The Age of Innocence
Posted on 01 Dec 2023 @ 3:20am by Brek - Timeless Treasures Art Gallery
Edited on on 06 Feb 2024 @ 10:08pm
Mission:
M4 - Falling Out
Location: Ferengi Space onboard the Godfather Offer (passenger ship)
Timeline: Backstory: Summer 2380
1481 words - 3 OF Standard Post Measure
The vessel that Brek and Desha had boarded possessed everything that someone born on Ferenginar might dream of: drones programmed to bring exotic food or drinks, complete with an augmented reality experience that would make you feel like you were on Risa, Betazed or in Marrakesh, Earth. If, on the other hand, you valued your privacy, the drone could book you an unforgettable hour in a holo-suite.
There were special offers every thirty minutes, announced with an annoying little jingle, and you-would-be-a-fool-to-miss-them. You might prefer a game of course, and with just one command, you could play tongo - Evade! Confront! Acquire! Retreat! - with holo-opponents and up to three beautiful females by your side.
The only thing was, with all those commercial offers, there was no peace. No place to spend a quiet moment with your thoughts. The company that ran the Godfather Offer wanted its passengers to forget how dull a trip to Ferenginar actually was. It also wanted a fair share of your latinum. And it worked, all the other passengers that Brek could see were involved in a reality he couldn’t see, gesticulating to items that appeared only to them, provided by VR lenses.
“This is so great,” Brek said, his voice devoid of enthusiasm, while a drone lingered above their table, with no less than six special offers flashing around its shiny gold frame. “Did you know that there are no less than fifty different types of ChiggerBurger?”
“Yeah, I’m so happy, I could dance.”
Dancing was the last thing on her mind, obviously. She had cried for hours and it was a miracle she was still able to hold a conversation. Her world had collapsed and been shredded to the point of being pretty much inexistent. The media on Volchok were clamouring that everyone in Asax's house had perished in a fire. There was nothing to see anymore - beyond cold embers - and the authorities insisted there was no foul play. Just a very unfortunate incident - fuelled by a very fat bribe, Brek and Desha were sure of it.
Desha then sighed. “This trip is a waste of time. The moment we reach our destination will also be the moment I go back to Volchok. I need to know what really happened to my parents. Only a moron like you can think it’s alright to turn the page. Sure, it’s nothing to you. You have only lost a job. I, on the other hand, don’t even have two bars of latinum to my name now!”
It wasn’t entirely true, but females, as always, enjoyed their drama. She would have access to her father’s wealth - or what remained of it, on the days of her marriage. Things worked that way on Ferenginar. A woman’s inheritance was controlled by her husband. And, really, good luck to the poor sod.
She had shouted her words, but the passengers around them remained undisturbed. Their bodies were here, but not their minds. On this ship, you could scream and howl and pester, no one would hear you. Brek could see the appeal. Why face a tedious and harrowing reality when you could conjure up holo-friends, environment and pets, all modelled by your inclinations? In a virtual reality, you controlled everything. You chose who and what you wanted to see. So yeah, why not live in lala land forever?
“We talked about it, Desha. Volchok is too dangerous at the moment,” Brek said for what sounded to him like the hundredth time. “Don’t forget that you were sent to that silly farm for your own protection. Your father has done bad things and he knew what was coming. And you can bet that those who destroyed your house are looking for you as we speak. If they find you... Believe me, Ferenginar is a safer option. You have family there, you’ll be fine. That’s the only way I can protect you.”
“Your protection, Brek, is the last thing I need! You and your stupid ideas and your stupid precautions too!”
“May I interest you in a beetle fight?” The drone above their table suggested, its cheerfulness totally out of place. “The Trickster vs the Black Marvel? 20% off if you order within the next 60 seconds!” The image of two large beetles appeared in the air, complete with their unique statistics. They bore little resemblance to any beetle Brek had ever seen. They had been designed to entertain and they surpassed by far what nature and science could produce.
“Oh shut up!” Desha shouted. “Who invented those talking garbage bins? I bet we stole that silly tech from Hewmons. Inventing something like that is right up their street.”
The drone beeped loudly, but it reverted to displaying silent adverts for items it thought might interest Desha: jewels, flowers, a romantic dinner, and new fancy clothes.
“Those ad-drones are indeed annoying,” a Ferengi man who had approached their seats said. He was not just passing by, making a casual comment in the ‘real reality’ abandoned by most passengers. Nope. He sat in front of Brek and Desha and it felt like the temperature dropped. The stranger was tall, heavy, and he had a way to look at people, with his pale eyes, that was rather chilling. The man probably never smiled. Serious, read ghastly, business was always calling. “You haven’t paid the premium that silences those noisy devices, I see.”
“There is one?” Brek asked, curious. Only to feel foolish when the next moment one of the three men who were visibly part of the stranger’s retinue destroyed the drone with his bare fists.
“There, we won’t be troubled anymore. I go by the name Farik,” the man added, “and I’m responsible for your new reality. Gritty and unpleasant as it is.”
“You...” Desha started, but she went no further.
The boldness and bravery she had displayed since their run on the island farm had all but melted it seemed. Good. At least she was sensible enough to realise that by freaking out now, she would only get herself into bigger trouble. The way an ant endangers itself when it bites a large mammal.
“Yes, I.” Farik added. “And you, youngsters, propelled by your annoying innocence, you tried to elude me.”
“That’s what I told Brek too, but he insisted we should leave Volchok,” Desha said, the traitress.
Farik stared at Brek. “You did, young man?”
When in doubt, flee, was Brek’s motto, but he wasn’t silly enough to advertise it out loud. “I’m not part of Asax’s family, and Desha is only a teen.”
“Quite so,” Farik replied. “I’m curious, what happened to the associate I sent to collect you at the farm? He never came back.”
“That Hewmon, he menaced us with a phaser, but he was the victim of an... an unexpected accident.” Desha replied before Brek could place a word. “We didn’t touch him.” She added with a sneer.
It was, Brek reflected, a clever way to put it.
“Does he still breathe?” Farik wondered.
“Probably not.” Desha added, and for a moment there, Brek feared she would reveal the man had died because he had refused to help him. The fact it was true didn’t mean she should promote it. The truth is often more palatable when it’s hidden behind several layers, onion style.
“I warned him.” Farik went on. “Ferengi, even young ones, are always resourceful. Humans, they often misjudge us, don’t they? ... Now, here is what is going to happen. You, Desha, will be allowed to live on Ferenginar with your relatives, for the next four years. After that, you and your wealth will join my family. Brek, you will be put to work in one of my companies. PhenixCorps is the name. I’ll bring you there myself.” He got up. “Needless to say, if you try to escape again, that will be the end of the two of you. Now, this little conversation of ours never happened, and you will never mention it to anyone. Is that clear?”
“The heck it is,” Desha protested. “You killed my family and you...”
Farik interrupted her. “Don’t. Just don’t. You two are alive only because you showed some spunk on Asax’s island. I respect that. Don’t make me change my mind. Brek, I’ll collect you in one hour.”
When Farik and his men were gone, Desha mumbled that she would never accept those lousy terms. She would escape, yes she would. And one day she wouldn’t just kill this Farik, she would slaughter him! Brek sighed. Women and their dreams... For his part, he wished he had left Volchok much sooner, Like months ago, as his friend Neph had suggested many times.
