PLEASE NOTE THE TIMES AT THE HEADING OF CHAPTERS. MANY THINGS ARE OCCURRING SIMULATENOULSY IN THIS CHAPTER.

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CH 27 OONE BAD DECISION LEADS TO ANOTHER

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CAPTIAN'S QUARTERS 1230 hours

Kate enters the still quarters. An old-fashioned clock lets out a steady ticking rhythm. In the dark, it sounds ominous making the hair stand up on her arms. She only has a few minutes bought by the casual lie of needing a sweatshirt from her quarters. John and the others are waiting for her at lunch. A sickening knot forms deep in her belly. When Jack said he was the one in charge of prisoner transfers and that she was not getting off the ship without him, he had no idea how right he was. Half the time she was in the brig, Kate worried about how bad life in prison would be. The other half she worried about how she was getting off the ship and back home. Jack's sudden arrival to the Brig was a blessing. As he sat by her assuring Kate he "will try to work this out", she deftly lifted his command access card from his pocket transferring it to her own.

The steady ticking of the clock acts as a metronome to keep Kate on pace with her mission. Gingerly she pulls the framed image of her parents on their wedding day from the bottom drawer of Kirk's desk. She stares longingly at the image of their smiling faces. Her life could have been so different if Lauren had stayed with him. She wonders if her mom was pregnant in the image but pushes it from her mind. It is an irrelevant detail. As Kate enters her room, self-doubt floods her. Seven hours ago, she had decided to let Kirk in but somewhere between making that decision and now, Kate is back to her original plan. She lies in her bed, holding the Holocron to her chest thinking events over. A shrill series of beeps indicates Zala Tsu is trying to contact her. She gets up pulling the comlink from her pants slung over her desk chair. The thin cylindrical communication tube feels odd in her hand. Never has Kate gone against her gut feelings so much in her life. The device chirps again forcing Kate to make a choice. She is going to go with her gut. She will tell Kirk what's going on when she gets all the details. If he prevents her from leaving after Zala Tsu is arrested, Kate will bide her time. There is always an opportunity to escape but not always an opportunity to do what is right. Kate can't take the risk that someone could get hurt no matter how miserable she is. "Master Tsu where do you want to meet," Kate asks into the comlink.

"My pet, I was waiting for your call. You had us concerned. Beam down to the planet so that we can bring the Holocron to the Jedi and win this war against the Yuuzhan Vong," she states agitated but trying to use a calm tone.

"I can't get off the ship. Give me your coordinates and I will beam it to you," Kate suggests. "I will remain behind and monitor the situation. Maybe they have other weapons that could help with the war. When you give the Holocron to Luke, he can send someone back for me." Zala Tsu can sense Kate's distrust of them. Like a light bulb illuminating a room, Zala Tsu knows Kate feels more for this Captain and crew than she does for the imaginary Jedi cause at this time. She must change Kate's mind. The Holocron is nothing without Kate to operate it.

"You can stay if you choose my pet," Zala Tsu purrs, "but you are signing both of your death warrants."

Anger bubbles inside Kate. "If you try to hurt them," Kate threatens but Zala Tsu laughs filling the quarters with an icy echo. Goosebumps spring up on Kate's arms and legs. If Kate had more training in the Force, she would recognize the sensation as a Force warning and not as a childish fear of the Lady Sith.

