Many thanks for the review Monkey:-)

knoteach

Part 4

Entering his quarters, Chris made his way quickly to his desk and sat down. For a few seconds, Chris stopped to get his thoughts in order, then he turned on the com. "Larabee to the bridge."

"Dunne here, sir," JD answered brightly. Chris almost smiled at the young man's enthusiasm, but he had pressing matters on his mind.

"JD, get me a line open to Admiral Travis at Star Base 4," he ordered.

"Yes, sir," JD replied even as he started complying with the order. "He'll be on in a few moments, Captain."

Chris pulled himself up straight as the picture of the communications officer melted away and was replaced with the image of his superior officer.

"Wild Card, this is Travis. What have you got for me, Chris?" the Admiral asked as soon as he was sure they were connected.

"Sir, our sensors picked up an unauthorized cargo vessel, Federation Identification #M7M1U-D5, a few hours ago. Further scans indicated that the vessel was probably being used for slave transport…" Chris began his report in clear concise language, and within twenty minutes he had brought Travis up to date on the ship itself.

"After the perpetrators were detained and transported to the brig, we set about freeing their prisoners and administering any medical treatment that would be necessary, as per procedure. However we found that the rescued people had very few injuries and less sickness, we were informed that the slavers had been using a boy to heal them when it was needed."

Chris mentally crossed his fingers as he informed Travis about the boys. "We located two children kept away from the rest of the prisoners, one is a human boy of about two or three years named Blair, an empath from what we have been told. The other is Vulcan or Romulan boy of about eleven years named Ezranok. Doctor Jackson is still working on them both, so we have not been able to talk to them yet."

For the first time in his life, Chris Larabee saw Admiral Travis completely shocked.

"A Vulcan or Romulan child on a slave vessel?" Travis demanded.

"Yes, sir. As far as we could determine by sight alone. The boy possesses the distinctive ears and eyebrows, but others of his physical features do not match the norm. His hair is curly and red tinted and his eyes are green. I can send visuals to you soon if you wish," Chris affirmed.

"Do so, as soon as you can. I will contact Starfleet and ask them exactly how they want us to handle the situation. Return to Star Base 4 and tow the vessel in with you."

"Yes, sir," Chris confirmed before the Admiral signed off.

After checking in with Josiah and the security personal on the cargo vessel to make sure they were getting along okay, Chris headed toward the bridge. Since the Wild Card was only a scout and patrol vessel, they didn't have enough room to transfer all of the former prisoners over. However they would do their best to make them as comfortable as possible on the cargo ship, since it would take them a few days to get back to Star Base 4 even at maximum warp.

When Chris arrived at the bridge, he found everyone busy about there jobs. Buck was maneuvering the Wild Card around so that they could latch the tractor beams onto the cargo ship with the minimum of fuss and trouble. Vin was standing at his sensor station calmly keeping an eye on all of the readings.

Or at least he was giving the appearance of outward calm, Chris amended as he noticed the fine movements that Vin was make with extreme concentration and the tension that was obvious in his shoulders and back.

"Mr. Tanner?" Chris asked.

"Mr. Wilmington is positionin' the Wild Card to tow the cargo ship. Mr. Sanchez has reported that operations on the cargo ship are goin' well," Vin parroted at him with out turning to look at him.

Chris winced, that Vin hadn't looked at him was a bad sign, even worse though was his use of proper protocol. One of the things about Vin that people in Starfleet objected to was his complete disregard for bridge protocol. Chris had found that Vin only used it when he was disturbed and sent his mind into official ways to keep functioning. This was not good at all.

"Buck, you have the con," Chris announced. "Vin, come with me." Chris noticed him pick something up and hold it tightly in his hand, but didn't say anything about it.

Vin turned to join him, but his face was expressionless. Vin quietly followed Chris to the lift and they left.

JD watched the two men leave with confusion all across his face. He had never seen Vin like that. "What was that all about?"

Buck sighed. He had, but only one time, and the fallout hadn't been pretty. "Bad news, kid. Just hope Chris can deal with it fast."

"Talk to me, Vin," Chris ordered as soon as they were alone in the lift.

Vin remained silent for a few minutes, but eventually he dropped his eyes and said, "That could have been me."

Chris dragged a hand over his face, and blow out a frustrated breath. he should have known that those boys would get to Vin. Well, he had known, but he hadn't realized how badly or how fast it was going to happen.

"Last thing my mama said to me was to remember I was a Tanner," Vin said, his voice gaining strength as he spoke. "For long time that's all I had to hold on too, but Ezranok don't even have that."

