Black Fire (28 page)

McCoy rose and headed out the door. "Okay, have it your way. All I can do is try."

"Three more hours, Spock. It's now or never." Kirk checked his chronometer. "Two hours and fifty-seven minutes." He stood up to pace, needing movement to calm him. The intercom signaled and he responded immediately.

"Captain, I'm getting a signal—in a Romulan code …"

"On my way, Lieutenant." He made it to the bridge in record time.

"Sir, I'm decoding now. We broke this code about a month ago, Captain."

Kirk was leaning over Uhura, mentally pushing her to hurry. "Well?"

"It doesn't make sense, Captain: 'Permission to come aboard'—it repeats it over and over. We may have picked up a Romulan simply requesting clearance to come aboard one of their ships, Captain."

"Damn!" Kirk went to his command chair and sat down heavily. His disappointment was apparent to all.

Martin suddenly hovered over his sensor console. "Captain, there's an object coming at us at great speed!"

"Can you identify it?"

"Not yet, Captain. It's small, and moving at warp speed."

"Prepare for evasive maneuvers, Mister Sulu. Red alert!" Kirk ordered.

Scott's voice came in over the intercom. "Captain, that pylon won't take any stress… ."

"I know, Mister Scott," Kirk acknowledged. "It's unavoidable." He watched the object coming out of the Neutral Zone, getting larger on the view-screen in front of him. It was still a pin point, even at the greatest magnification possible. "Any details yet, Martin?"

"It's coming into sensor range now. It's a small ship, Captain. One life form—Romulan!"

"Are you sure?"

"Yes, Captain. One life form only."

Uhura broke in, "Captain, the signal's getting stronger. Still the same: 'Permission to come aboard …"

"Open a hailing frequency, Lieutenant.

"Channel open, sir."

"This is Captain Kirk of the U.S.S.
Enterprise
, please acknowledge."

He looked to Uhura.

"Nothing, sir."

"This is Captain James T. Kirk …"

"Still no response, Captain."

"It's too small to attack us," Kirk thought aloud.

Martin continued reporting. "It's approaching fast, sir, and compensating for our evasive action."

"Uhura?"

"'Permission to come aboard,' Captain. That's all he's sending!"

"Get a security team to the shuttle deck, Leonidas." Kirk rose and headed off the bridge. "If he wants to come on board, we'll invite him. Check to see that it's not a booby trap. Then signal the Romulan to enter the shuttle deck."

Kirk was already gone when the ship's sole passenger replied, again in code, "Message received, please relay coordinates."

Leonidas had taken the central position on the bridge. He nodded approval and the coordinates were transmitted. It was at Kirk's insistence, over his objections, that they had remained in this position as Spock had requested.
Spock
, Leonidas thought resentfully.
He's in my way even when he's not on board
.

The captain was waiting impatiently for the shuttle deck to pressurize. Six security men, accompanied by Chekov, were waiting with him.

"Six men, Chekov? Isn't that overkill? There's only one Romulan on board that ship."

"Ve can't be too careful, Keptin."

Scott had joined Kirk outside the shuttle-deck door. He couldn't wait to get a chance to see the Romulan ship. The light finally flashed, indicating it was clear to enter, and the door opened. The fighter was secured in the center of the shuttle deck. It was a sleek ship, like those they had seen come from the
Moonhawk
.

"She's a beauty!" Scott exclaimed. He started to approach the Romulan ship but was held back by Chekov.

"Ve don't know vhat to expect, Mister Scott," Chekov warned, as he stepped forward with phaser drawn.

The hatch opened without a sound. The occupant of the fighter stood up and handed his weapon to Chekov before he stepped out and down onto the deck. He was wearing a protective helmet, but Kirk didn't have to see his face to know who he was.

"Spock!"

Martin had come up behind Kirk. "Romulan, Mister Martin? You'd better brush up on your characteristic readings of life forms."

"Vulcans and Romulans are very much alike, Captain. It was a Romulan ship …"

Kirk didn't hear a word of Martin's explanation. His attention was focused on Spock, who now stood in front of him.

"Captain," Spock said urgently, "we have no time to lose! Get the
Enterprise
out of here, immediately!"

