Not Exactly Friends

Posted on Sun Jan 3rd, 2016 @ 9:32pm by Indra Nyyar & Lieutenant Commander Michael Darwin

Mission: Further Challenges
Location: The Nexus Club / Civilian Quarters

* The Nexus Club *

Zikar followed the red-haired hostess to a table near the dance floor. He appreciated her politeness and thanked her before he sat down. Her thank you had revealed an unusual accent, Terran he thought. Soon, he had a glass of Saurian brandy before him and a few sips had him feeling nice and mellow. He was meeting Farak here and expected a quiet evening. Tomorrow, he would make his first move towards Nyyar but tonight, he wanted time to ponder the nice surprises already found on this starbase. The council had been thrilled to hear he had tracked down Drekkar and Jarad. They didn’t have to know the two men had fallen into his lap by accident. The thought made him laugh and he took another sip.

A few minutes later Farak appeared at the table and had a seat. He ordered another drink for Zikar and one for himself. “Good evening sir. Lovely place. What’s the occasion?” He kept his expression mildly curious. He was looking forward to tonight’s revelation - to both Zikar and Paz when he eventually got there.

“Do we need an occasion to enjoy ourselves?” Zikar briefly looked Farak over then looked away. “We are here as emissaries of the Cardassian nation; we should be visible. This place seemed likely to provide just the sort of visibility we need.”

It was a good point. As Farak looked around, he had to admit it seemed like everyone under the sun was in here, many of them sporting a lot of brass on their collars. The women were no slouches either, for non-Cardassians. Finally he shrugged.

“As you say. Hoping to see someone in particular perhaps?”

“Nyyar? I doubt she’d have the temerity to show up in such a public place,” he scoffed. “Perhaps that diplomat, the female Klingon, will be here. Otherwise, there’s no one I could imagine meeting up with here.”

Farak nodded and now he smiled. Zikar was only partly right and once the drinks arrived, Farak took a sip. “What if I said that you were wrong?”

“You would need to explain that very quickly, Farak,” Zikar darkly threatened his underling.

“I just saw her.” Farak purposely left it at that, knowing Zikar would be practically foaming at the mouth in a few seconds.

“Nyyar? Here?” Zikar sat up suddenly. “Where?”

Zikar’s reaction was just as expected and once more Farak resisted the urge to growl in disgust. “Not here, settle down.” Farak took another drink and set the glass back on the table. “In investigating this station, I discovered a Bajoran restaurant on the Promenade, three levels up. It seemed like a good idea to keep an eye on it since it was a good bet she would find her way there. I just left the place in fact, after watching her through an entire meal. Alone…….with a Bajoran male.”

Outwardly, Zikar barely reacted; Farak, though, knew him well enough to see evidence of Zikar’s anger: a blood vessel along his left neck ridge rose up. “With a man? Already? Who is he?”

“I don’t know but based on his looks? He’s not exactly part of polite society. A little rough around the edges, shall we say?” Farak shrugged, but inside, he felt laughter bubbling up. He was enjoying this immensely. “They seemed to have quite a lot to talk about. Your wife, too, was not dressed as if for business.” He briefly described Nyyar’s appearance. “At one point, she was holding his hand.” He hoped he hadn’t gone too far and that Zikar wouldn’t flip the table and cause an uproar.

Zikar slowly bent the spoon he’d picked up half as he growled lowly. “Find him and kill him,” he said. His attention was wholly focused on Farak.

“Do you really think that is a good idea?” Farak asked. “Surely you know that you are being closely watched, and thus so am I. He may simply be an old acquaintance, or perhaps someone with a ship to take her off this station. This bears a little more investigation before we make such a move. Think about it Zikar. You’ve had Nyyar for over twenty years. You know her better than anyone. So you really think she would have any interest in anyone else? She’s only been here two days.”

“It’s the ship that is a problem - what if he does have a ship to take her somewhere else?” Zikar glared at Farak intently. “We can’t accept that. It doesn’t matter how long she’s been here; it could be that she met him on her way here. It could be that he’s the one who helped her leave Cardassia.”

One thing Farak was certain of and that was that this man wasn’t the one who’d taken Nyyar off Cardassia. “I’ll look into it, don’t worry.” He knew, however, that Zikar would do just that. He had to admit to a little curiosity too where the male was concerned. “Besides, she won’t go anywhere until her asylum request is complete, which will take some time - especially if the Council drags its feet in replying.”

Narrowing his eyes at Farak, Zikar nodded. “For your sake, that best be correct. I will speak with the Council, and see what they can do about taking care to review Nyyar’s case as thoroughly as possible.”

“That’s the spirit.” Farak smiled back at Zikar. “You must remember who is the Legate here.” Apparently that person was Farak. “Have you tried calling her yet? Now that you know she is here? Whatever that Klingon diplomat said, they can’t stop you from trying that.”

“I have not yet gotten through to her,” he said, waving his fingers against the tablecloth as if brushing away the issue. “I have sent a package to her, so we’ll see what sort of response that garners.”

“You are aware that she travels with a security detail?” Farak asked. “Which means that whatever is in there will be closely examined before she gets it.” He was curious, however. “What is in it?”

“Nothing that could be considered threatening. Flowers, an invitation, and a few pink rocks,” Zikar smiled. “If the Security details finds that to be troublesome, then they need to have their heads examined.”

