JSEMTS搜尋引擎
 

This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author抯 imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

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Copyright 1981 by Paramount Pictures. All rights Reserved.

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For Kimberly

A hope for a world
where there'll always be
some who are willing to
tilt at windmills

And in memory of
Harry Chapin

Who started to make
that hope a reality
Author抯 Notes
Quite a bit has happened in the world of Star Trek since I began writing this novel. The major event, of course, was Star Trek: The Motion Picture. After all the year of anticipation, any movie would have been hardpressed to live up to our expectations. If ST: TMP fell short in some areas, it also excelled in others. (I抣l never forget the feeling of delight shared with Kirk when he梐nd we梥aw the new Enterprise for the first time, cradled in its drydock.)
Critics didn抰 like the movie much梑ut it still went on to become one of the biggest-grossing movies in Hollywood history. It certainly wasn抰 perfect, and fan enthusiasm has declined some since then, but the essence of what made us love Star Trek before is still there.
That thought hit me recently while watching a rare prime-time rerun. There抯 something about wee-morning or late-afternoon air times that demeans the repeats of great old TV series. On this night, however, 揟he Ultimate Computer(one of my favorites) had a renewed glory, riding head-to-head with network competition, just like the old days. And it didn抰 seem like a fourteen-year-old rerun. The writing and acting, the look and feel of the show were as fresh and crisp and real as any series currently on the air.
And that抯 why Star Trek has survived梐nd why it will continue to survive. Gene Roddenberry did a wonderful job of creation, and
we have done a wonderful job of being loyal, creative, and critical fans. We managed to keep Star Trek alive through the years of struggling to bring it back, and through whatever disappointments the movie or any of the other books may have caused.
It抯 important to remember that every piece of Star Trek is just that梐 part of a whole梐nd some parts are bound to be better than others. But none of the lesser stories or TV episodes can diminish the sterling quality of the good ones.
The sum of Star Trek抯 parts is and always will be impressive. It has touched too many peoples lives in too many important ways to be any less. Star Trek has earned its niche of honor in entertainment and science-fiction history. Be proud that you抮e a fan.

I owe a lot to Gene Roddenberry. Though I抳e only met him once (at a convention in Washington, D.C., where he graciously bought me a drink), in many ways, he抯 changed my life.
After all, it was his TV series that made me think about being a writer (you know the show梩he one with the guy with the pointed ears).
Some random memories.When I used to rush to watch the reruns every night during high school, my mother would warn: 揟he world doesn抰 revolve around Star Trek.Not the whole world, Mom, but some of it.
On Saturday morning, September 7, 1974, it did-when the second animated season kicked off with 揟he Pirates of Orionand thirty people and one dog crammed into my college dorm room to watch, and everyone applauded (except the dog) when the screen flashed 揥ritten by爺
That turned out to be a great way to impress a girl on a first date the night before: 揋ee, if you抮e not doing anything tomorrow
morning,I said shyly, 搘ould you like to come over and watch my TV show?That really happened.
Since then, I抳e been a guest at more than a dozen Star Trek conventions, talked at libraries and schools, and had a lot of fun. (I抦 still available for all these things.)
I抳e gotten to meet many of Star Trek抯 cast members, found out they抮e real people with ups and downs, and marveled at the way they can patiently and consistently charm hordes of eager fans.
Most of all, I抳e made so many friends through Star Trek, many of whom also want to be writers. There抯 been a lot of mutual encouragement along the way.
More than a few people deserve special thanks. I wish I could mention them all, but here are some:
The Febcon and August Party Committees, for making me feel at home and bringing an outsider in; to Alina Chu and Bob Greenberger, for the 揻an cluband friendship (and Bob抯 editorial help); to Bonnie MacRitchie, for helpful comment when this was just a wee, scribbled outline; to Frank Pellegrino, whose freshly hatched Honda gave its back bumper that I might shop for shirts in Virginia when all mine were left in New York; to Lynne Perry and the New York Diabetes Association, for the days off to write all this; to Allan Asherman, for commiseration; and Linda Deneroff for defending the cause of the semi-colon 燗lso to David Gerrold, for being a buddy and treating me like a real writer, and for contributing this book抯 introduction; to my former apartment mate, Joel Pineles, whose slight midriff bulge (he is now svelte) suggested Chekov抯 dilemma herein; to T. J. Burnside, for being an extra-special friend; to Cindi Casby, for love and encouragement even when I didn抰 deserve them 燗nd to my parents, who didn抰 pack me off to law or medical
school Not that there抯 anything wrong with being a doctor or a lawyer, but I抎 rather be a writer. Hope you抮e not disappointed, Mom and Dad.
Last, I抎 like to note that this is really for all the fellow-fans I抳e met, for the ones who抳e told me what they liked or didn抰 like about past Star Trek novels and stories. I hope you all enjoy this one條et me know by writing to me c/o Pocket Books Inc., 1230 Avenue of the Americas, New York, New York 10020.
HOWARD WEINSTEIN
January, 1981
Introduction
I told Howard that he would have been better off if he had had his mother write this introduction. She would have told you what a fine boy he is, intelligent, bright, alert, clean, respectful of his parents, and a perfect catch for some nice young Jewish girl. And she would have been able to say it a with a straight face.
Me, the best I can tell you is that Howard Weinstein is a credit to his species. Whatever that is.
I think my first realization that Howard Weinstein was a writer to be reckoned with occurred at the banquet of a Star Trek convention, when the Howard Weinstein monks, a group of neo-Hare Krishna worshipers, came marching into the room, all dressed in white robes (bedsheets, I think), threading their way through the tables of astonished banqueteers, chanting a strangely compelling mantra梩he rhythm of which was frequently punctuated by the sound of the worshipers slapping themselves in the forehead with a Howard Weinstein book. It was at that moment I wished that Howard Weinstein had authored War and Peace.
I am not making this up.
Howard Weintein was born on September 16, 1954. This is exactly two hundred and sixty-two years (to the day) after eighty-year-old Giles Corey, charged with witchcraft, was crushed to death in Salem, Massachusetts. I do not suggest that there is any connection
connection between these two event. The facts speak for themselves. Also on September 16 (but of unknown year), Klaatu and Gort arrived/will arive in Washington, D.C. (Had Howard Weinstein been considerate enough to be born two days earlier, I could have noted that it was exactly two years to the day before the first successful prefrontal lobotomy was performed, and done all kinds of wonderful extrapolations on that particular coincidence. As it is, however, there is nothing particularly distinguished about Howard Weinstein抯 birth, its circumstances, or the day on which it occurred. Which makes it all that much harder to demonstrate the portents and signs that herald his arrival as a serious writer in science fiction.)
Howard桯owie, to those of us who know and love him梘raduated with a BA in communications from the University of Connecticut in 1975. All historical records of him from the time between his birth and his graduation have been lost (or burned) and there is no proof at all that he really exists, or that the person currently pretending to be Howard Weinstein actually is the one and the same infant who was assigned the name some twenty-one years earlier. For all we know, the current Howard Weinstein is an impostor. A doppelg鋘ger. Perhaps even燼 clone. (And if so, of whom? The real Howard Weinstein perhaps? Where is the real Howard Weinstein? Who is covering up?)
This pseudo-Howard person claims that he became hooked on Star Trek during its first season and fine-tuned his fannish instincts when the show went into reruns in September of 1969. (At that time he was fifteen years old. For those of you who think that all science-fiction writers are one step removed from gods, let me reassure you that this is not always the case. I have it on the best authority that Howard Weinstein梠r the person pretending to be him梬as just as much a painfully shy, spoiled-brat, four-eyed little
acne-pocked bookworm as the rest of us were when we were fifteen. Perhaps even more so. That he later grew out of it is a source of inspiration for all humanity. Have hope. Everybody was fifteen once; but you don抰 have to be fifteen forever.)
Because there were no more new Star Trek stories being written for television, he began writing his own.
For fun.

Let me digress a moment.
Many of those who are writing Star Trek novels today started out writing their own Star Trek stories for fun, because there were no more Star Trek stories being written for television. Kathleen Sky, Sondra Marshak, Myrna Culbreath, and so on.
These people would all be considered a littlewell, eccentric, were it not for the fact that there are obviously millions of other people who share their desire for more Star Trek stories. (It抯 a good guess that you are one of those persons. If not, what are you doing reading this book?)
In 1969, Star Trek was one of the few moments of hope in the American experience. The rest of it seemed to be drug overdoses, riots, demonstrations, clumsy politics, acts of terrorism, mass murders, tear gas, napalm, and war.
That Star Trek continues to be as popular today as it was ten years ago (before we solved all of those problems, remember?) is an indicator that there is always a market for hope.
And that is why Star Trek梐s a dream梚s still going strong today.
If nothing else, Star Trek is about hope. Hope for the future. Hope for ourselves, for our nation, for our world, for our dreams. Writing Star Trek stories is a small part of that hope. It抯 not just a
dream of your favorite TV series; it抯 a dream of humanity among the stars, willfully choosing to be masters of our own destinies, captains of our own fates.
Sometimes you have to be a little bit crazy梪h, eccentric梩o hope in the face of massive adversity.
I noted above that sometimes science-fiction writers梑ecause of their aura of expertise about the future梥eem as gods. Not bloody likely. At best we are a lesser breed of hero, because we are the men and women who listen to the future and report back what we hear.
To be heroic is to dare to be different. Very often, the hero is a social illiterate. If he were well-integrated into his culture, he would be content; he would have no need to be a hero. That he is not content, that he does not fit in, that he does not accept the circumstance of today, mandates that he look to tomorrow.
Dreamers may be misfits, but we are proud misfits.
Dreams are our most important natural resource. They are the source of hope.
End of digression. Now I can talk about Howard Weinstein again.
Howard had a dream.
And what distinguishes each of us is the size of our dreams.
Howard was co-editor of his high-school SF magazine, called Probe. He printed his original Star Trek short story in it, a piece called 揟he Pirates of Orion.Two years later, in 1973, NBC decided to try Star Trek as an animated revival, so Howard rewrote 揚iratesas a script, having been hooked on the idea of scriptwriting after reading The Making of Star Trek way back in 1969. After a rather roundabout, confused journey that saw the manuscript travel to his agent, to Filmation with D. C. Fontana抯 name on the envelope (then associate producer of the animated series), to D. C. Fontana,
who was no longer with the show by then, who returned it unopened to his agent, who sent it back to Howard and instructed him to mail it to Norm Prescott at Filmation if he read that the show was renewed for a second season, in which case they would then be interested in actually reading it爓hich it was, and he did, and they did, and finally after he rewrote the ending several times (par for the television course), they bought it and 揟he Pirates of Orionwas the opening episode of the second season, which Howard is quick to point out is the season the show won the Emmy.
One long run-on sentence later, Howard Weinstein梠r whoever he really is梙ad become a Star Trek TV writer at the age of nineteen, and as far as anyone has yet determined, he was the youngest person ever to write for the show梩aking the title away from yours truly, who had previously held that distinction for having sold 揟he Trouble with Tribblesat the wizened age of twenty-three.
I will pass over some of the details of Howard Weinstein抯 and my friendship, they being of interest only to the morbidly curious. However, I should note that it is a sign of my devotion to Howard (at least, I think it抯 Howard. Howard, is that you?) that I would interrupt my own writing schedule to take the time to tell you what a marvelous person he is. Suffice it to say that I like him anyway.
This novel that you are holding, The Covenant of the Crown, is Howard Weinstein抯 first novel. (Those monks who were hitting themselves in the forehead with it were obviously time travelers visiting from the future, a sure sign that Howard Weinstein is destined for greater triumphs in the years to come else why bother?) Howard believes that this publication makes him the only writer from either the original or the animated TV series versions of Star Trek to also write a Star Trek novel, certainly the youngest to accomplish both.
The first part of that distinction, he will be able to claim only until I can finish my Star Trek novel (untitled at this writing) and get it turned in.* The second part, he will undoubtedly keep.
Read. Enjoy. Tell friends.
DAVID GERROLD
Chapter One
揑t抯 gray, Jim,said Dr. Leonard McCoy. The ship抯 surgeon stood before the mirror on his office wall, scratching through his thatch of hair as if searching for the cause of some mysterious medical condition.
It was Captain James Kirk抯 first inkling that the birthday party might be a major mistake.
At times, Kirk had the feeling the whole universe was aligned against him. There were the big things, like wars or supernovas, events so obviously out of his control he couldn抰 take them personally. But when the little plans, best-laid as they might be, also went astray, he had to wonder what he抎 done to deserve his fate.
In the grand order of history, his medical officer抯 birthday might not mean much, but Kirk wanted it to be special. After all, McCoy had no better friend in the galaxy, so the captain was determined not to let the event pass unhonored.
Until he discovered that McCoy himself wanted it to pass not only unhonored, but totally unnoticed.
揅ompletely gray,McCoy repeated, glowering.
揙h, come on, Bones. A little silver around the temples is hardly completely gray,Kirk said, a glint of amusement in his eyes as he stood behind McCoy.
McCoy glared at the captain抯 reflection over his shoulder. 揑t抯 not
funny, Jim. I抦 turning ancient and you抮e in hysterics. 揧ou抮e exaggerating just a bit. 揟hat,said McCoy tartly, 搃s also a sign of old age. His mood failed to improve as he and Kirk stepped out of the turbolift near one of the ship抯 messes.
揇o you realize how long it抯 been since anyone抯 called me 慙enny挔. or 憇on 揃ones, do you really miss being called 憇on 揘o. I hated it when I was a kid,McCoy said, pausing as a pretty yeoman came out of the messroom. She smiled at them and disappeared around the curving coridor. 揃ut it was a whole lot nicer when two-thirds of the ladies on board weren抰 young enough to be my daughters. There抯 only one solution梥wear off birthdays altogether. Just ignore them. Oops, Kirk thought as they entered to eat. Should he scrap the birthday plans? The invitations he抎 had posted with the duty notices, appearing on everyone抯 cabin computer screen but McCoy抯 the food he抎 ordered specially programmed, with threats against anyone who might let the secret slip. Cancel a potentially great surprise party just because the man whose birthday it was wanted no part of it?
Certainly not. If McCoy wanted to be a wet blanket, so be it. Most birthday parties on board the USS Enterprise were small affairs, with only the closest friends of the guest of honor. But this was to be a rare, shipwide gathering; after all, even the youngest crew members had come to regard the doctor as a crotchety, eccentric uncle, the kind who scolded you as a kid and then passed you a piece of candy when your mother wasn抰 looking. Everyone knew McCoy抯 caring went far deeper than mere professional responsibility.
And Kirk knew that mutiny was a distinct possibility if he canceled the whole idea after all the plans had been made and anticipation built. If he needed a last word to allay his fears, Chief Engineer Montgomery Scott was there to offer it, with that touch of common-sense insight he often displayed梬henever he could be coaxed to look away from his engines.
揚ut McCoy in a room with the ladies, plenty ogood drink, some fine food, and a bit othe singin挔said Scott, 揳nd he抣l snap right out owhatever抯 ailinhim. Later, Kirk gave the signal on schedule. In twos and threes, off-duty crewmen headed for the large rec room on deck seven. The tough part remained for Kirk himself to master梘etting McCoy to stop counting gray hairs long enough to attend the celebration.

揕et抯 go, Bones,Kirk said to the inert body curled on McCoys bunk.
揕et me lie in the dark. Maybe I抣l stop getting older, McCoy sighed 揑f I had leaves at least I抎 stop photosynthesizing. 揧ou抮e a doctor, not a plant,Kirk said, grunting as he grabbed McCoy抯 arm and pulled him to a sitting position. He felt slightly foolish. 揅ome on. I have no intention of carrying you. 揥here aren抰 you carrying me? 揟o the rec room. McCoy tried to slump back into his fetal position, but Kirk held his arm. 揂ww, leave me alone, Jim. What am I going to do in the rec room in this state of mind? 揧ou抮e going to snap out of it, that抯 what. I抳e planned a chance for you to engage in one of your favorite pastimes梑aiting Spock while I play chess with him. McCoy let out a long slow sigh, like a deflating tire. 揥ell, when
you put it that way.He got to his feet and followed Kirk out. McCoy抯 glumness made the excursion to deck seven somewhat less cheery than a stroll to the gallows, and Kirk suppressed the urge to go back.
They turned into the rec room and the doors slid open to reveal a completely dark cavern. Kirk pushed his friend forward and the lights suddenly flashed on, strobing in red, blue, yellow and white. Without uttering a sound, McCoy jumped back at least three feet, landing squarely on Kirk抯 toe. The hidden crowd of crewmen popped up from behind tables and planters, shouting, 揌appy birthday, McCoy! Braced for a look that might kill, Captain Kirk turned to the doctor. McCoy抯 eyes were glazed with shock. The shout gave way to applause and laughter, and a lovely lieutenant from the medical staff placed a drink梐nd herself梚n McCoy抯 hand. Finally, he allowed himself to be drawn into the festivities梑ut not before he shot a grinning glance back at Kirk. 揓im, I抣l get you for this! Kirk chuckled and found himself next to his engineer. 揑 guess you were right, Scotty. 揥ell, it抯 not just engine I know, sir,Scott said, his brow furrowed in false modesty. 揟he only problem I can see is, he抣l want one othese every time he feels old. Come tthink of it, sir I抦 feelina wee bit old m抯elf. Crew members swarmed around the long tables of cake, hors d抩euvres, and drinks, and the first trays were picked clean in no time at all. Chekov poked mournfully at a nearly microscopic piece of cake with his fork while Dr. Christine Chapel and Lieutenant Commanders Uhura and Sulu dug into wedges almost too large for their plates.
揗mmm,Uhura purred. 揑 didn抰 think the food synthesizer could make cake like this. 揑t couldn抰,said Christine. 揘ot till I changed the programming a bit. Everyone laughed梕xcept Chekov. Sulu nudged him. 揥hat抯 with you? 揥here抯 your party face?said Uhura.
揑 have a feeling this is his party face,Sulu said wryly. 揧ou know these gloomy Russians.He slid his fork under a huge hunk of cake and dumped it on the saturnine security chief抯 dish.
Chekov promptly dropped it back onto the serving tray with a strangled cry of frustration. 揑t抯 fattening. 揧ou抮e still a growing boy,said Uhura. 揝ince when are you worried about fattening foods? 揝ince I seem to have put on an extra ten pounds. 揥here? On your toes? Chekov shrugged in genuine dismay. 揑 don抰 have the slightest idea. I don抰 feel fat. 揅hristine,said Sulu, 搃s he really ten pounds overweight? Christine nibbled her cake with a distinctly guilty countenance. 揟hat抯 what the scale said. When we get older, our metabolism changes. You put on weight more easily and it goes to different places. Let抯 face it, Chekov, you抮e not twenty-two anymore. 揇on抰 remind me. The cheery din and clatter of the party promised to last a whole diurnal cycle. After all, McCoy had insisted that all duty shifts get a chance to observe a living relic in the flesh, even if it was a thoroughly soused relic. Kirk was on his way out to return to the bridge when the ship suddenly shuddered. It was a barely perceptible tremor that would go unnoticed by almost anyone on board
except Kirk or Scott. Both felt the surge of rapid acceleration, and they moved together to the intercom as First Officer Spock抯 voice smoothly said, 揅aptain Kirk, to the bridge, please. Kirk touched the wall switch. 揔irk here. Did somebody spirit a case of Scotch up there? 揘egative, sir. All duty personnel must remain sober. 揟hen why are you shaking the ship, Spock? 揂ye, y抦ust抳e gone to warp six. 揥arp eight, Mr. Scott. 揝cotty, I抦 surprised at you,Kirk said in mock amazement.
揑 guess I抳e had too much tdrink, sir. 揥hat抯 going on. Spock? There was an instant of hesitation before the Vulcan replied, and Kirk sensed this was no time for joking 揚erhaps you had best report to the bridge, Captain. 揙n my way. Kirk out.
The turbolift doors hissed open. Kirk stepped out onto the bridge deck. Spock swiveled in the center seat and stood.
揥e have received a Priority One signal from Star Fleet Command, Security Condition Red, ordering us to Star Base Twenty-two by seventeen hundred hours tomorrow. Warp eight is sufficient to ensure arrival by fifteen-forty-five hours. No further information on why our presence is requested so urgently, sir. 揘ot even in code, Spock? 揘egative. The message simply said that you, Dr. McCoy, and I are to report to Fleet Admiral Harrington immediately upon our arrival. Chapter Two
揑f this mission fails,said Admiral Paul Harrington in his crisp British accent, 搕he whole of Quadrant J-221 could be in Klingon hands by next year. 揊or my next birthday,McCoy whispered to Kirk.
Harrington spun on his heel. 揥hat was that, Doctor?
揘othing, sir. Harrington was a tall man with impeccable posture. He moved with deliberate precision as he paced on the rug, thick and green as a well-kept lawn. But the pacing was not nervous, just smooth, and poised梐 reflection of the man抯 perpetually active mind. He was English to the core, cut from the same cloth that had produced great seamen and officers for over a thousand years. Harrington had already carved a place in Federation annals with his unflappable handling of crises large and small梐nd Kirk was well aware that they faced another such critical juncture now.
揟here is no alternate source of tridenite in the region?Spock asked.
揘one,said Harrington, puffing on a curved ivory pipe.
揝had provides that ore for twenty or more planets,Kirk said.
揅an抰 they get energy from something other than tridenite?McCoy wondered.
They could not, and Kirk knew it. Shad was one of those worlds
with the mixed blessing of having something many other planets needed, wanted, and might even kill for梐 virtually unlimited supply in its crust of tridenite, an energy ore far cleaner and safer than uranium or any of the other isotopes that had provided abundant though perilous power for many civilizations. Even Earth had gone through its early period of reliance on dangerous radioactive energy sources. Kirk knew his home world was dotted with caverns where nuclear wastes had been buried hundreds of years before梩hey抎 continue emitting deadly particles for thousands of years to come.
But Shad had been spared that. Tridenite had been tailored by nature for producing vast amounts of efficient energy, and the economies and industries of those twenty other planets were built on the assurance of an uninterrupted flow of the ore.
Half those worlds belonged to the Federation, the others were neutral, but all lived in the shadow of the nearby Klingon Empire. Shad, however, was the linchpin, the coveted prize. Take over Shad, cut off the tridenite supply, watch a score of inhabited planets in Quadrant J-221 fall like dominoes, and sweep in to conquer a valuable flank of the United Federation of Planets. That had been the Klingon goal, and they抎 pursued it patiently by igniting a civil war on Shad eighteen years earlier.
Kirk rolled the historical details over in his mind. He knew the Shaddan situation as intimately as any officer, bureaucrat, or diplomat, for a simple reason梙e抎 been there at the war抯 inception, in command of Star Fleet advisory detail attached to the Court of King Stevvin.

After five centuries, the Dynasty of Shad had survived longer than most. Now, suddenly, it teetered on the ragged edge of an abyss梐nd extinction lay ahead. The young Lieutenant Commander
Commander James T. Kirk felt it in his bones as he hurried to the palace for his regular late-morning meeting with the King. He arrived early and he paced the castle grounds under a somber, sunless sky, waiting; inside, the King tried to control another rancorous Council meeting.
Twelve Cabinet ministers ringed the solid dark-wood table, which had been hewn from a single mighty tree by Stevvin抯 ancestor, Keulane the Healer. Keulane had begun the Dynasty, and Stevvin was ready to accept that he was going to preside over its end. He banged the jewel-handled gavel on the table until its echo drowned out the dozen voices arguing at once.
Sudden silence. Broken only by the deep sigh of a King. He leaned heavily on the table, looking no one in the eye as he spoke at last.
揟he Council cannot function this way. We must have order.His voice was soft and raspy, speaking a plea, not a command.
揟here is no order on Shad,said Yon, a pig-faced minister seated at the far end. 揥hy do you expect it here梥ire?His last word was clearly intended as a sarcastic afterthought.
Stevvin formed a retort in his mind, but swallowed it unspoken. He dropped the gavel and started for the brass-trimmed double doors.
揝ire. This voice reached out and held him for a moment, though his back remained toward the Council. The King knew the respectful tone of First General Haim, the tall, stooped, bald-headed man who had been aide and friend since before Stevvin had ascended to the throne.
揝ire爐he Council can抰 act without you. 揑t can抰 act with me, either. If twelve men and women responsible
responsible for this world抯 government can抰 overcome their differences to reach a goal梕ven to speak civilly to one another梩hen our cause is lost. Shoulders slumped, Stevvin left the room.
The Loyalist Coalition was crumbling, and while the Council quarreled petulantly, territory was being lost steadily to the despotic Mohd Alliance.
The Alliance had learned well the lessons of treachery taught by its patron, the Klingon Empire. Its leaders salivated over the prospect of becoming guard dogs for the Empire, enslaving the free population of Shad and biting hunks out of the Federation抯 flesh as the Quadrant came under their domination, planet by planet. The Klingons had seeded massive amounts of weaponry and money in the Mohd Alliance, and the crops were nearly ready for harvest.
Lieutenant Commander Kirk found the King sitting alone in the meditation chamber, a velvet robe loose on his gaunt body. At the sound of a footfall on the carpet, Stevvin raised his eyes and smiled. This brash young officer could almost make him believe there was some hope.
But the grim set of Kirk抯 jaw told him, wordlessly, that hope was out of reach this time.
揑抦 sorry, sir,Kirk said quietly. 揟he Federation Council has decided it can抰 spare more troops or supplies for support now. They抮e afraid of trouble in the Talenic Sector, and a half dozen other places. Maybe in the near future, the resolution can be brought up againHis voice trailed off.
揟hese are indeed troubled times, James. Their answer is what we expected.His face was deeply shadowed in the flickering candlelight. A gentle fragrance of incense wafted around them.
揑 tried to tell them with a little more help, we could win,Kirk said, bitterness overflowing.
揘ot we. It抯 not your battle, not your world. Kirk ignored the King抯 comment. 揟hey don抰 under stand how close the Mohd is to taking Shad and handing it over to the Klingons. They抣l wake up one day, and it抣l be too late. I抳e got to make them see棓
Kirk began to pace, but the King stopped him with a firm hand on his shoulder. 揘o. It抯 about time for you and your men to leave. The young officer looked into Stevvin抯 tired eyes. Words came only after a long moment of hesitation. 揧our Highness, I think it抯 time for you to leave as well. 揟his is my world, a world united by my ancestors. They took a hundred battling nations and molded them into one. 揈xcept the Mohd Province. Stevvin nodded grimly. 揂nd if the Covenant of Peace is to be broken by those sons of Hell, then I have to stay to see it happen. When I meet Keulane and my other fathers in the next life, I want them to know I stayed till the end.
Kirk抯 office was high up in a drafty, dark-stone castle that had once served as a Shaddan monastery. The windows were too small and close to the vaulted ceiling to let in much light. He paced as he waited for a pot of chowder to warm up in the little infrared burner on his desk.
In his year on Shad, Kirk had become close to the old King, and he shared the anguish that Stevvin felt now. In the days before battle losses had become daily events, they抎 often spent soft summer evenings on the palace balcony, sipping fruitwine, discussing everything from poetry to history, from battle tactics to bawdy Shaddan
tales. When the twin moons set in the coolness of dawn, the two men would more than likely still be out there as witnesses to the night抯 end.
Kirk was just a young line officer, commanding a force of a hundred men; Stevvin was nearing old age and ruled a planet of a hundred million people. But still they抎 bridged the gap with friendship, sharing respect and affection.
And if anything tore Kirk apart now more than his own helplessness, it was having to watch a good and gentle King see his planet weakened by a civil war he was powerless to end.
Kirk sipped a steaming spoonful of the native sea chowder. A fresh-faced ensign entered the open door and set a dispatch cassette on the desk.
揑t抯 from the mountain front, sir. It抯爄t抯 not good news. Placing the tape in the viewer, Kirk scowled and watched the image of a map as a field commander抯 flat voice told him what he prayed he抎 never hear. The Mohd抯 artillery had cut Loyalist defense lines and the enemy was advancing on the King抯 capital city. There was no time waste.

揑 don抰 care how you do it,Kirk snapped. 揝hake a shuttle loose and have it on the palace lawn by fifteen hundred hours. I抣l worry about how we get it out of the capital and into space. He punched the communicator panel button, shutting it off. He rubbed his eyes, stood, and headed down the monastery抯 ancient stone steps. His feet automatically followed the path across the cobblestoned city square to the palace, looming over the narrow streets from its hillside perch. Kirk抯 mind wandered to thoughts of the irony of Stevvin抯 fate.
After five centuries of stability, the Shaddan people, rulers
included, had been bred to believe in lasting peace and security. It had become as natural to them as logic had to Vulcans. But it was false security, for under the blanket of unity and progress a sore festered deep in the heart of the Mohd Province, whose warrior people fancied themselves slighted with an unequal share of the planet抯 wealth. Since ancient times, the Mohd nomads had ranged far to fight any population that accepted their challenge. To them, the peace forged by Keulane and his successor was an affliction, and they swore never to accept it.
Klingon agents had recognized blood brothers in this province of restless warriors, and prodded them to seek out dissent elsewhere on Shad, nurture it, probe the soft underbelly of the old dynasty梐nd slash it with a lightning stroke of rebellion.
Lieutenant Commander Kirk grudgingly marveled at the Klingonssimple view of the order of things梩hat discord was ever-present and with the proper encouragement could be made to flare into open war. The status quo was of no use梩he Empire could only gain by taking what belonged to someone else. Victory meant advance條oss only that they were back to their starting point. The Klingons truly lived by the adage Nothing ventured, nothing gained.
And their Shaddan campaign certainly represented an effective venture. The government under King Stevvin had misjudged the strength of the dark forces in the Mohd Province, unaware that massive clandestine Klingon support in weapons and supplies had created a bristling war machine. So had the Federation miscalculated, perhaps because no Klingon troops were present. Never before had the Empire flexed such power in absentia; meanwhile, other trouble spots needed tending, and Kirk knew that the Star Fleet aid he had brought was too little, too late.
Stevvin had held one goal above all others梩o keep production
and shipment of tridenite ore going. Because Shad had never developed space flight, foreign freighters had to transport the ore to other worlds. As long as Loyalist forces could guard the loading stations against Mohd artillery, tridenite could move and the Klingon grand design remain unfulfilled. So far, he had won that battle梑ut perhaps at cost of losing the whole war.
And now the Mohd battalions were marching on the capital. Shipping would soon cease. The Dynasty would be strangled; the King and is family would be among the first killed when enemy troops reached the city. Kirk now had one last task before he could order a retreat of his own men梩o convince Stevvin to allow Star Fleet to help him escape into exile.
Just outside the brick palace rampart, the young aide from his office caught up to Kirk, a handwritten communique clutched in his fist. His face was flushed梙e抎 run all the way.
揝ir, this came in just after you left. Kirk took the paper and prepared himself for a quick glance at another report of negative battle news. He stopped short when he saw it was a message from the Federation Council.
揥hy didn抰 you call me by communicator, Ensign? 揑 didn抰 want to risk being picked up by Mohd surveillance, sir. The message came in on scramble.He stood at ease as his commander read the page. The Federation had reviewed Kirk抯 final reports and changed their conclusion梐dditional military assistance was on its way.

揑 had lost all faith,Stevvin confessed.
揟hey抳e decided Shad is worth fighting for, sir. If this new support is enough to turn it all around梐nd I think it will be梬e want you to be safe,Kirk said.
揃ut not on Shad,Stevvin said with a half-smile.
揑t would only be temporary. A matter of months at most. We抣l bring you back here as soon as your safety can be assured. The King closed his eyes. 揥hat about the safety of our soldiers, and their wives and children? How can that be guaranteed? They can抰 go into exile. 揝ir, you aren抰 just another soldier. 揘o營 suppose not. Kirk抯 voice took on an impatient edge. 揧ou抮e the dynastic ruler of Shad. You lead the religion of your people, you抮e their rallying point. Without you, there is no Shad. 揕et抯 not forget, there hasn抰 been much with me, either. 揟hen think about your wife and daughter, about their safety. Your daughter is Shad抯 next Queen. The King finally relented. The shuttlecraft arrived on time and Kirk took over the pilot抯 seat. Since Shad completely lacked manned flying machines, planetary weapons included no refined antiaircraft capability. Mohd gunners did their best to shoot down the shuttle with large-target missiles when it was detected attempting to reach planet orbit.
Shuttles were never intended for deft evasive motion, and this one groaned in protest as Kirk urged it on a spiral course up toward space. But if they weren抰 agile, the little ships were sturdy, and Kirk was sure this one would hold together and do what was asked of it. He threaded his way out of missile range and brought the King and his young wife, their five-year-old daughter Kailyn, and four servants within transporter range of the Normandy, itself waiting far out of the orbital combat zone around Shad. The destroyer would spirit them to a new home, just until the Loyalists could struggle back and hold the Mohd Alliance in check.
Eighteen years had passed since James Kirk had said farewell to the King and his family, since he抎 watched them disappear in the sparkle of the Normandy抯 transporter. Still, the battle on Shad dragged on, neither side able to muster the last push to victory.
The Organian Peace Treaty had prevented wholesale intervention on either side. If they tried it, the pure-energy beings from that enigmatic guardian world would effectively disarm both forces, on Shad and throughout the galaxy, no matter where or whom they fought. Neither the Federation nor the Empire wanted to risk total galactic immobilization, so they had to be satisfied with simply supplying weapons and hoping for the best. Like a pair of exhausted warriors, the enemies slugged it out with increasingly weary blows.
But, finally, the tide had turned條ong after Kirk抯 expectation. 揟he Loyalist coalition,said Admiral Harrington, 搃s on the verge of breaking the back of the Mohd Alliance. McCoy snorted. 揂fter all this time? What could be left to fight over? 揗ore than you might think,Harrington said, exhaling a pair of smoke rings. 揇on抰 forget, this was no nuclear holocaust there. It was a war of quite conventional means, almost primitive. Neither we nor the Klingons wanted to destroy the world we were hoping to take. 揌ow civilized of us,McCoy said, frowning.
揟he point, gentlemen, is that the coalition is also on the verge of destroying itself with internal bickering. Kirk shook his head sadly. 揟hey haven抰 even won, and they抮e trying to divide the spoils. 揟hat抯 about the size of it, Captain. The only hope for restoring some semblance of unity, as we see it, is to return the one symbol to
which all our Loyalist factions owe allegiance. Spock raised an eyebrow. 揟he royal family? 揚recisely, Commander. 揟hey抮e still alive,Kirk said, almost to himself.
揟he King and his daughter are. The wife died some years back, not long after the exile began. It抯 not a pretty planet they went to. Kirk closed his eyes for a moment, a private memory of Lady Meya抯 ready smile and warmth. And now the child and the King had lived to return, while she had not.
揙ur agents have contacted the King,Harrington continued. 揌e may be very old, but he抯 anxious to return. He believes as we do that the presence of the royal family will hold the Loyalists together, allow them to beat down the Mohd Alliance once and for all, and send the Klingons packing. Actually, it抯 quite simple, gentlemen. Secure Shad and we secure the quadrant. Lose Shad, and you know the consequences. 揂dmiral,said Speck, 搕he Enterprise was assigned to another sector. Star Fleet records indicate three other starships patrolling in this vicinity with no pressing assignments. Why were we given this mission? Kirk smiled inwardly桽pock was applying the same precision of reason to Harrington as he did to his own captain.
The admiral clasped his hands behind his back and faced them, chewing on his pipe stem for a moment. 揃ecause King Stevvin trusts only one man in the whole of Star Fleet to take him safely back to Shad桟aptain James Kirk. Therefore, gentlemen, the mission is yours. Chapter Three
PERSONAL LOG桽TAR DATE 7815.3梂e抳e arrived and entered orbit around Orand, and it抯 hard to believe I抦 going to see King Stevvin again after all these years. On the one hand, I feel like a long-graduated student going back to visit a favorite teacher梐nd that makes me happy.
But I also feel a little like a jailer going down to release a prisoner, and that makes me feel guilty. I know the King would抳e stayed on Shad had it been up to him, and who抯 to say he would have been wrong? After all this time, I just don抰 know. Even if he doesn抰 think eighteen years were stolen from him, I do梐nd I抦 the one who convinced him to leave.
I抦 anxious to see this mission succeed, to restore the King to his rightful place. Spock would call it illogical梐nd maybe he抯 right but even though I know those lost years can never be restored, this mission gives me a chance to make up for at least some of what was taken from my old friend. Politics and diplomacy be damned桰 have to admit my motivation is much more emotional than rational.
揌e抯 not going to make it, Jim.McCoy抯 face made the words unnecessary, but he said them anyway, gently.
Kirk stared at the tile floor, cool and shiny in this house where
King Stevvin had spent the past eighteen years of his life梬aiting. And now McCoy had confirmed what Kirk had feared, that they were indeed the final years in Stevvin抯 life梩he King was going to die before he could see his home planet reunited.
揅an I talk to him?Kirk asked.
揌e抯 sleeping now. In a little while.McCoy shrugged, feeling useless. 揥ant to take a walk? 揧eah, Bones. Alone. Spock and McCoy let him go without a word.

