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Subject: NEW2LIST From the Mouth of a Predator 1/5, K/S, NC17
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Author: kira-nerys
Title: From the Mouth of a Predator

Rating: NC17
Summary: Spock and Kirk are kidnapped by Klingons, and Spock goes into
enjoy this. With some hindsight, I don't think this is the best story I
ever wrote, but it's definitely the longest.



FROM THE MOUTH OF A PREDATOR ...





PART ONE

Kirk's calm demeanor wasn't any indication of how he felt. He was angry
and exhausted after spending days in a cold cell on a Klingon spaceship.
He and Spock had gone with very little food and barely enough water for
close to a week.

Spock didn't seem overly concerned walking beside Kirk, although the
Vulcan was tied and had a disrupter aimed between his shoulder blades.

Klingons!

He and Spock had been captured while trying to find A'sharon, their
leader. Going in alone hadn't been the smartest thing they'd ever done,
Kirk admitted. Their questions had alerted A'sharon's underdogs, and the
Enterprise probably had no way of finding them. Their communicators were
gone and the impatient Klingon guards who had practically herded them
out of the battlecruiser pushed them into an underground building,
resembling a stone fortress from Deneb II.

The building was huge, covered with natural rock, and the Klingon
hideout was virtually undetectable from the surface. Kirk realized that
A'sharon's operation must be much larger than even Starfleet had
suspected. Going after this man with a single starship had been insane,
even if the ship was the Enterprise.

"Stop," a harsh voice commanded. Kirk's musings were interrupted and he
halted, but not soon enough. The Klingon behind him pulled mercilessly
at his shackles. Kirk tried not to flinch as the iron bands around his
wrists buried into his already bruised and tender flesh.

Kirk could see the other muscular Klingon forcing Spock to his knees.
Even the Vulcan wasn't strong enough to break free from his bonds, and
what good would it do if he did? Kirk met Spock's eyes, and he knew they
were in agreement.

Kirk, too, was forced down, and he bit back a moan as his sore knees hit
the hard stone floor. He nearly lost his balance. Anger rose, but he
forced it away. This was no time to let his feelings take control. He
could get both himself and Spock killed if he wasn't careful.

A deep voice reached them, and Kirk tried not to let his surprise show
when he realized the truth.

"Ah, Captain Kirk of the starship Enterprise. It's a pleasure to meet
you."

The mocking voice could only belong to A'sharon, and Kirk lifted his
head to meet the eyes of the one in charge of the largest Golden Dust
operation in the quadrant. He nearly cursed aloud. No wonder they'd been
unable to find the Klingon leader. For months they had worked under the
assumption that the head of the quvQu sect was a male. But here she was,
tall and remarkably beautiful-for a Klingon. Her hair was black and
shiny, and her body had a slender but muscular build that appealed to
him. But the beauty was cold, and no mercy could be seen in her steely
eyes. Looking into them, Kirk knew there was no way this woman would let
them go. Her cold gaze lingered on Kirk for a moment before she moved on
to assess his first officer.

"And Spock of Vulcan, Kirk's ever-present shadow. I'm thrilled to meet
you both. A pity our acquaintance will be so short."

Kirk bit his lip, physically forcing back his angry response.

"But I will allow you to amuse me for a time before you die." A'sharon
bared her teeth in an insinuating smile, and her long, black curls
danced when she laughed. Kirk's eyes narrowed.

"What are you going to do to us?" He couldn't stop the question before
it spilled over his lips.

"Oh, I don't know," A'sharon replied casually. "Humans are such weak
creatures. You will not endure torture for long. I will have to find
some other use for you."

She paced back and forth in front of them, lithe and tall even for a
Klingon female. Despite her slender build, Kirk was conscious of the
power she harbored. She was Klingon, and she was a warrior. He would not
make the mistake of underestimating her. She walked like a jungle cat,
and she was equally dangerous.

"A Vulcan might prove more entertaining," she purred as she stopped in
front of Spock, who was staring above her shoulder. The smile
disappeared from her lips as she addressed the Klingon officers behind
them. "Guards. Put them in the holding cell below. That will keep them
subdued and make them more cooperative. I have to decide what I shall do
with them."

Kirk winced as he was lifted to his feet. The guards forced them to walk
again, this time through another door behind A'sharon's U-shaped desk.
They stepped into a corridor leading deeper into the complex. The
Klingons' boots echoed eerily on the stone floor, their pace increasing,
and he and Spock had difficulty keeping up. The Vulcan stumbled, and
Kirk wanted to reach out to steady him, but with his hands bound before
him there was no way he could. Kirk saw the same concern for his welfare
in Spock's eyes, and despite the gravity of their situation, Kirk
couldn't help but smile. They were a pair, weren't they? Always looking
out for one another.

Kirk tried to memorize where the guards took them. At first to the right
and then through a long corridor until they reached a turbolift. He only
got a glimpse of the panel before the guards shoved them inside and
pressed a series of buttons. Of course-the turbolift was encoded.

Damn!

Reaching their destination took several minutes, even for the high-speed
lift. The guards pushed Spock through the door. Kirk heard the groan of
pain from the Vulcan as he hit the ground. Then Kirk was pushed inside
as well, and the air was knocked out of him when he fell.

It was pitch dark.

It was wet.

Kirk drew a deep breath and closed his eyes before opening them again.
There was no difference. It was still pitch dark and wet. Breathing
heavily, he realized how very weak he was, and he knew that if they were
going to escape they would have to act quickly. Soon neither he nor
Spock would have the strength required.

"It appears they are in no need of guards down here," Spock said.

"M-hmm," Kirk replied. The darkness didn't seem so absolute anymore. His
eyes were getting used to it, and he could see the contours of Spock's
body.

"The light must be coming from somewhere," Kirk pointed out.

"Indeed."

"Let's find out."

Together they moved, slowly and very carefully, through the darkness.
Kirk was grateful for Spock's presence. Feeling the Vulcan's shoulder
brush against his was a familiar comfort. There was no one he would
rather be in this situation with.

It soon became clear to Kirk, as they neared a source of light, that
they were inside some kind of subterranean dungeon. It had to be
situated far underneath A'sharon's fortress.

The further they went, the lighter it became. Water trickled down the
walls, gathering at the base of the wall in a small stream. At least
they wouldn't be thirsty. They followed the water, and soon they were
standing at an entrance covered by a thin waterfall. The smell of
moisture was unpleasant.

"What the hell?" Kirk frowned. "A'sharon would never put us here if
there was a way out."

"No," Spock agreed. "This would appear a too easy way out of our
confinement. I would assume something prevents us from using this exit."


"Maybe she thinks we can't swim with our hands tied? Most Klingons don't
swim very well. The water looks deep enough.." Kirk peered through the
sheet of water, the image he got was blurry, but it was clear that the
opening led outside.

Spock moved closer and lifted his eyebrows.

"The water does look deep, but that would not be a problem for either of
us."

"No," Kirk said. "It can't be that."

"One moment," Spock cautioned. The Vulcan's eyes narrowed and he
appeared to be deep in thought.

"What?"

Spock fell to his knees and ducked his head through the waterfall. Kirk
followed, feeling the lukewarm water pour over him. Behind the veil of
water was a large pond-almost a lake-surrounded by high mountains. The
landscape was barren and stony, but it wouldn't be impossible to get out
of the water on the other side of the pond. There had to be another
catch. He watched as the Vulcan quickly dipped his head into the stream
and pulled out in the space of a heartbeat. As soon as Spock retreated,
the surface bubbled violently, and beneath, Kirk could see silvery fish
gathering quickly.

Spock shook his head free of the water before he spoke.

"I assume you have heard of the Earth creature known as the piranha?"

He looked like a drenched, very unhappy feline. Under any other
circumstances, Kirk would have laughed, but their current situation was
hardly a laughing matter.

"Yes, they're fish."

"That is correct," Spock said.

"Are you telling me there are piranhas in the water?"

"Negative," Spock said, and Kirk felt instant relief, but then he
remembered his first officer's way of often discovering even more dire
circumstances. He wasn't disappointed.

"Still, I suggest we avoid the water. If I remember correctly there is a
fish indigenous to several planets in the Klingon Empire that resembles
the piranha. They gather in large groups when an animal enters the water
and they, like piranhas, strip it of flesh within moments."

"And what else?" Kirk sighed. He just knew there had to be more.

"These fish are extremely poisonous, which means that even in small
numbers they are lethal."

"As long as they don't have legs and come crawling into the dungeon with
us," Kirk muttered as he reluctantly turned from the opening.

"They do not."

"Thank you for the reassurance, Mr. Spock."

They returned to the underground corridors. At least there it wasn't as
dark as it had been by the turbolift.

"We're both wet, Spock, and it's not warm enough in here for a Vulcan.
You must be freezing."

"I have to admit, the ambient temperature is quite uncomfortable.
However, I saw no other solution if I were to find out if the water was
safe to enter," Spock pointed out.

"Did it ever occur to you that I could have checked?" Kirk's voice was
patient.

Spock's face went blank as if the thought had not even crossed his mind.

"All right, there's no reason to argue about it. What's done is done."

Spock followed one step behind his captain, as was his habit. They found
their way back to the lift and decided to look around a little more.

"I suggest we stay together, Captain. We cannot know what we might find
in this structure. Some of the Klingon fauna is even less appealing than
the tarHo fish."

Kirk nodded. They had no weapons, no communicators, not even a
tricorder, and with their hands tied there wasn't much they could do if
they were attacked. If they stayed together, their chances of survival,
and escape, would increase.

What they found was something he should have expected, but hadn't.

Skeletons.

They found three of them, completely stripped of flesh. If Kirk were to
guess how these beings had died, he would have thought starvation. Water
was obviously not a problem. A'sharon had simply "forgotten" these
people and left them to die. Would he and Spock meet the same fate?

"It appears A'sharon uses this dungeon frequently," Spock said dryly.
"It also appears that she is not particular about how she kills her
captives."

"Let's get away from here. We should try and find the most comfortable
spot."

Together they searched the underground corridors. They found one area
where the ground was covered with sand, and it provided a better place
than the hard rock floor around the turbolift. They sat beside each
other with their backs to the rock wall.

"We should get out of these wet shirts." Kirk could see the faint
tremors running through the Vulcan's body. "We have to share body heat,"
he explained patiently. "If you allow me, I will do my very best to get
you out of that shirt, and then you can do the same for me."

Spock seemed reluctant and Kirk attributed his hesitation to the fact
that they would have to touch. Kirk was one of the few people Spock
allowed to touch him, but this might be more than the Vulcan could
tolerate, even from his captain.

Spock wouldn't meet his eyes.

"Listen, Spock. We have to do this or you'll be very uncomfortable.
You'll freeze, and in the condition we're both in, we have to avoid
that."

Spock still didn't respond, and anger and hurt rose in Kirk. "It's me.
I'm your friend, remember?" he said impatiently. He put a hand on
Spock's shoulder.

"Very well, Captain," Spock finally said. "Proceed."


The Vulcan turned his back to Kirk, who pulled the black undershirt out
of Spock's pants. It was strangely intimate and the moment was drawn
out, since it was difficult to work with tied hands. Of course, he
couldn't take the shirt off the Vulcan completely, but at least the wet
garment would be out of the way.

The situation was more awkward than Kirk had expected. It was as if
Spock wasn't really there.

"Thank God they didn't tie our hands behind us," Kirk said, trying to
lighten the mood: it didn't help much as Spock didn't answer. He simply
waited while Kirk pulled the tunic as far down his arms as possible.
Finally it lay about the Vulcan's wrists in a wet heap.

"Your turn," Kirk said uneasily, and turned his back to the Vulcan. It
was even more complicated for Spock to help him with his own shirt in
the way.

Fortunately for Kirk, the temperature in the cave was rather comfortable
for humans. He sat on the cave floor awkwardly and leaned against the
wall. Then he spread his legs.

"All right, Mr. Spock. Sit between my legs and lean against me."

Again, Spock hesitated, but at the impatient look from his captain, he
did as ordered. Kirk nearly chuckled at the stiffness in Spock's body.
The Vulcan sat, straight as a steel rod, refusing to relax. Kirk lifted
his arms and moved them carefully over Spock's head.

"What are you doing, Captain?"

"I have to do this to get my hands out of the way. Now calm down, for
heaven's sake, Spock. This way you'll never get warm."

Spock finally relaxed and leaned against Kirk. The Vulcan's chilled skin
touched Kirk's for once warmer body. Seldom before had they been forced
to be this close to each other, and at that moment Kirk realized his
idea might not have been the best he'd ever had. In order to avoid
putting a soaking wet shirt in Spock's lap, he had to lower his hands so
that they were resting between the Vulcan's spread legs. It was
uncomfortably intimate, and if he felt that way, how did his very
private first officer feel? Kirk forced himself to relax and not think
about it. Instead, he pressed closer to Spock, trying to get as much of
his warm body in contact with the other man as he could.

'"Okay," he said, a bit too cheerfully. "What are we going to talk about
to pass the time?"

Spock was still trembling from the cold. Kirk's torso pressed against
the Vulcan's back, and at that moment, he found it comfortable, as
though he had come home. He leaned his head against Spock's shoulder.

"We might as well try to relax, Spock," he said. "We haven't slept much
in the last few days."

"True," Spock said and shifted.

"Are you uncomfortable?"

There was a silence before Spock replied. "No, I am not."

"Good. Do you think the Enterprise is searching for us?"

"Most likely," Spock replied. "We have failed to contact Mr. Scott twice
in the last week. They must be aware that something is amiss."

"Yes."

"I am concerned." Spock began.

"What?"

"There is a very high probability that this complex is situated deep in
Klingon space."

Kirk nodded.

"It may take longer, but they will find us." Spock said confidently.

Kirk knew this, but it was still a relief to hear Spock say it.

"Don't get me wrong, Spock, but I'm glad you're here."

The Vulcan seemed to relax at that. "I understand. Although I wish we
were not in this predicament, I am also glad I am with you."

Kirk leaned against the rock wall. It was knobbly and hard, but it was
still surprisingly comfortable. Spock leaned back, too, and Kirk
realized that they were sitting in a lover's embrace.

"This is kind of strange," he mused aloud.

"Indeed."

"Does it bother you-being so close to me, I mean?"

"No, it does not."

"I'm glad."

Spock tilted his head, and the Vulcan's sharp profile was barely visible
in the darkness. Drawing a hesitant breath, Spock then seemed to make a
decision. His voice was deep and sincere. "Being close to you has never
bothered me, Jim," he said. "In fact, even Vulcans need the reassurance
of touch and closeness to someone. I am grateful that you do not find
this offensive, and I value your touch more than you know."

Kirk swallowed and was shocked at the sudden jolt of desire that shot
through him. His groin pressed into Spock's backside, and he felt shame
when he realized that he was getting hard. He was forced head on to
admit to feelings he had tried to keep hidden, and the unexpected
arousal scared him. This wasn't the time nor the place to confront his
feelings, so he tried to push them far back in his mind. Spock certainly
wasn't the right object, but perhaps he had felt it? They were in such
close proximity..

Kirk wet his suddenly dry lips before speaking.

"Spock?"

"Yes, Jim?"

"Can you read my thoughts?"

"I could if you would allow me, although I would not presume to do so
without your permission.."

Kirk held back a sigh of relief.

"Although." Spock continued hesitantly, ".at such close proximity, it is
very difficult for me not to read emotions."

Kirk bit his lip and tried not to feel anything. Damn Spock and his
unfailing honesty. Couldn't he have told a little white lie just once?
It would have made this situation a lot less awkward. But Spock was the
most honest person Kirk knew, and the Vulcan wouldn't keep his knowledge
to himself at a time like this.

"Uh, I'm sorry, Mr. Spock. This was not.. I didn't expect this." He
tried to maintain the chain of command and a sense of distance by
addressing Spock formally, but it was difficult. And yet, somehow, he
had to rid himself of the inappropriate feelings that had surfaced.

"Nor I, Captain," Spock said breathlessly and twisted around to look at
Kirk. It was still very dark around them, and all Kirk could see was the
outline of the Vulcan's face, and all he could feel was the hot breath
against his skin. Spock's eyes were always his most expressive feature,
but now Kirk couldn't see them. The Vulcan opened his mouth to say
something.

Kirk realized that he was holding his breath in anticipation. Something
very important was about to be revealed.

At that moment, they heard the buzz of the turbolift approaching. Kirk
nearly cursed but stopped himself in time. Instead, he lifted his arms
over Spock's head, and they both quickly got on their feet. But he just
couldn't stop thinking about what had happened so suddenly. What had
Spock been about to tell him?

The guards handled them roughly. Kirk gasped as his shoulder slammed
into the wall, and he stifled a groan as the pain shot like a spear
through his entire left side. Spock hit the wall right next to him, and
the pained groan that slipped past his lips made Kirk want to kill the
guards. The harsh light in the lift made the dark shadows under the
Vulcan's eyes stand out, and his face looked gaunt. Spock was still
trembling from the cold, and he blinked against the bright light in the
turbolift car. As the lift started moving, the guards turned their backs
to them in obvious disrespect.

They were led back to the center room of the large complex, circular in
shape. It reminded Kirk of a cathedral, but the furnishings and the
decorations of the walls had nothing to do with religion, unless you
considered A'sharon a goddess. She did resemble one as she sat behind a
large U-shaped desk.

"Ah, First Officer Spock and Captain Kirk. It is a pleasure to see you
again," A'sharon said and rose from her chair. She examined them both
critically. "You are in luck. I have decided what to do with you. You
should be pleased. It is not often that I come to a decision so quickly,
as I am sure both of you are aware." She let her gaze travel over Kirk's
body and he tensed. Her gaze was rude, if not lecherous.

"Take off their shackles and wet shirts," she ordered. The guards
complied immediately, and Kirk was oddly grateful to get rid of the
soaked shirt. "I take it you have made your acquaintance with our
friends in the water?"

"If you are referring to the tarHo, we did not acquaint ourselves with
them," Spock replied icily.

"That is fortunate," A'sharon said and turned her gaze to the Vulcan.
"Such beautiful flesh should remain unmarred," she continued, and she
put her hand on Spock's bare shoulder and let it travel across the
finely muscled torso. From the look in Spock's eyes, Kirk could tell the
touch was unpleasant, but that was obviously part of the enjoyment for
her. A hot surge of a volatile emotion shot through Kirk's gut. He
watched as Spock tensed but didn't shy away from her touch. Spock knew
that showing his disgust might cost them their lives. It came to Kirk
then that Spock would never have allowed A'sharon to touch him had he
been alone. He would rather have died than be humiliated in such a way.

Kirk wanted to kill A'sharon. The Klingon's gaze traveled over Spock's
lean body as if it were a work of art she desired very much. Kirk nearly
gasped when her hand slipped from the flat, lightly furred stomach to
grip the Vulcan's genitals through his trousers. Spock didn't even
flinch as she moved her hand over his crotch, but Kirk had to force
himself not to react. He could barely tolerate watching Spock being
groped so intimately.

A feeling of dread pooled in Kirk's gut. He suspected what A'sharon
might have in mind for them. He had heard about such things-how the
Klingons sometimes gave their captives one way out and one way only.

Kirk turned his gaze away, trying to give his friend some privacy in his
humiliation.

"Don't look away," A'sharon ordered immediately. "Or I will squeeze so
hard that he will never be able to father any children, should he so
desire. Although I doubt he does," she laughed smugly.

Kirk met Spock's eyes in a silent apology, but the Vulcan's returning
gaze was steady and not the slightest bit embarrassed. He was enduring
this with his pride intact.

"I am sure you know what I have planned for you," A'sharon continued and
pulled away from Spock. The Vulcan's shoulders relaxed a fraction. "It
is not a new thing among us, and I am sure experienced spacefarers such
as yourselves have heard about it. If your actions meet with my
approval, I will let you go. My guards will take you to a place where
the Enterprise will pick you up." A'sharon looked at Kirk first and
there was an evil smile on her lips. "I am a woman of my word, Captain."

Kirk ventured another glance at his Vulcan friend. She was too
confident. She had to be lying. How could she let them go? Spock shook
his head almost imperceptibly. He didn't believe her either.

Spock stood unmoving. He had stopped trembling since his shackles and
wet clothing had been removed.

"Look at me," A'sharon said, and Kirk reluctantly turned his gaze from
Spock to her. She smiled. "You do know what I want, don't you?" His eyes
were glued to A'sharon's.

"Answer me!" she ordered, and Kirk knew that he didn't have a choice.

"Yes, I know."

A'sharon's smile grew wider. "Tell us-tell him-what it is I want you to
do, Captain Kirk. I can see that you know exactly what I am talking
about. Tell your cold, unemotional Vulcan what you will have to do to
him in order to save both your lives."

The words were on the tip of his tongue, but he couldn't utter them.

"Oh no," A'sharon tsk-ed, and her facial expression grew even more
satisfied. "Your hesitation will cost you. You will both have to do it,
or I will not let you go. That will make this so much more interesting.
We will see what truth there is to the rumor of the Vulcan seven-year
cycle."

Kirk could see the tension in Spock's body as he finally suspected what
was going to take place.

"Perhaps this is the one time in your illustrious career that your
Vulcan first officer will not come through for you, Kirk?"

If there had been doubts before, they were gone now. He knew what
A'sharon expected from them.

"There is no need to explain further, Captain," Spock said. "I have
heard of this pirate ritual."

"Oh, but I disagree, Mr. Spock," A'sharon protested as her eyes wandered
from Kirk to Spock and back again. "I will take as much pleasure from
this as I possibly can, and you will not ruin it for me. Neither of
you." She moved away from them and sat in her chair before she continued
to speak. "I want to hear Captain Kirk say it. Tell him!" Her eyes
darkened. The guards stepped closer.

"Tell him, or I will order my warriors to kill the Vulcan where he
stands."

"Very well, Captain. Do as she wishes. Tell me what it is you must do,"
Spock said calmly.

Even before the guard moved, Kirk knew what the result of Spock's
approving words would be. He wished that Spock had stayed quiet, but as
always, the Vulcan's first concern was for his captain.

The Klingon's fist against the side of his face was so forceful it
brought Spock to his knees. Still, he accepted the blow without a sound
leaving his lips, but a trickle of dark green blood ran down the squared
chin. Kirk knew that if the Klingon had aimed his violence at him
instead, he would have passed out. Spock only closed his eyes for a
moment and then the dark gaze met Kirk's as Spock waited to hear the
words, and silently, the Vulcan got to his feet.

Kirk cleared his throat. He knew A'sharon's patience was definitely
wearing thin. "If we're going to get out of here, I'll have to use you."
Kirk halted, but forced himself to keep looking at his friend, ".to use
you-sexually."