Kirk pointed to Spock and turned to Chekov. "Get him to the brig—top security—now!"

Chekov had stopped dead, phaser still drawn but not aimed. This was Spock, whom he admired, not a Romulan. It was difficult to think of him as an enemy, but duty came first. He forced himself to give the order to his men to surround Spock and move him out. Some of the guard had served with Spock; their reluctance showed, but they did as they were ordered.

"Jim, please. You must listen," Spock insisted. "A Romulan attack is imminent. I have come to warn you. I expect the attack to commence in thirteen point two minutes."

"Wait a minute, Chekov." Kirk paused. "You don't expect me to believe you, do you, Spock? It could be a ploy to get the
Enterprise
out of the way. You stressed your loyalty to Desus and the Romulan Empire very convincingly. I can't believe you'd switch loyalties again."

"Captain, you don't have to believe me. It will do you no harm to move the ship and warn Starfleet. They plan on capturing the
Enterprise
. If there is no attack, nothing would be lost. If there is, you have everything to gain. But you must move quickly. I barely made it ahead of the attack unit. I had hoped my use of the Romulan code would delay their pursuit, but I had underestimated Desus' shrewdness.

"As for my loyalty to the Empire, for the moment let's just say it was necessary. There is no time to explain further."

Kirk was not satisfied. He indicated he was finished with Spock, and as the security team took over, he headed for the nearest intercom. "Leonidas, set a course for Starbase 12, immediately. Warp three."

Spock heard Kirk's order and turned back toward him. "Captain, you must move faster than that."

"We canna, Mister Spock," Scott explained. "The damaged pylon will not hold up ta further stress."

It was the engineer who felt most deeply for Spock at this moment. They had shared the ordeal on Tomarii, and Scott was aware of the penalty Spock faced with his return. Had Spock offered his life to save them? It was entirely possible. The Scotsman kicked the deck in frustration. There was nothing he could do for Spock. His excitement over the acquisition of a new Romulan ship was gone. He returned to his station in engineering thinking thoughts only a dour Celt would appreciate.

Chekov's security men prodded Spock to move on. Before they left the area, Kirk called to the security chief. "Chekov, have McCoy check him out. I want to know if he's acting on his own or if he's being controlled by them in any way."

"Captain, I am functioning normally, I assure you… ."

Kirk and Martin had already stepped into the turbolift and were on their way to the bridge. Spock, seeing that he would get no further, went along with the armed escort without further resistance.

2

Entering the bridge, Kirk took action before he got to his seat. "Lieutenant, send a subspace message to Starfleet immediately. 'Suspect Romulan attack imminent.' Give our coordinates. Warn the outposts along the Neutral Zone. Reinforcements needed immediately. The
Potempkin
and the
Republic
are within range and their assistance is required."

Uhura turned to look at the captain. "I haven't received any messages indicating those ships were in this sector, Captain."

Kirk smiled. "Neither have I." He took his seat, then turned toward the communications officer. "One more thing—'Spock under arrest. Please advise.' Send those messages in code A6238."

"The Romulans broke that code over a month ago, Captain."

"I know that, Uhura. Send it."

"Captain." Leonidas was bending over the long-range sensors. "Sensors are picking up a number of ships moving toward us, coming from the Neutral Zone!"

"Can you give us more speed, Mister Scott?"

"It'd be risky, Captain, but I can try."

"Ease her to warp five, Mister Sulu."

Sulu bit his lip as he gradually increased their speed. "Warp five, Captain."

They could feel a vibration, a violent shuddering; the ship bucked.

"Captain, we've lost power to port. The pylon has collapsed!"

"Damn! What about those ships out there, Leonidas?"

"They are still in the Neutral Zone, sir. They seem to have slowed. They've stopped!"

"Stopped? Are you sure?"

"Yes, sir. They are staying within the perimeter of the Zone."

"Keep us moving away, Mister Sulu. We don't know what they're up to."

"I can manage warp one, Captain."

"The ride will be rough, Captain," Scott announced, "but we're just managin' warp drive."

"Keep it up, Mister Scott. Get us out of here."

