A/N: No smut in this chapter. Just plot.
The tension on the bridge was thick. Everyone did their jobs, but not without a note of resentment in the acknowledgment of every followed order.
Kirk had been a good captain by Terran standards. He dealt out his punishments out efficiently. Enjoying it no less, but he was merciful when it served him.
Spock, on the other hand seemed less inclined towards mercy. He often advised heavier punishment for offenses than Kirk eventually settled on. He believed it was logical. Harsh punishments meant fewer would risk making the same mistakes.
There was also the matter of his mixed heritage. One might wonder if he implemented harsher punishments because he needed to prove that he was as loyal as any Terran officer.
Of course, that would be an emotional rationalization that Spock himself, would deny.
This was the way with The Empire, captains changed like worn core-parts, used-up, burned out, or sensing some weakness, switched-out by hand. In this case, Spock's.
As a half-caste, his promotion was only begrudgingly permitted because of his years of service. They also feared him, their prejudice preventing them from attempting to usurp him.
For now.
Spock was not stupid. He knew in this in unstable time, there would be attempts. His spies kept their ears and eyes open.
The official story had been that Kirk had simply disappeared, as so many of his opponents had.
Vulcans do not lie. And Spock had not. He simply omitted the full nature and cause of Kirk's "disappearance".
Uhura entered the bridge, suspicious eyes following her. Carefully, she sat down at her station. She ached all over, but she would be damned if she would let on to any of the sharks on the bridge.
Chekov sneered. Sulu flexed his jaw and sucked his teeth. Both men's glances were full of barely contained malice. Sulu had been loyal to Kirk and would seek revenge. Chekov was likely angered that he lost the chance to kill him, himself, as well as any benefit the murder would have brought him.
Even McCoy, had made his way to the bridge to "check on her", as he called it, gauging her involvement.
He leaned over her station, a wide-smile playing on his lips.
"How you feeling today? I imagine the news had to be tough."
"- I'm fine." she said, and turned towards him, dialing down the sound on her earpiece. "We were close, but not in that way, as you well know, Doctor."
"Yeah, I do." he replied, tricorder in hand. "Fair exchange all-around. Nothing personal, right?"
"And believe me, I don't blame you. Many a woman's had to do what you've done. But funny thing, you were the last person he was seen with. It wouldn't be much of a stretch to imagine what even a pretty lady like you might do, in a position like that. Might take advantage. Hell, Marlena did."
"McCoy, I never saw what happened to him. And your tricorder readings will show you that my heart-rate, pupils, and voice have remained steady, with that answer."
He glanced down at the instrument, his eyes belying the fact that he was not placated at all.
"Well, darlin' I'd imagine you'd be pretty good at using that mouth of yours to do lots of thangs-"
He said, brushing her hair away from her cheek.
"-including lying." he drawled, his fingertips finding the deep bruises just peeking out from under her cuffs.
He held her hand and pushed up the sleeve. "Strange, I've never known him to be that rough."
"-You've been drinking." She said with an edge of warning. She'd always been fond of the doctor. He was a no bullshit kind of guy, and she liked that, but she would hurt him if she had to.
"Doctor, you no doubt are aware of the Empire's official policy regarding deaths and disappearances on-board a star-ship." Spock stood behind him, tall and relaxed, his hands folded behind him. "- Lacking a witness, no crime has been committed."
McCoy rolled his eyes, while Spock waited, holding his gaze for a long moment.
"Leave the Lt. to her work."
"Aye, aye, captain." He replied sarcastically.
The Lt.'s work of late had been listening for word of a strange vessel, possibly carrying alien hostiles. This would not usually be much cause for alarm, but for reports that this vessel had destroyed a Terran Space station, as well as all the ships that were docked there with little trouble. The weaponry this vessel carries must be advanced.
She worked quietly, noting that Spock had not left his post for the entire time she was on duty. He knew what would happen, now that she was no longer the captain's consort.
Being in space, isolated as they were; people did awful things for the sake of certain comforts. And women, though they made up a huge percentage of Starfleet, were still in relative short supply. Women who looked like Uhura? Were that much more in demand, so to speak.
So, she was now available in the eyes of the crew, and without protection. Though, no one would dare in front of the captain.
"Lt., you are relived."
"Yes, sir." she said, her heart lurching.
Fear-induced adrenalin was already coursing through her body. She stepped into the turbo-lift and keyed in her destination. Her eyes wide and wary, she checked her blind-spots before entering the corridor, her dagger drawn.
Once to her door, she looked in both directions once more, before typing in the code for entry. She changed it as soon as the doors slid shut behind her.
She felt paranoid, and slightly stupid, but she knew this was what she had to do, be diligent about protecting herself. Especially now. It wasn't just horny officers she had to look out for. There were also those she knew blamed her for Kirk's death. McCoy was just the most forthcoming with his thoughts.
McCoy had loved Kirk, platonically, and beyond as well, she suspected. Leave it to him to have some kind of revenge trap waiting for her in her own cabin.
She checked every room thoroughly and finally made herself relax, changing out of her uniform, asking the computer to replay the sonic anomalies recorde while she was on duty.
While she waited for the computer to finish preparing her meal, the computer cheerily chirped.
"Engineer Olson and Ensign Yor are attempting to gain unauthorized en-"
The computer wound down suddenly, like a broken clock.
Uhura quickly got to her feet as the doors slid half-way open.
She grabbed her dagger and pressed her back against the wall.
Yor, a tall scaly, gray-skinned, red-eyed alien, followed in behind Olson, who could scarcely scrape together enough credits to buy a woman, when he wanted.
He had a reputation for taking where none was given. He would not have dared attempt this on his own, but the presence of his alien friend must have given him the balls to try.
Pity.
He was the first to enter her room, eager and stupid. His throat cut and life almost completely spilled out, before he had time to register the wet warmth darkening the front of his red uniform.
She held up her dagger and addressed the alien in his language.
"How many credits?"
"Five hundred."
"I will double it, if you leave and tell me when someone asks you to do this, again."
"Terran bitch!"
The alien lunged at her. It was much stronger than her, but slow. She simply allowed the alien to to carry it's momentum over her outstretched leg and gave it a hard shove, face forward into the corner of a table and to the floor.
She planted a knee in it's back, pulled one of it's arm-like limbs back, and pressed two fingers against it's sensitive ear nodules, eliciting a high-pitched scream.
"Take my offer, Yor." she said and dug in deeper.
The screaming keyed up to a higher pitch.
"Okay!" it replied, this time in Standard.
It screamed again, this time convulsing in pain, practically bucking Uhura off.
It's agonizer had been activated.
"I have orders to dispose of it." A young Vulcan security guard stood next to her door, his finger on the trigger of the creature's agonizer. "You are well?"
Uhura stood up and assessed herself. She had a of lot blood on her clothing, but none of it was her own.
"Yes. I'm fine. Leave me. - And take this with you." she said, landing a well-placed kick to it's gut.
He nodded and dragged Yor out of her cabin.
Shaken, she stripped off her bloody clothing and took a long hot shower.
Clean and comfortable she crawled into her bed and tried to rest. Eventually, she drifted off into an uneasy sleep.
Only vaguely, in her dreams, did she feel the warm press of Spock's mind, making known his presence in her bed. She struggled against the sudden invasion, stirring and humming in her sleep, but she knew he was there for her safety. Knowing he was there eased her into her deeper slumber, almost against her will. She had no need to concern herself, she would be protected.
Sleep was most important, right now.
Spock lay awake beside her for five hours holding her close, taking comfort in her proximity. He slipped out of her room, while she slept, twenty one minutes before he needed to be on duty.