Another piece of the action (Pt 1)

Posted on Tue Nov 9th, 2021 @ 12:02am by Commander Finchley Kerr & Commander Dean House

Mission: Gamma Quadrant
Location: Quarks, DS9.
Timeline: Current.

The USS Sunfire had docked at DS9, and Finchley badly needed to get off the ship and try and unwind. Being a creature of habit, his first port of call was The Prominade to get something to eat and then afterwards, his second home...Quarks.

Walking up to the bar, he slammed his hand down on it and said "BARKEEP, a glass of your finest Arcassian pig swill that's meant to pass as beer!"

Quark turned at the sound of the voice, then closed his eye's. Opening them again, wishing that what he'd seen and heard had been apparition, but unfortunately wasn't, he replied "Kerr, you really must try this new drink I have" he said, reaching under the counter. Bringing his hands back out, one of them was covered by a cloth, he kept the cloth in place whilst he walked over to Finchley.

"What is is?" Finchley asked cautiously.

"Something I've kept just for you, would you like to see it?" Quark asked.

"O...k" Finchley drew out.

Quark, with a flourish, took the cloth off of his covered hand to reveal he was sticking two fingers up to Finchley.

"Up yours Hu-maaaan" Quark laughed at his own joke.

"Har-de-har Quark, good one, now get me a real drink will you" Finchley said.

Quark brought him an unopened blue bottle and set it on the bar, saying "You owe me big time for this one."

"Sure, sure" Finchley replied, opening the bottle, grabbing a glass from behind the bar, pouring a very large measure and downing it in one, "Man that knocks spots of you" he said, pouring an equally large measure again, and once more, downing it in one. Pouring a third measure, he turned round slowly, the effects of the drink already beginning to show, and faced the crowd inside the place.

Dean was still in there, after Commodore Gorgox and he's conversation and her having left. Also having finished his popcorn shrimp. Probably six drinks in by now, but he wasn't downing them. It was more casual drinking, while he was reading his law book. Giving a look over to Finchley and Quark's exchange. "Trying to forget something, Commander?"

Finchley looked round at the sound of the familiar voice, and realizing it had been Dean talking to him he replied "Forget Lieutenant, no...bury, yes."

The book was marked for his place and closed it. Turning a little more fully in Finchley's direction, "I'd ask if you want to talk about it, but would defeat the purpose, wouldn't it."

"Not really" Finchley said "in order to bury something, first the situation has to be put to rest. For me..." he stopped for another long pull from his drink and refilled his glass "...the situation wasn't able to be put to rest completely because those Cardassian bastards wouldn't let things go. They knew they were beaten, they knew we had won, so what do they do eh? What they do is go after someone or something that's not able to fight back, in this case, those on New Bajor. Not only that, but that shower of shite can't even do things face to face, no, what they do is go after those weaker than them so that it makes them feel better. I found that out when they left a 'sleek Cardy' on the engine housing on the Carrier Away Team 1 were on. Thankfully the XO was there to help and I talked him through the disarming process. However, the point being those Cardassians are still trying to win a war that they lost, they don't care about who they kill, just so long as they have a fight. Now, seeing that 'sleek Cardy' brought back to many memories of losses our group sustained over the time we were sent in to try and sabotage their facilities or kill or capture their Senior Echelons. However, not everything went to plan, somehow there were times they knew we were coming and they left booby traps like the 'sleek Cardys' and they were devastating. I had to order many of those who were sent on to do the job, knowing they weren't coming back...and many of them knew that as well. Night after night since coming back, I replay over and over in my mind the faces of those who were butchered by those bastards, and night after night they always say the same thing ~Why us, why did we have to die, why wasn't it you?~
Truth be told, I can't actually take much more, because there's no way of explaining it to them so they can go to rest."

Dean listened carefully and watch the expressions and body movements that Finchley was giving off as he explained. Finishing off his drink and setting the glass aside for the moment.

"I'm not going to pretend I know how all of that feels. Nor am I going to do some psycho babble and try to compare it to anything I've been through." Taking a breath, Dean could have, he could talk about the Cardassians and them killing his wife and unborn child.

