Star Trek Part 14

Many had been brought aboard in haste and had suffered injuries as a consequence. In addition to the new arrivals most sickbays were already crowded with injured crew members who had survived the Narada Narada's original devastating attack. As more and more patients were treated and discharged, living quarters on the ship became crowded and her life-support facilities increasingly strained. No one complained. When a request was put out for those willing to share their living s.p.a.ce with survivors, every member of the crew promptly volunteered. Where possible, healthy crew members moved in with friends and turned their private quarters over to dazed Vulcans. While it was clear to everyone that the Vulcans were handling the tragedy far better than would a comparable group of humans, there were still far too many cases of mind-shock.

As he wandered through the main sickbay, Spock tried to take stock of the survivors. Their total number was pitiful. There were Vulcans elsewhere, of course. In missions and emba.s.sies on other worlds, operating by themselves within distant scientific outposts or in conjunction with humans and other sentient species, traveling on other starships. His people would go on, albeit enormously reduced in number and influence. He delineated as much as he murmured into his recorder.

"While the essence of our culture has been preserved in, among other aspects, the Elders, including my father, who now reside upon this ship, Nero has destroyed my home planet. Of its six billion inhabitants, I estimate that no more than ten thousand survived. An additional number yet to be determined are safely scattered elsewhere throughout the Federation and its allied systems." Without a hint of irony in his voice he concluded, "I am now a member of an endangered species."

As he continued to inspect the progress that was being made by the ship's medical teams, he happened upon the stowaway Kirk. Having disabled the Romulan plasma drill, albeit too late to save Vulcan, the junior officer would have been more than within his rights to have retired to quarters. Instead he was here in the bay. At the moment he was tending to a Vulcan girl, murmuring to her sweetly and smiling as he wrapped a slender arm stained with green blood in a self-sealing bandage. Noticing Spock standing nearby and watching, Kirk sent a look of regret toward the science officer. Regret, and sympathy. Their eyes met.

Turning without speaking or responding in any fashion to the junior officer's expression of empathy, the acting captain exited the sickbay.

Uhura was heading down the main corridor when she saw him prepare to enter a lift. She managed to slip in before the doors closed and the internal transport headed for the bridge.

They were alone in the lift. As had everyone else on board, she tried to think of something to say. And as happened to everyone else on board, she could not find words to express how she felt. Surely any words, she thought, no matter how well-meaning, would const.i.tute an intrusion. Yet as the lift continued on its way she felt-she knew-that she had to say something.

"I only wish I'd listened to that distress call more closely and sooner."

How ba.n.a.l, she thought angrily as soon as she had spoken. she thought angrily as soon as she had spoken. How utterly, utterly inadequate. And stupid. How utterly, utterly inadequate. And stupid. Seeing her expression twist and deducing the reason, he peered down at her sympathetically. He, who had just lost his homeworld and the vast majority of his kind, had room enough within himself to feel compa.s.sion for her. Seeing her expression twist and deducing the reason, he peered down at her sympathetically. He, who had just lost his homeworld and the vast majority of his kind, had room enough within himself to feel compa.s.sion for her.

"Without you, none of us would have survived. What has happened is hardly your fault. Based on what knowledge and information is available I do not see how it could have been prevented." He sounded almost wistful. "Perhaps in another universe, another chain of cosmic links, a small change in this or that sequence of events might have made a difference. But not in the here and now. You must not blame yourself. What happens to us, how our lives and that of all around us progresses, hinges on very small decisions."

They stood like that for a moment, until Uhura did something any other member of the crew would have found odd-but not out of character. Reaching out, she thumbed the Stop Stop on the lift. It immediately came to a halt between decks. Then she leaned forward, put both arms around him, and pressed her lips against his. Though mixed with sorrow and regret, no one would have mistaken it for a platonic kiss. In a manner plainly half-human, half-Vulcan, Spock responded. In a fashion sufficiently straightforward to indicate that he had done so before. on the lift. It immediately came to a halt between decks. Then she leaned forward, put both arms around him, and pressed her lips against his. Though mixed with sorrow and regret, no one would have mistaken it for a platonic kiss. In a manner plainly half-human, half-Vulcan, Spock responded. In a fashion sufficiently straightforward to indicate that he had done so before.

