The desert outside flew past them in a nauseating manner. Kirk watched nonetheless. "How long until we are in Shi'Kahr?", he asked. "Two hours, seven minutes.", Spock whispered. "I also propose that you defer from speaking Standard.", he added. Kirk nodded. It was a good precaution. Kirk turned to the window again. His stomach grumbled.
His arm was nudged, and T'Sey pushed the package with the triangle-shaped cookies into his hands. Kirk nodded in appreciation. While biting into the first cookie, he looked around the compartment. Sarek had taken the other window seat, but instead of looking outside, he seemed to be asleep, his arms rolled up at his sides. T'Sey sat next to him, seemingly lost in thought. On the aisle seat next to Kirk, Spock sat, in a light state of meditation, judging from his expression. Kirk debated if he should take a nap as well.
Apparently, he did, he realized, as he suddenly woke. He glanced outside, only to realize that the train was no longer moving, but that they were still somewhere in the desert. He threw the others a questioning glance. Sarek shook his head lightly to signal that he had no idea either. So, they sat there in nervous silence.
Finally, the door to their compartment opened. "Passport control.", a young Vulcan announced in Standard. Kirk found himself wondering whether his dog mark would count as a legal document, before he realized that showing it would be a bad idea. Trying not to look panicked, he turned to Spock, silently asking him for input. The officer watched the two attentively. Kirk wondered if he was imagining a smile on his face. The officer pulled a scanning device from his belt, held it against his own identification card, and pressed the button four times. The device beeped every time. "Thank you, everything seems to be in order.", he said loudly. A lot more silently, he added something Kirk needed a few moments to process, in which the officer had already left.
"Did he just call me 'Captain'?", Kirk asked Spock. The Vulcan raised an eyebrow. "I believe so, yes.", he replied. "He recognized me?", Kirk asked nobody in particular. "You seem to have a few fans among our people.", T'Sey provided. "And I find myself oddly glad about it.", Kirk said silently.
Up on the Enterprise, the crew found themselves in the midst of repairs. Scotty leaned against the bulkhead, reaching inside a dark hole, when Uhura walked up to him. "I can't reach Starfleet.", she announced. "I've already repaired subspace communications.", Scotty replied, not taking his eyes of his work. "It's not the hardware.", Uhura insisted. "I think the asteroids deflect our signal.", she explained. Now, Scotty took his arm out of the hole and laid the tool on the floor. "We can't move.", he stated. "And we don't have any spare shuttles.", Uhura said. "And even then, the shuttles have no subspace communication.", Scotty concluded her thoughts. "Your construction won't hold up forever, Scotty.", Uhura said after a few moments. "I know.", Scotty said.
Scotty sat in his office chair, a PADD laying in front of him. On it, he had loaded the officer's handbook, full of regulations and advice, but he found that none pertained to their situation in particular. Surely, there was advice on what to do if Starfleet could not be reached, or if the engines were no longer in working order. But none expected the ship to be in the vicinity of a founding member's planet. For a short moment, he wished that he was not in charge, but Kirk instead. Kirk, who even managed to beat the unbeatable Kobayashi Maru test. Something occurred to him. He stood and left his office, in search of Doctor McCoy.
The train arrived in Shi'Kahr a few minutes late, on account of the passport controls. "Please, lead me to T'Pau.", T'Sey told them as soon as they cleared the train. "I am afraid it will not be quite so easy.", Sarek said, looking around rather nervously. "No?", T'Sey wondered. "You will need a disguise, as well as a dilithium crystal.", Spock explained. "Indeed.", T'Sey said. They left the train station and stepped onto the streets of the city. "I suggest we get some help.", Sarek decided. "If you will follow me."
They moved through the city at a swift pace. Kirk, still dressed like a woman, made sure to stay close to Spock, as not to be spotted as an outworlder. Sarek led them off the main street and into the small alleys of the old city. Here, the houses were huddled together, and there was barely any light between them. Nevertheless, the walls were painted in intricate patterns, using desert colors. Kirk felt the sweat run down his face, and he suddenly remembered that Vulcan was not known for its cool weather. Spock looked worse for wear as well. Oh, how he longed for a medical professional to have a good look at his friend.
There were barely any people on the streets, and those that were seemed rather nervous. The news of Vulcan's secession must have gone around, and the people questioned whether it was the truth, and if so, what consequences there would be for their lives.
