Six Days to Talos IV
Sixth Day
By Marie Nomad
Spock sat in the brig meditating. Time is of the essence. The ship is so close to Talos IV. Captain Kirk was angry at him. It was a logical conclusion. He didn't mind much. If at the end, Jim is alive to hate him.
Lt. Uhura sat at her comm trying to reach out. She didn't know if she was reaching anyone. The people of Talos have the power of illusion, they deafened the ship's ability to listen to anything from outside the ship. She didn't know what was going on outside the ship. Inside the ship, Spock was facing a Court Martial, Kirk was denied command of his ship, and Chris was in the center of it all unable to scream in frustration.
"Captain Una Riley-Chin, this is the Enterprise, come in please." Uhura said to the abyss. "I don't know if you can hear me. Captain Pike and Spock are in danger. We're going to Talos IV and we can't stop. Tell Starfleet Command, spare Spock." Uhura bowed her head in prayer.
The static cleared and she heard a song. It was Una.
Static fills the channel, a silent dark expanse, Reaching out through frequencies, for a single chance. Amidst the vastness of cosmos, a voice begins to rise, A melody to challenge, the Talosians' sly disguise.
If I sing will this confuse the Talosians and their art? Unknown to them, this music, a rhythm from the heart. They might be advanced, their illusions vivid and grand, But they can't fathom music, they just can't understand.
Again I find myself, singing to the void, A beacon in the darkness, a connection Starfleet can't avoid. From the depths of Starbase 11, I make my solemn plea, Facing judgment and commanders, for Spock's fate and Chris' decree.
Can they hear my voice, over subspace so wide? A song of unity, of loyalty, of pride. My comrades in peril, by forces unforeseen, I'll use this Starfleet channel, to broadcast my dream.
For I sing not for joy, or a simple refrain, I sing for a Vulcan, for justice, to break every chain. The Talosians may be powerful, their tricks ever so sleek, But in the name of Starfleet, it's justice I seek.
Let the stars bear witness, to this song's solemn tone, Carrying forth the message, across the vast unknown. And if you're out there listening, amidst the starlit zone, Remember dear Captain Pike, you are never alone.
"Even light years apart, we are still part of the same crew." Uhura sang back. "Message received." Her heart lightened.
Dr. McCoy scanned Captain Pike. "You've recovered well, Chris." He sighed in relief. "I don't know what the people of Talos want with you, but everything will be fine." Although he voiced the sentiment for Pike's benefit, he was also reassuring himself.
The court-martial began. Commodore Mendez regarded Doctor McCoy. "Doctor McCoy, I trust there won't be any more outbursts from you during this?" he questioned.
"I apologize for my earlier outburst. I promise not to cause any more disruptions. My primary concern is my patient. If he suffers any PTSD flashbacks, I will call for a stop." Dr. McCoy asserted.
"Very well."
McCoy monitored the Talos transmissions, all the while checking on Pike's vital signs. He observed Pike being treated by the Talosians as if he were an entertainment specimen, like an animal in a zoo. The beings belittled Pike's intelligence and treated him more as an experiment than a human being. To McCoy, the scene was distressingly reminiscent of Pike's current state, trapped in a physical cage he couldn't escape from.
Yet, despite witnessing his own past traumas, Pike's heart rate remained stable, with only one exception. The appearance of Vina caused a spike in his pulse. McCoy found this puzzling. If Vina wasn't real, why was Pike reacting so strongly to her?
As Pike began showing signs of fatigue, McCoy prepared to request a recess. However, the transmission was halted before he could. Spock explained, "The Talosians noted Captain Pike's fatigue and have allowed him a reprieve."
"So, they do care about him." Kirk deduced.
"They certainly wanted him back alive," Spock remarked.
Gazing into Pike's eyes, McCoy whispered, "It's time for you to rest."
Kirk observed as McCoy scanned his patient. "They noticed he was getting tired?" Kirk inquired.
"It seems so. I was about to intervene, but they acted first," McCoy replied, glancing at Chris, who had his eyes closed.
"Reliving my own torture like that would be draining," Kirk remarked.
"Indeed, but what's strange is his lack of response to the pain, battle, and torture. The only time his heart raced was when he saw that girl, Vina," McCoy noted. "If these aliens wanted Chris, why not simply deceive us? Lead us to believe we were heading somewhere else? They certainly have the means."
Kirk pondered, "They've fooled the Enterprise before; they could do it again. Perhaps they're wary of Spock due to his history with the Talosians. But the Enterprise isn't Starfleet's sole vessel. The Talosians could easily target another ship to capture Captain Pike." Resolutely, Kirk declared, "I can't allow Chris to return to that planet. He deserves better than to be a mere... specimen in an exhibit. Right?" He directed the question at Chris.
