*2233 U.S.S Kelvin*
Dru'Kenna's tail twitched in agitation. On hand clutching the bag of sweets she had been sharing among the bridge crew, and the other nervously clenched in the shirt hem of her father's uniform. The air was thick with tension, and it set her on edge. Her mother was down in engineering going over some of the warp core readings. She had been offering the navigation officers on of her new creations, they where a variation on English toffee with dried cherries and almonds mixed in, when the computers started beeping and flashing sporadically. Dru'Kenna had backed to the side of the door the lift, hoping to stay out of the way. Her father had circled to stand to her side, eyes sharpy scanning, taking in the situation.
The communications to Starfleet and other parts of the ship blurred together causing her ears to twitch as she tried to sperate the sounds.
"USS Kelvin, go for Starfleet base."
"Starfleet Base."
"We sent you a transmission, did you receive?"
"Kelvin, you double-check those readings?"
"Our gravitational sensors are going crazy here. You should see this. It looks like a lightning storm."
"What you've sent us doesn't seem possible."
Voh'Rex growled, and Dru'Kenna glanced nervously up at her father. He breathed deeply through his nose before glancing down at her with an irritated grin. "Starfleet command tends to deny the unknown for a group of explores. Its almost like they don't expect us to come across anything new or unknown."
Dru'Kenna smiled weakly he tail reaching up to wrap around her father's wrist. He absently reached over and soothingly rubbed her back just between her wing joints.
The lift opened and the Ryuchanda turned in tandem as Captain Robau and Officer Pitts came barreling in Captain Robau taking in the situation and glancing at several screens.
"Polarize the view screen." The captain ordered, with more calm than Dru'Kenna felt.
She watched as First officer Kirk sped past toward one of the monitors, he called to Robau over his shoulder. "Captain, we have visual."
Robau took his position in the captain's chair brow furrowed as the screens cleared.
"Captain, we have visual."
Dru'Kenna glanced over at the view screen and felt her stomach drop as her father cursed under his breath. Through what looked like an electric blackhole dozens of massive knife-edge points emerged. It was a ship, and it was massive. Dru'Kenna swallowed thickly, it had to be miles long. Black or dark green metal plating made it look ominous in the reflecting light of the lightning storm.
Dru'Kenna jumped, heart hammering as alarms went off and personnel scrambled about. Tugging in her father's uniform she waited till he turned attention to her. "Should I go back to our quarters father? I do not wish to be in the way."
Voh'Rex hummed in thought before firmly shaking his head, pulling her into his side in a one-armed hug. "With your mother in engineering I would rather you be near then on your own. Stay back by the wall and do not get underfoot." She nodded in assent before turning back to the chaos of the bridge as her father stepped forward to the captain's side.
Voices battered her ears, and she tilted them flat against her skull in an effort to muffle the sounds attempting to speak over each other in her blue curls.
"Oh my God."
"I have a reading."
"They've locked weapons on us!"
Captain Robau Straightened in his chair and barked, "Red Alert!"
"Torpedo locked on us at 320° mach 2!" George Kirk desperately reported as the computers highlighted the incoming projectiles.
The captain pressed a button on his chair, never taking his eyes off the screens. "Arm weapons! Evasive pattern delta 5!"
"Incoming blasts!" Kirk shouted just as they where stuck. The impact rocked the ship sending personnel flying from their seats and those unfortunate enough standing sprawling. Dru'Kenna desperately clung to a support beam on the wall to keep her place as she landed on her butt.
"Fire all phasers!" The captain barked. "Damage report."
Dru'Kenna's ears twitched as her mother's voice crackled though the com on the captain's chair.
"Warp drive's been knocked out. Never seen anything like this." Shi'Channa reported followed quickly by a male voice.
"Weapons offline. Main power at 38%."
"They're firing another!" Dru'Kenna curled in on herself as her father called out the warning.
"All power to forward shields!"
The ship rocked again as they were bombarded. Voh'Rex staggered and Dru'Kenna clutched her chest, agony ripping thought her. her ears ringing and her eyes welled with tears as she met her father's distraught gaze.
She barely registered as the report came through. Decks 17, 13 and Engineering, we have confirmed casualties."
Dru'Kenna bit back a sob. Her whole frame racked; she couldn't feel her. the thread around her heart was gone, severed. "Mother…" she chocked in a devastated whisper. Her father's thread pulsed with agony, but still he tried to send comfort, just before he shielded his heart from her. he straightened jaw set hard as steel, and eyes burning with fury.
"11% and dropping. 10%. Shields at 9% we're dropping..." Kirk called out desperately.
"All remaining power to forward shields." Captain Robau said before leaning over to a nearby female officer. "Prepare shuttles for evacuation."
"Hello."
Dru'Kenna froze as the smooth dark voice echoed across the bridge. The resulting silence was almost as terrifying. Somehow they had connected a communication channel. A cocky looking Romulan grinned at the crew wickedly from the viewing screen.
"My commander requests the presence of your captain in order to negotiate a ceasefire. You will come aboard our ship via shuttlecraft."
