CH 10 REALITY CHECK

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BRIG

"I am telling you it is not here," Kate argues. "I went through the entire weapons locker. There is no Holocron on this ship."

"You stupid, stupid girl," Da-Mu-Unka rages behind his cell. "You have squandered your advantage. They will make it harder for you to move around now on the ship."

"No because we are leaving. All of us right now," Kate says walking to the computer console. "We will find another way to get the Holocron. If we return with Luke I know Kirk will help us." Kate studies the controls looking for the release mechanism. Not being able to read is making this monumentally harder than she anticipated.

"We don't leave until the mission is complete," Rogan firmly states. "Are you a coward?"

"No I am a realist," Kate glares at him. "Right now is the time to cut our losses and regroup. It will do no one any good if we are dead or in prison."

Zala Tsu needs to get Kate back on course. "Pet…you must return to the Captain and tell him you made a mistake."

"Mistake? A mistake? Are you serious? A mistake is spilling blue milk or forgetting to lock the front door. Breaking into a weapon's locker and shooting two security personnel is not a mistake," Kate cannot understand why the Jedi are acting so strange. "Besides you told me we only had two days to complete the mission. Our time is up." Kate finally finds the right control. "I think I got it."

The swoosh of the Brig doors opening signals Kirk's arrival. He sees Kate at the controls ready to release the Jedi. "Stop," he barks putting every ounce of authority he can muster into the command. He settles an icy gaze on Kate as he crosses the room. Kate's head snaps around fast at the sound of his voice. "Katherine Kirk step away from the terminal now." A panicked expression crosses her face. She looks at Zala Tsu pleadingly for guidance.

"You stupid girl," Zala Tsu seethes under her breath. Zala Tsu needs to fix this situation. Just as Kirk is about to reach her, he feels like he has hit an invisible wall. "Captain we need to talk," she says seductively.

"I mean it Katherine. Step back now," Kirk completely ignores the Twi'lek. Zala Tsu has no other recourse than to stop Kirk from approaching Kate. She cannot hurt him or Kate will panic even more. She decides to hold him static with the Force. "What the hell?" Kirk says unable to move.

"Go ahead pet. Finish your job. Open the cells so we can return home," Zala Tsu says encouragingly. Kate is right. The mission has a deadline. They need to cut their losses and regroup. They will deal with Kate later.

"Don't you do it. Kate leave now," Kirk commands realizing if he can't physically get to her he needs to mentally get to her. Kirk sees that Kate is slightly afraid of him. He also notices for the first time Kate appears torn between the two sides. The only reason for this, is that Kate has come to realize the Jedi are not who they seem to be. Jim will use this to his advantage.

Kate hesitates looking back and forth between Kirk and the Jedi. Kate knows Zala Tsu is stopping him with the Force. What bothers her more is the cold chill surrounding her. This chill is not emanating from her and her fear of the mission as the Jedi have said. This chill is only when she is around the Jedi.

"Do not test me Katherine," Kirk warns with enough force that a shiver runs down Kate's spine. "Kate get out of the room and wait for me in the hall." He continues with the same tone. When she does not move he yells ,"Now!" Close to tears, Kate looks to Zala Tsu for guidance. Kirk knows this is his one chance. "Katherine Kirk. If you don't listen to me now I swear I will take you over my knee and paddle your ass so hard you won't sit for a week." Kirk's tone lets her know how serious he is.

Looking into his ice blue eyes she realizes how serious he is. "Let me explain," Kate licks her lips nervously. "We are on a rescue mission. Our people are dying. We won't hurt you. We need your help. I need you to trust me…" Kate realizes he doesn't believe her and bursts out sobbing. Kate knows her impulsivity has doomed the mission. Now not only will she be trapped her but her family in Skyriver will die.

