Post by do on Sept 9, 2009 2:25:36 GMT -5
Near Bajor
SS Potemkin
Stardate: 09.09.2170
"Our goal is to impose order on a chaotic universe."
The Founders.
Inside the maelstrom of the Denorios Belt, the fleet appeared. One hundred ships consisting of ten battleships comparable in size to a Xindi Aquatic, forty battle cruisers that were a match for any starship and fifty smaller attack ships. The invasion force left the boundaries of the plasma cloud, emerging on the edge of Bajoran space and continued onwards.
Proximity detectors scattered throughout the stellar border began screaming almost immediately, the large armada appearing in every sensor in the star system. As far as Cardassia Prime, the neighbours watched, recorded, sent out alerts. Bajor's growing military was mobilised, after repeated hails to the enemy fleet went unanswered. The first wave of ships that finally broke formation upon reaching Bajor itself, obliterated the Bajoran ability to fight the airborne attack.
The battle cruisers met, targeting all seats of government. The Bajoran Council, the Vedek Assembly were annihilated from orbit. Every major city across the system was bombarded into submission. The entire invasion of Bajor was completed in less than four hours.
The Bajoran government surrendered unconditionally in five.
~~~~~
Tom Merrick hated travelling in Gryphons.
For one thing, they were too bloody small. There was only a sheet of plexiglass between you and space, which in his mind was way too thin for his liking. Secondly, you were stuck in the thing like a bloody sardine in a can. He thought being crammed up in armoured transport was bad but this was bleeding worse. He was strapped in, confined to a chair, force to look either into the space that surrounded them or into the back of his pilot's helmet, who in this case was Sloane McRae.
He supposed he should be grateful that they weren't in a bloody runabout on route to Risa.
In truth, they were as far from that as they could possibly be. In the distance, he could still see the outline of the SS Potemkin waiting their return as they approached Bajor IV in order to rendezvous with a member of the newly established Bajoran Resistance. Since he had served as commander of Bajoran operations during the Xindi War, Tom had been named specifically by the Bajorans to make this interview, now that Bajor was occupied territory.
The Federation was in no shape to offer a military solution to the Occupation of Bajor. The few engagements with Dominion's ships had proved that their Jem'Hadar warships were far more powerful than most Alpha Quadrant ships. The Jem'Hadar were genetically engineered to fight and they were more than willing to die, everyone one of them, if it meant securing victory. The Federation worlds were still picking up the pieces after the war with the Xindi. The kind of warfare required to drive the enemy from Bajor would cripple them and so thus best that could be offered to Bajor was resources and intelligence until another way could be found to liberate them from the Dominion yoke.
As it was, the Federation and Starfleet were still trying to figure out where the Dominion had come from and that was becoming the biggest mystery of the whole cold war.
"Are there sick bags in this thing?" Tom asked.
Oh, boy. Sloane rolled her eyes. "I never took you for a pussy, Merrick," she said, as she reviewed the systems while on an approach vector to the planet. "Okay, close enough," she let out, referring to their need to slip under the Dominion's radar. There was always this little thrill buzzing in her spine every time she played with Romulan tech. "Engaging cloak." The interior panels blinked but nothing shorted. "Yeah, that's what I'm talking about," she said, patting the little console. Tucker had come through for them once again. "Remind me to send our Southern boy a fruit basket."
"That's right, give me shite, you're the one who's going to have to live with the smell if I don't get those bags." He snorted.
Their relationship had pretty much gone back to normal after that shameful episode six months ago when he had gotten shit-faced and proceeded to be an arsehole to everyone he knew. Although he still had feelings for Sloane, he had put them aside, deciding that their friendship was too valuable to risk, even though Jake Mercer was out of the picture. The door had closed that day and it was for the best.
Or so he told himself.
"Are you really serious?" She banked the little ship right and then left, and then, for good measure, sent it into a spiral, making Bajor in front them spin around. They weren't in atmosphere so the moves didn't hold as much effect as they could have, but for someone unaccustomed to it, they were interesting enough. "At least let me give you some reason to puke..." she said, grinning ear to ear.
"Oy!" He complained, "That's not bloody funny. I'm not good in small confined ships with mad birds at the wheel." Tom gripped the sides of the compartment, trying not to feel alarmed and reminding himself she was teasing. "Don't make me come up front there and spank you, McRae, you know how you like that." He snorted, half joking, half annoyed.
"Spanking?" she asked as she righted the ship - as much as one could do in space. "Is that a promise?" Her tone was teasing with just enough leer injected in there to make it ambiguous if anyone else had been there to hear it.
"Only if you get us down..." he never got a chance to finish the statement because, out of nowhere, a ship exploded out of warp. He hadn't ever seen one other than vids but it was a Jem'Hadar warship and it came in with all guns blazing. The armoured leviathan sailed past their ship and continued ahead, making for the Potemkin, weapons hot.
"Fuck!"
Training and instinct kicked in, Sloane's hands sending the Gryphon in an evasive manoeuvre but there was no need. Cloaked as they were, the Dominion ship did not see them, and if they had, Sloane had the distinct impression they wouldn't have wasted time with them just yet, hell bent as they were for the Potemkin.
Going into pursuit, Sloane's blood drained from her face as the Jem'Hadar's cruiser nearly eclipsed their mothership. "They don't stand a chance..." she let out, as she watched the Starfleet ship take hit after hit, their shields glowing and polarizing across the hull.
And there wasn't a goddamn thing she could do.
Like Sloane, Tom could only watch in muted horror as the Potemkin attempted evasive manoeuvres as it shuddered under multiple barrages of the phased polaron beams, the weapons of choice for Jem'Hadar battle cruisers. The shields were barely able to keep out the first few blasts and after a relentless barrage, a terrific explosion that was soundless in space but filled the sky with white brilliance, the Potemkin was gone. And with it the two hundred crewmen on it.
