Star Trek II: Distress Call Read online

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  Page 117

  From page 116.

  “But why, sir?”

  “The Lassfapan likes to read, Lieutenant; don’t you? Be certain that you include the greatest of Vulcan books, the Doon-par-tok-nor. I think it would especially like that; I always did.”

  “Yes, sir,” Nakashima said. “Oh, and the rules for that ancient Terran game, Dungeons and Dragons. I think it might be appropriate.”

  END

  Page 118

  From page 101.

  Jim Kirk seemed to be floating for hours in a bath of intense pain. Everything hurt, from his hair to his bones. Then, just as suddenly, he was free of pain. He lay panting on the cold, dry stone. Several of the dropped lights sent shadows crazily over the walls.

  The Guardian glowed dully as Kirk sat up, dazed. His head ached, but it was a fading pain. “Why didn’t you kill me?” he asked in a hoarse voice.

  …not…right…you…no…harm…

  Kirk got shakily to his feet. He felt as if he had been ill for months. “Why did you spare me? Why didn’t you put me against the wall and amuse yourself with my mind as you did the scientists you captured?”

  For a moment the Guardian did not answer. Then it spoke in his head, and Kirk thought he detected a sadness in its telepathic message of fiat, slow words.

  …you…command…you…are…responsible…you…are…needed…

  “Was that part of your programming?” Kirk asked.

  …no…it…is…something…learned…responsibility…is…taken…not…given…

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  Page 119

  From page 118.

  “And you are responsible for this place?” Kirk said, indicating the dark caverns. “What if I…what if I give you something to relieve the boredom?”

  …yes…

  Kirk smiled. “I’ll have the gift beamed down. I think—” Kirk smiled. “I think you’ll find my gift endlessly fascinating.”

  …yes…

  Leaving the transporter room, Captain Kirk thumbed a wall switch. “Bridge.”

  “Bridge here, Captain,” Uhura responded.

  “Commander Uhura, that litter of kittens you keep hidden in your cabin—”

  “Captain, how did you—”

  “That’s my job, Uhura. Would you be willing to part with three or four of them, in the interests of relieving boredom?”

  “Captain, I didn’t know you were a catperson.”

  “It’s a gift, Uhura, to one very bored Guardian. The pick of the litter, mind you. Bring them to the transporter room.”

  “Aye, sir,” she said with a smile in her voice.

  END

  Page 120

  From page 95.

  Ensign Larek ran as hard as she could, outdistancing the two security men sent with her. Her flashlight bobbed erratically as she ran. Her idea was that the jamming device must be close to the other Klingon machinery, but what she found as she came to the big room was Commander Montgomery Scott being held by two burly Klingons while a third held a knife to his throat.

  “You heathen scum!” Scott said defiantly. “I found what you’re up to here! Mind spores!”

  “Exactly, human. Two of them in a planet’s atmosphere and within a day or two…” He laughed nastily. “The planet’s population has only half the brain power and are suitable for slaves!”

  “You did it here, closer to the inner Federation planets, because they spoil so easily,” Scott said.

  The Klingon laughed. “I should feed one to you, human, but I don’t have time. The first ship will arrive within a day. No, I’ll just cut your throat and—”

  Larek thumbed her phaser to “kill” and sent a shower of shots into the machinery. Then she moved it back to “stun” as the angry Klingons turned. Commander Scott kicked the feet out from under one who still held him, and gave him a right cross to the chin.

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  Page 121

  From page 120.

  It was Larek’s excellent shooting that downed the others. She ran out. “Are there more?” she snapped.

  Scott shook his head. “No, it’s an automated factory. Chekov and the others,” he pointed, “are down that way. The Klingons were going to test the first mind spores on them.”

  Larek shivered. “And the jamming station?”

  “Down there, too, I imagine. But first I must destroy—totally destroy—this factory.” He picked up his phaser from the unconscious Klingon leader. This was one time the destruction of machinery would please him.

  END

  Page 122

  From page 98.

  Zaarek, the Klingon on the viewscreen, looked wild with frustration and anger. “Those are renegades!” he snarled unconvincingly. “The Klingon Empire does not violate treaties!”

  Kirk smiled. He had shown the glowering Klingons in the brig to the commander of the Klingon vessel that had come out of warp drive only moments before.

  “Then why did you come here?” Kirk asked, almost sweetly.

  “To…to…to answer a distress call!”

  “I’m certain they will take that into consideration at your court-martial, Commander Zaarek.”

  “My court-martial?” His eyes flared in anger.

