Lieutenant JG John Kendrick - Wanderers (Part 5: Resolutions)

[Jon Van Pelt]

((Balerian City, Orsung))

After about half an hour, John and his team reached the outskirts of a small village that looked pretty much like some sort of a refugee camp. They tried to hide behind the trees that surrounded the village as they monitored the villagers going about their daily routines. It appeared none of the residents were carrying weapons. There was no sign of armed guards to protect the village either. It seemed these people weren’t expecting any trouble, which was strange since they were involved in the business of stealing cargo from unsuspecting freighters docked at Lightside Station.

Suddenly John felt Nerub pulling at his sleeve, trying to draw his attention.

Nerub: The warehouse is over there.

The boy’s little finger pointed at a huge warehouse located at the center of the village. Unlike the rest of the village that consisted mostly of huge tents and houses built out of leftover materials from dismantled starships, the warehouse was a concrete building. John couldn’t shake the feeling that the village was built around the warehouse to serve as a living shield.

John whistled, drawing the attention of the rest of his team to the warehouse at the center of the village. He then took out his tricorder and started to take scans of the area, searching for the best route to the warehouse without being detected by the Balerians.

He signaled the team to follow him to the southern parts of the village, which according to the life sign readings on his tricorder, was less populated.

((short time skip))

((Warehouse, Balerian City, Orsung))

Much to their own surprise, they had arrived at the warehouse without any real trouble. 

As they looked around them, they saw that the building was filled to the brim with crates, containers and barrels. John turned to Moa as he nodded.

Kendrick: ::whispering:: We’re definitely in the right place.

Brikane kept on walking in small circles, checking if they were being watched by something or someone.

Brikane: It’s too quiet here.

John took out his tricorder. Lights blinked as he scanned the building.

Tolena: ::whispering to John:: Anyone else in here?

Kendrick: ::looking up:: No. It appears we’re alone. Still, we better be careful where we step. We might trigger an alarm or something worse. ::pause:: Like a boobytrap.

Moa started walking through the rows of crates, searching for their cargo, as John kept on scanning with his tricorder. This time his scans focused on the molecular structure of honey.

Too focused on finding their shipment of cargo, they almost didn’t notice Nerub quietly slipping back to the exit.

Nerub: I’m going back home now. My mom’s probably waiting for me for dinner.

It only took a second for Moa to realize what would happen if Nerub returned home and told his mother about his little adventure.

Moa: ::shouting:: Brik, stop the kid!

Although only half realizing what was going on, Brikane immediately reacted on his instincts and spurted to the door, grabbing little Nerub by his jacket before the boy was able to open the door.

But the little guy wasn’t planning on giving up so easily. He started to struggle and kick against Brikane’s shinbones. The Cardassian had trouble to keep the boy in check. Finally the boy sunk his teeth in his arm and blood started pouring.

Brikane: ::shouting:: Awww!! You little demon!!

He let go of Nerub to check the wound on his arm. The boy saw his chance and pushed the door open and ran for it.

Moa: ::angry:: Dammit Brik, you can’t even handle a frakkin’ child?

Shocked, Brikane showed them the bite wound on his arm.

Brikane: But he bit me!

Moa: And I’ll do much worse if you don’t get your act together.

Tolena walked over to Brikane and took his arm to check the wound.

Tolena: It’s only superficial.

She ripped off a piece of cloth from her sleeve and used it as a bandage.

Tolena: You’ll be alright. When we get back to the ship, we’ll have the Doc take a look at it.

John walked over to The Wanderer crew, trying to get them to focus back on the job.

Kendrick: Listen up, we don’t have much time. ::checking his tricorder:: I think I’ve located your shipment of honey. ::pointing in the opposite direction:: I think it’s somewhere over there. ::at Moa:: Contact the Captain. Tell him to power up the ship’s engines. ::at Tolena and Brikane:: You two, come with me. We still have to put transponders on the crates.

Brikane and Tolena nodded as they followed John further down the warehouse. Meanwhile Moa flipped open her communicator and contacted The Wanderer.

((short time skip))

The transponders were in place. But John realized they were running out of time. He checked his chronowatch: it had been roughly ten minutes since little Nerub had stormed out of the warehouse. No doubt the entire village had been alerted about their presence by now.

Suddenly they heard doors swinging open and heavy footsteps entering the building. Since John was the only one carrying a weapon  - an old laser pistol - he motioned for the others to step behind him.

Moments later they found themselves captured at gunpoint by a group of Balerian men. One of them stepped forward to greet John and his team. Unlike the other Balerians, this one’s antlers were painted purple, distinguishing himself from all the others.

Orzuc: You have kidnapped one of our children and violated our territory. ::angry:: Explain yourself!

John kept his laser pistol pointed at the group of Balerians.

Kendrick: We only came here to take back what you stole from us.

Orzuc looked past John and noticed the transponders attached to the crates containing the jars of honey his men had stolen two days ago on Lightside Station.

Orzuc: Unfortunately that cargo is no longer yours. It doesn’t even belong to us. My people are only responsible for its transport and storage.

From the corner of his eyes, John noticed Moa taking a few steps forward, placing herself directly in the line of fire.

Moa: ::angry and frustrated:: Transport? You mean stealing! You’re nothing more but a bunch of thugs.

Now it was Orzuc who placed a couple of steps forward. He clearly felt insulted by Moa.

