We're on the home stretch now folks! Five or so chapters to go, I hope you all stick with me to the end. Thank you for your support and love! I love you all!
None of these lovelies are mine, unfortunately.
Chapter Fourteen: Battlefront
"Approaching link distance, Kepten."
The bridge crew was geared up and battle ready, about to face one of the most dangerous adversaries they had ever encountered. The tension in the room was palpable.
"Bones, is he ready?" Jim asked softly into a private comm, and the reply snapped back was not encouraging. Ran'Chaah had yet to fully recover from his episode earlier that day and they needed him desperately if what was going to occur were to work. The Captain took a steadying breath and pressed the Comm.
"Attention Crew, this is your Captain speaking. I know we've all been anticipating this for a long time, but we need to keep level heads. Diplomacy first, guns second. That being said, this mission will be dangerous. Thank you all for your service, your bravery and your loyalty. Now buckle in because it may get hairy. Kirk out."
He turned in his chair to address his helmsman and navigator.
"How much time?"
"Elewen meenets sir," Chekov asserted, and exchanged a nervous glance with Sulu. "If Ran'Chaah does not regain consciousness, how are we going to contact ze Theta sheep, sir?"
"We'll worry about that if it happens. Uhura! All channels open?"
"Yes sir. No signals coming through yet."
"Keep the shields up but photon torpedos ready. We don't want to take any chances."
"Aye sir."
"Steady as she goes, Mr. Sulu."
"Yes Captain."
"Scotty, how's she looking down thre?"
"As bonnie as a lass in May, sir!"
"Sewen meenets to intercept."
Kirk's round shoulders tensed as he watched the pinpoints of light zip by, drawing ever closer to their target.
"I'm getting a reading on the scanners," Sulu called, and Kirk almost lunged from his chair to take a look before he contained his nervous energy.
"What kind of reading?"
"We're...we're coming up on a ship sir!"
"Is it them?"
"Who else could it be?"
"Drop o-out of Warp!" A voice sounded behind the Captain's chair and the crew whirled. Spock's eyes were bright with fever in his pale face and he gripped the back of Jim's chair to support himself.
"Sir?" Sulu asked, whether of Spock or Kirk it was unclear until he cast a questioning glance at the Captain for permission.
"Do what he says," Jim ordered, his universe realigned by the presence of his First at his back.
The engines' hum gentled and the streaks of light faded to individual stars as they floated in the darkness and silence.
"Ran'Chaah?"
The dark figure placed one hand to his temple, an expression of pained concentration crossing Spock's face.
"He's connecting with the ship," Kirk postulated with a gesture for quiet. The Bridge waited with bated breath, and the man in the center reached out with two minds for the ship somewhere nearby hidden between the folds of the universe. His free hand clenched on the back of the chair and he swayed. Jim was on his feet before he realized he had moved, ready to aid the Vulcan should he require it.
"Is it working?" A yeoman whispered and several voices shushed him sharply.
"Captain!"
On screen an ovular object phased into existence with splashes of color and light, rocking to a stop against a technicolored backdrop.
"Hail them, Uhura," Kirk barked as he caught Spock's elbow when he swayed again and guided him to a chair.
"No response," the Lieutenant replied, flipping switches determinedly.
"T-They w-w-wil spe-eak," Ran'Chaah struggled through clenched teeth, and the view screen flickered to reveal two insectoid creatures with massive prismed eyes, sharp mandibles and elongated, fingerlike claws. One was smaller and a somewhat metallic greenish gold, and the other larger one possessed a darker green shell. Both had exoskeletons like armor and twin antennae waving curiously.
"What isssss the meaning offffff thissss?" one hissed, and Jim straightened and turned to face them.
"My name is James Kirk of the United Federation of planets. The purpose of this contact is peaceful diplomacy. Will you speak with me?"
The prismed amber eyes took on a darker reddish glow, and the antennae waved irritably at the screen from each helmeted head.
"Whyyyyy sssssshould we ssssssspeak to creaturesssssss like you?"
Jim's fists clenched but his expression did not change.
"You have attacked several planets under Federation protection. We have to require that you cease and desist your destruction of planets in this galaxy."
"Our children neeeeed placessss to ssssssleep."
"Then let me say this differently. We would be happy to assign your people nesting planets that are not already inhabited by other life forms," Jim tried to compromise, despite the pain it caused him to do so.
"Whatttttt differenccccccce doessssss it make it usssss?"
Jim's blood boiled beneath his skin and he allowed some of his anger to bleed through in his voice.
"Your actions have caused the death of hundreds of thousands of our people. You have declared war on the Federation! I'm trying to give you an option that won't result in any more death!"
The antennae waved and the two Theta stared with unreadable expressions at the human with eyes of ice.
"Howwwwww did you ssssssto our vessssssel?" the smaller alien asked suspiciously.
