A/N: A very special thank you to all of my readers, known and unknown. Your comments have been such a blessing.

Much like the prolonged gut-wrenching nausea that overtook Skylar when the Enterprise was on a crash course into a strange, previously nonexistent planet, time gripped its icy fist around Skylar's heart as the Enterprise flew past the warfare of Armaga Set-ta in slow motion and out into the atmosphere far beyond their sight. Everyone seemed to be held in the moment as eyes were heavenward and poses were held. It wasn't until the booming roar of an angry Cobia shook the people back into reality from his position on the platform that overlooked the ring; and as though the play button had been pushed, the scene began again but with a different motivation. It was very clear that despite a significant amount of men that had moved toward the cell block tower that Amelia and Havara stood on in an obvious attempt to man the guns to take down the already far-gone ship, that Cobia was furious and fully intended to win the war despite what would happen now that the Enterprise was fully operational.

Blasts rang out from gun towers located at the top of the wooden palace, firing up into the sky beyond the clouds. Even with an exceptionally accurate weapons system – which was considerably possible with the amount of energy honed by Cobia – the chances of bringing down the Starship would have been fairly small. But even as the fighting continued, the men eager to take advantage of the newly instilled sense of hopelessness that Skylar was sure her army was feeling (or perhaps it was just her), Skylar watched with a dry throat as the sky light up in the direction of the beams from the palace's guns. They'd hit something alright. Disbelief gripped Skylar as she almost wanted to shake her head at the situation. Not only had the Enterprise left, but now it was possible that they could have been taken down. Or worse yet, they could have left with belief that Skylar and Amelia were dead. It was a known fact that the captain would have to maintain the stability of the ship by sacrificing the lives of a few to save the majority; even if they'd had time to scan the planet, which would have been Jim's last desire after such a long time of being caught in the planet's hold, she was unsure of how accurate any readings would be with the chaos that ensued around her. Jim was a good captain; Skylar fully understood his duties, even if that meant she and Amelia would be left behind.

Even with this comprehension, Skylar couldn't help but feel slightly useless. At least when was aware that the ship was on the planet somewhere, there had been hope. A legitimate purpose fueled her intentions for the outcome of this war. She had a reason to fight and to die, with the security that someone donning a Starfleet uniform would find her in this world or the next. However, this seemed very uncertain now that the ship had flown away. She didn't know how long it would take for the ship to be able to communicate for help, let alone attempt its own kind of intervention.

You're a fighter, Skylar, Uncle Pike reminded her.

But what am I fighting for anymore? she questioned him. The Enterprise is … gone.

"Dead or alive, I'm still stuck here," she whispered gravely. She felt someone staring down her back, and Skylar immediately turned as a single shrill scream rang out above the noise. Before her eyes, the young girl Corvallis had been pursuing prior to the departure of the Enterprise was now being risen a few feet off of the ground by Corvallis's mpal.

Corvallis's and Skylar's eyes locked as he tossed aside both the mpal and the girl. His fists at his sides, he approached Skylar through the crowd.

Skylar's teeth gritted tightly together as an anger so strong melted away the icy grip of fear that constricted her heart. Oh yes, that's right; that's what I'm fighting for.

"You unimaginable bastard," she said between her teeth as Corvallis stopped a few feet before her.

"You are a very skilled warrior, Lt. Pike," Corvallis replied with a twisted grin. "You've killed many of my men today. However, your hand to hand doesn't outshine that of your sharp-shooting." He paused and then stated simply, "I am not afraid of you."

"Phaser or not, you're going to die, Corvallis," Skylar told him. "A life for a life."

"We are not equal," Corvallis reminded her.

"You're right; you're filthy scum."

