn't come to this particular watering hole. He was a bit of snob and this place was like the armpit of the galaxy. Therefore he must have come here as part of a mission.
"Yes," Troi confirmed.
She then moved her stool closer to me. Was she making moves on me? Because if so, I was not going to play all that hard to get.
"Do you have any idea where he might be?" she wondered. "Have you seen him around".
It was smart of her to ask me as I while I had just arrived, she didn't know that, and this bar was far more my element that than hers. I certainly blended in far better. Even Kira fitted in rather well, she was currently playing a game of chance with some Bajorans who had fled their home world. I had expected to go over and berate them about abandoning Bajor during its time of need, but she hadn't, and that I was grateful for as I didn't want her making a scene.
"I've just gotten here myself," I told her.
That was when I took note of her blue dress. It was something that Deanna would wear when off duty, and while it didn't scream 'Starfleet', she looked way too formal for such a seedy bar. She just didn't fit in, though her tits did look rocking.
"I think you can blame your lack of progress on that get-up of yours," I said. "You're look way too clean".
This place wasn't dirty per sayse, it was just rough, the people here had access to sonic showers, but they wore clothes meant to stand up to a harsh desert world that regularly had sand storms that could strip the paint from metal. That meant thicker, heartier materials with dull colours, not nice new blue dresses.
"Possibly," she admitted before leaning in even closer. "Maybe we'd be able to blend in better if..."
She I stopped her then, before she could say anything that might be considered insulting towards me.
"I know what you're thinking," I said. "Here's a guy who could have been nearly anything he wanted to be back on Earth, mostly, and instead, here I am slumming it with the scum of the galaxy".
Being an augment did limit my career options, I couldn't join Starfleet or become President of the Federation, or even be a doctor, yet I'd still had plenty of good options. I could have become an academic if I'd stayed at San Fran University. Granted it would have taken time to get out of the library and into a better job, but I could have become a professor of something or I could have spent my days restoring 20th/21st tech.
Also I also had a my own ship, which really opened up a lot of more options for me. Sure, it was no giant freighter or powerful warship, however that wouldn't have stopped me from moving small amounts of high value cargo and even important people around. In fact that was something I was still considering doing in between jobs or even when on one. Getting paid multiple times for the same trip sounded just about right to me.
"But you know why I chose this life, Counselor?" I asked. "Why I'm here, in the arm pit of the galaxy instead of taking it easy on Earth?".
She shook her head.
"The truth of the matter is that if I had to choose between poverty and freedom out here or wealth and what you called freedom in the Federation, I would pick the former every, single, time. I'd rather live my life by my own rules," I told her.
Of course I also chose to exercise that freedom by seeking out wealth, power and adventure, but she didn't need to know that. She probably also didn't need to know about "the list" and my plans to bang a hot ass woman from every sexy humanoid species I could. So far I could cross off human, Risian, Trill, Vulcan and Bajoran. A mysterious little smile lit up my face at the thought of all the alpha quadrant species I'd yet to pleasure in the bedroom.
"Even if it means living like this?" Troi asked, while subtly gesturing at around, which, was by Federation standards at least, pretty much a cesspool.
I soon gave her an answer.
"Well, I was an outcast even in my own society and time," I told her. "Not like a crook criminal or some weird hermit person, but I never really fitted fit in, and that hasn't changed despite everything that has happened to me since".
Troi nodded, perhaps she couldn't understand my reasoning, yet that didn't mean she couldn't agree with my life choices, they were, after all, mine to make.
"I think you could have flourished on Earth if only you had given it a real chance, but you do seem to fit in well here," she stated.
She then moved away a little, and acted as if we were having a casual conversation. Which, arguably, we were.
"What is it exactly you exactly do for a living now?" she asked.
I couldn't tell her the truth. She didn't even know that Section 31 existed, and hopefully never would. Maybe I would ask Sloane to get me some civilian consultant credentials for Starfleet Intelligence, it'd make things easier in situations like this when dealing with Starfleet officers. Civilian consultants even existed in this time.
"Mostly I've been travelling," I told the half alien. "I've ferried a few people around and moved a bit of cargo to a planet called Bajor. Just some farming equipment".
A man dressed similarly to me, only without the badass looking armour, took this moment to grasp Troi by the shoulders, nearly forcing her off her stool.
"C'mon, baby," the human man, who was barely able to stand straight due to being drunk, said while grabbing Deanna's shoulder. "Let's go."
Troi held her ground, as best she could, trying to pull away, only she didn't have much look luck due to his much stronger hands. The guy might be liquored up, but he had survived on the frontier and therefore wasn't going to give up easily.
"Go where?" she demanded to know.
I was armed and dangerous so I wouldn't let his this waste of space hurt Troi, but I wasn't going to anything yet as I wanted to see how she would handle herself.
"Who cares?" the man sneered. "If you're worth the money it doesn't matter where we go".
A few laughs burst out of me while I was trying to covering my mouth with a hand. When Troi glared at me, still obviously confused by what the man wanted, I explained why I was laughing so hard.
"He thinks you're a prostitute," I explained
It was just priceless. Her eyes nearly bugged out at this and she now struggled even harder against the man, who seemed content to carry her off if she remained uncooperative. The counselor stared at me as if this was somehow my fault. Somehow I think it had much more to do with the provocative blue dress she had on, and those rocking tits on display.
"Well, do something!" she urged emphatically.
With that, fun times were over and slowly I stood up.
"Trust me pal, you can't afford her," I said, getting a kick out of my choice of words.
I could have just told him that she wasn't really for hire, but it was so much funnier this way.
"Stay outta it," the man replied drunkenly, "this is between me and the woman".
