Chapter 12: Reclamation
Almost an hour passed before M'anuk began to stir. He had been moved to the bed by a pair of guards, and Nyota sat on the edge of the bed, gently sponging his forehead with a damp cloth.
"You are awake." she said when his eyes opened. He pushed her hand away from his face and sat up.
"Where are they?" he growled. Not even a flicker of emotion showed on her face.
"They have been apprehended, M'anuk. They await your order for execution." Nyota replied.
"They will receive it immediately. I want them dead by sunrise. When they are dead, you will hail the Enterprise and inform them that an accident occurred- and that you are staying here. You will tell them that the circumstance was regrettable but they should leave."
"Yes, M'anuk." Nyota replied obediently. He smirked, and moved so that his feet rested on the floor.
"Come to the balcony with me, Nyota. I want to show you something." he said.
"Should you be up, M'anuk? Your physician said you may have sustained a head injury in your fall."
"I am fine. Come, Nyota." he said, standing. Nyota paused...hadn't the Vulcan said the same thing to her? She was confused for a moment, but then the peaceful blankness returned. She took M'anuk's proffered hand and stood, following him through the open archway, the sheer curtains grazing against her bare shoulders as she walked through them.
The night was silent, so peaceful. Hundreds of thousands of stars lit up the sky, like diamonds against black velvet. There were two luminous moons that bathed the palace and the city sprawled around it in milky, incandescent light. The view was breathtaking...hundreds of houses stood beyond the gates, all made of light-colored stone that reflected the moonlight, making it seem almost like they were glowing. There were no street lights...the Kathosians were asleep.
"It is beautiful, is it not?" M'anuk asked, standing close to her. She could feel his warm breath against her neck.
"It is." she agreed. She did not move, but he was standing too close...why did she think this? She loved him. She was his. And yet the Vulcan...but no, she couldn't trust the Vulcan. He had tried to trick her into believing the strangest of things...married to him, indeed!
"Why would anyone want to be up there, in the sky, when it is so much lovelier to view it from here?" M'anuk asked.
"I do not know, M'anuk." she replied tonelessly. She was beginning to feel cold...much colder than she should have, considering what a warm night it was. She hugged her arms around herself for warmth, but M'anuk did not notice.
"This will be yours, soon." he said, gesturing toward the moon-kissed scene before them. "When you become my Koshaaka. Then you will bear me children. This will be an honor- many women want me, but I have never found one I think suitable enough for me."
"I am honored." Nyota replied automatically. She was more than cold now...she was freezing. She was starting to feel weak again. She reached out to the railing of the balcony for support.
"You are cold." he said, and reached out his hands to place them on her shoulders. His fingers teased the inch-wide straps holding her gown up. He slowly slid them off her shoulders. "Yet your skin feels hot."
She shivered- she wasn't sure if it was from the chill, his hands on her shoulders, or the lustful tone in his voice. This made no sense- she loved him. Why was her body behaving so?
He turned her around to face him, and caressed her cheek. He leaned forward to place kisses on her neck, working his way up to her jaw, her chin, and now he kissed the corner of her mouth. Nyota jerked away- the Vulcan's words returned to her..."You are Nyota Uhura, Chief Communications Officer of the U.S.S. Enterprise, a member of Starfleet. You do not love the Koshaak, you love me. You are my wife. The Koshaak is manipulating you to suit his own desires."
She had thought he was crazy. But then why did his voice sound so familiar to her? Why did she somehow feel, in the pit of her stomach, that something was amiss? Yet she didn't remember any of the things the Vulcan had shown her...so how could they be true?
"I do not feel well, M'anuk." Nyota said. Her eyes were glazed, and her knees almost buckled. He placed his hands on her waist to steady her. He was now peering at her face.
"You may be suffering from an allergic reaction." he muttered, black eyes narrowed. "This is not good. I did not anticipate that the drug may be incompatible with your physiology."
