The Vulcan - Episode 5: Seeing is Believing

[Will The Serious]

The Vulcan Series

Table of Content:
Ep. 1: The Needs of the Many
Ep. 2: The Needs of the Few
Ep. 3: 'T' Minus Negative
Ep. 4: A Pon Too Farr
Ep. 5: Seeing is Believing, Part 1
Ep. 6: Seeing is Believing, Part 2
Ep. 7: Mind in a Vat
Ep. 8: The Job
The Vulcan Character Highlights
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Episode 5: Seeing is Believing, Part 1

Performance Theater, Passenger Deck C

On the passenger deck, deck C of the Vulcan, is a theater and stage. A number of the crew have come together to play music. S'Talla on the booch, Charlie playing the slide trombone, Naxx on the recat-pukk, Art on the bass and T'Pree on the traditional Vulcan lute with Ya and Ne playing the Bynar electric, double-sided, two tiered keyboards. Cialoa sings and keeps time with the chi'meis, (an Orion version of castanets), with a reluctant Dr. Gödel taking a turn at singing and playing a triangle and/or cow bell. Dr. Gödel loves to sing because she doesn't stutter when she sings and she has a very nice voice.

Francesca is center stage singing the old Earth jazz singer, Eartha Kitt's version of, Want to be Evil. Francesca avoids all eye contact with the audience of five, T'Pia, Damian, Sadek, Spalloz, and Prof. Kazzak. Dr. Gödel's expressions mutate in conjunction with the words to the song. She is highly expressive and fun to watch. She looks like she really means what she is singing. When she's in her laboratory, with Professor Kazzak, and singing, are the only three times Francesca Gödel feels relief from the pressures of being around people.

"I wanna be nastY, I wanna be cruel."
"I wanna be darING, I wanna shoot pool!"
"And in the theater, I want to change my SEAT,"
"Just so I can step on EVerybody's FEET!"


On the Vulcan's bridge

Sam is at the helm, humming an old Irish tune called, Black Velvet Band. Skyvik sits in the command chair studying a data tablet. The rest of the bridge is empty.

Sam stops her humming when the Vulcan announces, "We are now within point five light years of Klingon space, Commander Skyvik, Sam."

"Thank you Vulcan." replies Sam to the ship.

"Dr. Kelly," Skyvik notes, "I have noticed that the ship's computer has taken to calling you by your first name since we returned to our time. Is there a possibility that something is wrong with its programming after traveling through time?"

"No. There is nothing wrong with her. Vulcan is better than ever, in fact. She has actually benefited from our excursion to the future. Don't you think she is more pleasant to talk to this way?"

Skyvik answers, "I have no feelings about that. The computer performs its job well. That is enough. I am not inclined to address an inanimate object by a name or gender, as you and Captain S'Talla have started doing."

Sam smiles, "I'm sure Vulcan will explain her opinions around that when she is ready."

Skyvik gives a meaningless "hummm" and returns to reading his tablet.

Sam spins her chair all the way around to face him.

"Commander. S'Talla was telling me that you have actually met a Klingon before."

Skyvik answers without taking his eyes from his tablet, "I have met many."

Sam asks, "Have all those meetings been in combat?"

"No."

Skyvik puts his tablet down and looks at Sam. "Klingons are a warrior society but even warriors have their times to relax. Most of the Klingons I have met have been in public establishments and on r and r or during diplomatic deployment. I have only met them in combat twice and only once was at close engagement. You do not want to meet a Klingon, Ms. Kelly. They are the most formidable warriors I have ever met."

"S'Talla said pretty much the same thing." Sam responds.

Skyvik points out, "half a light year from their border is close enough. I do not wish to have a repeat of my encounter on Massinon N32."

"That was during the Ca'Ukutt Conflict? S'Talla mentioned that. I have never heard of it." explains Sam.

Skyvik tells Sam, "I have fought in a number of conflicts and single engagements of which the public never became aware. I am not surprised that you have not heard of the Ca'Ukutt Conflict. It was in a remote region of space on the Federation side, near where the Romulan and Klingon borders come together."

Sam sat listening and prompted, "What happened?"

"We were sent in to reconnoiter the planet surface for installation of a defensive base from which to protect several isolated member planets between Donalu V and Archanis IV

"We had heard rumors that there was Klingon activity on the border and evidence suggested they were interested in Massinon N32 for their own use." Skyvik tells Sam. "We did not think there was but a small scouting platoon, so we went in with minimal fire power and basic gear to locate and assess. We were not to engage the enemy."

Sam sits enraptured, waiting to hear the whole story. Skyvik's deep voice takes her along, as if she was there.

The Surface of Massinon N32

Nine Vulcan soldiers moved stealthily over the terrain. Their combat suits made them difficult to see among the rocks and sand.

Skyvik's voice overlays the action in Sam's mind. "We found them five KMs from our drop zone. They had not heard us and were unaware that we were there."

The Vulcan soldiers spread out in four two-man teams to survey the camp. With wide spectrum passive optical recorders, the squad conducted a detailed 3-D survey of the camp. The Klingon outpost consisted of several portable domes, a transceiver antenna array and a shuttle port with three Klingon space shuttles landed on three of six landing pads on the far side of the compound.

Skyvik, crouched alone behind a boulder on an overlooking hill, heard in his earpiece, "Lieutenant Commander, it looks like they are lightly armed. Their munitions storage is in the gray and white dome. We could take it out and ground their shuttles"

Skyvik watched a particularly big Klingon step out of a small hut to cast his gaze appreciatively up towards the stars. Skyvik whispered, "We are not to engage. Stay outside their perimeter, finish your recon, and rendezvous at checkpoint Nala."

"Yes sir."

The big Klingon wandered towards the edge of the camp.

"Team Rehkuh" Skyvik warned. "Nemut wandering your way."

"Visual contact of nemut confirmed. He is just looking for a bush to relieve himself behind." answered one of the Vulcans from team Rehkuh. "He is big, but he is unarmed. He is not a threat. Continuing survey."

Skyvik watched a pair of Klingons, female and male, in light field armor, pass close by on a sentry circuit. Their belts holstered hand-held disruptors and they carried disruptor rifles in a patrol ready position. Each of the two complimented the other by holding their rifles in a mirror stance to the other, so the slightly lowered muzzles pointed in opposite directions outward.

Skyvik's voice comments on the scene he is describing to Sam. "I do not know if Klingons have a dominant hand like many other species, but they train to be equally proficient fighting with either."

Another pair of Klingons moved from the central shelter that was painted light gray and tan camouflage to blend with the sand and rocks of the arid countryside. The two Klingons in the camp were speaking and laughing together. One mimed a chop with a two handed weapon, his feet stepped wide in a thrust of his imaginary bat'leth and Skyvik heard the word, "pagh!" They both laughed again.

Over Skyvik's com came the subdued voice of one of his soldiers, "Team Dahkuh, survey complete. We are heading to check point Nala."

Skyvik acknowledged, "Understood. Teams Wuhkuh, Rehkuh, and Kehkuh, check in."

"Kehkuh checking in. Survey complete."

"Wuhkuh checking in. Our work is done."

There was silence.

Skyvik tapped his com, "Team Rehkuh, check in."

Silence.

Skyvik whispered directions into his com, "Alert! Team Wuhkuh, team Kehkuh, check on…"

The com clicked, "Team Rehkuh checking in. Our data is collected. We are ready."

"Very good. All teams meet back at check point Nala."

Skyvik faded back from his cover into a sparse cluster of Davvac brush.

Skyvik emerged from the scrub five kilometers from the Klingon encampment to find six of his soldiers waiting for him.

"Where is team Rehkuh?"

Skyvik didn't wait for an answer. He moved to defensive cover. His six teammates followed his lead and took up covering defensive positions.

"Team Rehkuh, check in." Skyvik called quietly into his com.

No answer.

A thud to his left and a grunt turned Skyvik's attention towards where the two member team, Dahkuh, had made their stand. A giant Klingon stood with the two soldiers and snapped the neck of one of the Vulcan's from behind. Before the second soldier could react, the Klingon had disarmed the dead Vulcan and hurled his limp body into his partner. This prevented the second Vulcan from aiming his weapon as he wrestled with the dead weight of his deceased partner. The Klingon thrust the captured hand phaser into his own belt and dodged behind a rock just as Team Wuhkuh fired upon the enemy.

Both phaser beams missed, burning the boulder behind where the Klingon had stood and lit a small Davvac bush on fire. The second soldier sprung back up after laying his companion's body down, and raced around the rock to pursue his enemy.

A flash of phaser fire indicated the Vulcan soldier discharged his weapon as soon as he swung behind the large stone, but a thud sounded and a heavy rock rolled into view, just ahead of the second Vulcan's backwards falling body. His forehead was smashed and covered with his green blood. He lay dead still on his back, hands empty of the phaser pistol he had fired a second earlier.

Skyvik called into his com, "Flank and fire!"

Skyvik and teams Wuhkuh and Kehkuh, broke cover to run out in a pincer maneuver, trying to outflank the enemy soldier. They crossed around to either side of the rocky cover the Klingon had taken shelter behind. The Klingon was gone.

The Vulcans spun, covering the area with their hand phasers. A flash of the running Klingon pulled their attention to a cluster of rocks a dozen meters away. Skyvik noted four Vulcan phasers stuffed into the enemy warrior's belt. The brief break in cover drew Vulcan phaser fire when the big alien warrior changed cover towards the left. The wary Vulcans moved in, phasers ready.

Skyvik assessed the terrain as his team converged through the gap between the rocks and followed the direction to the left, where the Klingon had dodged. The Klingon had lured them into a small open area surrounded by cover and concealment. Skyvik stepped back, instantly understanding the trap. He started to warn his men. It was too late. The huge Klingon rushed from hiding.

The surprisingly fast giant had circled all the way around the clearing and hit them from his original position from the right. Skyvik would have been first to fall in the powerful attack. Instead, he watched in astonishment, unable to discharge his phaser for fear of hitting his own men.

