AN: Usual disclaimer, the rights to Star Trek etc. belong to someone else.

Writer's block kicked in real hard. I'm very sorry. Anyway on with the story and apologies if the tone has changed…

Chapter 24

Nyota is pregnant. The fact rooted around his consciousness, he was going to be a father. A year ago he would have baulked at the idea; families were for other people. But now, after all they had been through, were going through, the possibility that he might have a family to call his own...Their child, try as he might the gender never clear, on a warm clear day, rays of sunlight dancing across the surface of the lake, following an excitable child. They would sprint back and forth with a toy of some sort, edging ever closer to the shoreline, near the lakeside cabin back on Earth. He and Nyota sat huddled together on the veranda, Kirk's arm swept over her shoulder, pulling her back to his warmth. Nyota's head peacefully resting on the meatier part of his chest, she would settle in, legs pulled up underneath her, perusing the latest journal on a PADD. All three happy and safe in their surroundings, nothing or nobody but their little family for miles. But just as quick, the joyful vision vanished, with the here and now angrily reasserting itself, the cloying scent of charred metal and throb of injuries bringing him back to the melee. Silently, Kirk stood upright, roughly palming his face all while composing himself. There would be time to deal with the news later.

Dumfounded, Getta tentatively reaching out to comfort the Captain, 'I thought you already knew...I mean how could you not...She's-', the babble muffled by a hand covering his mouth.

'Unless you want us all killed, I suggest you speak quieter', a voice snarked on approach to Kirk.

'But..but...she...she's one of them…' Getta shakily pointed towards the retreating figure. Carefully fingering his split lip with the remaining hand.

'No', an uptick of a smile, 'she's with us', Kirk gesturing for Shyloh to join him. Abruptly dismissing further complaints from Getta, he sent the wayward officer to secure the perimeter.

Suitably chastised Getta skulked off. Catching his reflection on the screen of a fallen tablet, he stopped mid stride. That dishevelled person peering back was not someone he recognised. Shoulders hunched over, features accented by dirt, and dried blood; slivers of pale flesh occasionally stood out from a face framed by limp hair. No, no! This won't do. Manicallycarding his fingers through the tangled mess of hair. Getta spat on his cuff, rubbing at the dark spots on his face. Deep breath in...123...deep breath out...123...deep breath in...Yanking down his tunic, he puffed out his chest to quell the swirl of anxiety. With everything else going to shit, he needed a plan, and for the first time in a long time his mind felt clear. Moving once again, the further away from Shyloh and Kirk he moved, it soon dawned on him that being weapons free would get him killed. Getta fretfully meandered around smouldering wreckage and fallen Perpetuans, trying his best to ignore the muffled sounds of someone being restrained.

'Are you nearly done?' Spock enquired.

'Nearly, just need some luck...' a back and forth glance between the terminal and a small remote nestled in his palm.

'Luck is futile to believe in'

'You need a little more faith Mr Spock...anyway we're ready to turn off the lights, let's go-'

'-Something is not right', Spock studiously peering off into the distance.

Treading quietly Scotty positioned himself at Spock's side. As far as he was concerned there was nothing to see, and their current position invited danger. With the little luck they did have, it made no sense to push it.

'The captain…' frowned the Vulcan, 'is distraught'.

'No shit, I'm bloody upset too!' Huffed the jumpy Scotsman indelicately shoving his crewmate away from the heavy footsteps coming their way. 'Err, the shuttle is calling...'

'Nyota is no longer there'.

'How the hell do you know- oh that freaky mind mojo you have'.

'No', still fixated on one spot far off in the distance, '...the freaky mind mojo the Captain now has...' Spock mumbled, pulling his thoughts separate from that of Captain Kirk's. Who unintentionally broadcasted thoughts about everything surrounding him, in particularly finding Getta and being approached by Shyloh. 'We must move over there...' gesturing out towards the open space offering little if any cover.

'You are joking! That way lies madness and death and Perpetuans. Who would do very very very nasty things to us...'

With no mention of Uhura, Scotty probed for information about his best friend. The absence of a positive response, followed by the sudden injection of pace from Spock gave Scotty his answer. A hastily half remembered prayer on route to whatever they might find, proceeded the upsurge of adrenaline masking his bone crunching weariness. There and then he made a vow, that once they returned to the Enterprise he would seek out Ensign Callaway and get that date. Life, he reasoned, was too damned short, especially with crazed Perpetuans running around the place.

