Title: After the Rescue

Part: NEW 71/73

Author: Karmen Ghia, karmen_ghia@yahoo.com

Series: TOS

Romance Code: S/Mc and then some.

Rating: NC-17

Appendices: http://members.tripod.com/karmen_ghia/atrappendices.html

Legend: * * * separates events in time; ~ separates events that are more or less simultaneous.

See part one for disclaimers, etc.

"Any idea where Hobie is, Chekov?" Jir asked, sliding into a vacant seat at the fountain design contest award ceremony.

Tien, Hraja and Farro's design had indeed won and would be constructed nearby. There was a small ceremony where the actual award disk was given to the designers and a reception afterwards. In addition to the Sas, the Commune, the theater company, and Ling's joyhouse, most of the Shirkar A-list was there, and all of their classmates. Almost everyone who had formed some kind of attachment to either Tien, Hraja or Farro or one of the other JetCheqs was there.

"I'm sorry, I've no idea," Chekov said. "I thought you were all bonded and knew where the others were at all times."

"Not when he's shielding, we don't," Jir said, thinking: 'Especially not when Hobie's up to no good somewheres.' But said: "We need a little telepathic privacy now and then, you dij?"

"Completely," Chekov assured him.

"I thought you might," Jir murmured, looking over Hobie's current crush. Hobie always 'operated' a little better when he was slightly in love. So he was slightly in love with Chekov but none of the Talljets believed the ensign, however adorable, was Hobie's real sexual target. They were at a loss to know who was because Hobie was very shielded on that point. That's how they knew it wasn't Chekov - his affection for the ensign was a little too obvious, too stagy. "Shhh!" Jir hissed at the silent young man beside him. "It's starting!"

The award was presented. Farro stepped forward to accept it and say a few words of thanks.

Jir nearly bit his tongue in half to keep from laughing.

~

"... this is a desert!" Farro was saying as Hobie slipped into the seat next to Chekov. "It's high time you people admitted that."

~

"What is this child raving about?" SaGolia whispered to SiJidi.

"I've no idea," he said.

"A desert," Farro repeated. "All I've seen in Shirkar are lots of fountains in enviro bubbles to keep the water from evaporating. That's ridiculous ..."

~

"...and unnatural. This is a desert and the only sensible art is art that reflects that. Dry art."

'Hmmm,' thought Spock, watching the broadcast with his mother. 'Logical. He might be right. He might ...' Spock was, however, distracted from this profound train of thought by Amanda rolling off the couch in helpless, abandoned laughter as he had seldom ever seen her do.

~

"Denial." Farro stated. "You're all in denial about who you are. It's high time you accepted that and got on with your lives." He glared down at Bhotebe tugging on his sleeve. "WHAT!" he hissed furiously at the child.

"Master Dhec says to say thank you, sit down and shut up." Having bravely delivered his message, Bhotebe returned to his seat.

"Thank you." Farro sat between Tien and Hraja, who were writhing with suppressed laughter even though they would probably catch hell later for letting Farro speak so long. But, oh, it would be worth it.

* * *

Hobie made sure a copy of Farro's performance was transmitted directly to Maja on the Maria Norris and the crews were cheered to hear him howling with happy laughter from it. They even joined him.

They all needed a laugh - it was the first light moment they had had in weeks of heavy fighting.

* * *

"So, was it difficult?" Ling, in labor, asked nervously.

"Nah," Hobie assured her.

"Piece of cake, dahling," Jir drawled. "Not to worry."

Hobie and Jir were actually a little worried. Ling had been in labor for three hours. This was odd, the usual Talljet first labors were only about forty-five minutes. Maja had gone an hour and fifteen with Tien but birthing on a Klingon battlecruiser might make anyone hesitate.

"Tell me again about Tien's birth," Ling asked, hoping to be distracted.

"Well," Hobie sighed. "I supported Maja's shoulders, like Jir is yours, and Kzost caught Tien. It was kinda funny, really, because Tien just flew out of Maja's body like a rocket and slammed into Kzost's chest." Hobie chuckled at the memory. "You shoulda seen that Klingon's face."

"Is that when he dropped Tien on his head?" Jir asked innocently.

