(New Chapter. I hope it's not too bad. I nothing but Kat.)
...
"Are you out of your cornfed mind?" Bones demanded once Jim told him and Spock of his intentions to open one of the torpedoes Marcus had installed upon Khan's suggestion.
"Bones-."
"You're not actually going to listen to this guy, are you? He killed Pike, he almost killed you and God knows what else he's done!" Bones did his best to keep his voice down.
Jim stifled a sigh.
"Bones, he saved our lives out there-." He tried to respond calmly, but Bones wasn't going to let him finish.
"Oh so now you think it's a good idea to open up a volatile piece of machinery just because he dared you to?" He asked. Spock cocked his head to the side.
"The Doctor does have a valid point, Captain. The risks are too high." He spoke with his usual calm and sincerity. Bones cringed visibly.
"Don't agree with me, Spock. It makes me very uncomfortable." The Doctor shuddered.
Spock turned his gaze towards CMO noting his anxious appearance as he paced around the narrow area of the deck they were standing on.
"Then perhaps Doctor you too should learn to govern your emotions. In this situation logic should dictate our every-."
"Logic!" Bones cut him off. "Good God Man! There's a freaking maniac trying to make us blow up our own ship here and you think that with logic-!"
"That's not why he surrendered!" Jim cut him off getting more vocal as the tension hit a boiling point. "I don't know why he suggested we open a torpedo but it's not to blow us up. If he wanted to do that, he wouldn't have allowed us to take him into custody here. We're going to open a torpedo. The question is how."
Spock raised an eyebrow surprised at the level of logic the Captain showed. Of course that was not to say he was on board with the younger man's plan.
"Yes how Jim?" Bones nagged. "With Mr. Scott gone there isn't anyone on board right now with the proper qualitifications for handling a ten pound stick of dynamite."
"Your assumption is incorrect. The Admiral's Daughter was added to the crew this morning and she is a weapons' specialist with particular interest in the new torpedoes. Perhaps she could be of assistance." Spock chided the Doctor calmly.
Jim and Bones fixed the Vulcan with a simultaneous confused stare. "Admiral's Daughter? What Admiral's Daughter?" asked Jim.
"Carol Marcus." Spock answered widening his eyes slightly. "Your new Science Officer who concealed her identity in order to board the ship."
Jim chewed on his lower lip. "And when were you going to tell me about this?" He asked sounding a little edgy.
"When it became relevant. As it just did." Spock's lips twitched into what seemed to be the ghost of a smile. Bones rolled his eyes.
"Have Dr. Marcus report to me immediately." Jim turned to Uhura. She nodded her head. "Yes Sir."
The Lieutenant sitting next to her raised his hand. "Sir? I'm detecting an unauthorized presence in the detention level." He motioned to his screen.
Jim hurried over to investigate his monitor. "Oh no..." He groaned.
...
"I am surprised to see you." Harrison spoke without turning to face the young woman standing behind him and the thick pane of glass that seperated them.
"I thought you would be expecting me." Kat responded calmly looking over her shoulder quickly while taking care not to appear nervous.
Harrison suppressed a chuckle. "After...After your brother performs his investigation of the torpedoes and discovers what I already know to be true, then you would have come...to bargain for your lives." He turned slowly on his heel.
Kat shook her head.
"That's not why I'm here." She snapped, keeping her arms folded stiffly behind her back as Spock often did. She stared intensely into his cool grey eyes.
"I want to know why you saved my son and what you want with me."
Harrison inclined his head to the side. "And what makes you think I want anything from you?" He asked, eyeing the Ambassador with calm despite the intensity of her gaze.
Kat swallowed roughly. "I read up on the attack at Starfleet." She turned to pace in front of the window. "I know you bargained with the man who blew up the London Archives for his daughter's health. So what is it you want from me, Harrison? What are you planning on having me do in exchange for what you did for my son?"
Harrison advanced slowly towards the window. "I want you to help me of course...help me release my family." He spoke in a low melodious voice that almost made Kat feel sympathetic to him.
"Your family?" She raised an eyebrow suspiciously. Harrison nodded his head.
"They are trapped here in this ship. In the highly volatile weapons your Captain was ordered to use upon me. All I want is for their release to be secured, then I will agree to face justice for what I have done." He promised moving so he was standing directly in front of the window.
"Please Katarina."
Kat shuddered at how softly he spoke her name as if a spider drawing in its prey with the beauty and silkiness of his newly spun web.