Planetside, three Starfleet shuttles triangulated their sensors, calculatingly sweeping the mountain range for any inkling of an opening. In contact with The Enterprise, terse replies denoted the fruitless efforts so far, hails from Admiral Routledge deliberately ignored by all. On all their screens a digital representation of the unforgiving terrain; three blinking beacons linked to their location, as they flew above the thick foliage.

'Security Office Daniels, to crafts Alpha and Omega, do you see that?' the comms crackled to life.

Acting Captain Sulu and Security Officer Kendrick immediately replying in the affirmative, dropping to impulse whilst approaching with caution. Updating the Enterprise, followed by instructions to inform Prime Minister Irin about their findings, Sulu returned his focus to the task at hand. A deep inhale, followed by a steading exhale dampened down the residual feelings of doubt about the self imposed exile from the ship. Every decision made, every order given, calculated to get his friends back palms reverentially rested on the console before directing the shuttle 10 kilometres starboard.

Samson's lithe form hunched over the controls of the shuttle. Her long shapely legs stood astride some panelling, jacket long since strewn onto the floor. Having ordered Kulj'ita to be quiet she manipulated the coils within the panel. She had an idea, and if she were able to pull off, would shift the dynamics of the standoff back into her hands.

'What are you doing?' fretted her lover, still miffed from the earlier rebuke.

Triumphantly, her fist pounded down on the terminal, she missed the jerk of a surprised Kulj'ita. Spinning around to face him, she threw her gaze towards the door Freedan's men had almost cut through.

Swooping downwards to grab her jacket, Samson announced 'we're leaving'.

'How?', Kulj'ita mouthed back mirroring her stance. 'We're vastly outnumbered, your men have betrayed you and most importantly we don't have any weapons...'

Cocking her head to the side, 'Are you sure?'

Stood defiantly against Freedan, Uhura refused to be intimidated. Ankle restraints severely restricted her range of movement, and flanked by guards there was little chance of escape.

'I'm going to enjoy breaking you...'

Freedan swaggered closer, signalling his men to hold her tighter. She was a trained fighter, and there was no way he was going to chance the remote possibility she would slip through his grasp. He had already suffered that indignity with Shyloh, fighting the urge to rub the bridge of his nose.

Stalking around her, 'I understand I have you to blame for my current predicament', the warmth of his breath tickling her earlobe.

Repulsed by his proximity Uhura pitched her head away from him.

Amused by her reaction Freedan languidly straightened up to his full height whilst moving to face her. Uhura impassively gazed through him, barely hiding her disdain of the slow caress of his cool touch trailing down her right cheek. Continuing his circuit around her body, he found himself behind her once again. All throughout gleefully describing the torturous things he would like to do to her. Enthralled by the rapid rise and fall of her diaphragm, Freedan toyed with Uhura's ponytail; yanking harder and harder to punctuate every vindictive statement. Her locks slowly twisted around his fist, he moulded his muscular frame into her back, bringing his left forearm under her neck with just enough pressure to feel the female struggling for breath. Having released her hair, with his free hand he drew out his favourite dagger, pressing the sharp point dangerously close to her jugular, till he drew blood from the vein pulsating tantalizingly close to the surface.

'I spent many hours with the Vulcan. Never cutting deep enough to give him the satisfaction of death...How long do you think you'll last?'

'Fuck you', she rasped.

'I'm sure we'll soon find out...' leering at a visibly shaken Uhura.

Shyloh's superior strength pinned the Captain to spot. With direct line of sight of Freedan, never had so much vitriol promised such retribution. Any sense of propriety demolished, Kirk vowed immediate and complete annihilation of his nemesis. No care given to how far his voice travelled, spittle flew uncontrollably, 'let me go, I have to go save her…'

'I promise you Captain Kirk, he will be dead before this is over', Shyloh all too aware of the damage Freedan could inflict. '…but you cannot just run out there. You are no match for a Perpetuan, and will be killed before you get anywhere near them.'

'Drop your weapons and lie on the ground!'

A guard bawled out the order whist stepping out of the shadows. He crept forward carefully assessing the situation, phaser set to kill, signalling those travelling with him to surround Kirk and Shyloh. Four Perpetuan guards crowded their quarry, blocking the view out a significant proportion of the cave. Out of nowhere a fifth threw Getta to the floor at their feet, little consideration for his weaker human frame. A sickening crunch, followed by a pitiful whimper from the prone man, met with a swift kick to the ribs. Getta's grey pallor confirming something had been broken.

