The Betazoid Affair.

Posted on Mon Nov 3rd, 2025 @ 11:57pm by Commodore Finchley Kerr & Captain Kevin, Lord Kilbane of Sanquhar & Lieutenant Commander Shr'Nesh Karadis & Commander Milani & Lieutenant Commander Dex
Edited on on Mon Nov 3rd, 2025 @ 11:58pm

Mission: Delivering on the undeliverable.
Location: USS Thall/Braxton's ship/Cardassian vessel
Timeline: Current.

Milani emerged from her shower, dried herself and dressed in her sleep robe. Sitting down she took a sip of her spiced Idanian tea trying to get used to the harsh taste before the rush of heated spices. It had been good of the Commodore to give her a week off to see an old friend. Turning on her view screen she called up her photos of the friends she had made on her old ship. The view showed several of the female crew including her, laughing at some dreadful joke Travis had made. Her friend Aliana sat next to her, the bright face of someone who sailed through the Academy and could have been command crew, instead she had become an exobiologist getting excited about some moss growing on a far off rock. Mil smiled at her friends face and, as her eye moved to the hand on her friends shoulder the smile left her.

"Braxton you bastard," she said out loud. the day after that photograph everything ended he had tried to rape Milani and she had decked him. That had been the beginning of it all. The discovery that he had raped six of the female crew members and kept their silence with threats apart from her that was. She had reported him and he, of course had denied everything and brought her up on charges. Mil stopped thinking for a moment as the rush of the heated spices coursed through her.

After that of course there had been hearing after hearing until Braxton had been found guilty and stripped of everything. As far as Mil knew he was still serving his sentence. Milani had been cleared but her course in Starfleet after that had been changed irreconcilably. Moving from ship to ship she had become known as a troublemaker. Despite the fact that she had clawed her way up the promotion ladder she was unhappy and was contemplating resigning her commission when SFI contacted her with an offer. Milani jumped at it and now she was, on the whole happy. Commodore Kerr.....well although not overly friendly she knew where she was with him and Shon, Shon was a good friend and an even better doctor yet Milani had to admit she herself was lonely.

Finishing her tea she put her feet up and watched as the silk skimmed her leg as it fell. "Karadis" she said out loud. She had felt something for the Klingon the moment they had met, not only her muscular toned body, her eyes, her hair and lips but, there was another attraction for Milani, something almost tangible but she had no idea what it was. Milani knew that the Klingon felt something for her but she was not sure what. However Milani did know that nothing was happening.

Giving up on her thoughts she checked on her shuttle for the following day and the coordinates she was going to meet Aliani. "Lights out." she said as she shrugged her robe off, threw back the bedclothes and climbed in.

Walking along the corridor, Karadis was still deep in thought as she read the PaDD she had in her hands. Temporarily she had been given the duties as the ships stand in Executive Officer whilst Commander Milani took some well deserved R & R. She didn't quite understand why she was filling in, according to the Senior staffing roster, Captain Kilbane should have filled the position, but according to Kerr, Kilbane was 'otherwise engaged', so it had fallen to her. Not that she shirked responsibility, this was an opportunity for her to show her metal, gain experience in the position. However, to be on the safe side, she wanted to run some things passed Milani just to make sure she was doing things correctly. Reaching Milani's quarters, she pressed the chime by the door, stood back and waited on a reply.

Milani had just passed over into sleep when her chime went off. Momentarily stunned she shouted "shields" at her empty room. She shrugged on her robe and , hair loose and uncontrolled she got to her door. Opening she was very surprised to see Karadis. "what's wrong?" she said as her long curls fed down over her face and she clutched her open gown closed.

Karadis was flummoxed for a moment as she saw Milani in her robe, then it dawned on her that she hadn't checked the chronometer to see what time it was. An apologetic look was now o her face, "I'm sorry Milani, I hadn't realised how late it had gotten, I really didn't mean to waken you" she began, "I can come back in the morning, this can wait, again, I'm so sorry to have woken you, please, go back to bed."

"No no please come in Karadis, this is a good surprise." She stood aside for her quickly trying to fix her hair and belting her robe. "As you know i am leaving early on my trip to see an old friend and had decided to get some sleep. Please sit down, can I get you a drink, something to eat?"

"Thank you Milani" Karadis replied, entering her quarters, "I really don't want to put you to any trouble, if you're leaving early it would have been better for me to just quickly ask you the questions I had and then leave you alone. However, a cup of green tea would go down a treat, thank you" she added, sitting down on the couch in the living area.

"So, this old friend, are they from your days at the Academy?" she asked.

Milani smiled as she handed Karadis the green tea, "It's so nice to see you away from the rush of daily life or the insanity of our missions, Alaiana well, yes we knew each other most of the way through the Academy. She got me through some rough times when I thought I would not make it. Warp field theory, I just couldn't get it but she got me through, I got her through flight training but she was always on the quick path, then she discovered exobiology and waved Command goodbye." she hesitated, "Then we were on the Minerva together under that bastard Braxton..." there was silence for a minute. "I have not seen her since the hearings" she said.

"Kerr let me know what happened with Braxton, and I'm sorry to hear about it, I hope it hasn't tainted your thoughts on all male officers, they're not like that" Karadis replied, "I know the files were sealed, but you know the Commodore, he doesn't accept anyone onto his ship unless he knows everything about them, and as he's a level nine SFI Officer, he has the clearance to read them. The reason he told me about it is I'm the closest thing he has to a confidant and he wanted me to look out for you if you had any problems settling in. I haven't been aware of any problems you've had, but if you do have any, I'm more than happy for you to share them with me if you feel it's the right thing to do and I can try and resolve them."

"I don't think I have any problems, in fact it all worked out well for me but I think of all the women he hurt over the years and it sickens me." She smiled "and, anyway I wouldn't have met you." Milani was silent as she sipped her drink looking at Karadis.

Karadis looked at Milani, "I'm not one to dance around the edges of things Milani, Klingons as you know are fairly direct, but is there something between us?"

"I would like there to be Karadis, and I thought maybe you felt the same way at times." she continued, "I know we are very different in pretty much every way but......." she stopped suddenly embarrassed as it seemed too important to say the wrong thing.

"Well, I can't say I'm 'not' attracted to you Milani, that would be a lie, I just considered you were flirting with me as the 'newbie' on the ship, trying to curry favour" Karadis replied.

Milani bristled. "I am not one to 'curry' favour as you put it and I was not aware I was flirting with you." She stood "I do not go by just physical attraction, I am attracted by your spirit, your bloodlust, your....at times insubordination, your jokes and I do know you have a softer side."

"Woahhhhhh!!!!" Karadis said, standing herself, "I wasn't having a go at you Milani, it's how I perceived things that's all. Obviously I got that wrong and I'm sorry, but if your going to be tetchy about it I'll just leave and you can get back to your bed."

"I thought you had some questions for me Lieutenant Commander?" Milani said coolly.

"Now you're just being an arse" Karadis replied, "but ok, if that's how you want things, yes Commander, I do have some questions, but they can wait till you get back from your trip, right now I will cope with things as best I can."

"Karadis, I wish you would not leave like this, please?" asked Milani as the Klingon left her quarters. Sighing Milani climbed back into bed to drift off to sleep only to be troubled by dreams.

Rising early she breakfasted, said goodbye to Shon and loaded her gear into the shuttle. Seven hours later she was halfway across the sector. Her feet up on the console she found herself drifting off to sleep. The shuttle was stealth equipped so she felt completely safe. Every time she closed her eyes she could see Karadis. Waking she looked around, "I'm becoming obsessed!" she announced to the interior. A strident proximity alarm began to sound and she jumped up immediately hands flying across the console. She reduced power and looked at the ship blocking her course swearing at her own stupidity. Unable to recognise the ship all she could see was that It was big, very big and, as she obtained information about it extremely well armed. It could obviously see through the shuttle's stealth technology so Milani decided to run.

Again her hands flew across the panel but the shuttle was hit with a tractor beam and she found it impossible to break free. "USS Thall this is the shuttle Gaugin Commander Milani. I have encountered an unrecognised ship, unable to break free of it's tractor beam. Am launching a tracer buoy ple....." The bay doors of the ship closed cutting off the rest of her transmission. Milani armed herself with a weapon and hid behind the bulkhead and waited.

It seemed like an age as, whoever was outside began to break in. Milani could just have opened the hatch but she was not in the mood to help whoever it was. Finally it opened and she knelt, bringing her phaser up she fired at the first invader whom she recognised as an Orion. "Great, bloody great" she said as she continued firing. Then she was overpowered by several of them who kicked aside their fallen comrade and dragged out non too gently. Standing there held firmly her hands were bound behind her as a human male appeared. Breathing became a problem for Milani's respiratory system. "Braxton.!" she breathed, "you bastard."

He smiled. "Well well, Milani, how lovely to see you again, I told you you would." He stroked her hair. "You are still beautiful."

Milani spat at him and, as the fluid dripped down his face he stood back, took a weapon handed to him and aimed it... Milani closed her eyes Karadis was standing there smiling at her. Then, pain as the phaser connected with her cheek. she kicked out connecting with Braxton's shin and he cried out in pain. "HOLD HER!" he ordered as he began to beat her, slowly and steadily until her legs could no longer hold her. When she finally lapsed into unconsciousness he was breathing heavily.

"Take her to the surgery and have the doctor treat her, then take her to the harem and have the women wash her. Then have her brought, bound to my quarters." Milani was dragged away her blood trailing after her.

