...to make new friends
It was very quiet in the sickbay of the Denali. R'Kerti had slept for a time despite her best efforts to stay awake. No one had pressed her. No one had demanded the Meridian that she still clenched in her hand. Everyone had been kind. Well, the guards were aloof, but they were guards. Funny. The Klingons and the Iconian forces were not arguing. Indeed, no one was. It didn't seem natural to have Klingon warriors and Iconian Constructs standing guard around the sickbay, but R'Kerti had never felt safer than at this very moment. Odd. The lights came up as she roused a bit but then relaxed back.
[Are you going to laze around all day?] An unexpected voice had R'Kerti snapping out of another doze and she jerked up in her bed to see another Gorn standing in the door to the examination room she had been ensconced in. His scaled face was half covered by Borg implants! She knew him! She had seen him on a screen and been utterly shocked that a figure out of Gorn legend was real. And now? Here he stood. She fought past her stunned paralysis to give him a proper response.
{I give apology.] R'Kerti said quickly. If half of what she had heard about this being was true, he was a true son of Gornar and not to be disrespected! She hoped she made a good impression as she bowed her head formally. [I did not mean to doze off.]
"Oh, hush. Don't start that." Was the flesh and blood eye on the massive face twinkling? A smile curved his snout. "You and the others have had a very bad day so fatigue is totally normal. Yes, you are bigger and tougher than most of the others, but even for our kind, there are limits. How do you feel?"
"Tired. Wrung out. Sad." R'Kerti looked at the Meridian in her hand and then at the other Gorn. "I should have listened to her."
"Perhaps. You were trying to help." The male Gorn reassured her. "No one blames you for that. Your pain was regrettable, but in the end? You survived. The one who hurt you and the others wisely fled T'Ket's wrath. The AI was stopped before it could spawn more of its brood using that poor boy." Now, the male Gorn's face was sad. "I hope he doesn't remember that."
"Me too." R'Kerti said with a wince. "Um…" She stared down at herself and started! Someone had changed her ragged uniform while she slept! She wore a patient gown instead and it was not flattering. When had they done that? "What?"
"You slept for almost eight hours, my dear." The Gorn did not move as R'Kerti tried to process that. "The Doctor did very well for not having any idea about the true horror that had been done to you and the others. Once he and I collaborated, we managed to save everyone. They are all awake now and you are needed."
"Me?" R'Kerti was appalled when her voice came out a squeak. So much for making a good impression! Ssaak'll didn't comment, just waited. "Why am I needed?"
"You declared the medical emergency." The male Gorn said with a shrug. "There were other Starfleet personnel aboard the Denali, but they were on a ship that was locked out of the Denali's networks. You were the only authorized person about and you gave commands, had them obeyed. So… Technically, you are the captain of this ship." R'Kerti had been following his words but her thoughts slithered to a halt at his final comment.
"I was a prisoner!" R'Kerti said weakly, falling back to the bed. "I am not- I am not a Captain!"
"It is okay." Ssaak'll stepped to her bedside, quick to reassure her. "It is all legal stuff right now. You are not responsible for actions taken while in such duress. But legally this ship was salvage and you took it before Madren could. Well done."
"Who is Madren?" R'Kerti asked, confused.
"A jerk." Ssaak'll replied sourly. "An opportunistic Ferengi who apparently got paid to ferry some Federation spy people around. The AI was on his ship. No one is sure if he was involved with what happened to you and the others, but if he was? He covered his tracks. He is claiming the Denali but your claim predates his. While there are many who would love to see him slaughtered for all of the messes he has caused, the Federation would likely not approve if we do it in cold blood. So, that leaves us with you."
"What about the Iconians?" R'Kerti asked. "Are they still here?"
"T'Ket is gone." The male Gorn said quietly. "A team of Constructs and several Heralds are here. Some are guarding the area, others are checking the ship for damage. I have been in contact with L'Miren. We will talk later about that. Right now, we need to keep Madren from doing anything else dumb. He says that since we did 'unnecessary'…" He made air quote around that word. "...damage to his ship that he will take this one as compensation. He sent a team to try and throw us all off and the guards sent them back unconscious. A fairly surprising outcome for many. I bet most had no idea that Iconian staffs had stun settings. He is blustering, but he is not stupid enough to do anything else. Captain R'Rollow is not amused."
