Chapter 28
Spock
Earth.
The great blue orb came into view on the forward view-screen, it's expanse filled the screen as the Enterprise came into low Earth orbit. The Enterprise was travelling at impulse 3 as it made it's journey into spacedock, the air on the bridge hung heavy. The crew had worked extra shifts to get the Enterprise home, carrying the criminal's ship along side it. The crew had been through a lot, and the sight of Earth was a welcoming pleasure, the bridge sighed as the weights were slowly being lifted from it's shoulders, the crew, ship and commander were exhausted.
"Enterprise, you are clear for docking." Came the tinny voice of a docking personnel over the intercom. The great orbiting mass of metal and Aluminium-glass stole their view of Earth as the Enterprise made its way closer to the orbiting home of the fleet's ship's; Space station One.
The maw of the station slowly opened, Sulu ran his hands over the controls and manoeuvred the ship into range of the tractor beam, from there the control was in the Spacestation's capable hands. "Ship locked and ready for docking sir," Sulu called from the helm and Spock nodded.
He stood from his seat in the captains chair and turned to his crew. "I must thank you all, not only for the social obligations," A few crew members laughed at this, Spock raised an eyebrow it had not been intended as humour but he continued nonetheless."But for pure and simple gratitude. Your service has been exemplary, I could not have asked for a more capable crew. What you have dealt with throughout this short unexpected mission has been strenuous, and yet you have carried on your duties admirably and preserved your pride, despite the traumatic scenes we have all been witnesses to." He paced the bridge noting to look at each individual officer, he stopped in the centre staring out into the spacedock, "You are all being commended greatly for your efforts and most will be promoted, thank you, you have been an honour. You are dissmissed." He turned to face his crew and they had all risen to their feet.
Under his gaze the loyal officers straightened their posture and saluted him, Sulu smirked "I think we are more thankful to you sir, without you I don't think we'd have gotten through this, thankyou."
Chekov shuffled on his feet before he spoke "Sir vwee all are incredivbly grateful, vyou have carried us through this and I thank vyou." The young Russian's accent was thick and calm.
Spock inclined his head in response, "You are welcome." One by one the crew moved past Spock as they departed from the bridge all saying their thanks and expressing their gratitude towards him.
Spock was last to leave the bridge, he lingered behind his crew staring at the chair he had occupied for the past two weeks, Pike's chair. He laid his hand against the arm before nodding to himself and leaving the bridge for his quarters to collect his belongings and leave with Nyota.
o.O.o
Spock was stood at the desk of Admiral Marcus' awaiting to give his report. The admiral was sat with his hand's steepled before him as he read the written report Spock had produced for him, the report included every detail that Spock could recall, from the distress signal to the brutal beating he inflicted on a human being. The report was being shown on the brightly illuminated padd before the Admiral, a brightness that was 5% too bright for the current surroundings and would cause the Admiral to have a headache in 6.7 minutes time. Spock held his tongue to state the fact. He had been told in the past that it was better to not speak in the presence of the Admiral, unless spoken to.
The heavily decorated old man leaned back in his chair and blew out a gush of air, he ran his fingers through his thinning grey hair and looked up at Spock disbelievingly.
"Lieutenant Commander Spock. This is a rather far fetched tale you have here, however I have interviewed your crew and their individual story's do match your own to a less detailed degree. My question Mr Spock is one which has niggled me throughout reading our report is, Why did Mr Budahba only kidnap Lieutenant Uhura?"
The Admiral stared at Spock with his eyebrows raised in query, ruffling the wrinkles that drew lines through his forehead.
Spock inhaled, his hands behind his back,He twiddled his silver vulkhansu engraved wedding band around his finger. "The motives behind Mr Budahba's actions still remain a mystery." Spock replied coolly.
The Admiral rose from his seat pushing it backwards, "Because you killed him!" He shouted pointing at Spock with his index finger, the Admirals face was screwed as he carried on, "You beat that man to death! I've watched the tapes from his ship, I saw you Spock. Your hands upon his face, I know what you did." His voice booming.
