A/N: Last chapter! Sniffle. Big thanks to all reviewers, before now and later, and to answer previous inqueries; I realize Harcourt could theoreticallys have the powers to remove Ganby, but if security can be convinced to not enforce her orders, that wouldn't mean much, I'm thinking. Apologize beforehand for skimming over the trial, I have little idea on how it would work, so I'm basing it on 'the menagarie' and 'turnabout intruder', and they probably aren't the best sources, but still. Hope you enjoy the chapter!

Disclaimer; Do not own Star Trek, characters, places, etc. etc. etc...


Chapter Six


Kirk ran a hand through his hair, sighing. He needed to talk to his first officer, because he had a feeling that all of this was affecting the Vulcan more than it seemed, though the fact that you could tell that it affected Spock strongly - well, that was the most disturbing part. He hadn't seen him since Spock had left for his quarters yesterday. Commander Roland had been left in charge of the Defiant and the loyal crew of the other ship released, though they were not pleased with their shipmates. The Defiant would stay with the Enterprise until Starfleet could respond and issue orders about this rather unique situation.

He fiddled with one of the padds on his desk a moment, stood, walked over to his shelf, and stopped. He wavered a moment, then abruptly spun and stalked out the door. He needed to talk to Spock.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Spock recalled his emotions again during the various times he was in the briefing room on the Defiant, in an attempt to convince himself of the illogic of the emotion. He began with summoning the emotion, recalling his exact feelings. His heart began to quicken, so that he felt clearly the vein in his neck throbbing with his heart. He felt strangely weak, and though he had spent much energy, yet hyper alert; cold, as though he were ill. Worst was the strange meekness, which he realized at some point had stopped being completely fake. Now he could completely eradicate the feeling. First, he must discover all the reasons for this feeling, then - "

"Spock? Spock, can I speak with you?"

Spock's eyes snapped open.

He stared at the door a moment. The fear he had induced in his meditation was still strong within him. The captain could not talk to him now! He needed to rid himself of this emotion -

"Spock?"

He took a deep, shaky breath, trying to dispell the emotion, but it ebbed away slowly, and he could not allow the captain to wait forever. Slowly, he moved to the door, which opened at a hiss at his approach.

The captain smiled tightly. "May I come in?"

Spock stood aside, and the door hissed shut behind the captain.

Kirk took a deep breath, trying to find the right words, but immediately anything he had thought of beforehand flew from his mind as he looked at his first officer. He was pale, even for him, and were his hands trembling? That pon farr thing was only every seven years, right? "Spock? Are you alright?"

Spock barely heard the captain. His heart thudded in his ears. He tried to quell the emotion, this fear, but it threatened to consume him. For the forty-ninth time he tried to convince himself of it's wrongness; Kirk would not hurt him. Why could he not seem to believe that?

"I am well," He heard himself say, distantly. "Was there something you required, Captain?"

"I - no. I... Spock, first of all, I meant what I said in the briefing room" Even the mention... "I am glad that you mutinied, honestly. I wanted you to know that much; you did the right thing, even if the 'fleet might say otherwise." Obviously, he told himself, the captain was not angry, not upset, so there was no reason for worry, he was being illogical, he just needed to stay calm... He felt his pulse begin to slow, and it seemed some of his tension was starting to ease. "And if there's anything you want to talk about, Spock, my quarters are always open to you, you know."

"Thank you, Jim."

The Captain reached out to brush a hand on his shoulder affectionately, then slowly turned to leave. The fear left, the tension leaving his body as relief replaced it, and then strangely the world began to darken.

Kirk whirled around as he heard a loud thud, startled to see his first on the ground, then rushed to the comm. "Kirk to Sickbay! Emergency team in Mr. Spock's quarters now!"

He didn't even wait for confirmation, immediately descending on his friend, who had already begun to come to, blinking in open surprise as he shifted slightly.

"Spock?" His friend tried to rise, but he restrained him. "Stay still."

"Jim?" The Vulcan sounded baffled.

"Do you feel alright?"

Well, the fear seemed to be gone, at least. Although now his arm was rather sore; he had fallen on it awkwardly. "Yes, Jim. What...?"

"You just... collapsed." Kirk managed a terse smile. "Keep calm - " Spock raised an eyebrow, but he had a feeling Kirk was speaking more to himself " - I called medical, they'll be here any..."

The door hissed open again, three crew in blue rushing in, one hefting a stretcher. Kirk looked at it, then glanced speculatively at Spock, who just raised both his eyebrows, and Kirk held up his hands in defeat.

"Jim?" McCoy was with them, and the others hung back. "What happened?" He knelt, taking out his tricorder.

"He just collapsed, for no reason, when I started to leave..."