"Jesus," Tom muttered.
Sloane pulled up fast, sending the Gryphon on a slow roll away from the SS Potemkin's resting place. They had no intel as to whether or not the Dominion had any countermeasures against cloaking technology and Sloane wasn't about to hang around and find out.
At maximum speed, she resumed their earlier journey to Bajor, her thoughts on the lost crew and on Capt. Gerard Kenyon, redhead bastard with a mean streak and a big beard. Jovial and hearty, he got things done. One just had to stay on his good side.
The trip to Bajor was made in silence because like Sloane, Tom was thinking of the people lost onboard. They had spent a week travelling to Bajor from Gaia and in that time, friendships had been formed. He had a respect for Fleeters, more than he used to after Alex had died. Like her, the crew of the Saratoga had ploughed into the Xindi Planet killer without thinking twice, because that was what needed to be done. That kind of thinking was what Sharks lived with and understood better than anyone else.
"Did you record any of that?" He asked after a while, breaking the silence.
"Yeah." Her voice was scratchy and she cleared her throat. "Even got them half out of Warp." The thing had been set to start recording automatically if prompted by any outside event. The sudden apparition of the Jem'Hadar had certainly kicked the Gryphon's systems on, proximity alert and everything else.
"You alright, luv?" Tom asked, recognising that hitch in her voice all too well. "There's nothing we could have done. The bastards are tough and they know it. Maybe the footage will give the lads back at Starfleet something to work with." He wanted to touch her, squeeze her shoulder in comfort or offer some small gesture to make this better but the Gryphon denied him that. "We're still under cloak but considering what those phasers of theirs did to the Potemkin's shields, I'd say we better set down as soon as we can."
"I know." The two words addressing all he'd just said. She knew they couldn't have done anything, that the recording might help in the long run, that the battle cruiser could still fry their asses off. "Going as fast as I can... Look, I'm gonna send a coded signal back to Gaia, give them a heads up."
The truth of the matter was, once they landed they'd be stranded there and what weighed heavy on Sloane's mind was to find a way to get Tom back to his daughter. "I'm going to bounce it around a couple of their moons so it can't be tracked back to us."
"Right," he left such things to her because she knew more about it than he did anyway. Sloane was more comfortable in these birds than he was. At heart, Tom Merrick was just a ground pounder. "We're going to have to arrange another pick up, don't think this thing will make it back to Gaia somehow."
"No," she told him the truth. They could probably piggyback it back, from system to system, but that would take them a few years. It wasn't an option.
They left behind the radiating debris field, keeping the Jem'Hadar ship on scopes until they moved out of its range. The ship seemed to be circling the debris, like a shark, probably attempting to discern what business a Federations starship had in this part of space. While not exactly Bajoran territory, it was too close to be a coincidence.
"Hope that Minister Taya's people are going to be at the rendezvous point," Tom replied, making conversation. "I didn't think any of the Ruling Council was left. I heard they were one of the Dominion’s first targets."
"I guess some got lucky," Sloane remarked. The bluish-green planet got inexorably bigger and bigger as they got closer, soon filling the whole of the canopy. "Entering upper atmosphere in five. Might be a bit bumpy, Merrick." She tried to lighten things up a bit, having a go at his earlier complaint.
"You're doing this on purpose." He was on to her and played along. They needed all the humour they could get right now. There was no denying that they were in a fuck of a situation. If they got into trouble while in Bajoran space, it was unlikely that they'd get help. They'd be just as abandoned as the rest of the Bajoran people.
Sloane tried to take the smoothest angle of entry she could for the likes of the girl sitting behind her, but also to leave the least disturbance behind them. Soon they were buffeted by air, a jarring feeling after the emptiness of space.
Checking her console, Sloane mapped the terrain, looking for their agreed meeting point.
"There," she soon pointed to Merrick. The Perikian Peninsula appeared to their left, rather majestic from way up high, where the land stuck out, cutting a swath into the pristine blue sea.
"It's a pretty place," Tom commented, taking a moment to admire the beauty of Bajor IV. He'd been here during the Xindi War. "I don't think they buggered Jalanda as badly as some of the cities." Lonar Province where Perikian was located was mostly an agriculture centre. "Lots of farmers and pastoral farming. Not like Bajor Prime which intelligence reports indicated is still largely rubble."
"It is... so where were you posted during the war?" Or did he move about the place, running the evacuation efforts? Because of Alex's death, his role on Bajor or hers at Azati had been largely left well alone.
She approached Jalanda City but stayed on the outskirts, looking for a spot to set down not too far from the Perikian Peninsula's underground labyrinths.
"Sometimes," Tom explained as the ship started to descend, roaming over verdant green hills as it angled at a gradual incline towards their landing site. "We were based on Bajor Prime but the Xindi were always trying to establish a foot hold somewhere after we destroyed their spheres. Colonies were the most vulnerable so I was sending Sharks all over the place trying to keep them out."
"They were pushy bastards." Much like the enemy they were now facing.
There would do, Sloane thought, spotting groupings of trees near a rocky hillside. It was far enough from the closest farm and the trees would allow for some cover. Bringing the fighter down gently, she said, "We're about seven clicks from the location they gave us."
"Good," Tom said gratefully, wanting out of the vehicle as soon as possible. After what they had seen with the Potemkin, Tom had his fill of space for awhile. He needed to feel some kind of terra firma under his feet, or rather Bajora firma if the term fit.
"I hope someone picked up our message, luv or we could be here for awhile." Tom thought of Lexie at home with Meda and Derick, trying not to feel guilty that his promised trip of a few days could end up being significantly more than either of them had expected.
