#startrekseries

"Why are we here?" Leonard demanded. 

"You will come with us." The alien shouted again, and one of them stepped towards the cell with a giant key. 

"We're not going anywhere." Leonard took a step back, closing the gap between you and him and extending a hand that crossed over your front and gently touched your hip protectively. 

"You will come with us." Three aliens entered the cell and advanced towards you and Leonard. 

Leonard's grip on your hip tightened as they neared, and he stepped back, taking you with him.  They smelt of sea water and the stench of rotting plants, and it only made your panic spike. 

One of the aliens grabbed at Leonard, it’s taloned hands ripping him forwards and away from you.  In the tightness of his jaw and the stiff steps Leonard took, you could tell that he wanted to fight back, but when he flipped around in the alien's grip to face you, you could tell he'd made a decision.  To not fight back, to be docile in order not to get hurt.  And his gaze he was telling you to do the same.  

You gritted your teeth as the next alien grabbed you and held your hands to your back tightly.  

Sharp talons were digging into your upper arms as you were escorted out of the cell and through the winding stone corridors.  You climbed up several sets of wide stairs until you ended up at a large set of double doors.  They swung slowly open with loud resounding creaks as you approached, and it made you want to put your hands over your ears.  

The doors opened to a vastly large room, with towering ceilings and tall stone pillars.  It became clear as you entered that is was more of an arena, with stone stadium seats lining the room, with larger, separated seats at each far end of the stadium.  The ground was a fine gravel, almost sand, under your feet, and it made a soft crunching sound under your feet.  

A barely perceptible cool breeze brushed across your bare skin and made you shiver.  For a room with only high windows for light, it was surprisingly bright but the shadows that streaked across the room were very ominous.  

You were pushed into the center of the arena, where there was a platform in the center of the room with a large glass box sitting on top of it.  It was taller than it was wide, looking like the size of a stand-alone shower.

"Hey!"

You snapped your head around to see Leonard being shoved towards the platform.  He was trying to wrench his hands free, digging his heels into the sand, but ended up being forced up onto the platform. 

“What are you doing?  Stop!” You yelled, trying to get free yourself, but you were no match for the alien’s grip.  

Leonard was shoved into the glass box, which was quickly closed and sealed behind him, trapping him inside.  He pressed his palms against the glass before slamming a fist against it with a bang, and you could see his shoulders rising and falling with heavy breaths.  

His eyes found their way to you and he looked like he wanted to say something, and you wanted to say something too, but you had no idea what was going on.  No idea what was going to happen. 

With your attention focused on Leonard, you were distracted when two cold metal bracelets were clicked onto your wrists and you were released, arms falling separate at your sides.  

Suddenly, there was a resounding siren echoing through the room.  And without warning the empty stadium was suddenly full, the rows of empty stadium seats filled with aliens in a flash.  The echoing silence quickly turned into an uproar of screams, hoots, and hollers.  

Your heart was hammering in your chest and you felt panic and dread dripping through your system when there was a loud slam, like the bottom of a cane hitting the ground, and the entire room fell silent. 

You spun towards the sound, and you could have almost laughed.  It looked like one of those old medieval movies, where the king was sat on a throne, his guards standing at attention on either side.  The larger alien in the middle held a long staff, with a sharp golden point at the top, and had on similar armour to the rest of the aliens, except his were more ornate, a deep green and purple, with gold accents.  On his head was a line of gold that looked like a thin chain necklace draped over his forehead.  

"Welcome humans!" The alien's voice resounded, loud and echoing through the large room. His English was much smoother and easier to understand than the other alien's language. 

"I am Ch'al, the leader of this species." At that, the entire stadium erupted in applause and cheers.  

Once it died down, he continued. "You look frightened.  What ever is the matter?" 

You stared up at him, teeth clenched tightly together, feeling your knees shake slightly out of fear.  

His mouth curved into a sickening smile, sharp rows of teeth appearing behind his curled lips. "Speak, human!" He demanded, clicking his cane again, the sound resounding across the room. 

Your tongue sat thick in your mouth and you blinked heavily before forcing the words out of your mouth. "Why-why are we here?"

