FIC: The Stratos Bride - Tribulations
Title: The Stratos Bride - Tribulations
Masterlist: Beginnings | Misunderstandings | Perceptions | Tribulations | Awakenings | Endings | Author Notes
It did not take an unreasonable amount of time to deduce what triggered the opening of the tree. Once Droxine had fallen backwards and the door had shut, Jim had used his usual method of wits to determine a solution-which encompassed punching every knot of bark that was apparent.
He swore, and then, “Spock, this isn’t working.”
“Perhaps it is a timed mechanism.”
“What, and she just happened to lean at the right time?” Jim shook his head. “I’m going to lean like she did, and you watch what I’m hitting.”
He braced an arm against the bark, watching with eagerness. He switched spots quickly, his impatience evident. While Jim tended to rush head-long into danger, he also never liked to wait for it.
“Perhaps it is a matter of weight pressed in a certain spot.”
“Yeah, but Droxine practically weighs nothing.”
“She must weigh at least fifty kilograms-“
Jim waved me off. “I mean, we’re stronger and heavier than she is. If she set it off that way, I should barrel right through it.” He sighed in immense exasperation and kicked a root. “No doubt whoever lives down there is stronger and heavier too. So how do they get in?”
I examined the surface of the bark, my eidetic memory recalling exactly how she leaned. “Considering reasonable security cautions for most species, perhaps it is not a matter of one fixture opening the door.”
Jim’s face dawned with awareness as I pressed with my hand and aligned the toe of my boot into a groove.
“Spock!”
I felt the back of my uniform grabbed as the door swung open. Fortunately I had anticipated falling in and leaned backwards, but the dark and steep stairway was still disorientating to peer into.
Jim didn’t let go of my uniform, his hand only moving to a shoulder as he rounded to stand next to me. “Wow.”
“Indeed.”
It appeared to go quite a distance, with sconces on the walls barely illuminating our view of the empty stairwell.
It begged a question, however. “I do not see Droxine.”
“Maybe she-“ Jim’s voice echoed, and he toned it down. “God, I hope she didn’t fall.”
“Or maybe she was captured.” Considering the fifteen-point-three minutes we spent figuring out the apparatus, it was an adequate amount of time.
However, the stone stairs curved gradually from the entrance. “If Droxine fell, I would assume the angle would have caught and snagged her fall.”
Jim nodded, but only seemed half-convinced. “I don’t have a good feeling about this.”
“It does appear foreboding.” With that I moved forward to pass him, and placed one foot gingerly on the stone landing. The action echoed and I halted, preparing for any possible consequences it would trigger. But the step remained solid, and a minute passed in silence as Jim braced himself.
When nothing occurred, Jim stepped in front of me.
“I’m going first,” he whispered. And without argument-it would require time, and I have learned it takes immense and intricate persuasion in these matters-I let him go ahead.
I looked behind me momentarily, grabbing the first thick branch I saw to wedge in the door. It was the width of my wrist and had considerable weight, seeming adequate. Yet it would likely creak or crack once the entrance closed, and I followed Jim quickly to warn him of such an event.
But as I touched his arm, what I heard was the branch cracking and snapping in half, startling both of us to turn around. The wood splintered and ricocheted off the walls, echoing past us as the entrance slammed shut-entirely too loud, entirely unnecessary.
Yet after a minute, nothing else happened. There were no guards, nor mysterious inhabitants to greet us. Instead my eyes adjusted to the lighting, watching as Jim took a relieved breath.
“Nice try, Spock,” he whispered, then motioned towards the staircase. “Guess the only way out is down.”
It was an undesirable situation we had spiraled into, each cause and effect tumbling into this moment. But as we had Doctor McCoy, Droxine, and Vanna to rescue, there was no time to doubt ourselves. We proceeded around the corner and further downward, careful with our footsteps.
The stone staircase was steep and circular, unwinding sharply in the dim lighting. It was difficult to go quickly, yet difficult to slow down as we saw the first hues of light from an open chamber.
There was also a familiar voice echoing towards us.
“Dammit, what have they done to you?”
I looked to Jim, who was also alarmed at how loudly we could hear the good doctor-and possibly anyone else.
With Jim almost tripping, we rushed down to the bottom. Jim sprinted forward with great lack of regard for himself-my hands itched to pull the same uniform-gripping maneuver from earlier, to rein him in. But once we reached the landing our footsteps reverberated off stone walls, and Jim skidded to a stop as he tried to quiet the echoing.
There was a decorated antechamber and a wide hall that led to where McCoy’s voice seemed to originate. Perhaps it was useless at this juncture, but we walked cautiously forward and picked a wall to skim, with both of our hands grabbing randomly at any object that seemed to be of some veritable weight.
Jim held a long iron rod, perhaps a brand, while I gripped the edges of a heavy glass bowl, ready for any defensive maneuver.
“It’s inhumane, that’s what it is. The Federation is going to have a field day-“
Jim turned the corner and I followed-where we both came across a startling sight.
One wall was covered with a series of metal cogs and gears, seeming to compose a large, interlocking mechanical apparatus. It trailed from the ceiling and grew larger as it connected to a wooden table near the ground. There Vanna was strapped in her torn black clothing, while McCoy hovered over her with his concern and angry muttering.
It was fortunate that they appeared to be alone.
McCoy jerked up quickly at our entrance, then eased when he recognized us. “About damn time you arrived.”
“Miss us, Bones?” Jim said with uneasy amusement as he lowered the brand in his hand. He walked towards the doctor and the apparatus, his eyes wide in observing our surroundings.
“No time for jokes. This woman needs to get to Sickbay.”
I stood next to both of them, noticing the bruises and pale sheen of Vanna’s skin. “Does your voodoo bring individuals back from the dead, Doctor?”
McCoy gave me a look of annoyance. “She is on the edge, certainly. I’ll need whatever help I can get.”
“All right-Spock, you carry her,” Jim said as he began to look around us, moving to the center of the chamber. “Bones, did you see Droxine?”
McCoy struggled with Vanna’s straps until I offered to break her binds. They were made of a thick material that rested directly on bare skin, and they were composed of metallic wires and cords that I could discern through my fingertips. With my strength I eventually tore them apart, while my mind speculated that the mechanical apparatus likely delivered an electrical current that pulsed through them-which would make this a torture device.
It was information I hoarded as I carefully hoisted Vanna over my shoulder, freeing McCoy to answer Jim’s question.
“Hell if I know. I was in a cell for hours, when there was a loud commotion out here. I quietly followed my guard out, where he rushed to help two others as they departed over there-“ McCoy nodded to a corridor. “I did see a flash of blonde hair.”
Jim exchanged a look with me, as we both knew their likely captive.
McCoy narrowed his eyes at us. “You eventually found Droxine? What happened?”
But Jim ignored him as he peered at the aforementioned corridor. His silence meant he was thinking of a solution, of which I could already predict I would not care for.
He came back to us, solemnly stating, “I’m going to look in that passageway. You two try to find an exit, and I’ll meet you above.”
“Captain, as our entrance cannot be our exit, it would be logical to explore the chambers together, rather than to separate.”
Jim avoided my stern gaze. “Do you know where the exit might be, Bones?”
McCoy huffed. “My guard left twice in the opposite direction. But Jim, we’re not leaving without-“
“You’re both going. That’s an order.”
His statement burned the last metaphorical nerve I had with the situation. “I disagree with your decision. You will be alone and unarmed, and you may possibly become trapped. ”
“Duly noted.” Jim had a hard stare, devoid of any friendliness. “I’ll see you both later.”
“This is illogical and it endangers you.”
But Jim did not acknowledge my statement, as he quickly turned into the corridor and disappeared from view.
It was disconcerting how quickly that happened. I could not even hear his footsteps, when before they echoed and announced our arrival. I surmised that the structure, outfitted with draperies and floor coverings, had been precisely decorated for that purpose.
McCoy looked just as uneasy. “I don’t like it either, Spock.”
“Then perhaps a more uncertain answer would have been your best option.” I adjusted Vanna in my arms, her weight feeling incredibly light for what I expected.
McCoy scoffed. “Well, I’ll be-you, a Vulcan, wanted me to lie to our captain?”
“It is not lying to excise details.” I looked at the opposing corridor McCoy had hinted. “I am presuming this passageway leads to your cell.”
McCoy snorted, but nodded his head. “We’re discussing this later.” He started towards the passage. “Over a good Saurian Brandy.”
“I do not imbibe needlessly.”
“For me,” he whispered as we started down the dark corridor.
Thankfully his brand of humor was cast aside as we entered, for it was entirely too silent to risk. While our footsteps did not echo, we were able to hear many sounds that seemed beyond the iron-barred chambers we passed. Over a hundred yards of walls and cells, and the sounds of dripping seemed to encroach. I suspected we would soon reach an underground lake or waterfall-perhaps the very source that generated power for the torture device.
“It is peculiar,” I murmured softly, “that your jail cell was near the exit.”
McCoy shrugged and whispered back, “Midro would go this way. I don’t know what to tell ya.”
“I do not disbelieve, Doctor.” But it was still peculiar.
We passed another hundred yards of walls and dispersed cells in a curved fashion. The design was naturally made from the cavern, and it was smartly incorporated. The corridor had orange and mauve floor coverings that absorbed the impact of our footsteps, while gold tapestries hung beside the containment cells.
It suggested a place that was built for surprises.
“I hear water, Spock.”
“As do I.”
But once we rounded our next corner we fell into a jarring and pitch black chamber-the carpeting and tapestries were gone. Quite suddenly our actions echoed, and this included our breath.
McCoy harshly inhaled at the abrupt change.
“Spock, I can’t-“ he hushed when his voice amplified.
I shook my head, although I assumed he could not see it and risked murmuring, “A moment for our bearings.”
Where the previous chambers were dimly lit, our current path offered no such visibility. It was gravely disconcerting, considering the water that dripped loudly in our vicinity-but it certainly clarified why the jail cells were not a concern in this area.
McCoy lightly touched my forearm and whispered, “Sorry, Spock. Just wanted to feel around you. I’m going to go get one of those wall sconces we saw.”
