Loss of Faith

Posted on Thu Aug 11th, 2016 @ 5:37am by Second Mate Quinton Beck
Edited on on Mon Oct 31st, 2016 @ 3:05am

1,392 words; about a 7 minute read

Mission: Tenuous Grasp on Destiny
Location: NXS Second Star
Timeline: May 8th 0335 2393

-START-

{Bridge}

Judah sent a message to Quinton, it was a video feed, and Beck saw Fala only just now coming out of her quarters, despite the action… or as Judah was pointing out, because of the action. The little bits and pieces of information that fell through the crack were gathered and Judah highlighted it for the Captains sake. It had been a moment of pure distraction, and Fala had sent a message. She had sent a message and possibly killed them all by doing so, whether she meant to or was implicit with the crime remained to be seen.

Quinton wanted very much to be there for Lui, but this was another betrayal on his watch and was not going to let her get away with it. Kas and Akio were doing all they could for her but what they could replicate wasn’t strong enough. They needed every bit of the “good stuff” for Vicente and it was still dubious if he’d emerge unscarred. He had business to attend to however, they had to get answers, and fast.

He growled, aware of his tone when he said, “Bridge to Fala Gaz, report here immediately.”

Quinton hoped to hear that nasally tone profaning his name one more time before stunning her and taking her into custody. There was no data on where the message was sent, but the only person nearby was Tasco. He couldn't reconcile her wanton disregard for all their lives, she had been a stentorian martinette of the cruelest and most avaricious sort, but she also laughed and dined, and lived with them. What was the data package worth for all the death and mayhem? It didn't make sense, Fala was invested in the ship success, and had seen good returns....

Plagued with doubts, he checked in on Lui in surgery, Kas and Akio were still working hard to keep her alive. Judah, Oo , Avor, Dure were searching the yard for anything of value, but turning up little so far. This portion of the yard had been picked clean long ago, nothing but dessicated hulks dry rotted in the cold depths. It became apparent there were no prospects for repair, after hours of searching had plotted most of their current section of the collosal scrapyard. There was virtually nothing of interest on any hull or asteroidal body. He listened in on their conversation, which was mostly banal and topical conversation to allay tension.

He wanted the tension, he felt like a fight, but that was coming soon. Professionalism forced him to listen and re-direct his people.

=0= Search team, bleed more power if you need, there has got to be something that can help us. Increase gain and input along lower spectrum frequencies, see if there is any form of biological material, I’m not saying bust out the spectrographs- .”
Only one other person on the ship had the stones to directly interrupt Quinton, but Oo could tell when Quinton had finished saying what he needed and effortlessly segued conversation back to himself.

=0= Oothor here, Avor and Vollad are presently surveying the main body asteroid, Dure has suspicions a dampening field is covering something on, or under the surface. Worth pursuing.

Quinton dared to dream, the shuttle was currently stolen with their would be murderer at the helm however.

=0= Definitely, is the workbee fixed? Can we make a trip over to the asteroid?

The reply came in somber tones, he hated to speak it, but her imminent death was looming over him,

=0= Lui was nearly finished I believe.

Quinton left the line dead, there was a moment of silence as both men felt it necessary in respect to her present pain and all of their present lament.

Fala entered the bridge as before, like she owned the place, which he was forced to admit she did at least partially. She made her way up the two level stairway gantry to the forward raised command deck wearing a rather timid expression. What was her game? Why would she act like this? He had half expected her to come armed. Deciding he didn't care for the games, Quinton barked at her, swiveling from the lone captain's chair as she walked up the small steps to his level.

He wore his most sinister affect, “You've got one chance to tell me the truth. Who did you contact?”

Fala winced, caught in the act she felt no need to pretend further however. She had lost confidence in him, pure and simple. It was often best to fire someone at the end of the workday and she was no leader. For now she would allow the machine to function as it will no matter how misguided. He was a good man, but this whole situation had gone too far out of hand, she had to take action if only for her own self-interest.

“I called my recovery team, I am repossessing my interests in this ship. After damages are assessed you will receive fair compensation after the liquidation.”

He would have preferred betrayal, this was colder, and heartless. Furious, he slammed his palm on the console, she also had no idea what she was doing sometimes. The best cloak in the galaxy was worthless if you lit a beacon.

“You also lit a flare for our friend to find us. We were a needle in a haystack before-"

Fala interrupted him, a pet peeve of his and she knew it. “!Quint! The explosion in our engine did that well enough-”

He raged over her,heedless of her speech, his righteous indignation fueling him, “-And you can't just take the ship,we all have a vested claim-”

“Must I remind you of the loan you still owe me, or the fact I am your sole investor of note, or the fact you have not provided on your promises-”

“We’ve done damn well, this is…” he thought of the worst thing a Ferengi would say,” “...market panic and you know it!”

She almost glared, but contempt and pity combined to a simpering face as she drawled “... I am releasing you from the contract rather than suffer further losses.”

“We will out vote you then. If they get here in time to save you, two weeks at least from the coordinates that message went to.”

“Will you have the votes now, with Lui dying on the table, and Vicente possibly facing charged for negligence during an emergency repair from a situation you thrust him into? I believe their votes and shares are in abeyance. One or two my way is all I need.

Quinton was feeling a towering rage overcome him, the cold and crass nature of her comment, so uncaring of the people she was casually describing. It galled him, this was something he had known she was capable of but never imagined he would receive it.

“YOU… You betrayed us with that message-"

“The Aerowing is gone! Our cargo and prospects are gone! Your incompetence is all that remains!”

Quinton was not a man prone to violence but felt such strong emotions towards the Ferengi he saw angry heat waves of red pulsing in his vision.

"You will have to kill me to get me off this ship Fala. When they get here, you're paying their costs and canceling them or I will airlock you here and now.

Fala had a taser palmed in her relaxed grip, she took chances to step at angles to him to allow for a strike if needed.

"I see we are now reduced to threats, very poor direction to angle with-"

Quinton was barrel chested and heaving, ready to tear Fala apart, but he restrained himself and said through gritted teeth, "Nobody threatens the integrity of me and mine idly. I trusted you, and you're stabbing me, us in the back."

Fala held her hand up as if to hold him back, "Rule 3. Never spend more for an acquisition than you have to. It isn't personal Quinton so take your pathetic temper elsewhere."

"Isnt there one that says not to argue with a loaded phaser?"

Kas had entered the bridge, their argument carrying over, but she had no time, no sooner did she speak when chimes sounded on the console. Judah was a second behind with telemetry. The Aerowing had returned.

-End-

Quinton Beck

Fala Gaz

 

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