Star Trek: The Nara-Maru Files
A Deadly Betrayal
In the year 2377...
With the love of her life killed when their ship exploded and Asami's last act, to save both hers and her old friend Elizabeth Monroe lives, her own grief would have all but taken control of her if it was not for the promise she made to Asami, a promise to keep her anger in check at all times and never to be ruled by her emotions as Asami seemed to know exactly what would happen if they did take over her. Eventually, Asami came to the conclusion that her only way of keeping her negative emotions in check was to hire a Vulcan to assist her keep her emotions from ruling her.
Slowly pacing the bridge with the hologram of her father at her side was an unusual experience for her as he died over fifty years earlier from a long illness which had slowly begun to degrade his mind. Once first diagnosed with the rare illness, his neural patterns where duplicated for later analysis and eventually used to create the Hologram at her side in the hopes that upon his return home, his program would be integrated into the planet's computer core itself which had been designed specifically for that program and which now ran the planet itself.
"You seem quiet my child, what is the problem?"
"What? Ohh, nothing Father… I was thinking of Asami. Why did she do it? She should've beamed herself over with us both"
"I do not know. Although I have never met Asami herself, I have access to her Starfleet and Iolian files. She was an unusual young woman, I can see why you found her so interesting. May I ask, why did you chose to bond with her?" He said with an almost whisper as the Iolian crews watched him with interest.
"At first, it wasn't my intention to bond with her, I was merely helping her develop her natural abilities as I was taught, over a short period of time… we became close, beyond our growing friendship and our business partnership. I could feel that she was… becoming attracted to me and I her as our minds merged. Neither of us expected to bond as we did as our two species are very different. Nevertheless, Sam had a way about her that I could not help but fall for and when we where both ready, we took the next step and completed or bonding . When I find the one who caused her death… I give you my word Father… him or her will pay for their crimes"
"She was only half Betazoid and half Human? Yet the Starfleet Intelligence files on her states that her abilities had… One moment" He said before stopping mid-sentence. "Ship sensors are picking up an unusual signal, emanating from astern… it appears to have a randomly rotating frequency"
"Let me hear it" Teela said quickly as Captain Cole walked towards her.
The sound of static filled the bridge as the crew listened closely while in the background the sound of popping could be heard, three short pops and a long pop seemingly in different pitches. Straining his hearing slightly, Cole turned his head towards the nearest speaker as he listened before shaking his head as he spoke.
"Background radiation, from the destruction of the facility itself"
"No, listen… I know that sound, but from where?"
"Commander, it is merely radiation, probably from…"
"No… wait" Teela said. "I know that, Viewer astern. Rotate frequencies on the sensors and search for anything out of the ordinary"
"Like what?" Called out the Admiral as he entered the bridge.
"A cloaked ship" Teela said with a large smile on her face.
"Sensors can not detect a cloaked ship Mrs Hirayama, you know that…"
"Trust me. That is music, something she was singing for weeks, it drove me nuts"
"Who Teela, who are you talking about?" House said slowly.
"Asami! She's alive and on that ship, I'll bet a Bottle of Romulan Ale on that!"
"We saw her die Teela" Monroe said as she also stepped onto the bridge.
"No we didn't Lizzie, there was a thirty-four second window between us materialising on this ship and the destruction of the Nara-Maru. The Intel reports said that the ships attacking outposts had a cloaking capability. The Destruction of the Rempak Anchorage had not long since happened before we got here, or sensors confirmed that one. I should've thought of this earlier damn it!"
"Teela, you are making mistakes. Your rank alone does not allow you command decisions on this ship, you where a freighter captain, not starship captain" Monroe said harshly.
"Not correct. I was commanding an Iolian heavy cruiser before you where even born Lizzie… Now, sensors and viewer astern please"
"What do you hope to see, the ship itself?" Monroe said harshly once more.