“I will stay here,” I said, feeling the brief hints of worry, frustration, and apology in his touch. As much as I chastise the good doctor, he is thankfully cognizant of my issues, and his hands quickly avoided me as he moved forward.
“Right,” he said gruffly, and it echoed lightly. He stepped beside me, feeling for the wall which curved and went back into the light.
One reason for my position, besides staying where I may easily be located, was to discern through audio clues what lay beyond us. The sounds of water were repetitive, and I counted mere seconds between each drop; which was consistent in the 12 minutes I measured. It was not reassuring in any capacity, the impression that we might encounter a waterfall or underground lake in complete darkness.
But my second eyelid blinded me momentarily as pitch black was suddenly illuminated.
“Had to hunt for this,” McCoy whispered, gesturing to the broom handle that was now a torch. “Broke into a cell.”
It was a meter in length with a ridged stem, and the splintered end was wrapped in layers of cloth. “I believe it will work.”
McCoy held the torch high for visibility, yet it only illuminated our immediate area. We could all see each other, and McCoy peered at Vanna, who seemed lifeless in my grasp.
“Let’s get this over with. She ain’t got all day.”
I adjusted my grip and allowed the doctor to move ahead of me. Only walls seemed suggested for a time, the torchlight unrevealing if there were any variances of height or color. None of these details changed when McCoy stopped abruptly in front of me, causing Vanna’s legs to unfortunately push him.
He put an arm out to grab them, and then murmured, “Well, there ya go.”
“Explain.”
He turned his head slightly. “Got a drop here. No idea how far down. But I hear that water echoing from it.”
Indeed, that did explain much. No light combined with a precipice, and it seemed an unfortunate end for anyone that dared escape-again, this underground cavern was smartly utilized.
“Yet the occupants of this chamber went this way.”
The light moved as McCoy attempted to look beyond him.
“There might be a ledge-God, it’s narrow. And yeah, he headed here. We didn’t pass anything, did we? ”
“Not that I am aware of. Yet this is unreasonable.”
“Maybe there’s something below us, and the water is further than we think. They might bring a ladder or something.”
A possible solution, but tenuous. “If that is correct, I doubt they carry the ladder on their person.”
As the good doctor does on occasion, I received a blank stare in reply before my insinuation sunk in.
Once again the light moved to analyze around us. “I don’t see a ladder anywhere, Spock.”
“Then there must be a simpler solution.”
“Rope?”
“Convenient to keep on one’s person while traveling.”
“Then how the hell are we gonna get that?”
I confess I made an exasperated huff, his irritation irrationally inflaming and underlining much of my own. “We may need to backtrack for resources.”
“There are the tapestries, I guess.” But McCoy did not seem appeased with that, nor was I. “Dammit.”
“Agreed.”
He rubbed his face. “I can feel it itching, too-I can barely think.”
I did not have time for such emotional digressions. We needed to find the exit, and we needed to regroup with Jim. “Doctor, that is unfortunate. But we must find a solution.”
“That’s what I’m trying to do!”
“There is no reason to be combative.”
“I’m not being-Spock.” He put out a hand. “Hold on.”
“We do not have the time-“
“Shut the hell up and listen.” McCoy edged closer to me, his face stern. “Take a breather.”
“We do not have the luxury.”
“And we can’t be sniping at each other-especially when it isn’t us.” McCoy pointed between us, then recanted, “Well, not usually.” He frowned. “During missions, anyway.”
I took a deep breath, yet anger still rankled all my nerves and thoughts.
McCoy pointed around us. “I guess we’re not immune.”
It seemed a divergent topic, until I realized exactly what he was referring to.
“The zenite.”
He nodded. “Now detrimental to Humans and Vulcans.” He gave a wry smile. “Just a barrel of surprises, this damn planet. So glad we’re vacationing here.”
I bit back my retort, logic remembering that McCoy often made light of serious situations. It did not ease my irritation, yet it offered optimism for my Vulcan faculties.
I took another deep breath. “I will send my shore leave recommendations to Starfleet.”
McCoy gave a sharp laugh, too loud in the cavern, and yet it thankfully eased the tension.
He turned around again, peering over the ledge. “Well, let’s figure out how you can do that.”
It was still problematic, especially when I could not see the ledge clearly. Yet I inched closer, wanting all the details of our circumstance.
“There must be a solution.” One being that McCoy was perhaps mistaken, and we should backtrack to another corridor.
Cognizant of the woman on my shoulder, I straightened carefully before making my suggestion-which was fortunate, as I clearly felt an object brush the top of my head.
“Doctor, look above me.” It was perhaps a spiderweb, or-
McCoy turned around, raising the torch as he squinted. His eyes dawned with awareness a moment later.
“Well, of course,” he muttered. “Why would they go down when everything is up?”
Shifting my balance, I followed his line of sight-where the edge of a black net was visible, hanging slightly over the top of the chamber’s entryway.
It did indeed make sense. However-“We may still need some rope.”
“God, how are we hefting her up there?” He looked over at her form. “Heck, how are we even getting up there?”
A plan was already formulating in my mind. “Do you believe you could bear Vanna’s weight for five minutes?”
McCoy nodded, although he stared at Vanna curiously. “That’s her name?”
“There are many details I have learned quite recently.”
“Well, then I carried Vanna for hours. Five minutes ain’t nothin’.”
It was what I expected. “Then you will carry Vanna while I hoist the both of you.”
McCoy raised his brows with exaggerated skepticism. “Pardon me?”
“As you carry her momentarily, I will provide you with assistance in reaching the net. Once you are secure in your footing, I will follow you and, once I am also secure in my position, I will relieve you of her weight.” I looked upward. “It is the only possible solution I can discern, if we are to climb this wall.”
His skepticism did not ease as he surveyed our limited view. “We don’t know how far this thing goes.”
“Then perhaps we should start as soon as possible.”
McCoy turned his head, glancing over my frame. I knew as a doctor he was contemplating my abilities, likely contrasting with his own. But a moment later he silently nodded his assent.
Awkward maneuvering was required as we exchanged Vanna and the torch. McCoy took her weight with a grunt. “How are you gettin’ up there, Spock?”
“I believe I have enough upper body strength to lift myself.” Our entry’s apex was a half-meter above my head, yet the netting extended far below it. I grabbed at the edge of it, noticing the holes of the structure could easily contain a foot, and when I yanked it mildly stretched. “You will need to hold her with one arm.”
McCoy looked up at the netting with obvious doubt, yet was also resigned. “For your sake, I hope this isn’t long.”
“As it is our only exit,” I wedged the torch in a deep wall fracture, satisfied when it did not fall or extinguish, “the distance will be determined, soon enough.”
“God,” McCoy huffed, watching as I interlocked my hands on bended knee. “Remind me never to go along so easily with Jim’s stupid plans again.”
“As he is your Captain, as well as mine, that will be difficult to adhere to.”
McCoy wrapped an arm securely around Vanna’s waist, the body slumping into his side. He had a moment’s pause while looking up, trying to gain his courage or his bearings. But after grumbling interesting vernacular he stepped his left foot into my locked hands, surging upward after our quiet countdown to three.
On the third he gripped the netting above him, his feet struggling to catch on the mesh as my hands were pushing him upward. There was a precarious moment where his stepped on my shoulders, and Vanna veered and swung from his body. But momentum crashed them back to the cavern wall, where the doctor was able to cling and stand in the black net.
“God, Spock,” he said, sounding strangely out of breath. “I might die of a heart attack if you don’t get your butt up here.”
“Vanna might find it inconvenient if you perish.”
McCoy muttered expletives as I analyzed the entryway, pondering the likelihood of attaching the torch to the netting without setting it aflame. “We must leave our light source behind.”
“I am punching Jim when I see him. Square in the jaw.”
I stood under the entryway, at an angle with the cavern wall. “As much as I do not condone such violence, I wish for you to have the opportunity to do so.”
At that I jumped for the netting, my hands gripping and tangling themselves in several holes. I swung my legs to the arch as I pulled myself upward, my feet slipping against the stone surface as I tried to gain leverage. It took several attempts, but my boot found a fracture to wedge into, and this offered momentum as my legs pressed against the cavern wall. My upper body strength pulled me upward as I grabbed at the netting-where my hands would occasionally miss, yet easily recover-and I lifted myself to the point of standing on the fracture. From there my feet securely stepped into the black mesh, and I was soon dangling from the large expanse of wall.
I climbed my way to McCoy, where he seemed quite angry with me.
“I take that back-I’m punching you when we reach the surface.”
“I have gained my bearings. I will wrap an arm around her waist, and we will maneuver her arms and chest over my shoulder. I will then instruct when you may let go.”
I ignored all grumbling as we positioned ourselves. McCoy held still as I maneuvered a knee behind Vanna’s thigh, a barrier if she should slip or lean the wrong way.
“You may let go.”
However as McCoy released her, it was only his arm pressing against her back that rolled her properly onto my shoulder, sparing the both of us from falling backwards with momentum.
“God, I’m going to die. Not from falling, but from worrying over your behind.”
“When you are sufficiently calm, you may proceed in attempting to climb upwards.”
“I can’t see a damn thing.”
The torch’s glow was dim at our proximity, and it was not promising for a long journey ahead. In fact, the entire situation did not hold much promise-it made me concerned for Jim’s current predicament, and whether he would have to made the same choices with Droxine, especially unconscious.
“Okay, feelin’ my way up.”
If Jim did not meet us at the surface, I would find the tree and explore the caverns.
“Spock, stop thinking so damn loud. I’m worried about him, too.”
I hefted Vanna close my shoulder, her limp hands briefly brushing my back, and I prepared to move upward. “Then you will understand my need for haste.”
“Hey, I’m not a spider monkey.” But within minutes he had set a steady pace, his feet taking overly-precautious steps from one foot holding to another, intuiting his way up the cavern wall.
I found it slightly more difficult, as I relied on one arm to support more than my own body weight. While I felt competent enough for such an extreme circumstance it was painful after 15 minutes of our climb, and almost excruciating as that time doubled.
However, when I estimated we had traversed 500 meters, McCoy could not contain his enthusiasm.
