Dreams and Desires (Part 4)
Jim came out of the bathroom wiping his mouth. He looked around and saw Nyota standing there. He wondered what she was thinking.
"Where's everybody." He walked over to her wanting to take her into his arms and ask her if she still loved and wanted him, but he resisted.
"They will meet us in the transporter room. I think we need to leave now to meet up with them." She wasn't sure what to say to him or how to feel. They would have to talk later. Right now they had to beam down to the planet. She felt him grab her arm as she turned to walk towards the door.
She turned around and looked at him. He stared at her a moment before speaking, his eyes wary. "Are we alright?" He had to know. Did she still love him? He watched as she looked down at the hand holding her arm.
"We're fine, Jim." She then turned and walked through the door and he followed her. Why was it so hard for him to believe her? She didn't seem alright to him. Did she really think that he would deliberately betray her? He had given his word! They got in the turbo lift and there was an awkward silence between them. He wondered what she was thinking and if she would break off their relationship.
Nyota's nerves were a mess. Jim had not touched her in days and even now she didn't feel as if desired her. He seemed reserved and hesitant towards her. The fire that had been in his eyes that would turn her into a puddle of goo wasn't there anymore.
She knew that he was under stress with all that was going on, and she had made up her mind that she would not push him and wait for him to come to her.
Even now with the new revelation of what Jayl had done, she wondered what damage her actions had caused and she wondered how it would affect their relationship. His libido had been on a sabbatical since Jayl and her brother had spied on them.
Dr. McCoy and Spock were waiting in the transporter room when they entered and Scotty beamed them down immediately.
Talnik was waiting for them. His face was grim.
"I suppose your officers have filled you in on what has happened." Talnik stated looking at Kirk.
Kirk straightened up staring at Talnik in the eye and giving him his most authoritative voice.
"Yes they have. I understand that your sister is under arrest. You know that this only validates my previous fears concerning your requests pertaining to the exchange you requested for the dylithium." The captain and the others followed Talnik as he led them into the meeting room.
"I am aware of the damage my sister has caused." Talnik said "However, what she did will be dealt with swiftly. I do not expect you to discuss the treaty with me today. There will be a trial and you and your officers are requested to be there. It will begin shortly. Speed is of the utmost importance in this time of crisis."
Kirk noticed that Talnik looked tired and his normally pale bright face was tinged blue and he walked slower than normal.
"Are you alright, Talnik?" the captain asked.
"My reserves are low, however I am replenishing only enough energy to function as our reserve is almost depleted. All of our people are suffering. I will be fine. This is why we must move swiftly. The negative energy generated by this trial will only further drain our reserves. However we must conduct this trial and appear in humanoid form in hopes that you will see that we are making the effort to right the wrong that was done to you."
The captain did not respond. He could see that they were in a desperate situation. Talnik then led them through the meeting room into a large hall that looked like an arena. A chair had been placed in the center of floor and there were several levels of people surrounding them sitting and watching them as they walked in. They were totally surrounded and the captain looked up at thousands of pale faces looking down on them.
Talnik pointed to a group of about a dozen Jarians on the first level above them. "That is the council" he said. He then pointed to the empty chair. "That is where the accused will sit. Those of us doing the accusing, myself and your people captain, will face the chair and address the issue when called upon."
You will need a spokesperson to ask the accused questions. Because of our weakened condition, we would prefer someone who would display limited amount of negative emotions and hope that you will allow your Vulcan, Mr. Spock to fill this position. Members of the council will conduct the proceedings."
He then turned and looked at the captain, his eyes pleading. "When questions are being asked, please try to remain calm as possible and stick to the facts. I realize that this may be difficult, however, please remember that your negative feelings and emotions will further deplete our reserves and I ask for your mercy."
Jim nodded and didn't reply. He could not understand how Jayl could put her people in such an awful predicament.
A large gong was hanging next to the council and one of the members stood up and struck it. The sound rang out throughout the arena.
"Let us begin" the council member said standing.
"I am Nerl head of the Council of Jarian. Bring out the accused."
The captain and the others sat in their seats and watched as Jayl was bought out. He gasped when he saw her. She had to be practically carried into the arena and her skin was a pale royal blue. The guards sat her in her seat.
"What's wrong with her?" Kirk asked leaning over to Talnik.
"Her reserves are extremely low" he replied. "She is dying."
Jim noticed that Talnik hung his head, unable to look at his sister. He looked around the arena and saw that all of the people looked slightly blue even though they did not appear as bad off as Jayl.
"Bring on the charges" Nerl said.
Talnik stood up and stood in the circle that was etched in the floor in front of the accuser's chair. He looked at Jayl unable to hide his sorrow.
