Dawn

U.S.S. Enterprise - In Orbit of Khitomer – Klingon Space

Jim, Spock, Leonard, Nyota, Stiles, Hawkins, Johnny, Riley, Giotto, and every able-bodied officer were awake and at their stations, all of them ready. Joachim had gone to the Rec Deck with Isabella and was now waiting there with other kids until the battle was over. The Enterprise-A had arrived at Khitomer an hour ago and Jim was now mulling over how to keep the battle from destroying the villages.

"Uhura, send a hail to Khitomer," Jim spoke anxiously. "I'd like to tell them we've arrived.

Nodding, Nyota quickly sent a hail, paused, and looked at Jim, "We are being hailed," she replied.

"Onscreen," Jim replied, sighing as a group of Klingons appeared on the screen. "Good morning."

Krell sighed, "We can only hope, Captain Kirk," he replied gruffly. "When does the battle begin?"

"I wish to protect your villages and my people from harm, so why don't I send a team down and we can evacuate to the Enterprise-A?" Jim suggested calmly. "I'm not sure how many villages Khitomer has…"

Krell chuckled, "Most villages are prepared to defend their homes and will not take kindly to evacuation, but the village council and the Excelsior crew can be evacuated to your vessel," he replied gruffly. "I…"

Suddenly, the sound of weapons fire filled the screen and the image, "THEY'RE HERE!" a voice screamed from off the screen, followed by people talking rapidly in Klingons. "THE ROMULANS ARE ATTACKING!"

Jim swore and smacked the conn, "Scotty, start locking on to people on the surface and beam them aboard!" he shouted anxiously. "Jeris's ship is merely firing on the villages and they haven't a chance!"

"Aye sir!" Scotty replied anxiously amidst noise in the transporter room. "I'm starting the process now!"

Struggling to compose himself, Jim gripped the armrests, "Crew of the Enterprise-A, this is Captain Kirk," he announced in a grim voice. "The battle is here and I order everyone to get to battle stations."

Praetor Warship

Jeris smirked as he lingered at the back of his Bridge, watching as his officers fired shots at the tiny village below. He could see tiny figures running in all directions as the small Klingon huts exploded.

"Sir, lifesigns are disappearing from the surface!" a Romulan named Taron suddenly announced.

Jeris's eyes widened and he swore when he too noticed them vanishing, "The Enterprise-A must be transporting them!" he snarled angrily, fury in his eyes. "They must want a battle in space."

"You have no qualms about killing Humans," another Romulan named Jarol sneered.

Jeris's eyes widened as he backhanded Jarol hard, "SILENCE!" he roared. "Attend to your duties!"

Murmuring a quiet apology, Jarol returned to his work and Jeris silently left the Bridge with a hardened expression on his face. After silently placing several charges in discreet places that he would set off later on, he silently made his way to the transporter room where several of his most loyal officers waited; all of them were dressed in regal clothing that was meant for royal warriors.

"The time has come," Jeris spoke quietly, handing out weapon packs. "We will not look back."

Sickbay - U.S.S. Enterprise-A

"…We're beaming ye up as fast as we can," Scotty apologized as he manned both the communications relay and transporters with minimal help. "I'm sorry that this girl can't do it any faster, ye know?"

Just then, a group of people including Joanna, Lenny, David, Perrin, Valeris, Zakai, Michael, Rebecca, Dr. M'Benga, and an anxious looking Charlie Scott. Scotty froze at the sight of his long lost son and gasped.

Charlie Scott's eyes widened as he stepped off the transported and rushed into Scotty's arms, holding tight to him as the others cleared the transporter pad, "Where are my parents?" Michael asked anxiously, eager to tell them of his and Rebecca's happy news. "We've got news for them."

Scotty frowned, "Uh, lad, your parents are in Sickbay," he replied quietly, having just heard the news himself that morning because Leonard had brought it up at the briefing. "I'm not sure why…"

Swearing anxiously, Michael bolted off the pad and ran off into the ship, leaving a stunned Rebecca with the group, "Doctor Marcus and Arianne are with the next group," Joanna spoke anxiously, ushering her children off of the pad. "Lorian and Amanda have their new son with them and they wanted…"

Scotty quickly re-energized the transporter, "Take all the kids to the Rec Deck," Joanna ordered.