It was tempting to do just that, but Deanna had always been, if not nice, then at least civil towards me and I know she had played a big part in the restrictions being eased up on me back when the Enterprise crew were worried that I was a tyrannical augment despot from the 20th century.
"She's with me," I said, firmly, no longer playing around.
Abruptly, the man pushed the counselor to the side so that there was nothing and no one between us.
"What are ya gonna do?" he then asked.
It had happened faster than anyone other than me, and perhaps some select species of aliens, could have followed. The local man reached out to grab me with one hand then there was a loud popping noise as a bone was snapped in two like a twig. After a rather comical scream in pain and terror, the drunken human ran away soon after, cradling a broken arm. Long honed survival skills living honed on this dangerous world had obviously kicked in and he had finally identified me as the far superior predator.
"Was that really necessarcy?" Deanna asked.
I shrugged and sat back down.
"You wanted to me to get involved," I replied with a smirk.
An instant later, Riker was standing beside her; he must have seen what I'd done and had rushed over. After making sure that this his fellow Starfleet Oofficer was okay he requested some information.
"Any leads?" the Commander asked Troi.
She shook her head.
"I don't like this place," Riker said as he sat down on the stool next to Deanna. "I don't see how anyone could possibly stand it".
Thankfully he was keeping his voice low so as not to offend the locals.
"Oh, I don't know," I said. "It can grow on you after a while, much like some sort of persistent foot fungus".
I wasn't particularly worried about offending the natives, though, as I could take on everyone in this bar and win. I'd taken out entire squads of highly trained Cardie soldiers with military grade weapons, a bunch of drunks was nothing compared to that.
"So will you help us find Captain Picard?" Troi requested.
I pondered the idea for a moment. I had come here wanting a favour from Picard so helping him out now seemed wise. On the other hand I wasn't in the habit of doing things for free. I had a living to make and when it came to the Orb I did have other options. I could hide it on some lifeless moon in the middle of nowhere, and hope for the best. Given all the shenanigans the Enterprise got up to on the show it might even be safer that way in the end.
"Will you pay me?" I asked. "I do need latinum, nothing is free on the frontier, including my services, and I may need to buy information".
Riker nodded.
"I can arrange that," he said, "and we could do with some more help. We're not having much luck with our investigation".
Paid work was good.
"So," Troi broke in. "Does this mean you'll assist us?"
With the issue of payment now dealt with, I nodded my head.
"So was Captain Picard kidnapped?" I asked.
Before either of the Starfleet officers could answer my question. Kira returned and planted herself on my lap. This was odd behavior for her, but I had no time to figure out her motivations.
"I was looking all over for you," the Bajoran woman said.
Troi and Riker exchanged glances.
"I'm guessing you missed me then?" I teased my companion before addressing the Starfleet types. "Commander Riker and Councilor Troi this is Kira, she's from Bajor. Kira this is Will Riker and Deanna Troi I haven't seen them since I was on Risa".
I then changed the subject because I didn't want the two Enterprise crewmen to remember Kira should they ever visit Deep Space Nine. If the timeline played out like the show the Enterprise would be there when the Federation agreed to administer DS9 after the occupation ended. I doubted they would remember, though, as right now Kira didn't look like any kind of officer. I'd replicated her new clothes, but she still had a wild appearance about her. It allowed her to fit in with this crowd much better.
Also I didn't want Kira wondering how I knew two Starfleet Officers, which was why I'd mentioned Rise. If she assumed that I'd met them by chance on a well known resort planet then it wouldn't led to her asking any unwanted questions.
Perhaps I should have left her behind on Bajor as planned, but she wanted to come with me, and my ship didn't have the fastest warp engines so it nice to have company on my trips. Plus she was happy to spread her legs for me, even more so when were off her planet.
"So how long has the captain been missing?" I asked.
Deanna had told me already, I just wanted to get the conversation moving in the right direction and away from the subject of my travelling companion.
"He has been missing for a week," Riker said.
Kira made a sound that may have been a derisive laugh.
"If he was dressed anything like you two, he was either mugged, kidnapped for ransom, or..." she started to say.
I finished for her.
"Killed and the body was dumped somewhere outside the colony, maybe even vaporized," I told Riker and Troi to their shock.
Had they seriously not considered that? "
This place isn't as bad as, say, Turkana IV, but it can get plenty rough" I then said.
Turkana IV, Tasha Yar's homeworld, was a failed Federation colony that made even this place seem like a utopia. Sure, people got mugged here, and there had been a few murders, but there were no roving rape gangs and if you got murdered here it was because you bothered the wrong kind of people, not just because you were vulnerable and alone.
"Are you serious?!" Riker exclaimed.
Indeed I was.
"It's a possibility, one you have to face when dealing with a place like this, Commander," I replied.
Riker frowned.
"I could always find out," I offered.
For a price, to be decided at a later time, but it would be decided. Hopefully the Federation's general disdain of money meant they won't balk at the figure I'd name later on. Though a ship like the Enterprise would have an industrial replicator on board, this could mean great upgrades for my ship with a skilled engineering team to install it for free.
"That would be helpful," he said.
I lifted a slip of gold pressed latinum into the air and that brought the Ferengi bartender over to me like it was some kind of greedy bastard summoning spell. Say what you want about the Ferengi, though, they could be a very useful bunch for the right price, you just needed to know how to deal with them, and motivate them, and constantly watch for treachery, but for all that still damn useful. I had long considered establishing a business relationship with some Ferengi traders in the future when I had more latinum. Those wonderfully greedy bastards would sell you just about anything you could think of with little regard for anything but money. I had several upgrades to my ship in mind already.
"Listen, I need ya to do a favor for me," I told the ugly xernos bastard. "I need a list of everyone who has died on this planet over the last week".
The bartender, who lacked Quark's social graces, laughed shrilly at me.
