Star Trek Fic: The Star to Every Wand'ring Bark (4/8)
The Marriage of True Minds
Alteration
The Remover
Ever Fixed Mark
Oh no! It is an ever fixed mark / That looks on tempests and is never shaken
Jim Kirk sat down in his chair, took a sip of coffee, and blinked at the viewscreen for a few minutes. The familiar ambient sound nearly sent him back to sleep, after all the interruptions of the night before.
“I apologize for my tardiness, Captain.”
“Huh?” Jim jumped and straightened in his chair as he blinked at his First Officer. “What's that, Spock?”
“I apologize for my tardiness. I was detained in the mess by Dr. McCoy on what he claimed was ship's business.”
“Do I have to send in security to carry his body to Sickbay?”
Spock just raised an eyebrow. Jim's urge to send security to the mess to check for unconscious medical staff was assuaged when Bones himself stormed in.
“Spock, you may be my superior, but you still have to talk to me about those psych evals. I'll see you at lunch.” Spock did not bother to turn from his station, but Jim thought he might have heard a sigh. “Jim, I need you to sign this requisition form.” He handed over a PADD.
“Not Spock?”
“It's a class D439 material, so I need your signature.”
“This isn't for Scotty, by any chance.”
“No, it's purely medicinal.”
“That's what Scotty always says.”
“Just sign the da-”
“Captain!” Uhura's hand was to her earpiece. “We're getting a transmission from a non-Federation planet.”
“Subspace?”
“No. The computer does not recognize the form of transmission, but we are receiving. They’re hailing us.”
“Can you establish visual contact?”
He waited while Uhura flipped several switches. “No, Captain.”
Jim frowned in the general direction of the science station for a few moments and then said “Return greetings. Have you triangulated the source of the signal, Mr. Spock?”
“Yes, Captain.” He sent a map to the viewscreen. “It appears that the signal is coming from a class M planet - Kepler-22b.”
“Lieutenant Kyle, put us into orbit around Kepler-22b.”
“All set, Mr. Spock?” Jim grinned at Spock's raised eyebrow. “Yes, I know you're actually waiting for me.” He joined Spock and three other crewmen on the transporter pad.
“Now remember, men -- the inhabitants of this land already knew we were travelling in space when they contacted us. But the Prime Directive still holds. Don’t give them any more information about our technology than necessary.” He turned toward the transporter operator. “Energize.”
The landscape when they rematerialized on Kepler-22b reminded Jim of the prairie, except that it seemed to be the shore of a waveless ocean. There was no creature in sight, but that was just as well, since no one should have seen them beam down. Spock and Lieutenant Martin began taking soil and vegetation samples, while Kirk scanned the horizon. He noticed a small boat on the water that was approaching faster than the fastest hovercraft he'd seen on earth. When it arrived at the shore, a creature stepped out. It was roughly humanoid, but looked unwieldy and moved very awkwardly. Jim wondered if it was hurt, or if this was just the way the creatures on this planet moved.
“Greetings, members of the United Federation of Planets and Captain James Tiberius Kirk. My name is Blorghau.”
“Greetings, Blorghau. We come in peace.”
“Your Communications Officer Lieutenant Nyota Uhura spoke of other officers of the United Federation of Planets starship USS Enterprise NCC-1701 who would be accompanying you. Is this First Officer Chief Science Officer Commander Spock?”
“Yes, and this is Lieutenant Martin and Ensigns Zhuhong and Cherveny.”
“You wish to study the land and the ways of the Lubzhul peoples?”
“Yes, we do.”
“The High Emperor of Lubzhul and All Surrounding Territories wishes to learn about the ways of your United Federation of Planets as well. He invites Captain James Tiberius Kirk and one other of Captain James Tiberius Kirk's choosing to visit him in his Palace of the High Emperor of Lubzhul and All Surrounding Territories.”
Jim felt Spock preparing his arguments behind him. “May I speak to my crew in private for a moment, Blorghau?”
“Yes, Captain James Tiberius Kirk. I will not listen.” And Blorghau spun around, and put his hands over his ears.
