9: The Angel on Her Shoulder

The Angel on Her Shoulder

by Lt. Commander TC Blane

and February Grace

71203.00

Following "Going All In Part Four"

-=On the Ferengi Outpost=-



"Commander, you need to replicate yourself a Tal Shiar uniform, a disruptor, and get down here in ten minutes. No time to explain."

Dabin smiled at her, "Damn, you're good."

February closed her commlink and Dabin turned, smile still on his face, and headed off to close the deal on the time and place. She smiled too as he left, proud of him and what they had accomplished.

Suddenly, she was grabbed from behind and pulled into a darker recess of the corridor. It was not a painful grab, but firm.

"Shushhhh." A quiet voice whispered from just over her shoulder. February nodded, eyes wide. Slowly, he released his hand from her mouth.

"Shushed, I assure you." She whispered back.

"You really should leave this black ops stuff to those who have the experience." Came the voice again.

February frowned, she knew that voice. She spun around to find a man dressed in dark, loose-fitting clothing covered with an equally dark cape and large cowl draped over his head. A scarf like wrapping was draped covering his neck and lower face, only his eyes were exposed.

But it was the eyes that gave him away, those deep, icy blue orbs were unmistakable.

"TC!" She hugged him.

He returned the hug with one hand as his eyes scanned the corridor beyond for any unwanted onlookers. "Hiya Kid."

"Not that I'm not happy to see you, because believe me I am happy to see you. But what the hell are you doing here? I thought Starfleet had washed its hands of this. . ." She paused, not wanting to say the name of their target out loud for fear of being overheard. "situation."

He pulled the scarf down, exposing a grim smile and a five o’clock shadow. “Yeah well, you did not think I could live with that did you.” He glanced down the corridor again. “Good Captain G. listened to my arguments and made the suggestion that I needed to take a vacation. After all, I have several weeks of unused leave built up.”

He looked her back in the eyes. “So here I am on…” He shivered. “…vacation.”

He gently tapped her forehead. “You might want to tell your significant other that you are alright, as I am sure he heard a mental S.O.S.”

"Done. I told him we have back-up we didn't plan on." February said with a smile, then it faded. "TC, I meant to tell you as soon as we got back from Yensul, but there never seemed to be a good time. Reece isn't just my significant other anymore. We. . .sort of. . .got married before you rescued us. Just in case we didn't get off that ice cube. I'll explain everything later. My point is. . ."
She cast worried eyes toward her mate, who was even now animatedly making small talk with the dangerous Ferengi high-roller. "We can't let anything happen to my husband. He's got great people skills but. . ."

"Don't worry," TC reassured her, "It's my plan to make sure we all get out of this in one piece."

TC handed her a tiny, powerful looking weapon. "Take this. Hide it, um. . ." he looked her over, trying to figure out where she might hide it in the outfit she was wearing. He rolled his eyes upward. "Hide it. Be careful not to shoot yourself with it, it has a hair trigger."

February took the weapon and it vanished quickly, leaving TC wondering how women could possibly cope with such clothing, especially in situations like this.

"Thanks. We didn't risk trying to bring anything down with us from the ship. We've been winging it on wits alone."

"Good thing you're so well armed." He once again hid his face with the cowl and scarf. "C'mon. We should move from here, but not get too far away from Reece. What's your plan so far?"

"We're about to have a visit," she whispered as they skirted the shadows and moved into another darkened doorway."From a Romulan."

"Pointy?" Blane raised an eyebrow, referring covertly to the Vulcan by employing Reece's impertinent nickname for him.

"Pointy."

Lt. Commander TC Blane

and Lt. February Grace

On Special Assignment

On an Outpost in Ferengi Space


NRPG: Welcome to the crew, Mr. Blane. We are so honored to have you with us.