The adults see Kate's loyalty is up for grabs by her tears. Suddenly Kirk and Zala begin speaking to Kate simultaneously. "Open the cells pet," says Zala Tsu over Kirk's, "Go outside Kate". Kate wipes the tears away. She can cry later. Kate has to resolve this situation first but does not know who to listen to. The Jedi have lied to her. Kirk wishes to keep her prisoner. Her hand shakes over the release mechanism. "Pet. Open the door. We will return with Luke," Zala Tsu orders over Kirk's, "Katherine. Do NOT touch that switch."

"You want to go home Padawan. We are your only way," Zala Tsu plays the one card Jim does not have in his hand. They can get her home. He can't. Kirk sees Kate thinking it over.

"Why don't you shut the fuck up you blue assed bitch!" Kirk yells at Zala Tsu never taking his eyes off Kate. He is enraged that they would use a child like this. Zala Tsu utters a high-pitched laugh from her cell.

Kate needs Kirk to see the truth. He will never be her dad but he is her father. She owes him at least an explanation. "Captain we…" Kate starts taking a tentative step towards him as if to help him understand.

"Dad," he replies not missing a beat.

"Huh," Kate stops looking confused.

"Dad we what," Kirk says seeing Kate's brow furrow as she is processing his last statement. He makes the connection for her. "I am your father Kate not your captain. So you would say 'Dad they want...' when you are talking to me," Kirk tries to move forward but the invisible force holds him static. Jim sees all of Kate's attention focused on him. "That's it honey. Focus on me. Make me your priority. Come on baby. Stay with me until support gets here," he thinks never breaking his stare.

Kate can feel the Force coming off the other Jedi in icy waves. She realizes he is not going to come any closer right now. She is safe and can still try to reason with him. "Dad we are the good guys. We help people. We would not hurt you," she says and waves a hand at the Jedi in their cells. "You forced me to do this. You forced me to rescue them. If you will just listen to them you'll see we come in peace," she replies with childlike innocence. "You have something of ours. We need it," Kate tries to explain but is thrown across the room into a wall. Her body sinks to the ground like a rag doll.

"He does not need to know our mission," Rogan chastises her. "You will mind your tongue and know your place.

"Kate," Jim screams. He sees Kate slowly getting to her feet. Jim has to take control of the situation before she gets hurt. "Time for a reality check sweetheart," Jim thinks. "Then why did they hurt Jack, Dawson, and my men," Jim says aloud. Kate looks to Zala Tsu for answers but Jim fires back, "Don't look at her. Look at me when I am talking to you. If they are so friendly why are Jack and Dawson lying in the hall unconscious."

Kate reaches out with the Force and feels nothing but the cold chill in the hall. Her Jedi skills are minimal due to lack of training but there is no disguising the malicious undertone coming from the Jedi. Kate has never experienced this cold sensation with Luke or any of the other Jedi when they used the Force. She thinks about the ways they have used the Force since she met them. Jedi will use the Force to subdue enemies but the crew of the Enterprise has only acted defensively since they arrived. The cold feeling continues to grow around her. Tears spill from Kate's eyes and she sniffs back a sob. Reality hits Kate. They are Sith not Jedi. The chill is nothing more than the dark side rolling off them like waves in the ocean. Kate can't let Kirk know the truth. The Sith in the cells are the enemy but her only way home.

Kirk reads in Kate's face something has changed. Kate does not have the fanatical loyalty to the Jedi in her eyes. "If you truly needed help why not ask for it? Why the lies? Why didn't they tell you I was your father BEFORE you were beamed over? Why didn't they tell me you were on board in the first place? Why did they let you go through medical tests and hand you over to strangers without blinking an eye? They didn't know what we would do with you. They didn't know if we would hurt you or be cruel. Why did they do that if they are so peaceful and benevolent? Why?" Kirk yells causing Kate to jump.

"I don't know" Kate cries running her fingers through her hair.

