CH 37 THE TRUTH COMES OUT

Kate follows Jim up the ramp of the shuttle. Last night he told her that he would teach her to fly a shuttle. She never thought it would be this soon. Kate can't decide to be angry or happy. Since the moment she woke up, she has felt off. Pissed off and angry are the exact terms but she can't figure out why. True to his word, Jim came to bed and held her all night. She felt safe and secure with him allowing her to sleep through the night. She should have awoken happy, but this isn't how she felt. All through breakfast and even given the news that they were going to do something she desperately wanted couldn't get rid of the anger in her gut. On the way down to the hangar, Kate decides it has to be because she harbors some deep seeded resentment over yesterday's incident with Hyden and Slayton. Kate forces a smile to her face and tries to act happy. Regardless of what happened, at least she is learning to fly. They are greeted with numerous hellos and smiles from the crew all the way to the shuttle alleviating some of Kate's fears the crew was going to blame her for yesterday. As they enter the shuttle, some of her anger is slowly replaced by excitement. "You know this is a dangerous move on your part Captain. I could knock you out, space you, and steal the ship," Kate says sliding into the co-pilot's seat. She instantly regrets her words seeing the withering look Jim gives her from the pilot's seat. Instead of apologizing, she sits frantically trying to figure out why she said this. It wasn't funny and after all the trouble last week, Kate knows she lucky to even be allowed near the hangar. The comment just popped into her head and she felt forced to say it.

"You had better get that attitude in check honey," Jim turns back to the controls engaging several systems to warm up the engine. "I am doing this as an olive branch. I just wanted to do something nice. Something you might like. See the way it works here is that you follow the rules and I give you the chance to earn privileges for things you want. Shuttle 6B requesting permission for take-off," Jim says as a slight vibration rumbles in the ship as the engines come online. Kate nods rapidly happy Jim is still taking her instead of shutting the craft down.

"Shuttle 6B permission granted for departure," Spock's clear voice rings through the cabin. Kate holds her breath as the shuttle lifts off and slides into the blackness of space.

Neither Kate nor Jim speaks for several minutes as they slip from their metal cocoon and into the vastness of space. They just stare out the window into the stars. Looking out at the stars used to give Jim a deep sense of peace. It filled him with hope and possibility that at the end of each warp jump an adventure lay waiting. Now Jim scans the darkness before him with trepidation. He has informed each bridge rotation of the possibility of another Jedi or Sith ship lurking in the shadows. He was careful to use both terms. To him, though they are one in the same. If they were truly seeking peace, this other ship would have made its presence known by now. Since they haven't it can only mean they are planning to take another crack the Enterprise. Sitting still like this makes Jim edgy. He should be at warp, but a communique from Star Fleet last night informed him to stop at these coordinates and wait to receive a message via subspace. The tension on the bridge is palpable. It is not that they are scared to take a punch. It is that they are waiting for the sucker punch. Knowing it is coming, but not when is worse than taking a right hook to the jaw. Several people, mainly Spock and Jack, were against Jim taking Kate out like this. His two officers acted like pissed-off parents taking turns pointing out every possible disaster scenario with this decision. It brought a smile to Jim's face thinking that the only time the Vulcan and his COS agree is when it is against him. Despite their objections, still Jim decided to take Kate flying. This Sith-Jedi ship could be real or a ploy by Kate. He won't live his life like a prisoner based on what if's. He also is not going far and has the Enterprise on full alert.

"So what are the rules for earning the things I want," Kate's voice breaks the silence of the cabin. She already knows the basic ones. She just needed a way to start the conversation. As excited as she is about this shuttle flight, the once fear burning in her belly is turning into anxiety. She pushes it to the back of her mind thinking it must be from being alone with Jim and worried he will want to talk. "Contrary to popular believe, I do well with parameters," she laughs as Jim brings the shuttle out wide and heads towards the bow.

