Jim and Nyota spent the remaining six days until the Emperor's scheduled departure with their respective hosts finalizing plans and continuing to make the further acquaintance of the good Vulcans. Jim was fully back on his feet again and moving with an ease that pleased T'Sara very much. Even she hadn't been sure how long his recovery would last or if he'd be left with nerve damage. Thankfully, it did not appear to have left permanent damage, which was remarkable considering the amount of the toxin he'd ingested.
Jim was anxious to get on with the heist, but T'Lora managed to keep him busy with various household chores in the meantime and he willingly made himself useful. The more time she spent with him, the more T'Sara found herself becoming emotionally attached. Jim had a very winning personality and a very bright mind to go with his very aesthetically pleasing appearance and the young Vulcan found herself hoping that she could see more of him when they made it to earth.
On Jim's side, the interest was decidedly mutual, but he was solely focused on getting them all out of there alive, so any romantic inclinations were suppresed for the time being. That didn't stop T'Lora from figuring him out.
"James, it would appear you have an interest in T'Sara. Am I correct in this assumption?"
Jim flushed and nearly dropped the primitive communicator he was trying to repair.
"Well, yeah. She's been a great friend and got me walking again. Course I like her." He tried to hedge, staring busily at the device in his hand.
"I detect there is more to it than a simple friendly feeling, Jim," she prodded. "I have observed certain expressions on your face when you are speaking with her that indicate an attraction."
Jim squirmed a bit, but didn't deny it.
"Yeah, I admit it. I think she's gorgeous and sharp and has a killer sense of humor, but she probably doesn't like me that way and I'm not going to say anything until we're safely out of here. This whole scheme could blow up spectacularly in more ways than one."
"It is risky, but your idea has been the catalyst for change and push back against the corrupt illogic of Sarek's rule. He must be stopped no matter what the cost," T'Lora said matter of factly. "I do believe though, that we will succeed, James and I certainly find no objections should you wish to continue communications with T'Sara after we have reached Terra. My daughter does have a certain fondness for you, as well."
Jim smiled faintly. "I'll certainly keep that in mind."
Meanwhile Nyota had finally convinced Spock to tell her what Sarek's purpose had been in sending her to his cave. The poor man was very embarrassed about it, but explained about the Vulcan mating urge and the importance of having a bondmate before it occurred lest the sufferer actually die.
"My father thinks I would be likely to experience Pon Farr soon and assumed I would be desperate enough to forcibly take anyone nearby." Spock looked very pained as he spoke.
Uhura felt sick at the depth of Sarek's evil. Plotting to set up his son to be a rapist, ruining two lives at once, was appalling.
"I assure you, Nyota, if such symptoms were to occur, I would send you elsewhere rather than risk such atrocities. I respect and value you highly and the thought of causing you harm is repugnant to me."
"You're a good guy, Spock. I trust you. But what will you do if it does come?"
"Seek a compatible, willing, mate," he said evenly. "But with my hybrid status, there is no certainty that Pon Farr will occur at all."
For some reason, Spock seeking a mate didn't thrill Nyota, though she knew he had to to survive. But she pushed the thought away as they continued their preparations for the assault on the palace.
Finally, the great day arrived and they received the notification from their contacts in Shikahr that Sarek had departed. Hooded and cloaked, they were transported to the city by groups of three and took their various positions around the palace or the power station.
Jim gave orders tersely over the old communicator he was using. Sevel and Sirok shot out the lock on the building and overrode the circuits, melting back into the darkness as the sparks flew and lights fizzled.
Jim, Spock, Nyota, Sinek, and Sitek crept toward the palace and made short work of the guards, with some inside help. Selek told them a few of the Imperial guards were on their side and it turned out he was right.
Selek joined them noiselessly and led them down into the vault that contained the red matter. Entering a code, he unlocked the doors and they stared at the tube with the deadly substance inside.
"Wow!" Jim breathed. "Creepy! How much damage could all that do?"
"It is enough to destroy all the planets in your solar system, Jim." Selek told them grimly, "Or hundreds of full sized star ships."
Jim shivered with dread. "Time to get this out of here before more needless slaughter happens."
"Indeed."
With the alarm disabled, it was a simple matter of unlocking the box and removing the tube. Stowing the red matter away carefully in a satchel, they crept back through the palace, fought off more guards, and headed for the shuttle hanger to meet T'Pol's group who were waiting for them with a shuttle.
This was the tricky part-trying to get away without getting shot down. Jim hoped the lack of power would disorient the security squadrons long enough for them to make their get away.
"You'll have to guide me, Spock. I have no clue where I'm going," he whispered.
"Towards the long rectangular structure 27 meters ahead," Spock instructed, pointing towards the building.
Jim nodded and went forward cautiously. Their fellow conspirators met them in the shadows and they got through the security with the help of T'Pol and Selek.
Many dark shapes of spacecraft loomed in the expanse of their hanger. They were steered towards a smaller craft closest to the hanger door.
"In here," Sirok said. "This craft is the logical choice for an escape attempt."
More hacking was involved and they quickly boarded the shuttle, keeping watch for guards.
Jim wondered how in the world they'd get the hanger doors open without bringing all the troops down on them, but evidently Vulcan technology meant the big doors opened silently.
Sevel and T'Pol took the pilot and navigator seats and everybody else crammed inside. They were a bit too full, but not dangerously so and Spock, after a quick head count closed the door.
"How are the cloaking devices for this thing?" Nyota asked. "If they see us take off, we're dead meat."
"Not ideal, but adequate for our purposes," Spock said. "The lack of power on the ground may hinder them somewhat.
With a low purr, the ship lifted off and they were up, up, and away. Jim held his breath, tensely waiting for ground fire to attack them. The shuttle dodged and weaved a course that would make it hard to hit as they left Shikhar and Vulcan behind. They had several close calls and took a hit to the port side, but at last, against the odds, outpaced the patrols and disappeared from the planet for good.
Jim looked at Nyota and grinned. "We did it, Ny. We made it out!"
She smiled back, squished next to Spock on the seat. "We did, Jim. Thanks to our kind friends here, we're going home."