Chapter Text
Amanda had returned to Sarek's bedside. The ambassador maintained his serious countenance and endured with Vulcan stoicism, his exhaustion and continuous faintness.
Lady Sarek had been at a crossroads. On the one hand, she was determined to do everything possible to save her husband's life. On the other hand, she was aware that she had overstepped boundaries with her son that she had never allowed herself. She had always been a kind and loving mother to Spock, a support that strengthened the boy's personality, who belonged to two very different worlds. Feeling guilty for what she had said to her son, she recomposed her face, so that her husband would not notice the whirlwind of emotions that disturbed her. Years ago, she had learned the art of masking her emotions, surrounded by so many hieratic and educated Vulcans. She smiled slightly and patted the ambassador's hand.
Meanwhile, in another Sickbay biobed, Jim was beginning to regain consciousness. His face was pale, his mouth dry as if filled with cotton, and his vision blurred. He remained that way for a few moments. When his eyes cleared, he saw Dr. McCoy and Nurse Chapel watching him with concern. Kirk felt his chest, something was squeezing and holding him tight. He had a white, extensive bandage.
"I think there's someone hitting my head with a hammer." Kirk muttered.The headache came and went,like an indecisive companion. "How long....?" He tried to sit up,but a shooting pain in his back,radiating toward his collarbone,made it impossible.
"Let that be a lesson to you....." McCoy told him with a mixture of acrimony and restrained pain. Spock had always complained about the doctor's bad bedside manner. "Now, rest and be glad to be alive." Once again, the doctor had had to pray to all the gods of the universe, which he did not believe in, that his captain would not die.
"How's Sarek?" Jim asked.
"If I could at least operate."
"And why didn't you...weren't you ready?"
"I was. But when you were injured, Spock took over. And he'll be there until you recover. Even if it costs Sarek his life. Rules are rules, for that stubborn Vulcan."
"I can't condemn him for doing his duty, for his loyalty. But...I will try to convince him."
Kirk sat up slowly,trying to forget his pain. He sat up on his biobed. A little more effort,and he would be on his way.
"Jim,if you get up,you'll reopen your wound." McCoy knew how hard Jim was to handle when he had made a decision. He pressed his lips together tightly. His entire physician ethic was torn between avoiding further harm to Jim or avoiding the ambassador's death. With a final nod of his head,he realized that Kirk was right. He should let him go.
"Bones,without that operation, Sarek will die. And you can't operate without Spock's transfusions. I'll convince him I'm all right. I'll order him to come. As soon as he leaves the bridge, I'll delegate command to Scotty, and I'll return to my quarters.
"You will return to Sickbay." McCoy ordered.
The doctor carefully helped Jim into his green captain's shirt. He injected him with some very strong and stimulating painkillers. Kirk was going to have to do one of his best interpretations of the dynamic captain of the Enterprise and he, for his part, was going to remain serene and calm in front of the Vulcan. They both entered the bridge, where the first officer remained seated in the command chair. The other members of the crew were surprised to see the captain enter. Uhura opened her beautiful dark eyes, but decided to remain silent.
Jim approached Spock with confidence and poise. The Vulcan carried a PADD in his hands,and turned his face toward Kirk.
"Captain?" Spock exclaimed.
Jim began his theatrical performance. He looked animated and vigorous, as carefree as ever. "I'm taking over, Spock. You may go to sickbay."
"Captain? Are you all right?"
The doctor stood behind him. "I've given you a clean bill of health. Now, since I have to operate, and they need both of us. ...." The trap was already set.
Jim smiled coquettishly and exclaimed affably. "Come on,Spock...you can go."
Spock raised both eyebrows. He trusted Jim completely, but that sounded strange.
Kirk moved quickly and addressed Chekov. "Status of intruder vessel."
The Vulcan stared doubtfully, for a moment, at his captain, but He finally decided to leave.
"Any more transmissions, Uhura?"
"None,sir."
Jim slumped in the command chair. He was having trouble breathing,air was rushing into his lungs. He no longer had to pretend in front of his first officer.
