Part 21 (1/2)

It turned out that Scott's physics were far more accurate than his suppositions. Kirk and Spock materialized right where the engineer said they should, in the center of the Narada' Narada's rambling, multicompartmented cargo bay.

It was not, however, empty.

Half a dozen crew reacted with surprise as the two Starfleet officers appeared in their midst, so close that there was barely time to react. Arriving mentally ready for combat, human and Vulcan lit into their foes with a deadly combination of speed, skill, and desperation. Unlike the Romulans, they had nowhere to go if they went down.

Fortunately, only one of the cargo bay workers was armed. Singling him out, Kirk engaged him immediately. Mindful of the difficulty he'd had with hand-to-hand combat atop the drill platform in Vulcan's atmosphere, he made sure to go on the offensive immediately and not let up. Being general crew, this Romulan proved easier to get a hand on than the more highly trained specialist Kirk had tackled high above Vulcan. That left Spock to deal with all the remaining Romulans.

It was difficult to tell, but it was possible that he was pleased.

Fighting the Vulcan was like trying to grapple with a shadow. Spock was a blur-dodging a wild swing while knocking one crew member unconscious, leaning back just out of the reach of clutching hands and then putting his a.s.sailant on the deck, spinning around to snap the heel of his palm upward to crack open the nose of yet another. Though the Romulans swarmed him, they might as well have been one instead of five. When one broke away from the fight in an attempt to get within range of an audio pickup, Spock found just the right piece of cargo to fling in his direction. The Romulan reached the wall panel containing the comm unit-and slammed into it, thanks to the cylindrical container that struck him precisely in the back of his head. As the Romulan slid down the wall, a fully energized Spock turned swiftly to confront his next attacker.

There were no more attackers.

Breathing hard but evenly, Kirk surveyed the carnage that had been wrought by the Enterprise' Enterprise's science officer. Everything had happened so fast he couldn't be sure, but it occurred to him that Spock had put down the five Romulans in order of size, beginning with the biggest and finis.h.i.+ng up with the least threatening.

He even fought logically, the younger officer realized. Doubtless he played a mean game of three-dimensional chess.

At Kirk's feet the Romulan whom he had been battling emitted a final pained snuffling sound before going motionless. Kirk eyed him, then the five enemy Spock had rendered unconscious.

”Mine had a gun,” he pointed out, perhaps a bit self-consciously.

”Indeed he did.” There was not a trace of condescension in the science officer's voice. ”I am trained in the Vulcan martial art of Suus Mahna. Suus Mahna. Techniques for dealing with multiple opponents are among the first that an acolyte strives to master.” Techniques for dealing with multiple opponents are among the first that an acolyte strives to master.”

Kirk moved to where one of the Romulans who had challenged Spock was groaning and trying to sit up. ”See if you can master the whereabouts of the device.”

While his companion stood guard over the dazed Romulan, Spock knelt and placed his hands on the alien's temples and closed his eyes. His fingers appraised-knowingly, precisely. After a long moment he looked up at Kirk.

”I am unable to meld with this Romulan. There are subtle differences in their physiology. Or it may be that my traditional skills are lacking. Whatever the reason, I cannot draw forth the information we need.”

”Then we'll have to resort to traditional human skills.”

Spock frowned. ”In what sense?”

”Punch him in the face. Make Make him talk. him talk. Suus Mahna Suus Mahna his a.s.s!” his a.s.s!”

The science officer sounded doubtful. ”Suus Mahna is only intended for self-defense. This individual is no longer a threat.” is only intended for self-defense. This individual is no longer a threat.”

Kirk rolled his eyes in exasperation. ”Pretend ”Pretend he's a threat. That's an he's a threat. That's an order order!”

”Vulcan strictures insist that the techniques of Suus Mahna Suus Mahna should only be employed on occasions of...” should only be employed on occasions of...”

Kirk glared at his fellow officer. ”This is one of the people who destroyed your homeworld and is preparing to blow up mine! Excuse me if I mistakenly interpret him as a threat!”

Spock replied softly. ”I take your point.” Bending over, he proceeded to ram his closed fist square into the Romulan's face while making sure his words were directed as much as possible toward the tiny translation device Uhura had fastened to his uniform.

”What is your s.h.i.+p computer prefix code?”

Smirking, the Romulan spat green blood at his tormentor. With the methodical precision and relentless consistency of a machine, Spock continued the questioning session while Kirk divided his attention between the ongoing interrogation and the still unoccupied corridors that entered the vast cargo bay.

”Tell [punch] [punch] me me [punch] [punch] the the [punch] [punch] code code [PUNCH!]...” [PUNCH!]...”

