Star Trek: Time Keeper

Loyalty and Reality

Previously…

Jim Kirk was on the bridge of the Enterprise informing (on the planet below) an apparently apathetic Sean Landis (husband of Carol Marcus, and step-father of David) that Spock was safe and that there could be Romulan mercenaries operating on Starbase-16, which Sean Landis was the Chief Administrator of. But then the conversation was abruptly halted when one of Sean Landis's assistants gave him dire of information.

"My wife has been abducted," Sean told Kirk, "and so has my…son!"

The word "son" penetrated Kirk's soul because David was really Jim Kirk's son. But Spock had also heard the unfortunate information as well, and he also knew that David Marcus was really Jim Kirk's son.

"They were taken from our house, near the center district," Sean said, as he stood up and went over to the widow in his office, pointing at a hill in the distance. Then he looked back at Kirk; worry in his face. He then went back to his desk and pivoted his screen around so Kirk could see the image on in. "This is an image of the abductor; one of the security arrays was able to obtain it, and," Sean paused, "it may indeed be one of your Romulan mercenaries."

Kirk didn't recognize the Romulan, but Spock did immediately. It was the Romulan who had abducted him as well; Linav! Spock also concluded that Linav wanted to be seen, and he was right! Kirk stood up and turned to face Spock; his best friend.

"Spock; is this the same Romulan who abducted you?" Kirk asked.

McCoy waited for the answer as well.

Spock arched an eyebrow.

our story continues...

Inside the Romulan Star Empire

Three Romulan Bird's of Prey were in formation just outside a planetary system near the Bassen Rift. There were four planets in the system, all four being giant gaseous planets devoid of any life. The Romulan ship in the center of the formation was also the command ship. On the bridge of this ship, its commander, V'raja, was a very stern officer and his square jaw was taught with tension as he waited for the results of the test formation.

To his side stood Sla'val, a female Romulan scientist; the reason V'raja's ship, and the other two as escorts, were sent to this worthless planetary system. He looked up her; his eyes flared with disrespect.

"This is a fool's errand," V'raja said Sla'val.

Sla'val shifted her gaze from the main screen, and looked at V'raja.

"We shall see," she said with a cold voice. "However, commander, I do understand your apprehension quite well. You worry that this experiment will fail, and your name will forever be attached to the stigma of such a result."

V'raja stared back with his own iciness.

"We have spent the better part of a year together, Sla'val," V'raja said to her, "trying to make this work. This is the," he thought for a moment, "fifth planetary system we will have destroyed for nothing; so my name is already attached to the stigma of failure, however," he added with a cold grin, "you do realized what the praetor has decreed should this attempt fail as well."

Sla'val didn't have to answer because it was something she already knew. If this attempt failed, V'raja was under strict orders to execute her, and she had no doubt that he would.

"You will not have to execute me," Sla'val told him, "I will take my own life for failing the Romulan Star Empire."

"No; you won't," V'raja came back with, as a sneer spread across his face. He stood up and came face to face with her. "I have been commanded by our praetor to execute you, Sla'val, and I will do just that. And since the praetor did not state his preference as to how that execution will be conducted, let me assure you; it will be slow, bloody and," he paused for effect, "very painful." He let his eyes drift down the length of her sleek body and then back up to her eyes. "It will be entertaining too."

The science officer of the ship came over to V'raja; his name was Tholalk. He had served beneath V'raja for ten years as science officer and sub-commander, and was keeping a close eye on Sla'val's work as well.

"We have just received final communications," Tholalk said to V'raja, who still kept his gaze locked with Sla'val's eyes. "The devices have all been set."

V'raja looked over at Tholalk and nodded his head and then he looked back at Sla'val.

"Then you know what that means?" V'raja asked.

Sla'val nodded her head slightly. Now that the devices had been placed, there were just three days left until the DiShav Shift would occur. The DiShav shift was a phenomenon named for the famed Romulan Quantum-Theorist who had discovered the fluctuation of unique properties of the galactic arm in which the Romulan Star Empire, and most of the Alpha-Quadrant, were part of. Sla'val had been one of DiShav's most gifted students, and had carried on with his work after he had died of old age. After nearly an additional ten years of research, and the past year of implementation, it had all come to this. The tests had already failed five times, and the Empire was growing weary of the amount of resources seemingly wasted on the effort.

"Yes, I do know what it means," Sla'val said back to him,

V'raja grinned and then headed for the exit.

"I shall be in my chambers," V'raja said to Tholalk. "Inform me if anything warrants interruption."

Tholalk nodded his head and watched as his commander left the bridge. Tholalk came over to where Sla'val was standing; gazing at the main-screen.

"I fear you will not live much longer," Tholalk told her.

Over the past year since Sla'val had been aboard, she and Tholalk had built up a respectful relationship.

"Perhaps," Sla'val replied. "Yet I know it will work this time, the Time Keeper is not a fool's errand."

Tholalk nodded his head.

"I certainly hope so," he said to her, with a soft voice, "for your sake."

Tholalk headed back to his science post as Sla'val exited the bridge. She made her way down the long corridor that would eventually lead her to her quarters. As she made her way, she thought more about the situation at hand. She knew that Tholalk was efficient but he wasn't a fool. Because, if the truth be told, the failures were not accidental; they had been purposeful. Unlike DiShav, who had been a loyal Romulan to the core, Sla'val was more realistic. The Time Keeper, if successful, could be the ultimate weapon and could lead to the Romulan conquest of the galaxy. And while she was a loyal subject of the Empire, she also knew that war was a foolish prospect and she was willing to risk her very life and the lives of millions upon millions of Romulans to satisfy the praetor's blood thirst.

And as for Tholalk, Sla'val was confident he knew she was altering the tests to insure failure, but he wasn't trying to stop her. Maybe, she thought to herself, Tholalk was a Federation plant? It was a possibility, but one she dared not address with him. But what Sla'val didn't know was that Tholalk was not a Federation agent, nor was he loyal to his government either. (But more on that later; dear readers!)

But as for her, if all went according to plan, there was indeed an extraction team from the Federation on its way. They were being sent to destroy the devices, so that it would be difficult for the Empire to reconstruct them so easily. But the team was also being sent to remove her because of the knowledge in her mind could be usurped for future attempts. The torture V'raja had alluded to was not just going to kill her, but would also cause her to give up her scientific knowledge.

Continued…