"I believe that my actions were necessary considering the situation."
"Dont interrupt me. You killed him in an act of revenge. You did not think about the possibilities of interrogation, you only cared to harm that man. WE could have used him, to know how he corrupted our systems so well. How he had built a ship without any clearance. He could have given us so much useful information, but you. You killed him!" The admiral sat back down and huffed in his chair, he placed two fingers to his forehead, a clear sign of the headache Spock had predicted to occur. "Lieutenant commander. I was in the intention to demote you for your actions however, I cannot. This case has been taken to the board without you knowing and spoke about in a closed hearing, as a board we collectively decided you did what any man would have done in that situation despite the brutality and stupidity of your actions you have been let off in that respect. We assessed your commanding ability and all came to the conclusion that you are an outstanding leader, your crew commend you and you work as a team. many experienced captains would have not been able to cope with the situations that you and your crew were faced with, and for that, I, commend you." The Admiral's face had relaxed now and his wrinkles had faded into his skin. "Your record will be left without judgement and for your commanding capabilities alone, you have been fully promoted to Commander. Your new uniform will be awaiting you in your assigned quarters."
"Thank you Admiral."
"You are dismissed."
Spock turned on his heel and left the Admirals office. He headed for his quarters...
McCoy.
He waited for clearance from the Spacestation as he prepared a medical shuttle ready for launch. Pike had been wheeled in and strapped to the shuttles miniature medical centre, where Nurse Chapel was watching over him and making sure his IV was working and that he would be kept stabilized during the flight. He flicked the last remaining switches and waited for clearance.
Two minutes later a voice called through his intercom, "Clearance granted" And McCoy took the shuttle out, down to Earth..
A medical team were already at the platform by the time McCoy's shuttle had landed in front of St Patrick's mental asylum. The asylum was not only a mental facility but also one the most renowned Starfleet medical centres on Earth. He wheeled out Pike, Nurse Chapel ran along side him with the Iv trolley in hand keeping up with his rushed pace.
"Lets get him inside I'll explain the details later." he called to the doctors and nurses who stood in shock and awe at the life form that was being rushed into the hospital on a starship class guernsey.
McCoy ignored their stares and carried on into the center the doors swished open before him with no restraint. Eyes forward, arms pushing and his feet running. McCoy was focused on solely one objective, getting pike into theatre.
A doctor in a white coat and blue scrubs stood before him, he was in McCoy's path. The doctor held up his hands in a blockade and shouted to McCoy. "Hold up young lad! Where do you think your going with that man in my wing!" The thickly accented British man shouted to him.
McCoy scowled, this man outranked him and clearly was in charge here. "Im tryna save this mans life sir." McCoy replied brashly, trying to hide his anger at being stopped from taking Pike to surgery, his southern drawl contrasted the superior officers British tone.
"Well you're not going to get far without having any clearance, but before that lets gets this, this, man... into a theatre, you're right to be in a hurry." The doctors face was openly shocked by the sight of Pike, his eyebrows were risen and the doctor took a step aside to run alongside McCoy. "What's his condition?" The doctor asked as they made their way to theatre three at the end of the left wing corridor.
McCoy spoke through heavy breathing, "The man has been subject to a severe torture method, he was taken under by a surgeon who worked by the name Budahba. The surgeon has removed both of his lower legs, not bothering to stitch up the open wounds. His knee caps therefore are severely damaged causing his cartilage to have worn down to an amount so tiny it work last a second under the weight of his own body. His torso is in a mess as well, six ribs have been removed in total three from either side, each have been replaced by a metallic plate which we assume to be made from a heavy iron. Thus causing a huge strain on his spinal cord, twisting his spine into a permanent arched shape. We will need your most qualified plastic surgeon to help rebuild his face because as you can see, he's well... a mess."
The Doctor nodded taking in all of McCoy's rushed information, he waved over a team and they pushed Pike into theatre.