"That's none of your concern. Will you come with us to arrange an armistice?"
"Weeee have nnnnnothing to say to you tiny creaturessssss."
"Please reconsider. We don't want to fight with your people."
"You have no pppppower here, FFFFFederation."
The screen went blank and Jim kicked the Captain's chair in frustration.
"Get them back!" he growled in Uhura's direction, and she tried as she cast a nervous glance at Spock. He was gripping the console with white knuckles and his pale skin had taken on a greenish pallor.
"Jim," his voice came out as a strained whisper, and Kirk moved to his side. "I-I c-cannot hold the l-link much lo-o-o-nger. They a-are try-ying to...b-break awa-ay."
"Try to keep them a bit longer," Jim urged, resting a supportive hand on the Vulcan's tense shoulder. The warm toned human hand tightened and he rushed to the comm.
"Doctor Marcus, bring the Theta child to the bridge," he instructed, then turned to his communications officer.
"Send them a top priority message," he ordered, eyes hardening to diamond ice. "Tell them we have their child."
Uhura obeyed and Dr. marcus appeared on the bridge holding the squirming chattering Theta.
"C-Captain!"
"Hold on to that ship with everything you've got, Ran'Chaah!" Kirk shouted, taking the bundle of angles and pinchers and antennae from Carol.
"Transmission coming through, Captain!"
The same dark green Theta who had previously addressed them appeared on the screen, eyes burning a furious fiery red.
"Return to usssss what you have taken," it demanded, and Kirk stepped closer disobediently.
"If you come with us to speak with our leaders about a treaty, we will return your child unharmed. What is your response?"
"You aaaaaaare and enemy of the collectivvvvvve," it spat, "and will nottttt be negotiated withhhh. Return our youngling or be dessssstroyed."
"I don't think you understand how this works," Jim replied with cold fire in his eyes and steel in his voice, "you have declared war, and we will meet that challenge. Surrender and resolve this peacefully or you will never have this youngling back. The Federation will have no choice but to destroy you."
The Theta shrieked furiously, a high pitched shriek that made every officer flinch or cover their ears.
"Then let it be war, Jamesssss Kirk."
Everything happened at once. There was a thud behind Jim as Ran'Chaah went down like a rock and the viewscreen flickered back to the view of the stolen craft. When Kirk whirled to see his first dropping as if shot, the Youngling in his arms broke free and dashed for the door in a mad scramble for freedom.
The entire ship began to vibrate and Chekov shouted, "Kepten, they are preparing to go to hyper space!"
"Shields on full! Brace yourselves!"
The Theta vessel vanished with a miniature supernova, the shockwave washing over the Federation Flagship and rocking the Enterprise violently. Jim lost his balance and landed squarely in Uhura's lap as crewmen were thrown from their seats before they could buckle in, shouting to Sulu to 'Follow that ship God dammit!'
"Controls are non-responsive, Captain!"
Kirk lurched out of the Communications station and flew to the navigation console, landing between Chekov and Sulu as the Enterprise blared alarms.
"Ze nawigation must hawe been damaged in the matter wawe!" Chekov postulated and Jim punched the comm.
"Scotty, what's going on down there?"
"She's gone haywire, Captain! The Warp Core's overheatin' and I cannae understand why!"
"Can we go to war?"
"She'd go off like a hydrogen bomb, sir!"
"Dammit!" Jim pounded his hand against the hard metal in frustration. The red alert warnings were the only sound on the bridge as all eyes stared at their leader for direction. His tight shoulders slackened and he flicked the comm again.
"Alright Scotty, take your time and get her under control. Send any injured to Sickbay," he decided and turned to the bridge crew.
"Everyone alright?" he asked as he knelt beside the unconscious Vulcan, and there was an affirmative chorus from his officers as they took stock of the damage to their stations. Carol had brought the Theta youngling under control and sported fresh wounds from its sharp claws across her forearms.
"Get her and that thing to Sickbay," he instructed the two Yeomen cowering in the corner, then turned to his First Officer lying where he had fallen.
"Spock?" he tried to rouse him, but got no response. Kirk gestured to Uhura at the comm.
"Call Bones. If no one's seriously hurt I need him up here," he instructed and she nodded, sending a call through to Sickbay.
"Dr. McCoy? The Captain requests you on the Bridge."
"What? I'm in the middle of a crisis! I can't be at his beck and call! What does he want?"
"It's about Spock and Ran'Chaah," she retorted, and he swore under his breath as he instructed his nurses to hold down the fort while he fixed some damn fool Vulcan's damn fool brain again. A few minutes later Bones appeared on the bridge, and as they bore their fallen comrade to Sickbay the doctor glanced at his friend with worried eyes.
"Jim...if this is going to be a habit-"
"I know Bones. I know. Just...help him."
.