"Okay, so there are the no-brainers like no cussing, no breaking noses or any other body parts, no breaking into Jack's office or brig. The main rule is just behave yourself," Jim states.

"I have been behaving for a prisoner," Kate rolls eyes but leans forward admiring the sleek lines and curves of the ship. This isn't the first time she has seen this ship, but it is the first time she has gotten to admire it.

"What have you been smoking," Jim says playfully with a hint of sternness. "Your behavior has been atrocious and you were never a prisoner."

His playful reprimand makes Kate feel uncomfortable because she knows what he is saying is the truth. Calling herself a prisoner is more than just a white lie. Yes, they refused to let her leave, but it is not as if they have her locked up in a cell with only bread and water. "If you don't want the parent job or simply don't like me you can say it." Kate stiffens at her uncontrollable desire to pick a fight with Jim. It is as if something is filling her mind with nasty things just to ruin the day. Kate takes a deep breath and opens up to the Force. Instead of the emptiness she has felt on the Enterprise, Kate is flooded with a mixture of love, hope, and concern coming from Jim. She looks at him hard realizing that something is blocking the Force on his ship. Each time she has been off it, Kate can feel the Force. This realization pisses her off. Jim does have a way to neutralize her connection and is lying about it. "We promised honesty so don't start lying now."

"Kate I like you just fine. You're my kid and deep down you are a good kid even if you refuse to show it. You just need some love and attention," Jim swings the ship shuttle across the bow. Kate avoids looking at him. He has avoided the question she wanted and an answer for but addressed another fear. That he doesn't like her and is only going through the motions out of some bizarre need to do what is right.

Ignoring his moment of sentimentality and analysis of her, Kate changes the topic. "Why do you write the name of your ship across the bow? It is not like anyone can read it," she looks at him quizzically. "I mean that is a sure fire way to get your ass kicked. Having your name painted on your ship is like sending out a broadcast saying here I am. No need to look anymore," Kate says in a cross between humor and sarcasm.

"It makes it a hell of a lot easier to remember where you parked in the shipyards. Ever try finding your ship when then others look exactly like it and have no point of references in space. Not fun," Jim jokes getting a real laugh out of Kate. These glimpses of her smiling and laughing make Jim eager to get to know her more. She is a great kid. He just needs Kate to realize he is her biggest ally and not her greatest enemy. "Your teachers are also saying how smart you are," Jim compliments her.

"Yeah we should really talk about the schooling issue," Kate says bringing a smile to his face. Most kids see school as a chore but Jim doesn't get this vibe from her. In class when he has taught, she sits faking interest but actively participate in the group discussions. Typically, this is to point out their flaws yet she has to be paying attention to debate as well as she does. "See going to school really it is not viable for me now," Kate explains sincerely still looking at the Enterprise mesmerized. "I mean if I am still here in a few weeks or next month…sure I will give it a whirl. Can't hurt to learn new things right?"

"So if I agree and let you skip school would you become fat and lazy or are you just that much smarter than us," Jim proposes mainly to gauge her reaction.

"What," Kate draws back shocked wrinkling her nose. "Noooo. I just...fat and lazy," she repeats shaking her head like he is a student not getting the lesson she is trying to teach. "Jim I am trying to be serious here."

"Oh, this is a serious conversation. Well, that changes everything," Jim smiles broadly.

Kate exhales loudly. At this point, she is shocked they haven't figured it out yet. Her basic knowledge of English has allowed her to slip by unnoticed in daily life; however, school demands she be more proficient to in it. By telling them, she can't read it will at least get her out of the daily school thing until she gets better at it. "If I tell you something you have to keep it between us…no matter what," Kate tucks her feet under her and shifts in the seat to face Jim. "I just don't want you to think I am stupid or anything because I'm not."

