Bailing out big brother

Posted on 16 Dec 2017 @ 2:07pm by Ensign Miraj Derani & Commander Luke Wyatt

3,131 words; about a 16 minute read

Mission: Episode 15 - Emanation
Location: Seoul, Earth
Timeline: MD 16 0100 local time

[ON]

The Stranger Tides's small shuttle swooped down across the surface of the world. Miraj's father's ship had been in distant orbit, due to its enormous size, and Mal Garrison had come in via the north pole. As they broke atmosphere over Russia, heading for australia, Miraj's brother turned to Luke. "Do you fancy stopping for a quick drink. I know a place in old Korea."

Luke was in his own mind thinking about the last few months and what had happened to them when Mal broke his thought process. "Sounds perfect" He replied with a nod.

The bar itself turned out to be a surprisngly seedy little place a little way from Cheongnyangni Station in Seoul. Lit only by the neaon strip lights in shades od red and pink and green that ran around the walls, and up the poles a variety of scantily clad dancers were gyrating around, trying to coax latinum out of the patrons seated at the edge of the stage. Mal ignored the tables there and headed for one of the booths at the back.

A waitress in a near transparent t-shirt two sizes two small, and pants so tight they must have been sprayed on, came over, gave Mal a winsome smile and a lingering look. "What can I get for you, honey boy?"

"Whiskey and soda." Mal replied with a devilish grin. "And one for yourself of course, Mi-kyung."

The waitress turned to Luke, "and for your friend?"

"Whiskey, straight please," Luke said eyeing the waitress and then to Mal.

"Coming right up." She sashayed away. Mal watched her pert behind until it reached the bar, then turned to Luke. "So. You're dating my baby sister. You're old enough to be her father."

Luke chuckled "Well yes, but that would mean I got up to something very young and besides, we live in a world where time can be literally changed. Do you have a problem?"

Mal held his eye. "Yes. She's a child, not physically, but in every other way. And I've met enough marines to know she's going to get hurt."

Luke nodded, "You don't give her enough respect she, not the little girl you're used to, she's grown-up and I wouldn't ever do anything to hurt her," He said truthfully holding mals eyes.

The other man's expression passed through surprise at being accused of not respecting Miraj, to outright skepticism at Luke's promise not to hurt her. "I'm glad to hear that. But I want things to be perfectly clear, so remember, for when you hurt her, if you hurt her, I will make you pay for it."

"I can respect that," Luke replied as the waitress returned with their drinks. He took his glass and eyed the contents the woody smell of its contents pricked his nostrils, raising the glass his mouth he sipped the at the contents feeling the harsh yet relaxing burn course through his throat before settling in his stomach.

Mal drank from his own glass. "Make sure you do. I'm a very devoted big brother."

"It's good to know, you should always look after family. No matter how distant. And Miraj is certainly worth looking out for, I do love her and I hope you'll never have to take action on your words."


"Me too." Mal raised his glass. "Hits on people with your skill set are expensive." He smiled as he took a drink. There wasn't any humour in it.

Luke finished his drink and signaled for another, with a wave of his empty glass turning to Mal "Nature call's I'll be right back." He said standing up and making his way through to the toilets.

When he came back there was a shaggy haired Andorian sitting in his seat. The andorian looked him up and down, antennae swiveling. "This the guy?" he asked Mal

"He's the guy," Mal confirmed.

"Well I wouldn't cross him on a dark night." The Andorian replied. Then he looked back at Luke. "Nice suit. Are you armed?"

Luke looked at the Andorian and then to Mal. "No, Why would I be armed?" He lied, the cold steel of his Marine-Kbar in his shoe becoming increasingly colder.

"You didn't tell him?" The Andorian said, hauling up his trouser leg.

"I had more pressing conversation."