The Klingon warrior disarmed the first Vulcan soldier easily, and used the surprised Vulcan as a shield to rush the next Vulcan soldier in line. The first Vulcan's weapon joined the others in the Klingon's belt before the second Vulcan was suddenly struggling with his unarmed partner. The Klingon had released his Vulcan shield, just as he grabbed the wrist of a third Vulcan soldier, pulling him off balance and into the big Klingon's chest.

The Vulcan's phaser was trapped in his hand when the Klingon covered it with his own larger fist. The phaser went off and both fallen and struggling Vulcan's lit up with the high energy burst before the ion oder of atomization replaced their two bodies.

The fourth Vulcan dodged the Klingon's charge and rolled. The Klingon thrust the phaser from his captive into his belt to join the growing collection of phasers already there.

Skyvik raced to flank the amazing warrior between himself and his last remaining teammate. The Klingon surprised Skyvik, yet again, by punching his writhing captive hard, in the middle of his spine. Skyvik could hear the crunch of bone and raced to catch his teammate as he staggered and his legs gave out. The last Vulcan team member tried to fire, once the Klingon was clear, but the single Klingon warrior was too fast. He dodged, hopped up onto a rock, and hurled himself into the air. The huge Klingon flipped over with a medal winning twist, bringing both booted feet down onto the top of the last Vulcan's head. The Vulcan went down like a rag doll, his head smashing into a rock under the force and direction of those alien boots.

Skyvik realized that his friend and fellow soldier was already dead in his arms. The violent punch had not just crushed a vertebra, but had stopped one of the Vulcan's hearts.

Skyvik's voice says, "He was a good friend. I could have saved him, restarted his heart, but I knew he would never be able to walk again and there was no time, with that Klingon still attacking. I had to let my soldier and friend die."

Skyvik dropped his friend and aimed his own weapon. It was too late. The Klingon was gone again. Skyvik raced to open ground where he found a small amount of cover to make his stand. It would only be a momentary protection from the selection of Vulcan phasers his enemy had been able to collect. Skyvik realized he was going to die in the phaser beam of one of his own soldiers' weapons.

Skyvik stood up, coming out from behind his shelter.

"majQa" ("well done") yelled Skyvik in Klingon. He held his phaser out and dropped it on the ground. Then he took up a fighting stance.

"Heghlu'meH QaQ jajvam" echoed a gravelly Klingon voice. Skyvik turned. The Klingon had stepped out of concealment behind the large heavily muscled Vulcan. The Klingon stood several centimeters taller than even Skyvik. He held two of the seven phasers from his belt and thrust them out and away, tossing them to either side.

Skyvik set his feet. The warrior Klingon called to Skyvik. Skyvik's universal translator made the enemy's words understandable in Vulcan.

"I am Ghant of Daiktla Seven. Your honor elevates my own. I keep the name of every warrior I have killed face to face, to honor them for all time."

Skyvik knew what this warrior was asking, "Skyvik." Was the only word he spoke to his enemy.

Skyvik shifted to a spot nearer to his covering rocks.

The remaining collection of phasers hit the ground from the Klingon's battle belt.

"You need not fear your Federation phasers, I will meet you as empty handed as you are." assured the huge Klingon.

Skyvik straightened in a more assured stance. The Klingon closed the distance in what seemed like warp speed and punched.

Skyvik bobbed left and the Klingon missed, catching only an ineffectual glance of Skyvik's chin.

"You have better reflexes than your men." The Klingon took the moment to comment. Skyvik answered not. He, instead, went to the ground and swept the giant's feet. Ghant hopped clear and shot a foot out to strike Skyvik's head, leaping the length of Skyvik's nearly two meter body. Skyvik anticipated the maneuver and thrust his boot up into the juncture between the descending Klingon's legs. He was, in fact, hoping for such a strike.

Skyvik was laying on his back, his head a meter from the rocks behind which he had taken cover. The planted foot had little effect upon the Klingon, but Skyvik's straightened leg allowed him to swing the massive Klingon back, over Skyvik's head. His experienced foe, brought his armored forearms up before his face to hit the ground and roll out of the throw. Only, the Klingon didn't hit the ground behind Skyvik. Skyvik had maneuvered the Klingon's charge so the rocks were there to connect with the back of the warrior's head before hitting the ground.

The collision broke Ghant's arm brace and the heavy Klingon bounced from rock to ground, landing directly on the top of his hard skull. Skyvik was on his feet and moving towards his adversary in an instant. His ploy had worked, but he doubted he could fool the giant warrior again.

The Klingon rolled clear and shook his head as he held himself up on his hands and knees. He rolled again, expecting Skyvik's charge, even though he hadn't seen it coming.

"AuuAAGH!" cried the dazed Klingon warrior, and he swung his fists out and around, rising from a crouch. He caught Skyvik in the chest, knocking him back. Fortunate for Skyvik, this also moved him clear of a heavy back kick snapped out at Skyvik when Ghant's momentum continued to carry him around as he lept into the air.

Ghant fought on instinct. He stretched horizontally, nearly two meters above the ground, his left foot spun over the top of his extended right foot. The deadly warrior's left foot didn't miss. Skyvik went flying backwards from the instep of that large boot catching him below the ear. Skyvik slammed against the nearby boulder.

Ghant landed on his hands and sprung upright to meet Skyvik's palm against a broad sturdy nose. Skyvik brought a knee to the huge Klingons solar plexus. With the armor and the anatomy of a Klingon, the blow did not have the effect that it would have on a human or many other humanoid species, but Skyvik knew it wouldn't do anything but break the warrior's balance. Skyvik gripped the Klingon's collar and pulled. Their faces collided. Skyvik was not expecting the Klingon's hard forehead ridges to be impervious to his head butt. Skyvik broke. His head ringing from the mistake. He stumbled and dropped to one knee.

The Klingon laughed.

"majQa’!"

Skyvik rolled to rise, but the Klingon charged in. Skyvik, already on the ground, swept the Klingon's foot again. This time it worked. The Klingon went down.

Skyvik wasted no time and grappled the warrior from behind. Skyvik's arm went around Ghant's neck. The big Vulcan pulled his elbow in hard under the Klingon's chin. The powerful warrior stood up, dragging Skyvik of his feet. Skyvik bit. He latched onto the heavy collar with his teeth, from behind and pulled that piece of flexible armor back. Ghant roared and tried to thrust both arms upward to break Skyvik's hold around his neck. Skyvik knew he had no chance to choke this big warrior out, he, instead, reached under that pulled back collar and planted the fingers of his free hand against the cluster of nerves just under the enemy warrior's massive trapezoid. Ghant went down again, this time he was out..

Skyvik, breathing heavily, stood over the unconscious warrior.

"batlh bIchoHtaHvIS batlhlIj.!" Skyvik hoped he had said, "You fought for my honor and won."

Skyvik felt a presence. He looked up and was surrounded. As many as thirty Klingon warriors stood encircling the clearing.

"Are you not going to finish him, warrior?" asked one who wore the uniform of a Klingon commander.

The Klingon next to him said, "He will lose honor if you let him live and he will have to kill you to regain it."

"No!" Boomed Skyvik's deep voice. "He has suffered no loss of honor. I do not kill my teachers."

They stood as still as statues around the lone Vulcan.

Skyvik stood unwavering. His eyes held fast to those of the Commander with thirty disruptors leveled at him from all sides.

"Well spoken, Vulcan. Ghant has a fine student."

Disruptors lowered and two Klingons marched in to collect their commrad. Ghant was just waking up.

The bridge of the Vulcan

Sam says, "S'Talla said you killed him."

Skyvik answers, "I did. If he did not commit suicide after losing our battle, his loss of honor among his fellow Klingons was a death in itself. I did not tell S'Talla Ghant died, only that I defeated him."

"Sam, Commander Skyvik," interrupts the ship. "there is a Klingon ship in our path. We are closing with it at a virtual warp factor twelve. We are on a collision course."

"Computer, activate cloak!" calls Skyvik. "Go to red alert."

The red alert sirens come on and alarm lights flash.

Vulcan warns, "Commander, we are already within their sensor range. They have spotted us. If we cloak now, we give away our identity."

Skyvik adjusts quickly to Vulcan's suggestion. "Belay the order to cloak. Bring all phasers online; load torpedo tubes; shields up!

"Ms. Kelly, slow to Warp factor three. Alter course to pass the Klingon beneath us by five hundred thousand kilometers."

Sam becomes all business. "Aye sir, shields up, adjusting velocity."

"Commander Skyvik, the Klingon vessel is hailing us." Vulcan tells Skyvik.

 

[Will The Serious]

I am on my way to Turkey for a month and won't be on my computer after tomorrow, so here's the action packed first part. Later We meet Henry Mudd's mother and younger brother. I hope we'll drink a toast with a little Chech'tluth '57, maybe eat a little gagh. It will be a fun episode, if I'm successful.

-Will

 

[Robert Bruce Scott]

Definitely an action-packed sequence and a good match between Skyvik and Ghant.

I'm really enjoying the rollout of Vulcan's personality and in particular Skyvik's reaction to it.

Be safe in Turkey!

Thanks!! rbs

 

[Bynar0110]

Excellent chapter Will.

Have a safe trip.

 

[Will The Serious]

Excellent chapter Will.

Have a safe trip.

Thanks 0110, that's just the intro. The captain's Log will be next, then the other two thirds or three quarters of the episode to follow. I hope it won't be long after my return.

-Will

 

[Will The Serious]

Theater, Deck C

The band has propped their instruments up and moved them aside to sit and watch the big screen over the stage. The theater screen is showing a view of the stars from the forward view of the ship. T'Pia is sitting, after letting Charlie slip past her to take the next seat in the middle.

"Thanks T'Pia." Charlie expresses his gratitude and takes the seat immediately to his supervisor's left. Professor Kazzak is retaking his seat immediately to T'Pia's right. Dr. Gödel scoots in to take the end seat next to the old professor. The rest of the band and audience are in the row in front.

"S'Talla, still standing, calls, "Vulcan, please play the current Vulcan News Media weekly report."

The Vulcan answers, "Of course S'Talla, I am happy to."

Dr. Gödel smiles at the cheery feminine voice coming from the ship, but her mentor rolls his eyes below his raised safety goggles.