"I do not understand, but if I am needed… Just…" She looked at the Meridian in her hand again. "Mary?" She pleaded.
"We don't know." Ssaak'll said quietly. "I don't think anyone does. Mary was different in many ways. Unique. I dealt with Iconians, during the war and after. I think they are just as uncertain as you and I are."
"I didn't know Iconians could be kind." R'Kerti said weakly. "T'Ket was scary as hell, but she didn't hurt me. And those Heralds. The white armored one…" She was about to speak of the armored woman she had seen, but Ssaak'll laid a hand on her and gave it a squeeze.
"History is written by the victors." Ssaak'll said with deep sadness. "There are many things that will never be known. Others that must never be known." He met her eyes with his flesh and blood and a warning sang deep in that eye. Her eyes widened. "If you wish more information on what happened, you will be given it, but understand that if you do, you will never be able to go back to what you were. You will never be able to be a simple engineer any more than I can be a simple healer or even a simple starship captain. Please think before you ask. I wish someone had said that to me, once upon a time." He looked away, desolation showing in his eye for a moment.
"Prince. I thought you were a story. A legend meant to teach our kind's young the difference between right and wrong." R'Kerti said weakly. "To see you here. Now?" She turned her hand in his and gave his hand a squeeze. "Real. I… I don't know what to say? I am sorry."
"You have nothing to be sorry for." Ssaak'll's snarl was humorous rather than scary. "Your parents hadn't been hatched yet when the King so covered himself in dishonor. Do not take responsibility for something you had nothing to do with."
"I still feel the dishonor." R'Kerti sat up again and then took a deep breath. "I have duties, obligations. Is Starfleet aware of what happened to me?"
"Yes." The male Gorn replied and R'Kerti relaxed. "They are unhappy, but not with you. The Denali is badly damaged, but no one else is going to threaten it again with so many other ships around. Even Madren is trying to weasel it in legal terms, not fighting."
"I need…" R'Kerti paused as the door behind the Gorn hissed open and then white armored Herald from before strode in, a pile of cloth in her arms. She nodded to the two Gorn, set her pile on a surface nearby and left without a word. The two Gorn shared a look and Ssaak'll shook his head.
"If she did that, she was ordered to. She would not have violated your privacy otherwise. You impressed her." Ssaak'll shrugged as R'Kerti stared at him. "That is not easy to do. I speak from experience."
"Long story there." R'Kerti eyed the Gorn whose Borg implants shone darkly in the dim light of her room. Ssaak'll looked at her and the female Gorn took the hint. "I better get dressed then?"
"It wouldn't hurt, although I don't think it will make much difference. You are quite pretty no matter what you are wearing." Was he flirting with her? Before R'Kerti could manage a response, he was gone and the door shut behind him. That wasn't Gorn behavior, but she didn't mind. Far from it.
She felt good as she rose and changed quickly into a Starfleet duty uniform. The uniform fit her quite well and it didn't have boots! Every single time that she had been given new uniform before it had always come with boots. Some had been more comfortable than others, but her claws had always torn them to bits within a day no matter how hard she tried not to. The material was odd. Not the fabric she was used to in Starfleet uniforms, but it felt good against her scales. It bore the insignia of a Starfleet captain and it felt wrong to put it on when she hadn't earned it, but she knew she had to. Was it her imagination that circuits glowed faintly on the inner surface whens he fingered the collar? When she looked again, it was just cloth.
"Still seeing things." She muttered.
The dark, midnight blue of the tunic and pants was set off by the yellow stripes that crossed her chest just below the shoulders. The Odyssey pattern was an older uniform style, but still favored by many in Starfleet. It had been in service during the Klingon war and many wore it to remember the fallen. Not to glorify the horrors and wrongs that had been done by all sides, but to remember those who were no longer with them.