Corvallis roared out even louder than his father had. The war cry made everyone around them fan outward so as to give him space as the prince charged at Skylar. Skylar, completely weaponless now, charged back. At the last second, just as Skylar was ready to make the jump over Corvallis's head in an effort to attack from behind, Corvallis ducked and slammed his shoulder into Skylar's torso. His brawny arms wrapped firmly around her as she yelled out, the air being expelled from her lungs in a single hit as they both went down into the dust of the ring. Skylar's head slammed back against the ground. She felt Corvallis's legs pin hers down and upon opening her eyes she saw him raise his arms over her, his green eyes wide with loathing. He was like a gorilla that was about to rain down some crazed, fatal blows. Skylar's brain screamed at the muscles in her arms to move and they swung up and delivered a very cunning upper cut to his chin. In the seconds he sat fazed, Skylar managed to get her knee out from under his leg and she brought it up under his chest. With much needed force, she pushed his body up and over her head, sending Corvallis into the dust beyond her. She flipped over onto her stomach and shakily rose to her feet as she watched the prince do the same, their eyes locked.

With no time to consider his actions, Skylar initiated the next few moves, kicking out at him. He dodged the first two blows and then grabbed her wrist as she swung at him and pulled her past him, kicking at her ankle and throwing her off balance until she slid into the dirt on her side. His foot came down over her and she barely had any time to move as it crashed down next to her chest, pinning her by her shirt. Swinging her legs up, Skylar caught Corvallis in the back and tripped him, giving her enough space to roll out from his reach and jump up. A woman near her offered her a sword but Skylar refused, pushing the weapon away.

Corvallis laughed. "Go ahead, Skylar," he taunted, wiping a trail of blood from his exposed chest. "I am well aware of the physical advantages I have over you."

Skylar yelled out and ran at Corvallis, sending her fists at him. He blocked all of her blows and sent a few at her in a very routine way. She managed to evade his hits except for one that caught her on the corner of her mouth. Taking a step back and tasting the flow of blood that now warmly ran from the wound, Skylar started at him again. This time she side kicked at him, to which he blocked with his hands. She spun around and kicked him from the other side, and again Corvallis pushed her foot away, allowing her enough time to backhand him in the face and duck as he swung at her. Corvallis had his own bloody lip now as he kicked out at her, Skylar back-flipping out of his way until she no longer had the room to do so as she came upon a group of guards that blocked her path. One of the guards pushed her from behind and she immediately turned and back handed him across the face.

A sword whirred past her face from behind, hitting the guard square in the chest. The guard fell to Skylar's feet as she turned her head to see Corvallis approaching with fire in his eyes.

"Do not engage her!" commanded Corvallis vehemently.

Knowing this pause would only last seconds, Skylar positioned herself so that she was ready for him as Corvallis raised his hands to continue their fight. This time, Corvallis swung out at her. She dodged him as crouched, kicking up at him. He caught her foot and then bent over and grabbed her by the neck, lifting her easily into the air as he had back in the palace a day or so ago. Instantly her hands went to his wrist to support her weight so that he would not snap her neck. Corvallis began to tip her over his head to throw her. As her body turned over his head, Skylar kept her hands locked onto his wrist and forearm and swung her leg over his head, wrapping her booted foot around his neck. Alarmed, Corvallis ever so slightly released his grip on her neck. This was what she'd been hoping for. With a loud yell, Skylar yanked free from his grasp and tucked herself over his shoulder, throwing herself so that her weight shifted before him. Though he still had her foot in his grasp, her motion sent him tumbling forward. He released her in an effort to catch himself, and they both somersaulted together, Skylar under him. Corvallis landed farther away from her, just out of his reach, when she suddenly slid herself toward his face and kicked at him. Roaring out at her, he scrambled to grab the foot that had sent dust in his eyes and up his nose, but Skylar had again moved out of his reach and stood. Wiping the dust from his eyes, Corvallis brought himself to his feet. Grunting angrily, he lunged at her, swinging his fists as he did so in an attempt to hit her in any way possible. Skylar gracefully maneuvered out of his range one step ahead of him. Finally, he kicked lowly at her, allowing her to jump up to escape his foot, but she was caught off guard as his fist swung in the same motion as her jump and made contact with the side of her ribs. Crying out in pain, Skylar fell to her side, her fingers clenching at the dirt as Corvallis began to laugh.

