Fic: Observations, Ch 104
“Captain’s log, stardate 3046.2. We are in pursuit of the alien vessel that destroyed the Federation outpost on Cestus-3. They’re in our sights.
“Captain’s log, supplemental. I haven’t slept for 70 hours.”
--
A booming voice with no body.
“We are the Metrons. You are one of the two crafts which have come into our space on a mission of violence. This is not permissible. Yet we have analysed you and have learned that the violent tendencies of your species is inherent.”
Jim quickly stood from his captain’s chair and addressed the empty space. His eyes burned. “Inherent, but not uncontrollable. We apologize for the invasion of your space-though I’m not aware of any treaty recognized by interstellar governments that declares this region of dead space as part of your solar system. Furthermore, that other ship attacked a Federation outpost, massacred all the residents there, without warning and without reason. I can’t let a threat like that go unaddressed.”
“A well considered argument. However, we find it necessary to intervene and resolve this conflict in the way most suited to both Terran and Gorn traditions. We have prepared a planet with a suitable atmosphere. Two of your deputies will be taken there, as well as two deputies of the captain of the Gorn ship which you have been pursuing. There, the dispute will be settled.”
“My deputies? No. If you’re going to hold anyone responsible, take me down there. I’m the captain of this ship, it’s only fair that I go down there.”
“The measure of a leader, captain, is not only in his actions, but also his example. The conduct of your subordinates reflects on you-that is the test we pose to you and the Gorn leader.
“Your deputies will be provided with a recording-translating device. They will not be permitted to communicate with you or the ship. They will be totally alone. The place we have prepared contains sufficient elements for either party to construct weapons lethal enough to destroy the other, which is in accordance with the intentions of both ships. The contest will be one of ingenuity and strength. Results will be final.”
“You can’t do that. You can’t just appear on this ship and tell me that two of my people are going down to battle against an unknown alien species just because you claim this patch of space to be yours. What the hell are you measuring and what the hell is the point of this? No one’s been caught in the crossfires-you’re simply inserting yourself into this for no good reason and two of my lieutenants might die for it!”
“The point of this is to resolve the conflict between yourselves and the Gorn. That had already been made clear.”
“We can settle this in diplomacy, not in the arena of battle.”
“You should have considered that solution before attacking the Gorn, captain.”
“I’m not letting two of my crewmembers die because I ordered this ship into this sector-“
“There will be no further discussion. It is done.”
Nyota screamed, then the sound suddenly cut out. She was gone, as was Lt. Sulu.
--
“Have you tried overload?”
“Aye, sir. It does no good, for the life of me I cannae figure it out.”
“How about bypassing the transformer banks? Feed into the impulse engines directly.”
“I tried that too, Jim. Nothin’.”
“Chekov, do you have anything on the force that’s keeping us here?”
“Nyet, sir, there is nothing in the sensors that I can be reading. Only that they are emanating from the solar system up ahead.”
“Chekov, give me something to work with here. It is gravimetric? Magnetic? Electric?”
“I am hafing nothing sir. I am sorry.”
“Keep working on it. Spock, how are they holding up?”
“Lt. Uhura and Lt. Sulu are both alive. Their two Gorn opponents are alive as well. That is all I can tell you, Jim.”
“Spock, try and get a line of communications open with the Metrons, whatever they are. Target that solar system.”
“Understood, Jim.”
“Jim, what’re you gonna do?”
“I’m doing everything I can, Bones, every fucking thing I can think of .”
“What’s the point of getting hold of the Metrons? They’re not in the mood ta negotiate with you.”
“If I can talk to them, there’s always a chance they’ll change their mind.”
“And if you can’t? If you can’t even get a hold of them?”
“What do you want me to say, Bones? I’ll wait. I’ll wait for those fuckers to drop a line on my bridge to tell me who won. And if they come back with bodies, I’ll bury two of my best friends and remember their battlefield.” Jim stared at the viewscreen. “There’s nothing else I can do except hope I trained them well enough to survive this.”
“Spock? Where are they,” Leonard demanded.
“They are on a planet, doctor. Out there somewhere in a thousand cubic parsecs of space, and there’s absolutely nothing we can do to help them.”
--
“Captain!”
Mr. Scott came bounding onto the bridge, along with an entourage of engineers carrying various devices.
“What, what the hell is this, Scotty?”
“I think, now I’m not sure, but I think I can give yeh a video feed of what’s goin’ on down there. It’s not perfect, but it might do in a pinch. At least we won’t be sittin’ herein the dark.”
“Wait wait wait. How the hell are we gonna get a video feed. They don’t even have communicators on them.”
Mr. Scott was frantically untangling wires and plugging then into various ports. “Dr. Tisartisfow’s been fiddling with his long range scope for a while to take videos of what is it yeh said?”
“I set up a system to take pictures of stellar phenomenon at the rate of 20 frames per second. That’s almost a continuous feed. The resolution for picking up two objects as small as a human will be pretty bad, and it’s just an aerial view, but like Mr. Scott said, it’s better than nothing. Pictures will be pixelated.”
“And this lady here, Ensign Danielech, has created a program to for automatic focus on Sulu and Uhura.”
