Chapter 22

Night drifted over the planet's surface, sending a feeling of tranquility and calm to the small settlement near the foothills of Mount Tomalk. Paraquin, mother to Daedalus watched the darkness filter around her and pool like a inky blackness and she smiled. Tonight would be a good night to raid the outer reaches and seek out the tribute of new slaves to her mining camps. She was a hard looking woman of middle to late years and her eyes had seen a lot of death. She had not raised six boys to be less than what she expected, and she expected a lot. A grizzled old dishonored warrior Marquant stepped to her side, his wounds from his last battle had not healed completely and he had developed a deep sucking wheeze from his lungs.

"Do we raid the outer villages tonight my lady Paraquin?" He wheezed, coughed up some blood and wheezed some more. Spitting the blood on the ground he let his rheumy old eyes search the farthest reaches of the area around their compound. His grizzled old features had shown many battle scars from fights that had not be exactly what would make a mother proud. Paraquin had kept him on because he was her oldest brother. Her mother's first born from the rape of another Klingon male that had passed himself off as a Cleric. Thus why she hated most clerics.

"We leave at the height of the moon's apex, gather the other warriors Marquant, we have more bodies to gather to work our mines. We lost how many in that last mine collapse?" She turned her head and her long hair that laid in a salt and pepper colored plat over her shoulder flipped the plat off her shoulder. She listened to her brother's cough and watched him spit up blood. "Are you going to make it or not? Should I give you my blade and let you end your miserable life now?" Her voice dripped with sarcasm as she waited for his response from her less than sisterly concerned tongue.

Marquant resented his sister's attitude more than he resented being stuck at her side. He had no choice he had a bounty on his head in most quadrants and this was a safe haven. "I will make it my loving sister. I can see your charm and your sympathy are as they have always been kept for those worthless boys you call your sons." He turned paused and spoke over his shoulder before another round or wracking coughing took his breath. "We lost twenty." He walked away leaving her to fold her arms and watch the distant hills. She was sure she saw something land there earlier. It mattered not, whatever it was it could be taken hostage and used as a slave as well as the others she narrowed her gaze and thought she saw something looping along the ground lying close to the shadows.

Blinking she looked again and saw shadows moving. Frowning she felt the chill of death cross the moon overhead as another cloud joined the one dark cloud in the sky. The clouds now covered the half moon over head. Darkening down the area, she smiled. "Good no moon cover, then we will be able to take more for our mining business. Get the men together, I would say we could easily take twelve and bring back twenty- to twenty-five slaves." She had turned looking for Marquant. When she turned she felt the weight of something large hit her in her back and she fell forward tucked and rolled to come to a standing position. Feral yellow eyes watched her every move.

"What have we hear a brave stupid wolf?" She snorted with her amusement seeing the large wolf on all fours pacing her every move. "Smart things aren't you?" Paraquin chuckled softly. She stepped to the right, the wolf paced to her right, she stepped to the left the wolf stepped to the left, she backed up, the wolf stepped forward. Paraquin had never seen an animal mimic the actions this creature was using to corral her in her own compound. Paraquin drew her disrupter, and was surprised when the wolf launched and landed on her chest, knocking her backwards and sending her disrupter spinning in the air. The wolf with deliberate and calculated movements, pinned the Klingon female to the ground, if she moved, the wolf's eyes narrowed, her jaws opened and her saliva dripped from her teeth giving the wolf the appearance of a hideous grin.

From the interior of the cavern, Paraquin could hear shouts and screams. The sounds were definitely sounds of battle, with disrupter fire, an occasional sound of a body hitting a wall or the floor. HmfiC had carefully transported his body to the center of the compound, noting his arrival had drawn only minor attention at first. Three of the guard that had been posted on the natural stonewalls had seen him appear and fired on him. Which would become obvious it was much to their regret. HmfiC had rolled to cover, took deadly aim and carefully picked off the three that had held their posts.

With the firing of the disrupter fire and the call to arms of the three guard, the area was filled with six more warriors of dubious nature and obviously not adequately trained to take on a war proven warrior of HmfiC's training. The first three that tried to breach his covered area found they lost their lives to a very well placed step, the right pressure against the neck, and a snap of the neck. One such hapless fool had dared to challenge HmfiC to a knife fight. HmfiC shook his head; why did these silly young fools always want to bring a knife to a disrupter fight? Seeing he had pulled his blade of honor, HmfiC sighed softly and shook his head, whipped out his disrupter and stunned his sorry ass.

