For more information and to purchase published works,

please visit maxwriters. pbwiki. com

The following story takes place after "Needs of the Many"

Star Trek: Maximillian

Strength In Darkness

Chapter V

For years, Jaydin Aleya had encountered hardship, and persevered. She had lived through the Cardassian occupation of Bajor, suffered through dark times and come through it to graduate from Starfleet Academy, and beyond that become Chief Medical Officer of a starship, a position to which many aspire to and few achieve. She had even become the First officer, and one of the most looked-up-to people on the Maximillian. But nothing in Commander Jaydin's career had prepared her for this decision.

The viewscreen went blank, and for a moment she was alone with her thoughts. Five minutes. That was the time limit to decide the fate of her friends and crewmates. Attempt a rescue, and they would certainly be killed. Run away, and they may die anyway. Inwardly, she counted to five, and remembered that despite her inner terror, she was made Commander for a reason. She had the respect of this ship, and she was trusted to have the ability to lead. And lead she would.

She turned to Commander Chubb at armory. "All right, tactical, how long would we need to get in there?"

He shook his head. "We'd have no problem in a straight combat situation. But we couldn't get through their shields quick enough before they had the opportunity to…" He didn't finish.

"And their cloaking device kills any tracking possibility." T'Purr groaned.

"There's almost no chance that they'll let the team go willingly, even after they take off. They are too valuable as hostages." Nilrathi glumly stated, his disdain obvious even through the distortion of having Horta-speak go through the universal translator.

"Especially once they figure out that they're alone in the galaxy. No Romulan or Reman group will want to touch them." Jaydin finished the thought. "But I won't cause their death without a reason, so an attack is out. Any arguments?" She looked around the bridge, not finding any opposition. "Good. We have about two and a half minutes to come up with another alternative."

"What about forgoing an attack, and just sending the rapid response team over?" Ensign Xan offered, hopefully, only to have Jaydin shake her head at the suggestion.

"Wouldn't work. Can't beam through their shields, and there's not enough time to send them through space. Not that the Remans wouldn't notice a force of Klingons heading their way."

It was silent for a moment, each of the command crew racking their brains for a solution. It was Nilrathi's voice, for some reason with a slight British accent, which was heard next. "How about someone they couldn't track?"

Jaydin sighed, sinking into the Captain's chair. "They know our crew roster, and all the races on board. If they see someone coming, they'll know who it is immediately."

"Ah, but I'm talking about someone they wouldn't see coming. And someone who officially isn't on our crew." The electronic equipment on Nirathi's 'cart' pointed towards the Operations chair, which was being filled by Ensign Nefaria in Overload's absence. For a brief moment, Nefaria thought they were talking about him, and the fox's fur bristled with nervousness. Then he realized along with the rest of the crew that the Horta Xenobiologist wasn't talking about him, but instead the small figure perched on the console.

If a Horta could smile, Nilrathi would have as he gestured towards Databit. "Hey little buddy, wanna take a trip?"

All things considered, Critch thought, it could have been worse.

What passed for a brig in this Romulan ship wasn't much different than the standard Federation prisons. A bench to sit on, a cot, and that was about it. Same dreary walls, albeit in a faint green glow, and nothing more. The only main difference was that there was a small circular window. Turock had supposed upon his initial glance that it was actually made to open up, so to expose the prisoners to space if their captors deemed necessary. Not that it would have made much difference, but the away team chose to keep their distance from it. Critch wasn't afraid of it, however, as his android body would keep him safe if it was opened, but he feared instead for the lives of his comrades, since all but Skrit and Overload had no such protection. He stood, staring out the porthole, and looked at his ship, so close, but so very far away.

He wondered how this could have happened so fast, how all of a sudden his well-laid plans could have been thrown into disarray so quickly. It was a good plan, wasn't it? Get the information; get out, very simple idea. It was the complications that screwed everything up. Having to deal with, indeed even communicate with the Remans, was the chance that should not have been taken, and now here they were.