Eventually she pulled back. "I'm so sorry. I can't do anything about what's happened, about your world and your people. All I can do is try to do something for you."

He looked away, bewildered, lost, uncertain. Nothing he had learned in his long course of education prepared him to reply. Nothing except what lay within him could conceivably conjure an appropriate response.

"What can I do?" she pressed him. "Tell me what you need."

What I need? How to respond logically and rationally to the human woman so close to him? How to respond logically and rationally to such a question from anyone? How to respond logically and rationally to the human woman so close to him? How to respond logically and rationally to such a question from anyone?

"I-need."

Almost, he responded emotionally. Almost, he let himself go. But the time he had spent on Earth and among humans did not begin to equal the time he had spent maturing on Vulcan. He was his father's son and his mother's son, but in the end he could only be him. him.

Whatever that might turn out to be. With a start, he realized that despite all his certainty about himself, despite all the knowledge he had so a.s.siduously cultivated, that was one question to which he still had no resolution.

In lieu of an answer he could only continue to be what he had become thus far. Reaching toward the control panel, he restarted the turbolift.

"I need for us all to continue performing admirably in the face of the terrible calamity that now confronts my people, our fellow Starfleet personnel, and the entire Federation."

The doors parted and he stepped out. Uhura's gaze followed him until they closed once more.

XII

It was easier when she was on station. Not because she didn't think of him or of what had pa.s.sed between them but because attending to ship's communications required nearly all of her attention. No matter what happened, she told herself firmly, she was not going to overlook another potentially critical signal or transmission regardless of its nature or its content, or where it happened to be directed.

As Uhura listened to the ether, searching among the background hiss of stars and nebulae for anything of potential import, a conference laden with grim significance was taking place elsewhere on the bridge.

"As it stands," Spock was saying, "we've not yet received any kind of orders or recommendations from Starfleet on how to respond to what has happened here, which suggests that even our emergency transmissions are still being jammed, deflected, or otherwise prevented from reaching the nearest relay."

Kirk nodded in agreement. "We have to a.s.sume that every Federation planet's a target. Since we still have no idea what's motivating this Nero and his crew, we have no way of predicting for certain certain where or how he'll strike next, other than a best-guess estimate that he may be heading for Earth." His gaze met Spock's. "If only we knew the 'why' of the carnage he's causing." where or how he'll strike next, other than a best-guess estimate that he may be heading for Earth." His gaze met Spock's. "If only we knew the 'why' of the carnage he's causing."

"Agreed," added Chekov, "but why didn't they destroy us? Why all the other ships and not the Enterprise Enterprise? They have demonstrated without a doubt that they have the capability to do so."

Sulu shrugged. "Why waste a weapon? We were seriously damaged and no longer a threat. Especially if they have greater goals in mind."

"That's not it. He said he wanted me to see something. The destruction of my homeworld." The ship's acting captain turned toward communications. "If, insofar as we have been able to determine, they are indeed heading for Earth, then their ambition and intent suggests the destruction of a single remaining starship is no longer high on their agenda."

Standing, as usual, slightly off to one side, Leonard McCoy was, as usual, finally unable to contain himself. "And how the h.e.l.l did they do that, by the way? When did they jump so far ahead in the arms race? While my specialty doesn't require me to be familiar with the technological details of alien arms and armaments, I do have to have some knowledge of the damage they can inflict because I'm expected to repair it, at least on the personal level. I've never heard or read anything about a Romulan vessel the size of this Narada Narada or the kind of destructive abilities it just displayed." or the kind of destructive abilities it just displayed."