Back on the Thall, Finchley sat in calmness. It was wonderful not having the hustle and bustle of their normal routine, yes, this R & R time was just what they all needed. Looking around, he watched the crew going about their duties, chatting, smiling and laughing with each other. He watched as Shon, the love of his life, looked over a Pad she had in her hands, Finnigan flirting with one of the Lieutenants at Ops, Karadis as she looked meaningfully at her console figuring out her new duties as temporary Executive Officer, heck, even crusty old McCrudden had left his sanctuary of Main Engineering to come up and overhaul the Helm console. Two were missing though, Milani had gone on a trip to meet an old friend and Kilbane had...well, he'd gone off on some crazy fool's errand that Finchley himself couldn't quite understand. Yes, this weas nice...

"Commodore, we've got an distress call coming through...it's from Commander Milani" The Ensign at Communications called out.

Finchley snapped to from his reverie of calmness and replied, "Put it on speakers!"

"Aye Sir" the Ensign answered, pressing a few buttons on his console.

"USS Thall this is the shuttle Gaugin Commander Milani. I have encountered an unrecognised ship, unable to break free of it's tractor beam. Am launching a tracer buoy ple....."

"Is that all of it Ensign?" Finchley asked.

"Yes Commodore" the Ensign replied.

"Track the coordinates, get a fix on where the distress call came from" Finchley ordered.

At that moment, Karadis appeared at Finchley's elbow, "We've got to go after her Bird."

"We can't at the moment, the ships in pieces, we're in the middle of an overhaul of the engines and Helm controls" Finchley replied.

"Then get me a ship, I want to go after her!" Karadis ordered, not realising how she sounded.

"I can't just produce a ship out of thin air Karadis, there needs to be authorisation requests, you know that" Finchley replied.

"LOOK, I'm not going to sit here and wait for authorisation requests to be submitted and then wait on a reply, that could take days!" Karadis thundered back her reply.

Finchley was about to remind her who she was speaking too, but from the look on her face, and the way she was talking, there was more to this than just the Klingon wanting to rescue the ships XO.

"Ok, ok, I'll see what I can do" he replied. He called Finnigan over and whispered into his ear. Finnigan in return grinned, bowed and said, "Your wish is my command Commodore, and quickly exited the bridge.

"What did you say to him?" Karadis demanded, pointing after Finnigan.

"I asked him to...purloin you transport..." Finchley answered cagily.

"Well, that's better, you know, we can't waste time waiting here and all that" Karadis replied, climbing back down from her heightened state.

"I realise that's your way of saying 'think you Commodore', so you're welcome Karadis" Finchley replied.

Twenty minutes later, Finnigan reappeared on the bridge and walked over to Finchley and said, "It's done."

Finchley nodded and called Karadis over, "We have a ship for you now."

Karadis nodded, but said nothing.

"With the ship in pieces, I need to stay here with Shon and the rest of the crew to oversee repairs, I want you to go to the coordinates of Milani's distress call and see if you can find out what's happened to her" Finchley ordered.

"Fine, just tell me where the ship is that I'll be using and I'll be on my way!" Karadis replied.

"Just a minute, you're not going by yourself" Finchley said.

"I don't need any hel..." Karadis began to reply.

"NO!, YOU'RE NOT GOING ON YOUR OWN!!!" Finchley yelled, then brough the level of his voice back down to normal, "Finnigan will join you, you'll both go."

Karadis knew better than to argue, so just said, "Fine!"

She looked at Finnigan, "Where's the ship?"

"Ahhhhh, that's a good question, but you won't like the answer" Finnigan replied.

"Why?" Karadis demanded to know.

"Well, I just stole the new prototype Vigilant Class frigate that was about to be tested tomorrow, it's just off our starboard side" Finnigan replied in a low tone.

Finchley turned to Finnigan, mouth agape, "You stole the prototype Vigilant Class frigate?"

"Well, perhaps stole is a bit strong, let's just say I borrowed it" Finnigan answered.

Finchley held up his hands, "You know what, I don't want to know, I really don't want to know. You have a ship, just go."

Karadis looked at Finnigan approvingly. As much as she didn't trust him that much, she admired his guile and ingenuity, "Let's go, we have no time to waste. Commodore, have to coordinates messaged to us when you get them" she said to Finchley.

He nodded and watched them go, hell mend them, two more different people you couldn't think of going on a scouting mission...

the ship that had stolen Milani left after releasing the shuttle, placing some of Milani's DNA on board and throwing a torpedo at it. The Gaugin now in many pieces floated in space as the ship moved off heading to the slave markets on Orion Prime. A couple of hours later Milani was in Braxton's quarters bound. She had been washed and dressed her blonde hair left loose and washed with spices. Her fractured jaw, broken arm and wrist and abdominal trauma had been repaired. She sat, somewhat groggily as Braxton looked at her with hate in his eyes.

"You" he said "YOU, it's all your fault, you had to put your filthy fingers into my life, why couldn't you just look the other way?"

Milani looked at him 'quite mad' she thought as her Betazoid senses flamed. She hardly ever used them preferring to muddle along with everyone else. "you did it to yourself Braxton."

He moved over to her. "Captain Braxton to you......do you know what is going to happen to you and your ....friends?"

Milani was immediately fully awake. "you have others here?"

He laughed. "how delightful to see you this upset when I am only telling you about them. Just imagine how you will feel when you watch them sold at the slave markets, after I have had my fill of them of course."

"Aliana?" Milani asked.

Braxton nodded, "what a delightful unwilling female, I enjoyed breaking her in, now she is to have a child, that's two lives to sell."

"YOU BASTARD" Milani shouted rising to her feet but finding it hard to move.

Braxton only laughed and pushed her back down. "Now you..Milani are something special. I already have a buyer for you, Orion minor royalty no less. He is entranced by your golden hair, that is why I let you keep it. The others, well now they have no hair, It helps bring them into line, makes them....servile." He smiled "as well as the drugs." he laughed loudly. But you will escape until the sale is finalised and then," he leered, "then I will have my fun with you." Braxton looked at the Orion slave guard. "Take her to the harem with the others feed her, if she steps out of line punish her but leave her face untouched." The huge Orion male picked her up as if she were a piece of chaff despite her kicking him. Braxton took out what looked like a Klingon pain stick and jabbed it into Milani's side. The pain flooded the whole of her body and she could only lay still whilst he carried her off.

Seven hours later, the frigate Karadis and Finnigan had 'borrowed' came out of warp and to a full stop. Karadis began a sweep of the area for any signs of Milani's shuttle, then all at once stood up.

"What is it, what have you found?" Finnigan asked.

"Debris from a shuttle" Karadis answered, checking the readout for the third time, "It's the Gaugin alright, and it shows sign of having been fired on."

"Can you tell which direction the firing came from, or what type of ship it was that had fired on the Gaugin?" Finnigan replied.

"There's a warp trail leading away from here, and there's also a plasma signature leading back to that warp trail" Karadis said, "My educated guess is it was that ship who fired on Milani's shuttle. I don't recognise the warp signature, or the plasma signature, so I can't say who it is who was here. There's DNA in the shuttle wreckage, small amounts, but I can't detect any body in the area, so I would say Milani's been kidnapped by whoever was in that other ship."

Finnigan sent the report back to the Thall and asked for orders. The reply came back and he read it to Karadis, "They want us to return to the Thall?" Karadis asked incredulously.

"Yes" was Finnigan's reply.

"No" Karadis countered, "We need to find that ship and see whether Milani is onboard it or not."

Finnigan looked at the Klingon, he could easily have said that this wasn't what was expected of them, instead he said, "Well, their communication was a little garbled, it sounded to me like they said to follow the trail."

Karadis nodded and sat down again, "Good choice Finnigan" she replied.

Milani woke to see Alaina sitting near looking at her. "Milani, oh I am so sorry, he made me do it, he wanted you more than any of us, he broke out of prison, stole a ship and has become one of them" she said hatred in her voice as she nodded at the two huge Orion males. Starfleet has all hell looking for him. Governments are up in arms about this especially Changs and Obire's. They want their citizens returned, ...ouch..." she said and moved a little. Milani's hand went up to her friends bump. He did this to you and I will kill him for it." Aliana's hand went up to her stomach and she caressed it. It is not the child's fault Milani."

"I know," Milani said, and smiled, "you always wanted children." She looked at the guard who had stunned her. "We have to let my ship know where we are. Do you know where we can get our hands on a communicator?"

"There is nothing like that in here but, sickbay might be the place."

"I'll try there then." Milani began screaming and rolling from side to side. "HELP ME" she screamed, "the pain." One of the Orions moved over the her.

"This is the one we were told to keep safe." he said in a not too intelligent voice. "Maybe we should take her to sickbay?" the other nodded and picked her up as she screamed and wailed apparently writhing in pain." Turning she winked at Aliana as she was taken out.

Sickbay was not anything like the one on the Thall. Shon had everything clean and the atmosphere was one of calm and care, very much unlike this place she thought. Her personal communicator was there in a basket amongst several others in what looked like the office space. Still rolling around she was examined by a Tyrellian who really couldn't care less his clicks re-sequenced by their version of a universal translator. So, it was easy for her to get a nights observation. The hours ticked away watched over by the Orion guard. Six hours into the night she began to moan. "Please, help me" she said in a weak voice. "I need something to eat."

The not to clever Orion nodded and left. Milani jumped up and grabbed one of the communicators and jumped back on the bed. A few seconds later her returned with a bowl of fruit and some water. "Thank you" she said in a soft feminine voice." he grunted something and returned to the door. Milani ate some fruit and drank then curled over onto her side, managing to undo the casing she found what she had been looking for and began to tap.

Back on the frigate, Finnigan was still trying to figure out what kind of ship it was they were following. "I don't get it, there's everything from Romulan heat shields to Vulcan scanners in this trail, it's like a mish mash of ships."

