Disclaimer still applies.
*Author's note: You know, it makes me feel really important writing these. "Author's note." I like the way that sounds. That's all, really. Thanks for reading.
Scotty sank back into the command chair. He'd succeeded in restoring intraship communications and someone had been called to word on ship to shore. Uhura stood patiently to the side. Dr. McCoy had returned to sickbay to help with the casualties of the attack.
"Lt. Rohr, take us back to the planet, Warp Factor 6," he commanded. Lt. Rohr sat straighter as her fingers moved over the console.
"Aye, sir,"
"Mr. Faber, how is it looking?"
"Better, sir," Faber sat up from looking at the exposed wires under the communications station.
"Keep working, lad, we need to reach the captain," Scotty sighed, "he may be in trouble."
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"The Enterprise is not responding," Sulu informed the captain in a deep whisper as Kirk held out a hand to Lieutenant Montgomery. She refused it and stood unsteadily on her own, barely hearing him curse under his breath. Her knees began to collapse beneath her and his arms reached out to catch her. They touched momentarily as she caught her balance and quickly pulled away, throwing her off again. She took a step. And another. Walking kept her standing.
Kirk followed Lieutenant Montgomery, in a hurry to get back to Spock. She leaned against the wall of the alcove, watching intently as the captain again checked the Vulcan's pulse. He leaned in real close and a worried frown wrinkled his face.
"He needs help," Kirk concluded. He could almost hear McCoy over his shoulder, "No duh, Jim."
Lieutenant…" Kirk looked up at Lieutenant Montgomery.
"Call me Lexxi," she interrupted him. "It's less of a mouthful." She eyed him as he eyed her. " And I don't know how to get out. I was unconscious when I was brought in." Kirk watched as a shadow of pain washed across her face.
"Thanks…Lexxi," he attempted a smile. "Don't worry, we'll get our of here." Kirk sighed. "We must move on. It won't be long until they find their captive missing."
"Not long at all, Captain." A gruff voice barked as a phaser was pressed into Kirk's back.
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"How's it going, doctor?" Scotty's voice came over the intercom.
"Go back to your station," McCoy told the young ensign form engineering sitting in front of him with a pat on the shoulder before going over to the wall panel. "Just fine, Scotty," he said, "I've got twenty eight people down here, but nothing more than bumps and scratches. Have you found them?" The Doctor's voice was full of worry.
"Not yet. We just got ship to shore communications running and Uhura is trying to raise the Captain."
"He isn't answering? Scotty, they may be in trouble!"
Scotty sighed. He shared McCoy's concern. However, he tried to be optimistic. "Don' ya worry, Doctor, we'll get the Captain back. He just may not be in the position to answer."
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Kirk cringed as his communicator bleeped, indicating an incoming signal, but immediately saw the advantage. The man with the phaser was momentarily distracted and Kirk rose, pulling out his own phaser, ready to strike. But as he did so, his eyes landed on Lieutenant Montgomery. A dark hand covered her mouth and a phaser was jabbed into her side. The man who'd grabbed her had his eyes on Kirk, ready to pull the trigger. Lexxi's eyes were convinced that she was going to die. Not yet, Kirk vowed.
"You don't want her to die, do you?" the gruff bark turned to a mocking whine. "Then your efforts would be worthless and his death," the man motioned towards Spock with his empty hand, "would be an empty one." He smiled at the anger rising in the captain.
"He will not die," Kirk argued, pronouncing each word slowly, separated, and trying to keep his eyes from fleeing to his first officer.
"I must say," the man continued, turning to Lexxi and grabbing her sharply pronounced jaw, jerking her head down so he stood a good head above her, "your friend here is quite the little actress. Had us truly deceived." Lexxi kept her eyes closed even as he released her, stayed slightly bent with her head bowed as if it took too much effort and cause too much pain to move. Kirk had no doubt that it did. He scowled.
"You ruined it, Captain. You could have escaped had you not gone back for this bitch." Kirk watched in terror as a phaser was brought down on Lieutenant Montgomery's head.
The blow sent tremors of pain throughout Lexxi's body, destroying the precious balance she'd carefully achieved and bringing her to her knees. Still, she kept her eyes to the floor.
"Stand her up!" the man ordered, his phaser now aimed at Lexxi. One of the troop of men behind him stepped forward to hoist her up as another aimed his weapon at Kirk. "Walk!" came the gruff bark.
Lt. Brooks shot a questioning glance at the captain, who sadly nodded. The lieutenant nodded at her fellow red shirts and they emerged from the alcove to fall in step behind Lieutenant Montgomery and the guard at her side.
Sulu smiled at Kirk, aware that the captain needed the boost in confidence he usually dispensed to readily. Kirk smiled back, startled by the helmsman's optimism, but lifted by it. Kirk went to Spock's side and once more pulled the Vulcan to his feet. His lift, initiated by Sulu, heightened when he felt his first officer's chest rise and fall more steadily than it had. But two men shoved him out of the way, grabbed Spock's elbows and proceeded to drag him behind Sulu. Kirk pushed down the anger rising in his throat and began to follow.
The captain suddenly became aware of that bleep again. His communicator. The Enterprise. As he reached down to it at his belt, he felt a hand snatch it away.
"Can't have them rescuing yow now, can we?" the leader of the pack asked as he casually tossed the instrument over his shoulder. "Move along." As Kirk walked, he heard three pairs of boots behind him and once more felt a phaser in his back.