Chapter 11
Kan'da stood stiffly in the midst of the confusion shudders running down his spine. Ferengi men and women lay in horrible distorted formations. There was blood everywhere. He stepped gingerly around the mutilated bodies searching for any survivors. Turning the corner he found himself at the entrance to the central meeting pod and he surveyed the tragic scene before him.
At first this all seemed strange, but soon he remembered this place and he knew where he was. The only thing he didn't know was how he got here. He had been to this place once before, long ago.
He heard a familiar moan behind him and he stumbled towards the sound, fear gripping and knotting the muscles in his stomach.
Knowing instinctively what he would find he kneeled. He gently lifted his mother's hand and pressed her torn flesh to his lips. "No! Mother No!" he screamed over and over and lowering his head he sobbed in denial.
His screams had alerted his young lieutenant, who now was pounding at the locked door. "Dai Mon! Dai Mon Kan'da! Is there a problem?"
Gasping for air, he awoke startled and realized with some sense of relief, he had only been dreaming. Willing his breathing to slow down, he gripped his pillow with sweat slicked hands and buried his face to muffle his gasps.
Regaining some semblance of control and breathing more deeply he answered his aide. "It is all right, Banal. I am sorry to have disturbed you. Go on with your duties."
Throwing his cover aside, he arose from the bed. He gripped the wall and tried to stop shaking. He made his way over to the view port. With his dream still haunting his consciousness, Kan'da once more felt the influx of rage. It was this rage that fueled his every waking thought and action. It was obvious from his recent encounter with that human Starfleet Captain Kirk, that the Federation was hurting. More importantly they had tracked him and were closing fast. His pain was monumental, but not so significant as what he had planned for Kirk.
The damaged research stations must have put quite a dent in Federation resources. Well, he wasn't about to stop. He had promised Kirk something, which he fully intended on delivering. He would carry out his plans until they captured and killed him. He would fight even with his dying breath.
Abruptly his thoughts turned to what had happened at the end of his meeting with Kirk. He willed the reflection of his own body in the view port window to turn to that of the Grand Nagus Zek. That old bastard had been haunting him for months.
Zek wanted a cut of the action for himself. Kan'da gritted his teeth, "You make me sick old man. Always trying to out think the Federation and tiptoeing around them. You can be damn sure if I were you, I would put a halt to the Federation exploitation. I would destroy every human pig I could find." He leaned his forehead against the coolness of the window and planned the deaths of the entire human race, one by one.
* * * *
Beverly did what she could for her patients and leaned wearily against the wall of SickBay. The muted lighting played shadows across her tired features.
"Dr. Crusher, why don't you call it a day?" admonished her medical assistant. "It's been a long shift and there's nothing more you can do. All the patients are resting comfortably and there are no critical cases. Besides, I thought you had someone waiting for you."
Beverly closed her eyes and smiled seductively and murmured, "Mmm, yes I do. If you're sure you can handle everything..."
Nurse Ogawa, the young oriental medical assistant knew about Beverly's feelings for Kirk and she felt it was just what the doctor needed. "Doctor, go!" she ordered, her eyes twinkling.
Minutes later Beverly dropped her clothes on the cool tile floor as she slowly slipped into a fragrant voluminous bubble bath. She moved her body languidly, sinking even deeper into the suds.
"Mmm, this is wonderful." She closed her eyes and smiled. "He's wonderful. Life's wonderful." She leaned her head back against the cool surface of the tub and luxuriated in the moment.
"Computer present location of Captain Kirk."
"Captain Kirk is presently in his quarters."
"Is he alone?" she asked curiously.
"Lieutenant Worf is also in Captain Kirk's quarters."
"Really? Well at least he's not anxiously waiting for me." Clearing her throat, she summoned, "Dr. Crusher to Captain Kirk."
Hearing his voice sent shivers up her arms. Knowing that Worf was with him, it was an effort to keep the conversation as professional as possible and she made arrangements to meet within the half hour.