"Tien has never landed on his head in his life, Jir," Hobie reminded him.

"Oh, sorry, my mistake."

But Ling was laughing and that was a good thing. This was really frightening, it was frightening in the same out of control way ... the way it had been on Magidrian. She couldn't let go, couldn't give up enough control to let this baby be born.

Jir, supporting Ling's shoulders, stroked his sister's damp hair. "Ling, you have to try, you have to trust us. You're safe, it's all right, we're all here. Nothing can hurt you."

"Ling," Stez said gently. "You're safe. Now, what about giving me my son?"

This had some effect, Ling began to relax a little. Hobie guided Stez into a position to catch the baby. He took Ling's hands and directed a steady stream of energy and encouragement into her. 'Hey ho here we go. I hope.' Hobie and Jir were wincing a little, empathing labor is always painful but this prolonged labor was especially bad. 'C'mon, little sister, that soul is ready to come this way or go back but not to stay put. C'mon c'mon c'mon.'

* * *

"I see them, Mizat," Maja growled, watching a hundred ships of the combined forces of the Certegians and Lashodrians drawing into formation. "Bring her around, Oza-Tol. Commanders into position."

* * *

"They won't let me watch," Farro announced to anyone who'd listen.

"Perhaps they fear you will lecture Ling on the fact that since she is giving birth, therefore she is female and should accept that fact and get on with her life," Qhoshi observed icily. She had not been amused by Farro's acceptance speech because she'd come to hold the Vulcan's in high esteem during her sojourn there. They were a fine species and what they lacked in the chaos of emotion they more than made up for in logic and order. She would, however, be glad to go home to Dhrgestera and back to business as usual.

"Thanks, Qhoshi," Farro snarled. "You really know how to kick a guy when he's down." Farro, as well as Tien and Hraja, were under what they called 'Commune arrest' for his unfortunate remarks.

Hobie strolled into the room, looking happy and tired. "God help us all, there's another JetCheq in the universe and he's named SaKzostVo, after our favorite Vul-Klong couple." He slapped Farro on the shoulder. "I hope he grows up to be just like you Farro. Honest. Straightforward. Opinionated. Observant."

Qhoshi rolled her eyes and said nothing. She left the room to see if Ling needed anything.

Farro hugged his uncle and found Hobie was trembling. "Uncle? Are you all right?"

"I am, Farro. I love you JetCheqs so much," he said softly. "Sometimes it overwhelms me."

* * *

Maja watched the battle from the bridge of the Maria Norris. It was hard fighting but they were winning.

Malira had command of the Zoltir and ten ships with it. She was drawing fire and pulling a formation of Lahsadorians toward her, exposing their flanks to attack from Ebiv in the Maja and his ships.

Kalzat in the Tien was moving his ships into position to support Movra in the Yaja. A little more and the Certegians and Lashodrians would be cut off from each other and cut off from a straight route out of this space.

Maja watched, waiting for the rebels to be driven into his ships. They were very ready for them.

* * *

"I could give you a lift."

"I don't wish to impose."

"It would be my pleasure, Kirk."

Against his better judgment but far too curious, Kirk got into the aircar with Hobie.

"Where to?" the pirate asked politely.

"Do you know where Sarek and Amanda's villa is?"

"Yes. Quite well."

* * *

'Thank you o' merciful Talljet-loving unknowable mind of god,' Maja thought as the Lashodrians, realizing, like good pirates, when to cut their losses, fled. He sent four ships after them just to make sure they didn't change their scalawag minds.

With more than half their forces gone, Maja had expected the Certegians to surrender. They did not. They simply began to fight with even more fury and cunning than before.

* * *

"I wish I could get your attention, Kirk," Hobie commented as they neared the villa.

"You have it."

"In bed, I mean."

"I have no erotic feelings for you, Talljet," Kirk said coolly.

"Is that a problem?"

"Yes."

"Hochofedra," Hobie shrugged. "I must be losing my touch as a seducer. I'll have to work on it and try again."

"I'd rather you didn't."

"Really?"

"Really," Kirk affirmed. "I'm not enjoying it."

"Huh."

