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Title: Requiem (chapter three)
Rating: PG-13/T for language, some violence
Genre: Angst, h/c, gen
Characters: The entire ST:XI crew plus some new OCs
Spoilers/warnings: Anything in the movie is up for grabs. Also trying to stick as close to canon as possible for the show, but I haven't watched many. Most of my knowledge is limited to what I've found on (numerous) Web sites, so if I'm off on something, feel free to let me know.
Length: This chapter: a little over 4700 words
Notes: This section is entirely flashback. Next chapter will get us moving forward again, I promise! Mega-thanks to everyone who's read and commented. Your support is amazing, and it's literally what made me write this chapter.
Notes the second: Mega thanks to Stray for the cheerleading and to Eight for the beta. I've messed around with it since she gave it back to me, so any and all mistakes are (of course) my own. Also, this is a little late, but I don't own anything Star Trek. I'm sure y'all are shocked.
Notes the third: In case anyone's wondering, I do have a few stories that I drew on for inspiration for this story. I will give them proper credit at the end--don't want to give away any of the big plot! :D
Summary: Caught off-guard by their captain's sudden death, the crew of the Enterprise searches for answers. The problem? Jim Kirk isn't dead.
Eight hours earlier
“We’ve entered into standard orbit above Pilar, Captain,” Sulu called from the helm.
“And I’ve received a set of coordinates from the Pilarian Assembly, sir,” Uhura added. “They say it will be a suitable location for your arrival for the negotiations.”
“Patch them through to both the helm and the transporter room, Lieutenant,” Kirk ordered, rising from his chair. “Spock, what do we know about Pilar?”
“A class M planet, Pilar has an approximate population of four-point-six million,” Spock recited as he pulled up the file at his workstation. “They have been a space-traveling race for forty of their years, which is the equivalent of thirty standard years. The Federation has been in contact with them for the last two decades. Scientists on the planet reported finding one of the largest dilithium deposits on record--a matter which has greatly interested the Federation Council, as Starfleet utilizes a large amount of dilithium for its warp cores. Until this point, however, Pilar has never expressed a desire to join the Federation.”
“Do they use dilithium in their space vehicles?” Kirk asked.
“It does not appear so, Captain,” Spock answered, a PADD in his hand as he stood from his seat. “Reports indicate that while technologically advanced, the Pilarians are as of yet incapable of travel at warp speed. In fact, their technology appears to be far below that level. If they do use dilithium components, it appears that they have not realized their full potential in interstellar travel.”
Kirk’s lips pursed thoughtfully. “How long has it been since their last transmission to the Federation?”
“Prior to the one that brought us here? Three years, sir.” Spock’s eyebrow lifted slightly when Kirk’s eyes narrowed in thought. “Is there something troubling you, Captain?”
Kirk folded his arms as he turned to look at the planet visible on the viewscreen. “Don’t you think it seems odd that out of the blue a civilization that had previously rejected the Federation’s offer to become a member--three times, if I remember correctly--suddenly calls up and claims they’ve changed their mind?”
Spock nodded once in acknowledgment. “I concur that it is atypical, but it is not entirely unheard of,” he replied.
Kirk rubbed his thumb against his chin. “Chekov, run a scan of the planet and see if there have been any recent signs of warfare, or anything else suspicious, for that matter. They may not have reported any unrest or warfare, but that doesn’t mean it hasn’t happened.”
“Aye, Keptin,” Chekov answered.
“Sulu, Spock, you two are going to beam down with me, along with Scotty,” Kirk added, punching a button on the arm of his chair. “Kirk to Scott.”
“Scott here, Cap’n. What’cha need?”
“Head up to the bridge for a debriefing. You’re gonna beam down with us.”
Scott sounded less than thrilled when he replied, “Aye, sir. Scott out.”
Kirk glanced up as Spock stood next to him. “Do you suspect the Pilarians have ill intentions as the motivation for this meeting?” the Vulcan asked quietly.
“Honestly? I don’t know. It all seems on the up-and-up, but I just can’t shake the feeling that something’s not quite right,” Kirk answered just as softly.
Spock nodded slowly, pondering the captain’s response. Over the past two years, he’d come to realize that more often than not, Kirk’s intuition proved to be quite accurate. “Do you think we need to reconsider our plans to journey to the planet’s surface?”
Kirk shook his head once, lips quirking into a faint smirk. “We’ll wait for the results of Chekov’s scan before we beam down, but I’m pretty sure they’ll come up with nothing. I’m probably just being paranoid--been reading too many old conspiracy novels lately.”
Spock’s eyebrow quirked upward slightly. “This may be true, but it is still best to proceed with caution.”
Kirk grinned. “Better safe than sorry, right?”
“My sentiments exactly, sir,” Spock answered.
Kirk rolled his eyes as the doors to the turbo lift slid open. “One of these days I’ll actually get you to call me by my actual name.”
Before Spock could reply, Scott jovially called, “Cap’n! What can I do fer ya? Anythin’ need repairin’? Like right this minute?”
Kirk clapped the engineer on the shoulder with a smile. “Don’t you want to be diplomatic for a few hours, Scotty?”
Scott made a face. “Och, laddie, y’ know how much I hate bein’ a kiss-ass.”
“Even when there’s the possibility of seeing previously unknown technology?”
Scott shot him a skeptical look. “Th’ last two times y’ promised me that, we ended seein’ naugh’ but primitive propulsion systems that couldnae even move a toaster, let alone somethin’ y’ can sit in.”
“There’s always the possibility, though, right?”
Scott’s lips twitched into a faint smile. “Well, when y’ put it like that…”
Kirk laughed, squeezing Scott’s shoulder once before letting his hand drop. “Mr. Chekov, any results yet?”
“No, Keptin,” the Russian replied. “Ewrything appears to be normal on ze surface. Zere are a few more scans I can conduct, if you are interested.”
Kirk nodded once. “Do it. Patch your results through to the computer terminal in the Ready Room, and then inform the crew of our current status in the mission. You’ll have the conn in my absence.”
“Aye, sir!”
Kirk turned to look at his communications officer. “Lieutenant Uhura, contact Starfleet Command and let them know we’re about to begin primary contact with the Pilarians, and request copies of the transcripts from the previous diplomatic interactions.”
“Aye, Captain,” Uhura replied. “Do you want the transcripts sent to the Ready Room as well?”
“Yes,” Kirk answered, glancing at the planet on the viewscreen again. “I want to make sure we’re fully informed before we beam down to the surface.”
