AN: Usual disclaimer, the rights to Star Trek etc belong to someone else. Please read and review – constructive feedback will help me finalise the remaining chapters. The entire story is complete on my PC, and I'll try to load up a new chapter every few days. I'll be using the feedback from reviews to refine and tweak the remaining chapters. Thank you to those who have already reviewed.
Chapter 6
McCoy and Sulu sat on a bench. Sulu was groggy, but there were no other side effects from his incapacitation. 'So she genuinely thought that testing out a biological weapon on her own people was a good idea?' Sulu marvelled at the insanity. 'She never thought she would have to use it, who would deny the Imperial Regent. Then her demands become more and more outrageous, this led to the uprising. Outlying villages joined forces to overthrow her and the other Elders'. Zarel had spent the past hour informing McCoy and Sulu about the civil war. 'The Elders were losing face, and needed an edge, don't forget when the entire planet is telepathic there is only so much you can do against your own people'. Zarel was standing near the entrance to his tent, a gentle breeze causing the flaps to move back and forth. He crossed his arms across his chest. 'At the time, I too was convinced in the logic of our people being subservient. Millions of people ready to mass on demand. We could have ruled the quadrant, our technological knowhow and telepathic abilities working as one'. He struggled to continue, his voice dropped to a whisper. 'As Prime Scientist, I oversaw the laboratory with my 2nd, Findius. When I saw the effect, I realised I had become a monster. So much death and for what? Our population a fraction of what it once was…I begged Déjà not to use the weapon again. For my insolence, she had me thrown into confinement and ensure I and others understood the seriousness of defying her, she had my wife and son executed...' his voice faded into silence, and then he walked out of the tent. Sulu stared at McCoy, both unsure what to do or say. The story was horrible, but didn't bring them any closer to understanding why their friends were being held. Suddenly a girl peered into the tent, her neck sporting fading bruises, she appeared to be seeking Zarel. She narrowed her eyes at the two outsiders, and then she spoke 'you are like the other ones at the Elder Tower'.
Tenus immediately stopped his attack on Uhura. She whimpered as tears flowed from her eyes. He walked round to Kirk, he tilted his head down to Kirk's ear only so he could hear him 'I knew you would make the right decision given the right motivation'. He signalled to the guards, they were to take Kirk to the Grand hall, where he could input the codes. Just as they were about to take Kirk away, Déjà swept in and assumed her position with the other Elders. Spock came in shortly after, standing to the side and slightly behind her chair. Kirk glanced upwards, immediately he saw something was different about his friend - his jaw was rigid with tension. He followed Spock's gaze to the immobilised Uhura, he had bent his head to the side, as if he were trying to recall a memory. Suddenly his eyes fixated on Kirk, the intensity of hatred paralysed him. 'Do we have what we need?' Déjà asked out loud, she had not heard Kirk submitting to their demands. Findius smiled and nodded, 'He was just being moved to the grand hall-', Déjà motioned Spock forwards, an unspoken command passed between them and he began walking down towards the centre of the room.
Findius watched him approaching, and then looked up at Déjà. She had commanded him to let Spock pass. Both Uhura and Kirk saw him standing over them. '...Help me…' Uhura's voice was faint, she was breathing heavily. He stroked her face lovingly. Kirk still restrained to the bed, looked at Spock but aggressively directed his question to Déjà 'what have you done to him?' Spock threw his gaze back to Kirk; he still had not uttered a word. 'Spock, it's me, Jim...' Spock rapidly put his fingers on Kirk's psi points ready to initiate a mind meld 'what the hell!...' Kirk started thrashing his head from side to side, trying to dislodge Spock's fingers. 'Stop!' He yelled 'you don't need to do this. I'm going to tell them what they want to know'. Spock sneered 'I don't care about that. I want to know about you and Uhura', he rasped. 'What are you talking about, there's no me and Uhura. Look at her; she's your girlfriend...your bond mate...' Kirk pleaded, he looked at Uhura waiting for her to help him convince Spock. Still weak from Tenus' attack she was barely coherent. '...Spock...' He turned to her, unsure what to believe. Déjà leaned forward in her seat. She was enjoying the show. She knew Findius would get the codes, but there was the added benefit of having the Vulcan break his crew mates. It also didn't hurt to have access to other Federation intel which could be sold to the highest bidder.