"What I will say is I'm sorry. It wasn't my fault, I know, but I'm sorry. Nothing is going to bring them back, but if you keep blaming yourself, you're never going to get over it. I blamed myself for a very long time. There are no real winners in war, except the ones we do save. I'm sure that sounds like a veiled thing, but it's really not. How many more would have died if they hadn't done what they did, or the choices you had to make. Good people, women, children who now are living good lives. Isn't that why we push on? Honor the sacrifices others have made."

"True" Finchley said "however, unfortunately we have this thing called a conscience, and when that's peeked, regardless of our personal take, what matters is that 'we' who are left are the ones who carry the guilt, and that we can't shift, no matter what we do or how we think."

His head hanging low for a moment, he brought it back up again saying "Listen, I realise I was a hard arse before with the rank thing, it's only because I was new and didn't know anyone. I was wrong to say what I said, so I'm sorry. It's...Dean, isn't it?"

He raised an eyebrow just a little. Motioning for another refill. "Thank you, and yes, Dean."

Finchley nodded to one of Quarks waiters to refill Deans glass as he carried on "So tell me, what was your particular expertise during the Dominion War?"

Reaching up Dean scratched the back of his head, also nodding thanks to whom refilled his drink. "I was on the USS Vengence during the war. My wife wasn't typically suppose to be there. It was a Defiant class. So for obvious reasons. Though we were suppose to just be heading back to Starbase. We were ambushed by three Galor class ships. She didn't make it, nor did my unborn child. We didn't even get a chance to name her. The ship didn't make it either."

"I'm so very sorry for your loss" Finchley replied on hearing about Dean's wife and unborn child, "I can't begin to understand the emotional pain you've gone through."

"Thank you, and I apologize, that wasn't completely the answer to your question." Not dismissing his sympathy, just the pain comment as it's been long enough, nothing anyone could say can completely take that away. Nor should it be. "After dropping our civilians off, we were suppose to return to DS9, as one of the front line. I was the Chief Tactical officer."

"What ship were you reassigned to after you finally returned, if you don't mind me asking" Finchley said.

"That would be the USS Liberty, it was a little bit of a demotion if you want to look at it that way, to Assistant Chief, but I was fine with it."

"My brothers ship, the USS Denton, was part of the fourth squadron, second fleet, alongside the Liberty, the Canberra and the Charter, would that have been when you served there?" Finchley asked.

Dean took a good pull draw off of his glass a moment, "It sounds about right actually. Maybe that's where I remember the Denton from."

"They're MIA, tail end of the war" Finchley said "the Denton had orders to pursue a Galor class ship that ran a blockade and went to warp. The Denton to went to warp, giving chase, but nothing's been heard from them. No wreckage has ever been found, the warp trail tailed off to nothing, and all the surrounding systems were checked and double checked...still nothing."

"Well that's a little odd. Hmm..I would, well anyone would have thought by now there'd been a sign, a transmission, something."

"I'd have though so to" Finchley replied, "but as I say, nothing."

At that point, Quark leaned over the bar and called out "Kerr, your holodeck's ready."

"Ah good, about bloody time to" Finchley leaned backwards, craning his neck to reply back to the barman.

Finchley got out his seat, walked over to Quark, collected what he needed for the programme and returned to his seat. Looking at Dean he said "Sorry to cut the conversation short, but I've been after this programme for a long time, and now the Ferengi has it, I want to start having fun."

He was about to get up and leave, then turned back to Dean "Say Dean, do you like twentieth century gangster programmes?"

"You mean like, pinstripe suits, tommy guns, a piece of the action?" Dean raised an eyebrow.

"Yes, but his isn't just any 'pinstripe suit, tommy gun, a piece of the action' type programme" Finchley replied, "this is an Earth, nineteen twenty nine, Chicago, Al Capone era programme. You interested?" he finished.

"Um..sure, it sounds fun." Dean finished off the newest drink and slid the glass aside.

"Fantastic!" Finchley replied, and quickly getting 4 glasses of real whiskey double shots from Quark (who kept a bottle of Finchley's 'store' under the counter) he turned back to Dean, gave him his two, held his own glasses up and said "Sláinte", and downed them both.

