AN: Hi guys. It's been a while since I last updated, but this chapter was such a pain in my ass for some reason. I hope you guys like it. But anyhow. I put in some of Pavel's Russian to make up for my horrible updating. I hope I'm forgiven. Also, we're now at 34 pages in Word! Woo! *pops bottle of sparkling water because I don't support teen drinking* Thank you guys so much for sticking with me for the longest story I've ever bothered to write. I hope you'll all stick with me until the very end.
Pavel wasn't quite sure how to feel. His emotions had taken quite the beating lately: first, his unrequited feelings for Vienna had been requited, then the Almost Kiss, then an attack on his family (and also the love of his life, who was in danger, and Pavel simply couldn't stand for that). And now, Captain Kirk was asking of him something that he wasn't sure he was capable of.
"You want me to what?" He repeated, unsure of himself. He was well aware that time was of the essence, but this wasn't something he could ignore.
"Mr. Chekov, I really have no time to argue with you. I need you with me on the Red Rose." Jim replied shortly after the communication between himself and Captain Marian had been cut.
"I…" Of course, Pavel knew that there was no arguing with his superior, but he was only eighteen. What in the world could qualify him to be part of a landing party to arrest a criminal? If things went south, he wasn't sure if the fighting skills he had learned from Hikaru could save lives, let alone his own. But, as the Captain said, there really wasn't time to argue. Besides, if he has to beam to the Red Rose, he could see Vienna in Engineering. "Of course, sir."
"Good man. Sulu, I'll need you with us as well. Grab some security officers on the way as well. We're gonna need them if things get ugly." Hikaru nodded and left the bridge, presumably to get the officers. "Mr. Spock, you have the conn. I'll need you to communicate with Captain Marian if necessary. Also, send a message to Starfleet, explain what happened, and quickly."
There was no denying that when James Kirk was in his element, he was dangerous, efficient, and extremely deserving of the Captaincy that he had earned. Pavel followed his Captain out the door and into the elevator.
"Captain, I still don't understand why you need me with you." He looked over at Kirk, who looked back at the Russian whiz kid.
"Mr. Chekov, contrary to popular belief, I do have brilliant plans every once in a while. Now, I need you to listen to me very carefully. I'm going to have Miss King beam myself and a few security officers to the main bridge. I need you to be in the Engineering section, and take Mr. Sulu with you in case you run into trouble. Stand by for orders after you get yourself safe, understand?" Kirk gazed at the younger man intently, until he nodded his head in assent.
"Yes, sir. But–" Pavel began, but was cut off.
"No time," was the Captain's reply as the elevator doors hissed open into the disaster area that was Engineering. Pavel was outright shocked at the amount of damage the Red Rose was able to inflict on the Enterprise. He briefly wondered just how advanced the enemy ship was.
He noticed Vienna hurriedly tapping commands at a computer and barking orders at frightened ensigns, trying her best to keep the Enterprise up and running. Her long blonde hair was out of the tight pony tail it was usually in, and it looked wild and out of control. Various cuts surrounded her arms and face, and blood was dripping out of her upper lip. If Captain Michael Marian wasn't already afraid of an angry Kirk, he was most definitely going to be afraid of an angry Russian man.
Pure rage boiled through him directed at the owner of the Red Rose. He had hurt Vienna. And now, he was going to pay for it. Pavel rushed to her, and the relief on her face was evident as she exhaled loudly. She glanced at Kirk for a moment, then wrapped herself into Pavel's arms for a brief but warm hug.
"Pavel," she breathed, "You're okay." Pavel smiled at her.
"Of course I am, moya lyubov'. Are you?"
Vienna smiled at the Russian term of endearment, then gestured towards her injuries. "This? This is nothing."
"Not that this isn't cute or anything, but Miss King, time is of the essence here." Kirk reminded the two dryly.
"Yes, Captain. What do you need?" She replied, and Pavel wished that he had gotten that kiss from her for the zillionth time since it was interrupted.
"Four to beam to the bridge of the Red Rose, and two to the Rose's Engineering section."
Vienna's eyes widened. "Sir, you can't–"
Kirk interrupted her. "As captain, I can and will. And as a Lieutenant, I expect you to trust my judgment."
Vienna opened her mouth to argue, and shut it again. "Yes, sir. Bring your landing party to the transport room in two minutes."
Kirk nodded. "Thank you, Lieutenant King."
Pavel winced. He knew the only reason the Captain was able to get Vienna to agree so readily was because he pulled the Lieutenant card on her. He knew that her rank was very important to her. Kirk walked out of the area, probably checking on the security officers Hikaru had picked out, or maybe giving the two some space. Either way, Pavel was grateful for the brief moment of alone time he could have with Vienna.
Blue eyes met green as the two closed the space between them. Vienna placed her hands on either sides of Pavel's face. "Please be safe. For me." She murmured.
"Always."
Vienna smiled softly, pressing a kiss to his cheek, and he turned bright red in surprise. "You'll get a real kiss when you come back."
Pavel smiled back at her. "I fully intend to hold you to that promise."
"You better." Vienna teased lightly.
The two held hands the entire way to the transport room. Kirk met them there, along with three security officers (Pavel recognized them as Sarah McKinnon, Albert Fritz, and Jeremy Hughes) and Hikaru.
"Now, Lieutenant King. I need you to be standing by and ready to beam people back at a moment's notice. We don't know if Captain Marian is mentally stable, but my money's on no. Lives could be at stake here." Kirk said, looking sternly at the young woman, and Vienna was taken aback by the amount of trust the captain had for her. Then she remembered that Scotty was unconscious and that she was his second in command.
"You can count on me, sir."
"I know. Now, Officers Fritz, McKinnon and Hughes, I need you to accompany me to the bridge of the Red Rose. I might need back up, so be ready for a fight. Lieutenant Chekov, you remember what I told you, and stand by for further orders. Lieutenant Sulu, I need you to make sure that he doesn't run into any trouble. Set phasers to stun. Understood?"
James Kirk, for all his quirks, was certainly born to be in charge.
"Yes, sir," was the reply of all in the room as Vienna set up the beaming device. Her eyes flickered to Pavel and the two shared a longing look that didn't go unnoticed by Kirk.
"Ready for beaming, sir." She said.
"Good. Lieutenants Chekov and Sulu, remember to wait for my orders once on board." Kirk instructed, and the two men stepped onto the pedestal that would beam them onto the Red Rose.
Vienna tapped at the controls, and took one last look at Pavel and Hikaru before sending them off. She wanted to tell Pavel how much she loved him, but stopped herself. "Good luck," was all she could muster.
Pavel smiled at her. "Good luck, Vi. Ya lyublyu tebya."
"Good luck, little sister." Hikaru replied, a ghost of a smile on his face.
Vienna smiled back and hit the button. The two disappeared with a golden flash and Kirk turned to her.
"I knew it." He gloated.
Vienna flushed red. "Didn't you say that time was of the essence?"
Kirk nodded, and stepped onto the pedestal, along with the three frightened but determined looking officers.
"Good luck, Captain." Vienna said, hitting the button and sending them off to possible danger. She sighed, and tugged on a strand of messy blonde hair. Now, all she could do was wait.
As always, please don't forget to review. Tell me what you liked, what you didn't, so on and so forth. ALSO. I have a challenge for all of you! There's gonna be a reward and everything! Come up with a ship name for Pavel and Vienna, and I will write you a drabble of your choosing with at least 5k words! The deadline is going to be by the end of chapter fifteen, so you have plenty of time. Good luck!
-Leslie Smith