It was a strange sensation that overcame her. Jesse looked against the far wall of the cell, staring at it as if it had a window that Kirk could not see. Jesse gave a faint smile and then returned her head against the freezing stoned wall in hopes of catching a few moments of rest. But clearly rest was not on Kirks mind. His mind was abuzz with several thoughts spanning from forms of escape to the status of his dear friend Bones and the rest of the crew.

Kirk glanced at the calm figure of Jesse, unsure if he should bother her or let hr rest. Her injuries were far worse than his own which only angered him. He was the captain, it was his job to protect his crew and he had failed. He grimaced at the fact that he had been a little too eager to venture into territory that no Federation officer had been before. It was perhaps this naiveté of his that had blinded him the most to the true dangers of this planet. Kirk continued to stare at Jesse, painful as it was to him to see her hurt so badly, but somewhere deep within him, this feeling might be more than a mere captains concern for a crew member. Jesse glanced over and gave a slight groan.

"Are you going to continue to stare or actually ask me whatever it is you're thinking about?" Jesse called out, eyes still closed. Kirk was a bit surprised by her question but took it upon himself to learn a bit more about her since it seemed they had nothing but time.

"You said earlier, that you had been here on this planet before. When was that?" Jesse stared at him, a bit shocked that that had been his question. She turned to face him, her back leaning against the stone wall now as she pondered the question.

"I came with the last Federation group." She started, now staring at him fully, "We came to offer an alliance one last time and…well it didn't quite go as planned." A small grin spread across her face as she thought back on those days. They had been stupid and perhaps a bit reckless but she missed her friends dearly from that time. Kirk grew confused. The last Federation group that had come to the Krillon territory had been nearly eight years ago, which would have made her only fifteen year olds.

"You were fifteen? How is that possible" Kirk asked, still very confused.

"Yes I was. I was very…mature for my age. I received high marks in all areas of my studies at the Academy and I was the top fighter in my class." Jesse said hesitantly, thinking of a question to avoid the subject any further.

"Strange…" Kirk said, eyeing her as though he didn't quite believe her. "So what happened?"

Jesse smiled and gave a laugh, cringing almost as suddenly as she had laughed as pain seared through her side. It was quite possible now that one of her ribs was broken. Perfect. "Same thing really, tried to reach the capital without getting caught or in a fight…obviously didn't happen and then retreating very quickly after it was made clear they wanted nothing to do with us."

"I don't know how you could think that, what with our wonderful welcoming party and all." Kirk said chuckling to himself as he said it. Jesse attempted to laugh as she broke out into a full smile, sending butterflies to Kirk's stomach. Even muddied, bruised and bloodied, when Jesse smiled he couldn't help but feel so alive.

"So tell me something about yourself? All I know is that you're very talented at picking fights with a senior officer." Kirk said finally after a bit of silence. Jesse stared at him, with an almost forlorn look to her face as she had just witnessed a very sad event. Jesse swallowed whatever moisture was in her throat and looked away.

"Mother died giving birth to me. I was close to my father but he died when I was about seven or so and then I was basically raised by my aunt." She said quickly. Kirk could tell she was hiding something… again.

"Your not…human are you?" Kirk asked tentatively, receiving some form of glare from Jesse. Kirk mentally slapped himself for his stupidity as he tried to rephrase his question in the best way possible. "What I mean to say is you're from another planet, right? I mean unless you're just randomly fluent in another language…which is possible."

"I was born on another planet yes." The lie came easily as time had passed, but Jesse began to feel guilty as she repeated it yet again…for the first time she felt guilty lying about who she was to someone she was drawn to but still knew next to nothing about except for rumors and background information. "My parents worked for Starfleet in the Delta Quadrant and after I was born my father moved back to Earth. I was raised on the Pylithion Planet for a few years so I picked it up quite easily. My aunt is a linguist so naturally she helped me retain the language."

"I'm impressed."

"Impressed?" Jesse asked, now confused by what he meant.

"I'm impressed." Kirk repeated. "I'm impressed that you clearly love the fact that you were able to keep the language….but also how easy it is to repeat information." Jesse looked at him in complete shock. Did he know something that she didn't know?

"Don't look so surprised. I'm a born lie detector as I've done it many times to myself." Kirk grinned at her. "But what I don't understand is why you have to lie? Even now as we face very possible death, you still stick to that concocted story no doubt that Starfleet created for you." Jesse nodded but said nothing.

