Disclaimer, I don't own Star Trek. I am not being paid for this.
Six Days To Talos IV
By Marie Nomad
Day One
Dr. McCoy was not a pleased doctor. It was bad enough that Spock had just beamed back up to the ship, leaving Jim behind on 'medical leave' at Starbase 11. To McCoy, that was nonsense; Jim was as healthy as he ever was. Then, Spock had thrust Captain Pike upon him, ordering him to refrain from asking questions and to simply care for the man. Pike had once sacrificed himself to save cadets in a training accident, and a severe dose of delta radiation from the incident had left him paralyzed. Unable to speak or move, and with most of his nerve endings destroyed, he couldn't even convey facial expressions. Dependent on his wheelchair for life, the real tragedy was that while Pike's mind remained sharp, his body had wholly betrayed him. The only way that Pike could communicate was one beep 'yes' and two beeps 'no'. He was trapped in a body that has less ability to express himself than a newborn baby.
Nevertheless, McCoy was a doctor first, and he had a patient to address—a patient who had beeped 'no' incessantly for the past hour. Though not a telepath, even McCoy could tell Pike was agitated. His priority was to calm Pike and stabilize his vitals.
He knelt in front of Pike. "Fleet Captain Pike, I know you're scared. For once, I wish I were Vulcan so I could delve into your mind and understand. But rest assured, I'll do everything in my power to help. Tiring yourself out to this extent is not helping. As your doctor, I order you to stop."
McCoy looked in Pike's eyes to see that deep down he wanted to scream if he could. His mind was a storm in contrast to his still body. Pike did stop his beeping and just stare at him. Pike was venting out his frustrations the only way he could. At least the captain is trusting him now.
"Thank you for trusting me, Captain" McCoy said relieved that the first problem was handled. "Spock decided to whisk you away from Starbase 11, didn't he?." He stared at him. "Do you want to be here?"
Pike turned his wheelchair around to avoid his stare. "No."
McCoy walked to face the patient again. His voice softened, "You were kidnapped."
There was a heavy pause, the weight of the room centered on Pike's next move. After what felt like an eternity, Pike signaled, "Yes."
"Damn it, Spock!" McCoy gazed up in the air realizing the sheer gravity of the situation. He wanted a drink. But he still has a patient to take care of and he was a doctor. "We might as well, check your wheelchair to see if it's fully functional."
McCoy conducted his usual tests. Thankfully, the chair was in optimal working condition. The man confined within seemed more at ease now.
"This is quite the predicament, Captain," McCoy sighed. Intuition told him Spock had acted rashly but expressing that to the rest would be risky. Vulcans, after all, were renowned for their honesty and honor. To openly question Spock might label him a mutineer—a line McCoy wasn't willing to cross.
Pike signaled in agreement.
"What's Spock's game here? Kidnapping you—what's the endgame? He knows there's protocol, he could've approached Jim or Starfleet directly. Jim might dance on the edges of rules, but he'd do anything for those close to him. Spock? He's a stickler for procedure. Yet here we are, hurtling through space without a known destination, our only sources of information a silent figure and a cryptic Vulcan. Why does fate always pair me up with the most maddening officers in Starfleet?" McCoy vented, then caught the calm stare from Pike. "Sorry, Captain. It's just... hard to wrap my head around."
Pike responded with a 'yes' beep, and McCoy noticed the glimmer in the former captain's eyes—a mix of empathy, understanding, and if he didn't know any better, amusement.
Feeling a bit embarrassed, McCoy remarked, "You know, Captain, sometimes a good rant does wonders. Though I wish I had someone else to discuss this with—no offense intended."
Pike signaled 'no,' showing he took no offense.
"It's not just Spock who's sailed under your command here. Captain Kirk, during his training days, for instance. There are others in this crew who've worked closely with Spock, and they hold personal connections with you too. Nurse Chapel, for example. She was part of this ship before venturing out for a while. And Uhura once mentioned starting her career as a cadet here."
