Star Trek 07

by James Blish

  Kryton's fist came up under his chin like a uncoiled spring. Watson crumpled. In a flash, Kryton had the body hidden and huddled behind the mount. Then he went back to work in the relay box.

  In the bridge, Kirk, still concentrated on the Klingon ship's doings, turned to Uhura. "Lieutenant, open a hailing frequency. Identify us and ask his intentions."

  She plugged into her board, shook her head. "No response, sir. Not on any channel."

  "Then continue to monitor all frequencies, Lieutenant." He paused a moment. Then he said to Sulu, "Phaser crews stand by, Mr. Sulu." He waited another moment before he added "Maintain yellow alert." He rose from his chair. "Mr. Spock, it's time."

  Down in Engineering, still unknown, unheard, Kryton's disk made contact. The lights in the matter-antimatter grille flickered before they returned to full strength. Kirk, on deck five, was walking down the corridor to Elaan's cabin. As he'd expected, two guards stood at her door. But neither was Kryton. A little uneasy he said, "Where is Kryton?"

  "On business," said a guard. Both lifted their weapons. "No one may enter the Dohlman's presence," one said.

  "Inform her glory that Captain Kirk requests the honor of a visit."

  "The Dohlman has said I shall be whipped to death if I let Captain Kirk pass through this door." Kirk pushed past them. The weapons leveled. A beam flashed twice. The guards fell; and Spock, phaser in hand, came out of the opposite door. "Have them taken to the Security Holding area, Mr. Spock."

  Spock said, "Captain, how did you anticipate that she would deny you admittance? The logic by which you arrived at your conclusion escapes me."

  "On your planet, Mr. Spock, females are logical. No other planet in the galaxy can make that claim."

  He opened Elaan's door to see her sitting before a mirror. She was absorbed in combing the shining hair. As she saw his reflection in the glass, she flew to the bed where she'd discarded her belted dagger. Holding it high, she rushed at Kirk, its point at his heart. He seized her wrist and she shrieked, "You dare to touch a member of the royal family of Elas?"

  "In self-defense, I certainly do." He removed the dagger and she tried to rake his face with her nails. He closed with her, holding her arms immobilized.

  "For what you are doing the penalty is death on Elas!"

  "You're not on Elas now. You are on my ship. I command here."

  She bit bis arm. The pain took him off guard. His hold on her loosened—and she was gone, fled into the adjoining bathroom, its door clicking locked behind her.

  "That's your warning, Captain!" she called through it. "Don't ever touch me again!"

  "All right," Kirk shouted in answer. "Then I'll send in Mr. Spock or Dr. McCoy! But I'll tell you one thing! You're going to do what you've been ordered to do by Councils, Tribunals and bureaucrats . . ."

  He'd had it. A Klingon warship in the offing—and here he was, stuck behind a bathroom door trying to make sense to an overindulged brat who had no sense. "I'm leaving!" he yelled. "I'm through with you!"

  She opened the door. "Captain . . ." She hesitated. "There . . . is one thing you . . . can teach me . . ."

  "No, there isn't!" he roared at her. "You were right the first time! There's nothing I want to teach you! Not any more! You know everything!"

  She began to cry. "I don't know everything. I don't know how to make people like me. Everybody hates me . . ."

  He was startled into contrition. Genuine tears flooded the dark eyes. It was a sight he'd never thought to see. "Now look . . ." he said. "It's not that anybody hates you . . ."

  "Yes, they do," she sobbed. "Everybody does . . ."

  He went to her and wiped the tear-wet cheeks with his hand. "Stop crying," he said. "It's just that nobody likes to be treated as though they didn't exist . . ."

  He was suddenly conscious of heat. "Something's wrong with the ventilation of this room . . . I—I need some air . . . we'll have a short recess, your glory."

