Chapter 9 - … When Tempered with Wits

Caster came back and was visibly disappointed upon seeing Zia lying unconscious. New bruises lined her throat and peppered her body. Spock's face was devoid of emotion, as it always was when he was beyond rage.

"Not so tough now, are ya?" Caster sneered. "She's a lot more of a challenge than she used to be. Did she ever tell you that I was the first one to hit her?"

"No," Spock said calmly. People like Caster relished being in the spotlight.

"We were ten when my parents told me what she was. I couldn't believe that I breathed the same air as an emotionless robot, so I took matters into my own hands. You know, I was thinking of killing her or driving her away but taking away her confidence was so satisfying." He sighed and lounged against the wall. "Then our science tutor encouraged her to pursue Starfleet."

"I commend your tutor for their wisdom."

"Yeah, I wasn't happy when I found out. But now here we are."

"Lower the shield and let us see who will win in a fair fight," Spock suggested. "If I win, we go free."

"Do you think I'm that stupid? Why the hell would I fight you fairly when I can beat you senseless and enjoy it?" Caster stalked from the room. "I'll be back when she wakes up."

o.O.o

Scotty burst into Kirk's hospital room and averted his eyes as Kirk was in the middle of changing into his Captain attire.

"Damn it Jim, this is a bad idea!" McCoy yelled.

"If something has happened to my First Officer I want to be ready!" Jim retorted.

"Capt'n, I've got the info for when and where they disappeared!" Scotty cut in. "They were in a garden just outside of the Academy when the signal cut off. I isolated the code that the kidnappers used to deactivate their transmitters. It's Admiral Marcus' code."

Kirk groaned. "Dead guys always give us the most trouble. What else you got?"

"I can't detect any signs of beaming radiation, so I looked at all the vehicles in the area at the time. There was only one, and I've got the registration number. It belongs to Jordan Peltier."

"Alright, I want you, Sulu, Chekov, Uhura and you to subdue Peltier. We'll meet you at Headquarters."

Scotty nodded and left. Kirk had complete faith that his crew would capture Peltier. He finished dressing and allowed McCoy to run his final scans. Then, finally, the Doctor announced a clean bill of health.

o.O.o

Kirk glared at Peltier. The fat, red-faced man didn't look concerned.

"You will tell us, or you'll be spending a long time in a cell," Kirk threatened.

"Do whatever you want," Peltier sneered. "It won't matter. Your precious friends will be dead by the end of the week."

Kirk stiffened. "What?"

"You heard me. We don't keep them alive for long."

And that was all they could get from him.

Outside the interrogation room, Kirk, Scotty, Uhura, Sulu, McCoy and Chekov huddled together.

"Look, we've got nothing from him," Kirk said quietly.

"We know that he was involved, and that should be enough to take to trial," Uhura protested.

"But lass, if he won't confess then Spock is as good as dead," Scotty pointed out.

"Hey, don't forget about Zia," Uhura snapped.

"Back on topic," McCoy interjected, "how will we get the information from him?"

Suddenly Kirk's communicator buzzed. He checked the number and his stomach dropped. "It's Zia!" He pressed it to his ear. "Hello?"

"Hi, is this Kirk?" It was a very female voice and Kirk had to ignore all instinct and adopt a business-persona.

"Speaking. Who are you?"

"Um, my name is Jamie. I work with Zia."

"How do you have her communicator?"

"Well, I, uh, I'm in her room right now. I figured she's out with Spock and forgot her communicator, so I called him, but he didn't answer, so I called you. It's Jim Kirk, right?"

"Why are you in her room?" He had his hand raised, ready to send Sulu and Chekov to apprehend her.

"I've been checking up on her every few days since I found out about her condition."

Kirk blinked. "What condition?" Was she pregnant?

"I'm not sure exactly, but it's not good. If you want details you'd have to ask her doctor."

He spun around. "McCoy, I need Yeto Kestrel here immediately."

"Yes, Captain."

"Has something happened to Zia?"

He hesitated. The voice was so honest and concerned. But this was an official investigation. "She's missing."

"Do you have any leads?"

Why was he doing this… "Yeah, but he isn't talking."

Jamie snorted. "Please, give me five minutes with him and I'll make him talk."

"What?"

"I'm a quarter Orion. Persuasion is one of my skills. So, do you want my help to find my friend?"

A slow smile spread across Kirk's face. "Actually…"

o.O.o

Spock stood shakily. Baldy and Odour (a human with a terrible body odour) had taken far too much joy in their most recent visit. A fractured collarbone and concussion. One thought was clear in his head.

Escape.

They could only go so long before their bodies betrayed them. While they were both strong, Vulcan bodies weren't designed to handle such violence. Escape was their only option. He had to find a way to get them out.

Zia stirred. They had been there too long already, he thought, and he had a plan.

"You look terrible," she whispered.

"You are not much better," he replied. 'I have a plan.'

'Good.'

The door slammed open and Baldy and Odour entered. Both shields went down, and Odour bent down and grabbed Zia's wrists while Baldy went for Spock.

Spock leapt for Baldy and knocked him down. He then stepped behind Odour and toppled him with a nerve pinch. Baldy scrabbled to his feet and swung at Spock, who ducked and tackled him into the wall. Baldy aimed a kick at Spock's legs, but the Vulcan executed a perfect nerve pinch that stopped him mid-kick.

Spock ran to Zia, gently slid his arm around her waist and lifted her over his shoulder like a rag doll. She coughed and clung to him.

He slipped out the door and she hung on for dear life as he raced up countless deserted corridors. He didn't know exactly how many Vulcan Hunters there were, but he didn't expect there to be many. Voices sounded inside a door he passed, and he pushed faster. Zia relied on him to get them out of there and to safety.

"Behind you," she grunted. Spock dropped her on her feet and turned to face the two goons behind him. The female goon dodged around him and went for Zia while the other goon engaged Spock. They traded punches for a few moments before Spock slipped behind him and gave him a nerve pinch. Zia fought a losing battle against the woman. She didn't have the strength to match her opponent. The woman punched Zia right in the gut and she staggered back, winded. As her back was turned, Spock launched a vicious roundhouse at the woman's head and smacked her temple. She crumpled.

He grabbed Zia's hand and she stumbled after him. Where were they going? He had absolutely no idea. Vulcans couldn't sweat, but if they could he would be drenched. Behind him, she slowed, her steps weaker with every passing second.

"We'll make it," she rasped. "We'll make it."

It seemed like she was trying to assure him more than herself.