"Vin, I know you," Chris cut him off. "I know you hate when kids get hurt, and he's been hurt bad. But you know, even if his parents are dead, the Vulcans will find him a home. He won't be alone anymore," Chris pointed out.

Vin nodded his head in agreement, then opened his hand and showed Chris what he had been holding. The two reader cards.

"What are those for?" Chris asked when Vin didn't say anything.

"Since we got a couple days, I thought Ezranok might want to know a little about where he's goin'. Just some general stuff about Vulcan and the Federation, but then I realized…If he don't remember where he comes from, he must have been pretty young when the got him. Chris, he's at least ten, and he may not even know how to read!"

'Shit!' Chris thought. "You may be right, but if he doesn't he can be taught. Don't worry about it, Vin. It'll all be straightened out eventually."

Just as Chris and Vin stepped into Sick Bay to check on their two guests, Nathan came out of his office with a small smile. "I was just about to call up to the bridge for you two. They're awake."

Vin immediately head for the main treatment bay with Chris and Nathan right behind him. There he found Ezranok and Blair sitting up on the beds across from each other. While he and Chris had been gone, they had been treated for the worst of the exhaustion, malnutrition, dehydration, and overload, so they were looking much better. They had also been cleaned up, too.

Blair didn't have the ashen appearance that had been so concerning when they found them on the ship. His mahogany hair, now clean, was loose about his shoulders and fell half way down his back is a mass of curls. He was wearing a new jumpsuit, that while much too big for him rolled up at the arms and legs, was much better than the rags he had been wearing.

Ezranok was sitting directly across from him, the accumulated grime cleaned away to reveal the greening complexion that would have clued them in a lot earlier if it had been visible. His hair had also been washed and was now brushed back off his face and tucked behind his ears. His hair wasn't as long, but it was raggedly cut. As if, Vin realized with a jolt, as if he had tried to cut it himself. Ezranok was also wearing a too large jumpsuit, but it was closer to fitting.

"Hello, boys," Chris greeted them and the three of them walked over to stand around them.

Blair jumped a little, but he smiled at them and returned it with a cheerful, "Hi!" Before anyone else could speak, he continued chattering away, "Helperw… um, Ezranok told me you sthaved usth. Thank you! Those men werwe mean and they hurwted people and…"

"Blair," Ezranok spoke quietly, breaking in on the other boys rambling. Blair looked over at his friend with confusion on his face. Ezranok didn't say anything, but just looked at him. After a few seconds, Blair blushed.

Looking back over at the slightly stunned officers, Blair said, "Sorrwy, I not mean to babbulb."

Shaking out of his surprised silence, Vin stepped forward, "No problem, Blair. It's nice to see you up and talking. You weren't feeling so good before. How are you both feeling?"

"Fine, sir," Ezranok replied.

"I'm okay," Blair said, then yawned hugely to belie that statement, at which the all grinned while Blair blinked and looked around like he couldn't figure out where it had come from.

"In that case, we better keep this short so you can get some more sleep," Chris said stepping forward. "Blair, do you know how long ago those men took you?"

Blair thought carefully, then replied, "Maybe sthix moon timesth."

"Yeah, about six months," Ezranok confirmed.

"That's good," Chris complimented. "Ezranok, how bout you, do you have any idea?"

Ezranok tried to remember, but finally he just should his head and looked down at his hands, sure that they would be disappointed in him. Vin reached out to carefully and gently lift his head so that he could look him in the eye.

"It's all right. It's not your fault," Vin assured the boy, careful to keep a friendly smile on his face.

"Do you remember how you were taken, Blair?" Chris asked as Vin comforted the other boy. To his dismay, instead of answering, Blair's eyes filled with tears and his lower jaw started quivering. "Blair? What…"

"Mama…" came the broken whisper before Blair turned away form him and started sobbing.

Ezranok started moving as soon as he heard Chris's question , and by the time Blair started crying he had jumped up onto the other boy's bed and gathered the weeping child into his arms. Murmuring soothing words, it only took Ezranok a few minutes to calm him, but even those few minutes were enough to wipe out Blair's energy.

Ezra gently lowered Blair to the bed and slid off. Nathan shooed them out of the treatment area, offering his office if they wanted to continue talking to Ezranok, but he forbid them to take him out of Sick Bay.

As soon as the door closed behind them, Chris sat down and ran a hand over his face, before asking, "What did I say?"

Both he and Vin looked at Ezranok for an answer, but the boy remained silent staring at the door behind which Nathan was checking over Blair. Chris was about to repeat the question when a tiny voice said, "His mother was killed when he was taken, and it was my fault."