by 07(lit)
"If you're not in command, who is?"
"Commodore Stocker."
It took Kirk a long moment to place the name. Then he exploded. "Stocker? Are you crazy? He's never held a field command! If Scotty-"
"Mr. Scott is in no condition to command. Com-modore Stocker, as a ranking officer-"
"Don't prate to me about rank. The man's a chair-bound paper-pusher. Spock, I order you to take com-mand!"
"I cannot, sir."
"You are disobeying a direct order, Mr. Spock."
"No, Captain. Only Commodore Stocker can give command orders on this ship now."
Impotent fury rose in Kirk. "You disloyal, traitorous... you stabbed me in the back the first chance you had. You-" His rage mounted as he found that he was weeping. Weeping! "Get out of here! I don't ever want to have to look at you again!"
Spock hesitated, inclined his head slightly, and left. After a moment, Kirk became aware of the female figure still standing beside the door inside his room, making faint sniffling noises. He peered at it.
"Who is it? Jan? Jan?"
"I'm sorry, Jim," she said. "Truly I am."
"I acted like a fool in there. Let them rattle me. Let myself get confused."
"Everyone understood."
"Only I'm not old, Jan. I'm not! A few muscular aches don't make a man old! You don't run a starship with your arms-you run it with your head! My mind's as sharp as it ever was!"
"We'll find a cure."
"A simple case of radiation sickness and I'm relieved of command." He turned and looked at himself in a mirror. "All right, I admit I've gotten a little gray. Radiation can do that."
"Jim," she said, as if in pain. "I have work to do. Please excuse me-"
"Look at me, Jan. You said you loved me. You know me. Look closely-"
"Please, Jim-"
"Just need a little rest That's all. I'm not old, am I? Well, Say it! Say I'm not old!"
There was no response. Grasping her by the shoul-ders, he pulled her to him and kissed her with all the violence of which he was capable. But there was no response-not from her, and what was worse, not even within himself. He released her-and saw the pity in her eyes. He turned his back.
"Get out."
Now what? He could not think. He was relieved. The answer... but there was no answer. Wait. Something about a comet. McCoy. Chekov. The examination room. That was it, the examination room. He hobbled out, cursing himself for his slowness.
Spock was there; so were Nurse Chapel, McCoy and Janet. They all looked very old, somehow. But the hapless Chekov, back on the table again, did not seem to have changed. He was saying: "Why don't I just go back to work and leave my blood here?"
Kirk tried to glare at Spock. "What are you doing here?"
"It would seem the place where I can be of the most use."
"Maybe you'd like to relieve Dr. McCoy? Bones, what about Ensign Chekov here?"
"Nothing," McCoy said peevishly. "Absolutely noth-ing."
"There has to be! There has to be! We went down to the surface together. Beamed-down together. Stayed in the same spot. He was with us all the time. He-"
"No, Captain," Spock said, drawing in a sharp breath. "Not all the time. He left us for a few mo-ments."
"Left us?" Kirk stared at the Vulcan, trying to re-member. "Oh. Yes-when he went into the building. He... there was... Spock! Something did happen!"
"Indeed, Captain. Doctor, you will remember Pro-fessor Alvin's corpse in the improvised coffin-"
"Chekov, you got scared!" Kirk crowed. "You bumped into the dead man, and-"
"You bet," Chekov said. "I was scared, sir. But not half as scared as I am now, I'll tell you that."
"Fright?" McCoy said, raising a trembling hand to his chin. "Yes. Could be. Heart beats faster. Breath short. Cold sweat. Epinephrine flows. Something I read once... epinephrine tried for radiation sickness, in the mid-twentieth century-"
"It was abandoned," Janet said. "When hyronalyn was discovered."
"Yes, yes," McCoy said testily. "Don't confuse me. Why was it abandoned? There was some other reason. I knew it well, once. They didn't know the inter-mediate? Yes! That's it! AMP! Nurse, ask the computer for something called AMP!"
Christine Chapel, her face a study in incredulitity, turned to the computer read-out panel. After what seemed a very long time, she said, "There's an entry for it. It's called cyclic adenosine three-five monophos-phate. But it affects all the hormonal processes-that's why they dropped it."
"We'll try it," McCoy said, with a startling cackle. "Don't just stand there, Dr. Wallace. Synthesize me a batch. Dammit, get cracking!"
On the bridge, Commodore Stocker was in the command chair. If he was aware of how many backs were pointedly turned to him, he did not show it; he was too busy trying to make sense of the many little lights that were flickering across the console before him.
"Entering Romulan neutral zone, sir," the helmsman said. "All sensors on maximum."
Now who was that? "Thank you, Mr. Spock, sorry, Mr. Sulu. Lieutenant Uhura, let me know if we contact any Romulan."
"Yes, sir. Nothing yet."
