"Two adult tickets and one child's ticket, round trip to Vulcan, please," Tarik asked the travel agent. He'd just been given 15 days' leave and wanted to take the opportunity to keep a promise.
"May I see some identification please?" the agent, a very proper human female, requested. Tarik presented his Starfleet identification card and his Vulcan passport.
The travel agent began working at her terminal, typing away for at least three minutes. Tarik wondered if she was writing a novel when finally she asked, "How long will you be staying on Vulcan?"
"One week."
Another two minutes of typing.
"Will you require accommodations?"
"That won't be necessary," Tarik replied, wondering if it would have been a better idea to hop a Starfleet vessel instead. As long as this is taking, I could have gone to Vulcan on my own and returned by now!
After another minute of typing, the travel agent asked, "First class or economy berth?"
"First class," Tarik said. "This is the first holiday any of us have had in quite a while."
"I see," she said. "I can get you a first class cabin aboard the SS Dauphin, departing in six days."
"Six days is a bit too long to wait. I've only been authorized two weeks' leave, and the trip alone will take six days. What do you have in economy?"
Another two minutes' typing. "You're in luck!" the travel agent replied in a travel agent perky manner. "I can get you a second class cabin on the SS Decadence, departing day after tomorrow!"
"Excellent!" Tarik exclaimed. "Go ahead and book us."
After another minute, the process was complete. "That will be 1500 credits."
Tarik had the travel agent debit his bank account for the payment, and took the tickets. The family could have traveled on any Starfleet vessel for free, but after all Kassia and Tiyanna had been through Tarik felt they deserved something special. Civilian cruise vessels offered the best in live entertainment, the Federation's finest chefs, and-most importantly-absolutely no responsibility for anyone on board for the duration of the trip. He hoped the trip would be special.
As Tarik left, the travel agent discreetly tapped a key on her terminal that transmitted what she had been typing away at furiously. Several light-years away, a cloaked vessel received the transmission.
"The target is operating true to our personality profile," Tal'Shiar agent Valak said, upon reading the transmission from the travel agent. The travel agent was on the Tal'Shiar payroll, as were several other civilians of questionable backgrounds on the station. "Soon the last of the House of Takor will be eliminated, and the so-called 'reformists' will lose a rallying point."
"Excellent. Activate our moles on Vulcan. Instruct them to eliminate the entire family, and Tarik's agent Sotok."
"The entire family, Subcommander?"
"It is unfortunately a necessity, Valak. We did not eliminate Tarik after the assassination of Takor and Belaz, and now he's a major player in the Mulluran sector and much too high-profile within Starfleet for comfort. Despite our efforts to sabotage his career the Mullurans have managed to make him into a war hero. If Tarik is eventually promoted to flag rank, Federation policy vis a vis the Empire could be affected radically. Our intelligence indicates that Senator Spock has expressed an interest in enlisting his support for that ridiculous 'reunification' scheme of his," Subcommander Keron replied.
"Yes, but the whole family?"
"Kassia and Tiyanna are both Albacetians, of the priestess class. You've been briefed on their psychic abilities. Leaving either of them alive could prompt revenge on an awesome scale that the Tal'Shiar -- perhaps the Empire -- would not be able to contain. Sotok has been as much surrogate father as business agent for Tarik since we killed Takor and Belaz. And Sotok is listed as heir to the entire estate of the House of Takor in the event of Tarik's death. The wealth of that house is considerable, and could fund an army of assassins, mercenaries, and bounty hunters to pursue us personally! Our profile on Sotok suggests that he would not hesitate to do so. As for Sikal, well, I don't think I need to remind you."
Valak nodded in understanding. "I see your point, sir. I've read the reports."
"Very good. Have the teams in place in Shi'Khar within 50 hours," Keron ordered. "Now, about our sources on SB901."
"Our operational security remains intact. However, there is one human aboard the station who is very persistent in his offer to eliminate Tarik for us."
Keron sighed. "Ah, yes. Mr. Wayne Balmer. The man's mentally and emotionally unstable. I won't leave this job in his hands. Tarik is much more physically and mentally adept than Balmer, and if for some reason Balmer is captured his profile suggests that he'd not hesitate in revealing our involvement. We handle this in-house as much as possible. If Balmer manages to kill Tarik on his own, we won't object, of course. But he's a loose cannon. Instruct our agents to cease all communication with him."
Kassia was busy with a late counseling appointment, and while the detachment was still at reduced strength, Tarik had little in the way of extra work to do around Marine Country. It was 1500 and Tiyanna was due out of school at 1630. Tarik smiled as a plan came to mind.
