Title: The Elder and the Young (6/?)
Author: klmeri
Fandom: Star Trek AOS
Characters: Kirk, Spock, McCoy, Spock!Prime
Summary: Final part of a trilogy; follows The Boy and the Sea Dragon and The Man and the Memory. Jim’s soul is caged, McCoy is dying without a cure, and Spock has hijacked the Enterprise in an attempt to save them both.
Previous Part: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5

Part Five was posted yesterday; please read that first if you have not. Any lines from the episode “For the World is Hollow and I Have Touched the Sky” will be italicized. Enjoy!

Part Six

“But we thought—”

“That’s dire news indeed, lad.”

“The Captain said—”

“I knew that wasn’t Kirk!”

“It’s still here?“

The doctor waits until there is a lull in the varied reactions. “As far as we call tell, Jim’s been gone since before I woke up from my coma.”

The Chief Engineer nods knowingly. “Knew there was somethin’ wrong with ‘im. The Capt’n’s got more manners than that ill fellow.”

“Then he—the creature disappeared but really hasn’t left the ship at all?” Uhura looks furious that no one thought to mention this before. Leonard doesn’t blame her for her anger. He’d be spitting nails had Jim tried to keep him in the dark of a serious situation; in the past, he has spit nails and ranted at Kirk.

“Right again.” McCoy sighs heavily and jams a hand through his hair. “Like I said on the Bridge, Jim’s in a shit-load of trouble this time.”

“You also said that you could save him,” Sulu adds.

“That’s right. I can—at least, I think it will let Jim go if I offer to trade places. It’s said as much to that effect.”

Silence, rather than an outburst of emotion.

Thank God, Leonard thinks. These people understand what he is saying.

Chekov and Sulu exchange a long look. “So we find a way to get the Keptin and the Doctor back,” Pavel confirms.

McCoy leans against the briefing room table. “I’m hoping it’ll be a given that Jim is free once the deal is done.”

“An assumption we cannot make, given this being’s history of deception,” inputs Spock.

“I doubt we can make any assumptions, Spock,” Leonard tells the Vulcan. “I’d say hope and prayer is the best we have to go on.”

Why does Spock look to Selek at that?

Of course, then Scotty wants to know, “Does someone want to explain why the Enterprise is carryin’ two Vulcans?”

Selek introduces himself without saying “I am Spock number two.”

Leonard is grateful for one less complication. If Jim kept Old Spock’s secret—as well as the First Officer—then it must be duly important that no one goes around announcing the existence of a paradoxical doppelganger living in their universe.

“Selek is the most knowledgeable about the Fabrini.”

At the questioning looks on several faces, Leonard motions to Selek, who steps in and recites a long and lovely account from another universe. The gist of it is that the remnants of the Fabrini are obliviously traveling through space on a ship that looks like an asteroid; in their computer banks is the medical knowledge to cure xenopolycythemia.

Uhura asks quietly, “How long would you have, Leonard, if we didn’t find the cure?”

McCoy shares a look with Christine. The medical techs behind her have sympathy in their eyes.

“Two years, if I’m lucky. The disease is largely dormant—barring minor symptoms—until the last stage; then the patient’s decline is rapid. I wouldn’t be… cognizant towards the end.”

McCoy breaks the depressing silence with a wave of his hand. “But that’s a moot point. The creature wouldn’t drag us into uncharted space when it’s really anxious to have a cured Leonard McCoy for dinner.”

“There is nothing humorous about your demise, Doctor,” Spock interrupts, his voice heavy.

Leonard understands how Spock feels. “Would you rather I sat in a corner and cried?”

Spock says nothing. Some people fidget with discomfort but Leonard is simply tired of fielding awkward moments. He breathes deeply and announces, “I have an idea. Can’t promise it’ll work but we ought to try.”

Selek raises an eyebrow. “Thank you for confirming my suspicion, Leonard.”

Spock looks first at McCoy and then at his older self. He is clearly trying to determine how Selek can read McCoy better than he can. Leonard chuckles to himself.

