Posted by Captain Dante Knight (Commanding Officer) in Knight and Day e: Time to Play

Posted by Lieutenant Natasha Knight (Acting Chief Medical Officer) in Knight and Day e: Time to Play

Posted by Lieutenant Natasha Knight (Acting Chief Medical Officer) in Knight and Day e: Time to Play
Posted by… suppressed (6) by the Post Ghost! 👻

Snip

Natasha walked with Dante trying to keep up. His strides were long and his hand clasped tightly around her forearm was meant to keep her close and to make sure she kept up. The stride fit the scenario which had just occurred. The men would assume it was because he was angry. Natasha would know it was more to create a distance between the two men. As they stopped in front of the turbo Natasha began small talk. It made sense if they were just two employees during a normal workday. The topic, however, was anything but work-related. “During pregnancy, we have higher levels of the hormones estrogen and progesterone,” Natasha started to speak.

“That’s fantastic,” Dante said, although he wasn’t exactly paying attention to what she was saying. He had turned his head to look at her but he was trying to make out if the men behind them were drawing weapons or just staring at them in his peripheral vision. “What does that mean in easy speak?”

As the doors to the turbo opened, she entered but continued talking. “This means at the end of the first trimester and the start of the second, it can increase one’s libido.”

“Oh, can it?” Dante said, and paused before following her in, watching her for a second and forgetting where they were just for that instant. Remembering, he quickly stepped in beside her and turned to face the men in the hallway. “To the surface,” he told the turbo-lift, trying a hunch he had. “So, what does that mean exactly love?”

The use of your command tone back there,” she bit her lip, “totally took me over the edge. I know we are desperately trying to escape and I am so exhibiting pregnancy brain but God it is taking sheer willpower to not go run back to our quarters for ten minutes.” Her comment might have taken him by surprise or maybe it didn’t. The looks she was giving him, however, was one he would not be surprised at seeing. “How fast until we are back on the Saracen,” she asked?

Lt. Natasha Knight CMO

Looking at her, he grinned for a moment, then realized the doors had not closed. “Not fast enough, believe me,” he told her then noted there were buttons on a panel beside the door, one of them showed the letter ‘G’ and was above a button that was lit up. Guessing they were on the lit up button, Dante pressed the ‘G’ button firmly, then, when the doors started to close too slowly for his liking, he hit the ‘G’ again repeatedly. The doors slid shut and he turned to look at her, taking her hands. “You think you can hold on for a bit, or do we need to find a medical supply locker?” Moving quickly, he let his lips touch hers. They wouldn’t have much time if things didn’t go right from here.

“Is it wrong that part of me wishes we were back in that room even if we were trapped,” she looked up at him. “It has been so many years of trying and we are celebrating by running for our lives. Come to think about it,” she gave him a thoughtful expression, “we are doing pretty much par for the course.” Wrapping her arms around his waist she gave a slight squeeze.

Looking down at her, he gave her a weird look for a moment. “Um, yes, yes it so is wrong of you that you wish you were trapped in that room. Are you crazy or is that mummy brain I hear about?” He let her hold him though, and slid his own arms around her. “We’re going to stop running though. We aren’t 20 and fresh out of the Academy any more, it’s time for us to just be together and in love.”

“As long as we are together right,” she held up a pinky. If anyone in Starfleet had been told to Dante pinky promised things, they would think the sharer of this knowledge was on drugs. Men like Dante did not pinky promise things however like all men, he did things solely for Natasha. It started back at the academy as a way around the PDA rules. The two cadets couldn’t lip lock but no one ever noticed the brief locking of their fingers when they said goodbye. The interlocking of their fingers indicated a promise of a kiss later. When they graduated they took this with them to the command level. It became a part of them no different than when she was going to take his name.

He smiled, but deep behind the smile she would know there was pain in his eyes. “Really, you wanna do that now? Here?” Even though they were alone in the turbo lift Dante couldn’t help but glance around for any hidden camera’s. At first Dante had done this because she thought it was cute and something between just them, then he realized she liked it and it wasn’t a one time thing, so he smiled and kept doing it, for her. Nowadays his sensibilities screamed at him that every promise he made was being ripped from his very soul through his little finger through that little ritual known as the ‘pinky promise’. Whatever made her happy, though, meant he was happy, or something like that. Hooking his pinky around hers, he pulled her hand to his chest. “We will always be together, we’ve been together this long, what makes you think I’m leaving any time soon sunshine?”

