Valley Of Shadow #4

and liver were both damaged but posed no immediate threat to his life. Then he found it; a perforation in the stomach wall. Peritonitis would kill McCoylong before the ship could return. The cold truth sent a chill through him. McCoyhad tried to tell him it was hopeless but Spock had ,clung stubbornly to hope. .Nowhe realized it was hopeless. McCoy would die and he was powerless to ~top it. A cold hand gripped his heart. He.never really believed that his friend could die. Somehowthey had always managed to escape death. But not this time. And it would be neither quick nor painless. Only one thing could comfort the doctor. Ast~e peritonitis got worse, so. would the pain. Spock had to get the medikit back in camp. Gently, he withdrew from the void.

He was dizzy and nauseated. .' Trying to rise, Spock found his

-

legs unwillingly cramped. His blood pressure was too high so was his. temperature, but his r~spiration was less than half normal. With .effort, he managed to get to his feet and stagger away from the heat to the wall Q,f the cave. Bracing himself, he willed his body to return to normal, but strain and fatigue. overcame him and he collapsed on the

f1~or of the cavern.

'.

'* * * *

'''Capta.in's log.'

.'

Stardate 8946.5.

,

.

Nowthat was .a dull entry, Kirk mused. Nothing of interest

happenedsinc~ leaving Vogel II.

,

Weare proceeding at warp

two to rendezvous with. the Potemkin. Nothing further to report."

had

Usually he could count on one of the

:' lnfamous Spock/McCoydebates to 1iven things up. Without them, the .bridge was quiet, 'efficient, and... boring. Kirk swung the commandchair around slowly, surveying his domain. Scott~ had escaped' to the engine room.ear1y in the shUt, probably closeted with some technical journal or tinkering' with the engines. Uhura looked busy, hitting switches nowan~ the'n. Once he overheard' her tell ing Nurse Chapel about communication'garbage, radio signals from the past that still traveled through~spa~e and often shortened a humdrumshift. Chekov was a model of ~fficiency. With Spock gone, the ensign sat glued to the science computer screen. Not even space,dust was going to get by him without a thorough caan. Comingfull circle, he glanced at the black and brown heads of Su1u a.nd Hansen. They both seemed engrossed in a small piece of paper. Probably one of Su1uts mind games. Whywas it that everyone had something to do except the captain? '''Captain, message coming in from CommodoreWalsh, Starbase Top priority and scrambled." Uhura's soft voice startled him, coming out of the silence like "Put it.on visual, Lieutenant." 'that. The star field. was replaced by a stout man with thinning blond .

hair sitting behind a large desk. "Captain Kirk,

I

won't waste time.

There has been a new development regarding your mission to Vogel III. rhe Orion who was. brought into our medical faci1 ity regained consciousness and we we~, able to get some additional information. He did have what.~e think were tri1ithj~m crystals, but traded them for supplies at a ,KJ..:ingon outpost in Beta. sector'." i<1rk was ha1fway out of his chair. "K1ingon- territory? When? How long ago?"

.

"Our guess is that the K1ingons have had them for at least seven solar

days. II

.. 26.

Good God, a week! IICommodore,I have a survey party on that planet and they're not expecting trouble. Do the K1ingons knowwhere the cry~ta1 came from? Did the Orion tell them?1I Walsh shifted uneasily. "I don't know, Captain." IIWell, ask him!" Worry drove from Kirk's mind the fact that he was addressing his superior, but Walsh ignored the outburst. III'm afraid that's impossible. The Orion died less than an hour ago." Kirk had to get back there quickly. IIRequest permission to return to Vogel II at once." His mind was a1ready made up: he was going whether or not it was approved. IIRequest granted. Jim, do you want the Potemkin to follow yoU?" The commodore's concern and offer of help made Kirk regret his rudeness earlier. "I would like that very much, sir, and thank you." liVery well. You have my permission to make your ownarrangements with Captain Parash. It11 send him a confirmation. Good luck, Jim. Wa1sh out." There was probably nothing to worr; about. There had been no signs of K1ingons when they were orbiting Vogel, but that was 30 hours ago. To return at warp 6 would take IIMr. Su1u, lay in a course back to Vogel, warp 6. Mr. Chekov, howlong before we can expect to be there?" "At warp 6, we should reach the p1anpt in 9 hours, 27 minutes, sir.1I IlLieutenant Uhura, get me the captain of the Potemkin." What was happening back there? He'd probably end up charging in like a knight on a white horse only to find everything quiet and peaceful. Bones, and even Spock, would just love that. Hetd never hear the end of it. "Captain Parash on vi$ual, sir.1I .

