Black Fire (21 page)

"To new associates!"

After a low mumbling, glasses were raised and drained. Taking his black cigar from his mouth, Astro focused upon the Andorian to his left, whose glass, he noticed, remained untouched. "A toast to our new friend," he repeated pointedly.

"No!" the Andorian pirate retorted. "I don't trust him. And you shouldn't either!"

"He is
my
guest," Astro muttered between clenched teeth.

Spock was very much aware of the sudden quiet which fell upon the occupants of the room. He followed everyone's look to the Andorian's untouched glass. Then he looked to his host. Astro tossed his long blond hair, and his watery-blue eyes became glacial as he coolly studied his recalcitrant guest. There was a flurry of movement beneath Astro's cape as he withdrew and fired a weapon in one fluid motion.

Gazing dispassionately at the now-dead Andorian, the pirate motioned peremptorily and two servants quickly removed the body.

"Discipline must be maintained," he stated in a businesslike manner. He placed his phaser on the table and laughed, bringing a forced response of gaiety from all of his crew.

Spock rose. "I must leave," he said calmly, not displaying or voicing his disapproval of the barbarism he had just witnessed.

"Nonsense," Astro said equally calmly. "We still must talk." He got up from his seat gesturing for Spock to follow him.

The room they entered was smaller than any Spock had previously seen and evidently served as Astro's on-planet office. The display of riches was more selective here, giving Spock the feeling that the pirate was more calculating and selective than he had previously believed.

"Spock, we are, of course, aware of why you are on Corsair, and of your reputation with Starfleet before your court-martial. Your knowledge of shipping patterns in our sphere of influence would be most useful. I understand that you are familiar with our Tomariian neighbors—that would be another valuable asset to us. I want you to join me. The power and wealth we would control together would be unending."

Spock cupped his hands thoughtfully as he listened to the pirate captain, who was now half-obscured by a cloud of dense smoke from his pungent cigar. "I am flattered, Astro. But I had not intended to become an outlaw. I don't know yet what I shall do. I haven't had much of an opportunity to consider my options."

"You haven't got many choices, Vulcan. Join me and be free and rich. You can't go back to Vulcan. It's a Federation planet and would extradite you before you even had a chance to land."

"I am quite aware of that," Spock acknowledged. "I intend to take some time off and enjoy Desus' hospitality before I make any decision."

"You intend to join the Romulan, then?"

Spock opened the office door, preparing to leave. "I came to your home as a dinner guest, Astro, not to entertain the prospect of becoming a pirate. I thank you for the dinner and a most enlightening evening. But it is late, and I must return to the Romulan compound before the gates are locked for the night."

Picking his way through the scattered drunken bodies sprawled on the floor, Spock let himself out.

Smiling knowingly, Desus joined Spock at breakfast.

"Well, Spock, what did you think of Captain Astro?"

"He is a most fascinating specimen of sociopathic behavior," Spock answered.

"He must have picked up the Starfleet alert about our escape, and then my message on the way in. You are quite a prize, Spock. With your knowledge of Starfleet shipping routes, we could make our ventures safer and considerably more profitable. And that's what we must talk about now. There is a place in my fleet for you, as my second in command, if you will have it."

"I may have been accused of many things, Desus, but my conviction was a technical one. My intent was not treason, but simply the keeping of my word. Piracy would only compound my problems."

"If you don't join us, it will be assumed you are against us. No one remains alive on Corsair who is not one of the brotherhood."

"I am aware of that, Desus, and, frankly, I'm at a loss as to how to resolve this situation."

"You have no choice, Spock. It is a covenant we all keep strictly here. You either join us or die."

Logic, as well as a healthy attitude toward his survival, determined Spock's response. "In that case, I will accept your offer.

"As your first task, I want to make use of your knowledge of computers. You can inventory our rather extensive yield from many successful runs. There is complete chaos here, mostly caused by conflicting claims on contraband. Murders are all-too-frequent solutions, and the most powerful always take the prize. If you could devise a system to keep track of the property, we would have a much more efficient system of distribution. And no one would question your objectivity, at least for a while."