Jim cuts the engines and lets them drift just under the bow. In this position, the shields will cover them if anything was to happen which allows him to devote his attention completely on Kate. "You can tell me anything and I swear it will stay between us," Jim assures her leaning back in a relaxed pose. "And for the record, I don't think you're stupid. In fact, I think you are too smart for your own good, which is why I need a real answer to why you don't want to go to school. Yeah, kids all want to do something else but there is more to it or am I wrong?"

"You don't understand. We speak galactic standard," Kate puts a hand to her chest, "but you call it English." This gesture makes Jim want to break out laughing. Kate is even slowing down her speech like she is communicating with a new species. He fights to keep a straight face. Whatever she has up her sleeve has to be good. "Now we," she points a finger back and forth, "both understand each other for the most part except for your slang. I mean that makes no sense to me at all."

"Yo dudette, don't be dissing the words of my people. How 'bout I bring you up to speed solo poke," Jim throws out several slang terms that make Kate run a hand over her face in frustration "Kate what's your problem," Jim looks at her trying to figure out the angle getting serious.

"I can't read okay," Kate jumps immediately into the problem. "Your written language is different. I mean like really different. I have,"

"What," he looks at her wrinkling his forehead in disbelief. "What do you mean you can't read?" For the past week, Kate has not only lived with them but went to school and planned an unsuccessful hostile takeover. There is no way she could have hidden being illiterate.

"Your alphabet is different. We use Aurebesh," Kate says grabbing a PADD and stylus. "Takes me a little time but for the most part, your symbols for letters are similar enough it is more of a translating thing in my brain. This is why I can't go to school. Once I learn how to read and write then we can open the conversation back up for debate."

Jim watches her writing something as she talks. He resists the urge to lean over and look at what she is doing. Like Kate, he has always been good at languages. If this is some scheme of hers, a quick glance at a few sentences will tell him. Regardless of how you write the letter "e", it will show up in a predictable fashion. This is why codes have to be so complex. Once you find the key, any code can be broken.

"Not being able to read or write is not something you should be embarrassed about Kate. That is what school is for," Jim tries to be supportive.

"Dumb ass I am not illiterate. I can read and write four languages just not yours," Kate snaps angrily.

"Call me that again and you will be standing for dinner," Jim lets a warning scowl cross his face. "Now talk to me in a civilized fashion and with respect please."

"Sorry," she squirms in her seat. Tapping the stylus rapidly on the edge of the PADD, Kate awkwardly thrusts it forward into his hand. She is all in at the Sabacc table and needs to see the hand through. After making sure Kate gets the point that vulgarity will not be tolerated with a lengthy paternal stare, Jim looks at her message. Kate wasn't lying when she said their symbols for her written language were vastly different from English. To him, it looks like a cross between a mathematical equation and Chinese. Jim doesn't have a clue as to what it says.

"And it says," Jim asks spinning it around so she can read it.

"Hi. How are you? I am fine. My name is Katherine Solo and I on trapped on an alien vessel. Please send help," Kate reads with a big grin.

"Cute," he says sarcastically and re-reads the message now having a basic rosette stone. Surprisingly the characters are lining up with what Kate read. The letter "i" in her language looks like a backward one while the letter "a" in English looks like a capital "K" in this Aurebesh. "How did you learn English in six days," Jim asks amazed. "More importantly, how did we not catch this," he thinks.

"Oh, it took me nine days," Kate confesses. "I started that day John left his PADD with me in Sick Bay. Your grammar and syntax were copied directly from Corellian. Once I memorized the letter character correlation it wasn't that hard. I still have a hard time with the "K" and "a" thing," she laughs. "I mean it sucks my name is Kate. When I see my name in English, I read it as Aoah. It takes me a minute but it is doable."

"Wow…you are too smart for your own good kid," Kirk compliments her still looking at the alien writing. Secretly he sends a copy to his email. The sample is long enough that Uhura and he should be able to translate anything else that comes their way in it.

