Author's Note : References the TOS episode 'Plato's Stepchildren'
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Temptations
Chapter 25 - Forcible Relations
February, 2269
They were responding to a desperate distress call from an unknown planet, which Spock said contained no life forms. However it was rich in kiranite deposits, a very rare source of great power. Kirk, Spock, and McCoy beamed down. They were greeted by a dwarf, dressed very strangely, who introduced himself as Alexander. He was telling them about the group of people here on this planet when he suddenly said someone was waiting for them and disappeared as through he had been dragged away.
They followed him into a room that looked like something out of Greek mythology. A man was laying on a couch to one side and a woman who said she was his spouse asked for the physician. McCoy followed her to the man's side. McCoy was instantly concerned, the infection in the man's leg was massive. When McCoy opened his portable medkit to give Parmen a hypo for the pain, the hypospray floated away from his grasp and injected itself into the man's arm.
Off to the side, Alexander tried to convince Philana that the men had come to help and deserved better than to die, she forced him to bite his own hand, telling him that he talked too much.
While McCoy tried to figure out how to treat Parmen, Kirk and Spock talked to Philana, trying to find out about the telekinetic power that these people had. She admitted that they had not had it until they arrived on this planet. She also told them that they were the result of a eugenics program on the planet of their origin, and that they were extraordinarily long-lived.
As Parmen began to writhe in pain, he lost control of his telekinesis, and things began to break and fly around the room. Kirk, Spock, and McCoy crouched down, trying to keep from being hit by the flying objects.
And in orbit around the planet, the Enterprise shook as well. Scotty called Kirk from the bridge, telling him that they were in the midst of a storm. He said that emergency gyros were at full capacity and still the ship was shaking. Kirk ordered him to take the ship out of orbit and further into space. Spock could sense Nyota's concern as she grasped the railing around the bridge pit, trying to keep from being thrown about the bridge. Scotty informed Kirk that the ship was locked tight into orbit and there was nothing he could do.
Kirk informed Bones that Parmen was apparently tearing up the Enterprise as well as the furniture in the room, and asked him to knock Parmen out, fast. When he tried, he was knocked about and rolled repeatedly against the wall. Alexander, too, began to be knocked about. Kirk went to Alexander's rescue, trying to shield him from Parmen's sight. Philana reached out with her hands, covering Parmen's eyes, and McCoy charged forward with the hypospray. Meanwhile, Alexander raised his hands to his own neck, and began to strangle himself. Only when Parmen lost consciousness did Alexander relax.
Kirk whipped out his communicator and confirmed with Scotty that the turbulence had abated. Kirk told him to assess the damage to the ship and begin repairs. When Philana told Alexander to escort their guests to the south wing, Kirk said they must return to the ship. But McCoy said that he needed to stay until Parmen's fever broke, so Kirk decided that they would all stay. Alexander escorted Kirk and Spock to a large room, lavishly decorated. Alexander told them to ask him for anything they needed. While Spock walked about the room, looking at its contents, Kirk sat on the end of a bench and talked to Alexander. Kirk asked him if there were other Platonians besides himself who did not have the telekinetic ability. He told him no. When Kirk told him that where they came from, size, shape or color made no difference, and nobody had the power, Alexander was enchanted. And then he spun about and again was drug from the room, shouting that somebody wanted him.
Spock turned to Kirk and said that it would be very gratifying to leave there. Kirk was concerned about what would happen if Parmen died. Just as Kirk was talking about the pattern of events that seemed to be connected to these people, McCoy entered the room, ebullient. The concoction that he had created had broken Parmen's fever and the infection had begun to drain. Kirk decided that now was the perfect time to leave. He pulled out his communicator and called Scotty to beam them up, only to be told that all the controls were frozen. Kirk was concerned that the ship had been that badly damaged, but Scotty assured him that was not the case and that he did not know what was causing the frozen controls. He also told Kirk that subspace communications with StarFleet were completely severed. Kirk told Scotty that he would handle it from the surface and shut his communicator. The other two men had been listening, and were not especially happy with this turn of events.
