IDIC-PLANET

CHAPTER 2

They materialised into a glass-like, icositetrahedral, dome. The clear material allowed a full view of their immediate surroundings. McCoy gave a gasp in amazement, while Spock's eyebrow climbed up and under his fringe. Their dome was surrounded by other similar domes, translucent, but each a different shade or colour. In and around the domes were peoples of all different colours, sizes, shapes and features.

"Welcome," the voice of K'L'trok interrupted their observations.

"K'L'trok, excuse my curiosity, but are all these people from your planet?" asked a fascinated McCoy, ignoring Kirk's warning look.

"You are?" K'L'trok stared at him.

"Leonard McCoy, Chief Medical Officer of the Enterprise."

" You and Kirk are humans, yes?" queried their host.

Jim inclined his head and the K'S'vait looked puzzled.

"You are not humans?" he said disbelievingly.

"Captain Kirk and Doctor McCoy are both from Earth, they are indeed humans. The forward inclination of the head indicates an affirmative state," the Vulcan officer elaborated.

"Yes, of course, forgive me, I had forgotten." K'L'trok looked excited, " Humans, we indeed have Crystals and we now know you have what we want." He turned to address McCoy: "Yes, most of the people you see around you are K'S'vaits. We relish diversity."

At this Spock's eyebrow again performed a rapid ascent, while K'L'trok now turned his attention to the Vulcan, with what looked like a mischievous grin.

"Come to my chamber, and I shall explain. That will make our request also possible."

He led them through a maze of corridors, passing large numbers of various humanoids. They came to a smaller and opaque dome that provided total privacy from the outside world. In the dome was a round table-like structure around which were arranged a variety of chairs taken from many different cultures. Spock instantly recognised a typical Vulcan chair, with its high straight back, and flat seat, yet decorated with pleasing simple ornaments. When K'L'trok indicated that they should be seated, Spock seated himself on the Vulcan chair with (he admitted wryly to himself) some pleasure. Kirk and McCoy found chairs that resembled those of earth-type seats. The K'S'vait sat on a four-legged parabolic structure.

When all were seated, offered and declined refreshment, K'L'trok began his explanation.

"Many years ago our world was divided into numerous states, each with their own laws, beliefs and culture. Each state thinking that it was most important, and the others somehow inferior to it. There was little if any contact between the states. Misconceptions about each other thus arose. This state of affairs culminated into a global war in which we nearly became extinct. One man, who had travelled off-World, before the war started, -oh yes, some of us ventured out of our system in visiting ships - spent some time on Vulcan." K'L'trok inclined his head towards Spock, who listened with interest. "He returned, during the fiercest most destructive era of the war years. This man, whom we call Master, started teaching the way of peace and most importantly the pleasure in diversity. Our world was war-weary and he quickly had a large following. War ended and it was decided that the Master would become chieftain of all the nations."

K'L'trok paused, looked at each of his listeners, and then with pride shining through his orange eyes continued.

"The Master postulated a brilliant solution to our problem, one that ensured that no more war would be fought in the name of difference. He made a Law: that no person was allowed to mate with another from the same nation. We, subsequently, built on the Master's Law, and now we must increase diversity by mating with off-worlders whenever possible," Finished K'L'trok with a triumphant sweep of his hand.

The officers of the Enterprise sat in stunned silence. After a few moments Dr. McCoy muttered "This is taking IDIC a bit too far," then cleared his throat and asked:

"But surely, not all beings can produce viable offspring?"

"We have the most advanced genetic labs in the whole Universe. We can produce offspring from any type of paired peoples," boasted K'L'trok, while Spock's eyebrow rose sceptically and he murmured softly: "Indeed."

"How do you get the variety of beings, when you yourself are not yet space travellers?" asked Jim, still trying to digest the concept.

The K'S'vait produced a noise resembling a cough, his mouth was open, showing light-blue sharp teeth.

'He is laughing', Jim realised.

When K'L'trok calmed down somewhat, he blurted out:

"Oh, Captain, we do not need to go anywhere, we have people coming to us. We trade!"

"Trade?!?!" McCoy asked

"Yes, gentle-human. We trade our resources for Beings, often for those that others refer to as Slaves. We find these Beings are happy to stay, mate, and rear their offspring here. But we also get ships who bring volunteers who stay, and we reward them, or their ships commanders with gifts of their desires." A light pause. "That will be the category you fall in my gentle-captain. You need dilithium crystals. We need Humans."

"WHAT?" McCoy spluttered, "We do not deal with lives! This is ridi.."

"Bones!" snapped Jim, enforcing his command with a look.

"Is there no other way we can pay you?" Kirk asked.

"No. We will not accept any other form of payment for the dilithium, and for your parking space."

"I was under the impression that you asked for 4589 mofeds, or the equivalent thereof and not humans," stated Spock calmly.

"Well, yes, but do you have mofeds, gentle-Vulcan?" When Spock declined to answer, K'L'trok continued with a rueful grin: "Our equivalent consists of beings."

"Beings ain't got price-tags on them!" fumed McCoy before Jim could stop him.

"How do you propose to prevent us from leaving your orbit?" queried an annoyed and worried Captain Kirk.

"We have our ways, Captain, rest assured. No vessel leaves without paying their parking fees."

"Does that account for the large number of vessels in your orbit then?" Jim asked soberly, remembering Spocks 0.36 of a vessel. He stood up ready to leave.

Again the K'S'vait laughed.

"No, it is not necessary, most ships find that there is a price-tag as you called it, Doctor, on most beings, and a relatively cheap one. We offer a good life. I myself am the product of a K'S'vait and Vulcan."

At this two pair of eyebrows rose, Spock's and Dr. McCoy's.

"You do not seem to posses any characteristics of a Vulcan, sir," stated Spock.

K'L'trok merely shrugged, "Obviously Vulcan characteristics must be coded for by recessive genes. I do however possess limited telepathic abilities."

McCoy was forced to smile at this statement, knowing that Spock, although it was not apparent, was irked.

"We must go back to our ship, and consider your terms," Jim said whipping out his communicator.

"Two humans will be enough to cover six dilithium crystals and all your parking fees," K'L'trok stated with finality in his voice.

Silently the three Starfleet officers dematerialised from the opaque dome, leaving a thoughtful K'L'trok behind and rematerialised on the Enterprise a few micro-seconds later.

"Call a general meeting in 30 minutes of all current bridge officers, including Mr. Chekov, Mr. Scott, and the xenopsychologist, what's her name?" Jim ordered Spock.

"Lieutenant Kronika, Sir."

"Yes, her," and Jim Kirk strode out of the transporter room indicating to McCoy that he was to accompany him.

McCoy started to follow Jim, but then stopped and gave Spock a mischievous look.

"Something wrong, Doctor?" Spock asked, although he suspected that it would have been more prudent to remain silent.

"There does not seem to be anything recessive about those pointed ears of yours, Spock."

"Why, thank you, Doctor," Spock answered levelly.

Footnotes and explanations

Next chapter.