Bringing back old memories

[Seiben 0]

With Trichon, Neo, and Graham gone to return to the Excalibur, Tar'Mok is left to wander Deep Space 9 by himself. Looking around the station's grand promenade, there are many people crowded around vendors who set up shop in booths throughout the station. Tar'Mok spent a few minutes browzing the shops, but he doesn't find anything of particular interest.

 

Most of the merchandise the vendors are selling are most likely either stolen, or over priced low quality mass-produced replicas. The venders in Deep Space 9 are rather notorious for that. Especially the Ferengi venders. Ten minutes later, Tar'Mok still has yet to find anythng of interst to purchase. He wanted to buy something for his wife, T'Shar, in recognition of the 16th anniversary of their mating as children. According to Terran traditions, one would purchase something nice for their mate in celebrations of such occaisons, or "anniversaries" as they call it. He tilts his head, and is about to give up and head back to the Excalibur, when he walks to a booth containing various daggers.

 

The majority of them appearing to be of Klingon origin. But there are also some Terran and Romulan daggers there too. Tar'Mok's attention is fixed on a 16-inch Romulan dagger. It is beautifully decorated, and feature a long , curved blade. Tar'Mok asks to see it. The Tellarite vendor hands it to him. "You like it? It's a Romulan dagger, made about 500 years ago. I bought it from a Romulan defector for quite a handsome sum" The Tellarite told him. Tar'Mok nodded, and swung the dagger a bit. The dagger was light, and felt as if it was an extension of his hand. Nonetheless, the dagger was Romulan. Immediately, memories of his father and older brother came into Tar'Mok's mind.

 

Tar'Mok's father, Saroth, was a Vulcan Ambassador whose lifelong goal was to see the Romulans and Vulcans once again re-united. Like Ambassador Spock, who also shares his father's deam, Ambassador Saroth has made great strides in realising that goal. The New Orleans Class USS Baton Rouge was dispatched to pick up Ambassador Saroth from a summit on Rigel. However, half way back to Federation space, a Romulan warbird decloaked and attacked the Baton Rouge. The Rebel Capitan of the warbird wanting to prevent Romulan/Vulcan reunifications attacked the Baton Rouge mercilessly.

 

The Baton Rouge put up a valiant effort in defending herself, but she proved no match for the superior D'Deridex class warbird. By the time backup arrived, the Baton Rouge was reduced to a smoldering metal hulk. All hands were lost, including Tar’Mok’s older brother Shek, who served as a Security Officer on board. Tar’Mok never got over that loss completely, despite many weeks in meditation.

 

The Romulan Capitan who led the attack escaped before Federation back-up arrived. To this day, the Capitan has not been caught. Deep down, it still gnaws away at Tar’Mok. “HEY!” The Tellarite says to Tar’Mok, snapping him out of his day dream. “Sorry, sir” Tar’Mok apologises. “Do you wish to buy the dagger?” he asks. The dagger does look rather appealing, even if it is Romulan.

 

Ten years have passed, since the attack. Tar’Mok briefly reflects on their lives once again, Perhaps, purchasing the Romulan dagger will serve a reminder of his father’s dreams and memories. Plus, it could be practical for away missions. But mostly, Tar’Mok wants to buy it to help get over his bad memories.

 

“How much for it, sir” asks Tar’Mok. “1200 credits, or 30 bars of gold-pressed latinum”. Tar’Mok nods and pays the Tellarite in latinum. “Thanks, son. A good buy if I do say so myself. May it serve you well” said the Tellarite. Tar’Mok thanked him and walked back to the promenade.

 

Tar’Mok places his dagger in a bag. Still being new to the ship, he still didn’t know if he was even allowed to have it onboard. But logically, Tar’Mok most likely would have to fill in an application for it through Security. So for now, Tar’Mok has the dagger transported to his mother’s sea-side home in Tuscany.

 

Checking his chrono, Tar’Mok sees that he has 26 minutes to go until he is to be recalled back to the Excalibur. He takes a short-cut back to the docking port, but on his way, he found a shop that sells feminine apparel. Tar’Mok looked at the clothing rack, and found an elegant black formal dress. It looked sophisticated, yet subtle. After a brief conversation with the vendor, Tar’Mok paid 45 bars of latium for the Italian made dress, fresh from the factory in Milan. This should be a rather nice gift, thinks Tar’Mok.

 

Additionally, Tar’Mok strolls down the aisle, and comes across a liquor store selling alcoholic beverages. The establishment sells everything from Terran beer to Klingon Bloodwine to Romulan Ale. Tar’Mok, being the kind, selfless guy that he is, purchased a keg of bloodwine, for his friend Trichon, as well as a case of Russian made Stolichnaya Vodka, remembering that Chief Xiang’s Birthday has passed not too long ago.

 

With purchases in tow, Tar’Mok has 17 minutes to go before the crew was to report back to the Excalibur. Two minutes later, Tar’Mok reaches the docking port and enters the Excalibur. He was about to head to his quarters to put away his purchases, when an officer tells Tar’Mok to go to sickbay. “What for, sir?” he asks. “I think the crew have to go to sickbay to get an implant of some kind” the officer replies.

 

Shrugging Tar’Mok takes a turbolift to Sickbay to receive an implant. The young officer didn’t appear confident of the orders, but Tar’Mok went to sickbay nonetheless. Tar’Mok wasn’t sure if he had to get the implant, but he went just to make sure. His purchases started to feel bulky as Tar’Mok exited the turbolift on the Sickbay deck. Tar’Mok reorganizes this purchases in his bags, then enters sickbay. Hopefully the doctors there will shed some light on his queries.

Edited April 14, 2004 by Seiben