Jim was dozing when the intercom chirped. He pressed the button. "Yes?" he answered.
"Admiral Winston is waiting," Uhura said.
"Oh. Glad to hear you're finally awake.
"Thanks, Admiral."
"Put him through."
Jim sat up and tried to look alert as Admiral Winston appeared on the screen. "Admiral Kirk," he said. "We keep meeting like this, don't we?"
"Sir?" Jim said.
"Always some sort of trouble."
Jim frowned. "It seems like it. I don't have a report yet, Sir. I'll get that as soon as possible."
"I understand you're still at Kronos."
"Yes, Sir. We've had a lot of repairs to do on the ship plus we were all asleep for a while and…"
"Asleep?"
"Yes, Sir."
"This should be a very interesting report, Kirk."
"What I really contacted you about is the prisoners. We have Omakh in custody in the Brig. He has to stand trial. I'm supposed to go down to Kronos and discuss this with Chancellor Gorkon. I want to know what the Federation's standing is on this before I talk to him. Will the Federation prosecute him? After all, most of his crimes were against the Federation, plus the crimes against our ally, the Klingons."
"We would prosecute him, but we won't argue with the Klingons. If they want him, they can have him."
"Yes, Sir."
"I'll leave that negotiation up to you. Just let me know how it goes."
"Yes, Sir."
"Winston out."
The transmission ended. Jim rubbed his face. Another negotiation. He had been hoping the admiral would demand to have Omakh stand trial in the Federation so that he could just tell Chancellor Gorkon without going down to the planet. He just wanted to go home.
Just then, the com system chirped again. "Yes," Jim answered.
"Admiral, Carol is calling," Uhura said.
"Put her through."
Jim waited and Carol appeared on the viewscreen. He sighed as he propped on his elbow. He did not think he had ever been so glad to see her. "Hi," he said.
"Hi," Carol replied. "I've been so worried about you."
"I'm okay. It's been a rough two days."
"You're still at Kronos?"
"Yes. I have to talk to Gorkon about whether they're gonna prosecute Omakh or whether they're gonna leave it up to the Federation."
"When will you be home?"
"I don't know. We had a lot of repairs to do to the ship and it's not all done yet."
"What happened to the ship?"
Jim thought he really should have read that message that Uhura sent. "We had a battle with some Klingon birds of prey, but that's all over now. Everything's quiet now, no jamming going on, so we're good."
Carol was silent a moment. "I miss you, Jim."
"I couldn't tell you how much I miss you."
"Try."
"What? Try what?"
"Try to tell me. I want to hear what you say." She propped on her elbow to listen.
Jim just stared at her a moment. "Are you teasing me?"
"Yes. I just want to hear."
Jim considered that. "I miss you so much, I feel like part of me is not here. That's how I feel."
Carol just sat there a moment and did not say anything. "Did that leave you speechless?" Jim asked.
"I'm trying not to cry, but you make it very hard," Carol said. "I'm just a blubbering mess lately."
"That's alright." He touched the screen. "I'd wipe those away if I could."
"You just get back here so you can hold me."
"I will. I promise. I don't want to end this transmission, but I have to go."
"I know."
"I'll talk to you again."
Carol just nodded, but she burst into tears when the transmission ended. She did not remember crying so much after she had Alex, but she supposed every one was different.
Jim sat in front of the viewscreen for a long moment. He did not like it that he was stranded here while his wife needed him. It made him feel angrier than he already was. He would find that admiral who had brought him here, and he would stand trial as well.
Jim got up from the viewscreen and headed for the Brig. He wanted to see Omakh in that detention cell. As he was going down the corridor, he met Doctor McCoy. "Jim, where are you going?" he asked.
"To the brig," Jim replied.
Bones stopped, a little stunned, but then he went after him. "What are you gonna do?" he asked.
Jim did not answer but just kept walking. He went into the brig and stopped just inside the door as he stared at the cells. Bones came in behind him. Korax came over to Jim. "Admiral," he said. "They have awakened."
"Good," Jim replied.
Korax and Bones watched as Jim walked over to the cell where Omakh stood. He yelled something at Jim in Klingon. "Shut up!" Jim said. "You won't get out of this one! I'm gonna personally see to that!"
Omakh spit at the shield between himself and Jim and yelled another insult at him. "Go ahead and talk in Klingon, coward!" Jim said.
"You call me a coward but you talk to me through a force field!" Omakh replied.