The lift slid to a halt and the doors slid open, revealing to the two that they were in a large open area that looked to be the entrance to the facility. Holding Natasha’s hand, he stepped out and looked around. The building was well lit and clearly had a very large number of people going about their work. Most wore a uniform that looked to be some kind of security or police type group, while a much smaller number wore medical coats, mechanical coveralls or plain civilian clothing. Dante noted immediately that all looked to be older, and very plain looking compared to the young and beautiful people they had met on the Island when they had arrived. “Baby, we’re not in Kansas anymore,” he whispered to Nat. Most of the people seemed to be exiting one turbo lift and heading towards others, but straight ahead of them was what appeared to be a docking area, complete with surfaced submarines sitting beside actual docks and a shuttle craft off to one side on a landing pad.

“That’s our ride, just a short skip and a hop, and we can get back to the ship. We might even have time to put our feet up.” Dante looked at Nat and smiled again reassuringly. He might have looked like he was at ease but on the inside he was anything but. This was the most delicate part of their escape, and the slightest mistake would bring eyes on them and questions. “Do you know what I need when we get home? A big bowl of ambrosia and your self saucing pudding, and you in my arms.” Still holding her hand, he began to walk towards the exit.

Captain Knight, CO

“You get two of the three and it is not going to be pudding but a nice salad,” she walked with him slowly and steadily. So many questions were running through her mind and the least of which was how they were getting off this planet and back to the Saracen. Getting them home was Dante’s job. Taking care of the home was hers. Walking next to him Natasha was far more relaxed than she should have been. This was her pure and absolute faith that Dante would take care of her in any situation. He would never leave, never quit, never falter. This was the reason she was so in love with him. As they crossed the hangar no one paid any attention to them. Hangar crews buzzed about like insects on a hot summer day. Each person was walking with a purpose to their job or off their job and onto another.

“I don’t feel like salad,” Dante told her out the side of his mouth. “No way I am eating lettuce and carrot when I could have a nice big bowl of yogurt and whipped cream pudding with marshmallows and berry’s, and I’ll make you eat it and love my pudding.”

Their feet hit the metal of the gangway which created a dull clunking sound. Each step sounded like a drum in her ears as they made their way up the ramp. Stopping in front of the metal door, she waved her badge over the locking mechanism. When nothing happened she pressed it with the palm of her hand. This was risky if the pads were liked to DNA yet again nothing happened. Natasha moved slightly so that no one was able to see what Dante was about to do. “Can you hotwire it open,” she asked trying to not look around at her settings.

Looking at it for a moment, he nodded. “Of course, just give me a moment.”

Her pulse was quickening now that they were not moving. Tapping her hand next to her leg, Nat worked out her nervous energy as Dante worked trying not to draw any more attention. “How are we coming there handsome,” she questioned in a low sing-song voice. “We are starting to stick out like a sore thumb,” she waved to someone looking at them hoping the gesture would just make them wave back and move on their way. Fortunately for them, it did, however, the second the door panel slide back they were no longer lucky. Instead of an empty entry, an older man in his sixties was standing holding a datapad.

“Hi,” Dante said, smiling widely and taking his hand off of the recently fiddled with keypad. “Amazing weather isn’t it.”

“Who are you,” he said seeming to be more stunned than angry. His eyes seemed to focus on Dante’s face with a questioning look more than an angry one.

“She is pregnant,” a woman said coming up the ramp pinning Dante and Natasha between them. While both hanger crewmen seemed to be in their late fifties or early sixties it was not like Natasha or Dante could just bowl them over as if they were in their twenties. As a doctor, Natasha knew what the risks from a broken hip could be. If they were twenty, Nat would have turned Dante on them. Since they were not negotiations were in order. Looking up at Dante, Natasha gave him an expression indicating she was ready to answer the question unless he has some other plan.

Lt. Natasha Knight

Dante nodded to her, right now if this went south, there were a lot of people behind them and a few in front, but they key was, a lot of people. “Look, my name is Captain Dante Knight of the Federation Battlecruiser Saracen. Natasha here is my fiance, Lieutenant Natasha Daye. She is a doctor. We were abducted after we arrived and have been stuck here for, we don’t know how long exactly. Yes, Natasha is pregnant, and it is our miracle. She miscarried our first baby a few years ago and the chances of her getting pregnant, well, it’s something we always dreamed of but never expected to happen.”