He used the intercom on his chair to call for Scotty to come to the bridge. His body buckled and he had to keep his left arm stiff,to avoid the pain.
"Captain,the intruder vessel is approaching." Chekov informed him.
"I'm receiving the intruder's signal again. We continue to receive it inside our ship. Scotty and I had detected and terminated the hacking of our system. This makes no possible sense." Uhura added, in confusion.
"Security,search for the prisoner at once." Jim ordered. He decided to override the order for Scotty to take over command on the bridge. Kirk was capable of giving his all for the safety of his ship and crew. He inhaled air as hard as he could, he didn't want to lose the conscience. Not now. His command experience was imperative in these moments of extreme danger. He had to bite his lip to keep from groaning.
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Spock walked through the corridors of Deck 23, to quickly reach Sickbay. A familiar voice called to him from a tool locker whose door was ajar. The door opened wider, and to his surprise, it was Stonn inside.
The arrogant Vulcan's expressionless face wore a faint expression of dread, which he was unable to disguise. "Shhhh, shhhh, Spock, we're all going to die, we're being attacked by a ship superior to this one. You'd better hide as best you can."
The first officer raised an eyebrow. "I don't see the point of hiding in a closet to avoid death by an attack from another starship."
Although Vulcans didn't joke, and a sense of humor was not one of their strong suits,Spock couldn't help but think how ridiculous Stonn looked, huddled in that little place.
"I do not wish to die. My wife T'Pring awaits me on Vulcan."
"That makes sense. But I ask you to proceed logically. Why don't you go help the more vulnerable and emotional members of the delegations? They're going to need comfort and calm."
"Their miserable existences matter nothing to me." Stonn answered him smugly. He closed the locker door again and there was silence again.
The first officer raised an eyebrow. It was not cowardice that was a characteristic of the Vulcan character. Vulcans faced problems, they didn't run from them. Ever since they were children, and shared a school, Stonn had always prided himself in front of Spock that he was a pure Vulcan, and he was a simple half-breed.
It was true, he was a half-breed. But he was not going to run away like a frightened Selath. He wasn't going to waste any more time with this idiot. Spock continued on his way, pitying T'Pring.
*********************
Amanda awaited the arrival of her son. When he arrived at Sickbay's door, she approached him and looked into his eyes, in that way that only mothers know how to do, reading his heart like an open book. She hesitated for a moment,but opened her arms and the Vulcan approached her. Despite his natural distaste for physical contact, he let her embrace him gently. She rested her head on the Vulcan's chest.
"I am sorry,my son. I know my words and actions have hurt you." She murmured.
Spock let out a faint sigh. "Mother, although emotional, your behavior was logical, since you love my father. I bear you no grudge."
"Promise me just one thing....that if your father survives this operation...you will work to maintain a family relationship again."
Spock narrowed his dark eyes. His body stiffened. "Indeed. It is something I have long desired."
Amanda pulled her body slightly away from her son's,and caressed his cheek. "Never forget that I and your father love you."
Spock's self-control faltered. He would never forget that moment and those words of his mother.He said goodbye to her,and entered Sickbay,determined and strong.
McCoy decided to place Spock and Sarek in two adjoining biobeds. The machines and sensors were beeping, at full capacity. One of them covered the ambassador's chest. Another was connected to the first officer's veins,and his green blood was beginning to leave his system for treatment before transfusion into Spock's father's body.
"Levels,nurse." He Asked to Christine Chapel.
"Spock's blood reproduction level over 200%. Sarek's heart rate has risen to 324 beats. Blood pressure: 90 and 40,respectively."
"I wish I knew if it was going right or wrong." McCoy muttered. "Start sterilization."
Spock remained awake. Suddenly, he tried to sit up from his bed.
"Spock!" Christine protested loudly.
"Where the hell do you think you're going?" The doctor growled.
"I have to see Jim."
"My patients don't walk around,in the middle of an operation!"
"That ship, I just realized that if its energetic curve wasn't normal, it would be a good way to identify it. It's very important."
"Your father's life is also important!"
