Me. Rex, I need to ask you some Questions.

[Neptune Rex 0]

>>Begin<<

 

Neptune stepped onto the challenger, one the junior officers in tow with his bags; it was just a few hours before launch and he was running behind schedule. Bill Gamble was waiting by the airlock, with a PADD in hand with someone's mug on it.

 

As Rex walked on, Bill finally saw the mug that matched for the gentleman that just walked on the NX-05.

 

“Excuse me. Mr. Rex??”

 

Neptune lifted his brows at the mention of his name, “Yes?” he said looking to Gamble. “Can I help you?”

 

“Hello. I'm Lieutenant Bill Gamble. Challenger's Chief of Security,” Bill said, “I wanted to know if I could speak to you for a moment.”

 

Neptune nodded to the junior officer to continue on with the luggage to Neptune’s quarters. “I suppose I don't have a choice, do I?”

 

Bill smirked, “No. I'm sorry. You actually don't,” he said. “It's just a lot easier if you come willingly.”

 

Neptune didn’t particularly want to, but knew that he’d rather not cause a ruckus. “Well then lead the way.”

 

Giving Rex a nod, Bill lead him down the corridor, to one of the nearby meeting rooms. Neptune rolled his eyes towards Gamble as he turned around, then followed a few steps behind the security officer into the room. As they entered, Bill motioned to one of seats.

 

“Please, have a seat.”

 

Neptune nodded and took his seat. “This isn't a routine thing, is it?” His voice flat and rhetorical, he a good feeling what this was about.

 

Gamble placed the PADD down on the table. “Well, you’re a special exception,” Gamble said matter-of-factly. “I'm sure that you are aware as Chief of Security I have been vetting people to make sure that no one is trying to sneak aboard the ship that doesn't belong.”

 

“However,” Neptune said, “You should be aware that I was personally chosen for this mission by the Commodore, so you have nothing to worry about..”

 

This didn’t seem matter to Bill. “Yes, I know.,” he stated. “I'm well aware of your ‘connection’ to Commodore Moose, but that is where the questions arise...”

 

Neptune perked an eyebrow at the last statement, showing the small wrinkles and creases in his facial structure that had began to appear as he aged. “Well then ask away, I have nothing to hide, Mister...Gamble did you say?”

 

Bill nodded slowly. “Yes. Mr. Gamble.”

 

He paused then continued his line of questioning, “Why would an Ambassador, and a man of your age and...pedigree...would agree to join a deep space mission?”

 

Neptune smiled slightly, his reputation proceeded him, “My knowledge of alien races, dealing with them, and my experience makes me...how was it put...an asset to the success of the Challenger mission.”

 

That was the answer Bill expected, “But why leave such a privileged life to join a flying bucket in space? I'm sure there were just as many other people that would be as qualified as you.”

 

“You'd have to ask Admiral Forest that, he came to see me in Geneva personally,” Neptune paused, “And in short...he drafted me.”

 

“But you see, why say yes? What do you have to gain from joining Challenger?”

 

“Personally, I gain nothing. I am not doing this for me,” Neptune was telling the truth—he wasn’t doing this for himself.

 

He stopped for a second, feeling a bit of tension in the room and decided to try and defuse it with a bit of humor, he grinned to Gamble. “Believe me, the Ambassador pay is much better.”

 

The joke didn’t seem to help things much, “Well there must have been something that compelled you to tell Admiral Forrester yes?”

 

Neptune nodded, “For as long as I have been alive, I have wanted to journey to the stars,” he said. “And now I have the chance, not only to do that, but to help the people of Earth. If I have learned anything in the last three months, it is how far we still have to go.”

 

“You could have just as easily done that on Andoria,” Bill shot a glance down at the PADD, “You did after all solve the friction that was going on between the Vulcans, Andorians, and us.”

 

Neptune nodded with a bit of pride, then returned to his more serious expression, “But there are more dangerous things out there than the Andorians,” he paused. “That's why I am here.”

 

Bill nodded as he read the PADD.

 

“The Andorians are the least of our troubles, Mr. Gamble, trust me.”

