Chapter Twenty-nine
"How much longer, Mr. Scott?"
"Not long now, Captain."
"Thank you, Mr. Scott."
Daniels snapped off communications to the planet below. Sitting in the Captain's chair he did his best not to fidget. He knew he didn't make a very good Vulcan, but so far no one had dared to question him. It had been nearly three days since he'd taken over as 'Captain' of the Enterprise and Daniels was starting to worry that Spock wasn't going to return.
Thinking about Spock brought Daniels' thoughts to Uhura. McCoy had yet to hear from her and no one had any idea on the condition of either the mother or her unborn baby. Daniels hated to think that the child would be born into the world without his or her father. He closed his eyes for a moment and took a deep breath to calm his nerves.
"Captain?" Sulu asked with more suspicion than concern.
"Yes, Mr. Sulu?"
"I'm having a little trouble with the navigational computer, could you give me the correctional calculations for maintaining orbit?"
Daniels had to bite down on his tongue to keep from smiling. He couldn't help but admire the new First Officer's sly resourcefulness. Orbital calculation would be something that Spock as a Vulcan could do in his head as easily as a human adds two plus two. However, Daniels was no Vulcan and there was no way he could answer the question. He knew that Sulu was fully capable of handling the navigational computer on his own. This was a test.
"Mr. Sulu, what is wrong with the navigation computer?" Daniels answered evasively.
"Perhaps nothing, the numbers just don't look right to me. If you could give me the calculations I could use them to double check or recalibrate if I need to."
It was at this moment that Daniels was glad that if it was one thing he could do it was handle the helm of the Enterprise. Getting to his feet he walked over to the console and started flicking his fingers expertly over the navigational controls. He ran the computer through a few test simulation and recalibrations before turning to Sulu.
"The computer is not in error, Mr. Sulu."
"Oh, thank you...Sir."
Internally Daniels sighed. He and Sulu had been getting along well before he had taken on Spock's features. He hated lying to the First Officer, and he respected him for noticing that something wasn't right. Daniels headed back over to the chair when the Communications Officer suddenly asked for his attention.
"Sir, priority one communication from Starfleet for you."
"On screen."
"Aye, Captain."
Part of Daniels expected to be greeted by his father's face. He had avoided his father as best he could while in Starfleet and Cooly had no knowledge that he had entered the Academy. For the first time he was glad that he looked like Spock and not himself, although he doubted his father would recognize him after all these years. The Admiral that came on the screen was not Cooly, it was Admiral Yang.
"Captain Spock."
"Yes, Admiral Yang?"
"For the time being you will be reporting to me." Yang informed.
"What about Admiral Cooly?"
"I suppose you should know. Since there is an ongoing investigation into the following information I must ask that it does not go beyond your bridge crew."
"You have my word, Sir."
"Admiral Cooly was found dead this morning."
"Dead?" Daniels repeated in shock.
"Initial reports are that it was a suicide, but some have their doubts." Yang said. "The Admiral had many friends, but he had an equal number of enemies."
Daniels barely heard the Admirals words. He felt like a rug had been yanked out from beneath his feet. Cooly may have rejected him for who he was, but he was still his father. Fearing he was about to lose his balance he reached out and put his hand on the arm of the Captain's chair.
"Captain Spock?" Yang asked with concern. "Are you alright?"
"Yes, Sir." Daniels answered automatically. "Do you have new orders for me?"
"Finish the repairs on Outpost 10 then return to Earth to pick up the remainder of your crew that opted to take shore leave."
"Yes, Admiral."
With his heart pounding in his throat Daniels did his best to remain calm on the outside. The Admiral signed off and the screen went back to the star field. As the seconds passed Daniels felt his conflicting emotions growing stronger. When he felt his eyes burn with tears he suddenly realized that he was having difficulty keeping Spock's features on his face. His shape shifting was becoming a battle for control.
"Take the con, Mr. Sulu." Daniels ordered in a voice that did not sound like Spock's nor his own.
"Captain? Are you okay?"
"Follow orders, Mr. Sulu."