Nodding, Valeris held Zakai close as she ushered Lenny, David, and Perrin out of the Transporter Room along with the other officers. Moments later, another group of Klingons and officers materialized on the pad that included Lorian, who was holding a newborn in his arms, Amanda, and Carol, who was helping an exhausted looking Arianne, "Chekov and Sulu are still down there," Arianne replied, pulling away.

Scotty nodded, holding tight to his son as he continued working, "You should really go to Sickbay," Carol cautioned softly as the group left the Transporter Room. "I'm sure Captain Kirk would understand…"

"I'll go there if only to get supplies other parts of the ship might need," Arianne replied firmly.

Carol sighed, "And to see my mother," Arianne spoke in a softer voice. "She shouldn't have come on this voyage, but she did and I know she's not well. Just tell Jim that I went to get supplies, all right?"

Ignoring the concerned look Carol was giving her, Arianne silently made her way to Sickbay and found it almost empty except for Charlie, who was looking after a tired looking Kathryn and Zachary while Michael lingered, "Arianne," Kathryn spoke in a tired voice. "Arianne, Michael, come here."

With Arianne and Michael's help, Kathryn was able to get up, "It's good to see you both," Kathryn said.

Michael and Arianne gently hugged their mother, "Charlie took very good care of me last night, but I think we need to wake Zachary and go so that the Sickbay can be used for the wounded," Kathryn spoke in a tired voice. "I can rest in my quarters and Zachary might feel better being around family."

Charlie nodded, but as he went to wake Zachary, there was a whirring sound and Jeris materialized in the front part of the patient bay, "Red Alert!" Michael screamed into his communicator. "Intruder…!"

Jeris swore and shot Michael in the leg with a phaser, downing him. Charlie quickly helped Zachary out of bed and slapped the emergency alarm next to the bed as soon as he noticed Jeris blocking their way.

"C'mon, we gotta go," Charlie murmured, hustling Zachary into the main area. "Jeris is here."

Jeris smirked as he looked at Arianne and Kathryn, both of whom were trying to lift Michael up, and at Charlie, who was helping Zachary, "Well, this is absolutely precious," Jeris said in a cold, amused voice, irritated that the alarms were now going and backup would obviously be along very shortly.

Bridge - U.S.S. Enterprise-A

The floor of the Bridge shook as Lieutenant Charlie Scott stepped off of the turbolift after being sent there by Scotty to help, "Captain, what can I do?" he asked in a concerned voice. "I want to help."

"Lieutenant Scott, please take Engineering since your father and Mister Kyle are busy in the Transporter Room," Jim replied in an anxious voice, deeply relieved to see that the young man had survived.

As Lieutenant Scott nodded and moved to take his post, Nyota looked at Jim worriedly, "Red Alert alarm in Sickbay!" she explained anxiously, prompting Leonard to look up from the Medical station worriedly.

"Kathryn's down there with Charlie and Zachary," Leonard spoke anxiously. "I'd better go…"

Admiral Pike, who was on the Bridge as an extra hand, shook his head and motioned for Leonard to stay put, "If it's a combat situation, it requires those who are skilled in combat and you aren't as skilled as I am," he gently told his son-in-law. "Besides, Kathryn's my love and responsibility and no one else's…"

"Bones, get to the Mess Hall," Jim ordered anxiously, hearing reports on the conn. "Amanda's been taking injured people there because it's closer to the Transporter room than Sickbay is and…"

As Admiral Pike went to the turbolift, Spock rose, "Admiral Pike, I will join you," Spock said softly.

"Go ahead, Spock," Jim replied anxiously, not wanting Chris to be alone. "I'm sure Chekov and Sulu…"

Spock nodded and silently joined Admiral Pike at the turbolift, suddenly feeling very uneasy. Once they were gone, Jim rose from his chair and frowned when he suddenly heard a whirring sound.

Four Romulans appeared on the Bridge and started shooting, prompting Jim, Nyota, Hawkins, Riley, Stiles, Leonard, and most on the Bridge to pull their own weapons and join in the fight. Charlie Scott, however, silently dodged the firing and snuck up behind one of them, as they ignored him.

With a flourish of his arms, Charlie Scott quickly snapped the neck of one of the Romulans, killing him and allowing the other three to be distracted long enough for Jim, Leonard, and Nyota to shoot them.

"Where'd you learn that, kid?" Leonard asked in a shocked voice, gazing at Charlie Scott.

