The Highest Bidder

Captain Pike turned to look at Ensign Tilly as they were escorted into the transporter room by 3 Klingons. His heart was racing a mile a minute, not because he was scared but because he was frustrated that the Klingons had gotten the jump on Discovery.

The crew were all confined to quarters whilst the Klingons had placed Discovery on autopilot and escorted the Captain and Ensign off the Bridge. It was strange that the Klingons were less interested in Discovery itself than they were in Pike. Poor Tilly had been bought along as a means to keep Pike in line. If he tried anything, the Klingons had threatened to hurt Tilly.

Tilly glanced back at her Captain and met his eyes. Pike could read the fear in her face, but she was doing a good job at trying to stamp it down. It was one of the things he most admired about Tilly, her determination.

As the doors to the transporter room slid open the transporter pad was already lit up as it received a new visitor. Pike felt his breath quicken as the golden glow revealed its user.

"Captain Pike, so nice to see you again!" the large bearded man exclaimed as he practically bounced down the steps to stand in front of Pike and Tilly.

"Mudd.." Pike responded and took a step towards Harry Mudd. One of the Klingons stood behind him put a hand on his shoulder preventing Pike from reaching Mudd and thumping him in that smug face.

"Now, Now, Now Captain, lets all just take a deep breath and calm down or my friends here will have to step in" Mudd raised his hand to his mouth and leaned in to Pike as if he was trying to hide his next statement "...and between you and me, when they step in things get messy"

Turning towards Tilly, Mudd held his arms out as if to hug the still shocked Ensign "TILLY! You look as beautiful as ever, did you do something new with your hair?"

"Enough!" bellowed the Klingon stood behind Tilly making her jump "lets get moving before the crew find a way out of their quarters and call reinforcements"

Mudd looked disappointed that his grand welcome had been interrupted, but quickly shook it off. "Yes, yes, you're right" He indicated to one of the Klingons "you, set the coordinates". The Klingon moved towards the controls leaving one Klingon behind each of the Officers. Pike knew that if they got on those pads him and Tilly were in big trouble. He discreetly tried to scan the room and weigh up his options on how to get him and Tilly out of this room and to safety.

But Mudd had clearly read Pike's face correctly and stepped forwards. "Captain, I can see what you're thinking and I really wouldn't recommend doing anything heroic as you Starfleet Captains seem predisposed to do."

From the satchel that was slung over his shoulder Mudd produced a set of sturdy looking handcuffs, with an almost uncontrollable glee he turned to Tilly "Put these on our dear Captain wont you Tilly"

Tilly's eyes widened as she turned to look at Pike. She was ready to tell Mudd to go to hell but Pike just nodded at her. He didn't want to risk her getting hurt and it was clear there was no easy way out of this situation right now. Tilly sighed and took the cuffs from Mudd and turned to Pike who held his hands out in front of him.

"Actually, I think behind his back would be better My Dear" Mudd chuckled, he was practically bouncing on his toes with delight. Tilly wanted nothing more than to punch that smile off his face.

"MUDD!" the Klingon behind Tilly bellowed

Tilly and Pike hadn't moved to fulfil Mudds request "I'd get a wriggle on if I were you, my friends here are starting to lose their patience" Mudd stated, his previously jovial demeaner replaced by a more serious tone.

With a sigh Pike turned his back to Tilly on his left and placed his hands behind his back "Its okay Ensign" he reassured her. Feeling the cuffs placed around his wrists he could feel her hands shaking as she secured them in place.

"Tighter" the Klingon behind Pike ordered.

With shaky hands Tilly did as she was told "sorry" she whispered as the metal gripped Pikes wrists uncomfortably.

With a dramatic clap Mudd bought everyone's attention back to him "right then, off we go" his jovial attitude back.

As the two Klingons behind Pike and Tilly pushed them towards the steps up to the transporter pads Pike held firm his position "No, she stays here" he stated, indicating towards Tilly with his head.

"You're in no position to negotiate Captain" Mudd responded and took up his position on the transporter as the Klingons pushed Pike harder and stood him and Tilly on the pads. The Klingon at the controls tapped in the destination and set a delay timer and joined the others on the pad.

Pike's heart continued its dramatic beating as the golden glow took him and Tilly away.

IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII

Pike stumbled as he was shoved through the doors of the Klingon bridge. He steadied himself and felt Tilly come and stand beside him. As was usual with Klingon ships the Bridge was dark, without much light more than those coming off the consoles.

The Captain of the vessel stood up from the centre chair and stalked towards the Starfleet officers. Tilly swallowed and shuffled back, this Captain was at least 7ft tall she had never seen anyone so tall...and wide. The Klingon was like a brick wall !

Harry Mudd stepped forwards "See Captain Chokdar, I told you it would be easy!" As the Klingon said nothing and just glared at Mudd the previously jovial Mudd took a step back "all thanks to you and your Officers of course. Fine job, very fine..." he mumbled trying to make himself shrink back in to the darkness.

Chokdar turned to Pike and Tilly, Pike felt Tilly close the gap between them and he tried to position himself in front of her as best he could. Chokdar stared and then grinned, his sharp Klingon teeth showing as he reached forward and grabbed Pike.

Pike's breath left his body as his chest hit the wall, before he had a chance to recover he felt Chokdars hands grab him and spin him round, the Klingons hand coming to grab round his throat and push him back into the wall.

As Pikes hands were crushed between his body and the wall, all he could feel was the grip around his throat tightening just enough to hold him but not cut off his airway.

"So this is the famous Captain Pike!" he laughed as he stepped closer so Pike could smell his breath and the musk coming off the Klingons body "I thought you would be...taller" Chokdar laughed, a chorus of other Klingons joined in the laughter from around the bridge. Chokdar stepped away but kept Pike against the wall with his grip on Pikes throat not releasing "Mudd, I thought you said he was dangerous!" More laughter followed as Mudd smiled nervously.

Suddenly the grip around Pikes throat tightened as Chokdar returned to push his body against Pikes, looking down he smiled again watching as Pike struggled to breathe

"I could kill you now human. You're all so weak and puny. Look at you, you cant even draw breath under my hand"

"Eeeerrrrr, Captain" a nervous voice sounded from behind Chokdar. Pikes vision was starting to go grey around the edges as his lungs fought for air

"We need him alive if you all want to be paid"

Chokdar continued staring down at Pike. The Klingons grip tightened briefly before suddenly letting go. Pike dropped to his knees, trying to suck in as much air down his bruised throat as possible. Finally one of the Klingons behind Tilly stalked forward and grabbed his arm, pulling him back to standing. Pike swayed slightly as his body fought to recover and he was dragged back to stand next to Tilly.

"Are you okay" she whispered, but Pike couldn't do more than nod. His head was still swimming and right now he was focussing on just trying to stay upright.

Captain Chokdar returned to his his chair "take them to the brig" he ordered.