"This ship is designed with Iolian sensors, that ship out there was designed by us, each ship has a unique engine signature which the sensors on this ship should be able to detect, failing that… I have another idea on how to find them"
A wide angle rear view of the stern of the ship appeared on the screen before them displaying the large fleet of Federation, Klingon, Romulan and Civilian vessels. Moments later, a small shuttlecraft like vessel appeared from behind a cloaking shield and headed directly towards them as Teela quickly walked towards the main screen with a smile on her face.
"That's it! Get a transporter beam on those inside"
"I am detecting three life signs, two Orion and one Betazoid" Called out the Hologram.
"Beam them directly to the bridge. Get a tractor beam on that location… NOW!"
"Sir, the tractor beam… wasn't installed before this ship left Spacedock" Called out a young Starfleet Officer.
"Then order another ship to capture that cloaked ship Lieutenant" House said quickly.
"Communications are off-line however, the USS Longbow is moving to intercept. They have it sir"
As three females appeared on the bridge, a large smile rippled across Teela's face only to drop the instant she saw the blonde Betazoid woman stood protecting the two Orion women.
"Who the hell are you?" Teela said quickly.
"My name is Alanis, we are unarmed… which one of you is Teela?"
"I am" She said as she stepped forwards with her hands raised slightly.
"Then you have to help her, she is alone over there. He will kill her if you do not stop him"
"WHO?" House said harshly.
"His name is Jason Hartman… you may know him as Thomas Byrd. He's been studying her for years, he wants revenge for his wife's death"
"Hartman? Sara Hartman?!" Monroe said with a deep shock.
"Yes" Replied a frightened Orion woman.
"You know her?"
"I did Teela, she was killed nine years ago on a shuttlecraft that Sam was piloting. We have got to help her!" Monroe called out.
"I will. Get a transporter lock on that ship. Someone get me a weapon… I'm going over there"
"Wait! There is more. He has a fleet, probably surrounding this one by now…"
"How many ships Alanis?" Replied Admiral House.
"I don't know sir"
"Admiral House, using the deflector array on this vessel, I may be able to illuminate those cloaked ships. Once illuminated, it will be possible to…"
Before the hologram could complete his sentence, a large energy wave rippled out in all directions from the cloaked ship firmly held by the USS Longbow. Echoing out in all directions, the wave illuminated several cloaked vessels before each heavily armed ship in the fleet turned their weapons on the sensor echoes as Teela walked towards the centre of the bridge as communications was instantly restored.
"Attention alien fleet, this is Supreme High-Commander Teela Hirayama of the Iolian Expeditionary Forces on detachment to Starfleet Command. The actions of your leader has become an act of war. If you value your lives, you will leave this area now. Or you will be destroyed. This is your only warning. Send that on all channels…"
"Yes Ma'am!" Captain Cole said with a large smile.
"Please take these women down to the sickbay, get them whatever they need. And where is my transporter lock?"
"Supreme High-Commander now?" A voice said over the speakers as Asami's face appeared on the screen before them.
"ASAMI!" Teela replied with joy.
"Hello. Been busy I see? Deactivating the cloak, two to transport directly to the Sentinel's sickbay. Our, former friend and client has had an accident. He lost his hand… and quite possibly his mind"
184 Years Later…
"Asami and her prisoner had beamed onboard the USS Sentinel for medical attention where his hand had been reattached surgically by the Sentinel's Doctors, although the implant inside Asami's skull could not be removed surgically without causing irreparable damage. After a rather… intense reunion, Asami was called to speak with her one-time captor…"
184 Years Earlier…
With her wounds healed and her head still pounding from the concussion sustained during the brief fight onboard what had become known as 'The Attack Ship' Asami was closely escorted by Teela with her arm wrapped firmly around her waist as they walked towards the secured holding cell where Jason Hartman had been sent to recover, under heavy guard.
"… And if you EVER do anything like that again Asami, I will kill you myself, I promise"
"You have to understand, I did what I had to do to insure that you survived. The ship's power was failing fast, I could only beam out two… and I could ask either you or Lizzie to stay behind. Please, forgive me?"