Sarek stopped in front of a rather modern building, after half an hour of seemingly aimlessly leading them around. He looked around, apparently searching for spies. Then he pressed an announcer button. They waited for a few moments, but nothing happened. "Maybe he is not here.", Sarek finally said. "Who?", Kirk asked. There was no answer, as the door swung open quite unexpectedly. They stepped inside. Sarek led them up the stairs, and onto the fourth floor. The apartments door was opened, and they could see a Vulcan in the room behind it, kneeling on the floor and clutching something furry and bicolored. His eyes were closed, like he didn't want to see them.
"Soran?", Sarek asked softly, and the other opened his eyes in Vulcan surprise. "Come inside and close the door.", the still kneeling figure urged them. Once in private, Soran let the furry objects down, they hopped away, and he stood. Only now, Kirk recognized him as Sarek's aide. "I believed you to be soldiers, here to arrest me. It would not have come as a surprise." Remembering his manners and that he had company, he indicated his collection of sitting cushions. "Please have a seat.", he offered and went to make tea.
"Where have you been?", Soran asked Sarek, only shortly glancing at the rest of the group. "It seems that I have been kidnapped.", Sarek explained a bit sheepishly. "By Zakal?", Soran asked, sipping a bit of his still boiling hot beverage. "You have heard?", Sarek asked, a bit surprised. At that point, Kirk got distracted from the conversation, as one of the furry things nudged his thigh. He looked, and the he looked a little more, and finally decided that he was looking at a black bunny, with the ears and everything. Tentatively, he petted the animal. Apparently, it took this as an invitation to hop onto his lap. Kirk petted it some more, earning a curious glance from his first officer. "She then released me from my duty, and I was led out by the guards. Since then, I was staying here.", Soran ended his story.
"We have found a method to extract foreign katra from a body.", T'Sey announced. "Indeed?", Soran asked. "I believe there would be the need for an immense discipline of mind, as well as a high aptitude for psionics?", he added. "Abilities the Grandmaster of Gol T'Sey possesses, Soran.", Sarek interjected, slightly amused. Soran looked at the lady for just a second of astonishment. "It is an honor to have you here, Grandmaster.", he said, bowing lightly. "Let us forgo the pleasantries.", T'Sey said. "Can you organize me one of the Lady Amanda's outfits, so that I can dress as her?", she asked Soran. He looked around his apartment. "I do not have anything here, and Osu Sarek's house is currently watched by T'Pau's guards.", he replied. "Do you know of Linguist T'Set's status?", Sarek asked. "Last I heard he was unaffected by the situation. I shall call her immediately. Anything else you will need?", Soran replied. "Yes. A dilithium crystal, if possible.", Sarek said. Soran raised an eyebrow, but stayed silent.
"Where does he have the bunnies from?", Kirk asked Sarek after Soran had left to call T'Set. "The Terran Ambassador to Vulcan invited Soran, Amanda and myself to dinner. However, he did not consider that we are all vegetarians, and were rather appalled by his offer to choose which rabbits we would like to consume that night. Soran finally achieved that he was allowed to take them home instead. He now keeps them as pets. The one in your lap is called Pepper, and the other is named Salt.", Sarek explained, sounding slightly amused at the names. Kirk looked to the white bunny called Salt, who was sitting in a pot with growing grass, one blade of grass hanging out of its mouth.
A few minutes later, Soran returned to the living room. "T'Set is in her laboratory, where Amanda indeed keeps a spare set of clothing. She will bring it here, as well as a dilithium crystal.", he informed them. Sarek nodded. "Thank you. In the meantime, we should think about a plan."
Scotty entered Sickbay, which was still more crowded than usual. The first person he found was Amanda Grayson, handing a glass of water to a patient. "Have you seen Doctor McCoy?", he asked. Amanda looked at him. "I believe he is in his office, as I haven't seen him in an hour." Scotty nodded. "And you have left the communications station?", he wondered. "Miss Uhura returned, and she is a lot more skilled than myself, as you can guess. Doctor McCoy said that I could be of use here."
Scotty knocked onto the office door, as the announcer was again broken. He believed that McCoy did it on purpose. The door was opened. "What is it?", McCoy asked as soon as Scotty walked inside. "I will need your help.", he simply said and sat down at the other side of the table. "Has the Captain ever told you of how he managed to beat the Kobayashi Maru?", he asked.
McCoy filled two glasses with his favorite bourbon. He moved one towards Scotty. "He actually told me more than once, and it's the most Kirkish story one can think of." "What did he do?", Scotty urged McCoy. "Well, he got himself some help from an old friend, Thomas Leighton, who happened to be studying software engineering at that time. Together, they managed to write a trojan that would hack into the simulation computer, changing the Kobayashi Maru scenario.", McCoy recalled. "Oh.", Scotty said. This was not what he had expected. "The Klingons in the simulation suddenly knew of the 'great Captain Kirk', and decided that they would not fight against him, in fear of losing and dishonoring themselves.", McCoy finished. Scotty sighed. "You wanted to have advice on how to get out of our current situation?", McCoy asked. The Doctor emptied his glass and shook his head. "I'm afraid this is truly a no-win situation.", he said darkly.
