Disclaimer: I do not own Star Trek. All characters belong to...whoever owns Star Trek. Whatever. Point is, I only own Emily Eprouve.
Warning: I wasn't quite sure if this was k+ or T. It will get violent in later chapters. May contain hints of Spock/Uhura and Chekov/Eprouve.
Notes: I'm new to this website and this is my first attempt at a Star Trek story ever (with the exception of the first chapter of this story.)So if it's terrible, please don't shoot me. Hehe. Constructive critisism is welcomed. Although there is an OC in this story, Emily is FAR from being the main character. It's Kirk POV. I hope you enjoy it.
Spock, Kirk, McCoy, and Sarek sat at a round table, discussing the distress call. It was much hotter on Vulcan than it was on Earth, and the air was thinner than Bones and Kirk were used to. It was decided that it would be illogical for the two humans to stay on Vulcan for more than an hour, and the doctor was already sweating. Kirk leaned forward onto the table, irritated as Sarek spoke.
"So you see, Captain, I'm quite certain that no such distress call was sent by any of our communications officers. No orders were given out, sir." The Vulcan Ambassador explained knowledgably. "Furthermore, we have not had any contact with the Klingons for two months, four days, and six hours."
Kirk sighed stressfully. "Of course, Ambassador, but perhaps there was a malfunction?" he said, unwilling to consider that Uhura may have lied about the distress signal. Sarek stood up gracefully, eyes on Captain Kirk.
"I doubt that is possible, sir. The communication devices were all checked and upgraded two days and three hours ago—maintenance was performed where it was needed." Spock's father explained emotionlessly. "However, if you wish to proceed to the communications office, you are welcome to." the Vulcan said. Spock also stood up, nodding.
"Yes, father. It would be logical to make sure the equipment is fully operable and that no errors occurred." The Science Officer agreed. McCoy and Kirk lifted themselves out of their chairs in unison, both moving slower than they normally would. Sarek walked out the door, heading to the communications office. Spock started to follow the Ambassador, but hesitated, and waited for his two friends to catch up. Kirk was breathing more heavily now, his lungs craving more air than he was able to get anywhere on Vulcan. The Captain followed his first officer to the communications room. There were only three officers at their posts since nothing in particular was going wrong.
Sarek stopped in front of some unoccupied equipment and turned to face the Starfleet officers.
"I believe you will find everything intact." The Vulcan stated. Spock began to search the office. The Captain was about to join him, but Dr. McCoy pulled him aside.
"What's the matter, Bones?" Kirk asked the doctor. McCoy didn't answer, he just rummaged around his pockets until he pulled a hypospray out. McCoy used it on himself, then held it up to the side of the Captain's neck.
"To make it easier to breathe," Bones muttered, injecting the medicine into Kirk. Kirk thanked him, then they joined Spock in the search for the cause of the distress call.
Ambassador Sarek and a few other Vulcans were also checking the databases and history, concealing any critical information from the Starfleet officers. McCoy and Kirk tried not to be too nosy, but they were, after all, performing an investigation. After twenty minutes or so, a Vulcan female spoke.
"How peculiar…" The girl started quietly. Sarek looked over to the Vulcan.
"What is it, T'Prenae?" Spock's father queried. The Vulcan—T'Prenae—leaned closer to the screen she was examining.
"My station, sir." She told the Ambassador. "I read today's history, and it states that early this morning a priority one distress signal was sent to the starship Enterprise from myself." T'Prenae almost looked confused, but being a Vulcan she was mostly able to conceal her perplexity. " However, Ambassador, I was not here at that hour; nor did I send an emergency call of any kind."
Spock and Kirk exchanged glances, then stepped over to the Vulcan along with Sarek. "Strange indeed," Sarek breathed. "The signal was sent to The Enterprise alone?"
"Yes, sir."
"Fascinating…if you were not at your station, Lieutenant, where were you?" Sarek interrogated.
"Home, Ambassador. The message was sent out before the beginning of my shift." T'Prenae replied. "I suppose it was a malfunction, sir. Logic leads me to believe that it would be nearly impossible for someone to be able to come in here unnoticed and send out a distress signal. Furthermore, even if that were possible I can not think of anyone who would find it necessary." The girl explained.