"You stupid, ignorant child. Jedi do not kill their own but your Captain," she lets her voice trail off. "Your precious Captain does not understand the ways of the Force. He hates it. He loathes it. He won't open his mind to learn anything about it. What do you think he will do when he learns how powerful you are my pet? You're only use to him right now is as bait to capture us." Zala Tsu's voice causes Kate to shiver. Kirk's distrust off all things Jedi is a well-known fact. Although he is beginning to tolerate Kate speaking about it, Kate knows it is only to gain information. He hasn't even returned her Jedi clothes claiming they are still being processed by laundry services. What if Zala Tsu is right? What if Kirk is only permitting her to remain aboard as bait? The silence between Kate and Zala Tsu hangs like a heavy fog. She has to create self-doubt in the child if her mission is to succeed. "He imprisoned us for being a Jedi. He will do the same to you." Kate begins to wonder if her time in the Brig was a test of their facilities and not a punishment for stealing. "Your mother told me the real story of why she left. Upon finding she was with child, your mother foolishly thought his love for her was genuine. She planned a romantic weekend on Risa to share the wonderful news," Zala Tsu states facetiously. "Once he heard she was a Jedi and that his offspring could be a Jedi he flew into a rage. He contacted his beloved Star Fleet. That is why she had to leave. If she had remained, they would have imprisoned her and you in a gilded cage. You know this to be true. At the medical center, Kirk allowed them to test you for midi-chlorians. The pathetic excuse that they needed a paternity exam was only to get you to cooperate," Zala spills lie after lie. "Rogan was there. He saw the ecstatic look on the lab technicians faces as your test showed positive results."

Kate doesn't want to believe Zala Tsu, but she has seen Kirk's irrational side towards the Force. He does mentally shut off when she brings up the Jedi. The once tiny nagging doubt begins to scream for attention in her mind. Zala Tsu knows so many details that what she is saying must be true. Kate allows the little nagging doubt to grow in her mind. "Kirk just doesn't understand the Jedi yet, but I know if," Kate starts before Zala Tsu plays her hidden sabacc card.

"No…Jim can never know. He will not understand the Jedi," a voice says over the comlink followed by a series of crackles and static. Zala Tsu knows she has Kate where she needs her to be by the audible intake of air Kate makes on the other end of the comm line. Kate would know that voice anywhere. It may have been several years since she heard it in person, but Kate would never forget the sound of her mother's voice. "Do you know that voice my pet? It is your mother's last instructions to us before we left," Zala lies playing back a portion of Lauren's conversation taped years ago from Risa. Kate's knees buckle sending her to a heap on the floor. Her mom is alive. Kate has always known this, but her words confirm the fact. Somewhere back home Lauren Kirk is waiting for her.

"When did you talk to her," Kate's head spins.

Zala Tsu allows a long pause and deep sigh to fill the airwaves. "There is much you don't know my pet. The Jedi council believed if you knew the truth about your mother's situation, you would worry and not complete the mission."

"What situation," Kate demands icily.

"Your mother left you to participate in a secret mission for the Jedi. It was only supposed to be for a short time, but something went wrong. Your mother has been held all these years by a Dark Lady of the Sith. Many of us wanted to mount a rescue mission, however, it was deemed too dangerous by other Jedi. Once the Vong attacked… your mother was forgotten." Zala Tsu allows the lies to fester in Kate's mind. "Your mother is a great hero and a close friend. She spoke of the Holocron being a powerful weapon. That is why we planned this mission and need the Holocron. The Holocron will show us not only how to find her but how to save our galaxy."

"My mother is alive," Kate repeats stunned. "Kirk will help us now. I know it. Let me talk to him."

Zala Tsu curses Kate's naiveté. "Use the Force and search deep my pet. Know my words to be true. He is not to be trusted. Choose the Captain and your mother dies. Share with him the knowledge of the Holocron and your mother dies. He turned her over once for something far less valuable. His species is not ready for its knowledge. They wage war with everyone not like them. Their kind is filled with hate and will destroy anything foreign to them. Take your chances but know that you will be alone here from the minute you confess until all time," Zala Tsu threatens.

