Chapter Thirteen

Not Forgotten

The Enterprise sped off to PSI 89. The ten scientists were picked up

and assigned living quarters. They were 5 days away from the Starbase.

Lucas continued with therapy. Each day he walked further on the ship. He also started to use the Jeffries tubes to climb up one deck to get stronger. As he was ascending the ladder someone from above him called out to him.

"Hey, are you the Captain's son?" someone called.

Lucas looked up and yelled, "Yea,"

A crew member yelled, "Good," and jumped down onto Lucas's fingers on the ladder and then kicked him in the jaw.

Lucas yelled and fell down the tube hitting his head, chest and arms as he went. He was left half hanging between the steps of the ladder and the wall.

Shortly after security guard Lance Hewlett was walking his patrol, he glanced to the right and saw a leg entangled in the ladder.

He looked up and called in the intercom, "Medical team to Deck 12, section 3." He tried to lift the crewman but he was afraid his injuries would be made worse.

He went back to the intercom and called the Bridge, "Security guard Lance Hewlett to Captain Kirk."

"Yes, Lance?"

"Captain, please report to Deck 12, Section 3. We have an incident."

"On my way Lance."

Lance went back to the injured crewman as the medical team arrived.

Dr. McCoy said, "Good heavens, what happened?'

"Sir, I'm not sure."

McCoy scanned the person for injuries. He said, "Oh dear, God, it's Lucas. Be careful, his ribs are broken."

Lance went above him and tried to pull him up straight.

Captain Kirk rounded the corner, "What's the matter gentlemen?"

"Jim, Lance found a crewman who has fallen down the Jeffries tube, he's unconscious and injured. It's Lucas, Jim."

Kirk ran to the opening. "What happened?"

Lance said, "I'm not sure Captain, I was on patrol and found him like this. If someone can get under him and push up, I may be able to lift him out and untangle his legs."

Kirk crawled around the ladder and said, "OK, Lance pull." Kirk pushed and Lance pulled up from his arm pits. Dr. McCoy pushed his leg out.

Lucas moaned. McCoy yelled, "Wait, let me check something." He straightened his head and called to Christine. "Christine, get me a jaw brace."

"Yes, sir." She went through the medical kit and handed one to Dr. McCoy.

Dr. McCoy gently placed the sling around his chin and head, "I think his jaw is broken. He probably hit every rung coming down." He dabbed at the blood dripping from his mouth. "Lucas, can you hear me?" he paused, "okay gentlemen try to get him out."

The Captain pushed but Lance was unable to get between Lucas and the wall to bring him out. "Captain, let's get a welder and cut the ladder away. Then I can get him out."

McCoy called for the welder over the intercom.

Lance said to the Captain, "Sir, his fingers are broken, I don't know how that could have happened just falling. I think someone stepped on them."

"That's what caused him to fall. I wish those guys would hurry, he's getting heavy."

Lance pulled Lucas up higher to his chest to alleviate the pressure on the Captain.

The welder appeared and wrapped Lucas and Lance with a protective blanket. He arched the welder and began to cut through the rungs above Lucas. When that was done, Lance stepped below Lucas to hold onto his trunk. The welder cut through the lower rungs and pulled the ladder away. Lance gently lifted Lucas out and onto the stretcher.

Dr. McCoy quickly examined him. "Let's get him to sick bay, Close off this section, we don't need anymore accidents."

The Captain followed the doctor and nurse to sick bay.

"Jim, you wait here. I'll call you in, in a few minutes. Get Joanna for me."

"Okay, Bones."

Kirk found Joanna coming from an office, "Joanna, there's been an accident."

"Lucas? It's him, isn't it? The call went out for level 12, what happened?" She ran for the exam room, not waiting for an answer.

Dr. McCoy held her up, "Joanna, he's going to be okay, but Dr. McKenzie is on his way. I want you to wait with the Captain."

Lucas's face had begun to swell. The jaw strap kept his jaw intact for the moment, and blood was dripping from his nose. Christine had removed his clothing and there were multiple red marks on his torso and thighs.

"Dad, what happened."

"Darlin', we're not sure, but he fell down the Jeffries tube. Go wait, I'll be out in a minute."