Spock nodded imperceptibly. "It is a question, Doctor, that I have been mulling over with deep concern ever since our initial encounter. It is self-evident that such a technological leap as we have recently witnessed does not take place overnight, nor even over a period of several years. The exact time frame required to accomplish such feats can at this time only be speculated upon. The engineering and technological knowledge necessary to artificially generate a black hole such as was utilized to destroy my homeworld may point toward a possible answer.

"Such technology could, in theory, be manipulated for a purpose other than destruction. It could hypothetically be manipulated to create a tunnel through s.p.a.ce-time, though from what we know of the possibilities, such a voyage would be extraordinarily risky for anyone attempting it." He did not quite smile. "Of course, such conjecture is based on models that rely on current physical and mathematical knowledge. We know nothing of future possibilities."

"Dammit, man-I'm a doctor, not a physicist," McCoy snapped. "Are you suggesting they're from the future?"

Kirk stared at the acting captain. "That is is what he's suggesting, and I don't buy it." what he's suggesting, and I don't buy it."

Spock eyed him evenly. "If you eliminate the impossible, whatever remains-however improbable-must be the truth. Process of elimination does not automatically disregard what has not yet been mathematically proven. Recall the words of Saint Clarke: 'Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic.'"

"How poetic," McCoy commented sardonically.

"For some, Doctor, the possibility of time travel is nothing less than magic. Or poetry, if you prefer. For the enemy we now find ourselves facing, it may simply be a matter of sufficiently advanced technology."

"If their technology is so advanced," Kirk wondered aloud, "then what would an angry future Romulan an angry future Romulan want with Captain Pike?" want with Captain Pike?"

"Simply because their technology is exceptionally advanced in one or several areas does not mean they are dominant in all," Spock pointed out. "Perversely, it is a good sign."

McCoy's gaze narrowed. "How can their taking Captain Pike as a captive be a 'good sign'?"

"It suggests," Spock explained calmly, "that while their technology is superior to us in many ways, they are not omnipotent."

Sulu was nodding vigorously. "Captain Pike knows as much as any admiral about Starfleet's defenses. If their next target is is Earth and they felt certain of being able to penetrate its defenses, why else would they want him except to extort information?" Earth and they felt certain of being able to penetrate its defenses, why else would they want him except to extort information?"

"We have to get him off that ship," Kirk growled.

Spock turned immediately. "That is not an option. He left us with standing orders that in the event of his failure to return, we should rendezvous with the rest of the fleet on the other side of the quadrant. It was a sensible command, clearly thought out and only reinforced by subsequent events. As has been amply demonstrated, we're technologically outmatched in every way and are fortunate the Enterprise Enterprise is still functional. A rescue attempt would be illogical." is still functional. A rescue attempt would be illogical."

Fighting to keep calm, Kirk struggled to reply in kind. He did not entirely succeed. "With all due respect, what about loyalty to one's commanding officer?" He nodded sharply in the helmsman's direction. "If Mister Sulu's correct, then if Pike's not dead he's likely being tortured to give up what he knows about Earth's defenses."

The science officer was not moved. "The captain's committed our our loyalty to loyalty to his his sacrifice. He would be the first to repeat and to emphasize that we carry out his final order. He understands that the needs of the many outweigh the danger to the one." Spock's voice tightened slightly. "It is the kind of decision one is required to make when one a.s.sumes the responsibilities of a starship captain." sacrifice. He would be the first to repeat and to emphasize that we carry out his final order. He understands that the needs of the many outweigh the danger to the one." Spock's voice tightened slightly. "It is the kind of decision one is required to make when one a.s.sumes the responsibilities of a starship captain."

"He also," Kirk shot back, "believes officers shouldn't blindly follow orders without looking for alternative ways of doing things. I can speak to that from personal experience. As his crew, we owe him the effort to explore alternative possibilities."

That much, Spock was willing to bend. "As stated, I am always open to suggestions."

