In The Family

Chapter 15

"All's well that ends well."

William Shakespeare

Mayri, with Spock at her heels, went into the foyer and opened the door. "Please come in gentlemen. Thank you for coming! You're right on time. I'm Mayri, Dr. Stemple's assistant. I'm the one who planned the surprise party and spoke with you on the comm. This is Mr. Spock, Dr. Stemple's cousin."

The four men stepped into the foyer. One of the men, dressed in an obviously expensive silk black tunic and matching slacks, bowed cordially. "How do you do, Miss Mayri, Mr. Spock. I'm Hugo Folawn, head manager of the Antares Corporation, this is my business partner, Ambrose DeSoto." DeSoto, dressed similarly, also gave a slight courtly bow. "These are our two assistants, Misters Hart and Towsand." The two men eyed Mayri and Spock, looking them over carefully and coldly, but said nothing.

Spock's keen eyes missed nothing as he looked them over too. The two bodyguards, dressed in traditional expensive looking suits, were tall, big men, with broad muscled shoulders, and bulky biceps which even the fine suit jackets could not hide. One of the men did have a thick dark beard, just as Mayri had described.

Folawn looked at Spock, his dark eyes laser keen. "Mr. Spock. How is it that a Vulcan is a cousin to Dr. Stemple?" He asked. "She is human so it seems rather unlikely."

Spock's eyebrow rose at the impertinent question. "I am half Vulcan, Mr. Folawn. My mother is human, my father is Vulcan. My mother and Dr. Stemple are first cousins, related on my mother's side of the family. My mother's mother, my grandmother, and Cousin Doris' father were siblings, and the two girls were raised in close proximity to each other, almost like siblings. Sadly my mother was unable to attend this happy event, so I came in her stead to represent our family. As Mayri has informed you, it is a surprise birthday party for Cousin Doris', her 60th birthday, a momentous occasion indeed.

"Presently," Spock went on, "the President of the University is keeping her occupied in his office, until all the guests arrive with a trivial departmental matter, and at the designated time, he will walk her back here, ostensibly to have dinner with her. Gentlemen, please come in and partake of a beverage while we wait. As you see, some of our other guests have already arrived." Spock beckoned to the four men and ushered them in to the living room. He felt no compunction about the tall tale he had fabricated to a assuage the Antares managers' suspicions. It was true that Vulcans do not lie, but it was also true that the needs of the many, in this case the entire colony of Nara, outweighed the needs of the Antares Corporation.

They walked into the living room, the two Antares managers smiling genially as they saw the other "guests" already present. Spock brought them over to the small group which included Jim, Leonard, and Sulu, who were smiling, talking, and holding drinks in their hands.

Giotto, Styles, Marchan, and Timmons were in another group standing slightly away from Jim's group. As the two Antares men, closely flanked by their body guards, came forward toward Jim's group, the Enterprise Security and Nara police officers quietly came forward to stand behind each of the men. Jim, Sulu, and Leonard, stepped slightly away from the others, looking on ready to help if required.

Officer Marchan and Officer Timmons flanked the two bodyguards from the rear. "Mr. Hart, Mr. Townsand by the power entrusted to me by the United Federation of Planets, and as the Nara Chief of Police charged with maintaining law and order on this colony, I am placing you under arrest on suspicion of breaking and entering in to the University of Nara and to Dr. Doris Stemple's office. I am also charging you with suspicion of aggravated assault on a student. Other charges against you may be pending."

"Wait, wait, just a minute, you can't arrest me!" Hart shouted, suddenly reaching into his interior suit pocket. Giotto's hard hand suddenly reached to clamp tight on the bulky bicep as he pressed a phaser hard to Hart's side. "Don't even try it or I'll stun you," he told Hart coldly. Hart's hand slowly came back down to his side.

Lt. Styles did the same to Townsand. "Keep your hands where I can see them." Styles ordered.

"Cuff them, Timmons," Marchan ordered. The stasis cuffs were quickly put on the two infuriated men.

"Officer Timmons, please remove their phasers, and search them for other weapons. Don't move," Giotto told the two men. Timmons reached in and pulled out two phasers from their interior suit jackets pockets, then he carefully and methodically searched the two men. He found two lethal long knives, and two slapjacks in their pant's pockets.

Marchan, phaser in hand now, turned to the other two Antares men who were looking slightly stunned at this turn of events. "Mr. Folawn, Mr. De Soto, you are also under arrest. You are charged with attempted fraud by lying on an official Federation document, forgery of the official signatures of Dr. Doris Stemple, and Dr. Hu Yung, Nara University President, on said document and attachments. You are further charged with authorizing illegal ryetalyn digging on a protected, sensitive ecological Nara site. Other charges may be brought against the four of you by the judicial arm of the United Federation of Planets Council. I must caution you that anything you say and do will be recorded and may be used against you in a court of law."

"This is outrageous!" shouted De Soto. "Who do you think you people are! I demand to see my attorney. You have no right to arrest us! I can assure you that you won't hold us for long! Antares has the best lawyers in the sector. Mr. Folawn and I will be very well represented and quickly released," he sneered at Marchan.