“Thank God-I see light, Spock. Light and an edge.”
I did not perceive such things in my vision, as I was focused on the cavern wall in front of me and the body draped over my shoulder.
“Hold on, scrambling over it now-ah, damn.”
I chanced a glance upward, seeing the thin haze of light. “Doctor?”
There was a disconcerting silence as my mind considered other possibilities. Perhaps that McCoy was captured, of worse-
A whip of sound went past my ear as I heard a grunt from above.
“Coming back down, Spock.”
My eyes could barely focus, but there was a rope swaying next to me.
I looked up. “Doctor, there is no need-“
But after seven minutes of McCoy descending towards me, he grabbed the rope and held it near us: It contained a large hook at the end of it.
“Maybe they use it for supplies,” he moved next to Vanna, his eyes searching her form. “You think we could hook her?
I was exhausted, but it did not seem safe. Yet McCoy wrapped it under her arms before folding several knots, then hooked the belt at her waist.
McCoy met my eyes. “You can stay with her, but it’ll make things easier on you.”
As McCoy held Vanna in place with his arm, I slowly released her-feeling the nerves come back to life as there was a tingling in my shoulder, the hook and rope proving to work.
I flexed my fingers and McCoy did a self-satisfied grunt. “Knew it.”
“Thank you,” I said, although I still did not trust the rope.
McCoy moved upward. “I’ll start pulling if you want to keep climbing.”
“I will proceed once you have done so.”
The ten minutes it took for him to reach the ledge was a decent rest, while Vanna still dangled lightly against my shoulder.
There was a tug, and then, “All right, I’m pulling.”
I was concerned for the doctor’s strength, as he had been climbing further than myself and was now pulling another body. But it did accelerate my journey as we both lifted Vanna up the cavern wall, quickening my pace. When we were three feet from the ledge McCoy took over completely, dragging her to safety.
“You doin’ okay?” McCoy yelled over the side. And from his actions I intuited that we were alone, the cavern’s occupants still fortunately absent.
“I will be there momentarily.” I weakly clung to the netting, both of my fingers losing sensation and the strength to grip. It was disconcerting to be powerless, using my mental faculties to ignore the pain in my biceps and the stiffness in my shoulders.
But once I reached the ledge I felt hands on my arms, helping to pull me over.
McCoy panted and dropped to the ground once I was secure, finally revealing his exhaustion.
“Once we find Jim, I’ll likely just fall on him.” McCoy put out a hand as I tried to stand up. “We’re good, just lay there a minute. Doctor’s orders.”
I blinked at the cavern ceiling, grateful for the repose. Yet it also occurred to me that Jim was still missing-we were technically on the surface, but he was not waiting for us.
Perhaps he was in the clearing with the tree, hiding with Droxine.
I turned my head and saw Vanna next to us on her back, untied and lifeless. It was a sobering view while considering our circumstances, and it forced me to sit up.
“Once we are away from the caves we should contact the Enterprise.”
“God, I’m not 20 anymore, I forget sometimes.” McCoy sat up to join me, crawling on his knees to examine Vanna’s condition. “I’ll carry her.”
“I am adequately rested, but I will scout the entrance before we depart.”
It was enough time to gauge my readiness while allowing McCoy the chance for further repose. He would need his strength in order to move out of the forest and to be beamed aboard the Enterprise, as I doubted the ship would receive our signal from the caves.
Once they were beamed aboard, I would be able to backtrack to find Jim.
“No funny business, Spock. We’re not separating.”
“As Vanna’s condition is deteriorating-“
“I’m a doctor, I can see that.” He shook a finger at me. “I know you, Spock. You want to find Jim, and you’ll go to any means to do so.”
“As first officer, it is my duty to ascertain the Captain’s location and to provide assistance-“
“’Ass” is in ‘ascertain’.”
I frowned. “Technically it is not.”
“We’re not separating.” He sat beside Vanna as his hand waved me off. “Go scout. But once you get back we’re finding that entrance, and we will ‘ascertain’ Jim’s location together.”
“That will waste precious time-“
“I know. But the sooner we find Jim, and hopefully Droxine, perhaps the sooner I’ll know how to treat her.” McCoy looked at Vanna mournfully. “For all I know, she is practically dead already.”
As the doctor lifted her wrist to find a pulse, I went to the entrance 50 meters away and saw the dim hues of evening. The lighting was not promising-finding the clearing with the tree seemed foreboding in the darkness, and I did not relish the odds of being able to do so. Even worse was traveling the forest at night-which seemed likely even if we made haste, as the distance to the edge of the woods was unknown.
Perhaps McCoy would have to come with me, one way or the other.
“Ready, Spock?” McCoy said behind me, his frame showing obvious weariness in carrying Vanna.
I offered my arms. “Yes. We will both find the clearing.”
“Glad you got some sense in ya.” He handed her over, his back straightening with the lack of weight. “It must be nearby anyway, we didn’t go very far down there.”
“That is my impression, as well.”
And with that we both followed the side of the cavern entrance until it was no more, hoping to find that clearing in the woods.
( Joanna rested her elbows on her knees, waiting for Spock to continue.
When he didn’t, she rolled her eyes. “More dramatic posturing?”
“On the contrary, I am waiting for the next individual to appear and tell their section of the story.”
“Like you don’t know it?”
Spock opened his mouth to speak, closed it, and then, “I am quite aware of the events. However, I was under the impression we were following a particular method of story-telling.”
Joanna watched as Spock glanced at the empty Sickbay doors, his mind seeming to deliberate options before settling on a solution.
“As the Doctor and I tried to locate the clearing, the Captain had issues of his own in trying to join us.” )
Jim traveled in the opposite direction of the holding cells, noticing that the passages became more labyrinthe in scope, seemingly impossible to navigate.
“Where are breadcrumbs at a time like this,” he muttered, trying to determine how to form a torch of his own.
( “I would never say anything like that.”
Joanna and Spock looked over at the hospital partition, where Jim smirked at the both of them.
“I am quite aware that your version is more... colorfully verbose.”
“That’s why you have to leave it to the master.” Jim motioned with his thumb for Spock to stand. “Your turn on the bridge.”
As they exchanged places, there was the striking of matches again-held low without outward acknowledgement, with Jim making more of a production out of stealing Spock’s chair.
Jim grinned as he sat sideways, cradling the back. “Have fun without me.”
“As is often the case when the cat’s away,” Spock said solemnly, and Jim put a hand to his chest.
“Ouch. I knew you guys were having parties without me.”
“There is a different atmosphere, certainly.”
As Spock left, Jim pointed at the partition. “Can you believe that guy? Mean to me.”
Joanna rolled her eyes. “Can we get back to the good stuff?”
“And here I thought there was no ‘good stuff’.”
“The cave part was interesting,” Joanna admitted, especially when Leonard seemed to save Spock’s behind, near the end.
Jim twisted in his seat. “I told you that Spock was a great storyteller.”
Joanna did a half-shrug, noncommittal either way, and Jim let it go.
“Anyway, as the Master Storyteller was saying-“ )
“What the hell, where’s a sign when you need it?”
Spock probably had a good point about not breaking off in the caves, but I wasn’t about to admit it then. My main goal had been to get them all out, especially with Vanna as dire as she looked. Bones couldn’t do it on his own, as much as I wanted Spock to help me find Droxine. So in the end, as much as Spock can be right sometimes-okay, right most of the time, but don’t tell him that-I still would’ve been in those twisting caves alone, trying to figure out where to go.
It made sense to me to have such confusing paths, although it was incredibly frustrating. There was a main path I was on, lit with sconces on the wall, looking awfully fu-freakin’ medieval and creeping me out. But this path branched out to various other tunnels, which looked pitch black from where I stood, trying to rely on my instincts.
Which wasn’t doing me much good, truth be told.
“If I were a torturer-dude and a princess, where would I go...” I mumbled to myself, peering in each passage. Not that I could see anything in the darkness, but I had nothing else to go on. There were no tracks with the carpeted hallway, nor footfalls or voices to follow. Everything was eerily silent and unhelpful, and I was left wandering without a clue.
Basically, I was screwed. I decided to follow to the end of this pathway until inspiration struck-especially since I couldn’t believe it would lead me directly to where they were, considering how cave dwellers likely knew all the off-shoots.
Then again, who’s to say we were really dealing with cave dwellers?
I probably traveled a good half-hour that way, going cautiously straight as I looked at the paths that branched off. This cavern underneath was long-somebody had really chosen well for a hideout, all things considered.
There was a part of me thinking I should really turn around and catch up with Spock and Bones-maybe Droxine wasn’t even freaking here, after all-when I heard echoing voices.
“Do you take me for a fool, Princess?” sneered a voice from up ahead, trying to keep quiet.
There were sounds of a struggle, and I hid in one of the adjoining passageways as I tried to listen.
“You’ll never get away with this!” Droxine cried, not in the same eagerness to be quiet. “No one is dumb enough to fall for you!”
“Silence!” which was followed by a slap. “You will keep your tongue, if you wish to keep your tongue.”
I looked around, searching for a weapon when there clearly was none. My best element was surprise, but that was difficult to determine when they were likely in a tunnel up ahead-and who knows how far off.
I peered around the edge, trying to devise the best way to sneak up on them, when there was a sudden flurry up ahead. A robed man pulled a gagged Droxine by her bindings as they headed down the cavern.
She twisted and put up a fuss. I looked over at the robed man, who didn’t seem all that imposing. Maybe he had caught Droxine by surprise, as he seemed kind of old and would likely be taken out by a good thwack.
( “....What?”
Joanna just stared at Jim drolly, knowing what was next. “You didn’t.”
He shifted awkwardly in his seat. “Um, well, anyway-“ )
When Droxine pulled hard enough on the rope to make him trip, he reached around to smack her again-and I couldn’t contain myself.
“Stop, right where you are!” I yelled as I rushed forward. I figured if I was fast enough with a good kick, I could-
But a foot away I felt something hit the back of my head, and I stumbled to my knees.
Droxine turned towards me, and despite the gag in her mouth she had the audacity to roll her eyes.
“Did you say ‘dumb enough’, Princess?” the smooth voice sneered again, but behind me.
