Surefoot 88: Arcana

"Entering weapons range!" Neraxis reported.

Arrington nodded. "Helm, drop out of warp and bank hard to port! Fire at will!"

"Firing torpedoes!"

On the viewscreen, the dilated fields of warp speed snapped back to reality, and a swarm of red coruscating shot forward, detonating as the Marauder fired its weapons to detonate them, even as it banked as well to avoid the detonation.

"Attack Pattern Beta!" Arrington barked, working out her next moves.

Neraxis reported, "Second volley locked and loaded! Sensors identify them as the Filthy Lucre, last reported having robbed a latinum shipment bound for- for the Bank of Bolias, Ma'am."

"We'll see if we can avenge your homeworld's loss, Lieutenant. Helm, hard about! Let's see their next move!" She ran calculations; most Marauders were tough, almost on the level with Galaxy-class starships. All they had was a little Sabre.

Sabres cut sharp, and deep, she reminded herself. "Tactical, where's-"

The viewscreen showed the Filthy Lucre.... turning and departing. No, you don't get away that easily. "Helm, pursue!"

They jumped back into warp speed, the dilation increasing with their speed, Foxworth reporting, "They're reaching Warp 8!"

"Take us to 9.5, be ready to slip past them so we can hit them with our aft torpedoes."

"Captain!" Neraxis snapped, sounding alarmed now. "The damaged Raiders we left behind! They've done suicide runs on the Disco Volante! They're reporting casualties, major damage, potential warp core breach!"

Arrington frowned to herself - Ferengi weren't into suicide, there was no profit in that - but puashed that thought aside as she stared ahead at their quarry, the hunger and the need for stopping them almost as strong as the hunger and need to assist civilians.

Almost, but not quite. Sometimes you can't knock all the pins down, and you have to focus on one, and keep your ball out of the gutter if you can. "Turn us around, full speed, let's get back to the Disco Volante!"

As the ship obeyed her orders, Neraxis suggested, "Shall I alert Jonas to get a repair crew together for the ship?"

"Negative, I'm not bothered about saving some millionaire's luxury yacht. Remmick, alert them that we're beaming them onboard directly to Sickbay, have Medical ready for casualties. Neraxis, prepare a Tactical report and send it to Captain Godleski on the Prospero, her ship's the closest to the Ferengis' expected escape route."

*

Arrington kept patient; she knew how to be patient, it was a trait she had acquired in her later years, when she had grown away from the impulsive, privileged daughter of an Admiral who thought she was better than everyone else around her.

When she believed her crew had time to assess and begin management of those they rescued, she ventured to Sickbay, finding it busy, but not uncontrollable, her CMO Dr Tina Tamatoa, a short, stocky Terran of Samoan origin, in the centre of it all as usual. "Doctor T, how are our guests?"

The woman turned to her, setting aside some medical tools. "Some burns from exposure to coolant gas, broken bones from falls, nothing we can't handle. You should have told me we were getting celebrities."

"Celebrities?" Then she focused on the corner of the room, where a crowd of people stood, some surrounding a small collective, with media recording drones floating overhead. As she approached, she took notice of the huge figure in the background, a massive male humanoid with bronze skin, dressed in an old-fashioned clothes, including a bowler hat, watching and grimacing at everyone.

But everyone's focus was on a smaller, but no less dynamic and formidable-looking man, with slicked-back blonde hair and a gaunt, sepulchral face, which broke into a grin as he noticed Arrington and drew up to her. "Captain! Thank you! Thank you so much for your timely rescue! My Security Team had warned me of a threat of abduction, but I expected something to happen closer to civilised space!" He held out his hand. "Maximillian Zorin, of Zorin Interstellar..."

*

Deck R1 - Operations:

It was a truism that Caitian hearing was superlative, hence their initial utility in Starfleet in Communications, Operations and Linguistics. And Hrelle used it to its full advantage in Security and Tactical situations, tracking prey, or even just listening clearly to a dozen different reports or more, even those not directed at him.

It served him well, and people who worked with him knew it, hence no one commenting on him switching on the audio monitor to the Hospital to keep abreast of the efforts to treat Kami. It was a comfort more than a need - he knew that she would recover, fully, and that his place was here - and let him focus on the things he had control over. "Where's that report from Deck 8?"