Something inside Scotty sparked to life, a part of him he had never known. "There are no no-win situations.", he decided pointedly and stood, making Bones look at him in surprise. "Do you have a plan, Scotty?", he wondered. "Aye. I have."
The senior officers were sitting in their meeting hall. "The plan is simple: As we can't move, we'll get their attention some other way. As soon as somebody comes to our position, we'll contact them and ask them to drag us out of Vulcan space. From there, we'll be able to contact Starfleet.", Scotty told them walking around slowly. "And how exactly did you plan on getting the Vulcans to help us? It's not like they are going to Vulcan-hello into pieces or anything.", Uhura interjected, obviously not a big fan of the plan. "Aye. They wouldn't dare if they hear of the weapon we are transporting. One that could destroy the whole system if triggered.", Scotty replied. "But we do not have such a weapon. In fact, there is no such weapon in the whole Federation.", Chekov remarked. "But the Vulcans can't be entirely sure of that, can they?", Sulu asked his friend, apparently beginning to understand Scotty's idea. "Especially not if we rig up something that reads like an enormous weapon on their sensors.", Scotty added with a smile.
"There is one last thing.", McCoy said. "Aye?", Scotty wondered. "The Vulcans are going to wonder where our Command team is at, won't they?", McCoy asked. "Aye.", Scotty agreed deflated and sat into his chair. Uhura smiled. "I know for a fact that Vulcan High Command doesn't have personnel files of Starfleet members.", she said. "Anybody could play Kirk, really." She looked at Scotty pointedly and crossed her legs. "And Mister Spock?", Chekov wondered. "Well, I guess he was injured in the first attack.", Uhura invented, to the let-down of Chekov, who had clearly wanted to impersonate the Vulcan.
"Anyone against this plan?", Scotty asked his officers. "I think it's a suicide mission, but I guess it's our best chance.", McCoy said. "No votes against.", Sulu added. "Very well, let us start then.", Scotty ended the meeting.
Down in Shi'Kahr, Kirk was still petting Pepper. Salt had hopped into Spock's lap, and the Vulcan seemed to find this acceptable. "Grandmaster T'Sey and myself shall enter the High Command's building via the main entrance, and go to T'Pau's office in an official manner. In case we fail our goal, Captain Kirk and Commander Spock will try to reach the same localities through the back doors, and will act as our back up.", Sarek summed up the plan they had just made. Kirk envied the bunnies for their four lucky paws. The plan was bound to go wrong in some way or another. He also knew that it was probably their best shot. Somebody rang the doorbell. Soran walked to a window and looked out. "It is T'Set.", he informed them.
T'Set was tall, at least for Vulcan standards, and Kirk found himself impressed by her. From her backpack, she pulled an outfit and gave it to T'Sey. "I believe it will fit you quite well.", she said. Next, she pulled out a rectangle-shaped container. "And for whom is the dilithium?", she asked Sarek. "You can give it to me.", he said and took the container. "Thank you for your help.", he added. "I have friends in the Physics laboratory that owed me a few favors; it was quite easy.", T'Set explained. "It is still appreciated.", Spock returned.
Scotty found that it felt very wrong, standing there in just his undershirt and going through a dead man's garderobe, deciding what he should wear. After some consideration, he went with the standard gold uniform. It was the one most similar to his usual wear. He slipped into the uniform, closing the zipper at the neck. He looked at himself in the mirror and found that he looked utterly ridiculous in yellow. He just hoped that the Vulcans didn't see it like that. With a sigh, he left Captain Kirk's quarters.
Scotty stepped onto the bridge, and all eyes turned to him. "Captain on the bridge.", Uhura said, looking slightly amused. Chekov made a thumbs-up sign from behind the Science console. Before Scotty could feel uncomfortably exposed, something on Uhura's console beeped. "Lieutenant Masters signals that the 'weapon' is ready, Sir.", she informed him. "Thank you, Lieutenant.", Scotty replied, trying to get into his role. He walked over to the Command chair, and let himself down slowly. Oh, what would he give to be in front of the Engineering console instead! He exhaled. "Sulu, fire phasers. But down waste too much energy.", he ordered. "Yes, Sir.", Sulu replied, and fired on an asteroid in the middle distance. It broke in two. "Now, we just have to wait.", Scotty said.
