#7 Tornado of Opportunity

Posted on Tue Jun 6th, 2023 @ 6:18pm by Lieutenant JG Jamie T. Kirk/AKA: "Jim" & Lieutenant JG Ainkara "Kara" {Meji}

Mission: Wedding Blues And Trouble
Location: runabout
Timeline: current

ON:

Ainkara and Kirk had lost the Orion blockade runner, for now. However, it did not mean they were not still in the area, lying low themselves in case their quarry once again showed themselves. As she sat in the co-pilot's seat and got lost in her thoughts, using the Core to keep herself calm, Ainkara began to feel anxious, on edge. That feeling came from her left, seemingly emanating from Kirk. The Human had something going on, something nefarious. Ainkara could not shake the feeling that her life, and that of Sam Burke, were danger. Sitting forward Ainkara began to tap keys, her eyes catching the fact that Kirk was holding her phaser in her lap, with her left hand, so that all she had to do was lift it slightly and she could blast the Voran without effort. Ainkara did note that the phaser was set to thermal 5. Not enough to kill but surely enough to cause incapacitating damage.

"There's a Class-L world within that star system. Looks like surface temperature is adequate for humanoid life." Ainkara said. "We need to land and make repairs, as you said. Warp is down so we won't get far at sub-light."

"I'll lean back and watch," Kirk replied. "You go ahead and get us clear of the rings and fly us there. I'll make sure you don't do anything stupid."

"As you wish." Ainkara began to tap keys as her hands were gliding over the controls. Detaching from the chunk of rock the runabout was hiding on, Ainkara began to steer towards the third planet in the system.

"You're pretty good at this, Cadet." Kirk said, a smarmy grin on her face. "So complacent and ready to do whatever it takes to save the guy in the back. You are a credit to Starfleet. Well, your version of Starfleet. Where I come from that show of weakness would get you killed."

"In my experience it is the weak who accuse others of being weak," stated Ainkara, giving her captor a sidelong glance. There was no love lost in that gaze.

"Pfft. Spoken like a member of Starfleet. You snarl and growl but you are a toothless old saber bear." Kirk chuckled.

As she spoke, shaking her head slightly as she finished her barb, Ainkara's right hand lay on the console edge, her fingers mere millimeters from the hatch controls. Her left hand was up alongside the edge of the console screens, with those fingers close to the activation key for the seat restraints in case of an emergency landing. She would only be activating one seat. Hers.

"Well, at least it has green on it," said Kirk.

Ainkara looked her way, not sure what the devil she was talking about, then followed Kirk's gaze out the viewport. There it was. A very Earth-looking planet, but as a Class-L, it had forests and vegetation, and mountainous terrain. No fauna. The atmosphere showed to be developing into a Class-M. "Yes. A good place to make repairs. At least the replicators and primary power systems are still online."

"True," said Kirk. As soon as they landed she would stun Ainkara stupid and then...

There was a sudden rush of air as the small Bridge lost all its air out the partially opened port hatch. It was open two inches, but that two inches created a hell of a tornado like windstorm in the command area. Kirk had spun to her left to look back, putting her back to Ainkara, who reached out quickly to place her open palm atop Kirk's head. "Sleep." She said. Kirk immediately slumped in her chair. Not knowing how long that would last, Ainkara undid her restraints after closing the hatch, taking up Kirk's phaser and putting it on stun before jamming it into her belt. With her Vulcanoid strength Ainkara lifted Kirk in a cradle carry and took her to the back, placing her where Ainkara had started; the foot of the bunk. She locked the shackle around Kirk's left wrist before moving away.

Kneeling next to Burke she shook him gently. His eyes opened, bloodshot from pain and radiation sickness. "Lieutenant Burke, I have Kirk in custody. You are still ill from the radiation affects. Rest easy, I found a place to land and affect repairs. Do not go near her."

"Got it," moaned Burke, feeling like he had the flu times ten.

"I'm afraid Dave is deceased. You have my sympathies and apology."

"Apology?" Burke gave her a funny look. "You got nothing to apologize for, Cadet."

"I do, Sir. There is more going on than meets the eye, Sam. She has something planned, I can feel it. I should have been more perceptive to the dangers of having a sociopath on board." Ainkara blamed herself for not getting up and checking on the thumping she had heard just before Kirk had come to the Bridge and shot Burke.

"Don't lose focus, worry about that later. Just get us landed."

"Yes, Sir." Ainkara got to her feet and went back up front.

OFF: