KEEPERS OF THE TRUST
Book V
Chapter 1
Undercover Missions aren't Much Fun
Back on Earth, Admiral Noguchi received two communications from the Enterprise. The first message, coded, requiring Noguchi to undergo a retinal scan was merely a preparation for the second message, which had been sent in a more open fashion…
The second message, brief and terse, stated that Ambassador Wesley had disappeared in the course of hostile action against Janner; the whereabouts of both were unknown…
Without that first, coded message, Noguchi might have been a very angry man. As things stood, he understood that the Ambassador had gone on an undercover mission of sorts. Noguchi was still somewhat peeved at the news. Ambassadors weren't supposed to go on undercover missions like that.
Still, Noguchi was a realist above all else. He sent a coded message back to the Enterprise…
Elsewhere, in the Canopus Sector, in space controlled by Juno's Planetary Government, a Local Space Patrol received a bit of news concerning a stolen spacecraft. The crew of the Starship Danae had reported one of their shuttlecraft stolen, apparently by a madman, while on the planet Avalon. The chase was on…
The Patrol, three Mid-Range Fighters, were nearby when the Danae's missing shuttlecraft exited the warp-field, heading toward Juno.
"Captain!" one of the pilots said. "Is that the missing shuttle?"
"Sure looks like it," the Captain replied. "Dahna, Marin, ready tractors. Let's see if we can bring him down peacefully."
The three fighters bore down on the incoming shuttle. Whoever was piloting the shuttle didn't put up a fight, and they tractored the shuttle down to authority Docking Bay. When the shuttle was docked, Security covering all possible access points, Dahna and Marin, phasers on stun, forced the shuttle-hatch open, finding…
Their phasers weren't needed. The man at the helm was alone, and he was in no condition to resist anything…
Semiconscious, at best, slumped over the helm, he seemed barely aware of what was going on around him. He was wearing black trousers, and a torn, rough-looking tunic. Through the ripped tunic, the captain could see bruised flesh…
"Get Medical!" the captain ordered, lifting the man's head. The man's features were caked with dry blood, from his nose, and an angry-looking scar over his left eyebrow. But the man looked familiar. The Captain had seen him before… Somewhere…
Roughly half an hour later, the Captain found himself in the Emergency Medical Treatment Center, talking to one of the On-Call Medics.
"He doesn't have any ID?" the younger man asked.
"No," the Captain shook his head. "All he had were the clothes on his back, and that shirt, or whatever it was, looked like it was ready to fall apart at the seams. How is he?"
"Not good," the Medic didn't look happy. "Whoever they were, they messed him up badly."
"They?"
"The signs are unmistakable, Captain," the Medic said. "Someone tortured this guy. Drugs… beatings, that sort of stuff. There's definite neurological damage, and he's totally irrational. We had to sedate him. I think we'll need to place him in the Juno Research Center."
The captain walked up to the cubicle, looked in at the man strapped into the bed. Now that all the dried blood had been cleaned up, the man's face seemed normal enough; a face some women might find attractive…
The captain shivered. That nagging sense of familiarity was getting stronger. That silvered hair…
"Have you been able to estimate his age?"
"Not really," the medic replied. "From forty to sixty is our best guess. We did a retinal-scan, though, and the results should be coming in right about now."
True to the Medic's prediction, a young man entered the room, an awed in his eyes. He held a Data-Padd, screen-side up, holding it out for the other men to see.
There, on the Padd's screen, it all was; as plain as day…
A photo was shown, a life history was given, a name was provided. And the Captain, now, knew why the man had looked so familiar…
"Oh, dear lord," he breathed. "Robert Wesley?"
"You knew him?" the Medic asked.
"Not really," the Captain shrugged. "Juno applied for Federation Status about eighteen years ago. They sent the Lexington . Robert Wesley was one of Starfleet's best. What the hell happened to him?"
"I don't know," the Medic glanced back at the unconscious patient. "Unless he can tell us, I don't think we'll ever know. You're going to have to put this through proper channels."
Putting it through proper channels would normally have been a very difficult process. But Robert Wesley's name proved to be almost a perfect passkey. Within an hour, the Captain found himself facing the formidable admiral Noguchi through a view-screen. After the Captain had told his tale, he watched as Noguchi sat there in silent thought for a moment. After a minute, the Admiral spoke.
"This loss is a tragedy for Starfleet."
"I know," the captain spoke earnestly. "I'm aware of his reputation. But what do we do now, sir? I'm sure Starfleet Medical will want to take care of his treatment-"
"But," Noguchi interrupted. "Juno has the Research Center; which, I am told, has an unparalled reputation in the treatment of neurologically based psychiatric disorders. I am of the firm belief that Juno has the better chance of successfully treating Robert Wesley and bringing him back to himself. Further, I have been told that there is a new Chief Psychologist, a Dr. Simon Van Gelder, sent there to replace Dr. Janner after his mysterious disappearance of seven months ago."
"Uh… Okay, Admiral," the captain stammered. "I'll see that he's admitted."
"Thank you," Noguchi nodded. "I'll see to it that the Research Center is adequately compensated for its services."
Fifteen minutes later, a coded message reached Jim Kirk in his quarters on the Enterprise . After submitting to the retinal scan, he listened to Noguchi's message. Then, he went to Sickbay. Dr. McCoy's office was the unofficial meeting-spot for the Dream team, and one of the Team was always there. On his way, Kirk stopped at one of the beds, looking at the occupant.
Keir J'Taal lay there, golden eyes open, seemingly unseeing. Kirk knew J'Taal's mind was focused elsewhere , Linked with Robert Wesley's mind, protecting his old friend in ways Kirk really couldn't imagine…
Kirk walked away from the bed, heading for McCoy's office. The doctor was there, as was Sarek. He didn't bother to wait until one of them asked…
"Bob's in, gentlemen."
"Indeed," Sarek replied. "Now comes the difficult part. How Ambassador Wesley will accomplish this mission, with the Shao-induced insanity clouding his mind is beyond me."
McCoy grinned, pleased, for once, to have more facts on hand than a Vulcan.
"J'Taal told me," he said. "While he's keeping the Ambassador's marbles scrambled, he's also going to be acting like a program, to keep him on track"
"I'm not worried about that," Kirk turned to look at them. "I'm worried about the surgical implants. Will they work?"