I blinked rapidly to try to maintain focus, but the robed man just snickered.
“Bwain versus bwawn.” He smiled gleefully down at me, his thick tongue now apparent. “Ob-obviouswy bwain is the winner.”
As I blacked out I saw the other man come into view, his regal authority apparent-and I cursed my bad luck.
( “Is it really bad luck when it was obvious?” Joanna asked as a smirk played on her lips.
“You’re just as bad as your dad.”
“So what happened next?” Joanna moved on-surely twelve hours had been spent telling this, right? Or maybe it just felt like it.
But Jim smiled at that. Maybe there were juicy parts coming up.
“We all went to the castle.”
Joanna was non-plussed. “So they technically rescued both of you?”
Jim gave a playful shrug, and Joanna narrowed her eyes.
“This gets worse, doesn’t it.”
Jim rearranged himself in the chair before continuing. “Well, you see, I felt rope on my wrists and ankles when I woke up...” )
The surroundings were pretty nice and the bed was the softest I’ve ever been on. But I was by myself, and hell if being tied up wasn’t suspicious.
I tried to sit up, but all I did was roll over and onto the floor.
“Dammit,” I muttered, my face feeling the luxurious fibers of carpeting. But after a moment of nobody checking up on me, I decided to scooch my body together to sit on my knees, and eventually was able to find some balance to look up.
It wasn’t the room that Spock and I had seen on Stratos, which was too pink and orange and overflowing with mood lighting, but it was similar in its emphasis on overly prententious and beautiful things. Stone accents, lighter hues-more natural. There wasn’t a balcony, but the windows looked out into a clear blue sky-the day brighter than when I had left it, that’s for sure.
I guess I had slept a while.
“Come on, self.” I leaned against the bed, hoping I could straighten my legs. When I did I squished my toes in my boots, aiming to stand upright-and thankfully I succeeded. Because hell if there wasn’t a lot of furniture in there, and I could’ve cracked my head open with another fall.
But I hopped 360-degrees as I tried to get a good feel of the room. If this had been my apartment at the Academy, somebody would’ve banged a broom against the floor by now, telling me to shut up. But still there was silence, and it seemed that I was left to my own devices. A dangerous thing, in my view-I could see several objects I could rub these bindings against, hopefully to cut them.
The sharp edge of a table was about the right height. Unfortunately it was on the other side of the bed, but I could bunny hop like a pro.
( Jim glared at Joanna as she covered her mouth. “You finished?”
She shook her head, needing a moment before she could finally look at him without giggling. “Do they teach that-“ she smirked, “at the Academy?”
“I need to talk to your dad about your sass,” Jim murmured, but then continued. )
Considering I had nothing to untie my feet, I hopped quickly to the end of the bed and tried not to lose my balance. But eventually I made it to the large wooden table, which had a natural and rustic aesthetic that was to my benefit, in that nobody had smoothed or sanded the edges.
It was hard to align the rope without looking, and I knicked my arm a few time. But I eventually wedged a corner of the knot just right to sever the fibers, rubbing for a good several minutes before I felt some give.
When I was able to pull my arms apart I made a triumphant sound, shrugging off my bounds and going directly to my feet. That knot also took some time, but I hadn’t been a boy scout for nothing.
Once I was free I looked about the room, wondering what the trick was. Maybe there were guards outside the door-maybe there was a camera somewhere in the room. Maybe I was so high up in a place so intricate, they figured that if I escaped I wouldn’t have much chance of figuring it out.
But quiet minutes passed after I loosened my bindings, and the door looked incredibly inviting. I strode towards it and put my ear to the surface, listening for whatever might be on the other side.
That didn’t disappoint, as I heard the echo of footsteps on a hard floor approaching closer-and I had a hunch of where they were headed to.
It was too late to consider going out the window. So I grabbed a heavy vase on a podium next to me, a god-awful decorating accent that would hopefully come in handy, and stepped to the side of the sliding door.
There was a buzz-what did they think, I would answer?-before they slid open to reveal two guards. The vase landed on one head while I kicked the other in the stomach, smashing both helpless bodies together before I whirled around, ready to face whatever was next.
Too bad it was more guards who easily captured me and roughly hauled me backwards, throwing me on the bed. When I sat up there was a crossing of axes in front of my face, and I got the point.
Which was when Plasus decided to show his ugly, smirking mug in the doorway.
“What a show, Captain Kirk. And I even rang before I entered.”
I motioned to the guards. “What’s all of this? You know it is a Federation offense to imprison a Starfleet officer-“
“Just as it’s likely an offense to kidnap an official’s daughter, correct?”
Okay, he had a point. “She was never in any danger.”
“Of course not, Captain-would never think of such.” He stepped forward, appearing to contemplate his words. “However, it does put a kink in our negotiations.”
“You have never been interested in negotiating, Plasus,” I spat out, feeling the edges of the axe against my chest. “If this is negotiating, then I don’t think that word means what you think it means.”
“Temper, Kirk.” He wagged a finger at me. “Your hostility is not conducive. Perhaps a walk will ease some tension.”
“Where’s Droxine?” I blurted out, the events that had led me here suddenly rushing to consciousness. If the same people who kidnapped me had Droxine, and these people led me here-why would they tie up somebody they were likely trying to rescue?
“She is safe, Captain Kirk-no thanks to you.” He walked out of view, and I gritted my teeth as the guards stood me up, clamping both arms as we followed.
The stone corridors felt familiar from Stratos, so perhaps we were in the same place-just a different branch of the building, nothing more. The emphasis on art was similar, and we passed various different paintings, tapestries, and sculptures before we entered an open hall-definitely not the one I recognized from Stratos, especially with the people in it.
Droxine stood beside a tall, blond gentleman. Despite the man wearing elegant garb with poise and presence, she did not look at home.
She wouldn’t meet my eyes, instead watching her father as he strode ahead of us and joined her side.
“Captain Kirk, I would like you to meet Eduar, the Prince of Cirrus and the head of all the cloud cities.”
That was when the blond gentleman turned to me, his fair and aristocratic face obviously displeased at acknowledging my presence-which, what, I know I was tumbling in the dirt, but come on.
“Starfleet,” he said curtly. “Your presence here has caused some disturbance.”
No kidding. “I assure you the Enterprise, on behalf of the Federation, was only interested in the zenite that was promised to us.”
“And like I stated, Captain Kirk,” Plasus butted in, “as soon as we handled our little rebellion we would deliver the zenite as promised.”
“The people of Merak II don’t have time! Millions of lives are at stake as you try to quell a several century caste war.”
Plasus raised an eyebrow-not as epic as Spock’s, and certainly not as amusing-as he waved at the guards to restrain me further. This was them tightening their grips on my arms, their hands way stronger than mine and almost crushing bone.
I winced, but that couldn’t shut me up. “Plasus, regardless of how you feel about me or the Federation, please consider a whole planet of people who can’t wait another day-“
“Patience, Captain Kirk. Once we have tracked down the rebels who caused the disruption on Stratos-“
“The Enterprise can help-“
“Silence!”
At that the guards spun me around and shoved me in the back, urging me towards another corridor which didn’t seem very promising. What was Plasus gonna do? Shove a Starfleet officer in a cell and keep me locked up forever? Surely he’d realize that the Federation would come along eventually, wanting to know what the hell was up.
But as we entered the archway of the corridor and I was planning to use a tapestry to blind a guard, we heard a voice call out, “Promise not to hurt him!”
Which was surprising, as I was pretty sure Droxine didn’t give a fig.
I was shoved again to turn around, and Droxine’s plaintive expression as she looked at me and then her father was surprisingly sincere.
“Father, promise not to hurt him,” Droxine said with her best pleading eyes. “I’m safe now. Please send him on his way, so Starfleet can leave.”
Plasus appeared to consider it, exchanging a glance with the Prince. But he placed a reassuring hand on Droxine’s shoulder, his smile as artificial as his good intentions.
“While normally we would punish those who harm us-“ he patted her long, blonde hair. “I will do as my daughter requests.”
I felt tightening hands behind me-yeah, right. He was talked into that rather easily.
But Droxine looked appeased by that, kissing her father on the cheek before racing over to me. Her concerned face scanned mine as she thought through something-perhaps a heartfelt and apologetic goodbye?
Instead she removed a large, blue necklace from around her neck, then held it before her. “A peace offering.”
It was ugly as hell, but she leaned forward as she lifted it over my head.
“Promise you’ll find Vanna,” she whispered as her fingers situated the chain on my skin. “They want to make her a scapegoat.”
And that made much more sense than Droxine wanting to be my friend. So when she stepped back I met her eyes, hopefully giving a barely perceptible nod before they carted me away.
Not that I was sure I could do much good, as they all led me to where I expected-a bright white prison cell, with heavy metal bars blocking my exit.
“Take it easy, Starfleet!” a guard cackled as the bars locked into place and I was blocked behind them, with not much recourse.
I sighed as I looked around, the natural aesthetics of Cirrus present, but with nothing to harm myself or others. There was a wooden table and I walked towards it, my eyes following the corners of the walls.
But let’s face it: I was trapped. Maybe for good. And my only hope at that point was for Spock and Bones to have found a way out, hopefully smart enough to just beam on board the Enterprise and leave the zenite to someone else.
( “Although some things are too much to wish for,” Jim said, looking keenly at Leonard as he came around the partition to join them.
Leonard made a note on his PADD, ignoring him. “Looking good, kiddo. Got two hours left though.”
Joanna buried her face in her hands. “This sucks.”
“As it should. I don’t need you crawlin’ in strange places around here.” Leonard sat down next to her bed, then looked over at Jim. “Okay, where are we?”
“I just got put in a prison cell.”
Leonard pointed a finger at him as he side-eyed Joanna. “This one here? A genius.”
“Well, this genius is Captain.”
“Like I can forget it.” Leonard made himself comfortable-which meant fiddling with Joanna’s water jug and cords from her bed-before asking, “My turn?”
Jim settled in as well, seemingly not interested in leaving. “You bet.”
