The vents were uncomfortable, but they made progress. Every time they thought of stopping to rest, the wailing roars of the beasts reminded them. They turned a few corners, went down a few slopes, and came to the end – a large door. Park went to work on the keypad, and Reid turned to J’Klast.

“You don’t seem too surprised,” she noted. Her eyes searched the older Klingon’s, wondering what secrets the old captain still held in reserve.

He sighed, exchanging a look with his niece, who remained silent. “I did not know of the time they had been operating with the Vorethi. Before the Shroud fell, it would seem. The two of them, and their comrades, have always been opportunistic. They must have believed in this to go as far and as deep as they did. The trouble is, whoever sponsored them or is bankrolling them has plausible deniability. Chuki and Dragr’al are not the caliber of warrior I would choose, but I have access to talented and gifted warriors should the need arise. Sending these two was perhaps a test to see if the Vorethi could be bent to their will.”

Park muttered as her work continued, “I would like to bend this console to my will.”

Kali winced as the sound of the monsters grew louder. “Uncle, remind me in the future when it comes to Chuki or those like him – that we should have shot him long ago.” Her face was tight, and her eyes furious. Jordan mused that the statement was heavy on truth.

The door fell open, and Park moved forward, ushering the others to follow. They came into a side room, with the door to the corridor wide open. She went up to the hallway entrance and peaked over. She gestured them over, whispering. “It’s clear.” The thunderous growling was farther off, but still in pursuit. Screams of Vorethi and Klingons could be heard in spurts as the monstrosity continued its murderous path.

They pushed forward, closer to the dock. The sounds grew louder behind them, and it sped their steps faster. They turned a corner, and Park growled in frustration.

“You think you’re going to escape this place?” The voice belonged to a large Vorethi, accompanied by two surly Klingons. All three were armed. All three were pointing their weapons at the group. The Vorethi mused. “J’Klast, I had hoped to meet you under different circumstances. Chuki has made a true mess of this, hasn’t he?”

J’Klast let loose an angry growl, and Reid watched as the usually friendly face of the Klingon captain became a surly mess, teeth baring with an unusual snarl. “Soner. I wondered who Dragr’al was working with.” He turned his head to the others. “Soner is one of the few Vorethi I am familiar with. He has worked within diplomatic circles exclusively with Klingons. His guild status is, shall we say, unique?”

Soner’s face flashed with anger before recovering, but Reid spotted it as did Park. He snapped back, “I expect my status and station to be returned to me by the end of the week.” The long index finger pointed lazily at the group. “You, however, will not be part of this story. Dragr’al has decided that this facility and all it offers is no longer necessary to the future of the collaboration between him and the Blood Guild.” A long stare followed by, “You will return to the station. I will take your ship, and this place will burn in the fires of its own sins.”

J’Klast eyed the two Klingons. They stared daggers, blasters, and general violence in his direction. They would be of no help, he realized. Soner was tall, and unusually built for a Vorethi. He grumbled, “I do not see a way out.”

The deck beneath them shook, sending everyone to the ground. A bellowing shout broke through the stunned group, and they turned to face the monster, having bashed its way through the door down the corridor. Chuki, bloodied and beaten, was running ahead, his eyes wide and fearful. He was limping, clearly in pain. He shouted, and it felt like he was pleading. “Run! RUN!”

J’Klast blinked, spinning on his heels, and blasting the shocked Soner to the ground. The two Klingon guards stared at the impending arrival of the beast, unable to move. Park led the way. “Listen to the Klingon – run!”

The group broke out of their terrified reverie and ran. Past the gobsmacked Klingon guards. Past the sprawled and stunned Soner. Down the corridor, around the corner, and in the final sprint to the dock. Chuki hobbled along, fear filling every corner of his face as he huffed, puffed, and winced his way.

Reid stood at the docking door, ushering the misfits aboard, including Chuki. She followed him in, slamming her hand on the dock release button as they threw themselves onto the floor of the Klothar. The sound of the beast had followed them and the sounds of murder had given them time to get aboard. She shouted down the hallway, “We’re clear!”

“Shake us loose. Prepare all weapons!” J’Klast had thrown himself into his center chair and now glared at the screen before him. The murderous creature had made it to the dock, but now gestured at them from behind the glass. The K’t’inga-class rumbled sideways, and the docking port tore away.

Kali slid into the tactical seat, wiping the sweat from her brow. It had been a run for her life. She had decided early on that today was not a good day to die and she would not be saying her last words on that godforsaken station. She’d take out her frustration on the limp but alive body of Chuki later. For now, it was time to blow the station into oblivion. She cried out, “Target locked. Weapons online.”

J’Klast leaned forward in his chair. “Fire. Burn it all away.”