"Jim," McCoy spoke patiently. "When I implanted them, I made damn sure they fooled my Medical Sight too. Any medical scanner in the galaxy will show him to be suffering brain damage. What they'll diagnose him with is anyone's guess, but they will see brain damage…"
McCoy shivered.
"It was weird," he said after a time. "After I had done my surgical, and cosmetic, work, we sat there, drinking coffee and swapping rancid puns. Both Sickbay's scanners, and my Sight told me he was gone… Totally blitzed. But he was fine. Until J'Taal came in and put him under…"
Again, McCoy shivered. Kirk understood. After J'Taal had done whatever it was that he had done, Kirk had to guide Wesley to Danae's shuttle, sitting patiently in Enterprise's Shuttle Bay…
Bob would never have made it walking on his own…
"There's more news," Kirk spoke casually. "Guess who was hired to replace Dr. Janner?"
"I wouldn't hazard a guess, Jim"
"Okay, Bones. Does the name Van Gelder ring any chimes?"
"Uhh…" the last time Dr. McCoy had met Dr. Van Gelder, the man had required extensive help in the area of psychiatry, the victim of another psychiatrist's insane ambition…
"Jim, are you sure this is wise?"
Dr. Simon Van Gelder was granted a fully clean bill of health fourteen Standard years ago," Sarek said. "His reputation with profoundly disturbed patients, his ability to reach them, remains unsurpassed to this day."
"That's just as well," McCoy drawled. "Because Robert Wesley is a profoundly disturbed man right now."
Chapter 2
The Doctor and the Patient
Dr. Simon Van Gelder walked down the bright, cheery corridor. A big, raw-boned man, many people had said his large hands were surprisingly gentle. Those who knew him well knew it wasn't surprising at all. Van Gelder, too, knew, at close hand, what kind of agony these patients suffered. He had been there himself once, about fifteen years ago.
The experience, the sense of being shattered into a million pieces, could've driven him deep into himself. Instead, he had taken the experience, letting it inform him about his patients, what they suffered as a matter of course, using his own agony to reach out to those most in need of help…
Now, here at Juno's Research Center, he was starting his morning rounds, smiling at the patients as he walked down the hall, receiving tentative smiles in return.
"They like you, sir" an attendant had said on Van Gelder's first day there. Apparently they had not liked Dr. Janner all that much. They had said something about his being cold as ice .
Van Gelder continued down the hall, heading for the cubicle holding the newest admission. This one had knocked the hospital staff for a loop…
Robert Wesley, an Admiral, and an Ambassador, found in a highly irrational state after being lost for a week. Evidence seemed to say he had been tortured…
Can we heal this? Van Gelder wondered.
"When was he given his last hypo?" Van Gelder asked the attendant.
"Eight hours ago," the attendant replied. "Shall I give him another?"
"No," Van Gelder replied. "We need to communicate with him. He can't tell us anything if he's dead to the world."
Entering the cubicle, Van Gelder dragged up a stool, sitting next to Wesley, who was still unconscious. After a few minutes, Wesley began to come around, stirring uneasily, murmuring in his sleep. Van Gelder leaned forward, placing a hand on Wesley's forehead.
Wesley's eyes opened slightly, still only half-aware of his surroundings, shivering in pain, or fear…
"Relax, Admiral," Van Gelder spoke gently. "Whatever happened, it's over. You're okay, you're safe."
Wesley stirred uneasily, muttering something about swords …and Jim …
Leaning forward, Van Gelder spoke gently.
"It's all right, Admiral… You're safe now. Get some rest."
Wesley fell back into sleep. Van Gelder got to his feet, stared at the sleeping man for a bit, then walked back to his office, leaving strict orders for the staff that no sedatives of any kind were to be given, unless the patient proved self-destructive…
When he reached his office, Van Gelder stared at his Comm console for a minute. He had a suspicion that he knew who Jim was…
Sitting at the console, he spoke to the computer.
"Put me onto Starfleet channels. I want the Enterprise ."
It took about ten minutes. While he waited, he made some coffee.
At least the coffee here is real…
Finally, his computer bleeped, informing him that Enterprise had received his hail. Setting his coffee to one side, he switched the view screen on, seeing a man he'd last seen around fifteen years before…
"Admiral Kirk," he said.
"Dr. Van Gelder," the Admiral replied. "I was given to understand this is urgent."
"I believe it is," Van Gelder nodded. "Last night, a man was admitted to the Research Center on Juno. It turns out he's a Federation Official; Robert Wesley."
Admiral Kirk came to his feet.
"I though he was dead," Kirk said. "How is he?"
"Not good, admiral. Could you come here, Admiral? What I have to say shouldn't be said over open channels; and I think he was calling for you."
The admiral switched off, and Van Gelder stared at the blank screen for a moment, wondering what had happened to Ambassador Wesley…
Jim Kirk stared at the view screen on Enterprise's Bridge, reminding himself that he had a role to play. Only the Dream team knew that Robert Wesley had gone undercover. The rest of the Enterprise and Excelsior crew believed that the Ambassador had been killed in a battle with Janner.
Kirk sighed. He hated lying to those under his command…
"Uhura, patch me through to Excelsior ."
One minute later, Sulu was staring at him from the view screen.
"Bob's been found on Juno, Sulu," Kirk said. "Apparently, his condition isn't good."
The younger man shook his head.
"I told him to be careful," he said. "I knew something like this would happen. Janner said he would kill the Ambassador."
"Apparently, Bob got away, Sulu."
"Yes, Admiral. But what's his condition. I never saw Jan Freburg; but I heard some tales…"
"We'll find out when we get there," Kirk assured him. "At least Bob's in good hands. Set course for Juno. Warp six."
CHAPTER 3
The Patient and the DoctorThe Enterprise and the Excelsior pulled into orbit around Juno. Admiral Kirk, Dr. McCoy, and Captain Sulu, beamed down to the Research Center. Dr. Van Gelder met them in the Main Lobby. Kirk looked him over; briefly reminded of the last time they had met…
But that was several years ago, and Van Gelder, a little grayer than he had been then, was definitely of sound mind. Indeed, he was probably the foremost specialist in illnesses of the mind in the entire Federation.
Van Gelder walked up to the visitors.
"I was sorry to hear about Captain Spock's death."
"Thank you, Dr. Van Gelder," Kirk hope the psychiatrist never learned just who talked to him in his dreams…
"We came here to see Robert Wesley," he added. "How is he?"
