" I told you.  We are not friends."
 by Lieutenant jg T'Kang
 Chief Tactical Officer - USS Tempest
 http://come.to/tkang


T'Kang and the Yiridian, Merlund, materialized on the 
transporter pad of the USS Tempest.  The Klingon had a 
very stubborn, serious look upon his face, which caused the 
Transporter operator to comment.

"Everything all right Lieutenant?" Fredrickson asked.

"Everything is fine!"  T'Kang grumbled back, then, pushing 
the Yiridian's shoulder slightly while the mouse of a man was 
nibbling the last bit of the biscuit he'd taken from the Bolian 
restaurant on Dakota II, he commanded, "This way."

"I'm moving.  I'm moving."  Merlund responded, "No need to 
get pushy my friend."

The two men exited the transporter room and began walking 
through the corridors of the impressive starship Tempest.  
T'Kang taking his large, powerful steps while swaying slightly 
like a giant bear as he walked, contrasted by the tiny, 
delicate but frequent steps of the wrinkled old Yiridian 
vagrant.   Merlund squinted in near-sighted like fashion as 
he walked and admired the corridor and the passing crew 
members as they proceeded through the decks on their way 
to see Commodore Mitchell.  

"This is an impressive vessel you have here my friend." 
Merlund stated while turning around backwards and gawking 
at a passing crew member who was walking the other way.  
It was beginning to annoy T'Kang.  The Yiridian's constant 
jittering and distracted stares while they walked made the 
Klingon feel Merlund was nervous about something. "So 
many interesting people on board.   You must be proud to be 
here my friend."

"I told you.  We are not friends."  T'Kang reminded in a harsh 
tone while stepping into the turbolift.

The Yiridian followed and watched curiously in mouse like 
fashion as the doors swished shut.  When the lift started to 
move,  Merlund jumped slightly, then giggled as he realized 
they were in an elevator.  "Hee, hee.  We are moving."

T'Kang simply crossed his bulky arms and glanced up at the 
ceiling in disgust.  He was starting to feel that bringing 
Merlund to the Captain was not the best of ideas.  Before he 
had time to reconsider, the turbolift stopped and the doors 
opened up onto the Tempest' bridge.

Commodore Mitchell was there, pacing the command deck 
as usual.  He immediately turned to face the turbolift as the 
doors opened, and cast his eyes on T'Kang and the Yiridian.

"Lieutenant?  Who do we have here?"  Taddy inquired while 
stepping over with hands casually held behind his back.  The 
stance reminded T'Kang of a disapproving instructor he had 
had at the Academy.

T'Kang straightened slightly.  "This Yiridian is." the Klingon 
started but was interrupted as Merlund stepped past him and 
addressed the Captain directly.

"The name's Merlund.  Pleased to meet you Captain."  the 
Yiridian smiled offering his long, gray hand forward to shake 
hands.

The look on T'Kang's face was priceless.  For a moment 
Taddy thought the Klingon's head was going to explode he 
turned so flushed with anger.  The Commodore had no idea 
what this was all about, but the look on T'Kang's face had 
made it worth it, whatever it was.

"Pleased to meet you Merlund."  Taddy replied in a civil tone 
shaking the man's cold hand.  The Commodore then turned 
back to T'Kang,  "What exactly is this all about Lieutenant?"

T'Kang was still giving the Yiridian an evil glare, but softened 
it as he turned to address the Captain.  "Perhaps it would be 
better if we spoke in private sir."  T'Kang suggested glancing 
around the bridge at the nosy officers that were listening in 
like O'Malley at Ops.

"We can use my office."  Taddy declared turning to one side, 
"Mister Merlund, if you'll come this way?"

"Why thank you Captain.   My, my, my this is one superb 
vessel.  I'm sure your mother is very proud of you."  the 
Yiridian babbled, pulling a biscuit out of his satchel and 
taking a bite.  Merlund then grabbed another one and offered 
it to the Commodore, "Care for a biscuit?  They are very 
good."

Taddy smiled and shook his head.  "No thank you.  This 
way."

Behind the Yiridian and the Captain, T'Kang was fuming.  
This vagrant was making him look bad in front of his peers, 
and officers like O'Malley were eating it up.  T'Kang just 
grunted in a low, guttural growl as he followed them and 
noticed Em snickering at the ops station.

The Commodore entered his ready room and motioned to 
the chairs.  "Have a seat mister Merlund;  Lieutenant."

Taddy rested into his own chair and then leaned back and 
asked, "So, what exactly is this all about Lieutenant?"

T'Kang had chosen not to sit down like the Captain and the 
Yiridian had.  Something in his Klingon heritage had made 
him prefer to address his superiors from a standing position.

"While visiting the colony I was approached by this man 
Captain.  He claims to have been hired by my 'father' to 
deliver a vital recorded message concerning what is going to 
happen to the Tempest in the near future."

