Jim Kirk stood on an observation deck with his arms folded, looking out into deep space. He could see nothing but stars mostly. He could see a nebula in the distance. He had been thinking about what Admiral Fern told him since he could not find Carol and talk to her. Now he just sat here staring into space…the final frontier. How many times had he heard that? An endless frontier.
"Jim, what are you doing out here?" Bones asked as he walked onto the large observation deck.
Jim looked at him. "I was just thinking," he said.
"Thinking about what. I've been looking for you for hours."
"Seems we're all looking for each other. I guess it was good to stay here a while. No one can find the other."
"What's bugging you?"
"Bugging me?"
"Yeah. Something's eating at you. You might as well tell me."
Jim sat down on a bench and continued to look out into space as he sighed. Bones sat down beside him. "Well, it can't be all that bad," Bones said as he looked out into space himself. "I can sure think of better views than this."
"Not now, Bones."
Bones looked at Jim then. "You gonna tell me what's wrong or not?"
"Everything. I don't even know where to start."
"Might as well start somewhere."
Jim folded his arms. As the captain of the ship, he had to listen to everyone's problems, and usually, Bones and Spock were the only ones who heard his. "I think Carol's mad at me," he said.
"Oh…that. Well, I'm not surprised."
Jim looked at him. "What do you mean, you're not surprised?"
"Frankly, I don't know why you haven't married the woman."
Jim started to say something but then looked back out the viewport. "I asked her," he said.
Bones looked at him with a surprised look. "You did? What did she say?"
"Never mind that. I've been looking for her most of the day…or night. Whatever it is here."
"Oh. You're getting that old nostalgic feeling again."
"No. I'm just…" Jim looked at Bones. "Admiral Fern told me some stuff about Badoran."
"Really? What does he know about it?"
"He doesn't know anything for sure but…"
Just then, Spock walked in. "Captain, I have been trying to reach you," he said. "I could not, and have searched for you for hours."
"Seems like everyone has been searching for hours," Jim said. "Something wrong?"
"No, but I thought we should discuss your concerns further."
"Oh, well, have a seat, Spock. We've got a lot to talk about."
Spock sat down on the other side of Jim. "Hey, just so you'll be filled in on what we've already talked about," Bones said, "he asked Carol to marry him, and she said no."
Jim looked at him. "Bones. I didn't say she said no."
"You didn't say she said yes either."
"Jim, I did not know that you were interested in marrying Doctor Marcus," Spock said.
"Can you guys keep that to yourselves?" Jim asked.
"Of course, Captain."
"Nobody will hear it from me," Bones said.
"Good," Jim said. "That's personal. The other discussion is about Badoran."
"Do you have new information, Captain?" Spock asked.
"Yes. Admiral Fern thinks the queen on Badoran is a Starfleet captain who disappeared several years ago. He thinks she may be trading Starfleet secrets to the Klingons, and he thinks she may even be the one who tipped off the Klingons when we were on Kronos."
Spock absorbed that. "What does he intend to do about it?" he asked. "How does he know this?"
"He doesn't know anything for sure, but he definitely doesn't agree with Admiral Carson. He wants to meet with all of us who were on Rura Penthe. Just think about it, Spock. It makes sense."
"It does bear consideration, Captain. However, we have been instructed to stay out of the situation."
"I know that. I'm telling you what Admiral Fern said. He puts up with the Klingons out here all the time, and he thinks this Starfleet captain may be how the Klingons are knowing so much about Starfleet. She obviously has technology and may have even developed it further. We were not on Badoran long enough to know who all was there."
"When are we due for this meeting?"
"Whenever we go. He didn't give me a specific time. I have to get Scotty and the others together. I met them at the bar earlier, and…"
"And what?"
"Never mind. I don't know. Scotty seemed to be having a meeting with Mac and Solan."
"Do you believe he has some sort of scheme planned? If he does, we must warn him not to proceed, Captain."
"Spock, since we got on this spaceport, I have lost track of everyone. I even left my communicator in my quarters. I think we're all so tired we're almost to the point of being sloppy."
"Are you suggesting that weariness is the reason that we did not know about the technology on Badoran?"
"She is most likely sharing technologies with the Klingons and they are in turn sharing with her. I think she has something to mask whatever she uses to know when someone comes near the planet."
"You may be correct, Captain."
"What good does all this information do us if we can't use it?" Bones asked. "If she was a Starfleet captain and she is sharing with the Klingons, doesn't Starfleet think she should be stopped?"
"They may not know the seriousness of the situation," Jim said. "They're not out here at the edge of civilized space like Admiral Fern is."
"Civilized space, my eye. More like a giant bomb waiting to explode."
"Come on, Bones. It's not that bad."
"Oh, it isn't? Then why are we sitting here having this conversation?"
"We are here because the captain cannot deal with all this alone," Spock said.
