Black Fire (27 page)

"A point well taken, Captain Kirk." He looked to Spock. "We must use all of our resources."

6

The planet Tomarii was cold, bleak, and inhospitable, just as Speck remembered it. He shivered imperceptibly, not from the cold but with revived memories that were best forgotten but still persistent.

Facing them, when they materialized on the surface of the planet, was IIsa and her council. She looked different. Her hair, now more fully grown, made her seem more akin to her race than she had appeared before. Spock could see her eyes, resting intently on him. The Vulcan drew his warm cape closer about him instinctively, as if to shield himself from her piercing gaze. This was not going to be easy for him, he realized. So did Kirk and Desus, who were watching his every move.

They had passed twenty trapped Tomariian ships along the passage as they came through it. The bottle was still corked, now with the summoned backup ships which had taken the place of the
Enterprise
and
Moonhawk
at the corridor's entrances.

Spock stepped forward.

IIsa was quick to notice his change of uniform, but she dismissed the observation as irrelevant.

In the great hall, the large council table was extended to accommodate the meeting of the Tomariian governing body and their adversaries. The chairs, designed for the comfort of the smaller Tomariians, were not suited to those of the other races. Even the shortest of the Starfleet contingent were forced to sit knees up, while the taller Romulans and Spock were quite cramped.

Despite her lack of stature, IIsa looked every inch a queen. Her rich fur robes glistened in the firelight; the jeweled dagger on her arm band shone brightly, sharply reminding Spock of his suicide attempt, and Julina's death. Even with the fire blazing close by, the room was frigid. Kirk and his officers were snug in their protective arctic issue. The Romulans brought their capes tighter about them to keep out the penetrating cold. Even the hardy Tomariians had fur capes draped lightly about their shoulders.

Spock, reluctant spokesman for both the Romulan Empire and the Federation, stood to begin. He towered over the low table. He stood silently for a long moment before he spoke. His voice, like the cold, seemed brittle. His breath showed in the chill; each word was punctuated by an abrupt white fog.

"Begum IIsa, I speak for both the Romulan Empire and the Federation. You have been completely cut off from your Empire and must listen to our demands."

She was staring at him, causing the usually imperturbable Vulcan to stop. He pulled his cape tighter to shelter him before he resumed. In a subliminal way, Kirk was enjoying Spock's discomfort. And McCoy was actively savoring the Vulcan's predicament. Clearing his throat, Spock continued.

"The raids upon our combined shipping will stop. You will no longer be permitted to attack anyone, or to perpetrate any further hostile action. Neither do we intend to declare war as you would like. Your designs to spread your domain are now limited, if not completely stopped. With our combined strength we have the ability to destroy this planet."

Kirk almost protested the harshness of this threat, but controlled his urge to interrupt. Desus seemed satisfied with Spock's comments so far.

"You will be relocated to another planet in this same system. It is located on the other side of your red sun and is far more hospitable than Tomarii. At this moment the planet Corsair is being evacuated by a Romulan force… ."

The Vulcan's revelation was a complete surprise to Kirk, who found himself on his feet facing Spock. "We were not informed of that action… ."

"No, Captain Kirk, you were not," Desus answered smugly. "There was no need to inform you. Our familiarity with the planet has made the task routine. Go on, Sub-Commander," he ordered.

Spock deferred. "Captain Kirk will explain what the Federation can offer." Kirk stood to face IIsa.

"The Federation will be pleased to assist you with the relocation process. Our science and medical personnel can teach you many methods of controlling your population. You may choose the one best suited to your people. We will beam down the personnel who will assist you in preparing your people for the move. As agreed, a Romulan delegation will remain here as well so that the Empire will be assured we have all kept our bargain."

"You have no choice," Desus boomed. "Captain Kirk has more gentle solutions than I would have preferred. Noncompliance will bring instant military action from the Empire."

It was no idle threat, and the extremely intelligent IIsa considered the alternatives. "This has always been our home; we cannot leave Tomarii."

