Posted by Lazol (Chief Science Officer) in Surprising Surprises

Posted by Lieutenant Casela Synthi-er (Counsellor / RTF) in Surprising Surprises

(snip)

Lazol, though still fuming, was relieved to know that Ch’otok approved of Casela and he took a gulp as he nodded in understanding at her slight bow and upon grabbing the box he returned the bow before sitting back down. “Karra would have gotten a fine price herself. She is one of the best negotiators I have ever met.” Casela would note that he didn’t say female negotiators, but that he gave no regard to gender when it came to business. A sharp mind was just that and Lazol knew well enough not to downplay someone because of what is in their pants. He took another breath and cleared his throat as he exhaled and said, “You know this changes everything now” He said with a chuckle. “I suppose I can soften how I come across because you now know that I’m not just the heartless businessman that I want everyone to think of me as. And as for you? Well I still have no idea if anything you told me about position or desire to do business was true but I can say that I have never heard Ch’otok speak so highly of anyone before and that means a great deal more to me than I can describe.” He held out his hand and said, “I suppose this new found understanding stays within these walls? As it probably should. Please feel free to ask me any question. I will answer as best as I can for you. I owe a friend of Ch’otok at least that much.”

Lazol, CSO

Casela had no use for alcohol but she did keep some for certain occasions. She unlocked another of those hidden lockers in her office, pulled out a bottle of very good and very old Romulan brandy and poured a glass for Lazol and herself. She didn’t drink, but this situation called for a mutual acknowledgement of what they had just stumbled into. She handed him a glass and then took a drink of hers and set it down. His appraisal of Karra and his obvious respect endeared him to Casela and earned another notch of respect from her as well. She was also not so full of herself to admit when she was wrong. “You have my deepest apologies, Lazol. Am I interested in power? No not really. Not that kind of power anyway. Influence, information, the power to improve the situation of those that deserve it? Yes.” She paused. Ch’otok trusted him, as much as he trusted her, maybe not for the same situations. She didn’t see Lazol as a fighter, but trust Lazol he did. And that was enough for her. “As you have built a reputation as a ruthless businessman, I have my reputation that ARU has fed you. My involvement with the orphanage on Delotha is a deeply guarded secret. That until I came to Leviathan, only Ch’otok knew. We recently retrieved an anomaly from there. I was forced to bring others and the secret spread. I come to the incorrect conclusion that someone had betrayed them and that you were here for less than honest means.” She’d already apologized and wouldn’t repeat it. He’d accept it or not.

Lazol grabbed the glass and took a drink after Casela had, a show of respect as he placed the box on the table between them. He leaned to one side after putting his glass down and leaned on his left arm, rubbing his chin with his hand as he was about to make a claim that would set him apart from other Ferengi, especially anyone that Casela would have worked with. “I thank you for your apology, and do know that I have the utmost understanding of why you would think that. Often when it comes to business it is the simplest answer that is most often true and you saw me as a ruthless businessman who wants nothing more than profit and uses anomalies to do that. It is logical that, should one of your team be open to a bribe or two it is most understandable as to how I would have gotten that information. I will trust the reputation that has been fed to me unless you wish to change that.”

She smiled, but it didn’t reach her eyes. “There is truth to it. A carefully created persona that even the section believes to an extent. I am ruthless, I am capable of killing, I have been a monster. I am not the sum of those things. I took an oath to protect the Federation at all costs. That includes her allies and most especially the people that trust the Federation to protect them. I will uphold that oath, but at the same time I am not a mindless drone. I am also an extremely talented counselor and interrogator, and I can get in and out of places that no one would ever believe me capable of. Most importantly, I won’t stand for the betrayal of innocents. Governments, soldiers, agents, they know what they are getting into,” she shrugs, “And that’s on them and not my concern.”

“Now as for your reputation on board. That is up to you. I have no desire to ruin any covers you might require. It will stay within this office. And it is highly secured. No record was taken and no one can listen in. As for questions, I would not dishonor Ch’otok by asking them. Am I curious? Most assuredly. Will I ask? No, that is your business, just as I have mine. Should you find the desire to divulge I am here and will not break that confidence. Should, at any time, you require help concerning whatever it is, I will stand in Ch’otok’s stead if you need it. You are welcome to ask questions, I can not promise to answer them all. I have orders that even my CO in S31 doesn’t know about, but I will not lie to you even if I can not answer. Now as for the business end of things I suggested, that is very much true. We have found that others are more than willing to pay us to remove anomalies. And Leviathan, even as the flag ship of ARU has to find it’s own means of getting materials.”
Lt. Synthi-er, removing foot from mouth

Lazol sat back upright and exhaled through pursed lips. He cleared his throat and said, “I appreciate your, shall we say, discretion. Perhaps at a later date once the dust of these revelations have settled I will share with you the exact reason why I hunt these anomalies and how Ch’otok plays into that. As will I not ask because I too want to uphold his honor. Perhaps in the future I can be of a similar role to you should you find the desire. My confidence too is secure.” He said as he had worked with S-31 operatives in the past, knowing them to be of a looser moral code than most humans would like to admit but he didn’t find any issue with it at all. “Now I am a Ferengi after all and mentioning that idea of being paid to remove anomalies? As well as selling the research and more benign ones perhaps? Oh you know how to make my lobes tingle. While I am a wealthy man I do have to say I have less than free access than I did on my ship. I think that we will need to be careful how we go about it, I’m not sure your Captain Cobb fully approves of my methods quite yet.”

Lazol, CSO

She nods to his offer, and perhaps one day it would be. But though Ch’otok trusted him, and she would trust Lazol with the secret of Delotha, the rest…well she didn’t know him well enough. “Captain Cobb?” She grins, “Who do you think came up with the idea?” She let that set for a moment, “But don’t you dare tell him I told you that.”
Lt Synthi-er, CNS