Star Trek 06

by James Blish

  "Actually," she said, "I feel my color much lovelier and superior to yours and the Captain's."

  "Superior? Then some of the old problems still exist?"

  "No, sir," Kirk said. "It's just that we've learned to each be delighted in what we are. The Vulcans learned that centuries before we did."

  "It's basic to the Vulcan philosophy, sir," Spock said. "How an infinite variety of things combine to make existence worthwhile."

  "Yes, of course," Lincoln said. "The philosophy of 'nome'—meaning 'all.' " He paused, his frown returning. "Now, how did I know that? Just as I seem to know that on the planet's surface you will meet one of the greatest Vulcans in all the long history of your planet My mind does not hold the name. But I know that he will be there."

  "Excuse me, Captain," Uhura said, "but Mr. Scott is waiting for you in the Briefing Room."

  "Oh, yes. Mr. President with your permission I should like to make Lt. Uhura your guide at this point; I have a meeting."

  "I would be delighted."

  "Then well rejoin you shortly, sir. Mr. Sulu, the con is yours until Mr. Scott returns to the bridge."

  In the Briefing Room, as Kirk and Spock entered, McCoy was saying to Spock: "Where the devil are they?"

  "Perhaps looking up a plate of haggis in the galley? They've been everywhere else."

  "Sorry, gentlemen," Kirk said, crossing to the table. "We were delayed."

  "Jim, I'd be the last to advise you on your command image—"

  "I doubt that, Bones, but continue."

  "Do I have to lay it out for you? Practically the entire crew has seen you treating this imposter like the real thing—when he can't possibly be the real article, Captain!"

  "Lincoln died three centuries ago and more, on a planet hundreds of light years away." Scott jerked a thumb over his shoulder.

  "More in that direction, Engineer," Spock said, pointing down and to the left.

  "The exact direction doesn't matter, you pointed-eared hobgoblin! You're the Science Officer," added McCoy, "why aren't you—well, doing whatever Science Officers do at a time like this?"

  "I am, Doctor. I am observing the alien."

  "At last. At least someone agrees with us he's an alien."

  "Yes, he's an alien, of course," Kirk said after a moment's hesitation.

  "And potentially dangerous," McCoy pressed on.

  "Mad!" said Scott "Loony as an Arcturian dog-bird."

  "Spock and I have been invited to beam down to the planet's surface with him. Comments on that?"

  "A big one," McCoy said. "Suddenly, miraculously, we see a small spot of Earth-type environment appear down there. Is it really there or do we just think we see it there?"

  "You could beam down into a sea of molten lava," Scott said. "At the moment it's a raftlike mineral crust several hundred meters thick, over a molten iron core. It looks stable, but it was notably unstable in its formative phase."

  "And there are transient images of life forms,'' McCoy said. "Minerallike themselves. Jim, that patch of Earth was created after our ship was scanned. Whoever they are, they examined us, determined our needs and supplied them down there. It smells, Captain. It's a trap."

  "But why would they want to destroy only two of us?" Kirk said.

  "It would be illogical of them, with such abilities," Spock said. "They could as easily trick us into destroying the entire vessel."

  "Spock, are you implying that it's probably safe to beam down?"

  "I am not, Doctor. There's no doubt that they want us down there for some hidden purpose. Otherwise they would have revealed some logical reason for all of this."

  "Why Lincoln, Spock?" Kirk said. "Any speculation on that?"

  "I need not speculate when the reason is obvious, Captain. President Lincoln has always been a very personal hero to you. What better way to titillate your curiosity than to make him come alive for you?"

  "Not only to me, Spock."

  "Agreed. I felt his charm, too. He is a magnificent work of duplication."

  "But he has a special emotional involvement for you," McCoy said. "Interesting, since you're the one who will make the decision whether or not to beam down."

  "Don't do it, Captain," Scott said.

  Kirk thought about it. Finally he said, "The very reason for the existence of our starships is contact with other life. Although the method is beyond our comprehension, we have been offered contact. I'm beaming down. As for you, however, Mr. Spock—"

  Spock stood. "Since I was included in their invitation to make contact, I must beam down with you, Captain."

