Where No Man Has Gone Before
As he headed down the corridor that was leading to the science department, Kirk noticed a strange feeling in his guts. The last few hours were finally catching up with him. The Hoffmann 7 probe had replied but due to the ongoing fault in the transporter computer banks to which it directly responded, they still weren't able to determine what the exact coordinates of the probe - and the landing party- were. All they knew was that Scotty, Lieutenant Brown and Lieutenant Monet hadre-materialised. But where – and in which Universe- the three men had ended up was written in the colloquial stars.
Kirk's legs seemed unusually weak as he struggled to maintain his fast pace. After the longest of days and the shortest of nights during which he only got two hours of sleep, the Captain felt exhaustion in every fibre of his body. McCoy's famous strong brew of Columbian Coffee had only had a momentary effect on Kirk's metabolism and he had been wide-awake and alert during the emergency meeting. But the worry over the missing men exhausted the Captain more than any sleep-depravation. Kirk decided to ignore his tiredness. Sleep had to wait until further notice.
It had only been a few hours since Lieutenant Riley's good news had brought a smile on everyone's lips at the emergency meeting and even Spock had allowed himself an audible sigh of relief. At the meeting, Kirk had agreed to Spock's proposal to send a second landing party to the coordinates of the Hoffmann 7 probe and the three missing men.
But just as Kirk had started to voice his opinion about Spock's suggestion to deploy a second landing party, McCoy interrupted his CO and volunteered for the mission. Kirk had bestowed his hot-tempered Georgian friend with an unreadable look but before the Captain could reply, Spock volunteered as well, arguing it was logical that he should be part of the landing party due to his technological and scientific knowledge.
Jim knew, if someone would find a way back for the two landing parties, it would be his First Officer. He could only sigh at Spock's unfailing logic and refrained to comment further.
With a quick wave of his hand, Kirk then delayed the discussion about personnel until they had discussed the actual plan. Pressing his lips together tightly, McCoy had crossed his arms at Kirk's reluctance to agree to his offer. Spock had raised an eyebrow toward his CO and mirrored McCoy's reaction perfectly by crossing his arms in the same, stubborn manner. United against their Captain, Spock and McCoy's expressions send a clear message to their mutual friend: 'You might not like it Jim, but we'll go anyway!' Kirk silently wondered how two as fundamentally different people as his friends still managed to gang up on him. Looking at the stubborn expressions on their faces - McCoy's open and angry, Spock's subtle and perplexed- Jim realised that his CSO and CMO were united by their extreme pigheadedness.
Kirk was convinced that Scotty and his men were alive and the probe was with them. That much was certain. Where they were and in what exact condition wasn't. Neither was how they could be retrieved or how they could travel back to the Enterprise. But Spock's proposed plan was straightforward. Like before, Lieutenant Kyle would use the automatic repeat function of the transporter. The second landing party would be beamed directly to where the probe had been when it transmitted the codes. The landing party would most likely be nearby.Due to the damages to the transporter computer it was only possible to beam out but not to beam anyone back. Lieutenant Kyle and Spock had determined that they needed a new memory bank all together for the machine. But the nearest starbase where they could get one was 2 weeks away. Crucial time they didn't have.
Kirk's intuition also told him not to wait for a second message. If Scotty had deemed it necessary to warn them not to follow, he would have communicated this in his first message. But Kirk also knew that Scotty knew him too well. The CEO was well aware that Kirk would ignore such a warning anyway. The Captain was not one to abandon crewmembers, not as long as there was hope to rescue them. He wanted to get help and support to the three men now.
The second part of the plan then suggested that by uniting their forces, both landing parties would work together to either find a way to travel back to the Enterprise, a way to signal the ship to retrieve them or to reach any possible Federation outpost in the vicinity. If they were in this Universe. At this point, Kirk had taken over from Spock. The Captain ordered that if the landing party would find themselves in another Universe, it would be Mr. Spock's decision as Commanding Officer how to proceed under such circumstances.
McCoy had frowned at Kirk's clear words, but remained silent. He trusted Spock implicitly when it came to scientific or technological matters, but when it came to emotional aspects of the kind of mission that awaited them, he wasn't so sure.