"All right, then. I suggest suggest we find a way to we find a way to catch up, catch up, get on that ship, and get him get on that ship, and get him back. back. Again, if Mister Sulu's observation is accurate, then time is of the essence. We already know they command means of destruction far beyond our own capabilities. We can only a.s.sume that they have access to methods of persuasion we can't imagine. Captain Pike is a resilient officer, but he's only-if you'll pardon the expression-human. We have to get him back and we have to do it Again, if Mister Sulu's observation is accurate, then time is of the essence. We already know they command means of destruction far beyond our own capabilities. We can only a.s.sume that they have access to methods of persuasion we can't imagine. Captain Pike is a resilient officer, but he's only-if you'll pardon the expression-human. We have to get him back and we have to do it now." now."

"Fantastic," McCoy muttered. "I'm in."

"Even though we think we know their destination, they would have to drop out of warp for us to overtake them," Spock pointed out inexorably. "And that is a.s.suming that their technological advances do not include the ability to travel faster than our own vessel."

Kirk was not so easily thwarted. "What about a.s.signing engineering's best people to try and find a way to boost our warp yield, if only for a short period of time? As you'll remember, we were required to consider such possibilities as part of courses dealing with emergency situations."

"I also recall," the implacable acting captain responded, "that they remained nothing more than possibilities. Several of which, you you might remember, risked complete destruction of any vessel daring to attempt such extreme manipulation of its warp field. Anyway, even if such an adjustment could be tried in time, engineering is fully occupied restoring our drive capability and helping to repair damage, without which we cannot communicate with Starfleet. They do not have time to spend it on wishful fantasies." might remember, risked complete destruction of any vessel daring to attempt such extreme manipulation of its warp field. Anyway, even if such an adjustment could be tried in time, engineering is fully occupied restoring our drive capability and helping to repair damage, without which we cannot communicate with Starfleet. They do not have time to spend it on wishful fantasies."

Yet again Kirk found himself deterred by logic. "Okay, okayokayokay-there's gotta be some some way..." way..."

"When thoroughly a.n.a.lyzed, the information we've gathered about the enemy warship may point the way toward some method of defeating them-but only only if we a.s.semble the fleet to balance the terms of our next engagement. As already inferred, they are clearly not omnipotent. It may be that by bringing sufficient firepower, even if it is inferior firepower, to bear, it may be possible to destroy their advanced vessel through sheer force of numbers. If such were not the case, they would not take the time and trouble to counter our attacks so energetically." if we a.s.semble the fleet to balance the terms of our next engagement. As already inferred, they are clearly not omnipotent. It may be that by bringing sufficient firepower, even if it is inferior firepower, to bear, it may be possible to destroy their advanced vessel through sheer force of numbers. If such were not the case, they would not take the time and trouble to counter our attacks so energetically."

Kirk took a step forward. "Spock. "Spock. By the time the fleet is redeployed, it'll be too late. Too late for Captain Pike and too late for Earth. You know how Starfleet operates. A decision of such magnitude will require conferences, discussions-by the time Command appoints a committee, reaches a conclusion, decides on a strategy, and issues orders to move against Nero, he'll be finished with Earth and on his way to still another doomed system. How many planets are you willing to risk?" Seeing that his appeal was having no effect on the ship's acting captain, an increasingly irate and desperate Kirk tried another tack. By the time the fleet is redeployed, it'll be too late. Too late for Captain Pike and too late for Earth. You know how Starfleet operates. A decision of such magnitude will require conferences, discussions-by the time Command appoints a committee, reaches a conclusion, decides on a strategy, and issues orders to move against Nero, he'll be finished with Earth and on his way to still another doomed system. How many planets are you willing to risk?" Seeing that his appeal was having no effect on the ship's acting captain, an increasingly irate and desperate Kirk tried another tack.

"You wanna be logical? Then do what this Nero doesn't expect you to do. Respond illogically. illogically. Be unpredictable. It's the last thing he'll expect from you." A smile cut across the younger man's face. "I can guarantee it." Be unpredictable. It's the last thing he'll expect from you." A smile cut across the younger man's face. "I can guarantee it."