Kirk walked slowly away from the white stone-and-stucco house, along the rough road that served as a driveway. But here on Orand, there were no motor vehicles to use the gravel and dirt paths, only carts drawn by the native oxen and horses.
Orand and its people were stepchildren of nature. Orbiting a backwater star, the planet hid no treasures beneath its parched surface. Possessed of neither wealth nor strategic location, it held little interest for galactic profiteers and prospectors. But its sparse population of perhaps five million persevered, wringing a subsistence out of an assortment of ventures梥ome farming, mining, a little industry and trade.
In a way, Kirk felt sorry for the Orandi natives, with their world doomed to be no more than a speck on a star map. But its very forgettable nature is what made it the perfect place for Stevvin抯 family to live out their exile. For while Orand would never be rich and powerful, neither would it be a battlefield, as Shad had become. The King would be safe here, able to fade into the drabness that characterized this sad, sandy planet.
At first, the Klingons had kept a full surveillance team on Orand; but when the war dragged on and on, the contingent dwindled to a
few agents, then finally to one Klingon and a pair of paid Orandi informants who watched the King抯 house and the comings and goings of its occupants. The Klingons had come to believe that Stevvin would never leave Orand, and other vigilance slackened.
They were finally right, Kirk thought with bitterness directed at himself. Had he done the King any good, convincing him to leave Shad? Or had he robbed a proud ruler of his last chance to fight back? He couldn抰 have known how things would turn out, but that didn抰 make him feel any better. He wiped beads of sweat off his brow. Orand was hot梩hat was what the name meant. Hot as hell, loosely translated. The sun was dipping below the horizon, and a tentative breeze teased the scrub trees squatting on the dunes; but it was still stifling and Kirk retreated to the sanctuary of the house.

Centuries of the sun抯 ferocity had trained Orandi architects well. This house was over a hundred years old, but looked the same as buildings constructed yesterday梬hite exterior, small windows high up on the walls, polished slate floors sunk several feet below outside ground level, and perpetually running fountains and pools in every room.
McCoy perched on the stone rim of the fountain in the library and rippled the pool抯 surface with his finger. He wondered if the builders had been psychologists, as well梩he sound and feel of the trickling water made the place seem ten degrees cooler than it really was.
Spock sat in a soft chair, flipping through a Shaddan history book. They heard the tired clicking of boot heels, and Kirk entered from the hallway.
揊eel any better?asked McCoy.
Kirk flexed his shoulders. 揘ope. Just hot梐nd tired. Go for a
hike, and the thin atmosphere really gets to you. 揧ou should feel at home, Spock,McCoy said. 揟his place is just as uncomfortable as Vulcan. 揑 find it quite acceptable,Spock said mildly.
揧ou would.McCoy steered Kirk over to the fountain and sat him on the edge. 揇ip your hand in there. You抣l feel cooler in a minute. 揑s that a sound medical prescription? 揟ested by the doctor himself. Kirk followed instruction, and sprinkled a few drops of the icy water on his face桵cCoy was right. He shook his head to clear it and took the chilled glass of punch McCoy handed to him. 揌ow is he, Bones? 揌e抯 old, Jim. He just isn抰 up to taking an extended space voyage. I don抰 know if he抣l die today, or next week. If he stayed here and rested, maybe he could hang on for months. But I don抰 think he抎 make it to Shad. and even if, by some miracle, he was alive, he抎 be in no condition to make stirring speeches or lead the big battle. 揑sn抰 there anything you can do? McCoy shook his head helplessly. 揑 can抰 reverse old age. Kirk leaned forward, resting elbows on knees and head in hands. 揌ell of a place to spend eighteen years. 揑t could抳e been worse,McCoy offered. 揃etter than dying on Shad. 揥as it?Kirk didn抰 bother to look up.
揙f course it was, Jim. They had some hope while they were here. And look, the King抯 lived long enough to know that things are looking up. 揃ut the idea, Doctor,Spock said, 搘as for the King to return, stabilize the geopolitical situation, and overcome decisive forces.
Your medical report, which I am certain is accurate as usual, has effectively negated our mission. McCoy glared. 揧ou抮e so damned cold-blooded. That抯 a man we抮e talking about, a great man梐nd Jim抯 friend. Instead of棓
揝pock抯 right,Kirk said, raising a hand to cut him off. He took a deep breath. 揂nd I don抰 know what to do about it.
揥e抮e going to save Shad梩hat抯 what we抮e going to do about it, James. The King抯 voice was hoarse and shaky梑ut his determination was firm. He sat up in bed, supported by several threadbare pillows; his body, wasted by age, looked like a child抯 under the quilt.
揃ut you can抰 go back,Kirk said gently.
Stevvin waved his hand梖eeble yet clearly impatient 揑 know all that. Dr. McCoy explained it all, even though I already knew it. Y択now, I haven抰 seen the outside of this house in two months. The servants offer to carry me out, but if I can抰 go under my own powerHis voice trailed off and his eyes closed.
Kirk flashed a concerned look at McCoy梐nd the King opened one wrinkled lid in time to see it.
揓ust resting, James. Not gone yet. 揥hy didn抰 you tell Star Fleet how you felt? Why did you say you were ready to go back? 揃ecause I am ready. You抣l all be old, someday, and you抣l know that just because you can抰 do something doesn抰 mean you won抰 want to try to do it.He rested a moment again. 揥hat would they have done if I told them I was past the rabblerouser stage? Do you think they抎 have sent a starship just to be a king抯 hearse? Stevvin shifted weakly, then frowned in discomfort. 揃eds are for sleeping, not living in. The answers is, they wouldn抰 have sent a
scout ship. Even my servants don抰 know how soon they may lose this master.Once more, the old King paused.
揧our Highness, I抦 glad we got to see each other again. I never thought we would but this mission of unification isn抰 possible without your return. 揘ot my return, James the monarch抯 return. My health梐s well as the plan I抦 about to tell you梞ust be kept secret, even from Star Fleet. Only the four of us, and my daughter Kailyn, will know. You will return her to Shad梩o rule in my place.
McCoy paced near the library fountain. 揓im, how can you completely change our mission without telling Star Fleet? They抣l court-martial you so fast, you won抰 have time to change for the trial. It just isn抰棓
揂ll right, Bones, all right. You made your point. What about you, Spock? Would you care to add to the list of obstacles? The first officer arched an eyebrow and stood for a moment with his hands clasped behind him. 揑 disagree with Dr. McCoy棓
揥hat else is new?said McCoy.
摋but not entirely. I agree that you theoretically risk harsh disciplinary action, altering specific Star Fleet orders on such an important mission. However, in practice, charges are not often proffered when the mission succeeds. McCoy stared. 揂 Vulcan counseling disobeying of orders? 揟he captain would not be disobeying. Our circumstances have changed梞arkedly梥ince those orders were issued. The captain must make a command decision; if he follows the newly proposed course of action, what is the probability of success? 揙kay,said McCoy, 搘hat is the probability of success? 揑 have not been asked to calculate it, Doctor. But I do believe the
odds in our favor will be reduced considerably if we take the time to confer with Star Fleet and wait for the bureaucracy to deliver its answer. We must act swiftly. Kirk listened thoughtfully. 揑s that your recommendation, Spock? 揟entatively. But before any final decision can be rendered, we must hear the King抯 plan in full detail, and ascertain his daughter抯 readiness to take her father抯 place.
The Crown Princess of Shad was tending her garden when Kirk found her.
揑t抯 very impressive,he said, cupping a new blossom in his hands as he knelt on the path between rows of bushes, vines, and vegetables. 揑 didn抰 think a cactus could grow on this planet. 揑t抯 not that hard,Kailyn said, averting her eyes as she spoke. Kirk noticed that she found it easier to look at a plant or a patch of dirt as they talked. When he caught her eye, she stammered ever so slightly.
揧ou built this whole irrigation system yourself? 揘o. I just designed it. The servants helped me pipe the water from the house and actually make it. 揌ow old were you then? 揟welve, Captain. The last word梒aptain梒aught his ear like a bramble. 揅aptain? Why so formal? What happened to 慤ncle Jim She bowed her head. 揑t抯 been so long. I I never thought we抎 see you again. He touched her chin and gently lifted her face. She had the deep, dark eyes of her father. 揑 thought of you a lot,she said. 揥hen Father and I would have our lessons, we抎 stop and wonder where
you were. We knew you抎 become captain of the Enterprise.She looked away again. 揑抎 dream about you coming to take us home again. 揇id you mind being here, Kailyn? They walked on through the garden. 揑t抯 all I really know. I was only five when we left Shad.Her eyes roamed over the greenery and rainbow of petals, seeking plants that might need extra attention. To Kirk, it was all a mass of leaves; to Kailyn, no detail, no drooping branch or encroaching weed, was too small to spot and tend to.
Kailyn was twenty-three now, but she was small and delicate, her manner tentative and cautious, like a lost fawn. Her eyes were wide and dark brown, almost black. And they were always moving; not nervously, but more as if they possessed an overwhelming curiosity all their own. Kailyn herself seemed timid, but the eyes peered piercingly at all they could touch, searching, learning all they could. Most of all, they were sad, even when she wasn抰.
揥hat did your father teach you? 揂ll about Shad梠ur history, how our family had ruled through times of feast and shortage, the Covenant with our people and our gods. How how the Dynasty has to continue 揟hrough you. 揑 know. 揟hen you know what your father has planned? 揧es.She reached down and slipped her hand into Kirk抯 as they sat on a rough wooden bench. He noticed the first stars were twinkling in the midnight-blue twilight sky. 揙h, Uncle Jim, I love my father. I I guess I worship him. He抯 protected me all these years, been both mother and father, given me his dream.She took a
breath, then spoke in a small, halting voice. 揃ut I don抰 think I can do it. I don抰 have his strength. 揌ow do you know? 揑 feel it in him when he talks to me, even weak as he is now. I know he抯 dying, but when he calls me in and we talk about what it抣l be like to be home again, he makes me believe. His strength makes me see what he sees. But but when I leave him and come out here to watch the stars, I can抰 feel it anymore. What will it be like when he抯 gone, when I won抰 be able to go in there and have him lift me up again? 揑 don抰 now, Kailyn. This time, she did look into Kirk抯 eyes, and there was a steadfastness in hers that made him want to say, You do have it if only you could see into yourself the strength is there. But she would have to discover that for herself.
揌e taught me history, my place in our religion, told me the feelings I should have. I don抰 know why, but it wasn抰 enough. 揂re you afraid of being Queen? 揧es.It was a fast answer, almost a relief. Then her voice dropped to a whisper. 揗ore than that how does someone learn to be a savior?
揟hose doubts aren抰 the only thing,McCoy said as he sat with Captain Kirk and Spock in the library. There抯 another root to the problem, Jim. Kailyn has an incurable disease. 揥hat? What is it? 揅horiocytosis. 揃ut that almost killed Spock in a matter of days when he had it. If we hadn抰 tracked down the Orion pirates and gotten that drug back棓
揗y case was acuteSpock said. 揑 believe Kailyn抯 is chronic. 揟hat抯 right. His case was caused by a virus, Jim. Kailyn抯 is an inborn hormone deficiency. It抯 pretty rare, but it抯 treatable with daily injections. In addition, the disease affects different races in different ways. Kirk recalled what he knew about choriocytosis from Spock抯 almost fatal bout with it several years earlier, how the virus encased his copper-based blood cells, preventing them from carrying the oxygen needed for life functions. McCoy explained the variations between acute and chronic forms. Kailyn had inherited a recessive genetic condition that inhibited production of the hormone holulin梐 substance present in the bodies of about a dozen humanoid species, though not Earth humans. Injections made up for the lack of holulin, keeping blood cells free of the suffocating shell-like membrane formed by choriocytosis.
揂s long as she takes the shots,McCoy said, 搒he should live a fairly normal life, though some complications may set in during old age. It抯 a little like diabetes was to humans before it was cured. 揑f it went untreated, would it affect her the same as it did Spock? 揧es. First unconsciousness, then coma, then death.
揟here抯 a 慴utin your voice, Bones. 揑t gets worse under stress, and she抯 going to be in for a lot of that, Jim. Holulin production can stop altogether and careful treatment is absolutely necessary. 揑s Kailyn fully aware of her condition and all that it entails, Doctor?asked Spock.
揙h, she抯 aware梑ut she thinks of herself as crippled because of it. She told me she抯 afraid to give herself the injection. One of the servants does it. Chronic choriocytosis can be a big psychological
barrier, and that抯 what it is to her. If she can抰 handle her own illness, Jim, how can she guide the destiny of a whole planet? Kirk had no answer. Kailyn had one梔eep within herself. But would she ever find it?
Chapter Four
.燗nd it came to pass that the second god Dal saw the long table Keulane made; and Dal said 揥as this made from one piece, whole, cut in a single stroke from the heart of the largest tree in the land? Unbowed (for he feared not the god Dal), Keulane speak 揧es, and with my own hand. Let this table replace the field of battle. Let the people reveal their hearts with true words and not sword thrusts. Let this wood, from the tree抯 heart, be the heart of Shad, one world united forever. And Dal answered: 揑t shall be, Keulane. I shall give you dominion over Things and Creatures-Not-Man. And the god Dal gave his blessing, rendering the sword of Keulane, that cut the tree in a single stroke, as Strength with dominion over Things and Creatures-Not-Man. Keulane added this to his dominions over Heaven, given by the fourth god Koh; and over Land and Sea, given by the third god Adar. It remained for him to gain the blessing of the first god Iyan, God among Gods, and dominion over Man.
And so Keulane waited, for he felt it was his reward, but Iyan came not to him. At long last, Keulane cried out: 揌ave I not earned this? A bolt of blinding light and roaring thunder smote the sword
from Keulane抯 hands, and he trembled at the voice of Iyan, God of Gods: 揧ou are foolish, Keulane. No man can have dominion over Men. You can only guide them. We will not speak to you again in this life. We will never speak directly unto you again, but we will give you this. And the hand of Iyan placed the Crown of Shad upon Keulane抯 head. It was of silver, and of crystals, a pair whose inner depths were murky and fogged to the eye and mind of man. Do you hear and see my voice? Keulane answered that he did, but he did not, for the eye and ears of his heart were closed by fear. Iyan knew, and he shook Keulane to his very soul. 揌ear me! And lo, the crystals of the Crown became clear through, with the blue of Heaven as their shade. And Keulane felt his heart open, and he saw clearly, and heard. He knew the echoes of the past, and felt the tides of Time. And he knew the roads the People of Shad would take, if only he could lead them there.
揧ou have the Power of Times,Iyan told him. 揟hus shall you and your sons and daughters lead. Of the children you beget, only special ones in their time will have the Power. They will wear the Crown, the crystals will give them sight, and the People will hail them as Kings and Queens of the Covenant.
桞ook of Shad,
Verse of Keulane
揑 read it,McCoy said, replacing the book on the library shelf. 揃ut I抦 not sure I believe it. It sounds like something out of the legends of King Arthur. 揙n the contrary, it is more reminiscent of stories from your Earth bible,Spock said. 揙r Vulcan lore about Surak and the
founding of our modern philosophy and way of life. Almost all religions and culture heritages share that common factor梐 tendency to mythologize those elements that gave rise to them in the first place, blending probable facts with a modicum of the supernatural or inexplicable. 揧ou抮e right, now that I recall those Biblical stories,Kirk said.
揇oes that mean you believe those tales about the Crown, and the crystals changing color?McCoy asked. Before Kirk could answer, Spock jumped back in. 揑t is no less credible than Moses and the parting of the Red Sea, or Jesus feeding the multitudes, or Surak turning back the Army of Ten Thousand. McCoy shook his head. 揃ut all those stories have been explained in some scientific, rational way. 揝o has the Crown of Shad. Before King Stevvin was forced to flee, some scientific research was done. The Power of Times is known to be an ESP條ike phenomenon involving brain waves of a particular frequency and intensity. A person with the Power produces just the right brain waves to clear the electromagnetically sensitive crystals. This has been duplicated via computer simulation. McCoy remained unconvinced, and Kirk half-smiled as the doctor parried. 揃ut that still doesn抰 explain the other part, the mystical hearing of the godsvoices, that sixth sense of a fortune-teller. 揑f you had carefully read the Book of Shad, Doctor, you would know that the Power does not open the mind to a literal foretelling of future events. It merely permits a sensing of the flow of people and things, somewhat more accurately than a mere educated guess. But I hardly expect you, as a nontelepathic creature, to fully grasp the concept,Spock concluded.
Kirk decided the discussion had gone on long enough. 揑t抯 not important whether we believe in the Shaddan religion, but the people
people of Shad take it very seriously. The monarch of the Covenant is more than just a political leader. Whoever sits on that throne is also their religious leader, and they won抰 accept someone who doesn抰 wear the Crown as proof of the Power of Times. It was that simple梩he mysterious Crown had been on the head of every Shaddan ruler since Keulane, and no one could rule without it. But a pair of exceedingly large problems loomed in King Stevvin抯 plan, and Kirk wasn抰 sure which of the two might be worse.
First, the King did not have the Crown. Because of its sacred significance, it was imperative that it never fall into the hands of the Mohd Alliance or the Klingon Empire. Thus, when he left Shad in the confusion of civil war, Stevvin had spirited the Crown away with him and hid it on a planet almost as far off the beaten track as Orand, in a location known to no one but himself. The spot was to be revealed to his successor only; had he or Kailyn died before returning to Shad, he would have taken the secret to his grave, ending the Dynasty forever.
In order for Kailyn to be accepted as lawful Queen, the Crown had to be found and taken safely back to Shad along with the King抯 daughter. This presented a complex problem of logistics梐dmittedly dangerous and shot through with chances for disaster, but one over which Kirk could still exert a fair amount of influence, if not outright control.
The second puzzle however, had no tangible pieces for him to lay his hands upon. In fact, the only answer were within Kailyn. Did this young woman梞ore child than adult梡ossess the stuff of leadership, the will to complete what her father had set in motion? And most important of all, did she have the Power of Times?
That they didn抰 know, and wouldn抰, until and unless the Crown
could be retrieved and placed upon her head, a head filled with self-doubt. Doubt that could overwhelm the Power even if she did have it.
She was the last of her generation, the final scion of the royal family. And if she failed, that was it梟o Power, no monarchy, no restoration of unity, no victory on Shad, no mission. On the frail shoulders of a frightened girl rested the future of her planet and all of Quadrant J-221.
Chapter Five
Captain抯 Log: Star Date 7816.1
We have completed step one of King Stevvin抯 plan梩he King, his daughter, and their four servants have left Orand on board the Enterprise, as expected by both Star Fleet Command and any Klingon agents who may have been watching. His royal highness has lived long enough to serve as an all-important decoy. The Klingons know the Crown must be retrieved, and they expect us to lead them to its hiding place梑ut we抣l do no such thing. While the Enterprise instead leads them on a circuitous wild goose chase, Mr. Spock and Dr. McCoy will take a specially outfitted shuttlecraft and accompany the King抯 daughter to Sigma 1212, the icy world where Stevvin hid his sacred Crown eighteen years ago. If all goes well, the shuttle crew will retrieve the Crown, rendezvous with the Enterprise, and allow us to complete our mission of reunification. I hope King Stevvin can somehow live long enough to see his plan come to a successful end.
There was no royal suite aboard the Enterprise, and if McCoy had his way, the King would have been in sick bay proper. But Kirk managed to effect a compromise梐 diagnostic bed was set up in
VIP quarters, giving the King privacy and comfort, and McCoy the constant monitoring of medical data he demanded. The surgeon knew the odds against Stevvin抯 making it all the way to Shad, but he was going to try his damnedest to beat them.
The King was reading when Kirk entered the cabin, and he smiled as the captain sat by the bedside. Kirk glanced at the computer screen.
揇on Quixote? 揙ne of the best presents you ever gave me, James. I read that book so many times over these last years. I抎 like to have met Cervantes. Any man who could have created such a dreamer as Quixote must have been very special. 揑t抯 always been one of my favorites, too,Kirk agreed. Then he turned pensive. 揑 wonder if I would抳e had the courage he had, to hold on to those dreams when everything and everybody tried to snuff them out. Stevvin laid a gnarled hand on Kirk抯 arm. 揧ou have that courage. 揧ou抮e so sure of things The old man chuckled wryly and his eyes sparkled. 揑 look back on all the times I should have been sure, and wasn抰. And now I don抰 have time for doubts. Maybe that was the source of Don Quixote抯 strength梞aybe the young can抰 tilt at windmills because they have too much life to lose the old man has no place to go but the next life. Why not die a little sooner than a little later? Kirk抯 brow furrowed. 揟he closer death comes, the less you fear it? 揝o it seems. When I was your age, I never would抳e believed it. But when you give up little bits of yourself梕yesight goes, voice becomes hoarse, breathing抯 a chore you抎 consider avoiding, legs
can抰 take more than four steps without a rest, arms can抰 carry a child anymore, even the mind begins to wander back to how it used to be梑efore you know it, there isn抰 much left to give up. And then the fear goes, too梚f you抮e lucky.He paused for a shallow breath, and Kirk could hear the lung-deep wheeze. 揑抳e been lucky, James. The King抯 eyes slipped shut, and Kirk stood to leave. But Stevvin抯 hand held him with a firm grip; Kirk smiled at that sign of life not yet surrendered.
揝tay,whispered Stevvin, and Kirk sat again. 揟hings are going well so far? 揝o far. The old King caught the hint of concern in Kirk抯 voice. 揧ou抮e still uncertain about Kailyn. Kirk wanted to say something reassuring, but that wasn抰 how he truly felt, and he couldn抰 lie to the King.
揈ven if the Crown proves she has the Power of Times, that抯 no guarantee she can rule the planet. Not all children can do what their parents wish of them. 揟rue, it抯 no certainty. In the end, it抯 still the strength and qualities of the person on the throne. But don抰 underestimate the Power and what it means. I know it sounds to an outsider like black magic, but it does exist and it does help one who possesses it transcend the human frailties we抮e all born with. To use it, James, one must have absolute faith. Mine faltered梡erhaps I caused my own downfall.He shrugged his thin shoulders under the metallic sheen of the blanket. 揃ut my belief was rekindled when I knew you were coming to take us back. I sensed that the life currents that carried us apart were bringing us back together. It took me this long to comprehend that faith springs not just from gods梠r from your one
god梑ut from fellowmen as well. We must rely upon others梐nd be worthy of reliance ourselves. Kailyn will have to learn this if she抯 to lead. I think she will. In the silence, Kirk wondered梬as it wisdom, or foolish faith? The intercom whistled and Kirk touched the button; McCoy抯 frown filled the small screen.
揓im, you抮e tiring out my patient. Your Highness, just because he抯 the captain, don抰 feel you can抰 toss him out if you抎 rather rest. 揙n the contrary, Doctor, his visit has been refreshing. Like the chats we used to have back home. 揥ell, okay for now. But my prescription says you need some sleep, your Highness. Vamoose, Jim. 揇r. McCoy,said Stevvin, 搃s there any room in that prescription for a spot of brandy? McCoy lifted an eyebrow, and scratched his chin. 揓im, how do you say no to a royal patient? 揧ou don抰. You just bring the brandy to the royal cabin and fill a royal glass. 揓ust this once,McCoy said. 揂nd right after, we抣l both leave said royal patient to get some shut-eye. Agreed, Captain? 揧es, sir,Kirk said, saluting the viewscreen. The page of Don Quixote grew bold again over McCoy抯 fading image.
揇o you think we could get him to agree to a tour of the ship?asked Stevvin, with real anticipation in his tone.
揑 think that might be pressing our luck. But we抣l give it a try.
Much to Kirk抯 surprise, his medical officer gave in on the tour idea, so long as he came along. Kailyn accompanied them as well, and they pushed Stevvin along in a wheelchair. There were no wheels, of course; the orthopedic support couch glided atop an anti
grav field, making the heaviest patient easy to maneuver. The King beamed with fatherly pride as Kirk played sightseeing guide at each stop.
And Kailyn truly felt like a tourist. She was awed by the vastness of the Enterprise, and by Captain Kirk抯 sure grasp of every detail of every operation.
揑t only seems like he knows everything,McCoy whispered, loudly enough for Kirk to overhear.
揜ightKirk nodded. 揂ctually, Dr. McCoy knows everything. The group laughed and moved on梟early running head-on into Sulu and Chekov jogging around a corridor junction.
揥hoa, gentlemen! Theres a place for this, and it抯 not all over the ship. Sulu breathed lightly as he answered with a sheepish smile. 揝orry, sir. But Chekov just wasn抰 getting into the spirit of running on the treadmill track. I think he needs to feel the breeze through his hair, watch the scenery pass by McCoy regarded the wheezing security chief, doubled over and collapsed against the wall. 揚ersonally, I think he needs a stretcher.
揙h, he抯 just getting warmed up,said Sulu. He nudged Chekov on the shoulder, almost knocking him over. 揂nother mile or so, and then back to the gym for a little fencing. Come on, Chekov. Rest too long and you抣l get cramps. See you all later.Sulu leaped ahead and disappeared around the corner.
Chekov leaned away from the sympathetic wall, swaying for a moment. 揥ith friends like this, who needs Klingons? He staggered away and Kirk resumed the tour.
So many resources at his disposal, Kailyn thought. So many people and skills at his fingertips. She抎 never been on anything like this starship, except a planet, a world. That抯 what the Enteprise was,
in reality梐 self-contained world, and Kirk was its king.
He surveys it with such confidence, such pleasure, she marveled. He was sovereign ruler here, as Kailyn would have to be. As her ailing father had been years ago. She wondered if he had taken to command as comfortably as Kirk seemed to. Would the mantle of responsibility and power ever fit so well on her?

King Stevvin fell asleep shortly after returning to his quarters; McCoy paused a moment to check the monitors, and he didn抰 like what they told him. The strain of the tour probably hadn抰 made any difference, but the King of Shad was slipping slowly closer to death. The doctor kept it to himself as Kirk headed up to the bridge, and Kailyn went to her own cabin, adjacent to her father抯, to rest.
McCoy stalked into his office and watched the door slide shut, cutting him off from the corridor with a perfunctory hiss. 揇ammit,he grumbled. 揘o doors to slam on this ship.And so he pounded his fist on the nearest countertop instead; but it wasn抰 the same and he longed for an old-fashioned slammable door and the room-shaking crash it would make.
His annoyance stemmed from two sources梩he first, his inability to do anything about the King抯 inevitable demise. The second the second made his blood run cold. He抎 looked at Stevvin in the wheelchair梐nd he抎 seen himself, an old man, helpless as a babe being fed, or trundled from place to place. He looked in the mirror again, at the wrinkles collected by years of too many late hours in too many labs, regrets lingering from his ill-fated marriage, worries about his daughter Joanna, now grown and practically a stranger to him, the taste of a few extra drinks he could抳e passed up.
Water under the bridge, he thought with a mental shrug. Even Vulcans get wrinkles. Besides, facial creases don抰 mean I抦 old. It抯 what you think you are梐nd right now, I think I抦 old. Hell, what would I do if a woman came in here right now and The question was interrupted by the office door sliding open. Kailyn entered and looked about like a nervous sparrow.
揇r. McCoy,she blurted, 揑 want to learn how to give myself the holulin injections. McCoy frowned. 揘ot now, Kailyn,he said, more gruffly than he抎 intended. 揑抳e got some things I棓
Before he could complete the thought, she was gone, as quietly and unexpectedly as she抎 come, and he found himself staring at the closing door.
Dammit. Why the hell did I do that? He shook his head ruefully. So a woman walks in and I send her right back out again. Wait a minute梥he抯 just a girl, and the King抯 daughter to boot. And that doesn抰 count.
He rolled his eyes. Of course it counts. She came for help, and you抮e too busy feeling sorry for yourself.
揝ometimes you抮e an incredible jackass, McCoy,he said out loud, and quickly went out to find Kailyn.

It took some effort, but with a combination of Southern charm and fatherly coaxing, McCoy managed to convince Kailyn to come back to the office. He was surprised at how little she knew of her own serious illness, and he determined that self-injection would have to wait until he could give her as comprehensive a medical education as possible before they left the Enterprise to search for the Crown.
But if her specific knowledge of choriocytosis was limited, her
ability to absorb and understand physiological facts and their interrelationhips was nothing short of remarkable. McCoy figured she must have had the equivalent of a university master抯 degree, taught entirely by the King during the long wait on Orand, and his admiration of both father and daughter grew. As the complexity of their lessons increased, so did Kailyn抯 enthusiasm.
McCoy was preparing the next study tape when Kailyn arrived early for their session. She took a seat while he transferred several diagrams from the computer file on choriocytosis, and she listened closely to the music cassette playing in the background. The piece had a subtle Latin rhythm, intricate instrumental harmonies alternating with a lusty flourish of brass.
揗elendez,Kailyn said after a few minutes.
McCoy looked up from his computer terminal. 揌mm? 揗elendez. Carlos Juan Melendez the composer.
McCoy laughed. 揌ow do you know an early-twenty-first-century Earth musician from Texas? 揑 love music. I was one of those children who took lessons and couldn抰 get enough to keep me happy. I wanted to learn every instrument we had梐nd a few we didn抰. 揑抦 beginning to think there抯 nothing you can抰 do.
Kailyn closed her eyes and sighed. 揑 still can抰 give myself the injections. 揇on抰 worry. It抯 just a mental block,he said, putting an arm around her. 揈verybody抯 got their little quirks. To this day, I still can抰 swallow a pill without something to wash it down條ike brandy.
She smiled a not very convincing smile and leaned her head on his shoulder. He inhaled the garden-fresh fragrance of her hair, and felt a little less elderly for the first time since the birthday party.
揥here抯 Dr. McCoy?asked Kirk.
Christine Chapel抯 preoccupation with a lab work-up on the King was momentarily disrupted. 揥ith his shadow,she said absently.
揌is what? 揑 mean, I think he went with Kailyn to visit her father, Captain. Kirk nodded. 揃y the way, I did hear you the first time. Exactly what did that mean? 揘othing, sir. 揂hh. It just sort of slipped out. 揝omething like that, sir. Kirk bounced on his heels for a moment, gazing expectantly at Chapel. Clearly, she was torn between saying what she really had on her mind or crawling into the nearest test tube in the hopes that Captain Kirk would go away and forget her slip. But he stayed, and finally she couldn抰 stand the silence.
揑抦 not trying to gossip, Captain, but she always seems to be around him. He goes to the labs, she抯 with him. To the ships mess, she抯 at his table. The only times she抯 not around him are when she抯 with her father. 揑t doesn抰 seem to be any cause for alarm, does it?
揑 guess not, sir. 揃esides, McCoy抯 a good father figure, isn抰 he? 揑 wouldn抰 know, Captain,Chapel said with a slight blush coming to her cheeks. 揂nd I抦 not so sure she thinks of him in a completely fatherly way. Kirk suppressed a smile. 揥ell, maybe it抣l make him feel a little more youthful, having a young lady pay attention to him. 揂s long as he doesn抰 get carried away. 揂re you afraid he抯 not aware of what抯 happening? He is a pretty fair psychologist. 揅aptain, you know as well as I do that physicians don抰 always heal themselves. 揟ouch Doctor. I抣l mention it to McCoy梬hen I can find him without the young lady. 揇iscreetly please, sir,she implored.
揑抣l do my best.
揅hristine put you up to this, didn抰 she, Jim? 揟hat抯 ridiculous, Bones,Kirk said quickly.
揘ot if I know Chapel,McCoy countered, sitting on his bunk and pulling his boots off with one grunt per foot. He rubbed his toes to restore circulation. 揟hey should get a new podiatric specialist to design some decent boots for Star Fleet. 揑抦 not here to discuss your feet. 揘o, you抮e here to discuss my private life,McCoy snapped.
揅alm down. Your private life isn抰 the problem. 揟here isn抰 any problem! 揃ut there could be if you get involved with Kailyn in any way. McCoy stood up abruptly, began pacing, and abandoned all efforts at hiding his annoyance. 揝o we eat a couple of meals together, listen to some music, go over the implications of her illness is that so terrible? Look, Jim, I want that girl to be able to administer her own shots by the time we leave this ship. To do it, I抳e got to get her to trust me. If that means being nice to her and getting to know her, well, dammit, that抯 what I抣l do. 揂nd is that what you抮e doing? 揧es!said McCoy, waving his arms. 揋ood lord, if I questioned everything you did that I thought was a little screwy, neither of us
would ever get a stitch of work done. Kirk eyed his ship抯 surgeon, then pursed his lips. 揘ow, that抯 the diplomatic Leonard McCoy explanation I was waiting to hear. McCoy shook his head. 揋et out of here and let me get my beauty sleep. Lord knows, at my age I need it.
Kirk抯 own rest period was the type to add wrinkles and subtract years梞ost of it spent tossing and turning, willing his eyes to stay closed, then opening them the moment his mind wandered from the task of sleeping to the vagaries of their mission. Any further thoughts of slumber were destroyed by the whistle of the intercom.
揃ridge to Captain Kirk,said Sulu.
Kirk leaned over and touched the switch. 揔irk here, Mr. Sulu. What抯 up梠ther than me? 揝orry to disturb you, sir, but we thought you抎 want to know we抮e being followed by a Klingon cruiser. Kirk rolled to his feet and grabbed his shirt off the bed in a single move. 揙n my way.
The bridge was calm and quiet as Kirk stepped out of the turbolift. 揜eport,he said, looking first to Sulu, who commanded this watch.
揘o hostile action on their part, sir. They抮e just hovering out there, almost out of sensor range. We tried some leisurely evasive maneuvers. They抮e not exactly following us to the letter, but every time we抎 lose them, they抎 turn up again in a minute or two. 揂ny communications, Uhura? 揘othing, Captain. I hailed them on all frequencies no response. 揑 guess they had nothing to say,Kirk said as he eased into the command seat.
揝hall I try them again, sir? 揘o. We know they抮e there. That抯 all we need to know right now. Chekov, keep an eye on them. I wouldn抰 want to lose them. Kirk sat back. So, they抳e taken the bait doing exactly what we hoped they抎 do. But it抯 just too easy. We抣l have to stay sharp桲lingons are rarely so cooperative.
Chapter Six
McCoy and Kailyn stood side by side, gazing out the recreation deck抯 huge observation port. From their perch near the stern of the main saucer section, they could see the Engineering hull below and the Enteprise抯 slender engine nacelles fanning out gracefully, bathed in the gentle glow of the ship抯 own floodlights.
Kailyn seemed determined to find out everything about McCoy抯 past, where he抎 been, what he抎 done, whom he抎 known, how he抎 come to be a physician with Star Fleet. And he enjoyed answering the questions.
Eventually, she wrapped one arm around his waist, and he noticed that she was leaning on him for support. She was pale.
揥hat抯 wrong? 揗y stomach抯 a little queasy,she said with a lopsided, little-girl smile. 揟his is the first time I realized we抮e out in the middle of space on a tiny little ship. 揑抎 hardly call the Enterprise tiny. Kailyn leaned forward, pressing up against the port window. The ship was moving, of course, but she had the strangest sensation that they were suspended among the stars, just another heavenly body. The stars so many of them, wherever she might look, set like unblinking jewels strewn across the infinite darkness. So many of them梱et, they seemed uncrowded, unhurried as they moved ever
farther from the center of the Universe on a journey that had commenced with the beginning of all things, the beginning of time.
She drifted out of her reverie, back to McCoy, who watched with a mixture of fascination and concern.
揥hat were you thinking about, Kailyn? She shrugged. 揑 don抰 know. A lot of things. There抯 so much out there. When we went to Orand, I was so young, I didn抰 even realize what was happening. 揧ou mean being out in space? She nodded.
McCoy chuckled. 揈verybody抯 like this on their first space voyage. You think you know what it抣l be like梪ntil you抮e actually on that ship and get out in the middle of nowhere. I抳e had more space rookies stumble into my office梐ll of a sudden, reality hits them, and they get this look on their faces He pressed his nose to hers and his eyes bugged out, like a surprised insect. Kailyn couldn抰 help laughing, and he stepped back, his hands on her shoulders.
揘ow, that抯 more like it. You抮e too young not to laugh more. But her smile suddenly faded and she lowered her eyes. McCoy touched her cheek. 揥hat is it? She didn抰 look up. 揂m I too young? 揊or what? 揊or everything. To be Queen of Shad to give my own shotsThere was a long pause. 揟o love someone. Now it was McCoy抯 turn for a lingering moment of silence. To love someone梔id she mean him? Poppycock. Now I抦 thinking like Christine. Before he could formulate a response, the intercom whistled urgently.
揇r. McCoy,said Uhura抯 voice. 揜eport to sick bay immediately.
Dr. McCoy, to sick bay, please.Her tone said emergency without using the word, and McCoy reflexively grabbed Kailyn抯 hand and pulled her toward the turbolift.

