Danny. I never knew you personally. However, your uncle has written Kyle in such a way that he, I have been told, reveals who you are almost to the letter. You are, and I purposely use the present tense, a wonderful person, and sorely missed by those who loved you.
As we all know your uncle, your leaving hurts more than just your loved ones. Your 'Ripple in the Pond' has touched many and we will make sure it continues to do so.
Thank you for being so special to AC that he would immortalize you forever as Kyle Richardson. Thank you for everything you were to AC and your family.
God Speed, Danny.
Dance in the Rain until you meet your Uncle again.
Illúvantír
Korris was sitting in the antechamber of the Arena on the Orion base, waiting for the door to open. He toyed with the bat'leth in his hands, and tried to prepare himself for the fight ahead. The fire in his blood made his thoughts scatter and shift as he waited for the fight to begin. As normal, he had no idea what he was to face, but he knew that he would either win, or die gloriously. What little honour remained to him he held onto. He would win a place at Sto-Vo-Kor. Kahless would accept him.
The young eleven year old Klingon felt the roar coming from the crowded room beyond vibrating through the floor, and so he stood up and spat upon his hands. Taking up the bat'leth, his father's old blade, he readied himself.
Victory... or death.
It was barely eight in the morning when ten beams of energy coalesced near the old manor house located in a peaceful valley in south Wales. Sarek took in the area briefly before signalling the orbiting starship once more. More beams of transporter energy appeared and soon the whole area was filled with Vulcan workers, all with the task of refitting the manor house for occupation. A shuttle craft appeared from high orbit and began a patrol around the valley, conducting a detailed survey. All this time, the seven children and two women watched with awe and fascination.
"Boy, I'm glad Shelly is still on the D'Tir, grandfather," Jason spoke softly, "I think she'd have freaked at all this noise."
Sarek nodded without comment, for it was the precise reason he left the normally excitable canine on board the starship. He glanced over at the Vulcan technician that was approaching. "What is the status of the location," he asked.
"Acceptable. The residence will be habitable within twenty four earth hours, and the rest of the required changes within two weeks, Ambassador. Shall we proceed?"
"Yes." Sarek watched the efficient Vulcan work crew swing into flawless action before turning to the others, "We should head to your homes now, and prepare moving all those items you require in this place."
Mary responded, "Everything in my place should come. Tony and I can sort through it afterwards. It would make things easier."
"I agree," Angela added, "besides, these kids need some fun not work on their holiday. Especially considering... well..."
"I understand. I shall have all possessions removed and brought here, where you can sort through them at your leisure." He looked at the children who were now sitting on the grass lawn of the manor house, watching things get rapidly changed with amused interest, "What plans do you have for the younglings for the day?"
Riti heard him and turned his head quickly, "Can we go swimming again, grandpa?" Obviously, he had taken up on Victoria's phrasing. He was hugged in close to Jason's side, his one piece suit glimmering in the early morning light, and blending totally with his dark feathered wings.
"I take it you like my Earth home, young Riti?" came the ever so slightly amused response from the Vulcan.
All the children had by now shifted their attention to the Ambassador. Riti nodded his head excitedly, "Yes, it's really nice there! I love it!" The rest all agreed, with huge grins.
"What do you say, Angela, Mary? Shall I take them back with me, or do you already have plans?"
"Take them, Sarek. They need you, I think. We'll stay in Angela's house for the day with the dog, and meet you here tomorrow?" Mary responded.
"Agreed. Okay, children, on your feet. We will beam back now. Here," Sarek handed a spare communicator to Angela, "I believe you have had training with such devices. Call if you require assistance."
After brief farewells to their mothers, the children and the Ambassador vanished in the transporter beams from the D'Tir.
Captain Evans of the Hood-A, Captain Sulu of the Excelsior, Captain Wainwright of the Reliant-A and Captain Simmons of the Lafayette had been called on board by Captain Kirk in order to prepare the final reports on the system ahead.
"Gentlemen," Kirk began, "we have the details from Captain Spock and Commander Tulek; this is the target. Probes report that there are nine ships clustered near to an abandoned mining outpost station. Two of the ships are the two that fled the attack on the Lexington. There are two more Orion ships, another warship, and the other a trader from the looks of it. There is also a human trading vessel."
Loud grumbles came from the other Captains at that. Dafydd spoke, "That ship will come under some heat, let me tell you. Slave trafficking? Makes me ashamed to be human."
Sulu nodded his agreement. "What of the others, Captain?" he asked, addressing his old commanding officer.
"Two are, we think, Breen. Starfleet has only had minor dealings with that race since we made first contact two years ago, but the ships match the profile. The last two are unknowns."
"Sir," Sulu offered, "my recommendation is for the Hood and Excelsior to take on those four with the Enterprise as back up. If Enterprise, the Lafayette and the Reliant can take out the three Orion warships, and disable the two traders, then we just have the base remaining."
"Agreed," Captain Simmons added. "Hood has the upgrades and may well surpass the Excelsior. The stories I've heard about the Breen make me uneasy, and we also have two unknowns."
Kirk spoke up quickly, "One of the two unknowns seems to also be a trader, yet armed heavily. The last is a fighter of a sort. The probe's scans indicate that neither pose a threat to the fleet. It's the Breen that worries me."
"I have a surprise for them, Sir," Dafydd offered, with a wolfish grin. "One of the new additions to the Hood is modulated shielding. We know their weapons have a draining effect on our shields, but they will have a harder time with the Hood's."
"And Excelsior can be the hammer to the Hood's anvil. Don't worry, Kirk, we'll have them." Sulu added.
Captain Wainwright asked then, "Are we sure that there are no slaves on those ships right now? This could get ugly, and I don't want to see innocents harmed in the fighting."
"We monitored a lot of lifeforms leaving the trading ships," Kirk answered, "so they are staffed by skeleton crews. The warships have lifeforms in the control areas, from what we can make out. However, we shall disable all ships, not destroy. Also, the Hood is able to use Transporters while the shields are up, so if you can have your transporter crews ready to capture any jettisoned prisoners, Captain?"
"Done deal, sir," Dafydd responded. He stood up, "Are we ready?"
"You bet," Wainwright stood forcefully. "Ten hours to get here and six hours to reconnoitre the area. Boy, I'm feeling refreshed, aren't you? Time for payback."
"Let's keep our heads, gentlemen," Kirk said seriously. "Any prisoners are our primary concern." He then grinned wolfishly, "Then, and only then, will be time for payback. Let's break this black market trade open."
All five stood and shook each other's hands. "Success, gentlemen." Kirk said as he dismissed them.
Korris had encountered this situation before. Instead of a fellow slave to fight, there was someone else before him: one of the spectators who wanted to try out the Orion's star fighter. A Breen.
Korris had heard whispers about these people. They were exceptional hand to hand fighters. Maybe this one would give him the glorious death he sought.
'Mother, father; I'll be with you shortly,' he thought as he span the bat'leth between his hands as he began to circle the adult Breen.
The ship rocked lightly under his feet as the impacts from the four alien ships impacted the Hood's shielding. They, unsurprisingly, held. "Shields have fluctuated slightly, Captain, but the modulation effect has adapted. No damage," Tulek reported quickly.
Dafydd made his choice quickly, for one of the ships, the one they thought was a heavily armed trade ship, was beginning to pull away. "Aim for the star-drive on that one, and take her out of play," he commanded.
The ship's shielding buckled under the combined fire from the Hood and Excelsior as both opened up on her. Obviously Captain Sulu had had the same thought. Before both Federation ships could cause more than superficial damage to the once-escaping ship, the signal came in for surrender. As taught, both Starfleet ships accepted.
The second ship to come under fire was the fastest and therefore most annoying. Two torpedoes and three phaser hits later and it was out of the 'game'; listing badly in space and venting drive plasma.
