Disclaimer: I still don't own StarTrek, quit bugging me...I COMPLETELY made up the whole text that "came" from the Pirate Code (Though I took the idea from Pirates of the Carribean, so please don't sue me for that). I hope it sounds authentic enough.
Notes to my reviewers who have come back!
Schematization: Yes, James finally made an appearance, and he's back again...but that's all I'll say about that. And I do kinda copy the qualities of our favorite crew, but come on, how can you not? there are things about James and Leonard and Spock that I LOVE! and I freely copy them (Iimatation is, after all, the highest form of flattery). But there are differences, can you see James pulling a gun ina fair fight? come on, the Captain doesn't do that sort of thing. Thank you for faithfully reviewing. Hope to see you at the sequal...
isadax: A NEW REVIEWER! (does Happy Dance) sorry that you came in on the tail end, but I hope that you enjoyed it. yes,I am bringing it to a close, but I have at least two sequals in the works, so stick around, you may see something new soon...
Ariennye Dhivae Argelia: My dear, 'salright. I just wanted to know if you were okay (andI see that you are). Don't be sad, all good things must come to an end, but the sequal is coming...so just wait...
Onaleia: That's quite alright, thank you, I shall try, and I hope that you do.
Yes, friends, this is it, the last (real) chapter. BUT! AN EPILOGUE SHALL COME BY THE END OF THE WEEK (I hope) ! SO PLEASE STAY TUNED! AndI aplogize for all the dialogue...
Chapter 11
One More Day
Pilot was taking a very insane route back to the Rock, which took twice as much time as normal, and we were moving at warp three, which took three times long, so I basically took everyone off of normal shifts and went to my cabin two hours ago. I was a little worried about Saul. He never took a shift off, never left in the middle of one, and I'm pretty sure that he never would unless something was drastically wrong. But I didn't know what and I didn't want to ask.
People didn't open up well on the Assurance. On the face, it was because no one was ever here long enough to really develop a relationship of trust, but the real reason was that no one wanted to open up. There were too many wounds, too much pain that you thought no one else would understand. Saul had taught me differently, but old habits die hard.
So I sat in my quarters for two hours, contemplating everything and nothing. André had the bridge, the Rock was safe from the chance that the Enterprise might find it anytime soon, there was an air of merriment and levity after the threat of discovery passed, and I was lost inside the maze of my despair. I was afraid for no apparent reason and yet I knew exactly what that reason was. The Rock had been so close to being detected and was still safe in its anonymity only by that twist of fate that sent the Enterprise after us. And the question still remained: Why were they there? Why had they come so close twice? Why was the Federation after that particular asteroid field after not being interested in it for so long? Would they come back? Would other ships come? How long until we are discovered? The weight of responsibility was heavy on my soul and I sat, trying to will this anxiety from me, looking for anything to distract me from these questions long enough for them to melt into forgetfulness.
Fortune smiled and distraction came. There was a light rap on the door to my quarters, loud enough to get my attention and yet soft enough that it had to be repeated before I responded.
"It's open." The door softly slid aside at my voice admitting perhaps the only person who could get me out of this mood.
"I trust that I am not disturbing you, Major," Saul said as he entered.
"Nah, not at all. Have a seat. What can I do for you?" He sat again on the couch, facing me, giving me the opportunity to study him. He looked different, but I couldn't accurately tell what it was.
"I do not know exactly how to say this, or even where to begin." I recognized what was different. His eyes no longer had any trace of the confusion that I was so used to seeing in them. That startled me…could it be…?
"Just tell me." I coaxed gently, and sat forward on my chair. Could it be…? He looked straight at me.
"I know who I am." I could feel the smile growing on my face.
"Really?" I felt like laughing and shouting at the same time. "Really? Just like that?"
"Yes." His Vulcan calm never once broke, but I could see relief in his eyes, as though he didn't know how I would take it.
"So are you going to tell my your real name or am I just supposed to call you Saul for the duration of our acquaintance?"
"My name is Spock, son of Sarek, but I would prefer it if you continue to call me Saul. That is, if you do not mind, Major."
"I don't mind at all, but only if you call me Analise."
"Those terms are acceptable. Analise."
"Glad you like them. I…I hope you know that I have like a million questions that I want to bombard you with."
"I will try to answer them to the best of my abilities. However, I believe it will be less confusing if I merely tell you what I know in the order that I learned them."
