Collins. Spock had not counted on him appearing. Scott was, without doubt a very competent engineer, perhaps the best Spock had ever encountered, but his ability to prevaricate was no match for Jim's. He knew the Engineer had left the communicator on.
"Of course I check any reported irregularity with the transporter when it is quiet. Do ye want me to do it during an emergency? Do ye want to be the first thing I send though as a test?"
"No, no, I just thought it was an unusual time is all. Now I see that this is how you maintain your high standards. I will be beaming down tomorrow to ensure things are taken care of and ready for the others arriving the following day. I'll leave you to it."
There was two point one three minutes of silence then, "Had to make sure the blighter was well clear. Do you."
"Yes. Some attire would be beneficial."
"Beaming you now."
It had taken Spock almost all his strength to maintain his shields against the fear, confusion, and fury in Kirk. The one thing that blasted the most at his shields was the hate he felt in Jim towards him, even in his sleep a deep loathing of the Vulcan permeated. Words like betrayal, liar, false-friend, disloyal, and traitor all seemed to be directed at him.
Scott was quickly at the platform with a robe and wrapped James Kirk in it while Spock took a moment from holding his friend and strengthened his shields again before cradling the sleeping body in his arms. With Mister Scott walking ahead of them making sure the corridors were clear they were soon at Kirk's quarters and it had not surprised Spock to see McCoy waiting.
"Scotty, take Spock to my office, I'll be in as soon as I can and will let you know."
Three point eight four hours later McCoy walked into his office looking very old and very tired. Without saying a word he poured himself a drink, downed it, looked at Spock and said, "I better not find that Collins had anything to do with this. Jim is physically fine but, but they have filled him with so many hallucinogenic drugs and sedatives it will take him a few hours before he can have any visitors. Best to just let him sleep for now."
"He will be,"
McCoy smiled at him, "Give him a good sleep, Spock, some food, about twenty-four to thirty-six hours of sleep, and he should be back to the James Kirk we know. He will then know what happened to him and that whatever nightmares he has been having are nightmares. I remember at medical school trying a mild hallucinogenic and after it was worse than any hangover I have ever had. You go get some sleep," he looked directly at Spock, "Doctor's orders, Sir."
As Spock had left he paused and looked at McCoy, "Thank you for that, Doctor McCoy. I suggest you see to Mister Scott."
Collins had summoned Spock to the bridge and the first thing unusual he noticed was that Sulu was not at his station, "I am beaming down. As you are the most senior ranking officer on the ship and Doctor McCoy says you have accepted the facts regarding Kirk, you are in command of the ship till my return. I expect to find you here when I return and Officer Sulu to still be confined to his quarters, understood?"
"Yes, Sir."
McCoy came onto the bridge after Collins had gone, saw it was just the usual five, "He's still sleeping. Had a moment of awareness and knows he is back on the ship." He looked at Spock, "I've got him in a safe room. He will be fine in time."
"Why is Mister Sulu confined to his quarters?"
There was no mistaking the looks exchanged among those on the bridge and Uhura said, "Just after he went down to check with Scotty he came up and ordered the building he had inspected to be destroyed, claiming he had permission to destroy it, Sulu and Chekov gave each other a sign and for some unknown reason there was a misfire and the torpedo went into the ocean about three hundred kilometers from the building. The Commodore almost had some sort of fit and ordered Sulu to his quarters till further notice after he had him lock us on standard orbit. He ranted on about not being sure how he could explain such an infantile error as he had everything else planned. He said he would ensure Sulu was never allowed on another ship for such an action."
Aware of the others looking at him, and controlling his growing anger at Collins, Spock looked at Chekov, Uhura, McCoy, and Scott then back at Uhura, "That will not happen. He made no mention to the Halton governing body?"
"No."
"Please get me Gowto Thap of their Security Department."
It took Uhura three attempts to locate the Director of Security.
"Mister Spock, is this about the unexpected attack on our planet? Commodore said he was still investigating it when he briefly stopped by my office. He gave no immediate credible reasoning for such an action."
"That is because he ordered it, Sir. I have five senior officers and three other officers who will attest to the fact he ordered the destruction of a building of interest."
"May I interview those officers after the function tomorrow evening? It was a serious breach of trust."
"They will be here. Do not allow Commodore Collins to deny you access to them."
"Rest assured, Mister Spock, when I want to interview officers regarding matters that impact on the safety and security of Halton there is no known force that can stop me. I thank you for this information. I have noted the reluctance of the Commodore to be forthcoming with details he should have known."
"Thank you, Sir. Spock, Enterprise, out."
Precisely eighty-seven point five one minutes after beaming down Collins was back on the bridge and glaring at Spock then looked at Mister Scott, "Mister Scott, who were you talking to last night when I found you in the Transporter Room?"