"Very good," he taunted. "You are here, human, because of the Artifact." He said it with such reverence that the words resounded in your brain and shook you to your core.  

What the hell was he talking about?

You curled and uncurled your fists at your side before raising your voice shakily, "What artifact?"

The entire stadium erupted in shouts of laughter, and you looked around, your breath ragged in your chest, dread soaking your nerves. 

"Oh ignorant one," Ch'al taunted, "the Artifact that was stolen from us!  The one that you came here to help us retrieve!" There was more sharp laughter, and it grated against your ear. 

"We came here to retrieve a crashed ship." You said.

"Ah yes," he grinned, "we'll just call that a 'happy accident' that brought you to us, young one."

"What do you want from us?" You shouted, and the crowd fell into a sudden silence. 

"Oh, I don't want anything from him." The alien gestured with his head towards Leonard, who was standing stoic when you looked over your shoulder at him. "I just want you."

Your heart pounded in your chest, and your palms grew sweaty. "What do you want from me?" You asked, not feeling prepared for what the answer was going to be. 

"I want information."

Well that wasn't what you were expecting. 

Ch'al looked down his nose at you, cocking his head slightly to the side before continuing. "We'll start from the beginning.”

The crowd fell into a silence again and a cool drip of sweat snuck down the back of your neck and made you shiver. 

“Tell us everything you know about your father."

Your mouth went dry.  A shiver drew down your spine. "M-my father?" You stammered, swaying slightly on your feet. 

Ch'al's gaze was even and undeterred by your fright as he waited for you to continue. 

"I barely knew my father," you gulped, "he left when I was six.  I was raised by my mother."

"Child, you test my patience." His tone had suddenly switched from taunting to icy, and the crowd started shifting excitedly in their seats. "Let me show you what happens when you test me." He clicked his talons together as you would snap your finger and there was a sudden gurgling and gushing sound. 

You spun around to follow the sound, and your heart contracted painfully in your chest.  The sound was coming from the box that Leonard was trapped in, now about a foot of water soaking Leonard's calves.  You saw true panic in his eyes as you both realized what was happening, and Leonard slammed his fist on the side of the box, shouting something that was muffled through the glass box. 

"Let him go." You demanded, spinning back to Ch'al, fury and true fear sparking in your veins. "You don't want to do this."

"I don't?" Ch'al's voice was back to taunting. "I want information, Sweet, and this is how I'm going to get it."

It was then everything seemed to swirl in slow motion as realization hit you.  This wasn't just a hostage situation.  They weren't just going to hold you and Leonard captive until you were rescued.  They wanted something.  Something you were going to have give them.  Something you didn't have.  And they were going to torture Leonard for it.  

-Thanks for reading!  I hope you liked it!-

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The devastation on his face was distinct as he retracted the pendant, closing it into his palm, I guess you’re right,” he whispered, tucking it into his pocket before he turned to walk away.  

"Goodnight, sweet dreams." He called as you settled yourself back into the couch and your vision went white for a moment before clearing.  

Before you could get too concerned about what all this white-vision stuff was about, you felt your eyelids grow heavy and you soon found sleep.  

"Damn, it's raining.  The traffic's gonna be slow.  Better leave now." Eve said to Jim and gave him a quick kiss on the cheek before grabbing her umbrella and rushing out the door. 

"It's raining?" You asked once the door was closed behind her and you took your mug of coffee and moved towards the window. 

It was true.  This morning the rain was pouring down, soaking everything and anything it landed on, and you could see people rushing about, trying to avoid getting soaked.  But the way the light of the streetlights shone on the silvery puddle and the dark grey, almost blue clouds looked beautiful to you.  After years of constant sand and sun, rain was a relief.  

"I'm just gonna hop in the shower, you need anything before I go?" You heard Jim's voice from across the room but you couldn't tear your eyes from the beautiful scene in front of you. 

You shook your head, watching a small child in bright yellow rainboots jump into a puddle, splashing a not-so-ecstatic parent with the murky water.  The child laughed and jumped again, and you couldn't help but smile.  

