STAR TREK - TOS - Death's Angel

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Death's Angel by Kathleen

Sky

Chapter One

Medical Log, Stardate 6914.6, Dr. Leonard McCoy reporting

It's been ten days since the return of the survey party from Delta Gamma Four, and as yet the survivors

have not regained consciousness. Included among the survivors were both the Captain and the First

Officer. Three members of the survey party-Security Officer Jamison, Security Officer Matthews, and

Medical Technician 2nd Miriam Raymondhave all died of massive cerebral breakdown due to spore

infestation. I've been able to rid the remaining survey team members of the spores, and there is no

evidence of brain damage in any of them, yet there remains this strange coma, for which I have no

explanation

Dr. McCoy had told James Kirk on more than one occasion that his presence was totally unnecessary in

a survey team on an unfamiliar planet. But Jim would laugh, complain of itchy spacelegs, and cheerfully

beam himself off into the unknown. On the occasion of the Delta Gamma exploration, Dr. McCoy had

been only too correct in voicing his objections.

One of the great difficulties of planetary exploration is that it is only possible to visit a small fraction of a

planet in a given timespan; it sometimes requires several expeditions before the nature of the planet can

be adequately assessed. This particular planet had been visited only briefly by one scouting expedition, in

the dead of winter, in the southern hemisphere. The Enterprise party landed in the northern hemisphere in

high summer. The area that the Enterprise picked seemed perfect; there was adequate water supply,

plants, lower life formsa truly marvelous place for a potential colony.

The planet was located in that band of space between the Federation and the Klingon Empire, and the

Organian Treaty made it to the Federation's advantage to discover and colonize as many planets as

possible, to keep them out of Klingon hands. When the Federation found that the Enterprise was passing

close to the Delta Gamma system on its usual rounds, orders were given that an exploratory party be sent

down to the fourth planet, which seemed the most suitable for a Federation colony.

Captain Kirk and Mr. Spock had reported from the planet's surface that everything seemed in order.

Kirk had even waxed poetic over the beauty of the quadrant they were exploring, and had raved for

several minutes about the distant fields of blue poppies that stretched to the horizon. He had, in a burst of

whimsy, nicknamed them "Oz poppies." They were not truly flowers, as Mr. Spock was quick to point

out, they were something not quite animal and not quite plantmindless, yet possessed of a fascinating

beauty. They had an undulating motion which caused the fields of flowers to look almost like ocean

waves, and Kirk had not been able to resist ordering the survey party to explore that expanse of beautiful

yet deadly creatures.

The survey party had wandered freely through the fields of blossoms, and reports from the surface never

made it clear whether it was the action of the people crushing the plant-beings underfoot, or simply some

normal part of their life cycle, which caused the massive clouds of spores to rise suddenly and begin

choking the crew; but the end result was a sudden cessation of conversation from the survey party, and

Captain Kirk's feeble, half-delirious cry for help before his voice ceased altogether.

A rescue party had been sent down clad in protective clothing, and the nine-member survey team was

brought back to the Enterprise . They were all in a state of coma, and nothing McCoy did could change

that fact. He had watched with horror the convulsive, painful deaths of three crewmembers, and had

been utterly helpless to stop them.

The deaths had occurred within the first twenty-four hours of the survey party's return to the Enterprise .

Autopsies had revealed the presence of spores from the poppies packed tightly into every vein and

capillary of their brains. McCoy had quickly prepared antibodies for the survivors and soon was able to

report the complete absence of spores in any of them. He could find no abnormal toxins in their systems,

but there was something very, very wrong with the Delta Gamma Four landing party. In the subsequent

nine days, there had been no change in the conditions of his patients.

McCoy wandered aimlessly from bed to bed, reading the life-support panels. Captain Kirk, Mr. Spock,

Dr. M'Benga, Dr. Carter, Security Officer Robinson, and Biologist Temple remained exactly the same.

The life-support systems read perfectly normal; pulse, respiration, and blood pressure normal; blood

chemistries normal. There was nothing whatsoever wrong with them, except they did not wake up.

McCoy had tried every possible stimulant known, and there had been no visible success. He had even,

out of desperation, attempted the use of a depressant; that too had done nothing. He had run

blood-chemistry readings looking for hallucinogenics; again, nothing.

McCoy could do nothing but pace and curse James Kirk's insistence on going along with the survey

party. The ship could technically spare either Captain Kirk or Mr. Spock, but to have both of them

incapacitated was a calamity. Scotty, of course, was in command of the ship and was doing an excellent

job. Fortunately, there had been no Klingon attempt to contest their exploration of Delta Gamma Four,

and McCoy had a nagging suspicion that the Klingons might have known a great deal more about the

planet than the Federationand that James Kirk's "Oz poppies" might be the reason the Klingons had been

in no hurry to claim Delta Gamma Four as their own.