Alarm echoed in McCoy's voice 'what do you mean?' the girl startled and attempted to leave. He ran and grabbed her to stop her going. 'Are they ok?' His eyes begged for a response. 'Katrin?' Zarel had returned, wondering why McCoy had such a fierce grip on her. He made to shove McCoy back, Sulu jumped up 'she knows something about our friends...' His voice invited her to confirm his assertion. She nodded, McCoy let go of her and Zarel began questioning her. Her features grave, she shook her head. 'What the hell does that mean?' McCoy went to grab her again, Zarel placed himself in the way and held up his palm to stop him. 'They are most probably dead, having been tortured for the codes'. He said this so calmly. He continued, 'Katrin is a member of the resistance, she also works as a servant for Déjà. If she says there is no hope, there is little that can be done now'. Sulu looked horror-struck. 'Don't you wonder why you are suddenly here at Theytan? There's no cure, no medicine. It's a ruse!' Spittle flew from Zarel's mouth as he become more agitated. 'The codes she seeks will give her access to the most feared warrior race there is – the Klingons. Can you image, millions of aggressive warriors, ready to do what you want when you want? Our little planet would soon be the most feared and most powerful. We would rule the quadrant; one by one other planets would fall to our power. Each time we would subsume their knowledge and wealth, both valuable assets to the highest bidder. Think how many out there detest the Federation, and what they would not do to see it fall?' 'The fuck...' McCoy whipped round to look at Sulu, he had never heard his crewmate swear before. 'That's absurd, how could that happen? McCoy countered, suddenly he couldn't breathe, his eyes bulged out of his head, and all he could hear was the blood rushing. Just as quickly the pain passed, 'that's how she'll make it happen...obey or suffer the consequences'. Sulu shot back at Zarel, 'How do you know so much about her plans?' Without a beat 'simple, I thought of it…'.
Zarel turned to Katrin, 'are we ready, are the bombs in place? -', McCoy interrupted, 'the hell do you mean bombs?' Zarel, sighed 'I'm sorry about your friends...', panic tinged Sulu's voice, he pushed himself into Zarel's face. 'Whoa! We don't know they're dead. As long as there is still a chance they're alive we have to rescue them!', he spoke with urgency 'you don't have to come, just lead us to the right place, we'll do the rest'. Katrin looked at Sulu, 'if they're not dead, they will be. The bombs will detonate in four hours'. McCoy was reeling, 'get us into the Elder Tower, we'll do the rest ourselves'. Zarel looked towards Katrin, sharing a silent conversation. He nodded to his visitors, 'come we do not have much time'. In the all terrain vehicle they sped towards the structure. Zarel explained it was not completely deserted, and severed as their headquarters. There was also a functioning transporter, capable of penetrating the shield surrounding the main square. 'I'll transport with you into the main square, and take get you inside the Elder Tower. After that, you are on your own'. McCoy and Sulu were now attired in the clothes of a Theytan guards. 'Why are you attacking the Elder Chapel?' Sulu thought the plan reckless. 'We need the shields down to summon help', Zarel's tone was bitter.
Spock was in turmoil. Something nagged at him, that what he was about to do was wrong. Two of the guards held Kirk's head still, he then began the meld. He could sense fear, disgust and anger about his forceful invasion of Kirk's mind. He probed deeper to access his memories, in particular those about Uhura. He saw their first meeting at the bar, how she was impressed that he knew what Xenolinguistics was; then Kirk reading a book on fysantanise. One of the more abstract languages, he was memorising lines to use on Uhura, how she covered her awe with an insult about the paternity of his father; when she had been one of the cadets caught in the explosion on Jupiter, unconscious and badly burnt, her parents had been delayed, so she was alone - he sat up all night so she wouldn't be. He'd refused treatment until her parents arrived even though he was in great pain; the feeling of her body against his in the turbo lift how he'd wanted to have her; giving up the codes so she wouldn't have to suffer anymore. Along with the memories he could sense Kirk's feelings; - awe, happiness, pride, passion, preservation, jealousy. That surprised Spock, he wanted to explore memories associated with jealousy. Uhura on a date with Science officer Dmitri - she was holding his hand walking through the quad, Uhura sharing coffee with McCoy - they'd shared a joke and when Kirk approached she'd made her excuses and left; Uhura kissing him in front of Kirk before they went to rescue Pike from Nero – he'd realised that she was so close yet so far; three nights ago when he'd seen her in her satin dressing gown - Kirk watched as he'd held her body against Spock's.
Spock struggled not to lose control, as he felt Kirk fighting back, but his own jealousy drove on the relentless search. There, at last he found it, proof Kirk was indeed in love with Uhura. Abruptly he broke off the meld, he'd seen everything he needed to. Kirk lay dazed on the table, his inner most thoughts forcefully exposed. Déjà telepathically goaded Spock 'see, he wants what is yours'. Spock growled 'SHE IS MINE!', before forcibly trying to re-establish his bond with Uhura. Without his usual restraint, his impulse control was diminished, and his need to bond with Uhura was tainted with the knowledge of Kirk's love for her. 'No...! She thrashed her head from side to side, he couldn't lose the connection, he held on harder. Her body felt as if it were on fire, she could sense everything about Spock, knew everything he knew – the meld with Déjà, Kirk's feelings for her, the intensity of Spock's jealousy. She tried to block him as he had taught her.
'Nooo, Spock! Stop!' Kirk screamed. Spock's instability meant he no longer shielded his thoughts. The intensity of his emotions was startling. Then he understood what Spock feared...Uhura felt something for Kirk, it was buried, she was unsure what it really meant. Kirk could sense Uhura trying hard to not to hurt Spock with the knowledge, and in turn herself. With her last ounce of mental strength she appealed to Spock to stop. He opened his eyes and saw the tears streaming from her eyes. She whispered 'please...' Findius realising that one or all three of them might die, pulled out his phaser and stunned Spock. He staggered back; looking at his hands as if they were contaminated, then up at Déjà.