hummm i own some star trek collectable stuff... is that the same as owning the show? no... ok T_T
Episode 1-13 The Conscience of the King
Kirk was on the planet called by an old friend. Spock was teaching Saya the last of a song on the Vulcan Lute. Kirk returned late and seemed troubled but Spock said nothing as they greeted him in the transporter room.
After some time Spock and Saya went to inform Kirk that they were ready to leave orbit. As soon as they entered Kirk asked " . You know Doctor Leighton, don't you? Would you say he's given to fantasy?"
"A good empirical research scientist. Steady, reputable, occasionally brilliant." Spock answered.
Kirk added "with a very long memory."
Spock raised his eyebrows but merely said "I have no information on that, Captain. We are ready to leave orbit."
Kirk told Spock that they would delay and he was beaming back down to the planet. Spock merely agreed and returned to the bridge. Saya returned to studying. After some time she started to draw Spock again working on the details. She had managed to do a very rough carving of Spock but needed the fine details jotted down to reference for the fine tuning of the carving.
Kirk beamed back to the ship and Spock went back to his station. Saya again started drawing the fine detailing in Spock's features again. Spock informed Kirk that they were ready to resume the course and Kirk commented that they would be due for a pickup. Spock inquired the nature of the pick up as Uhura told Kirk that a had been transported to the ship requesting to see Kirk.
Kirk told her to have someone escort to the bridge. Spock asked "How did you know this lady was coming aboard?" Kirk said it was because he was the captain and Saya wondered what game he was playing. A beautiful sophisticated lady came to the bridge saying she didn't think they would meet again so soon.
Kirk said "You probably wouldn't believe me if I told you I arranged it." And Saya wondered if those words were more truth than fiction. Karidian said that they needed transportation to their next location and Kirk asked if they could make other arrangements. She said that they couldn't in time which would mess up their entire schedule.
Karidian appealed to Kirk and Spock's eyebrows shot up. Saya bet it had to do with Kirk's flirtation nature. Kirk mentioned the regulations and Karidian offered a bargain. They transport the theater company and get a special performance for the Enterprise crew in exchange. WIth a little more flirting it was arranged. Saya wasn't keen on the woman but looked forward to maybe getting to see a play.
Spock inquired about the course and Kirk said the Benecia colony. Spock pointed out it was 8 light years off their course. Kirk replied a bit snappishly "If my memory needs refreshing, , I'll ask you for it. In the meantime, follow my orders."
The next day after Kirk asked Spock the eta to the Benecia colony he went to a console and looked up the Kodos file of all survivors. He then had the list of the 9 actual eye witnesses who could identify Kodos. One name mentioned was Riley. Kirk verified it was their Riley and told Spock to have Riley transferred down to the engineering decks. Spock pointed out that Riley had come up from engineering and that he would consider this transfer a disciplinary action. Kirk didn't wish to discuss it and just demanded his orders be followed.
As Spock walked to obey Saya quietly asked "Who is Kodos?"
Spock looked at her a moment before answering "Governor Kodos, also known as Kodos the Executioner, was the governor of Earth colony Tarsus IV in 2246. An exotic fungus destroyed most of the colony's food supply and its 8,000 inhabitants faces starvation. Kodos selected 4,000 of the colony's residents to be put to death so the remaining might survive on the limited food supplies available."
Saya silently walked beside him and thought. 'Though it is a logical answer it is also a heartless one. How could you choose those to keep alive and those to kill? Age? intelligence? connections? How do you put value on human life? And what of the children?' Saya watched as Riley was sent back to engineering and hoped he wouldn't take it too hard.
"I feel for Riley. He's always been nice to me and is a sweet guy. Though he did tease you for a bit and I still don't get why he was flirting with me to tease you. But I still hope he handles this well." Saya commented as they walked to visit McCoy. "What happened after he killed all those people? To Kodos, I mean."