Jim stifled a smile as he turned to face his men.
“Captain, I do not think that going with Blorghau is wise.”
Jim grinned at him. “I'm not surprised. And why is that, Commander?”
“Firstly, we do not yet have sufficient information regarding the people of this planet. Blorghau does not appear to have evil intentions, but the cultural differences are such that we are not able to confirm or deny his harmless appearance. Secondly he came in an unusually small boat. We cannot know how seaworthy it is, and there is no logical reason that the captain of a starship should put himself in danger on the sea when his crew needs him. Thirdly, the USS Enterprise is scheduled to rendezvous with the USS Paul Jones in 2.051 days, and if your audience with the emperor of Kepler-22b takes more than 1.9 days, we will not make our rendezvous in time.”
Jim laughed out loud. “Spock, I don't know what I'd do without you.”
Spock's eyebrows shot up.
“But I have several very logical answers to your concerns. First, I have a hunch that Blorghau has good intentions. I know you don’t like hunches, but you have to admit that mine are right a pretty high percentage of the time.”
Spock looked peeved.
“I know I'm right because you haven't spit the percentage at me yet. Secondly, I can see it's a small boat. So can Blorghau. I assume that's why he’s only taking two people. He's aware of its limitations. And thirdly, when was the last time something like this ran to almost two days?”
“19.3 months ago. Another is due very soon.”
Jim rolled his eyes. “You know as well as I do that's a logical fallacy. I'm surprised at you.” Spock's eyebrows returned to their normal position - Jim was pretty sure that meant Spock was a little bit ashamed of himself. “Do you have any other objections that I need to answer?”
Spock looked around him for a moment and opened his mouth to speak, but closed it again when Jim glared.
“That's settled then.”
“I assume I will be the person you choose to accompany you, sir?”
“No, Spock. I brought Ensign Cherveny for the diplomatic experience.” Jim thought Spock might have just snorted. “So he is coming with me. And you need to keep working the scientific end of things, so I don't want to hear anything else against it, Commander.”
“I hope your communicator is in good condition, Captain?”
“Yes, it is. And remember that they're all waterproof, so we should be fine.” Jim walked up to Blorghau and tapped him on the shoulder. “Ensign Cherveny and I will be going with you.”
Jim noticed that Spock was far too focused on his tricorder as they walked away.
Jim had forgotten how much the rocking of a boat could affect his stomach. He wished he hadn't eaten that second serving of bacon with his breakfast - or that fifth cup of coffee - since he was sure it was all coming up if they didn't stop soon. To his relief, they did stop. But to his puzzlement, they stopped in the middle of the ocean. There was nothing but water surrounding them - no marker of any kind. He could see that Ensign Cherveny was puzzled as well.
“Captain James Tiberius Kirk and Ensign Cherveny, here is The Gateway to Palace of the High Emperor of Lubzhul and All Surrounding Territories. The journey is not short. Please follow me.” And Blorghau jumped out of the boat and disappeared under the water. Jim assumed that his mouth had fallen as far open as Cherveny's had. Then Cherveny chuckled.
“Mr. Spock may be saying something that rhymes with 'I bold you go' in a few minutes, if you don't mind me saying so, Captain.”
“He won't say it. He'll look it. And that's much worse.” He scanned their surroundings again. “Well, we are going either to have to beam back to the ship, or try to get back to shore. I don’t think it will be easy.”
“I watched Blorghau directing the ship, Captain. I think I could figure out how to turn the engine on again if you let me try.
“We have a very speedy motor, so if we made even the fraction of a degree of an incorrect direction we would be on the other side of the planet before we knew it. And I don’t want to try to start this engine unless we are certain we know how to stop it. I’m not going to be the first starship captain to die in the line of duty in a motorboat crash.”
Ensign Cherveny nodded. And Kirk shrugged and flipped open his communicator. “Kirk to Enterprise.”
“Scott here.”
“Scotty, we need to beam back up to the ship. We’ve been stranded in the middle of the ocean.”
“Ye’ve what?”
