DEGUELLO - Chapter 14
by Trish Bennett
McCoy's patience was beginning to wear thin. He paced the floor of the bridge in exasperation, muttering softly to himself. Finally he moved to Mr. Scott, who was seated rather uncomfortably in the command chair.
"Where the hell are they, Scotty?" he demanded, knowing full well that the Scotsman had no more information than he did.
"I don't know, Doctor," Scott replied, his brogue a bit heavier than usual. "We canna do anything but wait."
McCoy shook his head in aggravation. "Damn fool Vulcan!" he cursed, then began to pace again. "I knew he shouldn't have gone down there alone."
Scott's eyes did not leave the viewscreen. "Aye, Doctor," he said, unmoving. "But if anyone can bring the Captain and his party back, it's Mr. Spock. We'll just have to be ready for them."
McCoy stopped pacing and glared at the Engineer, unsure whether the comment was a reprimand or merely a statement of fact. He decided upon the latter and resumed his pacing.
Scotty was right, he assured himself silently. Spock would bring them home. If anyone could.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
The Klingon's expression was mockingly hospitable. "It's been a long time, Spock."
"Apparently not long enough, Commander," Spock replied. "I suggest you step aside and allow us safe passage."
Kor broke into a delighted laugh. "I believe that constant exposure to our good Captain has had an effect on you, Vulcan. What could possibly make me do such a noble thing?"
Spock had neither the time nor the desire to continue this conversation. He raised his phaser in reply.
"You're going to kill me? Oh, I am trembling in anticipation."
"I shall not waste time with you, Kor," Spock said firmly. "Surely you can see that your situation is futile. Your ship is destroyed, and the Federation..."
"The Federation..." Kor interjected, "is undoubtedly preparing for war. As well they should, for the events of the past few days have only proven what all of us already suspected. The Organian Peace Treaty is a farce. And my people are quite anxious to be at war again. We thrive on it, in more ways than you can possibly imagine."
"You did all of this merely to test the treaty?"
"Mostly," Kor admitted. "but I also found it...extremely gratifying."
Kor lowered his disrupter and spread his hands in a display of concession.
"What happens here is no longer of any importance. Kill me...if you can. It is the only way you will leave this place alive."
Spock stood motionless, the human still pressed tightly against him. The phaser, however, did not waver.
"You can't do it, can you?" Kor taunted. "You cannot bring yourself to murder me in cold blood, not even to save your precious Captain's life. I'm afraid you're confusing virtue with stupidity."
Spock stared at the Klingon intently. He had risked his career, indeed his very life to come here, and the Commander was the only obstacle to his success. A gentle squeeze of his index finger would end the stand-off. Checkmate. End of game.
Spock slowly lowered his weapon and allowed it to slip from his fingers. It clattered noisily against the stone floor.
Kor's oily smile returned. "I fear your morality has been your undoing, Spock," he said, raising his disrupter again to level it at the Captain's back. "But I trust that, even in death, you will fail to recognize it."
Spock straightened his spine and braced himself for the disrupter blast. The Klingon's finger pulled back against the trigger...
But suddenly Kor screamed as the white-hot disrupter fell from his burning hand. Almost instantaneously the cavern was filled with an intense white light, so blindingly brilliant that even Spock was forced to shield his eyes.
When he was finally able to open them, he noted the Klingon's expression had transformed to one of bitter contempt.
"Ayelbourne," Spock said softly, acknowledging the kindly robed figure that now stood between them.
"You!" Kor growled with hatred. "You have no right to interfere! This is none of your concern."
"You have made it my concern, Commander," he replied simply.
"No," Kor insisted angrily. "The Klingon fleet is on its way. They may be overhead as we speak. You cannot stop this, Organian. The Klingon offensive has already begun."
"No, Commander, it has not," Ayelboure replied. "Your entire military fleet has been immobilized, and will remain so until an appropriate penalty has been determined."
"That is impossible," Kor growled defiantly, but he certainly knew as well as Spock that, with the Organians, it was entirely possible.