"So, this guy who caused Pike's deformities, where is he?" The doctor asked curiously. He and McCoy stepped into the wash area and began to layer on thick yellow mineral filled soap ready to be washed off.
McCoy rose his eyebrows, "Well he aint gonna be a threat any'more if that's what you're askin'. First officer took took it in his liberty to personally make sure of that." McCoy said with a smirk, he had, had to watch the tapes of Spock because of his rank, and to asses Spock's mentality. McCoy had decided that he was now fit for duty, yes he would feel guilty and a hell of a lot of grievance but the Vulcan was good enough to serve again.
The doctor to his left stared out of the corner of his eye, they were both layering on their third layer of soap. "Oh right... I see. The names Anderson by the way." He rinsed his hands and pulled his arms into the elbow length scrub gloves. "Lets get this show started." Doctor Anderson left the scrubs room and into the theatre, McCoy followed behind him. Pike had been laid onto the bed with the theatre lights glistening down onto his deranged form. Every mutilation was defined by the blinding white lights, their forms sharp and defined casting ghastly shadows onto his body.
"Scalpel." McCoy said as he held out his right hand for the nurse to pass him the silver blade. The weight in his hand confirmed that the scalpel was there and he started the incision. He started to slice from Pike's oesophagus to the iron plating, coincidentally tracing the scar lines that Haji had left. With Dr Anderson working on his knees this surgery shouldn't take as long as he'd anticipated.
Spock
He was stood in McCoy's temporary office, Dr Anderson stood to the right of McCoy. Both men were stood with sullen faces. "Sir," McCoy began."Captain Pike's surgery was completed three days ago. We have assessed his condition and he will not walk again, nor speak. He is completely dependent on people around him. We have placed him in the hospitals severe mental case ward, he is in a wheel chair assisted by Nurse Freidman. She will look after Pike, I'm afraid that his brain was put under too much strain by the C.A.T which Haji implemented upon him and he is very lucky to be able to keep his biological functions working." McCoy swallowed hard.
Spock stared at the two men, he knew that they would have done all the could have done. He wanted to cry out. He could not. Not here. Spock had been given time to meditate therefore he had prepared himself for this, he had known that Pike was in a grave condition. This had been the inevitable outcome.
"Can I see him?"
"Yes, he has a visitor at the minute though so you will have to wait your turn." Dr Anderson remarked. "He is in room 278 on floor F"
"Thankyou, Dr's" He inclined his head in leave and turned out of the room. Who was pike's visitor? Spock could not recall Pike ever mentioning family or a partner. He stepped down the corridor and headed through the half ancient half modern building. It was once been a castle in the early days of the 18th century but now it had been restored by modern architecture that merged with the existing 4ft thick stone walls.
Room 278 was just ahead, a single chair was paced outside of the door. Spock sat down and waited for Pike's visitor to finish.
Twenty minutes later and the door swished open. Spock stood, it was lieutenant Kirk. Only his face puffed and red, with a tear rolling down his cheek. On sight of Spock the Lieutenant straightened and saluted him, "Commander."
"At ease lieutenant." Kirks dropped his hand and stood solemnly, "How is he?"
Kirk shook his head, "Not the man I knew, not the man I loved..."
"loved lieutenant?"
Kirk looked up at Spock, "yes, he was like the father I never had." Kirk's voice broke as he said it.
Spock understood, family was a strong emotional bond that humans and vulcans share. He felt a warm grasp around his back and chest. puzzled he looked down to see Kirk hugging his mid section tightly, the human's tears dampened his uniform and chest. The man was shaking with his sobs and Spock did not know what to do. With his arms still hanging loose at his sides it was rather awkward.
"Lieutenant?"
Kirk et go of him abruptly, "Sorry sir. its just.. so hard."
"I understand Lieutenant,"
"You do?"
"Yes, Captain Christopher Pike was my first Captain, and friend here on earth. There is no other human male that I care for other than him."
Kirks eyebrows rose, a human expression of shock, Spock noted. He had told Kirk of his friendship of Pike because Nyota had told him in the past that sharing was an important part of a humans emotional life, and would help someone who was in a similar situation to himself. Kirk was indeed in a similar situation.
