The Path They Traveled

[Kyhrk]

The first of a series of shorts concerning the members of the Undesireables and the path life took them on.​

*******​

A New Life​

After having read the message in silence the man sighed and realized the inevitable has happened. After he deleted the message he accessed his banking accounts on several worlds and transferred everything to three numbered accounts on Ferenginar.

Upon completion he activated a vocal recorder and recorded a message which along with the account information he transferred to a data chip. In silence he slid the chip into a case and placed it in a carry all slung over his shoulder. Despite his impressive size he silently walked down the hallway to the training room where he knew his son would be.

Quietly he leaned against the door frame watching his son practice with his hefty war club and brutish saw toothed war blade. Its moments like this where it’s just him and his son that he cherished but years of working as an assassin for the Syndicate and Nausicaan clans meant there were precious few of them and after today there will be no more.

As he glided across the room the young man cut and sliced his way through a variety of attacks before he noticed his father watching him. “Hi dad,” while young, only twelve, he is already nearly as tall as his father if some fifty kilos lighter in mass. Walking closer he noticed the concerned look on his father’s face, “What is it?”

He stared at his son wishing he didn’t have to tell him but he must. “The Syndicate and the clans are coming for me. It’s time for us to leave.”

He took the news quite well considering the ramifications concerned with what has just happened. “I’ll pack my things,” is all he said as he hustled off to his room.

After his son left the man walked up to the weapons rack and stared at them. The tales they could spill if they could only talk. Many of the weapons had been in the family for generations while others only a few years. Having lifted a pair of holstered Nausicaan disruptors from their place he buckled them around his waist and cinched the holsters down as he attached more weapons to his person or placed more in the carry all he brought with him.

“Beep beep.” His built in desk communicator alerted him to an incoming transmission.

An old, grizzled Orion man appeared on the screen, “Kadrak, you need to leave now. A hit squad is headed to your place and will be there inside a half hour.”

“Thank you Vrell.”

“Good luck Kadrak. See you in the next life,” the transmission ended.

“Good luck to you too old friend,” he whispered. Little did Vrell know the next time he checked his account on Ferenginar he will find it one hundred bars of latinum richer or enough to escape from the Orion Syndicate if he wished.

“Dad,” his son appeared behind him, “I’m packed.” He held up one carry all and a backpack.

“You have everything?”

“Clothes, weapons, and the picture of mom.”

“Then we should go, our transport leaves in thirty minutes and it’s a twenty minute walk to the space port,” he ordered as he pushed himself to his feet he then slipped on a coat and slung his carry all over his shoulder and the two exited their home knowing they would never set foot in it again.

****​

“Hurry, were nearly…” Kadrak started to speak but was cut off by a sledgehammer blow to his back that knocked him to the ground but failed to penetrate the armor plate hidden in his coat. He rolled to his back and after taking a moment to aim while disruptor blasts impacted the ground around him he blew the head off the Orion who shot him and shot a Chalnoth who attempted to raise a rifle to his shoulder. With a grunt he shoved himself back to his feet and ordered his son to keep moving.

“Kadrak,” A Nausicaan bellowed as two green Orion mercenaries appeared in front of Kadrak and his son while the Nausicaan stepped out into the road behind them.

“Bellun,” Kadrak snarled at the Hi’ ought Nausicaan behind him, “So they sent you.”

“You know the life we live, you can’t leave it alive,” Bellun grunted as he stalked forward. Nearly as big as Kadrak Bellun has numerous death knots in his dreadlocks and is a hardened murderer who didn’t care who he killed as long as he got paid.

“Kyhryk,” Kadrak whispered to his son, “Take my bag and run. I’ll meet you on the transport.” Like lightning Kadrak shoved his bag into his son’s hand while he lifted his right arm up and shot the first Nausicaan in Kyhryk’s path. As he drew the second disruptor a sharp pain shoots through his left shoulder from the throwing knife Bellun launched at him. He shunted the pain and managed to blow a hole the size of a melon in the second Nausicaan’s chest leaving him dead before he could hit the ground.

“Slick,” Bellun taunted as he drew closer, “but not good enough.” He sliced Kadrak from shoulder to hipbone as Kadrak dived forward not quite evading the attack and dropped his disruptors in the process.

“I can still kill you,” Kadrak gasped. He launched himself forward as he drew a Nausicaan sword from his back and stabbed for Bellun’s stomach but it is deflected and a knife flashed for his own stomach. Kadrak pivoted away from the attack but not quick enough to miss the follow up attack. “I always knew you wouldn’t go easy,” Bellun taunted as he shoved a knife into Kadrak’s back where it missed his heart by mere centimeters and twisted it on the withdrawal.

“Kyhryk,” he gasped after he fell to his knees.

“I’ll find him; where ever you sent him I will find him,” Bellun taunted as he kneeled in front of Kadrak, “I’ll kill the son just like I killed the father.”

