5th story, A Long Day's Night, by Megan, part two
Title: A Long Day's Night
Fandom: Magnificent Seven, Star Trek AU
Author: Megan aka issolafox
Artist: tpena19
Disclaimer: Mag7 doesn't belong to me
Rating: FRT
Characters: All
Warnings: No warnings
Summary - What should have been a quiet time between missions, instead, the ship gets thrown out of warp and the bridge gets taken over by pirates, while Buck, Nathan and two ensigns try to survive against the pirates being cut off from the rest of the ship, the rest of the seven try to figure out how to get the pirates off the ship.
Author Note - Thanks to atdelphi for her great betaing skills, and tpena19 for the great pictures
Also, there is a slight reference to Katy's fic “Clouds of Mystery”. Also thanks to Nancy W for creating this AU.
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Chris reached JD, “You got them?”
Turning in his seat, JD nodded. “It was the two ensigns on the bridge and I, we were able to connect. They heard a door opening and said that they would give us a call when the coast is clear.”
With the rest of the senior bridge crew settling around JD, Ezra voiced a question, “Do you know how any of them are?”
Biting his lip for a second, the young ensign shook his head. “I don't know, we didn't get much to say, beyond hello, and someone is coming. “
“Did they say when they would contact again?”
Looking over at Chris, JD shrugged his shoulders. “No, there wasn't time. I'm hoping soon.”
Rubbing his head with his hand, Chris's gaze moved over to Vin, “get your group ready to go to the other ship. I want control of that ship. Ezra, get a group ready to storm the bridge, I want to be able to take that shield down, once we have control of the ship.”
The two officers nodded once and without a word, left the room. Vin paused for one second. “Let us know how they're all doing?”
Chris nodded.
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The three in the ready room, were in shock. For a long minute, one that Nathan would be cursing himself about later, they watched as Buck laid on the floor slowly bleeding all over it.
When the shock had worn off, all three had leaped from their place in the room, to Buck. Nathan being closer, motion for the other two, to stay back slightly.
Taking a deep breath, Nathan slowly started to check over the unconscious man. Wincing at the bloody marks on the man's back, and the rapid pulse rate, the bit lips for a second. Unsure if he should try to turn the man over.
Shaking his head, he turned to Davenport. “Find a blanket, something I can put on the floor and roll him on to.
Davenport seemed to leap up towards the nearest object they could use, as if a starter's pistol had gone off. Coming back with the blanket, Nathan looked at it for a second, remembering how Chris had gotten it. Smiling slightly, Nathan made a silent promise that a new one would be gotten.
He folded it in half, and laid it on the floor. Rolling Buck over on it, he ignored the slight groan as he checked the rest of Buck's wounds.
The touching and fiddling of the wounds, brought Buck closer to waking. Seeing this, as Nathan finished checking Buck over, Nathan started to urge the man to wake fully. “Come on, you can wake up. You're worrying everyone, and we got news.”
To Nathan's surprise, two very pain filled eyes, were suddenly looking at him. A soft groan, then as Nathan watched as the injured man, gathered his strength, a whisper emerged from the man's throat. “Ships booby trapped. Gas for this one, explosion for another can't let them beam or take shield down.”
With those cryptic words, Buck's eyes rolled back and the lids closed. For a second, Nathan thought Buck had stopped breathing, but let go of his own breath, when he realized the man had simply fell into unconsciousness.
Turning to the ensigns, he frowned. “Do you have a clue what he meant?”
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The minutes ticked by slowly, each second seemed to take years, and each minute, made the next longer. The small knot of people around the workstation, were slowly winding tighter and tighter as the silence dragged on.
Everyone was ready to act. Just when it seemed that the tension and worry couldn't get any stronger, the soft crackle of Nathan's tired voice seemed to leak out of the workstation. “You still there JD?”
Before JD could response, Chris spoke up. “Nathan? Where's Buck?”
A soft sigh, then clearing of his throat. “At the moment, we're trying to make sure he doesn't bleed all over the floor.”
“Nathan! What is going on!”
Barked out Chris.
“Its...its...Buck seems to think we tripped some sort of ship trap. The crew of a pirate ship beamed aboard and has taken control of the bridge. They've locked us in the ready room, and has been using Buck as his personal stress reliever, as he tried to get the information on how to drop the shield. It also seems that the enemy's ship is booby trapped, and will explosive the moment we beam onto it. Also, if the shield around the bridge is dropped, some sort of gas will be release to the rest of the ship.”
As Nathan's ramble came to a stop, the three men shared a glance, Chris hitting his badge, called out. “Computer to transporter room. Don't beam any one over to that ship. Stand down. I repeat, do not beam anyone over to that ship, its a trap.”
Slamming his communicator with more force then was needed again, Chris opened a line to Ezra. “Hold position, we take down the shield, the pirates are going to blow gas into the ship.”
Cursing could be heard from Ezra then. “Got it Captain, standing down, I'm coming back down.”
Taking a deep breath, Chris nodded to JD. “Anything else we should know Nathan?”
A soft breath, and a swallow, then in a soft voice, “It seems that Captain Kirak, the lead pirate, feels that in an hour or so, you will need a new first officer”
In an even softer, and worried voice, Nathan spoke. “Chris...he's going to torture Buck to death.”
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The silence that stretched over the comm this time, was received very differently then the one before. Nathan had seemly dropped the comm as if it had burned him for saying such words. Wiping his hands, he moved over to Buck, motioning for Galloway to take over at the comm.
It was the soft grunt and groans that brought Nathan aside the hurt man. Softly talking, Nathan hoped it would be enough to bring Buck around.
As he watched, the grunts and groans slowly faded, and again he was reward with two blue eyes staring at him.
“You're awake.”
A softly forced out, “barely...did they...”
Laying a hand on the man's shoulder, Nathan nodded. “I told them.”
“Good.”
Shaking his head, Nathan sighed. “Though, you need to be quiet and rest.”
“Only got an hour.”
“Chris and the others will figure out how to get us out of here. We just have to hang on.”
Seeing Buck's eyes close, caused a moment of panic in Nathan, and he released a breath when the eyes opened again. “How? They come in they're gas the ship.”
Rubbing his eyes with a hand, the doctor took a deep breath, “then we'll figure out how to stop the gas.”
“Maybe you're right.”
“I am, now rest. I'm sure we'll be out of here soon.”
As Buck fell back into unconsciousness or sleep as Nathan hoped, the doctor, sighed. Staring at Galloway and Davenport he smiled. “You two doing alright?”
Galloway answered. “Yes sir, just waiting. Is commander Wilmington going to be all right?”
Nathan frowned for a second, then cleared his throats. “He'll be fine, he's been injured worse. We just have to stay focus and see what comes up. Especially stay calm.”
The two ensigns nodded. “We can do that sir.”
“Good, why don't you two see if you could figure out a way to drop the shield but not letting the gas escape.”
The two starfleet officers nodded, and bent their heads again over the padd.”
Turning back to the first officer, Nathan sighed. It wasn't as good as he said. The whip marks on his back were worrisome. They bled more then he would of liked and he didn't have any medical supplies to help.
Looking at the closed door, Nathan hoped that they would get out of this soon. He didn't know how much longer Buck had, or any of them for that matter.
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Ezra and Vin had joined the other three around JD's workstation. After Nathan's information, no one had said anything, they couldn't believe what they had heard. The group was trying to digest the information that Buck was being tortured to death and they couldn't do anything.
Taking a deep breath, Chris shook his head to clear it and spoke, break the silence. “All right, we need a plan now. “
The rest of the group shook themselves out of their shock, and started to look at each. Ezra was the first one to speak. “We need to be able to stop that gas from escaping. Once we do that, it won't be that hard to get in there and subdue the pirates.”
Chris frowned. “There is a problem with that, mostly on how are we going to stop the gas. We can't beam it out. We don't want to take the chance that we just get the container and the gas. Anyone?”
The five men had fallen silence, none of them could offer anything else. Cursing Chris, turned to JD, Can you get them back.”
Blinking, JD shrugged his shoulders. “Let me try.”
After several attempts, JD smiled softly, when he finally heard Nathan again. “Nate? Do you know how the gas is going to be disburse?”
The group could hear a deep breath then, “I don't know.”
Licking his lips to gain moisture on them Chris spoke. “Can you ask Buck?”
A short hesitation then, “I'll have to try and wake him. Give me a few minutes.”
The comm went dead.
When Nathan came back on, and started to speak, the five men let go of a breath they were holding. “He says that to stop it from going, its simple getting a remote away from one of the Kirak crew.
“Do you think Buck could do that?”
A short bark of humorless laughter, then “Buck won't be able to win a fight with a piece of lettuce.”
Chris sighed, “Can you or the two ensigns to it?”
A soft curse, then silence for several seconds then, “I..it would have to be me. He isn't going to take the ensigns, if he takes anyone it would be me.”
Rubbing his eyes, Chris shared a look with each of them, “Nathan, you're going to have to get them to take you.”
A long moment of quiet, Chris was about to speak again, when Nathan came back on. “I..All right.”
Chris was quiet for a moment, taking a deep breath, he continued. “Once you stop the release of the gas, notify us, we'll drop the shield and beam interlopers out and into the brig.”
A soft chuckle from Vin then. “Not space?”
A predatory grin graced Chris's face. “No, I want to teach them first not to mess with ship or my crew.”
Ezra shared a matching grin. “Nathan, we'll contact you again in about twenty minutes?”
Looking at Chris for confirmation, Chris nodded in agreement,
Ezra continued. “ Just to make sure everything is set. You need anything?”
“A fully stock med-bay and a some knives, beyond that, just get us out of here.”
Chuckling at the required items, Vin grinned. “We'll do our best. Just relax and get ready. Talk to you in twenty.”
As the comm went dead, the five men in the room shared a look. They had a lot to do in a very short amount of time.
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Nathan shared a look with the two ensigns, finally Davenport broke the silence. “What should we do sir?”
Moving closer to Buck, Nate ran his hands through his hair, scrubbing his hair back and forth for a moment, he lowered his hands and answered. “When Kirak comes back, I'm going to convince him that he needs to take me with him. I'm up for any ideas on how to do that.”
The two ensigns were quiet as they were thinking, neither were jumping with an answer. Nathan moved to check over Buck. Happy to see that the bleeding had stopped for now, he was about to recover the wounds when Davenport spoke up. “Sir, what if you tell Kirak that Commander Wilmington is dead, wouldn't he take you then.”
Swallowing back the thought of saying that Buck had died. Nathan's hand drifted to lay on the wounded man, feeling him breath.