“This may sound insane, but we’ve seen—and done—our fair share of crazy.”

The officers in the room nod; some laugh quietly. Were Jim here, the Captain would have that wide grin which, in general, translates to Tiberius actually stands for Crazy, Bones.

“This sucker is very powerful with few weaknesses. So maybe we give it what it wants—”

There is a low murmur and shifting of bodies.

“—only in excess.”

Sulu plants his hands on the table and asks, “What exactly does it want?”

Leonard tries his best to answer that question, despite that he is uncertain himself. “It talks about destinies, but I think that’s just a word to this thing. It sees someone it wants to be and becomes that person.” Lord knows why. Leonard suspects that the creature can see a man’s future, or something equally unsettling. Why else would it have latched onto Jim as a young child, if it didn’t know what great things James Kirk was going to do? Then consider the fact that it waited until Captain Kirk was at the height of his career to strike…

“Identity theft,” Mr. Scott summarizes.

“Essentially, except it’s got a scary alternative to killing its prey.”

Sulu crosses his arms, looking thoughtful. “But wouldn’t that be simpler? To kill, I mean.”

“For you or me, sure. Who knows. Maybe it does what it does because the process is necessary.” Hell, I wouldn’t hesitate to believe that it pulls souls from bodies for kicks. “Sorry, Sulu. I don’t have a fucking clue how this creature works.”

“I am inclined to believe that this creature does function based on our logical standards for morality.” Selek is standing in the room, but McCoy has the feeling that the Vulcan is far away in memory. “The Cap-a close comrade of mine once encountered a being that, in fact, omnipotent in its abilities; yet it was young and prone to mischief, without a real sense of how its actions affected mortals.”

Leonard leans forward with interest. “You make it sound like it was a god.”

“It was,” answers Selek serenely. “Its power was almost beyond comprehension.”

Chekov asks what they are all thinking. “What happened to your friend?”

The Vulcan is smiling with his eyes again. “He handled the situation as he was wont to do—implementing a challenge to save those that he loved—” Selek looks at McCoy. “—and forcing the being to see itself for what it was, a child.”

McCoy sighs. “I doubt I can psycho-analyze our enemy into giving up and going away.”

“No,” agrees the older Vulcan. “But you may, as a popular Terran colloquialism states, ‘trick it at its own game.'”

“I will help,” Pavel says firmly.

Others nod or offer the same words. A tension in Leonard loosens.

There is hope after all.

It takes a month to cross paths with the asteroid ship Yonada. In that time, the crew’s morale slowly bolsters as the Enterprise comes closer to her destination. Courtesy of Uhura and Sulu, the rumor is covertly fed into the gossip mills that Doctor McCoy is sick and the Enterprise has a mission to find a cure. It’s all true, of course, but also carefully edited of the remainder of their rather desperate and foolhardy plan. The rumor suffices to infuse the crew with a purpose, even as they wait for something to happen and their Captain to return.

Then the Bridge comms McCoy late into an evening shift, to which Leonard replies, “Yes, Uhura, I’m still awake. I’m working—what the Hell else would I be doing?”

“Mr. Spock is on his way to see you.”

Leonard lifts an eyebrow. “And I need the warning why? Please tell me that overgrown elf isn’t having hot flashes or any equally disturbing symptoms of a Vulcan condition I ain’t allowed to know about.”

Nyota’s laugh twinkles through the speakers of his computer. “Where do you come up with your ideas, Len?”

If she could see him, she’d wonder at the color rising in his face. “Selek and I have been sharing some tales.” It pleases Leonard to know that he’s now ahead of Jim in this game of Secret Lives of Vulcans From an Alternate Universe. McCoy is certainly looking forward to the day he can say, if a bit childishly, “I know something you don’t know, Jim-boy!”

McCoy has wrangled a promise from Old Spock to answer any and all future questions that the doctor is sure to have about the First Officer. When Old Spock had originally replied to the request, “You might address your inquiries to our father,” Leonard immediately shot back, “And how well did that play out for your Leonard McCoy?” The Vulcan graciously conceded to McCoy’s wisdom.