Nearby, Sternhagen didn't glance up from her display. "One moment, Sir, there's conflicting reports from Jupiter Team scanning the Labs-"

"Unconflict them! We need to get the cargo decks cleared! Salvo! Can't your people perform a simple sweep?"

The Nova Roman straightened up formally, her expression as crisp as her accent. "Traditionally the labs with their high-energy equipment cause problems with scanning equipment, Commodore. And there seems to be contradictory reports from Security crewmen in different places-"

"Esek?"

Hrelle turned, watching Weynik enter. He remembered the last time they had spoken... or rather, argued, earlier that day, with Weynik making Hrelle's foul mood with the news from the rest of the sector even fouler, with all his talk about being reassigned. Hrelle had recognised that his close friend of many years had still been reeling from his recent space battle, and he had tried to be patient and reasonable with him. But if he had come back for Round Two... "What do you want?"

The diminutive veteran officer stood formally before him, the Roylan's ossified aquamarine face leaving his beady black eyes to reflect his emotions. "I've heard about what happened to Kami. How is she? Who's responsible?"

Hrelle paused, still hearing the transmission in the background. "They're still working on her. She was attacked by a cadet wanting revenge over being confronted by her and punished for a crime. We're still looking for him." After a moment, he added, "We could use your help."

Weynik straightened up more. "Whatever you need, you've got."

Hrelle nodded in appreciation and led him over to the holographic tactical display of the station, indicating several areas. "Salvo, Captain Weynik will take command of Jupiter Team, I want Deck 8 cleared-"

"Sir," his Security Chief protested. "They are performing as best as they can, with our reduced numbers-"

"I believe you, Lieutenant Commander, but we still have a fugitive down there, somehow evading our internal sensors despite being wounded." He looked down at Weynik again. "Once Deck 8 is secured, join up with Neptune Team and move down to the Cargo Decks. If you can get any of the off-duty Katana crew to join our teams-"

"Of course. What about Sasha and Mru?"

"They're in my quarters, keeping guard over Misha and Sreen, in case this isn't an isolated incident. Misha attacked Cadet Boladede and drove him off, left him badly injured."

Weynik grunted angrily. "Well, with any luck, we'll find the bastard dead from his injuries."

"Stow that; my son is too young to be a killer. I want the cadet captured so he can get medical attention... and can spend a long, long time in the stockade. Get going."

His friend bristled at the reaction, but quickly responded, "Aye, Sir."

Hrelle let him depart, turning to a map beyond the display. "What's that?"

Nearby, Somerset straightened up and approached. "The al-Razi, Commodore; they intercepted a private yacht being attacked by raiders. The raiders and the yacht were destroyed, but they rescued the passengers and crew and are transporting them here."

"A yacht? Who in the Seven Hells is running a yacht out here?"

Then he saw the change in Somerset's expression, something he'd seen plenty of times. "The Disco Volante, registered as an auxiliary craft to the starliner Moonraker, owned by-"

"Yes, Sir; Zorin was onboard during the attack, along with a party of journalists out to see the demonstration of his new Whatsit; Captain Arrington reported Zorin speculated that he was the victim of an attempted abduction for ransom purposes. I'm studying the data she sent with her report."

Hrelle growled; now he would get to meet the bastard in the flesh. He focused on Somerset fully. "What about Boladede? Anything in his record?"

The human raised an eyebrow. "Nothing, Sir. His past prior to joining Starfleet Academy was clear and verifiable: his family run a private interstellar security firm; I've even worked peripherally with several of their operatives on some assignments. His Academy record has been exemplary... beyond the incident logged on his record earlier this morning by Commander Haluk and Counselor Hrelle." He flushed slightly. "I believe Lt Cmdr Salvo made you aware of the details involving what the cadet had collected about your daughter-"

Hrelle growled.

Somerset cleared his throat. "Yes, well, I'm continuing my investigations-"

"Zorin."

"Sir?"

"What do you think are the chances that his coming here is just coincidental?"

The human's expression tightened. "This is not my first time dealing with activities involving Zorin, Commodore. Rest assured, I have learned enough about him not to underestimate him."

"Then I'll let you get back to your work." Hrelle turned back to the display as Somerset departed. "Zir."

The young Orion woman rushed up to him. "Can I get you something, Sir? Some food or coffee-"

"No thank you. Contact Dr Vestri, the Katana's Counselor. We'll need someone to take over for Kami while she recovers... and someone to assess Misha as soon as possible, after seeing his mother like that and driving off her attacker."