“No, I don't think that would work. With our luck, Kirak would just shoot us all and be done with it. Besides, I don't think I'm that good of a liar.”
Ensign Galloway frowned, “Maybe convince him that you could get Buck to talk if you were taken out with him. Or that its against starfleet rules to not have a medic on hand when torturing someone?”
Nathan was about to refuse it, when a soft groan and, “I like that one.”
Looking down at the conscious first officer, Nathan smiled softly. “I'm not surprised. Though I don't think he's going to believe that.”
A soft chuckle, then blue eyes catching brown. “Its a good thought though. Maybe we won't have to do anything, I have a feeling that Kirak wants to show what happens when someone doesn't give him what he wants. He'll drag you out with me this time. Show you what happens when you don't share information.”
As Buck fell quiet, Nathan frowned. “How can you be so sure?”
A soft bitter laugh, then “Nate, its not my first rodeo.”
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Josiah sat down next to JD, who was randomly stabbing at the console in front of him. "Something on your mind?"
A soft snort, then "what isn't?"
Smiling softly, at how JD was sounding more like the rest of the senior crew then a young ensign he was when he journey started, Josiah answered back. "For one, I don't think the console there has done anything to deserve the treatment you are giving it."
A soft grunt, then a shrug of his shoulders, JD not turning to face Josiah spoke. "Its stupid"
"Nothing is stupid and if it is bugging you this much, then it might be better to talk about it. This has something to do with Buck?"
Turning to stare at Josiah, JD frowned. "How did you?"
A small smile then, "It wasn't that hard.:
A soft huff of air then, "why him?"
"Why him what?"
"Why Buck. Every time there seems to be trouble he's in the thick of it, alien ships from other dimensions, simple outpost checks turned into their is an insane person on board, shuttle craft crashes, why him?"
Before Josiah could answer, a voice called from the doorway,"Because that is Mr. Wilmington nature. "
Twirling around in his seat, JD glared at the security chief."Buck doesn't go looking for trouble."
Smiling slightly at the defense of the first officer, Ezra explained. "it isn't that he is looking for trouble, its just that he thinks of others before himself. His job is to protect everyone on the ship, including the Captain and everyone on board. He takes his mother-hening to include taking on everything and anything that wants to hurt the ship or people, and he is very good at finding it."
JD frowned, “But that still doesn't explain why he gets injured more then anyone else.”
Ezra grinned, as he settled down next to the two men. “That I don't have an answer too, besides we may want to check him for bulls-eyes or signs telling the bad guys to attack him.”
Josiah nodded. “Ezra may be right, but it doesn't matter how or why, Buck takes his job seriously.”
“I know, I just don't like it.”
Ezra nodded in agreement, “I have to agree with you there, but for now, until we can figure out how to get Buck out of trouble, we'll just have to be happy with lecturing him as he heal.”
JD turning nodding, frowned, “Do you think this plan will work? Nathan didn't seem so sure.”
Josiah and Ezra shared a long look, finally, the security chief answered the ensign's question. “They will do it. Its more of a question of what it will cost.”
JD sighed, “I just hope it doesn't cost too much.”
Josiah nodded. “That I agree with JD, that I agree with.”
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When the door swished open, Chris looked over at the figure in the doorway and frowned. “Thought you were helping Ezra?”
“I am, we're getting in position in about ten minutes, wanted to know how you were doing?”
“I'm fine, just looking over some reports. Waiting to hear back some information on our unwelcome guest.”
Sitting down, the Vulcan stared at the Captain. “Fine..as in my bridge has been sealed off from the ship with four members in the crew in various stages of health. Who, you can communicate with and not actually see them. Or that the plan to rescue them relies on the Buck and Nathan overpowering the people, who have them, for the crucial seconds or I'm ignoring the bruising and hurt ribs because if I don't acknowledge them no one will notice?”
Chris snorted, “I think you covered everything. But I'm not hurt, I'm fine. Now, that we've had this chat, can get back to focus on the pirates who have taken over my bridge?”
Snorting slightly, Vin shook his head. “If that is how you want to play it that way.”
Getting up from is chair, Vin started to walk out of the door. Pausing at the threshold, he turned and looked back at the Captain. “They will do their jobs.”
Chris snorted softly. “That isn't in doubt, its the question if they will live through it.”
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Nathan took a deep breath, it was almost time. Looking down at Buck, he couldn't help but wonder how the first officer thought he would be able to do what he needed to do. “Buck, its time to wake up.”
For a long moment, Nathan didn't think that the commander would wake up. So, when he heard a slight groan. “Buck? You with us again?”
“Yea, we have to get ready.”
“In a few minutes, Chris should be calling in a second or so. You going to be able to do this?”
A soft snort, “Yea, I'm going to be able to do it. I don't think I'm going to like it though.”
Nathan stared at Buck. Are you sure this is a good idea? Maybe we could think of something else?”
Shaking his head,Buck ordered out. Nathan, get me up."
Staring at the injured man, Nathan's doctor instincts came to the fore. "No, you're barely alive, standing you up might kill you."
Closing his eyes and gathering his breath, Buck opened his eyes making blue meet brown. "It wasn't a suggestion, if this will work. I need to be standing. You don't have a choice."
Nathan shook his head. "I can refuse, I"m still chief medical officer."
A soft sigh, then in a softer voice then before. "Nate, this isn't about whose right or whose wrong, or what's good for me to live through this. This is about being able to convince the people out there, that they haven't defeated us yet. I need to be able to get them to drag you with me. I can't do that lying down here looking like I'm dead. I know its not a good idea. But there isn't much choice, and I rather get up now to get use to it , rather then three seconds before the door open. I need the starfleet officer in you, Nate, not the healer, right now."
"But...I," closing his eyes, Nathan took a deep breath, letting it out, "..this is still a bad plan, what if you don't stay awake long enough. What if..."
A soft chuckle, then a small gasp then in a soft voice, Buck answered, "Leave the what if's the why didn't, and whose fault, for the late nights, when sleep is eluding you and you have a steady supple of drink. Right now, we go with our best option. That's me standing up when the Kirak comes in."
After a few minutes, Nathan finally nodded. "All right. I still don't like it."
"Doesn't really matter, we have to do it. Now, how do you want to get me up?"
Rocking back on his heels, Nathan was quiet for a long moment, then with a shake of his head, he turned to look over at the two ensigns. "I'm going to need your help, and I'm going to need your outer jacket Galloway.”
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Walking over to JD, Chris peered at the computer screen for a minute. “Everyone ready?”
JD nodded. “Yes, Ezra and Vin are in position, and sickbay is ready for Buck.”
Placing a hand on JD's shoulder, Chris nodded. “Good. Contact Nathan, I want to make sure that they'll ready and can do the plan.”
Biting his lips, JD nodded. Hitting a button on the console, he nodded towards Chris.
Grinning, Chris spoke. “Nate you there?”
For a second there was nothing, then a few grunts and a short gasp and a single curse then, “We're here.”
“Nate, is everything is all right?”
A short grunt then. “Yes, we're set.”
“How is Buck doing.”
A soft chuckle, then a soft “he's alive and don't listen to what Nate tells you, I'm fine.”
A soft yelp, then a groan of 'Nate', had JD and Chris sharing a small smile. “Yep, you sound fine Buck. Nathan, can you guys do it?”
“We'll make sure the gas won't be released.”
Chris nodded. “Good, we figured out how to track you, just hit your communicator when you have control of the the gas, we'll enter then. After you hit your communicator, just stay out of the way.”
“We will Chris.”
“I know, good luck.”
“talk to you soon.”
With the communications cut off, JD tapped on the computer for a moment, “Chris, do you think this will work?”
“Yes, Buck and Nathan will do their part, and well do ours. We'll teach these pirates not to attack us. You can still take the shield down around the bridge when he has control of the gas?”
JD nodded, “Yes sir, once Ezra has control, it'll take a second to get it down.”
“Good, then when this is done, I think I have a couple of conversations to have.”
A small smile appeared on JD's face. “One of these with Buck? Sir?”
A rather evil grin bloomed across Chris's face. “Yes, at least one with Buck.”
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Nathan sighed, turning to Buck, who was leaning on him, he shook his head. “Think he bought it?”
With a snicker, Buck shook his head. “No, I have at least three lectures coming about this whole thing. It's highly unfair.”
With a snort, Nathan shook his head. “No, its perfectly fair. Until you start to listen to the lectures, we have every right to keep doing it.”
Closing his eyes for a long second, Buck reopened them.”That isn't fair.”
Nathan just shrugged his shoulder, ”All fair is in in love and war. Now, how are you really feeling? And fine isn't an answer.”
Buck sighed. “I'm still here, and I can do what needs to be done. Beyond that, ask me in a couple of hours.”
“I'll hold you to that.”
Before Buck could reply the door opened to the ready- room. The group of starfleet officers looked at the pirate Captain.
Kirak grinned at the sight before his eyes. “So, the little leader is still alive. Didn't think you starfleet officers were that strong. Though it is a pity that you won't live much longer.”
Taking a breath, Buck straightening. “You talk a lot. I don't think you can kill. Torture, hit, but kill, I think you just hope your victim dies on his own.”
Kirak face slowly turned red. “You have a death wish don't you. I will show you how I am willing to kill. Slowly, with you crying for your pitiful life on your own.”
Buck smirked at the Captain. “What in front of your crew. So, the only witness your crew. You'll just have one of them do it, when you find out you can't pull the trigger.”
Staring at the half dead starfleet officer, Kirak almost roared. “Fine, bring your little medic officer with you out here. He can report to your Captain, that I and only I killed you. Then your Captain will know how serious I am.”
Buck was quiet for a long moment, then nodded. “All right, though I still don't think you have the gall to kill me. But we'll see.”
Kirack grinned, “Then come, you will meet your death.”
Buck nodded, nudging for Nathan to start walking towards the door.
Moving slowly, as he helped Buck, Nathan hissed out. “Are you crazy?”
A soft huff of air that could be a soft chuckle from the injured officer then, “Got you out there with me didn't it. Now, when I push you, stumble into the man with the remote for the gas, I'll push you into him.”
Before Nathan could say anything, the two had walked onto the bridge. Taking a quick look around the room, he had to swallow back the bile that was filling it, when he saw the a rather large blood stain near the turbo lift doors.
Turning his eyes away, he scanned the rest of the room quickly. Feeling a nudge from Buck, he meant the mans eyes. Sharing a look, he noticed Buck angling his head towards one of the crew. Spotting the man, Nathan nodded and moved slightly to be more in line with the crew man that held the controls of the gas.”