The crew was still, more or less, in one piece. Skrit's energies were stored in his emitters after the overload, so like Critch and Overload, he was in no real danger. The female android leaned back as she sat, holding on to Skrit's emitter. Her face showed no real emotion, as she had switched off her emotion chip. But when it had been on, she was afraid of what was going to happen. This wasn't something that she could conceivably run from like a plant-monster. She'd survive being shunted out to space, but beyond that who knew what other plans the Remans had? Most likely being vaporized in a phaser blast, or some other quick way of disposing of their captives. She shuddered involuntarily. Emotions or not, she didn't want to die.

Kelvok sat silently meditating next to her. He put himself at piece, allowing the situation to envelop him, and waiting for one of two things. The porthole to open, and for death to arrive, or for something inconceivable but not impossible to happen, and deliver them from their fates.

Critch glanced around, not noticing that Admiral T'Kill had sauntered up next to him. The half-Romulan didn't say anything, just watched the Maximillian as it hung in space. Finally, he cleared his throat. "You know, she always looks her best when you can't get to her."

"The Max, sir?"

"Yep. A shame we can't keep this view longer, but I'm sure our 'hosts' have other plans for us."

"It's nice, Admiral…" There was silence for a minute, and Turock glanced at Critch.

"Something you want to say, Captain?"

"I thought you were about to say 'I told you so.'"

Turock chuckled. "Plenty of time for that later. I'm a little surprised your Marconian friends haven't arrived to bust you out yet."

Critch took the comment in stride. "I just figured your Romulan buddies would get here first. Wouldn't want to cause them the trouble." The two stared at each other. Critch finished. "We're not that different, Admiral."

"You think so, do you?"

"Look, I didn't have any choice on coming here, but just like you, I did have a choice on who to become, and here I am."

"Yes, and here we are."

"Two flights, parallel course"

"And I let you fly my ship."

"Thought you were saving that."

"I haven't even begun." Turock took a breath. "Here we are, trapped on a brig, certain death our only option. So what are you going to do about it?"

Critch thought a minute, mulling over the unexpected question. "In perfect circumstances, I'd bust out the porthole and just crawl along the side of the ship, and take them by surprise. Not an option here, would take you and Kelvok down. And I might need Kelvok to come back and fill in for me should I get tired of this job." Critch winked at the Vulcan, who did not make any signs of leaving his meditation.

"So then you'd let everyone die for the sake of keeping myself and Kelvok alive. Failed mission, Captain."

"I've told Kelvok and now I'm telling you. I don't believe in anyone dying, unless I go first. I think we've lost enough Admirals, don't you?" Turock did not react. "There's always a way, Admiral. There's some way to save me, you, and everyone else in here. And I'm going to find it. I just have to think on it." Critch turned back to the window, apparently losing himself in thought once again.

It was originally thought to be a much simpler plan than the way it ended up, but the added complexity did solve some problems, Nilrathi thought as he watched the form move out of the opened shuttle bay, through the protective force field. Databit had eagerly volunteered for the mission, not just to rescue the Captain and Admiral, but also out of worry for his best friend Overload, also held captive. With that out of the way, the mission was explained quickly.

"Ok, technically you're not listed as a member of this crew, as you know. Too many questions for the admirals to have to answer, and most likely you'd have to go through some kind of training program. Lucky for us, that means the Remans won't know about you, and that gives us a 'bit' of an advantage." The Horta chuckled at his own joke, as Databit sat on a corner of Nirathi's apparatus, which was attached painlessly and comfortably to the Horta's exterior. "When we leave, we'll drop you off, you get to the ship and get our people out!"

Databit nodded. "Will propulsion be an issue? I do not wish to be stranded if the Reman vessel leaves as well."

Nilrathi answered quickly. "Not a worry, you'll get a little boost." He was about to give further details when their path was blocked by a tall, silver figure.

Admiral Blobbin scowled menacingly, which was quite unlike his usual jovial self. "I can't believe you'd plan a secret mission without inviting me along! The nerve!"

Jaydin, who had been following behind Nilrathi and Databit, moved in front of them. "You're lucky we even had time to have Lachlan let you know, we need to get him out the door and get out of here!"

"You mean get 'us' out the door. I'm going." Blobbin's form extended a silver foot, and stamped it on the floor.

Jaydin sighed. "Admiral or not, I'm not going to have this mission jeopardized just because you think it'll be 'fun'!"