"Of course, Sir."

"And contact Commissioner Nam-Seon, inform her of the imminent arrival of the al-Razi with Zorin and his party. She'll want to represent the Federation and meet Zorin. Certainly more than I do."

"Yes, Sir."

"Oh, and arrange for a priority subspace channel to Cait for the morning, so I can inform the Clan about what happened... hopefully by then we'll have definite news on her condition, and I might get a catnap beforehand. No joke intended."

"Of course not, Sir."

"And you can do all that from your quarters... you're dismissed for the night."

"Sir, you need-"

"I need someone alert and fresh to cover for me over the next couple of days when I want to be with my wife in Hospital: rerouting meetings, appointments. And I'm really not in the mood for further arguments, Lieutenant, is that clear?"

Zir nodded, her skin darkening. "Yes, Sir."

He regarded her, detecting the anxiety in her scent. "She'll be okay, Zir."

She nodded, hesitantly. "Of course, Sir."

He turned back, hearing her finally depart, even as a part of him was elsewhere. Kami, I'm so sorry. I should have stayed in with you, should have insisted, if I'd been there-

If wishes were shurises, Esek, we'd all feast.

*

Dec 3 - Hospital:

Urad Kaldron stood at the doorway to his room, looking across at the operating theatre where he had seen them transport the Counselor. No. No, not you. You must live. You are so kind, so compassionate. I may be beyond help, but you have helped so many others. If only there was something I could do-

"Coward."

He turned back, the massive Hroch pachydermoid's eyes bulging in atavistic dread at the return of Suditi, the Goddess of his people's religion, She stood there, dressed in the ancient ceremonial robes and gold, clasping the maapak, the gold measuring staff that help the first civilisations set standards for building walls, buildings, temples, whole cities. Suditi judged those before Her, praising... or condemning. Nothing was hidden from Her. She pointed the maapak at him. "Suditi judges thee Coward."

His heart raced. No. No, this was a delusion, just as it was when She appeared before him earlier tonight, taunting him for his fearful state. "You- You're not real-"

"Blasphemer."

He drew back inside his room - his self-imposed prison, since his injuries fighting the Dragon - as if to keep anyone outside from entering. He had been doing better, the classes the good Comrade Counselor had suggested helped with his hands, and his confidence, and it had been good to see his family, and Dearest Comrade Tori and his other friends in Alpha Squad. He wished they were here, to help him banish away this nightmare-

"Coward," She strode forward - how could a delusion seem so real? - Her accusing eyes ever fixed on him. "Because of your timidity, the Counselor was almost killed. She probably will die."

"N-No-"

"Yes. You know it. I know it. Better to end this miserable parody of your life, and be done with it. Your family and friends will be all the better for it-"

He stormed outside.

Suditi stood there, watching him depart, then muttered, "Well, that was unexpected."

Then the Hroch mythical figure morphed into a Medical Technician Robert Furlough, intercepting Nurse William Sargent. "Bill! Dr Welby wants you to recheck the gravimetric fields in Ensign Kaldron's room right now, she's worried about long-term bone damage."

Sargent frowned, indicating the tray of containers in his hand. "Now? I have to get this extra plasma to Masterson for the Counselor!"

Furlough smiled and took the tray from him. "I'll take it, I'm going in there anyway, he's been moaning about a buzz coming from the sterile field. Two birds, one stone, right?"

Sargent seemed ready to argue further, but then shook his head in resignation. "Fine, all in a day's work, right?"

Furlough chuckled good-naturedly, leaving Sargent behind and turning a corner, so no one can see him deposit the plasma into a medical disposal unit, before leaving. "All in a day's work."

*

Sasha sat at her brother's bedside, amazed at how easily he fell asleep after all he'd been through. Yeah, Baby Bro, I'm envious as all Hell. She had cleaned him up and packaged the bloodied pyjamas in an evidence bag, before making him a soft warm sweet tea and sitting with him in the dark until he drifted away. Then she checked on Sreen, content from the snoring that her little sister would be okay... at least, until they woke up the next morning looking for Mama Kam.

She emerged into the living room, seeing Mru on all fours, removing the blood stains from the floor and furniture with a maintenance tool he found somewhere. "Who said you could do that? They need the evidence."

"They've taken it," he informed her, his back to her, his tail raised slightly. "I was cleared to do this, so the cubs don't see this in the morning."