"Never!" She said with a wide smile. "Did you meet the hologram?"
"I did. I can see where you get your attitude from… I like him. What will happen to his program once we return home?"
"It will be integrated into the planetary core. He will continue to serve as an advisor for generations, and who knows… you may even get to like each other" Teela said with a smile.
"I already do. He asked me to call him Father. My own father died years ago, you and he are all I have left. What will happen to the women I rescued?"
"I spoke with my brother earlier, he wants us to bring them with us home. He has offered the protection of our homeworld to insure that they do not fall back into slavery" Teela replied with a smile. "I've never met an Orion woman before, they are… interesting"
"I have. Men beware!" Asami said with a laugh.
"Sam, is there nothing that anyone can do for you, I mean with that thing in your head?"
"No, at least not here anyway, perhaps our doctors back home can do something?"
"What's the rush. Can I see that bracelet? I want to keep you around for the next few decades" Teela said with a mischievous smile.
"Not a chance babe, I already have one prison, I think I'll wear it for awhile… at least until the device can be removed"
"Coward!"
Entering the holding cells, Teela stopped at the doors as Asami walked towards the only active cell in the room and stopped before the force field with an angered look on her face as Jason Hartman stood and walked towards the separation slowly as he spoke.
"I wasn't sure if you would come I see that you are wearing that bracelet?"
"Very observant. What do you want Hartman?" Asami growled deeply.
"Nothing much. You still haven't won you know? My people are everywhere and closer then you think…"
"Those three young women you… enslaved are…"
"Ohh, how small your mind is Asami, I expected more from you then that. But that is not why I asked you here. It is about my wife Sara…" He said as he hung his head. "Did you…"
"Sleep with her? No, I didn't. I needed you to be off guard…"
"The she wasn't having an affair after all" He said with a sigh of relief.
"Ohh, I didn't say that Jason. The truth is, she was sleeping with the CMO for awhile before she broke it off. Rumours before she died said that she was sleeping with someone else. I don't know who, I'm sorry to say that"
"How sure are you Asami? Please, I must know" He begged.
"Very sure. I-I wish I could say more, but I don't know who it was. Sara was… very important to me Jason, I never had a sister. She and Lizzie took care of me my first week on the ship and… OHH SHIT!"
Her face turned into one of shock as she suddenly broke into a sprint out of the Brig as Teela instantly ran to her side, stopping at the nearest computer console she activated the ships transporters as Teela spoke quickly, before Asami beamed them both onto the bridge, much to the shock of Captain Cole who was sat in the command chair.
"Raise the Longbow… NOW!" Asami yelled.
"You could ask nicely" He said as he looked at her with a smile.
"Just do it! I've got a bad feeling about this"
"I have them sir. On the main screen" Called out the Communications officer.
"John. Where is Liz?" Asami said quickly to the First Officer.
"Captain Monroe has retired to her quarters Mrs Hirayama… why?"
"Did you see her leave? I mean did you see her enter her quarters?"
"What are you suggesting?" The Longbow First Officer growled.
"Sam, what is going on?" Teela replied.
"If I'm wrong, I'll apologise… to everyone. John, get a security officer down…"
"Commander, I am detecting an unauthorised transport in progress. Someone is beaming onto the attack-ship, the tractor beam has failed… Commander, she's gone to warp!" Called out the Longbow Security Officer.
"What the hell is going on Asami?" He said quickly.
"I hate it when I'm right. It wasn't Hartman at all, it was Monroe all along. I was in sickbay with Hartman when Teela entered with Monroe at her side. I saw a look of shock on his face, almost betrayal before it was covered up. I was just in the holding cells with his wife Sara had lover on our old ship… I think it was Monroe. Think about it, you guys showed up just at the right moment, perfectly timed, who's orders was it to head to that region of space John?"
