Author's Note: based on the TOS episode 'By Any Other Name'
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Life Is Not Always Easy
Chapter 35 : Sensory Input
June, 2268
As soon as they materialized, Spock had his tricorder out, scanning. "No lifeform readings, Captain, continuing scan."
They could find no sign of whoever had sent the distress call, no spaceship, no debris. Then Spock found some signs of small metallic objects, and Yeoman Thompson got a reading of two human forms, which Spock confirmed. And then they walked into the clearing, a man and a woman. They stood there saying nothing, until Kirk introduced himself. Then they demanded that Kirk surrender his ship.
When Kirk refused, they pressed buttons on the dark belts they were wearing, and all five members of the shore party were frozen in place. Kirk found he could move his eyes, but that was all. The man introduced himself as Rojan and said he was their commander now. Rojan and the female, Kelindra, went from one member of the shore party to another, removing their weapons, communicators, and tricorders.
When all their belongings were in a pile guarded by Kelindra, Rojan explained what was holding them in place, and then released them. Spock was interested in the method that had been used to immobilize them, but everyone was alarmed when Rojan notified them that their galaxy was to be conquered, for the use of his race, which was from the galaxy they called Andromeda. When Kirk said that this galaxy was already inhabited and his ship not available, Rojan calmly stated that the overtaking of the ship was already underway.
***
On the Enterprise, alarms were being raised. Chekov detected a penetration, and Scotty told him to increase the power to the shields. In the Engineering section, one of the aliens materialized, startling the crewman at the console. When he rose to confront the intruder, he was immobilized, as were all the other crewmen in engineering. The alien seated himself at the console and began to enter commands.
On the bridge, Chekov alerted Scotty that all power had been disabled and Scotty ordered Uhura to sound red alert. Aliens began appearing all over the ship, immobilizing those crewmen they encountered, and taking over critical systems with ease. One of the aliens appeared on the bridge and strode quickly to Uhura's station, contacting others in life support and engineering to be certain that the ship was entirely under their control. Then he called Rojan on the planet below.
Kirk and Spock exchanged glances. When Kirk advanced toward Kelindra, her finger hovered over the button that would immobilize him again. Spock stood quietly, waiting to see wait would happen. In the back of his mind, he could feel Nyota's indignation that she had been caught, held suspended and helpless to fight back. He cautioned her to be careful. These aliens had unknown powers and they must proceed cautiously.
On the planet below, Rojan explained how they had come from Andromeda, and how they would modify the Enterprise to return there. Spock wondered why they did not just send a message, rather than taking another three hundred years to return. When Kirk suggested that they take their problem to the Federation, where there were many unpopulated planets suitable for colonization, Rojan replied that they did not colonize, they conquered.
Rojan and Hanar walked about the clearing on the planet, uneasy. It was too open, too unrestrained. They were also not used to all the sensations their newly adopted 'shells' produced. They did not understand how the humans could manage to work with all these conflicting sensations constantly bombarding them.
The landing party had been confined in a cave, with bars across the only opening. Spock examined the bars closely, finding them made of an unknown, but extremely hard substance. McCoy commented that they registered as humans, but Spock corrected him. "More than that. They registered as perfect human lifeforms, almost textbook examples."
Kirk reminded Spock of another time when they had been imprisoned, when Spock had tricked their guard with his Vulcan mind-meld technique. Spock replied that he had convinced the guard that they had already escaped. Kirk asked if he could do that again, and Spock replied that he would make the attempt. He rose from the rock he had been sitting on and approached the bars once more. He moved over to the side and began to attempt to sense Kelindra through the rock. And then he was flung across the cave, landing in the sand. Kelindra, looking puzzled, opened the bars and stepped into the cave and Kirk chopped the side of her neck with his hand, rendering her immediately unconscious. He laid her on the floor and removed the device from her belt.
When Spock assured him that he would be all right, Kirk and McCoy helped him up off the floor of the cave. They exited the cave to be immediately stopped by Hanar and Rojan. Kirk was frozen in place, and the others stopped, realizing that they could not get away. Rojan decided that punishment was warranted and had Lieutenant Shea and Yeoman Thompson taken to one side. While Kirk and McCoy and Spock watched, unable to assist, the two junior crewmen were reduced to small, porous, geometrical objects. Hanar brought the two objects to Rojan, who proceeded to crush one of them while the officers watched in alarm. Rojan then tossed the remaining object to the side and ordered Hanar to restore it. In seconds, Lieutenant Shea stood before them again. Kirk knelt and filled his hands with the white dust that was all that remained of Yeoman Thompson.
Back in the cave once more, Kirk and McCoy and Spock discussed their options. Spock told them of the flashes he had gotten from the mind-meld with Kelindra - immense beings with one hundred tentacles. Kirk wondered whether equipment that McCoy had in sick bay could be modified to jam the paralyzer beam. Spock was doubtful, but did not consider it completely impossible. There remained only the method of getting back to the ship. Kirk told him that he was sick, and Spock replied that he was completely healthy. With a little talk, Kirk explained what he had in mind, and Spock said he needed a moment to prepare himself. Silently, he contacted Nyota and told her what was about to happen, so that she did not become alarmed, and then he put himself in a trance, becoming completely unresponsive to external stimulus. McCoy and Kirk caught him before he fell over.
McCoy became alarmed at how low Spock's life signs became. Kirk went to the bars and called to their guard. When they were returned to sick bay, McCoy made a big show of injecting Spock with medication and gave a long-winded explanation of what was wrong with Spock to their guard, who left to inform Rojan.
***
On the bridge of the Enterprise, Rojan and Kelindra watched as one of the other Kelvans laid in a course for Kelva. Chekov was stunned when the speed increased to warp 8 and Rojan told him to continue to warp 11. He looked to Kirk for confirmation, which was reluctantly given. Behind them, Uhura watched, stunned. They would approach the energy barrier at the edge of the galaxy within the hour.