"I," Scott was caught and Spock knew it. Frantically the Vulcan tried to think of a way that would protect the Engineer yet not arouse the Commodore's suspicions.
Before he could think of anything he heard. "You really do not know about us, do you?" and watched as Uhura walked over to the Engineer and hugged him, "He knew I was having trouble accepting what happened to the Captain and we were to have spent the evening together."
"What did he say to you?"
Uhura looked at Scott, "Only that what he was doing was going to take a bit longer as he was interrupted by a visitor, or something along those lines. I was mad at him at the time and annoyed he was being delayed so I was not really listening. But I now know who to blame."
Inwardly Spock smiled as this was a team, a family. Collins did not know what he had walked into. Clearly he did not see nor understand or appreciate what made this bridge crew so special.
"And you," Collins turned and Spock saw the rage in his eyes, "I want to know what you did."
"I was in my quarters as per your orders, Sir, reading."
"I want to know how you did it and who helped you."
"What are you referring to, Sir?"
"You know exactly what I am referring," Collins stopped himself and just glared at Spock, "I, I do not have time for this now. I want a security detail to take Mister Spock to the brig, isolation. Charges are insubordination. I will deal with him later. I must beam back down to check on things for tomorrow's function but when I come back you will answer my questions."
Chekov stood, "I am with security and I follow orders. Mister Spock, if you vill."
It was all Spock could do not to let a twinkle of laughter show as Collins looked at Chekov and the young man met and held his gaze, "I have put more senior officers in the brig, Sir. I know my duty."
Once they were out in the corridor Chekov looked at him, "It may take us some time to get to the brig but first Doctor McCoy needs to know."
Spock was relieved that McCoy had returned to care for Jim and did not know of this development. "I best go directly to the brig, Chekov, as Collins will check before he leaves. I thank you for the consideration."
"I shall later escort you for a check-up then."
Spock nodded and said, "Very good."
Chekov was just setting the final codes in the isolation cell when Collins arrived and glared at Spock, "I will find out. You know that. I will find out." Then he looked at Chekov, "No one except me, and I mean no one, is to visit him or talk to or with him, understood?"
"Yes, Sir."
"Just to make it clear, even you are not to talk to or with him, are we clear on that?"
"Yes, Sir."
After Collins had gone Chekov looked at the monitors, "I am not too sure about this monitor, perhaps I should go see Scotty about it?"
"There is," Spock started then remembered that activity in the isolation area, when in use, was recorded and that Collins would no doubt check it on his return, and when Chekov turned to face him said, "logic in your reasoning, Mister Chekov."
While he was alone in the cell Spock reflected on the last two weeks. It had been clear that Collins did not want him around, that in some way he was a threat to Collins and the only thing logical reason for that was that Collins was behind whatever had happened to Kirk. Right from that first night when he was mildly sedated by McCoy he had sensed Kirk's fear and tried to calm him, just as he had done over the last thirteen days whenever he had been aware of the fear in that part of his mind where the growing mental bond between he has his captain was. There he had also senses Jim's fear of him, his distrust, which hurt him and troubled him as he could think of no reason. He was not sure how Jim would react when they were reunited as there had been so much fury and hostility aimed at him when he had picked Jim up in the mist-filled room. He had never expected to feel such hatred and loathing towards him from Jim. All he could think was that somehow in someway something had been done to Jim to cause this change.
It seemed longer than eleven point three seven minutes since Chekov left for him to return and went to the control panel, switched a few switches, "There, Scotty told me how to," he switched a few more, "loop-feed it."
Realizing what the young officer was doing and what it would mean if he were found out Spock started, "You are risking,"
"You have so often risked more for us, Sir. He is our Captain too. Doctor McCoy said he vas not sure how the Captain may react to you as he has been drugged a long time and is not thinking straight."
Spock knew that the hate and fury that he had sensed in Jim might still be there. He would deal with it. The main thing was that Jim was safe, was where he belonged. All that mattered was that Jim would recover, would live. Once he had seen Jim, once he had verified for himself that his friend was safe and in the care and protection of their friends would he let himself yield to the needs of his body. He was also aware that he would need time to recover from the mental assaults from Collins and what he had experienced from physical contact with Jim, but first he had to be sure Jim was safe. It was reassuring that perhaps only McCoy had seen the mental toil this had taken on him, only McCoy had a Human perception of what such prolonged attacks does to the Vulcan mind control rules. There had been those looks McCoy had had when he had looked at him when he thought the Vulcan had not seen him, those looks of open concern, apprehension, and Human worry as though knowing how only his need to know Jim was safe was keeping him from shattering into pieces and sliding into the vortex of mental oblivion beyond care or thought.
When they entered Jim's quarters Jim had his back to him. Spock could tell that much of the tension had gone from him and he was relaxed and felt safe with the others there. The others all smiled as they entered and Chekov said, "Captain, I have somebody else here anxious to see you."