The engineer did not look up from her laptop. Her fingers flew over the keys. “I’ve programmed the scope to follow the movements of Lt. Uhura and Lt. Sulu. The movements of the scope are controlled by six robotic arms, so things might get a little jerky, sir.”
“No problem, good work. Scotty, you said video. Does that include audio?”
“We’ve got audio sir. But given our distance from the planet, there’s a big lag between the action and audio. I’ve deployed some cheap remote control sensors to get closer to the battle planet to boost audio quality, but processing and retransmitting that signal to the ship contributes to the time difference.”
“Ready, lads? I think I’ve just about finished the wiring. This here’s a mare’s nest, but it’ll do in a pinch. Captain? On your command.”
“Do it, Scotty.”
“All right, booting up the sequence. Fong, did ya reset the viewscreen for this?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Right then. Here goes nothin’.”
The viewscreen before us provided an aerial view of wide desert plain.
“This is what they meant when they said inhabitable? How the hell are you supposed to make any weapons here? Throw sand at the lizards?”
“There may be resources yet, Jim.”
“Where are they?”
“They should be right at the center of your screen, captain. I think they’re both together, maybe taking shelter from the sun near this canyon here. Dr. Tisartisfow, can we get some better resolution for 35º34’?”
“That’s Boyé’s department. I’m maxed on resolution right now.”
“Giving you image mods sir, upping contrast and applying filters.” The image before went blank, then showed an new image with changed contrast and color values.
“First of the audio coming in, sir.”
The bridge went silent.
“-nt keep running. We’re just wearing ourselves-zzkr zrt. I’ve seen them in action-they’re slow, but they’ve got energy to spare-t-t-t. You saw them throw that boulder like it was nothing.”
“I think you’ve been hanging around Jim too much, Sulu. Honestly, your idea to go charging into the Gorn was not the best.”
“I didn’t think I could take him out. I was giving you time to get away.”
“That’s-rrrrrqzlh thought, but no. We’re a team, and I can take care of myself. I’m not some damsel in distress for you to rescue, Sulu. But thanks. The thought’s appreciated.”
“No prob.”
“How’s your shoulder feel?”
“I think I pulled a muscle.”
“It’s swelling-“
“OW! What thsssszzz- - - Don’t grab me like that, Nyota. Jeez, warn a guy.”
“You’ve sprained it! Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I’ll be okay. Seriously, it’s not a big deal.”
“Let me look at it-“
“Okay, if you’re not a damsel in distress, I’m not a wounded soldier for you to play nursemaid. Deal?”
“This is different czland you know it.”
“No it’s not.”
“Fine, deal. - - - z-z-z- qqqqgcbheslbbhdahes do you think?”
“If I were them, I’d split up. It’d be a better strategy in terms of scoping out the area and finding those materials the Metron talked about for a weapon. But they’re probably used to this kind of climate since they’re reptiles, and we’re not. They’ve got more home field advantage, so it’s safer for them to go off on their own.”
“But you don’t think we should.”
“We’re a team. Captain always says that two heads’re better than one. We’ll think of something. I think we should work the intelligence angle, instead of the brute force angle.”
“There’s another way to go.”
“What?”
“Diplomacy. We’ve got these translator devi-kchtekrrkrrkrr-ces. If we could meet with them, talk to them somehow-“
“Uh, did you see them? I agree with the captain, they were hostile from the onset and they’re gonna stay that way until they’ve killed us.”
“Jim was so shocked by the carnage back on Cestus-ee-ee-eehcbh that he assumed thvvvvv massacred the people at that outpost. We never gave communication a fair shot.”
“They fired first. It was too late to talk when they’re the ones who follow the ‘shoot first, explain later’ philosophy.”
“It’s still an alternative to participating in this forced battle to the death. And there’s never a bad time to begin talks-even failed talks, at least there was some communication and an understanding. -- -- -- ssssssezhlch- right?”
“Nyota, listen to me. I was down there. I saw what they did. We don’t have a choice but to fight this and win it.”
“Sulu, I was fighting too, remember? I was commanding the ship while the Gorn were firing on us and everything was going to pieces. Believe me, I felt helpless and compelled too, so I did. But this is different. Jim said not to make things personal, which is what you’re doing-ing-ing-ing rr-r-r-r-r-rright now. Sayg we have to fight here because of what we’ve seen or done in the past is making things personal. You and me, we have a larg-zqzqzggggglobal choice to make. That Metron-what it said makes me think this isn’t just a contest of survival, but a test of our kind. Uzkzkzkz-g instinct is to fight. Everything about this experience says we should fight. But maybe this is a tesssshsssht- - free will and the power to decide.”
“I don’t want to take that kind of gamble when the stakes are this high. Yeah, it’s a global choice-if we lose, what if they execute the Enterprise too-oo-uvvv - - a time for war and time for words. This isn’t a time for negotiations. Giving up your arms and waving a white flag won’t get you anything out here in this arena.”
“I’m not saying we shouldn’t fight at all. I’m just saying that this device, this translator, gives us a third option.”
--
Jim struggles to remain awake in his chair. Since we began streaming picture and sound, there has been little activity both on screen and in audio.
I look at Jim, then look back at the screen, searching for some clue, though I do not know the what question I am seeking to answer. Then pause.