They arrived at the villa at the same time as Spock and McCoy. Hobie got a cold shoulder from the doctor and asked Spock about it.

"He doesn't trust you, Hobie," the Vulcan informed him.

"Not many do, Spock," Hobie observed good naturedly. "But they all like me and he doesn't."

"Dr. McCoy doesn't mince words or actions, Hobie," Kirk told him.

"I'll leave you then," Hobie said pleasantly. "Do say good-bye to Dr. McCoy for me."

* * *

/What was that?/

"Ahead full!" Maja barked moving his ships in to support Kalzat, who was overwhelmed.

/What was it?/

Finding a fight on their flanks, the Certegains around Kalzat and his ships split their forces in half to deal with the new threat. Kalzat, sensing this weakening, put all his forces into breaking the line of Certegian ships between him and the planet itself. He was so intent, neither he nor the three ships next to him saw the battlecruisers come up behind them.

/What is it?/

Maja did not see it or feel it until he saw the blast of three ships exploding and the short death cry of two hundred and eighty-five beings.

"Master!" Oza-Tol shouted from the helm.

"Hold this line, Oza," Maja grated out of his closed throat. "Push them back into the hole Kalzat has made for us. Fire at will."

~

"How are Ling and the baby?" McCoy was asking Jir over dinner in the Sa Mansion when Tien fainted in the next room.

* * *

"We are victorious, Nolo," Maja said numbly to Hobie on the viewscreen of the Maria Norris. "The Certegians will turn Aczira over to us tonight. I plan to leave Malira and enough ships in charge of the system on Ovtar. I hope it was worth it. We lost three ships; Kalzat, Qwuushi and Dolo-fra among the dead."

Hobie was silent. He had lost ships, too, but he'd never seen how devastating it must look on someone else. But then again, he'd never lost anyone he considered a son, never lost anyone who would be mourned by the people closest to him. He decided not to tell Maja that Tien was ill and had been since Kalzat, Hobie surmised, died. "What are you going to do to the Certegians?"

"I've done it," Maja said flatly. "I've sent their fleet to Povarb to be refurbished for us. I've sent their children to Ovtar with Malira to be raised by our people. I want the next two or three generations to be more understanding of us. I want this generation to understand that they have lost the future and have nothing left to fight us for." Maja paused for Hobie to comment.

"Well done, Maja."

"I'm on my way back. Is everything all right?"

"Yes," Hobie lied. Tien had fainted and not regained consciousness yet but there was no point in telling this to Maja, who could do nothing.

"Really?"

"Really."

"Hobie," Maja said quietly, trying to control his voice. "Please ask the Masters for me to please build ... build a memory altar."

"I will, Maja. Where?"

"Where ever," Maja said. "We'll move it to Povarb or Ovtar when we leave but," he swallowed painfully, "but I want to have a ceremony to honor the dead as soon as I get back. Please."

"Of course, Noli, of course," Hobie soothed. "The second you return. Hurry. Hurry." Blackness swallowed the viewscreen again.

"Master?" Mizat asked quietly. "I owed Qwuushi ten doubloons. I wish I'd paid them."

"When we get back to Vulcan, you can put them on the altar," Maja said rising and turning to the turbolift. "Next to my head," he muttered as the doors closed on him. 'Oh, Kalzat,' Maja sighed in his mind. 'You're free of all this misery but what shall we do without you?'

* * *

"I cannot help him," T'Lau said, rising from Tien's bedside. "He is in a deep psychic state such as I have never seen before. I believe it will only be a matter of time before he returns to consciousness or his body dies." She nodded to SaCriz, Smvit, Jir and Hobie as she left.

"What now?" Smvit asked. Not even Hobie and Jir could reach Tien; T'Lau had been their last hope.

"Pray for god's mercy," Hobie said, he turned and followed Jir out.

* * *

Chekov found Hobie in Maja's studio, sitting on the purple couch and staring at the mural. Actually Hobie was staring at the back of his own mind in an effort to get to grips with the fact that three ships and two hundred and eighty-five of his people were dead. He was chanting each of their names so they would know their bodies were dead and to leave this plane. He was on his eighth time through the list. He didn't hear the ensign come in.