Karadis was just about to say something when her COMM panel lit up, "What's this?" she asked out loud. She began to decipher the communique, "It's an SOS message from Milani, she's alive! There's not much to it, she's been taken, there's Orion's involved...and Braxton's there. Right, I'll set a trace on this, see if you can push the engines a little further, try to make up some time."

After being taken back to what was laughingly called a harem Milani slept for a while the communicator hidden under her mattress. she no longer ate any of the food and warned the others it may be drugged. Then she talked to the women from the ship, Alaiana, Chang, Obire and Frances. Milani spoke in a low voice. We have to get out of here, does anyone know the ships complement, the armoury, transporters, anything!"

There are four Orions who guard us" Chang said, two on two off."

"The guards have painsticks, I attempted to relieve one of them of it, they are too strong Milani." Frances said.

Milani looked at them all, "We are getting out of here, my ship will find us, they are very effective at things like this." She bent her head towards them, " now lets...." She looked sideways to see Braxton's feet beside her. Chang and Obire scooted away as Frances looked up. "Milani is planning an escape, she wants to take us with her."

"Thank you Frances, you have been very helpful now, retrieve the object she has?"

Frances pulled the communicator from Milani's mattress and gave it to him. " Please release me as you promised?"

Braxton smiled and, for a moment Milani recognised the witty, urbane Captain he had been. He pulled a pain stick from his side and stuck it straight into Frances chest. She screamed a high pitched scream that hurt Milani's ears and rocked and bucked on the floor. Milani moved to her but was pulled away. He pressed it into her chest once again.

"You promised me release, pleassseee!"

"My dear I am releasing you....from this life." He pushed the painstick into the now prone woman's neck whilst Milani fought like a wild gyre beast.

Frances now lay quite still, her eyes open but unseeing. Milani was released and grabbed Frances lifting her up onto her chest. She felt for a pulse, there was none. She closed her eyes and brushed France's hair out of her face.

"Push the body out of an airlock." Braxton said, "and take this," he indicated Milani, "to the interrogation room." The Orion guards pulled Frances' body away by her hair and pulled Milani up. "Interrogation.....lovely." he said and pulled her away. Milani fought and kicked every inch of the way and some of her blows must have struck home as his pain stick was used to quiet her. She woke chained and naked. Despite the way she felt she laughed. "what's all this nakedness for."

On the frigate, Karadis had managed to trace the SOS message from Milani and Finnigan had pushed the ships engines beyond what was considered safe. However, it had worked as they were now just behind the ship Milani was on. Finnigan scanned the vessel and said, "Whatever that 'hybrid' is, there's gaps in it's shields, we can beam across."

Karadis was already on her feet and opening the locker to where the phasers were kept. She took two out and tossed one to Finnigan, "Set the coordinates for a quiet part of the vessel and beam us over, now!"

"Coordinates are already set" Finnigan replied, pressing the keys in the main console to beam them over, "Let's find out what we're facing" he finished, setting the transport in process.

It seemed a long time until Braxton came to her. For the first time in years she threw all her Betazoid senses at him. Immediately she felt a wash of rage, so much rage he was barely conscious of the norms of being human. So, he did blame her for everything but he was confused. He wanted to obtain the enormous price he had been offered for her but he also wanted to hurt her, hurt her so badly and rape her time and time again. She turned her head away from him. "Why do you blame me for Everything? it was your decision to do what you did all yours, we were your crew and would have followed you to death if you had asked us, behaved like a human being." Braxton moved towards her his face contorted with rage. Milani reached out again and recoiled. He was going to kill her and do it soon, he had lost all self control. She thought of the ship she had so recently joined her few friends and those she had yet to make and Karadis, what a missed opportunity, surely there was something she could have done, something different. The pain stick hit her in the abdomen, again and again and again until her body was slick with swear.

"I'm going to slice you up." he said as he approached her with a knife. Milani took a deep breath as he drew it across her face and down her chest to her abdomen. She felt her blood flow but, surprisingly no pain. Taking a pair of shears he began to hack at her hair. she could see hand fulls falling to the floor and felt cold air on the bald patches he left. "Those pretty eyes will be next, I'll return after dinner." She reached out to his mind once again to find it somewhat calmer and she rested.

With the beam across now completed, Karadis took the tricorder she was carrying and began scanning the area they were in. "It would seem the main bridge is several decks above us, I suggest we sta...", then she stopped talking as voices could be heard coming their way.

As they hid, Karadis and Finnigan saw two Orion guards walking towards them, "The Captain seems to not like the new slave we brought onboard today" one said, "Yes, he's intent on harming her, he had me take her to the interrogation room I've just come from" the other replied. They passed by without seeing either Karadis or Finnigan, and once they were out of earshot, Karadis stood up.

"That could be Milani he was talking about, and if he's just come from the interrogation room, that means it back that way somewhere" she pointed.

Finnigan now stood next to her, "Well, we won't find out by standing here now, will we?"

"No" Karadis agreed, and they began quietly walking along the corridor in the direction that the two guards had come from. She once again had her tricorder in her hands, passively scanning room as they went. About forty yards down the corridor, she stopped, "That room has shielding on it, for me, I'd be willing to bet that's the interrogation room. There were no guards posted, something Finnigan found odd, was it because they arrogantly thought they didn't need any, or was it an oversight. Karadis crept up to the door and placed her ear on the cold metal, listening for any tell tale signs that someone was in there, but she heard nothing.

"You know we have to go in there, don't you?" Finnigan said.

"Yes, but let's not be to full on, we don't know who, if anyone, is in there" Karadis replied. She gently placed her hand on the door pad and keyed it to open. A click sounded and the door opened just a crack, enough for Karadis to push it open and stealthily moving inside.

The sound of something rolling caused Milani to raise her head as someone who looked like Karadis followed by Finnegan entered the room followed by the explosion of a stun grenade and then, the room was filled with Orion's. "Take their weapons," a voice said string them up oh and unclothe the female."

Karadis and Finnigan fought bravely, downing at least three of the Orion guards, but more took their place and soon they became overwhelmed. Finnigan was clubbed over the head with the butt of a phaser and passed out, Karadis was held down by five guards, one of which placed some kind of wadding over her mouth when she began to try biting them. They stripped both of them and dragged them over to the walls of the room and tied their hands in front of them, then attached a rope to the ties and pulled that rope up, raising their hands above their heads, finally lifting them a foot or so off the ground. Karadis began wildly kicking out at any guard who came near her, so three rushed her, two held he legs together whilst the third tied her ankles together tightly. Finnigan, in no state to defend himself, was tied the same way, both of them now hanging there helpless.

"Shit" Milani said, why did you two come!" Milani exclaimed.

"Friends of yours Milani?" he said walking around and looking at the full figured Klingon woman, "I'll get a lot for you, maybe then when I kill your friend here i won't be out of pocket. Looking at Finnegan he laughed, "maybe I could sell you as a eunuch." He turned back to Milani, "and you brought them here." She could see the anger building up in him again as he slammed the pain stick into her side and left it there as it seared her autonomic nervous system making her fit. Braxton eventually stopped and moved over to Karadis. "I have heard Klingon women like pain, do you Klingon?"

Karadis, unable to talk with the wadding over her mouth, just glared at Braxton, kicking out with both her feet in a futile attempt to hurt him. Finnigan began coming round, groaning a little, and as he attempted to move his hand to his head, he realised the predicament he was now in.

"What the hell!" he said loudly, then he saw Braxton standing next to Karadis.

"Well, well, well, Marion Braxton...or as we called you, 'Maid Marion', it looks like you've come down in the universe, consorting with Orion's now are we?" he said.

"Be careful Finnigan, he's already murdered one of my friends in front of me." Milani said as Braxton swung and hit him with the pain stick in the crotch and triggered it.

Finnigan screamed in pain, but when Braxton stopped, Finnigan's pained face turned to laughter, "Always the one who picks on the helpless eh, 'Maid Marion', how about you let me down from here and we go toe to toe, see how 'big' you are then."

Braxton screamed with rage and set about beating Finnegan until he looked like meat. Realising he had gone too far he said "take him down and get him to sickbay but don't untie him and stay with him. He moved over to Karadis.

"Now, how did you find us?" he asked Karadis as he caressed her breasts.

Karadis flinched at his touch, and gag talked all kinds of oaths at the rancid excuse for a being in front of her.

As if he realised his mistake he removed her gag. "I've never had a Klingon woman, do you like torture as foreplay?" he asked slowly. Milani moaned as her blood loss continued.

"How about you let me down from here and you can find out first hand!" Karadis said angrily.

"ooh," Braxton mocked and returned to Milani. "You are loosing blood Milani I think I will take your Klingon colleague instead and leave you to your fate.

"Good luck with that." Milani said through a haze of pain and dizziness as Braxton left. The door closed and they were left alone in darkness. "I'm sorry you and Finnigan got mixed up in this." Milani said to Karadis, I would like to say Braxton has lost his mind but he was always like this. How Starfleet could let him escape fills me with despair." she said as she felt herself slipping into unconsciousness.

The doors to the room opened again and a hooded figure walked in, followed by two others. He surveyed the room, turned and spoke to the other two, and pointing to Milani said, "Take her to the medical facility." They walked across and picked Milani up and left the room with her. The figure walked across to Karadis and looked her up and down. She couldn't see the face of whoever it was as their cowl draped across their face and kept it in shadow. A hand reached out and, though not touching her skin, traced the outline of her upper body and face.

Karadis began to struggle and fight with her bonds but to no effect, "Whoever you are, show yourself you coward, let me down and we'll see how you fair against me in a fight!"

The figure jumped back as Karadis began her struggles and shouting, but said nothing, just watched her for a few moments then turned and left.

