A/N: I live in the South, where *snow* is cataclysmic - resulting in "bread and milk" emergencies and schools closing. Which means I have today off work, even though the first flake has yet to fall - at least at my house. I thought since I'm home, I'd update Kirk James T. Kirk as a *snow* gift. Being home gives me more time to work on the next chapter!
Thanks to everyone who has read, reviewed, favorited, and alerted this story! You make my muses very happy. And happy muses are productive muses! Won't you tell them what you think of this chapter too?
It is seldom indeed that one parts on good terms, because if one were on good terms one would not part. ~Marcel Proust
Scotty couldn't contain his surprise when the sleek silver Jaguar pulled soundlessly into his drive. What in the name of Caesar's Ghost was Spock doing at his house? How did he even know his address?
Scotty firmly closed the tailgate of the Hummer before turning to watch Spock cross over to him. "Spock."
"Mr. Scott," Spock said. "I find myself in need of a favor."
"You do?" Scotty said, scratching his head beneath the knitted cap he wore. "What sort of favor?"
"I need to go with you to Rahth Mutadaffaq," Spock said.
"How in blue blazes do you know that's where I'm headed?" Scotty asked quietly. The low volume of his voice did nothing to disguise his complete surprise. He knew he wasn't getting any additional information when Spock simply gazed steadily back at him, one eyebrow raised, nearly in mockery. "Pike know about this?"
"Not officially. Officially I am not here. I have no idea of where you may be going or why," Spock said.
"So, theoretically, if I were to allow you to tag along, I would not find my butt handed to me by the Hierarchy?"
"As my grandmother has some sway over the Hierarchy, it is extremely doubtful you would be in any sort of trouble. Theoretically speaking," Spock said.
"If I theoretically contacted Pike, completely off the record, theoretically he'd agree that he doesn't know anything about you going to Rahth Mutadaffaq."
"Correct," Spock said. "We need to leave for the Airfield if we are arrive on time."
"Right you are," Scotty agreed, deciding that if Spock knew what time he was leaving, the rest of the information had to be as accurate. "Why is it you are wantin' to go to Rahth Mutadaffaq?"
"I learned of Jim's marriage to the heir to the throne of Bahegmha Smhasahe. I erred in my attempts to reconcile and am compelled to try once more before he marries in haste."
"Rebound ya' mean," Scotty said. He didn't think he bought Spock's story but whatever. Spock had all the information about his trip and if Pike wasn't going to stop him, what did it matter as to Spock's real motivation? Maybe Rahth Mutadaffaq was the new vacation spot for the rich and eccentric. "You have your passport?"
"I do," Spock agreed, taking it out. "However, Vulcans are not generally required to produce one."
"True enough. We could use more Vulcans in the Consortium."
"There are Vulcan members?" Spock asked, finding it curious that it had never come up before.
"A few. Joined very recently," Scotty said. "Experts at intelligence gathering."
"Are there any who follow Jim's… line of work?" Spock asked.
Scotty glanced over at Spock who was staring resolutely out the windshield. "Assassins ya' mean."
Spock nodded once. Scotty wasn't really sure he wanted an answer to that question. After all, from what Scotty understood, it was Jim's work as a clean-up expert that had caused the rift between them.
"Why are ye askin'?" Scotty finally asked.
"Inappropriate curiosity," Spock admitted.
"It's not inappropriate, seein' how you know the truth. I'm thinkin' it's that you canna imagine a Vulcan doing what Jim's required to do," Scotty guessed.
"Kill on the orders of others," Spock said. Scotty saw the smallest flinch at the reluctant words.
"We all will if it's necessary. You canna be a member if you object to protecting your team or yourself."
"Indeed," Spock said.
"Even Leonard has taken a life. It's particularly hard on him. But he'll do it."
"Yes," Spock said, not adding more to it. They spent much of the rest of the trip to the airfield in silence, Scotty trying to figure it out but not getting any closer to what the truth really was. No matter. Spock was coming and what happened after that was not Scotty's concern.
