Chapter Twenty-six
Kirk was becoming used to the sensation of fighting his way back to consciousness, the gradual rearranging of his circuitry that allowed him to first hear, then see the world around him albeit in a fuzzy, unfocused sort of way. This time it was taking a little longer. Concussion? It was a possibility, but not one he could entertain in his present predicament. Gingerly, he touched his face and winced; his nose felt out of alignment – broken again, well it wouldn't be the first time. Not the first time he'd lost a tooth either. Somewhere in sickbay there was a drawer with a full set of replacement teeth that McCoy had cloned from Kirk's own. Hell, he even had doubles of some that he had worked out were the most likely to be knocked out in a fist fight.
As his brain kicked into gear, it dawned on Kirk that he wasn't on the Enterprise any more. Where was he? In some sort of holding cell. Judging by the gloomy décor and oppressive atmosphere, he was on the Klingon ship. Then, he remembered; Caton's fist ramming hard into his face, being manhandled into the transporter room whilst drifting in and out of consciousness, resisting Caton all the way until he felt the transporter beam wrap him up in its atom-exploding cocoon, then nothing until now.
Where was Caton? What story was he spinning for the Klingon commanding the ship in Kaathos's absence? Perhaps more importantly, what was Spock, now in command of the Enterprise, doing about it? Kirk was not a patient man and the thought of lying around waiting for answers didn't enter his head. Despite the sideways tip of the room and the crushing pain in his head when he stood up, he was shouting at the door of his cell within minutes of regaining his senses. He didn't have to wait long for a response.
"Captian Kirk. I see you've come to your senses." Caton.
"Return me to my ship immediately."
"I don't think so, Captain. You are more use to us here." Kirk laughed,
"As what, a hostage? A bargaining tool? Spock won't trade for my life. He knows what he has to do. Face it, Caton, you're finished."
"Just like your precious Vulcan will be if he is responsible for your death." Caton sneered. Kirk stiffened, feeling a torrent of hatred for the man before him. Caton leaned close until he risked touching the invisible forcefield keeping them apart, "If I must lose the hyperwarp, you lose your life, your First Officer loses his grip. A trade that I can live with." Kirk could see that Caton was enraged but trying not to show it. The lives of two Starfleet officers and the loss of his own career were as nothing compared to what he had recently hoped to gain from handing the hyperwarp over to the Klingons.
A Klingon guard approached and spoke with Caton in Klingon. Kirk caught a word here and there – something about the Commander of the Enterprise being on the Bridge. That couldn't be right - must mean on the viewscreen on the Bridge. They went off together, without a backwards glance. Kirk paced. There was little else he could do.
Spock's face loomed large and solemn on the battlecruiser's viewscreen. H'Narth gave a mock bow in greeting, but it was Caton who spoke, "Mr Spock, you're looking better than I ever expected to see you again." Spock ignored Caton and addressed H'Narth.
"I will not prevaricate, Mr H'Narth. Commander Kaathos is unharmed. I must inform you, however that your ship and crew are in immediate danger." H'Narth snorted. "You are not in control of your own ship, Vulcan. How dare you think to take this one? We are more than capable of defeating you in battle."
"You misunderstand me," Spock continued, "Piklamer never intended colluding with you or Caton. It was his intention to take the Enterprise and destroy your ship."
"Lies!" Caton, red-faced with anger.
"It does not matter what you believe. The truth speaks for itself," Spock said, his calmness contrasting with Caton's rage. Before Caton could rant again, H'Narth intervened,
"What proof do you have?" Commander Kaathos stepped into view beside Spock. "The Vulcan claims that an explosive device has been planted somewhere in the electro-plasma system feeding the S-2 graf unit. If what Spock says is true you will detect an upsurge in heat energy when the warp drive is engaged for use. Have it checked." H'Narth stood to attention and saluted his Commander,
"At once, Commander." There was a moment's silence whilst Spock's counterpart in the Klingon command centre leaned over his console, checking readings. His face, when he turned to give H'Narth his news, needed no interpretation.
"He speaks the truth." Kaathos nodded.