Milani woke up in what was laughingly called a medical facility and she was just realising it was a place to fix up tortured souls, to put them back together and take them back for more torture. At that moment she imagined the Thall taking aim and blowing the ship to dust. She sat slowly and noted her abdominal wound had gone. She touched her face surprised to feel a scar on her cheek. the Orion medic saw her sitting up.

"I see you are awake, Captain Braxton wanted you to keep the scar on your cheek however he wanted me to regrow your hair so you would bring more in the sale. You have a beautiful body and I am thinking of purchasing you for myself..."he leered,"would you like that?" Milani was too tired to do anything more than turn away.
"Take her back to her cell, see she is kept naked and feed her. We will be arriving at Orion in an hour," he ordered the guard.

He picked her up and carried her Milani getting in a few well aimed kicks and bites. The cell was small, too small for a tall person like Milani to stand. She was given something which looked like watery porridge to eat so pushed it aside as it was probably drugged. The small window opened onto a partially lit corridor, no one appeared to be outside or passing and Milani had never felt so helpless.

The hooded figure walked along the corridor, anyone passing coming the other way gave them a wide berth, and didn't look at them, keeping their eyes on the floor. Stopping at a junction, the figure checked all round to see if anyone was there and when satisfied they were alone, they turned the corner and began walking again. Reaching the cell where Milani was, they stopped and brought something out from beneath their cloak.

Putting their hand through the bars in the small window they whispered, "Take this, it's not much, but it's more nutritious than the slop they normally serve their prisoners. There's also a very small tracer in there, so be careful when you chew not to break your teeth on it, just swallow it and I'll be back soon."

They turned and hurried off down the corridor the way they'd come.

"Hold on..wait," Milani whispered as the figure disappeared down the corridor. She looked at the small bowl of food, it certainly smelt better but a 'tracer'. That sounded worrying but she swallowed it followed by the hot food which warmed her. Again she tried the lock, if she had had her hair up she could have used a pin on the lock. She knelt on all fours and began a methodical search of the floor.

In the medical facility, Finnigan came round from the beating he'd taken from Braxton. His body was stiff but the majority of his wounds had been healed, only bruising could be seen. His shoulder and neck muscles protested when he sat up, but gritting his teeth, he managed it. Looking around, he could see various people on beds, some unconscious, some just staring at the ceiling, others huddled together speaking in low voices. Someone approached his bed and from the looks of them they were what was supposed to pass as a nurse, "You're finally awake then, you took a whole lot of mending, you must really have annoyed whoever attacked you."

"That would be 'Maid Mari...', sorry, Braxton" Finnigan replied.

"Oh, don't worry about the nickname, we all know it" the nurse whispered conspiratorially, speaking behind his hand, "We call him that when he's not around here."

"You don't seem afraid of him then?" Finnigan asked.

"No, not really" the nurse replied, "I mean, what's the worst he can do, kill me?"

"I would think there's a distinct possibility he would given he's madder that a box of frogs!" Finnigan retorted.

"Then I finally be free of this place" the nurse smiled, "Anyway, Braxton's ordered that you be taken from here once you're awake and to one of the guest quarters, the guards will be here soon as I told them you're now awake."

"Guest quarters..." Finnigan replied slowly, "that doesn't sound to bad."

"Never been there myself, so you could count yourself lucky I suppose, anyway, you'll find out when you get there" the nurse replied. The sound of the doors opening showed four guards entering and walking over to Finnigan's bed, "You're to come with us, we're taking you to the guest quarters, Captain Braxton wants to speak with you."

Finnigan thought about jumping up and making a fight of it, but the four guards before him were sturdily built, and he didn't think he'd make it out the room before they knocked him out again.

"Ok, ok, let me get dressed" Finnigan replied.

"No, you're coming with us now, the Captain doesn't like to be kept waiting" one of the guards replied, hauling Finnigan up off of the bed. Two of the guards grabbed him by the arms and began dragging him towards the doors. After a short time, they entered another room, one filled with soft furnishings, tapestries and a solid looking poster bed. The guards dragged Finnigan across the room and threw him on the bed, one of them saying, "Carry out Captain Braxton's orders."

Suddenly Finnigan felt the four of them grab him by the arms and legs and turn him over so he was face down on the mattress. Ropes were attached to his wrists and ankles and he found himself being tied spreadeagle to the bed, unable to move.

"Gag him!" the guard who had spoken before said. A cloth was forced into Finnigan's mouth and another was wrapped around his mouth and head, tied securely at the back. The guards then left him there, naked, tied up and gagged, no chance of escaping.

After what seemed a long search Milani's fingers found something small and sharp, so sharp she nearly punctured her finger. Shuffling over to the door she held it by two fingers up into the light and nearly dropped it again. It appeared to be the tooth of some animal or....Milani likened it to Klingon or even Ferengi teeth. It looked old, smooth. Smiling to herself she began to work it into the lock, gently, slowly she twisted and manoeuvred it until she felt a soft 'click'. The door was open, now all she had to do was wait until someone came along, steal their clothes, lock them in the cell and free Karadis and Finnegan, contain Braxton, free the slaves, deal with the Orion's and go home. "Is that all " she whispered to herself as she waited.

Back in the room where she was still hung up on the wall, Karadis had long since lost the feelings in her hands and arms, she'd hung there so long. She wasn't giving up hope though, Klingon's were renowned for their perseverance, she had to keep her focus. With both Milani and Finnigan now gone, she was the only one left and she was beginning to think she been forgotten about. The doors to the room opened and two of the Orion guards came in and walked across to her, "You're to be taken to the harem, washed and be made presentable, we'll be arriving at Orion soon, though how Klingon's can be 'made' presentable is a joke."

Karadis knew this could be the moment she was waiting on, but she was to be sorely disappointed if she thought they would just let her down. One of the guards produce a needle and jabbed it into Karadis arm, and a few moments later she began to feel light headed and woozy.

"Let's take her down, she won't be any trouble, there's enough serum in her system to calm down a Rylarian wilder beast" one of the guards laughed. Karadis tried to speak, but she found she couldn't form any coherent words, and she gave up. She felt herself being untied at her ankles, then her wrists and being lowered to the floor. That was when the blood rushed back into her arms, wrists and hands, causing her severe pain but she didn't cry out. One guard lifted her by her arms, the other by her legs and they carried her out the room and to the harem quarters where she was unceremoniously dumped on the floor.

The guard who had carried Karadis by the arms looked at one of the women and said, "Captain Braxton's orders, she's to be made presentable for the auction. She sedated so shouldn't give you any trouble."

Chang, Aliana and Obire managed to get Karadis into a hot scented bath. All three of them had had experience with Klingons before but not see one naked. Aliana held her head out of the water whilst Chang and Obire washed her. "She's magnificent," Chang breathed. When Karadis was completely clean they lifted her out of the tub and creamed her body until it was soft and gleaming. Then they dressed her in red silk, Chang had said something diaphanous would not be appropriate. They painted her lips red and accentuated her eyes with lapis lazuli. Then they left her to sleep the drug off.

It seemed to Milani she had waited a long time and was just about to give up when someone dressed in a cloak appeared and began to walk down the corridor.

The figure walked a few steps down the corridor, then stopped well short of the cell and took out an instrument from beneath their cloak. Looking at it, they then said, "Escaping from a locked room whilst being naked, that's pretty impressive."

"Who the hell are you?" Milani said as she stood up ready to fight.

The figure looked straight at Milani, then lifted their hands up to the cowl and slowly pulled it back, "It's me...Kilbane."

Milani walked to him, grabbed him and hugged him tightly to her for a moment, then, embarrassed by her nakedness pulled back. "How did you get here, Karadis and Finnigan are here as well but I don't know where oh and can you get me some clothes?" she said all in a rush. Then she put her hand up to cover the rough scar on her cheek.

"The first question I'll leave till a little later, second question is yes, I'll help you get some clothes" Kilbane answered. He took his cloak off and wrapped it around Milani and led her back up the corridor, and soon they were entering the harem room. He crossed over to where Obire was and said, "Get this one some clothes, but not before she's had a chance to bathe, I'll be ba..." and then he saw Karadis. He had to reel his jaw in at the sight of her, dressed in red silk, her lips red as well and her eyes...oh her eyes had never looked so beautiful. Shaking himself and reminding himself that she was a colleague from the Thall, he want back to Milani and said, "Wash quickly, get dressed and stay here, I need to go and find Finnigan, I have a bad feeling Braxton's got it in for him."

Milani nodded as Aliana ran her a bath. Milani had just intended to jump in and out but once she was swallowed by the perfumed water she sank to the bottom and just laid there for as long as her air lasted. Then coming up she climbed out and dried herself. Have you got anything that is not see through to wear?" then she looked towards the woman on the bed. "Karadis" she whispered. She went over and bent down. the Klingon had never looked more beautiful....and quiet. Milani took her pulse glad to know it was strong. Then she thought 'this may be my only chance and kissed her gently on her full red lips. "Maybe my sleeping beauty will wake?" she said quietly.

Karadis eyes flickered, and she opened them. She wasn't sure where she was, and immediately sat up and looked around, seeing Milani in front of her, "You're here!" she cried, grabbing Milani and giving her s crushing hug, "I thought they taken you away to kill you after what had happened. Wait, how did I get here" and she looked down, "and why am I wearing these clothes, how did you get here?" she blurted the questions out.

Milani felt so good for a moment in Karadis arms then, she pulled herself away turning her face so the Klingon would not see the scar. "It would take much more than that to kill me, in any case I had to rescue you, but, you were here when I got here. you were drugged. Seemingly we are nearing Orion and they got you ready for the slave market, Kilbane is here as well but he's gone to find Finnegan, Braxton has him." Milani said in a rush as she scrambled into a pair of Harem pants and a cropped top. She indicated the women, "these are all Star fleet Officers."

