Scotty and Delta just stared at the girl who was stood before them, "Your mother?" Scotty questioned, he was so confused. But it seemed Delta was angrier than his friend, suddenly he leapt aggressively from the Scotsman's head towards the woman. Scotty quickly grabbed a tight hold of his small companion and pulled him back towards his chest, "Calm down lad, there's no need to attack the poor lass." Delta just stared at Scotty. "What do you mean 'poor lass'! Her mother kidnapped Lexie!" "Exactly lad, she said her mother." In Delta's eyes, Scotty was being too soft. "Please, allow me to explain everything. Your friend is in danger!" The look on Delta's face quickly changed, he looked like he was just going to burst into tears. So it wasn't a surprise to Scotty when the tiny robot buried his head in his chest, "Come with us, we'll take you back to our hotel. There you can explain everything." The woman nodded as she began to walk beside Scotty. "Can I at least know your name, lassie." He asked, "Of course, my names Gracella. But please, you can just call me Grace." She answered shyly. Grace then looked at Delta, who still had his head buried in the Scotsman's chest. "I take it he's pretty close to your young friend?" Scotty nodded slowly, hoping the tears which were in his eyes didn't fall.
"Aye, the lass created him when she was just a youngin. The two of them are rarely ever apart." "You're close with her as well, aren't you?" Scotty could feel tears escaping his eyes, he had tried to be strong since learning of Lexie's abduction, but the cracks in his illusion were starting to show. "Very close, but we all are on the Enterprise. The whole crew is like one gigantic family, when you spend a good chunk of your life with them you start to see them that way." Grace stopped dead in her tracks, her eyes were wide as she just stared at Scotty blankly. "The Enterprise? You mean, you're from Star Fleet?" Scotty nodded slowly, "Yeah, you seem surprised to hear that." Grace sighed quietly to herself, while placing a hand on her arm. "I never thought my mother would go after a Star Fleet Officer, I know she's a bit crazy but, I didn't think she was this insane." She then quickly grabbed Scotty by the hand and began to drag him along behind her as she ran, "Steady on lass, you don't even know where you're going?" "There's only one hotel here, so in fact I do know where I'm going. Now hurry!" Scotty didn't need to be told twice, he just followed Grace, not like he had much choice since she was still clutching his hand tightly.
Kirk and the others were back in one of their hotel rooms, none of them had any luck at finding Lexie. "It's as if she just, vanished." Stated McCoy as he sank onto the bed next to Chekov, Keenser was sitting at the vanity while Kirk was pacing around the room impatiently. "How is that possible?! How can she just disappear? It makes no sense." "But why would someone take Lexie? She's never done anything to hurt anyone." Asked Chekov quietly, he had a point, Lexie had never done anything to upset anyone, no matter who they were. "I bet it's something I've done." Kirk muttered, "I've most likely pissed someone off recently and this is how they are paying me back, but that still leaves the question of why Lex. Why not someone of a higher rank, like you Bones or Scotty, or even Spock?" But no one had an answer for him and Kirk sure as hell didn't have one for himself, slowly he sank into the arm chair which sat in the corner of the room. "I hope that she's alright, the poor girls already been through so much. She deserves a dam break."
McCoy couldn't agree more, "I think we can all use a break Jim, we've all been dragged through hell since our five year mission began. But yes, the kid needs one more than any of us." Suddenly the door burst open and in ran Scotty, along with his new 'friend'. The Scotsman watched as four pairs of eyes flicked between himself, Delta, and the woman who was stood beside him. "Oh dear." Scotty muttered under his breath, he could see how this was going to play out. Kirk leapt from his chair at lightning speed, drawing his phaser as he went. "Jim, wait! It's OK, this isn't who took Lexie." Scotty blurted out quickly, while waving an arm about frantically, since the other one was still holding Delta tightly. Slowly, Kirk lowered his phaser but didn't put it away. "Then, who the hell is she, Scotty?" Kirk's voice was full of authority, he made that sound like an order. One Scotty quickly followed, "Her names Gracella, she knows who took the lass but I think it's best if she explains. Trust me Jim, we need to hear her out." Kirk's face showed how untrusting he was towards this woman, but he knew much like everyone else that this might be their only way of finding Lexie. "Alright, let's hear it Gracella."
They sat in silent, waiting to hear what Gracella had to say. Scotty was also trying to fix Delta, some time ago Lexie had taught him how she had created her digital friends robotic body, just in case Scotty ever needed to repair him in Lexie's absence. "Firstly, I want to start off by saying that I personally have nothing to do with what's happened to your friend." Well that statement didn't fill Kirk with much trust, "Why would you say that? It just makes you sound guilty." The Captain asked swiftly. "Believe me Jim, when she tells who, then you'll understand why." Stated Scotty as he worked away on Delta's robotic body, his AI program was uploaded onto a PAD, so he could still listen to everything.