  McCoy exploded. "You're both out of your heads!"

  "And you're on the edge of insubordination, Doctor," Kirk said.

  "Would I be insubordinate to remind the Captain that this has the smell of things happening to him which I may not be able to patch back together this time?"

  "Aye," Scott growled.

  "Your concern noted and appreciated, gentlemen," Kirk said. "Mr. Spock, standard uniform, phasers and tricorder. Mr. Scott, have President Lincoln guided to the Transporter Room; we'll beam down immediately."

  The three materialized in what seemed to be a wild canyon. The slopes were steep and boulder-strewn; on the floors there were shrubbery and trees. Kirk looked around.

  "Captain!" Spock said. "Our weapons and tricorders did not beam down,"

  Kirk reached under his shirt and found his communicator still there, although his phaser and tricorder had indeed vanished. "Captain to Enterprise, come in . . . Enterprise, come in . . ."

  Spock was also trying, but quickly gave over in favor of a careful examination of his communicator. "Undamaged," he reported. "Yet something prevents them from functioning."

  Kirk swung angrily to Lincoln. "Your explanation, sir."

  "I have none, Captain. To me this seems quite as it should be."

  "Why have our weapons been taken? Why can't we communicate with our ship?"

  "Please believe me. I know nothing other than what I have already told you—"

  "The game's over! We've treated you with courtesy, we've gone along with who and what you think you are—"

  "Despite the seeming contradictions, all is as it appears to be. I am Abraham Lincoln—"

  "Just," another voice entered, "as I am who I appear to be."

  Another man was approaching them: a tall, distinguished Vulcan. It was obvious that he was old, but as erect and strong as was usual with Vulcans even in age. The dignity and wisdom apparent in his features and bearing matched those of Lincoln's.

  "Surak!" Spock said, in outright open astonishment.

  "Who?" Kirk said.

  "The greatest who ever lived on our planet, Captain. The father of all we became."

  Surak stopped and made the Vulcan hand sign. "Live long and prosper, Spock May you also, Captain Kirk."

  "It is not logical that you are Surak," Spock said. There is no fact, extrapolation from fact, or theory which would make it possible—"

  "Whatever I am, Spock, would it harm you to give response?"

  Spock slowly lifted his hand and returned the sign. "Live long and prosper, image of Surak, father of all we now hold true."

  The newcomer almost smiled. "The image of Surak read in your face what was in your mind, Spock."

  "As I turned and beheld you, I displayed emotion. I beg forgiveness."

  Surak nodded gravely. The cause was more than sufficient. We need speak no further of it. Captain, in my time, we knew not of Earthmen. And I am pleased to see we have differences. May we together become greater than the sum of both of us."

  "Spock," Kirk said in an iron voice, "we will not go along with these charades any longer!"

  He was answered by still another new voice, seemingly out of the air—an oddly reverberating voice. "You will have the answer soon, Captain."

  A strange, shrilling sound, a little like the chiming of bells, followed the voice, and then, directly before the four, there was a rainbow flashing which congealed slowly
into a bizarre shape. It was a creature made seemingly of rock, about the size and shape of a man but with clawlike appendages and a mouth which, like a cave, seemed to be permanently open. It was seated in a rock chair carved to fit its body.

  "I am Yarnek," the voice reverberated from the open maw. "Our world is called Excalbia. Countless who live on that planet are watching. Before this drama unfolds, we give welcome to the ones named Kirk and Spock."

  "We know nothing of your world or customs," Kirk said. "What do you mean by a drama about to unfold?"

  "You are intelligent life forms. I am surprised you do not perceive the honor we do you." A claw gestured. "Have we not created in this place on our planet a stage identical to your own world?"

  "We perceive only that we were invited down here and came in friendship. You have deprived us of our instruments for examining your world, of our means of defending ourselves and of communicating with our vessel."

  "Your objection is well taken. We shall communicate with your vessel so that your fellow life forms may also enjoy and profit from the play. Behold . . . we begin."