"I don't understand...how could a person be inside a torpedo? It violates every regulation regarding weapon protocol within Starfleet Regulations." She shook her head.
A ghost of a smile twitched at the corner of Harrison's mouth. "Desperate times call for desperate measures." He chuckled and placed his hand palm flat against the window pane.
"You of all people here should understand that very well."
Kat bit her lip. "That's different. I never would have hurt anyone in order to save Grey! You killed and injured hundreds of people in that explosion!" She shouted in anger. "One of them my dear friend."
"You think I have never suffered loss before, Ambassador? I did what I did because I believed that my crew..my family had been murdered by him! The man on whose orders you've rejoined your crew!" Harrison's tone turned dark and menacing.
Kat had to force herself not to back away. "It's not true...Admiral Marcus is under Starfleet oath. He would lose everything including his life if he ever attempted such a crime!"
Harrison leaned back on his heels. "You think so, Ambassador? Why don't you go and see for yourself then? When your brother goes to investigate my claims on the torpedoes tell me if I am right. Is the Admiral your ally...or am I?"
Kat started to respond. "Ambassador, Commander Spock is enroute to the detention level. You must leave immediately." The prison guard who had reluctantly allowed Kat to visit with Harrison alerted her as a message relayed to him through his monitor.
Kat nodded her head at him. "Thank you Lieutenant." She turned to leave giving Harrison one last wary glance before heading into the Turbo Lift.
Harrison's smile widened in a full spread grin.
...
"Are the torpedoes in the Weapons Bay?" Carol asked as she hurried ahead of the Captain down the corridor.
Jim nodded his head as he hurried to keep up with her. "Yes, loaded and ready to fire. What are they?" He asked. Carol shrugged her shoulders.
"I don't know. That's why I forged my transfer onto your ship which I do apologize for!" She stopped suddenly and turned around to face her Superior. Jim barely stopped in time to avoid colliding with her.
"If I've caused you any problems with my deception Captain, I am very sorry and I'm prepared to face whatever consequences my actions incur. My real name is Carol Marcus and though I am a Starfleet Weapon Specialist, I am also Admiral Marcus's daughter." She spoke sincerely.
Jim nodded his head. "It's all right. I understand why you did it. Call me Jim." He added in attempt to assure her that he was not angry about her false name.
Carol looked visibly relieved. "Thank you. We should hurry though." She turned to continue on her way to the weapons bay and collided into someone who was rushing too quickly through the corridor.
"Oh! I'm so sorry Doctor..Jim?" Kat paled when she saw who was walking with the new Science Officer.
"There you are!" Jim stepped between Carol and his sister and grabbed her by the arm to prevent her from leaving. "What were you thinking? I told you to go back to the bridge!" He hissed ignoring Carol's presence for a moment.
Kat jerked her arm free from her brother's grip. "I already told you I'm on special orders, Jim. Now if you excuse me Captain, I have an important call to make back to Starfleet." She tried to go around him.
Jim quickly stepped in her way. "I don't think so. Special orders or no I am still your Captain, Miss Kirk and I order you to tell me what Harrison said to you at the brig." He fixed her with his most authoritative stare.
Kat swallowed audibly. "Captain I don't mean to intrude, but we haven't got much time." Carol interjected uncertainly as she looked between the siblings nervously.
Jim sighed irritably. "Kat?" He pressed not shifting his gaze from his sister. Kat finally averted her gaze.
"There was nothing of importance. I will tell you once I do learn something of note, okay James?" She promised using her younger brother's real name in order to soften him to her cause.
Jim looked dissatisfied with her answer. "Dr. Marcus, go on ahead to the weapons bay. I will meet you there momentarily." He ordered not looking at the other woman as he issued the order.
Worried, Carol silently complied to his command and Jim waited till she had gone before pulling Kat aside into an unoccupied cabin nearby.
"Now, tell me what's really going on." He demanded trying his best to keep his voice level as he shut the doors to the room.
Kat sighed. "Jim..."
"Now!" Jim snapped, sounding a bit more harsh than he intended. Kat flinched.
"John Harrison...made a deal with the man who blew up the London archives." She spoke softly yet firmly glancing at the door as if she thought someone was listening.
"In exchange for curing his daughter, he had the man rig an explosive in the main library destroying not only the records but those who kept them."
Jim cocked his head to the side in confusion. "What does that have to do with you?" He asked in a low voice Kat did not like. Still she continued, knowing he deserved to hear at least this much of what she knew.