"They don't care about you. They don't love you," he states and then changes his tone to something softer. "But I do. I cared about you before I knew you were my daughter. Yesterday in the transporter room, when you were nothing but a stranger to me, I was willing to let them go as long as they didn't hurt you. If they had said you were my daughter, in the initial communication, things would have been different. We would not have greeted you with phasers and guards. I would have beamed you over so fast your head would've spun. I would've thanked them for bringing you home." Kirk pauses making sure Kate listening. When he sees she is, Kirk continues. "But they didn't. They have lied to both of us since the beginning. They are using you for something sweetheart. I don't know what that something is right now but it is not for peace," Jim admits.

Kate tries to project calm in the Force like Luke does when teaching. As she opens to the Force, a wall of anger, hate and fear hits Kate. She notices Da-Mu-Unka, Zala Tsu and Rogan staring at her. Kate is not as good as she thinks about reading people. Kate is not as talented as she thought. The Sith allowed her to get to them. They made it so no one was able to catch her. They Force froze Jack, Dawson and the other security personnel like they are freezing Jim now. The cold realization of her mistake causes Kate to start shaking. "No. NO. They …help… They ….care …..about me" she tries to say between panting breaths. Kate feels like the room is spinning. She gave up her life for the Sith. How stupid can she be? Every Force user can tell the difference between Jedi and Sith.

"Then why did they let you walk into a room where you could have been killed by phaser fire?" Kirk asks letting his pissed off command voice return. He sees reality hitting Kate hard. "Why? Answer me dammit!" Kirk's heart is breaking as he says these things to her. Watching her suffer, as he makes it clear she is alone in the universe, is killing him. "These Jedi are not individuals you can trust. I'm sorry baby but you need to know who the enemy is and it is not us." He can help heal her feelings of abandonment later when she and his crew are safe.

"You are the enemy Kirk," she manages between sobs. Kate hates that Jim sees her doubts. She turns towards the Sith for answers. "Why did you do that stuff? You said no one was going to get hurt. You said we would find him, get the weapon, and go home. I want to go home." Kate screams sinking to the floor. Kate eventually finds the strength to stand.

"Please take me home Rogan," Kate takes a step towards the cells but he gives no response. Even if Kirk could move he would not stop her. Kate needs to see the Jedi are not her allies. "Da-Mu-Unka?" she asks and he shakes his head no. Kate desperately turns to Zala Tsu. "Zala Tsu please! Please! I want to go home. You promised!" Kate begs crying. "I can help you find your way back. You can be forgiven. The Jedi is love and hope. You are not Sith," Kate focuses all her attention inward and on the Force. She sends out a massive burst of Force energy filled with love, hope, and faith. Zala Tsu's eye widen slightly as she feels the light side of the Force pouring from Kate. She begins to realize why Abeloth wants this child. Zala Tsu sees the Force potential in the child if she can be turned to the dark side.

Kirk suddenly feels overwhelming love for Kate. It is as if she has been with him always. He feels strong and hopeful that the two of them can conquer any challenge. During the insanity of the past twenty-four hours, Jim has forgotten that Kate is simply a kid: a fucked up kid, a scared kid, a desperate kid, but only a kid. Kirk is the adult. Kirk is her father. He will not let these Jedi or anyone else ever hurt her again. Jim finds he is no longer pinned in place. In two quick strides, he is across the room. He sweeps Kate into his arms squeezing her to his chest. She does not fight this time. As he lifts her up, she wraps her legs around his waist burying her head in his neck. Kate is almost too big to be carried but not quite. Her body shakes uncontrollably against him from crying.

As Kirk exits the Brig, he sees security forming to storm the room. "Jim is she hurt," Jack flies to Kirk's side. Kirk shakes his head no.

"I'm glad you're okay Kate," Jack places a hand on the back of Kate's head reassuringly. Jim sees the previously unconscious crewmembers waking up like some old fashioned Sleeping Beauty spell.

"Calm down Kate," Jim soothes her stroking her hair as the sobs continue. Kate feels like she is in a dream.