"What drug?" she asked, her words slurring. The room was starting to spin...she felt weak, and so cold...she had a fever. She felt nauseous. She could feel darkness encroaching on her consciousness...
She collapsed against the Koshaak just as the door to the bedchamber flew open.
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The corridors were mostly deserted. The lights had been turned down to a dim glow to conserve energy during the night, throwing the halls into shadow. This was a great asset to the three men now making their way to the heart of the palace.
"If we encounter anyone, don't hesitate to stun them- even if they don't fire first." Kirk hissed as they jogged around a corner.
"Captain, those orders are hardly necessary." Spock replied. He wanted to run full-out, he wanted to leave the two humans behind him- he could run much faster than they- but he could not do that. It would be unwise for him to go ahead alone. He could not afford to do anything that may endanger his Nyota.
They rounded another corner- Spock led them by two meters, traversing the maze-like corridors entirely by memory. He estimated that they were still 8.1 minutes away from their destination- and that was not including any possible disruptions.
Spock made a right- and straight ahead was a Kathosian guard. He was clearly alarmed to see two humans and a Vulcan running toward him- he raised his phaser rifle to fire at them. Without stopping, Spock raised his own weapon and pulled the trigger- a single bolt of light caught the man in the middle of his chest, and he crumpled. Spock leapt over the prone body when he neared him, without stopping.
"I thought you're opposed to violence?" McCoy called breathlessly as they continued to jog.
"He was armed and prepared to fire. As my rifle is set to stun, I do not believe I have caused him permanent damage." Spock replied. His mind was only half on the conversation- he was more concerned about navigating the corridors and getting Nyota away from the Koshaak.
They were getting closer. And the closer they got, the more determined Spock became. When they were approximately 4.5 minutes away, he was becoming confident that, if need be, he could kill the Koshaak without hesitation.
Suddenly, from only three meters ahead, two guards came out of an adjoining corridor. Their mouths were opening in wide 'O's of surprise as Spock took one down with a swift phaser shot, and the other was dispatched by Kirk.
"Take that, Kathosian scum." Kirk growled. Spock did not even take the time to raise an eyebrow as he stepped around these bodies and continued smoothly on his way, as if it had not happened.
They did not slow their pace until they neared the final corridor. Spock finally came to a stop, pressed against one white wall, breathing as evenly as he ever did. Kirk and McCoy, however, were panting for breath.
"I suggest you take this time to rest, Captain. Your services may be needed further." Spock said quietly.
"Oh yeah, and I will too- I mean, I know I'm useless and all-" McCoy muttered bitterly.
"Doctor, I do not mean to insult you- but you are nearly useless when it comes to phasers." Spock replied. McCoy's jaw dropped.
"That's because I'm a doctor, not a security guard!" he fussed, but Kirk signaled for him to be quiet.
"Hear anything, Spock?" Kirk asked. They had discussed before setting out the possibility that the Koshaak may have posted guards outside his chambers. That would certainly have been logical, even if problematic.
"No, Captain." Spock replied after listening for several tense seconds. "It appears that he was quite secure, knowing that we were imprisoned- or perhaps he has not yet awoken."
"Well, someone was sure as hell confident, if it wasn't him." McCoy remarked. Spock nodded once in acknowledgment. It had been the Koshaak's arrogance that made him think he could take a Vulcan's wife- and it would be his- or someone else's- arrogance that would be his undoing.
Once his human comrades' breathing had slowed to a normal respiration rate, Spock raised his phaser rifle again and stepped around the corner. As he had already expected, it was entirely empty. Whoever had been in charge after the Koshaak's collapse had been a fool. Granted- they had not known their prisoners would escape- but it would have been wise to guard their ruler a little more closely after the attack.
Spock's heart was pounding as he walked calmly forward. He was entirely composed- this was not Scorpius. He could not lose control this time. It was imperative that he keep his mind in the right place, and did not allow his instincts to overwhelm him- unless they were needed.