In the main room, Alexander was playing a lyre, and singing, when Kirk entered. Parmen was sitting on the edge of his couch, much recovered. When Kirk demanded to know why the ship's controls were frozen and it locked in orbit, Parmen told him he was mistaken. Kirk replied that he had talked to the engineer aboard the ship, that they had shown their good faith, and now it was time for Parmen to show his. Behind Parmen, Alexander's face was frozen in terror. Parmen told Kirk that he was a guest, and guests did not barge in making demands and issuing orders. And then he waved his hand, and Kirk's phaser flew through the air into Parmen's hand.
Kirk replied that Parmen did not know the meaning of the word guest. Guests, he said, were not treated like common prisoners. Parmen resented his tone of voice. And then Parmen forced Kirk to slap himself, repeatedly. Alexander closed his eyes, and grimaced.
Later, back in the room where the men were staying, Kirk tried repeatedly to raise the Enterprise, with no success. Spock commented that Parmen did not wish them to have any contact with the Enterprise. He added that Parmen would not have treated Kirk so brutally if he had any intention of releasing either Kirk or the Enterprise. Then McCoy's eyes widened, and he jerked upright, then to his feet. Kirk asked him where he was going. McCoy said he did not know, he didn't want to go, but he couldn't help himself. And then Kirk felt himself jerked forward as well. Spock was not far behind, fighting the compulsion with all his power. The three men headed off, down the hall toward the mail room.
When they found themselves once again standing on the inlaid game board, Alexander was off to one side, blowing on a long horn. Parmen and Pilana were seated on the couch on the dais at the end of the room. Pilana rose and stated that they were forever in their debt. She motioned to some artifacts laying on a table to the side and asked that they accept them as tokens of their graditude. She then waved her hand, and the artifacts flew across the room to the three officers, who did not appear very glad at all to receive them. Kirk demanded to know whether the Enterprise had been released. At this, Parmen rose to his feet, and spoke for the first time. He tried to blame his treatment of them on his illness. He asked for forgiveness. Kirk agreed, and then asked again about the Enterprise. Parmen assured him that it would be shortly. Kirk turned and headed for the door.
Parmen, however, was not done. He had one final request. He indicated that McCoy was to remain. McCoy refused. Neither Parmen nor Philana showed any indication that they had heard him. Parmen began to talk about McCoy's duties. McCoy against stated that his answer was no. Parmen was determined. Kirk rebutted him. When the three officers turned to leave, McCoy found that he was rooted to the spot. He told Kirk to leave, but he refused, telling Parmen that they would not leave without McCoy.
Parmen then decided that they would all stay, and help them celebrate their anniversary. McCoy was yanked across the room, to stand beside the couch where Parmen and Philana sat. Two laurel wreathes flew across the room, landing on the floor, and Kirk and Spock bent down and retrieved them, placing them on their heads. The shield and lyre that they had been clutching now flew away. Alexander sat on the sidelines, watching fearfully.
Alexander began to beat his drum, and Kirk and Spock skipped around each other, chanting poetry. Then they bowed awkwardly, smiles on both faces. Next they were on their knees, Kirk yelling at McCoy that he was not staying. Next they were flung to the floor, and Kirk was crawling on his belly, spouting yet more poetry. McCoy was incensed, yelling at Parmen to stop it. Parmen turned to McCoy, but McCoy replied that he had his orders. When Kirk collapsed on his back, yowling in pain, McCoy declared that he would never stay.
Next Spock was forced up, and his arms rose above his head. He began to dance, with small steps, and clap his hands, all around Kirk's head, while Kirk lay there, almost comatose. Spock resisted with all his strength as Parmen forced his to put his foot on Kirk's face. And then he collapsed beside Kirk and began to laugh uncontrollably. He crawled across the floor and lay against the steps, still laughing. McCoy complained bitterly, saying they would destroy him, and Parmen then forced Spock to cry. From the floor, Kirk spoke Spock's name, and then began to crawl towards him, but Spock continued to sob, his face buried in Alexander's lap.
