Title: To Boldly Go
Disclaimer: I do not own the characters or the places that honor goes to Mr. George Lucas, Mr. Gene Roddenberry and Mr. J.J. Abrams.
Summary: While on a routine mission to explore an uncharted region of space the Enterprise and her crew get sucked into a spatial anomaly that leaves them in a galaxy far far away… their new mission; find a way back home in one piece.
Author's Note: Hello everyone! I know it's been an exceedingly long time. Honestly I have had very little time to write and for a while my muse abandoned me, thus the ridiculously long period of time between updates. But you all inspire me and make me want to continue with this story. I've read all of your reviews and I can't tell you how much they mean to me! I can't guarantee that updates will be frequent or regular from here on out but as long as you're reading I'll be writing, I promise. As this is the first chapter I've written in months I'm not too happy with it and I think it is a little rushed, but I had to get it out there or it would have stayed sitting in my documents just collecting preverbal dust. Again to all of you reading, following, favorite(ing), and reviewing thank you, thank you, and thank you! Wishing you all a very Happy Thanksgiving I present to you the next chapter dedicated to all of you…
Chapter 14
Jim watched as Obi-Wan stood wearily from his crouch. As he met Jim's questioning gaze he quietly shook his head. So far they had only managed to find three survivors, one barely clinging to life.
Jim noticed the look of concern on Obi-Wan's face.
"What is it?" he asked the older man.
Obi-Wan sighed; "There should be more…"
Jim looked at him incredulously. "You mean you want there to more causalities?!"
Shaking his head Obi-Wan explained, "No of course not. What I meant is that there should be more villagers than what we have found so far. It is possible that they took most of them to labor camps but I don't think so. I sense…something."
Jim nodded, even though he didn't really understand. Without a word he made his way into the next abandoned building, Obi-Wan following silently behind.
Again they were met with nothing.
Obi-Wan raised his hand to his beard, a gesture Jim was becoming all too familiar with. Before he could ask him what he was thinking, Obi- Wan's comlink began to beep.
As he pressed it they were greeted by the figure of one of his men.
"What is it Waxer?" he addressed the soldier without hesitating.
'I'm not sure Sir but I think you should both come and bring the Doc." He added.
Both Jim and Obi-Wan shared a curious glance, but Obi-Wan nodded. In response Jim moved away and pressed his combadge.
"Kirk to McCoy."
He waited a few moments before McCoy's gruff voice responded.
"McCoy here, what is it Jim?"
"Look Bones I know you're busy but Waxer said he found something and by the looks of it you're going to be needed. So I want you to meet us out back on our way to meet up with Waxer." He replied.
Jim heard McCoy sigh before answering: "Fine but I better not be wasting my time. Things are pretty gritty right now. Boil just brought in two more. I'll be waiting for you outside, but make it fast Jim."
With that the transmission went dead.
Jim turned around to inform Obi-Wan but was startled when he realized that he was right behind him.
Noting the shock he gave the young Captain he inclined his head in apology before turning and motioning Jim to follow.
"Waxer's already waiting for us and from the sounds of it if we aren't there before him the good Doctor will be less than pleased with us."
Jim snorted, "That's putting it mildly."
Obi-Wan smiled slightly at the comment.
"You have known Dr. McCoy long I take it?" he asked curiously.
Jim nodded his head, "We met on a transport on our way to join Starfleet. He hasn't changed much since then, but he was one of my first friends and he still manages to put up with me after all this time." He said laughing a little.
Obi-Wan smiled, "It is a rare thing to find people you can trust and rely on so fully and have them still want to be around despite our less than 'gracious' moments."
Jim nodded, "Yes it is I'm pretty lucky to have landed myself with such a fine crew and senior officers who have become more than just colleagues. You and Anakin seem to be close as well; I'm guessing he's one of those people you were referring to."
Smiling slightly Obi-Wan shook his head, "Hardly, I trained and raised him since he was a small boy, in essence he's stuck with me until the Council decides otherwise or the Force takes me. He'll be the first to tell you how desperate he is to rid himself of my overbearing presence." He replied matter-of-factly, but underneath Jim could pick up the lighthearted tone that indicated what he said wasn't really what he meant.
Before Jim could respond however, they were interrupted by the arrival of McCoy.
"Well what does Waxer have for us?" he asked curtly giving the General a brief nod.
"Not sure yet but why don't we ask him?" replied Jim as they reached Waxer.
"What have you found Waxer?" Obi-Wan asked.
Shaking his head slightly as he motioned them to follow him he responded.