"He hasn't improved, if that's what you're asking," Van Gelder replied. "He doesn't even seem to know his own name. I've got him under Solitary Observation for a few days; that's a normal part of Admittance Procedures."
"Can we see him?"
Van Gelder hesitated.
"Normally, visits aren't allowed at this stage of the Admittance procedure," he said after a moment. "But I believe this case may be an exceptional one. But I do ask you to be quiet when you see him."
"Quiet?" McCoy raised an eyebrow in a fair imitation of a Vulcan.
"Loud noises seem to set him off," Van Gelder explained. "And, please, only one of you at a time."
"Dr. Van Gelder," McCoy asked, one doctor to another. "Just what happened to him?"
"If only I knew," Van Gelder shook his head. "All I can say, for now, is that ambassador Wesley seems to be suffering from neurological damage. You'll understand when you see him."
Van Gelder led them down the cheery hall, until they came to a cubicle. Van Gelder let Kirk inside, motioning for him to be quiet. The admiral took a deep breath, preparing himself for the encounter. Unlike Van Gelder, he had the advantage of knowing this was merely an undercover mission. But, Kirk knew Wesley wasn't exactly faking insanity either…
Kirk brought his gaze to the bed. Wesley appeared to be asleep, a blanket drawn up to his shoulders. Kirk laid a hand on Wesley's shoulder, and the other man's eyes snapped open, revealing dilated pupils…
Kirk cleared his throat; spoke as gently as he could.
"It's me," he said. "It's Jim Kirk."
Wesley's breath seemed to catch. He shook his head.
"No, he muttered, half asleep. "Jim's dead. Janner killed him…"
His voice trailed off, and he seemed to fall asleep again.
Kirk turned to Van Gelder, standing off to one side.
"Can we talk somewhere?"
"Certainly, Admiral. My office is available. There are a few questions I'd like to ask you anyway."
Back in Van Gelder's office, with McCoy, and Sulu, Kirk gave the official story of Ambassador Wesley's last stand against Dr. Janner…
Van Gelder sat back, considering what Kirk had told him.
"It looks like my predecessor wasn't the best of individuals," he commented. "I wonder what he was doing working here of all places."
"It's probably best for you if you don't know," Kirk cautioned him. "If there's anything I've learned about Janner, it's that he's a stone cold killer. So… After we made our escape, we went back to Avalon, expecting to find Bob dead. But we didn't find him at all."
"You must've missed Danae by minutes."
"Danae ?" Kirk reminded himself that he wasn't supposed to know about Danae .
Van Gelder found himself explaining about the theft of one of Danae's Shuttles, never knowing that Kirk had helped to arrange it…
"At least I know, now, what happened to ambassador Wesley," Van Gelder said. "For a while, we all thought he had been tortured. You said the Ambassador held Janner off with a Shao Sword?"
"Yes," Kirk replied. "You've heard of them?"
"Only a little," the psychiatrist looked down at his hands. "But what I've heard about them might actually explain what happened to the Ambassador. It could all be as simple as a neurological overload."
Kirk shuddered. He knew it wasn't that . But he also knew that Robert Wesley had come very close to doing just that to himself. Not once. Twice .
"Is there any chance for a cure?" he asked.
"There's a chance," Van Gelder said. "But I wouldn't describe it as more than that."
"What if you can't heal him?" Sulu asked. Van Gelder didn't look happy.
"If he can't be brought back, then Ambassador Wesley will be here, or in similar institutions for the rest of his life."
"He'll be stuck in that cubicle?" Sulu was horrified.
"No," Van Gelder shook his head. "He's only under twenty-four-hour observation now. After that, he'll be placed in a Ward. They're much nicer than the cubicles. If all goes well, you'll be able to visit him in a couple of days."
"We can't, right now," Kirk said. "We've got a mission. If anything happens with Bob, you'll let us know?"
"Of course," Van Gelder stood up, along with the others.
"We'll drop by when we can," Kirk promised. Then, the Starfleet officers left Van Gelder's office.
Kirk, Dr. McCoy and Captain Sulu weren't the only ones to drop in on Robert Wesley as he lay sleeping in the bed in that cubicle. Janah, having prepared the latest Janner-clone, decided to check in on the Research Center. Noticing the newest patient there, it occurred to him that there would never be a better chance to kill Robert Wesley. Then, he took stock of the Ambassador's apparent mental condition…
Ahh… he didn't get off entirely scot-free, I see. Most satisfying. Maybe death isn't quite the revenge I thought it was…
Seeing the apparent damage done to his enemy, he realized he could safely ignore the Ambassador now, and concentrate on finding Khan Noonian Singh. All in all, Khan was far more important to Janah's plans than Wesley was.
Also, there was the man who had been hiding Khan.
Kirk. He can still put a wrench into my plans. No one who opposes me should go without being taught a lesson…
But Janah had been working on a surprise, a little something that would be the last surprise Kirk ever lived to see…
CHAPTER IV
Reliant Redux
Back on the Enterprise , Admiral Kirk found an urgent message waiting for him, sent by Admiral Noguchi.
Again?
What with Robert Wesley stuck on Juno, as a patient, it seemed the Quest was going to hell in a hand basket. At least this message wasn't coded…
Thank goodness for small favors…
Getting your retina scanned wasn't exactly an enjoyable experience…
After playing the recorded message privately, he called his Senior Staff, and Sarek and Khan as well, to hear it the second time.
A Starfleet, Miranda-Class, starship had been seen. It had attacked, and destroyed, a lone Science starship. This particular Miranda was one that could not, under any chance of possibility, exist, and Kirk new that for a fact. It was the Reliant …
Khan was the first to break the silence.
"I thought you told me the Reliant was destroyed," he said.
"It was," now Kirk had to proceed delicately. Not everyone knew who Martin Santirez really was…
"When the Reliant was disabled, the Commander…Khan Singh…had gotten hold of something classified… a Genesis Device. He detonated it, and the Reliant , everyone aboard her, and most of the Muturra Nebula, was transformed into a new solar system. There weren't any survivors."
"So, how is there a Reliant at all? Who would have the gall to create a new Reliant and set it to attack other Federation ships?" Saavik asked. "Klingons? Romulans?"
"I'd say its Janner," Khan replied. "At bottom, he was responsible for the first Reliant Incident. He would almost have to be responsible for the second as well."
