Posted by Lieutenant Faye Calloway (Mission Specialist) in 2378- An Incognito Life

(snip)

But something was pricking on her mind and she was trying to understand it. “You said Jensson is biased when it comes to me. What does that mean?”

Renn looked down at him with a sad expression. “You remind him of his daughter, Rochelle. She got into trouble and died far too young.”

“Oh.”

“Yeah,” Renn said with emphasis. “So when you’re going off being reckless and stupid, perhaps try to do the kindest thing for Dirk and refrain. You’ll save us all a lot of grief.”

Faye swallowed and nodded. “Duly noted,” she said softly.

Renn considered her for a moment. “I’m pretty sure I don’t have to tell you that life is short, Abby. Don’t make the same mistake a lot of us have.”

She wanted to ask him more, make him explain, but Renn turned and walked away, leaving her sitting on the cargo bay floor.

The ship made its final tiny little creep forward into the docking space at Tortuga before the docking clamps latched on, securing the Kodiak in its berth. Several more jobs later and Faye had found something of an easy rhythm on the ship. It was good work, and the physical labour of it helped to temper her often mercurial moods. She couldn’t always explain them, sometimes they just happened, other times something prompted the dramatic shift. But Dirk and the others seemed to tolerate or work around them and they found an ease to daily life together. For Faye, it was so reminiscent of the life on Tracken that she had to catch herself from accidentally revealing something she shouldn’t. As always, there was a promise to keep.

Stepping onto the grimy outpost, she couldn’t help but smile, and that was made even more so by Megs slipping her arm through hers. “Come on, Abbs, we have something to show you,” she said with a grin. With great curiosity, Faye followed with a matching grin as the entire crew moved through Tortuga together.

Reaching the other side of the station, Faye was definitely starting to feel like something was up. “Where are we going?”

Jensson smirked. “You’ll see,” he said as they arrived at the end of a corridor. ‘Abby’ eyed her shipmates with raised brows but the others just seemed excited. Jensson knocked on the wall and suddenly a door appeared and flipped open with a large Klingon standing there. The captain lifted something up in his hand to show the burly guard, who in turn gave a nod and stopped to the side. “Come on, Abby, it’s time you got to see the other Tortuga…”

It was like they crossed some strange threshold. On the other side, the corridors were brighter, and cleaner. It was like someone cared. “What… is this?” she asked as they led her through the space. “Soon,” Renn said, his quiet voice laced with a rare hint of excitement.

They had to practically drag her through the place because Faye kept wanting to stop and look at things and soon enough someone was pulling on her arm. At last they reached their destination and entered through a set of double-doors.

It was a round room, brightly lit, with painted murals on the walls. It was so out of place compared to the station she had been tramping about that it was almost garish in its vividness. And then she quickly realized other people were there. A Klingon, several Human, a Bloian, a Ferengi and a couple more she couldn’t place.

“So…back again I see Captain Jensson,” one of the Humans, a balding male said, stepping forward with a calculating look as his gaze over the group.

“We are, and as I mentioned last time, it’s the fifth visit by our newest crewmember,” Dirk said with a grin, gesturing to Faye. “This is Abagail Blair, my deck hand.”

The man stopped up to Faye and smiled. “Welcome to Tortuga, Abagail Blair. Grady Coleman, someone of some importance here on the outpost, though it depends on who you ask how much,” he said with a wink.

“Hi…” Faye said uncertainly.

“You know, not many people bother to come a second time, let alone so many others. Which is why those that prove their resilience and dedication are allowed to be brought into the fold,” Coleman said. Out of his pocket he pulled out a small scanning device. “Your hand, please?

Faye cast a wary glance at Dirk, who just gave her a reassuring nod. She, reluctantly, held out her hand. Coleman placed the device under her finger and a moment later there was a beep and he removed it. Faye couldn’t see it where exactly but something popped out of the side of the device. Coleman handed it to her.

Faye took it and examined it closely as she held it between her thumb and index finger. It was, essentially, a coin. Metal, surprisingly heavy too. A rope was embossed around the edge along with a turtle within it. “What is this?”

“Your key to the light side, my dear. Consider yourself an official member of Tortuga. Any vetted member of a sworn-in crew who has made five trips is invited to also be sworn-in. So, Abagail Blair, here you are. You can, of course, decline the coin, but it’s yours, embedded with your thumbprint. It’s your access to anywhere on this side of the station, and it comes with certain advantages,” he said, glancing at Dirk with a tiny grin.

“Most of the really good deals happen on this side,” Jensson said. “It’s how we’ve fared so well.”

Grady nodded. “Indeed, there are many benefits, but it also has some clout. Anyone member can request the aid of another, and your coins are your guarantee. Not everyone is invited, you see. So while we can’t guarantee everyone is law-abiding you can be certain no one will try to swindle you. Everything over here is perfectly civilized.”

“Huh, there’s a word I haven’t heard in awhile,” Faye said dryly. But turning the coin through her fingers, she smiled. “I’m in.”

“Good,” Coleman said. “But keep it safe. It’s tied to you and if someone else has it we assumed the owner is dead and it is forfeit. If you wish to transfer it to someone, it has to be done here. Understand?”

Faye nodded. “Loud and clear.”

“Perfect! Enjoy your stay on Tortuga, ladies and gentleman,” Grady said, stepping away.

Dirk stepped over, a proud smile on his face. “You know, we had a bet going to see if you’d make it to the fifth run here or not.”

“And I won!” Megs said.

“I was a close second,” Jensson quipped.

Faye just shook her head. “You really are a jerk sometimes, you know? I’ll just call you that for now on, Captain Jerk.”

“I should be offended, but I don’t think I am,” Dirk said, brows knitted despite the lopsided grin.

Megs just giggled at the play on his name. “Ahh, Abby, I’m glad you’re with us.”

Faye held up the coin and peered at it intently. “So am I,” she said softly.

“Come on,” Renn said, “There’s more to see.”

They ventured out of the room of murals into what Faye guessed was a lounge where she could hear deals being made. This had to have been where Dirk disappeared to when they came to the outpost. Watching the people gathered, Faye felt that maybe she wasn’t quite as wayward as she once had been. It wasn’t much, but it was something. And something felt good.

[To Be Continued…]

~Faye Calloway AKA Abagail Blair, Wanderer