Buck shared one more glance with Nathan, as the doctor was within a few feet of the man, Buck took a deep breath and what was left with the rest of his strength pretended to stumble, and pushed Nathan towards the man as the first officer started to fall to the floor.”
Nathan wasted no time when he felt the push. He made the act of stumbling into the crew member, he fumble for a second the as if by accident he slug them man in the jaw with his fist. As the man fell into unconscious, Nathan grabbed the control for the gas, and then hit his communicator. “I have it.”
What happened next, seemed to Nathan happened all at once. The minute the words had left his mouth, it seemed that the turbo lift doors opened, out of the turbo lift seem to pour out dozens of security officers, which in reality were only about ten. Ezra and Vin in the lead. The men spreading out and aimed their phasers at the pirate crew. In a loud clear voice, Ezra shouted. “Drop your weapons now, or we will fire on you.”
Kirak for a second thought of putting up a fight, he wasn't going to loose the ship. But there was suddenly a phaser two inches from his eyes, and Ezra with look of death in his eye, growled out. “Go for it. Please.”
Raising his hands, Kirak shook his head, and shouted out. Put down your weapons. They have us.”
The crew dropped their weapons and raised their hands. Kirak did the same. Looking at the security chief, he smiled. “We give up.”
Moving back a few feet, Ezra still kept his phaser on the Captain. Looking around the room, he hit his communicator. “Captain, we have them all. The bridge is clear.”
Motioning for his guards to start taking the captives away, Ezra watched for a second, when a quick moment caught his eye. “Nathan? What are you....”
The question dried in his throat when he saw what Nathan was lunging towards something on the floor. Looking down on the floor, he spotted Buck laying there. Blood covering the first officer.
Nathan ignoring everything around him, checked Buck really quick, then hitting his badge, he called out “Transporter room, medical emergency, two to be beamed to the infirmary.”
Before anything could be asked, Nathan and Buck disappeared as they were transported off the bridge. Sharing a quick look with Vin, Ezra made a note to check with Nathan later on what was wrong with Buck.
Blinking his head, he glanced around the bridge, making sure everything was secure. As the pirate crew was being shackled, he was surprise to see Chris walk through the turbo lifts door. “Captain, I thought you were waiting for the all clear sign.”
Chris looked around the bridge for a long moment, ignoring Ezra's question, he seemed to slide in front of the pirate Captain. Glaring at the man who thought to take over is ship, Chris slowly seemly to growl out, “You will pay for what you did to my crew and ship.”
The prate tried to take a step back, when he bumped into the wall of the ship, he cleared his throat. His reply was wobbly to start but got steadier as he spoke.. “You won't do anything to me, this is starfleet, they don't hang or murder people. I and my crew will get a cushion jail sentence on some nice little prison plant. You can't hurt me.”
With a predatory grin, Chris leaned in and shook his head. “No, you don't get it. I won't be in Starfleet forever, but even beyond that, who said they will find out that it was me. I'm sure I can find help in covering my tracks. And I will make sure that you feel every ounce of pain that you did to my first officer tenfold before I let you die.”
Kirak swallowed heavily.”You wouldn't. You're a Captain of starfleet.”
Straighten up and his grin widening, looking the pirate Captain up and down slowly, the starfleet Captain shook his head. “Yes, but I take the offense of hurting one of my crew seriously. And you hurt one of them. Tried to take over my ship. I'm sure that Starfleet would understand my sudden rage of insanity, that is if it wasn't reported as an accident.”
As Chris finished talking, Ezra called over, “Are we going to report it that he tripped over a knife this time, or felt like peeling his own skin off with a spoon, and not finding our about it until it was too late?”
At that, the pirate Captain lost all fight. Blubbering out. “You wouldn't.”
Chris grinned. “Oh I would.”
With a motion of his hand, Ezra had the other security guards take the pirate crew and their Captain off the bridge.
As the last man disappeared into the turbo lift, and the doors closing, Chris eyed the turbo lift for a moment, fighting back the urge to hit something, when he felt a hand on his shoulder. Turning to look he met Vin's eyes. “Vin, that isn't what I think it is in front of the turbo lift and on the door is it.”
Moving closer for a second, Vin ran a tricoder over the marks. “If you mean Buck's blood, it is. What ever that Captain did to Buck, I think a huge chuck of it happened here.”
Closing his eyes for a second, Chris nodded. “All right, get the rest of the bridge crew up here. It is time to see what that group did to the ship, and get someone up here to clean that.”
Nodding, Vin quickly moved to his station, sharing a look with Ezra. Neither were sure that they wanted to know what had happen to cause the large blood spatter and stains on the turbo lift doors. Though both promised to make sure that the pirates got what they deserved for what they did.
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Several hours later, had Nathan coming out of one of the surgery rooms, motioning the nurses on which bed to place the unconscious first officer, taking off the surgical cap, the doctor watched as the nurses settled Buck down.
With the last check of the readings, the nurses left the room. Nathan took a deep breath, and moved over to the bed. Leaning against the bio-bed, he stared at the still form of the officer in front of him.
For a long moment, he just stared, the first officer look much better then he had up on the bridge. The blood had been cleared off of him. The wounds closed, blood back in the man's veins. Raising his head, Nathan laid it on the first officers chest, reveling in the feeling of the the chest rising and fallen.
Far too soon, for his liking he lifted his hand off the chest, and rubbed his face and hair with the hand. It had been a long night, and what will seem like a longer day, but now he had a report he needed to write, and images that he would love to get out of his head, though he never thought he would be able to.
With a shake of his head, he stared at the unconscious man for a long minute then turned and headed towards the bridge, he was going to tell the tale once, and since everyone up there will want to know how Buck is, it was just as easy to do it there.
With a soft sigh, he turned and left the room, making sure the nurses knew to alert him if anything changed.
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Hearing the turbo lift door open, the crew on the bridge turned to see a tired chief medical officer leaning against the door. “Captain, you wanted a quick report.”
Staring at Nathan, Chris frowned. “You want to take a nap first.”
Shaking his head. Nathan, moved onto the bridge, “No, I will after.”
With a nod, Chris motioned Nathan to move towards the conference room. “How is Buck?”
Pausing for a second, Nathan took a deep breath, turning to the crew, the doctor smiled. “He'll be fine after some rest and time to heal. He was worked over well, but you know Buck. He's too stubborn to let that beat him.”
Frowning at the description, Chris watched the doctor finish the journey to the conference room, then motion Ezra to take over the command of the bridge, as he followed the Doctor into the room. As the door closed, the rest of the bridge crew shared a look, and turned back to their task, making sure they avoided looking at the slight stain in front of the turbo lift.
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Chris entered the room, and paused, seeing Nathan slumped in a chair with his head on the table. Shaking his head, he walked in quietly and sat down in his chair. “You sure you want to get this done with now?”
Lifting his head, Nathan nodded. “Yes, the sooner the better.”
Eying the doctor for a long moment, Chris finally nodded. “I'm going to record this, and use it as a preliminary report, the full report can wait a few days. But first, how is Buck?”
With a small sigh, Nathan shrugged his shoulders. “He'll be fine. It was a close thing though. But, we were able to get enough blood back in him and seal up the wounds.”
Chris nodded. “Good, now what happened to him?”
For a long second, Nathan heisted. Then taking a deep breath, he answered in a soft voice.”Tortured for the information. From what I can tell by the wounds. Beaten up, sliced with a knife several times, then whipped.”
Chis bit back a growl. “What else?”
Nathan sighed, “That's all, but I guess I should start from the top?”
Leaning back against his seat, Chris sighed. “Yes, please from the top.”
With a nod, Nathan started to talk. “It all started when there was a loud shutter and we dropped out of warp....”
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Twenty minutes later, Vin watched as Nathan came almost sliding out of the conference room, exhausted and drained from the telling. Watching as Nathan never acknowledge anyone on the bridge, and walked to the turbo lift, pausing for a second and staring down at the slight stain, stepping carefully over it, Vin watched as the chief medical officer get in the lift and close the doors.
Sharing a glance with Ezra, the security chief shrugged his shoulders. “Go talk to Chris, I'm getting tired of being in command of the bridge. I have other things to work on.”
With a share looked with JD, Vin got up headed into the conference room. Ezra watched for a second, then sighed. It was going to be a long day.”
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Vin slid into the conference room. Settling down next in a chair next to Chris. “You okay?”
For a long moment, Chris stayed staring out of the window, turning to look at the Vulcan, the Captain sighed. “I will be. Once Buck wakes up and I knock some sense into him.”
“I'm sure he will hurry up and wake up so he can be knocked out again.”
Smirking slightly at the suggestion, “I would if it would work. But Buck would think he deserved it. “
Vin nodded, “Well, you could ground him.”
Smirking slightly, Chris sighed. “True, though I doubt it would stick. Though now that I know what happened, I'm going to have a small chat with our pirates.”
“Can I watch?”
Shaking his head, Chris said with slight amusement in it, “No, it won't be that entertaining.”
Vin grinned, “Depends on which side of the glass you are on.”
Smirking slightly, Chris nodded, “That might be true, but I don't think this needs to be viewed.”
Nodding, the Vulcan got up to leave, stopping at the door, he paused. “Buck will be all right.”
Chris nodded. “I know, but how many more times will he be?”
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Watching from the doorway of the brig, Chris glared at the group of the pirates. Closing his eyes for a second, he reopened them. Taking a deep breath he walked into the brig.
Glaring at the pirate, Chris could help keep the growl out of his voice. “ If I had my way, I would have you drawn and quarter and have my medic heal you so I could do it again.”
Kirak looked up from his seat in the brig. Looking at the Captain, the man smiled. “But you can't. You are noble starfleet, and you don't kill your criminals. You sent them to prisons, where they serve only a few years before they are out.”
Chris moved closer to the pirates. In a soft voice, while glaring at the men, he shook his head.”Not everyone. There are some that meet with accidents. Horrible accidents.”
Kirak stared at the starfleet officer. Blinking, he laughed nervously. “Not even a starfleet officer would try something like that. You have too much honor and goodness and belief in the system.”
A slow evil grin crossed the Captain's face, “You're right, a good, honorable starfleet officer would never to something like that. Though, the really question is, why do you think I'm a good, honorable Starfleet officer?”
Moving forward like a top predator looking at his prey, Chris made sure to glare into the Captain's eyes. “Your ship will be blown up, an accident. Misfire of a couple of torpedoes. You will be dragged to starfleet, and the minute that you are thrown into prison, your life will become like nothing you've ever dreamed or believe could happen.”
“You can't do that.”
Chris, moved away and smiled softly. “Oh, I can do that. It seems if you help some people in rather unsavory bars around the universe they owe you favors. Life long debt favors.”