"Not good enough," A'sharon said. "Spell it out. I want to hear you say
it."

"Damn it!" Kirk shouted. "Isn't it enough that we'll have to do it? Do I
have to talk about it as well?"

"Ah, yes, Captain Kirk," A'sharon said. She didn't laugh, she didn't
even smile as she walked toward him. She did not speak until she was
close enough for him to detect the unmistakable scent of a Klingon.
Maybe their smell was why he disliked them so much? A'sharon smelled
sweet, dirty, and sickening.

"I wish to know if the rumors are true. Do Captain Kirk and his Mister
Spock spend their nights together, mating like a pair of targs in heat?"

Kirk stared at Spock, who didn't even blink. Were there rumors like
those going around? The chuckle that came from A'sharon made his blood
boil. He loathed the way she seemed able to read his mind.

"My dear Captain, did you not know? Did you not know the rumors that
speculate whether or not the stoic Vulcan loses control while you fuck
him in the ass? If he lets you fuck him, or if he is the one on top all
the time? Didn't you know that Kang once said he wished he could find
out whether you give a decent blowjob after practicing on a
double-ridged Vulcan cock for so long?"

Her crudeness made bile rise in Kirk's throat. She made everything he
had ever felt for Spock seem filthy, and he had strong feelings, very
strong feelings for his first officer. Until just before they were
brought back to this room, he had never consciously had sexual thoughts
about his first officer. He'd loved Spock for a long time, but he'd
tried to tell himself that it was a brotherly love. He knew that it
wasn't true, of course.

Back in the dungeon, when he had finally admitted the truth to himself,
he had felt shame, then a wish that Spock might feel the same desire. He
remembered the look Spock had given him, a look full of-hope? Now,
A'sharon had shamed them both, and made what they might mean to each
other seem wrong, when his first thought had been how right the
realization had felt.

A delicate hand cupped his chin, and A'sharon's dry palm rested against
his cheek. The Klingon moved even closer. She exuded power and danger.
Kirk nearly backed away but forced himself to remain still as her eyes
locked with his. "Now, whether it is true or not, I want to hear you say
it, and then you are going to do it and make those rumors true. While
you are fucking each other, I want you to tell your Vulcan exactly how
it makes you feel. If you lie, I will kill you both. Your eyes, Captain,
will show me if you speak the truth."

What had A'sharon seen in his eyes? How could she know what was in his
heart when he hadn't admitted it until so recently?

It would be rape, Kirk told himself, but the way A'sharon looked at him
told him that she was losing her patience, so he started talking. "I
will have to fuck you, Spock." Kirk said, and this time he didn't look
at his first officer. He couldn't, ".and then you will have to do the
same to me, and by God.I hope we're both capable of doing it, or we will
die."

A'sharon patted Kirk's cheek.

"Very good, Captain. Very good." Then she turned to her guards. "Take
the prisoners away. Move them to the rokeg section. You know what to
do."

Kirk glared at A'sharon, who flashed him a smile. Her face revealed
nothing, and Kirk wondered if they had been fooled. If this was simply a
part of her plan to torture them..

Kirk bit his lip, holding his hands stubbornly by his sides. He was
boiling inside at the way she had treated Spock. So help him, he would
kill that Klingon bitch with his bare hands. The desire to hurt this
woman was overwhelming, and the hatred was debilitating, making it
difficult to think. He tried to fight it, but then he remembered what
this woman had done. Kirk had seen too many Golden Dust victims. The
statistics of thousands dead from the drug didn't affect him half as
much as the memories of addicts he had seen on pleasure planets
throughout the quadrant. Shore leave wasn't always all good times.

A'sharon had supplied many systems with Golden Dust, and for what?
Money? She had no regard for life whatsoever. Kirk remembered the
skeletons beneath the structure; he remembered how her guards had
treated them for the past week. They had gotten almost no food, and
barely enough of the foul-tasting water to keep them alive.


But the image that was burned into his retinas was the way she had
touched Spock.

If she killed Spock, Kirk would die trying to capture her, both to
avenge his friend, and to punish her for the crimes she had committed.
Of course, he would do it anyway, if given half a chance. But he was
manhandled through the corridors, forced to move forward by blows to his
back and shoulders.

He could hear Spock's labored breathing just a few steps behind him.
Eventually, they were thrown into a room. There were two tiny shower
stalls, with only the nozzles protruding from the wall. There were no
cabinets or drawers, and the room was completely sterile and empty. It
reminded Kirk of a morgue.

"Shower," said the guard. "We will be back in ten minutes, and by then
you will be finished."

They had no choice but to follow instructions. Kirk shed his boots and
pants, trying not to watch Spock doing the same beside him. Instead, he
surveyed the place. The walls were bare, and there was no loose
equipment of any kind they could use as a weapon.

Stepping into one of the two showers, he was surprised to find warm
water gushing from the overhead faucet, and he hoped the fine spray
would help Spock to feel warmer.

"Are you okay?" he asked.

"As well as can be expected under the circumstances," Spock replied
coolly, as he stepped into the shower stall beside Kirk.

How many times had he seen Spock naked? A hundred? More? And yet, it had
never been so difficult to ignore the long-limbed grace of his friend.

To distract himself, Kirk closed his eyes and rubbed the water over his
body, trying to get rid of days of sweat and grime. There was no soap or
anything else to wash away the dirt. Ignoring the sudden longing for
Starfleet standard soap, Kirk tried not to think, but his mind lingered
on their situation. What if this were just another part of the sick game
A'sharon was playing? Perhaps she was only giving them their last shower
and last meal before they were executed-after performing like whores at
a brothel.


Or perhaps A'sharon only treated them to these things, and then she
would make him watch while the guards tortured Spock. Kirk knew these
pirates; they had many ways of tormenting their captives, and A'sharon
had made it clear that she would find torturing Spock the greater
challenge. Several of the methods used flew through Kirk's mind as he
ran his fingers through his hair, trying to rinse away sweat.

"So, are we going to go through with this?" Kirk asked aloud as he wiped
the water out of his hair. He watched the dirt flowing down the drain.

"Yes," Spock said.

"It might not do any good. I wonder if A'sharon is going to keep her
promise."

"Your concern is relevant. Yet, doing as she requests.."

Kirk's anger rose, and he interrupted. "Dammit, Spock. She's forcing us
to have sex!" He was hoping to get some kind of reaction from the
Vulcan.

Spock ran his long fingers over his right leg, refusing to look up. Kirk
watched the slender body as the Vulcan straightened finally and wiped
water from his eyes. There was nothing between them. No shower walls, no
curtains-nothing. They were together, nude, and soon they would have to
fuck each other. Kirk swallowed.

You want this.

"Did you hear what I said?"

"Yes. I see no reason for your agitation. If it saves our lives.."

"It might not."

"It may give the Enterprise the time she needs to find us, Jim," Spock
said, and finally lifted his head to meet his captain's gaze. Kirk saw
determination there and not an ounce of fear. Would Spock actually go
through with this?

"If we do not follow her orders, we may.."

Horrible visions appeared in Kirk's mind, clear as day.

She would torture Spock and use Klingon painsticks or-even
worse-mind-probes that would drive a telepathic Vulcan insane.. He could
see Spock screaming from the pain, losing control, going crazy. Kirk
couldn't allow that to happen. He would never forgive himself if that
brilliant, shining soul were damaged.

"All right," Kirk said. "So, we go through with it?"

"Yes."

"You seem very at ease with the situation, Spock," Kirk said. He was
puzzled by the Vulcan's ready acceptance.

"We do not have much of a choice, Jim. The situation will not improve by
my refusal to cooperate. We must comply with A'sharon's demands, unless
you have a more efficient plan," Spock said patiently.

"I don't."

Forcing the unpleasant thoughts away, Kirk ran his fingers over his
chest. The water was clean, and he could have stayed forever. Watching,
and trying not to watch Spock, was heaven and hell, both at the same
time.

How could he possibly make this ordeal as painless as possible for both
of them? Would A'sharon decide who would do what first?

Kirk would prefer Spock to take him first, for-god help him-he knew that
he could go through with it, because he actually wanted Spock. He would
have no trouble fucking his first officer. Kirk swallowed. But if Spock
wasn't able to.perform, they'd both die anyway. If he made sure Spock
was first, he could at least spare his friend the humiliation of being
fucked in front of that Klingon bitch.

Kirk fought the sensation of warmth pooling in his gut at the thought of
Spock.doing that.to him. He was growing hard at the mere thought.

Disgusted with himself, Kirk stepped out of the shower, turning away
from Spock. He snatched one of the small towels left there by the guard,
drying himself quickly. How did Spock feel about this? He turned the
question over and over again.

"Spock." he began.

"Yes, Jim."

Kirk glanced over at Spock, who seemed completely unselfconscious as he
dried himself. Even now, gaunt from lack of food and with his usually
neat hair tousled and damp, Spock was tall, muscular, and absolutely
beautiful.

"I.."

Kirk was interrupted as the doors opened, and a guard handed them clean
clothes. The moment was lost, and he couldn't believe he had let it slip
away. Cursing inwardly, he pulled on the black trousers and the
cream-colored tunic. Spock was efficient, too, and still the guard
barked impatiently.

"Move," he said and waved the disrupter at them. They were both ushered
out of the shower stalls and through a short corridor. Kirk was getting
mightily tired of being bossed around, but there was nothing they could
do about it. Moments later they stepped into another room, where
A'sharon waited for them. Spock first. Kirk thought he still looked
tired, but at least he was clean. Kirk realized that being clean would
make Spock more calm and focused. Being filthy was something the Vulcan
abhorred.

"I have been waiting impatiently for you. Join me," A'sharon ordered.

Stiffly, Kirk moved to sit at the round table. The room seemed very much
like a dungeon. The walls were a dark kind of rock, and torches on the
walls lit up the place. As soon as they were seated, the guards stood
around them, weapons at the ready.

"I apologize," she said unnecessarily. "Having guards at the table is
rude, I am aware of that, but you know the reason for their presence."

"Indeed," Spock commented dryly. "You are fearful that we will attack
you, overpower you, murder you, and then attempt to escape this
structure."

"I.."

"You are perfectly correct, of course," Spock continued as if he hadn't
noticed A'sharon's attempt at speaking.

She remained silent for a moment. "I had forgotten Vulcans' habit of
always pointing out the obvious," she commented icily. "Do you not find
that an annoying habit in your first officer, Captain?"

"Spock is the best first officer in Starfleet, and his honesty is one of
his most valuable traits," Kirk said.

"We shall eat," A'sharon said and called for food.

Young slave-boys of different species entered, filling the table with
what were probably considered Klingon delicacies.

Kirk's stomach rumbled. He felt weak and ravenous. Even the ra'cht and
the gagh seemed tempting at this point.

"I suggest we eat, Captain," Spock commented when Kirk didn't move to
taste the food.

"I assure you, it isn't poisonous." A'sharon laughed and dug in.

Obviously, she enjoyed the meal, but her table manners left a lot to be
desired. Her face showed utter bliss as she tasted several of the dishes
on the table. Watching her eat with her fingers, Kirk couldn't help
wondering if she had taken a shower, too. He doubted it. She poured
herself a glass of Klingon blood wine and shot him a toothy grin.

"Would you care for a taste, Captain?" she asked.

Kirk shook his head. Klingon Blood wine on an empty stomach was a bad
idea. Especially if A'sharon still insisted that he and Spock.. Kirk let
the thought trail into nothing. He didn't want to think about it. He
could think of nothing else.

Thoughts of Spock as a sexual being were something he avoided. Long ago,
he had realized he could be attracted to his first officer, but he had
consciously tried not to think about it. Never before, though, had that
attraction been brought into the open this way. A'sharon's crude words
still rang in his mind.

".if the stoic Vulcan loses control while you fuck him.is he on top all
the time?.give a decent blowjob after practicing on a double ridged
Vulcan cock for so long.."

A'sharon's smile told Kirk she knew what he was thinking. The way her
dark eyes seemed to know his every thought and every feeling unnerved
him.

"Eat, Captain. You'll need your strength later tonight. I had planned
for you and Spock to provide this evening's entertainment. Perhaps I
will keep you for more than a day if you come through for me.."

Kirk ignored her comments, as did Spock, who was already eating one of
the few vegetarian dishes on the table. Kirk loathed following the
Klingon's command, but he knew he had to eat. So he did, despite the
fact that the water tasted strange and made him feel weak. Kirk didn't
remember the last time he had drunk water that didn't taste like it was
polluted.

The food could just as well have been field rations. Spock seemed to, if
not enjoy it, at least not dislike the meal. Kirk sometimes envied the
Vulcan's ability to focus on one thing at a time. He was quite sure
Spock's mind didn't even touch the subject of what they were about to be
forced to do.

"That's enough," A'sharon said suddenly, and the boys who had served the
food came back and took it away.



ŻŻŻ


No matter how prepared Kirk thought he was, the sight of A'sharon lying
on a divan made him shiver with unease. She looked at them both with a
gaze he knew all too well. Despite her condescending attitude, Kirk knew
she found them both attractive, and she was going to enjoy this
spectacle.

"We will get through this, Captain," the Vulcan said, and Kirk turned
his head to Spock, standing next to him. Kirk felt an overwhelming sense
of fondness and gratitude for Spock at the words. He spoke so calmly and
he was giving support in every way he knew how.

They were standing in front of A'sharon's divan, with the guards behind
them. The room was the most beautiful one Kirk had seen so far. Of
course, A'sharon would want to be comfortable when watching them..

Kirk willed himself to relax. He wanted Spock, he couldn't deny it, and
he'd be damned if he were going to feel guilty for his desire. There was
nothing he could do to stop A'sharon's plans. Spock knew that, and so
did he.

"Get those clothes off," A'sharon barked.

Finally as calm as he could get, Kirk watched Spock pulling the black
shirt out of his pants. Transfixed, he followed the Vulcan's
long-fingered hands as they undid each button. He couldn't help drinking
in the sight of the naked skin and the firmly sculpted musculature that
was slowly revealed.

God, Spock, I want you.

He looked up, but the Vulcan's eyes were closed. What was going on in
Spock's mind right now? Was he scared, angry, disgusted or just
determined? Would this ruin their friendship? Damn A'sharon to the
deepest hells. Spock means more to me than any other person. If I lose
his friendship, it'll kill me.



"You too," A'sharon ordered.

Kirk started. He'd forgotten that he was supposed to get out of his own
clothes. Watching Spock..

Maybe he should tell A'sharon that he would rather die than do this? But
that would mean Spock's death as well. Wouldn't he rather lose his
friend's respect than see him die from A'sharon's torture?

Yes.

Kirk closed his eyes for a moment, trying to will away his erection, but
why should he fight it? Spock would notice soon enough, and Kirk thought
that perhaps he should be grateful that he was able to get hard. Or else
they would die.

The Vulcan's hands were steady and Kirk lifted his head to meet the dark
gaze. To his relief, there was nothing but acceptance and calm in
Spock's eyes.

"You must begin, Captain," Spock said, and Kirk was torn out of his
jumbled thoughts. He shook his head.

"No, Spock. You have to begin.." But he was unable to explain to his
first officer why he wanted it that way.

Kirk couldn't tell Spock that he actually wanted this, and that he could
never forgive himself if he fucked Spock and the Vulcan ended up hating
him for it.

But if Spock began, if Spock was able to go through with it.what did
that mean? Something nagged at Kirk's mind. Something about Vulcans.but
the thought slipped from him, illusive.

A'sharon snorted, "Isn't this cute? I don't care who starts fucking who,
but since you two are acting like human gentlemen." the word was spat
out like an insult, "I suppose I'll have to decide."

Her words were cut off by a strange, familiar sensation. Kirk
straightened as he met A'sharon's gaze. Her eyes blazed with fury, and a
satisfied grin spread on his lips. She wouldn't get what she wanted, and
that pleased him no end. The feeling intensified, gripping him-it was a
transporter beam. He turned his head toward Spock, watching the almost
naked form dissolving.

Kirk had never been so relieved and so disappointed in his life. As they
materialized on the transporter platform, he couldn't stay on his feet.
Spock's arms went around him in a supportive grip.

"Blast that fucking underground complex to hell!" Kirk whispered
angrily, knowing his orders for once wouldn't be followed.



END part 1



ŻŻŻ


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PART TWO

Kirk awakened feeling disoriented. He blinked against the bright light
and at Nurse Chapel's face hovering over him. Oh, so he was in sickbay?

"Captain, you're awake." The relief in Chapel's voice was obvious. He
tried to move, but a splitting headache and a bout of nausea made him
change his mind.

"What.."

"We've been cleaning mercury out of your system for almost twenty-four
hours," Nurse Chapel explained. "I'll go fetch Dr. McCoy." She was gone
before Kirk could say anything, but he didn't have to wait long before
McCoy showed at his bedside.

"Sleeping Beauty-awake at last," the doctor teased. "I was starting to
worry that this thick skull of yours had taken permanent damage."

"What did you do to me?"

"What do you mean?" McCoy said.

"You sedated me!"

"Well," McCoy squirmed a little. "If I hadn't, you'd have gone off to
the bridge and stayed there until you dropped. You had a load of mercury
in your system. I had to get rid of it."

"Mercury?"

"Probably from the water."

"So that's what it was. It tasted funny, that's for sure. And you
couldn't have told me this?"

McCoy didn't answer and Kirk sighed. That doctor just knew him too well.

"Bones, just give me the status of the ship."

"Uh-uh, no shoptalk yet. You've just woken up from being comatose. The
Silver Lady will have to make do without you for another day or so."

"Dammit, Bones. Just tell me what's going on. What happened to A'sharon
and her people? Where's Spock? How did you find us?"

Bones sighed impatiently. "All right, all right. I should have known. We
found you because Scotty upgraded the sensors and managed to penetrate
the shielding of the Klingon complex."

"How did you find out we were there?"

"I don't know exactly, but Scotty said something about Sulu beating the
crap out of a Klingon he ran into at a bar on Starbase Four."

"I guess Starfleet wasn't too happy about you going into Klingon
territory, eh?"

"Starfleet? No. But they took it a whole lot better than the Klingon
High Council did, I can tell you that," McCoy said dryly.

Kirk laughed but stopped when it resulted in a coughing fit.

"Damn," he groaned. "How long will I have to stay here?"

"Another day or so," Bones replied.

"And where's Spock?"

Bones looked away. "He's running the ship while you rest, so don't you
worry. If A'sharon is out there, he'll find her."

Spock had of course been cleared for duty long before Kirk, and the
Vulcan hadn't even shown up in sickbay to brief him. That was unheard
of.

After a day cooped up in too-close proximity to McCoy and another
blood-filtering, Kirk was ready to explode. Just finding out that
A'sharon had escaped was driving him nuts.

"Dammit, Bones. There's nothing wrong with me. Just let me out of here!"

A grunt was the only reply he got. Kirk sighed heavily. The nausea was
gone and so was the headache. He felt tired and slightly weak, but it
was nothing he couldn't handle.

"There are still traces of mercury in your bloodstream, Jim. I'm not
letting you out of here before I've gotten rid of it. A few more days in
A'sharon's loving care and the water could have killed you. I've no idea
how you managed to stay on your feet for so long."

"I'm a lot tougher than you give me credit for," Kirk groused.

"I don't give a flying fuck what you think, Jim! I'm the doctor, and
you'd better just let me do my job."

Kirk knew his friend had probably been worried sick for both him and
Spock. After all, they'd been gone for a week without contacting the
ship

"If I've managed to purge your system of another twenty percent of the
mercury by tomorrow, I'm going to let you out of here to rest in your
own quarters. But you won't be back on the bridge for another couple of
days. You hear me?" McCoy's voice was softer, but Kirk recognized the
steel beneath and fell back on the bed, defeated.

"Try to get some sleep, Jim," McCoy said, as he walked out of the
relative seclusion of the private room.

The lights lowered at McCoy's command and Kirk shut his eyes. He
immediately regretted it. Memories from the Klingon ship came over him,
and he opened his eyes again. Kirk knew McCoy would be there in a flash
if he indicated he needed to talk, but he really didn't want to.

I want to know what's going on. Why hasn't he shown up in sickbay to
brief me? I want the details on A'sharon's escape.

Kirk stopped. He knew that wasn't all. He needed to know that he and
Spock were all right.

Spock, damn you. Where are you? You're the one I need to talk to!

Spock had probably meditated his way through this ordeal. Others might
believe that the Vulcan hadn't been affected, but Kirk knew better.
Beneath that calm, cool exterior, Spock was vulnerable, too.
Unfortunately, he wasn't likely to talk about what had happened. Maybe
that was why Spock was avoiding him?



ŻŻŻ


As Kirk was on the edge of dozing off, he sensed something outside his
private cubicle. When his eyes finally adjusted to the darkness, he saw
movement in the corridor. He could discern a tall, dark figure in the
shadows.

Of course, it was Spock, looking at Kirk with an indecipherable
expression on his face.

As soon as Kirk realized the Vulcan was there, the lithe figure
disappeared into the darkness of ship's night.

"Spock!" he whispered harshly. His voice was strangely weak, as if it,
too, was strained from exhaustion. He got out of bed and tried to shout.
"Spock!" but the word came out as a hoarse whisper. He was sweating and
breathing heavily. He hadn't realized just how weak he still was.
Sometimes he envied the Vulcan's healing capabilities and his strength.

"Captain. What are you doing out of bed? You still require bed rest."

Relief washed over Kirk when he heard the Vulcan's deep voice only a few
feet away. He met the dark, compassionate gaze. At least Spock didn't
hate him. He hadn't even realized that he'd been worried about that.

"I need to talk to you."

"At this hour?" Spock said disapprovingly, but his voice was a soft
murmur.

"I saw you. Why are you avoiding me?"

The Vulcan averted his gaze.

"I shall help you back into bed," Spock said, ignoring the question.

"Dammit, Spock. I don't need your help!"

Anger flared suddenly, hotly in Kirk at the Vulcan's dismissal. He
pushed himself from the wall and climbed back into bed unsteadily. He
didn't want to be touched and shrugged the Vulcan's hand off his
shoulder. Suddenly he didn't want Spock there. Talking to him seemed
much less important now. Kirk had forgotten how cold and unapproachable
Spock could be when he wanted. But two could play at that game.

"Please, Jim. Let me help you."

"Why should you want to? I haven't seen you around sickbay the entire
time I've been confined here. What's with this sudden care?" Kirk spat,
and he hated himself for the vulnerability in his voice. He sounded like
a disappointed child. God, he hated this. He hated the weakness, he
hated the guilt, he hated the distance and the coldness in the Vulcan's
eyes moments ago. But he also hated the pity and concern he could see
now. He didn't want to be pitied, especially not by Spock.