Voh'Rex growled bringing the Romulan up short as he glanced over and took in father. His eyebrows rose and his mouth opened slightly in surprise before his face blanked and he turned back to Captain Robau. "Your refusal would be unwise." He smiled before the connection was cut.
For a moment the only sound was the heavy breathing of the terrified bridge crew. The captain leaned over to Kirk and murmured, "Walk with me." He'd barely gotten the sentence out when her father rounded on him snarling, tail lashing back and forth in aggressive agitation.
"Captain! You cannot be serious!" her father stalked forward, all but towering above the man. "You can't go over there, not alone! I am your security officer. Let me come with, we stand a better chance if…."
"That's enough Lt Commander." Robau barked, and Dru'Kenna winced as her father's ears flattened against his head, his nostrils flaring as he attempted to rain in his rage. "You are to remain here and assist with the evacuation preparations. That's and order."
She watched as her father ground his jaw before slamming his fist across his chest in a salute. "Aye sir."
The room was frozen as Kirk followed the captain out. It was almost as if no one dared breath until the first officer returned and started issuing orders for evacuation preparations. Sending personnel scrambling. Kirk settled into the captain's chair as her father stalked over to the screen bringing up a visual of Captain Robau's vitals on screen as they watched the shuttled he'd boarded disappear into the depths of the Romulan ship.
"His heart rate's elevated." Her father snarled in report.
For a while it didn't seem like there was any change until in a violent wail, red flashed across the screen. 'TERMENATED'.
Dru'Kenna felt numb as tears filled her eyes, she couldn't look away from the flashing words as the crew scrambled around her.
She didn't snap out of it until on of the blasts sent her sprawling. Several consoles exploded, dropping the personnel at those stations like rocks.
She glanced up as Kirk ran across the bridge. "I'm initiating general order 13, we're evacuating!" the crew answered with 'Ayes' and Dru'Kenna managed to drag herself over to an injured crew member and helped them limp toward the lift.
The intercom blared to life just as she handed the injured off to those in the lift, turning and running back down the hall to the bridge.
"All decks, this is the captain speaking, evacuate the ship immediately. Get your designated shuttlecraft, begin evacuating."
She ran in just as Kirk got a communication from his wife. He father was at the main console typing away at something and she skidded to a stop beside him.
"George."
"You're okay, thank God. I have medical shuttle 37 standing by. Get to it now. Can you do that?"
"Yes."
"Everything's gonna be okay. Do exactly as I say, shuttle 37."
Winona was breathing heavily through the com, "George, it's coming, our baby. It's coming now."
Dru'Kenna shared a glance with her father, talk about inopportune timing.
Kirk released a shaky breath. "I'm on my way."
He headed toward the navigation turning nobs and dials.
"Captain!" her father's plea turned her back to him; his expression was terrified. She found out why as a robotic voice broke the questioning silence.
"Autopilot function has been destroyed. Manual operation only."
Kirk set his jaw, breath ragged as he shut his eyes. Dru'Kenna could practically taste his despair on the air.
"Voh'Rex, take your daughter to the ev…" and explosion rocked the ship again. The wall in the hall caved, air being sucked out as the door to the bridge sealed shut to prevent them from being sucked thought he hole in the side. Quickly followed by another tremor and a metallic grown as the terminal Kirk was at exploded, sending him flying into the wall, screaming out as he landed in a heap of metal and electronics.
"Captain!" her father called out and Dru'Kenna ran over to Kirk. His legs where impaled by various metal shards and pieces. His face was bright red as he tried to control his screams of pain. Dru'Kenna tore strips of her shirt to attempt to staunch the blood flow.
"Dru'Kenna!" Her father called from the console, desperately turning nobs and pressing buttons in a flurry of motion.
"Captain Kirks hurt; his legs are a mangled mess." She chocked past her thickening throat.
Her father snarled, deep, animalistic, and furious. Kirk cried out as Dru'Kenna threw his arm over her shoulder and hoisted him to his feet, taking most of his weight.
Glancing over she saw the steely set to her father's shoulders. He didn't look up from the console as he gestured to the side of the bridge with a flick of his tail. "There is an escape pod on the side console of that wall, enter the emergency codes your mother… that we gave you, and secure Captain Kirk inside, it will be a tight fit but I have to finish this so we can all get away and I will be over shortly."
Kirk Opened his mouth to protest but clenched his jaw in a scream as he stumbled slamming into on of the consoles, impaling fragments further into his leg.
"Now Dru'Kenna!" her father snarled, and it was more instinctual to follow orders in that aggressive bark than actual cognitive thought. She dragged George over to the panel, numbing entering codes her parents had drilled into her before they had even gotten on the ship nearly a year ago. A circular door appeared, sliding back to reveal a small cockpit with chairs with securing straps and bars.
She dragged Kirk through the opening, apologizing every time he cried out. Once she'd secured him she turned to call out to her father and screamed in terror as the door slid closed. She ran forward desperately pressing the release button only to have the computer tell her access denied.