The captain and Spock stood outside the doctor抯 office ready to intercept him. When Kirk saw Kailyn with McCoy, his jaw tightened for just a second; there was no way to protect her.
揃ones, it抯 the King.Then he turned and led the way down the corridor to Stevvin抯 quarters.
Kailyn held fast to McCoy抯 hand, her mind racing from thought to thought, careening between fear, resignation and a determination to keep her wits about her. Tears formed in her eyes, but stayed there.
Dr. Chapel and a medical aide were already at the King抯 bedside, administering an injection and oxygen. They stepped smoothly aside when McCoy entered, and Chapel delivered a succinct report. Kailyn watched and listened dully, absorbing blurred impressions, clearly hearing only two words: 揌eart failure. Kirk guided Kailyn back toward a corner of the room, and they stood with Spock as the medical team worked with no wasted motions or words. The life-function indicators above the bed jumped and sagged erratically. Chapel placed a portable heart-lung machine over the King抯 chest, while the med tech adjusted the oxygen feed. McCoy punched several control buttons when Chapel nodded to him, and the cardio-stimulator began a steady pulse, its green light blinking evenly.
揚ulse and pressure stabilized, Doctor,Chapel said finally.
揃reathing on his own,the med tech added.
McCoy stepped back and wiped his forehead. 揕eave the cardio-stimulator in place for now, Doctor. Keep an eye on the readouts. Chapel nodded and she and the young aide exited. For the first time, McCoy looked at Kailyn. She broke away from Kirk and buried her face on McCoy抯 shoulder. He nodded to Kirk and Spock and they left McCoy and Kailyn alone. For a long time, he held her, and the only sounds were her sniffling and the faint beating of the cardio-stimulator.

Kailyn抯 eyes were red-rimmed, but she was all business for the strategy session with McCoy, Spock and Captain Kirk in the main briefing room. The details of the mission were raked over one more time. Kirk wanted to be certain not only that she knew the location of the Crown on Sigma 1212, but that she was psychologically ready for the task. After an hour, he sent her back to her cabin to rest.
揙pinions, gentlemen?he asked, when she had gone.
揑 think she抯 ready,McCoy said. 揝he seems to have gained a lot of self-confidence over these last three days, Jim. I was especially pleased by the way she bounced back from that crisis with her father this afternoon. 揑 must differ, Captain,Spock said.
揝pocksnapped McCoy, 搕his is no time for nitpicking.
Spock ignored McCoy and addressed Kirk directly.
揟he young lady was disturbed to a great degree during the medical emergency. She seems unready to accept that her father will not live much longer, and I am forced to point out that this does not bode well for her ability to function without his support. McCoy jumped to his feet. 揓im, she was upset,he argued. 揟hat抯 normal梖or a human, Mr. Spock. You both saw her here. She was clearheaded and alert, and I think that抯 pretty admirable under the circumstances.He sat back again. 揑 think this afternoon, seeing that equipment used on her father, was the first time Kailyn
really faced the fact that he抯 dying. Oh, she understood it intellectually before, but emotionally it just hit her all at once. She cried, but she bounced back. McCoy glanced from Kirk to Spock several times, inviting riposte or agreement. Spock merely raised an eyebrow. 揑 have stated my concern梐nd I believe Dr. McCoy has adequately explained the situation.
揑 agree,Kirk concluded. 揃esides, we don抰 have much choice, and we have no time to waste. Star Fleet will be expecting a report, and I抎 like to be able to tell them 憁ission accomplished.挔 Spock rose from his seat. 揥ith your permission, sir, I shall return to the bridge. Kirk nodded, and when Spock had left, he turned to the still-seated McCoy. 揑 want to believe you, Bones, that she抣l get through this. Are you sure? 揑抎 put money on it.
The next few hours were devoted to mental and physical preparation. Kirk repeatedly went over the plan in his mind. He wanted to know every weak spot, to anticipate every surprise, to expect every possible intrusion of the unexpected.
Spock inspected the shuttle Galileo, specially equipped for long-distance travel with light-speed boosters, extra fuel, food rations, medical supplies, and survival items. A computer check revealed all systems ready, and a manual review confirmed it.
McCoy gathered the medical gear he抎 need to care for Kailyn if her choriocytosis flared seriously. And he did plenty of thinking梐bout Kailyn, about himself, and what was happening between them. She抯 a child, younger than my daughter梐nd she抯 got a crush on you, McCoy. So what? I couldn抰 be interested in her like
that. I抦 a teacher, someone for her to look up to. It could just as easily have been Spock, if she went for logical, unemotional types. Her father won抰 be with her much longer梥he抯 just transferring her feelings from him to me. She抣l understand that梥he抯 got to.
Still, she was intelligent, gentle, pretty. Why couldn抰 I be interested in her? Just because I really am old enough to be her father? How do you feel, McCoy? He gave a mental shrug. That抯 the hell of it桰 don抰 know.

揑 can抰 stay long, Father,Kailyn said. 揑 don抰 want to tire you out. Stevvin smiled weakly. The machines had been removed, but he had to remain flat on his back. He reached out with a trembling hand and she held it, resting it on the bed.
揧ou抣l be leaving soon. Remember桽hirn O抰ay was the patriarch. Hell show you where the Crown棓
揑 know, Father, I know. Don抰 worry. 揑 won抰. Actually, I will梑ut that抯 a father抯 privilege. Stevvin pulled his daughter抯 hand to his lips and kissed it. 揟he gods will care for you. And you have some good men to help you. The King抯 breath came in short, labored rasps, and Kailyn fought back her tears. 揑 love you, Father. He smiled and pressed her hand to his lips again.

揝ensor report,said Kirk.
Chekov looked up from the viewer at the science station. The Klingon cruiser is just out of range, sir. They couldn抰 detect the shuttle launch now. 揝huttle engine ignition, Captain,said Sulu.
Kirk punched up the Galileo抯 channel on his intercom panel. 揔irk to Galileo. 揝pock here, Captain. All systems ready for shuttle launch. 揝pockKirk hesitated. 揋ood luck. Kailyn, take good care of my officers. Especially McCoy. Her voice was strong. 揑 will. 揜equest shuttle bay doors open,Spock said.
Sulu flipped a console switch. 揝huttle bay doors open.
Kirk glanced at the hangar deck on the screen over the science station. 揕aunch shuttle. Sulu抯 fingers skipped across the panel, deftly touching the final toggle. 揝huttle away, sir.
That night, King Stevvin, the seventeenth monarch in the Dynasty of Shad, died in his sleep with Captain Kirk and four royal servants at his side.
The shuttlecraft Galileo was ten hours out on its journey by that time. The King抯 plan for bringing peace to his world once and for all was progressing without him, as he had hoped it would. Even the Klingon cruiser resumed its place, following the Enterprise. All was as it should have been.
Except for one thing. Unknown to Kirk, or to the crew of the Galileo, when the shuttle passed through the outer reaches of a nondescript white-dwarf star system, far out of sensor range of the Enterprise, a shadow joined the excursion.
The shadow was a Klingon spy scout, manned by four intelligence agents. Their assignment was simple梖ollow the shuttlecraft. If its crew retrieved the holy Crown of Shad, kill them and claim the Crown for the Klingon Empire. And if they failed to find the Crown, kill them anyway.
Chapter Seven
揔lingons, Kirk,Harrington barked with uncharacteristic fury. 揟he bloody Klingons knew before I did. If their secret communications network weren抰 so leaky, they抎 know, and I still wouldn抰 know. Would you care to offer an explanation as to why you disobeyed orders? Kirk sat hunched over his desk, with Scotty standing directly behind him. On the viewscreen, the admiral was still in his robe梙e抎 obviously been roused from a good night抯 sleep with the news that the Klingons were on to the Enterprise decoy plan梐 decoy plan he抎 known nothing about.
揑抦 sorry, Admiral,Kirk began. Not quite certain of what else to say, he moved on cautiously. 揟he situation was not as we were led to expect when we arrived at Orand, sir. You抮e aware that the Crown of Shad was not with the King when we棓
揧es, Kirk. The bloody Klingon report we got hold of was quite clear in that detail. 揙nce we ascertained that we couldn抰 go back to Shad without it, we also realized that the King was simply not healthy enough to make the extra trip. None of this was included in the briefing report we were given at Star Base, sir. Kirk shot a quick glance back at Scott, who understood his captain抯
captain抯 strategy梥hifting a bit of the blame for the altered mission onto Star Fleet Intelligence.
揂ll right, Captain, I accept that the mission required modification and I抣l even accept that the time involved in consulting with H.Q. might have blown the whole affair. You抮e an accomplished starship captain, and you sit in that command seat because Star Fleet trusts your judgment梩hough right now, I might be convinced to question that. Kirk swallowed, but continued to look head-on at the viewscreen.
揥e抳e got two major problems to contend with, Kirk. First and foremost, it appears that one of the Shaddans aboard your ship is a Klingon agent, and second棓
揃egging your pardon, sir, but our shuttle crew out there on Sigma is going to be at the wrong end of a Klingon shooting gallery the second they find that Crown棓
揑 am aware of that, Captain. 揟hat抯 our primary concern, sir. It抯 of the utmost importance that we get back to Sigma as quickly as possible in case the shuttle party needs assistance. 揘egative, Captain,Harrington said sharply. 揑f you抎 been here when we got word from Intelligence, you抎 know that rooting out the turncoat in the King抯 party is top priority. 揃ut the safety of the King抯 daughter and my officers棓
摋is of deep concern. However, Star Fleet will not be made fools of. The Klingons did just that Captain. Here they had a spy under our noses all this time, you pull a plan out of nowhere that the Fleet doesn抰 even know about梐nd the enemy knows where you抮e going and when before you even get under way. I have to answer to superiors, too, and they will not stand for that. They threw it at me and I抦 throwing it right to you. This is an order梖ind that spy. 揝ir, for all practical purposes, we have all four suspects in custody. We can investigate after we抳e ensured the safety of the shuttle mission. 揟he Joint Chiefs of Staff want that spy secured first.
揇id the Joint Chief have any good ideas how to do that?said Kirk, biting off each word梥idestepping the urge to illuminate them with colorful adjectives and verbs.
揧ou got into this, Kirk, and it抯 up to you to think of a way out. That抯 not a direct quote, I might add. The language here was a bit more descriptive. Kirk was immediately sorry he抎 restrained himself; the phrases running through his mind were quite descriptive, but he realized that insubordination was not the thing to help his cause at the moment.
揂dmiral, I must register a strong protest. We棓
揟hat抯 your right, Captain. And these are your orders梖ormulate a plan to catch that spy, and hold your present position until you抳e got one. Then submit the specifics for our approval before you put it into effect. Is that clear? 揧es, sir,Kirk said tightly.
揙ne other thing梙ow is the King through all this?
Kirk and Scott traded quick glances. 揟he King? The King is fine, sir. 揋ood. I抎 hate to have any more complications after all this. Very well we shall be expecting a plan from you in exactly two hours. Star Fleet out. Harrington抯 image faded to black, and Kirk rested his chin on his arms, slumped over the desktop.
Scotty shook his head soberly. 揅aptain, ylied to a Star Fleet admiral. 揕et抯 hope you and I are the only ones who ever know about it. It抯 eighteen years later, and I抦 still fighting the damn bureaucracy. We just can抰 risk any more leaks.He shook his head. 揥hatever happened, it was before we left Orand, and that was out of our control. Maybe the King mentioned the plan to a servant who mentioned it to someone else. Or maybe someone overheard, or maybe Kailyn said something when she shouldn抰 have. I don抰 know. What I do know is, none of that matters now. What does matter is that Spock, McCoy and Kailyn are going to be in trouble, and that Klingon ship playing tag with us for three days was a trick that I fell for. Now, instead of getting to Sigma as fast as we can to see that nothing happens to the shuttle crew, we have to sit here thinking of a way to wipe egg off Star Fleet抯 face. Dammit.
There was no easy banter when Kirk gathered Scott, Sulu, Chekov, Uhura, and Security Lieutenant Jaye Byrnes in the briefing room. The situation was summed up in succinct terms, and the assembled officers circled gingerly around it for better than thirty minutes. Finally, Kirk swiveled out of his seat and began pacing around the table.
揕adies and gentlemen, we抮e not getting anywhere,he said flatly.
Byrnes cleared her throat. She was present because she抎 joined the Enterprise after five years in Star Fleet Counterintelligence, and Kirk hoped her expertise might elicit ideas from the others.
揂s long as this spy抯 on board,she said, 搘e抮e in control, sir. That抯 our ace. 揟hat抯 what I tried to tell Star Fleet. That抯 why this shouldn抰 be that urgent. 揊or H.Q. it is,Chekov said glumly. 揂nd that makes it urgent for us. Kirk allowed himself a gallows smile. 揅hain of command, Mr. Chekov. They put the heat on me, I put it on you. 揃ut who do we put it on?Sulu grumbled.
揧ou don抰. You give me answers. Byrnes? She tossed her blond hair over her shoulder. 揥e can use that control, Captain. 揌ow? 揃y giving the spy enough rope to hang himself. Kirk sat on the edge of the table, arms crossed. 揋o on. 揥e know about him. We know he抯 here棓
揂ye,Scott said, 揵ut not who he梠r she梚s.
揑f we can make him think he can get away with something he wants to do and we should normally want to prevent, we might be able to trap him. Scott nodded. 揂ye. Give a fish a little line, let him think he抯 free he tires himself out, and yreel him in fast. 揈xactly,said Byrnes. 揘ow, what would this spy want very much to do, either personally or as part of his assignment? 揋et away from us,Sulu suggested.
Kirk抯 eyes narrowed. 揋et away from us for what purpose? 揊or his own safety,said Uhura.
揙r to report new information,Scott said suddenly. 揕ike the King抯 death. It抯 the one thing that抯 happened since we left Orand that the Klingons would want tknow. 揙f course,Sulu said, nodding emphatically. 揟hen they wouldn抰 have to worry about getting their hands on the Crown. With the King dead, if they could kill his daughter, they抎 wipe out whatever chance we had for keeping the Loyalist Coalition together棓
摋and the Mohd Alliance could win without any blatant outside help that might attract the attention of the Organian treaty enforcers,Byrnes concluded.
Kirk nodded. 揟hat seems like a pretty compelling reason for this informant to want to make contact with his superior. If we can give him a chance to do that, under the guise of some legitimate task, we could catch him in the act. 揃ut the only way to do that,said Byrnes, 搃s to let the spy off the Enterpise, sir. And any way we do that, we risk two things梞aking him suspicious, or letting him escape. The brainstorming picked up speed and went on for another hour. Kirk was pleased that his inclusion of Byrnes proved to be the perfect catalyst. But for all the ideas laid out, it remained for Kirk to synthesize the possibilities into a course of action that sounded plausible. He did, radioed it to Star Fleet, and waited for an answer.
An hour later, it came: approval. But the toughest decision lay ahead. If the hidden spy took the bait, all well and good. But if no suspect stepped forward into the noose, Kirk knew he had no time for alternatives梩he Enterprise would be off to Sigma in the warp-speed wink of an eye, and to hell with Star Fleet抯 wounded pride. That could be repaired easily enough梬ounded bodies, however, were another matter, and he wanted very much to retrieve the Galileo and its crew unscathed.
But first, to catch a spy.
Chapter Eight
McCoy twisted in his seat, stretched every muscle in both legs, massaged the kinks out of his neck, and still couldn抰 get comfortable. Though he抎 traveled in space for years, there were still times when he felt slightly cramped walking through a narrow corridor on the Enterprise, or sitting in a cabin where the walls contoured to the curves of a bulkhead.
But if the great starship caused a twinge of confinement now and then, three days in the Galileo made him feel positively claustrophobic, and he longed for the relative roominess of the Enterprise. Suddenly, he leaped from his seat and paced as wildly as a man could with only two strides between him and the walls. Quite frankly, he felt ridiculous and flopped back into the seat. Spock watched without a word, while Kailyn napped in one of the three hammocks set up in the makeshift sleeping section at the stern.
揝pock, are we there yet? The Vulcan came as close as he ever did to looking annoyed. 揇octor, you asked me that an hour ago. We are now one hour closer to our destination. McCoy extended his recliner seat to its full tilt and clasped his hands behind his head. 揟ell me again how our destination is a South Sea isle, with palm trees, and suntanned bathing beauties
wearing nothing but long, flowing hair, flower necklaces, and warm smiles. 揝igma 1212 is the fourth planet in its system, sparsely inhabited, and has an average surface temperature of minus twelve degrees Celsius. Sixty-two percent of its landmass is too cold for human habitation. And there are no palm trees,Spock replied, with a suitably icy undertone in his voice.
揧ou know what I抳e always liked about you, Spock? 揥hat, Doctor? 揟he way you always go out of your way to make me happy. 揇octor,Spock said, his lips in a tight line, 揹o one of your crossword puzzles. 揑 did a whole tape of them. And I don抰 even like crossword puzzles,McCoy mourned. 揥hat if I said I wanted to go outside for a little stroll? 揟his is hardly the time. 揟hat wasn抰 my question. What would you do? 揂t this point, Dr. McCoy, I would let you go. 揟here you go trying to make me happy again. McCoy抯 next complaint was soundly shaken back from the tip of his tongue when the shuttle bucked into a sudden pocket of turbulence. He grasped the arms of his seat and sat bolt upright, while Spock spun back to the control panel. The ship shuddered again.
揥hat抯 wrong, Spock? The next jolt threw them against their seatbacks.
揑t抯 getting worse,said McCoy, blanching as his stomach returned to its rightful place, contents barely contained.
The first officer studied several urgently flashing readouts, though his expression remained calm, as always.
揑抦 afraid our situation may get considerably worse before it gets
better. The Sigma system is noted for the severity and frequency of solar flares and resulting magnetic storms. 揇on抰 give me a travelog梛ust do something. Spock turned his full attention to the Galileo抯 unresponsive instruments while the small ship tossed from side to side. McCoy stumbled forward, clamping a stranglehold on the command seat抯 headrest. He hovered behind Spock while his knees absorbed the pitching and rolling.
Kailyn half-fell and half-walked into the main cabin, finally reaching the relative security of her portside seat. 揥hat抯 wrong?
揝pock didn抰 mean to wake you up.McCoy tightened his grip on the headrest. The shuttle抯 nose suddenly dipped and his chin jammed into the top of the seat. Dazed, he retreated to his own chair and rubbed his jaw.
揥e are entering the storm zone surrounding Sigma 1212,Spock said to Kailyn.
揝urrounding the planet?repeated McCoy. 揟hat means we抮e close to it. 揥e are approaching it, Doctor, but I抳e been forced to reduce our speed, and we have another hour ahead of us. Before McCoy could say anything else, the Galileo rose up on it tail and plunged forward as the convulsive fury of the storm jerked it like a puppet. The metal hull groaned and creaked, and Spock cut back the engines again. There was a lull, for just a heartbeat, and then it began all over again. The ship seemed to be trying to twist in three directions at once.
揝pock,said McCoy anxiously, 揳re we going to hold together? The Vulcan抯 long fingers poised over the controls, and he did not turn to face McCoy. 揑 do not know, Doctor. Only time will tell. The Klingon spy vessel shivered and twitched in protest as Commander Kon tried to hold it on course. Kon was short and stocky for a Klingon, but his tunic fit tightly across his barrel chest, and muscles rippled under the mail cloth. His beard was streaked with gray, a tell-tale sign that he抎 been in the Empire抯 service longer than most, combining skill and luck to survive battles and sidestep assassination attempts by younger officers eager to rise through the ranks. Kon had led the crew of the fiercest battle cruiser in the Imperial fleet for nearly a decade, and had managed to crush a half-dozen mutiny outbreaks to keep his ship loyal to the Emperor. For his efforts, he was rewarded with elevation to the elite Special Intelligence Group, a handful of trusted soldiers who were assigned only the most important spy missions梩he dirtiest and most dangerous.
Kon had proven he could kill when he had to, could strangle a child with his bare hands if that抯 what it took. He was feared, and had no fear. The perfect Klingon.
揅ommander, sensors are impairedsaid the science officer from her station. The scout ship was tiny, with too much equipment crammed into far too little space. Kera, the science officer, was close enough to touch her commander, though she didn抰 dare. She was young, brilliant, ambitious梐nd she knew that any sort of romantic involvement with a powerful male like Kon would likely end up with one of them dead. Not that the prospect didn抰 intrigue her; for among Klingons, even love was a battle, consummated only when one was victor and one vanquished. But she had time on her side梩he odds told her that one day Kon would falter and die because of it. To become too closely allied with him now could cost her dearly later, so the transitory pleasures and excitement of a sexual coupling simply weren抰 worth the risk.
揥e抳e hit the fringe of a Magnitude Seven disturbance, sir,she
said, her voice a businesslike monotone.
Kon抯 grizzled eyebrows lifted in unison. 揗agnitude Seven? And the Federation ship? 揟hey抳e entered it, Commander. We抮e losing sensor contact. Cheeks puffed out, Kon thought over the possibilities. 揥ould they enter such a storm merely to trick us? 揟hat would be foolhardy,said Kera. 揂nd their unchanged course leads to the conclusion they抮e unaware of our presence. In addition, they抳e exchanged no radio transmissions with any Federation outpost or ship since they left the Enterprise. 揝o you believe that planet in the middle of these storms is where they抮e headed? 揧es, sir, I do. The Crown of Shad must be hidden on Sigma 1212. I propose that we maintain vigilance outside the storm zone. If they survive to reach the planet and the Crown, we抣l have no trouble taking it from them and dispatching the crew when they leave the surface to meet the starship. 揂nd if they never make it to this treasured Crown?
揟hen,said Kera smoothly, 揑 see no reason to risk our lives by following them into a Magnitude Seven disturbance. Kon gave her a leering nod of approval, and as she turned back to her screens and dials, he smiled to himself. He wondered what she would be like as a sexual partner, and wished momentarily that he had her back on his warship, with his private quarters. Klingon crew members, whether male or female, had to accept as fact that a commander of the opposite sex had the right to collect carnal favors at whim. And as he looked ahead without enthusiasm to a protracted wait here at the edge of Sigma 1212抯 violent veil of space storms, he regretted not being able to while away the idle hours getting to know Kera more intimately.
揝ensor contact lost, Commander.
As if the outlying turbulence hadn抰 been bad enough, entry into Sigma抯 atmosphere offered no respite. Despite his best efforts, Spock was fighting a losing battle against cyclonic gales of over three hundred miles per hour as the shuttle抯 outer skin began to heat up.
McCoy had resumed his spot leaning over Spock抯 shoulder, while Kailyn tried to batten down whatever might be loose inside the cabin. But the time had come to strap themselves in and hope for the best.
揂re we on target, Spock? 揇ifficult to say, Doctor. Instruments have yet to return to normal function. I can only judge by our heading before navigation corrections became guesswork. 揧ou抮e not instilling confidence in me. 揧ou have my sincere regrets. Please secure your safety harnesses. This landing is not likely to be smooth. Kailyn bit her lip nervously, and McCoy noticed.
揝pock has a way with understatements,he said.
McCoy didn抰 know how true that really was just then, for only Spock was aware that the whirlwinds buffeting the Galileo were making it nearly impossible to keep the heat shields properly angled. Where they landed on Sigma might never be a problem梚t was quite possible they and the battered shuttlecraft wouldn抰 land, but would burn up in the swirling atmosphere of this planet that seemed determined to permit no visitors.
Chapter Nine
Trust. If James Kirk held a value sacred, that was it. Without it, existence could never be more than a haphazard series of encounters filled with caution at best梖ear at worst. A being deemed unworthy of trust by others, or unable to find fellow-creatures to rely upon completely, could never know true love, unshakable friendship, or the warming shelter of security. In his own experience, lives had been saved by trust, loves lost by the lack of it.
In his eyes, the sin of betrayal was the worst of all. To willingly, knowingly accept someone抯 trust and then turn against it was contemptible. It was that feeling deep in his heart that allowed Kirk to tolerate for the moment Star Fleet抯 order to unmask the turncoat in King Stevvin抯 small, ragtag band of servants.
Four servants, no longer young, their lives given in the employ of the King for thirty years or more. These four had volunteered to leave their home world with their exiled ruler, and in the hard years that followed they had come to feel less like servants and more like members of the family. They抎 shared hope and frustration, love, and finally trust梪ntil one of them had betrayed it.
But who? And why? The second question nagged at Kirk. Was it a loyal retainer driven to treason by some weakness of character梐n offer of money, or safety梠r simply a hollow despair of ever returning home? Or were they dealing with a professional spy, planted in
the King抯 entourage as a matter of course many years before the forced exile?
As he sat at the briefing-room table facing the four Shaddans, Kirk wasn抰 sure which answer would make him angrier, and he tried to set such emotion aside until it could be unleashed at a definite target.
Eili, the King抯 personal manservant. A little round man with the eyes of a faithful dog梠nce vigilant, seeing to his master抯 needs even before he would be asked, now dulled by grief. His doughy face was buried in his hands as his wife Dania comforted him. They were a matched set桪ania, the royal cook for thirty years, was as plump as her husband, and as devoted to him as he had been to the King.
Boatrey, the sturdy stable master, his leathery face etched by years of outdoor work. He had been Kailyn抯 favorite, and Kirk remembered how he would give the little girl rides on the small animals in his stable yard.
Lastly, Nars, the once-elegant chief of the household staff. His clothing was shabby now, with small threadbare spots that had been carefully stitched to get through the lean years on Orand梑ut he still bore himself with the straight-backed dignity he had displayed without fail in the long-gone days of grandeur.
An unlikely group from which to ferret an enemy agent. Kirk found himself ready to rule out the possibility that any one of them could have been a spy from the start, and he drifted back toward the human-frailty theory. That was why Lieutenant Byrnes was there梙er trained eye might catch a hint that he would miss. Kirk cleared his throat.
揃efore he died, King Stevvin asked me to promise that he would have a proper Shaddan funeral. I made that promise, and I want to
keep it. But we never got the chance to talk about it before the end. I know you抳e all suffered a great loss with his passing. I share your grief梑ut right now, I need your help in fulfilling my promise. I need to know the funeral customs of Shaddan religion. Kirk glanced furtively at each face, hoping to spot a telltale glimmer in the nervous batting of an eye or the downturned corner of a mouth. But if any such sign slipped out, he looked for it in vain.
揥e must get a m-m-memorial urn,Eili said, jowls shaking as he tried to control his quiet sobs.
揑s it a special urn?Kirk asked.
揧-yes. It must be newly cut stone, quarried n-not more than a day before death. ItEili began to weep again, and Nars reached out to touch the little man抯 shoulder. But Eili seemed not to notice.
揝tone is symbolic of strength, Captain,Nars said. 揑t must be cut and sanctified according to strict laws. 揑 fear we shall not succeed,Boatrey rumbled. 揟he King抯 ashes must be set out in the urn, to be sifted and taken by the gods within two suns after the heart has stopped. Aren抰 we more than two days from home? 揟hree days,Kirk said. 揇oes the urn have to be cut from Shaddan rock? The servants looked at each other before Dania answered. 揘ot as long as the laws are followed. But who would know Shaddan laws away from home? 揂 Shaddan,said Nars.
揇o you know a planet where we could get a holy urn?asked Kirk.
揑 know of some, but I don抰 know if they抮e close enough to your ship, Captain Kirk. 揕et抯 find out,Kirk said. He reached for the computer terminal
and switched it on. The machine抯 lights blinked in sequence, then supplied a visual response to his query梡lanets within two days of the starship抯 present location, with known populations of Shaddan citizens. The servants read the list, and Nars pointed to one name.
揨enna Four. I lived there myself many years ago. 揃ut is there a stonemason there?asked Dania.
揑 knew of one. A neighbor. 揃ut that was long ago,Boatrey protested. 揌e could have moved on, or died. 揌e had a son, who was learning from his father. 揥e must try,Eili said. 揙therwise, we condemn our King to wander forever, never being taken to the bosom of the gods. 揃ut what if this stonemason can抰 be found?said Boatrey.
Kirk raised a hand to silence the cross-discussion. 揟he promise was mine梐nd the decision will be, too. The servants were escorted back to their quarters by security guards, while Kirk and Byrnes consulted the computer again. Zenna Four was almost two days distant, closer to Shad and farther from rendezvous with the Galileo at Sigma 1212. That meant the Enterprise would get back a full day late.
揑f the Klingons are still trailing the shuttle,Byrnes said, 揳nd the Crown is found, they could attack before we arrive, sir. 揕et抯 hold that aside for now, Lieutenant. In your opinion, is Nars the chief suspect? 揃ecause he was the only one to step forward and point us to a particular planet? Well, if he is our spy, then he抎 certainly be eager to report that the King is dead. They抎 probably want to assassinate Kailyn immediately, even if the Crown stayed lost forever. Finishing the Dynasty that way could be quite enough to tip things back over to he Mohd Alliance. At the same time, according to the computer, Nars was telling at least a partial truth. He had lived on Zenna briefly, as part of a diplomatic mission in a provincial capital called Treaton before he became chief of the King抯 staff. Zenna had been one of the first planets to contract for tridenite delivery, and a fair-sized community of Shaddans had sprung up to administer the business. The ore trade had dried up by the second decade of the civil war, but many of those Shaddan expatriates remained rather than return home to their own embattled world. So Nars抯 stonemason might very well be there. Perhaps he was only being the dutiful servant to the last, concerned solely with performing this final service for his dead master, sending him on his journey to life after death
If that was the case, then the detour to Zenna would fulfill Kirk抯 promise to Stevvin; but it might also place the Galileo in grave danger and risk losing the Crown to the Klingons. Though he wasn抰 religious himself, Kirk knew the Shaddans were. And if he didn抰 allow the King to be cremated according to custom, how was he to know he wouldn抰 be depriving his old friend of life after death? He抎 already deprived him of almost twenty years of life before death. No梩hat抯 not fair not your fault.
Besides, Kirk refused to believe that the Shaddan gods could be so unforgiving that they wouldn抰 accept a soul whose delay had helped preserve the Dynasty they抎 helped to create. He felt sure that the old King would have agreed with his judgment, and that particular worry subsided. Just one more question before he could choose a course of action.

