by 07(lit)
"It was no accident. I chose you and you chose me." Before he could speak, she added, "I have a plan. With this ship you could utterly obliterate Troyius. Then there would be no need for the marriage. Our grateful people would give you command of the star system."
He stared at her in horror. "How can you think of such a monstrous thing?"
"He is Troyian," she said. And was in his arms again. "You cannot fight against this love... against my love."
"Captain!" It was Spock on the intercom. There was a pause before he said, "May we see you a moment?"
Kirk didn't answer. The witch in his arms was right. He could not fight against this love, this passion, this fatality-whatever it was, whatever name one chose to give it. Nameless or named, it held him in thrall. His lips were on hers again-and the door opened. Spock and McCoy stood there, staring in unbelief.
"Jim!"
Kirk raised unseeing eyes.
"Jim! May I have a word with you, please?"
Kirk pulled free of the clinging arms; and moved toward the door with the slow, ponderous walk of a man walking under water. He looked back at Elaan. Then he stumbled out into the corridor.
"Captain, are you all right?" Spock said.
He nodded.
"Jim, did she cry?"
"What?"
"Did she cry? Did her tears touch your skin?"
Kirk frowned. "Yes."
McCoy sighed. "Then we're in trouble. Jim, listen to me. Petri told Christine that Elasian women's tears contain a biochemical substance that acts like a super, grade A love potion."
Kirk was staring at the hand that had wiped the tears from Elaan's cheek. "And according to Petri, the effects don't wear off," McCoy said.
"Bones, you've got to find me an antidote."
"I can try but I'll need to make tests of-"
The corridor intercom spoke. "Bridge to Captain!"
"Kirk here."
Sulu's anxious voice said, "Captain, the Klingon ship has changed course! It's heading toward us at warp speed!"
All look of bemusement left Kirk's face. "Battle stations!" he ordered crisply. "I'm on my way."
Klaxon alarm shrieks filled the bridge as he stepped from the elevator. A fast glance at the screen showed the swiftly enlarging image of the Klingon ship. "Stand by, phasers!" he ordered, running to his command chair.
"Phasers ready, sir," Sulu reported. Spock called, "His speed is better than Warp Six, Captain!"
Eyes on the screen, Kirk said, "Mr. Chekov, lay in a course to take us clear of this system. If he wants to fight, we'll need room to maneuver."
"Course computed, sir," Chekov said. "And laid in, Captain."
"Very well, Mr. Sulu. Ahead, Warp Two and-" The intercom beeped to the sound of Scott's agitated voice. "Captain! The matter-anti-matter reactor is-"
Before Scott had uttered the next word, Kirk had barked, "Belay that order, Mr. Sulu!"
Sulu jerked his hand from the button he was about to push as though it were red-hot. Spock left his sta-tion to come and stand beside Kirk. "What is it, Scotty?"
Everyone on the bridge could hear Scott say, "The anti-matter pod is rigged to blow up the moment we go into warp drive."
Moments went by before Kirk spoke. Then he said, "That bomb he planted, Scotty. Can you dismantle it?"
"Not without blowing us halfway across the galaxy."
Like a blow Kirk could feel the pressure of the eyes focussed on him. He drew a deep breath. "Then give us every ounce of power you've got from the impulse drive. And find a solution to that bomb."
It was into this atmosphere of repressed excitement that Elaan stepped from the bridge elevator. On the screen the Klingon ship was growing in size and detail. "Mr. Sulu, stand by to make your maneuvers smartly. She'll be sluggish in response."
Kirk turned back to the screen and saw Elaan. Absorbed though he was in crisis, he had to fight the im-pulse to go to her by grasping the arms of his chair, Spock moved closer to him; and Sulu said tonelessly, "One hundred thousand kilometers."
Time ambled by. Then Sulu said, "Ninety kilome-ters."
"Hold your fire," Kirk said.
Sulu moistened his lips. "Sixty. Fifty."
On the screen the Klingon ship blurred in a burst of speed. "She's passed us without firing a shot," Sulu said very quietly.
"Captain, I don't think they meant to attack us," Spock said. Now that the crisis had passed, Kirk was conscious again only of the presence of Elaan. He rose from his chair as though pulled to her by an invisible chain. Watchful, Spock said warningly, "This time we have been fortunate."
The invisible chain snapped. Kirk sank back in his chair. "Yes, their tactics are clear now. They were trying to tempt us to cut in warp drive. That way we'd have blown ourselves up. Their problem would have been solved for them without risking war with the Federation. Very neat."
"Very," Spock said. "But why do they consider the possession of this system so vital?"
"A very good question, Mr. Spock."
"I have another question, sir. Isn't the bridge the wrong place for the Dohlman to be at a time like this?"
"I'll be the judge of-" Kirk began. He met Spock's eyes. "You're right, Mr. Spock. Thank you."
He strode over to Elaan. "I want you to leave the bridge and go to Sickbay. It's the best-protected part of the ship."
