CHAPTER TWELVE
Captain's log, Stardate 7425.7:
The Enterprise is performing better than imagined. Since the V'ger incident, Mr. Scott has brought the ship to top-notch condition, 'and a wee bit more if ye ask for it' he would add. Ironically, we are approaching an area of space that we had visited not long after I had first assumed command of this vessel.
Kirk swiveled in his chair. It felt good to sit here again. "Mr. Spock," he called out jovially, "how are the new sensors doing."
Spock rose an eyebrow. "They are performing as expected, Captain," his tone was matter-of-factly, "as I supervised and assisted the completion of their installation."
"Why, Spock," Kirk baited, "is that ego I hear from you?"
As usual, Spock took the bait. "I am a Vulcan. As such, I have no ego. I simply state fact."
"That's bull and you know it." McCoy said from behind Kirk's chair. "You're also half-human, which means hiding somewhere in that green-blooded head of yours is an ego that's dying for you to head for your quarters so you can sulk about the fact that you were caught taking pleasure in something."
"Really, doctor, your imagination should be reined in, before it causes you to have serious delusions." As McCoy gaped at that remark, Spock's attention was called to his console. "Captain, I'm picking up an automated distress signal, bearing 217 mark 39."
Kirk looked concerned; he stood up and moved next to Spock. "That's the direction of the barrier, isn't it?"
"Correct, captain," Spock continued gazing into his screen. "It appears to be a ship's distress signal."
Kirk galvanized into action. "Keep on it, Spock. Mr. DiFalco, set a course for that signal. Ahead warp five, Mr. Sulu."
~ * ~
The ship dropped out of warp just before the barrier. Kirk felt a sense of deja vu. It was in this barrier that his best friend, Gary Mitchell, and a science officer, Elizabeth Dehner, had obtained godlike powers that drove them both insane. "Full stop just before we hit the barrier. I don't want to have to go into that thing again."
"Aye, sir," was Sulu's response.
"Spock, anything?"
"Scanning." Spock was silent for a moment. "It appears to be a ship drifting just inside the barrier." His speech was slow as he was concentrating on the readings. "Constitution-class. Her ID registers as... NCC-1705." He looked up. "USS Excalibur."
Kirk faced the screen. "That was Jeff Thomas' ship. He disappeared over a year ago."
Spock nodded, both eyebrows disappearing into his hair. "We appear to have found him. I'm initiating a full scan." Another moment of silence. "Minimal power readings. Severe internal damage; Captain, the bridge has been exposed to space." Kirk gaped mournfully at the screen while Spock continued. "Unable to tell if there are any life signs from here. If there are, there are not many."
Kirk stepped toward the screen. "Can we tow it out with our tractor beam."
"If we still had our previous design, I would say no. However, currently, I daresay it's possible."
"Do it. I want a look aboard that ship. If they were in there this long, I'd hate to see if anyone was alive."
Chekov spoke up from the tactical station. "Ve've managed to lock onto it, Keptin. Slowly bringing it out of the barrier."
On the screen, the ship's lines grew less vague as it left behind the energies of the barrier. Kirk headed toward the turbolift. "Once it clears, I want a landing party waiting for me in the transporter room." The doors slid shut on any response he could have heard.
~ * ~
Four figures shimmered into existence in a corridor on the Excalibur wearing space suits. Wisps and tendrils of the barrier's energy hung close to the floor like a fog. Spock scanned it with his tricorder. "Captain, I do not recommend that we remain for any significant length of time. The energy residue may still be detrimental to us," he said through his suit's communicator
Kirk nodded acknowledgment, and motioned to everyone. "Scotty, go to Engineering; find out its condition. Bones, check the sickbay. Spock and I will go to the auxiliary bridge." They split up and headed in their respective directions.
As they ran through the corridors, they noticed the desiccated remains of several crewmen. As Kirk saw their old uniforms, he felt a sense of nostalgia. This ship was just like the Enterprise used to be. Now she was improved, and they were on an obsolete ship. If it had made it home, it would have been refitted much like the Enterprise.
They came to a halt outside the auxiliary bridge doors. Spock trained his tricorder on the doors. "Like the rest of the ship, the atmosphere had been vented out. The doors won't open, and there are no life signs inside."
