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Star Trek Chapter 04
He came too lying on his back, staring at a brightly glowing ceiling. His temple ached where he had taken the hit. He put his hand on his forehead, then tested the bruise. Nothing seemed broken but the skin was numb-obviously a nasty cut had been repaired. He turned his head to see the goon who'd hit him sitting at a desk on the other side of a transparent wall-he was in the Enterprise's brig, not for the first time.
He sat up, then felt dizzy.
"Bridge, the detainee is awake," the goon said into his wrist.
"You didn't have to hit me," Justin said.
"That's alright, I don't mind," the goon sneered, "just part of the service."
"When'd they remodel the brig?"
"I'm not at liberty to say."
Cooper sighed and lay back down.
Two minutes later the goon jumped to his feet.
"As you were," the Captain said as he walked into the room.
Justin sat back up, he did not recognize the captain, a middle size human of African descent.
"I'd like to question the prisoner alone," the Captain said, by way of dismissing the sergeant.
The goon nodded, then walked toward the door but stopped in surprise.
"Good afternoon Admiral," he said and stepped aside to let Admiral Kirk, followed by Captain Spock, enter the brig. He then quickly left.
Justin put his shock aside and, again, took on an expression of bored indolence.
"Well, Admiral," he said, "I can't say I'm pleased to see you again."
"Hello Mr. Cooper," Kirk responded, "I trust you're doing well."
"Fine until one of your Cardassian Swamp Apes hit me for no reason..."
"The doctor says you'll heal fully," Captain Terrell said.
"Oh, I'm sure of that," Justin glowered at the three officers. "But, Admiral, for what reason do I deserve the honor of your presence, or yours Mr. Spock?"
Kirk looked at Justin with amusement. "Well, Justin, I have a little job for you."
"I stopped working for the Federation six years ago, when you kicked me out, remember?"
"Technically, no," Captain Terrell interrupted. "You still have four of your ten year reserve obligation-even after you were cashiered."
"Petty Officer Cooper," Spock said, "you are being re-activated and placed under the Special Intelligence Directorate of Star Fleet. As of this moment, you are under full legal obligation as an enlisted member of Star Fleet."
"I don't care what the fuck you think, I'm not..." Cooper growled as he stood up.
"I will remind you that you are speaking to two senior officers and a flag officer," Spock said in a strangely commanding voice. "You will behave with the proper decorum."
"I will remind you that I don't give a fuck!" Justin replied.
"Have a seat, Justin," Kirk said. At the same time he picked up a chair and turned it around. He sat down, facing the prisoner but backwards in the chair. Spock and Tarrell remained standing.
Cooper sat down.
"I assume you're aware civilian vessels are not allowed to operate cloaking devices."
"You mean the one you arranged for me to pick up?" Cooper responded.
"He catches on fast," Kirk said over his shoulder to Terrell.
"Obviously you've set me up," Justin continued. "That can only mean you want me, or more importantly, my ship for something."
"Very fast," Terrell said.
"Petty Officer Cooper," Spock interrupted. "You are being directed to take your ship to Illith 4 and there purchase, or if needed steal, a person who, otherwise, will soon be sold as a slave. You will then transport this person into Federation space and release her to the proper authorities."
Kirk looked over his shoulder at Spock with an annoyed expression. Then he turned back to the prisoner. "Justin, did you hear about that incident a couple of months ago when a transport got lost and accidently entered Cardassian space?"
"Yeah, I thought there were no survivors."
"That's what we thought. Problem is, there were."
"And they've been sold as slaves," Justin said.
Kirk went on, "the ship had Gupper 4 registration, not Federation. The Federation, while condemning the incident, has no jurisdiction."
"I got that. And..., you want me to go get one of them."
"One of the passengers is of high interest to the Federation. If her identity is discovered, the Cardassian's will use her to extract political concessions," Spock said.
"Justin," Kirk said, leaning forward, "she's a ten-year-old girl."
Cooper leaned forward, his mood changing. "Who is she?"
"That we are not at liberty to say..." Spock said, cutting off the Admiral.
Again Cooper leaned back, now looking at the three Star Fleet officers with skepticism. They were silent for a moment, long enough for Cooper to know that there was something personal in this-personal for the Admiral and maybe even Spock.
"Why me? Star Fleet must have better assets."
"Well," Kirk glanced at Spock, then looked back at Cooper, "we have to ensure that Star Fleet is in no way implicated."
"And in return, I get to keep my ship, with the cloak."
"Petty Officer Cooper," Terrell broke in, "your cloak isn't too good, we could track you from 500 a.u."
"We have a tech along who will calibrate the system," Kirk added.
"And remove whatever tracking device you've put on my ship?"
"It's actually part of the cloaking device," Kirk replied.
Spock looked at him and raised an eyebrow.
"Any other profit in it for me?"
"A full load of antimatter and whatever other provisions Enterprise can supply," Terrell said.
Justin stood up and walked to the transparent wall. He tapped on it and it responded with a wavering drumming sound. "How bout turning this off?"
Terrell went behind the console and pressed a button, the wall vanished.
"I think you know the tech who'll be helping you with the cloak," Kirk said with a smile. "An old shipmate-but he's made Chief-remember Mutubu?"
"Contu?" Cooper asked with a smile.
"Yeah."
Cooper chuckled, "Yeah, we ran together some..."
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