Mamageddon Part 4 of 4 - Mother's Love

Striga Mothership:

Stalac knew that his orders were to find a safe place to continue to attempt to access and gain control of the Stiga systems, but guilt drove him back, guilt at leaving his shipmates behind to those monstrous multi-legged machines… all those legs! Besides, he knew that the systems back there functioned, thus saving him time from having to find an alternative place.

He emerged through the hole, to see the Servitors scuttling about, piling together the insensate forms of the Away Team, as another of them was by a hatchway, rising up to activate the controls.

Stalac knew from perusing the schematics that it was an airlock. But why would they-

Egg Mother, No!

He forgot about his phobia to slither forward, twisting his body to aim his phaser box. “Stop this! Right now!”

But they ignored him.

It took a second for him to conclude that with his silicon nature, he didn’t register as a lifeform to them.

Feeling a little offended by that, he turned to fire – not at the black metal hides of the Servitors, but the airlock controls, frying them.

Now they turned to him.

Stalac rushed back to the control he had accessed earlier, rising and mounting it, sensing the Servitors approach and surround him, touching their appendages to his hide. He felt their electrical charges… it was… stimulating, like a sonic shower. Hardly incapacitating for him.

So he focused on accessing the control systems again, examining Environmental, Maintenance Support, Diagnostics, Servitor Control-

He started as he felt the Servitors reach under him and lift him up, trying to pull him away, maybe even flip him over like a turtle.

Okay, Too Many Legs, you asked for it… he released some of his acid, melting through their manipulators and leaving stumps that made them limp back.

He dropped again, returning to Servitor Control. The Striga had built-in firewalls, overrides, redundancies in every subsystem, but he had a speciality in Alien Technologies; their feeble efforts wouldn’t stop him from-

The Servitors returned, using other limbs now. Persistent little mechanoids… “There!”

His assailants drew back, awaiting further orders.

“Surefoot,” he called in, providing the robots with further orders as he did so, “I have achieved partial control of systems over here. The Away Team have suffered various injuries, including phaser and electrical stuns. I am having them moved to the Safe Transport Zone, please lock onto their combadge signals and beam up as soon as possible.”

“Acknowledged, Cadet. Good work, Pardner.”

Stalac made a sound to himself; that was Doctor Masterson’s voice. Where was the Counselor Captain? But he supposed he would find out later.

Behind him, the undamaged Servitors were now gently dragging the Away Team members out and down the corridor.

Take that, Too Many Legs!

*

Once she recovered, Eydiir assisted in helping the other Away Team members, and in stabilising Lt Shall. “Mr Kaldron, are you fit enough to help carry the Lieutenant to the Safe Transport Zone?”

The huge Hroch cadet immediately drew up to the fallen Caitian, bent down and gently lifted her up. “I failed her, Ensign. I failed her, and left her in this state.”

“Self-pity ill-suits you. Come.” She glanced at the petrified robots. “Mr Boone, you and Ms Dassene did well here.”

The young human flushed. “It was Zir’s idea, Ma’am.”

Nearby, Zir heard her name being mentioned, but stayed focused on deciphering the operating controls on the tubes holding the Klingon children. One of them was glaring at her now; he looked to be about six or seven – like her brother Haikv, back on Orion, she reminded herself – but she set aside those thoughts and activated the controls. They may be Klingons, she told herself, but they grew scared like any other children, even if they overcompensated-

This one proved her right, as he burst out and shoved her back, before raising his arms up in some martial arts pose. “Starfleet petaQ! The Klingon Empire will destroy you for taking us!”

She held up her hands defensively, though she didn’t feel threatened in the slightest. In fact, it was kind of cute. “Easy, easy! We’re here to rescue you!”

“Liar! I will kill you!”

A growl to her right drew hers and the Klingon boy’s attention, as Misha rushed up, teeth and claws bared at the Klingon..

Zir bit her lip to keep from laughing as the Klingon saw the little Caitian in his minikin Starfleet uniform, demanding, “What is this?”

Zir folded her arms across her chest and stuck out her chin. “This is Captain Misha Hrelle, USS Surefoot.”

The Klingon boy started. “You are Captain Hrelle? The Fat Cat?”

“Big Boned!” Misha roared.

“Don’t be rude,” Zir chided the Klingon boy. “Now, are you going to help me free your fellow Klingons so that we can all get out here, or is it gonna be... Trouble Time?”

