Star Trek: Erin

Part 21: Superhuman

     "Keep an eye on them, Fennec." I flipped open my communicator. "Lieutenant, the chambers are activating."

     "I see it, Cobos. I'll tell the bridge. Moving back. Over."

     "Acknowledged. Out." Sure, we'll just sit tight. I glanced at thethree redshirts watching me. "Fennec, I said to keep an eye on them." Hesnapped back around. "Styme, Najjar, I want you to block the entry. Use thesethree crates, the charges inside are useless and the weight will help."

     I'd seen the questions in Styme's eyes and explained before they could take flight. As he turned away, satisfied with the explanation, I considered him. Explaining, even briefly, certainly helps them understand the goals behind orders. It'd taken me some time to realize that. To an extent, officers should explain to subordinates. Only if it could be afforded, of course, but it can drive goals and ease confusion.

     The crates were in place, with Fennec still hovering nearby. I gestured at him and Styme. "Either side of the door. Don't try to brace the crates if they're pushed, you'll just get crushed or your shins shattered if any of their muscles are as strong as they look."

     "Junior lieutenant, two are speaking to each other nearby."

     "About?"

     Najjar tilted his head. Him being one-eighth Ferengi made for excellent hearing. "Two speakers, male and female," Najjar whispered, still listening. "Male named Khan, who seems to be their leader, is gathering the sleepers at beam-in. They discuss violence against the Enterprise, but neither yet know their leader's intentions." His gaze jerked to me. "The female is going to secure their munitions."

     I drew my phaser. "Prepare for battle. Najjar, away from the door."

     "Phaser setting, ma'am?"

     My jaw clenched. "Set to kill. We're all that stands between assholes who want to hurt our crewmates and these munitions." The guns might be useless, but there is a hell of a lot of charges that could do some damage. "Lieutenant Hoal will be here soon, but we're making our stand."

     The crates shrieked across the floor, tumbling over each other and inspiring the same fear as a landslide bearing down on you. I had to leap out of the way, my finger tight on the trigger.

     A meaty hand waved through the doorway, followed by a huge woman. "Don't shoot, I just want to talk!" The woman stepped into the doorway without waiting for an invitation. She was unarmed, but damn her arms were big.

     I saw Styme thumb his phaser into stun mode. The woman's gaze snapped to him.

     I stepped between Styme and the woman, keeping my phaser—still in kill setting—aimed at her chest. No sudden moves, maybe we can reason with her, say Khan sent us, but goddammit, Styme, why'd you take your phaser out of kill mode? I wished I could smack him. We can still salvage this. Just don't trust her for a second, Cobos. I drew myself up to address the hulking lady. "I'm the officer in char—"

     She punched me in the chest. There was a moment of Did something just happen? before my side connected with the wall and it felt like a balloon burst in my chest. I couldn't seem to get enough air. Pain blossomed with each inhale, flooding wider as I exhaled. Balloons? I don't have any—ah, fuck. Lungs.

     For a moment the three redshirts kept their distance like coyotes around a bear. She shrugged off Styme's stun with barely a stumble and slapped his phaser into his face before snapping it in half. Najjar was cuffed into the wall. With her free hand, she gave Fennec's neck a quick squeeze. A horrible wheezing sound came from Fennec as she dropped him.