(Hey lovely readers! Here is a new chapter. I feel like i put a little too much focus on Katarina and Grey in the last couple chapters including this one, but I did my best to keep it balanced. I hope you enjoy! I own nothing but my OC.)

...

"All right! There's the last of them! Now to get the Captain and Jaylah. Stand by!" Scotty snapped already busying himself with resetting the controls for the transporter beam as Spock, Kat and the last of the crew scurried quickly off the platform and dispersed through the Franklin.

Releasing a breath she hadn't realized till then that she been holding since she, Spock and the crew were first waiting to get beamed out from Krall's base, Kat took a moment to look around as her fellow crew mates quickly disappeared in various directions.

Some directed by Bones to a makeshift sick bay while others moved towards presumably the central area of the ship to await the Captain's return before her eyes quickly found Spock again as he moved to stand in front of her.

"Are you all right, Thyla?" He asked, his brows furrowing in concern as he took in Kat's slightly pale and unnerved appearance.

A slow soft sigh moved through her body and Kat nodded as relief that they were all safe began to flow through her body. Then she remembered Krall's threats, Syl's screams and what she and Sulu had seen in the Communications hub just before they were captured and her mouth went dry.

"Katarina?" Spock pressed when Kat failed to illicit any form of verbal response for a few moments.

Kat whipped her head up towards him. "Yes, I'm okay." She took a second to catch her breath before continuing, forcing her composure to harden as she thought about what Krall had told her. "But there's something-."

"Good to see you again, Ma'am. I expect the young laddie will be ecstatic to see you. And in one piece no less." Scotty chirped, beaming at the couple as he briefly looked up from the monitor in front of him.

Kat felt her heart stutter at the mention of her son. "Where is Greysam?" She asked, taking a few steps forward.

Scotty started to respond when the sound of running footsteps interrupted him. Both Kat and Spock looked up just as Uhura skid into the entry way.

"Commander Spock! Ambassador Kirk, thank goodness you're back! I had to take Greysam back to Bones! He was complaining that his head hurt again and...!" The words began to rush nearly uncontrollably from the Communications Officer's mouth.

With a shared alarmed look between them, Spock and Kat set off at a sprint after Uhura, following her to the chamber Bones had set up as med bay. Spock, clutching at his side again.

The Doctor looked up when he heard them charge in. "Ah! Right on time. Don't worry, he just had a relapse with the pain. I didn't pick up any signs of blood clotting or internal bleeding. Plenty of rest plus a regular dosage of anti-pain medication and he'll be as right as rain again." Bones said in satisfaction before turning to place some unknown tool away on a table.

"You have been able to find such medications here, Doctor?" Spock asked with an arch of an eyebrow as Kat immediately threw herself to her knees next to the long lounge seat Greysam was laying on crying with pain.

Bones scoffed. "No. Everything here is so out of date I wouldn't dare administer it to a sick tribble." He lowered his voice as he followed Spock's gaze to where Kat was knelt trying to soothe her son.

"If I had any sedatives I would at least put him out for awhile so he'll be out of his misery until we got back to proper civilization. I won't be able to treat him and the others properly till then." He said honestly as Spock's confusion hardened into a frown.

"Thank you Bones." Kat thanked him sincerely, briefly looking up from her son. "I know you're doing what you can." Bones nodded as Spock moved to kneel next to Kat at Grey's bedside.

"Of course." Bones answered with equal sincerity, glancing sympathetically back at the small boy before moving his gaze back to the Vulcan at his side.

"And how are you doing? Are your pain levels still manageable? I could take another quick look just to make sure you haven't popped any stitches out there-."

"Stitches?" Kat cut in, turning her wide eyed gaze from her son to her husband almost in an instant. Spock shifted his hand a bit from its position at his ribs.

"That will not be necessary, Doctor. I am functioning adequately. Might I venture a suggestion however in regards to a form of treatment for Grey?"

Pausing, Bones raised an eyebrow back at him rather suspiciously. "What kind of suggestion?"

"Hold up! Why do you have stitches, Spock? Since when is that still even a viable practice for suturing wounds? Are you okay?" Kat asked bewilderment clear in her tone and facial expression as she reached to move Spock's hand from where he still had it pressed to his side.

Spock gently took her hand, preventing her from fussing over him. "I am fine, Katarina. As Dr. McCoy mentioned, he does not currently have access to the proper medical technology. The priority now is-."

"Commander!" A young man in a blue science officer's uniform jogged into the room, panting slightly as Spock and Kat calmly turned to face him.

"Proceed, Crewman."

"Captain Kirk has arrived on board and he requests both you and Ambassador Kirk to report to the bridge!" The man responded readily in between breaths as he straightened his posture.

Brows furrowed, Spock and Kat exchanged a look. Then Spock responded.