"I know that. But you have to admit that most of space we have seen is not civilized."
"I must agree with you, Doctor. However there are those who do want to be civilized."
"Tell me why we can't ever meet up with any of them."
"Don't be so pessimistic, Bones," Jim said. "Everyone's not a member of Starfleet, and some have been told that Starfleet is a giant trying to take over the galaxy."
"You are right, Captain," Spock said. "But what do we tell Admiral Fern in this meeting?"
"I don't know yet, Spock. I think we're going to listen to everything he has to say. He may not even want to use us for anything. Maybe he just wants us to give him all the information we have. He can make up his own mind after that."
"If he goes against Starfleet, it will make him a rogue Admiral, and we could be pulled into the situation if we give him information."
"No. I don't think we will. We'll just see what happens."
They all sat there a few minutes looking out into space. "So, what are you going to tell Carol when you find her?" Bones asked. "And what did you do to get her so hopping mad at you?"
"I didn't say she was hopping mad," Jim said. "I just said she was…mad at me."
"So what did you do?"
Jim folded his arms. "I fell asleep while she was talking."
Bones sat up and looked at him. "You're kidding!"
"I was tired. I had just got rescued from a prison world."
Bones leaned back again and shook his head. "You're dead."
"Doctor, that is a very defeatist way to assess the situation," Spock said. "He can simply explain to her that he was physically exhausted."
"Oh, like you explained to Uhura how we tracked them down on Altamid?"
"She did not ask how we tracked them down, and I did not find that it was necessary to bring up the subject."
"I'm sure you didn't. So she still doesn't know she's wearing a radioactive tracking device?"
"It is not a tracking device. It is simply made of a mineral that I remembered was quite easy to detect."
"Then why didn't you tell her?"
"Since we had just gotten back together, I did not want to…how do you say, fan the flames?"
"You guys bicker more than anyone I've ever seen," Jim said.
"We are not bickering, Captain," Spock replied. "We are simply having a discussion."
"Sounds like bickering to me."
"Vulcans do not bicker."
"Oh, yeah, they just debate."
Bones laughed. "You can't win that one, Spock," he said.
"We are supposed to be trying to help the captain," Spock said. "Not discussing my relationship with Uhura."
"Oh. Pardon me." Bones leaned back on the seat. "You think she's just avoiding you?"
"I don't know," Jim said. "Yeah, I guess."
"She's probably just trying to get you to fret over it. They like to do that."
"She did agree to stay on the Enterprise for a while."
"Really? For how long?"
"Until the five year mission is up. I mean, we don't have even two years left."
"Oh, yeah, just one year and twenty-two months. Yippee."
"She expects me to…"
"To what?"
"She wants me to become a vice admiral and settle down at a desk job."
Bones considered that. "Are you going to?" he asked.
"I don't know. I don't know what I want to do. Maybe by the time the five years is over, I'll want to."
"If you love her, you'll do it. You may regret it later, but you'll do it."
"Doctor, I do not believe the captain will regret staying with the woman he loves," Spock said. "A ship is not a companion."
"Yeah. You're right about that."
"I will most likely stay with Uhura as well. There are many places in the galaxy where one can settle down, and can travel when needed."
"So what do I tell her?" Jim asked.
"Tell her the truth, Captain," Spock answered. "You have no guarantee that she is angry at you anyway."
"Yeah, I think she's just playing with you," Bones said. "She wants you to stew for a while."
Jim stood up and stretched. "Well, let's see if we can track down Scotty and the others to have the meeting with Admiral Fern," he said.
"It would be much easier if we all had our communicators," Spock pointed out.
"I agree. I'm going to get mine."
They left the observation deck, paying no attention to the ship that was arriving at the space port.
Jim went to his quarters and retrieved his communicator which he found in the floor beside his bed. He thought he must have really been tired to have dropped it there. He headed back out and almost ran into Carol as she was about to ring his door chime. "Carol!" Jim said. "What are you doing here?"
Carol paused a moment. "I followed you, "she said.
"You followed me? How did you know where I was?"
"Well, I saw you."
"Look, I'm sorry I fell asleep. I was…"
"You don't have to explain." Carol stood on her toes and kissed him. "I'll see you for dinner later. There's a fabulous restaurant. I'll call you. Just keep your communicator on."
Jim was just a little surprised about that encounter as he watched her walk down the corridor. So she was not mad at him. He thought Bones might have been right. "Hey!" he said. "Wait." He hurried to catch up with her. "Were you avoiding me?"
"Avoiding you?" Carol asked. "Why would you think that?"
"Well, you left the bar."
"You were talking to Admiral Fern."
"Yeah, but you didn't leave me a note or anything."
"You're right. I was just trying to…punish you a little."
"I am sorry."
"It's forgotten, but don't be late for our dinner."
"Yes, Ma'am."