"The Romulans aren't following, Captain," Leonidas reported with relief.

"So far, so good," Kirk said quietly. He peered at the view-screen which showed only an array of stars. There wasn't a ship close enough to be in visual range. The captain stared at the screen for a long while, counting the moments, judging the distance they would need to be clear. Finally, he looked around at his reliable crew and left his seat.

"I'll be in the brig. Leonidas, keep us on a heading away from here."

"Yes, sir," Leonidas acknowledged the command and took the captain's chair.

Martin moved to the sensors. As preoccupied as he was, Kirk noticed the smooth shift of personnel. It was like a well-choreographed ballet, and he always took pride in its beautiful execution.

"Readings are becoming vague, sir. We are getting out of range… ." Those were the last words to reach Kirk before the doors closed and he was taken to the lower decks.

The security area of the
Enterprise
was designed for utility and not for comfort. Kirk passed a row of neatly kept, rather sterile cubicles before coming to the top-security unit in which Spock was being held.

The extra guard at the door was noted without comment.
Chekov is certainly doing his job
, he acknowledged. Kirk could not help but grin when he realized the extent of his security chiefsg from tight-security situations; more than once he had helped Kirk out of one confinement or another. The extra security wa respect for their prisoner and the action he took to assure that Spock was kept secure. Spock
did
have a way of escapins justified.

The more he thought of Spock's return, the more agitated he became. His inner sense kept saying,
something is wrong
, as it had been saying so often recently.

All he could think of was Spock's vulnerability. Kirk was well aware that Spock's return was a sacrifice of his freedom—and possibly his life.
Sometimes I wish I never attained this position of authority, of
responsibility. This is one of those times
.

Spock rose when he saw Kirk approaching. He stepped to the front of the cell, avoiding the energy screen which held him in confinement. He was sure the screen was at full force; it had the strength to kill a man at such levels. He had not tested it.

With a touch of the control unit, Kirk cut the force field. It immediately reactivated when he entered the cell.

"Now, Spock, tell me what's really going on."

Spock knew Kirk's gruffness covered his genuine concern. "I did, Captain. By now the
Enterprise
should have been attacked."

"But it hasn't been, Spock. We picked up a fleet in the Neutral Zone; they haven't done anything yet."

"You
did
notify Starfleet, Captain?"

"Yes."

"The signal could have been picked up by the Romulan fleet, could it not?"

"I hope so, Spock. I did everything but call them personally."

Spock was satisfied. "Then it is obvious. With the surprise element gone, they've called off the attack. The entire plan was based upon catching the
Enterprise
unawares. When Central Command realized I had left to warn you, they must have changed their plans. I suspected they would."

"Spock," Kirk asked gently, "what have you been up to?" He almost sounded as if he were questioning a recalcitrant child.

"Up to, Captain?" Spock answered in his most distinguished manner, and with eyebrow raised. He relaxed. "Jim, what evidence is there that I was up to something?"

"All right, Spock. This entire situation has been peculiar from the start. Ever since the court-martial, you've been acting strangely. Your escape, joining the pirates, then the Romulans. None of it makes sense. Everything that has happened has been wrong—totally, inexorably
wrong!
" He finally voiced the thought which had been bothering him all along.

"What do you think, Doctor?" Spock directed his question to McCoy, who was approaching the cell.

McCoy remained outside. "You're in your right mind, Spock. But I wish you weren't. If you think they were hard on you at the court-martial, just wait till they get their hands on you now!"

"You see, Captain. McCoy knows I'm fully functional."

"Well, would you hear that!" McCoy declared. "He finally acknowledged my medical expertise!"

"Only because it substantiates my sanity, Doctor."

"Can't give in, can you?" McCoy grumbled.

"Enough, both of you," Kirk ordered. "This isn't funny, Bones. Spock, you're in a hell of a mess."

"I appreciate your concern, Captain. But this is not the time to address yourself to my problems. The ship should be your first concern."

"It is, Spock. Scott has everything under control now."

"I don't think so, Captain. The ship feels wrong. Even here, deep within the hull, I sense a vibration, an unusual sound emanation. There is something gravely wrong."