"I.apologize, Captain, for not seeing you in sickbay. I believed that
our spending some time separately would make our.experiences on Praxis
easier to deal with. I regret it if I was mistaken."

"We need to talk, Spock."

"You should rest. You are still weak from the mercury poisoning."

Kirk knew better than to push, but he was disappointed. It hurt to
realize that Spock had been avoiding him.

Spock turned to leave, but paused in the doorway, hesitating. Then the
gaze became warmer. "I am.gratified that you are feeling better."

Kirk couldn't help flashing a weak smile at Spock. Perhaps they would
talk after all. But not now. Not yet.

"As am I, Spock. As am I. Will I see you tomorrow?" Kirk asked.

"We shall see."

Kirk watched him go, and soon the black-clad figure was one with the
shadows in the corridor.



ŻŻŻ


The next day, McCoy released him to rest in his quarters, and late in
the afternoon Kirk awakened to the sound of the door chime. He sat and
rubbed sleep from his eyes.

"Come."

The person who stepped inside his quarters was the one he had wanted to
see since he woke up that morning.

"Spock."

The Vulcan stood with his hands clasped behind his back, not meeting his
gaze. Still, he was a sight for sore eyes.

Kirk pushed himself up to lean against the wall, feeling a little cold
and dizzy. No doubt the effects of the mercury poisoning. He crossed his
legs at the ankles and waited.

Spock had regained some of his weight and was no longer so painfully
thin. He wasn't so pale, and his eyes were clear. Vulcans certainly
handled poison better than humans did

"You wished to speak with me, Captain?" Spock said.

"I want a status report," Kirk said, thinking that perhaps the other
would loosen up if they started out with business. "Sit down."

Spock hesitated, but eventually he sat on the chair beside the bed,
folding his hands in his lap.

His first words came hesitantly. "We are following a weak warp-trail
from the vessel in which A'sharon escaped. Mr. Scott has been working to
boost the sensors and I believe that we will catch up with her in
approximately twenty-six point one hours."

Kirk frowned. He'd been out of the loop for two days and they still
weren't closer than that? "How did she get so far ahead of us?"

"Mr. Scott transferred all power to the transporters and the short-range
scanners in his attempt to rescue us from the underground complex. The
sensors did not pick up the escaping vessel immediately."

"I see, but when they did, why didn't the Enterprise go into pursuit
right away?" Kirk felt disappointed. They'd been so close to capturing
A'sharon, and destroying this Golden Dust operation and now..

"Engineering managed to transfer the power back to the essential systems
in four point six hours. However, the inertial dampers were inoperable-"

"How did that happen?" Kirk couldn't stop himself from asking, and sat
up straighter, watching Spock intently.

He should know that Spock would give him all the information necessary
in due time, but the Vulcan lifted a patient eyebrow and responded to
his question.

"The Enterprise was engaged in battle with a Klingon scoutship only
hours before A'sharon escaped. Mr. Scott managed to destroy it, but not
before the dampers were disabled."

"Damn," Kirk muttered to himself. With the dampers off line there was no
way the ship could have gone into warp.

"It took the crew fourteen point five hours to correct the problem. By
then, the warp-trail had weakened."

"And we haven't been able to catch up with them?"

"We nearly lost A'sharon's trail," Spock explained patiently. "I am
certain she knows we are stalking her. She is flying at her ship's top
warp speed and it is close to our maximum speed. However, my estimates
are that she cannot keep doing so for much longer. A'sharon's craft is
not capable of sustaining such high velocity for more than four standard
days. Those days are coming to an end."

"That's good," Kirk said and returned to his relaxed position on the
bed.

At least they hadn't lost her. Spock had done a good job. Kirk was
satisfied, knowing that even in a crisis he could trust his crew to
perform their duties to the best of their ability. Of course, he knew
that already. They'd pulled through too many times for him not to. And
he could always trust Spock to take care of both ship and crew when the
captain couldn't be there.

Kirk was unable to stop the warmth from flooding his eyes. Spock noticed
and swallowed hard. Eventually, the Vulcan looked down at his hands.

"What about Starfleet Command? What orders have they given us?" Kirk
said, his voice more curt than he meant. Spock's obvious reluctance to
meet his eyes hurt more than he expected.

"We are to apprehend A'sharon.." Spock seemed to hesitate.

"What?"

"We have been ordered to cooperate with the IKC baHwI and her commander,
Korasz."

Kirk sighed. Not quite able to keep the disbelief from his voice, he sai
d, "Starfleet has ordered us to cooperate with the Klingons?"

"Yes. I have begun initial contact with Commander Korasz," Spock
explained. "He is impatient. Having the Enterprise in Klingon space so
close to the home world made the council.uncomfortable."

"I can imagine," Kirk said dryly.

Kirk got out of bed and started pacing. His body was suddenly coursing
with nervous energy, but he soon sat on the bed. Spock was quiet. Kirk
smiled crookedly. How typical of Spock to wait for his nervousness to
dissipate. By god, the Vulcan knew him too well.

"Why do they want our help?" Kirk said eventually.

Some of Spock's tension seemed to bleed out of him. Kirk knew there was
more to his friend's discomfiture than just reluctance to tell his
captain about the forced truce with the Klingons, but it saddened him to
see Spock acting so awkwardly around him. Not even during, or after, the
pon farr had Spock been so.jumpy. But this was no time to discuss their
personal problems, so Kirk waited patiently for the rest of Spock's
report.

"A'sharon has been exposed, her facility closed down and some of the
people from her sect have been brought to Qo'Nos for trial."

"But not all?"

"No, she, of course, and several of her men managed to escape. The
members of the Klingon High Council have been trying to apprehend her
for a very long time, and I believe that the information of her
whereabouts has.dishonored them and made them look incompetent. A'sharon
has, in essence, been operating 'right under their noses..'"

Kirk smiled at the colloquialism. It sounded unfamiliar coming from his
correct first officer.

".for quite some time. They are not pleased with this revelation. They
are eager to help us pursue and capture A'sharon and punish her
accordingly."

"I can see why," Kirk agreed thoughtfully. "This must be a slap in the
face. If the situation weren't so grim, I'd say it served them right."
He didn't even try to hide his distaste for the High Council's
incompetence. The fact that A'sharon had been operating so close to the
home world was incredible. Spock knew exactly how he felt, but Spock
would also know that they would both have to put their dislike aside in
the line of duty.

"The Klingons have promised to work with the Federation to catch
A'sharon and the remaining members of the quvQu sect. Klingons abhor
drugs, and Golden Dust is one of the worst drugs created in many years."


"All right," Kirk continued, sighing. "Starfleet orders us to cooperate
with Korasz, so cooperate we will. Where is he now?"

"He is moving towards our position, but while we are moving at maximum
speed, the baHwI will be unable to catch up with the Enterprise."

"And we can't afford to wait," Kirk stated matter-of-factly.

There didn't seem to be much he could do. The Enterprise would pursue
A'sharon's vessel with Scotty or Spock on the bridge just as easily as
it would with him commanding.

Kirk hated to admit that it was a good thing he wasn't indispensable,
for he also knew that Bones was right-he had to get well. He'd take the
opportunity to rest and prepare for the meeting with A'sharon while he
waited. Meanwhile, he and Spock had more personal matters they needed to
address.

With that, he decided that Spock's debriefing was concluded. Knowing
that it was up to him to get them talking, Kirk rose and walked over to
Spock. His palms were damp, and he swallowed. Why was it suddenly so
difficult to be close to this man? Still, he didn't stop until he was
standing so close that he could feel heat radiating off the
warmer-than-human body. The tension was instantly back in Spock's body

It almost seemed as though Spock were afraid of him. It had been years
since Spock had been formal with him, years since the Vulcan hadn't
called him Jim in private, it had even been years since he had shied
away from Kirk's touch or his closeness.

Had A'sharon destroyed everything? Not only their friendship, but their
innocence as well? Kirk suddenly wished the truth had never been
revealed. Everything was so much easier before he had realized that he
wanted Spock.

The attraction was certainly physical, but it was more than that. It was
the lure of a truly intimate relationship.

Kirk forced himself to move closer, to push through the barrier that had
been erected between them since Praxis. Breaking that barrier meant
going back and mending the comfortable friendship they used to have. He
valued the security and loyalty their connection incorporated: the
friendship and the humor, their quiet evenings while playing chess, or
the intense arguments they sometimes had.

Spock was intelligent and stood his own ground, and he was one of the
few people around Kirk who really dared oppose him. He could remember
many topics on which they didn't agree, but also how they could always
discuss even those matters.

He didn't want to lose that, but most of all he didn't want to lose
Spock.

Now, the Vulcan seemed like the ice block Bones sometimes accused him of
being.

"Do I disgust you so, Spock?" he asked softly.

The Vulcan didn't move, nor did he say anything. Kirk closed his eyes,
not wanting to see the coldness he feared was in Spock's gaze.

"Is our friendship in shambles because of what A'sharon did to us?" Kirk
whispered and finally had to step away from his friend. He couldn't
stand it if Spock loathed having him so close. "Can we talk about this?"
Kirk continued, hoping that Spock wouldn't keep denying him an answer.
He couldn't force Spock to speak, but he made himself look into the
other's eyes again, waiting with a patience he didn't truly feel.

Spock's face wasn't filled with disgust as Kirk had expected. There was
pain in the Vulcan's eyes. Kirk swallowed.

Pain. But why?

"What is there to talk about, Captain?" Spock said finally. "There is
nothing we can say or do to change what happened on Praxis. I do not
understand why we must dwell on such an unpleasant experience."

"Is that your final word, Mr. Spock?" Kirk said, and knew that he, too,
was adept at hiding his true feelings if he had to-or so he'd thought.
The memory of how A'sharon had seen right through him made him waver.

Just then, a subtle change in the Vulcan's facial expression caught his
eye. What was it? Kirk had had years learning to decipher the changes in
Spock's features. He didn't think there was another person in the
universe able to read Spock the way he could, and yet right now.it was
difficult. What had the passing emotion across Spock's face been? Had it
been disgust, shame or denial? What? Could it have been fear?

"If I ask you to please talk to me about this, would you?" Kirk asked
softly.

Something in Spock's eyes told him that he had to press just a little
bit harder, push just a bit more, and maybe he would get through. He had
to make the Vulcan realize that they had to talk about this or it would
fester, become an ugly infection. Silence would spread through their
friendship and eventually cause its death.

"You are my captain. There is nothing I would not do if duty required it
of me."

That response hurt more than anything else Spock could have said.
Swallowing hard, Kirk fought off a sense of futility. Had he already
lost the person who meant more to him than anyone else?

"And what if it isn't Captain Kirk who is asking you to talk?" he
continued quietly. "What if it's Jim, your friend?"

Spock seemed trapped. His knuckles turned white, gripping the armrests.
For some reason, that gesture gave Kirk hope.

"What do you wish to talk about, Jim?" Spock said, his voice raspy with
emotions he couldn't seem to hold back.

Kirk relaxed. Somehow he had managed to reach Spock, and maybe they
could get past this. But how?

Was Spock so ashamed of what A'sharon had demanded from them? Or was he
disgusted by the idea that Kirk actually wanted him?

Spock must know exactly how much Kirk had wanted him that day, despite
the circumstances.

"I want to talk about what happened between us on Praxis, Spock."

"There is no reason to discuss the matter," Spock said stubbornly, not
meeting his gaze.

"Yes, there is," Kirk protested, gripping the armrests of the chair,
looming over Spock, causing their hands to brush lightly.

Spock inhaled as if the touch was painful, and his face was mere inches
from Kirk's. He held Spock's gaze-he could be just as stubborn-and this
was far too important to let go.

"We must talk about it. Our friendship depends on it. Everything depends
on it!"

"What you are saying is that you wish to speak of how I shamed myself,
and how I tainted our friendship with emotions that have no place
between us!" Spock said and shot out of the chair, pushing Kirk aside so
fast that he had no time to react. He was taken aback by the disgust in
Spock's deep brown eyes, by the absolute horror and self-loathing there.

Spock must be very distraught to be showing his emotions so openly, but
before Kirk was able to deny the misunderstanding between them, Spock
had bolted from the room.

Shocked by Spock's outburst, Kirk was unable to move. The Vulcan was
always logical and Kirk had never seen him acting or thinking so
irrationally..

Spock had said something so completely illogical that Kirk had to stop
and think. It didn't take a rocket scientist to figure out what Spock
meant. His words brought Kirk back to that moment when they both thought
they were going to have to go through with the sexual act.

Spock had been calm, centered. He had even encouraged Kirk. Reliving the
memory, he wondered if he hadn't seen more than just acceptance in
Spock's eyes. Had there been a hint of anticipation as well? Had they
both secretly wanted this forced encounter? No wonder Spock was blaming
himself. It was just like him to take the blame for something he
couldn't control. Kirk wasn't surprised that Spock resented the feelings
once they surfaced and made him do things he normally wouldn't. Rushing
to Spock's cabin before making some decisions on his own was of no use.

Suddenly, his mouth was very dry. Kirk brought out a bottle of scotch
and poured himself a drink. He grimaced at the burning sensation as the
amber liquid slid


down his throat, but he knew that no matter what he decided, at least
Spock cared for him, very much indeed. Whatever his decision about their
future, he must let Spock know that the reverse was also true.


ŻŻŻ


Early next morning, Kirk was torn from his deep sleep by the sound of
yellow alert klaxons blaring through the corridors. Reflexively, Kirk
got dressed, and stopped dead in his tracks just as he was about to
leave his cabin. He thought he would go mad. McCoy would have his head
if he went to the bridge now.

"Dr. McCoy to Captain Kirk."

"Yeah, Bones, I'm here. I'm not going."

The doctor chuckled knowingly. "I was just about to offer to go with
you, to make sure you don't over exert yourself. Put your uniform on."

Relief washed over Kirk at the physician's words and he didn't bother
trying to keep it from his voice. "Thanks, Bones."

The doors to Kirk's quarters slid open to reveal the physician waiting
in the corridor outside.

"All right, Captain, let's go."

Together they strode to the turbolift. The ride felt twice as long as
usual. When the doors finally slid apart and Kirk could step onto the
bridge, he felt like he'd finally come home. It had been over two weeks
since he'd sat in the command chair. Two long, agonizing weeks. Some of
the aches and pains just drained away when Spock turned the command
chair to see who had just entered.

"Captain," he said calmly, as if there were nothing amiss between them.

Kirk smiled into the dark brown eyes. Spock rose and offered the chair
to him. With a look at Bones, who nodded, Kirk slid into it. He touched
the armrests fondly, reveling in the feel of the soft leather, and
rejoicing in the fact that he was back on the bridge.

"Should we leave you two alone, Captain?" McCoy quipped.

"What?" Kirk didn't realize what the doctor meant until he looked
pointedly at Kirk's hands, still moving across the armrests as if they
were the soft skin of a lover. He blushed and stopped.

"Mr. Spock. Report," he said curtly and ignored the chuckle coming from
McCoy. Spock had taken his place at the science station, and was now
studying the readouts.

"The vessel we are pursuing seems to have.vanished, Captain," Spock
informed him.

"Vanished?" Kirk leaned forward. "How could that happen? Mr. Chekov?"

"Unknown, sir. The sensors are no longer picking up a varp signature. Ve
have been following it steadily, but here it just.ends, keptin," Chekov
responded.

"Keep scanning."

"Yes, sir."

Three hours later, no trace of A'sharon's vessel could be found. Kirk's
body was rigid with tension, and a dull ache throbbed behind his
eyelids. Staring at the screen for so long, only seeing blackness, was
wearing him down, and still he didn't want to leave. He felt as if by
staying, he could make the lost ship appear by force of will.

"If you don't leave now, Jim, I'm gonna drag you back to sickbay and
have you stay there for another week," McCoy threatened.

Kirk sighed and rubbed his eyes. "All right, Bones. I'm leaving."

"Good."

He looked at Spock, but the Vulcan still leaned over the science station
with his back turned. It seemed he wasn't even going to acknowledge that
the captain was leaving. Kirk wouldn't have it, and he stepped from the
center seat to put his hand on Spock's iron-hard shoulder. The Vulcan
could seem standoffish and cold to a lot of people, but Kirk had never
seen him so tense.

"Spock."

The Vulcan finally met his gaze.

"Yes, Captain."

"I'll see you later."

Spock didn't reply. Kirk hadn't expected him to, so with a nod, he left
the bridge with McCoy.



ŻŻŻ


"Spock?"

Again, Kirk heard the door chime ring inside the Vulcan's quarters.
Impatiently, he banged at the door when it was ignored yet again. Since
Spock refused to come to him, it was Kirk's move. "Come on, Spock! Open
the door. We have to talk.."

Kirk knew that Spock would let him in if he kept pleading like that.
Anyone who heard the captain practically begging to be let into the
first officer's quarters would have a scoop as far as the scuttlebutt
went on the Enterprise, and Spock detested it when gossip included him.
Kirk had no qualms about using that to his advantage.

Still, he was unprepared when the door slid open and he could step
inside. Spock turned from him immediately.

"Speak," Spock said curtly.

He didn't invite Kirk to sit or even to come further into the room. A
couple of hours had passed since Spock had come off his duty shift, and
he was still aloof.

"I should have come sooner," Kirk said.

"There is no need to apologize, Captain. I was not expecting you."

"Perhaps you should have. Can I sit?"

Spock arched an eyebrow before nodding.

Kirk stepped further into the room and sat on the chair next to Spock's
desk. He crossed his legs, trying to relax. The Vulcan remained
standing.

"I don't want you to talk at all right now, Spock. I just want you to
listen to what I have to say, all right?"

Spock turned his back to Kirk and went into the sleeping area. He was
dressed in his black meditation robe and seemed even more intimidating
than usual.

This wasn't going to be easy, but nothing really worth anything was ever
easy. He waited for Spock's reply and rubbed his hands together,
noticing how sweaty his palms were.

After a few moments, Spock turned toward him and nodded.

"I shall listen to what you have to say, Captain."

"First, would you please go back to calling me Jim? We're friends,
remember? This isn't an official visit."

At that, the Vulcan seemed to tense even more.

"Very well-Jim," he said pointedly.

Kirk looked down at his hands and cleared his throat. How to begin?

"I don't want you to blame yourself for what happened on Praxis, Spock.
Neither you nor I could stop what A'sharon nearly forced us to do. The
mercury poisoning weakened us both, and even healthy, you and I couldn't
have taken on the guards alone. You know that."

"That is not.."

"No, Spock," Kirk said and held up his hand. Spock silenced immediately.
"I know you desired me, and it's all right."

All right? That was an understatement, Kirk.

"You shocked me in my quarters last night-and I will never forget what
you said to me." He contemplated what to say to make Spock truly
understand. This was probably the most important thing he would say in
his life. He must get it right.

"I want you to listen to me and listen very carefully. You haven't
tainted our friendship in any way. We were forced into that situation
and it revealed some things that neither of us had expected, but I don't
think I'm wrong when I say that those feelings weren't new for you."

Spock averted his eyes, and slowly moved over to the fire-shrine,
looking into it as though it held all the answers he would need. Kirk
remained seated, trying to find the right words. His heart constricted
when he saw the incredible tension in the Vulcan's tall body. He must
make sure Spock knew there was no reason for shame or guilt.

"There's nothing wrong with what you feel, Spock," he said softly, but
realized that was probably not the right thing to say. He had felt
shamed, too, by A'sharon's words, her actions, and the way she had
described the rumors about their relationship. She had made their
feelings sound like something they should be ashamed of. "Maybe there
was something wrong in feeling the way we did under the circumstances."

Spock turned his gaze from the fire-shrine and looked at him
quizzically. Kirk sighed, feeling weary. "I'm not doing this very well,
am I?" Impatiently, he ran his fingers through his hair. He rose and
started pacing in front of Spock's desk. He couldn't sit still. Spock's
dark eyes followed him for each step, and Kirk felt like he would break
apart. He wanted to do this right, but damn, it was difficult. He moved
further away from Spock, hoping that some physical distance between them
would make it easier for him to think.

"What I'm trying to say is that A'sharon turned what we feel for each
other into something dirty, when it isn't. What you feel for me isn't
wrong or something to fear, Spock." Kirk paused and the words he uttered
next came so easily. "I feel the same way about you."

Their eyes met across the room for a long moment and held. It felt as
though they were closer now than they had been in days, and yet, Spock's
entire cabin separated them. Kirk took one step closer to the Vulcan,
and then another. Something flickered in Spock's eyes. Warmth. And Kirk
then realized just how painful Spock's distance might be. Still, he felt
as though Spock hadn't truly listened.

"Didn't you understand that? Didn't you see how much I wanted you,
despite A'sharon, despite the circumstances?" Kirk waited for Spock to
answer, but the Vulcan remained silent, as though he was trying to make
sense of Kirk's words. There was pain and a quiet, hesitant hope in the
dark eyes. With a wry smile Kirk said, "You can answer that if you want,
Spock."

"No," the Vulcan said. "No, I did not realize the desire was mutual. I
have never suspected that it was." Spock tilted his head. "Is it true?"

Now what was he going to do? If he admitted the truth, he would have to
prove that he meant what he said, and that was impossible.

"Wait," Kirk said and held his hand out to the Vulcan, who was slowly
moving closer. Spock froze only inches away. The dark eyes looked at him
expectantly, and Kirk felt like the lowliest worm. After all that Spock
had gone through in his life.he didn't deserve this. T'Pring had
rejected him, and now Kirk was about to do the same.

"Spock," he said softly, apologetically. "We can't do this. I want you,
too, never doubt that, but.."

Spock's eyes narrowed, and Kirk winced as the Vulcan started talking.
"But I do doubt it, Jim. I believe that you are saying this to alleviate
the shame I feel." Spock's voice was very cold. "You do not wish to lose
my friendship or 'the best first officer in the 'fleet.'"

Kirk could detect the bitterness and the pain in the Vulcan's voice.
Spock was hurt, or he wouldn't talk this way. The deep voice went on.
"You are afraid that I will transfer off the Enterprise if I realize
that your emotions for me do not include.desire and.." Spock cut himself
off.

Normally, Kirk would never stand for such unfair accusations, but all he
could feel was need rising inside when he saw the way Spock reacted
because he believed that James Kirk didn't.love him? Kirk stepped into
the Vulcan's personal space. So close that he could feel warmth
emanating from Spock.

"You're right, I don't want to lose you and it scares the shit out of
me, thinking that what's happened might convince you to transfer off the
Enterprise. But you're also wrong," he said calmly. "You are so very
wrong, Spock."

"Am I?"

"Damn it-you're always the one telling me to be logical! I'm trying to
be just that. You know how Starfleet frowns upon sexual liaisons between
their officers."

"I do. I am also aware of many such partnerships, which are not
addressed by the powers that be, Jim."

