Not a completely wasted trip
Posted on 01 Dec 2021 @ 8:39am by Captain Jonathan Reynolds & Commander Amelia Fox & Lieutenant JG Rosaline Belikov & Lieutenant C'Tora Kuroka & Ensign Adam Morgan
Mission:
Picking up the pieces
Location: Unknown but past the gateway
Timeline: Several hours in front of the Drommie
3158 words - 6.3 OF Standard Post Measure
ON:
Jons eyes opened rapidly as something freezing suddenly struck him in the face. Then it started to leak down his face and into other areas of his body which was now protesting against something that seemed to be binding his arms behind him.
Looking to the side he could see Hawkins, Morgan and weirdly his CMOs wife in a similar predicament.
His eyes flicked round trying to take in as much of the environment as possible as formulated in his brain what to do next. The Capturers once his dark pupils landed on them certainly didn't look friendly.
"Where is my ship?" he demanded. "And why have you kidnapped me and my crew?"
Kren looked at Reynolds with a sneer. “Firstly you now belong to me and secondly you will only speak when spoken to. I can see you need a lesson in obedience.” He took a remote from his pocket. “While you were unconscious, I had you all fitted with agonisers. That Fox woman sold me a load and I must admit they’re very handy. See for yourself.” He triggered Jon’s implant.
Jons body spasmed despite himself but if he was alive now he was useful so they weren't going to kill him. And he wasn't the type of man to cry out in pain or only speak when spoken too. He gritted his teeth and knew he had enough boxing training mentality to cope with this. Either he would or he would pass out.
"Ah yes. She does keep popping up and shafting people. I'm sure you will regret that sale. I would watch you back because one of these days her knife is going to be in it," he stated.
Kren dismissed him with a wave of his hand. "Yes I know, she crazy, vindictive and phycotic. My kind of woman." He added with a smile. He turned his attention back to the spice dealers.
“You bring me these four as compensation for losing a planet?” He sighed. “A betazoid…. He could be useful. Two humans…. Not much value there and….” He paused as he looked at M’Tara. “Hello beautiful. Aren’t you a stunning creature to behold?” His mode improved as he turned back to them “Nice job boys. I’m keeping this one.”
He then turned to his brother “Varok. Pay them what we agreed, give them some more Spice to sell and then get them out of my sight. You can have the Betaziod. He’s a Starfleet Captain. Get what information you can from him then put him in the mines with the other two. I’ve got a new kitty to play with.”
Durke spoke to the statement at hand, "You will give us what was promised." He continued as he looked at Kren, "Besides, you may think that the others we brought were useless, but the one i brought may give more valuable information than you think."
Varok walked over to the table and tossed the bag with the payment onto the table top. He turned to a nearby servant. " Have two crates of spice loaded on to their ship right away. " The servant bowed. " Yes my Lord! Right away. "and swiftly departed to carry out his task. Before the bag could be picked up Varok placed his hand on it , His face showed displeasure and there was ice in his voice. " You bring my brother a shiny new play thing and come to me empty handed. What to do, what to do? " As he ran his finger down the length of the blade several times.
" Hmm.. I guess I have several options, but which one should I do? " He asked no one in particular. He looked at the spice runners with an evil grin. " What sounds good to you? Should I let you make amends by bringing me back two pretty new playthings? Or should I just keep her as my new bed warmer? Perhaps your screams would delight me for days. Or maybe I'll just kill you both and have your heads stuffed and mounted on my trophy wall. What do you think I should do? All could be entertaining to me. I really do get Irritated when ungrateful shits are rude to me, and then I have to hurt someone. "
Morgan started to open his eyes when he felt as if he couldnt move. He looked around at his surroundings and he was no longer in his quarters but in another area with others including his captain and a couple others from Andromeda. He dared not to speak as he noticed Durke talking with the others that brought them to this location. He only decided to listen.
Michael woke up, trying to make sense of what was happening, blinking his eyes to clear them. Then his skin prickled up hearing the words being spoken. He sat up and looked around. "What in the blazes is going on?" his eyes narrowing at the situation, and his eyes ablaze with anger. He wasn't too happy to be tied up.
M'tara's nose twitched as she started to come too, and her ears showing signs of her becoming alert to hearing voices. Her mouth was dry and feeling like there was cotton in her mouth. Then her emerald green eyes slowly opened, she could smell the different scents in the room, some of them foul, the others not so much, but she could smell the fear and worry that others were displaying. Then she realized that she was tied up, "What, what is going on?" struggling to sit up. "Captain?"
"We seem to have been kidnapped," Jon told her. "Try to stay calm while we attempt to figure this all out."
M'Tara nodded as she was able to sit up.
"i'd stay quiet unless you wish to be electrocuted. They don't mess around here" Kassie said to the captives quietly before looking to Kren, "look I'm happy to run your spice, but I'm not a slaver. This is a one time deal after this it's all cargo. If you want me to change jobs, you'll need to triple my costs"
Durke again looked to Kren for an answer to his inquiry on his captive and hoped to get more than what was offered as well since Morgan was a better hostage than some mere captain for Starfleet.
