Chapter 11
The remainder of their week spent on Malrata, Aria and Jean Luc were inseparable, save a few hours when they seemed to be on a secret mission for future pleasure of the other. They spent much of the free time alone, in one of their rooms, enjoying the pleasures that lovers share. He even escorted her to the final night's banquet, both of them working hard to not let the intensity of their affections show.
By the end of the week, Aria knew that she was in love with him, but was scared to let him know. At least until she was absolutely certain the relationship was going to continue past the planet's surface and had a better gage of his feelings for her. She had given him her virtue but was still cautious of her heart. According to the regulations, their relationship could continue, but it would be challenging to continue their romance with his duties and both of their careers, not to mention the rumors that would run rampant on the ship. They had both resolved to try to keep their relationship a secret for the time, until they were both ready to tell everyone.
With sadness Aria, dressed in her uniform and boarded the shuttle that was to bring them back to the Enterprise. Jean Luc noticed that she was very quiet once they were underway. Jean Luc gave her some space but a few hours of utter silence, he finally asked her, "My dear, what is the matter? You seem so quite."
"The week had been so lovely and I wished it never ended. I can't help think of how everything is going to change when we get back to the Enterprise."
"The only thing I can be sure of is that once we are back on board, my feelings for you will not change for you. I have enjoyed every second we have spent together, even before Malrata and I hope to continue to enjoy your company when we return."
"Jean Luc, I just don't want this to become more complicated that it is worth."
"Aria, do you put such little value to what we have, all that we have shared?"
"No, not at all. This has been the most important relationship I have ever been in. I wouldn't of let things get so intense if I hadn't. I just didn't want to tie you down to any obligations that I may have implied."
"You have not tied me down in any way. I want you to know that I also chosen to be with you. Darling, I do hope that things can continue between us and more than just physically."
"I am sorry for doubting your emotions and I do look forward to spending time with you as well."
They embraced and Aria could feel her insecurities begin to melt away with the warmth from his arms. She looked up at him and kissed him lightly. There was no need to rush anything because they had seven hours before they were to rendezvous with Enterprise. Slowly, their gentle kisses grew in intensity when suddenly an alarm went off alerting them that their shuttlecraft was caught in a tractor beam. The Captain returned to the helm of the shuttle and tried to break free, but his efforts were in vain. In front of their eyes, a Romulan war bird decloked. Aria was terrified by the imminence of their capture took some comfort that she was with Jean Luc who had tactical experience from being a senior officer.
"What are we going to do?" she asked him terrified.
"Don't worry. We will get through this together, Aria. Remember your training," he replied concentrating on the growing war bird in front of them.
Aria was absolutely terrified but knew that Jean Luc was right. They were going to get through this, what ever happened. She was able to look brave when they were boarded as if she was in a production back at Julliard. They were stripped down to their pants and undershirts. After being put into a holding cell they were left to wonder their fate. There were guards posted near their cell on the other side of an energy field. Aria tried to listen in to any conversation because she knew Romulan and was able to piece together a few conversations she overheard.
Soon after being placed in their holding cell, a Romulan guard came for Picard and took him away. Aria was terrified of what they might do to her or Picard. In a small, dimly lit room, Picard was secured into a hard metal chair and was left with two Romulan officers.
"Captain Picard, what were you doing in a shuttle craft so far from you precious Enterprise?" one of the officers asked him.
"We were returning from a conference on Malrata," he told them.
"And your traveling companion, Lieutenant Swenson? What was her purpose on this visit to Malrata?"
"She was my interpreter for meetings with the Herker, Topasian and Cantrall."
"You tell me you were on your way back from Malrata, but Captain Picard, you were really forming alliances with the Chowattas."
"No, we were not. I told you we were returning from Malrata. Check the shuttle logs."
"Don't think we already have. These records you speak of could have easily been altered."
"Do you think Starfleet would really send me to do it?"
"It is common knowledge that you are one with diplomatic ties." He slapped Picard across the face. "Picard, your interpreter, Lieutenant Swenson, was the only other delegate from your ship to join you. She wasn't there because she was your interpreter. She is your lover. Isn't she?"
"Lieutenant Swenson is a valued member of my crew and was very useful to me in my meetings on Malrata."
"So you are not sleeping with her?"
"No." It killed him to lie about something like that, but he had to protect Aria. Revealing his true feelings about her would most certainly put her in more danger than they already were.
They continued interrogating him about his trip to Malrata and trying get him to confess the notion that he was doing otherwise.
She sat in the cell quietly, observing her capturers for what felt like hours until a guard came and took her a small, dimly lit interrogation room. Aria was placed in a small chair and her arms and legs were strapped down to the chair. She could only see one Romulan officer in the room with her but she knew not to trust the shadows.
"Lieutenant Swenson," the Romulan began. "I see that you are the protocol officer on board the Enterprise. What is the protocol officer doing on a shuttle craft alone with her Captain, hours away from her ship?"
"We were on our way back from a conference on Malrata," she replied, trying not to give away too much information.
"But why were you alone with the Captain, Lieutenant?" he asked a bit more insistently.
"I am the Captain's interpreter," she replied. Aria knew that they could of easily gotten this information from the shuttle's computer.
"Interpreter? Do you understand Romulan?"
"Not much. Just simple things like 'where's the bathroom' and 'do you know where the hotel is'."
"I don't believe you," the officer said angrily and he hit her across the face. She could taste the saltiness of her blood in her mouth.
"What purpose do I have lying to you?"
