Black Fire (22 page)

All on Corsair were not elated with the
Black Fires'
successes. Astro, having lost some of his prestige after the exploits of the new team, stewed in frustration and resentment.

Trying to regain some of his former prominence, he was eager to make a real impact with his next venture. Cruising near the Federation outposts, Astro saw his chance with the spotting of a private cruiser leaving a luxurious space-resort. Its markings indicated it was the property of a wealthy Terran who resided on a station of his own in the Alpha Centauri system. It had to be a rich prize, and Astro attacked.

The private ship had no real defenses and was easily captured. Among the treasures on board Astro found two lovely women: Galicia, the dark and lovely daughter of the ship's owner, and her cousin and companion, Linia. The first thought in Astro's mind when he saw the women was
ransom!
His greed took precedence over prudence and he broke the law of Corsair by bringing the women to the pirate stronghold.

Desus was infuriated. Spock, although he would never admit to such a sentiment as gallantry, was outraged. The women's presence threatened the long-kept pirate secret, and Spock knew the women were in great danger. He took it upon himself to resolve the dilemma by going to Astro to ask him to return the women.

The pirate laughed at the naive Vulcan. "Give up a rich prize?" he blustered. "Utterly absurd!"

"I will pay the ransom myself," Spock offered. "My share of
Black Fire
's yield is a handsome one. It is yours in exchange for the women."

"I thought Vulcans had no interest in such matters," Astro insinuated with a foxlike grin. "But I accept your offer. They are a nuisance and I am well rid of them."

"Send them to me at Desus' compound," Spock directed tersely, preferring not to spend any more time with Astro than was absolutely necessary.

"So, Black Fire becomes a savior of damsels in distress!" Desus said with amusement. "This, my friend, is entirely your affair. I want no part of it. Don't even tell me how you intend to return those women to their rightful home. Or do you?" Spock frowned. "Of course I do. And you're finding all of this very entertaining, aren't you?"

"Immensely. On your behalf I have invited the two lovely ladies to join Black Fire at dinner. I hope you enjoy the evening."

"Evening?" Spock asked, looking startled. "Dinner… ?"

"They're all yours," Desus said, bowing out. His laughter could be heard from way down the hallway.

A lavish board was spread and the ladies were asked to join Black Fire at table. The feast was elegant, but Galicia's eyes fixed intently on her host. At the head of the table, the shimmering form of Black Fire sat silent and unmoving.

"Sir, I owe you my life. How may I repay you?"

She waited for an answer, watching the dashing black figure with expectant eyes. One of the Romulans at the table, trying in vain not to laugh, choked on his wine.

"Surely, you will reveal yourself to me. You are everything a girl wishes for, a knight come to her rescue."

Spock had no appetite. He drank a glass of water and Galicia watched his every motion, hoping the cowl would drop back to reveal the face of her savior; it remained hidden in the recesses of his hood.

She was not shy about examining him closely. His slim form scintillated and danced as the fabric picked up the candlelight and gave off its mysterious black fire. A glint of the same black fire on his earlobe attracted her attention. "I have never seen such an earring before. What is the stone?" She hoped he would answer her.

The earring of Black Fire, one of the strange black-fire gems, set in the ear IIsa had pierced, glowed the only answer.

Finally, Galicia heard his voice. She thrilled to its rich tenor, but the words were not the ones she had anticipated.

"Take her and guard her well," he instructed one of the Romulan women. The mysterious pirate left the meal before the last course was served.

By dawn Spock had found a solution to returning the women to their home. He assigned a crew to one of the smaller of the pirate fleet's ships and sent them off to an isolated retreat station where the ship and captives both were left to be recovered. The
Black Fire
orbited above and beamed the pirate crew quickly off the planet, taking off at warp speed to inhibit pursuit.

With the women's return, the legend of Black Fire grew. Now he became a romantic figure, the tall, elegant, unknown rescuer of damsels in distress. The tale of the pirate's dinner party spread rapidly through the galaxy, and more than one woman dreamt of capture by the mysterious man. Galicia wrote a series of poems based on her adventure which became best-sellers throughout the Federation planets.