"You must," Kirk interjected. "This place is dying. Your people need your leadership in finding a better way of life. We can help you. There is no need to send your children off to wars to be killed. You are a proud and hardy race and can become a an asset to the Federation. Let us help you."

"The Federation, Captain?" Desus asked. "And what of the Romulan Empire?"

"Tomarii belongs to no one," IIsa proclaimed. "What is your recommendation, Spock?"

This was the moment Spock could not avoid; it was the time when he had to take a position. He stood between his two friends, looking from one to the other, knowing that whatever he said would favor one and deny the other. There was no satisfying both.

He saluted his Romulan superior before speaking. "I am in your service, Supreme Commander, and it is you to whom I have sworn my oath." Desus smiled in acknowledgement. It was good to have Spock show his fealty to the Empire in front of Kirk. Spock's pledge cut Kirk deeply.

"But Captain Kirk's peaceful solution is the one I favor. I have no wish to see the Tomariian people destroyed, no matter their treatment of me."

"You would help us, even after all that has occurred to you at our hands?" IIsa asked in amazement.

"Yes, Begum, I would. You couldn't help yourselves, and my wish is for the survival of your people."

Addressing her council, IIsa made a proclamation. "I can compromise no less than Spock. We must change in order to survive. We will try this move. Spock, you will assist?"

"No, Begum, I cannot. But you may trust Kirk and Desus both."

"They do not even trust each other," she observed wisely.

"They have agreed to a joint effort here, IIsa, and both are honorable men."

"We do this only for you, Spock."

"You will find, Begum, that peace is better than war, and your people will survive. For that, I am grateful."

Kirk and Leonidas met with Desus and Spock after IIsa had agreed to their terms.

"Captain, will you need assistance with logistics?" Spock asked, ignoring the angered Desus. "I am sure I can obtain permission to help …"

"No, Sub-Commander. Mister Martin is quite capable of assigning the personnel needed here." He was finding it difficult to be polite. "Without you, we wouldn't have been able to accomplish this, Spock. I thank you for that."

"You are most welcome, Captain Kirk. Given the Begum's incomprehensible affinity for me, I was in a unique position to be of service in this particular situation."

"I'll say you were," Kirk said under his breath.

Spock caught the hushed words and raised his eyebrow.

Kirk called Martin and McCoy over. "Assemble the teams who are to remain on Tomarii. Get Leonidas to help you with the gear and provisions. Bones, assign what medical personnel might be needed." He spoke into his communicator. "Mister Scott, I will need one of your minor miracles. Can you arrange for some transportation to serve our personnel down here?"

"Aye, Captain, I can adjust one of their ships with launch capability."

"Get to it, engineer. I want our personnel to have a reliable mode of transport." When Kirk had concluded his orders, he turned to Desus.

"Well, Supreme Commander, it seems our joint mission was a success."

Desus did not look entirely pleased. Spock, the object of his attention, was talking to IIsa at the far end of the hall.

"A strange pair, are they not, Commander?" Kirk commented.

"Most decidedly, Captain."

"I meant what I said before. We may not have gotten the Tomariians to agree peacefully without Spock."

The Romulan continued watching the Vulcan.

"Our loss is your gain, Supreme Commander. He is a fine officer."

"Your service didn't seem to think so, Captain."

"He did all of the wrong things for the right reasons," Kirk observed sadly. "You must know why he was court-martialed."

"Of course, Captain."

The polite conversation was wearing thin. Desus excused himself and went over to talk to Commander Relos. Kirk overheard the two Romulans planning which of their personnel would remain behind. He was thoroughly chilled and moved to the warmth of the fireplace.

Seeing Kirk alone, Spock came over to join him. "Captain." The Vulcan's voice was strained. "I have a favor to ask of you."

"A favor, Spock? Is it the ex-first officer or the Romulan sub-commander asking?"

"That remark was unfair, Captain. My options were quite limited. Is it surprising to you that I would choose freedom to imprisonment, and service to the Romulan Empire rather than disgrace?"

"I guess not, Spock. But at this point I'm not sure of anything concerning you."

"You consider my behavior atypical?"

