Loving Mary

Chapter 11

Sulu continued to carry through with the orders he received from Kirk. It pained him to leave both the captain and Spock behind on a planet that was being attacked,  but he knew it was now his duty to protect Asonia and her baby. Not only was she his best friend's wife, but she was also the only thing keeping Pavel determined to fight back.

He was impressed by how much his friend had changed over the past few years. It felt just like yesterday he met that crazy seventeen year old. Now twenty-three, he was still crazy, but also the emperor of an entire planet. Not to mention happily married and a father. Sulu was very impressed indeed. He'd only managed to become third in command, able to take over should something happen to Jim and Spock. Like what was happening now.

He sighed. All this happening had made him feel so much older. Soon, he'd be able to retire. Perhaps get a teaching job. That would be nice...

Sulu was interrupted from his thoughts when an alarm sounded. "What is it? What's going on?" He called out, waiting for an answer. The people around him began scrambling, trying to find an answer. He sighed. He hated working with the people fresh out of the academy, they just lacked the experience. 

Standing up, he pressed the button on the console he usually sat at, and the alarm went off. He turned to Uhura, who was the only one who seemed to know what was happening. Then Scotty's voice came from his communicator. "Sir! Another ship has locked a tractor beam on us!"

"We're being hailed, sir." Uhura said quietly. Sulu nodded, and sat back down in the chair.

"On the screen please, Uhura." He replied, making his face a mask. He had to be tough now, for the people on board.

The screen flashed, and a man with dark hair and shark-like eyes appeared. He locked his dark eyes on Sulu, and began to speak.

"Hello, you must be Jim Kirk, captain of the Starfleet  vessel, U.S.S. Enterprise. I am here for Empress Asonia Geay. Give her to us, and your ship will be spared." 

Sulu thought for a moment, hand on his chin. He was obviously one of the Halio, and he knew a bit about Starfleet. And apparently he hadn't been on the planet, or he would have known that Sulu very obviously wasn't Jim Kirk. But he went along with it, and hoped to God that the others did as well.

"Yes, this is Jim Kirk, and this is the Enterprise, but I'm afraid Asonia is not on board. Pressing a button on the chair, he put the ship on red alert, but made sure the sirens didn't sound on the bridge. That should keep Asonia from deciding to make a surprise visit to the bridge.

"You lie. She is on board your ship. We have records of this ship leaving the Zindaki system, and she is not on the planet."

"I'm sorry, but she isn't here."

There was some shuffling on the other side of the screen, then, two guards appeared, carrying a man by his underarms. He was very badly injured, most of it obviously inflicted by the two gentlemen holding him up. His nose was bloody and obviously broken, he had cuts and bruises all over his face and neck, and there was some swelling around his eyes and part of his cheek. But even in the bad shape he was in, Sulu recognized him immediately.

It was Zaclyn.

~

Asonia was watching the entire conversation unfold from the med bay. Her eyes were glued to the screen as she held Laila. Sulu was trying to trick the man. That was obvious. But he was also risking the entire ship with what he was doing. 

The thought that she should just give herself up flashed in her head. But then she remembered Laila. She was a mother now. She couldn't risk her life, nor her daughters. They needed to stay safe, for Pavel, and for each other.

But then, they showed Zaclyn. She gasped. What had happened to him? He looked terrible, and she wanted nothing more than to help him. But then Laila let out a whine, and the thought once again went away.

"Are you trying to threaten me?" Sulu asked, and  Asonia realized she had been missing out on the conversation.

"No, Mr. Kirk, but it will become a threat if you do not give me what I want." The other man said, frustration in his voice. In the background, Zaclyn was still being held up by the two guards, but a third held a phaser to his chest. 

"Like I said, the Empress is not on this ship. I suggest you leave Mr. Zaclyn alone, and remove that phaser from in front of him, because when she finds out you did that to her friend, you'll regret it." Sulu's voice was strangely calm, and Asonia was glad that he was in charge, and not someone else.

Suddenly, there was a loud explosion, and she was nearly thrown from her chair. But managed to hold on, while also keeping Laila in her arms. The lights began flashing. Going on, then off, contiguously. Bones came running in, followed closely behind by scotty.

"Asonia! Come on, we've got to get you off this ship." He said, helping her stand up. 

"Where are we going?" She asked, following the two men to the lift.

"We just received word from Caa've. He and Pavel are fine, they've managed to take back control of the Palace. you're going back. " Bones said, and she nodded. Holding her child closer to herself.

She hoped everything would be okay soon.

~

Pavel tried to open his eyes, only to find himself too weak to do anything. After about two hours of being roughly interrogated, he was slightly amazed he could even be conscious. 

"Enterprise, this is Caa've. The palace is secured. Bring her here as soon as possible. There are matter she must attend to." Pavel heard Caa've say. He had to have been speaking into a communicator.

He felt a sense of dread begin in the pit of his stomach. This wouldn't be good.

Dun Dun Duuuuun! Until next time! Sorry guys! 

~Clieo