[Disclaimers/warnings at top of Part I]
PART VIII
Spock.
I am in the darkest place of my life so far. I can barely find breath, I am trying to remember… and my body senses only – pain. What …?
… Scientific survey for kressitium. Sudden strange readings on the tricorder. Hendorff is raising his weapon in response to something – but too quickly I hear disruptor blasts. A female Geskref has just hit three members of our Away Team with two shots. I signal and nod a command to Hendorff and speed off to pursue the Geskref. Hendorff has evacuated the Away Team – I presume they are safe aboard the Enterprise. "Presuming is not good enough," Captain Pike would say. He never had to say this to me; I used to perform most efficiently in all Starfleet maneuvers. If I were James Kirk I would say "I screwed up."
As I give chase I call the Enterprise to ensure the team has gotten there safely. The Geskref (one of a reptilian warrior race, now pirates, whom we did not expect here) fires a shot at me, a beam that sounds different from the others. She escapes from me. Agile, a trained warrior, she darts to the bluff and disappears – I follow – she creeps around a narrow ledge – I swiftly approach her – suddenly my feet and legs feel nerveless and see her smile as I trip, land awkwardly and slip … I plummet downward – as air goes swiftly past my ears, I can hear her hiss into her communicator, the word "kressium," the mineral's name in the lingua franca.
Impact ….
I am conscious in a suffocating, painful darkness. I cannot seem to begin a healing trance … my training was thorough but my technique is faulty … something—.
Kirk.
"He's been out of touch since the rest of the team beamed up! Can't you get a reading on him?" Kirk leaned his hand on the display above her, concern for his friend radiating off him.
"Don't you think I'd get a reading if I could sir?!" Uhura snapped, looking up at him.
"Sorry, Lieu—"
She was still looking at him, eyes glazing over strangely. Suddenly she stood, breathing deeply, apparently unaware of where she was … Kirk moved swiftly to grab her elbow, easing her to the deck as she passed out. "M'Ress – take over Comms!" The captain knelt beside Uhura and checked her pulse. "Bridge to Sickbay! Bones, I need you up here – Lieutenant Uhura's passed out. M'Ress, Jang, keep trying to get a fix – Chekov, help Jang; fine-tune the sensors for a better read on Spock's biometrics…."
/\
Three-quarters of an hour later, Chekov and Scotty have fine-tuned the scanners enough to find Spock at the bottom of a cliff near the transport site. In the Transporter Room the first officer is quickly transferred to a float gurney and rushed to Sickbay. One look at McCoy's face and Kirk sees just how badly Spock is injured; for the first time since he's met him Kirk thinks Spock might die.
His gut tightens as he approaches Spock's intensive care biobed in Sickbay. Almost every visible centimeter of skin is cut, scraped or bruised. The Vulcan is a study in shades of green, dark emerald, olive drab, and seasick green, with brown bruises that look bone-deep.
A display beside the bed in Sickbay shows a representation of Spock's body.
"The impact would have killed a Human, Jim, but Vulcans are made of stronger stuff. Or have sturdier structures of that same stuff. Even major bones are broken, but Spock's skull is intact. His brain is swelling, though." McCoy and Chapel have been bustling around him, starting pain relief, supportive functions, oxygen, and blood cell regeneration.
Chapel begins assembling medical instruments – to piece together all the shattered bones and repair all the damage to Spock's internal organs. Kirk meets Chapel's eyes as she moves to ready the anesthetic equipment. She nods solemnly at him, then greets the anesthesiologist. This is gonna take a long time, Kirk thinks.
Right now McCoy is busy checking Spock's readings on the bed-size medscanner. In moments, with the help of McCoy's expert surgical staff, Spock's gravely injured body will begin its long process of healing.
"I'm going to start surgery very shortly, Jim. Get on out of here and tell everybody to visit … tomorrow maybe. Meanwhile, their good wishes will be appreciated."
"Hang in there, Spock. Bones will do his best for you," Kirk says in a low voice. For a moment he gently rests his fingertips on Spock's undamaged upper arm.
He turns away to stand by Uhura, who lies still on a nearby biobed. "How are you doing?" he says softly, leaning close. He sees her eyes move beneath closed lids but she can't respond; according to the display at her bed she's unconscious, but Kirk knows patients in that condition can still hear – so he puts his mouth close to her ear and whispers, "The whole crew's pulling for you and Spock. Bones gives the best care anywhere. You'll both be fine."
/\
Kirk is gritting his teeth as he leaves Sickbay. He means to start a hunt for the Geskref, wherever they are. The warrior female scout is probably safely away on a ship by now, but the Enterprise has great speed compared with any Geskref ship.
"Lt M'Ress, get me Starfleet Command," he says as he arrives on the Bridge. "And trace any Geskref signals—"
"Lt Uhura already began a track when she detected the beam-out, Captain," M'Ress says, "and we're still tracking."
"I haff de course, sair. Dey are not far deestant as yet, Keptin," announces Chekov.
"Captain, I have Admiral Pike's office on visual," M'Ress purrs. As do most of the crew, she likes Admiral Pike, who was the crew's original skipper, and Kirk recalls, seeing her slight smirk, something about an ancient antipathy between the Caitians and the Geskref, Gorn, and other reptilian species.
"I got your report, Jim," Pike says. "I'm sorry about Ensign Trinh. How are the others doing?"
"They're on bed rest in Sickbay, sir, except for Spock. He's in surgery. It's bad."