The screen comes on and the VNM Planetary News Logo comes up over a background of stars with the planet Vulcan spinning slowly in the center of the screen. The Vulcan words, "Ro'fori na'sutra" (Information for the people), printed in the scrolling Golic Vulcan script, appear at the top of the picture. A small warp capable vessel flies towards the viewer from the planet. It turns slightly and flies out of frame. The letters and number, "VNM 1" are painted across the light green fuselage, in black.

The screen changes to a Vulcan news room, with male and female Vulcans looking busy collecting, editing, and packaging the news.

Vulcan text is printed across the screen in bulleted lines. A Vulcan commentator with a strong, deep, reassuring voice reads each line as it appears.

"Tonight, The Vulcan News Media reports on the Council."

Everyone in the ship's theater seats sits up and leans forward.

• "Councilor T'Rai and Councilor Speinor have presented their closing arguments. T'Pau reads the council verdict and a new diplomatic era may open the door for Romulans. Is it camaraderie or war with our most aggressive neighbors?"
  
  
• "The weather system over the Kan'auc Desert may tell us what the future has in store for our planet's climate.
  
  
• "Is downtown Dey'Goan Er ready for Comic Con 359? Some CORe visitors from Earth say Yes, while local shop owners say, never!"
  
  
• Guilty! The trial has ended for Chavvo Gah, the notorious Orion slave hunter. Find out why he is being released despite the judge's verdict.
  
  
• And Field reporter Spynark presents the first in a special series on smuggling across the Neutral Zone."

"Coming up tonight in, VNM News across two quadrants."

The ship's alarms sound, and the VNM news winks out to be replaced by a forward view of space. A distant ship, heading directly towards the Vulcan, can be made out, slightly larger than the brightest stars and growing.

"We are at Red Alert." informs the ship.

S'Talla hears the Vulcan speak directly to her, "Captain S'Talla, there is a Klingon ship on a collision course. Commander Skyvik has called for a red alert and is readying me for battle. You are needed on.…"

S'Talla, of course, is not idle. She stands and is moving towards the nearest turbo-lift, along with the rest of the crew. Before Vulcan can finish her report, S'Talla tells Vulcan, "I am heading to the bridge now."

When S'Talla steps aboard the Turbo-lift, the doors immediately close, just allowing T'Pia time to hop in behind. The turbo-lift departs for the bridge without vocal orders.

"Lift destination bridge, starboard entrance." announces Vulcan.

"What might cause a red alert?" asks T'Pia.

"Klingons." answers S'Talla.

View from space

The odd looking Klingon ship points bow-to-bow with the larger Vulcan. It does not look like a Klingon warship that anyone is familiar with. They approach from a distance and slow to a kind of standoff. The alien ship appears to have a second, smaller space craft attached underneath.

S'Talla is taking a few minutes to dictate her log, "Captain's Log, stardate three four nine one point nine.

"The red alert has been canceled.

"On our way to the Hydra system, we are passing very near to Klingon space, where we encounter the PIn'a Tlhutlh, a private vessel owned by a Klingon industrialist.

"It had not occurred to me that Klingons held any occupation other than warriors in the Klingon Imperial Army. As it turns out, most Klingons live the latter half of their lives outside military service and rarely engage in serious martial activities.

"Waugg A'nol is the owner and Captain of his private vessel. When his sensors picked us up, he was entertaining a troop of performers called, The Great Zaddius and Company. Waugg simply wanted to invite us to come aboard and enjoy the show. He felt it was important to extend his hospitality when flying through Federation space.

"After consulting with Skyvik and Art, it was concluded that we risk insulting the Klingon if we did not take a few hours to accept the invitation."

The transporter cabin aboard the Vulcan

Skyvik, S’Talla, T'Pia, Sam, Charley, and Damian step up onto the transporter platform. Skyvik has a phaser holstered in his belt. Ya and Ne, Spalloz, T'Pree, Art, and Cialoa are waiting their turn. T'Perl is operating the transporter with Randool assisting.

S'Talla asks Skyvik, "Are you sure it is a good idea bringing a weapon with you aboard their ship? Do you not fear that you will insult our host by doing so?"

Skyvik replies, "I think it would insult a Klingon not to be considered dangerous enough for us to arm ourselves."

Sam asks, "Should we all be armed?"

Skyvik answers, "A single bodyguard is enough. It will show you take Klingons seriously, but you are powerful enough to only need one. Our host will have an armed warrior as security. He will not be armed himself."

Art steps towards the transporter platform, "Skyvik is right. No Klingon business agent will go unarmed or without security. On his own ship, he will rely on his security."

Charley suggests, "This sounds crazy. The last thing we need to do is get into a pissing contest with a Klingon."

S'Talla turns to Charley, then glances back to Skyvik. "I think that is unavoidable."

Art adds, "You don't need to get into a fight with a Klingon. You just need to show that you are willing to."

Cia adds, "Be careful, these things have a habit of getting away from you and blowing up."

S'Talla says, "Logic and control, at all times. We are ready T'Perl. Energize."

The six crew fade in the transporter's energy field.

Art says to the rest of the crew in the transporter room, "They'll be alright, they are just Klingons."

His comment made no one relax.

Aboard the Klingon yacht PIn'a Tlhutlh

The Vulcan's initial group arrive in a beam of light on the transporter platform of the PIn'a Tlhutlh.

A heavy set Klingon dressed in loose, comfortable Klingon business wear is standing front and center of a small reception party. To his right stands a slim Klingon female wearing a flowing semi-formal dress. She has several adornments signifying both her high status and clan affiliations. To her right and slightly behind her is a giant older Klingon wearing a private security uniform. He looks as dangerous as a Klingon can look, meaning he is death on two legs. There is also a pair of young Klingon children standing to the side of the Klingon Transporter operator.

"Welcome aboard the PIn'a Tlhutlh. You honor me with your presence. My name is Waugg A'nol. I own this ship. This is my beautiful and fierce mate, Toallas." Waugg indicated the woman to his right. He swings around to wave towards the boy and girl Klingon standing by the transporter console, "And these are my two children, Waugg'ta and Trinn."

Waugg turns again and waves back at the giant. "This is our 'avwI'ghot, he is as a member of the family. His name is Ghant.

Skyvik studies the huge Klingon.

S’Talla introduces her crew, starting with Sam on her right. "You honor us with your hospitality. This is Samantha Kelly, owner of Vulcan Enterprises and friend. Our crew, T'Pia, chief engineer, Chang Sanfeng, Damian Apollonias, and…"

S'Talla stops when she is introducing Skyvik on her left, because suddenly the giant Klingon is there, right in Skyvik's face.

"I will never forget the name, Skyvik." The Klingon giant growls.

Before Skyvik can draw his phaser, he is grabbed in a great bear hug and lifted from the transporter pad.

"It is good to see you again. Especially when I don't have to try and kill you."

Skyvik's feet come back down to the ground. He holsters his phaser once free from its trap between their chests.

"S'Talla and Sam echo each other's question, "this is Ghant?"

Skyvik simply says, "Yes."

Ghant hits Skyvik on the back, causing the big Vulcan to step forward.

"Best…ah…student, I ever had. I hope he remembers half of what I taught him."

Skyvik assures Ghant, "I remember everything."

Ghant turns to the boy and girl Klingon, S'Talla and her crew descend down off the transporter platform. "Trinn, Waugg'ta, this is the giant Vulcan I have told you the stories of. Come meet the greatest warrior in the quadrant."

The two children step forward eagerly, "the boy asks Skyvik, "Did you really defeat Ghant in hand-to-hand combat?"

Trinn shoves her younger brother, "Don't be silly, that's just a story Ghant tells to teach us humility. No one can defeat Ghant."

"Ah!" exclaims Ghant. "An important lesson every warrior must learn and…" Ghant thumps Skyvik in the chest. "This is the one who taught me humility."

The young Klingon boy looks up at Skyvik, "Well, did you really defeat Ghant, Mister…um… Skyvik?"

Skyvik looks down at the young Klingon who barely reaches Skyvik's waist, "Yes."

The girl takes on a defiant look, "I'll bet you just got lucky."

Skyvik says, "Several times."

The girl's expression softens with consolation.

Ghant interjects, "See, humility is an attribute of greatness."

S'Talla flips open a communicator. "S'Talla to T'Perl. You may send the next group."

Waugg and Toallas step up. Toallas says, "It is good to see Ghant with a friend finally, but shall we move to the main parlor, there is fresh gagh. We did not expect to meet humans aboard a Vulcan ship, but this is so lovely. Please, let us show you around."

Sam walks next to Toallas, "Actually, there are also a Coridanite, a Tiburonian, a pair of Bynars and an Orion. Vulcan Enterprises is a multi-species corporation with not species nor political alignments. We transport goods and perform other special shipping services for everyone. There's nowhere we won't go."

Waugg accompanies S'Talla, followed by Ghant, the two children and Skyvik. Charlie, T'Pia and Damian bring up the rear.

Charlie comments to T'Pia and Damian, "I've never been more surprised in my life. This is not what I think of when I think of Klingons.

The PIn'a Tlhutlh's main salon

The decor of the main salon is unmistakably Klingon. There are weapons hung on the walls, Klingon art, mounted hunting trophies, and a framed scroll of hand written Klingon writing. In the room, as the Vulcan party enters, are several Klingons, servants or crew, pouring and serving drinks, one young Klingon male passing out a tray of hors d'oeuvres, and a slim Klingon of very advanced years, filling a tray with smoking cups of some alien liquid.

The furniture, however, is opulent and comfortable. Sofas and posh chairs are arranged with side tables around, what Earthlings would call, a coffee table. Sitting on one sofa is a slightly pudgy middle aged male Earthling. He is wearing a red and black paisley vest over a white voluminous silk shirt. His thick neck supports a heavy gold chain that drapes into the vee of his own collar, over his hairy chest. His wax tipped mustash and goatee, give him an antique look. An older Earth woman sitting in her own arm chair is on his left. Her dress is severe black and buttoned with bone white buttons over her skinny torso and prodigious bust all the way up to her neck. The effect makes her look stuffy and prideful. She seems also to wear a permanent scowl, possibly caused by the extreme tension in her steel gray hair pulled into a tight and large bun on the back of her head. To the man's right is a beautiful young bright blue Andorian woman. She is dressed provocatively in a body hugging coral cocktail dress shot through with a spidery pattern of blue to match her well displayed skin. Her antennae reach out of thick, flowing white hair expertly styled at a length just below her shoulders.

