My apologies to the original readers of this story - the POV changes have now been fixed.
Chapter 2: Roller Derby
"What do you mean you've got to put them in isolation!" Karx cried. Beside her the twins were also looking pained as McCoy directed a technician to put the two animals into isolation chambers.
"Look, kids, these animals have been all over the place. No one knows what germs they might have picked up. It's for their own protection as well as ours," he explained patiently, letting a little southern burr gentle his voice even more.
The twins tried another tactic. "Troilus needs us…"
"…he's psychologically dependent upon us…"
McCoy raised his hand the kids stopped. "Not another word!" He softened his voice again as he looked at the dejected trio. "Look, I don't want to do this, but it is for the best and the captain wants it this way. You can come and visit them every day; but they have to stay here for ten days or until your ship gets repaired, whichever comes first." Their faces lifted a little at that slight reprieve and he scooted them out the door as Spock came into the lab.
"Doctor," he said absently as he watched the children leave, his attention on the twins.
McCoy huffed a bit before saying, "Spock, did you want something?"
Spock swung back around to face the physician. "Yes, Doctor, I came to deliver these lab reports on the children and to see that quarantine procedures went smoothly. As I have seen the animals in their isolation chambers and the children leaving, I shall assume that the latter did not meet with any difficulty?"
"None worth mentioning. A few bruised egos is all," McCoy drawled.
"Doctor, Vulcans have no emotions."
"As you have told me repeatedly; but how do you account for those twins and the other Vulcan child?" He unsuccessfully hid a smile at the First Officer's obvious discomfort.
"That is proving to be an enigma to me," Spock admitted, a wry look to his face.
"Not to me! They are raised in a Human environment." McCoy was enjoying this.
"Yes, I must look into that." He paused a moment looking pensive. "Here are the reports," he said handing the disc to the Doctor. "Carry on."
"Thanks," but McCoy said it to empty space.
o00o
"Now, lassie, let's see what's wrong your poor bairns," Scotty purred as he and Gertie materialized into the engine room of the Plymouth.
"Scotty, this poor girl is so old that if you get her impulse going, I'll consider it a miracle!"
"Ahh, I dinna think it's that bad, but she is old. And a beauty… this must be one of the first freighters ever equipped with warp drive! I dinna recognize the model though." He started poking around at the consoles.
"You wouldn't; my father built her himself seventy-five years ago."
"Excellent work. He knew what he was doing… ach, just what I thought. Yer father knew what he was doin', but yer circuitry is so old and oft repaired that it just plumb wore out. This is goin' to take some doin', but dinna ya worry. I'll have her fixed in no time."
"Well, let's get to it, and when we're through I have some vintage scotch mellowing in my cabin. I've been saving it for just such an occasion."
"Ahhh, that puts the auld fire in the veins! Hand me that welder, lass."
o00o
Sulu and McCoy walked into the rec room, expecting a quiet afternoon of chess, but instead found the place in a mild uproar of fun. The reason, of course, was the children.
"Marco, what's going on?" McCoy asked as the burly engineer came by.
"Hey, Doc! Uh, it's the kids. We don't see young ones that often and these kids are fun, and bright too. Those Vulcans are engineers to the core! Well, gotta go, shift comin' up. See ya later." He waved a cheery good-bye as he went out the door.
McCoy decided that the game had been cancelled when he saw Sulu heading toward the area where the twins were holding court. The rest of the children were scattered throughout the room. He noticed that one of the largest groups centered on three-year-old Laurie. Her brother Jonathan was with one of the Andorian children, Shalex, playing a board game. The other three children surrounded Karx: Scott, Thav and the youngest Vulcan, T'Horla.
McCoy was particularly interested in the small Andorian, Thav. The day before, during the physicals, Thav would not answer any questions the doctor had asked, though he did the tasks assigned to him. McCoy did notice that he was interested in the shapes and colors of the doctor's extensive liquor bottle collection. But there was still the small problem of speech; the child just would not engage in it. He thought back to his conversation the night before with Captain Andrews.
"Doc, Thav's problem stems from the time I found him. The shuttle was drifting in space, an Andorian vessel. When I boarded her, I found Thav huddled in a corner staring at the dead body of his mother, a stillborn infant beside her. I got Thav onto my ship, then phasered that ghost ship out of existence. He hasn't spoken since, poor kid."
McCoy walked over to Thav with an idea in his mind on how to draw the youngster out.
o00o
T'Pem and T'Pria were talking delightedly with the crewmembers. "Do you really have every type of exercise and sports equipment on board?" T'Pria enquired.
"Just about. Would you like to see?" Sulu asked. The twins nodded enthusiastically. "Well, let's go!" Sulu and another crewmate led the girls out the door toward the gym.
o00o
"Karx."
"Hi, Doc. Scott, stop teasing Thav!" She looked back up at the doctor taking a seat next to her. "What can I do for you?"
"Oh, nothing really," He pulled his chair a bit closer and picked T'Horla up, plopping her on his lap. "Actually, I wanted to borrow one of your charges for awhile?"
"Sure, who? 'Orla?"
"No; Thav." The young Andorian flinched at the mention of his name, but went on playing. McCoy placed T'Horla back on the floor and went to Thav.
"Thav, you want to come with me? I think I've got something that will interest you more than those blocks." He looked at the other two children. "C'mon, you two. I have a few games that could interest you too, and that way we can leave your big sister alone, okay?"