"Because I am in a similar situation." She murmured hanging her head as she thought of what Spock's response would be to what she had at first unknowingly done to save their son's life.
"What-?" Jim started to go off when an alert came over the intercom confirming that all weapons specialists were gathered at the ammunitions bay.
The Captain sighed knowing he couldn't linger any longer despite the situation. "Stand by! I'm on my way!" He responded, turning to head for the exit. Suddenly he stopped and glanced back at where Kat was.
"Report to the bridge. We'll finish this discussion later, okay Kat?" He promised sounding much gentler than before. Kat slowly nodded her head. "Aye Sir."
...
"Captain on the bridge!" Sulu annouced as Jim entered the bridge after seeing Bones and Carol off with one of the torpedoes to the surface of Kronos' first moon.
"Mr. Sulu." Jim acknowledged his pilot as he crossed to the front of the area. "Doctors Marcus and McCoy landed on the moon yet?" He asked as he scanned the bridge.
"Not yet Sir." Sulu responded as he checked his read outs. "No detected activity from the Klingons yet either. I fear if we stay here much longer though they will find us." He reported grimly.
Jim sighed. "Lieutenant Uhura, have you let Starfleet know that we have Harrison in custody?" He asked as Kat slipped silently into her post behind him.
"Yes Sir. No response as of yet. I did however recieve a message from the hospital. It's about Admiral Pike." Uhura hesitated as she got up to let her mentor take her place back. Kat frowned when she heard the uncertainty in the cadet's voice.
"Yes?" Jim urged when Uhura struggled to complete her thought. "Sir...Admiral Pike is dead. He succumbed to his injuries about thirty minutes ago." Uhura hung her head.
Kat and Jim exchanged brief stunned glances. Spock became rigid in his seat.
"Engineering to Bridge! Hello Captain! Can you hear me?" Chekov's loud highly accented voice boomed through the speakers successfully snapping the Captain and his sister out of their daze.
"Yes Mr. Chekov!" Jim hurried to assume his seat. "I hope you have some good news for me!" Kat silently assumed her seat.
"Ah the good news is we found the leak Sir, but the damage is substantial! We are working on it!" Chekov seemed to be grimacing with his words.
Jim sighed and a ran a hand through his hair. "Great. Do we have any idea what might have caused it?" He asked.
There was a brief silence then that confirmed Kat's fears. "Ah no Sir...but I accept full responsibility!"
Kat and Uhura exchanged worried frowns.
"Something tells me it wasn't your fault. Keep on it." Jim responded sighing as he ended the call.
"Captain, the shuttle is in position now. Dr Marcus and McCoy are on enroute with the torpedo." Sulu updated Jim as he brought up a chart on his panel screen.
"Very good, Mr. Sulu." Jim approved as he opened a channel to Bones. "Bones, thanks for helping out. Dr. Marcus asked for the steadiest hands on the ship and I couldn't think of anyoen better." He smiled showing a bit of cheek.
Kat rolled her eyes.
"You're welcome. Although when I dreamt of being stuck on a deserted planet with a beautiful woman there was no torpedo in it." Bones snapped a bit peevishly making several members of the bridge snort with laughter.
Now it was Jim's turn to roll his eyes. "Dr. McCoy may I remind you that you are not there to flirt." He spoke through clenched teeth.
Kat turned surprised at the amount of venom in her brother's statement.
"So how can these legendary wonderful hands help you out, Dr. Marcus?" Bones's question seemed implicitly directed at Carol.
"Bones..." Jim groaned making Uhura giggle a bit as Spock raised an eyebrow at the Captain.
"To understand how powerful these weapons are we need to open the warhead and to do that we need to access the fuel compartment." Carol explained patiently as she set the necessary equipment on the torpedo.
Bones shrugged his shoulders.
"So what's the problem then?" Carol gave him a sharp look.
"The problem is the warhead we have here is live and volatie and could detonate if we mishandle any part of the core. This is why I asked for you assistance, Dr. McCoy do you think you can handle it?" She asked.
Bones scoffed. "Sweetheart I once performed an emergency C-Section on a pregnant Gorn who was giving birth to octuplets. Let me tell you those things could bite." He groaned as he set a box of obviously heavy equipment down on the ground. "I think I can work some magic with your missile."
Sulu and Jim exchanged glances.
"Mr. McCoy there's a bundle of fiber optic cables against the intercasing." Carol continued her instructions as Kat bent to check for a response from Starfleet.