Without delay, Kirk opened a panel next to the doors and activated the manual override. The doors slid open. The carnage they witnessed inside was unbearable. Everything that happened a year ago had been preserved due to the lack of an atmosphere. They found Captain Thomas in his chair. His hand was around his science officer's throat; however, his throat was dangling in the science officer's hand. "Oh... my... God," Kirk whispered. Spock merely closed his eyes. Everyone on the bridge had killed either each other or themselves.
The silence was broken by Scotty's voice coming through the commlink in Kirk's suit. "Captain, it's a mess down here. It's like a bloody war zone. I dinna need a doctor to tell you that no one is alive. And the engines. Och, the puir bairns."
"I understand, Scotty, meet us as soon as you can." A beep issued forth as soon as Scotty signed off.
"Jim, McCoy here. You'd better get down here. I found something."
~ * ~
Kirk and Spock came running into Sickbay, Scotty just joining them. "In here, Jim." McCoy led them into the emergency section. Along the way, they noticed people in the same conditions as the other areas they had seen. He showed them a stasis chamber. "This one's still working."
Spock raised an eyebrow. "Fascinating. I wonder why only this one is in use."
"Perhaps the doctor managed to use it before he went insane," Kirk offered.
"The others were used, all right," McCoy said somberly. He pointed further into the room. Kirk and Spock looked in the direction McCoy had indicated. The other stasis chambers were in there, but they were smashed open. One chamber had a large metal rod driven through it, obviously impaling the victim inside. Another chamber looked as though its occupants last remaining moments were of pounding on the inside of the chamber, trying to get out; the door showed numerous bulges, where the patient's blows had dented the door outward, but held.
Spock scanned each chamber but indicated there were no survivors - until he scanned the last one, the one closest to their position. "Captain, I'm picking up a life sign inside this chamber."
Kirk was puzzled. "Without an atmosphere?
"The stasis chamber once sealed generates its own atmosphere. It prevents contaminating Sickbay," the doctor said. "The chamber works both ways. It also keeps whatever out here... or what's not out here."
Kirk looked to McCoy. "If we can get an atmosphere back in here, do you think you can chance opening it?"
"Sure, if you can restore the atmosphere. Otherwise, we may as well beam this person into space."
Kirk smirked. "I don't think we need to go that far yet."
"I believe I may be able to rectify this." The Vulcan made his way to a computer panel. "I shall attempt to tap into the stasis chamber's power supply long enough to restore power to Sickbay." He fell silent for a moment as he worked. Suddenly, the doors closed and the lights kicked on. "I have established power and atmosphere is returning. Doctor, are you now able to access your patient?"
"Just a minute." McCoy looked over the readouts. "I think so." He activated the sequence to open it. The chamber opened. A human form was lying there, basking in the blue field of stasis.
Kirk recognized the man. "My God, it's Apollo."
"You mean the Lieutenant Commander we saw on Starbase 14 during our shore leave?" McCoy said, incredulous.
Kirk recalled that night. Looking stunned, he said, "Bones, get him out of there."
"I'd like to take him straight to our sickbay."
Kirk nodded. "Get going. We'll see what else we can find."
~ * ~
Later, they reappeared in the Enterprise transporter room. McCoy was waiting for them. "Jim. You're not going to believe what I found out," he said as the captain removed the helmet of his suit.
Kirk looked at the doctor. The expression on his face was not good. "Try me," he said soberly. "Anything you have to tell me will be better than what I saw over there."
They left the transporter room with McCoy explaining as they walked down the corridor. "Jim, that man I brought back has to be the most advanced human being I've ever examined. You know those bionic enhancements listed in his medical records? Well, he doesn't have them anymore." Kirk stopped short, startled at hearing this. But McCoy had more to say. "He's gone through perhaps the most complete and amazing metamorphosis I've ever encountered."
Kirk's eyes narrowed. "Explain."
"Well, as far as I can see it, while he spent time in stasis, while in the barrier, its energies somehow changed him. Organic and inorganic components merged together into some kind of new substance. His skeletal structure has completely metamorphosed into a framework more durable and flexible than a normal human being has."
Spock was intrigued. "Fascinating. Then you are saying that Racer's biological functions have been reinforced by his inorganic parts."
"Not exactly, Spock. What I'm saying is that he has somehow been changed at the molecular level. When we knew him on the starbase, he could be called a cyborg in every sense of the word."
Jim nodded. "Part machine, part man. I suppose that's true."