"Cheers." Giving a look to the glasses and taking them both down.

"Right, let's get up to this holodeck!" Finchley shouted. He began walking towards the steps and realised that his directional compass was off a little as the steps seemed to not be where he'd originally saw them. Either that or the steps moved themselves...

Making it to the top of the stairs, he saw that the first holodeck was the one they wanted, so he looked swimmingly at the pad on the wall and put his finger out to enter the passcode.

"Wish the damn pad would stay still" he muttered as he tried to concentrate on entering the code. Finally he managed it and the doors opened. Turning back to Dean he said "Now, we'll be entering the programme as two of 'Bugs' Moran's mob. Moran was a rival gangster of Al Capone, and he, Moran, was convinced that Capone was behind a hit that killed seven of his gang in what became known as 'The St Valentine's Day Massacre'. We're going to be the one's Moran sends to try a 'hit' on Capone himself. Now, this is just a mock up you have to remember, it's not true to the story of what happened to Capone, we just have the basics of the story here. The character I'll be playing will be Johnny 'Tommy' Gunn, you'll have to choose a name for your character" he finished, looking at Dean.

Dean gave a thought a moment, figuring that they would be changing once they got into the holosuite, since they weren't before hand. "Rocky 'Brick' Marciono.

Finchley nodded and said "When I ordered this programme, I told Quark to have a number of Gangster era suits, shoes and hats available to choose from, there'll be something in there for both of us."

Finchley entered the code, and the holodeck doors opened for the both to enter. Once inside himself, Finchley saw the racks where the clothes were hanging in the sparse room and walked over. Choosing a dark three piece suit and tie, trilby and black shoes with spats, he quickly got dressed.

"Hmmm..interesting." Dean gave a glance through some of the choices. Reaching for a grey pinstripe suit, no vest. A dark purple tie and wingtip shoes. Shoulder harness holster. "Alright, I'm good."

"Right, now we look the part, when I start the program, we'll be entering Bugs Moran's office in his downtown gambling den" Finchley said "this is where we'll meet him and get our orders, are you all set?"

"I'm pretty sure I've got this. Dean smiled again.

"Computer, start programme Capone one" Finchley said.

The sparse walls of the holodeck shimmered and were replaced by a dark dingy hallway with a door at the far end. Finchley walked towards it, stood before the door and knocked. The door was opened by a tall muscular looking hood type who looked by he and Dean up and down.

"S'about time, the boss has been waiting on you's" the man said roughly.

"Yeah, we was held up by the cops, they're still checking out the scene, we're here now!" Finchley replied roughly.

The hood opened the door and let them enter. As he did, he said "They're here boss."

Bugs Moran looked up from behind his desk, slowly closing the ledger that he'd been looking at. "Tommy, Brick, glad you boys made it, no trouble I hope?"

"Naw boss" Finchley replied "The cops tried to squeeze us but they had nothin' so let us go. We'd got the message you wanted to see us so came right here."

"Good, good" Bugs replied, getting up from behind his desk and walking round.

"How are you keeping Tommy, you're lookin' sharp as usual" he asked Finchley.

"I'm angry boss, we lost seven good men, and that bastard Capone's to blame, I'm almost sure of it!"

"One thing at a time Tommy" Bugs replied, turning to Dean.

"Bricks, you're looking sharp as well, looks like you're still working out, keeping in shape" he said to Dean.

"I do give a try at it, sir." Dean gave a light smile.

Bugs face now went serious looking "Listen you two, I think that slimy shit Capone's behind what happened with our guys as well, so it's time for pay back. Sure, we can take out a few of his men, hit a few of his joints, bust a few heads in doing so, but that's not enough for me, I want real revenge."

"Sure thing boss" Finchley replied "what do you have in mind."

Bugs snapped his fingers and said "Mario, the guns."

The hood who'd opened the door earlier to Finchley and Dean now brought over two guns...Tommy guns. Placing theon the desk before Bugs, he then stood back. Bugs picked up one of the Tommy guns and showed it to both Dean and Finchley, saying "These two guns have had special tape put on the stock, handle and trigger, it means they can't hold your finger prints so they can't be traced. You two boys and going to use these on a hit...on Capone himself, are you up for it" he asked, looking at Dean.