“No…you…won’t,” Kadrak managed to gasp as he began to bleed out.

“Beep…beep..beep.beep.beep,” the photon grenade secreted in Kadrak’s boot heel armed after he depressed the primer button.

“Frak,” Bellun didn’t even try to escape as the grenade detonated killing him, Kadrak, and left a crater in the road.

****​

At his father’s orders and knowing he would just get in the way Kyhryk sprinted for the transport without looking back. He knew his father; if he said he will be there he will be there no matter how many people he had to kill along the way.

“Father,” Kyhryk skidded to a halt at the sound of the explosion. “No,” he stammered and started to turn around but steeled himself and continued on to the transport. He knew what the explosion meant, his father’s backup plan involved a photon grenade and ensured death of him and whoever killed him.

“Ticket and identification,” the Bolian crewman at the entrance ramp requested after he reached the spaceport.

He mutely provided his ticket and identification to the Bolian and he walked down the corridor in silence to his cabin. What now, what do I do when the transport reached its destination were the only things on his mind.

****​

After hours of travel and boredom Kyhryk decided to see what his father placed in the bag. Once he opened the bag he found a set of data chips and a portable computer and a large amount of weapons. A distraction was needed to pass the time so he slipped the first one into the computer to see what it held.

“Hello Kyhryk,” Kadrak appeared on the small viewscreen. “If you are seeing this then I am dead and you are on your own for the time being. Don’t worry though for when you reach Devallix IV there will be someone waiting for you; a slate grey Caitan by the name of H’rall. He is an old friend and an ally; he will take care of you. You will know it’s him by a white crescent shaped scar around his left eye and a hook scar on his chest that runs from his hip to shoulder. Go with him, he will ensure your safety.”

“Now there’s something important I must tell you son. I wasn’t just an assassin; I was an informant for Starfleet Intelligence for over twenty years and have accumulated quite a large amount of data on various criminal elements over the years. It’s all on the data chips and you need to give them all to H’rall once you are safe. He will know what to do with them.”

The tone of the message changed. “If I know my boss and H’rall they will continue your training allowing you to do whatever you decide to do once you are an adult. All I ask though is that you become a Federation citizen and consider joining Starfleet once you are old enough to do so. It will give you a purpose and a place in the universe. However, no matter what you decide to do you have my blessing,” the recording ended.

“I’ll honor your wish father, I will one day join Starfleet but I will kill the man who ordered your death,” Kyhryk stated with conviction.

 

[Kyhrk]

Deep Space Seven
February 2376

“Woman, come drink with us,” a drunken Chalnoth grabbed the sensuous Orion woman who had been seated alone several feet from the bar by her upper arm.

“No,” she shrieked as she tried to shake herself lose but the Chalnoth’s grip was to strong. The Chalnoth’s companion laughed as she struggled before he reached for her other arm.

“Let me…” a size sixteen Starfleet issue combat boot slammed into the Chalnoth’s chest. The force of the kick sent him over a table and he drug the Orion woman with him.

At the sight of the Chalnoths harassing the Orion woman Lieutenant (jg) Chase Daniels of Starfleet Security introduced himself to the Chalnoths in the only manner they would respect; with violence.

As he ducked under a ponderous swing from the second Chalnoth Chase struck the Chalnoth three times in the stomach, once in the throat and followed up with a knee. The force behind the knee knocked the wind out of the Chalnoth, doubled him over, and Chase tossed him headfirst into a wall. He didn’t get up.

“Little one,” the first Chalnoth had clamored back to his feet and rose to his considerable height, several inches taller than Chase’s nearly two meters, “You can fight.”

“Well enough,” Chase shoved the table separating him and the Chalnoth out of the way.

“We she shall see about that,” he struck Chase with a vicious backhand but Chase smiled back at the Chalnoth.

“Going to have to do better than that,” He jested.

“I will,” He launched himself at Chase and the fight truly started.

As Chase and the Chalnoth fought the Orion woman pulled herself to her feet and watched.

“I hope your right,” she muttered as a particularly vicious punch to the chin staggered Chase and a second punch knocked him to the ground. By all rights the fight should have ended there but Chase absorbed a kick to the chest as he pushed himself to his feet and retaliated in kind. Jab, jab, cross to the face, a kick to each knee and the Chalnoth is knocked down. Before he could recover Chase kicked him in the head and knocked him out.

Chase dropped into a chair, “Tough bastard.”

She glided up to Chase, “Thank you. I fear they would have dragged me to their ship if you had not intervened.”

“You’re welcome. Lieutenant Chase Daniels,” he offered his hand.

“They call me Esalla,” she took his hand and shook it.

“A beautiful name for a beautiful woman,” he complimented.

“Thank you,” she smiled.