Even though Kirk had initially delayed his decision regarding personnel, when the discussion turned to the subject eventually, he didn't have to think twice. He wanted to keep the landing party as small, but also as strong and efficient as possible. Mr. Spock as Chief Science Officer and Dr. McCoy as Chief Medical Officer werethe obvious choices. He did not like it, but both men were essential personnel for such a mission. But Jim didn't dislike the idea to send Spock and McCoy into uncertainty just because they were his friends. There was also another reason. He would have to have a word with them before they left.
Jim was convinced that the third and final member could only be . When he shared his conviction with the others, the young ensign had looked up at his Captain, wide-eyed and with an open mouth. It was the first time that the Ensign had lifted his head during the meeting. Kirk had underpinned his order with a small, encouraging smile and Chekov had replied with a heartfelt 'Aye, Sair'. Kirk detected surprise but also sincere gratefulness in the young man's eyes and he intuitively knew that he had made the right decision.
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After the emergency meeting, Spock and McCoy had headed towards the science lab while Lieutenant Kyle and Lieutenant Mendelson went back to the transporter room to continue with the repairs of the transporter computer. After a quick visit to the Bridge, Kirk also headed towards the science department to oversee the preparations of the landing party.
When Kirk entered the lab he was greeted with McCoy's passionate protest who deemed a third landing party member unnecessary. Kirk managed to silence his friend by giving a convincing reason for his decision.
"Bones, we need a navigator out there with not only excellent knowledge of the mechanics of all kinds of Space travel but also excellent knowledge of Space geography. And these are Chekov's specialist areas of expertise. And apart from that I know he's dying to come along, the boy wants to redeem himself!"
McCoy could only sigh and shrug his shoulders at this. Of course, Jim was right. But he didn't have to like it anyway.
While Spock and McCoy were packing two backpacks with as much scientific instruments, nutrition and water, medi kits and emergency blankets they could possibly carry, Chekov was busy in the library. He was transferring as much astro-geographical data onto his tricorder as possible and also packed his own backpack. Mr. Spock had just informed him that Lieutenant Kyle had managed to repair a part of the transporter computer bank. As a result, Kyle had been able to prove that Chekov had transferred the correct data to the transporter.
Why didn't he feel any relief then?
All Pavel could feel right now was eternal gratefulness towards Captain Kirk that he had chosen him to be part of the landing party. And he vowed not disappoint him again.
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"You are talking about redemption, Captain, but I deem it necessary to remind you that Ensign Chekov actually transmitted the correct coordinates to the transporter computer."
Spock looked up from his tricorder, which he had just equipped with additional sensor programmes. He had pondered Kirk's explanation why he had chosen Ensign Chekov to accompany him and Dr. McCoy and concluded that it was...illogical.
Spock was referring to the fact that the theory that initially had seemed unlikely to be true, had been confirmed: Lieutenant Kyle had managed to restore the part of the transporter computer bank that confirmed that the Ensign had transferred the correct coordinates to the transporter, but the beam had been interfered by the wormhole. This resulted in the landing party's molecules being transported to an unknown destination instead, possibly in another Universe.
Kirk walked over to Spock, handing him a communicator and a phaser.
"But that knowledge doesn't help him much, Mr. Spock. Chekov still feels guilty. He gave the right coordinates- but at the wrong time. With another brief sensor scan, he could have detected the wormhole which you have detected later and prevented the transporting process."
"But the kid was too nervous, too scared, too much under pressure to think of that, Jim."
McCoy didn't give up his point about having assigned Chekov too early for heavy duty. Kirk nodded and put a hand on the Doctor's arm, an eager glint in his eyes.
"You're right, Bones. But nevertheless, it's a mistake for a Starfleet officer to be scared and nervous. If Chekov is ever to learn how to function under pressure, he needs to be given the chance to rectify this mistake now. Not later. Not on another mission. Now."
McCoy could tell from the Captain's passionate voice and fiery eyes, that Jim was speaking of experience. The CMO smiled gently at his friend and nodded.
The Doctor's gaze suddenly drifted off, as he seemed to remember something in his distant past, a past even Jim didn't know much about. This time it was the Captain who knew that McCoy was speaking from personal experience, as the CMO's voice was getting quieter as he spoke.