“Trouble Time,” Misha echoed with a snarl.

The Klingon boy chose to help.

*

The chambers Kami found herself in was dark, stark, organic in design, reminding her of the exotic water-worn features in caverns… but filled with stale, sickly smells.

She didn’t like this, any of this. She wanted to do nothing more than flee. But she had to buy time for the others to free themselves, to find a way to gain control of this ship and make their escape.

Hopefully, with her along.

In front of her, Mother Beldam glided about, her four spindly arms reaching out to touch this and that, each of the six digits on each hand stroking the surface of the walls and features, acting as if she’d forgotten she’d brought Kami here.

Sreen stirred in Kami’s belly. She placed a hand on her to calm her down, as she studied the Striga. “Madame, I’ve come here in good faith. Perhaps you can show equal good faith by releasing the hostages?”

No.

Kami’s heart quickened. She expected as much, really, but… “If we’re to come to an understanding, we-”

We won’t. It paused in its pacing to glance at her with glassy bulbous eyes. But then you knew that, even as you willingly returned with me to my lair.

“Did you doubt our ability, our intentions? We can offer you a substitute means of survival, that won’t involve innocents dying-”

Beldam stopped at a soft, curved outcropping of material, squatting slightly, its many fingers interweaving with each other, like those sign languages employed by individuals and peoples lacking voice-

No. Kami saw gossamer threads emerge from its fingertips. Webstrands. And there was a delicate, graceful dance as she produced the many strands and quickly and expertly wove them into a sculpture. And as she sculpted, she finally replied. I believe you, Captain. I truly believe you. You want to help. And you may indeed come up with a means of feeding me that doesn’t involve children.

She held up the finished product: a figure of a child. But I must now ask you: why should I change? I have survived for two thousand years and more, doing what I have done.

Beldam tossed the sculpture aside.

“Because… Because you don’t have to kill children!” Kami reminded her. “Why does it have to be children, anyway? Why does it have to be intelligent, sentient beings?”

Because it does. Because children of all races share the same rich neurogenic signatures, pure and untainted by adulthood. It opened a wide mouth and displayed jagged teeth. The younger, the better.

“NO!” Kami stepped forward. “It makes no sense! You feed, you sleep, you wake and feed again!”

And?

“And… what is the point of it all? There’s no point to your existence! No purpose!”

Beldam regarded the Caitian woman for a handful of heartbeats, before nodding in seeming comprehension. Of course, I see now. You are belabouring under a misconception, Little Mother.

The Striga straightened up, folding both sets of arms across its torso. Fodder needs purpose. Slaves and Servitors need purpose. Even hapless breeding sows as yourself need purpose.

I am the Last of the Striga. I am at the top of the food chain. I need no purpose.

I am.

She bore her teeth again, pointing to Kami’s belly. And I am hungry.

Kami drew the phaser from the belt under her jacket and raised it. “No! You’re not harming my child! You’re not hooking me up to any of your hellish machines! Now, you’ll take me to the others-”

Suddenly energy leapt from Beldam’s outstretched hand, delivering pain that shot through Kami’s whole body. She dropped the phaser, fell to her knees, and then to her side, clutching her belly as she cried out.

I don’t need machines to take what I want, Beldam informed her, drawing closer, the energy reaching into the Caitian. The means lies within me. I’m a big girl. I can feed myself, Mommy.

Kami felt her limbs twisting, as she struggled to crawl away from the approaching Striga. “N-No- S-St-stop-”

Stop? Now? But I’ve just started. I had been disappointed to hear that my Servitors failed to bring me a child still in the womb in their last raid – you have NO idea how succulent they taste! – but then, to have the child brought to ME? I thank you, Little Mother. This will be a fine First Meal in this new age.

Kami gritted her teeth, fought against the pain, against feeling her daughter struggle as well.

Light blinded her- a transporter beam? Was she being rescued?

No… the light was emerging from her belly. Rising, like smoke, a pure yellow-white light that coalesced together, caught in the energy snare from Beldam.

Kami looked up. The energy… it looked like…

A tall, young Caitian female with a flowing mane and long limbs and a tail appeared, floating between them. So pure. So utterly beautiful.

Sreen… my daughter...

She wavered there, tethered to Kami with a handful of glowing strands, like a balloon.

But she was being drawn to Beldam.