"Adrenaline," McCoy muttered to himself. He glanced back at the others, waving them away. "Get back to Sickbay, I can handle this." They trudged out, glancing back with worry, and McCoy turned back to Kirk. "A lot of adrenaline in his system. His system just couldn't take it. Probably doesn't help that he's under stress and appararently hasn't been eating or sleeping..."

"What?"

"Doctor, I assure you I have - "

"When was the last time you ate?" The Doctor interrupted.

Spock paused.

"Well?"

"...Eleven days, I believe, Sir."

"I see. Spock, I'm placing you under observation in Sickbay - "

The comm whirred.

"Bridge to Captain Kirk!"

Kirk hesitated, wavering, then rose and went over to the comm.

"Kirk here." He glanced at Spock anxiously.

"Sir, orders are in from Starfleet concerning the Defiant. Will you take them now?"

"Yes, Lieutenant."

"You are ordered to proceed to the nearest Starbase, keeping Ganby contained to the brig and Mr. Spock to either the brig or Sickbay, if he is not yet recovered. Impartial officers will convene there for a court martial of first Captain Ganby, then Mr. Spock, and from there it will be judged whether or not the rest of the Defiant's crew will be tried as well."

"Thank you, Lieutenant. Kirk out." He turned back to the others. McCoy hovered as Spock rose, then nodded at Kirk, trying to hide his worry. "He'll be fine, Jim."

Kirk nodded, slowly.

"C'mon, Spock... eleven days, you damn masochist..."


McCoy leaned back against the wall as the door hissed shut and Spock sat down in Sickbay, in private room off to the side for those staying overnight. "So. Why exactly were you so strung out in there, would you like to tell me? Something was causing your adrenaline to start pumping good enough to knock you out."

Spock said, truthfully; "I was in the midst of meditation as the Captain interrupted. It was... merely poor timing."

"Hmm."

McCoy watched him, thoughfully. Spock was still, waiting for the other to speak.

Finally; "I think, Spock, that you're more shaken up by this than you'd like to admit."

Spock said nothing.

"That really threw you, didn't it? You've faced some prejudice before, but nothing like this."

"As always, Doctor, you attempt to see emotions which do not exist."

"What happened to Vulcans don't lie?" McCoy challenged. He subsided, tone going softer. "Don't be ashamed to admit it, Spock."

"Doctor, I was on the Defiant for a mere three weeks, during which only two of those weeks..."

"That's besides the point. Two weeks seems long enough to me."

There were a few low bleeps from a machine from behind McCoy in the main Sickbay. Finally, so softly he almost didn't hear; "I admit the experience was... disconcerting." Success. Relieved by this good sign, McCoy nodded reassuringly.

"As one might expect." McCoy looked at him. "Feel free to come out and chat, but would I be right in thinking you'd like to meditate?"

"Indeed."

McCoy pushed himself from the wall. "I'll leave you to it, then."

McCoy left. Spock folded his legs, slipping into meditation. This time he had no candle, but found the meditation process strangely easier now, and he sorted through his feelings without any further problems for the present.


"Honestly, Captain? I have no idea." Valit shook his head, sighing. "I mean, I suppose... Well, Ganby has... I wouldn't say he's shown any xenophobic attitudes before, not like this, but he certainly doesn't seem to approve of aliens, either, if you know what I mean, Sir. Kind of prefers to just... ignore them."

"Xenophobe or not," Welkis cut in, "He's just... He's not known, Sir, for being the kindest or most approachable of captains, lets put it that way."

"I see." Kirk frowned. "That doesn't help me much."

"Sir," said Harcourt, "This isn't exactly anything the crew was completely shocked by, let's leave it at that. There's plenty who are loyal to the captain, of course, if for no other reason than that he's the captain, but most generally accept the knowledge of the scandal last year, and I for one can personally vouch for it's authenticity."

"Scandal?"

"There was..." Valit glanced at Welkis. "Well, some unpleasant business with one of his unwilling yeoman, if you know what I mean...?"

Kirk stared. "And he's still captain?"

Welkis spread his hands helplessly. "He had alibis. I think a good portion of security are friends or connections of his, and at least the Chief is, so the rest will listen to their Head, of course. And he has connections in high places."

"This - this is Starfleet," Kirk said, looking completely bewildered. "The Admiralty - they wouldn't - "

"They had little choice, Sir. My accounts, it seems, weren't enough," Said Harcourt bitterly. "Or the testimony of the poor yeoman. There's been some worry from the yeomans still, and some swear he's been making some passes at them, and if some of them might be silly little girls others who swear the same are honest as can be. He's seemed to be careful, though, since he was let off at his trial; I can't imagine what made him snap and do this."

Mr. Spock has the same wonderful luck as me, that's why, Kirk thought. Aloud; "So, he's had previous charges against him? That should lean the trial in our favor, at least."

"Sir, I don't see how he could get off this time," Valit said, strangely fierce. "And if the Admiralty still gave him the finest ship in the 'fleet, once word of this gets out he wouldn't be able to convince a lemming to serve under him."