They beamed down into a spacious courtyard. The ground beneath their feet was covered with a substance similar to that of white marble. Directly ahead lay a massive archway leading into a tall, glimmering white building. Kirk stepped forward, resisting the urge to tug at the high collar of his dress uniform, as Giten and four other members of the Pilarian Assembly approached the away team. He could already tell it would be difficult to differentiate between the different Pilarians on this trip--they all had the same thin bodies, black eyes, long dark hair, and smooth pale faces.
“Welcome to Pilar, Captain Kirk,” the ambassador declared warmly, throwing out his arms in greeting to the group in front of him. “We are honored that you and your crew are here with us.”
“Thank you, sir,” Kirk replied with a smile. He gestured to the left. “This is Commander Spock, my first officer. Next to him is Lieutenant Hikaru Sulu, my pilot, and on my right is Lieutenant Commander Montgomery Scott, my chief engineer.”
“And I am Giten,” the Pilarian declared, bowing so that his long dark hair just brushed the ground. “Welcome to our home.” Behind him, the four other Pilarians bowed as well, although not as deeply as Giten. The ambassador straightened and smiled, black eyes glittering brightly in the light of Pilar’s two small suns. “You must be exhausted after your journey. Come, I will show you to our guest accommodations. There is a feast being prepared in your honor. We shall wait until afterward to begin our discussions. I always find it easier to talk after an excellent meal.”
Kirk bowed slightly. “Again, thank you,” he said, rising in time to see the ambassador’s lips quirk in a small smirk before smoothing back to a full smile.
Giten nodded, waving the other four Pilarians forward. “You are very welcome, Captain. I do hope you find everything in your quarters to your liking. If you will excuse me, I must attend a short meeting with a few legislative representatives before the celebrations begin.”
“Of course. However, I do have one question. Would it be possible to have a tour of this facility?” Kirk asked.
The ambassador’s smooth forehead crinkled slightly in confusion for a moment. “I see no problem with this, but I must inquire--why?”
Kirk smiled and shrugged. “I’m an explorer by nature, sir.”
Giten smiled, and his shoulders relaxed slightly. “A perfectly reasonable explanation, Captain. I shall make the necessary arrangements,” he replied, bowing once more. “My comrades will escort you to your quarters. I shall see you at the feast.”
The landing party said their farewells to the ambassador before following the other Pilarians into the building in front of them. As they walked down the main hallway, Kirk glanced around at the sparsely decorated interior. The floor was covered with the same marble-like substance that covered the courtyard, and the walls appeared to be made out of the same substance that was slightly darker in color. The walls themselves were bare, but every ten meters or so the wall opened up in gently sloping arches, revealing a magnificent view of the city. One of the planet’s suns was just beginning to set, while the other was moving past midday, casting a mix of long and shortened shadows across the city. Wisps of a gray-brown fog enshrouded the tops of the taller buildings, and a variety of flying vehicles darted over the shorter structures.
“Impressive,” Scott muttered in Kirk’s ear. “I didnae think there would be buildings this size on th’ planet.”
“Really?” Kirk replied just as softly.
Scott nodded once. “None of th’ scans suggested it.”
“The properties in the soil covering Pilar can often cause strange interferences with interstellar scanners,” one of the Pilarians interjected. “Previous visitors have made similar comments,” he added wryly as Kirk and Scott glanced at each other, slightly sheepish.
Spock’s eyebrows furrowed slightly. “There was no mention of this peculiarity within any of our records,” he said slowly.
“We cannot account for your Federation’s record-keeping abilities,” the Pilarian replied, black eyes glinting. “Or apparent lack thereof.”
Kirk’s eyes narrowed slightly, but he remained silent as they turned down another hallway. “This is where you will stay during your time with us,” another Pilarian informed them as they paused outside a smaller arch. A quick glance inside revealed a spacious living area, complete with a table, chairs, and a few sofas. “You will find adjacent rooms suitable for any hygiene needs, as well as two rooms furbished as bedrooms,” the Pilarian told them as they walked into the room.
“Should you require any assistance, merely press this button and an aide will be to your room shortly,” a third Pilarian added, gesturing to a panel near the entrance.
“Thank you. These quarters should prove to be most adequate,” Spock declared.
The Pilarians bowed. “The festivities in your honor shall begin in two lios, the equivalent of ninety of your standard minutes,” the first Pilarian said. “An escort shall come to your quarters at that time to lead you back to the courtyard, where the celebration shall occur.”
With a final bow, the Pilarians departed, leaving the group to explore their quarters. Kirk tugged at the collar of his uniform as he slowly gazed around the room.
The walls of the room were just as bare as the walls in the hallway, and all of the furniture in the room was a neutral shade of brown. Two arches opened onto a balcony overlooking the south side of the city, which looked to be more agricultural than the north side. To the left of the balcony, three smaller arches stood next to each other. Each of these had wooden doors, etched with simple carvings that resembled vines crisscrossing to the top of the door. There were no handles, but when Sulu pushed on one, it swung open silently, revealing a small room with two simple beds.
“The aesthetics of this building are remarkably similar to Vulcan structures,” Spock remarked, clasping his hands behind his back as he strolled around the room.
Scott moved to a table resting on the right side of the room. “What d’ y’ s’pose these are?” he wondered, picking up one of the violet-colored, oblong-shaped fruits resting in a wooden bowl.
“I wouldn’t eat those, Scotty,” Kirk warned, settling onto one of the sofas. He sighed as he tipped his head back and closed his eyes, apparently ignorant of the curious looks the others were giving him.
“Do you think they’re poisoned?” Sulu asked as Scotty dropped the fruit back into the bowl.
Kirk’s lips twitched into a smirk, but he didn’t open his eyes. “No, I think they’re the fruits Bones warned us about. You know--the aphrodisiacs?”
Scott backpedaled away from the table and sat next to the captain on the sofa. “Och! I dunnae want anythin’ on me t’ shrivel up.”
“I think Bones was exaggerating a little when he said that,” Kirk replied, tugging at his collar again.
Spock nodded thoughtfully as he picked up a fruit and examined it. “Agreed. The chemical signatures in the records we received from Starfleet Command suggest that while these fruits will cause severe mental inhibitions, they will not cause any body parts to ‘shrivel up,’ as Dr. McCoy stated.”
“Either way, we should avoid eating the fruit,” Kirk concluded, raising his head off the back of the sofa. “And don’t drink anything other than water,” he added with a grin. “Bones was quite adamant about that.”
“I apologize, Captain--I did not realize that some of our food would be so irreconcilable to the human digestive tract,” Giten declared, forehead wrinkled with worry.