And as Beldam beckoned to her, Sreen’s spirit drew closer, the strands breaking. One. By. One.

Kami felt her cub’s life slipping from her.

She gritted her teeth, the agony almost too much. “S-Sreen-”

Such a lovely thing, Beldam taunted. I’ve never had a Caitian before. Don’t try fighting, Sow. All she sees and hears is me. She is drawn to me, like a moth to the flame. They all are. They see me as their Mother. If it is of any comfort, though, the neurogenic extraction will probably kill you as well as your daughter’s body in your womb, so you will not suffer your loss for long...

Kami watched helplessly as Sreen’s spirit drew closer to the creature. More strands were breaking. No- No, please, don’t go, don’t go don’t go don’t go don’t go don’t go don’t go don’t go don’t go- “SREEN!”

Sreen stopped.

She turned and faced Kami.

Even wracked in agony as she was, Kami focused on the image of her daughter’s spirit: saw her beauty, her fire, the instinct and emotion in her ephemeral eyes, in her face. She was everything that her cub was within, everything she could be.

And now, Sreen recognised her mother. Her true mother. Recognised her pain.

Child, Beldam enticed. Come to me.

Sreen turned back to the Striga.

And roared in defiance.

Something snapped, thunder roared in Kami’s ears, her heart stopped, and she spasmed repeatedly, curling into a ball, arms around her stomach. She focused inside herself, listened, felt the movements within- talk to me Daughter, tell me you’re alright, move, kick, anything anything anything-

She kicked within.

Tears of relief poured down Kami’s face, overwhelming the pain. Thank you thank you thank you-

Then Beldam’s voice reached her mind. Well… that was… that was unprecedented.

Kami turned to face the Striga, who was on the floor as well, appearing to be as gripped in pain as her victim. She stared at the floor of her chamber, supported by all her limbs. The bond between Caitian mother and daughter was much more stubborn than I thought. My next attempt will-

“BITCH!”

Beldam looked over at her.

Adrenaline, a rage the likes she which had never felt before, galvanised the muscles in her limbs, as she fixed on the Striga, declaring with a roar, “THERE’S NO NEXT ATTEMPT FOR YOU!”

She rose and leapt upon the Striga, throwing her prey back. Four arms reached up to defend herself from the attack, talons raking and stabbing.

Kami ignored the effort, suffused with rage, powered by adrenaline. “THE SEVEN HELLS AWAIT YOU!”

Kami’s own claws piercing Beldam’s eyes, making her scream and making black bile-like blood erupt from within. Kami struck again, and again, reaching in and peeling open the broken skull like a lobster shell, to get to the brain.

And crush it.

The Striga shuddered, spasmed, and finally collapsed beneath her, blood and gore splattered around her body.

Kami kicked herself back away from the corpse of her prey, gasping, retching, the adrenaline still coursing through her. Her stained hands shook as she clutched herself, her head spinning. The smell of the Striga permeated her. She thought she would never be rid of it. She didn’t care.

Sreen kicked within her. Kami patted her belly reassuringly. “It’s- It’s okay- Daughter of Mine- it’s- it’s over-”

Sounds from a corridor caught her attention. Her heart raced again as she struggled to return to her feet, look for her phaser- if it was Beldam’s Servitors-

“Captain!”

Kami relaxed a little, her voice hoarse. “H-Here...”

Ensign Gorman, Eydiir and Urad entered, phasers drawn, Gorman announcing, “Captain, we-” He stopped, jaw dropping at the side of the mutilated corpse of Beldam.

Eydiir barely spared it a glance as she drew up to Kami, passing her medical tricorder over the Caitian. “Are you alright, Ma’am? Did it hurt you, the baby?”

Kami wiped her hands on the sides of her trousers, trying to keep from throwing up. “It… tried to.”

Eydiir nodded at the tricorder readings. “Your hearts are racing, we should get you back to the Safe Transport Zone.”

Kami nodded, letting the Capellan girl assist her.

*

After ensuring the children had been transported safely to the Surefoot, Zir and Peter found Stalac in the control room. “We’ve got the Captain, Stal, they’re getting her back to the ship. How are you doing?”

In the control room, Stalac rumbled back from the podium. “Oh dear.”

“‘Oh dear’? What does that mean, Stal?”

