Chapter Three - New Civilisations

It was night time in one of the Qazvin villages, a rather steep incline led to thatched huts that were presently being marauderd by 30 Bhu'raq'shma soldiers, lit only by the streaking shafts of glaring light being projected from two large military trucks parked at the base of the village. Lt. Ayt was screaming orders as the troopers drag terrified Qazvin boys out of their huts, away from their tragically pleading parents and roughly shoved them onto awaiting trucks. Watching all this with dead eyes was Major Ghut. As a child is dragged past, an imploring parent dropped to her knees and clutching Ghut's leg, begged for her child. Lt. Ayt kicked her aside and addressed the nearly depleted village.

"These boys are our Soldiers! If you hide them, you will pay, your animals will die! Your crops will burn! If you help the rebels, if you feed them, these children will die, we will cut out tongues and eyes, and cover your face with your own intestines - remember this!" The heart-wrenching abduction continued as Major Ghut slowly paced away.

Day Two

Gharak was lost in thought as he reclined in a hammock. His surroundings were simple, nothing to indicate what he'd done in his prior life. The sound of footsteps alerted him, he rose stepping around a bamboo partition to see the outline of three men approaching.

"Hello, good evening."

"Yes?" Gharak appeared from the shadows.

"Gharak, right?" The man asked.

"What d'you need?"

"A little of your time, how're you doing?" Gharak realised the man was human, beside him was a pair of Bhu'raq'shma mid-level government types, one of them Gharak realised was the man who had been spying on them at the snake show. The human, like the other men, was wearing a loose fitting cotton shirt. In his late 50's, he was a hard-skinned former federation man type who had clearly given up a life of patriotic duty for a desk job in a dank corner of the universe. The pros and cons of life had given way to a simple grey fatalistic, embittered outlook on the world.

"Damp night. No matter how long I've been here I can't make peace with the moisture. I'm Frank Edwards, these two men are, actually it doesn't matter in the scheme of things who they are, we all are officially with the Office of Interplanetary Activities."

"Never heard of it." Gharak responded.

"Good, makes us even. Haven't heard of you until today either, looks like things have died down in 'Snake World.' All the serpents tucked away for the night, that's nice." Frank glanced around at the darkness. "And I'm guessin', but you look uninvolved at the moment, so have a few moments to spare? Yes?"

"Why?"

"Convenience, it's better to discuss things here than to be escorted to the office, which is a haul at this time of night."

Gharak still stood in the shadows, "What do you need?"

"First thing is light, electricity's' made it this far, right? I'm guessin' it has, give it a try." Gharak hesitated.

"Don't let my wardrobe throw you; believe it or not, I can make life real difficult for people. I don't want to, but I can." Frank laughed, but through the light demeanour Gharak knew the man was serious. He turned on a small overhead light that hung on a cord from the ceiling. "Much better, now we know you were visited earlier today by a group of Star Fleet travellers who want into Bhu'raq'shma city that's what we know, Gharak." Frank stepped forward and glanced around the near barren room.

"This is what you call simple living." Frank spoke to the two, until now, silent men that stood behind him. "Clean, no clutter, I can relate. The older I get, the less I want to own. Anyway, if a few self-righteous "go getters" want to get their saintly asses blown away on a 'nature hike' in enemy territory, so be it, Gharak, but I'm gonna go on the line and say in your line of work, you don't keep up with the shiftin' sands of Geo-politics, well the facts are this whole part of Bhu'raq'shma just got shoved under a microscope. Many things are happening around us."

"Why're you tellin' me this?" Gharak didn't take his eyes off Frank.

"Just makin' conversation, just fillin' a fellow Qazvin up on the facts; up the river there's a lot happenin.'" Frank looked out at Gharak's boat. "Yeah, there's a lotta activity goin' on in there, Gharak, lotta foreign money's pourin' in there, a lotta energy, material, precious stones, drugs moving around. So you can figure out the playbook, the Bhu'raq'shma generals need to carry on with their business without 'outsiders' trying to stir shit up by droppin' off gift bags to the locals. The generals are getting madder, people on both sides of the border don't need disruptions so, we can't have anymore of the "Federation do-gooders" makin' illegal hikes over the border. What they're trying to do is nice, even noble, but is being nice and noble worth getting buried alive for? Not in the Frank Edward's book of 'common sense' it isn't."