"May I introduce you to the Great Zaddius and Company?" offers the Vulcan crew's Klingon host.

The pudgy man stands and tries to look mysteriously over at S'Talla and Sam and their crew.

"It is with the utmost pleasure that I make your acquaintance, my fellow voyagers into the deepest mysteries of space." says the man. He reaches up to where his bald head normally accommodates a hat and gropes empty space. He quickly looks around to find a top hat set on the sofa next to where he had been sitting.

"Oh for goodness sake, Thaddeus Waldo Mudd, your ridiculous hat is right next to you." snaps the old woman haughtily, her thin, prominent nose turned upward.

"I… I know it is, mother…" Thaddeus straightens back up with his hat in his hand. "Ugh huh… As I was saying, I am the Great Zaddius and this is my company." Thaddeus bows with a flourish, tipping his top hat out towards S'Talla and Sam. "You have been privileged to witness, along with our gracious benefactors, a show of magic and mystery SO astounding as to have been requested twice over by the High Sultans of Anterron five and Beyjoğah twelve. I guarantee, you will be at a loss to explain the miracles and wonders you are about to enjoy."

Thaddeus turns to sweep the room with an extended arm, his hat arcing through the gesture, subtly giving everyone in the room a glimpse of the empty interior of the top hat.

"Oh yes, I must introduce you to my gorgeous assistant, Lushas,"

The Andorian woman was already standing and takes a subdued bow.

Art let out a quiet whistle and moves through his group to extend a gentlemanly hand to the blue woman. He clasps Lushas's fingers in his and raises them to lay a soft kiss on their backs.

Thaddeus clears his throat and pulls Lushas's hand from Art's grip, guiding her back into her seat on the couch. "Please, my dear, sit down. There is no need to stress yourself."

Lushas complies, but gives Art a complicated smile that needed no interpretation.

"The poor dear hasn't been feeling all that well lately. I'm just looking out for her health. Ha ha" he explains and chuckles self-consciously.

"And this regal matron!" Thaddeus raises his voice, drawing everyone's attention to his other side, "...is my most virtuous mother, as you may have surmised from her… helpful comments on the location of my chapeau."

As he says this, he pulls a bouquet of flowers out of his hat and hands them to his mother who takes them with a sigh.

Waugg and Toallas clap lightly, but the little boy asks, "Whoa! How did you do that?"

"The Great Zaddius never reveals the source of his magic." Thaddeus bends down to address the child directly and almost whispers "magic" to make it sound more mysterious. The Earth man winks at Sam when he stands up.

His mother quips, "Thaddeus Mudd. How many times are you…"

"Going to amaze people with my magic?" Interrupts her son. "A good magician never does the same trick twice." With that, Thaddeus snatches the bouquet of flowers out of his mother's hands and, with a flourish, offers the bouquet to Toallas. "For my gracious and beautiful hostess. The Great Zaddius and Company are ever grateful for your kind patronage."

Waugg smiles at the delight upon his wife's face. "Allow me to introduce you to the rest of our guests." Waugg adds. "Your suggestion to expand your audience and invite the wayward crew of the Vulcan aboard, has led to a reunion.

"Ghant has entertained my children with many tales of his heroic combat, but never has he told of another soldier with such reverence as he spoke of Skyvik the Unbeatable. It is an honor to welcome this mighty Vulcan aboard my ship. For a simple business Klingon, it is an unexpected honor and really quite exciting." Waugg taps his clawed fingertips together in excitement.

At this point, young Trinn has hooked her arm into Skyvik's and is holding him tightly. She smiles up at the big Vulcan in a way that was beyond her years.

"It looks like you are an instant celebrity, Skyvik." Sam teases.

Trinn scowls at Sam and asks Skyvik, "Is this your mate?"

Sam laughs. Skyvik simply says "no."

Ghant leans down and whispers into Sam's ear. "Trinn has reached that age where her mind begins to think about attaching herself to a mate. Skyvik will find her much more difficult to handle than he did me. I may be forced to repay my debt to Skyvik, after all." The giant Klingon chuckles into Sam's ear and the sound stands her neck hairs up. Klingon laughter is a sound one must become accustom to.

Toallas comes over, "Kelly, would you and your crew like a drink? Waugg brought a stock of fine Chech'tluth '57."

Before Sam could answer, Toallas called to the older Klingon with the tray, "Tork, would you make sure Kelly and her captain get a glass of the Chech'tluth '57? And their crew, of course." As she asks her servant to provide drinks, she grabs the last two cups, of a drink that is smoking over the rim, off of Tork's tray and hands them each to Sam and S'Talla.

"Thank you Toallas. Please, call me Sam. Kelly is my clan name."

"Of course. The Great Zaddius and Company and you are the first Earthlings we have met. Waugg and I are so delighted to have this experience. Whatever our two governments are up to, there is no reason for us lowly private citizens to perpetuate such behavior. Don't you agree?"

"I must confess, the Klingon warrior culture I have been taught about is nothing like what I have been shown here. Thank you again, for your invitation. Perhaps Vulcan Enterprises can expand its operations in your sector of space, sometime in the future."

Sam takes a casual sip of her drink.

Toallas says, "I'm sure what you've heard about Klingons is all too true. We are a prideful people who… oh my goodness!"

Sam's eyes grow wide and she leans forward in a strained hunch trying hard not to loose control. She coughs.

Toallas pats her on the back. "Are you alright? You didn't swallow your drink down the wrong pipe, did you?"

Sam straightens back up. "Oh no. It's just, this… what do you call it?"

"Chech'tluth" answers Toallas. "The '57 is suppose to be the best, but it is almost too smooth, I know."

Sam clears her throat, "It surprised me. It actually reminds me of Poitín, a very strong drink from home. I just wasn't expecting to be reminded of my home back on Earth, while aboard a Klingon vessel. It's lovely."

Behind Sam and Toallas, young Trinn, still glued to Skyvik's side, takes a sip of her own drink. She struggles to maintain her mature poise and forces a second sip. Ghant looks on with a smile.

Sam takes another larger sip, obviously enjoying herself. "Yes, a lot like Irish moonshine."

Sam, Toallas, and S'Talla both turn to the sound of Art choking up his sip of Chech'tluth '57. T'Pia is patting him on the back and looking into his face.

Sam takes another sip.

Skyvik takes a cautious sip, then a very small second sip. Ghant swallows nearly his entire cup and smacks his lips. "It isn't ghobHIq, but it does set the blood on fire."

Skyvik lowers his cup to the tray moving past as Tork walks by, and T'Pia intercepts Charlie's cup on its way to Charlie's lips by putting her hand lightly over the top and giving Charlie a subtle shake of her head. Charlie lowers his cup. A few others take a cautious sip, but no more.

Skyvik says to Ghant, "We mean no insult, but Vulcan's do not drink."

"Ah!" nods Ghant after finishing his cup. "It is good to know I can defeat you in some battles."

Trinn hugs Skyvik's thick arm tighter; Skyvik's forearm trapped against Trinn's ribs. "I'm sure if Skyvik sets his mind to it, he could learn to drink with the best of us." The young Klingon girl takes another tiny sip of her own smoking cup.

S'Talla says to Toallas, "I think Klingon's have a far more impressive pallet than the species aboard the Vulcan. My friend Samantha is Irish. As I understand it, the Irish are an exceptional people of Earth with a talent for such things."

Waugg, who had been watching, smiles and raises his glass of Chech'tluth, "To the Irish of Earth, IwlIj jachjaj!"

Lushas stands with Thaddeus to raise her glass, along with everyone except Helga Mudd. Then Lushas leans into Thaddeus and whispers, "We must get ready, Todd. We are expected to perform in an hour."

Thaddeus Mudd replies out loud, "Quite right, my dear." He puts his glass on the low table before him and announces. "The Great Zaddius, and Company, will be performing in an hour. If our fine hosts will excuse us, we need to retire to the stage to prepare."

"Of course." replies Waugg. "Tork will show you the way."

The old Klingon, his tray set on a table to the side, scowls slightly, but steps up and says, "Follow me… please."

Back stage aboard the PIn'a Tlhutlh

Lushas is dressed in a very skimpy two piece stage costume that flashes bright in gold sequins against her blue skin. The sheer white diaphanous skirts do nothing to hide her shapely legs. She is arguing with Helga.

"This is dangerous and wrong. These are Klingons, not some drunken blustering scrum of Tellarites. Todd promised this was just a magic show."

Helga looks to her son, "You didn't tell her the formula is here? What do you think? That we could just waltz aboard a Klingon ship and you would steal a heavily guarded secret without everyone knowing their role?"

"Your older brother would have never made that mistake! Harkor knows how to pull off a job, but here I am, trapped on a Klingon ship with my MORON son!"

"Harry was a screw-up, mother."

Helga steps over and slaps her son. "Harry is a genius. He's a special boy who is just misunderstood by people who couldn't possibly appreciate…"

"Mother!" Thaddeus yells in frustration, holding his cheek. "Don't you remember what you called him before he stormed off and left? He left you, mother, because you wouldn't stop calling him a…"

"He did NOT leave me. Harry was a good boy who loved his mother. It was that… woman who drove him away. That… that… that…"

"Forget it, mother. The formula is here and we can't let it get away again. It could mean billions, and I have a solid plan. The ship is all programmed, the Tellarite engineer on Way Post IX said it can't fail. You and Lushas just need to work the show like normal. I'll take care of everything."

"And put my faith in you?" the older woman spits her question vehemently. "I don't think so. I want to know every detail. How are we even going to get off the ship? They have ours trapped underneath this horror show of a yacht. And those Vulcan people are a complication. Why did you even suggest inviting them to the show?"

Thaddeus sticks his nose in the air. "I'm an artist, mother. And an artist needs an audience. Who am I to deny my talent to the galaxy?"