Spock was a tremendous help in unloading the Hummer, assisting Scotty in transferring the crates from the car to the shuttle. Once everything was on board, Spock took the co-pilot seat as Scotty did the pre-flight checks. Scotty felt Spock's eyes on him as he went through the required steps until he was ready.
"You buckled in?" Scotty asked.
"I am," Spock agreed. "How long will it take to arrive?"
"74 minutes," Scotty said, entering the code to open the roof and flying easily up and out. "We'll land at the airfield in Bahegmha Smhasahe and drive into the capital city from there."
"And that is 21 minutes?"
"Yes, generally. If there's no traffic and the harmattan is not up."
"Indeed," Spock said.
They talked of unimportant things, not broaching the subject of Jim and what Spock had done to him. Scotty considered confronting Spock about it but then decided it wasn't his place. Jim was a big boy and he could fight his own battles. If it came down to it, though, Scotty would not hesitate to give Spock a piece of his mind.
When they were 15 minutes past half way, Spock surprised Scotty by turning to him and saying: "I was not entirely truthful with you."
"Aye? What's that you say?" Scotty said, the surprise evident in his voice and on his face.
"Before I came to your house, I was speaking with my parents. My father primarily. He has information that indicates Jim and Leonard are walking into a trap."
"A trap?" Scotty repeated.
"You know that my grandmother is T'Pau," Spock said, to Scotty's nods. "She is the one who informed my father. She also informed Mr. Pike but she was unable to reveal the source of her information."
"What sort of trap?"
"According to T'Pau, Sheik Jmhanahe Wahenrha-Grhadrha knows that the Consortium plans to remove him from power so that Sheik Siraj Khalil-Gheisari can be reinstated. The planned coup is destined to fail," Spock said.
"Oh lordy," Scotty said. "And since Pike couldn't verify it, he canna call off the operation."
"Precisely," Spock said. "Although I am not trained in the ways of espionage, I will do whatever it is you deem necessary to safely return our friends to America."
Scotty nodded at that, thinking it over. This was going to be a tough go. Him and Spock against the forces of Sheik Wahenrha. At least they had surprise on their side. The Sheik was not expecting them to arrive. He wondered if there was any way to alert Jim and Leonard. "Do ya' think if we send them a message it would help?"
"I do not know," Spock said. "However, I would be concerned that their communications are being monitored. And as Sheik Wahenrha's forces do not know we are coming, we will have the advantage of the unexpected."
"Aye – that we will," Scotty agreed. "If it comes to it, are you able to take another life?" Scotty waited patiently as Spock gave the question the consideration it was due.
"While I have never done so previously, I will preserve the lives of our friends over those who would do them harm."
"So that's a yes?" Scotty asked.
"Yes. I will take another life if we are left with no alternative."
"Very well," Scotty said with a nod. "I have extra phasers in the supplies. We'll take them with us when we go to find Jim and Leonard."
"Yes," Spock agreed, looking out the windshield of the shuttle into the black of the sky. "Is there any possibility that this shuttle could arrive sooner than expected?"
"Aye. That she can. That she can," Scotty agreed, flipping two switches and depressing a small red button.
~o0o~
"I think I'm going to do some shopping," Selema told Jim and Leonard, leaning just that much closer to Jim. "Maybe pick up a little something for the honeymoon."
"Sounds grand, my love," Jim agreed. "Do you need any money?"
"Do you have your credit card? Then I won't have to worry how much your present costs," she said with a light laugh.
He had to smile at that, taking out his Centurion American Express card. "Have fun."
"You know I will," she assured him, nodding to Kameer Bouhadi so that he would follow her out and across to where the elite shops were located. Their breakfast in the restaurant had been sumptuous and elegant, as had every meal they had eaten at the Pavilion. She was pleased to note that even Jim hadn't been able to resist the delicious food that was served in great abundance. Living like a royal was something to which she could become accustom, although she did know her venture into royalty was temporary and, sadly, artificial.
