Carnival

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Chapter Ten

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Gravity and Fear

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Kirk was never one to believe in no-win situations. That conviction was ingrained into his soul; it made him who he was. It also carried him high into the ranks of Starfleet and gave him a reputation to be proud of. This moment was no different. Panic was placed on a shelf in the back of Jim's mind and he unwrapped the cool leadership he was most renown for. Now was the time to plan – and fast.

Slowly they began to lean towards the upper hemisphere of the Carnival's globe. Before them, the surface of the water tilted and rose several inches up the tunnel mural - drowning several painted cupids in the process. With this change came a reduction of gravity and the feeling as if the ground were trying to desperately slip out from beneath them. The reason for this became all to clear to Spock.

The little planet they were perched on must have started its slow descent to oblivion. They were fortunate to be in the upper portion of the park where the most immediate problem was a strange tilt to their posture; but half the tourists attending the Carnival weren't so lucky. They must have fallen several stories from the underside of the turf to meet a horrible death squished against the transparent globe they were sheltered by – that is, unless they grabbed a firm hold of something. Then it would be a slow crush to death as the various rides crumpled from the weight of the park - and with it the people. There was also the chance the resulting twisted metal and fallen bodies would rupture the glass, and those who had not fallen, been crushed, or impaled - would drown. Probability of survival? So low Spock didn't want to calculate it. Not this time.

The power suddenly went out, putting Kirk ill at ease. An eerie silence settled upon them all, making the mood tense and full of fear. The background music - that was only noticed now that it was absent - was replaced with the resonance of trickling water and the distance sound of screaming. Emergency lighting turned out to be several simple glowing strips powered by the xenon lights that shone on them throughout the day. Spock estimated that they would only continue to provide them with luminescence for the next two hours.

In the dark, Kirk waded to the swan boat and began to examine a wing. Before anyone could ask what he was doing, he ripped off the wing and placed it in the water. It was made of painted wood, curved slightly for a wing-like shape; therefore it had some buoyancy to it. The captain frowned at how low it sat in the water, but tugged it over to McCoy anyway.

"An improvised stretcher." Spock said simply before swimming over to assist his superior. "The concavity of this board will irritate the rib penetrating McCoy's respiratory system. Bear in mind Captain, that we do not know where the rib is broken. If it is close to the heart, we should not attempt to move him."

Bones groaned, "I either die here or on that plank of wood, and let me tell you… I'm not kicking the bucket staring at winged babies and frolicking newly-weds. Hurry it up… I think I'm going to pass out." He would have welcomed unconsciousness, but he was a doctor and knew that once his eyes closed they'd probably not open again.

Spock gingerly slipped his arm just under the doctor's shoulder blades and used the other to support his head while the Captain grabbed the man's legs and began the process of moving him onto the stretcher. Bones ground his teeth during the process and tried not to scream out at every little movement. He failed fantastically by squealing like a runted piglet. Over top of him, the Captain and the First Officer were bouncing ideas off of each other.

"Obviously we lost our communicators, so we're out of luck getting our own ride out of this. What about the commercial transporters?" Kirk said, trying to keep the hope out of his voice. There were dozens of mass transportation units littering the Carnival for tourist use. Surely one of them could accommodate the three of them?

"With the main lines down I doubt they'll have enough energy to beam out everyone. I'm estimating a total of 36.7 people could use each transporter before it malfunctions due to lack of reserved power."

"How in the blazes do you beam out point-seven of a person!" Bones said in the heat of another shifting. Spock and Kirk ignored him as they continued.

"The odds of us being part of the 36.7?"

"0.66% Captain. The transporters in the upper portion of the Carnival will most likely be faulty in 3.5 minutes if the average panicked tourist runs at 15 km/h and the population density of the Carnival was at 1365 per square kilometer at the time of disaster. Though I should point out, there are a lot of variables within that calculation leading to a slim margin of success should you chose to take that route despite the odds."

"Is that the 0.66%?"

"Yes Captain."

"Doesn't sound too promising does it? I think I gambled enough horrible odds in my life... I'm all for a new plan. What about the transporters in the lower portion of the Carnival?"

"Probability is significantly higher that we will encounter a useable transporter; however, it will be at aligned anywhere from ninety to one hundred and eighty degrees, increasing the likelihood of a transporter malfunction. Also, we would be unable to navigate properly bearing McCoy."