Pike beeped affirmatively.
McCoy, now curious, began interfacing with the computer on his desk. "Computer, enumerate all crew members who've served under Fleet Captain Christopher Pike aboard the Enterprise."
Lt. Uhura studied Spock with a worried gaze. Though he occupied the Captain's chair with his usual stoic demeanor, she noticed the subtle twitches of his fingers, betraying his restlessness. She'd been instructed to maintain a communications blackout, a directive that only heightened the tension on the bridge. To the untrained eye, Spock might've seemed his normal composed self, but she, who'd spent years working alongside him, could read the minor hints of his discomfort. She had unwavering trust in Spock, yet the ship's cryptic trajectory unsettled her.
"Spock," she began, her voice gentle yet firm, "how is Captain Pike? I find myself missing his calming presence." To her, if Kirk was the protective elder brother she'd never had, then Pike embodied the wise, reassuring father.
Spock paused for a moment before answering, "Captain Pike remains both physically and mentally sound."
Uhura hesitated, then pushed on, "When we rendezvous with Captain Kirk at Starbase 11, might I visit him? Chris, I mean."
"Indeed. I surmise Captain Kirk would have no objections," Spock responded, his voice as neutral as ever. But there was an undertone, a certain tightness that Uhura picked up on.
"Spock," she ventured, "is there something you're not telling me about Jim? When last we spoke, he seemed... himself."
He turned to face her, his gaze piercing. "Your concern is understandable, Lieutenant. However, medical assessments should be left to Dr. McCoy."
A bit taken aback by the coldness of his tone, Uhura responded, "Of course, Commander." She felt the inquisitive glances from her fellow officers, making her all the more self-conscious. "Given the communications delay and the current stasis on the bridge, might I take a brief respite? I thought to grab a bite."
Spock simply nodded. "You don't require my approval. Proceed."
Anxious, Uhura entered the main med bay and met Nurse Chapel. "Something's amiss," she whispered. "Has Dr. McCoy mentioned any patient to you?"
"Which patient?"
"I'm unsure. Spock told Dr. McCoy about a patient in need of care, and then we departed from Starbase 11, leaving Captain Kirk behind, supposedly on medical leave."
"There are no patients in the med bay," Chapel replied, puzzled. "However, Dr. McCoy did request supplies for his office."
Uhura frowned. "It must be Chris."
Chapel looked shocked. "Would Spock secretly bring Chris aboard without notifying anyone? Spock knows that there are others here who served under Chris, including Captain Kirk."
Uhura heard an unfamiliar beep emanating from McCoy's office and McCoy was talking. She couldn't make out the words. Chis couldn't speak but he did use a binary system that involves beeping. Could Chris be just behind that door?
"I know, but everything just feels so wrong. There was a message supposedly sent from Captain Pike to Spock, but Pike can't communicate like that. And when Captain Kirk confirmed to let Spock handle the situation, it seemed… off. There was a delay, which shouldn't happen, especially at a Starbase."
"If it were anyone else, I'd suspect the message was fake. Could it have been?"
"With the right computer skills and equipment, anyone could fake voices. That's why we ensure our channels are secure and password-protected."
Nurse Chapel frowned. "Spock has those skills and access to the Enterprise's equipment. But he's Vulcan; deceit is illogical."
"He's also half-human, and you know that more than anybody."
The intercom beeped. "Nurse Chapel, I have some questions about Fleet Captain Pike for updating his psychological logs. You served under him, correct?" Dr. McCoy asked.
"Yes, for a time before I studied on Vulcan." Nurse Chapel's eyebrows rose at the odd question. Uhura nodded as well. Nurse Chapel was getting suspicious about what was going.
"What kind of captain was he? How did he treat his crew?"
"Doctor, this is Lt. Uhura. I also served under Captain Pike. He was like a father to us. He even enjoyed cooking for the crew."
"How did he interact with Spock?"
"Surprisingly, Spock was more… human back then," Uhura shared, glancing at Nurse Chapel who looked away. Spock had changed significantly after his break-up with Christine.