The sound of their boots on the stone floor echoed in the passageway. Spock was listening for sounds within the chamber...but with two doors and stone walls separating them, he could hear nothing. His steps began to quicken again, hurrying toward the double doors, until he had broken into a run. He could not wait any longer.
He threw open the double doors, which crashed against the walls, and entered the antechamber. The second door was met with the same treatment- it was nearly ripped off its hinges as Spock slammed it open. He did not stop until he was in the middle of the room. It was empty. He spun on the spot, looking in each corner, listening, smelling...there!
He could smell Nyota's natural scent, coming from the direction of the sheer curtains that hung from an open archway. His hands tightened around his phaser rifle as he stepped toward it- but before he could get there, two figures emerged- or rather, one figure carrying another.
He watched with growing hatred and fury as the Koshaak placed Nyota's limp body on the bed.
"What did you do?" he snarled. The Koshaak looked at the three men, calculating.
"How did you escape?" he asked. Spock caught the Koshaak's eyes flick toward the rope. Before he could formulate a plan to get to it, Kirk raised his phaser and pulled the trigger- the rope was severed, and dropped to the floor with a muffled thump, coiling up like a snake.
"It was quite simple. What is wrong with her?" Spock asked, the previous agitation once more gone from his tone. He could still feel the hate and anger boiling within him- it made his blood run hot, almost molten. It took a great amount of concentration to keep every muscle in his body from leaping upon the Koshaak.
"She is suffering from an adverse reaction to the chemical I gave her to make her obedient." the Koshaak said with a shrug. "It is a pity. She will now die...and I will have to find a different woman. It will be difficult to replace her- I can see why even a Vulcan could not resist her charms."
His nonchalant tone was what made Spock snap- not his words, although they contributed a great deal. He could not leave this man unscathed.
Spock tossed his phaser aside. He did not believe in uneven fights- and the Koshaak was not armed.
"Captain- I request that you take Nyota and beam back to the Enterprise. I will join you shortly." Spock said calmly. The Koshaak laughed. His apparent mirth did not reach his cold eyes.
"I am well-trained in defense, Vulcan!" he sneered.
"As am I." Spock replied "Captain- go. This is, as humans say, my fight."
"Now listen to me, you stubborn hobgoblin- we're not leaving you!" McCoy snapped.
"Nyota is more important, Doctor. She requires medical attention. You cannot treat her here." Spock replied. He was now slowly advancing on the Koshaak, who circled him- both men's legs were bent, arms raised, in the traditional defensive positions of all forms of martial arts.
"Spock, we're not leaving you, damn it!" Kirk said. Both humans were now kneeling by the bed, next to Nyota.
"Go- NOW!" Spock did not usually raise his voice- but he felt it was logical at this time to convey his urgency. He heard Kirk open his communicator and instruct the Enterprise to beam up- and at the same time, the Koshaak lunged forward.
He aimed for Spock's shoulders, attempting to throw him off balance- but Spock was too fast for him. He leapt aside, the Koshaak's own momentum propelling him forward- he was able to stop himself and spin back around. He lunged forward again- this time trying to throw punches to Spock's chest. Again- Spock was too fast. He seized the Koshaak by his shirt, lifting him off his feet and slamming him against a wall. He distinctly heard at least two ribs crack, and the Kathosian grunted, the wind knocked out of him. A trickle of red blood leaked from the corner of his mouth as Spock calmly held him in place- one hand against the Koshaak's throat, steadily applying more pressure.
Suddenly, he felt the Koshaak's knee come up, landing squarely in his stomach. Now Spock was breathless- he instinctively released the man, and backed away two steps to catch his breath.
The Kathosian was on his feet again, much quicker than Spock had anticipated- and launched an attack before he was entirely recovered.
Spock soon found that the Koshaak had not been lying when he said he was well-trained. Despite Spock's greater speed and strength, the Kathosian met his every blow. If he had been fighting Kirk, the captain would have gone down within the first ten seconds of combat.