'Shut up!' came the order from the not so unconscious Perpetuan, Getta attempted to roll over when retrieving a weapon.

Violently shrugging free of Shyloh's suddenly limp grasp, the last vestige of Kirk's control slipped as he found himself throwing several punches at the nearest body. A backhand slap, and Kirk lay several feet away in a crumpled heap with a bloodied nose.

'What's up, did I hurt you?' Kirk unsteadily tried to rise to his feet, crimson smeared across his face as blackness edged in from the periphery. Drowsily, he reflected that Bones would be super pissed about the number of times he'd been knocked around the head over the past few weeks, his head lolling from side to side, as two guard dragged him away from his fallen comrade.

'He'd better not be dead, or you'll all be very sorry…' he slurred.

On her knees, Shyloh's attempts to ascertain the extent of Getta's injuries were met with threats. On her feet, palms up in surrender, she followed Kirk casting a forlorn glance at the body lying on the floor.

Calls for Freedan's attention, followed by the sight of a captured Kirk and Shyloh, interest in Uhura waned. With speed that belied his size, he charged towards his two adversaries, plunging a boot straight into the Captain's solar plexus; drawing back his arm to deliver a further blow to the incapacitated Kirk. Uhura's pleading cry of stop, momentarily distracting him, long enough for Shyloh's foot to connect with Freedan's knee splaying him onto the floor. Propped upright on his forearms, he screamed for the guards to retrain her. Springing to his feet, Freedan swiftly plunged his dagger into Shyloh's fleshy side; twisting and snapping the blade off in her body. Watching in morbid fascination at her laboured gasps.

'Cousin!' Samson's voice boomed around the cavern snapping Freedan out of his revelry. 'Stop teasing our guests and listen to me', the demand carried further this time, amplified by the silence, 'or I'll blow us all up'. Satisfied she held his attention, followed her statement with a list demands.

Instructing the guards to bring Shyloh, Kirk and Uhura, Freedan stalked back to the craft where his ever resourceful cousin presented him with yet another challenge.

Uhura followed behind Kirk; who in turn closely followed by Shyloh. Uhura surreptitiously examined him, waves of concern coloured her head to toe inspection. His shuffling gait, the indiscrete jerk of his head to chase away the incoming fog, his limping slowed, almost to a halt. Jostling against the guards hold, Kirk gaped backwards at the right time, their eyes locked as he mouthed I know subtly dropping his gaze to her stomach, before finding himself forcefully propelled forward refusing to break eye contact with his partner as a guard made to shove Uhura,

'Don't you dare touch her', he growled spittle flying everywhere. Before his gaze settled back on Uhura, desperately trying to will her to understand that on pain of death he would never ever let anything happen to her or the baby.

Ordering everyone to fall back, Freedan stood arms outstretched in provocation, and sneered, 'you are testing the limits of my patience cousin. If you can blow us up, why haven't you? Come out now', covering his irritation with faux boredom, 'you have my word you'll be untouched'. Silently warning those on standby grab Samson and her paramour once they appeared.

'Seriously!', Scotty ground out, as he and Spock stooped behind fallen bulkheads. White clouds of coolant venting over the heads, partially obscuring the scene ahead. 'Are explosions the go to move for all Perpetuans? What the hell are we meant to do?'

'Nothing'.

'Nothing', Scotty bitterly repeated.

'That is correct. The craft has all the components to make a bomb, therefore it is reasonable to conclude she is not lying'.

'You're just full of good news today Mr Spock...' Scotty mirthlessly peered down at the remote debating whether or not to plunge the cave into darkness.

Samson boldly strode towards her cousin. Kulj'ita held back, under instructions to do the necessary if either she or he got the hint of any trouble. Coming to a halt 5 metres from her cousin, briefly her attentions fell on a semi-unconscious Shyloh, before refocusing on the situation at hand. Surveying those around her, faces familiar and new, it appeared the area immediately surrounding the craft had been cleared as requested.

'Well, what do you want?' Freedan angrily ground out.

'A working shuttle and then I'll be on my way as we agreed before all of this...', waving airily towards the cave, 'turned to shit…'

'And why would I do that?'

'I already told you…'

'You wouldn't dare'.

'Wouldn't I? I am really surprised you doubt me'. A deliberate glance at Kulj'ita, an understanding between the two.