"No languages and that stuff have always come easy for me. Also, keyboards help. I mean you are just matching the letters. It is not like I am actually writing the language on flimsy," Kate sighs heavily. "Reading is the most challenging thing. It took me a couple of hours but I found a children's preschool tutorial in the education program John showed me. It taught me the phonetics." Kate looks around the cabin for something in print. "E…ma…er…gen...cee…" Kate sounds out the word. "Emer….gen…ce…Emergency," Kate gets the word out letting out a breath of air. "It helps to have the contextual cues."

"Son of a bitch," Jim says stunned. "You learned to read, from scratch, in less than a week from ABC mouse? Should have bought stock in that company," Jim shakes his head.

"This isn't funny," Kate suddenly feels anxiety filling her body. "I am not smart or brilliant or some kind of genius. I am struggling here, Jim. That is why I can't…I won't go to school."

"And I can't read Andorian. I can passably understand it but not write or read it. That doesn't make me stupid does it?" Kirk waits for a sharp dig from Kate but it never comes. He sighs setting the PADD on the console between them seeing Kate close to tears. Why every activity ends with her crying is making him insane. He won't let this one end that way. "So you will go to school and you will learn English because you are not a quitter and you hate to lose. You practice until you can do it and then find a new challenge to overcome. I will help you every step of the way along. I will handle reading and grading all your written assignments for a while until you are comfortable enough to share this with other people like Bones or Uhura. Does this sound fair?"

His words give Kate strength. It is a monumental task but Kate wills herself to the challenge. She will learn to read their language. If she doesn't she will never go home. Kate nods in agreement to Kirk's plan. "It is not as bad as it could be. Your ship takes mostly verbal commands so I guess I am not totally screwed," Kate leans back in the seat staring back into the blackness of space. "Don't…tell anyone okay? Can we keep this a secret between us for a while? I know I can figure out something before it becomes a problem."

"How about I make a deal with you," Jim relaxes back in his seat talking to the view screen instead of her. He knows sharing this secret took everything ounce of trust in her. He has to make her aware he knows it but not draw too much attention to her. Giving her attention over this will shut her down into mute mode. "What if we make this reading thing one of the extra privileges we talked about earlier? What I am asking you to do is enormous so your reward should be as big. You learn to read and I will teach you to fly and let you earn shuttle time," he suggests pretending to ignore that she is staring at him intently for a few seconds before turning his head to face her. "Deal," he sticks out his hand.

"Deal," Kate instantly perks up. She sits straight and looks over the console. "Okay, so I think I have the basics."

"Hold your horses there Maverick," Jim sits up. "I said I will teach you to fly when I think you earned it. This is just a taste. I will let you fly but not today."

Kate grins shaking her head in disbelief. "You are seriously not going to let me fly," she asks him wide-eyed. Jim smiles back shaking his head slowly. "Oh my god," she breaks out laughing holding her stomach.

"What's so funny, Chuckles," Jim engages the engine again. They have been off the ship long enough. One quick pass and they need to get back on the ship.

"You are a bit more…um what's the slang for someone who is tough on the rules here," she asks Jim directly.

"Hard ass?"

"Yes, hard ass," she grins. "I thought you would be easier to handle but this just might take me some time."

"Surprised you did I," Jim teases as Kate feels a wash of iciness cover her body. She instinctively rubs her arms like she is trying to warm them up. "That's my job as a captain and your father.

"Um Captain," Kate says as goosebumps erupt on every inch of her body. Any doubt to why she has felt off disappears as fast as the warmth from her body. There is a Sith near and a powerful one. Her mind flashes to the last moments in the Beacon of Light. Rogan and Da-Mu-Unka were dead. Kate was sure about that, but she left Zala Tsu dying on the deck floor. The thought that she somehow escaped makes Kate feel nauseous. She scans her view of space but sees nothing. If she knew where the long-range sensors were on the shuttle, she would not be wasting time talking. She has to tell Jim but doesn't know how.

"It's Jim or Dad Kate," he looks over at her sensing something has abruptly changed by the tone of her voice. What he sees concerns him. Kate has lost all color and is breathing in short rapid breaths. Something has totally freaked her out. "Kate honey…you okay?"

