CHAPTER IX
THE WRATH OF KITUMBA

One word could be used to describe the bombing of Praxis- disaster. Every other building was on fire- warriors were trying to get to their warbirds, but the bombs destroyed the warbirds first. Kirk did not want to be there at the moment. K'Jaka and T'Aupa were evacuating the Tholians into the Tholian Battle cruiser while Tamagkh, Kro'kor, Kaumass, and Ksia were trying to round up their squadrons. Kirk, Xon, and Decker were trying to reach the Enterprise, since it was still on the surface.

"Kirk to Enterprise, can you read me?" asked Kirk through his communicator. "Kirk to Enterprise, can you read me? Enterprise!"

"Enterprise here", said Uhura through the communicator, "this is Uhura. Can you read me?"

"Loud and clear", said Kirk. "Get the Enterprise out of here, even if it isn't ready. Then go to maximum warp towards Kronos. You will meet the other warbirds there. If you don't hear from us in two minutes, leave us here to die. That's an order, lieutenant. Kirk out." Then Kirk, Xon, and Decker ran as fast as they could through the burning buildings and crashing starships. Even though it was difficult, they arrived at the Enterprise in one minute and forty-five seconds. Then the Enterprise immediately took off.

"Mr. Chekov", said Kirk once he got onto the bridge. "Fire at will".

"Aye aye, captain", said Chekov. He then fired Phasers and torpedoes at all the bombers he could see while Sulu and Ilia took the Enterprise out of Praxis. Once they got out of the atmosphere, they got a really strange message.

"Captain", said Uhura. "I'm getting a message from the surface. It's the Tholians."

"Onscreen", said Kirk. He then saw five Tholians and one very bright ball in the Tholian's cave.
"What are you guys doing?" yelled Kirk. "You're supposed to be out of that cave!"

"Only five out of the 53 Tholians here stayed", said the Tholian commander. "We can't let the Klingon enemy have Praxis, so we're going to set off one of the two Hydrolica bombs."

"What's a Hydrolica bomb?" asked Kirk.

"It's a bomb capable of destroying a planet", said the Tholian commander. "Now go! Before it's too late!"

"Ilia, maximum warp!" yelled Kirk. Then Ilia immediately gave them their highest warp possible at the moment, which was Warp 7. But that was enough to flee Praxis. A second later, a blinding flash blinded the Enterprise crew, and Kirk knew that was the planet blowing up. He failed the Praxians, but he would not fail Ksia and his mission. Not now. Not ever.

Since Kirk gave the crew a half-hour break, Xon decided to play a game of Cardassian Chess with McCoy. He was walking past the quarters when he heard very loud crying. He decided to help whoever was crying. He knocked on the door and the person inside yelled "Enter!" It was Ilia. She was sitting on her bed, looking at a document. Xon sat next to her and he put his hand on her shoulder.

"What's wrong, Lieutenant?" asked Xon.

"It's Decker. He's ruined my life", said Ilia.

"I bet he didn't do it intentionally", said Xon. "It probably was an accident."

"Sure", said Ilia. "It all started when we fell in love. We were in love, but it violated the oath I took! I'm not supposed to fall in love with sexually immature species! But I fell in love, and after a year, my parents found out. They disowned me, and do you know how much that hurt! Well, you don't have emotions, but that doesn't matter. That made things a lot worse. Then Decker's parents force him to marry a fat pig and dump me! Now I'm with Decker again, and all my thoughts are turned to him! What do I do?"

"Relax", said Xon. "That's the first thing you must do. You must learn to take control of your emotions. Then you will find the peace inside of you. But I must go to the bridge right now. If you want more lessons, I will come to you every day to teach you. You might think of me as your councilor."

"That would be great", said Ilia. "Thanks". Then Xon dashed off. He had to get to the bridge- now. The invasion of Kronos was about to begin.