AN: Usual disclaimer, the rights to Star Trek etc belong to someone else. Please read and review – constructive feedback will help me finalise the remaining chapters. Big thanks to the reviewers!

Chapter 7

'Haveyour phasers set to kill', this was Zarel's last piece of advice as they stepped on the transporter. A split second later they were in the main square. It was deserted. All three approached with caution, according to Sulu's watch they had just over two hours to get in, find the crew and get out. Just out of sight of the entrance to the Elder Tower, twenty guards stood fixed to the point. Scanning in all directions, they seemed to be expecting trouble. 'What now?', whispered McCoy from the behind the wall they were hiding behind. Zarel was frowning, he could tell something was afoot. He spoke into his communicator, trying to get hold of Katrin. There was nothing but static. 'Well...', more forcefully. Zarel whispered. Something is wrong, there are never this many guards out front at this time', suddenly his confident tone hinted of something else...fear. 'Katrin is not answering, neither are other member back at the camp'. Zarel then attempted to read one of the guard's thoughts. He picked the youngest one, who he recognised as a new recruit and therefore less able to sense Zarel's presence. '-resistance mobilising, suspicious behaviour, deactivating unknown devices-'. Zarel slumped back, 'our plans, they know...' Not feeling particularly sympathetic 'So what? We came here to rescue our friends, not be party to a civil uprising. I'm going to find a way in'. McCoy was about to leave, when Zarel pulled him back. 'Don't be reckless. I will help you, if only to put an end to Déjà once and for all'. He hurriedly explained his plan, gave them his weapons and scurried away. McCoy and Sulu watched as he approached the guards. Hands up he appeared to be surrendering. 'Now!' Came the telepathic command from Zarel. McCoy and Sulu began firing, they were soon joined by 100 resistance members emerging from the shadows charging towards the guards.

'Bring Kirk and get the codes', Déjà barked at Tenus. 'What about the others?', Tenus stared down at the still bodies of Uhura and Kirk. About to confirm a decision, panicked mutterings rang from outside the room. A guard ran in 'we're under attack!', followed by the force of the first set of devices rocking the building, the screams of the injured punctuated the chaos that followed. Elders and guards scattered keen to save their own lives. Only Déjà, Tenus, Findius and the crew of the enterprise remained. Findius took charge '- No time to get to the grand hall, Tenus get the codes from Kirk, and dispose of him. I'll deal with the woman'. He rushed over to Uhura, arm straight out phaser pointed at her heart. Something in Spock was awaken, he had to protect Uhura. He shoulder barged Findius to the floor. They fought, Findius trying to gouge out Spock's eyes, Spock pummelling Findius. 'Spock what are you doing!' Déjà's alarmed voice reached out as he was beyond reason. He couldn't hear her, his primal side had taken over. Angry that he had violated Uhura, he channelled all his ire into the savage beating. Punch after punch, soon Findius was left a bloody mess. With an almighty twist he snapped Findius' neck. He then screamed, wanting to purge his system of the unwanted emotions. Another explosion, this time closer to the interrogation room, knocked everyone off their feet. Monitors and equipment crashed to the floor. In the mayhem Kirk managed to free himself and crawl past the dead body of Tenus - crushed by a falling beam. He approached Uhura with trepidation and began undoing her restraints, her eyes glassy from all she had been subjected to. As he was about to assess her life signs, Déjà threw herself at him and began clawing at his face.

McCoy, Sulu and Zarel fought their way into the Elder Tower and up several flights of stairs. The intensity of the explosions was unexpected, and knocked out the turbolifts. 'I thought you said they'd been deactivated?!' McCoy shouted above the fire fight. In his line of sight three guards covered an exit. Sulu had engaged in hand to hand combat with several guards, and now sported a nasty gash on his temple. He frantically looked around for another vantage point. The other resistance members had spread throughout the building, mobilising undercover operatives doing what they could to get the upperhand. Zarel was trying to sense where Déjà was, this was their best bet finding the missing crewmates, as they would almost certainly be with her. 'She is near the interrogation section', he wrinkled his face with intense concentration 'they're alive! Your friends are alive, but very weak'. Indicating to McCoy and Sulu where the interrogation section was, they soon realised they had no hope of getting there without assistance. The Elder Tower started groaning, the sound of twisted metal and fall debris surrounded them. 'We need a distraction...', Sulu was interrupted by another explosion, with luck on their side it had killed the guards. 'About time someone was looking out for us', McCoy backhandedly commented as they crept forward to the exit. The sound of heavy breathing, fire fight, flickering lights and the occasional skirmish filtered through.

In no state to fight back, Déjà appeared to have the upper hand against Kirk. Just then Spock grabbed her off Kirk attempting to subdue her with a Vulcan nerve pinch. 'Run!' He screamed, imploring Kirk to take Uhura. 'I can't hold her much longer, go'. Kirk scrambled to his feet and pulled Uhura up to her feet. She stared forlornly at Spock, his face was the last thing she saw as she and Kirk ran out of interrogation room 4. They sprinted into the corridor, their aim to get out of the Elder Tower. Another explosion rocked the building and Kirk stumbled awkwardly. Uhura shouted 'Captain!' She offered her hand to pull him up, as soon as they touched he sensed her confusion about him and she sensed his need for her. Quickly, they jumped apart. 'Let's go', he ordered stiffly. Kirk remained in the lead, they moved in silence, both deep in thought.