"The Vulcan has been in telepathic communication with the Moranan leader. He can lead you to the source and assist in dismantling the device. His coordinates will be relayed to you immediately along with those of Stephen Blackstone and Dr McCoy. You will cooperate with them until the ship is out of danger. In return for Mr Spock's assistance, I have agreed to release the Enterprise from Klingon control. When the ship is secure, Captain Kirk and I will be returned to our respective ships."
"But Commander, the Enterprise, the hyperwarp."
"There is no hyperwarp!" Kaathos said, bitterly. "The porathium-bretinium mix is useless. Our own science officer has confirmed this with me. It has been disabled. The Morana are not going anywhere"
McCoy had insisted that he be included in the group boarding the Klingon ship. Concern for the Captain's well being had been his excuse but he was equally concerned about Spock's. He couldn't shake the uneasy feeling he had about the bond with Blackstone. He met with the two Vulcans now, having returned, under Klingon escort, from sickbay where he had left Hunter trying to rest; the man had been distraught at the news of Kort's death, which McCoy had broken to him as gently as he could. It would be Hunter's sad task to tell T'Sorf, who was safely back on Skara in the care of Mara and Reena. McCoy did not envy him the task.
The ship's corridors were still unnaturally quiet, most of the crew having been beamed down to Skara. Klingon guards patrolled, but they had been informed of the temporary truce and though they glowered at McCoy as he walked past, they did not challenge him.
They materialised in the bulbous forward hull of the battlecruiser, in a dimly lit transporter room that set the theme for the corridors outside, dark and gloomy, lit only by strips of red light along the walls and floor. The design of Klingon ships was brooding and predatory, and the interior was utilitarian, unadorned, a vessel for transporting warriors to their next battle. Not a welcoming atmosphere. The temperature, McCoy noted was a few degrees higher than was comfortable for Humans – Klingons, like Vulcans liked warmth, a fact that seemed at odds with the former's cold-blooded nature.
H'Narth greeted them on the bridge, Caton hovering at his side, a menacing presence. McCoy studied him closely for signs of mental derangement, but the man had himself under control. On seeing him, Blackstone, the doctor noted had turned that peculiar shade of green that he had often seen Spock turn when in distress. It wasn't a promising start, but Spock at least seemed to be holding it together, for now.
"Where is Captain Kirk?" Spock asked. It had been a condition of their agreement that Kirk would be freed from any restraints ready for an exchange of captains when the explosive device had been defused. H'Narth touched a button on his console – a red button - everything here seemed to be red, the colour of anger and warning. "Bring the prisoner to the Bridge." He commanded, and they waited.
Within moments, Kirk was escorted onto the Bridge, hands bound. McCoy's heart lurched at the sight of him, bloodied and bruised, but as far as he could tell, the damage was superficial. Spock's only reaction was to stiffen his already rigid frame, as he looked in Kirk's direction. Jim managed a crooked smile that must have hurt like hell.
"I request that you untie his hands and allow our medical officer to attend him." Spock said, his request sounding more like an order. H'Narth scowled, but complied, grunting an order to Kirk's guard. McCoy crossed to him at once.
"What's going on." Jim asked in a low voice. "McCoy put him in the picture.
"So now we're cooperating with the Klingons for our mutual benefit. Well, there's a first time for everything," Kirk said, "Got anything for a headache, Bones?" A hypo hissed against his arm. McCoy nodded to Spock to let him know that Jim was all right.
"Time is of the essence Mr H'Narth. I suggest you show us to your engineering section."
"Wait a minute," Kirk said, "What about him?" All eyes followed Kirk's. Caton was still a picture of brooding, menacing calm. H'Narth shrugged.
"It will be for Commander Kaathos to decide, but Admiral Caton has a long history of service to the Klingon Empire. No doubt he will be welcomed to take his place at High Command even though he has outlived his usefulness as a spy."
"Spock?" Kirk, surprised. "You didn't ask for Caton to be surrendered to Starfleet as part of the deal?" Spock hesitated, unusual for him.
"It… must have escaped my attention amidst the other pressing matters to attend to." He looked at Blackstone in what seemed momentary confusion.
"May I remind you, Captain, that you are in no position to make threats," said H'Narth, "There is still a strong Klingon presence on your ship; we will retake the bridge and engineering sections eventually. And I could destroy the Enterprise in a heartbeat. Commander Kaathos would be proud to die an honourable death in battle."