"Makes sense. But I have a bad habit of interrupting narratives."
"I do not mind." I grinned and he began. "Our confrontation with the Enterprise sparked a chain of memories that would neither recede nor be made apparent while I was on the bridge, which is why I requested the leave of absence. I went to my quarters and began to meditate in the hopes that, when cleared of distraction, my mind would allow this chain to come forward. I realized that I am an officer in StarFleet."
"Yeah, I know." His head jerked upwards, startled.
"You do?" I nodded. "Then why did…?"
"I never say anything? Because I wasn't sure. We found you in a StarFleet uniform on board a standard issue shuttle craft that had no computer memory or any means of identification whatsoever. I didn't want to plant any false ideas in your head." I looked away. "I apologize for my actions, Saul. I'm sorry, I really am. I didn't know what would trigger your memories and…" I trailed off. What else could I say?
"I understand." His voice was quiet, but not devoid of emotion. "You did what you thought was best at the time, and I thank you for that. One can never be too sure of what might have been and I do not begrudge your actions, Analise, not in the slightest." I looked back at him and realized that he was sincere, not merely saying that to make me feel better. He wanted to move on, and I agreed.
"So what ship were you on?" I asked casually.
"The Enterprise." Now it was my turn to look startled.
"The…the Enterprise?"
"Yes."
"The ENTERPRISE, Enterprise? The ship that I just fought? Kirk's Enterprise?"
"Yes."
"Holy smoke." I started to laugh at the absurdity of it all. "Holy SMOKE. You're from the Enterprise. You're an officer on the bloody Enterprise."
"I am the First Officer of the Enterprise."
"Great. That's just peachy. I've been training the bloody first officer of the damn best ship in the bloody Fed's fleet to be a scurvy pirate. This is hysterical." I was really laughing. "This is really funny."
"I fail to see what is so amusing." His voice was tinged ever so slightly with contempt. I looked up at him with mischievous eyes.
"It's just that…" I realized the futility of trying to explain what I found so funny and gave up. "Never mind." A new question popped into my head. "How did you get here?"
"I was surveying a very peculiar white dwarf star at the edge of Romulan Neutral Zone and was planning to rendezvous with the Enterprise at Starbase Six when an ion storm passed through. The shuttle was caught in the middle of it and the computer and engines began to malfunction. In the turbulence, I believe that I badly bumped my head and blacked out. When I regained consciousness I was in your sickbay, the rest you know." I let out a slow breath.
"So when the Enterprise was looking through the asteroid field near the Rock, they were probably looking for the wreckage of your craft."
"That is logical."
"But why didn't they begin the search earlier? You've been here for, what, three, four months?"
"I do not know the reason, though I can speculate. I remember that there was increased activity along the Neutral Zone just prior to my departure. It could be that the Enterprise was ordered to patrol the border in lieu of searching for me."
"Makes sense." I leaned back in my chair and stared at the ceiling to digest all of this. Silence descended and I was deep in thought, thus Saul's next comment caught me completely off guard.
"What do you intend to do with me?" I jerked my head forward, puzzlement written all over my face.
"Whatdayamean?"
"What I said. What is it that you intend to do with me?"
"I'm gonna take you back to the Enterprise, what the hell do you think I'm gonna do?"
"That is unadvisable. I know too much about you and your organization and I am too valuable as a hostage."
"HOSTAGE? Dammit, Saul, if I wanted to use you as a hostage I would have done so at the outset. And why the hell would I do that anyway?"
"Because it is what is best."
"Oh, good grief. Look, do you want to go back to the Enterprise?"
"Yes."
"Then I'm gonna take you back."
"That action is not logical."
"Since when am I EVER logical? I'm a bloody PIRATE, for crying out loud; I don't do logic. If you want to go back, then I'm taking you back. No one stays against his will on the Assurance. And hostage bargaining is the same as slaving and I WON'T stand for that." I walked over to the com unit and punched it on. "Hannah?"
"Yes, Ma'am?"
"Is André up there?"
"Yes, Ma'am, one moment please." The giant's voice came on.
"Yes, Major?"
"Do we still have the coordinates of that Fed ship?" There was a pause.
"Yes, Major."
"Good, tell Pilot to get us back to that ship, warp six. Then grab Carpenter and get down here on the double, understood?"