The door to the medical ward slid open and Nurse Christine Chapel entered, carrying a tray with the

equipment for taking more blood samples. Her face had for ten days worn an expression of anxiety, and

McCoy, noticing that she went to Spock's bed first, knew the reason for that anxiety. The Vulcan might

at any moment die of the same massive hemorrhage that had killed the other crewmembers, and there

was nothing McCoy or Chapel could do to stop it.

McCoy watched the nurse take the blood samples one by one; and then, when she asked, "Is there

anything we haven't tested for?" he was only able to shake his head and sigh. He had no answer.

He walked over to the side of Jim Kirk's bed and reached out to touch his captain's face. Kirk twitched

slightly at the stimulus but did not awaken.

"What is it? What could it be? McCoy said, knowing that even voicing his frustration was useless. If the

Captain and the rest of the party came out of the coma, it would be in their own time, and not from

anything he could do. He turned and watched Chapel leave the room, knowing that her next few hours of

work would be utterly futile. But he was also aware that she found relief in doing something . He was

past the point of finding any satisfaction in make-work; there was nothing to do but pace and wait.

The communicator panel on the wall whistled for his attention; when he flicked it on, he heard the

reassuring voice of Lt. Cdr. Scott. "McCoy, would you come up to the Captain's cabin for a moment or

two? I'd like to have a talk with youthat is, if you're not in the middle of doing something important for the

Captain." Scotty's voice held an edge of hope. His faith in Dr. McCoy's ability to come up with cures

was sincere and also very touching.

"No, the situation's the same, Scotty. But unless it's very important, I'd prefer you come down here. I

hate to be awayyou know, just in case"

"Aye, if I were in your place, I'd feel the same. I'll be down in a moment. Scott out."

McCoy thumbed the communicator panel off and walked out of the ward into his office. He preferred to

have his conversation with Scotty away from those six quiet, accusing bodies. While waiting for the

engineer, he absentmindedly shuffled some papers and signed two medical requisition forms. Even this

minutiae of his normal routine seemed utterly pointless.

Scotty came into the office wearing the burden of command heavily on his shoulders. Scott was an

engineer, not a starship captain.

"I was wanting to know, Doctor, when you were planning to leave this accursed planet and get the

captain and the others to a proper medical lab. I'm getting more than a little itchy, hanging about here and

waiting for the Klingons to show up. I don't feel up to a fight with those laddies, with the Captain lying

cold and stilland I'm sure you feel the same."

"I know, but we've been over this before. I keep thinking the answer to our problem lies down there on

Delta Gamma Four, and if we leave here, we lessen our chances of finding out what's wrong with the

Captain."

"But man, you've sent out a survey team every day!" Scotty exploded. "I canna be risking it anymore! I

know they've got protective clothing; I know they're shielded; but they've found nothing. They've done

every test possible to those stinking plants, they've done everything but bring them aboard the ship, and I

willna have thatI willna have the entire crew sleeping like Captain Kirk." Scotty was working himself into

a rage, and McCoy knew it was entirely justified.

"I still have some hope of finding out what those spores were up to," McCoy said. "Dr. Rigel was on that

last search team, and she feels the connection is something in the makeup of those rodents she found. She

says they're telepathic or pretty damn close to it. But the only thing they seem to respond to is the spores.

Ruth wants to run a few more tests down there.

Maybe she's got something it's more than I have"

"I canna see how telepathic mice will help us none. If we canna communicate with the wee beasties, it's a

bloody waste of time, Doctor. I dinna care about mice! My only concern is for the Captain and the rest

of them puir souls a lyin' so still in there."

"But the rodents might be an answer! Ruth says there's some sort of symbiotic relationship between the

poppies and the animals, and if she can just figure out what it is"

"All right, all right. I gave you and your vet a few more days, but you had no results for me worth the

mention. I'm takin' the Enterprise out of orbit, and that's my final word on the subject."

The Doctor had insisted they remain in orbit- around Delta Gamma Four, and he had a right to insist on

that precaution; but after ten days and no success, it was beginning to seem futile. Scotty was probably

right. Dr. Ruth Rigel had found nothing of any help in the rodents' behavior, and McCoy was able to say

with certainty that there were no spores left in the bodies of the Delta Gamma party. They should get the

Captain and the others to a proper medical facility.

McCoy buried his head in his hands and murmured, "I know you're right, but I keep thinking that in one

more day we might find something. That's Jim in there! I'm so afraid of risking his life"

"And are you not risking it by staying here?"

"His condition is stable; it's exactly the same as when he came on board. Oh, I don't know, I just don't

know!" McCoy slammed his fist suddenly onto his desk. "You don't understand how helpless I feel,

Scotty. I'm a doctor, I'm supposed to heal, I'm supposed to cure people, and I can't do anything! I'm

helpless as a five-year-old with Down's syndrome. There's nothing I can do, and the agony of it is more

than I can stand."