They both glanced to the injured doctor, earning them a sharp look in return that clearly stated 'I wasn't the one who did this to me'. Spock quietly placed the doctor on the swan and made sure he wasn't going to sink into unconsciousness anytime soon. Bones gave them a feeble wave of his good hand and stayed uncharacteristically silent. Spock did another quick examination while Kirk severed the tether that anchored the swan. Just as they started their journey, Vienna vaulted onto the swan with a strange look in her eyes.

"If you three want to survive you'll need to take me with you." There was a note of crazy in her voice that instantly set Spock and Kirk on alert.

"I don't think I can trust you; after all, you're the reason we don't have communication; not to mention your hand was in this entire fiasco." The captain's eyebrow was raised in a manner that made Spock wonder if Kirk had been taking notes.

Vienna didn't look at anyone as she replied, "There is a transporter at the center of the mechanism. I know how to get to it."

Bones rolled his eyes. He was trying to act tough as Spock was checking his pulse and color. "I think the wool over our eyes has finally been stretched to our knees. Don't let her get our toes Jim."

Once again, no one paid any attention to the poor doctor in the background. Kirk stared at Vienna as if they were in the midst of an unfriendly poker game. "The mechanism?" He asked, earning a hasty nod from the woman. "The giant machine that powers the Carnival. There is one transport in the midst of it and it will most likely be Zira's escape route. She wouldn't have taken it yet… she'd want to savor the terror she created for as long as possible. You might be able to catch her if you hurry."

"That is logical." Noted Spock who was now preparing to slow the swan down with some drag before they careened into the small marina of unused crafts. With his Vulcan strength it only took him a few minutes to get them into a stand still on the water. The sounds of frightened people were much louder now, making an edge of panic creep into everything. Even Jim jumped as their silhouettes flared while they floated past the sparse emergency lights.

Vienna jumped out first and splashed several feet away to get her bearings in this strange new version of the Carnival. Everything was dark and disturbing, like one massive haunted house complete with creaks and groans as the ground shifted and shook.

Spock and Kirk grabbed a hold of their makeshift stretcher and hauled McCoy over to their guide. "All right. How do we get to where this transporter of yours is?" He huffed as he stumbled up to the woman. His footing was off since the ground as becoming more angled as gravity was steadily lost. It felt as if he were dragging McCoy across a slanted rooftop.

"There are hidden entrance ways throughout the park, the closest one to here is in the basement of the wax museum. It's a trapdoor in the Joan of Arc exhibit…" She made to move in that direction, but what she saw made her freeze. Spock noticed her lack of movement and stared in the direction she had initially intended to venture. His eyes trained on something that made his eyes widen. Vienna was right to be frightened.

Baring their path was a large le-matya: huge, orange, irritable and poisonous.

"Run." The Vulcan said in a tone that was deadly serious. Kirk didn't even bother to look before listening to his First Officer and dashing for cover. Carrying McCoy was difficult at a run, but the both of them managed. That was until the beast decided to pounce upon Spock's unprotected back.

What a le-matya was doing in the midst of a Carnival, Spock had no idea. As soon as he saw a streak of orange in the corner of his eye he dropped his end of the stretcher and threw himself to the ground. Starfleet training at its simplest. The large cat missed, sailing over the trio's heads; yet Dr. McCoy slipped from his resting place and landed in a very painful heap next to the First Officer. He blacked out for a few moments, during which Spock moved so that the doctor was shielded from possible attack.

Kirk was the only one left on his feet and he instinctively went for his phaser. Finding none he adopted a defensive stance in case the le-matya decided to come back for vengeance.

It did, but it was heading straight for the doctor.

Bones paled, both from fear and from internal bleeding. Despite the situation he managed to cry, "For the love of-" before trying to cover his head and neck. It was a useless gesture. Spock was already leaning over him, his torso defending McCoy's vitals. Bones felt overwhelmed by the action and wanted to both pull Spock closer and to push him away. It would be a cold day in hell before he'd let the Vulcan bite a bullet with his name on it.

Kirk roared and leapt on top of the large mammal, his hands grasping at orange fur while he kicked and bit at any part of the beast he could reach. This successfully diverted the creature's attention. Vienna started to move again and cautiously approached the crouching Spock and McCoy. There was amazement in her eyes as she watched the le-matya try to buck the captain off of its back to no avail.