"We where in the area when we picked up your ship Asami" John said slowly. "We where already on our way when we got the message. Oh my god, I am so sorry Asami!"
"Asami, the ship's last known heading was into Romulan Space, the Klingon and Romulan fleets are in pursuit along with Enterprise and Defiant" Called out captain Cole.
"Forget it, she's long gone by now…" Asami said with sadness in her voice.
"Asami, it wasn't your fault"
"No Teela, it was my fault. I played right into her hands… I under estimated her, I will not do that again" Asami said as she sat down slowly onto the deck.
"Captain Cole, please alert all commands to be on the look out for the Attack ship, transmit a copy of her energy signature and specifications. I will make a full schematic of her design available to Starfleet" Teela said slowly. "Find that ship and bring it to us… with her pilot alive and unharmed"
"Of course. Helm, inform the fleet to set course for the nearest Starbase, best possible speeds"
"Yes Captain, warp six for Starbase 352. ETA, four days, eighteen hours and fourteen minutes"
184 Years Later…
The story had almost come to end as the young Teela Hirayama the Second remained almost motionless as she felt the guilt of her great-grandmother from the telepathic connection that they made during her final hours. After a long silence and pushing the feeling deep down inside, she continued with the final section of the story.
"The Federation Starship Sentinel along with the Starships and civilian vessels had delivered the survivors to the nearest Starbase as promised for further medical attention. The combined Klingon and Romulan fleet had reported no sign of the Attack-ship anywhere and after an extensive search, it had been eventually off by their respective powers. Three weeks later, the USS Sentinel had delivered Asami, Teela and the three rescued slaves to Iolia where they would be safe from Orion repercussions and attempts to recover their lost property. It took only days to discover something about their new house guests that would shake the foundations of everything that Asami knew about herself…"
184 Years Earlier…
The large and lavish home of the Hirayama family had welcomed the three former slaves as honoured guests, although the Orion government had demanded their return the Iolian government had refused under grounds that slavery was illegal on Iolia and the three young women where granted immediate protection under Iolian Law.
Sat with her head in her hands before the console in her own personal office inside their home, Asami wept slightly as she looked up at the file before her, seemingly looking past the information itself as Teela entered with a large smile on her face as she spoke.
"Well, it looks like our guests have made themselves at home. The replicator haven't stopped since… what is it Sam?"
"Just a promise I made" Asami said as she leaned backwards in her chair and wiped her eyes. "I wish I didn't. Take a look at what I found"
Sitting on the corner of the desk, Teela slide the computer console around to face her as she looked at the display of the young Betazoid woman and started to read the long list of criminal charges against her on Orion as she read them aloud.
"… Convicted of petty theft eight times from the ages of 14 to 16 earth years of age… assault?"
"Yes" Asami said with a deep sigh. "I read her entire criminal record and biographical data. Her mother was a Betazoid who gave her up for adoption shortly after her birth, her father was an unknown Betazoid Starfleet Officer, at least as far as the records go anyway. She was adopted by a Human family on Orion and raised as their own, when her abilities activated by the age of ten earth years old, she begun to act out, petty theft. By Sixteen, she ran away from home, her abilities where undisciplined and took control of her. By the age of eighteen, she was taken by a slave trader and sold to Jason Hartman on Orion shortly afterwards she almost killed him in self defence as he attacked her. But that's not what worries me, she seems to react to me as… her… owner, as do the others. I made a promise to her that I would find her Betazoid family, if she has any"
"And… you found them?" Teela said with a slight smile.
"I did. Computer, display secondary file" Asami called out as she took a breath. "I found her… father Teela. He was… from one of the lower houses in their society, he was an Engineer in Starfleet temporarily assigned to Betazed 22 years ago for six months, the timing is right. Take a look at the name Teela"
"Lieutenant Junior Lon… Colrami?" She said with shock as the image appeared on the screen before her.