Stocker nodded and looked down again. The little lights danced mockingly at him. As a cadet he had studied a control board something like this, but since then, everything seemed to have been rearranged, and labeled with new symbols which meant nothing to him, with only a few exceptions. Well, he would have to depend upon these officers-
Then the Enterprise shook sharply under him, and half of the little lights went red. Ignorance overwhelmed him. "What was that?" he said helplessly.
"We have made contact, sir," Uhura said in a dry voice.
"Romulans approach from both sides, sir," Sulu added.
The ship shook again, harder. Swallowing, Stocker said, "Let's see them."
The main viewscreen lit up. It too was full of crawling little lights, which could not be told from the stars except for their motions, which he could not read either.
"I don't see any Romulans!"
"The ones that are changing color, sir. They change in accordance with their rate of approach-"
The ship bucked under him. All the lights went red.
"We're bracketed, sir," Sulu said evenly.
There was a buzz he couldn't locate. "Engineering calling, sir," Uhura said. "Do you want power diverted to the shields?"
His face felt bathed in sweat. "Yes," he said, at ran-dom.
"Mr. Scott asks how much warp power to reserve."
What was the answer to that one?
"Commodore Stocker," Sulu said, turning halfway toward the command chair. "We're in a tight. What are your orders?"
The Enterprise shuddered once more, and the lights dimmed. Stocker realized suddenly that he was too scared to speak, let alone move-
Then, mercifully, Kirk's voice, thin but demanding, came through the intercom. "What's going on up there? Lieutenant Uhura, this is the Captain!"
"Sir!" Uhura said. "We have violated the Romulan neutral zone, and are under attack."
"The fool. Maintain full shields! I'll be right there."
Stocker felt as though he were about to pass out with relief, but the ordeal wasn't over yet. Voices, more distant, were arguing over the open intercom:
"Jim... you can't... neither of us... Nurse... Doctor Wallace..."
"Got to... get to the bridge..."
"Oh Jim, you can't... Nurse... In there..."
Then the voices snapped off. Clearly, Kirk was not about to bail Stocker out yet. Rousing himself, Stocker said, "Lieutenant Uhura, keep trying to raise the Romu-lans."
"Very well. No response thus far."
"If I can talk to them-tell them the reason why we've violated the neutral zone-"
"The Romulans are notorious for not listening to explanations," Sulu said. "We know-we've tangled with them before."
"Hail them again!"
"I've hailed them on all channels," Uhura said. "They're ignoring us."
"Why shouldn't they?" Sulu said. "Th
ey know they have us. As long as we sit here, they can kick away at the screens until they go down."
Stocker ran a hand through his hair. "Then," he said, "we have no alternative but to surrender."
"They'd love that," Sulu said, his back still turned. "They have never captured a starship before. And, Commodore, they never take prisoners."
"Then what-"
"Sir," Uhura said, "you are in command. What are your orders?"
In Sickbay, Nurse Chapel and Janet had Kirk pinned down on a bed. He struggled to get up, and despite his aged condition they were having trouble restraining him-a task further complicated by the unpredictable shuddering of the Enterprise.
"Greenhorn-up there-ruin my ship-"
"Jim," Janet said through gritted teeth, "if I have to give you a shot-"
"Jim, lay quiet," McCoy said. "You can't do any good. We're through."
"No, no. My ship-"
Spock appeared from the laboratory, carrying a flask. "Dr. Wallace, here is the drug. It's crude, but we had no time for pharmacological tests or other refinements."
"All right," said McCoy. "Let's go."
"It will cure... or kill." Spock handed the flask to Janet, who loaded a hypo from it. "A safer prepara-tion would take weeks to test."
"What is it?" Kirk said, quietening somewhat.
"The hormone intermediate," Janet said. "It has to be given parenterally, and even without the probable impurities in it, it could be extremely hard on the body. Cerebral hemmorhage, cardiac arrest-"
"Never mind the details," McCoy said. "Give it to me."
"No," Kirk said. "I'll take the first shot."
"You can't," McCoy said firmly.
As if on cue, the Enterprise shook again. "How long do you think the ship can take a pounding like this?" Kirk demanded. "I've got to get up there!"
"Jim, this could kill you," Janet said.
"I'll die anyway without it."
"Medical ethics demand-" McCoy began.
"Forget medical ethics! My ship is being destroyed! Give me that shot."
"The Captain is correct," Spock said. "If he does not regain his faculties, and get to the bridge to take command in a very few minutes, we shall all die at the hands of the Romulans. Give him the shot, Dr. Wallace."
She did so. For a moment nothing seemed to hap-pen. Then Kirk found himself in the throes of convul-sions, bucking and flailing at random. Dimly he was aware that all four of the others were hanging on to him.
It seemed to last forever, but actually hardly a min-ute passed before the fit began to subside, to be gradu-ally replaced by a feeling of exhausted well-being. Janet was pointing a Feinberger at him.
"It's working," she said in a hushed voice. "The ag-ing process has stopped."
"Can't see any change," McCoy said.
