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 21
Scotty stretched out his arm, 'we've yet to be formally introduced. Montgomery Scott, Chief Engineer at your service', followed by a swish bow. It made no sense to hold a grudge. They needed all the help the could get, especially right now. Shyloh grinned, a genuine welcoming grin, flashing those perfect set of white teeth. Must be a genetic trait thought Kirk acting as sentry to ensure no unsavouries snuck up behind the team.
Uhura cautiously stepped ahead having taken the lead. Scotty and Shyloh's footfall occasionally interrupted the myriad of thoughts. Glancing back at the odd couple, they huddled close together, well as close as a 7-foot tall female and a foot shorter Scotsman could be. Peering over the shared tricorder, Shyloh pointed at strategic places, Scotty clucked disparagingly when an unseen issue thwarted an idea. Irritation tempered the cadence of his speech, faster and faster he spoke. Uhura doubted Shyloh would be able to understand him much longer.
Beyond their animated figures, Kirk purposely kept his distance from her given their heated discussion earlier on. Dammit, Uhura chastised herself for nearly blurting out the news about the baby. The way he had nestled against her stomach, could he have known? Shaking away the startling thought another popped into her head. He did leave me alone with our child. A humourless chuckle belittled just how prophetic he had been. The image of him lording it over everyone 'see, told you so!' Impossibly smug that he had been proven right all along. The scowl she threw his way was met with an equally scornful 'what have I done now' shrug.
Facing forward once again, she was absolutely convinced he was unaware about the baby. But its presence couldn't be hidden for much longer. The beginnings of a slight Buddha belly under her form fitting bodysuit. Undetectable to anyone else she knew her body, the baby was growing, ready to out him or herself to the wider world.
Forcing herself back to the situation at hand, she recalled Kirk description of his run in with Getta and his involvement in the Sunstones theft. Scotty scoffed at the madness of it, 'that's the most stupidest thing I have ever heard. How was he planning on getting it on board, magic?' Uhura on the other hand couldn't comprehend how he was able to betray them so easily. There were safeguards to monitor unusual chatter traffic. Son of a bitch, all the times he was there to help her, he was actually gathering intel for Freedan. The ensign had said something about Getta being there late at night. She had not thought anything of it at the time.
Kirk reacted first, 'Nyota!'
Scotty and Shyloh flew out of the way as Kirk charged through them. Aghast, they watched him yank Uhura back so hard she fell into him. Before she could complain he shushed her, shushed them all with a sweep of his hand. Yielding to his authority and falling into silence, they strained to hear what he did. Crouched low to the ground, Scotty's eyes grew wide as understanding dawned on him. The persistent and familiar 'pew' 'pew' 'pew' of phasers being fired. Shyloh's reaction made it crystal clear whatever was happening ahead had nothing to do with her.
'I hear it too', Uhura whispered; she and Kirk barely inches apart.
Instinctively he held her away from trouble, shifting ever so slightly ready to shield her if necessary. That close to him, she had no choice but to watch the hypnotic rise and fall of his chest. She was utterly confused, his proximity threw her but she revelled in the security. How could something feel so right, yet she be so unwilling to let him back into her life.
Kirk ordered Scotty to do whatever it was he did in situations like that. Shyloh followed just in case. Now on his feet, Uhura unsteadily followed. It was then he felt her fist what was left of his shirt. Tensing at the way she unknowingly brushed his torso with the back of her fingers. Desperate to stay still so not to break the contact, his mouth fell ajar as his breathing came in fits and starts. A slight shift and her eyes flicked up to meet his. At once Uhura was very self-conscious she had initiated something so intimate, her hands abruptly fell to her side, while she pulled back to create a little distance between them.
'Sorry...' She muttered looking everywhere but at him.
The fierce pull between them began as an electrifying jolt to the base of the spine, before the feeling radiated outwards leaving pins and needles in its trail. It had always been like this between them, even during the early days on the Enterprise. Back then it was played down as flirtatious banter from him and casual indifference from her.
An outside force drew Uhura closer as she cupped his cheek. Closing his eyes, his head tilted in welcoming the warmth. Uhura thought he looked serene letting everything else faded out of view, whilst she allowed her gaze to explore his features. At some point during her exploration he opened his eyes once more and she met his piercing stare. Uhura could sense his uncertainty as she hesitatingly rose onto her tiptoes and gently pressed her lips to his. Feeling him pull back Uhura deepened the kiss, demanding his attention all whilst begging the conflicting voices in her head to be silenced. Snapping out of his passive state, Kirk gave into the frenzy of wet kisses and exploratory caresses. Lazily nuzzling her jawline, languid kisses marked his trail. Uhura's hands laced through in his hair, nails scratching his scalp she pulled him ever closer as she arched into his crushing embrace.
