Black Fire (16 page)

"What is this surgery you speak of?" IIsa asked.

Kirk answered her question. "It is a procedure which will permit him to walk again if it is successful."

"That is possible?" She was amazed.

McCoy, outraged at Spock's condition, lashed out at IIsa. "He's in a terrible condition and it's your fault."

Scott tried to keep McCoy from making any further attacks on the short-tempered Begum, but it was Kirk who held the doctor in check.

"Not now, Bones. You have a patient to take care of."

McCoy yielded, running the medi-scanner over his charge once more and grumbling in anger. IIsa then spoke to Kirk.

"You came a long way to find your people, Captain. I will have to take your persistence into account and consider that trait in our plans."

Kirk steadily returned the Begum's speculative gaze. "The only plan you should have at this point is to permit us to remove our personnel from here—without interference. When we obtain a full report from the two officers you've detained, I suspect those plans of yours may meet with a few setbacks from the Federation." Kirk contacted the ship. "Landing party and recovered officers to beam up."

Somewhat awed by the power of these newcomers, as evidenced by this miraculous appearing and disappearing, IIsa permitted the intruders to take Spock and Scott away with them. But her newfound compassion had another dimension she was now experiencing: the pain of loss.

Back on the
Enterprise
, Kirk was able to relax totally for the first time since his learning of Spock and Scott's disappearance.

"Scotty, you're a beautiful sight!" Kirk smiled and put his hands on the hirsute engineer's shoulders.

"Aye, a regular caveman, Captain. It's good ta see ye well and all in one piece. Last time I saw ye, ye were in bad shape."

"Do you have any idea as to what the explosion on the
Enterprise
was all about?"

"It was a test, Captain …"

"What kind of test?" Kirk asked.

"Ta see how we react in battle or whatever," Scott answered. "Spock thinks they are plannin' ta attack the Federation on a large scale. And they're capable of it, Captain. Dinna let their primitive livin' conditions fool ye."

"What about Spock? Did IIsa poison him?"

"I'm afraid Spock did it ta himself, Captain," Scott replied gravely. "An' when I think back on it, this wasn't the first time he tried it."

"What would make him do such a thing?"

"It's my fault, Captain. He ordered me ta try ta escape. I couldna leave wi'out him. I guess he thought he was eliminating the cause for me stayin' there."

"I wouldn't think he'd go that far; suicide is not a logical alternative."

"It must o' seemed the only way ta get me ta go, Captain. When ya think o' it, it was, under the circumstances. But that changed wi' your comin'."

Both men reflected somberly on the narrow margin of time that saved Spock's life; Kirk remembered his agonizing feeling of urgency as they had approached Tomarii, and he was profoundly thankful he had acknowledged it.

3

In sick bay, McCoy examined Spock more thoroughly.

"You're in no condition to undergo surgery at this time. Orders or no orders, I'm going to delay the procedure until I think you can tolerate it. We'll keep building you up and I'll be the one who decides the proper time."

"You are correct, of course, Doctor," Spock agreed, taking the battle-ready McCoy by surprise. "I would assume my recovery period would be extended."

"Longer than most, Spock. Your muscles have begun to atrophy. At least you can't run off on me now."

"The situation is entirely different now, Doctor. I will fully cooperate with your medical regimen."

"Good, Spock. It's about time," McCoy said, grinning. He finally had his way.

4

With the compilation of Spock and Scott's observations on the Tomariian menace and its dispatch to Starfleet, rest finally came.

The familiar environment of the ship lulled Spock into a feeling of security and he fell into a deep, restful sleep.

Entering sick bay to check on the rescued former first officer, Leonidas frowned. "Where's the security guard?" he demanded of the on-duty nurse.

"There isn't any," she answered, completely bewildered. "What do we need with a security guard?"

Leonidas punched the intercom button. "Security, I want two armed guards in sick bay. On the double!"

He had hardly finished summoning the guard when McCoy, called by the nurse, barreled into the room.

"What the hell are you doing, Leonidas?"

"Putting a guard on the prisoner, Doctor."

"What prisoner?"

"Spock."