A small explosion reverberated around the cavern, the rear nissle furthest away from them smouldering.

'Fine', he gritted out.

At the sound of agreement Kulj'ita scurried down the ramp. Low so only Samson could hear, 'how do you know which craft to take?'

Knowingly she smiled, before returning her attentions to Freedan. 'I'll be taking your craft.' All too aware that the craft held the Sunstones. 'Sensors show it's works, and it's the closest to this position'.

'Are you crazy?! Do you take me for fool', drawing his phaser point blank at her face.

Reaching out behind her, never once taking her eyes of Freedan, grasping Kulj'ita tunic, 'Now!' she screamed.

The two guards holding Uhura surged forward. Freedan retaliated, firing at the incoming bodies, injuring one, as the other fired indiscriminately at Freedan's men who now scattered to avoid the explosive vessel. Weapons fire recoiled around the cave, Uhura now left unattended while Perpetuans once again turned against each other. Several of Freedan's men charged towards Samson, one roundhouse kick, and several punches later, both she and Kulj'ita held their weapons, as the guards lay unconscious on the floor. In utter shock, Freedan returned his attention to Samson, this time no hesitation firing at his cousin, who was now sprinting towards his vessel with Kulj'ita.

In the commotion, Kirk used all his might to drive his elbow into the nearest guard running by, then swinging his bound hands upwards, caught the Perpetuan in his downward phase whilst clutching his abdomen. Dropping to his haunches, he frantically looked for fallen keys to open the cuffs. Uhura used the distraction to commando crawl out of sight. Firm hands painfully cajoled her upright, as she viciously swung her arms around, it took the might of Scotty to calm her down, as he steadfastly worked to free her from her constraints. Dragging her into a bone crushing hug, 'I've missed you lassie', voice breaking 'don't do that to me again'.

Spock joined the affray, firing off at anyone in his way, sliding towards Kirk he signalled for the Captain to hold his arms out straight, firing to split the manacles.

'Give me a weapon', he stepped up to search for Uhura.

'I know that look', Scotty intoned as he and Uhura joined Kirk and Spock. They had been forgotten now. Urgent and succinct conversation about what had come to pass, and what needed to be done. Kirk declared his intent to go after Freedan and Samson, buoyed by the imperceptible nod of Uhura in agreement. Whipping out his tricorder, Scotty waved it over Kirk just as he had after discovering Uhura. Grimly Kirk waited for the prognoses. Lips pursed Scotty announced there was nothing that couldn't wait until they got back to the Enterprise.

'Not that I don't love having us reunited, we, as in I, have another bomb to disable'. Scotty's eyes rolling at the absurd notion, depositing the remote in Kirk's hand. 'Oh, it works like a switch, make it dark, make it light, you have the control', before dashing towards the Samson's shuttle.

Uhura's attention veered on Shyloh splayed on the floor, 'I have help her…' About to move off, the electric touch of Kirk pulled her back. Spock wisely left them alone, sensing the Captain's need be with Uhura. Tempering down the pathological need to be both near and away from the Captain, brown eyes locked into blue waiting for the onslaught of questions she would no doubt ask if the situation had been reversed.

'We're ok', opening up the channels of communication.

Kirk mutely nodded, frightened to say anything, uncertain what he would say, even if he could speak. Sighing, he cupped her cheek, manoeuvring his hand to the back of her neck before pulling her forwards. His free hand lazily drew shapes upon her hip, certain if he kept his hand occupied, it wouldn't skirt round to feel the new life growing in Uhura.

Foreheads touching, Uhura rested her hand to on his wrist. Mentally counting along with the thrum of his steady pulse, all other sound faded away, and just for a second her eyes drifted shut. So tired...but can't stop...before all sounds rushed back into focus. And in that moment it was as if every question Kirk needed answered had been plucked from his mind into her own. Uhura jerked back, 'stay alive' she ordered, and then was gone with weapon in hand.

Left once again, Kirk passively stood alone watching Uhura sprint away from him. He was so tired, but if he stopped they would all die down there. Interrupted by Spock, 'my eyesight is just as functional in low levels of light as it is now', precipitating the chase to locate Freedan and Samson. Kirk stiffly followed, passing the shuttle he screamed out, 'Scotty, I need those damn goggles!' The goggles sailed through the air, right into his outstretched hand. Hastily shoved over his head, button finally pressed everything descended into darkness.