"I know." She had thought the exact same thing and it was why she had been so dead-set on trying to send a message at all... just in case Capt. Kenyon hadn't managed. "But it's good company," she cracked, releasing the seal and allowing the canopy to lift. She unbuckled herself and took her helmet off, her hand finding her sidearm in the next movement. Seconds later she was sliding herself along the hull of the ship and dropping to the ground.
"You're just saying that because you can't say no to my devilish charm." He snorted as he unstrapped himself from the seat and threw her their gear before following her to the ground. Armed as well, he landed on the soft grass and let out of a sigh of relief. Bloody hell, it felt good to get out of that thing.
Sloane had landed them in the shade, which was good. "Taya showed me these caves after the war," he explained as they started walking after shouldering their packs. "A bit of a tourist attraction it seems." Minister Taya was a good bloke and they had formed something of a friendship after Tom had pulled him out of a collapsing building during an evac operation. "It's like a bloody maze down there but a good spot. He knows I'm familiar with the terrain and if we do get into trouble, there are multiple exits."
"Good," Sloane said with a nod as she entered a code on the padd attached to her sleeve, remotely sealing and securing the Gryphon. "Because as much as you hate my wings, I'm not too fond of underground labyrinths."
"That's right," Tom recalled. "You and Hayes got cosy in one of them once upon a time, didn't you?" he remarked off-handedly as they progressed along the tree line and found the best spoke to break through and enter the mountains.
In the distance, the sun had already peaked and Tom estimated two hours before nightfall. Tall shadows fell over them as they moved along the foothills. His eyes surveyed their surroundings cautiously while they were out in the open. From what limited intelligence they had on the Jem'Hadar, Tom did not want to run into them unless absolutely necessary.
"Yeah," Sloane replied, thinking fondly on the memory. That was when Hayes and her had more or less clicked. "Nearly froze to death too."
"I would have just gone for Risan cake," Tom said with a little smirk as they reached the craggy opening in the mountains that would lead them inside it.
"Yeah, I know you would," Sloane let out with a chuckle, nudging his shoulder, letting him know to lead the way in. "Thing was, there wasn't any back on that ledge so we had to improvise..."
Glad they were at a place where they could joke about such things again, Tom took the path into the mountains. The main caverns were quite large with a lot of natural light filtering in from opening in the ceiling wall but as one drew away from it , Tom sighted three or four different passages that led into the labyrinth, and if memory served, Taya had taken him down the one on the far left. It was slightly more challenging terrain but Taya had believed as a Shark he could manage.
"Right, this one." He gestured to her. "It will take us for about 300 meters down and then empties into a rock pool sort of thing," he explained. "Might be an idea to get our torches out. Once we're past the first thirty meters, it'll start to get dark."
"A rock pool sorta thing?" she inquired, getting her torch out and still keeping an eye out on their surroundings, already feeling all that heavy rock around them. "I didn't pack my bikini, Merrick." Shit, would they have to dive to reach some underwater secret door? She supposed it beat getting blown up like Kenyon and his crew.
"That's it, luv, keep distracting me and we'll be in right trouble," he teased as they started their descent down the ever-darkening passage. "We're on schedule for our meeting so with any luck Taya is already there and we won’t be fannying about waiting for him. He's calling he meeting with us and some other smaller Resistance cells. We're supposed to be the draw for supplies."
"Yeah, well, I don't know how that will pan out if we can't get off this rock again," Sloane stated the obvious, moving her torch left to right as they walked, and throwing a glance over her shoulder at interval.
"True," Tom agreed and they continued walking further. Like Sloane, he had the torch out leading the way, the natural light having diminished entirely. However, Tom could now hear voices and he immediately looked over his shoulder to see if she had heard the same. "Looks like we might be late," he remarked, one hand reaching for his side arm.
"Or they started early." She had heard them too, rather faint but there nonetheless. "You expecting trouble?" She hadn't missed his movement, even in the dark. Sloane didn't know many Bajorans and was rather clueless as to their manners.
"No." Tom regarded his sidearm. "I'm always this charming," he replied but had to admit, it probably wasn't good manners and holstered it. "Keep a hand on yours though, just in case."
"Copy that." A faint smile pulled at her lips. Merrick had always had a way about him.
There was light coming up ahead and Tom hastened his pace into a brisk walk to enter the cavern whose floor skirted along a smallish rock pool that took up half of the cavern. The water was clear blue and caused shimmers on the ceiling.
"Thomas!" The familiar voice of Minister Taya called out from the other end of the cavern.
Tom looked over his shoulder at Sloane, nodding that he recognised the bloke and stepped forward. "Hullo, Ordan," he addressed Taya by his last name. "It's been a while."
Relaxing somewhat, Sloane entered the cavern, her eyes scanning the place quickly. She spotted two more not far from the minister.
"It is good to see you, Thomas," Taya said, genuinely pleased to see the MACO Major who had been in charge of Bajor's defence during the Xindi War. "I wish the circumstances could be different."
"I hear ya, mate." Tom looked over his shoulder. "This Lt. Colonel McRae," Tom introduced Sloane. "She got me here in one piece."
"A pleasure." Taya Ordan, a man in his late forties, bowed slightly in Sloane's direction before beckoning to two men behind him.
"This is Kel Nator of the Dhakur Province Resistance cell and Baran Kahlil of the Janir Militia. I asked them to come here because I know that while the Federation is unable to take direct military action, you may be able to supply us with weapons and supplies."
"Pleasure meeting you all," Sloane said politely, inclining her head lightly towards all three men. It nagged at her that Bajor had been left to fend for themselves so whatever they could do now, Sloane was all for trying.
"We are still waiting for Yorna Sodani," Taya explained to Tom.
"No need, I am here." Sodani was a woman in her thirties, having approached from the other entrance to the cavern on the far side. She approached them stealthily and only until there was light did Tom see the mighty scar running down her face. "Although I am dubious about what help you can provide us since you have chosen to abandon us to these Dominion dogs."