"Supply ships from Earth arrived earlier than expected and found a burned body. Kodos was presumed dead and the matter was closed." Spock informed her. Saya continued to wonder what kind of human could do such a thing as they met with McCoy.
Bones started trying to explain that Kirk was just stressed by the chain of command but Spock cut him off simply asking if McCoy had noticed Kirk acting strangely. McCoy said he hadn't then offered Spock and Saya a drink. Saya politely declined saying she didn't ever drink and Spock replied saying "My father's race was spared the dubious benefits of alcohol."
Saya wondered if Vulcans could get drunk at all because of that or if Spock could get sorta drunk because he was half human. McCoy replied "Now I know why they were conquered. What are you so worried about, anyway? I find Jim generally knows what he's doing." When Spock mentioned it was illogical to bring the actors aboard McCoy added "Illogical? Did you get a look at that Juliet? That's a pretty exciting creature. Of course your, personal chemistry would prevent you from seeing that. Did it ever occur to you that he simply might like the girl?"
Spock said it occurred but he dismissed it and McCoy ruefully said he would. "Did you know that he suddenly transferred Lieutenant Riley to engineering?" Saya could tell that Spock was agitated especially as he kept pacing.
"Lots of things go on around here that I don't know, . Now, he's the Captain. He can transfer whoever he pleases. You can look that up in a hundred volumes of space regulations somewhere. All right? Come on, have a drink." Bones offered again.
Spock again passed and McCoy said "You're welcome. But I will. And please, , if you won't join me, don't disapprove of me. At least not until you've tried it, huh?"
Saya quietly asked "What does Captain Kirk have to do with Kodos?" Both men looked at her shocked and Bones demanded where she had heard about Kodos. "Well once we got everything arranged Kirk had the computer look up survivors from that incident that could be eye witnesses. Riley was one of them. Kirk was another. I know it was a bad time but I don't see the connection."
Spock jumped to the computer and checked the name Dr Thomas Leighton and Anton Karidian as well. Bones groused but couldn't deny the information they got. "Children watching their parents die. Whole families destroyed. Over four thousand people. They died quickly, without pain, but they died. Relief arrived, but too late to prevent the executions. And Kodos? There never was a positive identification of his body." Spock shared.
"What has Karidian to do with it?" McCoy asked.
"His history begins almost to the day where Kodos disappeared." Spock answered. Bones asked if Spock thought Kirk suspected. "He'd better. There were nine eyewitnesses who survived the massacre, who'd actually seen Kodos with their own eyes. Jim Kirk was one of them. With the exception of Riley and Captain Kirk, every other eye witness is dead. And my library computer shows that wherever they were, on Earth, on a colony, or aboard ship, the Karidian Company of Players was somewhere near when they died."
"So we have a likely murderer aboard who will try to go after Kirk and Riley." Saya said clearly concerned. They didn't have long to wait before McCoy was called to help Riley. He wasn't breathing when they got there and Saya helped move everything out of the way from his meal and McCoy with anything he needed.
Soon they had him back in sickbay and somewhat stable. Spock was saying that McCoy had to pull him through and Bones replied that he wasn't sure he could. "If he dies, the only one who'll be able to identify Kodos is the Captain. And he'll be the next target."
Saya put a hand on Riley's shoulder and quietly told him "You can't die yet Riley. We have many more parties to decorate for and more things to talk about. You are someone i want to continue to know. Please don't die yet." Spock raised an eyebrow at Saya's words but said nothing as he calculated the situation the ship was in.
Spock left to take care of other things and Saya stayed with Riley. McCoy gave her permission to stay by his bed and gave her a chair. Later when Spock came back to check on McCoy's findings he saw Saya asleep with her hand still on Riley's Shoulder and her head on the edge of his bed.