"I think I know what you mean, Jim. Guilt can be a man's undoing...Sometimes you wish to make a million other mistakes, as long as you don't ever make this one mistake again."
McCoy seemed to talk more to himself, getting quieter with every word. But not too quiet for Vulcan ears though.
"That is an illogical observation, Doctor" Spock said dryly as he put additional tricoder accumulators into his backpack.
"Call it illogical, Spock. I call it human!" McCoy blurted out, back to his grumpy, irritated self.
Jim couldn't help but feel extremely annoyed that his friends insisted to argue in his presence until the last possible moment. It was one thing that they seemed to have decided to make one another's lives a misery, but testing their CO's nerves until breaking point was another.
Bones didn't even wait for the Vulcan's reply and quickly disappeared into the medical lab that was adjoined to the science lab. Several hypos had to be prepared. God knew in what condition Scotty and his men were.
Irritated at Spock's unnecessary comment at McCoy's personal declaration, Kirk shot an annoyed glance towards his First Officer.
Spock just raised an eyebrow and closed his bulky backpack.
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Two hours later, James Kirk headed down the corridor towards the turbo-lift that would take him to the transporter room on Deck A. The time had come. In a moment, he would beam the youngest crewmember on board and his two best friends to an unknown destination where unknown dangers of an unknown world awaited them. Kirk had decided to operate the transporter personally, as he didn't want to trouble Lieutenant Kyle's consciousness in case some interference should occur again.
Spock and McCoy would have to put an end to their bickering now. At least until they all were back safely aboard the Enterprise.Then their Captain would happily bare their arguments again with an empathetic smile on his face. But they had to do their job first.
It's a good thing,Chekov is coming along Jim told himself. The youngster's eagerness and determination would hopefully direct the focus of the two senior officers on the mission at hand, especially Bones', who sometimes needed to be reminded of priorities.
As the Captain walked towards the turbo-lift, he slowed down involuntarily, not even noticing he was doing so. He was dreading to see his men walk up the transporter platform. Jim always felt restless if he couldn't be part of a landing party. But with the dangerous wormhole just outside his still immobile ship, he could not leave the Enterprise and her crew alone. It was always difficult to send men onto a dangerous mission but to send them to a totally unknown destination was outright painful for him.
Jim shook his head as if to get rid of his dark thoughts. To distract himself from his worries, he pondered about what had just happened in the science lab. A soft smile lightened up his eyes. He recalled McCoy and Spock's stubborn faces when he had finally managed to ask them to make a promise after they had finished packing their backpacks. As he entered the turbo-lift and was transported down toward Deck A, Jim remembered every moment of that difficult conversation vividly.
2 hours previously
Spock and McCoy headed for the door, ready to go to the transporter room and to get the rescue mission underway as quickly as possible when Kirk called them back.
"One moment, Gentlemen. I'd like to have a word with you before you leave."
Spock and McCoy exchanged a quick look and turned around to face their CO.
"Yes Captain?" His expression all innocence, Spock clasped his hands behind his back and waited patiently for Kirk to continue.
McCoy frowned and his impatience was evident in his voice.
"A great time to have a chat, Jim. Can't it wait?"
Kirk searched for the right words to begin his speech but he needn't have worried. Leave it to his friends to get the conversation under way. Spock glanced sideways at the Doctor who was nervously bouncing on his toes.
"I'm sure the Captain has a logical reason to delay us for a few moments, Doctor."
"I really wish you'd have to pay me a credit every time you say that blasted word! I could retire tomorrow!" In his mind McCoy added privately: And settle down as far away from any two-legged computer as possible!
Kirk sighed and held his hands towards his friends as if he was pleading with them.
"That's why it can't wait, Bones!"
McCoy frowned and Spock looked puzzled.
"What in blazes is that supposed to mean?"
"What do you think, Doctor?" Kirk shook his head in frustration.
Suddenly feeling very tired, the Captain sat down at one of the small tables in the middle of the room and gestured McCoy and Spock to follow suit. When they hesitated, he encouraged them with a gentle smile.
For a moment McCoy forgot his worries about the imminent mission. The last 24 hours had left a toll on all of them. And Jim Kirk was no exception. He looked exhausted. But at the same time he seemed to have something important on his mind that couldn't wait. And McCoy had a suspicion what it was that buggered his friend and Captain so much that he even deemed it necessary to delay them. This would not be fun.