Tom exchanged a glance with Sloane. "We didn't do it because we like it, luv. We didn't have much of a choice. They've got better ships and more firepower than we do. We try to take Bajor back from them, people are going to die."
"People are already dying," she hissed.
"Now, now," Kel spoke up. "They are safe in their Federation. The Dominion has no interest in them? Why would they shed their blood for us?"
"That's not bloody fair," Tom snapped angrily, thinking on the crew of the Potemkin. "We just lost our starship getting here. Two hundred and fifty people died so we could make this bloody meeting. Don't tell us we're not willing to risk our lives for you because there’s dead bodies up there to prove it."
Bristling, Sloane's eyes narrowed on Kel Nator and the woman, angry little thing that she was. Why call them here if they had no desire to work with them or believed they could be of any help. She waited to see the effect Merrick's words would have on their pissy moods.
"I am sorry," Taya was the one to apologise. "Of course, we are not belittling your sacrifice." He looked at the others with reproach. "We do not have a choice to be proud or stubborn. We need their assistance."
Clearly showing her disapproval, Yorna answered. "I will listen."
"As will I," Baran nodded reluctantly.
"I cannot listen..." Kel replied.
Tom was about to respond when in the midst of all the discussion, he heard something echoing from further along the cavern and he glanced over his shoulder at McRae to see if she had heard it too. Unfortunately, there was only enough time to register the sound when suddenly appearing from both ends of the cavern were Jem'Hadar troops.
"HALT!"
They were fucking set up. Tom turned towards Taya, whose expression was one of astonishment, when Kel, who was standing in front of them, suddenly changed shape, his features melting like dough before solidifying again to appear in front of them looking nothing like his Bajoran self. The creature he had become resembled a humanoid trying to mimic a face.
"What the fuck?" Sloane growled low. What was that, shape-fucking-shifters? But she didn't wait a second more, because whatever that was it wasn't fucking friendly. Testing her luck, she jumped Kel's impostor, the muzzle of her gun digging deep in his throat in the attempt to get his troops to back off.
Tom had to give Sloane credit for acting fast but unfortunately the odds were against them today. Kel or whatever it was playing Kel suddenly morphed again, turning into a column of translucent material that slipped through her arm and lashed out at her foot on the way down. Sloane went down hard with Tom jerking immediately towards her when a hand grabbed him by the forearm, the barrel of a weapon jabbed into his side.
Another Jem'Hadar went to Sloane and hauled her up to her feet and disarmed her.
"McRae, take it easy," Tom cautioned, sensing that for now, they needed to survive lest these bastards decide to kill them right here.
Like she could have known the bugger would do that. Sloane pulled a face, catching her breath, annoyed as hell to have been played and outdone by some slimy thing.
"What are you?" Taya demanded, face showing his horror at being duped. Baran and Yorna showed similar shock and anger. "Where is Kel?"
"Kel is dead, I took his place to see who would appear." The shapeshifter looked around the room. We intercepted your message to the Federation and saw this as an opportunity to deal with the Bajoran Resistance once and for all."
"You fool," Yorna hissed. "You led us all into a trap!"
"Colonel Merrick and McRae," Kel said to both of them. "You have entered Dominion's space illegally for the purposes of inciting terrorism. You will be held for your crimes."
"F-ing great," Sloane muttered. At least he'd said held, not executed... though she figured she and Merrick might wish for that later down the line.
"You are Starfleet Marine Corps," one of the Jem'Hadar stated, eyeing Tom with fascination.
"That's is correct," Kel spoke. "The Colonels are both Federation Sharks."
"We had hoped to meet the Klingons in battle but Sharks," the Jem'Hadar said as if approving. "You were proven in your war with the Xindi to be formidable." Casting a glance at Sloane, he added, "Even with females in your units."
"You must forgive the Jem'Hadar, Colonel," Kel said almost smugly. "They only respect fellow warriors. These here," he regarded the Resistance Fighters, "are more like vermin."
"I'm sure the feeling is mutual." Tom snorted.
"Do not address the Founder!" The Jem'Hadar said, outraged and swatted Tom hard enough to send him across the space into a column.
When he landed, another was there to drag him to his feet. "We did not think you would be so weak."
Shit, Merrick, Sloane thought, staying put for now. So much for taking it easy, huh, you smart mouth. But while the Jem'Hadar and his Founder spoke, she filed everything away. The fact they knew of their past conflict with the Xindi, of the Federation and the Sharks, no less, that the Jem'Hadar respected warrior if not females, all of it.
She tried to meet Merrick's gaze to see if he was alright.
Well there goes the ribs, Tom thought after he felt something crack on impact.
"Well, nobody's perfect," Tom retorted, wiping the blood from his mouth.
He lifted his gaze to Sloane, a silent indicator that he was alright. In pain perhaps but alright.
"Take them outside," Kel ordered the Jem'Hadar. "These three," he indicated the Bajorans. "We can execute. These two, will play nicely when we discuss the matter with the Federation."
Fuck, Tom thought to himself. Bloody lovely.
Sloane glanced from Baran to Taya, before her gaze settled on Yorna. She could relate a lot more with the woman's boiling anger now.
"What, you're just going to shoot them?"
The Jem'Hadar moved to strike Sloane for addressing Kel and Tom broke free long enough to slam the bastard in a body tackle that toppled them both. The others were on him in a minute with the offended Jem'Hadar dragging him to his feet by the throat, lifting Tom easily off the ground. Holding on to the gloved fist, Tom kept himself from choking. Fuck, these bastards were strong.
"Enough!" Kel snapped. "We need them alive."
With that, Tom was let go to fall on the ground again. He did so with his pride wounded but not seeing McRae hit.
Sloane made to go to him but the weapon held to her side dug deeper, making her bite back on a groan and stay in place. "Colonel?" You, stupid son of a bitch, she thought. If he did that once more she was going to kick his ass herself.