"Just be glad it's there, or I would have shot you dead."
With that, Jim turned and walked out of the brig. Bones followed him. "Jim!" he called after him.
Jim just kept walking, but Bones caught up with him. "Jim, what was that about?" he asked.
"Bones, just don't ask me that," Jim replied.
"Come on, tell me what's going on."
Jim stopped and turned toward Bones so fast that he almost ran into him. "Do you remember that my wife just had a baby a little over two weeks ago!" he asked. "She's back on Earth!"
"I know that…"
"I'm stuck here at Kronos! I'm not there for her when she needs me! And I don't like it!"
Jim turned and went on down the corridor. Bones just stood there a moment. He thought Jim must have talked to Carol. He did not like being there himself. Carol was even his patient.
Jim went to his quarters this time and turned on the com system. "Uhura," he said trying to keep the irritation out of his voice.
"Yes Sir."
"Hail the planet and put it through here."
"Yes, Sir."
Jim waited and finally Gorkon appeared on the screen. "Chancellor," he said.
"Admiral Kirk, will you be transporting soon?" Gorkon asked.
"I'm not sure there's a reason for the negotiation. I spoke to Admiral Winston and he says Omakh is all yours."
"You will speak at his trial?"
"I will. When will you have this trial?"
"Tomorrow. We will prepare, and he will be executed on the same day."
Jim frowned. He had said he would shoot Omakh dead, but he was not sure he wanted to see a Klingon execution. "We'll be there when you request it. But I think you should have maximum security for Omakh. I'm afraid he has another plan, and he may have a spy among your entourage."
"There are always spies. I thank you for the warning."
"Somehow he knew Korax had come aboard the Enterprise. How would he get that information?"
"Mysterious. We will investigate. Until tomorrow."
The transmission ended. Jim thought maybe he could get some rest between now and then, but right now, he was not sure he could sleep. He was still troubled that something else would happen.
As Jim walked down the corridor, he started to feel weary. He thought maybe he was starting to relax from all that tension he had been facing. But he wanted to find out if everyone was okay. He went to the medical bay and found Bones. "Is everyone okay?" he asked.
"Yeah, everyone's fine," Bones replied.
"Where's Solan? He's been awfully quiet."
"I'm not sure where he is. He's not in here."
"Maybe he's in engineering."
"Are you feeling alright?"
"Still some pain, and I'm tired, but other than that, I'm fine."
"Jim, you need to get some rest. Why don't you lie down here and let me do a scan and then get some rest? You can see Solan later."
Jim wanted to protest that, but he was incredibly tired. "Alright," he said.
Bones was rather surprised that Jim agreed, but he got his scanners while Jim got onto a medical bed. "I'm gonna find that admiral," Jim said. "He's not getting away with putting us through this."
"He could be anywhere in some dark corner of the galaxy," Bones replied.
"Someone has to know where he is, and I'm gonna find him."
By the time Bones finished his scan, Jim was asleep. Bones was glad he was sleeping, and he thought about giving him a sedative to make him sleep longer than he normally would, but he figured it would make Jim mad at him. He figured he had caused enough trouble lately. He dimmed the lights, however.
Bones thought he might check on Solan since Jim was concerned about him. He went down to engineering but he did not see him so he went over to one of the Klingons who were still helping there. "Hey, do you know where Solan is?" he asked.
"I have not seen him," the Klingon answered.
"Okay. Thanks."
Bones went to a computer terminal. "Computer, where is Solan?" he asked.
Solan is in his quarters.
Bones went to the guest quarters and rang the door chime to Solan's quarters. He did not get an answer so he rang it again. Then he punched in his own doctor's code to open the door. Solan was lying on the bed. Bones went over to the bed and touched Solan's arm. "Solan?"
Suddenly, Solan grabbed Bones' wrist and had a knife pointed at him before he could say another word. Solan realized it was Bones. "Doctor McCoy! What do you think you're doing?" he asked as he relaxed.
"Why are you so jumpy?" Bones asked. "I was worried about you and so was Jim. You didn't answer the door so I wanted to make sure you were okay."
Solan blew out a breath as he lay on his back. "I'm just not feeling well," he said.
"Then why didn't you come to the medical bay?"
"I didn't want to."
Bones rolled his eyes at that as he started a scan. "I want you to come to the medical bay," he said.
"You're not a doctor on this ship, and I'm not part of the crew," Solan replied. "Can't you just treat me here?"