Turning his back Chris walked away from the pirates, hearing the group beg forgiveness and not to let anything happen to them. The begs and shouts were cut off by the brig doors shutting.
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The soft hush of the doors opening, and the padding of feet went unotice by the man staring out into space, seeking answers that he wasn't sure he wanted. It wasn't until a hand landed on his shoulder, and a face appearing next to his reflection in the window that he realized that he wasn't alone.
After several long moments of silence, Ezra spoke up. “Shouldn't you be resting?”
A soft sigh, then, “Couldn't sleep, had some things on my mind.”
Staring out into space for a long moment, Ezra shifted slightly, “You want to talk about it. Might help.”
“Nope.”
Smirking, Ezra shook his head. “Sure, I could make you. Ship security and all.”
Rolling his eyes slightly, Nathan huffed. “Its just....how do you do it.”
“Do what?”
“The whole risk your life thing. Separate out the times that you need to do something risking that may kill you or let someone else do it. How do you stand by knowing that something you ordered, or can't change will most likely cause someone's death.”
A soft sigh, then “You can't worry about it. You make the best decision you can. With the information you can and trust yourself to make the right one.”
“Then worry about it when you can't sleep with something to drink?”
“I take it Buck gave that bit of advice to work with so you would do what he wanted?”
“How did you know?”
Ezra grinned, “The first time I couldn't sleep about something. He found me in here drinking some very good scotch when I couldn't sleep. Sat down and talked to me until I had figured out my problem and worked through everything I could of done or not.”
“Did it help?”
“Yes, got me to sleep at least.”
Nathan sighed. “How?”
“I'm still trying to figure that out. I think he talk to me to sleep or slipped something into my drink.”
Finally turning away from the windows to face Ezra, Nathan leaned against the window, “I don't know if I could do this. Be willing to let people hurt themselves when I could stop it. I'm suppose to stop people from hurting themselves.”
Ezra grinned. “With this group you should just give up on stopping them from hurting themselves or throwing themselves in danger. Chris and Buck will do what they need to, in order to keep the crew safe. We have a job to do our best to make sure that they don't kill themselves trying to do it.”
Nathan rolled his eyes, “I would suggest you include yourself, Vin and JD in that group.”
Ezra snicker. “Well, give it time, I'm sure you and Josiah will move up on the list.”
Chuckling softly, Nathan shook his head. “I hope not. I don't think I want to operate on myself.”
Ezra eyed Nathan for a long second. “Ready for some sleep now?”
Yawning, Nathan nodded, “No stiff drink with a sleeping aid in it?”
Smirking, the head of security grinned. “No, I could if you want, but I figured you wouldn't fall for it. Besides, I don't want to wake up next time I have to go to sick bay and find that I have an extra arm or missing an ear or other body part.”
“That was a good idea. Though I do think I can handle some sleep. I need it tomorrow when Buck wakes up and starts to whine about being fine.”
With a nod in agreement. The two men headed out of ten forward.
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Sitting next to an unconscious Buck, JD sighed. He was sick of being in this position. Waiting for Buck to wake up from Nathan's ministries. “I get tired of this. You have to stop this getting hurt. You aren't expendable. You can't keep throwing yourself at these people. Nate is getting tired of having to repair you, and I'm getting tired of sitting here waiting for you to wake up.”
A soft chuckle from the shadowy doorway, had JD whipping his head around. “What...Captain?”
Chris moved into the room, “You can't change him, JD.”
“He can't keep doing this though.”
Laughing slightly, Chris sat down in a nearby chair gingerly. “He's going to do what he needs to in order to keep us safe. If that means throwing himself into danger first, then he will.”
“Were you like this?”
Frowning, Chris shook his head. “What do you mean was I like this?”
Swallowing slightly, JD took a deep breath. “When you were a first officer, did you throw yourself like this into danger, have sick bay become a second home?”
“No, though the ships I was on, didn't get into nearly this much trouble.”
JD eyed the Captain, he didn't know if he believed it. Before he could figure out the truth, he heard a soft cough from Buck. Then, a soft chuckle. “He was worse.”
The two men shared a look, then turned to look at Buck. JD was the first to speak. “Buck! You're awake.”
“What happened?”
“You decided that almost killing yourself would save the ship.”
Closing his eyes for a long moment, Buck opened his eyes to half mast. “It worked?”
JD frowned. “Yes, but that's not the point, you almost died. You would of died.”
Buck sighed. “I didn't.”
Chris growled softly. “Only because Nathan was there to save you. Three more minutes and you would of died.”
A half grin, then “I didn't.”
Buck turned his head to look at Chris and and JD, then he frowned. “You hurt Chris?”
“No, I'm fine.”
JD sighed, before he could say something another voice spoke up from the doorway. “And that is speak for I'm hurt but I've ignored it for this long, it might heal on its own, but I don't need to see anyone about it.”
JD hid his grin, and the soft chuckle from the bed made Chris turn and glare at the two in the room. “Nate, shouldn't you be resting.”
Stepping into the room, Nathan shrugged his shoulders. “I was coming to check on Buck here, who I see is awake, and overheard JD here. I think I need to do a scan, see how badly you are hurt. Don't need another senior officer to try to kill himself.”
Fighting back a deep yawn, Buck spoke up.”He has you there stud.”
Nathan turned and look at Buck. “You need to get some sleep. You shouldn't be awake as it is.”
Loosing a fight with a yawn, Buck grinned. “I'm full of surprises.”
All three chuckled. Shaking his head, Nathan walked over to Buck. Checking the readings, he smiled. “You'll be fine, now get some sleep. These two jokers can both get checked out.”
Buck watched as Nathan herded the two men to men to the main room in sickbay, smiling softly, Buck closed his eyes and fell back to sleep.”
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The soft conversations and clatter of silverware onto plates made a rather soothing background for the man who was huddled in a dark corner, PADDs spread across the table, his untouched dinner pushed to the edge of the table. A half filled coffee cup had gone cold and forgotten next to the plate.
The ebb and flow of the rest of the crew as they entered, ate and left Ten Forward barely registered with the man in the corner. Nothing did, until a light tap on his head and the soft scrape of a chair being pulled out.
Shaking his head, he blinked and looked over at who had joined him. “Chris?”
“Yes. Is there a reason why you are hiding in the corner?”
“Not hiding, just trying to get some work done.”
Chris eyed the scattered PADDs across the table. Frowning at the full plate of food and cold coffee, the captain shook his head. “As I said, hiding. You going to eat anything?”
A soft snort, then a shake of his head. “No, what Nate wants me to eat looks dangerous. I think it moved at some point.”
“It isn't that bad. Besides, I don't think that Nathan will be happy to hear his food referred to that way.”
Shrugging his shoulders, Buck pushed the plate away from him slightly. “Not going to eat it.”
Studying his first officer, Chris frowned at what he saw. “You want to talk about it?”
Staring quizzically at Chris, Buck shook his head. “About what?”
Letting a small sigh out, the captain shook his head. “You want me to make a list, or just start with torture, almost bleeding to death, hiding things from your captain...”
Buck looked away for a moment, then looked back and fiddled with the PADDs on the table. Finally, after several long minutes, he spoke softly. “Not much to talk about. Been there, done that. And as for hiding things. I wasn't hiding, it was just not ready to share. Hell, it was just something to get the different departments working together. A little team building exercise. Didn't think that it would ever be used.”
“You put it on the computer.”
Rubbing his hand over his PADD, Buck shrugged his shoulders. “It had just gone on - I was trying to get the cobbled together program to work.”
“Well, it seemed you got it to mostly work.”
Grinning slightly, Buck nodded. “Yes, though it seems it might have a few bugs.”
Chuckling slightly, Chris nodded in agreement. “Yes, but I think we should keep it. Work on it a little bit. Clean up the bugs. Could be useful.”
Staring at his captain, Buck blinked. “What?”
“Work out the bugs and fix it. We might need it again. Though I do want to know what else you're working on. I don't like things programmed into my ship without my knowledge.”
“Won't happen again.”
Shaking his head, Chris pushed the cold plate of food slightly. “Good, now how are you really?”
Rolling his eyes, Buck sighed. “Fine. Nathan let me go, said I was fine.”
“If I remember, he said that you almost died, that even though the wounds were healed and blood replaced, you still needed to relax, eat and sleep. For your body to do some natural healing.”
Waving his hand at Chris in surrender, Buck grinned slightly. “I know, I've relaxed, slept, ate what was put in front of me. Sat through four safety lectures from Ezra. Josiah seeking me out and wanting to talk about it.”
“Well, they're just worried.”
Staring at Chris, Buck shrugged his shoulders. “I know, but I have a feeling Ezra really wants to tag me or something to keep me out of trouble.”
“Wouldn't work. Just cause more trouble then it's worth. “
Grinning, Buck let a small chuckle slip out. “That was once, and it got you out of that jam.”
“True, but the damn thing gave me a second degree burn. Now, I think you should follow Nathan's advice and relax. Gather your stuff, and we'll head to my quarters, where you can tell me about any more of your team building ideas and eat something that won't try to attack you.”
Nodding, Buck started to collect the PADDs, then paused in mid-grab of one. “There isn't a lecture in there.”
Grinning, Chris shrugged his shoulders. “Who knows? As Captain, I can always change my mind.”
Grabbing that last PADD, Buck shrugged his shoulders. “I'll go for the food that won't kill me - and your lecture can't be as bad as Ezra's.”
As the two men left Ten Forward, Chris chuckled. “Oh, I would wait on that.”
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A week later, the crew of the Maverick were back to what they consider normal. The pirates had been handed off to the nearest star base as prisoners, the pirate ship, after JD work his magic and got all the information from the ship, it meant with a tragic accident, it seemed it ran into a photon torpedo.
Much to the regret of the Maverick crew. The bridge had been cleaned, the carpet had been replaced in front of the turbo-lift. The crew soon after the carpet been replaced, had stop hesitating from walking out of the lift.
Even with all that fixed the mood on the bridge was rather sullen and quiet. Though, it all changed when the turbo-lift doors suddenly open, turning to look, the crew turned and watch as the missing member of the bridge crew walked onto the bridge.
Buck looked around the bridge, with a grin, he walked towards his seat. Settling into the chair to next to Chris's he smiled. “So, any one miss me?”
Ezra pipped up from his place on the bridge. “We've been waiting for you, seems we had to have a lottery on who gets to give you their lecture first.”
Looking around at the group, Buck's grin slowly fell from his face. “You know, I think I still might be sick.”
Ezra grinned slightly.”Too late for that.”