Beverly stood up and gently dried herself with a thick white towel. Wrapping the towel around her, she plodded over to her closet and tried to decide what to wear. She surveyed her clothes and reluctantly realized that she didn't own many outfits that could be described as 'intimate apparel'. "Let's see, I don't really want to wear my uniform, but then again I don't want to be traipsing around in some negligee."
She finally decided on some silk turquoise pants with a matching wrap around blouse, edged with fine lace.
Putting the final touches on her face and hair she stood and admired her reflection. "Not too bad Beverly." Satisfied with her appearance she left to meet Jim.
* * * *
After Worf had gone, Kirk remained seated in the deep leather chair and let his thoughts drift to old friends he hadn't seen for many years. He wondered if it might be possible to contact any of his crew, or at least find out what happened to them.
He got up stiffly and moved to the desk. Sitting at the computer terminal, he began his inquiry. Not really sure where to start, he thought about what Picard had told him about his friends and colleagues.
"Well, let's see. Computer please display current status of Federation special Ambassador, Spock."
"Ambassador Spock is currently on Romulus," the computer furnished instantly while at the same time displaying Spock's image.
Kirk stared at the image, "Mmm, looks like he's aged a bit. Well, why shouldn't he. After all it has been eighty years since we have seen each other." "What is the nature of his mission?" Kirk continued.
"Ambassador Spock is part of the Unification Special Envoy. He is attempting to open dialogue between Vulcan and Romulus."
"At this time, is he succeeding?"
"A route has now been established to free Romulans wishing to escape. Ambassador Spock has been successful in bringing a new philosophy to the inhabitants of Romulus."
"Well I'll be damned," Kirk muttered more to himself than to the computer. He then added, "Is there any way to get in touch with Ambassador Spock?"
"That information is classified for level one, alpha clearance."
"I have clearance dammit! Captain Kirk, J.T. serial code..."
"James Tiberius Kirk is deceased. Code invalid."
Kirk eyed the computer, quelling the desire to firmly place his fist into the middle of the screen. Through clenched teeth, he murmured, "God, not you too!" Straining, he added as succinctly as possible, "I AM James Kirk!"
"Invalid. James Kirk is deceased."
"Is there no way to get to Spock?"
"Covert messages have been passed in and out of Romulus, but subspace contact is not presently available."
"Okay, let's try a different route." Remembering that Picard had told him Sarek was dead, Jim decided to see what else the computer had on file.
"Computer, status of Ambassador Sarek and his wife," he prodded.
"Federation Ambassador Sarek died Stardate 45233.1 of the complications resulting from Bendii syndrome. His wife presently resides on Vulcan."
Kirk was astonished to think that Amanda could still be alive. She would surely be a very old woman. "She's still alive? My God is it possible? Computer please establish contact with her."
Kirk sat patiently watching the screen for the familiar face of Amanda, his hands steepled in front of the screen. He thought back to that first time she and Sarek had come aboard the Enterprise...his Enterprise as they journeyed to the peace conference on Babel.
Amanda was a confident and resourceful woman. Sarek had been very ill and she had forced Spock to give the blood needed for the operation. She had brought father and son closer together. She was intently devoted to Sarek.
He stared intently at the screen, anxiously awaiting Amanda.
Presently a face appeared on the screen. It was a face he didn't know but it was a human female. She wore a large white hair band, which pulled her hair back producing a severe, strong effect , . The eyes were electric blue and piercing.
"Can I help you?" the stranger asked.
"Yes, I am trying to locate Amanda, wife of the former ambassador," Kirk explained.
The woman looked at Kirk, blinked a couple of times and raised one eyebrow, a more than familiar gesture to Kirk.
"I am Perrin, wife to Sarek. Amanda, his second wife, died many years ago." Perrin's eyes were intent on Kirk's face. He looked familiar to her, but she was unsure of where or when she had met him.