Joanna wanted to stay, but Christine led her to the waiting room. The Captain held her in his arms, "He'll be alright, Joanna."

"Dads," she said addressing her father in-law, "what happened, they just said he fell down the tube? He only walks up one level and he starts on level 10, the call came from level 12. That means he may have fallen over 45 feet down at least two decks."

"I know, I've got Lance Hewlett working on it."

Dr. McCoy came out and Joanna braced herself. "He has seven broken fingers, 3 broken ribs, a strain in the groin, a broken jaw and some pooling of blood in his chest from his previous injury. I think he's got several cracked teeth, too. We'll start surgery in a few minutes. No, Jo, you can not assist."

"Dad, please, just let me be there."

"No, absolutely, not. Jim, keep her company."

"Will do, Bones. Come on let's get comfortable, Joanna and you can talk me through each of the procedures."

Tears welled up in her eyes, "Why do these things keep happening to him, Dads, I don't get it."

"Rotten luck, but this time it may have been intentional."

"What?"

"There's no reason to have that many broken fingers from a fall like that unless someone stomped on them to make him fall. No one was around to witness it. Lance is checking the security tapes. We'll find out what happened."

Joanna leaned up against the Captain's shoulder, "His pretty blue eyes are slit shut again."

Kirk chuckled, "Only you would notice that. Okay, so what's happening now?"

Joanna went into doctor mode and told the details of each step of all the procedures. She was most concerned with the internal injuries. This would set him back weeks in his recovery.

"Dads, who would hurt him? Who could have done this?" she asked.

Kirk gave her a hug and said, "I'll give Lance a call and see if he found anything." He went into an office and called Lance.

"Find anything, Lance?"

"Captain, I went through the security tapes, someone with a blue shirt, dark hair with a bald spot in the back started down the ladder, dropped, came back up and walked away. He was on level 10 I found Lucas on 12, so he fell around 45-50 feet. I think he was entangled there for just maybe five minutes. There were no other people on either level to see what happened."

"Have you tried increasing the size of the photo to get an identification?"

"Yes, sir, no luck. "I've taken blood and dirt samples off the rungs, there may be a clue in the soil."

"Okay, Corporal, good work, just let me know."

"Yes, Captain."

He and Joanna waited for Dr. McCoy to return. An hour had dragged by when he returned, "He's okay, Jo. You can go in." She ran into recovery.

The Captain waited for the report, "Jim, he's banged up pretty bad. His jaw is set as well as his fingers. The ribs will heal on their own," he chuckled and said, "he won't be having sex for awhile, he straddled the rung and injured himself. We stopped the internal bleeding in his chest. He's also sustained another concussion. Any idea how this happened?"

"It was intentional. We have security tapes that shows someone may have stomped on his fingers on the ladder and then he fell."

McCoy's eyes showed intense anger, "I hope you find out who it was, I'd like a poke at him before you get to him."

"I just may let you, Bones. I can't imagine someone in our crew doing this intentionally."

Bones replied, "No, I can't either."

"I'll go see Lucas and then I'll get out of your way."

The Captain was once again shocked at the sight of his face. Yes, his bright blue eyes were slits and he would be eating out of a straw for awhile. The Captain gently picked up one hand and stroked his arm,

"Lucas, rest. We'll talk later, son."

Joanna was becoming angry as she looked at her husband. She walked out with the Captain and asked, "Anymore news on how it happened?"

"No, but I'll let you know as soon as I do." He hugged her and kissed her forehead, "Keep an eye on him, I'll check in later."

"I will."

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The Captain went to meet with Cpl. Lance Hewlett. He watched the security tapes and did not recognize the person in the video.

"Lance, did your blood and soil samples come back yet?"

"Yes. Of course, the blood is Lucas's, but the soil is different. I had the "rock hounds" run a cross reference and compare the soil to anywhere we've been in the last 6 months. Nothing shows up. So I had them check PSI 89 and we had a hit."

"So, you think one of the 10 scientists we picked up did it?"