"It might just be me; I know I'm probably not the most ideal figure to open up to. I don't doubt you've heard the stories about me." Kirk continued, "Which are all probably true…unless you heard about the one where I snuck into a Boulus harem, that's completely false… wish it was true but false." Jesse gave a laugh again, surprised that Kirk was able to make jokes about his own actions when in a dire situation such as this. Jesse closed her eyes and strained to hear any sounds outside the cell, but could only retrieve the loud wail of the wind as it was picking up in strength. Night was coming which meant that it was going to get a bit colder. Jesse leaned forward, propping herself on her good hand as she brought her right leg forward. She mustered all the strength she had and pushed herself up, limping over to the other side of the cell and collapsed next to Kirk. Jesse was breathing heavily for a few moments from the movement. The cell was growing a bit dark to her eyes, Jesse growing a bit nauseas but soon the feeling faded away.

"It has nothing to do with your past. I find you very trust worthy. You have to be if you are so dear to Bones." Jesse said softly, resting her head against the wall, watching Kirk from the corner of her eye. "My past is…complicated and far more difficult than you might care to understand. Maybe one day I will be able to tell you everything." Jesse paused, "With recent events, that day may be soon. But for now, I wish to remain simply as Jesse…just for a bit longer." Kirk remained quiet and nodded with a soft smile she had never seen before, his eyes watching her in complete understanding. She leaned her head against his shoulder and smiled too.

"You should try to sleep. I have a feeling that we're going to need all of our strength soon."

Jesse woke with a start as she could feel the guard's thunderous footsteps shake the floor. Kirk still slept and she hoped for a few moments more but luck was not on her side today. Kirk woke suddenly when the iron door flung open with a loud bang against the wall. The unusually large Krillon clipped the chains around their wrists to a long chain attached to him and pulled them forcefully forward. Kirk slowly rose to his feet and watched as Jesse still struggled to get up, apparently not quickly enough the creature as she pulled the chain again, dragging Jesse forward, nearly knocking Kirk back down. Kirk nearly lunged forward in anger but was stopped by Jesse's hand movement.

"Don't do anything; it'll just make it worse." She hissed in an attempted to keep her voice low. Kirk scowled but did nothing, bending over to help her up.

Kirk tried to memorize the walls so that if they had any chance to escape he might know where they were. But it was futile. The walls and décor were to similar with each turn they made and soon Kirk had already lost track of where they were or how many turns they had made. He observed the rigid, stiff posture of Jesse's body and knew that where they were going, it wasn't good. They finally came to an arched iron door. It creaked open and before they knew it, both were shoved into the darkness.

"Jesse, are you ok?" Kirk whispered softly, hoping not to disturb whatever else might be in the darkness with them. The lights flickered on, Kirk quickly looking around. He bent down to help Jesse but couldn't help but stare at all the other creatures that were in the room with them…obviously prisoners as well. Some missing limbs or beaten so badly he wasn't sure they were alive or not.

"I'm fine." She said back as she nudged him to the side. She observed the group and her heart sank. They were all dressed in the same black tattered shirt and pants and they were, all suffering and in pain just like them. She knew what they were about to face. Her fingers touched the silver choker around her neck and breathed in heavily. Jesse did her best to ignore the rancid smell of dead flesh and blood that was beginning to fill the room. Suddenly the deep throated voices of the two Krillon guards outside could be heard.

"Kirk…whatever happens, stay right beside me. Do not help go to help anyone, do not try to protect me, stay next to me and do as I say." Jesse said darkly.

"What's going on Jesse? That's an order." Kirk responded sternly. Jesse spoke, without looking at him.

"Bhakta-mo." She repeated in the deep, gruff tone as the creatures who spoke it. "It is the Krillon form of entertainment and death sentence to prisoners. But most importantly it is their way of giving sacrifices to the earth god in return for protection and strength."

Before Kirk could respond the floor began to vibrate as two doors on the far side of the wall slowly slid open, blinding them with light as it poured into the room. Kirk could hear the sound of rain outside and smell its clean scent. Jesse stood, biting back the pain, her face emotionless. She slowly walked forward, Kirk following her as they joined the prisoners outside. They were met with cold, wet rain and humid air. A refreshing change to stale air they breathed in the cell. Kirk looked around. It was a semicircular stadium like area. Thousands of Krillons piled into the stadium all shouting excitedly in anticipation of the upcoming event. The seats were aged grey stone but kept in good condition compared to the stadium floor which was nothing more but cracked stone with large roots growing through the cracks.