"Honor." R'Kerti said as she picked up the Meridian from where she had set it carefully on the bed. "I do know the difference between right and wrong, Mary. You helped teach me that. I didn't trust you at all for over a year and then, you saved my life. Now? You have done it again. Let me see if I can return the favor."
She took a deep breath and stepped at the door. The door opened and just outside, a Thrall and a Klingon guard both braced to attention as she passed. She gave them a nod and ignored them as they fall in behind her. An honor guard or something more? Ssaak'll stepped from another door to join her and then took the lead, guiding her towards the main area of sickbay where voices could be heard. Unhappy voices.
The large room felt cramped with so many people in it. Four guards, two Klingon and two Constructs. Jhinis and an odd purple skinned being stood by a far wall, both clearly furious. The white armored Herald stood beside Jhinis. The Doctor was still online and glowing at everyone as half a dozen people talked at once. All of the women R'Kerti had seen in pods stood in the bay were awake and all were unhappy. Orion, human, Bolian, Cardassian, Klingon, Romulan and Saurian. The only things they had in common were their patient gowns and the look of rage that all shared with Jhinis and the purple skinned woman. Two Starfleet personnel stood by the door, An Andorian and a Ferengi whose disgust was just as clear as the rage of the females.
A hologram of a Ferengi head shone in the middle screen and he sneered, silencing the hubbub.
"You will remove yourself from my ship now." The Ferengi snarled. "Or I will remove you by force."
"What force?" A male Catain in Alliance uniform scoffed at the Ferengi. "Didn't your away team tell you who is guarding this ship now? We were very careful not to blast the life support on your barge, Madren. Would you like us to correct that mistake?" Not an idle threat.
R'Kerti knew him from several lectures at the Academy. Captain R'Rollow had been the focus of several seminars on ethics. Odd. Those seminars had mostly contradicted each other. They had discussed his actions at the siege of Terra at the end of the Iconian War. All of her classmates had been sharply divided on the morals of a Federation captain capturing a ship that the Heralds had taken by storm and then keeping the Klingon carrier afterwards! Odd. Mary had never taken a side in that discussion. Then again, she had thought she was an Iconian's daughter, so she had recused herself for being so conflicted.
Everything stopped as Ssaak'll cleared his throat loudly. The Ferengi stared at the pair of Gorn and opened his mouth, but R'Kerti beat him to speech.
"'Your' ship, Daimon Madren?" She inquired mildly. She had thought that the proper honorific and from the male Gorn's tiny nod of approval, she was right. "I wasn't aware that open piracy with witnesses was the Ferengi way." He stared at her and she shook her head as he stepped to the middle of the room, Ssaak'll moving to flank her. "You will find no profit here."
"Who are you?" The Ferengi snapped.
"My name is R'Kerti and I am captain of the USS Denali." The Gorn said quietly as she stepped to R'Rollow's side. He nodded to her and she nodded back, but both focused on the Ferengi in the holo. "Your claim of salvage is invalid due to the fact that the ship was not abandoned."
"You are not the Denali's captain!" The Ferengi snarled. "He is dead. Blown out of the sky while running away!" Both Starfleet personnel winced at that, but R'Kerti did not move.
"I am not surprised that you are unaware of Starfleet emergency protocols." R'Kerti replied equably despite the rage that seethed in her. He had collaborated with the AI and its master to kill many Starfleet personnel and she was sure he had been one of the ones to help kidnap her and the other females, hold them against their will. Rage wouldn't help here. "There are many that are not advertised. But Starfleet is as it has always been. Or at least as we have always tried to be. A force for peace." At her calm words, both the Andorian and Ferengi by the door perked up. "We may not always be able to do the best thing for everyone. We may not always be able to do the right thing according to many, but we will do what we have to. We are Starfleet." She beckoned to the two officers who stepped forward. "Commander, Lieutenant Commander? Status?"