"Get her outta here Captain. She doesn't need to see this," Jack says dialing his phaser to kill. He will give the Jedi one warning. If they do not comply, Jack will make sure they are no longer a threat ever. "Am I authorized to make a decision on your behalf," Jack asks. Kirk nods and begins to walk down the hall. His crew has this. They can take of the Jedi. He has to take care of Kate. He has to heal the hurt he caused her in that room.

"What did he mean," Kate finally comes back to the present. "What is he going to do?" Kate prays she misunderstood Jack.

"It's okay sweetheart," Jim kisses her head. "I've gotcha. You're safe." Security clears a path for Jim to the turbo.

"We go in twos," Jack instructs taking point along with Hendorff. As the door opens to the Brig, Kate hears the snap hiss of light sabers igniting. She wriggles form his grasp. He moves her behind him turning to assess the situation. "Fall back and hold fire," Jack commands as Da-Mu-Unka and Zala Tsu drive back his team with their whirling blades. Jack thanks god he ordered everyone on stun except him and Hendorff as the Jedi deflect bolt after blot back at his troops. By sheer luck, Jack avoids being hit in the initial phaser volley. He needs to pull back his troops far enough to trap the Jedi in the force field. "Raise the security field in section 20," Jack orders.

"No," Kate screams seeing the Jedi not caring if the phaser bolts are on stun or kill. She has to protect Kirk and his crew. Kate floods herself with the Force. "Down," she Force pushes the security personnel to the ground in front of her. She catapults herself over their bodies placing herself between the Sith and the crew as the security field activates.

"No,no,no," Jack chants seeing the slight shimmer indicating the force field has gone up.

"Jack drop the field." Jim skids to a stop next to Jack. "Now, now, now do it now," Jim orders rapidly.

"On it. Sam I need you to cut the power to the security field in sections 20," Jack says into his comm.

Jim can't stand by waiting. "Spock I need the security field down now. Kate is trapped with the Jedi."

"Cycling the field down Captain," Spock informs the Captain. "It will be down in thirty seconds.

"Kate doesn't have thirty seconds," Jim snaps.

"Attempting to cut primary power supply," Spock replies.

Jim sees Kate pace back and forth between in front of Zala Tsu. "Jack she is not going to make it," Jim's voice is tight with anxiety.

"Jim she is strong. Strong enough to almost take me down," Jack sets his phaser beam to wide. Jim grabs a phaser off a security officer. "We will be in there shortly. Twenty seconds. Get ready people." Jack raises his phaser taking aim. "Let's see them deflect this."

With a snap hiss Kate's blade ignites. "Stop this Zala Tsu," Kate orders. Kate feels panic and fear emanating off everyone in the hall. "No wonder why they don't trust you."

"And neither should you Pet," Zala Tsu launches an attack aimed at Kate. Kate raises her blade blocking Zala Tsu's thrust. Her red blade cuts a sharp diagonal from right to left. Kate stops the Sith blade pinning the beam low and to the left. Zala Tsu pulls back allowing Kate to assume an en guard stance. "You must make your choice…us or them," Zala Tsu commands raising the blade high and to her left. If trust will no longer control Kate, the Sith will use fear.

Kate lowers her blade preparing to meet Zala's at midline if she strikes again. "We are Jedi. We are here for a mission but we are better than this. The Jedi council will not condone wholesale slaughter no matter the cost. I won't condone it," Kate takes a deep breath. Kate cannot beat Zala Tsu in a duel. The best she can hope is to hold her own until Jack gets the force field down. Pushing the fear from her mind, Kate focuses everything on the Force and defending Kirk.

Every muscle in Jim's body coils tightly like a spring. "I am either going to kill her or hug her when this is over," Jim says tensely. "I am on the fence with my decision." Jim takes aim waiting for the field to go down This is the longest thirty seconds of his life. "Spock?" Jim needs an update on the time.

