"We understand your concern for your CMO, Jim. But the safety of the Federation is paramount." Admiral Nogura had been talking to Captain Kirk for twenty minutes now. When they had arrived in the transporter room with no one there except Scotty, Kirk had instructed Spock to take care of McCoy and wait for him in sickbay.
He had needed to make a few calls. The one to Prime Minister Coltan, had been pleasant in a way, for he could yell at him and vent just a little bit of anger. The Meriahn had apologised and promised to look at surveillance tapes in order to identify and arrest the bastard who had violated McCoy.
The other call to Starfleet Command hadn't been nearly as liberating. He had suspected them to be concerned about what the incident meant to the relationship Starfleet was trying to establish with the Meriahn. He'd even steeled himself for a conversation about a contemporary replacement for his incapacitated chief medical officer. But now this was taking a direction he hadn't expected and did not like.
"Admiral, Dr. McCoy is a physician. He did not have access to any sensitive information. At least nothing that could be a threat to the Federation."
"Really, Captain?" Nogura raised his eyebrows in an arrogant manner that made Kirk want to punch him in the face. "Jim, this is not meant to be criticism on your style of command, but the whole fleet knows that Dr. McCoy has more than once overstepped his - field of responsibility. And you know it, too."
It was true, Bones' frequent presence on the bridge was just one example. But it never occurred to Kirk that this could mean any danger to Starfleet - or his friend. "He may have picked up an unimportant communication frequency. Maybe he even knows your date of birth, Admiral, but unintentionally. He wouldn't even remember it. And he never asked for any information that was classified." That was a lie. But Kirk hoped Nogura wouldn't notice.
"I didn't say he snooped around deliberately, Jim. It is just that he might have picked up something involuntarily, or even unconsciously. We cannot take such a risk. Moreover another mind meld - from an expert - is the only therapy that really promises a cure here. Why do you disapprove?"
"Because you are making it an order. You don't care about what Doctor McCoy has to say to this."
"Jim, this may concern the future of the Federation. We know the Meriahn are in contact with the Klingons. Maybe they're behind the attack. Maybe they required some specific information, something that McCoy could give them. We need to know what information the attacker stole in order to be prepared."
Kirk knew it was true. Moreover he knew that the recommended therapy for someone who had been violated in that kind of way was another mind meld, controlled and healing this time. But what he knew most definitly was that Bones was going to refuse. And he couldn't force him. It would be mind rape all over again. He was sure that Spock would not agree to perform a meld against Bones' will. He really had a problem now.
"Now - you can tell your first officer to meld with McCoy, or - if you think that isn't possible, we'll send another Vulcan telepath. Maybe a therapist from the Vulcan Science Academy who has experience with this sort of thing." Nogura was final on that.
"No, Admiral. That won't be necessary. I will talk to McCoy. He will consent." No he won't, thought Kirk, but he'd rather have Spock than any of these Vulcan Science Academy people mess with his CMO.
"Good. Jim, I know how you feel, but the whole Federation may depend on this."
"Yes, sir. Understood."
"Good. Nogura out."
Kirk put his head in his hands. It felt as if he was about to betray his best friend. However, maybe, just maybe, McCoy would consent after all. He had been quite trusting of Spock down on the planet. Maybe he would see it as a chance to make him feel better.
No, he'd never liked the concept of a mind meld even between myself and Spock. Now, he had been mind raped. He was hurt, he was embarrassed. Hell, he was scared to death. And he felt guilty about what happened.
Well, maybe he could get him with that. He could convince him to be able to make it all up to Starfleet by giving his consent to another mind meld, performed by Spock, who would get the information that Starfleet needed to engage in damage control. Kirk bit his lip. He felt nauseated by this thought, however it was his best option.
Reluctantly he got up and trodded to sickbay, his thoughts on a play he had once seen. Julius Ceasar, standing with a dagger in his side stammering: Et tu Brute?