"OUTRAGEOUS!!!!" Generalissimo Francona bellowed from behind his ornate desk as an admiral delivered a report. "You told me you could control the Nausicaans!"
Jonas Mallory swallowed nervously. Since joining the Mulluran cause about three months earlier, he had seen firsthand just how mercurial Francona's moods could be. In that time, Francona had personally executed four aides. "The Federation must have better intelligence sources than our analysts anticipated," he said, shooting a glance at Keron.
"My analysis was impeccable!" Keron shot back. "I warned you that there was increased Starfleet Activity in this sector! You failed to pass that information on to the Nausicaans!"
"But you failed to take into account the Ferengi interests in this sector! And now the Ferengi and the Federation are in league!" Jonas snapped. Keron winced. His sources hadn't been able to tell him anything about the Ferengi punitive expedition against the Nausicaans. Or, for that matter, how the USS Ronin had suddenly appeared thousands of light-years away from its last reported position to attack the Iconian Gateway--potentially a major strategic outpost for the Mullurans that could have shifted the balance of power decisively.
It was, Keron reflected, almost as though the actions of Starfleet were being guided by something greater than anything else in the Galaxy. As though the powers and thrones of the Galaxy were simply pawns in a huge cosmic game, guided by unknown hands into inexplicable decisions. He shook aside his existential musings to respond to Jonas. "A superior commander knows to take into account the limitations of intelligence gathering activities. A competent commander is at least flexible enough to respond to unforeseen threats!" he said in an icy tone that stung at Jonas.
"ENOUGH!!! Both of you!" Francona roared. "Or I'll feed you both to the Inquisition!"
The dictator turned to Keron. "I have read your reports as well. The Tal'Shiar did not value your skills highly enough. I will most certainly take a keen personal interest in your analysis of the situation." I'll take a keen personal interest in your activities as well, pet serpent of mine, he thought as he made a mental note to have the Order Police tighten their surveillance of Keron.
He turned to Jonas. "As for you, perhaps dealing with pirates is not an activity suited to your unique talents." Jonas smiled with pride, not realizing that Francona had just gravely insulted him. "We shall find a new assignment for you, more attuned to your unique knowledge and abilities." And where I can keep you on a tighter leash, Francona thought.
With that, Francona wrote a memo...
Six days later...
"They what?" Kitty Mallory asked in shock of the Federation Diplomatic Corps representative on the viewscreen in front of her.
[The Diplomatic Corps and Starfleet have accepted the credentials of Jonas Mallory as Ambassador Plenipotentiary of the Mulluran Empire,] the Tellarite on the screen replied. [In spite of his crimes, he is considered our best chance of communicating with the Francona regime and perhaps bringing them to the table for peace talks.]
"Peace talks?! The Mullurans aren't interested in peace talks!" Mallory responded. "They're interested in spying on our operations!"
[That may be the case. We already have a plan in place to deal with that, Captain. Your orders are to accept Mr. Mallory's credentials. He will be on the station within 24 hours and will most likely request a demarche upon arrival. Assemble what senior staff you feel are appropriate to receive him. We will expect a full brief on the situation.]
Kitty was still reeling from the day as she went through the motions of dinner, homework and getting the kids to bed with Troy's help. Her mind wouldn't stop swirling with visions of Jonas... and everything he had put her through.
She fought hard to get through the night as if nothing was wrong. But as she tucked Zachary into bed, she didn't know when or how she was going to tell him his father was going to be on the station... She would have to... but she couldn't do it yet. She was afraid of giving him nightmares. Then, as she looked at his hands, she noticed that he held the Klingon knife K'Tag had given him. As their eyes met, she could feel the sadness there and the worry...
"Mom, is K'Tag ever coming back..." he asked.
"We're doing our best to mount a rescue, honey," she said as she brushed some of his blond hair from his face. "And we're going to bring him back safe and sound if I can help it..."
"But... But what if you're already too late?" he asked as his young voice trembled.
Kitty's heart ached. K'Tag was a good friend of hers, but he also meant so much to her son... And Zac had already lost so much in his youth. He didn't need to lose anything or anyone else... She pulled him into her arms for a warm embrace, wishing she could protect him from the galaxy.
"It's not too late, Zac... Just keep believing it's not too late... We'll get him back... somehow..." With that, she gently kissed his forehead. "Everything's going to be all right..."
As she emerged from Zac's room, she walked to the couch and just sat down. Her face in her hands, she fought back all the emotions running though her. Pikachu ran next to her and diverted her attention for a moment. Pikachu gave her a hug and then disappeared into Arianna's room. She sighed, but still couldn't shake the feelings coursing through her. It was as if the station was falling in on top of her and she couldn't stop it. She took deep breaths to gain control of herself, but she still felt out of sorts.
Troy returned from the other room. "Arianna went right to sleep without a problem," he said. "How are you doing?" he asked.
"Don't ask..." she repled, as she rubbed her face with her hands trying to ward off a headache that was brewing. She didn't know if it was stress related or pregnancy related. At this point, it didn't matter, just that it was there. "You might not want to hear the answer..."
Troy sensed that there was something weighing heavily on Kitty's mind. "If I didn't want to know, I wouldn't have asked," he said, placing his hand on her shoulder. "Come on, let me know what's going on!" he chided.
"Well, its been bad enough having my First Officer gone with "Q" since Christmas, but then having K'Tag taken by the Romulans right out from under our noses??" she sighed. "And he's more than just an officer here! He's a friend of mine... He's a friend of this family! And Zac is upset over it... And I don't know how to tell him that..." She sighed as she saw Jonas' face larger than life in her mind. How she wishes she could just beat his smug face, but there was nothing she could do... She just shook her head with frustration unable to find the words for the moment.
