Ch 24 The Drive-In
.
BONES QUARTERS
"Kate look happy, this is going to be fun," Erika teases as Kate sits on the couch in deep thought.
Everyone sees Kate is on edge, but no one knows the real reason. How can she sit around playing childish games with her family desperately needing the Holocron? The Sith giving it to this Abeloth is a new wrinkle, but Kate has dealt with wrinkles. Her life is just one shirt that was pulled from the dryer and never ironed. Kate will deal with this new wrinkle when she comes to it. Her first problem remains the same. How does she get the Holocron off the ship without starting a war? She subconsciously plays with the comlink in her sweatshirt pocket praying it doesn't go off.
Kate is so deep in thought she never notices John take a seat beside her on the couch. John shoulder bumps her snapping her back to reality. "Smile Sparkles. You are going to love this promise," he gives her a lop-sided grin. She rolls her eyes giving him a half laugh. Of all the people on the ship, John puts her at ease the fastest. "You can choose the movie even if it's a chick flick." John makes a gagging sound as does Ronin and Cameron.
Kate lights up briefly before realizing everything she has seen they have seen. Who wants to see another rerun? "What about Corellian Star Fire, Bothan Flight or maybe Coruscanti War Brothers," Kate suggests. John's face flashes in confusion. Kate feels like an ass, but she has to start creating separation from the crew and especially him. Her vacation is coming to an end. "Never heard of those," Kate feigns confusion before slapping her forehead like she has forgotten something. "Oh that's right. It's because I don't live here," she retorts.
Kate's attempt to cause confusion and chaos are quickly snuffed out by Ronin. "Chill girl. You want action, adventure, romance gag gag gag," Ronin asks pulling out a PADD ignoring Kate's outburst.
John imitates Ronin's gagging before offering his opinion. "You want action or we will all be asleep ten minutes into the movie."
The kids on the ship have Kate's number even if the adults are clueless. They easily force her into having fun and relaxing. Kate is going to miss them so much when she leaves. "I want a war movie," Kate announces. "A movie where there is death and impossible odds that one person overcomes to save the day." This silly childish idea is what has sustained Kate her entire life. That one person, no matter how small, can make a difference. Right now, Kate is that person with the device that will end the war and save billions upon billions of lives, but instead of using it, she is picking a movie. "One person that," her voice hitches," decides it is better to take a vacation leaving everyone to die behind not caring anymore who she betrays." Kate feels her eyes beginning to fill. "Excuse me," she walks into the bathroom
"You want Skyline then," Ronin says turning the PADD for Kate to see the movie poster.
"Um that has a planet where everyone is slaughtered Ronin," Erika reminds him
"That is exactly what she asked for," Ronin shrugs.
"That girl needs to smile," Cameron shakes his head. "If we listen to her we should watch Old Yeller."
"Well," Joanna motions everyone closer "I am probably not supposed to tell you, but my dad told me about Kate." Everyone leans in ready for any secret about Kate. "Kate was an orphan like Aladdin for a few years but without a pet monkey. Some aliens blew up her planet like Vulcan. She was only one of a few that survived. Kate is also a Jedi, but she has no powers. So no," she punches Ronin in the arm, "planets exploding."
"Then how about a game instead of a movie," Erika compromises.
"Perfect. I will make some snacks. Who's hungry?" Joanna asks. The girls make a hodgepodge of all their favorite foods including pizza as the boys sets up Scrabble. John walks to the bathroom realizing Kate has been in there forever.
"Hey Kate we have food. Pizza… yummy in your tummy," John says finishing off his slice.
"Sounds great," Kate sits holding the comlink on the edge of the tub staring at her reflection. This small cylindrical device has ruined her life instead of saving it. "I just am feeling sick. Be out soon," she lies.
John leans against the door instinctively knowing Kate is upset. "Come on sparkles. Ronin is eating your part and you're just hiding."
"You can replicate more thin air food. I see you do it all damn day. I just can't ask for any," Kate whispers the last part to herself.