Scotty looked alarmed and hastened to the other side of the desk to put one hand reassuringly across the

doctor's shoulders. "There, there. We know you're doing all you can. And I know it's a terrible burden.

But we canna hang here doing nothing. Do you think it's easy on me? Why, I can't even tell my top from

my bottom anymore. I'm supposed to be an engineer and a captain both at the same time; the pub

engines are suffering at the hands of my second-in-command who's a good lad, but he's not me! And

there I am, sitting up there in Jim Kirk's place, knowing I haven't the guts or the gall to be a proper

captainand I'm so muddled about that I can't even remember when I've signed the fuel consumption sheet

or not! There I was, fashing my poor yeoman over it, until she pointed out I had signed the thing Why, I

canna even finish a cup of tea without someone needing me for something. Sulu and Chekov are as

hangdog as a couple of common criminals, and Uhura does nothing but sit at her console and sniffle. The

whole lot of them's gone to Hell in a handbasket, and it's up to you to do something about it, or to get the

Captain and Mr. Spock and the rest of them to someone who can do something!"

"Doctor, Doctor! Come quickly!" Nurse Chapel burst into the office, her face alive once more. "They're

waking up! They're waking up!" She grabbed McCoy by the front of his uniform, shaking him. "Hurry!

Mr. Spock and Captain Kirk are waking up!"

McCoy reacted so swiftly in leaping from his recliner that his shirt was torn. It didn't matter. Captain Kirk

was waking up. He ran into the hospital ward with Scotty and Chapel at his heels.

The six people in the ward were showing various signs of awakening. Jeff Carter was stretching, catlike;

and Spock had turned over and curled up in a childlike pose. Captain Kirk was sitting up on one elbow,

staring at the wall across from his bed, a strange expression of mingled horror and surprise on his face.

McCoy skidded to a stop at the side of Jim's bed. "Jim! Jim, are you all right?"

James Kirk turned slowly to stare at his medical officer. He blinked once or twice and ran an exploratory

tip-of-tongue around his lips. "Am I awake, Bones?" he asked weakly. "Am I really awake?"

Chapter Two

Dr. McCoy swiftly ordered neurological tests for the survivors of the landing party. Dr. M'Benga had

had the most difficulty in coming fully awake and seemed too dazed to even understand where he was.

Spock had simply sat up on the edge of his medical bed and pronounced himself fit. The person who

worried McCoy the most was Captain Kirk.

James Kirk seemed to be suffering from a difficulty in recognizing the reality of his waking state. The

neurological tests revealed nothing whatsoever wrong with him; a complete Sigmund showed only that he

had developed a mild terror of sleeping at night and some irregularity in his REM pattern. There was

nothing to indicate that he was unfit to resume his duties as captain of the Enterprise and, with great

reluctance, McCoy released him from Sick Bay. The other survivors of the party he insisted on keeping

in check and observing.

Mr. Spock was annoyedif such a word could be used to describe an attitude in a Vulcanby McCoy's

excessive solicitousness, and more than once complained that he knew he was back to normal and

perfectly capable of resuming his duties. Bobby Robinson, the security officer, was returned to light duty;

his superior, Lt. Cdr. Greg Collier, put the man to work handling some of the paperwork of the security

department. It was as though the entire Enterprise was collectively holding its breath while watching for

any sign of peculiarity or loss of ability on the part of the survey crew.

Captain Kirk in particular felt pained by the crew's lack of confidence. He was aware that there was

something wrong, and that he, Spock, M'Benga, Jeff Carter, Grace Temple, and Bobby Robinson had

not been the same since their adventures on Delta Gamma Four.

There was nothing Jim Kirk could point to and say, "This is how I am not the man I was before I went

down to the planet"; there was no piece of his mind missing, no lack of awareness of his abilities or his

position. But there was a problem of occasionally finding himself dozing in his command chair. When he

would yank himself back to attention, he would realize to his dismay that no one on the Bridge had even

noticed he'd been nodding. Indeed, when he questioned Sum or Chekov about the brief catnaps, both

men denied that the Captain had in any way appeared asleep.

Kirk took his problem to Dr. McCoy, and a twenty-four-hour EEG reading was tried. There were

several occurrences of those strange catnaplike sensations, but the EEG readings indicated James Kirk

had been wide awake. He admitted that he could be mistaken, but there was still a strange feeling that he

could not control falling asleep at odd moments.

Leonard McCoy pointed out one other slight discrepancy in the EEG readings when Captain Kirk was

indeed asleep, his REM, or Rapid Eye Movement, readingsindicative of the dream statewere much more

intense than those from earlier tests taken a year before during Kirk's regular physical. McCoy ran similar

tests on the other members of the survey party and found the same pattern. They all showed evidence of

much more intense dreaming. Yet when questioned about their dreams, they could not remember them,

not even the simple ramblings of the subconscious mind attempting to resolve the problems of the

conscious mind while in the dream state.

