The Syvian Incident: Ch. 3
The Syvian Incident: Ch. 3
The marketplace was in chaos. The Syvians grabbed the so-called merchant while the next-in-command of the Enterprise contingent pulled out his communicator.
“Jennings to the palace! The lieutenant and commander have been kidnapped!”
***
Kirk sat at the table in the council room, head in his hands. The Minister for Defense was shouting orders to his generals. Nightstar was pacing. He opened his communicator. Then closed it.
There were far too many unknowns. But … He flipped the communicator open again.
“Enterprise, come in.”
“Scotty here.”
“Just checking in. Everything is fine.” Kirk closed the transmission, and wanted to throw the communicator in his frustration.
***
Scotty knew full well that everything wasn’t fine. The Captain used the code.
Just checking in: Call Starfleet.
Everything is fine: Stay put.
“Damnit!” He hit the arm of the captain’s chair. He stood and made his way to the communications console.
“Ensign Burrows…it’s time to make that call.”
***
The man posing as the merchant knew very little. A thief and wanderer, he was approached that morning by someone with a lot of money to give a special gift to the Daystar and her mate. He assaulted the real merchant and tied and gagged him in the back of his own workshop. Then the thief donned the merchant’s apron with its guild badge and considered it an easy few hundred credits.
Kirk turned to the king and queen.
“Nightstar, you said there was some reference to this crisis in the Prophesies. Did you find anything else?”
“My archivists and I have been scouring the records ever since the rebels took up arms, Captain. We are working day and night to find something, anything.”
“What about the dragons? Is there any other way to reach them?”
“Our Guard is no match for the weapons that the rebels have. And the rebels stand between us and the dragons.”
Kirk ran his hand through his hair. He hated waiting around, unable to do anything. They needed more information, and soon.
***Charlene exited the turbolift on the bridge, ready to give Scotty the engineering report to sign. She noticed immediately that something was amiss.
“Chief? What’s happened?”
Scotty looked startled. “Why? What’ve ye heard?”
“Nothing. It’s just you look like you’re about to take someone’s head off.”
Scotty took a deep breath and rubbed a hand across his eyes. Suddenly he stood. “Sulu, you have the conn. I’ll be in the conference room.” He turned to Charlene. “Lieutenant? Would you please join me?”
“Of course,” she said and followed him off the bridge.
***
“Who are you, asked Spock, “and why are you tampering in the affairs of Syvia?”
“My name is Kavolk, Commander. As for my reasons here, that should be evident. You may have heard of our earlier dealings with these people?”
“Yes,” Nyota said, disgusted. “You showed up and robbed them of their natural and cultural resources.
Kavolk’s smile slipped ever so slightly. He went on as if she hadn’t spoken.
“We’d forgotten about this planet, until we heard the rumors of your visit. Starfleet to the rescue, once again! Well, the Empire is much stronger now, and this planet is of strategic importance, so close to the neutral zone as it is…”
“We are not near the neutral zone,” said Spoke calmly.
“Then we are very near where the neutral zone will soon be. We determined that for our security, we had to stop the Syvians from joining the Federation.”
Nyota was furious. “By tricking innocent people into doing your dirty work? That’s the deed of a con artist, not an Imperial officer.”
“Quiet!” Kavolk shouted. “I grow tired of your prattle.” He pressed a button on his desk. “You will not be harmed as long as you cause no trouble. You are being held for ransom and will be released as soon as the king and queen capitulate.
Spock raised an eyebrow at this development. “And what is the asking price for two Starfleet officers?”
“The Syvian throne,” he said simply.
Two Syvians entered the room. “Take them to the cell prepared for them. They are to come to no harm.”
The guards unlocked their restrains and pulled them up. The Romulan soldier smiled.
“I happen to know that your ship left you here. They must be at least two sectors away by now. There will be no one to come to your rescue.” He waved a hand and the Syvians hauled them roughly out of the room.
***
Charlene and Scotty sat at the conference table.
“The thing is, Lass, that somethin’s going on down there and I don’t know what it is, and captain’s orders are to sit here and wait.”
Charlene first thought was of Nyota. “Did he say anything else?”
Scotty shook his head. “Not a word.”
She thought a moment. “There’ve been no unusual transmissions from the planet? No clue as to who’s involved?”
“Not a damned thing, and I’ve been hoverin’ over poor Burrows’ shoulder half the time, just in case he’s missed anything.”
