After his intermezzo with Walsh, Aidan had left the ODA quarters with mixed feelings. Sure, he was halfway through with his petition, but he found it mighty unfair to couple, what was a normal, logical petition (after all, the lab he had thought out was not any better than the Science lab (by small details, he had made sure of that), nor would it require any more Starbase time (he had laid out everything in a way, that most non-replicatable parts would be transferred to the ship in less then 24 hours and assembled by himself), with a definitely illegal request. It wasn't the illegal part that bothered him, it was more the fact, that it wasn't easy at all to aquire Romulan Ale outside the Romulan Empire. As a matter of fact, the only real way was to go through a Ferengi, and there was nil to none chance to find a Ferengi on a high security starbase. Although... /\Starbase Bragg - twenty minutes later/\ "T, ye ole scumbag, how've ye bin?" enquired Aidan the moment he crossed the door to the rundown looking shop. He had had a hard time getting off the ship, due to all these marines guarding all entrances. He had felt like in a prison camp, trying to check out, since, apparently, SSF command had given a high level security to the new ship. After a call to the Major and a rather rude interchange of words, he had been allowed to board the Starbase to acquire "classified items for the new lab". Aidan wasn't sure if this would have more consequences, but taking it to such an official level had made him uncomfortable. Yet, Trazz was there, and if anyone knew his way around this place, it was him or no other. "Mr. Lynch, what a splendid coincidence. I was expecting you earlier, since you transport arrived at the base several hours ago. Pray, how can this humble shopkeeper do for a distinguished gentleman, such as yourself?" Trazz greeted with his usual warm, tired smile, while putting away an odd looking, rodlike instrument. Aidan closed the door and took a look outside and around the shop to make sure they were alone, then approached the old man. "T, ladd, I know I owe you alot of favours, but I need you to do me another one." he said in a hushed voice. "And it's important" he added, looking meaningfull at Trazz. Trazz looked at him for a moment, as if he was measuring him, then nodded and stood up slowly, grabbing a cane from the nearby wall. He turned around and walked through a small curtain at the back of the store and motioned Aidan to follow him. Aidan sighed with relief and anticipation. On one side, he had never seen the back of Trazzes store, which promised to be a world of curiosities and wonders like rarely any other place in the galaxy, on the other hand, he knew that Trazz would know how to get what he needed. He followed Trazz and stepped through the curtain. On the other side, a narrow, but long room stretched in front of him, shelves covered with gleaming pieces of technology, some as small as a microcircuit, some bigger then a watermelon stretched on both sides of the room, leaving only a small space to walk. Trazz was walking down the shelves, until he seemed to make a leftturn and dissappear. Aidan followed immediately and almost tripped over a large workbench that started immediately behind the shelves. Trazz took a moment to lean the cane against the wall and sat down, pressing almost casually a small switch located on one side of the bench. He motioned Aidan to sit on the other side and took a small caraffe with two metal cups from under the bench. "Very well, Mr. Lynch. I am certain, that whatever need of privacy you seem to require is more than fully satisfied here, in my humble workshop. Now, please, have a seat and do tell, what is the matter at hands, and why does it require this... secrecy, if you will?" he opened, serving Aidan a steaming, darkbrown liquid. Aidan smelled for a second, then smiled. "Raktajino" he sentenced and took a small sip from the metal cup. "I'll go straight to the point, if you don't mind, I have limited time on the base and my ship is leaving in 24 hours." he started. Trazz smiled. "Yes, beautiful vessel, if you don't mind me saying so. Whatever your crew has done in the past, it has certainly impressed several persons in higher echelons. Not to mention that she is the first of her class to be used on the field." he commented. Aidan looked a bit disoriented. "The first? I thought there were already a few Katanas in operation" he asked curiously. Trazz nodded and smiled. "That maybe so, but she is the first Katana B class. You will find, there are a few differences in that little letter. But we're chitchatting idly around, while you