"Possible, Captain, but I printed a list of names and photos. I eliminated 3 because they are women. Two of the men have light hair, another is bald, so that leaves four left. I also cross checked to see if the four would have had any contact with Ensign Lucas, but he is too young and they were never stationed anywhere together. So, I thought maybe you could look and see if you knew any of them."

Kirk scanned the list of names and hesitated over one. "This name sounds familiar but it's common, too. Let me see the matching photo's."

Lance showed him the computer screen. "Show me this Robert Baker, the name rings a bell."

The Captain looked at his photo and said, "Yes, he looks familiar. Can you get a picture of him from about 10 years ago?" A younger version of the photo made Kirk sure of his suspicion. "Yes, I remember him, now. We go back a few years, there was an "incident" between us. Corporal follow me to my quarters. Call up another security guard to meet us there, quietly though."

"Yes, Captain." Kirk himself called Mr. Spock, "Spock, meet me in my quarters."

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Spock and the security guard met the Captain and Lance. They explained the situation. Kirk called the head of the science group, "Dr. Mitchell, can you and Lt. Baker meet me in my quarters on deck 5, please?"

"On our way, Captain."

When they arrived Captain Kirk waited at his desk, as the two officers would walk into the room and give the security guards time to block the door. "Welcome, Doctor, I hope you're finding your accommodations comfortable?"

"Yes, sir, quite nice after spending two years on PSI 89. Please call me Mark."

The Captain stood and shook the Doctors hand. "Captain, this is Lt. Robert Baker."

"Yes, Commander, Mr. Baker and I have met previously."

The Lieutenant glared at the Captain. Doctor Mitchell noticed the exchange and could sense the tension in the room and spoke, "Sir, is there a problem?"

The Captain nodded to Mr. Spock, he in turn spun the computer monitor around and started playing the security tape.

When it was done the Captain looked at Baker, but spoke to Mitchell, "Dr. Mitchell, does this person look familiar to you. Play it again, Spock." The Captain watched for Baker's reaction.

Dr. Mitchell spoke, "It's hard to tell for sure, Captain." He looked at Baker and back at the Captain. "Sir, are you asking if Lt. Baker is in the video?"

The Captain walked up to Baker and said, "Perhaps he would like to answer that question? Maybe we should start with a story of how an Ensign was stripped of his promotion for insubordination and theft of an aircraft. Thus ruining his chance of captaining his own ship."

Mitchell turned to Baker, "Answer him, Lieutenant."

"Yes, Captain Kirk was responsible for my demotion."

"I was responsible? You stole the plane and you swore at an officer. How is that my fault? You should have been kicked out of Starfleet. That was my recommendation. More to the point, is that you in the security tape?"

"Prove it, Captain."

Captain Kirk grabbed him by the shirt and shoved him into a wall across the room. Spock and Mitchell watched as the Captain slammed his head into the wall.

"You son of a bitch. That was my son whose fingers you broke, causing him to fall two decks down the Jeffries tube. He is just getting out of surgery." The Captain banged his head again and Mitchell pulled him off.

"Captain, if you have proof there is a protocol to follow."

The Captain said, "Guards, take him to the brig for now."

As they grabbed him Lieutenant Baker tried to fight back. Mr. Spock stepped forward and gave him the Vulcan pinch on the shoulder. He collapsed on the floor.

Dr. Mitchell demanded, "Captain, if you're arresting my officer, I want the details, sir."

"Gladly Doctor, have a seat."

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In sick bay, Lucas began to come out of sedation. He moaned and was thrashing about. Joanna talked to him softly, "Lucas, it's Joanna, lay still, babe. You've been injured in a fall. Be careful how you move."

He moaned and mumbled. "Don't talk. I'll explain more later, just lay still."

Dr. McCoy came in and asked, "Coming out of it?"

"A little, Dad. I'm not sure if he understands."

"I'll give him something to help clear his brain," he gave him an injection and Lucas slowly opened his eyes in spite of the swelling.

He moaned again and tried to touch his jaw. Dr. McCoy said, "Lucas you fell down the Jeffries tube, do you remember?"

He closed his eyes and shook his head, no. He tried lifting his hands and looked towards the doctor.

"I know, Lucas it's a lot to take in right now. Your fingers are broken and your jaw. A few ribs and other injuries. We'll begin regeneration shortly. Do you remember slipping?"

