oOo
Gone. Kirk and Uhura were gone, McCoy and Scott were dead, and the Tantalus Field was gone as well. Not that Spock would have used it as ruthlessly as Kirk ever had, but he would have found it necessary to employ it if he was to effect any kind of long-term changes in the way the Empire was run. Moreau was still torn as to whether she was relieved or disappointed that Kirk had escaped, but she bitterly regretted the loss of the Tantalus Field, no ambiguity about it. "This is my fault. I should have taken it with me, not left it alone."
Spock turned to face her. "The blame is as much mine as it is yours, Marlena." She still felt a delicious shiver whenever he said her name. "I underestimated Kirk and his influence, and now he is out of our reach. Although I could easily duplicate Mr. Scott's work and open another transporter gateway to that other universe, I will not do so."
"Why not?" Moreau demanded, moving a step closer. "We need the Tantalus Field, you know we do!"
"A new order founded on the use of additional violence would quickly degenerate into the old order, do you not agree?" Moreau dropped her eyes, unable to refute Spock's words. "It will be difficult, but I believe the duplicate Captain Kirk would prefer we made the attempt with as little blood shed as possible."
"I suppose you're right," Moreau muttered, but privately she wondered how feasible a strategy that would prove to be. She was committed, both to Spock and to that other Kirk's challenge to change, but that didn't mean she wanted to take foolish chances.
"I understand your hesitation," Spock said, as if reading her mind. Or merely her body language, the expression on her face, the doubt in her eyes. "However, I believe we can accomplish this mission if we work together." He held his hand out to her, and she took it, erasing all doubt from her mind. If Spock said they could do it, she believed him.
Epilogue
The culture was primitive, but of a sufficient technological level that Uhura was confident she could use it to do what needed to be done. Once the Tantalus Field was in working order, the two of them could quietly take over this backwater, make it over into their own private little Empire. The Enterprise had come and gone, Spock apparently dismissing the Iotians as a negligible threat, in spite of their highly imitative culture. The natural resources of the planet weren't worth plundering, the mystery of the lost starship I.S.S. Horizon had been solved and avenged with the deaths of the planet's military leadership, and the Empire had decided to leave the world in isolation. For now.
Uhura allowed a satisfied smile to cross her face. Patching into the ship's communications had been child's play, only slightly complicated by the need for secrecy. Since she was capable of covering her electronic tracks in her sleep, even that had proven to be no problem.
Her smile broadened as she felt warm hands slide across her shoulders, and allowed herself to be pulled back against Kirk's hard chest. "So," he breathed into her ear. "The government is in disarray, the Enterprise and that traitorous Vulcan are gone, the Tantalus Field is working…" He kissed the side of her neck, and she shivered with pleasure, pulling his hands down until they cupped her breasts. "Whatever shall we do next?"
Things were going to be very interesting, very interesting indeed. By the time Starfleet returned, if it ever did, they would find a very different world than the one Spock had left. Very different indeed. As for Spock, well, if they ever crossed paths again, the Tantalus Field would be put to good use. They hadn't managed to get it up and running until well after the Enterprise was out of range, or else the ship would suddenly have found itself without a Captain as well as a Chief Medical Office and Chief Engineer.
Uhura slid around until she was facing Kirk, still warm in his embrace. "What should we do next? That's easy." She reached up and stroked his face, darting closer for a quick kiss. "Try to take over the world, of course."
They laughed.
The End (for now)