Kirk rose from the command chair and asked Rojan if he could go to sick bay, where his ill first officer was. Rojan agreed to his request. In sick bay, Spock, Scotty and McCoy were all busy when Kirk arrived, asking if they had anything yet. Spock replied that the energy source for the paralyzer beam had been located in engineering and that they were ready to try to jam it. Scotty added that he had tied in more computers to give them extra power to push with.
***
Scotty and Spock snuck into the upper level engineering control room, where the console was that the Kelvans had modified. They could see the large, silver module sitting on top of the console. Spock took readings with his tricorder and informed Scotty that the casing on the module was the same material as the bars on the planet had been made of - totally impervious to anything they had. They could not get through the casing to get to the machine. The two men stood there, discussing possible options. The only one that occurred to them was not one they liked, but they agreed the captain must be informed.
When they left engineering, they encountered Kirk in the corridor, and they all entered the turbolift together. Uhura's voice could be heard on the intercom, summoning Kirk to the bridge. Inside the turbolift, Spock informed Kirk of their discoveries in engineering. Scotty explained what they had done, preparing to cause a matter-anti-matter explosion at the barrier at the edge of the galaxy. Kirk thought they were mad. And then the doors opened and there was no more discussion.
Rojan told them to take their places, that they were approaching the barrier. Spock took one long look at the energy stream visible on the viewscreen, and then proceeded to his station, carefully blocking out Nyota, not wanting her to know what was going to happen.
The pulsating energy grew closer and closer, and Scotty's finger hovered over a pulsing button, waiting for Kirk to give him the signal. Spock gave him continuous readings, with a definite edge in his voice. Kirk waited, while Scotty grew more and more nervous. Spock did not know what Kirk was waiting for. And then they were through, and the opportunity was lost. Uhura asked for damage reports. Everything was on emergency power.
And then Rojan announced the 'neutralizing procedure'. Kirk responded in shock when he realized what was meant. And then Rojan walked over to Uhura and stated that they had no need for communications, touching the button on his belt and reducing her instantly to one of those porous geometric objects. Kirk could not shake the image of her horrified face as she realized what was happening. Spock was hit with such a surge of shock that he could not even move or react at all, frozen at his station in horror.
As Kirk watched in shock, Rojan reduced Chekov to another small object, followed by the other members of the bridge crew, leaving only Scotty, Spock, and Kirk still alive on the bridge.
Later, as Kirk walked the corridors of the Enterprise, he saw the floors littered with more of the small geometric objects. It was more than he could handle. He began to back up, and ran into Rojan, who told him to simply accept his situation. Kirk wandered off, and eventually found himself in the senior officer's rec room, where Spock and McCoy and Scotty were eating, or rather sitting in front of places of food which they appeared to be ignoring. Spock informed him that they were the only four considered 'essential'. All of the remaining crew were lumps of white something. Bones challenged him, saying that Scotty had told him he could have destroyed the ship at the barrier, demanding to know why he hadn't. His only reply was that he had not believed that that was their only choice. Before their disagreement could get out of hand, one of the Kelvans came in, asking why they bothered to consume bulk material, when a compressed pill contained all the nutrients they needed. McCoy challenged him to try it before he condemned it. And the Kelvan did.
While Scotty and Kirk discussed what might be done, Spock noticed that the Kelvan was reacting very strongly to the taste of the food. Kirk realized what Spock was saying and they developed a plan to stimulate the senses of the Kelvans to distract them. Scotty suggested Saurian brandy. McCoy tried stimulants and high potency vitamins. Kirk tried kisses. Spock tried 3-D chess and philosophy, attempting to irritate Rojan and cause jealousy.
Rojan returned to his quarters and ordered Kelindra to stay away from Kirk. When she refused, he grabbed her and yelled at her. In Scotty's quarters, all but one bottle was now empty. Scotty retrieved the dust-covered bottle of very old Scots whisky and poured it out, almost crying.
Kirk, Spock and Bones were in the rec room, discussing the progress their program was making, when Kelindra came in. Spock prompted McCoy to leave, saying he needed another injection, and when they were alone, Kelindra asked Kirk for another 'apology'.
On the bridge, Hanar, hopped up on the stimulants McCoy had given him, argued long and loud with Rojan, causing Rojan to react with anger. Spock entered the bridge and gave Rojan a reason for his presence, stating that automatic scanners needed monitoring. When Rojan approached, he carefully inflamed him by telling him that Kirk and Kelindra were together in the rec room.
In Scotty's quarters, the Kelvan finally collapsed. A very, very drunken Scotty retrieved the module from his belt, but collapsed at the doorway, sliding down the wall to the floor.
Rojan confronted Kirk in the rec room, and a full-on fight ensued. Although Rojan was strong, he had no fighting skills. Spock and McCoy stood in the doorway while Kirk taunted Rojan, telling him that the Kelvans were becoming human. While he held Rojan tightly in an arm-lock, he continued to taunt him, telling him that in 300 years, when his descendants reached Kelva, they would be fully human, the enemies of the Kelvans. And then he began again to tell him that this problem could be brought to the Federation, that there were many planets available, that there was always room for friends. And finally, Rojan began to understand.
Spock stated that a robot ship could be sent to Kelva with the Federation proposal. After a short discussion, Rojan called the bridge and ordered the Kelvan there to return control of the ship to Kirk.
***
It was with extreme relief that Spock saw Nyota returned to herself. Immediately, he was sending her calm and steadiness, attempting to soothe her in the only way he could at present. Later, in her quarters, he held her close, rocking gently back and forth as they celebrated being alive and together.
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