She prodded further. “Anything else? Warp signatures? Ion emissions?”
“Checked and checked. Nothing.”
“Um, what about traces of transporter activity, old style radio waves…”
Scotty shook his head and then stopped. He stood up. “Lass, I think you may have hit upon somethin’…The Syvians dinna have transporter technology! Come on…”
They rushed to the bridge and Scotty had everyone available check and recheck the records for transporter activity.
“Scotty!” shouted Chekov, “I hev somezing!”
Scotty was by his side in a moment. Chekov pulled up his findings and ran a few algorithms. He looked up at Scotty when the results appeared. “Oh, no.”
“’Oh no’ is right, lad. But at least we have somethin’ ta give the Captain.”
***
Uhura sat on the small bed in their cell, watching Spock continue his exploration of their prison.
“Spock? Come sit down.” She patted the mattress next to her.
“I am not tired,” he said, never pausing in his search for any means of escape.
“Please, Dear. I have something important I need to say.” She tried to push a sense of urgency through their bond. He finally turned and sat next to her.
“Remember when I was stuck in the alternate universe?”
“Of course.”
“Well, I learned a thing or two from my counterpart’s wardrobe.” She took her husband’s hand and closed her eyes as she concentrated. She felt him flinch when she successfully sent the image of the knife in each of her boots. She looked up at him and smiled. “Syvian boots are very…practical.”
A slow smile spread across his features. “K'hat'n'dlawa.”
“I know,” she said as she surreptitiously reached beneath her skirts.
***
Kirk was in his quarters with McCoy.
“Stop pacing, Jim. You’ll wear a damn hole in the carpet.”
Kirk threw himself in a chair. “If we could just get the Enterprise here. The Syvians technology is just not that advanced. We could have most of our questions answered if I could risk bringing her here.”
“We’ll have answers soon. Spock can look after himself. It’s Uhura I’m worried about.”
“The lieutenant can handle herself, that’s for certain. But I’d hate to see what would happen to the man who laid a hand on her if Spock was anywhere near.”
Bone’s communicator chirped. The two men shared a hopeful glance as he pulled it out.
“McCoy here.”
“Doctor,” said Scotty, “Just thought our friend should know…it looks like our acquaintances from across the way are in town.”
Jim rushed over. “I’m here Scotty. You have proof?”
“Aye, that I do, sir. But it’ll be a while before I can get the details.”
“Damn.” Kirk thought a moment. “How long until we hear from our esteemed friends?
“About 28 days. But you can call the old girl at anytime.”
“Thanks Scotty. We’ll be in touch.”
“So the Lexington and the Exeter are 28 hours away. Do we want to show our hand and bring the Enterprise now?”
“Not until we can locate Spock and Uhura. Well, we’re better off than we were. At least we know what we’re up against.”
“Yeah, But we still don’t know why.”
***A young Syvian male came to their cell and brought them food. Spock noticed that he regarded Nyota with awe and treated them both with great respect. Nyota noticed this as well.
“What is your name?” she asked gently.
The young man flushed a deeper gray as he answered. “I am Ha’Rann.”
“Ha’Rann…that means ‘he who flies’ in my tongue. Is that why you are here? Do you wish to fly to the stars?”
He looked nervously at the door. “Yes, Honored One. The Romulans promised that we would reach the stars faster if we allied ourselves with them.”
She stepped closer and lowered her voice. “Ha’Rann, if you help us escape, I can promise you this: you will see the stars before the week is done.”
He seemed to waver between his fear of his cohorts and his desire to serve one he still honored. He finally nodded and rushed out of the room.
“Let us hope he is able to follow through,” said Spock. “He appears quite young.”
Nyota had no answer for him. She merely pushed the food around her plate. Suddenly she looked up. “I just remembered what day it is.”
“Stardate-”
She shook her head. “No, I mean on Earth’s calendar. Well, this is not the Christmas Eve I had in mind.”
***Kirk and McCoy made their way to the council chamber, but broke into a run when they heard a commotion ahead. They met a frantic Greenweld running toward them. “Captain, come quickly!”
The followed him into council room. “The captain is here! Play the recording!”
The main screen sprang to life and a smug looking Romulan was on the screen.
“We are holding your guests, and trust that you wish to see them alive. The ransom we seek is high, but well within your power.” The man leaned closer. “You will give up your throne in the next 45 hours, or the force of the Romulan Empire will surround this planet and take it from you. Now, leave peacefully and no one will be harmed. We know your Federation friends are days away, so do not seek assistance from them. We will deal with them…appropriately…upon their arrival.” The Romulan sat back in his chair. “We will be in touch.” The recording ended.