Now for the Breen. Both had focused on the larger of two Starfleet vessels, and the Excelsior's shields were beginning to weaken under the unique weapons of the Breen. Dafydd ordered the nearest to be brought under fire.
The Hood's phasers were absorbed and all to no effect.
"I recommend we bring the adaptations on-line, Captain," Tulek stated quickly.
Dafydd turned, "Are you sure about that, Commander? They have not been tested in trials yet."
"To use an Earth phrase, 'There's no time like the present.' The Excelsior will suffer shield loss and total power failure in 46 seconds. It is the only viable option."
"Do it. Torpedo room, full spread; let's get the attention of at least one of them first."
Four photon's sped out quickly, and the effect was as desired; one Breen ship turned in space and came for them, thus giving Excelsior a much needed breath of air.
"Modifications on-line and awaiting your command, sir," the Science officer said.
"Fire!" Dafydd commanded.
Twin lances of energy roared out from the Hood and smashed through the oncoming Breen warship's shields like they were made of paper and hammered into the port nacelle with phenomenal force. It sheered off completely, sending the craft into an uncontrolled spin.
"Wow!" Dafydd stated, deadpan. He suddenly grinned, "I like!"
The other Breen ship turned its sights on the far more dangerous Constitution Starship and started firing its disruptors, but the Hood's shielding shrugged the blows off easily. The Excelsior, finally able to bring it's power to bear in offence rather than defence, made its pass. She blew out the main bridge of the enemy craft, thus leaving both Breen ships dead in space.
The other three Constitution ships had made short work of the remaining enemy craft and were now engaged with the starbase's defences. Sulu signalled Dafydd to assist while he stood guard over the fallen and surrendered four.
Only a matter of time, now...
The floor heaved under their feet, sending the Breen to the floor. Korris took immediate action and impaled the bat'leth into the helmet of the fallen warrior, killing him instantly.
Alarms were sounding and the spectators were already leaving the room as he pulled his blade free, and Korris was not about to wait around. Here was his chance to escape.
'Koth, before I die I want to find you. You and I can leave for Sto-Vo-Kor together. I'm coming, little brother. I'm coming.'
He ran to the main entrance of the arena, and slammed his blade through the electronic mechanism and the doors popped open. Of the two guards that should have been in place, only one had the sense of duty to remain at his post while the station was being attacked. A sense of duty that was sorely misplaced, this time. He died screaming as Korris thrust his bat'leth through his back to make the dual spikes of one end protrude from his chest.
Yanking his blade free, Korris stepped over the twitching body and glanced about the red-strobe lit corridor. He saw the way was clear to the turbolifts and so ran to them.
'Must get to the Brig, must find him. I made a promise,' he thought as he quickly entered the lift and depressed the button.
As the lift slowed and stopped, he crouched down in preparation. The doors hissed open to show three human slavers staring at the wall monitor.
It must be noted that 'bad guys' are generally thick. Rule One: Don't Monologue. It's boring and you don't see the heroes punch or bullet coming while you are spouting off. Rule Two: Don't stand with your back to a door when you KNOW your station is under attack; you just might get a bat'leth in your arse.
Of the three men, two DID get a bat'leth in the arse. The other, after he had spun around to see why his fellows were screaming, had an eleven year old Klingon ripping his throat out with his teeth. The two screaming humans suddenly silenced when Korris beheaded them.
Spitting out blood, not his own, Korris ran down the cage and brig filled corridor. At each door he checked inside. There were children everywhere, and most he had never seen. All looked terrified. In a few rooms and cells, there were alien and human adults abusing various children, both male and female children. Korris barely restrained himself from tearing the door down and killing them, but he just HAD to find his charge first.
Once he had checked all the cells, he started to panic. He could not find him anywhere.
Just then, one of the cell doors opened and a man came out. He was doing up his pants and had a self satisfied smile on his face. A smile that quickly dropped away as a) he FINALLY noticed the station was on Red Alert (Told you... thick) and b) there was a pissed off Klingon looking at him.
Korris gave him a feral grin. He wiped at the blood that was seeping from the gash the Breen warrior had given him. "I hope you liked that last screw, 'cos you are now going to Gre'thor... give my regards to Fek'lhr, you sick bastard!" Korris yelled as he flew at the now blubbering human.
After killing him, he poked his head into the room to find a young nine or ten year old human girl naked and crying. Her red hair was matted and her face streaked in tears. "Shhh, he's gone. Just stay here, I'll make sure we get help," he said quietly to her.
She looked up at him and nodded mutely, tears still seeping from her eyes. "'Kay. And thank you."
She regarded the strangely kind face of the eleven year old Klingon, "What's your name?"
"Korris. What's yours?"
"Donna Stapleton. Are you really gonna get help?"
"Yeah," he left quickly and returned with her abuser's jacket. "Here. It's not too bloody, but it's cold here. I'll find help, I promise."
He backed out and made for the Warden's Office, where the turbolift was. "I need to find him! Belar, where are you?"
Kirk, Spock, Dafydd and Tulek materialized inside the starbase, together with their security personnel. The advanced teams had already cleared this area and were systematically making their way through the levels. The officers ran to the nearest turbolift and made their descent. Once at the brig level they emerged into the Warden's Office. They saw the three dead humans lying near the viewscreen.
"What the hell?" Dafydd started. "They've been torn apart!"
"You with them? Starfleet dishonourable bastards, I KNEW we could never trust you!" a voice said from the door leading to the cells.
They all spun around to see an eleven year old highly pissed off Klingon boy looking at them, bat'leth in hand. "Fight me, then, for you will not take these others while I live!" he yelled at Kirk and the others.
Kirk held out his hands, "No. We came here to free you."
"Pu'tag, I find that hard to believe. I saw your people up there! They were watching! Laughing as I fought for my life!" he yelled back, wiping briefly at the blood coming from a large gash on his forehead and cheek. "And another back there, fucking a little girl! There are more of your sick race screwing with others there too, but I can't kill them all! You, you BASTARDS!!"
Tulek spoke softly to the injured Klingon, "Child, they are criminals. They are the dishonoured, not us."
"How can I believe you?"
"I know who you are, Korris. Your brother is waiting for you on Earth."
Korris nearly dropped his blade, "You know me? And you know my brother? Prove it! What is his name?"
"Koth," Dafydd said, "and he is my new son, as you can be, if you wish, Korris."
"K...Koth..." Korris lowered his weapon. "Fine. I'll believe you. For now. Are you really here to save us? All of us?"
"Correct, young one," Spock said.
"Then help me find Belar. He's not in his cell. I can't find him on this level."
Kirk and Dafydd beckoned him over. Once Korris was near them, Spock asked, "Do you have his full name?"
"Ro Belar."
Spock went to the Guard's Station and fired up the consoles. He started searching the database. "He is on deck 3. He was bought and transferred there ready to be taken from the station. That level is still held by the enemy, Jim."
"Not for much longer. Come with us, Korris." Kirk said.
Just then, the other turbolift opened and six security guards came out, led by Commander Chip Dodds. Dafydd pointed towards the cells, "There are a number of criminals down there abusing kids. Deal with them. Harshly. Get those children to the ships for treatment immediately."
Chip nodded, his face hardening, "My pleasure. Move out!" He led his team through the doors at a run.
As the door closed, Kirk led the others and Korris into the lift. Korris raised his bat'leth once more, "Today is a good day to die..."
Dafydd grunted, "For them, at least."
Belar sobbed into the gag he wore. The motion of the deck as it had heaved when the base came under attack had frightened him, but that had only been the start. His new owner, a human, had come in spitting curses. All Belar could understand was that his owner was not going to lose his prize without sampling him first. It was all too soon before he found himself tied down on the table top naked. The sudden fire and pain from his backside was all he knew at that point. Why he was in pain, he did not know, but he could barely cope with the agony.