"We will report momentarily. Please inform the Captain we will arrive in no more than ten minutes time."

"Yes Sir." Satisfied with this response, the ensign rushed off to pass on the message leaving Spock and Kat to return their attention to their son and the doctor.

"So...what kind of treatment were you about to suggest?" Bones asked, fixing his gaze on the Vulcan as Spock moved to stand next to the biobed, folding his arms behind his back as he looked down on his son.

"In the case of severe injury or illness, Vulcans will go into a self-induced trance in order to facilitate an accelerated healing process. A trance similar to one I attempted to enter earlier at the limestone ruins." He began to explain.

"Oh, you mean when I thought you were passing out due to internal hemorhage?" Bones asked partially sarcastically, letting his arms drop at his sides.

"That is correct, Doctor." Spock nodded calmly. "However as Greysam is still very young and only 1/4 Vulcan he will not be able to put himself into the trance and it is likely even if he is put in the trance by another that it will not have the full effect it will on a full blooded Vulcan."

Bones raised an eyebrow at him.

"Then...what are you-?"

"Spock can put Greysam into a form of the Vulcan healing trance. It won't have the exact same effect as a fully self induced trance, but it will allow him to rest and even encourage his body to start healing on its own until we can get him to a proper medical center!" Kat cut him off, catching on to her husband's logic quickly.

Spock nodded at her in agreement. "Precisely." He looked to Bones for his response. "You're sure it will be harmless to the kid?" The Doctor asked consideringly.

Spock straightened his posture slightly assuredly. "Completely." Exhaling softly, Bones nodded his head in satisfaction. "All right then. Let's give it a shot."

...

"It's Yorktown!" Sulu breathed frantically as Jim and Jaylah quickly stepped out of the beaming platform. "Kat and I saw his plans just before they found us! He's going to destroy Yorktown!"

Jim furrowed his brows in confusion at the idea. "How's he going to do that? He didn't seem to have that many people on his side." He continued to stroll through the corridors of the Franklin.

"He has a weapon capable of mass destruction. He's already used it to kill Ensign Syl and he's planning on magnifying its power somehow in Yorktown for maximum destruction." Sulu answered as Uhura nodded her confirmation.

"It's true, Sir. We could hear the screams even from where I was kept. And he almost had Sulu killed trying to get the piece of the weapon you hid." She chimed in.

Taking in this information. Jim finally nodded his head. "Okay so we got to get to Yorktown before Krall does. How are we going to do it?" He asked, half to himself as his crew looked to him for the answer.

"This how!" Jaylah spoke up motioning quickly with one arm and not flinching when the others' attention turned towards her. "You take my house James T...and you make it fly." She said, directing her statement right at the Captain.

Barely taking a glance around at the walls of the old vessell around him, Jim raised his chin. "Ensign Manu, please find Commander Spock and Ambassador Kirk. Tell them to report to the bridge. We're taking off."

He turned to speak to a young cadet who had been standing by silently at this point. "Aye Sir!" The young man quickly sprung into action, confirming his orders before jogging out of the area.

Satisfied, Jim turned his attention to his Chief Engineer. "Scotty can you get this thing started?" He continued to walk towards the exit of the transport chamber.

Scotty looked up incredulously from the controls. "What? Started? Yes. Flying Sir? That's a different thing. These old vessels were built in space. They were never meant to start off from atmosphere!"

Kirk responded with a careless shrug. "Make it happen." He muttered before pushing a button that opened the doors to the main bridge where Chekov and a woman in a red uniform were already busying themselves at their respective stations.

Scotty let out an exasperated groan. "They're called starships for a reason, Captain! We risk getting taken out by the atmosphere content of this planet by taking off from the ground!" He continued to protest.

"It would seem we have no better alternative." Spock's calm assessing voice piped in before Jim could respond and despite the brevity of the situation, he couldn't help grinning at the sight of his First Officer entering the bridge.

Kat entered close at this side looking a little bothered.

"Well there's a familiar face I almost thought I wouldn't see again." He joked earning an raised eyebrow from his sister in return.

"I would retort, but it seems we have bigger things to worry about. Look!" She nodded towards the front main windows and Jim, as well as everyone else who was on the bridge turned to see what she had just noticed.

"What is that?" Chekov asked, sounding both confused and worried at the same time.

"It's Krall." Jim answered almost immediately. "He's launching." He stared in horror as the same swarm that had attacked the Enterprise earlier before began to zip through the air towards open space.

"The attack on Yorktown may be just the beginning." Spock spoke up from his post near the back of the bridge. "Armed with this bio weapon, he could rid it of all life and use the base's advanced technology to attack an untold number of Federation planets."

