— Chapter 10 —
Three days had passed since Selkar's attempt on Captain Tucker's life, and the Uhlans were heading deeper into Hegemony space… given the wealth of tactical data uncovered by Selkar's mind melds with the Priest-King, it would have been unthinkable to pass up some wonderful opportunities to bleed the Gorn, and so Captain Tucker had shared the entirety of the data with his Tactical officer, and that officer had conferred with his fellows in the fleet to arrive at a cohesive plan of action which would make best use of that valuable information, a plan which Tactical meant to present to Captain Tucker, now.
"…and so I wait at your convenience, Captain," said Samuels, the Tactical officer, for he'd just told his superior that a plan was ready. "I have a presentation set up in the conference room."
"All right," said Trip, standing to his feet. "T'Pol, you have the conn."
Although that would have been true in any case, for T'Pol would be the highest ranking officer once the captain and Tactical stepped off the Bridge, this was T'Pol's first time in command, and so the transfer of power was explicit.
"Yes, Captain," said T'Pol.
She had to restrain herself too, from leaping to the captain's chair the moment that the captain and Tactical had left the Bridge, and so T'Pol walked over to Tactical's station, fiddled with a few settings there, before taking the captain's chair. Oh, sure, she could have simply commanded the ship from the Science station, but there was something symbolic in taking the captain's chair… for the first time in five years she'd been judged competent to serve. Not just in a probationary capacity, as in being allowed to man the Science station, but a real capacity, for even though no danger threatened, an Acting Captain had to be trusted in order to be placed in that position.
T'Pol sighed, truly satisfied for the first time in a long time. It was all her mate's doing… he'd seen something in her, he'd given her a chance even after her faux pas in stowing away on Tek'Xzen, he'd been liberal with his affection and his friendship, he'd trusted her, and now T'Pol saw her path back to redemption… and it was all her mate's doing.
There was no point in denying it either… Captain Tucker was her mate, for they had an active Bond between them now. Oh yes, it was just recently forged and still growing in strength, but it was undeniable. She'd had brief visions of the man, concrete glimpses into his past, as well as abstract sensations which illuminated aspects of his psyche, while for his part, the man finished her sentences with such frequency that T'Pol wondered that he'd not noticed it already, for their abbreviated conversations would make no sense to an outsider, and all that while still reading her emotional states with such subtlety that it was quite amazing.
And now T'Pol wondered if the Bond she shared with Captain Tucker was the reason for her mental stability, which had improved in leaps and bounds the closer she'd drawn to Captain Tucker. That would make sense, for Bondmates leaned upon the other, but it also begged the question, "Did I parasitically latch onto the man for stability?"
But then she'd not 'latched' on to any other in the past five years despite the need, and what's more a Bond would not be activated on such cynical terms, nor could it have been forced onto the man, so T'Pol set her worries aside. No, what truly counted was that she was mated!
"I will have to tell my mother!" thought T'Pol, joyfully. "Hasha, I will have to tell my mate! Soon…"
"…and so," said Tactical, wrapping up his presentation to Captain Tucker, "we believe these targets represent the most bang for the buck, Captain, cutting deeply into the Hegemony's infrastructure. Accordingly, we've sent out feelers to the rest of the Bands, and we have help on the way."
"Which Bands?" said Trip.
"The Breed is on the way, and given the stealth which only our two fleets possess at this time, we'll take these three objectives," said Tactical, pointing out three targets deepest in Hegemony space. "Meanwhile SoKoun, the Sons of Silence and the Renegades will take these four objectives. Lastly, the Andorian Bands, Udullon, Se'shel'n and Merr'maj will take these six objectives."
"That's a lot for the Andorians to cover," said Trip, looking thoughtfully at the objectives laid out for the Andorians.
"No worries, Captain," said Tactical. "Two Wings of Imperial Guards are joining the Andorian Bands at the Emperor's command, and together, they'll get the job done, never fear."
"All right," said Trip, as he had a healthy respect for the Imperial Guards. "No problems than. Have we transmitted our battle plans to Corradon?"
"Yes, sir," said Tactical, for he'd seen to the matter himself on the captain's orders, transmitting the battle plans to the Uhlan ship dispatched to Tholian Assembly space with the initial information packet. "The Corradon reports that the Tholians have accepted both, the initial information packet, as well as the secondary packet with our battle plans."
"And?"
"You know the Tholians, sir," said Tactical. "They just took the info, and then warped out. Who knows what they'll do."
Trip grunted, and said, "The Corradon?"
"On it's way back, sir."
"Ok," said Trip. "How long before all the pieces are in play? When is the attack scheduled?"
"Nine days from now, Captain."
Trip thought on that, and said, "Has Captain Reed checked in lately? Do we have a rough position for him in Klingon space?"
"Yes, Captain," said Tactical.
"Good," said Trip. "Let's encrypt these plans, and forward them to Reed immediately. Let's see if the Klingons want to join the attack."
"Yes, sir."
