Oh, Luna, the Federation funds my organisation.
Those words were revolving around Luna's head, impossible to control. The possibility that she was standing amongst people who assisted Jared's so-called research techniques was sickening.
She took a deep breath and dragged her eyes over the surrounding Starfleet personnel. Some returned her gaze, fear resonating in their pupils. They were right to be afraid. If what Jared said was true, there was no telling what Luna would do in retaliation.
"What?" Kirk spat, shaking his head. "That's a lie."
Luna watched the Captain carefully. If she was being honest, he looked just as shocked as she felt.
"You underestimate how far Starfleet is willing to go when it comes to discovery in the name science." Jared flashed a confident smirk and shrugged.
He had to be lying. He just had to be. And yet, his tone was so definitive.
"I wouldn't call exploiting a species' natural attributes while holding them under inhumane conditions 'discovery in the name of science'." The Vulcan took a step forward, his eyes cold and disturbed as they bore into the screen.
Luna was quite surprised he chose to speak up with such passion. Vulcans were meant to be emotionless. There was something about this one, in particular, that was like nothing she had ever seen before.
"Speaking of which, I'm going to need your sister now, Luna."
"Good luck with that," she scoffed. "To get her, you'll have to go through me."
Jared pursed his lips and sighed sarcastically. "Ah well," he mused. "I suppose there are other Sanguines I could use."
Luna could have been shot and she wouldn't have blinked. She was too busy holding back tears. "Other...other Sanguines." Even repeating the words was difficult. Luna had only dreamed of finding other members of their kind. The thought that there was even the slightest chance she and Samsa weren't alone was intoxicating.
"That's right. Give me your sister's location and I'll tell you where you can find them."
"No." Luna shook her head, causing a single tear to roll down her cheek. "No. You're lying. I was there when my planet burned. Don't...don't you dare lie to me about that. Don't you ever dare."
"Luna...I'm telling the truth."
When she looked into Jared's eyes, she didn't see the man who tortured her for years. She didn't see the man who manipulated her. She saw the cellmate who had helped her through sleepless nights. The cellmate she had once trusted implicitly.
A shuffle of movement pulled her from her thoughts. It was Kirk.
He was now closer and facing away from the screen. "Remember what you told me. He's manipulating you. You can't trust him."
He was right. For some reason, it angered her. "I know." Her tone was sharp. She took several steps forward and stood tall as she looked Jared up and down. "No deals. No exchanges. Samsa is staying right here. And if I were you, I wouldn't underestimate the things I will do to anyone who so much as lays a finger on her."
"Is that so?" Jared's eyes narrowed ever so slightly, but he seemed more amused than threatened.
A sudden shrill alarm could be heard and a female lieutenant spoke up from behind. "Captain, there's been a security breach in the med bay."
Luna felt her stomach clench. A security breach in the med bay? It had to be Samsa.
"I warned you what would happen if you didn't cooperate," Jared said. "Captain Kirk, I do apologise for the damage done to your warp core. I hope you understand, I needed a backup option in case Luna didn't make the right choice."
A commotion could be heard over the transmission. Luna jolted forwards when Samsa came into view on the screen. She was barely conscious but was trying to break free. Jared held her in a tight grip, latching a hand around her throat.
"No!" A shout could be heard from Kirk.
"Jared, I swear if you hurt her, I will tear you apart!" Luna spat through gritted teeth.
"That's not how this works Luna. After today, you won't get in my way anymore."
"I wouldn't jump to conclusions like that." She felt the skin on her arms burn with anticipation, refusing to accept the true weight of the situation.
"I already have," the man continued. "Because if you try and take her from me, Samsa will be the one to suffer the consequences. Starting now." There was a flash of metal as Jared retrieved a knife and pressed it to Samsa's throat.
Multiple gasps sounded from around the bridge. Luna's reaction was instantaneous. She rushed to the front of the bridge, doing her best to raise her arms in a gesture of surrender despite the restraints.
"Woah! Wait! Wait!" She cried. "Just stop and think for a moment. You really don't want to do that. She's already sick because of you!" For a split second, she thought Jared would at least heed her words. Even that was wishful thinking.
Instead, the man smirked, "I really do."
Luna only had time to let out a single cry of protest before he swiped the blade across Samsa's neck. Time seemed to slow.
The blonde's eyes bulged as she choked, blood bubbling over her lips. Thick streams of dark crimson liquid began pouring from the slit in her throat. She managed to croak one final word before she collapsed. Jim.
"Goodbye, Luna." Jared laughed, and then, the transmission ended.
