#7 Breaking Point

Sparky Dorian: Well, I'm glad the method works and that you think my OCs are well-structured. This chapter is going to be trying to flesh them out a little more, so see what you think.

Super Ultra Sexy Spockfish: Thank you! I'm glad you liked it. I love writing sci-fi

paleblak97: Thanks so much for the lengthy review. This is exactly the kind of constructive criticism I need. I hope this chapter gives you a bit more of a view of Relda's softer side. The romance between her and Chekov is kinda slow-building. Hope you like this chapter.

MythicalFail: Here is the next update, then!

2559.10

Spitfire Dawn

Night brought no respite. Having to share a cell and even a bathroom with Rahnek and Chekov was not on the top of Relda's to-do list and it definitely brought its complications. Relda liked her showers long normally, and on Spitfire Dawn, she needed an even longer one. She needed to wash away the grit and grime that came with Jarred's presence. As well as that, there was no privacy even in the cell – she shared it with Chekov and Rahnek. In the shower, she didn't have to be strong and feisty. She was allowed to be weak when there was no one around to see it.

Outside, Rahnek scowled as he hammered on the bathroom door. He could hear the definite hiss that meant the shower was still going.

"Relda, you are wasting precious resources. Hurry up and get out of the showers. There are others of us who like to be clean as well."

When there was no response, the Vulcan sighed heavily and sat down on his bed with his head in his hands. On the other side of the room, Chekov watched him. Rahnek was starting to get irritable, and Chekov knew why. The Vulcan was starting to despair – and it was showing. Chekov had never made any secret of his emotions, and he didn't understand why Rahnek and Relda tried so hard to conceal theirs and put on a brave face.

The shower stopped abruptly, and when Relda still hadn't exited after a few more minutes in the bathroom, Rahnek heaved an impatient sigh and thumped his fist down on the button that opened the bathroom door. Relda coloured hotly, standing there at the sink with only a towel wrapped around herself. She was hiding something behind her back and she backed into the bench when she saw Rahnek.

The sharp-eyed Vulcan didn't miss a thing, and his eyes narrowed as he observed Relda's panicked expression. She had obviously been doing something she shouldn't be. He folded his arms across his chest and glared at her.

"What are you doing?"

It was such a simple question, especially coming from a Vulcan, but Relda didn't think she could answer it. She opened her mouth and then closed it again, shaking her head fervently.

"I don't think it's any of your business, Rahnek."

Rahnek didn't have time for her games. He marched towards Relda and grabbed her by the arms, attempting to pull them out from behind her back. Considering she only had a towel to conceal herself, Relda thought it better that she didn't put up a massive fight. Rahnek frowned as he yanked the object from Relda's hands…and then his eyes widened in horror.

"Where did you get this?"

The lack of elaborate vocabulary displayed his shock. By this time, Chekov was hovering in the doorway, just in case a fight broke out. Relda squeezed her eyes shut and bowed her head as Rahnek turned around and showed Chekov what it was – and his breath caught. It was a packet of cyanide pills.

"I wasn't going to take them." Relda told them fiercely, planting her hands on her hips. "I found them in the cabinet. I was just looking…trust me, I'm not feeling that hungry right now…"

Rahnek was livid. "Must you take everything so lightly?" he thundered, eyes flashing dangerously, "You underestimate Jarred at every turn. You might view this as a game, Relda – but that just proves how naïve you truly are. You do not understand anything. I don't see why Jarred bothered to keep you alive."

As soon as the last sentence was out of his mouth, Rahnek froze up, realizing the severity of what he'd just said. Relda observed with wide, horrified eyes. That was the moment Chekov saw the vulnerable girl underneath Relda's façade. There were tears welling in her eyes and she averted her eyes.

"Get out," she whispered, "I need to get dressed."

Rahnek's attitude had changed completely. "Relda…"

"I said, get out!" she shouted at him, shoving him away from her. Rahnek did not object; he simply turned and moved from the bathroom and the door hissed shut behind him. He went and slumped back on his bed. Chekov made to do the same, but then he heard the muffled sobs in the bathroom. The brave girl had cracked.

"You took that too far," Chekov muttered, glancing across at Rahnek.

The Vulcan simply glowered. "If Relda has any maturity, then she won't take that remark seriously. Trust me, she should bounce back."

Chekov wasn't so sure.

It was a long time before Relda finally came out of the bathroom. Rahnek didn't bother going and knocking and claiming he needed a shower. Chekov guessed he felt guilty about what had happened. By the time Relda exited, it was dark and Rahnek was asleep. Chekov wasn't – he'd been waiting anxiously, seeing if Relda would come back out.

