And so with those words the Captain kept posted
three sets of teams monitoring the keep
While Keenser, Scotty and Bones would develop
protection from Cirqce's dhuoNoR ray beam
The teams every hour checked in to report
activity of the people within
The first thing they said: "The place is enormous
spanning some thousands of square kilometers."
The second thing was: "Nobody ventures
to break through the boundary, no one escapes."
Though escape would be to toxic environs
no traces of corpses were found anyway
The third thing was: "They all look so normal
so hard to believe they were all warriors."
Scotty gave Jim his hermean pendant
"It'll neutralize dhuoNoR, I can't guarantee
that this is enough to counter the beam.
It might only partially work, you'd be
stuck half in one half in other form, Jim.
We ran all tests we could find and invent."
Jim palmed the device, as small as a coin
"You've gotta be crazy- you're not going alone!"
"Captain, I strongly-" "Spock, Scotty, Bones
you listen to me and you follow my orders
I'm only risking one man from this ship
if anything happens, do not mount a rescue
we don't want to implicate ourselves in this shit.
I know your opinions but I've thought this thing over:
what if she just kills us all with her beam
what if she brings us inside but refuses
to let us go back to our ship safely
what if she changes the tlhIngans and they all
decide to attack her and us, declare war
what if the transform can't be reversed
what if the people aren't tlhIngans at all.
And I know, Spock, these are insufficient
for me not to bring a full team for support-
actually you'd say it's all the more reason
for you to come with me and enter her fort.
But think of it this way: she's alone and
outnumbered, maybe she's trying to live
the way that she wants. Maybe she's exiled,
maybe this is the only peaceful solution
she's found for the way the tlhIngans search and then
attack her, keeping them alive and unharmed.
But will you respect that I need to do this
alone, and leave it at that? Will you respect
that I have a gut feeling, and trust me
to come through alive and intact?" "Captain-
You ask much. To ask me to wait. To ask
this after you've already died. Captain-
Jim- I trust you with life. Why won't you let
anyone be by your side." Spock stepped forward.
"I will respect your wishes to do this alone
but do not ask me not to mount rescue.
You once gave me your ship to command
through dire crisis. Do you trust me to give
good command in your absence? To judge
what is best for both you and our crew-
do you trust me in this, as I now trust in you?"
Bones took in the sight of the Captain and Spock
Scotty and Keenser quietly walked out
The question hanging as spider's webbing
Jim nodded, so slightly, slowly exhaling
when Nyota came running before he beamed down
"Captain, I know there are words without meaning
a vow upon honor can break but now
you need every weapon and chance we have,
if nothing else- words buy you some time.
If the witch Cirqce is willing to speak
if you think her tlhIngan honor is true
ask her to swear a vow to you thusly:
that she will not harm you or this crew
whatever the outcome of your combined talks.
And you must then swear the same vow to her:
that you will not harm her or her people
whatever the conflict between your two views.
If you believe that this is worth trying
it will ease negotiation for the both of you."
Nyota saluted, the Captain acknowledged
then stepped on the transporter pad with face
blank and detached then eyes took one glance at
Spock staring at him, eyes dark with emotion
"Good luck to you, Captain. Energize, Mr. Scott."
Jim went to the dome and stopped without touching
the crackling barrier popping with HoS
he wasn't quite certain what he would do next
when the barrier opened and Cirqce stepped forth.
"Come in, Terran. Let's discuss this inside."