The end.
[ splash page][ part one][ part two]
Fandom: Magnificent Seven, Star Trek AU
Author: Megan aka issolafox
Artist: tpena19
Disclaimer: Mag7 doesn't belong to me
Rating: FRT
Characters: All
Warnings: No warnings
Summary - What should have been a quiet time between missions, instead, the ship gets thrown out of warp and the bridge gets taken over by pirates, while Buck, Nathan and two ensigns try to survive against the pirates being cut off from the rest of the ship, the rest of the seven try to figure out how to get the pirates off the ship.
Author Note - Thanks to atdelphi for her great betaing skills, and tpena19 for the great pictures
Also, there is a slight reference to Katy's fic “Clouds of Mystery”. Also thanks to Nancy W for creating this AU.
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Chris reached JD, “You got them?”
Turning in his seat, JD nodded. “It was the two ensigns on the bridge and I, we were able to connect. They heard a door opening and said that they would give us a call when the coast is clear.”
With the rest of the senior bridge crew settling around JD, Ezra voiced a question, “Do you know how any of them are?”
Biting his lip for a second, the young ensign shook his head. “I don't know, we didn't get much to say, beyond hello, and someone is coming. “
“Did they say when they would contact again?”
Looking over at Chris, JD shrugged his shoulders. “No, there wasn't time. I'm hoping soon.”
Rubbing his head with his hand, Chris's gaze moved over to Vin, “get your group ready to go to the other ship. I want control of that ship. Ezra, get a group ready to storm the bridge, I want to be able to take that shield down, once we have control of the ship.”
The two officers nodded once and without a word, left the room. Vin paused for one second. “Let us know how they're all doing?”
Chris nodded.
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The three in the ready room, were in shock. For a long minute, one that Nathan would be cursing himself about later, they watched as Buck laid on the floor slowly bleeding all over it.
When the shock had worn off, all three had leaped from their place in the room, to Buck. Nathan being closer, motion for the other two, to stay back slightly.
Taking a deep breath, Nathan slowly started to check over the unconscious man. Wincing at the bloody marks on the man's back, and the rapid pulse rate, the bit lips for a second. Unsure if he should try to turn the man over.
Shaking his head, he turned to Davenport. “Find a blanket, something I can put on the floor and roll him on to.
Davenport seemed to leap up towards the nearest object they could use, as if a starter's pistol had gone off. Coming back with the blanket, Nathan looked at it for a second, remembering how Chris had gotten it. Smiling slightly, Nathan made a silent promise that a new one would be gotten.
He folded it in half, and laid it on the floor. Rolling Buck over on it, he ignored the slight groan as he checked the rest of Buck's wounds.
The touching and fiddling of the wounds, brought Buck closer to waking. Seeing this, as Nathan finished checking Buck over, Nathan started to urge the man to wake fully. “Come on, you can wake up. You're worrying everyone, and we got news.”
To Nathan's surprise, two very pain filled eyes, were suddenly looking at him. A soft groan, then as Nathan watched as the injured man, gathered his strength, a whisper emerged from the man's throat. “Ships booby trapped. Gas for this one, explosion for another can't let them beam or take shield down.”
With those cryptic words, Buck's eyes rolled back and the lids closed. For a second, Nathan thought Buck had stopped breathing, but let go of his own breath, when he realized the man had simply fell into unconsciousness.
Turning to the ensigns, he frowned. “Do you have a clue what he meant?”
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The minutes ticked by slowly, each second seemed to take years, and each minute, made the next longer. The small knot of people around the workstation, were slowly winding tighter and tighter as the silence dragged on.
Everyone was ready to act. Just when it seemed that the tension and worry couldn't get any stronger, the soft crackle of Nathan's tired voice seemed to leak out of the workstation. “You still there JD?”
Before JD could response, Chris spoke up. “Nathan? Where's Buck?”
A soft sigh, then clearing of his throat. “At the moment, we're trying to make sure he doesn't bleed all over the floor.”
“Nathan! What is going on!”
Barked out Chris.
“Its...its...Buck seems to think we tripped some sort of ship trap. The crew of a pirate ship beamed aboard and has taken control of the bridge. They've locked us in the ready room, and has been using Buck as his personal stress reliever, as he tried to get the information on how to drop the shield. It also seems that the enemy's ship is booby trapped, and will explosive the moment we beam onto it. Also, if the shield around the bridge is dropped, some sort of gas will be release to the rest of the ship.”
As Nathan's ramble came to a stop, the three men shared a glance, Chris hitting his badge, called out. “Computer to transporter room. Don't beam any one over to that ship. Stand down. I repeat, do not beam anyone over to that ship, its a trap.”
Slamming his communicator with more force then was needed again, Chris opened a line to Ezra. “Hold position, we take down the shield, the pirates are going to blow gas into the ship.”
Cursing could be heard from Ezra then. “Got it Captain, standing down, I'm coming back down.”
Taking a deep breath, Chris nodded to JD. “Anything else we should know Nathan?”
A soft breath, and a swallow, then in a soft voice, “It seems that Captain Kirak, the lead pirate, feels that in an hour or so, you will need a new first officer”
In an even softer, and worried voice, Nathan spoke. “Chris...he's going to torture Buck to death.”
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The silence that stretched over the comm this time, was received very differently then the one before. Nathan had seemly dropped the comm as if it had burned him for saying such words. Wiping his hands, he moved over to Buck, motioning for Galloway to take over at the comm.
It was the soft grunt and groans that brought Nathan aside the hurt man. Softly talking, Nathan hoped it would be enough to bring Buck around.
As he watched, the grunts and groans slowly faded, and again he was reward with two blue eyes staring at him.
“You're awake.”
A softly forced out, “barely...did they...”
Laying a hand on the man's shoulder, Nathan nodded. “I told them.”
“Good.”
Shaking his head, Nathan sighed. “Though, you need to be quiet and rest.”
“Only got an hour.”
“Chris and the others will figure out how to get us out of here. We just have to hang on.”
Seeing Buck's eyes close, caused a moment of panic in Nathan, and he released a breath when the eyes opened again. “How? They come in they're gas the ship.”
Rubbing his eyes with a hand, the doctor took a deep breath, “then we'll figure out how to stop the gas.”
“Maybe you're right.”
“I am, now rest. I'm sure we'll be out of here soon.”
As Buck fell back into unconsciousness or sleep as Nathan hoped, the doctor, sighed. Staring at Galloway and Davenport he smiled. “You two doing alright?”
Galloway answered. “Yes sir, just waiting. Is commander Wilmington going to be all right?”
Nathan frowned for a second, then cleared his throats. “He'll be fine, he's been injured worse. We just have to stay focus and see what comes up. Especially stay calm.”
The two ensigns nodded. “We can do that sir.”
“Good, why don't you two see if you could figure out a way to drop the shield but not letting the gas escape.”
The two starfleet officers nodded, and bent their heads again over the padd.”
Turning back to the first officer, Nathan sighed. It wasn't as good as he said. The whip marks on his back were worrisome. They bled more then he would of liked and he didn't have any medical supplies to help.
Looking at the closed door, Nathan hoped that they would get out of this soon. He didn't know how much longer Buck had, or any of them for that matter.
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Ezra and Vin had joined the other three around JD's workstation. After Nathan's information, no one had said anything, they couldn't believe what they had heard. The group was trying to digest the information that Buck was being tortured to death and they couldn't do anything.
Taking a deep breath, Chris shook his head to clear it and spoke, break the silence. “All right, we need a plan now. “
The rest of the group shook themselves out of their shock, and started to look at each. Ezra was the first one to speak. “We need to be able to stop that gas from escaping. Once we do that, it won't be that hard to get in there and subdue the pirates.”
Chris frowned. “There is a problem with that, mostly on how are we going to stop the gas. We can't beam it out. We don't want to take the chance that we just get the container and the gas. Anyone?”
The five men had fallen silence, none of them could offer anything else. Cursing Chris, turned to JD, Can you get them back.”
Blinking, JD shrugged his shoulders. “Let me try.”
After several attempts, JD smiled softly, when he finally heard Nathan again. “Nate? Do you know how the gas is going to be disburse?”
The group could hear a deep breath then, “I don't know.”
Licking his lips to gain moisture on them Chris spoke. “Can you ask Buck?”
A short hesitation then, “I'll have to try and wake him. Give me a few minutes.”
The comm went dead.
When Nathan came back on, and started to speak, the five men let go of a breath they were holding. “He says that to stop it from going, its simple getting a remote away from one of the Kirak crew.
“Do you think Buck could do that?”
A short bark of humorless laughter, then “Buck won't be able to win a fight with a piece of lettuce.”
Chris sighed, “Can you or the two ensigns to it?”
A soft curse, then silence for several seconds then, “I..it would have to be me. He isn't going to take the ensigns, if he takes anyone it would be me.”
Rubbing his eyes, Chris shared a look with each of them, “Nathan, you're going to have to get them to take you.”
A long moment of quiet, Chris was about to speak again, when Nathan came back on. “I..All right.”
Chris was quiet for a moment, taking a deep breath, he continued. “Once you stop the release of the gas, notify us, we'll drop the shield and beam interlopers out and into the brig.”
A soft chuckle from Vin then. “Not space?”
A predatory grin graced Chris's face. “No, I want to teach them first not to mess with ship or my crew.”
Ezra shared a matching grin. “Nathan, we'll contact you again in about twenty minutes?”
Looking at Chris for confirmation, Chris nodded in agreement,
Ezra continued. “ Just to make sure everything is set. You need anything?”
“A fully stock med-bay and a some knives, beyond that, just get us out of here.”
Chuckling at the required items, Vin grinned. “We'll do our best. Just relax and get ready. Talk to you in twenty.”
As the comm went dead, the five men in the room shared a look. They had a lot to do in a very short amount of time.
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Nathan shared a look with the two ensigns, finally Davenport broke the silence. “What should we do sir?”
Moving closer to Buck, Nate ran his hands through his hair, scrubbing his hair back and forth for a moment, he lowered his hands and answered. “When Kirak comes back, I'm going to convince him that he needs to take me with him. I'm up for any ideas on how to do that.”
The two ensigns were quiet as they were thinking, neither were jumping with an answer. Nathan moved to check over Buck. Happy to see that the bleeding had stopped for now, he was about to recover the wounds when Davenport spoke up. “Sir, what if you tell Kirak that Commander Wilmington is dead, wouldn't he take you then.”
Swallowing back the thought of saying that Buck had died. Nathan's hand drifted to lay on the wounded man, feeling him breath.