At H'Narth's warning, Caton smiled at Kirk, his eyes glinting with cold pleasure. McCoy glanced at Blackstone and was surprised by what he saw. Just for a second, the young Vulcan's lips had curled into a mocking smile, as though he knew he had the better of Caton. McCoy's gaze travelled to Spock and he was startled to see the First Officer staring at Blackstone in confusion. Then, just as suddenly Spock seemed to recover, but McCoy was left with a deepening sense of unease about the meld.
If the rest of the Klingon ship had seemed dark and oppressive, engineering was still more so. For the Enterprise crew, this was a rare glimpse into the inner workings of a Class D7 Klingon battlecruiser, details about which were known only through information gained clandestinely or from Klingon informers. Mr Scott would have given his eyeteeth to be on this trip, but he and Nancy Weston were still needed aboard the Enterprise.
All engineering levels seemed to pulse with an energy of their own. Scotty claimed to be able to sense the slightest alteration in the Enterprise's throbbing rhythms, so attuned was he to his ship's changing moods. Here, in the bowels of the Klingon ship, Kirk, Spock and McCoy had a sense of what Scotty meant, for here, nothing felt right. From the huge, exposed, skeletal structures towering overhead to a depth of three decks, to the jutting edges and unfamiliar layout of workstations, it was truly an alien environment. Not the warm beating heart of the ship, like the Enterprise's engineering deck, but a diseased, alien counterpart. Despite the depth, the area was no less oppressive than the corridors because of the towering, yet crushing presence of exposed, ugly machinery.
"Why this is hell, nor are we out of it," McCoy quoted, grim-faced.
"Where is the device?" H'Narth demanded. Spock searched his mind for the images he had seen in Piklamer's mind but as he tried to remember a searing pain cut through his head, making him stumble backwards off-balance.
"What is it Spock?" Spcok was aware of Kirk and McCoy moving towards him but his skull was exploding with pain and he sank to his knees, hands covering his head. "Spock!" Kirk's voice now, alarmed. Spock looked at Blackstone, and McCoy followed his gaze, suddenly understanding.
"It's you. You're doing this to him." He said, as Blackstone looked stonily back at him.
"Jim, their minds are linked. Blackstone's inside Spock's head. Stephen, what are you doing to him?"
"I cannot allow Caton to go unpunished." Blackstone said, coldly. "If the device is dismantled, Caton sails off under Klingon protection. Ravik, all these years spent tracking him down, Kort's death, all will have been for nothing. I can't allow that to happen. He dies, now, with this ship and all of us."
"That's not your call." Kirk said, harshly. H'Narth was not in the mood for negotiation. He levelled his disruptor at Blackstone.
"No!" McCoy yelled, "He's deep in a meld with Spock. If you kill him, the link will be broken abruptly. Spock wouldn't survive that and nor would your ship."
H'Narth snarled, "We are running out of time."
"Stephen, think what you're doing. Caton will be brought to justice, no matter what today's outcome. I will personally see to it that Starfleet hunts him down," Kirk said.
Blackstone shook his head. Kirk feared that he had moved beyond reason.
"You don't understand anything." Blackstone replied, bitterly. "Do you think Caton has accomplished what he has acting alone?" Kirk looked baffled.
"Tell him." Blackstone said, his eyes boring into Caton's.
"It is true that I have 'friends' in high places." Said Caton, smugly.
"Friends who are willing to turn a blind eye to mass murder to get what they want. Why do you think the perpetrators of the attack on Ravik were never brought to justice, Captain?" Kirk could only stare, dumbfounded.
"Because Caton's 'friends' endorsed their crimes when they heard what the Morana had to offer. Caton didn't just promise the hyperwarp to the Klingons, he also promised it to Starfleet only in Starfleet's case, he never intended to deliver. But as long as Starfleet believed the Morana would hand over the technology, they were willing to forgive Piklamer's crimes." He went on, "Look at him. He will not deny it because he is proud of his achievement – he has shown that Starfleet is as cold-bloodedy murderous as any Klingon when it comes to getting what it wants."