Spock's voice rings over the comm. "Ten seconds."

"Everyone set phasers to wide beam stun," Jack reiterates his order.

"You could have been something great," Zala Tsu utters before savagely beginning her attack. In a split second, Zala Tsu slashes left then right driving Kate backwards. Kate barely wards off each blow as she is driven to a crouched position. Springing upward, Kate feints to the right, pressing in close. Kate drops her saber latching onto Zala Tsu's hilt for her life. Kate brings a knee to Zala Tsu's stomach forcing the blade to the right. "Stupid child," Zala Tsu legs sweeps Kate. Kate goes down hard impacting the deck with her head. Anticipating her strike, Kate rolls left. A large black scorch mark mars the deck. Kate calls her saber to her hand parrying the low slicing stroke aimed at her face. Kate uses her heels to slide backwards parrying the sweeping blows to her face.

"Five seconds," Spock's voice reverberates through the hall.

Jim drops his phaser. "I am going to grab her Jack," Jim drops to a crouch. "Take them out."

"With pleasure," Jack targets Zala Tsu for a head shot. "Everyone get ready."

"You will die here. Alone, forgotten and pathetic," Zala Tsu punctuates each word with a slash of her blade. "Aghhh," Zala Tsu yells whirling her blade furiously in front of her body. Da-Mu-Unka slithers to Zala Tsu's side creating a wall or red and orange blurs. Jack's barrage of fire drives the two Sith backwards towards Rogan.

"Gotcha," Jim reaches forward snatching Kate by the collar. Kate chokes on her shirt as Jim rips her out of the battle. Kirk drops to the floor covering Kate with his body. Sizzles and pops fill the room as the two Sith deflect phaser shots in all directions. Kate knows she has to do something. The crew doesn't understand they are all dead if the Sith decide to actually fight back. She imagines an invisible wall between the Sith and the crew of the Enterprise. She imagines that the deflected phasers shots will bounce off it and impact the walls.

"Hold your fire," Jack screams realizing the possible causality rate if this turkey shoot continues. Several bodies lie stunned around him with more falling during each volley.

Zala Tsu is thankful for the respite in fighting. "The Force coming from the child is powerful but fleeting. She doesn't know she is doing this. Her control of the Force is minimal for now," Zala Tsu relays to Da-Mu-Unka. He nods in assertion. The desired to bring Kate to Abeloth for their cause is great but Kate's trust in them is fractured. Zala Tsu can't the chance the Kate will use anger and aggression to protect this Captain and his crew. Jim Kirk is a more formidable enemy than she realized. He has turned Kate from them in less than twenty four hours. They need a new plan to separate Kate from this crew. "Hope you like your new life pet," Zala Tsu spits out at Kate. "You will never be going home now," she laughs evilly feeling fear engulf Kate. Her statement breaks Kate's minimal connection with the Force.

"Wait. Wait for me." Kate screams in panic desperately trying to crawl her way out from under Jim.

"You're safe and warm here. I got you baby. I got you baby. I got you baby." Jim keeps repeating in her ear as she screams to Zala Tsu for help. Jim weighs too much for Kate to shove him off. She struggles to wiggle from his vice like grasp.

"Let's go" Rogan yells to Zala Tsu.

"No," Kate shrieks sliding out to the left. Jim is faster on his feet. He wraps her in a bear hug preventing Kate from joining the escaping Sith.

"Find it," Zala Tsu bellows to Kate before following the other two Sith through a perfect hole in the floor. Jack sees why the Sith held their ground. They created the distraction for Rogan to cut an exit route to the hangar below.