“No, I don't think that would work. With our luck, Kirak would just shoot us all and be done with it. Besides, I don't think I'm that good of a liar.”
Ensign Galloway frowned, “Maybe convince him that you could get Buck to talk if you were taken out with him. Or that its against starfleet rules to not have a medic on hand when torturing someone?”
Nathan was about to refuse it, when a soft groan and, “I like that one.”
Looking down at the conscious first officer, Nathan smiled softly. “I'm not surprised. Though I don't think he's going to believe that.”
A soft chuckle, then blue eyes catching brown. “Its a good thought though. Maybe we won't have to do anything, I have a feeling that Kirak wants to show what happens when someone doesn't give him what he wants. He'll drag you out with me this time. Show you what happens when you don't share information.”
As Buck fell quiet, Nathan frowned. “How can you be so sure?”
A soft bitter laugh, then “Nate, its not my first rodeo.”
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Josiah sat down next to JD, who was randomly stabbing at the console in front of him. "Something on your mind?"
A soft snort, then "what isn't?"
Smiling softly, at how JD was sounding more like the rest of the senior crew then a young ensign he was when he journey started, Josiah answered back. "For one, I don't think the console there has done anything to deserve the treatment you are giving it."
A soft grunt, then a shrug of his shoulders, JD not turning to face Josiah spoke. "Its stupid"
"Nothing is stupid and if it is bugging you this much, then it might be better to talk about it. This has something to do with Buck?"
Turning to stare at Josiah, JD frowned. "How did you?"
A small smile then, "It wasn't that hard.:
A soft huff of air then, "why him?"
"Why him what?"
"Why Buck. Every time there seems to be trouble he's in the thick of it, alien ships from other dimensions, simple outpost checks turned into their is an insane person on board, shuttle craft crashes, why him?"
Before Josiah could answer, a voice called from the doorway,"Because that is Mr. Wilmington nature. "
Twirling around in his seat, JD glared at the security chief."Buck doesn't go looking for trouble."
Smiling slightly at the defense of the first officer, Ezra explained. "it isn't that he is looking for trouble, its just that he thinks of others before himself. His job is to protect everyone on the ship, including the Captain and everyone on board. He takes his mother-hening to include taking on everything and anything that wants to hurt the ship or people, and he is very good at finding it."
JD frowned, “But that still doesn't explain why he gets injured more then anyone else.”
Ezra grinned, as he settled down next to the two men. “That I don't have an answer too, besides we may want to check him for bulls-eyes or signs telling the bad guys to attack him.”
Josiah nodded. “Ezra may be right, but it doesn't matter how or why, Buck takes his job seriously.”
“I know, I just don't like it.”
Ezra nodded in agreement, “I have to agree with you there, but for now, until we can figure out how to get Buck out of trouble, we'll just have to be happy with lecturing him as he heal.”
JD turning nodding, frowned, “Do you think this plan will work? Nathan didn't seem so sure.”
Josiah and Ezra shared a long look, finally, the security chief answered the ensign's question. “They will do it. Its more of a question of what it will cost.”
JD sighed, “I just hope it doesn't cost too much.”
Josiah nodded. “That I agree with JD, that I agree with.”
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When the door swished open, Chris looked over at the figure in the doorway and frowned. “Thought you were helping Ezra?”
“I am, we're getting in position in about ten minutes, wanted to know how you were doing?”
“I'm fine, just looking over some reports. Waiting to hear back some information on our unwelcome guest.”
Sitting down, the Vulcan stared at the Captain. “Fine..as in my bridge has been sealed off from the ship with four members in the crew in various stages of health. Who, you can communicate with and not actually see them. Or that the plan to rescue them relies on the Buck and Nathan overpowering the people, who have them, for the crucial seconds or I'm ignoring the bruising and hurt ribs because if I don't acknowledge them no one will notice?”
Chris snorted, “I think you covered everything. But I'm not hurt, I'm fine. Now, that we've had this chat, can get back to focus on the pirates who have taken over my bridge?”
Snorting slightly, Vin shook his head. “If that is how you want to play it that way.”
Getting up from is chair, Vin started to walk out of the door. Pausing at the threshold, he turned and looked back at the Captain. “They will do their jobs.”
Chris snorted softly. “That isn't in doubt, its the question if they will live through it.”
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Nathan took a deep breath, it was almost time. Looking down at Buck, he couldn't help but wonder how the first officer thought he would be able to do what he needed to do. “Buck, its time to wake up.”
For a long moment, Nathan didn't think that the commander would wake up. So, when he heard a slight groan. “Buck? You with us again?”
“Yea, we have to get ready.”
“In a few minutes, Chris should be calling in a second or so. You going to be able to do this?”
A soft snort, “Yea, I'm going to be able to do it. I don't think I'm going to like it though.”
Nathan stared at Buck. Are you sure this is a good idea? Maybe we could think of something else?”
Shaking his head,Buck ordered out. Nathan, get me up."
Staring at the injured man, Nathan's doctor instincts came to the fore. "No, you're barely alive, standing you up might kill you."
Closing his eyes and gathering his breath, Buck opened his eyes making blue meet brown. "It wasn't a suggestion, if this will work. I need to be standing. You don't have a choice."
Nathan shook his head. "I can refuse, I"m still chief medical officer."
A soft sigh, then in a softer voice then before. "Nate, this isn't about whose right or whose wrong, or what's good for me to live through this. This is about being able to convince the people out there, that they haven't defeated us yet. I need to be able to get them to drag you with me. I can't do that lying down here looking like I'm dead. I know its not a good idea. But there isn't much choice, and I rather get up now to get use to it , rather then three seconds before the door open. I need the starfleet officer in you, Nate, not the healer, right now."
"But...I," closing his eyes, Nathan took a deep breath, letting it out, "..this is still a bad plan, what if you don't stay awake long enough. What if..."
A soft chuckle, then a small gasp then in a soft voice, Buck answered, "Leave the what if's the why didn't, and whose fault, for the late nights, when sleep is eluding you and you have a steady supple of drink. Right now, we go with our best option. That's me standing up when the Kirak comes in."
After a few minutes, Nathan finally nodded. "All right. I still don't like it."
"Doesn't really matter, we have to do it. Now, how do you want to get me up?"
Rocking back on his heels, Nathan was quiet for a long moment, then with a shake of his head, he turned to look over at the two ensigns. "I'm going to need your help, and I'm going to need your outer jacket Galloway.”
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Walking over to JD, Chris peered at the computer screen for a minute. “Everyone ready?”
JD nodded. “Yes, Ezra and Vin are in position, and sickbay is ready for Buck.”
Placing a hand on JD's shoulder, Chris nodded. “Good. Contact Nathan, I want to make sure that they'll ready and can do the plan.”
Biting his lips, JD nodded. Hitting a button on the console, he nodded towards Chris.
Grinning, Chris spoke. “Nate you there?”
For a second there was nothing, then a few grunts and a short gasp and a single curse then, “We're here.”
“Nate, is everything is all right?”
A short grunt then. “Yes, we're set.”
“How is Buck doing.”
A soft chuckle, then a soft “he's alive and don't listen to what Nate tells you, I'm fine.”
A soft yelp, then a groan of 'Nate', had JD and Chris sharing a small smile. “Yep, you sound fine Buck. Nathan, can you guys do it?”
“We'll make sure the gas won't be released.”
Chris nodded. “Good, we figured out how to track you, just hit your communicator when you have control of the the gas, we'll enter then. After you hit your communicator, just stay out of the way.”
“We will Chris.”
“I know, good luck.”
“talk to you soon.”
With the communications cut off, JD tapped on the computer for a moment, “Chris, do you think this will work?”
“Yes, Buck and Nathan will do their part, and well do ours. We'll teach these pirates not to attack us. You can still take the shield down around the bridge when he has control of the gas?”
JD nodded, “Yes sir, once Ezra has control, it'll take a second to get it down.”
“Good, then when this is done, I think I have a couple of conversations to have.”
A small smile appeared on JD's face. “One of these with Buck? Sir?”
A rather evil grin bloomed across Chris's face. “Yes, at least one with Buck.”
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Nathan sighed, turning to Buck, who was leaning on him, he shook his head. “Think he bought it?”
With a snicker, Buck shook his head. “No, I have at least three lectures coming about this whole thing. It's highly unfair.”
With a snort, Nathan shook his head. “No, its perfectly fair. Until you start to listen to the lectures, we have every right to keep doing it.”
Closing his eyes for a long second, Buck reopened them.”That isn't fair.”
Nathan just shrugged his shoulder, ”All fair is in in love and war. Now, how are you really feeling? And fine isn't an answer.”
Buck sighed. “I'm still here, and I can do what needs to be done. Beyond that, ask me in a couple of hours.”
“I'll hold you to that.”
Before Buck could reply the door opened to the ready- room. The group of starfleet officers looked at the pirate Captain.
Kirak grinned at the sight before his eyes. “So, the little leader is still alive. Didn't think you starfleet officers were that strong. Though it is a pity that you won't live much longer.”
Taking a breath, Buck straightening. “You talk a lot. I don't think you can kill. Torture, hit, but kill, I think you just hope your victim dies on his own.”
Kirak face slowly turned red. “You have a death wish don't you. I will show you how I am willing to kill. Slowly, with you crying for your pitiful life on your own.”
Buck smirked at the Captain. “What in front of your crew. So, the only witness your crew. You'll just have one of them do it, when you find out you can't pull the trigger.”
Staring at the half dead starfleet officer, Kirak almost roared. “Fine, bring your little medic officer with you out here. He can report to your Captain, that I and only I killed you. Then your Captain will know how serious I am.”
Buck was quiet for a long moment, then nodded. “All right, though I still don't think you have the gall to kill me. But we'll see.”
Kirack grinned, “Then come, you will meet your death.”
Buck nodded, nudging for Nathan to start walking towards the door.
Moving slowly, as he helped Buck, Nathan hissed out. “Are you crazy?”
A soft huff of air that could be a soft chuckle from the injured officer then, “Got you out there with me didn't it. Now, when I push you, stumble into the man with the remote for the gas, I'll push you into him.”
Before Nathan could say anything, the two had walked onto the bridge. Taking a quick look around the room, he had to swallow back the bile that was filling it, when he saw the a rather large blood stain near the turbo lift doors.
Turning his eyes away, he scanned the rest of the room quickly. Feeling a nudge from Buck, he meant the mans eyes. Sharing a look, he noticed Buck angling his head towards one of the crew. Spotting the man, Nathan nodded and moved slightly to be more in line with the crew man that held the controls of the gas.”