'Captain!' Scotty's distant alert broke through the revelry. 'Captain, come here. You'll want to see this'.
Kirk stumbled backwards utterly bewildered by the turn of events. Seeking an explanation, he pushed away the frisson of fear she would erect her barriers once again. Circumspectly he shifted close to drop his forehead to meet hers. He didn't want to leave her, not now when something had changed.
Uhura exhaled deeply to steady herself. Gingerly she probed her throbbing lips before whispering 'Jim, you need to go'. When he refused to leave either through stubbornness or by not hearing her, she insisted a little more firmly, 'please...'
A sigh escaped from his mouth before he shouted out he was on his way. Reluctantly releasing her, Kirk stepped past Uhura on his approach to the Scotsman steadfastly ignoring the insistent urge baying at him to go back to her side. The need to keep her safe overruling any other ideas that legitimately had priority. It nagged at him as he moved further away; he likened the sensation to having all the puzzle pieces but no image to guide him how everything fit together.
Once Kirk was out of sight, Uhura faltered against the wall. She had no idea what had come over them, or rather her. With the pregnancy came certain urges; her libido was through the roof. That had to be the explanation, though at that very moment with the haze of desire lifting it was becoming increasingly difficult to deny how drawn she was to him. It was as if he were everywhere, and nowhere at the same time. Her head felt so heavy; puffing out a deep breath the stark reality of their situation, and the pressing need to get out of the cave network alive came crashing back into focus.
What the hell is going on? Scotty slinked forward with his tricorder. Just ahead, a corner and a 50 metre tunnel to the event taking place. Aren't we meant to be the ones bringing the mayhem? On screen, the green blobs danced around, unable to tell foe from foe, at least it was clear Spock and Getta were both stationary. He pivoted to face Kirk who had since joined him and Shyloh. In the far distance, he vaguely made out Uhura jogging towards him.
'Seems like they're doing a great job taking each other out without us intervening', quipped Kirk having just popped his head around the corner to get a better view of the activities. From the vantage point he saw the occasional blast of phaser fire. Arcing his head back, he heaved a deep breath making use of the distance from Uhura; he felt slightly more composed after the impromptu make out session.
'Jesus, they'll destroy our quickest way out of this place. There are 12 shuttles in there, including one of ours', Scotty announced gazing at his tricorder.
'It doesn't matter. We still need to get in there to rescue Spock all whilst avoiding being blown to smithereens should Freedan feel tetchy...' Uhura's sardonic reply as she joined them. Like the rest of the team she was now pressed against the rock face. Her cheek brushing against the cool wall, jutting her back out slightly to prevent her stomach touching the wall. On her right Kirk's silhouette leaning towards Scotty, and just behind her Shyloh. Opposite all them a storage room of some sort long since abandoned.
'Sooner or later someone is going to come running down that corridor, so we need a plan' interjected Kirk.
'How about freezing time so our backup can catch up with us...' Shyloh referring to the motley crew of Irin and Routledge's men who were now free having shifted the fallen debris. 'They're only 8 or 9 hours behind us...'
'Sorry, I'm all out freeze O time. But can I interest you in this alternative...' began Scotty, 'Ok, according to the tricorder readings there are at least 40 armed and combat ready Perpetuans. There's no way in hell we can take them, and live to tell the tale. We need to create a diversion, buy ourselves a window of time to get Spock and a shuttle...'
'Don't forget Getta. He needs to pay for his actions', Uhura interjected.
'I was getting to him...' giving his friend his best dirtiest look. 'Shyloh you should go first and distract whoever is shooting. Captain, Nyota, you two cover me. While this is happening, I'll access the main power terminal just outside the opening. I need to cut the power to everything, and I mean everything - lights and heating it's not going to be nice down here. That should knock out the rest of the explosives, giving us the tactical advantage...' pointing to the infrared head gear 'to get Spock and Getta, acquire a shuttle and get us all the hell out of here...' The plan rapidly tumbling out of Scotty's mouth.
'I suppose, if time allows to also detain Freedan, Samson and Kulj'ita. I'm sure Irin will want to have a word...' Kirk added.
Shyloh curtly nodded to acknowledge her role. 'Captain, shouldn't it be you who comes up with the tactics?' Before skulking off. Scotty and Uhura failed to suppress their laughter during a rare moment of brevity. Kirk's face a picture of confusion and annoyance. He prowled away into the cupboard hoping to find a replacement for his top. On his return, he sported a black leather jacket that was several sizes too big for him and splattered in dried paint, it would have to do. Scotty gave a thumbs up to the newly attired captain.
Shyloh stealthily approached the opening. A quick glance behind, Uhura and Kirk followed close behind so she signalled them to move into position. Wrinkling her nose, the acrid smell of burning metal wafted their way.