“Well,” Leonard said, turning towards Joanna. “So Spock and I just wandered out from the caves, where I convinced his stubborn self to stick with me...” )
Masterlist | Awakenings
Masterlist: Beginnings | Misunderstandings | Perceptions | Tribulations | Awakenings | Endings | Author Notes
It did not take an unreasonable amount of time to deduce what triggered the opening of the tree. Once Droxine had fallen backwards and the door had shut, Jim had used his usual method of wits to determine a solution-which encompassed punching every knot of bark that was apparent.
He swore, and then, “Spock, this isn’t working.”
“Perhaps it is a timed mechanism.”
“What, and she just happened to lean at the right time?” Jim shook his head. “I’m going to lean like she did, and you watch what I’m hitting.”
He braced an arm against the bark, watching with eagerness. He switched spots quickly, his impatience evident. While Jim tended to rush head-long into danger, he also never liked to wait for it.
“Perhaps it is a matter of weight pressed in a certain spot.”
“Yeah, but Droxine practically weighs nothing.”
“She must weigh at least fifty kilograms-“
Jim waved me off. “I mean, we’re stronger and heavier than she is. If she set it off that way, I should barrel right through it.” He sighed in immense exasperation and kicked a root. “No doubt whoever lives down there is stronger and heavier too. So how do they get in?”
I examined the surface of the bark, my eidetic memory recalling exactly how she leaned. “Considering reasonable security cautions for most species, perhaps it is not a matter of one fixture opening the door.”
Jim’s face dawned with awareness as I pressed with my hand and aligned the toe of my boot into a groove.
“Spock!”
I felt the back of my uniform grabbed as the door swung open. Fortunately I had anticipated falling in and leaned backwards, but the dark and steep stairway was still disorientating to peer into.
Jim didn’t let go of my uniform, his hand only moving to a shoulder as he rounded to stand next to me. “Wow.”
“Indeed.”
It appeared to go quite a distance, with sconces on the walls barely illuminating our view of the empty stairwell.
It begged a question, however. “I do not see Droxine.”
“Maybe she-“ Jim’s voice echoed, and he toned it down. “God, I hope she didn’t fall.”
“Or maybe she was captured.” Considering the fifteen-point-three minutes we spent figuring out the apparatus, it was an adequate amount of time.
However, the stone stairs curved gradually from the entrance. “If Droxine fell, I would assume the angle would have caught and snagged her fall.”
Jim nodded, but only seemed half-convinced. “I don’t have a good feeling about this.”
“It does appear foreboding.” With that I moved forward to pass him, and placed one foot gingerly on the stone landing. The action echoed and I halted, preparing for any possible consequences it would trigger. But the step remained solid, and a minute passed in silence as Jim braced himself.
When nothing occurred, Jim stepped in front of me.
“I’m going first,” he whispered. And without argument-it would require time, and I have learned it takes immense and intricate persuasion in these matters-I let him go ahead.
I looked behind me momentarily, grabbing the first thick branch I saw to wedge in the door. It was the width of my wrist and had considerable weight, seeming adequate. Yet it would likely creak or crack once the entrance closed, and I followed Jim quickly to warn him of such an event.
But as I touched his arm, what I heard was the branch cracking and snapping in half, startling both of us to turn around. The wood splintered and ricocheted off the walls, echoing past us as the entrance slammed shut-entirely too loud, entirely unnecessary.
Yet after a minute, nothing else happened. There were no guards, nor mysterious inhabitants to greet us. Instead my eyes adjusted to the lighting, watching as Jim took a relieved breath.
“Nice try, Spock,” he whispered, then motioned towards the staircase. “Guess the only way out is down.”
It was an undesirable situation we had spiraled into, each cause and effect tumbling into this moment. But as we had Doctor McCoy, Droxine, and Vanna to rescue, there was no time to doubt ourselves. We proceeded around the corner and further downward, careful with our footsteps.
The stone staircase was steep and circular, unwinding sharply in the dim lighting. It was difficult to go quickly, yet difficult to slow down as we saw the first hues of light from an open chamber.
There was also a familiar voice echoing towards us.
“Dammit, what have they done to you?”
I looked to Jim, who was also alarmed at how loudly we could hear the good doctor-and possibly anyone else.
With Jim almost tripping, we rushed down to the bottom. Jim sprinted forward with great lack of regard for himself-my hands itched to pull the same uniform-gripping maneuver from earlier, to rein him in. But once we reached the landing our footsteps reverberated off stone walls, and Jim skidded to a stop as he tried to quiet the echoing.
There was a decorated antechamber and a wide hall that led to where McCoy’s voice seemed to originate. Perhaps it was useless at this juncture, but we walked cautiously forward and picked a wall to skim, with both of our hands grabbing randomly at any object that seemed to be of some veritable weight.
Jim held a long iron rod, perhaps a brand, while I gripped the edges of a heavy glass bowl, ready for any defensive maneuver.
“It’s inhumane, that’s what it is. The Federation is going to have a field day-“
Jim turned the corner and I followed-where we both came across a startling sight.
One wall was covered with a series of metal cogs and gears, seeming to compose a large, interlocking mechanical apparatus. It trailed from the ceiling and grew larger as it connected to a wooden table near the ground. There Vanna was strapped in her torn black clothing, while McCoy hovered over her with his concern and angry muttering.
It was fortunate that they appeared to be alone.
McCoy jerked up quickly at our entrance, then eased when he recognized us. “About damn time you arrived.”
“Miss us, Bones?” Jim said with uneasy amusement as he lowered the brand in his hand. He walked towards the doctor and the apparatus, his eyes wide in observing our surroundings.
“No time for jokes. This woman needs to get to Sickbay.”
I stood next to both of them, noticing the bruises and pale sheen of Vanna’s skin. “Does your voodoo bring individuals back from the dead, Doctor?”
McCoy gave me a look of annoyance. “She is on the edge, certainly. I’ll need whatever help I can get.”
“All right-Spock, you carry her,” Jim said as he began to look around us, moving to the center of the chamber. “Bones, did you see Droxine?”
McCoy struggled with Vanna’s straps until I offered to break her binds. They were made of a thick material that rested directly on bare skin, and they were composed of metallic wires and cords that I could discern through my fingertips. With my strength I eventually tore them apart, while my mind speculated that the mechanical apparatus likely delivered an electrical current that pulsed through them-which would make this a torture device.
It was information I hoarded as I carefully hoisted Vanna over my shoulder, freeing McCoy to answer Jim’s question.
“Hell if I know. I was in a cell for hours, when there was a loud commotion out here. I quietly followed my guard out, where he rushed to help two others as they departed over there-“ McCoy nodded to a corridor. “I did see a flash of blonde hair.”
Jim exchanged a look with me, as we both knew their likely captive.
McCoy narrowed his eyes at us. “You eventually found Droxine? What happened?”
But Jim ignored him as he peered at the aforementioned corridor. His silence meant he was thinking of a solution, of which I could already predict I would not care for.
He came back to us, solemnly stating, “I’m going to look in that passageway. You two try to find an exit, and I’ll meet you above.”
“Captain, as our entrance cannot be our exit, it would be logical to explore the chambers together, rather than to separate.”
Jim avoided my stern gaze. “Do you know where the exit might be, Bones?”
McCoy huffed. “My guard left twice in the opposite direction. But Jim, we’re not leaving without-“
“You’re both going. That’s an order.”
His statement burned the last metaphorical nerve I had with the situation. “I disagree with your decision. You will be alone and unarmed, and you may possibly become trapped. ”
“Duly noted.” Jim had a hard stare, devoid of any friendliness. “I’ll see you both later.”
“This is illogical and it endangers you.”
But Jim did not acknowledge my statement, as he quickly turned into the corridor and disappeared from view.
It was disconcerting how quickly that happened. I could not even hear his footsteps, when before they echoed and announced our arrival. I surmised that the structure, outfitted with draperies and floor coverings, had been precisely decorated for that purpose.
McCoy looked just as uneasy. “I don’t like it either, Spock.”
“Then perhaps a more uncertain answer would have been your best option.” I adjusted Vanna in my arms, her weight feeling incredibly light for what I expected.
McCoy scoffed. “Well, I’ll be-you, a Vulcan, wanted me to lie to our captain?”
“It is not lying to excise details.” I looked at the opposing corridor McCoy had hinted. “I am presuming this passageway leads to your cell.”
McCoy snorted, but nodded his head. “We’re discussing this later.” He started towards the passage. “Over a good Saurian Brandy.”
“I do not imbibe needlessly.”
“For me,” he whispered as we started down the dark corridor.
Thankfully his brand of humor was cast aside as we entered, for it was entirely too silent to risk. While our footsteps did not echo, we were able to hear many sounds that seemed beyond the iron-barred chambers we passed. Over a hundred yards of walls and cells, and the sounds of dripping seemed to encroach. I suspected we would soon reach an underground lake or waterfall-perhaps the very source that generated power for the torture device.
“It is peculiar,” I murmured softly, “that your jail cell was near the exit.”
McCoy shrugged and whispered back, “Midro would go this way. I don’t know what to tell ya.”
“I do not disbelieve, Doctor.” But it was still peculiar.
We passed another hundred yards of walls and dispersed cells in a curved fashion. The design was naturally made from the cavern, and it was smartly incorporated. The corridor had orange and mauve floor coverings that absorbed the impact of our footsteps, while gold tapestries hung beside the containment cells.
It suggested a place that was built for surprises.
“I hear water, Spock.”
“As do I.”
But once we rounded our next corner we fell into a jarring and pitch black chamber-the carpeting and tapestries were gone. Quite suddenly our actions echoed, and this included our breath.
McCoy harshly inhaled at the abrupt change.
“Spock, I can’t-“ he hushed when his voice amplified.
I shook my head, although I assumed he could not see it and risked murmuring, “A moment for our bearings.”
Where the previous chambers were dimly lit, our current path offered no such visibility. It was gravely disconcerting, considering the water that dripped loudly in our vicinity-but it certainly clarified why the jail cells were not a concern in this area.
McCoy lightly touched my forearm and whispered, “Sorry, Spock. Just wanted to feel around you. I’m going to go get one of those wall sconces we saw.”