"On your feet." The Jem'Hadar dragged Tom upright and he exchanged a glance with McRae that said clearly 'no one is hitting you'. Trying to ignore the pain in his ribs, Kel started to move out of the cave, gesturing for the troops to bring along the prisoners. Tom was nudged alongside of McRae by the point of a gun barrel, while behind them Taya, Yorna and Baran followed, their expressions grim.
"I'm sorry I brought this upon you," Taya said, anguished.
"You're a fool," Yorna hissed.
"This is not the fucking time," Tom snapped hoarsely, the side of his face matched the discolouration of his throat.
The walk back up to the surface was rather quick as the Jem'Hadar gave them no chance to tarry. Sloane kept to herself, not wanting to give their enemy any indication that she and Merrick were anything else than brothers in arms. Doing so would be giving them one more card to play against them and Tom had already done enough to lead them towards that as it were. Expecting to see daylight where some had filtered through earlier, she guessed the evening had come since only more darkness greeted them as they exited the tunnel.
McRae hadn't said anything and truth be told Tom was certain what he would say to her if she asked any uncomfortable questions. He was perfectly aware of how it looked and most of his actions were really reflex. Just the thought of these Jems striking her made his blood boil. Okay so there was more to it than that but Tom wasn’t about to get into it with McRae or anyone else.
They had no more emerged from the caverns when suddenly flashes of light appeared in the dark that could only be one thing.
The first blast struck the Jem'Hadar next to Sloane in the chest. The firing was enough to cause complete disarray and Tom tried to see where in the tree line it was coming from. Wherever it was, it provided Tom and Sloane with the opportunity they needed. Tom slammed an elbow in the chest of the Jem next to him, grabbing the barrel of the weapon he was carrying as he doubled forward, turning it on the bastard and firing.
Not one to pass up that kind of nod from Lady Luck, Sloane was on the gunned down Jem'Hadar, stealing his weapon and turning it against his brothers in seconds. Even in the dark, they were bloody easy to pick, given their height and the shape of their heads. She spied Yorna arming herself, the woman not wasting any time either. In the melee, she lost track of Taya but she knew Merrick had her back.
Whomever was shooting was only interested in the Jems and with Tom and Sloane turning their own weapons at them, the ground began to fill with fallen Jem'Hadar warriors.
"Come on!" he beckoned her to make for the tree line, even as he spied another Jem preparing to take his shot. Tom fired without thinking, dropping him where he stood before he and Sloane resumed their departure. He didn't seen Taya but Baran was on the ground and Tom didn't need a pulse to know he was dead.
"This is fucking crazy," Sloane swore as she caught up with Merrick and ran, dodging blasts, one so damn close it singed her hair. Coming up to some boulders, she called, "Here." Ducking behind one, she took aim at the few still shooting in their direction. "These weapons are great," she cracked. "Gotta give 'em that." There was hardly any recoil.
"Oh yeah," Tom retorted as he found cover next to her and winced a little at the pain stabbing at his sides. "They're just fucking peachy," he retorted, looking around the boulder and firing again at a Jem'Hadar that was trying to take out Yorna. The bolt of energy caught the enemy in the side and spun him before he landed heavily. Above them, the curtain of night had descended and amidst the chaos, it seemed they were forgotten for the moment as he heard what he thought was Kel or rather the thing impersonating Kel barking orders to go after the Resistance Fighters who had given Sloane and him their escape.
"Looks like we're in the clear," Sloane said, relaxing a little. "At least for now." She turned to Merrick but couldn't see him very well in the dark. "How you doing? And don't feed me any bullshit, Merrick." What he'd done back there had been reckless.
Tom let out of a groan, not from the pain but from the nagging. Women. "I could be better." Was all he would say to his injuries or admitting that he had them. "It's nothing that won't heal." He shrugged, sitting up and feeling another stab of pain. "Come on," he urged trying to get up, "we better get a move on before they get reinforcements out here."
"Jackass," Sloane growled, grabbing his arm and hauling him up. "We get back to the ship and then what?" she asked as they slipped further into the cover of night. "The range of a Gryphon is limited..." She was more or less talking to herself. "Could make for one of their moons..." She glanced up at the sky automatically at the thought. "Could hole up there for a while." But she agreed; they had to leave the area before it was swarming with Dominion forces.
Not fighting her assistance, Tom listened to her commentary before speaking, making sure he did not hold her up as he moved, albeit a little slowly. "Jeraddo. It's rustic, mostly farms and shit. Not much of a population. There's miles and miles of forests, we could hide there for a bit," he suggested as they headed back towards the tree line and the path taken to get to the caves in the first place.
"Jeraddo it is." Sloane set a good pace, keeping an eye on Merrick, making sure he was able to keep with it. They soon got back to their ship and, after keeping watch for while to be certain no one was there waiting for them, Sloane cautiously ventured out.
Ensuring that no one took a shot at her as she made her way to the ship, Tom followed soon after, reaching the Gryphon without any further attention from any Jem that might be about. Once she was in the cockpit, Tom climbed in after her, keeping a stiff upper lip even though it hurt like bloody hell. For once however, he wasn't going to bitch about getting back into the sardine. Right now, it was the best place on the whole planet to be.
*
The flight to Bajor's fifth moon was uneventful, thanks to their cloak. After landing the ship in a small clearing, bordered on all sides by thick forests, Sloane freed herself and shifted. After a moment, she pivoted in her seat and eyed Merrick and his sweaty brow as bit down on the pain.
"Alright, I've had enough," she said, her hand approaching him with a hypospray.
"Enough of what?" he grunted uncomfortably. He had attempted to strap himself into the seat but gave it up when the buckle dug into his side. Sloane was giving him that look, the one that said very clearly 'I outrank you, mate' and realised any protestations was going to get him yelled at.