As if John knows her inner thoughts he replies, "Look I know you can't work the replicator for some reason. It's okay. We can make it our secret." Kate sits up straighter. She has taken great care to make sure no one knows her disadvantages here. She moves to the door placing her hand on the cool metal. His voice is close but she can't tell is he is yelling from the other side of the room or is on the other side of the door. "Come on baby lets have fun."
Kate rears back looking around the room like the door is made of glass. He did not just call her baby loud enough for everyone else to hear. She has to come out know before he says anything else stupid. "Okay," she exhales opening the door walking directly into him. "Um sorry," she mumbles turning red.
"Dont be. I always wanted to hold an angel," John whispers, as she turns even redder. "Now let's get some food." John leads her to a table stacked with snacks. "What will it be Sparkles we have mozzarella sticks, taquitos, nachos, pizza, fried pickles," which John sticks his tongue out at. "Those are all Jo," he makes a swirling motion with his arms, "but you are welcomed to try it and then be legitimately sick."
Kate gets a plate watching the kids set up the game Joanna called Scrabble. It seems easy enough. She gets ten tiles with letters and makes words. The problem is she has such a limited vocabulary this is going to be incredibly hard. Kate watches the kids lay the tiles off other tiles creating a walkway of words on the board. Since Cameron called the "no stupid word rule" she can't go with the wrds hse can read like dog, cat, or bed. Kate stares and goes for broke. "N..O..B..A..T..A. nobata," she lays down the word collecting six new tiles. Kate keeps her gaze focused downward waiting to be called out.
"What's nobata mean Kate," John asks fiddling with his tiles.
"No in Huttese," Kate looks at everyone's face around the table realizing they will let it stand. "Kirk thinks it is the Jedi language, but it is actually the language of a race called the Huts. They are slug-like creatures than run one of the most lucrative crime syndicates in our galaxy."
"Cool, but the nobata stupid word rule remains in effect. You can only use it because no in Huttese has a ton more letters," Cameron winks.
"Dude can we use other languages? If I had used Klingon I would have had a triple word score," Ronin states annoyed by the change in rules. If the group of kids on the Enterprise has one huge character flaw it is their competitiveness.
"Stow it, dork. It stands," John makes the final judgment call. Kate reaches under the table and squeezes John's hand in thank you as she relaxes some. Hanging out with them is like hanging out with her friends back on Coruscant but sometimes even easier.
"So I can use Huttese," she asks the group for clarification.
"As long as you share the meaning," Erika shrugs. Scrabble could be Kate new favorite game. The kids seem to try and cheat all the time so no one would notice her slips.
Kate grins motioning for a peek at Joanna's tiles. "Then you will love this next one." Kate lays down bayana for Joanna. "You would use it like uba doth ba bayana or you are an ass," she translates.
"Dirty scramble! I love it," Joanna laughs. "What else you got Kate?" Each kid eager to see what foul word they have lurking in their tiles spin the tray so Kate can read them.
"Ronin you have Felek which means mentally deranged and the rest of you all have the derivations of fuck like grag, frang, frell, and kriff," Kate spells out every swear word in the book that she can make. For a brief moment, she forgets the Jedi hunting her. She forgets the war ravaging her galaxy. She even forgets she is Katie Solo. Laughing and joking with friends her own age feels good. It feels right.
"What's the word for numb nuts," Ronin says between bites or his meatball sub. Each kid has something in his or her personality that Kate finds appealing. With Cameron it is his love of tinkering, Erika flying, Jo her huge heart, and her sense of security with John. Ronin is a whole different smash ball game. Ronin is a Corellian who doesn't even know it. He is brash, rowdy, and rough on the edges but retains a deep sense of honor. Of all the kids, Kate feels the most at home with him.
"Mesebeu tipta but there are not enough tiles to make it," Kate shrugs as the pneumatic hiss signals Bones entry into the room.
"Oh you are playing Scrabble," Bones says happily looking at the board game. His brow furrows realizing he doesn't understand half the words on the board. "What does haar'chak mean?"
"Spaceship," Kate informs Bones smoothly as Joanna hastily swipes the board cleaning up the game. There is no way her dad knows Huttese, but she is not taking any chances. He dad seems to know every word always telling her it is because he knows Latin.
"Ready to go," Bones smiles gesturing for the door as he pulls on an Academy sweatshirt that has its hem unraveling.