“Well, now we know why,” said Bones.
Kirk turned to one of the Syvian technicians. “How quickly can we trace that message?”
“It’ll be hours yet, sir.”
“Damn.”
McCoy put a calming hand on his shoulder. “We’re getting close, Jim, and we have time. You heard him.”
“Yeah, but a lot can happen in 45 hours.”
Nightstar had been reviewing the Romulan message over and over on her personal terminal. She rose, standing behind her chair. After a moment she bent to whisper something to her husband and left.
***Spock sat on the bed with Nyota’s head in his lap. He leaned back against the wall, eyes closed in meditation. A key in the lock of the solid steel door roused them both. It was Ha’Rann, carrying in their afternoon meal. He placed the tray on the edge of the bed and pulled one of the plates aside to reveal the corner of a folded piece of paper.
He spoke quietly. “When I bring your morning meal tomorrow, be ready. I will tell your men the same thing.” He turned and left them, locking the door behind him.
They ignored the food and opened the folded sheets of paper. One was a crude map of the facility, with marks showing their position, that of their men, and of Kavolk’s office. Ha’Rann also noted the number of guards and their positions.
“It would seem that this facility was hastily prepared for our arrival,” Spock mused. “It is not large, and has minimum security.”
“What’s on the second sheet?”
“It is a note. Addressed to you.” Spock handed her the letter.
Honored Daystar,
Please commit the map to memory, in case we are separated. Head for the storage room in the rear. There is a ventilation shaft through which you and your men can easily move.
I have dishonored my clan by joining these men, all for a chance to fly amongst the stars. I beg your forgiveness, and hope to repay some portion of my crime by serving you.
Do not believe that I do this to achieve any goal. I no longer need to see the stars, for the Daystar took my hand and spoke to me kindly in spite of my transgressions. I have been taken higher than anyone could hope to fly.
“Oh, what a sweet boy! We must speak up for him if there are any charges brought against him.”
“Indeed. Assuming we escape without incident.”
***
In the early hours of the morning, Nightstar came running into the council chamber. “I think I know where they are!”
Everyone gathered around her as she rolled out an ancient piece of parchment and pointed to a block of flowing script.
“Those who hide behind the Fires will be consumed by it. The Valley of the Old Dance, overgrown, will not protect them.”
“The Valley of the Old Dance is the ancient name for what used to be the battle practice grounds behind Dragonfire’s mountain. It’s long grown over and is now a great forest. Thirty or forty years ago, we built a small science station there. It was abandoned after the research was complete.”
“What makes you think they are there?”
“As the Prophesy states, the rebels hide behind the dragons without knowing the first thing about them. And watching the Romulan’s ransom speech, well, I knew he was not on a ship, so where else could he possibly be?”
“Brilliant thinking, Nightstar! Let’s go.”
***
Spock heard the key in the lock and shook Nyota awake. Ha’Rann entered with a tray covered with a cloth. When the door was shut behind him he lifted the cloth to reveal their phasers.
“How did you acquire these?” ask Spock.
“I lost badly in a game of Dahgah last night. I wagered my ration of spirits.” He smiled. “Many of my former colleagues are sleeping quite soundly. They will move very slowly this morning. Come. We must go now.”
They quietly made their way down the dim corridor, turned a corner and soon stopped at large steel door. Ha’Rann unlocked it and Jennings and Du’Chon emerged.
“I am mighty pleased to see you sir, ma’am,” said Jennings.
“Quickly!” hissed Ha’Rann.
They moved as quietly as they could. Ha’Rann slowed and pointed to the door at the end of the hall. They would have to cross a corridor to reach it. Jennings and Du’Chon took positions against either wall, ready to provide cover fire if necessary.
Suddenly they heard voices coming from the left. They all pinned themselves against the wall.
“‘Rann! Ha’Rann? Time to feed the prisoners!” one of the guards called. “Where’d that kid go?”
“Hell if I know. Probably couldn’t handle his liquor and fell asleep under a table…”
It was now or never. Ha’Ran walked out to meet the guards, stumbling as if hungover.
“There you are. Where’ve you…?”
The men stopped short upon seeing four phasers pointed at them.
“Come quietly and no harm will come to you,” said Spock.
