And Baby-Ch. 12

And Baby Makes Four

By Samantha Quinn

All disclaimers in Part I.
Spoilers: “Shuttlepod One”
A/N: Words between // denote telepathic thoughts. Words between *** denote regular thought.

Part 12

A New Enemy

A/N: I hate battle scenes in trek, which probably explains why I can’t write them! Not a lot of techno babble, sorry. I’m a writer, not an engineer. ;) There are also some weird formatting issues in this addition. Not sure why, but I hope it’s readable. As always, // denotes telepathic thoughts and ** are regular thoughts.

*********************

The Captain of the Letal frowned in apprehension at the new alien threat appearing on their screen. While The Cochrane had been easily destroyed after their tactical advantages of stealth and surprise had been eliminated, the same would not easily be said of the Tholians.

//Get us out of here, Ensign// Nantuck instructed his helmsman.

//I can't, Sir.//came the reply, sounding a bit desperate, even in telepathy.

//What do you mean, you can't? Get us out of here right now. That's an order!//

Jennair interrupted. //Respectfully, Captain, the ship cannot go anywhere. Before we destroyed them, The Cochrane sustained substantial damage to both the impulse and warp drives.//

//Are weapons still online?// Nantuck demanded.

//Yes, our quantum torpedoes and phasers are both still functional. However, I caution against using them against the Tholians. In our weakened state, we will be no match for them if we give them cause to be angry.//Jennair replied.

//I make the decisions around here, Jennair. Raise shields, flood torpedo tubes, and aim phasers. Target their weaponry.//

//Aye, sir.// Came the doubtful reply. Nantuck made a mental note to punish Jennair for his insubordination at a later date.

The torpedoes and phasers made little more than a dent in the Tholian ship. Nantuck began to wonder if perhaps his judgment had been too hasty.

//They are returning fire// Jennair informed his Captain. //Shields down to thirty percent.//

//Try hailing them-see if they can be reasoned with// Nantuck decided in desperation.

//No response to our hails// Jennair informed the Captain as the ship rocked with another blast from the Tholian intruders. //That blast damaged life support-down to twenty-five percent. Shields are now off line.//

//So now we wait for destruction?//

//There seems to be little other alternative, Captain.//

A third blast from the alien ship rendered their long and short term sensors inoperable.

//Captain, we're being hailed-audio only.// Jennair noted, with more than a tinge of hope to his voice.

//Go ahead, Lieutenant.//

"Captain Nantuck, you will hand over Lieutenant Reed, Commander Tucker, and Sub-Commander T'Pol. If you fail to comply, your ship will be destroyed. You have fifteen minutes to beam to our ship. Make certain they are returned to us alive."

//They've given the co-ordinates, Captain// Jennair noted. //What are your orders?//

Nantuck turned to look at his security officer. //There is little point in being a warrior, Jennair, if you allow yourselves to be killed before the mission can be completed. We will allow the Tholians to have our prisoners, and return for them another day. Come, we shall gather the prisoners.//

****

Alanna awoke slowly and immediately noticed the sleeping figure of Commander Tucker beside her. *My Vulcan biology was able to give me a quicker recovery than my human father,* she noted. When she remembered why exactly they had been sleeping, Alanna felt a deep stab of anguish.

Leland. Her trusted science officer and friend. The man she had defended against the accusations of her crew had proved their suspicions to be well founded. But now was not the time to dwell on such emotions. Now she had to make certain that the mission was completed and that Leland was stopped.

Her mother’s voice stopped her in mid-rise. “I am Sub-Commander T’Pol of the Earth Star Ship Enterprise. We could be gratified for your assistance.”

The sound stirred feelings of warmth that Alanna had not known since Vulcan had been destroyed. “Mother,” she said softly. Being able to say the word to a living entity brought forth tears that threatened to spring forth, uncontrollably from the half-Vulcan’s eyes. At the sound of Malcolm’s voice, they did just that.

“Mother?” he asked incredulously.

“Oh, Malcolm,” Alanna exclaimed happily, “you’re still here. And only a lieutenant.”

Malcolm was rather certain the woman was not being intentionally rude. Nonetheless, it wouldn’t due for her to disparage his rank. “It was a very well earned rank, thank you,” he retorted, trying to sound as dignified as possible. Which was difficult, considering his current bound status.

“Yes, I’m sure it was. But you’ll soon earn much higher than lieutenant pips,” Alanna assured him.

Malcolm was quieted with that. And, frankly, quite happy.

“It appears you know Lieutenant Reed very well,” T’Pol interjected. “However, you are mistaken if you believe me to be your mother. No child of mine would be so . . . emotional.” The disdain was clear in the Sub-Commander’s voice.

In reply, Alanna pressed her fingers to T’Pol’s face. Seeing the fear momentarily reflected in T’Pol’s eyes, Alanna shook her head. “I won’t hurt you the way Tolaris did, mother. I promise. But, I have a feeling you won’t believe a word the Commander says when he wakes up.”

With the meld complete, Alanna released her fingers from her mother's face. She could see the confusion, concern, and sadness in her mother's eyes. "I'm sorry, mother," she said as she started to unbind her ties, "But I don't have more time to explain."

"Wait," Malcolm protested. "If you untie us, an alarm will go off." But it was too late. Before the word 'off' had escaped Malcolm's lips, the klaxons began to sound. As relieved as Malcolm and T'Pol were to know that Trip would not receive any punishment this time, they both realized that the alarms would assuredly result in their captors return.

"Well, the only thing left to do is free you," Alanna decided. Working quickly, and incorporating the knowledge that had once made her a highly desirable engineer, Alanna quickly unbound the ties that held them both. Once they were free, she motioned towards the door.

"This hallway leads directly to the lab. It's fairly unguarded, so it won't be necessary to travel through the tubes," Alanna stated.

Malcolm, however, was kneeling beside Commander Tucker, still unconscious. "We can't just leave him," he protested.

"Malcolm, we have to. He'll slow us down," Alanna argued.

"Lieutenant Reed is correct. We shall not leave Commander Tucker, although that is surely the most logical course of action," T'Pol stated. "He may not have escaped the ship in your timeline, Captain, but he will this time."

*Oh, what Trip would have given to hear that,* Malcolm thought to himself. *That was blatant concern for his well being that I just heard. If we make it off this bloody ship, I'll be certain to tell him just that.*

"Fine. But we have to hurry," Alanna stated, irritated. While she was reveling in the chance to see her father for the first time, the two standing in front of her were a higher priority. She had loved them, after all.

Malcolm began to reach down in an attempt to lift Trip. He was stopped, however, by T'Pol laying a gentle hand on his arm. Wordlessly, she bent over and hoisted Trip in her arms. Straightening, she told Alanna, "We are now ready."

***

//Shouldn’t we stop them, Captain?// Jennair inquired.

//No. They seem to know of a threat we are unaware of. Let them eliminate the threat. Then we shall capture and deliver them to the Tholians.// Nantuck replied.

**************

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