"Ready already," John gets up heading for the door.
Kate pulls him back slightly so the others walk out first. "Hey, thanks in there. I appreciated you letting me use Huttese," Kate whispers to John.
"Not a problem Sparkles. Anytime."
Kate gives John an eye roll. Even when she is trying to be nice, John has a way to make her annoyed. "And stop calling me that. I am kriffing pleasant."
"Okay beautiful," John torments her on purpose.
"Ugh you are impossible you know that don't you," Kate stops in the hall.
John gives her a lop-sided grin. "Yeah it's the O'Neill charm," he pecks her on the cheek not even thinking. Kate rears back so fast she hits her head on the bulkhead. Rubbing it, she looks around to see if anyone else caught the display of affection. John is going to make her crazy during her stay if he keeps this up. "Hey wait for us." John quickly takes off down the hall towards his friends not knowing what to make of Kate's reaction to their impromptu kiss.
.
HANGER BAY USS ENTERPRISE
"Is everyone ready for some fun?" Kirk yells entering the hangar bay like a game show host greeting his contestants. The other kids laugh responding with choruses of yeah's, claps, and whistles. The Captain and crew's attitude seem way over the top to Kate. Nothing has ever been THAT much fun for her to whoop and holler as they are except for maybe pod and swoop racing. She watches as Kirk's long strides bring him closer to her and the waiting shuttle. "Did we start the preflight warm ups," Kirk asks Sulu as he passes by. The brief nod by the navigation officer makes Kirk's smile widen further.
"What's going on?" Kate asks watching the kids pour into the shuttle with backpacks and pillows while the adults carry folding chairs and blankets. "What happened to 'transporters are the main form of transportation here,'" Kate imitates Kirk getting a snicker from O'Neill as he passes.
"Let's get in the shuttle and see," Kirk stands erect before her.
Kate eyes his civilian clothing. Since she arrived, she has only seen him in his customary gold shirt with black pants. "My mother told me never to go anywhere with strangers," Kate eyes him warily. "They could kidnap me, hold me for ransom, never bring me back home. I mean I have never seen you before in my life. This ship is run by a stuffy Captain full of rules." Kate leans forward to whisper, "Did you escape from the Brig?"
"Funny," Kirk shakes his head at her attitude. "Why are you so difficult? A little caution would have saved all of us a ton of headaches this week." Kirk's dry humor gets a pre-teen huff complete with eye roll. "You didn't like transporters so I am trying something new. Just get on the damn shuttle, please. You are ruining my surprise," he says jokingly while tickling her until she has both feet firmly planted inside the shuttle. "Follow me," he says kissing her forehead. Although Kate is excited, she is also extremely sad. Kirk is really a great guy most of the time except when he's being all I am the dad and you'll follow my rules. Sliding her hand in her pocket, Kate turns off the comlink. She is determined to make the most of tonight. By tomorrow, she will be giving Zala Tsu the Holocron and then on her way home. Kate takes a minute to watch the crew prepare for take-off. It is finely tuned chaos resembling the take-offs from the Falcon with everyone tripping over each other storing gear and finding their seats. In a matter of minutes, everyone has settled down: Sulu and Erika are holding hands smiling, Scotty and Cameron are talking about engines, Ronin and John are trying to give each other nuggies while Jack ignores it, and Joanna is saying calming things to Bones who appears to hate flying. "Kate, you coming or not," Kirk calls from the cockpit.
Entering the cockpit Kate feels at home. The console and display look remarkably similar to the Falcon's with dials, toggle switches, and buttons. This is in sharp contrast to the Enterprise's bridge where everything is sleek and fully computerized. Kate feels a pang in her chest remembering the times she helped Han pilot the Falcon. Kirk turns his head seeing the dream like expression on her face.