"I want to be with you," she said.
"Your presence here is interfering with my efficiency -my ability to protect you."
"I won't go."
Gripping her shoulders, he propelled her toward the elevator. Over her head, he looked at Spock. "You have the con, Mr. Spock."
As the elevator door slid closed, she flung her arms about his neck. "I love you. I have chosen you. But I do not understand why you did not fight the Klingon."
"If I can do better by my mission by running away, then I run away."
"That mission," she said, "is to deliver me to Troyius."
"Yes, it is," he said.
"You would have me wear my wedding dress for another man and never see me again?"
"Yes, Elaan."
"Are you happy at that prospect?"
"No."
The intercom buzzed. "Scott to Captain."
"Kirk here."
"Bad news, Skipper. The entire dilythium crystal converter assembly is fused. No chance of repair. It's completely unusable."
"No way to restore warp drive?"
"Not without the dilythium crystal, sir. We can't even generate enough power to fire our weapons."
"Elaan, I've got to get back to the bridge. Please go to Sickbay. There's its door. Down this corridor."
She stood on tiptoe to kiss his forehead. "Yes, my brave love."
He watched her move down to the Sickbay door. Whatever chemical substance it was in the tears he had wiped from her cheek, it was powerful stuff.
Mysteriously baffling was how McCoy was finding it. Twenty-four tests-and analysis of it was as elusive as ever.
Petri watched him examine a read-out handed him by Nurse Christine. "You're wasting your time," he said. "There is no antidote to the poison of Elasian tears. The men of Elas have tried desperately to locate one. They've always failed." He had leaned back against his pillow when Elaan opened the Sickbay door. She addressed McCoy. "The Captain asked me to come here for safety."
Petri raised his head again. "And our safety? What about that with this woman around? How do you esti-mate our chances for survival, Dr. McCoy?"
"That's the Captain's responsibility," McCoy said.
Petri looked soberly thoughtful. After a long moment, he reached down into the gold casket he'd placed under his bed and withdrew the necklace Elaan had rejected. He pulled on his robe and walked slowly over to her.
"I have failed in my responsibility to my people," he said heavily. "With more wisdom I might have been able to prepare you to marry our ruler. Now that we may all die, I again ask you to accept this necklace as a token of respect for the true wish of my-of our
people-for peace between us."
"Responsibility, duty-that's all you men ever think about!" she said angrily.
But she took the necklace.
When Kirk got back to the bridge, it was for more bad news. It was Uhura who had to give it to him. "A mes-sage from the Klingon ship, sir. We are ordered to stand by for boarding or be destroyed. They demand an immediate reply."
"So he's going to force a fight," Kirk said.
Back in his command chair, he struck his intercom button. "Kirk to Engineering. Energy status, Scotty?"
"Ninety-three percent of impulse power, Captain."
"We can still maneuver, sir," Spock said.
"Aye, we can wallow like a garbage scow," Scott said. "Our shields will hold out for a few passes. But without the matter-anti-matter reactors, we've no chance against a starship. Captain, can't you call Starfleet in this emergency?"
"And tell the Klingons they've succeeded in knock-ing out the warp engines?" Kirk retorted. "No, we'll stall for time."
He swung around to confront the taut faces in the bridge. "We will proceed," he said, "on course; in hope that the Klingons can be bluffed-or think better of starting a general war. Lieutenant Uhura, open a hailing frequency."
He seized his speaker. "This is Captain James Kirk of the USS Enterprise on Federation business. Our mission is peaceful but we are not prepared to accept interference."
The hoarse Klingon voice filled the bridge. "Prepare to be boarded or destroyed."
"Very effective, our strategy," Kirk muttered.
"Captain, the Klingon is closing in on an intercept course!" Sulu exclaimed. "Five hundred thousand kilometers." He added, "Deflector shields up!"
It was the moment Elaan chose to step out of the bridge elevator, radiant in the shimmering white of her wedding dress, the Troyian necklace of pellucid jewels around her neck. Kirk tore his eyes from the vision she made-and hit the intercom with his fist. "Mr. Scott, can you deliver even partial power to the main phaser banks?"
"No, sir. Not a chance."
Elaan was beside Kirk. Averting his eyes from her, he said, "I told you to stay in Sickbay."
"If I'm going to die, I want to die with you."
"We don't intend to die. Leave the bridge."
She drifted away toward the elevator and stopped to lean her head back against the wall.
Sulu shouted, "One thousand kilometers!"-and the ship shuddered under impact by a Klingon missile. As it burst against a deflector shield, its flash bathed the Enterprise in a multi-colored auroral light.
"He's passed us," Spock said. "All shields held."
"Mr. Sulu, come to 143 mark 2. Keep our forward shields to him."
"Here he comes again, sir," Sulu said.
"Stay with the controls. Keep those forward shields to him." On the screen the Klingon ship was an ap-proaching streak of speed.
