Chapter 15

The ship was exploding. Plate after plate, she was falling apart around him. Flames were all he could see. Fire was spreading everywhere, surrounding him, consuming him. He couldn't stop it, couldn't outrun it. There was no air left to breathe. He was suffocating, burning, screaming …

McCoy was hovering over Kirk. He noticed his elevated heart beat and blood pressure. His eyes were moving rapidly under quivering eyelids. His body was trashing minutely.

McCoy moved closer and held the captain's shoulder, hypo spray ready in hand.

"Jim? Jim!"

Kirk opened his eyes with a gasp, his body shaking as he panted violently. His heart was pounding fiercely inside his throbbing chest. His unfocused eyes were roving around the room. Then they anchored on the doctor's worried face and he relaxed.

McCoy checked the monitor above the bed. Indicator showed bearable pain. No more painkillers for now. Nevertheless, he asked.

"Calm down, Jim. How do you feel? Are you in pain?"

Kirk thought for a moment. There was no intense pain like the last time he remembered. His leg was mostly numb, his whole body felt heavy and not entirely his own. However, breathing was still a little hard.

The captain shook his head. He weakly grabbed the doctor's arm and whispered feebly, "Bones, What ... happened?... Spock?" McCoy patted reassuringly on his shoulder, "He's fine. I released him two hours ago. He is out there, talking with some admirals right now." When he saw the worried look on his face, continued, "He's alright, Jim. Well, at least in a better shape than you are." Kirk looked around his room again, this time, he was more focused. "Where are we?... how much time… " "Star base ten. It's been over twelve hours since we arrived." Kirk exhaled with the enormity of his realization. He had missed so much time.

"The officers?" Kirk tried to sit with obvious difficulty. He just couldn't remain in the bed for one more second. McCoy supported his back to help his battered body. "They're fine. Dammit, you have to lie down. Why do you always make everything more difficult? - Hey, don't you touch that drip!"

But Kirk didn't relent. He just kept on pulling the drip's tube with his weak, shaking hand, McCoy noticed with no small amount of concern. "Take it out...I have some unfinished business." He was panting from the sudden exertion. "Alright. I call Spock now. You stay here. Don't move. "

Spock was there A few minutes later. Aside from some faded bruises, he looked sickeningly pale, exhausted. "Spock! You are alright?" kirk panted. "Obviously captain. I have to say I am glad to see you are fine as well." Spock didn't miss how his captain was pale and drawn. These stressful events were weighting him down.

The doctor was in a bad shape himself, Spock noticed. He had practically no rest since they arrived here. And Spock had not been able to help the good doctor in any way. He had been busy talking with the committee members, the base manager, the quartermaster, even with some of worried and agitated officers from the enterprise, trying to calm and reassure them that everything was under control.

Kirk took a deep breath, tried to ignore his throbbing chest, and asked, although he already knew the answer.

"Official hearing, Spock?"

"Correct. In twenty four hours they will conduct the meeting. I can ask for more time if you-" "No, that's just fine. Let's get this over with as fast as possible."

McCoy stared unbelieving at Spock, then at the captain, "You need to rest more, Jim!"

Kirk didn't seem to hear him. He shifted on the bed, tried to find a more comfortable position for his stiff body. asked Spock, "Where is the enterprise?"

"In the dry dock, undergoing major repairs. The engineers believe it will take two weeks to put her back in working order. And that is with everything going as planned. The ship was badly damaged . Thirty percent of the equipment needs complete replacement. The external hull was also severely compromised. They are working on the ship even as we speak."

Only Scotty knows how to fix her, he thought dreamily. Scotty will make her alright. Kirk paused in the middle of his reveries. "Where is Scotty, Bones?" McCoy sighed. "He was one of the most critically injured crew, Jim. Severe burns, coolant gas poisoning… he is still in the medical center. But he's gonna be alright. He is strong"

"I want to see him."

"Not now. He is resting. We had some complications but he is out of the woods." Kirk looked slightly more at rest. "Where are the officers?"

"The base manager is handling things alright. They are here, in their allocated quarters. Some of them are in the next ward." Kirk closed his eyes and hung his head. McCoy back tracked. "By the way, Uhura and Chekov were here a few hours ago. They wanted to see you. Even Sulu with his broken leg- "he cut himself awkwardly. "Listen Jim, what I'm saying is, this is not the best time of the year. Actually this is one of my worst days of life, but they need you now, more than ever. I know it's hard, but we won't leave you alone again."

Kirk remained silent after that. The dark mood was oppressive.

McCoy inspected the knee wound. The scare was healing nicely. The artificial skin was merging just fine. He administered antibiotics and some other drugs in a hypo spray.

Spock asked in his calm voice. "What are you planning to say the in the session tomorrow, captain?"

"Everything."