Chapter 34: Amok Time

Dawn noticed that something was wrong with Spock, he was not eating. She observed him closely but otherwise saw no sign that anything was wrong. Well almost no sign of anything being wrong, she did note what seemed to be a gradual increase in tension.

It was on the third day that she tempted Spock to eat some plomik soup, a delicacy on Vulcan. Spock threw the bowl at her, soup and all. When this happened, she called Spock into her office. "Commander," she said.

"You will cease to pry into my personal affairs, Counselor, or I shall certainly break your neck."

Dawn could feel Spock's emotions and frowned. "This is off the record," she said. "I am speaking now as T'Lekus of Vulcan. Are you approaching Pon Farr?"

"Yes," Spock replied.

Dawn sighed. "I will try and get the Captain to change course to Vulcan, it's not far out of our way. I will not explain why you need personal leave. If he should ask I will simply state patient/doctor confidentiality."

Spock nodded. He was glad there was someone on the ship who knew about Vulcans.

Dawn requested a leave of absence for Spock. Without knowing the reasons other than that they were medical in nature, Jim had denied the request. The Enterprise after all was bound for the inauguration ceremonies of the new president of Altair Six—not, apparently, a vital assignment, but the orders left no leeway for side trips, all the same.

"Altair Six," Jim said, "have some of the best shore leave facilities in the sector. He is welcome to take his leave of absence while we are there."

"Jim," Dawn said. "I am afraid that is unacceptable. Due to the natural of what is happening with Spock. He must be at Vulcan immediately."

"Why?" Jim asked.

"He'll die," Dawn said. "Unless he goes home."

"Die? But why? What's the matter with him?"

"I can't say," Dawn said. "Not just because of patient/doctor confidentiality. But because it's just not spoken of, period. I only know this exists because I am the adopted daughter of T'Pol."

"And it's something only his planet can do for him?"

"Yes," Dawn said.

"Alongside you and Buffy he has been one of the best officers I have had the privilege of commanding," Jim said. "If I have to lose that officer, I want to know why."

Dawn sighed. "In private," she said as she looked around the bridge. "This is not something that can be discussed in the open."

"Very well," Jim said. He and Dawn made their way down to her office where they could talk privately. "Well?"

"It has to do with Vulcan biology," Dawn said. "This not something that Vulcans even discuss with each other. I only know about it because of T'Pol. I was there for her Pon Farr."

"This Pon Farr, it has to do with reproduction? Oh, blazes! That's nothing to be embarrassed about. It even happens to birds and bees."

"What Vulcans go through is nothing like the birds or the bees," Dawn said. "Pon Farr strips their minds from them. It brings a madness which rips away everything they know. Spock's Vulcan side is stronger than his human side. If he does not go home and take a wife. He will die."

"Dear God," Jim said. "We have a problem. Our orders don't allow any leeway. Starfleet Command wants three starships at the inauguration ceremony."

"Make the course correction," Dawn said. "Let me deal with Starfleet Command."

Jim nodded as he stepped to the intercom. "Mr. Chekov, Kirk here. Change course to Vulcan. Warp Eight."

"Uh—yes, sir," Chekov's startled voice said.

Dawn stepped over to the intercom. "Lieutenant Uhura," she said. "Get me T'Pau of Vulcan."

"Yes, Commander," Uhura replied.

Dawn flicked off the intercom. "I should warn you that you could find what is happening to Spock distasteful. But he will need his friends standing beside him. I can't do it since I am of course female. Vulcan tradition has a Vulcan male attended by his closest male friends."

"I would be honored," Jim said.

Uhura came over the intercom at that moment. "Commander Summers, I have T'Pau of Vulcan on comms for you."

"Pipe it down here," Dawn said as she nodded to Jim who left. She sat down at the desk as T'Pau came on the monitor in front of her. "Thank you for speaking with me."

"You are welcome, T'Lekus," T'Pau said. "I take this has to do with Spock?"

"Yes," Dawn replied. "The Enterprise was ordered to Altair Six. There is no leeway in our orders. That said I have persuaded the Captain to change course with the express promise that I would deal with the fallout from Starfleet."

"I see," T'Pau said. "I will contact Starfleet personally on Spock's behalf. While I have you, T'Lekus. May I inquire if you have gone through Pon Farr, yet?"