The pain started getting worse as phaser fire was heard from outside the door, but it was blessedly lessened once the door was blown in. Belar could not turn to see his owner behind him, but he could make out the person in the doorway. Korris.
With a blood curdling scream, the Klingon ran in and straight for Belar's human master. It was a blessing that Belar could not see what happened then.
Korris, with an easy swipe of his bat'leth, removed all the equipment the man required to ever commit rape again, then as the man's piercing screams rang out and his hands made to cover his now absent genitalia, Korris took them both off as well. The man fell, screaming. It was then that Korris began to get nasty.
Belar had stopped sobbing and was listening to the terrible sounds from the floor behind him. He was still hurting bad, and his butt seemed to be bleeding, but his friend was here. Korris would help him. The human's screams did not frighten him, even when they seemed to be getting worse.
Another shadow appeared in the doorway. Spock called out, "Korris, please stand aside." Korris did so, and the remaining lump of flesh on the floor, unbelievably still alive and still quite vocal, disappeared to be replaced with dust and ash at Spock's phaser fire. "His punishment was given. You did well, young one. I hope you never have to do or witness such again. Now, for the little child."
Behind Spock, Kirk was heard calling Doctor McCoy to beam over. Korris, however, did not care about that, he just untied the four year old little boy and drew him close. "I'm here, Bel. He's gone, now, and I'm here."
Belar just started crying again.
Dafydd entered with Doctor McCoy, who took one look at the alien children, the blood coming from both, before calling the Hood, "McCoy to Dr Fisher. We need the operating room ready there ASAP. I'm bringing in two injured minors. Hood transporter room, prepare for site to site transport direct to your sickbay."
"Ready," Graham responded, followed by the transporter chief's confirmation.
"Energise," said McCoy, and he disappeared, as did the two boys.
Kirk turned from the bloodstained room to find Commander Dodds waiting for him. "All resistance is broken, Captain. We have gathered up the slaves and all but two are accounted for, going by the bases' records. One was with you?"
"Yes. And we have the other with him on board the Hood right now, Commander. How many slaves are we talking about?" Kirk replied wearily.
"One hundred and twenty three, not counting the two you found," Chip's voice grew sick as he finished, "All children."
The gathering up of all slavers involved, including the survivors from the nine enemy ships, took little time. Since the starbase's brig was the largest and most convenient, the Starfleet officers used them. Spock and Tulek were placed in charge of gathering and extracting all information possible, as well as finding out who the last two unknown races were.
"I have never heard of such beings, cousin," Spock said quietly as they looked into the last few cells. In one were ten fairly short aliens with bald bulbous heads and huge ear lobes. In the other were a group of tall, grey, slightly reptilian people with black straight hair. "We shall leave these until last. Shall we start with the Orions?"
"Acceptable. One of the three warships out there was the one the Lexington rescued Koth from. Their captain I wish to have a long word with." Tulek muttered. His fury was barely restrained after the piteous sight they had beheld as they had freed the slaves. None of the children rescued were older than ten, excepting Korris, and most had shown obvious signs of having been abused physically as well as sexually. All were now on-board either the Enterprise, the Hood or the Excelsior being treated and calmed down.
Spock signalled the nearest security guard and told him to bring them the Orion captains one at a time, including the base commander. He and Tulek went into the interrogation room and sat down. They had cleared out most of the horrendous items from the room, but the smell of blood and worse was still heavy in the air. "I shall start, cousin. You need to meditate, I think." Spock said briefly.
"You are the one who is half human, yet I am losing control. I do not understand."
"Kolinahr, cousin. I might not have officially completed it, but the training is still there. Underneath, however, I am... unsettled."
The door opened and the first Orion was sat roughly in the chair before them and secured in place. Spock stood and addressed the man, "We are not going to ask you questions. We are under Vulcan Law at present. All information will be extracted by meld, unless you choose to tell us everything yourself. Even should you choose to speak freely, a meld will be required to ascertain truthfulness. Your willingness to speak will effect the sentence only, not the requirement for a meld. Do you understand me?"
The Orion spat at him and remained otherwise silent. Spock looked back at Tulek who said, "He is the one from the Lexington incident last year. We require all information regarding Koth from him."
Spock nodded and went to the man and began the meld.
Korris was standing near the bed where the tiny boy, Belar, was being examined. The child was face down and looking at him with huge, frightened eyes, and he had a death grip on Korris' hand. McCoy moved over to stand next to Korris and knelt down to speak with Belar, "Can you open your mouth for me, little one? I just need to shine this light in there to check some things, okay?"
Whatever McCoy was doing he would first speak to both boys and explain things as easily and simply as possible to lessen their fear. Well, the fear from the four year old, as Korris seemed to exude only anger and frustration. Belar nodded and opened his mouth letting the doctor check his throat. "That's good, you can close it now. Has anyone made you do anything before today you didn't like?"
"No. Tow'is tep' me safe," he squeaked out. "Bad man made me suc' his dingie den he wen' 'way and come back when da room was shaken' and den made my bum hurt."
"Okay. I'm going to make the hurt go away, now. Don't be frightened, but I will be scanning and touching your bum to make it better, okay?"
"Otay," he squeaked again with fear and increased his grip on Korris' hands. After a few awkward moments when his squeaks of fear made McCoy flinch back, the doctor soon had the nerves surrounding the child's violated anus turned off with the scanner. The boy immediately relaxed as the pain left him, allowing the doctor to work quickly and efficiently on repairing the damage.
It was not long before he had completed the task and reactivated the nerves. Belar looked over his shoulder at McCoy and said, "Feels funny. I dunno... weird and funny."
McCoy came closer to his head and again knelt down to talk to him, as well as to Korris. "You'll feel a bit funny there for a while, but that will pass soon. I made everything as good as new, so you're all okay now. What say you help me make Korris all better. That sound good?"
"Yeah," Belar shifted about and looked at his big friend, "Can I Tow'is? Can I helps nice doctor?"
Korris nodded, a slight smile appearing for the first time on his face. "Yes. I'd like that." He picked up the munchkin and once he had sat on the biobed he held him close on his lap. He looked at McCoy, "You are a man of honour, and I thank you."
"My pleasure, Korris. You honour me," McCoy handed his tricorder to Belar and then continued, "Belar, you see that picture there?"
"Yeah."
"See that line? When that line gets here," he pointed to the marker on the screen, "that means I've finished making Korris better, and I need you to tell me."
"Otay," the cherub responded before holding the tricorder against Korris' bare chest. He stuck his tongue out of the corner of his mouth as he kept a close watch on the 'line' and the 'marker', concentrating fully.
McCoy grinned at Korris and winked, then took up a cellular regenerator and started to close up the deep wounds on the Klingon. He was finished long before the 'line' had reached the 'marker', which was only a timer system, so he also spent some time scanning the other scar tissue and repairing as much as he could.
"All done!" Belar called happily. "All done, doctor!"
"Thank you, Doctor Belar," McCoy ruffled the lad's hair, "you did that very well!" Korris started to chuckle. McCoy spoke a little more softly then as he addressed the young Klingon, "Most of those scars I can do nothing for, and the wound I closed was very deep. You'll have a slight scar running down from your forehead to your cheek, and a smaller one on your chin. I'm sorry, but..."
"No need for sorrow, sir," Korris interrupted politely, "they are as a badge of honour and I will bear them with pride."
"Very well," McCoy gestured for the two boys to follow him. "Let's see about getting you two dressed. You can't be going around in a loin cloth, nor can Belar go naked without catching your death of cold."
Between them, Spock and Tulek had stripped all useful information from the Orions as well as the humans involved. The Breen were going to be the next problem, however they had already gained all recovered data from their two ships.