With the expansion of the station's population, a school had been established on the station to accommodate the resident children. Besides Tiyanna, the refugees from Az'reel had nearly doubled enrollment. Had not some of the adult refugees offered to help with teaching and daycare the ability of the station to accommodate its youngest residents would have been stretched beyond the breaking point. A rather sizable block of the Commerce Section had been set aside as a primary and secondary school.
From the We Get You There Travel Agency, Tarik would have to walk nearly to the opposite side of the Commerce Section to reach the school. Kassia's shop was along the way, and Danni Languedoc waved in greeting as Tarik passed the little storefront. A number of G'Kar soldiers and merchants were on board the station, their penchant for the mystical ensuring that the Cave of Curiosities and Mysteries would continue to operate in the black.
Tarik returned her wave, but decided not to stop in while Danni was working with paying customers. As he continued down the corridor, he encountered Toren Len carrying his medical kit.
"Looks like you've been busy!" Tarik said.
"Yeah, someone tried to roll one of the shopkeepers," Toren replied. "Nothing much, just a black eye and a bit of broken merchandise, but the station just isn't what it used to be before the war!"
"Where's Security?"
"The guy didn't want to press charges. Said it was just a little harmless rivalry. Go figure!"
Tarik sighed hard as he realized just who had been victimized. "About time that nonsense came to an end!" he said to no one in particular as he hurried-without needing to be told where to go-to the scene of the crime.
Toren laughed. "The poor man doesn't know what to do with himself if he's not in a fight!"
Tarik arrived at Loomis' Get-It-All Mart to find a display case knocked over and Eugene Loomis sitting on a stool, looking very depressed. A Bolian woman Tarik recognized as the waitress from Harry's stood over him, helping Loomis tend a black eye.
"What the hell happened here?" Tarik exclaimed, knowing the answer already.
"That thug Balmer came in here, drunk beyond belief, saying that he was going to show Gene 'who was in charge!' He knocked over that display case of Bulovian timepieces, punched Gene, and ran out before anyone could get here!" the Bolian said.
"Why didn't you call for Security?" Tarik asked.
"I started to, but-"
"There's no need to involve Security!" Loomis insisted from behind a split lip. "It's just a harmless-"
"Don't start that crap with me!" Tarik said. "Both of you are way too old for this to be some foolish school rivalry. Ma'am, if you would excuse us, please," he said to the Bolian woman.
"I'll be back later," she replied as she left the store. Tarik noted the concern on her face. She was at least in her own mind much more concerned than the typical passer-by or frequent customer.
Tarik closed the shop door and put up the 'CLOSED' sign. "You're closing up early today. Your store is a mess, you're in no shape to do business right now, and we're going to have a talk."
Loomis looked extremely nervous.
"Mr. Eugene Loomis. You are going to tell me exactly what all this is about! None of this makes any damn sense!"
"If I could have some water, please."
Tarik got the man a glass of water. Loomis drank it greedily, then cleared his throat. "I hate to tell you this, but it really is an old school rivalry. The school being Starfleet Academy."
Tarik's jaw almost dropped. Loomis had been in Starfleet?
"I was Class of 2366, or would have been. Balmer was Class of 2364. I knew plebes were supposed to be hazed, but Balmer took it a bit too far, I guess. Calisthenics at 0300, schplict in the coffee, you know it all I'm sure.
"But there was a bit of a twist here. Balmer and I were both from the New Omaha colony, not much to speak of as far as colonies go even today. I didn't know him that well before the Academy but he had a reputation for asserting himself. When I got there he figured his status back home was threatened-after all, he wasn't the only Academy cadet in the colony anymore. So he did his best to try and run me out. The hazing didn't work. I guess back then I was a little stronger," Loomis said, with a sad laugh.
Loomis had Tarik's full attention. "Go ahead," he said. "Balmer did well in all of his classes but one-comparative economics. That was my best class. Balmer, he made me write his papers for him, under penalty of beating."
"Why didn't you report that to the Superintendent? He could have been expelled!"
"I did. Balmer managed to convince the Superintendent that I was stealing the papers from him! He managed to doctor the computer records to make it look as though he had written the papers and I had downloaded them from his terminal, rather than vice versa. I appealed the case, but Balmer managed to get three other people to back up his story. I was expelled. I even offered to submit to telepathic examination, but the Superintendent refused to consider the matter."
"The Superintendent back then was a fool. There were a number of scandals at the Academy around that time. You'll be please to know that he, at least, was removed from his position after a cadet was killed in a flight training accident."
Loomis smiled. "That does feel good to know-not that someone had to die over it, of course. But things get worse from here. My family disowned me after I was expelled. My girl back home-we had planned on getting married as soon as I graduated-she married Balmer instead. Said she wanted to be with a real success! And because of the expulsion I had trouble getting work in the civilian world.
