A/N: Sorry about the late update. I've started working more hours and didn't have time to revise and post. Thank you to the new followers and thank you to those who have been reading since I first posted! There is more to come for Raylene, McCoy, and the Enterprise crew!

The groups assembled at the door of the mess hall, ready to take back their ship. Spock and Scotty led their group toward the transporter room, while Kirk split off in the other direction. They picked up weapons along the way, finding discarded phasers in the halls and long-range rifles hidden in an emergency weapons vault Raylene pointed out. Armed and dangerous, the bridge crew stepped carefully toward the bridge, Kirk taking the lead.

He stopped everyone at the end of the hall, then peeked around the corner to see what they were up against.

Four guards stood outside the bridge entrance, two on either side of the door, and two pacing the hallway. Kirk studied their movements for a moment then turned to face his group of people.

"They have four guards blocking the doors. We need a small diversion." Kirk said.

Raylene thought a moment then dug around in her med bag for something. She pulled out an emergency flare and held it up to Kirk. "Something loud and bright perhaps?"

Kirk smiled at her. "I love you, Dr. Hobbs."

"Sorry, but I'm taken." She teased, glancing at McCoy, who looked unamused.

"Bones, you're my back up when these guys come around the corner. I need your bar brawling skills." Kirk explained.

"Fine. Usually, I have a few drinks before the fight breaks out, but I'm flexible." McCoy said, annoyed.

Kirk took the flare from Raylene and struck it. Brilliant red sparks shot out from the end as it sizzled and cracked in Kirk's hand. He threw it across the hall away from the group.

Soon, footsteps were heard getting closer to the hallway. One guard walked around the corner facing the flare on the other side. The other guard joined him as they studied the flare.

Kirk and McCoy moved in swiftly knocking the guards in the back of their heads with their guns. One guard went down immediately, but the other turned on McCoy and tried to fire at him. McCoy threw a punch into the guards' face and Kirk hit him over the head again, knocking him unconscious.

McCoy looked at Kirk. "You couldn't have hit him that hard the first time?"

"I was giving you a chance to look like a hero in front of your girlfriend." Kirk teased.

McCoy began to reply, but his attention turned to the other guards, who began shooting at him and Kirk. The men took cover on the opposite side of the hallway from the rest of their group. Kirk stood at the corner firing shots back as Sulu did the same thing from his side.

Raylene looked at McCoy across the hall and raised her gun to get his attention. "You and I go low."

McCoy nodded and crouched behind Kirk. Raylene ducked down behind Sulu and counted on her fingers to signal McCoy when to shoot. On three they leaned away from the cover of the hallway and fired at the guards.

The double shots threw them off and both guards were shot and went down.

Kirk looked at the men on the floor. "Nice shootin', doctors. And Mr. Sulu."

"So, do we just knock on the door and wait to be invited in?" Raylene asked.

"Or, you could turn around and greet your host." A voice said from behind them.

The group turned quickly and aimed their guns at Cady, standing in the doorway of the bridge.

"You're out gunned this time. How about you surrender, and we finish this in a civilized manner?" Kirk replied.

Cady cocked her head and gave a half laugh. "Really?"

She held up her right hand which had been tucked behind her back and revealed the bomb she had been hiding.

"Did I forget to mention Gerard is a chemical engineer? He designed this bomb and pitched the idea to Starfleet, but they said it was too dangerous. It's made from the same fluid that powers the warp core and concentrated for the highest damage percentage per square kilometer.

"If I were you captain," she stared directly at Kirk, "I would surrender to me."

Kirk lowered his gun, but stepped toward Cady, putting himself between her and his crew. "If you set that off, you die too."

"I know my responsibilities as captain," she raised the bomb toward him, "do you know yours?"

Kirk held her gaze, reading her body language. She looked steady, like she wasn't afraid to set the bomb off right at that moment. He had played a lot of cards in his day and he could read people well, knowing their tells for their bluffs.

Cady wasn't bluffing.

Kirk dropped his phaser. "Drop your weapons."

"Sir?" Sulu questioned.

"Do it." Kirk commanded.

The group dropped their weapons and put their hands up by their faces. Kirk led them onto the bridge past Cady, who smiled devilishly.

Sulu glared at her as he walked past. "Oh, sweetheart. Don't look at me like that. I didn't want to stab you, but you forced my hand."

Raylene followed the line, but Cady put an arm in front of her. "No hard feelings, sister. I was aiming at the blonde one, but you got in the way."

"I hope you know what you're doing because when this plan fails, I can't wait to watch them put you in a hole deep in the ground where you belong." Raylene spat.

Cady removed her arm, staring hard at Raylene. "You better watch it, doctor, or the next time I aim I won't miss."

"Exactly. Because if you do miss, you won't have another chance. I'd kill you in a second."

Cady nodded. "I'm glad we understand each other."

McCoy pushed Raylene forward and they joined their group next to the wall. He grabbed her by the arm and forced her to look at him. "Are you trying to get yourself killed?"

"No, but she needs to know she can't break me." Raylene sneered.

"Save it for when a fight breaks out because God knows it's gonna happen."

"You're right. I'm sorry."

"Don't apologize. Just keep your cool."

Raylene agreed and stood silently behind him close to the wall, while Cady paced in front of the group toying with the bomb, casually. Gerard and two other members of their crew stood in the room, emphasizing the small numbers Kirk and his team were up against.

Being his usual easily bored self, Kirk grew tired of the silence and turned to Cady. "I don't see how suicide helps your plan, captain."

Cady approached him slowly, taking light steps like a big cat on the prowl. She stopped right in front of him and met his gaze. "If you can't see the big picture, I can't help you."

"Yeah, okay," Kirk rolled his eyes and turned back to his group. "I'm sorry for getting us recaptured."

"It's alright, captain." Sulu said.

"I just want you guys to know it's been an honor serving with you." Kirk said.

Raylene noticed he was being extra twitchy and hyperactive. She could tell something was about to happen. Before she could ask, McCoy dropped to a knee and messed with his combat boot, adjusting the string. When he stood back to his full height, Raylene noticed the miniature phaser in his palm. She averted her eyes to face forward and watched Kirk repeat the same motions McCoy had done. When Kirk stood, he held a miniature phaser in his hand.

The men locked eyes and nodded at each other.

And, then…