McCoy was still excited. "Yes, but that's not true anymore. You can't tell where the man begins and the machine ends anymore, because they've been completely integrated with each other. It's incredible. The most advanced science known still hasn't found a way to merge organic and inorganic material so completely."
They resumed their walk. "How does he feel about these changes?"
"That's just it. He hasn't regained consciousness yet. I couldn't find any injury on him, but he was kept in stasis for an awful long time."
"You forget, doctor, who we are talking about. Commander Racer has been in stasis far longer than anyone we know. He is a product of the 21st century."
Kirk nodded. "This is true. I wonder if that had anything to do with his current condition."
"Considering he only gained his prosthetic limbs at Starfleet Academy," Spock said, "I would find it unlikely."
"I was referring to the fact that the comet fragment that was found in his cockpit could have left some residual substance in his body, something that reacted to the barrier's energy."
Spock mulled it over, then raised an eyebrow. "It could be possible, given the length of time he was exposed to the fragment."
They entered sickbay and walked up to where Dr. Chapel was tending a patient on the bed. "No response, yet," she said to McCoy. "I wanted to wait until you were here before proceeding with any measures."
"Well, now that I'm here, go right ahead."
She took a hypospray off a tray nearby, checked it to ensure that it had the right chemical with the right dosage, then applied it to Apollo's neck. The effect was almost immediate. Apollo groaned and started to come around. He started to sit up when McCoy stopped him. "Easy, Commander. You've been out for a while. Give yourself a chance."
He tried to open his eyes, but only managed a slit before squeezing them shut again and slapping his hand over his eyes. "Can't see very well. Everything's too bright."
Kirk offered a little comfort. "Well, you were in stasis for a long time. You probably need a chance to get used to being awake again." He looked to McCoy, who dimmed the lights in Sickbay.
Despite McCoy's warnings, Apollo managed to slowly sit up and swing his legs over the side. He winced, squeezing his eyes shut. "Oh, God, my head's swimming. How long was I out this time? Couldn't have been long, since you're still around."
They were a little confused until Spock spoke up. "You were in stasis for 1.7 years, Commander."
Apollo groaned again. "Figures. Somehow I knew when I woke up that I was asleep for more than just a few months." This time he managed to open his eyes. The room was filled with a diffuse blue light. "I take it this is the Enterprise. I recognize some of the refit work from what I had read; they did a good job." Silence answered back to him. He looked from face to face but the only expression he could get from them was a blank stare, with him as the focus; Spock was the exception. Instead of his mouth going agape like everyone else's, his left eyebrow buried itself in his hairline. "What? What's wrong?" He was starting to get jumpy. "Will someone... please... tell me what's wrong."
McCoy simply beckoned to Dr. Chapel, without taking his eyes off of Apollo. "Chris, I think you'd better show Commander Racer a mirror. He'd be better off seeing this for himself than to have one of us try to explain it."
Chapel took Apollo's hand and led him halfway across the sickbay before he realized that she was leading him as though he were blind. He shook his hand from her, emphasizing that he could see, but he still followed her to the mirror. "What are you people trying to show..." His voice trailed off as he saw what they did.
Every feature of his face had somehow changed. In fact, he could sense all kinds of subtle changes all through his body. But the most pronounced change were his eyes. Or seemingly, the lack of them. What was there in place of his eyes were... well... blue was all he could think of. There were no pupils, no irises, not even any whites for that matter. Just... blue. And glowing. As brilliant and pure as any shade of blue could ever have been. Thoughts raced at light speed through his mind, trying to think of an answer for it. But all that would escape his mouth was, "Fascinating."
~ * ~
After several more tests, McCoy had no choice but to label Apollo with a clean bill of health. The main thing he was worried about was Apollo's state of mind, as it was proven that prolonged exposure to the barrier's energies drove a person violently and murderously insane. But the commander assured him that he was fine in that aspect. In fact, thinking about it, he felt better than he did before entering the barrier. Even his stress from his past ship assignments were but a vague memory. With nothing to hold him in sickbay, McCoy released him.
Walking through the corridors of the Enterprise, he couldn't help but feel the eyes of the crewman follow him; he didn't know if it was because of the uniform - he was still in the gold tunic and black pants, while everyone apparently was wearing a glorified version of grayish-blue or beige sleeper pajamas - or if it was his strange new appearance. Somehow, he was infused with... what. What have I become? Apollo shifted that thought over and over in his mind.