Kate pushes the thought that Zala Tsu is coming back for her from her mind. She is dead. Kate knows this but something is definitely off in the Force and she has about ten seconds to figure it out. Kate calms herself opening up to the Force and decides it is a sense of foreboding instead of a Sith. This still seems wrong though because she thought she would feel warmth knowing the Intrepid is arriving. She assumed Han or Luke would be on the Intrepid since it left Sky River a week after the Beacon of Light. That should have been plenty of time for Han or Luke to have tracked her down. She didn't really hide she was leaving so one of them has to be on the ship. Looking for another reason for the disturbance in the Force, Kate stares at Jim. It could be that she is reading Jim's reaction, but he is only filled with concern for her and love. "We need to get back to the ship now," Kate says feeling the hair stands up on the back of her neck. She has been ignoring her gut for too long. "Like now now," she licks her lips looking back and for the between Jim and the view screen. Her actions cause Jim to bring up the long-range sensors as Spock's voice fills the cabin.

"Sir, I recommend you and Katherine return to the ship immediately."

"Why," Kirk slides into Captain mode at the strained sound of Spock's voice. He gives Kate a side-glance but she is still staring straight ahead like she is terrified of something in front of her.

"Ma etek afer-tor u' qfa-qleo k' ka falun-krus mishu glantokau u' glaribek t' rok. (We have found a ship with the same ion engine signal as the Beacon of Hope.)" Spock replies in Vulcan. After previously doubting her loyalty to the aliens she arrived with, he is not giving Kate an edge this time. Although he knows the Captain's daughter is learning Vulcan, the odds are remote she can translate a sentence as grammatically complex as that one.

"Ken-tor (Understood)," Jim replies in Vulcan. Suddenly, Kate anxious behavior makes sense. Somehow she knew the ship was arriving. His issue is that Kate is not looking smug, but terrified in the seat next to him. "Copy Spock," Jim turns the shuttle hard heading back for the ship as Kate sits looking at the black sky. "Who is out there Kate," Jim hopes to get an easy answer.

Kate's stomach feels watery. She should be ecstatically happy. She should not want Jim to warp as far away as he can from the approaching ship. Even if it isn't Han or Luke on the ship, someone from Sky River has finally found her. She is going home. "My ride home," she says almost in a whisper.

He looks at her hard. "Your ride home," Jim growls. The tone of his voice makes Kate open and close her mouth as she struggles to find the words to explain what is going on. Reading the expression on her face, Jim prepares to fight once again for possession of his daughter; only, this time, he knows the rules. "Kate what haven't you told me. Who is on that ship" Jim's voice is tight.

"Admiral Brene of the New Republic Defense Force," Kate answers him.

"So when you said the other night there might be another ship you were lying. You knew he was coming," Jim says in an icy tone.

"No…yes…I mean I wanted to tell you but," Kate stutters trying to answer Jim's questions and formulate a plan that doesn't involve everyone on the Enterprise dying. Kirk may be a brilliant Captain, but Brene is cunning and ruthless. His win at all cost battle strategies has many in the New Republic Navy disliking him immensely.

"Then tell me now," Kirk thunders at her. "How big is this ship and I don't have time for games."

"Big," she whispers. "If we go to warp you might be able to outrun them."

"I am not running. If they want a fight I will give it to him."

Kate can tell he is angry and wants answers. She just needs to give him enough of an answer that allows her to control the situation. "I was not lying to you that night. Rogan and Zala Tsu told me nothing but lies. I wasn't even sure if there was a second ship but yes maybe I should have told you it was possibly a Star Destroyer." Kate watches as Jim turns the shuttle away from the beauty of space and towards the opening hangar bay. "A Star Destroyer is one of our capital ships and capable of destroying entire cities from space. It is about a mile long and has a crew complement 40 to 45,000 people."