Kirk pushed himself through an air conduct that was ostentatiously not made for humanoid shapes. "How much further?", he asked Spock, who was robbing in front of him. "Merely a few more meters, Captain.", the Vulcan informed him stoically. Soran had given them an entry code that let them through the service entrance of the building. Strangely, the place was almost deserted, and there wasn't even anybody to control them, like they had done a few days prior. The air conduct they had been advised to crawl through by Soran would lead to a separated part of the second floor, where there would be another entry to a service shaft that would lead right up to T'Pau's office. "I think we have taken the wrong air conduct.", Kirk told his friend. "Negative, Captain.", Spock returned, breathing hard from the exertion. "This is the correct path." Just then, the Vulcan reached a metallic door and pushed it open. They were both silent for a few moments, but as they didn't hear anything, Spock moved outside. "Clear.", he said, and Kirk joined him.
They were now standing in a room that had a transporter platform, as well as several weapons fixed to the wall. "This is for emergency beam-outs!", Kirk realized. "Indeed. This is why this part of the level is cut of from the rest.", Spock replied. They walked over to a door. "It doesn't seem to have a lock.", Kirk examined it. Spock had come to the same conclusion turned the handle. It opened the view to an ancient-looking lift. "Soran didn't say anything about this.", Kirk wondered. "I believe he does not know about these installations, he only heard of it in passing. Security is quite well in these circles.", Spock explained. They entered the elevator cabin, and Kirk pressed the button for 'upwards', which was indicated by a symbol. The cabin started to move upwards a lot slower than either men were used to. "If this thing won't speed up, T'Sey will be finished before we're even there.", Kirk said, slightly angrily. Spock said nothing, but pointedly stared at the ceiling as to urge the elevator to go faster.
"This is the VSS Vulcana Regar, identify yourself.", came over the Enterprise's speakers. "I want them to come a bit nearer before we answer.", Scotty said to the crew. Indeed, the Vulcan military ship moved nearer. "Again, identify yourself.", the Vulcan voice urged them. "Now, Uhura.", Scotty ordered. "Opening connection now.", Uhura replied. Tension was palpable around the bridge. A picture built up, and they could see the Vulcan Commander. "This is the USS Enterprise, Captain Kirk speaking.", Scotty said, trying and failing to hide his accent. "Indeed.", The Vulcan replied, not bothering to introduce himself.
"Enterprise, you are ordered to leave the sector. If you were to resist, I will be forced to resort to violence.", the Vulcan Commander told them sternly. "That would be unwise, la… dude.", Scotty said. Uhura shook her head lightly at his choice of words. "Why would that be? Your ship is clearly incapacitated.", the Vulcan wondered. "Have you missed the bomb, then?", Scotty asked and leaned back in the chair, pretending to be cool and relaxed. The other turned to his crew and ordered something in Vulcan. "If you fire at us, this bomb will destroy the whole system.", Scotty lied. The Vulcan raised an eyebrow. One of his crew came up to him and said something Scotty couldn't understand. "You are saying the truth.", the Vulcan stated, slightly astonished. "Aye.", Scotty agreed, mentally kicking himself for using that particular word.
"I shall do the following then: Your ship will be hauled out of this sector and a timed explosion will make sure that this weapon is never used in an act of war. You are a man famous for your interest in peace, Captain Kirk, so you must surely see that this is the most logical option.", the Vulcan informed them. "What?", Scotty panicked. This wasn't at all what he had planned. He tried to channel Kirk again. "There are 453 crew aboard, you will kill all of them!", he protested. "Which is odd, Captain Kirk, since we are registering only 451 lifeforms aboard your vessel.", the Vulcan replied, looking smug. "Agh, the exact numbers are not important.", Scotty replied, waving his hand. "What happened to 'peace to all'?", he asked. "The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few.", the other recited. "You should be aware of this dogma, since your First Officer Spock must have surely informed you about it.", the Vulcan said. "Mister Spock was killed in the first attack.", Scotty replied, only belatedly realizing that he hadn't been prompted to do so. "An unfortunate loss. We will begin hauling your ship away immediately. Do not resist.", the Vulcan said flatly and the connection broke.
Finally, the elevator reached its destination and the doors opened. A short bridge let to the wall, where another door sat. Spock tried it. "This one is secured from the other side.", he informed Kirk. "Maybe we can break it open?", Kirk wondered. Without another word, both men threw themselves against the metal, but it didn't budge. "Useless.", Spock stated. "However, maybe one of the weapons we have seen will be useful.", he said. "Go quickly, I'll stay here. Maybe I can figure out something else.", Kirk ordered. Spock nodded and entered the elevator again. Kirk leaned against the door after checking it out again and not finding any hidden button or the like. He realized that he heard what was happening on the other side of the door.
