Chapter Two: In wich Alec our trusty Gorn ssssecurity guard mess up big time. He is for sssure ssscrewed.
He can't be….He can't be….Dead?
That's just a word. Just a word describing a list of causalities, a list of people he doesn't know. So Spock can't be…
Can't be…dead. He knows Spock is, as much as he hates to admit it. It could only mean one thing: The Enterprise had come to save him, and found him. They had failed. There was no one else coming, no one else to save him.
No one's saving me, he realized quietly, so this will be my last play. It doesn't matter what they do anymore, because I'll die here. He smiled though to himself as he saw the light at the end of the tunnel in his thoughts: But just because I have lost, doesn't mean they have to win…
His arm had been broken in the fall and his leg also. So instead of uselessly sitting there while he was immobilized doing nothing he started thinking of what he would say when they came back. He wondered briefly what the expression on McCoy's face would be if they had rescued him. He probably would have been shocked by all the scars.
But the doctor was most likely dead like his crew, like…Spock. Jim wondered briefly is any of them had been saved by the Gorn. He hoped that some of his crew was safe somewhere, far from the Gorn and their instruments of torture.
Spock was dead though, and he was on his own. It was time to think.His clothes were dirty. The gold command shirt was now brown and bloody, and his black pants were shredded. He wonder briefly how long his beard was, but there was more important things to do.
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One month, two days, three hours and six minuets. McCoy accidentally knocked over a beaker and swore. That was his most promising test that was splatted on the floor. He'd been working now for one month, two days, three hours, and six minuets to find something usable as a bio-toxin against the Gorn, something to hurt them for taking their captain. It wasn't ethical for him to want to inflict pain, of course, but Jim T. Kirk was his friend also. Certainly the Gorn weren't caring for Kirk's welfare.
Officially Captain Kirk had been gone for one month and three days, but McCoy had not started his
quest until the second day. His back was turned to the door when Spock walked in. McCoy did not hear the footsteps as he scrubbed away at the stain on the carpet. "Doctor."
"What? Oh, damn, it's you Spock. You scared me. What do you want? Something to quell you nerves?"
"I am only her to request something for a headache, Doctor."
"Which you wouldn't have if you just ate." McCoy threw his towel in the trash receptacle and headed towards his office. Spock followed him, "I do eat Doctor, when I have the time."
"Pht, you only make time for that machine of yours," McCoy grumbled while pulling out a pill bottle from his desk. "Here. Try not to overdose."
Spock took two pills and swallowed. "I'll be in my room."
As he walked out McCoy shouted, "Get some food first!"
But the doors had already shut.
In his room Spock looked at the device. Would it even work? Probably not, he thought, but it has a 45 percent chance of success. That was worth it. Picking up his screw driver, Spock started to tinker with one of the coils inside it. He heard a snap, and realized he had applied to much pressure. Maybe, McCoy was right, and maybe he should go eat. The thought of what was happening to his friend at that moment made him press on.
Sulu threw down his sword. He was tired of practicing. He wanted to fight. The sound of the doors made him turn. Uhura walked in. "Hi," she said softly.
"Hi. How are you doing?"
"Oh, I'm alright. Just got tired of playing cards."
"Me too. I mean, tired of practicing."
"How much closer are we to the Gorn do you think?"
"Well, we just left Cestus three so, I'd say a least a couple more days before we see any of those scaly
monsters," he said and shrugged. He carried the sword over to the closet and threw it in.
"It's shame we didn't find anything on Cestus." Uhura sighed, pulling out a chair.
"I agree," Sulu said grabbing a chair, "I was really hoping to find at least some clue."
They both looked at their own feet and were silent for a minuet. Sulu looked up, "Do you want to go do something? I don't know about you but I'm hungry."
"Sure, I'll go with you to the cafeteria."
"Okay, just give me a minuet to change."
They almost hit Spock, minuets later when they entered the dinning room. As a result, Uhura got Plomeek soup all over her dress, and anything left of Spock's meal was on the floor. "Never mind," he mumbled, "I wasn't hungry."
After picking up the tray Spock left. He felt angry at himself for taking a break, and for wasting his time. He didn't show it though. Uhura apologized to Sulu and left to go change.
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"Good morning tiger," the Chief hissed entering the tent. "Did you sleep well last night?"
"Perfectly," James Tiberus Kirk spat. "And you?"
"Well aside from that pathetic attempt from your rescuees, I slept well myself."
Kirk looked at him. He didn't know Gorn mannerisms that well. Even if the Chief lied he wasn't sure he would be able to tell. The Chief nodded to his second in command. The alien was playing with a small dagger. "Now, before your little adventure yesterday, we were asking you some questions. If I recall, you were being rather stubborn. Where did you say the Federation Outpost was?"
"I didn't." Kirk said while glaring. The second in command used the dagger to make a long incision along James' calf.
"Are you sso ssure? Well, well. Do you want to tell us today?"
"No." Kirk clenched his teeth as the second in command made another cut. His leg now had a large
bloody x on it.
"How many ssStarsships dossse the Federation have?"
"I don't remember." Another cut. Another wound. It hurt, it hurt, but he didn't say.
"Answer me, Kirk. You can't last much longer and you know that. You have more sscars on your body than our bravest warriors. We can't always wait for them to heal."
"Why not? I have time." Kirk's words were brave. He knew though that he didn't. He was the Gorn's first human medical subject. They didn't know anything on his physiology, and were learning slowly. In the meantime his cuts were getting infected, and his wounds were piling up.
"Tick tock, tiger, tick tock. I'm going to go and let you think thingsss over. I'll be back thisss afternoon. Maybe, I'll even let you ssee on of your Federation friendsss."
He left laughing. Kirk believed him, and wondered which one of his crew was now at their mercy. That afternoon, Kirk realized, he would have to answer their questions. With bullshit of course, they were getting impatient. Impatience would make them dangerous.
From the next cot over he heard grunting. Alec was waking up. "Welcome to the waking world." Kirk shouted.
Alec grumbled something. Then he half sat up and looked at the prisoner. "Did the Chief sssay your buddiesss tried to ressscue you last night?"
"Yeah. Didn't you see the fire fight? Officer Spock walked in here."
"You know, I may have been asssleep, but I would have woken up in laser'ss were going off. And I mossst certainly would have heard if we had won. The Gorn are very nossiy when victoriousss."
Kirk squeezed his eyes shut. Spock wasn't dead. The crew wasn't dead. He was their only hostage. Alec looked at him, "What?"
"Tell your chief I'll tell him all he needs to know."
Alec smiled. This was his chance to redeem himself no. So he got up, a quickly as his tired limbs would allow, and started to walk towards the tent. Kirk took a deep breath as he heard Alec leaving. By tomorrow, he would be dead, he thought. It was the unavoidable conclusion of his kidnapping. But the Enterprise might still be on their way. He could only hope.
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Two days later on the bridge a silent cheer went around when Chekov spoke. "Mr. Spock sir, we are entering a solar system and a Gorn ship is in orbit of the third planet."
Inwardly, Spock smiled.
To be continued.
Squmata. The Family for most lizards.
