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"I can return to my post." Spock argued, adjusting his shirt as he looked at Lesh'ar.

"No," Lesh'ar said simply, helping him off of the BioBed effortlessly. "Return to our quarters, Spock. You may return to your duties tomorrow if you have given this a full night's rest. Doctor's orders."

Spock put a hand to his side, testing his stability on his feet before nodding to him. "I will await your return." he said, taking a step forward and brushing two fingers to the doctor's before heading toward the exit.

*

"Ship is on course, Captain." Sulu reported as Kirk returned to the Bridge, turning to address him. "Warp 8."

"Good," Kirk said, walking in and sitting down smoothly in his chair. He watched the viewscreen for a moment before speaking again. "And you have a date this evening with our second Orion prisoner, Mr. Sulu. Be sure to make time for him, won't you?"

"I think I can find time for that, Captain." Sulu said with an unpleasant smile, punching a few more things into the console. "Any personal requests?"

"Yes. Make sure he screams." Kirk said casually, tapping a few buttons on the arm of his chair.

Uhura laughed lightly behind him.

"Right up my alley," Sulu said with a twisted smile.

"And see that he isn't able to move his right arm," Kirk added, his eyes still on the control panel. "I think he needs to learn to live without that privilege for a while."

"Can I help 'zis time?" Chekov asked quickly, turning to Sulu with a maliciously eager smile. "I know some 'zings ve could try!"

"As long as you work under me," Sulu said, giving him a look that was both authoritative but allowing. "You can do whatever you want."

Chekov grinned, though the expression was more of a leer than anything on his young face. "Kin I do 'ze cutting, 'zen?"

"Absolutely." Sulu said, giving him a smile before looking back at the consoles and raising an eyebrow. "And where is our commander? Slacking again?"

"In Sick Bay," Kirk responded offhandedly. "He was stabbed during the Orion's escape today."

"And Dr. McCoy just decided to let Lesh'ar's love have a day off?" Sulu asked in disgust.

"Apparently he believed he needed it."

Chekov made a spitting noise.

"Of course, Captain." Sulu said, his tone far from respectful.

"Never question your doctor's orders, Sulu," Kirk said, glancing up at him. "Even if it has to do with Vulcans."

*

(I'll start the chase scene tomorrow. )

The atmosphere of Selguon II was seldom disturbed. The inhabitants of the planet had deserted it long ago, and its position on the edge of the Neutral Zone made it a place that was seldom passed in that part of the galaxy.

However, on this day, the atmosphere was nearly split in half by the sudden appearance of a rapid, passing ship - instantaneously followed by several Empire brigade ships that all but destroyed the former serenity of the planet's surroundings.

"They've still got a good heading on us, Captain," Commander Flenson called out quickly from his place behind the captain's seat in the first brigade ship, glancing over his shoulder at the viewscreen from his console. "They're at Warp 9."

"They can't hold it forever," Sam said, leaning forward as he watched their progress intently on the view screen. The ship ahead of them was in site, but too far for any sort of action to be taken. It was maddening. "Stay with them, Ensign Ruht."

"Aye, sir," the ensign up front quickly responded, his fingers still flying madly over the control panel to keep up with the evasive ship.

Another break in the atmospheric dust finally revealed the ship's whereabouts in front of them again. The deft vessel took a quick turn around the planet, clearly to begin yet another attempt to lose them, but they managed to come around quickly and stay right on their tail.

Still, though, it wouldn't be long before they reached the Derinium asteroid belt - and from there, there was far too great a chance that there would be hiding places presented to the Romulan vessel.

"Push it harder, Kel." Sam shouted in warning, leaning to the side as the ship shot to the left. "If we're going to catch 'em it has to be now!"

"Pushing speed again, sir," Flenson reported, looking over his shoulder quickly. "We'll catch them if they don't take another loop around the planet."

And miraculously, the ship didn't. It continued on - and straight in the direction of the asteroid belt in the distance.

"Faster!" Sam shouted, standing up now when he saw the ship straight in their sites. "Don't let them into that belt!"

"Aye, sir!"

The ensign's fingers flew to carry out the order - but that was before the ship in front of them suddenly and abruptly...vanished.

"They're cloaked again, sir," Flenson reported with a hint of dread in his voice. "...they're completely off radar."