The men raised their arms in defeat and Du’ Chon and Jennings disarmed them. They preceded the armed team down the hall to the storage room.
Ha’Rann pulled out the keys and unlocked the door. Just as the began entering the storage room, one of the guards tried to fling himself through the much shorter group of humans. Jennings fired and the man fell.
Knowing that shot would alert their captors, Spock reached up and placed his hand of the remaining guard’s neck. It took a moment but soon the man’s face registered surprise, and he fell in a heap on the floor.
“Now!” called Ha’Rann. He pulled off the grill to the vent and lifted Nyota up. Jennings followed.
Shouts and running footsteps could be heard nearing their position. Spock shut the door behind him and used his phaser to fuse the lock. He followed his companions into the vent.
The group crawled their way through the shaft. Nyota reached the outer grill and put her hands up to push it through, but then pulled them back as if shocked. She turned to her companions. “They’re outside!”
“How many?” asked Spock.
“I can see...seven. No, eight.”
She figured she could probably get off a few shots and take two or three down before they could react, but the five of them were in no position to put up a real fight. She sat down in despair.
Suddenly shots were heard. Nyota peeked through the vent and watched as each of the guards fell to the ground.
“What’s happening?” asked Jennings as he tried to squeeze in next to her.
Nyota turned to him and grinned. “It’s the cavalry!”
***
The Royal Guard made quick work of apprehending the rebels at the old science station. The Enterprise security team was able to capture Kavolk before he could make his way to the small shuttle he had hidden amongst the trees.
“Well, Uhura,” said Kirk. “Once again, you did us proud.”
Nyota rubbed her sore knees. “Thanks, Captain, but I much prefer talking to dragons to being held for ransom in a planetary takeover plot.”
He laughed. “I’m sure you do. Well, your commendation should make a nice Christmas present,” he said before calling Bones over to check them out.
She looked up at Spock. “Merry Christmas, Ashayam.”
“Merry Christmas, K’diwa.” He leaned down to kiss her.
***
The ball held to celebrate the end of the crisis was elegant and opulent. Nightstar and Greenweld unveiled the enormous tapestry to the admiration of those gathered.
Du’Chon and Jennings were presented with commendations for their service, and Ha’Rann received a public pardon and an award for his valor in initiating the escape.
Having eaten at the feast and danced at the party, a very tired Nyota and Spock stood in front of the massive tapestry depicting their previous visit, admiring the craftmanship.
Nyota was in awe of the completed work. “I can’t imagine how many people it took to complete this.”
Spock regarded the tapestry with more scientific eyes. “It would have taken 50 weavers, 42 embroiderers...”
Nyota stopped his calculations with an amused glare, and they stepped away, heading to the balcony for some fresh air.
Nyota sighed. “I should be glad I didn’t have to use my knives, but I’m oddly disappointed.”
“You were prepared for any contingency. I am proud of you.”
He took her arm and was about to step outside, but stopped short. There was someone out there already. He turned to go, but Nyota stopped him, putting her finger to her lips and peeking around the corner.
***“You look a vision, Charlene.”
“You don’t look so bad yourself, Scotty.”
He stepped closer. “It was your clearheaded thinkin’ that solved this mystery.”
She shrugged. “I’m just glad that I was able to be your sounding board.”
“I was hopin’ that you might…that is, would you willin’ to be…something more? What I mean t’ say is…”
Charlene hushed him with a kiss. A long slow kiss that deepened with the release of their pent up longing. Finally, she pulled away. “Does that answer your question?”
“Oh, aye,” he sighed. A twinkle came to his eyes. “Would ya be willing to tell me again?”
She smiled and happily proceeded to tell him just what he wanted to hear.
Nyota pulled Spock back into the ballroom. “Well! How did that happen?”
“I believe the Chief Engineer finally took my advice.”
“Your advice? Since when have you been giving out advice on romance?”
“Since I was so successful in attaining your regard, it stands to reason that I have counsel in this regard that others would find useful.”
She kissed him on the cheek. “You matchmaker, you!”
He leaned down to whisper. “The only match I wish to make right now must be made in our quarters,” he said, his voice low and just the right timbre to make her shiver all over. “I cannot keep my hands away from those laces.”
She felt rather than heard the low rumble in his chest. “Now, Nyota,” he added.
They quickly said their goodbyes, using the excuse of fatigue after their captivity. No one was fooled, as they practically ran from the room. They spent the night amidst the silk sheets, exchanging the only Christmas present either wanted: each other.