"I'm annoying you know," Jon told this Varok. "And I've goddesses on my side so you won't break me."
Varok laughed cruelly. " Annoying? I find you highly amusing! Goddesses? I didn't know the federation believed in such fairy tales." He spat at Jon. " The only real power in the universe is how much wealth you control, and how well you control and dominate others. You take and keep what you want and destroy and discard what you don't want, your a fool to believe otherwise. your ships and crews will be easy to take over since they are so weak willed. Not that you'll be able to tell anyone since your going to the mines after I extract all useful information from you. "
Varok walked over to a nearby table and opened a case and removed a meter and a half length rod. Jon heard a audible click followed by a soft humming sound. " I am rather proud of this. " Varok said with a cold evil smile. " Ahh...Yes! I see it in your eyes that you've seen one of these before, Isn't it a beautiful Klingon pain stick? It belonged to a former servant of mine who displeased me when he failed to make his quota. Just three jabs from this on setting nine and his head exploded like a glorious fountain. Setting three makes most people drop to the floor like useless quivering jelly, But I think your made of sterner stuff, let's try setting five."
Varok jabbed Jon in the ribs twice for about three to five seconds each. " Tell me what you think. Please be honest, I'm recording the results for posterity. " he said with a look of honest concern. " I've been thinking about adding some barbs that would give a more direct effect into the nervous system. Feel free to scream if you agree. " As he ground the tip into Jon's rib's once more. " Please, any feed back would be greatly appreciated. "
"I think we are both men of action and lies do not become us. Your not going to kill me. You already betrayed yourself albeit begrudgingly that your taking us as some kind of compensation and if your aware of the assets our organisation has you would be a total fool to invoke an act of war. Which believe me kidnapping and killing federation personnel will account for. You have no proper understanding of the Federation despite materialism which is just downright sad to say your supposed to be the evolved power in these parts and however you came across a Klingon out here you have no understanding of the ritualistic and cultural history of the device in your hand. I also find it lazy that your attempting to torture me with a device from our world and not your own," Jon informed him. "But please pray continue. Also one last thought, never announce you have been thinking ... the fact you haven't already put it in place indicates just how irrelevant and useless that piece of information really is here."
Varok grinned. " I have not lied to you, nor did I say that I was going to kill you. I said I was going to extract information from you and send you to the mines. You are more valuable to me as a miner or a hostage. The federation the way I see it is weak and filled with hubris, your people can't even get here. So the way I see it is your going to be here for quite awhile, they'll never figure out how to get past the gate, no one has yet. "
" Fine then let's dispense with the game then. I'll just ask you two simple questions, nothing classified. First, How many federation ships are in this region? Second, How many people per ship? Answer those questions and I'll see you and your people get better treatment, you want your people to be treated well don't you? "
"Considering my XO is not reigning fire down on you demanding our return right now zero are in this part of space and as for numbers, lots," Jon told him simply.
Varok turned his attention away from Jon as he heard the commotion beginning behind him and watched the situation unfold before reacting.
Meanwhile, Kren approached M'tara. "Hello, my dear. What's happing is that you are now mine. Oh, don't you worry. A beautiful creature such as yourself, I'll take the best care of you. Your every whim will be catered for and you'll live in unparalleled luxury as my concubine. But you will please me and obey me. Now, before you protest you should consider that you, like your friends over there, have an Agoniser implanted in you. Now I'd rather not have to give you a demonstration but if you force me to... I will. Understand?"
M'tara's emerald green eyes flared wide opened, then they narrowed as she stared at Kren. "You.. did... What?!" gritting her teeth. She cast a quick glance towards her captain then back to Kren, making herself calm down. "Just-who-are-you?"
Kren smiled at her "I am your Master now. That's all you need to know and that's what you will call me. Now, I know you're just getting used to this fact so I will overlook that transgression. If you speak to me in that disrespectful tone again, I will have to punish you."
During this time, despite Hawkins being trussed up, he managed to get himself into a crouching position his feet upon the floor. He was watching what was going on and most importantly watching the actions of the ill mannered churl who was near M'tara. He heard what Kren had said and Michael wasn't amused.
Sitting off to one side, Kassie was keeping herself busy, and distracted, by counting the Latinum they'd been paid. There was enough here to cover the cost of a new ship as well as a decent split for Durke. To say she felt guilty would be an understatement, but out here there is no Starfleet protection, so you had to look after yourself.
"I can't believe he just slime. I offer Kren a great opportunity with Morgan and what does he do? Give me shit and nothing to boost my image," Durke stated as he started to whisper to Kassie as she was engrossed into the earnings they had made from the heist.