Kirk was about to answer, when he remembered when he had taken the Enterprise to Juno a few weeks ago, to get information on Janner. How he and McCoy had found a cloning unit in there, how the Director had said Janner had used it only twice that he knew of…
Twice. Oh, crap…
"Admiral?" Sarek spoke. "You seem very abstracted right now. Usually, when I see such an expression on a Human's face, that always appears to bode ill news…"
"Ah…yes, Ambassador Sarek," Kirk felt a sinking sensation in his gut as he contemplated the possibilities…
"It's not good news this time, either," the Admiral recollected his train of thought. "There's a clone on this new Reliant ."
He stopped, seeing Khan smile. It was a bitter smile, to be sure, but a smile all the same…
"What is it, Lieutenant?" he asked.
"Our enemy has made a mistake," Khan said. "We know who that clone is. Maybe there are other clones there, as well."
"What are you thinking of, Lieutenant Santirez?"
I was thinking of inciting a crew to mutiny."
"The Reliant ?"
"Yes," Khan was beginning to get exasperated. "You told me what happened during the first Reliant Incident. Do you wish to let that happen again?"
"We weren't expecting it that last time," Kirk said. "We'll be ready for it this time."
"Admiral," that was Sulu.
"Not now, Captain."
"This can't wait… Jim," that was the first time Sulu had ever used Kirk's first name. He was standing next to Saavik; both of them were staring at Khan…
Sulu brought his gaze back to Kirk.
"He wasn't on the Reliant , the first one. Was he?"
Kirk felt the purest sense of relief. He looked at all of his friends, Sulu, Uhura, Scott, and all the others…
"No, he wasn't," he said. "Please sit down, all of you. This will take some time…"
After some time, Kirk shifted from Khan's tale, taking the discussion back to the problem at hand.
"All right, Khan," he said. "You mentioned an idea concerning the Reliant ; the new one, I mean."
"Yes," Khan replied. "You could beam me over to the Reliant's Bridge. I'll deal with the clone myself."
"That seems to be a good plan," Sarek observed. "Janah doesn't know Khan is back with us. He wouldn't expect Khan to involve himself with the new Reliant , or whatever crew she may have."
"True," Sulu still wasn't entirely used to Lieutenant Santirez being Khan Noonian Singh. "But what happens if you succeed?"
"Nothing," Khan shook his head. "Right now, I don't really know what I am. I used to think I knew. But what I knew about myself may be entirely wrong. The people from Sanctuary Alliance have been treating me as if I were a religious icon, as incredible as that may seem. Besides, somehow, in the course of my time among you, as a Lieutenant, I have come to love you all as much as I loved my own people. All this is to say that, while I don't have the vaguest idea where my Life Path will take me, I surely will never be your enemy. I owe you people my life."
He turned back to Admiral Kirk.
"Do we do this, Admiral?"
"I guess we do," Kirk agreed. "Starfleet Command will be keeping an eye out for Reliant II . Noguchi says all other Starships have been warned to stay away from it, and to pass on its location to us. Sulu?"
"Aye, sir?"
"I want you out of this, and J'Taal too. He'll be brought, by shuttle, to the Excelsior . Stay in orbit around Juno. Visit Bob, by all means. José, a Vani from Sanctuary Alliance, will join you. If it looks like Bob's in danger, get him out of there at once."
"I thought the Ambassador killed Janner," Sulu protested.
"His name's not Janner, and it's pretty clear he's not dead," Kirk replied. "José will tell you all the details. Is everything done? Good. Let's get going."
Everyone got to his or her feet. Sulu went to Sickbay to find José waiting by the stretcher holding J'Taal, ready to be carried down to the Shuttle Bay. Sulu brought his gaze back to José…
"You're José?" he said. "Let me guess; you weren't on the Reliant either?"
"No, Captain. I wasn't." Joachim replied. "Admiral Kirk told you?"
"Yes," Sulu glanced at the comatose Shao. "Why is he like this?"
"I'll explain when we get to Excelsior's Sickbay."
"Okay," Sulu lifted one end of the stretcher, Joachim the other. "I'm dying to hear this," he said as they walked to the nearest turbo-lift. "This has been the craziest mission of my entire life."
CHAPTER V
Send In the Clones
With the Excelsior safely out of the way, the Enterprise sped off to locate the ship everyone was calling Reliant II .
Much to Kirk's surprise, there was no problem with the crew concerning the true identity of Lieutenant Martin Santirez. They all continued to treat him as a beloved member of the crew.
Perhaps they understand he's lost more than we did…
Khan was on the Bridge now, wearing the neuro-net over the uniform of a Starfleet Officer. Of course, he wouldn't be allowed to sit at the helm, but Sarek, ever mindful of Khan's need to learn how to operate a starship, had taken him to the Science-Station. The pair was bent over the banks of consoles, scanning space, near and far, for any trace of Reliant II .
Kirk remembered that first battle. Reliant I had caught them with their pants down, firing when the Enterprise's shields were down…
It won't be like that this time , Kirk vowed.
Of course, If Khan could pull this plan off; there wouldn't be a battle at all. But, even if a battle was in the offing, the Enterprise wouldn't be going into this with lowered shields…
"Lieutenant Santirez," he said. "Is your boarding party ready?"
"Yes," Khan replied. "Although I would've appreciated José's company."
"Sorry, Lieutenant. José's presence was required elsewhere."
In case Bob's cover is broken and he needs rescue in a hurry; or if he's actually lucky enough to find the real Dr. Janner. Either way, a man from a genetic breeding program will be an asset…
"Reliant II has been located, Admiral," Sarek spoke. He brought a star-chart up as Kirk walked over to the Science-Station. Kirk glanced at the chart, at the blip that was Reliant II .
"All right, Lieutenant Santirez. Get your team. It's show time."
"Aye, Sir," Khan turned, left the Bridge.
In spite of all the tension, Kirk had to smile. Khan was still acting like a proper Starfleet Officer. It occurred to the Admiral that Khan was no longer the man who had tried to take over the Enterprise more than fifteen years ago…
"Helm," he ordered. "Take us to Reliant II . Warp six."
"Aye, sir."
Some time later, Sarek looked up from the scanner.
"Admiral," he said. "We are approaching Reliant II ."
"Shields up. Red alert," Kirk headed back to the Captain's Seat, hearing the Klaxon howl…
"Let me remind you," Sarek cautioned. "In order to beam Santirez's party down, we must lower shields."