"I do not care what my father wants," he spat down at her as he paced around her feet, his eyes glued to her. "I will kill you myself and display you for all of my slaves to see."

A guard tossed Corvallis a sword and he caught it single-handedly. He held it high in the air over Skylar with the point turned down at her. He fell down onto her, the sword aimed straight at her heart. Skylar kicked her foot up and caught the inside of his bicep on the arm that held the sword. With every ounce of strength within her being she held her foot in place, the tip of the sword brushing dangerously against the fabric of her tunic. Corvallis's other arm locked onto her other arm as he allowed his weight to push down against her foot in the horribly awkward position she laid in under him. He laughed in her face as Skylar groaned out, pain sweeping throughout her bent leg. Her free hand, under his arm with the sword, rested under his neck, her fist trembling under the weight. But her forearm did not seem to faze him as it pressed into his neck. However, what happened next did.

Another foot came out of nowhere and made direct contact with Corvallis's rib cage. He roared out, his body doubling and turning over. Skylar rolled out from under him as she watched Corvallis fall flat on his back, the sword leaving his grasp. Skylar balled her fists, ready to attack at him when suddenly someone shouted "Hey!"

To Skylar, this was a familiar "hey," almost a little too perky. Skylar saw Corvallis's eyes widen as a single shot from what sounded awfully like a Federation issued phaser rang out and hit Corvallis in the center of his chest. As Corvallis died before her eyes, Skylar felt two hands under her arms and she was helped to her feet by Havara and Amelia.

Panting heavily, Skylar managed a weak smile. "Thanks," she said to them both. Havara limped ever so slightly out of the way as Skylar wrapped her arms around Amelia, who smiled.

"Since when did you learn how to use a phaser?" Skylar joked as she released Amelia.

"Oh, it's standard procedure," Amelia replied simply. "But it mostly came from me watching you while listening to your amazing collection of classic music from old Earth." Amelia handed Skylar her phaser. "The levels are exceedingly low."

"It hasn't been charged," Skylar noted, shoving the phaser into the top of her boot. "I may have about one …"

Her voice trailed off as Amelia's eyes searched around them. Both girls realized how quiet the ring had become as guards moved them both, the action still continuing beyond this newly established ring. Men and women were still falling around them, but it was as though the war had now split into two wars, the outside far away as Cobia and an entourage made their way into the guarded circle.

Cobia stopped before his dead son, pulled the robes that flowed off of his shoulders and laid them over his son's body. Then, he held his hand out and a nearby guard handed Cobia his mpal. With his other hand, he pointed directly at Skylar.

"You," he said quietly. "Just you."

Skylar looked at Amelia, who shook her head.

"I won't leave you, Sky."

"Amelia, you need to start leading everyone who's left toward the forest," Skylar said quickly as Amelia continued to shake her head at her. "Head into the direction where the ship was; perhaps there's still something there. I'll find you."

Hesitating for a moment, Amelia nodded with gritted teeth and fled from the circle out into the other fight beyond the guards. Skylar took a deep breath as she noted the group of ten guards that stood with Cobia. All of them began to take off their armor and drop their weapons.

"So this is how it is, Cobia?" Skylar smartly remarked, crossing her arms over her chest. "This hardly seems like a fair fight."

"You killed my son unfairly."

"You're all armed, we're basically defenseless."

"I commend you on your skills, Lt. Pike. Your women have killed more of my men than anticipated. However, all hope for you is lost. Your ship attempted escape, but my censors show that it, too, was hit."

"It'll take more than one of your guns to ground a Federation ship, Cobia."

"My planet swallowed your ship, Skylar," Cobia reminded her softly. "You underestimate everything with your swaggering Federation agenda. All I've wanted to do for my people is allow them to live outside such a militaristic world. You come to conquer, however today, I shall conquer you." He nodded to his guards, who all began to approach Skylar. "And I shall enjoy it."

