JP: A Rogue Amongst the Stars: Chapter 10 - Finale

[Geoffrey Teller]

((The Broken Fang, Pirate Raider, somewhere in the Shoals))

::After they were beamed back Li and a groggy Douglas, Crawford and “Rosie” remained on the bridge waiting as the minutes continued to tick down. Finally, Crawford’s patience had run out as he called out to Li.::

Crawford: Get us out of here! Maximum impulse!

Li: What about Finley?

::Crawford snickered at the mention of the name.::

Crawford: If Finley’s as resourceful as he claims to be, I’m sure he’ll be just fine.

::He then looked over at one of the other pirates standing guard nearby and ordered him to escort their remaining Trill “guest” back to the holding cell they’d made out of Li’s quarters.::

::But as the two left, leaving just Crawford and the other two pirates on the bridge, Li crossed his arms over his chest and stood away from the controls::

Li:  He said he’d send a signal.  He’s still got two minutes.

::Douglas was still shaking off the effects of the phaser blast, but had regained enough of his faculties to sense the dangerous tension on the bridge.  His hand automatically went to the hilt of the knife in his belt.::

Douglas: That guy got us paid.  We wait.

::Madrid’s first mate stood up from his chair, stunned at the sudden courage the two lackeys had seemed to conjure out of thin air.::

Crawford: You two would dare attempt a mutiny? The captain will have your heads!

Douglas: The Captain will be glad we’re finally bringing something valuable back, and you fought against it the whole time.  We explain to her how you almost blew this whole score and getting kicked out of her bedroom will be the least of your problems.  

::Crawford grumbled as Douglas kept his hand on his knife. Finally, the other man walked away but turned to bark a final order.::

Crawford: Two minutes and not a second more! In case you didn’t notice, there’s a Coalition Marshal cutter on its way.

::Li turned back to gaze at the crippled Starfleet supply ship that hung out in space, plasma continuing to leak out of its nacelles.::

Li:  He’ll make it.  

::Crawford went out into the corridor from the bridge to check on the prisoner. In addition to the loot they’d stolen from Starfleet, they might be able to get a nice ransom out of her. And *that* at least Crawford would be able to take full credit for, having outwitted the notorious Silas Finley.::

::Smiling again at how pleased Madrid would be with him, he nodded to the guard standing outside the quarters to open the door. As it slid open, Crawford stepped in.::

Crawford: All right, little lady, looks like it’s just you and-

::But he stopped abruptly as he saw the now empty room. He looked back at the guard whose bewildered face was soon met with his closed fist.::

((Transporter Room, USS Stevenson))

::Once the beam completed the transfer, Roshanara found herself standing on the pad in the small transporter room of the supply ship. Ahead, she could see Teller at the controls, Kinan next to him--along with a couple of Starfleet security officers and a serious looking Andorian.::

Teller:  As promised, Commander.  Computer ID confirms Captain Rosharana Rahman, and she’s got a perfectly cogent explanation for all of this.  

::Kinan shot him an incredulous look.::

Shon: ::to Teller:: I’m looking forward to hearing it, lieutenant.

 

::The Andorian CO nodded to the security officers to relax their posture before turning to the Kriosian.::

 

Shon: Welcome aboard the Stevenson, Captain. Now would you mind telling me what the hell is going on?

 

::The captain nodded as she stepped down from the transporter pad.::

 

Rahman: Certainly.

 

::But before the two COs got too far into the details, Teller spoke up, the clock still running.::

Teller:  Skipper, those pirates are still waiting for Finley’s ‘signal.’  Think it’s worth maintaining the ruse?

::She glanced back over at Kinan, curious to see what the admin officer thought.::

Kinan: We kept character until Li and Douglas left--whether or not they continue to buy the ruse is another story, though. You were transported away fairly dramatically. ::She paused.:: That said, it’d be nice to be on the same page as these pirates.

::Roshanara looked back at Shon.::

Rahman: It may prove useful for the future.

::The Andorian’s antennae flexed before he turned back to the engineer, annoyed.::

Shon: Very well. But just don’t break my ship anymore than you already have.

Teller:  Consider it a Good Job Guarantee, sir.  

::Teller brought up the status display and checked the ship's systems.  His clumsy sabotage had already been resolved by the crew, but there was still a loose cloud of drive plasma near the ship, vented when Teller compromised their diagnostic systems.  

::With a smile that would’ve done Silas Finley proud, Teller aligned the impulse engines and brought the ship to a sudden full impulse.  The impulse flare ignited the drive plasma, and a vortex of shimmering green flame seemed to envelop the ship before it shot off and was gone from sight within moments.::

::Once he was done, Roshanara turned back to her Andorian counterpart.::

Rahman: I’ll debrief you fully, commander, but I think first Commander Kinan, Lieutenant Teller, and I would appreciate getting checked out in your sickbay. And perhaps a warm meal as well.

Teller: And a shower.  Possibly two or three. Please.  

Kinan: Oh no. No showers until you fill out an incident report. I’m not doing all the paperwork for this--not this time.

::With arrangements made, the three guests walked out into the corridor, making their way to the medical facility.::

Rahman: Well, Mr. Teller… you never cease to amaze.

Teller:  Thanks for...backing my play up out there, Skipper.  I know it was crazy but you trusted me. I’m amazed it worked.  

Rahman: Of course, lieutenant. And don’t worry about Commander Shon. Between me and Commander Kinan here, we’ll make sure the record’s set straight.