Chris remained silent.
"I believe he's conserving his energy or perhaps lost in thought," McCoy mused, his arms crossed. He hesitated to voice a troubling thought: maybe, in Chris's eyes, a life as a specimen might be preferable to his current existence.
Uhura's voice echoed from the intercom, "Captain Pike, a message has come in from Captain Una Riley-Chin. She says, 'You are not alone'."
Chris beeped in acknowledgment, signaling "Yes."
"I'll inform her of your response," Uhura stated.
Kirk wished to inquire about Uhura's progress in reaching out to Starbase 11, but he held back, remembering he wasn't in command.
The court-martial resumed. McCoy watched as Captain Pike and Vina conversed on screen. Pike seemed more restrained than before. The Talosians revealed their intent to use him as 'breeding stock'. Shock registered in McCoy's eyes. Captain Pike, though once in peak health, had been ravaged by delta radiation, impairing his reproductive system and DNA. Why would they want him now?
Pike sampled a protein compound on the screen, which seemingly morphed to match his desired flavor. A part of McCoy was curious about a nutritious variant of ration cubes that also tasted pleasant. Recalling the meals he and Pike shared, McCoy recognized that while discussing them had offered Pike some solace, it paled in comparison to the genuine experience of savoring food. Spock had mentioned that the Talosians could stimulate Chris's senses in unique ways. To McCoy's inner turmoil, the idea of Chris staying with the Talosians seemed increasingly plausible. But he held his tongue; ultimately, it was Captain Pike's decision to make.
On the screen, Pike confronted 'The Keeper' about Vina, questioning why they made her appear so alluring to him. He also expressed genuine concern for Vina, now that she was revealed as real. McCoy glanced at his patient. Chris was intently watching—did he miss her? If Vina was a captive, where was she now? If she remained on Talos, why had Chris left her behind?
The subsequent scene depicted Chris and Vina in an idyllic setting with a horse. Chris's heartbeat stabilized, and a softness touched his eyes. It seemed to McCoy that Chris yearned for that place. On the screen, Chris sought to discern the Talosians' vulnerabilities and a means to shatter the illusion. It appeared that intense emotions, like hate, could repel the Talosians. McCoy's frown deepened. If Pike had known how to resist the Talosians all along, why was he now allowing them to project his memories? Had his views shifted over the past 13 years?
Chris confessed his attraction to Vina but continued to resist it. Then, the Talosians transformed Vina into an exotic Orion slave girl, performing a dance. Chris's heart rate surged, and McCoy cringed sympathetically.
Subsequently, Number One and another female crew member appeared to be teleported to join the duo. 'The Keeper' proposed that Pike choose one of them as a mate. Yet, Pike dismissed the proposition, mustering all his resentment to shield himself. Banking on the Talosians' apparent aversion to pointless violence, Pike defied 'The Keeper', using a laser gun to breach a wall. He deduced that the Talosians had deceived him into believing the weapon was depleted.
The screen then went dark.
Mendez said, "Looks like the Talosians have abandoned you, Spock. Let's initiate a vote."
Spock looked at Captain Pike and pleaded, "Signal you want a delay. This is your life or a chance for a life."
Kirk glared at Spock. "You keep talking about life, Mister Spock. A chance for life. How? As a prisoner, caged, a zoo specimen, living the illusions that amuse his keepers?" He didn't understand why Spock would want his old captain to be held captive by those creatures.
McCoy bit his lip as fought the urge to speak up. Kirk didn't understand what Chris was going through right now. Captain Pike of the past might not want to do anything with the Talosians but right now, Chris didn't seem bothered by them. He checked Chris' vitals, but they were steady. He wondered if he was blocking the Talosians right now.
Mendez asked Captain Pike, "Guilty, yes or no?"
Chris looked away and closed his eyes, "Yes."
"I vote guilty as well." Mendez added, "Captain Kirk?"
Captain James Kirk weight the evidence. It was obvious and he didn't understand why Spock wanted to take Captain Pike to a group of aliens who wanted to mock him. "Guilty as charged."
Sulu interrupted with a transmission to the conference room. They had reached Talos IV, and the ship was now under Talosian command.
The screen relit to show Pike, threatening to end his life and the lives of his companions unless released by the Talosians. 'The Keeper' conceded that while humans are remarkably adaptable, captivity breaks them. The Talosians face extinction, relying on humans for salvation. Number One suggested an alliance, but the Talosians refused, fearing humans might misuse their illusionary skills and self-destruct.