"We are still cataloging the damage, Captain." The Andorian said quietly. "It is not good, but the ship's structural integrity is intact. The rest is repairable." R'Kerti nodded to her and turned to the other officer whose look at Madren spoke volumes of hate.
"Lieutenant Commander?" R'Kerti pressed and the Starfleet Ferengi nodded to her, turning her back on Madren who gaped at her.
"Ship is secure, sir." The small female said firmly. "Only an idiot, or Madren who is an idiot, will try to and take it now. I sincerely hope he tries again. I didn't get to shoot anyone last time." R'Kerti just looked at her as Madren sputtered and the Ferengi shook her head. "Apologies, Captain. That was uncalled for."
"We are all upset, Lieutenant Commander." R'kerti's reassurance held a faint hint of reproof and the Ferengi nodded. "But shooting people is not always the answer."
"People keep saying that. I am not convinced." The Starfleet Ferengi muttered under her breath. Several of the Klingons looked decidedly amused, but R'Kerti kept her professional mien in place.
"The Denali is a Starfleet vessel, Daimon Madren." R'Kerti said quietly to the snow sputtering Ferengi in the holo. "I recommend you make repairs and leave. From what I understand, you have few friends here." That was a massive understatement from the chorus of frustration that sounded from all around.
"That ship is mine!" Madren snarled but broke off as R'Kerti raised a clawed hand.
"Captain R'Rollow?" The Gorn inquired. "Is there any evidence that Daimon Madren was involved in what was done to to the female beings found on this ship?" She nodded to the women who were gawking at her. But Jhinis and the purple skinned woman were smiling!
"No, Captain R'Kerti. There is not." R'Rollow admitted. "If we had found anything, we would be having this conversation in person, Madren." He flexed his claws and they popped out. It took no imagination to know what the Catain wanted to do with said claws and Madren paled.
"You stole data! You stole my files!" Madren tried again.
"You were working with an AI and fired on my ship. An Alliance ship." Ssaak'll spoke up. "I would have been well within my rights to obliterate your slimy hide but you had hostages so I refrained."
"We didn't!" Madren protested. "We moved the experimental subjects to the Denali and-" He broke off as R'Rollow and R'Kerti both smiled. It was the same not nice smile.
"So, you admit that you had unwilling experimental subjects aboard your ship and you admit that you knew they were aboard. You knew what was being done." R'Kerti said very softly and Madren paled further. "Don't go anywhere." She hit a control and muted the holo as he started to rant. She did make sure it was recording him though. She thought for a moment and then turned to the Herald guards who eyed her. "I cannot command your forces, Captain R'Rollow. Heralds? I find myself a bit short of security staff. Might I ask for assistance in securing a known criminal whose crimes are apparently legion? If Klingon warriors or Starfleet security board, his people will fight. You? Even his people cannot be that stupid." The Heralds looked at one another and then as one, they nodded. "Alive, if possible. I am sure he has powerful friends who will not be amused if he suffers an accidental disintegration. His kind always do. Add to that? We need to know all of what he did."
"Give him to me and I will know everything he did in a few minutes." Ssaak'll said quietly and everyone looked at him. "The threat of assimilation works almost as well these days as actually doing it. Especially on someone as spineless as Madren."
"As tempting as that is…" R'Kerti stared down at the Meridian in her hand. "We need closure on this. If he proves difficult, I will consider other options."
"When, not if." R'Rollow said scornfully.
"I will consider." R'Kerti said as she looked at the Heralds. The white armored Herald by Jhinis spoke instead of them.
"A team has boarded the Madren's Majesty and is encountering no resistance." The Herald scoffed. "His crew are all throwing away their weapons and begging for mercy."
"Can you blame them?" R'Kerti asked and the Herald actually laughed!
"Not at all." The odd Herald said with a snort. Ssaak'll stilled as R'Kerti looked at him. When she spoke it was calm, cool and collected.
"Let the past remain in the past, Healer Ssaak." The Gorn male jerked but then nodded to the female's words. She knew what to do now. Somehow. "We need to look to the future and that future needs a different captain for this ship."
"Let's get Mary back."