STAR TREK: THE LAST CONDOR
(teaser)
Three Transporter signals shimmered into existence and solidified into the forms of Captain James T Kirk, Doctor Leonard McCoy and Mr. Spock. Kirk looked about at the small foothills in the distance behind them, and then he looked forward at three medium sized prefabricated structures before them.
"Where is everyone," McCoy asked.
Spock flipped opened his Tricorder and scanned ahead; familiar whine of the device cutting through the air. Spock pointed ahead at the structure in the middle of the camp.
"There," Spock simply said.
And then, if almost on cue, two men stepped out of a door and headed toward the Enterprise's landing party.
"Let's go," Kirk said, as he headed toward the two men.
"Jim," McCoy said as they made their way, and noting that the two men were empty handed, "I was hoping they'd have that compound ready to go the moment we got down here. Every moment we spend down here is another moment that the outbreak on Aravia-IV can become even worse."
"I know Bones," Kirk said, "let's see what they have to say before we read them the riot act. Spock," Kirk said to his Vulcan first officer, "how long will take us to get to Aravia-IV at Warp factor 5?"
"Three days, seven hours, seventeen minutes and a few odd seconds," Spock replied.
The three friends made it to a wooden fence which had a swing door as an entrance just as the two men did on the other side of the fence. Both men were dressed in standard gray jumpsuits.
"Greetings," the taller of the two men said to Kirk and the others, "my name is Gordon West and this is my associate Parker Downs."
"Thank you," Kirk said back, "I'm Captain Kirk of the USS Enterprise, but I regret we don't have time for the usual amenities. We were hoping that the medical compound we contacted you about would be ready to go at a moment's notice."
"I'm sorry, Captain Kirk," Gordon West said back to Kirk, with a pleasant smile on his face, "I have no idea what you're talking about. We received no such message."
Kirk's own pleasant smile vanished in a flash. He cautiously looked over at Spock, then back to West.
"We don't have time for games mister," Kirk said, and then he pointed at West. "Thousands of lives could be lost if we don't get that compound to Aravia-IV in time."
Gordon West looked to his assistant, Parker Downs, who simply shook his head.
"Again," West said, "We have no idea what this is about. In fact," West added, "we don't have any medical supplies here, with the exception of a standard medical kit. So with that said, I would like to ask that you leave here; immediately."
And with that, Gordon West and his assistant turned and walked back in the direction from which they came.
"Mister West," Kirk said to Gordon as we walked away, "this is a medical emergency, and if I have to, I will search this compound to my satisfaction."
West stopped walking, as did Downs, and they turned to face Kirk. Gone was the pleasant look on Gordon West's face; replaced with a look of anger.
"No," West said back to Kirk, "I don't think so Kirk. You should have taken the opportunity to leave when I offered it."
The situation became tense the moment West spoke his words.
Suddenly three spherical energy fields appeared; one incasing each of the Enterprise's landing party.
"What is the meaning of this," McCoy demanded.
Kirk drew his phaser.
"I wouldn't do that if I were you," Parker Downs said to Kirk. "The phaser beam will ricochet back and forth inside that force field for probably four or five thousand years before the energy depleted, but killing you instantly."
Kirk looked to Spock, who simply nodded his head.
"Unfortunately," Spock said to Kirk, "he could be right."
Kirk shifted his attention back to Gordon West.
"I don't know who you are, or what you think you're doing," Kirk stated sternly, "but…"
Gordon raised his hand slightly, prompting Kirk to stop his verbal warning.
"If you say one more word," Gordon said, as he came inches away from the force field incasing Kirk, "I will have Mr. Downs kill your Vulcan friend. So that we understand each other, let's get one thing clear, Captain Kirk; from this moment on you are my prisoner and there is nothing you can do about it."
(cue theme song of STAR TREK)
A Simple Truth
Within moments of being captured behind the spherical energy shields, which were faintly visible to the naked eye, six more people came out of the structure, including a very attractive blond woman; her jumpsuit accenting her feminine figure. The woman came over to Gordon West and stood by his side; the two were obviously an item.
"Now listen to me Kirk," Gordon West said, "I'm going to deactivate the force fields one at a time, starting with yours. If you or your men resist in any way; you will all die."