He looked at Christine. She understood his look, without a word between them. She approached the first officer with a hypospray and proceeded to sedate and put him to sleep.
******************************
In the Enterprise's brig, security personnel were carrying out the Captain's orders. As they breached the containment arch,the little Andorian lunged at them and after a short struggle,was knocked down by a phaser blast. As he fell to the ground, he hit his head and one of his auditory antennae disintegrated. A small alien device came out of it. The red shirt proceeded to call the bridge, to inform the captain of the unusual find.
Pavel Chekov was watching the main screen,and was suddenly startled. "Captain,the enemy ship has changed course and speed. It's heading towards us at warp 8."
"Bring the Andorian here,immediately." Kirk requested,over the intercom.
"Deflectors,red alert. Phasers ready to fire on my command."
"Aye sir. Phasers and deflectors ready."
The enemy ship began firing at the Enterprise, which took the full volley. The entire ship went extreme, along with a low, dull sound. The crew nearly lost their balance and ended up on the ground. Jim clung to his chair and this time couldn't help but groan.
"They're coming straight at us, sir."
"Fire when they come through again."
"They haven't been hit, sir."
"They're coming back again!" The Russian shouted. Another enemy barrage again limned the ship, like a toy boat in a storm.
"On my command,fire photon torpedoes 2,4 and 6.Maximum dispersion possible." Kirk ordered.
"Fireeee!"
"We haven't hit them,they're moving too fast for us."
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In Sickbay,things were getting complicated. The ship's swaying and explosions were making the operation difficult. McCoy remained cool and collected, concentrating on his work, trying to avoid the shocks that the ship was producing on his physical stability. He had a great capacity to work in situations of maximum stress, leaving aside his more emotional character and showing the qualities that had led him to be one of the best surgeons in Starfleet.
"His heart has stopped" Christine informed him, frightened.
McCoy tried to use the electrostimulation on the operating table,but the system failed and would not work.
"Come on,Christine,give me the old manual electrostimulator. Call engineering to prioritize our systems!"
***********************************
"Auxiliary power,Chekov!" Jim yelled.
"Number 4 is not responding,if they attack us again,it will be a problem."
At that moment, two redshirts entered the bridge,escorting Taalf, the Andorian.
"Your friends are good at attacking,but they will have to destroy this ship,if they want to win."
"That was the intention all along."
Taalf's face was losing its distinctive blue color and the skin on his face was sloughing off the bones,flowing like liquid gelatin.
"That individual had to have been modified by some kind of manipulation of his DNA." Jim thought. He was decomposing,in the presence of him and the rest of the crew. His physical characteristics had been modified to make him resemble an Andorian.
"You're not an Andorian. Who or what are you?" Another painful twinge of pain again left him almost breathless.
Kirk's tactical brain shuffled through several possible options. One of them, lit up his mind like a torch in the dark. "That ship has phasers,that's where we're the same. Engineering, on my command, cut power to the entire ship. Except for the phasers."
Jim turned to the fake Andorian. "I repeat...what are you or who are you?"
"You look for the answer. You don't have much time left, human."
"You are a spy. You have been turned into an Andorian, and you have inserted yourself into the ambassador's group,creating chaos on the ship with assassinations,to entertain and mislead us,while the final attack took place."
"Expeculations,captain. "Taalf chuckled.
"We're starting to drift sir.Do you want us to stay on course?"
"No,prepare the phasers,Mr. Chekov."
"Seen from the outside,it looks like we're dead,no power to defend ourselves." Jim said.
Taalf's anger grew exponentially. "You set a trap for them. You're trying to get them to fall into it."
"There they come sir.They're decreasing range, slowing down."
"Ready to fire."
"Phasers locked on. Decrease range. 75,000 kilometers."
"Fire!"
The flash, so intense, burst from the bowels of the Enterprise, with as much power as possible.
"Overtaken!" The Russian shouted.
"We will manage to contact them. If they wish to surrender." Kirk stated.
Through the bridge viewscreen, they saw the explosion of the enemy ship,which lit up space,brighter than the glow of the most powerful stars as they decayed.
"They had orders to self-destruct." Taalf replied bitterly.