There is something strange about what we are watching. I believe there are four figures on the screen, but the two figures I suspect to be Gorn may simply be shadows in the rocky canyon.
“Bamboo growing in a desert. A huge deposit of beautifully crystallized diamonds. A vein of coal. None of this makes sense.”
There is cloud of dust. The shadows move out into the open. They steadily make their way to two small figures. One of the figures seems to be trapped or unable to move.
“The Metrons placed them here for us to build weapons. The only question is, what kind of weapon can we make?”
The Gorn move closer, one step at a time.
“Engineer Boyé, change the contrast of the picture. Bring into high definition the figures in the center, as much as you can.”
Jim straightens.
The two green figures seem to be dominating the match. Both Nyota and Sulu cannot compete against the sheer strength of the Gorn.
“Sulu, wait, something looks wrong-“
One of the Gorn is on the ground. Whether it has fallen over or is on top of one of our own cannot be discerned.
“Sulu!” Nyota screams.
Two figures run away. The view trails with them. They weave through the canyons. The screen jerks as it follows Sulu and Nyota.
“I’m okay,” he rasps out. “I’m okay. Just cut me free of this trap. They set this up, the bastards.”
“Okay, I’m trying. Roll over, these vines are thick. Move your arm.”
“Find a sharp stone somewhere. This net, I’m never going to get free if you unloose it one by one.”
“I think this might work. Do you see them anywhere? They’ve got to be close by if they set this up.”
“No I don’t-shit. Run Nyota, go!”
“Sulu, I’m not leaving you. We’re in this together.”
“Just leave me, I’ll fend for myself.”
“Shut up you idiot, you can’t even move.”
“I’ll figure something out. Go Nyota, now! Run!”
“I’m almost done cutting you loose-get up, Sulu.”
A hiss and roar.
The screen remains on the same scene for some time.
Chaos. The yelling of Sulu and Uhura, hissing and the sound of scuffling and fighting. Then shouts to run, get away, the pounding of feet.
Jim looks at me. “Fuck.”
“Nyota? Nyota? Nyota stay with me, don’t close your eyes. Nyota!”
“Hey Sulu.”
“I told you to run, I told you to run! Why the hell did you stay? Is it deep?”
Coughing.
“That’s not good. Don’t close your eyes, just hold your side.”
The sound of cloth ripping.
“Hold it here. I’m gonna make a bandage, if I can figure out how.”
“I’m okay. I’m okay, Sulu. The Gorn didn’t stab me that deeply.”
“Shh, be quiet. I always knew you were stubborn, but I didn’t think you were stupid.”
Laughter.
“Save your breath, just press this against your side to keep the bleeding from getting worse.”
Laughter.
“Nyota, this isn’t funny. Nyota, keep yourself together. Nyota, Nyota! Look at me.”
“No, Sulu, sorry, I didn’t mean to scare you.”
“You should’ve run. Spock’s been rubbing off on you.”
“You’d have done the same thing. We’re a team. We don’t leave each other behind.”
A gasp.
“Are you in a lot of pain?” his voice was quiet.
“I’ll hold up. You aren’t in top condition yourself.”
“Yeah, well. It happens.”
Silence.
“Sulu?”
“Yeah?”
“What’s that smell?”
“Sulfur, I think.”
“Bamboo, sulfur, coal, and diamonds. All we need is potassium nitrate.”
“I don’t get it. Here, take this. You’re still bleeding. I’ll try and find some water.”
“Sulu, if I don’t make it-“
“We’re getting through this, Nyota, just hold on. You aren’t going to die.”
“I don’t plan on it, Hikaru. But you have to know this-we can make a primitive cannon, Sulu. Use the bamboo to load the charge, the diamonds as projectiles. And most importantly-the mix of the gunpowder. It has to be 75% potassium nitrate, 15% charcoal, and 10% sulfur.”
“75, 15, 10, got it.”
“Mix it together carefully, it can go off with a spark of static electricity. Load your mix into the bamboo, pack it in tight. Use the diamonds as your bullets-you know how old guns work, right?”
“Yeah, I know the basics.”
“Then the fuse-”
“I’ll figure something out. How do you know this?”
“I loved fireworks as a child. It’s one of those weird factoids you remember for no reason. Funny how being stabbed can jog your memory.”
“Nyota, stay with me. Don’t close your eyes, don’t you dare close your eyes.”
“Sulu, that’s your chance of survival, and beating this game. I don’t want to die, but find potassium nitrate, and you can take down both the Gorn. You have to find it. Do know what it looks like?”
“Yeah. I’m not leaving you though.”
“You have to. There’s nothing more you can do for me right now. So go. I’ll keep the bleeding under control.”
--
“We are the Metrons. One of your own is dying. We would suggest you make whatever memorial arrangements, if any, which are customary in your culture. We believe she has very little time left.”
“For God’s sakes, we appeal to you in the same of civilization. Put a stop to this,” Leonard pleaded.
“Your violent intent and actions demonstrate that you are not civilized. However, we are not without compassion. It is likely you have feelings towards your comrade. So that you will be able to prepare yourself, we will allow you to see and hear what is now transpiring.”