"She is correct, Doctor," Spock said. "It is there, and accelerating."
"Janet, help me up," Kirk said, taking a deep breath. "That was quite a ride."
"How do you feel?" she said.
"Like I've been kicked through the bulkhead. Spock, you'll have to wait for your shot; I need you on the bridge. Janet, give McCoy his shot, then Scott." He smiled. "Besides, Spock-if what I've got in mind doesn't work, you won't need that shot. Let's go."
In transit, he felt stronger and more acute with every passing second, and judging by the looks of relief with which he was greeted on the bridge, the change was visible to others as well.
"Report, Sulu!"
"We are surrounded by Romulan vessels-maximum of ten. Range, fifty to a hundred thousand kilometers."
Stocker got out of the command chair in a hurry as Kirk approached it. Kirk punched the intercom. "Engineering, feed in all emergency power, and all warp-drive engines on full standby. I'm going to need the works in about two minutes. Captain out... Lieutenant Uhura, set up a special channel to Starfleet Command. Code Two."
"But, Captain-"
"I gave you an order, Lieutenant. Code Two."
"Code Two, sir."
"Message: Enterprise to Starfleet Command, this sector. Ship has inadvertantly encroached upon Romu-lan neutral zone. Surrounded and under heavy Romulan attack. Escape impossible. Shields failing. Will imple-ment destruct order, using corbomite device recently installed. Since this will result in destruction of Enter-prise and all matter within two hundred thousand kilo-meter diameter, and establish corresponding dead zone, all Federation ships to avoid area for at least four solar years. Explosion will occur in one minute. Kirk, com-manding Enterprise. Out... Mr. Sulu. Course 188, mark 14, Warp Eight and stand by."
"Standing by, sir."
From his station, Spock said, "The Romulans are giving ground, sir. I believe they tapped in, as you ob-viously expected them to."
"A logical assumption, Mr. Spock. Are they still retreating?"
"Yes, sir, but are still well within firing range."
"All hands stand by... now, Warp Eight!"
The ship jolted-not this time to an onslaught, but to sudden motion at eight times the speed of light. Spock hovered over his console.
"The Romulans were caught off guard, sir. Not even in motion yet."
"Are we out of range, Mr. Sulu?"
"Yes, sir. And out of the neutral zone."
"Adjust to new course. One nine two degrees, mark 4. Heading for Star Base Ten."
"Coming around, sir."
Kirk sat back. He felt fine. Commodore Stocker ap-proached him, his face full of shame.
"Captain," Stocker said, "I just wanted to assure you that I did what I thought had to be done to save you and the other officers."
"Noted, Commodore. You should know, however, that there is very little a Star Base can do that a starship cannot."
"If I may say so, Captain, I am now quite aware of what a starship can do-with the right man at the helm."
The elevator doors snapped open and McCoy came out. He was as young as ever. Kirk stared at him.
"You're looking good, Bones."
"So's Scotty. The drug worked. He pulled a muscle during the initial reaction, but otherwise he's feeling fine. Now, Mr. Spock, whenever you're ready."
"I'm ready now, Doctor."
"Good. Because of your Vulcan physique, I've pre-pared an extremely potent shot. I've also removed all the breakables from Sickbay."
"That is very thoughtful of you."
"I knew you'd appreciate it."
Kirk smiled. "All in all, gentlemen, an experience we'll remember in our old age... of course, that won't be for a long time yet, will it?"
ELAAN OF TROYIUS
(John Meredyth Lucas)
Kirk's orders were simple. He was to "cooperate" in all matters pertaining to the mission of his passenger, the Ambassador of the planet Troyius.
It was the implications of his orders that were com-plicated. First, the Ambassador's mission was top secret. Second, his negotiations involved the notoriously hostile people of Elas, a neighbor planet. As if such "co-operation" weren't enough of a headache, both planets were located in a star system over which the Klingon Empire claimed jurisdiction. By entering the system, the Enterprise was inviting Klingon retaliation for tres-pass.
Kirk was frankly irritated as he swung his command chair to Uhura. "Inform Transporter Room we'll be beaming-up the Elas party at once. Ask Ambassador Petri to meet us there."
"Yes, Captain."
At his nod, Spock, McCoy and Scott followed him into the elevator. Kirk said, "Some deskbound Starfleet bureaucrat has cut these cloak-and-dagger orders."
The intercom spoke. "Bridge to Captain." It was Uhura's voice.
"Kirk here."
"Captain, signal from the Elas party. They're ready to beam aboard but demand an explanation of the delay."
"Here we go," Kirk said. "What delay are they talk-ing about? All right. Forget it, Lieutenant Uhura. Beam them aboard."
Spock said, "The attitude is typical of the Elasians, sir. Scientists who made the original survey of the planet described their men as
vicious and arrogant."
"That's the negative aspect," McCoy said. "I've gone over those records. Their women are supposed to be something very special. They're said to possess a kind of subtle-maybe mystical--power that drives men wild."