  At these words, four figures came into view at the edge of the glade, and approached cautiously. One was a squat human in a Mongol costume of about the 13th century; another, also human, in the uniform of a 21st century Colonel; one was a Klingon, and the last a female Tiburon. Except for the Colonel, who was dapper and not unhandsome, they were an ugly-looking lot.

  "Some of these you may know through history," Yarnek said. "Genghis Khan, for one. And Colonel Green, who led a genocidal war in the 21st century on Earth. Kahless the Unforgettable, the Klingon who set the pattern for his planet's tyrannies. Zora, who experimented with the body chemistry of subject tribes on Tiburon.

  "We welcome the vessel Enterprise to our solar system and our spectacle. We ask you to observe with us the confrontation of the two opposing philosophies you term 'good' and 'evil.' Since this is our first experiment with Earthlings, our theme is a simple one: survival. Life and death. Your philosophies are alien to us, and we wish to understand them and discover which is the stronger. We learn by observing such spectacles."

  "What do you mean, survival?" Kirk said.

  "The word is explicit. If you and Spock survive, you may return to your vessel. If you do not, your existence is ended. Your choice of action is unlimited, as is your choice of weapons, should you wish to use any—you may fabricate anything you desire out of what you find around you. Let the spectacle begin."

  "Mr. Spock and I refuse to participate."

  "You will decide otherwise," Yarnek said, and then dissolved into that same mist of rainbows from which he had emerged.

  "Analysis, Spock. Why do they want us to fight?"

  "It may be exactly as explained, Captain. Our concept of good and evil would be strange to them. They wish to see which is strongest."

  "And they'll have the answer if it kills us. Do you recall the exact location where we beamed down?"

  "We have strayed from it somewhat, Captain. It was in that area, beyond those boulders."

  "Ship's coordinates may still be locked in there." He started toward the spot, ignoring the others, Spock following. Lincoln and Surak were soon lost from view; but after a moment, rounding a large boulder, Kirk found himself face to face with them again. After staring at them, Kirk tried again, taking another path—with the same result.

  "Mr. Spock?"

  "I have no explanation, sir. Unless the creature is compelling us to circle. Quite obviously it is preventing us from reaching that area."

  "I'm afraid, Captain," Lincoln said, "that none of us may leave until we do what it demands.of us."

  From the group of potential antagonists, Colonel Green stepped forward, his hand extended in a gesture of peace. His manner seemed friendly, even intended to charm. "Captain Kirk. May I? I'm Colonel Green. I quite agree with your attitude toward this charade. It's ridiculous to expect us to take part in it."

  Kirk looked at him with open suspicion, and Green stopped while he was still a few steps away. "What do you want?"

  "Exactly what you do. To get out of here. I have no quarrel with you, any more than you have with me."

  "You're somewhat different from the way history paints you, Colonel."

  "History tends to exaggerate," Green said with a small laugh. "I suggest we call a halt to this at once, and see if we can't find a way out of our difficulties. My associates are in full agreement with me."

  Kirk looked beyond him at the "associates." Zora bowed gravely. Khan was hunkered down on the ground; apparently he was bored. Well, he had never been much of a man for talk. Kahless looked around curiously at the slopes.

  "You were tricked into coming here, weren't you?" Green said. "So were we all."

  "Where did you come from?"

  "I don't remember . . . Isn't that strange? My memory used to be quite remarkable." He came closer, took Kirk's elbow confidentially, drawing him to one side. "But wherever it was, I want to get back. So it seems to me, Captain, that we have common cause, and that our enemy is that creature."

  "What do you propose?"

  "That we combine forces and reason out some way to overcome it. Are we in agreement?"

  Kirk hesitated, studying him. "As I recall, Colonel, you were notorious for striking out at your enemies in the midst of negotiating with them."

  "But that was centuries ago, Captain!" Green said, with a louder laugh. "And not altogether true! There is much that I'd change now if I could. Don't let prejudice and rumor sway you."

  "Captain!" Spock shouted.

  Suddenly everything seemed to be happening at once. Swinging, Kirk saw in a flash that Khan had somehow gotten to higher ground and was holding a boulder over his head in both hands. Then Green's arm was locked around Kirk's neck and he was thrown halfway to the ground. Kirk lashed out, staggering Green, and as he sprang to his feet saw Lincoln wrestling with Khan, who seemed to have missed whomever he had been aiming the boulder at.

