Star Trek - Blish, James - 04

by 04(lit)

  "From the location and nature of the break, I'd say the killer knew exactly where to apply pressure to snap the spine instantly. Not even a blow was used-no bruise."

  "Who aboard would have that knowledge besides your-self?"

  "Vulcans," Spock said, straightening again. "On Vul-can, the method is called tal-shaya-considered a merciful method of execution in ancient times."

  "Mr. Spock," Kirk said, "a short time ago I broke up an argument between your father and Gav."

  "Indeed, Captain? Interesting."

  "Interesting? Spock, do you realize that makes your father the most likely suspect?"

  "Vulcans do not approve of violence."

  "Are you saying your father couldn't have done this?"

  "No," Spock said. "But it would be illogical to kill without reason."

  "But it he had such a reason?"

  "If there were a reason," Spock said, "my father is quite capable of killing-logically and efficiently. He has the skill, and is still only in middle age."

  Kirk stared at his First Officer for a moment, appalled. Then he said, "Come with me. You too, Bones."

  He led the way to Sarek's quarters which, he was sur-prised to see when they were admitted by a smiling Aman-da, had not been made up to suit Vulcan taste. He would have thought that Spock would have seen to that. He said, "I'm sorry to disturb you. But I must speak with your husband."

  "He's been gone for some time. It's his habit to meditate in private before retiring. What's wrong? Spock?"

  At that moment the door opened again and Sarek en-tered. "You want something of me, Captain?"

  Kirk observed that he looked somewhat tense, not exactly with anxiety, but as though he were fighting some-thing back. "Ambassador, the Tellarite Gav has been found murdered. His neck was broken-in what Spock describes as tal-shaya."

  Sarek glanced at his son, lifting an eyebrow in the same familiar manner. "Indeed? Interesting."

  "Ambassador, where were you in the past hour?"

  "This is ridiculous, Captain," Amanda said. "You aren't accusing him...?"

  Spock said, "If only on circumstantial evidence, he is a logical suspect, Mother."

  "I quite agree," Sarek said, but he seemed more tense than before. "I was in private meditation. Spock will tell you that such meditation is a personal experience, not to be discussed. Certainly not with Earthmen."

  "That's a convenient excuse, Ambassador, but..."

  He broke off as Sarek gasped and started to crumple. He went to his knees before Kirk and Spock could catch him, clutching at his rib cage. A moan escaped him; any pain that could force such a sound from a Vulcan must have been agonizing indeed.

  McCoy took a quick reading, then took out a pressure hypo, set it, and gave Sarek a quick injection. Then he went back to the instruments, taking more time with them now.

  "What's wrong?" Amanda asked him.

  "I don't know-I can't be sure with Vulcan phys-iology. It looks like something to do with his cardiovascular system, but..."

  "Can you help him, Bones?"

  "I don't know that yet, either."

  Kirk looked at mother and son in turn. Spock was as expressionless as always, but Amanda's eyes were haunted; not even years of adaptation to Vulcan tradition could cover a worry of this kind.

  "I must go off duty," he told her apologetically. "Still another problem confronts me in the morning, for which I'll need a fresh mind. Should I be needed here before then, Dr. McCoy will of course call me."

  "I quite understand, Captain," she said gently. "Good night, and thank you."

  A truly remarkable woman.

  Not much progress, it turned out on the next trip, had been made on the problem of the ship shadowing the Enterprise. Readings taken during the brief attempt at in-terception showed only that it either had a high-density hull or was otherwise cloaked against sensor probes. It was definitely manned, but by what? The Romulans had nothing like it, nor did the Federation or neutral planets, and that it was Klingon seemed even more unlikely.

  Two fragmentary transmissions had been picked up, in an unknown code-with a reception point somewhere in-side the Enterprise herself. Kirk ordered the locator field tightened to include only the interior of his own ship; if somebody aboard had a personal receiver-as seemed all too likely now-it might be pinned down, if the shadow sent another such message.

  There seemed to be nothing further to be done on that for the moment. With Spock, whose only concern over his father's illness seemed to be over its possible adverse effect upon the mission, Kirk paid a visit to Sickbay. Sarek was bedded down there, with McCoy and Nurse Christine Chapel trying to make sense of the strange reports the body function panel was giving them; Amanda hovered in the door, trying to keep out of the way. As for Sarek himself, he looked as though he felt inconvenienced, but no longer in uncontrollable pain.

  "How is he, Bones?"

  "As far as I can tell, our prime suspect has a malfunc-tion in one of the heart valves. I couldn't make a closer diagnosis on a Vulcan without an exploratory. Mrs. Sarek, has he had any previous attacks of this sort?"

  "No," Amanda said.

  "Yes," Sarek said almost simultaneously. "There were three others. My physician prescribed benjasidrine for the condition."

  "Why didn't you tell me?" Amanda asked.

  "There was nothing you could have done. The prog-nosis was not serious, providing I retired, which, of course, I did."

  "When did you have these attacks, Ambassador?" Mc-Coy said.