As usual, the sarcasm had no effect whatsoever on the Vulcan officer. "You're a.s.suming Nero knows how events are predicted to unfold, and that by acting in an illogical manner we could somehow disrupt his intentions."

"You just suggested he's from the future," Kirk pointed out.

Spock nodded agreement. "In which case his intent in traveling to this point in the past would appear to be to significantly alter it. If he had no intention of doing so, then there would, logically, be no point in making such a dangerous attempt simply to observe what he already expects to happen. It is clear that his purpose in making the time traverse is to change the past. Insofar as we know, his actions since entering this time plane have been unremittingly hostile to the Federation. We may safely a.s.sume they shall continue to be so.

"Through his actions subsequent to his entry into our time he has altered the flow of history, beginning with the attack on your father's ship twenty-five years ago and culminating in the horrific events of today. These actions have created a new chain of events that cannot be antic.i.p.ated by either party. At least, not by those living and functioning in the present. As we have no knowledge of additional alternate timelines, it is useless to speculate upon them. We can only influence our own, and I am required to make decisions based on our knowledge of what and where we are at the present time."

McCoy wore the expression of someone who had accidentally sat down on one of his own sedative hypos. "Does anyone anyone understand him?" understand him?"

Uhura murmured softly in amazement. "An alternate reality. An alternative past."

Spock nodded. "Precisely. There may be a thousand others, a million, or only this one. Certainly, Nero is acting as though this is the only one that matters." He scanned the faces around him. "Whatever lives we might have lived if he had not appeared here to alter the time continuum of this reality have now been permanently altered. Our destinies, whatever they were, have changed."

Chekov's mind was churning. "Even if we somehow manage to stop this Nero, what's to prevent him from reentering his time portal, however he achieves that, and simply going back in time a little farther to stop us all over again? For that matter, if his objective is the destruction of the Federation, why didn't he go back to an even earlier date when our defensive technology was even more primitive?"

"It may be," Spock surmised, "that the method of time travel employed is not perfect, or is fraught with limitations we cannot imagine, and that twenty-five years ago was the optimum time for him to attempt to send his vessel into the past." He hesitated, thoughtful. "It may also be that he is subject to other motivations of which we as yet have no knowledge. We could speculate on an infinity of possibilities, any one of which might prove fruitful but none of which exist at the moment. And at the moment, I am charged with carrying out Captain Pike's last order." He met the helmsman's gaze.

"Mister Sulu, plot a course for the Laurentian system, warp factor three."

Kirk stood nearby, shaking his head vigorously. "Commander, I disagree, because-"

"Captain," Spock corrected him, sharply this time. "Your opinion is duly noted, Mister Kirk-but my Spock corrected him, sharply this time. "Your opinion is duly noted, Mister Kirk-but my order order stands." stands."

They locked eyes. The other officers on the bridge looked on uneasily. This was no time for a confrontation. Whatever actions they next embarked upon had to be carried out with some degree of unanimity. Those who knew something of Kirk expected him to explode-or at least to raise his voice in an attempt to dominate verbally, if not logically. He did not.

"Captain. Spock. Spock. We've all been through a lot the last couple of days. You more than anyone. But I ask that you separate your feelings from-" We've all been through a lot the last couple of days. You more than anyone. But I ask that you separate your feelings from-"

"I have," Spock broke in. "You may rest a.s.sured on that point. Were I not to do so, I could not reasonably remain in command. And as you and I have both lost a parent to this creature, we must a.s.sure that our mission does not become a personal vendetta. Must I point out that while I have lost the bulk of my species I have acted and continue to act in a wholly rational and logical manner, whereas you-"

It was Kirk's turn to interrupt. "We don't have time for debate-team niceties! Every second we spend discussing alternatives, Nero's getting closer to his next target and probably closer to extracting what he wants to know from Captain Pike!"

"Then we are in agreement," Spock replied tightly. "No more time should be spent discussing alternatives. Therefore, I'm instructing you to accept that I alone am in command and that I alone am the one responsible for making the decisions that govern the actions and response of this vessel."