"He's going for our flank, Mr. Sulu. Hard over! Bring her around!"
The force of the second missile shook every chair in the bridge. "Sulu!" Kirk shouted.
"Sorry, Captain. She won't respond fast enough on impulse drive."
"He's passed us again," Spock said. "There's damage to number four shield, sir."
"How bad?"
"It won't take another full strike. Captain, I'm get-ting some very peculiar readings on the sensor board."
"What sort of readings, Mr. Spock?"
The Vulcan had seized his tricorder and was scan-ning the bridge area with it. Suddenly, he leaped from his chair to point to Elaan. "She is the source!" he cried.
"She?" Kirk said. "You mean Elaan?"
"The necklace, Captain!"
Both men ran to her. "What kind of jewels are in that thing?" Kirk demanded.
Bewildered, she fingered the necklace. "We call the white beads radans. They are quite common stones."
Spock scanned the diamonds with a circular device on his tricorder. Under it, they glowed and sparkled with an unearthly fire.
"It's only because of its antiquity that the necklace is prized," Elaan said.
"Common stones!" Kirk said. "No wonder the Klingons are interested in this star system! May I have that necklace, your glory?"
"If it can be of any help-of course," she said.
"You may just have saved our lives," Kirk said. "Mr. Spock, do you think Scotty could use some dilythium crystals?"
"There's a highly positive element in your supposi-tion, Captain." The necklace in hand, Spock entered the elevator.
"He's coming in again, sir," Sulu cried.
"Mr. Sulu, stand by my order to turn quickly to port. Try to protect number four shield. Now, Mr. Sulu! Hard to port!"
Again the shields reflected the brilliant interplay of multi-colored light as the ship vibrated under shock by the Klingon attack. "Shields holding but weakened," Sulu called.
"Captain, message coming in," Uhura reported. At Kirk's nod, she hit the speaker.
The guttural Klingon voice had triumph in it. "Enter-prise, our readings confirm your power extremely low, your shields buckling. This is your last chance to sur-render."
Sulu said, "Number four shield just collapsed, sir. Impulse power down to 31 percent."
Kirk walked over to Uhura's station. "Lieutenant, open a channel." He seized the microphone. "This is Captain Kirk. I request your terms of surrender."
"No terms. Surrender must be unconditional and immediate."
Kirk struck the intercom button. "Scotty, what's the estimate?"
"We're fitting it now, sir. We'll need to run a few tests to make sure-"
"We'll test it in combat."
Spock said, "Those are crude crystals, sir. There's no way to judge what the unusual shapes will do to energy flow."
Scott used the intercom to add his caution. "Captain, a hitch in the energy flow could blow us up just as effectively as-"
Kirk cut him off. "Let me know when it's in place." He returned to Uhura. "Hailing frequency again, Lieutenant." Back at his command chair, he said into his speaker, "This is the USS Enterprise. Will you guaran-tee the safety of our passenger, the Dohlman of Elas?"
The harsh voice repeated, "No conditions. Surrender immediate."
"Captain, he's starting his run!"
"I see, Mr. Sura." Standing before the screen, Kirk felt a quiet hand laid on his arm. Elaan watched with him as death in the form of the Klingon ship neared them, itself a black missile made vague by speed. Then Scott spoke from the intercom. "It's in place, sir-but I can't answer for..."
"Get up here fast!" Kirk said. He wheeled from the screen. "Mr. Sulu, stand by for warp maneuver. Mr. Chekov, arm photon torpedoes."
"Photon torpedoes ready, sir."
"Warp power to the shields, Captain?"
"Negative, Mr. Sulu. His sensors would pick up our power increase. The more helpless he thinks we are, the closer he'll come. It's as he passes I want warp drive cut in. You'll pivot at Warp Two, Mr. Sulu, to bring all tubes to bear."
"Aye, sir."
"Mr. Chekov, give him the full spread of photon torpedoes."
Scott rushed into the bridge to take his place at his station and Sulu said, "One hundred thousand kilome-ters, sir."
"Mr. Scott, stand by to cut in warp power."
The engineer looked up from his control. "Fluctua-tion, Captain. It's the shape of the crystals. I was afraid of that."
"Seventy-five kilometers," Sulu said.
"He'll fire at minimum range, Mr. Sulu."
"Forty," Sulu said.
Scott's worried eyes were on the flickering lights of his board. "It won't steady down, Captain."
The mass of the Klingon ship nearly filled the screen. Kirk said, "Warp in, Scotty. Full power to the shields. Mr. Sulu, warp two. Come to course 147 mark 3."
The Klingon ship fired. The Enterprise swerved, be-gan to rotate dizzily in the dazzle of the now familiar auroral blaze reflected from its wounded shields.
"We're still here!" Scott cried, unbelieving.
"Fire photon tor
pedoes! Full spread!"
They waited. Elaan's hand found Kirk's. Then it came. From far out in space there came the shattering roar of explosion, of tearing metal. Another one deto-nated.