Doing Business On Free Cloud

Posted on Fri Apr 8th, 2022 @ 5:02pm by Tom Vercetti & Vito Russo
Edited on on Thu Feb 2nd, 2023 @ 10:47am

1,328 words; about a 7 minute read

Mission: Episode 112 - A Trip to Remember
Location: Free Cloud, Stardust City
Timeline: MD2, 1435hrs

ON:

Tom and Vito had landed their runabout at the only friendly hanger they knew. Draz, an Orion that was friendly to the Federation and the Fenris Rangers, was an old acquaintance. Of course there was a cost involved, but the knowledge that the runabout was secure was worth it.

The duo made their way into Stardust City. Their business acquaintance wasn't in his usual bar, so they looked around for nearly an hour. The only thing they could find were associates of Bjayzl following them. Rumor was, the Caitian that was looking to move in on Bjayzl had looked too hard and was now 'swimming with the fishes'.

They passed Quark's new bar, restaurant, and hotel before walking into another bar, there she was, Bjayzl. She was surrounded by several guards, and in front of her was their business acquaintance, being berated. Tom and Vito stayed back and ordered a drink. They couldn't hear much, but the words 'business', 'latinum', 'stole', 'cheated', 'liar', and 'dead' were quite audible. Moments later, the man was dead and being drug away by two large aliens Tom and Vito hadn't seen before.

Tom and Vito shared a glance and turned back to the bar as they sipped their drinks. After a moment, there was the sound of someone walking behind them.

"The famous Tom Vercetti and his ever present friend Mister Vito."

The men turned around to see Bjayzl addressing them. "What brings the two of you to Stardust City?"

Tom looked back as Vito stood taller and crossed his arms, "Business" Tom replied.

"Business? Oh, I do hope it wasn't with Lasin, Lester, whatever his name was. He wasn't very trustworthy." Bjayzl replied. "What do you have to sell?"

"We're buying." Vito replied.

"Well, I might have what you're looking for." Bjayzl said with a fake smile.

Vito rolled his eyes, which drew a stair from one of Bjayzl's goons.

"We're working for an anonymous buyer. They were looking for non-Federation phaser rifles and pistols, secure communicators, and non-Federation tricorders." Tom replied.

"Planning a little raid?" Bjayzl asked.

Tom shrugged his shoulders.

Bjayzl looked to her left, "Vezel, see to these gentleman's needs."

The big alien nodded as Bjayzl walked away.

"Follow me." The alien said then he started to walk off.

"Weapons?" Vito whispered.

"Had to come up with something legit. I couldn't say 'we're looking for a Romulan that wants to defect with his family." Tom replied in a whisper.

Once outside the bar, Tom tried to prod the alien for information. "So what was with that guy?"

"Shut up." The alien replied.

"Come on, we're just making small talk." Tom said.

The alien looked back, "Small talk from small people."

"Look buddy, we're working together, let's not make this weird." Vito replied.

They entered a small store, walked to the back, down a few stares, then into a storage room.

"He asked too many questions." The alien said finally.

The alien then walked to a wall panel, typed in a few commands, and a hidden door opened. There were boxes of weapons, medical supplies, equipment, and even a box labeled 'Borg implants'. In the corner behind a focefield was a huddled family, eight Romulans. Tom and Vito shared a quick glance.

"Do they work?" Vito asked.

The alien nodded.

"Power cells charged?"

The alien nodded.

Tom picked one up, looked it over, and activated it before handing it to Vito. "Seems solid, little heavier then Federation models.

Vito looked it over, then aimed at the alien and pressed the trigger.

Nothing happened.

"Stupid Human, of course we have damping field active!" He swung a knife at Vito. The distraction was just long enough for Tom to deactivate the forcefield holding the Romulan family.

The larger of the two Humans used the rifle to parry the knife away then clubbed the alien over the head with the rifle. The alien staggered. As Tom returned, he kicked the alien with a roundhouse to the face. The alien continued to stagger, so Vito hit the alien over the head again with the rifle. After a moment, the male Romulan came over and hit the alien in the face with a double fisted blow. After another clubbing by Vito, the alien finally tumbled to the floor as Vito tossed the broken rifle to the ground.

"Ver'tan?" Tom asked the Romulan.

"Yes...how?"

"We're your ride to Federation territory." Tom replied. "I'm Tom, that's Vito."

"How did you find us?" Ver'tan asked.

"We'll explain later." Tom said as he tapped a small device he pulled from his pocket.

"Damping field should be neutralized locally." Tom then tapped a small communicator in shirt. "Draz."

"I'm here." Draz replied.

"You should have eleven life signs." Tom replied as Vito helped an older Romulan woman to her feet.

"I do, beaming you all here." Draz said.

"Beam everything from this room, all the boxes, racks, equipment, everything." Tom quickly replied.

"Hold on." Draz replied.

Moments later, the two Human, eight Romulans, one unconscious alien, and all of the goodies from the storage room were in Draz's hanger bay.

"Who the hell is that?" Draz asked.

"One of Bjayzl's people." Vito replied.

"Bjayzl?! What the fu..." Draz started.

"We didn't have a choice, we couldn't leave him there, but we can use him." Tom said cutting Draz off. "We can make it look like this guy doubled crossed Bjayzl."

"I don't need Bjayzl looking my way!" Draz added.

"We need some Human and Romulan DNA." Vito said.

The Romulans looked at each other for a moment, concerned, but Ver'tan smiled.

"We also need another ship." Tom said. "I'll make it worth your while once I'm back at Starbase 400."

Draz looked around for a moment, "I don't have one...but I know a pilot with one. He might be willing to help."

"Get him. We'll get the scene set and everything loaded." Tom replied.


About an hour later, two aliens walked into the secured storage room. They saw the other alien laying on the ground and what appeared to be the vaporized remains of two Humans and one Romulan that looked to have been caught in the middle. One of them tapped the computer panel and watched a playback that showed the alien tapping a few buttons on the wall panel, then activating a phaser and shooting a beam at a small chair to the side before three of the Romulans jumped the alien and Humans, taking the phaser away from the alien and started shooting while a younger Romulan grabbed a different phaser. In the ensuing firing Tom, Vito, one a Romulan were shot. The alien was left laying on the floor as the other Romulans escaped.

The aliens then contacted Bjayzl and explained the incident and the fault resting on their comrade's negligence.

Meanwhile, Draz returned to his hanger as the last of the 'goods' were loaded aboard the runabout. "Here he is."

Tom turned around to see an old friend, "Rios."

"Tom, you're the guy Draz said screwed up and needed help?" Rios said with a smirk.

"I'll explain later, but can you get Ver'tan and his family aboard your ship and follow us to Starbase 718? I'll make it worth your while." Tom said with a smile.

Rios looked at the Romulan family. It was clear they were scared and hungry. "Yeah, no problem. When are we leaving?"

"Now." Vito replied, "Before Bjayzl has a chance to figure out what happened."

"Bjayzl?" Rios asked, "Yeah we better go."

Tom, Vito, and Rios helped the Romulans to Rios ship, La Sirena.

Hurriedly walking back to their runabout, Tom looked at Vito. "Once we're clear, send Bjayzl's current location to this channel on that frequency. I know 'she' will want to know."

Vito nodded and after a few moments transmitted the information on a secured Ranger's comm-channel.

Within minutes, Tom and Vito's runabout followed by La Sirena left Free Cloud and set course for Starbase 718.


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