"Dammit Kate," Jim bellows making her jump. "No more fucking one ups. You expect me to believe a single ship has more people on it that Riverside Iowa?" Kate feels a slight bump realizing she was so focused on Jim that she missed the shuttle docking entirely. Jim gets up heading to the exit as she trails after him like a puppy.

"Jim a Star Destroyer is massive. Since they were not planning on an invasion the crew number might be lower but typically a Star Destroyer has around 25 to 27,000 enlisted crew and about 9, 000 officers. Depending on the mission the Stormtrooper numbers will vary but can be as high as 9500 if they are planning an invasion." Kate fidgets at his side waiting for the ramp to lower on the shuttle. She is only half-surprised to find Jack waiting at the base of the ramp with several security officers in full battle gear. Red flashing lights and blaring klaxons assault her senses. She hurriedly runs down the ramp after Jim and Jack.

"Sir I suggested we go to red alert," Jack suggests falling into step next to Jim as he makes his way across the hangar. "We are not having another 3 AM home invasion."

Jim nods in agreement, as Spock's voice fills the air from Jim's comm badge. "Captain we have detected the Jedi ship. ETA is 15 minutes at our best calculation."

"Jim this ship is huge," Jack says as they enter the turbo. "Big enough to have troops and landing vehicles with room to spare."

"I know Kate gave me the dimensions," Jim says activating the turbo to stop at level G then the Bridge.

"It is not going to take you over Jack," Kate says annoyed. "I think our plans should be to contact him and,"

"Kate stop talking," Jim orders tersely reading the info on a PADD Dawson hands him. "Bones prepare Sick Bay for the puppies and possible casualties," Jim orders in his shirt comm.

"Yorkie we got this. We don't need your help," Jack says firmly. "I have teams stationed on all decks ready to repel borders if necessary Captain."

Kate stands in silence not knowing what annoys her more this minute: Jack's dismissal of her battle expertise or Jim allowing him to do it. "Oh… okay, you are engaging a ship you know nothing about. A Star Destroyer destroys not lands you nerf herder," Kate sneers at Jack.

"Why are you still talking," Jim looks down at her.

"Because I am willing to help you and you are being stubborn," Kate says as the doors open on the security level.

"Kate we got this. I will see you on the Bridge Colonel," Jim nods his head at Kate as Jack leaves the turbo. He doesn't have time to deal with the temper tantrum Kate is about to cause when she realizes she is going to Sick Bay.

"Damn I forgot something. Come with me Kate," Jack reaches in the turbo yanking her out by the elbow.

"No, you have to listen to my plan Dad," Kate says latching a death grip on the doorframe and wrapping one leg around it the best she can. Without her help, no one will survive this except the crew of the Intrepid. "Brene only wants me and the Holocron. You beam me over with a copy of the Holocron and"

"We are not beaming you over," Jim says with a disgusted look. "You did that once. Don't think of even trying it again. Jack," Jim says sharply indicating to get Kate to Sick Bay by any means necessary. After the last Sith-Jedi encounter, Jim gave Jack carte blanch in dealing with his daughter in battle situations.

Kate feels Jack wrap one hand around her waist. "Let's go kiddo. We can do this the easy way or my way," Jack tugs finding Kate has a much stronger grip than he anticipated.

"What no," Kate feels her fingers begin to slip from the doorframe. She only has seconds to convince Jim that this is a bad decision. "Captain…no. You don't understand. This time, I don't want to stay there." Leaving one hand tightly wrapped around her waist, Jack uses the other hand to pull her fingers off the door as Dawson kicks her foot dislodging the minimal hold she had on the door with her leg. "Dad you need me," is the last thing Jim hears as the doors to the turbo close and zoom upwards toward the bridge.

.

Crew complement numbers are taken directly from WOOKIEPEDIA. Sorry Star Trek fans. Star Wars ships are bigger and have that many crew. I do promise a highly ingenious battle plan. Took me a whole year to come up with it.