Chapter Twenty-One

"What happened?" Thalon demanded in Cramer's office.

Four hours had gone by and he had grown tired of waiting for any news on their conditions so he had decided to come find out for himself. Unfortunately, the doctor had no update and no answers.

"I don't know. It's like she's in a coma."

"And Schaffer?"

"Whatever affected Saaris seems to also be affecting him. I think it's because it happened while the two were joined."

"Can you help either of them?"

"We're monitoring and I'm trying to figure out what exactly is going on. Schaffer says he feels tired. We've managed to numb his headache but without knowing what caused it I can't do anything to stop it."

Thalon rubbed his eyes. "This was a mistake. I should have refused. I should have seen the danger."

"It was her decision."

Thalon shook his head. "No, as her commanding officer it was mine. I agreed to it, it's my responsibility."

"It's mine as well," she said.

He stood up. "Do what you can doctor, do what you can."

"I am. My more immediate concern, though, is you."

That took him by surprise. "Me?"

"You need to get some rest. I can see it in your eyes, in your posture. Go get some sleep."

"That an order, doctor?"

"You know it's just advice. I'm not trying to dictate what you should do. Just give suggestions."

"But you can make it an order."

She rubbed her eyes. "I can, but a healthy working relationship means that I don't and that you just do what you know you should do without me having to pull rank."

He agreed. "Okay, doctor. You've made your point."

"I know how you feel, I feel it too. We should never have let her do it, but we thought it might give us some insight, an advantage."

"It was stupid," he said as he turned to face the door. "Goodnight, doctor. Tell me if there's any change."

"You'll be the first to know, sir."

"Thank you."

"And it's not your fault."

Thalon said nothing as he left her office. The feeling of guilt followed him all the way to his quarters. He could have stopped it. He could have decided it was too dangerous and said no.

But he hadn't and now one person was in a coma and the other was suffering. This was another thing he was going to have to add to his report that was less than good news.

It felt like everything had started to come undone so fast. From being informed of the entity's existence by the Drayans, to it escaping in control of N'reinn. It had all happened in such a short time it was hard to fully grasp how it had happened.

He tried retracing all of the steps, all of the decisions he had made and honestly he had no idea what he could have done to change the overall outcome.

The worst part was that he had no idea how to fix it.

Captain T'kinta was confused and disappointed. No battle, no destruction, no nothing. She had wanted to follow the large alien vessel and the small fleet that had managed to disable not only the station but the ships as well, all without firing a single shot.

But she had wanted to see a battle and when none happened she felt hollow disappointment.

Wanting something more, she had decided to see if they could track the large vessel, but the trail had gone cold. T'kinta, however, was not one to give up.

Not easily at least.

When news came that they were approaching a star system, she had headed straight for the bridge. She knew it was unlikely that the ones she pursued were here, but if not then it only made the hunt last longer.

Captain T'kinta stepped onto the bridge and made her way directly to the centre seat. "What can you tell me about the star system?"

Devuk answered. "Red Dwarf star, three planets one is a gas giant."

"Any unusual emissions or transmissions?"

"Nothing, Captain."

She growled. "Scan again."

"Yes, Captain."

The trail had already long since grown cold by the time they had begun to pursue, but she was not one to give up on the hunt. Especially when it came to elusive prey.

"Anything?" she questioned after a few minutes had passed.

"I believe I am detecting something now. Yes, there is a fleet of ships moving out of the system."

T'kinta smashed her fist down on the armrest and barked at the helmsman. "Pursue them and keep our distance. Let us see where they go."

The helmsman did as instructed. The ship changed course and reduced velocity to warp four and began to follow the small fleet of Drayan ships.

Honestly, T'kinta was feeling a touch disappointed. It felt almost too easy. If she was the paranoid type she would have thought that they had been waiting for them to lead them into some kind of trap.

Of course, if there was such a trap, she would enjoy avoiding it or even using it against her enemy. It would be an interesting challenge, one she doubted would happen. Disappointingly.

The helmsman spoke up. "It appears they are heading to a neighbouring star system."

"How long?"

"Nine hours."

It was shorter than she had expected but still a long time. She stood up from her chair. "Contact me before we arrive," she said as she sauntered off the bridge.

The Queen Transcendent sat in her chamber aboard Her Palace Cruiser. She had not been expecting the Vulcan to make contact and right now she needed time for her plan to fall into place. The Vulcan threatened that so she had to be temporarily removed from the equation.

It was, after all, the logical thing to do and it would not be forever. A month at the most, if that.