Leonard almost wants to keep him aboard the Enterprise on a permanent basis; Old Spock would be an invaluable source of knowledge for the Enterprise’s journey through darkness and danger. Alas, those are thoughts for another, more fortuitous time (one they might never see, if current circumstances don’t change). He also supposes that the idea, while nice and comforting, would be detrimental to how this universe functions.

His thoughts are interrupted.

The Chief Medical Officer pretends to be astonished at the Vulcan visitor stepping through the threshold of his office. “What can I do for you, Mr. Spock?”

Spock fixes an intense look on him that makes the fine hairs on the back of his neck rise. “I wish to inform you that we shall approach the ship Yonada in approximately five point thirteen hours.”

There is a strange tingling in Leonard’s chest. He clears his throat. “That’s good. Will—I mean, who—” Damn it, collect yourself, man! he berates himself. “Have you determined the team that will beam down to the ship?”

“I have,” replies the Vulcan gravely. “This is a matter which I also wish to discuss with you.” In an odd little pause, Spock simply looks at him. “Leonard, will you… feel comfortable if you are part of the team?”

He’s surprised. “Why wouldn’t I?” Didn’t he do so already, in another place and time? Then it occurs to Leonard that Spock is trying to gauge the doctor’s sensitivity. “Aw, Spock, I’m touched—I really am. But it’s only proper that I come down with you. We are fiddling with Old Spock’s version of events enough as it is.”

Spock blinks. “I would question your choice of title for my counterpart but I suspect any complaint would be ignored.”

McCoy laughs. “Humor me. Your other version does.” A weight lifts from his shoulders. Leonard stands and walks over to the serious-faced Vulcan. “Thank you,” he says. “Without you, we wouldn’t have gotten nearly this far.”

“You need not thank me, Doctor.”

“But I am. So long as I’m breathin’, I won’t forget this.” Leonard smiles. “You’re a good man, Spock, and a good friend.”

He allows the Vulcan the dignity of pretending to look elsewhere while a fleeting, soft emotion passes across Spock’s face.

McCoy juggles his phaser in nervousness before he firmly decides to hook it back onto his belt and leave it there.

The High Priestess eyes him in a strange way that makes the man jumpy. When she tells Leonard in an imperial but coaxing voice, “I am Natira,” Leonard only nods and replies, “McCoy, ma’am.”

He feels rather badly for these ship dwellers because they not only haven’t a clue that Yonada isn’t a planet, but they don’t seem inclined to ask any questions either. Like ignorant sheep, he thinks. Their leader, however, is interested enough to demand answers of Yonada‘s visitors.

If Old Spock were here, he could prompt this conversation in the correct direction. As it stands, Spock simply blurts out, “We seek the Oracle.”

Even Sulu, their best Jim-replacement, is staring at the back of the Vuclan’s head and boggling at his audacity.

Natira, of course, must be surprised that off-worlders are so knowledgeable of her culture. She inclines her head, calling off the fierce looking guards surrounding their little group, and replies, “Welcome to the world of Yonada. Your request has been heard and shall be relayed to the Oracle. If the Oracle is agreeable, you shall have your audience.”

They are lead into the ship to sit and wait.

With his hands between his knees, Leonard reminds Spock, “This Oracle isn’t very nice, you know. I am positive I don’t want to be zapped. My brain cells have suffered plenty of trauma already.”

“I will speak with the Oracle alone.”

He disagrees. “I don’t like that idea either.”

“Doctor,” Spock glances at him before returning to adjusting his tricorder. “You are free to state your opinion, but I regret to inform you that it will make little difference. I will speak with the Oracle alone.“

So Captain Spock is stretching his authority muscles. Leonard sighs. “Then what in the world good can I do by sittin’ here?”

“Perhaps you might… engender an acquaintance with the High Priestess.”

He stares. “Are you saying you want me to flirt with that woman? Are you outta your Vulcan mind?“

The damn hobgoblin is laughing at him, he knows it! Leonard McCoy doesn’t take kindly to joking at his expense. He is about to give the Vulcan a few choice, colorful words when a door opens and Natira is standing before them, sharp-eyed but serene.