The viewscreen went blank, then showed Nyota. She was breathing heavily, her face grey and her hair matted.
“Gorn, this is Lt. Nyota Uhura of the U.S.S. Enterprise. I know you have this translator too. I want to speak to you. Come in please.”
She repeated her statement. “Gorn, this is Lt. Nyota Uhura of the U.S.S. Enterprise. I know you have this translator too. I want to speak to you. Come in please.
“There must be a reason why you attacked the Federation outpost and razed it to the ground. Just as we had a reason to launch a counterattack and kill all the crew you left behind. Was it really an invasion? Did you think it so easy to simply take a planet and kill the aliens who lived there?”
“Earthling! You were intruding! You established an outpost in our space! It is you who invaded, we protected our system. Then you pursued us, relentless soft skinned creatures!”
Nyota straightened. The effort caused her to cough. Blood spilled from her lips. “You never attempted to communicate with them, to tell of them the situation. If we responded violently, it was because you initiated it.”
“We signalled. You lie, we signalled. There was no reply, no answer, no acknowledgement to us. You ignored.”
“Captain there were rumours of certain strange signals on subspace channels. They were never recorded, however.”
Jim frowned and nodded.
“We destroyed invaders, and we shall destroy you!”
“If we were to conduct talks, would you be willing to negotiate with us?”
“Lives, so many lives destroyed. So much blood shed!”
“For both your kind and mine. We have lost much in friends and comrades. But talking can give us a chance to build relations, rather than continue in a cycle of destruction.”
“Lies! You soft skinned creatures are treacherous!”
“We are. But if you know the word treachery, then you must know what it is to be treacherous too.”
A silence.
“You give your word, N-ota?”
“I give you my word as a Starfleet officer, which is the highest oath that can bind me.”
An explosion.
The scene cuts to Sulu. A burst cannon is nearby, and both the Gorn lie on the ground, near death. He takes a stone dagger off of one of the Gorn’s body-presumably the same dagger that wounded Nyota, and moves to slit the Gorn’s throat.
“Hello? Hello?” Nyota’s voice comes through the transmitter.
Sulu looks at the transmitter, then at the dagger he holds. He puts pressure on the blade, but then looks at the transmitter again. Slowly, he backs away from the Gorn, keeping an eye on their forms. They move slightly and seem to be breathing heavily.
“Hello? Is anyone there?”
Sulu reaches for the transmitter. “Hey Nyota.”
“Sulu?!” she coughs. “What did you do?”
“I found the potassium nitrate.”
“You killed them.”
Sulu shook his head. “No, they’re still alive. I couldn’t do it, Nyota. I couldn’t do it. Fuck-I’m not playing their sick game. I’m a pilot. Necessity made me a soldier. But I’m not a murderer. Not like this.”
“Sulu,” Nyota’s voice came weakly over the transmitter.
“Nyota, are you all right? Hang on, we’re gonna get out of this place. Just hold on.”
The screen cut out. An alien being appeared on the bridge, its form physical.
“Your subordinates have surprised us, captain.”
“Give me back my officers. She’s fucking dying down there, I don’t care about how they surprise you. You got your show, now give me back my people.”
“Your officers will be restored to you. But we are surprised by you, captain. We saw in you the capacity for mercy, but it has revealed itself those who follow you.”
Jim stood. “Let me set you straight on one thing: they don’t follow me. We all work together. What you saw there is an example of the potential that every single fucking person has, and it had nothing to do with me. That was all Nyota and Sulu. I’m privileged to be surrounded by good people-they give me their best and I try to give them mine. So don’t fucking disrespect them by crediting me with all of their actions. They have free will, and it was their choice, every single step of the way.
“You waltz in here with loudspeaker voice and your analysis like you’re better than us, but you’re not. We might be violent, but that doesn’t make you civilized. If you knew real compassion, then you’d respect us as free beings, not like a fucking lab experiment. So don’t give me your fucking grand conclusion-I’m not perfect, but at least I’m not a hypocrite. Give me back my officers, and get off my fucking ship.”
The being seemed taken aback. Jim remained standing, eyes blazing. He seemed out of place in the pristine white of the bridge, face caked with dirt and dried blood, hands black with grime. His uniform hung loose on his frame, the angles of his face were sharp. But his eyes blazed.
Nyota and Sulu appeared on the bridge. Sulu looked disoriented, then saw Jim standing and his body sagged with relief. Dr. McCoy immediately went to Nyota with his tricorder and scrambled to keep her signal from fading. Her breathing was labored. Her dark red blood appeared on the bridge floor.
Jim knelt down to Nyota.
“Lt. Uhura. Lt. Uhura, I am addressing you as your captain.”
“Jim, shut up and stop being boneheaded,” Leonard snapped.
“Captain, Lt. Uhura reporting for duty, sir,” Nyota’s eyes fluttered open.
“You did good, Nyota. I need you to do one more thing for me.”
“Yes, captain?”
“Hang on. Bones’ll get you fixed up and back on your feet in no time, so hang on. You did good. You’re back with us.”
Nyota nodded. “Try my best, captain.”
The Metron surveyed the scene. Jim looked up at it.
“I thought I told you to get off my ship. Now.”
