IDIC-PLANET

CHAPTER 16

When Kirk cut off the communications with Spock he belatedly realized that Spock had not mentioned ensign Kaku. He had, therefore, to assume that the ensign had been killed or lost in action. Jim hated losing any of his crew, but in some way especially those that had joined the Enterprise only recently, like ensign Kaku. Only two months out and already dead. He would have to wait and get the report from Spock.

When Uhura had notified him that Spock was hailing the Enterprise he had reached the relative sanctuary of his cabin. He had just finished another gruelling battle of words and wills with the Romulan Commander tr'Aihan. The commander had not been able to communicate with Rakholt since their first contact and was preparing to send down a landing party. When Chekov's constant monitoring of the Romulan ship had indicated that a large transporter activation was about to occur, Kirk had immediately requested Ship to Ship communication with tr'Aihan. After the swap of threats, lies and deceptions Jim was told that tr'Aihan was preparing to send down a small number of Romulan aid-workers. Which Jim translated as a large number of Romulan soldiers. He had managed to convince tr'Aihan that it would be in his best interest to wait for the outcome of the conflict between the rebels and the ruling party, and not waste the lives of his brave aid-workers unnecessarily. In between the verbal arguments the Romulan ship had charged and subsequently deactivated her phaser and photon torpedoes. Kirk had to answer in like fashion, and the drain on the ship's nearly exhausted energy supply was driving him crazy not to mention Scotty. As the Captain, he could not show his very real concern to his crew. Now he slumped in his chair, as drained of energy as the Enterprise.

He wondered in what fashion to reprimand Spock, as he must, for his infringement. And he wondered who this guest was that Spock had mentioned. He also fervently hoped that Spock had managed to obtain some crystals. Jim stood up and paced through his cabin; 'Too small to comfortably move around in,' he thought for the hundredth time.

The chime to his cabin announced the arrival of Spock.

"Enter," he said and the doors slid open to reveal not one but two Vulcans silhouetted in the doorway.

Silently Spock and a young Vulcan girl entered the Captain's cabin.

The first thing that Jim could not help but notice was how unwell Spock looked. Jim stared at Spock speculatively for a long moment. Spock matched the expression look for look. A series of thoughts and feelings were communicated between them in that moment.

Jim thought: 'Down to business,' and asked:

"Did you obtain the crystals?"

"Yes, sir. They are in Mr. Scott's capable hands."

"Then introduce me, please, to our guest."

Briefly Spock outlined what he had learned from McCoy and T'Charu. "T'Charu is formally asking you for asylum on the Enterprise. She intends to apply for Vulcan citizenship when we arrive there," Spock ended.

"Alone?" Jim looked at the child who had not yet spoken a single word.

T'Charu was studying him intently, but he could read no expression on her face.

T'Charu felt disorientated. First her experiences down on Kavayak, then her first encounter with the transporter, followed by her walk through the gigantic starship to stand now before the man who would decide her imminent future. And she could discern some doubt in his voice with that one word: 'Alone?' She felt fear creeping into her mind with the thought that the Captain may return her to Kavayak. She wanted so much to go to Vulcan. To leave all that had happened behind. She suppressed the fear and continued to regard the Captain with quiet calm.

"I intend to ask my parents to accept her as a legal ward."

"Very well, Spock. You will keep me informed as to the progress on that matter, then." Jim turned his steady gaze on T'Charu.

"Welcome aboard the starship Enterprise. You are officially granted asylum on this ship by me as the Federation representative. We will do everything possible to help you," he said gravely.

"Thank you, Captain Kirk," answered T'Charu equally gravely, although she felt all the fear drain away and heavy tiredness settle over her.

Jim looked back at Spock and addressed him: "Now, I would like a private word with you, please."

Spock nodded and led T'Charu to the door. As the doors opened Jim saw that lieutenant Offer was waiting outside. Offer now took the child and led her away. Spock returned to face his Captain saying: "Captain, I am at your disposal."

"That's a change," said Jim sarcastically, walking away from Spock.

Spock remained standing quietly.

Jim turned to face Spock, eyes blazing.

"Just what the hell did you think you were doing?" he asked with barely controlled anger.

Again Spock felt all the Captain's emotions. 'I can no longer shield properly!' he realized while also discerning, threaded through the fury directed at him, the enormous worry that his Captain had felt. He composed himself and managed to say with absolute equanimity:

"I was gathering dilithium crystals and I thought it wise to disable at least one weapon-system while on Kavayak, sir."

"Against my direct orders, Spock?" snapped Kirk.

"I am sorry to have disregarded your orders, Captain. At the time it seemed the logical thing to do."

"My first officer going against my orders. What next, Spock?" asked Jim rhetorically. "Mutiny?"

"I sincerely trust that that will never be necessary, Captain."

"I could have you court martialed and decommissioned to a cleaning drone!" exclaimed Kirk, and banged his hand in frustration on his desk.

"I concur, Captain, that you can have me court martialed and decommissioned. Perhaps you should, even though I have successfully completed both your mission and my unauthorised mission, while also finding the doctor and lieutenant Offer. However, I cannot be decommissioned to a cleaning drone. The drone is a machine. I, however, am not," Spock said in a most sober tone.

A ghost of a smile stretched the Captain's lips. But no smile reached his eyes.

"Spock, I cannot allow my most senior officers to disregard my orders. It is bad for discipline."

"I agree, Captain."

"Then you also agree that I must severely reprimand you?"

"Indeed, Captain, I would expect nothing less."

"Fine. Consider yourself severely reprimanded. And don't ever do that again, Spock, or I'll throw you out through the garbage-dump into empty space, understood?"

"Yes, Captain. Through the garbage-dump into empty space. I will remember, sir."

"Good. Now give me a full report, " ordered Jim, not the least bit amused. Nevertheless he prepared his chessboard for a game. 'Would this be the last game he ever played?' he thought and reprimanded himself for such defeatist notions.

Spock, in his weakened state picked up Jim's thoughts as if the Captain had spoken them aloud.

"We have been in worse situations, Captain."

"Not much worse. But now that we have dilithium, things are definitely looking up. And as I remember you once said: 'There are always alternatives.'" Jim smiled and indicated for Spock to sit at the opposite side of the chessboard.

"Now report, please," he said as he made his opening move.

'A very bold move,' Spock noted, 'leaving the queen open to attack.' Spock thought about his counter-move while reporting what had happened on Kavayak.

Four moves later, Spock had finished his rather disturbing report. Jim shuddered as he imagined the mine filled with poisoned corpses of the K'S'vaits. He felt sorrow at the senseless way ensign Kaku had died. His hand hovered holding a pawn above a level-two white square, when his thoughts and the game were interrupted by the penetrating ships-alarm signal.

Footnotes and explanations

Next chapter.