Orzuc: ::firm and proud:: No we are not! We’re just trying to survive out here.

John realized Moa had touched a sensitive chord and decided to try to take advantage of it.

Kendrick: There are other ways to survive out here without robbing honest and hardworking people.

Orzuc turned around. Of course it pained him to take away the livelihood of others to provide for his people’s needs. But what other choice did he have? He turned back around, facing John.

Orzuc: You don’t understand. If we don’t cooperate, they’ll destroy our village and everything we worked for.

John thought of little Nerub and a sense of compassion filled his heart. He had witnessed the difficult circumstances in which these people had to try to build their new world. What would he have done in their place? Still the fact remained that they had stolen The Wanderer’s shipment of honey. Without it, Captain Hennessey would be the one who lost everything he’d ever worked for. The Vulcan proverb “The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few.” ran through his head. And then he thought about Captain Oddas. What would she do if she was standing in his shoes right now? Maybe he wasn’t wearing a Starfleet uniform, but he still thought as a Starfleet officer - although his recent actions would probably prove the exact opposite.

Kendrick: Why are they interested in honey?

Orzuc turned around and signaled his men to lower their weapons. Killing people was not part of the deal he had struck with the powerful men and women on Lightside Station.

Orzuc: They aren’t interested in honey, only in the amount of credits that it might earn them.

As John lowered his laser pistol which he was currently holding in his left hand, he noticed the shiny golden chronowatch on his wrist. And then an idea hit him.

Kendrick: What if we talk about a trade?

Orzuc: ::confused:: A trade?

As John put his laser pistol back on his belt, he took off his chronowatch and showed it to Orzuc.

Kendrick:  It’s an antique from a planet called Earth. A chronowatch. Centuries old. Very rare in these parts of the galaxy. Probably worth much more than this honey - if you’re able to find the right buyer.

Orzuc: And what if they’re not interested in this… chronowatch?

Kendrick: You’ve heard about Starfleet?

Orzuc: ::nodding:: The men we work for seem more ::searching for the right word:: agitated ever since they came here to the Aavaro Wilds.

Kendrick: That’s understandable. And let me warn you: more ships are coming. I have contacts within Starfleet. One call from my ship to Lightside Station and this place will be swarming with Starfleet officers. My guess is your bosses won’t like that either.

Orzuc stared at the ground for a moment, contemplating his options. Realizing he didn’t have any, he looked back up at John and nodded.

Orzuc: We will agree to a trade.

John looked at Moa, Brikane and Tolena and smiled, relieved they were able to resolve the situation without any bloodshed.

((time skip))

((Balerian City, Orsung))

Captain Hennessey had parked The Wanderer - an old Aerie-class vessel - just beyond the city limits.

((Bridge, The Wanderer))

While Orzuc’s men were loading the shipment of honey back onto the ship under the watchful eye of Captain Hennessey, John had taken seat in the Captain’s chair on the Bridge.

Amused, he observed little Nerub behind the helm console, getting his first piloting lesson from Moa. The little kid reminded him of himself when he was a young boy, dreaming about the universe and all of its wonders.

As he heard the door to the Bridge slide open, he swung his chair around and stood up as Orzuc entered.

Orzuc: My men have finished loading the ship.

Kendrick: ::nodding:: Thank you.

Orzuc:  You’re still able to say ‘thank you’ after we stole your cargo?

Kendrick: ::realizing:: Yeah, I guess you have a point there. Still, you had us outnumbered and outgunned. You could’ve chosen to kill us instead.

The Balerian took out the golden chronowatch from his pocket that John had given him earlier in exchange for the shipment of honey.

Orzuc: Let’s just hope they won’t be disappointed when I hand them over this antique of yours.

Kendrick: You know: you can always call in the help of Starfleet. They can offer you protection against these people. Maybe they can even help you relocate somewhere else, somewhere safe?

Orzuc shook his head as he put the chronowatch safely away back in his pocket.

Orzuc: Convincing my people to settle down on this world came at a great cost. This city was built with steel and blood. I am not prepared to give up so easily. ::pause:: But I will consider your suggestion.

John reached out his hand. As they shook hands, John smiled, relieved that he had been able to resolve the situation peacefully and perhaps had given the Balerians a way out of their toxic relationship with the criminal world aboard Lightside Station.

((time skip))

((Kendrick’s Cabin, The Wanderer))

As The Wanderer had set course back for Lightside Station, John had gone to one of the ship’s guest cabins to take some much needed rest. As he lay on his bed, staring at the ceiling, he saw the events of the past few days playing before his eyes almost like one of those old movies.

His musings were suddenly interrupted by the Captain’s voice over the intercom.

Hennessey: =/\= Bridge to John. =/\=

John sat up straight and hit the intercom button on the bedside table.

Kendrick: =/\= John here. Go ahead. =/\=

Hennessey: =/\= We’ve received a message. =/\=

Kendrick: ::surprised:: =/\= A message? For me? Put it through. =/\=

John got up from his bed and walked over to a small desk in the corner of his cabin. As he accessed the message, a familiar voice echoed through the computer’s speakers. His eyes widened in disbelief as he listened to the transmission. 

THE END... OR PERHAPS IT'S ONLY JUST THE BEGINNING...

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Lieutenant JG John Kendrick

Security

USS Juneau, NX-99801

J239801JK3