"It's not the same thing. You're my first officer. That's different. You
know it is."

"Indeed," Spock said ironically. "I am also male."

It seemed Spock was determined not to believe that his feelings were
reciprocated. Or perhaps it was only that Spock truly didn't believe
they were. He had been rejected so many times in his life. He didn't
know what it was like to be truly loved-by anyone. And it was clear he
wouldn't believe it now. Not without a demonstration.

Kirk couldn't give into that. He would be utterly lost if he gave Spock
what he wanted. For some reason Kirk couldn't determine, losing control
with Spock was the most dangerous thing he could ever do.

"Your being male has nothing to do with it, Spock," Kirk said.

"Then perhaps it is the fact that I am Vulcan that frightens you, Jim."

Kirk swallowed.

"A relationship with me would be a commitment for life," Spock finished.

The thought hadn't occurred to Kirk until then. He had only been vaguely
aware of something he had overlooked and that something had scared him.
Now he knew; Vulcans mated for life, they bonded, and a chill traveled
down his spine at the very thought.

Committed for life.

Kirk met Spock's knowing eyes. Feeling defeated, and as though he hadn't
made any difference, Kirk left Spock's quarters.



ŻŻŻ



The following days were spent attempting to track down A'sharon's vessel
with no luck.

"Klingon wessel decloaking," Chekov reported.

"It is the IKC baHwI," Spock clarified.

"Open a channel," Kirk ordered.

"Captain Kirk," grunted a broad-shouldered Klingon with little hair. "It
is an honor to meet you. I am Commander Korasz of the IKC BaHwI."

"Pleased to meet you, Commander," Kirk replied, feeling like a real
hypocrite.

"Captain?" Spock said questioningly, and Kirk nodded in response.

Don't worry, Spock. I'll be good, his glance at the first officer said.

It was eerie how well Spock knew him. Even now, through the uneasy truce
between them, his first officer read him like an open book. Did anyone
else know him that well? Would he even want anyone to know him the way
Spock did?

"I hear you lost A'sharon's trail," Commander Korasz said, with a hint
of disdain in his voice.

"That's true, but we've got great hopes that we'll find her again,
soon."

"I fear that your hopes are not well-founded, Captain."

"Oh, really?" Kirk leaned forward, watching the Klingon commander
intently. "Would you care to be more specific?"

"Bah!" The Klingon waved his hand in the air as if to get rid of an
annoying insect. "A'sharon.."

Another Klingon-this time a female-appeared on the view screen. She shot
Kirk a look and he shuddered, the mere gaze making him feel ill. She and
A'sharon were the spitting image of each other.

"Captain, meet She'zaron, A'sharon's sister," Korasz said. "She brought
some very interesting information to our attention a few days ago."

Kirk stiffened, but he wasn't really surprised.

"And why should we trust this woman?" he said coldly.

"Because." Korasz said, ".she is my wife."

Kirk didn't know what to say to that. He had many questions, but how to
express them without insulting the Klingons?

"With all due respect, Commander," Spock interjected. "I do not wish to
offend, but if this is true-how can it be that the Klingon High Council
was not aware that A'sharon is a woman?"

"A'sharon is a very common name-both male and female-among our people,
Commander," She'zaron informed. "Of course, I don't expect you to know
this." Her disdain for the Enterprise's crew was clearly visible on her
face. "My sister was believed dead, but when I recently found out that
she is alive and that she is the head of the Golden Dust operation, I
decided to help the Klingon government. She has dishonored my family in
a way that-"

"How noble of you," Kirk interrupted.

"Isn't it though?" she leered.

"Tell him," Korasz said, waving his hand impatiently.

"Are you certain?" She'zaron hesitated, as though her look could make
Korasz change his mind.

"Yes. There is no reason to drag this out any longer."

"What?" Kirk interrupted. "Get to the point."

"Such impatience. Are all humans this way?" The Klingon female looked at
Spock, and Kirk watched as the Vulcan's eyebrow lifted.

"No more than the Klingons I have encountered in my time," Spock
replied.

"Very well, Captain. The information I have may help us find A'sharon."

Kirk frowned, and the Klingon commander continued as if he already knew
the question that was on the tip of Kirk's tongue.

"There is only one reason we are giving you this information, and that
is the fact that catching A'sharon and putting a stop to her activities
is more important to my people than anything else. She has caused much
trouble for us on the home world because of her greed and her
callousness. She is like a disease spreading throughout the Klingon
Empire."

Kirk tapped his foot, but he didn't say anything. Luckily, She'zaron
gave her husband a curt look and it interrupted him in his poisonous
monologue.

"A'sharon has stolen her sister's research."

"You are a scientist?" Spock asked.

"Yes, I am," She'zaron confirmed.

"Interesting. In what field?"

"I am the head scientist of the Department of Star Cruiser Development."

"Indeed?"

"My specialty is cloaking devices."

The silence on the bridge of the Enterprise was deafening.

"I see," Kirk finally said, understanding at last what the Klingons were
getting at. "So, what you are telling us is that A'sharon has gotten
hold of your latest research, which involves a new type of cloaking
device. This is also the reason why we can't find her?"

"Correct."

Kirk turned to Spock with a puzzled look on his face. "But why didn't
she use it sooner? Why wait for us to almost catch up with her before
engaging the cloak if she had one?"

"Maybe I can shed some light on that, Kirk," Korasz said. "A'sharon is
not a scientist herself, but she has managed to persuade people from
She'zaron's staff to join her. There are Klingons whose greed is more
important to them than their honor. Making the cloak operational
requires taking the original device off line, which would leave the ship
vulnerable for a time, but once they have the new cloak operable, there
would be no way for an enemy ship to detect them. She could be anywhere
by now."

"Unless the ship in pursuit has the necessary information to detect
her," She'zaron added.

"I see," Kirk repeated, waiting patiently now. He knew that a normally
cloaked vessel would be somewhat tricky for the Enterprise to track, but
in no way impossible. The Federation had learned to read warp trails
from cloaked ships well enough to pursue them a long time ago. Most
Federation vessels could pinpoint their location with nearly one hundred
percent accuracy. Military secrets were seldom secrets for very long.

"Why are you telling us this?" Spock said. "Why does not the Klingon
Imperial Fleet track A'sharon down on its own?"

"Because, Mister Spock.." Korasz hesitated for a moment, looking grim,
then drew a deep breath and continued. ".Our equipment is not sensitive
enough to detect the emanations from this new cloaking device. However,
I am quite sure that Federation sensors can.if you know what to look
for."

Again, the silence on the bridge was so thick it was uncomfortable. Kirk
crossed his legs and leaned back in his chair. For the Klingons to admit
to this, they really must want to catch A'sharon very much.

"Fine, Commander. You and your scientists may beam over. Mr. Spock will
work with you on the necessary configurations of the Enterprise's
sensors."

Uhura closed the connection and Kirk was out of his chair almost before
the image of Commander Korasz had disappeared.

"Mr. Spock. You're with me. Mr. Sulu, you have the bridge."

"Aye, sir."

In the turbolift, Spock didn't look at his captain. Kirk wanted to talk
to his friend. But what was he supposed to say? No matter what he did,
nothing would change. He was between the proverbial rock and a hard
place.

Kirk sighed and rubbed the bridge of his nose. He had a pounding
headache that McCoy might have blamed on the remnants of the mercury in
his system, but he wasn't so sure that was the cause. He was worried
about how to repair the damage to his friendship with Spock. Could they
even be friends anymore?

He loves me, he wants me. What do I want? What I don't want is a life
without Spock.

His mouth went dry, and he barely finished the thought, but he couldn't
address this now. It was hard to believe that the individual beside him
harbored feelings so strong that they would last a lifetime and beyond.
Kirk felt like he was standing without protection on the ice planet
Bo'oree.

Funny, he thought wryly. I thought Vulcans were supposed to exude heat.

Remembering the sensation of Spock's body against his own, deep in
A'sharon's dungeon, sitting so close to him, Kirk knew that the Vulcan
indeed emanated considerable warmth. Despite that truth, Spock could
certainly give off a bone-chilling coldness. Never before had Spock cut
Kirk out in such a way, and he reminded himself that the distance was
Spock's way of protecting himself. It wasn't born from malice or even
anger, and that made it easier to bear. Once they had captured A'sharon,
Spock and he would talk, and all would be right between them. It had to
be.

They entered the transporter room, and four Klingons materialized.

"Captain Kirk," Korasz said, stepped forward and grabbed his hand in a
firm, dry grip. The Klingon's eyes met his without hesitation, and
Kirk's respect for Commander Korasz rose a notch.

"Welcome aboard the USS Enterprise, Commander," he said.

Seeing Commander Korasz's wife in the flesh was more uncomfortable.
She'zaron's likeness to her sister was uncanny. Despite their
differences in hairstyle and clothing, they were as alike as twins.
Kirk's mouth suddenly went dry, but he pushed the uneasiness away and
bowed respectfully toward the Klingon female.

"Madam." Kirk barely acknowledged the other Klingons, who were no doubt
Korasz's security guards.

"I thought you would be taller," She'zaron said.

Kirk didn't dignify her with an answer.

"We should proceed to the science labs immediately," Spock pointed out.
"Time is of the essence."

"Naturally," She'zaron agreed. "I will remain on the Enterprise during
this mission, unless you have objections, Captain?"

Clearing his throat uncomfortably, Kirk knew he couldn't refuse. She was
essential to the mission, and considering how forthcoming these Klingons
had been, he was duty bound to treat them with the same respect.

"Of course you can stay. Your assistance is crucial."

"Thank you, Captain," She'zaron nodded respectfully.

Slight differences between her sister and her now became apparent to
Kirk-the facial expression for one. She'zaron might be a Klingon
warrior, but her eyes lacked the unfeeling coldness in A'sharon's, and
her smile was gentler. Relaxing a fraction, Kirk led the way to the
science labs.

"This way," he said.

Spock walked just behind Kirk, as always, but there was a larger
distance between them than was normally there-perhaps another inch.
Nobody else would have noticed, but to Kirk it might as well have been a
mile.

As they entered the science lab, Kirk stopped Spock with a light touch
on his arm, a gesture he had used many times before, but at the subtle
reaction from Spock, he pulled away.

"May I have a word with you, Mr. Spock?" he said.

Spock seemed reluctant, but he nodded. "Very well."

Kirk walked out of earshot of She'zaron. "Will you be comfortable
working with her?" he asked softly. "Perhaps there is someone-"

"That won't be necessary, Captain," Spock interrupted
uncharacteristically. "I am the person most suited for the task."

"I know that, Mr. Spock."

"Why should I not be comfortable working with her?"

Kirk shifted uneasily. "Because she looks so much like A'sharon." Their
gazes locked, and in that glance Kirk revealed the unease he felt about
having this Klingon woman aboard the Enterprise.

"Captain," Spock said, infinitely softer. "I understand your concern,
but it is not necessary. There is no logic in your reasoning. She'zaron
is in fact not A'sharon, and there is no reason for me to treat her as
though she is not welcome here. As a skilled scientist, she will most
definitely be of great value to me in making these scanners operational.
For that, I owe her respect."

Kirk lowered his gaze and stepped back, his voice at normal. "Very well,
Mr. Spock. Get to it."

"Certainly, sir."

Kirk didn't usually remain in the science labs, but he stayed with
Spock, the Klingon commander, and his wife. Working swiftly, Spock
prepared the computer for a Klingon chip. Several of the tech-lab
assistants buzzed around them with hardware adapters and other details
to make the transfer work smoothly.

"Lieutenant Mendez. Did you install the software I requested?" Spock
asked.

"Yes, Mr. Spock. I downloaded it into the primary systems."

Spock's fingers moved gracefully over the control panels, and Kirk
watched the program run on the screen.

"I am ready," Spock said, and he turned to She'zaron.

"This will enter the specifics on how to track the new cloaking device,"
She'zaron explained. Her hand clenched around the chip as Spock reached
for it. The Vulcan hesitated.

"I do understand," he said. "Your achievement in this field is
remarkable."

There was respect in the Vulcan's voice, a deep admiration that Kirk
seldom heard. He was envious of it. There was a connection between Spock
and She'zaron that went beyond race or military alliance. It was the
respect of one scientific mind for another.

This was one of the instances when Kirk realized how different he and
Spock truly were. How could Spock act so unaffected around this woman
who reminded Kirk so much of A'sharon, someone who had treated them with
such cruelty?

She'zaron extended her arm toward the Vulcan and released the chip. "I
will simply have to improve the device," she said. "I will have to
eliminate the emanations from the warp coil. That's all."

"A worthy challenge for a skilled scientist," Spock said.

Kirk would have gritted his teeth if he hadn't worked his entire life to
master the art of keeping his emotions in check. Perhaps he didn't show
it, but he acknowledged to himself that he was jealous.

The Vulcan took the chip and inserted it into the science computer.
Several minutes passed as they waited for the results.

"Fascinating. I would not have guessed," Spock uttered finally. "Look at
this, Captain."

Spock's eyes were alive with excitement, but his demeanor was utterly
professional. Kirk suppressed a sigh.

"What is it?" he said.

"This," Spock said and pointed at a white flowing line on the screen.
"It is not a chemical emanation, as I would have suspected. I would not

have been looking for this. It is not even molecular." Spock's voice was
always even when he spoke of scientific discoveries, but Kirk had seen
his reaction to a new development often enough to sense the quiet
satisfaction and awe in the voice now. "This is an electromagnetic
pulse; with the proper equipment it can be detected through subspace.
Most ships, even in the Federation fleet, do not have sensors
sophisticated enough to single out such a faint trace."

"Why not?" Kirk said.

"Subspace is filled with old electromagnetic pulses from radio
transmissions and other natural signals. Singling out such a faint pulse
would be most difficult."

"But?" Kirk prodded.

"Fortunately, the Enterprise's sensors are more than adequate. With some
small calibrations to aid in the search for this specific anomaly, we
will be able to detect the signal effortlessly."

"How long?"

"The sensors will be recalibrated within the hour, Captain."

Kirk left the science laboratory and steered his steps toward the mess
hall. He couldn't even remember when he ate last.



ŻŻŻ


Kirk nursed a cup of coffee as he absently watched Yeoman Rand and
Lieutenant Hansson enter the mess hall. He watched Rand's shapely legs
out of habit and noticed that Hansson must have done something to her
hair. It was black like a raven's wing and tied back in a practical but
intricate way. Both women were among the most beautiful on the ship, and
Kirk noted this with an air of disinterest. He frowned. He might have a
policy against fraternizing with people under his command, but he wasn't
dead. It wasn't like him to notice beauty and not react to it.

"Bridge to Captain Kirk," Uhura's voice came through the communications
system.

Rising from the table, Kirk looked at the chronometer. It seemed Spock
had finished early. Kirk hadn't been gone for more than half an hour,
he'd barely had time to finish his cup of coffee and a sandwich. Leaning
against the wall, he switched the communicator on.

"Kirk here, Lieutenant Uhura. What's going on?"

"Mr. Spock reports that the sensors are calibrated. He's on his way to
the bridge, ready to test them now, sir."

"Very well, I'll be right there."

As Kirk stepped onto the bridge, he noticed that Spock was already
there, and so were Commander Korasz and She'zaron.

"We are ready to test the equipment now, Captain," Spock said.

"Very well. Proceed."

Kirk sat in the command chair watching the Vulcan's fingers move swiftly
over the panels. She'zaron was standing right next to Spock, and she
ignored Kirk's presence. She was one of the most disrespectful Klingons
Kirk had ever met. Maybe it was a family trait, Kirk thought sourly.
Korasz nodded toward him, standing with his hands folded, feet wide, as
though he'd rooted himself on the bridge.

Kirk watched his crew and sympathized with the uneasy glance Sulu shot
over his shoulder. Uhura seemed her usual calm self. That woman had
nerves of steel, and Kirk wasn't surprised to see her keep at her work
without letting on how on edge she truly was. The only reason he could
see it was because he worked so closely with her almost every day. He
suspected that the Klingons had no idea.

Silence fell while they all waited for Spock's report. The seconds
stretched to minutes until finally the first officer spoke: "It is
working."

"What heading?" Kirk couldn't contain the excitement in his voice.

"322.45, Captain."

"I shall beam back to my ship now, Captain Kirk," Commander Korasz said.

"Very well." Kirk heaved a sigh of relief. "Mr. Scott, will you see
Commander Korasz to the transporter room?"

"Aye, sir."

"It's been a pleasure, Commander," Kirk said and shook the Klingon's
hand. "I hope you will forgive me for not accompanying you."

"Of course. Just capture A'sharon. That's enough."

Kirk caught a look between Korasz and She'zaron. It was definitely
encouragement from a husband to his wife, and Kirk vowed to himself that
no matter how he felt about the woman, he'd try to get her back to the
Klingon commander in one piece.

Nodding toward Korasz, Kirk watched as the chief engineer and the
Klingon left the bridge. A few minutes later, the intercom beeped.

"Transport complete, Cap'n." Mr. Scott reported.

"Return to bridge at once." Turning toward the helmsman, he continued,
"Mr. Sulu. Set course."

"Course 322.45 laid in, Captain."

The doors behind Kirk slid open to admit the chief engineer. "Scotty.
How much muscle do we have?"

"She's all rarin' ta go at full speed, sair."

"Very well, Scotty. Ahead warp factor nine, Mr. Chekov."

"Aye, sir."

The Enterprise flew through space at full speed, stars streaming swiftly
by on the viewscreen.

Kirk leaned back in his chair, satisfied. He was back on the bridge, and
they were on A'sharon's trail. Now, he'd be damned if they wouldn't
catch up with that bitch, lock her up and throw away the key!

For the first time since he and Spock had come back to the Enterprise,
Kirk felt as though things were finally going their way. He glanced at
his Vulcan first officer and it felt good. Spock was where he should be.
Somehow, they would work out their problems. Warmth flooded his body as
he watched Spock work efficiently.

Their luck was turning.

END part 2


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PART THREE

He should have known it wouldn't be that easy.

Ten hours later-ten hours during which they had been so close to
catching up with the Klingon vessel. Ten hours when A'sharon had been
just out of reach. Then Spock suddenly straightened and turned.

"The signature is gone."

"What happened to it, Mr. Spock?"

Kirk was tired. Rubbing his neck, he wished for the Vulcan's expert
hands to give him one of his fabulous massages. Spock used to help him
with that crick in his neck almost before he knew it was there. But that
was only one of the many things he would lose if Spock transferred
elsewhere.

He glanced over at the Vulcan, whose eyes were now riveted on the
information coming from the science station. Both their shifts should
have ended five hours ago.

"I cannot explain it, Captain. Until three point four five minutes ago,
the subspace trail was traceable."

"She must have stopped somewhere," She'zaron said. Kirk had to hand it
to her, She'zaron was tough. She hadn't complained once, even though
she, too, had been on the bridge for more than thirteen hours without
rest.

"I am inclined to agree, sir. I see no other explanation."

"Shields up and go to yellow alert," Kirk said.

Spock lifted a quizzical eyebrow, but Kirk wasn't ready to explain his
actions in front of She'zaron. He wasn't about to admit that A'sharon
gave him the creeps, or that his senses had started to tingle warning
signals as soon as the Enterprise dropped out of warp.

"Scan the area, Mr. Chekov."

"Aye, sir."

Minutes passed.

"Anything unusual?"

"No, sir. Nothing."

"Mr. Spock?"

"I am not certain. There is a minuscule discrepancy."

"Let me see it," She'zaron demanded.

Spock glanced at Kirk, who thought for a moment and then nodded. Perhaps
she could help.

Spock stepped aside to allow her to examine the readings.

"Yes," she said. "These fluctuations indicate that the cloaking device
is nearby but not moving. A'sharon must be in the vicinity. Cloaked."

Kirk straightened in his chair, his fatigue all but gone. "All power to
the shields. Start a detailed scan. Find out where those fluctuations
are coming from."

"Aye, sir."

"Get the tractor beam ready, Mr. Spock."

The bridge was suddenly a flurry of activity, as all personnel prepared
for what was to come. Kirk's entire body was coiled tight, ready to
fight.

The ship rocked violently.

A hit.

"Enemy fire! Shields at seventy-eight percent!" Sulu stated.

"Pinpoint their location, Mr. Chekov."

"They are right below us, Keptin," Chekov reported. "They are aiming at
the varp nacelles and our veapons."

"Strengthen our shields with all we've got, Mr. Sulu." Kirk didn't wait
for a response but turned the chair around to address the Klingon woman.
"She'zaron. Do they have some kind of new weapon as well?"

"I wouldn't know, Kirk."

"Not a Klingon weapon then," Kirk mused aloud, and he turned to his
first officer. "Mr. Spock?"

Spock didn't turn from his work. "It is a highly forceful energy weapon
of unknown configuration, sir."

"Mr. Sulu. Can you get a lock on them and fire?"

"Yes, Captain."

"Then do so!"

"Aye!"

The Enterprise fired its phasers.

On the viewscreen, Kirk followed the beam. It blazed ineffectively
against the Klingon ship's cloak and died. A'sharon's ship instantly
returned fire, aiming at their phaser banks.

"Photon torpedoes!" Kirk barked.

"They're down, Captain," Spock reported.

The ship rocked again, and Kirk's grip around the armrests tightened.
The viewscreen darkened.

"Report!"

"Damage to several bridge systems."

"Damn, we're blind as a bat!" Kirk swore. What was this weapon that
damaged the Enterprise so easily?

"I'm trying to fix the outside view, Cap'n!" said Scotty.

"Shields are failing, sir. They are down to forty-five percent," Sulu
reported. Kirk saw his fingers flying over the controls, re-routing
power from all over the ship to the shields. "Attempting to compensate."
Sulu paused for a moment before stating, "All weapons down, sir."

"What is this ship, Spock?" Kirk demanded.

"I do not know, Captain." The Vulcan's voice was tight with
concentration, and Kirk saw his hands grab the edge of the science
station as the ship rocked violently once more.

"Shields down to thirty-two percent!"

Kirk watched as She'zaron pulled Uhura out of her chair, throwing the
smaller human female aside. Then she hit the communications switch. Kirk
was out of his seat in the blink of an eye and caught the communications
officer before she hit the railing. Uhura glanced at him gratefully.

"A'sharon, this is your sister! Cease your attack on the Enterprise!"

Kirk moved to grab the Klingon and tear her out of the chair.

"What are you doing?" he snarled.

Spock's hand suddenly rested on Kirk's shoulder.

"Captain, wait," he said.

Kirk halted his movement instantly, always trusting Spock. The Vulcan
had more intuition than he credited to himself. Their viewscreen
flickered to life, and Kirk's worst nightmare appeared. A'sharon's long,
black hair was pulled from her face, making the resemblance to her
sister even more apparent.