She passed by a few of the shops, wondering if anyone really need a purse that cost £1200. Well, she certainly didn't need it even if the Consortium was responsible for the payments. She took a moment to consider the look on Chris Pike's face when he got that particular statement. 'But it was so pretty,' was probably not an acceptable reason to pay that much for a purse that was barely large enough to hold her cellphone, status as pretend princess not-withstanding.
The next shop was one that featured women's clothes, beautiful thobes in every color imaginable on display. The one she was wearing was ivory and was rather plain, considering she was impersonating royalty.
"Kameer," she said to the man standing a discreet distance away. "I'm going to pop into this shop."
He nodded, standing just inside the doorway, trying to look semi-inconspicuous but present enough to stop anyone from approaching the 'princess.'
The shopkeeper approached Selema with a smile, asking in Arabic if there was something special she was looking to purchase. Selema responded that she very much wanted a thobe in sky blue and did this shop have one available?
The shopkeeper, who introduced herself as Haniyyah, was most pleased to show Selema one which was the exact color she wanted. As a bonus, the top most layer was embellished with intricate embroidery, crystals sewn into the design.
Selema agreed it was indeed one of the most beautiful thobes she had ever seen. As it was made differently from the ones she ordinarily wore, she requested and received Haniyyah's blessings to slip into the fitting room and try it on to make certain it would hang correctly.
Selema nodded to Kameer before disappearing behind the heavy curtain that separated the shop from the back area, where the tiny fitting room was located. She was just in the process of removing the outer-most portion of her thobe when she was startled by a sharp knock on the door.
"Your highness," Kameer's voice said in some urgency.
She naturally unlocked and opened the door, finding Kameer visibly distressed on the other side. "What's wrong?"
"Armed men just entered the Pavilion. According to Sam they are dressed in the colors of Sheik Wahenrha," Kameer explained in a rush.
"Oh no," Selema said, her eyes wide. "Did Sam get Jim and Leonard out?"
"I don't know," Kameer said, entering the fitting room and immediately spotting the tiny window. "Leave through the window," he instructed, taking off the heavy white robes he had been wearing, leaving him in a tee shirt and jeans he rolled down. "Take these. With any luck, they'll believe I'm a tourist."
Selema accepted the bundle from Kameer including his gun, and with his help squirmed out the window. Kameer made sure the window was fastened back so no evidence would remain that she had ever been in the shop.
He casually left the back area, stopping suddenly when three men approached, frowns on their faces. They were dressed in the traditional purple and black that marked them from the house of Wahenrha.
"Who are you?" the largest man demanded in Arabic.
"Son," Kameer said in English that was more heavily accented then Dr. McCoy's had ever been. "I don't speak nothin' but American English. What's that you're sayin' there?"
The three men exchanged frowns, the largest taking one step forward. "Who are you?" he asked slowly in English.
"Me? I'm not nobody. Billy Joe's the name. Carpeting's the game. You produce some mighty pretty rugs here, I can tell you for sure."
"What are you doing in a lady's boutique?" Large Man asked.
"Waitin'. MissyJo's been shoppin'. Wanted to try on one of them robes like the women here wear. She thought it'd be a novelty for when we get home. I got no idea where she thinks she'll be wearin' it back in the States but you know women. Once they get their minds set, well."
"Where is this…MissyJo now?" Large Man demanded.
"MissyJo?" Kameer said. "What's the hold up?" He waited a beat before focusing back on Large Man. "What can you do?" he asked with an exaggerated shrug.
"Bring her out here now," Large Man ordered, lifting his gun just that much higher.
"Okay okay. I'll see what I can do," Kameer agreed, turning toward the back of the store. To his immense surprise, a woman in Western dress came barreling out, stopping right up next to him.
"Hold your horses, Billy Joe. I'm right here," the woman with light brown hair and green eyes said breathlessly. She was not thin and wore an ankle length denim jumper over a long sleeved red polo. She was wearing sensible shoes that looked like they would be good for doing 'the tourist thing.'
"You are MissyJo?" Large Man asked, clearly incredulous.