"She is quite concerned. She would make an excellent nurse if she choose." McCoy commented before returning to his report. It was a highly volatile lubricant used on the ship that poisoned Riley. Spock believed that someone was trying to poison Riley and McCoy pointed out that it could have been an accident. They both left to report to Kirk. Spock glanced at Saya asleep at Riley's side briefly before walking out.
Saya was startled from sleep by the ship rocking slightly and automatically put an arm over Riley to keep him from falling. McCoy came in as soon as he got his balance back and checked Riley. "You can go now you know. Riley should pull through and you need to sleep in a real bed." McCoy told her.
"No. He needs to be reminded why he should stay alive. Losing the will to live is as deadly as most injuries or poisons. If he has to fight both that's just too much. I don't know if he has his heart set on anyone and I don't know anything about his family. I do know that I am his friend and I can be here for him so I will." Saya said as she stubbornly stayed.
McCoy raised an eyebrow but left her alone. Saya was soon asleep again and McCoy continued his work. Riley woke and looked around. Seeing Saya asleep near him he called Bones quietly. "Why is she here?" Riley asked.
"She didn't know who was important to you and wanted to make sure someone you cared for was near to remind you why you should live." McCoy answered with a raised eyebrow.
"Well, I will have to pay her back for this and I know the perfect way." Riley said with a grin. He carefully got up and started quietly pacing since he was not allowed to leave sickbay. Saya woke and blinked a few times. As soon as she looked around she found Riley pacing and asked what was going on. Riley quietly explained that he was feeling better.
"I'm very glad. I was quite worried about you." Saya said with her usual sunny smile.
"I know, I will have to pay you back for your kindness." Riley said with a clear idea in his mind.
"Umm… No thanks. I'm good. Besides that's what friends are for. I gotta go find Spock." Saya said as she skipped out the door quickly. Saya didn't find him in his room so she went to find Kirk. Sure enough she ran into them, coming out of Kirk's room, as only she could. She took Spock's offered hand and got up off the floor. Coloring she said "Sorry, didn't mean to run into you… I'll be more careful."
Spock merely looked at her a moment before Kirk asked if she was ok. "Yeah, Just wasn't paying attention. Riley's ok though so that's really good."
Spock watched Saya as she babbled a bit. He had seen her coming and chosen not to move despite the calculation that she hadn't seen him. He had not calculated the speed at which she would recoil though. He was glad she was unhurt but mentally reprimanded himself for his actions. "You do make an excellent wall . And you hurt much less to run into." Saya said with a smile. "So what now?"
As soon as she asked McCoy contacted Kirk letting him know that Riley was missing and he had been making a log entry about Karidian and Kodos being potentially connected. Security soon reported that the weapons locker had been broken into and a phaser was missing. "This is the Captain. Security two alert. Find and restrain Lieutenant Kevin Riley. He's armed and possibly headed towards the ship's theatre." Kirk ordered over the com.
With a rueful look at Spock, Saya said "Well I guess that answered that question. I doubt we will get to really see the play though." Spock said nothing and Saya wondered if he had some kind of issue with her. Spock for his part was reminding himself that a specific female was not an option and therefore it was illogical to desire her or be bothered by her attention being given to another male.
Kirk directed Spock to try and find Riley in his quarters and Kirk went to the theater. Saya quickly walked with Spock thankful for all the years she spent walking as if she was running. Finally Kirk notified them that Riley had been found and that everything had been dealt with.
Spock and Saya returned to the bridge passing Riley on the way. Saya asked him if he wanted to talk later but he quickly told her he didn't. As the got on the turbolift Saya commented "I hope Riley has someone to talk to. He's hurting right now."
Spock studied Saya for a bit before asking "Do you wish to be the one he talks to?"
"Honestly I am here to listen but I'd rather not be because I have no idea what to do to help other than listen. I don't know what it's like to watch your parents murdered in front of you. I can only be so useful in that situation." Saya smiled at Spock.
The returned to the bridge and Saya returned to her reading, Spock to his station. Soon they were flying off to their next destination and adventure.
*END*