Star Trek Part 18

Kirk nodded. "I don't have any choice, Mister Scott-Scotty." The engineer didn't chastise him for employing the nickname. "There's far more at stake here than you yet realize. And I can't do anything about it if I'm stuck here on this planet." He smiled thinly. "No matter how convivial the company or engaging the surroundings."

Only one of those present protested the chosen course of action. It was clear that the alien did not want his human a.s.sociate to leave. Excited at the prospect of not only escaping the backwater that was Delta Vega but at the chance to acquire actual proof of a notion with which he had been toying for years, Scott gently rea.s.sured his fellow officer that all would be well. Unable to sway his friend, the alien responded understandingly but with obvious regret.

As the Vulcan rose from the console chair, Kirk confronted him uncertainly. His att.i.tude toward his savior was still a confused mix of grat.i.tude, awe, and uncertainty.

"You're coming with us?"

"No, Jim. May I call you Jim?"

"Sure, I guess." Coming from this elder incarnation of Spock it sounded...odd. Odd, but nice, Kirk decided.

"My destiny lies along a different path," the Vulcan told him. "You must make your own without me. The situation in which we find ourselves is unprecedented and fraught with potential danger. My presence as you seek to determine your future would present complications whose consequences cannot be foreseen and which, I feel, are best avoided."

It was not the response Kirk had been hoping for. "Your destiny can wait. He He won't believe me. Only won't believe me. Only you you can explain wha-" can explain wha-"

The Vulcan cut him off. "Under no circ.u.mstances can the one to whom we are referring be made aware of my existence. You must promise me this." You must promise me this."

Kirk struggled to keep up with the possible ramifications while simultaneously trying to persuade his rescuer to change his mind.

"You're telling me I can't tell you you I'm following I'm following your own orders your own orders? Why not? What happens if I do?"

Spock moved closer. "Trust me, "Trust me, Jim. Above all, this is the one rule you cannot break. To stop Nero, you alone must take command of your s.h.i.+p." Jim. Above all, this is the one rule you cannot break. To stop Nero, you alone must take command of your s.h.i.+p."

Kirk's expression was grim. "Over your dead body?"

"Preferably not," the elder Spock replied. "There is, however, Starfleet Regulation Six-nineteen." When Kirk failed to respond, the Vulcan sighed knowingly. "Yes, I forget what little regard you had for such things. Six-nineteen states that any commander who is emotionally compromised by the mission at hand must forthwith resign his command."

Kirk frowned uncertainly. "So I need to emotionally compromise you?"

"Jim," the elder Spock told him gravely, "I just lost my planet, my whole world. I am am emotionally compromised. What emotionally compromised. What you you must do is get me to-show it." must do is get me to-show it."

Kirk considered this. Quietly, carefully, and intently.

"Hmm."

An equally intent but far more ebullient voice sounded behind him. "Aye, then! Live or die, laddie, let's get this over with! The Enterprise Enterprise has decent food service facilities, I'm guessing." Whistling to himself, the engineer headed for the transporter pad. has decent food service facilities, I'm guessing." Whistling to himself, the engineer headed for the transporter pad.

Kirk started to follow, then looked behind him. "You know, coming back in time, changing history, informing someone in the past about what's happened in the future-that might be construed by an impartial onlooker as cheating." cheating."

"A trick I learned from an old friend." Stepping back, the elder Spock retreated toward the transporter console. Before taking the seat, he raised one hand with the fingers separated into pairs. Kirk took up a stance on the pad beside the whistling engineer.

"Live long, and prosper," the old Vulcan told the young lieutenant.

Then he sat down and activated the transporter. Both men dematerialized. When, where, and whether they would be reconst.i.tuted he did not know for a certainty. He knew that Montgomery Scott's equations were valid. Spock could only hope that his own computations were applicable.

If they were not, if they were off by more than the four meters he had calculated, then nothing else would matter. Ever.

XV

There was no one present in the open engineering bay to hear the steady, powerful hum of the s.h.i.+p's engines. Maintenance was busy elsewhere, still battling to repair the last of the serious damage that had been incurred in the fight with the Narada. Narada. At the moment no technicians were on hand in the vicinity of central cooling and water distribution, a largely automated corner of the s.h.i.+p that required little attention. At the moment no technicians were on hand in the vicinity of central cooling and water distribution, a largely automated corner of the s.h.i.+p that required little attention.

So it was that there was no one present to see the twin vertical columns of lambent particulate matter that swiftly solidified into the shapes of two human beings.