Reluctantly, Bones sat down opposite Jim. Spock hesitated for a moment but sat down as well, next to the Doctor.
"You know what I worry about most regarding this rescue mission?" Kirk said with a heavy sigh he didn't make an effort to suppress.
McCoy frowned, while Spock lifted his right eyebrow – it was unusual for the Captain to admit he was worried, even less so to speak of what troubled him. Spock offered some assistance to Kirk who still seemed to struggle to find the right words.
"There are a lot of unknown factors that could complicate this mission and that can't be defined before we embark. Hence, they are in the realms of speculation, Captain. Therefore, I propose not to worry about them before they occur."
McCoy bit his lip at this; he instinctively knew that Spock was on the wrong track here, and deliberately so. He also knew that Spock was well aware of that. Spock disliked talking about their difficult relationship just as much as he did. That much they had in common.
Bones knew that Jim had the utmost confidence in himself and Spock; that they would give their best to return to the ship safely with the three missing men. He was sure that the Captain wasn't worried about their professional abilities.
From the corner of his eye Spock noticed McCoy's reaction. The Doctor was biting his lip and shifted in his chair nervously.
Bones also knew that Spock's attempt just now to put Kirk's mind at ease had been good intentioned. The Vulcan, in his unique and probably only way possible to him, had tried to convey optimism to Jim, but also to him. Bones feared that his own agitation wasn't escaping the sharp senses of the man next to him. Nor the man opposite.
The Doctor harrumphed several times, crossed his arms and stared grumpily into the void, unable to look at the Captain.
Jim crossed his hands calmly on the table in front of him. He bestowed a gentle smile on Spock.
"In principal, I agree with you, Mr. Spock. But unfortunately I can already think of one complication that will occur for certain."
Jim looked from one to the other, like a father looks at his unruly children, hoping that a mere look will make them realise their faults.
Spock knew that Jim had to be referring to some kind of emotional issue and he calmly folded his hands in his lap. As a Vulcan, it was a great challenge for him to deal with emotions sufficiently. Consequently, he had come to the logical conclusion a while ago to trust his sensitive Commanding Officer in such matters. No matter how complex or difficult the circumstances, Jim would always give him some useful advice on how to deal with emotions. The Vulcan's dark eyes remained fixed onto his friend's face, his eyebrows raised, calmly waiting for Jim to continue.
Bones had understood Jim's hint perfectly well too with the result that he got even more irritable. The Captain was treating them like misbehaving children! How on earth could Spock remain so calm and collected! This was about the Vulcan as much as it was about his own good self.
"If you're referring to me and Mr. Hobgoblin getting on, I can assure you ..."
"That the Good Doctor will give in to the logic of the situation and assist me in rationally finding a way to secure the landing party. And ourselves" Spock finished the sentence poignantly.
The Captain nodded and smiled even though his CMO's angry face turned a dark red. Jim quickly reached over the small table and touched his friends' arms.
"Spock, Bones, before you leave, I want you to promise me something."
He sounded gentle, worried, but determined at the same time. His concern for them was clearly expressed in his hazel eyes.
"I can't ask you to promise that you will all return safely to the Enterprise, as I can't ask you to promise me something you might won't be able to keep. But there is something I know that both of you can do, that will raise the chance of a successful mission significantly."
Spock took a long breath that to his dismay must have been audible to the Captain and the Doctor. He privately admitted his awe at Jim's ability to always voice his deepest, most personal concerns when it was necessary, when it was logical, to do so.
Bones' blue eyes held Jim's pleading gaze, not looking away this time. He knew that whatever Jim would ask of him now, he was willing to promise. It wasn't so much a matter of obeying a Captain's order, but of honouring a friend's trust. But it wouldn't be easy.
"You have to promise me, that you will work together to the best of your abilities and do what you seem to be incapable of most of the time but I know you aren't..."
Jim stared at their stony faces, their stubbornness expressed by Spock's raised eyebrows and McCoy's pressed lips.
'Geton for crying out loud!' Jim blurted out. Why was such a simple request so difficult to voice?
