by James Blish
"Thank you." He went to his chair and sank in. It felt downright luxurious. "Report, Mr. Sulu?"
"Phasers locked on Target A, Captain. Approaching optimum range. Shall I commence fire?"
"I want a status report first." He touched the intercom. "Mr. Scott?"
"Scott here, sir. I have no change to report, sir. No damage to phasers."
"Very good, Mr. Scott." In fact it was very bad, but there was no help for it. As he switched out, Spock came onto the bridge.
"The planet's rotation is carrying the primary target beyond arc of phaser lock," Sulu said. "Shall I correct orbit to new firing position?"
"No."
Sulu flicked a switch. "Now locked on secondary target city."
"Mr. Spock," Kirk said. "You said the Halkans could be useful. After my visit with them, I agree."
"If they chose to cooperate. They have not."
"Lieutenant Uhura, contact the Halkan Council. We'll make one more try." Noting Spock's surprise, he added, "This is a new race. They offer other things of value besides dilithium crystals."
"But—it is clear that we cannot expect cooperation. They have refused the Empire. Command Procedure dictates that we provide the customary example. A serious breach of Standard Orders . . ."
"I have my reasons, Mr. Spock—and I'll make them clear in my own good time."
"Captain," Uhura said, "the Halkan leader is waiting on Channel B."
Kirk swung to the small viewscreen above Uhura's station. Tharn was on the screen. He looked much tireder, indeed more tragic, than he had when Kirk had seen him last. Now, how would it be possible to make this sound plausible?
"It is useless to resist us," he said at random.
"We do not resist you," Tharn said,
"You have, uh, twelve hours in which to reconsider your position."
"Twelve years, Captain Kirk, or twelve thousand, will make no difference," Tharn said calmly and with great dignity. "We are ethically compelled to refuse your demand for dilithium crystals. You would use their power to destroy."
"We will level your planet and take what we want. That is destruction. You would die as a race . . ."
"To preserve what we are. Yes. Perhaps someday your slave planets will all defy you, as we have done. When that comes, how will your starships be able to control a whole galaxy?"
"Switch out, Lieutenant." The screen went blank.
"Twelve hours, Captain?" Spock said. "That is unprecedented."
"Phasers off, Mr. Sulu."
"This conduct must be reported, Captain," Spock said. "You have placed yourself in a most grave position."
"You are at liberty to do so, Mr. Spock," Kirk said, rising. "Take charge. I will be in the briefing room. Inform me of any change. Lieutenant Uhura, attend me there and order Dr. McCoy and Mr. Scott also to report there. Mr. Chekov, relieve Lieutenant Uhura."
He could only hope that this flurry of orders, plus his breach of an unknown regulation, would obscure the fact that he had just called together the landing party.
"Everybody watch your step," Scott said. "They move up through assassination around here. My engine-room chief just tried for me—not personally, but through henchmen. I only got out of it because one of them switched sides."
"What about the technology, Scotty?"
"Mostly variations in instrumentation. Nothing I can't handle. As for star-readings—everything's where it ought to be—except us."
Kirk crossed to the desk and looked down at the computer tap. "Let's see what we're up against. Computer, this is the Captain. Record a Security Research, to be classified under my voiceprint and Mr. Scott's."
"Recorded," said the computer in a harsh masculine voice. Evidently this universe had never discovered that men pay more attention to a machine when its voice is feminine.
"Produce all data relevant to recent magnetic storm, and correlate following hypothesis. Could a storm of that magnitude cause a power surge in transporter circuits, creating momentary interdimensional contact with a parallel universe?"
"Affirmative."
"At such a moment, could persons in each universe, in the act of beaming, be transposed with their counterparts in the other universe?"
"Affirmative."
"Can conditions necessary to such an event be artificially reproduced?"
"Affirmative."
"Record procedure and switch off."
A slot in the desk opened and a spool of tape slid out. Kirk handed it to Scott. "It looks like the ball is yours, Scotty."