He shook his head with firmness and moaned. "Easy, you have a concussion, too." The doctor held up Lucas's hands, did someone step on your fingers?"

He closed his eyes and nodded yes.

"Okay, that's it for now. Rest. Jo be sure and….."

"I know, Dad. I'll keep him quiet."

"I'll be back."

Dr. McCoy went to his office and called the Captain. "Jim, when I asked Lucas if he fell, he nodded his head, no. Then I asked him if someone stepped on his fingers, he nodded his head, yes."

"Good, we've got someone in custody, but I have to have proof."

"There is no way he'll be able to talk. He'll have to communicate with computer, but not tonight."

"I'll wait, Bones."

"Jim, who was it?"

"Strictly confidential Bones, but we suspect one of the scientist we picked up. I had him demoted twelve years ago and he blames me for a stall in his career."

"You know how to charm the women, but what happened to the men?" he teased.

"Bones. Keep me informed. I'll be by later."

The following day the healing process was hastened by the bone healer that Dr. McCoy ran over Ensign Kirk's fingers, ribs and jaw.

At the end of a very long day for Lucas, Joanna sat at his side talking with him. She noticed tears slipping down his face. "Lucas, are you in pain?"

He shook his head no and began to cry harder.

Dr. McCoy stepped in to check on him. "It's a side affect of the anesthesia we used. He shouldn't be in pain."

"No, I asked him."

"Lucas," Dr. McCoy said, "It's alright to cry, it's from the anesthesia."

Lucas lifted his one hand to cover his face.

The Captain entered and McCoy called him over. "He's having a reaction to meds."

The Captain stood near his head and stroked his forehead, "Son, just relax."

Lucas looked to Joanna and tapped the bed. Joanna looked at her father and he nodded.

"Jim, help me pull him towards this side of the bed."

They each wrapped their arms gently around his torso and pulled him over. Joanna gently laid on the bed and talked quietly to him. Dr. McCoy pulled the curtain and they left.

Captain Kirk said, "They have a special love, don't they?"

"Yes, they sure do. Jim, he'll come around quickly. In a few days he'll have to have dental work done. How's the investigation going?"

"We're stalled until we can interview, Lucas."

"Maybe tomorrow."

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The middle of the next day the Captain entered sick bay. "Bones, can I talk to him?"

"I'll see if he's awake. He slurped some liquids for his meals already."

Dr. McCoy found Lucas sitting up. They had installed a visual computer screen that he could communicate with.

"Lucas, the Captain wants to ask you some questions. Do you feel up to it?"

He glanced at the screen and concentrated on words to respond. The Captain appeared at his side.

"I'm not going anywhere," the screen said.

"Let me know when you get too tired." Lucas nodded his head yes.

"Can you describe the person who did this?"

He shook his head, no.

"Did you recognize the voice or anything about him?" Again the answer was no.

"Did he jump on your hands?"

He looked at the screen and said, "Yes, and kicked me in the head, I think."

"Do you remember anything after that?" He shook his head, no.

Lucas looked at his screen and the word, "who" appeared.

The Captain said, "It was one of the scientist we picked up from PSI 89. I demoted him twelve years ago, and this was his way of getting even with me. But our camera's don't show his face. We're working on it, Lucas."

He nodded his head yes.

After conferring with Cpl. Lance Hewlett, the Captain called Dr. Mitchell to his office and gave him the new information.

"Mark, if you have any influence over your officer, I would tell him that his penalty may be less, if he admits to what he has done. He could be up for attempted murder, his career is over."

"You have no solid proof. No one witnessed it and the photo's are inconclusive."

"Doctor, we have video of him walking from his cabin to the ladder, dropping down and then coming back up. He is the only one of the four men with a balding spot on the back of his head. Just because we can't see what he did in the tube, it is still obvious he was there. I suggest you talk with him."

The doctor stood and said, "Captain, I am sorry for the trouble. I will speak with him and I will persuade him to admit to what he has done. If there is a trial will it happen on Starbase 7?"

"That will depend on the judge."

"Aye, sir."