"Jim, he's right. This is just how he destroyed us in the Nebula. He's even used it directly on a person! Even Yorktown base won't stand a chance." Kat chimed in, fiddling with her vokaya pendant as she spoke.

Jim sighed, knowing they were right. Looking at the old and aged controls around him he glanced over towards his right just as Sulu assumed the helmsman's seat.

"All right, then we're just going to have to get this thing started and get after them."

"Captain, we cannot just jumpstart it Sir!" Scotty protested. Jim turned and gave him a smug smirk.

"Oh yeah?"

...

"Okay! All systems online! Dilithium chambers at 70% and climbing!..." Chekov began to rattle off the ship's stats though Kat only half paid attention to him as she tried to quickly familiarize herself with the controls of the old communication panel.

"Ambassador Kirk? This is Nurse Bitha. Dr. McCoy wanted me to keep you informed on your son's condition." A voice came over her COMM.

Kat hurried to answer it as Uhura stood up next to her to tap at an unresponsive switch on the keypad. "Proceed."

"So far he is stable and resting peacefully, but Dr. McCoy thinks it's best if we keep monitoring the status of his wound for the duration of the trance." The nurse responded.

Exchanging a look with Spock, Kat slowly nodded and allowed her gaze to return to the controls in front of her as Uhura carefully turned the knobs of the old monitor in front of them.

"Thank you. Keep us posted, Nurse Bitha." She moved deftly to end the transmission barely managing not to flinch when she nearly bumped into Spock who had moved from his station to stand by hers.

Catching her breath, she nodded reassuringly at him. "It's working. I asked the medical staff to keep us updated as necessary on his condition until we land." She smiled slightly.

Spock's shoulders dropped in relief and he nodded in satisfaction before a small barely noticeable smile curled the side of his face.

"That is most encouraging." Kat nodded in agreement then reached up to lay a hand softly on his injured side. "Are you sure it doesn't hurt much?" She asked softly so no one would hear.

Spock nodded and reached to trace a fingertip over the vokaya pendant that still hung around Kat's neck.

"Mr. Spock. Ms. Kirk. Prepare for take off." Jim spoke authoritatively as he sped past them to the old Captain's chair in the middle of the bridge.

Pulling away from each other, both Kat and Spock nodded in compliance to the Captain before resuming their places.

"All communication channels are clear and running." Uhura reported as Kat sat down. "I just hope that the transmission range will be strong enough once we break through the atmosphere." She turned towards her superior who nodded in agreement with her.

"It will be." She said determinedly, reaching forward to flick up a couple switches on the old monitor as she thought of all the innocent people in Yorktown who were ignorant of the grave danger that pursued them.

"Mr. Sulu, we have to achieve maximum velocity in order to make stabilizers to lift. Are you sure this thrust is capable of that?" Chekov murmured in a slightly unsure tone as he looked over the dated controls on his keypad.

Sulu glanced over at him from the pilot controls. "We'll find out."

"All right, Mr. Sulu. Take us out." Jim spoke to give the helmsman permission to attempt to lift off.

Sucking in a deep breath, Sulu nodded and began to start up the flight controls. "Aye Aye Sir. Mr. Chekov, be ready to forward the stabilizers on my mark. One quarter impulse."

Chekov nodded, reaching a shaky hand for a lever. "Aye Mr. Sulu."

"All crew? Belt in." Jim added, hitting a button on the side of his chair to activate the restraint belt. The rest of the crew did the same as the old vessel slowly began to hum to life.

The whole bridge crew visibly jolted in their seats as the ship shakily creaked to life, tipping forward as Sulu activated the thrusters and sent the Franklin sliding off the edge of the cliff it had been previously perched on.

"Easy Mr. Sulu. Let's not break her into pieces!" Jim warned as the ship began to pick up speed, creaking against the pressure as it plunged further and further down towards bottom of the gorge hitting various boulders in its way.

Without replying, Sulu silently counted off the seconds, keeping his eyes focused on the calculated distance between the nose of the ship and the ground as the ship continued to rattle.

"Now Mr. Sulu!" Jim shouted when Sulu continued to delay signalling Chekov. Finally, he released the breath he had been holding.

"Now Mr. Chekov!"

Without hesitating, Chekov shoved the lever forward, causing the Frankling to jolt upwards as the thrusters ignited sending them shooting sharply upwards through the sky until they had broken out into open space.

Kat released the death grip she'd had on her seat since the plunge and looked first at Uhura then at Spock as the ship's trajectory leveled out.

Sulu and Chekov visibly relaxed in their seats with relief. "It worked!" Chekov breathed and Sulu nodded, a bead of perspiration rolling down his face. "I told you."

Jim used a hand to mop the sweat that had formed on his own forehead. "Mr. Sulu full speed ahead back to Yorktown." He ordered quietly as the rest of the crew eased back into their positions.