"I'll have to tap the power for it out of the warp engines, and balance it for the four of us," the engineer said dubiously. "It's a two-man job, and I'm afraid you'd be too conspicuous, Captain. So would Lieutenant Uhura. Come on, McCoy, let's lay it out."
"I'm not an engineer," McCoy said indignantly.
"You will be. Captain, keep up our public relations, please!"
The two went out. After a moment, Uhura said, "Captain—the way this ship is run—what kind of people are we in this universe? I mean, what kind of people do we have to pretend to be?"
"Let's find out. Computer. Readout of official record of current command."
"Captain: James T. Kirk. Succeeded to command E. S. S. Enterprise through assassination of Captain Karl Franz. First action: suppression of Gorlan uprising, through destruction of rebel home planet. Second action: execution of five thousand colonists on S Doradus Nine, forcing colony to retract secession. Third action . . ."
"Cancel. Lieutenant, do you really want to hear it tell you what you're like?"
Lt. Uhura shuddered. "No. If the way the local Chekov looks at me is any clue, I'll probably hear that my predecessor at my post was my lover, and I got the job by knifing him. How can you run a fifty billion credit star-ship like a pirate vessel?"
"Pirate ships were pretty efficiently run, Lieutenant. Every man feared those above him—with the strongest at the top. Morgan took Panama with his buccaneer ships as neatly as a squadron of naval vessels might have."
"And then was stabbed in his sleep?"
"No, henchmen protected him—not out of respect or devotion, but because his abilities brought them what they wanted. Other checks and balances—other means to the same end."
"But what end?"
"This ship is efficient—or it wouldn't exist. Its Captain was efficient, or he'd be dead. And this Empire will get the dilithium crystals it wants—efficiently."
Uhura's expression remained grim. "And what do you suppose our counterparts are doing, aboard our version of the Enterprise?"
"I hope they're faking as well as or better than we are. Otherwise, when we get back, we'll all be up on charges." The intercom beeped. "Kirk here."
"Sir, I'm having trouble on this line, I can barely hear you."
"Right." Kirk switched off, produced his communicator, and set it to subspace level and on "scramble." "Okay, Scotty, here I am. Go ahead."
"We can do it, Captain. But when we interrupt engine circuits, to tie in the power increase to the transporters, it'll show up on the Security Board. We'll just need a second, but . . ."
"All right, wait a minute." Kirk thought fast. "Lieutenant Uhura, this is going to be nasty. I noticed the local Chekov giving you the eye . . ."
"He made a flat-out pass at me before you came on the bridge, Captain."
"All the better. For the sake of our getting home, could you encourage him a little?"
Uhura said slowly, "I wouldn't pull a mean trick like that on our Chekov. And this one gives me the crawls. But—of course, Captain, if you wish."
"Good girl. Scotty, Uhura can create a diversion on the bridge, which will draw Sulu's attention, I think, at your signal. Now, everyone back to posts, before somebody cottons to the fact that this looks like a council of war."
Uhura slipped out silently. Kirk, too, was about to go, when Spock entered the briefing room by another door, and saluted.
"Captain, a word with you, if I may."
"Of course."<
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"I should regret your death."
Kirk raised his eyebrows. "Very kind of you, Mr. Spock."
"Kindness is not involved. As you know, I do not desire the captaincy. I much prefer my scientific duties—and I am frankly content to be a lesser target."
"Quite logical, as always, Mr. Spock."
"Therefore I am moved to inquire if you intend to persist in your unusual course of action regarding the Halkans."
"My orders stand."
"I presume you have a plan. I have found you to be an excellent officer. Our missions together have been successful ones."
"I remember," Kirk said. "Perhaps better than you do."
"I never forget anything."
"I remember that too. Then you will also remember the illogic of waste, Mr. Spock. Is it logical to destroy potential workers—equipment—valuable installations—without making every effort to put them on a useful basis? Surely the Empire can afford a little patience."
"Logically, we must maintain the terror," Spock said. "Otherwise the Empire will develop soft spots, and the rot will spread."