The Enterprise orbited Starbase 7 the next day. All of the information and the prisoner were handed over to the authorities on the base.

Lucas had been restless and finally made Joanna understand that he wanted to see the man who did this.

"Lucas, he's already gone, and his lawyer wouldn't let you see him, anyway."

He glared at the screen and moaned, "His lawyer, what about my rights," came up on the screen.

She gently hugged him and said, "Let it go, Lucas. We have many more missions to accomplish. You must heal and get back in the saddle as the Captain likes to say."

Lucas nodded his head, yes, but there was a glint in his eye that told Joanna, he would not forget what happened.

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The Captain's next orders took the Enterprise further into an uncharted area where Starfleet had never been. They spent days photographing and charting stars and planets. They spent two months patrolling the area waiting for Starfleet to receive the information and to send new orders. They scanned the few planets as they came near, but none would sustain human life.

The Captain had just returned from his quarters and spoke to Chekov, "Mr. Chekov, put in new coordinates 18.7, mark 4."

"Aye, Captain."

The Enterprise was traveling through the quadrant when Sulu said, "Captain, something is on the screen."

The Captain looked up, "Spock?"

"Yes sir, it seems to be a ship of some kind."

"Identify."

"Can't, Captain, unknown source."

"Slow to one third impulse power, Mr. Sulu."

"Yes, Captain, one third impulse power."

Spock said, "Captain, we are being monitored."

"Can you block it?"

"No, sir, I tried."

"Well, let's see what they want. Open all channels Lt. Uhura."

"All channels are open, Captain."

On the screen the vessel closed in on the Enterprise, before the Captain could speak a voice came over the screen.

"Captain James T. Kirk of the USS Enterprise, you have invaded our space."

Kirk responded, "This is Captain Kirk, we come in peace, we mean you no harm."

Loudly the voice said, "You have invaded our space, you must be eliminated."

"Who am I speaking to?" Kirk asked.

"I am Krete, leader of the nations of Petrosic. You have invaded our territory and must be eliminated."

The Captain said to Sulu, "Sulu, slowly reverse engines."

"Aye, sir."

"Captain, they are aiming their weapons at us," Spock said.

"Battle Stations, all hands, battle stations. Red alert, this is not a drill."

The Enterprise was hit by two powerful beams. "Deflector screens, Mr. Sulu!."

"Yes, sir," he struggled to his chair.

Spock said again, "Sir, they are sending out dozens of planes."

"Lt. Commander Sedgewick, get all 50 pilots ready to go."

"Aye, Captain."

The ship was hit by a strong force again, sending the crew flying all over the room. The enemies small attack planes spread out too wide for the Enterprises torpedo probes.

"Sulu, drop our aft shields. Mr. Sedgwick, send out the pilots."

As the shields were dropped another torpedo shook the Enterprise.

"All pilots have disembarked, Captain."

"Make sure they stay aft and to the port and star board sides."

"Yes, Captain."

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Ensign Kirk dodged enemy planes as he fired torpedoes. "Kirk to SJ, zero on your ass. I got it."

An explosion and bright lights flashed on Kirk's screen. "Squadron, 25 degrees to the port, lock on and shoot at will," Ensign Kirk called to his group.

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"Captain," Spock said, "Our planes are in combat with the aliens vessels."

"Sulu, fire one photon torpedo at their ship."

"Yes, sir, one photon torpedo fired."

A large flash showed on their screen as it hit the vessel, but a return force from their weapon hit the Enterprise and all 50 planes in one circumference.

Mr. Scott yelled as he got up from the floor, "Shields on the aft and port side held, Captain."

Spock called to the Captain, "Sir, the planes are gone."

"Gone, what do you mean?"

"They are no longer there, sir. No debris, but no planes."

The effect of all fifty planes missing with all pilots seeped into each person on the Bridge. SJ and Lucas were among the missing.

Kirk got up and ran to Spock's scanners. "Sir, there is nothing there."

The Captain looked for himself, "Widen the search Mr. Spock, they have to be there. I,…"

The energy that the enemy vessel had used to hit the Enterprise and the fifty planes had left itself crippled and floundering in an orbit.

"Open the channels, Lieutenant."

"Open, sir."