They agreed readily and T'Horla smiled and gave him a big hug as he led the trio out the door. Spock passed them as they left and the only reaction McCoy got was a raised eyebrow that stayed up for the entire time it took the doctor to conduct his charges down the hall, chuckling all the way.
Karx noticed Spock heading for a chess alcove and, after checking on Laurie, headed over toward him.
"Mr. Spock?"
"Yes, Ms. Karx?"
"Ummm… I heard you were an expert at chess and I was wondering if you would be willing to teach me?" What am I doing? My father would have my head for this if he saw me now, buttering up a Vulcan! Well, her father wasn't here; he was dead in prison and she was alive. Besides, Gertie had shown her that kind words often work better than force in getting what you want.
"If you wish. Now the set-up…"
"Mr. Spock, I'm no novice; I do know the basic moves and strategies. I need help in fine tuning my game." However, a little assertiveness never hurt either, she thought as his eyebrow twitched. While he set up the pieces on the three levels, Karx steeled herself for a tough match.
o00o
T'Pem and T'Pria were awed. The gyms off the main rec room were impressive. Sulu had been right; every conceivable piece of exercise equipment and discipline was seen here. The girls saw ancient fighting drills from far planets, underwater sports for those in the aquatic mood, weightlifting and gymnastics, running tracks for different gravities, dance floors, and anti-grav areas for the crop of null-grav sports that had appeared since the early days of space travel.
But their favorite area was the one where people rolled over the floor in the ancient art of roller-skating. The graceful movements of those on the floor fascinated the twins.
"Mr. Sulu…"
"…can we try that?"
o00o
"Now, kids, I have here some of the latest in creative toys. We normally use it for crewmembers to let out their frustrations instead of talking to your friendly country doctor." Scott snickered and McCoy shot him a mock-stern look but softened it with a grin.
"Well, Scott, since you're in such a jovial mood, let's see what you can paint for us." McCoy led the boys over to a set of screens at a table and handed them each an electronic brush. "Here take this brush, dial the color you want and touch it to the screen… there you go. T'horla, you want to try? No? Well we'll sit here and watch the boys. Thav, why don't you try the screen, you turn it on with that switch there. That's right, son." McCoy sat back in his chair and watched the kids paint on their large screens while T'Horla curled up in his lap and went to sleep.
o00o
"You know, Scotty, I'm beginning to worry about those kids over there; they do have a mischievous streak in them," Gertie wondered aloud.
"Don't worry your head, lass. They'll be fine what with the whole crew to keep 'em in line. Now Let's get this job done so we can go to yer cabin and try that scotch y'ev been savin'."
"Aye to that, Mr. Scott!"
o00o
"Hey, Sulu, this is fun! Whoops…!" T'Pem fell with T'Pria tripping over her. Sulu stopped and laughed, his shotgun laughter ringing all over the small roller rink, while the two untangled themselves and got back on their feet.
"Mr. Sulu, report to the Bridge," squawked the box on the wall. Sulu walked over and pressed the button. "Aye, aye Uhuru, I'm on my way, Sulu out." He turned to the girls. " Well, gotta go. Have a good time and stay out of trouble."
"Sure thing, Sulu!" They started back around the rink, leisurely rolling along.
"T'Pem, you know the corridor outside."
"Yes."
"Well, it's curved and slightly slanted; I noticed it yesterday. It would be a challenge to race along it."
"T'Pem thought about it for a minute. "Okay, let's try it."
o00o
Spock checkmated Karx after a long battle. She studied the move and noted the mistake in her wrist computer.
"Thank you, Mr. Spock, I have learned much under your tutelage."
"I appreciated the chance to impart knowledge, Ms. Karx." He rose as she left the cubicle and then departed for his own rooms.
o00o
"It's all clear, T'Pria." The two pushed off down the corridor, gaining speed as they went and laughing all the way. Crewmembers backed out of the way as they heard the two coming, smiling as they passed. Spock, however, was not paying attention; his mind on a problem he wished to set before the computer. He jumped out of their way barely in time as the twins came careening down the passage towards him. They waved a cheery hello to him as they came by, but were not prepared for the stiff arm ahead of them as Kirk grabbed each of their collars and stopped them in mid-roll. They didn't even pretend to struggle as he lifted them off the floor and brought them, wheels still spinning, over to the stern Vulcan standing nearby. They did manage a nice green blush, though.
"Mr. Spock, I believe you know what to do."
Spock eyed his captain while crossing his arms across his chest and then shifted his gaze to the two very contrite children dangling in Jim's grasp. He gave his captain a slight affirmative nod.
"Good. I leave them to you." Kirk deposited his load in front of his First Office and, doing a quick about turn, headed for the nearest turbo lift; secretly glad he was neither Spock nor the kids. Neither position was going to be easy in this matter.
The twins stood – or rather wobbled – on the skates, looking down at the floor, not daring to look into that solemn face above them. Finally after what seemed like an eternity he broke the silence.
"I want you to return that equipment to the recreation room and then meet me in my quarters in exactly five minutes." He watched as the two took off back down the corridor and then he turned into the turbo lift, formulating the speech he was going to use on those two… he quickly suppressed the thought "delinquents" and substituted "children." This was not going to be simple.