Spock woke and immediately wished he hadn't. The light burned his eyes through the lids and the sterile scent of Sickbay assaulted his senses. His head ached and throbbed as if it had been lying pressed beneath slabs of stone for a long duration.
He tried to speak and request water, but his vocal chords gave no indication of responding. His limbs refused his neural orders as well and he lay paralyzed and in near panic.
'Calm yourself,' he chided, 'Jim can help you.'
He turned his consciousness inward, delving inside his mind and body beneath the stifling paralysis.
Jim. He reached out with his raw and tender mind, seeking the golden consciousness among the colored minds of the crew of the ships crew. His Captain was not telepathic and would not be able to understand his words, but he reached out anyway, instinctively, for the one he knew would never let him down. He extended his feelings of need out into space in the irrational hope that someone would hear.
"Jim?"
Kirk glanced at his medical officer to find that he was standing. He sat back down at their table in the mess hall, shaking his head.
"What were you saying?"
Bones looked at him with furrowed brow, obviously concerned.
"You alright?"
Jim was staring into space again, and the surgeon toed his knee with his boot. The ice blue eyes refocused as if startled.
"What?"
"I'm asking if you're alright, Jim!"
"Mhm." He fell back into his strange reverie and Bones left him to it with a shake of his head.
"I think I'm going to go check on Spock," he said vaguely, rising again, and McCoy set down his glass hard in frustration.
"The nurse has instructions to call us if he wakes up or if his condition changes. Is your communicator on?"
Jim checked it absently and nodded.
"Has she called you?"
A shake of his head this time, but his eyes remained cast towards the door. The door doctor gave a disgruntled sigh and waved dismissively towards the door.
"Go on then."
Jim was halfway out before Bones had finished speaking, and the medical officer grumbled under his breath after his absence.
"Damn fool."
Jim entered the sterile silence of Sickbay and swept quizzical crystal eyes across the interior they came to rest on the prone form in the hospital bed. Spock's still face drew him to the bedside, and he gazed down at the sleeping figure.
"How you doing, Spock?" He murmured, and rested his fingers against the cool pale hand resting on top of the bedsheet. He felt suddenly overwhelmed by a sense of helplessness and desperation. Jim jerked back in alarm, and the feeling faded.
Weren't Vulcans touch-telepaths? He grasped the Vulcan's hand more substantially and felt the wave of emotions that didn't belong to him rush over and around him like an oncoming tide.
Spock? He thought experimentally, and a burst of relief and gratitude and brightly colored contentment.
Captain. I am grateful for your timely response to my telepathic transmission. I seem to be experiencing some kind of psychological paralysis similar to the reported 'Body Lock' resulting in human night terrors. I would suggest the deployment of a stimulant to rectify the situation.
Jim didn't receive this information in the exact pattern which Spock's mind relayed it, but he got the gist and turned to look around for the nurse. Finding her nowhere in sight, he began rummaging through the medical supplies on the table next to the Vulcan. Finding the hypo he desired, he came back to Spock's side.
He injected the substance and after a few seconds of mildly anxious waiting the dark eyes opened to soft lighting.
"Thank you, Jim. I was beginning to become uncomfortable with my physical and mental state," he said quietly, and Kirk restrained a sudden unexpected urge to reach out to his First.
"I'm glad I could help. How are you feeling?"
The hybrid took a moment to take a mental inventory of himself and replied, "I require rest, but will make a full recovery."
Jim nodded, and sat down on the bed beside the Vulcan's outstretched legs.
"You're sure that you're alright?"
"I am physically unhurt, but my psychological facilities are minorly damaged. I will be fine."
Kirk nodded again, unsure how to voice the panic he had felt when he dropped like a stone nor the relief to discover he was alive. They sat in silence for a few moments before Spock broke it with his soft tenor.
"Ran'Chaah is not with us."
"What?"
"My telepathic range encircles the whole ship and a small radius of space around it. I cannot detect Ran'Chaah's presence anywhere within my range of awareness."
"What does that mean?"
Spock gazed at the grey ceiling for a moment, contemplatively.
"I would assume that he wishes to be alone. Or he has left us permanently, in which case we will be in an unfortunate amount of trouble."
"Damn." Jim rubbed his tired eyes, the sound of the yellow alert klaxons echoing in the background of the mostly soundproofed Sickbay.
"So what's the new game plan if he's bolted?"
Spock sighed softly, closing his eyes and lacing his fingers atop his stomach, resting them over his heart.
"I suppose we must first alert the Federation that we are at war, and then take the belligerent action which that state suggests."
Jim shook his head and dropped his head in his hands in resignation. A soft touch to the crest of his shoulder drew his attention and he found Spock's dark sad eyes leveled on him.
"We will make it through this battle front as we always have, Captain. You will not fail."
And as Jim smiled gratefully, the Vulcan could not suppress the thought that leapt up spontaneously in response to the gratitude in his crystal eyes.
'And you never shall.'
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-FG