AN: Usual disclaimer, the rights to Star Trek etc. belong to someone else. The entire story is complete on my PC, and I'll try to load up a new chapter every few days. Please read and review – constructive feedback will help me finalise the remaining chapters.

Chapter 20

Scotty was acutely sensitive to his surroundings. Dropping to the floor several times, paranoia edged ahead of common sense. Just because I can't see them doesn't mean they're not out to get me looping round and round his head. Hesitating, he whipped around a fraction too late to face a sound that didn't belong.

'Drop your weapon and back up against the wall!'

A dagger hovered around his heart, as a hand brutally thrust his shoulder. With short dark hair raked over to the side, under the current light source it contrasted against an open waist length cream jacket and contoured dark coloured bodysuit. From her vantage point, at least a foot taller than Scotty, she found it amusing that he alone intended to take down her fellow Perpetuans. Boldly stepping closer, she recognised the attire of a Starfleet officer, yet he was not familiar to her.

Wilting under her inspection he cursed himself for not monitoring the tricorder. His heartbeat raced double time, as he nervously watched the statuesque alien move ever closer. The vow of silence becoming harder to maintain as the point of the sharp dagger pressed into his flesh. Twice already a grimace slipped past his lips, now gritting his teeth from the sting of a cut that reminded him was not dead, yet. Now toe to toe, neither looked away from the other, and from Uhura's colourful description he reckoned Samson looked every bit as intimidating as he imagined.

Without a word the dagger returned back to it's sheath, however her hand subtly slipped towards a phaser making it extremely obvious she would not hesitate to use it on him. Carefully crouching down, she retrieved his fallen weapon and holstered it to her belt never once breaking eye contact. His mouth slightly ajar, she counted every breath he took revelling in his fear.

Gracefully returning to full height she casually enquired 'Where are the rest of you?'

Scotty pursed his lips together, a quick glance revealed his tricorder still lying on the ground. He rationalised that as long as she was not spooked nothing would happen to him. Unfortunately that hypothesis was about to be tested, her long forearm now pressed down across his throat. Impossibly fast he was against her chest, she jostling a leg between his forcing him to stand taller. Using his body to cover the majority of her own, she aimed a phaser right at his temple. Instinctively he struggled clawing at her arm.

'Stop!' shouting as loudly as possible at the sound of the approaching footsteps. 'I have your friend...'

Scotty locked watery eyes on a familiar sight. Uhura and Kirk ground to a halt several metres away from him, their weapons already out ready to attack. Uhura was just ahead of Kirk, and although Scotty couldn't see the blood, the metallic smell of iron attacked his senses. Worried, he gave Uhura a quick scan, noting nothing untoward he moved onto Kirk. With his shredded top, it was clear something had happened to him, but there was no obvious sign of injury.

'Captain!' He rasped, the excitement of seeing his friend rendering the self imposed silence moot. 'You've looked better...' A sharp jolt to reminded him of his place as he fell silent once again.

'Good to see you too Scotty...' Kirk's dry response. Ignoring the nagging ache around his newly healing wound, 'not quite sure how I feel about seeing you though...' Coolly directing the barb at the Perpetuan not bothering to hide his contempt. Kirk steadied his phaser directly at her head, a kill shot ready if needed.

'Let him go', the firm but diplomatic request from Uhura. She tentatively stepped forward separating away from Kirk. Swiftly dropping her weapon to her side she signalled Kirk to follow her lead. At this juncture she called the shots, so he reluctantly complied understanding they, really he, needed toe the line.

Uhura cocked her eyebrow at the Perpetuan expecting a similar gesture in return. That's how Scotty found himself propelled forward on to his hands and knees midway between the two women. Scurrying out of the way, he disbelieved Uhura was that persuasive. By Kirk's side, he mouthed what the fuck? Only to be greeted with a noncommittal shrug.

Having released Scotty she assuredly spoke, 'I wasn't sure how close you were'. Unexpectedly, Scotty's phaser was thrust into Uhura's open palm. 'I needed to be sure...' the faintest of smiles as she put away her own weapon. Now both women were defenceless.

'Sure of what Shyloh?...' came Uhura's quizzical response as Scotty smacked his forehead in astonishment.

