Disclaimer: see previous chapters.
A/N: Funny how life seems to catch up to you…I am truly sorry that I haven't updated in such a long time. But now that things have straightened themselves out, I can start updating again! So here's Chapter Twelve…enjoy!
Chapter Twelve: Escape to Kataan V
"We have decided to put you here," Worf said, gesturing at the planet outside the window. "Kataan V is an abandoned planet that the Federation uses as a safeguard for people who need to be hidden."
"Will there be any other people on the planet while we are there?" Lauren asked.
"The safe houses are many miles apart," Worf answered. "The major concern is for your safety, and you will be safe there."
"What if one of us gets sick?" Wesley asked. "Are there any doctors around that would be able to reach us? Is there medicine in case a doctor can't reach us?"
"Everything is taken care of, Wesley," Worf replied, becoming slightly annoyed at all the questioning. "There will be medicine provided. If you have any more questions about it, ask your mother or Nurse Ogawa."
"There's one more thing I'd like to know," Lauren asked meekly, fearful that the tall and mighty Klingon would become more pissed off than he already was.
"What is it?" Worf asked, softening slightly (by Klingon standards, anyways…) at the quiet tone of voice.
"Will I be able to stay in contact with my mother and sisters?" Lauren asked. "I do not want them to worry about me while I'm…" her voice trailed off for a moment before she finished. "While I'm away."
"I'm sorry, Miss Scarlett," Worf said, giving Lauren a look that came as close to pity as a Klingon could give. "But for the sake of your family's safety, and also for the sake of yours and Wesley's safety, you will not be able to contact them directly." Lauren's reply was prevented by a sudden buzzing noise.
"Attention all crew members," Picard's voice said over the loudspeaker. "A Romulan Warbird has been detected on our scanners. The ship is rapidly approaching, and we believe that an attack on the Enterprise is imminent. Everyone who is not departing the ship or is needed at his or her posts, please go to your quarters and remain there until further notice. I repeat, if you are not included in the above exceptions, you are to go to your quarters and remain until an order to leave them is given." There was a long pause, and then Worf spoke.
"We need to hurry," he said. "Wesley, Lauren, follow me to the transport room. We need to get you two onto Kataan V before the Romulans reach us."
"We were told we would have time to say goodbye," Lauren said, now even more scared than before at the prospect of the Romulan attack. "Will we still be able to say goodbye to our families?"
"Not if you want to get off of this ship alive," Worf said bluntly as the three of them exited the room. "Now come on, we need to hurry and get you to the transport room if the two of you are to be transported safely."
"We're ready, captain," the Romulan commander said. "We have the Enterprise in our sights."
"Good work," his leader said. "Lock on the target, commander."
The commander nodded and began pushing buttons. After a few moments, he said, "Target locked in, captain."
"Fire at will."
"Aye, captain," the commander said. He then pushed a button that released the Warbird's photon torpedoes, sending the torpedoes flying towards the Enterprise.
The former Romulan Commander-and now Captain-Sela smiled and rubbed her hands together. "And so it begins," she said. "The girl will be dead soon, and her last dying thoughts will be of regretting how wrong her family was to cross the Romulan Empire."
Worf, Lauren, and Wesley were running to the transport room when the first torpedoes hit, the force of their explosions knocking Lauren into Wesley as the ship tilted.
"What was that?" Lauren asked, making a quick guess at what the response would be.
"Photon torpedo," Worf replied as they started running again, shaking along with the ship as a second and third blast hit the ship. "The Romulans are attacking."
They ran faster and faster, the transport room coming closer and closer to them as the torpedo blasts shook the ship. The force of the blasts almost knocked Lauren off her feet, but she stayed upright and running, the thought of the transport room dead ahead and an escape to safety running through her mind. Her mind…
Lauren began to feel a slight pain building in her head as she ran. "Oh no," she thought. "Please, not now. Not now…" But pain is a thing that doesn't take orders, and it intensified with each blast of the photon torpedoes., until it finally became too much for Lauren to bear. As a particularly loud blast sounded, Lauren screamed in pain. Wesley turned around sharply, just in time to see the force of the accompanying explosion knock Lauren to the floor.
"Lauren!" Wesley screamed as he ran to her. She was lying on the floor, her eyes fluttering as she tried to sit up.
"I think I'm ok," Lauren said, even as the force of another explosion caused her to scream in terror and slump against Wesley's shoulder in pain.
"No time to pass out," Wesley said. "You can't walk like this, either."
"What do you suggest, then?"
"Don't worry, I have an idea…"
"Worf, where are they?" Commander Riker asked, looking worried. Just then, Wesley burst into the room, carrying Lauren in his arms.
"We're here," he said as he gently set Lauren's feet on the floor. He looked at his mother, who was standing next to Commander Riker, and said, "Mom, will we have a brain scanner down there?"
"Yes, you will," Dr. Crusher said. "But forget that now. You two need to get on the transport pad. We have to get you down to the planet now, before the Romulans discover you have escaped."
Wesley took Lauren's hand and they walked quickly to the transport pad. As they stepped onto it, another explosion rocked the ship. Lauren instinctively grabbed Wesley and held him close in fear. Wesley put his arms around Lauren and whispered, "We're going to be all right, you'll see. We'll get out of here safely, I promise you."
"Energize," Commander Riker said. Lauren closed her eyes as she and Wesley disappeared from the transport pad.
A few moments later, Lauren opened her eyes. She and Wesley were standing in front of a house, and as she looked around, she noticed a sandy beach a little more than 10 feet away from them. They had made it safely.
"Told you we'd make it," Wesley said, laughing a slightly strangled laugh. He hadn't been at all sure that they would make it, but he didn't want to scare Lauren any more than she already was. "We're safe. The Romulans can't hurt us now."
"We're safe," Lauren repeated, as if she was trying to reassure herself. "And they don't even know we escaped…" With that, she fainted.
Wesley picked Lauren up gently and carried her to the house. As he went through the doorway, he looked down at the girl and whispered, "Welcome home."
It's me, get over it: (does a dance to go with the Wesley cheer.) Sorry…was very catchy. Thanks for loving it, and as long as you eventually review, I'm happy. Keep on reading and reviewing!
Morwen: (blinks repeatedly.) Wow, talk about a weird coincidence…Anyways, thanks for reading this. It's hard to hate someone that adorable…he is a pretty cute little space rat, isn't he…Oh, he'll have a good ending all right. I can just about guarantee that. Keep on reading and reviewing, and I promise he'll get a good ending!