  "Two before my retirement. The third, while I was meditating on the Observation Deck when the Tellarite was murdered. I was quite incapacitated."

  "I saw you taking a pill not long before that," Kirk said. "If you'll give one to Dr. McCoy for analysis, it should provide circumstantial evidence in your favor. Were there any witnesses to the Observation Deck attack?"

  "None. I do not meditate among witnesses."

  "Too bad. Mr. Spock, you're a scientist and you know Vulcan. Is there a standard procedure for this condition?"

  "In view of its reactivation by Sarek's undertaking this mission," Spock said, "the logical approach would be a cryogenic open-heart operation."

  "Unquestionably," Sarek said.

  "For that, the patient will need tremendous amounts of blood," McCoy said. "Christine, check the blood bank and see if we've got enough Vulcan blood and plasma. I strongly suspect that we don't have enough even to begin such an operation."

  "There are other Vulcans aboard."

  "You will find," Sarek said, "that my blood type is T-negative. It is rare. That my two aides should be lacking this factor is highly unlikely."

  "I, of course," Spock said, "also have T-negative blood."

  "There are human factors in your blood that would have to be filtered out, Mr. Spock," Christine said. "You just couldn't give enough to compensate for that."

  "Not necessarily," Spock said. "There is a drug which speeds up replacement of blood in physiologies like ours..."

  "I know the one you mean," McCoy said. "But it's still experimental and has worked only on a Rigellian. The two physiologies are similar, but not identical. Even with the Rigellian, it put a tremendous strain on the liver and the spleen, to say nothing of the bone marrow-and I'd have to give it to both of you. Plus which, I've never operated on a Vulcan. I've studied Vulcan anatomy, but that's a lot different from having actual surgical experi-ence. If I don't kill Sarek with the operation, the drug probably will; it might kill both of them."

  Sarek said, "I consider the safety factor to be low, but acceptable."

  "Well, I don't," McCoy said, "and in this Sickbay, what I think is law. I can't sanction it."

  "And I refuse to permit it," Amanda said. "I won't risk both of you..."

  "You must understand, Mother," Spock said. "The chances of finding sufficient T-negative blood otherwise are vanishingly small. I would estimate them at..."

  "Please don't," Amanda said.

  "Then you automatica
lly condemn Sarek to death," Spock said evenly. "And Doctor, you have no choice either. You must operate, and you have both the drug and a donor."

  "It seems the only answer," Sarek said.

  Reluctantly, McCoy nodded. Amanda turned a stricken face to Kirk, but he could offer her no help; he could not even help himself in this dilemma.

  "I don't like it either, Amanda, believe me," he said. "But we must save your husband. You know very well, too, how much I value your son; but if we must risk him too, then we must. Doctor McCoy has agreed-and I learned long ago never to overrule him in such matters. In fact, I have made him the only officer on the Enter-prise who has the power to give me orders. Please try to trust him as I do."

  "And as I do also," Spock said, to McCoy's obvious startlement.

  "I'll-try," Amanda said.

  "You can do no more. Should you need me, I'll be at my station."

  With a great deal more distress than he hoped he had shown, Kirk bowed formally and left.

  And halfway to the bridge, deep in thought, he was jumped from behind.

  A heavy blow to the head with some sort of club stag-gered him, but he nevertheless managed to throw his as-sailant from him against the wall. He got a quick im-pression of a figure taller but slighter than his own, and the flash of a bladed weapon. In the melee that followed, the other man proved himself to be an experienced in-fighter, and Kirk was already dazed by the first blow. He managed at last to drop bis opponent, perhaps permanent-ly-but not before getting the knife in his own back.

  He barely made it to an intercom before losing con-sciousness.

  He came to semiconsciousness to the sound of McCoy's voice.

  "It's a bad wound-punctured the left lung. A centi-meter or so lower and it would have gone through the heart. Thank goodness he had sense enough not to try to pull the knife out, if he had time to think of it at all."

  "The attacker was Thelev. Unconscious, but not seri-ously injured; just knocked about quite a lot." That was Spock. "He must have caught the Captain by surprise. I'll be in the brig, questioning him, and Shras as well."

  "Doctor." This time it was Christine Chapel's voice. "The K-two factor is dropping."

  "Spock," McCoy said, "Your father is much worse. There's no longer a choice. I'll have to operate immediate-ly. We can begin as soon as you're prepared."

  "No," Spock said.

  "What?"

  Then came Amanda's voice. "Spock, the little chance your father has depends entirely on you. You volun-teered."

  "My immediate responsibility is to the ship," Spock said. "Our passengers' safety is, by Starfleet order, of first importance. We are being followed by an alien, possibly hostile ship. I cannot relinquish command under these circumstances."

  "You can turn command over to Scott," McCoy said harshly.

  "On what grounds, Doctor? Command requirements do not recognize personal privilege. I will be in the brig in-terrogating the Andorian."

  Then the darkness closed down again. When he awoke once more, he felt much better. Opening his eyes, he saw Sarek in the bed beside him, apparently asleep, with Mc-Coy and Christine bending over him.