Kirk sighed silently as he continued to support Scott’s head. “It’s not your fault,” he replied, raising his voice slightly to drown out the sound of the engineer’s retching. “Our medical officer warned us of the dangers of consuming any of your drinks.”
Scott rocked back a little, wiping his mouth as he looked up at the captain. “Wasnae… m’ fault, sir. Grabbed th’ wrong--" He lunged forward again as he heaved.
“Mr. Scott is correct, Captain,” Spock declared from his spot a safe distance from the pair. “There was an inadvertent exchange of his goblet with the one next to it, but Mr. Scott had taken a drink of the liquid before I could inform him of the danger.”
“Should we have him beamed up?” Sulu asked, fidgeting next to Spock.
Scott’s head shot up, eyes wide. “No,” he declared firmly, sitting back so he was resting on his knees. “I dunnae think gettin' stabbed in th’ neck is goin’ t’ make me feel any better.” He rubbed his stomach a little and added, “I only drank a wee bit, so I should be just fine now. I’m actually feelin’ a bit better already.”
Spock’s eyebrows furrowed slightly. “Need I remind you of protocol, Captain?”
Kirk sighed loudly this time as he eyed his chief engineer. Scott stared back at him firmly, cheeks flushed but eyes alert. He’d stayed upright for almost a minute now, which was forty seconds longer than his last four attempts. McCoy would have his head for not sending Scott back, but on the other hand, Kirk wanted the engineer around for their upcoming tour of the Assembly’s headquarters.
Plus, he knew first-hand how vicious the CMO could be when he was forced to tend to a senior officer during Delta shift.
“Spock, take him back to our quarters and monitor him for an hour. If he shows no signs of deterioration, then he can stay,” he ordered.
Spock stared at Kirk, lips pressed into a thin line--an expression Kirk privately called the you’re-being-a-moron-Captain look--but calmly replied, “Yes, sir.”
Scott shot him a grateful look as Kirk helped him to his feet. “Thanks, laddie,” he murmured.
“You owe me big time, Scotty,” Kirk muttered back, handing him over to the Vulcan.
“Again, I apologize, Captain,” Giten declared fervently as Kirk watched the pair shuffle awkwardly back toward their quarters.
“Don’t worry about it,” Kirk answered, turning his gaze toward the ambassador. He smiled sheepishly as he eyed the table where they had been eating earlier. “I, uh… I guess the party’s over, huh?”
Giten’s forehead smoothed as he, too, glanced back at the table, which had been largely vacated as soon as Scott had started heaving. “I believe so, Captain. But perhaps this is an opportune moment for a tour of our starship production plant. The workers will be off-duty for another lio, which gives us plenty of time to walk around the plant. Afterwards, if your first officer and engineer are able to rejoin us, we could begin our negotiations.”
Kirk glanced at Sulu, who shrugged a shoulder. Kirk hesitated for a brief moment, looking towards the archway where his two officers had disappeared. It would be nice to have Scott along for the tour of the production plant--he knew more about engineering than Kirk could ever dream of--but on the other hand, it appeared that this was a one-time offer.
“That sounds like a great idea,” Kirk declared with a smile.
Giten returned the smile. “Excellent. I shall go inform the factory foremen, and we shall leave momentarily.”
“Great. I’ll let Spock and Scott know, as well,” Kirk replied, pulling out his communicator. As Giten left to make the arrangements, Kirk flipped the communicator open. “Kirk to Spock.”
“Spock here, Captain.”
“The ambassador’s offered to give a tour of the starship production plant to Sulu and I. The workers are apparently off-duty at the moment.”
“Understood, Captain.”
“How’s Scotty doing?”
“He is resting now, sir. And one of the Pilarians was gracious enough to offer me some reading material about the planet’s history. It is quite fascinating.”
Kirk’s lips twitched and Sulu grinned. “Of course it is,” Kirk declared. “Well, make note of anything interesting, and we’ll do the same. And I think negotiations are going to start after the tour, if Scotty’s feeling better.”
“Understood. Spock out.”
As Kirk put his communicator away, Sulu asked, “Do you really think it’s a good idea to go on a tour like this without Mr. Scott?”
“Probably not,” Kirk conceded. “But we don’t have much of a choice. And I think we have enough knowledge of starship design between the two of us to make a comparison of their designs and production processes.”
Sulu nodded as Giten returned. “The plant is slightly beyond easy walking distance, so I have arranged a transport shuttle to take us to and from the tour,” the ambassador declared.
“Sounds great,” Kirk answered. “Lead the way, sir.”
Unlike the gleaming white walls that housed the Assembly, the building containing the production plant was anything but eye-catching. Located on the outskirts of the northern end of town, the large gray building covered two city blocks. No windows were visible beyond the two at the entryway. As Kirk stepped out of the small shuttle, he felt dwarfed by the towering gray walls.
“Our starship production capabilities are still fairly minimal at this point,” Giten said as he led Kirk and Sulu past the main entrance. “We currently have eighteen ships in our fleet, each capable of housing two hundred Pilarians. This particular plant produces the parts necessary to keep those ships in proper working order. There’s another plant, close to the dilithium mines, that manufactures a new ship every twenty standard years or so.”
They paused at a smaller door near the far corner of the building. As Giten punched in an access code, he informed them, “This door will lead us to the pad that will take us up to the observation level.”
“How many workers do you have at each of these plants?” Kirk inquired as the ambassador pulled the door open.
“This factory employs eight hundred fifty workers. The other plant employs over a thousand,” Giten replied.
They followed him to a machine reminiscent of the ancient elevators on Earth. Both Kirk and Sulu flinched instinctively as the pad jerked to life, but relaxed as it continued to travel smoothly to their destination. A few moments later, they stepped out of the pad and onto a metal walkway.
“Below us is the area where we produce parts for our engines,” Giten explained as he led them down the walkway.
Kirk gripped the railing instinctively as he leaned slightly over the edge to look at the machinery. From this high angle, he saw more of the machines making the parts than the parts themselves. A few Pilarians roamed the floor below them, but otherwise the area was quiet. The machines had stopped, many in mid-motion. They could see where one robotic arm was in the process of moving a large sheet of metal from one conveyor belt to the next, and another machine where a similar sheet of metal was half-bent around something resembling a jet engine.
“As you can see, much of the process is automated. However, there are many workers on hand to ensure everything runs smoothly,” Giten explained.
They continued on the walkway into another large room. “This is where we create the parts containing dilithium,” the ambassador said.