"I believe we can transport the Breen to Andoria for their trial. The Aenar telepaths are able to read Breen, and Andoria is a similar climate to the Breen's homeworld, judging by their ship's data-core." Spock mused.
"Agreed," Tulek added. "Now for the last group. The Breen have had prior dealings, judging by this information. The Ferengi and the Cardassians. The Ferengi are immune to telepathy, according to the report, but the Cardassians are not."
"We shall start with the Cardassians, then," Spock decided.
"Doctor?" Korris asked as he pulled on the last of the clothes he had been given.
"Yes, son?"
"Can we go back to the base?"
McCoy looked at him oddly, "Whatever for?"
Korris moved to help Belar dress, as the little boy was far more interested in rubbing the soft material of the clothes against his cheek and giggling. He replied as he started dressing the happy munchkin, "My weapons. The base commander was my owner, and he had all my weapons kept in his office. All that belonged to my family as well. Including my brother's belongings."
McCoy nodded, "Very well. We shall go and get them. Please give me a moment to get security. We can't leave the young one here alone and we are not going back unescorted."
"Okay, sir," Korris said with a chuckle as Belar, tired of being dressed, ran off in just a tee-shirt. Korris and the Ensign in charge of the Requisitions chased after him laughing fit to bust, while McCoy grinned. 'God, the resilience of youth,' he thought to himself as he went to the comm.
"He kept them in there," Korris pointed to the safe door in the wall.
The head of Hood Security moved forward, "Stand back, please." He raised his phaser and burned the door off quickly, revealing a treasure trove of Klingon items and weapons.
Korris immediately started sorting through them. He picked up the matching set of mek'leth blades and whispered, "Koth". He then found the greatest prize of all; a medal. The Order of the Bat'leth. He placed both the weapons and the medal into the bag the guards had brought with them before sorting through the other items. He found his old armour and uniform, as well as his brother's, but...
He growled, "Most of the stuff has been taken. That bastard! How dare he..."
McCoy and Belar went over to him, and Belar pushed himself into Korris' arms. McCoy said, "Anything taken that was irreplaceable?"
"No, but that's not the point! A Klingon's possessions are taken only at death!" Korris wept in furious frustration.
McCoy pulled both children into his arms to comfort them, "Korris, let's go. We'll have all this bagged and secure for you to take to Earth. Come, let's go now."
As the last Cardassian was led away, Tulek stated, "That was unexpected."
"Correct. It is intriguing that they are able to learn such resistance," Spock said quietly.
Tulek continued, "It is fortunate you have Kolinahr training, and I believe a larger strength in that ability than my own."
"Do not belittle your own talents, cousin." Spock sat down to mentally review the collected data. "We had no idea regarding the strength of their minds. Nevertheless, we have what we need from them. The Ferengi are not involved in this trade, and were here on other business. Strange that this, their first visit to our space, should end up with them in a fire fight."
"Maybe they should choose their customers with more care. Their ship is only minimally damaged, due to their quick surrender. A quick debriefing and a firm point back out of Federation space will be as much as we need from them. Their computer data also confirms that no slaves were traded, and such dealings go against their 'Rules'."
Spock sighed, "Make it so, Commander. The Cardassians, however. They go to Vulcan. We shall have their ships collected and taken to the edge of Federation space and then broadcast a signal towards their homeworld. Their ships belong to their people, but those involved have broken our laws, and according to Interplanetary Law, we have jurisdiction. I just hope that their people are not all like this. They would make a formidable enemy."
Tulek went to the door and issued the orders. Ten minutes later the security personnel had reported that all Breen and Cardassian prisoners were on-board the Lafayette and Reliant-A respectively and on their way to their appointed destination.
Tulek asked, "What of the Orions and humans? Especially the ones responsible for Koth and Korris?"
"Vulcan law applies, cousin. We shall pass sentence here and now. Please call the Captains. This is going to require their presence." Spock's face hardened momentarily. "We will not need many cells to return the survivors. Most die today."
Doctor Graham Fisher had finished healing the last of the freed slaves that had been brought to the Hood and was now taking a quick meal. The last three he had healed had captured his heart, and so he was preparing his request and statement for Captain Evans when Doctor McCoy entered with his two shadows, now more properly attired, and approached him. Graham signalled for food to be brought for the children, but McCoy waved him off for himself.
"I need to return to Enterprise, Doctor. We still have a few over there that I need to see to myself, although Doctor Chapel is doing quite well," McCoy started. "I feel that these two need to be with you and Captain Evans, though."
Graham nodded as he watched the Klingon and Bajoran child start inhaling their food, "No sweat, Doctor McCoy. Oh, do you have the info on Belar's people yet?"
"No, but I believe Spock will have it soon. I say a lot about him, but he can get information easier than anyone else I know of." McCoy grinned.
"Okay. Shall I see you to the transporter room?"
"No need. Take care of these kids, Doc. They need lots of attention, especially this little one." McCoy ruffled Belar's hair, and the kid looked up with a toothy grin before continuing to destroy his food.
With a parting farewell, McCoy turned and left the Lounge, leaving Graham to watch the two children in amused surprise as they seemed to inhale more food that an elephant could have eaten.
Sentencing was over. The few remaining Orions and human prisoners had been placed into secure holding on-board the Excelsior, and Spock and Tulek were making their reports to the three remaining Captains.
"So, we are able to return all the children to their homeworlds, save for two. Of those being returned, three are known to be without family as the Enterprise records have them as orphaned on earth." Dafydd summarised.
Kirk nodded, and then grinned at the expression that was forming on Dafydd's face. "And I believe that the five you listed now have somewhere to go, correct, Captain?"
Dafydd grinned back, "Yes. My Chief Medical officer has fallen for the twins and their younger brother. And Korris is meant to be with his brother anyway. As for the Bajoran. Well, the Cardassians have conquered his homeworld, so sending him home is uncertain at best. He is also quite attached to Korris, from what I have been told. Angela and I will take them with us."
Sulu laughed briefly before asking, "Who will look after the Rowling children while Doctor Fisher is on duty?"
"My family shall," Dafydd explained, "just as we are for Telez, his natural son."
"Good, good," Sulu said happily. "Captain Kirk, if all the children are separated between Alpha and Beta origins, then I shall take the Beta lot with me. Once I have delivered the prisoners to the Prison Planet, I shall begin returning them to their homes. You and Enterprise can do the same for the rest."
"Well, that is that, I think," Kirk said, most pleased with the outcome. "Spock, ensure that all the information gathered is sent with Captain Evans. He is to return to Sector 001 immediately so he can pass it all to Command for us."
"Certainly, sir. Commander Tulek has the copies already, and I am downloading to the Hood's computer as we speak."
Kirk stood up, "Then we shall make ready to depart. Command is sending some ships for the disabled craft outside, and we shall remain until they arrive. These Ferengi are not to be trusted, I think, but they won't return here with Enterprise looking nasty. They surrender well, but fighting?" Kirk broke off with a short laugh.
Dafydd stood with Tulek, "Job well done. With this information we shall be able to find and save as many of the pre-sold slaves as we can. Take care, Captains. We shall likely meet after the Hood's shakedown cruise."
Kirk and Sulu stood to shake their hands before they departed. Spock turned to his Captain, "Sir, have you had time to review my request for leave?"
"I have, Spock. Granted. You may go back with the Hood, and I shall see you in three months time."
"Thank you sir. Captain Sulu, it was good to see you again. Live long and prosper," Spock saluted them both before leaving to follow his cousin and Dafydd Evans from the room.
Captain Evans entered along with Commander Tulek and Doctor Fisher. Dafydd took the chair and issued the order to make for Earth. Graham turned to Tulek while they were making into warp and asked, "How long to Earth?"
"Now that we do not have to hold back for the Lafayette and Reliant, seven hours and 47 minute, current speed." Tulek responded as he was going over the data transferred from the Enterprise. He looked up briefly, "Where are the five children at this time?"