One thing that definitely changed was his body. McCoy had told him what happened to his enhancements. He raised his arm; it felt lighter than before, but normal, and he could still sense the strength he possessed. He tried disconnecting it, but it was like a normal arm. He then touched the wall of the corridor, and discovered something wonderful. Before, his limbs simply gave him sensory input; if he were holding a hot coal, his hand would simply register that he had a small, rough object at a specific temperature. Now, he could actually feel the wall beneath his fingertips. He wondered if his other abilities were still in place. If the deck was deserted, he could test his speed. The next best thing, he realized, would be the gym.
He entered the room. It was unoccupied. Apollo stood there for a moment; then he grinned mischieviously, and started to run.
~ * ~
Kirk was getting off his shift. He walked through the corridors, eager to start his daily workout. He entered the gym and felt a breeze. Did someone turn the recirculators on high, he wondered. He caught movement on the far wall, then as he entered, he noticed that something was traveling on the wall, moving extremely fast. Before he could respond, the figure came down the far wall and stopped on a dime just four feet in front of him. "Good afternoon, Captain."
Kirk stared at those glowing blue eyes. "What the devil's name were you doing, Commander?" he said, easily masking his emotions. He didn't hang around Spock all this time and not learn anything.
Apollo looked a bit sheepish. "I... wanted to check to see if I still had the same abilities that I had before."
Kirk let the astonishment show this time. "You were able to do this before!?"
Apollo nodded. "I was after I fixed my enhancements."
Kirk didn't know what to say to that. "Yes... well... just don't hurt anyone." He clapped Apollo on the shoulder as the commander started to leave. "Oh, and one other thing. You might want to consider updating your uniform. I don't think people will take you too seriously with that on." He grinned at Apollo, who returned the smile and left Kirk to his workout.
~ * ~
He woke to a beeping in his ear. "Bridge to Commander Racer."
Was he back on the Excalibur somehow? No, that's not right. That ship is just a derelict, left where the Enterprise had found it while a science vessel had been dispatched to assess its condition. Besides, the communications officer on the Excalibur was a man, not a woman. Apollo shook his head and touched the pad. "Racer here," he said groggily.
"Sorry to wake you, Commander, but we had to deviate from our course. We were called to a crisis on Arcadia. Hope you don't mind." Uhura's voice was edged with sarcasm.
"'S'okay." he said, still half-asleep. He cut the link, and sat up. The room wasn't completely dark; there was a fuzzy blue glow everywhere he looked. I'm going to have to get used to the fact that I'm now my own permanent night light, he thought with a smirk as he roused himself. The lights came on automatically upon his movement, drowning out the glow. He got dressed into a more comtemporary, bluish-gray uniform and, upon having nothing better to do, headed for the bridge.
When Apollo got there, he looked around, instantly impressed by the new bridge design. By the sight on the main viewscreen, they had already settled into orbit around Arcadia. Kirk heard the doors open and close and turned to greet him. "Greetings, Commander. Welcome to Arcadia."
"Thanks. May I ask what brought us here, Captain?"
Kirk started to speak, but Spock gave him his answer. "Arcadia is one of twelve planets in this system, of which only three others support life. Their government recently joined the Federation, and certain factions are not pleased with the fact. An uprising has just occurred, and we are responding to a request for help."
McCoy entered the bridge at that point and came up to Kirk. "Well, Jim, sickbay's prepared. Just don't draw this out too long." He looked toward Apollo. "Glad to see you're up and around, Commander."
"Draw what out?" Apollo asked of Kirk.
Kirk stood up. "We're about to send a landing party down to the capital, try and diffuse the situation. Mr. Chekov, contact Security, have them send a couple of men to Transporter room 2. Mr. Spock, Bones, you're with me."
As Kirk moved around him, Apollo spoke up. "Sir, permission to accompany you." Kirk studied Apollo while thinking about the request. Apollo pushed a little further. "I was security chief on the Monitor, and I think I could be of some use."
Kirk gave him a little grin. "All right, let's go."
~ * ~
The landing party materialized on the planet's surface, dressed in their dark beige field jackets. They were met by a delegation of five Arcadians. The Arcadians were reptilian in nature, with gray skin, bulbous heads, and beaks like that of a snapping turtle. "You are the Ssstarfleet?" one of them asks, fear showing clearly in its eyes.