Kirk and Sulu stared with wide eyes at the machine filling most of the room. Unlike the last room, where the machines were spread out over the entire room, this area contained only one instrument. It was tall, reaching from the floor to the ceiling four stories above it. The gleaming metal coating the device curved gracefully, arcing out at the middle and tapering off to rounded points at both ends. Slight indentations in the metal indicated the panels housing various mechanical arms, all of which were currently retracted.
“How long have you had this machine?” Sulu asked.
“I believe it was built a year ago. Why?”
“It bears a strong resemblance to some of the manufacturing technology on Earth,” Kirk replied casually.
“Interesting,” Giten declared. “It must be entirely coincidental. As far as I know, we have had little interaction with the technological designs your race created.”
“Must be,” Kirk agreed vaguely, eyes scanning the vast machine as they started walking again. He paused midstride when he saw something move out of the corner of his eye. Glancing down, he caught sight of someone darting out of sight behind the device.
“Captain? Something wrong?”
Kirk glanced up at Giten and Sulu. “Is there supposed to be anyone else in this room?” he asked the ambassador.
The Pilarian shook his head once. “No, only a select few are allowed to work in this area.”
Kirk looked down at the floor again. “I could’ve sworn I saw someone down there,” he said, pointing at the device. “Someone that wasn't a Pilarian.”
“It must have been your imagination,” Giten replied, even as Sulu stood next to the captain and looked at where he was pointing.
“Whoever was there is gone now, sir,” Sulu said quietly. Kirk’s eyes narrowed, but he didn’t say anything.
They continued touring the rest of the plant, which involved traveling up another two floors to observe the creation of the Pilarians’ version of a replicator, as well as the system for labeling each part for a specific spacecraft. Kirk paid little attention to the machines themselves. Instead, he continued to scan the few employees on duty at the plant, trying to see if anyone looked out of place. Sulu asked plenty of questions to occupy the ambassador, so if he noticed Kirk’s lack of interest in the tour, he made no mention of it.
The tour ended just as a shrill whistle sounded. “Excellent timing,” Giten declared with a smile. “That is the signal for the beginning of the next shift. I shall return you to the Assembly headquarters, and we can begin our negotiations within the lio.”
By this time the second sun was beginning to set. Small white lights twinkled across the city as the natural light began to fade, and the setting sun cast silhouettes of the mountains on the horizon. From this distance they appeared small, barely visible over the taller buildings.
“Is there a curfew on your city?” Kirk asked, breaking the silence in the small shuttle. “I noticed there are a lot fewer vehicles now than when we were traveling to the plant.”
“Yes,” Giten replied with a nod. “When both suns are on the other side of the planet, strong winds often bring dust from the south, minimizing visibility. We have a curfew on all those who do not have jobs which require them to work during the evening as a means of reducing the likelihoods of collisions.”
Kirk nodded as he rubbed his chin thoughtfully, but said no more; the rest of the trip was spent in silence.
As soon as Giten left them in the courtyard to return the shuttle, Sulu hissed, “I thought Commander Spock said the Pilarians weren’t even close to being capable of warp travel!”
Kirk looked grim as they walked down the hall that led to their quarters. “Their ships might not be, but that machine was definitely a warp core manufacturer,” he replied.
“And it looked way too close to Starfleet’s design to be a coincidence,” Sulu added.
“Agreed.” Kirk sighed as a thought crossed his mind. “But remember, the Pilarians have had contact with the Federation before. It’s possible they somehow got a hold of the designs during any of those encounters.”
“Wouldn’t that violate the Prime Directive?”
“Technically, yes.” Kirk sighed again, scratching at an itch on his neck. “This just turned into all-around pain-in-the-ass mission,” he declared.
“Agreed, sir,” Sulu answered. “Who did you see in that room?”
“I’m not sure,” Kirk admitted. “Whoever was in there was out of sight before I could get a solid look at them, but the body structure looked far too bulky to be a Pilarian.”
Sulu frowned in thought. “Do you think it’s possible another race has helped the Pilarians with the development of the warp drive manufacturer?”
“Possibly,” Kirk replied, running a hand through his hair. “Although at this point, it would be a bad idea to jump to conclusions. After all, the Pilarians are entitled to make contact with anyone they want.”
“True,” Sulu said with a nod. “So what do we do?”
“Let’s see if Spock’s found out anything from those records he was looking at,” Kirk answered. He frowned as he scratched at his neck again. “Maybe he’s found…"
Sulu’s eyes narrowed in confusion as the captain stopped moving. “Captain? What is it?”
Kirk’s forehead was furrowed in bewilderment as he stared at the helmsman. “I feel kinda--”
His face blanched and his knees suddenly buckled. “Captain!” Sulu exclaimed, lunging forward. He managed to grab Kirk’s shoulders before the captain’s head could slam into the ground. Kirk’s head rolled forward limply as Sulu shifted his grip on Kirk’s shoulders. He gently laid Kirk flat, lightly tapping the captain’s cheek to try and rouse him. “Captain? Jim? Jim!”
Kirk’s eyes remained closed, and his lips were tinged with blue as Sulu placed two fingers on his neck. His eyes widened when he felt how faint and fast Kirk’s pulse was. He looked up and bellowed, “Spock!”
Spock and Scott appeared at the end of the hall a moment later with phasers drawn, and they rushed toward the fallen pair. “What happened?” Spock demanded tersely as he knelt down on Kirk’s other side.
“I don’t know! We were just walking and he collapsed,” Sulu explained, a hint of panic in his voice as Spock gripped Jim’s wrist to measure his pulse.
Scott bent down and held his ear over Kirk’s mouth. “His breathin’s too shallow,” he declared grimly.
Spock pulled out his communicator. “Spock to Enterprise.”
“Uhura here, sir.”
“Beam us up now,” Spock ordered curtly. “Make sure Dr. McCoy’s on hand.”
“Aye, sir.”
Any further questions Uhura might have had were cut off as the Vulcan hurriedly put his communicator away and pulled one of Kirk’s arms around his shoulders. Scott grabbed the captain’s other arm, and together they managed to get to their feet, Kirk slumped limply between them.
“Is he gonna be alright?” Sulu asked.
As the tell-tale bands of light started swirling around them, the first officer locked eyes with the helmsman. His face was blank, but his voice was troubled when he said, “I do not know.”
tbc...
Rating: PG-13/T for language, some violence
Genre: Angst, h/c, gen
Characters: The entire ST:XI crew plus some new OCs
Spoilers/warnings: Anything in the movie is up for grabs. Also trying to stick as close to canon as possible for the show, but I haven't watched many. Most of my knowledge is limited to what I've found on (numerous) Web sites, so if I'm off on something, feel free to let me know.