Kirk found himself forced to crawl on hands and knees, and Alexander rose up in their defense, saying that these people had saved Parmen's life, and he was making Alexander ashamed to be a Platonian. Parmen tried to convince McCoy that it was all his fault.
Later, the three were back in their room, with Alexander. Spock sat with his hands steepled, refusing to speak with the others. When he finally did speak, it was to apologize to the captain. Spock asked them if they still felt anger towards Parmen. Both Kirk and McCoy admitted that they did, McCoy adding "And hatred."
"Then you must release it, gentlemen, as I must release mine." Spock was concerned that he might have seriously injured Kirk, even killed him. Stating that he must master his hatred, Spock rose from the bench and walked over to a small table, clenching his hand over a vase sitting there, crushing it to pieces. And then he froze, where he stood, with one ragged piece of the vase still in his hand.
Bones called Kirk to him, telling him it was senseless to continue to resist. He would stay. Kirk told him that he couldn't. When Bones said that Parmen had promised to release them if he would stay, Kirk told him that that promise meant nothing, that Parmen would kill them all in a way that McCoy would not see. When Kirk told McCoy that promising to stay would sign the death warrants of the entire crew, Alexander chimed in, saying he was right. Alexander finally realized that he was not being mistreated because of his size, or because he did not have the telekinetic ability, but because the others were cruel and warped beings. He lifted a vase and dropped it to the floor, picking up a sharp fragment, saying he was going to cut them all. Kirk reasoned with him, trying to keep him from being killed.
When Kirk assured Alexander that they had not given up, and that there may be something he could do to help, Alexander assured him that he would do anything. At Spock's questioning, he told them that it had been six months and fourteen days after their arrival on this planet that they had started pushing him around with their minds. He also told Spock that they had brought three or four months of supplies with them. Spock found this fascinating. Their power had developed two or three months after they had started eating the native foods.
McCoy ran analysis on the sample of Parmen's blood that he had taken earlier, and Alexander's blood. The only difference that he found was the concentration of kiranite. Parmen's blood contained far more of it. Spock now knew exactly why this utopia had been kept a secret - anyone coming here and staying long enough would acquire the power. Now Kirk asked McCoy if it was possible to force the accumulation of kiranite in their blood. McCoy said it would take some doing, but was definitely possible.
McCoy thought that even given the power, they might not be able to break free, because there were thirty-eight of them, but Spock said that the power was not additive, and Alexander supported him. McCoy got out his med kit and injected both Spock and Kirk. And then Kirk suggested that McCoy inject Alexander. But Alexander refused, not wanting to become like the others. But he wanted to come with them when they left. While they were arguing about it, they saw the shimmer of the transporter beam, and Uhura and Chapel materialized before them, stunned looks on their faces. Both women turned and walked through a curtained doorway, while the men stood behind them, wondering what was happening. Spock could feel Nyota's fear, and he tried to reassure her, but it was most difficult.
When next Kirk and Spock saw Chapel and Uhura, they were all dressed in Grecian attire. And the men once more wore the laurel wreathes. The women spoke of being forced into the transporter, like puppets. Spock was not at all comfortable with the expanse of Nyota's breasts that was exposed, but there was nothing he could do about it. Kirk drew Spock aside, asking him if he felt anything from the injection Bones had given them, and then suggesting that they try to life a plate of fruit sitting on the table. Neither was able to budge it. And then panels in the walls opened, revealing many of the Platonians, sitting on benches, watching them. McCoy was with them.
Parmen stood and gave a short speech, ending by stating that tonight they welcomed their first new member since they had landed here. Kirk stepped forward, saying that they still had to convince the doctor, who replied that they would never do it. The next thing that happened was that Parmen forced Spock, Nyota and Christine over to one of the couches in the room. Spock found himself on the floor, while the two women were seated on the couch. Alexander began to play his lyre, and Spock found himself forced to sing. Nyota laid her hand on the couch so that her fingertips touched Spock's arm, seeking to enhance their link. At his caution, she drew back slightly.
