Chapter 13
'Spock,' was the first thing Kirk muttered after seeing his ship. A frail but mischievous grin played on his drawn face.
She was damaged, dented and blackened, sliced even in places but she was there and whole.
McCoy was cursing under his breath while the rest of the bridge crew tried to make sense of their readings.
"The remaining Klingon ship has been critically damaged in the warp core explosion. The three new comers are in orbit and carrying out rescue."
Kirk took a calming breath.
He could breathe again. He didn't feel the terrible suffocation anymore. He had purpose again. Something to do. He had to save Spock and fast. But first, he had to get everyone to safety.
"Commodore, we have to take the ship back on tow." Kirk said, voice firmer than he thought possible. "The warp core has been ejected. Your ship is in no danger!"
Gordon turned and faced him. He was staring at the captain as if he thought Kirk has lost his mind. Apparently the intense look he received convinced him the otherwise.
"I still don't understand how it all happened, but what about those Klingons? They will not let us go! We are out matched in every way."
Kirk hesitated. McCoy saw the all-consuming self-doubt in his eyes. He squeezed his arm and nodded in encouragement.
Kirk shivered with the enormity of his emotions. 'After all this, Bones still believes in me!'
'I can't fail you again, Bones.'
Kirk turned to Gordon again and summoned the courage to do what he knew was the best possible solution.
"Put your tractor beam on her, I'll try to get us out of this." Then, when he saw Gordon's hesitation, added, "If it didn't work, you can still shoot my ship and then jump to warp."
"We can't let them know Kirk is here commander! It will only worsen our situation. It's suicide! " Russ exclaimed, trying and failing to keep his opposition hidden.
Kirk gave them the right to be doubtful. The risks were high.
But they didn't have time for an argument. If they were to survive this, they needed to work together.
Besides, they didn't have another workable plan in which they survived.
"I have a plan. You have to trust me."
"How can I, captain? As much as I respect you, I cannot trust your judgment right now. You are emotionally compromised -"
"I know Klingon warriors, commodore. I can see a way out of this."
"What is it? I have to know your plan! I cannot endanger anymore lives."
Kirk winced inwardly.
No. He couldn't do this again. He didn't want to gamble innocent lives over something he believed to be the solution. He couldn't have any more blood on his hands.
It was McCoy who spoke, "We don't have time for an explanation. Jim can handle them... look, there are three of them and one of us. They won't let us go. Your ship cannot keep at a high warp for a long time, now can she? And it doesn't have enough shielding and fire power."
Gordon mused over the idea for a split second.
The good doctor was right. Statder was not a warship. She couldn't handle a three to one battle against fully armed Klingon ships.
The truth was, despite everything, he did want to trust Kirk. Even now. He knew Kirk had saved his ship in much worse situations. He had invaluable experience with aggressive Klingons. If anyone could save them, it would be Kirk.
He was just stuck between his orders and his admiration for the man.
It was now or never. They didn't have time. He had to decide fast. Either it would work, or all of them would be reduced to atoms. He nodded to Lieutenant Russ, "activate tractor beam. Be ready for emergency warp eight. Keep the shields at maximum strength."
"But sir-"
"Don't argue with me, lieutenant."
Russ looked bewildered. He opened his mouth but didn't say anything else.
"We can reach warp one safely with the Enterprise on tow, sir." the helmsman said
"The Klingon ship is hailing us!"
Kirk was clutching the back of the command seat to stay on his good leg. McCoy stood to his left at ready just in case.
Kirk took as deep a breath as he could. He tried to keep his doubts and fears under. 'This better work or it would be the end of us.'
"Go to one fifth impulses and then put the Klingon through."
"But that will put us in poor tactical positions and with the beam draining our powers..." Russ exclaimed from science station.
"We already are in a bad position with three battle cruisers surrounding us." Kirk said patiently.
With the somewhat reluctant gesture of the commodore, the ship vibrated slightly as they activated tractor beam, and then the face of a Klingon filled the screen.
"Where do you think you are escaping, you Federation scum! You are going to pay for your crimes. You have destroyed Klingon vessels. Surrender now or prepare to die, dishonorable traitors!"