"Madam, I am asking you again, please do not banish my wife.", Sarek said. T'Pau laughed. "Never.", she said. "At least explain to me why you have made all the personnel leave.", Sarek urged on, years of diplomacy being the only thing that kept his voice level. "Stupid living people, thinking so loud!", another male voice said. "Maybe it is you I should banish, Tirek.", T'Pau said sharply. "You don't dare, what if Zakal heard of this!", the other voice said. Was this one of the other affected officials? Kirk saw that the elevator was almost back. "And these dirty Humans are those that think the loudest.", the other said, and Kirk found himself falling backwards as the door was opened. "Hey there!", he greeted from the floor with a fake smile. Spock was running out of the elevator behind him.
Mayhem ensued. Tirek threw himself onto Kirk, while Kirk had aimed for T'Pau. Using the moment, T'Sey pulled the hood from her head and took T'Pau in a held. Meanwhile, Tirek tried to strangle Kirk, while Sarek gave his best to pull him of the Captain. Spock stood in the entrance of the secret door, wielding the weapon and deliberating who he should shoot first. "This one!", Kirk shouted from beneath his adversary. "Father, away.", Spock urged Sarek, who moved away from the fight. Spock fired and hit the official, who collapsed onto Kirk. "Thank you.", Kirk said and moved to his feet. Together, they watched T'Sey work, holding the dilithium crystal against T'Pau's forehead. The Eldest Mother had relaxed and didn't struggle at all, surprisingly.
T'Sey moved away from her, holding the crystal carefully. "Do you need another crystal?", Kirk asked, pointed to the collapsed official. "For High Commander of Defense Vesik, I shall use my amulet.", T'Sey said, seemingly slightly tired. She pulled out the decorated hanging and went to work on the other official.
T'Pau was still unconscientious. "T'Sai.", Sarek kneeled next to her and tried to wake her by shaking her lightly. She murmured something that nobody could decipher. "The troops need to be called back.", Sarek told Kirk and Spock. He stood and walked to a wall, where he slid away a panel to reveal a video-communication device. He pushed a few buttons and waited for the picture to build up. All the while, T'Sey was still trying to eject the foreign katra from Vesik in the background.
"Vice Commander of Defense Taurik.", the called introduced himself. "Ambassador Sarek.", Sarek said. Before he could say anything else, Taurik interjected. "Where are T'Pau and Vesik?", he asked sharply. Sarek stepped aside slightly to reveal the bodies on the floor. "Are they dead? Is this a coup d'état?", Taurik wondered somewhat alarmed. "It is not. The Lady T'Pau and High Commander Vesik have been affected by foreign katra; this is currently taken care of." Taurik looked t the scene for a few moments. "Vice Commander Taurik.", Sarek spoke up after giving the other some moments. "I want you to call back the troops. If you do not wish to do so, I will take the full responsibility for your actions. But we need to stop the violence." Taurik nodded. "You will not need to take responsibility, Ambassador. I was deliberating doing so even before you called."
Seeing that Taurik was about to break the connection, Kirk moved into the frame. "Can you give me a status report on the Enterprise?", he asked the Vice Commander. The Vulcan nodded. "The Enterprise is currently being hauled away from our system, as she apparently has a very dangerous weapon aboard. She will be destroyed." "What?", Kirk asked, suddenly fearing about his ship. "Who told you that there was a weapon?", he wanted to know. "The Captain of the ship, I believe he is called Kirk.", the Vice Commander replied, not fazed by Kirk's emotionalism. "Well, I am Kirk, and there are no weapons on board that would warrant the destruction of my ship!", Kirk shouted. The Vulcan studied him for a moment. "Our space missions will be called back as well, of course.", he said and finally cut the connection.
Scotty was still in the Captain's chair, panickily searching for a way out of their predicament. They were already being hauled away by a tractor beam. Should he call the Vulcana Regar again and tell them that it was all a lie? But would he be believed, considering the weapon's signal and all? "The other has stopped.", Sulu informed them, to everyone's surprise. "They are hailing us.", Uhura added. "Put it on.", Scotty ordered. The Vulcan Commander appeared on screen. "We have orders to abandon our current mission. Instead, we will haul the Enterprise into space dock for repairs.", he said plainly. Before Scotty replied anything, the connection was broken. "We are being turned around.", Sulu said. "Did he really say repairs?", Chekov wondered.