Something Smells Fishy

Posted on Fri Jul 7th, 2017 @ 7:51pm by Tom Vercetti & Splendora Sage

1,256 words; about a 6 minute read

Mission: Episode 94 - Return to Rashanar
Location: Starbase 400
Timeline: MD3 2015hrs

ON:

Gabe had been glad Sage had chosen to go back to Tom's place with the Psychologist group. They'd been hanging out for a good few days, ever since the most boring seminar he'd sat through. Gabe was a handsome man and he'd used that to sweet talk the lady at the door to let him in even though he wasn't a psychologist. He'd had all the members of this new 'friend' group Sage hung out with checked. All was well but something...well something didn't feel right, he wasn't sure if it was the group or the seminarians or what. He sat in the darkened corner keeping an eye on the laughing group.

Gabe looked up as his boss joined him. "Tom." He gave a nod.

Tom nodded, he was a little stressed. He had a 'business' meeting today that he really didn't want to worry about. For starters, he hated having to deal with the Ferengi Zark and Mar`g. Secondly, he didn't like having to deal with Tamel Bruno or the group he represented. Maybe something else to occupy his mind would help.

"What have you got for me Gabe?" Tom asked.

Gabe looked at his boss. Normally calm and cool Tom seemed a bit...frazzled. He said nothing. He knew that if Tom was in a mood this would not make him happier. He shrugged. "Conference was fine, I managed to sweet talk my way in, being the handsome smooth man that I am." He paused for dramatics.

Tom nodded. "Good. Keep an eye out, we have company coming to the station." Tom didn't even crack a smile at the comment.

"It's time." Vito said as he walked up.

"This shouldn't take long." Tom replied as he and Vito walked off. Vito carried a small case in his left hand.

Several minutes later, Tom and Vito were in one of the Promenade cargo bays on Level 108. Zark and Mar`g were already there. They too had a case they kept a tight hold of.

"Why are you here Hu-Mon?" Mar'g asked.

"Same reason you two are." Tom replied coldly.

A few moments later Tamel Bruno arrived flanked by a Naussican and an a Rigellian. "Gentleman, the Orion Syndicate doesn't like waiting, and we're already had to put the little deal off for a week...so you both better have what we agreed on.

Zark stepped forward and set his case down on a cargo container. "Two hundred bars of gold-pressed latinum and a handful of rare Lobi crystals for your trouble." He smiled a toothy grin.

"Lobi crystals aren't rare, I can buy more than a dozen for one Cardassian lek" Bruno replied. "Besides, the price was three hundred bars." He then looked at Tom.

Vito set the case down and opened it. "Three hundred bars of gold-pressed latinum as agreed and one Tallonian crystal for your trouble."

"Tallonian crystals are illegal anywhere but on the Tallonian homeworld, but I know a buyer that would be happy to acquire one for a price." He smiled as he looked up at Tom, "You've just acquired twelve cases of Denevan crystals, and four cases of Jem'Hadar rifles."

Tom smirked and closed the latinum case and handed it to Bruno as he handed Tom an isoliner key. "The cases are yours." He pointed them out in the corner of the cargo bay. "I don't like doing these deals in person, but you've made this one a very profitable one."

"What about us?" Zark asked.

"You can have the twelve cases of Denevan crystals you agreed to buy, but the weapons stay with me." Bruno replied.

Tom looked at Zark and Mar'q, but back to Bruno. "How much for their weapons?"

Bruno looked at the Ferengi, then back to Tom. "One hundred bars."

"Give me your account information and I can transfer them to your bank account now." Tom replied as he pulled a PADD from his pocket and handed it to Bruno.

Bruno looked at his associates for a second, then typed in the information and handed it back. Tom authorized the transfer. "Your account with the Bank of Bolius has acknowledged receipt.

Bruno smirked, "Please doing business with you. The Syndicate will be in touch." He then turned and walked out of the cargo bay.

Mar'q and Zark walked to one corner of the cargo bay and started checking their inventory.

Tom waited til they walked away. "Vito, get this stuff stowed away and secured."

"What about the trace?" Vito asked.

"Tomorrow. Start it tonight and they'll be onto us." Tom replied. "I'm going to check on Sage.

Vito nodded as Tom left.

Several minutes later, Tom caught up with Gabe again.

"How did it go?" Gabe asked.

"As expected. Tom replied, more relaxed than before. "Where is she?"

Gabe pointed at the table where Splendora was sitting with a group of her psychologist friends. "All five in that group check out. They are each a bit odd but clean." He scratched his head. He wondered if he should say something to Tom. So far he had nothing but his gut telling him something was off.

Tom looked over and watched her for a moment. "Anything else?"

Gabe rubbed the back of his neck. Tom had a way of knowing things. He could swear there were times when the man seemed like he was a telepath. He sighed. "Yeah... but...nothing concrete." He looked over at Sage and then back to Tom. "At first when you assigned me to this I thought it was ...well never mind what I thought but my gut is telling me something is off. I just can't figure it out. Out of the group of five she's been hanging with like I said they are all clean but they are all...off." He pointed to the blonde next to Splendora, "That is Doctor Belle Anderson, she was in school with Splendora, the woman has no filter in what she says." He pointed to the man to Splendora's right. "Doctor Reed, he's rude, aggressive, claims to be a fan of Splendora's writing on natural remedies but he challenges her, makes it his job to ask questions to stump her. The woman across her, Doctor T'lora. Vulcan but seems to watch her too closely, as if...I don't know weird vibe. Then the guy on the corner he's been hitting on her non stop, not that she gives him the time of day." He said aware that Tom might actually like this woman. "Finally Doctor Beldor, the Bolian she's aggressive even mean to the others, argues a lot with them. " He shook his head. "I just don't get it. Seems normal but something is off."

Tom nodded. "So it's no different that our unit during the war?" He smirked. "Keep your eyes open, if something doesn't feel right, chances are there's a problem. Has anyone else approached her or the members of the group?"

Gabe shook his head. "Nothing other then just to talk about the event." He thought a moment. "Boss are you sure my time is not better spent helping you?" He asked. He knew there were others suited for that job.

Tom nodded as he watched Sage for a moment. "Right now, this is helping me more than you realize." About the same moment Vito walked over.

"Everything is taken care of." Vito advised.

"Alright, I have a call to make. You both know what to do." Tom nodded then headed for his office in his restaurant.


tbc...

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