Veronica took the glass of 2210 Rothsburg Chablis, held it to her nose and breathed in the bouquet of aromas. “I must admit Marcus you know your wine.” she took a sip and let it roll over her tongue.
He sat back down across from her, enjoying her company as much as she was the wine.
“So. Tell me. How does one become a spy? Does Star Fleet put up signup sheets at the Academy or what? How does that work?”
“No” he smiled. “There are no sign up sheets. I had been posted to the Reston , Security Department. Only been there a year when a Captain Roston met me at Star Base 12. He pulled me aside one night at a bar. Gave me the pitch. Said he had reviewed my Academy Record and kept an eye on me for the last six months. I was…intrigued. The chance to fast track thru the ranks, and skip the dull and boring of patrolling the corridors of a star ship. It was hard for a young man to turn down.”
“I can see that. But what of family and friends?”
Looking out the window Marcus sighed. “ I had neither. I was orphaned at the age of 3. I think I’ve always been distrustful of relationships because of it.”
“How lonely for you.”
“I didn’t feel lonely. It was the life I had. Didn’t know any other. So anyway I took the offer and in a month I was off the Reston and off the books, my file was sealed and I was sent to Mars for training. A year later I was given my first undercover op.”
Veronica leaned back . “Tell me ….”
“You don’t have the clearance for that dear.” Marcus smiled.
“Oh please, who am I going to tell? Change the names, just give me the jist.”
Marcus swirled the wine in the glass. He hadn’t thought of that mission in a very long time. It felt good to talk to Veronica. Somehow, for some reason he could not explain he convinced himself it would be alright.
“Roston called me into the medical ward one afternoon, there were a couple of Doctors I didn’t recognize. They did a quick medical work up, nodded to Roston and left the room. He looked at me with the most serious expression I had ever seen. ‘You have a decision to make’ he said. ‘I have a mission for you, your trainers think you’re up to it. I think you’re up to it. And the doctors here think you’re up to it. But you have to understand something. Up to now everything has been training. If you washed out I could send you back to regular service, no harm done. But you take this mission….there is no going back. You’re in Intel and Black ops for the rest of your life. Do you understand?’
I told him I did. That I had nothing to go back to, so lets get on with it. Roston nodded to the doctors and they came up and jabbed a couple of hyposprays in my arm. Ten minutes later my hair turned completely white.”
“White? You mean that is not natural?” Veronica asked looking at Marcus shock of hair.
“Nope. Its been that way ever since. Roston explained as I looked in a mirror. I was being sent to Andor. My legend, my cover, was I was replacing an Arms merchant that one of the Co-operative leaders was dealing with. The white hair, it was believed, would help put the Andorians at ease. The real dealer had been eliminated to give me the opening to make contact. The goal was to develop a business relationship that would give valuable information both to SF Ops and the Andorian Tracha.” Marcus got up and refilled their glasses. Sitting down he continued.
“The insertion went smooth as silk. I had a complete history established. A warehouse full of blackmarket phasers, rifles, grenades, Phase cannons. And the Andorian, Der,Sorva was anxious to buy.”
Veronica listened to every word knowing she was being let in on a world she knew very little of.
“Our first meet was in a restaurant in the city of Tanora. I didn’t exactly have an appointment, or formal introduction. I passed word I had taken over the business from the gentleman DerSorva had been dealing with and would appreciate a moment of his time. Well, DerSorva was not really very pleased, as he had no idea who the hell I was. He sent a third rate henchman to bring me to his table. When I made my pitch the guy who escorted me over made a crude remark about my heritage, and expressed some skepticism on my ability to make good on my promises.”
“What did you do?” Veroncia asked.
Marcus put down his glass. “I killed him.”
“You what!?”
“Before anyone could react I had stood up, grabbed his ice blade and slit his throat. He was dead before he hit the floor.”
“My god Marcus.. For an insult?”
“It was a test… Roston had warned me to expect it. And… what the only acceptable reaction would be. By killing him I proved my bonifides. That I was….deadly serious, so to speak. You see, the guy was just cannon fodder to DerSorva. And the kill got me in to the organization.”
Marcus let that hang in the air for minute. “That was my first kill.”
“Did it bother you?”
“No.. not really. If it had…I don’t think I’d be the person I am.”
“Was the mission a success?”
“Without telling you enough to jeopardize you, yes. Saved hundreds, if not thousands of lives a few months later.”
They sat in silence for a long time, Veronica slowly finished her wine, Marcus watching the stars streak by.
“Marcus?” she said breaking the quiet. He turned back to her. “Is that your real name? Or is it just one of your ‘legends’?”
Her question stabbed at his soul. “I’ll tell you honestly Veronica. I’ve had so many identities over so long……I don’t know.”
“Seriously?”
“Seriously. It is the one card Star Fleet still holds. Buried deep in some file, in some psych profile is my true Identity. Somewhere, on some mission I lost my true self. Some times I wake up and get confused as to where I am. Who I am. It only lasts a second or two and then I’m ok. But it is unnerving at times.”
She stared at the man across from her, now not sure she was in the best of hands. But gazing into his eyes she came to conclusion.
“Marcus.” she said standing up and putting a hand on his shoulder. “Names are just names. I know this. You have a good soul. It doesn’t matter about the past. You can be who ever you want to be.”
He reached up and patted her hand. “I hope your right.”
The AI called out “ETA New Terra in 3 hours.”
Veronica looked down the corridor towards the front of the ship.
“So…what does a girl have to do to get a tour?”
Marcus stood up. “Please, for give my manners. This way if you please.”
Off:
Marcus Dinn
Owner of RICKS and Oz
Phoenix Colony
Phoenix Federation
Veronica Harringer
Widow of Mathew Harringer
CEO Dexter Industries
Phoenix Colony
Phoenix Federation