*牋*牋*

揅aptain, someday y抮e gointask, and my poor bairns抣l just give
up the ghost. Y抍an only ask them to do so much. Kirk sat on the edge of his bunk and looked at the dubious face of his chief engineer on the viewscreen. 揑 have faith in you, Scotty. They always listen to you. Scott sighed. 揂ye. We抣l giyou what we can. With the pledge of extra speed from the starship抯 well-tended engine, they抎 be able to arrive at the Sigma rendezvous less than twelve hours late, and Kirk knew he had to take the risk. He called Nars and informed him that the Enterprise was headed for Zenna Four. Nars assured Kirk he抎 beam down himself to see to all details. With that, Kirk thanked him and switched off the intercom. He wondered how the Galileo was faring.
There抯 the rope, Nars. If you don抰 string yourself up with it, I may have to take your place. Because if I抦 wrong about all this, my Star Fleet record may not be worth a counterfeit credit.
Chapter Ten
Gingerly, McCoy moved one joint at a time, starting with the pinky on his right hand. When the right hand registered that it was fully operative, he slowly reached up and felt his head. It, too, was operative梐nd slightly bloody. He opened both eyes completely for the first time since they抎 closed themselves up, and a backlog of impressions flooded out of his subconscious. The acceleration, the heat, the nauseous sensation that went far deeper than the pit of his stomach. The expectation of the sound of tearing metal, and quick but painful death, harshly enveloping senses already stretched to the breaking point.
But that last part must never have happened, because he was quite certain he was alive. He gradually realized that he was alone, however, and the floor was tilted at a crazy angle, the craft抯 fore tip aimed approximately skyward, the stern resting over on its left corner. Debris was scattered across the interior, pieces of equipment broken loose from their moorings and storage niches, the hammocks torn off the wall hangers. He reached for the safety release on his harness and found that it was already unlatched. Then he saw the bloodstained cloth on his lap. It had evidently been placed on his forehead and slipped off. Whoever put it there must have had a good reason, so he put it back, remembering the cut he抎 discovered
himself a moment ago. That was when he noticed that the wound had been bandaged.
McCoy closed his eyes again, trying to quiet the throbbing that announced itself forcefully along his right temple, slightly below the cut. Where were Spock and Kailyn?
The shuttle door creaked梚ts track had been bent in the crash, and it resisted sliding back up into the hull. A blast of frigid air rushed in as the door cracked open and Kailyn clambered inside. McCoy relaxed and grinned at her as she wrestled the door closed again.
揧ou wouldn抰 smile if you saw what you looked like,she said. Gently, she touched the right side of his head with the cloth. He clenched his teeth at the bolt of pain shooting through his skull and down his neck.
揗y head may be split open, but I can assure you my nervous system is working just fine. 揑抦 sorryShe pulled her hand back. 揇id it hurt?
揧ou might say that. Kailyn bowed her head. 揑t抯 my fault you got hurt, and now I抦 torturing you, and then I抣l棓
揌old it, hold it,he said, with as much energy as he could muster. 揘ow, listen here, young lady; you are the only thing that stands between me and this massive headache. Get my medikit and棓
Kailyn held the black pouch up. 揋ot it already. 揋ood girl. There抯 a small vial labeled 慣opical Anesthetic.Take it out and open the cap.While she followed his instruction, he winced with another stab of pain. 揘ow, spray the side of my head with it.
Touching the nozzle with her fingertip, Kailyn lightly dusted the mist over the injured area, and McCoy displayed visible relief as the
numbing substance quickly took effect.
揊lorence Nightingale would be proud, Kailyn. By the way, where抯 Mr. Spock? 揝couting the area. 揇id he take a phaser? asked McCoy with sudden concern.
揙f course 揙h, good. He doesn抰 always. Vulcans aren抰 too keen on killing unless it抯 absolutely necessary梐nd what most people might consider necessary, Spock doesn抰 always agree with.He reached up and touched his head near the gash, then looked at his fingertips. 揥ell, it stopped oozing. You did an excellent job of first aid. She blushed. 揌ow do you know I did it? 揙h, just a guess. Speaking of guesses, where are we?
揗r. Spock wasn抰 very sure of that. 揙h, great. If he actually admits to that, then we must be in real trouble. It felt cold when you opened the door. 揑t is. Mr. Spock says it抯 five degrees Celsius. McCoy noticed that Kailyn was wearing one of the Galileo抯 thermal 搒econd skinjumpsuits, shiny and tight-fitting. 揥hat抯 the terrain like? I couldn抰 help but notice we didn抰 exactly land on a tabletop,he said, gesturing up toward the front of the cabin. He could see gray sky through the front viewing port.
揥e抮e in a valley. Nothing special about it. Oh, there抯 a river nearby, so at least we have water. 揌ow are you feeling? She shrugged. 揙h, all right, I guess. 揘o reaction? She shook her head.
McCoy smiled. 揟hat抯 good. You remember what I told you about being under stress. She thought about all they抎 been through, and her face lit up. 揑 guess that is pretty good. 揇amn good,said McCoy. 揥e抣l give you a shot in a few hours. The door slid open again and Spock climbed in. 揂h, Dr. McCoy, I see you抳e regained consciousness. 揧es, and I see you抳e managed to get us into quite a fix with your blasted piloting. I told Jim he should抳e sent somebody along who knew how to fly this thing. 揑 also see you抳e regained your agreeable personality.
揘ever lost it. So what do we do now? Where in blazes are we? 揂s nearly as I am able to determine, we are on the correct continent棓
揟hat抯 great aim, Spock. 摋within perhaps one hundred kilometers of the Kinarr Mountain range where the Crown is hidden. 揟hat抯 not that far off,Kailyn volunteered.
揑 wouldn抰 want to have to walk it,said McCoy.
揊or once, you and I agree, Doctor. We are to rendezvous with the Enterprise outside this system in less than four days. And there would appear to be no way for us to traverse the distance here within that time. 揥hat抯 the difference?said McCoy glumly. 揥e can抰 get off the planet anyway. 揅an抰 the shuttle be repaired?asked Kailyn.
Spock shook his head. 揘ot without spare parts. Not even the communications system. So,said McCoy acidly, 搕he facts are, we抮e stranded on this planet, we can抰 get to the Crown, and we can抰 get to the Enterprise.
揙ur immediate concern,Spock said, 搃s survival. Assuming the
ship returns to meet us according to schedule, they will not find us, and they will effect a search here on the planet. Our automatic distress signal is operative. If we can stay warm and fed, we can expect assistance to arrive. Captain Kirk is notably punctual. McCoy brightened. 揝o all we have to do is tuck ourselves in, close the door, and hope no one knocks till the ship gets here to pick us up. Kailyn and Spock exchanged glances and McCoy抯 eyes darted from one to the other. 揥hy do I get the feeling you haven抰 told me something I ought to know? Spock clasped his hands behind his back. 揂 substantial portion of our food supply was contaminated. Fluid from various components leaked upon impact. But there is vegetation nearby, despite the rather cold local environment. We should be able to gather a sufficient amount. Kailyn and I will棓
揌old on, Spock. I抦 not staying here all by myself while you two pick berries and nuts. As long as we抮e stuck here, I抎 at least like to stretch my legs. Besides, you抮e no gourmet梱ou need me out there. 揤ery well, Dr. McCoy. Put on a thermal suit and join us.
Where Orand had been a planet that seemed oblivious of the creatures living on its sand-scoured surface, not caring who or what might stay there and try to endure the heat, Sigma 1212 was quite another matter. Like a wild beast that refused to be saddle-broken, it was vigorously, openly hostile; from the violent radiation belts cloaking it in space to its tempestuous atmosphere, this rock-world bucked and howled and skittered to keep civilization from gaining a foothold amid it sullen valleys and forbidding peaks.
In fact, Sigma抯 desolation was one of the prime reasons Stevvin
had chosen it to hide his Crown. He knew it would serve to discourage casual attempts to search out the concealed icon. Unfortunately, the planet抯 inhospitable nature could not be peeled aside for Spock, McCoy and the King抯 daughter.
Hunched over to cheat the wind抯 ice-pick edge, the trio moved away from the shuttle wreck. The ground was hard beneath their feet, and not a ray of sun penetrated the curtain of clouds stretching to every horizon. Sigma seemed painted in shades of gray. Even the hardy plants and bushes looked dull and colorless as McCoy and Kailyn broke off berries and leaves that might be edible. Spock dug out roots, checked everything with his tricorder, and carried the food collection in a shoulder bag. If their meals for the next few days wouldn抰 be especially tasty, at least they would be nonpoisonous.
McCoy scanned the general area, hoping to see some small animals they might be able to capture and cook. His stomach growled uncomfortably and refused to be pacified by thoughts of fibrous vegetation soup. But he spotted nothing furry and footed on the ground; they walked along the edge of a forest zone that extended for at least a half-mile, and he couldn抰 see anything scurrying among the branches, either. Mixed with the continuous moan of the wind, he heard the rush of water over rocks.
揝pock, let抯 head down to that stream. Maybe we can catch some fish. The Vulcan nodded and led the way down a slope covered with grass laid flat by the current of the breeze. McCoy and Kailyn carefully followed. The stream was no more than thirty feet across, and it flowed steadily though not especially fast. Perhaps twenty feet up from the water抯 edge, the bank angled more steeply; the grass stopped, giving way to hardened mud, rocks, and gravel, and Spock
knelt to investigate furrows etched into the ground.
揊ascinating. These appear to be caused by flowing water. McCoy shuddered. 揧ou mean that little stream gets up this high? What could make it rise like that? 揂ny number of factors. Heavy rains, runoff from the mountains, tidal effects. Meteorological reports on this planet do indicate a high incidence of severe cyclonic low-pressure systems. Such high winds and intense precipitation could account for a rapid increase in water levels of such minor tributaries. Involuntarily, McCoy glanced up at the clouds, looking for signs of a storm; there were none apparent, but somehow that made him feel no less uneasy. 揑 don抰 like being marooned here Spock. 揘or do I. But while we are, there is little we can do, except to stay alert. Kailyn stood up straight, turning her face into the wind. 揑 don抰 know if I抦 just imagining it, but it feels wetter. 揑 think you抮e right,McCoy said. 揥e better get back to the shuttle. Spock stood and hefted the shoulder bag. 揤ery well We have enough for now. Perhaps it would be safer to observe the weather from a place of shelter for a while. With that, he took one step up the hillside梐nd froze, his slitted eyes sweeping the trees along the upper bank. Without lifting his gaze, he whispered back to his companions: 揥alk down here along the stream bed. I believe we are being watched from those woods. Grabbing Kailyn by the wrist, McCoy swallowed hard and silently followed the first officer back toward the clearing where the shuttle waited.
The stream seemed to be flowing more strongly now, and the spray coating the waterside rocks made them slippery. Spock set a
rapid but careful pace, and kept one eye on the trees looming above them.
When they reached a bend in the stream, where the woods grew down the bank and right up to the water, Spock made a sharp turn, cutting ahead of who or whatever was shadowing them. He offered Kailyn a hand to help her make the steep grade more quickly. They heard a pair of crisp thwangs梐nd two arrows neatly split a tree trunk no more than a foot from McCoy抯 head. Kailyn gasped; McCoy stared first at the splintered tree, then at Spock. But before anyone could speak, the mysterious trackers stepped out of the gloom of the deeper forest. Eight humanoids surrounded the shuttle party without a word or sound. All were seven feet tall or over, clad in brown and black fur cloaks with animal-skin leggings and boots, their massive heads almost completely covered by matted hair and beards. One hunter, with silver hair, stood taller than the others; he uttered a growl, and his band frisked their prey and relieved them of phasers, tricorders, packs, and communicator. McCoy and Kailyn remained motionless out of fear, Spock out of extreme caution; their hands were bound with leather thongs and they were roughly pushed along a trail through the trees梙eading away from the shuttle.
揑 don抰 know what time it is,McCoy whispered to Spock, out of Kailyn抯 hearing. 揃ut she抯 going to need a shot soon. Without it, she may not be alive in four days. Spock stumbled as one of the hunters shoved him. 揟he same may be said for all of us, Dr. McCoy. Chapter Eleven
Spock flexed his wrists, testing the strength and tightness of the woven leather rope binding them behind his back. The pain as the rope bit into his skin was merely distracting, not critical, but it made it clear that the bindings were there to stay.
He, McCoy, and Kailyn were tethered by short lengths of rope to a stout post in what seemed to be a village square, in the center of about two dozen animal-hide tents. The post was designed with deep notches through which the ropes were tied. Had no one been guarding them, Spock might have been able to free himself, but they were being watched by one hunter, the one with the wild silver hair and the girth of a giant redwood. No one in the village was small梕ven the females were generally a head taller than Spock梑ut this hunter was among the largest. Judging by the bows with which he was greeted by passersby, he appeared to be some sort of clan leader.
The Galileo party had been leashed to the post over an hour ago, almost immediately after the hunters had brought them into the village. The ropes weren抰 long enough to permit them to sit, so they remained on their feet. Kailyn was tiring, and she leaned alternately on Spock and McCoy for support.
Activity in the square began to pick up. Crude wooden benches were dragged out of tents by perhaps a score of villagers, both male
and female, and vending stalls were set up. Some displayed furs and articles of clothing, others stone and wood tools, still others baskets of roots and berries, even vegetables and fruit that appeared to be garden-grown. Villagers not involved as sellers began to mill about the edge of the square. After several minutes, a wizened old male, skin hanging loose like an oversized coat on his rawboned frame, ambled to the center of the grassy marketplace. He had a drum cradled in the crook of one long arm, and he turned his wrinkled face up toward the clouds, mumbled a few words to himself, then beat the drum three times with his fist. At that signal, shoppers spread out and vendors began calling out repetitively, hawking their wares.
As the unlucky group from the Galileo watched, they realized that they were the only live goods on offer, and they did not seem to be in great demand. Villagers with other products clutched in their arms and draped over their backs seemed to be giving the silver-haired hunter a wide berth. When a male and female finally wandered too close, he leaped from his tree-stump seat and accosted them with the zeal of a born salesman, chattering in a guttural language that was completely alien to Spock, who listened closely.
The customers were obviously reluctant, and they tried to edge away, as the female tugged at the male抯 hairy shoulder. But the hunter would not be denied his full pitch, and he clamped a vise grip on the male抯 wrist. With his other hand, the big hunter scooped up a fair-sized tree branch, almost a log, though in his grasp it looked more like a twig. He dragged the couple closer to the merchandise, and he prodded McCoy with the end of the branch, poking him in the side. The doctor tried to twist away, and his motions seemed to delight the hunter, brightening his face as he spoke ever more excitedly. But the customers remained unimpressed.
The hunter swung the branch over Kailyn抯 head and stabbed
Spock in the ribs. The Vulcan winced momentarily but braced himself and stood stock-still. The hunter did a double-take and glared at Spock. He prodded him again, and his eyes flashed in anger when the captive refuse to budge. With a growl, he raised the branch and cracked it like a whip across Spock抯 shoulder. Spock closed his eyes, moved his shoulder just a jot梐nd the tree limb splintered with a sound like a rifle shot. The broken piece flew off end over end, and the hunter stared in disbelief at the stump left in his white-knuckled fist. The male and female stood back in wide-eyed awe, then realized this was their chance to escape and scuttled quickly to the next stall.
The silver-haired hunter cast a rumbling sneer at his human livestock, shrugged, and tossed the last bit of tree branch off into the brush. Then he resumed his seat on the tree stump.
揌ow did you do that?said McCoy in a whisper.
揟emporary suspension of pain input, and a simple exercise of muscle control,Spock answered quietly.
揅ould I learn that? 揑 doubt you could sustain your interest over ten years of Vulcan Kai抰an classes, Doctor. 揚robably right. Anyway, its not all that often that someone tries to break a tree over my shoulder. McCoy peeked back at the hunter, whose anger at losing a sale had subsided. 揑 don抰 know if I should be happy or sad that no one seems to want to buy us. A dirty band of children had been making its round of the marketplace. The hunter took notice as they approached his captives, but only his eyes moved. They ventured closer, these squat miniatures of the village adults, clothed in hide britches. But they stayed carefully out of reach of the small hairless creatures tied up for barter
barter. Even the youngest children had hair on their faces, though less than the adults, and less again on the young females. They stared at the naked-faced ones with eyes narrowed in suspicion梬hat if the strange ones kicked or spat, or even bit?
One female, as tall as Spock, waited until the hunter抯 attention had wandered back to seeking out potential buyers, then reached out a fuzzy hand and pinched Kailyn, who yelped. The big hunter sprang to his feet with a roar that sent the young ones scattering like buckshot. Arms crossed over his barrel chest, he gave the merchandise a look, then turned back to his tree stump.
揑sn抰 that nice,McCoy said in a low voice. 揌e doesn抰 want us bruised. Suddenly, Kailyn slumped and Spock tried to catch her on his hip. The ropes tying them to the post were too short to allow her to fall to the ground, and she dangled, semiconscious.
揝he抯 having a reaction, Spock. She needs a shot of holulin.McCoy peered into her half-shut eyes. 揥e抳e got to have that drug.
Spock turned a rapid look toward the hunter. 揈ven if he could understand us, he does not seem disposed toward treating us any more kindly than he is at present. 揥e抮e his stock. If one of us dies, that抯 less he抣l get for having captured and kept us. He抯 got to understand that. Spock nodded. 揟hey do seem to have a clear comprehension of the rules of the marketplace. In fact, it is quite fascinating to observe such a clearly defined though rudimentary capitalistic system in a棓
揊orget the economics lecture, Spock.McCoy swallowed and faced the huge hunter, without the slightest notion of what to say. He spoke the first words that popped into his head. 揌ey, sir Spock gave him an arched eyebrow. 揝ir? 揥ell敆McCoy shrugged棑it couldn抰 hurt to be polite. 揑 hardly think he抎 notice the difference. But the hunter did notice the attempt at communication. He stirred, raised himself to his full height, and came over to his prisoners, looking more curious than angry.
McCoy felt his heart racing, and figured an extra shot of adrenaline was just what he needed to get him to continue talking to this mountain of a humanoid looming over him.
揝he抯 sick. The femaleHe pointed at Kailyn抯 limp body slung against the post. 揝he抯 ill.He let his own head slump onto one shoulder in a mock faint, but was sure he wasn抰 getting through.
The hunter furrowed his brow, leaned over, and picked up Kailyn抯 head by the chin. He let it go and it fell back onto her chest; he seemed to understand that something was amiss, and he called to a younger, brown-haired male passing by. He was almost a head shorter than the silver-haired hunter, but with his dark mane and beard, and shoulders as broad as a mountain, he resembled a great bear on its hind legs. And he carried a spear.
揂 metal-tipped spear, Doctor,Spock noted.
揝o what? 揟hat means these tribesmen have had some kind of contact with a more advanced culture. Discussion was cut short by a growl from the old hunter, and the bear pointed his spear menacingly at the captives while the hunter released the leather thongs from their notched post. He held them securely and shook them like reins to get the prisoners moving. The spear carrier brought up the rear, keeping his eye and weapon trained on them as they moved toward an unoccupied tent. Spock
glanced at the sky梟ight was coming, and the wind that had settled down to a breeze was whipping up again, making the tents flap in a percussion chorus.
The hunter led them into the tent; there was an overpowering stench inside and McCoy almost tried to back out梩he glinting tip of the spear convinced him otherwise. The old hunter reached down into a dark corner, picked up a small animal carcass and tossed it out, his only comment a grumbling syllable that could have been an oath. The spear carrier kept up the guard as the hunter exited and came back a few moments later with a heavy stone-headed sledgehammer and three horseshoe-shaped posts, larger in diameter than a man抯 fist. Somehow, the wood had been soaked and curved, the ends sharpened into ground-penetrating stakes. The hunter hammered each one into the soil, then tied his captives securely to them. Once again, Spock, McCoy, and Kailyn were shackled, though at least this time they were bound in a sitting position. The hunter and spearman stepped out, then ducked back in long enough to toss several fur blankets onto the prisoners. The hunter抯 head drooped onto his shoulder, imitating McCoy抯 fainting demonstration, and he and his spear-carrying friend left amid growls of something like laughter.
Very little light came in through the slit in the tent flaps, and they shifted their bodies around, trying to arrange the blankets in a fashion that provided both warmth and a little padding atop the hard ground. McCoy shook his head.
揑 feel like such a jackass, thinking they抎 understand. 揧ou tried, Doctor. With his legs, McCoy managed to get Kailyn propped in a more comfortable position, using the curved post as a backrest. Spock offered some help, and together they succeeded. McCoy cocked his ear and listened to Kailyn抯 breathing; it was becoming labored, with
a bronchial rasp. Her eyes were almost closed, and she looked at McCoy helplessly.

*牋*牋*

揝pock are you awake? 揧es, Doctor. It was almost completely dark in the tent now. Spock estimated that they抎 been there almost five hours, and what sun there had been had long since set. They could barely make out shapes in the chilly dimness, and they could hear that Kailyn was asleep.
揟hat抯 good,McCoy said quietly. 揂t least she抯 conserving what strength she has left, and the cytotic reaction progresses more slowly if metabolism is slower. 揟hen your endeavor to communicate with our captors did indeed accomplish something. We might not have been moved in here had you not attracted the hunter抯 attention. McCoy appreciated Spock抯 attempt at reassuring him, but decided to change the subject. 揥hat was it you started to say about that spear this afternoon? 揓ust that it was steel-tipped, and indicated some contact with a culture more technologically advanced. 揑t might just mean they killed some hunters from another tribe and looted the bodies. 揚erhaps. But commerce seems to play an important role here, so it could indicate that they trade with others who live in this region. Since we have seen no means of locomotion other than footpower, it may also mean a more advanced settlement is not far away. 揑f it抯 within walking distance for our friends here, it抎 be within walking distance for us. 揚recisely. 揂t the moment, however,McCoy said glumly, 搒omething is keeping us from walking. 揃e patient, Doctor. I am presently working on that problem.
The silver-haired hunter was in a foul mood as he shoved the overcooked leg of a small animal into his seasoning pouch, containing gravy made from a spicy root. With one ravenous bite, he stripped the leg of its meat, and the gravy dribbled down his beard. He looked at the gray-brown bone, angry that it contained so little to eat, and tossed it over his shoulder.
In the rest of the torchlit dining tent, villagers ate and talked, mostly in groups; but the hunter ate alone. He had been certain someone would barter for the three creatures his clan party had found in the river forest. The two males could probably work, especially the mysterious-looking one with the pointed ears梩he one that had miraculously showed no pain when clubbed with the tree limb. How could such small, frail things have such strength?

McCoy peered into the darkness, trying to make out just what Spock was doing, as the Vulcan raised himself up and sat on the crosspiece of the post he was tied to. From that position, he was able to hook his fingers around it, and he tightened his grip, though the rough wood drove splinters into his skin. For a few minutes, Spock simply rocked back and forth against the post, shifting his weight from back to front, then side to side.
揥hat are you doing?asked McCoy. 揧ou don抰 actually think you抮e going to pull that out of the ground. You saw the way he pounded that hammer. 揑 am not questioning the skill with which our captor wielded his
hammer, Doctor. But strength and skill must yield in turn to physical laws. Spock paused, sat back on the ground, and placed his feet on the crook of the post, puzzling McCoy even further.
揂re you trying to break the wood? 揥hat抯 going on?said a sleepy new voice in the darkness. It was Kailyn. McCoy抯 attention shifted from Spock to her.
揌ow do you feel? 揌mmm? Tired weak I guess. What抯 going on?
McCoy shrugged, then realized she probably couldn抰 see him clearly enough. 揑抦 not sure. Spock continued thrusting against the wooden post with his legs, alternately pushing and kicking quietly, his boot heels making a slapping noise against the wood.
揑t抣l never break, Spock. 揟hat is not my intention. 揟hen what is? 揥hatever went in must come out, given sufficient time and application of force. In addition, this ground is cold. Cold has a consistent effect on many materials, making them contract, and these stakes have been in the ground for several hours now. The chilling effect of the surrounding soil may be sufficient to have reduced the diameter of the wood棓
揂nd loosened up the posts,McCoy finished. 揟heoretically. 揟heories must be tested.
The hunter desperately wanted a sharp, metal-tipped spear, like the one his friend had gotten in trade with the mountain herders. Were not three naked-faces worth one shiny-tipped spear? He savagely bit a bone in two, and immediately regretted his fury梩he
bone had cut his cheek. He spat out the fragments along with a mouthful of his own blood.
The tiny female, though small as a child, might be able to tend gardens or pick berries. He growled to himself and cursed the wind gods for his bad luck. It wasn抰 often that live creatures were captured and brought back for sale. None in the past year. Perhaps it had been so long that his neighbors had forgotten how good it was to have a slave, if only for trading with other tribes and villages. Meanwhile, he had himself three slaves for which he had no use. He would have to feed them, if he ever hoped to sell them, but he barely had enough food for himself, his mate, and their two young ones. The slaves were so small and thin, they probably contained little good meat, but little was better than none. If no one bought them tomorrow, he would have to kill them for food.

Spock shifted to his knees and gripped the post; hands still behind his back, he began working it carefully from side to side. Slowly, ever so slowly, he felt movement梟ot imagined, but quite real. The lateral jiggling gave way to an infinitesimal yielding upward. He rested, tensed the muscles and tendons in his wrists, arms, and shoulders, and locked his raw fingers around the wood again. He breathed deeply. McCoy and Kailyn were silent, as if their concentration might augment Spock抯 strength. He coaxed the posts in tiny circular motions, rubbing them against the holes in which the stakes were so snugly contained. Tentatively, he switched the motion, testing, then applied every muscle fiber and ripped upward. He felt the strain, grimaced, and grunted involuntarily. The wood groaned, creaked, and suddenly broke free. Spock lurched forward, falling on his side. He rolled over and stood, holding the post in his hands.
But those hands were still tied behind him.
揘ow what?asked McCoy.
揂 moment, Doctor. Spock bent over, slid his hands below his buttocks, and steadied himself. One foot at a time, he stepped over behind his hands. When he straightened again, his hands rested just where he wanted them梚n front梐nd he soon had the complex knot untied.
揟hat抯 much more workable. Now, to the business at hand,Spock said, flexing his fingers to restore circulation.
揥as that a pun, Spock? 揑 don抰 believe so,said the Vulcan as he bent over Kailyn抯 restraining post.

The hunter looked up to see his bearlike friend, two shiny-tipped spears in his hands! So梙e抎 traded for another, and now he wanted to look at the naked-faced ones again. Maybe they could work out an agreement in the darkness. The old hunter forgot his anger, for nothing made him happier than the chance to trade. Almost as an afterthought, he grabbed a sackful of roasted legbones to feed the slaves, and he and the spearman left the tent with a torch.
When they came outside, they pushed their cloaks up around their faces, for the wind gods were blowing frigid air down from the mountains this night. The torch flickered, but stayed lit in its shield. There was a warning moisture in the air and they hurried to the storage tent. The hunter threw open the flaps and stuck the torch in ahead of him. He let out a roar of rage梩he naked-faces were gone. But his friend calmed him梟o need to search tonight. There was a storm coming. They would look in the morning light and most certainly find the escaped slaves. Oh, they would be dead, but at least they could be cooked the next night for the tent meal. The silver
haired hunter might not get his spear, but supplying food for the village would get him credit in the marketplace.

Sigma 1212 had a moon梩wo, in fact梐nd the same stars that shone on other worlds twinkled in the sky here. But the perpetual cloud cover effectively blocked all celestial light, and Spock, McCoy, and Kailyn were forced to make their way through the frigid woodland in pitch-blackness. The wind blew steadily now, bending smaller trees and twisting limbs on larger ones. The whistle of the wind and moaning branches completely covered any noise made by three cold people fleeing along the overgrown trail.
If they were being followed, their trackers were not close. Spock was fairly certain of that, but of greater concern was finding shelter. Daybreak was too many hours away; there was no precipitation yet, but the chilled air hung heavy, laden with moisture waiting to fall. And Kailyn had to be half-carried by the two men. She was wrapped in a fur blanket stolen from their prison tent.
The search for a haven was imperative, and led them away from the one route they knew梩he path along the river that would lead back to the shuttlecraft wreck.
揟he three of us will not make it,Spock said.
They rested in the lee of a massive tree trunk crooked over the path after years of trying to grow straight against the ceaseless push of the wind.
揃ut the Galileo isn抰 that far,McCoy said, hunching over Kailyn to shield her with the warmth of his body. 揑t only took a couple of hours when they caught us and took us to the village. 揃ut we had already strayed some distance from the ship, and the hunting party had the distinct advantage of knowing the shortest route between destinations. We do not. 揥hat do you suggest? We can抰 spend the night out here in the open. It抯 either that or pushing on back to the ship. 揘egative. I recall some hills nearby when we were attempting to land. 揑 thought you were busy with the controls, not looking at scenery. 揂t the time, the hills were an obstruction, not scenery,Spock said stiffly, 揳nd I noticed them while avoiding hitting them.
揙h sorry. 揂t any rate, they were some distance away from the river, but they may offer shelter in the form of caves. That would seem our best choice at this time. McCoy and Spock lifted Kailyn again. She was conscious, but unable to walk without help. 揑t抯 a good thing you抮e light, young lady,McCoy said.
She smiled weakly梩hen felt a droplet on her cheek. 揜aining,she whispered.
McCoy and Spock began walking as briskly as they could.
The forest began to thin out, and the trees no longer acted as a protective screen. But neither did they block the path with low-hanging branches, and the trio managed a quicker pace. The hills were as Spock remembered them梤ocky, covered with a sparse coat of flaxen grass that clung in the face of the omnipresent wind, the force of nature before which all life on Sigma seemed to bow.

The cave抯 opening was a crevice in the rock face of a low cliff. Without a light or weapon, McCoy had infinite misgivings about entering, even though Spock would go in first. Getting attacked by a creature in its lair would not help matters in the least, and McCoy toyed with discarding the whole idea. Outside, at least, the elements
were the only things that could do them in. Inside? An active imagination could conjure up an endless array of fates he would prefer not to meet even in daylight, much less in the confines of a dark burrow.
揥hat if it抯 only two feet high in there?asked McCoy through chattering teeth. He wasn抰 sure if the chattering was caused by cold or fear. The occasional raindrop had become a swirling mist during their search.
揝ince sounds echo inside, Doctor, it is quite likely larger than you suggest. 揟hen something probably lives in there. If it has large teeth, I don抰 want to be an unwelcome guest. 揥e shall announce our presence first.Spock kicked up a large stone near his foot and tossed it through the cave opening. It clattered along a wall and rolled to a stop.
McCoy held Kailyn tighter; she was barely awake and her head rested limply on his shoulder. Spock kept one ear cocked into the cave, while McCoy found himself holding his breath. No other sounds came out. They waited. Spock threw another rock. Another clatter. And more silence from inside.
Spock looked at McCoy. 揑t would appear to be uninhabited. McCoy swallowed. 揈ither that, or some very annoyed animal is just waiting to sink its teeth into whatever threw those rocks. 揥ait here. I shall be out momentarily. 揑 hope so,McCoy muttered.
Spock hefted a sturdy branch as a club, crouched, and disappeared into the cave mouth. McCoy listened, reassuring himself that as long as he heard muffled footfalls and the tapping of the stick, everything was just fine. But he braced himself for the sudden
shriek or roar of an enraged beast. There goes that imagination again.
It seemed like hours, but Spock emerged about three minutes later. 揑 do not expect you to enjoy the night in there, Doctor, but it does seem to be safe. Once again, Spock bent low and led the way in. Very reluctantly, McCoy followed, making certain Kailyn didn抰 crack her head on any rock outcroppings. He tried to open his eyes to look around the cavern梐nd then realized they抎 been open all along. He couldn抰 see a thing.
揗y god,he whispered, 搕his must be what it抯 like to be blind. 揟here is a nearly complete absence of light here,Spock said, more by way of information than agreement.
揟hen how do you know there抯 nothing lurking in the corners? 揑 traced the entire perimeter with the stick. In addition, my senses are somewhat more acute than your own桰 saw and heard nothing. And this cave is but a small chamber, with no other openings. 揂re you sure? 揜easonably. McCoy clicked his tongue nervously. 揧ou could抳e said you were absolutely sure. 揟hat would have been untrue. 揧ou could抳e humored me. 揈nough discussion, Doctor. I shall go back to the ship now and bring back Kailyn抯 drug and other essential supplies. McCoy reached out and clamped his hand on Spock抯 arm. 揧ou抮e kidding, right? 揘o. 揑 never said anything about staying in this cave alone.McCoy made no effort to hide his fear.
揧ou are not alone梱ou are with Kailyn. She needs you as much as she needs the drug. You will be relatively safe here. Meanwhile, I will be able to get our supplies much more rapidly alone.There was genuine concern in Spock抯 voice, and McCoy sensed it. It calmed him梐 little.
揑 guess I抦 supposed to be logical here, huh? 揟hat would be a welcome change of pace. McCoy smiled in spite of his very real anxiety, and he was momentarily thankful for the darkness梡erhaps Spock hadn抰 seen the grin, and he wiped it away quickly.
揥ell? What are you waiting for梔aylight? Get going, Spock.McCoy felt the stick being pressed into his hand; he suddenly realized he was still holding Spock抯 arm, and he let go.
揋et some rest, Doctor. 揊at chance. 揟hen keep an eye on the cave entry. 揂nd if I see anything come in that doesn抰 have pointed ears, I抣l clobber it with this,McCoy said, grasping the stick.
揟he animals here may have pointed ears. 揘ot like yours.McCoy wiped his palms梔espite the cold, he was sweating. 揃e careful. And don抰 be late.There was a shadow across the faint bar of light coming in the opening桵cCoy thanked the stars there was that much relief from the blackness. 揑f you think we抮e going to wait all night for you to get back, you抳e got another thing coming. SpockBut he knew Spock was gone.
McCoy busied himself with making Kailyn as comfortable as possible. As he started to fold the blanket into a sleeping cocoon for her, he realized that their bodies were the only available source of heat;
also, the closer they were, the more readily he could detect any changes in her condition. He found a waist-high boulder in the middle of the cave梑y smacking into it with his knee梐nd decided to use it as a backrest. He propped Kailyn against the boulder, with one fold of the fur blanket as a ground cover, then slid down next to her. The rest of the blanket neatly covered both of them, and he put his arms around her, leaning her head on his chest.
揑f only this was someplace else,he murmured with a sigh. 慦ell, I can抰 be that old if I can still get a pretty girl to go camping with me. He smiled to himself as he recalled the days of courting young girls when he抎 been young himself, and the stories his Granddad and Great-Granddad used to tell of their own romantic exploits. Oh, there抎 been all manner of social upheavals and sexual revolutions and trends that came and went. But the feelings between a boy and a girl hadn抰 changed that much over time, even over centuries. In the Georgia hills, the old customs held their ground.
McCoy had met his wife at a square dance the summer after his first year in medical school. They抎 walked down the road that led away from the old Simpson barn, on the dust and gravel still warm from a day filled with sultry July sunshine. By the time they抎 reached the cool sweet air of the woods and sat on the bed of pine needles and kissed, he抎 suspected he might be in love. Across the hills, they抎 watched the freighters and shuttles lift off, headed out to orbital stations around the globe梩hat had been their excuse for the walk, that and getting away from the noise and bustle of the dance梑ut the launches weren抰 all that frequent, and they抎 had lots of time to chat and spark.
There was a great old word梥parkin He sighed again, and
remembered where he was now. What抯 it all worth in the end, anyway?
He looked down at Kailyn, who snored gently. He could just make out the profile of her face, silhouetted against the inky gray of the cave opening. He kissed her forehead, his lips barely brushing her skin.
Then he heard a howl outside, and a scuffling noise over the rocks. His hand tensed on the stick, but he did not move
Chapter Twelve
There was no escaping the rain and sleet that pelted down through the trees as Spock made his way back to the stream. The wind had escalated to gale force, with gusts bending supple tree trunks double; branches were transformed into lethal whips, lashing at anything in their path.
Spock抯 face and hands were already cut, and the thermal jumpsuit layered on top of his uniform had been slashed as well, letting the rain seep through. He was soaked to the skin. But following the stream trail was his only sure way of finding the shuttle, so he pressed on, protecting his face as best he could.
They had first come upon the stream less than sixteen hours ago, though it seemed like days. It had been a brook then, burbling through the overhanging forest. Saplings had crept their roots toward the water抯 edge to drink. But the saplings and the banks sloping up into the woods were gone now, submerged under torrents of white water. The gully, where Spock had knelt to examine rills in the cold soil, was completely filled by the surging current. Even the forest floor where he walked was drenched. Puddles were linked by rivulets, and the nearly frozen ground could drink up little of the flood. The footing was treacherous, and it was all Spock could do to keep from falling. He moved to the edge of the woods, walking just above the river抯 rushing waters. Spray kicked up to
mix with the wind-driven rain, and freezing drops swirled all around, burning his eyes.
He didn抰 see the rock梚t was hidden by an ankle-deep pool. But his right boot found it. His heel hit the rock and skidded. By sheer reflex, he grabbed a slender tree trunk on his left as his body fell in the opposite direction. Momentum threw his full weight down toward the river, but his left hand held tight. The tree bent, snapped, but didn抰 break. The pain in his shoulder almost made him cry out; somehow, he clung to the tree and the roiling waters hissed past him, seemingly in anger at having a sure victim snatched away.
Slowly, holding the tree for support, he got to his feet. His left arm dangled at his side for the moment, and the numbness there was punctuated by a sharp, recurrent twinge. He couldn抰 decide whether serious damage had been done, but for now he would rely solely on his right. With careful steps, he moved on through the forest.