"The Halkans made the same point. Is history with us? Conquest is easy—control is not."
"History seldom repeats itself," Spock said, frowning. "Yet I concede that no regime such as ours has ever survived the eventual fury of its victims. The question is, has our power become so vast, quantitatively, as to make a qualitative change in that situation? Space, as you say, is against us; its sheer vastness makes communication difficult, let alone control—I did not know you were a philosopher, Captain. We have never talked this way before."
"Perhaps overdue, Mr. Spock."
"That is more than possible. I do not judge Commander Moreau to be much of a thinker."
There was quite a long silence, during which Kirk wondered who in blazes Commander Moreau was. Most likely, the man who was gunning for the Captain's job.
"Sir," Spock said finally, "I have received a private message from Starfleet Command. I am committing a serious breach of regulations by informing you of its contents. But other considerations supervene. Briefly, I have been instructed to wait until planet dawn over principal target, to permit you to complete our mission. Your delaying maneuver was of course reported to Starfleet Command by Mr. Sulu."
"And if I don't?"
"In that event," Spock said, his voice somehow both harsh and reluctant at the same time, "I am ordered to have you killed, and proceed against the Halkans, as the new Captain of the Enterprise. I shall of course remove Moreau too, making it appear that he was killed by your agents."
"Logical," Kirk said bitterly. "But thank you for the warning, Mr. Spock."
"I regret the situation. I shall remain in my quarters throughout the night—in case you should wish to contact me privately."
"Thank you again. But there will be no change."
"Sir—under the circumstances—may I express the greatest curiosity concerning your motives?"
"I'm almost tempted to tell you, Mr. Spock. But you'll understand in time. Carry on."
When he left, Kirk sat down at the table. He knew he should be back on the bridge, carrying on the masquerade. But even with Spock's odd sort of cooperation, even supposing Scotty could get them back to their own universe, that would leave the biggest problem unsolved: the fate of the Halkans in this alternate universe. No matter what happened to Kirk, McCoy, Scott and Uhura, the Halkans seemed to be destined for slaughter. And he could think of no way to prevent it.
Then the communicator beeped. "Kirk here."
"Captain, this is Scotty. I've got the whole thing rigged, with McCoy's help. I'm thinking of making him assistant engineer. But in checking it out with the computer, I discovered somethin' vurra worrisome. The two-way matter transmission affected local field density between the two universes—and it's increasing. We've got to move fast. We have half an hour at most. If we miss, we couldn't push back through for a century."
"What's the procedure, Scotty?"
"We're about ready to bridge power from the warp engines to the beams. You've got to go to the main controls and free the board, so we can lock in. Give us ten clock minutes, then you and Lieutenant Uhura create your diversion, and run like Martian scopolamanders for the Transporter Room."
"Right. Count down on the time. Five . . . four . . . three . . . two . . . one . . . hack."
"Got you. Good luck, Captain."
No time now to worry about the Halkans; but Kirk worried, nonetheless. On the bridge, Sulu looked speculatively, coldly, at Kirk as Kirk resumed the Captain's chair.
"Orders, Captain?"
"Prepare to lock on to Target A. We fire at planet dawn."
Sulu smiled coldly. "I am glad to see that you have come to your senses. All this computer activity obviously has produced no alternative answer, except to make me wonder if you had gone soft. And while Mr. Spock would no doubt make an excellent captain, you were once clearly the better one. I hope you will continue to be."
Kirk was so sick at the order he had had to give that he did not bother to disguise his disgust. "You don't miss much, do you, Mr. Sulu."
"A good Security Officer misses nothing. Otherwise he would deserve to go to the Agony Booth."
Well, Kirk thought grimly, you may yet, Mr. Pseudo-Sulu. Obviously you don't know what that computer activity really was about.
The Halkan planet's image was showing on Uhura's viewscreen. Chekov was watching her, with very much the same lubricious expression as before. She looked up at the image, and then, as if to herself, said, "Just once, I'd like to think about something besides death."