Commodore Mitchell folded his hands and listened with 
increased interest at what his Chief Tactical Officer was 
saying.  He picked up on T'Kang's code, and how he was 
being careful to not reveal the full truth in front of the 
Yiridian.  Taddy also had read T'Kang's record thoroughly 
before allowing him to join the crew.  He knew that T'Kang's 
father was killed long ago in the Empire.  And with the 
Tempest being thrown 100 years into the future, it was likely 
that this 'father' he was speaking of was really his older self, 
much like Doctor Mutt senior.

"What did this recording say?"  Taddy asked in response.

T'Kang's expression soured in disgust as he glanced at 
Merlund with an annoyed look.  "He refuses to give it to me 
Captain, unless you agree to take him with us when we 
leave the Dakota II colony."

Commodore Mitchell's eyebrow rose slightly as he pivoted in 
his chair to face the Yiridian.  "Is that right mister Merlund?  
You wish to leave the Dakota colony?"

"Yes Captain.  It seems like such a small price to ask of one 
in possession of such a grand ship as this.  I assure you I 
will be no trouble at all."  Merlund smiled showing his pointed 
rat-like teeth.

"Why do you want to leave the Dakota colony mister 
Merlund?  From what I am told it is a very nice place?" the 
Commodore asked.

"Nice perhaps for those more fortunate than myself.  But I 
am a simple man Captain.  I find my heart is no longer with 
the colony.  I wish to seek out new horizons."

"I believe he is trying to avoid the authorities on the planet."  
T'Kang grumbled in a stabbing tone.

"AM NOT!" the Yiridian snapped back angrily.  Then, 
realizing he'd lost his calm demeanor, he lowered his head 
and put on his innocent act again for the Commodore's 
benefit.  "I am a lawful man Captain who is just down on his 
luck.  Surely you can see that?"

Taddy nodded, "Oh, I believe you mister Merlund."  the 
Commodore nodded, "Then you should have no objections 
to our contacting the authorities on Dakota II to verify your 
good standings with the colony's government before 
deciding whether or not to assist you with transportation 
arrangements?"

The Yiridian began to squirm.  "Now now Captain, I don't 
think that is really necessary.  We are all friends here, . . ." 
he glanced around nervously, ". . . there is no need to bring 
the authorities into our negotiations."

T'Kang's arms where still crossed, but now he leaned back 
with a hint of satisfaction at the Yiridian's reaction to the 
Commodore's suggestion.

Taddy also realized that T'Kang's instincts were correct.  The 
Yiridian was not being completely honest with them and 
desperately wanted to leave the Dakota colony as quickly 
and quietly as possible.  That should allow them to leverage 
their position and get him to hand over this supposed 
recording he had from T'Kang's older self, warning of 
dangers to come in the Tempest's future.

"I might be persuaded not to contact the colony's authorities 
mister Merlund, but then I am going to need you to do 
something for me in a show of good faith."  Taddy explained.

"That is all I ask Captain.  A chance to prove myself as a 
worthy, humble man."  the Yiridian bowed.

"Then you can start by giving T'Kang the recording you say 
his father made for him."  Taddy smiled.

The Yiridian suddenly withdrew, huddling his arms near to 
his chest.  "I can't do that.  Once you have the recording 
there will be no reason to take me with you."

"You expect us to trust you old man, and yet you are 
unwilling to trust us, 'friend'."  T'Kang taunted in a 'holier-
than-thou' tone while his arms were still crossed in ominous 
fashion.

"It's. . . . not a matter of trust,. . ." the Yiridian looked back 
and forth between T'Kang and the Captain, ". . .it's just a 
matter of smart business."

"You sound like a Ferengi old man!"  T'Kang hissed with 
disgust.

"It is you that should be worrying about the Ferengi."  
Merlund squeaked back, then glanced at Commodore 
Mitchell, "The Consortium is not to be taken lightly.  You 
have a fine vessel Captain, but the Consortium has a fine 
fleet of vessels.  You'd be wise to take me up on this offer."

Taddy leant back in his chair.  There was no doubt in his 
mind that this Yiridian was wanted on the Dakota colony for 
some crime or another.  Or perhaps a gambling debt or other 
swindle he'd pulled.  But if he did have information from 
T'Kang's future self warning of danger to come it would 
certainly be beneficial to know about it ahead of time to 
assist in the Commodore's planning.

While the Commodore thought it over T'Kang glanced at the 
frail old man.  He sat in the chair with slouched shoulders, 
clinging to his black satchel like it were some sort of security 
blanket.  The Klingon half wished the Captain would refuse 
so he could see Merlund squirm as they turned him over to 
the colony authorities.  But an even deeper, primal instinct of 
curiosity wanted badly to know what was on this recording 
the Yiridian spoke of as warning of future danger to the 
Tempest.   With anxious eyes T'Kang watched as the 
Commodore made his decision.


*******
OOC: over to you boss!