Chapter Nine.
Personal Log: Security Lockout.
We've been at high warp for almost a week now, we're almost at the Neutral Zone… the ship is operating at under a skeleton crew and Mister Scott assures me that the new equipment is ready to use. However, he thinks the cloak may offer a surprising tactical advantage… he believes that we can get off at least twelve shots from either the Photon Torpedoes of the Phasers, after which… we'll have too decloak too recharge.
Personal Log, Supplemental.
Nothing new too report, Enterprise had resumed her course to the Neutral Zone… I have contacted Carol Marcus, she has left Starfleet and took up a post on some… classified program, called Genesis I think. However, I was surprised by her news, for the last few years she has tried to contact me with some news, I have a son she's called him David. Also, I have had a chance to get to know my First Officer better since our talk over Earth Orbit, Pike was right about him.
Approaching the Neutral Zone, the USS Enterprise dropped out of warp near a large asteroid and activated the cloaking shield which had been recently installed on the ship under the close eye of the Chief Engineer Montgomery Scott, a brilliant yet unorthodox Scottish Engineer with an almost unnatural talent when it comes to a Starship. Originally the chief designer of the new engine, he decided to stay onboard after the first mission with James Kirk, his old friend of many years.
"Captain, we're almost at the Zone!" Called out Sulu slowly.
"Very well, Scotty… when you're ready"
"Activating the system in three seconds, two… one…"
With all unoccupied areas of the ship running on grey mode, more power was directed through the cloak as the lighting on the bridge dimmed slightly while the power hungry system activated and the huge Starfleet vessel began to disappear slowly. Nervously looking around, Pavel Chekov smiled slightly as the lighting returned to its normal level.
"Problems Pavel?"
"No Keptain… actually yes sir. It is a little strange being on a Federation ship with a cloak"
"I know what you mean. By the end of the day, it should be an old habit… for all of us"
Turning from his engineering console, Scotty smiled slightly as he reported in his usual way which almost seemed to bring a slight smile to Spock's lips.
"Captain, this wee bugger is operational sir. We're good to go"
"Very well, Sulu… plot a course for Romulus… best possible speed"
"Aye sir"
"Captain, I would recommend we stay below warp eight for the duration of this journey. If we push the engines too far… it maybe possible for the Romulans to detect us, even through the cloak"
"Understood, warp seven mister Sulu… Engage!"
"Aye sir. Warp Seven!"
The journey to Romulus was not an easy one as the large cloaked vessel avoided patrol ships and sensor networks with the assistance of the Romulan defector. Approaching the home world of one Starfleet's most notorious enemies, Kirk, Chekov along with a security team and the Romulan doctor had been ordered to sickbay for reconstructive surgery. Although she was a Romulan, Doctor Selana had requested a separate surgery to camouflage her features in the hope she would not be recognised by anyone on the surface of her former homeworld. Although Romulus was infected with the Langaran plague, recent breakthroughs by the doctor herself had allowed her to walk amongst the infected for a period of eight hours before she was in danger of being infected herself.
After the surgery, Kirk, Chekov, the security team and Doctor Selana had changed into Romulan style clothing before they entered the transporter room for the first time. Stood at the control console of the equipment, Mister Scott smiled as Kirk entered with a serious look in his eyes.
"Captain? Not sure about the ears" He smiled.
"Indeed Mister Scott…" Spock replied as he entered. "… The left appears to be a little sharper on the point"
"A slight imperfection makes it looks natural Mister Spock" Selana smiled.
"I see…" He nodded slightly. "… Several months ago, a Federation Starship encountered a crippled Romulan ship, once boarded they where able to… recover several Romulan artefacts…"
Reaching into a large bag he was carrying, Spock pulled out Romulan designed equipment and handed them too the away team as he continued.
"Romulan Tricorders and Disrupters. The Tricorder has been interfaced with the ship's systems. I assume the doctor has implanted the subcutaneous transponders?"
"Yes Spock" Kirk moaned. "Testing, one, two, one, two…"
"We hear ya Cap'n" Scotty laughed slightly.
"I hope so"
"We will monitor you from the bridge, Mister Scott, Chekov and his team will stand by here…"
"If you hear a scream, don't hesitate… beam us up. Otherwise wait for my signal. Chekov, we'll call if we need any help. Selana, shall we?" He smiled.
"Of course!"
Stepping onto the transporter platform, Kirk gave the order as Scotty activated the system and the two disappeared in a haze of transporter energy. Materialising on the surface of Romulus, Kirk looked around in shock at his surroundings. The streets where almost abandoned and seemingly left to decay as the natural plant life had begun to take a foothold on the usually clean city streets, a foul stench of death floated in the gentle and warm breeze.
"Holy shit!" Kirk said in shock.
"If I understand you correctly… your right…" Laughing with shock, Selana continued. "I used to live around here… that second building on your right, third floor up. It was beautiful… look at it now… dead"
"I'm sorry" Kirk said slowly.
"We should find Jerock, if anyone knows where McCoy is… he will"
"Can you trust him?"
"I used too. He was a part of an underground movement… they believed in the Vulcan ways"
"What?" Kirk said in shock.
