Chapter Eight

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Captain's Log, Stardate 2256.259. Thanks to the efforts of my crew, I've been safely returned to the Enterprise. However, I was not aware of the away team sent to find me and so they remain on the planet's surface engaged in a fire fight with the Klingons. I have ordered their immediately teleport back to the ship and await confirmation from Engineering.

Back in the Academy, back when Vulcan still existed, and back when Spock was still a cadet, one of the first things they teach you is how to endure weightlessness. Although zero gravity is a common thing when vacations are taken on various moons and the hottest parties are three planets away... So that lesson only lasts a few days. After that comes transporter training. And that is a little tougher. Spock can still remember his first experience in a teleporter. He'd been one of the lucky ones not to empty his stomach all over the floor but he'd felt like it.

The thing about teleporting is you have to prepare for it. To expect it. Because even if you're a commander on a starship who's beamed up and down hundreds of times, the process can still take its toll if you don't see it coming.

So when the world suddenly turns white and Spock feels himself lifting toward the sky and breaking apart all at the same time, his stomach has a very strong flashback to those Academy days. But he doesn't let himself linger too long.

By the time he finds himself crouched, phaser in hand and ready to shoot another Klingon, side by side with the other officers on the teleporter pad, it takes all the discipline in his highly trained mind not to demand what the hell Scotty was thinking. Instead, his voice is only slightly off-kilter when he asks, "What is the meaning of this, Mr. Scott? I have not yet acquired the cap-"

"The captain's already on board, sir." Scotty tells him. "Stubborn as a mule, that one. He found his own way back."

"Engineering to bridge."

"Talk to me, Scotty." Kirk says, flinching slightly as Bones wraps another layer of bandages around his shoulder.

"I got 'em, sir. The away team is safely back aboard the Enterprise."

Kirk closes his eyes and sighs happily, nodding his head even though Scotty can't see him. "Excellent work," He says. "Tell them to report to their quarters for some well deserved rest."

"Aye, sir...but Mr. Spock already left, Captain. He's on his way to the bridge."

"That's fine. Thank you, Mr. Scott. Kirk out." No sooner than he lifts his finger off the intercom button, the turbolift doors slide open and a stiffer-than-usual Spock comes striding onto the bridge.

Kirk rises to his feet despite Bones's protests, doing his best to ignore the doctor's incessant hovering. He smiles at Spock. "Had me worried for a minute there." He confesses, still smirking. "The Klingons had me pretty convinced you'd been captured as well."

Spock, admittedly, doesn't respond at first. His eyes are too busy scanning the bandages wrapping around Jim's chest, wrists, and shoulder. As well as the various bruises and gashes littering his face. Uhura had mentioned he was possibly wounded but Spock never imagined his injuries would be so serious... "Fortunately, Captain, I managed to avoid capture..." He says dimly, still distracted. "Although it appears my efforts did little to help you escape."

Kirk rolls his eyes, sitting back down because whatever pain killers Bones injected him with have started to take effect and his head is spinning again. "Actually, if you and those officers hadn't shown up when you did, I would still be down there." He admits. "You created the perfect distraction for me to get away."

Spock pauses, clearly unsure of what to say in response. Part of him-the human part no doubt-illogically wants to be angry with Jim. He isn't entirely sure why. Emotions are incredibly confusing sometimes. Although it may have something to do with the fact that Jim is captain and according to Starfleet regulations, the captain is to remain on the ship and avoid direct danger as much as possible. But Jim never listens to regulations, and because of that, he nearly lost his life this time.

But of course Spock doesn't voice his feelings. Not yet anyway. Perhaps he will later, once he's thought of a decent way of phrasing it. Until then, he settles on, "I am glad you are in relatively good health, captain. Despite your injuries."

Kirk smiles again but his eyes look tired. Surely Doctor McCoy has given him medication for the pain. "You too, Spock." He says.