“I see.” Farak motioned to a waiter. “Are you having dinner? I can’t eat, I had to eat at the Bajoran place and now I’m stuffed.”

“Good, then you won’t feel the need to try any of the Terran lobster I ordered. This should be interesting,” Zikar said.

Farak’s nose wrinkled in disgust. “I’ll leave you to that. I have a few things to do, especially since you want me to keep tabs on Drekkar and Jarad. If you will excuse me?”

“By all means, go on. I don’t really want your face around while I’m eating.” Zikar waved him away. “See you tomorrow, unless something comes up tonight.”

“You will, and good luck. I hope your package has the intended effect.” Farak rose and hurried out.

Once he was outside the Nexus, he sighed and shook his head. Zikar was getting distracted, just as he had planned but still, he wondered how this would all play out. If Nyyar gave in and agreed to come home, perhaps he would retire. The danger lay in the possibility that she would refuse him. If she did, Zikar would turn into a tidal wave of rage and his position might be all he had left to hold onto. Neither picture was a pretty one. He shook his head to clear it as the turbolift descended and finally stopped in the civilian quarters area. He made his way to a door just down the corridor and rang the chime.

From inside came the command, “Enter!” Once Paz saw who it was, though, he cursed. “You. I was hoping for someone far more attractive.”

Fark laughed. “That likely won’t happen unless you pay for them. How are things going?”

“Who says I haven’t paid?” Paz shot Farak a hard look. “After all, I can’t quite get Nyyar where I want her.”

Farak raised an eyebrow at the Bajoran. He so hoped he wasn’t faced with another male hung up on that woman. He had a feeling this visit might take longer than he thought, so he sat down and crossed one leg over the other.

“And where is that?”

Paz glared at him. “Would you prefer I say ‘on her knees’?” He was well aware that Zikar was stuck on Nyyar and that it bothered Farak. He grinned and took a seat as well. “Don’t worry, any woman would make me happy. I’d prefer to get it for free, but, if paying for it makes it happen faster....” He shrugged.

“What is it about her that has made Zikar lose his mind and you willing to risk your life to help her run away? I seriously don’t get it.” Farak frowned. “Does she know you’re here yet?”

“Woah... I’m willing to ‘risk my life’ because you paid me! She knows I’m here, too. I sent a message earlier today, but she hasn’t answered back. Maybe she thinks it’s a trap.”

Farak laughed once more. “I can tell you why she hasn’t. I spent the better part of two hours watching her have a cozy dinner with a Bajoran male in a restaurant here. I have no idea who he is but Zikar is going to have an aneurysm if I don’t find out.”

‘’Is that a subtle hint that you, the great Cardassian mastermind, needs a humble Bajoran to suss out who this Bajoran is?”

Farak nodded. “Nyyar will be thrilled to see you and since you’re on her side, she likely will tell you. It’s simple and frees me up to worry about Jarad and Drekkar. Everyone wins and I don’t have to waste my evening on that matter. I have a Romulan and a Betazoid to track down who have mysteriously dropped out of sight.”

“What? A Romulan and a Betazoid?” Paz’s brows knit together as he looked at Farak with confusion. “What the hell do a Rommie and a reader have to do with you? Oh, and finding out who your Bajoran guy is will cost you.”

“The Rommie used to be a spy and is the reason Jarad went rogue. Ditto for the reader and Drekkar. Old history...let’s just say Zikar didn’t take kindly to being fooled. You should be glad, this little chase is pulling his attention away from your girl so maybe you can get her to wherever it is you want her.” He stopped and grumbled as he regarded Paz. “Alright, how much?”

“Same as to get her off Cardassia,” Paz said. He had the feeling that there weren’t too many Bajorans who were (1) in a position to get close to Nyyar and (2) sympathetic to Farak. “Same terms.”

Farak’s eyes narrowed. “I’ve already sworn not to reveal you, and you have a new ship. What more do you want? A house on a hill with a view of the ocean down on Archadia? A nice little yard for the kids? If you’re hoping for those, you’ll be disappointed.”

Paz was shaking his head before Farak finished his list. “No, no, no. I like my ship; I like that I can pick up and go anywhere I want. Problem is, the ship needs fuel every once in awhile. So latinum would be good; as much as what the ship cost. That should do me for a good while.”

“On one condition,” Farak countered. “You agree to get her off this station for a while if things get too hot. You have a soft spot for her so that shouldn’t be too difficult.”

“Heh. Yeah, captain’s word is law on a ship.” He smiled and nodded. “Fine. I’m not sure I’d say that I have a soft spot for her.”

Farak snorted. “Please, you can’t lie to me. I know that look.” He rose and straightened his jacket. “I’ll see the transfer is done tonight.”

“Good, I’ll start looking into the Bajoran,” Paz rose to see Farak to the door just as the chime sounded again. “After the lady leaves, of course.” He opened the door, admitting a woman who looked more like a girl as she eyed the Cardassian.

“Two? That’s more expensive,” she said.

Farak looked her and down and sneered. “Please. I wouldn’t lower myself. Goodnight Paz.” He stepped through the door and hurried off down the hall.

“That’s okay, neither would I,” the woman muttered before turning a hesitant smile on Paz. “What lovely company you keep.”

“Eh. He’s not exactly a friend,” Paz said and closed the door.

**********
Legate Zikar
Farak
Amoja Paz
Locked In A Strange Dance