The howl had only been the wind, and McCoy let himself doze on and off. Even on this wild planet, he had to guess that nature had endowed its creatures with a sense of survival that would keep them all safe in deep, dry places on such a night. It was unlikely they抎 have hostile visitors, for only a thing with a penchant for suicide would wander out in this storm. Suicide梠r desperation. He could only pray that in Spock抯 case the second would not become synonymous with the first.
McCoy抯 eyelids were fighting to close, but he refused to accept sleep at this moment, though he wasn抰 sure why.
Sure I know why I don抰 want to wake up dead.
揟hat抯 stupid,he whispered to himself. 揧ou wouldn抰 wake up
at all. Good grief, I抦 talking to myself. Dead. Never really got used to death.
Lightning crackled outside, flickering through the cave opening with a ghostly glow. Seconds passed, and the delayed thunderclap rumbled over the hillside.
He抎 wondered all through medical school whether facing death would ever grow easier. Oh, in some ways it had. After his first clinical encounter with a cadaver, McCoy hadn抰 quite made it to the sink before he抎 vomited the eggs and muffins he抎 had for breakfast. In the years since, especially out in space aboard the Enterprise, he抎 dirtied his hands with more than a score of gruesome deaths, examining crewmen for whom the mysteries of space had included mysterious ways to die. He didn抰 throw up anymore. Not even the slightest urge. He didn抰 know if that lack of reaction was good or bad, but it made life a hell of a lot easier梐nd neater.
Autopsies, deciding cause of death, filling out those damnable death certificates. It had all become routine. It was almost as if the end of a life wasn抰 final or real until recorded in a data bank somewhere, placed in a computer for easy recall. Modern man抯 contribution to the funeral rites.
The years had made other people抯 deaths a shade more acceptable, if only to protect his sanity. But his own demise 梩hat was quite another matter.
A harsh question drove itself relentlessly into his thoughts: would he and Kailyn ever see Spock alive again?
Finally, McCoy抯 eyelids closed, and he drifted into a netherworld of fitful sleep.

.燜og hovered everywhere, a spectral veil, shifting with the winds but never dissolving. It hung thickly over the cave opening as Spock
approached. The science officer moved slowly, his feet seeming not to touch the ground. Anguish contorted his face as he struggled to reach the cave, arms flailing, slicing the fog as if swimming through it. He floated down, into the cave, and saw two bodies ripped and shredded beyond recognition. From the bottom of a reservoir of suppressed emotions, the hidden fears and dark corners of his Vulcan life, Spock screamed with an agony that went deeper than the soul then he turned and saw the fang gleaming in the darkness. The creature sprang
.燼nd McCoy stumbled out of the forest, clothing tattered, skin raw and torn, a growth of stubble on his chin. He was alone. In the clearing before him, the shattered wreck of the Galileo sat, burning. And though he couldn抰 see them clearly, he knew that the bodies of Spock and Kailyn were in the flames as well. They were dead, and this was their pyre.

.燬weating, McCoy wrenched his eyes open with a suddenness that hurt. He shook his head to wipe out the flaming image that had just seemed so real he could feel its heat. He was breathing as if he抎 sprinted a mile, and he estimated his racing pulse at over a hundred. But he was still in the cave, and the only warmth was Kailyn curled next to him.
So, fears of death could still produce nightmares. He held Kailyn close and stared into the darkness.

The shuttlecraft had been cruelly treated by the wind. Not only had the atmospheric maelstrom caused it to crash, but the nighttime gales refused to let it rest in peace. The ship had been tossed like a toy from the rocky perch where it had landed, and it had rolled over
an embankment; now, it was almost belly-up, with the door angled down toward the soaked ground.
Spock stood, hands on hips, surveying the hulk. He crawled under he nose, then slithered snakelike through the cold surface mud. Mud. That meant the ground had thawed slightly. Was the air temperature rising? Encased in his wet clothing, Spock couldn抰 judge.
The shuttle door had been torn open by a boulder, and Spock lifted himself up into the cabin. His eyes made a slight adjustment, and he scanned for things they would need for survival. Only one system still functioned on board梩he sealed emergency beacon. He found the medical pouch lodged against the command seat. Spare communicators had been smashed, but the weapons cabinet in the bulkhead was intact and he took four phasers out. Food concentrates. Two hand-sized electro-lanterns. A spare tricorder. Maps of Sigma. A tent packed in a pocket-size pouch. Laser flares.
Spock sealed the supplies in an unbreachable pack and hoisted it over his good shoulder. The injured left one felt slightly improved; at least it was mobile again, though he was sure a thorough exam would find something wrong. That, however, was a luxury that would have to wait.
He glanced quickly around, decided he抎 taken everything that might be of use, then lowered himself through the hatchway and slid out from under the Galileo on his back. The precipitation, more sleet and freezing rain than liquid now, cut into his face like needles, forcing his eyes shut for a second. He set his mouth in a grim line and ran for the woods, splashing across the flooded clearing.

Spock tried to drive all extraneous thoughts from his mind, saving his concentration for placing one foot ahead of the other as
safely and quickly as possible. Anxieties flashed by as single-frame images before they could be quashed by Vulcan self-discipline: McCoy fending off beasts seeking the shelter of the cave Kailyn slowly dying without her holulin injection the Enterprise doing battle with Klingon ships determined to undermine this mission.
Vulcans do not worry, he assured himself. We accept what we must. We do what we must, logically.
He reached the densest part of the forest, and it became apparent that the trail was nearly impassable. Fallen tree limbs, some the size of logs and too heavy to move, crisscrossed the path like barbed-wire barriers. A jagged pair of blue-white lightning streaks split the northern sky and found their mark some distance away. Spock decided to cut through toward the river梙e had to quicken his pace.
The storm had lasted almost all night long, and showed no signs of blowing itself out. The fury of the sky and clouds powered the river to new heights, and the frenzied water pounded its banks without letup. Stones that had marked high water on Spock抯 last pass had long since gone under. Oceanlike waves swept high and crashed into the trees just ahead of him, and he braced himself and waited. The surge passed and he took a step. The ground gave way beneath him and a ton of earth and rock tumbled into the river with him. The wave dipped low, poised like a beast about to attack, then cascaded over him. He swallowed a mouthful of muddy water, tried to hold his breath, then felt a tug downstream. The equipment pouch was still snagged on his shoulder, and the air sealed inside made it buoyant.
He tried to slip it under his chest, giving him the best chance to keep his head above water and push himself away from rocks jutting into the river抯 path. But the ride was too rough for maneuvering
maneuvering, and he simply held tight to the pack straps as the current dragged him downstream, away from the direction of the cave, where McCoy and Kailyn waited梐nd toward the brink of a towering waterfall.
Chapter Thirteen
The silver-haired hunter had not enjoyed his morning meal. The inside of his cheek was raw where he had cut it the night before, and he was angered by having to get up before dawn to seek the bodies of the escaped slaves. And if by some miracle of the wind gods they were not dead, he would surely kill them with his bare hands for all the trouble they had caused him. How much more he would enjoy running them through with a shiny-tipped spear; but he couldn抰 get one unless he had something to trade, and right now, the slaves were his only goods or had been. Therefore, if he did find them living this dawn, he would not be able to kill them after all. He growled.
His bearlike friend squatted on the forest trail. The rain had stopped, and the wind was beginning to dry out the ground. Preserved in the hardening mud were three sets of clearly etched footprints. The big hunter glowered as he looked down at the tracks; he had an urge to smile, but that would only have ruined his terrible mood.
The tracks continued. The naked-faced ones had gone toward the hills, and so did the two hunters.

McCoy rubbed his eyes and convinced them to focus. The cave was still dark, but a shaft of light edged through the entryway. It
was morning, though certainly not bright out. Kailyn slept almost silently, still nestled in the crook of his arm. His hand tingled; the arm was asleep.
He tried to shift the elbow without disturbing Kailyn. It didn抰 work. The moment her neck moved, her eyes opened, blinking groggily.
Spock still had not returned.
揥here are we?asked Kailyn in a hoarse whisper.
揑n a cave. 揑 guessed that,she said as she stretched.
揇o you remember last night? 揘ot really. I had a dream about going through a forest in the rain. I was wet and cold. I guess it was more like a nightmare than a dream. 揑t wasn抰 either one. It was real. Spock went back to the ship to get your holulin and some other supplies, and he抯 not back. I抦 worried. He stood up and started for the cave opening. He heard a pebble roll down the rocky face of the hillside, and he froze. Was it the wind? A wild animal? Then he heard voices, speaking the rumbling, guttural words of the villagers who had captured them. Noiselessly, he reached down and grabbed the stick.
揥hat is 揝hhhMcCoy tiptoed to the side of the doorway and pressed his back to the cave wall. He held the stick head-high, poised like a gun trigger. He motioned for Kailyn to join him. She left the blanket and scuttled over to huddle behind him.
揂t least I can belt one of them if they try to come in here,he whispered.
McCoy held his breath and waited. The soft steps of the hunter抯
boots were barely discernible, betrayed only by an occasional scuff of leather on sand and rock. But they moved closer, no longer accompanied by voices. A shadow cast itself across the cave floor, covering the morning light that shone in dimly. The shadow paused and the scuffing ceased. McCoy could hear his own heartbeat, feel it from his knees to his throat. Kailyn stood frozen next to him, anchored to the floor.
A whining phaser beam suddenly sliced the stillness, the shadows fell away from the cave entrance, and McCoy and Kailyn gasped together as they heard a sound like two filled sacks thumping onto the hard ground. But they didn抰 move until Spock抯 head poked into the cave. His face was dirty and bloody, but at the moment, McCoy decided it was good enough for him.

揑t sounds to me like we owe our lives to two well placed trees, Mr. Spock. 揌ow so, Doctor? 揥ithout them, you probably would抳e drowned twice.
揗y reflexes and ability to remain in control under stress played some small part. 揝ure they did,said McCoy as he dabbed at a cut on Spock抯 forehead. 揑n a pig抯 eye. Spock raised an indignant eyebrow. 揑 could hardly have predicted that the bank would collapse the moment I stepped棓
揑f that tree trunk hadn抰 been skewered between two rocks, you抎 have gone over the falls, Spock. 揃ut I had to have the presence of mind to grab it, Doctor. 揚oppycock. It sounds to me like it practically hit you on the head.Without skipping a beat, he turned to Kailyn. 揂nd how are you feeling, young lady? She was resting on the cave floor, curled in the blanket, one of the electro-lanterns near her. 揗uch better. 揘othing like a little holulin injection and food to put the bloom back in those cheeks. Spock sat cross-legged and went through a series of isometric exercises. He was bruised, but entirely functional. The heat of the nearby lantern had dried out his clothing and he felt more comfortable. 揅onsidering the obstacles that have confronted us so far, I would say our condition is satisfactory at present. 揥e抮e all alive and in one piece,McCoy admitted, 揵ut we抮e also low on supplies, we抳e got two unconscious cavemen敆he gestured at the hunters tied up and lying in the corner棑who抎 love to kill us, we don抰 know where we are, and we don抰 know where we抮e going. I抎 hate to see what you call unsatisfactory. Spock pulled a pair of plastic-coated maps out of the supply pouch. McCoy knelt next to him.
揑 believe we are closer to our intended destination than we had originally thought,Spock said. He pointed out several features on the charts, which had been drawn up combining space survey records with details recounted by King Stevvin. 揥e may be within one day抯 walk of the mountains.
Spock watched McCoy mull over that possibility, then raised one eyebrow. 揧ou have an opinion, Doctor? 揥ell, we can抰 stay here. That抯 for sure,he said, glancing back at the hunters.
揑s Kailyn strong enough to travel? 揑 am,she piped up.
McCoy glowered. 揑抣l make the medical judgments. 揑t will be a strenuous journey,Spock said.
揑 know, I know. 揥e may not find shelter. 揝top playing devil抯 advocate梩hough the ears fit the part. Look, we have the thermo-tent, and it抯 big enough for the three of us. And if it turns out that we have to stop and camp out in the mountains, we抣l be no worse off than we were down here last night. The sooner we get going, the better I抣l feel. Spock raised a questioning brow again.
揥hy so surprised?asked McCoy.
揑 expected you to resist the idea of our traveling farther. 揑f we had a choice, I would梑elieve me. If we stay around the shuttle, we抣l have to dodge our hairy friends. Oh, sure, the Enterprise might find us梑ut I don抰 want to be found in pieces. Jim has the coordinates for that mountain stronghold where the Crown抯 supposed to be. If we can get there and find this Shirn O抰ay person, Jim抣l be able to track us down. You do think he抣l look for us there, don抰 you? 揑t would be the logical thing to do, and the captain is quite logical, for a non-Vulcan. I should point out, however, that the mountains cover a considerable span of territory. It will not be an easy task to ascertain the Crown抯 exact placement. 揌ope springs eternal in the human breast, Spock. What about Vulcans? 揙nly logical expectations spring from ours, Doctor.
揑s our getting rescued a logical expectation, Mr. Spock?asked Kailyn.
The first officer fixed her with his usual impassive gaze. 揚erhaps. McCoy smiled to himself. Coming from Spock, that was practically an admission of hope. For now, it would be quite enough.
Chapter Fourteen
Nars hated being in a spaceship. He felt boxed in, controlled, like a lab animal. The starship抯 mazelike corridors increased the illusion, so he抎 been staying in his quarters as much as possible. Boatrey had been sharing the two-room cabin with him, but the stable hand was now off eating with Eili and Dania. Nars was hungry, but he knew his stomach wouldn抰 keep a meal down, knotted as it had been since Captain Kirk told him they were going to Zenna Four.
As much as he disliked the confinement of the ship, the vast emptiness of space was far worse. Nars had always been a man who liked solid ground underneath his feet, with horizons farther off than the mere reach of his hand. He liked to know there were places he could go if he had to梡laces to seek things out, places to escape things. It was a freedom that worked both ways. A vessel, however large, out in interplanetary space梩hat was a combination that offered him no solace at all.
He jumped involuntarily when the call came through from the bridge梩he Enterprise was entering orbit around Zenna Four, and his presence was requested in the Transporter Room.

If there existed a common anxiety among good commanders, it was the fear of being out of command. Though experts weren抰 able to reliably pigeonhole people the way they could the properties of
biology and physics, command of people was still a science of sorts. At least, the approach had to be scientific and orderly梒ontrol as many variables as possible, and command became that much simpler.
Nars was such a variable, and the moment he sparkled out of the transporter chamber, he was free of Kirk抯 grasp. That thought brought a furrow to Kirk抯 brow as he sat with Lieutenant Byrnes in the lounge, staring at a cup of tea. Transporter Chief Kyle informed them of the beam-down.
揥ell, Byrnes,said Kirk, 搃t抯 up to you and Chekov.
揧es, sir.She left, and Kirk stirred the tea absently. Then he looked down at the cup. He stopped stirring, and the tea continued to circle the cup without his assistance. Control sure is hard to come by, he thought.

Nars swirled the sickly greenish drink around the tumbler in his hand. He looked up at the clock over the bar, then took a sip. It was the only watering place in town, but it was still too early in the afternoon for the local farmers and laborers and artisans to be drifting in. It was also too early for his meeting, but he was nervous, too nervous to drink any more. He left a coin on the counter and headed outside.
Treaton had only one main street, and it looked much as it had the last time Nars had walked it twenty-five years before. There had been little growth in any part of Zenna, none since the tridenite shortage began in the last decade. The government could have turned to other power sources in its effort to industrialize, but the Zennans were patient, loyal folk. They had struck a fair bargain with Shad抯 ore traders, and they would wait to see how the war ended. If the King抯 Loyalists won, tridenite would again be available
available. If the Mohd Alliance won, and tridenite remained embargoed, only then would Zenna seek out an alternative. Zennans avoided urgency; the future would always be there and they were in no hurry to overtake it.
The bird catches its prey, eats it,and it is gone, went a native proverb. And what then is left?
The same brightly painted, high-gabled houses that Nars remembered lined the street, and the residents wore gaily striped togas identical to the ones their parents had worn. Change was not an important process, and life as a whole was easy on Zenna Four. Here in Treaton, the seat of provincial government, strangers were hailed as neighbors by every citizen who passed by. Immigration statutes were as lax as any in the known galaxy, making outworlders like Nars quite commonplace.
It was rather easy to pick out a foreigner梫ery few Zennans surpassed five feet in height, and skin colors ranged from pale pink to bright orange-red. Men uniformly shaved their heads, and women wore their hair in a single braid.
Just being in a Zennan town made Nars relax a bit梩he great tide of friendly greetings as he strolled toward the street抯 south end pushed worries to the back of his mind. But they rushed forth again as he approached the last house on the right. It was set back from the road, surrounded by tall, broad-limbed trees that screened its windows. Privacy was not highly valued on Zenna Four, but this house seemed built for it. Nars pushed open the plank gate and crossed the yard with its unkempt yellow grass. He rapped uncertainly on the door, and a moment later an old Zennan man swung it open. He wore a simple gray toga, indicating his position as house servant.
揗ay I help?he asked in a high-pitched singsong.
揑s is your master at home? 揧es, yes. Please enter. Nars followed the little butler into a dark study. The butler then backed out, shutting the woven wicker doors. As Nars stood uncomfortably, a high-backed desk chair swiveled to face him and a skeletal man stood, with his hand extended out of the shadows.
揥elcome, Nars,he said. 揑t抯 been a long time between visits. Nars took the welcoming hand, but didn抰 clasp it warmly. 揂 long time, Krail. The man stepped into the halo cast by a wall lamp. He was a head taller than Nars, with dark skin stretched tautly over his aquiline face. His gray beard and hair were neatly trimmed, in marked contrast to his bushy, upswept eyebrows. Krail was a Klingon of unusually aristocratic bearing, and Nars felt very much the servant in his presence. He did not like the feeling.
Krail issued a pinched abbreviation of a smile and motioned to a hard-backed chair. As Nars glanced around, he noticed nothing suggesting softness or luxury in the entire room. The floor was bare wood, the windows cloaked by severely drawn drapes, and the furniture angular and uncushioned without exception.
揂 drink, Nars? The Shaddan nodded curtly. Krail slid open a darkwood cabinet and took out a sharply sculptured crystal decanter. Smoothly, he poured two goblets of blood-red wine and handed one to his visitor.
揑t is, of course, imported,said Krail with cold pride, 揻rom my home world. We Klingons are more than merely great warriors.
Krail抯 thin smile made Nars most uneasy. He wanted to get this over with as rapidly as possible and he carefully placed his cup on a table and stood. 揥e have business, Krail. Let it be done,he said, a shade more urgently than he抎 intended.
Krail looked mildy disappointed as he pursed his lips and measured Nars with guarded gray eyes. 揑s there a hurry? 揗y time with you is not unlimited. Let抯 leave it at that. 揂h, yes,Krail said with studied sympathy. 揧ou have the Enterprise to worry about. But I think by now you may be safe here, and we抣l arrange passage to a Klingon planet, as we promised you. You will梙ow shall I put it梔isappear before Kirk抯 eyes. 揟hat won抰 be necessary,Nars said quickly.
揙h? Are you severing your dealings with us after梙ow long has it been?梕ighteen years or more? The Klingon抯 tone was vaguely menacing and Nars felt cold sweat break out on his upper lip. All those years had made little difference梙e抎 never learned to trust Klingons, no matter how much they paid for the information he smuggled to them. Krail抯 cold smile appeared again.
揊ine, fine. Many ships pass through Zenna. Whatever destination you choose is fine with us. You certainly won抰 want to remain among the rancid little rodents populating this planet. Tolerance had never been a common trait among Klingons; Nars had noted that many years before, and it always put him on guard.
揘ow, to your unexpected information,said Krail. 揑 must say I was very surprised to be told you were here and wanted to meet with me. Nars swallowed and felt his neck bob. 揟he King of Shad is dead. Krail had looked away, but he turned his head to stare sharply at the Shaddan informer, a rare departure from his usual calculated motions. 揑ndeed? So, this is unexpected information. The Federation has bungled more completely than we could have hoped. Even sabotage could never have been so effective.He began to pace, his
long legs striding, mantislike. 揧es, yes this places our entire strategy in a new light. Our objectives can be simplified. All the long years of棓
His words were cut off in mid-thought by a ruckus from the foyer. The butler squealed a loud 揘o entry!protest; deeper voices and heavy footsteps flew toward Krail抯 study, and the wicker doors burst open a few seconds later. Two men and two women entered. They wore the simple hooded cloaks and fatigues of spacers from a hundred worlds梑ut the weapons they held were readily identifiable. Federation phasers, pointed calmly at Krail and Nars.
The Klingon quickly regained his composure, and the thin smile showed itself again. 揧ou would be considered guests in my home except that I do not take kindly to weaponry in the house. 揧ou be quiet and don抰 move,Lieutenant Byrnes said sternly. 揅ommander Krail, isn抰 it? Krail looked pleased at the recognition but said nothing. Chekov glanced at Byrnes. 揧ou know who he is? 揝ure do. He抯 been around for quite some time. Assassinated about twenty superiors to get where he is today梠n the Klingon Intelligence Council, one of the top four spies in the Empire. Which makes me wonder what he抯 doing out in the field, doing a quadrant commander抯 dirty work 揑 don抰 know what you抮e referring to, uh 揕ieutenant Byrnes, commander of the Enterprise. 揂hh. I make this my home now. I enjoy this world, with its charming, friendly natives. Nars shot him a surprised look梖rom rancid rodents to charming natives in just a few moments. Truly a startling verbal metamorphosis. But Krail ignored the stare梙e was too busy dueling with the intruders.
揘ars can tell you I lived here, oh, almost twenty-five years ago, when he first came to Zenna. That抯 when we met. Nars went pale. 揑 don抰 know what he抯 talking about, I棓
Chekov cut the Shaddan off with a warning glare. 揧ou wouldn抰 happen to be a stonemason in your spare time, would you, Commander?
揥hy, no,Krail replied innocently.
揑 didn抰 think so. Well, we not only get this cossack,said Chekov, nodding at Nars, 揵ut we bring back a jackpot bonus, too. Security Ensign Michael Howard, stocky and brighteyed, frisked Nars and drew an Enterprise communicator out of the frightened man抯 pocket. He cradled the device in one hand, touched a button on his tricorder, and smiled with satisfaction as the tricorder emitted loud rhythmic beeps. 揑 think I抣l give him a reward maybe replace a few worn chips and spruce him up for next time. 揑t,said Chekov irritably. 揑t, not him. You sound like Mr. Scott, the way you talk about those devices of yours. 揥atch it, Chekov. Devices have feelings, too,Howard said defensively.
揝hould we search the rest of the house?asked the female guard, Maria Spyros.
Byrnes shook her head. 揔rail may not work alone here. We got what we came for梐 whole lot more, in fact. Let抯 not stick around and get into trouble. 揗y people will know I抦 missing,Krail pointed out
揟rue,said Chekov, 揵ut they won抰 know what you and Nars know. Ready to beam up, everybody. The landing party stepped into formation, with its prisoners in the center. Howard flipped open the rigged communicator. 揕anding party to Enterprise. Standing by to beam up. Energize. A moment later, they sparkled out of existence, leaving the astonished butler cowering alone.
The Enterprise warped out of orbit immediately, bound for Sigma 1212.

Nars broke easily. He was not, after all, a professional spy, and Kirk figured he抎 carried his burden long enough. The once-proud servant was almost thankful for the chance to talk. He had indeed met Krail a quarter-century before, during his brief stay on Zenna as a staff member of the ore-trade mission. No deals were made then, and Nars had forgotten the episode梪ntil he fled to Orand with the King.
揚unishment in hell couldn抰 be worse than life on Orand,Nars whined. There were tears in his eyes and he stopped to wipe them.
Kirk was a compassionate man; he抎 once liked Nars, but he found it hard to feel sorry for him now. The captain had to force himself to hold his anger in check, and he let Byrnes conduct the interrogation.
揋o on,she said.
揥e were all in despair those first months there. We talked of suicide, all of us taking our lives together. For us, our world had been stolen away from us and we feared we would never return home.Nars paused梖or effect, it seemed to Kirk. The Shaddan glanced at the faces of his listeners, hoping to see some melting in the detached hardness of their eyes. 揇on抰 you understand?he cried.
揑 understand what you felt, but not what you did,Kirk said harshly.
揥e thought we would die there,he blurted, rising out of his seat. A burly security guard pushed him back, gently but firmly.
揧ou all felt that way,Kirk said. 揧ou were all afraid, but only you committed treason. Nars covered his face. 揑 was the only one seduced by Krail and his promises and threats. The Klingon had been a mid-level operative then, charged with subverting the Loyalist forces any way he could. Two months after the royal party had taken up residence in their Orandi country house, he had renewed his contact with Nars.
揌e came to the compound with two peddlers. 揥hat was his offer?asked Byrnes.
Nars mumbled his answer, ashamed. 揗oney. Kirk felt his jaw and fists tighten. 揌ow patriotic.
揧ou weren抰 there,Nars said starkly. 揥e had nothing but four walls. That money let me buy pieces of a life. Not just for myself, but the others, too. I could buy books for the King, and for the Princess. For the Lady Meya, herbs and medicine when she fell sick. Small things for my staff, to make them less unhappy there. 揂nd what did you sell?said Byrnes.
Nars snorted a hollow laugh, with a touch of hysteria woven into its texture. 揥hat did I sell? Nothing nothing. In all those years, I told them nothing of use to anyone. What did I have to tell them? Answer me, Captain Kirk. You were the one who sent us to hell. We rotted there for eighteen years. For all those years, we lived as the dead do, with nothing to mark one day different from the last or the next. What could I sell them? He leaped from his seat and clamped his hands on Kirk抯 shoulders, catching the guards off balance. Kirk shoved him down again, and the guards held him belatedly. No one spoke. Nars breathed hoarsely.
揊or eighteen years, I told the Klingons about such important
state secrets as the Princess抯 birthdays, the King抯 despair and sickness, the death of Lady Meya,he whispered bitterly. 揑 had no military secrets. When I tried to stop, they threatened to harm the King and his daughter. They said they could kill them anytime they wanted, and no one would know or care. I did it to protect the family. There seemed no harm棓
揢ntil you betrayed a sacred trust and told the Klingons about this mission,Kirk said in a voice of stone.
揥hat else did you do with your money? asked Byrnes, steering away from Captain Kirk抯 barely controlled rage.
Nars collapsed onto the table. 揘othing. I did nothing,he sobbed piteously.

揌e purchased the favors of women,Krail said carefully. 揟o put it in delicate terms for you, Lieutenant Byrnes. 揑 didn抰 know Klingons could be delicate,she said. 揇on抰 stint on my account. Krail had taken Nars抯 place in the interrogation cell. Kirk leaned against the wall, and the pair of guards stood just inside the force-field doorway.
揑f you insist,said the Klingon. 揘ars is not the most proper fellow he purports to be. It seemed that during his time on Orand, he抎 developed quite a few private depredations, including something called pipeweed. I believe one smoked it. He could really get quite desperate if his supply ran out. I suppose you might say he was addicted. 揂nd how did he get this addiction?asked Kirk. 揅ould you have introduced him to it? 揅aptain, I resent your attempt to link me to棓
Kirk cut him off with a fist on the tabletop. 揑抳e had my fill of
you, Krail. Nars抯 fate is out of your hands. As for you, whether you cooperate or not, confess or keep silent, we have more than enough evidence to send you to a prison colony for the rest of your life. 揘ot a very enlightened system, Captain. 揕ock him up,Kirk said abruptly. He gave the Klingon a glance of contempt and stalked out of the cell.

Star Fleet would have their spy梬ith an extra big fish tossed in for good measure. I hope they抮e thrilled, Kirk thought as he made his way to the turbolift on the brig deck. Nars had turned out to be unworthy even of disgust, and one less Klingon spy, albeit an important one like Krail, would not make one whit of difference in the balance of power.
He stepped into the waiting lift. The doors hissed shut behind him and he turned the control handle. 揇eck five. What mattered now was whether they could get to Sigma 1212 in time. All the carefully planned strategy had degenerated into a race against the clock and the Klingons. At this point, Kirk knew he was powerless to do any more than hope that the rush to rescue the crew of the Galileo would not become a search for bodies.
The King抯 body reposed in the sick bay morgue, and there it would stay. There was no stone urn, no proper Shaddan cremation, no entry into the next life. Not yet. If Stevvin was to join his ancestors, he would be late. Kirk hoped the gods would understand, and forgive.
Chapter Fifteen
The Kinarr Mountains stood like sentinels daring travelers to pass. The lofty range, almost as old as the planet itself, held the Crown of Shad somewhere among its peaks. Had the Galileo been able to land at the coordinates laid out by the King, the search would have been short and direct. But as they climbed ever higher on trails spiraling narrowly through perpetual fog, McCoy was becoming convinced the quest was hopeless.
They stopped to rest in a cove etched into the mountainside by millennia of wind and water. For the moment, it protected them from the gusts that alternately tried to pin them to the inside wall of rock rising up from the trail, or blow them over the outside ledge. McCoy gave Kailyn an injection of holulin, then sat on the ground and leaned against a boulder.
揝pock, why are we doing this? 揧ou know why, Doctor. 揟ell me again, 抍ause right now, I have my doubts. Here we are climbing a mountain somewhere in the middle of a two-hundred-mile range棓
揥e know we are proceeding along the most logical course. 揥e have no way of knowing if we抮e twenty feet or twenty miles away from that Crown. With a shake of his head, McCoy gazed out across the Kinarr
Mountains; the tops of all but a few were lost in the dense clouds that hung over the whole region. Visibility was limited, but what he could see made McCoy distinctly unhappy.
揟hey all look the same,he moaned. 揟here aren抰 a whole lot of landmarks, Spock. We抳e been climbing since morning, four hours, and we don抰 know if we抮e getting closer or farther away. That makes it kind of hard to go on. 揥hat happened to all your optimism?Kailyn wondered.
揑 left it a few miles down the trail. 揧ou accurately stated that we had little choice in our present course of action,Spock said patiently. 揇ebating it serves no purpose whatsoever. 揑n my head, I know you抮e right. But my feet keep telling me you抮e wrong. Kailyn stood. 揟he Enterprise will be back here in about two days. I don抰 want it to leave without us, and the only way we can be sure of being on it is to get to Shirn O抰ay抯 settlement. She reached her hand out to McCoy and helped him up. Refreshed by her shot and the rest, Kailyn bounded out ahead. McCoy started after her.
揟he young lady convinced you rather readily, Doctor.
McCoy gave him a sour glare. 揝hut up, Spock.
The difficulty of the climb varied梖rom bad to worse, as far as McCoy抯 legs were concerned. The higher they went, the steeper the path wound. Vegetation became sparse, and ice-edged gusts bit through their clothing. Patches of snow appeared with increasing frequency, and soon more of the rocky ground was blanketed than bare. The fog had thickened from a filmy haze to an opaque mist, obscuring even the nearest peaks; after a while, McCoy found an
odd comfort in the fact that he couldn抰 see past the rim of the trail梙e was allowed to forget about the steep slope that fell away just a few feet from where they walked. Only an occasional stone kicked over the edge would serve as a fearsome warning, clicking down the rocks below, finally falling out of earshot. It was a long, long way down.
揈ight to ten thousand feet,Spock estimated during their next pause along the trail. McCoy sat flat out, stretching his legs.
揑 have so many kinks, I抦 going to need a wheelchair, Spock. Air抯 getting pretty thin.McCoy rubbed his eyes and sighed. 揑抦 too old for this. Kailyn dropped to her knees beside him. 揘o, you抮e not. This should help.She began to knead his calf muscles and the backs of his thighs. 揑 used to do this for my father when we went on hikes.
For a moment, a faraway look glazed her eyes, and her massage weakened.
揇on抰 stop,said McCoy. 揥hat抯 wrong? 揘othing,she replied wistfully. 揑 was just thinking about Father, wondering how he is. 揇on抰 you worry,said McCoy, holding her hand. I may be the chief surgeon, but my staff can do just fine without me. 揙h?said Spock casually. 揟hen why does the captain continue to put up with you? 揃ecause I抦 such a joy to have around,McCoy snapped. 揅ome on, let抯 get going.He grunted as he clambered back to his feet.
Kailyn held tight to his arm. 揑 have promises to keep, and miles to go before I sleep,she murmured.
揑sn抰 that from a poem? She nodded. 揂 great poet from your planet桼obert Frost. 揙h, yeah. A New Englander. I always preferred Dixie poets myself.
The sun of Sigma 1212 blazed forth with a sudden and stunning glory. After the time in space, where giant suns are reduced by distance to twinkling pinpoints, and the past day of doleful clouds and violent storms, it shone now like heavenly fire, flooding the mountaintops and their snowcaps with a blinding brilliance. While they抎 been walking, the dense fog had begun to thin gradually with altitude, but the brightening came in increments so small as to go unnoticed by three climbers more concerned with the path under their feet than the sky over their heads.
And so the sun had burst upon them like a celestial flare. Free of the fog, peaks soared wherever they looked, and they stood in breathless awe, perched at the top of this world, surrounded by pristine beauty and whiteness so stark it made their eyes ache. McCoy squinted, refusing to close out the light that made him feel renewed.
揑抎 forgotten what sunshine looked like,he whispered.
Kailyn peered down the mountain at the clouds below them. Before, they抎 appeared unremittingly gray, but from this new vantage point, they seemed a pure and fluffy white, like a carpet below them. 揑 feel like I could just leap out there and walk on them,she said, wandering dangerously close to the edge of the trail. She felt giddy, like a child in a wonderland.
Not even Spock could resist the splendor basking before them. Through slitted eyes, he looked from horizon to horizon, momentarily overwhelmed by the sweeping panorama stretched below like some vast artist抯 canvas. 揑ncredible,he said in a hushed voice. 揝uch unspoiled beauty. 揑抳e never seen anything like it,said McCoy.
Spock scanned down the steep mounains, then back up to the sun, a deep orange-red. The sun. Ever so slowly, it was moving, across the white-blue sky and down toward the horizon. Time passed, unceasingly. Night crept closer.
揥e must move on,he said, finally.
McCoy thought he sensed a tinge of regret in the toneless voice of rationality, and he looked directly into the first officer抯 eyes; he found what he sought.
Spock gazed back, without shame. 揂ppreciation of great beauty is not illogical, Doctor. 揘o, it抯 not,said McCoy gently.