"They have locked weapons on us. Our shields are still not fully recharged."
Kirk nodded to the communicating officer, "This is James Kirk, captain of the U.S.S Enterprise. We are in a middle of a rescue operation. This ship is a non-military vessel. You cannot open fire on us during a rescue mission."
"Kirk! It is you! You are responsible for all this. You must pay Klingon blood with your own!"
The deep hatred and disgust in that voice made his heart sink. Gordon moved as if to talk with the Klingon himself. The situation was explosive enough. He shouldn't have let Kirk speak. He should have known the Klingons would vaporize the ship if they had the slightest doubt Kirk was aboard her. What was he thinking, letting Kirk speak? It was a big, big mistake.
But it was much too late for him regret. Now he just had to sit back and pray not to die very painfully. Because at that moment, he was sure of his impending death. Now their last hope was Kirk's plan.
"Go to one half." Kirk whispered to the helmsman, and continued aloud: "It was only an act of defense"
"Stop right now! Lower your shields and get ready to be boarded or be destroyed."
"All ships have locked weapons on us. They are preparing tractor beams!" Someone to his right muttered. "Full impulse." Kirk muttered back.
"Commander, don't you think it is dishonorable to shoot a defeated, retreating enemy in the back?" Kirk said aloud, with as much arrogance as his weak voice could carry, "I mean, where is the glory of conquering an opponent who has already been weakened by another warrior. Are you that pathetic? Can't you win your own battle without help?" he was almost yelling. The officers on the bridge were gaping at him with a mixture of fear and disbelief.
Many emotions, ranging from explosive anger and black murder to almost human admiration, appeared across the Klingon's face.
"Kirk, you are a worthy opponent. I will enjoy destroying you and your ship. I want and will have all that glory to myself. Leave now. We will meet again and that day, I will kill you in the Klingon's way. This is not my war to finish. You will die by my bare hands. You will look into my eyes and know that your killer is commander Kwaale, of the mighty Klingon Empire!" The transmission ended with that.
"Go to warp now." Kirk whispered weakly. His face was rapidly losing its color.
He bit back his moan and staggered just as the ship went to warp. McCoy griped his arm. "Give me something, Bones… to keep me on my feet for… a few more minutes."
"Jim, you need to lie down! I must treat your wounds immediately! I'm not going to let you kill yourself!" McCoy hissed from between his teeth, not wanting others to hear this particular conversation, and seeing Jim in his most vulnerable. Kirk was practically destroying himself. He knew It was only the adrenaline surge that kept him alert and on his feet.
But Kirk merely whispered. "I need to see this through. And besides," a sad smile played on his ashen lips, "a few more minutes won't make that much difference for me."
'It makes a difference for me, dammit!' Every time he saw that look on Jim's face, he knew he had to surrender. That looks of determination which also asked for understanding. McCoy shot him with another dose of painkiller and stimulant.
'Why can't you understand, Jim? It's killing me, watching you like this.'
With his new found strength, Kirk forced himself to stand upright, ignorant of the doctor's turmoil.
He didn't seem convinced the Klingons would let them go that easily. Apparently his concerns were justified.
"We are being followed sir. Two Klingon ships. Maintaining distance and matching our speed. Weapons only on standby."
"Very well. Let them escort us but don't lower our shields."
"Aye, aye sir."
The bridge crewmen were still in shock. They couldn't believe what just happened.
Five minutes of anxious waiting passed in silence. Then the helmsman reported, "The Klingon ships are dropping their speed, letting us go."
Gordon had kept a respectful distance from the two men for the past minute or so, but turned to face them with the captain's voice. "Commodore, my first officer is still aboard the Enterprise, now we should be able to beam him out."
"Scan for life signs."
"got'em. It's weak. Locking on it."
"Energize."
"If you don't mind, commodore Gordon, I want to see my first officer."
Gordon was about to object but the doctor didn't give him the chance. He helped Kirk toward the lift and said, "Tell your paramedics to come give me a hand, will ya?" he said before leaving the bridge with Kirk limping and panting beside him.