'Cousin tell me why I should not kill you', a livid Freedan charged through his men towards a surrounded Samson and Kulj'ita. For the time being Getta left languishing by the shuttle bay entrance. Apprehensively, he looked upwards into the faces of two stern faced guards.

Kneeling outside their shuttle and stripped of weapons, several of Freedan's men held the Kulj'ita and Samson in place. Their yelling and shouting deafening; she spat curdled blood to the floor, barely missing Freedan's feet. In return Freedan fired warning shots directly above their heads into the opening of their shuttle to shut them up. Kulj'ita flinched, before settling. Samson simply sneered, before condescendingly uttering unladylike insults at all who subdued her. Arrogantly jerking her arms free, the guards backed off. They were still close enough to point phases directly at her.

Throwing her hands up disparagingly, Samson angrily lisped through a split lip, 'you have the Sunstones, what's the problem?'

To her immediate right her former men were interspersed with Freedan's. He must have promised them the world on a plate, idiots didn't realise they were being played. It irked her to be subservient to Freedan; he rarely had the upper hand and chose that moment to grow a brain. On arrival at her shuttle, in the process of dragging Spock on board, both she and Kulj'ita came face to face with several phases. Obviously, there was no honour amongst thieves.

'You are the problem. You have my money.'

Without provocation Freedan directed a shot at Kulj'ita. The surprise of the attack forced him onto his back. Landing in a heap unbefitting the 2nd in charge of Perpetous, Kulj'ita exhaled out a whining groan.

'Next time it won't be on stun...' Freedan menacingly promised. Remembering Spock was missing out on the festivities, he signalled the Vulcan be brought out of the shuttle. 'Commander Spock, change of plans. You'll be coming with me...' he chillingly announced as Spock was marched away into his shuttle.

Samson pulled Kulj'ita back to his knees. With a curt nod he confirmed everything was okay. Deliberately brushing himself down, he refused to lose face no matter how much his pride, and chest, hurt. Her mind worked overtime, the only leverage was the money so she would need to use that to her advantage.

'Fuck you Freedan'. Kulj'ita hissed whilst delicately rubbing the impact sight.

Deliberately, Samson rose to her feet. Boldly stepping through the edgy guards directly into Freedan's line of sight. Hands up in deference to her cousin, 'fine. I will transfer your share in exchange for our unimpeded departure'. Stepping even closer to Freedan, as she moved the guards moved with her, so now she found herself surrounded in a semi circle. 'So do we have a deal?'

Getta inched away from his guards. So enthralled by the activity in front of them, they failed to notice his absence. The shuttle so tantalisingly close, the rush of blood to his ears only reminded him of his shame. His deception revealed to the Captain, his career in tatters unless of course Kirk died. Though he couldn't bring himself to wish that, neither could he let himself be held captive by Freedan. Circumstances beyond his control led to his predicament. He had to escape, his father would understand. He could afford the loss of the money. But a son, no, he was irreplaceable. Forcing down the tiny seed of doubt that always crept up on him when questioning his value to his father. All of this, the lying, the double-crossing of his crew was not of his choice. Within touching distance of his shuttle, he scrambled in only exhaling when the swish of the doors closed behind him.

'Computer, seal the door and only open on my command...' Getta hurriedly ordered crouching out of sight.

Kirk guardedly rotated to face Scotty. The engineer's withering glare was the last thing he saw before landing on Perpetous the very first time. Half-heartedly listening to Uhura and Shyloh he awaited some sort of lecture from the Scotsman. He was ready with his verbal counterattack.

'What gives?' Looking over Kirk's shoulder at Shyloh. 'Wasn't expecting to see her in the flesh so to speak'. Absentmindedly rubbing at his throat, his voice acclimatising back to its normal pitch.

'Neither was I...'

'Might want to a new top Jim'. Scotty looking him up and down, before retrieving his fallen tricorder. Pensively he considered his next words, 'what happened Jim?' No anger or malice, just straight to the point.

Realising that was the extent of his telling off, he relaxed just catching the shadow of confusion passing over Scotty's face. Searching for words of wisdom, 'What do I do?' Kirk knew without a direct line into Uhura's mind, Scotty would be the next best thing.