"Starfleet?" one of them said, "are you here to rescue us?"

Karadis looked at her, "We're here to rescue Milani, but now that we're here and seeing all of you are prisoners of this...Braxton...we'll try and set you free if we can, no promises though, our primary goal is getting Milani back."

She then turned to Milani, "This Braxton, I know you said he's the one who tried to rape you, but what does he have against Finnigan, apart from the fact Finnigan gave him a girly nickname?"

"I'm not sure, the girly nickname might have done the trick though. He did used to have a thing for men though. He's quite mad however so I would put nothing past him Karadis." Then she whispered "the pregnant woman is Admiral Kalia's daughter, you know, head of a weapons development!"

"That utter shit got her pregnant?" Karadis said in horror, "what kind of depraved monster is this Braxton? When you say he did have a thing for men, do you mean..." and she began making motions of a sexual nature with her fingers.

Milani nodded, " He is a true beast but, this, this Braxton I have never seen. He murdered a star fleet Officer one of the girls in front of me. Karadis we have to deal with him."

"First things first, I need to know why Kilbane is here, don't you think it's a bit odd that he turns up on the very ship Finnigan and I are trying to rescue you from?" Karadis asked.

"To be honest I thought he came with you, as I only saw you and Finnegan. Could he have hidden in the shuttle, I presumed you came in a shuttle?" but, yes it is strange."

"No, I don't think he hid on our ride" Karadis replied, "Which by the way, is a stolen Vigilant Class Frigate curtesy of Finnigan, so I believe there's another reason. Anyway, I'm so glad you're ok, I'd have been devastated if anything had happened to you."

She reached out with one hand and took Milani's face and drew it towards hers. She moved her head forwards and kissed Milani on the lips lightly. "If we get out of this, there's so much I want to speak to you about...with us I mean, I want to get it all out in the open."

Milani smiled and nodded, "so long as that is a promise." she looked into Karadis eyes and knew it was. "so was he already on the ship? I must admit I. hadn't seen him on the Thall for a couple of days..." she looked over her shoulder..."Quick looked drugged the Orion guards are coming." she lay down on the floor feigning sleep.

Karadis lay down again as the Orion guards came inside and walked over to where she was. They looked down at Milani and one of them kicked her with his foot and said, "Move, we need to take this one to see Captain Braxton, he has questions for her!"

Milani laid still her eyes closed. "GET UP" one of the Orion's roared and kicked her viciously in the abdomen. Picking her up he threw her over his shoulder. She opened her eyes and smiled at Karadis. Now they were together Braxton beware.

The remaining Orion guards took hold of Karadis and turned her over. Karadis knew that three guards would be more than she could cope with if she tried to fight in her still light headed state, so she didn't try. Once they had her on her back, one guard grabbed her arms and forced them behind her back and another tied her wrists tightly together. The other want to her feet and tied her ankles tightly as well, and once done he stood back. A guard then turned Karadis back over and slapped her face hard, "WAKE UP!" he yelled.

Karadis eyes sprung open at the slap and she growled hard at him, "You'll pay for this you dogs!" she snarled. The guards ignored her, and one picked her up and threw her over his shoulder. Smacking her backside hard, he said, "The Captain wants to see you, he has some questions he wants answered, and you and your 'friend' are going to tell him what he wants to know."

With that, the guards left the harem room and walked down a few corridors and entered another, plush furnished room. As Karadis had her back to the room, being over the guards shoulder, she didn't see what was properly going on till she was lowered down and turned around. Her eyes immediately opened at the site of Finnigan lying face down on the bed, tied spreadeagles and gagged. She tried to get to him but one of the guards held her in place. Another guard brought a chair over and she was pushed down onto it and secured there with more rope so she was immobile.

That was when Braxton appeared out of the shadows, "Now then, you two guards can go, and Grall, you stay" he said to the guards. Two of them left and one remaining guard stood by the side of the bed.

"Take your uniform off Grall" Braxton ordered, and the Orion guard did as he was told. Braxton looked round at Karadis, "He's quite the specimen, isn't he?" he asked Karadis rhetorically. "Now, you're going to answer all my questions, because if you don't, Grall here is going to have his way with Finnigan, and let's just say he's not the gentle type."

As the Orion carrying Karadis turned off Milani began to fight and kick again, finally she bit his ear. The guard roared and dropped her whilst he picked up the half of his ear she had bitten off. Milani was dizzy from the fall and the sound of running feet felt like drums under her head. Somebody reached for her and she attempted to fight as a needle was slipped into her vein. She felt suddenly calm and stopped fighting. She laughed as she was picked up and dragged along, "do not injure her or you will be next!," someone said as she was taken into a dark room and sat in front of a screen. Letting her head fall it was roughly pulled back and she fought to close her eyes. Someone somewhere said "You gave her too much idiot, if this sale does not go through you will be taken to the nearest airlock and shoved out."

There was silence for a minute as her hair was pulled down and arranged around her. The a light was suddenly shone in her face.

"THE AUCTION WILL BEGIN IN FIFTEEN MINUTES" a voice said. The light was greatly reduced until she could open her eyes.

"Is this the woman" a voice said.

"Yes Gul Remar, taken from Starfleet, A previous First Officer, beautiful golden hair like silk. Only blemish is a wound on her cheek obtained whilst in a fight. We can remove it if you so wish.?"

"No, no I like a little blemish to great beauty. Strip her I want to see her body.

"No, please no," muttered Milani. She felt a cold breeze on her body as it was exposed.

"As you can see Gul Remar she has beautiful full breasts, a slim waist and curves in all the right places." Milani felt herself turned round and a hand smoothing her buttocks.

""Has she given birth?" he asked.

"Our physician says no but everything is in working order Gul Remar."

"Clothe her and sit her down again came the Cardassian voice. "I see she is tall, I like that and, obviously intelligent. "Why does she not speak?" he said.

Whoever it was seemed to grovel, "we had to ....persuade her to come with us and she bit a guards ear off, so, we sedated her."

The Gul clapped his hands and laughed. "Wonderful, yes, I think I will have her, I can get her into line, bring her to heel so to speak, so, if I buy her now the auction will not go ahead?"

"No Gul Remar."

"Well how much for her?" The Gul asked.

"Two hundred bars of gold pressed latinum Gul Remar." there was silence for a moment.

"That is extortionate, I will give you one hundred and fifty."

The auctioneer nodded. "We have done business before Gul Remar, you are a trusted customer."

"The usual method of transfer?" said the Gul as the auctioneer nodded and looked at a screen he smiled. "Thank you Gul, the transfer has come through now where do you want her delivered to?"

Gul Remar was getting bored. "My ship the Dactaire, we are a light year away on the edge of your system i want her delivered immediately.....unharmed. If she should bite anyone else's ear off do not punish her." The screen went dark.

"Whhat's. happen..ing?" Miilani said the sedative still running through her system.

"You have a new owner now my dear A Gul no less, we are going to take you now so..." he nodded as someone else walked to her. Milani tried to pull her arm away but it was held and injected. Then last thing she saw before going to sleep was a green face and a mouth with a gold tooth looking at her.

The small unremarkable shuttle left the bay of the Orion ship and took direction towards the edge of the system.

Back in the room where Finnigan and Karadis were, Braxton had begun asking questions, unaware that the doors to the room had quietly opened and closed again without a sound. Braxton was becoming infuriated that Karadis wasn't answering any questions, so he looked at Grall and said, "I gave them the opportunity to talk, they didn't accept it, so..."

"So nothing!" a voice said from the back of the room.

Braxton turned at the sound of the voice, then began to stand up but it was to late. Two phaser shots fired and Braxton and Grall both fell to the floor stunned. Stepping out of the shadows, Kilbane hurried across to Karadis and Finnigan, untying them both. Karadis got up out of her seat and bear hugged Kilbane, then put him down again. Finnigan looked around and found his clothes and got dressed, thanking Kilbane for his timely intervention.

"We can't stay here, I've no idea how long these two will be out cold" Kilbane said, "and besides, the auction has already started and I believe Milani has been taken in a shuttle from the ship already, we have to find out where it's heading and follow it."

Milani woke feeling dazed not sure where she was but the first coherent thought was the fact that Karadis kissed her. She smiled and immediately her head hurt. It was them she heard, no felt the thrum of an engine underneath her. It was not a Federation engine she knew that as slowly she opened her eyes. There was someone sitting across from her and in the semi darkness she could see he was Orion. Milani also noticed he had a syringe in his hand and then she remembered she had been sold, to whom she did not recall. She closed her eyes as the Orion looked at her.

"Better check her make sure she is still breathing, the Gul will have our bollocks if she is harmed!" someone said and her ear noted whoever it was was sitting at the controls of a small shuttle type ship.

"I don't have any bollocks"The Orion who leant over said his thick face and sweat sheened body thrust against hers. In a quick movement she turned the syringe filled hand towards his own body, the movement forcing him to depress it into himself. He went down and Milani stood as quickly as she could despite the mice dancing a jig in her scull. she noted there was no weapon near and, as someone reached for her she noted a door next to her. She stumbled through it and reaching the controls ripped the wire from them. She was safe for a moment as she heard the commotion outside.

Kilbane had managed to secure a link to the main computer and get a reading on where the shuttle that had taken Milani was heading. "All we need to do now is get transport so we can go after her" he said.

Finnigan smiled, "That's where we come in Captain" he said, ripping the lining open on the collar of his shirt, "I knew there was a possibility that things could go wrong, so as a safeguard, I sewed an extra COMM badge into my shirt collar..."