Graham grinned, "In the mess hall with Captain Spock. Eating. Again. Poor things were starved, so I'm happy they're eating; they certainly are."
"Good," Dafydd said as he watched the stars race by on the viewer. "That was the hardest task I have ever done. Seeing those children in that place..."
Graham nodded soberly. "I feel the same, Daf," he said quietly, "at least these we have rescued have a chance again. I just hope we can recover all those that have been sold. It breaks my heart."
Tulek spoke then, "Shall I inform the Ambassador of the time of our arrival?"
"Yes please, Commander," Dafydd said formally. "Tell him we have five more 'unofficial' members of the group we are collecting. He should understand that."
It had been seven and a half hours since Sarek had received the report from his cousin on-board the Hood, and so, due to the imminent arrival of the Hood, he was looking for the children. This was easier said than done.
They had spent the entire time either with him listening to stories about the early years of the Federation, or swimming, or, now that it was morning in San Francisco, out in the grounds playing. He fell back on the simple expedient of following the sounds of childish laughter and excitement.
He found them just out of the doors leading from the kitchens. Riti was flying around the grounds with Koth and Victoria trying to catch him as he swooped low, and the four older children were yelling encouragement to them all. Sarek stood for a while to simply take in the sight. Vulcan children, he mused, only played this way until age six, whereupon their training in emotional control increased pace. Trying to do so before that age was at once cruel and useless. Hence the reason for Spock being an active nudist, he pondered. Still, the sight and sound of laughing children touched something fundamentally deep in the Vulcan. This was how children should be; happy, loved and without a care in the world. Unlike what had been discovered that day by the Task Force.
"Younglings," he called to them, "time to come in; we have prepared some sustenance for you."
Riti was the first to get to him, swooping down and landing in his arms with the happy squeal of, "Grandpa!" The others soon reached him.
"Come," Sarek turned and led them into the kitchens, carrying Riti in his arms. "Eat your 'snacks'." He stood back as they fell upon the sandwiches and treats laid out for them. The Vulcan cooks in the room watched from a distance; very logically too, as to go too near may well run the risk of being thought of as edible.
Jason, after finishing his third sandwich, asked, "Is Dad back yet, grandfather?"
"Not yet, but soon," came the response. "I would find it likely that he will beam down in half an hour."
"Sweet," Nathan giggled.
Koth looked briefly up at their grandfather and asked, "Can we swim until they arrive?"
Sarek raised an eyebrow, "You need to stay in the shallow end for at least thirty minutes before venturing deeper, but yes, you may."
"'Kay!" he said as he returned to eating at full steam.
And so it was the sight of seven happy children playing in the pool that greeted the landing party when they appeared in Sarek's home. Dafydd and Graham came into the Pool room leading the five rescued children, who stood staring at the other seven in wonder.
"KOTH!!!" roared Korris, and he ran passed Dafydd as fast as he could go.
"Korris?! By Kahless!! Korris!!" Koth sprang out of the pool and met his brother half way. They slammed into each other with force and fell in a heap, laughing and hugging and crying for all they were worth. The others got out of the pool and approached them, smiling happily.
Jason looked up from the giggling and happily crying Klingons and took in the other four children. Two were twins, no mistake there, and one was certainly their younger brother. The last, however, was an alien, going by the ridges on his nose. "Hi," he said in greeting, "I'm Jace."
The twins looked at each other then back at the naked and dripping eleven year old. With a matching set of grins the responded in unison, "We're David and Andrew."
Nathan giggled madly, "Okay, but which is which?"
Their younger brother also giggled, "They's silly. This is Davy, this is Drew." He pointed to each in turn. "I'm Ross," he completed proudly, "I'm five."
"We're eight," the twins said together.
Jason also giggled as he went over to hug all three at the same time, "Sweet, more blonds!"
And blond they were. Bright blue eyes and all alike and Ross was the spitting image of his older brothers.
"Tel?" Graham called.
"Yes, father?"
"Come meet them too. They are your new little brothers, after all!"
"What?! YES!" The Andorian ran over to be enthusiastically greeted by his new brothers, who proceeded to pull him to the ground and cover him in kisses and hugs. It was hard to tell who was the more happy, the Andorian or the humans.
Jason then turned to the smallest new kid, "And what about you, kiddo?" He knelt down and opened his arms towards the child. Nathan also came close and knelt down with his partner.
Belar looked at them nervously for a moment, but finally moved over and was drawn into a joint, gentle hug. He looked up at them, then over at Graham and his four sons before saying, "'m Belar."
"Hi, Belar," Nathan kissed his cheek, "ain't you just the cutest thing! How old are you?"
"'m four," he mumbled contentedly, eyes closed as he relaxed into the cuddles he was getting.
The happy sounds of laughter from the two Klingons cut off suddenly. Jason turned around and saw that Koth was now sitting astride his big brother's chest and grinning down at him. Korris, however, had tears flowing from his own eyes and he was not looking at Koth's face. "K...Koth? I..."
Koth's expression become puzzled for a moment before he noticed what Korris was looking at. He began to smile sadly. Korris removed a hand from supporting his little brother and reached with hesitance to touch Koth's privates gently, exploring them in disbelieving wonder. "By Kahless!" He looked back up at his brother, "I saw them... I saw them cut you! I watched and screamed and tried to stop them, but... How, Koth? How is this possible??"
Koth looked briefly at Sarek who nodded his head in response. He looked back at his beloved big brother and said, "An angel. He appeared two days ago and healed me. He must have been a human angel!"
Korris pulled the younger child down into a rough embrace, "I don't care! I'm just so happy! I thought... I was returning to you so that we could leave for Sto-Vo-Kor, as is tradition... you were mutilated, but... Oh, Koth!" He broke down in tears and Koth followed suit.
The others came over to surround them both, the original gang and the other four new children, and started hugging the weeping Klingons.
The adults simply smiled.
After dressing, and waiting on Angela and Mary to beam over from Wales, all the children gathered together in the largest lounge area in Sarek's home. Sarek, Spock and all their parents were present, and they lent an air of support, and even physical comfort when needed, and Jason would never be able to thank them enough for it, for this was the first time they would tell each other their life histories.
"Okay, guys," Jason said by way of calling order, "it's time to get to know each other. In a way, this is the first meeting of Clan Evans, but, well... it's unofficial!" He ended with a giggle.
Sarek spoke up, "Have you appointed a Clan Archivist, Jason?"
Jason shook his head, "Not yet, grandfather, I was about to." He looked around at the others. All looked at him with interest, wondering what an Archivist was meant to do, and whom he would pick. Telez assumed it would be Nathan, however:
"Antony, would you consent to be the Clan Archivist?" Jason asked the shy boy, who was the only one trying to make himself seem small.
Antony started to shake, "Ah, Jace, ahh... I don't, ahh... Telez would be better. I... ahh..."
"You have a phenomenal memory, Tony," Jason said quietly, "and you'd need it for the job. Plus, you listen well, care a lot, and need to feel a part of this."
Antony blinked at him, "How do you know I have a good memory, though? I... I've never..."
"I scanned you when we met, remember?" Jason giggled. "I could see what a mind you have, and I could also see that you've never been made to feel a part of anything before. We need ya, dude!"
Telez turned about in the loose hug Antony had him in and kissed the blushing twelve year old. Once done, he said, "Go for it, Tony. You heard the Patriarch. You're the best for it, and I think you're way better than even Jace said..."
"You would say that!" Antony giggled, even with his red face, "you're biased!"
"Yes," Telez nodded seriously, "what of it?"
"Nuthin'," Antony said as he returned the kiss. Turning to Jason he said, "Okay. I'll do it. What's it involve, though?"