'She needs to feel secure.' Unsure just how much he could say, Scotty was not going to betray any confidence. 'Anyway, shouldn't you be part of their machinations. Last time I checked, you were still the ranking officer...' Sending Kirk on his way.

Arriving beside Uhura, he knew it was time to reassert his role as the superior officer. Flexing his arms in front of him before crossing them against his chest, Uhura deferred to his presence patiently answering his questions. Aware it was not easy for her, he stood there half listening to her, whilst revisiting the circumstances which led them to this point.

'...We need to go...' Their shared intimacy broken she pulled away ready to stand up. Hands roughly brushing away any stray tears. Ever the professional she turned and held out her hand to pull him up. Whatever had caused her to erupt with such emotion gone.

Kirk's calloused hand rubbed against her soft flesh. The warmth comforting if only for a fleeting moment. Back on his feet, he tried to stop her moving away. Holding her in place, he ruthlessly pushed her against the wall. His overwhelming instinct to crush her into his very being until she saw sense.

She shrugged out of reach, there were no more tears for him. The cool brown eyes that held his gaze no longer held the warmth of before. He only just noticed the defence she has built up. Had he really been so blind these past months? That self-absorbed? Bolting through the doors, she left him alone with the unconscious guard.

The reasonable part of him knew that if he was ever going to win her back, he had to give her the space and time she wanted. He knew she loved him, but she needed to see he was sorry. Having caught up with Uhura, he watched her scrutinising the read out on the tricorder. The green blobs of each life sign illuminated on screen. Frowning, the appearance of those familiar lines on her forehead signified how hard she was thinking.

Irritably she had sighed 'What Jim?' Refusing to look at him. He wanted to laugh at the ridiculousness of it all, but didn't. Increasing the pace, she never looked to see if he was still there. Of course he would be.

'How do I fix this...' pointing between them 'us..?'

'We can't do this. Not now...' Battling to keep her voice neutral. After letting him get to her earlier, he knew she was compartmentalising. All the hurt pushed deep down until she was ready to deal. Over the years she had become the master of doing that. Actually even better than him.

'We have to eventually.'

She abruptly halted, letting him pace a few steps before he realised she was no longer beside him. 'Maybe, but this is not the time or the place' pointing all around them, before settling on him, she was not even angry. 'Right now there are more important things to worry about'.

'There is nothing more important than us, just as important, but never more...' ignoring her last statement. Unable to hide the slight edge to his voice that didn't stop him finding himself on his knees. More forcefully than he intended he dragged her towards him. Resting his forehead against her stomach, he wearily looked upwards.

Her hands framed his face pulling him to his feet. No longer able to see her face, she buried herself into his chest, her warm breath tickling him.

'Why don't you understand' shoving him away.

Unable to hold back the hurt he angrily pointed at her, 'Why are you keeping us apart!' Slamming his palms repeatedly against his chest. 'We are meant to be together'. Seething at her stubbornness. One of the many reasons he fell in love with her, and still loved her.

'Is that a captain's order?' She deadpanned standing to attention. All that was missing was a salute, he half expected it.

'Maybe...' he responded stoically. There was a change in her, whether it was the situation or something else, she was almost playful. It drew a hesitant smile to his face. Taking a chance he asked, 'so, what do you think about us getting married?'

'The answer is still 'no' captain. So put me in the brig...' arms thrust forward awaiting imaginary cuffs, 'I've already got a cell awaiting me on our return...'

Not giving her a chance to explain. 'My God, you're so -!' Pacing up and down in front of her, struggling to find the appropriate word. She was definitely right, they didn't have time for this now. He stopped and crouched to his haunches, feeling his heart pulsating in the middle of his chest then the feeling passed. 'Why can't you just do as I say?' he mournfully asked.

'Would you have me any other way Jim?' Quietly chiding him. 'How can I be sure you're over whatever your insecurity is..was. Being kidnapped is not the most conducive for level headed thinking. I have to protect us-'

'You don't need to protect us!', he snapped at her. He could taste blood where he bit the inside of his mouth to quell the storm of emotions swirling inside of him. What more could he say to make her understand. He made a terrible, stupid, mistake. He did not feel that way anymore. He skulked away searching for space.

