Khan's Pressure Point

Chapter Ten: A Message

        "So, you're the crazy lass, aren't ya?"

I turn around to see Mr. Scott waving at me.

"And what do you mean by crazy, Mr. Scott?"

"You can call me Scotty, now, is it actually true that you're his kid?" He points to dad, who's now talking with Jim. I nod my head to his question.

"Well, don't do anything crazy okay? I don't want to be in the same ship with two monsters!"

I raise an eyebrow at his words. I really do wonder at what dad did the last time he woke. Scotty laughs at my reaction and gestures me to follow him.

        We walk into an elevator and Scotty pushes the button to the engineering floor.

"So, what you said before we boarded this ship, you really think this ship's a beauty?"

I nod quietly again, and Scotty's face lits up. He goes on about his love for the ship until we come to a halt. People are scurrying around with transparent pads and tools in their hands. It's quite a busy place and I stick close to Scotty as we walk through them .

"Well, here's the heart of the ship."

I look up and my jaw slightly drops at the size of the engine. It frequently makes hissing sounds, which just makes it even more charming. I've always had a love for the insides of ships, and to see such a fasinating sight in front of me is just too much!

Scotty chuckles at my face, and clears his throat to get my attention again.

"Well, would you like to help out a little bit here. We could use some people with super intelligence to lend a hand."

I roll my eyes at his "super intelligence" part, but take his hand and shake it to show my agreement.

        Just as me and Scotty turn around to head back to my dad, a huge jolt runs across the whole ship, followed by an explosion somewhere on the same floor, making us fall to the floor. The ship angles a little bit to the side and we start to slide. I grabbed Scotty and wrapped his head in my arms to protect him before crashing into a control panel. Scotty groans in pain, but I don't feel a thing, thanks to my strong body. I quickly rise to my feet and look around my surroundings. Everyone else seems to be on the floor too, all of them looking dazed and scared.

        I help Scotty to his feet as an announcement echoed through the atmosphere.

"This announcement is to all crew members. It seems that we have been attacked by an unknown ship. Go to your battle stations, NOW!"

        Oh no, I whisper. I run towards the nearest computer and naviagte where we are now. My eyes widen in suprise. It's the same place where we dropped The Maker into the black hole.

"SCOTTY!" I yell, "WHERE DO YOU KEEP YOUR SHIPS!?"

Scotty seemd fazed at my sudden change in character, but quickly stammers out his answer.

"There.... There at the um...... the floor B5-6..!"

"Alright, I need you to do me a favor, I need you to get me a spare ship that you won't need and tools ready while I go to the bridge first? Can you do that for me?"

Scotty quickly nods and stumbles out of sight. Just as I make sure that he has gone, I run to the elevator and go the bridge.

        "Where have you been Devlan!?" Dad run towards me and grabs my shoulders.

"It's fine dad, just went off to 'play' with Scotty!"

        I look around the room. The air of the room changed dramaticly since I was gone. Everyone was pushing buttons with a straight face, and what is most suprising at how Jim changed. To be honest, he looked quite cute with a square face.

"Mr. Sulu, how's the shield?"

"80% sir, one moment sir, it seems that the enemy wants to talk to us. Would you like to sir?"

"Let's do it."

        As Mr. Sulu punched some buttons an image appears on the screen. It is too dark to tell the person's feature, but I reconize the voice immediately.

"Good day, ladies and gentlemen. I believe you already know my name and that you have come to take me in custody, correct?"

His voice sends an uneasy feeling to every bits of my body, and it's a struggle not to show it.

"Hello, Maker, my name is Captain James T. Kirk, and you are correct. You have declared war on the federation and if you do not want us to fire everything we've got, GIVE IN."

"Well, I would like to see you TRY." The Maker spat out his last words and turned off his communication system.

"All right everyone you heard him. Fire EVERTHING WE GOT."

I tense at the force of the missles and beams shooting out of the ship and watch in silence as the attacks were swallowed by the miniature black hole the enemy launched out. He taught himself how to control the black hole we concealed him in. I felt my heart beat faster, and the numbness from my hands from clutching them too hard. Cold sweat was trickling down my back. This is going to be harder than I planned.