Problems

On one level, Mary watched as her ship tore through space towards the stricken Denali. She heard herself give orders and her eclectic crew obeyed, doing their jobs with skill and professionalism that boggled the mind. Any drone or AI controlled starship that got in their way was blown out of the way.

On another? She was crying as Jhinis woke. The Aenar was cold, so cold, but her stomach hurt and she couldn't move. Her fear spiked to levels way beyond anything she had felt before, but Mary was there.

I am here! Mary reassured the terrified Aenar. Jhinis, I am here! Hold tight, we are coming!

What have they done to me? Jhinis begged as she convulsed, but it didn't touch her stomach. She was strapped down or something.

I don't know. Mary said sadly. But I am coming and I am bringing lots of help.

That has to be what they want! Jhinis protested. A trap? For you? Again, her fear spiked and Mary eased it.

Probably. Mary admitted. But I don't care. You are mine and I am yours. They will not hurt you again!

I am… I am going to be sick! Jhinis said weakly as her body protested, but something happened and her nausea faded. What the hell? Did you do that?

No. Mary said flatly as her escort tore through a drone swarm, leaving nothing but scattered atoms in its wake. What can you sense?

I… Jhinis paused. I can't sense anything! She cried. Am I mind blind now?

You are talking to me in your mind. Are you mind blind? Mary put just the right hint of humor in her tone and Jhinis relaxed a little.

No. Jhinis agreed, relaxing further. So… I am not dead and I am not mind blind. What do the Ferengi want?

The Ferengi are pawns. Mary said quietly as the AI ships tried to reorient on the charging Iconian escort and it blinked, suddenly behind one of them. The full firepower of the small ship tore that ship right out of space before even an AI could react. Tarsi and Eshade were a hell of a team. The chess master has showed himself and lots of people from lots of places want a piece of him.

"We are hit! Shields at 50%! Multiple enemies targeting us!" K'Mir snapped as the ship lurched. Escorts were powerful, but flimsy compared to true ships of the line.

Mary focused on the battle and her tactical instincts twitched. The Alliance fleet was tearing into the AI forces, but most of them were focused on the escort. Smart of them, since it had about half the firepower of the fleet as well as other advantages. The carriers were taking damage from drone swarms, but the other ships were providing cover fire and at least a dozen drones vanished in each salvo. So many drones though. A dozen was a drop in a bucket. But now? The Alliance battlecruiser, three Klingon ships and two Federation ones were in a formation with the battered Juggernaut and all were firing.

"Starboard three two degrees! AI cruiser target! Drop Solar Gateway and evade Z plus three thousand!" Mary barked and the crew leaped to obey. On a regular Iconian ship, none of that would have been said aloud. All of it would have been done mentally, like she was conversing with Jhinis, making for seamless integration and scary reaction speed.

What was scarier was that she did not com the Fencer and the ancient Klingon cruiser matched the escort's course, move for move! The D5 couldn't match the Painful Truths' speed and it didn't matter! Krenn was reading her like a book! Odd. The Alliance battlecruiser Leyte was doing the same! How was she doing that?

Mary? Jhinis begged. What is going on?

They have a fleet. So do we. Mary replied as her Solar Gateway appeared behind one of the AI ships and the sudden torrent of raw plasma from inside a star took the enemy ship completely by surprise. Most of its shield power had been directed forward to protect against fire coming in from the Alliance fleet. Searing radiation and heat tore through the flimsy protection and then deep into the machine controlled ship's hull. In moments, the beam hit the warp core. Boom.

The loss of that cruiser tore a hole in the enemy globe and the Alliance fleet took advantage of the momentary confusion on the AI's part. Every ship but the escort focused their fire on a single enemy at a time. Plasma beams, disruptors, phasers, photon torpedoes and other, more exotic weaponry filled space and took their toll. AI ship after AI ship vanished from the plot as the Painful Truths slammed towards the Denali.

Almost there, Jhinis. Mary promised. Hold on! I am coming!