"No!" Kirk yelled, "Even if what you say is true, I refuse to believe that Starfleet is rotten to the core. There may be corrupt men and women in its ranks, but they are not the norm. Stephen, you have to believe that. Don't let this madman let you commit murder to prove his point. You have to be better than him."
"He murdered my parents, Kort…"
"Kort would not want you to commit murder to avenge him. He was an honourable man. As is Hunter."
"They too, sought justice."
"Justice, not revenge." Kirk risked a sideways glance at Spock. The First Officer was curled on the floor now, cradling his head in his hands, McCoy kneeling, helpless, beside him,
"Stephen, you are a Vulcan…"
"Only in name. I don't belong with Vulcans any more."
"Everyone belongs somewhere. Stephen, you can find peace, but not like this, not by getting blood on your hands."
They were almost out of time and Kirk was out of words. Blackstone's mask of calm had long since slipped, leaving his emotions showing raw in his face. He turned away from Kirk and for a moment it seemed that it was over, that Stephen meant them all to die if that meant Caton perishing with them.
"Stephen!" Spock's voice. The older Vulcan had drawn himself into a sitting position, and was looking at Blackstone. Their eyes locked.
"Stephen, you are a Vulcan." Blackstone heard Spock's voice in his head and he resisted, but Spock's presence asserted itself more insistently the more he tried to block it out until he could no longer be sure which thoughts were his own. He found himself opening up to the older Vulcan and his life flashed between both their minds in a swirling collage of images - he was a boy on Ravik, suddenly orphaned and fighting for survival on a hostile world; he was a young man on Vulcan struggling with customs he could no longer relate to; he was a man consumed with hatred and a lust for revenge.
"There is no other way!" he screamed silently and the answer came back immediately, "There is always another way."
"You want me to act logically. I cannot."
"Then act humanely."
"Because acting humanely is logical?"
"Because it is the right thing to do."
"A categorical imperative?"
"Doing what is right is not always the logical or rational thing to do."
"You believe that?"
"I have seen it demonstrated."
"Amongst your human friends?"
"Amongst all races in the galaxy."
"I want him dead, but more than that, I want him to suffer."
"Your feelings are understandable. Powerful emotions like the desire for revenge are strong in Vulcans. Stronger than in other races – they have to be tamed, controlled. Unbridled emotion is the enemy of reason, of intellectual attainment. Amongst Vulcans, learning restraint is a matter of survival. Only when it has been mastered, can we permit ourselves to make judgements about what is right and wrong. Ultimately, that is what allows us to temper our logic with humanity, Sevak."
"You use my Vulcan name."
"You are a Vulcan. By any name."
The link was breaking. Blackstone could feel Spock's strength waning, and he too was too exhausted to continue the struggle for control; moreover, he found that he no longer wished it. Momentarily confused he looked around the assembled group, returning finally to Spock who was struggling to stand, then, he released him.
Turning to H'Narth, Spock said, "Look in the main engineering circuit bay." As McCoy steadied Spock, Kirk turned to Caton, "This isn't over. I meant what I said, Caton. You will be brought to justice." Caton sneered,
"How, Kirk? You will have to find me first. The Klingons won't hand me over."
"Don't be so sure of that, Caton." Kirk said, wearily. He had made Blackstone a promise and he would do what he could, but the whole sordid business was going to sour Starfleet for a while. There would have to be a witch hunt, and he wondered just how many men and women would emerge untarnished from its findings.
"What just happened here?" Kirk said, turning away from Caton to Spock, McCoy and Blackstone.
"I owe Mr Spock an apology." Said Blackstone, "I took advantage of his vulnerable mental state to block his memory of the location of the device. When he tried to remember, he suffered excrutiating pain, but it would have caused him no lasting harm."
"Unlike blowing us all to pieces." McCoy said, highlighting the illogic.
"I owe you all an apology."
"Yes you do, mister. What brought you to your senses?" Kirk asked. Blackstone looked at Spock. Kirk nodded.
"I am quite sure we all owe Mr Spock a debt of thanks."
McCoy was starting to feel restless, "Sooner we get off this damn ship, the better I'll feel. And you two are in need of my attention." He said, eyeing Kirk and Spock. Nodding, Kirk turned to H'Narth.
"H'Narth. We've kept our part of the bargain. Let's find out if your Commander Kaathos is an honourable man."