"You listen to all the histories of those who are in the Clan, and those who join the Clan. When we have someone new join up, you are the one to give the brief outline of what everyone has been through. Other stuff too, like keeping track of important dates, file maintenance, and so on. I know you like books and computers, so here's your chance!"
"Gawd! You want me to speak out in front of new people like that?" Antony paled visibly.
"Yeah," Jason nodded, "you'll get used to it, bro. We believe in ya!"
Antony gave up, "Okay, okay."
Jason smirked, "Sweet! Now, onto the serious stuff. Like I said to Tony, at the Clan meetings, anyone new will be told of the History of those in the Clan and of the Clan itself. As this is the first ever meeting, we all need to get to know each other. I'll go first, and Victoria can help me as our story is joint. Nathan, would you go after us?"
Nathan nodded happily, "Yeah, sure, Jace."
And so Jason began, with Victoria filling in those things he missed. Their tale was easy, funny, loving and had a calming effect on the newer kids, Korris not least. The only heart-ache, as it were, was when Nathan appeared in the tale. It was at this point that Nathan took over. His story was sad in comparison, with his lack of a mother, and an abusive father.
"I never hated him. I never could. I was angry, and I wondered why, but... I never hated him," Nathan trailed off towards the end. He was sitting between Jason and Victoria by then, and gentle tears rolled down his face. "It got so much better five days ago, though," he continued, "when I finally had enough and ran to Jace's place. I knew I could trust him, and I... I knew I loved him, and wanted to take the chance that Mammy and Daddy would help me. They did. They have been so cool since I've known them, but never more than when they made... made me th...their son..."
He broke down, and Dafydd leaned from the settee he and Angela were on to draw the boy from the floor and onto their laps. The others, even the youngest two, were smiling at Nathan. A sad story, yet with a happy end, and they loved it even though they too had the beginnings of tears standing in their eyes.
As Nathan calmed down, Jason looked around at the other boys quickly. The twins, David and Andrew were staring back at him intently. "You guys want to go next?" he asked them.
"Yes," they chorused, much to everyone's amusement, "and Ross can help."
Ross moved from the snuggle he was having between Riti and Koth and moved to sit on Andrew's lap, "Me'll help, uh huh!"
"I'll help, dweebling!" the twins retorted playfully.
Ross stuck his tongue out at David and reached behind himself to poke Andrew in the ribs, "Wells, someones gonna have'ta help 'em knows which of yous is sayin' sumfink!"
"That's a good point," Jason chuckled. "Okay, guys. You've got the floor." Jason relaxed back, with Belar snuggled securely on his lap.
Andrew looked at his twin and nodded. Showing that they could speak separately if they tried, David began, "We're from Des Moines, in Iowa, and we had a normal home for ages. Right up 'til two years 'go. Our daddy died in a car crash, and our mommy started drinking. She's be there for for us for everything, though. She never hurt us none, but she started getting strange. She'd talk to daddy as if he was there alla time, and cry and then drink more."
"She started getting' sick," Andrew picked up, "and we had strange people comin' over to see if we were okay with her. In the end, they took us all away."
"We were lucky, though. They kept us together." David grew quiet for a moment, then, "About last summer they told us that mommy had died. We didn't have other family or nuffin', so we stayed in that home. It didn't seem that bad there, but the grown ups didn't spend much time with us. The other kids were the ones who helped each other."
"Yeah, there was one kid, and he was nice," Andrew stated. "He was blond like us, but seemed sad a lot. He came in not long after we went there, but he always had time to cuddle with us."
"An' wif Kyle too. Cowy a'ways spent lots and lots o' time wif Kyle. Theys both help'd each otha lots." Ross added helpfully
Andrew, his face growing hard, took over again, "Then some freighter captain came, saying he wanted to adopt us. We were so happy, thinking we'd all be 'gether and stuff, and even get to fly in space. It took a while, and just before Christmas, he came again. We thought that everything had been done and he was taking us properly, then..."
"Then wes all gots tingly and itchy and wes went from there ta a space'hip and wes were 'lone and stuff," broke in Ross. He started acting scared, and kept looking around to make sure he was still in the same room as everyone else. "I dun't knows how wes gots there, and it wus cold and stuff."
"Transporter," David said seriously. "He transported us out. He told us when he came up himself that we were going far away to be sold. I dunno if the grown ups in the home knew or not, though. They might have."
"He was really mean." Andrew looked at Jason with tears in his eyes. "He would come in and smack us and slap us for no reason, and he'd laugh when we cried. There were other kids there too, and all aliens. I dunno what happened to 'em all, though."
Spock spoke up briefly, "We rescued them all, Andrew. Each child has been taken back to their homeworld by Starfleet." Antony and Telez had also moved from their position while Spock was speaking to cuddle in behind the twins in support. They turned and smiled their thanks at their big brother and his bonded.
"Goods," Ross said with the beginnings of a smile on his face, "they were nice. Not likes tha mean man."
David concluded with, "Then, when we were in some different place, a space station, we were about to be sold to some grey skinned alien, and the floor started shaking. We all hid in the corner until some Starfleet guys came to get us."
"Theys were awwsom'!" Ross crowed out, "Theys bust throughs da door and zapped the bad al'en and made him sleepy likes this!" and so saying, Ross flopped back in a remarkably good impression of a stunned person.
Belar had been crying softly while the three blond boys had been going through their past but he suddenly broke out in cheers when Ross started showing them what had happened. Ross giggled as he got back up and sat on his big brothers lap again. Ross looked over at the Bajoran and asked, "Was it likes that fo yous too?"
"Nuh huh," Belar said, shaking his head. "I has no mum and no dad. I wus a'ways 'lone. Den, C'dasiens came an' killed lots and lots dead. Den dey took me and took me ta nasty place. Das were Tow'is foun' me. And he looks afta me, and he helpt me and everytin'."
Korris was seated next to Dafydd and Angela, and was now holding Nathan's hand for he had been helping to comfort Jason's boyfriend. He looked down into the dark brown eyes that were peeking over Jason's shoulders at him, and he winked at the tiny boy. Belar giggled and sat back against Jason's chest, "Sumtimes, dough, dey wud takes Tow'is 'way, and den I wus scared. Las' time dey did dat, bad man came and took me an'... an'..." He trailed off as he buried his face in Jason's chest.
Korris completed it briefly for them, a hardness like steel in his voice, "The man was using him. I taught him that a child should not be used so. He was making a good job of learning that lesson before he died."
"Good!" Telez said forcefully.
Ross turned and looked at his newest, oldest brother, "What 'bout you, Tels? Yous have story too?"
Nathan moved back down from his father's lap and snuggled in next to Jason as the Andorian started speaking. Belar took this as a wonderful opportunity to try a new lap for cuddles. Telez' tale was easier than those just prior to him, but when he started describing what he had felt when he and his father Graham had been told of the death of their family, everyone started to cry softly with him. Everyone had been crying with the others too, but the deep pain in the Andorian still seemed so fresh, and washed over them all, empathy not withstanding.
Korris cleared his throat as everyone calmed down. He looked at his little brother and beckoned him over. Once Koth was seated on his lap, Korris began to relate their tale...
The Great Hall, the Hall of Warriors, was filled with row upon row of Klingon warriors and generals. All in full battle array and bearing bat'leth war blades in their hands, they stood silent as Tanos led his family down the central aisle towards the Chancellor of the Klingon Council. As they passed each warrior, the Klingon would start to bang their bat'leths on the floor, starting a growing, rhythmic echo that marked the approach of a Hero of the Empire.
Once they arrived before the Chancellor, the warriors all became silent and immobile. The Chancellor spoke in a voice that was heard even outside the Hall, "Fellow warriors, here is a Son of Kahless, a Hero of the Empire, and a Klingon of surpassing Honour. Bear ye witness to this, for it is not deeded often, nor with ease."
Tanos walked the last few paces forward and stood to attention before his leader.