Kirk stepped forward. "I'm Captain James T. Kirk of the starship Enterprise. These are my officers..."
He was interrupted by the Arcadian. "Yesss, yesss. Introductionsss later. We mussst hurry."
Kirk looked at him, hesitating. They stayed there long enough to see the top of a boulder next to them get vaporized. Apollo quickly fell back on his security training, helping the other security men herd everyone into a nearby cave.
The Arcadians stopped to check on their guests. "Quickly, quickly. We are not sssafe yet."
They continued into the cave. When it got too dark (except for the blue glow), the security men pulled out flashlights. Finally, they reached what appeared to be a central chamber. More Arcadians were there. The one leading Kirk's group ran over to one of the creatures in the other group. "Bartozz, Bartozz! The Ssstarfleet are here!"
The one named Bartozz ambled over to the group. While their clothes looked utilitarian, his was obviously marked for authority. He looked into the faces of each landing party member, stopping at Apollo. He pointed to the human. "I cannot trusst thisss one."
This startled Apollo, wondering how this creature could come to such a conclusion. Kirk stepped forward. "I don't understand. You asked for our help. How could you not trust..."
"I cannot see into this one'sss eyesss." He spoke to Kirk, but he didn't take his eyes off of Apollo. His people started watching the commander just as warily. "With our people, we judge by what we sssee in another'sss eyesss. That way we can tell if he isss being truthful. But thisss one," he pointed to Apollo, "thisss one'sss eyesss glow with a demonic fire. We are unable to tell if we can trussst him."
Apollo wanted to say something, but Kirk waved him off. "I can assure you, Bartozz, that Commander Racer is a respected member of our group, and under my orders. He will do nothing unless I wish him to."
Bartozz thought about that. "Ssso you are sssaying that if we can trussst you, then we can trussst him."
Kirk held out his hands in emphasis. "Implicitly," he said, almost pleading.
Bartozz once again looked into Apollo's face. Apollo smiled, thinking it would make things easier. It seemed to do the trick. "We will trussst thisss one, then," he said, nodding. "But for hisss actionsss, you are resssponsssible."
"I understand completely," Kirk said, exchanging looks with Apollo. Everyone seemed to let out their breath in relief.
They followed Bartozz to where he had been standing. Upon a closer look, the officers realized that the group had been studying a map on a crude stone table. "The Vertadsss have been moving sssteadily forward. They will not ssstop until they have achieved their goal."
"And what goal would that be?" Spock asked.
"Asss far asss we know, they wish to take over our planet. They come from Verta, the ssseventh body in our plane. Already they have taken the fifth body. We are next." He sighed. "We had thought at firssst that if they sssaw another shell around our body, they would leave usss alone."
One of the security men was obviously confused. "Excuse me, sirs. Bodies? Planes? Shells? What does he mean?"
McCoy shook his head and grinned. He blurted out, "Leave it to Security intelligence to get easily confused." He then realized that Apollo was a security chief on another ship, and that he was glaring at him. "No offense, Commander."
Apollo slowly nodded. "The bodies he talks about are planets. Their plane must be this system. Which means they must see our ship as a shell which carries us from place to place."
"Very astute, Commander," Spock said with approval, while the guard who spoke nodded with understanding.
Kirk clenched his teeth. "Well, it unfortunately seems as if just seeing our ship in orbit isn't enough to make these Vertads run." He turned to Bartozz. "Now that we're here, what would you have us do?"
Bartozz's fists clenched. "You must dessstroy the invadersss!" He said with conviction. "They mussst be ssstopped at all cossstsss!" He pounded his fists on the table.
The ceiling chose that moment to explode and cave in. As it was a high ceiling, everyone had a chance to find cover before debris hit the ground; but it provided excellent cover for the Vertads to enter on jet packs, firing on their way.
Instantly, the landing party had their phasers out. "Be careful when firing!" Kirk yelled over the noise. "We don't want to hit someone too high up! We'd knock them out with a stun setting, but the fall will kill them!" Everybody acknowledged his directions.
Unfortunately, the Vertads had no such restrictions. They fired freely, and judging by how rocks were blowing apart, Apollo guessed that their weapons weren't exactly on stun. What they had on their side was the fact that in order for the Vertads to hit anyone with accuracy, they had to swoop down; this left them open to a stun blast, where a short fall would do nothing more than just rough them up a little more.