"So tell them.

"I can tell you're thinkin' "Why's he talkin' to me like this, why's he wastin' valuable time?" Don't know, comes with the territory I suppose. I've done this song and dance with every other wharf rat with a boat around here, now you. You get the message. Don't help. We've spent enough time making small talk...So what do ya think?" Frank paced around the room as he spoke, Gharak didn't move.

"I think what I think."

"That's deep." Frank chuckled.

"You done here?"

"My fellow 'Hard Ass'! Y'know, there's not many of us left, I know you, I know all about you, 'White…" Gharak stared at him cutting him off.

"What'd you call me? "

"You're going to tell me you've never heard that name before? Maybe ya did? Couple times? No more than a hundred or so? Laid a lot of souls away, no doubt. There's no secrets anymore, Gharak, blame technology, maybe you don't think so but we have a lot in common, we toured the same garden spots, you, humpin' for the SF, Project Gamma, vintage years, and me, I had the privilege to be honchin' with the Romulan Raiders of the 101st and math not being my strong suit, but in Bhu'raq we sucked it up and according to my count, laid waste to 1100 in one sunny afternoon. That's a tough stat to beat." Frank rose from the small wooden chair he'd sat himself in and motioned to the two men, then gestured outside. "Y'know the air this time of year smells like god damn wet dog." Frank glanced back at Gharak. "You got your warning, 'night, Snakeland." Garak wandered back to the rear porch and gazed pensively out on the dark tranquillity of the river.

Day Three

In the early morning mist Gharak's longboat slowly motored up the deserted river. As it rounded the bend Gharak caught sight of the Star Fleet away team including Fallon and the leader Kirk. Gharak picked them up and continued on. McCoy hadn't slept well, there was too many concerns already regarding this mission and the last 24 hours had done nothing to put his concerns to rest. The Security team had been uneasy, relaying their apprehension to the Captain. Kirk had been stalwart in his focus on the task, even stopping Spock voicing his hypotheticals. McCoy stretched his arm out to Fallon to help her aboard the boat, a smile being shared between the two when Kirk uncharacteristically stumbled onto the wooden vessel.

"Take over." Gharak motioned to the young Qazvin to take the helm. Reluctantly the man moved to the front of the boat while Gharak moved to the bow. He was watching Fallon for a pensive moment, studying her features. Kirk was engaged in subtle conversation with his fellow officers, but couldn't help but notice that Gharak kept glancing at Doctor Wright, his eyes travelled back and forth between the two. Hesitantly, Gharak moved toward Fallon, who appeared to be in a contemplative state as she studied the tropical terrain passing by.

"Everything alright?" Gharak asked her coming up from behind. Fallon gently snapped out of her daydreaming.

"Fine. I'm fine, thanks."

"Need anything, water?"

"No, Ah, sure." She smiled. Gharak sheepishly nodded and pulled out a warm bottle of water from a box and removed the top.

"Thank you again for doing this." Gharak nodded and handed her the water, forcing himself not to look into her compassionate eyes.

"It's like the same view goes on forever, so empty out here."

"Just looks that way."

"Have you lived here a long time?"

"Yeah."

"Where you from?" Fallon tried small talk.

"Theq'sha'ma"

"That's a contrast." Fallon smiled. Gharak smiled and awkwardly nodded.

"So how does one end up hunting poisonous snakes in the back waters of Bhu'raq'shma?"

"Just lucky." Fallon laughed.

"Lucky? It's so dangerous."

"Depends…" Gharak was staring out at the passing scenery. "A snake's a snake, you know what to expect. If you get hurt, your fault, not a lotta things work like that." Fallon glanced at the golden stone around Gharak's neck.