"I brought you some tea," Chekov said quietly.

Hobie shifted his attention. "Thanks," he murmured.

"I heard about the ships," Chekov faltered. "I'm sorry."

Hobie finished his list and looked up into Chekov's concerned brown eyes. He might have brushed the hair out of them except it was too much effort.

"You look exhausted, Hobie. When was the last time you slept?"

"I dunno," Hobie said dully. "Sometime."

Chekov moved a little closer and put his arms around Hobie's neck. He was gratified when Hobie laid his head on his chest and relaxed. "Come and lie down with me."

"Chekov," Hobie sighed. "I'm really not up for anything."

"Just to sleep," Chekov gently insisted, getting Hobie horizontal on the couch. "I will just watch over your sleep." Chekov pulled off his boots and lay down on the couch next him.

Hobie shifted them about so he was lying in Chekov's arms and went to sleep for the first time in days. He did not dream of his ships or his people so they must have all gone on to the next life.

* * *

/... we suffer here in this bag of blood and flesh ... rejoice that he is free ... you cannot join him ... you're not done here or you would be gone by now .../

/... let me go .../

/... no one holds you .../

/... then help me break the last cord .../

/... we love you Tien ... don't leave us .../

/ ... don't leave us .../

When he felt Tien's telefield radiating around his body again and sleeping normally, Laninin slipped away and went back to his own bed. He slept very deeply until Ro woke him with the news that Tien was awake at last and asking for food.

The unknowable mind of god be praised.

* * *

Hobie woke in Chekov's arms and had to seriously re-evaluate his opinion of the limits of human compassion. He felt a sigh of relief go though the JetCheqs and got up to investigate. He found Tien awake and asking for food. He flung himself into the kitchen to cook and praise the mercy of the unknowable mind of god.

Chekov came down and helped him with the cooking part.

* * *

A few days passed, sadly but peacefully.

The Commune worked on the altar and it was beautiful. They set it in the far end of the garden to await Maja's return.

Ling took the baby to the office and began re-raveling the currency markets in the Sovla system.

Jir had a lawyerly argument with Commodore Yakolev and Lieutenant Sarfati as to whether the reports of Maja's actions in the Ertig system could be construed as piracy. He was able to convince them that they were not, mainly because the Ertig system fell outside of the Federation's jurisdiction and that the reports of Maja's battles there were unsubstantiated and unverifiable. They dropped it but Jir could tell they'd love to have another Talljet in the dock if they could. He felt better after he talked to Smig and Storen. They agreed the Federation didn't have a case, not even a remote one, against Maja. That was good; Maja had enough on his mind already.

Hobie's remaining nineteen ships were granted permission to orbit Vulcan. Sixteen of them departed for the now tranquil space of the Tossarian Autonomous Zone where they would help rebuild what had been lost in the wars.

Hobie spent his nights sleeping in Chekov's arms. But that was all they did and it was enough for both of them.

Tien came slowly back to life. He grieved and nothing but time would help him with that. Numbly, he worked on the altar as if in its creation he could understand that Kalzat was not coming back, ever, and he could stop waiting for him. Stop listening for his step, his voice, the feel of his arms. So he worked but it didn't help much.

The Commune suffered with him. Kalzat had been one of them and now he was gone.

* * *

Maja docked the Maria Norris in orbit around Vulcan and transported directly into Hobie's workshop, where he flung himself into his Nolo's arms and wept.

They went together to the memorial at the altar. Maja was nearly undone seeing Mizat lay Qwuushi's ten doubloons on the altar.

And then it was over. They had all said good-bye to their shipmates and friends.

'See you in the next life, farewell. Now we return to this one. Pity us in our bags of blood and shit until we are free as you are.' And let them go. Godspeed. Godspeed.

Except Tien, who was still waiting for something.

* * *

'I'd like to see his face when you tell him,' Kalzat was laughing.

Tien smiled in his sleep, expecting to roll back into his lover's arms. He woke with a start and felt the familiar dread descend. 'Still dead, aren't you, Klingon? Why, why, why, why, why?' This was the third time the same dream had woken him before dawn. 'I can't bring you back to life, Kalzat, and I haven't the guts to join you, but I can grant your last wish,' Tien thought sadly. 'But I will miss you even more when you stop haunting my dreams.' Pulling on a robe, he went in and woke up Master Khat. "I need your help."

