His shuttle jolted again as the heavy hand on the tractor released them. Before Reoh could take the helm, they were in the grip of another tractor beam from Keethzarn’s ship, being pulled toward the starship.
Reoh went through the air lock first, to face Commander Keethzarn, followed by a seemingly endless line of naked, cringing Orion animal‑women.
Keethzarn slapped Reoh on the back and gave him an admiring look. “Bajoran, you don’t go half‑measures, do you? How many of them are there?”
“Thirteen,” Reoh admitted with a gulp. “I think. They don’t stop moving. . . .”
Keethzarn let out a low whistle as the girls untangled their green limbs and continued to climb out of the shuttle. The other officers were starting to get a glazed look in their eyes from so many animal‑women in the closed space.
“You help escort these women to their quarters, Ensign Nev,” Keethzarn ordered. “I’ll take care of Captain Jord.”
Nev Reoh nervously straightened his collar as he waited outside Keethzarn’s ready room. Maybe he needed to get a better autotailor. None of his uniforms ever seemed to fit right.
The door slid open, catching him flat‑footed, one finger hooked agonizingly in his collar.
“Good work!” Keethzarn sang out, reaching forward to shake Reoh’s hand.
“Uh, sir?” Reoh stammered, his entire body shaken by the large man’s grip. “What did I do?”
“You gave us the first good crack into the Orion slave trade on Beltos IV, that’s all!” Keethzarn was grinning, his slanted brows rising almost to his hairline. “Captain Jord has plea‑bargained and agreed to help us catch the Pa’a high command in their next shipment. It was those thirteen counts of slave smuggling that did it. We haven’t been able to get any Pa’a to fold under smaller charges.”
“You mean I’m not getting a reprimand?” Reoh asked.
“Reprimand! I couldn’t have done it without you, kid.”
Reoh hesitated, certain that Hammon Titus would advise him to shut up and thank his lucky stars that he wasn’t in deep trouble. But Reoh just couldn’t rest not knowing. “Commander, I smuggled all those Orion slaves off the station without telling you.”
“You sent me a fourteen‑page message last night,” Keethzarn dryly reminded him. “Full of passion and fury over the plight of these women, pleading for the life of one of them. . . .” The commander keyed through his tricorder. “Meesa, yeah, that one. Requesting to transport her out of the Beltos system despite Starfleet regulations and decades‑old trade agreements between the Pa’a and the Federation.”
Reoh shifted uneasily. “Yes?”
“Then you left without waiting for my answer.” Keethzarn clicked off the tricorder. “Either you gave up on the whole thing, which would mean you’re a wacko. Or you smuggled the girl out without permission. Either way, I was forced to investigate.” Keethzarn smacked Reoh on the back. “I couldn’t have dreamed you’d take so many with you. We saw the Pa’a ship long before we intercepted. All I had to do was wait for Jord to spring her trap and bang– gotcha!”
“You’re welcome,” Reoh said automatically. He felt a little dizzy.
“Brilliant plan! Gave Starfleet deniability in case it didn’t work, yet it couldn’t miss!” Reoh flinched as Keethzarn gave him a final whack on the shoulder. “After my report goes in, Ensign, the Enterpriseherself will want a fast thinker like you.”
Chapter Nine
“AND IT’S ONLY FOR TWO WEEKS,” Jayme finished in a rush. “Just think, you get a trip to Rahm‑Izad andyou can help out an old friend.”
Bobbie Ray protested, “I’d stick out like a purple tomshee in the middle of San Francisco. Enor would spot us in a millisecond.”
“I don’t want to hidefrom Moll,” Jayme reminded the Rex. “We’ll sort of . . . run into her on the trip. Come on, it’s my last chance to spend time with her before she graduates.”
“Then go with Enor. What do you need me for?”
Jayme picked up the springball, turning it over in her hands. “She wouldn’t agree. She would think it’s encouraging me.”
Thankfully, Bobbie Ray wasn’t the type to question other people’s motives. That was the main reason her choice of companions was so limited–all of her other friends would try to talk her out of it. But Bobbie Ray stuck to the point at hand. “I might go to Bracas V for vacation. Why don’t you ask Starsa? She likes running around in the heat.”
“Starsa would die. Rahm‑Izad has two g’s heavier gravity, with lighter air pressure.”
“How about Titus?” Bobbie Ray suggested.
“ Titus?” Jayme threw the springball against the wall and caught it in midbounce. “By the time he stopped laughing, it would be time to come home. Besides, he’s too busy getting ready for his field assignment on the Enterprisethis summer.”
“That’s right, that lucky dog. He’ll be fighting the Maquis, maybe even going into the Gamma Quadrant. That’s what I wish Iwas doing this summer.”
“The Rahm‑Izad trip is only for two weeks,” Jayme urged. “Come on, Jefferson, we almost died together–remember? I stuck by you in the caves. Can’t you help me out now?”
“Rahm‑Izad, huh?” he asked, thoughtfully examining the sheath on one claw. “Isn’t that where all those ruins are?”
“Some of the oldest in the galaxy,” Jayme quickly agreed.
“I hate ruins.” He looked at her consideringly. “But I don’t suppose I have anything better to do.”
“Thanks! You won’t regret it. Once we hook up with Moll Enor, you can do whatever you want. Sleep all day, if you’d like!” Jayme bounced the springball off the ceiling on her way out.
“Hey, that’s my ball!” Bobbie Ray called after her.
Jayme tossed it back. “Just be ready to go the week after finals,” she ordered. “And don’t tell anyone!”
* * *
Moll Enor knew what Jayme was up to the first moment she saw the young woman accompanied by the Rex, filing off the afternoon airbus after the other tourists. Bobbie Ray looked irritated behind his large sunglasses. He carried a portacooler, and perched on top of his head was a wide‑brimmed shade hat. Jayme was busy looking around the courtyard and hostel complex, blinded by the brilliant Rahm‑Izad sun.
“Welcome to Rahm‑Izad!” a tall Rahm greeted the tourists. The Rahm differed from the Izad only in their dominant attitude and slightly broader noses. “This way to a cool drink and a place to lay your heads. On Rahm‑Izad, we are here to serve you.”
The other tourists straggled after the Rahm, dazed from the sudden heat after their trip down from the orbital station. Jayme lingered, looking around, but Moll Enor stayed in the shadows.
“You didn’t say it would take thirty‑two hours to get here,” Bobbie Ray complained loud enough that the other tourists turned to look at them.
“Be quiet,” Jayme sighed. “I’ll get you an Arcturian Fizz somewhere, then maybe you’ll stop complaining for two minutes.”
Moll knew their meeting was inevitable, so she went to the front of the balcony overlooking the courtyard. “Ah, the happy travelers.” The way Jayme’s eyes lit up made Moll soften her tone. “You’re probably the last two people I would have guessed were interested in the Rahm‑Izad ruins.”
Bobbie Ray flipped his large, furry hand, his sunglasses sliding down his nose. “Call it a whim.”