Captain James T Kirk knew it was only his Vulcan friend's weakened physical strength that kept him from rushing to the bloodied form that was beamed up. The officer was somehow standing and looking around, clearly confused. With a nod McCoy gripped Spock's arm as Kirk walked up to his officer. "Officer Tyler?"
"Captain?"
"Yes."
The officer held out a recording disc, "Only one. Proof. Spock's." Kirk took the disc and the officer collapsed to the platform as though he had been pole-axed. Kirk looked from the disc in his hand to his Vulcan friend as McCoy rushed forward. There was no mistaking the questions and guilt in those dark eyes before the Vulcan looked back at the crumpled form that McCoy was leaning over.
"Bones?"
"He's still alive. I'll tell you more as soon as I know more. Let's get them both to Sick Bay."
He had helped Spock get onto a bio bed and ready to put himself into a healing trance when he saw how his fried was looking at the disc. He remembered how Tyler said it was Spock's. He held it out to his Vulcan friend, "Tyler said this was the only recording and that it is yours."
There was no mistaking the relief in the dark eyes as Kirk handed the disc to his friend, "Thank you, Jim. It would only have upset you."
While he had been helping Spock McCoy had started working on Tyler when Kirk was summons to the bridge because Parsons wanted to talk to him.
Calmly he walked to the command chair and waited till he was seated before telling Uhura to open a channel to the station.
The scene filled with a man in what appeared to be a small computer office and there was no mistaking the hostility in his voice as he looked right at the screen, "Captain Kirk, I demand the immediate return of my project!"
"What project are you talking about, Professor Parsons? The only thing you have sent use was,"
"I am not stupid, Kirk. I know I sent you the ashes. But somehow one of your officers obviously has managed to get onto the station and has stolen a major scientific project I was working on, destroying my laboratory in the process, taking the only recording of all my work with it, and I demand his immediate return with my project."
"I thought you earlier told me, when we left my First Officer with you, that he would be safe as there is absolutely no way for any person from any ship getting into your laboratory and now you accuse one of my people."
"Clearly the officer had superior computer skills."
"My Science Officer had the most superior computer skills in the Fleet. While most of my crew have good computer skills, he was the only one with superior skills. As you know Star Fleet thoroughly assesses and tests all crew joining a starship."
"I would suggest you check your records again, Kirk, to find this officer and return him with my project immediately. He must have superior computer skills to have broken the codes as easily as he did and technical knowledge beyond your limited comprehension as he clearly beamed to the station yet there is not sign of living matter either coming from or going to your ship." Kirk looked at the man, "But your ship has the best security and scanning systems in the quadrant. Surely if one of my officers did,"
"Oh, there is no doubt that one of your officers did break into the station and into my laboratory There is no if, Kirk, there is no doubt that one of your officer managed to somehow ingeniously fooled our systems, broke into the station, and stole my project. That is fact. I want it back."
The man was getting more riled and Kirk knew he was taking the bait slowly, just as he wanted him to. "I find it highly doubtful that I will but should I find an officer with superior computer skills equal to Mister Spock's it will prove nothing as there is no recorded transporter activity apart from Mister Spock beaming down to the station, the goods you requested having been beamed down, and the urn and ashes being beamed to the ship. You, yourself, said that you had the transporter system at your end checked for living material being transported and found nothing. And you have not told me what the officer is supposed to have stolen."
"As I said, Kirk, your officer has somehow manipulated the systems so they did not show any living material as being transported. I do not know how but I do know, as security has told me, that an unknown person was seen aboard the station, there are indications that he was injured in his escape from custody, and that person beamed off the station after stealing my project and the only related recording of my work and destroying my laboratory. The only ship he could have transported to is your one, Kirk. Perhaps you should check with your medical staff as if he is still alive he will need urgent medical attention and will for some time as I have a rather specialized security system."
"Okay, if there is somebody aboard this ship who miraculously got through your security, somehow fooled your transporter system, has been injured in the act that still does not tell me what it is that this person took. All you have said is project. Can you or any of your staff fully describe what I will be looking for?"
