Chapter 19: The Illusion:

Author's Note: I want to fairly warn you that this chapter contains character death and is not for the weak at heart. Remember that I don't own romulans or Star Trek and to review at the end of this chapter.

"So I heard you helped break us all out of insanity." Sorya said.

"Yep." Tenya replied.

"And I was beginning to think Jalad was the only genius on this ship."

"It wasn't really genius. A five year old could have came up with the same plan."

"Come on Tenya. Really? Give yourself some credit. What you did was genius."

"I suppose it was."

"That's the spirit!"

"Tenya? Sorya?" Kelaar walked in asking.

"Yes sir!" Sorya said immediately standing up even straighter looking alert and ready for orders.

"We received a distress call from an unidentified planet. Zorek wants you to see what you can do to help. Jalad will go along with you. Be careful." Kelaar said.

"Don't worry I am the very heart of caution."

Tenya and Sorya meet a slightly excited Jalad.

"Hey guys! You ready to do some good?" Jalad asked.

"Of course, Jalad! Let's go!" Tenya said smiling.

They all got in the shuttle and Jalad piloted it down to the strange planet. They landed in a clearing in the midst of some trees. There seemed to be no sign of any life.

Sorya began looking nervous and screamed as Jalad was severly wounded by one of the natives. She snapped into action and disarmed the native and then fought him in hand to hand combat. He was much bigger and scarier, but Sorya had over seventy years of experience. She was able to fight him off easily.

While Sorya was fighting, Tenya tended to Jalad as best as she could. Jalad was bleeding badly. He was barely hanging on to life.

"Come on Jalad you've got to fight this."

"I'm. S- sorry. Tenya." Jalad said weakly slowing dying as she held him.

"No! Jalad!" Tenya shouted and then she screamed out in agony and began to cry.

Sorya put a hand on Tenya's shoulder in attempt to comfort her, "I'm so sorry, Tenya."

"I- I can't believe he is g- gone."

"I think this was a setup. We have to get out of here."

"Your right. Help me with Jalad. He would want us to bring his body home."

Sorya helped Tenya carry Jalad back to the shuttle. Once they got him inside, they realized that there was an army of natives surrounding them pointing spears at them.

"Cum vit up." The native said.

"What?" Tenya asked confused.

"He wants us to come with him." Sorya said.

"Well, it's not like we have any choice anyways."

Sorya and Tenya followed the natives and the natives lead them to some sort of prison cell.

"I can't believe this! We tried to help them and they put us in some sort of jail or whatever."

"I can't believe it. This is the second time this has happened to me!"

"Second?"

"I once tried to help this young woman Jackalyn and the next thing you know, I was surrounded by an army of her servants who were pointing guns at me."

"Oh the elements! That's horrible!"

"The worst part is... is that it took me eleven years to escape. Who knows how long we'll stay trapped here."

"Hopefully, it's not that long. If only Jalad were still alive. He would think up a brilliant idea to get us out of here."

"Yeh, poor Jalad. I guess we're on our own."

Sorya and Tenya sat in there for days. Sorya paced trying to think of a way out. Tenya would often break into tears still very sad over Jalad's death. Sorya eventually broke down crying as well unable to withstand the pain of the loss anymore. As she was crying, she noticed the cell they were in had a design flaw.

"Tenya! Tenya whip away your tears and stop crying. I think we're getting out of here!"

When the guards were changing shifts Sorya lead Tenya out of the ship. Incredibly, the shuttle was still where it was but it was heavily guarded. Sorya easily took out each guard and piloted the shuttle back to the ship.

"We made it!" Sorya exclaimed.

They were immediately meet by Kelaar.

"Girls what happened? You were gone for over a weak! And where is Jalad?!" Kelaar said.

"Jalad's body is still in the shuttle." Sorya said sadly.

"Jalad's body?! ...Oh no... oh no... oh the elements no."

"I'm sorry, Kelaar, but he's gone. The distress call... it- it was all a trap. They killed Jalad and imprisoned me and Tenya. I failed my duties to protect us."

"It wasn't your fault, Sorya. None of us would have expected an atttack, but why would they want to attack us?"

"I don't know, but we have to bring the bad news to Zorek. Cubius should hear the bad news to."

"Poor Cubius. He's going to be more heartbroken than I am." Tenya commented.

"Come on. Let's uh- tell the bad news." Kelaar said sadly.

They nervously went to the bridge and Zorek looked concerned, "Are you two alright? Where's Jalad?"

"We're alright, but Jalad is dead." Tenya announced beginning to cry again.

Zorek's expression twisted into fury and pain and he slammed his hands down hard onto the arms of his chair, "Damn it! It was those people that sent us the distress call, wasn't it?!"

"Y- yes sir."

Zorek began to cry, "We cannot allow them to get away with tricking us!"

"Just say the orders, sir and there won't be any of them left to fool another victim." Sorya said.

"No, Sorya. There has to be another way to take vengeance. Jalad, wouldn't want us to kill them."

"Perhaps we can arrest them and have them face a trial back home."

"Can your security team handle that Sorya?"

"I have the utmost confidence in my men and women."

"Then see to it."

"Yes, sir."

Sorya got right to work and Zorek still cried.

"Kelaar, send Cubius to the bridge."

"Yes, sir."

Cubius came to the bridge and saw Zorek crying and Kelaar looking injured. He immediately sensed that something very bad had happened.

"Is there bad news, sir?" Cubius asked nervously.

"Yes, Cubius. Jalad is dead."

Cubius gasped and tears began falling from his eyes, "No... but..."

Cubius broke out into more tears and cried harder and began sobbing.

"I'm so sorry, Cubius."

Once Cubius could form a coherent sentence he asked, "How?"

"We were lied to. The natives tricked us into needing help and then literally stabbed Jalad in the back."

"Oh the elements!"

"I really am sorry. I'm sure he made it to vorta vor."

"Sir, I'm going to need a little bit of time."

"Go ahead and take all the time you need."

"Thank you, sir."

Cubius left. Meanwhile, Sorya managed the natives responsible for the crime onto the ship. She briefly smiled at her work, but immediately saw to guarding them closely. She wouldn't dare let them get away with what they've done.

They traveled back to Romulus were Jalad was burned and his ashes spread into the water as was custom. The whole crew attended the funeral and all of them wore the mourning ink. Cubius was there to and he was completely silent. Zorek couldn't help but be worried about him but he seemed to pull through. Soon, he returned to his duties, but it was easy to tell he was still sad.

Zorek tried his best to help Cubius but there wasn't much he could do. Cubius was in mourning and he couldn't reverse Jalad's death. No one could. Cubius had to face the reality of his cousin's death which was hard, but he managed to pull through. Then one day while patrolling the neutral zone, the T'murr received yet another distress call. This time it was from the federation.

Author's Note: I never really planned Jalad's death but once I dived into the water I couldn't get out. I'm sad but what's done is done. Review.