Apollo took in everything that was happening. They were pinned down under outcroppings that were thick enough to somehow put up with their shots. Then he noticed that when the Vertads were hit and fell, the Arcadians would fall upon their adversary, kicking and clubbing them with anything at hand. "Stop that!" he yelled. In a flash, he was on them, pulling them away from the unconscious beings. "You're acting no better than they are!"
"Racer, get back under cover!" Kirk yelled from his position, Spock was there covering him.
There were two Vertads left in the air. One of them drew a bead on where Kirk's voice came from; they shot accurately, hitting the rock over Kirk's head. It collapsed on top of the captain and first officer.
"NO!" Apollo saw what happened, then looked up to the person who fired. This business has to stop now, he thought. He jumped up and grabbed the Vertad's ankle. "No more!" He punched the Vertad's jet pack, wrecking it; then he turned his phaser on the other one, stunning him to the ground.
The shooting ended, and the noise died down. As the dust settled, Kirk and Spock crawled out of their collapsed hiding place; fortunately, it had fallen in a way where its own length protected them from harm. McCoy jumped out and rushed over to one of the security men, who was injured in the firefight. He stabilized his patient and turned to inform Kirk that he would be all right. Kirk and Spock were still staring up toward the ceiling. Wondering what piqued their curiosity so much after a battle, he looked up too, and found himself staring as well.
Up in the air, close to the hole in the ceiling, Apollo was holding on to a Vertad. It took McCoy a minute to realize that since there was no noise, then it meant that the creature's jet pack wasn't functioning. That meant that Apollo wasn't holding on to the Vertad, he was simply holding the Vertad.
So who was holding on to Apollo?
Kirk was quick to rein in his astonishment. "Ah, Commander, you can come down now."
Apollo did as he was told, easing down to the ground. But as he reached the surface, he yanked the Vertad up and shoved him against a rock face. The being's feet were dangling a foot off the ground. Kirk moved to restrain Apollo, but McCoy held him back. Kirk figured if Bones had a good reason for stopping him, then he'd go along with it.
Meanwhile, the Vertad was visibly shaking. Apollo's eyes were bright with his anger, brighter than his fellow officers had seen before. "Now, you misbegotten piece of flotsam." Apollo's voice was quiet, but it oozed with venom. "You will go to your superiors. You will tell them to return to their homeworld and stop bothering these people. Or I personally will return and kick your scrawny little butts out of the galaxy. Is that clear?"
The Vertad evidently had some defiance left in it. "And suppose we refuse."
It was only supposed to be a show. Apollo was going to point his phaser and demonstrate its power, but his mind had other plans. As he searched for a suitable target and spotted the outcropping that Kirk and Spock were almost trapped under, twin cobalt beams shot from his eyes, completely vaporizing the rock in a shower of dust. The Vertad must have gotten the message. Convinced that he was being held by a demon, he began convulsing with fear, and he excreted all over himself. Disgusted, Apollo threw him to the ground. "Let him go. He has a message to deliver." He had a feeling that the terrorist wasn't going anywhere for a while. Apollo walked up to the captain and waited.
Kirk didn't know what to say, let alone what to think. He looked toward Bartozz.
The Arcadian was also afraid of what just took place; he had enough of his act together to speak, but his eyes never left Apollo. "We... we can now control thisss matter from now on. Th-thank you, Commander."
Receiving his confirmation, Kirk opened his communicator. "Kirk to Enterprise."
"Scott here. Captain, are ye all right? We just read phaser fire, followed by a massive energy discharge."
Kirk never took his eyes off Apollo. "The situation's under control. The Arcadians have their planet back. Six to beam up. And make sure a medical team is standing by. We have an injured person." He closed his communicator. Before the transporter yanked them away, he said to Bartozz, "May your rule be prosperous from here on."
As the beams took them away, they heard the Arcadian ruler say, "It will. I can trussst that. It will."
~ * ~
As soon as they coalesced on the transporter pads, Kirk turned on Apollo. "What the hell did you do down there, mister?"
Apollo, still trying to sort it out himself, adopted a Vulcan demeanor. "I'm sorry if I acted out of line down there, sir. But I did resolve the situation."
Kirk was shocked. "'Resolved the situation?' Is that all you have to say? You took off like a god-damned bird, grabbed a terrorist, brought him down, and literally scared the shit out of him by shooting a boulder to pieces by just glaring at it!" He paced through the short room for a moment. "What kind of a person did you become in that barrier, anyway?"