Karadis looked at him, "You sew?" she asked, screwing up her face.

"Yes, I sew" Finnigan answered her, mocking the screwed up face Karadis had made, "is that such a bad thing?"

"You big girls blouse!" Karadis replied.

Finnigan was about to retort back when Kilbane stepped in, "Eh, can we get back to how that helps us."

"The shuttle we stole..." Finnigan began to reply.

"WE?" Karadis almost shouted.

"Alright, the shuttle I stole...better?" he asked Karadis, to which she nodded approval, "has stealth capability, and it's been programmed to follow our COMM badges should we not be onboard and begin to move out of range. It's been shadowing this ship as it's moved, we can beam over to it now and then follow the shuttle Milani's on."

Kilbane nodded his approval, "Do it" he said.

Finnigan began the process, tapping the link and telling the computer on the Vigilant Class shuttle to beam them across.


The banging on the door grew louder as Milani looked around, the lock would not last if they used a weapon on it. A fleeting thought was that she would be better opening the airlock and stepping out than facing whatever was to come. Then a tingle began to grow in her gut and she recognised it as a transporter beam. There was nothing she could do other than accept itShe arrived on a platform she did not recognise.

"My dear, I was so worried, there was a report that you were in some difficulty on board the shuttle so I decided not to wait but bring you aboard. I am Gul Remar and you my dear are my newest ....I am trying to find the right words ah, yes lady friend. I know you are Betazoid but, of course we are one of the few races whose minds you cannot read. My dear I paid an extortionate amount of money for you but I will not hesitate to dispense with you."

For the first time in a long time Milani could not quite believe what she was hearing and her mind was cycling through the potential possibilities, there was no point in aggression with three other guards there so, she made up her mind and nodded to him forcing a smile.

Remar nodded and beckoned a Cardassian woman over, she looked up and Milani winced to see terrible scarring across her face. "This is Ilear, she will be your servant, after your bath she will show you a closet full of the most beautiful clothes, choose something and wait in my quarters."

The young girl beckoned her and Milani realised the girl was a deaf mute. Milani nodded and followed her.

Back on the Vigilant Class shuttle, Finnigan had picked up the shuttle that had left Braxton's ship with Milani on it and now they were hurrying to catch up with it. Karadis was scanning it when she suddenly said "Another ship has just arrived where the shuttle is and a beam out has taken place, I'm trying to determine who it is who's beamed out."

Kilbane waited with baited breath as Karadis' fingers danced across the touch screen. It seemed to take an age, then Karadis said, "It's a Batazoid reading, it must be Milani...but wait, I'm getting other life form readings now... they're Cardassian!"

"Oh that's just dandy!" Kilbane replied, "are we ever going to have five minutes peace without bumping into them?"

"So what now?" Finnigan asked, "We can't exactly rock up to the Cardassian ship and ask for Milani back can we."

"No" Kilbane answered, "but we can throw a spanner in the works!"

"Explain!" Karadis demanded.

"We can't match the Cardassian ship for speed or weapons power" Kilbane said, "but what if we explain to the Cardassian's that the person they beamed over is a Federation Officer, and that the person from whom they got her is a wanted criminal...you never know, it may give them pause for thought."

Milani followed Ilear along the corridors as she watched where she was going. "which way is the shuttle bay?" she asked. Ilear's eyes went wide and Milani knew that she could understand more than she let on. They entered a large room which Milani knew was Gul Remar's quarters. The woman gestured the bathroom to Milani but she was already exploring the room. "A blessed com panel." she said smiling and sat down studying it. "Wish I'd learned Cardassian." she said.

"The Cardassian ship's clocked us!" Finnigan said, "She's put her shields up and has locked phasers on us!"

"Don't do anything to provoke them Finnigan!!!" Karadis replied harshly.

Finnigan slowly turned his seat round to face her, "No shit Sherlock, and there was me about to shoot at them, you know, like trying to knock down a stone built castle with a pea shooter." He looked at Kilbane and raised his eyebrows, "Where did you get that one from?" he asked, throwing his thumb over his shoulder at Karadis.

She in turn slapped the back of his head, "Less of the back chat, more of the thinking you imbecile!"

"Open up a channel to the Cardassian ship" Kilbane said, "Let's see who or what we're dealing with."

Finnigan opened the channel up and nodded to Kilbane to start talking.

"This is Starfleet Intelligence Captain, Kevin, Lord Kilbane of Sanquhar to the Cardassian ship of our port bow, we believe you have one of our crew onboard your vessel, I'd like to speak to your Superior Officer" Kilbane said.

Milani felt the ship rock and knew it had fired on something. She rushed out of the quarters. "Take me to the bridge ..." she said to the guard outside. He shook his head.

Gul Remar looked at the ship on his starboard bow. His self confidence was so much he never even bothered to ask it's weapons contingent. He nodded at his comms officer. "Ship off our starboard bow, that, was a warning shot. Who are you and what do you want?"

Milani exploded. "IS EVERYONE ON THIS BAG OF BOLTS STUPID" she screamed attracting attention from several people walking passed. It probably was because she was almost naked but the shouting helped. "Take me to the bridge Gul Remar will want to see me. NOW" she screamed. The Cardassian nodded as a crowd began to gather. Setting off they reached the turbolift to the Bridge and, once the door slid too she set about relieving the now unconscious guard of his weapon. "Load of crap" she said as the unbalanced weapon felt bad in her grip. She took a deep breath as the door opened to the bridge.

"Man, they really are stupid..." Kilbane said under his breath, "This is Starfleet Intelligence Captain, Kevin, Lord Kilbane of Sanquhar, we believe you have one of our crew onboard your vessel. Now, I don't want to appear rude, neither do I want to cause an incident between the Federation and Cardassia, but the crew member of ours you're holding was taken illegally and we want her back. Check your files on SFI, you'll more than likely find I'm listed there somewhere, and I'm also a member of the Federation Council..."

"No you're n..." Karadis began to say, at which point Kilbane turned to her and placed his finger on her lips, saying "SHHHHHH!!!!!...grown ups talking here."

Karadis was nearly apoplectic with rage and went to grab Kilbane's finger but he was to fast and turned his seat back to speak to Remar again. "So, as I say, I have no wish to have an incident that I'd need to report, so if you'd kindly hand back our officer, we'll say no more and go about our separate business."

Milani stepped onto the bridge as all eyes turned on her just as Remar ordered a disabling shot to whoever's ship was out there. Milani didn't recognise the ship but saw the shot tear into what appeared to be the port stabiliser. Remar turned and saw her. "If you do not want your Gul vaporised stay where you are, no stupid moves." She moved over to him now aware of how little she was clothed. "Open a communication with that ship?" No one moved so Milani jabbed Remar in the ribs. Remar turned to his com officer and nodded. "Milani spoke. "Hello, ship out there, are you Federation?"

"Milani, is that you, it's me....Karadis...are you ok, have they hurt you, have they coerced you into doing anything you didn't want to do???" Karadis blurted out.

Milani breathed a sigh of relief. "Karadis, thank Hades, no I'm not hurt but I was sold to the commander of this ship Gul Remar who I
am aiming a weapon at right now. There are a lot of Cardassians around right now and they are firing on you, I hope...." Remar lurched at her knocking Milani off her feet, who hitting her head lay spark out on the floor.

"I am back in charge now, I too do not wish any incidents between us but your ship is now damaged, this woman is now mine." he nodded to his helmsmen to prepare to go to warp. Milani moaned as she returned to consciousness. "Karadis" she croaked.

"Very well Gul Remar, you leave me no choice" Kilbane replied, "You're kidnapping an already kidnapped Federation Officer and citizen, and by the sounds of it, when you just said...and I quote...'she's now mine', it sounds as though you own her, which means you 'bought' her, which is tantamount to slavery, again, outlawed by the Federation. Couple that with the fact you've 'bought' her from a Federation fugitive, namely one former Captain Braxton, you're also complicit in those kidnapping and slavery charges. These are acts of war against the Federation so I'm duty bound to report my findings to my fellow Federation Council members who in turn will report it to the Federation President who will also see these counts as an act of war and contact your Government very shortly to tell them that we're now at war with Cardassia...all thanks to you. So, I'm giving you one last chance, hand our Officer back, or be the one who has once again pitted the Federation against Cardassia in war. Be under no illusion Gul, if you don't hand her back, you'll be the one responsible for the death of millions of lives."

Remar laughed. "Captain Kilbane I do not give a Faoto about your threats. You see my ship, my men and myself are no longer members of the Cardassian military. The nearest we come, I think in your," Remar's mouth turned down as though Federation was a dirty word "Federation world are pirates. We go where we want, do what we want" He laughed bitterly. "Do you think I would be able to take your officer if I were still a part of my world." He pulled Milani up. "Tell them, you are with me willingly or I will blow that little craft into bits.

Milani stood, still a little dazed. Remar was obviously not going to return her of his own volition. She could work to free herself if she acquiesced but the thought of being physical with him was repulsive. Then she thought of Karadis, the woman she loved but had yet to tell her. She shook her head. "If you will leave them alive I will go with you Remar, willingly."

Kilbane was about to reply to Remar when Karadis suddenly said, "Kilbane, a ships dropping out of warp behind us!"

Kilbane looked at her and said, "Scan the ship and try to identify it."

Karadis hurriedly set the scanners to find out, then seemed to relax as she replied, "It's the Thall."

Kilbane punched the air with a clenched fist, "That's what I'm talking about!"

Karadis was confused, and she was just about to point out to Kilbane he'd been talking about none of the sort when a familiar voice came over the COMM's.