"Commander Krete, this is Captain Kirk, do you read me?"

There was no answer from the vessel. There were only four of their planes circling the home vessel.

"Captain Kirk to…," he started to say when an explosion sounded and the vessel and it's four remaining planes blew up. The blast shook the Enterprise.

"Mr. Sulu, turn us around and continue scanning the area, ahead two thirds power."

"Yes, Captain."

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

When Lucas collected his thoughts, he was happy to see he was alive. That was the most powerful energy he had ever felt. He looked around and saw no other planes.

"Ensign Kirk to birds in the air, come in." There was no response, "Ensign Kirk to the Enterprise." Again, no response.

Lucas checked his scanner and ran the radar to get a reading of his position. He was not anywhere near the Enterprise. He set course to where he thought he would meet them and continued to try reaching any of his crewmates.

As Lucas worked the radio he heard static on one of the frequencies. "Lucas, come in."

"Lucas, here, is that you SJ?"

"Yes, Lucas, I haven't been able to reach anyone."

"Keep trying different frequencies, they have to be out here."

SJ asked, "What do you think that was that hit us?"

"One big shock wave. Did you sustain any damage?" Lucas asked.

"No, just my radar and radio are a little wonky at times."

"Keep trying all frequencies. I have you on radar and I'm closing in on you."

Minutes passed and slowly one or two pilots would answer. They converged on a specified coordinate and kept searching for their crewmates. Lucas noticed his fuel was half gone.

Lt. Commander Sedgewick spoke, "All pilots report in. All pilots report in." One by one most of the pilots answered. "Prepare to rendezvous with the Enterprise. Bearing 32.1, mark 8.7"

Lucas contacted Lt. Commander Sedgewick, "Sir, have you heard from Ensign Mick Cooley?"

"No, Ensign, return to the Enterprise, I'll keep trying to reach the him."

Lucas put in the coordinates but he didn't want to leave Mick behind. He fell back in the formation. He called SJ on a private frequency. "SJ, Mick hasn't made it back. Are you having as much trouble with your radio as mine?"

"What was that, Kirk? Repeat."

"That's what I thought."

Lt Commander Sedgwick said, "Ensign Kirk and Spock,

return to formation."

Lucas turned down the volume on his radio and continued to fall back. He did quick calculations on where Mick could have been pushed back into the heavens. He knew he was disobeying orders, but he could not leave him behind. He carefully calculated his fuel and slowed down to a slower speed and turned his bird around. His and SJ's fate were sealed.

The fleet continued on to the Enterprise, as Lucas and SJ scanned the area.

"Kirk to SJ," he listened. Static came on the radio

Lucas dialed in the radio to clear up the static, "SJ, do you hear me?"

"Nice and clear, Lucas."

Lucas said, "Mick was at point. He may have received the majority of the force and was sent back much further. We need to fan out and scan the area twenty kilometers away. Watch your fuel."

"Will do."

The two divided up the area in small quadrants as they scanned for visual or radar location of Mick's plane. Lucas noticed a small blip and fine turned his radar. "Ensign Kirk to Ensign Cooley, come in." More static sounded from his head piece. "Kirk to Cooley, come in."

"Kirk, me boy. Glad to hear from ye," he said in his Irish brogue.

Lucas laughed and said, "What are you doing way out here."

"Well me lad, I was needin' some private time for me thoughts and will ye look at this universe."

Lucas laughed again and gave him his location. "Can you take the time and head back to us?"

"Now here's the problem, I'll be havin' ye solve. I'm banged up a wee bit. I seem to be pissing out fuel as fast as an elephant on a cold day. The blast flipped me head over teakettle several times. How far are we from the big bird?"

"Too far for us to reach it. I'll be there shortly. SJ follow me." Lucas said.

Lucas turned on the frequency to the Enterprise and heard Lt. Commander Sedgwick demanding that Ensign Lucas and Spock to respond. He turned the volume down again and saw SJ off the star board side. They were close enough to wave.

"SJ, how much fuel do you have?"

"About twelve minutes."

"I'll try to reach the Lt. Commander. Mick are you still picking us up?"

"Aye, lads. I'm 4 minutes from empty."

