Forwarded by the ASC-VSO 
Posted: 28 Feb 2004 18:39:42 -0800  
In: alt.startrek.creative 
From: djinn@djinnslair.com (Djinn) 
 

TITLE: The Lost Years: Hellspawn(Slayer Series)
AUTHOR: Djinn
CONTACT: djinn@djinnslair.com http://www.djinnslair.com
SERIES: TOS
RATING: PG-13
CODES: Ch, K, U, Others
PART: 3/6
SUMMARY: The sixth in the Lost Years series.



Uhura looked out the glass door into the darkness.  She hadn't meant
to stay this late but Nogura's staff had tasked her with a rush
project that had taken her most of the night.  She almost wished she'd
had to work through to morning, then there would have been no decision
to make.  She knew it was dangerous out there, but she was tired and
cranky and just wanted to go home.

But she also wanted to stay alive.  She patted her jacket.  Stake. 
One.  Check.  And she almost knew how to use it.

She felt a presence behind her and whirled, hand reaching for her
pocket, then dropped it when she saw Admiral Ciani.

"Nice work tonight, Commander.  That was exactly what we needed,"
Ciani said, smiling at Uhura as she walked past her, heading into the
night without a care.

Uhura supposed it was easy to be carefree when you could turn into a
wolf if you wanted to.  She looked up at the night sky.  Clouds
covered the moon, but she knew that it was full tonight.  She couldn't
decide if it would be a good idea to run after Ciani or not.

She sighed and mustered her courage and headed out into the night. 
Ciani was just disappearing down a bend in the path toward town. 
Uhura hurried but when she got to the bend, Ciani was out of sight.

"Great."

"Lose someone?"  The voice was English, male, and silky.

She turned around, praying that the man would be wearing tweed.

No tweed.  No tweed at all.  She tried not to react to the stranger
who stood blocking her path to command.

"I'm fine," she said brightly, turning and walking quickly away.  If
she just didn't show any fear, she'd be fine.  Besides, San Francisco
was probably home to more than one black-haired Englishman who liked
to walk around in the middle of the night.

"It's Nyota Uhura, isn't it?"  He kept up easily with her, shadowing
her, almost but not quite out of her peripheral vision.

She slowed.  

"I believe that watcher I killed had a picture of you among all his
other information on Christine."

"You have me at an disadvantage," she said gamely, reaching for her
pocket.

"The name's Wharton--and you'll never get it out before I break your
arm.  So do us both a favor and leave your little stake alone."

She swallowed hard, couldn't bring herself to drop her hand.  It would
be giving up and an Uhura never gave up.

He took her arm, holding her close to him.  "I'm not going to hurt
you."

"Right.  You're just walking me home."

"Actually, I am.  It's dangerous out here, you know."

"Funny.  I felt better until you showed up."

He laughed.  "You have spirit.  I like you."

"Yeah, yeah.  All the vampires like me."  She shook her head.  

"You knew another one?"

"Drusilla wanted to make me a pet."  

"Impressive.  An old one taking a fancy to you.  Of course, she was
crazy as a loon."

"No shit, Sherlock."  

He surprised her by laughing loudly.  "I like you Nyota.  I can call
you that, can't I?  Commander seems so formal."

"Can I stop you?"

He shook his head, and his grip tightened on her as they left the
Starfleet grounds.  She realized he was heading for the cemetery and
looked around for someone, anyone who might help her.  The street was
deserted.

"I'm not going to hurt you.  Just relax," he said, as he drew her past
the gates and deeper into the cemetery.

She began to struggle.  

"Shhh, I'm not going to hurt you."

"Why don't I believe you?"

"Perhaps because he lacks sincerity?"  Emma stepped out of the
shadows.  "Hello, David."

He let go of Uhura.  "Thank you, my dear.  As bait, you performed
admirably.  And I find your company charming.  Now run along."

