CH 19 Stealth and Secrets.

BARGAIN BARN

The situation is not ideal but is better than Kate expected. It is gonna be harder with John and Ronin around but Kate is on a mission and no one will stop her. She doesn't know when she will get a chance like this again. "You know you could say thank you," John slings an arm over Kate's shoulders as they cross the street. "If it wasn't for us, you'd be sitting listening to the adults blather on for the next half an hour."

Kate wrinkles her nose at John. Does he really think she needed his help to manage the adults? "I was doing just fine," Kate pushes his arm off her shoulder. "Kirk would have capitulated."

Both boys break into laughter at her comment. Jim Kirk is the awesome uncle to all the kids, but he is not a pushover when riled up or in Captain mode as the kids call it. Kate has no idea what her dad is like, but the boys do. Jim will tolerate her bring a kid, but not blatant disobedience. "Kate you need to dial it down with your dad," Ronin warns. "Kirk is cool, but he doesn't put up with any shit from his crew or us. You keep it up with this attitude of yours and the next five years are going to be miserable for you."

"I am not going to blindly allow him to control every aspect of my life," Kate stops at the entrance of the store. "If you think so then you are as crazy as he is."

"No, we're sane just not raised feral," John gives her a half smile. "See here in the Milky Way parents tend to take care of their young for the first 18 years utterly controlling every aspect of their lives. Yeah, it can suck but it is integral for our oral traditions." Kate looks at John not sure if he is serious or not. Seeing Kate hooked, John continues. "We use the fact that parents suck to bond with each other. If parents didn't dominate our lives how could we ever one-up each other with 'my parents are so bad' stories like my parents are so bad they make go to bed at 9:30 on school night."

"My parents are so bad they make us sing on all car trips when I fight with my dork brother," Ronin adds with a grin punching John in the shoulder.

"My parents are so bad they,"

"You are the weirdest family I have ever met," Kate shakes her head cutting John off. "And I am not feral but independent." Kate pulls open the door entering the store.

"Whatever Miss Independent just don't go too far. I promised my dad we were staying together and Jack don't just give pissy looks," Ronin warns her. Kate looks around the store as John and Ronin head straight to the GCN display bringing up the latest hockey news. Life on the Enterprise is great except for one thing. The Enterprise doesn't have is an ice rink. Before they were stationed on the Enterprise, John and Ronin were avid hockey players. Both he and Ronin played on teams for as long as he can remember. It is a small price to pay for exploring the stars but hockey is the one thing John misses every day.

Kate assesses her surroundings. The cold current in the Force is strong raising goosebumps on her arms. Kate can't find the Jedi but know they are close. She decides to use her time and freedom to her advantage. With the boys distracted for a minute by the GCN display, she takes off. Without resources of her own Kate needs some pocket cash.

After assessing the store's minimal security, Kate glances up and down the aisles looking for her mark. She bumps into the businessman at the end of the aisle murmuring an apology. She quickly walks down three more aisles heading to the back of the store. She finds the camera blind spot opening the man's wallet. Cards are no good because they can be traced. She does find what she assumes passes for hard currency. She will figure out how much it is later on. Quickly stuffing it in her new purse, Kate looks for her next target. She looks around and sees another easy target which she pickpockets as easily as the first one. As she contemplates finding a third mark, she feels someone behind her.

"Child I thought I would never see you again," a voice purrs from behind her. Kate spins finding Zala Tsu staring at her. She curses herself for not keeping the connection to the Force open. Her heart races as she tries to present a calm demeanor. "Have you forgotten your promise so soon," Zala Tsu says reaching out stroking Kate's face with her delicate fingers. The dark side of the Force is so strong it makes Kate feel nauseous. The touch of the Twi'lek fingers to Kate's cheek feeling like snakes slithering over bare skin.

"No," Kate says jerking her head away. "He doesn't ever leave me alone. Are you sure he has it on the ship?" Kate asks getting nervous that she will be caught. She doesn't want Zala Tsu hurt which is a pretty safe bet will happen if Kirk sees her. Zala Tsu is a Jedi, but Kirk is damn fearless like Han. Luke often said that Han's fearlessness impaired his judgment and Kate sees this in Jim. Kirk would take a Jedi head on not realizing the fight he was picking. He did it already in the transporter room screwing up their plan to be in and off his ship in less than 24 hours..