Kirk gasped, "I'm sorry. I...I... knew her a long time ago."
"And you are?" Perrin inquired.
"I am Jim Kirk. Spock was my first officer aboard the Enterprise."
Perrin stared at the face. The memory of this man came rushing back. "Jim Kirk! I remember you! You were there at the Khitomer Conference weren't you? If I remember correctly it was you who saved the life of the President."
She paused, recalling the memories of the past. Her eyes shifted away from Kirk and focused on old images. "I was on the Federation linguistic team which arrived after you helped pave the way for a guaranteed peace. Together with the Klingon officials, we wrote the formal treaty. I remember how you exposed the assassins on both the Federation side and the Klingon traitors."
She peered slightly closer at the screen, "I was led to believe you died many years ago during the..."
Kirk interrupted impatiently, "I can't explain it to you, but I am here, only for a short time. I just wanted to contact Spock."
Looking sadly, Perrin continued, "I am sorry there is no one here left to speak to. Sarek died several years ago from Bendii Syndrome, a degenerative brain disorder."
Kirk realized that this conversation was becoming increasingly difficult for her. "I've never heard of that."
"It's a debilitating disease that affects only Vulcans. They lose their ability to control their emotions. They grow open and vulnerable." Her eyes lowered and she grew quiet. When she looked back up at Kirk, he thought he saw tears.
Uncomfortable he continued, "I'm sorry Perrin, I knew Sarek so long ago and I remember him that way."
"I'm sorry for what Sarek would call this illogical display of emotion." she whispered, brushing the tears from her face with her fingers. "He was a wonderful man, Captain Kirk," Perrin continued, her eyes shining.
"It's been a long time since anyone has inquired for him. He lived a very long and remarkable life. He did much for the Federation and for Vulcan."
Sighing once again, Perrin paused. She felt she needed to explain to Kirk why she chose to stay here. "I have decided to remain here because I feel his presence with me still."
"I understand Perrin. I wish you well. Please relay a message to Spock if you can."
Perrin's eyes cleared and she smiled at him. "I sometimes hear from him. What would you like me to tell Spock?"
Jim thought for a moment. What message could he give so Spock would believe we was really here.
"I'm sure he would find this all very difficult to believe." He smiled at her before going on, "Please tell my old friend I now know what dying and living is all about. I could never before understand what Spock faced within himself when he was to have another chance at life, but I think I am now a little wiser. Tell him the needs of the one sometimes outweigh the needs of the many."
He stopped, not knowing what else it say, so he decided he had said enough. "Live long and prosper Perrin."
"Good-bye Captain." Perrin ended the transmission.
"Hopefully Spock will believe it really was me," he thought, as he sat back and thought about Spock and their days together. Closing his eyes, he could recall their earlier days. The battles, the missions, the unspoken loyalty they both felt. He shook his head thinking about all they had gone through. "If only I could speak with him before all this ends."
After several minutes, Kirk figured he would try again. "Computer, present status of Starfleet Doctor Leonard McCoy?"
"Doctor Leonard McCoy is presently residing at the Longfellow Medical facility on Earth," came the mechanical reply.
"Still alive? That old coot. Can you establish contact?"
After a series of screen blips, an image appeared on the monitor.
"This is Nurse O'rin, may I help you?" She looked up briefly from a pile of patient files she had been updating.
Kirk leaned forward and put on his most beguiling smile. "I am trying to contact Leonard McCoy." he asked in a questioning voice.
With only the briefest glance, spelling out her annoyance at being bothered, her eyes once more looked down at a file. "I believe Dr. McCoy is resting, may I give him a message?" she asked curtly.
Kirk looked at the nurse, and chose his words carefully, "I am an old friend of his and I would like very much to say hello. Unfortunately, I don't have very much time left on this visit and I would very much appreciate it, if you could allow me to speak to him." Kirk smiled widely at the nurse and turned on the charm.