Emma nodded.  "Better do what he says, my dear.  This is between David
and me."  She pulled out some sort of weapon.  "Christine told me you
were better provisioned than we thought.  Body armor, David?"  She
tsked-tsked like he'd broken an important rule.

"Body armor that your little toy will have no effect on, Emma."  He
tsked-tsked right back at her.

Uhura backed away from Wharton.  "You were following me?" she asked
Emma.

"Yes.  I thought he might come after you."

Wharton smiled.  "I knew you'd think I would.  You never did
understand me Emma.  Despite our closeness."

Her face tightened.  "Don't you dare speak of that.  You aren't David.
 You're just the dirty beast that took his place."

"Is that what you think, love?  Is that what you believe?"  He looked
over at Uhura.  "There's no demon.  It's just another lie they tell
the slayers.  One that makes it easier to turn them into killers.  But
we always knew, in special ops. We always knew the truth.  You don't
have to be a monster to be evil."  He turned back to Emma.  "You and
all the other watchers prove that.  But that ends here.  At least for
you."

"Did you think I'd come alone?  We knew you'd bring her here."  Emma
turned to the bushes.  "You can come out."

No one emerged from the darkness.

"I knew to bring her here, because here is where I found your fellow
watchers."  He dug into his pocket and fished several bright things
out.  He tossed them on the ground.  They were gold rings--as well as
the fingers they had been attached to.

Uhura turned away with a strangled cry.

"I found your little trap and sprang it.  Now, what were you saying
about not being alone?"

Uhura stepped closer to Emma.  "She's not alone."

Wharton shook his head.  "You can't stop me."

Emma held up the weapon.  "Go ahead, David.  Let's finish this."

"Am I interrupting something?"  Ciani stepped out of the bushes as if
it was the most natural thing in the world for her to be gallivanting
around the shrubbery.  "This seems like an awfully tense situation. 
I'm a trained mediator, maybe I can help."

Wharton smiled.  "I don't know what you think you're doing, kitten. 
But best move on."

"Kitten?"  Ciani laughed.  The sound came out like a growl.  "You
should move on, Mister Wharton.  I'm not going to let you hurt
Christine's friends."

"And just how are you going to stop me?"

Ciani smiled.  It was the most feral smile Uhura had ever seen.  Then
she began to shudder...and to change.  Her clothes ripped, fur
erupted, and something between a wolf and a person stood before them.

Wharton laughed.  "One little werewolf.  Hardly a challenge, my dear."

Ciani howled, one long cry, then three short yips.

Another werewolf appeared behind her.  And another.  And a third. 
They growled, moving to flank Wharton.  He seemed to be weighing his
odds, shifting to the balls of his feet as if about to attack.

Ciani gave three more short yips.  Three more werewolves emerged from
the bushes behind them.  Uhura moved even closer to Emma.

Wharton held his hands up in some kind of surrender.  "Quite right. 
I'll just be going."  He looked over at Emma.  "Another time,
dearest."  Then he nodded to Uhura.  "It was lovely meeting you."

Ciani snarled, the other werewolves echoed her growl.  

"I'm going."  Wharton moved past Ciani, then melted into the shadows.

Emma stepped forward.  "What now?"

Ciani shook her head, and the change began again.  A moment later the
proper admiral stood before them.  Naked.

She smiled seductively at them, then snapped her fingers.  One of the
other wolves went into the bushes, coming out with a pile of clothes. 
Ciani put them on.  Slowly.

Uhura looked away.  Emma didn't.  But she seemed uninterested in
Ciani's impromptu burlesque, more concerned with winning some kind of
stare-down with the admiral.

Ciani stepped toward them.  She closed her eyes, raised her hand and
brought it down quickly.

Uhura's ears popped.  Emma grabbed her head, as if the change in
pressure hurt her.  Then she stood straight again.  "Why?"

"Why did I help you?"

Emma nodded.  

Ciani smiled.  "You're Christine's friend, Ms. Drake.  That vampire
would have killed you.  You and Christine owe me.  You'll tell her
that for me?"

