by Diane Duane
The door slid open and Ambassador Sarek entered. He was wearing his formal robes of state, but even their bejeweled elegance could not disguise the Vulcan’s fatigue, the deeply shadowed eyes, the hair that had turned nearly white. Sarek’s expression was positively grim as he nodded to Kirk. “Captain.”
Kirk, who had stood respectfully when the senior diplomat entered, nodded back. “Ambassador…thank you for coming. And…” He struggled to form the Vulcan words this ship’s computer had told him were proper. “I grieve with thee…” He took a deep breath, returned to Standard English. “Mrs. Sarek was a wonderful woman, sir. We all respected and admired her deeply.”
“Thank you, Captain,” Sarek said, and for a moment the grimness relaxed fractionally, allowing just a bare glimpse of sadness to slip through.
The door slid open again, and Spock, back in uniform, entered, followed by Dr. McCoy. The Vulcan ignored his father as he nodded a quick greeting to Kirk.
Uh-oh,the captain thought.Will they be able to work together at all?
McCoy and Sarek exchanged greetings and the doctor expressed his condolences to the ambassador. When the formalities were finished, Kirk waved them all to seats. “Ambassador Sarek,” he began, “Spock has given us a brief summary of your concerns about the Freelans. But I would like to hear the whole story from your own lips, if you don’t mind. And I’d like to see the data you’ve compiled.”
“I have already transferred it to the ship’s computer, Captain,” Spock said, keying in a code word on the comm link. A file menu appeared on the screen.
Sarek began to speak, his beautifully modulated tones and measured, precise delivery lending credence to what would otherwise have sounded like wild nonsense and rampant speculation, coming from anyone but a Vulcan of his reputation. Kirk listened intently, interrupting every so often to ask a question or request that the ambassador amplify a point.
Grimly, he and McCoy studied the charts and data the ambassador had accumulated over years of study and research, and with every moment that passed, Kirk’s certainty that Sarek was correct in his reasoning grew. The very idea of Freelan being a Romulan world had been outrageous at first…now, the more Kirk thought about it, the more the whole scheme seemed like very typical Romulan reasoning…clever, devious, audacious…and, unfortunately, it seemed that it might actually work.
When Sarek finally finished his account, the captain of theEnterprise shook his head grimly. “This stuff about the KEHL…you’re right about how it’s growing. Two days ago I got a priority message from my nephew, Peter, telling me that he managed to gain access to the KEHL’s computer systems, but that Starfleet Security hadn’t paid any attention to the data he managed to get. He was asking my help in getting a full investigation of the group started.”
“What kind of data did Peter have?” Spock asked.
“Membership rolls, propaganda films…things like that. I also gather that the KEHL has breached security at the consulate, Ambassador, and copied Vulcan data that they claimed would prove their case that your world has a master plan to take over Earth.”
“Take over Earth? TheVulcans?” Leonard McCoy looked thunderstruck, and then he laughed out loud. “What a load of…uh…” He glanced at Sarek, and altered what he’d been about to say to “That’s absurd!”
“Something happened during my negotiations with Commander Keraz that lends more credence to my theory,” Sarek said.
“What was that, Ambassador?” Kirk asked.
“One of Keraz’s aides, Wurrl, attempted to assassinate me. Both he and Keraz, I discovered, had been subjected to telepathic influence.”
Hearing that his father had been attacked, Spock stole a quick look at the elder Vulcan, as if checking him for injury.
“Maybe what we ought to do is just grab some Freelan at a conference and rip his mask off,” McCoy suggested. “Serve them right.”
“In the first place, such tactics abrogate diplomatic immunity as well as civil law,” Sarek pointed out evenly. “And if we engaged in such…peremptory…behavior, we would lose the goodwill of many delegates, no matter how exemplary our motives for doing so.”
“Yeah, well,” McCoy grumbled, “who knows what damage they’ve been causing, poking around in other people’s minds? I’ll bet the Freelans had a hand in Chang’s conspiracy, too.”
