Questionable Morality - Chapter 19
Questionable Morality
Chapter Nineteen
What was that smell and why did it remind her of Captain
Reed? Slowly, Emmanuelle Gomez opened her eyes, the only light in the cabin
emanating from the computer terminal where Travis sat.
"In financial news today, stocks in Sato Industries,
The Chaffe Conglomerate and Lane Corp. have plummeted amid the ECS slavery
scandal. Lane Corp. shareholders are calling for the immediate resignation to
CEO Virgil Sotelo. The United Earth Government has put a temporary suspension
on all ECC trade and has ordered all ECS ships to dock at the nearest ports to
wait for an end to the suspension. According to President Neuman, Starfleet has
carte blanche to enforce the ban, and any ship ignoring the ban will be subject
to immediate confiscation and imprisonment pursuant to chapter 987.24 article
12 A.
"Meanwhile, the financial records for Sato Industries
have been subpoenaed. New CEO Baiko Sato is cooperating fully with the
investigation. If you recall, Conner," the anchor addressed her co-anchor,
"Mr. Sato has been CEO of Sato Industries for only a month amid the death
of his brother."
Travis clicked the news off and sighed heavily; thinking of
his family and giving thanks they were safe, yet frustrated because Enterprise
was confined to Andorian space. The crew was key witnesses regarding the
slavery activities. Starfleet was spread thin, some ships assigned to Mars and
Vega to enforce the martial law, while other ships searched for more of
Archer's victims.
"Don't worry," Em whispered, standing behind him
and hugging him.
Leaning against her, Travis drew heavily on the cigar in his
hand. "I won't if you won't."
She kissed the top of his head and coughed as the flagrant
smoke rose into the air. The last she had heard of Captain Reed was that
Captain Sato had been recovered and they were headed to Earth.
Travis swiveled in his chair and buried his face in his
lover's ample cleavage and inhaled. "They'll be fine," he exhaled and
looked up at Em, as if he were able to read her mind.
--
Feeling his cock swell inside her, Trip bit his lip. Lita
was resting so peacefully on top of him, his own personal human blanket. He
loved her and he was sure that he told her frequently, but she still refused
his proposal.
Lita groaned, waking up with the dull ache inside her crotch.
It had taken some getting used to, but sleeping on top of him had its
advantages. Smiling, she moved on top of him. "I don't think he ever went
down last night."
Grabbing Lita's hips, Trip stilled her. "Stop."
"What is it? What's wrong?" Lita's voice belied
her concern.
Taking a calming breath, Trip exhaled, "Marry me."
"No," she replied quickly, and tried to move on
top of him.
"I love you." He grazed the tip of her nipple with
his breath. "Please marry me."
Gasping as he nipped her sensitive nipple, Lita replied,
"No."
Sighing heavily, Trip rolled to his side, gently disengaging
from his lover and kissing her forehead. "Do you love me?"
"Of course I do," Lita laughed.
"Then why won't ya marry me?"
She could see the seriousness of his question furrow his
brow and she sobered. "Because it's for the wrong reasons."
Trip remained silent.
"You only want to marry me because I'm pregnant."
"That's a load and ya know it," Trip scoffed, and
rolled away from her, stood up, and put his pants on.
"You mean to tell me that you would still ask me to
marry you if I weren't pregnant?" She knew it was a baiting question, but
he was the one spoiling for a fight.
"I�I�" stuttered Trip.
"See�the wrong reason," Lita surmised.
"Now, Li Li, don't go puttin' words in my mouth I was
going to �"
"Ensign Mathers to Captain Tucker," the com
interrupted.
Cursing, Trip padded over to the com unit at his desk.
"Yes."
"Uh, sir. I've got an incoming call for you�I know you
said not to interrupt you unless we were under attack�"
"Are we under attack? Is it urgent? Because if it
isn't, take a message." Trip glared at Lita's back as she put on her robe.
He knew this fight was forced, but he was tired of trying to figure a way to
get Lita to say yes. He had almost resigned himself to hogtying her and taping
her mouth shut.
