The Railroad

Posted on Thu Feb 22nd, 2018 @ 8:02am by Second Mate Quinton Beck & MERCHANT RANKS Fala Gaz (NPC)
Edited on on Tue Mar 6th, 2018 @ 10:47pm

2,920 words; about a 15 minute read

Mission: Meanwhile...
Location: Fala's office
Timeline: Prelaunch

-Start-

{Turbolift lobby- Deck 14 Airlock}

Bas wasn't as confident as she should be taking up the position of Science Officer on the Second Star. It had been a few years, not since her arranged marriage and triplets had been born that she worked in her chosen field. However with everything that had happened since she'd married she only needed to find a place where she could hide.

“The Second Star...” Quaama kept softly repeating the name she'd been given and remembered what she'd been told.

Lid'a smirked, “Don't believe everything you hear about her. Yes she's an old ship but she's a good ship."

"Thanks for taking us there, I'm Bas."

Lid'a returned the greeting, "Lid'a, and these little monsters are?"

The girls felt safe around another girl, Lid'a looked young, but was sporting a nasty bruise on her temple.

"Dee, Abby, Molly Say hi to dame Lid'a"

Dee Curtsied in the wrong and adorable way children often emulate their parents. Molly was not paying attention and simply bounced up and down. Abby didnt trust Lid'a just yet and kept a wary eye.

“Are we going to see the Warp Core?” Abby tugged her mother's hand.

“We have to see the Captain first so I can start my new job, then yes we are!” Quaama answered as she checked the empty turbolift, before ushering the girls inside.

"Take care Girls, see you around!" Lid'a was going a different way and had to wait for that Turbolift to get there.

Molly and Dee both waved, but Abby glared at Lid'a the whole time until the doors closed.

“Is he like daddy?” Abby wanted to know.

Bas felt her blood boil for a moment, “No, he isn't.”

When they got to the bridge, Kas the Andorian XO of the ship was waiting for them.

She knelt down in front of the three girls. “I'm Kas and I work for The Second Star.” She told them in a motherly tone, “I'll take you to see Captain Beck. He is in with Fala, they are waiting for you."

Bas felt fear, ship captains were always assholes. Fala Gaz was her way out and this was the way she pointed.

"I'll take the kiddos here, let em push buttons and stuff, keep the door open if you like?"

A teenage boy, a hologram to Bas's biologist eye, spoke from the bridge, though she was certain he hadn't been there moments before.

"Yeah, thanks. Abby hold hands with your sisters, go see the consoles with the nice boy."

{Fala's Office}

Fala had been given a call from Talloc that her requested target and three daughters were on board. Which meant it was time that she needed to have an urgent chat with Quinton. He had barely entered the door when Fala began. They didnt have much time.

"Our sole commissioned Science Officer is on her way to us. She's been running from her oppressive husband who she left, and he stalks her all over the quadrant, at this point most likely just to torture her and sell her for abuse. He has gone mad with regards to his runaway wife and three daughters, but is too well connected to be dealt with carelessly."

Quinton hadn't even sat down.

Awkwardly, Fala finished her thought. "I never intended this, but our ship is now part of a domestic violence escape route."

Having had a moment to consider, his reply was seasoned with a touch of rage.

"What do you mean exactly? One of my crew may have an abusive ex coming after her and her family? Give me a name, and you tell those precious little girls this ship is the place they get to feel safe. Tell Othor too, he will take care of it for damn sure, who is this man?"

"He goes by Deklan Hardee, a Human whose family is in charge of several world banks and commerce centers. He has protection as his sins are shared by others of great power and they all collude. If he were to meet an unfortunate end, there would be consequences beyond my ability to control.

Fala had her own share of experiences, but nothing to touch the fear of what Bas outlined. Fala had been treated poorly as a woman by men, certainly, but she had purchased their mortgages to their homes and ships from under them and left them broken and begging. When Ferengi females were given equal rights she wasted no time getting even and now she had few enemies she couldn't threaten or crush. This was unimaginable, how could this be a problem in this century?

Fala understood the story, so many horror stories had come to her over the years that she learned the only way to end was to end it for good.

"Othor will no doubt be an excellent therapy, the man is not threatening in the worst of times. I've seen him with children, they need to meet him. His past... he will protect them like his own. For now... I'd like you to be proactive, I am willing to pay to find him."

Quinton scoffed, if he had a crewmember in danger, he was on the job whether getting paid or not.

"I don't need to be paid for things like this." he answered.