"Another body Sir, but it's the way I found it and what I found around it that has me…uncertain. Once you see it you'll understand and maybe you'll be able to make more sense of it."
They followed in silence until they reached the spot Waxer had indicated. Immediately McCoy knelt by the body and ran his tricorder over it. Sighing softly he shook his head and looked up at the others.
"Well from the looks of it she didn't go down easy, she went out with a fight." Replied Jim giving one of the droids that lay near her a nudge with his foot.
"I also followed her trail here and by the looks of it she knew where she was going, it wasn't the random frantic path of one just fleeing she had a clear destination in mind." Added Waxer.
Looking down sadly at the corpse of the woman Obi-Wan sighed wearily.
"She stopped and tried to fight them off. At this point she was no longer running, all the blaster mark entries indicate she was facing her pursuers." He said.
Jim shook his head. "But why stop here and why not keep running?"
Having finished comming Uhura to bring a med bed to transport her back to the village McCoy stood up. "Maybe she ran out of time and knew it, decided to make a stand."
Replacing McCoy Obi-Wan knelt by the woman's side. He closed his eyes and briefly touched the woman's forehead.
"She was young and healthy she could have kept going, unless something was impeding her speed, something much more precious than her own wellbeing. Every sentient being has the natural fight or flight responses ingrained in them. Flight is usually the first response unless one is conditioned to ignore it or…" his eyes flew open as he stood up.
"They have something or someone to fight for or protect" finished Jim as he met Obi-Wan's gaze.
"Precisely, Dr. McCoy can you use your equipment to see if you can pick up any life signs in that direction?" Obi-Wan asked as he pointed to his left.
McCoy nodded, adjusting his tricorder before making his way slowly down the path Obi-Wan had indicated. A few seconds of silence passed as they followed in the Doctors wake. Suddenly he called out.
"I think I've got something, it's faint but it's definitely a life sign." He said as he rushed forward the three men following closely behind.
"Jesus Christ, Jim!" he cursed as he dropped to his knees.
As Jim came to stand over him he understood his friends' distress, for laying in a small mound of cloth was a baby. McCoy was quickly running his tricorder over the tiny figure his brow furrowed in concentration.
"Well Bones how is the baby?"
"I don't know, she's been out here for a while…it doesn't look good." He responded grimly.
Obi-Wan knelt on the opposite side of McCoy and carefully picked up the tiny bundle.
'I believe I can stabilize her but we have to get her treatment as soon as possible." He replied looking to McCoy.
McCoy inclined his head, "Go for it, I wouldn't know how to stabilize her without the possibility of causing more damage."
Again Obi-Wan closed his eyes as he cradled the infant in one arm well he placed his hand on her little forehead. He didn't say anything and he didn't move save to run his hand lightly over the child's body.
Both Jim and McCoy watched intently as Waxer moved away to scout the perimeter to make sure no one else was out there. Suddenly McCoy's combadge went off. Afraid that it would disturb the General he quickly answered it.
"McCoy here."
"Leonard its Nyota, we have the medical gurney, where are you?"
"I'll leave my com open just follow it to my position and bring a thermal blanket, have the others transport the body back."
"Understood be there in a sec."
Returning his attention back to Kenobi McCoy was relieved and a little bemused to see that he had not broken the man's trance.
Gently laying his hand on the baby's chest this time Obi-Wan seemed to come to and slowly opened his eyes. Pulling his hand away carefully he looked down at the baby in his arms. At the withdrawal of his touch the infant let out a small whimper and nestled deeper into his hold.
Obi-Wan looked to McCoy and nodded, motioning for the Doctor to use his tricorder.
Once again he scanned the child and a barely audible sigh of relief escaped.
"Well whatever you did it worked, her vitals are stronger and she's regained some of her color." He told a relieved and slightly tired looking Obi-Wan.
Noticing his sudden appearance of fatigue Jim moved to stand over the man and helped him up off the ground.
"Are you okay Obi-Wan, you don't look so well" he asked him.
"I'm fine or will be in time, no need to worry yourself Jim. It will pass."
"There you are what are you doing…oh" came Uhura's surprised remark as she made her way over to them.
"Hand General Kenobi the thermal blanket Uhura so he can wrap her." Instructed McCoy.
She made her way over to Obi-Wan's side holding out the blanket. Just as he was going to take it from her she pulled back slightly.
"May I?" she asked a little hesitantly giving Obi-Wan a pleading look.
Smiling softly he nodded, "Of course Milady."