The marketplace was in chaos. The Syvians grabbed the so-called merchant while the next-in-command of the Enterprise contingent pulled out his communicator.
“Jennings to the palace! The lieutenant and commander have been kidnapped!”
***
Kirk sat at the table in the council room, head in his hands. The Minister for Defense was shouting orders to his generals. Nightstar was pacing. He opened his communicator. Then closed it.
There were far too many unknowns. But … He flipped the communicator open again.
“Enterprise, come in.”
“Scotty here.”
“Just checking in. Everything is fine.” Kirk closed the transmission, and wanted to throw the communicator in his frustration.
***
Scotty knew full well that everything wasn’t fine. The Captain used the code.
Just checking in: Call Starfleet.
Everything is fine: Stay put.
“Damnit!” He hit the arm of the captain’s chair. He stood and made his way to the communications console.
“Ensign Burrows…it’s time to make that call.”
***
The man posing as the merchant knew very little. A thief and wanderer, he was approached that morning by someone with a lot of money to give a special gift to the Daystar and her mate. He assaulted the real merchant and tied and gagged him in the back of his own workshop. Then the thief donned the merchant’s apron with its guild badge and considered it an easy few hundred credits.
Kirk turned to the king and queen.
“Nightstar, you said there was some reference to this crisis in the Prophesies. Did you find anything else?”
“My archivists and I have been scouring the records ever since the rebels took up arms, Captain. We are working day and night to find something, anything.”
“What about the dragons? Is there any other way to reach them?”
“Our Guard is no match for the weapons that the rebels have. And the rebels stand between us and the dragons.”
Kirk ran his hand through his hair. He hated waiting around, unable to do anything. They needed more information, and soon.
***Charlene exited the turbolift on the bridge, ready to give Scotty the engineering report to sign. She noticed immediately that something was amiss.
“Chief? What’s happened?”
Scotty looked startled. “Why? What’ve ye heard?”
“Nothing. It’s just you look like you’re about to take someone’s head off.”
Scotty took a deep breath and rubbed a hand across his eyes. Suddenly he stood. “Sulu, you have the conn. I’ll be in the conference room.” He turned to Charlene. “Lieutenant? Would you please join me?”
“Of course,” she said and followed him off the bridge.
***
“Who are you, asked Spock, “and why are you tampering in the affairs of Syvia?”
“My name is Kavolk, Commander. As for my reasons here, that should be evident. You may have heard of our earlier dealings with these people?”
“Yes,” Nyota said, disgusted. “You showed up and robbed them of their natural and cultural resources.
Kavolk’s smile slipped ever so slightly. He went on as if she hadn’t spoken.
“We’d forgotten about this planet, until we heard the rumors of your visit. Starfleet to the rescue, once again! Well, the Empire is much stronger now, and this planet is of strategic importance, so close to the neutral zone as it is…”
“We are not near the neutral zone,” said Spoke calmly.
“Then we are very near where the neutral zone will soon be. We determined that for our security, we had to stop the Syvians from joining the Federation.”
Nyota was furious. “By tricking innocent people into doing your dirty work? That’s the deed of a con artist, not an Imperial officer.”
“Quiet!” Kavolk shouted. “I grow tired of your prattle.” He pressed a button on his desk. “You will not be harmed as long as you cause no trouble. You are being held for ransom and will be released as soon as the king and queen capitulate.
Spock raised an eyebrow at this development. “And what is the asking price for two Starfleet officers?”
“The Syvian throne,” he said simply.
Two Syvians entered the room. “Take them to the cell prepared for them. They are to come to no harm.”
The guards unlocked their restrains and pulled them up. The Romulan soldier smiled.
“I happen to know that your ship left you here. They must be at least two sectors away by now. There will be no one to come to your rescue.” He waved a hand and the Syvians hauled them roughly out of the room.
***
Charlene and Scotty sat at the conference table.
“The thing is, Lass, that somethin’s going on down there and I don’t know what it is, and captain’s orders are to sit here and wait.”
Charlene first thought was of Nyota. “Did he say anything else?”
Scotty shook his head. “Not a word.”
She thought a moment. “There’ve been no unusual transmissions from the planet? No clue as to who’s involved?”
“Not a damned thing, and I’ve been hoverin’ over poor Burrows’ shoulder half the time, just in case he’s missed anything.”
She prodded further. “Anything else? Warp signatures? Ion emissions?”
