Title: Recapture (6/8)
Author: klmeri
Fandom: Star Trek TOS
Pairing: Kirk/Spock/McCoy
Summary: An innocuous tour lands Kirk, Spock, and McCoy in deadly territory.
Previous Parts: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5

Part Six

Separating was largely the worst mistake they made that day, the day that Jim went missing.

When Leonard caught up to Spock on a lower deck, they shared a silent apprehension, a feeling which had overcome them both quite suddenly and without evident cause. Expanding the search for the woman to include their partner transformed apprehension into fear. By the time the active hours of the cruiser drew to an end, Spock and Leonard had forced their way onto the Maiden‘s bridge and demanded a ship-wide scan. The captain refused, whereupon Spock took a position at the controls regardless and executed the program himself while Leonard guarded his back with Essler’s phaser.

The computer beeped, blipped, and declared, No bio-signature of James T. Kirk detected onboard.

The bridge grew ominously quiet, then, as if faced with an ill wind. Even Roraqk’s belligerent expression wavered.

“No bio-signature?” Leonard had repeated, looking to Spock, his voice dropping to a whisper. “That’s not possible.”

Spock never replied, for they both knew it was entirely possible if Jim happened to be dead.

“We would know—Spock, we would know!”

Leonard paced their suite, where Roraqk had escorted them with a group of armed guards and the explicit instructions to stay put.

The longer Leonard tried to ‘stay put’, the worse his hands shook. He kept hearing a computerized voice inform them that Jim was gone.

Turning, he faced the other occupant of the bedroom, who sat at the small computer console (the kind installed for personal use, much like on the Enterprise) typing away.

“Spock!” he barked, letting his irritation flare, which did little to disguise his anguish. “Are you even listening?”

“I am.”

Leonard stalked over to the Vulcan and leaned down to grab a hold of his shoulders. “Then for Christ’s sake act like it!”

One of Spock’s hands moved, wrapping long fingers around Leonard’s wrist. He kept it there without pulling Leonard away.

The contact grounded Leonard, and he loosened his grip. “I’m sorry,” he said.

“Leonard, you must know that I am not unaffected.”

His shoulders sagged. “I know.”

Fingers touched his cheek, stroked down along the skin.

Leonard took the hand and kissed the back of it.

Spock made a soft noise, almost like a human sigh, and returned to the bright screen of the console. “In a moment, we should have the security records from the computer’s databanks. Ironically, Roraqk’s invasion of our privacy will prove to be one of our most valuable resources.”

Leonard looked at the screen. “So this whole time you were hacking into the system? Well, at least one of us has his head on straight.”

Spock gave him a peculiar look. “If my head was at any other angle, I would not be alive—as you well know.”

Leonard made a whimpering kind of laugh. “Please, Spock, not now.”

“…I do not understand.”

Leonard pulled up a chair and propped his elbows on the desktop. “Let’s just find Jim.”

Spock looked back at the computer screen and blinked. “Later you will explain it to me.”

“Do you really need to know the history behind every single strange thing I say?”

“Affirmative.”

“Away with you,” Leonard remarked, pleased.

Spock gave him another peculiar look.

The human rolled his eyes. “Not literally, you green-blooded computer! Now, show me those records.”

The door slid shut, and a light came on in an adjacent room. The newcomer moved towards it with purpose, his stride speaking of anger and a touch of fear. When he came within sight of the other occupant of the quarters, he bellowed, “What did you do?“

A female humanoid smiled at him. “Darling,” she said, “what’s the matter?”

“Kirk’s missing, and I told you not to cause trouble!”

She tapped her fingers against her thigh. “Are those two things related?”

Roraqk came at her, teeth bared, but stopped short of touching her. “Don’t think me a fool, chit. I know better than anyone what you’re capable of. Whatever you did to Kirk, undo it.”

“And here I thought you wanted to smash the Captain’s skull between your claws. Why the change of heart?”

Roraqk narrowed his eyes. “Was I supposed to stay jealous?”

Her eyes, when they met his, had turned cold. “I think I’m insulted.”

Roraqk’s massive jaw worked for a moment before he turned partly away. “If his Fleet hears about this, taking away the Maiden will be the kindest thing they do to me.”

“I didn’t touch Kirk.”

He hissed back, “Liar.“

She slapped him and said angrily, “The only mistake I made was getting involved with bastard captains like the two of you! Get out of my room, Roraqk.”