Marchan ignored him. "The four of you will be held in the brig of the Flag ship, Enterprise, which is under the command of Captain James T. Kirk, here." Marchan pointed to Jim, who up to now had been a silent bystander. De Soto and Folawn's faces showed their shock. The famed Captain of the equally famed Enterprise was here on Nara?

Marchan went on. "Since Nara has no jail facilities, Captain Kirk has agreed to put his brig at our disposal on a temporary basis. The Federation Council President and the Sector Chief have ordered the four of you to be taken to Earth and adjudicated there. To that end, a prison transport ship is already underway with orders to take the four of you to Earth.

Until the prison ship arrives, you will be held in separate cells on the Enterprise, then on the prison transport ship, until it reaches San Francisco. There you will adjudicated. Your attorneys may travel to Earth with you if they and you so desire, but no bail will be set until you are brought before the Federation Council tribunal for your preliminary hearing. Since your crimes were against the Federation Council, and against the Federation colony of Nara, your arrest, trial, and possible sentences will be under the auspices of the Federation Council's Judicial branch, not in a civil court."

"You have no idea who you're dealing with," Folawn told him coldly, calmly, but his face was red with fury.

Again Marchan ignore him and nodded to Jim.

Jim returned the nod, and pulled out his communicator. "Kirk to Enterprise."

"Enterprise here, Captain."

"Lt. Uhura, inform Mr. Scott that we're ready for beam out. Tell him to have a fully armed security detail in the transporter room to escort our guests to the brig. I want them in four separate cells. Uhura, it's probable we may have additional guests. The Antares attorneys may ask to come on board to travel with their clients. Please have the Quarter Master prepare a guest room for the two attorneys. They will have to share a room, ship space is limited."

"Yes, Captain. I'll see it to it. Let me patch you in to Mr. Scott, Sir."

"Scott here, Captain."

"Scotty, is everything in readiness for transport of the prisoners?"

"Aye, Captain.

"Is Security there with you? There will be four men, they have been searched and cuffed, but tell the security detail to stay sharp, two of the men are trained bodyguards and are considered dangerous."

"Aye, Sir. Security is here with me, spoke with them earlier, they are prepared."

"Very good, Mr. Scott." Jim gave Giotto an approving nod. "Four to beam up, Scotty."

The transporter beam took the four men, and in a moment, they heard Scotty's voice. "Got them, Sir. Security is already escorting them to the brig. They're all right angry, Captain," Scotty said, amusement in his voice, "shouting about their rights, and about speaking to their attorneys."

"I'm sure they're furious, Mr. Scott," Jim smiled grimly, "but they'll be able to cool their heels in the brig while they wait for their attorneys. Until Mr. Spock, Bones, and I get back, you've got the con, Scotty."

"Aye, Sir. Dinnae' worry. All is well here. I'll keep a close eye on our guests, of that you can be sure. Enjoy your time at the gathering with Mr. Spock's cousin."

"Thanks, Scotty, we will. Kirk out."

Jim turned to the others. "So that's that. Excellent job, everyone. Everything went without a hitch according to plan. We took them completely by surprise. All of you played your rolls admirably. Doris," he called out. "You can come back to the living room now. The Antares men and their body guards are gone. Your other guests will be arriving soon and the real party can begin."

"Is it all over?" Doris asked curiously, looking around, approaching the group cautiously. "I didn't hear a thing with the study door closed."

Mayri scooted over to stand right beside her. The whole thing had been very exciting, and she had been happy to play a small part in it, but she was relieved the four men were gone, and Dr. Stemple and Nara were safe.

"Yes, it is over, Cousin Doris. I think you can rest assured that there will be no ryetalyn mining ever allowed on Nara. The fragile ecological sites here will remain pristine and allowed to grow and flourish for years to come, exactly as you and your Terra Forming group planned."

"Yes indeed. Your beautiful planet will continue to nurture and grow to its full potential without any damagin' interference from the likes of Antares," Leonard agreed, deep satisfaction in his soft drawl.

"My parents, especially my mother will be vastly relieved at the outcome of this mission, Cousin Doris. She was quite concerned about you. My father, too, will be gratified."

"Not to mention Admirals Boyce and Barnett. Without their intervention, who knows how far Antares would have gone to get their badly needed cash. Somehow, I know when all this gets out, and the real story of what they've done illegally on other fragile planetary sites, the Antares Corporation stocks will collapse and it will be no more." Jim grinned. "If any of you own Antares stocks now would be a good time to sell."

Everyone laughed. "Now, Doris, you need to go outside through the back door with Spock. The other guests will be arriving soon. Mayri will continue to answer the door. After all the guests arrive Spock will bring you in the front door and we'll yell surprise, so please," Jim grinned, "act surprised. Spock, I'll ping your comm when most of the guests are here. Hurry now."

"Come, cousin Doris, let us depart."

