What they lacked in stature they certainly made up for in strength, not a moment after the Enterprise acknowledged the presence of Kirk and the two Security Officers appearing on board but two of the warriors grabbed Devon by each arm, hurling her up and making her face Beauth. She didn't fight back, knowing it was both useless and would only heighten the already volatile situation. The other came striding over and with all of his might struck her across the face. Her mouth filled with the metallic taste of blood and she couldn't help but spit it out at his feet, her first instinct not to retaliate ebbing away by the second.
"That's enough!" Bleuth interrupted, going to the console behind him he deactivated the self-destruct.
"That was your first port of call!? To destroy your own ship!? A bit over the top don't you think?" Devon sarcastically questioned, eyeing all three of them.
"Silence!" Beauth shouted back, clearly embarrassed by his own actions. "You will be silent!"
"Look, listen to me. Just let me go and we'll call it a day alright, maybe next time pick up the phone before you start attacking a Federation ship!" She was angry, she knew she should be calm, diplomatic. She should have been sticking with the script but she'd never encountered such reactionary, ridiculously stupid people in all her life.
"You're escorting our enemy!" Beauth took a step forward, obviously more confident when he had his henchman doing the heavy lifting.
"I don't care! You think they're bad? You ain't seen nothin' yet!" Devon winced when she received another blow in response to her glib remark, this time to the stomach. She doubled over in pain, trying not to let out a howl. She didn't want to give them the satisfaction. She pulled herself back up, staring at the man holding on to her on her right. "Is that all you've got?" Before he could respond the door opened and Murad walked in. Seeing the sight in front of him, and the state of the Starfleet Officer currently being held against her will on his ship he raised his hands in the air.
"ENOUGH! Beauth stop this! Let her go!"
"We are warriors Father!" Beuth exclaimed, almost pathetically.
"We are Son, but you must know when you are at a disadvantage, when your enemy is mightier than you. Release her and allow her to return to her ship."
"But Father…" Murad strode towards his Son and without a moment of hesitation struck him across the cheek with the back of his hand. There was a moment of shocked silence, Devon knew when to be quiet, she wasn't going to push her luck at this stage.
"Go, go now." Murad muttered to Devon. She nodded and tapped her communicator.
"Enterprise, one to beam up." Pulling herself out of the grip of the two men she stood proudly as the lights of the transporter began to whirl around her.
"Well, it's good to see you Lassie." Scotty greeted Devon in the transporter room. Taking the step down from the pad she gave him a smile. Scotty tapped his communicator, "Captain, Lieutenant Kitto has just beamed on board." He informed Kirk.
"Are the Captain and two Security Officers unharmed?" She asked.
"Aye, and no doubt the Captain is back on his way to see you." He answered.
"I'm sure he is, I'll be in the med bay if he needs me though." Walking out she made her way down the corridor, taking the turbolift up a level she heard her name called from behind.
"Kitto!" Turning she saw that it was Kirk.
"Captain, it's good to see you in one piece." She noted his face, it was full of thunder and irritation.
"Did I or did I not tell you to transport off that ship at the first sign of danger?" They stood in the centre of the corridor, all the while crew were passing and averting their eyes from the altercation occurring between Captain and Chief Tactical Officer.
"You did." She answered, no evidence of sarcasm in her tone.
"So why, prey tell did you give the order to beam me off that ship and for you to remain?And for the Enterprise to leave?" His voice had risen to quite an alarming volume.
"Captain, I was aware of the immediate threat you and the two Security Officers were in, I made a valid decision to protect the Captain of this ship and the crew of the Enterprise."
"That was not your decision to make Kitto!" Kirk answered exasperated.
"With all due respect Captain, I believe it was. Section ten sub paragraph five states that in the event of immediate threat, it is the Tactical Officer's duty to safeguard the welfare of the Away Team Lead, in this case you Captain. I carried out my duty Sir." He looked at her incredulously but not being able to argue with her correct citation of the policy.
"And what were you expecting to do? Get them to change their mind? Stop them from blowing up their own ship?"
"That's exactly what I did do…Captain!" She checked her attitude, he seemed to realise she was bristling, he took a step back and his features relaxed.
"You're a fool Chief." She knew he didn't mean it, it was his way of saying that he agreed with her. That was as much as she was going to get from him. Kirk then noticed her split lip, and the way she was holding her side with her arm. "Are you alright?"
"I've been better." She scoffed.
"Right, well, go and get yourself patched up and then we'll debrief with Commander Spock."
"Aye Captain." She gave him a tight smile and began to walk away.
"Chief." She turned again to face her Captain.
"Thanks." He gave her a smile.
"You're welcome Captain, besides, I figured I owed you one." She stepped towards him again, closing the gap between them.
"Why do you say that?" Kirk's brow furrowed.