"Captain Kilbane, this is Commodore Kerr of the USS Thall, we've been monitoring your communications with the Cardassian ship and if I may, I'd like to interject some information into the conversation."

"It's good to see you and the Thall Commodore" Kilbane replied, "and by all means, interject away."

There was silence for a moment before Kerr spoke again. "Gul Remar, this is Commodore Finchley Kerr of the SFI vessel, USS Thall. As I've just told Captain Kilbane, we've been monitoring the communications between his ship and yours. You have one of my officers onboard your ship, so here's what's about to happen. You have your shields down and your weapons locked on the Captains ship." Finchley then nodded to his Tactical Officer, who then turned, pressed a few buttons on his console then turned back and nodded they'd done as asked.

"Gule Remar, I now have my own weapons locked on your ship, specifically your main engines, weapons array, central core and bridge" Finchley continued. He then stood up and walked a few paces forward, "We have a new weapon, untested but by all accounts of my Chief Engineer, ready to be tested, and I'm going to do that on your ship unless you hand my officer back over to the Captain on his shuttle. The weapons I'm talking about are these, exothermic nucleatic biometric photon torpedoes. In a nutshell, what they do is this...when fired, they detonate on impact causing a massive heated explosion, blowing a hole in your vessel, they then release a toxin that spreads like wildfire inside your ship. That toxin is keyed to specific physical characteristics...i.e...Cardassian DNA in this case...and on contact with that DNA, the unfortunate receiver begins to melt from the inside out, thanks to the nucleatic toxin. It doesn't happen quickly, it takes a few seconds apparently, but the pain is excruciating I'm lead to believe, giving the unfortunate receiver the opportunity to see themselves melt before their very own eyes. I don't have any scruples, you can look at my file which I'm sure you have somewhere on that barge you call a ship and it'll tell you that, so I'm willing to test these weapons on you and your ship. Failure to hand my officer over, or the merest hint that you're about to raise your shields, fire your weapons on us or the Captain's shuttle or try going to warp and I'll do just that. Captain Braxton's ship won't be coming to your rescue because we disabled it before we arrived here, and there are no other ships within ten light years of this position who can help you out, cloaked or uncloaked...you see we've checked because we know how to detect cloaked ships now and there aren't any, you're on your own. You have ten seconds to comply, there are no negotiations, even if you threaten to kill my officer, they knew what they signed up for when they joined SFI, so please don't try to use that as a negotiating tactic, it won't work with me, I'll let them die before I let you get away with what you're doing. So, hand them over now, your ten seconds has begun!" and he closed the COMM link.

"Kilbane, if Milani isn't on your ship in the next ten seconds, tell me, have you got that?" Finchley said to Kevin.

"Aye Commodore, loud and clear" Kilbane answered.

On the Cardassian vessel Milani looked at Remar, "That's my ship, my Commodore and my crew and I can testify he will do exactly as he says if you do not return me to the ship off your starboard bow. Goodbye Gul Remar." She stood waiting the seconds ticking away. Remar was helpless and he knew it. Nodding to his second he said "Transport her to that ship, do it now." He gave her a longing look as she vanished. "So beautiful, what a shame. go to warp now home."

Milani appeared on the ship her face beaming.

"Commodore Kerr, Milani has been beamed aboard the shuttle" Kilbane reported.

"Kerr here, thank you Captain, bring the shuttle back to the Thall, but give us a moment first" Finchley replied. He looked at the Tactical Officer again, "has the Cardassian ship begun to power up her engines?"

"Aye Sir, they have" the Lieutenant reported back.

"Fire on her engines, weapons arrays and main core, disable that ship!" Finchley ordered.

"Yes Commodore" the Tactical Officer replied, firing phasers. The Cardassian ship took direct hits and explosions began happening around it's hull as it started to keel over to one side. "The ship has been disabled Sir, she's dead in space" the Lieutenant reported.

"Scan their bridge, how many life signs are there?" Finchley asked.

"Three life signs Commodore" the reply came back.

"Beam them directly to the brig" Finchley said, "I want to interrogate them!"

He then tapped his COMM badge, "Kilbane, bring your shuttle in now."

"Aye Commodore, we're on our way" Kilbane replied.

Milani sighed with relief, "it is so very good to see you all," she looked at Karadis.

Karadis hurried forward and grabbed Milani in a bear hug, "I...'we'...thought we'd lost you!" she said, still holding her tight. Finnigan smiled at the sight of Karadis actually showing feelings for once, normal feelings like concern rather than just duty. Kilbane sighed and as he turned back to the controls he said, "It's good to have you back Commander", then began the approach to the Thall

"She breathed in Karadis scent and returned the hug, "wonderful" she whispered. "I hope someone gets me something to wear?" she laughed. What is happening to Remar's ship and where is Braxton, do we have him?"

"It looks like Remar's ship has been disabled" Finnigan answered "As for Braxton, the Commodore did say that they'd disabled that ship before they got here, I'd imagine he'll want to go back to it if there's a chance of recapturing Braxton himself."

"I want to be the one to take Braxton preferably alive, for what he did to me, my dead friends and Alaiana. I want to see him try to squirm his way out of the years of rape and murder, and I say murder because suicide by Braxton is murder." Milani said.

"First things first, we need to get you checked out by Shon, make sure you're ok and there's no lasting effect to anything that happened to you on Remar's ship" Karadis said.

The Vigilant Class shuttle manoeuvred into the Thall's shuttle bay and touched down gently, Finnigan turned to the others and said, "We're back, time disembark, I think the Commodore will want a full report of what's happened" and looking at Kilbane he added, "and why you were on Braxton's ship."

Kilbane looked at him and replied, "The report about what went on 'you' can give, or Karadis, as to why I was there, that's classified, if the Commodore wants to know, he also knows the channels to go through to get the information."

"Since when did you become the cloak and dagger type Kilbane?" Karadis asked.

"Since it's on a need to know basis, and you don't need to know" Kilbane answered, "If you'll all excuse me, I have things to do" he nodded to them all.

Karadis watched him go, and she knew there was something different about Kilbane now, something darker, more edgy, and she wasn't sure if she liked it or not. Once he'd left the shuttle, she looked back round at Milani, "Right, let's get you some actual clothes rather than just threads like you're wearing at the moment, then onto Sickbay for Shon to check you over."

Milani nodded. As Shon looked her over in sickbay Milani had a first officer's uniform replicated for her. "you're good to go Milani, apart from the face that you picked up a small Cardassian insect infestation which I have taken care of and you have lost some weight, nothing that a good meal would not put back on. " Shon hugged her as Milani was stepping into her uniform. "Welcome home."

Milani nodded, placed her hair up and, for the first time it seemed like weeks, she felt good. Turning to Karadis she said "Kilbane does not quite seem himself, is anything wrong?"

"You mean apart from hating Shon for betraying him in love, hating Kerr for being the one she betrayed him in love for, having a massive chip on his shoulder about hating the universe and everyone and everything in it because of them doing that to him....nooooooooooooo...I don't think anything's wrong with Kilbane" Karadis replied sarcastically.

"Yes, yes I know all that but there is something else, I can sense his confusion, hatred and yet love, Kilbane is very easy to read, he wears his heart on his sleeve as the old saying goes but he is hiding something else and that worries me as a first officer." She looked at Karadis. "It is a shame we do not have a counsellor and I am surprised we do not given the nature of our work." Milani sighed, "It's good to be home and you and i need to talk......don't we?

"The only love you're probably feeling from Kilbane is love for himself" Karadis replied, "other than that he's now just a stone cold Intel Officer and a killing machine. As for having a Counsellor, that's Kerr's call and if I'm honest, I don't think he wants one, he wants his crew feeling pain and elation in equal measures, keeping them grounded in the reality of the duties we have. I'm happy to talk with you anytime Milani, just say where and when."

"After the mission finishes I think, we still have Braxton and his operation to end, but I have to tell you, I'm sure you know I have feelings for you and....I think you do for me?" Milani took her hand and brushed a stray hair away from the Klingon's cheek and smiled.

Karadis didn't flinch or try to move away, instead she smiled back at Milani, "You know I tried to fight those feelings for a long time, dismissing them as just a wanton lust, then I realised over time that it was not wanton lust but a genuine fondness that turned to love for you Milani. I will freely admit that there is still a certain lust for you still there, but that's tempered now with genuine desire to bond with you in a way I haven't ever done with anyone else, not that there have been many others, I have a tendency to put duty first before private matters. I hope you feel the same way about me, and that we can move forward together. As for Braxton, I believe the Commodore also has a few things to settle with him as well, so yes, he'll also want him and his operation ended permanently. My word of advice to you, speak to him alone, tell him you want your revenge on Braxton, he'll understand, in fact, knowing him, he'll probably see to it that you personally get to end Braxton's life if that's what you want. If it is, do it slowly, make Braxton pay dearly for all he's put you through."

Milani smiled and pulled Karadis towards her kissing her gently. I think I loved you the moment i saw you and I feel the same lust for you. We just need time together. I promise you we will have that. Just please take care." She moved apart from Karadis. "right I am all set to go see the Commodore. She moved away not really wanting to but duty intervened. A few minutes later she was at the ready room door and touched the chime.

Inside, Finchley was finishing up a conversation with SFIHQ, "...and that was the report Kilbane submitted" he finished his side of the conversation.

"Thank you Commodore" the reply came back, "we'll study it and get back to you, SFIHQ out."

The chime on his doors then sounded and he looked up, "Come in."

Milani walked in feeling contented to have her roe returned to her. "Commodore, I just wanted to thank you for your timely rescue and ask what we are doing to chase down and punish Braxton, tell me jail will no longer be an option?"