One of those figures stumbled, gasping, to look down at itself in amazement. I am intact, I am intact, Kirk realized. His brain and attendant mechanical parts had all survived the impracticable, implausible journey in one piece. As he rose and began to slip out of his cold-weather outer clothing, a quick look around revealed that he was indeed in the engineering section of a stars.h.i.+p. While no identification was readily at hand, he had little reason to doubt it was the Kirk realized. His brain and attendant mechanical parts had all survived the impracticable, implausible journey in one piece. As he rose and began to slip out of his cold-weather outer clothing, a quick look around revealed that he was indeed in the engineering section of a stars.h.i.+p. While no identification was readily at hand, he had little reason to doubt it was the Enterprise. Enterprise. If the elder Spock had managed the transport, surely he had also succeeded in putting them aboard their target vessel. Engineer Scott would confirm it. If the elder Spock had managed the transport, surely he had also succeeded in putting them aboard their target vessel. Engineer Scott would confirm it.

Where was was Engineer Scott? Engineer Scott?

Looking around anxiously, Kirk searched among the huge tubes and conduits for his enthusiastic if unlikely subs.p.a.ce traveling companion. He turned only when he heard a faint banging. His eyes went wide as he located the source.

Scott had rematerialized equally intact and energetic-but inside one of the cooling tanks.

As a stunned Kirk looked on, pressure shoved the wide-eyed engineer upward and into a crosswise conduit. Trapped like a worm in a hose, cheeks bulging, Scott was spun sideways with Kirk in pursuit. Fists pounding desperately on the transparent unbreakable composite, the engineer could see Kirk but not reach out to him.

Racing along below, a frantic Kirk looked ahead in search of an access. Instead of a port or sampling cylinder his eyes fell on the main coolant distribution chamber. If the trapped Scott made it that far, he would not have to worry about drowning: the greatly increased pressure in the chamber would crush him and distribute the pieces to different parts of the s.h.i.+p.

If he didn't do something quick, quick, the the Enterprise' Enterprise's maintenance engineers were going to find some unpleasant clogs in various corners of the s.h.i.+p's hydrologic system.

No tools were at hand-not that the tough, durable synthetic of which the coolant tubes were made would yield to hammering driven by mere human muscles anyway. There, just off to one side-a control panel. But did it offer access to the right right controls? When only one option presents itself, decision-making becomes easy. He made for it as fast as his feet would carry him. controls? When only one option presents itself, decision-making becomes easy. He made for it as fast as his feet would carry him.

Beneath his pounding fingers a schematic of the complete cooling system offered itself up for inspection. Which conduit, which direction, which valve...? A sideways glance showed that if he didn't do something fast it would no longer matter-Scott's lungs would fill with water before his body even reached the distribution chamber.

Try something, something, Kirk shouted at himself. His fingers stabbed wildly at the console. Kirk shouted at himself. His fingers stabbed wildly at the console.

On the bridge a small portion of a usually unimportant display suddenly went from green to red. Chekov frowned at it, fingered a couple of controls, and double-checked before daring to report.

"Keptin, we're detecting unauthorized access to one of the auxiliary cooling tank control boards." He checked his console. "Appropriate retrieval code was not entered."

One eyebrow rose sharply. "Auxiliary cooling?"

Chekov eyed his console again. "Yes, Keptin. Perhaps the technician on site forgot to punch in his identification."

The acting captain considered. "Perhaps. What is the board's current status?"

"Still in use, Keptin. And there is something else. The sequences that are being entered: from an engineering standpoint they seem almost-random."

Spock nodded curtly. "Someone is being derelict in their duty. Or..." He paused, pondering. "Send a security team to check it out. Tell them to take sidearms. Set to stun."

"Aye, Keptin." Chekov issued the necessary order.

Kirk forced himself to take a mental step backward. "Okayokay-comeoncomeoncomeon-think. Pretend you're in the relevant simulator." His fingers moved again; slower and more a.s.sured this time. With purpose instead of panic. "Manual control; enabled. Pressure; calculated. Emergency pressure release; located." Pretend you're in the relevant simulator." His fingers moved again; slower and more a.s.sured this time. With purpose instead of panic. "Manual control; enabled. Pressure; calculated. Emergency pressure release; located."

Fluttering eyes half shut, Scott was shooting down the final conduit leading to the distribution chamber. All that remained was to see if he died from drowning or being torn apart by the distributor pump. Then...

The rush of water ceased as emergency seals fell into place on either side of him and a maintenance access panel in the underside of the conduit abruptly dropped open, unceremoniously dumping onto the deck a couple hundred gallons of water and one severely waterlogged engineer. Kirk rushed to his traveling companion and propped him up as a gasping Scott spasmodically relieved his insides of a liter or so of involuntarily imbibed liquid. Worse, it was water.

"You all right...?"

Taking a deep breath, the engineer wiped at his dripping face, looked up, and recognized his new friend.

"Nice," he coughed up water, "s.h.i.+p. Really."

Kirk helped him to his feet. "Better to be remembered as the inventor of the equations that allow for long-range s.h.i.+p-to-s.h.i.+p transporting than as the first man in history to die from drowning aboard a stars.h.i.+p." Still supporting the engineer, he was looking around worriedly. All this commotion in what was normally a tranquil section of the s.h.i.+p was bound to attract attention.

"Come on-let's get to the bridge!"

