A Paramount Predicament
by SpunSilk
Chapter 7
"Finished, Captain," Spock replaced the covering on the communicator and handed it to Kirk.
Kirk looked up from the script he had found and been reading. "Good, Spock." He took the unit from his First Officer.
"By its own power, the unit will barely transmit through the energy lanes."
"True, Spock. I'm counting on a booster from the receiving end. If they're looking for us, it will be there." He opened the flip lid. "Kirk to Enterprise." The communicator squealed faintly under the unusual strain of the altered level. "Kirk to Enterprise."
A tense silence.
"Captain?" came Scotty's filtered voice. "It's a relief t' hear your voice, sir!"
"Mutual, Mr. Scott." Kirk smiled at Spock who accepted the congratulations without response. "You understand the situation, then?"
"Aye, sir. Our visitors told me what had happened to 'em, and right off I began preparing for transportation. I've had the computer scanning for your signal so'as it wouldn't come through Uhura's board. The crew... doesn't know, Captain."
"That's best, Scott" Kirk said. These actors were good, then. "Ship's operation normal?"
"Not totally. we have Klingon company on this end–"
Kirk's jaw set.
"–but the... 'Captain' ...has kept it stalemate. It'll be good t' have you back though, sir."
"Is the transporter prepared for activation now?"
"No, Sir. I got a wee bit more work on it yet, but it'll be finished before the energy lanes break down if all goes as planned."
"Proceed as fast as you can, Scotty. Call me as soon as it's ready. Keep me posted on all new developments with the Klignons. Kirk out." He closed the unit.
"We will of course have to return from the 'transporter room' in this dimension." Spock pointed out.
Kirk glanced up from other worries, then nodded. "Returning is the most pressing crisis. we'll deal with the others as they come."
He paced a familiar section of the bridge. Time limit... "Spock could you find the Sickbay set from here?"
"I shall attempt if you wish."
Without another word the two started off the bridge. The captain glanced back for only a moment before exiting.
Just outside, Spock paused silently straining his Vulcan ears for a certain sound. Kirk waited at his side. After a moment, a simple "This direction" and they started off.
The Vulcan continued to listen and lead, but also spent time watching the sets go by and taking in everything he could. This place was not above fascinating him and he would have enjoyed five or six hours just watching it happen.
After many turns and twists they emerged a safe distance behind the filming. McCoy was examining a crewman in front of the huge lensescope Eddie had called the camera. The pair approached slowly and silently. How strange, Kirk mused, to see something so natural and familiar be performed as if in a play.
Eddie was seated nearby the activity, watching the doctor and ready to offer aid at any moment. As Kirk and Spock came closer, he glanced up and did a double-take at the pair. Then with a quick glance back to see that the doctor was doing fine, he slipped back to meet them. He and Kirk exchanged silent smiles and the three watched McCoy finish up the scene. "He's good at what he does," Eddie whispered almost inaudibly.
When the scene was successfully completed and McCoy was dismissed, he joined the group.
"Doctor, you are in your element," Kirk declared as he approached.
McCoy flushed, obviously pleased.
"Indeed," Spock said, not wanting to miss his chance, "I recall your mention of d'mor's soliloquy earlier..."
McCoy sent him an icy glance. "Have you been able to talk with Scotty?" he asked the captain, to change the subject.
Kirk nodded. "He's working on it from that end, and we've got to work on it from this end. Eddie, who is in charge here at the studio?"
"That would be the director, Mr. McEveety over there."
Kirk started in that direction.
"Jim, where are you going?"
"To work on this from this end." Kirk answered the doctor.
Kirk waited nearby while the director talked in low tones with one of the clipboard men. As the other left, Kirk quickly took his place.
"Excuse me, Mr. McEveety. I wondered if I could ask a favor."
"What can I do for you, Bill?"
"I'd like to try the transporter scene again. I know I can give you a good take now." Kirk smiled to himself. He was finally catching on to the native language.
"Can't do it." He shook his head. "Got a schedule to follow. Don't worry, we've got it set for late tomorrow morning."
"No!" Kirk caught the director's arm. Something in his voice made McEveety stop and watch the captain, frowning. Kirk eased the grip and smiled, but his eyes fixed tightly on McEveety.
"I'd like to do it now."
The director said nothing, but he studied the captain's face. "As a special favor to me." Urgency edged into his voice.
A long pause. "There's hardly time before the end of the day." The director said.
"It's very important."
There was something unusual about Bill Shatner that day, and it made McEveety uneasy. A confidence, or the way he carried himself; a commanding air, and now this unrelenting stare that seemed to bore him through. McEveety knew the line of command at the studio very well, but at this moment the captain was in charge, and they both could feel it.
McEveety shuddered slightly and looked at him squarely. "All right, I'll have it set up."
The trio and one other stood just outside the transporter set, lights and cords were moved into position amid ordered confusion.
"You've only been here a short time, yet I feel like I know you well." Eddie commented.
"Perhaps in one way you do," Spock said, "in one way you work with us every day."
"That's true. I sure wish that–"
Kirk's communicator chirped and Eddie fairly jumped. The captain gave him an understanding smile and the group slipped silently behind a bulkhead. "Kirk here."
"Sir, we're ready for transportation. I canna' guarantee that my fancy handiwork will hold the strain, being untested, but I'll have to take the risk, Captain. We've got to pull you back in the next five minutes, before the anomaly shifts." Eddie was staring in amazement at the black box that actually spoke. The Scottsman's voice returned. "An' I've got three gentlemen here very anxious to go home."
Kirk's glance to his own men confirmed that those three were not alone. 'Right, Scotty. Set it up and we'll get onto the platform. Kirk out."
They entered the mainstream again.
"All right people, let's go." It came from McEveety. "We all know the blocking, let's go for a take." The confusion started to clear slowly.
The trio turned to Eddie who, suddenly faced with the farewell, seemed to be without words.
"Live long and prosper, Mr. Paskey." Spock spoke for them all.
He understood and nodded, smiling. "The same to you." He watched them turn and walk into the chamber.
Lights blazed, the horn sounded. Unnoticed, Kirk opened a channel on the communicator on his belt.
"Cameras rolling!"
"Energize." Came the order under his breath.
"Action!"
The welcome haze took them.
In the fog of the transportation it's difficult to think, but Kirk got the impression that it was taking longer than normal. Too long. Before he could piece it together and become anxious, though, he room reappeared, but this time whole. An audible sigh of relief came from McCoy.
Kirk greeted his Engineer with "Report on the Klingons." At the captain's first words, Scott looked a little relieved himself.
"All quiet, Sir."
The trio stepped out of the chamber, noticing for perhaps the first time the security of four walls.
"You're all right then, Captain?"
"After quite a day, Scotty."
"An experience matched by none, Scotty," the doctor chimed in. "But I really feel we missed our calling, gentlemen. It's always good, though, to have another profession to fall back on, should the need arise..."
"Doctor," Scott asked, examining him closely, "what's that ya got all over your face?"
"Never mind." McCoy answered gruffly.
Kirk chuckled. "Enough for one day, Bones. Go scrub up and let's come back to reality. We've got a ship to run."
He and Spock started for the bridge.
FIN
So that's it. Over 30 years ago that's how I sounded. A lot of water has passed under the bridge since then, and a whole lot (!) of life experience as well. Nowadays I write differently. Maybe someday I'll revisit this story and make it sound good, not just tell the story. Until then, may I invite you over to read some fic under Kolchak: The Night Stalker. We are having a lot of fun over there :-)