"You're kidding, right?" he said.
I added another strip to the one I had between my fingers, like magic.
"Does it look like I'm kidding?" I asked in a deadpan voice.
The alien shook his head, his eyes not leaving the latinum.
"Sorry, 'uman we don't keep lists like that, maybe if I had more information I could help you," he said.
I sighed, and then turned to Riker.
"Do ya have a holo image of him," I asked, "and I'll need some more money, information isn't cheap".
When you had replicators that made pretty much anything that either wasn't alive or made of something some material too exotic to replicate, information became one of the few things worth paying for.
The commander pulled out a miniature cube and passed it to me. I examined it a moment. Then he gave me some money which I used to pay for a somewhat expensive bottle of hooch, at least for this place.
"This isn't the time for drinking," Riker commented.
I ignored him and addressed the crowd, after I had gently pushed Kira off my lap, giving her ass a nice squeeze in the process, which got a smile from her.
"Who wants this?" I asked the crowd
It was pretty good booze, so my question drew a lot of attention.
"If you want to win this prize then the only question you have to answer is: have you seen this man?".
Everyone focused on the hologram of Captain Picard, who was dressed in his civilian clothes. There was a slight pause, then someone raised an appendage into the air.
"Now we're getting somewhere," I said with a smirk.
(Line Break)
"And what do I get if I tell you?" the Denobulan asked contemptuously. "The bottle isn't worth it my life if I annoy the wrong people".
This alien was a member of the same race as Doctor Phlox in Star Trek Enterprise;, they exisited in this version of Trek, and were, for the most part, a kind group of people who made friends easily. Normally they liked to stay on their home world with their large complicated families, or on their colonies which were also large familes. This member of that species was alone and rather unfriendly, but there were oddballs in every race. I was a good example of this.
"I'll make sure you're justly rewarded," Riker said, while flashing his most charming smile.
What was even more effective than mere some bizarrely cryptic words was my placing some slips of latinum before the creature. There was nothing cryptic about that.
"Then I will be happy to tell you," the alien said happily "Your companion, the balding human, was here about a week ago, asking suspicious questions".
The alien eyed the strips before speaking more.
He had some sort of misunderstanding with a group of mercenaries who were sitting at this very table, and they attacked him," the alien told us.
Picard wasn't the type to hang out with mercenaries, nor was he a foolish man who went around picking fights. Which meant he must have been on an important mission, one worth taking risks over.
"Go on," Riker invited.
Another slip was placed on the table before any more words were spoken.
"He was thrown against that wall, and fell there. No wait, I was sitting over there at the time...so it must have been that wall. Yes, that's it," the alien said.
I then watched as Beverly Crusher subtly used a tricorder to examine the area in which the manPicard had supposedly fallen.
"These mercenaries," Riker asked in a way that seemed offhanded. "Do you know if they were working for someone?"
The Denobulan scratched at his face. A sign of nerves I guessed, and didn't say anything further. A moment later he took his strips of latinum and left, obviously feeling we were slipping into a dangerous topic.
"I picked up some fiber traces and human cellular debris," Crusher reported, "but that's hardly strange".
Indeed it wasn't, as anyone could have brushed up against the wall and left bits of skin cells behind. There were plenty of humans on this world and they wore clothes.
"Can you establish a DNA reading?" Riker questioned.
She soon gave the commander a sort of answer.
"There's something strange here," the doctor said. "The cell structures are badly distorted; it's as if they've been exposed to some kind of energy field".
It wasn't hard to figure out what had happened, someone had fired an energy weapon either at the wall or at someone standing in front of it.
"I picked up some faint traces," Beverly Crusher reported. "But I'm not familiar with the pattern I'm getting".
There were many kinds of energy weapons in the galaxy, any sufficiently advanced race had their own version. The only thing I could rule out was that a Federation phaser had been used as the doctor would immediately recongiserecognize that kind of energy.
"Commander, it will take me at least an hour to identify this DNA," Crusher was now saying".
Riker nodded.
"And we need to find where those mercenaries are now," Troi said.
I figured that I could help with that.
"Got anymore of those slips," I asked Riker.
He passed me a few and I headed for the bar. Now that I had more information to go on I could question the bartender more pointedly and find out exactly what the Starfleet guys wanted to know. I had a feeling the Ferengi would be more amenable to sharing this information then the Denobulan.
(Line Break)
Sickbay. The Enterprise.
"Gothic, it is standard procedure for visitors to undergo a simple health screening when they come on board," Beverly said explained to me as I tried to leave sickbay. "It's for your own good, but mostly for the good of the rest of us".
Sadly, being an augment didn't make me immune to illness. I could still get sick, though it was exponentially harder.. That was one of the benefits of having a super charged immune system.
"I'm not diseased," I protested, somewhat petulantly.
Thinking about it I realised I actually could be and not even know because I hadn't gone through the transporters, which detected that sort of thing. I'd landed my ship inside the Enterprise's shuttle bay and I'd been on Bajor for a while now. It was possible that some sickness there had entered my body and I just didn't know it. I felt fine, but it could be dormant or be something that didn't even effect humans, yet might later spread to other species and make them ill.
"Okay, scan away," I offered to the doctor.
I sat down on one of the beds and fondly remembered when I had first woken up on this very bed before going getting to bet beat up some Klingons. Good times.
"First you need to disrobe and put something else on," Crusher was now saying.
With 24th century medical tech there was no need to be naked for an exam so I was understandably confused as to why I needed to undress and put on a gown, or whatever it was she wanted me to wear. Was this a come on? If so, I'd be happy to bang her. Doctor Crusher was still a fine looking woman after all. Plus any fan of TNG would love to bang one of the main female characters.
"Your armour is stained with blood," I was then told.