  "Captain . . ." He turned from the door. The luscious mouth was smiling at him, the pearl-toned arms outstretched to him. He stared at her for a long moment. Then he went straight into the arms. He kissed her—and the world, the Klingon ship, the High Commissioner, all he'd ever known in his life before was as though it had never existed.

  She whispered, "You . . . slapped me."

  Unsteadily, Kirk said, "We'll . . . talk about it later . . ."

  His mouth found hers again.

  Uhura, checking her dials, pushed the intercom button.

  "Bridge to Captain," she said. She glanced over at 'Spock. "Mr. Spock, I'm getting—"

  "I have it on my sensor," Spock said.

  "Bridge to Captain," she repeated, frowning. "Come in, Captain. Captain Kirk, please answer."

  Kirk's voice came, unfamiliar, dazed. "Kirk here."

  "Captain, I'm picking up a transmission from inside the Enterprise. It's on a tight beam aimed at the Klingon vessel."

  Elaan was nibbling at the lobe of Kirk's ear. "Transmission?" he echoed vaguely. Her lashes were black. They should have been silver blonde but they weren't. He said, "Stop that." She kissed the ear; and he was able to focus his attention on the intercom long enough to ask, "Can you pinpoint the source of the transmission, Lieutenant?"

  "Spock here, Captain. I am triangulating now. It's coming from the engine room, sir."

  The news broke through his entrancement. "Security to engineering! An intruder! Security alert all decks!"

  He ran for the door and the elevator. In the engine room, Scott met him, his face stricken. He pointed to the body of Watson. "Watson must have discovered the devil after he'd sneaked in here. He got killed for it. He had this in his hand when I found him. It looks like some kind of transmitter."

  Kirk took it. "It's Klingon," he said.

  McCoy rose from Watson's body. "Neck snapped clean, Jim."

  Kirk walked over to where two Security guards, their phasers trained on Kryton, held the ape-jawed Elasian in custody.

  "What signal did you send that Klingon ship? What was your assignment?"

  Impassive, his small eyes bright with scorn, Kryton said, "Captain, you must know I will say nothing. Our interrogation methods are far more excruciating than anything you people are capable of."

  "I'm aware you're trained to resist any form of physical torture." Kirk moved to the intercom. "Kirk to Spock."

  "Spock here, Captain."

  "Mr. Spock, it is Kryton who's been transmitting. He refuses to talk. I'll need you to do the Vulcan mind-meld."

  "Captain!" It was Evans, one of the Security guards. "The prisoner—he's sick . . ." Kirk whirled to see Kryton clutch at his stomach. The Elasian sagged at the knees—and his hand whipped out to seize Evans' phaser. He reversed it, fired it at himself and disappeared.

  Stunned, Evans said, "Captain, I'm sorry. But he really seemed—"

  "What was he hiding that was so important he had to die to keep it secret?" Hard-faced, Kirk turned to Scott. "He didn't come in here just to use a transmitter. Scotty, I want you to check every relay you've got."

  "Captain, do you realize how many relays there are in Engineering?"

  "Don't waste time telling me. Do it!" He wasted no time himself in getting back to Elaan's cabin. She took the news of Kryton's suicide quietly. "He's been half out of his mind ever since the announcement of my wedding. He was of noble family—and he loved me."

  "Then he sold out to the Klingons out of jealousy?"

  "Probably." She laid her hand on his heart. "It is mine, is it not? Let us not speak of unimportant matters."

  "There's a Klingon warship out there," he told her. "What is it there for? It isn't keeping pace with us just to prevent your marriage."

  She put her silver blonde head on his shoulder. "We should welcome their help against the marriage," she said.

  He grasped her upper arms. "Elaan, two planets, the stability of an entire star system depends on your marriage. We both have a duty to forget what happened."

  "Could you
do that? Give me to another man?"

  "My orders—and yours—say you belong to that other man. What happened between us was an accident."

  "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 station 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 impulse 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 kilometers."

  "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 estimate 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 message 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 knocking 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?"