"Well you better tell him now." The Andorian retrivied a small but severely nastly looking disruptor from an ankle holster and started to unlace somehting held at the small of his back. "You know what Torbruk is like for punctuality." The andorian held up the disruptor and a plain looking ushaan to Luke. "Take your pick."

Mal looked at Luke. "I'm afraid I've got an ulterior motive for asking you here. I have a meeting with a business partner, but I'm a couple of men down, for reasons. I was hoping you could stand still and look intimidating for me. It will take five minutes tops. Tobruk's a stickler for punctuality, but he's not an arsehole. We just need some privacy. It won't take long."

He sighed, "Mal... You can't just drop something like this one me. What is this buisness? I'm a Starefleet Officer not a for hire bodyguard" Luke said shaking his head.

"You're dating my baby sister, you can do me a favour." Mal replied. "Its just a delivery. I'm bringing something back for him. Tobruk just doesn't like anyone else knowing his business, so I need an extra hand to maintain some privacy. Nothing major."

"Fine, but any sign of trouble i'm calling the whole thing off and we're both leaving." He said as the waiter returned with his drink, he quickly drank it and looked back to Mal. "Lead the way then."

The three of them headed out back, stepping out into the narrow alley way at the back of the building, and the crossed the street, the Andorian tucking away his unaccepted weapons. From their, Mal move quickly to a secluded loading door, where a small truck was parked. The driver leaned out and gave Mal a thumbs up, getting out to join them. Mal walked round to the back of the truck and used a thumb print to unlock the loading door. he didn't open it. "Luke, this is ch'Zera," he pointed to the long haired Andorian, "and "Brezja," The driver, a Risan judging from the clam symbol nodded back. "Boys, this is Luke."

Luke was no interest in know their names or their roles he turned to Mal "Lets just get this over with so I can go back to miraj" he said his arms cross showing off his muscular tris and bis.

The Risan did a double take. "You're letting him date baby sis?" he asked is surprise.

"Shut up," Mal replied amiably. "Get up high and get settled."

The risan smirked, and retrieved a long bag from the truck's cab, before heading to climb the fire escape, giving Luke a conspiratorial thumbs-up as he moved past.

Mal pointed to the head of the alley, "After Tobruk gets here, no one comes past that point, got me?"

Luke looked in the direction Mal was pointing "No one past sure thing" he said walking of moaning under His breath as he took the in a thug pose and leaned against the wall.

At that moment a quiet sedan car purred up on its electric motor. Out of the rear seat came a burly looking Nausicaan, who moved round and opened the other rear door for an orion man as two more nausicaans got out of the front seat and looked around the alley.

"Tobruk!" Mal gave the orion a glittering smile, though his dark eyes were respectfully wary. "Doing well I hope?"

"Well enough, Malcolm," the orion replied. "Safe journey?"

"Boring as all hell," Malcolm confirmed. "Just as I like them." he turned to the truck, and hauled up on the loading door. "Cash on Delivery, I believe."

Tobruk looked in the truck, it was packed with crates of varying shapes and sizes. He stepped inside and opened one at random, taking out a slender, beautiful, evil looking rifle, a Romulan type three. He sighted down the barrel, carefully not pointing at anyone. "You always bring me the goods," Tobruk said with satisfaction, putting it back into the crate, then made a gesture to one of the Nausicaan.

"You always pay me the cash," Malcolm replied smoothly. "Good business relationships should be cherished.

"Indeed," replied Tobruk

Luke could just about make out the conversation and he couldn't help but feel the urge to speak to Miraj about this. He wouldn't if she knew what her shady brother was up to.

As the Nausicaan retrieved a large bag from the car, Luke could just about hear the feint growl of an overburning thrust engine approach. A moment later two dark trucks came roaring around the corner, accelerating hard towards their position.

Luke pushed himself up off the wall and looked towards the two trucks "WE HAVE INCOMING!" He shouted pressing himself flat as a truck roared past him, the wing mirrors missing him by a fraction.