What the… I looked down and saw nothing. My gloves, bracers, cuirass and greaves, all black, were all spotless as far as I could see. I didn't polish the material, as it wasn't metal, but I certainly kept it clean.
"On the microscopic level you're virtually covered in blood," the doctor was now telling me. "I'm picking up Cardassian, Bajoran, human and some that are indeterminate; what ever the armour is made of makes it difficult for me to get a clear scan".
Well, fuck me. Guess I'd have to change up my maintenance procedures in the future to remove microscopic traces like this. The human blood was strange though. I had been in a few fights, although I didn't remember bleeding, so I had no idea where the human blood come came from. The guy's arm I'd broken hadn't actually bleedbled.
"Aren't you going to enquire about the blood?" I asked the doctor.
She shook her head.
"Doctor-patient confidentiality still applies even if you aren't a member of the crew" she said.
Doctor-patient confidentiality was a medical and legal concept used in many cultures, incudlingincluding the Federation. It held that information regarding an individual's medical condition and any related communications are protected from being divulged by the doctor to any third party without the patient's consent. This applied to any third party, but especially to police agencies or other forms of authority, such as Starfleet.
"The only time I'm allowed to mention anything I discover during such a medical exam is if it's something that may effect the welfare of the people on this ship," the doctor was now saying. "I doubt you getting into a few bar fights will put the crew of the Enterprise in any danger".
Well, that wasn't how the blood had gotten onto my armour, but it was for the best that she thought it was because of something as mundane as that. She probably wouldn't be quite so sanguine about it if she knew the truth., Beheading Cardassians was a messy business, the blood spray when the head was separated from the body was not unlike that of a fountian, though being soaked in Cardie blood did wonders on crafting a fearsome reputation in the Bajoran resistance.
"Now, I can fit you with a change of clothes while your armour is being cleaned," Crusher offered. "No charge," she added jokingly.
I went behind the screen and changed into something that made me feel all 24th century civilized. I would have to get to a replicator and go through the ship's historical archives again in order to get myself something I could wear without feeling like a some kind of commie hippy, but it was better than being naked. But only by a little. A Khan-era augment had nothing to be ashamed of body wise.
Once I was done doing thatgetting dressed the exam began, and out of the corner of my eye I could see Kira getting the same treatment.
"That's odd, you have an extremely elevated level of toxins in your bloodstream," I was told.
This was to be expected.
"I was drinking in a bar," I said.
Crusher looked worried.
"What on Earth were you drinking?!" she asked. "There's enough poison in your blood stream to disable an adult human male twice over".
I just felt happy, maybe a little buzzed.
"I'm not a normal man," I reminded the doctor with a grin. "I'm super human".
Crusher still looked worried.
"Any addiction, even for you, can have serious ramifications to your health. Your body is capable of filtering toxins at a much higher level than a normal human, but even it has its limtslimits," I was informed.
That was when a nurse came over with a report, and he was the one who'd whose wrist I'd broken when first waking up on the Enterprise. No surprise, the nurse didn't stick around for long.
"We've found the same substances, just in a much smaller dose, in your friend too," I was told. "When drinking in a bar that serves many different species you have to be more careful about what you ingest. A bartender who doesn't care much for his customers' well being might serve you something not fit for humans and species much like ours, such as Bajorans".
I'd have to go back to that planet and hit the ugly xenos behind the bar right in the face. He'd posioned poisoned me and Kira, and not in that the way I'd wanted him to. Booze was supposed to be bad for you, but the impression I was getting was that we'd been drugged with something humans and Bajorans shouldn't have in their systems.
What I found odd was that I'd drunk Klingon blood wine, Romulan ale and Bajoran spring wine without getting this buzzed feeling I was getting now. However upon thinking about it more, I figured that those drinks must have been more carefully brewed that than the swill I'd gotten from the lumpy headed alien back at the frontier colony.
"If you have any withdrawal symptoms, I can give you a hypospray, then slowly wean you off the substances," she offered. "Some of the substances are like the narcotics of your time so you may become sick, or, it's possible you may not notice anything. With your enhanced biology I can't predict what will happen, but I don't think you're in any real danger".
She quickly changed the subject, I assumed, so that I couldn't reject her offer of medication out of hand.
"Other than that, and a similarly elevated blood alcohol level, you're remarkably healthy," I was then told. "You're muscle mass has increased substantially since the last time I examined you and your blood pressure is better than mine frankly, and you've been eating well enough I can tell".
I was in better shape now. I put it down to all the crazy sex and heart pumping combat. As for food, the stuff that came out the replicator might not be real, but it was designed to be good for the body.
"Well that's lovely" I remarked.
I then got off the bed.
"How's Kira," I wondered, this time more earnestly.
I was far more concerned about her since she'd grown up in a refugee camp. Drinking stuff not meant for humans and Bajorans probably didn't help her health and she didn't have a genetically engineered body to help her deal with toxins.
"She should be able to leave sickbay in a day or two," the doc answered. "I need to deal with her malnutrition, and some other minor problems. There's nothing life threatening, though, thankfully".
Kira was strong, but she'd never had enough to eat while growing up and that may have effected her in ways that no human had to experience any more.
Before I could go over and check on... whatever it was Kira was to me. me. Riker came into sickbay., he was the acting Captain of this ship now so I decided to be a bit more respectful than normal on the off chance that Picard actually was dead, which was something I was starting to doubt as this situation was reminding me of an episode when everyone thought Picard was dead only he was actually undercover. Still I needed a favour from the commanding officer of this ship so there was no sense in being rude.
"We need to talk," Riker said.
I gave him a polite smile in response.
"How may I be of service?" I asked politely.
Riker immediately got down to business.
"I just went over the information you got about the mercenaries and it mentions something about the Debrune," Riker told me.