"But the ship must make profit every time it moves or we hemorrhage life blood."

"So this guy could buy and sell us, send armies against us... we are out of our league taking this one in huh?"

This was the truth, most certainly laid bare. That it had to be this way was a mystery, but they would do whatever had to be done to keep them hidden and safe.

Fala had already started writing, "As far as anyone on this ship is concerned they own a business here in the Agora. Tell her anything she wants, and we will get a lab for her to provide her scientific skills as profit. I will keep you in the loop, and Othor will help us place them on worlds without names on charts."

Fala sent him what she had already worked up, "Details are forthcoming Quinton, but we will be aiding some other folks in relocating too. Also opening a few new businesses. Let Othor know we will need to arrange several Mission away trips to our course. Fewer questions the better..."

With an understanding between them without need for further elaboration, he agreed with a soft tone, "I jump, but I only ask how high."

The doors parted, a tall brown haired woman stood in the frame, hesitating. "Bas" as she had taken to be called, rather than use her name which was cursed by all accounts.

"Bas, please come in. This is Quinton Beck, the man I told you about."

She looked at him with distrust, the sentiment was earned by experience but Quinton knew time and exposure to worthwhile people would help with that. He couldn't imagine what she had been put through, forced to have birth, to play a part in a delusion and bring new life into it... Kas came to mind immediately. She was running from the same thing, a family forcing her to carry a child. The poignancy of the moment cause him to feel more emotional than he would have preferred at this juncture.

Bas nodded, "Thank you for having us Captain, I promise I won't bring harm to this ship. We will be gone soon enough."

Quinton knew better than to offer promises before he had earned her trust. So he stuck to what he knew best, being naturally disarming.

"This ship is a home for all that choose to make it theirs. You dont trust us because you don't know us. We won't stand by if a fellow crewmember needs help... not our way. Fala here will see that you are taken care of, and I'll do my job which is to the ship and crew. Welcome aboard Bas."

He didnt stick out his hand or wait for a reply. It was appreciated, giving her the options to proceed as she wished.

"I can't promise he won't come for me with a vengeance. He always finds us."

She was eyeing him suspiciously but that was to be expected. Taking out five of the comm pips he had in his workbelt, he laid them on the desk.

"They'll adjust automatically to act as a locator and bio-signs monitor. Also linked to a site to site transporter usable only by me and my Second officer Kas Shar'zhen. You leave the ship or go over 170 beats per minute heart rate the computer opens a monitor on you right away. We have quarters for you so when you are ready for your work assignments come see me or Kas."

Bas finally spoke up, years of being a woman in shadows and mystery had created a deadly persona. "I wanted to cut his throat in his sleep, but he had my families under lock and key. He held my kids and sent men to flay me because i defy him, now his brother is dead and he has a bounty on me! How are we safe here?"

Fala handed her the comm pip,
"We have a lot going for us too dear. Please put these on. Next we have to consider what you will be doing for us on board! A life sciences trained person could make a tidy profit here."

Quinton bowed as he left, leaving them to talk it through.

***

Quinton left the two women to their discussions, he was not their chief of security, this was outside his purview. This needed to be a conversation he had with his official Chief, no matter if the man was loyal to Starfleet first he had the damn job and it needed doing. Besides keeping him busy with his actual work had to reduce the amount of information he passed along.

=0= Talloc, I need to update you on a situation that just began, my ready room please."

He tasked Judah as well to dig all the dirt on this man they could find. If he was part of a network, then the work had only just begun.

Talloc acknowledged the signal and said, "On my way." Eschewing the Turbolift, he climbed the ladders between decks and he got through the old corridors quickly reaching the bridge, and then made his way to the ready room ringing the chime.

The doors opened and Talloc entered to find Quinton looking at a picture of a Human male.

"Talloc, Fala will be creating a new program and I'll need your cooperation. We are providing discreet transport for abused peoples to relocate themselves without a trail. We are also going to try and help these people with what plagues them if we can. If they come looking I expect them to be sent wanting. The idea is to keep them hidden, dropping off the face of the galaxy from their pursuers. Questions?"

"I understand and we will keep safe anyone that requests safehaven from anyone or anything. I will make sure of it." Talloc responded.

"Good, we may get a good opportunity in Talarian space, get a good read ahead on them, see if any places jump off the screen for you. For now, let's only allow vetted people on board. If we don't know who they are, no entry til they talk to you and me."

Talloc said, "Agreed, we need to know who we are bringing on the ship."