Spock was pleased by the request. "I would be honored to take on the task." The Romulan's trust was greater than he had expected.

Two days later, while working on the inventory, Spock came across an intriguing item. In between the boxes of electronic parts, the cases of exotic liqueurs and drugs, and a cask of Denite glow-gems, he came across a bolt of an extraordinary fabric.

Its properties were unlike any he had previously encountered. Taking it into the light so that he might examine it more closely, Spock found it had the amazing property of being able to absorb light. The fabric seemed to be a shimmering void except for its edges which fluoresced, outlining its contours with either black or red depending upon the direction of the light source on the warp. Scooping up the bolt of fabric, Spock brought it to Desus.

"This has most unusual properties," the Vulcan reported. "It wasn't woven in any conventional manner, but seems to be fused mineral matter." As he unfolded the cloth to examine it further, a pouch made of the same fabric dropped onto the floor. Spock carefully opened the pouch and examined its contents. "Interesting," he commented, as he emptied a number of small black stones into his hand. "They gleam with a dark inner fire like the fabric. Do you know where this came from?"

Desus handled the fabric, watching the black light shimmer. "No. I had no idea it was even here. Check around; maybe one of the crew knows who brought it here."

Casually, Spock inquired as to who had acquired the unusual fabric, but no one seemed to know. It had lain unclaimed for years. Finding no interest in his discovery Spock, in true pirate fashion, claimed the fabric and the seemingly worthless gems for himself. With his scientific curiosity piqued, he was looking forward to being able to analyze his find. Furthermore, the fabric was of more pragmatic than academic interest.

Since his escape from Minos, he had been wearing borrowed clothing, and although Desus' clothes fit him as if they were made for him, they were, nevertheless, not his. He thought his might trade some of the fabric he found fora suit of clothing, but no one was particularly interested. Finally, he approached one of the women in Desus' home to make him two outfits from the unusual cloth.

When the outfits were finished, he made a very striking appearance. The fabric, with its light-absorbing qualities, totally obscured the form within it—except for the edges, which rippled with a scintillating black luminescence, as if the edges were afire. The entire image was made even more dramatic by the addition of a cape which shimmered around the obscured figure within.

Spock did not object to the name the pirates had tagged him with: "Black Fire" was appropriate to the Vulcan, who seemed himself to burn with an inner intensity. Spock set aside his extraordinary outfits for a more suitable occasion, preferring to don a less flamboyant outfit for daily wear.

While he inventoried the pirates' treasures, he had the opportunity to quietly observe the intricacies of the pirates' operations; within days, he was cognizant of Corsair's most well-kept-secrets.

While Spock was absorbed in cataloging the compound's treasures, Desus—who had negotiated an uneasy truce with Astro—took off with him on a joint raid. But with their return, the feud burst into a major confrontation.

Loud voices brought Spock into the room. "It's mine," Astro demanded. "You already have a ship of that class. Your flagship, the
Talon
, is a remodeled Federation ship."

"What do you need with a ship, Astro? Your fleet is already more than you can handle. Take the other things. I have no need of jewels or liquor."

They were both shouting now. Spock could see the situation was becoming explosive. He tried to mediate between the two.

"It is impossible to divide a ship, gentlemen. You each must agree as to what is of more value to you."

Desus solved the problem with action. Taking his phaser, set on kill, he pointed it at Astro's head. "Relinquish the ship to me or …"

Astro paled. "You win this time, Romulan. The ship is yours."

2

Spock was relieved at Desus' safe return, but his attitude toward the Romulan confused him. Never one to enter into intimacy of any kind easily, he found himself becoming closer to the Romulan than he would have believed possible. This was a man he could respect, in spite of his outlaw profession. If he had had a brother, Spock imagined he would be much like Desus.

Although he could intellectually analyze his feeling of warmth toward the Romulan, Spock could not explain his instinctive trust. This relationship was growing as strong as that with Kirk, which he hadn't thought possible. Jim had been his
only
real friend, until now. Yet there was already an ease in his friendship with Desus which had taken him months to establish with Kirk.