"When I'm ready," Kirk commed the Transporter Room. "Santirez, is your team ready?"
"Yes."
"Beam them over," Kirk spoke to the Transporter tech. "On my signal."
"Aye, sir."
"Okay, Kirk leaned forward. "Drop shields, and go to Warp three."
The Enterprise surged forward, seemingly catching Reliant II by surprise. At the last minute, Kirk signaled the Transporter tech.
"Now," he ordered.
Khan found himself, and his party, standing on a Bridge very similar to that on the Enterprise . The view screen showed the Enterprise , still in Warp, peeling away, out of the range of fire. Nobody seemed to notice the visitors, standing at the back of the Bridge. Presently, the man sitting in the Captain's Seat spoke.
"Now, that," he said. "Is a very strange maneuver indeed. First they raise shields, and then lower them. Then, they charge, and retreat without firing a shot. It makes no sense at all."
Khan had to fight off an attack of the shivers. That voice was his...He remembered that dream he'd had while still on Juno, how he had seen his other self, with features horribly burned and scarred by battle…
The other was still talking.
"Well, Joachim? After them!"
Khan watched as a duplicate of his Joachim said:
"Yes, my Lord."
Enough … Khan though, drawing his phaser. Aiming carefully-he didn't want to hurt these people-he fired at the Helm/Weapons Console.
Everything happened at once, the console going up in flame and sparks, Joachim, and his partner, throwing themselves off to the side. The man in the Captain's Seat leaped to his feet and spun around…
…And Khan faced Khan…
Khan took the moment of stunned shock to observe the other most carefully. Surprisingly, the other's face was unscarred. In all else, though, the image was the same…
The other looked like a reject from the days of Ancient Gaul, wearing trousers, and a shirt that left most of his chest bare. His hair was as long as Khan's was, but more ragged-looking. Physically, in every way, he was an exact duplicate of Khan Noonian Singh. Except for the medallion…
But the other had a medallion of his own, and Khan knew where that medallion came from…
It was a Starfleet Badge.
Marla's Badge…
Turning his mind from the Starfleet Badge, this was not the time to give in to grief, Khan pointed to the other's hands.
"You're only wearing one glove," he said. "Why?"
It was such a totally non sequitor question, that the other laughed in profound disbelief.
"You came here to ask after my hands ? Whatever for?"
"You're not going to ask about my identity?"
Khan looked at the other's eyes, saw the insanity burning there. "Why are you trying to attack the Enterprise ?
"Captain Kirk betrayed me. He marooned us on a desert planet."
"Ceti Alpha V wasn't desert when you got there," Khan pointed out. "It was a beautiful world, full of greenery."
"Captain Kirk destroyed the moon, causing Ceti Alpha V to be laid waste," the other stated. "Most of my people were killed, and my wife," here, the other's hand touched the Starfleet Badge. "I will see justice served."
"Justice is good," Khan agreed. "But, if you hit the wrong target, then you haven't served justice, have you? Kirk didn't do this. Someone called Janner is responsible for the moon's destruction. He's the one you should be going after. Not Kirk."
"He hates me, and wants nothing less than my death. That's why he exploded the moon."
Khan shook his head.
"If he had wanted our deaths as badly as all that, he could've killed us when he had us at his mercy. He could've killed us then; he would've been within his rights to do so. We tried to take over his ship. But he set us upon a bountiful planet, with plenty of food, seed, in fact, he gave us everything we needed to make that planet our own. Why do you resist the truth?"
"Because it's not the truth. Kirk fears me. He hates me."
"No, he doesn't," Khan felt compassion for the clone, a compassion for yet another victim of Janah. "Kirk has absolutely nothing to fear from you."
The other froze, seeming to actually notice Khan for the first time…
"Who the hell are you?" he asked. Khan laughed.
"I thought you would never ask," placing a hand on his chest, he bowed slightly. "I am Khan Noonian Singh."
The other glanced over to his Joachim.
"Kill him," he ordered; but Joachim was too bewildered to move. Khan looked back at his twin.
"Are you afraid to take me on yourself?" he taunted. "Is this the example you intend to set for your people?"
That was too much for the clone. With a strangled oath, the twin wrested the phaser out of Joachim's hand, spun back to face Khan. Slowly, he moved up, phaser centered on Khan's chest.
"If you do not resist," he said. "I will give your party merciful deaths."
"So, you'll skip the Ceti Eels?" Khan asked.
As the clone's eyes widened, Khan moved. It was doubtful he had ever moved so quickly in his life…
Moving under, and around, the phaser, he knocked the weapon out of the other's hand. As he moved, his other arm came up in a straight-handed blow, his fist catching the other in the sternum, driving through ribs and tissue, rupturing the heart...
The clone doubled over, and then collapsed, blood frothing from his lips. Khan caught him as he fell, held him as he lay dying.
"Be easy," Khan whispered to the clone. "I will avenge all of it. Every wrong done to us all, I will avenge."
He saw the clone's dying; saw how the life left his eyes. Gently, he laid a hand across the clone's face, closing the dead eyes. Then, he looked around, at all the badly frightened clones of his people.
My people …
"All right," he said. "It's over now. Everyone stand down now."
He watched as everyone left their posts and knelt before him. He had to fight the tears back.
"Put me through to the Enterprise ," he ordered.
"Yes…my lord," a grungy-looking girl said.
Presently, Admiral Kirk appeared on the view screen.
"Khan?" Kirk asked.
"It's done, Admiral. I ask mercy for them. They are but victims," Khan stood up.
"They're your people, Khan" Kirk smiled. "It's up to them."
"My lord," Joachim strode up, as ragged-looking as all the others. "Are we prisoners?"
"No," Kirk had apparently heard Joachim. "Khan Noonian Singh is my friend. As you are his friends, then I am your friend too."
"Admiral," Khan said. "Is there room for thirty-five people on the Enterprise ?"
"Yes there is. Why?"
"I think we should abandon Reliant II as quickly as possible, and get the hell out of here."
"Agreed," Kirk nodded. "Prepare yourselves."
As everyone from Reliant II beamed off, Sarek began to notice unusual readings from the Miranda-Class starship…
"Admiral," Sarek said. "I've never seen these readings before."
Kirk stood up, went to the Science Station, looked at the readings, realized he had seen them before.
Genesis …
"Is everyone off Reliant II ?"