When the song was done, Parmen declared that the revels begin, waving his arm across his body. The two women jerked up and ran toward Kirk, Spock following. They found themselves standing in the center of the room, while the furniture rearranged itself. Then Chapel turned around in a circle, and grasped Spock by the arms from the back, pulling him toward one of the couches. Nyota turned and staggered over to the other couch, Kirk following her. Alexander sat in his spot, his eyes almost closed, wanting to cry.
After a moment, both men staggered up, and changed places. Spock began to feel relief too soon, for no sooner were they seated, than they staggered up again, and went back to their original places. Chapel leaned forward, her hand coming up to rest on Spock's neck. She grimaced, whispering to him. "I'm so ashamed. Please, make them stop."
Spock could only reply "We have tried."
On the other couch, Nyota was trying to avoid Kirk's arms.
Chapel had one hand on the back of Spock's shoulder now, the other roughly caressing his cheek. She begged him again to make them stop, and he closed his eyes, trying. When he opened his eyes again, it was to tell her that he did not have the power. He apologized to her, stating that he had failed her. He had also failed Nyota, and that failure burned within him.
Chapel looked at him, tears in her eyes. "For so long I've wanted to be close to you. Now all I want to do is crawl away and die."
He resisted with all his might, but they were forced together, and her mouth claimed his. He squinted his eyes shut, and forced his shields as high as they would go, resisting for all he was worth. This was not right! He had no wish for this, none at all. He found himself pressing Chapel down onto the couch, and feared what must come next.
Kirk grabbed Uhura by the arms and pulled her close to him. She placed her hands on his chest, trying to push him away. "I'm so frightened, so very frightened." Her lips trembled, and there were tears in her eyes. She was screaming inside for Spock to save her, but he was unable to do so.
Kirk told her that the Platonians wanted her to feel that way, that it made them think that they were alive. She replied that she wished she could stop trembling. Her hands moved on him, not of her own volition. And his moved on her. He told her to try not to think about what they were being forced to do.
On the other couch, Spock trembled as he continued to exert the maximum effort to free himself. Chapel trembled beneath him, their lips still touching. He would free himself! And then Nyota! He must!
Nyota was talking, trying to keep herself from shaking in fear. "I'm thinking of all the times on the Enterprise when I was scared to death." She continued, as they were pressed together, cheek to cheek, that his voice had calmed her on those occasions. "And now they are making me tremble. But I am not afraid. I am not afraid!"
They both continued to resist, but in the end, they did not succeed. Kirk's mouth descended onto hers, and she could not prevent it. In her mind, she cried for Spock, and felt his forgiveness wash over her, even as she continued to resist. Over her head, Kirk's eyes were locked on their tormentors.
And now a table slid into the room, laden with instruments of torture. Kirk was yanked up off the bench and brought to stand beside it, Spock coming right behind him. Kirk grasped the long whip, and Spock the poker in the bucket of hot coals. Kirk made a few practice cracks with the whip, and then both men found themselves jerked about, and headed for the couch where Uhura lay, her eyes wide. When he was half way there, Spock felt himself jerked about and headed for Chapel.
Then Kirk turned, and lashed out toward the spectators, the whip cracking as he yelled at them that they were sick and half dead. As Kirk was forced back around, Nyota drew back on the couch, raising one hand before her. The whip lashed out, cracking all around her as she cringed in fear. Her mind was babbling now, afraid, and Spock could not help her, for he was expending all his effort in resisting the order to apply the hot end of the poker to Chapel's flesh.
Alexander cringed and cried. This was too horrible to contemplate. And then he crawled up onto the ledge that ran between where the onlookers sat and the room where the four struggled. He rolled forward, down to the floor.
McCoy yelled at Parmen to stop. He offered to do whatever Parmen wanted, to stay there and serve him, if he would only stop what was going on. Below them, Alexander picked up a dagger off the table where the instruments of torture were. And then he climbed up on the bench next to the dividing wall, only to be frozen in mid lunge. Parmen's attention was diverted from the two men, who were able to halt their actions, at least for the moment. And then Parmen began to force Alexander to cut himself with the knife he held. All watched while he struggled, the knife blade coming ever closer to his abdomen.