 

“You see...That's where more of the questions arise...Your ties with the Andorians.”

 

“My ties...” Neptune smirked. “I spent three weeks on Andoria being toured around their historic sights. And when I finally got fed up with it, they kicked me out.”

 

He paused and ran his hands through his longish grey hair. “But feel free to ask anything you want, I'll give you the best answers I can.”

 

“So, you didn't meet with any of the heads of state during your time on Andoria, did you?”

 

“Yes...I did,” Neptune said, “And I had contact with them during the entire blockade fiasco.”

 

“So you don't deny it?”

 

“Mr. Gamble, I was chief diplomatic liaison to Andor, have you forgotten?”

 

A bit perturbed by the condescension in Neptune’s tone, Bill went on. “Well I'm aware of that, but your past statement made it sound like they just had there assistants take you out tours, rather than discuss matters of importance.”

 

“Well mostly, yes,” Neptune said, “My meetings with them were, short and uninformative.”

 

“So you had no discussions with them over, say, the Xindi problem?”

 

“Not that I am aware of,” Neptune said. “Most of our meetings concerned, as they put it, the rapid military build of the Terran race.”

 

“Hmmm. I find that very strange.”

 

“I am sure you do, but then you don't have blue skin and antennae do you?”

 

Bill thought about that for a second. “Well no, I don't.”

 

Neptune explained. “The Andorians are concerned that we are becoming a military satellite of the Vulcans.”

Still perplexed Bill continued on, “I'm sure the first encounter with the Xindi and the events that followed would have been of interest to them, considering that they would have been a threat to them, especially if Earth would have been eradicated. What would have kept the Xindi from making them the Andorians there next target?”

 

“I don't know, ask the Xindi,” Neptune replied. “I am just telling you, the Xindi were not discussed during our meetings.”

 

Bill drummed his fingers on the table. “That...just puzzles me.”

 

“I am sure it does,” Neptune continued. “But as I have said, there are thing out their more dangerous to Earth than even the Xindi. Or even the Tholians.”

 

Neptune’s voice was flat and monotone, and had little expression upon his face.

 

Bill paused a moment then broke the silence again. “I'm well aware of that Lt. Rex, or would you perfer Neptune?”

 

“Are we on duty or off?”

 

“Well last I checked, we were off.”

 

”Well then, it is Neptune,” he looked down to his watch.

 

“Alright. Neptune. I have one more question for you and then I'll let you go.

 

“Very well,” he nodded.

 

“What do you know about the Romulans?”

 

A certain look came over Neptune and he sighed slowly before he answered, “I am afraid, Lt. Gamble. I can't answer that question.”

 

He paused, and said directly. “And as I am sure your PADD tells you, I don't have to.”

 

“I'm well aware of that, but you know that the moment that you were 'recruited' you gave away what immunity you had under your diplomatic status,” Bill didn’t exactly like the way Neptune had tried to weasel out of it.

 

Neptune sighed again. “Yes, but my briefings on the matter remain classified, Lt.,” his tone was sharp and direct. “So...until then, I maintain that I can't divulge that information, Lt”.

 

Bill looked a bit hardened in the face, “Listen. Ambassador, Lieutenant, Neptune, whatever help you sleep at night...If you are holding back information that could be vital to my duty to protect this ship, the consequences would be dire.”

 

Neptune cocked a brow. “Lt. I suggest you take the matter up with Commodore Moose or Starfleet Command, I am sure they'll back me up. Until then, I think we're through here.”

 

“I will be sure to speak with Commodore Moose then.”

 

“Well then, you do that. Have a good day, Lt. I'll see you on the bridge for the launch.

 

“That we will...”

 

Neptune started to stand, “And Neptune…”

 

“Yes?”

 

“I do hope we did not get off to wrong start. It was not my intent to set a wrong impression. I'm simply trying to protect this ship, and her crew. “Just as you yourself are.”

 

Neptune nodded, “I know, Lt.”

 

He stood straightened his tunic and exited the room. Bill stood in the meeting room a moment and thought to himself, “Well...this is going to be lots of fun.

God I wish I had a Pina Colada right about now.”

 

>>End<<