The Klingon Treasure - CH1 (of 5)
A Proposition In Broad Daylight
Did you miss the introduction? Start here:
CHAPTER I
A Proposition In Broad Daylight
“SO, you boys fancy yourselves as detectives, do you?”
Kirk and Spock were sitting in the posh office of Christopher Pike, the famed private investigator. Christopher was a tall, fit man who exuded confidence. He had solved many cases for the Spaceport community, and indeed, many hot spots on this world and others. He was a selfless man, not looking for fortune or fame, although his reputation and success certainly brought that to the table.
Mostly, he did it for the women.
“Yes, sir!” chimed Jim Kirk, smiling from ear to ear. Jim was seventeen years old and fair, with golden brown hair that that often flopped in front of his face.
“I believe that my powers of observation would be of great benefit to your practice,” added Spock. Spock was a year older than Jim, with jet-black hair, styled in typical Vulcan fashion over his brow. This caused many rude youths to give him the name ‘Moe,’ although he failed to find the humor in the moniker. In fact, humor was a difficult concept to grasp for the young man, as his species held cool logic above raw emotion.
“Really, Spock!” Pike was amused with the young men and their zeal. “And what do you think young Jim brings to the party?”
Spock took a moment to gather his thoughts before speaking. He found that being quick or impetuous would often lead to misunderstanding with emotional humans. “He is -” he looked for a word that would sum up his thoughts without going into detail. Humans seemed to dislike detail. “Capable.”
“Well, that doesn’t seem like a glowing report,” offered Pike.
Jim leaned in towards his chum and chided, “You could at least talk me up a bit.”
Spock confided under his breath, “As a Vulcan, I am uneasy using your metaphors.” He turned back to Pike. “Suffice to say, I find Jim Kirk’s abilities as an athlete above average, and although his moral sense is sometimes ambiguous, he is a worthy friend and ally.”
“Okay,” Kirk backpedalled, his brow furrowed, “you can stop talking me up, now.”
Pike eyed his two impromptu applicants carefully. He didn’t want to hurt their feelings, of course, but so much of his work would be far too dangerous for two young boys. While it was true that intellect and confidence could get a person far, like a good line in a bar, a person would have to then be able to back up his play. These boys were far too inexperienced to be each other’s wingman. Investigatively speaking, of course.
After some careful thought, and a vague remembrance of a girl named Tina with a decanter of Romulan ale, he did have an idea: “Boys, there is a little trip I need to make this afternoon. I have to see a man about some information. Now, I think you might be able to do this little errand for me – Young Jim here has a ready for action look about him, and whatever information my associate has, I’m certain Spock would lock it away in his highly structured mind like a steel trap.”
“I’ll say!” Kirk said.
“It would be an honor to offer my service,” said Spock, agreeably.
Pike felt that this was a good compromise. It wasn’t particularly dangerous, although the part of town they were going to was a bit rough and tumble. Jim, however looked like he could defend himself in a scrap. And, although they were both excited to help, they didn’t seem foolhardy or reckless. Besides, this would give him the afternoon off for other endeavors. As the ancients used to say, Win-Win. He smiled at the boys.
“You have to meet a man named Hector.”
“Hector?” Jim asked. “What species is he?”
Pike smiled. “I’m afraid he’s human, just like you and I.”
Jim’s excitement seemed to wane. “Doesn’t sound very fun.”
“But wait!” Pike countered, “It’s not who he is, per se, as much as where he got his information from.”
Jim’s interest picked up somewhat. “Where?”
“The Klingon home world.”
Jim practically jumped out of his chair. “He’s been to Kronos?”
“Oh yes. And I’m certain he’ll have a story along with the information. Hector loves to talk. But,” he warned, “don’t let him talk your ear off.” Then, he added: “Not too much, anyway. I’ll need that information quickly, and it is truly important to a very large client.”
“Someone with wealth and status?” Spock asked.
“No, he’s just really big. My current client is definitely not human.” Pike pulled an old-fashioned photograph from his shirt pocket and handed it to Spock. “Memorize this person, please: Facial features; height; weight.”
Spock looked at the photo carefully, then handed it back to Pike. “Understood and done, sir.”
Kirk was more than ready. “Where are we going?”
Pike picked up a writing tablet and started to scribble down some information. “I know I could simply send you this, but in my – scratch that – in our line of work, it’s best to never leave a data trail.”
Both the boys perked up with Pike’s change of wording. He handed the top sheet to Spock, who looked at the information cooly.
“This address is at the watercraft docks.” Spock concluded.
“Yes.” Pike would never get used to that term for the old shipping lanes, but as time marched on, there needed to be a simple way to discern space travel from water travel and air travel. “It’s a little rough over there – think you two can handle it?
“Of course, sir. We will use the utmost discretion.”
Even Kirk, who wanted to simply leap up and begin, knew to show some decorum with their new employer. “What information will we be gathering from Hector, Sir?”
Pike produced a wry smile. The smile he usually reserved for a lady after about the third drink. “I think I’ll let you find that out for yourselves.” He winked. “Maybe you’ll gather up a few clues on the way back, depending on what you discover.”
Kirk needed no more information. He was on his feet almost immediately. “You can count on us, sir!”
“That’s the spirit. Now, off with you! I’ll want a full report with my information at seventeen hundred this evening.”
Spock’s brow furrowed, as Kirk shook Pike’s hand. “We’re on it! Right Spock?”
“I am, as I stated, more than willing and prepared for the given task. However –”
“– However we do it, it will be done!” Kirk finished his friend’s sentence, and attempted to drag Spock out of the office before he could protest a second time. Whatever Spock’s concerns, they could discuss them outside of the great detective’s presence.
Spock, however, was adamant: “But Jim, it is obvious that you do not understand –” His sentence ended abruptly when the office door slid closed behind them. Pike laughed a good natured guffaw. Was he ever that excited about anything? The energy of youth was truly boundless.
With his afternoon now free, he could take a well-deserved break. Perhaps a late lunch with a friend. Maybe even see if Miss Vina was available for a playdate. Maybe they could play the Orion space girl game again. Or the farmer’s daughter. Yes, that was a very fun game.
Outside in the hallway, Spock faced his friend. “Why did you agree to Detective Pike’s terms?”
“I didn’t want to lose the job.” Kirk replied. “This is our chance to show we can do this!”
“You have set us up for certain failure. Pike has requested his information by seventeen hundred hours: Five o’clock. It is currently three o’clock. At my calculations, with walking as our current mode of transportation, we are one point seven-six-five-three hours from our destination. It is impossible for us to get there, get the required information, and then return within the specified timeframe.”
Kirk glowered at his friend. “What have I told you about being too specific?”
“That it is annoying to humans and many other species.” Spock thought a moment, and Kirk believed his chum looked almost annoyed, himself. “Will ‘one point seven hours’ be an acceptable compromise?”
“For the moment.” Kirk smiled. It was a smile that seemed to work with girls, but he hadn’t figured out what to do after the smile, just yet. “Don’t worry, Spock. I have a plan…”