She grunted. Making yourself at home, huh? Kissing Papa Cat's tail? Then she breathed in, trying to compose herself, though she was still reeling from the events of tonight - and the cause. Boladede? What the frick is wrong with you, you bastard? "I'll finish that."

"It's okay, I'm almost done."

"This isn't your family!"

Mru stopped and rose, setting aside the cleaning tools and facing her. "Sash, what happened tonight? Why did you break your sobriety?"

Anger rose within her; she didn't want to talk, didn't want to get into it, not now. It was over; first Kami drops that bombshell on her in the club, and then she comes back and gets shot by some prick with a sick fixation. "I don't want to talk! Just don't worry about me! Kami warned me, I won't bother you!"

"What? What are you talking about? Why are you speaking to me like this?"

"Will you just shut the f-" She bit off the rest of her vitriol, frowning now in confusion, before looking back at him. "How long did it take us to get here from the club?"

The Caitian frowned back, as if doubting her sanity. "You can't be that intoxicated-"

"Answer me!"

Mru regarded her, before finally responding with, "About two minutes, and we were running, taking the stairs-"

Sasha moved to the room's intercom. "Lt Cmdr Hrelle to Commodore Hrelle!"

The concern in her father's voice practically reached out through the speaker to her. "Sash! What's wrong? There's Security at the end of the corridor!"

"No, Dad, nothing like that! I ran into Kami in the club, just minutes before Misha called for help!"

A pause, and then he protested, "That's not possible, Sash. She was staying in tonight, and she wouldn't have left the cubs unattended. Are you sure you're not... mistaken?"

She felt her face flush. "No, I'm not mistaken, and I'm not drunk either! She was there... and now that I think about it, she wasn't herself. Maybe not literally!"

Another pause, and then he concluded, "Thanks, we'll bear that in mind."

"Wait, what about Boladede? Haven't you caught him yet? And what about Kami? How's she doing?"

"Both are still being worked on. Stay there. Hrelle out."

"Sasha," Mru began. "What are you thinking? What's going on?"

She turned and moved to the wall locker, an unobtrusive panel with a discrete keypad, and entered a combination, sliding open the panel and retrieving a phaser, slapping it onto her hip. She threw another to him. "Stay here, keep an eye on the cubs."

"What? Where are you going?"

"To help find Boladede."

"And do what? Punish him for what he did to Kami? Or for those nasty things your father said he'd had on his device-"

She felt her face flush again. "To get him alive and unharmed, to find out why he did it. He might respond better if it's me." She headed to the door.

"You're leaving me here alone to watch over Misha and Sreen?"

She stopped as the door slid open. "Do I need to make it an order, Lieutenant?"

The Caitian male bristled, his tail snapping behind him. "No, Ma'am. You don't. You know I'd protect them with my life if necessary, even without you pulling rank."

A sharp knife twisted in her - what are you doing to him, Sash? - but she wasn't ready to confront him just yet. "Good."

Then she left.

*

Hrelle stood, staring at a nearby wall, as if it held the answers he sought. Could Sasha have something there? Yes, she had for some reason fallen off the proverbial wagon earlier and had been intoxicated to some degree when he last saw her, but... he turned back to the rest of the Ops staff. "Run a check on any public sightings of Counselor Hrelle after 1800 Hours tonight."

Sternhagen and Salvo wore expressions of various bemusement, Sternhagen leading with, "What the Hell for, Esek?"

"Because she was alone with the cubs in our quarters by then, and wouldn't have left, but she apparently visited the new club and talked with Sasha."

"An imposter?"

"I don't know... hence my orders."

She shrugged, looking at Somerset. "Sounds like something suitably cloak and daggery for you, Oliver Twist."

He raised an eyebrow, but nodded and proceeded.

"Commodore?"

Hrelle turned, seeing the unexpected figure of Urad Kaldron, still dressed in civilian clothes, but looking more animated than when Hrelle had last seen him. "Ensign? You're on Medical Leave. Why are you here?"

His use of Urad's rank made the pachydermoid straighten up more formally. "Because, Sir... I am needed. And I have grown weary of locking myself away. How may I be of service?"

Hrelle regarded him, wondering if he should just thank the young officer for his offer and send him back to the Hospital; he was technically still on Medical Leave after all. As if that ever stopped you during a crisis, Esek.

Instead, he nodded. "Get back in uniform, and join Mars Team on the Recreation Deck."