"Yes. He was assigned to Betazed when I was young, I didn't see him for six months. He never spoke of it when he returned to Earth, but I could see it in his eyes and in his mind although I was around 10 at the time. Mother never knew about it, but he had an affair with a Betazoid woman while he was there, he broke it off out of guilt, that's why he came home early. Teela, Alanis is my half sister. What do I do, please… tell me what to do?"
"You have to tell her Asami, she needs to know the truth" Teela said with a deep shock.
"About what? Her mother gave her up for adoption, our father never knew about her. I had everything that I needed in life while she was sold into slavery and a life of crime. How can I tell that girl out there that the woman she almost killed, is her half-sister?"
"Would you like me to tell her Asami? I know that you are still having trouble since your abilities where… shut down" Teela replied lovingly.
"There is no need… I heard everything!" A voce called out from behind them.
184 Years Later…
"Asami's jaw dropped instantly as the young woman who was identified as her half-sister had stood in the doorway and heard everything. Somehow and against all odds, they had found each other. It took almost all night as they talked about everything. Asami told Alanis about what she had found and what their father was like when she was growing up, how he died and how it effected her. In an attempt to hold onto what small part of her Betazoid family, Asami gave her half-sister something that her father had given her as a child, a necklace that she had cherished her entire life…"
"What happened to Alanis? I don't remember ever meeting her" Kaila said with shock.
"You did. It took some time for her to accept her new reality. Shedding off her old life and embracing her new one, Alanis changed her name to Alia Hirayama. Alia meaning 'Hope' in ancient Iolian and she was welcomed into the family with open arms as a sister…"
"Aunt Alia?" Kaila said with fond memories of the woman she once knew.
"Yes. As you all know, she went back to school and eventually developed a taste for Engineering, she became the Chief Designer of Del-Corp, the ship design section of our family business. Finding almost instant fame here on Iolia Prime and across our little alliance, the Orion Women also went to school after changing their names as you all know, they became the public face of the company itself after being granted full citizenship. It took almost six months for Asami's abilities to re-emerge although her abilities had never fully recovered even with more training. As you all know, Alia as she was know known, fell in love with an Engineer and married, a year later Kaila was born, the first Hybrid with an Iolian on our world a year later, Alia fell pregnant with her first child, the first of four children…"
"What about Captain Monroe?" Teela's cousin said slowly.
"Monroe, a year after the incident with Rempak Anchorage, the vessel she stole from the combined fleet appeared in orbit above Mars In the Sol System. After boarding the vessel, she was found dead, her neck was broken, her body placed into a stasis chamber and the vessel set for auto-navigation to the Sol System. All memory banks had been wiped clean, sensors where shut down, the vessel was dead in space with only enough power to sustain certain systems…"
"I heard about this…" Kaila said slowly. "… The official records on her death where sealed by all Empires…"
"Indeed, Rumour has it that the USS Pioneer was spotted orbiting Risa where she had taken refuge, unconfirmed reports stated that Asami had been placed on Iolia at the same time along with a Starfleet officer named Hiro Takagi. Shortly after he appeared here on Iolia after resigning from Starfleet, he disappeared from our records shortly afterwards" The young Teela said with a half smile.
"Mother would never do anything like what you are suggesting" Kaila said harshly.
"We'll never know. You know the whole story, Asami held the guilt of what happened for her entire life. An explosive device had been smuggled onboard Rempak Anchorage in the same way that they faked the destruction of Deep Space Nine. Racked with guilt over what happened, Asami ordered the Iolian fleet to take two old Iolian Spacestations apart and transport them from our mothball fleet to the former location of Rempak and reassembled at her own cost…"
"She must have lived with such guilt her entire life. I never knew that part" Kaila said as she hung her head in shame.
"She did. And now, it is my guilt. I feel what she felt, it was… over powering for her. I know everything Kaila… all of it"
"Even..?"
"Yes" Teela said slowly. "Tomorrow morning, I will carry out her other wish… visit her vault"
"Understood" Kaila said with a half smile.