Ayelbourne studied the Klingon intently. "You will return to your Empire, Commander. Let it be known that the Organian Peace Treaty is still very much in force, and that we are...displeased by this blatant violation."
Kor opened his mouth to speak but promptly disappeared in a flash of light at the wave of the Organian's hand. Spock stared at the vacant space a moment before looking back into Ayelbourne's bearded face.
"Your concern for this one runs deep, Mr. Spock," the Organian said at last.
Spock glanced at the human against him. Kirk was still reciting his name and rank, oblivious to his surroundings.
"Admittedly," Spock said finally. "Your assistance is deeply appreciated, Ayelbourne. But I must confess, it is somewhat unexpected."
"You wanted to kill the Klingon Commander."
Spock breathed deeply before responding. "Yes."
"Yet you did not. I must confess, I found that somewhat unexpected."
Spock remained silent. Honestly, he could think of nothing to say.
"Quite frankly," the Organian continued, "it is of no concern to us if your races wish to destroy each other, as long as we are not a party to it. But we could not allow this carnage to continue merely as a test of our convictions."
Spock gazed at him solemnly. "I do not know that I can adequately express our gratitude."
The Organian offered him a gentle smile.
"Keep the peace, Mr. Spock. That will be quite sufficient. I have told you before that, one day, the Klingons and your Federation will become fast friends. But such an alliance cannot be imposed. It must be cultivated and nurtured...and it will not come without sacrifice. Only through a unified effort toward that goal will you be able to achieve it."
Spock nodded his understanding. Ayelbourne suddenly appeared restless.
"I will now take my leave of you. I find this intervention most distasteful. However, I will see you safely back to your ship."
Spock raised his free hand to form a "V" with his fingers. "Live long and prosper, Ayelbourne."
A small smile lit the Organian's face. "A noble sentiment," he replied, then he, too, raised his hand in the salute. "Live long and prosper, Mr. Spock."
Again the Vulcan was forced to shield his eyes against the blinding light. When he finally reopened them, he was standing on the bridge of the Enterprise, the Captain still cradled snugly against his shoulder.
The flurry of voices and activity that accompanied their arrival reminded Spock of an expression of which the Captain was fond. All hell's broken loose. However, it was a fleeting thought.
McCoy was at his side in an instant. "Dear Lord!" he exclaimed as he waved his portable scanner over Kirk. "Spock, there's no time! Can you get him to Sickbay?"
Spock had begun to move even before McCoy had finished the sentence. He swept Kirk up in his arms and headed for the turbolift. The Doctor was on his heels.
"Uhura," McCoy called as the lift doors opened to admit them. "Call Christine. Tell her we're on the way!"
It took only a few brief seconds before the turbolift decanted them on Deck Seven near Sickbay. Spock broke into a full run as the doors opened, steadfastly ignoring the inquisitive eyes of the the crewmembers lining the corridor. The medical team was poised for action and scurried quickly to duty as he cleared the Sickbay doors.
McCoy lead them to the examination table and attempted to help Spock lay the Captain back. But Kirk suddenly began to struggle with a force that surprised even Spock, and he clung to the Vulcan with all the strength he could muster.
Christine Chapel quickly provided a hypospray, and a moment later Kirk collapsed, the blue shirt still clutched tightly in his fist.
"By all rights, this man should be dead," McCoy muttered as he pried Kirk's fingers off the Vulcan's uniform. When he looked down into the Captain's pale face, he realized that Kirk had been staring at him.
Recognition finally dawned in the hazel eyes. A faint whisper escaped his lips. "...Bones?"
"Yes, Jim. It's all right. Just lie still."
Spock stood his ground for several moments before finally deciding that the Captain was in good hands. He turned on his heel and headed for the exit.
The corridor was still lined with people, but they quickly dispersed at the sight of him. The Captain, he thought, would be furious...if he had even been cognizant enough to notice. And if Spock knew his Captain, he noticed.
