Star Trek: Erin

Part 6: Swallowing Fire

     Sprite and I advanced down the corridor, phasers drawn. I tried not to grin, but it was so darn hard. I was in charge, dangerous, protecting my ship. Everything I wanted, much as I loved guarding a door. Sprite caught me smiling. "Enjoying yourself?"

     "Hell yeah." I glanced at his phaser. "Oi, get your gun into stun mode!"

     Sprite's amusement disappeared. "Why? They infiltrated our ship and plan on taking our munitions. Do you think they're planning on showing mercy when they have what they want?"

     "If human decency isn't your thing, stun setting would leave bodies that we can use to prove this actually happened. You know, because of the whole no-time-passing thing."

     His scowl deepened. "Very eloquently put."

     "But I'm right."

     "Maybe not. We have Glasgow for proof."

     "He'll never talk."

     "He doesn't need to." Sprite halted and ticked off on his fingers. "He's not supposed to be here. No one will admit to letting him board. He's in possession of a bizarrely altered Starfleet badge that half the officers will vouch implies Section 31. He's shady."

     I swallowed, thinking furiously. All that is true, but I can't let him go killing these people. Sprite's got a past with them, even if he won't admit it to me. I need to give him a reason not to kill them, and apparently 'they're people and you should value life' isn't enough. "Look, consider me soft, but I really don't want the first crisis I'm jointly handling to be defined by the number of bodies we leave behind."

     Sprite's mouth widened into a cruel smile. "And here I thought you'd welcome a body count to up your fear factor. Shows what I know about you."

     He thought—My eyes narrowed. He dared to think—The idea burned in my throat. "There isn't a fucking chance in hell that I would want to kill people," I spat. "If you think that, you're the most stupid idiot I've ever met."

     I watched as my words kindled anger in his eyes. "It's not my fault you act like a disaster waiting to happen."

     The phaser felt white-hot in my hand. Never give in. I tried to swallow the fire in my throat. Carefully, I holstered the gun. "Let's finish the mission."

     He eyed me before twisting to holster his own weapon. I thought I heard him mutter, "And a coward too," but I ignored it. He straightened. "We're almost at engines."

     "Come in, Cobos."

     I opened my communicator, grateful for the distraction. "Yeah, Nowak?"

     "Just stunned another Section 31 operative and had to re-stun Glasgow. I am sure more will come soon. Hurry if you can."

     My stomach dropped. "Sure thing. Out." I turned to Sprite. "We need to hurry."

     "No really." Sprite set off down the corridor without looking back.

     I swallowed that fire and followed.

     And nearly bumped into Sprite where he was stopped in the middle of the hall. "What the h—" I noticed why. A woman in all-black was watching us, arms folded. I stepped forward. "Operative Cobos." Inspiration struck and I flashed Glasgow's badge. The less talking I do, the better.

     The woman nodded. "You're contacts? We're grateful for what you do." She moved aside. "Good luck."

     I nodded as we passed.

     Out of earshot, Sprite leaned in. I thought he was going to congratulate me, but all he said was, "Where'd you get that?"

     I did my best to ignore the suspicion in his voice. "It's Glasgow's."

     "Sure."