One of the Denali's hangar bays yawed in front of them and Commander Tarsi brought the spindly alien ship in with panache.

I don't seem to be going anywhere. Jhinis quipped weakly. Ah… She gasped as her stomach hurt worse. I… Mary...

LEAVE HER ALONE! Mary screamed in her mind and there was utter, sudden silence. She turned to the Herald who bowed to her. No words needed to be said so she turned to the others. "Stay here." Mary commanded. "This is my fight."

"Mary…" K'Mir said very softly as Mary reached behind herself and a Herald's bladed staff appeared in her hand! "Qapla'!"

"Qapla'" Mary turned to the Starfleet personnel who did not look at her. "If I survive this, I will see what I can do about getting you one of these to play with. I swear I will try to keep collateral damage to the Denali down."

"Mary." Tarsi shook her head. "Do what you have to." Eshade nodded agreement and Tarsi spoke again. "Orders?"

"I cannot command Starfleet." Mary said weakly.

"We are on your ship." Tarsi retorted, a small smile gracing her features. "I would be an idiot not to obey." Mary stared at her and then at K'Mir who laughed softly.

"Orders, Captain?" K'Mir was smiling as well, but she was firm.

"The fleet seem to have the fight well in hand." Mary said after a split second's perusal of the battle on her display. "But T'Ket's ship is still lurking out there. I have no idea what she is going to do or why. She is not sane, so, it can be hard to figure her out. If she attacks? Try to protect the others until they can flee. So, mop up the AI ships and keep an eye on T'ket."

"And you?" K'Mir asked as she stepped up to Mary.

"I am going to get my Herald back." Mary said with a growl that faded in a gasp as K'Mir embraced her. "K'Mir!"

"You have given me far more than I ever dreamed for, Mary." K'Mir said as the Ferasen stepped back and saluted the girl. "Your mother cured the one I love and gave us both the chance at kits! Remember your training and those who care for you. Don't let your rage win."

"I…" Mary stammered, undone yet again by the kindness and total understanding in the other. K'Mir knew what it was to be abused. That she could still love was a testament to her own strength of will. The girl gave herself a firm shake as Jhinis' pain spiked again. "Qapla'!"

"Qapla'!" Came from everyone, even the Herald!

Black energy swept around Mary and she stepped out on the Denali's deck. She did not look back as the hum of engines heralded the departure of the escort. The ship was still. Even more so than the last time she had stalked through its decks, this time, it was utterly still. Dead. Jhinis' mind had faded, only fear and pain were there now.

Then a female scream of pain sounded aloud. That wasn't Jhinis! Mary stalked forward, her eyes roving here and there as she held her staff ready. A large green scaled form ran into her view. Something struck the Gorn and she fell, but she rolled and came to her feet, only to freeze on seeing Mary!

"MARY! IT IS A TRAP!" The Gorn screamed. Mary knew this Gorn. Knew her well! Her former dorm mate.

"I know." Mary said quietly as half a dozen forms in Starfleet uniform stepped into view behind the Gorn. They were various Federation species and none were breathing. All had odd golden hoops attached to their foreheads and all seemed to be glistening golden. Or changing into gold? All carried odd golden weapons, not Federation weaponry. She leveled her staff at the startled Gorn. "R'Kerti. Down."

The Gorn hit the deck as Mary fired and a beam of sinister looking midnight blue energy swept from her staff to connect to one of the walking dead. The Vulcan did not cry out as the energy tore through her changing body and then arced from her to a Bolian, to a Tellerite, to a human. All of them disintegrated in the horrendous anti-proton beam. Iconians did not go for half measures. Mary shifted her aim and in moments, all that was left of the corrupted beings was sour memory. A flash of blue and the collar that had surrounded the Gorn's neck fell off, sparking.

"Are you all right?" Mary asked the Gorn who stared at her, eyes huge.

