[ ir’Rak Prime ]
The buzzing of nearby flitters echoed loudly within the cramped narrow streets in the city’s impoverished industrial district. A cold rain had only recently subsided and in its place crept a thick, viscous fog that filled the dark, confined alleys and streets. The oil, sludge, and grease of the area hung in the air clinging to everything and everyone as the weather slowly consumed the area.
The stale air reeked of industrial chemicals, lubricants, and the stench of debris and trash. Darkness had fallen and was only broken by the occasional street lamp or commercial lighting. Buried beneath the city in a twisting maze of streets, pipes, and mechanical equipment was a dark, underworld where few dared to venture. The city’s poor, unemployed, and unwanted called this forgotten, stagnate, and filthy area home. Crime was rampant as all manner of unspeakable acts occurred out of site of most of the Romulan population. The city moved ahead into the future sweeping its unwanted elements into the confines of this place where it was allowed to fester in the dank, darkness.
The sound of footsteps in the cold, night air filled the streets as the footfalls splashed in the dirty puddles left over from the afternoon rains. A single cloaked figure moved briskly through the complex maze of back alleys and claustrophobic streets. The regular beat of footsteps continued but abruptly stopped as the sounds of buzzing industrial machinery, dripping water, overhead flitters, and leaking pipes combined to form a symphony only appreciated by the dark, creatures of the night.
“Are you lost”, a voice called out to the cloaked figure in the dim light of the narrow street. A male blocked the cloaked figure’s path causing them to abruptly halt their movement.
With no words forthcoming a disheveled Romulan male moved closer. “It’s dangerous around these parts, especially at night. Perhaps I can help you? For a small sum I can guide you to your destination safely. It would be unwise for someone like yourself to continue alone and in the dark. Bad things are known to happen to travelers.”
The cloaked individual remained as silent and unmoving as stone.
Sensing an opportunity the male continued to approach the mysterious outsider. “Not answering a fellow citizen is considered rude. I might just take offense.” The shimmer of a knife blade glinted for a brief second in the few beams of light that broke the obsidian darkness of the narrow and foul alley. The figure looked to their rear as another male appeared blocking any escape.
“Now didn’t I say it could be dangerous? You’d do well to start talking stranger.”
No answer was forthcoming from the robed figure.
The male spat openly brandishing a cruel, menacing blade in his grime covered hands. “Still silent? So be it. Let’s see how apt you are to scream and beg while I cut your tongue out from beneath that shroud!”
A flash of emerald light suddenly lit up the darkness with the fury of pure sunlight invading the darkness. The male to the cloaked figure’s rear suddenly disintegrated in a muffled, agonizing scream. No trace was left of the man except for his knife which clattered to the ground falling silent.
A sudden wave of fear gripped the Romulan male who had stopped the traveler. “No need to be hasty”, he said quickly. “This is all a misunderstanding!”
“Quite”, the robed person replied his low voice calm, but resonating with a sinister, malevolent timbre.
The male dropped his weapon taking several steps backwards. “Arhem Usae Rekkhai.” (I’m sorry sir)
“Indeed you are. I suggest you slither back where you came from you kllhean annelid.” (worm)
Turning the male scrambled to leave slipping on the wet, oily pavement. Reaching the end of the alley he never saw the jade beam which pierced his chest. Grabbing his torso in vain futility the cloaked figure holstered his disruptor as the male clawed at his neck and face as the disruptor’s energy tore his body apart atom by atom. A fading shrill cry faded on the wind as the man disappeared in the dark fog removed from the world of the living without a trace.
Hurling an insult the figure continued forward fading in and out of clouds of ethereal fog. The footsteps stopped as the figure reached its destination in a dark section of an abandoned alley way far from prying eyes and ears. Several moments passed in the darkness. Quietly emerging from the hazy darkness another figure appeared. A Romulan male with eyes the color of exquisite, milky jade carefully inspected the cloaked figure saying nothing. The two stood eyeing the other for sometime before the cloaked figure spoke.
“I have a need for your services. You were referred by a mutual acquaintance. You come highly recommended. I’ve done my homework. You have an impressive resume.”