Charlie Scott sighed, but didn't reply because he had learned how to defend himself while enduring time as David's slave for the past several years, "They're firing at us again, Captain!" Giotto shouted.

"Reinforce shields!" Jim yelled, running back to his seat as the ship again rocked from weapons fire.

Sickbay

"Isn't this fitting, the woman I nearly beat to death is now at my hands?" Jeris crooned, smirking as he watched a weak Kathryn try to help Michael up while Charlie and Arianne helped Zachary. "If you were true warriors, you would leave the invalid and old woman to die and face me head-on."

Rage filled Charlie and he lunged at Jeris, knocking them both back into the patient bay, "DON'T YOU SAY THAT ABOUT MY FAMILY!" he roared as he and Jeris began battling each other with knives.

"Arianne, you take Zachary and I'll be along with Michael," Kathryn spoke even though she was unsure if she could physically manage to get her injured son to the door on her own. "Charlie's distracting…"

Making a mental note to talk to Charlie later about his impulse control, Arianne helped Zachary hurry across Sickbay as fast as they could, "NO!" Jeris shouted, firing at them and missing, only to hit one of the biomonitors and causing it to explode into flames. "I WILL HAVE MY VICTORY HERE TODAY!"

Swearing, Charlie stabbed Jeris in the arm and barely missed being stabbed in the stomach as the fire grew around them and partially blocked access to where Kathryn was trying to help Michael.

Coughing, Arianne managed to get Zachary into the corridor just in time to see her father and Spock step off the turbolift, "I'm going back in," she said through coughs. "I have to help them…"

"Arianne, what is going on?" Admiral Pike asked in an anxious voice. "Is…is Sickbay on FIRE?!"

Arianne coughed, "Jeris…he's in there fighting Charlie and Mom and Michael are trapped behind a fire that broke out when Jeris shot a biomonitor," she breathed anxiously. "I have to go back in…"

"Jeris?!" Spock exclaimed, his eyes wide with anger as he thought of the pain Jeris put him through.

Before Arianne could reply, Spock burst into the room, "Stay out here with Zachary, Arianne," Admiral Pike spoke anxiously, handing over his communicator. "I'll go get your mother and Michael out."

Swallowing hard, Arianne took her father's communicator and knelt down next to Zachary as her father rushed into Sickbay, "Security and Medical to Sickbay!" she said anxiously through violent coughs.

Inside Sickbay, Spock was horrified to see Jeris holding Charlie in a chokehold over a biobed and he swiftly hit Jeris's arm, forcing him to let go. Admiral Pike, meanwhile, pushed his way through the smoke and found Kathryn holding a breather to Michael's face while a wound on Michael's leg bled heavily.

"Chris, take Michael and go," Kathryn breathed anxiously. "I know how to stop the fire…but…"

Admiral Pike reached down and picked Michael up so Kathryn could stand, which she did, "We'll get out of this together," he breathed anxiously, not willing to leave her behind. "The fire's getting worse."

Kathryn nodded and slowly followed after Chris and Michael, the three of them reaching the patient bay just in time to see Charlie thrust a dagger into Jeris's back while Jeris had Spock pinned against a wall. Charlie looked bloodied up and Spock was trying to keep Jeris's hands away from his neck.

Jeris's eyes widened in shock and he let go of Spock, allowing Spock to move towards the door, "You insolent little brat," Jeris hissed, glaring daggers at Charlie. "Wasn't murdering Khan enough?!"

Spock frowned and Charlie froze at the mention of Khan, allowing Jeris to press him into a wall and press his hands into the young man's face, "Remember," Jeris spat, forcing a mind-meld on him.

Cursing loudly, Kathryn shoved Jeris away from Charlie and then grabbed Charlie, coughing anxiously as she shoved him into Spock's arms. Jeris started shaking from the knife in his back, but he managed to grab Charlie's weak arm to try and pull him back. Charlie grabbed Spock's phaser from his belt and shot Jeris in the neck, downing the man. Kathryn shoved Charlie and Spock out of the patient bay and Chris followed with Michael, thinking that Kathryn would follow. Kathryn, however, had other ideas.

"I love you," Kathryn breathed through coughs as she hit the door control to seal the patient bay off from the offices and supply cabinets. "I love you all and I want you to live your lives to the fullest."

Horrified, Spock rushed over to the door just in time to see Kathryn access the control panel that would temporarily suck all of the oxygen from the burning room, "NO!" Charlie shouted, deeply horrified.