Emma frowned.  

"What about me?" Uhura asked.

"You were never in any danger."

Uhura stared at her.  "You kept me after hours deliberately."

Ciani laughed.  "Of course.  How else could I save the day?  I just
didn't know exactly how it would play out.  But it was easy to track
you."  She crinkled her nose at Uhura.  "I like that perfume, by the
way."

She brought her hand slashing down and Uhura's ears popped again.  

"What the hell did--"

Emma's hand on her arm stopped her.  The watcher shook her head, held
her finger to her lips.

"You've got the idea."  Ciani finger combed her short hair back into
place.  "Come on.  We'll walk you both home."

With a silent admiral leading the way and six werewolves ranging
through the bushes and shadows of the residential streets, it was the
strangest trip home Uhura had ever taken.

--------------------------

Kirk saw his aide coming down the hall toward the briefing room he'd
been stuck in all morning.  "Everything all right, Commander?"

Hall nodded.  "Admiral Nogura's secretary just commed, sir.  He wants
to see you ASAP."

Kirk rolled his eyes.  When Nogura wanted to see someone, it was
always as soon as possible-- it had been far too long since the man
had to wait for anyone.  "Was there something else, Commander?"

Hall nodded.  "A message from Doctor Chapel."

Kirk grinned.  Maybe Chris wanted to have lunch.  He could do with a
break from the brass.

Hall handed him the padd.  "She made me repeat it back.  I hope it
makes sense to you, sir."

He had to read it twice.  "Communications and visual capability nearly
went dead last night.  Fortunately that wild officer and a few of the
pack she runs with intervened.  All systems normal again.  We owe
her."

Kirk gave the padd back to Hall.

"It makes sense, sir?"

Kirk nodded.  

Hall waited a moment as if Kirk might choose to share the hidden
meaning, then he said, "Do you want to reply?"

"No need.  I'll be talking to her later."  He smiled at his aide, not
sure, as ever, if he should trust the man or not.  These days his gut
told him not trust anyone except Chris and Nyota.  It was an odd
feeling to be at Command, surrounded by his peers--the men and women
he'd risen up the ranks with--and to be too wary to trust a single one
of them.

His brave new world.  Some days he hated it.  Wished he could go back
to the time when he didn't see conspiracies everywhere he looked. 
Where he didn't have to consciously try to fortify his personal
shields before he went to see his boss.

Nogura's secretary looked up.  "Hello, Jim."  She shot him the same
warm smile she always gave him.

"Ellie," he grinned at her.  "How's the old man's mood?"

"Pretty good today.  Aren't you forgetting something?"  She held her
hand out to him, and he bowed, playing at being gallant.  It was their
little game.

He took her hand and felt his hackles rise.  Another werewolf?

She frowned when he abruptly let her hand drop.  "You can go in."

He nodded, trying not to hurry past her.  Just how many of them were
there in Starfleet?

"Jim?"  Nogura smiled at him.  "Come in.  I believe you know my
guest?"  The admiral gestured toward the floor to ceiling windows that
lined the side of his office.

Kirk turned toward them, felt his breath catch.

"Hello, Jim."  Carol smiled tightly.  For her it was a positively
welcoming look.

"Carol."

"Why don't you both sit?"  Nogura leaned back and tapped on a padd. 
"Doctor Marcus has been showing me some very ingenious research, Jim. 
I'd call it visionary.  It only lacks funding."

Kirk shot her a look.  "Dealing with the devil, Carol?  I thought you
said you'd never ask for military support?"

Her lips tightened.

Nogura laughed.  "Let's just say the private funding sources have
dried up."

Kirk nodded.  He could feel the trap springing closed on him already. 
"What about academia?"

Carol shook her head.  "You always told me I tended to think too big."