"Are you crazy? Spock's not going anywhere."

"It is proper security procedure, McCoy."

Awakened by the loud voices, Spock heard the last statement. "Is there something wrong?"

"You are under arrest," Leonidas announced. "I'm surprised the captain didn't make the proper arrangements."

Kirk, coming to visit with Spock, heard Leonidas's statement and reacted with icy calm.

"You've overstepped your authority, Mister. I give the orders on this ship. If I felt it necessary, I would have placed Spock under arrest myself."

"I was going by the book, Captain. Starfleet regulations, sir."

Kirk wanted to srike him, but held his temper. His face reddened in anger, but he realized he could no longer delay the arrest order. The man he considered to be his first officer was back on board—unable to function and under detention. His chief engineer would have to be confined to quarters as well. Their replacements were merely temporary in Kirk's eyes.

He wondered what had happened to the exuberant and personable Leonidas of the rec room. And Douglas, the contentious engineer, was certainly not Scott, who'd flip backwards to serve both Kirk and the ship. The rescue had been a success, but the captain took no satisfaction in its consequences.

5

The surgery on Spock was not complicated, but it had been too long delayed. McCoy took the fragment of metal from Spock's back, careful not to further damage the surrounding tissue.
It was so small
, McCoy pondered as he examined it,
but had been
so much a source of agony
.

He repaired the nerve and muscle damage and closed the incision with his fine laser instruments. It was a long procedure and McCoy was exhausted. The doctor had warned Spock of the long period of convalescence that would be necessary after the surgery, but he knew the stubborn Vulcan would resist any advice to rest as soon as he felt recovered enough to function.

With therapy, McCoy estimated that it would be one month before Spock would be back to normal. Yet in three days Spock walked out of sick bay, unsteadily and wearing a back brace, but definitely on his own. The Vulcan managed a short walk down the corridor and a trip to the bridge to surprise the captain.

His entry onto the bridge was greeted by an uninhibited hug from Uhura—which elicited an amusing attempt to recover his lost dignity—cheers from the remainder of the crew, and joyous relief from Kirk. The captain, even with assurances from McCoy, had still worried about Spock.

The warm moment was abruptly shattered by Leonidas.

"Captain, Mister Spock should not be on the bridge. He is under arrest."

"I know that, Leonidas," Kirk snapped. "But it's my decision to make. Please remember that."

Kirk rarely, if ever, disciplined an officer in view of the crew. The celebratory mood was gone.

"Will confinement to quarters suffice, Mister Spock?" Kirk asked routinely.

"Of course, Captain," Spock answered as expected.

"Good!" Kirk glared at Leonidas. "Satisfied, Commander?"

"Yes, sir," the first officer quietly responded, noticing the hostility directed at him from the bridge crew.

6

Spock was permitted to leave his quarters only to fulfill the medical requirements for exercise necessary to his recovery. Yet for the Vulcan, confinement was not punishment; he used the time to meditate, re-evaluate and study his recent experiences. Although the captain chafed to have him cleared, Spock reminded him that his medical condition made it impossible for him to return to duty immediately in any case. That seemed to ease Kirk's mind to an extent.

With his returning strength, Spock realized that it was time to acknowledge the promise he had made to Julina on Tomarii: He felt obliged to inform the Romulans of the Tomariian threat—and the Klingons, because he had allied with them as well.

He agreed with Kirk that confinement to quarters was sufficient, but he had not given his word to remain in them. It was stretching the truth, but technically Spock was not violating his exchange with Kirk regarding his detention.

He waited for the night cycle to be established, when a minimum crew would be on duty. The auxiliary bridge was deserted when he entered.

One by one, Spock carefully activated the communication panel's connections required to transmit the messages he had programmed in his quarters. Before the communications officer on the bridge realized the override had taken place, the two messages had been sent out over subspace channels.

Returning to his quarters, the Vulcan was met by two security officers and a half-dressed angry captain. Kirk glared at Spock, tersely requesting an explanation.

"Jim, I could not compromise your position. It is against Starfleet regulations to contact either the Romulan or Klingon empires, but I vowed that if I survived, I would inform their empires of the Tomariian threat. I kept my word."