Dawn sighed. Only a handful of people knew that as a result of a mind meld with T'Pol that Dawn now exhibited some side effects from the mind meld. Her mind now believed even though she was human that she should be going through Pon Farr. "It is coming up on seven years since I last went through Pon Farr. Buffy and I intend to take care of it in the coming weeks."

"Good," T'Pau said. "Notify me when you arrive in orbit."

0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0

Dawn, Jim and Spock beamed down to a fairly level arena area. Rocks around its edges gave it a half-natural, half-artificial aspect, as if the wind and rain had carved something like a Stonehenge, or reduced a Stonehenge to something like this. Inside it, there was an open temple—two high arches of stone, an open fire pit, several huge, jade-like wind chimes stirring and chiming in the hot breeze. The rest of the landscape was drifting sand, stretching away to a distant saw-toothed line of mountains jutting up at the edge of the far horizon.

"The land of my family," Spock said. "Our place for mating. It has been held by us for more than two thousand Earth years!" He choked, and gestured toward the temple. "This—is Koon-ut-Kal-if-fee. It means, 'The place of marriage and challenge.' In the distant past, we—killed to win our mates. It is still a time of dread for us. Perhaps, the price we pay—for no emotion the rest of the time."

There sounded a distant bell, harmonizing well with the heavier notes of the wind chimes, and then figures began to appear among the rocks. There seemed to be eight or ten of them. Heading the procession, four Vulcan men were carrying someone in an ornate litter or sedan chair. Two other members of the party carried bright-colored, ceremonial objects which consisted of dozens of tiny bells attached to an ornate frame on a pole. As they drew closer, they saw the person inside the litter was T'Pau.

The bride, T'Pring, walked beside T'Pau. Behind her strode a tall, muscular and rather handsome Vulcan male; and behind him, a slightly shorter but even stronger-looking man who carried a Vulcan war ax. The rest of the procession moved in stately grace behind these principals.

Spock turned and walked to one of the huge wind chimes. Picking up a stone mallet, he struck the chimes, producing a somber male sound which was answered by the shaking of the bell banners. T'Pring seated herself on a carved rock at the temple archway. T'Pau stood in the open in front of the temple, with her back to it and the girl. The muscular young Vulcan stood next to the arch, like a big brick gatepost, while the rest of the entourage lined up in a curve behind them.

With a sudden swift movement, T'Pau raised both her arms. Spock and Dawn stepped forward and bowed before her. She laid her hands first on Spock and then on Dawn, as if in a blessing, and then looked beyond them to Jim.

"T'Lekus, Spock. Are our ceremonies for outworlders?"

"He is not an outworlder," Spock said. "He is my friend. I am permitted this. His name is Kirk. I pledge his behavior with my life."

"Very well." T'Pau turned to the bearers of the bell banners. "Kah-if-fee!"

The bell banners were shaken. Spock turned to strike the wind chimes again with his stone mallet—but at the same instant the girl T'Pring sprang to her feet and cried out:

"Kah-if-FARR!"

There was a gasp from both the Vulcan onlookers and Dawn; even T'Pau's eyes flickered in startled surprise. Spock mouthed the word without speaking it, his breathing quickening, his eyes narrowed to slits. T'Pring crossed to him, took the mallet from his hand, and tossed it aside. Her expression was strangely contemptuous.

The Vulcan with the ax stepped forward. He looked both amused and dangerous, like an experienced executioner.

Dawn moved beside Jim. "She's invoking her right to challenge," she whispered.

"T'Pring: you have chosen," T'Pau said. "Are you prepared to become the property of the victor? Not merely his wife, but his chattel, with no other rights or status?"

"I am prepared," T'Pring said.

"Then choose."

T'Pring moved regally out into the arena. She stopped by the huge young Vulcan, who straightened proudly, expectantly, but she moved away from him. Then she turned to T'Pau. "As it was in the dawn of our days," she said, "as it is today, as it will be through all tomorrows, I make my choice." She turned again. "I choose her." She pointed straight at Dawn.

At the same moment, the big young Vulcan stepped forward, obviously outraged. "No!" he cried. "I am to be the one! It was agreed! The honor is mine!"

All at once, everyone in the marriage party seemed to be arguing, all in Vulcan.

"Kroykah!" T'Pau said explosively. The hubbub stopped as if turned off by a switch.