You heard Jim turn on the shower and you couldn't help it anymore.  You needed to feel the drops on your skin.  You remembered that Eve had said something about a rooftop and a stairway to get there and you only had to search for a few minutes before you found the door.  You climbed the cement stairs, your heart racing in anticipation of the feeling of the rain on your skin, the taste of it on your lips and the way it would run through your hair. 

You swung the door at the top of the stairs open and stepped out onto the small terrace, breathless as you took in the view.  The city was spread out in front of you, the short glass railing allowing for perfect viewing of the cityscape, and you admired its vastness and intricacy.   The city was twisted and stretched above you and around you, the topsy-turvy architecture that was Yorktown combined with the dark sky was breathtaking.  The clouds were shades of greys and blues that you had never seen before.  The poured rain down in sheets, the sound of the droplets hitting the terrace was deafening. 

Taking a tentative step forward, the pyjamas you borrowed getting instantly soaked, you raised your bare arm into the rain, the sensation on your skin exhilarating.  You ran forward onto the middle of the terrace now, the rain hitting you full on, soaking you from head to toe. A squeal of delight escaped you and you raised your face to the sky, the cool water sliding down your face, down your neck in refreshing streams, your clothes and hair instantly sticking to your skin. 

Time itself seemed to stop as you stood there, the thrill of finally feeling rain on your skin after all this time making your heart flutter and your mouth stretch into a smile. 

Jim:

I panicked only for a moment when I came out of the shower and you weren't there.  My heart stopped as I looked around the empty apartment, wondering only for a moment if I imagined that you were here. Then I saw the mug you had been using on the table by the door to the terrace and I knew exactly where you went.  You always loved the rain.

Our first kiss had been in the rain.  After 6 long months on the Enterprise we finally docked for shore leave and I had taken you out to dinner for the first time.  I had expressed my discontent at the rain that started to pelt the window half-way through our meal but you looked at it like it was the best thing in the world.  

I knew then that I wanted nothing more than to have you look at me like that. Like I was a long lost friend, or the first change in colour of a sunset sky, or like I was the only one in the world that you wanted.  When we walked back to the ship for the evening you pulled away from me to stand beneath a streetlight and you began to twirl, your dress getting soaked instantly.  You looked beautiful.  I walked over to you and you pulled me close, my heart drumming under your fingertips tracing my collar but you didn't seem to notice.  We swayed back and forth, staying frozen in time for endless moments and when you pressed your lips to mine I became yours.  The water slipping between each kiss made you smile and I couldn't let you go.  Even when you started to shiver from the cold.  I just pulled you closer.  

When I saw you again on the terrace it all came back to me.  I stayed out of your view for a moment, just admiring the exact same way you had your head tilted back, the way the water slid down your neck and fell from your fingertips. And once again I was breathless. Once again you had encapsulated me.  And it nearly broke me apart knowing I couldn't have you.  

"Enjoying yourself?"

The sudden voice made you turn, breaking through your trance.  Jim was standing just inside the door so as to not get soaked by the rain.  You hadn't thought you were outside for that long, but you couldn't help but smile at the sight of him and you raised your arms up in the air and spun in a circle. 

"YES!" You yelled through the roaring rain and you laughed in glee.

Jim yelled something back to you but you couldn't make it out over the sound of the rain.  You gestured with your hands that you didn't understand and he looked torn for a moment before he strode out into the rain, walking towards you.  

The certain set to his walk and the gleam in his eye sent a flash of white to your vision again but this time there was something else.  An exact copy of Jim but in different clothes and with a street light above his head rolled over your mind and you nearly stumbled back in confusion. 

"I have a meeting to go to right now, but I will be back in an hour and then we can go to the police station, sound good?" Jim's voice cut through the image of him that was imprinted on your brain and you shook your head, sending rain droplets and the image flying.  

"Uh... Sounds good." You gasped, trying to get your eyes to refocus again. 

"You alright?" Jim's hand came to rest on your elbow and you flinched away from his touch unintentionally, still trying to stop your mind from spinning. 

"Fine!  I'm fine.  Thanks.  See you in an hour." You rambled, standing about a foot away from him. 

He looked like he was going to say something else, but he just closed his mouth, turned on his heel, and left. 