Desus' ready smile greeted Spock when he entered the house. They grasped hands tightly and then Desus spoke.

"It's good to be back."

"Did your business go well?"

"Very well. But that's a personal matter. Let us discuss something of common interest. Do you still have those two outfits you had made from that extraordinary fabric?"

Curious, Spock nodded. "Yes, but of what import is that?"

"I have an idea which will make use of those outfits and, if I might boast a bit, a good one. Ever since we met, I have tried to find a place for you in my operation. It took my getting away for a short time to come to a conclusion. I think you'll find my idea an intriguing one." Desus looked to Spock for a reaction, and seeing none, went on.

"We now have two identical ships—the
Talon
and the Starfleet cruiser we captured in our last raid, the
Sackett
. I have ordered them both painted black, with identical markings. Both will be renamed
Black Fire
, which will be emblazoned boldly in red on each hull. They will appear the same in every way. If you accept my proposition, one will be yours."

Leaning forward, Spock showed more interest. As Desus had predicted, he was intrigued. Desus had a fine mind, and any plan he devised was sure to be worthy of serious consideration.

Enjoying his own presentation, Desus had an idea. "Wait here, I'll be right back," he said excitedly.

In minutes Desus returned, wearing one of Spock's exotic outfits. He carried the other over his arm. "Now, Spock, put this on."

Spock complied, beginning to understand what the Romulan had in mind. When he had donned the outfit, Desus laughed approvingly.

"Now, put the cowl of the hood over your face to hide it and I'll do the same. Good. Now, the test." He went to the door and called for his lieutenant, Relos. "If anyone knows me best, it's Relos," Desus said while they waited.

It was a very confused Relos who encountered two men standing side by side looking like a matched set. His hand went automatically to his chest, but he wasn't sure to which of the men he should extend his hand in completion of the salute. "Captain Desus, sir," he said stiffly, hoping one of them would speak and solve his problem.

Laughing, Desus took down the cowl. Spock did the same, much to the relief of the confused Romulan pirate. "A good joke," Relos agreed, laughing along with Desus. "Not even I could tell you apart."

"That is my point, Spock. You are aware of our physical similarities, I'm sure. They can work for us." He gestured for Relos to leave.

"This is my plan. There will be two 'Black Fires.' Two men, two ships. I have already selected our first to targets. There is a cargo from the mining colony of Lithos II: their cargo—dilithium crystals. The other ship is carrying a collection of art treasures from Altos. We will attack the miners' ship and the other—not at the same time, but at an interval to make it seem that the same ship attacked both. If our timing is perfect, it will make it seem as if the
Black
Fire
has a warp potential far beyond any known in the galaxy, approximately warp 15. Let them figure that out!"

"A clever plan, Desus," Spock acknowledged.

"You will join me then?"

"Agreed."

"We must name the ships for our own communication. The
Talon
will remain my flagship. And yours?"

"The
Equus
."

The plan was simple and assured success by its very audacity. The crews of both
Black Fire
s were hand-picked. A standing order was issued that "Captain Black Fire" was the only name to be used in addressing the leader of each ship. Spock and Desus planned to keep a low profile, appearing strategically in their usual costumes, then staying out of sight as much as possible to add to the mystique of "Black Fire."

The new pirate, Captain Black Fire, struck, quickly and efficiently, taking his prizes easily and without bloodshed. In each case a small gem glowing with the mysterious negative luminosity was left behind as a concrete reminder of the daring buccaneer. A legend was born.

3

Morale in the Romulan pirates' compound ran high when the first missions of the
Black Fires
were such a resounding success. Intercepted messages from Starfleet channels corroborated their triumph: A sudden distinct interest in Black Fire's activities was evident.

Although he had participated in the venture, Spock did not take a very active part. The missions were choreographed by Desus and the crew, loyal to the Romulan, carried through with Spock as more of a figurehead than their true captain. But Desus was delighted. He had, until this time, been surrounded by subordinates, and being a leader of men he knew full well the emotional distance a captain must keep. In Spock he had found an equal and a confidant.