Oddly enough, Spock found himself hoping that he would hear about it later.
by Trish Bennett
McCoy's patience was beginning to wear thin. He paced the floor of the bridge in exasperation, muttering softly to himself. Finally he moved to Mr. Scott, who was seated rather uncomfortably in the command chair.
"Where the hell are they, Scotty?" he demanded, knowing full well that the Scotsman had no more information than he did.
"I don't know, Doctor," Scott replied, his brogue a bit heavier than usual. "We canna do anything but wait."
McCoy shook his head in aggravation. "Damn fool Vulcan!" he cursed, then began to pace again. "I knew he shouldn't have gone down there alone."
Scott's eyes did not leave the viewscreen. "Aye, Doctor," he said, unmoving. "But if anyone can bring the Captain and his party back, it's Mr. Spock. We'll just have to be ready for them."
McCoy stopped pacing and glared at the Engineer, unsure whether the comment was a reprimand or merely a statement of fact. He decided upon the latter and resumed his pacing.
Scotty was right, he assured himself silently. Spock would bring them home. If anyone could.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
The Klingon's expression was mockingly hospitable. "It's been a long time, Spock."
"Apparently not long enough, Commander," Spock replied. "I suggest you step aside and allow us safe passage."
Kor broke into a delighted laugh. "I believe that constant exposure to our good Captain has had an effect on you, Vulcan. What could possibly make me do such a noble thing?"
Spock had neither the time nor the desire to continue this conversation. He raised his phaser in reply.
"You're going to kill me? Oh, I am trembling in anticipation."
"I shall not waste time with you, Kor," Spock said firmly. "Surely you can see that your situation is futile. Your ship is destroyed, and the Federation..."
"The Federation..." Kor interjected, "is undoubtedly preparing for war. As well they should, for the events of the past few days have only proven what all of us already suspected. The Organian Peace Treaty is a farce. And my people are quite anxious to be at war again. We thrive on it, in more ways than you can possibly imagine."
"You did all of this merely to test the treaty?"
"Mostly," Kor admitted. "but I also found it...extremely gratifying."
Kor lowered his disrupter and spread his hands in a display of concession.
"What happens here is no longer of any importance. Kill me...if you can. It is the only way you will leave this place alive."
Spock stood motionless, the human still pressed tightly against him. The phaser, however, did not waver.
"You can't do it, can you?" Kor taunted. "You cannot bring yourself to murder me in cold blood, not even to save your precious Captain's life. I'm afraid you're confusing virtue with stupidity."
Spock stared at the Klingon intently. He had risked his career, indeed his very life to come here, and the Commander was the only obstacle to his success. A gentle squeeze of his index finger would end the stand-off. Checkmate. End of game.
Spock slowly lowered his weapon and allowed it to slip from his fingers. It clattered noisily against the stone floor.
Kor's oily smile returned. "I fear your morality has been your undoing, Spock," he said, raising his disrupter again to level it at the Captain's back. "But I trust that, even in death, you will fail to recognize it."
Spock straightened his spine and braced himself for the disrupter blast. The Klingon's finger pulled back against the trigger...
But suddenly Kor screamed as the white-hot disrupter fell from his burning hand. Almost instantaneously the cavern was filled with an intense white light, so blindingly brilliant that even Spock was forced to shield his eyes.
When he was finally able to open them, he noted the Klingon's expression had transformed to one of bitter contempt.
"Ayelbourne," Spock said softly, acknowledging the kindly robed figure that now stood between them.
"You!" Kor growled with hatred. "You have no right to interfere! This is none of your concern."
"You have made it my concern, Commander," he replied simply.
"No," Kor insisted angrily. "The Klingon fleet is on its way. They may be overhead as we speak. You cannot stop this, Organian. The Klingon offensive has already begun."
"No, Commander, it has not," Ayelboure replied. "Your entire military fleet has been immobilized, and will remain so until an appropriate penalty has been determined."
"That is impossible," Kor growled defiantly, but he certainly knew as well as Spock that, with the Organians, it was entirely possible.
