And we continue…more dramatic turns!

The “shuttle bay” Spock directed them too was more like a dark, hidden cave. He realized as he entered the cave that it wasn’t made or real rock, it was all illusional. He wasn’t sure how Spock knew of such a place but Jim guessed he was feeling grateful.

And also pissed.

Though presently, anyway, not at Spock.

As soon as the hover car came to a stop in front of a shuttlecraft that looked in pretty good shape from Jim’s assessment, Jim was out of the car ready to have it out with his mom.

Spock moved off to speak to someone by the shuttle, presumably the pilot, while his mother helped the children out of the car. He noticed that like Desda, Brick and Isabella seemed to have only the clothes on their backs, and they appeared to be night clothes.

Jim spoke to Desda, “Can you bring them over there so I can speak to my mother?”

Desda gave him an anxious look, but she nodded and led the children closer to where Spock stood but still where Jim and his mother could see them.

“Jim—” His mom began.

“I just want to know how long you’ve been lying to me about this whole thing,” Jim interjected. “These kids. What…who exactly are they?”

She put her hands together in a gesture of pleading. “I didn’t lie. I didn’t know much about them myself.”

“You said we’d be in and out, it would be hardly any trouble.”

“And I believed that.:

“But you found something out.”

His mother nodded. “When we got here. When I spoke to Melanie in jail.”

“And so you had information you hid from me before we went with Tolar. Is it-is it our fault he and his family are dead?”

“Oh Jim I don’t think—”

“We led them right to Tolar and his family. Fuck, Mom. That’s…that’s not acceptable.”

“No.” She shook her head rapidly. “I really don’t think that was because of us, because of those kids.”

“What did she tell you?”

“Their father was a high-ranking member of the syndicate. They’re pissed at her for killing him and she thinks they might arrange for her to suffer a terrible accident in prison.”

“Syndicate kids?”

“They aren’t syndicate kids. They’re just children, Jim. Caught in the middle of all this.”

“Is that who was firing on you and Spock as you left the school?’

She looked uncomfortable. “Probably. We had…we didn’t have official permission to take them so—”

“So you made me and Spock kidnappers! Mom, you’re such a bi—”

“Don’t!” Desda yelled, suddenly next to them. “Don’t, please.”

“Desda,” his mother whispered.

Desda blew out a breath and looked at Jim. “You shouldn’t speak to your mom like that. She’s the only mother you have. Okay?”

Jim glanced at his mother, who now stared at the ground. “It’s complicated.”

“I know,” Desda said. “And I know you went through a lot lately. I know. And this is all crazy. For all of us. I get it. But…Jim…you and your mom are not responsible for what happened to Uncle Tolar and his family. You’re not. They are. The bad ones. And maybe a little Uncle Tolar. But not you. Your mom just wanted to save two little kids. Right? And now she’s saved three.” She hitched a breath. “At least if we make it out of here.”

All at once Jim’s anger left him, and it made him feel more physically and mentally exhausted than ever. He nodded at his daughter.

“Mom, I’m sorry.”

His mother embraced him. “I’m sorry too. I wouldn’t hurt you for the world.”

Jim blew out a breath, then squeezed and released her.

Spock stood beside the younger children, Brick and Isabella, who stared at them with haunted eyes, their little bodies trembling in fear/

“If you are ready, Jim. We can leave.”

“I’m more than ready, let’s go.”