“The envoy from the emperor here just jumped into the water expecting us to follow him, and now we’re stranded.”
“Can ye sail back, Captain?”
“No - too many problems with the unfamiliar area and technology. We need to beam up and then try to get in touch with the Lubzhul people again. Uhura hasn’t managed to figure out how to hail them on their communication technology yet, has she?”
“Not as far as I know, Captain. But I’m sorry to say that ye’re stuck for the time being. The rest of the landing party came up half an hour ago, and we were very lucky that Ensign Zhuhong made it. The transporter blew a fuse while he was in transit.”
Jim sighed. “As soon as you’ve fixed it, then. Kirk out.” He looked wryly at Cherveny. “Comment?”
“At least if Blorghau comes back he won’t be disappointed?”
Jim threw his head back and laughed. “Well, we can wait.” He looked across the glassy still ocean for a few moments. “We need to ask Scotty to figure out a way to install some sort of ebook reader inside our communicators.”
Two hours later, no one was laughing. Jim’s eyes were closed against the almost horizontal raindrops that felt like needles on his face as he stood up trying to get a better signal. “What’s that, Scotty?”
“Commu . . . until we get . . . wait . . .”
He crouched down in the boat. “You okay, Ensign?”
Cherveny nodded. Fortunately, the sides of the boat were quite high, so there was a bit of relief from the wind chill if they both hunkered down. Jim’s concern was that the boat was rocking dangerously and could tip at any moment. His communicator beeped again. It was very garbled.
“Did you think he said ‘Spock’, Ensign?”
“I think so, Captain.”
“Any idea of what else.”
“No. Sorry, Captain.”
“That’s fine. I’m going to stand up and try again. Keep the boat as stable as you can?”
Jim stood up and flipped open his communicator, but before he could try to shout into it he caught sight of something not far distant. He gestured to Ensign Cherveny who put his head over the lip of the boat.
“Is that Spock?”
Cherveny nodded.
It was Spock. In some sort of boat that Scotty and he must have engineered in the last half hour.
Spock would be saying (or looking) a lot more than “I told you so.”
TBC in “Wand’ring Bark”
Alteration
The Remover
Ever Fixed Mark
Oh no! It is an ever fixed mark / That looks on tempests and is never shaken
Jim Kirk sat down in his chair, took a sip of coffee, and blinked at the viewscreen for a few minutes. The familiar ambient sound nearly sent him back to sleep, after all the interruptions of the night before.
“I apologize for my tardiness, Captain.”
“Huh?” Jim jumped and straightened in his chair as he blinked at his First Officer. “What's that, Spock?”
“I apologize for my tardiness. I was detained in the mess by Dr. McCoy on what he claimed was ship's business.”
“Do I have to send in security to carry his body to Sickbay?”
Spock just raised an eyebrow. Jim's urge to send security to the mess to check for unconscious medical staff was assuaged when Bones himself stormed in.
“Spock, you may be my superior, but you still have to talk to me about those psych evals. I'll see you at lunch.” Spock did not bother to turn from his station, but Jim thought he might have heard a sigh. “Jim, I need you to sign this requisition form.” He handed over a PADD.
“Not Spock?”
“It's a class D439 material, so I need your signature.”
“This isn't for Scotty, by any chance.”
“No, it's purely medicinal.”
“That's what Scotty always says.”
“Just sign the da-”
“Captain!” Uhura's hand was to her earpiece. “We're getting a transmission from a non-Federation planet.”
“Subspace?”
“No. The computer does not recognize the form of transmission, but we are receiving. They’re hailing us.”
“Can you establish visual contact?”
He waited while Uhura flipped several switches. “No, Captain.”
Jim frowned in the general direction of the science station for a few moments and then said “Return greetings. Have you triangulated the source of the signal, Mr. Spock?”
“Yes, Captain.” He sent a map to the viewscreen. “It appears that the signal is coming from a class M planet - Kepler-22b.”
“Lieutenant Kyle, put us into orbit around Kepler-22b.”
“All set, Mr. Spock?” Jim grinned at Spock's raised eyebrow. “Yes, I know you're actually waiting for me.” He joined Spock and three other crewmen on the transporter pad.