But he was not Kirk...and unlike the Koshaak, he was logical. It soon became apparent that Spock only had two options- either wait until the Koshaak had tired himself out, or outwit him. He preferred the latter.
Spock switched roles abruptly...he was now the attacker. He steadily drove the Kathosian backwards, and with every blow he landed on the Koshaak's shoulders, arms, and chest, he thought about Nyota. That this man may very well be the cause of her death. That he had drugged her, attempted to control her. He had made Nyota forget that she ever loved Spock. There was no knowing whether or not she would ever recover even if she did live. And it would all be because of this Kathosian...who had not expressed even the slightest concern that she may die. She had meant nothing to him...but she meant the world to Spock.
Spock's blows increased in speed and ferocity- his fury was coming to fruition. He did not hate this man- he despised him. He had taken his world and turned it upside down- and now Spock would do the same to his.
With one last powerful blow to the Koshaak's stomach, he was driven backwards again. Spock stepped after him- he felt sheer curtains brush against his face, and cool night air against his skin. They were on the balcony.
The Koshaak spat blood onto the stone beneath his feet. When Spock saw it, a memory- not his own- floated to the surface of his mind. It was an image he had seen in a meld with Nyota...rivulets of blood, dripping down his back, wetting the dirt beneath his feet...the Kathosian was lunging at him again...
Spock flung out his closed fist, striking the Kathosian in the exact center of his chest, using all the strength he could muster...the Koshaak fell backwards against the balcony, his momentum sending him over the railing...there was a fleeting impression of wide black eyes, flailing limbs, a short cry of surprise...and then nothing but the very faint sound of impact against the ground below.
Silence reigned. Spock was breathing slightly harder than normal as he slowly walked to the railing and looked down. Far below, he could make out a still form laying in the shadows of the palace...
He expected to feel revulsion, directed toward himself. He should have...that was what any Vulcan would expect to feel after being an instrument in murder. But instead he felt...redemption. It was the same feeling he had had after destroying the Narada- and Nero with it- after his mother's death over three months before.
When Nyota had been abducted on Scorpius Three, he had not been able to avenge her. He had not even been the one to find her- she had been forced to find her own way out of the situation. While it made him admire her determination and independence all the more, it should not have been that way. He should have been there to untie her from that beam, to show the natives just what an angry Vulcan looked like. But he had not been, and he had felt guilty about it ever since.
And so, even though these two situations were unrelated- the death of the Koshaak was redemption for both. If Nyota were to die, he would have killed her killer. And if she lived...he had killed the man who would have allowed her to die without even a flicker of remorse- and could very possibly have damaged her permanently. And in a strange, twisted way, he had redeemed himself for what had happened on Scorpius Three.
Spock must have stared down at the body for several minutes, before he heard faint voices from below. Guards were gathering around the body of the Koshaak...he heard cries of surprise, of anger, of dismay. He saw them look up...they had seen him. He pushed himself away from the railing, and turned back toward the bedchamber- he would have to hurry if he wanted to beam up before guards arrived.
He stopped short when he saw two men looking at him from the bed.
"I believe I instructed you to leave." Spock said, frustrated even if he did not show it.
"We tried to beam up. We couldn't. I think it's the stone- somehow it disrupts the-" Kirk began.
"Then why did you not take Nyota and head for the grounds?" Spock asked.
"I believe I am the captain." Kirk said irritably. Spock blinked- he must regain control of himself. "I thought it would be best to use the balcony. However...it was a bit...occupied." Kirk exchanged looks with McCoy, who was scanning Nyota with his medical tricorder. There was a tense silence. While Spock had not been ashamed of what had happened on the balcony- after all, it had been self-defense- he was ashamed that they had seen him like that. Instead of replying, he went to Nyota's side, stroking her face.
"Nyota?" he asked softly. She did not stir. He looked up at McCoy.
"She's running a high fever...and her organs are starting to shut down. We need to get her on the Enterprise immediately." McCoy said, turning off the tricorder. "I can keep her on life support until the drug wears off...or I find an antidote. It's working like a poison on her...a very slow poison."
