Watching the passing landscape out the window of the train, Marcus was lost in thought as he made his way back to Omega Prime. So many conflicting emotions tore at him. His new romance with the Romulan Mayor had been very unexpected. While he was very attracted to her physically, he was also drawn by her personality. But the danger in a relationship with a Romualan, especially in these uncertain times….. Maybe that was the root of the excitement.
A word from a video feed over his head caught his attention. Word was racing thru the colony that the Federation had pulled its support in light of the Administrations backing of Admiral Hunt. Services were being curtailed as a result and the city of Wells city was in the process of shutting down. He wondered if the administration fully understood the ramifications of being cut off from Federation support. The colony was now in greater danger than ever before.
The train came to stop at the platform in Wells City and a huge crowd boarded. Pushing her way thru he saw Dorothy Gale, still in the dress she wore this morning. A man sat next to Marcus just as Dorothy came up.
“Do you mind? This gentleman was waiting for me.” Dorothy said to the stranger.
Marcus looked at him. “It would be appreciated.”
The man shrugged and stood up, offering his seat to the lady, then wandered down the aisle hoping to find another roost.
“Well hello again.” Dorothy smiled.
“It’s been a busy day.” Marcus said watching the doors shut, leaving many passengers standing in the aisle.
“Can you believe it? Abandoning Wells City. I mean, what am I to do?”
“Your warehouse you mean?”
“Yes. I’ve got to find some way of moving it and somewhere to store it.” She looked at the crowd, “And I’m sure space will be a premium now.”
Marcus nodded and looked out the window as the train started to pull away. Quickly it picked up speed, heading north for the Covington River and Omega Prime. In a moment of inspiration he turns to his seat mate.
“How many square feet do you need?”
She thought for a moment. “At least 4 thousand square feet I should think. Why?”
Marcus pictured the space now available to him under the Vorta’Rome space port.
“I may be able to help. I have some space available in Vorta’Rome.”
Dorothy feigned a look of surprise. “Really. I don’t know. Vorta’Rome. I mean access is not going to be easy.”
Marcus smiled. ‘It is for me. Tell you what. Let me handle your storage and delivery issues.”
She raised an eyebrow, “And how much is that going to cost me Mr. Dinn?”
“Nothing.. Please, I only wish to help a lady in distress.”
“Nothing, you’ll handle my warehouse operation and deliver items to my locations. Free of charge.”
“Under one condition.”
“OH, I’m sure there is a condition.”
“No …No. Just that you may not visit the warehouse.”
“What, some super secret location?”
Marcus smiled. “Something like that. What do you say?”
Dorothy looked out the window, the river was coming up fast. “I want a contract.”
“Sure, come to my restaurant tomorrow. We’ll make it all official.”
“Restaurant. You have a restaurant?”
“On Phoenix Boulevard. RICKS. Maybe you have heard of it.?
“I thought I’d heard of you. So you run RICKS.”
“Good say 10 o’clock then?”
“Ten o’clock, then you can offer me lunch afterward.”
The two made pleasant conversation the rest of the trip into Omega Prime. But in the back of Marcus mind he was running thru all the possibilities the new business arrangement offered. Now he had a reason to be in Wells City during and after its shut down. Not to mention an excuse to have couriers in most villages in the Colony. In other words, he had a very convincing cover operation for the smuggling he planned for his warehouse under Vorta’ Rome.
When the train stopped and the doors opened at the Phoenix Station his new business associate got up and offered her hand. But before he could take it she reached and touched a spot on his cheek.
Smiling she pulled her hand back. “Just a green fleck of something. If I didn’t know better I’d say it was blood. But then you’re just a business man. Right?”
Marcus reached up and rubbed his face. “Must be a bit of grass.”
‘Must be. See you tomorrow Mr. Dinn.”
That night he began drawing up not only the contract between him self and the mysterious Dorothy Gale, but Incorporation papers for his new business.
Oz Inc.
Off:
Marcus Dinn
Owner RICKS
Dorothy Gale
Omega Prime Entrepreneur (NPC)