The Horta rotated in place to face her. “Well, the, ah, good news is that I, ah, I’ve managed to temporarily override the controls on the Striga ships, and they’re currently powering up to leave and open a wormhole back to our corner of space.”

“Excellent work!”

More soberly, Peter asked, “What’s the bad news?”

“Why should there be bad news?” Zir asked.

“Because you don’t say ‘good news’ without having some ‘bad news’.”

“I’m afraid he’s right, Zir,” Stal confirmed. “I had to divert power to reactivate the ships; because I had bypassed the safety overrides, the system has taken the power from the generators maintaining the subspace pocket.”

“What does that mean?” Then Zir understood. “Restore the power!”

“It’s too late! The pocket is already collapsing!”

*

Kami forwent the offer of cleaning up before returning the Bridge, seeing Misha in her chair, rushing up to him, lifting him up and hugging him tightly, breathing in his scent and hearing him purr. “Are you okay, Son of Mine?”

“Yes, Mama – but why you stink like bad shuris?”

“I… got messy over there.” She set him down in her chair again and looked at Masterson. “Report.”

Masterson stared with concern at her, before replying, “Lt Shall should make a speedy recovery, the Starfleet and Klingon kids are okay, and Zir, Peter and Stalac have just been beamed onboard and are on their way up – and they’ve said we should get ready to leave quickly, as the pocket is beginning to collapse.”

“Good.” Suddenly fatigued, the adrenaline worn off, she sat down, shifting Misha to one side.

“How about you, Captain?”

“I’ll...” She had killed. She had really, really killed.

And that didn’t bother her in the least.

She still saw her daughter’s spirit rising above her… defending her mother and herself. “I’m fine, Doctor. I’ll be more fine when I get us back home.”

The Bridge doors opened, and the rest of Alpha Squad entered, Zir striding up, trying not to react at Kami’s bloodied appearance to announce, “Captain, request permission to return to our posts to finish our shift?”

Kami smiled. “Granted.”

The Orion nodded – but Jexa-Naku protested. “Ma’am, with respect, Gamma Squad has done more than well-”

“Yes, and I appreciate it, Squad Leader. Now step aside”

“But Ma’am-”

“Zip it, Pardner,” Masterson rose and made shooing gestures. “You heard the Captain. Vamoose.”

“Yeah!” Misha chimed in, pointing to the door. “Beat it, Stinky Cubs!”

“Hush,” Kami scolded. “They just want to take part in it. Another time.”

As Gamma Squad departed, Masterson motioned for Zir to take his place beside Kami, as he looked at Kami again. “I’d best go check on the Critters- with your permission, Captain?”

She offered a weak smile. “Proceed.” Then she tousled Misha’s head. “And take this Critter along.”

“No!” Misha protested. “I stay!”

“No, you go, keep an eye on the cubs. You’re in charge of them!”

The cub’s eyes lit up at the thought of it, and he hopped out of the chair, grabbed Masterson’s hand and led him off the Bridge. Then Stalac reported, “The Striga ships are emerging, forming their Wormhole Configuration… and the subspace pocket is destabilising!”

As if in illustration, the ship shuddered under spatial waves. Kami gripped the arms of her chair. “Helm: are you ready?”

“More than, Ma’am.”

The shuddering increased, even as the Surefoot lurched forward, into the tunnel of tiny ships.

On the aft view, she watched the Striga mothership get crushed under the collapsing subspace pocket. And the collapse followed them quickly...

They were going to make it back.

They were going to make it back.

They were going to make it back...

*

General Garrajh glared from the viewscreen. “This is a trick! A deception on the part of Starfleet! You were losing, you sent us false readings!”

Hrelle stood nearby Tattok’s chair, as the Admiral glared back. “I don’t recall our doing too badly, General, if I’m counting the number of Klingon wrecks out there as opposed to Starfleet ones.”

“The tide was turning! We would have been victorious!”

“Then why did you agree to a temporary cessation of hostilities?”

The old Klingon glanced at Hrelle. “Because he sent us the data! The Fat Cat!”

Hrelle rolled his eyes, but bit back his usual response.

“He has proven to have honour!” Garrajh continued. “And cunning!” He leaned forward. “But I wanted to see his face, to have him confirm in his own words that it was the truth.”

Hrelle drew up. “General… I swear on the lives of my cubs… it’s the truth.”

Garrajh leaned back, grunting with satisfaction. “Now what do we do?”