The Metron opened its mouth to speak, but Jim cut it off.
“Now.”
It disappeared.
“Captain’s log, supplemental. I haven’t slept for 70 hours.”
--
A booming voice with no body.
“We are the Metrons. You are one of the two crafts which have come into our space on a mission of violence. This is not permissible. Yet we have analysed you and have learned that the violent tendencies of your species is inherent.”
Jim quickly stood from his captain’s chair and addressed the empty space. His eyes burned. “Inherent, but not uncontrollable. We apologize for the invasion of your space-though I’m not aware of any treaty recognized by interstellar governments that declares this region of dead space as part of your solar system. Furthermore, that other ship attacked a Federation outpost, massacred all the residents there, without warning and without reason. I can’t let a threat like that go unaddressed.”
“A well considered argument. However, we find it necessary to intervene and resolve this conflict in the way most suited to both Terran and Gorn traditions. We have prepared a planet with a suitable atmosphere. Two of your deputies will be taken there, as well as two deputies of the captain of the Gorn ship which you have been pursuing. There, the dispute will be settled.”
“My deputies? No. If you’re going to hold anyone responsible, take me down there. I’m the captain of this ship, it’s only fair that I go down there.”
“The measure of a leader, captain, is not only in his actions, but also his example. The conduct of your subordinates reflects on you-that is the test we pose to you and the Gorn leader.
“Your deputies will be provided with a recording-translating device. They will not be permitted to communicate with you or the ship. They will be totally alone. The place we have prepared contains sufficient elements for either party to construct weapons lethal enough to destroy the other, which is in accordance with the intentions of both ships. The contest will be one of ingenuity and strength. Results will be final.”
“You can’t do that. You can’t just appear on this ship and tell me that two of my people are going down to battle against an unknown alien species just because you claim this patch of space to be yours. What the hell are you measuring and what the hell is the point of this? No one’s been caught in the crossfires-you’re simply inserting yourself into this for no good reason and two of my lieutenants might die for it!”
“The point of this is to resolve the conflict between yourselves and the Gorn. That had already been made clear.”
“We can settle this in diplomacy, not in the arena of battle.”
“You should have considered that solution before attacking the Gorn, captain.”
“I’m not letting two of my crewmembers die because I ordered this ship into this sector-“
“There will be no further discussion. It is done.”
Nyota screamed, then the sound suddenly cut out. She was gone, as was Lt. Sulu.
--
“Have you tried overload?”
“Aye, sir. It does no good, for the life of me I cannae figure it out.”
“How about bypassing the transformer banks? Feed into the impulse engines directly.”
“I tried that too, Jim. Nothin’.”
“Chekov, do you have anything on the force that’s keeping us here?”
“Nyet, sir, there is nothing in the sensors that I can be reading. Only that they are emanating from the solar system up ahead.”
“Chekov, give me something to work with here. It is gravimetric? Magnetic? Electric?”
“I am hafing nothing sir. I am sorry.”
“Keep working on it. Spock, how are they holding up?”
“Lt. Uhura and Lt. Sulu are both alive. Their two Gorn opponents are alive as well. That is all I can tell you, Jim.”
“Spock, try and get a line of communications open with the Metrons, whatever they are. Target that solar system.”
“Understood, Jim.”
“Jim, what’re you gonna do?”
“I’m doing everything I can, Bones, every fucking thing I can think of .”
“What’s the point of getting hold of the Metrons? They’re not in the mood ta negotiate with you.”
“If I can talk to them, there’s always a chance they’ll change their mind.”
“And if you can’t? If you can’t even get a hold of them?”
“What do you want me to say, Bones? I’ll wait. I’ll wait for those fuckers to drop a line on my bridge to tell me who won. And if they come back with bodies, I’ll bury two of my best friends and remember their battlefield.” Jim stared at the viewscreen. “There’s nothing else I can do except hope I trained them well enough to survive this.”
“Spock? Where are they,” Leonard demanded.
“They are on a planet, doctor. Out there somewhere in a thousand cubic parsecs of space, and there’s absolutely nothing we can do to help them.”
--
“Captain!”
Mr. Scott came bounding onto the bridge, along with an entourage of engineers carrying various devices.
“What, what the hell is this, Scotty?”
“I think, now I’m not sure, but I think I can give yeh a video feed of what’s goin’ on down there. It’s not perfect, but it might do in a pinch. At least we won’t be sittin’ herein the dark.”
“Wait wait wait. How the hell are we gonna get a video feed. They don’t even have communicators on them.”
Mr. Scott was frantically untangling wires and plugging then into various ports. “Dr. Tisartisfow’s been fiddling with his long range scope for a while to take videos of what is it yeh said?”
“I set up a system to take pictures of stellar phenomenon at the rate of 20 frames per second. That’s almost a continuous feed. The resolution for picking up two objects as small as a human will be pretty bad, and it’s just an aerial view, but like Mr. Scott said, it’s better than nothing. Pictures will be pixelated.”
“And this lady here, Ensign Danielech, has created a program to for automatic focus on Sulu and Uhura.”
The engineer did not look up from her laptop. Her fingers flew over the keys. “I’ve programmed the scope to follow the movements of Lt. Uhura and Lt. Sulu. The movements of the scope are controlled by six robotic arms, so things might get a little jerky, sir.”
