It Was Bound To Happen

Posted on Fri Apr 12th, 2019 @ 6:16pm by Captain Paul MacLeod & Commander Jonathan Roebuck IV & Lieutenant Karl Ballard & Tom Vercetti & Vito Russo & First Ramata`tar & Splendora Sage & Ensign Tezu & Ensign Robert Harper

1,735 words; about a 9 minute read

Mission: Episode 97 - Cultural Exchange
Location: Starbase 400, Promenade
Timeline: MD8 1200hrs

ON:

Mac was still angry the Hirogen vessel the Vanguard had found and tracked managed to escape a few days before. After the Vanguard's return to Starbase 400, Mac had spent the next day filling reports, speaking with Vice Admiral K'Temoc, and going over sensor data again. He'd lived off replicated food aboard the Vanguard for the last two and a half days before Metsker and Ballard convinced him to take a break.

They made their way to the Promenade of Starbase 400 and were looking for something to eat. They settled on Inakya’s for fresh sushi and were walking toward it.

"You need to take a mental break as well. Something to help you relax and get a good night's sleep." Metsker said as they walked.

"I agree. None of us are happy they got away, but if you really want a fresh take on it, you need a break." Ballard added.

Mac knew both were right. He was obsessing. Not every mission would be a victory or even have a favorable outcome. The Dominion War had taught him that. "Fine. After we eat I'll do a little Hung Gar then meditate for a bit."

"Hung Gar, sir?" Ballard asked.

"Hung Gar is a southern Chinese Style of Kung Fu known for its forceful, hard techniques and its horse stances." Mac replied. "I also enjoy taekwondo, but Hung Gar helps me center myself."

"Let's at least look in here, 'Mind Body and Soul Healing', they have to have something to help you relax or even sleep. You know, sleep, when you lay down, close your eyes, preferably in a bed." Metsker said with a smirk.

The three walked into the store and saw a woman looking over some inventory. Mac stayed back toward the door, looking at some green tea. Ballard walked to the other side looking over a few things on a shelf. Metsker walked over to the woman. "Excuse me, do you have something to help someone rest or even sleep better?"

Splendora turned and smiled, "Welcome. Of course I do. I can recommend herbal teas and supplements, we also have a Betazoid crystal therapy that works as well as aroma therapy massages." She moved over to the computer. "What would you prefer?"

"Well, it's not for me." Metsker replied with a smile.

"Hey Commander." Metsker called to MacLeod.

Mac walked over, he'd heard the woman from where he stood. "Herbal tea would be nice. Do you have aroma therapy I could use in my quarters?"

She smiled, "Of course." She walked over to the tea shelf and picked up a box. "This is Vulcan Mera Root tea, safe no side effects very relaxing. Helps for staying asleep and getting a restful one." She picked up an oil. "This is Tellerite Lavendar. Two drops into one of these," She handed him a box. "Water will bubble almost like a thick mist. I can also do a scalp massage that does pressure point utilization. It's timed so you should start getting sleepy in an hour or two."

Mac smiled, "Thank you. I'll take both. Can you charge them to my account? Commander Paul MacLeod."

"Well this is your first time here so it's on the house. My business philosophy the first treatments are free and if you are satisfied then we'll get you signed up and an account started."

"Thank you." Mac replied.

After leaving Mind Body and Soul Healing, they headed for Inakya’s. After a few steps the heard someone call out from across the Promenade in an angry tone.

“MACLOUD!!”

Mac stopped and turned around to see where the voice came from. Metsker and Ballard also stopped and looking. Being security officers, they immediately took defensive stances.

“What are you doing on this station, in commander’s pips, coming out of that shop?” Tom Vercetti angrily asked as he walked MacLeod. Vito close behind him. They had arrived back from Cardassia aboard the Pegasus in the early morning hours.

“Tom Vercetti.” MacLeod said in a calm tone. “I’ve been assigned here. Commander of the USS Vanguard and apart of Vice Admiral K’Temoc Special Operations Group.” Metsker and Ballard moved between Mac and Tom, but Mac put his hands on their arms to give space.

Tom had never forgiven MacLeod for the death of his fiancé during the ‘Gomor Incident’ eleven years before, and with the events fresh in his mind after talking about it with Splendora a few days ago, he was reliving some of that anger. Now seeing MacLeod, he was mad as hell.