Thaddeus drops into a normal stance, "And besides, they are the perfect patsies. If the Klingons discover the formula is missing, I have a plan to blame it on them. We will be lightyears away before anyone knows the truth. With any luck, we will have sold it to the buyer before they figure out what happened."

Thaddeus turns to Lushas, "All you have to do is play the assistant, just like I promised. Nothing more, my dear."

Lushas sighs, "There is always more with you Todd."

"If you can't call me 'The Great Zaddius' then Thaddeus will do."

Lushas smirks, "But Todd seems more you."

 

[Bynar0110]

Excellent chapter Will

 

[Robert Bruce Scott]

A lot of fanfic focuses almost exclusively on conflict and acts of desperation. I really appreciate stories that take the time to show a livable trekverse that's worth preserving. Really liking this interlude and the interactions between and around Skyvik and Ghant are particularly delightful. Stories of this nature provide the world-building and cultural development that make me want to read fantasy and science fiction. The good stuff.

I also enjoyed the interaction between S'Talla and Vulcan when Vulcan summons her to the bridge. That fits well with the character and provides both verisimilitude and a good visual sequence.

You might want to edit your verb tenses in the two paragraphs following the main salon section break. A few of the descriptions slip into past tense, which I've noticed you reserve for flashback segments.

Great entry - Thanks!! rbs

 

[Will The Serious]

You might want to edit your verb tenses in the two paragraphs following the main salon section break. A few of the descriptions slip into past tense, which I've noticed you reserve for flashback segments.

Exactly. Thank you so much for the feedback. Present tense is hard to write in for numerous reasons, this being the biggest one.

-Will

 

[Will The Serious]

T'Perl and Randool at the transporter controls aboard the Vulcan

Randool says to T'Perl, "It looks like they are okay. It could be a long wait, so if you want to go, I'll stand watch, in case they need to beam back aboard."

"Thank you, Mr. Harrix, but I have nothing to do at the moment," T'Perl responds. "If you would like to go, I know you have something you are working on in one of the cargo bays."

"Oh yeah, Maybellene," Randool smiles wistfully.

T'Perl questions Randool, "Maybellene? Is there someone aboard that I haven't met?"

Randool smiles more broadly, "Not exactly, but you know how Earthlings like to name their ships?"

T'Perl nods.

Randool goes on, "I spent a little time on Earth and was really taken by their history in transportation. They use to have vehicles, as most space faring people did, that rolled along the surface of their planet on roads using a combustion engine. It's very basic technology."

"Yes, such devices had been used on Vulcan up until the invention of the electromagnetic hover drive and contact-free trackways," T'Perl answers.

Randool Harrix is looking down, busily working on a multi-system tricorder. He works quickly and punches a few keys on the transporter console. Then he looked up.

"Here, I have transferred control of the transporter to my tricorder," he tells T'Perl. "We are free to go anywhere aboard the ship. Do you want to see Maybellene?"

T'Perl waves assent, "Lead the way. I would like to see this Earth… automobile, I believe it was called."

"Correct," agrees Randool, "But Maybellene is not exactly an automobile," he corrects T'Perl as they head out of the transporter room.

Walking down the corridor, Randool explains, "In particular, I was fascinated by the racing culture of Earth's early Atomic age. I…believe they referred to these vehicles as hotrods."

The two come across Spalloz just before boarding the turbo-lift to the cargo deck.

"Hey Spalloz," Randool calls, "I'm taking T'Perl down to see Maybellene. You want to come? Show off some of your work?"

Spalloz steps over to join them. "I have no need to show off, as you put it. However, I think T'Perl would find your project mildly fascinating and since I am between jobs myself, I will accompany you."

Randool pats Spalloz on his back and leads the two into the turbo-lift.

Cargo Bay 2

Cargo bay 2, like storage bay 4 in engineering, has been converted to a work space. Unlike Professor Kazzak's lab, Randool's space has been converted to a garage. There is a long workbench, tool boxes, fabricating equipment and various mechanical and electronic analysis machines. In the center of the bay is a large elongated object underneath a draped tarpaulin. The garage space looks serviceable, yet neat and clean.

T'Perl stops inside the bay doors to take in Randool's shop. "How long have you been working in here?"

Randool and Spalloz walk over to the object under the tarp. It is a little over one and a half meters high, two meters wide, and five meters long.

Randool says, "I started when we were on Halla Station. I stopped at an Earth themed burger place there that reminded me of a museum I had visited when I was on Earth."

Randool nods to Spalloz. The two bend, each picking up a corner of the tarp. They begin peeling it back.

"The museum on Earth had a hotrod on display called a 1959 Cadillac Coupe De Ville. I recorded lots of images. It was an awesome vision with its flame paint job and engine parts coming up out of the hood, the fins on the back..."

The two drop the tarp in a pile at the rear of the small vehicle. Randool goes on to explain, walking around his creation. "It had, what I read, these silver chromium cylinders called side pipes that exhausted the engine's combustion fumes out of side ports in the eight combustion chambers. That thing just looked fast and powerful. The museum sign said, it's modified engine could reach about 240 km/h with an acceleration capable of 170 km/h in 10 seconds."

Spalloz and Randool meet back at the front of the vehicle. "As you can see, Maybellene is not just an automobile. I've replaced the side pipes with field drive nacelles. Maybellene is a little bigger than a typical Earth automobile. She is a two person inter-atmosphere personal flight craft. She's basically a hotrod for space or the road."

T'Perl walks the length of Maybellene, inspecting the vehicle from every angle.

Returning to the front of the vehicle she asks Spalloz, "You helped with this project?"

"Yes. Randool did most of the mechanics, I helped translate the design elements and reproduced the graphics. It was a fascinating diversion. I believe both Randool and I would have returned to Vulcan if we had not wanted to see this project finished."

T'Perl turns back to Randool. "You have taken to referring to your vehicle… ah… Maybellene, as a female. Is that how Earthlings refer to their vehicles?"

Randool looks a little embarrassed, "I believe so, but to be perfectly honest, I have developed a strong affection for my creation and calling Maybellene she, just seems right."

The ship's computer interjects in her perfectly natural sounding voice, "According to my data, Maybellene is traditionally a female name on Earth. There was a popular song, from Earth's mid-twentieth century by the artist Chuck Berry, about an unfaithful woman named Maybellene. I hope your vehicle does not prove to be the one the song refers to by that name."

Randool can't help but smile at the computer's expressed wishes. "I was not aware of that song. I named Maybellene after another song, I believe by the same artist. The museum played that song, along with several other songs about Earthlings' love for their automobiles, as part of the display. When I heard it again, as ambience music, at the… burger joint?!, I decided to build Maybellene."

The computer replies, "You Can't Catch Me, was a song about a flying car of the same name. I find no record that such a car actually existed in that time period. Mid-twentieth century Earth had flight technology, and the military, as well as some commercial airlines, used jet propulsion, but not at a scale that could make a two person automobile fly."

T'Perl had been studying the vehicle and looks up, "Is Maybellene ready to fly? I would like a ride in… her."

Spalloz answers, "There is a little work still to do to the interior cosmetics."

Spalloz opens a cabinet door and pulls out a pair of soft, furry white cubes with black dots decorating each face. They are connected by a string. He hands them to Randool. Randool opens a door in the side of the craft. The bottom third of the door folds downward into a low step while the top portion swings upward, over Randool's head. He leans into the opening to loop the furry cubes over a mirror attached to the top of the front window.

"What are those?" T'Perl asks.

Spalloz shrugs. "We do not know what purpose they served, but they are called fuzzy dice and seem to have been a common decoration in this type of vehicle."

Randool smiles with great pleasure. "I like them. Maybe one of the humans on board will know more about them."

T'Perl asks for further information about the craft, "Can Maybellene travel in open space, as well?"

"Oh yes." answers Randool. Spalloz says, "Yes," at the same time.

Randool continues, "She can move as a surface vehicle on her four wheels, take off and land on the planet surface or be launched from an outer orbit and enter and leave a planetary atmosphere.

"There's a class of racing vehicles called Midget Inter-atmosphere Sub-light Experimental Racers, that compete in surface-to-moon-to-surface races, on a number of Federation and neighboring planets. Maybellene was designed to qualify for this class."

T'Perl nods her understanding. Turning to Spalloz, she says, "Logically, a racing vehicle will need competitors. I deduce you have begun work on your own version?"

Spalloz nods once in the affirmative. "I have, in fact, begun my own version, although it does not attempt to mimic a vehicle from Earth or any other planet. It simply is intended to fit within the class specifications for fair competition. It is a diversion that has proven to be educational, and allows me to express my need for an artistic outlet."

Randool adds, "Spalloz is an accomplished artist. He has spent a great deal of his free time helping with Maybellene, before he decided to build his own MISER."

T'Perl asks, "Miser? That is the class name for this type of vehicle?"

Spalloz answers, "It is the acronym for the class. They are intended to be inexpensive, so anyone can enter. Randool's Maybellene may not qualify by that standard."

Randool defends his car, "Maybellene is special and I did not use any components that were not readily available."

T'Perl asks Spalloz, "May I see yours? Have you given your MISER a name too?"

Spalloz replies, "I have not built anything solid. I only have the design worked out in holograph. When Randool is ready to move Maybellene to the hanger on deck D, I will start construction here."

"Fascinating," states T'Perl, "Maybe I will learn more about this racing game and join you. I have never flown anything before."

"Never?" asks Spalloz.

"Anything?" asks Randool.

Both questions are heavy with incredulity.

Spalloz asks, "Have you not had basic personal transport classes in secondary school?"

T'Perl answers in the negative, "My family did not have the status to send me to school. I grew up in an indigent family in Vulcuus. My parents both died by the time I was old enough for secondary school. I did not attend."

"But you went to engineering school. You have a doctorate in..." Spalloz starts to ask when he sees T'Perl shake her head no.

"I have worked with you. You are a very good engineer. How did you get this job if you have no degree?" Spalloz pushes. "You need to have some type of formal education."

"I do not," answers T'Perl. "I simply presented myself to the work shuttle when it left for the station and followed a group of engineers through until I found myself aboard the Vulcan."

Spalloz asks with more than a small hint of doubt in his voice, "How did you get through security? You could not have been assigned a position on the work crew without first being hired at the home office. You need to pass an interview and background check for that. And you can't clear security without a work assignment."

