Heeeeeeeeeeeeere's backstory!
A Bitter Affair - Chapter Nine
The beeps and hums, the soundtrack to the bridge that normally soothed James Kirk served only to irritate him today. He shifted awkwardly in his seat and waited.
"Still no response?" he asked.
"Nothing sir. They're receiving, but they aren't responding," Uhura replied.
"Damn," he said, resting his fist against his lips.
Two months since Bones and Spock had disappeared on this planet.
It had been a standard exploratory mission. The government on this planet had been handed over from anarchy to a structured, ritualized society. He, Spock and McCoy had beamed down to exchange ideas. Bones had been particularly excited since the medical technology there was so much more advanced than their own.
Spock had led the science wing of the information exchange. Though he would die before admitting it, he was as excited as McCoy to have the chance to enjoy such a rich culture. But when he hadn't reported in, Jim knew something was wrong.
Enterprise had tried to contact them and only static replied.
A garbled transmission from the surface of the planet two months ago...that was the last he had heard.
"Sir, Starfleet Headquarters is requesting you. Priority One."
"Ignore it," he said, hardly recognizing his own voice. He knew what they would say. The Enterprise was to return home to honor two fallen comrades, two of its finest.
He wouldn't, he couldn't believe they were dead until he saw the bodies. And until Starfleet came out here and wrenched the Enterprise from his hands, he would keep looking.
"Uhura, keep the comm open. I'm taking a team down personally."
"Sir, is that wise?" Scotty asked.
"I'm not sure, but I know I can't wait any longer. I'm talking to them in person."
"Sir, the last time you-"
"This won't be like last time!" he shouted, daring anyone to challenge him.
No one did.
"Get a team together. I want them to meet in the transporter room in five minutes. Bring arms," he snapped, already on his way.
Four and a half minutes later, a very stiff team was gathered in the transporter room, all carrying phasers.
"No," Kirk nodded in grim approval. "This won't be like last time at all."
They beamed down and Kirk immediately set out, trying to ignore the ghosts of McCoy and Spock that lingered here. He could imagine how they spent their week. McCoy would, in his spare time, have lain under that large tree telling anyone who would listen about the trees in Georgia.
Spock, on the other hand, would have been working and exploring, probably trying to minimize the amount of time he spent with McCoy.
Finally, he came upon the capital city of the Order, nestled firmly against a cliffside.
It was surprisingly easy to slip into a city used to martial law. A few surly looks here and there and the curious bystanders quickly shut their doors.
"You!" Kirk said, grabbing a man by the collar and pushing him up against a wall. "Where is Dieb?"
"I don't know! He moves around," the man replied, his voice shaking.
"Well tell me where you saw him last or you won't be moving," Kirk snapped.
"The palace on the hill. That's his favorite place."
With a grunt of acknowledgment, Kirk threw the man to the ground and left, his guards close behind him.
A heavy bribe was all that was needed to get inside the palace doors. Kirk smiled grimly.
"Get me Dieb," he said, gesturing to one of the bought guards. The alien nodded and left, returning a few minutes later with a tall man.
"Dieb!" Kirk said, spreading his arms wide. "How are you? It's been too long."
The man's eyes narrowed. "I assume there is a reason you are here? I thought our last encounter would have made my feelings perfectly clear."
Kirk chuckled, trying not to remember the humiliation he had suffered at the hands of this liar.
"I'm a tough study," he said, flipping his phaser rifle in his grip. "Hold him."
The guards obliged, pinning the man's arms behind him.
"Last time I was here, you told me my people were dead," Kirk said, pacing. "Now I've scanned your planet. Everything seems to point towards them being dead."
Dieb smiled smugly.
"Except a few days ago, we detected a Vulcan lifesign."
"Your sensors must have been mistaken."
Kirk swung the phaser rifle around. It connected with Dieb's jaw with a crack.
"Do I need to repeat what you told me? 'It was most unfortunate. They were killed by the Bringers. But they will not have died in vain!' Do you remember saying that, Dieb?"
Kirk felt a few beads of sweat begin to slide down his back.
"You told us these Bringers were rebels that deserved to die for their crimes and I believed you. We helped you fight. We gave you weapons. We fought your war for you. We did exactly what you wanted."
Dieb chuckled.
"But you lied to us. You saw our ship. You saw our weapons, our technology. You saw in us a way to end your troubles. So you kidnaped my officers."
"And it worked. The Bringers are under control."
It was Kirk's turn to laugh. "That's where you're wrong. I've met with their leaders. We discussed and signed a treaty. You are now our common enemy."
Dieb paled slightly.
"Now you can tell me where my men are and you'll only be charged with perjury. If you don't , then I'll kill you."
"I don't know where they are. We marked them with sensors, but I don't keep up with their locations."
"You have the means to get their exact location?"
"In my desk. It's a small, round scanner."
Kirk nodded at a guard, who found the device and brought it to him.
"Thank you, Dieb."
"You'll let me go now?" the man asked hopefully.
"Dieb, you've taught me a lot. Foremost among those lessons is how to lie," Kirk replied, his grin almost predatory.
"Do what you want with him, then return to the ship," Kirk said, opening his communicator and requesting transport. The device would need modifications in order to scan the whole planet and, having escalated a war, Kirk didn't have any time to spare.
Woo! Crazy-Kirk is nuts! Hope you enjoyed. This story will be winding down now. Thanks for reading!