"Alright," Kirk said. "The fact you haven't killed…us…already means there might be a safe way out of this for you."
West laughed.
"Yes," West said, "I was wondering if you'd try to play on my sympathies. But make no mistake, Kirk, your options are limited. By the way, this is my lovely wife; Melani."
Kirk's glance met Melanie's glance.
"I have heard much about you Captain Kirk," Melani said, not missing a beat. She flashed Kirk a warm smile.
"Ma'am," Kirk said to her. "I assure you that…if this were to stop right here…and …now…the charges your husband faces…and you…too; would be much less severe."
Melani was about to respond, but Gordon cut her off.
"My dear," Gordon said to his wife as he looked back to Kirk, "let's get these gentlemen inside before they get a sun burn."
In moments, Kirk, Spock and McCoy were all released from the force fields, and their hands were tied behind their backs. They were led into the small camp.
"Who are you," Kirk asked Gordon, "and what exactly are you doing here on Outpost E10?"
"All in good time; Captain Kirk," Gordon replied with. "There is even a possibility, though I admit that it is a small one, that you might actually consider joining us."
"You never know," Melani interjected, "the captain is known to have an adventurous spirit."
As Kirk further engaged Gordon in small talk, Spock took the opportunity to take in the surroundings. The camp was arranged in standard outpost formation; three structures surrounded by boundary fences. Before arriving at Outpost E10, which was located in a binary star system nearly a hundred light-years from the Klingon neutral zone, Spock had familiarized himself with the Outpost crew manifest. And while the names Gordon West and Parker Downs were included, Spock was beginning to think that the men presenting themselves as West and Downs were most likely imposters. If the two weren't imposters, then Spock's conclusions were clouded by uncertain events that would put in jeopardy his ability to extrapolate a course of action; should the captain ask for one.
Kirk and the other were led into the center structure. Six other people, four men and two women, were sitting at a table and watched. Kirk wondered who all these people were and what they were even doing on the outpost to begin with.
Finally the three Enterprise officers were led into a room that had, instead of a door, an energy field much like the ones used in the Enterprise's brig holding cells. The field turned on the moment Kirk, Spock and McCoy were inside. Kirk went right to the opening; his face inches from the energized field.
"What is this all about," Kirk asked Gordon West in a pleading way. "You won't… get… away with this."
Gordon smiled back at Kirk.
"You'll notice," Gordon said, "that although I took your phasers; I did not take your communicators. They won't work here so; I have no need for them and neither do you."
Kirk took the taunting bait and withdrew his communicator from its place on his utility belt. He flipped open the device and spoke into it, turning away from Gordon as he did.
"Kirk to Enterprise," Kirk said, "Kirk to Enterprise, Enterprise come in," Kirk stated. He fidgeted with a few of the dials on the device and tried again, with no luck. Kirk looked over to Spock who had tried as well with his own communicator; Spock simply shook his head. It was as if the ship was…
Kirk darted his glance back to Gordon West; but this time there was anger in Kirk's eyes. "Where is my ship!?"
Gordon shook his head.
"I'm sorry to have to tell you this Captain Kirk," Gordon finally said after a moment. "You're ship and your crew aboard her…are gone," and then Gordon added one more word, and it stung like a knife in Kirk's gut; "forever."
The expression of Kirk's face became that of disbelief.
Dine or Die
There was nothing Jim Kirk could do, and he didn't like it at all. There he was, with Spock and McCoy, held captive for reasons unknown. And was Gordon West telling truth; had the Enterprise been destroyed? Kirk went through all the possibilities but they just didn't add up. Kirk wanted to act, but at this point, there was nothing to act upon and that, more than anything, made the situation difficult for him.
As Kirk contemplated the situation, Spock sat at the table in the middle of the room and had opened up his communicator to ascertain if the device was malfunctioning. Gordon West was partially right, the device wasn't working but that didn't mean it was deactivated. The communicator had power; it just couldn't get a signal. Spock closed the communicator and looked over at Kirk.
"Captain," Spock said from where he sat, "the communicators are working. However, and for reasons I cannot determine, they cannot generate or receive a signal."