"Is that a stone?"

"Qaga-Qani."

"A what?"

"It's a Qagansti stone."

"Didn't know there was such a thing."

"They're rare, sometimes you find them in the big old ones who've died, if you kill them for it, it has no power." Fallon smiled.

"Power? What kind of power?"

"It's just legend, it's supposed to light the way in the dark."

"To what?" Fallon asked, genuinely interested.

"To the truth. When I talk about it, it doesn't sound right."

"What else is it suppose to do?" Fallon could tell Gharak was at a loss. "It's alright, you just can't end a conversation like that."

"The one who wears it is suppose to rise from poison or disease, have good rain on his land, and he will always defeat his enemies."

"Really?"

"I don't know, that's the legend."

"So how's it working?"

"So far, so good." Gharak smiled shyly and glanced up the river. He was vigilantly looking at the surrounding terrain. After a while, Kirk stepped towards them.

"Any idea how much longer?" Kirk asked.

"Few hours." Gharak replied coolly. Kirk turned his attention to Fallon.

"Maybe you should let the man have his space. Last thing anyone needs is having near strangers disturbing their peace of mind."

"I'm sorry if I'm bothering you." Fallon addressed Gharak, ignoring Kirk.

"Now if you have a minute, we should go over the schedule." Kirk captured Fallon's attention again. Fallon began walking away.

"You're not bothering me." Gharak answered. Kirk tensed as Fallon paused and faced Gharak.

"You sure?"

"He's just being polite." Kirk interjected.

"No, I'm not." Gharak replied softly.

"When you get a chance, Doctor Wright." Kirk smiled tightly and moved back to Spock and McCoy who had been watching.

"You don't agree with what we're doing, do you?"

"Doesn't matter what I think."

"Sure it does. I mean, why are you taking us? I'm curious."

"You're a curious person."

"I just wondered why you agreed."

"You stand for something." Gharak looked at her.

"So maybe you do agree with something we're doing."

"Maybe."

"You don't think life is precious and should be protected?"

"Some lives." Gharak looked haunted as he turned away.

"All lives."

"Can't agree with that."

"Did you always think like this?" Fallon wondered what had happened to this man to make him think like this.

"No, I use to think like you."

"What happened?" Gharak shrugged and turned away. "Even though we can't do much more than bring medicine and some encouragement, we believe it will all work out in the end. Peace will come if you work at it."

"You put out one fire, another starts."

"No, everything comes to an end. "

"Turnin' the other cheek doesn't work here. When something you love has been killed, there's no mercy, there's never enough revenge, even if you kill the enemy over and over, it's never enough." Gharak tapped his chest. "The war in here never ends." He turned and stared at the river.

It was dusk as the longboat swung around a bend in the river, McCoy caught sight of a very bizarre sight on the opposite river bank. Fallon stepped forward and stood next to Kirk.

"What's that?" Kirk asked. In front of them there appeared to be a bar constructed on rotting pylons. The establishment was no more than thirty feet wide. A drooping line of coloured lights sagged over the entrance. Docked in front was an old military boat armed in front with a mounted machine gun. Horrible music wafted from the bar, while seven men and what looked to be two hard-core prostitutes mingled among the ruthless vermin.

Gharak yelled to the helmsman to dock the boat. The boat swung toward the Soldier's Den. Kirk realising what was happening, rushed towards Gharak.

"What are you doing?"

"It'll be alright, tell everyone to sit down. Don't move." Kirk nodded and then Gharak turned to Fallon who was stood next to McCoy.

"Stay over there." Fallon nodded and McCoy took a protective step towards her. Suddenly a floodlight on the moored boat snapped to life. Its harsh glare covered the comparatively meek-looking longboat. A Bhu'raq'shma soldier shouted from the boat.

"Come over here! Visitin' us again, so soon?!" Gharak gestured towards Kirk and the others.

"I have people with me."

"What do they want? " Kirk whispered.