“Now, we maintain this ceasefire for the duration of this crisis, and combine our forces to follow the despicable animals who took our children-”

Suddenly an alert sounded from the Tactical station of the Triton, as Jacobs declared, “Admiral, we’re detecting the Striga ships, opening a wormhole! 250,000 kilometres starboard to our current position!”

“Red Alert!” Tattok barked. “General, we’ll coordinate our efforts-”

“Captain Hrelle,” Jacobs cut in, as the Caitian approached. “The Surefoot’s with them!”

Hrelle’s heart raced. “Kami? Misha? Are they-”

“I don’t know, they-” The old man’s face creased in alarm. “The Striga ships are breaking formation, and attacking the Surefoot!”

*

Kami gritted her teeth as the ship rocked under the assault. “Evasive! What’s going on?”

At the Science station, Stalac responded. “I’m sorry, Captain, the Striga ships must have thrown off my overrides, and are back on their original child hunting mission-”

“Never mind. Helm, keep us moving! Urad, never mind weapons, all power to the shields! The metaphasic ones! Ops, send a message to all channels: ‘This is Captain Hrelle! We have the children, Starfleet’s and the Klingons’! We could use some help here, if that’s not too much trouble!’”

The ship rocked again, as Urad reported, “They’re pounding on our shields! Even with the metaphasic configuration, they won’t last long!”

And then they’ll come for the children again, Kami told herself. And try to take them back to a place that no longer exists. “Do what you can! And let’s count on all that testosterone out there looking for a fight to help out!”

Zir suddenly began working the controls on her station. “With your permission, Ma’am, I’m sending both fleets the Tactical data we’ve collected! Those Guide vessels are the key to defeating then!”

Kami nodded. “Good idea, Number One!”

*

On the Bridge of the Ajax, Sasha looked up from her station. “We’re receiving a signal from the Surefoot, Captain! They have all the children, but they’re under attack! Awaiting orders from the Triton-”

“No, we’re not!” The Roylan leaned forward in his chair. Hold on, Naida, my Princess... “Helm! Get us in there! Lt Hrelle! Target the Striga ships! Break out the gasoline and matches! BURN THEM!”

*

The Ajax led the way, as the rest of the Thirteenth Fleet and the Klingon Task Force moved in as one, creating an unprecedented tsunami of phasers, torpedoes and disruptors striking at the hundreds of Striga vessels, though so many still dogged at the Surefoot.

On the Triton, Hrelle fought to control himself as he studied the data sent to them, before opening a channel. “All Vessels: There are Guide ships among the Striga! They’re controlling the rest! I’m sending the data on which ones to target!”

*

In space, the Starfleet and Klingon vessels began scanning and focusing on specific targets, firing upon and destroying them. And as they did, those other Striga vessels surrounding them began to lose their coordination, crashing into each other, blowing up and catching more in the wake of the explosions.

On the Surefoot, Kami caught her breath as she watched the Striga ship numbers diminish rapidly, before the rest suddenly veered away. “Where are they going?”

“Into the sun, Captain,” Stalac answered. “I managed to regain control, long enough to give them a final order.”

She nodded in gratitude. “Excellent work. Stand down from Red Alert, bring us to a full stop.” She rose, looked around her. “All of you: I can’t tell you enough how proud I am to serve with you.”

Zir rose as well, beaming. “Well, Ma’am, speaking for all of us: we can’t tell you how much we appreciate you giving us the opportunity.”

Kami nodded. “I’m expecting my husband to be the first one to beam over. If he shows up here, send him to our quarters. I need to get cleaned up. You’re in command.”

The Orion started to reply, but then nodded solemnly. “Thank you, Ma’am. Carry on.”

Kami turned, letting herself smile as she heard Zir take the seat and announce, “Send word to Admiral Tattok: the Surefoot has some precious cargo to return...”

Kami held it together, kept in control, until she reached her quarters, quickly stripping out of the bloodied, stinking clothes, dumping everything into the recycler, and headed for the sonic shower, ignoring the pain of the many cuts left on her by Beldam, desperate to wash the gore, the scent, the memories from her fur.

The first two, she shed.

She still saw herself attacking Beldam, cracking her skull open like an eggshell… could feel the innards…

She forced it out. She couldn’t deal with this-

She touched her furred belly.