At the conclusion of his meeting with Tactical, Trip made way for SickBay, where he found Alice and Phlox clustered by Selkar's bed.
"Selkar," said Trip. "It's good to see you awake."
"Thank you, Captain," said Selkar. "I have just heard about my recent actions, and I must apologize for my attempt on your life."
"Forget about it," said Trip. "It wasn't your doing, Selkar, and I'm sure you know that. What's more, most of my subordinates try to kill me sooner or later, without the benefit of a proper excuse like yours."
"So I have heard," said Selkar, with a deadpan expression on his face.
"So what's the prognosis, doctors?" said Trip.
"We will release Selkar from our care in a day or two, though I've relieved him of duty for ten days," said Phlox, "but I see no reason to be concerned after speaking with a number of the Vulcan psychics in the fleet. One caveat. I do not suggest that Selkar mind meld with that particular Priest-King ever again. Use other psychics on the Priest-King if you must, and rotate them every two days."
"I understand," said Trip. "Any determination on what caused this effect in Selker? Is the Gorn psychic? Because if he's likely to influence the crew we'll just off him now. The Gorn, I mean, not Selkar."
"To hear the Vulcan psychics speak of it, it's not like that," said Phlox. "Selker was simply subsumed by a stronger psyche. So long as none of the psychics engage in any more week long mind-melds with the Gorn, all should be well."
"All right," said Trip. "I have to return to the Bridge, but it's good to see you Selkar. You let me know if I can do anything for you, understand?"
"Yes, Captain."
Later that day T'Pol paid her own visit to the holding cell which held the Priest-King, and though the Gorn was allowed to move around the holding cell during some of his captivity, he was always stunned, then trussed as he'd been the first time, for interrogative mind melds. And that's why T'Pol was here now, for although her ability to meld minds was nowhere as far reaching as Selkar's, she had some ability at it, and T'Pol intended to verify some of the facts they'd already uncovered earlier, and she also hoped to uncover some facts they'd not been privy to so far.
She'd not told Captain Tucker of her intentions, because T'Pol felt the man would object for some reason, but it was her duty to try, and given her past with the V'Shar, it was likely that she would ask the most relevant questions… and so here she was now, face to face with this carnivorous horror, and T'Pol broke out in a cold sweat despite the fact that the Gorn was immobile… the thing was just so damned large, and alien, and menacing, and every instinct in T'Pol urged the Vulcan to run. Still, she was here on duty, so she climbed the small dais placed there just so that the Vulcans might reach the Gorn's skull comfortably.
"Give me the room," said T'Pol, looking at the guards present in the room.
"Our orders are to keep the Gorn under constant surveillance," said the Ensign in charge of this detail.
"I need to mind meld with it," said T'Pol, "but I am not as good as Selkar, and I can not do it with you in the room. Your presence would distract me in the process."
"All right," said the Ensign. "We'll be right outside."
Moments later, T'Pol was alone with the Gorn, and she was as good as her word. After spending fifteen minutes establishing a link and then pushing through the sheer barrier of a true mental link with a mind much stranger than any she'd ever sampled before, T'Pol went about her tasks in a purposeful way, first verifying some of Selkar's findings, for there was some concern that his discoveries could not be trusted given his entrainment to the Gorn's mind… but no, Selkar's findings were mostly accurate, and what few discrepancies existed, were minor. That task done, T'Pol rooted around in the Gorn's psyche for more, and made but limited progress for she lacked Selkar's skills.
Eventually T'Pol drew back within herself, and the wall mounted clock told her that she'd been at it for ninety minutes so far. Her hands dropped from the Gorn's skull, and she looked into the Gorn's glossy black eyes. This thing was still every bit as frightening as it had ever been, a wall of muscle, and teeth, and claws, but all T'Pol could think of as she looked at this monstrosity was that this creature, and others like it, had killed billions of her people.
Moving unconsciously now, T'Pol reached for a pen she'd clipped onto her lapel earlier, and it was just then, as she caressed the pen's stainless steel length that she realized what she was holding… and T'Pol knew why.
She'd studied the medical scans which Phlox had taken of the Gorn, and she'd done so extensively. These creatures were a study in toughness and savagery, the countless cycles of near self-destruction under Nemesis' sway weeding out weakness in the species, but no genetic blueprint was flawless, and even the Gorn had a number of places on their body where nerves and nodes were present on the surface of the body, or close to it, and it was at just one such point, an inch beneath the Gorns left eye, where T'Pol pressed her pen strongly, pinching nerve between bone and steel. The effect was electric.
The Gorn's body tensed forcefully, and he growled as much as he could through tightly bound jaws, but T'Pol was patient, and she kept working the Gorn, going from place to place, nerve cluster to nerve cluster for the next two hours, until the Gorn actually passed out from the pain, and as T'Pol looked at the Gorn's limp body, she felt only disappointment in how weak the satisfaction. Perhaps if she'd killed the fucking thing, but logic told T'Pol that this creature still had some uses, and taking its life was not her decision to make.