No new messages.
"Still?" Uhura frowned as she looked over Kat's shoulder. "Something must be wrong. I sent that message 0200 hours ago right after you guys got back with Harrison." She scratched her head.
Kat licked her lips. In the back of her mind she recalled Harrison's words to her back at the brig concerning the credibility and integrity of Admiral Marcus's intentions in this mission.
Could it be he was ignoring their messages on purpose?
"Ahhhh!" A sudden cry of pain interrupted Kat's thoughts. Sulu suddenly became rigid in his seat as a red alert broadcasted through the ship.
"Captain the torpedo has just armed itself! Dr. McCoy is trapped!"
Jim blanched. "What?"
"Dr. Marcus! What the h*** just happened?" Bones cursed as he made a few futile attempts to free his arm from the core of the missile.
Jim turned to face his First Officer as a mechanical voice began counting down to detonation. "Mr. Spock alert the transport team and have them beam them both out of there." He ordered.
Spock sprang from his seat. "The transporter cannot diffrentiate between the torpedo and Dr. McCoy. We cannot beam back one without the other." He spoke with a sense of worry tinting his voice as he came over to stand next to the Captain.
Kat glanced at him tensely.
Jim leaned over his intercom. "Dr. Marcus we cannot beam you both out without the torpedo. Is there anyway you can disarm it from your end?" He asked as calmly as he could well manage.
"I'm trying." Carol's response was tense as she worked frantically with the exposed wires of the missile.
When the countdown reached to ten Bones got frantic. "Jim forget about me! Get her the h*** out of here!" He shouted over the noise of the torpedo.
"No! You beam me back he dies! Just let me do this!" Carol stubbornly refused Bones's sacrifice as she pushed another wire gently out of her way.
Sulu bit his lip and turned slowly to face Jim. "Standing by to transport Dr. Marcus on your command, Sir."
Kat's eyes widened in fear at that.
"Five..." Bones began to count out loud, his voice getting higher and paler as he went on. "Four...three.. two..."
"S***!" Carol suddenly interrupted yanking out the core just before the computer could count the final second. The red alert went away and everything went eerily silent for a second before the panting of the two doctors sounded through the speakers.
"Deactivation of the torpedo was successful Captain." Spock noted with undue calm that was not shared by anyone else on the bridge.
"Naw, you think?"
Jim sighed and leaned towards the speakers. "Dr. McCoy are you all right?" He asked. For a moment there was no response.
"Jim!" Bones spoke after a few minutes had passed by in silence. "You're going to want to see this."
...
"What do we got here?" Jim asked the minute he, Spock and Kat made it down to the Med Lab where Bones and Carol managed to bring the newly deactivated torpedo after making sure all its detonative properties were destroyed.
"Something quite ingenius." Carol responded lifting a piece of the torpedo's armor away with little trouble. "The fuel container in this missle has been removed and retro-fitted to contain this cryotube. I've never heard of anything like it." She seemed impressed, but her revelation was chilling to Jim and Kat.
Kat gasped when she saw what was inside the cryotube. "Oh my God!...Is he alive?" She asked turning to Bones for an answer.
"Oh he's alive." Bones nodded. "But if we try to revive him without the proper sequencing he won't be." He looked down grimly at the unconscious man below him.
Kat felt her stomach churn. So the Admiral knew. Harrison wasn't lying about his crew...his family...
"Well can't we just figure out the sequence and wake up him? Maybe he could tell us something about Harrison." Jim suggested.
"It's not that simple. The technology used to freeze this man is not something I learned back in my Standard Emergency Medical Procedures Class. It's way beyond me to be honest." Bones sighed.
Spock furrowed his brow. "How advanced is it, Doctor?" He asked.
"No it's not advanced, Commander Spock." Carol shook her head as she rejoined the group around the torpedo. "This cryotube is ancient. Carbon Freezing has been outmoded since Warp Technology was first developed." She explained.
"And that explains the most interesting thing about our friend here." Bones added on, glancing at a stat reading on the tiny panel located on the bottom of the window on the cryotube.
"He's over three hundred years old."
Spock's frown deepened. Jim's eyebrows nearly leaped off the top of his forehead. "You are certain?" Spock asked as calmly as if he were quizzing his students at the Academy.
"Dear God..." Kat breathed as she gaped down at the unconscious man below her. Spock and Jim both lunged towards her at the same time as Kat swooned unexpectedly at the news.
...