:::::

Scotty's voice sounded over Jim's communicator. "I'm beaming a few teams down, Captain. You got my last recruits, righ'?"

Jim, looking back at the fresh supply of men that had obviously been sent after the landing party once the others had headed back by a very angry Scotty, replied to Scotty, "Yes, thank you, Mr. Scott."

"We've had minor damages to the hull from the blasts we've received, but we should be able to make it to Lambda 5 in one piece. She'll need a considerable amount of repairs."

"Talk me about that later, Scotty. We're almost to the establishment."

Spock, looking down at his scanner, called to Jim, "There's a considerable amount of action being picked up on my scanner, Captain. We need to hurry."

Jim nodded and brought his communicator up to his mouth again. "Lock in on our coordinates, Scotty. When I give the word, beam us up." Jim shut his communicator and motioned to them all. "Phasers set to stun, be on alert. I don't know what we're heading into exactly, but we know that whatever hit the ship was not friendly fire. We need to secure the leader and figure out what is going on with this planet, and we need to do so before that device becomes operational again."

"If it even does, Jim," Bones stated.

"I don't want to take any risks Bones."

"I understand the extreme pressures your bodies have withstood, gentlemen," Spock added towards the red, blue and yellow shirted men that stood around them. "But we are not that much farther. I can assure you that we are almost there."

"And then we'll be on a long vacation thereafter," Jim added. "So let's do this."

With a nod from everyone and phasers up, the group that had gone from a few members to now of about thirty began to run through the foggy forestry. As they ran on, Spock in front and Sulu on his heels, the daylight began to creep in more heavily as the fog seemed to dissipate. Suddenly, there was a break through the trees and Spock and Sulu began to slow as figures headed towards them. Jim raised his hand to ready the men to fire when suddenly Sulu yelled out, "Amelia!"

The figure at the head of the party seemed to falter a step or two and then gain speed.

"Hikaru!"

Bones' heart skipped a beat and he suddenly broke out in a full-fledged sprint, Jim on his heels as he watched Amelia, wearing a once elegant dress now tattered with dirt and blood, slam into Sulu, his arms wrapping around her. She collapsed against him, and they both fell to the floor. Spock placed a hand on her shoulder as he looked out at the curious sight: hundreds of women were following Amelia, dressed almost similarly, some carrying swords, others children and the injured.

"Doctor!" Spock called out.

Leonard rushed to Amelia, laying a hand on her as well. "What the hell is going on?" he demanded to Spock.

"It appears to be an exodus," Spock stated. "There are many injured."

Leonard looked down at Amelia, who looked up at him tearfully. "They're going to kill Skylar," she said. "You have to hurry!"

Sulu allowed Leonard to step in as Leonard took Amelia into his arms. Jim ran past them all.

"Come on!" he commanded. "We have to hurry!"

Spock bolted after him, dropping his scanner off of his shoulder and pulling out his phaser. Sulu chased after them as well, the rest of the men following and assisting the women that came in through the trees.

Leonard looked down at Amelia, whose face was stained with blood, sweat, dirt and tears. He gently brushed his thumb across her cheek. "You never cease ending up in my arms in some battered way, do you?"

Amelia gave him a small smile. "You have no idea how I feel right now."

"Oh, I have an inclination."

"Bones – er, Leonard," Amelia said quietly. "I don't know how much longer I have or what's going to happen, but I have to tell you something. We haven't known each other long at all, or really you haven't known me long at all, but I've noticed you for a while now and with everything that has happened –"

Bones shushed her and placed his thumb over her lips, slightly surprising her. "You've been through a lot, I can tell. And I have the perfect remedy for this kind of trauma."

Amelia Takashi's eyebrows rose high on her forehead as Leonard McCoy brought his face down to hers and gently kissed her fully on the lips. Amelia wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him close to her, her pounding against her chest as every pain and worry in her body and mind seemed to melt away. He's right – perfect remedy.