have important matters at hand." he waved friendly at Aidan and leaned back. "Oh" stuttered Aidan. "Yes. Matters. Ok" he took breath and started. "Here's the thing. All of my research and investigations have been destroyed with the Chimera. It wouldn't surprise me if you don't know already how it all happened, but that's not the point here. I have requested a lab for the new ship to try and reconstruct what I've lost, and I will need some things to refit my stocks." he paused a bit. "You know. Stuff." he added lamely. Trazz nodded and smiled. "And you don't happen to have a list of your needs. Maybe anything you think my modest store can provide?" he said encouragingly. "Well, as it happens, yeah. I do. Here" he handed a PADD over to Trazz and stared at his cup, waiting for his reaction. Trazz hummed slowly, as his eyes scanned the list, nodding here and there, and finally putting the PADD down on the workbench. "My dear Mr. Lynch. There is a strong possibility that I can provide some of these items. If I do remember correctly, I should be able to get it, before you depart. There's one item in particular, that troubles me. I never suspected that you were fond of this Romulan Ale, less then all two crates. I fear you have mistaken me for a simple smuggler, and I would feel deeply insulted if it were so" Trazz said gravely. Aidan looked up, taken aback. "No, ladd, I would never..." he started, lifting his hands in apology. "It's just, ye know, the tricky part. I have to get these bottles to get full authorization for the lab. It's... the condition I've been given. I just don't know where to get that stuff, and... since you know alot... I thought... but I never implied... I'm sorry, why don't we forget about it, yeah?" he muttered embarrased. Trazz leaned back again and measured Aidan again with his look. Aidan shifted uncomfortably in his seat, yet he didn't want to leave the store with empty hands. After all, the polycristalline ferric diallosilicate he expected to get from Trazz was fundamental to his plans, and that stuff was only available through Trazz, Cardassia, or Stafleet itself, through special authorization and lots of explanations. He finally let his shoulders hang, took the PADD slowly from the bench and stood up. "I might be able to help you, Mr. Lynch" Trazz finally said, looking up to him. "But this time, I will require for a favour in return. A small errand I would need you to run for me. Nothing difficult, I assure you, yet, I find myself in an impossible situation to do it. If you would grant me this little favour, I would consider it a pleasure to supply the required items and send them to the ship directly." he smiled. Aidan turned back to Trazz and grinned. "Whatever yeh need, mate..." he started enthusiastically, realizing late, that Trazz had never asked him to do an errand. And knowing (or better said, suspecting) the nature of Trazzes real business, he wondered if he had not gotten himself in a new load of troubles. Trazz however, smiled approvingly and took a small package from under the bench. "You see, there is a certain person, that you will find on Deck 45, Section 5, subsection eta, room 455E67. It goes by the name of Drchmar, and is awaiting this little package I have promised for him. Yet, my usual ways of delivery have been somehow... disturbed as of lately, and I fear, my good name as an honest merchant is at stake. If you were so kind and just take this package down to him, I will be most grateful. All you have to do is hand it the package in person and send him my warmest regards and humble apologies for the delay." Trazz started to instruct slowly, smiling during the whole explanation. Aidan nodded and raised his shoulders. "Sounds easy enough, mate, Sure thing, I'll do it" he answered relieved. How hard could it be to deliver that thing, after all? "One word of advice, my young friend." interrupted Trazz his thoughts. "I would very much regret it, if this package gets lost or in wrong hands. I will see myself forced to make you personally responsible for its safety, and act accordingly, should anything happen to it. You know how much I appreciate my good name, don't you?" he explained calmly. Somehow, even if unchanged, the smile had turned strangely menacing, and the hidden threat made Aidan shiver. That's a side of Trazz he had never seen before. "Don't worry, ladd, I'll take it where it belongs, wont I?" he said reassuringly. Trazz nodded smiling. "I'm sure you will, Mr. Lynch. I'm sure you will." he answered and waved Aidan out of the room. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ PO3 Aidan Lynch ODA Eng. Spc. USS - Chimera A