"How the hell," Jack comments. "That's a thirty foot drop." Jack dives toward the hole. The two male Sith are ten feet from the boarding ramp. Jack's security detail around the alien ship is making them fight for every inch of ground. Phaser shots ricochet off the light sabers. Jack sees Zala Tsu alone. If he can only kill one it will be her. "R.I.P. bitch," Jack sneers laying on his stomach targeting the blue skinned Sith. Jack holds his breath as he squeezes the trigger. His shot snaps Zala Tsu's head back. She drops boneless to deck. Jack searches for another target in his phaser sight. "You have got to be kidding me?" Jack watches as Zala Tsu's body flies toward the Sith shuttle as if being retracted by a cable. An appendage lies where her body fell. A trail of blood leads a path to the enemy vessel. "So you can be hurt. If you can be hurt you can die," Jack mutters watching his hangar team pepper the hull as the ship lifts off. "They are making a run for it. Chekov lock down the…." Jack starts to command."

Dawson takes a struggling Kate from Kirk's grasp. "Belay that order Chekov. Open the bay doors. Get them the hell off my ship," Kirk overrides Jack. "Target phasers on the enemy vessel and blow them out of the sky the minute they are clear of the ship." He says with deadly calm.

"No! Stop! Jedi help people." Kate shrieks over Jim's command. Jim feels Kate yanking on his arm, demanding his attention. He ignores Kate's pleas until the crying and struggling stop. Kirk looks dwon and sees Bones with a hypo spray. Bones sets Kate on the ground and goes back to treating the injured. Jim is glad she is sedated. He would not want to hear confirmation that his only way home was destroyed.

Jim feels the slight vibration as the forward phaser cannons come on line. Finding a firing solution Sulu opens up the four batteries on the fleeing ship. The bridge crew watches as four bright phaser shots streak toward the enemy ship. In a blink of an eye the Sith vessel jumps to hyperspace unscathed. Spock stiffens as the phaser bolts continue through the sky on a course to impact nothing.

"Did we get them," Kirk demands confirmation. His gut tells him that the Sith have escaped. He hates not being on the bridge.

"No sir. The enemy vessel achieved their equivalent of warp. We are attempting to track them," Spock reports.

"Dammit," Jim curses ready to hit something. "Keep me posted. I will be on the bridge as soon as possible. Kirk out," Jim says into his comm. "Bones report," Jim directs his attention to his crew. He needs to get to the bridge but there is nothing for him to do there until they find the enemy vessel.

"Mostly phaser burns, bumps, and bruises," McCoy confirms walking over to Jim. "Kate has a nasty bump forming on the back of her head but other than that she is fine. All in all I'd say we are damn lucky no one was seriously injured.

"Luck had nothing to do with it," Kirk comments leaning down to pick up his daughter. Her head lolls to one side in unconscious sleep. Kirk is careful to avoid touching the large bump forming on the back of Kate's head from the light saber battle. "If those Jedi had wanted to kill us they could have. They wanted to get away and I need to know why."

Bones holds out his arms to take Kate from Jim. "We need to get her to Sick Bay. Tricorder says she is fine but I would like to run a few more tests." Bones sees concern cloud Jim's face. "It is nothing to worry about. She is a Kirk for God's sake. You two are the reason Guardian Angels are still gainfully employed." Bones' remark draws a smile to Kirk's face. Bones patiently waits for Jim to pass Kate to him but Jim won't let her out of his arms.

"I've got this sir," Jack claps Jim on the shoulder. "You take care of her." Kirk gives him a quick nod carrying Kate up to Sick Bay. Although he doesn't like it, Jim is getting used to delegating decisions to his crew. Kirk has a feeling this won't be the last time Kate gets hurt. Kirk suppresses a smile hearing Jack's assessment of the damage to the ship. The last thing he hears before the turbo doors close is "Shuttle bay crew is gonna need a new roof panel. It's not coming out of my budget."

.

READY ROOM

"Talk to me," Kirk orders as he convenes with his senior staff in his ready room. "Break it down to how and why the shit hit the fan on my ship." Jim takes his seat drinking a cup of coffee. It has been thirty minutes since the Jedi have escaped. No one speaks for a moment.