The embarrassed silence that followed gave the CO a moment to reflect on his wish. He usually didn't mind his friends' constant bickering and lively, quick- witted banter. On the contrary, more often than not it made him smile. Sure, sometimes he had to put his foot down to their otherwise endless discussions, as neither his CSO nor his CMO would ever back down. But if they wouldn't argue at any given opportunity, something would be missing from life aboard the Enterprise. Somehow this simple fact of their lives seemed to reassure them, and it sure as hell reassured him.
Jim knew that Bones argued with Spock to prove his point that emotions were necessary.McCoy felt that the Science Officer wasn't doing himself or anyone else any favours by suppressing his human half. And Spock never got tired to confront Bones with his illogic behaviour. The Vulcan believed it was his duty to remind the Doctor that he was suffering from a regrettable lack of rationality.
But Jim had always suspected there was an additional reason for McCoy and Spock's relentless arguments. A good reason. Why else would they jump at any opportunity to exchange their own brand of pleasantries? Why, despite their apparent strong dislike for one another, would they regularly seek each other's attention, even presence? The two of them probably weren't even aware of a subconscious motivation themselves.
Jim suspected that the other reason why Spock and McCoy argued all the time was because they both were too stubborn and too proud to admit that their nemesis was actually a friend. To themselves, to one another and to everyone else as well. Including their mutual best friend. But by arguing all the time, by playing their 'game' that enabled them to even gang up on him, they were able to express their affection for one another without the need to call it that way.
Jim had the pressing feeling that this rescue mission would provide both of his friends with new insights about one another, and indeed, about their unique relationship. This intuition didn't unnerve Kirk, what did was his regret that he couldn't be there to guide them through such a process that surely would not be free of complications and challenges.
His friends' reaction to his request was nothing less but typical: Both of Spock's eyebrows disappeared into his hairline; he looked slightly baffled, innocent even. Spock was amazed that the Captain could have directed such a request as 'getting on' towards him, as he always valued co-operation as a logical requirement for any successful mission.
McCoy on the other hand just crossed his arms, and moved uncomfortably on his chair, his lips pressed to a thin line. He didn't say a word, punishing Jim with his refusal to give a reply to his request.
Those two must be the most stubborn beings on this side of the galaxy, Jim thought to himself. Apart from myself of course, he noted privately with ironic self-critique. Kirk had to smile at his own musings. It was true, Spock and Bones were extremely stubborn, but he loved them just as they were. Pig-headed or not, they were his best friends, his brothers, and he was about to send them on a very tricky and totally inconceivable mission. He smiled gently at both of them, a soft smile that was only reserved for those closest to him.
Feeling the warmth of Jim's smile reach his heart, Bones' anger at his Captain's talent to constantly ask the impossible of him dissolved and he risked a sideways glance at Spock. To Bones' surprise the Vulcan looked in his direction and their eyes met. McCoy got the impression that he could detect anticipation in Spock's eyes. Uncharacteristically, the First Officer seemed to wait for him to speak first.
Unfortunately, Bones felt hoarse in that precise moment for some reason. Must be the Saurian 'medicine' he had downed with regular intervals during the last 24 hours.
"Of course we can get along, Jim." Bones finally managed to mutter and he nodded in Spock's direction. "I just think it's usually easier for both of us not to."
The CMO shrugged his shoulders apologetically. Somehow he wasn't surprised when Spock nodded in agreement.
"An accurate observation, Doctor."
"Thanks, Spock." McCoy said with no trace of irony.
Jim had to smile again at the fact that the only thing Spock and Bones seemed to agree on was that they disagreed. But he knew that both of them had understood his point. He looked at them expectantly. They still owned him a promise. Spock cleared his throat and answered in an uncharacteristic quiet tone.
"I promise, Jim".
"Me too, Jim. I promise. Don't worry about us."
Bones returned his Captain's soft smile with the gentlest of smiles, a trademark of the Good Doctor whose blue eyes could freeze over hell but melt steal as well. Spock slowly nodded at Jim, his lips straight but his eyes shining with affection.
Now, Captain Kirk was ready to let them go.
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Feedback and reviews are welcome!
In case I don't manage to post the next chapter before the holidays, I'd already like to wish you all a Merry Christmas! I'm off to bake some Christmas cookies now :)