The face on the screen was crinkled up in a wide grin.

IIJim!

It's

been a long time. Howabout a gameof squash when you get here?1I IISorry, Larry. I'm heading back to Vogel II and you're coming with me. II II

Huh?"

Quickly, Kirk filled Parash in on the situation, watching as the smile faded into a scowl of concern. "I'll be right behind hin, Jim. Wejust came back from an overhaul, so we should be able to hold warp 7 most of the way, but even then it will take about 13 hours. Sorry it can't be sooner. II Someoneibehind Parash caught hi s attention. IIJim, I'm getting a message fror Walsh. II must be the confirmation. I'll get back to you 1ater.1I "Thanks, Larry. Kirk out." As he leaned back in his chair he could almost taste the tension that now filled the silence. Howcould he have been so critical of the 7

dull routine only a few minutes ago? Hopefully, this would turn out tq be a wild goose chase...but

something inside told him it wasn't. * * * *

The glow of the cave silhouetted Spack's lean frame as he slipped the jersey over the sleeping physician's head. McCoywas quiet now. Earlier it had been different. Spack had been awakened by a tense scream that echoed off the ~avern walls. Moving to the doctorts side, he had found the man in the grip.of delirium, his face glistening with 27.

. - -- -. - - -. -

feverish sweat. McCoy's lips moved incessantly, forming words that were only partially audible. ' II II No...no... K1 1ngons. Spock had bent low over the doctor, 'trying to get through the delirium. IITheyare gone. The K1ingons are gone.1I '

,

IJMake it

,

stop..

.OH GOD! Make it

IIYouare safe.

It is 'over.1I

stop.1I

But Spock's words had not penetrated

the nightmare. McCoybegan to thrash violently. '

can't take anymore

.

,

,,'

IINo...p1ease, no...not

11

again...

'

The doctor had tried to sit up and Spock had to grab his shoulders

and pin them firmly to the floor. He had to keep the doctor quiet or the bleeding would start again. II'Don't touch me Jim, Spock...don't let her touch me...shelll die.1I The body in his grip trembled, trying desperately to push him away. The ,'struggle had seemed to last an eternity, Qut it was only minutes before McCoy had fallen into an exhausted s1'eep. Spock relaxed his hold,

finding his own hands shaking. Somewherein McCoy's tortured mind, K1ingons and Vians had combinedagainst him. Whichhad been worse? After leaving Minara, ~he doctor had' never discussed what actually happened to him there. It was a cldsed subject, but that could not erase the pain and terror Spock had felt through those shaking shoulders. McCoyhad. been willing to give up his life for him, but there could be no 'thank yous' between them. Be{ng Vu1can, Spock had kept humansat a diStance, 'but it was also a prison. Jim had somehowfound his way in, while McCoystood stubbornly at the door, waiting for Spock to open it. Whywas it so difficult to '

acknowledgeany feelings towards this man? The feelings were there.

'

Somehow,this emotional, illogical, irrascible humanhad become very important to him. There were so few he was close to, and in a few hours,

this one would be dead.

",

Sp<x:k's hand smoothed the still-warm jers'ey over the doctor'.~ chest. A subtle change in the heartbeat brought his eyes up to find McCoywatching him. The blue eyes were no longer delirious, but focused on his face. IIThis isn't heaven and you're certainly no angel. II He had a most illogical urge to laugh but suppressed it. One eyebrow raised in the familiar gesture. IIObvious1y.1I McCoy's eyes left his face"and traveled downalong Spock's arm to the hand resting over his heart. It was quickly removed. The blue '

,

,

'

eyes snapped shut, then. reopened with a different and guarded look.' ' Something in the doctor's contro11 ed expression warned him. IIAre you in pain?1I IIYeah. Some. It'll be all right.1I McCoyslowly surveyed his, souroundings and was puzz1ed. The trees were gone and there was no rushing stream nearby. The question of IiTs continued existence lay, unspoken, in the air. It was not a question Spock wanted to answer, nor was he certain he could. What justification could he give for prolonging McCoy's pain for a few more hours? The doctor was in pain -- a great deal of it -- although he was trying hard to hideU. It was imperative that Spock get, the drugs as soon as ' possible.

'

IIWi11you be all IIWhy?1I

right if I leave you for a whi1e?1I .. 28.