Kirk gave Gracella a gentle nod, as if to say she could continue, which she did quickly. "My mother is the one behind what has happened to your friend." Gracella could feel the groups eyes staring intensely at her, "You're mother?!" Roared McCoy. "Yes, but I don't have any connections to my mother. I haven't for almost three years, not after I learnt who she was." It was then when Kirk noticed how uneasy Gracella was, every time she brought up her mother. She seemed too young not to have anything to do with the woman who birthed her for so long, then again, Kirk knew someone who hadn't had that connection for much longer. "Gracella, how old are you?" Asked Chekov, "Twenty-two and please, call me Grace, when people use my full name it reminds me of my mother." Everyone just nodded. "My mother was once part of Star Fleet, she was a renowned Scientist on a research outpost on Ullariz X. She was researching the human mind, what for I don't know, she never told me. But one day, I walked into her lab to discover what she was doing."
Grace stopped, all most as if she couldn't bring herself to say anymore. But she forced herself to finish her explanation, "Mother wasn't researching the human brain to help improve medical care, it was something more disturbing than that. But, what the goal was I'm not too sure." She raised a hand up and wiped away a tear which sat under her eye. "The next day, Star Fleet found out about what she was really doing and tried to arrest her. But my mother just vanished, along with five other officers." Kirk watched as tears slowly dripped down the young woman's cheek, this wasn't the behaviour of someone who had just kidnapped an Officer, this was the behaviour of someone who was just as mortified as everyone else. "She… abandoned you?" Delta asked sadly, "Basically yes, mother never really cared about me that much, her research was her first and only love. I guess that's why my father left." Grace slowly wiped away her tears. "So, do you know where Lexie is?" Questioned McCoy, "I do, but it would be dangerous for us to go there alone. Therefore, I've enlisted the aid of a few friends, who thankfully know where to go and how to get in."
As Grace gave her answer, something began to knock on the window. Kirk drew his phaser once again, aiming it towards the window. But the noise which followed the knocking made him lower it, the noise almost sounded like, tweeting but more robotic. "Hold on girl, I'll let you in." Grace said while making her way over to the window, she opened up the glass to allow for a bird, of some description to come flying in. "Don't worry, she won't hurt you." Grace called when she saw the look of panic on the guys faces, "Take it, this is one of those 'Friends' you were referring to?" Asked Scotty. "Actually no, but she's still a friend." Grace whistled softly and the bird landed on her shoulder, "This is Crescentia, my cybernetic bird." Crescentia was a stunning blue and silver robotic dove, clearly who ever created her did so with such effort and care. "Did you get word to the others?" Grace asked, to which her friend nodded. That put a small smile on Grace's face, "We should get going, the longer we wait, the worse it can only get for your friend." "Good timing I have then, I've just finished fixing your body Delta." Scotty called as he placed down his tools, Delta didn't waste a single second before re-uploading himself. "Good as new, thanks Scotty. Now, let's go get Lexie."
Everyone just followed Grace, who was relying on Crescentia for guidance. "So, these friends of yours Grace…" Started Kirk as he placed his hands behind his head, "How do your friends know how to get into the place where Lexie is? Have they been there before?" Grace gulped quietly, her hands turned instantly sweaty. "Umm, well, you see. They were actually two of the Officers who fled with my mother." Everyone came to an abrupt halt, "They're what?! So they're criminals!" McCoy roared. "Wait, please! Let me explain! It's not like that!" Grace blurted out, her hands waving about frantically. "Don't worry Grace, allow us to give them an explanation." A voice called from down a shadowy alley, "But first, you might want to get off the streets. You don't know who's watching." A second voice said. Quickly the group darted into the alley, to be greeted by two strangers who were softly illuminated by the one light which was flickering, but their eyes were hidden under shades. Well, they didn't appear to be strangers to Grace and Crescentia, since the tiny bird had landed on one of their shoulders. "Firstly, I guess we should tell you our names. I'm Blythe and this is Evrim." Both of them removed their shades to reveal their eyes, "I would say nice to meet you, but until I hear how you're not the enemy, I'll hold off on that."
Kirk's voice was tinted with anger and distrust, which Grace understood. "We understand, but I ensure you, we no longer work for Grace's mother. We haven't for some years." Evrim said calmly, "When we discovered how far she was planning on taking her experiments, we refused to comply with her orders. For that, she almost destroyed us." Added Blythe as she stroked Crescentia on her metallic chest. "The pair turned themselves into Star Fleet, who made them a deal. In exchange for information on what my mother was working on, they would allow them to start a new life." Grace said slowly as she smiled softly at her friends, "So wait, why didn't you just tell Star Fleet where she was?" Asked McCoy. "We would of, but at that time we didn't know where she was. The only reason we know where she's hiding now, is down to the fact we've been hunting for her." Evrim said with a small smile, while Blythe nodded. "Well, I can't really argue with that. So, will you help us get our friend back?" Asked Kirk, "Of course, we will not allow for anyone to be used as an experiment." Blythe said as she placed a hand on the Captain's shoulder. "Give us five minutes to get our tech and we'll be ready to go."