"Communicate with Starfleet command. Inform them we have a prisoner."
"Only temporarily,captain. I also have self-destruct orders. I inform you that I have just ingested a poison. It is painless,swift and has no antidote." The little man slowly folded in on himself. Quickly, the light in his eyes faded. He smiled a small smile and stopped breathing.
************************
Kirk quickly lowered Sickbay,leaving the command in the hands of the brave Pavel Chekov. The adrenaline that the sense of danger had pumped into his system had given James Kirk enough energy to continue in his captaincy and not falter.
"Bones....
"Have you finished shaking the ship yet?" McCoy had, on occasion, a sour sense of humor.
"How are Spock and Sarek?"
"Well,needless to say,you've made a surgeon's job difficult,and ...."
Amanda Grayson stepped out in his wake. "Captain,please come in with us." She told them gently.
Both men entered after Lady Sarek.
Spock was still lying on his biobed. Happy, in the Vulcan way. Without showing it on his face. Relieved that the operation had saved his father's life. Relieved when he saw Jim come through the door.
"Captain,I assume you've figured out what was going on with the intruder."
"We damaged the ship and they self-destructed,following orders. They're bringing the body of the fake Andorian, so Bones can perform an autopsy on it. I'm sure he's going to get several surprises.He practically started transforming,right before our eyes,on the bridge."
"I think you'll find he's from Orion. Intelligence has reported that several Orion agents have entered this quadrant." Spock replied.
"What would they gain by attacking Starfleet?"
Sarek's voice sounded firm and grave. "Mutual suspicion and interplanetary war."
"Yes, of course, Orion would remain neutral. It would continue to supply Dilithium to both sides,and thus continue to exploit Koradan. They didn't want it to be part of the Federation of Planets. That would end their interstellar business, not controlling either the planet or the mines. They had to sow chaos in the delegation, among the ambassadors and finally end the Enterprise."
Sarek nodded.
McCoy sighed. "The Orions' desire for power and wealth was capable of stepping over the lives of millions of innocent beings."
"What confused me was the power utilization curve. They seemed more powerful than a starship or anything known. That ship was built for a suicide mission,since they had no intention of returning to their base,they could use 100% energy in their attacks. What I don't understand is....Why didn't I figure it out sooner?"
"Probably,you had other things on your mind." Jim told him.
"It doesn't seem likely to me."
"Thanks anyway." Jim told him.
"Sarek .... are you going to thank your son too?" Amanda asked him.
"I don't understand why."
"Because he saved your life!"
"Spock acted the only logical way he could. You don't thank logic, Amanda."
"Logic....logic....I'm sick of logic! You want to know what I think of your logic!"
Amanda began to fidget nervously,between her son's and her husband's beds.
The lady began to show her most energetic character. Spock and Sarek knew how to calm her down. With Vulcan irony, cultivated over years and years of living together.
"Emotional, isn't it?"
"She's always been that way."
"Really? Why did you marry her?"
"At the time,it seemed the most.......logical thing to do." Sarek offered his index finger,to share a Vulcan kiss with Amanda. She smiled. She understood that they were both teasing her. She offered her index finger and joined it to that of her husband.
Jim could barely contain his smile at the comical situation. The adrenaline was completely out of his system. He felt his legs no longer supported him,and the pain returned as a reminder of the serious injury to his back.
"Bones....I...."
Jim lost his balance,and was held down by the doctor. Between him and Christine, he was "forced" to lie on a biobed.
Kirk scrambled,to avoid being carried.
"Come on, don't argue with your nice family doctor, or you'll be here for the next ten days. If you cooperate, you'll be out in two days," McCoy added.
As if he had a spring in his back, Spock tried to sit up. "I think I'll go to the bridge,and...."
"You're already at your post,Spock."
"Bones,I think you're enjoying yourself a lot.... "The captain squinted wryly.
"It's true, Jim. I've never seen him so happy." Spock added.
"Shut up, both of you. Shhhh,.....Sshhhhhh!"