A trio of security officers entered the bar, “Lieutenant,” a Capellan Petty Officer 1st class alerted Chase to their presence.

“Hakor,” he stood up. “Take these two to the brig. Charge them with assault and drunk and disorderly for now. If I think of anything else I will let you know.”

“Yes sir. You heard the lieutenant, let us drag these two to the brig,” Hakor a shorter than normal but quite stout Capellan easily shouldered the bulk of the smaller Chalnoth in a fireman’s carry while the other two carried the one Chase fought by his arms and legs.

Chase watched his fellow security officers as they carted the Chalnoth off before he turned his attention to the lovely Orion woman, “Care to finish your drink with me?”

“I would but I’m meeting my husband here and…there he is,” she looked past Chase to the big Nausicaan that entered the bar.

“I saw two Chalnoth being carried out of here,” he started talking a few steps from the human and Orion, “looked like they had been worked over.”

“They accosted your wife and I intervened,” Chase replied as he noticed the death knots that adorned the Nausicaan’s hair. It took a moment but he recognized their significance and immediately upgraded the Nausicaan from unknown to lethal and person of interest.

“I see,” he appraised the human man. His file photo didn’t do him justice. Nearly two meters tall he was well built with wide shoulders, deep chest, narrow waist, and powerful legs that caused his uniform to appear a size too small for him. “I’m Dezrik, thank you for protecting my wife,” he offered his hand to Chase to shake it.

“You’re welcome,” Chase took the offered hand and shook it.

“Sweetheart,” Esalla stroked Dezrik’s arm, “We should get going, we have that meeting,” her tone conveyed the importance of the meeting.

“Yes, right. Thank you again.” Arm in arm the Nausicaan and Orion departed.

“Those were a lot of death knots,” Chase muttered as he watched them leave. He’s killed a lot of people and survived some very hairy situations to have them, he will bear looking into ran through Chase’s mind. Need to find out why he is here and what he is up to he also thought but its time for paperwork. Starfleet required paperwork for almost anything and a bar fight where a Security officer became involved required even more than normal and Chase had plans for later. Better to get it down.

*

Once out of earshot of the bar and Chase who they watched head in the opposite direction from them the Nausicaan who was actually called Commander Kyhryk Laruun of Starfleet Special Missions and Intelligence and leader of highly covert intelligence unit looked down at his lover. “I take it he passed?” he asked even though he already knew the answer.

“As the human’s put it, with flying colors,” Nikara who lied and said her name was Esalla answered, “He eliminated Mousol easily then fought Nequori for a couple minutes. He was knocked down once but regained his feet and knocked Nequori out with a five shot combo.”

“Sevine said he was worthy and from what I read of his file he was correct but I needed to be sure.”

“I would say he is,” Nikara purred as she spied a shop filled with exotic pets. “All he needs to do is pass the rest of the audition and he is in.”

“If his file is any indicator he will do as we expect,” Kyhryk noticed Nikara peering at the pet shop eagerly, “Another pet?” Nikara nodded. “Let’s take a look then,” he gave in to her smile and the thought that he would pay for it physically if he didn’t.

*

“Interesting,” Chase muttered after perused for a record that belonged to a Nausicaan by the name of Dezrik. “Hakor, this is Daniels.”

“Sir this is Hakor,” Hakor’s voice filtered through Chase’s communicator.

“Nausicaan came aboard earlier today, a big one most likely with an Orion woman.”

“I know who you are talking about sir.”

“Where is he?”

“The Down Under.”

“Thank you Hakor, keep your team on standby, may need some backup.”

“Yes sir.”

*

“I told you it will cost fifty bars to do as you ask,” a scrawny Ferengi sitting across from Kyhryk whined as attempted to wrangle more profit from the deal.

With minimal effort Kyhryk pulled the Ferengi across the table by his shirt, “And I told you,” Kyhryk whispered as peered into the Ferengi’s eyes, “I would only pay forty.”

“Let him go,” a rough voice ordered as a hand clamped down on Kyhryk’s shoulder.

With a jerk of his arms the Ferengi flew up and over Kyhryk’s head into whoever laid their hand on the big Nausicaan. After he shoved himself to his feet Kyhryk whirled himself around and found himself face to face with a member of his own species of nearly equal size but minimal death knots.

“Raskma,” Kyhryk snarled a Nausicaan curse, “touch me again and I will break your arm.”

“Huzyi,” the newcomer snarled a curse of his own before he threw a wicked haymaker that Kyhryk deflected and retaliated with a kick that buckled the newcomer’s knee. A simple twist of the Nausicaan’s arm and he is slammed face first into the floor with his arm wrenched behind his back. Kyhryk chopped down hard and bent his opponent’s arm ninety degrees where there wasn’t a joint.