She beamed at him before carefully relieving Obi-Wan of his charge. The baby made no noise as she settled her gently into her embrace.
Looking up from the baby she turned her attention to Obi-Wan.
"Who are these people that they would do something like this?"
"The leaders of the Separatist movement have no consideration for the value of life. They want nothing more than dominance and power, and they will stop at nothing to get it. If they win destruction and scenes like this will be commonplace around our galaxy. That is why we fight and that is why we must stop them." He answered her, the weariness evident in his eyes.
"Well for what it's worth this is one battle you don't have to fight alone; my crew and I are at your disposal." Replied Jim.
Obi-Wan nodded his thanks even as he smiled wryly at him.
"Well shall we head back gentlemen we need to get this little one proper care." Intoned Uhura as she gently rocked the infant in her arms.
Jim nodded and was about to lead the way when Obi-Wan held out a hand to stop him.
"Waxer please escort Lieutenant Uhura and the child back to the village. If you two don't mind I would ask that you remain here for a moment."
Waxer saluted and walked forward, "Ma'am if you would follow me."
She cast a questioning glance at Jim who inclined his head. Without another word she followed Waxer leaving the three men behind.
"What is it Obi-Wan?"
"I'm not sure but I sense something, just as before when we found the woman's body but now it feels much stronger. There is something here."
McCoy shook his head exasperated.
"Well a little more information would be nice."
The corner of Obi-Wan's mouth quirked.
"I apologize Doctor but I'm afraid that is all I can tell you right now."
"What exactly do you sense? Is it danger, more droids?" Jim asked watching him closely.
He shook his head, "No, for lack of more fitting words I cannot sense droids in the Force. I also sense no immediate danger. I sense fear…as though…" he trailed off his gaze becoming unfocused.
Jim looked at McCoy who shrugged and rolled his eyes, his patience wearing thin.
Suddenly Obi-Wan seemed to snap out of it and turned to them.
"Doctor there are others out here, I can sense them but I cannot tell exactly where. They are hiding, that is what the young woman was doing out her. She was trying to reach them."
McCoy quickly readjusted his tricorder.
"I am widening the parameters of my search; if anyone's out here we'll find them."
Both Jim and Obi-Wan waited; finally the tricorder began to beep.
"I've got life signs!"
Quickly the two men followed as McCoy lead them to where he was picking up the bio-signs.
Halting abruptly McCoy shook his head, "I don't understand we should see them, they should be right here. We're right on top of them!"
"That's it Bones, they're probably underground! Quick help me look for a hatch or something!" replied Jim as he knelt frantically searching with both hands through the foliage littering the ground.
Both men quickly followed suit. It was a few minutes before McCoy cried out in triumph. He brushed a larger space free of debris and sure enough beneath him lay a metal hatch. The only apparent way to open it was a complicated looking mechanical device.
"Well what now, I don't suppose any of you know the password?" he asked, clearly frustrated.
"Patience good Doctor, I believe I can be of some assistance here. However, before I open it I need you both to stand back. It is more than likely that those within are possibly armed and very frightened, something that is never a good combination. It is reasonable to presume that once I open this hatch they will perceive me as a threat and act accordingly, I would hate for anything to happen to either of you should things get a little out of hand.", replied Obi-Wan as he moved closer to the locking mechanism.
In response both men took a few steps back as they watched Obi-Wan bring up his hand and wave it over the device. Within seconds they heard the whirling of the machine as it began to unlock. The sound of grinding gears sounded as the hatch began to swing open.
When it had opened all the way Obi-Wan stood up slowly and clearly called out to those within: "Please do not be alarmed. You are safe. I am General Kenobi, my troops and I have secured your village. Please come out so that we may help you."
Silence greeted his address. McCoy looked uncertainly at Obi-Wan before turning to Jim. He was about to say something but was stopped by the appearance of a figure emerging from the underground bunker.
"General Kenobi, Thank the Stars it is you! We are all so glad that you are here. We need assistance, we have some wounded down there." replied a wizened looking old man. The wrinkles on his face distorting the patterns of his facial tattoos.
Obi-Wan inclined his head, "Father Undi, I am pleased to see you again. Are you hurt?"
The old man shook his head, "Nay just shaken but nothing worse, there are some below however that are. Will you help us General?"
"Of course, how many wounded do you have and how bad are they?"
"There are a total of five wounded, three of them serious."
Obi-Wan nodded and turned to Jim and McCoy, immediately McCoy contacted his team, requesting gurneys and supplies. When he had finished he moved to join Jim and Obi-Wan who had already descended into the bunker.