Spock dragged the doctor over to what looked like an abandoned food stall, and gestured for the woman to follow. "Vienna, le-matya will attack the strongest predator it sees until it no longer poses a threat… it is especially vicious if the scent of blood is in the air." He looked to McCoy with what Bones interpreted as concern. "The Captain and I will lead it away. I need you to take the doctor to the original coordinates we beamed down to while we locate the transporter and contact the Enterprise."

Vienna and Bones both started to protest, but the Vulcan would not listen. There was limited time, and splitting up was the only option.

Spock vaulted to the bucking beast and aided the Captain by getting it to center on him. It wasn't too difficult, for the copper-based blood of a Vulcan was like sugar to a Terran child. The animal smelt it emanating from Spock's chest and immediately gave chase. The Vulcan ran in the opposite direction of the injured CMO.

Meanwhile, Kirk was holding on for dear life. He knew nothing of what this monstrosity was capable of. He was vaguely aware of what his First was doing though, and agreed whole-heartedly. If they were going to eventually face off against Zira, they could not do it while lugging McCoy around, and Vienna could be used as a weapon against them. This part of the plan was made for Spock and Kirk - alone.

When they were closer to the museum, Spock dodged a few poisonous swipes of the le-matya to get close enough to it's subclavian artery. Once there, it was only a simple matter of a neck pinch and the animal was out of commission. Spock let out a sigh of relief and waited for the captain to organize himself.

Jim rolled off the creature's back and laid on the pavement for awhile to catch his breath.

"Are you all right Captain?" The Science Officer asked upon approach.

Kirk nodded, "Haven't done that in ages… what was that thing?"

Spock looked over to it's sleeping form before helping the Captain up. "It is a mammal native to Vulcan known as the le-matya. It is a dangerous predator. One small cut from it's poisonous claws is enough to kill any humanoid. I do not understand why there is one here. Le-matya are illegal to remove from Vulcan."

The two of them left that question unanswered as they headed into the crooked museum in perfect tandem. They conversed in low whispers as they descended into a dungeon filled with wax figures. The faces of the pieces were forever etched into expressions of agony. Though, none of the surroundings frightened the two Starfleet officers; they had experienced far more terrifying things in the last twenty-four hours.

"This is the Joan of Arc exhibit I think…" Kirk squinted in the haze emergency lighting. The display was a simple jail cell with a woman tied to a stake, but her face was difficult to make out, as was the words printed above her head. The luminous strips were beginning to show the first signs of fading; however, The trap door at the wax witch's feet was clearly visible against the stone floor. Spock bent the old style cage bars easily and slipped inside. Kirk tapped the bent metal with interest; it was only aluminum.

Spock knelt in the dusty floor and opened the trapdoor. To his surprise, there was a long metal ladder leading into a brightly lit corridor below. The contrast between the dim dungeon cell and pristine modern hallway made the two men slightly disorientated. Both of them had to close their eyes a moment to adjust. It didn't help that they were still leaning at about a 60 degree angle from the floor.

Kirk went down first after a silent argument. Logically Spock should have descended first since he had natural weapons that the Captain did not, but of course such thinking would always be put aside in the face of Kirk's pride.

Luckily nothing waited for them in the corridor.

There was a loud hum that oscillated as if it were the Carnival's pulse; it made Kirk's ears pound in a matching rhythm. Wires spat out sparks from points where the circuitry had been ripped out. It was obvious that a rampaging someone had come by that way. Spock took a look at the system and frowned. "This entire corridor is just an artery towards the heart of the mechanism. I've never seen such an impressive device… these walls are an interconnected system supplying atmosphere, gravity and power. The main controls are most likely in an atrium… that way." He pointed towards what looked to be white light up ahead.

"Light at the end of a tunnel. I was always told to avoid that." The Captain muttered under his breath, but Vulcan ears picked it up.

"I do not understand the reasoning behind such a cryptic warning..." There was his signature eyebrow again. Kirk couldn't help but smile.

"Never mind Spock." He walked briskly towards the well-lit atrium. As they got closer, they could see a frantic figure gutting any electronics she could find. Upon closer inspection it was Zira, and she looked wild and delirious. The light that nearly blinded the duo came from hundreds of screens that projected what was going on outside. There were a lot of screaming tourists, as well as corpses on the screens. Spock noticed that with every shiver of terror Zira witnessed, she became more irrational and her movements more erratic.

"Madame Zira." Kirk called, his voice strong like a Judge's. "I am detaining you for violation of several Federation laws. You have lead to the death of hundreds, tortured respected members of Starfleet… illegally imported a le-matya…" Not that the last one would hold any weight behind it. "Spock would list off more if we had the time, but we don't."