"Not all of my people are… warriors Captain"
"Don't call me that here… it's Krik, remember?"
"Of course… umm… this way. I hope!"
For the next hour, they searched the crumbling remains of the city until they finally approached a small building on the outskirts of the city. Once a small family owned business it appeared to be the only building remaining which had been untouched by the rapid decay of building around them. Quickly scanning the interior of the building, Kirk placed his tricorder back inside his long black jacket before he spoke.
"One life sign… very weak"
"Let's have a look" She smiled.
"You'll want to be careful Doc, you've picked up a slight Earth accent"
"Had I? I hadn't noticed. Follow me"
Pushing the large heavy metallic door open, they slowly entered the building as Kirk followed Selana closely, yet keeping a close watchful eye on the woman before him. Being on her homeworld could cause her to change her mind about her allegiances. After all, who knows, she could be a Romulan plot to gain a spy within the Federation itself.
"This way Krik" She smiled.
Since before his career in Starfleet, Kirk had many women in his life and as Doctor Chapel once put it, 'A lot of notches on his headboard'. However, Doctor Selana was by any standards a beautiful woman with or without the disguise. Like many humans before him, he had always held a fascination for Vulcan women, even though she was not Vulcan, the Romulan species shared a common decent even their appearance was identical with the acceptation of a few of the Romulans he had met who had a slight ridge like feature on their foreheads, a feature which was not present on Doctor Selana. Once, many years ago, Doctor McCoy had claimed it was similar to the differences between humans from the northern hemisphere and those of an oriental decent.
Entering a small room, Selana ran towards what appeared to be a form slumped over a table. Quickly, Kirk ran too her side as she checked the form for life signs.
"It is Jerock" She said quickly. "He is alive, Jerock, Jerock can you hear me?"
Slowly, Jerock moved and held up his head as old bruises could be clearly seen on his face and neck as he looked up at the two before him with confusion.
"Who, who are you?"
"A friend. What happened?" She said with concern.
"Security… I refused to move. Who are you?"
"My name is Krik… we where told you could help us find a friend"
"I am… an old man. What help could I be?"
Slowly, his eyes searched the faces of the two before him. As his eyes fell on the Romulan doctor before him a slight smile rippled across his face as he spoke with shock.
"Selana? Is that really you?"
"Who?" She said.
"You can not hide from old friend, I see you have had surgery too hide yourself. What are you doing here? If the guards find you… they will kill you"
"Hello Jerock, it has been a long time… my old friend"
"Wait! What are you doing here? I heard you where dead"
"Not quiet. I found a… new home. We need your help"
"Doc, can we talk in private?" Kirk said slowly.
Nodding slightly, Kirk motioned for her to join him in the far corner of the room. As she joined him, Kirk looked around quickly while he placed his hand on the Romulan weapon inside his jacket as he spoke.
"Isn't it a little ironic that in this whole city… we found the one person we where looking for?"
"I noticed that. Jim, like it or not… I trust him. If anyone knows where McCoy is being held… he does"
"Why? Why is he so damned important?" Kirk growled.
"McCoy's message said the Praetor had been infected… Jerock was the Praetor's private physician"
"Him?" Kirk smiled. "But why is he here?"
"If you want to know… why not ask me?" Jerock said with a smile.
"You forgot about Romulan hearing" Selana laughed.
Struggling too his feet, the old Romulan smiled as he hobbled towards them.
"The Praetor has been… infected with the Plague. Rumour has it, that the Praetor has recruited a human Doctor too cure him…"
"Do you know where he is being held?" Kirk said quickly.
"Being held? The human is not a prisoner… he is a guest of the Praetor. From what I hear, the Praetor himself has granted the human doctor his freedom in exchange for his loyalty"
"McCoy would not…" Kirk said quickly.
"I thought I recognised you…" Jerock smiled. "Very good Captain Kirk, you make a handsome Romulan"
"Who?" Kirk said quickly.
"Do not worry Captain Kirk, your secret is safe with me. Then the rumours about you must be true Selana, you found a new home within the Federation?" Jerock smiled.
"I did" She smiled slightly.
"Captain Kirk, I will assist you to recover your Doctor… I assume that is why you are here, in exchange for sanctuary within your Federation"
"What?" Kirk laughed.
"This is no joke Captain Kirk. I have the intelligence file on you, very impressive sir. I especially enjoyed reading about your handling of the Kobayashi Maru test when you where a Cadet… very Romulan thinking. Is it true that you met Jonathon Archer?"
"I did, how the hell did you know that?" Kirk said with shock.
"We have… agents everywhere. I once had access to the Praetor's own files. We shared a lot…"
"I see. I'll agree to one thing, help me find my friend and I'll help you with your… request"
"We have a deal Captain Kirk" He smiled. "Tell me, what was Archer like?"
"A good man. Shorter then I thought…"
With the Romulan patched up to the best of their abilities, they finally left the ruins of the city and made their way towards the capital of the Romulan Empire.
