From: neale@mentor.cc.purdue.edu (Neale Davidson)
Newsgroups: alt.startrek.creative
Subject: STTRR 16/20
Date: 14 Aug 92 13:21:00 GMT
Organization: Purdue University Computing Center


 
  - STAR TREK        -------------------------------------------------
  - THE RAVEN'S ROAR -------------------------------------------------
 
  Part Sixteen of Twenty
 
  --------------------------------------------------------------------
 
  CHAPTER SIXTEEN
 
        Saavik entered Matthew's office, grateful that noone else 
  had been inside. "Doctor," she began innocently, "I understand 
  that you've served with Riley before, is that correct?"
        "He was first officer aboard the HOOD for six months 
  while I was on her. I was his physician," he replied. "I 
  transferred to the ENTERPRISE about a month before he did."
        She sat in one of the seats, finding it somewhat hard to 
  relax in. "What was your appraisal of him? If I may ask?"
        "He was a fine officer, if a bit cold," Matthews 
  admitted. "He never talked to anyone, except me, and that was 
  only because he had to." He noted that she wasn't really paying 
  attention to his reply. "What's bothering you, Commander?"
        "I find myself constantly thinking, worrying about him. 
  I've only experienced this once before," she confessed. "I 
  question my professional distance with him."
        "Is it possible," Matthews cautiously began, "that you've 
  fallen in love with the Captain?" Saavik's eyebrow went up 
  again, causing the Doctor to be a bit more polite. "I mean, it 
  isn't uncommon for ship's crewmembers to be attracted to their 
  superiors."
        Saavik crossed her arms, not really wanting to hear what 
  he was saying. "Attracted? Yes I do find him attractive, but I 
  have never needed to give it much thought before."
        Matthews looked again at her, noting the deeply hidden 
  worry in her eyes. "Look, everyone on the ship thinks that you 
  two are already an item," he began again, deciding to be a bit 
  riskier. "Granted, they're wrong, but they could be seeing 
  something that neither of you think you are ready for."
        Saavik pondered that for a moment. "Thomas said that a 
  relationship between us would be inappropriate, since we are 
  the two chief officers aboard this vessel. I find it hard to 
  dispute his logic in the matter."
        "I do," Matthews finally gave up. "You've held hands on 
  the bridge, and I saw you fighting tears when he was in here 
  with you. He's already sacrificed his carreer once for you. I 
  don't see why you two think it's so wrong to be together."
        "The crew would," she began but wasn't allowed to 
  complete.
        "The crew damn well wants you two to be a couple, " 
  expect for a certain Miss Grissom, he added to himself. 
  "They've been talking about it for days. It's like you were 
  meant for each-other."
        Saavik sighed, "I am Vulcan, doctor. I cannot permit 
  myself to show my feelings. It isn't logical to have these type 
  of feelings for my Captain. Therefore, I shall not have them."
        Matthews nearly growled at that remark. "I've specialized 
  in Vulcan psychology, Commander. And in my experience, I've 
  found that Vulcans suffer from emotional stress far greater 
  than most humans. When a Vulcan represses her emotions, like 
  you're thinking about doing, they have a tendancy to explode 
  when the pressure is too great."
        Saavik stood, a but upset by the suggestion. "I must be 
  returning to the bridge," she flatly indicated. "You will share 
  none of this conversation with anyone, including the Captain. 
  Is that understood?"
        Matthews nodded in the affirmative, but Saavik's quick 
  turn put him out of eyesight. "It's a private matter between 
  you and the Captain," he replied. And God help the both of you, 
  he added quietly to himself.
 
        ~Get up, bastard son!~ Lights, shapes, colours, all
  failed to connect. ~I said get up!~ Riley felt a sharp pain in
  his waist, but he still couldn't move. ~Are you deaf, Earthen
  slime-dog? You are supposed to be borite mining now.~
        Riley felt something grab hold of his long, slate-black
  hair and yank it upwards. ~I don't work for you.~
        He still couldn't see, but the pain that swept past his
  face slammed hard into him. ~All half-breeds work for me,
  S'Lavek.~ The voice still couldn't be connected to any face.
  ~Are you going to come quietly or do I have to use the
  agoniser?~
        Riley stood, but still couldn't make out anything other
  than a swirling ball of lights. ~I'm coming, there's no need
  for the...~ but he couldn't finish. The guard had struck him.
  Blood rushed out of his head, he could feel it begin to flow on
  his face, dripping off of the bridge of his nose. He collapsed
  on the ground.
        ~So, you even bleed red like a Terran, eh?~ The voice was
  growing meaner, Riley thought to himself. ~Maybe you could work
  for the Federation, eh? I'm sure they would love to see some
  klya like you.~ Riley tried to stand again, the pain searing
  down his legs. ~Who said you could get up?~ Riley screamed as
  sheer pain suddenly asserted itself on his chest.
        ~You just did,~ Riley dared, his temper assuming new 
  heights as his chest roared in pain. ~Or did your little brain 
  forget?~
        The guard fumed, still Riley had refused to submit to his 
  whims, and still he was rebelling. ~Enough play, Gene-joke,~ 
  the guard grunted, raising the agonizer for another strike. 
  ~I'm going to make you regret your birth.~
        The guard charged, readying his strike, but Riley had 
  been quicker, assuming an offensive strike. Riley's foot 
  quickly jetted out into the guard's neck. ~I already do,~ 
  Riley growled as the guard gaped for air, dropping the agonizer 
  to the floor.
        The guard stammered, trying to regain his composure, but 
  he had gotten too close to Riley, and the confining chains 
  weren't doing much of a job. Riley launched another kick, 
  straight to the guard's head, cutting into it.
        The guard fell, unconscious and dying. If Riley felt any 
  guilt about his actions, he refused to show it. He quietly 
  grabbed the agonizer and adjusted it to its highest setting. 
  Then he placed it on his confining chains, slowly burning 
  through them.
        ~Will you be freeing us as well?~ a Vulcan woman called 
  from the other end of the room. ~If not me, than my daughter, 
  Saavik,~ she continued.
        "Captain," the girl began speaking in perfect Federation 
  Standard. "This is Saavik, you are needed on the bridge."
        Reality slowly asserted itself again, leaving Riley to 
  stare blankly at the giant Romulan stitching on his wall. 
  "Saavik?" he managed through his limited confusion.
        "Yes, Captain," the intercom replied. "You are needed on 
  the bridge immediately."
        "Status report, Saavik," he muttered, clearing his head 
  of the memories which had kept surfacing.
        "Captain," Saavik's voice began, "sensors indicate a 
  vessel in this area, closing fast."
        Riley sat up, he had been expecting the news. "The RAVEN? 
  Raise shields and get weapons on-line. I'm on my way," he 
  replied, somewhat anxious about the next few moments, and 
  somewhat distressed by the last few.
 


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