It made Spock acutely uncomfortable to realize that there was a romantic legend growing about him. Desus enjoyed every minute of it, reveling in his friend's discomfort. Women of many species throughout the galaxy would have liked to boast a night spent with the infamous pirate, who, as the Romulan and Vulcan well knew, was incapable of returning any of their affections. The last thing either of them needed or wanted was a romance.

The many successful raids by the elusive Black Fire, with his ability to travel at incredible speeds, precipitated Federation action. It had to stop; a huge reward was offered for the capture of Captain Black Fire. Starfleet Command was convinced that the pirate would be betrayed by one of his greedy own.

Now fully accepted by the pirate band, Spock found the guard around him somewhat relaxed. Wealth had never interested him, and he was particularly popular with his men since he distributed most of his spoils amongst them immediately upon their return. However, he still did not have free access to a ship, or to the communication stations on Corsair.

He seemed to take no great pleasure in his success, but instead grew increasingly restive. Desus came up with an immediate remedy. The spirited Romulan could not tolerate his friend's pensiveness and decided to do something about it. He had obtained a copy of Galicia's book of poetry and one night at dinner he surprised Spock with a reading. All but the Vulcan laughed heartily at his dramatic rendering of the sentimental and romantic female fantasies put to verse.

In mock seriousness, Desus arose from his place and began his recitation:

His dark shape flamed through the room
,
causing a skipped heartbeat, as he bargained
for possession of the women.

Shrouded in a garment made of lightning,
he took the ladies as his own,
bringing delight clouded in mystery.

To see his face through the veil of dark
flame.

To touch his hand, strong and warm.
To belong to this man of fire, if only for a
moment.

Time too short for love complete.
He is a shadow of mystery.
My flaming love.

"More! More!" The hysterical assembly at Black Fire's table demanded further verses. As the merriment grew, Spock became even more uncomfortable and excused himself, eliciting another wave of merriment.

Desus, enjoying the joke, continued his reading with long dramatic pauses accenting the more lurid portions. Although it was an embarrassment for Spock, even he saw the humor in the situation and later in the evening, rejoined the frolicking household.

It was an evening to remember in the Romulan compound on Corsair.

4

The subtle balance of power on Corsair changed abruptly with Black Fire's successes. Suddenly it was Spock and Desus who were the center of attention and not the cocky Astro. From his point of view, Spock's ransoming of the women backfired badly, making the Vulcan a hero and completely negating his own role in the affair.

While in one of his more self-aggrandizing moods, Astro worked up his anger to a blustering courage and confronted Spock.

"Vulcan!" He drew a knife, threatening Spock.

"Put that away, Astro," Spock countered. "I want no fight with you."

"Afraid, Vulcan? My exploits are well known. You just don't want to risk defeat—coward!"

"Astro," Spock warned, "I am quite capable of tearing you in two. It is unwise to attack me."

But Astro, now having to save face, plunged toward the Vulcan in a sudden move. The blade grazed Spock's shoulder, cutting through the black fabric and staining it with a spot of green. Spock drew his arm back, and with one swift blow sent Astro flying across the compound. The humiliated pirate's eyes slitted in rage as he picked himself up.

"You haven't seen the last of me, Spock. Your mistake was not joining me. It was a mistake you will regret."

The incensed Astro took action to rid Corsair of Spock forever. Astro's spies in the Romulan compound informed him of Black Fire's next planned raid and, breaking all oaths, Astro secretly informed Starfleet of Spock's plans. He gave only information on the course of the
Black Fire/Equus;
having no immediate quarrel with Desus, he did not betray the Romulan.

Unaware of Astro's betrayal, Spock set out on his next raid. As his ship approached its intended prey, it was easily outflanked by the starship lying in wait. Spock knew there was no way the cruiser could defeat the larger, more versatile ship and surrendered immediately, much to his crew's disappointment.

"Prepare to be boarded," announced a familiar voice from the starship, as Captain James T. Kirk and his boarding party entered the transporter. Behind his hood Spock hid his relief.
The Enterprise! What luck!