He shot a look at Nogura.  Kirk knew that the Tachikawa-Nogura
Corporation could convince academia not to play, not when even bigger
grants were at stake.  He looked back at Carol.  Only one project
could consume her enough for her to put her scruples aside.  "You
haven't given up on Genesis?"

Carol shook her head tightly.  

Nogura set the padd down a bit harder than was necessary, as if to get
their attention.  "From here on out, that name, and anything to do
with the project, is classified."

Carol leaned forward.  "Then you'll fund it?"

"I'll take it to those who can make it happen.  I'll let you know what
they say but I'm sure they'll approve it.  I tend to get my way."

Carol smiled, a more open expression this time.

"I know I'd love to have a scientific mind of your caliber here at
Command."  Nogura smiled at Kirk.  "I'm sure Jim would love it too,
wouldn't you, my friend?  Having Doctor Marcus and her son around. 
Now that you're so firmly ensconced in the Command structure."  He
shot Carol a look.  "Ensconced here on terra firma.  No more shooting
around the galaxy at lightspeed."  His smile was easy, innocent.  Just
one old spacedog teasing another.

Kirk could feel his jaw tensing.

Nogura stood up, and Kirk and Carol followed suit.  

"I'll be in touch as soon as I have the decision on your project,
Carol."  Nogura enfolded her hand in his.

She nodded to him then turned to Kirk, glaring at him, as if the
conditions on her research had been his doing.  "Jim."

"Carol."  He watched her as she walked out.

Nogura stepped closer.  "It's time for us to stop tiptoeing around
things, my friend.  You want your son, and I can make that happen for
you.  I wouldn't be above securing a private little agreement with the
good doctor for visiting privileges for you in exchange for that
funding she wants so desperately."  Nogura walked over to his bar,
poured them both a scotch.

Kirk sipped at his.  It tasted funny, tingled and then went sour as it
hit his tongue.  Magic?

"You know what I want, Jim.  Doctor Chapel holds the key, and you have
a great deal of influence over her these days."  He smiled as he
sipped at his drink.  "What's the matter?  Don't like the scotch?"

Kirk put it down.  "Tastes funny."

Nogura stepped closer.  He seemed to be studying Kirk, then his eyes
seemed to lose focus, as if he were staring into him yet past him. 
"Lori's been holding out on me.  You're quite the powerful little
magicmaker, aren't you, Jim?"  His hand brushed down Kirk's arm, never
in contact with the skin yet somehow touching him.

Kirk shuddered, took a step back.  As he did, he brushed against one
of the side tables, knocking it slightly.  An ivory carving fell off
and he bent to pick it up.  As he set it back on the table, he noticed
the flower arrangement.  Irises.  Blue and white and yellow.  They had
a strong smell--a unique smell.  He forced himself not to react to the
odor that immediately put him back in the morgue, made him recall the
moment when he'd had his hand on Carl's cold body, when he'd tried to
find some trace of his friend's killer.

"You like the arrangement?  My wife scours our iris fields for just
the right flowers.  She's known for her ikebana.  She did a beautiful
arrangement for Carl's funeral."

Kirk turned to look at him.  Could he be so blatant about murder?

"Enemies are everywhere, Jim.  It's important to choose the side you
want to fight on."

"And what if I choose wrong?"

Nogura's eyes were like steel, then he smiled and patted Kirk on the
arm.  "You won't, Jim.  You never do."  Nogura took a deep breath. 
"You know, I was like you once.  Just learning, just starting to touch
the power deep inside me.  I remember how it felt.  What a rush I used
to get whenever the magic went right."  He smiled, as if he were
reminiscing.  "That was a long time ago, my friend."  He shook his
head.  "I'm more powerful than you can even dream.  Do you think you
and your slayer can stand between me and what I want?"

Kirk grinned.  "We already are.  Or we wouldn't be having this
conversation."

Nogura's smile faded.  "Your son, Jim.  He's what?  Fifteen?  He needs
his father.  I can see that Carol's a stubborn woman.  I may be the
only one who can make her see things your way."  He turned away. 
"She's waiting for you in the corridor, even now."  He grinned at
Kirk's look of surprise.  "And she's not happy."