* * *

Hobie and Jir were trying not to spend too much time hanging around the Sa mansion. They certainly had better things to do but that afternoon they lingered past lunch and were very interested to see MajaKhat greet Spock at the front door and lead him into the house. Affecting not to notice, the pair sauntered off in different directions and circled around until they were within earshot of MajaKhat's studio. They could hear Tien talking within: "... appreciate that you have come," Tien was saying. "I had not planned to tell you this but certain things have happened that have changed my mind. It was almost the last thing Kalzat and I talked about. He wanted to see your face when I told you that you're my father," he blurted.

There was some silence.

"That will require verification," Spock said.

"What kind of verification?" MajaKhat asked coldly.

"A simple DNA scan."

Tien said nothing but his uncles could feel his devastation. They slipped away like shadows.

~

"Don't you believe me?" Tien asked at last.

"You are in the correct age range for me to have fathered you," Spock said. "However, there is some doubt in my mind. I have suspected you might be Hobie's child."

"So, what you are saying," Master Khat snarled, "is that Gozine might not only be a whore but an incestuous whore?"

~

"What the fuck did Tien expect from Spock but a slap in the face?" Jir fumed. He looked into Hobie's dead eyes and felt somewhat alarmed. He had not seen Hobie look this way since before they left Magidrian.

"I'm finished forgiving SpockDeVulCheq," Hobie said quietly. "I'm finished with his hurting them I love."

~

"I do not mean to imply that," Spock said. "I simply wish to verify your statement with irrefutable physical proof."

"Shall I cut out his heart for you, VulCheq?" Master Khat snarled.

~

"What will you do?"

"Take from him what he most treasures," Hobie said coldly. "As casually as he has just taken that from Tien."

~

"I merely require a strand of his hair," Spock said reasonably.

Tien pulled one loose and handed it to him. He and Master Khat watched Spock leave the room without a word.

"Feel better?" Master Khat asked.

"You know," Tien smiled sadly, "I don't, but I think I will in time."

* * *

McCoy looked up from his desk in sickbay at Spock crossing the room to the medical computer bank.

Spock ran the strand of Tien's hair against the DNA samples on file in his Federation identification file. Just to be thorough he ran it against the DNA for Maja Talljet as well. Perfect matches; both of them. He printed the results and turned to leave, changed his mind and came to sit next to the doctor's desk.

McCoy waited.

"I fathered Tien," Spock said at last.

'I was wondering,' the doctor thought but said: "Congratulations. He's a fine young man."

Spock remained silent.

"What are you going to do?" McCoy asked after a while.

"Nothing. There are no provisions for bastard children in Vulcan culture."

McCoy's heart sank at these formal words. "T'Pau acknowledged Polmira and even his brothers as members of the House of Surak."

"Polmira is younger," Spock said.

"That's all?"

"Polmira is closer to T'Pau by blood."

"Spock, what have you got against Tien?"

"Nothing, Doctor. I just feel that given his age and background it is not necessary to offer him the protection of the House of Surak."

"Did he ask for it?"

"No."

"Why did he tell you, now, after all this time?"

"He said it was the last thing he and Kalzat talked about," Spock said factually. "He said that Kalzat said he wanted to see my face when Tien told me that he, Tien, was my son."

McCoy was too moved to speak right away. "And what did you say when Tien told you?"

"That I required verification."

"You are so cruel, Spock, and you don't even realize it."

"I do not understand how requiring verification can be cruel, doctor. I am informed that I have fathered a child that I had no previous knowledge of. I consider my reaction normal." Spock stood. "Now, if you will excuse me, I wish to talk to Maja Talljet at the first possible moment."

"Why didn't Maja tell you this?" McCoy asked.

"That is what I intend to ascertain," Spock said tensely.

"I think you should calm down first."

"I am perfectly calm."

* * *

end of part 71

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Appendices: http://members.tripod.com/karmen_ghia/atrappendices.html