In the turbolift, Jim appeared frustrated at his very short stature. Attempting to make him feel better, I elevated his position to my shoulder. [Thanks, Spock,] he said. [I'm still not used to this body.]
"Understandable," I agreed, and turned back towards the doors as they opened. I stepped on to the bridge, the morning shift obviously just beginning. Mr. Scott and Lieutenant Uhura were the only two not on deck at that time, but I suspected they would be arriving soon.
"Has there been any unusual transporter activity in the past three hours?" I asked the red-shirted officer at Mister Scott's usual station.
He flicked a few switches and watched the screens. "None that I am aware of, sir."
"Very well. Continue your task and alert me if the transporter is activated without authorization," I commanded. I slowly sat down in the command chair...Jim's chair. As often as it happens, I am unused to the idea of taking command of the Enterprise.
[You're sitting in MY chair, Spock,] Jim said, his tone indicating annoyance.
Jim, do you believe anyone would recognize you in that body? I asked him through telepathic contact. They do not know of Sargon's transfer. I wish for it to remain that way.
[Is that logical, Mister Spock?]
Before I could answer, Sulu let out a shout. "Klingon warbird approaching at Warp Six!"
"Go to Red Alert," I commanded. "Charge all weapons and raise shields."
A chorus of "Aye sir"s responded as the dedicated crew of the Enterprise prepared for battle.
"Sir, the Klingons are hailing us!" the temporary communications officer announced.
"Put them on screen."
The screen shimmered and came to rest on an angry-looking Klingon. "Enterprise! I am General Charg of the Klingon Empire. We have come for your Captain, James T. Kirk. Hand him over and I will spare your lives."
"I regret to inform you that Captain Kirk is in no condition to be transported," I informed them. "And in his present condition, he will be of no use to you."
"You lie!" General Charg snarled.
I knew he meant it to be insulting, so I stated a simple fact. "I am a Vulcan. I am incapable of lying."
[Oh, as if we haven't heard THAT lie before,] Jim muttered.
The Klingon glanced beside him, then turned back to the viewscreen with a wicked grin. "There is someone here who wishes to speak with you, foolish crew of the Enterprise."
He moved aside, only to be replaced by a devilish canine creature. [Hello Spock! We meet again. How is your dear captain? I wonder if he survived my last attack.] Henoch laughed. [Oh, don't bother trying to trace my boardance by transporter. Your device is more primitive than you can possibly imagine.]
"Henoch, your persistance in attempting to murder my captain is beginning to grow tiresome," I said.
[Yes, very much so, but effective is it not? At this very moment he struggles to live. His struggle shall not last long, I promise you.]
The entire bridge crew stared at me, but I did not turn from the viewscreen. "Henoch, you have killed the captain once before. Even if you do so again, can we not restore him?"
Henoch's face twisted in rage, and he barked out an order in Klingon before turning back to me. [This does not end here, Spock. You can count on that.] The viewscreen winked out, and the warbird pulled away from the ship. It disappeared in a streak of rainbow colors, and I watched the starfield for a moment.
"Stand down from Red Alert," I commanded, and the klaxons shut off.
"Sir," Sulu said quietly. "Has there been another attack on the Captain?"
"Yes, as of approximately one hour ago," I replied. "However, what Henoch does not know is that Sargon is on board."
A chorus of exclamations and cries of denial erupted around the bridge as startled crewmen all tried to speak at once. "I thought Sargon left us for good!" Mister Scott shouted above the noise. He and Lieutenant Uhura had entered during the transmission.
"And Henoch supposedly did the same," I replied. "However, he has returned. Sargon has been on board ever since the first attack on Sherok as well, in a visible form yet unnoticed by most. At this very moment he resides within the Captain's body, having given his own to him."
"Then where is the Captain, Mister Spock?" Lieutenant Uhura asked me.
Jim, evidently deciding he had been left out of the conversation long enough, decided to show his presence by gliding across the bridge and landing on the forward consoles, in front of all the bridge crew. He gave a miniature roar, drawing attention of all the crewmen. Once he was certain he was being watched, he nodded in satisfaction at me.
I gestured toward Jim. "That is Captain Kirk."
The bridge erupted into chaos, and a favorite phrase of Jim's came to mind. 'The whole place went to Hell,' I believe it was. Some reacted as if I was insane, and others merely stared dumbfounded at the Captain. Jim looked a little embarrassed by the attention, but stood his ground and glared as if daring anyone to challange his identity. [Spock, can you get them farther away?] he asked me. [No offense to any of them, but someone's got bad breath.]
"The Captain requests that you all stand back," I relayed to the crowd that had formed around the center consoles. "He is uncomfortable with the situation due to his present height."
Jim 'glared daggers' at me. [Thanks a lot, Spock,] he said dryly. But he appeared pleased as the officers moves back a few paces to give him some room.
"How long will he be like this?" Sulu asked, still staring at the Captain.
"Approximately two weeks, if Sargon regains consciousness long enough," I replied. "During the attack, he was placed in a coma. Until he awakens, I am in charge of the Enterprise." I turned to face Mister Scott. "Mister Scott, I want you to constantly monitor the transporter and intruder alarm systems. It is highly likely that Henoch will come aboard again. However, this time, I would appreciate being informed before he can cause any more damage."
"Aye, sir."
The comm from Sickbay whistled, and I flicked the switch. "Spock here."
"Spock, get your pointed ears down here right now!" McCoy's voice came through, clearly panicking. "Something's wrong with Sargon!"
