Sneaking is the Steed of Opportunity

Posted on Tue Dec 2nd, 2014 @ 4:42pm by Ensign Corrine Steiner

Mission: Vagrants, Vagabonds, and Thieves
Location: Starbase Hospital, PCU

[ON]

Corrie sat with the back raised on her hospital bed. After taking a near fatal phaser blast, therapy had finally restabilized the molecules of her body. She could now safely travel via transporter beams again.

Even though nobody had given her a formal briefing, Corrie had been informally told that Starbase 332 could be a sanctuary for her. No more being hunted like an escaped laboratory rat! She didn't mind the many hospital tests. After all that happened, even she was worried about possible permanent physical or mind damage. To her relief, however, the most recent results indicated that she was normal. "Pfff! Normal... right!"

Feeling well enough to read, Corrie began flipping through digital magazines to catch up on news and shopping. As she did this, she noticed movement out of the corner of her eye. A Ferengi of entirely unauthorized presence popped his head up from behind the base of her biobed. "Hi."

Corrie stared blankly at him for a few moments. "I think you have the wrong room, if you're here on visitation."

The little man hastily came around to her side, "Oh no! I came here to see you! You know, see how you're doing, see if you need anything,... see who you are." He offered a business card, "Permit me to introduce myself! I am Choople!"

Her father had warned her many a time, "Never accept a Ferengi business card. They literally drip with tracking nanites!" Corrie gave him a sullen glare. She then sighed deeply and folded her hands, "The last encounter I had with a Ferengi, he double-crossed me and nearly got me killed. Not interested, take a hike."

Choople gasped dramatically, "Double crossed you! Why that is such unprofitable treatment of clients! He should be reported to the Bureau of Business Standards!"

"The Bureau of BS? That sounds about right. I apologize, but I have a short fuse, right now. Cut the schmooze and state your business."

"Ooo! Very business like! I like that!" He set his business card on the biobed. A second later, the bio/nano sterilization field nearly roasted it.

"You were saying?"

He refocused. "Oh! Well, I try to welcome all new prospective starbase-"

"Out with it, Sir."

"All right! All right! Wow, you sure are a tough customer! Okay, honestly? You really intrigue me! Starfleet Intel rattled its sabres trying to force Captain Von to turn you over." He rubbed his hands together with a big smile, "It was rather exciting to see, actually. Anyway, that means you're obviously a hoomon of considerable value!" He only received a cold stare. "Umm, were... you maybe running away from someone really rich or powerful? Are you a mail order bride?"

She folded her arms and gave him a sullen look.

"Would you like to be?" Wide, fierce eyes cut him off from going further. "Oh. I guess not." He scratched his head, "Well, can you give me a hint?"

Corrie decided to cure this Feringfestation by letting out a very loud, attention grabbing scream.

Not in his wildest imagination did Choople expect something like that. Although hopelessly too late, the panicking young man anxiously touched his fingers to his lips, "Nono! Shhhh! Be quiet! Someone will hear you!"

Nurses and orderlies descended upon the scene within moments. Shortly after, the intrepid Choople found himself being summarily bound and hauled off to the brig for questioning.

After assuring the medical staff that she was quite all right, Corrie put her tech reading glasses back on and resumed browsing her magazines.

[OFF]

Ensign Corrine Steiner
Operations Officer
Starbase 332
Pegasus Fleet