"Balmer left Starfleet and joined the Maquis during the Dominion War. I had decided to volunteer with a refugee relief agency mostly because I'd seen too many people suffering but, I have to admit, in part because I wanted to try and offset some of the damage done to my reputation. Balmer showed up in my sector and managed to convince the relief agency that I was stealing from them. Once again, I'd lost yet another opportunity.
"I bounced around from job to job, world to world, but somehow Balmer kept finding me. His wife, too, until she got bored and moved on. I don't even know where she is anymore. I had an uncle who was unmarried and had no kids-until recently the only family I had who would acknowledge me and listen to my side of the story. When he passed away last year he left everything to me. That's how I started the store. I figured this far out Balmer wouldn't consider it worth the time or effort to find me, and at least as my own boss I wouldn't have to worry too much about my reputation. But he did!!!!"
With that, Balmer began to break down. Tarik put his hand on the man's shoulder. His gut instinct told him everything Loomis was saying was true. It took a lot to break Academy material down to an utter lack of self-confidence or self-assertiveness, but somehow Balmer and his confederates had managed to do it out of sheer malice. Hazing was one thing-Tarik and every other officer who had been through the Academy had endured it. But Balmer's activities bordered on sociopathic behavior. Things had gotten sloppy at the Academy during the 2360's, and the fact that Balmer's obvious personality issues hadn't been caught was evidence of that.
"You have been dealing with a very sick man, Loomis," Tarik said. "He's managed to take everything you value from you. But there's nowhere else you can run to. You're going to have to make a stand here."
"I-I don't know how to stand up for myself anymore!" he said plaintively.
"I can help with a little of this. Before I came here I was assigned to Training Command-the enlisted equivalent of Starfleet Academy. I think I can re-open this inquiry. Rank hath its privileges after all," Tarik said, tapping the eagle on his collar. "You're a bit too old to be reinstated, but at least your name will be cleared.
"Your old girlfriend wasn't worth much, in my opinion, if she wouldn't listen to your side of the story. If she was willing to break it off you so easily then she wouldn't have made a very good wife. Get your confidence back, and you'll find someone much better. In fact, I think you might have already if you look carefully."
Loomis looked confused. "Lera? I didn't think a Bolian would be interested in a human. Do you think it would work?"
"Probably about as well as a Romulan and an Albacetian would work, but neither I nor Kassia have any complaints so far. The races of the galaxy aren't as far apart as most people like to convince themselves. Give it a try-and if it doesn't work out, there are more people out there! You just have to get your confidence back," Tarik said. A part of him was starting to get excited. Building up people rather than destroying them for a change appealed to him. A plan started to formulate.
"Consider what you have here: you've got a very successful business, your reputation here is spotless, and you've got friends. Most people would be satisfied with one out of the three. But you've got to get your confidence back or all of that isn't going to help you. Now, I want you to meet some of your fellow merchants," Tarik said. The two men stepped out of the store, and down five or six doors to Muscle Beach.
Tarik hadn't really thought about Muscle Beach after he'd signed off on their lease when he was acting First Officer for the station. The Starfleet physical training facilities on the station were more than adequate for his needs. But Loomis didn't have access to those. "Good afternoon, Herr Colonel!" Hans Schwarzenberger said as the two men walked into the gym. Groups of men and women of various races and widely varying states of physical condition were working out on the gym floor, while several well-built humans and Klingons were competing in a bodybuilding pose competition in the holographic simulation of the 20th-century Venice Beach boardwalk. "Vhat can I do for you gentlemen today? Decided zhat you don't have proper pumpitude after all?" the proprietor said.
"I want you to help this gentleman get properly pumped up," Tarik said.
Loomis looked nervous. "I -- do you think I can fit in here? I mean, look at these people!"
"If you're willing to work, you can fit in just fine, my friend!" Hans assured him. "Ze only girley-men zhere are, are those who aren't willing to work!"
"Try it. It'll be good for you!" Tarik said. "An hour a day. Or two hours every other day. It'll build your confidence and your strength."
Loomis thought for a moment. Muscle Beach wasn't particularly expensive, but the membership wasn't cheap by any means. I've got the money, and maybe this is just what I need. I'm sick of running from guys like Balmer! "Okay, sign me up. Are you sure this will help?"
"A proper workout will cure anyting!" Hans assured him. "Franz, ve have another victim-I mean customer!" Hans' equally-pumped-up brother came off the gym floor and grabbed a PADD while Tarik took Hans off to the side.
"You know a guy named Wayne Balmer?" Tarik asked. "Human, about my height, dirty blond hair."