"They'll get him back," Troy said. "Either that, or K'Tag will get himself back. The Romulans haven't got a chance!" he smiled. "Now, I know there's more than that going on. Come on, let me know what's happening. You can't pull that 'confidential' crap with me!"
She couldn't even look up from the floor as she shook her head and let out a disheartened laugh. "Oh, this isn't confidential... The Mullurans sent us an Ambassador who will reside on the station..."
"Okay, so what's so bad about that? The way I figure it, we should try to talk with them as much as possible before things fall apart."
"They don't want to talk," Kitty replied with a ruefull smile. "Besides, they set Jonas... He's their Ambassador..." She burried her face in her hands. How was she going to keep the kids safe? How was she going to tell them that their father was on the station? How was she not going to kill Jonas when she saw him?
A dark look passed over Troy's face. "Can you handle negotiating with Jonas? I think you're more than capable of keeping him in his place. Besides, you're not alone here, and the Mullurans aren't going to let him do anything that will jeopardize their position."
"I'm sure I can probably handle Jonas... Outside of the fact I wish I could beat him to a bloody pulp for what he did to the kids and what he put me through... But I am a professional... I didn't make it all the way up to Captain just because I looked pretty... But the mother in me just wants to rip him to shreds... I was in there with Zac tonight and he's upset enough over K'Tag... Can you imagine what this is going to do to him to find out his dad is on the station?" she asked. Her eye clouded over with worry and concern. "When I first got the kids back, they were both having nightmares... Especially Zac... And I'm concerned they're going to start all over again..."
"Zac doesn't have to deal with Jonas. There's no reason within Jonas' mandate for Jonas to even approach the children. If Jonas did, I'm sure Francona would have his nuts on a platter for placing his interests before the Empire's. And that would be after Jonas survived what K'Tag, Deveraux, Tarik, and not least of all I would do to him in that case!
"Still... It's the knowledge he's here... And who knows with Jonas... Maybe he'll still try... He might come see the kids," she said. "What's really stopping him? He could still play with all our minds, and not physically hurt any of us... In fact, that might be what Francona wants... I mean, why else would Jonas be here? You know? Unless it's to target and weaken me somehow?" She then shook her head and ran her hands through her hair. "Maybe I've just had too long of a day and it's showing..." She sighed.
"That's probably the case," Troy replied. "You've got an entire staff to deal with him now; he can't single you out. Try to get some rest. You'll need it to deal with him tomorrow."
She nodded as she leaned into him. His arm went around her naturally as if it always belonged there. "Thank you..." she said as she tried to allow herself to relax.
Troy adjusted his shoulder to accomodate her. "Don't mention it. I've had years of experience dealing with intractable ex-husbands," he said with a laugh.
"Oh really?" she replied arching her brow for a moment as she looked into his dark eyes. She smiled softly for the first time that night.
"Let's just say that Kassia's previous choice of partner left much to be desired."
"True, her boyfriends up until Tarik have been questionable, from what she and you have told me..." Kitty replied. "At least she wasn't dumb enough to marry one of them." She sighed. "I wish I would stop seeing his face in my mind... Maybe I should talk to Dr. Cherrin tomorrow about something to help me sleep... Something that won't hurt the baby... I feel so wound up and something tells me I will for a long while to come."
Memories came unbidden to Troy's mind...memories of a time that really wasn't so long ago chronologically but ages ago in experience. "May I suggest a traditional Trayvan remedy?" he asked.
Gazing into his dark eyes, she said, "I'll try just about anything right now."
Troy stepped over to the replicator. "Computer, hot tea, formulation Troy 38." A cup of steaming brown tea appeared, which Troy handed to Kitty. "Abako root tea," he explained. "It's a mild soporific, with no ill effects for most races--Tanzarans included."
She took the cup and sniffed at the gentle fragrace. She took a sip and sat back on the couch. "Thank you," she replied. She took another sip. "I just hate having to face Jonas... I hate the fact he's going to be so near the kids after what he did." She sighed and took another sip. "I suppose I shouldn't worry so much... Only know what he's capable of..." As she continued to sip at the tea, she did notices that she did seem to relax a bit more. Her worries turned more to concerns... They weren't as overpowering as they had been.
"The kids will be fine," Troy assured her once more. "Jonas is going to be a busy man, so he's not going to be as much of a nuisance to the kids. If he gets too far out of hand, I would imagine you could lodge a formal request to the Empire to recall him for dereliction of duty."
"Maybe..." she replied, as she sipped more of the tea. "But if he so much as touches them, I will take his head off... I don't care if I'm a Captain in Starfleet or not. My kids come first and I won't let him hurt them again . . "
"If Jonas or the Mullurans--or Starfleet, for that matter--did anything to you on that count, I think the entire station would stand up with you," Troy assured her with a squeeze of the shoulder. "Now, try to get some sleep. I don't have much experience with diplomacy, but I don't think tomorrow's going to be easy by any means."
With a gentle smile she finished the tea. It had worked to relax her, and she could feel herself grow sleepy. "That really is wonderful tea. I'll have to remember it for next time I have a night like this, and I'm sure there'll be more..." With that she kissed him and stood up. Her pregnancy was just beginning to show a little more prominently, especially as she stretched. "Are you going to join me?" she asked.
"Did you have to ask?" Troy said with a smile. Although he was leery of anything really physical with Kitty now that she was carrying his child, Troy still found being next to her very comforting.
As he rose off the couch, she kissed him again, took his hand and lead the way to their room.