“No problem, good work. Scotty, you said video. Does that include audio?”
“We’ve got audio sir. But given our distance from the planet, there’s a big lag between the action and audio. I’ve deployed some cheap remote control sensors to get closer to the battle planet to boost audio quality, but processing and retransmitting that signal to the ship contributes to the time difference.”
“Ready, lads? I think I’ve just about finished the wiring. This here’s a mare’s nest, but it’ll do in a pinch. Captain? On your command.”
“Do it, Scotty.”
“All right, booting up the sequence. Fong, did ya reset the viewscreen for this?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Right then. Here goes nothin’.”
The viewscreen before us provided an aerial view of wide desert plain.
“This is what they meant when they said inhabitable? How the hell are you supposed to make any weapons here? Throw sand at the lizards?”
“There may be resources yet, Jim.”
“Where are they?”
“They should be right at the center of your screen, captain. I think they’re both together, maybe taking shelter from the sun near this canyon here. Dr. Tisartisfow, can we get some better resolution for 35º34’?”
“That’s Boyé’s department. I’m maxed on resolution right now.”
“Giving you image mods sir, upping contrast and applying filters.” The image before went blank, then showed an new image with changed contrast and color values.
“First of the audio coming in, sir.”
The bridge went silent.
“-nt keep running. We’re just wearing ourselves-zzkr zrt. I’ve seen them in action-they’re slow, but they’ve got energy to spare-t-t-t. You saw them throw that boulder like it was nothing.”
“I think you’ve been hanging around Jim too much, Sulu. Honestly, your idea to go charging into the Gorn was not the best.”
“I didn’t think I could take him out. I was giving you time to get away.”
“That’s-rrrrrqzlh thought, but no. We’re a team, and I can take care of myself. I’m not some damsel in distress for you to rescue, Sulu. But thanks. The thought’s appreciated.”
“No prob.”
“How’s your shoulder feel?”
“I think I pulled a muscle.”
“It’s swelling-“
“OW! What thsssszzz- - - Don’t grab me like that, Nyota. Jeez, warn a guy.”
“You’ve sprained it! Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I’ll be okay. Seriously, it’s not a big deal.”
“Let me look at it-“
“Okay, if you’re not a damsel in distress, I’m not a wounded soldier for you to play nursemaid. Deal?”
“This is different czland you know it.”
“No it’s not.”
“Fine, deal. - - - z-z-z- qqqqgcbheslbbhdahes do you think?”
“If I were them, I’d split up. It’d be a better strategy in terms of scoping out the area and finding those materials the Metron talked about for a weapon. But they’re probably used to this kind of climate since they’re reptiles, and we’re not. They’ve got more home field advantage, so it’s safer for them to go off on their own.”
“But you don’t think we should.”
“We’re a team. Captain always says that two heads’re better than one. We’ll think of something. I think we should work the intelligence angle, instead of the brute force angle.”
“There’s another way to go.”
“What?”
“Diplomacy. We’ve got these translator devi-kchtekrrkrrkrr-ces. If we could meet with them, talk to them somehow-“
“Uh, did you see them? I agree with the captain, they were hostile from the onset and they’re gonna stay that way until they’ve killed us.”
“Jim was so shocked by the carnage back on Cestus-ee-ee-eehcbh that he assumed thvvvvv massacred the people at that outpost. We never gave communication a fair shot.”
“They fired first. It was too late to talk when they’re the ones who follow the ‘shoot first, explain later’ philosophy.”
“It’s still an alternative to participating in this forced battle to the death. And there’s never a bad time to begin talks-even failed talks, at least there was some communication and an understanding. -- -- -- ssssssezhlch- right?”
“Nyota, listen to me. I was down there. I saw what they did. We don’t have a choice but to fight this and win it.”
“Sulu, I was fighting too, remember? I was commanding the ship while the Gorn were firing on us and everything was going to pieces. Believe me, I felt helpless and compelled too, so I did. But this is different. Jim said not to make things personal, which is what you’re doing-ing-ing-ing rr-r-r-r-r-rright now. Sayg we have to fight here because of what we’ve seen or done in the past is making things personal. You and me, we have a larg-zqzqzggggglobal choice to make. That Metron-what it said makes me think this isn’t just a contest of survival, but a test of our kind. Uzkzkzkz-g instinct is to fight. Everything about this experience says we should fight. But maybe this is a tesssshsssht- - free will and the power to decide.”
“I don’t want to take that kind of gamble when the stakes are this high. Yeah, it’s a global choice-if we lose, what if they execute the Enterprise too-oo-uvvv - - a time for war and time for words. This isn’t a time for negotiations. Giving up your arms and waving a white flag won’t get you anything out here in this arena.”
“I’m not saying we shouldn’t fight at all. I’m just saying that this device, this translator, gives us a third option.”
--
Jim struggles to remain awake in his chair. Since we began streaming picture and sound, there has been little activity both on screen and in audio.
I look at Jim, then look back at the screen, searching for some clue, though I do not know the what question I am seeking to answer. Then pause.