"Excuse me a moment my dear." Kren said to M'Tara then came over to Durke. "Is there a problem? Now think carefully before you answer that!" he asked in a low and deadly voice.
Durke looked at Kren and smirked, "Oh nothing at all sir." He continued as he started to count the latinum, "Just counting the best earnings we have made so far for this little adventure."
“There will be if you haven’t paid us the agreed amount” Kassie replied gruffly as she finished her counting and started to split it into two, “fortunately for everyone here you have, so there won’t be a deadly fire fight today” she said, placing her cut of the latinum into a black shoulder bag before handing the case with the remainder of the latinum to Durke, “so unless you’ve got another run for us to do, we’ve gotta go buy a new ship”
Kren looked at her incredulously. "Are you questioning my competance?" He turned to Varok "Do you want to teach her a lesson?"
Varok stepped down off of the raised dais from where he stood, His eyes cold and face completely emotionless. He moved as if it were a shark gliding through the water towards Kassie. His left hand lifted a small pouch off of his belt and he bounced it in his hand, the pouch jingled with the familiar sound of gold pressed latinum. " You forgot your bonus. " He said simply. " As he held out his left hand towards her.
His right hand moved swiftly from his waist upward and then from his right shoulder moving to his left. Kassie froze in her tracks for a long moment that was suspended in time, she began to fall forward with her head landing at Varok's feet. The blade had done it's job well and removed her head in a single stroke. The body slumped forward as blood sprayed for the neck and covered Varok from chest to his boots as the body fell to the floor and lay motionless in front of him as the blood pooled at his feet.
Varok wiped his hand across his chest and lifted it to his face and took a deep breath. " Do you smell that? " He said with a smile. " Most enticing isn't it? The scent of her blood is almost arousing. " He stated with almost a purr in his voice. He took Kassie's pack from her back and tossed it at Durke's feet. Now go and buy yourself that new ship and perhaps a new partner that knows some manners as well. Now go before I decide to taste your blood as well. " As he wiped some of Kassie's blood onto his face and grinned evilly. " Kren, you really must learn how to treat your employees when they get out of hand. " He held up his hand in Durke's direction. " Before you decide to go and do something stupid, just remember there are three disruptors trained on you right now. "
M'tara's eyes widened at what had just transpired, she was a bit frightened, but she also was pissed. At the moment she had to keep her cool, but she wasn't about to give Kren a chance to take advantage of her either. She'll have to do some planning. She shuddered slightly though at the death of Kassie. It was truly violent.
Michael spoke up, "What are your plans with us at the moment?"
"That very much depends on you." Kren replied simply. "I'll be entertaining this lovely creature here." he said referring to M'tara "As for the rest of you, you'll find working in the mines a lot harder than serving on a Federation Starship but work well and you will be treated well. Work badly and you'll die." He turned to Durke "Are you still here?
Durke looked at Kren and stepped away as if he needed to. He knew Kren was not to be messed with, so he stepped back to where Kassie was and mentioned for her to gather her own earnings and head out of sight.
Varok looked to his brother. " Well Kren, I did your little favor as you asked and now it's going to cost you some patience. It seems that in Kassie's last inconsiderate act to you, she sprayed blood all over your pretty new pet. " He walked over to M'Tara and inhaled deeply. " I find the scent rather exciting myself and wouldn't be bothered by it, Sadly it does ruin the aesthetics of her lovely white coat. You might want her to bathe first if it bothers you."
M'tara wrinkled up her nose and moved her head back from Varok smelling her, she didn't like this attention. If she could she would have ripped his head off!
Varok turned to a nearby servant and pointed at Kassie's body. " Strip that and toss it down the chute, my darling pets are getting hungry and be quick about it or you'll join her. " He grabbed Kassie's head by the hair and tossed it at Kren. Kren! Heads up! " As it fell short and rolled by Kren"s feet. " At last Kren, I can now honestly say that your ahead of me. " He grinned at his humor and his expression changed swiftly from humor to seriousness." Yes my dear brother, they are all going into the mines except for the Captain. He will be going into one of my cages in my lab, He's far to valuable of a hostage to us to let loose in the mines. "
Jon growled internally in anger as the sadists decided to keep blasting the agonisers in him, Morgan and Hawkins while frog marching them out seemingly to some mines.
Hawkins was grimacing at the agonizers being utilized. He had a plan to get rid of them but at the moment he couldn't do anything at all.
OFF:
Captain Jonathan Reynolds
CO, USS Andromeda
Lieutenant JG C'Tora Kuroka
Chief Medical Officer
USS Andromeda
( AKA: Cartel Drug Lord Varok )
Ensign Adam Morgan
Chief Flight Officer
USS Andromeda
(AKA Durke)
Lieutenant Michael Hawkins
Chief Engineer
USS Andromeda
Ensign M'Tara Kuroka
Medical
(NPC Michael Hawkins)
Kren G'len
Spice Barron
NPC Fox
Kassie NPC Rose Belikov