She rose up from where she was sat as she sensed they were approaching their temporary destination and moved out into the hallway where DenliLos was stood waiting.

He bowed. "Transcendent," he greeted.

"It is time to remove the vermin from this sector."

"Vermin my Queen?" DenliLos asked politely.

"The Klingon ship that has been following us since our last stop."

The captain was confused. "My Queen. Forgive me, but what is a Klingon?"

"A repulsive culture built on war and glory. The antithesis of everything any civilized people should strive to be."

The two of them headed down a set of steps and into a tram. The queen sat down while DenliLos remained standing. A minute later they had reached their destination at the front of the Palace Cruiser.

The Queen Transcendent was led into the control room where the captain greeted her with a bow.

"My Queen," the captain said. "I did not know you were coming. I would have-"

She raised a hand interrupting him. "There is no need to apologise. There is something we need to deal with. Have we dropped out of warp speed?"

"Yes we have my Queen," the captain answered.

"Approach the ringed planet and begin a weapons test on the asteroids."

"Yes my Queen," the Captain acknowledged without protest, despite the unusual command.

Strange. The Drayans were firing on the asteroids that made up the rings of the system's only gas giant.

T'kinta had no idea why they were doing that, however, when they had first charged their weapons she had been sure they had been detected. But no, they were shooting at asteroids for no apparent reason.

Boredom quickly set in as it usually did and she left the bridge to head to the gymnasium to ease her tensions.

She wasn't halfway there before the deck pitched and she found herself falling flat on her face to the sounds of the battle klaxon.

Forcing herself back to her feet, she bolted back to the bridge. The moment she set foot on deck, the ship shook again followed by a brief sensation of weightlessness before she stumbled forwards grabbing the back of the centre chair.

"Report!" she shouted.

The weapons officer responded. "They've split us in two!" he bellowed.

"How?" she demanded. "How did they take us by surprise?"

"They were shooting the asteroids, then without warning, they targeted us and fired. Under cloak, our shields were down." There were sounds of large objects striking the hull, their deep thuds echoing through the hull. He checked his console readout. "We are being boarded."

T'kinta drew her dagger. "We are already dead. Let us make sure we take as many of them with us as we can."

They all stood at the ready with weapons in hand. T'kinta and Devuk had daggers, the helmsman had a disruptor, as did the weapons officer.

All of them stood, staring at the doors that led into the corridor beyond, ready for when the invaders tried to take the bridge.

A few minutes passed before they did. The doors opened to weapons fire streaking into the bridge.

The helmsman was hit while T'kinta managed to take cover behind her chair. With both Devuk and the weapons officer engaging with dagger and disruptor, she dove for the fallen helmsman's own disruptor and gripped it firmly in her grasp.

She fired, turning one of the invading aliens into vapour before she was struck in the chest. She staggered back before being struck by another beam knocking her down.

Consciousness was fleeting. She felt the disrupter get pulled free of her grip. She tried to thrust at the figure looming over her with her dagger, but it was knocked away with ease.

It was at that moment that all of her fears rose to the surface. The fear of dying, not as a warrior, but helplessly laid out on the deck.

She felt arms grip her, but she wasn't conscious enough to understand what was happening. All she knew was that her pitiful display would not grant her access to Sto'Vo'Kor if she died here and now, flailing limply on the floor like a grounded fish.

The only upside she could possibly conceive was that she would end up in the underworld of Gre'thor and be able to kill Kroless over again. Of course, she had not killed him the first time as she had wanted. She had given that honour to Wruk, an honour in retrospect should have been hers. She was the one who had retaken the ship, she was the one who had put Wruk back in command and she had ultimately been the one that had killed him.

It was almost forgotten to her that this meant their mission was over. It had failed and not spectacularly but pitifully. No songs would be sung about her, no stories of her battles. She would go forgotten, her name not remembered by anyone.

The Queen Transcendent N'reinn watched as what remained of the Klingon ship flared up into a giant fireball. Part of her was saddened by the rather necessary loss of life, the other part was glad that justice had been served.

The captain of the Palace Cruiser approached her with a bow. "The vessel has been destroyed, my Queen."

"Yes, it has," she replied stoically. "Prepare to leave the system."

"Yes, my Queen." He bowed again.

She turned and left the bridge. Instead of heading down to her chambers she climbed aboard the tram and headed towards the holding cells where DenliLos was waiting for her.

"Queen Transcendent," he greeted upon her arrival. "I have been waiting."