“Now remember, men -- the inhabitants of this land already knew we were travelling in space when they contacted us. But the Prime Directive still holds. Don’t give them any more information about our technology than necessary.” He turned toward the transporter operator. “Energize.”
The landscape when they rematerialized on Kepler-22b reminded Jim of the prairie, except that it seemed to be the shore of a waveless ocean. There was no creature in sight, but that was just as well, since no one should have seen them beam down. Spock and Lieutenant Martin began taking soil and vegetation samples, while Kirk scanned the horizon. He noticed a small boat on the water that was approaching faster than the fastest hovercraft he'd seen on earth. When it arrived at the shore, a creature stepped out. It was roughly humanoid, but looked unwieldy and moved very awkwardly. Jim wondered if it was hurt, or if this was just the way the creatures on this planet moved.
“Greetings, members of the United Federation of Planets and Captain James Tiberius Kirk. My name is Blorghau.”
“Greetings, Blorghau. We come in peace.”
“Your Communications Officer Lieutenant Nyota Uhura spoke of other officers of the United Federation of Planets starship USS Enterprise NCC-1701 who would be accompanying you. Is this First Officer Chief Science Officer Commander Spock?”
“Yes, and this is Lieutenant Martin and Ensigns Zhuhong and Cherveny.”
“You wish to study the land and the ways of the Lubzhul peoples?”
“Yes, we do.”
“The High Emperor of Lubzhul and All Surrounding Territories wishes to learn about the ways of your United Federation of Planets as well. He invites Captain James Tiberius Kirk and one other of Captain James Tiberius Kirk's choosing to visit him in his Palace of the High Emperor of Lubzhul and All Surrounding Territories.”
Jim felt Spock preparing his arguments behind him. “May I speak to my crew in private for a moment, Blorghau?”
“Yes, Captain James Tiberius Kirk. I will not listen.” And Blorghau spun around, and put his hands over his ears.
Jim stifled a smile as he turned to face his men.
“Captain, I do not think that going with Blorghau is wise.”
Jim grinned at him. “I'm not surprised. And why is that, Commander?”
“Firstly, we do not yet have sufficient information regarding the people of this planet. Blorghau does not appear to have evil intentions, but the cultural differences are such that we are not able to confirm or deny his harmless appearance. Secondly he came in an unusually small boat. We cannot know how seaworthy it is, and there is no logical reason that the captain of a starship should put himself in danger on the sea when his crew needs him. Thirdly, the USS Enterprise is scheduled to rendezvous with the USS Paul Jones in 2.051 days, and if your audience with the emperor of Kepler-22b takes more than 1.9 days, we will not make our rendezvous in time.”
Jim laughed out loud. “Spock, I don't know what I'd do without you.”
Spock's eyebrows shot up.
“But I have several very logical answers to your concerns. First, I have a hunch that Blorghau has good intentions. I know you don’t like hunches, but you have to admit that mine are right a pretty high percentage of the time.”
Spock looked peeved.
“I know I'm right because you haven't spit the percentage at me yet. Secondly, I can see it's a small boat. So can Blorghau. I assume that's why he’s only taking two people. He's aware of its limitations. And thirdly, when was the last time something like this ran to almost two days?”
“19.3 months ago. Another is due very soon.”
Jim rolled his eyes. “You know as well as I do that's a logical fallacy. I'm surprised at you.” Spock's eyebrows returned to their normal position - Jim was pretty sure that meant Spock was a little bit ashamed of himself. “Do you have any other objections that I need to answer?”
Spock looked around him for a moment and opened his mouth to speak, but closed it again when Jim glared.
“That's settled then.”
“I assume I will be the person you choose to accompany you, sir?”
“No, Spock. I brought Ensign Cherveny for the diplomatic experience.” Jim thought Spock might have just snorted. “So he is coming with me. And you need to keep working the scientific end of things, so I don't want to hear anything else against it, Commander.”
“I hope your communicator is in good condition, Captain?”