For a while, the trail seemed to descend, in concert with the sun. Shadows lengthened and crossed their path as Spock continued to lead the way. Once more, they stopped to rest their ever-more-weary legs. Spock, too, had begun showing signs of fatigue, in shortness of breath and obvious stiffness in his left shoulder, the one injured during his ordeal the previous night. McCoy slumped to the ground, near exhaustion, and Spock knelt next to him.
揚erhaps we should make camp here, Doctor. 揘o,McCoy wheezed. He glanced out at the sun, which was poised to dip below the field of clouds. 揥e抳e still got some daylight left. A little farther. 揥hatever we do today is distance we don抰 have to cover tomorrow,Kailyn said.
Spock sat alone to consult the maps, while Kailyn stood and turned toward the broad vista, her back to McCoy. He watched her with admiration. A girl梟o, a young woman. While McCoy抯 old legs told him to stay on his backside awhile longer, he knew now that Kailyn was tougher than any of them had thought. Through
the roughest stretches of climbing, even when they had to be tied together at the waist by safety cords, she never faltered, never missed a step. He was proud of her, and felt the impulse to tell her so. But not now條ater, perhaps when they settled in for the cold night ahead. With greater effort than he wanted to admit, McCoy got first to his knees; then, one leg at a time, he stood up unsteadily. Neither Spock nor Kailyn saw. He tried to take a deep breath, but his lungs protested and he coughed, a rumbling sound from deep in his chest that alarmed him. Kailyn heard it and turned quickly, her lithe body still encased in the skintight thermal suit. Her face flashed her concern in a deep frown梩he cough sounded like her father抯 the last time she抎 seen him.
McCoy grinned at her, then nodded toward Spock, who was still with the maps. 揧ou think he抯 gotten us lost and won抰 admit it? Spock looked up. 揥e are following the correct route.
McCoy leaned close to Kailyn and said in a stage whisper: 揑 told you he wouldn抰 admit it. The trail continued on a downhill slope, and twisted around a bend. Spock suddenly stopped and held up a hand for silence. McCoy strained to listen. There was no mistaking梩here were voices up ahead. On this narrow mountain trail, there was no place to hide梐nd they were about to run into a band of humanoids. The figures were far below, heading up; they looked like snowmen, dressed in white parkas.
揙h, lord,said McCoy in a low voice, 損lease don抰 let these be like the last ones. Cautiously, Spock moved ahead. 揝et your phaser on stun, Doctor. 揑 don抰 like shooting people, Spock,he said梑ut he set the switch as instructed, and kept Kailyn in line behind him.
揘either do I, but it is best to be prepared,said Spock.
There was something sprawled across the path ahead of them; the curve and grade of the trail placed them out of sight of the group of natives downhill, and they approached it warily. It was a dead animal. Its dusty-white woolly coat was stained with blood, presumably its own, and its four legs were splayed out under it. Either it was freshly killed or the cold air had preserved it, for there was no smell from the carcass. As they moved closer, they could see that it had two great antlers, intricately curved, growing from the front of its head. It was a massive beast梐t least eight feet long.
揥hatever killed it packed quite a punch,said McCoy. He leaned over to examine a triple slash gouged into one antler. 揕ooks like a three-toed claw of some kind. He narrowed his eyes and brushed something off the tip of one antler梐 bloody patch of white, furry hide. 揂lso looks like he took a hunk out of his attacker,he said, slipping the hide into his pocket.
揥hat a magnificent creature,Kailyn breathed. 揑t didn抰 die without a fight. 揑ndeed,Spock agreed. 揟hough it was fatally wounded, it is largely intact. Whatever killed it must have been a carnivore. Odd that pieces were not removed for food. McCoy peeked over the edge of the mountain. 揟ake a look down there. Spock and Kailyn both glanced down. Far below, barely visible, a white animal was grotesquely draped like a gargoyle on a ledge. It looked like a cross between a mountain lion and a bear. McCoy began a comment, but was cut off by a new voice, clearly threatening though it spoke in an alien tongue. Spock, McCoy, and Kailyn turned as one and saw that the way was blocked by the humanoids
they抎 seen up ahead. Their faces were visible now inside their fur-trimmed hoods梔eeply tanned, moon-shaped, with even bangs of jet-black hair. And angry.
There were an even dozen of them, all with steel-tipped weapons梥pears, bows and arrows, and long-bladed knives. The leader, burlier than the others, chattered loudly and aimed sharp gestures at the animal carcass.
揥e did not kill it,Spock said evenly. He had no idea if the leader understood; for emphasis, he pointed to the gash in the antler, avoiding motions that might alarm.
揥e found it here梔ead. The burly Sigman had a silent reply梙e pointed his loaded longbow directly at Spock抯 chest. At a quick nod of his head, his companions surrounded the shuttle party. They moved with swift agility, showing no fear of the trail抯 edge or the long fall that awaited the careless.
揑 suggest we offer no resistance,said Spock in a low voice.
揌ere we go again,said McCoy as their hands were tied behind them.

The setting sun cast long rays through the clouds, painting the skies in vivid splashes of gold, red, and deep blue. The armed group took the Galileo crew about halfway down the mountain where a narrow pass cut the one peak into two. The pass was less than thirty feet wide at its opening, but it broadened gradually as they descended, finally flaring like a funnel after perhaps a half-mile. The mountain band finally paused梥pread below was a shadowed valley, nestled between the towering Kinarrs. On one side, a deep V of sky separated two mountains; they seemed to be bowing before the sun, permitting it to shine through to the inner plateau. But except
for that opening, the valley was completely protected by the encircling range.
The farther down into it they went, the warmer the air got梩he winds that ruled the high alpine peaks could not enter here, and the weather was calm.
Only the top sliver of the sun was still visible, and it bathed those parts of the valley it could reach with its crimson radiance. The trail changed into steps carved with great care right into the stony surface of the planet. The steps dove straight down the slope, pausing at wide intervals for small platform landings. At each one was a broad, flat boulder with engraved images on its altarlike top梡ictures of animals prancing against mountain backdrops. The leader knelt before each altar on the way down, with the others standing silently, heads bowed, as he offered a prayer. The ceremony was repeated five times.
At last, the steps reached an end, and multiple paths branched off from their base. The sky had tuned blue-black, and stars began to sparkle. The ground suddenly rumbled, and an eerie chorus of howls and grunts drifted up from a lower road. Soon, a herd of at least a hundred animals clip-clopped into sight. They walked with a rhythmic gait, driven slowly by twenty of the mountain folk. As they passed, Spock noticed that several of the herders were females, and the animals were the same as the dead beast they抎 found on the trail. A musky cloud of dust followed the herd, and McCoy sneezed. When the animals had gone, the captives were led into a cavern.
McCoy stifled a slightly nauseous feeling at being in a cave again, but it wasn抰 difficult to do梩his one resembled the previous night抯 hiding place as much as a sod hut resembled a Dixie mansion. The opening was low and they had to duck down, but the interior broadened out to a high-vaulted grotto, with ceramic oil-burning
lanterns along the walls, and support columns made of carefully fitted stone bricks rising up into the shadows. A massive altar dominated the central room, with stone steps leading to its pulpit fifteen feet up. Painted animal carvings decorated it on all sides.
Perhaps fifty of the mountain people stood around the shrine as one tall old man mounted the steps. He wore white woven leggings and a brightly striped poncho. His hawk nose jutted away from a face framed by flowing white hair and a beard down to the middle of his chest. Taking the steps in ceremonial cadence, he reached the top, where a small animal lay, twitching instinctively as it tried to wriggle free of the leather harness that held it. It was a baby from the herd, a male with the first downy growth of antlers sprouting above its eyes. Tiny hooves clicked against the rock altar, and the tall man drew a gleaming blade of the scabbard at his waist. He raised hands and eyes toward the ceiling far above, and spoke in ringing tones. Spock understood.
揕et the wind gods see us, and sanctify this sacrifice of the Night of Darkness. When the moons shine again, may our prosperity and peace be renewed. He plunged the knife down and the small beast yelped. Then it was still梩he clean stroke had done its work mercifully, but McCoy still felt vaguely queasy. He glanced at Kailyn, who watched the service with wide-eyed absorption.
Two young men, dressed in leggings and vests instead of the heavy outdoor parkas, bounded up the altar steps as the tall man came down. They untied the dead animal and carried it away, down a corridor off the main cave.
The burly trail leader waited patiently for the tall man to get through a knot of people gathered around him. Finally, he came across and stood before the trail leader, who whispered in his ear.
The tall man nodded his white head; the others stepped back and he approached the prisoners, regarding them with searching eyes. His face was crisscrossed by tiny lines and wrinkles, like an intricate map etched on old leather. The hawk nose prominently displayed its blood vessels, and the eyelids hung low under extra folds of skin. But there was a calm strength in this face, and the voice swelled with authority.
揥ho are you that raid our snowsheep herds? Spock lifted an eyebrow. 揥e did not raid your herds. We found the dead animal on the trail, just as your men did. The snowsheep had been attacked by something with triple-toed claws, and棓
揌ow do you know this? 揥e saw marks on the antlers, and found this. McCoy angled the pocket on the back of his thermal pants toward Spock, and the Vulcan took out the patch of bloodstained white fur. The tall man held it up, then turned to the trail leader.
揇id you see the marks? The burly man nodded, and examined the scrap of animal hide.
揥e saw the attacker dead on a ledge below the snowsheep,Spock said. 揑t was the color of that piece of skin. The tall man drew in a deep breath. 揂 zanigret,he said to the trail leader. 揟hese travelers have been held without need. Release them. Immediately, the hand ropes were untied.
揧ou are free to leave,said the old man.
揘ow?asked McCoy.
The old man looked down at McCoy with a curious stare. 揙f course, but only the foolish travel in darkness, when the zanigret prowl. You are welcome to remain with us until morning, then go back to your homelands. 揥e are unable to return to our homelands,said Spock. 揥here we come from is far from these mountains. Before we can go back, we need to retrieve something that was left here by a friend of ours a long time ago.
揥hat is this thing? Perhaps we can help you. 揚erhaps you can. We are trying to find the settlement of Shirn O抰ay. Do you know him? The man抯 eyes crinkled under his snowy brows, and he smiled. 揧ou seek the King抯 Crown? 揌ow do you know that?asked McCoy in astonishment. And as he asked, the answer dawned on him. 揙f course梱ou are Shirn O抰ay. The old man bowed deeply. 揘ot a day has passed without thinking of the King. Is he well? 揌e is ill,said Spock, 搕oo ill to come back for the Crown himself. This is his daughter, Kailyn. 揂hh, yes,Shirn said in delight. 揟he child, the little child. But you抳e grown so.Shirn shook his head. 揟o think after all this time and wind has blown over the mountainsHe stopped in mid-breath. 揙h, but of course you do come from far beyond the mountains. You come from other worlds, other stars. You must rest and eat with us.He clapped his hands and shouted: 揚repare for the Feast of the Moons! Come, come! You will eat on my blanket! The old chieftain led his people from the shrine chamber into a smaller side cavern where the feast would take place. Spock, McCoy, and Kailyn followed the crowd.
揥e抮e in the home stretch, Spock,McCoy crowed. 揑 didn抰 think I抎 live to see it. But the joyous tide swept Kailyn along in body only梙er spirit was troubled. She had been so caught up in the physical trials of
reaching the Crown, she had allowed herself to forget the rigorous test that she would have to face alone. Neither McCoy nor Spock could help her once it was placed on her head. The biggest task of her young life loomed nearer than she had ever thought it would, and it made the trek through the terrors of Sigma 1212 look like child抯 play. She found herself wishing they were still out on the mountain trail somewhere梐nywhere but this close to the Crown of Shad.
Chapter Sixteen
Commander Kon抯 patience had long since run out. The space storm had kept him from making a close approach to Sigma 1212 for nearly two days, and tensions aboard the Klingon spy scout hovered dangerously close to the boiling point. His hulking weapons officer glanced at Kon uncomfortably from time to time梟o doubt the man抯 jaw still smarted from the punch Kon had thrown in their scuffle that morning
As a commander, Kon preferred to have his orders obeyed without enforcement tactics, certainly without brawling. But Lieutenant Keast had insisted on giving unsolicited advice. When Kon had warned that he was on the edge of insubordination, Keast had become abusive. The punch had silenced him rather effectively, though upon later reflection, Kon had to admit to himself that he was lucky he抎 caught the much bigger and younger lieutenant off guard.
As the hours wore on, he looked at Kera more and more often. Not only did he prefer her beauty to the sullen faces of his two male officers, but she was the one who would inform him of the storm抯 abatement. Finally, she did.
揅an we move in, Kera? 揧es, Commander. Completing preparatory sensor sweep now. She turned back to her computer console, hands resting lightly
atop several control switches, ready to shift modes and readouts. The stream of data meant little to Kon, and he waited, once again with a full reserve of patience.
揝omething strange, sir,Kera said with a frown. She touched a sequence of buttons. 揜eceiving communication from the Federation vessel. Kon sat upright on his couch. 揑s the Enterprise within range? 揘egative, sir. No ships but our own. 揟hen who are they communicating with? 揂hh. No one, it seems. The message just repeated. It抯 an auto-distress signal. 揝o the Federation ship didn抰 land successfully after all. Our decision to wait was an excellent strategic move, wouldn抰 you say, Kera?Kon spoke loudly, his barb aimed at Keast, who slouched in his seat, sulking.
Kera smiled coolly. 揈xcellent, Commander.Perhaps after this mission, she would reconsider a sexual coupling with him. The look in his eye was unmistakable梩he choice up to her. But that was for later consideration. 揥e are locked on to the Federation ship抯 position, sir. Landing may proceed.
The Klingon ship set down about a mile away from the abandoned Galileo, in a clearing not far from the steam, which ran fast and high within its banks. It was sunset, though the cloud cover made the sky look even duskier, almost completely dark. With a search-lantern beam probing ahead, Kon led the way to the shuttlecraft. Cutting winds swept over the lowland terrain, and all four Klingons held their weapons drawn as they cautiously approached the wreck.
揂ny life readings?Kon asked.
Kera scanned the Galileo. 揘one. Kon turned to his two male officers. 揝tand guard outside while we search the interior. A gust of wind blew by and the ship抯 ripped metal hide creaked and moaned. Kon whirled reflexively, his weapon at the ready, then relaxed and looked sheepishly at his science officer. 揂ll this waiting has me a little jumpy. 揓ust don抰 shoot me by accident. Kon shook his head. 揘ot you. Keast perhaps. They both laughed and climbed under the shuttle抯 flank to get at the doorway. Once inside, Kon panned around with the light beam while Kera turned her sensor toward all nooks and corners.
揘o bodies,Kon mused.
揝ome blood, though,the science officer said, holding up a dark-brown-stained cloth. 揝omeone was injured. They were interrupted by a soft, repetitive beating sound on the hull. 揥hat抯 that?said Kon.
揝ounds like rain. They listened for a few moments, and the beating grew more insistent梙arder, louder, faster.
揅ommander,Keast shouted from the hatch, 搃t抯 pouring out here. The skies suddenly opened up. 揑f he gets soaked,Kera said in a low voice, 搚ou抣l never hear the end of his complaining. You don抰 want to have to hit him again, do you? Kon made a face of disgust. 揤ery well,he called. 揃oth of you come in here. Keast and his fellow guard clambered up through the jagged opening. They were already drenched, and the chilly air made them
shiver. Kon glared at them while Kera continued her thorough reconnaissance of the shuttle cabin.
揥eapons are missing. Most of their food supplies are back here, but they抮e contaminated, sir. 揈valuation? 揑抎 say they were able to leave here, but how far they could抳e gotten is impossible to estimate梕specially with the weather conditions on this planet. 揧es,said Kon thoughtfully. 揊ederation weaklings would not fare well in such a rugged climate梪nlike us Klingons.He glared at his shivering officers. 揗ost Klingons, at least. 揑抦 sorry, Commander,Keast protested, 揵ut it抯 very cold梐nd getting colder. 揥herever they are, they抮e well-armed,Kon continued. 揟hat means they could have attacked any natives in the area to get food and shelter. 揈xcept that Federation cowards don抰 operate that efficiently,Kera reminded him.
揥hen it comes to survival, even a mongrel Star Fleet officer like that half-Vulcan Spock would kill if he had the chance. Keep that in mind, all of you. If we find them, be ready to kill on sight. 揑n the meantime, sir,said Keast belligerently, 搘hat do we do? 揥e wait out this storm. I抎 hate for you to have to get wet again. 揃ut the Federation spies could be棓
摋sitting someplace, doing exactly what we are梬aiting,said Kon, cutting him off. 揥e抣l be losing no ground. I抦 sure they抮e not far from here, and well have no trouble tracking them once the weather improves. You抮e not as reluctant to travel in darkness as you are in the rain, eh, Keast? 揘o, sir, I am not,said the lieutenant stiffly.

The Klingons spent over an hour in the leaky shuttle wreck, but the rain only worsened. A swirling wind current spun through the forest, ripping up trees and tossing them like twigs. Picking up debris, the storm funnel howled across the flatlands and barreled over the hills. It bore down on the Galileo and flipped it like a child抯 toy being thrown by the hand of a giant.
The Klingons inside never knew what hit them. Keast was killed instantly when his skull slammed into the sharp edge of a split bulkhead. The other male officer was catapulted out the hatch opening and crushed against the boulders below as the wreck rolled over him. Kera and Kon held fast to couches still fastened to the floor, and were both alive when the wind passed and the Galileo, broken in two now, came to a stop against a cliff almost a hundred yards away.
They stumbled out into the heavy rain. Kon fell to the ground, semiconscious. Kera held her right arm close to her side, protecting a rib she suspected was fractured. She knelt in the cold oozing mud and used her sleeve to wipe blood away from her commander抯 eyes梩hen she saw the deep ugly gash above his nose.
揅an you stand, Kon? 揑 think so. We have to get back to our ship. Help me up. She did her best, and the two of them limped toward the relative haven of the woods.
揟he stream,Kon whispered through bloody lips. 揌ave to follow it. 揥e抮e almost there. Kon tripped and fell, grabbing Kera for support. His arm closed tightly around her waist and she cried out in pain梙e had found
the broken rib. She held her breath, fought back tears, steadied both of them and moved on through the trees.
They could hear the roaring of the water just ahead, though it was barely audible over the screaming wind. But it would be their guide back to the safety of their own ship.
Thunderstorms rumbled to the west. A Medusa抯 head of tangled lightning bolts ripped across the sky, splitting off and plunging toward the planet below. One struck an ancient tree that towered above the forest trail. The tree exploded and shattered, spraying shards of wood like shrapnel in all directions. Kera shoved Kon down behind another low-hanging tree梐n instant too late. A ragged spike drove itself into Kon抯 chest, and he was dead before he hit the ground. Kera lay on top of him.
揘o!she screamed, then strangled another cry starting deep in her throat. The only answers from the tortured lords of nature that ruled this wild planet were the steady downpour, the thunder, and the crackling of the burning tree stump. The charred wood hissed as the rain hit it and turned to steam.
Kera was alone梑ut she was a Klingon. She would have to go on and attempt to complete this mission梐lone. Or die trying.
Chapter Seventeen
Shirn O抰ay proved to be a gracious host. His blanket was actually a sumptuous fur rug made of zanigret skins and padded underneath with the fleece of the snowsheep. The Feast of the Moons marked the simultaneous phasing out of both moons, an event that occurred only four times a year because of the unequal orbits of the Sigman satellites. The darkened skies represented the cleansing change of seasons, and the new moons to come up the next night were worshiped as harbingers of good fortune.
Long platters of meat from slaughtered sheep, and an assortment of vegetables and herbs were welcome sights to the trio from the shuttlecraft梐 far cry from the berries and concentrates they抎 had over the last two days. They were finally able to peel off their dirty and tattered thermal suits, and afterward McCoy and Kailyn gorged themselves; Spock ate only the herbs and vegetables, and all three listened eagerly as Shirn answered their many questions about his mountain settlement.
揥e抳e lived much the same for hundreds of years,the old man told them. 揙ur fathers found this valley, and took its discovery as a sign from the wind gods. As you抳e seen, our world is not altogether hospitable. 揥ell, you抳e certainly made up for the planets bad manners,said McCoy between bites.
揟he storm we encountered in the lowlands梚s that a common weather pattern here?asked Spock.
揊or the lowlands, yes. Even for the mountains梑ut not within the bosom of the Kinarrs, where we are. Here on the plateau, we rarely get more than a gentle snowfall. The snowsheep lived in this valley before our fathers came, and they became domesticated very easily. There is a story we have the children tell at feast times, so the old tales will live on. Tolah! You抣l start. A pixie of a girl rose from a blanket at the far side of the cave. She padded over to Shirn and stood before him. She looked about eight years old, and wore a bracelet of bells that jingled gently as she moved. He handed her a scroll.
揟olah, the story of the first snowsheep. The little girl took a giant ballet step away from Shirn and spoke in a serious voice. 揟he first snowsheep greeted our fathers at the break in the Kinarrs, and he had big headhorns, much bigger than nowadays. She knew the story by heart and continued without even a glance at the scroll. 揂nd he would not let our fathers pass. And the snowsheep said, 慪ou can抰 come in here. This is holy land and only holy people can live on it.And our fathers said, 慦e are holy. The wind gods told you to save this land for us.And then棓
揤ery good, Tolah,Shirn said, his eyes sparkling with pleasure. 揔indrel梱ou next. Kindrel, a blond boy of about thirteen, took the scroll and read in careful, dignified tones. 摖慞rove you are holy,said the sheep. And the First Father grabbed the snowsheep by his horns and they wrestled for four seasons. When the seasons ended, the snowsheep said, 慖 am the strongest creature, sent to guard the holy lands. Only holy people can be as strong. You are truly Kinarri梒hildren of the
Kinarrs. You are welcome to live with us in peace, and my brothers and sisters shall be your servants.And that is the story of the first snowsheep. Kindrel slowly rolled the parchment and gave it to Shirn. The old man nodded proudly. With a ceremonial bow, the boy returned to sit with his family.
Later, the platters were cleared, and candied fruits were brought out along with a sweet, steaming-hot drink made from tree sap. Spock wondered why Shirn抯 people had never modernized their way of life.
揃ecause we have no reason to, Mr. Spock. I went away to school when I was a boy. My father sent me to a Federation colony, hoping I might learn something to help our people. 揇id you?asked Kailyn.
揑 learned what we didn抰 want to be, and that a leader cannot force his people to change in ways they cannot. We have a small community here, perhaps five hundred of us. The hot springs in the caverns support our gardens, with special lights we bought from traders. The snowsheep provide meat, milk, cheese, manure for fertilizer, clothing, and other supplies. A sheep that dies or is slaughtered is used completely. Zanigret attacks are our only problem, and they occur mostly at night. That抯 why we keep the herds in the caves at night. The one you found had run off. 揝uch economy, applied on a larger scale to a more modern way of life棓 Spock began.
摋is very difficult to attain. We are not closed off from the advancements of our age梬e adopt new tools, and trade freely when traders come our way. But we seek not to upset our balance, our traditions of all these years. 揑t抯 Shangri-la.McCoy murmured.
揥hat does this mean?asked Shirn.
揑t抯 an old Earth legend, about a place high up in the Himalaya Mountains, where things hadn抰 changed for thousands of years, and people hardly aged. Now, that抯 something I could use. Shirn gave a rueful laugh. 揂s you can see, Doctor, we do get old. 揝hangri-la was supposed to be a paradise, and that seems to be what you抳e got here. 揑f I may ask,Spock said, 揾ow does your succession of leadership operate? 揥e are a mixture of democracy and dynasty. The oldest child of the late leader takes over梪nless a majority votes for someone else. But we rarely have a dispute. For instance, my daughter桾olah抯 mother梬ill follow me when I die. The conversation, fascinating as it was, with richly rewarding exchanges of information for both sides, eventually turned to the Crown of Shad. Kailyn listened, as she had done most of the night.
揅an we see it?asked McCoy.
揑t isn抰 right here with us,said Shirn.
揥here, then, is it kept?Spock said.
Shirn pursed his lips. 揑n a safe place. King Stevin warned me that it should not be readily accessible, in case his enemies ever found out where he had taken it. In fact, he doesn抰 even know its exact location梙e left that up to me. 揥ell, can we have it tonight?McCoy asked.
慖抦 afraid not. It will take us several ours to reach, and we cannot go until daylight.A troubled look crossed Shirn抯 seamed face. 揈ven then, I can抰 simply let you take it. 揥hy not?said McCoy.
揃ecause I promised the King that only the rightful ruler would be allowed to have it. McCoy bristled. 揔ailyn is the rightful ruler. You must believe that. 揑n my heart, I believe all you抳e told me, without exception. But I took an oath. Kailyn must prove who she is. 揙ur word isn抰 proof enough?McCoy抯 eyes flashed in anger, and Kailyn touched his hand.
揝hirn is right. I抣l have to prove it at home. It抯 only fitting that I should have to prove it here first. 揌ow? 揃y showing that I have the Power of Times, that I can master the sacred crystals of the Crown.
Kailyn found Spock after the feast had broken up, in the scroll room, a square cave off the main grotto. There, cabinets full of parchment rolls held the story of the Kinarri herders from their earliest days on the protected plateau. The scrolls were written painstakingly in the hands of as many different scribes as there had been generations of Shirn抯 people. Carefully drawn pictures and diagrams cropped up often to illustrate tales of hunts and harvests, legends of the wind gods and heroic exploits. With the aid of a set of translation pages, Spock was able to gather the drift of most of what he read, idea for idea if not word for word.
As he read, he recorded the handwritten work on his tricorder after convincing Shirn it would be a terrible loss of history if the parchments were ever destroyed.
The Vulcan looked up as Kailyn sat on the rug next to him.
揂re they interesting?she asked.
換uite. It is rare that a society living on such a relatively primitive level should keep such detailed records of written history. 揢sually, they抎 just be oral records, right? Passed down from generation
generation to generation in the form of stories? Spock raised an eyebrow in mild surprise. 揅orrect.
Kailyn smiled. 揝ocial history was one of my favorite studies when I was growing up.The smile faded and she looked away. 揋rowing up. I feel like I抦 still growing up. 揟hat is not unusual,Spock said softly. 揑 have never understood why so many races instill in their offspring the notion that growing up, as you phrase it, is merely a stage of life that one passes through in a finite period of time. 揑snt it? Spock shook his head. 揚erhaps the terminology leads to errors in perception. If it were simply referred to as 慻rowing,perhaps it would be easier to conceptualize as a process that continues throughout life.
揟hat抯 too logical for most beings, Mr. Spock,she said with an ironic smile. 揗ost races aren抰 Vulcans. 揝o Dr. McCoy persists in telling me. Instead of devoting effort to becoming more logical, he prefers to avoid it and remain棓
揌andicapped?Kailyn volunteered.
揑 would not use such a strong word. 揥hy not? It is a handicap, to be caught up in emotions and fears. 揤ulcans have emotions,Spock said carefully. 揌owever, we do not let them interfere with rational observation and judgment.
揑 wish I were a Vulcan. It would make it a lot easier to be a leader. 揘ot necessarily, Kailyn. 揃ut I抳e watched you. You can size up situations, take advice, weigh choices梐nd then act forcefully in a crisis.She sighed, and her eyes were even more sad than usual.
揧ou are drawing conclusions from incomplete data. You have only observed me in a discrete set of circumstances. 揃ut I know what I saw棓
揧ou saw me acting as a leader because I was placed in such a position by assignment of Captain Kirk. 揇o you want to be a captain yourself? Spock almost smiled梙ow often he抎 heard that question. 揘o, I prefer to gather information and deliver it in orderly, usable fashion to those who can best apply it to decision-making. To advise, upon request. 揃ut you抮e in command on this mission 揂s a Vulcan and Star Fleet officer, I carry out those duties assigned to me. Captain Kirk is an example from which you might learn a great deal. 揥hat makes a leader, Mr. Spock? He paused to consider, and thought mostly about Kirk梩he qualities that made him a man others would always turn to and follow. 揂n ability to delegate tasks, to know subordinates so well and trust them so completely that they can be relied upon to do the job as if the captain himself had done it. In return, they trust him and give their loyalty willingly. 揑 didn抰 mean only Captain Kirk. 揑 realize your reference was generic, but I know of no better example,Spock said quietly.
揟hat抯 what my father always said.She sighed again. 揑 wish the captain was here to talk to or my father. 揧ou might try talking to Shirn O抰ay. Kailyn brightened. 揑 think I will.
The short, bearded man bounced up and down on his feet, and
his gravel voice nearly shouted at Shirn.
揃ut I swear the buck is mine! A younger man leaned down, nose to nose with the bearded fellow. 揂nd I say it抯 mine. It came back to the cave with my herd梩hat makes it mine. Sitting on his white rug on the ground between them, Shirn listened patiently, seeking the right moment to intervene. When the bearded man paused for a breath, Shirn spoke up梣uickly. 揂t this rate, the buck will die of old age before you decide. 揘o it won抰桰抣l fight him for it,said the bearded man heatedly.
The younger herder rolled his eyes. 揙h, gods in the mountains. You always want to fight, Blaye. When will you棓
揥ait, Dergan,said Shirn to the young man, 揃laye has a point. Fighting is one way to settle differences. Blaye planted his feet far apart and his hands on his hips, as if to say, I told you so.
揃ut,Shirn continued, 搃t抯 a troublesome way. Even if you win, you抮e bruised and weary. I remember when I was a young man and I fought over a snowsheep. Oh, I won, but I was so tired, I couldn抰 drag it back to my herd and it ran away and right into a zanigret抯 claws. Blaye shifted his jaw back and forth nervously, softening his bellicose stance a bit. Shirn抯 eyes shifted from one to the other.
揂re there other ways?Shirn asked.
揟hat抯 what we came to you for,the bearded man said.
揂hh, of course. Well, we could kill the buck and divide it in half. 揥ait,Dergan protested. 揟hat buck will be fathering offspring
for years. I抦 not going to give up a stud sheep for a pile of meat and bones! 揘either will I! 揥ell, then, what about a split of those offspring?
揘ever!roared Blaye, his voice echoing off the cave walls. 揑抣l have to wait three Feasts for the first calf. Meanwhile, he抯 got the buck all that time, and that beast will be into every cow in his herd! 揇ergan, are any of your cows pregnant? 揟hree of them. 揂nswer me this梱ou didn抰 have that new buck when you went out to graze this morning, did you? 揘either did he! And it has no brand 揃ut you have it now,Blaye rumbled.
Shirn finally got to his feet. 揟hat抯 quite true.He towered over both men and placed an arm around the shoulders of each. 揥hat about this? Dergan keeps the buck棓
揘o!shouted Blaye.
摋and Blaye gets the first born from your herd, his choice of buck or cow. 揃ut that抯 not fair,Blaye said.
Shirn let go of the younger man, and ushered Blaye to a corner. 揑f anything, you get the better of the bargain, my friend. He gets a beast well along in years, while you get one that抯 fresh and healthy with a whole life ahead of it. Hmm? Blaye scratched his beard as he thought about it. Meanwhile, the old chieftain ambled back to Dergan, who frowned. 揑 don抰 like it,he said flatly.
揧ou抣l be coming away with something you didn抰 have this
morning and it抯 better than getting all dirty and banged up in a wrestling match Hmm? 揂ll right,Dergan finally said.
揑 also agree,said Blaye, less than cheerfully.
揅ow or buckDergan snapped.
揑抣l decide when I see what抯 first born. 揂nd I抦 going to brand that buck right now Both men bowed to Shirn, then exited, watching each other suspiciously. Shirn smiled to himself; he never ceased to wonder at the problems his people brought to him.
揌ow did you do that?said a small, awed voice.
The old man turned to see Kailyn standing in the cavern doorway. 揂hh, you were spying on us here in the great Court of Mountain Law?
She laughed and came over to him. 揟hey were ready to strangle each other and you sent them away satisfied. Maybe not happy, but satisfied. 揝imple common sense, my child. Kailyn抯 face clouded over. 揥hy do you call me child
揑抦 sorry. You抮e not, are you? You抮e an adult, and soon to lead your people. Kailyn looked at the floor. 揑抦 afraid of that. 揃eing an adult, or being a ruler? 揃oth, I guess. I抦 afraid they won抰 accept me. 揟hey will, if you can wear that crown your father left here. The rest is up to you. 揑s that how it was for you? 揧es, I suppose so.He put his arm over her shoulders and guided her over to sit on the soft rug. 揃ut I didn抰 know what I was doing when I became leader here. I was very young, like you, when my
mother died and left the homeland to me. Kailyn stared, wide-eyed. 揌ow did you learn? 揃y reading, asking questions, watching. I found out what had gone before, what was good, or bad. A good ruler does only what is necessary, with a light touch whenever possible. 揃ut how will I know what my people want? Shirn laughed. 揙h, you抣l know. They抣l tell you. The trick is to know the difference between what they say they want and what they really want. 揟each me,she begged.
揘o, Kailyn. If you learn it, you learn it yourself. No one can teach you. 揑 don抰 understand how I can devote my life to declaring that I抦 leader of Shad. 揧ou don抰. Your people will declare it, once, by word梩hen it抯 up to you to prove it, continuously, by virtue and deed. Kailyn gave the old man a hug and left the cavern.