“The Oracle will grant an audience.”

Leonard stands but Spock steps forward into the custody of the guards. The Acting Captain tells the High Priestess, “Your hospitality is most appreciated and would be a welcome continuation for my colleagues who remain here in my absence.”

Natira replies graciously, “We are honored by your presence on our world. If you do not seek harm against my people, then you shall not be harmed in return.” The woman waves a hand and two men and one woman enter the room bearing trays of food and drink. Natira tells McCoy, Sulu, and two security officers to enjoy refreshments while they wait for the return of their leader. Spock and the High Priestess leave, then, and McCoy cannot shake the uncomfortable gnawing of his gut, which has little to do with hungry and everything to do with anxiety for a certain stubborn Vulcan.

He is keeping on eye on the security officers who eat the snacks provided by the Fabrini with gusto. Sulu is focused on the door, one hand on the phaser at his hip.

McCoy turns the medical tricorder in his hands. If Spock doesn’t hurry up…

“Doctor!”

Leonard is on his feet in an instant as two guards come through the door dragging an unconscious Spock and unceremoniously dumping him onto the floor. McCoy, heart pounding in his chest, kneels and gently turns the Vulcan over. He snaps at Sulu, who has his phaser aimed on the Fabrini, “Don’t! Let’s talk with ’em before you go startin’ a fight!”

Natira enters, face grim. Leonard ignores everyone but his patient.

The medical readings confirm that Spock is merely unconscious and not damaged. He directs the two security officers to place the Vulcan on the raised futon. Then McCoy whirls on the High Priestess.

“What’s the matter with you! Unless my friend directly attacked you and yours, I doubt you can justify hurting him!”

“It was not I,” replies the woman, chin high. “The Oracle made a demonstration of its displeasure. Your leader—” Natira says the word with a hint of disgust. “—made a demand that the Oracle cannot accommodate and, upon refusal, attempted to touch the sacred stones of the temple.”

Of course Spock would. That’s how the other Kirk and Spock found the ship’s manual and gained access to the controls of the ship. Leonard bites his tongue, unwilling to pull the blinders off these people just yet. He asks instead, “Do you always condone such ill treatment? How can a god, any god, punish a man so easily for his free will?”

Her lips thin. “The ways of my people are foreign to you and should not be judged so readily.” She indicates Spock. “When your leader is well, you will leave Yonada. Do not return. This is the command of the Oracle.”

McCoy does the only thing that makes him feel better. He curses at the woman’s retreating back.

The High Priestess is unaware that they have no intentions of simply vacating the premises and letting the ship go on its merry way. No, McCoy will face down the Oracle himself—Southern temper and all—to get at the controls. Jim, Leonard, and a colony named Daran V depend on the success of this mission.

He sits by the prone Spock’s side, musing on how he is going to find a way into the Oracle Room.

A quiet rustle snaps his attention back to the present. An old man appears, Leonard and the others startled to see him against a backdrop of brightly colored curtains. As he whispers of his doubts, Leonard’s heart clenches in sympathy.

The man mourns, “Things are not as they teach us, for the world is hollow and I have touched the sky.” It is then that Leonard has an opportunity to observe the callousness of the Oracle, that vicious computer which suppresses the Fabrini’s growth through pain and fear. The poor fellow writhes in agony until he dies beneath Leonard’s hands, the doctor useless to help.

So the people of Yonada do question—and they die for it, never knowing that there is more hope in the universe awaiting them than what can be contained in one small world.

Leonard breathes deeply and tells Sulu and the security officers, “Make a racket. We’ve got work to do.”

Next Part

Related Posts:

• The Elder and the Young (12/12) – from February 24, 2011
• The Elder and the Young (11/12) – from February 23, 2011
• The Elder and the Young (10/11) – from February 21, 2011
• The Elder and the Young (9/11) – from February 11, 2011
• The Elder and the Young (8/?) – from February 7, 2011