Kinan: No doubt it’ll be an amusing read for Admiral Washington.

Rahman: I also managed to sabotage the raider’s engines so that the Marshals will be able to track its emissions. Should make the cargo you helped them steal easier to recover.

Teller:  Appreciate that Captain, it was a little wrinkle in my wildly complicated spur of the moment save our skins plan.  I just figured that’d be part of the prison sentence.

::She looked over and gave him a wink.::

Rahman: Well, I can’t have my chief engineer locked up in the brig when we’ve got field trials for the new engine starting soon.

Teller: Next shoreleave, I’m locking myself in my quarters with a book.  :shaking his head ruefully:: Vacation is going to kill me.

Rahman: Hmmph, you can have my copy of Demon of the Seas. I think I’m done with it for now.

::She shook her head before tilting her head to one side, stretching a bit.::

Rahman: I’ve had enough adventures and pirates for now. A nice long bath with some bubbles sounds absolutely divine.

::As they entered the turbolift and turned around, Teller spoke up in the confined space.::

Teller:  Yeah. Captain, after I sleep for about a week, I imagine you’ll be wanting an explanation for..uh…::Teller shrugged expansively:: all that.  

::The captain glanced back over at her chief engineer with a smirk just as the doors slid shut.::

Rahman: Yarrr.

EPILOGUE

((The Ruptured Core Tavern, Shadow’s Edge))

Li:  So there we are, all hanging around the viewport on the Fangs bridge, looking at this big monster Federation ship sitting there.  Douglas kept saying Finley was dead for sure, that he was crazy, and I was starting to believe him when all hell broke loose.

::As Li told his story, a small crowd of fellow pirates and mercenaries had gathered around his table to hear the latest daring feat of the fearsome Pirate Captain Silas Finley. Li took a refreshing drink of strong ale as the other patrons spoke up in excitement.::

Patron #1: ::gasps:: What happened next? Did he make it?

::Another man next to him shook his head.::

Patron #2: Damn fool had to have perished!

Patron #3: Is he as handsome as they say?

::But Li waved his arm for all of them to quiet down as he continued.::

Li: Damn thing screams right past us at full impulse, trailing flames and drive plasma across half the belt.  It had to be Finley’s signal. He took the ship, and when we checked the hold, he even took back his woman before he left.  Never seen a pirate like him.

::Li leaned back in his chair and took a deep pull on his ale.  It had been their most successful haul in more than a year, and Finley shrugged it off for an even bigger one which he kept all to himself.::

::Li absently realized the effect four flagons of ale had on him, and began staggering towards the head.  He hadn’t made it three steps before a figure fell on him from the crowd and slammed him against a wall.::

::Li sized up the person who had menacingly placed a hand on his throat.  The Vulcan male was wearing a black jumpsuit, and the man’s thin, well manicured mustache was quivering with barely contained rage.  One of the man’s eyes had been replaced with an ocular device, which was surrounded by scars in his skin. Embedded In his shoulder was another small, unusual device, box shaped and firmly attached…::

::Snorlan, as a Vulcan, had learned as a child how to contain his emotions.  In his adult years as a rogue however, it had served him to learn how to let his emotions out - and now was a good time.  The mere utterance of the word “Finley” made his hairs stand on end. When he saw the human who’d been boasting of him earlier now walking, almost stumbling on his own, the Vulcan saw the perfect opportunity.::

::Revenge on Finley was something he had fantasized about, yet tracking him down had become impossible - even through his network of contacts.  This drunk human represented the catalyst he had been waiting for.::

Snorlan: ::Quietly, quickly:: Filthy human, you speak of Finley as if he is some sort :::rolling his free hand, pondering:: pirate élite.  You have admiration for him?

::Li grabbed at the vice like grip on his throat with both hands but couldn’t break it. A few of the other patrons glanced over to see what was the commotion but most in the tavern continued to their drinks, hearty laughter and music masking the details of Snorlan’s conversation with the human in his grasp.::

Li: ::gagging:: What….who?

Snorlan: You see, I overheard your conversation.

::Snorlan exhaled angrily through his nose.::

Snorlan: And I find your admiration for him pitiful.

::Li felt the feral Vulcan’s grip loosening slightly.::

Li: Finley?  What do you care?  

::Snorlan gritted his teeth, and tightened his grip around Li’s neck.::

Snoran: ::Angrily:: I care ::slapping Li’s face with free hand:: because that filthy human, his dirty Klingon and a… ::frustrated:: oh, what species was that chap again?

::Snorlan tapped the device on his shoulder.  A holographic AI parrot flicked into life above Snorlan’s shoulder.::

Arty: ::Squawk!:: Betazoid, Filthy human hybrid. ::Squawk!::

Snorlan: Yes, him.  They are in debt to me.  And I intend to collect.

::With his other hand he pulled his disruptor from his holster, and pressed it against the side of Li’s head.::

Snorlan: Now you’re going to tell me where I can find them… ::leaning face in closer:: or I am going to have to compensate the owner of this tavern for the mess I am about to make.

END

Lieutenant JG Geoffrey Teller

Chief Engineer

USS Veritas - NCC 95035

Capt. R. Rahman, Commanding

V239509GT0

&

Lt. Commander Kinan Venroe

Personnel Officer

Cait Spacedock

C238803SB0

&

Captain Roshanara Rahman

CO, USS Veritas

I238705TZ0

With Special Guest

Snorlan

Suave Pirate

SS Pon’Fire

written by LtJG Wil Ukinix

V239511WU0