First thing Dean did was taking the gun, removing the drum magazine and checking it. Drawing the slide for the chamber back to see if it had one round loaded or not. Slapping the drum back in and pulling the side slide and letting it chamber around. "Lock and load." Giving a nod.

"First things first Brick" Bugs replied "Leave the gun here just now. Capone has one of his stooges watching us from across the street in the café. Get down there and drag him back up here, I want to send a message to that Italian swine that's clear. Make sure the stooge has a few 'accidents' on his way back up here!"

"Shouldn't be to hard once we take care of his muscle, Boss." Dean sat the gun down. Not even waiting to be told to go get on it. Heading out and down to the 1921 Ford Model A Tudor waiting outside. Just giving it a little look over then passing by it. Headed for the café. Hopping across the street.

It wasn't particularly to hard to spot him, and given they were being watched then Jasper knew exactly who he was on first glance. The question was, had he been seen or was the lunk just getting coffee for everyone.

It definitely wasn't the latter apparently. Dean shifted on foot after he did actually make and order. Headed right for Jasper, who caught on and tried to bolt. It was a little late however. Dean grabbed him by the back of the collar and pulled. With enough lean the other hand slammed into Jaspers chest, effectively slamming him onto the ground, hard. "Have fun peeping there, a rat?"

There was a definite grunt, and the air was blown out of his chest. Weezing. Trying to catch it, "I..what..you..no. I don....."

"Yeah yeah yeah, right." Dean kept a hold of the collar and started dragging, literally, Jasper to the door. Oops...his head hit it once or twice. All the way across the street, and up the steps, oops..did Jaspers head hit those also? Inside and to the Boss' office. Tossing Jasper on the floor at the foot of the desk. "Hit his head a few times on the way over. Tried to tell him to be careful." Giving a grin.

"That's very clumsy of him Brick" Bugs said "should've been more careful. Anyway, down to business..." he said wa;lking across to Jasper.

He look the man in the eye and said "You're Capones snitch, you've been in that café watching us every day for the last week"

"What!...no, I like the coffee, that's all!" Jasper replied, now panicked stricken.

"Mario, bring me the lie detector" Bugs called out.

Mario disappeared for moment then returned, baseball bat in hand. Passing it to Bugs, he stood back gesturing at the floor and saying "I think this'll definitely work on this guy boss."

Bugs looked down at Jaspers feet and saw a wet puddle forming around his left shoe.

"Better start talking my friend, otherwise you and this lie detector will be getting to know each other very well!" Bugs said loudly, raising the bat above his head.

"OK...OK...I'm Capones lookout!!!" Jasper called out.

"Glad you admitted to it" Bugs said "but it doesn't save you" he added, brining the baseball bat down full force on Jaspers left arm. The snap of the bone was loud, and Jasper screamed shrilly, grabbing his left arm with his right.

"No, no" Bugs said "no helping yourself" he carried on, once again raising the bat above his head. He brought it down full force on Jaspers right arm, and again, a loud snap was heard as the bone broke on that one.

Jasper screamed in agony, both his arms now lying useless at his sides. He screamed again and and again, but Bugs had no sympathy. "You, my friend, are going to be a message to your boss, that he's not getting away with killing my men."

Once more, Bugs raised the baseball bat above his head, this time, he brought it down on Jaspers legs. Time and again he smacked them, then he stood back, small spatters of Jaspers blood on his shirt sleeves, face, trousers and shoes. Jasper had passed out by this point.

"Mario, the note!" Bugs called out. The hood walked forward and gave his boss an envelope, which Bugs took and placed in Jaspers breast pocket, the end of it sticking out so it could be seen. Turning to Dean, Bugs said "Brick, get this sack downstairs and into a cab, tell the driver to deliver him to Capones hotel."

Dean watched and knew it was just a program. That didn't make it any less concerting. It didn't show however. Shaking his head a little but Bugs was the boss after all. "Yeah. I got it." Picking Jasper up and tossing him over his shoulder. Heading down outside and throwing him into the next cab that he flagged down. Giving the instructions. Coming back in and up.

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TBC