An eyebrow arched at his question but Sloane didn't bother answering. Recognising his resignation, she pushed the hypospray into his neck. "Give it a couple of seconds," she said, even though it was information he already knew. "Then I'll help you out."
"I'll be right once it kicks in," Tom grumbled. He didn't care if it bloody hurt or not, he wasn't going to let those bastards touch her. Something inside him couldn't stand it. Sure, it was probably going to get him killed but Tom didn't even have a choice in the matter. He had just reacted. Even the way the bugger had said 'female', like it was offensive had pissed off even his usually chauvinistic sensibilities.
Sloane watched him a second before pulling back, putting the medkit back together and gathering her gear. "Don't ever do that again, alright?" She knew it would piss him off but it had to be said.
"Do what?" He asked, feigning complete innocence.
Fuck it, she thought, standing up to have a look at the ground beneath them. She narrowed her eyes on him. "Trying to get yourself killed on my account." Thinking of Lexie, in her book, between her and Merrick, it should always be him to make it back home. She dropped their packs to the forest floor and then disembarked, her boots landing softly on the grassy soil.
"Listen, I was seeing to it that you didn't get hurt," Tom replied, continuing to sit for a few seconds while the hypospray did its work. "You're the only one who can fly this bird." It sounded like the truth and could have passed if it wasn't such a bald face lie.
"Huh-huh," Sloane let out, noncommitally, glancing back up at the ship. "You're armed? I'll go do a perimeter check. We'll need to bandage those ribs before you can start prancing around again, playing fucking prince charming."
"Very fucking funny," Tom growled after her. "I'm armed and if you don't get a move on I might just shoot you after all." Prince Fucking Charming.
She waved him off. "Take your best shot." With that, she left to check the tree line surrounding the clearing and maybe find some shelter. Merrick, in his state, couldn't afford to remain in the craft. He needed to be able to stretch and lie down, she suspected.
Sitting up, wincing all the way since the bruising and associated damage was starting to let him know about it despite the hypo, Tom attempted to climb off the ship. His attempt was less than agile and after nearly falling over, made it to the ground, groaning.
"Of course you couldn't fucking wait," Sloane said as she came back minutes later. She looked him up and down. The hypospray was barely cutting through the pain, that much was obvious.
"Hullo, luv." He looked at her, clutching his side, trying to put on a brave face (because real blokes didn't show they were hurt to women they liked). "How was your day?"
"Jackass," she said again before a corner of her mouth lifted, unable to stop it. "Come on," she said, securing the ship and grabbing their packs. "I built you a tree house to keep you safe."
"Hope it has Satellite Holo Channels or I'm going to be bloody disappointed," Tom grunted as he went to grab one of the packs.
"Don't even think about it," she warned, snatching it away. "It's not far. Think you can make it?" Like he would tell her if he couldn't...
"Bloody hell, woman," Tom grumbled, retracting his hand before he could touch the things. "I can make it to the other side of the planet if I wanted."
Right, right and with enough bullshit he could also fight the Jem'Hadar and drive them off Bajor on his own.
"Right."
Sloane led the way back to the little path she'd found through the trees to the east. It was covered with moss and leaves and hadn't been trodden on in months, except for her fresh set of boot prints. It led to a patch of overgrown grass, flanking the front of an old farmhouse. A little cottage really, with some broken windows and a loose thatched roof, but it would do. Pushing the front door open again, she took a step back to let Merrick in first. Everything about the place told them it had been abandoned a long time ago.
How was it that a woman could make you feel like a little boy even if you were a grown man in charge of fucking soldiers?
Not trusting himself to respond to her words, Tom followed her into the little place she'd found. Over her shoulder, he could see nothing and the smell of dust assaulted him. "Looks like whomever owned this place has nicked off now. Probably moved to the city for bright lights and Broadway."
"Opportunity knocks for us then. Take off your shirt," she said, turning to him.
Not even bothering to protest because he knew her well enough to know an argument was going to end up with her doing it anyway, Tom gave her a look as he started to unbutton. "Be gentle with me."
"You don't like gentle," she reminded him, her tone too fucking earnest and too fucking out of left field. Dropping her gaze, she caught herself with looking busy getting the medkit back out.
"You got me there," he admitted with a faint smile as he took off his shirt and then rolled up the singlet beneath it. The bruising was evident almost immediately. Discoloured flesh that splotched purple and red.
"Shit, Merrick," Sloane said, running her fingers along the nasty bruise, spanning his side, pretty much from back to front. She pulled back, pulling the bandages out. "How's the pain? You want another shot before we do this?" It was going to hurt like a sonofabitch.
"Save it for later," Tom answered because if they were going to be stuck here for awhile, they needed to conserve their medical supplies as much as they could. "I'll be right." He almost convinced himself.
"Plonk your ass there." Sloane motioned to the heavy wooden kitchen table.
"Didn't we do this already?" Tom said with a smirk, obeying as he lowered himself onto the table.
Sloane returned the smirk, glancing up at him. "Yep." Her hands were unwrapping the length of stretchy cloth from its sterile packaging as her mind brought up a selection of images from her time on the Langley with him. Yep, they had.
"If nothing else, we did figure out it was logistically possible to have sex on every surface of a Bajoran runabout when properly motivated." He met her gaze with a little smile. It was almost as enigmatic as the look she was giving him.
"And thank god it wasn't documented by onboard cams..." She pushed the memories away before she'd start to blush.
"Get your mind out of the gutter. I'm about to hurt you," she said, waving the bandage roll in front of his face. Ready?"
"Hurt me, luv," he teased even though his abs were clenching, bracing himself for the pain. Tensing, he waited her for to do what was necessary.