Length: This chapter: a little over 4700 words
Notes: This section is entirely flashback. Next chapter will get us moving forward again, I promise! Mega-thanks to everyone who's read and commented. Your support is amazing, and it's literally what made me write this chapter.
Notes the second: Mega thanks to Stray for the cheerleading and to Eight for the beta. I've messed around with it since she gave it back to me, so any and all mistakes are (of course) my own. Also, this is a little late, but I don't own anything Star Trek. I'm sure y'all are shocked.
Notes the third: In case anyone's wondering, I do have a few stories that I drew on for inspiration for this story. I will give them proper credit at the end--don't want to give away any of the big plot! :D
Summary: Caught off-guard by their captain's sudden death, the crew of the Enterprise searches for answers. The problem? Jim Kirk isn't dead.
Eight hours earlier
“We’ve entered into standard orbit above Pilar, Captain,” Sulu called from the helm.
“And I’ve received a set of coordinates from the Pilarian Assembly, sir,” Uhura added. “They say it will be a suitable location for your arrival for the negotiations.”
“Patch them through to both the helm and the transporter room, Lieutenant,” Kirk ordered, rising from his chair. “Spock, what do we know about Pilar?”
“A class M planet, Pilar has an approximate population of four-point-six million,” Spock recited as he pulled up the file at his workstation. “They have been a space-traveling race for forty of their years, which is the equivalent of thirty standard years. The Federation has been in contact with them for the last two decades. Scientists on the planet reported finding one of the largest dilithium deposits on record--a matter which has greatly interested the Federation Council, as Starfleet utilizes a large amount of dilithium for its warp cores. Until this point, however, Pilar has never expressed a desire to join the Federation.”
“Do they use dilithium in their space vehicles?” Kirk asked.
“It does not appear so, Captain,” Spock answered, a PADD in his hand as he stood from his seat. “Reports indicate that while technologically advanced, the Pilarians are as of yet incapable of travel at warp speed. In fact, their technology appears to be far below that level. If they do use dilithium components, it appears that they have not realized their full potential in interstellar travel.”
Kirk’s lips pursed thoughtfully. “How long has it been since their last transmission to the Federation?”
“Prior to the one that brought us here? Three years, sir.” Spock’s eyebrow lifted slightly when Kirk’s eyes narrowed in thought. “Is there something troubling you, Captain?”
Kirk folded his arms as he turned to look at the planet visible on the viewscreen. “Don’t you think it seems odd that out of the blue a civilization that had previously rejected the Federation’s offer to become a member--three times, if I remember correctly--suddenly calls up and claims they’ve changed their mind?”
Spock nodded once in acknowledgment. “I concur that it is atypical, but it is not entirely unheard of,” he replied.
Kirk rubbed his thumb against his chin. “Chekov, run a scan of the planet and see if there have been any recent signs of warfare, or anything else suspicious, for that matter. They may not have reported any unrest or warfare, but that doesn’t mean it hasn’t happened.”
“Aye, Keptin,” Chekov answered.
“Sulu, Spock, you two are going to beam down with me, along with Scotty,” Kirk added, punching a button on the arm of his chair. “Kirk to Scott.”
“Scott here, Cap’n. What’cha need?”
“Head up to the bridge for a debriefing. You’re gonna beam down with us.”
Scott sounded less than thrilled when he replied, “Aye, sir. Scott out.”
Kirk glanced up as Spock stood next to him. “Do you suspect the Pilarians have ill intentions as the motivation for this meeting?” the Vulcan asked quietly.
“Honestly? I don’t know. It all seems on the up-and-up, but I just can’t shake the feeling that something’s not quite right,” Kirk answered just as softly.
Spock nodded slowly, pondering the captain’s response. Over the past two years, he’d come to realize that more often than not, Kirk’s intuition proved to be quite accurate. “Do you think we need to reconsider our plans to journey to the planet’s surface?”
Kirk shook his head once, lips quirking into a faint smirk. “We’ll wait for the results of Chekov’s scan before we beam down, but I’m pretty sure they’ll come up with nothing. I’m probably just being paranoid--been reading too many old conspiracy novels lately.”
Spock’s eyebrow quirked upward slightly. “This may be true, but it is still best to proceed with caution.”
Kirk grinned. “Better safe than sorry, right?”
“My sentiments exactly, sir,” Spock answered.
Kirk rolled his eyes as the doors to the turbo lift slid open. “One of these days I’ll actually get you to call me by my actual name.”
Before Spock could reply, Scott jovially called, “Cap’n! What can I do fer ya? Anythin’ need repairin’? Like right this minute?”
Kirk clapped the engineer on the shoulder with a smile. “Don’t you want to be diplomatic for a few hours, Scotty?”
Scott made a face. “Och, laddie, y’ know how much I hate bein’ a kiss-ass.”
“Even when there’s the possibility of seeing previously unknown technology?”
Scott shot him a skeptical look. “Th’ last two times y’ promised me that, we ended seein’ naugh’ but primitive propulsion systems that couldnae even move a toaster, let alone somethin’ y’ can sit in.”
“There’s always the possibility, though, right?”
Scott’s lips twitched into a faint smile. “Well, when y’ put it like that…”
Kirk laughed, squeezing Scott’s shoulder once before letting his hand drop. “Mr. Chekov, any results yet?”
“No, Keptin,” the Russian replied. “Ewrything appears to be normal on ze surface. Zere are a few more scans I can conduct, if you are interested.”
Kirk nodded once. “Do it. Patch your results through to the computer terminal in the Ready Room, and then inform the crew of our current status in the mission. You’ll have the conn in my absence.”
“Aye, sir!”
Kirk turned to look at his communications officer. “Lieutenant Uhura, contact Starfleet Command and let them know we’re about to begin primary contact with the Pilarians, and request copies of the transcripts from the previous diplomatic interactions.”
“Aye, Captain,” Uhura replied. “Do you want the transcripts sent to the Ready Room as well?”
“Yes,” Kirk answered, glancing at the planet on the viewscreen again. “I want to make sure we’re fully informed before we beam down to the surface.”
*****
They beamed down into a spacious courtyard. The ground beneath their feet was covered with a substance similar to that of white marble. Directly ahead lay a massive archway leading into a tall, glimmering white building. Kirk stepped forward, resisting the urge to tug at the high collar of his dress uniform, as Giten and four other members of the Pilarian Assembly approached the away team. He could already tell it would be difficult to differentiate between the different Pilarians on this trip--they all had the same thin bodies, black eyes, long dark hair, and smooth pale faces.