Carol smiled. "I'll see you later, Captain."
Jim watched her a moment longer, but then he went back out to the space port. He flipped his communicator open. "Bones, Spock, have you found them?" he asked.
"Not yet," Bones said. "It's like looking for a needle in a haystack."
"I have had no luck as of yet, Captain," Spock said. "Where did you last see Mister Scott?"
"He's not there anymore, Spock. Let's just keep looking for him."
Jim had to wonder what Scotty was up to. He knew Mac and Solan knew a lot of undercover people, and they would help Scotty find anyone he wanted to find. He was not sure Scotty would tell him if he was up to something, and he figured that was why he was staying so secretive and not taking his communicator with him.
As Jim came around to the other side of the space station, he found a large hangar that only had one ship in it. He did not think anyone was in there and started to leave, but then he heard that familiar Scottish accent. He walked quietly into the gloomy hangar and soon came to the ship where he could hear Scotty talking. Jim peeped around one of the landing struts and could see that Scotty was with Mac and Solan, and they were talking to a woman he had never seen.
"Are you sure you can get in without them knowing?" Scotty asked.
"I have a cloaking device on my ship," the woman said. "They won't even know we're there. Besides, I'm going to appear with a flair."
"What does that mean?"
"My co-pilot knows how to work a transporter. I will get their attention right away and I will be able to communicate with them telepathically." The woman turned and looked right at the landing strut where Jim was hiding. "We're not alone."
Jim was surprised that she knew he was there. He had been completely quiet. "What do you mean, we're not alone?" Solan asked as he drew his favorite blaster.
"Someone's there behind the landing strut."
Jim stepped out from behind the landing strut. He could see the utter surprise on Scotty's face. "It's just me," he said.
"Captain," Solan said. "You could have gotten shot."
"I'm glad I didn't. What are you guys doing?"
"We're doing what you can't do."
"What does that mean?"
"Captain, don't get into this," Scotty said.
"Scotty, if you're involved in something, I am too," Jim said. "What are you planning here?"
"It's nothing, Captain."
"I heard her say something about telepathy. Tell me you're not planning on sending her down to Badoran."
"Trust me, Jim."
"Scotty, you are to stop this right now," Jim said. "And you're coming with me, and so are Solan and Mac. Admiral Fern wants to meet with us. We have been looking all over for you guys. I can see now why you weren't findable."
"Captain, we're not members of your crew," Mac reminded him.
"You were staying aboard my ship. I'm responsible for what you're doing."
The woman walked over to Jim. "My name is Elana," she said. "They have told me about what happened to you. Don't you even want to hear the plan?"
Jim gave Scotty a stern look. "You were supposed to keep this among us," he declared.
"You didn't tell me that, Captain," Scotty replied.
"You didn't give me a chance, Mister Scott. Do I have to exert my authority over you?"
Scotty stood up straighter. "You have a perfect right to, Captain."
"I'll deal with you later." Jim looked at the woman. "I can't authorize you to go to that planet, and if they do it, it's going to look like I was involved. If Admiral Carson finds out about this, he will take my ship, and I will be court marshaled. I'm not going to be happy about that."
"You worry too much, Captain," Elana said.
"No. I don't worry enough, obviously. Mister Scott will not have any more to do with this." Jim looked at Solan and Mac. "I would appreciate it if the two of you would not have any more to do with it. Come with me. The Admiral wants to see us all."
"I'll see you guys later, Solan," Elana said.
Jim frowned as she smiled at him over her shoulder. He thought he was losing control of this whole situation. He looked at Scotty. "Come along, Mister Scott. We have some things to talk about."
Scotty followed Jim from the hangar. Jim was silent all the way down that corridor and until they got to the Admiral's office. He opened his communicator. "Spock, Bones, I found them," he said. "We're at the Admiral's office."
"We will be there shortly, Captain," Spock replied.
"Good."
Jim looked at Scotty. "At least I have some who don't try to go over my head," he said.
"Captain, I was not trying to do anything behind your back," Scotty said.
"Really? You sure weren't doing it in front of my face."
"I mean, I was going to discuss it with you before we did anything."
"Scotty, you should have discussed it before you ever had a meeting with Mac and Solan. What do you think is going to happen if…"
"Captain, it was really my idea," Mac said. "I mentioned to Mister Scott that we should try to do something about this since your hands are tied."
"Mister Scott knows better, and he has an obligation to the ship and crew. I won't listen to any more of this."
Scotty did not think he had ever seen Jim so angry…truly angry. He knew he had stepped over the line this time, although he had thought Jim would want to go along with it.
Spock and Bones arrived. "Now that we're all here, we'll go in and meet with Admiral Fern," Jim said looking at Scotty with a disdainful look.
Bones and Spock wondered what that was all about, but they did not have time to ask as they all went into the Admiral's office to find out what he wanted to tell them.