Mac on the other hand knew the meeting between he and Vercetti was bound to happen sooner rather than later. He’d seen Vito on the Promenade just before the group left for Cardassia. In his mind, Mac still blamed himself for the ‘Gomor Incident’ but also knew he’d only shot Stor'k in defense after he had killed Natasha Beck, Tom’s fiancé. The problems were, the Cardassians told a story of a crazed MacLeod attacking Gul Stor’k because of a personnel vendetta and Beck had got in the way. Starfleet didn’t fully believe the Cardassian version, they didn’t believe much of it at all, but Vercetti didn’t care. His fiancé was dead and it had been MacLeod’s responsibility to make sure she made it back to the George Washington safely.

“You son of a bitch!” Tom started as people stopped what they were doing to see what was going on between a Starfleet Officer and a civilian. “How could Starfleet promote you after you were responsible for Nat’s death and the death of another fifteen people aboard the GW? And how dare you go into that store, talk to her?!”

“Tom listen. It’s been eleven years.” Mac started before Tom shoved him.

Ballard stepped between but came eye to throat with the larger Vito Russo. “You best just stay back kid.” Vito said.

Mac stepped to the side and looked at Vito, “Russo, back off and stand down.”

“I don’t take orders from you anymore.” Vito replied, keeping his eyes on Ballard.

Metsker tried to pull Mac back and get between him and Tom. “This needs to be taken off the Promenade and discussed in private.”

Tom didn’t want to talk elsewhere and shoved Metsker into the crowd that had gathered. Mac in response grabbed Tom’s arm and put his other hand on his chest to keep him back from Metsker. And that’s all it took.

Tom punched Mac in the face with a left uppercut. Ballard tried to help is commander but Vito held him back. Mac shook his head to get the cobwebs out, then put up his hands in a defensive posture.

“We’re not doing this Tom, not now, not here.” Tom swung again but Mac deflected the punch.

“You’re not, but I am.” Tom grabbed Mac’s left arm and pulled him forward to meet a right cross. Mac lost his temper at this point, caught his balance and tackled Tom. The two rolled around on the deck for a moment throwing wild punches before Mac was able to get in a right jab to Tom’s nose and stun him for a second.

Both men got back on their feet. Tom threw another punch but Mac deflected it and caught Tom with an elbow to the chin followed by a punch-block-punch combo. Tom staggered, shook his head and wiped the blood from his nose before attacking again. Mac tried to keep Tom back with a chest push but Tom countered by using one arm to block Mac’s left arm while grabbing his right arm and slinging him against wall. Tom punched Mac repeatedly in the face and stomach. He paused and started to grab Mac to knee him in the stomach but Mac counted with a knee lift of his own followed by quick front kick then side kick that sent Tom to the deck.

Mac staggered back a step as Tom stood up again. Both men then exchanged punches, both of them trying to keep their balance. Both men we bloodied but neither were prepared to quit, however station security arrived to stop the brawl after Metsker called them. Commander Robuck along with Ensigns Harper and Krall stood around Tom and Vito. Krall, the tall Capellan even dwarfed Vito. At the same time First Ramata’tar placed his hand on MacLeod’s shoulder. Mac turned to see the Jem’Hadar keeping him from moving while Ensign Tezu grabbed Metsker and Ballard with two of his three hands while keeping a phaser in the third set to stun. Being the only Edosian aboard Starbase 400, several people looked at him curiously.

Vito pulled his arm away from Krall's grasp and made a suspicious move. Harper drew his phaser and aimed at Vito. It was the fastest draw everyone gathered had ever seen.

"I wouldn't." Harper said calmly.

"I'm not armed." Vito replied as Krall checked him for a weapon before grabbing his arm again.

“I don’t know what this is all about, but all of you are going to the brig!” Robeuck said. “Bremer and K’Temoc will be by sometime later and you can whine to them.”

It was at that time that Splendora noticed the commotion on the Promenade and came out to see what was going on.

"Dora are you okay?"

Splendora looked up at the young Deltan woman who'd walked in. "Yeah...that man that was in here I feel like I know him but I could swear I've never seen him."

"What's his name?"

"Paul...Paul MacLoud...Oh my god!" It hit her just as a commotion outside grabbed her attention. Splendora looked on horrified. Tom was bloody and he would be bruised. She ran to him. "Tom!" She cupped his blooded face "Oh Tom." She looked at Roebuck. "Do you have to take him? Please let me at least take him in my shop for first aid."

Roebuck stopped but pointed for Ramata'tar to keep everyone moving. "I'm sorry Miss Sage, but they are all going to the brig. They'll get medical attention there if they need it." He didn't wait for a reply, he followed the team to the closest transporter pad and they were all beamed to Level One Hundred and the Main Brig.

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