Kirk responded with an entirely different argument. It bore all the hallmarks of rationality-but not of common sense.

"Not if the ship's chief medical officer says you aren't."

McCoy stepped back in horror. "Oh c.r.a.p-Jim, don't do that."

Spock's gaze turned as hard as his voice. "Your attempt at subterfuge is insufficiently subtle to disguise your true intentions, Lieutenant. What you're proposing is nothing less than mutiny. You will cease this course of action or suffer the consequen-"

"Under Regulation One-twenty-one," Kirk declaimed coldly, "I'm citing you as being emotionally compromised and therefore unfit for continuing in the position of captain of a Federation vessel. As a replacement I propose..."

This time it was Spock who stepped forward. "Yet you're the one acting emotionally, as I am certainly willing to have a board of inquiry determine. As of now you are relieved of duty-and now that I think of it, I am not at all certain you were ever formally placed placed on duty. on duty.

"Lieutenant Kirk," Spock declared in the no-nonsense tones of command, "I gave you a direct order. direct order. Failure to comply is a court-martial offense!" Failure to comply is a court-martial offense!"

"Jim, please!" McCoy struggled to mollify as well as mediate. "He's the captain captain!"

Kirk froze, staring blankly at the doctor. From the time they had met at school, McCoy had been his best friend. Maybe his only real friend. And now, when it mattered most, his closest friend wasn't with him. He let his gaze sweep around the bridge. There was some sympathy in the eyes of his fellow officers, maybe even some understanding-but no support. He had chosen to cross a very dangerous line, and it was now clear that he had crossed it by himself.

He had chosen his own Rubicon but, unlike Caesar, had fallen off his horse and was rapidly being swept downstream.

Spock wasn't finished. "If I confine you to the brig, you'll likely escape. The very resourcefulness that makes you potentially a good officer now marks you as a threat, not only to this ship and to its continuing mission but to yourself. I can't allow you to remain on this ship, where your zealous insubordination poses a danger and where your admitted powers of persuasion might inveigle the less secure into additional unwise actions." He turned to his left.

"Mister Chekov, signal the bay to prepare transport for Mister Kirk. He will be transferred to a venue where he can utilize his talents to whatever degree he desires, but where he will not be able to adversely impact this vessel's a.s.signment. Mister Sulu, Mister Chekov-escort him out."

Stepping forward, Sulu took Kirk's elbow and pushed gently but firmly. The regret in his voice was genuine. "Sorry, man."

"Yeah." Kirk appeared to shrug it off. "Don't worry abou-"

Whirling, he swung hard. Sulu ducked back, spun, and grabbed the wrist of the other man's striking hand. Kirk hit Sulu with an elbow as Chekov reached for his sidearm. Wrenching forward, Kirk slammed into the younger man and sent the phaser spinning to the deck. The sidearm lay there, tempting the first fingers that could close around it. Kirk lunged in its direction-and collapsed, unconscious.

As swiftly and precisely as he had administered the nerve pinch, Spock stepped back. His expression had not changed and he was not breathing hard.

What had just occurred was merely one more in a series of disagreeable incidents that he had recently been compelled to deal with.

Under other circ.u.mstances, and in the presence of a good deal more illumination, Pike might have found his watery surroundings pleasant. The straps that held him in place atop the semisubmerged platform likewise contributed to a general sense of ill-being. The Romulans who were working to make certain he was secured and unable to move went about their business with the determined efficiency he had by now decided was a product of fanaticism and not fear. They respected their captain, were even in awe of him, but they were not afraid of him.

Nero watched attentively as his crew concluded the process. When they had finished their work, he approached the tightly bound prisoner and spent a moment staring down at him. Pike did his best to ignore the examination. Instead, he filled his mind with Mozart, though he doubted the anti-interrogation technique would be sufficient to save him from whatever was coming.

Expecting a blow, contemptuous spittle, or at least a tongue-lashing, he was taken aback by his captor's almost apologetic tone.