“I will stay here,” I said, feeling the brief hints of worry, frustration, and apology in his touch. As much as I chastise the good doctor, he is thankfully cognizant of my issues, and his hands quickly avoided me as he moved forward.
“Right,” he said gruffly, and it echoed lightly. He stepped beside me, feeling for the wall which curved and went back into the light.
One reason for my position, besides staying where I may easily be located, was to discern through audio clues what lay beyond us. The sounds of water were repetitive, and I counted mere seconds between each drop; which was consistent in the 12 minutes I measured. It was not reassuring in any capacity, the impression that we might encounter a waterfall or underground lake in complete darkness.
But my second eyelid blinded me momentarily as pitch black was suddenly illuminated.
“Had to hunt for this,” McCoy whispered, gesturing to the broom handle that was now a torch. “Broke into a cell.”
It was a meter in length with a ridged stem, and the splintered end was wrapped in layers of cloth. “I believe it will work.”
McCoy held the torch high for visibility, yet it only illuminated our immediate area. We could all see each other, and McCoy peered at Vanna, who seemed lifeless in my grasp.
“Let’s get this over with. She ain’t got all day.”
I adjusted my grip and allowed the doctor to move ahead of me. Only walls seemed suggested for a time, the torchlight unrevealing if there were any variances of height or color. None of these details changed when McCoy stopped abruptly in front of me, causing Vanna’s legs to unfortunately push him.
He put an arm out to grab them, and then murmured, “Well, there ya go.”
“Explain.”
He turned his head slightly. “Got a drop here. No idea how far down. But I hear that water echoing from it.”
Indeed, that did explain much. No light combined with a precipice, and it seemed an unfortunate end for anyone that dared escape-again, this underground cavern was smartly utilized.
“Yet the occupants of this chamber went this way.”
The light moved as McCoy attempted to look beyond him.
“There might be a ledge-God, it’s narrow. And yeah, he headed here. We didn’t pass anything, did we? ”
“Not that I am aware of. Yet this is unreasonable.”
“Maybe there’s something below us, and the water is further than we think. They might bring a ladder or something.”
A possible solution, but tenuous. “If that is correct, I doubt they carry the ladder on their person.”
As the good doctor does on occasion, I received a blank stare in reply before my insinuation sunk in.
Once again the light moved to analyze around us. “I don’t see a ladder anywhere, Spock.”
“Then there must be a simpler solution.”
“Rope?”
“Convenient to keep on one’s person while traveling.”
“Then how the hell are we gonna get that?”
I confess I made an exasperated huff, his irritation irrationally inflaming and underlining much of my own. “We may need to backtrack for resources.”
“There are the tapestries, I guess.” But McCoy did not seem appeased with that, nor was I. “Dammit.”
“Agreed.”
He rubbed his face. “I can feel it itching, too-I can barely think.”
I did not have time for such emotional digressions. We needed to find the exit, and we needed to regroup with Jim. “Doctor, that is unfortunate. But we must find a solution.”
“That’s what I’m trying to do!”
“There is no reason to be combative.”
“I’m not being-Spock.” He put out a hand. “Hold on.”
“We do not have the time-“
“Shut the hell up and listen.” McCoy edged closer to me, his face stern. “Take a breather.”
“We do not have the luxury.”
“And we can’t be sniping at each other-especially when it isn’t us.” McCoy pointed between us, then recanted, “Well, not usually.” He frowned. “During missions, anyway.”
I took a deep breath, yet anger still rankled all my nerves and thoughts.
McCoy pointed around us. “I guess we’re not immune.”
It seemed a divergent topic, until I realized exactly what he was referring to.
“The zenite.”
He nodded. “Now detrimental to Humans and Vulcans.” He gave a wry smile. “Just a barrel of surprises, this damn planet. So glad we’re vacationing here.”
I bit back my retort, logic remembering that McCoy often made light of serious situations. It did not ease my irritation, yet it offered optimism for my Vulcan faculties.
I took another deep breath. “I will send my shore leave recommendations to Starfleet.”
McCoy gave a sharp laugh, too loud in the cavern, and yet it thankfully eased the tension.
He turned around again, peering over the ledge. “Well, let’s figure out how you can do that.”
It was still problematic, especially when I could not see the ledge clearly. Yet I inched closer, wanting all the details of our circumstance.
“There must be a solution.” One being that McCoy was perhaps mistaken, and we should backtrack to another corridor.
Cognizant of the woman on my shoulder, I straightened carefully before making my suggestion-which was fortunate, as I clearly felt an object brush the top of my head.
“Doctor, look above me.” It was perhaps a spiderweb, or-
McCoy turned around, raising the torch as he squinted. His eyes dawned with awareness a moment later.
“Well, of course,” he muttered. “Why would they go down when everything is up?”
Shifting my balance, I followed his line of sight-where the edge of a black net was visible, hanging slightly over the top of the chamber’s entryway.
It did indeed make sense. However-“We may still need some rope.”
“God, how are we hefting her up there?” He looked over at her form. “Heck, how are we even getting up there?”
A plan was already formulating in my mind. “Do you believe you could bear Vanna’s weight for five minutes?”
McCoy nodded, although he stared at Vanna curiously. “That’s her name?”
“There are many details I have learned quite recently.”
“Well, then I carried Vanna for hours. Five minutes ain’t nothin’.”
It was what I expected. “Then you will carry Vanna while I hoist the both of you.”
McCoy raised his brows with exaggerated skepticism. “Pardon me?”
“As you carry her momentarily, I will provide you with assistance in reaching the net. Once you are secure in your footing, I will follow you and, once I am also secure in my position, I will relieve you of her weight.” I looked upward. “It is the only possible solution I can discern, if we are to climb this wall.”
His skepticism did not ease as he surveyed our limited view. “We don’t know how far this thing goes.”
“Then perhaps we should start as soon as possible.”
McCoy turned his head, glancing over my frame. I knew as a doctor he was contemplating my abilities, likely contrasting with his own. But a moment later he silently nodded his assent.
Awkward maneuvering was required as we exchanged Vanna and the torch. McCoy took her weight with a grunt. “How are you gettin’ up there, Spock?”
“I believe I have enough upper body strength to lift myself.” Our entry’s apex was a half-meter above my head, yet the netting extended far below it. I grabbed at the edge of it, noticing the holes of the structure could easily contain a foot, and when I yanked it mildly stretched. “You will need to hold her with one arm.”
McCoy looked up at the netting with obvious doubt, yet was also resigned. “For your sake, I hope this isn’t long.”
“As it is our only exit,” I wedged the torch in a deep wall fracture, satisfied when it did not fall or extinguish, “the distance will be determined, soon enough.”
“God,” McCoy huffed, watching as I interlocked my hands on bended knee. “Remind me never to go along so easily with Jim’s stupid plans again.”
“As he is your Captain, as well as mine, that will be difficult to adhere to.”
McCoy wrapped an arm securely around Vanna’s waist, the body slumping into his side. He had a moment’s pause while looking up, trying to gain his courage or his bearings. But after grumbling interesting vernacular he stepped his left foot into my locked hands, surging upward after our quiet countdown to three.
On the third he gripped the netting above him, his feet struggling to catch on the mesh as my hands were pushing him upward. There was a precarious moment where his stepped on my shoulders, and Vanna veered and swung from his body. But momentum crashed them back to the cavern wall, where the doctor was able to cling and stand in the black net.
“God, Spock,” he said, sounding strangely out of breath. “I might die of a heart attack if you don’t get your butt up here.”
“Vanna might find it inconvenient if you perish.”
McCoy muttered expletives as I analyzed the entryway, pondering the likelihood of attaching the torch to the netting without setting it aflame. “We must leave our light source behind.”
“I am punching Jim when I see him. Square in the jaw.”
I stood under the entryway, at an angle with the cavern wall. “As much as I do not condone such violence, I wish for you to have the opportunity to do so.”
At that I jumped for the netting, my hands gripping and tangling themselves in several holes. I swung my legs to the arch as I pulled myself upward, my feet slipping against the stone surface as I tried to gain leverage. It took several attempts, but my boot found a fracture to wedge into, and this offered momentum as my legs pressed against the cavern wall. My upper body strength pulled me upward as I grabbed at the netting-where my hands would occasionally miss, yet easily recover-and I lifted myself to the point of standing on the fracture. From there my feet securely stepped into the black mesh, and I was soon dangling from the large expanse of wall.
I climbed my way to McCoy, where he seemed quite angry with me.
“I take that back-I’m punching you when we reach the surface.”
“I have gained my bearings. I will wrap an arm around her waist, and we will maneuver her arms and chest over my shoulder. I will then instruct when you may let go.”
I ignored all grumbling as we positioned ourselves. McCoy held still as I maneuvered a knee behind Vanna’s thigh, a barrier if she should slip or lean the wrong way.
“You may let go.”
However as McCoy released her, it was only his arm pressing against her back that rolled her properly onto my shoulder, sparing the both of us from falling backwards with momentum.
“God, I’m going to die. Not from falling, but from worrying over your behind.”
“When you are sufficiently calm, you may proceed in attempting to climb upwards.”
“I can’t see a damn thing.”
The torch’s glow was dim at our proximity, and it was not promising for a long journey ahead. In fact, the entire situation did not hold much promise-it made me concerned for Jim’s current predicament, and whether he would have to made the same choices with Droxine, especially unconscious.
“Okay, feelin’ my way up.”
If Jim did not meet us at the surface, I would find the tree and explore the caverns.
“Spock, stop thinking so damn loud. I’m worried about him, too.”
I hefted Vanna close my shoulder, her limp hands briefly brushing my back, and I prepared to move upward. “Then you will understand my need for haste.”
“Hey, I’m not a spider monkey.” But within minutes he had set a steady pace, his feet taking overly-precautious steps from one foot holding to another, intuiting his way up the cavern wall.
I found it slightly more difficult, as I relied on one arm to support more than my own body weight. While I felt competent enough for such an extreme circumstance it was painful after 15 minutes of our climb, and almost excruciating as that time doubled.
However, when I estimated we had traversed 500 meters, McCoy could not contain his enthusiasm.
“Thank God-I see light, Spock. Light and an edge.”