Admiral Pike, however, silently watched as Kathryn collapsed after using the controls to initiate a temporary sequence, "I love you," he whispered, tears filling his eyes as he slowly watched her fade until she was gone.

Jeris's eyes narrowed as he realized he was trapped and as the life ebb out of him, he cursed, reached into his pocket, and pulled out a small control pad. Using the last of his strength, he activated it.

Trembling with shock and rage, Admiral Pike stumbled into the corridor and fell to his knees with Michael still in his arms, "Dad?" Arianne said, seeing his sorrow. "Where…where's Mom?"

Just then, Leonard, Hendorff, and several other Security and Medical personnel burst on to the deck and froze when they saw the group, "She…she and Jeris are dead," Admiral Pike finally managed to say.

Leonard's eyes widened, "Amanda…she set up a temporary Sickbay in the Mess," he finally said.

Spock looked stunned, "Kathryn initiated a cycle to cut off the oxygen in Sickbay," he spoke shakily.

Michael, who was semi-conscious, started coughing and sputtering, "I'd better take Michael to the Mess," Admiral Pike spoke in a quiet voice. "The oxygen should come back on soon…"

"Why would Kathryn do that manually?" Giotto asked in a confused voice. "There's a voice…"

Admiral Pike sighed, "She died as she lived," he replied coldly. "A heroic inspiration to us all."

Realizing that Admiral Pike had had enough, Leonard guided him off towards the Mess and Charlie followed with Zachary. Arianne, however, remained with Spock and the other officers to talk if anyone needed to cry right then and there. A truly remarkable soul had just been lost on the ship that day.

Rec Deck

Lorian sighed softly as his new little son fell asleep after expressing discomfort and confusion about his unfamiliar environment. He sat in Kathryn's chair, silently watching as Saavik, Little Charlie, Valeris, Zakai, Carol, Isabella, Peter, Demora, Joachim, Kathy, Lara, Tuvok, Jaron, Lenny, David, Perrin, Gabriel, and other Klingons and Excelsior crew all made themselves comfortable using whatever resources they had. Amanda had asked him to care for the baby and the others while she went to use her nurse skills.

As Lorian looked up to check on the group, a whirring sound filled the room and two armed Romulan soldiers appeared near the turbolift. The Klingon Council immediately rose and formed a row in front of the others, all of them holding their daggers out and ready to defend their new friends.

Noise filled the Rec Deck as the Klingons and Romulans rushed at each other and the four Romulans were quickly downed by the Klingons. Lorian rose and watched as the village council turned back to the group, all of them sporting minor cuts, bruises, and looking as if they had won a great battle.

Suddenly, there was a loud boom that shook the ship and sent everyone all over the deck.

Bridge

"What's going on?" Jim asked in an anxious voice as the shaking increased in intensity.

Nyota suddenly frowned when she heard frantic comm chatter flooding the ship's channels, "I'm not sure, Captain, but people all over the ship are reporting the same thing," she replied anxiously.

"It's not us," Hikaru, who had come to the Bridge and relieved Riley at Helm, commented anxiously.

Jim frowned, "Turn the viewing screen on," he ordered anxiously. "Gillian, let's see what's happening."

Nodding, Gillian quickly switched the viewscreen on, "Captain, Sickbay's entered an oxygen deprivation cycle and set off the alarms," she said, quickly noticing a blip on the other screen. "Fire damage."

"Uhura, see if you can reach anyone down there," Jim replied, his eyes widening when he saw that the Romulan warship was now dead in space and breaking apart. "What…what is going on?"

The turbolift door suddenly opened and Jim turned just in time to see a weathered Arianne and Spock come on to the Bridge, "Did you get the situation in Sickbay under control?" he asked worriedly.

Spock swallowed hard and looked at the ground and Arianne bit her lip, not sure of how to explain what happened because everyone on the Bridge would be upset, "Jim," she finally spoke in a quiet voice.

Quickly realizing that something was very wrong, Jim got up and walked over to them, "Jeris beamed into Sickbay and shot a biomonitor," Arianne spoke softly, her voice trembling as she looked at Jim through somber eyes. "My father and Spock helped get Michael, Zachary, Charlie and I out, but my mother locked herself in the patient bay and started the oxygen cycle to extinguish the fire. She…"

"Kathryn Pike is no longer alive, Captain," Spock managed to say. "She died heroically."