“Welcome to Pilar, Captain Kirk,” the ambassador declared warmly, throwing out his arms in greeting to the group in front of him. “We are honored that you and your crew are here with us.”
“Thank you, sir,” Kirk replied with a smile. He gestured to the left. “This is Commander Spock, my first officer. Next to him is Lieutenant Hikaru Sulu, my pilot, and on my right is Lieutenant Commander Montgomery Scott, my chief engineer.”
“And I am Giten,” the Pilarian declared, bowing so that his long dark hair just brushed the ground. “Welcome to our home.” Behind him, the four other Pilarians bowed as well, although not as deeply as Giten. The ambassador straightened and smiled, black eyes glittering brightly in the light of Pilar’s two small suns. “You must be exhausted after your journey. Come, I will show you to our guest accommodations. There is a feast being prepared in your honor. We shall wait until afterward to begin our discussions. I always find it easier to talk after an excellent meal.”
Kirk bowed slightly. “Again, thank you,” he said, rising in time to see the ambassador’s lips quirk in a small smirk before smoothing back to a full smile.
Giten nodded, waving the other four Pilarians forward. “You are very welcome, Captain. I do hope you find everything in your quarters to your liking. If you will excuse me, I must attend a short meeting with a few legislative representatives before the celebrations begin.”
“Of course. However, I do have one question. Would it be possible to have a tour of this facility?” Kirk asked.
The ambassador’s smooth forehead crinkled slightly in confusion for a moment. “I see no problem with this, but I must inquire--why?”
Kirk smiled and shrugged. “I’m an explorer by nature, sir.”
Giten smiled, and his shoulders relaxed slightly. “A perfectly reasonable explanation, Captain. I shall make the necessary arrangements,” he replied, bowing once more. “My comrades will escort you to your quarters. I shall see you at the feast.”
The landing party said their farewells to the ambassador before following the other Pilarians into the building in front of them. As they walked down the main hallway, Kirk glanced around at the sparsely decorated interior. The floor was covered with the same marble-like substance that covered the courtyard, and the walls appeared to be made out of the same substance that was slightly darker in color. The walls themselves were bare, but every ten meters or so the wall opened up in gently sloping arches, revealing a magnificent view of the city. One of the planet’s suns was just beginning to set, while the other was moving past midday, casting a mix of long and shortened shadows across the city. Wisps of a gray-brown fog enshrouded the tops of the taller buildings, and a variety of flying vehicles darted over the shorter structures.
“Impressive,” Scott muttered in Kirk’s ear. “I didnae think there would be buildings this size on th’ planet.”
“Really?” Kirk replied just as softly.
Scott nodded once. “None of th’ scans suggested it.”
“The properties in the soil covering Pilar can often cause strange interferences with interstellar scanners,” one of the Pilarians interjected. “Previous visitors have made similar comments,” he added wryly as Kirk and Scott glanced at each other, slightly sheepish.
Spock’s eyebrows furrowed slightly. “There was no mention of this peculiarity within any of our records,” he said slowly.
“We cannot account for your Federation’s record-keeping abilities,” the Pilarian replied, black eyes glinting. “Or apparent lack thereof.”
Kirk’s eyes narrowed slightly, but he remained silent as they turned down another hallway. “This is where you will stay during your time with us,” another Pilarian informed them as they paused outside a smaller arch. A quick glance inside revealed a spacious living area, complete with a table, chairs, and a few sofas. “You will find adjacent rooms suitable for any hygiene needs, as well as two rooms furbished as bedrooms,” the Pilarian told them as they walked into the room.
“Should you require any assistance, merely press this button and an aide will be to your room shortly,” a third Pilarian added, gesturing to a panel near the entrance.
“Thank you. These quarters should prove to be most adequate,” Spock declared.
The Pilarians bowed. “The festivities in your honor shall begin in two lios, the equivalent of ninety of your standard minutes,” the first Pilarian said. “An escort shall come to your quarters at that time to lead you back to the courtyard, where the celebration shall occur.”
With a final bow, the Pilarians departed, leaving the group to explore their quarters. Kirk tugged at the collar of his uniform as he slowly gazed around the room.
The walls of the room were just as bare as the walls in the hallway, and all of the furniture in the room was a neutral shade of brown. Two arches opened onto a balcony overlooking the south side of the city, which looked to be more agricultural than the north side. To the left of the balcony, three smaller arches stood next to each other. Each of these had wooden doors, etched with simple carvings that resembled vines crisscrossing to the top of the door. There were no handles, but when Sulu pushed on one, it swung open silently, revealing a small room with two simple beds.
“The aesthetics of this building are remarkably similar to Vulcan structures,” Spock remarked, clasping his hands behind his back as he strolled around the room.
Scott moved to a table resting on the right side of the room. “What d’ y’ s’pose these are?” he wondered, picking up one of the violet-colored, oblong-shaped fruits resting in a wooden bowl.
“I wouldn’t eat those, Scotty,” Kirk warned, settling onto one of the sofas. He sighed as he tipped his head back and closed his eyes, apparently ignorant of the curious looks the others were giving him.
“Do you think they’re poisoned?” Sulu asked as Scotty dropped the fruit back into the bowl.
Kirk’s lips twitched into a smirk, but he didn’t open his eyes. “No, I think they’re the fruits Bones warned us about. You know--the aphrodisiacs?”
Scott backpedaled away from the table and sat next to the captain on the sofa. “Och! I dunnae want anythin’ on me t’ shrivel up.”
“I think Bones was exaggerating a little when he said that,” Kirk replied, tugging at his collar again.
Spock nodded thoughtfully as he picked up a fruit and examined it. “Agreed. The chemical signatures in the records we received from Starfleet Command suggest that while these fruits will cause severe mental inhibitions, they will not cause any body parts to ‘shrivel up,’ as Dr. McCoy stated.”
“Either way, we should avoid eating the fruit,” Kirk concluded, raising his head off the back of the sofa. “And don’t drink anything other than water,” he added with a grin. “Bones was quite adamant about that.”
*****
“I apologize, Captain--I did not realize that some of our food would be so irreconcilable to the human digestive tract,” Giten declared, forehead wrinkled with worry.
Kirk sighed silently as he continued to support Scott’s head. “It’s not your fault,” he replied, raising his voice slightly to drown out the sound of the engineer’s retching. “Our medical officer warned us of the dangers of consuming any of your drinks.”
Scott rocked back a little, wiping his mouth as he looked up at the captain. “Wasnae… m’ fault, sir. Grabbed th’ wrong--" He lunged forward again as he heaved.
