Stardate: 70122:1041
Title: Differences & Similarities, Part 1
Author: Ensign Cul'Dumok
Time: Following "En route"
Location: Deck 4 / Holodeck 1
Ensign Cul'Dumok listened patiently as the Ferengi (an individual who seemed to relish in the name of Gog) talked about his recent acquisitions as according to the Ferengi code of Profit (Cul'Dumok thought that, when Gog talked of profit, it was definitely with a capital "P").
Years ago Dumok would have had no time or even any consideration for the Ferengi's point of view or their so-called 'rules of acquisition'. Back then he would have had little interest in what Cardassians would class as an alien sub-species and, therefore, of no interest except for potential invasion, resources and military strength. Though, to his own surprise, Dumok discovered that he was interested in the Ferengi's "world view" of certain situations and Gog's own concerns for the future as, it would seem, Gog would suffer both financially and socially for the loss of the ship and the substantial investment capital it represented to both him and his associates.
Strange, Dumok thought, that such a loss of face (despite the differing circumstances) could cross the cultural divide and Cul'Dumok could see certain similarities to his own situation and personal history with Cardassia and his contemporaries on the homeworld. Dumok also found himself enjoying the Ferengi's flippant banter and, at times, sharp sense of humour.
"...You see, that Latinum was fake, ha ha," Gog said, his eyes shining with humour and half-remembered malice. "The foolish human tried to trick us yet it was we who made the profit while he was left pale-faced and with an empty cargo hold. It shows not to fool with a Ferengi where Profit is involved."
Dumok nodded, thinking that he wouldn't like to play the human game of Poker with the aging though still sharp-eyed Ferengi.
Dumok straightened as Captain Deadilus approached, though he relaxed as it seemed the Captain was simply 'doing the rounds' as officers on vessels have done for centuries before.
*The vessels were sailing ships,* Dumok thought, *whether on the oceans of earth or through the vastness of space between the planets.*
=/\= Several Hours Later =/\=
Cul'Dumok came off duty having transferred responsibilities to a fellow security officer. With the Horizon still not quite a full capacity, and a couple of temporary reassignments, some crew quarters had become free, and the Ferengi had been moved slowly across.
Passing by the Holodecks later on, now that they were not being used for emergency triage by the medical staff, Dumok decided to enter the unused Holodeck 1 and start an old programme of his. After some time Dumok froze the programme and made some adjustments as to time and location...
The dark walls of the Holodeck faded to reveal the wooden deck of an old earth sea schooner, overhead heavy canvas sails rippled and pulled taught by the bitter cold sea winds. Black headed gulls swooped and soared in the grey pallid sky, their caterwauling cries echoing like the mournful wailing of the damned.
Pitch covered ropes and lines were pulled tight and tied off by callused hands as the crew, oblivious to Dumok, ran about the deck as squalls sent foaming spray high over the gunwales. Young human lads, perhaps not yet even in their teens, scampered about the deck or hung from the ropes like so many agile apes. To one side a half-dozen red jacketed marines stood huddled in the lee of a wall, the collars of their jackets pulled up to their chins as a smoking long stemmed clay pipe was passed from hand to hand. The marines huddled for warmth, their long barrelled muskets half-forgotten in the crook of their arms; instead of the usual tall black hats they wore thick woollen caps pulled close about their brows and ears.
*Perhaps I was born out of my time?* Cul'Dumok pondered as he strode along the pitching deck, sand and dried salt crunching beneath his feet...
[To be continued...]
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Ensign Cul'Dumok
Security / SpecOps
USS Horizon
NCC-72400
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