"And by leaving your quarters you broke your word to me."

"Technically, no, Captain. I said confinement to my quarters was sufficient. It was—to serve my purpose."

"Spock, you've made it impossible for me to allow you to be merely confined to your quarters. I'm forced to have you detained in the brig—you've given me no choice."

"It is your only choice, Captain. I accept your position."

Spock walked slowly down the corridor, escorted by the two guards, as a deeply saddened Kirk watched his trusted first officer make his way to the brig in quiet dignity.

1

Sitting in the legal chambers of Starbase 12, Kirk recalled other court procedures, other hearing rooms, and other officers in place of the three who now entered the room. Kirk remembered the decisions made on those other occasions: The last hearing didn't go well, and he didn't understand the decision when he read the record. Before that, they had always been favorable. He tried to convince himself that this time the verdict would be favorable as well.

A door to the side of the judges' platform opened and he watched Spock and Scott enter, accompanied by two Starfleet security officers. They looked stiff and formal in their dress uniforms. The bailiff ordered the court to rise as the presiding officer entered the hearing room. All eyes turned toward the tall, distinguished man who took his seat at the center of the bench.

Kirk had made a point of looking up the records of the officers who would be hearing his officers' cases. Commodore Pierce had a reputation of being fair but stern. To Pierce's left sat Commodore Kingston Clark, a familiar figure to McCoy from the previous hearing. To Pierce's right was Fleet Captain Iko Tomako, a man who had a reputation for being extremely conservative.

Kirk was not deeply concerned about the outcome of the proceedings.
Not really
, he thought, brushing off a moment of anxiety.

Spock, unruffled as usual, showed no signs of worry; in Kirk's opinion, he seemed almost too confident. Scott sat rigidly beside Spock, drumming his fingers nervously on the arm of his chair.

When the room quieted and all were seated, Pierce addressed the court: "The General Court-martial of Commander Spock and Lieutenant Commander Montgomery Scott is now in session. Is counsel prepared to present its case?"

The attractive woman sitting between the defendants rose and answered, "Counsel is ready, sir. Ellen Janest, counsel for Lieutenant Commander Scott."

All eyes were on Spock as he rose. "I choose to waive counsel, sir."

Pierce frowned. "The record will so indicate."

Kirk whispered to McCoy, "Waive counsel? Why would Spock do that?"

McCoy shook his head. Kirk mumbled disapprovingly.

"Why didn't Clark insist he have counsel? He should have expert legal representation."

Pierce continued. "The charges against Lieutenant Commander Scott are desertion and theft of a Starfleet cruiser. How do you plead, Commander Scott?"

Scott stood beside his counsel and addressed the court. "Not guilty."

"The charges against Commander Spock are treason, desertion, and theft of a Starfleet cruiser. How do you plead, Commander?"

The Vulcan rose, faced the judge, and gave his reply in a completely controlled voice.

"Guilty."

It was hard for Kirk to control his frustration. He nudged McCoy and whispered, "First he refused counsel, now he pleads guilty. Bones, do you know what's gotten into Spock? I don't like the way this is going!"

The doctor was studying the Vulcan with a professional eye. He was as confused as Kirk. "I'm trying to figure him out myself. Maybe he's got something up that Vulcan sleeve of his."

"I certainly hope so," Kirk replied.

"The court, in order to be fair, has decided to hear each case separately. We will begin with the case against Lieutenant Commander Scott. Commodore Bragg will conduct the case for the prosecution."

Bragg, a small man with a high-pitched voice, proceeded immediately.

"Lieutenant Commander, on Stardate 5505.6, did you, without proper authorization, take the cruiser U.S.S.
Raven?
"

The proceedings continued in a sedate fashion. As Kirk listened to the testimony, he scored points for Scott. Janest was extremely competent, and Scott's fate seemed to be in excellent hands.

Kirk sat tensely, watching the woman beside Scott rise and approach the bench to begin her summary. She was one of the finest advocates in Starfleet and her simple beauty and composure added to her effectiveness.