"Relda?" he whispered into the dark.

He could see her silhouette as she moved towards the only unoccupied bed in the cell. She was silent for a few moments, and Chekov had given up by the time she finally answered him.

"Do you think he meant it?"

Chekov had bigger concerns on his mind.

"Why were you looking at the cyanide pills?"

Cloaked by darkness, Relda smiled slightly at his accent – she found it cute. To be honest, she found him cute. Mortified, she felt herself flushing, her cheeks growing hot. It was lucky Chekov couldn't see her right now.

"I found them there. I think Jarred did it on purpose. He's testing us, our resolve."

Chekov honestly believed that Relda had never intended to take the cyanide. She had found it, observed it…but she had never had any intention of taking it. He recognized that she was fighting for her own survival. She had done so in New York, and she would continue to do so now.

"I'm afraid, Chekov."

It was so quiet he thought it might have been imagining things. Relda, the one who Jarred thought was the strongest…she had been the first one to openly confess her fear. Chekov had the sudden impulse to embrace her and soothe her fears, but he pushed it aside. She didn't need that right now. She didn't need him to protect her.

"It's alright to be scared," he told her, "We're all scared. We don't know what will happen."

"Even Rahnek?" Relda's vulnerability had suddenly vanished. The scared little girl was behind her steel barriers again and Chekov couldn't help but laugh.

"Especially Rahnek. He's logical, and none of this makes any sense to him. He doesn't know how to react."

There was silence between them for a little while. Relda hadn't expected this. Rahnek seemed so strong and confident in himself. Yet when he'd snapped at her…she could see the insecurity now she remembered it. He hadn't been angry at her. He had been worried about her, about the cyanide being there, about this whole twisted situation.

"Chekov?" Her voice was very small now. "Do you think we're going to break?"

She sounded so childlike. This couldn't be the Relda who had defied Jarred, who had kicked him and mocked his taunting. He didn't know the truth himself, but this girl needed to be reassured. Whoever she was really, she needed comfort.

To answer her question honestly – yes. He would be the first. Chekov knew he wasn't as tough as Rahnek and Relda. He was just the quiet navigator. He wouldn't stand a chance. Once Jarred was through, Chekov would definitely be broken.

Rahnek would be next. Despite his confidence and his intelligence, he snapped easily. That had been proved with the situation with Relda. When Rahnek had enough, he would come completely undone and lose himself.

Relda would be the last. She kept her mask of courage firmly intact. She had defied Jarred before and could most likely do it again. Chekov believed in her – but he guessed with trepidation that when she broke, it would be the most horrible. Jarred was already frustrated with her; making her broken would be a long and brutal process…but it had already started. Not with Jarred, but with Rahnek.

With horror, Chekov started to realize that perhaps Jarred was right. They were going to cause dissent amongst themselves. Maybe they didn't need him to break them after all. He would just sit back and smile as he watched them destroy themselves.

"I'm not sure," Chekov finally answered, "We have to prevent it."

He began wondering about what it would be like if he was turned against the others. Rahnek he had never really liked – but spunky Relda was a different matter altogether. The truth was, Chekov couldn't really place how he felt about her. He hadn't exactly known her long, but he knew that he liked her. In what way was still a question. Chekov admired her tenacity. Did that mean he had a crush on her? He wasn't sure.

"Do you really think we can get through this?" All of Relda's doubts had come spilling through. "I don't know if Jarred will win or not…"

Chekov's reply was simple. "We can't let him."

When he put it that way, Relda mused, it sounded so easy. She wished it was. It was going to be a long time before she could get to sleep. Besides, lately all she'd ever had was nightmares about New York…

Jarred had caused New York. She realized with cold fury that Jarred was responsible for Shazza's death. One of the few friends she'd had…and he had destroyed that friendship. He had destroyed her life, practically. Now he was preparing to do that all over again, just in a different way. She was overcome by steely determination. I will not let him.

"We could turn the tables." It was a whisper of revolution, but it made the rest of Relda catch fire. It was possible. Jarred was playing psychological games with them. They were clever – they could reverse the situation and make him the victim. "Play games with him."

Chekov was quiet. That was a very dangerous idea…but if they planned carefully, it might just work. All rebellions started with an idea. Trust Relda to be the one to come up with it. He didn't want to make any commitments just yet, though. They needed to think this through.

"You know, Relda? I'm glad you came to us."

This put a smile on her face and gave her the courage to face her nightmares. She had to be brave, she had to stay strong…just like Chekov. Much as he might beg to differ, he was courageous. He just didn't make a big deal of it. He was her inspiration.