☆☆☆
Lieutenant Uhura clapped a hand to her mouth as soon as Samsa's throat was cut. There was an explosion of red from her punctured artery, the instantaneous blood loss causing her to crumple to the floor, out of view.
Luna Gillian's face was ashen. Though she looked extremely unsettled after seeing her sister like that, there was a stronger emotion present: fury.
When the communication was cut off, multiple reactions were immediate.
"Can we get them back?!" The Captain asked, whipping around to face Uhura's direction.
She noticed the tears glistening in his eyes but turned to her station, flicking a switch and waiting for any sign of a returning transmission signal. She was met by nothing but white noise. "Negative, Sir. They're still jamming us."
"Captain, they're going to warp," Sulu announced from the front of the bridge.
Sure enough, mere seconds later, Jared's ship lurched in the depths of space, leaving only a trail of red wisps from the engine.
"Bridge to Engineering. Scotty, can we warp?"
"Unless this tampering can be reversed, no Captain! If we did, power could be drained from the life support systems."
"Keep working on it. Let me know as soon as we can!" It was beyond obvious that Kirk was trying to contain his panic and frustration.
Uhura knew how close he had once been with Samsa. There was no doubt in her mind that some of those feelings remained, if not, all of them. The Lieutenant lifted her gaze to meet Spock's eyes. He seemed especially concerned too.
However, his attention soon moved to another individual. "Miss Gillian, do you have any ideas as to where Jared has taken your sister?" Spock's calm tone was met with animosity.
"That's funny," she scoffed, her voice pricked with sarcasm. "I was going to ask you the same thing."
"Luna, I swear, the Federation had nothing to do with this." Kirk took several slow steps towards her, holding his hands out in an attempt to elicit trust.
The woman did not appear convinced at all. With one swift motion, Luna raised her bound hands and brought them apart with a grunt, snapping the cuffs in two.
Uhura knew Sanguines were strong but seeing that strength put into action was still quite a shock.
Hendorff, being the nearest security guard, darted over. He clearly aimed to restrain her. Instead, Luna kneed him in the stomach with shattering force. The poor man doubled over but barely had any time to recover as the Sanguine pulled him upright, snatching his phaser and using him as a human shield.
"Ten out of ten for bravery, Honey, but you really shouldn't have tried that," she growled and raised the phaser, changing the setting to lethal.
Uhura got to her feet slowly and began to reach for her own weapon out of fear for Hendorff's safety.
"You don't have to do this, Luna," Kirk continued. "Please put the phaser down."
Despite that request, her hand only tightened around the blaster.
"Why would the Federation ever support a cause like that?"
"You tell me," she snapped in retaliation.
Uhura thought her voice wobbled ever so slightly.
"Look, I know it's a lot to ask, but you have to trust us. Or if not us, then trust Samsa. Trust her judgment. We can help." Kirk said the right thing.
Luna's eyes twitched in their sockets as if she was considering her next move. Her line of vision moved to land on Spock. "You. Vulcans can't lie, right?"
"Correct," he answered.
"Does the Federation help fund Jared's organisation? Yes or no?"
"No. To my knowledge, no such arrangement exists," Spock stated, his eyes narrowing.
Luna brought her lower lip between her teeth and shut her eyes. "Okay," she murmured under her breath. The action was hesitant, but she released her grip on Hendorff and passed the phaser back without another word.
Uhura held her breath, preparing to use her own weapon if necessary. However, to her astonishment, Luna allowed Hendorff to hold her arms in place behind her back.
"Med bay to bridge," McCoy said over the coms.
"Bones."
"Jim, you better get down here. One of the bastards working for Jared got left behind."
☆☆☆
Luna felt as though she was floating. A mixture of strong emotions revolved around her mind. Sometimes, the rage was magnified, others, it was the over-bearing anxiety concerning her sister's state of health that was the most dominant.
The security officer she assaulted on the bridge kept a steady grip on her arms as they entered the med bay again. This time, Commander Spock accompanied them too. Back on the bridge, they were contacting the Aries and updating Starfleet HQ on the situation. The main concern was locating Jared's ship. This would hopefully be made easier considering there was still an unwelcome guest aboard the Enterprise.
Both Doctor McCoy and Mason looked exhausted and had clearly put up a fight before Samsa was taken. The Doctor was treating the latter for a nasty wound on his shoulder. He himself had taken a blow to the head as well.
Not too far away, the intruder was being restrained by two security guards. Bleach blonde hair fell over his sickly-blue eyes. Luna recognised him straight away. Doctor Heath.
However, Jim Kirk seemed to know him by another name. His first name. "William?"
Hope this part was okay! Thank you so so much for reading this story and sticking with the plot! I would love to hear your thoughts!