"How is our guest?" she asked without pause.

"Guest? Do you mean the Klingon prisoner, my Queen?"

"Yes, that is who I mean," she confirmed.

"Agitated and hostile."

"A Klingon, then," the Transcendent surmised.

"You are familiar with them, my Queen?"

"Of course. Remember an aspect of me was in Starfleet. Klingons are the enemy of the Federation."

"Will there be more of these Klingons coming to the sector?"

"I do not know," she answered truthfully. "Their space is so far away. It is strange that one of their ships was here in the first place."

"I do not wish to second guess your motives for bringing her aboard, but do you believe you can get information out of her, my Queen?"

"I am not hopeful, however, there is no harm in trying. Perhaps an understanding can be formed."

"Of course," he said with a bow. "Do you wish me to take you to the Klingon Captain?"

"Yes. Let me see what kind of individual that I am dealing with."

DenliLos bowed and led the way into the holding cells where two guards greeted her with a bow.

Sat behind the electrified bars was the Klingon commander. The Transcendent stepped up to the cell where the Klingon remained seated ignoring her presence.

"Hello, Klingon," the Transcendent began.

The Klingon looked up at her with a deep glare. "Caitian," she spat.

"I am the Queen Transcendent of the Drayans. The form you see is an aspect of me, a part of what I am."

The Klingon snarled. "Do not speak in riddles. Say what you mean."

"You will come to understand in time."

"Make me understand now. It is not on me if you cannot be clear," the Klingon said.

DenliLos stepped forward, taking exception. "You cannot speak to our Queen that way."

The Transcendent raised her open hand. "It is fine, DenliLos. She comes from a culture that is rude, belligerent and cruel."

The Klingon gripped the electrified bars and held them for several seconds. "I come from a culture of strength and honour." She released her grip on the bars and held up her marked palms. "A strength of will those in the Federation will never understand."

"This is not the Federation," the Transcended corrected. "You will understand soon enough." She turned to her assistant. "Now let us leave. I have seen enough for now."

"I will escape," the Klingon threatened. "I will escape and you will die by my hand."

The Transcendent paused, looking back. "Many have tried. Few have come close."

"I will be the one to succeed."

The Transcendent had the final word. "Good evening, T'kinta." With that, she turned and left, her assistant by her side.

Out in the corridor, she stopped and once more turned to him. "Do you have any updates for me?"

He nodded. "Yes, those schematics you drew and the torpedoes we gathered from the Klingon vessel. We believe we can duplicate the technology."

"We will duplicate it," she promised. "Then we will re-take the homeworld. But for now, we must remain hidden and survive."

"Of course, my Queen."

The two continued onwards down the corridor back towards her chambers.

All around her were sounds and shapes. Distorted, muffled, unfocused. Glimpses of things that made little sense, of places she had never seen.

Saaris was far from sure where it was that she had found herself, or rather where her mind had found itself.

A being had locked her here unable to find her way back. Her mind was still within her body, but it had lost the ability to find consciousness and was trapped in this construct of thought.

It was the Vulcan's belief that the entity, whatever it was, indented to lock her here for an indefinite time, however, she was not one to give up or give in when faced with a challenge.

No matter how difficult, she would find a way. Even now she could feel the echo of Paul who she had been using as a reference point when she had found the mind of the entity.

His echo, however, was faint and directionless which made trying to follow it a task in itself. It was a task that she would complete no matter how long it took. She did not at all appreciate this attack on her mind.

She would prevail and she would find a way out of this mental prison no matter how long it took.

A/N That's it the end of Part 2. Sorry if it ends on a weird note.

I feel I have to add something to those that have read this. This has probably been the toughest time I've had writing anything and I feel it shows. Half the time I felt like I was writing garbage but had no idea how to fix it or make it better. The problem I felt was pacing in some parts and this was caused by the way it was written which was chapter by chapter. Once a chapter was done, it was done. No looking back, only looking forward. This caused issues with pacing I feel that could have been remedied with drafts, having the freedom to move parts around. With chapter by chapter, you can't move anything. It's done, it's locked, it's out there and cannot be changed because it has already been read. But this is how writing is done on. Bit by bit, chapter by chapter.

My next story (not Trek) is already a few chapters in and I've decided that I'm probably not going to post it until it is complete. This will give me the ability to do drafts, shift things around if the pacing or order isn't right etc. It will also give me the opportunity to read it through as a whole concise story, not in pieces and parts. Only that way do I feel that I can improve my writing.

Thanks to all those that have read.

JG