"Had enough yet?" she grinned.

"A'sharon," Kirk spat.

"Captain Kirk. I believe you owe me something."

Kirk shuddered. There was no question what she was referring to.

"Perhaps if you repay your debt, I will let you live. Lower your shields
and let us board you."

"Not a chance in hell," Kirk replied coldly.

I'd rather die.

"Your weapons are inoperable, and even if they weren't, they are useless
against our superior defenses, and it is only a matter of time before we
penetrate your shields."

"A'sharon. You have disgraced our family. Don't do this!" She'zaron
hissed. "You should turn yourself over to the authorities. Our brother
will bear the shame of your actions for the rest of his life! Our house
will be thrown out of the Council.."

A'sharon laughed. "Oh, sweet sister. You are so naive." A burly Klingon
appeared on the screen beside A'sharon.

Spock moved from Kirk's side to the science station. Kirk's gaze
followed his movements, anticipating the Vulcan's next action. He kept
half an eye on the viewscreen.

The figure on the screen spoke: "Greetings, She'zaron. Would you not
join us?"

"K'Ehl! What have you done!" She'zaron's dark brown eyes widened in
shock.

Kirk caught Spock looking at him with a raised eyebrow. The Vulcan moved
his hands to the side in a familiar gesture, signaling to Kirk, who
nodded that he'd gotten the message. As Kirk moved to stand behind
Chekov, his full attention diverted to the viewscreen.

"I am sorry to interrupt this wonderful family reunion," he said coldly.
"But I am not interested in your domestic squabbles."

Kirk reached out, switching the viewscreen to outside view. "Fire
phasers and photon torpedoes, wide spread, Mr. Sulu!"

Sulu, to Kirk's satisfaction, did not dawdle, but fired immediately.
Perhaps he, too, had seen Spock's signal that weapons were again at the
ready.

Obviously unprepared for the violent attack, the smaller ship lost its
cloak and the image of the vessel became visible. It looked like an
ordinary battlecruiser, except for the weapons attached to the edges of
its wings. Their snub-nosed menace was unlike anything Kirk had ever
seen before.

They had no time to fire again before the Enterprise was hit. Kirk could
feel the blow as though it had impacted with his body. The red alert
klaxons blared and acrid smoke filled the bridge.

"Captain, A'sharon is hailing us again," Uhura said, now back at her
station

"On screen."

"It is interesting what money can buy, isn't it, Captain?" A'sharon
said. "It looks as though your little Enterprise did not appreciate the
encounter with my ship."

There were several short circuits making sparks fly through the air.

"Life support is damaged!" Scotty reported.

"Shields are down, sir!" Sulu snapped out.

A'sharon's laughter filled the bridge.

"Goodbye, Captain. It was a pleasure knowing you." Then the viewscreen
went black.

"Captain, we must abandon the bridge!" Spock said.

The smoke and lack of oxygen made Kirk cough, and it felt as though his
lungs were being torn from his body.

When Kirk turned from the viewscreen, he saw She'zaron leaving.

A'sharon fired again, and it was like a death blow. The lights flickered
and went out. Kirk fell, hitting his hip on the edge of the command
chair. Wincing, he pulled himself up.

Bitch! I'm going to get her, Kirk swore. She's killing the Enterprise.

They were in deep trouble now.

"Unauthorized transport in progress, Captain," Scotty reported.

"We must move to engineering," Spock said. "From there we can restore
life support and maneuver the Enterprise out of harm's way."

"Captain Kirk to the science laboratory," She'zaron's voice called over
the internal communications system.

"Not now!" Kirk could barely contain the anger in his voice.

"Captain, you must! You'll want to see this."

Kirk looked back once more. The bridge was dark, save for the sparks
still flying through the air. It looked like the disaster area it was.
The only way they could get out of this was to warp away from A'sharon.
If they still had warp drive.

"Security team to the science laboratory. Spock, you're with me. Scotty,
to engineering. Get us out of here!"



ŻŻŻ


She'zaron sat by the computer with her back turned.

"What was so important?" Kirk asked curtly. "We're still under attack."

"I know, that's why I wanted you here." She'zaron rose from her chair.
"Commence transport," she barked into her wristband.

"Damn it!" Kirk cursed as he materialized, instantly recognizing the
interior of the cells on A'sharon's battlecruiser. He had seen the smear
on the wall before and the marks on the floor. Even the guard posted
outside the cell was the same one as the last time they were captured.

She'zaron and Spock weren't there. Perhaps A'sharon felt that she only
needed him? Or if Spock had been taken elsewhere, perhaps she was about
to collect the debt she felt they owed her. Torturing Spock had been
high on her list.

"Damned bitch!"

Kirk was so angry he couldn't stand still; he paced the confines of the
cell. He could feel the ship moving and, knowing how badly damaged the
Enterprise was, he doubted there would be a rescue this time. He could
only hope that the battlecruiser had been so damaged that A'sharon would
have difficulties getting very far.

"Where is Spock?" he shouted to the guard. Of course, the guard didn't
answer. He grunted, crossed his arms and glared at Kirk.

Kirk slid to the floor and leaned his head against the wall. He hated
feeling helpless, and that was exactly what he was right now-helpless
and alone.

What was A'sharon doing to Spock? Would he ever see the Vulcan again?

Kirk leaned his head in his hands, suddenly wishing he hadn't been so
concerned about duty and regulations. Spock was normally the one who
always followed the book and he was the one who was reckless, bending
the rules.

Spock might be dead..

No!

Spock couldn't be dead.

He rose and started pacing again. The guard's black eyes followed him
each step.

Maybe Spock had been right, maybe he had used Starfleet's policy on
fraternization and relationships between officers in the same chain of
command as an excuse. Maybe he was indeed afraid? But of what?
Commitment? Losing Spock?

Yes, he was afraid of losing Spock. That wasn't news to him.

Was he afraid of the bond that all Vulcans shared?

Yes, perhaps a little, but thinking about it, wasn't it just another
adventure he would embark upon with the being he trusted more than he
trusted himself?

But for life? Would he want to spend his entire life bonded to Spock?

Yes. God help me. Yes!

Now he might never get the chance.

"Damn!"

"Not happy with the accommodations, Captain?" A'sharon's hated voice
interrupted his thoughts.

Spock was there, but he was clearly unconscious. The guards held the
Vulcan's limp body between them. Spock was pale and his breathing
shallow, but the Klingons didn't seem to care.

"I thought you would feel at home here by now," A'sharon continued.

Kirk barely heard what she said. All his concern was aimed at Spock.

"Throw them in the cell," A'sharon ordered. "Perhaps this time I will
have my way with the two of you, Captain. I intend to collect my
debt-one way or the other."

With that, Spock was shoved inside and fell. Moving forward, Kirk tried
to catch the limp body, but he was too late. He winced as he heard the
Vulcan's head hit the floor. Moments later, someone else was shoved into
the cell with them. He'd been so concentrated on Spock he hadn't seen
much else.

It was She'zaron.

The anger at seeing her was almost debilitating. She had betrayed them,
tricked them onto her sister's ship! But Kirk forced the anger away as
he examined Spock. The Vulcan was still unconscious, but Kirk had no way
of knowing why. Was he drugged?

"What the hell is she doing here?" Kirk hissed as he tried to make Spock
more comfortable. There wasn't much else he could do at the moment.

"She has outlived her usefulness," A'sharon stated, then she turned to
leave. Just as she was exiting the door of the outer room she looked
Kirk in the eye. Her face was as cold and hateful as he'd ever seen it.
He knew it mirrored his own. "And by the way, my surveillance devices
will monitor your every move. I would not want to miss the.show."

Then she left.

Kirk lifted his head to look at She'zaron. He was still crouching beside
Spock, holding his hand to the Vulcan's side, feeling slightly reassured
by the thudding of Spock's heart beneath his palm.

"What are you doing here? You betrayed us!"

"That wasn't me!" she protested. She paced back and forth along the back
wall. Kirk could barely see her in the bad light from the one lamp in
the ceiling. "My sister beamed aboard the Enterprise and took my place.
She was the one who lured the two of you down to the science lab to get
you aboard her ship. She's probably sabotaged your computer system so
that the Enterprise won't find us. Not without me or Spock to fix what
she might have destroyed."

Kirk rose to his feet, looking the Klingon woman straight in the eye.
"And why should I believe you?"

She'zaron didn't back off a millimeter. She met his gaze steadily.

"Oh, you'll believe me. When he wakes up, he'll confirm all the
details."

A cold thrill ran up Kirk's spine. He narrowed his eyes, gripping
She'zaron's shoulders none too gently. "What did you do?"

"I didn't do anything," she said, pulling away. She rubbed a hand across
her knobbly forehead. "At least not willingly. They used a mind probe."

A mind probe? Such equipment wasn't easy to come by. It was
expensive-and outlawed in the Federation. But they weren't in Federation
territory now.

She'zaron continued: "I don't know where my sister has gotten such
equipment. It is obvious that her Golden Dust operation has made her a
very rich woman, and it has given her powerful connections."

There was only one thing Kirk wanted to know. "What did she find out?"

"Nothing she didn't already know. She forced me to fix the cloaking
device. And then she made me watch while they injected Spock with a
drug. "

"What kind of drug?"

"A'sharon said it was a compound that will increase the activity in his
chenesi. I'm not sure what that means, but she explained that this will
make Spock more susceptible to repaying your 'debt' to her."

"How so?"

"She mentioned something called the pon farr."

Kirk's mouth went completely dry.



ŻŻŻ



The only break in the monotony was when the guard brought them water.
Even knowing that it was poisoned, Kirk and She'zaron drank from it.
Spock was still unconscious.

Hours passed, and Kirk started pacing again.

She'zaron sat cross-legged in a corner, as if hoping she would melt into
the wall. She was quiet, but Kirk still felt on edge. He should explain
what the pon farr meant, but he didn't know how he could get into such a
conversation with her.

Few off-worlders know. Only those who have been there to experience it..

Words, uttered years ago at the time of Spock's first pon farr, echoed
through Kirk's mind. He knew how intensely private the pon farr was for
all Vulcans. Should he betray the trust Spock had shown by telling
She'zaron? But she was about to see it first hand. It might even put her
in danger..

He watched She'zaron from the other end of the cell. He had pulled
Spock's head into his lap, trying to make them both as comfortable as
possible. He tried to suppress his distaste for the woman, tried very
hard to remember Spock's words.

She is not A'sharon.

"What is going on, Kirk?" she asked.

Kirk wet his lips. She deserved to know. Since he had no idea how Spock
would act once he woke up, she had to be told. She was the only woman..

Kirk's gut clenched at the thought. He didn't want to think about her
and Spock. It made him feel sick to his stomach. He'd rather die than
watch Spock and that woman.but if it saved Spock's life?

"Every seven years, Vulcan males go through something called the pon
farr. It is a mating cycle."

She'zaron's eyes grew large. She rose to her feet and came closer. Her
leather pants were dirty from the grime on the floor, and she was
sweaty. Still, she didn't repulse Kirk. Perhaps he was getting used to
her presence.

"So, what you're telling me is that A'sharon has made Spock want
to.mate? He doesn't look that way to me.."

"No."

"Maybe something's gone wrong?"

"It wouldn't surprise me."

"So what does A'sharon have to gain by this?" She'zaron mused aloud.

"She's probably hoping he'll kill me to get to you."

"Why would he?"

"Because most Vulcans in their Time would perceive another male as a
threat."

A moan came from the Vulcan, and Kirk looked at his friend.

"Then you'd better move away," She'zaron said, and her eyes turned to
steel.

"And go where?"

"Away from him."

"No."

"You have to."

"He won't kill me. He can't kill me."

Remembering the red sands of Vulcan and Spock in the plak tow, Kirk knew
that he might be wrong. If Spock went into a false pon farr.this time,
he might actually kill his captain. This time, there was no Bones to
save him from the Vulcan's deadly rage.

"I am the only woman here, and if I understand this right, he will see
you as a threat. Why do you think A'sharon put all three of us in the
same cell?"

"He wants me," Kirk said, more to himself.

"What.."

"Be quiet," Kirk murmured. He had no time for her. Instead, he leaned
over his friend, watching the dark eyes flutter open. Putting a hand to
the Vulcan's forehead, Kirk realized that Spock was practically burning
up.

"Move away from him at least," She'zaron pleaded. "If he finds me close
enough, he might not even notice that you are here."

"Be quiet!" Kirk repeated, louder this time. She silenced. She was
trying to help, but Kirk wouldn't let anyone else be with Spock. That
would only happen over his dead body.

Before Kirk realized that Spock was awake, he was on his back. He winced
as his shoulders thudded against the floor. Spock's hands were instantly
around his throat, hot and dry, trying to choke him. The grip was tight
as a vise, and Kirk could see the rage of the plak tow in the dark eyes.
He tried to pry Spock's hands off his throat; he tried to push the
Vulcan off him, but it was as if he were attempting to move a bulkhead.

"What did they do to you?" Kirk wheezed.

"Spock!" She'zaron shouted. "Let him go!"

The Vulcan didn't even look at She'zaron. It was as though she weren't
there at all.

"No!" Kirk's voice was barely a whisper. He fought to breathe, but there
was no oxygen. Still, Kirk turned his head toward She'zaron. "Go away!
If you so much as look at him again, I'll kill you!"

The grip around Kirk's throat tightened, and he forced himself to go
limp underneath Spock. Kirk spread his legs, allowing Spock to get even
closer. The jolt of desire that shot through him at the close contact
didn't surprise him, even under the circumstances. He'd finally admitted
to himself how much he wanted Spock.

"Spock," he hissed. "Spock, it's me, remember me? Jim."

It seemed impossible to reach Spock. It was too late-because he hadn't
told Spock, because he hadn't shown Spock how he felt, their friendship
would end this way. Spock didn't know that Kirk wanted him-and the bond.
If they had formed a bond, Spock would never have seen him as a rival.
Kirk was filled with sorrow, not so much for his death, as for the
knowledge that Spock would have to live with having killed..

"No!" Kirk coughed, pushing at the Vulcan's shoulders, but he was so
weak. He couldn't push Spock away, so what could he do? What? His sight
was faltering, dark spots danced before his eyes turning into white
flashes, and he knew that very soon, he would black out unless Spock let
go, and that would be the end of it.

In a last, desperate effort, he forced himself to lift his hands, to
slide his fingertips tenderly over the gaunt face, caressing the high
cheekbones and memorizing every plane and hollow of the Vulcan's face.

"Spock," he whispered. He fought to get each word across his lips,
through a throat that was barely giving him enough oxygen to breathe.
Still, Kirk kept talking. "Don't do this. I want you. I need you."

To his wonder, the grip around his throat loosened. The rage in the
Vulcan's face slowly changed into confusion. Perhaps this was his
chance? Kirk gulped for air and it made him feel dizzy.

"Spock, listen to me," he whispered through his burning throat. It hurt
so much, but he ignored the pain. "I love you."

Moving his hands to Spock's shoulders, he grasped them as hard as he was
able, and pulled Spock closer for a kiss. God almighty, how he'd longed
for that. Kirk's hands were around Spock's shoulders and he could feel
the tension spread through the Vulcan. Their bodies pressed tightly
together, and there was no mistaking the hardness against Kirk's groin.
Kirk welcomed it, wrapped his legs around the Vulcan's slender ones.

"Shh, Spock. Don't fight it. Kiss me."

Finally Spock relaxed. Their eyes met, and it was as though Spock was
lucid for one brief moment. Kirk licked his lips, nervously, longing to
feel the other's mouth against his. The hot breath brushed his face,
sending shivers through his body.

Oh, damn, Kirk thought, and he realized he'd been right. The very moment
their lips met, he was lost.

Kirk buried his fingers into the narrow shoulders, relishing the
sensation of their mouths moving softly together, warm and a little
moist. Kirk groaned. He forgot where he was for a moment, welcoming the
invasion of Spock's tongue, welcoming the desire that flared between
them, hot and bright as blue fire. Kirk moaned desperately. He wanted
this, and knowing that the pon farr was not to be denied, he wouldn't
fight it.

He hated that A'sharon would get what she wanted. Her plan might have
been to have Spock fuck him while she watched, and she'd probably thrown
She'zaron into the mix just to make things more interesting. But right
now, none of that mattered. Nothing meant more than Spock's life.

Violent tremors shook Spock's body and the grip around Kirk's throat
loosened completely. His hand rested on Kirk's face and a whisper of
something touched his thoughts.

~ Jim ~


Then that something slid out of Kirk's mind, leaving a trace of
discomfort. He groaned as a lance of pain tore through his skull.
Spock's hand fell from his face as the Vulcan went limp. Seeing the dark
eyes roll back scared Kirk to death.

He placed his hands on the Vulcan's shoulders and pushed him to the
side, making certain that Spock's head didn't bump to the ground. He was
out cold, and limp, as if he were dead.

Kirk got to his knees, leaning over his friend. A moment ago, Spock had
been wanting him, needing him, and Kirk had been ready to let Spock do
whatever he needed to drive the pon farr out of his system, and now the
Vulcan was unconscious.

Touching Spock's throat, he could still feel the steady pulse. He moved
his hand to the Vulcan's forehead, and his worry grew as he felt the
dampness against his hand. Spock was sweating profusely. Spock never
sweated. Kirk had seen him tremble only once and that was during pon
farr.

"Perhaps his system can't handle the hormones?" Kirk said uncertainly.
He hated feeling so helpless. "A'sharon," he screamed. "Get your medics
here. He's dying!"

The doors to the outer room of the brig slid open even before the echo
of his words had faded. A'sharon strode inside, pausing right at the
cell door, watching them closely between the steel bars. She must have
already been on her way.

"Does this please you?" Kirk hissed. "Is this what you wanted?"

"Yes, Kirk. This is what I want," she replied with a small smile. "It
doesn't really matter who dies. Watching one of you fight for his life
is perfectly all right. I thought your Mr. Spock would last longer,
though." A'sharon tilted her head to the side, watching Spock curiously.
"He is Vulcan, after all, and much stronger than you are. I thought you
would be the one to die.first."

"Damn you!" Kirk hissed, and smashed his hands against the iron bars.
They shook and the clanging sound rang in his ears.

"Let me out of here!" She'zaron growled, grabbing the irons.

A'sharon looked at her and laughed. "I thought you would be stronger, my
dear sister. It was foolish of me to think so. You were always the weak
one. I thought you would join us, but you have always been too
emotional. Never quite the warrior our father would have wished for you
to be."

"He would never have wanted me to become a greedy murderer. Being a
warrior is different from killing thousands of people with drugs,"
She'zaron spat. "You don't know me very well if you believe that I would
actually join you."

"It was naïve of me," A'sharon agreed.

"Give me some medical supplies and I will try to help Spock," She'zaron
insisted.

Kirk looked at her in surprise.

"Why should I let you help him? I want him dead!" A'sharon met her
sister's gaze and Kirk realized what she would do before She'zaron did.

"Kill her."

There was no time for Kirk to react before one of the Klingon guards
aimed a disrupter at She'zaron and fired.

She'zaron's body disintegrated right before them, filling the cell with
the nauseating stench of burning flesh.

"You two I will deal with later."

"Do something now!" Kirk said, knowing that he would do anything to keep
Spock alive.

Anything.

A'sharon threw her head back and laughed. "Oh, Captain," she said
softly, looking at him with a strangely tender expression on her face.
"It is glorious to have found your weakness."



ŻŻŻ



Kirk was left to himself. She'zaron was dead, Spock was still
unconscious, and there was nothing he could do to help. He would just
have to pray that Spock's body would fight the drug and that the Vulcan
would survive the hormonal imbalance. Kirk had never been good at
waiting, but he settled down to do just that.


The situation and the environment were strangely familiar. He and Spock
had been captured by A'sharon once before and kept prisoners in this
very same cell. This time, however, the dynamics of their relationship
were so different. Last time, Spock had been the strong one, giving him
water to drink when his body was wracked with fever, helping him
whenever he needed it.

Kirk moved closer to Spock's still form. The tremors had subsided, but
the Vulcan's damp skin was still burning hot. Pulling Spock's head into
his lap, Kirk tried to keep hope alive, but it was difficult.

He remained like that, watching worriedly as Spock fought the fever,
remaining unconscious for hours. It left Kirk with too much time to
think, but he tried not to disturb Spock. He shifted to keep the blood
running in his legs, but other than that, he barely moved.

Under the circumstances, it was hard to believe that the Enterprise
would come to another amazing, timely rescue. He was worried about the
ship and his crew. Had Scotty been able to restore the Enterprise's life
support? Was his crew even alive?

With Spock so debilitated, it seemed nearly impossible to escape on
their own, but they would have to try. Kirk remembered the time when
they had escaped from the Ekosian prison, using the subdermal implants
to open the door. But they wore no such implants this time, and there
wasn't even a single light bulb in the Klingon cell that he could have
used.

A'sharon was without a doubt one of the most dangerous enemies Kirk had
ever faced. She was cunning, cold, and had access to a plethora of
weapons and other military equipment that made her difficult to find and
even more difficult to overpower. Her arsenal had even proved
disturbingly effective against the Federation's flagship. That spoke
eloquently of her resources.

And she knew exactly how dangerous she was.

Kirk rubbed the bridge of his nose. They had to get out of this place.
If A'sharon didn't kill them immediately, they would be poisoned slowly
to death by the mercury in the water she provided them.

Shifting again on the hard floor, Kirk looked down at Spock. The Vulcan
was still lying immobile in his lap, his skin paler than Kirk had ever
seen it before.

"What did they do to you, Spock?" he whispered, lifting his hand to
brush away the sweat on the Vulcan's forehead. He knew that A'sharon was
probably still watching, but he couldn't stop himself from touching his
friend. He needed the reassurance that Spock was still alive. He drew a
relieved breath when he felt that Spock's fever must have dropped.

Kirk swallowed, his throat was sore, but it would go away in a couple of
days. "If we get out of this alive, Spock.."

"You will do what?" the Vulcan whispered-and opened his eyes.

"You're awake."

"It would seem so."

Spock moved as if to sit, but Kirk put a firm hand to the Vulcan's
chest.

"Don't move. Rest."

"I believe.."

"Don't argue. Just lie still. That's an order, Commander," Kirk added
softly, just in case Spock would try to protest again. "Keep your voice
down. A'sharon is probably still monitoring us, and I won't give her the
satisfaction of hearing what we're talking about."

"Indeed."

"Listen, how are you feeling, Spock?"

"I am.weak."

Kirk could tell how difficult it was for the Vulcan to admit this, but
he was glad for the honesty.

"How weak? Can you stand up?"

"I do not believe that I can." Spock's head was heavy against Kirk's
thigh. "What did they do to me?"