"Is that possible?" McCoy asked from where he sat across from Spock.
Spock arched his eyebrow.
"All things are possible, doctor," Spock reminded the McCoy, "Yet, I must point out, that even though the communicators are not generating signals now; that may not be the case permanently."
"So," McCoy said to Spock, "we're right back where we were before you started to play around with that thing."
"Negative Dr. McCoy," Spock stated flatly, "we now know that the communicators are mechanically sound."
"And that they're still not working," McCoy came back with. "As I said, back to where we started. Oh," McCoy added, "and why let us keep the communicators and not the Tricorders?"
"Perhaps they need them for some other purpose," Spock concluded.
Spock was about to continue when suddenly Kirk spoke.
"He said that the Enterprise was destroyed," Kirk said, going back to Gordon's simple statement from before. "What…did…he mean by that?" There was a slight tone of guilt to Kirk's voice.
"Jim," McCoy said to his friend, "you can't blame yourself. And for all we know, he might not be telling the truth."
"That is a logical assumption," Spock added.
Kirk snapped his fingers.
"We're just in the dark here," Kirk said, as he twirled around (the Shatner twirl) and stared at the entrance to the room, which was blocked by an energy field. "I…need…to…know what is happening." Kirk turned back to Spock. "Spock; you said that you went over the crew manifest of Outpost E10 before…we…arrived…. Are these people who they say they are?"
Spock put his hands together on the desk, in a steeple formation, and nodded his head.
"Affirmative," Spock said. "Gordon West, as well as his wife, and several others, were listed on the manifest."
"Alright then," Kirk said, as he pulled up a chair and sat next to Spock. "What…is…the function of this outpost?"
"Outpost E10 was established fifteen years ago," Spock explained. "However, after five years, Starfleet decided not to expand its use. A year ago, Gordon West applied for a civilian license and it was granted."
"The Federation doesn't go around giving people planets, Spock," McCoy interjected.
"On the contrary, Doctor," Spock countered, "the Federation and/or Star Fleet will grant licenses on a limited basis for scientific and other purposes deemed worthy."
"So what did Gordon West license this planet for?" McCoy asked.
"And… what about… the medical compound we were sent to get," Kirk interjected. "Why would it even be here?"
Spock nodded his head upon hearing Kirk's question.
"I have been contemplating that very question, Captain," Spock replied to Kirk. "I have come to the conclusion that it is quite possible that Mr. West is telling us the truth; the medical compound is not here and it never was."
"Spock," Kirk said, with a befuddled look on his face, "you were with us…on the Bridge…Bones was standing right next to my chair, when Uhura played… the message… from Admiral Richmond."
"That's right," McCoy added. "The Admiral said that the disease was spreading like wild fire on Aravia-IV."
"And so…on his direct orders," Kirk continued on, "we came here to get...the only known…and rare…antidote."
"Yes," Spock said after a moment, "those were the Admiral's orders."
There was a tone in Spock's voice that Kirk picked up on. Kirk stood up from his chair and walked over to the entrance of the door, then whirled around to face Spock and McCoy.
"Spock," Kirk said, his elbows to the side, his arms reaching out, "you are right; those…were…his orders. But what if he sent us here for another reason? What…if…the disease outbreak on Aravia-IV was just a ruse to get us here," Kirk asked.
"Do you know what you're saying, Jim?" McCoy asked. "You're saying that Admiral Richmond is part of this."
Suddenly the energy field at the entrance was deactivated. Two men with phasers came into view.
"Come with us," one of the men said. "If you try anything; we will kill you."
Kirk nodded slowly and then he, as well as Spock and McCoy, headed out of the room. Kirk looked about for any chance to spring an attack, but the phasers held him at bay. Moments later they were led into a large room with a very large dining table, which had an assortment of food set about it. Gordon West sat at the head of the table, with his wife, Melani, next to him. Parker Downs sat at the opposite side of the table.
"Please, Captain Kirk," Gordon West said sipping on a glass of wine. "Join us for dinner."
"No," Kirk simply said.
"Sit down and eat Captain," Gordon replied in a cool tone, "or this won't only be dinner; it will also be your last meal."
Kirk's face became stone cold with anger!
continued