"But �"
"I said take a message," Trip menaced. Sure, it
wasn't Ensign Mathers' fault, but he was tired of the constant interruptions. A
short pause was the captain's only response. Thinking he had one the battle,
Trip moved to cut the com link.
"It's your sister, sir," Mathers replied.
"And I quote. She says that you better get your dead ass on the horn, or
she will kick it when she sees you next."
"Put her through," whispered Trip, a dreamlike
quality surrounding him.
The fresh, young face of his younger sister appeared on the
screen, her eyes wide and moist from the emotional circumstances of the call.
They were both silent, neither wanting to break the spell of their fondest wish
coming true.
Lizzie was the first to break the spell. "I knew those
hacks were wrong. I knew you didn't go get yerself blown up. I hope they stick
an apple in Jon Archer's mouth and roast him over as open fire.
Even though Jon was dead, Trip couldn't help but laugh at
the image. His sister was a true Southern woman, and that was about as vicious
as she got. "Where are you? I've called every place I know. It's not safe
for you�"
"Sugar, don't worry about me. As soon as I told Admiral
Wilson about your suspicions, he had me whisked away to protective
services," Lizzie assured.
"You've got five minutes, Miss Tucker," a voice
called out off camera.
"I know, I know, you big bear!" exclaimed Lizzie,
visibly shaking as she contemplated the end of the call.
Trip frowned. "Lizzie, what is it? What's wrong?"
Sighing heavily, Lizzie smiled sadly. "I'm still under
protective services. My 'keeper' was just informing me that he only keep the
channel open for a few more minutes. He's afraid of the possibility of somebody
tracing the call," she huffed. "Honestly, I don't know why they would
still need my testimony now that�you're alive."
Trip could see his sister dab at the tears that started to
flow freely down her cheeks. "Just do whatever they tell ya, darlin'. I
got people gunnin' for me, and they'll go through you to get at me."
"But�" Lizzie sniffled and accepted a tissue from
her keeper off camera.
"You stay put, ya hear?" Trip admonished.
Lizzie bowed her head, trying to get her emotions under
control. All these months thinking her brother had died�this call was like a
dream to her.
"Hey, hey," Trip soothed, "everything is
going to be okay once this all blows over."
Hiccupping, Lizzie tried to smile.
Trip motioned for Lita to come into view of the camera. "Hey,
hey, hey," he laughed and pulled Lita onto his lap. "I've got good
news for you." Trying to flee his embrace, Lita slapped at his arms.
"Lizzie, this is Lita, my fianc�e. We're getting married."
Lita relaxed in his arms and smiled at the camera. "Hi."
She blushed, thinking of how she was going to kick his ass once the call ended.
Lizzie brightened immediately and swiped the remnants of her
tears away.
"And we're pregnant," Trip blurted then yelped as
his lover pinched him.
Clapping excitedly, Lizzie giggled. "Really? Do you
know what it is yet? Oh wow! There's so much to do. You're about a size eight,
right? I'll book the Lake Hollingsworth Country Club and start on the guest
list. Mom and Dad would have been so excited Trip. Do you have your � "
The screen went blank and Trip sighed. He just couldn't
stand it when his sister cried, and when he considered what she must have been
through thinking that he was dead, he shivered.
Lita jumped off of his lap. "You are so gonna get
it!"
--
She had never felt betrayal as sharply as she did at that
moment. As he sat back in the shadows, Hoshi's anger boiled to a slow rage.
We've made contact with your uncle," Reed stated
flatly. "He was very surprised you were still alive, especially since the
Celestial... We'll be meeting with him first. Your father is indisposed."
Blinded by anger, Hoshi flew at Reed, quickly hitting and
kicking at him and cursing him. "You fucking idiot. Now you're going to
get both of us killed." Her fist connected with his chest.
He made no move to defend himself.
"Why did you have to play hero? I can damn well take
care of myself!" Hoshi screamed and kicked at his shin.
Reed quickly moved his leg out of the way and Hoshi missed.
She felt no pain as her toe connected with the bench. If there was any, it only
served to feed her anger. "I need to do this by myself," she hissed.