“Are we inviting them to the reveal party,” Natasha gave Dante a side glance. She was not sure the angle he was playing here until she saw it. Dante wasn’t the swashbuckling rogue that had required her to bail out him and Kelly numerous times over the years. For the first time, Dante had a weakness and it was not her. Putting a hand over her stomach the idea of being a parent was far more real in this moment than ever before. She had been riding the wave of happy while Dante was riding the role of protector.

He looked at her and reached out again, taking Natasha’s hand. “We escaped our room and made it here, we’re heading for the shuttle and home. We want a family, our family and I’m not going to let anyone take it away from me. We’ve seen the people on the island, and the people down here. We aren’t from Erewhon, we are Humans from Earth and don’t belong here. You must have your own families, children?” He looked at the two of them, and his hand tightened around the phaser in his pocket. “Do the right thing and help us have our family. Please?”

“They are not going to make it past the planetary shields,” the man who was in the shuttle announced to the group tapping the PaDD with his index finger as he spoke.

There was no way Dante was going to beg, not after what they had done here, but he would give them a chance at least. After that, the consequences would not be his fault.

Captain Dante Knight, CO

“But that is their right to try. They are not one of us. This should never happen to off worlders. You know how the council feels. I don’t care if they ultimately release them. They are not Erewhonian. This is not their way,” the elderly lady spoke stepping up the ramp. “Our youth are not smart enough or talented enough to take on the real tasks of our society,” she explained to Dante stopping between him and Daye. “That is why we give them the freedom to run and play and stay out of any real work until they are old enough to understand their actions have meaning.” Placing a hand on Daye’s belly she looked up and smiled at the woman. Placing the palm of her hand on Natasha’s cheek she smiled warmly. “Maybe your society is better. Maybe ours is. Who knows but I do know you should not be forced to live by a standard that is not your culture. Let them try to go home,” she said to the crowd.

Natasha Daye

A murmur ran through the crowd, with some nodding, some shaking their heads and others just watching what would happen. The older man before them stepped aside, opening the way to the shuttle beyond the door while the man in the shuttle slid out of the open hatch. “I’m off shift,” he told Dante and smiled at Daye, “and the port security hasn’t arrived to guard it.” He shrugged, “I’m only contracted to fly it, not guard it. I’m back on duty in ten minutes. That’s when the planetary shield lowers in section 717 so the shuttle can pass on schedule taking supplies to the moon station.” With that he turned and walked away, making a point to not look back at them.

“717,” Natasha smiled at Dante. For the first time, she knew everything was going to be okay. 717 had always been special to them. Neither of them knew why. It just always appeared. It was the time Dante dumped Ashely that night long ago at the academy. While that might not have been Dante’s best night it was for Natasha. It was the number of the flight they took on their first trip to Risa and the shuttle that brought Dante home to the outpost injured but okay after an altercation with the enemy. When added up it produced the number fifteen which was how many years they had been together. Come the fall it would be September 17 the day they finally got married.

“Thank you, Dante said to his back, then looked at the woman. “I hope you don’t get in trouble for this, but I am in debt to you for letting us try.”

A man yelled from the crowd just then, “She can’t leave, the baby is Erewhonian by law. She has to stay until the citizen is born.” His shout was answered by many others, although at the same time, many yelled back to let her go with her baby.

“Hey,” Natasha snapped gripping the rail and looking at that man. “I am tired, getting hungry, and I am going to have to pee. You do not want to mess with me right now. My hormone levels are off the charts that mean I will either sob hysterically or rip your arms out of your sockets and beat you with them I am pretty sure it will be the latter,” she glared at the man. “Do not mess with me. Us,” thought for a second and gave a small head nod to Dante. “Yeah sorry about that babe,” she said in a soft tone. “ My blood sugar might be getting a bit low,” she apologized to Dante before setting an angry glare back to the crowd.

