Double Trouble

Posted on Mon May 10th, 2021 @ 6:07pm by Captain Shran dh'Klar & Commander Jonathan Grayson & Commander Samantha Howard & Lieutenant Commander Estella Stratton

Mission: A Dark Looking Glass
Location: Alternate Universe

Commander Samantha Howard looked up as the transporter beam released them. One moment they were in a shuttle in an ion storm, the next they were in Ops on DS9. One problem, this was no DS9 that she had ever seen. Large banners draped from the ceilings, there were no uniforms, and everyone seemed a little angry, a little nervous, and very hungry.

"Ahhhhh.... I don't think we're in Kansas anymore" She whispered to Jon who was standing beside her.

'You just said a mouthful Sam." Jon replied, "What in the world is going on? Where's Kira? I can't believe she would allow this and what's with all the angry faces? These people look like they are starving."

This had to be about the worst field day imaginable. First an ion storm, now... Ops on DS9, only it wasn't familiar. Everything from the banners, to the absence of uniforms, and the overall air about the place was tense, if not, hostile. "Yes, and I don't think we'll be given any ruby slippers or wishing ourselves back home anytime soon," Estella muttered under her breath as she let her gaze go slowly from face to face within the room.

Weapons were drawn on them immediately along with suspicious looks and glances of fear.

"How did you get out of the holding cells?" One of them hissed. Meanwhile, the doors of the office slid open, revealing the Intendant. The scowl was enough to make Sam cringe.

"Doors were unlocked." Jon quipped as the Intendant approached them.

"Unlocked, really now. How is that the case? SHRAN!" She hollered, her voice carrying easily over the operations room. Sam took a step backward, almost involuntarily. She did NOT want to face off against that woman.

"Easy Sam." Jon whispered out of the side of his mouth even as his eyes searched for Shran, he knew it wouldn't be their Shran.

A ragtag group with weapons raised stepped forward under the Intendant's watchful gaze.

"Now be good little terrorist and go back to your cell" She oozed, a smug expression on her face.

"I don't think so." Jon challenged but he knew he was on the short end of the stick with this situation.

"Oh really now?" The Intendant replied in a sultry voice. "And how do you think you are going to do that?" She sauntered up to Jon and traced the line of his jaw with a delicate finger.

Jon stiffened at her approach. "I'm working on it." He admitted. "Give me a minute." Hoping to buy the small group some time and come up with a miracle.

" Oh, now, now, don't try anything hasty, I'd hate to have to shoot you" the Intendant retorted, pulling her own sidearm and running the muzzle along his brow.

"Well, you could give me your weapon and then I can think about shooting you." Jon bantered though he knew he was playing a dangerous game.

"Well aren't you the bold one" The intendant laughed as she took a step closer to Jon. "Too bad, I'd hate to shoot someone so pretty. Now go back to your cell like a good boy so I don't have to?"

Jon knew he was dealing from a weak hand and didn't want to press or the group's luck. He nodded and turned to head back to their cell.

"Ah ah ah ah...just a little something to make sure you don't manage to escape again" The Indentant pulled a cord from her waistband and tied it securely around Jon's wrists. " Just a little parting gift, think of me often."

"Every chance I get," Jon answered and saw Essie and Sam's hands were being bound behind their backs as well.

"Fabulous" The Intendant sauntered back up to her office and let the doors close behind her, leaving the team at the mercy of the armed group.

Jon watched her leave his gaze on the office before he was pushed in the back by the nose of a phaser. "Come on! Quit gawking, back to your cell." One of the guards snapped.

The group were prodded out of Ops and towards the turbolift, quickly descending into the bowels of the station and towards their end game of the holding cells. They were dark and dull, speaking of hardship and torture of the pour souls that had inhabited them previously. Sam knew instantly they weren't going to be left in the cells - they would be interrogated and punished for escaping.

"At least you got the Intendant's fancy" She whispered to Jon once they were sealed in behind the powerful force field.

"Yes, but I don't think that is a good thing Sam." Jon answered as he looked around the cell.

"It could be, you could leverage that" Sam encouraged, looking warily at the guards who looked like they wanted nothing more than to beat everyone with a large stick.

"Perhaps Sam," Jon replied guardedly and moved away from the front of the cell and motioned with his head for Sam to follow. "The woman is a snake, Sam. I don't trust her as far as I could throw her." He spat.

he looked over to Essie, "Essie, you okay?" He asked the woman he loved. "You've been quiet through most of this. What is your opinion?"

Estella's face was drawn and her blue eyes clouded over, but no answer quickly given as she took into consideration everything she had seen. "We can't just sit here and wait for them to set us free." As to her thoughts on toying with the Intendant, she didn't get an opportunity to speak as the rugged form of an Andorian emerged from the shadows. "Not much of a charmer..." she mumbled bitterly.

"Enough talking Terrans," said a voice coming from the dark doorway. A humanoid shape could be seen but was difficult to make out, and then a pair of antennae raised that made identification fairly easy. The Andorian stepped into the light showcasing his intimidating frame. He was gruff-looking, several scars visible on his face and arms, and he seemed to have a permanent scowl. "You Terrans are impossible. You win your independence from the Alliance and before you can even celebrate it you manage to lose control of the station to the Intendant. Your lucky she needs the slave labor, otherwise, she'd rid herself of the lot of you." He appeared to grumble something under his breath as he stared at the group. He seemed to look at Estella and Samantha for a long few moments, licking his lips in a rather disturbing manner. Looking at Jon he pointed, "Intendant says you are to be given 5 lashes for the trouble you caused. She has left the fate of you others to me. I have a few ideas, but they can wait for now." He turned and began to walk away, stopping just in front of the exit, and looked back at them, a vile smile coming over his face as he began to silently laugh.

The Counselor's eyes narrowed as she fixed the Andorian with a glare. "Yes, clearly instead of ridding yourselves of us, you'd rather try to kill us with suspense," Estella snapped with more than a hint of sarcasm.

"It wasn't Jon's fault, we didn't ask to end up here" Sam retorted, unable to let her friend be beaten just because someone else felt like it.

"Sam. It's alright." Jon answered nit wishing to see Sam get into trouble over him. "It's 5 lashes, I'll live. Thanks for speaking up though. I appreciate it."

Shran scoffed from the doorway, "As if you had a choice Terran." He waved his hand signaling the guards to grab Jon and then raise the force field. "You like to be insolent. I will enjoy breaking you of that pink skin" he said staring at Samantha. With that he exited, Jon and the guards following him.

Jon followed quietly. Steeling himself for what was to come. He vowed never to break or give in to these people.

Sam watched desperately as Jon was led away - not knowing if she would see him again and not trusting the look in this Shran's eyes. She could do nothing to help him until he returned, if he returned.