"I won't have anybody else's blood on my hands except his." His calm
demeanor as he sat in the shadows furthered her rage and she slapped him.
Always attentive to detail and letting his lover rant,
Malcolm knew he had to stop her soon. The shuttle was landing and they were
about to enter the lion's den. He needed Hoshi's wits about her. As soon as she
pulled her hand away, Malcolm attacked, grabbing her wrist and twisting it
behind her. He pinned her to the floor. "And just how are you going to
kill him, Hoshi? With your bare hands? Do you have a weapon? Have you ever
killed a man in cold blood before?"
A strangled moan was the only answer he received, and a
lingering doubt crept into his psyche. He needed her to hate him now. He needed
her to be afraid, but what he wanted most right now, was to hold her tight and
tell her that everything was going to be okay.
The shuttle jolted softly as they landed.
Rubbing his bearded cheek against the wild silk of her hair
he murmured, "You've got to trust me."
The shuttle door swung open and natural lighting spilled
onto the tumultuous scene inside. "You better be careful there,
Vegan," a gruff voice called out. "The bounty calls for her to be
unharmed."
Reed froze, ever mindful of his lover's short temper. He
leaned close to her ear. "Please trust me," he whispered and pulled
away quickly. "I know what the contract stipulates," he retorted and
hauled Hoshi to her feet. "She was being fresh and needed a lesson in
decorum. I don't care whose daughter she is."
Shran moved behind the mock captor and captive and the guard
raised his weapon.
"The alien stays here!"
Starting to protest, Shran was quickly silenced with a cold
look from Reed.
"I don't trust you, Reed," Shran growled and
advanced again. "How do I know you won't cheat me of my cut?"
The security guard, who was short and balding, started to
lower his weapon and roll his eyes.
Shoving the Andorian to the side, Reed replied, "You
don't."
The security guard missed the slight of hand between the two
men, Shran slipping Reed two dermal patches, which were saturated with Andorian
tracking chemicals and a transmitter. He gave Shran a quick nod of his head and
gently pushed Hoshi in front of him.
Holding her breath as she crossed the threshold of the
shuttle pod doors, Hoshi whispered, "I trust you."
Hoshi glared at the guard's back, his meanness and cruelty
quite familiar to her. His name was Ward and he was a short balding man whose
body was covered with tattoos, which depicted violent scenes of carnage and
mayhem. What hair Ward did have, was died the most unusual shade of orange,
which gave his complexion a yellowish tint. Over all, the man looked like a jaundiced
clown.
"Ward," Hoshi acknowledged, barely keeping the
contempt in her voice under control. He had been her father's right hand man
ever since she cared to remember. Looking at his shoulder harness, she noticed
his ever-present, old-fashioned Colt 44 and smiled as she contemplated killing
him with it. The bastard deserved to die by that gun.
"Hoshi," retorted Ward in acknowledgment. He
grinned knowingly, hoping he could watch as her uncle knocked the little bitch
down a few pegs. The Vega scum with her seemed harmless enough. Maybe they
could take turns on the little bitch before Uncle Baiko ordered her killed. It
was only a matter of time.
Ward escorted Reed and Hoshi through the opulent gates of
the household garden.
"One foot in front of the other," she kept
repeating to herself in her head, her lover's hand holding her elbow and
guiding her. The stark beauty of the Zen garden they were walking though didn't
escape her attention. She hated the even patterns of sand, always wanting to disrupt
her ancestors and the shrine her father had built for them. She had spent
several hours of her childhood raking the sand for her kami as punishment. As
she grew older, her father made her move the large rocks around the sand,
saying the kami would torment her dreams if she failed to please them.�
They approached a bridge, which spanned the garden of
rippling sand. Several guards lined the outside perimeter, and Reed noted their
armaments and took a quick count. This would not be an easy exit.
"What's with all the firepower?" asked Reed,
continuing to guide Hoshi over the bridge.
Ward took out a scanner and held it over Reed's chest once
they were at the base of the bridge. "Times have changed. It never hurts
to be too cautious."