I'd never heard that word before talking to the bartender, or if I had I'd failed to remember it. I'd put it in the report just in case it was important, and as it turned out it had been a smart thing to do.
"The closest Debrune outpost is on Ivac II," Riker continued.
Again this meant nothing to me.
"But it was abandoned nearly two thousands years ago," the Commander went on to say "The Debrune were an ancient offshoot of the Romulans, so the mercenaries are probably in the artifacts trade, the looting of ruins and so on".
Now something this was starting to make making sense. Picard did like his ancient relics and I remembered a two parter in one of the later seasons involving a weapon known as the Stone of Gol, but it was far too early in the time line for that adventure.
Riker would know why the Captain had gone off to that froniter frontier colony, and he wasn't telling me even now, so I assumed it was classified. Also, he didn't seem overly worried, so I assumed that he was at least somewhat aware of the mission, and that he didn't think Picard was dead.
This was supported by the information I'd found out. While Picard had been shot, the bartender didn't know if he was actually dead because the mercs had taken the body with them. Meaning he could have just been stunned.
"Maybe the mercs are using it as a base," I suggested. "They might have chosen to take Picard for ransom and have nothing to do with pillaging relics".
Riker nodded in agreement.
"We'll know more when we arrive at Ivac II," he said.
That was when something struck me, just not in the physical sense.
"If these Debrune are connected to the Romulans then won't their outposts be a long way from here?" I asked.
The Romulan boarder border with the Federation stretched quite far, but not to this sector of the galaxy, and a merc ship wouldn't be able to make such a long trip like the Enterprise could, so perhaps it wasn't that far away really. These Debrune could have had many outposts far outside of Romulan space.
"We'll have to push the engines," Riker said, "but we'll be able to get there within a week".
I now had something to request.
"I'd like somewhere to stay on board until my companion is fixed up, and we can share a room if that makes thing easier," I said to the Commander. "Doctor Crusher wants to keep her in sickbay for a while and I need to talk speak to the Captain about something important, so I might as well stick around until we know what happened to him".
Riker nodded and I wasn't at all surprised that he would want me around a little longer. I'd been already proven myself to be helpful useful before and so he had to be thinking I could be useful again in the near future. He was right.
"I'll have someone show you to some quarters soon," the Commander said.
Until then I'd talk to Kira and make sure she didn't do anything to offend the doctors and nurses who were just trying to make her healthy. Kira wasn't exactly a child, but she could be rather overly aggressive at times and needed a firm hand to keep her in check. and I wouldn't put it past her to refuse medical aid out of sheer stubbornness. She was rather like a guy in that way.
(Line Break)
Quarters. The Enterprise.
"Computer," I said called out as I entered the room I'd be staying in for at least a few days. "Put some music on, any classic rock from Earth, circa 1980s CE, and play it loud say 70 decibels".
It had taken a while to learn how to properly phrase commands to get the computer to do what I wanted without endless follow-up questions, but I had figured it out the last time I was onboard.
Right after doing that I used the free access to the replicator in my quarters to get myself some 'proper' clothing. Decent boots with steel toe caps, sturdy jeans, and a black t-shirt. Which was loads better than what everyone else was wearing around here. These Federation Commie hippies had no fashion sense at all.
Next I ordered a fully loaded sandwich on wonderful French bread and promptly ate the majority of it in a matter of seconds. I might as well have inhaled it. So when the door chime went off my mouth was free to speak.
"Come in," I invited.
None other than Jadiza Dax walked into the room looking rather pleased about something. What I noticed next was that she had my armour in her hands.
"Music off," I ordered.
I went over and took my armour off the Trill woman, and I noted that it seemed newer as well as smelling rather good now. 24th century dry cleaning was amazing.
"Oh, you got the ambassador quarters," she said, skipping any pleasantries that would be normal for two people who haven't seen each other in a while.
They were much nicer than the ones I'd stayed in last time. Riker had to be expressing his thanks for my aid down on the planet.
"I have stayed in worse," I replied. "My recent accommodations were have been rather Spartan".
Mostly I'd been living inside my ship or in the hidden caves the Bajoran rebels called home while fighting their oppressors.
"Sounds like a pretty frugal life without much fun," Jadzia mused as she looked around. "I don't think that would be for me. I intend to have plenty of fun".
She was a party girl.
"I don't need to be telepathic to read your intent, lieutenant," I said with a smile.
Clearly this was a booty call of some sort. She had a twinkle in her eye that suggested mischief. I was more than happy to oblige.
"I hope coaxing you into not calling me 'lieutenant' won't be a monumental task," she remarked, smiling back at me.
I'd not seen her in a Starfleet uniform until now; I had to admit it was somehow flattering on her. Still, it made me think of her as Lieutentant Dax rather than simply Jadzia.
"So what did you come by for?" I wondered, playing coy.
As if I didn't know.
"I was thinking that perhaps we could go to the holodeck and run through an exercise programme of mine," she said answered. "I've been meaning to work out".
As had I. I'd spent too long cramped up on board my small ship, and a good work out would get the blood flowing before Jadzia lost her patience and demanded augment-level sex.
"Sounds like fun," I said. "I'll change into something I don't mind getting sweaty in".
Jadzia smiled at me wickedly, and I didn't know in that moment if I should be really aroused or really worried.
"I'll go get my bathing suit," she said, "met meet me in holodeck 3 in about fifteen minutes".
Oh yes, aroused it was.
(Line Break)
Holodeck. Enterprise.
"This? This is why I put on my smallest bikini?" Dax declared in exasperation as she took what the holodeck had to offer.
She was indeed wearing a very small bikini, having taken off the robe she'd had on over it, which was gold in colouration, the top of which barely contained her ample breasts . For that matter it and did not at all conceal her perfect behind and left almost nothing to the imagination in the front either.