Sulu shot one contemptuous glance at her and went back to watching the master board. When Scott made his power switch from the warp engines to the transporters, he would catch it.
Uhura looked away from the screen toward Chekov. Her glance was steady for a moment, and then she looked down. Her veiled eyes suggested that she just might be persuaded to change her mind.
The navigator grinned, leaned back in his seat. His arm went out and around toward Uhura's waist.
Sulu paid no attention. And there was one minute left.
Slap!
Sulu looked up. Uhura was standing, in furious indignation. She fell back, one, two, three calculated steps toward Sulu's board. Chekov, astonishment changing to rage, was standing too.
But Sulu seemed to be no more than amused. "As you were, Chekov."
Chekov was not ready to be as he was. He seemed almost ready to attack Uhura. Kirk saw an opening and jumped in.
"Is this the kind of horseplay that goes on when I'm not on the bridge? And at moments as critical as this? Mr. Chekov, you are on report; I'll tend to you later. Lieutenant Uhura, you provoked this; proceed immediately to the Booth. Mr. Sulu, take Lieutenant Uhura's post."
"Sir," Sulu said. "Why are you also leaving?" The 'sir' was silkily insulting.
"I am going to explain personally to Lieutenant Uhura why she is in the Booth. I'll return shortly; in the mean time, follow standard procedure."
He had caught the streak of sadism and lechery in these loathsome counterparts of his crew. Every man on the bridge grinned slyly and licked his lips.
Then Kirk and Uhura were out, and running for the Transporter Room.
Spock and two crewmen were waiting for them there, with drawn phasers.
"Well, Mr. Spock? Have you decided to kill me now, even though I am following my orders?"
"No, Captain. But strange things have occurred since the return of your landing party—including some remarkable calls upon the computer, which I find sealed against me. Nothing in the computer should be sealed against the First Officer. And you are preparing to use an enormous surge of power in the transporter. That could be most dangerous. I must ask you: where do you think you are going, Captain—you and your three conspirators?"
"Home," Kirk said.
"To the alternate universe?"
"You understand that?"
"Yes, Captain. And I concur
. I will ask you only to gun me down with a stun charge before you leave. My henchmen here will support any story I tell thereafter."
McCoy said, "Mr. Spock, in my universe you and I often disagreed, and in this universe I hated you. But you seem to be a man of integrity in both universes."
"It is only logical," Spock said. "You must return to your universe, so that I can have my Captain back. I will operate the transporter. You have two minutes and twenty seconds left."
"Mr. Spock," Kirk said. "I will shave that time as close as possible. I want to ask you this: How long do you think it will be before the Halkans' prediction of galactic revolt is realized?"
Spock blinked, as if the sudden change of subject had taken him unawares. "I would estimate—approximately two hundred and forty years."
"And what will be the inevitable outcome?"
"The Empire will be overthrown, of course. A sort of federation may replace it, if the period of interdestruction is not too devastating."
"Mr. Spock. Consider the illogic of waste. Waste of lives, resources, potentials, time. It is not logical of you to give your vast talents to an empire which you know is doomed."
"You have one minute and twenty-three seconds."
"When change is both predictable and beneficial, why do you resist it?" '
"Suicide is also illogical. One man cannot summon the future."
Kirk closed on this man, who looked and acted so much like his First Officer, and yet had so little of the real Spock's hidden humanity in him. "Mr. Spock, one man can change the present. Be the Captain of this Enterprise, whether you want the job or not. Find a logical reason for sparing the Halkans, and making it stick. Push where it gives. You can defend yourself better than any man in the fleet, if you are anything like my First Officer, and I think you are. In every revolution, there's one man with a vision. Which will it be? Past or future? Tyranny, or the right to hope, trust, love? Even here, Spock, you cannot be totally without the decency you've shown on the—the other side. Use it, make it work!"
"You must go," Spock said. "But my Captain never said any such words to me. I will remember them. I can promise nothing else, though I will save the Halkans if I can. Now, quickly! You have eighteen seconds left! Shoot! And goodbye, Jim Kirk."