Kirk, getting no satisfaction from McCoy, talked to Spock about the problem and found that the First

Officer was also troubled by the problem of dreams.

"Captain," Spock had said, "I have a theory that there was something the spores were trying to make us

do for themsome form of pollination, I suspectbut we are now free of them and only an echo of their

command lingers. I am sure it will disperse in time."

"Yes, Dr. Rigel said something about that to me. She said the spores traveled to new meadows using the

telepathic rodents. It seems we've just been mistaken for rats, or something like them. Not an amusing

thought, eh, Spock?"

"No, Captain, it is not amusing. Three crewmen died because of those spores, and the rodents the

rodents did not travel, they only dreamed. Dr. Rigel's tests proved that to my satisfaction. The rodents

spread the spores but did not move from the area. Also the rodents were telepathic and spent most of

their lives dreaming. I wonder what a creature of so low an intelligence factor dreams of. Most curious."

"I wish I didn't dream," Kirk said. "I seem to be the only one out of the whole survey party who does

dream. McCoy can't figure that out at all. At least I think I dream. I can't tell half the time if I'm even

asleep or not. Tell me, Spock, do you dream too?"

The Vulcan looked away for a moment, and Kirk was not sure he would answer. "Yes, Captain, I

dream. But I wish I did not have such a talent. Dreams are not for Vulcans. I wish for no more dreams

for either of us. Dreaming is illogical."

After several weeks, McCoy was forced to admit that the incident was over. He had no conclusions;

whatever had happened on Delta Gamma Four would simply be filed under unknown phenomena. A

report would be forwarded to Star Fleet Headquarters that Delta Gamma Four was definitely unsuitable

as a colony planet.

It had been a month and a half since the abortive exploration of Delta Gamma Four, and the ship had

returned to normal. The crew, to all intents and purposes, had returned to its usual well-functioning unity.

There were no major difficulties. Grace Temple reported a weight gain; Bobby Robinson demanded a

return to active duty; and Jeff Carter picked a fight over a chess game with Spock, but McCoy filed

these data as trivial. McCoy, Kirk, and Spock had all congratulated one another that the episode was

now conveniently behind them, and the Enterprise resumed its quiet patrolling of its assigned quadrant of

space.

Captain Kirk sat in his command chair, Dr. McCoy standing at his side, Spock at his science console,

and everything on the Bridge was completely normal. There was a bleeping sound from Lt. Uhura's

communicator panel as it lit up to indicate a top-priority message coming in from Star Fleet. Lt. Uhura

adjusted her earphone and listened intently, her head tilted to one side. She murmured a few words of

confirmation and then turned to face her captain.

"Sir, we've been rerouted to Star Base Seven. It seems that we're going to get some guests, important

guests." Uhura smiled slightly, a bitter edge to her voice. "They're going to saddle us with more

ambassadors, sir."

Kirk swiveled in his seat to face the Communications Officer. "What is it now? A blather session on

Babel? If I have to put up with another group of ambassadors running amok on my ship, I swear I'll

resign my command and take up captaining a garbage scow. It's both quieter and a lot less smelly."

There were sounds of stifled laughter from a number of the officers on the Bridge. Only Mr. Spock

looked disapproving. "May I remind you, sir," he said, "that on that particular journey to Babel, one of

the ambassadors on board this ship was my own father and while I admit that his medical condition did

lead to some difficulty, I fail to see why you would feel the necessity of resigning your command rather

than deal with such a situation again. We are, after all, a Federation starship, and we are expected to

handle whatever the Federation assigns us. That is only logical, sir"

Kirk chuckled. "I was being facetious, Spock, and as usual forgot to take into consideration your

intensely literal mind. No, I've no intention of resigning my command but I do wish it wasn't a group of

ambassadors, nor that we were going to Babel."

"But sir," Lt. Uhura said, "it's not Babel we're assigned to. We've been given the job of taking a

delegation of Federation ambassadors to a special meeting place which has been established in the

Romulan Neutral Zone. This meeting is for the purposes of a possible detente with the Romulans."

There was a silence on the Bridge as each person considered the implications of such a detente.

Chapter Three

Captain's Log, Stardate 6968.4;

Announcement of a potential detente with the Romulans has caused considerable friction among my

crew. I realize, of course, from my own feelings, that such a peace with our erstwhile enemies would not

be an easy thing to accept quickly. I have noticed indications that members of my crew have been

quarreling, and there's even a possibility that such quarrels have led to physical violence. This morning,

Dr. Jeffrey Carter of the ship's medical department was sporting a spectacular black eye, which he

insisted he got by walking into a door. I was not able to get any other explanation from anyone in the

medical department.