The image was somewhat ruined because she was standing in a dead and blasted landscape, with a burning sky and surrounded by barren rocks, all of which was glared upon by a blood-red sun.
To complete the setting I was currently wearing my armour, and was carrying a holographic klingon Klingon bat'leth. I'd gotten to the holodeck well before Jadzia, and since she'd been running late I'd started running one of Worf's more aadvanced combat programs, not just for fun though, but to keep my fighting skills sharp. I was pretty sure I'd destroyed his 'high score.' Was it wrong to hope he'd be pissed? Augment for the win!
"I was expecting something a little less apocalyptic and perhaps a little more relaxing," Jadzia grumbled. "I wonder what I was thinking".
My guess was something involving swimming and a beach.
"It's a very nice outfit," I said in a conciliatory tone.
She was not happy.
"I will have you know I picked this up on Risa," the Starfleet Officer explained. "Just before I left to board the Enterprise. I've never even worn it until now".
Since she couldn't possible possibly have known we'd ever met meet again I assumed she hadn't gotten it with me in mind. Still, it was a privilege to look at her while she wore it. She was a very sexy woman who knew what she wanted.
"Computer, please load Dax Risa Program One and run," Dax ordered.
The landscape around us immediately shifted and disappeared before being replaced by a beautiful beach, one that was skirting an ocean which was an exquisite shade of turquoise. The water was crystal clear. The sand was fine and white. The clouds overhead were fluffy. Dax smiled from ear to ear in delight.
I was greatly reminded of the beach I'd been near when meeting my first Section 31 agent. It was a memory that even now gave me mixed feelings.
"Now, Gothic, I need to ask you something," she said in a mock serious tone. "Do you really want to swim or is there something else you'd rather want to do?".
Despite my many enhancements I just still didn't get women. Jadzia could just be teasing and actually want to go swimming, or could possibly be more interested in the sex rather than the swimming, or this could be a test to determine if I was only interested in sex with her and nothing else. If so saying I wanted sex over swimming meant I failed and thus I would get no sex. This was getting fucking confusing. Women could be such cruel creatures and sex might not even be on offer. It made me thankful for Kira. Most of the time she just kept at least some of her clothes off to let me know that sex was available. Perhaps Bajoran women didn't understand the idea of being a tease?. Or maybe the Prophets didn't support that kind of thing? In which case, thank you Prophets!
"I want to... copulate?" I answered, though it came off more as a question.
It was the bikini that was causing me to be silly. I didn't think there was currently enough blood for both my huge erection (if I did say so) and my brain.
"Not the word I would have chosen, but yes." Dax replied, "and now that we've established that…".
She slowly undid the knot at the back of her bikini top and let the tiny item fall away from her body.
"What do you have to say about this?" she asked.
The bikini, even while half of it was on the floor, had a strange power over me. It was tricky to form a sentence, but with effort I took control of my actions.
"Take off the rest," I ordered.
I was getting used to having my own way so it was a surprise when Jadzia started to obey and then inexplicably stop.
"You can it take it off yourself," she said, "If you can catch me!".
With that she ran off into the water, which was real water judging by all the splashing, and I was left to stirpstrip off my body armour as quickly as possible before finally chasing her into the sea.
(Line Break)
The Flighty Temptress. On Route to Ivac II
As it had turned out, the mercs, who had either killed or kidnapped Captain Picard, possibly both by now, did have a base on Ivac II. That base had long range sensors, not as good as the Enterprise's, of course, which was why the galaxy class ship was able to detect the range of those sensors and was going to stay at the extreme range of its own long range sensors while my ship, which didn't show up on such long range scans, would carry the team, that would save Picard, to the planet.
We were heading to Ivac II at slow low warp speed, in order to reduce the changes of being spotted by any ships the mercs had, and it was dragging the journey out over many hours. I'd left Kira behind on the Enterprise, so instead of having her diverting company I was stuck with Riker, who was flying my ship rather well, Data, and an ensign who was most likely going to die on this mission so I hadn't even bothered to learn his name. It was a small team considering we were going up against a gang of ruthless mercs, but there was limited room space on my ship and we were going to sneak in and save Picard, not make a full on assault.
"What is the purpose of this device?" Data asked me.
I was currently fiddling with the small transporter pad that had been recently installed on my ship in the corner of the store room. It was only big enough for two people, and since using it required a lot of energy the android and I were having to reroute the flow of power, which had involved shutting down the weapons system as well as the shields, so hopefully we wouldn't be attacked until after we were done. It was a modification made in haste rather than something intended for long-term usage, hence the tradeoffs. Later I would do some proper work on these transports so that I could simply divert the flow of power to the systems as needed, and I would have the help of a whole team of Starfleet officers when setting the transporters up correctly.
"It's something I call a 'holotool,'" I told the android, "it uses a small holo emitter and a force field generator to mimic a number of different tools. Everything from simple things like a hammer to a knife, to more complex things like a hyperspanner or phase modulator, whatever you need really that has already been scanned into its memory".
I picked up the device and made it create assume a number of different forms.
"The power requirements for such a device would be high," Data commented, "but I can certainly see its utility. Many times I have been on an away mission were where I could have benefitted from this such a tool".
Having watched Star Trek TNG I had seen away teams come up with rather complex solutions to problems that wouldn't have even been problems if someone had a holotool been available. Sure, in a television show that was okay, as it gave the characters a chance to show off how clever they were, however in real life you couldn't always rely on someone having a some brilliant plan that would save the day at the last moment.
I decided then to give data Data my holotool; he'd helped me design and build my armour so it was only fair that I gave him something in return.