"You are not a flight attendant so take a seat," Kirk quips flipping several switches. Kate feels the vibrations of the engine coming to life. She quickly takes the co-pilot's seat next to Kirk. Even watching him pilot the shuttle will teach her something. Han always joked Kate could fly a cardboard box if she could get it off the ground. Realizing how extraordinarily quiet his daughter is, Kirk glances over making sure she is still conscious. It does not escape his notice that Kate appears to be trying to memorize the take-off sequence of the shuttle. He isn't sure if her actions should concern him as much as they do. Erika gets the same mesmerized look each time she is allowed in the cockpit. Jim decides to let it slide for now. When they return he will increase security in the hangar until the Jedi threat is gone, but tonight is supposed to be fun. "I see you have the flying bug just like Erika," Jim opens up a conversation as clearance for take-off is given by the deck officer. The shuttle lifts off effortlessly gliding out of the docking bay before taking a sharp turn downwards toward the planet. There is a slight tug at her restraint straps and Bones begins bitching from the back. Kate and Jim laugh as he levels it out.
"I love that feeling. The tug of gravity on your harness," she says leaning as far forward as she can to see the view. "Shuttles are okay, but I love smaller craft. Makes you feel like you are flying," Kate shares. "I really want to learn to fly X-wings solo. Luke told me he would teach me as soon as my feet could comfortably touch the floor." Kate catches the brief side-glance reminding her they come from different worlds. "Our capital ships have hangars filled with fighters. Mainly X-wings and Y-wings but there are tons of other types." They enter the planet's atmosphere heading to the night side of the planet. "Where the he….where are we going?" Kate checks the clock seeing it is only 1500 hours standard time.
"There," he points to a spot that as they get closer appears to be a large white screen. As they land, Kate realizes the white dot is the size of a Billboard, but in a desolate field.
"Looks like an Imperial re-education center," Kate murmurs not sure what to do next.
"It's a Drive-In," Kirk says excitedly jumping out of his seat like a kid at Christmas. Kate sighs following him out of the shuttle. With the same efficiency that they loaded the shuttle, everyone is unloading it setting up chairs and laying down blankets like this is a normal occurrence. Scotty and Cameron are dragging what looks like a portable replicator from a compartment on the shuttle.
"What's a Drive-In?" Kate asks.
"Oh, so your superior, amazing home galaxy doesn't have drive-ins?" Kirk asks pretending to be overly surprised.
"Captain!" John screams as Kirk easily catches the football thrown to him.
He tosses it back to John but not before screaming, "Go long." Kate looks around and for the first time sees these people as a family like Han, Luke, Lando, Wedge, and Chewbacca. "A Drive-In sweetheart is a total American invention. I used to go with your mom and my girl…" Kirk stops before adding the friend. He is not ready for that part of a drive-in to be explored. "A drive-in is a place where you watch movies outdoors, eat really good junk food, and hang out. When we go to Earth, I'll take you to a real one but for now we use this when we can. It's where your mom and I had our first date." Jim says with a smile briefly crossing his face. He looks at Kate seeing a hint of his wife in her eyes and nose. The moment is broken as everyone gathers in the field for the traditional football game before the show. "Come on I have never had MY kid on the team before. It's the Kirk's and O'Neill's against everyone else," he says jogging over to where everyone has divided into two teams. Kate stands behind Kirk who guides her next to him in front of Bones.
"Hey no elbows," Bones says seriously pointing at what remains of his black eyes. Kate knows he is joking but mumbles a hurried response turning her attention to Kirk.
"Okay this game is football," Kirk begins to explain as the game starts. "Squat down like this," Kirk instructs, "and don't let him get past you. Ronin is the quarterback. He is going to throw the ball to someone over there whose job it is to get past us and score a touchdown. You'll catch on, but your only job is to not let Bones get by you." Kate nods that she has the basic idea matching John's stance. As soon as someone yells hike, Kate realizes this is not like the non-contact sports John and the others have explained to her. Bones charges at Kate surprising her. Wrapping one hand around Kate's waist, Bones tackles her to the ground. From Kate's pinned position, she sees the girls taking a beating. Kirk is swinging Joanna around on his hip while Erika is being hoisted onto Jack's shoulder like a caveman's prize. The boys are a different story. Cameron comes out of nowhere knocking John to the ground as Scotty catches the ball. Sulu tries to hold Ronin back, but a fake left turn lets Ronin tackle Scotty ending the play. Kate laughs hysterically at the mayhem and seemingly random nature of the game.