  Kirk tried to rise. The attempt provoked a wave of dizziness and nausea and he promptly lay down again -even before McCoy, who had turned instantly at the motion, had to order him to.

  "Let that be a lesson to you," McCoy said. "Just lie there and be happy you're still alive."

  "How's Sarek?"

  "Not good. If I could only operate..."

  "What's stopping you? Oh, I remember now. Well, Spock's right, Bones. I can't damn him for his loyalty, or for doing his duty. But I'm not going to let him commit patricide."

  He sat up, swinging his feet off the bed. McCoy caught his shoulders, preventing him from rising. "Jim, you can't even stand up. You could start the internal bleeding again."

  "Bones, Sarek will die without that operation." Mc-Coy nodded. "And you can't operate without the transfusions from Spock." Again a nod. "I'll convince Spock I'm all right, and order him to report here. Once he's off the bridge, I'll turn command over to Scotty and go to my quarters. Will that fill your prescription?"

  "Well, no-but it sounds like the best compromise. Let me give you a hand up."

  "Gladly."

  McCoy supported him all the way to the bridge, but released him just before the elevator doors snapped open. Spock turned, looking surprised and pleased, but masking it immediately.

  "Captain."

  Kirk stepped very carefully down to his command chair. He tried to appear as though he were casually sur-veying the bridge, though in fact he was keeping pre-carious hold of his balance as spasms of dizziness swept him. McCoy remained glued to his side, but ostentatious-ly offered him not so much as a hand.

  Spock came down into the well of the bridge as Kirk reached his chair and eased himself into it. Kirk smiled and nodded approval.

  "I'll take over, Spock. Report to Sickbay with Dr. McCoy."

  Spock was studying him closely. Kirk was fighting off the dizziness, at least enough-he hoped-to keep it from showing, but he knew also that he was very pale, about which he could do nothing.

  "Captain, are you quite all right?"

  "I've certified him physically fit, Mr. Spock," McCoy said testily. "Now, I have an operation to perform. And since both of us are required..."

  He gestured toward the elevator. Spock hesitated brief-ly, still studying Kirk, who said kindly, "Get out of here, Spock."

  Spock nodded, and left with McCoy with something very like alacrity.

  "Mr. Chekov," Kirk said, "what is the status of the intruder ship?"

  "No change, sir. Maintaining its distance."

  "Any further transmissions, Lt. Uhura?"

  "None, sir."

  Kirk nodded, relaxed a little-and found that he had to pull himself together sharply as the dizziness returned. "Call Mr. Scott to the bridge..."

  "Captain," Chekov interrupted. "The alien vessel is moving closer!"

  "Belay that last order, Lt. Uhura. I'm staying here." But the dizziness kept coming back. He raised a hand to wipe his brow and found that it was shaking.

  "Captain," Uhura said. "I'm picking up the alien sig-nal again. But it's coming from inside the Enterprise- from the brig."

  "Call Security and order an immediate search of the prisoner. Tell them this time to look for implants."

  Hours of weakness seemed to pass before the command communicator buzzed. Lt. Josephs' voice said, "Security, Captain. I had to stun the prisoner. He has some sort of transceiver imbedded in one of his antennae, sir; it broke off in my hand. I didn't know they were that delicate."

  "They aren't. Thanks, Lieutenant. Neutralize it and send it to Mr. Scott for analysis. Kirk out."

  "Captain," Chekov said. "The alien ship has changed course and speed. Moving directly toward us at Warp Eight."

  "Lt. Uhura, tell Lt. Josephs to bring the prisoner to the bridge. Mr. Chekov, deflectors on. Red alert. Phasers stand by for fire on my signal."

  "Aye, sir." The alarm began to sound. "Shields on. Phasers manned and ready."

  "Take over Spock's scanners. Ensign, take the helm."

  A blip appeared in the viewscreen and flashed by. It loomed large for an instant, but it was only a blur at this speed. Suddenly the bridge was slammed and rocked. The Enterprise had been hit.

  "Damage, Mr. Chekov!"

  "None, sir; deflected. Target moving away. Turning now. He's coming around again."

  "Fire phasers as he passes, Ensign. Steady... Fire!"

  Chekov studied the scanner. "Clean miss, sir."

  At the same moment, there was another jolt. "Report on their weaponry."

  "Sensors report standard phasers, sir."

  Standard phasers. Good. The enemy had more speed, but they weren't giants.

  Another wave of weakness passed through him. The Enterprise seemed to be standing up so far, but he was none too sure of himself.

  "Captain, the intercom is jammed," Uh
ura said. "All the Ambassadors are asking what's going on."

  "Tell them to-tell them to take a good guess, but clear that board, Lieutenant!"

  The ship shook furiously again.

  "Captain," Uhura said, "I've got an override from Dr. McCoy. He says that another shock like that and he may lose both patients."

  "Tell him this is probably only the beginning. Mr. Chekov, lock fire control into the computers. Set photon torpedoes two, four and six for widest possible scatter at the three highest intercept probabilities..."