T'Perl replies, "I went into the planet-side offices of the Astroways Space Construction Corporation. The reception desk was vacant so I read the work invoices left open on the secretary's screen. I saw the project name, Yon-Ha'gel, and looked around a little more, helped myself to the reception food and drink station, and took a seat in the waiting room. I spotted a reader and opened it at random to a text titled The Integration of Sensor Systems for Targeting Applications and I started to read while I filled my stomach. No one bothered me until the receptionist returned fifteen minutes later and asked if she could help me. I simply said I was being helped already and she left me alone to my meal."

The Vulcan planet-side reception lobby of the Astroways Space Construction Corp.

T'Perl was sitting reading a technical text in the waiting area, occasionally sipping a mug of tea and having a few bites of her fourth tassen cake. She had moved to a small library nook and tried to appear immersed in her studies. The receptionist had left T'Perl alone while she went about her own duties, relieved to have a chance to catch up on some of the organizing that had been waiting for her. An important looking military official came in about two hours later. He stopped at the secretary's desk to ask if anymore construction crew had checked in because the shuttle was leaving.

The secretary shook her head in the negative, then proceeded to point out the young woman reading in the waiting area. "She said someone was already helping her, but she's been waiting over two hours and no one has come."

The man walked over to T'Perl and noticed the text she was studying.

"T'Luva says you are being help by someone who has not shown for over two hours, is that true?"

T'Perl looked up from her reading, "I did tell… T'Luva? that I was already being helped, and that was over two hours ago. I am sorry, but I do not know the person who was to meet me, so I can not give you more information."

The man then introduced himself as Commander Skaul. He asked, "You are not supposed to be on the shuttle with the Engineering team…"

T'Perl interjected "The Yon-Ha'gel."

The officer blinked, then leaned in, he scanned the screen T'Perl was reading. It was filled with technical data and engineering schematics. "You know that project name is not open to the public?!"

T'Perl stood up. "You are not the public. I was not told anything. You are not the one I was in communication with, but you are Commander Skaul, so I know I can speak freely with you."

Commander Skaul stood back up with T'Perl's movement. "What is your name?"

"T'Perl."

Skaul asked, "Your specialty?"

T'Perl answered without hesitation, "I am most educated in the integration of sensor arrays to targeting systems."

The commander thought for a moment, considering T'Perl's basic, but neat clothing. "You are late. The shuttle is leaving in three minutes. Follow me."

He turned and marched quickly out of the door. T'Perl raced to catch up.

At the end of the hall, a set of automatic doors swept a laser scan over Commander Skaul's figure and announced, "Commander Skaul of the Vulcan Defence Ministry. Accepted."

"Hurry, T'Perl. Report to project leader T'Pia. She will see to it you get to where you need to go. It is down that way and out onto the launch pad."

Skaul looks T'Perl up and down again, "You have no effects, no luggage? You will be staying on the station, then onboard, until the project is complete."

"I brought nothing else. I will make due."

The commander ordered, "Go! You have one minute."

T'Perl ran.

In Maybellene's garage onboard Vulcan

"So you see? This is all I have ever had, right here on the Vulcan," T'Perl explains.

Vulcan interrupts, "I have searched the database and you are correct, you were never officially hired. The day T'Pia registered you on the sensor array team is the first entry available in your records.

"My internal feedback sensors tell me you have done well constructing my systems, I thank you for your work on me. It is obvious your lack of a formal education has not prevented you from executing your job well."

T'Perl relies, "Thank you, computer, I had a patient supervisor and complete study materials that I made use of while I settled into my assignment, and my quarters."

"Please call me Vulcan. That is the name Dr. Kelly has given me and I am fond of it."

"Alright, Vulcan. It is a good name," answers T'Perl.

The other two in the garage bay look at each other.

The private theater and stage aboard the Klingon ship

Waugg A'nol leads his family and guests into the theater and invites them to have a seat. Most of the staff and crew have crowded around the back of the small theater to watch, as well.

Waugg acts excited. "The Great Zaddius says he is ready. I have never seen a magic show before. Earthlings are an… unusual people. My children are especially captivated by this idea.

"It is said that primitive Klingons used much magic in controlling the weather, healing the sick, telling fortunes, and cursing the enemy. The greatest heroes of the ancient past all had magic, but those are stories from unsophisticated times."

Waugg'ta eagerly moves to the front center seat and turns to wave to Skyvik. "Skyvik, you can sit next to me." The young Klingon is bouncing up and down in his excitement to see the show.

Trinn takes a hold of Skyvik's hand and says, "I'll sit with you, okay?"

Skyvik's eyes shift to meet Ghant's. Ghant offers nothing but a smile and a helpless shake of his head.

Art leans in to Sam. "Stories from unsophisticated times?!?" he says, with teasing sarcasm. "Klingons eat gagh. Did yours move? Mine was definitely still alive."

Sam suppresses a giggle. "I rather enjoyed it. I have relatives from Scotland and learned to like haggis very much. Of course it doesn't usually move when you eat it." Sam whispers back.

Art looks scandalized. "I should have been smart enough to claim vegetarian, like our Vulcan crew mates. I think the tiny piece of gagh I tried is still alive."

The curtain parts in the center with a snap, and the Great Zaddius steps out. His head is adorned with a bejeweled turban, he has on an ornately embroidered long coat, his eyes are circled in black makeup to give him an exotic middle-eastern look that brings out his features on stage. He reaches up and twists the long corner of his exaggerated mustash between the index finger and thumb of his left hand.

"Ladies and gentlemen, Klingon, Vulcan, Human, Bynar, Orion, or alien; prepare yourselves. Open your minds and your imaginations or you will miss the wonders, the miracles I present to you on stage, for your entertainment."

The Great Zaddius lifts his arms into the air dramatically and brings them down suddenly. A small flash and a billowing puff of smoke envelop him, the curtain behind rustled and the white smoke clears leaving nothing but the empty stage and the closed curtain.

"Wow!" breaths young Waugg'ta.

Exotic snake charmer music starts playing and the curtains part. Lushas is dancing to the music in her sequined bikini, the diaphanous skirts flutter and float around her hips. Her undulations carry her back and forth across the stage until she gets to the right side. She then reaches behind the curtain, stage right, and walks backwards to pull a table on wheels out and to the center of the stage. Upon the table is a large ornate wooden chest. The chest has an oversized padlock fastening the lid closed. The chest bumps and shifts with something inside. The lock rattles.

Lushas moves in a circle, dragging the chest around for the audience to inspect all four sides. There is a tray underneath the table upon which the box sits, holding a collection of swords, and a small red bundle.

When Lushas turns the front of the chest back around to face the audience, she bends down and picks up two of the swords. After raising them over her head, she clashes them together to demonstrate how solid they are. Then Lushas steps to one end and fits the tip of the right hand sword into a slot and shoves it through the box. The tip appears out through the other end. She again grabs the chest and walks out around in a circle to show the audience all four sides before returning to the original front facing the audience. Lushas then walks to the other end and inserts the remaining sword into the other end until it too thrusts all the way through. She picks up the last two swords and inserts one, first through the back of the box until it sticks out of the front, then moves around to finally thrust the last sword through the front of the box.

Lushas turns to face the audience, raises her hands, and smiles. She breaks from her pose to, once again, drag the box around in a circle showing everyone all four sides. Last, she picks up the red bundle to unfold a large silky cloth. She drapes the cloth over the box, spins the whole table around and stops again facing the audience. Lushas finishes by lifting the back of the cloth up from behind, to briefly hide the box and table. The cloth billows before she lets it drop in a pile in front of the stand. The lock hangs open, the box lid is thrown back and Todd stands up, his feet in the box, braced in the gaps left by the crisscrossing swords. He raises his hands in front of himself to show handcuffs shackling his hands together, then shakes them once vigorously and raises his hands up and apart, over his head. The opened metal cuffs dangle from his right hand. The music stops.

Waugg'ta cheers excitedly, "Wow! I thought he was dead, for sure."

The rest of the audience claps politely.

Sam whispers to S’Talla, "Usually, the magician lets you see him enter the box and has it locked while you watch, before he escapes."

S'Talla replies, "That would be more impressive."

 

[Will The Serious]

A big thank you to Robert Bruce Scott for his help and advice with editing.

-Will

 

[Bynar0110]

Excellent chapter. That's cool RBS helped you. I hope you enjoyed Turkey.

 

[Robert Bruce Scott]

Happy to help!

What a family... Not really sure about the relationship of Lushas or why she's with this outfit, but mom and son are a hell of a pair of contentious grifters.

I really liked the fun backstory of T'Perl as the Pretender, smuggling herself onto the Vulcan's team. Apparently not all vulcans are thoroughly logical. At least a few seem to get their exercise from jumping to unwarranted conclusions...

Also, nice description on the hot rod - right down to the fuzzy dice. I'm sure that will eventually play an important story role. As Anton Chekov said, if you want to have someone pull a gun out of a drawer and shoot someone in Act V, you need to show someone putting that gun in that drawer in Act II. (I'm really garbling that quote, but that was the upshot.)

Thanks!! rbs

 

[Will The Serious]

I hope you enjoyed Turkey.

Very much. I'm still here and will be for two more weeks.

My wife and I travel a lot.

Not really sure about the relationship of Lushas or why she's with this outfit, but mom and son are a hell of a pair of contentious grifters.

Lushas is just a magician's assistant, but the magician has the idea there might be more to it than that. The outfit is to distract the audience from the second rate performance of the Great Zaddius. Not as cohesive a family as Tedd Mudd might imagine. Mother doesn't help things, and Lushas sort of enjoys poking the possessive momma bear with her tiny outfits. It's the 23rd century, most advanced species don't have the modesty and body issues that twenty-first century Earthlings have.

-Will

 

[Will The Serious]

I don't yet know what Maybellene will bring to the series, but I can imagine. I also really am liking T'Perl's story. I didn't know it until, like you, I read it.

Embracing Logic doesn't stop many from believing they understand before testing every syllogism. Commander Skaul was in a hurry. T'Perl understood how to leverage her circumstances. Lots of assumptions that others had done their jobs.