Pulling the felled warrior wannabe to the side of the arena area walked into the shadows and pressed the button on his bracer and faded from view. He smiled and waited, he could hear running feet and the first such warrior that broke into the arena area found his neck snapped with a quick movement of HmfiC's well placed hands. His fellow compatriots watched the warrior lifted in the air by an invisible force. His body was turned in the air and they scrambled as he was hefted to land on top of them. One felled warrior found the force of what might have been a boot coming down on his back and shattering his spine. He screamed out in pain, took his last breath, and met Sto'vo'Kor. His last prayer was the barge of the dead would not come instead to take him to Gre'thor.

Those that met their death that night had died honorably in battle before they passed so they had been accepted into the battlefield of Sto'vo'Kor. HmfiC knew that Kahless had blessed this mission so he was not worry about loosing his battle this night. Leaving the dead in the arena, he entered into the building and listened. He was glad for this new piece of technology that Janae had stolen on his last trip to Xenolith. With the body armor and this new cloaking device that hid the person and not a ship had worked out pretty good for him so far. Once they were done with their blood oath, he would ask T'L'th to ask their techs to make more of the devices for his intelligence guard.

Hearing the sound of possibly three more pairs of running feet he stood in the center of he room and waited. Three more of the house guard appeared in the doorway and peered around the room. One guardsman stepped back into the shadows of he alcove and HmfiC knew he had finally met someone worth his attention. Smiling HmfiC walked slowly to the steps and put his foot on the top step and felt it was not right. The guardsman had activated a pressure plate on the step, grunting he knew to remove that foot would cause the step to explode with whatever was explosive device was used. Sighing softly, he shifted his hand to his bracer, pressed the transport button and felt his body dissolve as the area was ripped apart with a massive explosion that sent mortar, rock and timbers falling in on the common room of the building.

Paraquin heard the explosion and noted the wolf's head jerked up, her attention distracted, Paraquin drew up her knife and slashed at the wolf's breast. A small yelp, the wolf fell back and began to shift and reform to one very pissed off Volkarian wolf bitch. "Wrong move stupid woman. I was going to make your death worthwhile, now I am through toying with you." Bleeding from a gaping chest wound across her chest, Bi'Anka threw her body at Paraquin, wresting the knife from her grasp, turning it to drive it down through her throat and then up into his chin. The wound was severe enough that Paraquin died before she knew what had happened and the sad part was she died by the new blade her son Daedalus had given her.

He had boasted how he had taken it off one of the highly placed priests of Boreth and watched him die with the same blade. Pulling the blade from her dying body, Bi'Anka looked down to see it held the family crest of Shoaq, a highly respected man of the brotherhood of Boreth. His death had been a tragic loss to T'L'th, now Bi'Anka could report he had been avenged and she would be bringing home his blade. Knowing she was wounded and would need to go to the caves to heal, she turned, placed her fingertips over the bracer she wore o her wrist, pressed the button and transported to the ship.

Staggering to the co-pilots chair she looked over to see HmfiC too had been injured in the blast. Bi'Anka noticed he had suffered burns on his face and arms. "Time to go home old friend, then we begin our quest again." Bi'Anka grabbed a medical laser and closed her wound on her chest; looking over to HmfiC she noted he had already closed the wound on his leg. "Let me get us home. Come lie down and rest." He would have argued but he felt too bad and had fell for one of the oldest tricks in the book. Allowing Bi'Anka to take him to the compact quarters area designed for sleep or stasis, he watched her close the lid on his stasis chamber and closed his eyes as the chamber filled with gas to anesthetize him.

Aboard the Tori Borethian Airspace

M'lar waited for the last of the Klingon refugees to be transported to the surface of the planet, she watched anxiously wondering how many they had brought that were some of GowRon's spies. Margo stepped next to the cleric and now that they were alone she had to ask. "Where is your guard Bi'Anka?"

M'lar smiled, "She has been given another assignment by my father. I think it really is the kind of assignment she is well equipped to handle and she is with HmfiC one of the few male warriors she can tolerate and is almost her equal." M'lar walked down the now near deserted hallways of Janae's ship and entered into his quarters. The room had been hastily cleaned but still looked as if a herd of wild coloquins (baboons) had run through the room almost destroying it. M'lar sighed softly. "I should send up my maids to clean this place up and return it to the glory of his preferences." Her words were filled with sarcasm as she spoke of 'his' preferences.

Margo looked the room over and smirked. "He was a playboy after all. I guess he felt he had to have all the right contrivances to seduce his intended date for the night. I find this place wreaks of him and his 'preferences' it holds that subtle odor of cheap perfume and nasty females that wanted to lay in his bed and please tell me I was not using his bed as my bunk?"