"I agree." Sarek declared. "Please examine the equipment for any issues that would cause such a troublesome malfunction, and fix it posthaste." He commanded. The Vulcan female acknowledged his request and left to find a mechanic. Sarek pivoted and looked at Kirk.
"My apologizes, Captain. We were unaware of the distress call; I am sorry for the trouble we caused." Ambassador Sarek said. Kirk shook his head.
"No, no, it's fine. We're just glad to hear Vulcan isn't under attack." Kirk chuckled with a smile, following the ambassador as he started to walk out of the communication center.
"Yes," Spock agreed. "It is most fortunate, indeed." The group stopped outside from where they landed.
"If you wish to stay on Vulcan, you are welcome to." Sarek told the Starfleet officers. Kirk smiled.
"Maybe next time, Ambassador, but we really should get going." Jim said. "Unless, of course, Mr. Spock would like to stick around for a while."
Spock shook his head. "As enjoyable as it is to be home, we are on a mission, Captain." The First Officer reminded him. Kirk sighed and contacted The Enterprise.
"Three to beam up," he mumbled. The transporter officer acknowledged, and Kirk closed the communicator.
"Very well, then. Have a safe journey." Sarek said to the group, looking mainly at Spock. "It was nice to see you."
"Likewise." Spock responded, giving his father the Vulcan salute. Sarek returned the salute, and the landing party was beamed aboard the ship.
"You know, Spock, you're allowed to take shore leave. Haven't you heard of a vacation?" McCoy teased, stepping off of the transporter pad. Kirk and Spock followed, walking past the transporter officer. The officer looked different somehow, and was smiling somewhat mischievously. Kirk paid it little attention and continued to walk.
"Vacations are usually taken away from the home, are they not, Doctor?" Spock retorted. McCoy rolled his eyes and looked back over his shoulder as they strode down to the elevator.
"That officer look different to you?" Bones inquired.
"Actually," Kirk said. "Yes, he did. Can't put my finger on it…maybe he got a haircut?" McCoy shrugged and stepped into the elevator, Spock and Kirk following. Kirk leaned against the wall of the elevator shaft and exhaled deeply. "What a day," he muttered.
"Just take it easy, Jim. Try not to overwork yourself." Bones warned, exiting the elevator when it arrived at sickbay. Kirk agreed, and the doors closed again to head to the bridge.
When Spock and Kirk got there, Spock went over to his station and Kirk to his. Scotty removed himself from the Captain's chair, smiling.
"Welcome back, sir. All is well?" Scotty said, switching places with the captain.
"Of course, Mr. Scott. It was only a malfunction in their system." Kirk assured the engineer. "Mr. Chekov, set coordinates to…" the captain trailed off. "To wherever we were going before this mess."
"Argus X, sir?" Chekov asked as Scotty left the bridge.
"Yes, Ensign."
"Right away, sir."
"Eprouve, prepare to leave orbit. " Kirk commanded.
"Aye, Captain."
Kirk looked over to the helmsman. Sulu was sitting rigidly, as if nervous or scared. Kirk cocked an eyebrow. There was no reason for that, they were leaving Vulcan for an uninhabited planet that they wouldn't arrive at for at least four days. It was nothing to be afraid of. Kirk updated his Captain's log with the information of the false alarm/computer malfunction, then interrogated the frightened helmsman.
"Everything alright, Mr. Sulu?" Kirk questioned. Sulu looked at the captain, then turned back to his work.
"Y-yes…captain." Sulu said nervously. His voice was gruff and lower than it normally was. It sounded almost nothing like Sulu's regular voice. The way he said "captain" was the same way Chekov would say "Cossack". It was so strange, in fact, that the navigator turned to Sulu, looking concerned.
"Are you sure, Hikaru?" Chekov asked the helmsman.
"I said I was fine, Ensign." Sulu growled angrily. He spoke in the same manner. Eprouve quickly looked back at the two, somewhat shocked that such an angry voice came from Sulu. Kirk blinked in surprise. He had never heard Mr. Sulu refer to Pavel as "Ensign" before. Much less spoken in that tone.
Something wasn't right.