"I was hoping you could tell me, Spock. What's the last thing you
remember?"


"I recall being transported onto this ship, and then I was sedated."

"Then you don't know what happened after that?"

Spock was silent for a while. "I was burning."

"Yes."

Spock closed his eyes briefly as though trying to fight the shock. "Pon
farr? But that is impossible."

"They gave you a drug."

Spock moved restlessly. "I tried to kill you."

"You didn't."

"I tried.." Again, Spock attempted to move into a sitting position.

Kirk pushed Spock down again. "Lie still, my friend," he whispered. "Try
to gather some strength."

"How can you stand to touch me?"

"I want to touch you, Spock," Kirk whispered and looked into the
Vulcan's eyes. "Always."

The hurt was evident as Spock turned his face away. He still didn't
believe it. Kirk leaned forward. "I don't like A'sharon getting what she
wants, Spock, but I do care about you, more than you know," he said.

Kirk pulled the Vulcan closer and leaned down to kiss him. At first
Spock didn't react at all, but he was too weak to pull away, and Kirk
refused to let go. He brushed his lips lightly across the Vulcan's,
nibbling gently on the full lower lip, trying to coax his friend into
responding.

"Don't you want my kiss, Spock?" he whispered.

"Jim.." Spock's voice was coarse with desire.

"Then kiss me."

And finally, Spock gave in. Kirk let out a soft moan as the Vulcan's
lips opened under his and let him in. They were kissing each other
again.

Spock..

The Vulcan's hands moved around his neck, pulling him closer, as if the
kiss were giving Spock strength, and perhaps it was? If what they had
given him was indeed a drug made to induce an artificial pon farr,
perhaps their kiss was stimulating whatever hormones counteracted the
effect. Kirk pulled Spock closer, arousal coursing through him.

"Spock," he groaned against the Vulcan's eager lips.

The door to the brig opened, and Kirk and Spock turned their heads
toward the entrance as two guards stepped inside the outer room. One of
them moved to the cell door, unlocking it and sliding it to the side
with a loud clang.

"Get him up, or we'll shoot him," one of the guards said.

Kirk didn't reply, but he stood up, pulling Spock with him. The Vulcan
was heavier than he looked and was unable to help much, but Kirk was
stubborn. He kept walking, slowly making his way toward the door. One
guard stayed behind to lock up and Kirk's eyes moved across the outer
room swiftly. "Can you stand on your own, Spock?" Kirk whispered.

Spock gave an almost imperceptible nod, and Kirk let go, barely seeing
the Vulcan slide to the floor. Spock had evidently lied to him, but it
was too late for Kirk to change his mind now.

He turned around and knocked the weapon out of the Klingon's hand. It
slid across the floor toward Spock, and had the Vulcan been himself he
would already have been on his feet, pointing the weapon toward the
other guard. But he wasn't, so Kirk was on his own. He balled his fists
and struck the first Klingon again, straight across the jaw, sending him
stumbling into the wall. He fell to the floor, unconscious. The other
Klingon swiveled around, aiming his weapon at Kirk, who dove to the
side, the blast missing by a half-inch or less.

Grabbing the chair outside the cell, Kirk smashed it across his
opponent's head. The guard fired his disrupter but its aim was
completely off, and Kirk moved closer, sending a fist right into the
Klingon's nose. He grunted and fell on his back.

The surprise attack worked well despite Spock's weakness. With a jolt of
satisfaction, Kirk bent and stole the keys from one of the Klingons,
pulled both bodies inside the cell, and locked the door.

A'sharon's cameras were surely monitoring every action so they had to
move quickly. Kirk took both weapons, holstered the disrupter, and then
helped Spock to his feet. He seemed slightly stronger and for that Kirk
was grateful.

They moved from the brig into the dark corridor outside. Moving as
quickly as he could with Spock barely steady on his feet, Kirk hoped
that they would find somewhere to hide until Spock regained his wits.

"They will be able to scan the ship for our life signs," Spock pointed
out, and he leaned heavily against the bulkhead as Kirk stopped to get
his bearings.

"I know, that's why we have to move fast."

Spock nodded and pulled himself together.

"Are you feeling better?"

"That is relative," Spock admitted. "I believe I can move on my own."

 Kirk hadn't seen the inside of a ship like this before and had no idea
of its layout. Cursing silently, he wondered if they were near the
bridge or even close to engineering? How large was A'sharon's crew? How
many Klingons would they have to fight on their way to the engineering
section? Kirk found himself wishing that She'zaron had still been alive.
Since her death, he was convinced that she had been on their side after
all.

Right now, her help would have been invaluable. She would have known the
layout of a battlecruiser, and might even have been able to tell them
what crew complement it usually had.

"Captain," Spock said, indicating a wide door in the corridor. "I
believe this is the sickbay. I remember when they took me here. I was
drugged but not unconscious. If I remember correctly, engineering is on
the same deck."

"Good! That narrows down our search area."

The sound of voices wafted toward them and Kirk froze, moving into the
shadows. "We have to find a place to hide, Spock," he whispered. "Can
you think of a good place?"

"I believe so, Captain. Follow me." Spock took the lead. The Vulcan's
usually fluid grace was absent, and Kirk could see how much it took to
keep moving.

"We don't have time. Get in here," Kirk whispered, as the voices came
closer.

They both ducked inside the first place they could find. It was very
dark, and seemed to be empty of people.

The voices moved past their hideout, and Kirk relaxed against the wall,
drawing a deep, calming breath. If the Klingons discovered them now,
they would probably be shot on sight.

"Where are we?" Kirk whispered.

No answer.

"Spock?"

Still, only silence.

Kirk reached out and touched the Vulcan, who was standing very close.
His body was rigid and he was shaking.

"Spock?"

"I.apologize, Captain. The.." Spock fell silent. Kirk heard him swallow
convulsively. He moved closer and put his arms around his friend. It was
an embrace, and Kirk shuddered when he felt the Vulcan desperately lean
into his touch. It had been so long since Spock had shown him any trust.

"Spock, are you all right?" he whispered.

"No."

"What's wrong?"

"I am in pain. I cannot control it."

"Are you hurt, or is it because of their tampering with your
biochemistry?" Kirk asked.

"I cannot control the hormonal imbalance," Spock whispered. "There is a
partial bond between us. How can that be?"


Kirk swallowed. "In the cell. You fainted.."

Spock voice was unsteady. "I raped you."

"No, Spock, you didn't." He tightened his grip around the Vulcan. "It
never came to that."

"I entered your mind without your consent," Spock clarified.

"No, my friend, you didn't."

"There is a link," Spock stated.

"I wanted it," Kirk insisted, understanding finally that Spock wasn't
talking about a physical rape.

"No!" Spock tried to push him away, but Kirk wouldn't let go.

"Is there anything I can do?" Kirk said worriedly.

"No."

Kirk winced as the mental barriers slammed shut. He hadn't been aware of
the connection until Spock blocked it.

"Dammit, Spock. This is not the time for modesty or pride!"

"If I choose for this moment to be private, it is my right," Spock
replied. "You must leave me."

"No."

"I cannot go on like this. I will be a burden."

"You're getting better," Kirk said. He'd seen it himself. Because of the
kiss.maybe the partial bond? "Come on, Spock, give into your need. I
will help," he whispered, his grip around the slim body tightening.
Spock's breathing became ragged.

"There is no time for sexual activity, and I will not allow you to touch
me because you must," Spock said.

"I want to, Spock. Dammit. I want to touch you."

There was no awkward fumbling, as one might have expected. Instead, he
easily found Spock's lips in the darkness. Their bodies molded close
together, and Spock's mouth opened to Kirk's eagerly, allowing him
entrance without protest, as though Spock was incapable of resisting the
pull. The Vulcan's ragged breathing was enough to make Kirk tremble with
need. It was as though Kirk was caught up in the fire of pon farr as
well.

He buried his hands in Spock's hair. An image of how beautiful Spock was
formed in his mind as the silky strands ran through his fingers. He
forgot where they were, and that they certainly shouldn't be doing this.
Nothing else existed. All he could feel was Spock's sinewy body, so
close to his

Spock grasped his waist, strong fingers digging deep into Kirk's flesh,
needy and desperate-uncontrolled. Kirk winced as he was pushed against
something and a sharp edge was digging into his back. He ignored the
pain as their kiss deepened. Kirk thought he would break into tiny
pieces when a hungry moan escaped Spock's lips. The strong hands moving
across his body grew increasingly aggressive, and Kirk couldn't stop the
responding sound that resonated within him.

"Spock. Good God, Spock. Is this the action of someone who doesn't want
you?" Kirk murmured hoarsely. He was hard. Just as hard as Spock was. He
hadn't realized it until now. "Am I who you need, Spock? Am I?"

"Yes." The word was torn from the Vulcan's throat.

"Then take me, take what I want to give."

Spock buried his hands in Kirk's hair, and he waited to feel the
Vulcan's hot mouth against his again. He trembled as he lost all thought
of where they were. His legs were weak, and he held himself upright only
by holding onto Spock.

"No!" Spock's voice hitched. "No."

"Yes," Kirk insisted. "Yes, Spock!"

"No, the link is causing your desire. I cannot control it. The need you
feel is mine!"

Spock pulled away. Kirk felt bereft. He swallowed, trying to regain some
sort of control over himself. He was utterly undone. His need for Spock
had been let loose for the very first time without rein, and it was
soul-shattering in its force. But he knew without a doubt that the
desire was his own.

"No, you're wrong," he whispered.

Voices.

Frustrated, Kirk could have hit something, and Spock pushed him away
with finality.

"Jim.. Captain. You must find a way to contact the Enterprise-without
me. I refuse to allow us both to die because of my.need."

But I don't want to leave you.. Kirk wanted to say the words aloud, but
he knew he didn't have much of a choice.

"You have to hide someplace where the Klingons won't look for you. "
Kirk said. "But I'll need your help."

"I will attempt to assist you," Spock said. His voice was strained, and
worry tore through Kirk like a knife. He had thought Spock was fighting
the imbalance, getting better. Obviously, he was wrong. Spock
needed.him, and Kirk couldn't give what Spock's body so desperately
craved. Not now.

Kirk was the one who had forgotten their situation for just a brief
moment, and once again, Spock had done the right thing-for his
captain-but what about what was right for Spock? Kirk hesitated, but
then made up his mind, knowing there was only decision he could make

"Very well, first officer. Our first goal is to hide you, so let's get
to it."

Kirk tried to get his bearings. As he moved around, he found a light
switch by the door and turned it on. He blinked against the light and
saw Spock close his eyes with a pained grimace, as though his eyes were
even more sensitive than normal.

They were hiding inside a weapons locker.

"Spock, look at this. We sure picked the right place to hide!"

Spock remained silent and Kirk roamed through the shelves, finding more
ammunition for his disrupter and a small Federation phaser for Spock.

"Take this, you may need to defend yourself."

Spock's hand brushed against his, and Kirk let go of the phaser as
though he had been burned. Spock's soft gasp nearly made him stop and
decide to seduce Spock right then and there. They both wanted it, but
Spock must have known what he was thinking.

"No, Jim," he said softly.

Kirk sighed. No. This wasn't the time, so he kept examining their
surroundings.

An idea formed in his mind as he saw the equipment lying to the side. He
took one of the items and smashed the others. If he were lucky, his idea
would buy him some time.

"All right. Let's go!"

The hallway outside the locker was silent.

"How far to engineering?"

"We will be there in approximately four point two minutes if we are not
met with resistance," Spock explained. He was walking, but slowly. Kirk
glanced over his shoulder, but to his relief, the hallways were empty.
It was obvious that A'sharon still didn't know they had escaped, but it
was only a matter of time before she found out.

"It is here," Spock whispered. They stopped, standing close to the wall,
and Kirk peeked around the corner.

Two guards were standing outside engineering. The door to the section
was closed. Kirk wasn't really surprised to see that there weren't more
of them. The crew complement of a battlecruiser was much smaller than
that of the Enterprise.

"Can you take one of them out?" Kirk whispered, and Spock nodded curtly.
"I'll take the one farthest away."

Spock nodded.

"All right. Brace yourself." Kirk whispered. "When we enter engineering,
take out as many as you can. Aim at the ones by the computers first. We
must stop them from contacting the bridge."

A couple of quick blasts of disrupter fire and the two guards
disintegrated.

The doors to engineering slid open, and they both fired immediately.

The two Klingons by the computers disappeared as if they had never been.
Kirk threw himself behind a console, firing at two others. A disrupter
beam grazed his shoulder and he groaned at the burning pain, but it
failed to stop him from firing again.

Aim, shoot, hide. Shoot, move, and fire again.

Kirk went on autopilot, repeating his actions without thought, his
senses extremely sensitive. His eyes, ears and the prickling on his neck
told him exactly where the Klingons were, and soon silence reigned in
engineering.

"Spock, where are you?"

"Here, Captain." Spock's voice was weak, but he fought to get to his
feet, and leaned against the same console Kirk had hidden behind only
moments ago.

"Are you hit?"

"Negative."

"Do you think they managed to contact the bridge?"

"I do not believe so."

"Good." Kirk surveyed the room quickly. "There are communicators here.
Can you configure them to be useful to us?"

"Yes, Captain."

"Then do so."

Kirk moved quickly across the room toward the doors. The easiest way to
prevent the Klingons from entering engineering while they were working
was to weld the doors shut. First, Kirk destroyed the opening mechanism,
and then he began to move the beam along the metal.

When Kirk turned his back to the blazing metal, Spock announced, "I have
configured these communicators to alternate between three different
frequencies. They are not common and will allow us to speak freely at
least once per frequency. Do not use the communicator unless you
absolutely must. A'sharon will soon pick up our transmissions."

Kirk nodded.

"I have also checked the cloaking device. The generator for the device
is routed around the bridge. We cannot disable it from engineering."

"How about shields?" Kirk sat on the chair by the computer, watching the
displays. He couldn't make heads or tails of most of it.



"They are still operational."

"Okay. Can we disable them from here?"

"Negative."

"What about the internal sensors?"

"I have rendered them off line. Once you leave engineering, they will
not know where you are."

"All right," Kirk said. "Looks like I'll be paying A'sharon a visit.
Now, we've got to find a place for you to hide."

"There is a space next to the impulse engines," Spock explained. "It is
barely large enough, and the radiation will block ship's sensors once
they realign them."

"Won't the radiation be dangerous for you?"

"It is only harmful after prolonged exposure, Captain."

Kirk nodded curtly. "All right, let's get to work. I have to find the
layout of this ship." His fingers worked across the unfamiliar panel
while he searched for the blueprints. Spock moved to stand beside him.

"They are trying to cut through the door as we speak," the Vulcan warned
calmly. Kirk froze and listened. He could hear the faint sound of a
disrupter attempting to cut through steel.

"Okay, we have to hurry."

"They will soon get through the blocks I have set up in the computer
system," Spock said. "After that, I will not be able to do anything."

"There's the layout of the ship!" Kirk said and pointed to the computer
screen. "Get me a data padd with that, and I'll be out of here."

"One moment, Captain."

"Hurry up, Spock."

Spock's fingers moved across the panel a bit slower than usual. He
paused to think before acting.

"There is a crew complement of twenty-four on this vessel. It is maximum
for a ship this size."

"I wouldn't count on that," Kirk said.

"There is no room for more personnel on this battlecruiser, Captain. I
believe you can safely assume that there are no more than fourteen crew
members left."

"That's still fourteen to one, Spock."

Spock stated matter-of-factly, "With the advantage of darkness your odds
will increase to ten to one."

"That's reassuring, Spock."

"You have beaten worse odds before."

Not without you.

Spock downloaded the ship's schematics onto Kirk's padd, then he turned
to Kirk.

"Shutting down ship's lights will be easy. Just follow these steps. Now
you must assist me in reaching the hiding place." Spock's eyes closed
and his face was ashen.

"Will you be all right?"

"I cannot say. I may feel better once I am able to rest."

They moved slowly across the floor, Spock leaning heavily on his
captain. Kirk heard the disrupter making the first cut all the way
through the metal. Soon, the Klingons would be inside engineering.

Kirk pulled open the compartment behind the impulse engines. Luckily, it
was situated in a very awkward place. Spock nearly stumbled as he tried
to fold his body to crawl inside. Most likely this wasn't a place where
the Klingons would even think to look because of the radiation, and
there was no time to find a better place. Kirk's heart thudded violently
as he looked across engineering, seeing the sparks fly as the cut in the
doors grew larger. The Klingons were already more than halfway through.

With Kirk's assistance, Spock was finally inside. The compartment was
just large enough for him to lie uncomfortably.

"Take care of yourself, Spock," Kirk whispered.

"I shall attempt to do so.Jim."

Kirk swallowed. Impulsively, he leaned forward and pressed his lips to
Spock's. "You'd better," he said and slammed the hatch shut before Spock
had a chance to respond.

Spock had showed him what to do, and with just a few keystrokes, ship's
lights went out. Kirk allowed himself a satisfied grin in the darkness
and put on the goggles he had found in the weapons locker.

They didn't exactly make his vision clear as day, but it was light
enough for him to see his way to the crawlspace he had chosen. Kirk
moved inside, shutting the hatch behind him, and he was on his way
toward the command section of the ship.

END part Three


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PART FOUR

Halfway to the bridge, he had left the crawlspace when the lights came
back on. He'd been forced to kill two more Klingons to get there, and he
was now in the corridor just outside the reactor conduits. There was no
way he would be able to get past those conduits by walking through the
hallways. He would have to use the crawlspaces right next to them. It
would be hotter than hell, and hardly healthy to move through those, but
he had no choice.

Making up his mind, Kirk crossed the corridor, turning to the right,
choosing the crawlspace on that side. Hopefully, it would be hidden
well, or he would be exposed on a very dangerous area of the ship.
Perhaps he could use that to his advantage?

Smiling to himself, Kirk hoisted himself up through another hatch. This
one opened without problem. Looking around, he couldn't see anyone.

Where were they? The lights were back on, an intruder was roaming
through their ship and he could see no warriors. If he was correct, he
had incapacitated half of the twenty-four crewmembers of this ship. Were
the rest all baby-sitting A'sharon on the bridge? Or were they setting a
trap?

Of course, what else would they be doing? While moving through the
crawlspace along the conduits, he realized that this was worse than he'd
imagined. Parts of the walls were made from crosshatched metal, so he
wouldn't be completely hidden all the way. Kirk contemplated going back
and using the hallway instead. It would be more comfortable, but he
would be exposed. If the Klingons came through here-the only corridor
leading from the command center to the back of the ship-he would really
be in trouble.

Deciding not to turn back, he crawled faster, sweating from the heat
coming from the conduits. He had gotten almost halfway past the
antimatter conduits when the doors at the far end of the hallway opened.
He froze and brought his disrupter up, aiming at the two Klingons
entering the corridor. He recognized one of them as K'Ehl, A'sharon's
brother. Of course, he was crawling past one of the open sections just
then.

"Kirk!" K'Ehl spotted him immediately. "Don't shoot. You will blow up
the entire ship!"

Kirk watched the Klingons standing at the end of the hallway. They were
only five meters away. Kirk moved a little further in the crawlspace,
without breaking eye contact with K'Ehl.

The metallic antimatter conduits that ran behind Kirk were giving off a
low hum. They thrummed with a steady beat, as though they were the heart
of the battlecruiser. The hairs on Kirk's arms were standing on end. He
hadn't been so close to antimatter in a while, and he knew that Klingons
didn't take the same precautions the Federation did. The radiation from
these conduits was probably ten times stronger than on the Enterprise,
and suddenly he felt as though the hot metal pipes were burning his
back.

"What makes you think I care one way or the other?" Kirk shouted back.
He heard the electrical buzz of force fields being engaged, and knew
that K'Ehl was hoping to trap him inside the crawlspace.

"Give up. There is no way out of there," K'Ehl said.

"You really don't know me at all, do you?" Kirk replied coldly. "I don't
give up. I'd rather die with your crew than allow you to capture me."

Kirk realized if the Klingons fired, they would hit the machinery right
behind him, and these conduits carried enough antimatter to blow the
battlecruiser apart, killing all beings on board.

Crawling forward, he was close enough to see K'Ehl's face clearly.

The Klingon craned his neck to look up at him. "Kirk, you p'taQ. You
can't shoot in here."

"Sure I can. See to it that A'sharon lowers the shields, or I'll blow
this ship out of space." If he fired, he'd hit the conduits on the other
side of the corridor. They were all trapped.

Kirk's voice was cold and betrayed nothing of his violently beating
heart. He didn't want to die. He didn't want Spock to die. Not now that
he'd realized the truth. He had sworn an oath to Starfleet, but he
wasn't in serfdom. He had a right to choose his life partner, and he
wanted Spock. Once they got off this garbage scow, he would make sure he
got what he wanted.

But first, he'd have A'sharon caught and punished for her crimes.

"And then what will you do? My guards will be waiting for you at the end
of this crawlspace."

"You'll have to order them away," Kirk said coldly. "I don't care
whether I die in here with your crew. Do you?"

He knew it was a gamble. Klingons weren't exactly afraid of dying, but
he suspected they wouldn't enjoy dying like this, shot like ducks in a
row. Kirk had to admit to himself he didn't enjoy shooting defenseless
men either, but he could always aim for the antimatter conduits on the
other side of the hallway..

There was cold hatred in K'Ehl's eyes when he slapped his wrist
communicator.

"A'sharon," he barked.

"What? I hope you're calling me to let me know you have apprehended the
escaped prisoners."

"We have Captain Kirk cornered in the crawlspace by the antimatter
conduits."

For long moments A'sharon didn't reply, and the silence stretched.
Droplets of sweat formed on K'Ehl's forehead. Kirk waited, tense, ready
to fire at any moment. He couldn't afford to make the tiniest mistake.

Her angry voice reached them. "Idiots! Let him go!"

Kirk smiled. The woman wasn't stupid. She assumed he would shoot.

He started to move toward the end of the crawlspace, then stopped. The
last few meters were constructed with the crosshatched metal, allowing
him to keep an eye on K'Ehl and his men all the way.

"Tell your men to step into the corridor," Kirk said.

"No," K'Ehl said, his head high, meeting Kirk's gaze stubbornly.

"Fine! You know as well as I do that if your men aren't in this corridor
when I get out, I'm as good as dead. They'll shoot me on sight. I'd
rather take your whole crew with me than die alone."

"You're insane, Kirk," K'Ehl spat. "You don't stand a chance!"

"Maybe, but I'll die trying."

K'Ehl growled like a cornered animal. "Pe'Qoi, Darok-get in here!" he
barked.

Kirk watched while two large guards entered the corridor at the far end.
"Come closer," he said and waved his disrupter. "Now the others."