Buck shared one more glance with Nathan, as the doctor was within a few feet of the man, Buck took a deep breath and what was left with the rest of his strength pretended to stumble, and pushed Nathan towards the man as the first officer started to fall to the floor.”
Nathan wasted no time when he felt the push. He made the act of stumbling into the crew member, he fumble for a second the as if by accident he slug them man in the jaw with his fist. As the man fell into unconscious, Nathan grabbed the control for the gas, and then hit his communicator. “I have it.”
What happened next, seemed to Nathan happened all at once. The minute the words had left his mouth, it seemed that the turbo lift doors opened, out of the turbo lift seem to pour out dozens of security officers, which in reality were only about ten. Ezra and Vin in the lead. The men spreading out and aimed their phasers at the pirate crew. In a loud clear voice, Ezra shouted. “Drop your weapons now, or we will fire on you.”
Kirak for a second thought of putting up a fight, he wasn't going to loose the ship. But there was suddenly a phaser two inches from his eyes, and Ezra with look of death in his eye, growled out. “Go for it. Please.”
Raising his hands, Kirak shook his head, and shouted out. Put down your weapons. They have us.”
The crew dropped their weapons and raised their hands. Kirak did the same. Looking at the security chief, he smiled. “We give up.”
Moving back a few feet, Ezra still kept his phaser on the Captain. Looking around the room, he hit his communicator. “Captain, we have them all. The bridge is clear.”
Motioning for his guards to start taking the captives away, Ezra watched for a second, when a quick moment caught his eye. “Nathan? What are you....”
The question dried in his throat when he saw what Nathan was lunging towards something on the floor. Looking down on the floor, he spotted Buck laying there. Blood covering the first officer.
Nathan ignoring everything around him, checked Buck really quick, then hitting his badge, he called out “Transporter room, medical emergency, two to be beamed to the infirmary.”
Before anything could be asked, Nathan and Buck disappeared as they were transported off the bridge. Sharing a quick look with Vin, Ezra made a note to check with Nathan later on what was wrong with Buck.
Blinking his head, he glanced around the bridge, making sure everything was secure. As the pirate crew was being shackled, he was surprise to see Chris walk through the turbo lifts door. “Captain, I thought you were waiting for the all clear sign.”
Chris looked around the bridge for a long moment, ignoring Ezra's question, he seemed to slide in front of the pirate Captain. Glaring at the man who thought to take over is ship, Chris slowly seemly to growl out, “You will pay for what you did to my crew and ship.”
The prate tried to take a step back, when he bumped into the wall of the ship, he cleared his throat. His reply was wobbly to start but got steadier as he spoke.. “You won't do anything to me, this is starfleet, they don't hang or murder people. I and my crew will get a cushion jail sentence on some nice little prison plant. You can't hurt me.”
With a predatory grin, Chris leaned in and shook his head. “No, you don't get it. I won't be in Starfleet forever, but even beyond that, who said they will find out that it was me. I'm sure I can find help in covering my tracks. And I will make sure that you feel every ounce of pain that you did to my first officer tenfold before I let you die.”
Kirak swallowed heavily.”You wouldn't. You're a Captain of starfleet.”
Straighten up and his grin widening, looking the pirate Captain up and down slowly, the starfleet Captain shook his head. “Yes, but I take the offense of hurting one of my crew seriously. And you hurt one of them. Tried to take over my ship. I'm sure that Starfleet would understand my sudden rage of insanity, that is if it wasn't reported as an accident.”
As Chris finished talking, Ezra called over, “Are we going to report it that he tripped over a knife this time, or felt like peeling his own skin off with a spoon, and not finding our about it until it was too late?”
At that, the pirate Captain lost all fight. Blubbering out. “You wouldn't.”
Chris grinned. “Oh I would.”
With a motion of his hand, Ezra had the other security guards take the pirate crew and their Captain off the bridge.
As the last man disappeared into the turbo lift, and the doors closing, Chris eyed the turbo lift for a moment, fighting back the urge to hit something, when he felt a hand on his shoulder. Turning to look he met Vin's eyes. “Vin, that isn't what I think it is in front of the turbo lift and on the door is it.”
Moving closer for a second, Vin ran a tricoder over the marks. “If you mean Buck's blood, it is. What ever that Captain did to Buck, I think a huge chuck of it happened here.”
Closing his eyes for a second, Chris nodded. “All right, get the rest of the bridge crew up here. It is time to see what that group did to the ship, and get someone up here to clean that.”
Nodding, Vin quickly moved to his station, sharing a look with Ezra. Neither were sure that they wanted to know what had happen to cause the large blood spatter and stains on the turbo lift doors. Though both promised to make sure that the pirates got what they deserved for what they did.
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Several hours later, had Nathan coming out of one of the surgery rooms, motioning the nurses on which bed to place the unconscious first officer, taking off the surgical cap, the doctor watched as the nurses settled Buck down.
With the last check of the readings, the nurses left the room. Nathan took a deep breath, and moved over to the bed. Leaning against the bio-bed, he stared at the still form of the officer in front of him.
For a long moment, he just stared, the first officer look much better then he had up on the bridge. The blood had been cleared off of him. The wounds closed, blood back in the man's veins. Raising his head, Nathan laid it on the first officers chest, reveling in the feeling of the the chest rising and fallen.
Far too soon, for his liking he lifted his hand off the chest, and rubbed his face and hair with the hand. It had been a long night, and what will seem like a longer day, but now he had a report he needed to write, and images that he would love to get out of his head, though he never thought he would be able to.
With a shake of his head, he stared at the unconscious man for a long minute then turned and headed towards the bridge, he was going to tell the tale once, and since everyone up there will want to know how Buck is, it was just as easy to do it there.
With a soft sigh, he turned and left the room, making sure the nurses knew to alert him if anything changed.
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Hearing the turbo lift door open, the crew on the bridge turned to see a tired chief medical officer leaning against the door. “Captain, you wanted a quick report.”
Staring at Nathan, Chris frowned. “You want to take a nap first.”
Shaking his head. Nathan, moved onto the bridge, “No, I will after.”
With a nod, Chris motioned Nathan to move towards the conference room. “How is Buck?”
Pausing for a second, Nathan took a deep breath, turning to the crew, the doctor smiled. “He'll be fine after some rest and time to heal. He was worked over well, but you know Buck. He's too stubborn to let that beat him.”
Frowning at the description, Chris watched the doctor finish the journey to the conference room, then motion Ezra to take over the command of the bridge, as he followed the Doctor into the room. As the door closed, the rest of the bridge crew shared a look, and turned back to their task, making sure they avoided looking at the slight stain in front of the turbo lift.
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Chris entered the room, and paused, seeing Nathan slumped in a chair with his head on the table. Shaking his head, he walked in quietly and sat down in his chair. “You sure you want to get this done with now?”
Lifting his head, Nathan nodded. “Yes, the sooner the better.”
Eying the doctor for a long moment, Chris finally nodded. “I'm going to record this, and use it as a preliminary report, the full report can wait a few days. But first, how is Buck?”
With a small sigh, Nathan shrugged his shoulders. “He'll be fine. It was a close thing though. But, we were able to get enough blood back in him and seal up the wounds.”
Chris nodded. “Good, now what happened to him?”
For a long second, Nathan heisted. Then taking a deep breath, he answered in a soft voice.”Tortured for the information. From what I can tell by the wounds. Beaten up, sliced with a knife several times, then whipped.”
Chis bit back a growl. “What else?”
Nathan sighed, “That's all, but I guess I should start from the top?”
Leaning back against his seat, Chris sighed. “Yes, please from the top.”
With a nod, Nathan started to talk. “It all started when there was a loud shutter and we dropped out of warp....”
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Twenty minutes later, Vin watched as Nathan came almost sliding out of the conference room, exhausted and drained from the telling. Watching as Nathan never acknowledge anyone on the bridge, and walked to the turbo lift, pausing for a second and staring down at the slight stain, stepping carefully over it, Vin watched as the chief medical officer get in the lift and close the doors.
Sharing a glance with Ezra, the security chief shrugged his shoulders. “Go talk to Chris, I'm getting tired of being in command of the bridge. I have other things to work on.”
With a share looked with JD, Vin got up headed into the conference room. Ezra watched for a second, then sighed. It was going to be a long day.”
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Vin slid into the conference room. Settling down next in a chair next to Chris. “You okay?”
For a long moment, Chris stayed staring out of the window, turning to look at the Vulcan, the Captain sighed. “I will be. Once Buck wakes up and I knock some sense into him.”
“I'm sure he will hurry up and wake up so he can be knocked out again.”
Smirking slightly at the suggestion, “I would if it would work. But Buck would think he deserved it. “
Vin nodded, “Well, you could ground him.”
Smirking slightly, Chris sighed. “True, though I doubt it would stick. Though now that I know what happened, I'm going to have a small chat with our pirates.”
“Can I watch?”
Shaking his head, Chris said with slight amusement in it, “No, it won't be that entertaining.”
Vin grinned, “Depends on which side of the glass you are on.”
Smirking slightly, Chris nodded, “That might be true, but I don't think this needs to be viewed.”
Nodding, the Vulcan got up to leave, stopping at the door, he paused. “Buck will be all right.”
Chris nodded. “I know, but how many more times will he be?”
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Watching from the doorway of the brig, Chris glared at the group of the pirates. Closing his eyes for a second, he reopened them. Taking a deep breath he walked into the brig.
Glaring at the pirate, Chris could help keep the growl out of his voice. “ If I had my way, I would have you drawn and quarter and have my medic heal you so I could do it again.”
Kirak looked up from his seat in the brig. Looking at the Captain, the man smiled. “But you can't. You are noble starfleet, and you don't kill your criminals. You sent them to prisons, where they serve only a few years before they are out.”
Chris moved closer to the pirates. In a soft voice, while glaring at the men, he shook his head.”Not everyone. There are some that meet with accidents. Horrible accidents.”
Kirak stared at the starfleet officer. Blinking, he laughed nervously. “Not even a starfleet officer would try something like that. You have too much honor and goodness and belief in the system.”
A slow evil grin crossed the Captain's face, “You're right, a good, honorable starfleet officer would never to something like that. Though, the really question is, why do you think I'm a good, honorable Starfleet officer?”
Moving forward like a top predator looking at his prey, Chris made sure to glare into the Captain's eyes. “Your ship will be blown up, an accident. Misfire of a couple of torpedoes. You will be dragged to starfleet, and the minute that you are thrown into prison, your life will become like nothing you've ever dreamed or believe could happen.”
“You can't do that.”
Chris, moved away and smiled softly. “Oh, I can do that. It seems if you help some people in rather unsavory bars around the universe they owe you favors. Life long debt favors.”