Jim paled; Nyota started crying; Stiles gasped; Hikaru and Pavel hugged each other and started crying; and the rest of the officers on the Bridge went very quiet. Swallowing hard, Jim looked back at the Romulan vessel just in time to see it explode and a wave of debris and radiation hit the Enterprise.

Alarms blared and the entire Bridge crew was thrown all over the place as the ship was catapulted away from Khitomer. For what seemed like an eternity, the Enterprise-A hurled through space.

"Scotty!" Jim hollered, nearly falling as he smacked the conn. "Is there any way to stop this?!"

Static filled the Bridge and the ship continued hurling until it suddenly stopped with a shudder.

Mess Hall

A few from the Excelsior had already come in and were resting comfortably on cots after being treated for injuries that required rest. Charlie had brought Zachary in and was now holding a silent vigil beside the cot while his brother slept. All Zachary had needed was an ongoing treatment for smoke inhalation.

The sight of a battered looking Admiral Pike walking into the room carrying an injured Michael in his arms caused Amanda, Joanna, and Rebecca to stop setting up cots and supplies, "Chris?" Rebecca asked.

"Joanna, help me prepare for surgery right now!" Leonard barked as he came into the Mess Hall.

Joanna frowned, but helped Admiral Pike get Michael on a bed, "Sickbay's unusable for the moment, so we'll have to make do," Leonard explained briskly. "He was shot in the leg and it looks broken…"

"Where's Kathryn?" Rebecca asked in a confused voice. "Michael was visiting her…"

Leonard sighed as Joanna quickly got him the supplies he needed, "It's a long story," he replied in a somber voice, frowning when he examined Michael's leg. "What kind of weapon did Jeris use?!"

"What was that crazy shaking a moment ago?" Amanda asked worriedly. "Were we fired upon?"

Michael's eyes fluttered and he let out a groan that was muffled because of the breathing mask on his face, "Mom?" he managed to say in a weak voice. "I hear talking….where's my mom?"

Admiral Pike flinched, "Michael, she locked herself in the patient bay to get rid of the fire and gave us time," he spoke in a quiet voice, sighing as Michael turned his head towards him. "She's gone, son."

Joanna's eyes went wide, but she swallowed hard and kept working, "Kathryn's…gone?" Rebecca commented, shocked that she and Michael's secret was still a secret. "I…never got a chance to tell…"

Amanda bowed her head and moved to an area away from the group, offering a quiet Vulcan prayer for the loss, "Bridge to Mess Hall," Jim's voice suddenly broke out. "Bones, are you down there?"

Fighting the urge to cry, Rebecca made her way over to the comm terminal, "Captain Kirk, Doctor McCoy is busy," she explained in as steady a voice as she could manage. "What is it you require?"

"Uhura's getting reports of wounded all over the ship because of whatever it is we just went through and I've got people bringing the wounded to the Mess," Jim replied. "Do you need backup down there?"

Rebecca looked to Leonard, who was in the process of giving Michael a spinal anesthetic, "Sorry to do this, kiddo, but it's safer to keep you awake," Leonard commented softly. "Just keep breathing slowly."

"It would be very helpful to have assistance, Captain," Rebecca replied, turning back to the comms.

As Leonard lowered Michael on to the cot, Admiral Pike sighed heavily and pulled out his personal PADD, "I…I need a moment to send a message to Earth," the older Admiral spoke shakily. "Excuse me."

Not daring to leave the room, Admiral Pike slowly made his way to a corner table at the far end of the room and sat. He knew that Michael was in pain and needed him, but his surgery had to come first.

Admiral Pike became so deeply engrossed in composing a message to President Harriman that he didn't notice Kathy come in with Lara, "…Charlie commed me," he heard a familiar voice say. "About…"

Quickly finishing off his message, Admiral Pike sent it and looked up just in time to see Leonard setting Michael's leg. Hoping that President Harriman would reply soon, Admiral Pike went over to them.

"Michael, don't look at what Leonard's doing," Admiral Pike instructed, sitting on a chair next to the cot.

Emotionally drained by the sudden news of his mother's death and his injury, Michael slowly looked at his father and closed his eyes to sleep. Sighing heavily, Admiral Pike took one of Michael's hands and gently stroked his hair. As the surgery continued, wounded individuals began entering the Mess.

Please read and review!