As night fell, they contacted what had become a growing underground resistance movement within the Romulan Empire. Since the plague had been delivered to the empire and spread out like the dark hand of the grim reaper across the many worlds of the empire, a growing resistance had sprung up which believed it was a sign from the gods of the ancients that the Romulan people had left the path they once followed. Almost a plague of biblical proportions, many of the citizens of Romulus had turned to the teaching of Surak, a Vulcan Prophet as a way to appease the wrath of the old gods in the hopes of putting an end to the deadly plague that echoed around the Empire itself.
Standing deep underground, Kirk looked around the large caverns in which he stood as shadows began to appear around him as many Romulans walked towards him slowly.
"I think… we've made contact" Kirk said with caution.
"Why are you here?" A male voice echoed through the chamber.
"I'll looking for a friend" Kirk replied.
"You will not find him here… Captain Kirk"
"I need your help, we need your help"
Slowly, a stout young Romulan entered the light, as he approached them, Kirk once again placed his hand on the weapon hidden inside his jacket as the young man walked towards his with his hand held out displaying the Vulcan salute for a brief moment.
"You will not need that weapon Captain Kirk. We are all friends here, my name is Pardek… we know why you are here Captain Kirk. It has not been easy, but we have located the one you seek. Doctor McCoy is being held in the Praetor's own laboratory…"
"Captain, that would difficult to get into… it is heavily guarded" Selana replied.
"We have people on the inside… they are awaiting our signal. If you are willing Captain Kirk, we can get you in… but you must relinquish your weapons"
"Not a chance" Kirk said loudly.
"Captain, you must trust us. Only Senate guards are permitted too carry weapons…"
"Captain, you must do as he says, if you are found carrying a weapon, you will be shot on site"
Trusting the Romulans was not something that Kirk had enjoyed, as over the years he had encountered many Romulans who have been more then interested in capturing his ship as a gift for the Empire, yet with the Enterprise cloaked in close orbit of this enemy world and an armed away team standing by he accepted the proposal of the Krocton Segment as it had become known. With the plan laid out before him and everyone in agreement of their assignments Kirk, Selana, Jerock and Pardek entered the personal residence of the Praetor himself. Declaring himself as the emissary of a small almost forgotten world on the outskirts of the Empire, Kirk and his party followed a large square jawed Romulan through the long winding corridors towards the research quarters that was dealing with the plague itself. Stating that his world held a possible cure for the plague, Kirk had somehow managed to convince the guards before him that he and his party needed to speak with the lead researcher to inform him or her of their findings.
Stopping before a large and heavily guarded door, the large Romulan turned before he spoke.
"Before you enter, you must understand that our researcher is not one for visitors, he is most… unusual. He prefers to work alone yet he is monitored at all times"
"I understand" Kirk said quickly. "We have urgent business with him"
"As you wish"
Entering his codes into a small panel, the large doors slide open before he led the group into the room, stopping at the door, the guard turned to Pardek as he spoke slowly.
"You are Pardek? The Praetor has requested your presence"
"As you wish" He said politely. "I know the way"
Turning to leave, he nodded slightly too Kirk as he left the laboratory, Kirk turned quickly as he saw a scruffy old man enter the room and grunt slightly with displeasure as he saw the guests before him.
"I said I work alone you damn pointy eared bastard!"
"You have… visitors Doctor" The guard said with displeasure.
"Visiting hours are not for another month, what have I done to disserve this?" He moaned.
"Leave us!" Selana declared to the guard.
"My orders are not to leave this… human unguarded with visitors"
"He will not harm us" She replied. "After all, he is just a human"
Nodding slightly, the guard smiled as he turned and left the room. As the doors closed behind him, Kirk walked towards his dirty old friend and placed his hand on his shoulder slightly as he whispered into his ear.
"You look like shit Bones!"
Slowly turning his head, a large smile crept over his face as he studied the face of the man stood at his side. Shaking his head slightly, Kirk winked as he continued.
"This room is monitored… we're here to bring you home old friend"
"They said you where dead!" McCoy whispered.
"No, just a slight headache… Enterprise is in orbit… she's standing by to bring you home"
"No! not yet…"
"What?" He said in disbelief.
""I'm close… Jim. Very close, I think I've found the cure"
"Bones, do you have any idea what will happen once they find us?" Kirk protested.
"Yes, I have too finish this…"
"Finish what?" Kirk said quickly.
"It's complicated"
"I'm afraid its more complicated then you think Captain Kirk" Jerock said aloud. "GUARD!"
With a large smile on his face, the old Romulan reached inside his robes and pulled out a large Disrupter as eight heavily armed guards entered the room with smiles on their faces.
"We knew you where coming Captain Kirk. We detected McCoy's signal… all we had to do was wait. Guard, arrest them. Check their DNA, I think you will be pleasantly surprised about who they really are"
"Jerock?" Selana said in shock.
"Sorry, but I have my orders. You where right all along Kirk… Romulans can not be trusted. I believe you will find that this lovely young woman is infact the defector… Doctor Selana… and of course Captain James Tiberius Kirk. Scan the area, you will find a Federation Starship in orbit… perhaps even the Enterprise herself"
"Aye… Senator!" Smiled a guard darkly.