“Mr. Scott is correct, Captain,” Spock declared from his spot a safe distance from the pair. “There was an inadvertent exchange of his goblet with the one next to it, but Mr. Scott had taken a drink of the liquid before I could inform him of the danger.”
“Should we have him beamed up?” Sulu asked, fidgeting next to Spock.
Scott’s head shot up, eyes wide. “No,” he declared firmly, sitting back so he was resting on his knees. “I dunnae think gettin' stabbed in th’ neck is goin’ t’ make me feel any better.” He rubbed his stomach a little and added, “I only drank a wee bit, so I should be just fine now. I’m actually feelin’ a bit better already.”
Spock’s eyebrows furrowed slightly. “Need I remind you of protocol, Captain?”
Kirk sighed loudly this time as he eyed his chief engineer. Scott stared back at him firmly, cheeks flushed but eyes alert. He’d stayed upright for almost a minute now, which was forty seconds longer than his last four attempts. McCoy would have his head for not sending Scott back, but on the other hand, Kirk wanted the engineer around for their upcoming tour of the Assembly’s headquarters.
Plus, he knew first-hand how vicious the CMO could be when he was forced to tend to a senior officer during Delta shift.
“Spock, take him back to our quarters and monitor him for an hour. If he shows no signs of deterioration, then he can stay,” he ordered.
Spock stared at Kirk, lips pressed into a thin line--an expression Kirk privately called the you’re-being-a-moron-Captain look--but calmly replied, “Yes, sir.”
Scott shot him a grateful look as Kirk helped him to his feet. “Thanks, laddie,” he murmured.
“You owe me big time, Scotty,” Kirk muttered back, handing him over to the Vulcan.
“Again, I apologize, Captain,” Giten declared fervently as Kirk watched the pair shuffle awkwardly back toward their quarters.
“Don’t worry about it,” Kirk answered, turning his gaze toward the ambassador. He smiled sheepishly as he eyed the table where they had been eating earlier. “I, uh… I guess the party’s over, huh?”
Giten’s forehead smoothed as he, too, glanced back at the table, which had been largely vacated as soon as Scott had started heaving. “I believe so, Captain. But perhaps this is an opportune moment for a tour of our starship production plant. The workers will be off-duty for another lio, which gives us plenty of time to walk around the plant. Afterwards, if your first officer and engineer are able to rejoin us, we could begin our negotiations.”
Kirk glanced at Sulu, who shrugged a shoulder. Kirk hesitated for a brief moment, looking towards the archway where his two officers had disappeared. It would be nice to have Scott along for the tour of the production plant--he knew more about engineering than Kirk could ever dream of--but on the other hand, it appeared that this was a one-time offer.
“That sounds like a great idea,” Kirk declared with a smile.
Giten returned the smile. “Excellent. I shall go inform the factory foremen, and we shall leave momentarily.”
“Great. I’ll let Spock and Scott know, as well,” Kirk replied, pulling out his communicator. As Giten left to make the arrangements, Kirk flipped the communicator open. “Kirk to Spock.”
“Spock here, Captain.”
“The ambassador’s offered to give a tour of the starship production plant to Sulu and I. The workers are apparently off-duty at the moment.”
“Understood, Captain.”
“How’s Scotty doing?”
“He is resting now, sir. And one of the Pilarians was gracious enough to offer me some reading material about the planet’s history. It is quite fascinating.”
Kirk’s lips twitched and Sulu grinned. “Of course it is,” Kirk declared. “Well, make note of anything interesting, and we’ll do the same. And I think negotiations are going to start after the tour, if Scotty’s feeling better.”
“Understood. Spock out.”
As Kirk put his communicator away, Sulu asked, “Do you really think it’s a good idea to go on a tour like this without Mr. Scott?”
“Probably not,” Kirk conceded. “But we don’t have much of a choice. And I think we have enough knowledge of starship design between the two of us to make a comparison of their designs and production processes.”
Sulu nodded as Giten returned. “The plant is slightly beyond easy walking distance, so I have arranged a transport shuttle to take us to and from the tour,” the ambassador declared.
“Sounds great,” Kirk answered. “Lead the way, sir.”
*****
Unlike the gleaming white walls that housed the Assembly, the building containing the production plant was anything but eye-catching. Located on the outskirts of the northern end of town, the large gray building covered two city blocks. No windows were visible beyond the two at the entryway. As Kirk stepped out of the small shuttle, he felt dwarfed by the towering gray walls.
“Our starship production capabilities are still fairly minimal at this point,” Giten said as he led Kirk and Sulu past the main entrance. “We currently have eighteen ships in our fleet, each capable of housing two hundred Pilarians. This particular plant produces the parts necessary to keep those ships in proper working order. There’s another plant, close to the dilithium mines, that manufactures a new ship every twenty standard years or so.”
They paused at a smaller door near the far corner of the building. As Giten punched in an access code, he informed them, “This door will lead us to the pad that will take us up to the observation level.”
“How many workers do you have at each of these plants?” Kirk inquired as the ambassador pulled the door open.
“This factory employs eight hundred fifty workers. The other plant employs over a thousand,” Giten replied.
They followed him to a machine reminiscent of the ancient elevators on Earth. Both Kirk and Sulu flinched instinctively as the pad jerked to life, but relaxed as it continued to travel smoothly to their destination. A few moments later, they stepped out of the pad and onto a metal walkway.
“Below us is the area where we produce parts for our engines,” Giten explained as he led them down the walkway.
Kirk gripped the railing instinctively as he leaned slightly over the edge to look at the machinery. From this high angle, he saw more of the machines making the parts than the parts themselves. A few Pilarians roamed the floor below them, but otherwise the area was quiet. The machines had stopped, many in mid-motion. They could see where one robotic arm was in the process of moving a large sheet of metal from one conveyor belt to the next, and another machine where a similar sheet of metal was half-bent around something resembling a jet engine.
“As you can see, much of the process is automated. However, there are many workers on hand to ensure everything runs smoothly,” Giten explained.
They continued on the walkway into another large room. “This is where we create the parts containing dilithium,” the ambassador said.
Kirk and Sulu stared with wide eyes at the machine filling most of the room. Unlike the last room, where the machines were spread out over the entire room, this area contained only one instrument. It was tall, reaching from the floor to the ceiling four stories above it. The gleaming metal coating the device curved gracefully, arcing out at the middle and tapering off to rounded points at both ends. Slight indentations in the metal indicated the panels housing various mechanical arms, all of which were currently retracted.
