New Opportunities and Old Habits: Part II
Posted on Sun Feb 4th, 2024 @ 12:53am by Lieutenant Vincent 'Ghost' Zandrell
Edited on on Sun Feb 4th, 2024 @ 2:21am
1,019 words; about a 5 minute read
Mission:
The Sins of History
Location: Belogg's Bar and Recreations on Betazed
Timeline: MD001 0430 Station Time
The Starfleet Ferengi watched his friend leave before quickly turning to the Tongo Table in time to see a few hands going toward the pot of strips in the middle. He gave them all a firm look before gesturing for a Dabo Girl to come over. When she approached, he said. "Pack this all up for my friend, Miss. And take three strips for yourself." She nodded and began to collect the strips from the bowl. "Don't take more than three. I'm going to count it later."
As he was about to walk away, Froogg said in disgusted tone. "What kind of Ferengi are you? Giving profit away."
Loktor stopped and was tempted to reply, but he held his tongue. He walked toward the bar and took a seat by Vincent who had already ordered another drink, tossing two strips on the counter. "If you hate the drinks here, why do you order them?"
Vincent looked over at him before replying softly. "Somedays, it's worth the bad taste."
The Ferengi Bartender approach with the drink, only to be called off by Loktor. The Starfleet Ferengi leaned down slightly and spoke softly into his friends ear. "I need to talk to you and I need you sober for this conversation, Brother. It's one of those important ones." He placed his hand on the two strips and looked over to the Bartender. "Replicate some black coffee for my friend here."
"You came all the way to Betazed to tell me something you could have easily sent me a com-channel for?" Vincent asked.
"You may not have picked up." Loktor replied firmly as the Bartender placed the coffee on the table. "Now, drink." He said as he slid the strips over to the bartender and then slid the mug to Vincent. "How's Cassie?"
"Cassie is good. She's loving Betazed. Spending time with her grandmother and Aunt."
"Good. Good to hear you're keeping her away from you when you're like this." Loktor said as he watched his friend take a sip from the mug. "You spend most of your time here, now? Hustling Ferengi out of their strips at the Tongo tables."
"And the Dabo Wheel." Vincent added, taking a sip of coffee, before looking at Loktor. "Can't forget the Dabo table."
Loktor laughed again, smirking a bit as he looked around a bit. He soon focused his eyes on his friend and said. "As much as I enjoy the idea of you beating my countrymen at their own games, you need to listen to me now. A few people have been pushing to get you back on duty, me included, and Starfleet Command has finally agreed. The USS Artemis. It's a Luna-Class Starship assigned to the SFCIS. That's Starfleet-'
"Criminal Investigations Service." Vincent interrupted. "I know what it stands for. Why is is SF and not just S? Doesn't SCIS make more sense?"
"I don't care, Vincent. Maybe, when you're onboard, you can ask somebody if it matters that much to you. The point is... you have an assignment. A chance to get back on duty and get your life back together. Put what happened behind you and move forward. If not for you than for Cassie." Loktor said as he looked around the room again. "Time to get our of this place and back to what you're meant to be doing, brother. I'll come with. Help you and Cassie get settled in."
Vincent took another sip before looking over to Loktor. "Why would I want it?"
"Because it's this or nothing, Vincent." Loktor replied firmly, taking a grip of his friends arm, and leaning toward him slightly. "You in a deep hole right now and you need to climb out. We've managed to get you a rope, but you got to climb it, Vincent. We don't want to see you fall any deeper. We're your friends, Man. Some of us have gone out on an edge to help you out. I negotiated for you. Me, a Ferengi that doesn't like to negotiate, did that for you. You know I hate that." He chuckled softly and slapped Vincent on the shoulder. "You got to do this, brother. Get back in that uniform and prove to them you're just as good, if not, better than you were before."
"Before..." Vincent repeated softly, looking away a bit.
"Yeah... Before..." Loktor repeated, gripping his friends’ shoulder. "Before... you know."
Vincen finished the mug of coffee and looked straight ahead for a moment, before turning to Loktor with a nod. "What's the position?"
Loktor smiled as the Dabo Girl placed a box full of the strips won on the counter. "Come on. I'll tell you all about it on the way home." He stood up and picked up the box of strips. "Let's try to do this quickly. You know your mother scares me." He patted Vincent on the shoulder again and walked toward the door.
Vincent stood up and followed. After all this time of being off duty and going through session after session with the assigned counselor, it was time to get back into uniform. Loktor was right. He managed to have pulled himself into a deep hole and didn't bother to even try to pull himself out. He felt himself sinking and, was so distraught by his wife’s murder, he just allowed himself to keep sinking. He needed to start pulling himself out and use the rope his friends sent down to him. He needed to start over. Get back to being who he was before all this. A good Officer. A great Officer.
A Post By
Lieutenant Vincent Zandrell
Reinstated Starfleet Officer
Assigned to USS Artemis
Lieutenant Commander Loktor
Starfleet Intelligence
REDACTED
Froogg
Ferengi Patron
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