"You can see that?"

Nogura laughed.  "I could if I wanted to.  But no.  I just know
people.  She's already figured out what her funding will be tied to. 
She's not stupid.  You'd never fall in love with a stupid woman.  It's
why I hold such high hopes for you and Doctor Chapel.  She seems like
a fine woman...a fine officer."  Nogura's smiled faded.  "I know you
care what happens to her."

Kirk shook his head.  "Don't threaten her."

"You misunderstand me.  She's slated to ship out on the Enterprise. 
Wouldn't you rather have her on Earth with you?  There are so many
wonderful postings here she could take advantage of.  With the right
sponsor..."

Kirk didn't reply.  Chris was going where she needed to go.  Away from
the slaying, away from this madness.  And he was fine with that.  She
was his friend.  Nothing more.

Nogura laughed as if he were privy to the lies Kirk was telling
himself.  "Ever the altruist, Jim.  Show some of that altruism for me
and for your Fleet.  Get me what I want."  He walked back to his chair
and sat down, the discussion clearly over.

Kirk turned and left.  Ellie looked up as he walked out but didn't say
anything.

Carol was pacing in the corridor.  She turned, stared at him hard. 
"You put him up to this."

"I didn't."

She moved closer, her voice dropping lower.  "He made it very clear
that he's your friend.  I can't believe you would do this, Jim."

"Then don't.  I didn't have anything to do with it, I swear it."  He
thought he saw her soften somewhat.  "Carol.  I've done what you
wanted.  Why would I pull this now?"

She sighed.  "I'm so close, Jim.  So close to getting the go ahead.  I
can't lose it now."

"I know."  He'd never understood her obsession with her pet project,
but after this many years, he knew better than to say so.  He tried
another tack.  "We're both on Earth, Carol.  What would it hurt?"  He
saw her face harden and wondered what had happened to the young woman
he'd loved so much.

"Jim, why change things now?  It'll only confuse David."

"He's old enough to know.  He needs a father."  Nogura's words seemed
to come out of his mouth unbidden.  The man had definitely known
exactly which of Kirk's buttons to push.

"He's got a mother.  I've had to do everything for him and I've done
it well."

"That was your choice."

"The only choice I could make.  You wouldn't have been in his life
even if I'd stayed with you.  You would have been out there."  She
gestured up, her hand motion full of anger and disdain.

It was the old argument and he'd heard it all before, had no interest
in revisiting it.

He sighed.  "You knew I was on a ship.  You fell in love with me
anyway."

"I was young and stupid."  She was angry and growing angrier.  But she
would never yell, would never lose control.  Not this Carol.  This
cold, hard Carol.

He had a sudden urge to be with Chris.  She should have been even
harder than Carol was, certainly had the right to be after her harsh
life, but she wasn't hard.  He pictured Chris as she'd stood the night
before--her aim steady as she'd killed the vampire that would have
torn into Carol without a thought.

And he could never tell Carol that.  That he'd kept his promise even
then.  He'd stayed away.  Hadn't even followed when they'd turned down
to the row of apartments.  Had let Chris shadow them but he'd held
back.  He didn't want to know where they lived.  He'd made a promise.

And he lived up to his promises.

"You think because you're stuck on the ground that I'll let you see
David?"  Carol shook her head.  "You're all alone and at a desk and
you think that gives you the right to have him in your life?"

"Not the right maybe.  But the need...Carol, I need to see him."

"Is this where you remind me of my funding?"  She laughed bitterly.  

"I told you that I had nothing to do with that."

"But will you use it now that it's part of the deal, Jim?  That's the
real question, isn't it?" Her look changed, as if all the air had been
knocked out of her.  "The sad thing is that I just might do it.  Trade
him for the funding.  This is my last chance."

"Would it be so bad to let me see him?  To have me around?"