Sreen… it’s okay, Daughter of Mine… I’m so proud of you...

“KAMI!”

She came out of the shower stall and into her husband’s arms, content never to leave them again.

*

“Captain’s Log, Supplemental, Captain Kami Hrelle, Recording:

We have returned all the children to their appropriate families among the Thirteenth Fleet and the Klingon Task Force.

I have been told that I will be receiving a commendation from Starfleet Command. I have informed Admiral Tattok that I will only accept it if my crew receive similar recognition.

I have been sent another honour, from General Garrajh: the Star of Lukara. It is apparently the highest medal the Klingon Empire can bestow upon a woman warrior, and I am told that I am the first non-Klingon to get one. I have also received messages from many of their Houses in the Task Force, pledging their gratitude to the House of Surefoot. I might even get a drinking song devoted to me.

And just in time to hear that the war with the Klingons is over. Apparently, Chancellor Gowron has reinstated the Khitomer Accords, and we are all allies again… against the Dominion, who have themselves allied with the Cardassians and have launched offensives against Federation and Klingon targets. All of this happened hours before the Battle of Sherman’s Planet; had the news arrived sooner, all those who died in the battle might still be alive. I... don’t want to think about that.

We are currently seeing to the wounded and the damage to the ships, and awaiting new assignments – in particular Captain Haney of the Minotaur, or so I’m told, though no one’s telling me why.

Our Chief of Security Lt Shall has recovered and returned to her duties. I couldn’t have done this without her help, she was invaluable, and I cannot thank her enough, both for her actions and her wisdom. Our crew have been transported from Sherman’s Planet, but those of us who served today will get a deserved chance at shore leave ourselves.

I may have been medically cleared by our CMO, but it has still been a gruelling experience, completing all my reports, being debriefed by Admiral Tattok, and receiving messages from the aforementioned Klingons and the Fleet ships. Esek and Misha have been with me throughout, until I convinced my son to go off with his sister. There’s nothing making my husband leave my side for the forseeable future; his guilt at not being there for me is as thick as his musk in Season.

I have told nearly everything about my experiences… except for the details about what I saw with Sreen, and what I did to Beldam. That I will share only with my husband when we’re together, alone.

It's been a hell of a Solo Mission. And if I never take command again, I won't be sorry.

Okay, maybe a little...”

*

USS Ajax, Captain's Quarters:

Naida stayed curled up in her father's arms, as Weynik held her close, having refused to let go of her in the hours since their reunion. They debriefed, ate, worked together, and Weynik considered having a second chair installed on the Bridge for her for future use.

“Have you had enough to eat, my Princess?”

She nodded against his chest. “Story, Poppy. Story.”

Weynik smiled. Of course. “Let me tell you a story about a wonderful woman I once knew. Her name was Fala. She was... my wife.”

She looked up at him. “Where is she?”

He felt tears well up. He didn’t have to take about her now. Another time-

He swallowed. “She died, in a shuttle accident, years before you were born. But I want you to know about her. And if I get sad while I’m taking about her, I don’t want you to get upset, too. It’s just that, if she lived, you would have called her Mommy. And she would have been very, very proud of you...”

*

USS Surefoot, Alpha Squad Quarters:

Zir reread the commendations left on her personal report for the hundredth time, or what felt like it.

Nearby, Astrid was fixing her makeup. “You’re going to go blind if you keep doing that. There are more fun ways to do that.”

The Orion looked at her, bemused. “Why would anyone want to go blind?”

Peter was finishing off a beer. “She’s referring to a very old human misconception about how too much masturbation can affect your vision. And grow hair on the palms on your hands, too.”

Zir screwed her face up in disgust. How did humans ever manage to achieve space travel, let alone help found the Federation?

But she smiled with pride at her commendation – and at the thought that the rest of her squad had received identical notations. They had done it. They had proved themselves.

There was a buzz at the door. “Come.”

Astrid snickered, and the door slid open to reveal Misha Hrelle... and his older, human sister, the woman announcing, “Hi there. Mind if we visit?”

Zir straightened up, shocked at finally meeting the young woman she had heard so much about in her time onboard the Surefoot from, well, everyone. The way some people talked, you’d think Sasha and her Alpha Squad saved the Galaxy every week.

But Zir had confessed to herself that at least some of her feelings stemmed from... envy. Envy that Sasha had her family here, giving her their full and unconditional love and support. Something she lacked.