"It's good to see you Commander, I hope you've recovered from what happened to you" Finchley began his reply, "as for Braxton, I've just been having a conversation with SFIHQ on that, and as far as they're concerned, whatever decision we make in regard the Braxton situation they'll agree to it. Personally, I'd like to hear what you think we should do" he finished.

"I am fine Commodore, glad to be home. As for Braxton he is utterly irredeemable. There is no prison that can hold him and he needs to be punished, I can see nothing better than castration without anaesthetic and then termination." Milani wondered why she felt that way but then remembered all the girls he despoiled and sold, all the verbal and sexual torture he performed on the crew and her heart hardened. "He needs to die Commodore."

"That I understand Commander, and I agree" Finchley replied, "but simply castrating him and then killing him is rather...quick...don't you think, shouldn't an example be made of him, and those who served him? I mean, if that's all you want then I'm more than happy to provide the means for you to do so, but if it were me, and I were in your shoes, I would torture him first, then make him watch as you torture those who decided to work under him and then make him watch as you killed them slowly one by one. I would then remove his extremities and make him eat them then castrate him and eat 'it' and finally hang draw and quarter him...but that's just me."

"That seems a little much to me sir, I also do not think Braxton would care about the people who work underneath him, their deaths would mean little." she smiled. "There was one Orion, a very large man who has a 'thing' for Braxton. Now that, I think he deserves, in fact let anyone who wants to line up and have a go. I might even do so.| " she laughed, "anyway we have to catch him first."

"Perhaps in your eyes it is" Finchley replied, "but you don't have the same thought process I have I suppose, making an example is always the best policy in my book, but as I say, that's just me. Well his ships not going anywhere, we disabled it on our way here, and even if he were to try and escape in a shuttle say, he won't get far we'll be able to catch up with him. I also put out out a subspace message in the area telling any ships who help or harbour him that they'll be arrested and summarily detained indefinitely with out recourse of freedom, so no-one will help him. Anyway, I don't think his ship has any, so he should still be onboard his own. Shall we?", and he pointed towards the bridge area.

Milani nodded and smiled, "Oh yes we shall Sir." and followed him out to the familiar bridge. "It feels so good to be back."

Finchley walked out onto the bridge and said, "Helm, take us back to Braxton's ship."

"Aye Sir" Helm replied, setting the course, "Course laid in."

"Then let us go to ball Cinderella, warp two, punch it!" Finchley laughed.

The Helmsman smiled and replied, "Aye Commodore" and set them off.

It didn't take long till they dropped out of warp and were back at Braxton's crippled ship. It was still where they'd left it, most of it in darkness, just a few lights along it's hull. Turning to Milani he said "I'll assume you wish to lead the away team over there Commander?"

"Yes sir, most definitely, nothing would give me more pleasure, I would like to add Karadis and Kilbane to the away team sir?"

"Then you best contact them and be on your way" Finchley replied, "Just make sure you're satisfied with the outcome of your time over there Commander, you don't want to have any regrets."

Milani nodded, "Captain Kilbane, Lieutenant Commander Karadis report to transporter room two for away team duty." A few minutes later they were together. Milani addressed them. "We are going over to sort this sorry lot out and, most of all Braxton. He will not go to prison again that is too good for him. The Commodore and I discussed it and he has given me leeway in how we deal with this pervert and the rest of his crew. We need to free all the slaves men and women, ensure they get where they want to be and then....I want to be plain with you Braxton will not be alive when I finish with him. do you both concur with this?"

"Of course" Karadis answered.

"Whatever" Kilbane replied, already looking bored. Karadis looked round at him, ordinarily, Kilbane would be more than happy to take part in an away team like the one they were about to embark upon, he'd been on them before. "At least try to not sound like it's hardship doing this" she said to him.

Kilbane didn't even look at Karadis, "I don't tell you how to look when you're going on an away mission, so please refrain from telling me how to on this one."

Karadis was surprised at his reply, but said nothing else, so she turned back to Milani, "We're both ready when you are Commander."

Captain Kilbane are you fit enough to join us on this mission? Although you rank above me I am the leader of this mission and I question your mental fitness. Unfortunately my next move would be to inform the Commodore and our CMO but I do not want to do that."

Kilbane stood for long seconds, then slowly turned his head to face Milani, "I didn't ask or volunteer for this away team, you asked for me, so if you don't want me to join it, fair enough, contact the Commodore and the CMO, tell them whatever you like. I'm done with this, all of this..." he waved his hand around the transporter room but meant the Thall in general. "Murtah was correct" he carried on, "the souls gone out of it, and you're right, I do outrank you, but that's not the point, the point is I no longer care. Take me, don't take me, just make up your mind."

At that point, Karadis stepped forward and looking at Milani she said, "Please excuse me for a second Commander, I just need to explain something to my fellow crew member." She turned round to face Kilbane, drew her right arm back and forcefully round punched Kilbane in the jaw, lifting him off his feet and throwing him back a couple of feet. Landing in a crumpled heap, Kilbane rose onto one elbow, shook his head to clear it and felt his jaw and nose. Looking down at his hand, he saw the blood from his nose on it and looked up at Karadis, "Well, you've been holding that back for a while Lieutenant Commander, do you feel better, is it out of your system?"

"What's the matter with you?" Karadis shouted at him, "it's like I don't know you anymore, the Kilbane I knew would never speak like that to anyone!"

Kilbane gave a snort of derision, "I woke up Karadis, that's what happened. I could have you up on a charge for doing that, but it's not worth my time or effort." He slowly got to his feet, and looking at Milani he asked, "are we going or not?"

Milani nodded, "Yes we are going." she said looking at Karadis. A minute later they stepped off the transporter into the heady aroma of Orion sweat and Braxton Bravado. Karadis I want you to check the slave quarters for anyone left who is not onboard the Thall. Bring the Orion males to the brig. Kilbane you're with me." Entering the rooms designated as a brig she noted the manacles connected to the wall and Braxton lying down on a couch. Milani's anger grew. "what the hell is he doing?" she shouted at the guards. "Kilbane hang him up and strip him." Braxton sat up and spat at her his spit running down her face. She wiped it off with her sleeve and smiled.

Kilbane grabbed Braxton and told him to strip off, Braxton in turn just smiled and did nothing. "Fine..." Kilbane said, and punched Braxton several times causing him to double over and finally fall down on the floor, semi conscious. Kilbane then set about stripping the former Starfleet Captain of all his clothes, dragging him up onto his feet and shackling him up to the wall, facing it. He turned to Milani, "It's done."

She nodded to Kilbane and walked over the the naked manacled man. "So, here we are at last Braxton, your reckoning and my survival. All those women you abused, my crew mates, my friends and all the others I never knew so I am going to abuse you and you will, by the time I finish beg me for death."

Braxton laughed, "do your worst bitch."

Milani looked at the three Orion males naked before her. Choosing the largest one she motioned to him, "He is yours, I want you to hurt him, make him bleed." She was surprised how calm she felt as she turned and walked back to Kilbane his face inscrutable. "I know what you feel Kilbane, your hatred runs deep inside you."

Behind her Braxton let out an animalistic sound as the Orion entered him.

He didn't even look at Milani, "You know nothing about me or how I feel Commander, don't presume you do with your witchery that masquerades as having empathic powers. I have no desire to know you, and I don't want you to know me, we have a duty...hah!...duty...well your revenge to take out on Braxton, just get on with it."

Milani carried on disregarding Braxton's screams as the Orion ploughed into him. "Oh I do know about you, I cannot help but do so, you scream so loud..." Milani looked at Braxton..."STOP, STOP!" she shouted as the Orion now covered in a sheen of sweat discontinued his rape. Milani felt so ashamed that she had even felt the way she did a few minutes ago. She could see Kilbane in herself and it troubled her. "Take him down, dress him and get a medic in here to treat him."

Braxton looked at her in surprise.

"I am not like you Braxton, you will not drag me down." Milani said.

He laughed but it was short, sharp, brittle. Milani turned away. "Kilbane you can go, there will be nothing further here."

Kilbane looked at Milani, "You just said that you do know about me and that I scream so loud. Tell me what you think you know about me Commander, let's find out if the famed Betatzoid intuition is correct."

Milani looked at him calmly. "This is not the time I chose to do this Captain Kilbane, return to the Thall I will escort Braxton to SFI headquarters and turn him over." She looked at Braxton who was doubled over in pain. "After he has seen a medic lock him in his quarters and place two guards on his door."

Braxton looked at her utter hatred in his eyes as he broke away and lunged towards her. Milani reached into her pocket and brought out a small object. Pointing at Braxton. He gave another unearthly scream and the laughed. "Your little ray gun did....." he looked down at himself, "whhh" he gargled insensibly. "Whh what is this, I feel....." He screamed again, his body impossibly contorting as he fell to his knees. "Please stop, please, please," his begging screams turning into moans." Then he vomited as his blood began to boil, his organs began to coalesce into thin streams as his eyes melted and burst from him. He lay on the ground fluid coming out of every orifice as he died.

Milani stepped around the goo. "You had your chance Braxton but you truly deserved this." She took the small bean like artifact. "Technology an Orion was given and I took. Something from another race I think." It seemed that she was talking to herself. then she looked at Kilbane, "Still here?" she said almost absent mindedly.

Kilbane had no physical or emotional reaction to what happened to Braxton, personally he was glad that the ex-Starfleet officer was dead, he deserved nothing less in his opinion. When Milani spoke to him, he looked at her unemotionally, "Finally you've grown some balls Commander, it's about time." He turned to leave, then turned back, "One thing, I really really hope you're part of an away team that I lead...I'll treat you like shit just the way you have with me on this one...that's a promise", and with that he was gone.