Apollo thought about it as hard as he could. Finally, he answered, "I honestly don't know, sir."
Once again caught speechless, Kirk stormed out of the room. McCoy and Spock stared after their friend, then looked at Apollo. Spock simply said, "Fascinating." Then they both walked out after Kirk, leaving Apollo alone with Lieutenant Rand, the technician at the time.
Apollo stood there for a moment. He then glared at Rand and spat, "What are you looking at?" He then walked out of the room at a brisk pace, leaving Rand to sit there and wonder just what the hell had just happened.
~ * ~
The arboretum was a fascinating place. It's where crew members bring species of plants from worlds all over the Federation, ones that are compatible, in any case. The atmosphere was balanced enough to support them all. But all along one wall, huge transparent aluminum windows let in the spectacular view of space outside the ship.
Apollo stood in front of one of these windows now. They were supposed to be made to minimize reflection as much as possible; however, Apollo saw his eyes in the face of the window, a constant reminder to what he just did today, of what he became.
He never heard the doors open or close, but he sensed someone standing behind him. "Am I intruding?"
He turned to face the source of the voice, and bit off a retort. It wouldn't have affected this man, anyway. "No, no you're not intruding." He left it at that.
Spock stood at his side, facing him, his expression asking a silent question. It seemed as if this man never needed to say anything. He could probably get you to talk just by looking at you the right way. Apollo thought that in that way, Spock was just like his father.
Apollo stood there until he couldn't take the silence anymore. "Are you going to tell me that what I did down there was wrong?"
Spock shook his head. "The mission was a success. The Vertads had returned to their planet without any more bloodshed, and the Arcadians had been given an example of the benefits of their newfound membership with the Federation. I would say that your demonstration, while somewhat... emotional, was quite effective." He paused. "Is there some reason you would wish me to tell you that what you did was wrong?"
Apollo moved away, pacing along the stone walkway that wound its way through the room. He shrugged, slowly returning to his spot. "Yes... no... hell, I don't know. Spock, you saw what I did. What do you think? Of all the species you've met in your career, have you ever seen one who could just look at a boulder and vaporize it?" He didn't wait for Spock's answer. "I felt so much power through that blast. You heard Mr. Scott yourself. He said the Enterprise registered a massive power discharge. The Enterprise!"
"They also registered the phaser fire in the area as well," the Vulcan said calmly. "The Enterprise carries highly sensitive instruments."
"Yes, but he also said it was much more powerful than phasers. And let me tell you something." He walked right up to Spock, standing as close as he possibly could without violating his personal space. At such a close range, the Vulcan should have been able to pick up surface emotions from Apollo. He could not; instead, he felt a very strong set of shields in place. That alone told him that this man was afraid. But of what?
Apollo gave him his answer. "What if I told you that I didn't even use full power? I just wanted to demonstrate what I could do. I didn't want to rip the planet apart, I just wanted a tiny amount to show; I was emphatically pulling my punch. But look what even that little bit did?"
Spock analyzed the situation in his head. "How did you know that you could perform such an action?"
Apollo let silence add tension. He began pacing. "That's just it. Right up until that moment, I didn't even know I could do it. Then, when I was holding that Vertad, I remembered back at the Academy. When I would get mad at someone or something, my friends would say to me, 'You know, Racer, if looks could kill, he'd be wiped out by now.' So I thought, why not? What if I can do it?" He paced a little more. "Well, in that very instant before I did it, somehow... somehow... I just knew I could. I never realized I would be that effective."
The only movement Spock had been making this whole time was to turn his head to follow Apollo around the arboretum. He never let anything disrupt his calm. "It seems as though you have a decision to make."
"You're damn right I have a decision to make." He finally got tired of pacing and sat down at a nearby bench. "The question is, what type of decision does it have to be?" He buried his face in his hands.
The doors opened and closed again. "Somehow I knew that I'd find you here." It was Kirk's voice, but with his face hidden, he couldn't tell if the captain were speaking to him or to Spock.
"I believe Mr. Racer is having trouble accepting what he did on the planet's surface." Spock offered.
"Spock, trust me, I'm having a hard time believing what just happened. In fact, I came seeking Racer because I need to do a report of what happened." Apollo lifted his head to see Kirk turn toward him. McCoy had accompanied him. "Should I tell Starfleet what really went on?"