“I suspect you would win that wager, Doctor,” Sarek said, steepling his hands before him on the table.So that’s where Spock learned that… Jim thought. “During the recent crisis, President Ra-ghoratrei summoned me, Ambassador Kamarag, and Ambassador Nanclus to discuss the Klingon demand for your extradition after the assassination of Chancellor Gorkon. Just after Kamarag left, Admiral Smillie, Admiral Cartwright, and Colonel West entered the office. The Starfleet officers had prepared a military plan of action designed to rescue you and Dr. McCoy.”
“I never knew that, Jim!” the doctor exclaimed, eyes widening with surprise. “I thought Starfleet just decided to throw us to the wolves.”
“Admiral Smillie told me about it at Khitomer,” Kirk admitted. “But he said Ra-ghoratrei wouldn’t go along with it.”
“That is true,” Sarek affirmed. “But what is significant to us now is that, during this discussion, Ambassador Nanclus pointed out to the president that the Klingons were vulnerable…and that there would never be a better time to begin a full-scale military action against them. He was quite…emphatic.”
“Nanclus was openly advocating war between the Federation and the Klingon Empire?” Even in the light of subsequent events, Kirk was surprised that the Romulan would be so overt.
“I heard him myself,” Sarek said simply.
“But Nanclus was working with General Chang and Admiral Cartwright to start a war. He wasn’t giving the official Romulan position…. ” Kirk’s voice faded out.
Sarek waited a beat, then lifted one elegant eyebrow. “Wasn’t he?” he asked softly. “How do you know? Subsequent events made it seem that Nanclus was working in concert with Chang and Cartwright…but who really started the plot?”
The captain drew a deep breath. “During his court-martial, Cartwright claimed under oath that Nanclus came tohim, and that both of them then presented the idea to Chang—who was only too happy to take over. But if the whole thing was really Nanclus’s idea…”
“Precisely,” Sarek said.
“Was the Klingon assassin’s attack on you a result of telepathic influence, Ambassador?” Spock asked, his tone cool and formal. Kirk realized it was the first time he’d addressed the elder Vulcan.
“Yes, I believe so. I only gained a brief impression of Wurrl’s mind during the struggle,” Sarek replied. “The Klingon suffered a fractured skull during the fight, and lapsed into a coma. I have no idea whether he is still alive. Starfleet took him into custody.” Sarek was looking at Spock, but, Kirk noticed, the Vulcan’s return gaze was remote.
“And Commander Keraz had also been subjected to undue mental influence?” Spock pursued the topic, still in that cool, toneless fashion. “In what way?”
“When I asked the Klingon commander why he had chosen to take such an action in seizing a Federation colony, he informed me that he really did not knowwhy he had done it. It was strictly an impulsive decision, one that puzzled him in its aftermath. When I told him what I had discovered about Wurrl, he asked me to determine whether he, too, had been affected. I touched him…and knew that he had.”
“Oho,” McCoy said. “You think some Freelan and his trained Vulcan pup compelled Wurrl to try and murder you, and Keraz to turn renegade and invade Kadura?”
“I would say that ‘compelled’ is too strong a term,” Sarek said. “ ‘Influenced’ is more apt, I believe. But as to the Freelans being involved…of that, I have no doubt.”
“Ambassador,” Kirk said, as an idea occurred to him, “is it possible that Kadura was a setup to lure you off Vulcan, so that you could be gotten out of the way? Is there any possibility that the Freelans know that you suspect them?
”
Sarek blinked. Obviously, Kirk’s idea was a new one to him. “Possible, I suppose,” he murmured. “Taryn did seem suspicious the last time I visited their station.”
“Is there any possibility that yourvalit program did not completely cover your entrance into the Romulan data banks?” Spock asked. “Could they have discovered some evidence after you left Freelan orbit?”
The elder Vulcan raised an eyebrow. “Myvalit was well designed,” he said, with a touch of surprise that Spock would question his expertise with computers. “In the event any tamperingwas detected—which I consider unlikely—there would have been no way to trace the intrusion back to me.”
“But circumstantial evidence might be enough to arouse Taryn to take action against you,” Spock said.
“Possible,” Sarek conceded.
“I think we should go to the president immediately with all of this,” Kirk said. “And to Starfleet Security, Vice-Admiral Burton.”
