Chapter 14: Sink or Swim Part 2: Onboard the Ship
As soon as Tomalak's ship set in, George and Nerys tied a life boat onto it, at night, for an escape route for the plan ahead.
()()()()()
The next day, there was a faux celebration for the ship's victory against the Dominion.
By this point, Carol was much more confident in her juggling.
"And now a tribute to your glorious victory!" Worf called out.
Nerys, Benjamin, and George then showed up behind a cardboard cutout of a boat.
We are the mighty Dominion.
We sail the open skies.
No Imperial ship can stop us.
For we are the more wise.
The three then looked forward.
"Uh-oh." Benjamin said. "It's the unbeatable…"
"Undefeatable…" Nerys added.
"Not real sweatable…" George continued.
"Tomalak the ruthless!" They all cried out as Jim was there with Benjamin and Kassidy's recently rescued dog, Porthos.
"Retreat!" Nerys called out.
"Ramming speed!" Jim called out, and the three were knocked over like bowling pins.
After that, Benjamin and George snuck down to the rowers while Jim and Porthos cornered Nerys.
"Wait, I'm an officer!" Nerys called out before she was knocked over.
As the soldiers cheered, Jim bowed to the audience.
()()()()()
At the water, Nerys quickly swam to the boat as Odo helped her up while Benjamin opened one of the holes for the canons. Odo then handed a bag of food to Benjamin, who then handed it to George. George then slipped into the slave quarters.
"Be careful, George." Benjamin whispered.
George looked around. All the slaves were sleeping in rags and hunched to make room for everyone. George was shocked that anyone could be so inconsiderate of people. He undid the bundle and took out some bread, vegetables, and fruit as he walked around.
"Dad?" George called out. "Dad?!"
Just then, a brunette man with a five o'clock shadow pulled him over.
"What are you doing here, kid?!" The man asked when he saw the food as George let him have some.
"I'm looking for my father." George explained.
"The only thing you'll find here is trouble." The man said after taking a bite of bread. "Now get out of here before you get us all killed."
()()()()()
On the deck, as Worf was doing various acrobatics, a soldier rushed up to Tomalak with a scroll.
"Sir!" The soldier said. "One of our ships was captured in a slave revolt! Nero orders you to set course at once and capture them before they reach the borders of the empire!"
"Then cast off immediately." Tomalak said plainly. "Sound the battle alarm!"
As the soldiers sounded the alarm, Worf gulped.
"Uh, but the show's not over yet." Worf said nervously.
()()()()()
Meanwhile, George had given food to all the slaves.
"Do any of you know my father George Kirk Sr?" George asked, when suddenly, a soldier opened the door.
"All slaves to oars!" He called out, and they went to their posts.
"Wait!" George called out as they went off. "Has anyone seen my father?!"
"I'm afraid he's not on this ship, kid." The brunette man said.
"George!" Benjamin called out soon afterwards as he pulled George up.
()()()()()
At the deck, Kassidy and the other children, were by the walls, not being noticed by the preoccupied soldiers.
"Ben?" Kassidy whispered. "Ben?!"
()()()()()
Meanwhile, Nerys and Odo were trying to stay near the ship until Nerys got knocked off by one of the oars as Odo quickly clung to the boat and pulled her out.
()()()()()
"Kassidy, what's happening?!" Benjamin asked as the ship continued its hustle and bustle.
"We're going into battle unless we get off this thing quick!" Kassidy answered.
They went to the starboard side of the boat, only to find Nerys and Odo hanging onto a rope.
"Hey guys." Nerys said.
The soldiers then arrived and pulled Nerys and Odo in just before they left the atmosphere. They were all trapped on the ship now.
()()()()()
On the ship, the gang was tossed into the captain's quarters where the captain would arrive to deal with them.
Everyone then looked around. It was an elegant purple and green colored room with various, expensive, knick-knacks.
"Wow." Worf said. "This is impressive."
"How can he live like this when so many people are suffering right under his feet?!" George asked angrily.
"Yeah." Jim added. "Jesus said we should be kind to people."
"I don't think the captain was listening when Jesus said that." Odo responded.
"I'm afraid he's like the man who built his house on the sand." Benjamin said.
"Who?" Jim asked. He'd never heard of him before.
"A man Jesus talked about one day when he was teaching in Capernaum.
"He said to the crowd, 'Everyone who listens to me and does something about it is like a man who builds his house on a rock. Then winter comes, but that house stands up to all because underneath is the rock.
"'But whoever listens to me and does nothing is like a foolish builder who builds his house on sand. Then winter comes. And the rains fall, and the floods come, and the wind blows. And down comes his house with a tremendous crash.'"
Just then, Tomalak came in and Jim finally had time to notice Tomalak's purple eyes and black hair.
"So these are the stowaways?" Tomalak asked.
"Actually, we're-" Benjamin began.
"Quiet!" Shaw called out. "I don't know why you're still on my ship, but I do know that we're going into battle and every man must pull his weight!"
Tomalak then tossed two mops to Nerys and Odo.
"You, clean the ship!" Tomalak shouted as he turned to George. "You, give water to the soldiers!" Tomalak then turned to Worf and Jim. "You two stay here and clean." Tomalak then turned to Benjamin. "And you, what do you do?"
"I'm a baker." Benjamin said.
"Perfect." Tomalak said with a smile.
"My cook makes the worst rolls in the entire navy." Tomalak said as he took a roll and dropped it on the floor, and it bounced right back into his hand like it was made of rubber. "Absolutely indestructible. The only thing they're good for is ammunition. You, your wife, and the girl are to go to the galley at once!"
"Yes sir." Benjamin said as he walked off with Kassidy and Carol.
Well, that didn't go all that well.