Chapter 10

"Captain, we have received another message from the pirates." Uhura called from her work station. Kirk made his way to her screen

"…'Our last chance for information on the D'tulian Alliance with the Romulans.'" Kirk whispered to himself.

"They gave us a deadline to respond." Uhura brought up the second message.

"That's not enough time to have HQ look it over." He mumbled.

Malaya walked as slow as she dared toward Asin's office. It was her first check up to be sent to the Council.

"In the back, if you would." He said dean pan. She entered the room; Nah-zi was sitting in one of the chairs near the bed.

"Who's on the bridge?" She asked sitting.

"Lt. Ma'tec." He answered shortly.

"Why aren't you there?"

"The Council wanted me here for your checkups, so they have two copies of the report." She looked over at Asin, he just shrugged.

"They don't trust me, I guess." She cracked a smile.

Without another word, they began the checkup. No words were spoken until the end.

"Did you want to see your baby, Captain?" Asin asked quietly. She hesitated.

"Yes." He scanned her belly, now fully showing her pregnancy, and handed her the hand set. She smiled, a tear slipping down her cheek as she gazed at the life in her womb. "They're beautiful." She whispered. She wiped her cheek and handed it back. "May I have that sent to my personal computer?" Asin nodded and helped her up.

"It'll be there waiting for you."

"Thank you." She fixed her clothing and stood. Nah-zi locked eyes with her. "Get back to the bridge." She left without another word.

She arrived in the Bridge, the crewmember closest to the door announced her and Nah-zi stood from her chair. He gave her a report of the ships status and their heading. She nodded and took her seat, Nah-zi stood beside her.

They had orders to patrol the space between D'tula and Klingon territory. Just because they were now in an alliance with the war-based species, didn't mean they trusted them. They had had problems with them in the past.

But, she expected it to be a quiet patrol.

"New message from the pirates." Uhura called. "They say they will inform us of when they need us." Kirk frowned.

"Let them know that we aren't a taxi service."

"Aye, sir."

"Captain," Spock spoke quietly to him. "Have you thought that maybe they may need us more at a later date than the present moment?"

"I have, but we are not on call for others to use our services when they feel. We have other orders."

"I agree, sir. But the possibility still stands."

"It does."

McCoy lay next to Lee-ann, breathing heavily. Her arm draped over his chest. They didn't speak for quite some time. Bones announced that he had to shower before his shift began. Lee-ann nodded and followed him in, both taking their time to 'wash' up.

"Why, Bones!" Jim exclaimed. "You look like you had a great time last night." He wiggled his eyebrows, teasing his friend.

"That's none of our business, Jim and you know it." Bones replied, gruffly.

"I'm just curious." He laughed.

"It doesn't matter what I do on my free time." Bones said hotly, his ears turning red.

"Did it have to do with a certain Lieutenant?"

"Out! Get out of my office, you over grown man-child!" Jim left laughing. "I don't get any damn privacy on this damn ship." He grumbled to himself.

Months passed, the Myriad had no other missions that were really worth doing. Flying around, scouting through the Federation Neutral Zone, and guarding their space.

Malaya was very pregnant and would often spend her days either on the bridge, her room, or in Medical.

"You're getting really close to your due date, Captain." Nah-zi said one day. "Have you thought about what you are going to do?"

"Of course, that's all that's on my mind these days." She sighed and rubbed her expanded mid-section.

"What are you going to do if the child isn't Raqra's?"

"I don't know." She said quietly. Sudden inspiration hit her. "I'm going to Asin's."

She waddled as fast as she could toward Medical. Barging through the door, she called on the doctor. He came out of his office quickly.

"Are you in labor?!"

"No. Give me an ultrasound." She rolled up her shirt an sat on the table.

"Captain, you can't come barging in here, screaming my name. I nearly had a heart attack."

"Sorry." She smiled. Asin waved the instrument over her. "I want a side shot of the head." Asin raised his eyebrows. "Just do it." She gave him her order. He nodded. Pulling up the image, she couldn't help but smile at the image of her child's pointed ear.

"Captain, the pirates have just sent a message." Kirk's comm unit called through his quarters.

"I'll be there in a moment." Kirk had just fallen asleep and was exhausted. He donned on his uniform and made his way to the bridge.

"What does it say?"

"It contains information on the alliance between Romulus, Klingon and D'tula." The comm officer scanned through the info. "It also says they will need our services very soon." He paused. "'Precious cargo is in need of protecting.'" He quoted. The young man turned in his chair, waiting for further instructions.

"Send a copy to my computer, as well as Mr. Spock's." All Kirk wanted to do was sleep.

"Captain, another message from the bribers."

"Read it."

"'See you soon.'" The bridge of the Myriad was eerily quiet.

"Then we will."

A/N: Obviously the ultrasound is a 4-D ultrasound more advanced in clarity than the ones today. :) But, there you go...it's Spock's baby! If you want to suggest the sex and name of the baby I might consider changing the one I picked...I don't like it very much. Just PM me and I'll keep a total on the sex and pick a name that fits. Hope you enjoyed the update, and don't forget to put your vote in. Please R&R