"My sister has committed treason. In the time of our greatest need, she has hindered the relationship we have attempted to form with the humanoids. We have found them to be compatible for our energy needs and she has abused her power by attempting to manipulate and control the humanoid named Kirk who is their leader and the one I am attempting to forge a contract with. I fear that our relationship is permanently damaged."
Nerl banged the gong again and Talnik returned to his seat.
"Jayl, daughter of Omer the most excellent Ambassador who gave his all for our people, you have heard the charge from your own clan member. How do you plead?"
Jayl's head hung low. Her voice was a whisper and yet all in the hall could hear what she was saying.
"I have disgraced my family's name and the remembrance of my father, Omer the most excellent Ambassador who gave his life in the fight against the Romulans to save our people by expelling all of his energy against them. I have disgraced the reputation of my brother the most excellent Talnik who wished to continue the legacy of our father by forging a treaty with the humanoids in hopes that we could harvest enough energy that our people would be able to chose mates and reproduce for future generations. I confess that I have no defense other than to say that once I saw and felt the love that the humanoid Kirk expressed to the one he loves called Uhura and in the presence of their most intimate expression of emotion, I found their energy so intoxicating and their phoenomes and endorphins so nourishing, that I became greedy and wanted more for myself. I have no other excuse for my behavior and seek your forgiveness and Kirk's forgiveness and submit myself to whatever punishment the council deems appropriate."
She then bent forward placing her hands over her face.
Nerl stood and rang the gong again.
"The representative for the humanoids will now come forth and ask the accused any questions that the council may hear the details of the offense."
Spock stood up and walked into the circle. He looked at Jayl.
"You state that you found the energy you received when in the presence of the captain intoxicating. Why then would you jeopardize his life? He became ill after you attempted to erase his memory. Surely you must have known that your actions would be harmful to him and endanger our relationship with your people. Why should we help your people if it will cause us to become ill?"
Kirk watched as the people and the council leaned forward to hear Jayl's reply.
"The captain became ill because I did not have his permission. I wanted his permission, but he refused. Even so, I tried to be careful and I immobilized him in hopes to avoid a struggle causing him to expel more negative energy."
Spock looked at her. "When you were forcing yourself on him, were you then able to harvest the energy you needed?"
"No" Jayl said looking at him. "When he was here, there were no phoenomes or endorphins expelled from him, only fear, disgust and loathing. I tried to fight their effect on me, but they weakened me."
"And yet you returned to the Enterprise still determined to have him!" Spock looked up at the Jarians' grim expressions.
"I..I thought if I appeared in another form, that he would find me more appealing." Jayl hung her head unable to look at him.
"What form was that?" Spock asked looking around the arena at the Jarians who were totally absorbed in what was being said.
"I appeared to him as Uhura."
Nyota gasped at her confession.
"What happened then?" Spock asked looking at her.
"He began expelling positive energy after I awakened him. I then attempted to convince him to have sex with me...it was then that he realized that I was not her and he began to expel negative emotions which weakened me considerably as I was trying to maintain the illusion I had created."
"What did you do then?" Spock stared at her his face a mask of contempt.
"I commanded him to go back to sleep and not to remember what happened. I returned here where I was then arrested."
Spock looked at the council. "I have no further questions."
Nerl stood up and banged the gong.
"Has there been any permanent damage done to the one called Kirk?" Nerl asked.
Dr. McCoy stood up and walked into the circle.
"There is no permanent damage as far as I can tell. However, I do not know that I would recommend helping your people after I have seen the effects she had on the captain."
Nerl stood up and addressed McCoy. "If your captain had given permission, then very little negative energy would have been expelled and his body would not have taken it as an invasion. We would create the conditions of his choosing and do everything possible to make it enjoyable and relaxing. Anything else would be counterproductive. We would monitor his responses closely along side his physician. What has happened is unfortunate for him and for our people."
McCoy looked at Nerl. "If you don't mind my asking, how did your people get to this point? It appears that you have tremendous energy at your disposal. You have the dylithium. Why can't you find a way to use that?"
"We are beings consisting of pure energy. Under normal circumstances, we are able to replenish ourselves daily by exerting positive energy towards each other. Any excess energy that we create among ourselves is then put into our reserves for future use."
He looked at Talnik who nodded at the council.
"Unfortunately, the reserves are there for emergencies and such an emergency came upon us when the dylithium was discovered by the Romulans. We knew that if they took it, more negative energy would be expelled throughout the galaxy.
We came to them in humanoid form just as we came to your Federation and tried to reason with them. They responded with force. We then had to expel our energy against them. We tapped into their fears and created the negative situations they feared the most. In doing so, it depleted us and our reserves before we could completely fight them off.