"You are correct." Her black eyes were creepy on her pale twisted face. "You're all going to die here… like them." She cocked her head in the direction of the multitude of screens. "And I will feel it all. Your pain… your terror… my power." Her words were dripping with insanity. Kirk merely looked disgusted.

Spock stepped forward and put a hand on his friend's shoulder. Zira was not going to be an ordinary opponent, and hopefully his Captain realized this."She is far too influenced by the emotions she's absorbing to be capable of diplomacy. I suggest we attempt to detain her by force."

This surprised Kirk. He knew that the ringmaster was out of her right mind, but such a gung-ho statement brought a smile to his lips. "Spock, you of all people suggest violence as a solution to our problem? Never thought I'd hear you say it."

The Vulcan kept his eyes on their enemy. The fact that Jim could still joke while facing a woman who murdered countless people made Spock unsettled. "Zira is not someone we should underestimate in her current state. She has-"

Suddenly he froze as if someone had dipped him in liquid nitrogen. Darkness enveloped his mind and Spock felt as if his senses had been taken from him. His hearing was the only ability he had retained, and all he could gather was the sound of a thousand people dying. In his head the thoughts of the failing swarm bubbled over his own processes. Hopelessness drowned all perception. Such heavy thoughts wrenched at his own emotions and made them seem fragile in comparison - like cobwebs faced with an ocean wave. He was vaguely aware of a force trying to press his body into moving against his will, but he used all of his spirit to force his muscles into a stand still. Suddenly, Zira's voice was in his ear.

"Do it Spock. Move for me… think for me… do you really believe you can resist me?"

She was going to use him against the Captain. It was the only purpose he could surmise from her intrusion into his mind. Spock thought that such possession would be impossible against his meticulous and disciplined mind; however, she was conducting such a flood of horror into his head that it was hard not to drown in the misery she fed him.

Kirk was staring at his First Officer with concern. The grip on his shoulder tightened and a stained look overcame his normally stoic features. It didn't take long to notice that both Zira and Spock had fallen silent and adopted similar expressions. He went to slip out of the Vulcan's grip, only to find that it tightened painfully. "Spock. You're stronger then her, you know this. Don't let some crazy psycho woman make you do something you don't want to do." It was lame encouragement and he knew it. Why couldn't he listen to his First before it was too late?

"He's willful… your friend…" Zira chocked out, not removing her eyes from Spock. "But he'll hold you in place while I complete my symphony." She turned away, her movements now limited and slow. The mental drain on her must have been immense, but not enough to stop her from killing the last of the gravity. Kirk and Spock were weightless for a few seconds then they experienced a lurch that nearly made Kirk's knees buckle. The captain looked to the monitors and his hazel eyes widened.

Ocean water was gushing into the Carnival at a terrible pace. The transparent aluminum must have been compromised. Already some of the cameras went dark as their circuits shorted out.

Kirk didn't know what to say. Nothing verbal could express the tangle of emotions surging through the man's body. He watched as Zira pressed some more buttons, causing a small transporter to surface from the metallic flooring. She looked at the device, then back to Kirk with a pronounced frown.

"You two have ruined my Carnival." Zira turned and drew a small dagger from her belt. "My entire life has been for this moment… and it tastes so bittersweet. Fear is so thick in the air… and yet I am unsatisfied." Her heeled boots clicked on the plating beneath her as she slowly walked towards the captain with the dagger in her pale hand. The captain could read her intent with every footfall and he tried desperately to wrench himself free of Spock's grip, yet it was as tight as ever.

"Kill me and you will still remain unsatisfied. I'd be just another life wasted at your hands. One of a thousand."

Zira didn't even blink at his words."You would follow me to the coordinates I set since Mr. Spock will be free once he is clear of my mind's range. I can't have that. You will die here instead, but at least you will die first..."

She raised the dagger and gave Kirk her signature grin. Jim's hazel eyes widened and he stared at the point of her weapon with dread. There was nothing he could do. Spock's grip was too strong. He tried to kick at her, making her stumble slightly, but her aim was true and she plunged the knife straight into his chest.

Author's Note:

I'm updating so slowly now... but I think the next chapter will be the last! I'm not entirely certain. Please review your hearts out! We're near the end and I need my ego inflated (or deflated if you feel the need to pull out a needle). I thank you all for reviewing, especially those that review regularly... without you, this chapter would have taken another week.