Rushing to the turbo lift Daniels was just able to hold his form long enough for the doors to close. Unable to remain someone else Daniels relaxed into his own face. He knew he couldn't afford to keep it for long and as the lift moved he tried to return to his borrowed shape. He looked into the shiny metal surface of the turbo lift walls, but his own face continued to stare back at him
"Damn it." Daniels growled. "He threw you out on the street a long time ago, just because he's dead doesn't change anything."
The words didn't help, Daniels was still on the verge of tears. More importantly he could not calm himself enough to shape shift. He couldn't just become himself again, the black wig would come off easily enough, but his ears were a different story. When the turbo lift doors opened Daniels decided to just stare at the floor and rush to McCoy's office. He made it all the way there without anyone giving him a second glance or so he thought.
"Captain Spock?"
Pretending like he didn't hear Nurse Chapel Daniels kept marching towards McCoy's office. She called out for him again but he managed to duck into the doctor's office. The door closed behind him and he locked it. Leaning against the door he panted for breath. Bones looked up from his desk with a look of annoyance that quickly turned to shock.
"Good grief man!" Bones snarled. "What are you doing?"
"Uh...being myself?" Daniels replied sheepishly.
"That I can see, the question is 'why'?"
"I...I'm sorry..." Daniels fought harder against his tears.
"Dear God...are you crying?" McCoy demanded as he got up from behind his desk. "Vulcans don't cry!"
"I know, I know, I'm a terrible Vulcan."
"Well...take it as a compliment, but what in Space is going on?"
"My father was just found dead."
"Your father? Admiral Cooly?" McCoy asked in disbelief.
"That would be him." Daniels sighed.
"What happened?"
"Right now they say 'suicide', but he wasn't the kind of man to take his own life."
"Then it's murder."
"Yes." Daniel closed his eye and pinched the bridge of his nose. "Damn it! What the hell is wrong with me?"
"You just lost your father." McCoy said gently.
"He hated me, he disowned me." Daniels snarled. "Why should I care that he's dead?"
Daniels bowed his head to hide his tears from the doctor. His anger forgotten Bones sighed heavily. Stepping up to Daniels he put his hand on his shoulder in sympathy. Daniels looked up at McCoy and forced a sad smile.
"I need to pull myself together."
"Daniels, you're not a Vulcan and therefore you have every right to have these conflicting emotions. No matter what your father thought of you, he was still your father and I'm sorry that he's gone."
"You shouldn't be sorry. He was a bastard."
"Yes he was. However, when someone dies we tend to only remember their good points."
"I don't have time for this right now."
"No, no you don't. I'm going to get you a light sedative to take the edge off. I assume you look like yourself because you can't shift."
"I've never tried to hold a form for so long, and now that I'm so emotional I don't seem to be able to do it."
"Stay here."
Daniels nodded and stepped to the side so that McCoy could step out into sick bay. The instant the doctor appeared Chapel pounced on him.
"Doctor, is something wrong with the Captain?"
"He's fine."
"Did...did he hear from Nyota?" Chapel asked nervously.
"No."
"So we still don't know anything?"
"No." Bones took Chapel by the shoulders and physically moved her out of his path. "I'm very busy, Nurse, please return to your station."
"Doctor...I..." Chapel hesitated "I think you should run a full scan on Mr. Spock."
"Duly noted, Nurse." Bones huffed and started riffling through the hyposprays.
"What are you looking for?"
"Nurse, please!" McCoy snapped. "Just go back to your station."
"Yes, Doctor."
After glancing at the doctor's closed office door Chapel went back to her duties. Bones rolled his eyes, knowing that it was only a matter of time before Daniels got caught. He'd already had to ease Sulu's fears several times. As the hours passed and there was no word from Spock McCoy was starting to fear that the stoic Vulcan might not have one last miracle escape left in him.
"He and Jim were bound to run out of luck at some point." McCoy muttered sadly to himself.
When McCoy returned to his office 'Spock' was back. Daniels was sitting behind the desk. Apparently he had gain enough control of himself to shape shift once more. He looked up at McCoy and a genuine smile slipped across his Vulcan features. Bones narrowed his eyes.