“How long have you had this machine?” Sulu asked.
“I believe it was built a year ago. Why?”
“It bears a strong resemblance to some of the manufacturing technology on Earth,” Kirk replied casually.
“Interesting,” Giten declared. “It must be entirely coincidental. As far as I know, we have had little interaction with the technological designs your race created.”
“Must be,” Kirk agreed vaguely, eyes scanning the vast machine as they started walking again. He paused midstride when he saw something move out of the corner of his eye. Glancing down, he caught sight of someone darting out of sight behind the device.
“Captain? Something wrong?”
Kirk glanced up at Giten and Sulu. “Is there supposed to be anyone else in this room?” he asked the ambassador.
The Pilarian shook his head once. “No, only a select few are allowed to work in this area.”
Kirk looked down at the floor again. “I could’ve sworn I saw someone down there,” he said, pointing at the device. “Someone that wasn't a Pilarian.”
“It must have been your imagination,” Giten replied, even as Sulu stood next to the captain and looked at where he was pointing.
“Whoever was there is gone now, sir,” Sulu said quietly. Kirk’s eyes narrowed, but he didn’t say anything.
They continued touring the rest of the plant, which involved traveling up another two floors to observe the creation of the Pilarians’ version of a replicator, as well as the system for labeling each part for a specific spacecraft. Kirk paid little attention to the machines themselves. Instead, he continued to scan the few employees on duty at the plant, trying to see if anyone looked out of place. Sulu asked plenty of questions to occupy the ambassador, so if he noticed Kirk’s lack of interest in the tour, he made no mention of it.
The tour ended just as a shrill whistle sounded. “Excellent timing,” Giten declared with a smile. “That is the signal for the beginning of the next shift. I shall return you to the Assembly headquarters, and we can begin our negotiations within the lio.”
By this time the second sun was beginning to set. Small white lights twinkled across the city as the natural light began to fade, and the setting sun cast silhouettes of the mountains on the horizon. From this distance they appeared small, barely visible over the taller buildings.
“Is there a curfew on your city?” Kirk asked, breaking the silence in the small shuttle. “I noticed there are a lot fewer vehicles now than when we were traveling to the plant.”
“Yes,” Giten replied with a nod. “When both suns are on the other side of the planet, strong winds often bring dust from the south, minimizing visibility. We have a curfew on all those who do not have jobs which require them to work during the evening as a means of reducing the likelihoods of collisions.”
Kirk nodded as he rubbed his chin thoughtfully, but said no more; the rest of the trip was spent in silence.
As soon as Giten left them in the courtyard to return the shuttle, Sulu hissed, “I thought Commander Spock said the Pilarians weren’t even close to being capable of warp travel!”
Kirk looked grim as they walked down the hall that led to their quarters. “Their ships might not be, but that machine was definitely a warp core manufacturer,” he replied.
“And it looked way too close to Starfleet’s design to be a coincidence,” Sulu added.
“Agreed.” Kirk sighed as a thought crossed his mind. “But remember, the Pilarians have had contact with the Federation before. It’s possible they somehow got a hold of the designs during any of those encounters.”
“Wouldn’t that violate the Prime Directive?”
“Technically, yes.” Kirk sighed again, scratching at an itch on his neck. “This just turned into all-around pain-in-the-ass mission,” he declared.
“Agreed, sir,” Sulu answered. “Who did you see in that room?”
“I’m not sure,” Kirk admitted. “Whoever was in there was out of sight before I could get a solid look at them, but the body structure looked far too bulky to be a Pilarian.”
Sulu frowned in thought. “Do you think it’s possible another race has helped the Pilarians with the development of the warp drive manufacturer?”
“Possibly,” Kirk replied, running a hand through his hair. “Although at this point, it would be a bad idea to jump to conclusions. After all, the Pilarians are entitled to make contact with anyone they want.”
“True,” Sulu said with a nod. “So what do we do?”
“Let’s see if Spock’s found out anything from those records he was looking at,” Kirk answered. He frowned as he scratched at his neck again. “Maybe he’s found…"
Sulu’s eyes narrowed in confusion as the captain stopped moving. “Captain? What is it?”
Kirk’s forehead was furrowed in bewilderment as he stared at the helmsman. “I feel kinda--”
His face blanched and his knees suddenly buckled. “Captain!” Sulu exclaimed, lunging forward. He managed to grab Kirk’s shoulders before the captain’s head could slam into the ground. Kirk’s head rolled forward limply as Sulu shifted his grip on Kirk’s shoulders. He gently laid Kirk flat, lightly tapping the captain’s cheek to try and rouse him. “Captain? Jim? Jim!”
Kirk’s eyes remained closed, and his lips were tinged with blue as Sulu placed two fingers on his neck. His eyes widened when he felt how faint and fast Kirk’s pulse was. He looked up and bellowed, “Spock!”
Spock and Scott appeared at the end of the hall a moment later with phasers drawn, and they rushed toward the fallen pair. “What happened?” Spock demanded tersely as he knelt down on Kirk’s other side.
“I don’t know! We were just walking and he collapsed,” Sulu explained, a hint of panic in his voice as Spock gripped Jim’s wrist to measure his pulse.
Scott bent down and held his ear over Kirk’s mouth. “His breathin’s too shallow,” he declared grimly.
Spock pulled out his communicator. “Spock to Enterprise.”
“Uhura here, sir.”
“Beam us up now,” Spock ordered curtly. “Make sure Dr. McCoy’s on hand.”
“Aye, sir.”
Any further questions Uhura might have had were cut off as the Vulcan hurriedly put his communicator away and pulled one of Kirk’s arms around his shoulders. Scott grabbed the captain’s other arm, and together they managed to get to their feet, Kirk slumped limply between them.
“Is he gonna be alright?” Sulu asked.
As the tell-tale bands of light started swirling around them, the first officer locked eyes with the helmsman. His face was blank, but his voice was troubled when he said, “I do not know.”
tbc...
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suckerfan! :Dno subject
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Awesome as always Moogs! YOU are awesome!
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(And YOU'RE awesome! ^_^)
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I'm waiting for answers!!! ;) Keep writing! LOL!
(Oh, by the way - do you have a good website that gives a basic overview on ST lingo? [Preferably not Memory Alpha; I love that site, but it's way too big for quick checks!] I'm trying to write my fic and constantly being stumped by basic stuff, like... ranks, etc. Any recommendations? ;)
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As for the Website... I use Memory Alpha, so I don't really have any suggestions. Sorry! But if you want some advice, feel free to PM me--I'd be more than happy to help. ^_^
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