"So, were they friends?"
"It was as if Captain Pike provided the human emotional support that Spock's Vulcan father couldn't," Nurse Chapel chimed in.
"The more I learn about Spock, the more puzzled I become."
"Can we see you?" Uhura asked.
"No! Per Spock's orders. Can't risk mutiny, right? Just keep an eye on Spock. Make sure he isn't acting too… illogically. I've got a patient who needs my constant attention. Dr. M'Benga will take over for me for anything else."
"Is he a crew member? I thought all were accounted for, except Captain Kirk," Nurse Chapel queried.
"That information is classified. McCoy out."
Uhura shared an old saying, "Penye moshi, kuna moto. It means 'Where there's smoke, there's fire.'"
"We should tread cautiously," Chapel replied. "I'll support Dr. McCoy; you stay close to Spock to avoid arousing suspicion."
Dr. McCoy sighed, rubbing his eyes. Asking Lt. Uhura and Nurse Chapel just lead to more questions about Spock. "I swear, if Spock harms himself, I'll kill him," he muttered.
Pike beeped in affirmation.
"You're worried about him too, aren't you?"
Pike beeped again. "Yes."
"I trust Jim will find his way back. The Enterprise isn't complete without him." McCoy mused aloud. "Spock may have warned me against letting anyone interrogate you, but he didn't say anything about helping you convey more than just 'yes' or 'no'. We need to handle this carefully."
The door beeped. Someone was outside. As McCoy prepared to answer, he noticed Pike discreetly moving away.
Nurse Chapel entered, holding a plate of food. "Thought you might need sustenance, Doctor."
"Thank you. It's been some time since my last meal."
"I'm concerned about Spock," Chapel admitted. "He's been acting odd since we left Starbase 11."
"He's a Vulcan, they all act odd. My primary focus now is my patient."
"Is his condition critical?" Nurse Chapel didn't bother to move beyond the door but glanced slightly inside to see something in the shadows.
"He's stable, but I'm monitoring for any anomalies. I've prescribed various treatments to stabilize him."
"You know, Leonard, some people like being called by their first names, especially if they have a high rank," Chapel hinted.
McCoy nodded slightly. "I see, I will keep that in mind Christine. Thanks for the food again." He watched Christine leave and then turned around to see Chris moving out of his hiding spot. "So, it's Chris?"
Chris confirmed with a beep. McCoy was glad that he was able to address his patient in a way that he feels comfortable with.
"All this secrecy feels like we're in the midst of a covert operation," McCoy commented. As he began to eat, he paused. He absentmindedly reached for the plate Nurse Chapel had brought and unwrapped a sandwich. As the aroma wafted to his nostrils, he paused, glancing back at Pike. The realization of Pike's inability to partake in such simple pleasures made the sandwich feel heavy in his hand.
"You know, Chris," he began slowly, looking into Pike's eyes, searching for any trace of emotion, "there's something deeply human about savoring food, about experiencing the myriad of flavors and textures. The joy of a well-cooked meal, the warmth of a drink, the sweet tang of a dessert..." He sighed, "Must be hard, missing out on that. Especially since you cook or used to cook."
Chris just remained silent. He looked like he was trying to avoid looking at the food in his hand.
McCoy took a bite, closing his eyes as he did. "This sandwich," he started, "has fresh lettuce, crisp and slightly bitter. The turkey's tender, well-seasoned. There's a hint of mustard, spicy with a touch of sweetness. The bread is soft but toasted just enough to give a satisfying crunch."
He opened his eyes and smiled faintly at Pike. "I know it's not the same, but I want to share as much as I can with you, even if it's just through words."
Chris' eyes, as always, spoke volumes. Though the sadness was evident, there was also a glint of gratitude.
In the captain's chair, Spock estimated six days until they reached Talos IV. No one suspected anything. If caught, the price might be his life, but Spock deemed the trade-off logical for Captain Pike's peace.
To Be Continued.