“You forget your place, chit.” Roraqk backed up as he said this. “When we dock, I want you off my ship.”

“It will be my pleasure, Captain,” she replied sarcastically.

He left, and the companion who remained behind stared absently ahead of her for a long time. Then, shaking off her thoughts, she returned to what had preoccupied her before her lover’s arrival. Kneeling to the floor in the suite bathroom, she leaned over enough to run her fingers through loose strands of hair. Humans had the softest hair; she had always admired the texture of it.

“Jim,” she whispered, “he doesn’t understand what a rare opportunity this is. It’s revenge, yes, but also justice. When I take your life, my family can finally be at peace.”

She tapped a finger against the slack muscle of his cheek, pulled back and rose to her feet.

She needed to prepare for departure, anxious to leave the ship for reasons Roraqk had barely begun to guess. But these final moments aboard were also important, like closing a chapter of her life, and no one could stop her now.

She simply had to make certain that two passengers in particular were sufficiently distracted until then.

“They look like night-vision goggles.”

“They are not.”

“That’s what they look like.”

“Leonard, could you please cease your arbitrary discourse and check our position? Otherwise I fear you will draw unwanted attention precisely to this location.”

“Position’s good, and who’re you callin’ a chatterbox? You’re the most long-winded—”

“Leonard.” One could hear enough stress on the word to indicate exasperation.

“Fine.“

There was a hmph, then silence which ended a full minute later.

“Did you find something?”

“Possibly.”

“Well, what does it look like?”

“The shape is not clearly defined, most likely due to the disruption of the visual sensors from the surrounding energy field of the—”

“Who’s the chatterbox now?”

There came a significant pause, then, “Perhaps it is a cube.”

“A cube-like shape could be a lot of things, Spock, but it sure as heck ain’t Jim! Keep looking. You said he had to be around here somewhere.”

“I said no such thing. The computer tracked him no farther than this corridor. That does not take into account any number of presences which could have removed him from these premises before our arrival.”

“And I thought I had a penchant for getting kidnapped. Remind me to make a point of that when he gets on me about being nabbed in the bathroom.”

“I assume that was an awkward encounter.”

“At least my pants weren’t down.”

The voices continued on, growing distant as the party moved on.

Not good, Essler thought, nearly to the point of wringing his hands.

Not good at all. Neither Dr. McCoy nor Commander Spock had remained in their quarters as ordered. Of course, he hadn’t stayed in the med bay like his captain told him to either.

How could he? Honestly… how could he when Jim was missing?

But Captain Kirk had come out of scrapes worse than this, the young man reminded himself. Think of that time with the Gorn, or the Klingons and the tribbles, or a ridiculously childish omnipotent being called Trelane…

Essler knew he ought to stop pilfering the mission reports from Starfleet. He knew that, honest to god. The breach of security might actually be considered treason in the Federation or at the very least the act of a spy, no matter how innocent the motive.

But Essler had to keep track these things. He had to because he so admired James T. Kirk. They could have been Academy comrades if things had gone differently in his life. He could have been one of Kirk’s most trusted aboard the Enterprise and, maybe even, Jim’s friend.

Imagine that, a friend to his longtime hero.

He had lost so much time, he realized, believing that he could have made an exemplary career out in the hind-end of space, working to become a name as celebrated as Kirk’s. A name that Kirk would one day say with equal respect.

What good were hopes and dreams if Jim died?

Oh, he should have never, ever agreed to this mission. If he had known it would place the best starship captain in the galaxy in mortal danger, he wouldn’t have. Fame didn’t matter now. Neither did glory. He had failed his mission anyway when the Orb turned up missing and a man dead. His Bajoran benefactors could wait.

He had a captain to rescue!

Leonard leaned back against the turbolift wall and closed his eyes. He tried not to sound defeated but failed as he said, “We’re no better off now than when we started.”

“We have searched only one-third of the ship. There is more yet to be done.”

“And when we get to the passenger decks—what then, Spock? Do we knock on doors and ask if we can look through family cabins in case our captain is tied up in their bathroom?” He knocked his head back against the wall in frustration. “I’ll agree with the premise that his bio-signature was disabled, and I’m darned glad we found equipment that can see through walls but there’s just two of us. In the time it could take us to search this blasted ship from top to bottom, Jim could very well be dead.”

“I am open to suggestions.”

Leonard sighed and opened his eyes, fixing them on the floor of the lift. “We should ask Roraqk to supply the manpower we need.”