Kate's heart is racing. Zala Tsu has to be wrong about Kirk but what if she is right. What will Kirk do if she confesses to him now? Kate needs time to think. "He's coming. I will comm you back when I can," Kate says turning the comlink off. After the conversation with Zala Tsu, Kate's course of action is clear. Kate must help her mother. For years, Kate has known Lauren would never have abandoned her. She picks up the Holocron. "What kind of weapon are you," she asks it turning it over in her hands. Kate reaches out with the Force to see what she can discover. The Holocron starts to move in her hands. The more she concentrates the Holocron begins to glow. Out of the center, a blueprint appears looking like the technical drawing for the device they used to travel from Sky River to the Milky Way. She feels more than knows that these plans could open up the universe like nothing before it. Galaxies connected for trade, exploration and conquest. Kate opens her eyes breaking her limited connection with the Force and the implications of using the Holocron start to sink in. This device can take her home and save her mother but also bring things from home here. This galaxy definitely is not ready for the Yuuzhan Vong. Kate's problem is that she isn't convinced Zala Tsu or Kirk will use it to rescue her mom. Suddenly Han's face pops into her mind. For her entire life, he has always been there for her. Han and Chewie will help Kate rescue her mom. Slowly a plan forms in Kate's head. She begins stuffing the backpack Sam helped her buy with items from her room: a picture of her and Kirk, one of the kids, and Kirk's ratty Academy sweatshirt. If Kirk truly loves her, he will understand why she is doing this. If he doesn't then she doesn't need him. Kirk cannot know her plans, but she needs to find a way for him not to worry when he finds her gone. She owes him at least that. Moving to his desk, Kate pens Jim a message on her PADD. She carefully separates the wedding image from the Holocron propping it up on his computer terminal before stuffing the Holocron in the backpack. As if he can sense her plans, Jim's voice comes through her shirt comm. Kate doesn't have much time. She takes a final second to look around the room that has been her home for the past week. One day she hopes to return her with her mom. Maybe then, they can salvage some form of a life together. Kate takes a deep breath and leaves the room.

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JIM'S OFFICE 1230 hours

Jack leans against the wall not sure how to start. "Sit Jack… want a some coffee," Jim asks leaning back in his chair.

"No," Jack sits getting formal. Jim just dealt head on with Section 31 and Marcus eighteen months ago. Section 31 just made a play for his daughter less than 48 hours ago. This is not the news he would want from a subordinate if he were in command. "Jim I don't want you to get squirrelly but my last assignment wasn't with special training. I was in intelligence," Jack leaves the conversation open letting Jim digest his words. "Captain I was with Section 31 for ten years before my gig here."

Jim feels like he has been sucker punched. If Jack wasn't sitting in his office across from him, Jim would have taken a swing at him. "Say again," Jim leans forward in full command mode. "You were in Section 31 or you still are in Section 31,"he asks for clarification. "Level with me Col O'Neill or your position on my ship may just have become available."

"I was," Jack repeats. "I spent ten years with those heartless bastards and almost lost my wife and kids over it. I took this posting to have a life or attempt to salvage the one I fucked up. No, I am not with Section 31 but one of my old contacts just commed me."

Jim turns an icy gaze on his chief of security. The old adage that blood is thicker than water pops into Jim's head. He has only one question for Jack that needs an immediate answer. "Is my daughter safe with you?"

Jack should have expected this but his mind reels from the accusation. "You or your daughter have nothing to fear from me. I will never harm her. If it comes down to it, I will lay my life down for her or any of the other children." Jack needs to gain some iota of trust with Jim before he continues.

Jim gets up from his desk walking to the small window. He turns his back on Jack as he gazes out the window. "I trusted Marcus. Don't make me regret approving your posting here. What do you want from us? Why tell me now?"

Jack knows now is not the time to rehash old loyalties. They can debate the signs proving Marcus was dirty later. "Look I am coming clean because of my contact. He said some things that bothered me so I did some research and found this." Jack brings up the image of Justin Donald's on his PADD laying it on the table. Jim returns to his seat seeing the hazy reflection of Jack's actions through the glass in the window. He stares hard at the image of the young kid on the PADD. Jack efficiently begins to debrief his commanding officer letting the revelation of his past employer slide to the sidelines for now.