The older man before them stepped forward, blocking the view of Natasha from the crowd with his own body. “Don’t be fools,” he said in a loud voice, one used to being listened to obviously. “The baby is Erewhonian by law, true, but not by blood. You know the council was divided in the senate, those wanting to change the law only just lost and many members didn’t vote at all. We cannot continue to abduct mothers who fall pregnant here, cannot continue the lies and medical treatment because our great great grandparents tried to increase our population by keeping people conceived on our world. This isn’t who we are, and we are in no danger anymore of dying out. Let them go, and we can argue about this more between our people in the council.”

The woman looked at Natasha and smiled at her, “You are the human called Daye. Your baby is a miracle but don’t worry, our medical technology is advanced. You will carry your baby to term, and will be healthy. What Starfleet cannot do when it comes to babies and a woman’s ability to carry, we can. I’m sorry we did not ask you permission to make sure your body and baby was healthy, but for us the life is more important than the way. It is sacred to us, but I know by the way you hold your belly and the way you smile that it is sacred to you too. Go now, love your baby and remember your little one will be special to us all.”

“You did this,” she looked at the woman and pulled her into a warm embrace. “Thank you,” she whispered softly squeezing the woman a second longer.

“Come on Tasia,” Dante said, squeezing Nat’s hand. “We need to go, before someone changes their mind.” He led her through the door and towards the shuttle, pausing outside to help her in. “I’ll fly, love, lets take our baby home.” He felt odd in his stomach, like it was too easy. It may have been the nervousness of the worry he felt that he might not be able to keep Natasha safe among these people, but his stomach felt empty and it was all he could do to keep it’s contents inside, as much as he tried to hide that fact from everyone.

Another shout came now, this time from the gateway and Dante turned. Natasha and he would see a man pushing past the two older people that had let them through, it was the man who had shouted from the crowd. “They aren’t leaving, it’s against the law!” He shouted and began to run towards the shuttle, a heavy looking baton in his hand. “Jacques, stop it!” The woman yelled at him, “Let them go, it’s over!” Behind her, two more men began up the ramp to back Jacques up.

“Dante,” she looked at him. “Tell me you are about to get all mother Russia on his ass,” she looked at her fiancé.

Dante looked at Natasha and placed a hand on her shoulder. “No, we aren’t stopping now. They aren’t winning this and I’m not losing you. Now we do it my way.” He stepped back from Nat and his lips formed a kiss as he blew an imaginary one towards her, then he turned to the man and waited, letting him rush towards him.

Dante watched him come, the man raised the baton to strike Dante and still he waited, calmly. At what seemed the last moment Dante drew his hand from his pocket, and shot the man in the chest with the Phaser. The beam struck true, the sound of it stunning the crowd into silence and Jacques seemed to jerk upright, his legs stopping mid stride and then go to rubber as all feeling left his senses and the world went black . Jacques body crumpled at Dante’s feet, the baton rolling away and his head making a crack on the tarmac almost as loud as the phaser itself had been. Without watching the man drop, Dante swung his phaser onto the two men who had begun to approach, “Go home to your families, and let me take mine home.” Both of them stopped and raised their hands in front of them, and backed away past the older pair and down the ramp, the fight having suddenly gone out of them realizing that Dante was armed the whole time.

“It was on stun,” he told the older man, and then Dante backed himself up and into the shuttle, reaching up and closing the hatch as he did. He sat down and looked at Natasha, and from that distance she might notice he was paler than normal. “I’m not going to lose you,” he told her, “not now, not in the future and not in the past. I’m not letting anything or anyone hurt us love, I’m making you both that promise right now.”

Captain Knight, CO

Her elation at him getting them on a shuttle and ready for take off was hampered by the paleness off his face. Dante was a Starfleet Captain. He was also a bruiser when needed and scrappy as hell in a bar fight. That altercation should t have winded him. Placing a hand on his cheek Natasha looked at him. “Baby. Are you okay,” she started to look over his body.

Lt Natasha Knight. Cmo

“I’m fine love,” Dante reassured her, placing his hand on hers and folding her fingers in between his. “I just had a moment where I felt like I was going to lose you both. Let’s go home.”

Dante’s hands worked the console of the shuttle that was familiar enough to him that he could fly it, placing the sector he needed to approach into the computer and then wasting no time in lifting it off the pad. In the distance, the main city of Erewhon where they had spent the first part of their holiday could be seen. “Next time, no getting pregnant here,” he half joked and looked at her. “We make sure you are pregnant before you get here, deal?”

Captain Knight, CO

Bump