I did not perceive such things in my vision, as I was focused on the cavern wall in front of me and the body draped over my shoulder.
“Hold on, scrambling over it now-ah, damn.”
I chanced a glance upward, seeing the thin haze of light. “Doctor?”
There was a disconcerting silence as my mind considered other possibilities. Perhaps that McCoy was captured, of worse-
A whip of sound went past my ear as I heard a grunt from above.
“Coming back down, Spock.”
My eyes could barely focus, but there was a rope swaying next to me.
I looked up. “Doctor, there is no need-“
But after seven minutes of McCoy descending towards me, he grabbed the rope and held it near us: It contained a large hook at the end of it.
“Maybe they use it for supplies,” he moved next to Vanna, his eyes searching her form. “You think we could hook her?
I was exhausted, but it did not seem safe. Yet McCoy wrapped it under her arms before folding several knots, then hooked the belt at her waist.
McCoy met my eyes. “You can stay with her, but it’ll make things easier on you.”
As McCoy held Vanna in place with his arm, I slowly released her-feeling the nerves come back to life as there was a tingling in my shoulder, the hook and rope proving to work.
I flexed my fingers and McCoy did a self-satisfied grunt. “Knew it.”
“Thank you,” I said, although I still did not trust the rope.
McCoy moved upward. “I’ll start pulling if you want to keep climbing.”
“I will proceed once you have done so.”
The ten minutes it took for him to reach the ledge was a decent rest, while Vanna still dangled lightly against my shoulder.
There was a tug, and then, “All right, I’m pulling.”
I was concerned for the doctor’s strength, as he had been climbing further than myself and was now pulling another body. But it did accelerate my journey as we both lifted Vanna up the cavern wall, quickening my pace. When we were three feet from the ledge McCoy took over completely, dragging her to safety.
“You doin’ okay?” McCoy yelled over the side. And from his actions I intuited that we were alone, the cavern’s occupants still fortunately absent.
“I will be there momentarily.” I weakly clung to the netting, both of my fingers losing sensation and the strength to grip. It was disconcerting to be powerless, using my mental faculties to ignore the pain in my biceps and the stiffness in my shoulders.
But once I reached the ledge I felt hands on my arms, helping to pull me over.
McCoy panted and dropped to the ground once I was secure, finally revealing his exhaustion.
“Once we find Jim, I’ll likely just fall on him.” McCoy put out a hand as I tried to stand up. “We’re good, just lay there a minute. Doctor’s orders.”
I blinked at the cavern ceiling, grateful for the repose. Yet it also occurred to me that Jim was still missing-we were technically on the surface, but he was not waiting for us.
Perhaps he was in the clearing with the tree, hiding with Droxine.
I turned my head and saw Vanna next to us on her back, untied and lifeless. It was a sobering view while considering our circumstances, and it forced me to sit up.
“Once we are away from the caves we should contact the Enterprise.”
“God, I’m not 20 anymore, I forget sometimes.” McCoy sat up to join me, crawling on his knees to examine Vanna’s condition. “I’ll carry her.”
“I am adequately rested, but I will scout the entrance before we depart.”
It was enough time to gauge my readiness while allowing McCoy the chance for further repose. He would need his strength in order to move out of the forest and to be beamed aboard the Enterprise, as I doubted the ship would receive our signal from the caves.
Once they were beamed aboard, I would be able to backtrack to find Jim.
“No funny business, Spock. We’re not separating.”
“As Vanna’s condition is deteriorating-“
“I’m a doctor, I can see that.” He shook a finger at me. “I know you, Spock. You want to find Jim, and you’ll go to any means to do so.”
“As first officer, it is my duty to ascertain the Captain’s location and to provide assistance-“
“’Ass” is in ‘ascertain’.”
I frowned. “Technically it is not.”
“We’re not separating.” He sat beside Vanna as his hand waved me off. “Go scout. But once you get back we’re finding that entrance, and we will ‘ascertain’ Jim’s location together.”
“That will waste precious time-“
“I know. But the sooner we find Jim, and hopefully Droxine, perhaps the sooner I’ll know how to treat her.” McCoy looked at Vanna mournfully. “For all I know, she is practically dead already.”
As the doctor lifted her wrist to find a pulse, I went to the entrance 50 meters away and saw the dim hues of evening. The lighting was not promising-finding the clearing with the tree seemed foreboding in the darkness, and I did not relish the odds of being able to do so. Even worse was traveling the forest at night-which seemed likely even if we made haste, as the distance to the edge of the woods was unknown.
Perhaps McCoy would have to come with me, one way or the other.
“Ready, Spock?” McCoy said behind me, his frame showing obvious weariness in carrying Vanna.
I offered my arms. “Yes. We will both find the clearing.”
“Glad you got some sense in ya.” He handed her over, his back straightening with the lack of weight. “It must be nearby anyway, we didn’t go very far down there.”
“That is my impression, as well.”
And with that we both followed the side of the cavern entrance until it was no more, hoping to find that clearing in the woods.
( Joanna rested her elbows on her knees, waiting for Spock to continue.
When he didn’t, she rolled her eyes. “More dramatic posturing?”
“On the contrary, I am waiting for the next individual to appear and tell their section of the story.”
“Like you don’t know it?”
Spock opened his mouth to speak, closed it, and then, “I am quite aware of the events. However, I was under the impression we were following a particular method of story-telling.”
Joanna watched as Spock glanced at the empty Sickbay doors, his mind seeming to deliberate options before settling on a solution.
“As the Doctor and I tried to locate the clearing, the Captain had issues of his own in trying to join us.” )
Jim traveled in the opposite direction of the holding cells, noticing that the passages became more labyrinthe in scope, seemingly impossible to navigate.
“Where are breadcrumbs at a time like this,” he muttered, trying to determine how to form a torch of his own.
( “I would never say anything like that.”
Joanna and Spock looked over at the hospital partition, where Jim smirked at the both of them.
“I am quite aware that your version is more... colorfully verbose.”
“That’s why you have to leave it to the master.” Jim motioned with his thumb for Spock to stand. “Your turn on the bridge.”
As they exchanged places, there was the striking of matches again-held low without outward acknowledgement, with Jim making more of a production out of stealing Spock’s chair.
Jim grinned as he sat sideways, cradling the back. “Have fun without me.”
“As is often the case when the cat’s away,” Spock said solemnly, and Jim put a hand to his chest.
“Ouch. I knew you guys were having parties without me.”
“There is a different atmosphere, certainly.”
As Spock left, Jim pointed at the partition. “Can you believe that guy? Mean to me.”
Joanna rolled her eyes. “Can we get back to the good stuff?”
“And here I thought there was no ‘good stuff’.”
“The cave part was interesting,” Joanna admitted, especially when Leonard seemed to save Spock’s behind, near the end.
Jim twisted in his seat. “I told you that Spock was a great storyteller.”
Joanna did a half-shrug, noncommittal either way, and Jim let it go.
“Anyway, as the Master Storyteller was saying-“ )
“What the hell, where’s a sign when you need it?”
Spock probably had a good point about not breaking off in the caves, but I wasn’t about to admit it then. My main goal had been to get them all out, especially with Vanna as dire as she looked. Bones couldn’t do it on his own, as much as I wanted Spock to help me find Droxine. So in the end, as much as Spock can be right sometimes-okay, right most of the time, but don’t tell him that-I still would’ve been in those twisting caves alone, trying to figure out where to go.
It made sense to me to have such confusing paths, although it was incredibly frustrating. There was a main path I was on, lit with sconces on the wall, looking awfully fu-freakin’ medieval and creeping me out. But this path branched out to various other tunnels, which looked pitch black from where I stood, trying to rely on my instincts.
Which wasn’t doing me much good, truth be told.
“If I were a torturer-dude and a princess, where would I go...” I mumbled to myself, peering in each passage. Not that I could see anything in the darkness, but I had nothing else to go on. There were no tracks with the carpeted hallway, nor footfalls or voices to follow. Everything was eerily silent and unhelpful, and I was left wandering without a clue.
Basically, I was screwed. I decided to follow to the end of this pathway until inspiration struck-especially since I couldn’t believe it would lead me directly to where they were, considering how cave dwellers likely knew all the off-shoots.
Then again, who’s to say we were really dealing with cave dwellers?
I probably traveled a good half-hour that way, going cautiously straight as I looked at the paths that branched off. This cavern underneath was long-somebody had really chosen well for a hideout, all things considered.
There was a part of me thinking I should really turn around and catch up with Spock and Bones-maybe Droxine wasn’t even freaking here, after all-when I heard echoing voices.
“Do you take me for a fool, Princess?” sneered a voice from up ahead, trying to keep quiet.
There were sounds of a struggle, and I hid in one of the adjoining passageways as I tried to listen.
“You’ll never get away with this!” Droxine cried, not in the same eagerness to be quiet. “No one is dumb enough to fall for you!”
“Silence!” which was followed by a slap. “You will keep your tongue, if you wish to keep your tongue.”
I looked around, searching for a weapon when there clearly was none. My best element was surprise, but that was difficult to determine when they were likely in a tunnel up ahead-and who knows how far off.
I peered around the edge, trying to devise the best way to sneak up on them, when there was a sudden flurry up ahead. A robed man pulled a gagged Droxine by her bindings as they headed down the cavern.
She twisted and put up a fuss. I looked over at the robed man, who didn’t seem all that imposing. Maybe he had caught Droxine by surprise, as he seemed kind of old and would likely be taken out by a good thwack.
( “....What?”
Joanna just stared at Jim drolly, knowing what was next. “You didn’t.”
He shifted awkwardly in his seat. “Um, well, anyway-“ )
When Droxine pulled hard enough on the rope to make him trip, he reached around to smack her again-and I couldn’t contain myself.
“Stop, right where you are!” I yelled as I rushed forward. I figured if I was fast enough with a good kick, I could-
But a foot away I felt something hit the back of my head, and I stumbled to my knees.
Droxine turned towards me, and despite the gag in her mouth she had the audacity to roll her eyes.
“Did you say ‘dumb enough’, Princess?” the smooth voice sneered again, but behind me.
I blinked rapidly to try to maintain focus, but the robed man just snickered.