When he was gone, you went inside, the rain not feeling as refreshing and nice as it had before so you dried off, changed clothes, and curled up next to the fireplace.  

About 20 minutes later the front door opened and you nearly jumped, not expecting anyone this early, as Jim said he was going to be gone for an hour.  

It was Eve.  

"Oh, hey, Eve.  You scared me." You laughed, standing and folding the blanket over the back of the couch. 

"Sorry, Y/N.  Umm.... where's Jim?  I thought he was going to take you to the police station?" She inquired, shaking out her umbrella and setting down her bag. 

"He said he had a meeting of some sort, would be back in an hour.  Then we were going to go."

"Oh!  Right!  His meeting.  Well, my boss sent me home because of the weather, what a lazy ass he is." Eve laughed and you chuckled in return. 

There was a few moments of awkward silence as you and Eve just stared at each other, before she spoke, "C'mon.  No use waiting for Jim, I'll take you to the police station."

Eve turned to grab her umbrella and reached for the door.  Surprisingly, a sense of disappointment washed over you, as you were hoping to have some one-on-one time with Jim, as you found him amusing and nice to look at.  

"You don't have to!  It's your day off, and I don't mind waiting for Jim." You conceded, wringing your hands in front of you. 

"Nonsense, the faster we go to the police station, the closer we are to getting you home and your bags back." Eve explained and opened the door.  

You were still dumbfounded at the sudden change in plans and stood frozen. 

"C'mon.  It's not a far walk." Eve rolled her eyes and stalked out the door. 

You quickly followed, not having a coat to wear so you ran after her, the rain quickly soaking your clothes before you caught up and stood under the umbrella with her.  

"I have something to show you first.  Best view in the city." Eve smiled and squeezed your arm, and you smiled back.  

She lead you to a tall apartment building, and you tried your best to follow Eve's quickening pace, the building strangely desolate as you rode the elevators up to the 24th floor.  You stepped out, still dripping rain water, into an airy, empty office space, all the furniture slid up against one wall and covered in plastic. Floor-to-ceiling windows lined one wall, and the view of the city was breathtaking. 

"Wow." You exclaimed as you admired the new view, the rain clouds sitting low over the city.   

"It's beautiful, isn't it?" She mused as she moved beside you, her fingertips gently resting on the glass. 

You hummed in response, now resting your hand on the cool glass, feeling the repercussions of the rain against the pane. 

"Have you ever been in love?" Eve's voice was loud, echoing around the room. 

The question took you aback, and you looked over to her. 

"No.  Not real, true love.  Kid love, maybe.  But never true love." The words felt odd coming out of your mouth for some reason, as if you were lying. 

"Hmmm... it's wonderful, let me tell ya." Eve mused as she pulled away from the glass to move to across the room, and you followed her, dragging your toes on the dusty floor.

"Jim is a great guy." You smiled over at her, and when she turned to face you your smile fell, suddenly feeling small even though you were a few feet from her. 

"He is, isn't he?" Eve considered and she thrust her hands in the pockets of her coat. 

"You are one lucky girl." The conversation felt off, forced. 

Eve chuckled once, low, the corners of her mouth turning up for a moment before her face turned serious and she looked up at you. 

"He loved someone once before me, you know?  Like really loved her.  How am I supposed to live up to that?  True love?" Eve's rambling was getting frantic now and you started to back away slowly.  

"I think we should just head to the police station before the rain gets worse." You suggested, trying to deflect the awkward conversation topic. 

You turned towards the window, your back now to Eve, and you began walking in the direction of the elevator. 

Then, suddenly, the sound of metal clicking against metal.  A sound you had never heard in real life, only in old movies and it sent shivers of fear down your spine. 

You turned slowly to face Eve, praying for another source of the sound. 

But your suspicions were correct.  You brought your eyes to the object in Eve's hand and your stomach flipped.  It was a gun.  And old fashion metal pistol.  

And it was pointed straight at you. 

-Thanks for reading!  I hope you liked it!-

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-I am sorry if you asked to be tagged in this one and I missed you.  I am not very organized and I may have lost an ask or two.  :(