“Checked and checked. Nothing.”
“Um, what about traces of transporter activity, old style radio waves…”
Scotty shook his head and then stopped. He stood up. “Lass, I think you may have hit upon somethin’…The Syvians dinna have transporter technology! Come on…”
They rushed to the bridge and Scotty had everyone available check and recheck the records for transporter activity.
“Scotty!” shouted Chekov, “I hev somezing!”
Scotty was by his side in a moment. Chekov pulled up his findings and ran a few algorithms. He looked up at Scotty when the results appeared. “Oh, no.”
“’Oh no’ is right, lad. But at least we have somethin’ ta give the Captain.”
***
Uhura sat on the small bed in their cell, watching Spock continue his exploration of their prison.
“Spock? Come sit down.” She patted the mattress next to her.
“I am not tired,” he said, never pausing in his search for any means of escape.
“Please, Dear. I have something important I need to say.” She tried to push a sense of urgency through their bond. He finally turned and sat next to her.
“Remember when I was stuck in the alternate universe?”
“Of course.”
“Well, I learned a thing or two from my counterpart’s wardrobe.” She took her husband’s hand and closed her eyes as she concentrated. She felt him flinch when she successfully sent the image of the knife in each of her boots. She looked up at him and smiled. “Syvian boots are very…practical.”
A slow smile spread across his features. “K'hat'n'dlawa.”
“I know,” she said as she surreptitiously reached beneath her skirts.
***
Kirk was in his quarters with McCoy.
“Stop pacing, Jim. You’ll wear a damn hole in the carpet.”
Kirk threw himself in a chair. “If we could just get the Enterprise here. The Syvians technology is just not that advanced. We could have most of our questions answered if I could risk bringing her here.”
“We’ll have answers soon. Spock can look after himself. It’s Uhura I’m worried about.”
“The lieutenant can handle herself, that’s for certain. But I’d hate to see what would happen to the man who laid a hand on her if Spock was anywhere near.”
Bone’s communicator chirped. The two men shared a hopeful glance as he pulled it out.
“McCoy here.”
“Doctor,” said Scotty, “Just thought our friend should know…it looks like our acquaintances from across the way are in town.”
Jim rushed over. “I’m here Scotty. You have proof?”
“Aye, that I do, sir. But it’ll be a while before I can get the details.”
“Damn.” Kirk thought a moment. “How long until we hear from our esteemed friends?
“About 28 days. But you can call the old girl at anytime.”
“Thanks Scotty. We’ll be in touch.”
“So the Lexington and the Exeter are 28 hours away. Do we want to show our hand and bring the Enterprise now?”
“Not until we can locate Spock and Uhura. Well, we’re better off than we were. At least we know what we’re up against.”
“Yeah, But we still don’t know why.”
***A young Syvian male came to their cell and brought them food. Spock noticed that he regarded Nyota with awe and treated them both with great respect. Nyota noticed this as well.
“What is your name?” she asked gently.
The young man flushed a deeper gray as he answered. “I am Ha’Rann.”
“Ha’Rann…that means ‘he who flies’ in my tongue. Is that why you are here? Do you wish to fly to the stars?”
He looked nervously at the door. “Yes, Honored One. The Romulans promised that we would reach the stars faster if we allied ourselves with them.”
She stepped closer and lowered her voice. “Ha’Rann, if you help us escape, I can promise you this: you will see the stars before the week is done.”
He seemed to waver between his fear of his cohorts and his desire to serve one he still honored. He finally nodded and rushed out of the room.
“Let us hope he is able to follow through,” said Spock. “He appears quite young.”
Nyota had no answer for him. She merely pushed the food around her plate. Suddenly she looked up. “I just remembered what day it is.”
“Stardate-”
She shook her head. “No, I mean on Earth’s calendar. Well, this is not the Christmas Eve I had in mind.”
***Kirk and McCoy made their way to the council chamber, but broke into a run when they heard a commotion ahead. They met a frantic Greenweld running toward them. “Captain, come quickly!”
The followed him into council room. “The captain is here! Play the recording!”
The main screen sprang to life and a smug looking Romulan was on the screen.
“We are holding your guests, and trust that you wish to see them alive. The ransom we seek is high, but well within your power.” The man leaned closer. “You will give up your throne in the next 45 hours, or the force of the Romulan Empire will surround this planet and take it from you. Now, leave peacefully and no one will be harmed. We know your Federation friends are days away, so do not seek assistance from them. We will deal with them…appropriately…upon their arrival.” The Romulan sat back in his chair. “We will be in touch.” The recording ended.