“Bwain versus bwawn.” He smiled gleefully down at me, his thick tongue now apparent. “Ob-obviouswy bwain is the winner.”
As I blacked out I saw the other man come into view, his regal authority apparent-and I cursed my bad luck.
( “Is it really bad luck when it was obvious?” Joanna asked as a smirk played on her lips.
“You’re just as bad as your dad.”
“So what happened next?” Joanna moved on-surely twelve hours had been spent telling this, right? Or maybe it just felt like it.
But Jim smiled at that. Maybe there were juicy parts coming up.
“We all went to the castle.”
Joanna was non-plussed. “So they technically rescued both of you?”
Jim gave a playful shrug, and Joanna narrowed her eyes.
“This gets worse, doesn’t it.”
Jim rearranged himself in the chair before continuing. “Well, you see, I felt rope on my wrists and ankles when I woke up...” )
The surroundings were pretty nice and the bed was the softest I’ve ever been on. But I was by myself, and hell if being tied up wasn’t suspicious.
I tried to sit up, but all I did was roll over and onto the floor.
“Dammit,” I muttered, my face feeling the luxurious fibers of carpeting. But after a moment of nobody checking up on me, I decided to scooch my body together to sit on my knees, and eventually was able to find some balance to look up.
It wasn’t the room that Spock and I had seen on Stratos, which was too pink and orange and overflowing with mood lighting, but it was similar in its emphasis on overly prententious and beautiful things. Stone accents, lighter hues-more natural. There wasn’t a balcony, but the windows looked out into a clear blue sky-the day brighter than when I had left it, that’s for sure.
I guess I had slept a while.
“Come on, self.” I leaned against the bed, hoping I could straighten my legs. When I did I squished my toes in my boots, aiming to stand upright-and thankfully I succeeded. Because hell if there wasn’t a lot of furniture in there, and I could’ve cracked my head open with another fall.
But I hopped 360-degrees as I tried to get a good feel of the room. If this had been my apartment at the Academy, somebody would’ve banged a broom against the floor by now, telling me to shut up. But still there was silence, and it seemed that I was left to my own devices. A dangerous thing, in my view-I could see several objects I could rub these bindings against, hopefully to cut them.
The sharp edge of a table was about the right height. Unfortunately it was on the other side of the bed, but I could bunny hop like a pro.
( Jim glared at Joanna as she covered her mouth. “You finished?”
She shook her head, needing a moment before she could finally look at him without giggling. “Do they teach that-“ she smirked, “at the Academy?”
“I need to talk to your dad about your sass,” Jim murmured, but then continued. )
Considering I had nothing to untie my feet, I hopped quickly to the end of the bed and tried not to lose my balance. But eventually I made it to the large wooden table, which had a natural and rustic aesthetic that was to my benefit, in that nobody had smoothed or sanded the edges.
It was hard to align the rope without looking, and I knicked my arm a few time. But I eventually wedged a corner of the knot just right to sever the fibers, rubbing for a good several minutes before I felt some give.
When I was able to pull my arms apart I made a triumphant sound, shrugging off my bounds and going directly to my feet. That knot also took some time, but I hadn’t been a boy scout for nothing.
Once I was free I looked about the room, wondering what the trick was. Maybe there were guards outside the door-maybe there was a camera somewhere in the room. Maybe I was so high up in a place so intricate, they figured that if I escaped I wouldn’t have much chance of figuring it out.
But quiet minutes passed after I loosened my bindings, and the door looked incredibly inviting. I strode towards it and put my ear to the surface, listening for whatever might be on the other side.
That didn’t disappoint, as I heard the echo of footsteps on a hard floor approaching closer-and I had a hunch of where they were headed to.
It was too late to consider going out the window. So I grabbed a heavy vase on a podium next to me, a god-awful decorating accent that would hopefully come in handy, and stepped to the side of the sliding door.
There was a buzz-what did they think, I would answer?-before they slid open to reveal two guards. The vase landed on one head while I kicked the other in the stomach, smashing both helpless bodies together before I whirled around, ready to face whatever was next.
Too bad it was more guards who easily captured me and roughly hauled me backwards, throwing me on the bed. When I sat up there was a crossing of axes in front of my face, and I got the point.
Which was when Plasus decided to show his ugly, smirking mug in the doorway.
“What a show, Captain Kirk. And I even rang before I entered.”
I motioned to the guards. “What’s all of this? You know it is a Federation offense to imprison a Starfleet officer-“
“Just as it’s likely an offense to kidnap an official’s daughter, correct?”
Okay, he had a point. “She was never in any danger.”
“Of course not, Captain-would never think of such.” He stepped forward, appearing to contemplate his words. “However, it does put a kink in our negotiations.”
“You have never been interested in negotiating, Plasus,” I spat out, feeling the edges of the axe against my chest. “If this is negotiating, then I don’t think that word means what you think it means.”
“Temper, Kirk.” He wagged a finger at me. “Your hostility is not conducive. Perhaps a walk will ease some tension.”
“Where’s Droxine?” I blurted out, the events that had led me here suddenly rushing to consciousness. If the same people who kidnapped me had Droxine, and these people led me here-why would they tie up somebody they were likely trying to rescue?
“She is safe, Captain Kirk-no thanks to you.” He walked out of view, and I gritted my teeth as the guards stood me up, clamping both arms as we followed.
The stone corridors felt familiar from Stratos, so perhaps we were in the same place-just a different branch of the building, nothing more. The emphasis on art was similar, and we passed various different paintings, tapestries, and sculptures before we entered an open hall-definitely not the one I recognized from Stratos, especially with the people in it.
Droxine stood beside a tall, blond gentleman. Despite the man wearing elegant garb with poise and presence, she did not look at home.
She wouldn’t meet my eyes, instead watching her father as he strode ahead of us and joined her side.
“Captain Kirk, I would like you to meet Eduar, the Prince of Cirrus and the head of all the cloud cities.”
That was when the blond gentleman turned to me, his fair and aristocratic face obviously displeased at acknowledging my presence-which, what, I know I was tumbling in the dirt, but come on.
“Starfleet,” he said curtly. “Your presence here has caused some disturbance.”
No kidding. “I assure you the Enterprise, on behalf of the Federation, was only interested in the zenite that was promised to us.”
“And like I stated, Captain Kirk,” Plasus butted in, “as soon as we handled our little rebellion we would deliver the zenite as promised.”
“The people of Merak II don’t have time! Millions of lives are at stake as you try to quell a several century caste war.”
Plasus raised an eyebrow-not as epic as Spock’s, and certainly not as amusing-as he waved at the guards to restrain me further. This was them tightening their grips on my arms, their hands way stronger than mine and almost crushing bone.
I winced, but that couldn’t shut me up. “Plasus, regardless of how you feel about me or the Federation, please consider a whole planet of people who can’t wait another day-“
“Patience, Captain Kirk. Once we have tracked down the rebels who caused the disruption on Stratos-“
“The Enterprise can help-“
“Silence!”
At that the guards spun me around and shoved me in the back, urging me towards another corridor which didn’t seem very promising. What was Plasus gonna do? Shove a Starfleet officer in a cell and keep me locked up forever? Surely he’d realize that the Federation would come along eventually, wanting to know what the hell was up.
But as we entered the archway of the corridor and I was planning to use a tapestry to blind a guard, we heard a voice call out, “Promise not to hurt him!”
Which was surprising, as I was pretty sure Droxine didn’t give a fig.
I was shoved again to turn around, and Droxine’s plaintive expression as she looked at me and then her father was surprisingly sincere.
“Father, promise not to hurt him,” Droxine said with her best pleading eyes. “I’m safe now. Please send him on his way, so Starfleet can leave.”
Plasus appeared to consider it, exchanging a glance with the Prince. But he placed a reassuring hand on Droxine’s shoulder, his smile as artificial as his good intentions.
“While normally we would punish those who harm us-“ he patted her long, blonde hair. “I will do as my daughter requests.”
I felt tightening hands behind me-yeah, right. He was talked into that rather easily.
But Droxine looked appeased by that, kissing her father on the cheek before racing over to me. Her concerned face scanned mine as she thought through something-perhaps a heartfelt and apologetic goodbye?
Instead she removed a large, blue necklace from around her neck, then held it before her. “A peace offering.”
It was ugly as hell, but she leaned forward as she lifted it over my head.
“Promise you’ll find Vanna,” she whispered as her fingers situated the chain on my skin. “They want to make her a scapegoat.”
And that made much more sense than Droxine wanting to be my friend. So when she stepped back I met her eyes, hopefully giving a barely perceptible nod before they carted me away.
Not that I was sure I could do much good, as they all led me to where I expected-a bright white prison cell, with heavy metal bars blocking my exit.
“Take it easy, Starfleet!” a guard cackled as the bars locked into place and I was blocked behind them, with not much recourse.
I sighed as I looked around, the natural aesthetics of Cirrus present, but with nothing to harm myself or others. There was a wooden table and I walked towards it, my eyes following the corners of the walls.
But let’s face it: I was trapped. Maybe for good. And my only hope at that point was for Spock and Bones to have found a way out, hopefully smart enough to just beam on board the Enterprise and leave the zenite to someone else.
( “Although some things are too much to wish for,” Jim said, looking keenly at Leonard as he came around the partition to join them.
Leonard made a note on his PADD, ignoring him. “Looking good, kiddo. Got two hours left though.”
Joanna buried her face in her hands. “This sucks.”
“As it should. I don’t need you crawlin’ in strange places around here.” Leonard sat down next to her bed, then looked over at Jim. “Okay, where are we?”
“I just got put in a prison cell.”
Leonard pointed a finger at him as he side-eyed Joanna. “This one here? A genius.”
“Well, this genius is Captain.”
“Like I can forget it.” Leonard made himself comfortable-which meant fiddling with Joanna’s water jug and cords from her bed-before asking, “My turn?”
Jim settled in as well, seemingly not interested in leaving. “You bet.”
“Well,” Leonard said, turning towards Joanna. “So Spock and I just wandered out from the caves, where I convinced his stubborn self to stick with me...” )
Masterlist | Awakenings