Jonas Mallory sat anxiously in the spartan waiting room in the lobby of the Mulluran Order Police headquarters. Beside him sat a middle-aged Romulan and an older human of tall build, light skin, and gray eyes.
A young secretary, the almost infant-like innocence of her shaved head contrasting with the brute severity of her Order Police uniform, emerged from the inner office. "The General will see you now," she said.
Oh, great! Mallory thought. I honestly didn't know I was in Mulluran space! It wasn't Mulluran space when I got my charts!
A few days earlier Jonas Mallory had fled a Nausicaan pirate cutter in a stolen Federation shuttle just moments before a Ferengi marauder overhauled and boarded the vessel. At the time, Mallory was just looking to get out of the Hygar system... preferably before a Federation covert-ops team found him. He made it out of Nausicaan space, all right. And ended up in Mulluran space, almost directly in the waiting shuttle bay of a Mulluran Order Police cruiser.
The Mullurans were bound to know that the Federation, the Klingon Empire, and (now most likely) the Ferengi Alliance had warrants out for Jonas' arrest on a multitude of charges ranging from violation of a domestic restraining order to piracy and slave trafficking. Whether or not the Mullurans would give him up for some political or diplomatic advantage remained to be seen.
There is one last card I can play..., Mallory thought to himself as the secretary led the party in.
Behind a large, ornate desk sat Generalissimo A'dal Francona. The brilliantine crest of his jet black hair almost matched the toothbrush mustache Francona affected. Both stood in stark contrast to his gray skin, almost as squares on a chessboard. Francona wore a very elaborate uniform covered with more medals and decorations than any legitimate military officer could claim to have won in an entire career.
"You will sit," Francona ordered. The two Order Police flanking his desk reinforced that Francona's word could never be taken merely as a suggestion. The three men sat.
"General, there's been some sort of mistake--"
"SILENCE! You were not bade by the Glorious Leader to speak!" one of the Order Police bellowed. "The Glorious Leader makes no mistakes!" The Romulan sitting next to Mallory looked at him with cool contempt.
"We assure you, gentlemen, there is no mistake. You are here -- you are alive -- at our sufferance alone," Francona said. "You, Mr. Mallory, are a bit of a surprise, but you may be of use to us." Whether or not Francona was using the imperial 'we' was unclear.
"Mr. Keron, former and disgraced Tal Shiar agent. Did you really want to return to the Romulan Empire after your amateurish attempt to assassinate a leading Starfleet officer? You are spoiled goods. No one wants you. Alive, that is....
"Dr. Mikori, your experimentation was illegal, immoral, and unethical. No legitimate medical establishment anywhere in the Federation -- or most places outside the Federation -- wants anything to do with you.
"Mr. Mallory, Mr. Starfleet Captain's ex-husband. A criminal career such as yours would have been brilliant. In the hands of someone else! If you wish to defect and plead for asylum in the Mulluran Empire, your request is denied. We have no tolerance for petty criminals!"
Mallory recalled the mural depicting several political prisoners before an Order Police firing squad in the lobby where he'd been waiting with the others.
"And that is true for the rest of you as well!" Francona barked. "You are here and still alive only because we have a use for you. You will either give us your allegiance or we will find you an immediate, short-term vacancy before a firing squad!"
This man's unstable, Mallory thought. Insane is more like it. I'd better do as he says, and sort it out later, if I wish to live.
"Does the Empire have your allegiance?" Francona asked pointedly.
"I pledge my allegiance to the Mulluran Empire," Mikori said. "It is what I wished to do anyway."
"The Mulluran Empire is responsible for my survival. Therefore I will serve the Empire," Keron said.
"I haven't heard any better offers," Mallory said. "I serve the Empire as well."
"Very good," Francona said. "We have great plans for you... very great plans....
The sharp teeth in the dictator's grin said everything. Not one of the three non-Mullurans in the room thought for a minute that he was sane... or they were safe...