Chapter 8 – Strength is not necessary…

"Scotty! I need a better answer!"

"I'm sorry Capt'n but I cannae do anythin' inside of eighteen months."

Kirk sat back down on his Infirmary bed in annoyance. Eighteen months! That was eighteen months stuck on Earth with no ship to take them anywhere. And McCoy was pleased about that, because his new protégée would benefit from that time. He was the only one. It inconvenienced everyone else.

"Come on Scotty, you've gotta do better."

"No Capt'n, I can't. My lady is beat up and it'll take time for her to heal. Anyways, the crew has been too busy helpin' rebuild the city to put in the effort on the Enterprise. Where's Spock? I need his help to recalibrate some systems." Scotty glanced around, as if Spock would suddenly sweep into the room doing a tap dance.

"He's spending time with his girlfriend. From what I understand they had a row, so I've given him time off."

"How much time…?"

"Two, three days at most," Kirk shrugged. "It's really none of my business what they do." He pulled a face. "Not a good mental image."

"Well I'll give him a call and tell him that he needs to be back here pronto." Scotty pulled out his communicator and typed in Spock's number. He waited with it pressed to his ear before frowning. "That's odd. He always answers his communicator."

"I've got Zia's number," Kirk suggested. "Don't look at me like that. Spock gave it to me for security purposes." Scotty handed him the communicator and Kirk proceeded to type in the number and wait for her to answer. It was his turn to frown. "She didn't answer either."

"How about we call back in an hour? If they don't answer, let's find them on a satellite and go visit them."

"Yes please," Kirk groaned. "I need to get out of here!"

McCoy stalked into the room in that very moment. "You were clinically dead sixteen days ago!"

Kirk rolled his eyes. "Come on Bones, I'm better!" he whined.

"Be as it may, I'd still like to keep you under observation for at least another week, just to be sure there ain't any side-effects."

Annoyed, Kirk turned to Scotty. "Get onto a Starfleet computer and find them. Report back to me when you've got a location."

"What's going on?" McCoy asked.

"We can't get a hold of Spock or Zia," Scotty explained, "and I need to contact Spock."

"Go ahead." McCoy gestured to the door. Scotty raised his palms in surrender and left quickly. "Now," McCoy grinned, "you're my unwilling victim."

Kirk groaned loudly. "I hate this more than my monthly hypos."

o.O.o

Scotty sat at one of Headquarters computers and spun in his chair while he waited for the database to load. All he wanted was to get back to his lady as quickly as possible, so he could work on her. He missed her gentle purring when she was active, even though it had only been sixteen days since she was docked in the California for primary structural repairs.

The database finally loaded, and he logged into satellite functions. It was simple work to put in Spock's transmitter code, a code that all Federation members required, and scan the surface. Normally it took a few minutes to locate transmitters, so Scotty leant back in his chair and folded his hands behind his head. Ugh, he needed a good Scotch. Maybe he could get a drink tonight with Keenser-

A beep from the computer attracted his attention. SIGNAL NOT LOCATED. He found Zia's code in the database and tried that one. This time he watched the computer like a hawk as the satellite scanned the planet for Zia's transmitter. SIGNAL NOT LOCATED.

"Aye, this is not good," he muttered. It may be broken, but he didn't think so. He typed in his code and the satellite located him in one sweep. SIGNAL LOCATED.

Scotty rushed from Headquarters and to the Infirmary. People leapt out of the way as he bolted past. He breathed deeply as he entered the Infirmary and slowed to a fast walk. McCoy spotted Scotty and joined him in fast-walking.

"What's wrong man?" the doctor asked.

"I need to see the Capt'n!" Scotty wheezed. They burst into Kirk's room, startling him as he tried to chat up a nurse. "Get out!" Scotty snapped to the nurse. She squeaked and bolted.

"Whoa, whoa, Scotty what's the problem?" Kirk sat up.

"I cannae find their signals anywhere!" Scotty cried. "They're not on this planet as far as I can tell."

Kirk's mouth dropped open. "Spock wouldn't go anywhere without letting us know first. Something's not right."

"Aye, yer right abou' that. I'd wager he didn't leave voluntarily."

McCoy paled. "You're sayin' they were kidnapped?!"

"Aye, that's what I'm sayin'."

"Who would want to kidnap two Vulcans?" Kirk asked.

"I don't know, but I need to access the database again and find out exactly when and where they were last seen."

"Get to it Scotty," Kirk ordered. "If our First Officer has been kidnapped we need to know."

o.O.o

He recoiled as he was struck again. Baldy (who Spock named appropriately because of his bald head) drew back his fist, smiling lopsidedly, and Spock spat green blood.

"Not so cocky now, are ya?" Baldy grinned. "Your kind is a disease, you and your damn emotionless talk." He punched Spock again and shook his hand. "Man, this makes me feel good."

"I am certain it does." Spock spat more blood.

Baldy narrowed his eyes. "You shut up!"

"What will you do if I do not comply?" Spock mocked. Baldy's eyebrow twitched.

"I'll beat the living daylights outta ya!"

"I do believe you must wait until my execution…"

"That's stupid. I can kill ya right now!"

The door slammed open and Caster sauntered through. "There won't be any killing today. We can save that until next week." He smiled unpleasantly, turned to Baldy and jerked his head at the door. Baldy grumbled as he left the room and when he was gone Caster turned to Spock.

"I do believe you are going to use your brute human strength against me," Spock said.

"You may be stronger, but I've got the upper hand. You're tied up in this chair, with nothing you can-"

Like lightning, Spock's hand delivered a powerful strike to Caster's jaw. The human reeled back, and while he was occupied, Spock used his free hand to attempt to untie the other one.

"You little-" Caster grabbed Spock's arm and forced it back down onto the chair. Spock pushed his captor back and strained to hold him away while he struggled in his chair. The door slammed open again and Baldy ran in. He grabbed Spock's arm and held it down with brute strength while Caster tied him back up. "You shouldn't have done that," Caster hissed. "How did you do it?"

"I have my ways."

Caster punched Spock harder than before. "How did you do it!"

There was no way to avoid the fists, truth or not. He opted to say nothing at all.

o.O.o

Zia touched her face and winced whenever her fingertips made contact. Ow.

Footsteps sounded outside, and the door swung open to reveal Spock and Caster. The Vulcan looked thoroughly beaten physically, but his eyes shone with defiance. Caster, in contrast, looked thunderous.

"Let's see how you can hold up this time," Caster spat. He pushed Spock into his cell and the shield activated. Spock jumped to his feet.

"Do not-"

The shield to Zia's cell lowered and Caster grabbed Zia and slammed her into the wall behind her. He rained blows on her torso and legs and she stayed silent through sheer determination. That only made him angrier. He grabbed her throat and squeezed.

"Tell me how you got your arm free!" Caster shouted. She planted a vicious kick between Caster's legs and he fell back. She stepped forward, but the shield came up. Caster rolled over on the ground, just beyond the shield, and held his crotch. "You're going to pay for that!" Caster moaned. "I'll be back." He stood shakily and stumbled from the room. The door slammed shut behind him. Zia collapsed. Breathing was suddenly hard.

'That… was not pleasant,' she murmured. Her gaze fogged.

'No, you cannot fall unconscious! We must find a way out!'

The darkness was warm and inviting. 'Spock, I won't… I can't…'

'No, Zia! I need you to stay with me!'

Her eyes closed. 'You need to …'

Now asleep, she missed his plea. 'No! I need you!'