"Take that stupid grin off your face, you don't look anything like Spock when you do that."
"I'm sorry, Doctor. I just received a sub-space message from Nyota's doctor. She said that they were able to stop her labour, but that they weren't sure how much longer they could hold off the birth. She probably won't make it to full term, but they are trying to give the baby a few more days."
"We need to get Spock back." Bones said firmly. "He has to be there for the birth."
"So what are we going to do to make sure that happens?"
"I have no idea." McCoy admitted.
"Captain?" The intercom asked.
"Yes, Mr. Sulu?"
"A small, amazingly fast ship just dropped out of warp off our starboard side."
"Great," Daniels muttered "now what?"
"Sir?" Sulu questioned.
"Mr. Sulu, hail the ship."
"She's hailing us now." Sulu informed.
"Patch it through."
"Enterprise this is Christopher Pike, permission to come aboard?"
"Admiral Pike?" Bones and Daniels asked in surprise at the same time.
"Spock?" Pike asked equally surprised. "You're on the Enterprise?"
"Yes, Sir." Daniels lied.
"I see..." Pike replied sounding unconvinced. "Permission to come aboard?"
"Of course, Sir. Is your ship small enough to fit in the hanger bay?"
"I'm surprised that you don't know the answer to that." Pike said.
"I am not currently on the bridge, I have little information on your craft."
"Right. Yes, open the hanger doors."
"Mr. Sulu, do you copy?" Daniels asked.
"Aye, Sir."
"Then do it. Admiral we will meet you in the bay."
McCoy was standing next to the intercom so he snapped it off. Daniels went to drag his hands through his hair, but he stopped himself when he remembered that not only wasn't it very Vulcan like, but that the hair wasn't even real and would probably come off. McCoy crossed arms over his chest and stepped up to the desk.
"Daniels, the Admiral has known Spock longer than any of us. You're not going to fool him any more than you fooled Nyota."
"I don't intend to try." Daniels informed. "I'll greet him as Spock, but then we'll bring him to a private room, and tell him everything."
"Well, if there is anyone we can trust it's Admiral Pike." Bones nodded. "Does he know you?"
"We've never formally met."
"Let's go introduce you."
On their way down to the hanger bay they met with Scotty who had just beamed back aboard. He hadn't been around enough to become suspicious yet so he started giving Daniels a detailed of the repairs done on the outpost. Neither Daniels nor McCoy cared, but they let the engineer prattle on. The hanger had just re-pressurized when they arrived and doors opened for them.
"Oooo, ain't she a beaut!" Scotty admired. "I bet she does Warp 14 without even breaking a sweat."
Daniels had to admit that it was a beautiful ship. The sleek design was clearly built for both speed and elegance. About three times the size of a shuttlecraft she was an impressive sight. They made their way to the back of the ship that was splitting open to form a ramp. Pike skillfully maneuvered his wheelchair to the greeting party and looked Daniels over. Daniels straightened his shoulders a bit, he had no idea how he should address the retired Admiral.
"Welcome aboard, Admiral." McCoy greeted.
"That's one fine ship, Sir." Scotty beamed. "Mind if I take a look?"
"Go ahead, Scotty, just don't take anything apart. She's not mine, I borrowed her from a friend."
"Thank you, Sir." Scotty smiled and scurried off.
"Spock, I didn't expect to see you here." Pike admitted.
"I must say that I did not expect to see you here either." Daniels replied. "However, I am glad you are here."
"I would have just called, but something had Starfleet in a bit of a frenzy and even with my connections I couldn't get a message to you."
"How did you know where to find us?" Bones asked.
"Salen knew."
"Salen?" McCoy repeated.
"Spock here can tell you all about him." Pike stared at Daniels. "I'm surprised you haven't told him already. Go ahead, tell the good doctor who he is."
Daniels glanced over at McCoy who gave a tiny shrug. When Daniels turned back to Pike to try and explain he found a phaser aimed at his heart. Pike had pulled the weapon out with surprising speed.
"Admiral..." McCoy started.
"Doctor, this man is not Spock."
"I know."
"Admiral, my name is Commander William Daniels, helmsman of the USS Enterprise."
