The Return

Posted on Sat Nov 21st, 2020 @ 11:11am by Lieutenant Xalanth & Lieutenant Fulvia & Skye

1,267 words; about a 6 minute read

Mission: Episode 108 – Tragedies, Fortunes, and an Endgame
Location: SB 400
Timeline: 09:30

Vox, who had been away since the Federation forces recaptured Starbase 400, was on his way back in his private ship, the Tenaran. He was presently 4 hours away from the station and travelling at warp 5 but had just entered communications range. He taps into his console and sent the following message to some of his friends.

=Hi folks, its Rae. I am on my way back from the conference I attended. Sorry, I have been away longer than expected but I ran into some old friends and decided to stay with them for a few weeks. I have some stories to tell about that as well as the conference. Anyone up for meeting for a drink?=

In the station's control room, Fulvia sat in one of the ops stations. Given her condition, Xalanth was wanting her to take more light duties. So here she was monitoring incoming civilian traffic for anything suspicious.

Noting the incoming message she ran the ship and owner through the database. With nothing coming up she sent the information to his computer on which docking bay to dock with.

" This is starbase 400 to Tenaran please be aware of delays as we have extra security checks in operation." She said politely into the coms.

Vox taps the coms "Understood Starbase 400. It will be good to be home. Tenaran out"

Four hours later.

The yellow eyes of Xalanth looked along the ship that was docked at the docking port. Reading the data Fulvia has sent him he waited patiently for the door to open hoping it's ower wouldn't have a problem with the random search.

Vox left the bridge of the Tenaran and was soon at the main port side hatch. The door open to reveal Lieutenant Xalanth waiting for him. They had not met before but Vox knew of him.

"Hello. It's Lieutenant Xalanth right?" Vox asked.

" Yes, that's me. I'm sorry, but your ship's been selected for a random search. " The lizard replied professionally.

Skye had been, well, bored as she wandered around the Starbase. She had nothing especially to occupy her time and while her father was at work, she liked to go play. When she had seen the notification board announce the newest ship to dock, a broad smile had passed her lips and she headed in that direction.

She had not expected to see ... a lizard? A dinosaur? Either way, his unusual species gave her less pause that the uniform he wore. Ensuring her pockets were well secured, she waved in the direction of Vox. Backing off now would have looked far to conspicuous. "Hey, number five! How's my favourite Trill? I thought you were never coming back to open that gallery of yours. Sorry, am I interrupting, Lieutenant..."

She was now side by side with the mysterious officer and he easily dwarfed her. But she kept smiling anyway.

Vox waved back. "I will be with you shortly Skye. " He advised. He turned to Xalanth. " Go right ahead Lieutenant. " Vox replied.

" Thank you. This shouldn't take long. Any cargo or goods not on the manifest?" The lizard asked as he stepped into the ship.

"It's all on the manifest and it's quite lengthy I might add. " Vox replied.

At Vox's reply, Skye's spirits lifted. A lengthy manifest meant lots to see.

The dragonian looked at the manifest. This would take a bit. " It's all in the cargo hold? " He asked politely

"That's correct. All in the main cargo hold. The smaller cargo bays are empty at present." Vox replied.

Xalanth nodded as he arrived and began inspecting the cargo crates. I took him around fifteen minutes to check all of them and everything seemed to be in order with nothing hidden he could detect. " Everything appears to be in order. i'm sorry about all the checks, but we are at war." he said politely.

"No need to apologise Lieutenant. I completely understand." Vox replied.

" Thank you. I only which all civilian traffic did. So you deal in antiques and artwork?" the lizard inquired.

"That's right. I have a shop on the promenade called the Serenity Gallery." Vox replied.

" I don't suppose you have any Magna Roman pieces in?" the lizard asked.

" I would have to check my main inventory at the Gallery. You are welcome to pop by for a coffee and a browse whilst I checked." Vox replied.

" I just finished my shift so lead on," Xalanth responded.

"Gladly" Vox replied. He turned to Skye "Coming as well Skye? " He asked.

Skye grinned, "you know it."

She was about to point out he hadn't made the recalibration she had suggested but with a stranger in a Starfleet uniform in earshot, it seemed a bad idea. Hands in her pockets she fell into step beside Vox. "Successful trip?"

Vox smiled. "I'd like to think so. You will see when I unload the new items for my gallery."

"I'm not big on patience, number five," Skye grinned. "I can't wait to see them. I hope everybody played nice and you didn't pay too much."

"No, I did rather well I think, although I was given an item for free because the owner wanted rid of it. He was going to burn it but, despite what it was, it still might be worth something. " Vox replied.

Skye looked horrified. "Who would want to burn something?"

"Well, its a carving of Gul Dukat, " Vox replied.

"Gul Dukat... guessing a Cardassian? Someone I should know?" Skye asked. "I'm guessing not a nice guy if someone wanted to burn him."

" He's butcher of Bajor and the idiot that invited the dominion into the quadrant. " Xalanth replied. " I'd suggest you burn it as well, but i think the fires would reject it."

"You could blow it up," Skye suggested brightly. "I could definitely help you with that..."

"I have absolutely no doubt that you could easily help with that. But its from the time of the Bajoran occupation and so, might actually be considered a museum piece. " Vox replied.

"I can make those disappear too," Skye grinned before peering around Vox to add, "Just kidding, Starfleet."

" Who carved it by the way? " Xalnth inquired.

"From what little information I have, it was carved by someone called Vun Riat. " Vox replied.

"If Dukat was so bad, why would anyone make a carving of him?" Skye asked curiously.

"Good question. I don't plan on displaying it in the gallery. In fact, I am not sure what to do with it right now but considering the craftmenship that went into it, despite the subject matter, burning it could still be considered a waste. " Vox replied.

"It could, or it could be very appropriate, given what Starfleet here said," Skye reasoned with a mischievous smile.

"Well, you are welcome to look at it and take it off me if you really want it."
Vox smiled.

"You almost make that sound like a challenge Number 5," Skye grinned.

"If you want it to be, then so be it, The sculpture is yours. " He said.

Skye stopped in her tracks, looking at him as if he had two heads. “Why would you do that?” She sounded genuinely perplexed. Beyond her newfound family, she had never known anyone to give away anything. It always had a price.

"I don't really want it to be honest with you and If you want the challenge of doing something with it then I won't stand in your way." Vox replied.

“You’re quite something Number 5,” Skye decided with a grin.

"I will take that as a compliment Skye. " Vox replied.

The pair headed on to the Serenity Gallery.

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