Zala Tsu feels Kate's indecision in the Force. They are slowly losing her to the Captain and his crew. The time of being nice is over. "You have two days to find it or Luke and the others die," Zala Tsu lies. "The battle is not going well for us. They desperately need the Holocron my pet. Millions die or are enslaved while you play fashion model," she hisses. "We will not allow this to occur. If you don't find it in two days I will leave a trail of bodies strewn across his decks until I find it." Anger swells in Kate. She has no doubt they are Sith. How she or anyone did not know this confounds her. The tinkle of the bell over the door signals someone entering the store. Kate spins walking two steps over praying it is not Jim. Instead of her father a dark-haired teen a few years older makes his way towards Kate stopping halfway between her and John.

"I," Kate starts looking back, but Zala Tsu is gone as quickly as she appeared. A little shaken, Kate makes her way back to the front of the store remembering to re-pocket the two wallets she stole. Kate makes it to the front of the store finding John and Ronin still at the GCN display. The street is clear. Kate has time for one more heist. Kate turns her attention to the brown haired boy that just entered the store.

He is a little older than her and has all his attention focuses on selecting some sort of packaged snack food. "Bingo," she puts on her best smile running her fingers through her hair. Kate saunters up next to him kneeling down to pick though the bottom racks of the display. Randomly selecting a purple and green bag, Kate stands bumping into him behind her. "Sorry," she smiles demurely deftly picking his pocket. Kate spins feeling fingers clamp around her wrist. "Hey let me go," Kate says sharply.

"I think you have my wallet," the teen says pulling it from Kate's hands.

Kate is livid. Rarely is she ever caught and never by another child. She definitely needs to practice her skills more. "Is it yours," Kate turns on the charm. "I saw it on the floor and was just picking it up for you."

"Sure you did? The name is Justin Donalds and you are," he introduces himself. He looks Kate up and down. Why Section 31 wants her is beyond him. She is intelligent, beautiful, and great at her skills but a child. It makes no sense to him but like everyone else in the clandestine organization, Justin will follow his orders. Justin glances backward making sure his exit from the building is secure. Whoever she was talking to at the back of the store was not one of their people. Yesterday's play at the Medical center resulted in two transfers from the Administrator's division of Section 31. Justin is not wasting his time on backwaters worlds. He will secure the girl as ordered.

Kate grins brushing her hair away from her face. This guy is hot but a waste of her time. She needs to get rid of him. "You okay Kate," John asks coming up the aisle. Kate feels suspicion radiate from John through the Force.

"Yeah I'm good," Kate gives John a shy smile. His sudden arrival gives her the diversion she needs to leave Justin Donalds.

"I see you more like hot as hell," Justin leans against the display smiling at Kate while ignoring John. "You wanna go get something to eat I know this great place,"

"We just ate and our parents are right around the corner so take a hike," John says stepping between Kate and Justin. Kate gives a little snort of laughter at John's protective nature. John is tall for his age, but Justin has at least a foot on him and about fifty pounds. Kate knows John can fight, but something about Justin's mannerisms tells her he is not helpless either. The last thing she needs is a fight between the two boys ruining her chances to make some money. "I got an idea, why don't you go hit on the girl behind the counter instead of a twelve-year-old." John levels a steady gaze at Justin. Slowly a small grin spreads across his face. "Unless you are some kind of pedophile which I am sure my Dad and hers would love to meet you."

Kate watches Justin's body go tense losing its laid-back charm. "And she is a pickpocket so unless you want those great parents of yours to find out beat it." John is right. Kate feels a sense of danger in the Force and it is coming from the store. It is not the cold chill of the Force but more of a danger warning.

"She is also a mutinous traitor and responsible for helping three criminals escape from the Brig of our ship, but we decided to keep her," John jokes. "She kinda grows on you after a while and she's out of your league. If I were you I'd beat it because she is not leaving this store with you."

Kate stares between the two boys trying to figure out how the job went so wrong. It was an orchard job as they called it on Sernpidal. You picked pockets like you would fruit from a tree and move on. Now with John and Justin it has turned into a cut and run. A smile spreads across Kate's face. Against her better judgement, Kate is really starting to like John O'Neill. "Wow, thanks, John," Kate laughs as he hip checks her lightly.

"Kids," Sam yells as the adults enter the store. Both kids shift their attention to the front of the store. Seeing the adults arrive sends Kate into overdrive.

"You have to," Kate turns back to Justin, but he is gone. "Where did he go?" Kate looks all around her. No one disappears into thin air, but he did like a wraith from a horror movie.