"Fun? There's no time for that! Turock's over there, and I don't think one little doll (Databit squeaked 'Action Figure!' to this, but was ignored) is going to be able to disable their whole crew. One lucky shot, and adios Admiral! Sayonara, Cap'n! No chance. He'll need backup. I don't need a spacesuit as long as I'm not out there all day, so I can get there as well as him. And don't forget, I'm not a member of this ship either. I fly my banner on the Julius the 2nd! They won't see me coming any more than they'll see him." He stared down Jaydin, who finally threw her hands up.

"Fine. Just get it done!"

Blobbin grinned, and then extended a silver hand. "All right. All aboard!" An old-style boat captain's hat formed out of his body, and Databit jumped onto it. Blobbin looked at his new passenger. "Hold your breath, little buddy."

Databit spoke indignantly. "As you know, androids have no need for aiiirrrumph." His voice muffled as Blobbin retracted the hand, which not only absorbed it back into his mercury body, but also absorbed Databit as well. All that Jaydin and Nilrathi could see of the android was a humanoid form floating around inside Blobbin. Nilrathi, of course, commented.

"That's disgusting."

Jaydin agreed, and Blobbin rolled his eyes. "Welcome to my world. Ok, kids, I'm going to get a rolling start. I can't be out there indefinitely, so make sure you're back as soon as…Hey in there, you have something to let them know to come get us, right?"

There was a muffled "Affirmative!"

"All righty, lets roll. Heh, literally…that's good." Blobbin reformed himself into a ball form, and then rolled the rest of the way to the bay.

Turock stood in silence again, watching out the window with Critch, and then he spoke again. "They're past their curfew."

"Maybe they got an extension."

Almost as if they could hear what they were saying, the Maximillian's engines suddenly fired, and the Sovereign-Class ship jumped into warp quickly. In an instant, the ship was gone, the only trace left was the slight burst of blue in the sky. Critch's heart sunk, though he was careful to hide it from Turock. The Admiral, meanwhile, did not seem to be fazed by the Maximillian's leaving. Instead, he spoke one more time. "Someone once told me that there's a difference in what type of Captain you are. There are bad, good, and great Captains. A bad Captain would simply sit and wait to die. A good Captain would find a way to escape, and return to fight another day. A great Captain, one that you would remember, would not only escape, but make sure every member of his team gets out, and then bring the fires of hell down upon the bastards that imprisoned him, and anyone else that stood in his way." Behind them, Critch could hear the doors open, and heavy footsteps approaching the brig. Turock continued. "Think about what kind of Captain you want to be. Seems like you're off to a good start." He finished, just as they heard chuckling. They turned to see Subcommander S'Rka, smiling as well as a Reman could smile.

"Your friends took the easy way out, and I'm afraid that your stay has been extended slightly."

Critch nodded. "I see. And which planet would you be dropping us off on…?"

S'Rka laughed again. "I see no need to give you shore leave at this time, Captain. You are such precious cargo." He rolled his r slightly. "A Half-breed Federation former captain, two androids, one a Captain himself, and there are those, Mr. T'Kill, that would be quite interested in you. A new order, so to speak. No, I do not believe it will be necessary to rid ourselves of you just yet. It is not yet…time…" He laughed heartily, leaving Critch to wonder just what the big joke was. Critch summoned up his bravado, for another verbal stand.

"May want to rethink that, buddy. I don't plan on staying here much longer."

"Hrmph. Your games are not needed, Captain. You cannot live through the force field that keeps you our prisoner. The only way out is if I open the hatch, and leave you to freeze in space. Perhaps dumping you in a sun somewhere…Ah, possibilities. Regardless, Captain, your fate is not up to you. I own your life now, and it would do you well to remember that." He laughed again, and turned to leave, not missing Critch's muttered 'We'll see.' on the way out.

"Friendly guy." Critch turned again to the window, resuming his stare at the stars along with Turock. The stars calmed the android, letting his mind focus on the many plans and ideas that were formulating in his mind. The calmness stilled him. It was just something about the stars, the distant sun, the small silver blob rapidly coming their way…

"What the hell?" Critch blinked instinctively as the blob struck the window, and showed a bright, loud smile, that extended even as the blob rolled up and out of sight. Critch turned to Turock, his face one of shock. "Admiral…?"

"I…I saw him too, Captain."