Leonard pulled away for a moment and looked down at her. "Well, I definitely don't need a heart monitor to tell me that that was the right medical procedure."

Amelia rolled her eyes at him. "Bones," she said firmly.

Leonard paused.

"Shut up and kiss me again."

His mouth curved up into a smile on his rugged face as he pulled her up and kissed her passionately amongst the hopeful cries of the women who had now found freedom in the men that began to aid and doctor them up.

:::::

Skylar had fought against a group of four guys in the past and miraculously won. Her mind went to that moment as she tried to block out the intense pain that gripped her body as two men held her on either arm, and the rest took open shots at her. She heard them laughing as another blow came at her. Through blurry vision, she saw Cobia standing a few feet away from her, his mpal before him as he watched with twisted pleasure the display.

Don't give him the satisfaction, she told herself. You can't go out like a bitch. Uncle Chris wouldn't like that.

Skylar longed to be able to meditate the way Spock did. If she had that ability, her mind could be far away from here while her body died. It was a luxury to have such an ability; as a human – or more so, as herself – she'd fully accepted that death would go one of both ways: eminently painful or painlessly easy. If Skylar had been able to focus her mind, she'd be somewhere beautiful, somewhere like the beach back on Earth in California near her home. She'd be surfing as she'd done as a teenager. There were still a considerable amount of humans that participated in the sport, as old as it was; those who had time to partake in such a leisurely activity. It was peaceful. It was one of those things that fully connected a being to its surroundings no matter how far science advanced society away from the natural environment. She'd be lying out on her board, soaking in the sun. Spock would be there too. He'd probably be lounging on the sand. She couldn't imagine him surfing with her. Or maybe she could; he was always interested in trying new things, especially when she asked him to. Maybe they'd be sharing a board. Maybe they'd be holding each other between the swell, his body warm against hers as they made out. Or maybe they weren't surfing on the beach at all. Maybe they were getting married with the waves lapping behind them, the pinks and oranges of a sharp sunset glowing majestically as the perfect backdrop to such a simplistic evening. She could see it now, them both standing in white, Spock in his traditional Vulcan marriage robes and her in a simple white dress. The fabrics would intertwine with each other around their ankles in the soft, salty breeze as their closest friends from the Enterprise, his father Sarek and her Uncle Chris stood as witnesses to the event; an event that was now only in her mind, and her mind which was now torn away from these thoughts as pain surged her back into reality and she blinked her eyes open unwillingly. Skylar realized that the beatings had ceased. Now, she was only being held by the guards on her arms. The rest stood waiting for Cobia's next command. But Cobia said nothing to any of them. Instead, he clenched his mpal within white knuckles and walked to her.

"It doesn't matter who may come anymore," Cobia said. "I will have your life now, Skylar. What little life is left, anyhow." He pulled the mpal back as its sharp end pointed directly at her.

A few cries from those fighting around them rang out. No one seemed to care as Cobia's eyes locked with hers. Skylar felt every muscle within her body clench. There was still so much left unsaid, so many feelings left without discussion. She wanted to cry; and for the first time in her life, she was genuinely afraid of the end. She was going to die alone, on foreign soil with no one she cared about or loved.

:::::

Spock and Jim ran through the edge of the forest to a giant clearing where they saw an apparent war being fought. Jim shot his fists out at either side and the men that he caught up with them began to fan out and head around the outer ring of the war.

"Based on Lt. Takashi's appearance, it's safe to say we need to stun the men," Jim ordered. "If there's any hostility, switch to kill."

"Jim!" Spock rang out as he pointed towards the center of the ring. Before Jim had time to say anything, Spock bolted forward into the chaos, his phaser out. Suddenly, Jim saw it: Skylar was being attacked within a smaller group of armed men and an older man was walking toward her with a large, deadly looking staff. Jim ran after his commander, his own phaser out and ready to fire.

