Chapter Thirty-Two: Honor

Enterprise screeched as it came to a halt on the planet. Hoshi and Nevilka held on, tight, to consoles, until their knuckles turned white.

The ship finally stopped.

"You did it, Travis!" Hoshi rushed to him.

Travis let out a deep breath. "Yeah, I did."

"I already sent out distress messages," Hoshi said.

Nevilka scanned the bridge. "What do we do now?" she asked. She had always been the hunter, not the hunted.

"We need to make sure the bridge is closed off from any intruders." Travis walked to the lift.
The doors opened and a crewmember fell out. Travis caught the man and realized he was dead. "What the…?"

Travis laid the crewman to the side. Suddenly, a Suliban appeared. Travis instinctively punched the Suliban. He was about to punch again, but his arms were pulled.

Two Oknashtians held Travis. The Suliban returned punches to Travis.

Travis coughed. The Suliban almost punched him again, but screamed. Travis saw the Suliban on the floor, his neck twisted.

Nevilka smirked at the Oknashtians. They grabbed their sides for their pistols and noticed their weapons were gone. They threw Travis across the bridge.

Instantly, Nevilka kicked their faces.

One Oknashtian turned when he felt a tap on his shoulders. He was greeted with Hoshi's fists, her hands together. The other pushed Hoshi against the wall.

Nevilka was about to help Hoshi but tripped when the other Oknashtian, Hoshi punched, grabbed her leg. She lifted herself and rotated her body. She swung her other leg and kicked the alien again, in the face. He rolled over unconscious.

The Oknashtian, who had Hoshi pinned, pulled out a knife and was about to slice her throat. He was pulled around. Before Nevilka could punch him, he instantly plunged the knife into her chest.
Hoshi gasped and she and Nevilka looked at each other with wide eyes. Hoshi took the phase pistols she discarded earlier and shot the Oknashtian. She shot him, again and again. He groaned and turned to face her. She shot him in the face.

Hoshi rushed to Nevilka and knelt beside her. "Lie still, I'll get help."

"No," Nevilka said, her voice raspy. "Please, don't leave."

"You're going to die if I don't get help."

"I know." Nevilka gulped. "I'm dying anyway."

"What?"

"Just…remove…the blade," Nevilka ground out.

Hoshi took a deep breath. She quickly pulled the blade out and Nevilka screamed.

Hoshi looked at her hands, filled with blood.

Nevilka breathed heavily. "You're a good friend," she whispered.

"You, too."

"You are honorable."

"Stop it," Hoshi said, softly.

"Tell Trip…"

"Yes?"

"Tell him…thank you." With her last breath, she died.

Hoshi stared at her face, shocked. Silently, she closed Nevilka's eyelids.

"Hoshi."

She turned at the sound of Travis' faint voice. She looked up to see the other Oknashtian, his pistol aimed at her face. She closed her eyes. He fired.