"A little money, they charge a toll for usin' their river."

"They own the river? " Kirk queried.

"This part…" Turning to Fallon he noticed her hair falling around her shoulders. "Put your hair under a hat an' stay back." The majority of the soldiers staggered forward as the longboat drifted in. Their incessant chattering and obviously derisive remarks caused Kirk, Spock and McCoy to bring their guard up. Gharak stepped onto the dilapidated dock and approached one of the soldiers. Fallon retreated next to the wheel house. Kirk stood next to her.

"It'll be alright." Fallon wasn't convinced. One of soldiers was mocking the Star Fleet officers and playfully rapped the side of the boat with a bamboo pole. Fallon couldn't help but flinch. Gharak was negotiating with the soldiers, the soldier smiled through cracked teeth as Gharak explained that all they had on board was medicine and some research equipment. Around the soldier's neck was a rawhide necklace comprised of a half dozen, well-dried severed ears. The soldier picked up one of Fallon's specimen crates and tossed it away.

"300 each, 300 more comin' back." The soldier spat. Gharak reached into his pocket for money. One of the other soldiers stood there noticed Fallon, she immediately glanced away and nervously attempted to tuck her hair beneath her hat. Gharak moved on board.

"Let's go." Gharak stated in a tone not to be argued with. As the longboat motored away, the soldier's revelry could still be heard in the shrinking background. Kirk and the others looked dismayed.

"It's alright now?" Kirk asked. Fallon was shaken she couldn't deny it. Gharak just stared straight ahead.

"It'll be alright. You want to keep going?"

"Yes, keep going. We're too close to change our plans." Kirk glancing at Fallon continued. "I'm not pointing the finger, but why didn't you tell us there were thieves on this river?"

"Sometimes they're not here."

"I understand, but would have liked to have prepared the others, but it's past, so we'll move on, right." Kirk moved away but Fallon remained near Gharak.

"He's under a lot of pressure, he's a good man." Fallon felt the need to explain. At that moment, the rumble of powerful engines could be heard. Coming around the bend was the soldiers in a small gunship. Gharak cursed under his breath.

"Now what do they want? What's wrong? Do they want more money? What do they want?" McCoy rambled off his questions looking between Gharak and the other boat heading their way.

"Everyone sit in back over there. Don't make eye contact." Gharak was perplexed, turning to Fallon he lowered his voice. "Stay in the shadows."

"Think they want more money? If they do, just give it to them." Kirk motioned to Spock and McCoy who understood the silent instruction. Gharak ignored Kirk's question as the soldier's boat fired a warning shot, then noisily pulled alongside the longboat.

"You have a woman." The soldier sneered in the local dialect.

"We paid you." Gharak responded in the native language. The soldier gestured towards Fallon, who understanding enough of what was going on, cringed.

"Man want it all for yourself!" The soldier laughed. Gharak, continuing to speak in the local dialect looked pointedly at the soldier.

"We paid you." He repeated. The soldier addressed Fallon.

"Stand up! STAND UP!" Kirk stepped forward. "GET UP!" The soldier pulled out a gun and began pointing it at Kirk and the others.

"Jim!" McCoy's nerves were shot.

"I kill everybody! Tell woman to stand up!"

"He wants her doesn't he?! " McCoy hissed.

"Stay back." Gharak answered quietly.

"We don't want any trouble, but he can't go near her." McCoy was losing his temper. "Tell him that!" The soldier, seeing McCoy come to Fallon's side turned the gun on him.

"Get back, I kill you!"

"What does he want?" Fallon whispered.

"You, he wants you! " McCoy almost snarled.

"She's good food. She's a good meal! He wants to keep the food for himself!" The soldier spat.

"What should I do?" Fallon couldn't move.

"Nothing." McCoy replied. The soldier continued to shout.

"Get her up!" One of the other soldiers swivelled the big turret gun in Gharak's direction.

"What do I do?" Fallon looked nervously at McCoy, she started to get up.