"Yes, Admiral. The last three just beamed in."
"Out of here now!" Kirk ordered the Helm. "Warp six."
The Enterprise lunged away. Khan, along with Joachim II, had the dubious privilege of seeing Reliant II turn into a brilliant ball of stellar matter…
Of those on the Bridge, only Sarek, Khan, and Joachim II, had never seen it before, the Genesis Device. Apparently, Janah had it too…
Damn! Kirk thought. How the hell do we handle this?
"Head back to Juno," Kirk kept his voice calm as he spoke. "Warp two, Saavik."
He stood, turning to face Khan and Joachim II
"They're all in Sickbay?" he asked.
"Yes, Admiral. Except for Joachim."
Joachim II met Kirk's gaze.
"I get the feeling we're all clones," he said. "Are we?"
"I'd imagine most of you are," Kirk replied. "We've got some discussing to do. Joachim, Khan, and Sarek? You're all with me. Saavik, you've got the con."
Sickbay was a madhouse. Doctors and nurses were running about, tending to everything from recalcitrant viral infections to simple malnutrition. At the head of it all, was Dr. Leonard McCoy, using old-fashioned common sense, eyes, and sight to make sure the clones all got the medical attention they so desperately needed.
Kirk looked around, reminded of the aftermath of Reliant I first attack, the beds full of the wounded, the halls filled with others not as badly injured.
But there was no battle this time. No deaths either…
Khan gently pushed Joachim II toward a doctor.
"Get yourself checked out," he ordered the clone. "I want you to be well when you meet your twin brother."
After Joachim II left with the doctor, Khan turned to Kirk.
"Am I a member of the Dream team?" he asked.
"I'd say you are," Kirk nodded. "Bones' office?"
"I…think so."
Once inside McCoy's office, Khan turned to McCoy and Sarek.
"What happened to Reliant II ? Unless my neuro-net is deceiving me, I just saw a starship transform into a new solar system. Was that the Genesis Device?"
"Yes, it was," Kirk nodded. "Janah seems to have it too, and that could be a problem. You okay, Khan?"
"Yes, Admiral. It's only… I had to kill him, a man who could've been me. Or a man I could've been. It was very unsettling…"
Khan sighed.
"I only hope the two Joachims will get along when they meet."
CHAPTER VI
Explanations to the Captain
Joachim I-unaware that he new had a twin brother-was sitting next to Commander Pavel Chekov. Captain Sulu, looking angry enough to spit tacks, was sitting across from them. Finding out that Lieutenant Martin Santirez was really Khan Noonian Singh was upsetting enough all on its own. But finding out that the Reliant Incident , that one that killed Spock, had been masterminded by a clone-meister, who still wanted Khan for reasons of his/it's own, was practically the final straw. It would've been the final straw, if not for the fact of Kirk's keeping vital information from him. That was the true Final Straw…
But, now knowing the facts of Khan, the Captain could also understand why Kirk had done what he did. It didn't stop him from being angry, though. Especially when he thought of Robert Wesley…
"Ambassador Wesley's insanity was engineered by Keir J'Taal? Just so he could go in there and rescue Dr. Janner? For crying out loud, you could've gone to Dr. Van Gelder, and simply told him what was going on. I'm certain he would've helped."
Captain," Chekov spoke up. "Please bear in mind that Janah attacked Khan at Ambassador Wesley's residence. He's perfectly capable of doing that in a hospital too."
"All right, Pavel," Sulu raised a hand. "But what about Ambassador Wesley? He's all alone down there, and he really is insane, from what I can tell. How can he be expected to find anything in that state?"
"J'Taal is with him, telepathically, every minute," Joachim explained it all to the Captain. "And he's not just keeping the Ambassador insane. He's also working, kind of like a computer program, to keep the Ambassador on track for his mission. The Ambassador will check every possible place before his search is over."
Sulu snorted at that.
"So, the Research Center will have to deal with a psychotic, brain-damaged man with wanderlust in his soul. That should be interesting…"
Thanks to certain ideas held by Dr. Simon Van Gelder, that wasn't too much of a problem. Three days after being admitted to the Research Center, Robert Wesley was placed in a Ward. He'd given the staff a few bad moments, due to his habit of simply getting up and wandering away. But, being found to be rather non-violent, it wasn't as bad a problem as it might've been.
Van Gelder had made, as a matter of course, some alterations to Hospital Security, giving the less violent of the patients a freer run of the hospital than they'd had before. They were required to wear badges that were connected to a computer that was dedicated to keeping track of all of the patients.
Van Gelder had an orderly bring Robert Wesley to his office. When they arrived, the psychiatrist looked Wesley over. The man's color had improved over the last few days. But Van Gelder wished Robert would show more life . He seemed just a short step away from catatonia…
"Robert?" Slowly, Wesley's eyes focused on the doctor, in response to his voice. "How do you feel?"
As expected, Wesley didn't respond. He just stood there, waiting…
"I'd like you to do me a favor," Van Gelder said as he came forward to stand in front of the other man. "I'd like to pin this on your shirt."
He held up a badge. Wesley didn't respond, or move. It was almost as if Van Gelder, and the attendant who had brought him to the office, didn't exist in Wesley's personal world.
Maybe we don't Van Gelder thought. He'd certainly seen enough cases where people had literally been lost to their worlds, unable to see their friends who ached to interact with them…
Wesley stood there, letting the doctor fix the thing to his shirt. Then, van Gelder stepped back.
"It's done," he said. "You can go back to your Ward now."
The psychiatrist watched the attendant lead Wesley back to the Ward.
At least they'll be able to find him more easily if he ever wanders off like that again. I wonder why he does that? Is it because some part of him remembers being a Starfleet Officer? Or is it in response to whatever hurt him that badly, an attempt to hide from worse harm?
Whatever it was, Van Gelder decided to keep an eye on the man during the next few days. An answer would be found within the pattern of his daily activities, the things that attracted him, and the things that repelled him. Eventually, Van Gelder would find the path to Robert Wesley…
Now at liberty to wander, Robert Wesley stands in the comfortable hall of his Ward, walls and halls painted bright, happy colors. Deep in the back of his mind, a kindly voice tells him it is time to continue the search for a man. The voice in Wesley's head suggests brilliant golden eyes. And those eyes are they eyes of a friend. If that friend tells him to look for a man who is somewhere on the hospital grounds, then Wesley will do just that.