The torrent of tightly contained tornadic plasma that roared forth from the mouth of the Romulan drill platform was directed with precision. As at Vulcan, it could have been aimed at any point on the Earth's surface. The most practical place for deployment and the one that would have produced the quickest result was the Mariana Trench in the Pacific Ocean. There the plasma would have hissed its way through kilometers of water in mere seconds to strike the planetary crust at one of its thinnest points.

But the individual behind the drill and the eventual obliteration of the planet it was piercing was not in a hurry. It would all be over soon enough, this second induced armageddon, and he wanted to remember it in all its annihilating glory. There was no rush. Providentially, the rest of Starfleet was infinitely far away engaging in pointless maneuvers in the Laurentian sector. The few armed atmospheric aircraft that took to the clear skies and made feeble attempts to attack the drill were effortlessly brushed aside by the Narada' Narada's infinitely greater firepower. Earth's multiple automated defensive stations had been electronically disabled, thanks to the codes extracted from the admirably stubborn but eventually responsive prisoner Pike. The captured captain had resisted the interrogation manfully, but he was only composed of flesh and blood. He was not even aware that he had surrendered the information necessary to allow the Narada Narada to safely a.s.sume its una.s.sailable geosynchronous position above the west coast of North America. to safely a.s.sume its una.s.sailable geosynchronous position above the west coast of North America.

A valiant representative of his species, Nero mused, however futile his efforts at resistance. The commander of the Narada Narada had already decided that his brave prisoner would live. Pike would comprise one of several interesting exhibits to be returned to the triumphant Romulus of this time frame. had already decided that his brave prisoner would live. Pike would comprise one of several interesting exhibits to be returned to the triumphant Romulus of this time frame.

”Magnification,” he commanded. The science officer complied, and the view on the forward viewscreen increased exponentially.

The view showed the plasma stream boring into the rock beneath an extensive salt.w.a.ter bay. What could be discerned of the surrounding terrain was exceptionally beautiful. It was no wonder, he thought, that Starfleet had chosen this particular coastal location for the site of Starfleet Headquarters and its noisome Academy. Reports from the drill's sensors indicated that the city itself sat atop a major but now stabilized earthquake fault. Doubly ironic, then, that it should be the site for the insertion of the Red Matter that would initiate the reaction that would destroy the planet. Ironic, and also fitting. The commander of the Narada Narada was pleased. was pleased.

He considered himself, in his own megalomaniacal fas.h.i.+on, also very logical.

On the bridge of the Enterprise Enterprise a broad expanse of readouts simultaneously went blank. No amount of effort or attempts at work-arounds were able to restore the flow of information. Several instruments that did continue to function provided the explanation. a broad expanse of readouts simultaneously went blank. No amount of effort or attempts at work-arounds were able to restore the flow of information. Several instruments that did continue to function provided the explanation.

”They've activated the drill,” Chekov muttered. ”We're now subject to the same interference as we were at Vulcan.”

Turning in her seat, Uhura added confirmation. ”Communications and transporter inoperative. I've broadcast the usual plethora of amplified queries in an attempt to punch through, without any luck. Distortion is across the board.”

Seated in the command chair, Sulu studied what limited data was available. ”We can't talk to them and we can't bring them back until the drill goes off-line or is disabled.” He stared at the viewscreen that was opaque with turbulent brown clouds.

”They're on their own now...”

XVII

The speed with which Spock worked not only an alien input device but one whose layout was both different and advanced in design was breathtaking to see. Looking on, Kirk could barely keep track of the flying fingers. He shook his head in amazement.

”How the h.e.l.l are you doing this?”

The science officer replied without looking up from what he was doing. ”I am familiar with the technology of several other s.p.a.ce-going species besides that of Romulus. While the design of this instrumentation is different, it is not so radically advanced that I cannot fill in the divergences with intuition. One plus one equals two no matter where one happens to be in the known cosmos, and the means for generating such a result are not beyond inference to one who is familiar with the basics.”

”Yeah,” Kirk agreed readily. ”My sentiments exactly.”

Seconds later a pair of images appeared within the projection screen. One showed a small stars.h.i.+p of unique design that resembled nothing Kirk had ever seen before. He said as much to his companion.

”I perceive sufficient design elements to identify it as Vulcan in origin.” Spock indicated a glowing point within the s.h.i.+p schematic. ”What you refer to as the Red Matter device is still located on board. It may be too tightly integrated with the s.h.i.+p's superstructure to be removed.” One finger traced the peculiar torus shape that encircled the rear of the singular craft. ”This section appears capable of movement independent from that of the rest of the vessel. I suspect it may have something to do with containing the Red Matter when the s.h.i.+p is in motion.”

The second image was less heartening. Lying on a platform suspended above a pool of liquid in the depths of a dark chamber was the supine body of Christopher Pike. His eyes were closed, and insofar as they could tell from the remote image, he was not moving. A lack of magnification prevented them from discerning if his chest was moving up and down, however slowly.

Spock's verbal evaluation confirmed what Kirk was seeing.