Chapter 18

Jamie huddled in the corner of Marrid Feldman's quarters. She was so tired that she could scarcely keep her eyes open. Fear clutched her from the inside out. Jamie didn't think she could ever be as scared as when she was stealing that disk, but her fear had advanced to a whole new level. I might not ever see my—

"Stop it!" Her voice echoed in the empty room. "I will see Daddy again. He won't leave me here. I know he won't."

But deep down inside, Jamie was not so sure. She'd seen the evil gleam in Marrid's eyes when she and that awful Klingon, K'traz had come for her earlier in the day . . .


Marrid lowered the force field and marched into Jamie's cell. "Time to go, my pet."

Jamie backed up against the wall. "No. I want to see Commander Kor."

"None of that," Married snapped. "I haven't got all day."

She stalked to the corner and towered over Jamie. Her breath reeked of strange, Klingon odors. "Stop this nonsense." She clamped a tight hand around Jamie's arm. With her other hand, Marrid grasped a fistful of hair and yanked.

Jamie yelped and lashed out with her foot. It connected with Marrid's shin. "Let me go!" She squirmed and kicked harder.

Marrid cursed. She grabbed Jamie around the waist and encircled her neck with a narrow, intricately cut band. Then she shoved her to the floor.

"What's this?" Jamie asked, breathing hard. Pitching a fit was a lot of work. She yanked at the piece of jewelry at her neck. It didn't budge. Her hand shook. This neckpiece looks just like the one around Nan's neck. Not good!

"You'll find out soon enough. Now, come on."

Jamie stood her ground.

Marrid shrugged. "Have it your own way, stubborn brat." She reached into her pocket and pulled out a metal object. It was small enough to fit into the palm of her hand and was decorated with jeweled buttons.

She placed a finger over one of the buttons and pushed.

Jamie gave a sharp cry as the necklace delivered a shock that reached clear to her toes.

Marrid raised her finger, and the pain instantly disappeared.

Not good at all! Jamie's eyes widened with understanding.

"Come with me," Marrid repeated her command.

Jamie glanced at the controller in Marrid's hand, gulped, and obeyed.

They had made it no farther than the entrance to the detention level, when Commander Kor stepped up, barring the way. His eyes flicked to the collar fastened around Jamie's neck. "This has gone far enough. You don't need this girl to keep the princess compliant. You will leave her here."

"Why?" K'traz laughed. "So you can send her back to the Enterprise? Marrid will determine what becomes of the girl. It is her right."

"Not any longer. I observed what you've done to the newscaster. She may never recover from your little training device. I will not allow the same thing to happen to this girl." His hand went to his belt knife.

K'traz and Marrid exchanged amused glances. "An honor duel?" Marrid howled. "For a human brat?"

"I have no interest in a duel of honor," K'traz said. He unsheathed his own knife, but instead of lunging at the commander, he laid the point of the knife at Jamie's throat.

"There are larger stakes here. The Empire will lay claim to Jovita and its riches, whether they agree or not. Everything will be done quietly, so as not to bring the Organians rushing in to stop us. This girl can help us accomplish that, but"—he tightened his grip—"I can do it without her. Tell me quickly, Kor. Do Marrid and I go down to the talks with this child, or do we leave her here, so you can send her back to the Federation to bury?"

Kor's face darkened in anger, but he nodded and sheathed his blade.

K'traz let out a disgusted breath. "Kor, you are a sheep, just like the Earthers. You would protect this brat to your own doom."

"Not true, K'traz. I am trying to protect my ship. The Enterprise is a powerful vessel, and her captain has a very long memory."

He turned on his heel and stalked away . . .


That had been hours ago. Jamie hadn't touched the food or drink Marrid had put out for her, and her stomach gnawed with hunger. She had tried to sleep, but she was too terrified to close her eyes. Who knew what she would wake up to?

She couldn't even cry, for Marrid had promised to zap her if she did. Her throat was clogged with unshed tears.

The whoosh of the door opening made Jamie jump to her feet in terror. Shaking, she watched Marrid enter the room. A set of clothes was slung carelessly over one arm.

"Come here, my pet. I have your new clothes. You cannot wear Starfleet colors when we go planetside. That would draw attention to ourselves."

"P-planetside?" Jamie stuttered. I'm getting off this ship! Hope soared.

"Of course," Marrid replied with a frown. "How else will we remind the princess to continue to support our offer for her planet's Seri Stones?"

Jamie didn't need to be zapped to obey. The thought of escaping the Korbin propelled her toward the Klingon woman.

Marrid ripped Jamie's tunic over her head and gasped in undisguised shock. "An Ice Flake of the rarest beauty," she whispered.

Jamie looked down. Her Ice Flake hung suspended around her neck in full view. "You can have it if you give me back to my father," she said, heart pounding.

Marrid laughed. With a rough hand, she grasped the Flake and yanked. The chain broke, and the Ice Flake hung from Marrid's greedy hand. "No deal. I shall just take it."

She held up the necklace and smiled. Then she set it aside and threw the Klingon clothing over Jamie's head. When she was dressed, Marrid led her to a mirror. "What do you think, brat? You look Klingon yet?"

Jamie stared at herself in the mirror. Instead of her gold uniform tunic, a silver and maroon tunic with a wide sash around her waist covered her from her neck to her knees. It was itchy and hot. And very ugly.

"It will take more than a stupid outfit to turn me into a Klingon girl," Jamie said with a scowl.

Marrid leaned close and whispered in her ear. "We shall see. You belong to me now, and I hope you will remember your training collar. I do not want to give you another lesson. Do you understand?"

Jamie nodded wearily. She was too tired to fight Marrid and too scared to run. That neckband controller probably had a long range.

Marrid glanced to where the food she had given Jamie remained untouched. "You must eat something." She tossed a new sack at Jamie. "It is Earther food, until you get used to your surroundings. Eat it. We will be beam down in one hour."

Jamie opened the sack and drew out the most unlikely items she had ever seen—a hamburger and French fries. Despite determination not to eat anything the woman offered, the sight of the familiar food plunged her stomach into protest.

She sat down and gobbled up every bite.