In the Ambassador's condition, there is no question of what he should do if he actually finds a kidnapped man. Nor does he wonder if there's been a mistake, and the kidnapped man isn't here at all.
Wesley knows the missing man is here. And he also knows that he will be certain when he finds the man.
All that remains is the search itself.
He steps out of the Ward, into terra incognita, and begins his search…
CHAPTER VII
Taking CouncilWhen the Enterprise returned to Juno, Jim Kirk, and Khan Singh, accompanied by Sarek and Joachim II, beamed over to the Excelsior to give Sulu, Chekov, and Joachim I, the good news and the bad news. Dr. McCoy was still busy in Sickbay. Superior strength notwithstanding, most of the clones were seriously ill. As for the good news…
…Joachim and Joachim walked around each other, shy, but delighted smiles sprouting on their faces. Then, as one, they turned to Khan, who was reminded of all the times children had found lost, stray pets. Can I keep him? It was written, large and plain as day, on both faces. Khan sighed.
"One of you will have to change your name," he said.
"I know," Joachim II said. "Being the clone, it should be me. But what name can I use?"
"Why not be José?" Joachim laughed. "I only used the name for a while."
"José," the clone repeated. Looking at Khan, he said. "My Lord?"
"That's a fine name," Khan agreed. "So, that's your name from henceforth; José."
"I gather," Sulu spoke dryly. "That this Reliant Incident was a resounding success?"
"Ah…" Kirk shook his head. "Not exactly."
Sarek took up the tale.
"There were several clones aboard Reliant II . The clones were all duplicates of the original Botany Bay crew, and some younger individuals that may be supposed to be children of certain of the original crew. The one in command was a clone of Khan Noonian Singh. Khan Noonian Singh killed him. All of the other clones surrendered to Khan, and were beamed off Reliant II . After Reliant II was abandoned, in fact, as the Enterprise was moving away, the Genesis Device was detonated."
Sulu and Chekov both came to their feet.
"Wait a minute…" Sulu began.
"It looks like Janah has the Genesis device," Kirk spoke in disgust. "He must've been keeping a very close eye on the original Reliant to pull that off."
"Suddenly, I don't feel too good about this," Chekov commented.
"What about Bob Wesley?" Kirk asked, wanting to change the subject. He'd already sent a coded message to Noguchi, making him aware of this latest development. Noguchi's probably as tired of all these retinal scans as I am…
Sulu's report on Robert Wesley was more heartening, if baffling…
"He keeps on wandering off, giving the hospital staff fits," Sulu informed him.
"So, he's looking for Janner?"
"Oh yes, Admiral," Sulu nodded. "I don't think he's going to leave one turn unstoned. He's turned into one hell of a hiker. That Research Center is big."
"So, it'll take Bob a while," Kirk said. "There's nothing we can do now, except wait for Noguchi's response regarding the Genesis Device."
Khan shivered.
"At first," he said. "I tried to visualize such a device in the hands of my clone. Granted, the thought was terrifying. But he was mad. Such insanity would probably act to limit the destruction such a one as he might cause."
"What that first clone did was bad enough," Kirk reminded him.
"Agreed," Khan replied. "But, what about Janah? While we might not think him sane either, his insanity is of a totally different nature."
"He isn't a humanoid being," Sarek pointed out. "Our concepts of sanity, and insanity, would not apply to him."
"True, Ambassador Sarek," Khan agreed. "But, I think you would agree with me that the Genesis Device, in the hands of someone like Janah, would have repercussions stretching across the entire galaxy."
"Even more than that," Joachim commented. "Janah, like the people of Sanctuary Alliance, comes from another universe. Forget about galaxies in peril, or even a single universe. The entire multi-verse is imperiled here."
Kirk tried to conceive of it. Entire galaxies, entire Universes , would be re-made in a different image, against the wishes of its current occupants. Spock had said it…
All life would be destroyed, in favor of its new matrix…
"We have to find out where he's keeping them," Kirk said.
"Lovely…" Khan laughed softly. "And, when you do find… them … You think he's got more than one?"
"He's had eight months," Kirk replied. "I'm told Sanctuary Alliance science is more advance than our science. I'm sure Janah is more, or less, in step with them. That being the case, what do you think?"
"That we are so far up the creek, the Eskimos are waving us goodbye," Khan looked at Kirk. "If we find them, what do we do with them?"
Kirk looked up, eyes steely.
"We destroy them," he said. "By any means possible."
"Jim," Sulu stopped to clear his throat. "We could get caught in the Genesis Effect. We almost did the last time. If he's got more than one…
If he's got more than one, we are royally screwed , Kirk thought to himself.
"We'd better start the search," Chekov said.
"We can't," Sulu protested. "Not until Ambassador Wesley completes his search. Are you sure Dr. Janner's being kept on Juno?"
"As a matter of fact, I am," Kirk replied. "But, Bob might need time to do this, especially in the state he's in. I don't think we've got that time."
"But we can't just take off and leave him here," Khan said. "How long will it be before you get a response from Admiral Noguchi?"
CHAPTER VIII
An Unexpected Body
Fortunately, Robert Wesley was doing something right, in spite of his befuddled condition. Dr. Van Gelder insisted on accompanying him on these perambulations. He wanted to find the key that would unlock Robert Wesley, setting the man free in his head. Wesley, of course, didn't know that this could cause problems. The voice in his head, belonging to that golden-eyed friend, urged him to continue the search…
His search took him, and Van Gelder, deep into the bowels of the hospital. Van Gelder felt uneasy there, at the Eighth Basement Level. Wesley was tense, breath coming quickly, eyes darting about. Suddenly, he stopped, staring at a door situated at the extreme far end of the dreary hall.
"Is that it?" Van Gelder asked.
"For answer, Wesley pointed at the door.
"He's in there," Wesley said
"Okay, Robert," Van Gelder strode down the hall, Wesley right behind him. "Let's see what's inside."
Van Gelder's passkey let gave him unrestricted access to every part of the hospital. The door slid open, letting the two men inside…
Having studied the schematics for all of the buildings in the Research center, Van Gelder knew this room was supposed to be a power backup station. One look at all the medical equipment in this little room told the psychiatrist that power backup was not the use to which this room was being out. There was even a stasis cubicle…
Wesley walked up to the thing, seemingly excited.