"Kate," a sharp whistle from Kirk follows him calling out her name. "Where are you? Let's go," Jim yells.

"Does it matter?" John raises an eyebrow at her.

"No, just don't tell our parents okay," Kate hopes the desperation is not as apparent in her voice as she feels. "They will read way too much into some asshole hitting on me." Kate bites her lip waiting for John's response. His half grin and shoulder shrug set Kate at ease. "You are the best O'Neill," Kate grins kissing his cheek.

John blushes as he calls out to his mom walking to the front of the store.

"Where were you?" Kirk asks suspiciously seeing her coming from the back of the store.

"Looking at makeup," she lies to him smoothly. Lying is the one thing she is good at after all these years. Kirk's face shows he believes her.

He drops an arm over Kate's shoulders kissing her head. "Ahhhhhh no," Kirk says as they walk out the door and back to the Enterprise. He does not need anything else drawing attention to just how beautiful is daughter is. Kate complies eager to get their group as far from the Sith as she can. There is a still a chance Zala Tsu will ambush them. Kate opens up to the Force. The cold undercurrent of the dark side is thick like a summer fog, but she can't pinpoint Zala Tsu's location.

Justin watches the Enterprise group leave the store. "The target was not able to be acquired without attracting attention, but a secondary team tried to make contact. Pursuing and will report when information is available." He makes his way to the team covering the back of the Bargain Barn. They have intercepted the blue skinned, tentacle alien called Zala Tsu. Their team leader, Arden Koerner, is attempting to take her into custody. This Jedi is as beautifully, exotic as has been reported. Her lithe figure stands relaxed as Koerner and the five-man team surrounds her. Justin moves into a position blocking her escape from the alley. He wedges his body in the small crack between the wall and dumpster watching the scene with intense concentration. Justin brings his phaser to bear on her head preparing for a kill shot. A snap hiss fills the air followed by phaser shots ricocheting off at every angle. The blue-skinned alien whirls as if in a dance sending each phaser shot back to its shooter. Justin watches as each member of his team fall lifeless to the concrete pavement. With morbid fascination, Justin witnesses Koerner's head cleaved from his body. His headless form sinks to his knees before toppling over chest first. Justin drops low behind his sheltered positon between the wall and dumpster. It is not that he is a coward, but more that someone needs to report on the failure of the mission. He pulls the video communicator from his pocket flipping the device to "on". Three seconds later the dumpster slides effortlessly exposing his position.

"So my little bishwag it is too bad I can feel that you are planning to kill me. We could have had fun," Zala Tsu shrugs before slicing his head from his body. Justin's muscles involuntary contract around the device as his life leaves his body. The recording device falls to the ground. Once retrieved the Administrator will see not only Zala Tsu's sensual slinking back to the street, but also Justin's lifeless eyes staring back at him.

.

ENTERPRISE

"Did you enjoy getting off the Enterprise?" Sam asks Kate as the six of them walk happily back to their quarters.

"Yeah," Kate says. "I have always loved going planet side. Although most of the time Han's planet side stops were not a leisurely shopping trip. It was for repairs, escaping the Vong, pirates, or avoiding whoever shot us down. You name it seemed like it happened to us. I remember one time," Kate starts but is interrupted by John.

"Pirates?" John's disbelief rings out in the corridor. "I don't believe you really…ouch," John yells rubbing the back of his head where Jack whacks him with a shopping bag. Few of the adults believe the far-fetched tales Kate has spun about dodging pirates with a smuggler married to a Princess turned Chief of State, but at least Kate is opening up. Eventually, they know Kate will learn they accept her for herself and not for the swashbuckling rogue she presents herself as. Jack makes a mental note to discuss with his son's that they need to tolerate Kate's stories for a little longer before calling her a liar.

"Sorry thought we had to make a left there," he says hoping he shut John up quick enough for Kate to keep talking. John turns glaring at his father but is shut down by a stern paternal glare.

"It's true," Kate looks at Sam with a face begging her to believe the story.

"Sounds exciting but did you ever do anything fun NOT involving a marauding band of pirates," she says with a twinkle in her eyes. Somehow coming from Samantha O'Neill it doesn't seem like an insult or dig. Looking in Samantha's eyes tells Kate she only wants an answer. She will believe any answer Kate gives her because she wants to be Kate's friend.