Ayelbourne studied the Klingon intently. "You will return to your Empire, Commander. Let it be known that the Organian Peace Treaty is still very much in force, and that we are...displeased by this blatant violation."
Kor opened his mouth to speak but promptly disappeared in a flash of light at the wave of the Organian's hand. Spock stared at the vacant space a moment before looking back into Ayelbourne's bearded face.
"Your concern for this one runs deep, Mr. Spock," the Organian said at last.
Spock glanced at the human against him. Kirk was still reciting his name and rank, oblivious to his surroundings.
"Admittedly," Spock said finally. "Your assistance is deeply appreciated, Ayelbourne. But I must confess, it is somewhat unexpected."
"You wanted to kill the Klingon Commander."
Spock breathed deeply before responding. "Yes."
"Yet you did not. I must confess, I found that somewhat unexpected."
Spock remained silent. Honestly, he could think of nothing to say.
"Quite frankly," the Organian continued, "it is of no concern to us if your races wish to destroy each other, as long as we are not a party to it. But we could not allow this carnage to continue merely as a test of our convictions."
Spock gazed at him solemnly. "I do not know that I can adequately express our gratitude."
The Organian offered him a gentle smile.
"Keep the peace, Mr. Spock. That will be quite sufficient. I have told you before that, one day, the Klingons and your Federation will become fast friends. But such an alliance cannot be imposed. It must be cultivated and nurtured...and it will not come without sacrifice. Only through a unified effort toward that goal will you be able to achieve it."
Spock nodded his understanding. Ayelbourne suddenly appeared restless.
"I will now take my leave of you. I find this intervention most distasteful. However, I will see you safely back to your ship."
Spock raised his free hand to form a "V" with his fingers. "Live long and prosper, Ayelbourne."
A small smile lit the Organian's face. "A noble sentiment," he replied, then he, too, raised his hand in the salute. "Live long and prosper, Mr. Spock."
Again the Vulcan was forced to shield his eyes against the blinding light. When he finally reopened them, he was standing on the bridge of the Enterprise, the Captain still cradled snugly against his shoulder.
The flurry of voices and activity that accompanied their arrival reminded Spock of an expression of which the Captain was fond. All hell's broken loose. However, it was a fleeting thought.
McCoy was at his side in an instant. "Dear Lord!" he exclaimed as he waved his portable scanner over Kirk. "Spock, there's no time! Can you get him to Sickbay?"
Spock had begun to move even before McCoy had finished the sentence. He swept Kirk up in his arms and headed for the turbolift. The Doctor was on his heels.
"Uhura," McCoy called as the lift doors opened to admit them. "Call Christine. Tell her we're on the way!"
It took only a few brief seconds before the turbolift decanted them on Deck Seven near Sickbay. Spock broke into a full run as the doors opened, steadfastly ignoring the inquisitive eyes of the the crewmembers lining the corridor. The medical team was poised for action and scurried quickly to duty as he cleared the Sickbay doors.
McCoy lead them to the examination table and attempted to help Spock lay the Captain back. But Kirk suddenly began to struggle with a force that surprised even Spock, and he clung to the Vulcan with all the strength he could muster.
Christine Chapel quickly provided a hypospray, and a moment later Kirk collapsed, the blue shirt still clutched tightly in his fist.
"By all rights, this man should be dead," McCoy muttered as he pried Kirk's fingers off the Vulcan's uniform. When he looked down into the Captain's pale face, he realized that Kirk had been staring at him.
Recognition finally dawned in the hazel eyes. A faint whisper escaped his lips. "...Bones?"
"Yes, Jim. It's all right. Just lie still."
Spock stood his ground for several moments before finally deciding that the Captain was in good hands. He turned on his heel and headed for the exit.
The corridor was still lined with people, but they quickly dispersed at the sight of him. The Captain, he thought, would be furious...if he had even been cognizant enough to notice. And if Spock knew his Captain, he noticed.
Oddly enough, Spock found himself hoping that he would hear about it later.