"Yes, Major."
"Good, Harper out." I turned back to Saul, who was staring at me. "Look, André and the Doc are two of the most absolutely level headed people that I know. I'm gonna tell them exactly what you told me and if they disagree with my actions then we'll do it another way. Okay?" Saul nodded.
DXVJKE
"Scotty, how long until we have warp speed?"
"It'll be another two hours at least, Cap'n. That sordid pirate ken what she was a-doin'. I've been using all this time tryin' to get the shields back up. Warp'll be a while, yet." The Chief Engineer's brogue always got thicker when he was stressed, and nothing made him stressed like someone doing damage to his Lass.
"Alright, but hurry, Scotty, I don't like the Enterprise having to limp."
"Aye, Cap'n. I'm going as fast as I can." Translated, I'll get it done in half of the promised time, but I know that even that isn't fast enough. Kirk clicked off the com unit and surveyed his bridge, thinking over what Scott told him. And it was true. Whoever this "Viper" was, she did know exactly what she was doing. Her ship was faster, stronger, and more flexible than she had first led him to believe. She had pestered him into making him chase, leaving the Enterprise without protection on her back. Her helm and weapon's personnel were superb, knowing exactly where to fire in order to cripple the Enterprise. He still didn't know why she left when they were lame or how she vanished so quickly, but he did know one thing, he was going to find her. He didn't know where or when or how, but he was going to stop that ship. Pirates with that kind of mechanical and diabolical capability were far too dangerous for the Federation Merchant ships. He had to…
Doctor McCoy walked onto the bridge, data pad in his hand, and headed right for Kirk.
"I got that casualty report you wanted, Jim." He handed the pad to the captain, and leaned against the rail while Kirk perused it. "No fatalities, thank goodness, but we got a lot of radiation burns, some broken limbs, and bumps here and there. Nothing too bad, but, hell, whoever heard of a pirate ship beating a Star Cruiser?"
"I don't know, Bones. I keep replaying what happened, but I just don't understand it. It's like she was only playing at half strength. Why didn't she just blow us out of the water? And why run when we were crippled? It just doesn't make any—."
"Keptin, long range scanners are picking up a large wessel headed to us at varp six, sair." Chekov's voice from the science station made Kirk wish that his First Officer were here. Her long stay on the Neutral Zone had kept the Enterprise from getting a new Executive Officer for the past four months, but Kirk knew that no one could EVER replace Spock.
"Go to red alert, shields up. Sulu what weapons do we have?" The helm officer was about to answer when Lt. Uhura interrupted.
"Captain, I am receiving a hail from the ship."
"Put it on the main viewer, Lieutenant." He turned to face the screen and anger welled up within him. There, lounging in the com chair of the approaching ship, was the young lady who called herself "Viper".
"This is Captain James—."
"I know who you are, Captain, come on, gimme a little credit." Her voice didn't have the biting sarcasm from the previous encounter, but that didn't soften Kirk's demeanor at all.
"Come to finish us off?"
"Ouch. Dude, you weren't this bitter before."
"You lamed my ship."
"I did what I had to do, alright? Just be happy that I didn't come over there and beat the crap out of you in person. Good grief." Kirk bristled at that remark.
"What do you want?" His clipped tone divulged the tight reign he had on his anger.
"I want to return something that you lost. And would a little courtesy kill ya?"
"What?"
"Well, you're acting like I insulted your mother. Yeesh, all I did was—."
"No, I mean, what are you…returning, if that's really what you're doing." He didn't even try to keep the sarcasm out of his voice.
"What, you don't trust me?"
"Are you a pirate?"
"Yes."
"Then, no, I don't trust you." The "Viper" blinked, and then, oddly, began to laugh. Not the derisive kind of laughter that he had heard before, but a real, amused, contagious kind of laughter. She turned to someone that Kirk couldn't see and began to have a conversation, of which he could only hear her side.
"Man, he really is skeptical…yeah, I guess so…well, I'm obviously not gonna get through to him…um, duh, he just said so…look, he knows you, why don't you just talk to him." A solitary figure moved onscreen from the left and stood in front of the view screen. Kirk stood up; while trying and failing to keep the shock and relief out of his voice.
"Spock…?" The Vulcan cocked his head in that oh so familiar way.
"Captain. I am glad to see that you are in good health."