My concern at the moment is that we will be adding to the volatile situation on the Enterprise an as yet

unknown number of Federation ambassadors. Potential for violence is already present. The ambassadors

may serve as additional fuel. I remember too well other occasions when the Enterprise carried Federation

representatives and the chaos such visitors can cause. My only hope is that my senior officers can behave

with the dignity expected of them, and will preserve tranquility as best they can. As for the ambassadors,

I will have very little control over thembut I must admit to a feeling of confidence and relief when I was

informed that their senior representative was Ambassador Sarek of Vulcan.

Star Base Seven resembled a cross between an Oriental bazaar and a zoo run amok. Captain Kirk and

Mr. Spock wandered the corridors of the Federation Embassy on their way to a meeting with

Ambassador Sarek. Kirk was finding it very difficult not to gawk at some of the strange and exotic

creatures parading the hallways. There was one being, a bright yellow lobster, who he swore had to be at

least three meters long; Kirk watched nervously as it slithered down the corridor on its tiny legs. The

creature's gigantic claws, clicking in rhythm with its speech pattern, were less than reassuring. However,

when Kirk got a closer look at its companion, even the lobster didn't worry him very much. The other

ambassador was a gigantic gray cat, with enormous fangs and yellow, narrow-slit eyes with a gleam of

fanaticism. Something in the creature's body language made Kirk feel very nervous and very, very

frightened.

"Spock, what do you make of those two we just passed?"

Spock stopped, turned slightly to gaze after the now-receding figures, and said, "What do you wish to

know, Captain? Their names? Characteristics? I am capable of telling you about both beings. The large

crustacean is Ambassador Telson of the planet Manteiga; he's quite a pleasant gentleman, my father

approves of him immensely. His work in the Federation Council has been known to be both moderate

and intelligent . So if you are having a typical Terran reaction to something outlandish in appearance, you

may relax; there's nothing to worry about. It is my hope, indeed, that Ambassador Telson is assigned to

the Enterprise . He is a being of great intelligence, and he and I will have many things to discuss. He is

also a Grandmaster chess player."

"How very reassuring," Kirk said with a half-sigh. "But I notice you said nothing about his companion.

Any reason for that, Spock?"

Spock frowned and appeared to be considering just what to say. It was as though his natural Vulcan

reluctance to commit himself to an unpleasant statement was struggling with his Vulcan respect for the

truth. Finally, it seemed the truth won out. "Ambassador Neko, from Gyuunyuu, is not considered to be

reasonable. He is difficult to deal with, my father says."

Spock had ceased speaking, and Kirk, anxious for more information, grabbed his elbow and said, "Out

with it, Spock. You know more than you're saying. There's something about that ambassador that's fishy.

I want to know about it. Given the tensions we have on the Enterprise, I don't want a repeat of finding a

dead ambassador on my ship."

"Captain, I cannot swear to the statements I am about to makeand I have an aversion to gossip. But I will

say that the ambassador has very sharp claws, which he has been known to trim on his fellow

ambassadorsand I do not mean that figuratively, sir."

Spock had retreated into his most rigid Vulcan mode, and Kirk knew he would get nothing further out of

the Vulcan concerning Ambassador Neko. But James Kirk knew that if he had any choice, that particular

ambassador would not be on board the Enterprise .

James Kirk found out very quickly that the choice of which ambassadors would be assigned to the

Enterprise was not his to make.

The office that had been temporarily assigned to Ambassador Sarek was quite comfortable. It was

decorated in soft shades of blue and green, and there was an ocean motif to the upholstery on the

furniture. The wall facing the door had been decorated with a beautiful mural of dolphins and mermaids

and other sea creatures, and the massive driftwood desk was topped with a sandstone slab and a

beautiful piece of blue coral, sculpted into the shape of a water nymph.

Kirk found himself wondering how the Vulcan ambassador, used to a dry, arid world, was reacting to all

this emphasis on ocean around himand then realized that to Sarek the decor probably meant very little.

The ambassador was seated at the desk, busily shuffling a large stack of papers. He looked up as Spock

and Kirk approached and then stood to acknowledge their presence. He shook hands with the Captain

and reached out to grip his son's elbow. Spock, moved by the gesture, took steps to control his features

as best he could and returned the grip, murmuring a Vulcan greeting.

"Now, gentlemen," Sarek said, "if you will be seated, I will continue reviewing this manifest for the

Enterprise . It's a listing of the ambassadors who will be traveling aboard your vessel, and I was

reviewing their opinions regarding the Romulan detente." The ambassador seated himself again, and

Spock pulled two large seashell-shaped chairs into position in front of the desk. He indicated the one on

the left for the Captain, and then seated himself.

"We met two of the ambassadors in the hallway," Kirk said. "Spock informed me that they were

Ambassadors Neko and Telson."