"Gotcha back darlin'," Bones says extending a hand to Kate who is flat on her back. They line up again and play until it gets dark. By the end of the game, everyone has grass stained knees and is sweaty.
Kate walks over to the area the adults have set up with blankets and folding chairs as Scotty prepares the movie. Glancing to her right and left, she sees the kids are not bunched up in one area like the one she hoped. The kids have separated into their family unit. Erika sits in a folding chair with a pillow behind her back as she lays her propped up legs across Sulu. Joanna is lying on her stomach with her feet crossed next to Bones as he lazily twirls her braid through his fingers. Even the boys are showing how tight each family is with Cameron and Scotty fighting over the best way to start the movie. Kate smiles as Scotty professes that as chief engineer he can handle a bloody movie projector as Cameron tries to show him what he is doing wrong. John, Ronin and Jack seem to be having a serious conversation until popcorn goes flying between the two boys. Off to the side, Kirk sits propped up on the shuttle wall with his legs fully extended sipping a drink from a dark bottle. A red and white striped bucket of some kind of meat is next to him. Kate knows everyone expects her to plot down next to him like the rest of the kids. They probably expect her to let him stroke her hair or drape an arm over her shoulder like Han used to. The two men are the same height and Kate would fit perfectly snuggled up to his side like she did with Han, but they do not have the same relationship. "So the Captain doesn't have a throne on the ground like he does on the bridge," Kate asks. As soon as the words leave her mouth she realizes they don't sound like the silly joke she wanted it to be. It sounded mean and condescending which was not the direction she wanted. "I...I just meant that you seem really relaxed...on the ground...eating bucket meat." Kate twists the sleeve on her sweatshirt.
"Bucket meat," Kirk tries not to laugh. "You say our food is horrible, but bucket meat does not sound appealing. Have a seat Katie bug," Jim offers. Kate hesitates for a second but having nowhere else to go sits next to him imitating his position with her back against the shuttle. "It's called KFC," Jim hands her the bucket. "Your mom loved it. Always took the legs and thighs." Jim finishes his beer thinking back to the time he was truly happy in his life. Lauren, like her daughter, complicated his life immensely, but it was a good complication. "Oh and the biscuits are to die for." Jim hands her a smaller box and plate. Kate roots through the bucket until she finds a breast.
She smiles as Jim looks at the huge piece of chicken she has chosen. "I have never been one who thinks exerting effort to eat is a good idea. I mean look at how small that wing is. I'd be hungry again by the time I finished eating it." Kate sees Kirk raise an eyebrow as he cracks open another bottled beverage. "It's good," Kate says wiping her greasy fingers on her jeans after she has finished.
"You're supposed to do this," he licks fingers, "not get it all over your clothes. Their catch phrase is its finger licking good."
"You guys are so weird," Kate takes a biscuit from the box. Before eating it, Jim covers the top in a thick, yellow syrup telling her honey is better than butter on them. "So you and my mom used to do this?" After the first bite, Kate instantly agrees.
"All the time. She had this beat up white pickup truck. We would lie in the back sometimes spending all night there. Kid feature, action, horror…it never mattered to your mom. She loved anything. The problem was she always fell asleep before the third feature. She would start out like you next to me. By the second movie, she would use me as a backrest. By the third, she was snoring. Sometimes so loud I had to turn up the volume t hear."
Kate sits quietly listening to everything Jim can tell her about the family she never knew. Life might not have been so bad if her mom had never left. "Jim," Kate looks at him a bit uncomfortable. "Tonight has been great. Really great. It is a perfect memory of you and your crew," Kate sets her food to the side not sure how to continue. "We don't have Drive-In's like this, but we do have movies. My dad," Kate says as the words catch in her throat. Her intention was not to throw Han up to Kirk just share a special memory. "Can I start over," Kate asks licking her lips not wanting to ruin the moment.
"Yes, but you don't have to," Kirk says softly. Deep in his heart, he knows Han is no competition. People's capacity to love is just a great at their capacity to hate. Kate can easily have two men she loves and looks up to. Joanna has said numerous times how much she loves him. Even after Kate's arrival, he still thinks of Joanna like a daughter.