Her look softened slightly.  Had he finally found the right approach? 
Was Carol lonely too?

Then she shook her head.  "I can't believe you'd try to pull the smarm
approach on me.  Don't you think after all these years that I'm immune
to your charms?"

He reached for her, touched her arm.  "Carol--"

She jerked away as if he'd stung her.  "Stay the hell away from us. 
Neither of us will ever need you."

"Am I interrupting?" Chris said from behind Kirk.  She smiled but her
eyes were wary and he wondered how much she'd heard of what Carol had
said.

Chris moved closer, took Kirk's arm.  "Who's your friend?"

"A new bimbo, Jim?"  Carol's mouth tightened in an ugly way.  

Chris held out her hand.  "Doctor Chapel.  And you are?"  

Carol grudgingly took her hand.  "Doctor Marc--"  She made a low moan.

Kirk thought he heard bones pop in Carol's hand.

Chris leaned in.  "I don't like being called a bimbo.  And your
attitude toward Jim bothers me."  She squeezed a bit more and Carol
winced.  "When I let go, maybe we can start over again?"  She dropped
Carol's hand.

Carol moved her fingers tentatively.  "You're insane."

"Maybe.  But not a bimbo."  Chris turned to him.  "Are you done here?"

"Long past."  He let her lead him away.

"Wow, nice lady, Jim.  What did you see in her?"  She dropped his arm,
but moved closer, her shoulder bumping his occasionally as they
walked.

"She wasn't like that before.  She used to be warm."

"Uh huh."  She shot him a look.  

"Did you break anything in her hand?"

"Felt like doing that.  But no."  She looked over at him.  "Why is she
here?"

"She needs funding for a project.  Nogura has funding.  If I get you
to give Nogura what he wants, then Nogura will make sure I get to see
my son."

Her face fell.  "Jim.  No."

"Of course, no.  We won't give him what he wants." 

"No, I mean how could he?"  She looked as though she'd like to go back
and give Nogura a piece of her mind.  Or her fists.

"It's doesn't matter.  I won't give him what he wants."

"But your son?  Maybe if we played along..."

He shook his head.  "Just drop it, Chris.  All right?"

She rubbed his back, high up between his shoulder blades--the place he
usually touched her when she needed bolstering.  "I'm sorry."

He nodded.  They walked in silence for a while.  

He finally said, "Your message was rather cryptic."

"Well, I couldn't just say that Ny and Emma were nearly killed by a
vampire.  Or could I?  Is Hall one of Nogura's people?"

He shrugged. 

"Lori saved them, Jim.  But from what Ny said, Lori wanted to make the
big gesture so we'd owe her.  So I guess I have to go to her."

"Is that where you were headed when you saw Carol and me?"

She nodded.  

"Lori can wait.  Have lunch with me first?"

She grinned.  "Okay."

"You're such a tough sell."  He squeezed her hand, a quick steadying
touch.  He needed to feel her warmth.  Needed to know that there was
more than Carol's coldness and Nogura's dark magic.

"You mean you want me to play hard to get?"  She laughed, her fingers
running lightly over his, as if she also knew he needed the contact. 
"Damn, I knew I was doing something wrong."

He smiled at her.  Her touch and her smile and the smell of her
perfume soothed him.  He looked up suddenly.

"What?"

He could suddenly smell the irises, their almost sickeningly sweet
fragrance.  "I have the proof I need.  To tie Nogura to Carl."  He
wasn't sure if they should be discussing anything sensitive.  How much
could Nogura really see and hear?

She waited.

He shook his head.  "Later.  When we're not here."

She nodded, following him into the cafeteria.  "Why don't we eat
outside?  It's a beautiful day."  She smiled.  "We don't see enough of
the sun."

"No, we don't."  He let her lead them out of the stifling atmosphere
of Command and into the bright sunshine.

End part 3 of 6

--
Stephen Ratliff
ASC Stories Only Forwarding

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