"I plan to return

to camp.

and the medical equipment. II

While I am there

I can obtain

some supplies

"It's too dangerous. II The earlier brightness in McCoy's voice was fading quickly and the pain was more evident in his expression. "We need those things to survive." "You mean I need them." The sentence was cut off between clenched teeth as McCoyturned his face away. The body on the floor became rigid, breaths coming in ragged gasps. Spock leaned forward. "Doctor, is there anything I can do?" The spasm took a while to pass, but McCoy's breathing remained uneven. "No. Stay here, Spock, don't go. I can handle it." That was a lie and the pain was going to get much worse. "Wemust also know what the Klingons are doing and how close they are to finding us. I will not take any unnecessary risks." McCoywas too weak to argue and seemed to accept that there was no way to stop him. "Go ahead. II He rose to leave, but as he reached the entrance, a quiet voice stopped him. "Spock? I don't know how you got me here, or have managed to keep me alive...but it can't last much longer. Spock, 1.. .1 " He could feel McCoysearching for the words that he did and yet did not want to hear. The doctor knew he was dying, but what words could bridge the gap of years and habit? Whatever it was, it would be either too much or too little and they both knew it.

". . . be careful

II .

Spock nodded and silently left the cave. After the heat of the cavern, the cold night air sent a chill through him. The moon was high, ducking in and out of passing clouds. McCoyhad wanted to tear down the wall that stood between them, but it had grown too high. The words would go unsaid. He looked back at the moon, its brightness lending a silver edge to the clouds. He hated this planet. It was not logical or reasonable, but he hated it nonetheless. The climb down was not difficult and he was careful to pick out landmarks so he could find his way back. Entering the forest, he moved swiftly to the edge of camp. Incindieries now burned where only the night before Gilder had lit his little campfire. The thought of the bright young lieutenant stung. There was no trace of the four bodies; now there were

three Klingons instead.

abling

He calculated

two of them without

there was an 87.6% chance of dis-

being injured

himself,

appreciably to 42.3% where three were concerned. .. 29.

-

but the odds dropped

Alone, he might have taken

the risk; but his death or capture would leave McCoyalone and he had promised the doctor he would return. Silently, the Vulcan picked his way to the back of the supply shelter and slipped inside. He stood motionless as his eyes adjusted to the almost total darkness. Most of the equipment, including the bed rolls, was gone. As he searched the remnants, he came across some vegetable meals which were put aside. Finally, his fingers glided over the familiar medikit, but the medical tricorder was nowhere to be found. Scooping up the food, medikit and a canteen, he left the shelter and started back through the woods. There was no point taking food or water for McCoysince he wasn't allowed to have them. Spock was almost to the stream when he heard voices coming toward him. He quickly hid the supplies and climbed into a tree just as two Klingons came into sight. They were too busy arguing to see him. As they approached his hiding place, the moon chose that moment to break free of the clouds and filter through to the valley floor. He sank back into the shadows of the foliage. The two men stopped below him. The commander was young and tall. The shorter man at his side was watching the moon, ignoring his superior's words. "The captain is upset and he has every right to be. We haven't exactly made a glowing success of this mission." The small man was not impressed. "They couldn't have gone far; that Earther was in no shape to travel. If he had died or was left behind, we would have found him by now. We'll. get them tomorrow." "And just how many is 'them'?" The sarcasm in the young commander's voice was heavy. "The human said there weren't any others. I thought you knew what you were doing." "If I ever get my hands on him again, you can be sure he will never tell me another lie." The tall man laughed cynically. "That's just great. What do you propose we do in the meantime? If you hadn't killed that ensign, against my orders, we would have the information by now. Oh no, 'one captive is all I need' you said, a.nd what did you get from him? Nothing!" The lieutenant spun angrily on his commander. "Look, Kopel, you're the one that stopped me this afternoon. A few more minutes and I would have broken him; but ~ couldn't take it any longer. How's that going to look on your recorCf?" Kopel was not backing down. "A few more minutes and he would have been dead. That's what you wanted, wasn't it? You weren't even giving him a chance to answer. You were using him, just as you've used me for your own twisted purposes, but that's at an end. I am in commandhere and I've had it with you. Kultor needs the information he sent us for, and I'm going to get it even if it means sacrificing every member of this 1andi ng party." "You haven't got the guts." "Don't be too sure. You've been a good teacher, Keck," The lieutenant took a small step backward, then turned and stomped off toward the camp. Kopel watched him leave, standing very straight, th€n followed slowly. Once they were out of $ight, Spock dropped to the ground, picked up the cache of supplies and made his way to the stream. It only took a moment to fill the canteen and, as he headed upstream, he took extra care

30.