Turning his back Chris walked away from the pirates, hearing the group beg forgiveness and not to let anything happen to them. The begs and shouts were cut off by the brig doors shutting.
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The soft hush of the doors opening, and the padding of feet went unotice by the man staring out into space, seeking answers that he wasn't sure he wanted. It wasn't until a hand landed on his shoulder, and a face appearing next to his reflection in the window that he realized that he wasn't alone.
After several long moments of silence, Ezra spoke up. “Shouldn't you be resting?”
A soft sigh, then, “Couldn't sleep, had some things on my mind.”
Staring out into space for a long moment, Ezra shifted slightly, “You want to talk about it. Might help.”
“Nope.”
Smirking, Ezra shook his head. “Sure, I could make you. Ship security and all.”
Rolling his eyes slightly, Nathan huffed. “Its just....how do you do it.”
“Do what?”
“The whole risk your life thing. Separate out the times that you need to do something risking that may kill you or let someone else do it. How do you stand by knowing that something you ordered, or can't change will most likely cause someone's death.”
A soft sigh, then “You can't worry about it. You make the best decision you can. With the information you can and trust yourself to make the right one.”
“Then worry about it when you can't sleep with something to drink?”
“I take it Buck gave that bit of advice to work with so you would do what he wanted?”
“How did you know?”
Ezra grinned, “The first time I couldn't sleep about something. He found me in here drinking some very good scotch when I couldn't sleep. Sat down and talked to me until I had figured out my problem and worked through everything I could of done or not.”
“Did it help?”
“Yes, got me to sleep at least.”
Nathan sighed. “How?”
“I'm still trying to figure that out. I think he talk to me to sleep or slipped something into my drink.”
Finally turning away from the windows to face Ezra, Nathan leaned against the window, “I don't know if I could do this. Be willing to let people hurt themselves when I could stop it. I'm suppose to stop people from hurting themselves.”
Ezra grinned. “With this group you should just give up on stopping them from hurting themselves or throwing themselves in danger. Chris and Buck will do what they need to, in order to keep the crew safe. We have a job to do our best to make sure that they don't kill themselves trying to do it.”
Nathan rolled his eyes, “I would suggest you include yourself, Vin and JD in that group.”
Ezra snicker. “Well, give it time, I'm sure you and Josiah will move up on the list.”
Chuckling softly, Nathan shook his head. “I hope not. I don't think I want to operate on myself.”
Ezra eyed Nathan for a long second. “Ready for some sleep now?”
Yawning, Nathan nodded, “No stiff drink with a sleeping aid in it?”
Smirking, the head of security grinned. “No, I could if you want, but I figured you wouldn't fall for it. Besides, I don't want to wake up next time I have to go to sick bay and find that I have an extra arm or missing an ear or other body part.”
“That was a good idea. Though I do think I can handle some sleep. I need it tomorrow when Buck wakes up and starts to whine about being fine.”
With a nod in agreement. The two men headed out of ten forward.
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Sitting next to an unconscious Buck, JD sighed. He was sick of being in this position. Waiting for Buck to wake up from Nathan's ministries. “I get tired of this. You have to stop this getting hurt. You aren't expendable. You can't keep throwing yourself at these people. Nate is getting tired of having to repair you, and I'm getting tired of sitting here waiting for you to wake up.”
A soft chuckle from the shadowy doorway, had JD whipping his head around. “What...Captain?”
Chris moved into the room, “You can't change him, JD.”
“He can't keep doing this though.”
Laughing slightly, Chris sat down in a nearby chair gingerly. “He's going to do what he needs to in order to keep us safe. If that means throwing himself into danger first, then he will.”
“Were you like this?”
Frowning, Chris shook his head. “What do you mean was I like this?”
Swallowing slightly, JD took a deep breath. “When you were a first officer, did you throw yourself like this into danger, have sick bay become a second home?”
“No, though the ships I was on, didn't get into nearly this much trouble.”
JD eyed the Captain, he didn't know if he believed it. Before he could figure out the truth, he heard a soft cough from Buck. Then, a soft chuckle. “He was worse.”
The two men shared a look, then turned to look at Buck. JD was the first to speak. “Buck! You're awake.”
“What happened?”
“You decided that almost killing yourself would save the ship.”
Closing his eyes for a long moment, Buck opened his eyes to half mast. “It worked?”
JD frowned. “Yes, but that's not the point, you almost died. You would of died.”
Buck sighed. “I didn't.”
Chris growled softly. “Only because Nathan was there to save you. Three more minutes and you would of died.”
A half grin, then “I didn't.”
Buck turned his head to look at Chris and and JD, then he frowned. “You hurt Chris?”
“No, I'm fine.”
JD sighed, before he could say something another voice spoke up from the doorway. “And that is speak for I'm hurt but I've ignored it for this long, it might heal on its own, but I don't need to see anyone about it.”
JD hid his grin, and the soft chuckle from the bed made Chris turn and glare at the two in the room. “Nate, shouldn't you be resting.”
Stepping into the room, Nathan shrugged his shoulders. “I was coming to check on Buck here, who I see is awake, and overheard JD here. I think I need to do a scan, see how badly you are hurt. Don't need another senior officer to try to kill himself.”
Fighting back a deep yawn, Buck spoke up.”He has you there stud.”
Nathan turned and look at Buck. “You need to get some sleep. You shouldn't be awake as it is.”
Loosing a fight with a yawn, Buck grinned. “I'm full of surprises.”
All three chuckled. Shaking his head, Nathan walked over to Buck. Checking the readings, he smiled. “You'll be fine, now get some sleep. These two jokers can both get checked out.”
Buck watched as Nathan herded the two men to men to the main room in sickbay, smiling softly, Buck closed his eyes and fell back to sleep.”
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The soft conversations and clatter of silverware onto plates made a rather soothing background for the man who was huddled in a dark corner, PADDs spread across the table, his untouched dinner pushed to the edge of the table. A half filled coffee cup had gone cold and forgotten next to the plate.
The ebb and flow of the rest of the crew as they entered, ate and left Ten Forward barely registered with the man in the corner. Nothing did, until a light tap on his head and the soft scrape of a chair being pulled out.
Shaking his head, he blinked and looked over at who had joined him. “Chris?”
“Yes. Is there a reason why you are hiding in the corner?”
“Not hiding, just trying to get some work done.”
Chris eyed the scattered PADDs across the table. Frowning at the full plate of food and cold coffee, the captain shook his head. “As I said, hiding. You going to eat anything?”
A soft snort, then a shake of his head. “No, what Nate wants me to eat looks dangerous. I think it moved at some point.”
“It isn't that bad. Besides, I don't think that Nathan will be happy to hear his food referred to that way.”
Shrugging his shoulders, Buck pushed the plate away from him slightly. “Not going to eat it.”
Studying his first officer, Chris frowned at what he saw. “You want to talk about it?”
Staring quizzically at Chris, Buck shook his head. “About what?”
Letting a small sigh out, the captain shook his head. “You want me to make a list, or just start with torture, almost bleeding to death, hiding things from your captain...”
Buck looked away for a moment, then looked back and fiddled with the PADDs on the table. Finally, after several long minutes, he spoke softly. “Not much to talk about. Been there, done that. And as for hiding things. I wasn't hiding, it was just not ready to share. Hell, it was just something to get the different departments working together. A little team building exercise. Didn't think that it would ever be used.”
“You put it on the computer.”
Rubbing his hand over his PADD, Buck shrugged his shoulders. “It had just gone on - I was trying to get the cobbled together program to work.”
“Well, it seemed you got it to mostly work.”
Grinning slightly, Buck nodded. “Yes, though it seems it might have a few bugs.”
Chuckling slightly, Chris nodded in agreement. “Yes, but I think we should keep it. Work on it a little bit. Clean up the bugs. Could be useful.”
Staring at his captain, Buck blinked. “What?”
“Work out the bugs and fix it. We might need it again. Though I do want to know what else you're working on. I don't like things programmed into my ship without my knowledge.”
“Won't happen again.”
Shaking his head, Chris pushed the cold plate of food slightly. “Good, now how are you really?”
Rolling his eyes, Buck sighed. “Fine. Nathan let me go, said I was fine.”
“If I remember, he said that you almost died, that even though the wounds were healed and blood replaced, you still needed to relax, eat and sleep. For your body to do some natural healing.”
Waving his hand at Chris in surrender, Buck grinned slightly. “I know, I've relaxed, slept, ate what was put in front of me. Sat through four safety lectures from Ezra. Josiah seeking me out and wanting to talk about it.”
“Well, they're just worried.”
Staring at Chris, Buck shrugged his shoulders. “I know, but I have a feeling Ezra really wants to tag me or something to keep me out of trouble.”
“Wouldn't work. Just cause more trouble then it's worth. “
Grinning, Buck let a small chuckle slip out. “That was once, and it got you out of that jam.”
“True, but the damn thing gave me a second degree burn. Now, I think you should follow Nathan's advice and relax. Gather your stuff, and we'll head to my quarters, where you can tell me about any more of your team building ideas and eat something that won't try to attack you.”
Nodding, Buck started to collect the PADDs, then paused in mid-grab of one. “There isn't a lecture in there.”
Grinning, Chris shrugged his shoulders. “Who knows? As Captain, I can always change my mind.”
Grabbing that last PADD, Buck shrugged his shoulders. “I'll go for the food that won't kill me - and your lecture can't be as bad as Ezra's.”
As the two men left Ten Forward, Chris chuckled. “Oh, I would wait on that.”
77777777777
A week later, the crew of the Maverick were back to what they consider normal. The pirates had been handed off to the nearest star base as prisoners, the pirate ship, after JD work his magic and got all the information from the ship, it meant with a tragic accident, it seemed it ran into a photon torpedo.
Much to the regret of the Maverick crew. The bridge had been cleaned, the carpet had been replaced in front of the turbo-lift. The crew soon after the carpet been replaced, had stop hesitating from walking out of the lift.
Even with all that fixed the mood on the bridge was rather sullen and quiet. Though, it all changed when the turbo-lift doors suddenly open, turning to look, the crew turned and watch as the missing member of the bridge crew walked onto the bridge.
Buck looked around the bridge, with a grin, he walked towards his seat. Settling into the chair to next to Chris's he smiled. “So, any one miss me?”
Ezra pipped up from his place on the bridge. “We've been waiting for you, seems we had to have a lottery on who gets to give you their lecture first.”
Looking around at the group, Buck's grin slowly fell from his face. “You know, I think I still might be sick.”
Ezra grinned slightly.”Too late for that.”
The end.
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