"Justin Donalds," Jack names the brown-haired Section 31 agent. "He is a field agent and one of us...them I mean," Jack grimaces falling into his old pattern of reporting straight facts. "He is a typical example of a Section 31 agent with no family…no home. Kids like him are perfect because they are dependable and expendable." Jim looks hard at Jack. He may have a strong friendship with the man across from him, but that doesn't mean Jack doesn't have strong loyalties to his former co-workers. Jack's slip let doubt creep into Jim's mind about Jack's loyalty to him and the Enterprise. "He was at the Bargain Barn the day we went shopping on shore leave. Within 30 minutes of us leaving this is what happened to Justin Donalds." Jack brings up the image of Justin's decapitated head lying in the alley. "The injury was fully cauterized and we both know of only one weapon off-hand that can do this." Jack sits back allowing Jim to connect the dots. "The entire five-man team was taken down." Jack brings up the classified field video of Zala Tsu deflecting the phaser shots and killing the rest of the team.

"Jedi, Komack and spies oh my," Jim says mirthlessly looking over the images. "So Section 31 after Kate? That is not a huge leap of faith on my part. I don't need a Section 31 contact to know she would be a target after the Khan incident. You are always looking for an edge."

Jack lets the dig slide. "No, but the part that is eating me is that Kate and John were speaking to him," Jack stabs the table. "I have no idea about what. I hacked into the Bargain Barn's security footage for good measure," Jack brings it up on the PADD, "but they didn't opt for sound in the surveillance package. I guess 5 and 10 credit merchandise isn't worth the cost."

"We don't need don't need sound," Jim lays the PADD down calmly. "We have two eye witnesses. Kate and John I need you in my ready room now," Jim says into his comm unit. A heavy silence fills the room as they wait for the kids to arrive. Jim reclines back in his chair attempting to relax as best he can. Jim stares at Jack from across the desk. His revelation of being in Section 31 has fundamentally changed their relationship. Like the news of an affair, it had Jim second-guessing Jack's motives which he never had before now. Whether he plans on transferring Jack or having him remain on the ship is a decision he will spend many hours pondering over the next few days. Jack senses the icy chill that has fallen between them, but knows it is what it is. Regardless of what he wants Jim will make a decision and Jack can't change that. "Jack I have a question," Jim says in a neutral tone. "Why come clean now? You could have chalked it up to excellent job skills and presented this as a hunch that played out. Why tell me now after almost two years when we are in the middle of a Section 31 situation are you confessing this?"

"You should have known since day one but it was a little hard to bring it up when you were interviewing seeing Section 31 destroyed your ship and all." Jack's answer brings a hint of a smile to Jim's face. Jack is correct. While he was filling positions from a small office in Star Fleet headquarters as his ship was being overhauled was not the place to admit the applicants prior employer in Star Fleet had placed Jim there. "I only brought is up now because I heard a rumor you were taking Kate on a jaunt planeside in the next hour." With Kate in the brig and the Jedi threat confirmed on the planet there is no way Jim would actually be considering this any longer. Jack just needs to verbal confirmation.

"Yes we are for personal reasons," Jim shocks Jack. "Won't take long. Maybe five…ten minutes total." Jim has no intention of taking Kate but wants to see Jack's reaction.

Jack takes a second to process what he is hearing. There is no way Jim is serious. "Jim I don't want to get into your business, but I would suggest you skip the shopping excursion at least for a day or so. I mean I don't want to pry, but the kid has everything to get by for now. My contact told me to keep her on the ship along with the other kids for a few days. I think we should follow his suggestion."

"This can't be skipped. It will take five minutes," Jim says firmly. He doesn't owe Jack an explanation, yet the expression on Jack's face tells Jim he will press for one. Jim bristles at the intrusion again in his life. This is yet one more time everyone on the ship is involving themselves in his personal life when Jim never interferes with theirs. "When we were at Star base 11, Kate seized the opportunity to pickpocket several customers at the Bargain Barn." Jim hates telling Jack what Kate did, but with Jack's access to the Bargain Barn's security camera he probably knows anyway.

"Kate?" Jack is stunned. He watched the security footage and never saw it. Either Kate is that good, or he was that distracted. Whichever is the case, Jack is concerned he missed it.