"Tanos, son of Martag. You have proven your worth against the Romulan traitors, and have shown you bear a heart like unto Kahless the Unforgettable. You have earned this Glory; the Order of the Bat'leth. May your light forever shine in Sto-Vo-Kor, and my others ever follow in your footsteps."
So saying, the Chancellor placed a heavy necklace around Tanos' neck, upon which was the highest honour any in the Empire could ever be given; the Symbol of Kahless.
The roar that swept the place nearly drove the five year old Korris to his knees. His eyes shone with pride and his heart swelled within him, for his father had forever secured a place for himself and for the next 4 generations of his family within the Halls of Sto-Vo-Kor. A three year old Koth was holding his hand and had tears running down his own face. This was a day none would forget. Not ever.
But, through a traitor's act, it was forgotten. Four years later, Tanos had uncovered a plot to overthrow the Chancellor. In true Klingon style he had called out the traitors and defeated them in combat. Each and everyone of them were classed as dishonoured and their families with them. One of their co-conspirators had escaped detection, however, and started to lay a trail that led to Tanos' own disgrace. Through utter deceit and lies, Tanos was stripped of his armour and honour, and he, his wife and two children were cast out of the Empire.
Wandering the edges of Klingon space was never safe, even in a battleship. In a stripped down trade ship, it was near suicide. For one year they survived, moving constantly from place to place, until the day came, on a forgotten outpost on the edge of Romulan space, that the Orions found them.
Watching his parents were killed from a distance by phaser fire, Korris could do nothing but weep in frustration. As the slavers came close to claim their prize, the then ten year old picked up his father's bat'leth to attack. He was stunned before he could make one more move. The slavers, however, had not seen Koth appropriate his own mek'leth blades. The first to reach the little eight year old found himself brutally unmanned and then gutted.
Koth was clubbed into unconsciousness.
"When I came too, they were... were cutting him. I couldn't stop them. They just laughed at me! I wanted to kill them all. I never saw Koth again 'til just this moment," Korris finished weakly.
Koth hugged his beloved big brother tighter, "You said something earlier. You said you wanted to find me so we could go to Sto-Vo-Kor together. What did you mean?"
"The hegh'bat, my brother," Korris said softly. "You were unmanned, and I came to assist you as the eldest brother should. After that, I too, would have plunged the knife into my own heart. I would not live without you, Koth." He paused. "I love you too much," he whispered out, tears falling from his anguished eyes and into Koth's hair.
Koth looked up and smiled at Korris before kissing his cheek, "I love you too, my brother, and I don't care who hears me say it. I'm glad, though, that the 'angel' came. I like living with these humans. They are fun."
Korris started chuckling darkly, "Well, they die well. I will give these humans a chance, as you care for them, but most others I have seen have been dishonourable cowards and perverts."
Dafydd spoke softly, "I am sorry that they were like that. Please don't judge our whole race by the actions of a few."
"I won't, father. I will take each of you as you present yourselves." Korris answered politely.
"Riti, do you want to go next?" Jason asked his winged brother.
"Yeah, okay Jace," Riti replied with a smile. "Mine's fairly easy, though. My mother and father are... were wonderful. They're probably still alive, but I've been gone from them for a long time in their eyes. I always had to hide, though."
"Still alive?" Koth asked.
"Yeah. We live for five hundred cycles. Err, about two hundred and fifty earth years, I think. Though, I think there was a legend about the black-wings of old saying they lived far, far longer; maybe always. I'll just have to wait and see."
He went on to described all he knew of the hatred the white-wings had for the blacks, but it still left many things unanswered to them all.
"Then, I woke up to see all my new family and friends. Being away from home is scary, but they are making it great and happy for me. I hope I'll see my family again one day, but if I don't, then I will in the Great Tree."
Antony looked around the room briefly. All had now said their piece, so it was his turn. He screwed up his nerve, and started.
"I had a good childhood, in a way. Mam and D... my father loved me. I had everything I could have wanted, in a way. Except for cuddles," Antony looked at his mother for a second, and pain went through her eyes.
"I'm sorry, sweetheart. I'm so sorry," Mary started crying. "I got so busy with work and helping others... I...I forgot that you needed me too. I'm... I'm sorry..."
"M...mammy! Please," Antony cried out as he got up and ran to her. "Please don't cry, mammy, I knew that you loved me, but I still needed you. I... I understand... but..."
She held him close for a good five minutes as they both cried. No-one said a word, and no eye was dry. As Antony calmed he said, "I know now and understand now, but I was always alone then. He stopped hugging me when I was little, and you weren't there." He turned to the others and continued, "I think I lost confidence in myself. I stopped speaking to others in school; I lost my friends. I became really alone."
He sucked in his breath and looked at his bonded. Telez got up and came over, only to be drawn onto Mary's lap as well. They hugged each other tightly, then Antony continued, "Then, just last September, I started getting... well..." He blushed deeply before saying, "Funny feelings. And they were for boys in school, not girls. I didn't know who to talk to. I was afraid to speak to Mam. And I didn't want to disappoint... my father. I thought he'd understand, but he was on about me being a father all the time, and I knew he'd be upset at least.
"I started looking things up on the internet and... oh,... Oooops!" his face went bright red and he looked up into his mother's eyes, which were dancing with restrained mirth.
The twins, Nathan and Jason crowed out "Busted!!" before collapsing into helpless laughter.
His face still scarlet, Antony coughed a few times then continued, "Well, ahh... after a while, just a few days before Christmas, I decided to try talking to d...dad. I..." He broke off, his lower lip beginning to tremble.
Sucking in a deep breath, he rushed the rest out, "I didn't get past the first ten words before he jumped up and started screaming at me. He pushed me over and over again, then t...totally lost it and hit me in the eye." He stopped, his sobs now pouring out of him. "Why? I loved him! Why!?"
Mary had also started crying again, but a few in the room started getting angry. Very angry. And what was more frightening was that the three angriest were Tulek, Spock and Sarek.
"There is nothing worse in our culture than betrayal of a trust," Spock grated out carefully. "Mrs Parnell. What happened to your ex-husband?"
Mary looked at the Captain with growing nervousness as she said, "He was arrested for assaulting a child and taken by Starfleet Security."
"Captain Evans, please follow me," Spock ordered as he stood and left the room. Dafydd, also looking nervous, followed quickly.
Antony watched with awe as his new 'father' left the room, followed by his slightly less newer uncle. "What? What's going on?" he asked, his eyes now dry, yet the marks of his tears still evident on his face.
Sarek responded, "Your A'nirih is going to repay your former Sa'mekh for his betrayal."
"Wh...what's it involve?" Mary asked with a whisper.
"Taking from him the ability to ever father another child to betray," was the brief, simple and frosty answer from Tulek.
Antony gulped, and crossed his legs... as did all the boys excepting Ross and Belar who just looked confused. Koth whimpered slightly and started shaking on Korris' lap.
Tulek turned suddenly, "I am sorry Koth. I let my anger override my restraint. Please do not worry, for what happened in the past will never happen to you again."
Jason looked at Antony and asked, "Anything else you want to add, bro? I think we know what happened when we found ya in the car!"
"No," Antony smiled shyly at his friend. "I've said it all, I think."
Half an hour later, as the children relaxed on the laps of the adults or talked quietly while snuggled together, Spock and Dafydd re-entered the room. "The message has been relayed to the British prison where Mr Parnell is," Dafydd started, "and sentence has been carried out by the Vulcan Liaison to the British Crown."
Everyone nodded. Everyone knew what had just happened. Dafydd sat down and looked at his eldest son. Nathan pulled in close to one side and the tiny Bajoran snuggled on their laps.