McCoy was busy flung up his sleeping mat when Kailyn found him in a smaller side chamber, off the main grotto. It didn抰 take a lot of arm-twisting to convince him to go outside for a walk.
The night air was crisp but here in the sheltered valley there was no sharp wind, and it felt almost warm. Kailyn slipped her hand inside McCoys and they strolled along the cobblestone road that led to the ascending stone stairs. She confessed her fears to McCoy and told of the chats with Spock and Shirn.
揇id they help you? 揑n some ways, yes梐nd in some ways, no. 揥ell, that sounds conclusive. She lowered her head and gave a short, rueful laugh. 揙h, Doctor I抦 so confused. 揌ey, we know each other well enough for you to call me Leonard. That made her smile, and she snuggled closer as they passed a low stone wall overlooking the starlit pastures.
揟ell me what you think,she said.
揂bout what? 揕eadership. McCoy snorted. 揥hat I know about leadership you can fit on the head of a very small pin. I抦 one of the world抯 most religious followers. Somebody tells me what to do, that抯 good enough for me. 揟o quote Leonard McCoy, 慞oppycock!挔 揝pock抯 a leader. 揌e claims he only does what he has to do. Besides, you always question him before you follow his orders. That doesn抰 sound like a passive follower to me. 揥ell, he huffed, 搘ho said anything about being passive. 揑抳e watched, since we came to the Enterprise. The captain and Mr. Spook trust you so much that they always listen to you, even if they didn抰 ask for your advice. You can change their decisions by what you say梱ou can lead the leaders. McCoy gazed up at the black sky and the splash of stars painted across it. 揧ou抮e pretty perceptive, young lady. I guess I do know a thing or two about the subject, but that抯 because I抳e been working for some mighty effective leaders all these years. 揥hat stands out when you think about them? What makes them special? 揢nderstanding and compassion,he answered without a
moment抯 thought. 揟hat抯 what sets Jim apart from some run-of-the-mill order-giver. He doesn抰 tell anyone to do anything he wouldn抰 do himself. He asks a lot, but he also gives a lot. Think you can do that? 揑 I don抰 know. 揥ell, I know梐nd I say you can. There are you any less confused? 揘ot really. Spock talked about delegation and trust, Shirn talked about common sense and listening, and you talk about compassion and understanding.She spread her hands imploringly. 揥hat makes someone a good leader? McCoy held her shoulders gently. 揂ll of them. And there抯 not one of those qualities you don抰 already have plenty of. She hugged him tightly, impulsively, then just as abruptly turned and pulled him along. There was snow on this section of the ancient roadway, and a gentle dusting of flakes began falling, drifting to the ground in lazy, slow-motion dances. They both pulled their fleece parkas tighter around themselves.
揑 was so afraid I抎 feel lost without my father, but I don抰. 揧ou sound surprised. 揑 am,she said, in a voice filled with wonder. 揙h, I miss him more than I抳e ever missed anyone else, and I know I may never see him again in this life. But for the first time, I抳e accepted it. If he抯 died, I know the gods will take care of him, and he抣l be happy with them. And I couldn抰 have done that without you and Mr. Spock. 揝ure, you could have. You don抰 give yourself enough credit, Kailyn. She stopped talking and locked her dark eyes onto his. 揧ou and Mr. Spock are the first men I抳e ever really known, outside of my father and the servants. I didn抰 even know your names a few days
ago, and now I feel so close to you. You were strangers, and now being with you makes me feel secure and cared-for. McCoy felt himself blushing. He quickly took her hand; this time, it was his turn to pull her along.
揟hat抯 good, and it makes me happy梑ut you don抰 know us that well. 揥hy not? 揟here抯 a psychological term梒risis syndrome. That抯 what we抮e going through. They first noticed it back in the twentieth century. People trapped in lifeboats or tunnel collapses or some life-threatening situation梬hile they were in it, they felt like they were best friends, brothers and sisters, intimate lovers. But once it was over, they withdrew into their own protective shells again. It was the danger that made them feel so close, and once it抎 passed, so did those feelings. 揃ut I don抰 want these feelings to pass, Leonard. I I抳e never felt them before. 揂ww, don抰 worry梬e抣l never be strangers to each other again Kailyn leaned on the snowy wall, sniffing, as a tear edged down her cheek. 揃ut I love you.
揧ou抳e been reading quite late, Mr. Spock,said Shirn from the doorway of the scroll room. 揥e need to get an early start in the morn. 揑 shall retire shortly. These records have been so fascinating that I lost track of the hour. Shirn chuckled. 揇r. McCoy said you抎 use that word梖ascinating. I抦 glad you haven抰 found our history dull. 換uite the contrary, sir. Have the doctor and Kailyn already gone to sleep? Shirn frowned. 揑 don抰 know. The herdsman and Spock went to the sleeping chamber梚t was empty, and Shirn抯 frown deepened. 揥here could they be at this hour? 揚erhaps they went outside for a walk. Their parkas are gone and Dr. McCoy is not fond of cave-dwelling. 揑f so, we must get them back inside at once,Shirn said gravely. 揟he night is not safe here. He led the way, and they hurried through the caves.
Chapter Eighteen
The stone-paved roadway had ended, and Kailyn and McCoy continued along a path at the base of a high cliff. The smooth wall of rock rose up to blend with the dark sky梚t was hard to tell where one ended and the other began. Below them, the steep slope fell away to the valley floor hundreds of feet down. They walked side by side, but not touching.
揃ut love ;well, it抯 not something you can feel in twenty minutes梠r even a few days,McCoy said, as soothingly as he could.
揥hat is it, then?she asked, trying not to cry.
揑t抯 it抯 something different to everyone. 揟o you? He cleared his throat梩his was not an easy conversation. 揂 lot of things. Caring about someone more than I care about myself enjoying someone抯 company through thick and thin trusting completely 揑 feel all those things about you. But you tell me I don抰 really love you. 揂ww, Kailyn,he drawled, 揑抦 not the one for you.
揥hy not? 揑抦 just an old country doctor, not a Prince Consort.
But she chose not to listen. Instead, she wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him. It was not an innocent kiss, and to his own
surprise, McCoy returned it. They held each other in a loversembrace, and he kissed her hair.
揔ailyn, I抦 old enough to be your father. 揃ut you抮e not my father,she whispered.
That was true, and despite his protests, he didn抰 feel like her father at the moment. In fact he felt things he didn抰 know were still inside him, things he抎 always believed had died with his marriage. Not merely physical desires梩hey抎 never been hard to conjure up. But the desperate longing in his gut to share emotions with someone, to be close and never part梩hat he抎 forgotten, misplaced. Could he really be in love with this girl?
There was a soft thump from the path a few yards ahead of them. He glanced up and saw a little lump of snow that hadn抰 been there a moment ago. Was someone throwing snowballs, someone抯 idea of a joke? Before he could turn to look around, the silent night was shattered by a screeching roar from above and behind. Fangs and white fur flew at them. McCoy felt pain and hot breath as he fell backward.
Somehow, he抎 managed to push Kailyn with all his strength, out of the way. Giant claws slashed at his throat. No place to go but over the cliff. Then he felt searing heat, heard a high-pitched whine, his head spun and he fought the blackout coming on. Suddenly, the incredible weight on his shoulder was gone, the claws and fangs falling away from him. Hands grabbed him桲ailyn抯 hands梙e held them, felt them give way, felt himself fall back. He slipped, hit his head on the ground. Four more hands, strong ones, grasped him, and Spock and Shirn lifted him from the ledge to safety.

McCoy opened his eyes. His entire body hurt. A wave of diziness washed over him and he felt very nauseous. Spock抯 was the first
face he saw. He moved his tongue over his lips梚t felt heavy and soft and like it belonged to someone else.
揥hich army marched through my mouth, Spock? 揑抦 pleased to see you抳e regained consciousness, Doctor. 揥hat happened? Where am I? 揧ou were attacked by a zanigret. You are back in the caves. McCoy closed his eyes and groaned. 揇id I win? 揧es. With some assistance. Why were you walking outside? Shirn warned us earlier to remain within the caves during darkness. 揑 forgot. Kailyn wanted to Ohmygod, is she okay? 揊ortunately, she escaped injury. I gave her a sedative and put her to sleep. McCoy let out a long breath. 揧ou抎 make a good nurse, Spock. The last thing I remember is a snowball beinthrown at us. 揟he zanigret抯 rather ingenious method of hunting is to distract the attention of its prey by throwing a chunk of snow or rock with its prehensile tail, then to pounce from behind. 揙h. I feel like my back is broken, but of course, if it was, I couldn抰 feel anything. 揟hank you for that lesson in anatomy and physiology.
揇on抰 be sarcastic with an injured man. How bad is it?
揧ou have minor cuts and bruises. 揟hat抯 comforting. Not comfortable, mind you but comforting.He managed to sit up梚t felt no better, but it felt no worse, either. He noticed Kailyn sleeping soundly across the chamber. Spock must have given her a hefty tranquilizer dose.
揝pock,McCoy said slowly, 揔ailyn抯 in love with me.
The Vulcan raised an eyebrow. 揑ndeed? 揇on抰 act so surprised. I happen to be quite lovable.
揑 have never doubted that, Doctor,Spock replied wryly.
揥hat I want to know is, what should I do about it?He rubbed the back of his head, and found a knot the size of his fist梠r so it felt. He winced, then glanced up at Spock, who seemed unwilling to look him in the eye.
揑 am not comfortable discussing such matters, Dr. McCoy. 揑抦 not asking for pearls of romantic wisdom from that cold, calculating Vulcan heart. I抦 just asking for a logical appraisal, based on that computerlike, unemotional way you have of observing emotional behavior. The first officer drew his lips into a thin line, and McCoy began to regret having asked him. He抎 spent years chiding Spock for his inability to feel rather than think, spouting on about how good, old-fashioned emotions were far superior to life governed by logic and equations. At times, he抎 brandished the notion like a blackjack, beating Spock over the head with it, rather crudely; on other occasions, he could turn the belief into a sharp tool, wielding it with fine surgical skill, attempting to whittle and slice through the Vulcan shell to the heart beneath.
All that effort and here I am turning to him for ice-water advice.
But this was different. Not merely a private affair of his own heart. He was letting his feelings get in the way of a vital Star Fleet mission. He could not simply regard Kailyn as a young lady of obvious attraction, though she was. Even Kailyn抯 own wishes had to be submerged for the good of her home planet. You抮e a little old to be a star-crossed lover, McCoy.
Finally, Spock coughed to relieve the silence, though it did nothing to relieve the tension McCoy felt knotting his stomach.
揑 am not an authority on this subject, Dr. McCoy棓
揃ut you抮e the only thing I抳e got, so give me an answer. 揤ery well. From what I understand about such emotional behavior as this, you have a dilemma 揑 already know that. 揑f you do not share Kailyn抯 feelings, the only way to get her to abandon them is to tell her. The longer you wait, the more difficult it will be to do so.He paused for an extra moment of contemplation 揅learing the air, so to speak, might relieve her of the burden of confusion over your mutual feelings, enabling her to devote full concentration to the Crown. 揝o I should tell her 揙n the other hand, she could react irrationally if she knows that her love for you will remain unrequited. That being the case, your telling her might destroy her ability to control the Crown抯 crystals.
McCoy scowled. 揝o I shouldn抰 tell her
Spock scratched his chin. 揂 third possibility just occurred to me. She may be so confused now that her mental concentration has already been impaired to a critical point. 揟hen it wouldn抰 matter what I do,McCoy said, in total despair. 揧ou抮e a big help, Spock. 揑 assume you are being sarcastic. McCoy shook his head, mad at himself. 揑抦 sorry. You tried. I guess I抣l just have to figure this one out for myself.
The next morning dawned bright and clear. McCoy had a restless night of tossing and turning, and he was up with the sun, taking a morning stroll and watching the fine mists burn away from the low-lying pastureland.
In groups of perhaps a score each, the snowsheep were being led out of several yawning caverns and driven down the cobblestones for a day of grazing. Each separate herd was accompanied by four or
five of the mountain folk; men, women, and children all pitched in to help, shouting at the animals, tapping the ground with long crooks and prodding the odd recalcitrant sheep to stay in line and follow its leaders.
For the most part, the snowsheep seemed to be placid creatures of habit, following the same route to the fields that their kind had trod for hundreds of years. The same thought applied to the herders. Sheep and shepherds alike seemed genuinely content梐nd why shouldn抰 they be? thought McCoy. There lives are laid out for them by tradition, there prosperous, well-fed, peaceful; in the entire time he抎 been on Sigma, this was the first place he抎 seen where life was filled not with struggle but with simple pleasures. He thought of staying here himself. If the Enterprise never came back for them, would it be so awful? Shangri-la, he thought again as he watched the herds dwindle in size on their descent from the cave area.
Spock, too, had risen early. He抎 gone back to the cavern where the scrolls were kept to record additional chapters. He would never tire of studying the past, piecing together fact and legend to trace a line to the present as it was.
Kailyn was the last to awaken. She washed up in the warm water that flowed from a steaming spring, and was about to look for McCoy when he came in to find her. She smiled radiantly, but his expression was somber.
揥hat抯 wrong, Leonard? 揙h, nothing. I抦 just a little sore from our big-game hunt last night. Last time I go for a walk with you, Kailyn. 揇on抰 say that,she said, and kissed him on the cheek.
揥ell how are you feelinthis morning, young lady? All ready for the big hike? She shrugged. 揑 guess I抦 frightened. This is what we made the
whole trip for, the reason you and Mr. Spock had to go through all this suffering. 揑t wasn抰 what I would抳e picked for a restful vacation, but we made it, didn抰 we? It wasn抰 so terrible. She closed her eyes. 揥hat if I fail? 揇on抰 even think about that. He held her close, and she rested her cheek on his shoulder. He gritted his teeth; he couldn抰 tell her梑ut he had to. He couldn抰 be a distraction to her, nor a false hope. On this day, she would have to face her future alone, without idealized images of love with him to salve the pain if the Covenant and the Crown eluded her.
It抯 now or never. McCoy did not love her, not the way she wanted him to. Though there was much he wasn抰 certain of, he was sure of that.
揔ailyn, we have to discuss something. She looked up a him, eyes wide as a child抯. 揥hat? 揥e started to get into it last night when that zanigret so rudely interrupted us. She smiled at the preattack memory. 揂s I recall, we weren抰 discussing anything. We were She tried to kiss him, but he pulled back and disengaged the embrace. Kailyn抯 smile died away. 揥hat抯 wrong? He turned his back and began pacing. 揔ailyn, IHe sighed and started again. 揑t can抰 be like that between us. 揃ut I抳e never met anyone like you. 揟hat抯 just it. You抳e hardly had a chance to be out in the world, any world. You抳e got greater things ahead than me.
揑 want you to share them with me. 揑 can抰梐nd I can抰 lead you on thinkinI can
揃ut I love you. 揧ou don抰, Kailyn, and you抣l know that soon. I care about you, very, very much. I抦 so proud of you. You抳e learned so much in the time we抳e been in this thing, I feel like I抦 watching my own daughter grow up梐nd that抯 why I can抰 give you what you want and need. I抦 not the one. A pair of tears rolled down her cheeks, but she ignored them and refused to cry. 揟he time we spent together, the things we did, the things we told each other梩hey didn抰 mean anything, did they?Her voice was quiet, almost empty.
揙h, no they meant a lot, and I wouldn抰 trade them for anything. But it抯 not love, not the marrying kind. It is friendship deep friendship and affection. 揧ou don抰 have to explain, Dr. McCoy. 揧ou can still call me Leonard. 揗aybe I抎 better not. You抮e right about one thing桰 learned a lot. I learned maybe it抯 better not to trust anyone or let them get too close. 揂ww, no, Kailyn. Don抰棓
揑 think you抎 better leave me alone now. He swallowed whatever words were trying to tumble out, along with the urge to give Kailyn a hug. He backed out of the sleeping chamber.
With eyes down, he nearly bumped into Spock in the main grotto.
揑s Kailyn prepared for the journey? 揑 don抰 know. 揇id you have your discussion with her, Doctor? 揧eah. I think maybe I shouldn抰 have. 揝he took it badly? McCoy nodded, and felt very much like finding another zanigret
to stand under. 揌onesty is not always the best policy, Spock especially when you抳e got lousy timing. Chapter Nineteen
Shirn sat on the wall bordering the stone road. Squinting into the morning sunlight, he watched Kailyn come out of the cave. Bundled in a parka that was much too big for her, with her shoulders slumped, she looked tiny and frail.
The old chieftain hoped he抎 helped her in some way the night before, though he wondered if he抎 really had any right to give advice. While he led a conglomeration of perhaps a dozen clans, she was to rule an entire planet. Shirn often thought of himself as a caretaker, placed in charge of a heritage proven over centuries, tested by time and tempered by the winds.
But the young Princess faced quite another situation梩o weave cohesion and order from the tattered threads of a planet ravaged by civil war was something a simple herdsman from the Kinarr valley could only imagine. He wished there were some blueprint he could offer her, a certain path to follow.
There was something about Kailyn that made everyone whom she encountered want to help. Was it the immenseness of the responsibility loaded upon her untested shoulders, or the poignant vulnerability in the way she asked questions and sought to gain strength from those she met? That quality could turn out to be priceless, if it lured others of goodwill to come to her aid. Or, it could be a foreshadowing of disaster if she truly was weak and helpless.
Shirn had chosen two strapping young shepherds from his own clan to guide the expedition up to the hiding place of Stevvin抯 Crown. The two桭rin and Poder梙ad been picked for a particular reason: they were big and strong enough to enforce Shirn抯 ruling that the Crown of Shad be taken only if Kailyn possessed the Power of Times. If she could not clear the crystals, as Shaddan religion demanded, the Crown would stay in its secret place. Frin and Poder would see to that.
With food, blankets, and emergency equipment in their backpacks, they led their Uncle Shirn and the three visitors down the cobblestone road. Ahead lay the trail that twisted over the great mountain, up to where the wind gods kept a watchful and gusty eye on the world below.
Kailyn walked alone in the center of the group, with Spock and Shirn behind her, and McCoy glumly bringing up the rear.
揔eep your head up, Dr. McCoy,said Shirn, 搊r you抣l walk off the side of the mountain. The trail becomes very narrow up higher.
Mostly, they moved on in silence, each lost in private thoughts. Spock found himself wondering what was going through Kailyn抯 mind. Was she concentrating on mental preparations for dealing with the Crown, or was she lost in the emotional reverberations of her unsuccessful bout with love? For her sake, he hoped the Crown was uppermost, but he knew better; he also knew there was nothing he could do about it. It would be a breach of Vulcan propriety to inquire into her present state of mind and offer help unbidden. Still, he felt this nagging impulse to impose aid, whether she wanted it or not. Such action on his part would be clearly unacceptable and he distastefully attributed the impulse to his recent overexposure to McCoy抯 unbridled emotionalism.
Meanwhile, McCoy抯 subconscious continued scolding him. Why
couldn抰 you have kept your big mouth shut for a while longer? Would it have hurt so much? You must be getting old梐nd senile. Either that or the older you get, the stupider you get. Self-flagellation couldn抰 actually accomplish anything梩he damage could not be undone, not in time to help at all. But making himself feel as badly as possible also made him feel just a bit better.
Kailyn herself was a mass of confusion. Fear, bitterness, and rage struggled for preeminence. She was angry at herself for misjudging McCoy抯 interest in her, and for putting him in such an awkward position. She was furious at him for not loving her, and was torn between a desire for revenge and the awareness that it was a purely childish reaction. She wanted to show how adult she could be, how willing to forgive and forget梑ut she also wanted to hurt the person who had hurt her or who had caused her to hurt herselfor who had let her hurt herself. She wasn抰 sure which
Fleetingly, she thought of whirling in her tracks, and pushing McCoy over the trail抯 edge梩hen throwing herself over after him. How melodramatic.
In truth, she didn抰 know what she wanted梕xcept peace in her heart and she had no idea how to find it. Maybe it would come with the Crown.
The Crown. She had seen it, as a very small child, on just a few ceremonial occasions. She tried to recall what it looked like, its shape and size, how it felt in her hands, but she couldn抰. All she had were pieces of images, glimpses of a thing of wonder through the eyes of the child she抎 been.
What would the Power of Times be like, if she had it? Was it something she抎 be able to feel, physically; would it be pleasant, or frightening? Sunlight could soothe or burn; wind could come as a breeze or a gale. Would the Power be double-edged, like those
forces of nature? Or would it come forth only before the mind抯 eye? Would it change her?
Please, let it change me, she wished fervently. Let it make me all the things I抦 not: strong wise worldly worthy of being loved.
But at the same time, she was afraid of being changed by something outside herself. Would the Power invade her like a thing from the night, some creature of evil梬as that how the Power worked? Was it a force she would have to battle, and if she won, would she then be accepted as heir to the Covenant? If that was the way, what if she lost? She would not be able to rule and what would be left of her, of Kailyn?
No the Power must be a force of goodness and light. It suddenly struck her that in all their years together, all the hours and days spent learning what her father had to teach, he had never given her a clear picture of this Power of Times. Why hadn抰 he? All at once, she felt betrayed. How could Father have failed me like that?
She answered herself梙e wouldn抰 have. If he had been able to show her, in words, what the Power was like, he would have done it. Even after a lifetime with this odd thing, this Power, as a part of you, you still can抰 describe it to someone else?
She sighed aloud梚f that were true, then how would she ever know, without doubts, that she had it?
Of course the Crown would tell her for now, but what about forever?
It was all so elusive. Like love. She glanced back at McCoy, his face a gray mask of sadness. Kailyn felt a compulsion to tell him it was all right not to love her梑ut it wasn抰 all right. She wanted him to love her梔idn抰 she? Oh, I don抰 know what I want. She groaned softly, then turned bright red when Frin, the taller guide,
looked back sharply to see if she was in distress. She smiled quickly at him; reassured, he went back to watching the trail.

When the young Kinarri reached a narrowing of the trail with a stone arch across the path, they stopped, and Shirn stepped to the front. He exchanged a few words with his nephews and took the lead himself. They passed through the arch, which Spock stopped to examine briefly as McCoy looked over his shoulder.
揊ascinating. This is not manmade. 揑t looks almost like a doorway. And indeed it was, for the trail, which had risen only gently for the last hour, suddenly turned steeply upward. What had been a hike became a genuine climb, and McCoy grunted as he tried to keep up. Safety ropes had been looped around everyone抯 waist, and Spock helped the doctor in a number of places where finger- and toe-holds were next to nonexistent.
Finally, they reached a flat overlook, and Shirn signaled a halt. Thankfully, McCoy flopped to the ground and doubled himself over, trying to catch his breath.
揊rom here,said Shirn, 揑 must take Kailyn alone.
揥ait a minute,McCoy wheezed. A coughing fit enveloped him, and Spock leaned over to offer a steadying hand.
揥hy are we not able to accompany Kailyn?Spock asked.
揃ecause that is what her father requested. 揃ut we came all this way棓 McCoy began.
Kailyn cut him off. 揟his is our way. My father told me I抎 have you with me until the last moments. It抯 something I have to do on my own.While she spoke, she avoided McCoys eyes.
He watched helplessly as the safety ropes were detached. Kailyn and Shirn remained linked, and they climbed a steep precipice, disappearing
disappearing over the top. McCoy staggered to his feet and Poder placed a powerful hand on his arm. To help me or stop me? McCoy wondered.
Spock came over to relieve the young guide and eased McCoy down on a flat boulder.
揥e just can抰 let her go like that, Spock. 揥e have very little choice. 揘ever mind that she needs our support. It抯 got to be dangerous. Shirn抯 not exactly a spring chicken. What if something happens to him, or to her? I棓
揑 know you are worried, Doctor. I, too, am concerned. Logically, this is not the best method.
McCoy looked searchingly at the Vulcan. Of course, the face revealed nothing; but McCoy believed what he sensed梐 texture in the voice he抎 only rarely heard, a real warmth. He wanted to thank Spock梑ut there was nothing worse than an embarrassed Vulcan, so he kept quiet.

This was no easy trail. Kailyn wondered if humanoid footprints had been made here since the Crown was hidden all those years ago. Her fingers and toes ached from gripping cracks and ledges that seemed too small and weak to hold the weight of a person.
揇on抰 look down,Shirn warned, from above her.
揝hould I look up? 揙nly as far as my feet. I抣l worry about what抯 ahead.
揃ut I棓
Her words were swallowed in a breathless scream as the outcropping under her feet broke away with a sickening crack. Pebbles clattered down the cliff face and Kailyn dangled by the safety rope. The
scream stopped as soon as she gulped a mouthful of cold air, and Shirn calmed her quickly.
揑抳e got you. Don抰 struggle. Be still, Kailyn.
She felt the rope tighten around her middle. It squeezed tight enough to cause pain, but she remained quiet.
揜each up with your hands, child. Don抰 try to pull梛ust steady yourself. Press gently on that sharp rock. That抯 the one. Without extra motion, she did as she was told. The sharp rock was solid.
揂ll right. Now, put your foot in that crevice. The foot obeyed, as if by itself. The left foot followed. The rope made her feel secure now, and a moment later, she leaned close to Shirn at the top of what she now realized was a sheer stone face at the very peak of the mountain. And suddenly, the land around them was nearly flat.
Virgin snow carpeted this eerie white world above the clouds. Harsh sunlight flooded straight down, and it was hard to judge distances. She gave her hand to Shirn, and the old man seemed to walk aimlessly. Tagging along like a lost child, Kailyn glanced all around the alien landscape. The rest of this planet had been rugged and dangerous, but not totally unlike Orand or Shad. But the mountaintop was blank, featureless, as if the creators of this world had run out of things to put here. Perhaps they suspected no one would ever come to a place so high and desolate. Or had it been intentional, a respite from the turmoil of nature抯 children梩he wind and rain, the land, the water, the people and animals all jealously fighting for predominance.
But on this summit, there was no sound, no voice, no fang or spear, no footfall save those of Shirn and herself. There was only light, the purest force, the beginning of Creation
.燗nd Iyan, God among Gods, lit the stars, one by one, the Book of Shad recorded. And when they were lit, Iyan was happy. For now in the light of glory, He could make the places and the creatures that would live among them. 揑 have made the light, given unto the stars. They will burn and die, but in living will create new stars. When one dies, I will light another, and never again will there be darkness unto the Universe.Iyan saw the light and it was good
Light, thought Kailyn, recalling the legend of the holy book
揥e抮e here,said Shirn.
Kailyn blinked, realizing where she was. Before them was a hump of snow-covered rock, with an opening that angled underground.
揂re you ready? Kailyn nodded, and Shirn entered first. She lifted her eyes and gazed at the sun for a last look. Even stars died, but while they lived, they gave life. While Kailyn lived, what would she give to the universe, to her world, her people? It was time to find out.

The tunnel wound into the great mountain. Shirn lit the way with one of the lanterns salvaged from the Galileo.
揑t抯 warm in here,Kailyn said after a few minutes. 揘ot what I expected being inside a mountain like this. 揟his is a volcano梑ut don抰 worry. It hasn抰 erupted in recorded history. Perhaps it will someday. For now, it just produces heat and hot springs. A bead of perspiration coursed down Kailyn抯 brow, and they took their parkas off.
揌ow far have we gone?she asked.
揘ot very. It seems longer because of the darkness.
A moment later, they came to the tunnel抯 end梐 dome-shaped grotto with moisture dripping from the ceiling and a carpet of moss
covering the floor and creeping up the walls. Shirn rested the electro-lantern on a large rock and went directly to a nook in the wall. He withdrew something wrapped in a shimmering metallic cloth and brought it over to Kailyn. She looked at him questioningly.
揙pen it, Kailyn. Mesmerized, she carefully spread the corners of the wrapping and beheld the Crown of Shad.
It was not spectacularly jewel-encrusted or garish. In its simplicity, it was a classic work of art, and would have been even if it were not a sacred Crown. A simple silver headband, still shiny after all these years waiting at the top of the mountain. It had four crests, one on each side, signifying the four directions and the four gods of Shaddan lore. At the base of the front crest, symbolic of Iyan, God among Gods, were the two crystals of the Covenant. Five hundreds years of order, peace, and prosperity had rested on the meaning and belief behind those crystals, as the future did now.
The crystals were multifaceted, and each polished surface was pentagonal. Though they were only an inch or so in diameter, the depth of the foggy interiors seemed great, as if each was a window upon some unnamed elsewhere and otherwhen. Kailyn tipped the Crown and the fog swirled, like the snowy confetti inside a liquid-filled children抯 toy. The fog roiled within the crystals, a smoky mixture of browns and grays.
Kailyn seemed paralyzed, as she stared at the silvery object in her small hands. Everything that had transpired since the departure from Orand raced through her mind, a jumble of events unfolding and meshing together like the shapes in a kaleidoscope. Somehow, the pieces fit, through sweep and drift, to finally lead her to this spot and moment.
揝ay your prayer, and put on the Crown, my child. Kailyn nodded obediently. Then she knelt on the soft green moss and faced梬hich direction? She抎 lost track and she blushed.
揥hich way is south?she asked, for south was where the sun of Shad rose, and the direction of Iyan.
Shirn smiled and turned her to face south. She murmured the prayer her father had taught her many years before, in preparation for this day.
揑 pray for guidance, that I may follow the path of the gods, and of my fathers and mothers, that I may be a true daughter of the Covenant, that I may lead our people always in light and never darkness. Thanks be to Iyan, and my father and mother. Her lips were dry and her throat felt like cotton as she swallowed. Her heart began to pound and her hands trembled ever so slightly as they clutched the Crown at her breast. She wanted Shirn to tell her what to do, but the old herdsman had stepped back into the shadows behind her.
Slowly, she lifted the Crown over her head, her melancholy eyes rising to follow it. Then she lowered it, closer and closer to her hair.

揇ammit, Spock,McCoy railed, 揑 knew we should抳e gone with them. He had long since regained his strength and he paced round and round the overlook. The sun, which had been straight overhead when Kailyn and Shirn left for the last leg of the journey, was on the downhill slide toward its evening horizon. Spock sat impassively on the flat rock, while Frin and Poder alternately chatted quietly to each other and stared in boredom out over the adjacent mountains.
揇octor, we had no choice in the matter. Meanwhile, you have been walking so continuously up here that you will be too exhausted to make the descent. 揙h I抣l make it all right. This is just training. God knows I抳e gotten more exercise on this trip than I抳e had in the last twenty years of my life. But that抯 not going to get my mind off how mad I am. If I hadn抰 been at death抯 door when Shirn took her away, I抎 have fought those young bucks myself if I had to棓
Spock abruptly swiveled and looked past McCoy, but the doctor was too busy to notice. He continued berating himself, Shirn, Spock, and the young guides for the whole situation.
揇octorsaid the first officer emphatically.
McCoy finally looked at the Vulcan, then spun around to see Kailyn and Shirn climbing back down the last rocks. He rushed over to greet them, to hug Kailyn梑ut he stopped short and his ear-to-ear grin faded when the Crown Princess reached bottom. Her face was blank, her eyes red-rimmed. He hadn抰 seen her like that since her father抯 medical crisis back aboard the Enterprise. Not even his rejection of her love had drained her so thoroughly. He felt chilled, far more than the weather warranted.
揥hat happened? Kailyn looked up at him. New tears filled her eyes. 揑 failed.She threw herself against McCoy and cried into the soft fur of his parka.
The doctor kept his face close alongside hers. He didn抰 want anyone to see that he was crying, too.
Chapter Twenty
Spock and Shirn huddled at the edge of the overlook, and it was clear that the old chieftain was deeply distraught; but at the same time, he was adamant梩he Crown of Shad would not be going down the mountain with them.
揑 am sorrier than you can ever know, Mr. Spock. I wanted her to succeed, as if she were my own child. But the Power seems beyond her. 揝eems? 揝he was able to clear the crystals slightly, but not completely. I gave her three chances梩hat抯 why we were gone so long. I tried to calm her, allay her fears as best I could 揑 am sure you did, but her failure does not then appear to be a conclusive one. 揟here is no room for degree in this,Shirn stated sadly. 揑 swore to King Stevvin eighteen years ago that I would uphold his law.
The trip back down to the herdersplateau was much easier than the ascent, and it was made in a hurry before night could settle and bring out the prowling zanigrets. But it seemed twice as long to McCoy, in his funereal mood. He抎 wanted to walk with Kailyn, but she抎 asked to be left alone, an outcast梥o he followed a few steps behind.
Once they reached the caves, he overruled her protests and ordered her to rest梬ith a sedative to back him up. He and Spock left her in seclusion and repaired to the scroll room.
揑t was all my fault,McCoy said, is face buried in his hands. He sat crumpled on a corner rug, all elbows and knees, like a broken marionette haphazardly discarded by an uncaring puppeteer. 揑抦 the worst thing that ever happened to that girl, Spock. I should be courtmartialed for interfering with the mission. 揇octor, you are being unnecessarily punitive in your self-appraisal. 揇ammit, call a spade a spade,McCoy said harshly. 揑 was sent along to help, to care for Kailyn抯 choriocytosis棓
揥hich you did admirably. Or have you forgotten that you saved her life once. 揝aved it for what? So I could mess up her psyche so much that she couldn抰 handle the test of the Crown? 揥e have no proof that she would have been able to perform any more effectively in any case. We all expressed doubts about her maturity and motivation when we first met her and evaluated her. 揃ut I thought she抎 gotten over all that. 揚erhaps it was only wishful thinking. You humans are prone to it,Spock said gently.
But McCoy was too deep in his own misery to even muster a smile. All he could do was shake his head. 揑抦 supposed to be a psychiatric specialist. I saw what was coming, and I didn抰 do anything to stop it. I was warned. Christine saw it, Jim saw it, even you did梐nd I yelled at everybody to stay the hell out of my life, that I was a big boy and could take care of myself. 揟he mind is not an exact device. It is susceptible to errors in action and perception棓
揂nd I made every error in the book.He closed his eyes. 揂ll because I was feelinso damn sorry for myself, because I felt old. Well, everyone gets old. Why am I so pigheaded that I can抰 deal with it? 揔ailyn was not in love with you because you felt, as you phrase it, old梥he loved you because of what she saw in you. 揧eah梐 damned fool. 揘o a caring individual who took a deep interest in her, far beyond the needs of a military mission. 揂nd look at the price she paid because of me. 揇id she not also gain things of great value? 揕ike what? 揟he respect and affection of people who she had never before met the ability to overcome great obstacles in striving toward a goal棓
揇on抰 you understand?McCoy cried. 揝he didn抰 reach that goal, all because of me. I destroyed not only a young girl抯 life, but the future of a whole planet. Shad is doomed to more civil war because I had to satisfy my own stupid vanity. If that doesn抰 deserve a court-martial, I don抰 know what does. I want you to report that. Spock fixed McCoy with piercing eyes, forcing the surgeon to look at him. 揝tar Fleet employs living beings, flesh-and-blood creatures with棓
揂ll the weaknesses that flesh is heir to,McCoy quoted bitterly.
揧es. Command expects the best possible performance from its officers梟o more, no less. As far as my report is concerned, Doctor, that is what you contributed to this mission. 揟hen if this is the best I can do, I don抰 even deserve to be a doctor. Spock was beginning to understand the human emotion of exasperation. McCoy was so bent on picturing himself as a despicable worm, there seemed no way to fish him from his pool of self-pity.
揑 had not decided whether to inform you of this, but since you seem determined to belittle yourself far out of proportion to your棓
揑nform me of what? 揥hat Shirn told me on the mountaintop. Finally, McCoy抯 attention turned away from his self-directed character assassination.
揥hat are you talking about, Spock? 揥hen Kailyn put the crown on, she did manage to clear the crystals slightly.
揝he deserves that Crown,McCoy hissed.
Shirn sat on the steps of the main altar, trying to remain calm and steady.
揝he did not do what she had to do. Why should she be rewarded for that? 揃ecause this is not a normal situation! She抯 not succeeding to the throne in an orderly way like her father did and the Kings and Queens before him. 揑 know that, Dr. McCoy棓
揟hen why won抰 you take into consideration? 揃ecause I can抰. This matter isn抰 up to me. 揑t is now. If you let her take the Crown, no one would ever know what happened up on that mountain. 揕isten to yourself,Shirn thundered. 揕isten to the foolish thing you抳e said. No one would know? She would know. What if I let her take the Crown and she went back to Shad? What if they asked
her to demonstrate that she has the Power梬hen she doesn抰? Even worse, what if she became Queen and had neither the wisdom nor maturity to lead, nor whatever mystical aid the Power can offer? Think about these thing before you ask me to break an oath to Kailyn抯 father, an oath I swore on this very altar, before his gods and mine. The Kinarri chieftain was seething, and McCoy knew he had pushed him too far梑ut it was also too far to apologize. Not now. He turned and left the main cave as quickly as he could, the clicking of his boots on the rocky floor the only sound. It echoed off the ceiling and walls and lingered after McCoy was gone.