Alpha Squad rose to attention in the presence of a superior officer, making Sasha start, until she waved them down. “Cut it out, I work for a living.”

“Hippo!” Misha let go of his sister’s hand and rushed up to Urad, leaping onto his arm and climbing up to his neck to ride piggyback, smacking his head like bongos.

“Misha!” Sasha scolded. “I’m sorry, Cadet-”

Urad chuckled. “That’s quite alright, Lieutenant, our Little Comrade here’s welcome up there anytime! Though I have yet to see any resemblance between my people and the Terran hippo species.”

“Apart from the thick grey hide,” Tori smirked. “The wide muzzle, the round ears, the appetite, and you’re built like a brick starbase-”

“How can we help you, Lieutenant?” Zir asked, cutting through the banter.

Sasha was looking around, lost in nostalgia. “I remember when my Alpha Squad was living here. Over there, we sat around during a Grey Mode Drill drinking Caitian wine and trying to keep warm. And that’s the table where Jonas beat everyone at strip poker, but then blushed when Neraxis got her boobs out.”

“Boobs!” Misha echoed happily.

“That’s rude,” Sasha – and Zir – said together to him.

The girls looked to each other, Sasha breathing out. “A lot of good times were had in here. Hope you guys have some of your own.”

Stalac slithered closer. “We will do our best, Lieutenant. Just give us a chance.”

Sasha smiled hesitantly, before facing Zir again. “Listen, I came here to say: thank you. To all of you. Kami has been a second mother to me. And I’m sure you already know how I feel about that furry little tail-chaser up there.”

Misha pointed to himself, helpfully telling everyone, “She means me!”

“Anyway, I’ve transferred a hundred credits to your squad’s account. I know it doesn’t even come close to what I owe you guys-”

“A hundred credits?” Peter’s eyes lit up. “That’s a lot of beer.”

“Or snacks,” Urad chimed in.

“Or a new wardrobe for me,” Astrid suggested.

Everyone looked at her.

“That’s very generous of you, Lieutenant,” Zir told her cordially.

The human smiled and held out her hand. “How about ‘Sasha’?”

Zir looked at her, nodded… and took the hand.

Then Sasha suggested, “I’m minding Baby Brother for a couple of hours while his parents... reunite.” She rolled her eyes at the thoguht of what that might entail. “I was taking him to the Mess Hall for a Misha Meal, and then maybe a movie. We left a huge collection of old Terran films in the computer.”

“We know,” Zir informed her, smiling. “We’ve been partaking of the horror ones.”

“Yes,” Astrid added, folding her arms. “The masses like to find amusement in such plebian fare.”

“Well, I have enjoyed them,” Stalac remarked. “And they have helped me face my phobia of many-legged creatures. In fact, I found another I’ve heard about, but whose title suggests might be just as cathartic as Kingdom of the Spiders.”

“Yeah!” Misha declared. “Scary movie!”

“Not for you,” Sasha and Zir said together, glancing at each other before Zir followed up with, “We’ll save it for after this young man has gone to bed.”

“I quite agree,” Sasha said with a grin.

Misha growled.

“By the way, Cadet, what’s the movie you found?” Sasha asked Stalac.

“The Human Centipede.”

*

C’Rash sat up in the bed she shared with her lover, starting as T’Varik drew closer and fitted another pillow behind the Caitian’s back. “If my mother was here, she’d tell you not to spoil me.”

The Vulcan walked back to the table and returned with a cup of mint tea. “If your mother was here, she would be quickly overcome by my continued praise of your work today… and you in general.”

C’Rash chuckled, sniffing the tea with approval without reaching for it. “I don’t know about that. When I played First Officer, I thought that I had been successful in keeping my Captain safe onboard, but she buggered off anyway when I wasn’t looking.”

T’Varik nodded. “It is an occupational hazard for First Officers. I still believe that you did exceptionally well today.” She reached out and took C’Rash’s hand in her own. “It… took a significant amount of self-control to remain publicly calm when I learned that the Surefoot – that you – had disappeared. I would have still felt, that before my recent… encounter… with the Section 31 operative.

But it would not have left me feeling what I am feeling now.”

The Caitian tilted her head, bemused. “And what are you feeling now?”