Kirk snorted, and Welkis nodded fiercely. "Sir, we have pictures, Mr. Spock's account, the word of the other bridge officers and I of what we saw, the Doctor and nurses, and at least a possible precedant to this for them to consider; Sir, I think this trial has already been decided.

And it seemed he was right. The day of the court martial Ganby received icy glares from all of the 'impartial' officers in attendance. Behind one of the fiercest of these eyes Kirk recognized the face of Admiral Trellin, who if he recalled rightly had served with Spock as the Science Officer when the Vulcan had first been assigned to the Enterprise, over a decade ago, and he hid a smile.

He took his seat with the other watchers, of which there were many; court martials such as this one were public to any in the 'fleet, and many had turned up from the Enterprise and Defiant, along with a few stationed on the base.

The charges were told by the most senior of the four Admirals, a graying man. Abuse of Authority was the main there; harassment of his crew, physical assault, etc. etc... then the main accuser, Spock, was called forward to give his testimony.

Ganby, watching with a failed attempt at a blank face, was turning slowly red as Spock spoke in calm, clinical terms of Ganby's doings, recalling the precise insults and words of Ganby when prodded by the Admiralty into use of his eidetic memory. He described the circumstances of the first physical blow, the mission before it, and Ganby's confrontation and accusations, word for word, including his command to speak to no one.

He then summarized the continuation of this, his almost immediate realization that it would grow worse, and that there was little he could do. Even openly declaring the offences would have no effect; whoever tried to stop Ganby would find themselves stopped, surely, by Ganby's loyal officers. However, he would not hide what was happening, as Ganby had perhaps assumed. So, logically, he had begun to recruit crewmembers for a mutiny - which, he emphasized, had been almost appallingly easy, surely saying something for Ganby's apparent ability as an officer. He recited the full list of injuries accumulated over the short time, making the Admiralty's faces darken, and offered pictures he had taken, which the Admirals examined. He described the circumstances of the actual mutiny, then their meeting with the Enterprise, and finally was finished.

Ganby, of course, refuted his claims. He agreed to the first blow as having happened, likely as it would be difficult to refute everything, but denied the rest, insisting that, ask anyone, he had not again laid a hand on the Vulcan. Harcourt, surely, would attest to that; Mr. Spock had only ever seen her for the one injury.

Harcourt came up. Ganby, as it was, had not known the full list of mutineers, though how Ganby had come to the conclusion that Spock had never had his injuries treated, he did not know - was the captain senile, to think that his broken finger had simply healed overnight? Much to Ganby's shock and displeasure, Harcourt politely informed the Admiralty that Mr. Spock had seen her for each of his listed injuries, actually, as her nurses could attest, and as they did. Roland, who had not taken part in the mutiny, also came forward to agree that Ganby had called Spock to the briefing room after each shift, much to the captain's mortification. Ganby tried, and failed, in refusing the claims as more crew of the Defiant offered their views.

The Admirals' decision was unanimous; Ganby was stripped of his rank and position as Starfleet Officer in dishonourable discharge and would face further time in a penal colony, much to the evident pleasure of all attending.

The trials, however, were not yet over. Next came Mr. Spock.

Still he was perhaps slightly uneasy around Ganby, but it had been a week since his conversation with McCoy, and he had dedicated his time off duty to intensive meditation. The fear seemed to have vanished for the most part, except slight flickers every now and again; and that, at least, was bearable.

"Commander Spock," said the Admiral solemnly. "You are charged with insubordination, mutiny, incite to mutiny..." He listed the charges.

Spock, as had been expected by most, did nothing to deny them, and for the second time detailed his circumstances. Several of the officers were called by the Admiralty for formality's sake for their testimonies. The Admiral left to confer, this lasting considerably longer than that of Ganby's trial.

The Admirals stood. Trellin seemed to be hiding a smile.

"Commander Spock, you are found guilty of the charges set against you. As such, given these circumstances consideration, you are to be reduced in rank to Lieutenant Commander and put on probation. Dismissed."

The next time Captain Kirk called him into the called him into the briefing room (to grin and congratulate him and ramble a little on how glad he was) Spock did not feel the slightest hint of apprehension, and did not even notice this until much later, though it took a time for the effects of his stay to fade; and, though he would admit it to no one but eventually McCoy, his sleep was disturbed by one or two unpleasant dreams.

One month later, back on duty again, Mr. Spock saved the life of his captain on a mission, a common occurance. He was lauded by his superiors and awarded with a promotion.


For the fainting thing; a doctor informed me that feeling extremely nervous and then suddenly completely relieved has some chemical effect that can make you faint. I didn't quite get what he said, but it definitely happens. A little depressed to finish the story, so I'll probably have to post another soon, and likely stick Valit in there somehow, because even if he was barely mentioned I'm strangely attached to him. *grins*

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