"How did…how come…what happened?"
"All in good time, sir, but I do not believe that those questions are answerable over this channel." He turned back to look at the young lady, who was sitting forward, leaning on her arms with a very amused look on her face. Spock looked back at the view screen. "I believe, Captain, that it would be best if you and the Major discuss terms." Kirk did not like the sound of that word. Would he have to bargain for Spock's safety? The Vulcan stepped back off screen and the young lady (did Spock call her "Major"?) stood up. She spoke first.
"Right, terms. Very simple. You agree to a truce and I'll beam over with Sa…Spock, say goodbye, I'll beam back and be on my merry way. Sound good?" The shock of seeing Spock alive and so close was quickly wearing off. Kirk still had to deal with a renegade, exceedingly crafty, pirate.
"How can I be sure that you won't shoot me the minute my shields are down?"
"Uh, Dude? What part of 'Truce' are you not understanding?" Kirk scowled. Even if Spock was on board, she was still a pirate, and he didn't trust pirates. She sighed. "Look, truces are very simple, okay? The rules for them are set down in the Pirate Code from Earth's late 15th to early 19th centuries. All pirates, including myself, use it for calling truces, okay dude? Go look it up in your library and follow along as I formally begin terms. I'll wait until you're ready." She grasped her hands behind her back and began to rock back and forth on her toes as she waited. Kirk turned to Uhura and motioned for her to mute the communication. He turned to McCoy.
"What do you think, Bones?"
"Well, that is definitely Spock, I'd know that mule headed Vulcan anywhere. But that lady's still a pirate, Jim, I wouldn't trust her."
"I have no intention to."
"So whatareya gonna do?"
"Read along. Ensign Chekov, can you pull up the Code that—." The Russian handed a data pad to Kirk before he finished.
"I pulled it up vile the Cossack vas speaking, sair." Chekov turned back to the science station and added, "I believe that that Code is of Russian inwention." Kirk almost smiled and began to flip through the Code. He turned back to Uhura and nodded for her to reestablish communications with the pirate ship.
"Alright, we're ready."
"Good. Ahem." She got a far away look in her eyes, like a child reciting lessons at school. "'The Pirate Code, established in the Year of Our Lord, Fourteen Hundred Ninety Nine by the United Brotherhood of Jolly Roger, which all Pirate Captains are sworn to live and lead by, which all Pirate Crews are to pillage and loot by, which all Pirate Ships sail under and are bound by, that there may be some semblance of order and gentlemanly behavior in the course of our actions. On the Nature and Rules of Truces between Vessels,' and this is page fourteen, section three, Captain. 'If, during the life and run of a pirate ship, there arises a need to perform a truce between pirate ship and another or pirate ship and a merchant vessel or pirate ship and military vessel, herein lies the rules that the captain of said pirate ship is to establish and maintain said truce.' I am now skipping to page twenty-one, subsection three, 'On Truces between Pirate Ship and Military Vessel. When circumstances arise so that a Pirate Ship (hereafter termed Pirate) and a Military Vessel (hereafter termed Pohm) are forced to form an equal truce, these are the terms that must be upheld by both Pirate and Pohm. First, both ships are to run up white flags, symbolizing their peaceful intentions, and flags symbolizing their nationality (seeming how the Pirate has no nationality, the Pirate shall fly the Jolly Roger). The ships shall then remove from deck all hand held forms of weaponry and from below deck all semblance of ship's weaponry. Both Pirate and Pohm shall run broadside of each other and each shall extend one and only one boarding plank. The two emissaries, one from Pirate, one from Pohm, and any seconds agreed upon earlier, shall meet and discuss what ever needs discussion. When discussion has terminated, both emissaries (and seconds if any) shall return to their ships of origin, boarding planks shall be removed and both ships shall sail in opposite directions until neither can see the other. When both ships have removed each other from sight, the truce shall be considered peacefully terminated and neither Pirate nor Pohm shall be bound by its rules. If, during the period of truce, one side physically attacks the other, the attacked side shall consider the truce terminated and is allowed to swarm and destroy the attacking side without fear of retribution. The attacking side shall be seen as the provocateur of the confrontation and treated as a Criminal of War, as stated under section two On the Nature of War between Pirate Ship and Other. This concludes the terms agreed upon by the United Brotherhood of the Jolly Roger under the heading of Truces.' Do you understand the terms, Captain?"