"All you need to know, Kirk, is that it is vital I continue working on my project. It could save millions of human lives. Find the officer and you will find my project. He is obviously hiding it from you. My project is totally worthless to anybody but me at this stage and it is imperative that I have it returned immediately. I trust that I can count on your support, your First Officer was most impressed by the potential of the project."
Kirk heard the turbolift's door open and a hand rest briefly on his shoulder before he pointed to the communications unit, leaving it on, and waited, knowing it was McCoy who had just come to the bridge. "He's on total support, Jim. The next few days will tell."
"And,"
"Entranced and recording."
Kirk nodded. Since Spock had beamed back aboard not one of his crew had said anything that would indicate that both Spock and the officer who saved him were alive and back on the ship. McCoy had let him know that Spock was going to be fine, was still in a healing trance, and that he had set the computer to record so Spock could play it back later in his quarters.
"Captain Kirk, is there some problem?"
"I will deal with him later. Kirk here, sorry about the disruption but one of my senior officers reported that a troublesome officer aboard the ship was being watched as he found Mister Spock's death hard to deal with." it was the truth in a fashion, "Now, you were about to tell me what the project you were working on that you claim one of my officers has taken from your secure station is. Perhaps we can help you get a replacement."
"No, dammit! Aren't you listening? He was the only one of his kind."
"He?"
"You call your ship she, do you not, Captain? Do you not say either she or it? I say it or he."
"Yes. Point taken. You mentioned that this supposed officer was injured. How do you know this?"
"There was human blood all around the corridor just outside the laboratory, clearly my security system did not stop him entering but it appears to have done the damage it was designed to when he left."
"How can you be sure it was this alleged officer's blood?"
"I know human blood and this was human blood, Kirk. Fresh human blood and plenty of it. Your officer might have been smart enough to break in, to cause the havoc he has, to steal my project, but, unless he has had specialist medical attention by now he will be dead or very close to it. Without my immediate attention he will have an agonizing slow death. I am the only one who knows the correct antitoxins and procedure. So you see, Kirk, I can save your officer and all I ask for in exchange is my project, which was stolen in the first place."
Kirk smiled to himself, Parsons was furious and only just maintaining some control, "If it would help you, if you would be able to somehow track this project of yours, I will have you beamed aboard."
"Yes, yes. That is a good idea. I will be able to bring some equipment with me and find my project but I must be allowed to search on my own, Captain Kirk. I must be allowed to search on my own and leave without any interference from you or your crew once I have found my project."
"You are sure you will find it on my ship?"
"On your ship and with your officer, Kirk. As we both know, your ship is the only one within transporter range. It will be on your ship. I will beam over."
Gotcha! It was all Kirk could do not to say it aloud. He was getting Parsons off his station of his own free-will and, as soon as he set foot on the Enterprise, he was under Federation law and would be charged with what he did to Spock. For the first time James Kirk wished he had not handed the disc over to Spock yet remembered how relieved the Vulcan had been when he had held it out. He did not want to think about what was on that disc since Spock had said it would upset him.
"I will have all corridors on the ship cleared for you and all rooms to be opened for you. It will take me a few minutes. I will contact you again shortly and arrange transport. Kirk out."
Kirk had looked at his bridge crew and saw they understood and he looked at Uhura, "Make the announcement that corridors are to be cleared and rooms to be opened for our guest. I will see Spock."
"Keptin, please tell him," Chekov started and Kirk nodded.
"I'll let him know you are all thinking of him and awaiting his return to the bridge."
When he walked into Sickbay Kirk saw Spock standing talking with McCoy and not in their usual argumentative postures, more one of camaraderie and understanding.
"I agree, Doctor. He will be on restricted duty for several weeks but will make a full recovery. These next ten hours will be the hardest on him as the antitoxins are administered in correct sequence and potency. As he will no doubt be resistant at first I,"
"I will welcome you help, Spock."
"Ahhh, Captain," while he saw the private smile on his friend's face that was also in his voice Kirk held up his hand.
"Parsons is beaming over shortly,"
"Are you out of your goddam mind, Jim?"