M'lar chuckled. "Actually, he had his bunk taken out and put in storage when the room was taken over by our refugees. Which to my great relief he had used some wisdom in doing that. I don't think he wanted me to see how well worn his own bed had become with all his debauchery." She shook her head. "For all his faults he is a good pirate my dear and he saved my life on many occasions. So, I allow him his distractions when he needs them."

Margo looked around the room then to the cleric. "You have never um you know done the bump nasty's with him have you?" She had to ask she had noticed how close they appeared to be with each other. She watched M'lar double over in a fit of laughter.

"Oh by Kahless no! He is more like a brother than a lover. I could never think of him in that way. Why have you?" It was M'lar's turn to shoot that glance her way.

Margo nearly choked on her own saliva. The thought of her and Janae together locked in the throws of passion was more comical than insulting. "I would think not. He slapped my ass and I sent him flying on his ass. I don't mess with other species than my own. Frankly, I have not found a man that is worth my attention to spend enough time together with him in that way."

M'lar found her amusing. "I see, so you have not thought of giving up your exciting career in Star Fleet to settle down and perhaps have a family?" They continued to the transporter room, waited for the last of the refugees to be transported to the planet's surface.

"No, not really. I find most men are tedious and fussy and they expect you to bow down to them and cater to their needs. I am perfectly capable of handling my own life and be accountable to me and me only." It was finally their turn and together they entered the transporter room and assumed their positions on the disc. M'lar nodded to the transporter chief. It did not take long and they were transported to the center of the temple to her father's chambers.

Upon her arrival there was a flurry of calls and spontaneous applause for her return as the heroine of the disaster on Qo'noS. Margo noted M'lar was embarrassed by the attention she was receiving. She bowed to them all and walked towards her father, watching him open his arms in an open embrace she rushed into his hold and laid her head against his chest. "Father, I missed you." She whispered softly feeling the security of that hold. She inhaled the scent that was uniquely her father and she smiled feeling him take his chin and rub the top of her head in his affectionate hug.

Margo stood back watching the reunion of father and daughter and a part of her ached for that kind of reception from her own father instead of him using guilt on her to talk her into a new assignment. Turning she walked from the room, and headed to her old assigned quarters she would have to wait to be shown where the Ambassadors' quarters were situated from the temple. Walking down the hallway she head the approach of another from behind. "Margo?" It was Ashira and she was walking quickly towards her.

Margo stopped pivoted on her feet and looked at the woman that had become something more than just another Klingon since her arrival here. "Yes?" She waited patiently for her to catch up with her.

"I heard about your problems. I am glad they were able to rescue you from that pod. I am sure it must have been horrifying for you." She had laid a hand of compassionate comfort on the young woman's forearm. "You were unharmed when Janae retrieved you were you not?"

Margo nodded slowly and was a little confused by the show of compassion for her and her feelings. "I was just mildly bruised and was confused as to whom would attack a Starfleet shuttle. I really don't like confined spaces and was glad that I was placed almost immediately into a stasis like condition upon my entering the pod. I guess I was fortunate that Janae and his crew were able to hone in on my ping and find me."

Ashira stepped next to the young lady, hooked her arm through hers and smiled. "Well now you are the official new Ambassador of Starfleet on Boreth, you have your own house on the compound with the other Ambassadors. Allow me to show you your new quarters and to let you know your personal items arrived a week ago and have been put in your home." The friendly woman walked with Margo in tow towards a side exit of the temple. "We found after the last Ambassador was lost and it appeared that the factions of Molar were more inclined to attack those that are here to promote peace, well we felt it was only right to place the Ambassadors' here on the compound grounds under our protection while they are in residence on Boreth."

Rear Gardens and back section of the Temple grounds

Ashira guided her into a nice quiet area designated as Ambassadors Quarters. The neat and tidy houses were placed far enough apart to not impose on one another. Margo moaned she saw some children playing in the back. Ashira smiled, "Not to worry my dear, your house is located down here." She continued to walk her to the end of the row of houses to a nice quiet home that set apart some what from the other houses. There were with her count a total of twenty small or moderate sized houses her house was considered moderate to larger than the others. It was a white structure with open air verandas, a pretty garden situated in the back. She noticed the trellis had some kind of pretty floral flower that had wound its way around the openings of the structure holding it.