The big young Vulcan said, "I ask forgiveness." He went back to his post by the arch, sulky, unrepentant, but no longer defiant.

"This is unheard of," T'Pau said. "A woman has never been chosen as champion."

"T'Pring, I am honored," Dawn said. "But I must respectfully decline. I am already mated, and my own Pon Farr is not far off."

"You are Vulcan?" T'Pring asked, shocked at the revelation.

"Biologically, no," Dawn said as she saw Jim looking at her curiously. "I am human. But a result of a mind meld between me and my adopted mother, T'Pol, has had side effects. One of which causes me to experience Pon Farr."

"Then I choose," T'Pring said as she pointed straight at Jim, "him."

"Now wait a minute—" Kirk said.

All at once, everyone in the marriage party seemed to be arguing, all in Vulcan. Under cover of the noise, Kirk said swiftly to Dawn, "What happens if I decline?"

"I don't know," Dawn said. "Spock may have to fight the Vulcan who made the outburst. And sadly, I'm not sure Spock could win against him. But Jim you should know before you accept, this is combat to the death. If you accept there is a possibility even if you beat Spock you could die from the heat and thinner atmosphere."

"You don't seem to be having problems," Jim said.

"First Buffy and I lived for a couple years on Vulcan with T'Pol as I learned the ramifications of the mind meld. So, I am used to it. Second it doesn't affect me as much simply because I am Millennial," Dawn said.

Jim sighed. "And you say he likely couldn't win against him," Jim said as Dawn nodded. "I think we need a plan to make sure both Spock and I come out of this alive."

"I think I have a way," Dawn said as she patted a medical bag she was carrying.

"Good," Jim said. He stepped toward T'Pau. "I accept." He threw a look toward Spock, but Spock seemed oblivious of everything but the ceremony.

"According to our laws," T'Pau said, "combat begins with the lirpa."

Two Vulcan males stepped forward, each carrying a vicious-looking weapon. At one end of a heavy handle was a circular, razor-edged knife; at the other end, a metal cudgel.

"If both survive the lirpa," T'Pau continued, "then combat continues with ahn woon, until death. Klee-et!"

At this command, Spock wheeled to face Kirk. His eyes blazed with blind savagery as he lifted the weapon. Suddenly, he shouted bis answer, hoarsely, scornfully: "Klee-fah!"

Dawn watched as Jim and Spock went at it. She pulled out her communicator and flipped it open. "Summers to Enterprise, I need to speak to Dr. McCoy."

Jim dodged a feint by Spock. Spock slashed again with the blade, abruptly reversed the weapon and caught Jim a glancing blow with the cudgel end. Jim went down, rolling barely in time as Spock reversed again and slashed down hard. The weapon bit into the earth.

Dawn nodded as she closed her communicator and watched the combatants for the right time to intercede.

Jim kicked hard at Spock's legs. Now the Vulcan was down, and Jim was rolling to his feet. He was already sweating, and his breath was whistling in his throat.

"T'Pau," Dawn said as she moved next to T'Pau. "You know what I am and know that both the Vulcan heat and atmosphere has little effect on me even after living on Vulcan for a time. Jim does not have that. Allow me to use this high-G vitalizer shot. To compensate for temperature and atmosphere."

"Kroykah!" T'Pau said. Everyone froze. "Very well. Your request is reasonable."

Dawn moved over to Jim and pressed the hypo against Kirk's arm. It hissed, and she moved away.

Spock moved in at once. This time it was Jim who feinted. Spock countered as if they were marionettes tied to the same string. Jim tried again, with the same result.

With a wordless rumble, Spock launched a lightning kick at Jim's left hand. Jim bent aside, and catching the heel of Spock's boot, dumped him. He dived after him, but Spock rolled with unbelievable quickness, so that Jim hit only the bare ground.

Then both were up, crouching. Spock raised his weapon as if to throw it, and Jim tensed, ready to jump aside. Spock, however, suddenly reversed the weapon and rushed.

They came together like the impact of two machines, belly to belly, free hand holding weapon wrist, glaring into each other's eyes. Then, with a bone-cracking wrench, Spock whipped Kirk's weapon to the ground.

With two quick, stamping steps, like a flamenco dancer, Spock snapped the knife blade with a loud crack, and then kicked the cudgel end away. He raised his own blade to striking position. Jim hit Spock's wrist with a karate chop. Now it was Spock's lirpa that went flying out of reach.