Holding his breath as the guard scanned the grafted tattoo,
Reed prayed. He had obviously underestimated what they were jumping into.
Ward escorted them to a sliding door and opened it for them.
"Uncle Baiko will be with you in a moment. Reed and Hoshi stepped into the
office, which mirrored the simplicity of the garden outside its door. A desk
with two chairs in front of if was near the farthest wall, and a sofa and
several chairs were located in the center of the room.
Reed stood close to her as they waited for her uncle, still
able to smell Ward's nauseating cologne. The man hadn't gone far. Something
wasn't right and he palmed the micro-transmitter Shran had slipped him. Even Andorian
technology was fallible for the shuttle they had arrived in could only
transport one person at a time. Reed's instructions were very clear. If he
activated the transmitter, Shran was to transport Hoshi first. There would be a
two-minute delay while the shuttle powered back up and would be able to
transport another. The Andorian had simply stated his understanding with a
slight slant of his antennas.
He had known better than to discuss the plan with Hoshi,
especially now. There was no doubt that the office was bugged, but he still
held on to her arm, giving off the appearance he was simply protecting his
investment.
The double door across the room opened and an elderly man
approached them, leaning heavily on his cane. Uncle Baiko wasn't a very
imposing figure. His dark hair was cut short and his hairline had receded
sometime ago, lending a hawk-like length to the shape of his shrewd face.
"I was under the impression Ms. Sato's parent would be
paying the reward for the return of their daughter directly," stated Reed
calmly, keeping in mind he needed to get to her father to kill him.
"I honor all contracts on behalf of my family, Vega
scum. You'll get your payment soon enough," answered Baiko sharply, as he
limped his way up to his niece.
Taking her chin in his hand, he inspected her harshly.
"All this trouble�all the expense�all because you ran away. Was your life
so difficult, little heiress, that you couldn't submit and take your
place?"
Somehow, Reed managed not to punch the man's lights out.
Pulling away from both of the men, Hoshi walked to the sofa.
"Where are my parents, Uncle Baiko?"
He smiled calculatingly and took a seat across from her.
"The man who you called your father is somewhere in the ripples of the
sand, his spirit at rest and peaceful. Your slut of a mother has traveled to
the Dark Land. May her unclean spirit rot there for all eternity for what she
did to my brother."
Hoshi remained silent, her hands clenched in fists of rage
and sorrow.
"After you left, your father became obsessed with
getting you back. He put numerous contracts out to find you, but you had
covered your tracks well. You exacted your punishment well, Hoshi-chan. The
letters you sent left little to go on. The only reason my brother spent so much
guaranteeing your safe return was so that he beat you to death himself. You
see, Hoshi, we've known all along that you're not really his," Baiko
laughed. "My brother picked four of his closest associates and let them at
your mother. Afterwards, he had them killed. He never could get over the fact
he was sterile."
Fear and panic gripped her while calm surprise kept Reed
focused. He stood behind her, waiting.
"I'm surprised you're still alive," her uncle
stated softly and leaned forward, pressing a button on a panel. Ward appeared
immediately as if out of thin air. "I thought Archer would take care of
you once I declined to pay your ransom. After that, I lost track of you."
"What do you want?" murmured Hoshi; hardly able to
comprehend everything that had been said.
"I have no intentions of relinquishing any control of
Sato Industries to you. I want you to die," Baiko stated coldly.
"Ward, take her � "
Uncle Baiko's words were lost as blood sputtered from his
surprised mouth, a clear Andorian dagger made of a metal undetectable by
conventional means lodged in his throat. His response was immediate and primal,
and Reed had jumped in front of her to shield Hoshi's dematerializing form as Shran
received the signal.
It was as if she were outside her body looking in, watching
the scene unfold before her in horror � the blood � Reed jumping in front of
her � a loud popping noise. Darkness consumed her vision and the familiar
sensation of a transporter took her breath away. The ground rocked beneath her
feet and she fell to the shuttlepod floor.
