As all the bosses of the planet chattered among themselves, T'Lora looked at Kirk and Spock. Krako was sent back down by Scotty to join the meeting. Kirk rolled his eyes as he climbed on top of the pool table with the gun in his hand.
"All right!" he started. "All right! All right! All right! Now the Federation's taking over whether you like it or not. You people, you've been running this planet like a piecework factory. From now on, it's going to be under one roof. You're going to run it like a business. That means you're going to make a profit."
"Now, what's your percentage?" one of the bosses asked.
"I'm cutting the Federation in for forty percent. You got any objections?"
"Yeah!" another boss yelled. "I hear a lot of talk, but all I see here is you and a couple of your boys. I don't see no Federation."
T'Lora rolled her eyes as she held the switchblade under his chin.
"You'd better shut your mouth…" she said running the knife down his body, stopping at his belt. "If you know what's good for you…"
"Listen!" Krako said. "They got a ship. I know. I was there."
"Wait a minute", Oxmyx said. "Wait a minute. Tepo's got a point. All we ever seen is them."
T'Lora rolled her eyes looking at Spock and McCoy. It was obvious they were going to start an uproar.
"You know, I'm getting real tired of this planet", she said. "Can't we just stun them all and send the Federation in for their move?"
"You know that's not what we're assigned to do", Spock said.
"But look at this. We're not getting anywhere with these bozos."
Everyone looked around as a round of gunfire could be heard outside.
"Hey, it's my boys!" Krako said. "They're making a hit at this place."
All of the bosses ran to the window to see all the men Krako had at his place, firing their guns into the air and at the building. Krako grabbed the gun from McCoy and grabbed the other from Spock. T'Lora glared as she held her held her knife, stopping when all of the guns were pointed at her.
"One move out of you two, I'll drill them", he said looking at Kirk. "Give me the hardware."
"Hey, that's great, Krako", Oxmyx said. "Now we got hostages again. We can make a deal with the Feds up there."
"Are you kidding?" he asked. "This one's all mine. From now on, nobody's going no place. I'm going to be the big boss in this here territory."
"Now, wait a minute", Kirk said. "Wait a minute. Get that heater down. Don't you want to take a look at what you're going to fight?"
"I already seen it", Krako said. "You're nothing, Fed."
"All right, but at least let me call my ship one last time and say goodbye."
"Well, all right. Go ahead. Don't get smart."
"Hello, Scotty, this is Kirk."
"Enterprise. Scott here, sir."
"Scotty, put the ship's phasers on stun. Fire a burst in a one-block radius around these co-ordinates."
"Right away, sir. Scott out."
Everyone looked outside as the streets were filled with a green light. Everyone in the area fell to the ground. The bosses stared with wide eyes and turned to Kirk.
They're not dead, just knocked out for a while. But they might just as well have been that way if we wanted them to.
"Okay, okay, Kirk, so we get the message", Oxmyx said. "Now, what was this syndicate deal you were talking about?"
"He was talking about a percentage", one of the bosses said.
"I was talking about both", Kirk said.
"Okay. A syndicate makes sense to me. I'm a peaceful man at heart, but I'm sick and tired of all these hits. I hit Krako, Krako hits Tepo, Tepo hits me. There's too many bosses. We can't get anything done. I was thinking if there was just one, maybe somebody like you, as the top boss, then we can get things done."
"Hey, Bela, no, no, no", he said. "The Federation can't get connected with a small-time operation like this. No, I was thinking, Bela, you would be the top boss. Krako, you'd be his lieutenant. The rest of you, I don't want any trouble from the rest of you because you'll have to answer to the Federation. We'll be back every year to collect our cut."
"Look, you figure maybe forty percent's enough?" the boss asked.
"Yeah, I think forty percent's sufficient", Kirk nodded.
"It's reasonable", Oxmyx shrugged. "It sounds reasonable. That sound reasonable to you?"
All of the other bosses nodded in agreement, sounding their agreement. Kirk smiled and looked at the others in approval before turning back to the bosses.
"It's reasonable, Mister Oxmyx. Let's break out some of your drinking stuff and celebrate the syndicate."
Spock wrapped his arm around T'Lora as they backed out of drinking with everyone else.
With all negotiations agreed on, the Enterprise left the planet, onto their next assignment. Back in Starfleet uniform, T'Lora stretched her arms and smirked as she looked at the men. McCoy stood with his arms crossed while Spock looked into his scanner.
"Gentlemen, you two have been brooding ever since we returned to the ship", Kirk said returning to his duties as captain.
"Brooding, Captain?" Spock asked.
"Brooding, Mr. Spock. A somber, emotional state. Now, do you wish to continue it or are you going to discuss it?"
"Captain, I'm neither brooding nor somber. But I do have reservations about your solution to the problem of the Iotians."
"Spock, what's there not to understand?" T'Lora asked. "You saw how they behaved down there. He needed to fight fire with fire. He acted as one of them to get them to understand how to encourage order on the planet."
"Highly irregular, to say the least", he said. "I'm also curious as to how you propose to explain to Starfleet Command that a starship will be sent each year to collect our cut."
"Yes, that's a very good question, Mr. Spock", Kirk said. "I propose our cut be put into the planetary treasury and used to guide the Iotians into a more ethical system. Despite themselves, they'll be forced to accept conventional responsibilities. Isn't that logical?"
In one of the rarest moments, Spock actually gave a short, genuine smile, making T'Lora smile. Kirk noticed McCoy's attitude was still the same.
"All right, Bones, in the language of the planet, what's your beef?"
"I don't know how serious this is, Jim", McCoy said. "I don't quite know how to tell you…"
"Go ahead."
"But in all the confusion I…"
"Tell me", Kirk said.
"I think I left it in Bela's office", McCoy said.
"You left it?"
"Somewhere. I'm not certain."
"You're not certain of what?" Kirk asked.
"I left my communicator…"
"In Bela's office?"
"Captain", Spock said. "If the Iotians, who are very bright and imitative people, should take that communicator apart…"
"They will, they will", Kirk said. "And they'll find out how the transtator works…"
"The transtator is the basis for every important piece of equipment that we have", Spock said.
"Everything."
"You really think it's that serious?", McCoy asked worried.
"Serious?" Kirk asked upset. "Serious, Bones? It upsets the whole percentage."
"How do you mean?"
"Well, in a few years, the Iotians may demand a piece of our action."
"Oh boy…" T'Lora shook her head.
They were getting back into character now. She rolled her eyes and put her hand over Spock's knowing that would calm him down.
AN hey folks that was peace of the action one of my all time favorite star treks I hope you enjoy it. Look forward to seeing you in the next fanfic by villans bad girl Beams out see ya!