Men and women both moved out of the way of the crewmen of the Enterprise, especially at the sight of the pointy-eared Vulcan as a path was made specifically for him and Jim as they rushed to the center of the ring. Only a few of the men attempted to engage the crewman on the outer sides of the fighting. Once they were stunned, no one seemed to willing to fight anymore. Now that the Federation had arrived with a more accurate and quick way to fight, many swords and mpals were dropped as the crewmen began rounding everyone up.

Women began to cry out in thanksgiving. The only group that did not seem to care about the new arrivals was the one that was holding Skylar captive as Spock and Jim watched the old man aim his staff at Skylar. Neither of them had a clear shot whatsoever. Spock could feel that humanistic paranoia rearing its head as his heart was now pounding at his side. He knew the calculations too well; by the time it took for him and Jim to reach Skylar, it would be too late …

Spock heard Jim's phaser going off and he watched several men fall down before him, stunned. Skylar's back was now in sight. "Skylar!" he called out as he dodged a fallen body.

Skylar's heart kicked into gear as she began to say Spock's name and her head began to turn. Suddenly, a pain like nothing she'd ever felt before exploded within her abdomen as her hands instinctively went for the cause. Turning her head back to Cobia in record speed, her eyes wide, her fingers wrapping around the mpal he held whose end was now inside of her stomach. Her mind screamed at her to push herself off of the mpal. As she tried to, the pain worsened as she could feel Cobia trying to lift her up as he did with his victims, like Leighland.

NO NO NO! Spock is here!

Skylar did not notice the guards that were now backing away as the crewmen from the Enterprise made their way around them. She did not even Jim groaning loudly as he took down a few men in his path. She did hear Spock calling her name. She concentrated everything on the power of her fingers as she managed to push her body off of the end of Cobia's mpal. She fell to her knees in the dust of the ring but refused to fall forward.

I cannot die, she told herself. I cannot give Cobia that pleasure, not here.

As heavy as her head had become and as blurry as her vision was becoming, Skylar let her shoulders fall back in a relaxed position as she inhaled haggardly and kept her head up so that she could take in Cobia. He was both stunned and fuming as he watched her hands fall to her sides, her fingers catching something foreign in the dust. Her fingers traced a smooth surface as she felt two hard things in her back. Her fingers following the smooth surface upward, she began to feel cloth. Her head tipping back – not too far back, so as to remain upright for fear of falling unconscious – Skylar saw the blue shirt and outstretched hand complete with aimed phaser of Spock.

She heard Cobia inhale sharply. Her hand tightened around Spock's calf as she whispered, "Spock, no."

She watched the Vulcan look down at her before crouching down behind her. "This is … their war."

There was a bout of cries and a rush of people around them. Skylar could pick out Havara's grunts above them all. She knew what would happen to Cobia and she wanted nothing more to do with him. Everything she'd ever wanted was now holding her tightly; the rest would have to work itself out on its own.

Spock dropped his phaser and ignored everything around them. He pulled Skylar in close against his chest as his hand supported the back of her head. Blood was streaming from the corner of her mouth and her eyelids were heavy though she stared directly up at him. Fumbling for his communicator, he opened it and commanded harshly at it, "Scott, beam me up now."

"Spock," whispered Skylar weakly.

Spock's communicator fell from his hand as he returned it to the side of her face.

"You came back."

"We never left, Beloved."

Skylar blinked. "Spock."

Spock's heart was racing faster than ever before. "Skylar, we are beaming up. Hold on."

"I would have … said yes."

Spock watched her eyes as they began to close. The particles of the beam around them began to glow as he heard heavy footsteps behind him.

"Spock!" It was Jim's voice but Spock did not look back. His eyes were locked onto Skylar as his mind raced in competition with his heart. Then he heard Jim say, "It'll be okay."

Jim watched Skylar's arm fall out limply to the side from where her hand had been clutching to Spock's sleeve. Then suddenly both Skylar and Spock disappeared into space, leaving only the dust and a tiny pool of blood in their place.