Jim made a attempt of answering him,as he held up a finger in protest. But he decided to shut up and lay his head back on the pillow. For his part,Spock remained with an unreadable expression.
Leonard looked indistinctly at the two men. A big smirk decorated his face,as he bounced on the balls of his ankles.
"Well...it stands to reason,I finally have the last word." McCoy exclaimed with delight.
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EPILOGUE
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Sarek had decided to continue his treatment,using a Vulcan healing trance. For this,some privacy was necessary. McCoy moved him to a nearby room on Sickbay,where he would be quiet,accompanied only by his wife.
So Jim and Spock remained alone. The doctor hovered between the two men,controlling the Vulcan's natural behavior of sneaking away from Sickbay to return to his duties on the bridge and keeping Jim from moving around too much on the biobed.
Jim had lost quite a bit of blood and was weak. He had not lost his charming nature and cheerfulness, though. Leonard had allowed Spock to get up from his biobed, and sit, for a few moments, in a chair, next to the captain's bed. That seemed to comfort Jim. For his part,the taciturn first officer allowed the usual tactile behavior of his captain,who occasionally patted his hand,or laid it on his slender shoulder.
McCoy relaxed,at last. His usual acid remarks against Spock were transformed into gentle, witty banter. The first officer was still weak. The transfusion the ambassador had needed had been abundant, and he had not fully recovered. Besides, he hoped that the two idiots he had as friends would entertain each other and avoid the temptation of a premature and joint escape from their medical domain.
The smiles and glances between Jim and Bones were frequent and very warm.Jim held his doctor friend's hand,as he congratulated him on his work,saving the lives of himself and the ambassador. McCoy shrugged his shoulders, without giving it importance. It was his duty.
Leonard picked up his PADD. He reviewed the results of a special hormone test he had performed on Spock.
With a certain sadness in his voice, he raised his hand,interrupting the two officers' chatter. "I have to inform you that Spock's hormone levels are equal to his pre-test levels prior to his Pon Farr on Vulcan."
Jim rubbed his forehead. "So...no pheromones from now on?"
Leonard's jaw was clenched and his brow furrowed. "Nothing."
A small forced smile and a piercing look was his first response. "Are you sure, Bones?"
"The tests don't lie. The values aren't altered." He turned to the wall,where a desk was situated. He slammed his fist on the table.
"I understand that your emotional state is altered,doctor."
"I mean...Spock, there are things you feel when you think you've lost something you've enjoyed so much." He pressed his fingers to the bridge of his nose.
Jim was suddenly serious. He had been so busy since he had been wounded and had to take over command during the attack on the ship,that he hadn't been able to stop and think that the effects of the pheromones were over.
"It was beautiful,while it lasted." Kirk exclaimed.
Spock raised an eyebrow. "Indeed." The Vulcan sat up from his biobed and stood up.
"Where do you think you're going?" The doctor asked.
"As you well know, I am also the scientific officer of this ship. So I wish to conduct an experiment on the reactions of humans to the arts of courtship and mating. May I have your permission, Leonard?"
"What?,what?,what?" McCoy opened his expressive eyes and grimaced . "Have you lost your mind? But what kind of nonsense is that?"
The Vulcan grabbed him by the shoulders and brought his mouth close to the doctor's mouth. He kissed him deeply.
Running a finger across his lips,and then across the doctor's lips, he exclaimed: "Do you think we need pheromones between the three of us? We don't need any artificial chemical attachments."
"Hey, well.... I'm still here...." Jim protested. "Am I not a good subject for an experiment?"
Leonard McCoy approached Kirk. "I'm going to watch your biosensors,while I run this test. It's medical protocol." His voice sounded somewhere between suggestive and amused.
Jim smiled coquettishly at McCoy. He brought his face close to Kirk's and gave him another passionate kiss.
After he finished kissing his captain, who looked delighted, he moved his hand forward,offering his place at Jim's bedside to the first officer.
"Did someone say Vulcans weren't good kissers?" Kirk thought,as his mouth curved in pleasure.
"Fuck the damn Vulcan pheromones.... we don't need them!" Leonard McCoy exclaimed.
"Indeed."