  “Yes, I believe the Klingon high command does not care for frustration of their plans. You are free to go,” Kirk said airily. His gaze shifted to Spock, who nodded slightly.

  “Oh, Commander,” Kirk said casually, as he saw Spock’s finger depress a button. A single powerful beam overcame the shields of the Klingon ship. A Klingon officer had quickly given the secret setting codes when Kirk had suggested casually that the Vulcan mind meld would drain the Klingon of all memory, leaving him a vegetable.

  “You forgot something,” Kirk smiled, talking to the Klingons as all six captured enemy were transported aboard, direct to their bridge.

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  Page 123

  From page 122.

  On the viewscreen, they saw the Klingon commander glaring at the shimmering forms of the disgraced Klingons appearing. Growling, he abruptly broke contact.

  Kirk sighed. “I feel rather sorry for them. They will suffer more at Klingon hands than at ours.” He looked at Spock. “Too bad we can’t use that decoding setting again sometime, but I imagine they’ll be resetting them all through the Klingon fleet.”

  “At considerable expense and discomfort,” Spock responded.

  “Couldn’t happen to a nicer bunch of blood-thirsty villains,” Kirk said. “Mister Sulu, set course for Starbase Six.”

  “Aye, aye, sir!”

  The Enterprise swung into course, then the stars blurred and ran like water as the great Federation ship went into warp drive.

  END

  Page 124

  From page 96.

  “Congratulations, Scotty,” Kirk said happily.

  “May I add my congratulations as well, Commander Scott,” Mister Spock said.

  “Are all the spores destroyed?” Dr. McCoy asked, looking around at the smoldering ruins of the Klingon factory.

  “Aye, every one. I made certain of that,” Scott said. “I’ve no wish to halve my mind, Doctor; I have precious little as it is.”

  “Chekov and the scientists, they’re all right?” Kirk asked McCoy.

  “Just fine, Jim. Just the usual headaches after being hit by phasers on ‘stun.’ Do you know, those Klingons were going to use them as test subjects?”

  “Yes, Bones, typical Klingon ruthlessness.” He flipped open his communicator. “Mister Sulu, beam us up!”

  END

  Page 125

  From page 114.

  “I’ll take the conn, Mister Sulu,” Admiral Kirk said, dropping wearily into his command chair.

  “Aye, aye, sir.” Sulu looked his superior over critically. “Pardon me, sir, but are you all right?”

  “A headache, Mister Sulu, the great mother of all headaches. And a few scrap
es and scratches.” He grinned lopsidedly. “And a vast delight in being alive.”

  Kirk thumbed a stud. “Sick bay. Doctor McCoy, report.”

  “Everyone’s all right, Jim, or will be, with a little rest. You’d better report in here, too.”

  Kirk sighed. “I’m fine, Bones. I’m just where I should be. I take it the archaeologists would not mind a trip to Starbase Six?”

  “Mind it? They’ll love it. They think they’ve been on Varda III for half their lives!”

  “Very well, Kirk out. Mister Sulu, Starbase Six.”

  “Aye, sir.”

  Admiral James T. Kirk settled back in his chair, his eyes on the screen that showed the vastness of space and the millions of stars, and felt sad.

  I’ll never visit them all, he thought. Then he grinned. But I can try.

  END

  Page 126

  From page 115.

  Captain Kirk stepped down from the transporter disk rubbing his temples. He saw several of his officers waiting for him, anxiety on their faces, and he forced a weak smile to his face. “And what is this reception committee, Lieutenant Nakashima?”

  The young officer looked nervous. “Sir, we, uh, we were worried about you.”

  Kirk’s smile widened. “Really, Mister Nakashima? Such a lack of faith.”

  “A lack of faith?” exclaimed Ensign Gottlieb incredulously.

  Kirk nodded. “That’s why they pay me the big bucks, Ensign, to come through.”

  Ensign Larek spoke up. “Sir, I cannot believe you are a Federation officer for the pay!”

  Kirk smiled again. “You’re right, Mister Larek, I don’t do it for the pay.” He looked at the young African medic. “Mister Moktar, why do you think I do it?”

  “It, sir? Risk your life?” Her smile was wide and brilliant. “Because you love it, sir.”

  “Mister Moktar, you are far too perceptive. You’ll make all your commanders nervous.” He stepped into the turbolift, then turned to face his officers. “By the way, you all did well. I’m proud of you.” The turbolift doors slid shut, and Narva Moktar looked at Lieutenant Nakashima and grinned.

  “Hey, that’s not bad at all.”

  “That’s what they pay us the big bucks for,” Nakashima answered.

  END