"Is Kate alright," Uhura breaks the silence.

"Yes," Kirk exhales deeply. "Few bruises and a nasty bump but McCoy says she will be fine. Now back to my first question. What the hell happened?" Uhura is not shocked that Kirk is acting all business. When things get serious so does Kirk. Uhura has known him long enough to see Kirk is burying himself in the job. The best way to keep everyone safe is to find and secure the Sith.

"Captain, upon examination of the damaged Brig and the surveillance footage, it appears that Colonel O'Neill and his security force was incapacitated by an unknown means after Katherine had entered the Brig," Spock begins in his aloof tone.

"God damned fucking robot. He makes it seem like we just let Kate waltz right in," Jack thinks fuming. Jack can't let Spock's assessment go unchallenged. The means are known. The Jedi did it. "Hey hey hey, I told you the wicked witch of the East could cast spells," Jacks says sarcastically. "You just never believed it."

"Colonel O'Neill I do not believe in sorcery. Everything has a logical explanation," Spock defends his view.

Jack rewinds the security feed to three minutes after Kate entered the Brig. It clearly shows Jack and his team dropping as if being gassed all at once. "There was no trace of gas by internal sensors nor was anyone else in the hallway. I am not saying the Jedi," Jack feels his temper increasing with each word.

"Colonel O'Neill my assessment of the situation no way reflects on your ability to perform your duties when you are prepared" Spock tries to explain.

"Prepared?" Jack repeats crossing his hands on the table and shaking his head in disbelief. "How the hell do you EXPECT one to prepare for a blue skinned hooker and her bouncers to knock you unconscious using their mind." He uses emphasis on mind and continues, "From another room behind a force field no less." Jack states hotly. Before Spock can reply Jack snaps his fingers and says, "I should have mind melded with her to find out what she can do. No wait. That's your skill."

"Colonel I am not suggesting," Spock retorts.

"Gentlemen. Play nice." Kirk warns. Everyone on the crew is irritated and ready to snap. They are the flagship of Star Fleet. They are not a summer cruise for cadets. The crew of the USS Enterprise was just spanked and everyone feels the handprint. "No one is saying any one person allowed this event to occur; however we got caught with our pants down. Let's make sure it never happens again," Kirk says sternly. "I need everyone at their best and not engaging in petty quarrels or pointing fingers. Understood." Kirk looks around the table. "Continue Spock."

"As I was saying it appears Katherine received assistance by the Jedi through an unknown means. Once in the Brig," the Captain again cuts off Spock's summarization.

"Yeah I got it from that point Spock. How did they get out?" Kirk says rolling his hand to speed Spock along. Kirk is not keen on sharing the intimate details of the conversation he had with Kate in the Brig.

Spock plays the video feed after Jim and Kate exit the brig. The conference room screen displays the Jedi pacing in their cells. Rogan closes his eyes and levitates an unconscious Lt. Flores from the ground in the sunken security pit. Kirk was so focused on Kate and stopping her from releasing the Jedi, he never saw the petite ensign unconscious on the floor. Rogan levitates her hand placing it on the keypad opening the cell door. He calmly walks over to the security controls and releases the other two Jedi. "You said the child would force him to capitulate," Rogan growls in Huttese. "We should have killed the Captain and taken the ship as planned."

"Careful," Zala Tsu purrs with a deadly voice sauntering over to him. "Human's are typically mewling creatures when their young are in danger. I did not expect him to risk her life with such a rash move." Jim tries to keep his breathing steady. Without understanding the language they are speaking, the video might as well not contain sound.

"They are preparing to enter," Da-Mu-Ka announces in the strange guttural language.