"He's in there," Wesley said; the certainty in his voice making the hair rise on the back of Van Gelder's neck…
In Excelsior's Sickbay, Dr Randall, Chief Surgeon, saw Keir J'Taal sit upright. He Commed the Bridge immediately.
"Captain Sulu," he said. "Something's up with J'Taal."
"Okay," Sulu ordered. "Joachim, José, get ready to beam down."
The Twins were already in the Transporter Room.
"We're ready," Joachim said.
After calling the Enterprise , for Dr. McCoy's assistance, Dr. Randall focused on the Shao. J'Taal spoke quietly, as if drugged, and Randall passed the beam-down coordinates down to the transporter Room. The Twins beamed down…
Dr. van Gelder looked at the stasis cubicle. Medical experience told him somebody was in there. Possibly still alive…
Coming to a quick decision, he grabbed Wesley's arm.
"We'd better call the authorities," he said.
Just then, two men, Twins , Van Gelder realized, beamed into the small room. One of them saw the psychiatrist.
"Damn!" he said. "Dr. Van Gelder's here. But Robert has found a stasis cubicle. You'd better beam everything up."
Van Gelder started to move, but the other twin had moved, wrapping his arms around the psychiatrist, immobilizing him.
"Don't worry," that man said. "We're friends. You'll get a full explanation. That, I promise you."
The Transporter took everything, and everyone…
Van Gelder found himself, along with everyone else, including the mysterious occupant in the stasis cubicle, in what looked to be the Sickbay of a Federation Starship. Robert Wesley was not responding to this most unexpected turn of events. He just stood there, staring blankly. Two doctors were there as well; Doctor McCoy, and another man Van Gelder didn't know.
The other man gestured to Wesley.
"Come on, Robert," he invited. "I've got a bed ready for you."
Wesley took a step forward, but Van Gelder stopped him.
"What in the name of holy hell is going on here?" he demanded
"It's Janner," McCoy said. "The Ambassador's found Janner. I'll explain in a bit, Simon. Ambassador Wesley will be fine. José, escort the Ambassador to the bed next to J'Taal."
"Yes, sir," one of the twins walked over to Wesley. "Robert?"
Taking Wesley by the arm, he guided the man to the diagnostic bed. As Wesley lay down, the Shao seemed to come alive, sitting up slowly. The doctor in charge of this watched as Wesley closed his eyes.
"Okay, J'Taal. He's ready."
The Shao got off his bed, crossed the short distance to Wesley's bed. Bending over, he laid long fingers over the other man's eyes. Wesley seemed to shiver a bit, his breath coming in short gasps. Then, as J'Taal's hands came away, Wesley's eyes opened, blinking owlishly in the bright light of Sickbay
"Did I find him?" he asked J'Taal.
"Yes," the Shao assured him.
"Good," Wesley started to sit up, thought better of it. "I feel like I've got the great-grandfather of all hangovers."
Van Gelder felt his jaw drop.
He was faking insanity? Why?
For a brief moment, all the psychiatrist felt was white-hot rage…
"Ah… Dr. Van Gelder," Admiral Kirk's voice brought him around. "I see I've got some explaining to do."
Looking at the Doctor who had overseen the process between J'Taal and Wesley, he said:
"How is Ambassador Wesley, Dr. Randall?"
"He's asleep," Randall informed him. "I just gave him a hypo. He's out, and he'll stay out for at least six hours. I'm going to help Leonard with his patient."
"Bones," Kirk turned to Dr. McCoy. "Is it Dr. Janner?"
"Yes Jim, it is Dr. Janner," McCoy stared at the cubicle's readouts. "This will take a while. Why don't you fill Dr. Van Gelder in on the details?"
"Ah…yes," Kirk glanced at Van Gelder. "Would you please accompany me to the Enterprise ?"
"Certainly," Van Gelder nodded. "I'd love to hear this…"
One hour later, in Admiral Kirk's office, Van Gelder learned all the details. He was told, by no less than admiral Noguchi, that his knowledge of Robert Wesley's rescue of Dr. Janner placed Van Gelder in considerable danger from a being called Janah. Listening to Noguchi, the psychiatrist began to believe he had lost his reasoning abilities.
"I'm to stay on the Enterprise ?" he stared, though the view screen, at Noguchi. "What about my patients? How will you explain this to the hospital administration?"
"You needn't fear for your patients. A qualified doctor will be sent to replace you, on a strictly temporary basis, of course. You may consider yourself part of Admiral Kirk's team for the mission's duration."
The, Noguchi switched off, leaving Van Gelder staring at a blank screen.
"I just got drafted…" he said, not believing this at all…
"We all were drafter," Kirk replied. "I'll have quarters prepared for you," he paused. "Sorry to say this, but, far from getting you out of the frying-pan, we're going into the fire."
"Okay. So I'm drafted," Van Gelder took a deep, calming breath. "When we last met, you seemed to be saying Dr. Janner was a dangerous man, an enemy. Now, Janner's a victim, and this Janah's the enemy. Will there be any more of those changes?"
"Dear lord," Kirk murmured. "I hope not. There've been way too many changes already. I know this isn't what you were expecting. But, I think we need you on this mission."
" I'm not so sure about that," Van Gelder grumbled. "Pulling the wool over my eyes like that. I should've known he was faking it."
"He wasn't."
"Wasn't what?"
"Faking it, Dr. Van Gelder. The Shao Priest, J'Taal, deliberately futzed Bob's marbles. He really was insane. He had to be in order for Janah to stop thinking he was a threat."
"I always knew you Starfleet people were just this side of crazy," Van Gelder stood up. "You're telling me that Ambassador Wesley allowed this Shao Priest to deliberately drive him insane?"
"Crazy, isn't it?" Kirk smiled
"You're all as loony as bed bugs. Is this mission as important as I think it might be?"
"However important you think it is, it's at least one hundred times more important than that. Get some rest. We've only got one more stop to make, then we're on our way."
"A few more specialists on the case?"
"Yes," Kirk nodded. "We'll rendezvous with the Grissom and pick up Drs. Carol and David Marcus. When everyone's in, I'll call a meeting of the Senior Staff. I'd appreciate it if you would attend the meeting."
"Thank you," Van Gelder stopped at the door to Kirk's office. "I shall."
STAY TUNED FOR "STAR TREK: THE KEEPERS OF THE TRUST: BOOK VI
Notes and Disclaimers: I don't own any of the "Star Trek" characters. I do own the original characters…