"Because you are a Starfleet spy, trying to get the Chowattas to build an alliance with you and gain their technology," he said her as he hit her again.
"Please," she begged. "I don't know what you are talking about. I don't think Starfleet would risk the capture of one of their most trusted Captains just to make some sort of deal that a true diplomat would make."
"Then why did he need an interpreter at a conference? Shouldn't the universal translator been sufficient?"
"Because there were a few races there that have a visually symbolic language that the translator can not handle."
"So you learn quickly."
"Yes, I speak most Earth languages and I don't know anything that you would be interested in."
"You translate on board your ship?"
"Yes."
"So tell me Lieutenant Swenson, why were you really on the shuttle craft with the Captain?"
"I already told you, we were returning from a conference on Malrata. Check the flight plan on the shuttle if you don't believe me."
"You don't think that I am going to fall for that. Those records could be easily forged to say just that."
"It is the truth," she stated and the Romulan slapped her again.
"You are very stubborn, Lieutenant. Things could be a lot easier for you if you would just tell us what we want to hear."
This interview went on for over an hour, with the Romulan occasionally taking his frustrations out on her. When she was returned to the holding cell, the Captain was already there, looking a bit relieved as she was returned.
"Lieutenant, are you okay?" he asked as he looked at her. The Romulans had really done a job on her. She had a black eye, a swollen lip, bruised cheek and some drying blood that ran from the corner of her mouth. Aria's hair had always been perfectly groomed, but for the first time it was messed up. All he had was a bruised cheek and was a little dirty.
"Yes, sir. I'm fine," she replied as if nothing had happened to her.
Quietly he asked her, "What did they ask you?"
"They wanted to know why you and an interpreter were out all alone in a shuttle craft. They wouldn't believe me. They think we were trying to make a deal with the Chowattas for their technology. Why do you think they are doing this to us?"
"I do not know, but we have to try to escape."
"I'm with you Sir. Just tell me what to do."
"We'll figure something out."
She felt a little better, knowing that they were in this together. They were guarded around the clock by at least one guard which made was going to make their escape harder to plan.
Slowly, over the week and a half, they planned their escape. There was a daily pattern that they noticed. They were usually fed three times a day and interviewed four or more, usually right after they ate. Eventually, Aria was throwing up when ever she would get back from her interviews. She attributed it to the stress and physical abuse. She tried to eat after she returned but that meant they had to hide rations and eventually that didn't work either. Aria had begun to loose weight quickly and Picard was getting very concerned for her health because she basically stopped eating. He realized that, for both of them, they had to get out soon.
Picard was doing much better than his companion. He had been roughed up a bit, but Aria was much worse. He figured that they were beating her up to break him so he could protect her. Every time she came back from her interviews, he would ask how she was. She would respond that she was fine. He sort of believed her until their ninth day of capture, when her eyes were beginning to sink into her head and her color really didn't look good.
He decided they would to try to escape on their tenth day after their capture. He couldn't take much more of their abuse inflicted on Aria. Their second meal was delivered while they were both in their cell. While one guard was delivering the food, a second held a phaser on them as the energy shield was down. Aria's job was to distract the guard with the food, so Picard could take care of the second. Aria 'accidentally' spilled the tray of food on the guard and tried to help clean him up. Picard then had his chance to lunge at the other guard, catching him off guard and took his phaser. By the time the first guard, still covered in food, realized what happened to his friend; Aria had taken his phaser out of his holster and held it at him. They shot the two guards and ran from their cell, not caring if they were only stunned or dead. All that mattered was escaping.
"We have to find the coolant system to overheat and destroy the engines. If we are lucky it should destroy the ship," Picard told Aria as they headed down the passageway to a shaft that they could disappear into. It was a tight fit but it gave them time to regroup. Aria wasn't concerned that this was the closest she had been to Jean Luc in almost two weeks and the first time they had been alone since their capture. All she wanted was to get back to the Enterprise.
"Sir, it looks like this panel here will disrupt the coolant to the engine and by the time they figure out what is wrong, it should be too late for them and we should be on our way out of here," she suggested.
"You are right. Now, we should wait a bit to make sure the pressure drops low enough to effect the engines but not so much that we draw attention to ourselves. Then we will get to the shuttle and get the hell out of here."
"Aye, Sir," she replied as they began to sabotage the Romulan war bird. After a few minutes of letting the coolant leak, the fumes in the crawl space were getting to strong for them so the two Starfleet officers set off on the second part of their escape plan.
Quietly, they found the cargo hold where their shuttle was being held. There was only one technician going over the craft, so it was easy to sneak upon him. Picard was able to subdue him and Aria climbed aboard and began the start up procedures while Picard opened the cargo bay doors. That's when a security team showed up in the cargo bay, beginning a volley of phaser fire. He got hit in the shoulder and Aria, who had gotten the shuttlecraft started up, moved it closer to him while she opened fire on the security team with the shuttle's phasers. After opening the door of the shuttle, Aria helped the Captain in. As he sat down, Aria turned the shuttle around to face the doors that had not completely opened. Not having the luxury of opening the air lock doors the conventional way, she laid waist to the doors and the surrounding walls with the onboard phaser, opening the bay with a rapid decompression, sending all the continence of the cargo bay into the vastness of space, including the shuttlecraft.
Picard was able to get the shuttle under control quickly and attacked the main weapon and communication systems and finished off the engines. They barely looked back as the War Bird exploded into thousands of points of light. Their capturers were dead and the shuttlecraft sped off into space.
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