Lucas changed frequencies and picked up the Lt. Commander again., "Ensign Kirk to Lt. Commander Sedgwick."

"Kirk, I ordered you to get back in formation!"

"Sir, I apologize, but I did find Ensign Cooley. We are on our return flight back but we are seriously low on fuel. Ensign Cooley's plane is leaking fuel. Less than four minutes to empty."

There was no response. Lucas looked over at SJ and shrugged.

Lt. Commander Sedgwick said in a quiet voice, "Ensign, send the Captain your coordinates. They will come get you and they will use the tractor beam to bring you aboard. Understood."

"Yes, sir. I'll try to reach Ensign Cooley, we're having trouble with our radios."

"We'll discuss that when you arrive."

"Yes, sir."

"Mick, can you hear me?"

"Yes, Lucas, I see you on my star board side."

"We are to continue en route. The Enterprise will meet up with us and use the tractor beam. How's your fuel now?'

"Just a spit in the tank."

"Ensign Kirk to the Enterprise, come in."

"Captain Kirk here."

"Captain, we are dangerously low on fuel. We may have about two minutes left. Any hope in hitching a ride, sir?"

"We should be there shortly. Wait for instructions."

"Yes sir."

"Lucas to Mick, prepare to jettison from your seat."

They had trained for many instances when a pilot runs out of fuel. The most dangerous was jettisoning the pod with hopes that you would be pulled in before you were lost.

Ensigns Kirk and Spock watched from their planes. They could see the Enterprise on their radar but they knew they would not be here in time.

"Mick, it's going to be close."

"Uh, closer than you think, I'd like to try the toggle.

"SJ, you're better at this, pull into position and see if you can toggle him to your ship."

SJ maneuvered within wing tips of Mick's plane. Mick jettisoned his toggle and latched onto SJ's hook. SJ said, "Mick are you ready?"

Mick nodded and made a sign of the cross.

As SJ cut his engines to a halt he yelled to Mick, "Punch out!"

Mick's canopy flew off behind his plane and he was forced out of his seat attached to SJ by a cable. The ride was not soft nor pleasant. The pod flopped like a flag in the wind. Mick's plane quickly lost altitude as the engine was drained of fuel.

SJ and Lucas sighed in relief, but Mick was still dangling out in space by a toggle. Lucas said, "How are you, Mick?"

"Well, me boy, me arm is flopping like a piece of spaghetti, and my nose is flatter than it should be."

Ensign Kirk laughed and said, "Hang in there, we're almost home."

"Captain Kirk to Ensigns Kirk and Spock, prepare for the tractor beam."

Ensign Kirk answered, "Sir, we have Ensign Cooley on the toggle, his plane ran out of fuel, sir."

"We're aware of that Ensign, we will transport him to the Enterprise."

"Aye, sir."

Moments later Ensign Cooley was handed over to the Enterprise.

Ensign Kirk's plane sputtered and his alarms were sounding. The fuel ran out as the tractor beam engaged him. The beam pulled SJ and Kirk's plane onto the hanger deck. SJ's plane lost power as he entered the deck. He shook his head at how close he had come to spinning out of control.

Lucas and SJ performed post flight shut downs and slid from their cockpits. Lt. Commander Sedgwick was there to meet them.

"In my office, you two."

"Yes, sir." Lucas glanced at SJ and followed his superior officer.

The other pilots were working on their planes. Mick was being placed on a gurney, but he gave them the thumbs up.

As soon as the door shut Lt. Commander began yelling at the two officers, "I gave you a direct order to remain in formation and for you to head back to the Enterprise. Perhaps you can give me a reason you defied my order."

"Sir, I could not leave a member of my crew behind," Kirk said.

"I told you we would continue to look for him. You disobeyed my order."

SJ said, "We were having trouble with our radios."

"I'll bet you were."

"Sir," Kirk interrupted, "I knew Mick was on point, and I figured he took the brunt of the force. I am responsible for my squadron."

Sedgwick said, "And, Ensign Spock, you just went along for the ride?"

He had no answer.

"You are confined to your quarters, Ensigns. I will personally examine your crafts to see what was wrong with the radios. Turn in your log books and hang up your flight suits."

