The Plot

[Liliana Hamilton 0]

Ilsen Gibor took a seat at the table opposite the Earth woman. After taking a quick glance back at the Naussicans, he tried to strike up a conversation. "You have some swing."

 

"He got on my bad side."

 

"I'll try not to be on the receiving end." Ilsen looked at the woman. She had a prominent X-shaped scar on her neck. "Ilsen Gibor of Trill." He clumsily extended his hand, palm facing downwards. The custom of "shaking hands" was a quirk he had learned from other Earthers.

 

"Lily Hamilton ... of Earth." She accepted his hand, righted it, and gave it a strong shake. She eyed the young man's seat. "Business or pleasure?"

 

"Business. There's a Klingon here who might be of interest to both of us."

 

"I'm listening." The word 'Klingon' stimulated a noticable reaction from Lily.

 

"He came with a Tellarite freighter through Epsilon Indii, as a paid passenger. No Klingon would ever lower himself to that. They're too proud. Word on the street is that some Klingons attacked an Earth facility. He's one of them."

 

She was surprised at how quickly word spread about the attack. And, she knew he was right. Just a day earlier, she had spotted the vile thing out of the corner of her eye, getting drunk in another bar. She practically stared at him from behind a wall, wanting nothing more than to go in there and end his miserable life. She would never forget that ridged forehead.

 

Ilsen continued. "No doubt your government is paying you a handsome sum for his return... that's why you're here, isn't it?"

 

She made a mental note that he had been following her. Creepy, but, possibly to her advantage. "And what is it to you? You can't kill him yourself so you need a hired gun?"

 

"I don't intend to kill him. I intend to prevent you from killing him."

 

"And why is that?"

 

"Because I intend to give him something worse than death." He paused and then pronounced the word that would be the Klingon's sentence: "dishonor."

 

The Klingon 'honor code' was something of a legend among the traders, and less known among Earthers. Lily didn't know whether she could trust the man, but, her desire for revenge was getting the best of her. "You still haven't told me why you want this Klingon ... dishonored. What did he do to you?"

 

"He, himself, didn't do anything to me. But, his clan did. They kidnapped one of my people. That Klingon's return in dishonor could be enough of a bargaining chip to ransom him. All I need you to do is simply stay out of it."

 

"You probably know this, but ... I can't do that." Catching the Klingon terrorist was beyond her mission. Had this been an ordinary criminal, she would have simply forwarded a secure transmission to Starfleet advising them of his presence and awaited orders. Revenge had taken over her mind.

 

Ilsen leaned over the table, and emphatically requested: "Then help me."

 

Ilsen and Lily left the bar. The details of the plot were then worked out. By dawn, Lily and Ilsen had exchanged more information than she had obtained the whole previous week. He was an apt listener. Having been on Rigel for a month, he knew . But, beyond information, they also began to share something uncommon among conspirators in crime - trust. And, that was not all they shared that long night ...