There is something strange about what we are watching. I believe there are four figures on the screen, but the two figures I suspect to be Gorn may simply be shadows in the rocky canyon.
“Bamboo growing in a desert. A huge deposit of beautifully crystallized diamonds. A vein of coal. None of this makes sense.”
There is cloud of dust. The shadows move out into the open. They steadily make their way to two small figures. One of the figures seems to be trapped or unable to move.
“The Metrons placed them here for us to build weapons. The only question is, what kind of weapon can we make?”
The Gorn move closer, one step at a time.
“Engineer Boyé, change the contrast of the picture. Bring into high definition the figures in the center, as much as you can.”
Jim straightens.
The two green figures seem to be dominating the match. Both Nyota and Sulu cannot compete against the sheer strength of the Gorn.
“Sulu, wait, something looks wrong-“
One of the Gorn is on the ground. Whether it has fallen over or is on top of one of our own cannot be discerned.
“Sulu!” Nyota screams.
Two figures run away. The view trails with them. They weave through the canyons. The screen jerks as it follows Sulu and Nyota.
“I’m okay,” he rasps out. “I’m okay. Just cut me free of this trap. They set this up, the bastards.”
“Okay, I’m trying. Roll over, these vines are thick. Move your arm.”
“Find a sharp stone somewhere. This net, I’m never going to get free if you unloose it one by one.”
“I think this might work. Do you see them anywhere? They’ve got to be close by if they set this up.”
“No I don’t-shit. Run Nyota, go!”
“Sulu, I’m not leaving you. We’re in this together.”
“Just leave me, I’ll fend for myself.”
“Shut up you idiot, you can’t even move.”
“I’ll figure something out. Go Nyota, now! Run!”
“I’m almost done cutting you loose-get up, Sulu.”
A hiss and roar.
The screen remains on the same scene for some time.
Chaos. The yelling of Sulu and Uhura, hissing and the sound of scuffling and fighting. Then shouts to run, get away, the pounding of feet.
Jim looks at me. “Fuck.”
“Nyota? Nyota? Nyota stay with me, don’t close your eyes. Nyota!”
“Hey Sulu.”
“I told you to run, I told you to run! Why the hell did you stay? Is it deep?”
Coughing.
“That’s not good. Don’t close your eyes, just hold your side.”
The sound of cloth ripping.
“Hold it here. I’m gonna make a bandage, if I can figure out how.”
“I’m okay. I’m okay, Sulu. The Gorn didn’t stab me that deeply.”
“Shh, be quiet. I always knew you were stubborn, but I didn’t think you were stupid.”
Laughter.
“Save your breath, just press this against your side to keep the bleeding from getting worse.”
Laughter.
“Nyota, this isn’t funny. Nyota, keep yourself together. Nyota, Nyota! Look at me.”
“No, Sulu, sorry, I didn’t mean to scare you.”
“You should’ve run. Spock’s been rubbing off on you.”
“You’d have done the same thing. We’re a team. We don’t leave each other behind.”
A gasp.
“Are you in a lot of pain?” his voice was quiet.
“I’ll hold up. You aren’t in top condition yourself.”
“Yeah, well. It happens.”
Silence.
“Sulu?”
“Yeah?”
“What’s that smell?”
“Sulfur, I think.”
“Bamboo, sulfur, coal, and diamonds. All we need is potassium nitrate.”
“I don’t get it. Here, take this. You’re still bleeding. I’ll try and find some water.”
“Sulu, if I don’t make it-“
“We’re getting through this, Nyota, just hold on. You aren’t going to die.”
“I don’t plan on it, Hikaru. But you have to know this-we can make a primitive cannon, Sulu. Use the bamboo to load the charge, the diamonds as projectiles. And most importantly-the mix of the gunpowder. It has to be 75% potassium nitrate, 15% charcoal, and 10% sulfur.”
“75, 15, 10, got it.”
“Mix it together carefully, it can go off with a spark of static electricity. Load your mix into the bamboo, pack it in tight. Use the diamonds as your bullets-you know how old guns work, right?”
“Yeah, I know the basics.”
“Then the fuse-”
“I’ll figure something out. How do you know this?”
“I loved fireworks as a child. It’s one of those weird factoids you remember for no reason. Funny how being stabbed can jog your memory.”
“Nyota, stay with me. Don’t close your eyes, don’t you dare close your eyes.”
“Sulu, that’s your chance of survival, and beating this game. I don’t want to die, but find potassium nitrate, and you can take down both the Gorn. You have to find it. Do know what it looks like?”
“Yeah. I’m not leaving you though.”
“You have to. There’s nothing more you can do for me right now. So go. I’ll keep the bleeding under control.”
--
“We are the Metrons. One of your own is dying. We would suggest you make whatever memorial arrangements, if any, which are customary in your culture. We believe she has very little time left.”
“For God’s sakes, we appeal to you in the same of civilization. Put a stop to this,” Leonard pleaded.
“Your violent intent and actions demonstrate that you are not civilized. However, we are not without compassion. It is likely you have feelings towards your comrade. So that you will be able to prepare yourself, we will allow you to see and hear what is now transpiring.”
The viewscreen went blank, then showed Nyota. She was breathing heavily, her face grey and her hair matted.