With phasers ready, the security team accompanying Chekov and Kirk beamed aboard. Before them stood the lean figure of fire which had become so much sought by the Federation. He was draped in his now-famous cape, his face entirely hidden by the hood.

Kirk approached Captain Black Fire, intending to lower the cowl to reveal his face, but one of the pirate crew suddenly brandished a hidden phaser, set to kill. Spock, seeing the danger, grabbed the pirate's hand, setting the blast off toward the ceiling.

It all happened so quickly, and was so confused, that Kirk didn't have time to prevent the security guards from firing at the pirate. Kirk grabbed for the pirate's legs, pulling him off balance and sending him hard to the deck. In the scuffle Black Fire's hood slipped back, revealing his face to Kirk.

"Spock!" Kirk shouted in surprise.

"Indeed," Spock responded. "There is something I …"

He never finished the sentence. Interpreting Black Fire's gesture as hostile, an over-eager security guard fired his phaser. Spock crumpled; but before Kirk could reach his sagging body, the Vulcan's form shimmered and was gone—transported away!

"Captain." Leonidas's voice sounded unsteady. "A ship identifying itself as the
Sackett
, Captain Melchior commanding, surprised us, sir."

"Surprised …? Explain!"

"Well, Captain, the ship
Sackett
is in our registry with Captain Melchior commanding. Everything seemed to check out …"

"Go on, Mister Leonidas, I'm waiting," Kirk said impatiently.

"Well, Captain—it was the—
Black Fire!
"

Kirk readjusted the sound level on his communicator. "I didn't get that, Leonidas. Repeat your last transmission."

"Sir, it was the
Black Fire!
"

"Have you lost your mind, Leonidas? I'm standing on the bridge of the
Black Fire
now."

"I know, Captain. But that's what their last signal indicated after they beamed the pirate captain aboard. We permitted her to approach, thinking it was a backup vessel Starfleet had sent. Her conformation is that of one of ours, sir. When she was close enough for us to see her actual markings, she suddenly warped out and was gone! Captain, I can swear the ship was identical to the one you are on right now—and, sir, as she warped out we received another message …"

"Relay it, Commander."

Uhura's voice came in on Kirk's channel. "Captain, I am relaying the message from the
Black Fire
now. It was an unfamiliar male voice; all it said was, 'The fire is quenched.'"

1

The
Black Fire/Talon
headed directly for the Romulan neutral zone with the
Enterprise
in pursuit. The smaller ship was slower, but it had a substantial lead, having totally surprised the Starfleet vessel in making its escape. Even so, the ship barely reached the neutral zone, and safety, as the
Enterprise
bore down on her.

Starfleet orders were explicitly clear: Under no condition was intrusion into the neutral zone permitted. Spock was safe for the moment, which gave Kirk cause for relief; but this relief was countered by a grave concern for the circumstances which led his friend and former first officer to escape a Stafleet correctional facility, practice piracy, and then seek refuge with the Romulan Empire.

Groggy from the phaser's heavy stun, Spock awoke feeling completely disoriented. Desus' voice penetrated his phaser-stun-indiced fog.

"You're on board the
Talon
, Spock. That was a very close call. We just barely beamed you out in time."

"Captain," Relos called, "our escort is approaching now."

Dizzily, Spock got to his feet, supporting himself by leaning on the transporter platform. He looked at the view-screen and saw four Romulan ships of the line approaching the
Talon
.

"Signal our acknowledgement, Sub-Commander," Desus ordered. "We will head directly for Romulus. Come, Spock," he said, offering his arm to his unsteady friend. "You were hit hard by that phaser blast. I'll accompany you to your quarters."

Spock was left alone to recover. Obviously, Desus had contacted his people and informed them that they would be approaching in a stolen Starfleet cruiser. Spock was at a loss to explain the escort. His head pounded and it was difficult to think. He fell into a much-needed deep sleep.

A knock on his cabin door awoke the Vulcan. "Enter," he acknowledged automatically.

It was Desus. "Fully recovered?" the Romulan asked with concern.

"A residual headache," Spock answered. "Nothing of consequence."