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Star Trek Chapter 20
Bondo was sitting at a lab table, worrying an apparatus when the communications console chimed.
"Ah..." he said and looked relieved to have an interruption. He stood and walked to the console, then sat down.
"Yes!" he said in his usual annoyed tone that he always answered with.
On the screen the face of Imperial Vizier Obtuin appeared.
"Vizier! My dear, how nice it is to see you!" Bondo exclaimed in greeting.
"Bondo," the Vizier started, he glanced nervously to the side, then back. "I regret to inform you that all support for your research has been withdrawn. The orders come directly from the Emperor."
Bondo stared with shock. "But why? I am almost complete, and ahead of schedule..."
"Your work has become an embarrassment to His Highness, and the Centari government. I am sorry..."
The power failed.
He looked around in the dark before the emergency lighting came on. He touched to the communications console but it remained dark.
"Dear, The Maker," he muttered as he dug in his pocket. Not finding anything he went to a different lab coat that was hanging on the coat tree next to the door. There he found the portable.
"Sargent, what is going on?" he enquired into the hand piece.
"It looks like a complete power failure sir," came the reply. "All my systems are down, including the security circuits."
"What about the test subjects?"
"I don't know sir. Those monitors are out too."
"Well get a few more guards down there with orders to shoot anyone making trouble."
"Already done sir," came the reply.
That's when the complex shook slightly with a distant boom.
The guards that burst into the test subject's main room were shocked to see four figures beaming in. They materialized into Federation Marine infantrymen wearing full shield suits. Two of the Centari guards got off shots before all six of them were vaporized by phaser fire.
Bondo simply remained seated at his desk as the sounds of the firefight were replaced by the sounds of a room-by-room search. Twice he heard multiple footsteps go by as various guards and lab workers were taken prisoner. Then his door burst open and a Federation Marine officer came in with two enlisted troopers.
"Zephron Bondo?" the officer asked.
"At your pleasure," Bondo replied.
"We have him sir," the officer said into his communications bracelet.
The shimmering light and wavering sound of a transporter beam appeared near the small group of Federation Marines. The figure who appeared was dressed in a white robe with purple edging, not a uniform.
Bondo looked at him-he seemed familiar but he couldn't place the face.
"I did not know the Romulans were using Federation troops," he said.
A short expression of surprise passed over Spock's face, then understanding.
"Oh, you thought the girl was Romulan then."
"Yes."
"There you are mistaken sir. She is a Human-Vulcan hybrid."
"Ahh, that explains it." Bondo replied.
"Let me introduce myself. I am Spock, of the Vulcan High Calri and Vulcan Ambassador to the Federation of Planets."
"I knew I recognized you," Bondo said, raising a finger.
"And the girl you took prisoner, along with 33 other Federation humans, is my daughter."
"I do not know where she is," Bondo said as he spread his hands on the desk.
"She is safe," Spock replied. "But, let me ask you, are you aware of the consequences of trading in slaves who are citizens of the Federation?"
"Yes, I will be put on trial and spend some time on a prison colony."
Spock leaned forward and caught the Centari with his gaze. "Do you know the consequences of enslaving a person under the protection of the Vulcan High Calri?"
For the first time a stab of fear passed through the Centari. "I am afraid I do not," he said quietly.
Then, Bondo realized he was not breathing. He wasn't choking, in fact, he was not feeling any discomfort whatsoever. It was just that he had forgotten to breath.
He tried to take a breath but his lungs simply wouldn't work. He tried to speak but couldn't, air wouldn't move.
His eyes got large. He wasn't breathing and couldn't figure out why. He felt his hearts start to speed up. There was no pain, just his hearts started to pound and a hiss started in his ears.
Spock reached across the table and took his chin, holding his gaze.
"Zephron Bondo, you have been judged guilty of the enslavement of a person under the protection of the Vulcan High Calri, to whet, Carly Jessica Rand, daughter of myself and Janis Rand."
Bondo's vision was beginning to be obscured as a grey cloud closed in around Spock's face.
"And the last thing you will see is the face of a vengeful, half human, father."
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