“Well, now we know why,” said Bones.
Kirk turned to one of the Syvian technicians. “How quickly can we trace that message?”
“It’ll be hours yet, sir.”
“Damn.”
McCoy put a calming hand on his shoulder. “We’re getting close, Jim, and we have time. You heard him.”
“Yeah, but a lot can happen in 45 hours.”
Nightstar had been reviewing the Romulan message over and over on her personal terminal. She rose, standing behind her chair. After a moment she bent to whisper something to her husband and left.
***Spock sat on the bed with Nyota’s head in his lap. He leaned back against the wall, eyes closed in meditation. A key in the lock of the solid steel door roused them both. It was Ha’Rann, carrying in their afternoon meal. He placed the tray on the edge of the bed and pulled one of the plates aside to reveal the corner of a folded piece of paper.
He spoke quietly. “When I bring your morning meal tomorrow, be ready. I will tell your men the same thing.” He turned and left them, locking the door behind him.
They ignored the food and opened the folded sheets of paper. One was a crude map of the facility, with marks showing their position, that of their men, and of Kavolk’s office. Ha’Rann also noted the number of guards and their positions.
“It would seem that this facility was hastily prepared for our arrival,” Spock mused. “It is not large, and has minimum security.”
“What’s on the second sheet?”
“It is a note. Addressed to you.” Spock handed her the letter.
Honored Daystar,
Please commit the map to memory, in case we are separated. Head for the storage room in the rear. There is a ventilation shaft through which you and your men can easily move.
I have dishonored my clan by joining these men, all for a chance to fly amongst the stars. I beg your forgiveness, and hope to repay some portion of my crime by serving you.
Do not believe that I do this to achieve any goal. I no longer need to see the stars, for the Daystar took my hand and spoke to me kindly in spite of my transgressions. I have been taken higher than anyone could hope to fly.
“Oh, what a sweet boy! We must speak up for him if there are any charges brought against him.”
“Indeed. Assuming we escape without incident.”
***
In the early hours of the morning, Nightstar came running into the council chamber. “I think I know where they are!”
Everyone gathered around her as she rolled out an ancient piece of parchment and pointed to a block of flowing script.
“Those who hide behind the Fires will be consumed by it. The Valley of the Old Dance, overgrown, will not protect them.”
“The Valley of the Old Dance is the ancient name for what used to be the battle practice grounds behind Dragonfire’s mountain. It’s long grown over and is now a great forest. Thirty or forty years ago, we built a small science station there. It was abandoned after the research was complete.”
“What makes you think they are there?”
“As the Prophesy states, the rebels hide behind the dragons without knowing the first thing about them. And watching the Romulan’s ransom speech, well, I knew he was not on a ship, so where else could he possibly be?”
“Brilliant thinking, Nightstar! Let’s go.”
***
Spock heard the key in the lock and shook Nyota awake. Ha’Rann entered with a tray covered with a cloth. When the door was shut behind him he lifted the cloth to reveal their phasers.
“How did you acquire these?” ask Spock.
“I lost badly in a game of Dahgah last night. I wagered my ration of spirits.” He smiled. “Many of my former colleagues are sleeping quite soundly. They will move very slowly this morning. Come. We must go now.”
They quietly made their way down the dim corridor, turned a corner and soon stopped at large steel door. Ha’Rann unlocked it and Jennings and Du’Chon emerged.
“I am mighty pleased to see you sir, ma’am,” said Jennings.
“Quickly!” hissed Ha’Rann.
They moved as quietly as they could. Ha’Rann slowed and pointed to the door at the end of the hall. They would have to cross a corridor to reach it. Jennings and Du’Chon took positions against either wall, ready to provide cover fire if necessary.
Suddenly they heard voices coming from the left. They all pinned themselves against the wall.
“‘Rann! Ha’Rann? Time to feed the prisoners!” one of the guards called. “Where’d that kid go?”
“Hell if I know. Probably couldn’t handle his liquor and fell asleep under a table…”
It was now or never. Ha’Ran walked out to meet the guards, stumbling as if hungover.
“There you are. Where’ve you…?”
The men stopped short upon seeing four phasers pointed at them.
“Come quietly and no harm will come to you,” said Spock.
The men raised their arms in defeat and Du’ Chon and Jennings disarmed them. They preceded the armed team down the hall to the storage room.