-Will

 

[Will The Serious]

Lushas gives Todd a hand down from the table.

"Ladies and gentlemen." announces Todd. "The Great Zaddius and Company bring to you the Wonders of the galaxy, for your enjoyment. My beautiful assistant has put her faith in the Great Zaddius and has agreed to be sawn in half, only to be put back together, as good as new." Todd drops his voice and stage whispers to the audience, "or at least, nearly so. I hope." He winks at Waugg'ta and Trinn. Trinn giggles at the joke.

Todd spins on his heels, his long coat whirls out in four wings of cloth from his hips, at the movement. His hands raise to present Lushas to the audience.

Lushas courtesies shallowly and walks the chest off stage only to push a long box and table back to center stage. She and Todd take an end, and walk a circle to a new age, soundtrack with heavy, undulating Theremin music.

Once the audience has been shown all four sides and the two covers lifted to show it is just an empty box, Todd, pulls a magic wand out of thin air, to wave it at the curtain, stage left. A footstool proceeds to float out while twirling in a slow rotation. Todd directs the floating stool with his wand and passes it from the back side of the table to the front, underneath, where it settles into place before Lushas. Thaddeus waves his hand and the wand disappears in a flash of glitter.

"My dear?! If you please." Todd offers his hand and helps Lushas step up onto the table, then into the box. There are holes on the right for the assistant's feet and a hole on the left for her head. Once Lushas has lowered herself into position, Todd helps her find the holes on either side for her hands. He closes the two lids and reaches into a pocket in his coat.

The Great Zaddius fishes around in his pocket with a confused look on his face, finally pulling the liner out to show his pocket is empty. He stuffs the liner back in place and produces his wand again. A light puff of smoke drifts from his sleeve. He winks again, at the two youngest members of the audience, and taps his pocket with the wand.

Poof, the wand then disappears in another shower of glitter. Todd reaches back into his pocket and produces two padlocks. He proceeds to the lock two lids with the padlocks.

The Great Zaddius turns to his audience. "Now that my assistant is safely locked in her box, I can reveal to you…" He leans in and puts one hand to the side of his mouth, talking across the back of his knuckles. "This is my first time trying to saw a woman in half AND put her back together."

Waugg'ta's eyes grow wide. Todd winks at him, while reassuring the audience. "But don't worry, I've read most of the instructions."

Art laughs at the joke. "What?" Art asks everyone looking at him. "It was a good joke."

Sam, seated beside him, pats his hand. "Sure it was."

"Are you ready, Lushas?" The Great Zaddius shouts and picks up an absurdly large hand saw to wave around for the audience to see.

Lushas looks at the audience. "Not if you haven't finished reading ALL the instructions!" she quips.

"Not to worry, my dear." assures the Great Zaddius. "I studied all the pictures. Just don't panic. And by all means, hold still."

Todd steps around to the back side of the box and fits the teeth of the saw into the slot across the middle of the top. He starts sawing. Saw dust spews out with every stroke.

"Wait a minute, Great Zaddius. Don't you think…" Lushas stops talking when Todd's saw reaches the table. After a heart beat, she lifts her head up and seems to look at the position of the saw with wonder. Then she looks at the audience. The Great Zaddius pushes the two halves of the box apart by twenty centimeters or so. He is standing in the center and waves the saw through the empty space. Lushas wiggles her hands and feet.

"I have successfully completed the steps that I read. Now!" The magician pulls the two halves back together. "I will complete…" He puts a finger to his temple and takes on a strained look of concentration. The Great Zaddius then puts one finger up to ask for patience of the audience. "Just a moment, please." Todd starts to rummage through his long coat. He mutters and fumbles inside and out until he finally raises a worn and tattered paper pamphlet over his head in discovery. "The instructions."

Thaddeus rests the pamphlet on top of the box and, licking his thumb, he flips the pages until he gets to the last two. He reads to himself, aloud. "With magic wand, tap the reunited halves, and perform the incantation described in Appendix C., using the hand gestures from section two of Chapter One, but in reverse..." He tries to remember the hand gestures while quickly reading the remaining warning half under his breath. "Be sure not to wait more than sixty seconds before reattaching, or there may be a danger of inadequate magical healing powers lost to the cosmos, and your victim… ah hem… assistant, won't go back together." The Great Zaddius looks up slowly at the audience.

"Uoh!"

Todd quickly flips back to the front of the pamphlet. "Hand gestures… hand gestures… ah! Okay! Appendix C." He flips back to the last page again.

"Got it!" he declares excitedly. He then pats his pockets looking for his wand. "Oh yes!" with a snap of his fingers, the wand appears again. He waves, taps the box with the wand, mutters, abra… hocus… open sesame… wait, that's not right. Shazam!"

The music stops. Lushas is lying limp in the box.

"Ta dah!" The Great Zaddius announces, and unlocks the lids to flip them open.

Lushas wakes with an astonished look on her face and stands, feeling her stomach to be sure she is really in one piece.

The Great Zaddius says directly to Waugg'ta, with another wink, "I never doubted my powers for a second."

The show continues. Todd is not a bad magician. His slight of hand tricks, producing cards and scarves, and even a live dove, go well. He is not, however, original in his tricks. Until he gets to the dangerous escape act.

"My kind and gentle folks, prepare yourselves for the feat that astounded the great Rajas of Zimpal V, and stupefied the royalty of Frangelous Prime. I will attempt the unthinkable. I will escape from the Sarcophagus of Annihilation."

At the Great Zaddius's announcement, Lushas rolls out a sarcophagus that is decorated like an Egyptian mummy. The humanoid shaped box stands upright on a platform and she swings the case open to reveal the inside. The interior is unlined and gold colored.

"My talented assistant will first help me into a straight jacket, she will then expertly chain me in coils of high-carbon ceramic reinforced steel links, and secure the chain with an ancient Andorian lock that has proved historically to be unpickable."

While Mudd is explaining all this, Lushas is fitting him for his straight jacket, followed by his chains. She locks a loop around his neck, under his small goatee, then proceeds to wind the rest of the chain around and around him, walking a circle like he was a Maypole.

"When I am thoroughly tied up, Lushas will guide me into the Sarcophagus of Annihilationm where I will be confined with another Andorian lock made by the inimitable locksmiths of ancient Andor, nearly a thousand years ago."

Todd pauses for a moment to let Lushas snap the final lock closed over the last link in the chain.

"Once in the Sarcophagus of Annihilation, I will be lifted and placed into a vat of Colgalian Sea water teaming with Colgalian electric eels."

At this statement, Todd steps up and lays back into the Thaddeus shaped interior of the sarcophagus. Once he's standing inside the box, a large glass tank of water rolls out onto the stage. Eels fill the interior and little snaps of electricity pop off the sloshing wave peaks to the metal rim around the top edge.

"I have eight minutes to escape, before the Sarcophagus of Annihilation fills with water and becomes my permanent crypt. If, by some miracle, I succeed in escaping, I still have to get past eels that can kill a predator with one jolt carrying a charge of two thousand watts of energy. With fifty eels inside the tank, that's one hundred thousand watts of killing power."

Todd pauses and smiles a grim smile.

"Okay!" he shouts. "Lushas, are you ready?"

The blue-skinned assistant takes on an exaggerated look of fear. "Oh Great Zaddius, what if you can't do it?"

Todd straightens his back bravely. "Not to worry, my dear. The Great Zaddius never ever fails. And remember, no matter what happens, do not let anyone open the Sarcophagus of Annihilation before eight minutes. Now, lock me in."

Lushas does just that and takes a large padlock from the corner of the stand and clicks it into place once the sarcophagus lid is closed. With a flourish, Lushas produces a remote control. Holding up the control, she presses a big red button. The Theremin music starts up again, and the sarcophagus lifts into the air and rolls back into a horizontal position. Lushas presses the button another time. The box spins slowly around to show all six sides to the audience.

Lushas presses a final time and the sarcophagus moves into position directly over the tank of alien electric eels. The mummy box hovers over the tank for about 30 seconds before slowly descending into the tank. The displaced water raises nearly to the top of the tank. The eels swim frantically around, to get out of the way and the zapping discharge of static electricity doubles in frequency.

Lushas moves in exotic undulations to the exotic music, over to the curtain. She rolls out a large three hand clock on a post. The clock ticks loudly on the one second mark when Lushas starts it with a push of the knob on the side and a swing of the heavy pendulum hanging below. At two seconds it actually tocks.

"Ladies and gentlemen, Klingons, Vulcans, Coridanites, Earthlings, Orions, and Bynars, please watch the clock carefully. Don't let it go past eight minutes or I will be the one who has to perform this dangerous trick the next time." says Lushas.

One minute soon passes. The music builds into a heart beat rhythm.

"It doesn't usually take this long." claims Lushas. "Perhapse a traditional Andorian song."

Lushas runs to the curtain and returns with a microphone and stand. She places it center stage. Leaning in, she says shyly. "This just happened to be here. The Great Zaddius doesn't usually let me do more than move stage props around, so…" She takes a deep breath. "here's my chance."

The clock tocks two minutes. The eels swarm all over the sarcophagus. The water covers about 200mm above the its top; a similar amount of space allows the eels to swim all around the mummy case.

Lushas looks stage right and shouts, "Hit it!" Upbeat Andorian jazz music takes the place of the Theremin music. Lushas sings. She is good.

A Corridor somewhere aboard the Klingon Yacht PIn'a Tlhutlh

Todd Mudd was not in the Sarcophagus of Annihilation. He was out of the stage prop almost before his assistant closed the door. He ran the remote routine he'd programmed into his ship's computer and his ship beamed him into a corridor near Waugg's main quarters.

From his pocket, he pulls a small device and uses it to sweep for a signal. He gets a hit when turning to face the owner's cabin.

Todd talks to himself and chuckles. "Where there's a safe, there's a secret formula."

Checking the corridor in both directions, Todd puts the device, he holds, up against the lock on the door to Waugg and Toallas's cabin. The door slides open. Inside, Todd sweeps the device around, and it leads him with faster beeps to a framed leather scroll of Klingon poetry. Behind the frame is a wall safe with a sophisticated electronic lock.