"I believe so, may I run them by you to make sure I got it all straight?" Kirk had been reading along, and found that this "major" quoted what the Code said verbatim. The fact that everything here was so stylized and exact had softened Kirk's demeanor a bit.
"Certainly." The pirate commander also seemed to be decidedly civilized after reciting all that.
"So, we both lower our shields and power down our weapons, you and Spock will come onboard the Enterprise, we'll talk. Then you'll leave and when we both get out of scanning distance of each other, the truce is considered canceled. If I make any physical threat to your person or your ship, you'll fire on us and the Federation cannot take vengeance, and vice versa."
"That is correct. Do you agree to the terms for truce?"
"I do."
"Let the crews of both ships, and the ship's manifests, hold testimony to the terms stated. Are you prepared for the truce to begin?"
"I am."
"Then let the truce begin at this time." She nodded to someone else off screen. Kirk looked up to Chekov to see if they were really lowering their shields and weapons. The Russian affirmed and Kirk nodded at Sulu to lower the Enterprise's shields and weapons. He turned back to the view screen.
"When would you like to beam over?"
"Three minutes?"
"Fine."
"Good. See you then." The screen flipped back to an image of the Pirate Ship.
DXVJKE
Kirk, McCoy, and Lt. Kyle were in the transporter room, waiting for the three minutes to be up. When they were, down to the last second, the familiar golden beam whirled to life and two figures appeared on the platform. One was of a young woman with dark black hair, ice white skin, and the coldest gray eyes imaginable. She was dressed in blue jeans, a high collared black shirt, a long black sleeveless trench coat, and black boots. The other figure was the one that Kirk had longed to see for four months. The Vulcan's tall frame was dressed in unfamiliar clothing, blue jeans and a dark brown jacket, the only thing standard issue were his boots. Even his hair was different, longer than normal and slightly covering the customary points and the edges of his high swept eyebrows. But no matter how he looked, he was still recognizable.
"Spock. Welcome back to the Enterprise." Kirk couldn't help but grin at the return of his long lost friend. The Vulcan stepped down from the platform.
"Captain. I regret that I am out of uniform."
"Damn the uniform, Spock," McCoy bit back. "You had us worried half to death."
"You need not have been, Doctor, I was in good hands." He turned back to face the young lady, who still hadn't stepped off the platform. "Captain, Doctor, this is Major Harper, commanding officer of the Crimson Assurance and the one responsible for saving my life. Major, this is my commanding officer, Captain James Kirk and the Enterprise's Chief Medical Officer, Doctor Leonard McCoy." The Major stepped off the platform and shook hands with the two StarFleet officers. She looked directly at Kirk.
"I hope you know what a hell of a good officer you have here, Captain. And you better treat him well, 'cause I told Saul that if he ever gets dissatisfied with life here, he's always welcome back with us."
"I don't think that I'll ever be able to repay you for what you've done, Major."
"Dude, don't. Just promise me something, okay?"
"What?"
"Keep doing what you're doing. Don't change your principles and keep this a haven for the down trodden. If you can do that, then that's thanks enough." Kirk didn't quite understand what that meant, but he was so joyful to have Spock back that he didn't really care.
"We'll try. Can I invite you to stay?"
"On a Fed ship? Nah, dude. I'm feeling myself going straight just standing here. And I've got a ship to run. So I'll have to take my leave."
"Thank you. If you ever need—."
"I won't, but thanks anyway." She remounted the platform. "Captain, Doctor, it was a pleasure to meet both of you. Happy sailing."
"Thank you, Major, and the same." She turned towards Spock, and saluted him in the Vulcan way.
"Live long and prosper, Spock son of Sarek." He returned the salute.
"Peace and long life, Analise daughter of Elayo. May the Crimson Assurance fly well." The major grinned as the transporter beam pulled her away.
"She always does."
DXVJKE
Well, that's it. I hope that everyone is satisfied and all. And I shall try my utmost to have the epilogue and sequal up by Saturday of this week, so please stay tuned. If I totally let you down and you're itching to find out some aspects of Keath's life or what happens next, do tell me in a review and I shall try to incorperate it into the sequal. Thank you all so very much for reading this, I couldn't ask for a better bunch of reviewers.
Live Long and Prosper,
DarkX