“My fee is non-negotiable”, the green-eyed Romulan answered bluntly his voice low, but harsh. “The sum is payable in full prior to the job. That is also non-negotiable. Those are my terms. Take them or leave them.” The man’s voice was as icy as the cold air that blew threw the narrow alley.
“You haven’t heard the details of the job”, the cloaked figure responded. “ How can you accept the job without hearing the details?”
“One job is no different from another. The players change. The end is always the same.”
“My aren’t we confident? I like that. You will need all of that confidence and more for this assignment.”
“Stop the games. Name the target or leave. I have no patience for small talk.”
The cloaked figure imperceptibly nodded. “Very well. Your target is a human havam aboard the Federation starship currently in orbit.” The figure produced a small padd which a gloved hand thrust forward. The green-eyed Romulan took the padd and gazed at the image on the tiny screen.
“A Federation Ambassador? Is that all?”
The cloaked figure laughed. “No questions, no comments? Are you strictly all business?”
“My business is my own as is yours. I have no need for any other information. It only complicates the job.”
“Your confidence and smugness is admirable, but this is no mere hit. This has to be done quietly and cleanly. The ambassador must be eliminated without incident. If we are implicated in any manner I assure you your existence will be short. This job has no room for error. Are you still willing to accept it with such ease?”
“I pride myself on my reputation. Surely my past work is proof enough of the results you can expect. I will require several days to prepare…”
“You have 48 hours”, the cloaked figure stated. “The starship is rumored to be departing soon. We cannot afford any additional delay. If the ship leaves it will be nearly impossible to deal with the troublesome ambassador. The job must be done here while the ship is docked.”
A long silence filled the empty alley. The shrouded figure look on as the green eyes of the Romulan met their own.
“I will require double my usual fee…”
“Payment is of no concern. We will pay whatever fee you deem appropriate assuming of course you are successful in completing the job. Given your reputation I have faith in your abilities.”
“I am not fond of rushing my work”, the Romulan replied. “What can you provide to help ensure success? Such a job will require access codes, IDs, forged identifications. Such tools take time and planning to obtain. I am the best however I am not a fool. 48 hours to do what you require is impossible.”
“Those are our terms. We can provide some assistance within the dock however the bulk of this job will rely upon your skills. If you feel you cannot handle such a job then perhaps we have the wrong person.”
“Wait”, the Romulan said. “I will need an ID badge, preferably from a maintenance worker with access to the starship assigned to perform repairs. I will also require schematics of the ship and documentation of its layout, systems, and floorplans. Is there any other data on this ambassador?”
“All that you require has been provided on the padd.”
“Get me what I have asked for and I will perform this job. If you cannot provide me with these items then I cannot help you.”
“Consider them delivered. However there is one additional matter.”
The Romulan’s eyes lifted ever so slightly.
“The commanding officer of the Charon is a Romulan. She is a troublesome Susse-thrai who has disgraced the Empire in addition to her family and herself. Consider her a secondary target and one of opportunity. If you can eliminate both the Ambassador and Capatain Rehu there will be a most generous bonus added to whatever fee you deem appropriate as well as a firm promise of additional work.”
“I can deliver one, but two…do not get greedy. Greed has but only one end. I can promise nothing of the second and you should expect nothing.”
“Just keep the captain in mind. That is all we ask.”
“Fine. I will begin when and only when my fee has been deposited in the usual manner. Now if you will excuse me time is short and there is much to do.”
“Then we have an agreement?”
The Romulan silently nodded.
“Very well. The funds will be transferred within the hour. I look forward to reading about Ambassador Lamont in the press.”
The cold, green eyes in the darkness held their gaze for only a moment before they vanished back into the foggy darkness from which they had emerged.
With business concluded the cloaked figure turned and left the area. Within moments the mysterious figure slowly disappeared into the night mist like a ghostly specter. Only the silent darkness could bear witness to the person’s existence as they vanished into the night without a trace.
[ To Be Continued… ]
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Unidentified Cloaked Individual
Unidentified Romulan Mercenary
(Apb Tav)