"Rochak, Ba'ik, you too!" Two more Klingons stepped into the corridor
from the other end of the hallway.

"This is all of them," K'Ehl said, and he bared his teeth.

"And why should I trust you?" Kirk said, crawling closer to the hatch
that would bring him out of the conduit. If Spock was right, there were
only six more Klingons on the ship besides these. Plus A'sharon,
perhaps.

The problem was that A'sharon had to have sent those six men in search
of him, so even if K'Ehl's men were here, he had no way of knowing that
his route to the bridge was secure.

What he was about to do would put Spock in serious danger, but he really
didn't have a choice. So Kirk hit the communicator he carried.

"Spock," he whispered. "Spock, answer me!"

"Yes, Captain." Spock's voice sounded almost slurred. "I am relieved to
hear your voice."

"How are you holding up?"

"I am.functional, Captain," Spock said. "Do you require assistance?"

"Yes. I'm in the conduits between the engineering section and the
command center. I need to know how many Klingons are outside. Can you
reactivate the internal sensors?"

"I shall try."

"You'll have to hurry before A'sharon picks up our transmission." Kirk
bared his teeth grimly when K'Ehl looked like he had a bright idea,
reaching for his communicator.

"Throw your communicators and weapons on the floor," Kirk ordered. "All
of you, or I will shoot!"

He glared at K'Ehl, who finally did as ordered. His men followed his
example. With an eye still on his captives, Kirk waited for Spock.

"Captain. I am attempting to bring the internal sensors on line, but it
appears that A'sharon has broken through my blocks, which is to be
expected. She now has control over the ship's computers. I will attempt
to circumvent her blocks."

"Are you alone?"

"Indeed. I believed engineering would be filled with Klingons at this
time."

Kirk sighed. That was both good and bad. It meant that the rest of the
crew was still in the command section of the battlecruiser unable to get
to Spock. That was the good part.

Kirk's head was beginning to throb. He didn't remember when he had slept
last, and he longed to rub the bridge of his nose to alleviate some
tension. In his hunched position, he was ready to get out of the
crawlspace as soon as Spock told him it was safe. But he couldn't show
weakness in front of K'Ehl.

"One moment, Captain," Spock said, and Kirk's pulse sped up. The quiet
exhilaration in the Vulcan's voice usually meant he had something up his
sleeve. Kirk caught a movement in the corner of his eye. It was K'Ehl,
trying to move closer to the door.

"Don't move. Just stay where you are, K'Ehl," Kirk said.

"Captain, are you in trouble?"

"Nothing I can't handle, Spock. Of course, if you could seal off the
corridors after I leave, that would be helpful."

"I shall do my best."

Kirk waited. There was no sound from Spock for a time. Kirk knew that he
had to let the Vulcan work at his own pace, and usually Spock came
through a lot sooner than expected, but this time it felt like an
eternity.

"Spock?" Kirk said.

No answer.

"Spock, are you there?"

"Did you lose your Vulcan friend, Captain?"

"A'sharon," Kirk said softly. "I'm impressed. I didn't know you had it
in you. Your sister said you weren't a scientist, and yet you found our
frequency. Well done."

Without waiting for a response, Kirk switched to the other frequency
Spock had calibrated for them.

"Spock!" he barked. "Are you there?"

"Yes, Captain. I have managed to get the internal sensors on line.
A'sharon has two men stationed right outside your exit. The rest of her
crew is still on the bridge. There are three more Klingons apart from
A'sharon herself.

"K'Ehl," Kirk said. "You're trying to con me. Order those men in here."

The threat was wearing thin, but K'Ehl didn't seem prepared to find out
if Kirk was serious. Kirk was grateful, because he really didn't want to
find out either.

Two minutes later, when the Klingons had entered the hallway, Kirk left.
"Can you lock them in here when I leave, Spock?"

"I must, or they will surely come after me." Spock said in a strained
voice.

The answer wasn't what Kirk had hoped for, but there was nothing he
could do to help Spock at the moment. He had to get to the bridge.

Just when he got out of the hallway, he spotted the crawlspace that
would lead him directly to the bridge. According to the datapadd with
the ship's layout, it would be the shortest and safest route, with only
one or two places where he'd be exposed. Clenching his teeth
determinedly, he hoisted himself into another crawlspace. He was getting
tired of them.

Getting closer to the bridge, Kirk had just reached one of those weak
spots, when he was surprised by disrupter fire. The beam cut through the
metal like a red-hot blade. It missed him by a mere inch. Kirk
instinctively rolled to the side, slamming into the wall, cursing
inwardly. Shooting without knowing where to aim, he tried getting away
from the danger. The heat of the metal burned through his clothes,
forcing him to move further into the crawlspace.

He had to get out, or he was dead.

Another beam shot through the metal, cutting into his thigh. He bit his
tongue to stifle a groan. He crawled through the ventilation shaft,
knowing that there was nowhere else to go.

The shots kept coming. Kirk shot several rounds aimlessly, and suddenly,
the firing stopped. Kirk crawled another few inches just to make sure.
Had he managed to get away? Or had he hit someone?

"Oh, great," Kirk groaned ironically. The only way for him to go was
directly onto the bridge, where A'sharon was no doubt waiting for him.

He was trapped.

"Get out of there, Kirk," A'sharon's deep voice reached him through the
thin metal of the crawlspace.

His thigh was burning with intense pain, and he wondered how severe the
damage was. He clutched at the wound and hissed through clenched teeth
as he tried to change position. Feeling the blood running along the side
of his leg, he hoped that it was a flesh wound. But his pants were
soaking through pretty quickly. He had to get out of there and stop the
bleeding somehow. His hands were wet, and he slipped against the metal
as he crawled the few inches to the hatch.

Even if the wound was small, Klingon disrupter fire held a compound that
prevented blood from coagulating. If he didn't dress the wound, he'd
bleed to death.

"I'm coming out," he groaned. "Don't shoot."

A'sharon stood beneath the hatch waiting. Her cold eyes followed him as
he moved out of the hatch. Pain shot through his leg as it brushed
against the edge of the hatch, causing his vision to blur. He would have
liked to pause and gather his wits but he didn't. He'd hoped that he
would surprise the Klingons that were still on the bridge. Instead, he
was trapped, and A'sharon's lips curved in a victorious smile.

Through his dizziness, Kirk surveyed the bridge. It was much smaller
than on the Enterprise of course, but there was something unfamiliar
there, a newly attached device. It had to be the cloaking device, or at
least its generator.

"I should kill you instantly," A'sharon said.

"Why don't you?" Kirk replied.

"Take his weapon!"

One of her men reached up and tore the disrupter out of Kirk's hand. He
slid carefully onto the floor, breaking the fall with his hands. Bright
spots danced before his eyes, and he blinked to regain his composure.
His leg trembled from the pain, and getting to his feet again took no
small effort.

A'sharon's black eyes blazed with hatred. "After all this, shooting you
would be too easy. You have killed my men and ruined my plans. I want
you to suffer!"

Kirk didn't answer. She had never intended to just shoot him. If she had
done so, she probably would have gotten away with everything. He
straightened, groaning, deliberately making her aware of how weak he
was.

"You humans are so pathetic."

"Yes, we are, aren't we?" Kirk groaned again as he bent over to fetch
the smaller weapon he had secured from the weapons locker. He had hidden
it in his boot as a safety precaution. Now, he was grateful for that
foresight. As A'sharon looked at her guard and laughed, Kirk attacked.
He knew he had no time to waste. Two shots hit their targets before her
laughter died. Both men disintegrated before them.

A'sharon screamed and her fingers clenched around her weapon, but Kirk
aimed at her.

Stalemate.

He didn't want to kill her. He wanted her to end up in prison. He wanted
her to stand trial for all the despicable things she had done, but this
wasn't the time to think about revenge. He wanted to live more than he
wanted her to pay for what she had done.

"I could kill you now," Kirk said. "Drop the weapon and I will let you
live."

A'sharon's eyes narrowed. "You wouldn't. I've heard all about your
Federation principles. You wouldn't kill me."

"No?" Kirk said, glancing toward the spots where A'sharon's warriors had
been.

A'sharon raised her weapon.

Kirk fired.



ŻŻŻ



"Spock.." Kirk said into his communicator and waited, his heart beating
wildly in his chest. "Spock! Answer me!"

But the Vulcan didn't reply, and Kirk shivered. The Klingon ship felt
like death itself. He was alone on the bridge, save for A'sharon's
motionless body.

She lay sprawled on the floor. Kirk had managed not to shoot her, it
would have disintegrated her as well. Instead, he had aimed at her
disrupter, and it had blown up in her hands. Shocked from the pain, she
had been easy to overpower even for him. Kirk had hit her crudely over
the head with the end of his disrupter, rendering her unconscious. He
didn't like hitting women, not even this one, and it wasn't the first
time he'd wished he knew how to nerve pinch someone, but try as he
might, Spock had never been able to teach him how.

Kirk looked around. What could he use to tie her up with? He didn't want
to have to worry about her any more. His eyes fell on her leather belt,
and he pulled it free, tying her hands together, making sure that the
knot was tight enough not to allow her to get free. Then, with a grim
smile he tore off the sleeve of his shirt and tied her ankles together.

As he rose to his feet his head swam, and he knew he had to stop his
bleeding. Ripping his shirt even more, he tied a strip of it around his
leg as tight as he could. Dark spots danced before his eyes, but he
pulled even harder. The bandage didn't help much. It was soon dark with
blood, and he knew that if he were going to get Spock and himself off
the ship and to safety, he would have to work fast.

Kirk worked diligently, trying to shut down the shields and operate the
communications station. All the while his heart was in his throat. Why
hadn't Spock responded? Had K'Ehl and the other Klingons found him, or
was he unconscious? Kirk forced himself not to think about it. If the
Klingons had escaped, he himself was in deep trouble.

The battlecruiser lay dead in space, and had done so for a while.
Presumably, A'sharon had brought them out of warp when she realized he
and Spock had escaped, and then he had managed to kill off more than
half her crew. It would make it easier for the Enterprise to catch up if
he managed to contact her. Unfortunately, the cloaking device still hid
them from other ships in the vicinity.

"Damn!" Kirk swore and banged his fist into the console. Then he closed
his eyes and took a deep breath. Cursing wouldn't help.

Finding the right frequency to contact the Enterprise took longer than
expected. He slumped down in a chair, wiping his sweaty brow. Dizziness
made the task difficult, but he flicked another switch stubbornly.

"Kirk to Enterprise?" No reply. This damned communications gear was
driving him insane. Wasn't there ever anyone at the other end? "Kirk to
Enterprise. Acknowledge," he repeated, switching frequencies every other
minute. Only silence greeted him. He switched and tried again. His voice
sounded dry and raspy to his own ears.

"Kirk to Enterprise, come in!"

Static.

"Captain! This is Uhura," came his communication officer's excited
voice. "You're lucky I heard you on this frequency, sir."

Kirk closed his eyes in relief.

"I'm thrilled to hear your voice, Lieutenant," he said softly-and
decided that it was an understatement.

"Where are you, Captain?"

"I haven't been able to determine the coordinates. I just now got the
communications system working," Kirk said.

"We've been looking for you and Mr. Spock for over twenty-four hours. We
still can't pick you up on the sensors."

"So far I haven't been able to shut down the cloaking device. I'm
working on doing that now." Kirk gripped the communications console,
trying to remain upright. His head was spinning and he thought he'd fall
off the chair. He forced himself to continue. "Can you pinpoint me with
the help of this transmission?"

"We're on it, sair," Scotty's voice assured him in the background. There
was a short silence and Scotty asked hesitantly, "Captain? Are ye all
right?"

"Yes, I'll be fine. Just track us down."

"Where is Mr. Spock?"

"I don't know where he is right now."

Kirk noticed that his voice had an unusual edge to it. His crew knew
better than to push, and for that he was grateful. He didn't turn off
the audio, but simply moved away, switching on his portable communicator
again.

"Spock, are you there?" Static greeted him at first and his heart leaped
in his throat. "Spock?" But there was still no reply. Shoving his
concern for his first officer to the back of his mind, Kirk moved to try
to render the cloak inoperable.

"You will die, you know."

Kirk started at A'sharon's voice. He'd almost forgotten she was there,
and he hadn't noticed when she awakened. She had managed to push herself
into sitting position, leaning against one of the consoles to his left.

"We'll see about that."

"The auto-destruct sequence will initiate if I fail to sign in every
hour. There is a shuttle in the cargo bay. Let me go to it and I will
let you live." A'sharon said, trying to get into a more comfortable
position, the ties around her wrists and ankles making the task
difficult.

"Shut up," Kirk said, fighting the dizziness. He buried his fingers into
the wound, and pain drove the fogginess away. He refused to look at her,
refused to give into the anger that filled him when he saw her smug
expression. The very thought of dying so close to this woman made him
feel nauseated. He had to get to Spock as soon as he possibly could.

He looked at the cloaking device. Even to his untrained scientific eye,
it was obvious that this was it. It was newly installed, and quite
different in layout from anything else on the bridge.

"You'll never figure out how to shut it down," A'sharon said. "It has
several layers of safety protocols. You won't be able to get through
them."

Kirk knew she was right. He also knew Starfleet would have preferred to
get their hands on this piece of technology. But if the ship exploded it
was a moot point anyway. He aimed his disrupter.

"You can't do that!" A'sharon shouted, and she fruitlessly fought to get
to her feet. Kirk waited patiently.

"If you don't tell me how to shut this thing down in a minute, I will
destroy it," he said calmly.

"It's one of the greatest discoveries in centuries. It makes any ship
virtually undetectable."

"There is a way. We found you."

"I destroyed the information on the Enterprise," A'sharon hissed.

"We still know what to look for. It's not worth anything to us." Kirk
knew that this was a prototype. If he destroyed it, years of work would
be wasted, and there was no one left to re-create it. After all,
She'zaron was dead. But then again, A'sharon's self-destruct would do
the same.

"I won't tell you. You'll have to kill me first."

"I don't have to," Kirk said, and he fired. There was a crackling noise
as the console short-circuited, it started smoking and sparks of
electricity flew through the air, spreading an acrid smell.

"You're crazy!" A'sharon screamed. The insanity and hatred in her eyes
were bone-chilling.

"I don't think so."

With satisfaction, Kirk could hear the cloak shut down. He stepped over
to the communications console again, feeling A'sharon's eyes follow his
every move.

"Enterprise?"

"Yes, Captain!" Uhura replied immediately and Kirk couldn't help but
smile. She'd been standing by for his orders.

"Can you see us?"

"Yes, sir," she replied. He could practically hear her smile.

"Clear as day, Cap'n. Clear as day!" Scotty interjected. "We'll be with
you in less than two hours."

"Two hours? Is that the best you can do, Scotty?" Kirk said evenly.

"Is there a problem, sair?"

"I believe this garbage scow will blow up in less than an hour.."



ŻŻŻ



"You will kill all your men," Kirk said coldly.

"Who's left?" A'sharon replied. "I don't care if you kill me. I will
take you and that Vulcan with me."

Kirk knew that if he had been in the same position she was, he'd rather
die than help someone who had killed members of his crew.

"You'll faint soon," she said. "All that blood dripping on the floor."

Kirk swallowed and fought the dizziness, and A'sharon continued
assuredly: "Then you won't be able to stop this ship from blowing up.
You'll die with me."

Her words made Kirk wince. If he were going to die, it wouldn't be with
her. He'd have to do something to make sure they would meet up with the
Enterprise on time. He'd have to figure out how to turn the ship around
and get it into warp.

He surveyed the bridge, recognizing some of the equipment. It shouldn't
be too difficult.. Finding the helm, he drew from the memories from the
Academy. The layout of the console was different, but the symbols were
essentially the same. He could do this. He had to do this. Swiftly he
moved his hands over the controls, feeling satisfaction as the ship's
engines hummed to life, and the viewscreen told him clearly that the
ship was turning around. He fed the coordinates into the computer.

That was all he could do. Now, he only hoped it was enough. Duty
fulfilled, Kirk swallowed and rose from the chair. He spared one glance
at A'sharon. She was still leaning against the console. Satisfied that
she couldn't cause him any more trouble, Kirk exited the bridge. Out in
the hallways he halted, wondering how he could get to Spock as quickly
as possible.

A few minutes later, Kirk leaned against the door to the transporter
room. He buried his hand into his wound once more and moaned. He had to
stay alert, or he wouldn't get to Spock. Next time he did that he would
probably pass out instead. He'd better move fast.

The transporter console was almost the same as the one he'd seen in the
Academy. Starfleet crew had to familiarize themselves with as much alien
technology as they could. He knew how to operate the transporters, but
setting the coordinates was another matter entirely.

"Computer. Initiate a site-to-site transport from the transporter room
to engineering," Kirk tried hopefully. His Klingonese was less than
adequate, but now he was glad for the fact that he'd bothered to learn
some.

"Authorization required," the computer replied coldly.

"Shit!" Kirk smashed his hand against the edge of the console.
"Computer, what are the coordinates for the engineering section of the
ship?"

"234 322 32.9" the computer replied.

"Add those to the transporter."

"Coordinates added."

Apparently there was no command authorization required for that. Kirk
grinned and moved his hands over the controls, using the manual
override, and moved toward the transporter pad. "Computer, activate
transporter."

Holding his breath, he waited for the inevitable. Would the computer
require authorization for a manual override as well?

"Activated."

Kirk heaved a sigh of relief as he materialized. His eyes flew across
engineering. It was empty. No Spock and no Klingons. His heart beat so
fast that he could hear it.

"Spock," he whispered, as he moved toward the hiding place. Pushing open
the hatch, he could finally see the still form of his friend. "Spock,"
he repeated, gently shaking a lean shoulder. At first, Kirk couldn't
even tell if Spock was breathing, and the compartment where he was lying
was too small for Kirk to be able to check on him.

"Come on, Spock," Kirk urged, his voice almost cracking. How could he
ever have thought that he could live without Spock? "Don't give up on
me."

Gently, he grabbed the narrow shoulders, carefully pulling the limp body
out of the compartment and onto the floor. It was more difficult than he
had expected. He was weak, and the dizziness came and went. Spock's
unconscious body was heavier than he'd expected.

Placing Spock gently on his back, Kirk moved his hands over the Vulcan's
side. The heartbeat was quick, but Kirk had no way of telling if it was
too fast or not. Given Spock's different physiology, it was difficult to
tell.

"Spock," he whispered again, sliding to the floor. He pulled Spock
closer, and the Vulcan's head leaned against Kirk's shoulder. He was hot
as a furnace. "Can you hear me?"

Spock remained unresponsive.

"What's wrong? Dammit! You told me you'd be okay." Kirk cut himself off.
Spock hadn't told him that. He had just assumed that Spock would pull
through. After all, he always did, didn't he? Even on Vulcan, after his
pon farr, Spock had gone back to being his normal, strong self almost
immediately.

"Come on, Spock. We're almost there," Kirk said and put his hand to the
Vulcan's warm cheek. Spock's skin was damp and sweaty and he was clearly
running a fever. The Vulcan's body temperature was so much higher than
his own that it always seemed feverish, but this was too much. "Just
hang in there long enough for Bones to take a look at you, and you'll be
okay."

Time passed slowly, minutes dragging, but there was nothing Kirk could
do but wait for the Enterprise.

When they were beamed off twenty minutes later, all Kirk could feel was
a profound relief that he and Spock had been given a second chance.


END part 4


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PART FIVE

McCoy had certified Spock healthy. Getting rid of the drug from his
system had been fairly easy, and once that task was accomplished, Spock
had recovered more quickly than anyone had expected. For that Kirk was
grateful, for more than one reason.

He had decided that their long overdue talk was going to take place
right now. Two long days filled with writing reports and succumbing to
McCoy's examinations was more than enough time to wait. This day's shift
had finally ended, and he was now walking toward Spock's cabin. This was
it. Either Spock would accept him and the truth of his feelings, or they
would part ways. He knew the Vulcan planned to ask for a transfer. He'd
seen the request for the necessary paperwork on the outgoing
transmissions. Why hadn't Spock said anything? Kirk swallowed. Was he
already too late?

He rang the door chime and waited nervously, shifting from foot to foot.

"Come," Spock murmured, and the door finally slid open.

Kirk tried to compose himself before entering. He'd never felt quite so
nervous or uneasy before. He and Spock were friends, and they were
colleagues. There was no other creature in the universe he trusted more
than Spock-so why did he feel like he was approaching his own execution?

"Sit," Spock invited, and Kirk sat on a chair in front of Spock's desk.
Kirk felt vaguely uncomfortable at the thought of entering his sleeping
area. Spock was standing in the doorway to his bedroom. Kirk leaned
forward, resting his elbows on his knees, studying his intertwined
fingers carefully while trying to find the right words to say.

He glanced up. The Vulcan was still wearing his uniform, and Kirk felt
oddly grateful. He'd not expected it since Spock's shift had ended much
earlier than his own had. McCoy wouldn't let the Vulcan work a full
shift just yet. Perhaps Spock was wearing the uniform to create some
kind of barrier between them, to remind Kirk of the reason why they
weren't together already. Or perhaps it was only that Spock felt more
comfortable wearing his uniform.

But to Kirk, it was easier to address Spock as his colleague. Spock in
science blue was the strong, competent, loyal officer and friend he
knew. Had Spock been wearing his black meditation robe, the distance
between them would have been more tangible and made it more difficult
for him to say what he had to say.

"You wished to speak," Spock said. His face wasn't exactly cold, but
there wasn't that spark of warmth that Kirk was used to seeing either.
The Vulcan shifted slightly, betraying unease.

"Yes."

Kirk realized that words would be inadequate, and he rose from the chair
to stand before Spock. The Vulcan drew back slightly, and the mask
cracked. Desire and shame all mixed together were suddenly visible in
the dark eyes. They were always so expressive. Seeing Spock's shame made
Kirk feel guilty, knowing that he had caused it for no other reason than
his own fear. He wasn't proud of it.

He reached out, circling his hands around the Vulcan's wrists, feeling
the warmth and relishing it. Spock closed his eyes as if in pain.

"Jim," he said. "Please, do not touch me."

Anguish was written in every line on Spock's face.

"Is it unpleasant?" Kirk whispered, knowing that Spock wouldn't lie to
his face.

"No, it is not," Spock inhaled sharply as Kirk moved his thumb across
the slender wrist. He wanted to touch Spock more, but the simple
sensation of Spock's pulse throbbing underneath the warm skin made
Kirk's heart beat faster, too. "You know I could never find your touch
repellent."

Thank heavens, Kirk thought. It might not be too late. Then he leaned
forward to kiss Spock. The need to touch Spock's lips with his own was
impossible to resist.