“Gorn, this is Lt. Nyota Uhura of the U.S.S. Enterprise. I know you have this translator too. I want to speak to you. Come in please.”
She repeated her statement. “Gorn, this is Lt. Nyota Uhura of the U.S.S. Enterprise. I know you have this translator too. I want to speak to you. Come in please.
“There must be a reason why you attacked the Federation outpost and razed it to the ground. Just as we had a reason to launch a counterattack and kill all the crew you left behind. Was it really an invasion? Did you think it so easy to simply take a planet and kill the aliens who lived there?”
“Earthling! You were intruding! You established an outpost in our space! It is you who invaded, we protected our system. Then you pursued us, relentless soft skinned creatures!”
Nyota straightened. The effort caused her to cough. Blood spilled from her lips. “You never attempted to communicate with them, to tell of them the situation. If we responded violently, it was because you initiated it.”
“We signalled. You lie, we signalled. There was no reply, no answer, no acknowledgement to us. You ignored.”
“Captain there were rumours of certain strange signals on subspace channels. They were never recorded, however.”
Jim frowned and nodded.
“We destroyed invaders, and we shall destroy you!”
“If we were to conduct talks, would you be willing to negotiate with us?”
“Lives, so many lives destroyed. So much blood shed!”
“For both your kind and mine. We have lost much in friends and comrades. But talking can give us a chance to build relations, rather than continue in a cycle of destruction.”
“Lies! You soft skinned creatures are treacherous!”
“We are. But if you know the word treachery, then you must know what it is to be treacherous too.”
A silence.
“You give your word, N-ota?”
“I give you my word as a Starfleet officer, which is the highest oath that can bind me.”
An explosion.
The scene cuts to Sulu. A burst cannon is nearby, and both the Gorn lie on the ground, near death. He takes a stone dagger off of one of the Gorn’s body-presumably the same dagger that wounded Nyota, and moves to slit the Gorn’s throat.
“Hello? Hello?” Nyota’s voice comes through the transmitter.
Sulu looks at the transmitter, then at the dagger he holds. He puts pressure on the blade, but then looks at the transmitter again. Slowly, he backs away from the Gorn, keeping an eye on their forms. They move slightly and seem to be breathing heavily.
“Hello? Is anyone there?”
Sulu reaches for the transmitter. “Hey Nyota.”
“Sulu?!” she coughs. “What did you do?”
“I found the potassium nitrate.”
“You killed them.”
Sulu shook his head. “No, they’re still alive. I couldn’t do it, Nyota. I couldn’t do it. Fuck-I’m not playing their sick game. I’m a pilot. Necessity made me a soldier. But I’m not a murderer. Not like this.”
“Sulu,” Nyota’s voice came weakly over the transmitter.
“Nyota, are you all right? Hang on, we’re gonna get out of this place. Just hold on.”
The screen cut out. An alien being appeared on the bridge, its form physical.
“Your subordinates have surprised us, captain.”
“Give me back my officers. She’s fucking dying down there, I don’t care about how they surprise you. You got your show, now give me back my people.”
“Your officers will be restored to you. But we are surprised by you, captain. We saw in you the capacity for mercy, but it has revealed itself those who follow you.”
Jim stood. “Let me set you straight on one thing: they don’t follow me. We all work together. What you saw there is an example of the potential that every single fucking person has, and it had nothing to do with me. That was all Nyota and Sulu. I’m privileged to be surrounded by good people-they give me their best and I try to give them mine. So don’t fucking disrespect them by crediting me with all of their actions. They have free will, and it was their choice, every single step of the way.
“You waltz in here with loudspeaker voice and your analysis like you’re better than us, but you’re not. We might be violent, but that doesn’t make you civilized. If you knew real compassion, then you’d respect us as free beings, not like a fucking lab experiment. So don’t give me your fucking grand conclusion-I’m not perfect, but at least I’m not a hypocrite. Give me back my officers, and get off my fucking ship.”
The being seemed taken aback. Jim remained standing, eyes blazing. He seemed out of place in the pristine white of the bridge, face caked with dirt and dried blood, hands black with grime. His uniform hung loose on his frame, the angles of his face were sharp. But his eyes blazed.
Nyota and Sulu appeared on the bridge. Sulu looked disoriented, then saw Jim standing and his body sagged with relief. Dr. McCoy immediately went to Nyota with his tricorder and scrambled to keep her signal from fading. Her breathing was labored. Her dark red blood appeared on the bridge floor.
Jim knelt down to Nyota.
“Lt. Uhura. Lt. Uhura, I am addressing you as your captain.”
“Jim, shut up and stop being boneheaded,” Leonard snapped.
“Captain, Lt. Uhura reporting for duty, sir,” Nyota’s eyes fluttered open.
“You did good, Nyota. I need you to do one more thing for me.”
“Yes, captain?”
“Hang on. Bones’ll get you fixed up and back on your feet in no time, so hang on. You did good. You’re back with us.”
Nyota nodded. “Try my best, captain.”
The Metron surveyed the scene. Jim looked up at it.
“I thought I told you to get off my ship. Now.”
The Metron opened its mouth to speak, but Jim cut it off.
“Now.”
It disappeared.