When Chekov had said there was somebody to see him Kirk turned and for just an instant there had been joyous expectation and relief that vanished in a flash. For just that second Spock had seen what he needed to see, Jim was alive, safe, and with friend. Jim was back on his ship with his crew. It was worth the cost.
An all-consuming rage radiated from Kirk and Spock knew is Chekov had not grabbed his arm he would have fallen backwards.
"Oh, what? You surprised to see me again? This being the sixth day did I spoil your plans? You lowly, traitorous, devious, scheming, disloyal, unfaithful, dishonest, duplicitous, deceitful, heartless, soulless back-stabbing son of a bitch! You let them take me! You abandoned me! You left me! You were going to sell me to them! You just wanted command of the ship! You've always wanted command of this ship! You set me up to get it! You feinted friendship and I believed you. I, I trusted you. Get out of my sight and stay the hell out of my life, you cold sick half-breed! I'll have you off my ship so fast it will go down in history! Go on, go! Go to hell!" Kirk had turned away and sat down.
McCoy had looked from Kirk to him and clearly must have seen how each word had not just hurt him but seem to add more pressure to the cracks in his defenses, cracks caused by the pressure from Collins and the emanations he had first felt from Kirk. "Jim, Spock beg,"
"Don't even try to give me that, Bones. We all know Vulcans, especially that one, would never, never stoop to begging. Nothing, nothing could or would ever, ever, make it beg. Even hell freezing over could not get it to beg. Get it out of my sight and keep it out of it till I can get rid of it."
Form the looks on the faces of the others Spock could tell they were in total shock. He was sure none of them had ever thought Kirk could seriously say such things to him as they knew of the friendship they had had. He stopped himself. That was it. what he had felt from Kirk was gone. Over the years they had together faced some of the worst the entire contents of the known galaxies could throw at them and while they might have had raised voices, and long periods of silences, there had never been this. Never a deliberate, personal, and sustained attack on the other. They, like he, could tell that Kirk meant what he said.
"Spock, you have to know Jim is not clear on what happened. He does not know how you," McCoy started.
"Bones, I know what it did. I saw it abandoning me there. I saw it walk away. I woke up and it was not there as it did not know I was back thanks to you all helping Collins get me back. Now instead of it getting rid of me I will get rid of it."
"Spock, know it is just the drugs talking." McCoy stated, "Once he is,"
"Bones, you said I was clear of all residue of the stuff they gave me. You said the tests showed I am mentally fit. I know precisely what I said, what I said to it, and I meant every word of it. Don't you understand? It didn't just leave me there, it abandoned me! It had the whole thing planned. It just did not count on the honor of Commodore Collins nor the loyalty of all of you. It didn't count on the Commodore not abandoning a friend and a fellow officer. I don't want it; I don't want that thing in my life anymore. Whatever happens to it is not longer my concern. Now, get rid of it and keep it away from me." Kirk turned and glared at him and Spock felt the assault of the fury against his shields, "I never, never want to ever see or hear about that thing again, is that clear to everybody? It, it is no longer a part of my life!" There was still an immense hatred and anger in Kirk's voice.
Even before Kirk has started to speak the emanations coming from Jim were unlike anything Spock had ever felt from Jim before, nothing he had ever felt before were as searing with anger and fury. It was like a whirlpool of hostile emotions was pulling him down and drowning him. By the time Kirk had finished Spock felt sure it was only his uniform holding him together, only Chekov now taking the bulk of his weight holding him up. Never before had he felt like this. He remembered times when Kirk had pretended to dislike him, distrust him, but that was only to confuse an enemy and there was not the bombardment of pure raw emotion, of unreserved and unbridled hatred. This was totally different. He felt Jim's real emotions behind the words. Each word hammered against his weakened shields.
Spock was quiet for a moment then took a deep breath, stood straight, looked into the hazel eyes of his friend and Captain. He could see the anger and torment there but for a moment he also saw a very faint flicker of awareness and reason. There was no sign at all of the warmth, acceptance, understanding and friendship he had always found there before. He was sure, as he looked longer into the eyes, that there was a very dim flicker of awareness and reason but knew it an illusion and the fault of his human half believing in hope. Thinking he had seen them had been a trick of his tired mind.
He looked briefly at Chekov and nodded his thanks as he slowly stood to attention and faced Kirk. In a very controlled voice he said, "You are quite correct, Jim. Under strict orders I was forced to leave you but, Jim, I did not, nor would I ever, abandon you. However, as it is your stated wish, I will take my leave of you, James TIiberous Kirk. I am pleased you will live. I will ensure I never disturb your life again." He raised his right hand and gave the double splayed finger salute as was his cultural ritual, "Live long and prosper, Captain Kirk." With that the Vulcan turned and walked away with Chekov racing to catch up with him.