“He would not agree to that.”

Leonard thumped a fist on the paneling. “He should!” he shot back angrily. “If Jim dies because that oversized lunkhead can’t see beyond the length of his snout, I’ll see to it that he never sets foot on a starship again! Jim would never risk a life because of a personal grievance. And what’s the Trade Commission doin’ anyway, handing out captaincies to every Tom, Dick, and Harry who wants a ship!”

“Leonard, anger will not resolve our situation.”

“Punching somebody might.”

“Of course, the typical human response.”

Leonard shook his finger under Spock’s nose. “Don’t tell me you aren’t mad. I know you are!”

“I cannot deny it.”

“Then help me, Spock. Help me do whatever it takes to get Jim back, even if it means breaking the rules.”

“Have I not already proven that I will?” the Vulcan asked him quietly.

Leonard laid a hand on Spock’s arm as Jim would have. “Yes,” he agreed with an equally quiet tone. “Many times over. I don’t mean to question your loyalty. I just need the reminder that I’m not alone. That’s my shortcoming, Spock, not yours.”

“We are distraught,” Spock stated, “and we have not slept or taken nourishment in many hours. The unkind things we say to each other now are not representative of who we are because we are not ourselves.”

“I’m sorry too,” Leonard said. “I’m glad you’re here with me.”

“As I am grateful for you.”

Leonard let his hand slip away. “So what do we do now?”

“Continue on. We can do nothing less.”

“I have some stimulants in my medkit. I can go a while longer before I need one, but it would be better to have it on hand just in case.” He didn’t add that there could be other reasons they would need the kit when they found Jim.

Spock nodded his agreement, the look in his dark eyes saying clearly that he understood the unspoken concern.

There was never a moment’s peace on this ship. The call from the bridge had come to his personal quarters, interrupting what was meant to be a long brooding session over his misfortune. The officer on duty who had placed the call had sounded slightly frantic but at Roraqk’s insistence spared no time for details. One never knew who might be plugged into their communication channels. Some sectors of space had few laws and fewer law abiders.

As it stood, Roraqk hardly considered himself among that latter class. Otherwise he wouldn’t be working the same boring routes year after year on a ship full of ignoramus mouth-breathers with deep pockets and not a whole of lot of common sense. No, if there weren’t the privileges of his position as written into his contract with the entertainment corporation that paid him… He would have long ago set his sights on a different venture.

He didn’t rush to the bridge immediately. His staff knew well enough that unless the ship was on fire or under attack, any and all emergency calls took priority to his personal schedule.

But unfortunately he didn’t have much of personal schedule at the moment—or would likely have one for a few months once he sent his guest packing. That chit! He gnashed his teeth over her audacity for a while longer before he headed to the bridge.

“What is it?” he bit out at the nearest lieutenant to hand as he crossed the threshold.

She turned pale and didn’t answer him.

That would have inflamed his already hot temper if the licensed medical officer he had aboard (and resident mortician) hadn’t stepped into his path and dragged away his attention.

“Got a call from down below,” the human said. “One of the engineers found a dead body in a maintenance tube.”

Roraqk had a moment to think with triumph, Good riddance, and then another moment for his common sense to kick in. “Kirk?” he questioned gruffly.

“A female,” replied the officer.

Well, wasn’t that just wonderful news? Kirk was still missing-in-action and now the bodies were starting to pile up.

Maybe Kirk was the murderer.

Roraqk gave a great snort, which startled most of his bridge crew. He curled his claws inward and loosed a growl that sent them all back to inspecting their consoles.

“Orders?” the human in front of him wanted to know.

Roraqk considered his options, and at last decided, “Put it in cryo with the other one.”

“Aye, sir.”

Roraqk gave him a nod of dismissal but just as the man had reached the bridge’s only set of doors, Roraqk called back to him, “What about that test? Do I need to worry about a quarantine?”

“No, Captain,” came the reply. “The ship’s clean.”

Then what had Essler been babbling about down in the med bay, deadly viruses and vaccines?

Roraqk turned to ask and realized, only then, that the annoying young human was not on the bridge. “Where,” he snarled at those present, “is my second-in-command?”

Nobody had an answer for him.