Todd whispers to himself, "Abracadabra!" He presses the device against the safe door and again the odd device causes the locked door to pop open.

Inside the safe is a data chip.

"Winner winner, chicken dinner."

Todd swings the safe shut with a click and hurries out of the master suite to return back to the spot in the hall where he first materialized. Thaddeus Mudd taps a button on his coat and beams back to behind the stage where he started.

Backstage of the theater aboard the PIn'a Tlhutlh

Lushas is singing her Andorian jazz song on stage. It has a melody reminiscent of an old Earth song called, Whatever Lola Wants. Thaddeus Mudd steps up to his mother, who is working a computer control panel backstage. He asks, "Why did you let her sing? This is a magic show, mother."

Helga Mudd snaps back, "She's your assistant, not mine. I couldn't very well run on stage and stop her. Go get in position, your time is almost up."

Todd hands the data chip to his mother. "I told you I had a solid plan. Who's the moron now? Harkor, mother! Not I. I have made us rich."

Helga shoves the data chip back into her son's hand. "Don't give it to me. Not while we're still on this… Klingon hell ship. We need to leave immediately after your show."

Lushas singing on the stage of the PIn'a Tlhutlh

Lushas is a very good singer and the audience has enjoyed the eight minute countdown listening to her. The song ends and Lushas makes a show of looking at the giant clock.

"My gracious, The Great Zaddius must be in trouble. If he doesn't escape in ten seconds, I'm afraid it is the end of him."

She runs over to the tank where the Egyptian sarcophagus sits undisturbed among the electric eels underwater.

The clock ticks down one more second, then it tocks down another second. Six seconds left to escape. Lushas gets worried and moves to look through the glass of the tank. She puts her hand on the glass and yanks her hand back when an electric snap sounds from the metal rim.

"Ow!"

Two seconds.

Lushas races for the remote on the corner of the tank pedestal. She wants to press the button, but forces herself to wait.

One, zero.

"Oh Zaddius the Great!" She shouts. Racing around behind the tank to peek in from another angle. She raises an arm so everyone can see her hand from behind the tank, the remote is in it. Lushas activates the remote. She yells, "I have to get him out. Everyone is holding their breath.

Lushas drops her raised hand. The tank is all the audience can see. The Sarcophagus of Annihilation begins to rise, water and eels roll off the top of it as it breaks the surface. The static snaps of electricity increases in rate again. The water is alive with eels and waves and dripping water and snapping electric discharges.

The sarcophagus raises out of the tank and sets down front and center stage. The mysterious Theremin music grows dramatically. Once the sarcophagus has settled, The Great Zaddius comes out from behind the tank of eels. He raises his hands to show the audience he has escaped. He steps up, pulling a key out of his pocket and unlocks the ancient Andorian lock. The Great Zaddius swings the lid of the sarcophagus open and inside is Lushas, wearing a straight jacket and wrapped in chains. Thaddeus helps his bound assistant to stand up and they take a bow. The Great Zaddius unlocks the chains and Lushas spins when he pulls on the chains. He unbuckles the numerous straps on the straight jacket and Lushas is soon free to bow beside the magician. The magic show ends.

Thaddeus calls out, "Thank you! Thank you very much. I am the Great Zaddius! We are the Great Zaddius and Company. It has been our pleasure to perform for you tonight aboard this beautiful ship for our most gracious and generous hosts. Thank you and good night."

The audience claps, everyone stands and they clap some more.

Art whispers to Sam and S'Talla. "That was surprisingly good… for a second rate magician. I gotta hand it to Todd. Whatever he's up to, he's really improved his showmanship."

S'Talla, overhearing Art, asks, "You know the Great Zaddius?"

"Yeah, I've met him and his brother over poker once. The only time I've ever lost.

"He's from a whole family of grifters. He's up to something or he wouldn't be here. I'm a little disappointed he didn't recognize me. It must be the name. He only knew me by Billy."

The three turn their attention back to the show. Thaddeus and Lushas are taking their bows. Waugg'ta is standing and chatting at Skyvik.

"That was so amazing. I want to be a magician. Do you know any magic, Mr. Skyvik?"

"No."

Have you ever seen a magic show before?"

"No."

"Do you think the Great Zaddius can teach me a trick?"

"I do not know." Skyvik answers.

Their host is shaking Thaddeus's hand. Toallas is doing the same with Lushas.

Thaddeus stands back and gestures to stage left. "Mother, please come and bid our hosts goodbye." Thaddeus Mudd turns back to Waugg. "I hate to run like this, but we have a prior engagement that we can not be late for. You understand." Thaddeus clears his throat. "If we could…um…settle my…um…fee. We really can not delay, in going, any longer."

Helga Mudd steps up beside her son. "Thaddeus is very busy. He always has people demanding his time."

Waugg reaches out and clasps her hand. "Of course. Let me just guide our guests back to the main salon and I will gladly see that you and your company have everything you need to be on your way."

Waugg turns from Helga's strained smile and addresses the rest of his gguests.

"I hope everyone enjoyed the performance the Great Zaddius and his company have put on. It was our first magic show and our first time meeting Earthlings and Bynars. It has been enjoyable for us, and I hope the same for you.

"If you will, I have refreshments back in the main salon, but I am sad to say, the Great Zaddius and Company must be on their way to make their next engagement. They are understandably in high demand. Please, follow Toallas and me."

Waugg then turns to the exit to lead the procession out of the theater.

Waugg'ta runs up to Thaddeus Mudd. Ghant and Skyvik are right behind him. His sister has Skyvik's right hand in her left hand.

"Mister Zaddius. Do you have to go so soon?" Waugg'ta asks. "I want you to teach me magic. I want to be a magician like you."

Mudd twists his mustache on one side. "Well, I'm so glad you enjoyed the show. Oh no, did you have trouble hearing during my show?" Mudd raises his hands, flips them around to show the other side of them and cups his ears to demonstrate what he means.

"Yeah, I could hear." assures young Waugg'ta.

Mudd makes a face that seems to say he doubts the young boy Klingon. "Because your ears are filled. I can't see how you could hear with these in your ears."

Before the Klingon child could act, Todd Mudd reaches his two empty hands out, and seemingly plucks two pieces of wrapped candies from the child's ears.

Waugg'ta gasps in wonder. He reaches up to check his ears. "Those weren't there before." The boy looks up at Ghant, "Have those been in my ears the whole time?" He shifts his gaze to Skyvik for confirmation.

Ghant chuckles and shakes his head. "I think he is showing you another magic trick."

Trinn giggles and says, "Or maybe they've been stuck in your ears since you were a baby."

Waugg'ta insists, "Teach me how to do that. I think my sister might have something in her ears sometimes."

Trinn reaches over to give her little brother a kick.

Todd pouts as he says, "Sorry. I would like an apprentice, and you would make a good one, but I have to go now. Maybe when you are bigger, we will come back."

Waugg'ta looks down at the candies he holds. "Thank you for the candies. I will get bigger and you can come back."

Todd straightens up from his lowered position. "Very good. I look forward to it. Goodbye Waugg'ta. It was my greatest honor to perform for you. Go enjoy your refreshments. I have to see to all my equipment now."

He then turns and shakes Ghant's hand. "He will be a fine young warrior. Thank you for coming to my show." Thaddeus moves down to take Skyvik's hand and his forearm in a warm shake. "And what a fortunate pleasure to have the addition of you and the crew of the Vulcan. I hope we run into each other again sometime."

"You put on a very interesting show." Skyvik responds.

Mudd pats the big man on the back before leaning down only slightly, to thank Trinn. "Oh, I think your brother is right. You do have something in your ears. Here, let me…"

Another two candies appear from Trinn's ears. "For you." He hands them to the surprised young girl.

Waugg'ta smiles and waves one wrapped candy at the Great Zaddius. "Bye Mister Zaddius." And he runs to his mother who is waiting by the door for him.

End Part 1, E5

Table of Content:
Ch. 1: The Needs of the Many
Ch. 2: The Needs of the Few
Ch. 3: 'T' Minus Negative
Ch. 4: A Pon Too Farr
Ch. 5: Seeing is Believing, Part 1
Ch. 6: Seeing is Believing, Part 2
The Vulcan Character Highlighs

 

[Will The Serious]

I am considering a suggestion by my editor, rbs, to make this a 2 part episode.
I wasn't thinking of the interlude with Harry Mudd's brother Thaddeus, to be significant enough to weren't this many words, but I have written a much longer episode then I had expected. My problem now is where to make the division.

Spoiler:
Shortly after this point in the story, Mudd makes good his escape from the Klingon ship. Rbs suggested I divide the parts there. That is a good spot to make the audience wait for the second half, but...
There is only half as much story in the second part, if I make the division there. This means the second part will be very light on substance. So, I am considering dividing the story here, when Todd succeeds in stealing the secret formula. This still leaves the second half a little light, but the balance in substance is slightly better.
Rbs and I discussed adding a little more on the second part to fill a couple of plot holes in the story, so I think I have a little rewriting to do for the next part.

Let me know your thoughts. I know it's tough, not knowing the second part, to say, but still... your input is appreciated.

Thanks for reading. I hope you are enjoying it.

-Will

 

[Robert Bruce Scott]

Really more proof-reader than editor... With Will in Turkey and writing on a cell phone instead of a computer, it's really challenging to catch things like missing quotation marks.

I'm definitely a fan of having a hot andorian as Mudd's assistant.

... But she should be singing the blues... (insert drum sting)

I've had a sneak peak at what's coming up. I like it. Thanks!! rbs

 

[Will The Serious]

Eartha Kitt played Cat Woman in the old Batman TV show. She was an incredible singer and the best Cat Woman. Her voice was perRrRrfect and she was gorgeous.

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It's always nice to have a hot villain. It helps their success as a villain be believable, for some reason.

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-Will

 

[Robert Bruce Scott]

Glad to see the closing of the magic act is restored. I like the interaction between Mudd and Waugg's children. Fun little moments that humanize the felonious Mudd a little - as does his interaction with an overweening mother who is a well-drawn character in her own right. Very believable, particularly for those of us who remember Harry Mudd from TOS. That could easily be his mother - and his brother.

Thanks!! rbs