"You can have that one," I told the robot man. "It's just the prototype; I'm already working on a better model. Just don't share the design with anyone. It's for you alone".
The original holotool had a power cell from a phaser, which provided more than enough energy. I was hoping to design a new power source for the device which would make it more accessible for civilians as not everyone could get their hands on a phaser's power pack. I imagined that the holo tool could do quite well on Federation colonies where they didn't have all the fancy Starfleet tech or unlimited power for replication of new tools. It was just a shame that I wouldn't make real money from the holo tool as no one in the UFP had money to pay for them only credits. Perhaps I could have sold the design to aliens, and got part of the profits from their sales, but I lacked the contacts for such deals. That would change once I was settled on DS9, then I could invent new things and make a profit.
"What is this device," Data then asked, while picking up a stun grenade I'd had stashed in my tool box.
I gently took the weapon off him.
"It's a stun grenade," I then told the metal man. "You press the button, throw it into a room and it knocks everyone out".
Data spent a moment thinking before saying anything else.
"Why not simply use a phaser set on wide beam?" he enquired.
I had an answer ready.
"Because you can throw a stun grenade into a room full of heavily armed people without ever exposing yourself to weapon's fire," I informed the android. "Plus no one else ever seems to use grenades anymore so they never expect them to be used against them".
Humans had forgotten so much about warfare; I could only be thankful that everyone else was bad at it as well.
"We'll be at Ivac II in half an hour!" Riker shouted out. "Is the transporter ready?".
The plan was actually to land the ship, rather than have anyone beam down onto the surface, the transporter would only be used to quickly recover Picard should he be unable to walk.
"It will be, Commander," Data assured.
I'd be happy when the Starfleeters were off my ship. The Temptress should only be poilted piloted by me and it shouldn't have anyone else on board who wasn't a hot chick willing to blow me at the drop of a hat. Just seemed wrong any other way.
At least they hadn't noticed the panels that were used to hide the things I smuggled to Bajor. Those scompartments were empty right now, but their mere existence would raise uncomfortable questions that I didn't want to answer.
(Line Break)
Ruins. Ivac II.
The only energy signature on the whole planet was coming from this area, yet we hadn't found any signs of civilization aside from some stone ruins that looked more like something SG1 would invistage investigate after stepping through the Stargate, which coincidentally always looked like the forests of Vancouver where the show was filmed, go figure.
As I looked around I saw Riker point to part of the forest while talking to his fellow Starfleet officers.
"Commander Data, Ensign Nathans, you go in that direction," he ordered. "Gothic and I will search this area; if you find anything contact us immediately".
He then noticed my plasma pistol, which was legal for me to own and for which I had a license on file, and stepped back a pace.
"If you're going to keep that un-holstered, I want you to walk in front of me," he said
I feigned offense.
"Don't you trust me, Commander?" I asked.
He smiled.
"I've never seen you shoot," he said. "Just because your you're genetically enhanced that doesn't mean your you're a good shot".
That was actually a fair point, because even if you did have superior hand eye coordation coordination that didn't mean you knew how to fire a weapon, or knew how to handle it safely while around others. It just made it a lot easier to learn how to shoot well.
"Picking up anything?" I questioned.
Riker had started scanning the area with his trusty tricorder.
"It's tough to get accurate sensor readings here," he told me, "there's an awful lot of interference in the area".
There were a any number of things that could mess up a tricorder's readings. Some were natural things, others were not.
"Any idea of the cause?" I asked while scanning my surroundings with my eyes.
Riker soon replied.
"I'm not sure. It's very unlocalized, but so it could be atmospheric," he said.
Riker then pointed to a series of holes in the ground.
"What do you make of these?" he enquired.
We approached the holes and knelt down. Next Riker picked up a rock and examined it. I bent down to take a closer look.
"Well, these the ruins around here are pretty ancient," I mused. "Could have been someone digging for relics".
The holes were dry, which suggested that they had been dug after the last time it had been rained.
"But these indentations were made fairly recently, and there they're too small for holes dug up by treasure hunters," the commander said. "Could be the site of some battlefield".
I wasn't so sure about that.
"This doesn't look like anything made by an explosives and energy weapons don't typically make holes in the ground," I commented, "at least not ones this deep".
Perhaps a land mine of some sort had been buried here. Finding and disarming unexploded landmines, then deploying them elsewhere or just taking out the explosives in them, had been a very serious problem in my time in Afghanistan and Iraq. Perhaps some aliens had long ago mined these ruins and someone had recently run a foul of the deadly traps.
"Commander Riker, we've found something," Data said over the comm badges we all wore.
We got to Data just in time to see a phaser blast hit the Ensign, killing him instantly, and I was not at all surprised to see him die. Throwaway minor characters did not often survive away missions in the Star Trek universe. The remaining Starfleet officers and I then moved behind some cover. I idly wondered if I could cause the universe to hiccup by saving one of these no names fated to die ignobly on yet another away mission. It was always bizarre to me that no one seemed to care all that much about these dudes dying all the time.
"They know we're here," Riker said. "I'll call in the Enterprise".
Normally the standard issue comm devices badges wouldn't be able to reach the starship at this range, however my ship was acting as a relay. It had always been part of the plan to call the galaxy class starship in if things went south.
"Enterprise! We are under attack down here. Repeat! We are under attack!" the Commander shouted.
The star ship wouldn't take long to get here at Warp 9, but nor would it arrive right away, so we had to fight.
"I'm going to head for those trees over there," Riker told us, "give me some covering fire".
This seemed foolish as I could deal with the mercs so much quicker.
"Let me handle this," I said.
Riker called out my name, while perhaps thinking I was about to do something foolish like charge the mercs, something which wouldn't have been all that hard really, but my plan was much more sane than that. I simply threw a stun grenade with all the precision my enhancements offered and then waited. I'm not above admitting that I showed off a little by bouncing the grenade off three trees before it landed directly at the merc's feet.