At first, Spock tried to pull his wrists free, but Kirk wouldn't let
him. He wrapped his arms around the slim waist, pulling the Vulcan
closer and into his arms. If Spock really hadn't wanted the embrace,
Kirk would never have been able to hold him so close. The fact that
Spock didn't make a stronger effort to pull away felt like a comfort,
and made him hopeful.

Then, as Spock turned his head and started to protest, Kirk moved his
hands from the waist to the narrow shoulders, brushing the nape of the
neck, until they finally buried themselves in the silky soft hair,
gripping tightly.

"Don't turn away from me," he begged. "Because I do want you. You must
believe me, Spock, I want you so much."

Spock moaned softly, a helpless sound that made Kirk instantly rock
hard.

What seemed like a lifetime ago, he'd promised himself he wouldn't give
in to his physical desire, but coming so close to losing Spock, he had
finally managed to get his priorities straight. Without Spock he would
not be who he was. Without Spock he wouldn't want to be the captain of
the Enterprise. She would mean nothing to him without Spock beside him,
as his first officer, friend-and lover.

It was too late to draw back even if he wanted to, because Spock's arms
came around him, pulling him closer.

Ultimately, he had no desire to pull away.

"Do you mean it, Jim?" Spock asked.

Kirk nodded. He wanted this so much, and the physical evidence should be
obvious even to Spock. Pleasure rippled through his body, swelling like
forceful currents. Spock's answering hardness pushed against Kirk, and
he gasped, unable to remain calm.

Taking advantage of that, the Vulcan kissed him fully, thrusting his
tongue deep inside Kirk's mouth. The taste exploded; spice, impossible
heat and something that was uniquely Spock. It was a real, lover's kiss,
and Kirk groaned, wanting more of that touch, needing it more than
anything else. How could he have been so blind?

But he was abruptly pushed away, and Kirk swayed to keep his balance. It
came so suddenly that he didn't know how to react, and before he had
time to say anything, Spock's dark eyes were blazing with hurt.

"Is this what you truly want from me, Jim? I do not believe you! You are
a brilliant strategist, and you would proceed to do anything.."

At first Kirk was shocked. Why would Spock think he was lying? Then
anger rose in Kirk even faster than the passion had. "For heaven's sake,
Spock! What do I have to do to prove it to you?"

"Your career is too important to you." Spock stumbled away. His eyes
shone in confusion. "I could never ask you to give that up, and I
believe that you would say and do anything to make me stay on the
Enterprise. You said you wanted me on A'sharon's ship, and I understand
your desire to save my life, but I am no longer suffering from the pon
farr. You do not have to do this!"

"I need you in my professional life, that's true. I could never lie to
you, and I would rather leave the Enterprise with you than stay on the
ship without you, Spock. I want you, and I love you! How can you think
so little of me?" Kirk said and took one step closer to Spock. What was
wrong here? Spock wasn't stupid. Why did he keep insisting that the
feelings weren't real?

Spock swallowed and turned his back. His voice was suddenly calm and
disconnected. Kirk waited.

"I know that you need me, Jim, and you may even want me right now.but I
do not believe that you truly love me, and that is the only way I could
give in to you. I do not mean to pressure you. It is the truth, and you
know that it is if you give it proper consideration."

"Spock-"

"No, Jim. Allow me to finish." Spock turned around again, his eyes
locking with Kirk's. "To you 'love' is only a word. I have seen you and
the way you love. You may believe that you care for me now, but what of
the future?" The Vulcan's face contorted in pain. "Please, do not do
this to me. If you care at all.."

The anguish in Spock's eyes was more than Kirk could take. He took the
final step to close the physical gap between them and grabbed the
Vulcan's slender arms in a steel grip when Spock tried to move away.
"Spock, this is different. What I feel for you is different."

"Do not lie to me, Jim." Spock's voice cracked and the dark eyes shone
with defeat. "I will stay. I will not transfer off the Enterprise if
your need for me to stay is so great, I promise, but do not say things
you do not mean."

"I'm not lying."

"I wish to believe you.."

"Then believe me! Look at me. What is it that I am doing to you? I'm
trying to tell you that I love you, that I want you. What is wrong with
that? Tell me!"

Kirk's grip around Spock's shoulders tightened and he realized he was
shaking the other man. He forced himself to quit.

"I am Vulcan, Jim," Spock said, and his eyes locked with Kirk's
meaningfully.

And Kirk did know what that meant.

Spock thought that he knew him so well. He knew about the ladies, the
promiscuous life he'd led, and Spock loved him despite it all. To a
Vulcan, there was only one option available. He let his grip around
Spock loosen as realization dawned and he turned away.

The bond.

It was the answer; he knew that a bonding for life was the only way to
go for Spock.

"You had valid reasons not to pursue this, Jim. Have those concerns just
disappeared?"

Leaning against the mesh-divider, Kirk remembered their discussion just
a few short days ago. It seemed as though a lifetime had passed since
then.

His concern had been that being lovers was bound to make a difference,
but as they were captured by A'sharon again, he'd had time to think, and
he'd realized it had made a difference. The feelings were already there,
and his loving Spock was a fact that wouldn't change. He wouldn't stop
just because they didn't act on it. He still had to be able to send the
Vulcan on dangerous missions. He wouldn't stop caring just because he
wouldn't add the physical to their relationship.

Kirk straightened and swallowed. He knew he had to get this clear in his
mind before he said anything to Spock.

No wonder Spock hadn't believed that his concerns were valid. No wonder
Spock had seen right through him and realized that only one thing truly
made him pull away, and that was the Vulcan bond.

If he couldn't make that commitment, he would have to let go, but even
as the thought crossed his mind, Kirk knew that he couldn't let go. No
one would ever be able to read his every thought the way that Spock did.
Without Spock, he would be incomplete, and only half the commander
Starfleet and the Enterprise crew had learned to depend on. It simply
wasn't possible for him to let Spock go.

He turned around to look at the best friend he'd ever had, the most
loyal and caring being he would ever meet. The Vulcan suddenly seemed so
lonely, so fragile. He'd never seen Spock that way. In his mind, Spock
was the strongest individual he knew, but perhaps it was as true for
Spock as it was for him, that alone, he just wasn't complete. He watched
as Spock looked down at his hands.

But he knew that his command and the friendship were only small parts of
why he couldn't let Spock go. The deepest truth of it was that he
couldn't picture Spock with anyone else. He couldn't picture Spock being
touched by anyone else or loved by anyone but him. The Vulcan belonged
at his side, just as the Enterprise was his ship. But not giving Spock
what he needed, what they both wanted would eventually mean death for
the Vulcan. In a few years, at the onset of Spock's next real pon farr..
If Spock hadn't found a suitable mate by then..

"Jim, please leave." Spock said harshly. "Please leave now, before it is
too late."

Spock wasn't looking at him, so Kirk moved closer, putting his hand
under the Vulcan's chin, forcing him to meet his gaze. The fire deep
down in Spock's eyes had not diminished, but now there was also
desperation, and Kirk finally realized that Spock was essential to him,
not only to the captain of the Enterprise or the Starfleet officer, but
to the human being, to Jim.

"You don't understand, Spock. I'm not going anywhere."

"You do not know what you are saying."

"I know perfectly well," Kirk said stubbornly. "I will never leave you."

Spock fought what he apparently desperately wanted-needed-to do. Kirk
closed his eyes and waited patiently. He had done what he could. Now it
was up to Spock to trust and to believe.

At the pressure of Spock's body against his, and the fierceness of
passionate lips, Kirk knew he'd made the right choice. He was pushed up
against the wall to the sleeping area, completely helpless in the wake
of Spock's overwhelming desire.

"Oh, god," he moaned, unable to stop himself.

"You do not know, Jim." Spock gasped and drove his fingers through
Kirk's hair. The warm, powerful hands pulled him closer for a hungry
kiss. "You do not know how I have longed for this.."

"I do." Kirk kissed back with equal fervor, opening his mouth to a
plundering tongue. He was grateful that the time for talk was over, for
now at least. He buried his hands in the Vulcan's hair, marveling at the
silk-like softness. Spock pulled away, and the Vulcan's breath was hot
against his chin. Kirk leaned back, relaxing and giving himself over to
sensation. Exposing his neck to the questing lips, he moaned. Spock's
mouth moved over his throat in hunger as he sucked at the sensitive
skin, causing shivers to travel across Kirk's shoulders, making his
nipples harden and heat gather in his belly.

Kirk felt as though he could never get enough of those kisses, of
Spock's demanding lips tasting every exposed area of his skin. His bones
felt as though they had melted and he couldn't remain upright, but Spock
was there to support him. As always, Spock was there.

"You feel so good, Spock, taste so good," he murmured, and he pulled
harshly at the almost-black hair to get Spock to kiss his lips again.
Kirk couldn't get enough of the spicy-sweet scent and taste. He thrust
his tongue into Spock's mouth, and the response was immediate as Spock
sucked him in, tasting and playing with him. Pulling Spock closer, he
gripped the Vulcan's ass tightly. Kirk kneaded the muscles, hardly
believing that this was happening, that he was actually touching Spock
like this.

He pulled away to watch the Vulcan's face. Dark strands of hair lay in
disarray over Spock's forehead, his eyes were dark with passion and his
mouth was swollen from Kirk's kisses. He looked so wanton.

By god, Kirk could never get enough of that sight. He couldn't believe
he had ever hesitated. Ever.

"I want you so much," he insisted. "Spock. Do you believe me?"

Spock met his eyes and spoke haltingly. "Jim.yes."

They started pulling at each other's clothes at the same time. Kirk
pushed Spock from him just enough to look at him. "I want to see you,
Spock. I can't get the image of you undressing before A'sharon out of my
mind. You were so beautiful."

Spock stepped back and Kirk swallowed, feeling bereft for a moment.
Soon, though, his gaze was glued to the sinewy figure of Spock as he
pulled his tunic off. The black t-shirt underneath clung tightly to his
muscled torso.

Beautiful.

Their eyes met and Kirk swallowed as he saw a hint of amusement in the
Vulcan's eyes. At last, Spock believed him. He was secure enough to
tease. Their gazes held as Spock pulled the t-shirt out of his black
pants, exposing the first hint of the hair on his stomach. Kirk had seen
Spock naked before many times, but not like this, not wanting him like
this. His gaze lingered on Spock's deft fingers undoing the fastenings
of his pants slowly. Then Kirk looked up and Spock was watching him.

"Undress for me, Jim," he asked huskily.

"I will," Kirk whispered. "Once you're done.."

Spock threw the t-shirt on the floor and quickly toed off his boots.

"Don't rush it, Spock. Please. I love seeing you like this."

The hair on Spock's chest looked soft, and Kirk couldn't wait to find
out if it was.

"I am not certain I can proceed with this, Jim," Spock said slowly. "It
is making me feel.exposed."

"Don't, Spock. Don't feel like that. You're gorgeous. Looking at you
like this-I've never seen anything.. Look at me, Spock. Can't you see
how much I want this, want you?"

Spock continued, his long-fingered hands opening his trousers languidly,
his eyes never leaving Kirk's. He couldn't tell if Spock was teasing on
purpose,

Kirk pulled his own shirt off, slowly, deliberately teasing the Vulcan,
and the hunger in Spock's eyes drove him on. The Vulcan paused with his
hands holding the trousers open, as though transfixed by the vision
before him. There was such desire between them. Kirk hooked his thumbs
in the waistband of his pants, and Spock stepped closer.

"Uh-uh!" Kirk said and shook his head, smiling seductively. He was going
to enjoy this.

"Jim, please. Allow me.to touch you."

The words were more effective than a caress. Kirk felt his erection
growing, pressing urgently at the fly of the pants still hanging
precariously on his hips. He groaned softly and closed his eyes for just
an instant.

"Don't talk like that, Spock," he whispered. But he really didn't want
Spock to quit. The warm, velvety voice sent rippling pleasure through
him.

Spock walked around him, looking him over appreciatively, and Kirk
couldn't help but shiver. The dark eyes roamed every inch of him. As
Spock was standing behind him, Kirk was suddenly pulled against the hot,
Vulcan body, as needy as his own. Spock's warm hands glided slowly
across Kirk's stomach, and he gasped. Spock pushed the pants open, and
the Vulcan-warm hands made their way inside the tight trousers. Kirk
felt powerless in the wake of the pleasure caused by that intimate
caress.

"You, too, are beautiful, Jim. I have always thought you were
beautiful."

Spock's hands brushed the head of Kirk's already leaking cock and he
moaned, leaning more heavily against his companion.

"God, Spock.."

The pants fell to the floor, and Kirk kicked them off, turning around to
bring his arms around Spock's slender waist. He marveled at the hardness
of the muscles. Caressing the narrow shoulders and smooth back, slowly,
Kirk smiled when he managed to provoke a breathy moan.

"Does that feel good?"

"Yes," Spock hissed, and Kirk felt the Vulcan's still confined sex push
against his hip, and he wanted to free the Vulcan of the remaining
clothes keeping them apart. He pushed his hands down the back of the
trousers, feeling the taut globes of Spock's beautiful ass. He squeezed
them experimentally and Spock swayed, impatiently pulling at his
trousers.

"Shh," Kirk whispered and gently pushed the Vulcan's hands away. "Let
me, Spock. Let me undress you."

He pulled the pants down the narrow hips, falling to his knees as he
took in the beauty of the smooth, jade-tinged flesh that was slowly
exposed before him. The cock, nestled in black, soft hair sprang free of
its confines. Inhaling sharply, Spock stepped out of his boots, and the
trousers followed. Finally, they were both naked.

Almost reverently, Kirk got to his feet, stepping closer to Spock. He
groaned when his own erection jutted forward, as if seeking to rub
wantonly against Spock. When they touched, the satiny smooth skin and
the hardness of Spock's sex were delicious.

"God, you feel so good."

The hairs on the Vulcan's chest were every bit as soft as they looked.
Kirk moved his hand over the chest, brushing a nipple and causing Spock
to gasp. The Vulcan leaned his head back, exposing his throat, and Kirk
moved forward, licking the soft skin of neck and collarbone.

"Jim."

Hearing Spock saying his name like that drove Kirk insane. So
passionate. Spock's hands were hot as they cupped his ass, and Kirk
buried his face in the Vulcan's shoulder, fighting the cry that wanted
to escape his mouth. They stumbled slowly and awkwardly toward the bed,
not wanting to let go of each other. They fell onto the bunk in a tangle
of limbs, Kirk's erection sliding in between the Vulcan's legs as Spock
lay beside him.

"Spock. You're so hot."

He was, literally. Kirk's cock found an incredibly warm haven between
Spock's muscular thighs, and he couldn't stop himself from moving
against the silken skin and the coarse hair. The sexual need he'd
carried for so long intensified, and Kirk wrapped his arms around the
slender body lying beside him. Spock was like a furnace and he craved
that heat.

"God, Spock, I need you."

Spock pushed him to his back and moved in between his legs. Spreading
himself wider, Kirk allowed the Vulcan to settle more comfortably. Such
heat, such hardness and the silk of the Vulcan's erection against his
own nearly made him lose his fragile control. He wanted to turn them
both around and to drive himself mindlessly into Spock's tight, hot
flesh.

"Jim," Spock whispered, burying his face in the crook of Kirk's neck.

Kirk felt the tremors run through Spock's body, as though he was
fighting his need. As though the imbalance were still there.

"You can do whatever you want to me, Spock," he whispered. "I want you
so much."

Spock's warm tongue traced his cheekbone, across his jaw, up toward his
ear, alternating with small, stinging nips that turned Kirk's bones to
water. Spock followed the round edge of his ear with the tip of his
tongue. Kirk moaned and arched beneath Spock. He could feel himself
leaking, his balls tightening, knowing that it would take very little to
bring him over the edge.

Spock shuddered and pressed closer; their cocks kissed, sliding
together.

"Oh yes," Kirk moaned.



Spock's caresses grew bolder, brushing over his nipples downward, and
Kirk tensed.

"I'll come, Spock. Don't."

And Spock hesitated just before wrapping his fingers around Kirk's
erection, their eyes meeting, the connection between them so strong.

"Not yet?"

"Not yet," Kirk agreed.

He enjoyed the feel of hot hands moving over him across his stomach and
flanks, and still that fairly innocuous touch was driving him inevitably
toward the edge. He'd wanted this so fiercely, for longer than he knew.

All of a sudden it was too much to try to drag it out or to hold back,
and Spock knew it, too. Cupping his ass, Spock pulled him closer. Kirk
gasped and mirrored the Vulcan's action, reveling in the feel of the
round buttocks. His undulations became quicker, uncontrolled, and Spock
responded in kind.

Their gazes met and locked. Spock leaned down to kiss him, thrusting
inside Kirk's mouth. They dueled, tasting each other hungrily, enjoying
the intimate touch.

Spock's hands grabbed at his hips, asking a question with his eyes, and
Kirk couldn't get a sound across his lips. He just nodded mutely,
understanding what Spock wanted. The Vulcan sat back on his haunches and
pulled Kirk into his lap. As he parted Kirk's buttocks, it allowed his
hot, hard cock to slide along the crack, just brushing lightly,
teasingly across the sensitive opening, not entering. Kirk thrashed and
bucked, wanting to feel Spock inside him with a need that he couldn't
stifle. He cried out from the surge of pleasure cascading through his
body. He tensed, and the exquisite touch of the Vulcan's cock again
sliding over the entrance to his body was enough to put him at the end
of his control. His balls drew tight to his body, preparing for release.
He could have screamed when Spock stopped his movements.

"Oh.yes.Spock.no.. Don't stop. Please."

"Now?"

"Now. Oh, yes. Make me come."

The pleasure returned as Spock aligned their erections tightly together,
wrapping his hot hand around them both.

"Touch me, Jim. Please." Spock moaned, and Kirk wrapped his hand around
them both as well. The sound Spock made was frighteningly close to a
sob.

Intense pleasure rippled through Kirk in never-ending waves, and their
hands tightening around his now spurting cock heightened the pleasure to
an almost painful level. He heard Spock cry out from what seemed like a
faraway place, and the cock pressed together with his jerked and spurted
its Vulcan-warm liquid between them.

Kirk drifted back to consciousness slowly, waking up to the heavy weight
of Spock on him. It was a wonderful feeling like nothing he had
experienced before.

After sex, Kirk usually wanted to get out of bed to clean up, but not
this time. Instead, he lifted heavy arms to wrap them around narrow
shoulders and hold on as tight as he was capable.

"I love you," he whispered.

Spock lifted his head from its resting place on Kirk's shoulder. Their
eyes met and Kirk smiled. He felt completely satisfied.

Spock's eyes held a question. Kirk nodded and didn't shy away as the
slender fingers settled against his face. The Vulcan found the meld
points easily, speaking of familiarity and practice. Kirk simply lay
there, closing his eyes, waiting for the sweet tingle of Spock's mind
entering his.

He soon became aware that this was nothing like what he'd experienced
before. Where he'd felt a flickering presence in their previous melds,
there was now a rush of light, of warmth and unbridled emotion. It
exploded in his mind like a thousand fireworks, possessively spilling
into every corner of his mind, filling him-completing him.

Surprisingly, it wasn't frightening or uncomfortable, and he welcomed
it, opening himself to the Vulcan's mind and soul without hesitation.

"You truly do love me," Spock whispered as he rested his temple against
the top of Kirk's head, removing his fingers. His voice was filled with
undisguised awe.

"Yes."

"But it is too soon," Spock said regretfully. Kirk felt a cold hand grip
his heart.

"Too soon? What are you talking about?"

"I will not bond us."

"Spock." Kirk began to protest, but the dark eyes met his, and Kirk cut
himself off mid-sentence, waiting to hear what Spock had to say. Kirk
owed him that much at least.

"I understand your insecurity now," Spock explained, "Not having grown
up in an environment where lifelong commitment is very common, I can
understand how the finality of a bond might frighten you."

"I don't fear it anymore, Spock," Kirk whispered, and he knew it to be
the truth.

"I know you do not, but you may change your mind. A bond will bind you
to me for the rest of your life. I will not do that to you at this
time."

"But.."

Spock just looked at him and Kirk fell silent.

"If you still want to be my mate when my next pon farr arrives, we will
bond. Until that time, I will not bind you to me."

Kirk closed his eyes in pain. Spock knew him, or thought he did, and
believed that the love he felt now wouldn't last.

"I could not do this to you, Jim."

"Spock." Kirk was so sure that this was what he wanted, he wanted Spock
to know it, and he watched the Vulcan intently, reaching out to grab his
hand once more.

"No, Jim," Spock pulled away. "Do not try to persuade me otherwise. I
shall love you always, and if your love for me is true, we will be one."

Giving in finally, Kirk was surprised to find that, instead of being
angry or hurt by Spock's words, he relaxed. If Spock needed time for
reassurance, he was glad to give it.

"Can we still meld?"

"Yes, the bond will not be sealed permanently until we are both ready
for it to happen."

"Good," Jim said. There was no doubt in his mind that they would be
bondmates.

One day-sooner than Spock might think.



ŻŻŻ



Four weeks later

"Captain, there's an incoming transmission for you on subspace."

"Who is it from?"

There was a stunned silence before Uhura continued. "It's the Klingon
Commander-Korasz."

"On screen."

"Captain Kirk." Commander Korasz' haggard face appeared. Kirk felt a
twinge of regret, wishing he'd been able to save She'zaron from
A'sharon's vengeance.

"Commander, my condolences," he said.

"Thank you, Captain Kirk."

There was an awkward silence.

"What can I do for you, Commander?"

"I am contacting you personally to inform you that the Klingon High
Council has tried and convicted A'sharon. She was executed early this
morning."

Something inside Kirk shifted then, and he glanced at his lover. There
was a quiet sadness in Spock's eyes. Capital punishment was no longer
used in the Federation, but on the Klingon home world it was still very
common. As much as Kirk disliked the death sentence, he couldn't help
feeling relieved that A'sharon would never again hurt them. It was as
though a huge weight had been lifted from his shoulders.

"Thank you for informing us, Commander."

"You're welcome. Your help was appreciated. I will not forget it,"
Commander Korasz stated before the screen went black.

"Captain."

"What is it, Mr. Spock?" Kirk wondered and swiveled his chair around to
face his first officer, who was standing beside the center seat, close
enough to touch. The soft expression on Spock's face made Kirk's gut
fill with anticipation.

"I believe it is time for me to put the past where it belongs-in the
past-and trust the future."

"Indeed, Mr. Spock?"

"Indeed," Spock replied, and an elegant eyebrow rose in challenge.

A wide smile spread across Kirk's face, and he couldn't help laughing
softly at Uhura's puzzled frown.

If he wasn't entirely wrong, Spock had just proposed. On the bridge.



End part 5 of 5

~ END ~


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