Friends in High Places
Posted on Fri Nov 7th, 2014 @ 6:46am by Venin & Vendenje Kamdram & Karx
Edited on on Fri Nov 7th, 2014 @ 6:47am
Mission:
Vagrants, Vagabonds, and Thieves
Location: [Deck 601, Starbase 332]
Timeline: MD14: 1400hrs.
The man, to the pair, looked at first glance to be very much a human. His eyes were wrong somehow, though it was impossible to put into words what made them wrong. He moved differently as well, his steps gliding him across the floor as he made his way towards them.
His name was Reck. The contact had told them he was a Camorite. He did not have an official title, only that he was someone adept at making specific types of connections. A trader, of sorts. His all-too-white skin was youthful looking, but his long hair, pulled back in a single tie, was going gray and there was an air of age to him. "Reference," he said, his voice soft but clear.
"Reference?" Venin said, suddenly being pulled from his selfish concerns, looking up with a glare at the Camorite. "What are you talking about?"
Karx shrugged, as clueless as his brother at the man's meaning. He shifted shuffled anxiously at Venin's side, feeling an overwhelming sense that this was a bad idea.
Reck looked at the two Ferengi for a moment. "Reference," he said again. "You were put in contact with me, I need to verify your reference. You can't tell me that, as businessmen, you don't know what a reference is?" In about five seconds he was going to turn around and walk back the way he came - in Federation space the kind of thing he dealt in was very dangerous.
They could see that he was about to walk away; their only chance to settle the score was about to walk out the door. Karx spoke before he could really think, almost jumping as he called out, "Chan!" For a moment, the name hung in the air between them. "The woman who put us in contact ... was named Chan." He looked intently at Reck, his eyes narrowing as he hoped a reference in this setting meant the same as in less shady circles.
Venin stood in stoic silence as he thought back to the cavern which they had found themselves in, their expensive suits covered in the thick dust of the planet, desperately scrabbling around at the coordinates Rax had provided for them. It was supposed to be their triumphant moment- they would have returned to the Starbase with enough money to buy Archa IV but instead they had come back with a useless PADD and a grudge.
Reck hesitated for a moment, and then nodded. "Chan it is," he said, a casual smile crossing his face. "Let's talk terms, boys," he said, reaching out and patting each diminutive man on the shoulder. "You have a problem - I have a problem solver." He nodded that they should keep moving.
"What did Chan tell you about our problem?" Venin asked, not sure whether to trust someone who seemed to float half a foot off the ground instead of walk like a normal, profit-fearing Ferengi.
"Only what was necessary. You have some equipment that has outlived its usefulness, and would like to have it destroyed." His smile conveyed the true meaning behind the words he used. "Now, the issue at hand, of course, is how difficult, not to mention how much it will cost, to destroy this equipment. Naturally, we have several options at our disposal, but really boys, this your equipment, and your latinum. Oh," he said, waggling a delicately manicured finger, "and we only accept latinum. No credits, no chits, no slips. Only full bars boys - that's not a problem, is it?"
Venin bared his teeth in something between a smile and a threatening gesture. Their contact clearly hadn't passed on the exact situation which the brothers had found themselves in. The cost was great and the brothers only had so much latinum in their vault. He only had a moment to decide whether 'destroying the equipment', as Reck so succinctly put it was worth the financial outlay.
He quickly resolved to sell the shuttle off to the Bolian they had bought it from. "That won't be a problem."
"Excellent," Reck said. He paused for a moment in the corridor and looked between the two, his gaze settling on Venin. "Before we proceed any further I need the good faith payment that Chan should have told you about. Did she explain how that works?"
Venin looked agog at the Camorite. "There was nothing mentioned about additional payment."
Reck tutted. "We consider it a down payment. Assuming that everything proceeds as intended, it will be deducted from the total cost of the job - if something should go wrong on our end, you would of course be reimbursed for the full amount. However," Reck began, his calm eyes suddenly going dark and dangerous. Where a calm and aloof air had been, now hung a threatening and deadly one. It became readily apparent that Reck was not to be taken dismissively. "Should a problem arise on your end, the money would be used to pay for a very different kind of cleanup. I hope I don't need to be any more clear than that?" A moment passed, and the uneasy aura faded. Reck smiled again. "Excellent."
Karx was getting agitated and nodded furiously, "Yes, yes, yes! We'll play by your rules and give you your down payment however you want it. Chan didn't mention how it works, but we're happy to accommodate your wishes." He looked to his brother and made a face as if to say 'Just go with the flow' before turning back to Reck and baring his teeth ever so slightly. "Now let's get to the point. Will you take care of our problem?"
Reck pursed his lips. "As I said, I'm a broker. I won't personally handle your problem, but I will contract someone who will." He looked away from them for a moment, whispering quietly into a small white device he held in his hand. "The good faith payment is expected before she will begin her work, but I'll conduct the formal introductions and passing of information now." He held up a finger. "I will not be present when you give the contractor the details, so wait until I am gone before you speak to her." He turned his head to the left as a slight figure began making its way down the lengthy corridor that trailed away before them.
It was a female, that much the two Ferengi likely could tell, even despite the darkness. Reck paused only for a moment, examining their expressions carefully. It had been a gamble choosing her, given Ferengi views on women, but there really was no one better, at least not within reach, and she had already been on the station when the initial request was filed. "Gentlemen," he said, his hand sweeping out toward her, "may I introduce to you Raela."
"Raela?" Venin snorted dismissively. Nagus Rom, in his infinite wisdom, had granted a greater role to women within the Alliance but out here that meant nothing.
Karx stared at her as she approached; any woman who wasn't meek and subservient intimidated him and he could tell by the way she walked that she was anything but meek and subservient.
The woman wore form-fitting leather that was tan in the front and back, and a sharp, glossy green color on the sides. Her leather pants fit snuggly in brow leather combat boots that ended at her thighs, and the sleeveless leather vest had small shoulder pauldrons on either side. The vest cut short of reaching her pants and revealed just a sliver of gray skin - below that a heavy, buckled black belt rested, holsters on either side.
The woman had straight glossy black hair that was cut shoulder-length. The hair itself terminated at the crest of her forehead where thick, knotted ridges ran along and above her eyeline, giving her an almost sinister look. She had a thin, ever-so-slightly upturned nose and generous lips, with large almond colored eyes that shot withering looks at the Ferengi males. She looked at Reck for a moment.
Reck nodded, looking at the two men. "I'll have a boy retrieve the good faith payment sometime in the next hour." He didn't wait for the men to reply - without another look at any of them Reck departed.
The Cardassian female waited for Reck to disappear out of ear-shot before looking back at the men. She would allow them a moment to process everything.
Venin looked desperately at his brother, realising that they were about to spend a lot of money on a female to murder their enemy. What had they done? Did they do refunds?
Karx met his brother's eyes and visibly shuddered. His mouth was agape, his eyes were wide and he felt beads of sweat forming on his head. Finally, he forced out a disjointed shrug of his shoulders and turned back to Raela. His jaw started to move, but no words came out.
The Cardassian smiled. "I need a name," she said.
Venin stammered over a few pointless syllables before eventually uttering the words Crelar Rax. He was suddenly awash with warm relief and ice cold fear. They didn't know anything about Crelar Rax. What if he had powerful friends? If there was one thing the Ferengi had learned, it was that 'powerful friends' often knew where to find people.
Karx & Venin
Ferengi Traders
Reck
Middle Man
Raela
'Fixer'