The captain looked at Sarek, was surprised to see the Vulcan shake his head in negation. “No, Kirk,” he said. “Not yet. Not until I have incontrovertible proof.”
“Just the fact that you’re suspicious will be enough!” McCoy burst out. “A man of your reputation, Ambassador—of course the president will pay attention.”
“I must speak to the president about this only in person,” Sarek said. “Otherwise, I cannot be certain that his mind has not been influenced. The same applies to your Vice-Admiral Burton. Also, we must guard against any of these speculations becoming public knowledge. The consequences, should that happen, would be grave.”
“What consequences?” McCoy asked, taken aback.
“The fragile peace with the Klingon Empire, for one,” Spock said, before the ambassador could reply. “It might appear to Azetbur that the Federation is attempting to stir up trouble between the Romulans and the Klingon Empire…by accusing the Romulans of influencing the Klingons to turn renegade. Also, do not forget the KEHL. Most of the followers are undoubtedly hapless dupes…innocent of everything except being easily led. Charges that they are Romulan pawns could lead to witch-hunts.”
“What kind of proof do you propose to get, Ambassador Sarek? If the Romulans suspect that you know, they will undoubtedly recall all their Freelan personnel, and escalate their efforts to cause war between the Federation and the Klingon Empire.”
“Indeed. We must be cautious, and not move until we are ready,” Sarek agreed. “I would still like to access the Freelan data banks and copy their contents. If it is done properly, we could gain proof, without alerting the Romulans that we know of their plans.”
“Can you do it again? And get away with copies, this time?”
“I believe that I can,” Sarek said, glancing at his son. “If Spock will assist me.”
Spock sat in silence for a moment, then nodded. “I will do my best,” he said. “I will need to study thevalits you used before, to attempt to refine them so they will work more smoothly.”
For a moment Kirk sensed a flash of indignation from the ambassador, even though the Vulcan’s calm expression never varied. “Very well,” he said. “I will provide them to you.”
Kirk looked from father to son, thinking that if anyone could break past Romulan security, it would be these two. Still, he was hesitant about not going straight to Starfleet Security with news of this plot. But if delaying a few days would provide proof positive…
“How close would you have to be to Freelan to tap into the data banks?” Kirk asked.
“Given the resources of a starship’s computer system, anywhere within the boundaries of the system should suffice,” Sarek said. “I was dependent, remember, on a small tricorder. Kirk, how long would it take to reach Freelan aboard this vessel?”
“Two days, at warp six.”
“Excellent,” Sarek said. “That should be sufficient time for me to acquaint Spock with my plan for accessing the Freelan system.” The ambassador nodded approvingly at Kirk. “I thank you for your cooperation, Captain.”
“It’s my duty to investigate a threat to Federation security,” Kirk said simply. “When can you be ready to leave Vulcan?”
“I anticipated that I would be leaving with your ship, Kirk. I came prepared to do so.”
“Scotty said the final paint job would be completed—” Kirk, who was already reaching for the intercom, broke off as it beeped. Impatiently, he opened the channel. “Kirk here. I thought I gave orders that I was not to be dis—”
“Captain,” Commander Uhura’s voice interrupted, “I have a Priority One personal message for you, sir, from the commandant of Starfleet Academy.”
“The commandant?” Kirk was nonplussed. What could Commandant Anderson be wanting with him? “Relay it, Commander.”
“Yes, sir…. ” She paused for a moment. “Captain…Commandant Anderson reports that your nephew Peter has disappeared. Their investigation leads them to believe he didnot leave of his own free will. Sir…the commandant reports that he suspects foul play.”
Kirk swallowed. Peter was the only close relative he had. If anything had happened to him…
“Commander,” he said tightly, “inform the bridge crew to begin preparations to depart drydock on my command.” He clicked to a different channel. “Set course for Sector 53.16…the Freelan system. Mr. Scott?”
“Scott here, sir,” replied the familiar burr promptly.
“How soon can we cast off moorings and get out of here?”
“We’ll be ready in another twenty minutes, Captain.”
“You’ve got ten,” Kirk snapped.
“Aye, sir,” came the engineer’s casual reply. “We’ll be ready.”