"We loved to watch movies. He and I would sometimes spend an entire Benduday curled on the couch watching anything and everything," Kate shares fiddling with her sleeve. Jim notices Kate doesn't use Han's name in her story just the vague pronouns he and we. As Jim prepares to tell her that he isn't jealous of Han she lays her head against his arm. "You were right a few days ago."
Her admission stops him cold. "Right about what Katie bug?"
"You said I would miss them l for a long time if not forever," Kate can't make eye contact with him until she finishes talking. "You also said that when I see them again I will have so many happy things to share. You made me that promise and tonight it came true." Kate looks up at him. "Thank you. The game, the food, the movie that will eventually start," Kate cranes her neck checking on the Scott's progress before continuing. "Everything is perfect. I have been slightly difficult and I know you did all this for me even though I have not been the most willing guest aboard your ship. I just thought you should know how much I appreciated it."
He hugs her tightly to his side. "The thank you is nice, but I did it because I love you, Kate. Your my kid and deserve the best life I can give you."
Kate quickly nuzzles into his side before he removes his arm. She curls up next to him with her head resting on the left side of his chest and her arm draped around his waist. It feels good to have someone be nice and not want anything in return. Kirk's hand falls around her body just like Han's used to when they snuggled together. The weight of it makes her feel safe and protected as the movie begins to play.
It's another two Pre-Federation movies called Mission Impossible I and II about a spy saving his country. By the second movie, she is lying with her head on his lap. Kirk strokes her hair making her feel so relaxed, so at peace. How can she leave? This new life isn't so bad. There is no death or war. Life here is like a never-ending vacation. The more she thinks about how much she could like it here, the guiltier she feels. Her life back home is not perfect but is filled with people that love her. She has two great lives and at this moment and does not want to have to choose one over the other.
As the second feature ends, Kate feels compelled to thank Jim again. "Tonight was amazing. I really can't remember the last time I had so much fun." Kate tells Kirk smiling. As she looks up at him, she sees Jim staring hard at Jack.
"Hold that thought peanut," Jim shifts her off his lap. His smile fades as he walks over to Jack who is on his earpiece. Although they appear relaxed, Kate opens up to the Force. Instead of the warm, happy embrace of friends and family, she feels the cold, chill of the dark side. One of the Sith is close. Kate should have never turned off the comlink. Slipping silently from her spot on the blanket, Kate makes her way to the front of the shuttle. The closer she gets to the Sith, the heavier the fog of the dark side envelopes her. Panic starts to swell inside her chest. She is ready to turn around when a tall, lean dark-haired man steps out of the shadows.
"Rogan what are you doing here," Kate looks around nervously. "There is security everywhere. Kirk is here. If they catch you...us... there is going to be trouble. You have to go."
"I don't know," Rogan leans relaxed up against the shuttle. "Nice weather, friendly people, I kind of like this place."
"Please go," Kate pleads looking behind her. Kate can't decide if she is more scared of Kirk finding Rogan or Rogan fighting Kirk.
Rogan turns deadly serious. "We need an update," he moves with the grace of a tiger pinning her between his body and the front of the shuttle. His movements cause her to hit her head against the wall of the shuttle. The impact is more attention getting than painful. "Oh did you hit your head," Rogan puts on a sympathetic face. "Did it hurt," he sneers.
Kate steadies her breathing. Rogan is trying to get her off balance, but they still need her for something. If they didn't they would have made a move on the Enterprise or left her by now. Kate is in a high stakes sabacc match and she is holding nothing in her hand. "I am still looking. It is a big ship. They have posted a security detail on me." Kate prays her bluff holds. By now the Sith have tapped into the comm system of the Enterprise but not knowing the written language gives Kate the edge. Star Fleet loves their paperwork so any order by Kirk is unreadable by the Sith. At least Kate hopes they are not trying to learn to read English like she is.