They rode the lift to the deck catering to the wealthier passengers and were en route to their suite when it became evident someone was following them. Leonard, who had been tense to begin with, felt his shoulders tighten further with each step. He wanted to confront their stalker (Who was it? Did the person know where Jim was?) but at the same time he didn’t want to scare off what might be a new lead in Jim’s disappearance. He actually rather wished that somebody would try to take them too. Maybe only then they could get to Jim.

Leonard didn’t have to look at Spock to know that the Vulcan was experiencing similar thoughts. He stepped in closer to his companion and slid his hand into Spock’s. To the observer, it might look like a gesture of courting. For them, it was a method of communication.

The bond between them, normally quiet and unobtrusive, something Jim had once likened to the soft, everyday hum of the starship on which they lived, flared to life at the forefront of Leonard’s mind.

He thought, I might be a little rusty at this.

You are perfectly understandable.

Oh ho! So no rampant human emotionalism is attacking your logical sensibilities right now?

Only your amusement, Leonard.

That’s because you are a laugh and a half, my pointy-eared hobgoblin.

Confusion and curiosity accompanied in Spock’s reply. How does one have half of a laugh?

Never mind. What do we do about our shadow?

I would like to question him.

We gotta capture him first. Do you want to trip, or should I?

Alarm. Leonard, no, I do not—.

But by then Leonard had hooked his foot around Spock’s ankle and pulled. They went down in a tangle of limbs, Spock without his usual grace having managed to twist just enough to prevent himself landing nose-first. Leonard, being tethered as he was, fell across him with an oof.

The spark which shot between their minds was most certainly Vulcan annoyance. Leonard let an apology chase after it, then thought quickly as Spock started to sit up, You’ve hurt your ankle. Stay down!

Spock craned his head around to stare at him like he had lost his mind.

Leonard ducked his head and released the hand he was holding. “Oh no,” he said faintly, “did you hurt yourself?”

Spock’s stare grew more intense.

Leonard patted Spock’s ankle. “I think you sprained your ankle, Spock.”

“How… unfortunate,” the Vulcan said with flat dismay.

Leonard cleared his throat in lieu of laughing out loud. “I’ll, um, go on ahead and get my medkit.” To the couple who had tentatively come forward to offer their assistance, he said, “Watch him a moment, would you? Our room’s just down the hall,” then assured them, “I’m a doctor.” He scooted to his feet and took off in a hurry, ignoring Spock’s helpless bleat of “Leonard?”

Leonard turned the corner and did exactly as he said. He went into their suite, leaving the door open in his haste, and didn’t command the lights on. Once inside, he did gather the medkit quickly from the bathroom but then lingered there, silently counting. When he reached twenty, he slid out of the bathroom.

A mere second before the door closed, the light from the bathroom illuminated a figure in the dark who definitely wasn’t Spock.

“Lieutenant-Commander,” said Leonard, nonplussed, “just what in blazes do you think you’re doing?”

“Dr. McCoy…”

Leonard took a step, commanding the room, “Lights seventy-percent.”

“No!” cried the young man that Leonard had seen and, without warning, flung himself forward at Leonard.

Leonard had a moment to think a terrible mistake had been made by trusting such an innocent face. He tried to move aside but Essler caught his arm, and they went stumbling back, then down.

“I’m sorry,” Essler said, and again, “I’m sorry, Dr. McCoy!” as his hands crept around Leonard’s neck.

“Get off me!”

Leonard got a look past Essler and sucked in a quick breath.

Essler was lifted from him with an unforgiving strength. When Essler’s sense sparked enough that he started to react, Spock took no mercy on him, applying a thumb and forefinger to the exposed neck. The man in Spock’s grasp slumped, whatever noise he had been making subdued by unconsciousness.

“He’s lost his mind,” Leonard said softly, coming to his feet.

“Perhaps so,” the Vulcan replied without inflection. “Or it may be that he was without possession of it from the beginning.” Spock released the young man to the floor. “Are you unharmed?”

“Yeah. Are you?”

Spock’s gaze held his for a brief moment before focusing on Essler. “I am also unharmed, but I am concerned that we can trust no one on this ship.”

Leonard released a long breath. “I know,” he agreed. “Believe me, Spock, I know.”

It was the worst possible situation to be in with their partner’s life at stake.

Next Part

Related Posts:

• Recapture (9/9) – from November 14, 2014
• Recapture (8/9) – from November 14, 2014
• Recapture (7/8) – from October 28, 2014
• Recapture (5/8) – from October 2, 2014
• Recapture (4/?) – from September 22, 2014