"And Spock?" Pike demanded.
"He went to Romulus to rescue James Kirk."
"Why, or rather how, do you look like Spock?"
"I'm a Chameliod hybrid, he asked me to take his place."
Daniels and McCoy held their breath while they waited for Pike to decide if he was going to believe them or not. After a moment Pike lowered the phaser and returned it to its holster on his belt. Pike looked Daniels over and shook his head.
"You really do look just like him."
"You're not a man deceived by looks." Daniels noted.
"Spock would never make me repeat a request to come aboard."
"Of course." Daniels nodded. "If you'll come with Dr. McCoy and I well can ex..."
Daniels stopped when there was a terrified cry from within the sleek ship. Pike literally turned on a dime and headed for the ship.
"Salen?" Pike cried. "Salen!"
Daniels and McCoy exchanged a quick confused glance and then rushed after Pike who was already back on the ship. On board they found Scotty on the floor of the main living space next to the wall. He had a panel removed from the wall and had his arm in the wall of the ship up to his shoulder. The horrified cry of panic repeated itself and Daniels was shocked to hear that it was coming from inside the wall.
"You've got a stowaway of some sort, Admiral." Scotty growled. "Don't worry, I've gotta hold of 'em."
"No, let him go."
"Sir?" Scotty asked confused.
"Let him go, before you get hurt."
"Me?"
"Mr. Scott, do as the Admiral says." Daniels ordered.
"Aye, Sir."
Scotty shrugged and released his captive. Pike came over and motioned for Scotty to step away. Pike leaned over as far as he could, but he couldn't see up into the opening in the wall. Daniels looked to McCoy, but the doctor seemed just as confused.
"Salen?" Pike called softly. "You in there?"
"Yes, Sir." Came a meek answer.
"Come on out here, no one is going to hurt you."
There was a moment of silence followed by the rustling of wires. Daniels was expecting to see either a young child or a small alien. He was surprised when a full sized humanoid teenager managed to work his way out of the small vent panel. The boy looked Vulcan except his hair was wild and shock white. Bright green lines marked his face.
Daniels found his heart going out to the young alien boy. He had a feel about him like a beaten dog. Crawling out of his hiding place he instantly kneeled in front of Pike with his head bowed in submission. Pike sighed and shook his head sadly, but there was a slight smile on his face.
"Are you angry, Sir?" Salen whispered.
"A little bit. I thought I asked you to say at the house."
"I did not wish to be alone, I also owe Spock a great deal. He went out into danger because of what he learned from me...I want to help him."
"Admiral," McCoy said "is this the Vulcan boy you called Spock about?"
"Indeed. Dr. McCoy meet Salen, Salen this is Dr. McCoy and..."
Pike stopped when he saw Salen tense in fright. Salen had looked over to Bones and Daniels and gasped sharply. He stared at Spock and then slowly got to his feet. Salen leaned in towards Pike and whispered something in his ear.
"It's okay, Salen." Pike smiled. "I know he's not Spock."
"I'm a terrible liar." Daniels sighed.
"That's not necessarily a bad thing." Pike replied. "Let's all go to the briefing room and get this all sorted out."
Salen kept distrusting eyes on Daniels and didn't move until Pike did. Daniels was just relieved to have the Admiral aboard. As much as he had wanted a position on a starship he was starting to miss his life as First Officer aboard the research vessel. They had all just gathered in the briefing room when the intercom squawked for Daniels attention.
"Yes, Mr. Sulu?"
"Sir, we are getting a distress call."
"That could be them!" McCoy said.
"Patch it through to the briefing room."
"Aye, Sir."
"Enterprise? Enterprise, please respond." A clear female voice rang out. "Mayday-mayday-mayday. Enterprise, please..."
"Oh no..." Bones groaned. "I know that voice."
"Who is it?" Pike asked.
"Cel'esta."
"Who is that?" Daniels asked.
"Well the last time I checked she was the Empress of the Romulan Star Empire."
"Romulan Empress?" Daniels replied in shock. "What is she doing here?"
"If I had to guess I'd say she's looking to cause trouble."