"Felt she needed running money," Jim sighs taking a deep drink of coffee. Twelve hours after the fact, he has a different perspective on the situation. Things were rough when he returned from Tarsus IV. He did many things to escape the mental and physical pain from the ordeal. He can empathize with Kate's need for self-reliance; however, Kate is not in the same position he was with an absentee parent. She has him to take care of her. Once she knows this, Jim fully believes Kate will become the happy, vivacious kid everyone is getting small glimpses of. It will just take time and patience.

"That was the reason for the brig," Jack puts the pieces of the puzzle together.

"Yes and the reason we were going to the planet. It was less than a hundred dollars but it is the principal of the situation. Kate needs to be held accountable for her actions." Jim walks over to the replicator making a cup of coffee. "She actually tried to rationalize that if we gave it to charity then there was no issue and her actions were okay."

"Look I get the let's be responsible lesson but, feeding her a slice of humble pie is not worth the risk to her or you. We both know the cashier is not giving it back. If I were you I would do the exact same thing you are planning but under the circumstances I say ground her. Unfortunately, the odds are she will do it again. Make her return it the next time," Jack suggests.

A scowl settles over Jim's face. Jack is right about the danger. It is too great to take Kate down to the planet. He is also right with the assumption Kate probably will try it again. "Where are the kids," Jim grumbles reaching up to activate his shirt comm.

"Captain, I have been receiving strange transmissions since last night," Uhura reports through the shirt comm before Jim can place his call. Jim closes his eyes in frustration. "They are bursts and only run for less than a minute. I have given copies to Engineering and tactical but no one can decipher them."

"Keep working on it," Kirk says getting up heading to the bridge. "I know the Jedi are trying to contact Kate. They must be trying to hack the Enterprise's communications array. I want to know what those bastards want before Kate does." Again, his duties as a Captain are superseding his duties as a father. Hopefully, when this Jedi mess is taken care of, Jim can devote more time to Kate. Jim stops at the door remembering that the kids are on their way to the bridge.

"Go," Jack says, "I will find the kids and bring them to the security office. Meet us there when you get done here." Jim stares at Jack briefly before nodding and disappearing onto the bridge. Jack lets out a heavy sigh reading everything behind Jim's look. Maybe coming clean about his involvement in Section 31 wasn't a smart decision, but he can't go back now.

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OUTSIDE THE MESS HALL

Jack arrives in time to see his son and the kids leaving the mess hall from lunch. To his surprise, Kate is not with them. "Hey John," Jack pulls his youngest son aside. "Where's Kate and why didn't you report to the Captain's ready room like you were asked?"

"I was just finishing my lunch. I didn't know he meant immediately," John says concerning seeping into his previously relaxed face. "I'm sorry Dad. I was on my way there now."

"It's alright but any idea where Kate is?" Even though Jack is trying to play it cool, John can tell something is wrong.

"Probably in her quarters. She left right after we got here. She said she was cold and went back to get a sweatshirt," John reports. "I figured she needed some time alone." John looks around to make sure no one can hear what he is about to say. "Mr. Jim isn't really sending her away is he?" John knows this is a stupid question, but needs reassurances from his Dad this isn't going to happen.

"No," Jack tries not to laugh. "I need you to go wait in the security office for me." John's perplexed look makes Jack explain. "We had some questions about the day we went shopping." John stiffens slightly at the mention of the store indicating to Jack that his son knows something about what went on. He doesn't press the issue in the hall telling John to head up to his office while he gets Kate.

John gets lost in thought as he enters the turbo. He knows why the Captain and his dad wants to see him and Kate. Somehow, they found out about Kate trying to pickpocket the young guy at the store. As the turbo begins to descend, John snaps out of his daydream. He reaches for the control pad as the doors open. To his surprise, Kate enters with her backpack slung over one shoulder.

Kate is almost as surprised to see John in the turbo as he is to see her. "John hey what are you up to," Kate smiles as her heart pounds. She has to find a way to get rid of him and fast.

"Heading to the security office," John replies. "Did you see my Dad? He was looking for you?"