Even pinned to the shuttle by a Sith Master doesn't seem to affect Kate. The Sith sees strength and defiance lurking in her eyes. Rogan toys with the idea of inflicting bodily injury to her as a lesson in humility, but that would draw too many unwanted questions. When she and the Holocron are safe aboard the Beacon of Light, Rogan will make sure the little whelp gets a lesson she will remember forever. Rogan reaches a finger up to her face. Kate winces backward but has nowhere to go. "Have you found it yet Katie," Rogan traces the side of her face lightly with his finger. His touch feels icy cold. Kate knows she doesn't have much more time. As she turns to see if anyone is coming, Rogan clamps his hand around her jaw forcing her to look at him. "You would not betray us now would you? You would not be so stupid as to find the device and give it to them?" Rogan's reptilian stare brings gooseflesh to her arms.
"No," Kate strives to keep the fear out of her voice as his fingers bite into her flesh. Kate opens to the Force and feels it flood her. It is a weird mix of happy and fear, worry and calm, love and hate. Kate begins to focus it inside her. If she has to, Kate will fight Rogan before she lets him hurt anyone. Sensing her feelings of fear for her friends, Rogan feeds on this.
"I will kill them. I will start with the parents first. Cut them down in front of their children," Rogan's icy threat is real. "You know I will." Killing children is nothing new to the Sith. Anakin Skywalker slaughtered the entire Jedi temple and he was one man. Kate wont' let that happen to the Enterprise crew. She struggles to pull her face from his grip.
"Have any of you laser brains ever thought that he as hidden it somewhere other than his ship?" Kate lets her frustration rise to the surface hoping to mask the other emotions flowing through her body. "I have looked everywhere. He doesn't have it on his ship."
"He has to have it. Look harder. Time is running out," Rogan searches her eyes looking for any hint of deception.
"I will but why are you here? To threaten me? To scare me?" Kate goes for broke. If Rogan is going to kill her, he will. No one can stop him from doing it when he is this close to her. "You won't leave without the Holocron so if I go past your insane deadline so be it."
"So be it? You are getting mouthy," Rogan digs his fingers into her jaw holding her face as he slaps her cheek several times just hard enough to sting. "Maybe I should put you in your place if you father doesn't know how to teach you manners." Kate matches his glare. Rogan does not like the gleam of defiance in her eye. "You are so stupid for being so smart. We don't need you. We only used you to minimize the causality rate. If you can't find it we will do it our way with the Intrepid. We will blast the ship to pieces with you on it if we have to. Tell me after seven days do you really think Kirk would sacrifice all his crew for one person? Do you really believe he could love you after all you have done? After all the people, you have hurt. Have you told him everything about yourself?"
"Yes, he knows everything. I told him."
"God you are so kriffing stupid. He is a respected Captain in their Navy. You think your story won't get out. That he will want you blotting his good name. I wouldn't worry about being called a Kirk. He will make sure you are a Solo to distance himself from you." Rogan thinks for a second longer. "Did you tell him about the people you allowed to be slaughtered on Dantooine?" The panic flashing in Kate's eyes lets Rogan know he found his window. "Did you tell him about how you were in charge of taking care of a group of orphans that you let die to a pack of voxyn? Yes, they are troublesome beasts, but Luke and the others were able to best them." Kate turns her face as if that will stop the images from entering her mind of that night. Rogan leans in whispering in her ear with a hot breath. "I have always wondered," Rogan asks like it is a happy question. "What was it like to wake up in their nest surrounded by the corpses of those you couldn't save? Bet is was better than being one of the corpses that never woke up though," Rogan smiles roguishly.
Kate swallows the vomit that filled the back of her mouth as Rogan brings up the nightmare that haunts her sleep. "Life is always better than death," Kate turns a hate filled stare on Rogan.
For the first time, he sees the potential in the bubbly, happy girl the rest of the world knows. As a Sith, Kate would be powerful. It is no secret she is the direct decedent of two powerful Jedi lineages. Rogan stares into her eyes. "Yes, I see the dark Lord in there yearning to come out. Revanchist, Revan the Butcher, the Dark Lord of the Sith Darth Revan," Rogan says the words in a whisper. "You are special. You are one of us and will grow into one of the most formidable foes your galaxy has ever seen. Tell me who will you pick to stand on your right side as you rule the galaxy."
"I will never be like you," Kate whispers back kissing his cheek softly. "Jiiiii," she manages a muffled scream before Rogan slaps a hand over her mouth.