"Yes, sir," and they left his office.

SJ glanced at Lucas and said, "You know we could be court-martialed."

Lucas nodded his head. They dressed in the locker rooms in silence and shined up their helmets before they left.

Once in his cabin, Lucas listened to the report from all departments on the repairs that were going on. The Enterprise had sustained damage to the bow of the craft. They were making preliminary repairs and planned to go to a Star Base for further repairs.

Lucas didn't see Joanna all day. Sick bay was dealing with the many injuries. He fell asleep and awoke early the next morning.

Captain Kirk was on duty on the bridge reading the damage reports as they came in. "Mr. Spock, will you follow me?"

"Yes, Captain."

"Mr. Sulu you have the con."

"Aye, Captain."

Once on the elevator the Captain said to his first officer, "We have some disciplinary issues to take care of."

"Yes, sir. I understand."

"Captain Kirk to Lt. Commander Sedgwick."

"Yes, Captain?"

"Report to my office please."

"Yes, sir."

Once in his office the three began to discuss the two officers who had disobeyed orders.

"Lt. Commander, what do you recommend we do with Ensigns Kirk and Spock?'

"Well, Captain, now that I've had time to cool down, I realize it could have been worse."

"Go on."

"We would not have gotten to Ensign Cooley in time. We barely made it to pick up the other two. They saved Cooley's life," Sedgwick said.

"But they still disobeyed orders."

"Yes, sir, but I'd rather have officers that analyze a situation and not blindly follow every order. There are always gray areas."

Kirk smiled and looked at Mr. Spock, "Any suggestions for discipline, Mr. Spock?"

"Yes, Captain. I suggest two days in the brig. Afterwards, ten days of extra duty."

"Agreed. Let's bring them in." Kirk flipped on the inter-ship communications, "Captain Kirk to Ensigns Kirk and Spock, report to my office. Cpl Lance Hewlett report to the Captain's office."

Three, yes sirs came back.

Lucas met SJ at the Captain's door.

"Now, Lucas don't be mouthing off at the Captain and get us in more trouble."

"I won't. How's your stomach?"

"It's in my throat."

"Mine, too," Lucas buzzed the door.

"Enter."

The ensigns stood at attention as the Captain, Mr. Spock and Lt. Commander Sedgwick stood in line to face them.

The door buzzed again. The Captain said, "Enter."

Cpl Lance Hewlett stood at attention near the door.

"Gentlemen, at ease." Kirk said. He walked up to face each ensign and stared in their eyes. "Ensign Kirk, can you give me a good reason for disobeying your orders?"

"Sir, I could not leave a man behind. I ordered Ensign Spock to accompany me to help in the search."

"Ensign Spock, is that true?"

Knowing a Vulcan can not lie, SJ glanced at his father who stood unemotionally in front of him. "Not exactly, sir."

"Just what 'exactly' happened?" Kirk said staring at the two ensigns.

"We were having trouble with our radios and radar. I figured two ships could cover more area than one, sir."

"So you were not ordered to follow Ensign Kirk?"

"No, sir, I did it freely on my own."

"Interesting. Commander Spock and Lt. Commander Sedgwick, we have two Ensigns who by their own admission set out to look for the lost pilot in their squad, thereby disobeying an order to return to the Enterprise."

Spock and Sedgwick replied, "Yes, sir."

"Lt. Commander Sedgwick, would you repeat what we discussed in my office earlier."

"Yes, sir. I commented that after I had cooled down, I knew we wouldn't have reached Ensign Cooley in time. I also said, that I'd rather have officers that analyze a situation and not blindly follow every order. There are always gray areas in any situation."

"Yes, Commander Sedgwick, and they saved their friends life."

"Yes, sir."

"Mr. Spock will you inform them what their discipline will be?"

"Yes, sir. You are to spend two days in the brig, then afterwards ten days of extra duty."

The Captain looked at each ensign, "And this will go in your records."

Kirk and SJ responded quietly, "Yes, sir."

"Cpl. Hewlett, will you show these gentlemen to their new quarters?"

"Aye, Captain."

Some days are best forgotten, but wisdom is only gained by personal experience.