Delvis IV Landing Site

Eaglet 1 settled in the landing area outside the main Delvis settlement.  Lowering the ramp, Saunders, Weaver, and Iziraa exited.  Waiting for them was Kurtox, the Klingon in charge, and one of his assistants.  Saunders wasn’t in uniform, which Kurtox seemed to notice, but he didn’t say anything about it.

“Saunders, thank you for coming so quickly.”  Kurtox looked at Iziraa, a smile on his bearded face.  “My Blue Lady!  It was an honor to watch you fight.  It’s a shame you couldn’t have continued.  You would have gone far.”

“It’s good to see you too.”  Iziraa sighed.  “I wish I could have continued as well.  Who ended up winning?”

Saunders marveled at how much Izi and Kurtox had bonded.  The first time they were on Delvis, Kurtox had so little respect for Nick, the Klingon wouldn’t tell him how to find his rented cabin.  He gave Izi explicit directions.

“Kloka won,” said Kurtox.  “It was her sixth championship in a row.  I think you could have given her a real fight.”

“Perhaps next time.  I’ll make sure I have enough leave,” said Iziraa.

Weaver cleared her throat.

This focused everyone back on why they were there.

“This is Doctor Lori Weaver, our Chief Medical Officer” said Saunders.  “She’s here to treat Tork.”

“Yes, yes of course,” said Kurtox.  “We can catch up later.”  He looked at his assistant, a Human male.  “Take the doctor to Tork’s cabin.”

The man nodded.  “If you’ll follow me please.”

Weaver glanced at Saunders.  He gave her a look of assurance.

Leaving the group, Weaver walked off with the man.

“So tell me what happened,” said Saunders.

Mara’s Cabin

“After the last tournament and the murder investigation you conducted, word spread in certain circles about what we have here,,” said Kurtox.  “More and more people arrived, eager to test themselves or to be part of the old ways.”

Walking to Mara’s cabin, Saunders had noticed there were many more people than the first time they were there.

Kurtox continued.  “Getting right to the point, several days ago, someone found Tork unconscious outside Mara’s cabin.  It was clear he had been assaulted.  Mara was gone and no one has seen her since.”

“Someone beamed her off the planet,” said Iziraa.

“That’s what we thought too,” said Kurtox.  “As you know, we have very little technology here.  Anyone could be in orbit and we’d never know.”

“My tricorder scans aren’t showing anything unusual,” said Iziraa.  “I don’t think we’ll learn anything here.”

“Then Tork is our only hope,” said Kurtox.  “I hope your doctor can help.”

Tork’s Cabin

“Tork was struck on the left side of his head by a heavy, blunt object,” said Weaver.  “He has a hairline fracture, a concussion, and a subarachnoid hemorrhage.”  She smirked at the blank expressions from the others.  “Bleeding around the brain.  I’ve stabilized him, but we need to get back to the Eagle as quickly as possible.”

“Can we talk to him?” said Kurtox.

“He’s been in and out of consciousness.  He needs rest.”

“Doctor, Mara is missing and probably in danger,” said Kurtox.  “The longer we wait, the more difficult it will be to find her.”

“Lori, please,” said Saunders.

Weaver inhaled a deep breath and let it out slowly.  Reaching into her medical kit, she prepared a hypo.  “A few questions and no more.”  She pressed the hypo to Tork’s neck.

“Thank you,” said Saunders, clearly relieved.

After several seconds, Tork’s eyes fluttered open.  Focusing on the people around him, he fixed his gaze on Iziraa.  “I knew you’d come back.”  His voice was weak.

“Tork, tell us what happened.”

“Always right to the point, eh Kurtox?” said Tork.

The Klingon grunted.

“I was on my way back from delivering an order when I saw someone sneaking around Mara’s cabin.”  Tork took a deep breath.  “I feel like I’m going to throw up.”

“It’s one of the affects from your injury,” said Weaver.  “I gave you something to counter it.”

“”I hope it works.”

“Tork.”  The impatience in Kurtox’s voice was obvious.

“I recognized who it was,” said Tork.  “Caleb Jax, an operative in the Orion Syndicate.  He must have recognized me, because he slugged me with his disruptor.”

“You’re that familiar with an operative from the Syndicate?” said Saunders.

“I’m a Ferengi businessman.”

Saunders frowned.  “Why would the Syndicate want Mara?”

“You’ll need to ask Jax,” said Tork.

“I think that’s enough.  He needs to rest,” insisted Weaver.

“Where would Jax have taken her,” said Iziraa, ignoring Lori.

“Aldavi.”

Everyone looked at Kurtox.

“It’s an Orion outpost just outside of Federation space,” said Kurtox.  “If you have the currency, you can get whatever you want: weapons, drugs, tech, slaves, anything.”

“We need to go there,” said Saunders.

“Now stop right there.”  At Weaver’s outburst, the room fell silent.  “Just how do you think you’re going to a place like that?  Hi, we’re your Starfleet neighbors.  Can we have Mara back please?”

“I didn’t mean it like that,” said Saunders.

“I can get you in,” said Kurtox.  He had the others’ full attention.  “We’ll take my ship.”

“Kurtox?” said Iziraa, her antennae moving in circles.

“That’s a story for another time,” said Kurtox.  “I’ll prep the Hav’neqh and we can leave when you’re ready.”

“You can’t be serious!” exclaimed Weaver.

“Lori, use our shuttle and take Tork back to the Eagle, though we’ll need a few things before you leave,” said Saunders.

“But, Nick…”

“I’ll need a change of clothes.  I can’t go in my uniform,” said Iziraa.

“You can get something from Tork’s shop,” said Kurtox.

“Make sure you pay for it!”  Tork winced in pain.

Weaver slumped her shoulders.  “I guess the voice of reason doesn’t count.”  She pointed to Kurtox’s assistant.  “Find someone else and help me take Tork to our shuttle.”

The man nodded and hurried out.

Weaver looked at her shipmates and friends.  ”I know what it’s like to go undercover.  Be safe and be very, very careful.”