No sooner had they finished their exchange when Arcadia exited Fala's office, his padd chimed and the incoming legal briefs outlining regulations and safeguards already done. With satisfaction, he handed it to Talloc, but felt a strange sensation when he looked at him. He knew Talloc wasn't an enemy, but was he a friend? Talloc claimed he was not telepathic, Othor believed it... but how deep was this game?

Later

{Bridge- Ready Room}

Bas left Fala's office, employed, protected, and hopeful. Kas was showing the girls come craft supplies and letting them play with colors.

“He is in his ready room.” Kas was on point as usual, Bas took her daughter collars in hand, placing the pip with care.

She pointed to the comm pips the children wore now, gleaming and heavy on their skin.

“These are so we know where you always are, and they have magical powers. All you have to do is scream or feel scared and we'll know and come. There's one for each of you and one for me.” Kas helped the girls put them on, and smiled, her charm with the kids catching on.

“What happens when we get bigger and and kick our dad's bum for hurting our mum?” Abby asked, Kas caught tears in Bas's eyes.

"Your dad isn't going to hurt mum or any of you again.” Kas answered.

“So let's go meet the Captain!" Molly was excited.

Quinton Beck had met so many children this day, and when he realized there were more out there, he jumped from his seat. He had learned from earlier, and arranged for candy now. Kas had a bunch she wouldn't allow her kids to eat it all. He came out from the desk with glee, this job had been nothing but joy today.

"Hello, I have C-A-N-D-Y for them if that's okay?" He knew they could spell, but he loved the exchange.

"We can spell." Abby told him with surety, looking at her mum.

Bas nodded, and they took one piece each, chocolates.

Beck was happy to see them take it, and he leveled a sober but mirthful expression to Bas.

"Do all of you want a tour of the bridge? Judah, show em around while I talk with mom here for just a second."

Judah materialized on the bridge in front of them, the holo emitters allowing him to leave the computer realms he lived in and interact normally. He was a teenager, and let his image reflect that. It also meant he looked far closer to their age.

"First to touch the big black chair wins!" Judah ran with the girls to the captains chair, disappearing and reappearing close to the chair. The girls giggled and were appropriately amazed.

The Children were certainly shy, but his being so young made a small trust form in an instant. It also helped that Judah made small spaceship appear above the palm of his hands re-enacting a famous battle he had been studying.

The kids had rapt attention and Judah took them to play in Fala's office. From her irritated tone, Fala did not give them permission. They played anyway.

"They are in good hands, Kas is a mother too."

Kas had already taken notice, her discomfort around children was known, but she had also loved and doted on her three children recently arrived.With a gentle nod and small wave she stood in a relaxed parade rest, watching the kids move around the bridge.

Quinton moved to go towards the open door of his ready room, motioning for them to follow.

He started, the obvious topic at hand.

"I will put my life down to protect my crew, I'm sorry for everything that brought you here, but you are as safe here as any bunker or fortress. We've all got enemies we look over our shoulder for, and don't intend on letting anyone sneak up."

Bas looked to the drab surroundings, but heard a curious sound, her children's laughter. Daring to dream she looked to see them playing. Kas had a smile on her face watching them, two other crew were on alert, but smiling. It wasn't Starfleet, but that also the point. Starfleet... would hand her over if ordered. That order could come from very high levels.

"Captain, I won't be a burden or danger to your ship. I plan on plying any trade I can to pay my way, my kids-"

Fala interrupted as she walked in, the Ready Room door was stuck open again.

"You don't owe a thing, you are an employee, and a highly skilled and valued one. Plus Kas took care of any other concerns and presented you as you are. You'll be busy, critical to our community, you're kids will go to school, and you will learn to feel safe in your own skin once again. I promise on my life."

Fala nodded in appreciation, "We all do. You're secret is safe with us, you're just a member of a community 600 or so wide. Large enough to stay hidden if you like, small enough we all know one another."

Bas blinked back an emotional response, learned from years of delicate self-control lest she provoke her tormentors. This would take time...

Dee had been given a marker pen. She doodled a flower pattern on the Turbolift door right under the watchful gaze of the large beefy soldier... and Kas came over with several other colors in a cup. Offering a red, Dee happily accepted it, adding further color and depth to the flowing ivy and and rose.

The tear didnt stop this time. Once again she dared to dream.

Was this home? Or just another escape?

"Thank you Captain Beck. I will get moved in right away."

"Quinton, please. And you just let me know when you need anything. You are home now."

She nearly laughed, how had he known the right thing to say?

-End-

Austen

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