The nurse contemplated the male on her screen. She noticed the Starfleet Captain pips on his uniform and his warm and friendly eyes and engaging smile. "I'll see what I can do for you. I am just about finished my shift and I should go and check on the doctor anyway." She returned his smile and added, "just a moment."
It occurred to Jim that it had been quite a while since he had eaten anything and he was ravenous. He rose from the chair and walked over to the food replicator. The replicators had changed during the past eighty years, but Beverly had shown him how to order. "Coffee, hot and black, and a chicken salad sandwich."
Within seconds he was once again seated in front of the terminal still waiting for the connection to be made.
"Mmm, even the food was better on my Enterprise," he mused setting the sandwich down and sipping on the coffee.
He heard the familiar voice only a fraction of a second before he saw his friend's aged face.
Jim was astonished at the change that had happened to the doctor. Gone was the smooth skin and dark hair. Before him, the screen showed an old, stooped man. His face was deeply lined and his hair wispy and snow white. Only the eyes remained as Kirk had remembered. It occurred to Jim that he had visited Bones at his large ranch house just a few days before the accident on the holodeck. At that time Leonard had been aging, but doing so gracefully and still with enthusiasm for life. The doctor delighted in exhibiting his prize show horses he was raising and regaling everyone with stories of the good and bad times on the Enterprise. Stories they had all heard time and time again. This aged man appearing before him looked lonely and in a stupor. "Bones, Bones is that you?"
The tired, wrinkled face peered closer to the terminal. "Who ya all callin' Bones. Only one man eva' called me Bones."
"Bones, it's me, Jim. Jim Kirk."
"No! Couldn't be! Jim died a long time ago. Don't know who ya are son, but ya sure aren't James T. Kirk."
"Bones, it's really me, Jim. Don't you know who I am?" he implored.
McCoy peered even closer to the screen, his eyes squinty and he studied the image that appeared on his viewer. "You couldn't be Jim," Bones said more to himself than to Kirk. "Jim died. Died I said. Wasn't even there ta save him. Got blown ta bits. Scattered his damn parts all o'er space."
McCoy shook his head and closed his eyes, the memories renewing the pain he had felt so long ago. He paused briefly before going on. "Always goin' and gettin' 'imself in all kinds of trouble. Neva learned to keep 'is mouth shut. Always struttin' around. The big important Captain James Tiberius Kirk. With all my doctorin' couldn't do anything to save his life." As grief overcame him, McCoy bent his head to his hands.
Jim smiled at what McCoy had said. "I guess at times I thought I was the big and important captain. Too bad it's all over. Bones, what do I have to say, to prove to you it's me." Kirk thought momentarily what he could say to make his old friend believe whom he was talking to.
"Remember the planet M-113 and Nancy, the woman you loved and lost to Robert Crater. How that creature almost killed me before you saved my life? Remember how you were able to reattach Spock's brain using the 'Teacher'. Think Bones! Remember when you gave me those antique spectacles. Remember when we were sent to Rura Penthe and the shape shifter. God I even kissed her, yechh!"
Kirk stopped talking letting his words have a chance to sink in. He watched the screen closely ready for any recognition Bones might show.
Bones scowled and barked, "How the hell am I supposed to remember all that bologna. I'm a doctor not a damned historian. Could it really be you Jim? How is this possible?"
"That's it," thought Jim, "he believes me." "Bones, somehow I was transported through time. I don't know how it happened or how long until I'm sent back." His voiced softened as he studied McCoy. "I just needed to see and talk to my old friend."
McCoy squinted his eyes even more before he thumped his hands on the table and barked, "It's that damn time travel prank again eh. You didn't have enough the last time? Good God man, I guess dying hasn't taught ya a thing. Always running around gettin' yaself in trouble, goin' where ya shouldn't be sticking ya nose in."