"One time we went to a beach. It was great. We swam and built sandcastles too close to the waterline." Kate thinks back to the day long ago searching for elements they will consider normal. "I learned to surf or drown gracefully as Jacen termed my skill." The thoughts of her family flood her like a crested river threaten to break is banks. How Kate can even entertain the idea of remaining her makes her feel like a mutinous traitor. They are counting on her and she is letting them down shopping, listening to music, and hanging with the kids like they are her friends. A lump forms in her throat. "Before that," Kate bites her lip drifting off in thought for a minute. She has to change topics before she comes apart in the hall. "Before Han and Luke it was just trying to make it day by day. Some nights I lay regretting my decision to leave school but then Sernpidal fell." Kate leaves a long pause in her story. This is not the right topic either. Kate's chest constricts so tightly it hurts. She just needs to get through the next few feet. Then she will be safely in Kirk's quarters. She can come up with a lie to be alone and regain her composure. The silence tells Kate no one will speak until she ends the conversation. "Right place right time. I guess the Force needed me where it did." Arriving at Kirk's quarters makes the tension and anxiety even worse. She senses the adults staring at her, waiting for her to break. She won't give them the satisfaction. She hates talking about her past before Han and Kirk hates Han. Talking will only cause more problems.

"Thanks for a great day O'Neill's," Jim slaps down the brim of Ronin's baseball cap before extending his hand to Jack and Sam.

The brief silence forces Kate to remember her manners. "Yeah, Sam thanks. I am not really a shopping type girl, but you made it bearable," Kate gives a small smile. Kate and Kirk are a little puzzled that the O'Neill's continue to hang at their cabin door. Jim can't decide what they want and Kate struggles to keep the tears from spilling over her eyelids.

"Would you like to come in for coffee," Jim offers expecting them to decline. Jim enjoys hanging with his crew, but after a day of shopping, he is ready to sit back and watch some sports, not entertain. Kate wants to jump up and down screaming that they can't come in, but that would draw unnecessary attention. Maybe she can find a way to get Kirk alone and fake an illness.

"Love some," Jack quickly agrees gesturing his boys and a smiling Samantha to the door. "After you."

Kirk opens the door to his cabin finding his entire senior staff sitting in his living room along with two preteen girls that can barely sit still. "And we are going to need a lot of coffee," Jim mumbles to himself setting the bags down. The shock of the filled apartment snaps Kate back to reality.

"Here is your Visa sir and it was everywhere I wanted to be," Uhura walks across the room. Kirk smells fresh paint, but can't immediately judge where it is coming from in his tiny quarters. "Thanks for the thank you gift," Uhura grins. "You were very generous," she models a pair of highly against regulation heels.

"Can we show her now," Joanna squeals rushing forward to takes Kate's hands.

"Yes …go go," Uhura shoos the girl's towards Kate's room. Kate allows herself to be drug across the room by her exuberant friends. "The girls came to Sam and I three days ago when we found out we were headed to Star Base 11. They said they wanted to do something for Kate. To make her feel like she was a member of the crew and just not a visitor," Uhura explains slowly following the trio. John and Ronin walk up to Cameron who explains it to them. John is a little miffed not being let in on the secret but he got to spend the day with Kate. To him, it was a fair trade.

"Holy shit," Kate says wide-eyed from her room. Jim quickly makes his way to her side returning the same blank stare as Kate to Joanna and Erika.

"Lt. care to explain," Jim walks out of Kate's room stunned.

"She needs her own space like the rest of us. I was not thrilled with the color scheme, but Jo and Erika informed me it was the hottest thing in girl's bedroom design." Once more Kirk is amazed at how his crew can surprise him. He had planned to let her get a new bedspread, but his once office is now looks like a picture off the pages of a teen magazine.

"Do you like it," Erika asks plopping down on the thick, soft turquoise and lavender comforter. Kate stares around her room. There is too much to absorb at once. The regulation gray walls are now covered in a soft shade of pale lavender matching the thick area rug covering the standard gray flooring. A cream circular chair in the corner matches her new dresser and bed. "We got you a desk to do your homework at. No one likes doing homework but sitting at the kitchen table is the worst." Kate stares at a few of the pictures mounted on the walls. Snapshots of her and the kids grace the frames. Kate barely recognizes the smiling girl in them. That Kate is like a girl from a dream who is happy and carefree. The Jedi Order is right. One should never make meaningful associations with non-Jedi that they cannot walk away from. Kate has allowed her need to be accepted ruin this mission. The sooner she finds the Holocron the better. The pent up sadness from the hall washes over Kate like a tidal wave. The people in the room easily read her emotion as sadness and not joy. "Kate…are you okay," Erika asks stealing a glance at Jo.