The Captain suddenly realised that Belar had moved no more than two or three feet from Nathan or Jason that entire evening. He either sat so close as to be in contact with them somehow, or was held securely upon one of their laps. When on their laps, even when he had garbled out his own sad story, his tiny hand would reach out and brush over their cheeks, or he would reach and bestow his feather light kisses to their faces.
Sarek had not missed a single action either, although, unlike Dafydd, he did not assume it was the actions of a young brother to his elder.
"Jason, Nathan," he began, "what are your feelings for Ro Belar?"
Startled out of their musings upon those internal waves of protection that were pouring from their souls towards the tiny boy, they stared at the elder Vulcan. Jason was first to find his voice. "I... we love him," he mumbled.
"Yeah," Nathan added softly, looking back down into the now sleepy eyes of the near infant. Belar giggled happily and reached up again to kiss Nathan. His kiss was sloppy and wet and straight on Nathan's lips. He did the same for the grinning Jason.
Once he had finished kissing Jason, he pulled back and searched Jason's eyes. He saw deep within something that he had been searching for as long as he could remember. He looked over and into Nathan's eyes as well, and saw it there too. He whimpered and hugged himself into Jason. "Dada!" he said happily as he pulled away from Jason. Nathan went ridged. Belar turned to him and squealed out, "Papa!"
Everyone but the two boys, the little child and the two Vulcans went still. The other children looked over in sleepy shock, while the human adults became very concerned. How could this end other than in heartbreak for Belar?
Sarek would have smiled, if he was not so controlled. "That has answered my question. You are aware that under Vulcan tradition, and within the allowed scope of the Safe Haven Act, such a relationship is possible, do you not?" This last was addressed more to the shocked parents of the Jason and Nathan. Both mutely shook their heads; it had not occurred to them at all. "It is, especially when the younger parents, Nathan and Jason in this case, have loving families of their own to support them. Do you take on that responsibility; to aid your two sons in raising a son of their own?"
Dafydd's mouth opened and closed as he tried to find the words. He looked once more at the three on the sofa; saw the comfort and joy in their eyes as they gazed upon each other. Dafydd nodded. Angela spoke, "Mother or grandmother; no difference to me. We'll be there always, for as long as God gives us breath."
Nathan started furiously thinking at Jason, 'I'm so scared! What do we do? Can we do this?'
'I want to, but do you? And yeah, I'm afraid too. What if we mess up?' Jason sent back in worry.
'I want to be a dad, Jace. I'm scared, but I want it so bad. I love him already.'
'Me too...'
"Children?" Sarek moved closer.
Jason half smiled in worry, "We both... we... yeah, we want to be dads, but..."
"We're afraid, grandfather!" Nathan blurted with tears standing in his eyes.
"Dow't cry, Papa. Dow't cry!" Belar sobbed as he pulled from Jason's lap to Nathan's.
Nathan whimpered quietly. "Oh. Yes! Grandfather, I want to be his Papa. Please, can we?"
"Yeah," sobbed Jason as he moved closer to his boyfriend and soon to be son and pulled them both to himself, "I want to be a dad! Mam? Dad? Please?"
Riti and Victoria, who were still snuggled together with the twins, grinned as Dafydd and Angela nodded their heads firmly. Koth and Korris also grinned, happy giggles forming between them. Korris was also over the moon with joy, for the child who had seemed so lonely, beyond even his own loneliness, was now protected within the loving arms of Jason and Nathan. This was what made the role of self-appointed protector worthwhile.
Sarek stated firmly, "Under 'Yon'kur Wuh' this cannot be official, however, those within the cover of secrecy recognise Belar as child of Jason and Nathan Evans, as authorised by the Federation Safe Haven Act. Captain Spock, Captain Evans. Do you both bare witness to the use of the Act, and do you add your voices to my own?"
"I do," Spock responded.
"Gladly," added Dafydd, his voice beginning to choke.
Sarek glanced at Jason, "What shall Belar's name be?"
Jason thought for a moment before asking the tiny child, "Bel, do you want our family name as your own? Or do you want to keep your old name, Ro?"
"Yours, Dada. I wanna be like you," he replied happily.
Jason again faced Sarek, "Then he is Evans Belar, in his people's tradition."
"So let it be noted in the records," Sarek said peacefully.
It was shortly after that the children went up to bed. Again, the core group gathered together and this time drew the others with them. Belar would not be parted from his new 'dada' and 'papa', and nor would the twins and their younger brother be parted from their older Andorian brother, nor from their new friends, Riti and Victoria. Korris looked in bemusement at the chaos around him as eleven other children stripped down and climbed onto the huge king-size bed, yet he followed suit easily.
This, of course, meant that everyone new had to explore those differences they could see between themselves and the others. Antony held a fair amount of attention due to being the only one with obvious signs of growing up. Surprisingly, so to did the twins and Ross.
"That's odd," Victoria mumbled as she looked between the three boys privates, "Daddy said that most American boys' willies look different than over here."
David looked at his twin, looked down at himself, then back up at Victoria, "What you mean? It looks like it always does!"
"Daddy said that most of you are... cer... cur... ummm... well, that you are different."
Jason giggled, "You mean circumcised, sis?"
"Yeah! That's it, Jace."
"Oh," Andrew realized what she was on about, "Cut? No. Our for real daddy was from England, and Mommy told us once that she didn' like seeing boys being cut down there."
"Ah, okay," Victoria grinned.
"Jace?" Koth asked in confusion, and more than a little fear. "What they on about? I don't like the sound of this. Cutting your penis?"
Nathan rubbed the younger Klingon's back, "Don't worry, bro. Circumcision is when you cut off the foreskin of the penis. It's a usual thing to do in some places on Earth."
"What's foreskin?" Ross asked.
"This," and Nathan proceeded to show them using Jason's foreskin as an example. Jason went bright red, but allowed the blond boy to continue. "You all have it, but this is called 'foreskin'. Some people, like the Jews, cut it off... around here... see?... because God told them it would show they were His children. Some people think it's better to do it 'cos it's cleaner, but that is silly. Others have to have it done because something is wrong and that would fix it, but that is not often."
Jason coughed, "Okay, Nath'. Thanks for that, now you've got me all excited!"
The others giggled at their red-faced Patriarch. Jason continued, "It's nothing to worry about, Koth. No-one will force it on anyone, and in the UK we don't think it has any health benefits at all, cutting it off. It's not abuse, really, but a lot of places do it needlessly."
"Well, okay," Koth replied. "You humans are weird. If you are born with something, then it's there for a reason! Those Jew people I can accept, 'cos it's their religion, but... ouchies!"
Then it was Victoria's turn to come to the attention of David and Andrew, and slightly so with Ross and Belar. The younger two, being free of such stupid things as modesty, broke the ice by their "Wow!" and "Dada, Auntie Viccy's lost her peepee!" Moments later, all four had gathered around Victoria, and the four and five year old were exploring. Once satisfied by Jason, Nathan and Victoria herself that she was normal, both little kids moved away happily, leaving the twins to stare. Drew's grin was broad, while Davie looked curious. Eventually, however, they too had their curiosity satisfied and so they all curled up together, and were soon fast asleep.
As per the first night in the house, the two couples were side by side, but the others were now arranged differently. Koth was snuggled on top of his big brother Korris, and to one side the twins lay and to the other Riti and Victoria were again in a tangle, but with little Ross involved in the middle somewhere. That just left little Belar, who was snuggled happily between his new parents.
When Angela poked her head into the room an hour later, she shook her head in wonder. "Kids," she muttered as she closed the door.
So, we seem to have some very young parents. As we all know, those of us that have read some of the other CSU stories, this is not too unusual. However, it would seem that such things happened somewhat earlier than we knew about. It seems that love and caring for the children triumphed over greed and lust and hate, as it always should, especially when it comes to younglings.
This was a wonderful chapter in a wonderful story.
I am sure there will be much more to come.
Darryl AKA The Radio Rancher