And she would just for that last remark. Unrolling the cloth as she went, she bandaged his torso, hoping she was doing it tight enough to support his ribcage. "I haven't done this in a while... how does it feel?" she asked, looking up at his face, his eyes telling her he was about done.
"It hurts like a fucker," Tom grunted, having managed to hold in how painful it was because he didn't want to whine like a pussy in front of her. Blokes didn't do that. It was however, not too tight that he felt any of that sharp stabbing pain, more like dull, pressured ache that held things together. Next to him, his knuckles were white from clenching the table. "You still got the touch, luv."
"Putting on a brave face for whom, exactly?" Sloane gave him a tight smile. Broken ribs could lead to punctured lungs or whatever else. She didn't like it. At least this would stabilise him a bit.
"Alright, you can try and relax now," she said, her hand touching his, before she went for a clasp. "Just securing it."
"I'm not putting up a brave face," Tom protested because that made him sound like a little kid or something. "I'm a fucking Shark, luv. I can handle pain." Of course, the argument would be more convincing if he didn't wince when he attempted to get off the table.
"Sure you can." She pinched his arm, teasing. "There's a couch in there. You should go lie down, rest a bit." It wasn't so much a suggestion as a thinly veiled order.
"Yes, dear." He gave her a sly smile and made his way across the floor before settling into the couch. It was dusty but soft and Tom was really in no mood to care. "Bugger, this day could have gone better."
"No shit." That was an understatement.
Sloane started moving around quietly, checking what the little abode hid that could be of any use to them. She figured the medicine might know Merrick out for an hour or two. That would be good, if he'd let it. They had plenty of time to kill now anyway.
"We better get on our game," he commented, thinking on their encounter with the Jem'Hadar. "Those Jem'Hadar are something to get serious about that. That bugger that had me was strong, I mean bloody strong. I could barely budge his fingers," Tom remarked, closing his eyes, trying to relax.
"Yeah..." Sloane said from where she'd just sat down, trying to link up with the ship's communication system. If Gaia ever responded, they needed to know ASAP. "I've been taking notes. And that other guy... the Founder... what was that shit? I didn't know the motherfuckers could shapeshift. Didn't even know it was possible." She knew the Suliban could but this was way different. She shuddered at the thought, remembering the slick feel of him when he... "It was like he liquefied himself."
"That was probably his natural state," Tom pointed out, still awake. "Remember when he shifted into humanoid, not that Kel bloke. It was like he produced the approximation of a face, not a real one. Two eyes, nose, mouth... but no actual features."
"Freaky." But it wasn't just weirding out freaky; it was downright scary freaky because if these guys could really do this all they wanted, they could infiltrate just about anything. "They're a serious threat," she added quietly as she worked, glancing up to see if Tom had finally let the meds work.
His brain had started to get foggy, bloody drugs.
"The Jems don't like us addressing them directly either, you noticed? Like they're too good to talk to. That bloke that was going to hit you didn't give a rat's ass if you were a bird or not. Just that you had offended him."
Of course, she'd noticed. That was why Prince Charming was hurting now. "I'm a soldier, Tom. Just like you."
"Not like me," Tom muttered. "Better than me. More sensible, definitely prettier."
Sloane shook her head, smiling a bit. "More sensible is right. You could have gotten yourself killed and for what? To save me a split lip?" Okay, probably more like a broken jaw but then again the Founder hadn't wanted either of them permanently damaged - or so it seemed. "I didn't mean to address him," she let out, feeling guilty because of course Merrick was going to step up to the plate and get the beating for her. "It was just... I just reacted to their death sentence."
"I reacted to him trying to lay a finger on you," Tom responded automatically. "I won't bloody have anybody hitting you." The words were tumbling out, the medicine was making it easier to say, harder to restrain.
"And why the bloody hell not?" Sloane looked up again from her work, suddenly annoyed with his chivalrous shit. "I don't need a bodyguard."
"Because," Tom replied, breathing starting to slow a little as he moved from relaxed into lethargy. "I care about you."
The little hairs at the back of neck danced and her eyes narrowed on his prone form, noticing his chest and the slow, rhythmic breaths. "Meds talking," she muttered to herself as she finished setting up the link and alarm in case a message from Gaia was received.
"Meds....my ars...." he tried to finish the thought but lapsed into sleep instead.
Sloane frowned. What was he on about? She stood up and went to check on him. Fingers took his pulse at the wrist before she rested his arm along his side on the dusty couch. "I care about you too," she said quietly. "Doesn't mean I'd take a bullet for you," she blatantly lied, even her tone couldn't hide it.
She felt his brow before stepping back, grabbing the tricorder on the way out. It was time she'd make sure again that there were no life signs nearby. They couldn't afford to get caught.
*
Something was moving.
It was skittering across the floor. Tugging at the edge of his slumber. Tom was in the midst of a dream where he was at home with Lexie, brought there by drugs and sheer exhaustion, when he kept hearing that damned noise. Wincing, he rolled over, trying to dispel it, seeking out a pillow to cover his ears when he rolled onto his injured side and promptly woke himself up with a sharp stab of pain.
Eyes flew open, he had about a minute to register the thing that was in front of him.
"Fuck!"
About the size of a dog, all Tom saw were legs, lots of big hairy legs and reacted. The Jem phaser was left next to him and without thinking twice, Tom blasted the thing to kingdom come.
What the fuck? Sloane freaked out at the sound of the blast, running back to the cottage at breakneck-speed, thinking the worst. Carefully easing back into the house, she checked the kitchen before risking a peek in the lounge.
She saw Merrick sitting bolt-right up, weapon in hand and a pile of fuming goo on the floor in front of him. "What the fuck?" she asked, breathless.
"Bug.." Tom declared. "Big...fucking...bug."
"Shit," Sloane let go of her weapon, letting the sling on her shoulder hold it for her and palmed her heart. "Nearly gave me a fucking heart attack." She took a couple of steps forward, toeing the thing with her boot. "I guess I better recalibrate the tricorder to spot those fuckers..."