Zala Tsu closes her eyes as if in meditation. Kate was wearing a light saber clipped to her clothes. She also was carrying a bag when she entered the brig. Zala Tsu can only hope Kate had enough sense to bring all the light sabers with her for her feeble escape plan. The bag Kate stole from security slides to her feet. Zala Tsu bends down opening it. "Well at least she is not completely worthless," Zala Tsu retorts throwing Rogan and Da-Mu-Unka their sabers. "Let's go retrieve the child and make our stand." She orders walking to the door. At this point Spock switches to the security feed to outside the Brig.

"See," Jack comments waving his hand at the screen "It was a short spell. I awoke feeling quite refreshed and alert." Spock stares at Jack for a moment and then continues the footage.

"While Zala Tsu was verbally engaging your daughter," Spock narrates, "Rogan proceeded to create a most ingenious exit." From this angle, it clearly shows Rogan slicing through the floor plates. The video ends with a clip of the Jedi ship leaving the docking bay. The ship was able to attain warp faster than we thought possible."

"I've bin runnin' sensor sweeps of both the docking bay and surrounding area where the Jedi ship took off. I can tell ya Cap'n they are using some sort of ion engine to power their ship. But I do nah no jus how they disappeared like that." Scotty confesses. "They achieved warp but did not leave a warp trail. If I hadda wee bit more information on their vessel," Scotty hesitates for a moment before proceeding, "say by speakin' to the young lassie, I might be able to tell ya more?

"Yah OK Scotty. I am really happy for you. Proud even that you are taking that extra step in solving our little problem here but involving Kate is not gonna happen," Jack states with a tone ending the conversation. Kirk is taken aback. First off, Kate is his child not Jack's. Secondly, he is stunned that Jack is acting so protective over her.

"Give me 24 hours and let me see what I can do first. If not…Spock I will need you to mind meld with Kate," Kirk sighs deeply. He drums his fingers on the table. Glancing up sees Jack's staring him down. "Dismissed," Kirk says sharply. Everyone gets up to leave but Jack doesn't move nor does he stop his unwavering stare. Kirk meets his gaze head on and waits for the room to clear.

"Something to say Colonel O'Neill," Kirk asks formally using Jack's rank to indicate this will not be off the record.

"Yes, plenty," Jack says never breaking his stare. They hold each other's eyes for several more seconds. "Are you really planning to let Spock hopscotch through her head?"

"Colonel I have over 400 lives under my command and I will do what I have to so that,"

"So do I Sir. And placing her in any situation that may result in," Jack's tone rises with an anger that Kirk has never heard.

"Colonel," Jim sharply yells silencing Jack but not breaking his stare. "I do not like the idea of interrogating my daughter any more than you but, Kate is hell bent of aiding the Jedi. She has answers that we need. Now hopefully I have an idea the will make Kate willing to share her information. It sucks and makes me feel like a total ass hole but it may solve many of our problems." O'Neill sits quietly listening to Jim's plan. Afterwards, Jack realizes why he never wanted to sit in the command seat. Jack is able to make the hard decisions but chooses not to whereas Jim is forced to consistently.

"Signal me when you plan to implement," Jack responds and then gets up to leave. "She's a great kid Sir."

"She hates me." Jim says dejectedly "but the only thing I can do is try to protect her the best way I know how."

Jack feels like shit jumping to the wrong conclusion about his superior officer. "Then you're probably doing your job right. Kids hate boundaries but they need them. Kate's been acting like an adult for so long she has forgotten what it is to be a kid. She's not gonna like her boundaries going from this," he makes large sweeping gestures with his hands, "to this." Jack creates a space of about eighteen inches in front of his face getting a chuckle from Kirk. "We are going to need to fortify the defenses of Castle Kirk for a while until her reign of terror ends." He snaps his fingers for emphasis. "Maybe get a moat and that curly barb wire stuff along the top,"

"Dismissed" Kirk says laughing at the way Jack can defuse tense situations with humor. Kirk sits alone in his ready room. This is his first few minutes of private time he has had to himself in days. He stares at the clock, realizes he has not heard from Bones in a long time, and decides to go check on Kate.