"Kroykah!" T'Pau cried.

Again, Spock froze. The Vulcan weapons attendant came hurrying out, carrying what seemed to be no more than two leather bands about three feet long and four inches wide. One was handed to Spock, who backed up, waiting; Jim got the other.

"A strip of leather?" Jim said. "Is that all?"

"The ahn woon," T'Pau said. "Oldest and deadliest of Vulcan weapons."

Jim inspected it with puzzlement. How on earth was one supposed to use this thing? It wasn't long enough to be an effective whip, and . . .

Spock did not hesitate. Scooping up a jagged rock, in the same movement he converted the leather strap into a sling. Jim understood too late. The rock caught him hard in the ribs, and he fell.

As he staggered to his feet, Spock charged him, now holding one end of the strap in each hand. Whipping it around Jim's legs, he yanked, and down Jim went again.

Instantly, Spock was at his back, garroting him with the strap. Jim shifted to try to throw Spock over his shoulder, but something odd seemed to be happening to his muscles; they responded very slowly, and didn't move in the way his brain told them to go.

The pressure around his neck tightened. He made one last grab for Spock's hands, but never even came close. To the Vulcans it appeared that Spock had won.

"Kroykah!" came T'Pau's voice, as if from a great distance.

Dawn ran over to Spock. "Release him, Spock," she said as she unslung her tricorder from her shoulder. She scanned Jim and then looked straight at Spock. "He's dead."

"I grieve with you, T'Lekus," T'Pau said.

"No! I—no, no . . ." Spock said, he couldn't believe he had just killed Jim.

Dawn pulled out her communicator and flipped it open. "Summers to Enterprise."

"Go ahead, Dawn," came Buffy's voice.

"Have Transporter Room stand by for landing party to beam up. You are in command, Buffy," Dawn said. "Lock on to my communicator and beam up the captain. Ten second delay."

"Did something happen?" asked Buffy feigning ignorance.

"I'll explain when I beam up," Dawn said as she sat the communicator on Jim and stepped back. Jim's body disappeared in a transporter beam.

"T'Pring," Spock said.

"Yes."

"Explain."

"Specify."

"Why the challenge; why you chose first T'Lekus and then when she declined my Captain as your champion," Spock said.

"Stonn wanted me. I wanted him," T'Pring said.

"I see no logic in preferring Stonn over me," Spock said.

"He is simple and easily controlled," T'Pring explained. "I calculated the possibilities were these: if T'Lekus or your Captain were victor, they would not want me, and so I would have Stonn. If you were victor, you would free me because I dared to challenge, and again I would have Stonn. But if you did not free me it would be the same, for you would be gone again, and I would have your name and your property, and Stonn would still be there."

"Flawlessly logical," Dawn said.

"I am honored, T'Lekus," T'Pring said.

"Stonn!" Spock called out. "She is yours. After a time, you may find that having is not, after all, so satisfying a thing as wanting. It is not logical, but it is often true." He looked at T'Pau. "Live long and prosper, T'Pau."

"Live long and prosper, Spock," T'Pau said. "Live long and prosper, T'Lekus."

"Live long and prosper, T'Pau," Dawn said.

"I shall do neither. I have killed my Captain—and my friend," Spock said. He looked at Dawn. "Counselor, I surrender myself into your custody."

"Your communicator, Spock," Dawn said as he handed it to her. She flipped it open. "Summers to Enterprise, two to beam up. Energize!" She and Spock disappeared in a transporter beam.

0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0

Dawn led Spock to the mess hall as she explained to him what she had done.

"Most logical," Spock said, "T'Lekus. You satisfied the challenge and kept us both alive."

"Now," Dawn said. "Eat, that's an order. I have to go check on the Captain."

Dawn made her way to Sickbay and to Jim's bed. "Dawn," he said, "you are a quack."

Dawn laughed. "Well the plan did work. If I had told you what I was thinking exactly, you might not have wanted to go through with it."

"But how did," Jim asked as he looked at McCoy.

"How did I know what she shot you with and how to counteract it," McCoy said. "She actually contacted me while everyone's attention was on you and Spock. Told me what was going on. We agreed that ronoxiline D was what she needed to use."

"Will Spock be all right?" Jim asked.

"I'll run a full physical to make sure," Dawn said. "But yes, he will be."