"No." R'Kerti slumped on the floor and then sat heavily, her face falling. Mary's eyes were drawn to the Gorn's stomach, which was bulged! Was she was carrying eggs? "I am… I am…"

"Oh, R'Kerti." Mary slung her staff and was at her friend's side in an instant, holding the Gorn gently as she sobbed. No, the Gorn wasn't carrying eggs, but her stomach felt wrong to Mary's senses regardless.

"I didn't want to nest." R'Kerti bawled. "I went to the Academy so I wouldn't have to nest! Kill… Kill me! I..." She pleaded but broke off as Mary gave her a shake.

"No." Mary snapped and the Gorn stared at her through streaming eyes. "There are other options. R'Kerti!" The Gorn looked away, but Mary pulled her face back to stare the human looking woman in the eye. "Look at me. There are other options. You are not carrying eggs! You will not nest. You will have choices, I swear it. Right now, though? I have business to attend." She rose and pulled her friend up. The Gorn stared at her, bemused by the strength in this slight seeming woman. "Come with me. It is time to end this."

"I am afraid." The Gorn said weakly. "I couldn't fight! They did something, put something weird on my head and I couldn't fight." She gasped as Mary laid a hand on her forehead. Something went 'hiss' and a small golden globe landed in Mary's hand. It sparked, then melted!

"Now, you can." Mary promised. "Come with me, sister of learning and of pain. Come with me and avenge yourself on the one who hurt you and my Herald."

"Mary?" R'Kerti stared at Mary and then her eyes were drawn to the arc of metal that shone over the girl's brow. "I… I see. You are an Iconian." Her tone held disbelief, betrayal, fear and anger all mixed.

"I never lied. It was just too unbelievable for anyone to accept." Mary said sadly as the Gorn processed these sudden changes. "If you wish to stay here, I will find a weapon for you and-" She broke off as R'Kerti hugged her. "R'Kerti?" She asked.

"Your Herald is the Aenar?" The Gorn asked and Mary nodded, confused. "She is in a room three corridors over. They are doing things to her. Awful things!."

"No matter what, you will have choices." Mary promised the Gorn as she started off, the clicking of claws on deck metal behind her announcing R'Kerti following. The Gorn had never liked boots no matter how hard Starfleet had worked to make them fit her comfortably. Mary had her staff in hand again and her eyes swept the area, but nothing shone. Then she froze solid as a familiar sense impinged her mind. A sense she had hoped and prayed not to feel. She shook her head and slug her staff again. As powerful as it was, it wouldn't help.

"Mary?" R'Kerti asked, tense.

"R'Kerti. Find a place to hide." Mary said, squaring her shoulders. "I understand now. Love, not rage. I know what I have to do."

"I am not leaving you." The Gorn all but spat those words out.

"R'Kerti…" Mary looked at her friend, but the Gorn was set. Mary know exactly how stubborn R'Kerti was, so she didn't try to argue. "Okay. Then I need you to do exactly what I say. No more, no less. Okay?"

"What do I need to do?" R'Kerti asked.

"Nothing." Mary replied as her staff vanished from her back in haze of dark power. The Gorn hissed, but Mary wasn't surprised. Not now. "Do. Nothing. Nothing at all."

"Mary, you are not making sense." The Gorn protested as Mary started off. "Without that weapon…"

"Weapons will not win this fight." Mary said sadly as she followed the trace in her mind. The Gorn hissed in disbelief, but followed. "Do nothing and you will survive this. If you fight or try to flee, you will die. Please, R'Kerti. I want you to live! Do nothing."

She strode through across corridor, ignoring the several misshapen golden forms that were arrayed to block both avenues. R'Kerti followed, her, the Gorn trembling in fear as the crowd of golden forms moved to cut off any retreat, but Mary didn't even look back! The walls of the corridor were gleaming golden as she strode to a door that looked wrong. Mary held out a hand and R'Kerti took it. R'Kerti was trembling hard as it opened and a melodious male voice sounded.

"Welcome, my dears." Mary walked with the Gorn beside her into horror.