Mal looked up from rifling the gold pressed latinum in the nausicaan's bag. "Take cover!" he shouted, pulling out a disruptor of his own, and diving behind a an aircon outlet, dragging the bag with him

"Syndicate," Torbruk swore, pulling a palm sized phaser from his tailored jacket. His Nausicaan guards jumped into the truck and grabbed some of the type threes.

The two vans stopped suddenly the doors thrown up and males of multiple species began to fire at them. One Nausicaan died instantly, but the others had cover inside Mal's truck.

Another, a small wiry Yridian glanced over his shoulder to see Luke, and swung his arm round wildly to point a phaser at him.

In the time Luke dodged the charging vans and recovered he had pulled out his K-bar. When he finally composed himself. "You don't want to do that," He said sternly knowing this was only ever going to go one way. He didn't wait for a reply and jumped behind the dumpster avoiding the phaser shot

The attackers didn't seem interested in taking prisoners. One aimed at where the Risan was sniping at them. He didn't bother with trying to hit a relatively well covered target. He just fired his disrupter at the top of the building, carving away a chunk of it. The risan gave a shout of surprise, then a scream of pain as the building collapsed around him.

"Brejza!" Mal shouted, instantly drawing fire. The Aircon unit he was hiding behind was hit by phaser fire, growing red hot before melting. With a yelp he ran for the dumpster, sliding in next to Luke. "We're in trouble. Got any bright ideas?"

"Yeah whatever it is you're involved in stop it immediately, for the short term just stick on my arse" Luke looked round the corner one of the assailants had his back turned away from them whilst one was trying to gain his attention pointing at their position. "Follow me" Luke k-bar in hand charged the distracted attacker knocking him to the ground.

Mal followed behind, disrupter held ready, bag of latinum slung over his shoulder. it was thick and heavy, but he'd be damned before he left it behind. "We can't leave my crew behind." he glanced over his shoulder to see ch'Zera, phaser in one hand, ushaan in the other, trying to break cover and get to the open street.

Luke took in the situation, if you put these men in green uniforms they’d almost be marines. “Fine, but I’m not dying and I’m not letting you die either Miraj would kill me which would lead to reason number 1”

Mal popped up to snap off a few shots, forcing the syndicate's heavies back behind cover. "Mij can't hurt a fly let alone the man she's besotted with." He glanced around. They were heavily pinned, despite Torbruk's Nausicaans working hard to change that. Where was the police? Or the Marshalls? A fire fight should be drawing attention. This was Earth! "Just tell me what to do."

Luke took in his surrounding they had been mostly left alone and the combat was mostly between the other men and their attackers. “We can get around behind them, take them out on by one. Follow me”

The younger man nodded, and together they slipped from their concealment as the nausicaans were sending out a barrage of orange bolts at their attackers. With the syndicate keeping their head down it was easier than expected to slip out of position. The enemy was too busy staying alive to stop them. Mal kept closer to the former marine, trusting the older man to not get them both killed as they circled around, sneaking up on the rearmost of the Syndicate men, a human looking man crouched at the back of the second truck.

Luke signaled for Mal to wait where they were, without any other sign he approached the man who was facing away and wrapped his arms around his neck strangling him unconscious, he wasn't killing anyone today. Once the man lay silent he signalled Mal to his side. "What do they want anyway?" He asked assessing the situation.

Mal has the decency to look guilty. "They probably want their guns back." he admitted.

Shaking his head Luke didnt even face the man "Guns, really?"

"The guy I was supposed to buy them off sold them to the syndicate. I couldn't go to Tobruk empty handed. So... I stole them back."

"Wow, you sure did a lousy job," He said motioning Mal to follow him the other assailants hadn't noticed their fallen comrade. As they took cover Luke turned to Mal "Were gonna have to split up and take a target down each" pointed towards two of the four men left.

