Captain Alarix sat back in his chair as the transmission ended, a satisfied smile creeping across his face. "You've done well, Lieutenant, but next time...make sure they have zero evidence." His eyes turned to stare at the man currently seated to his left. "However, the distraction is working perfectly."

The man to his left raised an eyebrow, his expression unreadable. "And if Commander S'Nira discovers the truth before our boss can execute the plan? I don't think we stand a chance if they attack full force."

Tarin waved his hand dismissively, trying to wave off the man's concerns. "You're too paranoid for your own good, Jackson. Besides, they are desperate now and that means they'll grasp at any lifeline we throw at them. By the time they realize the truth, we'll be long gone."

"Very well and our guest? I believe the boss was headed down to see her." Jackson replied, giving him another strange look.

"She's in good hands down there," Tarin assured him, leaning forward towards the man seated next to him. "Once we have what the boss wants, she will be returned...not guaranteed to be alive though. Our mission is paramount and if she must die to make that happen, then so be it."

"Of course, sir." Jackson eventually replied as he turned back to his console.

"Get a team together for them in the meantime," Tarin replied as he got to his feet and stretched. "You have the conn for now. Allow me to go down there to check on our precious guest."

With a nod, Tarin turned around and headed directly for the turbolift, unable to keep the grin off his face. "This is going to be quite interesting."

One turbolift ride later and a swift walk through the darker parts of the ship, Tarin came to a reinforced door with a keypad lock. He typed in the passcode and stepped into the dimly lit makeshift cell room, clearing his throat to alert the man inside. "David, it would appear that the Arsenal's crew is on to us."

The man in question turned around from where he was standing over the newly bound form of Captain Hayvna, her body back to being bound to a metal chair in the center of the room. Bruises now dotted her face, no doubt from a heavy hit, and was the cause of her unconsciousness. Seeing a look of interest on Tarin's face, the man straightened up.

"Don't worry, Captain," David replied as he took a few steps away from the woman in the chair. "I was merely roughing her up a bit before I began the real process. If she dies, she dies. It's no concern to us. I made the Galaxia look like a Klingon attack and I can certainly do the same to her."

"Very well. We are currently running interference at the moment to throw them off. I'll leave you to your work, sir." Tarin replied as he nodded to the man and left the room, leaving the two behind in the room.

David let out a growl of frustration as he turned back to the bound captain. "You're more trouble than you're worth, you know that? Too much like your mother for your own good."

When the unconscious captain showed no response, the man slapped her hard across the face and Hayvna stuttered back to consciousness with a gasp of pain.

"Get up, Hayvna!" David barked, his voice thick with contempt as he glared down at the female. "You need to show some respect for your father."

"Never," Hayvna groaned quietly, trying and failing to free herself from her restraints, but the effort sent a jolt of pain through her battered body. "You can't keep me here.."

The man stepped forward in the dim light of the room, a shadow of the man she remembered from her childhood. His once fully dark brown hair was streaked with silver and his sharp blue eyes bore into her teal ones, devoid of any warmth. "Look where you are, little girl. You're not protected inside a Starfleet ship right now...You're in my world now."

Hayvna shook her head, trying to dispel the fog of disorientation. "I'm not afraid of you," she replied, her voice steady despite the throbbing ache in her skull. She met his gaze, defiance burning in her teal eyes.

David stepped closer to her, his expression shifting into something more sinister. "Oh, but you will be." He leaned in to stick his face in her own. "Your mother would have wanted that."

At the mention of her mother, Hayvna felt a surge of pain and anger. "Don't you dare bring her into this," She spat, her voice rising. "You betrayed her, I know that you did. You betrayed us all."

"Betrayal?" David scoffed, straightening up, his hands clenched into fists at his sides. "You think Starfleet is any better? They threw me away like garbage the moment I chose to think for myself. They're the real enemy, Hayvna. I'm trying to save you from their lies."

"Save me from what, having a life I can build to be my own?" She spoke to him bitterly, the sound of her voice echoing off the walls. "You think torturing me for information will save me? You've lost your mind, Father. You might have been a Starfleet member once, but now you're just a coward hiding behind your failure."

His face twisted with rage, and he stepped back, taking a moment to compose himself. "No one is looking for you, Hayvna. No one cares. You're just another casualty in a war they've already forgotten. You think that crew of yours cares?"

"Commander S'Nira is looking for me," She shot back, the confidence in her voice unwavering. "She's leading a search party right now; I can guarantee it. They won't stop until they find me and when they do, they'll make you sorry."

The moment the words left her lips, she saw a flicker of something dark in David's eyes—anger. "They're wasting their time," He snarled, and she could see the muscles in his jaw clench. "I'll make sure they regret it if they come too close."

Hayvna smirked, the defiance in her eyes only growing stronger. "You think you can threaten my crew? They're not like you, Father. They don't leave their own behind. They'll come for me, and you'll be the one regretting your choices."

In a flash of fury, David's foot connected with her ribs with a vicious grunt, a sharp pain exploding through her side as she felt a rib crack and break. Hayvna gasped, the breath knocked from her lungs as she doubled over in the chair, her body screaming in protest. "You will give me what I want!" He yelled, his voice filled with venom. "Or I swear, I'll make sure your precious crew pays the price for your stubbornness!"

Breathless and struggling to regain her composure, Hayvna forced herself to straighten. The pain was fierce, but she refused to show weakness. "You think I'm afraid of death? You're mistaken. I'm not your little girl anymore. I serve something greater than your twisted sense of loyalty."

David's face darkened more, and she grabbed her by the hair, forcing her to look up at him as she gasped a bit at the pain. "You are my daughter! Tell me what I need to know about the Starfleet database at Starfleet Academy or you will suffer the consequences."

"I'd rather die than betray my crew," She said, her voice firm. "They are my family. They care about me. They're searching for me right now."

Another kick landed on her ribs, and she cried out, the pain sharp and blinding. David's hands balled into fists again as he leaned in closer. "Think carefully, Hayvna. I can make this very easy for you, or I can make it hell. You know I will stop at nothing."

Gritting her teeth against the pain, Hayvna focused on the resolve that had driven her through countless battles. "You won't win, Father. You can't break me. I'm stronger than you think."

"Strength? Is that what you call it?" His voice dripped with scorn. "You're just a naive little girl playing soldier. I'll show you how weak you really are."

With that, he stepped back momentarily, pacing away in the dim light of the brig, while Hayvna fought to keep her breath steady. She could feel the anger rising in her chest, but she channeled it into defiance. She wouldn't give up; she wouldn't betray her crew. They were out there, and they would come for her.

"You think you're so clever, don't you?" David said, turning to face her once more, his eyes narrowing. "You're just delaying the inevitable."

"Maybe," She said, the smirk returning to her lips despite the pain. "But I know one thing for certain: the USS Arsenal will find me. And when they do, you'll wish you had never laid a finger on me."

"Then let's see how long you can hold out," He sneered, his fist clenched tight as he prepared to strike again. "You're in my world now, Hayvna. And I always get what I want."