Spock slid one arm underneath Nyota's back, the other under her knees. He lifted her off the bed, and her head lolled onto his shoulder. Her whole body was limp and hot.
"We must hurry. I am sure guards are coming." Spock replied. "We are wasting time."
He headed to the balcony, Nyota's hot weight light in his arms. McCoy and Kirk followed. As Kirk opened his communicator, Spock heard footsteps in the outer hall. It did not matter now...they would be gone by the time they arrived on the balcony.
He felt himself beginning to dematerialize, and he closed his eyes, holding Nyota even tighter against him. They were leaving Kathosia for good.
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He immediately took her to medical, McCoy following him at a sprint. Nurses were gasping and gathering around as he lowered Nyota onto a biobed.
"This isn't a holo-vid...if you're not helping, get the hell out!" McCoy snapped as he began to ready fever-suppressing hypos. Spock backed away to allow him to work, not taking his eyes off of Nyota for even a second. The doctor injected her with hypo after hypo...and her vital signs began to slowly even out- although they were still far from normal.
Kirk watched as Spock sat in a chair next to Nyota's bed, and took her hand into his. He looked away, as if he had witnessed a kiss instead of a simple gesture like that...
McCoy was looking up at the vital signs displayed on the biobed's screen. He winced and slowly shook his head.
"Spock...the suppressants won't work long. And they won't save her unless I find an antidote. The toxin isn't leaving her system like it should."
"What do you propose, Doctor?" Spock asked quietly, his eyes still on his adun'a. "That I allow her to die?" he said the last words almost bitterly.
"Of course not." McCoy scolded. "But....our only chance is if I can miraculously discover an antidote. I don't even fully understand the chemicals...I don't think I'll be able to make a cure in time..."
Spock tore his eyes away from Nyota's impassive face. He looked at McCoy.
"Doctor McCoy...I have the utmost confidence in your abilities. If there is anyone I believe able to create that antidote, it is you."
McCoy looked both startled and flattered. "Does that translate from Vulcan into Standard as 'if you fail, I'll kick your ass'?"
"You may interpret it however you please, Doctor, as long as it motivates you." Spock replied dryly. He turned back to Nyota. "I do have extensive knowledge of the properties of chemicals. I will assist you if it will speed up your progress."
"That would be...fine." McCoy said. He heaved a sigh. "We should get to work immediately. I'll have one of the nurses give her the hypos...then I'll upload the data in my tricorder onto the laboratory computer. But, Spock...I can't guarantee that even if she lives..."
"I am aware of that fact, Doctor. I am willing to take the risk that she may still be damaged."
McCoy didn't say anything. He and Kirk watched as Spock leaned forward, bringing his lips level to Nyota's ear as one of his hands caressed her cheek gently. The others could not hear what he then whispered.
"Taluhk nash-veh k'dular, Nyota. Dungau-sarlah nash-veh." I cherish thee...I shall come...
He then brushed his lips against her temple. He did not care that several nurses saw this. He no longer cared if everyone knew. The only thing that mattered was making that antidote so his Nyota would live. As for what he may find upon her awakening...he must worry about that later.
He stood, straightening his uniform shirt. He did not take notice of the fact that both Kirk and McCoy were pointedly looking away...Kirk decided that if seeing Spock hold Nyota's hand was like catching them kissing, then what he had just witnessed was tantamount to watching them make love.
"We have no time to waste, Doctor." Spock said, his tone as even and controlled as ever. Nothing betrayed the fear residing deep within him. The fear that Nyota would die...the fear that she would never remember how much they meant to one another...
McCoy nodded, and turned toward the doors off sickbay that led to the laboratory. Spock followed him, walking past several stunned nurses, once more determined...
A/N: Oooh...kind of a cliffhanger, huh? ;) Some of you may disagree that Spock wouldn't feel guilty about killing the Koshaak...but I don't think so, considering the circumstances.