'You don't understand.' She desperately shouted after him. 'I mean-'

But he didn't hear becauseShyloh's shouting spurred them into action. 'Who are you? Where are the rest of you?'.

'You are joking?...' Incredulously Uhura challenged Shyloh. Back in the present Kirk hid his inattentiveness by clearing his throat, he would get his answers from Uhura later.

'It is true. I am part of a covert military investigative unit. Irin does not know my true identity' studying their responses Shyloh continued 'my orders were to infiltrate the organisation responsible for the thefts...gather evidence and bring them down...we suspected his team might be compromised and could not be 100% sure of him.' Hands on hip she debated whether or not to carry on. 'I was meant to be extracted the day the intervention began, however once I knew Commander Spock was in the line of fire I decided to stay on to protect him...'

'Great job you did there!' Kirk angrily mocked her.

'I did what I could given the support I had...' Shyloh bayed back at him.

'Jim...' Uhura hissed, hoping he would heeds the warning to be quiet. She too was angry, but pissing off Shyloh would not achieve anything. 'I don't understand, why didn't you arrest Freedan and Samson when you had the chance? Where was your support?'

'My orders are delivered via regularly received communications. My requests for help have been unanswered over the past few weeks...I have been on my own...'

'Why?' Scotty interrupted finally joined the conversation.

'I couldn't risk blowing my colleagues cover. I suspect someone has been intercepting my reports.'

'Who?' Uhura and Kirk simultaneously questioned. Jinx thought Scotty, knowing full well neither of them were capable of remaining silent.

'Kulj'ita. He and Samson are lovers...'

'Then they must know who you are?' Kirk replied 'and that son of a bitch must be in on this too...'

With an adamant shake of her head, 'All my reports were encrypted. There's no way to know who and where they came from...' softening her stance 'and yes, I have reason to believe Kulj'ita has played some part in this. He's here too'. The thought of the Provost weighing heavily on all their minds, 'I needed help, things were spiralling out of control. I had no idea they had the Captain until it was too late. By then I had to go into hiding, but not before I passed on information to Dr McCoy. I knew he was your friend...'

'Why are you here?' Uhura perplexed why Shyloh would place herself back immediate danger.

'Freedan violated me, he has to pay...' her voice devoid of emotion, the coldness was frightening.

'Whoa! Whoa! Whoa! We're not going to kill him for you. That's not our way'. Scotty looking at his friends for reassurance. At this moment, after all they had been through and were likely to go through, he felt it necessary to remind them all.

'I don't expect you to. I'm more than capable of doing that myself...' Shyloh whispered back as Scotty inwardly cringed.

Kirk swiftly interjected, 'look, Scotty is right. Our objectives in order of importance - find a shuttle, get Spock out alive, and evade capture. Anything else is just a bonus...' He was all too aware they were vastly outnumbered and outgunned.

Shyloh retorted, 'don't you want revenge against Freedan and Samson, for what they've done to you and Commander Spock?' She found it hard to believe the human could be so forgiving.

'I am a Starfleet officer, sworn to upload the Federation's laws. I don't have the luxury of seeking out revenge against everyone who has spite me...'

'It would be a long bloody list...' muttered Scotty.

Shyloh made a sound of disgust and changed the subject, 'Let's not forget at the touch of a button Freedan could kill us all.' Reminding the group of the explosives littered around the cave system.

'Yeah, well he'd have to find us first. I took care of their internal sensor systems', boasted Scotty.

Momentarily impressed Shyloh continued, 'we need to get to the shuttle bay-'

'Hey, if you knew about the shuttle bay why didn't you tell anyone?' Scotty threw at her.

'I was never permitted any further than I needed to be. I was only ever allowed as far as Freedan's office. Of course there must be a shuttle bay. How else were they getting in and out of the cave. I just didn't know where it was. Until now. I can see you've done your scans. You can see how vast the network is'.

'Well we'd better get going. We have to rescue Spock and find a shuttlecraft. All while fighting off hordes of rampaging 7 feet tall trained killers.' Scotty laughed mirthlessly to suppress the hysteria. 'I'll take the first 15, you lot divide the rest amongst yourselves...'

Looking up to see three bemused faces, sheepishly he swallowed, 'did I say the inside voice out loud?'