And then the knife turned away. Parmen looked up in astonishment. "Who did that?" and Kirk laughed, throwing down the whip.
Someone said that it was impossible, to which Spock replied "Quite possible, and logical" as he threw down the poker. The Platonians looked around, not understanding what was happening.
Kirk warned them, not to try anything. That they not only had the power, but at twice the power level. Parmen refused to believe him, and a struggle occurred then, as both men struggled to control Alexander and his knife. It was only when Alexander was almost over the divider, the knife extended, that Parmen realized that he was bested. When Kirk moved Alexander away from Parmen's throat, Alexander complained, wanting to finish him off. But when Kirk asked Alexander if he wanted to be like Parmen, Alexander set down the knife.
Parmen relaxed for a moment, and then felt himself being jerked about, drawn over the divider between the two parts of the room. He found himself on the floor, being harangued by Alexander, being told how contemptible he was. Parmen staggered to his feet and slowly approached Kirk. "Captain, you knew that I intended to kill both you and the Enterprise, and yet you spared me."
Kirk informed him that to them, killing, even for revenge, was murder. But that there would be other starships. Parmen assured him that other starships would be safe. At his remarks that he felt it was time that they changed their ways, both Kirk and Spock commented that they did not believe him, that it would be highly uncharacteristic of him. Spock informed him that they fully expected him to revert to his sadistic ways as soon as they were out of sight. And Kirk reminded him that they could recreate the power in a matter of hours. Parmen indicated that he understood.
Kirk beckoned to Alexander, and called Scotty to beam them up, including a little visitor.
"***"
As soon as they returned to the Enterprise, Spock volunteered to escort the women to their quarters. Kirk readily agreed, and Spock and the two women headed down the corridors. First they stopped at Nurse Chapel's door, and once again, she apologized. Spock assured her that nothing that had happened had been her fault or under her control. She nodded, and entered her quarters.
Now Spock and Nyota were alone, and she was shivering. When he silently asked her where she wished to go, she quickly indicated that she wanted to be in his quarters. They moved on down the corridor, and as soon as his door had closed behind them, she was in his arms, shaking. He held her close, rubbing her back slowly, his forehead resting against hers. After several minutes, her shaking began to subside, and he suggested that they remove the clothing they were wearing, to rid themselves of the feel of it, and the memories that it contained. She drew a sobbing breath and began at once to rip the cloth from her body. He reached out, and stayed her hands, and gently disrobed her, tossing everything he removed down the recycle slot. Then he did the same with the clothing he was wearing. He turned to her, and picked her up, carrying her into the bathroom. He stepped into the shower and waved the hot water on. They stood there, the water pouring over them, and clung to one another. After some time, he reached for the gel she left there, and gently washed the heavy makeup from her face. Then he took the shampoo, and worked it all through her hair, removing every trace of the contorted hairdo that had been forced on her. At last she began to unwind, ever so slowly. He continued, cleaning every part of her body, until she felt clean once more. And then she repaid the favor, her hands moving over his body as though relearning it.
When they were dry, he picked her up again, and carried her to the bed, and laid her down, coming down beside her, and pulling the blanket up over them, ordering the computer to lock the door and shut down the comlink before dimming the lights. When they were quiet, she lay one hand on his chest, querying, and he bent his head to her. "Whatever you wish, k'diwa, I am here for you."
With a choked sob, she curled herself against him, holding him tight, and he wrapped his arms around her, rocking her slowly back and forth. This harm would not heal instantly. They would need to talk, and hold each other, and slowly work their way through it. Each had done things they had not wished to do, with people they had not wished to do it with, and they must forgive themselves, as well as each other. But they had made a start. After a while, her breathing slowed, and her muscles relaxed, and her mind quieted. He waited until he was sure she slept deeply before he let himself sink into meditation, still holding her close.