"Yeah. That's me. Melissa Jolene. But Billy Joe always calls me that. You know how it can be when you been married long as we have," she said with a nervous giggle, Billy Joe nodding in agreement as he flung a casual arm across her shoulders.
Large Man lowered his very large gun slightly, eyeing them suspiciously. The two other men talked with him quietly, Large Man finally nodding. "I suggest you leave right away."
"Sure. Sure thing," Kameer said, taking MissyJo's hand. "Come on, darlin'. We don't want to be in these men's way."
"You are right about that," she agreed, following him out of the Pavilion and into the parking lot.
"Praise God in heaven," Kameer said, looking down at her. "Who are you?"
"I'm Samantha Faulkner. I'm a Consortium member stationed here," she explained in a low voice.
"And how did you end in the shop?" Kameer asked.
"I'll explain later. Right now we have to find out why Wahenrha's men are here," she said with some urgency. "Are you with Jim Kirk and Leonard McCoy?"
"Yes. They were in the restaurant when Selema decided to go shopping," Kameer explained. "My name's Kameer Bouhadi."
"Good to meet you, Kameer. Where do you think Selema is now?"
"Rendezvous point Evergreen."
"Good. That's only 4 minutes by foot from here. Try reaching her on your comm," Samantha said, starting out across the parking lot toward the indicated rendezvous area.
"Won't they be monitoring for signals?"
"The Consortium has them scrambled. By the time they trace it to us, we'll be gone," Samantha said, walking a little faster.
"All right," Kameer agreed, wondering when he started reporting to this woman he had never met before. "Kilo Bravo to Sierra Alpha. Do you read?"
They kept walking as they waited, Kameer repeating the request twice more before they reached a smallish hut that was labeled 'Caution: Staff Only' in Arabic and in English. Kameer took a credit card out of his back pocket and swiped it over the barely visible plate, the door unlocking with a soft click.
"Selema?" Kameer called quietly as they entered.
"Kameer?" a whisper returned from the black depths of the building.
"Yeah. You okay?"
Kameer and Samantha waited as Selema slowly emerged, a gun pointing directly at Kameer's chest.
"You're safe, Selema. It really is us," Kameer assured her.
She nodded and lowered the gun, her eyes wide in fear. "Samantha," she breathed, accepting a hug from the other woman.
"You know each other?" Kameer asked although it was clear that they did.
"Yes, Kameer," Selema said with an indulgent smile. "Samantha and I work together all the time."
"I had no idea," Kameer said, shaking his head. "Were you able to contact Jim and Leonard? Or Sam?"
"No," Selema said. "And I'm worried. You know Wahenrha didn't send just three men. Why are they even in the Pavilion?"
"That's the big question, isn't it?" Samantha agreed. "Is your comm being jammed?"
Selema took it out of her pocket, checking it to see if was functioning. It was not. "It is," she agreed, showing it to Samantha and Kameer.
"Then it's just us," Samantha said with a nod. "The first thing we have to do is find out where they've taken Jim and Leonard."
"When they were trying to decide to do with us, the leader used the word tuyuur-wakr," Kameer said.
"Birdnest," Samantha said, frowning.
"It can also mean high-place," Selema said.
"Or penthouse," Kameer said in realization.
"Of course. The penthouse. The easiest place to defend," Selema said.
"And there is a helicopter pad on the roof," Samantha added, startling the other two with the additional bad news.
"We need to contact the bureau chief," Selema said. "Which means we need to be at least 15 miles from their jamming equipment. Do you have a car?" she asked Samantha.
"I do. It's in the staff parking lot of the Pavilion," Samantha said, digging into her pocket for a set of keys.
"Did Haniyyah get out safely?" Selema asked.
"They weren't interested in her," Samantha assured her. "They were no doubt looking for you. Or someone from the Consortium."
"Yes. I'm glad they didn't realize either of you are part of it," Selema said, following Samantha and Kameer out of the hut, making sure they locked it behind them. "This is a very bad situation."
"You said it, dear," Samantha agreed, carefully entering the parking lot and staying between the cars so that they would not be so easily spotted.