"Yes."

"Interesting, but not relevant to the favor I would ask of you. When you have finished here, would you consider bringing the
Enterprise
into the area adjacent to the Neutral Zone and remaining there for a short time?"

"For what purpose?"

"We have set a precedent, Captain. The Romulan Empire and the Federation have, in a fully cooperative venture, countered a major galactic threat. We have proven it is possible for us to work together for our common welfare. I see it as a very promising first step to a possible end to the enmity between us."

"How easily you identify with the Romulans, Spock," Kirk said bitterly. "Why, you're speaking as if you've served them all of your life."

"Forget me for a moment, Jim." Spock's voice softened. "This is a matter of great significance. It goes beyond our personal concerns… ."

Kirk's reproach was lessened by Spock's use of his name. "I know that, Spock. It's just that … I know I must consider the Federation's interest in peace above all else. But the
Enterprise
is damaged. She needs major repair. It's not a good time …"

"Captain, there will be no strain on the ship if you simply cruise in the vicinity of the Zone. This is the one chance we may have of facilitating a peace agreement. You cannot lose such an opportunity."

Spock seemed almost desperate, which was unlike him. Kirk was puzzled. He turned his back to the fire while mulling over the Vulcan's request. Knowing better than to press Kirk, Spock waited silently for him to make up his mind.

"I'll check with Scotty. If he thinks we can delay the repairs, I'll take you up on your invitation."

Spock seemed relieved. "Thank you, Captain. You won't regret this."

Odd
, Kirk thought as he watched the Vulcan return to his commander's side.
He is acting strangely
. Stretching in the warmth of the embers, he reassured himself,
I'm just on edge
.

Desus had overheard most of Spock's conversation with Kirk. "That was a most interesting exchange, Sub-Commander. What was your purpose in inviting Kirk to bring the
Enterprise
to the Neutral Zone?"

"Peace, as I told the Captain."

The Supreme Commander was holding up an integrator decoding device. "Come on Spock, give me credit for more intelligence than that!"

Spock looked at the decoder in Desus' hand. "You are aware of my cryptographic exercises, then, Supreme Commander."

"Very little happens on my ship that I don't know of, Spock." He turned the device in his hand. "You are fully aware of our plans to acquire a Starfleet Constitution Class Cruiser. And yet you have just arranged to put the
Enterprise
and your friend, Captain Kirk, in the best position to be captured. You
do
know that!"

"Yes, Desus. I am fully aware of the consequences of my actions."

"Why did you do it?"

"My conduct is still suspect. What better proof do you need of my loyalty? I have successfully delivered a starship, disabled and easily defeated, into a position where we can capture her."

"You have done that, Spock. Why, then, do
I
have the feeling of being betrayed?"

Spock did not answer.

1

He was alone.

Command had always set a captain apart. Centuries of sailing ships, from the magnificence of the clippers to the elegance of the
Enterprise
, had not changed the captain's solitary position. Surrounded by over three hundred crew members, Kirk was isolated. There had been other times he had felt the weight of his command, but he had had one special friend—and now he was gone.

They had been cruising the area of the Neutral Zone for three days. Kirk had revised his original plan, deciding to spend two more days there in order to give Spock a chance to accomplish his peace plans and contact them. The second extra day was almost over, and there had been no signal from Spock. Even the subspace chatter seemed to diminish as the day ended.

And so Kirk sat, disappointed. He hadn't quite gotten over the shock of seeing Spock functioning as a Romulan officer. Each time Spock had saluted his Romulan superiors, Kirk felt it acutely. Had anyone but McCoy noticed?

The chief medical officer stared at Kirk's untouched brandy. "Try a sip; it'll relax you, Jim. You're more jittery than a roomful of anticipating virgins."

"Thanks, Bones, but I don't want it. Spock knew I couldn't ignore a chance to achieve peace with the Romulans, but we can't stay here indefinitely. It isn't safe. I'm going to have to give the order to leave soon." He tried to ease McCoy's mind. "I'm all right. Leave me alone, will you? You're worse than a mother hen!"