"I beg to differ with the Captain," Spock said. "We did not meet either ambassadorwe merely passed

them in the hall. There is a difference."

Kirk grinned slightly, realizing that Spock was being especially Vulcan for his father's benefit. "I stand

correctedas my First Officer has stated, we did merely pass the ambassadors in the hall. Spock seemed

quite impressed by Ambassador Telson, and I hope he'll be included in that group of ambassadors

assigned to the Enterprise ."

"Oh yes," Sarek replied, "Telson is a very old and dear friend, and I insisted on his presence on the

Enterprise . He is, like myself, a moderate, and his voice will be very important in the upcoming meeting.

But you did not mention the other ambassador. Has my son told you anything about Neko?"

Kirk glanced quickly at his First Officer. Spock, his fingers steepled, seemed to be studying intently the

blue coral carving on his father's desk. It was obvious he was not going to reply to the question. "I was

given the impression, sir," Kirk said, trying to be very precise and careful about what he said, "that

Ambassador Neko can beI believe the word was 'difficult.' I would appreciate your opinion of him; and

if he is, shall we say, difficult, is it possible to keep him out of the group assigned to my ship and let some

other captain deal with the difficulty ?"

Sarek had steepled his fingertips in a gesture so like Speck's that the Captain realized where his First

Officer had gotten that affectation. If it had been possible, Ambassador Sarek would have smiled.

Instead, he merely lifted one eyebrow in an expression that was the Vulcan equivalent of amusement.

"My son has the makings of an excellent diplomat. I would not have used the word 'difficult' in regard to

Neko; I would have used the words 'utterly impossible.' I quite agree with you, CaptainI do not wish

Neko aboard the Enterprise . But unfortunately"

Sarek shuffled the manifest sheets again until one rested on the top. Even upside down and from where

Kirk sat, he could see that it had Neko's name on it. "Ambassador Neko is a fanatic, and he dislikes

Romulans," Sarek continued. "I might also add that he extends that dislike to Vulcans. There is something

about our pointed earsI think he finds them offensive."

Kirk glanced swiftly at the ambassador's face in hopes the man was making some kind of joke, but it was

obvious that Sarek did not and would not make any sort of joke about this subject, or any other.

"Then there's no way we can keep him off the Enterprise ? I thought, sir, since you were officially in

charge of the party, you would have some voice"

"Indeed, but I have included Neko for one very good reason. There are two ambassadors included in the

group traveling on your vessel that are able to control him. One is Ambassador Telson, whom you have

already encountered, and the other is Ambassador Karhu. I am not sure you have met him, Captain, or

even passed him in the hallway. He is from the planet Hunaja and can be quite a fearsome creature in his

own way. He is also a moderate. Karhu and Telson are the only two beings that I have ever found

capable of making Neko listen to reason. Of course they have a very simple methodif he will not listen to

reason, they utilize force. And both of them are capable of dealing with Neko's rather unpleasant method

of debate." Kirk remembered Spock's comment about Ambassador Neko's use of his claws. He sighed,

spread his hands in a gesture of resignation. "Well then, it appears that we have Ambassador Neko."

"Yes, and twelve others, including myself. That makes thirteen." Sarek paused, eyeing Kirk. "I do hope,

Captain, you do not suffer from the Terran flaw of superstition. It would be so inconvenient. I have

handpicked the group of ambassadors traveling on the Enterprise , in hopes that they will be a balance,

each to the other. And that also the time spent in travel might be well utilized in discussion of this situation.

I assure you on my honor as a Vulcan that there will be no unpleasantness to mar this journey. I too

remember very well the last time a group of ambassadors traveled on board your ship, and it is very

much to my dishonor that that trip was not pleasant. I shall attempt to rectify the situation."

"I hope you're right, Mr. Ambassador. My crew is already in a state of ferment over this proposed

detente. Tempers are running high, and it wouldn't take much to cause a major disturbance. I'm not

happy about the situation." Kirk paused, trying to think of the best way of admitting his problem. "I know

it appears that I should have better control of my own crew, but as your son can explain to you at a later

time, the Enterprise underwent a traumatic incident several weeks ago in our exploration of the planet

Delta Gamma Four, and while there are no residual ill effects, there is still a question of normalizing my

crew's morale. It was almost perfect until the announcement of the Romulan detente. I do not want a

situation on board my ship that could lead to anarchy or mutinyand I am counting on you, sir, to make

sure the ambassadors you've chosen assist me in maintaining calm aboard my ship."

Sarek nodded end again shuffled the stack of papers; he then neatly aligned them and handed them to the

Captain. "You'd best read these; they will give you some idea of what you will be encountering, and it will

familiarize you with the general characteristics of your passengers. There is to be a reception this evening

for the group chosen to be aboard the Enterprise , and you'll have a chance to meet them all. I would like

you to read the psychological surveys of each ambassador, Captain; I would like to avoid any

unpleasantness, or potential faux pas, on your part. You see, this group of ambassadors is quite alien, as

you will see."