"I know it was a toss-up between Stewart and I, thank you for putting your personal feelings aside and for giving me the chance." She was being genuine he could tell, he was glad of it as well. He felt a pang of guilt knowing that it had been Spock who suggested her for the position. He was also disappointed that she still thought he didn't like her but he supposed he hadn't done anything to prove her otherwise.
"Well, I figured I owed you one, along the way. Anyway, don't thank me yet Chief." He patted the top of her arm and walked away himself. "Get yourself to the med bay! You look like shit!" He shouted over his shoulder.
"You're a damned fool." Doctor McCoy stood by the side of Devon's bed, running a collagen regenerator over her ribcage.
"Why?" She stopped counting the rivets in the ceiling and turned her attention to McCoy.
"Why? Why? Do I have to list all the reasons Kitto? You beamed Jim off the ship and stayed!" He released he was waving the regenerator a little too quickly over her stomach, he refocused on the task and slowed his movements.
"You would have done the same." She replied casually.
"The hell I would!" He put the device down and picked up another. "Sit up." He instructed. Devon sat herself up, happy that her ribs no longer hurt. Swinging her legs over the side she sat facing McCoy. Holding her jawline with his left hand he waved the dermal regenerator over her lip with his right. "You and him are different sides of the same coin." He turned her face with his hand as he spoke.
"What do you mean?" Her cheek mushed against his thumb as she spoke.
"Don't talk! I'm trying to do my job here." He admonished roughly. Devon sat quietly until he finished, setting the regenerator down she watched McCoy type up her notes and then mumble towards her that she could go.
"The Captain was in danger Doctor, the ship was in danger. I did my job." He looked at her, the faintest smile playing on his lips.
"Jim would say the same thing, like I said, different sides of the same coin."
"What's your point?"
"For somebody who seemingly goes up against the man at every turn, you could at least act like you agree with one another from time to time." McCoy leant in, as if he was giving her confidential information.
"I don't actively go up against the man, I make my decisions carefully. I don't do it through some misplaced need to prove him wrong! If he believed different that's up to him. Besides, I seem to remember that you followed me in the munity against him during the Maru test? And you took my side after the fact. I wasn't the one who acted like a sullen teenager and not even acknowledge me! Don't act all holier than thou Doctor." He raised his eyebrow at her.
"I'm not! And I took your side because you were right. The kid needed to learn a lesson."
"I think you're contradicting yourself!" Devon laughed a little.
"Damn you Kitto, you're damned infuriating." He waved his hand in front of her as if trying to shoo away an annoying bug. She couldn't help but laugh more.
"That's not the first time I've been told that Doctor and I'm sure it won't be the last. Thanks for patching me up." He started as if he was going to carry on having a go at her but stopped and sighed, changing his mind.
"You're welcome, don't make a habit of it alright?"
"I'll try my best. Weren't you the one who told me to stop him from getting himself killed?"
"Not at the cost of yours Devon!" He was quite serious in his response, she decided it wouldn't be fair to tease him anymore. She was still getting accustomed to people's character and personalities, it seemed there were somethings the Doctor didn't find funny. She gave him a big grin and left.
Devon sat at the small desk in her quarters, going through her correspondence and functional reports. Popping another strawberry into her mouth she tucked her legs up under herself. Her screen beeped, indicating a new message had been received. Opening it she read the lines of text quickly, it was from Starfleet. A huge smile spread across her face, untucking her legs and leaning forward she re-read the message. After a moment, she stood and she walked to the middle of the living room, standing there still she let the news sink in a moment before having her very own little silent victory dance. Calming herself, she went back and sat down. She tapped her come badge.
"Lieutenant Kitto to Captain Kirk." She tried to calm down, she sounded like a giddy teenager.
"This is Kirk, what is it Chief?" Kirk's voice was gruff and heavy with sleep.
"I'm sorry Sir, did I wake you?" She wasn't really sorry.
"Yeah, but it doesn't matter. What's going on?" He cleared his throat.
"I just received the message Sir, from Starfleet...about the promotion."
"So they can. Move quick when they want to." He replied.
"I wanted to thank you Sir." She had had a whole speech ready but she found herself lost for words.
"You're welcome Kitto, you deserve it. You've proven yourself."
"That means a lot Captain, coming from you, I know we haven't always seen eye to eye but..." He interrupted her.
"Kitto stop, you deserve it, besides, I figured I owed you. Just don't try to lead a munity against me alright?" She could hear he was joking.
"I'll try Sir, thank you again. I won't let you down."
"I know you won't, Kirk out." She sat for a moment, thinking how strange it was that the only person at the Academy she had ever had a problem with was now the reason she had been promoted, funny how the people you least expect to, could have the biggest impact on your life.
Hows it going so far? Hope you're enjoying? LLAP ;-) XOXO