"How long was I out?" Tom asked, trying to sit up. The pain was back sharper or maybe it was because the meds had worn off. Whatever the reason, he was lacking the usual spring in his step.
"About five hours." She looked at her watch out of habit even if she already knew. "How do you feel?" She moved to him, offering him her arm to help him move if he wanted it.
"Like I want the name of the starship than ran over me," Tom grumbled, taking the offered hand to get up. He had injured himself by some Sir Galahad play and he was just going to have to deal with it. "You've been on watch all this time?" He looked out the window. It was still dark.
Sloane shrugged. "My turn to watch out for your pretty ass." She was fine. "Want another shot? Maybe some food first?" She followed his gaze out. "Daylight's coming soon," she answered his silent question.
"Let's eat and then you get some rest and I'll sit watch for a bit," he offered. "And don't argue because you need to be alert if you're going to, as you say, watch my pretty arse."
"Okay," Sloane relented, common sense prevailing. "But you better keep those things from getting near me." She nodded toward what was left of the bug.
"Bloody creepy things," Tom retorted, hiding the slight shudder. He did not like bugs. Especially big fuckers like this. "Trust me, I'll shoot to kill." Walking to the doorway, he peered outside. "How much rations do we have anyway?"
"Standard for a three-day trip," Sloane replied. They hadn't been supposed to be on Bajor for that long.
"Better look around for a water source and alternate food supplies," Tom mused, looking at the forest beyond their shack. "It took us five days to get here from Gaia. Unless there's a ship closer to intercept that signal, I wouldn't expect a rescue for that long. I just hope that," he glanced at the dead bug, "isn't the only indigenous life here."
"Who knows? It could be tasty," she cracked. "Found some water. Forget the well, it's dried up, but there's a stream at the back. Tricorder says it's safe..." For the rest, she'd been waiting for daylight.
"Well, that's something." Tom sighed. "And not even on a bet," he glanced at the bug creature, "you'd have to get me drunk for that."
Sloane smiled wickedly as she knew she'd just managed to gross him out. One for the girl team. "Ratpacks then?"
"For now," he retorted, still making a face at the idea of having to eat those things if they were out of choices. "Start to think about it when dawn's up. Now, you get some rest, I'll keep an eye on things. Keep the bugs off you." He offered her a little smile.
"Thank you. Don't go do any acrobatics though..." Sloane grabbed a ration pack and went to sit where Merrick had been sleeping moments before, careful not to step on the critter's leftovers. Shit, it looked nasty. While she took a bite and started munching, her mind wandered off to the last time someone had watched over her while she slept. Jake. In that cave on Azati. A good thing, she was sure, that they hadn't been able to see what was in there. There must have been bugs, dead and rotting bugs too. Even now she remembered the foul smell like it was yesterday.
"Only do those on special occasions, luv." Tom offered her a half smile and noted a sort of stool resting up against the wall in what passed for the kitchen. Slinging the Jem weapon over the shoulder on his good side, he moved the chair to the doorway and sat. He'd prefer to be outside walking the perimeter but he suspected that McRae would have a fit if he tried. Besides, bravado aside, he knew his limitations. Getting comfortable, he glanced her way, noting the way the amber light dance across her face from the lamp attached to the wall.
"Yeah, I know," she quipped around a mouthful. Special occasions involving Risan cake. Shifting around, she brought her feet on the couch and slid down until her head hit the armrest. She let out a groan as she stretched. "We got ourselves in the shits again, haven't we?" A rhetorical question. Just finished with the Xindi and now it was some other nefarious race...
"There's always going to be something," he remarked, turning away after watching her stretch across the sofa with almost feline grace. He imagined she'd purr if given the chance. Actually, he'd heard that too, he thought with a little smile. "Keeps life interesting," Tom said, staring into the darkness, trying to spy the sun at all in the horizon above the uneven line separating trees and sky.
"Pffft. Could have done without it. At least for a while," she muttered, finishing the bar and crunching the wrapper in her hand before throwing it at Merrick.
Tom laughed as the wrapper bounced off his shoulder and landed on the floor. "Yeah, back in the day when I was a single bloke without the responsibilities, I would love one fight after another. Being a Shark, didn't think it got any better than that. Christ, I was so full of it back then." He smirked. "Keeping Gabe from making a complete arse of himself and keeping his men from shooting him. Being a Gunny Sgt. was the best time I had in this job."
"And now you're a lieutenant colonel," Sloane said before letting her eyes close. "Who would have thought?"
"Not me, that's for bloody sure," he remarked, looking over his shoulder and seeing her close her eyes. Tom smiled. "Go to sleep McRae."
"Trying..." But he kept talking and she kept listening, his voice always sounding a little different to her since Risa. She cracked her eyes open again to look at him.
"Shutting up, luv," he remarked before breaking the gaze, keeping his eyes fixed on the world outside and not the turmoil within. Not that she made him feel turmoil. Like Alex, Sloane had a calming effect on him. Even before Alex really. The only thing that sometimes stopped him from killing Gabe when he was still drinking had been McRae.
A slow grin appeared on her face as she watched him turn away. Bloody Merrick and his ways. Like earlier, playing fucking Prince Charming. Or when he stepped back so his best mate could have his dream pin-up girl, thinking he wasn't worthy himself. Her features turned sad when she thought of the false alarm, the possible pregnancy, the feelings it had stirred in both of them. Another near miss. Another path glanced at but not taken. He had done the right thing then, staying loyal to his true love and Sloane respected him for that. She saw more and more of Alex in Lexie and could only imagine how hard it would make it on Tom to move on - if he ever did. Alex would want him happy, but only time would help with that. Lexie. Sloane closed her eyes. She had to get her daddy back home to her.