The room was large and almost airy, but the pods that were nestled against each wall showed female forms hanging in golden fluid. Many different species females shone in said pods. Human, Klingon, Romulan. One was broken and R'Kerti shivered as she looked at it. From the claw marks on the inside? R'Kerti had managed to get out of it somehow. Mary gave her hand a squeeze as a dark form approached, hovering in mid-air. The Iconian was missing an arm! T'Ket's energy was all dark, the seething colors of flame and rage but it was the golden orb that was transfixed in the middle of her forehead that drew the eye.

"You didn't need to run, Gorn child." The male voice pulled their eyes from T'Ket to a table where a familiar Aenar lay restrained. The man who stood beside it wasn't one. His arms were far too long and his skin shone the same gold as the room. His tone held mild reproof as well as anticipation. "I was not and am not going to hurt you."

Mary ignored him to eye T'Ket who stood silently. R'Kerti was trembling harder as the way behind them was blocked by golden forms. Golden metal hands grabbed the Gorn and pulled her from Mary. R'Kerti started to struggle, but Mary shook her head and the Gorn stopped fighting.

"I am glad we can be civilized about this." The male said with smile that somehow conveyed evil far beyond even the avatar of rage that stood in front of Mary. "There is no need for crudeness. I need you both. Up you get."

Mary did not resist as other golden hands took hold of her and led her to the side where a golden table formed right out of the floor and rose up to chest height. R'Kerti stared in shock as the metal coated dead beings lifted Mary up onto the table and strapped her down!

"Mary?" R'Kerti begged as she was pulled to one side. Mary ignored her to look at T'Ket who was moving towards her table.

"You will not be harmed, Gorn child." The man sighed. "I cannot say the same for you, Mary Owlna, but I promise I will try to remake you after." The look she shot him was utter contempt and he sighed again. "I will take back what is rightfully mine. I regret the lives lost to that ignorant woman and her pack of brats but I refuse to bow to her. You will help me reclaim and rebuild."

"As if you know anything about building anything but horror, Lorinos Orokin." Mary said as T'Ket moved closer, apparently curious. The man stared at her and then paused in whatever he was going to say as Mary spoke to T'Ket. "It is not your fault, Aunt T'Ket. I accept this. What will be, will be and I see now what has to happen."

"What do you know?" The man she called 'Lorinos' asked, suddenly wary.

"I know you are in such deep shit that you will likely never see the light of day again. You have hurt far more than my family." Mary said, still watching T'Ket who was looking at her Meridian! "Yes, Aunt. I am a member of your family and I know now why I am here. Go on. Do what he demands."

"I… Do… Not… Understand!" T'ket's voice was as horrible as her appearance. Probably fighting with all of her being as always, but whatever held her had to be strong or she would have broken free and slaughtered the fool who dared hold her against her will.

"It is all right, T'Ket." Mary reassured her. "Go ahead. I will not fight my family."

Lorinos sneered at that and smiled as T'Ket reached for Mary's Meridian. His smile vanished abruptly as Mary's right arm phased cleanly through the restraint that held it! Her right hand came up and clamped onto the orb on T'Ket's brow. She could not bite back a moan of agony. It was like touching the surface of the sun. T'ket's rage was an elemental force that slammed into and right through Mary's energy without remorse or pity. Even a true Iconian would have had difficulty handling such and Mary was not one of them.

"NO!" Lorinos shouted in both rage and fear as the orb melted. Then T'ket's scream of rage silenced everything! The metal form stared at Mary's hand as the girl's hand wavered and phased, but didn't come back! The true Iconian's raw power had destroyed Mary's hand and not just her hand! All of her energy was wavering, vanishing as she lost coherency. The Iconian's scream had faded and T'ket stared at Mary in shock.

"What?" T'ket begged as Mary smiled at her through a face that was suddenly transparent.

I love you, Aunt T'ket. Please don't hurt my Herald or my friend. Mary managed and then she was gone. Her Meridian fell to clang on the table.

Even Iconians could die.