It was obvious that the interview was over. Kirk rose, as did his First Officer. "Spock, if you would care

to stay here, or," Kirk swiftly amended, "if your father wishes to discuss anything with you, I would be

perfectly amenable to your being away from the Enterprise until later this evening."

Spock glanced at his father, noted the ambassador's brief nod of acceptance, and said, "I would

appreciate such a leave, Captain. I will see you at the reception later."

Chapter Four

Captain Kirk had asked Dr. McCoy, Mr. Scott, and Lt. Uhura to join him for the reception at the

embassy, and he was very pleased to see that his officers had made their best effort to look as smart as

possible for the delegates. Scotty was in full family kilt, red velvet jacket, sporran and all; Dr. McCoy

was particularly distinguished in his full dress uniform. But it was Lt. Uhura who quite stole the show. The

woman was wearing a cinnamon silk-chiffon sari, shot with gold, that displayed a great deal of her not

inconsiderable charms. Kirk was quite pleased with the turnout and positive that his group would outdo

the representatives of any of the other eight starships waiting to carry ambassadors to the rendezvous

point in the Romulan Neutral Zone.

The ballroom of the Federation Embassy was gigantic, and for a moment, Captain Kirk felt as though he

had walked into the middle of a giant caucus race straight out of Alice In Wonderland . The room was

packed with hundreds of aliens of every size, shape, and conceivable physical description. For a moment

he wondered just how he'd recognize his own group of travelers. He began scanning the room for some

sign of Ambassador Sarekand then he realized how cleverly the ballroom had been designed. What

appeared to be a large open space was actually divided into sections by crystal banners that hung from

the ceiling to the floor, marking out the gathering point for each ship. The room had an openness that

would allow the various ambassadors to move from section to section and would avoid any sense of

claustrophobia. Yet the sections had also been clearly marked with a design, woven into the floor

covering, of the insignia of each of the selected Federation vessels. Kirk gathered his group together and

started moving toward the part of the room where he could see the design that denoted the Enterprise .

Spock materialized at his elbow, as if from the crystal banners themselves. "My father sent me to make

sure that you did not get lost, Captain. This affair does appear to be quite crowded." Spock wrinkled his

nose slightly. "They have allowed a number of the staff members of the embassies to be present to meet

the local celebrities. It's not often that the whole Federation diplomatic corps is gathered in one place at

one time."

"Aye," Scotty said, "and it seems to me a dangerous thing. When you consider that they're all going to be

together on one little station in the middle of the Romulan Neutral Zone, all it would take for those laddies

would be to drop a wee clutch of photon bombs and, poof, there goes the Federation and its diplomats."

"I'm afraid you are in error, Mr. Scott," Spock replied. "You must understand that there is a considerable

difference between the diplomatic corps and the Federation Council itself. The corps merely advises; the

Council legislates. While some ambassadors are also on the Council, such as Sarek and Telson, that is

not universally the case. If we were to lose every creature in this room, including ourselves, the

Federation would still continue."

"Are you saying, Mr. Spock, that diplomats are unnecessary?" McCoy was being deliberately

provocative; he waited for the Vulcan's answer, enjoying himself immensely.

Spock frowned and considered the comment. "Not useless, Doctor, but certainly expendable. However,

should the Romulans attempt to destroy the Federation's ambassadors, they would harm only themselves.

The result of such an aggressive action would only be automatic warsomething the Romulans obviously

do not wish. The very fact that they have agreed to a detente meeting proves that."

"I quite agree," Kirk said. "The Romulans, whatever we feel about them, are no fools. A Klingon might

decide to destroy the whole diplomatic corps simply because he was a Klingonbut not the Romulans. I

feel that this detente meeting really is something they want. In all my dealings with them, I've found them

to be at least honorablestubborn, bullheaded, but honorable."

Thanks to Spock's judicious steering of the group through the mob, they easily reached the area marked

out for the Enterprise . Kirk swiftly spotted Ambassador Sarek, and with him an extremely beautiful

woman. She was a pale shimmery sky blue, her slender naked body iridescent with fish scales; her eyes

were enormous, clear, and beautiful as faceted aquamarines, and her hair, hip-length, the same color as

her eyes. The ambassador swiftly made introductions.

"Captain Kirk, I would like you to meet Sirenia, ambassador of the planet Cetacea. I think you will find

her quite charming company, and well able to introduce you to the rest of our group. I fear I must be

excused; I am to receive some last-minute instructions from the head of the diplomatic corps. If you will

excuse me," Sarek executed a perfect bow, "I shall join you on the Enterprise later this evening."

With that, the tall Vulcan took his leave, moving gracefully through the crystal panels toward a throne-like

platform at one end of the room. Captain Kirk recognized the being seated on the throne as Marmeluke

of Antares, the chief of the diplomatic corps.