Just in time too. Just a few minutes after Spock and Doris had gone out by the back door, the front door chimed. Jim grinned at Bones. "Now we can enjoy the real party, you go ahead and answer the door, Mayri," Jim told her. "We'll mingle here just as if we had already arrived.

The guests began to arrive in groups of twos and threes. From their comments and smiles, they seemed delighted at being invited to celebrate Dr. Stemple's birthday. It was obvious to Jim the guests all thought the world of Doris Stemple. As Mayri ushered them in to the living room, Leonard and Jim offered them drinks, introducing themselves and the other officers.

Jim looked around at the happy guests. It looked like everyone had arrived. The guests were mingling, looking relaxed, and happy. It was time to bring Doris in for her "surprise."

"Alright everyone, I'm going to notify Doris' cousin to bring her back. They've been gone for quite a while now. Spock told her he wanted to see one of the ecological sites, and then they were scheduled to go to her office to use her large com station to call his mother on Vulcan since our small comms just don't have the range needed to reach Vulcan. Spock's mother wanted to wish her cousin a happy birthday and catch up on family news. Spock and Mayri planned all this together. Mayri's been here ostensibly to help Doris with a Terra Forming project, but she'd previously arranged with the caterers and florists to be on stand by to come do all this in a hurry once Doris and Spock left. She's done a fantastic job keeping it a secret from Doris. Places everyone."

Jim pinged his comm, and his comm pinged in response. "Spock is bringing her back. They'll be here in a few minutes, so let's get ourselves ready!"

In a few minutes, they heard the front door open, and Spock calling out, "Mayri, we have returned."

And at that, everyone yelled, "surprise!"

Jim struggled not to laugh out loud at Doris' great acting skills! She looked completely surprised. Her smile was big and genuine and she looked sincerely happy. "Oh my goodness! Thank you! This is so wonderful! I'm so happy to see all of you! I think I know who arranged this." She managed a mock accusing glance at Mayri, who smiled innocently, and at Spock who looked serenely impassive. As everyone began to crowd around her to offer their happy birthday wishes, Mayri, Jim, and Bones exchanged pleased glances. Now everyone could really enjoy themselves, eat the delicious food and drinks, and conversation.

Spock came to stand with Jim and Leonard. "Everything went well, and this is a fine gathering," he commented. "Cousin Doris looks content. A short time ago while we waited outside, I and Cousin Doris received a comm missive from my mother. She has decided to come to Nara for a visit with Cousin Doris. She stated that it had been far too long since the two cousins have seen each other, and she has long wanted to visit Nara and observe the progress of the colony and tour it's ecological sites. She stated she also wishes to converse with the members of the Terra Forming Team. Perhaps some of their ideas and the processes that have been used here can be adapted on Vulcan to enhance the productivity of its poor natural resources, it's lack of water and fertile land. My father has deemed this to be a positive undertaking. Privately, he has confided to me that some of our Vulcan Agri-scientists have been in what you, Leonard, would call a "rut." No new ideas have come from them in many years."

"Well now, that's a splendid idea, Spock. And if anyone can push some of the good ideas the Terra Forming team has used here, for sure it's Doris and Lady Amanda. Those two would make a formidable team, don't you think so, Jimmy?"

"I do," Jim said, recalling the serene, indomitable strength of Amanda he had witnessed on that infamous journey to Babel. He also recalled her good humor as she had interacted with the recalcitrant Spock and Sarek. He had nothing but admiration for a woman who could live on Vulcan for 40 years and still retain her humanity, warmth, and sense of humor.

Jim spotted Doris as she made the rounds speaking with each of her guests. Everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves, eating the delicious food and partaking of light alcoholic beverages. He saw Bones deep in conversation with a couple of the Terra Forming volunteers, his little shadow, Mayri, at his elbow listening intently. Jim was sure they were talking plants and gardening, because Bones was a closet gardener. Whenever he had the chance, during his furloughs back in Atlanta, he would spend as much time as possible in his garden and when he found a little time off from his Sick Bay duties, he could often be found helping Sulu in the small botany area on the ship. He'd told Jim once, it was relaxing to dig in the dirt, and Sulu welcomed his help whenever he could get it. Aside from talking about southern cooking with Jim's mother, the two also enjoyed discussions about gardening.

Jim sipped his drink and nibbled at the delicious food on his plate as he watched Bones gesticulating, his face animated. It was good to see the doctor enjoying himself. He worked so hard always doing for others, taking care of everyone on the ship. His southern geniality and charm almost always hidden at work, came out and was fully on display in social situations like this one. It was also good to see Spock relaxed and obviously at ease with his mother's side of the family tree.

In a little while, Jim thought, after the party winds down, I'll take the President of the University and the Nara Colony Governor into Doris' study to give them a private update of what had transpired before they'd arrived. They'll also want to know what was going to happen to the Antares managers, and possibly even to the corporation itself. But that could wait yet a while.

He walked over to join Bones and Mayri. Right now it was time to forget about the Antares criminals and enjoy his time here with Doris, Mayri, his crew, and the fine people of Nara. Contemplating the nefarious deeds of evil doers could definitely wait for another time.

Fin