Uhura wanted to say something, she just didn't have the words. Throughout the torture she could hear Tenus mocking her, 'where's your Vulcan now?', then Spock had forced them to meld. She couldn't make any sense out of it, she hated him – he doubted their bond, she loved him – he showed her during the meld, she feared him – he meant to kill Kirk... She felt as if she didn't know him anymore, his violation had splintered the barriers between 'right' and 'need'. She didn't ask Kirk to love her, and had not encouraged him. Yes, she found Kirk attractive, most women did. Would she have considered Kirk if that night at the bar ended differently? Maybe, she could have easily fallen for his charm. But she had seen the way he was at the academy – a different girl every week. He was never going to settle down, and she had no intention of being a notch on his bedpost. She watched Kirk as he jogged in front of her, he wasn't ripped, but he was well defined. She had spied him hitting the weights hard, often to exertion. She then thought about his face, his eyes so blue, sometimes she felt like the only person in the room when he looked at her. She had wondered if he really understood the effect he had on women, then smiled knowingly, of course he did. He turned round to check she was still behind him, she caught him looking her up and down - scrutinising her. He turned back. Back to her thoughts...yes, he was a pain constantly trying to shoehorn himself into her life, but she did consider him a friend. They enjoyed each other's company, and would often find themselves at the same social events. To the exclusion of the others, he would draw her into debates, and she would find herself impressed that he could hold his own against her. Often thinking outside the box, it was refreshing to see that side of him. Sighing, she felt numb, and tried to push further thoughts of Kirk out of her mind. It frightened her to think that she could unknowingly desire someone else, so she willed herself to think about Spock, 'we can't leave him, we need to go back' she said out aloud, fixed to the spot.

He sensed her indecision and felt uneasy. He did not want to be that guy, the one holding on just incase it was his chance, but he realised he was. He had dated many women, found them attractive, but none made him want to settle down. McCoy had accused him of being commitment phobic, but if he was truthful it was because of Uhura. He swore to himself he'd be next, and hopefully, the last in line to claim her heart. When he glanced at her, he wondered 'what now?' He didn't want what he felt about her to affect their friendship, or her relationship. But he desired her, in this crazy situation all he wanted was to be with her – it made his head hurt. He heard her say something about Spock, 'I know', was all he could reply. Before he could register what she meant, they both heard heavy footsteps coming towards them, not knowing it was the resistance, Kirk and Uhura searched for somewhere to hide as more bombs detonated around them.

Spock and Déjà struggled for dominance. She elbowed his stomach, winding him. He loosened his grip on her and she gained enough space to telepathically subdue him. She shook with rage. Her plans had been ruined, she had underestimated his love for the human. Limping she forced Spock to follow her, they were going to escape the Elder Tower, but not before she got her codes from him. Déjà's head spiked upwards, a presence she had not felt in a long time was nearby - 'Zarel', she picked up their pace. McCoy, Sulu and Zarel arrived at the interrogation section. The sound of fighting echoed throughout the halls. Rows of rooms, some destroyed, faced them. McCoy rushed 'which one? An increasing sense of urgency overwhelmed him. Zarel had stood rooted to the spot 'Déjà', he uttered. He then shook his head to clear the fog, 'come, this way!', as they dodged debris and bodies Sulu's communicator began to crackle, whoever was speaking from the Enterprise was very faint and static interrupted the message 'fire fight...help...shields', then silence again. The explosions must have destabilised the shields. Sulu allowed himself to feel slight frisson of joy, maybe they'd get through this just yet.

Déjà hurried to the grand hall, forcing Spock to match her pace. She had to get there before Zarel did, she knew he would try to destroy her comms module. It was the only one which would accept the inputting of code for the Klingon homeworld. She had insisted it was this way as she didn't trust the other Elders. As Imperial Regent they were not going to disobey her orders. She could feel Spock mentally fighting back, his attacks would momentarily disoriented her as he looked for a way to force her to let him go. Guard passed them on the way to the hall, loyal to the end, they would kill to protect her. 'Where are we going?', McCoy wanted to get to his friends. All the floors looked the same. 'To the top, the grand hall. We have to get there before Déjà'. Sulu and McCoy abruptly stopped. 'The hell we do. We must find the Captain, Spock and Uhura', Sulu asserted. Zarel carried on, he no longer cared what the humans wanted, he had a chance to end his sister's tyrannical rule. He was not going to waste it. McCoy and Sulu debated what to do, without Zarel's help they had no idea how to locate their friends. However his vendetta against his sister placed all their lives in even more danger. The building could not stand more devices going off. Their decision process was cut short, behind them moved 10 guards phasers firing. They scanned the remaining route for doors to one of the floors there were none. They began running, legs pumping harder than they ever had. The most violent explosion yet, the stairway listed to the right and fell away from the wall, screams from the guards faded as they plummeted to their deaths.

AN: There are only three more chapters left after this one.