T’Varik breathed in, never losing her fixed gaze on C’Rash. “A feeling of suffused sorrow, that you might have died before I had an opportunity to express how important you have become to me, to my life. How much I love you.”

C’Rash reacted to the open admission, drawing close and rubbing her muzzle against the side of her lover’s face, embracing her and whispering, “What am I gonna do with you?”

T’Varik embraced her back, whispering, “Marry me.”

*

It was late, and in their quarters, Kami and her husband sat close together on the couch, holding each other as she told him about her final encounter with Beldam. “I… brought to life my own Beast, Esek. I had only ever felt that way once before, when we were prisoners of the Ferasans, and one of them had broke Sasha’s arm. That awoke something primal in me, but only for a few seconds.

But this was far, far more intense. When this creature tried to kill my cub, the cub in me… my Beast was born. I… I could have gone for my phaser and stunned Beldam. I could even have just killed her quickly, cleanly.

But I didn’t want that. I wanted to literally tear her apart. I wanted blood.”

He nodded soberly, sympathetically. “That… sounds familiar.”

She swallowed. “My Beast certainly won’t be as pronounced as yours was; she only existed for a few moments. But… I know she’s there now. In the back of me. I- I don’t know-”

“Tell me more about seeing Sreen’s spirit,” Esek urged.

She regarded him, seeing his question as a ploy to distract her, but taking it anyway. “She was… resplendent, Esek. Luminous, glorious. I- I don’t know how much of it was shaped by how I picture her, or how much was just... her soul, unfettered by her tiny body.” She nodded to herself, wiping tears from her eyes. “She’s beautiful. So very beautiful.”

He stroked her, smiling. “Like her mother. She’s gonna do so many wonderful-”

“Wait.” She swallowed, unable to hold back any longer. “There’s something I haven’t told you yet. Before this insane day started, I saw Doc Masterson.” She breathed in. “Esek, there’s a possibility that Sreen has Neurodystraxia.”

He started, his expression turning cold. “No… Mother’s Cubs...”

“It’s not been confirmed, and we don’t know how severe it might be.”

He was nodding, taking in the news. “I knew a cub growing up back in the Archipelago with it; he needed antigrav crutches. My asshole father had a word for him, one I won’t ever repeat.” Esek frowned. “What- What about treatment?”

“Masterson says there’s a cytoleptic treatment that Caitian doctors have developed recently. But… he tells me it’s lengthy and repeated, it would have to begin while still in the womb… and it will cause her pain.”

She squeezed his hand. “Esek... I’m not putting her through all that.

Neurodystraxia won’t kill her, won’t cause her pain. She may take longer to learn, to crawl and walk and speak. She may need mobility aids. She may struggle. A lot.

But Esek… I saw our daughter’s spirit. She’s strong. And she’s brave. And she’s fierce. If she has to struggle more than other cubs to keep up with them, physically or mentally… she can do it. With the help of her family.” Kami swallowed. “Esek, I’m sorry, I’ve made this decision without you-”

“You don’t need to be sorry. And I’m a hundred percent behind you on this.”

She blinked. “You- You are?”

He smiled. “Of course. I won’t be party to causing her pain for no good reason, either. Absolutely not.”

She studied him, looking for signs that he was just saying that for her benefit, to avoid an argument. But she saw none.

She hugged him, breathed in his reassuring scent and relishing his huge arms around her.

“Esek,” she gently warned him. “She might not join Starfleet.”

He shrugged. “So what? Starfleet is not the Be All and End All of life. She can do anything she wants as far as I’m concerned, so long as she is happy doing it.”

“But she might not be as extraordinary as you hope.”

He pulled back, his expression incredulous. “Are you kidding me? She helped you fight off a 3,000-year-old monster while she was still in the womb!

She’s already extraordinary!

Do you remember four years ago when you were carrying Misha, and that anaphasic lifeform Samedi boarded our ship and attacked you? Misha’s instinctive love, his need to protect you, sent that monster fleeing, and gave us a chance to destroy him.

And now his little sister has had a chance to defend her mother too.”

He hugged her again. “Our cubs are amazing. They get that from you. They’ll be fine. You’ll be fine.

We’ll all be fine. so long as we have each other.”

She clung to her husband, wanting to believe it with all her heart.

Inside her mother, Sreen settled down again, satisfied that all was right once more...


THE ADVENTURES OF THE SUREFOOT WILL CONTINUE IN... BEACH PARTY