Once the verbal barrage stopped, McCoy smiled at Kirk. "How ya doin' son?"
"I'm fine Bones. How are you?"
"About as well as someone 142 could be I guess. Can ya come here? God, I'd love to see ya. They keep me cooped up in this damn home for old people. I told them I don't belong here, but they claim I can't look after myself. But I can. I really can. Don't you think I can Jim?"
"Sure I do Bones. Sure I do."
"Can you drop in for a while, Jim?"
He smiled gently at McCoy, "No I can't Bones. I will soon have to leave to return to my own time. But I can tell you it's been wonderful to talk to you again. Is there anything I can do for you Bones?"
McCoy looked up at Kirk and regarded him with his clear blue eyes. "What I need Jim, I'm sorry to say, not you or anyone else can give me. It's all in the Almighty's hands." Bones grew quiet, lost in his thoughts.
"Good bye my old friend," Kirk's voice dropped almost to a moan.
As Kirk watched his old friend, he heard Leonard mumble, "Ya seem real to me Jim. Maybe it's a dream and maybe it's really ya. But whatever, I miss ya Jim." The doctor's eyes began to cloud over, tears running down his aged face. As the doctor was ending the transmission, his second shift nurse hurried in.
Fussing and clicking her tongue she leaned down and placed both hands on his trembling shoulders. "Now Leonard, your bio readings are jumping off the scale. What have you been up to?" She helped McCoy up from the communication console and supporting him, assisted him to his bed.
"Up to? Been up to nothin' dearie. I was just speakin' to an old friend. Traveled through time, just to speak to me. Captain James T. Kirk, musta just pulled off another miracle."
His nurse smiled to herself as she helped the doctor move over to the bed. He shuffled more than walked and she ignored what he was saying as she busied herself straightening his pajama collar and sleeve.
"Ya know he was always goin' and gettin' himself beamed here and beamed there. Scrambling up his atoms, sending them all over the damn universe. Don't know how he lived to be as old as he did. Came close to packin' it in more times, than I can remember."
"If you think you've just spoken to James Kirk, then I'm sure you did." She agreed with him in a most patronizing tone of voice and smiling, the young blonde nurse, smoothed what was left of McCoy's hair. "Come now Leonard, you're just very tired. Those dreams you used to have are back aren't they? Come now doctor, let's take a rest."
She helped him remove his slippers and lifted his legs so he could swing the lower part of his body up, onto the bed.
McCoy knew this young nurse didn't believe that he had just talked to Jim. Hell, he could hardly believe it. "I did speak to Jim. He was right on my screen."
"Yes of course you did. That's right now just lie back and I'll tuck you in nice and tight." She pulled the crisp white sheets tightly across his slim body and slipped them under the mattress so that they remained tucked in. "There doesn't that feel better?"
"Don't treat me like some crazy old man, dearie. I tell you I was just speakin' to Jim Kirk, Captain of the Starship Enterprise. We were traipsing across the galaxy when your great-great-grandmother was a baby."
The nurse stood looking down at the frail man lying swathed in the stiff hospital sheets. "Doctor, would you like me to shut the blinds, so you can have a little rest?"
"No, leave the damned blinds alone!" barked McCoy. "It was Jim!" he insisted.
The nurse quietly crossed the room to the exit and looked back at the bed as she dimmed the lights, and closed the door.
She stood outside the door for several seconds listening for any disturbance from McCoy. "Poor old man," she thought, "so lonely. I hope I never reach that point," she mused as she went about her duties.
Turning his face to the window, Bones could see the rain falling softly, pattering in rhythms against the hard surface of his balcony. "I know it really was Jim," he whispered. He watched the dark sky and somewhere in the night he saw the scenes of his life, played out again and again.
This time though, they were more vivid, more real than he had ever remembered them. He was part of the crew of the Enterprise again.
He knew who and what he was, and what his life had been. The only thing he couldn't figure out, was how his life had come to this.
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