"Sit down." McCoy ordered. Kirk approached Fallon and McCoy.

"Stay where you are." Kirk ordered, Fallon just nodded.

"I want her! " The soldier shouted.

"We gave you money. No more." Gharak shouted, Kirk edged towards Gharak with a sense of reckless bravado, turning to the soldier he raised his arms.

"We gave you money - That's all! Now let us go!" He shouted over.

"You all die! Fuck you!" With blinding speed Gharak brushed Kirk aside and whipped out a hidden gun from the small of his back and put a bullet into the centre of the soldier's face. In the next two-and-a-half seconds, Gharak cut down another four men in an incredible display of deadly marksmanship. Then speed changing the clip, began rapid firing before the empty clip even hit the deck. Two more soldiers were blown away. Kirk couldn't dismiss the absolutely stunning economy of motion. McCoy and the others just stood there in stunned silence.

"My God, what'd you do?! You killed them all, you killed them all! We came up here to help stop the killing!" Kirk shouted at Gharak. Gharak, who was in a sense of shock himself just stared back at Kirk. Numbed, he moved to the front of the boat.

"Why'd you do that? We could've talked it out, we could've tried. We didn't ask you to fire on anyone. That's not who we are! They'll never forget what they saw!"

"They would've raped her and killed her. They would've made you watch then cut your heads off."

"That's your opinion. You acted on your own! Who are you to play with people's lives!? It's wrong, all wrong!" McCoy had lost his temper.

"Turn it back!" Gharak shouted to the helmsman. Gharak went to the helm and turned the wheel hard so that the boat started to veer.

"Stop! Where are you going!?" Kirk yelled.

"Captain Kirk…" Spock tried to interrupt but was cut off by Kirk. Gharak continued to turn the rudder.

"What just happened shouldn't have happened. What just happened is all wrong and his fault, not yours, not ours, we've come this far and should keep going and not have what he did turn us back; people in there need us, does everyone still want to go on?!" McCoy could only stare at the Captain. "We should finish what we came here to do." Gharak continued to head down river. "If you just take us where we're supposed to be going; and we'll be out of your life." Fallon turned to Gharak.

"Please turn around." Gharak couldn't believe what he was hearing.

"Please, We're only hours away...Please, it's what I want." They stared at each other for what felt like an eternity.

"Sir, I must voice my concern at the growing risk of violence this team is facing." Spock began his protestations to Kirk. With a heavy heart, Gharak turned the boat around.

Day Four

It was early dawn when the trawler pulled close to the river bank and all the officers disembarked. Standing on the banks were eight Qazvin tribes people who were there to help off-load and carry the supplies. Fallon and Kirk were still on the boat.

"We'll be returning by an overland route and cross much further. I'll have to report this. It's the right thing to do." Kirk spoke to Gharak, knowing that the man wasn't really listening or caring as to what he had just said. Kirk shook his head and made his way over to the rest of the team. Gharak glanced towards Fallon who was passing him by.

"He's still in turmoil from the shootings." Gharak stated calmly.

"I know you thought what you did was right, but taking a life is never right."

"Some lives." Gharak said it so quietly Fallon nearly missed him speaking. She touched his hand and then moved away. As the shoreline shrunk away, Gharak took a final look at the group fading in the foliage and Fallon's final look good-bye.

Day Five

The Qazvin guides and the away team, loaded with backpacks trudged along an old semi-jungle trail. Fallon was finding it difficult slogging through the difficult terrain. As they stepped out the forest, a Qazvin village revealed itself in the distance.

"Well, what now Jim?" McCoy looked at the Captain, dropping his backpack to the ground he crossed his arms and faced the Captain. "Because I don't know about you, but I could sure do with a drink right about now."

I hope that you're enjoying this story! I'm off to #STLV50 on Tuesday so I've posted this chapter early! The next chapter is already in the bank so this won't be left unfinished I promise! Please take the time to review if you are following this story, I really would appreciate some constructive feedback or simply know whether or not you're enjoying this. LLAP!