"What difference does it make?"
"I'd rather be here."
"Fine. If you'll follow my orders."
"Sure. As long as I don't have to stay in that medical bay."
"I'll go get what I need. Just get ready to stay in bed."
"I don't feel like doing anything else, Doctor."
Bones was troubled by that as he left the room. He had never seen Solan willing to stay in bed. He went back to the medical bay and gathered up what he needed and made sure Jim was still sleeping. He also found Sara. "I don't want Admiral Kirk disturbed by anyone," he said. "I don't care what it is. He's to be left alone until morning."
"I'll see to it," Sara replied.
When he woke up, Jim had forgotten he was in the medical bay but he realized someone was standing beside him…and it was Spock. "Admiral," he said. "I am awaiting your orders for the day."
Jim scowled at that. "What?" he asked.
"It is morning. What is our first course of action for today?"
Jim had to admit he felt more rested than he had in days, but as he sat up, he realized he still had pain and soreness. "I'm not sure right now."
"The Enterprise is fully functional again and is ready to depart when you say."
"Good. How long did I sleep?"
"All night. Doctor McCoy refused to let anyone disturb you. However, that was not a problem."
Jim realized it was the day of that trial for Omakh and his followers. He was glad he had gotten all that rest because it would be a long day. "First of all, I have to freshen up," he said. "Then we have to contact Gorkon. I don't know how Klingon trials go."
"I am certain there will be a…dinner," Spock said.
Jim looked at him then. "Please, don't mention Klingon food this early in the morning. I'll see you in a bit."
Jim left the medical bay and was greeted by a few people in the corridor on his way to his quarters. He was rather surprised that Bones had not been there when he woke up.
When he was ready for the day, Jim went to the Bridge. "So, how early do Klingons get started?" he asked as he stood beside Grakar.
"Early," Grakar replied. "I am certain that Chancellor Gorkon would like you to come to the planet now. He also wants us to bring Omakh. I will secure him with stun cuffs. If he attempts to escape, I will relieve the court of the trouble of holding a trial."
"Where will he be kept while he waits for his trial?"
"In the dungeon. I will make sure he is kept in the darkest cell, furthest from any intervention."
"He'll be guarded, right?"
"He will, and he will stay in stun cuffs."
"That's good. Are you sure there's no way he can escape?"
"There will be guards inside the cell as well as outside it. He will not escape."
Korax walked onto the Bridge then. "He is correct," he agreed. "If he attempts an escape, he will have no need for a trial, nor will anyone who tries to help him."
"Okay, well, I'll leave all that up to you guys," Jim said.
"We will also protect you," Grakar assured him. "Korax and I will personally be your body guards while you are on the planet. Dapodi and his troop will guard Omakh. They will be instructed to react with deadly force."
"Uhura, hail the planet," Jim said.
In only moments, Dapodi answered. "Greetings," he said.
"We're ready to come down to the planet. We'll be bringing Omakh with us."
"He is to be secured in cell fourteen," Grakar said. "Have it ready."
Jim thought he saw a slight look of amusement cross Dapodi's face. "It will be done," he said.
Jim wondered just what cell fourteen was. "Inform Chancellor Gorkon that we'll be transporting momentarily," he said.
Dapodi nodded. "I shall send the coordinates."
"Thanks."
Jim ended the transmission. He dreaded going down to the planet but he would have two very aggressive and angry bodyguards, so he thought he would be safe. Still, he wondered where Solan was and why was he not offering to be his bodyguard? He turned to leave the Bridge. Spock stood waiting.
"Admiral, I would go with you to the planet," Spock said.
"No, you should stay here and take care of this ship in case anything unexpected happens again," Jim replied. "Have you seen Solan?"
"No. I have been quite puzzled about his absence."
"Me too. I don't have time to track him down right now, but can you check on him for me while I'm in the middle of this?"
"Yes, Sir."
Jim, Korax, and Grakar went to the Brig to retrieve Omakh for his trip down to the planet. Jim glared at him. Grakar made sure the stun cuffs were secure and brought Omakh out of his cell. "You're on your way to Kronos for trial," Jim said.
Omakh glared at him and said something in Klingon. From Grakar's and Korax's reaction, Jim thought it was probably an insult. "Whatever," he said. "Let's go."
They went to the transporter room and stepped onto the pad. "Have you received the coordinates from Kronos?" Jim asked.
"Yes Sir," the transporter technician said.
"Energize."