His prescience was soon proved correct as a security team arrived barely moments after they had departed. Noting the presence of entirely too much water on the deck, an emergency release latch that showed no sign of having accidentally given way, and wet boot-prints leading deeper into the s.h.i.+p, the team drew their sidearms as they went on immediate alert.

"Captain," the team leader reported into his communicator, "we appear to have unauthorized access on the engineering level."

Spock responded quickly to the new information. "Seal engineering. All security personnel on high alert." He moved quickly toward the helm station. "Mister Sulu, activate security imaging. Check the entire crew, including the wounded and those still in sickbay. Also all refugees-their vitals should have been entered into records by now. Do we have any unregistered life-forms on board?"

Sulu swiftly entered the request. In response to his query the monitor provided a scalable schematic that showed every deck and every corner of the Enterprise. Enterprise. On some decks dozens of green dots glowed, often in small cl.u.s.ters. On other decks only a few green identifiers appeared. On engineering... On some decks dozens of green dots glowed, often in small cl.u.s.ters. On other decks only a few green identifiers appeared. On engineering...

Two red dots, moving fast and beeping steadily.

"Affirmative, sir." A disbelieving Sulu confirmed what was evident on-screen. "Engineering bay-hydrologics. But-but that's impossible impossible...."

Spock leaned forward. "There is visual confirmation. It could could be a system anomaly." be a system anomaly."

The two security guards had their weapons trained directly at Kirk and Scott. With nowhere to go, both men slowed. Bemused but professional, the security team came closer. Then one of them grinned unpleasantly at Kirk.

"Come with me-moonbeam."

Kirk recognized the voice as well as the body. It was the cadet he had bloodied in an Iowa bar in what now seemed like centuries ago...

When they entered the bridge the pair were greeted by stunned expressions. From Sulu, Uhura, and Chekov. Only Spock, and his father, who was also present, regarded the arrivals calmly. Scott wisely kept silent and drew little of the attention. He knew none of them anyway and was unaware that the tension on the bridge was due as much to the awkward relations.h.i.+p that existed between its acting captain and Kirk as to the far greater danger that now threatened them all.

Spock straightaway confronted the one prisoner he knew. Flanked by security personnel, Kirk met the Vulcan's probing gaze without flinching. The effects of the stun that had been used to subdue him had already worn off.

"Surprise," Kirk said.

Ignoring him, Spock eyed his companion. "Who are you?"

He's with me." Kirk's smile widened.

"How did you beam yourself aboard this s.h.i.+p while it is traveling at warp speed?"

Battered and exhausted from what had been a very long day indeed, Kirk still managed to grin. "You're the genius: you figure it out." He nodded toward a particular bridge station. "Why don't you ask the s.h.i.+p's science officer?"

"As captain of this vessel I order you to answer the question." It was not exactly a shout, but much more than a casual request. "You are a prisoner. There is nowhere for you to go. This question impinges on the very security of Starfleet itself. I a.s.sure you that I will utilize whatever authorized methods are at my disposal to convince you to respond to my inquiry." It was not exactly a shout, but much more than a casual request. "You are a prisoner. There is nowhere for you to go. This question impinges on the very security of Starfleet itself. I a.s.sure you that I will utilize whatever authorized methods are at my disposal to convince you to respond to my inquiry."

"Well, I'm not telling."

Clearly taken aback, Spock had no rejoinder for that. Relis.h.i.+ng the confusion he had engendered, an energized Kirk pushed harder.

"Does that frustrate you? My lack of cooperation? Does that make you angry?"

Turning away from him, Spock studied the stranger who had accompanied him.

"You are not a member of this s.h.i.+p's crew. Under penalty of court-martial, I order you to explain how you beamed aboa-"

"Don't answer him, Scotty."

Spock was not to be denied. "You will will answer me," he ordered the stranger. answer me," he ordered the stranger.

Scott looked from Vulcan to Kirk-and demurred. "I'd rather not take sides, if you dinna mind."

Frustrated beyond measure, Spock nodded to the security guards. "Escort them to the brig."

But Kirk wasn't yet ready to go. In fact, he was just getting warmed up.

"What is it about you, Spock? Your planet was just destroyed. Your whole civilization civilization was wiped out. Your mother murdered-and you're not even was wiped out. Your mother murdered-and you're not even upset upset?"

Spock stared back at him, hard and unblinking. "Your presumption that these experiences interfere with my abilities to command this s.h.i.+p is inaccurate."

"Ha! I mean, did you see that b.a.s.t.a.r.d's s.h.i.+p? Did you see what he did?"

"Yes, of course I..."

"So are you angry or aren't you?"

"I will not-allow you to lecture me about the merits of emotion."

Kirk moved closer, before the guards could think about intervening. "Then why don't you stop me?"

Spock's eyes did not waver from the human confronting him. Off to the side, McCoy was watching the growing confrontation nervously. Sarek merely-watched.

"Step away from me, Mister Kirk."