"I love it," Kate forces happiness to her face. These people are not evil or out to kill her. If only she had met them before the Solo's and Skywalker's. The time and money they are investing in her wracks Kate with guilt. At least with the standard issue room, Kirk could move his things back in and go on with his life. Now he will have a visual reminder of her until they paint the walls and remove the furniture. This is just another example of how surprises never work in Kate's favor. Instead of being thrilled, Kate wants to crawl into a ball and cry. She has deceived these people from the moment she beamed over. "I just have no words to describe this. You are all so amazing." The words taste bitter in her mouth. She means it, but Kate knows that in two days they will see her for the liar, thief, and cheat she is. Kate buries her disappoint deep. Kate draws on every painful memory she has endured. Every shitty and crappy thing she has done. Kate pretends this is just another scam to save her life and family. When she is on the Intrepid she can let the tears fall like after every scam but not now.

Jim enters the room again seeing Kate desperately trying to hold it together. "Katie bug you alright," he asks leaning in the doorway.

"Never better," she winks. "This is just so much to take in." Kate walks into the living room to address the senior staff waiting there. "Thank you all so much. It is beyond anything I could have ever wished for. I thank you for your time and dedication in this endeavor. I do not deserve the generosity you have shown me. I will remember this day for the rest of my life." Kate's words and tone are far too formal and not missed by anyone in the room as fake and forced.

"Um the normal response is thanks this is really cool," Ronin stares at Kate like she has grown three heads. Time feels like it slows down to a crawl. Bile rises to the back of Kate's throat. Everyone's face is a mixture of pity, concern, or confusion. She has fucked up this situation beyond repair.

"I…," Kate sputters looking for Kirk. She finds him staring at her concerned. Kate gropes blindly trying to access the Force, but it is as if there is a wall between her and it. Kate feels the air suck from her lungs as a loud buzzing fills her ears.

Bones shoots Jim a concerned look. Both men know Kate is on the verge of a panic attack. Bones breaks the tension by standing up first. "Well, I for one am beat. I am glad you liked your room darling'. You deserve to have something nice after this week," Bones' soft southern drawl speaks for everyone in the room.

Kate doesn't think but flies into his arms. "Thank you," she whispers burying her face into his chest. "I will remember this forever."

Kate releases Bones from her embrace as Jim thanks each one of his officers as they leave his quarters efficiently clearing the room. Kate is vaguely aware of Bones telling Jim he is there if either of them need him. Kate drops to the couch as the door slides shut. "So what's up buttercup? Why the long face? If you don't like your room we can change it," Jim settles on the couch next to Kate placing a hand on her knee.

"No, it is perfect but today was really overwhelming. The last week was actually. I guess it just caught up to me," Kate rubs her eyes preventing the cascade from falling down her cheeks. "Can I go lay down for a little while?" Kate gets up heading directly to her new room. She kicks off her shoes laying on the bed pulling the comforter over her. Just as Jim says, she feels safe and warm. Kate relishes the feeling in the dark of her room. With the weight of the comforter pressing down on her, Kate can pretend it is Jim or Han holding her tight.

"You sure you are okay kiddo," Jim sits on the edge of the bed rubbing her back in small circles. She jumps slightly not expecting him to have followed her in but something is wrong with Kate and he knows it. "Come on kiddo talk to me," Jim thinks. "God damn you, Lauren. You are supposed to be here for this shit, not me. I am supposed to ask you what's wrong and you tell me how you handled it." But Lauren isn't here. Jim needs to navigate this on his own. In battle, he is never at a loss for words but perched on his preteen daughter's bed he is speechless.

"Yeah I just need a nap and time to process today. Everyone was so great. Can I just be alone for a while," Kate works to control her emotions. Life was so much easier being angry at them.

"Sure," Jim is relieved. Kate is a lot like him. Sometimes you just need to be alone to work through things. "I am going to the bridge then okay for a little while. You need anything I will be back here in a heartbeat," Jim kisses the back of her head. "Comm me when you are up." Kate nods pressing her face in the pillow. She knows if she speaks, he will not go. He will want to make it better and nothing will. The only way to fix this is for her to get the Holocron and leave the ship.

.