The Warmest of Welcomes
Posted on Tue Apr 14th, 2015 @ 2:07pm by Venin & Lieutenant Commander Isaac Dewitt & Karx
Mission:
Ill Tidings
Location: Security Centre [Deck 13, Starbase 332]
Timeline: MD02: 0730hrs
The turbolift ride from deck 2,000 to deck 13 gave Venin and Karx time to reflect on the last few weeks which, since finally getting aboard the station had been eventful to say the least.
Fresh from their encounter with the Denobulan bounty hunter, the brothers had turned their attention to the other business of the day- the new Starfleet security chief on the station. Getting in properly with him would be of the utmost importance to their business since a positive recommendation from him might see people eschew the promenade for their little bolthole.
"Now, you remember the plan don't you brother?" Venin asked softly, trying to keep his voice hushed from the Starfleet Petty Officer who had hopped on the lift at deck 230.
Karx eyeballed the petty officer, doing his best to warn him from prying ears with just the natural ferocity of his scowl. He nodded to what his brother had been saying. "Yeah," he said then realised what he had said. "Wait. What plan?"
"Yes, Karx." Venin replied witheringly, while beating his brother's brains in in his mind's eye. "The plan we went over ten times before we left the bar this morning!"
The younger of the two brothers furrowed his brow and looked down at the deck of the turbolift. "Oh, right! That. Yes, I remember the plan," Karx lied. "But," he added, shooting another glare at the petty officer, "just so there's no ... confusion. Why don't we run over it one last time?"
The lift came to a gentle stop at the Enlisted Quarters on deck 64 and the Petty Officer decanted from the lift with a suspicious glance over her shoulder, leaving the brothers alone to go over their plan.
"We are going to welcome the new hewmon Security man." Venin began tersely. "We are going to greet him in the traditional hewmon way, with a gift."
The elder brother motioned toward a lavish basket of fruit on the floor. "As representatives of the Galactic South Business Development Consortium, we are delighted to have someone of his considerable experience aboard the station to protect our interests. You understand?"
Karx scoffed and scooped up the basket, holding it in front him. "Of course I understand, brother," he said. "I'm not an idiot, you know."
"And you remember that we don't answer any questions that are not of a... friendly nature?"
"Yes!" Karx shot back with an exaggerated sigh of annoyance. The lift slowed to a stop. "Let's just do this."
[Security Centre, Deck 13]
Dewitt was getting his office in the Security Centre in order. He had had his personal data base uploaded to the Station's systems, he had a precious few personal artefacts strewn around the room and, most importantly, he had arranged the furniture of the room to his liking.
He was going to have to practically live in this room for the foreseeable future. It would no doubt be the site of many personal failures and triumphs. He may have to interrogate a suspect here, console a bereaved family member and probably endure a “frank discussion” or two from the station commander.
His desk, in the center of the room, sat squarely so that it looked directly out the window onto the main section of the security center. I can see everybody and everyone can see me. That's how it should be in the security section. There were still a few crates dotted around the room as he unpacked the last of his luggage.
The two Ferengi appeared at the door to his office with wide, beaming, sharp-toothed smiles. The door sighed open in front of them and the elder stepped through the door, parting his hands at their heels and bowing slightly.
"Lieutenant Commander Dewitt." He said through the grin. "I'm incredibly sorry to disturb you. My name is Venin and this is my brother Karx. We represent the interests of the Galactic South Business Development Consortium and would like to take the opportunity to welcome you to Starbase Three-Three-Two."
He motioned toward the basket which Karx cack-handedly carried into the room. "A gift."
Karx patted the basket, smiling as he held it up for the hewmon security chief to have a better look.
Dewitt narrowed his eyes and shifted his gaze from the Ferengi's wide grin to the basket.
“Well. How very public-spirited of you. Such a selfless gesture. And I'm sure that the Galactic South Business Development Consortium doesn't expect anything in return for this... this... What is it?” Dewitt gestured at the basket.
Venin stared blankly at the basket for a moment and began to doubt himself. "It's... fruit. A traditional earth welcome, if my sources are to be believed."
Dewitt began to feel just a tad embarrassed. Have I just messed up before I've begun? Am I predjudiced against these two, just because they're Ferengi?
“A fruit basket. Of course.” Dewitt reached out to accept the basket with a just a trace of sheepishness in his face. “Thank you very much, Venin. Genuinely.”
"Commander." Venin replied, with the wide, toothy grin he was renowned for spread across his face like jam. "You are most welcome. My brother and I will take our leave of you now, but please do not hesitate to contact us if we can be of any use to you."
The two Ferengi slowly backed out of the security centre, leaving the Security Chief to his thoughts. The whole thing had gone better than expected and the hewmon seemed genuinely delighted to receive some replicated apples and other assorted rubbish that Venin would not allow to pass his lips even if he was only moments from starvation.
"Perhaps this new Security man will be more accepting of our business practices, Brother." He said quietly as the turbolift doors closed behind them.
Lieutenant Commander Isaac Dewitt
Chief of Station Security
Karx & Venin [NPC: Drusus & Gunning]
Ferengi Traders - Operators: Alexander's
