The Darkness Within (Star Trek Into Darkness Fanfiction)

Chapter 9: Going After Him

Spaw awoke the next morning to see that Jim was already awake and dressed. He was talking into a communicator before he came over and sat on the bed beside Spaw.

"That was your mother. She's going to meet us in the middle of the city in about a half an hour," explained Jim as he ran his fingers through Spaw's fur. "Are you hungry? Do you want something to eat?"

Spaw shook her head. "No thank you," she answered shyly as she shook out her fur. "I just want to see my mom."

"I can certainly arrange that." Jim then grabbed his things as Spaw gave herself a quick grooming session. Once she was finished she bounded after Jim as Jim locked the door behind him.

The world seemed a lot darker than before. She wasn't sure if it was grief for her father, or if it was that she was realizing all of the darkness in the world. She clustered closer to Jim and brushed her cheek against Jim's leg.

Jim scratched Spaw between the ears and Spaw rumbled as she wagged her tail. They continued through the city before Spaw saw her mother. She suddenly hung back as she whimpered.

Jim stopped as well as he turned to Spaw. "What's the matter?"

"It hurts," she complained as she lifted a paw and pressed it against her chest and cringed.

Jim smiled as he lowered down and looked down at Spaw and scratched her behind the ears. "I know that it does. I lost someone that I cared about too. But, we have to move on. I'll be here if you need to talk and I'm sure that your friends and your mother feel the same."

Spaw let out a deep breath as her tail tip twitched. "Okay."

They made their way forward as Galaxy spread her wings and drew Spaw to her chest. She began to sob as she pressed her head against her daughter's back. "I was so worried!"

"I'm sorry, mom," apologized Spaw as she took a step back and gazed at Galaxy.

Galaxy licked her cheek. "I know, little one. Just don't do it again."

Spaw nodded before there was a deep and scruffy sounding bark that could belong to only one Scottish Terrier.

"Aye, lads and lasses!"

Spaw turned and saw Jock and Scotty rushing toward them. Jock skidded to a halt in front of Galaxy and looked at her with tears in his eyes. "Oh, lass, I'm so sorry," he murmured as he touched his nose to hers. He then looked to Spaw. "And for your loss as well, little one."

"It's okay, Jock," mumbled Spaw as he looked at the ground. She hadn't spoken much to Jock in the time that she was on the Enterprise. But, she had a feeling that that might change. It seemed like her mother and Jock were fairly close.

"Do you need something," asked Jim a little shortly.

Scotty began to show him something, but Spaw couldn't see. She reared on her hind legs and tried to lean on her mother to see, but that didn't even help. She reluctantly sat back down and rolled her eyes.

"They took my device and now he's using it to hop around the galaxy. I'm afraid that he's gone one place that we just can't go," Scotty confessed deeply.

Jim took out his communicator and began to speak. "Spock, I need you to meet me at headquarters now!" He then looked to Galaxy. "Galaxy, Spaw, you can come too."

Spaw looked to Jock and he winked at her. Galaxy then pelted forward and Spaw rushed to join her. She was tempted to fly, but she knew that she wasn't allowed to this close to the ground.

She darted forward and it wasn't long before Spock joined them. The four of them made their way through headquarters and Spaw almost squeaked in terror when she realized that they had interrupted the Admiral's meeting. She drew back as she plastered her ears against her head.

"It's okay," chided Galaxy as she used her tail to sweep her daughter forward. "Don't be afraid.

"Admiral, it's urgent," Jim explained.

"We'll take a brief break. This way," ordered Marcus as he led them into sort of the corner so that they could all talk with a little privacy.

Jim looked to Marcus with an almost pleading look in his eyes. "We know where he is. I'm asking your permission to go after him."

Marcus looked a little taken back by the request, but Galaxy stepped forward. "Please, sir. He killed my mate. I need something to cling onto." Spaw then whimpered as Marcus looked to her.

"I want him dead, but I don't want any of you hurt. We have prototype torpedoes and I want you to kill him," Marcus explained as he looked at some prototype ships that he had in front of him.

Jim looked to Spock. "Permission to reinstate Spock as my first officer."

Marcus nodded. "Permission granted."

Spaw then worked her claws against the ground. She was going to avenger her father's death if it was the last thing that she did.