"No worries." Mal raised his disruptor and sighted on the right hand target Luke had indicated, a human-ish looking man intent on killing one or any of the Nausicaans.

Luke had moved to deal with the men more personally he gave Mal the pre arranged signal and in one motion there was two less men left however the other two now had turned around and were advancing Luke phaser at their side thinking he would be an easy target. Luke stood up straight and shook out his shoulders breathed out and charged the men.

The closest, a brawny looking Andorian, held his ground, and tried to swing for Luke as he charged, ushaan in hand.

Luke dodged left and performed a tactical role as he righted himself he turned back his left leg arched in a vicious blow connecting his heel with the assailant's shocked face.

The Andorian's head snapped sideways, and the blue skinned man staggered sideways. Dazed and concussed he swung wildly, missed, and swung again, the half moon shaped knife swinging low towards Luke's belly.

Luke attempted to jump back and only half avoided the blade as it cut a bloody line across his stomach. "Well that was uncalled for." He said almost enjoying himself as he moved forward jumping up and bringing a hard downward fist into the Andorians skull.

The Andorian's skin split under his knuckles andhe collapsed in a heap on the ground, out for the count. Then a thin orange line, hot as hell lanced past him, scant centimetres from his face, dropping a Benzite armed with with a type 3 phaser who was taking aim at Luke's unprotected back.

Mal, gave him a wave, and then fired as his own Andorian ship mate helped the injured Risan away from the scene, covering the two men as they hobbled away, forcing the Syndicate heavies to keep their heads down. Ready to go? Torbruk can take care of himself!" he indicated the Yridian who was still pinned down, but his Nausicaan guards were not giving ground.

“Let’s get out of here” he agreed running over to Mal stopping short and his right hand covering his exposed flesh as blood stained his shirt and hand. “We better get cleaned up before we go back, Miraj will ask questions” he suggested.

Sirens started to b;are in the distance, whatever had been holding off the authorities seemed to have worn off. "Run now, shower later," Mal decided. "I want to find a safe spot to beam up." He shouldered his bag of latinum and started weaving for the main street.

Rolling his eyes Luke ran behind his girlfriends brother, despite being thrust into this situation and though he wouldn't admit it out loud he rathr enjoyed it. "How much further?" He asked after about ten minutes of running.

They came to a panting, limping halt. Mal checked around. "This should do." In the far distance there was the flashing lights of security drones and a news camera, also on remote, ziped overhead towards the altercation. He opened an old fashioned communicator. "Tides, beam us up." In a moment there was the familiar buzz and orange lights of a transporter enveloping them.

And at the last moment before he wasn't there anymore, a repulsor lift bike zoomed past. It was driven by an Andorian, intent on escape as well, but the passenger was another orion, musular and heavy set. As Luke started to dematerialise, they locked gazes, the Orion's eyes narrowing.

And then they were all in the small sleek transporter room of a relatively small sleek ship.

Luke took in his surroundings they seemed safe for the moment. Luke turned to Mal rushed him and grabbing him by his collars pinned him to the wall lifting him a foot of the ground "What the fuck was that!"

The action surprised Mal, and he found himself dangling before he realised what was going on. He slapped Luke's arms down, and dropped to the floor. "Unexpected," Mal said, brushing at his leather long coat, "I never dreamed they'd come after us. Especially not here. This is Earth! There's no crime here. Why do you think I chose to do the hand over here. I wasn't expecting anything other than a nice quite handover."

Luke slowly lowered him "Earth despite what you may think and Starfleet may let on isn't exactly the safe haven every one expects. Next time a Federation space station will be more secure." He turned his back to him "Now wheres the showers"

Mal straightened his clothes, burshed his now loosed pony tail back out of his eyes. "I'll show you. Then we'll beam you straight back to Sydney, and no one need ever know."

[OFF]

Lieutenant Commander Wyatt
Chief of Security

Malcolm Garrison
Captain
SS Stranger Tides
[NPC Derani]

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