Kirk wiped away his tears and spoke. "Oh I see, thankyou sir. Now I've got a meeting with the Admiral about a promotion, there's a silver lining to every cloud I suppose." Kirk saluted and strode down the corridor.
Silver lining? Spock wondered as he turned towards Pike's door, he would ask Nyota later. He stepped towards the door, it swished open. The room was small. A bed in the center, a floor to ceiling window displayed the sights of the forests. Pike was by the window, a chair was placed opposite him, Spock approached.
The once handsome face was stretched and scarred. His eyes were still slitted, he had regained his nose and lips. His teeth were no longer sharpened weapons, now they were human teeth. His hair had not yet grown back but the slight stubble on his head confirmed some of it would grow back at least. Spock would have spoke, but there was no logic in doing so, Pike had no recognition of speech any more. Pike was up to his neck in the retrained wheelchair, covering his body with the metal encasing. His friend had lived, and that is what mattered.
He sat with Pike for three hours before returning to his home.
Leaving the hospital behind him he sighed.
He stepped into his old apartment on the academy campus and sat on the edge of his bed. His head fell into his hands. He would not cry, he refused to. He was interrupted by the familiar beep of his communicator.
Opening it he found three unread messages,
Nyota:
Spock, where are you?
Ring me when you get this please.
Admrl Marcus:
Commander Spock,
You are to attend the promotion ceremony of the Enterprises new Captain, where you will perform a speech.
16:00 hours, Thursday.
Cheif Enginr Scott:
Sir,
I found out how he did it the cheeky little blighter!
Used a linking chip the wee scumbag!
Just though you should know.
Spock closed his communicator. New Captain. who was it?
He rung Nyota and assured her that he was fine, she was to come round to his apartment in a few hours. he was well and was simply worried of his whereabouts.
o.O.o
"So, what are you going to say at your speech?" Nyota asked idly as she leant against his chest staring out onto the campus grounds.
Spock looked down at her flowing hair, "I will speak of our troubles, commend those who worked hard, express my condolences of Dr Puri, and speak of Pike' bravery. I will also make a point of how if anyone tries anything like what Mr Budahba did," Nyota winced at Haji's name Spock stoked her arm in response "then we will take them down and they will be unsuccessful in their attempt." she looked up at him and kissed him lightly. " I will also welcome the new Captain of the Enterprise."
Nyota sighed, "Its horrible isn't it?, I mean the Enterprise has only just returned and Starfleet are already filling in pike seat."
Spock hummed in response.
"How is Pike Spock?" She asked hesitantly.
"Alive, however severely disabled for life." Spock said abruptly, he did not want to speak about it and Nyota could tell.
She rubbed his arm in reassurance, "When you're ready, we'll talk about it, okay."
He nodded.
"I have some news." Spock announced.
"What?" She asked.
"wait there, and I shall show you." Spock rose from the sofa and Nyota shifted uncomfortably. He entered the bathroom and changed his duty uniform into his new commander's uniform. He had kept this from her on purpose, he had hidden it even through the bond.
Stepping into the room once more she asked.
"What is it?" The light caught on the two silver bands around his wrist. Nyota jumped from the sofa and ran into him.
"Oh my god! Spock, congratulations!" She kissed him and he could not suppress the small smirk that grew upon his lips, "Commander." She saluted jokingly, "Well for every dark cloud there's a silver lining." She exclaimed.
"Ahh about that, that phrase, what does it mean" Spock asked, Nyota laughed as she started explain what it meant. Spock felt the weights of the day slowly lift from his shoulder's as his listened to her heavenly voice.
Authors note:
Sorry this has taken so long.
Hope you enjoyed it and thankyou for you're Spocktastic! Keep reading i'm guessing there about two chapters left n this story before I have to draw it to a close, again thankyou for taking the time to read it. Constructive criticism is as always welcomed.
Keep reading!X