'Launch protocols initiated'
"NO FATHER!" Dru'Kenna screamed pounding her fists on the door, not even leaving a dent in them.
Kirk reached over bring a small screen up on the side of the pod. "Voh'Rex! What the hell are you doing?!"
Dru'Kenna spun around as her father's image came up on the screen. He was still working furiously on the console but raised his head to meet her gaze even as he addressed Kirk.
"I've already sent orders to your wife's shuttle to take off sir. They launched a few minutes ago. You heard the computer the autopilot is disabled the ship. The shuttles will never make it if I don't fight them off. They need to think there is still a force on the Kelvin to contend with."
"Disable the launch sequence immediately, this isn't your responsibility it's the captains!" Kirk snarled.
Dru'Kenna felt her legs give out and she felt a keening wail erupt from her throat as she sent desperate pleas through her father's thread, but he'd shielded himself completely. "Father! Please!" she begged, tears pouring down her face.
His expression softened. "I'm sorry my bright fire. But I won't get to see the songs your soul will weave."
She shook her head, clawed hands fisting in her blue curls, pulling desperately in frustrated helplessness.
"Voh'Rex I order you…." Kirk tried again but a rumble of the pod around them as the pod took off cut him short, sending Dru'Kenna rolling across the floor as the escape pod launched away from the Kelvin.
"I am Ryuchanda." Her father said calmly. "My soul's fire is combat, I've lived fire and I will die by it."
Dru'Kenna's curled into a ball on the floor, face buried in her hands as she sobbed. 'useless' she spat at herself. 'Nothing you can do, you left him to die.'
"Voh'Rex…." Kirk's voice was thick with sorrow, and he slammed his fist angrily into the wall beside him.
"It has been my honor to serve Starfleet Captain." Her father continued, it was difficult to understand him as sparks and explosions rattled in the background. "This past year has made my soul sing with all of the good we have achieved. And I would do a great disservice to you, and your wife if I had let you stay George."
Dru'Kenna lifted her head slightly at the silence to see him smile sadly at her though the screen. "Dru'Kenna. My song, my starlight. You where the greatest flame your mother and I ever sparked. You give to everyone, and you have an honest heart. I know this will be hard, your fire with sputter, but you can't let it go out." She chocked back a hiccupping sob and crawled over to the screen placing her forehead against it, headless of the tears.
"Father, I can't…..not without you and Mother. Don't leave me alone." She begged desperately. And she could feel her heart shattering at his sad smile.
"You have always made me proud daughter." He glanced to the side. "George. A favor if I may."
Kirk didn't even bother to try and hide his tears as he nodded.
"Watch after our girl. Don't let her flame go out. She has much to offer the universe."
Kirk nodded, reaching out and pulling Dru'Kenna to him and she buried her face in his chest. "I'll keep her safe, Voh, you have my word."
A beeping had her pulling back to look at the screen. Her father met her gaze a few tears fell.
"I love you Starlight, I know you'll make us prou…" he was cut off in a massive explosion before the screen crackled and went to static.
"FATHER!" she slept at the screen only for George to pull her back, she struggled but soon collapsed against him, he brushed his fingers down her back as she sobbed into him. She couldn't feel the threads, she was disconnected, lost, alone.
Time seemed to blur as she cried until she felt numb, she slumped against the wall, staring off into space. She only half heard as Kirk contacted his wife's shuttle, the baby had survived, and they had discussed names, landing finally on James. Dru'Kenna pulled her knees to her chest desperately praying to the sky goddess that this was a terrible dream, and she wanted to wake up. To have her mother shaking her awake so they could make breakfast together before she trained with her father on the holodeck.
But she never did wake up, not when a cargo ship picked up the escape pod. Not when George was helped onto a med shuttle, and she was led numbly after him. And not when they met up with Winona and Dr Sonita at a Starfleet hospital. She felt numb as she sat on one of the chairs in the med-room they were assigned she blinked as a motion in front of her had her raising her head. George smiled at her from his hoverchair, they had been drifting in that escape pod a long time, the damage to his legs left untreated made it impossible to reverse al the damage. He had a small blue wrapped bundle
"Hey Dru" George said quietly, and she blinked at the unfamiliar nickname. She nearly flinched as he leaned forward and helped nestle a small bundle in her arms "Watch his head."
'Dru' looked down and her breath caught at the brown irises that blinked up at her. she felt her heart thaw slightly as she smiled sadly down at the newly named James Tiberius Kirk. The baby gurgled and grabbed hold of her finger and she couldn't help but smile. She took a deep, shuttering breath before she glanced up at George and Winona who looked at her expectantly.
With a small smile she whispered, "He has a strong soul."
Winona came around and wrapped her in a hug, carful of the small bundle in her arms. "It won't be easy sweetheart, but you're not alone. I promise, we won't leave you alone."
Unknown to the grieving family, planets away another baby was opening his near identical Brown eyes to gaze up at the smiling face of his human mother and the stoic calm of his Vulcan father.