“Good, Scotty. Ten minutes. Kirk out.”
Snapping off the intercom, the captain looked at the others grimly. “It never rains but it pours,” he said. “Murphy’s Law.”
The ambassador raised an eyebrow. “Murphy’s Law?”
“A human aphorism that states, ‘Whatever can go wrong, will,’ ” Spock explained.
“Yeah, and at the worst possible time,” McCoy added. “Jim…what could have happened to Peter?”
“I don’t know, Bones,” Kirk said. “The temptation is to think that, because he was investigating the KEHL, they’re responsible for this. But that might not be true.” Opening a channel to the bridge, he said, “Commander Uhura, please contact Commandant Anderson for me.”
“Yes, Captain. I’ll put through a call immediately, sir.”
Kirk hesitated, thinking furiously. Should he turn command of theEnterprise over to Spock, and take a transport for Earth? He couldn’t abandon Peter! And yet…duty came before personal concerns. “Ambassador,” he said, “assuming you have your proof in a few days, what are you going to suggest that the Federation do about this situation with the Romulans?”
“Some elements in Starfleet would advise a preemptive strike,” Spock said. “I can visualize Admiral Smillie approving such a tactic, given sufficient provocation.”
“War? All-out war?” McCoy was aghast. “There must be some way to prevent that!” He glanced at Kirk. “Isn’t there, Jim?”
“I don’t know,” Kirk said, forcing himself to put Peter out of his mind and concentrate on the subject at hand. “It could be that the Romulans would back off if they knew they’d lost the element of surprise, and that they couldn’t push the Federation and the Klingons into hostilities.”
“It is possible,” Sarek pointed out, “that they might evacuate the Freelan colony and deny everything. Taryn, I believe, is ruthless enough for such an action.”
“In that event, what would happen to the second-generation Vulcans?” Spock wondered. “Technically, they are hostages. We are under a moral imperative to free them.”
“If these Vulcan kids have grown up brainwashed by the Romulans, they may think of themselves as Romulans, rather than as Vulcans,” McCoy pointed out. “They may not want to be rescued.” He turned to Sarek. “Do you have any idea how many there
are?”
The Vulcan shook his head. “From the numbers of Vulcans who were abducted, I can speculate that there may be as many as one hundred…perhaps two hundred. No fewer than fifty, certainly.”
Kirk’s hazel eyes were bleak as he held the Vulcans’ gazes. “Knowing the Romulans, they’re perfectly capable of simply eradicating the hostages, rather than taking any chances of them being used as an excuse for a military rescue by Federation forces.”
Father and son nodded silently, grimly.
“I think we should—” Kirk began, only to be interrupted by the intercom. “Kirk here,” he said.
“Sir,” Uhura said, “Commandant Anderson is standing by.”
“Put him through,” Jim ordered.
A moment later, Kyle Anderson’s features coalesced on the small screen. He was a distinguished looking black man, balding, with a heavy, iron-gray beard. “Captain Kirk,” he said. “You received my message?”
“Just a few minutes ago,” Kirk said. “What’s happened to Peter?”
“He’s vanished without a trace, Captain. Our security people have determined that he disappeared shortly after midnight on Wednesday evening of last week. But we’re having finals here, so nobody realized he was missing until the day before yesterday. It took us a day to track down your ship…I’m sorry for the delay.”
Kirk drew a deep breath. “But…he’s been gone for days! And you still don’t know where he went?”
“No. He’s disappeared so thoroughly that we now suspect he was taken off-world. We’re in the process of tracing all ships that departed from Earth or Earth orbit that night,” Anderson said. “But, as you can imagine, that’s a tall order.”
Kirk nodded wordless agreement. “What makes you suspect foul play?” he asked.
“We managed to retrieve the last message that came in for him at his apartment. It had been automatically scrambled after playing…but they unscrambled it just this morning.” He pressed a button. “Here it is.”
Kirk watched with growing horror as his own features replaced Anderson’s on-screen. He listened to himself demanding that Peter come over immediately. Then the screen flickered, and Anderson’s dark features were back. “I never sent that message,” Kirk said bleakly. “But it’s no wonder he fell for it…he was expecting to hear from me…”