NOTE from the PHOENIX: Tiny chapter is tiny! Giggle. Let's face it, one can only read so much torture before becoming bored, right? Anyway, I needed to cover some of my bases and I needed to let ya know what was going on in Kirk's world...so here it is. This is the HARD part about writting chapter to chapter, sometimes I make things too difficult for myself and then I need to write my way out of it. Hopefully it will all work out in the end. Heehee.

Chapter Twenty-one

Sitting back on his heels Kirk looked around the large and mostly featureless room. He wondered what kind of metal the ceiling was made out of and if every arch and curve had been hand crafted by an artist or if it was some sort of mechanical process that mass produced the organic look. The dark stone floor was brightly polished and amazingly free of any dirt or dust beyond a few spatters of his own blood and sweat.

"Captain," Ty'rick growled "are you even listening to me?"

"What? Oh...uh...no, not really."

"Being clever again?"

"No, just disinterested." Kirk replied. "I thought you were just going to do your little mind sifting trick and have me killed. Can we get on with that?"

"I can not decided if this is bravery or bluffing."

"Does it matter?"

Ty'rick looked Kirk over for a moment. A night spent on the stone floor of a cell had not really improved Kirk's general attitude. He remembered being hauled out in the morning and held down on a table or something, but the more he thought about it the more he figured it had just been a dream. He didn't really care one way or another. There was a sudden flash of pain as Ty'rick slapped him across the cheek.

"Pay attention." Ty'rick ordered.

"I'm listening."

"I want to know how you manage to shield your mind from us."

"I do? Wow, that's a pretty good trick." Kirk said impressed. "I honestly have no idea. I take it that you tried the mind sifting thing?"

"Yes, that is why there is a gap in your memory."

"I take it you didn't get what you wanted."

"No, and I want to know why! What is this new human trick? Not even a Romulan can resist the mind sift."

"What about Vulcans?"

"They are immune, but you are no Vulcan."

"No." Kirk smiled. "But I'm good friends with one."

"Spock did this to you."

"Probably." Kirk agreed. "I'm guessing the older one, and if that's the case trust me the only way you're gonna get into my head it to cut it open."

"I might just do that."

"Be my guest."

"You really have no fear of death, do you?" Ty'rick asked with a hint of approval.

"I've got nothing to lose." Kirk shrugged.

"Explain."

"No, I don't think I will."

Ty'rick swept his hand across the air and Kirk closed his eyes against the all too familiar induced sickness. Before it went to far he voluntarily laid down on his side with his arms wrapped over his stomach. Concentrating on breathing slowly Kirk managed to ignore the beast gnawing at his stomach. He was surprised when the pain ebbed away before becoming truly intense.

"This particular torture is pointless, isn't it?" Ty'rick chuckled.

"Pretty much." Kirk forced a smile.

Ty'rick nodded and reached down and pressed his hand against Kirk's stomach. The sudden wriggling in his stomach was actually more alarming than the previous bouts with pain. Kirk got onto his hands and knees as he began retching uncontrollably. It wasn't long before he managed to cough up the armor plated slug which Ty'rick kicked aside.

"Thanks." Kirk said as he spit a touch of blood onto the floor.

"Do not thank me yet."

Calling over the guards Ty'rick had Kirk lifted up off the floor and placed back on his knees once again. Ty'rick crossed his arms over his chest and looked down on Kirk as if trying to decide what to do next. Kirk had told the Romulan that he didn't fear death, but it had mostly been a bluff. He wanted more than anything to get back to Starfleet and find out what the hell was going on. At the same time for all he knew the Romulan was taking advantage of the fact that he had no idea what had happened over the last week or so. Kirk was starting to get the feeling that the war had already begun and Ty'rick was attempting to play the innocent injured party in order to make Kirk slip.

"I did not want to resort to this." Ty'rick sighed. "I wanted to keep this for myself."

"Resort to what?"

Ty'rick held his hand out and one of the other Romulans handed him a black wine bottle. Kirk's already abused stomach turned at the sight. It was the bottle that held the Vulcan blood. Ty'rick opened it and sniffed at it. He looked over at his guards and narrowed his eyes.

"Everyone out!" Ty'rick snapped.

Without a word the other Romulans left. Kirk knit his brow in concern as he heard the doors close leaving them alone, it couldn't be a good sign that Ty'rick wanted time alone with him. Kirk looked away as Ty'rick suddenly took a deep drink of the Vulcan blood.

"That is good." Ty'rick purred. "Whoever this is, he's young. Tastes like he suffered greatly to give this as well. Want some?"

"No."

"I know this bottle does not belong to you. I know that the ship that brought you here was not your own. I know that the only reason you are here is because some enemy you made along the way sent you to us because they either thought it was fitting or they were too cowardly to kill you themselves."

"Wow, okay...well, um....now that we've got that all cleared up. Can I go home now?"

Ty'rick laughed and brought the open bottle of blood close to Kirk's nose. Trying not to show his revulsion Kirk stayed as motionless as possible. Ty'rick wasn't fooled and smiled brightly.

"I do not care why you are here, and the truth is that I personally can't wait for the war to begin."

"Then why hasn't it started? I mean if a Federation ship attacked Remus..."

"As much as I hate to admit it, there is no proof that the Federation attacked. No humans bodies have been recovered from the wreckage, and the ship didn't so much as attack as...crash. The Senate members are being cowards about it and although we are readied for war, they have not declared it." Ty'rick growled in disgust. "They don't think we can win. However, I know we can. I just need to get it started, and then once I lead the Romulans into victory over the Federation I will be the new Emperor. I may even slaughter what is left of the Vulcans while I'm at it."

"Wait...wait, the Senate? What about Cel'esta?"

"Thanks to you...she's dead."

"What?"

"Her 'mercy' to you and her aiding the Vulcans gave the Senate the power they needed to over throw her."

"They killed her?"

"The disgrace killed her, Romulans fear it more than death."

"So I've heard."

"Now then," Ty'rick smiled "let's make a deal."

"I don't make deals with Romulans."

"Hear me out. One way or another this war is going to happen, I will see to that. Give me the information I desire and I will not only let you live, but I will promise to let the Vulcan race survive as well...I know you're fond of them."

"Actually for the most part they tend to piss me off."

"They don't treat your half-breed friend very well, do they?" Ty'rick chuckled. "I take it we don't have a deal yet?"

"We never will."

Ty'rick nodded and then smiled coldly. Despite how many times he saw it Kirk was amazed by the speed with which a Romulan could move. Ty'rick lashed out and grabbed Kirk by the lower jaw. Forcing the open bottle between Kirk's teeth Ty'rick poured the sickly green blood down his throat. Kirk convulsively drank the blood. When he was released he pitched forward and vomited it onto the stone floor.

Furious Kirk threw himself blindly at Ty'rick. The Romulan easily evaded the clumsy attack by stepping to the side. Kirk redirected his attack, but by that time Ty'rick was ready and dropped Kirk to the bloody floor with a forceful kick. Kirk tried to get back up but was held down as Ty'rick put his foot down on his back.

"Even if I can't break you," Ty'rick growled "at least I will have my revenge."

"Revenge?"

"I loved her. Cel'esta was my everything...even though I never got the chance to tell her."