Well, if torturing this beast did not give her satisfaction she sought, she'd merely have to make her best contributions to the Uhlans, for they could wring much more satisfaction from the Gorn, on her behalf, by the mere fact that they were bleeding the Hegemony on a regular basis.
Having just left the Gorn, T'Pol headed for the turbo-lift, her feelings still conflicted. Just then, the lift stopped to take on another passenger, and T'Pol nodded when Dr. Harper entered the lift.
"How are you, T'Pol?"
"I am well, Doctor."
"Good," said Alice. "Phlox and I were speaking earlier, and we need you to come in for a physical."
"I am fine, Doctor. I do not need medical attention."
"Maybe not now," said Alice, "but if you get hurt we need to have a baseline for you, T'Pol. You should have had a physical by now, and it needs to be taken care of. Doctor's orders."
T'Pol grew somewhat agitated now, as she had good reasons for not wishing to suffer a series of medical tests, though she managed to suppress an overt display of irritation, at the request.
"Unfortunately, my duties—" said T'Pol, and Alice pressed the Halt button, freezing the lifts motion through the ship.
"T'Pol," said Alice, "you need to come in. Rest assured neither Dr. Phlox, nor I will ever discuss the results of your tests with anyone outside of Medical, so you have no reason to worry about anyth—."
"I am not worried about anything, Doctor."
"Yes you are, T'Pol," said Alice. "Look, I suspect that you're one of the Afflicted, and I can tell you've struggled with some sort of drug addiction recently, but Phlox and I are here to help you, T'Pol."
T'Pol had paled at the woman's mention of drug addiction, for it was the main reason she'd resisted the idea of an in-depth physical which would reveal her secret to outsiders, and yet it was clearly plain to see, that her past was a secret only in her own mind.
"Is it so apparent?" said T'Pol. "My drug use?"
"Only to a medical doctor with first hand experience with addiction, T'Pol," said Alice, her voice soothing. "The medical exam is not optional. It's captain's orders, it's doctor's orders, it's only logical. You know that Phlox and I only want to help our crewmen, T'Pol."
"I know," said T'Pol.
"I can tell you've been clean for a while. How long?"
"Since I arrived on Delta Vega," said T'Pol. "About thirty days now."
Alice nodded, and said, "Have you suffered any physical side effects?"
"Minimal, Doctor. I've felt a bit light-headed now and then, some psychological cravings, but I can control them."
"Ok," said Alice. "That's not too bad. Now we need to stay ahead of it all, both the physical and psychological symptoms, T'Pol. We can help you with that, but you can't shut us out. What's more, if you try, I'll make a stink with the captain, and he will reinforce my orders, I have no doubt of that."
"I understand," said T'Pol.
"Good," said Alice. "Why don't you come in now, let's get your physical done and over with, let's see where you stand, and we'll go from there."
"As you say," said T'Pol, seeing the sense of it all, for the doctor was implacable.
Two hours later, the whole matter was dealt with quite efficiently, and even as T'Pol dressed, Dr. Harper approached the Vulcan.
"Ok," said Alice. "I'll look everything over in depth, but on first glance, you're in pretty good shape, T'Pol. The only caveat is that your serotonin and dopamine levels are not optimal for your species. That might be due to your Affliction, might be due to your drug use, or it might just be your natural chemistry at work. Since we have no previous records of you, we'll begin tracking your condition now, and strive to optimize things from here."
"I understand," said T'Pol.
"For what it's worth," said Alice, "I suspect your readings were much worse while using drugs, and I believe that in time we'll see improvements where you're lacking, but no matter what, I'm here for you, T'Pol. You need anything, you come to me, day or night."
"Gratitude," said T'Pol, strangely relieved now that her secret was out, for now she had no cause to avoid medical treatment.
"You will address the High Council tomorrow, Captain Reed," said a Klingon officer from the planet Qo'noS, as Reed's ship orbited the Klingon homeworld.
"Thank you," said Malcolm.
"You are welcome to beam down to Qo'noS, Captain," said the officer. "We would be glad to show hospitality to an honored guest."
"I appreciate it," said Malcolm, "but I want to look over the entirety of the data which I'll present to the High Council tomorrow. You do understand."
"I do," said the Klingon. "Until tomorrow then. I will contact you at the appropriate time, and see you delivered to the High Council."
Malcolm nodded his understanding, and with that the Klingon logged off.
Malcolm had told the truth, he had a lot of data to go through by tomorrow, for he had no intentions of fumbling his way through a presentation before the Klingon High Council. First, there was the initial data dump they'd gotten from the Gorn, and then the information contained in the latest packet he'd received from the Uhlans, outlining the mass attack which the Bands, the Imperial Guards, and hopefully the Tholians, intended to launch upon Hegemony space. His task was to entice the Klingons to join the attack - Klingons being warriors, that should not be too hard a task, but Malcolm never took things for granted.