Kirk finally noticed the giant tree like gate that held blackness in it, as if someone had opened a door but left no light on in the room. The heavy rain plastered the ragged clothes to their bodies, Jesse's hair now soaked with wetness. She watched as many of the other prisoners looked around in fear, unsure of what was going on. Silently she prayed that they would meet a swift death to end their pain. Jesse jumped from her silent thought at the sound of a high pitched roar, so unearthly even Kirk was shocked. The ground shook terribly as four sharp thorn filled vines shot out from the blackness sticking some of the prisoners as they attempted to run from them. Jesse pushed Kirk to the ground, covering as much of Kirk as she could. One of the vine like arms swept across them, missing them only by an inch. The vines locked themselves into the ground and began to pull a large beastly body from the pit. Kirk had never seen something so terrifying, even more so than the creatures he faced when he was marooned by Spock only two years ago.

The creature was a massive dark green being, standing nearly eight stories high, its head spiked at the top, its semi circular mouth lined with three rows of sharp teeth. It almost looked The creature's body was similar in shape to a lady bug but not nearly as friendly. Spikes lined the top of the thick shelled creature and around the sides as four spiky legs, similar to the four thorn like arms, protruded in the back and front. The creature threw its head back once more and roared again. Two smaller creatures appeared from the blackness, both baby versions of the large creature but still bigger than them. They shot out swiftly at the shrieking prisoners who ran to escape them but it was clear that that was impossible. The "mother" turned and stared at Kirk and Jesse, her blood red eyes watching them ever so closely. Jesse slowly moved off of Kirk and moved into a crouch watching the creature's arms and body.

"James, get up…slowly….very slowly. Stay behind me." Jesse whispered without looking away. Kirk slowly shifted up, and remained behind Jesse, waiting to see what they would do next. "Don't let go of my hand."

Jesse grabbed his hand and pulled Kirk into a fast spring, leading him as best she could away from the fast snap of the thorn arms. Jesse stopped as one of the arms plunged downward right before her, breaking into the floor shards of stone flying around. Kirk noticed that the creature was swinging another army from behind. Kirk flung himself against Jesse, smashing her to the ground. She heard him shout in pain and soon smelled the blood. She scrambled out from underneath him and saw the deep gouges in his back as blood and a purple liquid oozed out.

"Shit!" Jesse shouted. She tore a piece of the tattered clothing off to sop up the purple liquid before it could get into his blood stream. This was poison, very dangerous poison. Jesse looked around and found a sharp rock. Instinctively she stood and threw it with all her might at the creature, striking it right in the eye. The creature howled in pain as it fell back a few feet, shaking its head helplessly as the eye began to bleed a bit. Jesse desperately looked around and found a small hole in the stadium wall that the creature had created from its last attack and began to drag Kirk there.

"Jesse, just….just run." He breathed heavily as he tried to shoo her away. She struck away his hands, throwing his arm over her shoulder and began to slowly pull him to the hole like cave. The creature saw her move and lashed out as it was still trying to regain its sight. Jesse screamed as the poison seeped into her own body from the attack but that did not dissuade her. She had already been tortured, one of her arms most likely broken, along with a rib or two and was determined to beat this. Finally she reached it, dragging as much of Kirk inside as she could. Jesse was exhausted, the poison already starting to take effect on the both of them. Kirk was still conscious thankfully but she knew it wouldn't be for much longer.

"How….are you…holding up?" She strained. Kirk, propped up against the wall tilted his head to face her and forced a smile.

"This is nothing." He said, wincing a bit from the spreading pain. Jesse made to say something else but was dragged out by one of the Krillon guards who had jumped down to get her. He tossed her aside as he made to grab Kirk but Jesse knocked him over with a swift kick to the stomach. She fell to the ground in pain from her wounds and from the dwindling energy.

Kirk leaned forward, gathering whatever strength he had to get out of this cave. He needed to protect her, he had to. That's all she was doing now and it wasn't fair. She had suffered the most this trip…to protect him. But this need to protect was more than just a captain's need, it was his need. He barely knew her and yet felt bound to her by some unknown force that wouldn't let him go, nor did he want it to. He pulled himself to the entrance of the cave, nearly passing out from the effort. Even though everything was beginning to blur, he could see that Jesse was staring at him with such sadness in her eyes; it almost looked as if she was crying.

Jesse wouldn't let this end this way. She had a duty to protect and she would fulfill it even at the cost of her own life. Jesse ducked out of the way of another attack, now realizing the two babies were done with their own prey and were now on either side of their mother, waiting to attack, shaking with anticipation. Jesse took one last look at Kirk and lifted her good hand to unhook the back of the choker. It fell to the ground with a ring as metal met with stone as energy swept through Jesse's body. She began to lightly glow for a brief moment and Kirk stared at what stood before him after the light dissipated.