The scent was pleasing, she followed Ashira into the house and paused, it was actually very pretty and was a structure not unlike those on earth. Entering the front door, she found it was an open living arrangement, a beautifully appointed common room, with dining room and kitchen attached, with sliding doors to the back garden area. There were a couple of hallways off of the common living room area. "Your bedroom and bathroom are down that hallway and you have your own step out patio to the rear garden from your bedroom. That way are two bedrooms for guests and they have a shared bathroom."

The home was mostly done in shades of cream and soft blues and pale greens accents. "This is very nice Ashira, thank you for your assistance. I was going back to my quarters in temple but now I see I have my own private home." She was smiling and for the first time she felt she was home on earth and not some barbaric planet filled with vicious murders.

"You must know that at any time you wish, you may always join us for dinner or visit with us in the temple. I would suggest that should you go into the city, take a temple guard with you. Not all are friendly and reception to our Ambassadors as you are aware." Her voice had grown soft as she spoke of the past ambassadors.

"Yes, I know, thank you I will report to the temple if I make any trips out to the city. So, my bedroom is down there." She nodded to the hallway and watches Ashira nod. "Then if you will excuse me, I think I would like to take a hot bath, change and is the kitchen stocked or does it have a replicator?"

Ashira smiled, "Both, I had them stock your kitchen with some of your favorite foods from earth. There is also a replicator. So it is entirely up to you."

On impulse Margo stepped forward and hugged Ashira. Putting her arms around her daughter's shoulders she hugged her close, closing her eyes she smiled. It had been far too long since she did this with this child she had left behind with much regret. Speaking softly she said, "If you need anything, anything at all. You come to me Margo. I will be here for you." Stepping back from the hug she smiled turned and walked from the room. She was caught up in her own emotions. If she could cry she would have cried.

T'L'th's inner chambers

"So my dearest one, how are you really?" T'L'th did not want to turn loose of his daughter, he wanted to hold onto her he could feel her exhaustion and her pain she must have suffered around so much death. He saw the darkness under her eyes and the way she carried her normally proud frame said it all. She was barely holding on standing with him in his private chambers.

"I will survive father. What are the total count of the numbers we have received?" she walked to a chair and slumped into it and finally gave into her exhaustion of the past few days.

"We have a total of twenty-two thousand at last count. I believe by the time the last ship arrives, we will have over fifty thousand to come here and live. Have you heard any further word on how they plan to fix the problems on Qo'noS?" He sat and studied his daughter. She smiled tightly and nodded.

"The federation had sent several specialist along with the Vulcans and they assessed the problem with a build up of pressure on the tectonic plates causing the earth to shift and thus unsealing the long closed volcanoes. Faritili was the one that thought of it first that is why K'Ter'r is not here with us now. He with Far stayed behind on the planet." She rubbed her fingertips over her brow and closed her eyes pinching the bridge of her nose.

"I see, and GowRon?" He studied her closely he had full reports of everything that had been going on with her while she was on Qo'noS.

"I believe he will be sending some under cover operatives to try and infiltrate our defenses. I don't trust him. But he came under attack too. So, I am just as sure that he will be cautious but for now he is occupied with the specialist trying to save his planet from total destruction. What of Daedalus? What have you done about him and his constant interference, it was his men that attacked our ship and got a blast off into me." She shifted her shoulders showing she still felt the pain of that blast.

"I have sent Bi'Anka and HmfiC to fulfill a blood oath and destroy his line. He will be brought here and I will pass judgment on him. There is a bounty on him thanks to GowRon so he will have to run to ground to hide because the amount on his head is pretty substantial. I did receive word from Bi'Anka that HmfiC was injured and they were heading back to Boreth before they continued on their assignment."

M'lar was concerned. "What of Bi'Anka she was not injured was she?" M'lar had stood and walked to the console to view the communiqué that had been sent. She frowned deeply seeing Bi'Anka had taken a hit to her chest and was injured. "Why not have them take Dovka and Tork on the next mission father. You put too much on HmfiC he is getting old and should not have to worry if he comes back from a mission or not."

"Because Daughter, HmfiC would not take the help if I ordered him. He is a proud old warrior and prides himself on his abilities. Would you insult him by ordering younger warriors to go with him. Then there is Bi'Anka, would she accept them with her? I doubt it. The only reason she tolerates them the way she does is because of you."

M'lar nodded and had to agree, "I know just make sure she has safe passage to the home mountains, she will need her father waiting to take her to the healing waters." M'lar stood walked to her father and bent to kiss his cheek. "I am going to my chambers and plan to sleep for the rest of today. I love you father." Turning she walked from his room and no father had been prouder than he was at that moment.