STAR TREK: THE LOST CONDOR

Shell Game

Jim Kirk poured a stream of red-wind into his glass and looked about the table and was quite impressed with the food items, including lobster and prime-rib. Gordon West, who was keen on using threats to get his way, was as gregarious a host as his over the top words. As Kirk looked about, the couple times his glance met Melanie's, Gordon's wife, Kirk saw more. Her glances were sexually charged. Kirk played his part and let his eyes meander down to her ample bosom. If she was playing him, he would play back; if it meant escape down the line.

"Only the finest," Gordon said, noticing the direction of Kirk's glance, as he sipped from his own glass. "Which I'm sure, as a Star Fleet Captain, you are well accustomed to."

"Sir," McCoy responded, before Kirk could, "I can assure you that the Enterprise's ship stores do not serve food this elaborate. I for one wouldn't allow it."

"Doctor McCoy is right," Kirk added. "Starships…by…design…are not pleasure ships. The men and women…all…of…us…sacrifice many luxuries when we join Star Fleet."

"Oh come now, Captain," Melani West said, with a coy look at Kirk, "Pomp and circumstance awaits you when you visit worlds along your way. And from what I heard from and acquaintance of yours, Carol…"

"You know Carol?" Kirk asked.

"Yes," Melani said. "She said that food wasn't the only attention you craved on shore leave," Melani added with a seductive smile.

Gordon chuckled.

"You must pardon my wife's forwardness," Gordon stated with a smile. "She was raised on a commune world where sexuality was more liberal than you might be accustomed to. In fact," Gordon added, "she has already expressed an interest with being sexually intimate with you." Gordon stared directly at Kirk; but his expression was cold. "If I were you, I would make sure her desire does not see reality."

Spock, ever aware of the awkward exchange, decided to flip the conversation as well.

"Mr. West," Spock said to Gordon, "according to the limited information we have on this outpost, you and your party came here to apply new techniques in terra forming. I am quite interested in that field of study and would welcome a conversation on it."

Gordon kept his eyes locked with Kirk's for a few seconds longer, then looked over to Spock.

"Come now mister Spock," Gordon said dismissively, "I am sure, by now, you have concluded that isn't why we're here. I mean; three standard cookie-cutter buildings? Don't think of me as a fool, Vulcan."

Kirk decided to counter with a jab of his own.

"We know that… Admiral…Richmond…did not send us here for a medical compound. So why not drop the entire pretense…and," he looked at Melani, "all…the shell games."

Gordon nodded his head, and downed the last swig wine left in his glass.

"Straight and to the point," Gordon said back at Kirk. He then looked across the table at Parker Downs. "Parker, go ahead and explain to the good captain why we are here."

Kirk, Spock and McCoy all shifted their attention to Parker, who had remained silent from the very start.

"Perhaps you have heard of the Condor project?" Parker asked.

"Can't say that I have," McCoy said.

But Kirk had an entirely different response.

"I…seem to remember…something about that project," Kirk said, shifting his glance over to Spock.

"As do I," Spock said. "If memory serves, it was a failed attempt to create a new class of photon-torpedoes which, if I'm correct, would have an effective range of approximately 500 light years."

"That is correct," Parker said back to Spock. Then Parker shifted his glance to Kirk. "Do you know who headed that project?"

All eyes were on Kirk.

"Yes I do," Kirk finally said. "That man was… my grandfather; Lawrence Kirk."

"His ideas," Parker said, with respect in his voice, "were beyond his time."

The atmosphere became tense because Kirk, Spock and McCoy realized that it was all too much of a coincidence that they too were now on that planet.

"Project Condor," Gordon said in a grandiose way. "Had your grandfather succeeded in his efforts, it could have had profound ramifications on the evolution of Star Fleet. With that kind of range in a weapon, Star Fleet could launch attacks without the loss of as many men or ships."

"That project," Parker immediately added, "was conducted right here on this planet."

"That fact," Spock stated, "does not match with established norms. Project Condor was conducted in a star system several hundred light years away from here; on the planet Corvius Prime."

"You were right, Kirk," Gordon swiftly said to the captain. "Admiral Richmond didn't send you here for a medical compound to save a dying planet. He sent you here because; I need you." And before Kirk could say anything, Gordon looked back to Spock. "And as for what you just said," Gordon added with a smile. "I believe, being the ever intelligent Vulcan that you are, you have come to most obvious conclusion."

Kirk and McCoy looked over to their Vulcan friend. Spock stated the obvious fact.

"Well Spock?" McCoy urged the Vulcan.

"We are not on Outpost E10, and we never were," Spock said. "We are on the planet Corvius Prime."

A look of surprise came over Kirk and McCoy….

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