Kirk turned to the lovely ambassador at his side and realized on closer inspection that the woman was

not, as he had first thought, nude; she was wearing body jewelry of pearls and aquamarines which

blended almost perfectly with the slightly scaled quality of her skin.

"I am so pleased, Captain Kirk, that Ambassador Sarek has entrusted me to this position. I shall do my

best to please." Her voice was as gentle and soft as seafoam, and Kirk realized his interest in meeting any

other ambassadors was fast fading.

"If you would be so kind," he said, "I would like to meet the rest of your colleaguesbecause," he smiled,

"if I don't meet them soon, I'm not sure I'll want to. None of them is likely to be as fascinating as you

are."

She nodded and accepted the compliment with a calm gaze and a particularly sweet smile. "Very well, let

me begin by introducing you to one of the ambassadors who will be the most difficult for the Enterprise to

deal with. Not," she added, "because of his position on the issues, but simply from the complications of

his situation." She led Kirk to a large rectangular tank, its base heavily studded with dials and controls.

The upper part of the tank was a clear lucite material, open at the top, and filled with slightly murky fluid.

It was not easy to see the creature inside but, to Kirk, it appeared to be something slimy and snakelike.

He found that the old cliche about something making one's flesh crawl was accurate; this thing in the tank

gave him an itch that was less than pleasant.

"Captain, I would like you to meet Agnatha, ambassador of Jezero," Sirenia said, placing one hand gently

on the fluid at the top of the tank. There was a swirl of motion in the fluid, and suddenly a head, large and

scaly with bulging eyes, appeared, its mouth an open maw of busily waving tentacles. The creature

paused at the surface only long enough to envelop Sirenia's hand in its tentacles, and then vanish again

into the viscid liquid that was its home.

"He wishes to convey his greetings, Captain, and requests that we adjust the translator so he may speak

to you personally." Sirenia pushed a series of buttons at the base of the clear tank, and a strangely

metallic voice issued from the machine.

"I greet you, Captain James Kirk." The voice was precise, as though it were forming each word

separately and not quite sure how to put them together. "I must tell you I am unhappy about this meeting

with the Romulans. I do not approve. I have little choiceI am a diplomat. But the Romulans are evil." The

creature splashed vigorously in its tank. It was clearly agitated. Sirenia again placed her hand in the fluid,

and her very presence seemed to have a calming effect on Agnatha. The surface was again still, and the

creature silent.

"You will have three other ambassadors on board your vessel who feel very much the way Agnatha

does," Sirenia explained. "The others are Ambassadors Neko, Rovar, and Naja. It is my hope, and

Sarek's, that we may convince them to take a more openminded view before we reach the meeting." The

woman smiled sweetly. "I think it can be done. This detente is too important to allow ill feelings to stand

in the way of peace."

Captain Kirk nodded his agreement and glanced again at the thing only dimly seen in the tank. He had

noticed the gentle touch Sirenia had given it and found himself almost envying the strange lampreylike

creature. It was obvious there was a certain rapport, if not actual affection, between the two

ambassadors.

"And now I will introduce you to some of the other ambassadors." But before Sirenia could continue, it

was obvious that a quarrel was breaking out at one end of the refreshment table that had been set up in

the Enterprise sector. There were four beings standing at the end of the table; two of them were

vigorously engaged in a quarrel. One of them was Neko; beside him on the floor was Ambassador

Telson, his claws clicking like castanets. Across from them stood a humanoid, tall, slender, and

black-haired, his eyes as red as burning coals. He was dressed entirely in black, and there was something

about his pale face and glittering eyes that reminded Kirk of strange nursery tales and things undead.

The fourth ambassador was in and of himself enormously reassuring. Dressed from shoulders to ankles in

a white fur ceremonial cape, he was the largest, most cuddly koala bear Kirk had ever seen in his life.

The very sight of him instilled warmth, comfort, and a feeling that nothing could go wrong in his presence.

It was the handsome humanoid and Neko who were doing the loudest arguing. Telson seemed to be

at-tempting to ran interference, and the teddy bear, as Kirk had mentally nicknamed him, was merely

standing by the table, his eyes half-closed, meditatively chewing a fistful of slender green leaves.

Neko, obviously incensed by something the humanoid had said, made as if to strike the ambassador; and

then with surprising swiftness the bear lost his sleepy quality. He reached out one surprisingly long arm

and grasped the gray, catlike ambassador by the scruff of his neck, lifting him effortlessly into the air until

his legs dangled off the floor.

"Neko." The bear's voice was sweet and soft and gentle. "I don't like fights at parties. I don't approve of

fights at parties, and I will get very upset with you if you continue it." The bear appeared to be in total

control of his temper, and even a little bored by the situation, but it was obvious from the look of fear on

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