Scotty dumped anything extraneous to his plan. Travelling light would be key, 'Let's roll people' running along the corridor, sweeping by Kirk and Uhura. Both exchanged looks wondering what the hell had got into their friend.
Getta jammed his body under the bunk. The last 20 minutes spent listening to muffled firefight, hands firmly clamped over his ears and eyes screwed shut he muttered the Lord's Prayer to himself. This was not how things were meant to go. He was not meant to die like this. A lull in the proceedings he crawled across the floor of the craft. Scorch marks littered the screen where errant shots had landed. Carefully peeking outwards, Freedan, he noted, was nowhere to be found, neither where Samson and Kulj'ita. Awkwardly he settled into the pilot seat, pressing the control panel to coax the vehicle back to life.
The ensuing chaos had caused extensive damage. No single craft was left untouched; shots had ricocheted around the shuttle bay dislodging chunks of rock. A few guards had been crushed to death by the fallen debris, it was a miracle anybody was alive.
The fight had started when Samson took everyone unawares. Using her cat like reflexes and extensive training, she swung down low and took out 3 out of the 5 guards surrounding her. Her arms and legs moved so fast, the men were down on the ground before Freedan could react. Grabbing two phasers, she made short work of the remaining before sprinting back to haul Kulj'ita off into her awaiting shuttle. Having been the one to develop their training, she could, within reason, predict their defensive moves before they made them. Purposely aiming at a shuttle close to Freedan, and then one nearer to her shuttle, she fired the fuel cell. The ensuing explosion scattering everyone giving sufficient cover for her and Kulj'ita to scamper away.
Freedan savagely yelled at his men to commence their indiscriminate attack on the craft. Samson's men seized the opportunity to exert their freedom and side back with their leader; fired in retaliation.
No longer two against many, 'Kill them both! Kill them all' Reason and logic no longer driving Freedan. Taking shelter behind his vessel, the utter destruction of his cousin and the return of what he considered rightfully his was all that mattered. From its nearside he witnessed Getta bobbing up and down in the Starfleet shuttle. Fool doesn't realise the shuttle was immobilised the minute he arrived. He would deal with Getta later, if he survived.
Kirk briefed the team, 'is everyone ready? We're going in 2 minutes...' Hidden behind a protruding rock pillar, they were seconds away from engaging the enemy. 'Try to be careful. There's more than enough people in there that would enjoy killing us if they can...'
'Scotty how much time will you need?' Uhura questioned.
'Maybe 5 minutes to bypass all the programming'. Distractedly, Scotty used the tricorder to sweep the area. 'Of the 12 shuttles in there, 7 are kaput - no bringing them back, 2 have sustained some damage and might fly and 3 are definitely good to go'.
Kirk weighed up Scotty's pronouncement. Could the three of them really keep so many Perpetuans busy enough for Scotty to do the necessary? 'Can you tell where Getta and Spock are in relation to the fully functioning shuttles?' raising his voice to compete with the firefight.
Pulling up a 3D representation of the shuttle bay area, Scotty pointed 'here and here...just our luck Getta's craft has been disabled. I can't tell how or to what extent. And Spock is in this one...it seems ok'. Both vehicles were in opposite ends of the shuttle bay, furthest away from them. The vast area was in the shape of a semi circle. The very top of the dome lay the exit, and where they and the entrance was located was perpendicular to that. Unless Scotty executed his part without a hitch they would all be very exposed.
Scotty looked past the map, eyeballing the terminal. It was in direct view of anyone in the shuttle bay; he might as well have worn a bullseye on his back. As soon as Kirk and co made their move, he would have to work fast. The familiar feeling of fight or flight overtook him. He took deep calming breaths to steady himself. Shyloh appeared unaffected, and Kirk was bouncing on the balls of his feet raring to go, silently signalling the countdown.
'Nyota, are you sure about this?', the question from Scotty loaded with several layers of hidden meaning. He wasn't stupid, a stray shot or a low punch, well the consequences were unthinkable.
With a steely look of determination she whispered 'yes'. Ignoring Kirk's scrutinising back and forth glance between her and Scotty. Feeling for her headgear, once it went dark she and Scotty would be their only hope of getting out of there.
Scotty then nonchalantly whispered to Shyloh 'wouldn't it be more satisfying to see Freedan locked up?'
Frowning, she was about to respond when Kirk's countdown reached zero. With a nod, Shyloh, Uhura and Kirk made their move.
AN: Apologies for the delay. I've been suffering from writers block, and to be honest I still am! The chapter after this one has been very difficult to write and still isn't finished, so I am afraid there might be a gap of a few weeks whilst my muse gets her inspiration again. Anyway feel free to comment or PM with any suggestions, maybe you guys have a better idea how this story can wrap up.