Nerl stared down at them from where he was standing.
"Our most excellent Ambassador, Omer rather than take our final reserves, used all his own energy to create the final illusion that caused the Romulans to flee from our planet. As a result of his sacrifice, he now ceases to exist. Since that time, we have been searching trying to maintain the remainder of our reserves and build our people back up. It has been very difficult."
McCoy left the circle and Scotty stood up and replaced him.
"Surely there must be a way to use your dylithium to rebuild your energy reserves."
Talnik stood up to say something and Nerl held up his hand. Talnik sat down and let Nerl continue.
"That is impossible. Dylithium for us is negative energy because it is a waste product we produce. We cannot reuse it. It is repugnant to us. It would be to our people like consuming something your stomach has expelled."
Nerl then rang the gong again and Scotty returned to his seat.
"Is there more evidence to be displayed, Talnik?" Nerl asked.
The captain reached over and put his hand on Talnik's shoulder as he attempted to stand. He could see that he had grown even weaker since coming into the arena.
"I wish to speak" Kirk said looking at the council and walking into the circle.
There was complete silence for a moment. The Jarians watched him closely hoping that he would remain calm and not expel a large amount of negative energy.
Nerl hit the gong again.
"The leader of the humanoids named Kirk wishes to speak at this time. We are at your mercy, sir and plead with you to try to keep your negative emotions in check."
The captain stood in the circle and looked around the arena and then at Jayl who by now was shaking uncontrollably. She had become a darker shade of blue and Kirk was suddenly filled with compassion for her. Even though he was angry for what she had done to him, he didn't think that she should pay with her life.
He moved closer to her and she raised her head, her eyes filled with fear. She began to shake uncontrollably. He gave her a slight smile of reassurance. "I forgive you." he said to her. "You have nothing to fear from me."
Suddenly Jayl threw her head back and the entire arena gasped. Jim watched amazed as her skin suddenly became a lighter shade of blue and she stopped shaking. He touched her hand. "Don't be afraid."
He looked up at the council and then to the Jarians all around him. "I do not wish her to die. Surely there is another punishment you can administer that would better serve your people."
Gasps were heard throughout the arena. The captain was stunned as he saw all of the Jarians rise to their feet and reach both of their hands out in his direction as if seeking. Their hands trembled and they threw back their heads and closed their eyes. He turned and looked at Talnik.
"What is going on?" He was truly puzzled by their behavior.
He watched amazed as Talnik walked over to him with his hands outstretched and trembling, the same as the other Jarians.
"We feel your compassion for her. It comes to us like a slow drip from a faucet into the open and parched mouth of one dying of thirst. It is not enough to replenish us...but it is refreshing."
Kirk looked at him, suddenly realizing the power that was within his grasp. His positive attitude could help save these people.
He looked at Talnik. "What can I do? Tell me what to do."
"We will discuss the treaty tomorrow." he replied. "Your lack of negative energy and the compassion you are showing helps us."
"I will do more. I think I now understand." Jim looked at Nyota and beckoned her to come to him.
Nyota got up puzzled and came to him as he stood in the circle. The Jarians were watching them closely, not sure what was about to happen.
Jim grabbed her by the shoulders and looked up at the council. "This is the woman who I have affection for. She is the one that I love." He then looked at Nyota.
"I love you, Nyota. Do you love me still?" He smiled at her.
She looked at him surprised and confused wondering what he was trying to do. He was declaring his love here in this place and she couldn't figure out why.
"Yes Jim, I love you." she said her heart beating fast.
Suddenly the entire population of Jarians in the arena inhaled and Nyota looked up to see them extending their hands towards them. Jayl was leaning back her hands extended and her eyes were closed.
Talnik walked up to them. "I will use my energy to show you what is happening."
He closed his eyes and then opened them. Nyota and Jim gasped as the saw small specks of what appeared to be light leaving them and floated through the air. As the Jarians reached out, the specks gravitated towards them and were absorbed in their fingertips causing the blue tinge of their skin to fade. Jim realized that they were being nourished by their love.
Jim reached down and captured her lips in a passionate kiss and she groaned. He pulled her into his arms and his tongue sought hers. She heard the gasps and moans of the people and then she realized what he was doing. He was creating the energy they needed for their survival.
Nyota felt his passion and arousal and even larger specks of light seemed to leave their bodies and float up in the air. The Jarians greedily captured them in their fingertips.
"Are you going to make love to me right here on the spot?" she asked teasing him.
"No" he said grinning. "But I don't mind kissing you in public for the good of our mission. Do you have a problem with that?"
"I suppose not" she replied as he captured her lips in another passionate kiss.