"Oooh, yah, zhat schweinhund!" Hans said.
"Mr. Balmer's been giving our mutual friend some difficulties lately. This whole exercise-if you'll pardon the pun-is meant to restore Mr. Loomis' confidence and maybe cause Balmer to think before he swings that fist."
Hans pointed to a sign printed in multiple languages on the wall behind the registration desk:
WE RESERVE
THE RIGHT TO REFUSE
SERVICE TO ANYONE
"I don't tink zhat vill be a problem!"
"Good. At least there's one place on the station he won't be harassed until he gets in position to handle himself."
"Leave him to us, Herr Colonel!" Hans smiled, then turned toward the gym floor. "No, you dummkopf! Hold ze bar straight when you do ze standing curl!" Tarik heard him say as he left the gym. The clock at the gym read 1535.
Tarik returned to his office. "I thought you were halfway to Vulcan by now!" Major Jackson said in surprise. "What brings you back?"
"A little impromptu research project. I needed to get to my terminal."
"Good luck!" Jackson said as he headed out of the office. "I need to get with Hartman; we've got some new recruits. Some of the refugees decided to sign up."
"Giving back as good as they got-I like it!" Tarik said. "Tell Hartman to go easy on them. No more than 20 kilometers under two standard gravities for the first hike!"
Jackson laughed. "Aye, sir!"
After his executive officer left, Tarik contacted Starfleet Academy. He explained the situation to an academic counselor. [I'm sending you the records you requested, Colonel. Keep in mind that for an appeal like this you'll need to get an Academy instructor to review them.]
"That won't be a problem," Tarik said. Sapek was still on the station, and was one of the finest instructors Starfleet Academy had seen. And he would approach the problem with ruthless Vulcan logic. Besides, the poor man doesn't have a functioning ship right now and no assigned duties until Jonas Mallory's trial. Nobody likes being a dunsel!
[I'd be happy to help out,] Sapek said when Tarik put the question to him. [After the past ten years of run-and-gun, some academic review work would be refreshing.]
"Excellent. This poor man needs a break. The whole thing sounded fishy to me."
Sapek reviewed the transcripts. [Very fishy. Balmer went from a failing grade to an A-minus overnight, with no corresponding improvement in his in-class assignments for comparative economics. Loomis' grades remained consistent throughout. The writing style of the papers is fully consistent with Loomis as well. If anyone was stealing papers, it was Balmer. Any academician with any competence whatsoever would have come to the same conclusion.]
"Tell that to Starfleet Academy. I think a man has just been cheated out of his life. Thanks for your help!"
[I intend to do precisely that. In fact, I'll draft the memo today.]
"If you'll put your signature to a letter I'll be writing shortly, that will be of help as well. And that will put me out of your hair for the moment."
[We are here to serve, Colonel. Send me your letter and we'll get the matter of Eugene Loomis resolved.]
TO: Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Loomis
New Omaha Colony
Recent events have prompted us to review the records surrounding the expulsion of your son, Eugene Anthony Loomis, from Starfleet Academy on May 12, 2365. Based upon the available data and competent review, it is our considered opinion that Mr. Loomis was expelled erroneously and that the student who implicated him was, in fact, guilty of academic misconduct.
We are appealing on his behalf to Starfleet Academy. While this revelation is much too late to allow for Mr. Loomis' reinstatement, it will clear his name and remove any appearance of moral turpitude on his part.
When a final decision is made regarding this matter, we will be in touch.
Best wishes,
Col. TARIK
Commanding Officer, 28th Marine Expeditionary Force
Supply Base 901
Capt. SAPEK
Captain, USS ALBUQUERQUE NCC-87112
Professor Emeritus, Starfleet Academy
Professor-At-Large, Vulcan Science Academy
After dealing with matters involving Starfleet Academy, Tarik remembered that he had an appointment with a school at the opposite end of the academic process. Tarik finally made it to the school at 1630 hours, just as the teacher was ringing a hand bell to signal the students that the end of class had come.
"Tiyanna, your father's here. It's time for you to go home!" the teacher said.
Tiyanna looked visibly disappointed as she turned in her PADD to the teacher. Tarik noted the math assignment contained on the PADD. and the outstanding grade. He smiled.
"She's doing very well," the teacher said.
"I like school!" Tiyanna said excitedly to Tarik. "We're learning math, and I'm making all kinds of friends!"
"That's very good," Tarik said as he put his hand on her shoulder. "Mommy's going to be late, so I thought we'd go get ice cream!"
"Yay!" Tiyanna exclaimed. "I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream! That's what the human kids say!"
"I thought you might like that!" Tarik said, as he marveled on the first day in a very long time in his life that hadn't involved bloodshed.