Chapter 13

Chapter Thirteen

Pike and Archer arrived at New Vulcan early morning. They obtained the beam down coordinates and once on the planet, they went to where Sam Kirk was staying.

“Morning Admiral Pike, Admiral Archer. Ready to have a chat with our guests?”

Pike smirked at that comment. “Yes, Sam. Where do you have them?”

“As we don’t have jails here on the colony, we have them looked up in one of the rooms the healers use. Especially as one of them is recovering from his injuries.”

“Yeah, read the report you sent once you examined him. Don’t envy him those.”

“Well, Iront said there was no profit in this situation, once he regained consciousness.”

Archer snorted, “I can imagine.”

“Well, here we are.” He lead them to a room that had a lock on the outside of the door.

“Have they tried to escape?”

“Hell, no. This is to keep Merrok and Kor out. They aren’t too happy with these four.”

“I can imagine.”

Sam opened up the room and the three of them entered in. The Ferengi were huddled on the bed, as far from the door as possible. “Gentlemen, you have some visitors.”

“Get us out of here and we’ll tell you whatever you want. Just don’t let them get us.” The larger of the four said. The other three nodded as well.

Pike’s eyebrows nearly went into his hairline. “Well, you can start by telling us who you were working for.”

“We are working with the Excalbians.”

“Why?”

“They are paying well.”

“How?”

“They pay us in rare minerals from the planet. They also will let us build a resort.”

“Really? You profit from this?”

“Yes, rules 2 and 62 apply.”

“Yup,”

“The best deal is the one that brings the most profit,” said one. 

“The riskier the road, the greater the profit,” said another.

“So when we talk to your friends on Ardana, they’ll tell us the same thing?”

“Yes,” they all said together.

Pike nodded and called for security from the ship to come and collect their guests. “They will be stored in the brigg and when we get the others from Ardana, they can enjoy the accommodations as well.”

The Ferengi did not look happy to hear this but they knew it was either there or stay here and pray the Romulan and Klingon didn’t get to them. Their shoulders slumped in defeat and they quietly left with security when they came.

“On to Ardana.” Archer slapped Pike on the shoulder and the two beamed back to the ship.

**********

The sounds of screams echoed through the hallways of the Councilary. Jim jerked awake as the sounds reached his ears and the feeling of pain overwhelmed him. He slammed his shields up and managed not to throw up. God the agony the was feeling. Spock helped him from the bed and they threw on their clothes. He could just imagine what the Betazoids were feeling right now. They rushed from their room and met the others out in the hallway. Everyone was there except for the Betazoids. “Uhura, check on Omal and his aides.”

She nodded and headed into his rooms. Jim and the others headed down the hall towards the screams. As they traversed the hallways, the screams grew louder. They could hear someone talking.

“Why did you come here?” A scream was their only answer. “Answer me!” The scream grew louder. Jim rounded the corner and into a room where the screaming and shouting was coming from.

“High Advisor, Plasus!” He exclaimed in shock. There before him strapped to a table was one of the Ferengi prisoners. He was glowing and looked to be in agony. “Stop this at once.”

The light of the device turned off and the Ferengi was left whimpering. McCoy rushed over to him and started running his tricorder over him.

“No physical wounds. Seems this machine works on the pain receptors in the brain, triggering the nerves so they are pain.” He placed a hypo to the Ferengi’s neck and he passed out. “A pain reliever with a sedative.”

Jim nodded, “High Advisor Plasus. We don’t torture our prisoners. Why would you do this?”

“I needed to know why he came. What if he brought more people later to hurt my people once your ship left.”

“Be that as it may, that’s not how the Federation conducts interrogations. If you will, I’ll have one of my people talk to the prisoners and see what information that we may obtain.”

“If that is what you wish, Captain.”

“I do, thank you.”

“Sentinel, take the prisoner back to his cell.”

“Yes, sir.” The sentinel moved forward and unstrapped the prisoner. He pulled him from the table and dragged him from the room. Jim winced, the Ferengi was unconscious from McCoy’s hypo and unable to walk and these people did not seem to care. He could not wait to leave this planet. The group left the room and headed back to their quarters. Jim was shaken by what had happened and upset. These people were barbaric, these talks needed to be wrapped up soon. He wasn’t sure how much more he could take. The others headed back to their quarters as Jim and Spock stopped in front of the Betazoid Ambassadors rooms. The door opened to their chime and they entered.

“How is he?” He asked Uhura.

“He is better. Once the torture of the poor soul stopped, he calmed down.”

“It was Plasus. It seemed he feared invasion so took it upon himself to interrogate.”

“Barbaric.”

“I know. I know you are not trained in interrogation but would you talk to them. They may open up to you.”

“My pretty face.”

“No, your sweet and gentle face.”

“Flatterer. I will talk to them later then. Gave the poor soul a chance to recover.”

“Thank you, Uhura.”

“Your welcome, Captain. Omal should be ready in time for the talks today.”

“Thank you.” Jim and Spock turned and left the Ambassadors rooms. They walked to their rooms and went in. “I can’t wait for this to be over.”

“I know T’hy’la. Come eat a little something and we will get ready for the day.”

“Thank you, my love.” They shared a soft kiss.