  Then the brawl was over as suddenly as it had begun, the four antagonists vanished among the boulders and trees of the canyon. Total silence swept over them. Breathing hard, Kirk joined the other three. All had been battered, Spock severely.

  "Is anyone hurt?" Kirk said.

  "I fear my clothing is somewhat damaged," Lincoln said. "But how delightful to discover at my age that I can still wrestle."

  "Mr. Spock?"

  "Quite all right, Captain. However, I suggest that we prepare ourselves for another attack."

  "No," Kirk said. "Green was right. That rocklike thing, Yarnek, is the enemy. Not those illusions."

  "For an illusion, my opponent had a remarkable grip," Lincoln said, "But I forgot. You consider me an illusion, too."

  "The Captain speaks wisely," Surak said. "These four are not our enemy. We should arrive together at a peaceful settlement,"

  The bell-like trilling began once more, and with it the rainbow swirling. Yarnek was back.

  "I am disappointed," the creature said. "You display no interest in the honor we do you. We offer you an opportunity to become our teachers. By demonstrating whether good or evil is more powerful—"

  Kirk lunged at the creature. It did not move—but when Kirk seized it, it was as though he had tried to grab a red-hot stove. With a yell he snatched his hands back.

  "You find my body heat distressing?" Yarnek said. "You forget the nature of this planet . . . I must conclude that your species requires a cause to fight for. You may now communicate with your ship."

  Kirk fumbled for his communicator, and despite the pain of his seared hands, managed to flip it open. "Kirk to Enterprise. Come in. Kirk to Enterprise, Do you read me?"

  "Be patient, Captain," Yarnek said. They read you."

  Suddenly the communicator came alive in a bedlam of shouting voices, backed up by the sound of the ship's alarm. The bridge was obviously in turmoil.

  "Mr. Scott!" Uhura called. "The Captain is trying to reach us."

  "Engineerin
g!" Scout was shouting. "Give me that again, man, I canna hear you."

  "Deterioration has just started, sir."

  "What is it, Lieutenant?" Kirk demanded.

  "Where?" Scott shouted.

  "Red Alert, Captain," Uhura said. "Mr. Scott is standing by."

  "In the shielding between matter and antimatter. I don't know what started it."

  "What caused the alert?"

  "I don't know, sir. Mr. Scott, I have the Captain."

  "Check for radiation. Get a repair crew on it at once."

  "I have already, sir. We can't seem to stop it."

  "Is there danger of detonation?"

  "Estimate four hours, sir."

  "Mr. Scott, sir, I have the Captain!"

  "What? Oh-Captain, Scott here."

  "Beam us aboard fast, Scotty."

  "I canna, sir. There's a complete power failure. We're on emergency battery power only."

  "What's happening?"

  "I can't explain it, sir. Matter and antimatter are in Red Zone proximity. No knowing how it started and no stopping it either. The shielding is breaking down. Estimate four hours before it goes completely. That'll blow us up for fair!"

  "The estimate is quite correct," Yarnek's hollow voice said. "Your ship will blow itself to atoms within four hours, Captain—unless you defeat the others before then. Is that cause enough to fight for?"

  "What if they defeat us?"

  "To save your ship and your crew, you have to win."

  "Scotty, alert Starfleet Command. Disengage nacelles and jettison if possible. Scotty, do you read me?"

  "Your communicators once more no longer function,'' Yarnek said. "You may proceed with the spectacle." With a chime and a shimmer, the creature was gone.

  "The war is forced upon us, Captain," Lincoln said. "History repeats itself."

  "Well," Kirk said, "I see nothing immoral in fighting illusions. It's play their game, fight, or lose the ship and every crewman aboard."

  Spock looked toward Surak. "And if they're real, Captain?"

  Kirk chose to let that go by. "We'll use the top of the defile as a base. It's defensible. They can't approach without our seeing them."

  "Are we fighting a defensive war, James?" Lincoln said.