Kirk seemed perplexed. Spock had consistently emphasized his desire to preserve Chris's life, implying he would survive. Yet, witnessing Chris's relentless struggle for freedom juxtaposed with his current, immobilized state, Kirk surmised that Chris might eventually lose his will to live if things don't change soon.
The truth about Vina emerged. In reality, she was an older woman, gravely injured in a shuttlecraft crash and imperfectly reconstructed. Departing Talos would cost her the illusion of beauty. As Chris fixated on the screen, his heart rate remaining elevated, McCoy detected profound longing in his gaze. "I understand," he murmured.
Kirk felt torn. The Talosians couldn't heal Chris, but they could provide him with a better quality of life. He might be ensnared in an illusion, but that was no different from being under perpetual observation at Starbase 11. While surrounded by beings that could interpret his every thought, at least he could communicate them more freely than now. He turned to Commodore Mendez and began, "Commodore, perhaps, we–" but the man vanished. All except for Kirk, McCoy, Chris, and Spock were gone.
"What's happening?" Kirk inquired.
"What you hear now, Captain Kirk, are my thought transmissions." Kirk heard a voice in his head. It sounded as real as if the person was in the room with him. "The Commodore was never on your ship. Both his presence there and in the shuttlecraft were illusions. Mister Spock conveyed your strong will to us. We believed a faux court-martial would keep you from regaining control of your ship too soon. Captain Pike is free to spend his remaining days with us, liberated from his physical constraints. The decision is yours and his."
Kirk stared at Spock. All this subterfuge was just to divert his attention because, had he been focused, he would have steered clear of Talos IV. "You could've just told me," he replied, revealing his respect for Spock and his eagerness to aid Chris. Knowledge would have enabled him to help them.
"And involve you in a death penalty? One casualty is sufficient," Spock retorted.
Kirk grinned at Spock's rationale, simply replying, "Understood."
"Captain Kirk? Captain Pike? Captain Riley-Chin from Starbase 11 wishes to speak," chimed in Uhura, her voice laden with relief.
"Connect her, Uhura," responded Kirk, feeling in command after what felt like ages.
Number One began, "I'm relaying a message from Commodore Mendez. We received images from Talos IV. Given Captain Pike's significant contributions to space exploration, General Order Seven, which forbids contact with Talos IV, is temporarily lifted. Spock will face no repercussions. Proceed as deemed appropriate. Signed, Mendez, J.I., Commodore, Starbase Eleven. And for Captain Pike: Chris, on behalf of all who served under you, choose your happiness. We'll manage."
Kirk approached Chris, resting a hand on his wheelchair. He didn't have the right to decide Chris' fate. Such a huge decision is Chris's alone. "Do you wish to go down there, Chris?"
"Yes."
"Fleet Captain Christopher Pike, thank you for all you did. Thank you, for letting me captain the Enterprise." Jim said as he knelt before Chris. He stood up and spoke to Spock, "Spock, can you accompany the Captain to the transporter? Afterward, we'll discuss your recent... emotional display," Jim teased.
Spock replied, seemingly puzzled, "Everything I've done is logical."
McCoy sighed dramatically. "You've been notably 'emotional' recently." He bent towards Chris. "Greet Vina for me."
"Yes."
Spock took the wheelchair, guiding his former captain out. "Thank you, Jim, Leonard. From both of us."
"Yes."
As Spock assisted Chris onto the transporter pad, he hesitated, "Are you certain about this? I need to know."
"Yes."
Spock lightly touched Chris with the lightest of fingertips. While he couldn't access his thoughts, the emotions were palpable – a blend of hope and gratitude. Chris was clearly emoting, assuring Spock of his decision. "Farewell, my old friend. Live long and prosper," Spock voiced, offering the Vulcan salute.
Chris nodded. "Yes." Then, with Spock's assistance, he was transported to Talos IV. Left alone, Spock allowed a faint smile to grace his lips.
Uhura manned the communication station as Kirk and McCoy walked onto the bridge. "Sir, the computer has just released the controls. We're in control again," Sulu said.
"Excellent. We had quite a detour, but plot a course to the JHunter System, warp factor 1," Kirk ordered, settling into the Captain's chair. The Bridge buzzed with activity as various crew members worked at their stations. The ship's atmosphere felt lighter, and Kirk was clearly in control.
Suddenly, the screen displayed Captain Pike, fully healed and in his prime, touching his face and walking towards Vina. The two embraced and walked away.
Kirk looked over at Uhura, who was smiling with tears of joy streaming down her face. The Talosians had likely transmitted the image to show that Captain Christopher Pike was doing well. "Looks like he's free now," McCoy remarked to the pair.
The End