She looked around for her lover and only saw two blue antennae sticking straight up into the air as their
owner navigated the shuttle away from the Okinawa landing facility. "Where
are we going?" she exclaimed, not waiting for an answer. "Turn this
thing around and land right now! I've got to � "
"I don't answer to you, woman," Shran called out
sharply. "Come one�just a few more seconds." He tapped the console
quickly.
She wasn't about to leave him behind. She wasn't about to
let that place steal another part of her soul. Cursing, Hoshi reached for Shran
and grabbed hold of one of his antennae. She
twisted it back and received some inward gratification as the blue troll
screamed; yet continued to stab at the control panel. A glistening pattern
caught the corner of her eye as the crumpled form of Malcolm Reed appeared
before her. Blood oozed from his body and onto the shuttle floor.
"No, no, no," pleaded Hoshi, as she rolled him
over onto his back.
The shuttle pitched to one side and Hoshi lay on top of Reed
to secure him from further injury.
"We're about half an hour away from my ship!"
announced the Andorian, piloting the shuttle out of Earth's atmosphere and
ascertaining that Reed had been injured.
The shuttle steadied and Hoshi was finally able to ascertain
the extent of her lover's injuries. His shirt was smattered with blood and full
of holes � her worst nightmare coming to fruition before her eyes. Brushing the
hair from his forehead, she cursed. "You God damn idiot! I trusted
you!"
She was lost and she didn't know where to start. So, she
pressed onto his shoulder wound, which was actively bleeding. "I trusted
you!" she repeated, knowing he would never make it.
"You bastard! You selfish, conceited, British bastard!
I trusted you! Through all of this madness, I gave myself to you! I trusted
you! I � "
" � Better stop�y-yelling at me," Reed stuttered
softly, trying to sit up. He looked up at the dark curtain that fell upon his
face as soft lips closed gently over his.
"I love you, Malcolm Reed," an ethereal voice
declared in the distance. "Please don't leave �" was all he heard as
a healing sleep claimed him.
--
Low murmuring voices spoke in concerned tones around him as
Reed became aware of his surroundings.
"It was fortunate he had the vest on. Otherwise, he
never would have survived his injuries. In addition the vest was not designed
for�bullets. He'll be in some pain when he wakes due to the broken ribs. He did
lose a lot of blood from the shoulder wound, but I'm at a loss to explain all
the other blood. We should �"
"Ward's," Reed mumbled.
He hadn't felt the hand holding his, but it squeezed his
hand reassuringly.
"What?" the Andorian physician asked.
"It's Ward's blood," stated Reed softly, opening
his eyes.
Hoshi pressed her lips against his hand. "Welcome
back."
Smiling, Reed managed to lift her hand to his lips.
An indignant voice piped up. "I can't believe you
survived, Reed." The Andorian Commander came into full view.
"What happened to you?" Malcolm questioned once he
caught sight of the blue man's antennae.
Shran scoffed. "Officially, I was wounded in a
firefight. Unofficially, your lover broke my antenna. Shran's left antenna
flexed normally, displaying the Andorian's normal range of moods. His right
antenna was wrapped in a bandage, pointing straight into the air.
He would have laughed harder, but Reed's ribs were too
painful.
Remaining unusually silent next to Reed, Hoshi smiled.
Eventually, the lovers were left alone, Hoshi refusing to
leave and telling the Andorian doctor that she would break both of his antennae if he didn't leave them in peace.
She watched her lover drift in and out of sleep through the
night. At one point she walked over to the monitor and turned on the news, half
expecting the news to be rife with death of her uncle. To her surprise, it was
her picture filled the screen. The news anchor reported her vital statistics
and requested anybody with information regarding her whereabouts to notify the
station. A sense of never ending dread consumed her. Even in death, her family
still haunted her. The power they wielded was still alive and it was calling
for answers.
Any delusions she eluded to were quietly squashed. It was
time for her to take her place, no matter what that entailed.
Looking down at Malcolm's sleeping form, Hoshi made her
decision. This time, he wasn't awake to argue with her. To protect him, she
would have to leave him. Her family would never stop looking for her. There was
no other way. If they stayed together, her and Malcolm would never have a
moment's peace. It was time to stop running.
*****