The Devil's Due
Based on a story by William Lansford
Space, the final frontier
These are the voyages of the starship Enterprise
Her mission: To explore strange new worlds
To seek out new life forms and new civilizations
To boldly go where no one has gone before…
Captain's log stardate 2258.53
It's hard to believe it has been more than a month since we saved earth from Nero, the fugitive Romulan from the future. Since that day, I have been given command of this new ship called the Enterprise and I gotta say: she never ceases to amaze me. But I feel that this ship's true potential is being wasted on a boring first assignment: cataloging gaseous anomalies…ugh…this crew deserves real action after all that has happened. Besides, we're all getting real anxious to go out into deep space and explore new worlds and maybe raise a little hell in the process… hehe, but I wonder…could it be that Starfleet feels that…we're not ready?
James Tiberius Kirk, the proud captain of the starship Enterprise and even prouder rebel rouser, sat back in his bulky but streamlined captain's chair that occupied the center of the bridge. He leaned to one side and rubbed his chin contemplating with tired eyes.
So much for the hero treatment
Kirk sighed as he closed his eyes. A month ago he had saved Earth and the Federation from the vengeful Nero and his crew. That week of near Armageddon ended in blissful celebration. Parties, ticker tape parades through San Francisco, and more woman than Kirk could even remember fondling with his eyes if not his hands.
Today, they were stuck in what he had called the "butt end" of the universe doing nothing but recording and anylizing "space farts" Most of his senior staff though the joke to be charming and light hearted, but for those like commander Spock and communications officer Nyota Uhura. The joke was as dry as the area of space they were traversing
SPOCK: Captain. Scans of anomaly 117-M are complete. The mist consist of hydrogen nitrogen dioxide particles with traces of methane, theta xenon and serilium making it a volatile energy—
KIRK: *sighs* -- energy with properties that can utilize warp efficiency by 12% yes I know! This is the umtenthbillion space fart with those same properties, so what's more special beyond that?
SPOCK: The hydrogen compound keeps the gas from expanding beyond it's present position. Since it is 46.5% liquid the serilium and methane cannot dissipate and become vaporized by the vacuum of space. This proves we can use hydrogen and nitrogen elements as a natural shield to-
KIRK: *Slightly annoyed* Yes I get it, thank you commander!
Spock raises an eyebrow in a manner that would indicate observation: a Vulcan's way to "worry"
SPOCK: You sound bitter captain
Kirk looks down at his lap realizing what he did, It had been a while since he had snapped at his first officer like he did. The last time he did it got him the seat he was sitting in now. Even though the two don't get along as well as they should it never stopped Kirk or Spock from making an effort to cooperate with each other. Kirk turned his chair to face Spock and gave an embarrassed and somewhat apologetic expression
Kirk: Not bitter enough to forget to thank you for your efforts Mr. Spock
Spock nods accepting his captain's apology. Although he found his captain to be rash, crude, and emotionally complex, he finds it hard to argue with his captain's very human logic at times…and even harder why time and time again Kirk always manages to beat him at chess with what Spock has called a "most illogical approach."
Kirk turned to look at the view port window to see the vastness of space before him and wondered what space has to offer him and his crew once they were done here.
UHURA: Captain, I'm receiving a very faint subspace transmition…*listens more intently quickly pressing keys and adjusting dials to clear the message* It's…on a bandwidth I don't recognize…
Kirk's eyes brightened as he turned to face his communications officer. Was it a distress call? Orders from Starfleet? His imagination went on a rampage and in a short time he let his excitement take the best of him as he left his chair and stood next to Uhura trying to be of come use to her efforts, even though he knows that his limited experience with subspace transmissions were extremely limited.
UHURA: *Shakes her head* Still nothing…I've tried all channels but nothing
KIRK: Spock?
SPOCK: The transmission seems to be on a wave length that is not recognized by regular subspace. The bandwidths is to complex for our standard equipment to comprehend
Kirk nodded and looked back over to Uhura
KIRK: What if we…recorded the message and uhh…find some way to code it to our capacity?
Uhura looked at her captain somewhat surprised. He had come quite a long way since their first encounter at the bar three years earlier.
UHURA: That's actually…not a bad idea! Yes! If I can record the message I maybe able to rearrange the subspace code and bandwidths to account for our technology
KIRK: Do it. There's no telling what the message may be. Especially if it's a distress signal.
UHURA: Yes sir, I'll give it top priority
As Uhura ferociously tries to decrypt the message Kirk moves over to Spock and leans against the consol to look at has science officer with a visage of confusion.
KIRK: Spock, whadda ya think?
SPOCK: Think captain?
KIRK: The message, what do you think it is? Where did it come from?
Spock gave a quiet and tranquil sigh as if contemplating on information useful to the captain's query. Spock folded his arms and looked at Kirk
SPOCK: Without more data on the transmission and information of it's whereabouts it would be wise to reserve any conclusion for now
KIRK: Then guess
Spock looks at Kirk confused and somewhat offended
SPOCK: Guess captain?
KIRK: Yeah, ya know?
SPOCK: Vulcans do not guess captain
KIRK: Fair enough. *gives a boyish grin* but humans do and you're half of one. So give me a logical guess.
Spock raised his eyebrow in surprise if not confusion at his captain's "very human" logical response. Spock stared out into space again thinking for only a second as his perfectly logical mind began to piece together and answer.
SPOCK: Since the transmission could not be interoperated by Lt. Uhura and our own equipment, the transmission could possibly come from an unknown civilization with significantly advance technology.
Kirk smiled with calm delight, almost as if he was planning something
KIRK: Music to my ears Spock
Spock looks around with his eyes with a face drawn with confussion
SPOCK: I do not hear any music captain and I possess superior oral sensitivity compared to humans
Kirk's smile faded with light annoyance as he rolled his eyes
KIRK: God, you're dense…
Spock's look of confusion intensified
KIRK: *sighs* Never mind…good job Spock.
Kirk looks at Uhura who is still diligently at work decoding the message. Uhura looks up at Kirk
KIRK: Lieutenant, As soon as you have that message figured out call me to the bridge, I want to listen to it.
UHURA: Yes sir.
Kirk nods and takes a deep breath as he walks towards the turbo lift receptacle.
SPOCK: Captain? May I ask where you'll be?
KIRK: Sickbay…
SPOCK: Are you ill?
KIRK: Kinda…
Kirk places his hand on his stomach taking a deep breath to try and calm his stomach down
KIRK:…mysteries make me queasy…
As the turbo lift doors closed over the image of Kirk, Spock's eyebrow instinctively raised at the captain's last remark as he turned back to his consol
Most…illogical