"I hope—" Pike pauses, a flash of weariness and sadness crossing his face. "Tell him I expect he'll be better and back on duty soon. As for the Geskref? Bring 'em in."
Kirk.
It's no contest. The Geskref know better than to attack a ship like the Enterprise.
"Geskref ship, this is Captain Kirk of the Starship Enterprise. You are ordered to surrender immediately. One of your crew is a murderer." He is brusque, thinking about Trinh and worried for Spock and the injured security officers. Hendorff is grieving Trinh, the first Security team member he's ever lost, and is angry about Spock's injurious fall.
The Geskref captain appeared on-screen. "I so Captain Klessk. I assuredly to you ssurender warrior she what killed yourss officer, Captain," he said in terrible Standard, smiling in a manner Kirk supposed he felt was ingratiating. It was just creepy.
"Captain," Sulu said in an undertone. "They've just launched a shuttle."
"Tractor beam, Mr Chekov," Kirk ordered, and fixed Klessk with his glacier-blue stare. "Really, Klessk? Do you have any idea what you just did?"
/\
Kirk and McCoy.
McCoy enters the Bridge, walking past the Commsta where M'Ress sits. They exchange nods as he steps down to the command chair. He's damned tired; the worst of Spock's surgeries is over, but there will be more work to do in the next few days. He gives thanks for M'Benga's advisement from far away, for Chapel and the rest of his skilled and talented medical staff. And Uhura, helping from a place only she and Spock know. Without them, Spock might not have made it. McCoy feels a chill and, folding his arms across his chest, looks at the viewscreen.
"We've charged Captain Klessk and his crew with violation of Federation territory and attempting to disrupt the peaceful trade of R'rau," Commodore Rodrigues says from her office at Starbase 23. McCoy remembers her guest lectures at the Academy – coordination of resources from starbase to starship or something like that. All he paid attention to were the sections related to medical supplies and support, but he is pleased to see her again – she's a contemporary of Admiral Pike's, equally authoritative and energetic. She gives McCoy a quick nod, and continues.
"My investigative team have begun interviewing the crew. Klessk's operatives have transported to various planets in this sector to disrupt Federation negotiations – you recall the splinter groups you reported on Al'Rugh? Klessk's people incited a couple of the groups to attack Federation representatives."
Kirk nods grimly, recalling Uhura's return after that mission. At least now Ensign Hong is more comfortable with landing party defense strategies. Trinh, alas, cannot practice with him. Kirk's mouth hardened.
"Apparently they hoped to end Al'Rugh's negotiations with the Federation altogether. K'sst'klk has been charged with the murder of Ensign Trinh and the attempted murder of Ensigns Ramamurthy and Stills. They're deciding about charging her with the attempted murder of Commander Spock. … How is the commander, Dr. McCoy?"
McCoy doesn't let his weariness show through. "He's gonna have a long recovery."
Rodrigues sighs, looking rueful. "I was First under Chris Pike when Spock was a green ensign. Best science officer either of us ever had the pleasure to serve with. I wish him strength."
"Commodore, I assure you, Spock will do whatever it takes to get better and get out of my Sickbay," McCoy says. "And I think you know as well as we do what a stubborn bas— … Vulcan he is."
Kirk gives him a sidelong look, and McCoy raises his eyebrow at him.
"On Stardate 342.58 we're remanding Klessk, K'sst'klk and the other operatives to the Federation Criminal Court. The crew will be assigned some … guest quarters until a verdict comes down. The ship's going to stay in our custody for awhile to facilitate our negotiations with the Geskref."
Kirk's expression is one of "good luck with that," but he says only, "It's been a pleasure working with you, Commodore."
Rodrigues smiles sadly. "I wish it could have been under better circumstances, Captain. You and your crew must be our guests for shore leave sometime soon."
"We'll do that. Thank you, Commodore, for the briefing and for all your help."
"Starbase 23 acknowledges. Bright stars and clear spaceways, Enterprise." An old-fashioned send-off, but Kirk likes it.
He motions McCoy to follow him and heads into the Ready Room. As soon as the door shuts he says,
"How are they? How's Spock?"
"Ramamurthy and Stills are each on bed rest in quarters. As for Spock I'm … keepin' my fingers crossed." McCoy is characteristically reticent about such things until patients are going to make a full recovery. Having ordered some coffee, he and Kirk sit, sipping occasionally, staring off into space. Maybe they're praying, but at the very least they're hoping Spock will make it.
To be Continued
A/N: I am so thankful to the readers who've commented! It's important to me to hear what you liked … or didn't. Your opinion is very valuable to me, dear reader, and helps me improve (be kind.) More angsty stories (e.g. Loss, The Way Back) at my FanFic site SpockLikesCats; you'll find humor (Put Your Junk in the Box, Sketches of Sparrow) and romance (my Hot Tubs stories &c.) there as well!
/\ Glossary /\
Asenoi: fire-bowl [used for incense]
FAS: Fleet Admiral [chief] of Starfleet
Hir: 'him or her'
Loshirak: lotus position
Masa: mother [ki-Swahili]
Ozh'esta: the touch of the first two fingers of each partner's hand, a "Vulcan kiss"
Pakuv vil-yai: "odor flame," incense coil [author's construction from Vulcan words]
Plebe: an Academy midshipman/cadet just reported for the summer before the first academic year; one who hears constant swearing at and condemnation of, hirself, the better to get hir to conform to all the new rules; one who engages in constant swearing with hir fellows in private moments; one who is obedient to all who are above hir; the lowest life form at the Academy.
Twenty-four hundred hours: midnight