"Ghostly surprises beckon drunken fools"
 by Sogh T'Kang
 First officer - IKV Jachyoj
 http://come.to/tkang


T'Kang stepped off of the lift and marched his lumbering 
frame to the Captain's office.  The Klingon warrior was still a 
little startled by what he thought he heard below deck.  They 
sounded like haunted whispers, but T'Kang had dismissed it 
as simply being tired from a long 20 hour day.

Entering Mec's officer, the Klingon could see that the missing 
officers and Kruge's death was troubling the Captain.   He 
barely changed his facial expression when T'Kang entered.

"You have my report Mister T'Kang?"

"Yes Captain.   The three other Klingon officers now under 
my charge are safely enjoying refreshments on deck Blue 
99.  I have instructed them to return to the Klingon Barracks 
on Red 9 as soon as they are finished this evening and to 
wait there until morning.  You do not have to worry about the 
Klingons on this station Captain.  They will do as they are 
told."

Mec nodded.  "It's been one long first day, hasn't it T'Kang?"

"Yes."  T'Kang replied briefly.  No fan fare or politeness 
present in his tone.  Just the harsh, to the point ,direct 
response of a Klingon warrior.

"Well, things should go smoother tomorrow when the 
Jachyoj and Yeager arrive with more personnel and 
supplies.   Thank you for checking on your people T'Kang.  
That is all for this evening."  Captain Mec dismissed.

With a nod, T'Kang turned and exited the Captain's office.

*****

*** Mean while ***

Tumek, Roshka and Reshtarc had finished for the evening at 
the Deep Blue lounge on the lower levels and where making 
their way back up to the barracks on Red 9.  Each of the 
Klingon warriors had enjoyed goodly amounts of bloodwine 
and food and they were all giddy from the drinking.

Walking through the connecting corridors that lead to the 
massive alien lifts, a whisk howling noise disturbed the 
drunken revelry of the warriors.

"Wait!. . . do you hear that noise Roshka?"  Tumek asked 
struggling to remain still and listen.

Tumek turned and laughed, "Hear what?  That Reshtarc 
once again bettered you at drinking bloodwine?"

"Shush!  No, listen.  By Kahless I swear, I heard something 
off in the distance."  Roshka hissed in a drunken slur.

"I hear nothing, but you Roshka.  The one that can't hold his 
bloodwine."  Rechtarc replied with a hearty laugh.

Roshka didn't respond, but instead tried to steady his 
thoughts, and clear his mind of the drink while trying to make 
out what the howling sound was saying.  It sounded like a 
tormented voice, off in the distance.  "I am going to check it 
out .  Stay if you want, but I am not afraid!"

Tumek laughed, "Of course you are not afraid, you are a 
drunken fool.  There is no ends to the courage one can 
summon up on a belly full of bloodwine!"

Roshka walked off towards the distant, beckoning sounds 
while Tumek rocked on his feet trying to maintain his 
drunken balance.  Glancing at Rechtarc, he asked, "Did 
Tumek just call us cowards?"

Rechtarc belched loudly, pounding his fist onto his solar 
plexus a few times.  "I think he did Tumek."

"We should follow him then.  See to it that he doesn't get into 
trouble."

"But Sogh T'Kang ordered us to return to the barracks once 
we finished at Blue 99."  Rechtarc reminded.

"And we will, once we catch up to Tumek and convince him 
to stop chasing voles around this station.  Come on.  Follow 
me. . ." Roshka finally stated, walking off after Tumek.

The three caught up with each other at the end of the 
corridor where it forked off into a T junction.   Tumek just 
stood there as Roshka and Rechtarc stepped up behind him.

"Come now fool,  there is no time tonight to explore when we 
have early work of it tomorrow morning."  Roshka stated.

Tumek just pointed.  "By Kahless! It's the Ra'wI!"

Roshka and Rechtarc looked in the direction Tumek was 
pointing, and blinked their eyes in disbelief.  But there, 
floating in a ghost-like fashion was Ra'wI Kruge.  His arms 
outstretched and beckoning for them to follow.  His mouth 
was moving, as if he was trying to speak, but the only thing 
that came out where tormented howls.

"My eyes deceive me!  My vision, impaired with the evenings 
drink sees Kruge, but my brain tells me this can not be, for 
Kruge has passed on to serve the black fleet in Sto'Vo'Kor!" 
Roshka practically screamed out loud.

"Don't you see brother Klingon?  We bare witness to the 
wraith of the Ra'wI.  His spirit.  He beckons us to follow him.  
Maybe to lead us to his murderer on this station!"  Tumek 
rationalized.

"But Sogh T'Kang ordered us to. . ." Rechtarc began.

"Shut up you fool!   T'Kang hadn't seen nor knew about this.  
And where he to know, he himself would want to revenge the 
Ra'wI for his poisonous death.   Now come on.  If Kruge's 
ghost wishes us to follow, then follow we shall!"  Tumek 
declared.

Reluctantly, Roshka, Rechtarc and Tumek followed the 
wraith of Kruge down the twisted corridors of the dark 
D'Alaan space station.  Not knowing where it was leading the 
three drunken warriors on the vast, unexplored, alien space 
facility.