The Execution (Joint Log)

[Liliana Hamilton 0]

The gritty bar on Rigel was filled with traders from countless worlds, laughing and getting drunk. A woman walked through the crowd. Her intent was simply to be seen. This was not unusual for the venue. But, Liliana Hamilton also intended to be recognized. She walked forward purposefully, and glanced to the right just long enough to make eye contact with her quarry, then moved on.

 

Imag looked at her and licked his lips. His comrade, Magek had marked this one back on the human station and dishonoured her. Now she had come to finish what had begun. He fingered his knife softly and whispered a war chant.

 

The spotted man took a seat next to the Klingon. This was usually a bad move. He quickly ordered a Rigellian Lager on tap. Then, he mumbled just loudly enough for the Klingon to hear: "tonight is a good night to die." He paused. "Isn't it?" He looked in the direction of the Klingon and attempted not to wince as he attracted the Klingon's attention.

 

The bar tables were fitted with a universal translator suited to the patrons so the gruff Klingon understood every word. He slowly turned to look at this intruder but didn't remove his hand from his weapon.

"Who are you and what do you want?" he barked.

 

The beer arrived. "My name is Ilsen. I don't know what her beef is with you, but, she's going to kill you. I don't care what it is either... I'm in business, and I sense an opportunity... for both of us. I'll take you anywhere within 10 light years, tonight, for 10,000 ducats, payable in advance."

 

"You have a big mouth little man", Imag growled. "I could cut it from ear to ear if you wish. Why would I be stupid enough to trust an ignorant topah I only just met with my safe passage?"

 

"You don't have to trust me, only my motivations." The Trill took a sip of beer. "She'll be waiting for you in the main terminal. That is where your transport is leaving from, tomorrow, isn't it?"

 

"How do you know that?" Imag asked, gripping the dagger harder, preparing it for use. "You had better get up and leave right now before I lose my temper."

 

"Secrets travel fast in a joint like this. If I can find them, you think the assassin can't? I took a risk by coming here. Even talking to you associates us, and puts my neck out on the line. 5,000 now, 5,000 when we get there."

 

The Klingon grabbed the Trill by the the front of his shirt and held the dagger to his throat in one quick motion. "I am going to put this knife in your neck. Maybe then you'll shut up." He snarled.

 

"You *can* kill me where I stand, but where's the profit in that? For either of us... 9,000 - half in advance, half on arrival. Final." Ilsen tried his hardest to sound like a money-grubbing weasel who wasn't worth even the effort to cut up.

 

Imag roughly let go and re-sheathed his knife. Then he downed his bloodwine and spoke.

"I do not care for profit fool. And I do not fear that dishonourable, pathetic human female. However, if she knows where I am, others may know too. It is for that reason that I will take your offer. Where can you take me?"

 

Ilsen downed a large quaff of the lager. "Wherever you want to go ..."

 

"Kronos. Now give me your details."

 

Ilsen emphasized "... within 10 light years..." Then, he continued. "Beta Crucis, it's halfway there and isolated. I run at the first sign of Klingon ships. You tell your friends to stay away until I'm long gone." He ran off a list of conditions of transport, most of them involving how he was going to turn back at the first sign of any trouble. "My ship is in airlock C. I have a cargo run to make, and I'm leaving in one hour, with or without you. 4,500 ducats gets you onboard." Ilsen finished his pint and walked away from the Klingon.

 

~~~

 

One hour later, in airlock C, a rusty old cargo ship was preparing for departure.

 

Imag waited outside. When he saw the spotted merchant emerging from the airlock he threw a heavy pouch at the floor, containing his fee.

 

Ilsen exited the airlock, bent down, althewhile looking upwards at the Klingon, hoping he wouldn't be stabbed in the back. He opened the pouch and refused to open the airlock for the impatient Klingon as he counted every last ducat. "I expect 4,500 more when we get to Beta Crucis." He opened the airlock door and let the Klingon enter. "The ship is pressurized to 0.9 atmospheres. When the green light goes on, you can enter."

 

Without the help of a universal translator, the Klingon had no idea what the bloodsucker was yelping about so he simply grunted. Then he waited until the light would change and the door would open.

 

As the airlock door opened, a ray of light flashed from the inside of the ship. Crewman Liliana Hamilton stood there, almost stone faced, as she shot the phase pistol on heavy stun and downed the Klingon. She pulled him into the ship and allowed the airlock door to close, all the while resisting the urge to turn the Klingon's face into an unrecognizable mash, which, she thought might actually be less ugly.

 

The airlock door reopened as Ilsen entered from the outside. He looked down at the Klingon and at Lily kneeling down beside him. He then sifted through the Klingon's clothes, removing his weapons. In a pocket of his boot, instead of the expected dagger, he found a data crystal. "I just want him. You may want this." He passed it to Lily.

 

Her reply was simple, but expressive. "Thank you. For everything."

 

~~~

 

Ilsen Gibor put the Klingon in stasis and set a course for the Trill homeworld. With the Klingon in hand, it didn't take long for the Diplomatic Corps to establish contact with the House of Teelok. On Ilsen's second return to the Trill homeworld, he carried with him a jar containing the Lo'Ami symbiont, badly injured from the Klingon "medical" experiments, but alive. The next time he left the homeworld, he still carried the symbiont. Only this time, its experiences were part of his, and he was part of it.

 

~~~

 

The next day, Liliana Hamilton began her return journey to the Sol system from Rigel aboard ECS Bonaventure. With her, she carried a store of rumors, some true, some false, a Klingon data crystal, and an unexpected surprise.

 

--

Imag

Crewman Liliana Hamilton

and

Ilsen Lo'Ami nee Gibor