A few seconds later the phasers and other energy weapons just stopped firing.
"Okay, now we wake one of them up and ask him where Picard is," I said explained to Riker.
He looked at me as if he couldn't quite figure out what I'd just done.
"That was a stun grenade," I told him, "it's like a small bomb you can throw only it doesn't explode, it just stuns everyone within the blast radius".
These Starfleet types really needed to invest in more weaponry than phasers. Sure, they were explorers and peacemakers and all that, and while that meant they wouldn't stock up on the lethal stuff, there were a lots of options for knocking people out from a distance without some long ridiculous firefight like they were trading shots in the old west. Alas I had a feeling that even with this display showing how effective it could be, nothing would change.
(Line Break)
Conference Room. USS Enterprise D.
Not long after recovering Picard, who the mercs had planned to hold for ransom after finding out who he really was, I got the chance to met meet with the Captain so that I could request a favour.
"So this Orb, as you call it, is what you made you seek out the Enterprise?" Picard wondered.
I gently placed the orb, which was inside its box on the big table, which took up most of the space within this room. Then I turned to face the captain of this fine vessel.
"The priest I met requested that I take the Orb off Bajor and put it somewhere safe until it was time to return to the Orbit," I explained. "It's very important to the Bajoran people and needs to kept out of the hands of the Cardassians".
Picard examined the box with the eye of someone used to inspecting ancient artifacts.
"So you want to keep it on board the Enterprise?" he asked.
That was the plan.
"As long as no one opens the box it's perfectly safe," I assured the Starfleet officer, "but that doesn't mean anyone should mess with it or even know that it is here. It's very important to the Bajoran people, it's not unlike having the Holy Grail on board".
Well, perhaps not that great as there was more than one Orb, but it was pretty close in terms of being all holy. Also, like the Grail, the Orb had crazy ass powers.
"They are supposed to grant visions of other places and times, even the future," I was now saying explaining to Picard. "Perhaps that's just folklore, but if it is possible then it needs to be kept somewhere secure until it is can be returned to the Bajoran people. Which will be in a year or so according to the priest I spoke with. I doubt the Occupation of Bajor will go on for much longer than that".
The reason I was thinking that wasn't actually due to my knowledge of the future, in fact it had more to do with the news programs. The Federation and the Cardassian Union were getting close to the point were a new treaty would be signed, this treaty would open up new worlds for the spoon heads to colonize, ones that didn't have irate Bajorans living on them willing to do anything and everything, including killing them and blowing up everything even remotely of value, to drive them off the planet. So the Cardies wouldn't bother with continuing to occupy Bajor, which was very costly, when they could exploit other worlds, ones which had no one willing to fight and die for them. It was a simple matter of cost effectiveness, and if I had helped to make the Occupation even more expensive, even better, as maybe the spoon heads might even leave even sooner than expected.
"I imagine that having such a holy relic returned at the right time would have a profound effect on the Bajoran people," Picard said. "A sign of better things to come, perhaps?".
That could very well be the Prophets' plan.
"What I know is that I'm supposed to return it at the proper time," I told the Captain, "and I promised that I would, but it needs to be kept somewhere safe in the meantime, and I can't imagine you'd let such an important relic artifact fall into the wrong hands".
Picard stood up straight and adjusted his uniform.
"You're quite right," he agreed. "It's just a shame I can't study it myself. I wouldn't do anything that risked damaging this the Orb and of course I would not share my findings because of the need to keep its presence hidden, but I must admit it is rather tempting".
I decided then and there that perhaps Picard should take a look. If the Prophets truly didn't want him to see a bit of the future, if that wasn't a part of their grand cosmic plan, then all he would see was a glowing alien object, shaped like a rotating hourglass. I'd do as the Bajorans do and simply trust in the Prophets' judgment. If they wanted to share with Picard, then they would, if they didn't, it'd just be a fancy lightshow.
"Look if you wish," I said, deciding to speak more freely now. "Just don't show it to anyone else. It's a priceless relic with power both wonderful and terrible and not everyone in the galaxy respects other cultures as much as you do or has as much honor".
I had been tempted to open it too, more than mere curostiycuriosity had movited motivated me, and if Picard was feeling it too then it made sense that he was supposed to open it.
Which, of course, he did, and for a moment there was a lot of green light, and before more than a second had passed Picard was closing the box. I knew that he'd seen something that had affected him greatly, he had that look in his eye that I'd seen both in the Bajoran Vedak, and later in the mirror.
"That was..." he started to say before slowly regaining his composure and turning to me. "Yes, you're right, this artifact must be protected at all costs and returned to the Bajoran people when you think that time has come. They're There will be no tests and I will ensure that no one else ever realises that it is more than a mere ycuriosity I have picked up during my many travels".
I couldn't know what the Captain had seen, but I knew very well the effects a vision could have.
"Thank you, Captain," I said sincerely.
My gamble had paid off; the Prophets had wanted Picard to see so I knew the orb was in the right place. I was about to leave when Picard softly called out my name.
"Gothic, you've had a simlair experience haven't you?" he asked.
I just nodded my head silently, and then left the room. There was no need to say any more because we both knew that what we'd been shown was just meant only for us. Besides, Kira would be out of sickbay by now and I didn't want her running into Dax.
That could cause me a whole new set of problems, so it was best to leave the Enterprise quickly and get back to Bajor, after picking up some more farming equipment and some more weapons to smuggle to the rebels.
It'd probably be a good idea to make shameless use of the replicator in my quarters before I left as well, to stock up on some goodies. Oh and before I left I was going to make sure that Riker got me paid.
I did so love to get paid.