A/N- I fixed the mistakes that I found in the previous chapters. If you see any more let me know! Again, thanks to all who are reading and reviewing, it keeps this story going! I am sorry that this chapter is a little short bu tit is another transition chapter. Just out of curiosity I have a question for those who are reading this. Would any of you stop reading if I up the rating to mature for a possible sex scene later on? I am not even sure if I will do a really vivid sex scene, I may just do a fade to black kind of thing like I normally do. Let me know what you guys think, should I write one in this story?

Chapter Nine

Hitchhikers

"We were supposed to kill all of the ships passengers Tomack, you know this."

"Yes I know, but the female Vulcan half-breed they wanted killed is not here, so obviously she must have died in the crash. We can sell these humans for a lot on Romulus as slaves. We could be rich men, think about it."

M'ara and Serin stood in the shadows of the small passageway listening to the Romulan's conversation. M'ara was relieved beyond words that they had not killed everyone as soon as they arrived. She could feel that something in the Romulan's words angered Serin. Even though he did not show it, she could see it in his eyes.

"We have to rescue them some how," M'ara said in a whisper. Her mind reeled with what she had just heard. It was not logical that they would destroy their ship to kill her, she was unimportant.

"We are outnumbered," Serin said in a thoughtful tone, his anger under control. M'ara could see that he was thinking of a plan. Serin suddenly pulled out the homing device, it glowed red.

"The federation is here, probably attempting to take them by surprise. We will help them when the time comes," Serin informed her.

"How, we have no weapons," M'ara stated simply. Serin then pulled out two phasers from his uniform pockets and handed one to her.

"I never leave my weapon behind, not even to bathe," Serin said his eyes were bright with mischievousness'. The corner of M'ara's mouth lifted slightly in amusement. Suddenly his eyes shifted to seriousness.

"I want you to remain here until this is over. They will target you since it is you they were after," Serin said with the tone of command.

"I do not wish to stay behind. I can be of use," M'ara said her tone also stern.

"I am still in command and you will obey my orders. I will be in no position to protect you. There are others there who need my full attention. Your presence will be a distraction."

M'ara knew his logic was sound, he was thinking tactically, like a commander.

"Yes Captain," M'ara replied without anger or pouting. Serin seemed taken back a little by her cooperative response. It was obvious he was expecting more of an argument.

"Very logical of you," Serin said, his voice unemotional but soft. His eyes showed his appreciation of her acceptance of his judgment.

They could now hear voices being raised and some phaser fire from outside. It had begun.

M'ara grabbed Serin's hand before he could run out of the tunnel and into the battle.

"Be careful," M'ara said with fear in her eyes for him as she released her grip. Serin gently brushed her hand with his fingers and then left. It was a small goodbye kiss she realized. Serin was not sure if he was coming back and he wanted her to know that he was fond of her despite what had happened in the past.

M'ara listened intently to the battle. M'ara was fears were lessened by the fact that it seemed as if the federation had the upper hand, more weapons and numbers. There were lots of shouting and firing and then all of the sudden, nothing. The silence seemed to drag on for hours to M'ara when in actuality it was only a few minuets. The silence was too much, she was about to run in to the cavern to see what was happening for herself when she noticed a shadow coming into the mouth of the tunnels in quite a hurry. He had another person restrained in his arms with a knife to his throat. When he came closer she could see that it was Serin. His lip was split and bleeding and there were bruises all over his face. M'ara raised her phaser.

"Let him go, now, I will say it only once" M'ara's voice was so calm that the Romulan blinked, actually believing her. In that moment Serin took the opportunity to get free of his Capture by elbowing him the gut and then used the Vulcan neck pinch to drop him to the floor. M'ara gasped as two more Romulans ran through the tunnel and shot Serin in the back before he had time to react.

"Serin!"

M'ara fired her weapon but with a flashing light and heat the world went black.

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

M'ara groggily came back to consciousness with a blinding pain began in her head. She tried to move but realized that her hands and feet were in restraints. M'ara could see Serin was lying next to her also restrained. His deep breaths told her that he was alright. The air around her was freezing and the closed in metal surroundings were familiar. The sounds of a ships engine and computers running caught M'ara's attention. These strings of evidence suggested that they were inside a cargo hold in a ship already in space. Serin awoke as she was trying to visually account his wounds and their severity. Serin's eyes went from surprise to fear to relief in several seconds time when he finally saw that M'ara was alive.

"I did not think they would let you live," Serin said in almost a whisper, whether it was from emotion or pain M'ara could not tell.

"What happened?" M'ara asked when she thought he was fully awake enough to answer.

"The Romulans took Cadet Su-Ling and several others as hostages to try to get away when it became obvious that their situation was hopeless. I rushed and distracted them long enough for the others to get away. Needless to say five against one were not very good odds and they overpowered me. The rest you know almost better that I."

M'ara thought about their situation for a moment.

"We are more than likely on our way to Romulus to be sold as slaves. Well at least you will be. I on the other hand may be killed as soon as it is possible for them to do so now that they have made it passed the neutral zone." M'ara said, as if she was trying to piece together a mathematical puzzle and wanted to account for all the pieces.

"Yes, I have come up with the same conclusion myself. We will have to escape", Serin said in a matter of fact tone. M'ara tilted her hand in puzzlement.

"I assume that you have a plan?" M'ara stated with a gleam in her eyes, her voice teasing.

"In fact I do," Serin said pulling out the knife that the Romulan had held to his throat from his uniform sleeve. M'ara had no idea how he had managed to get it, but somehow she was not surprised.

Serin worked silently on his restraints with the stolen knife for several minutes. It did not take long for a mechanical snap to be heard and the restraints on his wrist to fall away. When he was done getting his legs free he quickly freed M'ara.

"So now that we are free, what are we going to do next," M'ara asked truly in awe of Serin's skills.

"We Wait," Serin said calmly.

M'ara then understood what Serin had in mind.

"We will wait until we reach Romulus so that we may be able to find out why someone one there wants me killed. Secondly, we may be able to find out what has become of your father." M'ara said her voice light with approval.

"Precisely," Serin said with a look of respect in his eyes for M'ara.