"Captain, there is still the matter of the Klingons to deal with." Spock reminds him and Jim nods, turning back to face the front of the ship but the Vulcan's hand closes over his good shoulder so he looks back. Quietly, Spock adds, "Perhaps it would be better for me to take the con for now, sir. While Doctor McCoy tends to your injuries."

"That won't be necessary, Spock. They're really not as bad as they look." Kirk says, referring to his wounds. Then, without giving his first officer a chance to reply, he turns to Uhura. "Lieutenant, notify Starfleet of the Klingon's presence if you haven't already."

"Yes, sir."

"Tell them it appears their warbird is dead. We're going to try to get them to surrender peacefully."

"Aye, Captain." As the message is sent, Kirk looks over his shoulder at Spock.

"Think they'll give up?"

"It is doubtful, Captain. Klingons are an honor-bound and proud race. Although, in their current situation, they are unable to fight back or flee. They will not survive on this planet alone. Being apprehended by Starfleet is their only hope of survival."

"Noted. Uhura, open a broadcast to the Klingons."

"Yes, sir."

"On screen." As the image of the Klingon leader and his men appears on the screen, Kirk leans forward in his chair, earning another irritated grumble from Bones. "Crew of the Klingon vessel, this is Captain James Kirk of the U.S.S. Enterprise."

The Klingons look around for a split-second, startled, before their eyes rise upward. Looking at the Federation planet far above their heads.

"It has not escaped our attention that your ship is non-functional and you are marooned on the planet. We would like to provide assistance. If you surrender now, we will beam you aboard our vessel for safe transport to the nearest Star Base. However, I remind you that your presence on this side of the neutral zone is an act of war and if you do not surrender, we will have to take you by force and I can not guarantee your safety." He steals another glance at his first officer, who nods approvingly. "Either way you're coming with us, so don't make it any harder on yourselves." With that conclusion, Kirk tells Uhura to end the broadcast.

"Well said, Captain." Spock says.

Jim grunts and sits back in his chair, rubbing his shoulder. "I sorta wish I could've gotten just one hit at that asshole." He mutters quietly enough so the crew won't hear. But Bones and Spock do. Looking up, he asks, "That's probably bad, huh?"

McCoy snickers and looks at Spock, waiting for him to give his usual logical response. But the Vulcan purses his lips for a moment, watching the Klingons argue on the screen. "Your urge for revenge is a very human response, sir." He says. "But entirely illogical. You made the correct decision in offering them assistance."

"Spoken like a true green-blooded Vulcan." McCoy grumbles with a roll of his eyes.

"Thank you, Doctor."

Jim snickers and massages his aching arm. "Bones, head back to Medbay, I'm sure you've got your work cut out for you down there."

"You bet your ass, I do." He huffs, heading for the turbolift. "And Jim, for the love of corn, let Spock take over once we've got the Klingons handled. You're gonna need to rest after all that."

"Yes, Doc-"

"And take it easy. Too much strain on that arm will tear the sutures."

"Thank you, McC-"

"And as soon as you're able, come down to sickbay so I can finish up. I'll be able to accelerate the healing process with-"

"I will, Bones."

Frowning in annoyance, McCoy steps into the turbolift and disappears down to sickbay. Almost immediately after his departure, Uhura swivels around in her chair. "Captain, the Klingons have made contact. They say they'll agree to our terms of surrender."

Sighing in relief, Jim nods. "Excellent, tell them to standby for beam up."

"Yes, sir." She turns back to her station. On the screen, the Klingons take the proper positioning for transport.

"All security personnel on Deck 7 to the transporter room. The Klingons will be beaming aboard in exactly two minutes. I want them escorted to the holding cells on Deck 2. Phasers on stun." The bridge crew watches as the Klingons vanish from sight in a swirl of white light.

Starbase 112 is teeming with activity as usual as the injured colonists are led off to the base's infirmary, McCoy following right behind them with, practically dragging the captain by his ear.