Sulu nodded. "Aye Sir."

...

"Captain? I'm picking up distress signals from every frequency coming from Yorktown." Kat reported as they drew near Yorktown base where the chillingly familiar black swarm that had attacked them on the Enterprise before was now targeting every living organism in sight.

Turning in her chair, Kat shot Jim a look of urgency as the crackling transmissions continued to come through on the battered speakers. "We have to act now. Krall's already begun his attack."

Jim nodded in agreement. "Mr. Scott, what kind of weapons do we have?" He asked, coming to stand off of his chair as he radioed in to his Chief Engineer.

"Uhh...we have pulsed phase cannons and spatial torpedoes!" Scotty reported back, his voice echoing as he walked quickly through the engineering level of the ship checking the ship's specs on his PADD.

Jim's face fell. "Great, lock and load them!" He ordered, turning to resume his seat.

"That does not matter!" Jaylah argued from where she had stationed herself with Scotty in Engineering. "You cannot defeat the bees!"

Jim sighed. "Okay well maybe we can lure them away. How do we give Yorktown enough time for the people to get away?" He asked, thinking out loud.

Sulu shook his head. "We are horse and buggy compared to those things, Captain. We are barely holding together as it is."

"No, there has to be some way. We can't just let them die!" Kat argued back, taking in another transmission signal as Uhura tried to clarify another.

"Captain." Spock spoke up, leaving his seat and crossing the bridge to directly confront Captain as an idea formed in his mind.

"The flight patterns of the bees are determined by individual decisions. Krall's formations are too complex not to rely on some form of unified cyberpathic coordination. Therefore I surmise that if we-."

"Spock! Just skip to the end!" Jim cut him off impatiently.

"What he's saying is if we can disorient the swarm we can kick its butt!" Kat chimed in, leaving her seat as well to join the two men.

Glancing at her for a second, Spock nodded his head. "Precisely."

Both he and Kat watched in silence as Jim took in the information they gave him. Finally he sighed and turned to radio Scotty again.

"Mr. Scott, can you beam me aboard one of those swarm ships?"

"Have you gone completely mad, Sir?" Scotty nearly squealed back. Jim suppressed a groan. "Yes or no?"

"No!...Yes!..Maybe?" Scotty shrugged helplessly.

"Captain!" Spock stepped forward once again and this time Kat followed. "My familiarity with the interior of those ships however brief makes me more qualified for this away mission." He said confidently.

"But Spock, you're still hurt." Kat protested softly. Jim nodded. "She's right, Spock."

Taking in the concern shown from both of their expressions, Spock nodded to acknowledge them. "I acknowledge and respect your concerns. However, if Yorktown is to stand its best chance against this attack, I must go and attempt to take over a member of the swarm."

Jim frowned slightly in consideration at this while Kat took a deep breath. "Then I'm coming with you." She said determinedly.

Spock and Jim both turned their gazes simultaneously in her direction. "Out of the question." Jim spoke first.

"I agree, Dr. McCoy was present with me when we stowed aboard one of Krall's ships to escape the Enterprise. It is therefore more logical-."

"McCoy has to stay here and look after Grey and the wounded crew." Kat interrupted, focusing her attention on Spock.

"Just give me a quick run down of what you remember of the controls and I'll fly it. Most shuttle controls are basic anyway. I know I can do it." She said as confidentally as she could manage, staring her brother and husband in the eyes until the former finally sighed in compliance.

"Bones, meet us at the transporter for a second." He buzzed into the makeshift med bay while heading across the bridge to the turbo lift.

Kat and Spock followed until they'd reached the transporter unit. Just as Kat was about position herself on one side of the chamber, Spock reached out and grabbed onto her arm.

"Katarina-."

"Spock don't! There's too much at stake here!" Kat almost pleaded with him. "You forced me to leave you before and we almost lost each other. I'm not going through that again." Her voice cracked a bit as Bones appeared around a corner and spoke briefly with Jim.

"From here on out, we're doing this together."

Inclining his head to the side, Spock exhaling deeply before loosening his grip. "Well I suppose, at this point there is no logic in arguing with you. Although I must assure you I am more than adequately able to complete this mission on my own." He said calmly, straightening his posture.

Kat smiled at him, seeing from his expression he no longer seemed intent on trying to convince her to stay behind from the away mission.

"Well, you should have thought about that before you married and bonded with me, Mr. Spock." She said half teasingly and half seriously. Spock arched an eyebrow up in the way he did when he was amused by something.

"All right, Kat. I'm going to give you a quick run down though from what I remember the flight controls on that thing are pretty straight forward." Bones approached and Kat nodded, turning to give him her full attention as Spock moved to stand on one side of the transport platform, pulling his phaser from his belt.

"Sounds good, Bones. Lay it on me."

...