Ha’Rann pulled out the keys and unlocked the door. Just as the began entering the storage room, one of the guards tried to fling himself through the much shorter group of humans. Jennings fired and the man fell.
Knowing that shot would alert their captors, Spock reached up and placed his hand of the remaining guard’s neck. It took a moment but soon the man’s face registered surprise, and he fell in a heap on the floor.
“Now!” called Ha’Rann. He pulled off the grill to the vent and lifted Nyota up. Jennings followed.
Shouts and running footsteps could be heard nearing their position. Spock shut the door behind him and used his phaser to fuse the lock. He followed his companions into the vent.
The group crawled their way through the shaft. Nyota reached the outer grill and put her hands up to push it through, but then pulled them back as if shocked. She turned to her companions. “They’re outside!”
“How many?” asked Spock.
“I can see...seven. No, eight.”
She figured she could probably get off a few shots and take two or three down before they could react, but the five of them were in no position to put up a real fight. She sat down in despair.
Suddenly shots were heard. Nyota peeked through the vent and watched as each of the guards fell to the ground.
“What’s happening?” asked Jennings as he tried to squeeze in next to her.
Nyota turned to him and grinned. “It’s the cavalry!”
***
The Royal Guard made quick work of apprehending the rebels at the old science station. The Enterprise security team was able to capture Kavolk before he could make his way to the small shuttle he had hidden amongst the trees.
“Well, Uhura,” said Kirk. “Once again, you did us proud.”
Nyota rubbed her sore knees. “Thanks, Captain, but I much prefer talking to dragons to being held for ransom in a planetary takeover plot.”
He laughed. “I’m sure you do. Well, your commendation should make a nice Christmas present,” he said before calling Bones over to check them out.
She looked up at Spock. “Merry Christmas, Ashayam.”
“Merry Christmas, K’diwa.” He leaned down to kiss her.
***
The ball held to celebrate the end of the crisis was elegant and opulent. Nightstar and Greenweld unveiled the enormous tapestry to the admiration of those gathered.
Du’Chon and Jennings were presented with commendations for their service, and Ha’Rann received a public pardon and an award for his valor in initiating the escape.
Having eaten at the feast and danced at the party, a very tired Nyota and Spock stood in front of the massive tapestry depicting their previous visit, admiring the craftmanship.
Nyota was in awe of the completed work. “I can’t imagine how many people it took to complete this.”
Spock regarded the tapestry with more scientific eyes. “It would have taken 50 weavers, 42 embroiderers...”
Nyota stopped his calculations with an amused glare, and they stepped away, heading to the balcony for some fresh air.
Nyota sighed. “I should be glad I didn’t have to use my knives, but I’m oddly disappointed.”
“You were prepared for any contingency. I am proud of you.”
He took her arm and was about to step outside, but stopped short. There was someone out there already. He turned to go, but Nyota stopped him, putting her finger to her lips and peeking around the corner.
***“You look a vision, Charlene.”
“You don’t look so bad yourself, Scotty.”
He stepped closer. “It was your clearheaded thinkin’ that solved this mystery.”
She shrugged. “I’m just glad that I was able to be your sounding board.”
“I was hopin’ that you might…that is, would you willin’ to be…something more? What I mean t’ say is…”
Charlene hushed him with a kiss. A long slow kiss that deepened with the release of their pent up longing. Finally, she pulled away. “Does that answer your question?”
“Oh, aye,” he sighed. A twinkle came to his eyes. “Would ya be willing to tell me again?”
She smiled and happily proceeded to tell him just what he wanted to hear.
Nyota pulled Spock back into the ballroom. “Well! How did that happen?”
“I believe the Chief Engineer finally took my advice.”
“Your advice? Since when have you been giving out advice on romance?”
“Since I was so successful in attaining your regard, it stands to reason that I have counsel in this regard that others would find useful.”
She kissed him on the cheek. “You matchmaker, you!”
He leaned down to whisper. “The only match I wish to make right now must be made in our quarters,” he said, his voice low and just the right timbre to make her shiver all over. “I cannot keep my hands away from those laces.”
She felt rather than heard the low rumble in his chest. “Now, Nyota,” he added.
They quickly said their goodbyes, using the excuse of fatigue after their captivity. No one was fooled, as they practically ran from the room. They spent the night amidst the silk sheets, exchanging the only Christmas present either wanted: each other.