Apollo was a little puzzled. "You can't lie to Starfleet, Captain."
"Why not?" McCoy chimed in. "He's done it dozens of times."
Kirk fixed his CMO with a glare. "What I meant," he started turning back to Apollo, "was whether I should specifically mention the actions you took down there. I'm concerned that this development may not be very beneficial to your career."
Spock spoke for him again. "Mr. Racer has informed me of something even more potentially disturbing. It seems that however powerful Commander Racer's... 'demonstration' was down on Arcadia, it was not the full extent of his power."
McCoy's eyes grew wide. "Good God, man! You vaporized a boulder four times our size to dust by just blinking at it! Now you're saying you can do more!?"
Apollo slid his hands slowly down his face. "Now you see my dilemma, Doctor." He stood up. "I have enough power to do God-knows-what. One principle I believe in very strongly... is that with power comes responsibility."
"They also say that power corrupts, but absolute power corrupts absolutely," Kirk said. "What I'd like to know, and I'm sure the thought has also occurred to you, is if your sense of duty and responsibility will be able to override the possibility of corruption." He thought of his friend, Gary Mitchell, who had the same problem but wasn't responsible enough toi keep corruption from blackening his soul.
The thought was so strong that Apollo couldn't help but pick it up. "Who is Gary?" he said. All their heads shot up in astonishment.
"How did you..." McCoy sputtered.
"Fascinating," Spock stated.
"You read my mind," Kirk said simply, quietly. Dangerously. He stepped closer to Apollo, anger burning in his eyes. He was about to say something or do something, but he stopped himself. The shock and the horror on Apollo's face was double their own.
"Honestly, I didn't mean to. I'm sorry. It's just that when surface thoughts are that strong, they're pretty much projected outward. I can't help picking them up."
Spock put a hand on Kirk's shoulder. "He is right, Jim. When you are in an emotional state, you tend to... broadcast... very strongly." This was an indirect way of telling him that he, too, picked up Kirk's thought about his friend, and has no doubt done so before.
Kirk looked over his shoulder at Spock. The Vulcan had an expression of understanding on his face. He sat down beside Apollo and proceeded to tell him of the first time they encountered the barrier. He told the commander of Gary Mitchell, the friend he was to Kirk, and how he had been subject to the barrier's powers as Apollo had. Kirk's voice grew somber when he reached the part in which he had to kill his friend to keep him from going completely over the edge.
Apollo remained silent for a few minutes. He got up and paced, then he faced the window. Finally, when his thoughts were collected, he turned back toward Kirk. "So your fear is that I'll wind up like him; I'll go insane from this power, and you'll have to stop me before I go too far."
Kirk hesitated. "The thought had crossed my mind."
Apollo solemnly nodded. "Do you think it will come to that? Am I really going to become a threat to this ship, this crew, hell, to Starfleet and the Federation?"
McCoy grinned in a fatherly manner. "Well, I think you just answered your own question."
Apollo cocked his head. "How so?"
"Well, just by asking those questions, to us and to yourself, you've proven that you've got a pretty good head on those shoulders."
Spock inclined his head. "For once, I would tend to agree with Dr. McCoy. You have proven yourself worthy of such a responsibility just by your concern for what could happen. You recognize the danger, and as such you can be prepared to deal with it." He paused. "You have been bestowed with some remarkable and fascinating abilities. How you use those abilities is entirely up to you, but I am confident that you will use them wisely, and with as much restraint as you deem necessary."
Kirk smiled. He couldn't have said it better. "You seem to have a good sense of duty and honor... that alone should be good enough to keep you in check. I think you'll do just fine. Just go with your gut feeling." He winked, then grew serious. "Thank you."
"For what?" Apollo asked.
"I have to admit, after what I saw down there, I had my doubts. For a while, I thought you were going to turn out like Gary. But you've proven those doubts groundless. I can feel confident that you can handle yourself, and your powers, responsibly."
Apollo felt as though his faith in himself was restored. "Thank you, sir. You don't know how much it means to me to hear you say that. I promise I won't let you, or the Federation, down." He stood up. "But while I'm thinking about it, do you think you could only give Starfleet the bare bones? You know, 'Went to Arcadia. Talked to inhabitants. Situation resolved.'"
"That might be stretching it a bit, but I'll see what I can do." He got to his feet and the foursome left the arboretum.