“Yes, it is. And remember that they're all waterproof, so we should be fine.” Jim walked up to Blorghau and tapped him on the shoulder. “Ensign Cherveny and I will be going with you.”
Jim noticed that Spock was far too focused on his tricorder as they walked away.
Jim had forgotten how much the rocking of a boat could affect his stomach. He wished he hadn't eaten that second serving of bacon with his breakfast - or that fifth cup of coffee - since he was sure it was all coming up if they didn't stop soon. To his relief, they did stop. But to his puzzlement, they stopped in the middle of the ocean. There was nothing but water surrounding them - no marker of any kind. He could see that Ensign Cherveny was puzzled as well.
“Captain James Tiberius Kirk and Ensign Cherveny, here is The Gateway to Palace of the High Emperor of Lubzhul and All Surrounding Territories. The journey is not short. Please follow me.” And Blorghau jumped out of the boat and disappeared under the water. Jim assumed that his mouth had fallen as far open as Cherveny's had. Then Cherveny chuckled.
“Mr. Spock may be saying something that rhymes with 'I bold you go' in a few minutes, if you don't mind me saying so, Captain.”
“He won't say it. He'll look it. And that's much worse.” He scanned their surroundings again. “Well, we are going either to have to beam back to the ship, or try to get back to shore. I don’t think it will be easy.”
“I watched Blorghau directing the ship, Captain. I think I could figure out how to turn the engine on again if you let me try.
“We have a very speedy motor, so if we made even the fraction of a degree of an incorrect direction we would be on the other side of the planet before we knew it. And I don’t want to try to start this engine unless we are certain we know how to stop it. I’m not going to be the first starship captain to die in the line of duty in a motorboat crash.”
Ensign Cherveny nodded. And Kirk shrugged and flipped open his communicator. “Kirk to Enterprise.”
“Scott here.”
“Scotty, we need to beam back up to the ship. We’ve been stranded in the middle of the ocean.”
“Ye’ve what?”
“The envoy from the emperor here just jumped into the water expecting us to follow him, and now we’re stranded.”
“Can ye sail back, Captain?”
“No - too many problems with the unfamiliar area and technology. We need to beam up and then try to get in touch with the Lubzhul people again. Uhura hasn’t managed to figure out how to hail them on their communication technology yet, has she?”
“Not as far as I know, Captain. But I’m sorry to say that ye’re stuck for the time being. The rest of the landing party came up half an hour ago, and we were very lucky that Ensign Zhuhong made it. The transporter blew a fuse while he was in transit.”
Jim sighed. “As soon as you’ve fixed it, then. Kirk out.” He looked wryly at Cherveny. “Comment?”
“At least if Blorghau comes back he won’t be disappointed?”
Jim threw his head back and laughed. “Well, we can wait.” He looked across the glassy still ocean for a few moments. “We need to ask Scotty to figure out a way to install some sort of ebook reader inside our communicators.”
Two hours later, no one was laughing. Jim’s eyes were closed against the almost horizontal raindrops that felt like needles on his face as he stood up trying to get a better signal. “What’s that, Scotty?”
“Commu . . . until we get . . . wait . . .”
He crouched down in the boat. “You okay, Ensign?”
Cherveny nodded. Fortunately, the sides of the boat were quite high, so there was a bit of relief from the wind chill if they both hunkered down. Jim’s concern was that the boat was rocking dangerously and could tip at any moment. His communicator beeped again. It was very garbled.
“Did you think he said ‘Spock’, Ensign?”
“I think so, Captain.”
“Any idea of what else.”
“No. Sorry, Captain.”
“That’s fine. I’m going to stand up and try again. Keep the boat as stable as you can?”
Jim stood up and flipped open his communicator, but before he could try to shout into it he caught sight of something not far distant. He gestured to Ensign Cherveny who put his head over the lip of the boat.
“Is that Spock?”
Cherveny nodded.
It was Spock. In some sort of boat that Scotty and he must have engineered in the last half hour.
Spock would be saying (or looking) a lot more than “I told you so.”
TBC in “Wand’ring Bark”