oOo

A few hours later, Uhura was ready to reevaluate her opinion of James Tiberius Kirk...and everyone else, for that matter. Boredom had set in after Kirk, McCoy and Scott had variously attempted to feign illness, start a fight (the guard merely stunned them through the forcefield), and threaten to kill themselves and/or the other members of the landing party if they weren't immediately freed. That threat was taken seriously enough that they soon found themselves separated, although not without knocking out one of the guards before they themselves were stunned and shoved into their own holding cells.

Through it all, Uhura kept herself aloof, showing no resistance, offering the guards no reason to stun her. But she'd certainly had time to watch and listen to her fellow prisoners, and an ugly truth was dawning: no matter how arrogant and powerful they were on their own ship, they were incapable of accepting defeat gracefully. Not that such a characteristic was a virtue, at least not in their own world. But it was unsettling to see Kirk sulking like a petulant child, to see McCoy pacing back and forth and muttering to himself about needing a drink, even to see Scott methodically punching the walls.

Not that she was taking captivity any better, but she had plans for her future, all of which were predicated on their swift return back to the real universe. Jim Kirk will be back to his normal self once we get home, she consoled herself, although a nagging doubt remained: what if this was his true self? She didn't want to think about it, but there wasn't much else to do while they waited...and waited...and waited.

Uhura jerked her head back as something woke her up–when had she dozed off, and for how long? No matter. She slowly rose to her feet, watching warily as Spock and a veritable flock of security officers entered the brig. "We have ascertained how you were exchanged for our crewmembers, and are prepared to return you to your universe."

"It's about bloody time," Scott muttered. "Let's get this over with, then."

Spock quirked an eyebrow at him. "Past experience has led me to conclude that you will require restraints until we have placed you on the transporter pad. I trust you will not object." It was obvious this was not a request, but an expectation.

Kirk was mutinous. Of course. He never liked being told what to do, even by his nominal superiors; being ordered around by Spock must be even more galling, Uhura decided. She, of course, intended to offer no protests. As far as she was concerned, they couldn't get her home fast enough.

In the end, Kirk had to be rendered unconscious, and the other three sullenly allowed themselves to be shackled, like common slaves. Uhura, for one, had endured worse humiliations in her climb to Chief Communications Officer, but it still rankled.

Spock stood silently by as Kirk was dumped unceremoniously onto the transporter pad. He continued to watch as the others were released from the binders and ordered onto the pad next to him. Uhura stepped delicately around Kirk's head, smiling seductively at the visibly flustered transporter operator–Kyril, was it? Or Karl? Something like that. "Nice to know someone will miss me," she purred, her smile deepening as she stared into his eyes in her patented "there's no one for me but you, baby" manner.

"Mr. Kyle." Spock's voice broke the spell, and her victim snapped to attention. Kyle, right, that was his name. If this version was so transfixed by her, chances were good she could use that to her advantage back home with the real Kyle. For however long she remained on the Enterprise, of course. With Kirk's baby, she could have herself transferred anywhere she wanted, with Kirk willingly helping. Anything to keep his child safe, to keep that child away from his enemies. And his ship was full of enemies, Sulu among them. He would think nothing of arranging a little "accident" if he found himself thwarted.

"Please transport our 'guests' back home," Spock instructed in that cool Vulcan manner of his. So precise, so logical...most of the time. If gossip had any basis in truth, the state of his quarters after his emergency mating with Christine Chapel was evidence that even Vulcans could lose control sometimes.

That was her last thought before the transporter was activated.