"When," she adjusts the strap to her backpack as she reaches forward to select Level X on the turbo control pad.

"Like thirty seconds ago," John feels they are dropping floors quickly instead of ascending. A quick glance to the computerized turbo display indicates they are heading in the opposite direction they should be going. John reaches forward stopping the turbo halfway to Kate's intended destination. "Where do you think you are going? Didn't you get the comm from your Dad? They want us is security." Kate tenses her muscles ready for a fight. John is not going to make this easy for her and she doesn't have time to fool around with him if Jack is now looking for her.

"I don't care what the Captain or your father want," she stops the turbo changing direction again. "I am going for a swim."

"Well the pool is on Level U not X," John corrects, "and we were told to go to the security office." John eyes her bag suspiciously.

As the doors open to Level X, Kate issues John an ultimatum. "Get out of my way or I will make you get out," she orders him coldly.

John lets out a derisive snort activating the turbo controls to Level B and the security office. There is no way Kate can be this stupid John thinks. Why she continues to treat them like the enemy is beyond his comprehension. They are in enough trouble as it is with her attempted robbery in the Bargain Barn. John is not going to let her compound one mistake with another. Kate drops her backpack to the floor of the turbo. She reaches forward stopping the turbo and changing its direction once again. For the first time, John gets an annoyed look on his face. "Where do you think you are going? We are on a ship dipshit. Kinda hard to run away when we are not docked anywhere?"

"Fine," she leans against the wall next to the controls. As he reaches for the control pad she breaks his nose in a clean motion. Kate rips off his shirt comm crushing it with her heel as John grabs his face. Blood drips through his fingers as she roundhouse kicks him dropping him to the floor. "Don't get up," she says stepping around him. "Look I need you to do something for me in a few minutes. As John attempts to get up spitting out blood, she leg sweeps him placing her knee on his neck and him face down. She snaps restraining cuffs on his hands securing them behind his back.

Kate leans down to his ear and in a low whisper apologizes. "I am a thief and a liar and a traitor. I'm sorry I hurt you, but you can't stop me from what I have to do. You were never nothing but nice to me and don't deserve this. Unfortunately, I have made too many mistakes to stay here."

"Only because you choose to keep running Sparkles," John hisses in a nasal tone. For the first time in his life, he wants to hit a girl. Blood pours from his nose creating a pool where his face is on the floor. It is hot and sticky against his cheek.

"No, because I sold my soul to the devil a long time ago and now he wants me to pay him back." Kate's tone is sad with a hint of remorse. He can tell she believes what she is saying no matter how fucked up it sounds. "John in another life I would have loved to stay here with Jim, the crew…and you," she says as the door opens. Kate blinks rapidly clearing her eyes. Why she feels so bad, leaving makes her angry. She has spent one week with these people. They mean nothing to her. Her true family is waiting for her back home.

"You still can Kate. You are an idiot for doing this," John spats back angrily.

Kate ignores him concentrating on her task. "John I need you to,"

"They will find you," he gets up interrupting her. By now, his dad has to know she is not in her quarters. He only needs to stall Kate long enough for his dad to find them.

"That's what I'm counting on," Kate leg sweeps him catching his head before it impacts the metal floor of the turbo. "This is very important John. I have written a message for Jim. I need you to make sure he gets it," Kate props a PADD on the wall of the turbo. She ignores the sickening feeling in her gut telling her this decision is wrong. "The message explains why I have to go home and how he can get in touch with me."

"This is home now Kate," John yells anger boiling over in him. Like an electrical shock, John finally understands her plan. She is going to use the transporter in the cargo bay to make her escape. How she intends to override the safety protocols is beyond him, but Kate has done many things that have surprised him in the past week.

"Please make sure he gets it. It is important," she kisses his cheek. "I am so sorry John. You are a great guy and an even better friend. I will miss you."

John rolls over using the wall to try and stand up. "I trusted you Kate," he yells knowing he can't get up before the door closes.

"That was your first mistake," Kate says as the doors slide close.