At the sight of his henchman having been defeated the Ferengi scrambled to his feet and attempted to run but did not get far. Nikara smacked him on the lobes with a bottle. Howling in pain from the assault Nikara smacked him on the nose that crunched under the impact and dropped the Ferengi to the floor in even worse pain.

“Enough,” a loud voice bellowed as the sound of phasers charging echoed around him, “Let him go and back away.”

Kyhryk released the Nauiscaan’s arm and delivered a second kick to the ribs driving home is point. “Hello lieutenant,” he greeted Daniels who stood there phaser at the ready. “Nice response time,” he complimented after he noted the position of a large Kreetassan and Capellan who’d flanked him. A compact Efrosian had stepped up with a phaser aimed at the Ferengi while a second human man had a phaser pointed at Nikara.

“You two will come with me,” Chase pointed at Kyhryk and Nikara. “Take the rest to medical then throw them into the brig. Navees you’re with me.”

“Yes sir,” Hakor replied as Navees the large Kreetassan fell in behind Chase and the Nausicaan and Orion couple.

*

“Who are you?”

“Who do you think I am?” Kyhryk replied with a grin on his face as he and Nikara lounged in a couple of chairs in front of Chase’s desk. Navees stood at the door phaser holstered but his bearing indicated he was prepared for any move Kyhryk might make.

“I think you’re both spooks.”

“Why would you think that?” an even more amused look appeared on Kyhyrk’s face. This young man is quite good and appeared to have excellent instincts but the next few minutes would determine if he passed the test.

“You and her records for starters,” Chase regaled them with the results from his investigation for some time, “And that’s how I determined your record is false and was created just a week ago. So who are you really?”

“You want to know who I am you should contact Commander Sevine the man who trained you in Suus Mahna while at the academy.”

Kyhryk’s words startled Chase. “How do you know that?”

“Contact him and he will tell you.”

Chase stared at Kyhryk for a moment before he reached a decision, “I will. Place them in holding cell for now and keep an eye on them.”

*
Starfleet Academy
Earth

“What can I do for you lieutenant?” Commander Sevine asked of his former student who appeared on his desk mounted view screen.

“I need some information sir.”

“I see. Begin.”

“A Nausicaan arrived here yesterday. Today he was involved in an altercation and I was forced to intervene with a security detail. I ran a background check of the Nausicaan who called himself Dezrik which revealed the record and a record for his wife were faked less than a week ago.”

“I see. What do you need from me?” the name Dezrik registered and inwardly Sevine smiled at the realization Chase had most likely passed his audition.

“He said to contact the Vulcan who trained me in Suus Mahna, named you specifically.”

“I see,” Sevine leaned forward. “Lieutenant what I am about to tell you is not on any official record except for a few heavily encrypted and hidden databases that do not officially exist,” he stressed the importance of what he was about the tell the lieutenant, “You will not repeat it to anyone, not even if they are an admiral.”

*

Escorted by Navees Kyhryk and Nikara arrived back at the young lieutenant’s office

Chase stared at them, “You’re a spook,” it was a statement not a question, “

“Correct,” Kyhryk remained standing. “Commander Kyhryk Laruun,” he turned his attention to Navees, “You’re dismissed and you will not mention anything you heard to anyone,” he ordered. Navees looked on at Chase in confusion who nodded in confirmation that he was to do as ordered.

“Yes sir,” Navees’s beaded hair and necklaces clanked together as he moved.

“Why are you here sir?”

“I lost two members of my team during the war lieutenant and I needed replacements. A short list of possible candidates was assembled and you are the only one who passed their test. In short I want you on my team lieutenant.”

“Why me?”

“For starters you can handle yourself in a fight far better than most Starfleet officers and where we operate that is a necessity. Second you have the right skills for the job. You determined that the record we created for my Dezrik alias was a fake which no one but you managed to do. Third,” Kyhryk stepped up to Chase’s desk and looked him in the eye, “I can give you the skills you need to accomplish the real reason you joined Starfleet.”

His eyes turned cold at those words, “You can do that?”

“Sevine told you about me, you know I can,” Kyhryk stated with conviction. Chase paced around his quarters. “Lieutenant…Chase,” Kyhryk grabbed him by the shoulders, “you can stay here and continue to deal with pickpockets and drunks or come with me and do work that matters. Work that will ensure the survival of the Federation and its allies for the next hundred years.”

“I want to but…”

“Give me one year. One year where I can train you, turn you into what you wish to be. After that if you wish to leave I will not stop you and will not hold it against you.”

“One year,” he nodded in agreement.

“Thank you lieutenant,” he let him go. “Our ship leaves tomorrow at 0800 from port seventeen.”

“I’ll be there.”

*

At 0800 Lieutenant Chase Daniels, his new job came with a promotion, was there at port seventeen. After a moment’s hesitation he tapped the controls for the airlock and stepped forward into a new chapter of his life.