"Bones, come on, I've got work to do. I can't sit around in an infirmary all day-" Kirk tries to protest, only to be shushed by his chief medical officer.

"But sit in an infirmary all day you will if I order it, Jim! Which I have!" Bones guides him through the stark white doors of the station's sickbay and plops him onto a bed. Peeling off the bandages, he clicks his tongue in annoyance. "See that? You've already torn three stitches! What did I say about taking it easy?" He tosses the bloodied bandages into a waste disposal unit a few feet away and orders Kirk to lay down so he can properly seal the injury. Jim obeys with a huff.

"You're enjoying this, aren't you, Bones?"

"Shut up."

An hour later, Kirk is still laying on that same damn table. His shoulder has been sealed back together but the pain meds Bones gave him before the procedure are still in full swing so he isn't allowed to leave. The captain is seriously considering jumping out the window when the medbay doors slide open.

"Spock, thank God, think you can break me outta here?" Jim asks, chuckling.

But the Vulcan merely tilts his head. "I do not believe that would be the logical course of action, Captain. Doctor McCoy has brought you were to heal, so breaking you out would only-"

"It was a joke, Spock." The captain sighs. "Never mind. How'd it go with the Klingons? Any updates yet?"

"Yes, sir. According to the Starfleet databases, that particular crew of Klingons is not in any way associated with Kronos or its government. They are, in actuality, a group of defectors who fled the planet three-hundred twenty-one days ago after attempting to convince the council to start a war. The Klingons have been hunting them ever since."

"Defectors?" Jim echoes, shaking his head. "Then I guess that explains what they were doing on this side of the neutral zone...but what the hell were they doing on Ardin IV?"

"It is believed, sir, that they came to the planet planing to destroy the human colony. However, just before they entered this sector, their vessel's dilithium core malfunctioned. They landed on the planet and reconfigured much of the ship's interior into the machine we saw in hopes of causing localized tremors to collapse the mountains and force the Cravlynn into the human colony. Which they succeeded in doing, as you know."

"So they still wanted to start a war even after having to flee their home..." Kirk sighs and shakes his head. "Persistent bastards. What's Starfleet planning to do with them?"

"They will be given over to Kronos for punishment. Rest assured, Captain, no war will erupt because of our involvement. If anything, the Admiral believes this may even help our relationship with the Klingon Empire."

"That would be something..." Kirk mutters. "Thank you, Spock." He says. "Now, you should go see a doctor too. Your leg was injured, wasn't it?"

"It is already back to normal, Captain. Vulcans heal considerably faster than most races."

Sighing, Kirk lays back on his bed. "Good to know. On the other hand, I'll be stuck here until tomorrow morning if Bones gets his way."

"I apologize for your inconvenience, sir." Spock says. "Though I did bring you something to hopefully help you pass the time." From the folded hands behind his back, he produces Kirk's PADD.

"Oh thank God." Jim says, taking the device with open arms. Maybe now he can get some work done instead of just sitting here staring at the ceiling. "You're a life saver, Spock."

"You are welcome, Jim."

Captain's Log, Stardate 2256.260. The crew has returned to the Enterprise after spending a full day on Starbase 112. The injured colonists have been taken care of by the staff there and are now in the process of being shipped back to Earth for relocation. Starfleet hopes to send some people to Ardin IV to get the Cravlynn back under control so the planet can once again be colonized.

Captain's Log, Supplemental. The Klingons have been successfully handed over to the Kronos government via a Starfleet security shuttle. Strangely enough, the crew of the Enterprise received a personal thank you from the Klingon council for capturing the rebels. The Admiral believes this may have been the first step in forming a better relationship with Kronos. Let's hope so. But for now, the crew is more excited about returning to Aracelis II for shore leave. God knows we all need a break after this one. I think even Mr. Spock is in anticipation of some well deserved rest...