The hours crawled by. It would be another day before the Enterprise might梞ight梤each Sigma 1212. Meanwhile, another sleepless night lay ahead. That McCoy could not face. For now, he seemed to be running out of refuge. Kailyn was still sleeping in the smaller chamber, and Shirn was not likely to desire his company after their confrontation at the altar. Frankly, McCoy didn抰 want his own company. The only companion he hadn抰 alienated條ately梬as Spock.
The Vulcan glanced up from the scroll he抎 been taping on his tricorder. McCoy sidled into the room, feeling like a supposedly beneficial insect梩he kind no one really wants around but no one wants to swat either.
揗ind if I join you, Spock? With a nod from the first officer, he sat on the rug and glanced at the roll of parchment.
揥hat抯 that you抮e reading? 揘othing you would find of interest. Simple agricultural records. Besides, I assume you did not come in here to engage in research.
A half-dozen snappy comebacks suggested themselves, but
McCoy couldn抰 even mount a halfhearted effort to fire them off. 揧ou抮e right,he sighed.
揘o other remarks? 揘ope. You seem to be the last person on Sigma who抣l stay in the same room with me, so I抎 better not press my luck. 揑s there anything I can do to help? 揗e? No. But you can help Kailyn. I know she needs somebody to talk to, but I think I eliminated myself from contention. Would you Spock was already on his feet. 揙f course, Doctor. I doubt I could ever replace you as a father confessor, but I shall do my best.
揟hanks, Spock.For everything.
But Kailyn was not in the sleeping chamber. Without a word to alarm anyone else, Spock quietly left the caves and ventured outside phaser in hand and a cautious eye roving in search of trouble.
Fortunately, Kailyn was easy to find, standing at the wall overlooking the dark valley pastures. She neither started nor turned when she heard Spock抯 voice behind her.
揥hy are you outside of the caves? You know of the dangers out here. 揟hat抯 why I抦 here,she said flatly. 揑 want to die.
Spock stood beside her. They were away from the cliffs and relatively safe from any animal attacks. Since she appeared more willing to talk under the screen of nighttime darkness than within the confines of the cavern, he made no attempt to get her to go back in. 揇o you really want that?
She kept her eyes focused on some distant star. 揥hat do I have to live for? 揥hy do you wish to forfeit your life at such a young age? 揃ecause, at such a young age, I抳e failed at everything of importance
importance, and disappointed everyone who抯 ever cared about me or meant anything to me. 揘o one has handed down such harsh judgment upon you, Kailyn. 揘o one has to. I may be a child, but I抦 aware enough to know that I let you and Dr. McCoy down, and Shirn, too. And I抳e destroyed the dreams my father had for our planet and finally, that means a whole world will suffer because of me. 揙dd. Dr. McCoy lays claim to many of the same failures as you. At that, she turned, mortified. 揌e does? Why? 揌e believes he is to blame for your self-described failure today. It抯 my own fault. 揌as it occurred to you that no one is at fault? Kailyn stared at him, her whole face a question. 揌ow could it be nobody抯 fault? 揘o one sabotaged your effort today梟ot Dr. McCoy, nor yourself. The same events might have transpired regardless of the circumstances. You haven抰 let anyone down梕xcept perhaps yourself. She lowered her eyes, but said nothing.
揑 assume I still have your attention? She nodded, her face still turned down.
揋ood. Please understand梩his is not a lecture. I have no intention of telling you what to do. But there are certain important factors you should consider and I shall endeavor to point them out. First, you were given a task梐n immense task for one so young梬ith very little preparation. 揃ut it had to be that way, Mr. Spock. 揑 am aware of that, and I am glad you accept that no one was to blame for that unfortunate situation. Spock paused, and his voice softened, losing its pedantic edge. 揗ost serious of all, you were forced to face something very complex and mysterious in a new, intensive way. 揥hat? 揧ourself.He steeled himself for a task he preferred to avoid梥elf-revelation. 揑 understand, better than you can imagine. When I was a boy on Vulcan, I led a childhood very different from most children, as you did. 揥hy? He was encouraged that she was looking at him now, and asking questions. 揃ecause I am half-human梞y mother was from Earth. Though I appear outwardly to be a full-blooded Vulcan, my emotional development was a process of extreme conflict. All Vulcan boys must face the kahs-wan, a test of physical stamina and wits that marks the passing from childhood to maturity. For me, the kahs-wan ordeal was even more important梚t was the time when I had to choose between human and Vulcan life paths. Do you know how different they are? 揧es. But why are you telling me this? 揧ou and I talked about handicaps last night. Whether I chose to live as an Earth human or as a Vulcan, my hybrid heritage would present me with a handicap of sorts. My mother once told me how much pain it caused her to know that I would never be fully at home on Earth or Vulcan.
揑s that why you became a Star Fleet officer? 揑 suppose it is a major reason. 揑t抯 strange that on a planet where logic is so important, the fact that you were half-human would be a stigma. 揤ulcans do not claim to be infallibly logical. Unfortunately, we
do maintain some residual emotional responses. I was a victim of one梐 remnant of bigotry. 揃ut what made it a handicap? 揗y obviously Vulcan appearance would have set me apart on Earth, and my human blood causes urges and impulses that are a constant irritant to a Vulcan. When I allow a human characteristic to come to the fore and be publicly displayed, I may feel that I have failed in my effort to be a Vulcan. 揃ut you抮e not a machine. You抮e bound to have lapses. Nobody抯 perfectHer voice trailed off, and she took a deep breath.
揟hat was a very mature observation, Kailyn. I had to realize very early in my life that one often fails to measure up to one抯 own ideals. Once I reached that understanding, I found relative peace. 揟hen what抯 the point of having goals if you don抰 reach them? 揘ot reaching a goal on a given day does not preclude reaching it tomorrow, or next year. 揃ut if I don抰 have the Power today, I I抣l never have it,she said in a trembling voice.
揟hat may be true, but you still have a whole life to live. One failure does not mean all is lost. Let it be motivation to improve, to deliver optimum performance in your next undertaking, whatever it may be梟ot to give up and quit trying. Her lower lip quivered and she looked up at him. 揑s it all right to hug a Vulcan? He nodded formally, and very carefully she put her arms around his shoulders, barely squeezing. He was amused by her caution, as if she were afraid of violating some taboo. After a few moments, he could feel her rapid heartbeat slow down a little. He took her small, cold hand in his own, and they returned to the cave.
McCoy slept because he was exhausted. Spock slept because his bio-feedback told him he needed this night of rest to maintain a peak of efficiency. Kailyn did not sleep.
It was just an old parental reflex, rekindled since Kailyn had been with them. In the middle of the night, McCoy rolled over for a one-eyed bed-check, saw Spock sleeping noiselessly梐nd Kailyn抯 mat empty.
He sat up like a shot, stumbled out of the bedroll, and shook Spock, who was alert and fully awake in a second. It was clear almost immediately that Kailyn had not simply wandered to another chamber. Her parka was nowhere to be found. The supply pouch was taken, along with a phaser, a vial of holulin, and a hypo.
揝he went back up the mountain, Spock梐nd we抳e got to go after her. 揑 wonder how long ago she departed? 揂t most two hours梩hat was the last time I woke up and she was still in bed. Come on. McCoy couldn抰 get his parka on fast enough. He knew she抎 gone back to confront the Crown梐nd herself梠ne more time. He also knew she抎 had enough of a head star that by the time they caught up, she could already have succeeded梠r died.
Chapter Twenty-one
Kailyn kept the beam from the elctro-lantern sweeping along the trail and up the overhanging cliffs, hoping the light would give pause to any beast contemplating attack. The lower portion of the climb presented little difficulty, but as the altitude increased so did the winds. She pulled her hood tight around her face; that, and the blowing snow, made visibility next to nothing.
She thought of turning back. She knew she was risking her life, that she might never reach the cave at the top of the mountain. But try as she might, she couldn抰 accept life without this wild stab at fulfilling a destiny woven so deeply into her soul. She knew that everything Spock had said to her was true and right, but it all paled next to the Crown and the Covenant. She was born to tread that one road out of all the infinite routes possible through time and space. So many had sacrificed pieces of themselves, put their lives on the line so she could find that road梥he was the focal point, and the light of five hundred years of succession blinded her to any alternatives. For Kailyn, there was only one choice.
And now, there was also a growing sense of unease, a tightness in her gut. At first she dismissed it as a fear of the mind, a demon of doubt playing tricks on her. But then the weakness, the tingling, spread. The demon was real all right, and his icy touch stole down her legs and arms.
Kailyn stumbled, catching herself on the edge of the trail, one foot dangling over the side. She tried to remember what McCoy had taught her about choriocytosis, and she matched up the symptoms. Crouching in case she lost her balance again, she wobbled ahead and rolled onto her side under a protective ledge. Her head was spinning, but she saw the chunk of snow fall on the trail a few yards away. Her hand found the phaser pistol and she leaned a few inches forward. The night was shattered by the roar of the zanigret.
She flashed the lantern out, and the beast leaped from above, charging toward her. She squeezed, and the phaser beam hit it square on the chest. The great jaw opened wide, fangs dripping frothy spittle, and it fell flat, as if its legs had been sawed off in an instant. It was dead, no more than fifteen feet away.
Kailyn tried to put the phaser back into her pocket, but it slipped from her hand and buried itself in the snow. She crawled back under the ledge. The white mountain cat seemed to waver as she stared at it梬hat was happening to it?
Nothing it抯 you. She held her hand up before her face and saw five fingers multiplying first to ten, then fifteen, then more than she could count. They seemed part of someone else抯 hand, distant and cold. She commanded them to clench, and after an alarming delay, they obeyed, folding into a loose grouping without strength.
Pass out soon freeze to death another zanigret comes along to eat. Got a few minutes left, then good-bye, Kailyn. Need a shot
The voice echoing unevenly in her skull had to be her own, though she fancied it coming from the dead animal glaring at her with eyes wide and fangs outstretched. Was she talking inside her head or outside? Can抰 tell.
Can抰 do it, can抰 do it, the voice chanted mockingly. Can抰 give
the shot afraid to. Can抰 do what you never did before. Can抰, can抰, can抰.
She shook her head violently, trying to bounce the voice loose from the spot where it had dug its unyielding claws into her brain. But the voice only sang more insistently. She stopped listening. Hands fumbled with the pouch, found the medikit. Her hands? Who else抯? Hypo held up before her eyes. Three hypos before her eyes. One of them must be real, she thought with a fatalistic shrug.
The hands unbuttoned the parka, then slid aside the clothing underneath. Bare skin, mottled red as soon as the cold hit it. Goose bumps. The hands chose a spot beside her navel and pressed the air-jet tip of the hypo against it.
Can抰 do it, the voice jabbered.
揅an do it,Kailyn muttered. With great effort, she pushed the plunger and the device hissed its preset load of holulin into her muscle tissue.
A fainting sensation was replaced by a calming. The whirlwind inside her head receded as the drug did its work. And she let out a long, long breath梠ne it seemed she抎 been holding all her life. A wave of relief washed over her and she felt free and powerful. The hands clutching the hypo once again belonged to her, and Was this an after effect of the drug? She didn抰 care梐ll that mattered was the strength she felt newly flowing from within. Eagerly, she gathered herself together and stepped out onto the trail again.
The only witness was the dead zanigret, and it watched with unblinking eyes as she went. Fifteen feet from its head, the forgotten phaser pistol lay in the snow.
揇octor, stop and rest,Spock shouted over the howl of the wind.
揘o time,McCoy called back. His foot hit an icy patch and he sprawled backward.
Spock抯 strong grip lifted him quickly. 揇octor棓 he began in a warning tone.
McCoy shook his head. 揑抦 all right梑ut she may not be.He peered ahead into the snow pirouetting through the lantern beam. 揥hat抯 up ahead? Warily, they approached a dark mound blocking the path. Spock flashed the light over it梐 pile of loose snow glimmered back. 揑t would seem to be a small avalanche. He moved the light up to where the slide had begun; it was a smooth line from the cliff above down over the precipice. Spock flipped open the tricorder slung over his shoulder.
揥hat are you doing? 揅hecking for a body,Spock answered grimly.
McCoy held his breath until Spock closed the scanner. 揂nything? 揘egative. I had not realized these rock and snow formations were so unstable. 揗aybe the wind did it. 揥hatever the cause, we must proceed with extreme caution. They picked their way through the blockage and moved ahead. Up the trail, McCoy stepped on something soft underneath the falling and blowing snow. His heart skipped a beat and he stumbled back; Spock caught him.
揟here抯 something buried there,he said through ashen lips. He leaned back against the inner wall as Spock knelt to brush away the snow from whatever was lying under it.
The back leg with its vicious talons was all they needed to see, but McCoy抯 sigh of relief was far from complete梩he zanigret carcass only compounded his sense of foreboding as he sidestepped around the beast, then backed away from it. A few yards ahead, he
kicked something small and hard, and inhaled suddenly.
揥hat now, Doctor? McCoy bent down and sifted the snow with his foot. He picked up the phaser and handed it to Spock.
揥ell,said the Vulcan, 搘e know she made it this far. This phaser was likely the cause of the zanigret抯 death. 揟hank the lord for that, but why did she leave it behind? 揑 don抰 know. Do you think she would have needed a shot by now? 揚robably. 揥hat if she did not take it? 揑 don抰 even want to think about that. But he did think about it梐nd the awful ways Kailyn might already have died.

The lantern light flooded the steamy grotto. Kailyn lay back on the moss-covered ground, the parka folded under her head as a pillow. Through closed eyelids, the bright lantern looked like sunlight. The warmth of the air, the sweet smell of the moss, the sounds of trickling water nearby梚t all seemed like a summertime dream as she relaxed.
But this was no summer idyll; she was at the top of an arctic volcano, for one purpose. Slowly, she rolled onto her knees, then stood. The Crown was back in its niche, carefully swathed again in the woven metallic cloth. She set it on her parka and unwrapped it. Somehow, it seemed less imposing this time, as if the shine had dulled. She thought of it as a living thing that had put on its best face before, but was not prepared for such a late-night visitor to rouse it from rest.
She straightened up and held the Crown out in front of her. The
prayer she murmured it quickly, then held her breath. Facing a glassy pool of water as a mirror, she placed the Crown abruptly on her head. She closed her eyes and concentrated.
The crystals ceased their inner turmoil. Kailyn bent closer to the water and looked梩hey were clearing. They抎 been dark and murky as a fogbound dawn; now, they turned frosty, a steely blue-gray replacing the muddied mist within. Kailyn swayed and sank to her knees; the Crown toppled to the ground. Tears ran down her cheeks as she saw that the crystals had reverted.
Her whole body slumped and she began to cry with deep, heaving sobs. Motivation to improve, said a voice, ringing in her ears. Spock抯 voice. She sat back on her heels and throttled the next sob as it tried to escape her throat. She reached for the Crown, and placed it on her head again. She thought about Spock and McCoy, and the tenacity they抎 displayed time and again since the Galileo had left the Enterprise梙ow many times she herself would have given up had the choice been hers. And her father, waiting patiently all those years for the tide of fortune to pick them up and sweep them back to Shad and peace. Shirn, and Captain Kirk, steadfast in their duties. Not a single image of the Crown intruded.
A rush of light-headedness hit her. Her breasts rose and fell as she panted for air. Another shot, another shot, the shrewish voice taunted again.
She tried to turn and lurch toward the medikit across the grotto. Her legs melted beneath her and she pitched over on her side. The Crown rolled off and she reached for it, dragging it before her eyes.
The crystals were clear. The dark haze had given way to a pearly azure and she could see through them. She sat up and gazed in wonder around the cave, at the moss and rock. Everything looked sky-blue through the crystalline lenses. Magically, her breathing
became strong and regular. Her heart soared and she cried out triumphantly. She had won.

*牋*牋*

Orange and pink streaked the indigo sky as the first glimmerings of dawn tinted the Kinarr mountain range. Spock and McCoy hauled themselves up over the last ridge and stood wearily at the top of the world. The wind puffed occasionally, and footprints were still visible under the fresh cover of morning snow.
Following the tracks, they found the opening into the mountain. From light back into darkness, the beam led the way, McCoy prayed they抎 find Kailyn sleeping inside, but didn抰 expect to.
揙h, my god,he breathed when they entered the dead-end grotto. Kailyn lay motionless on the ground, curled up on her parka. McCoy stepped over and knelt uncertainly.
揔ailyn?he whispered.
She turned over, rubbed the sleep from her eyes, and smiled. Then she took the Crown from its cover and ceremoniously set it upon her head. The crystals sparkled clear and blue.
Wordlessly, McCoy hugged her harder than he抎 ever hugged anyone in his life.
揧our father would be proud,said Spock.
Kailyn抯 dewy eyes beckoned him, and at last he was drawn into the embrace.
Chapter Twenty-two
Shirn paced along the cobblestones beneath a cloud-powdered midmorning sky, his feet tracing the groove worn by years of sheep hooves walking to and from the pastures. A shout from a lookout came down the stone steps, and the old herdsman peered up, shading his eyes against the reflections off the snow. He could discern three people walking slowly down and he came to meet them at the bottom.
揑 should have you flogged,he snorted, 揵ut your faces tell me I would be flogging the next Queen of Shad if I did. Kailyn skipped off the last step and threw her arms around Shirn. The careful climb from the mountaintop had done nothing to quench her euphoria.
揧ou did a foolish thing going back there yourself,he said reproachfully.
揃ut is not the nature of leadership to occasionally do things others consider foolhardy?said Spock.
With a wry smile, Shirn had to nod. 揧es, yes, I suppose so. You must all be tired. You didn抰 get much sleep last night. Come inside and rest. When you抳e caught up梬e抣l tire you out all over again with a celebration all night tonight.
He spread his arms and led them toward the caves.
揟wo feasts in short order!cried Shirn, his voice reverberating through the packed eating hall. He hoisted a silvery goblet and everyone did the same. 揥hat a pleasure! Drink, my friends and kin! Glasses and cups tipped bottoms up, and trays of freshly prepared food were brought in, dwarfing even the religious celebration of just a couple of nights before.
揧ou folks sure know how to throw a party,McCoy chuckled, digging in heartily. 揑抣l miss this when we抮e back on that dull starship.He sighed. 揝pock, do you think the Enterprise抣l find us up here?
揗ost likely. 揟oo bad 揇octor, I have every expectation that by this time tomorrow, we shall be well on our way to Shad. 揂nd then you抣l finally be rid of me,said Kailyn. 揘o more babysitting. McCoy grinned like a farmboy playing hooky. 揧ou don抰 need a babysitter, young lady. You抳e proven that. 揥eren抰 you afraid when the zanigret attacked?asked Shirn seriously.
揑f I hadn抰 been on the verge of a fainting spell I, would have been. It抯 lucky I wasn抰 thinking very straight. 揧eah.McCoy drawled, 揵ut if that cat had jumped you two minutes later, you wouldn抰 have been able to shoot straight. 揑 don抰 think I did shoot straight. How else could I have hit it? 揕ook at this梐t her age, and she抯 already telling tall stories,McCoy said with a laugh.
Echoes of shouting intruded from the main cavern, and Shirn抯 ears perked up. A moment later, Frin, the young mountain guide, rushed in with a fearful female companion clinging to his hand. He
squatted next to the old chieftain and whispered in his ear.
揢ncle, you抎 better come out. 揥hat抯 going on? 慣raders from the lowlands have arrived棓
揝o deal with them棓
揃ut they have a slave to trade, Uncle. 揥e don抰 need slaves. We棓
揝he抯 making much noise. They refuse to take her back with them. If we don抰 trade for her, they threaten to slash her throat right here. Shirn made a disgusted face and Frin helped him to his feet. 揈xcuse me, my friends. These lowland tribesmen have a way of arriving at just the wrong time to sell us just the wrong thing. Enjoy yourselves and I抣l return as soon as I send them on their way, or at least shut them up for the night. As Shirn and Frin left the dining cave, Spock got up to follow. McCoy grabbed his wrist. 揥here are you going? 揟o satisfy my curiosity. McCoy shrugged, and he and Kailyn wandered after Spock. Out in the large central chamber, the chaotic shouting partly resolved into a growling alien tongue that made McCoy shiver. He gripped Spock抯 shoulder.
揟hey抮e the ones who captured us.He drew back into the shadows and tried to pull Spock and Kailyn with him, but the Vulcan pressed forward. Several Kinarri were on the fringes of the free-for-all, trying to make peace. And in the center, a hoarse female voice roared over all of them.
揧ou filthy swine! You抣l pay for this brutality! You animals putrid scum! As Spock ventured closer, he could only see that she was kicking
and biting anyone who tried to subdue her.
揗y people will come back and burn you to the ground, all of you! We抣l torture every last one梱ou抣l dread the day you were born! You can抰 treat a Klingon this way! 揂 Klingon?exclaimed McCoy.
揊ascinating. At last, four of the huge hunters, with the help of several Kinarri hands, caught Kera抯 feet in a rope. They trussed her like a wild boar and threw her to the ground, knocking the wind out of her and forcing her into momentary silence. The old hunter with the wild silver hair stood over her, shaking his head in a mixture of anger and rueful cynicism. It appeared his luck with live merchandise had gotten no better.
A crowd had begun to gather as people poked out of the feast to see what the commotion was. Spock found Shirn off to one side. The chieftain was not happy.
揥hy do they bring things like this to our domain?he lamented. 揥e抳e told them time and time again we have no use for棓
揚urchase this slave,said Spock quietly.
Shirn did a double-take. 揥hy? 揝he can be of use to us. 揂s a slave?Shirn抯 countenance revealed his astonishment.
揘o. As a source of information. She is a Klingon, and undoubtedly part of a larger force sent to sabotage our mission, perhaps to kill us and Kailyn and steal the Crown. 揂s you wish, Mr. Spock. Shirn waded back into the crowd to authorize the trade, and Spock, McCoy, and Kailyn slipped back to the feast, avoiding the silver-haired hunter.
揋ood,said McCoy. 揑抎 hate to see a custody fight over us.
For the first time in days, the silver-haired hunter was happy. Not only had he gotten rid of that shrieking, wild-animal female, but he抎 finally gotten his shiny-tipped spear. He could hunt better for simple animal animals now, and he hoped bad fortune would follow another hunter for some time, keeping slaves as far away from him as the sun was from the moons.

揧our suspicions were right,Shirn said as he took his place on the dinner rug again.
揟he hunters were willing to talk to you? asked Spock.
揙h, yes, yes. The leader was so happy to get a steel-pointed spear, he would抳e gladly stayed and talked all night. But their language makes my brain hurt. 揧ou deal with these people often?said McCoy.
揟hey come up now and again, to trade furs and roots and wooden handiwork. We don抰 have much wood up here, so the trade is useful. We give them sheep wool and meat, and some modern tools we get from interstellar traders that come by. 揥hat of the Klingon?said Spock. 揌ow did they capture her? 揟hey were out on a morning foray, much like when they found you. She was lost in the forest, dazed. She was so easy to capture, they were all the more shocked when she regained her strength and fought like a cornered zanigret. 揂n apt description. 揝he was so beaten and bruised,said McCoy. 揇id they do that to her? Spock turned an inquiring eyebrow toward him. 揥hy are you
suddenly concerned with the welfare of a Klingon intelligence agent? 揑t抯 just that those hunters didn抰 seem brutal when they had us. 揟hey don抰 usually beat their prisoners,said Shirn. 揟hey said they found her that way, and they found the body of a male of her kind, too, along the river. 揗ust抳e gotten caught in one of those killer storms,McCoy mused.
揂long the river,Spock repeated, frowning.
揑s that significant?asked Shirn.
揟hat抯 where we came down,said McCoy. 揇o you think they found the shuttle wreck? 揑t is probable, since we left the automated emergency beacon on. McCoy squinted quizzically. 揌ow in blazes did they wind up here in the first place? 揟he only logical conclusion is that we were followed almost from the start. 揧ou mean since we left the Enterprise?said Kailyn with a shiver. 揌ow could they? This was a secret mission. 揘ot so secret as we figured,said McCoy. 揥e aren抰 out of the hole yet, are we, Spock? 揑 would assume not. We must consider these possibilities. One, that the Klingons knew about the entire mission somehow, perhaps from an informant close to the King. Two, that this unfortunate Klingon spy team was not operating in a vacuum, that other Klingon support forces must be in the vicinity. Three, that the Enterprise is likely to run into further interference when it approaches this planet. 揂nd four, we can抰 count on Jim finding us here anymore,McCoy said grimly.
揑t is imperative that we remove ourselves from Sigma and attempt to rendezvous with the Enterprise in space. 揃ut how?asked Kailyn. 揥e don抰 have a ship. 揃ut the Klingons might have,said McCoy quickly.
揟hat,said Spock, 搃s our only reasonable opportunity. And if such a ship exists, it would be fairly close to the shuttlecraft. Kailyn tugged at McCoy抯 sleeve. 揃ut what if the Klingons were just dropped here by a large ship? What if they didn抰 land in one? 揟hen we could be in a lot of trouble. 揝hirn,Spock said, 揷an you guide us back to the lowlands to search for this Klingon vessel? 揙f course. We can leave first thing in the morning. But what do I do with this slave, this Klingon wild woman? 揑 would like to question her,Spock offered.
揑 mean after that. I don抰 want her here, and I don抰 want to kill her 揝hip her back to the hunters.McCoy suggested wryly.
Shirn gave him a sour look.
揑 believe the good doctor was joking, though I have never quite understood his sense of humorSpock said. 揑f you can hold her here for now, when and if we meet the Enterprise, we will take her aboard as an espionage prisoner. 揑 liked my idea better,McCoy pouted. 揧ou have no sense of poetic justice, Spock. 揑 suggest we get plenty of rest tonight,Shirn said, clasping his hands and yawning.
揃ut what about the celebration?Kailyn asked, a bit disappointed.
揥hen we get back to Shad,said McCoy, 搕here抣l be more celebrating than you抣l know what to do with. If we get back to Shad, said the ever-worried voice in his head.

Shirn and a party of ten led Spock, McCoy, and Kailyn down to the base slopes of the Kinarr Mountains. It was far easier than their original journey up to the herdersvalley two days earlier, since the natives knew the shortest, least arduous route to the lowlands.
In a way, McCoy hated to go. He paused when they reached the level where Sigma抯 pervasive skirt of clouds swallowed up the sun and all its brightness.
揧択now, I抎 never be able to live on a world where I couldn抰 see the sun,he said wistfully to Shirn.
揚erhaps that抯 why our ancestors climbed the mountains梩hey sensed that holy lands should be golden, not gray. The caravan moved rapidly through the foothills, swinging wide of the valley clans and their hunting grounds. The raging white-water current that had nearly killed Spock now trickled gently within the hollow, wearing its placid prestorm disguise. Spock stopped to consult the maps.
揙ur landing point is about one-half mile in that direction,he said, pointing east.
And so it was. They found the scattered remains of the little shuttlecraft, and McCoy felt a lump in his throat. 揑 don抰 usually get sentimental over machines, but I feel sorry for the poor thing. 揑t reminds me how lucky we are to be alive,said Kailyn.
揟here but for the grace of God go I,McCoy said.
揌ow far can you search with your little box?asked Shirn, pointing to the tricorder.
揝everal miles, depending on what it is we are searching for, Spock said. He activated it, and slowly rotated to cover all directions. As he did, McCoy watched over his shoulder.
揂hh, yes, today must be our lucky day,McCoy finally said with a broad grin.
The first officer was less certain. 揑t would seem to be a vessel. 揥here?said Kailyn.
揙ne mile due north. At Shirn抯 wave, the Kinarri took the lead again. After a while, they reached a humpbacked hill梖rom the crest, they saw the Klingon scout ship, resting in a forest clearing not far from the stream. McCoy shook his head in amazement.
揑 never thought I抎 see the day when I抎 be happy to lay eyes on a Klingon ship. 揥e live in strange times, Doctor,said Spock, walking down the hill.
揥as that a joke, Spock?he called after him. From a Vulcan? Couldn抰 be
The Kinarri were eager to explore the newfound oddity, but Spock advised caution. 揥e do not know definitively that there are no other Klingons awaiting the return of their comrades. Dr. McCoy and I will approach first, with our phasers. I do not want to endanger your people, Shirn. Wait until we signal that the situation is secure. McCoy swallowed nervously, hefting the phase and testing his aim with one eye squinting. 揇on抰 shoot until I see the whites of their eyes? 揝hoot if you see any part of them. On stun. Ready?
The doctor nodded and they gingerly closed on the quiet ship. It was about the size of a shuttlecraft, though with a smaller passenger
compartment. Spock and McCoy crouched behind a low clump of bushes.
揇o we knock?whispered McCoy.
揂 direct though cautious approach seems correct. With that, Spock slid silently alongside the vessel and flattened himself amidships, next to the closed hatch. McCoy did the same and took a mirror position across the hatch. Spock lifted his eyebrows as a signal, then swiftly reached for the door switch and twisted it. There was a vacuum whoosh and the hatch cover retracted. Trigger fingers tensed, they waited.
Then, with a powerful step, Spock vaulted into the scout ship and McCoy followed梑ut there was nothing to be found, except darkness and ghostly quiet.
揌ow very thoughtful of the Klingons,Spock said with obvious satisfaction.
揝hould we check for a parking ticket? 揂 parking ticket 揑t抯 an old Earth joke, Spock. Forget it. 揚lease expand my horizons. McCoy sighed. In all the years he抎 known Spock, he抎 never gotten over a dread of having to explain colloquialisms. 揝ee, back in the old days when everybody had private motor vehicles, they used to park them wherever they could find a space, including places they weren抰 allowed. So棓
揥hy did they manufacture and sell more vehicles than they had room for? 揟he free-market system梥tuff yourself till you choke. 揌ighly illogical. But I still fail to understand your reference to棓
揧ou didn抰 let me finish. The police gave summonses to violators.
They had to pay a fine, or appear in court if they wanted to fight the ticket. When the old Apollo missions went to the moon, they brought these little lunar rover cars with them, and they left them there. When we finally went back to the moon to settle down and build permanent stations, somebody went out and put parking tickets on the rovers. 揥hy? McCoy rolled his eyes. 揃ecause they抎 been parked there for about thirty years. Spock pursed his lips and McCoy wondered why he always went through with these explanations. 揝pock, your a lousy audience. The first officer jumped out and waved to Shirn抯 group on the hilltop.

The Klingon vessel proved to be in good working order, with a considerable amount of fuel left. After a cursory run-through of the control systems, Spock announced that he would have no trouble piloting the ship away from Sigma. The time had come to depart.
揥e really appreciate everything you抳e done to help us,McCoy said to the old herdsman.
Shirn bowed his head. 揑 was only fulfilling a promise made a long time ago to an honorable man. 揑t takes an honorable man to do that,said Spock.
揑抦 just happy for you, Kailyn, that my hasty judgment didn抰 keep you from the Crown. 揧ou were only doing what my father asked of you. For that, I thank you. Shirn looked at each of them. His eyes were wet, and he embraced Kailyn, then McCoy, and finally Spock. 揗ay the winds of Kinarr be at your backs, always. Spock raised his hand in the Vulcan salute. 揕ive long and prosper, Shirn. 揧ou take good care of yourself, y抙ear? said McCoy in a husky voice.
Shirn gazed at the young Princess. 揧ou will lead long and well, Kailyn. 揑 hope I can do as well as youshe said softly.
Spock turned away first and climbed into the Klingon ship. McCoy came up next, and he gave Kailyn a hand. Shirn stepped back as the door hissed shut. He and his people waited until the rocket engines fired, kicking up a plume of flame and dust. The ship lifted slowly and unsteadily at first. Then it accelerated and whisked up over the hills and woodland. When he could no longer see it or its contrail, Shirn turned and headed for the sunny skies of the holy valley of Kinarr.
Chapter Twenty-three
揑抎 make an awful Klingon,McCoy muttered, hunkered down in the uncomfortable scout-ship seat. 揌ow can they torture their people by making them fly in these tiny match boxes? 揚erhaps that accounts for Klingonsfoul humor, Doctor,said Spock.
揥hat if there抯 a Klingon battle cruiser out here somewhere?Kailyn wondered.
揇on抰 ask things like that,McCoy snapped. 揑抎 rather know where the Enterprise is. 揟hat is a valid concern,Spock agreed. 揟he ship should have arrived here almost twenty-four hours ago. 揑s it possible they left without us?Kailyn said in a small voice.
揢nlikely. A better probability is that the captain encountered some difficulty relating to Klingon interference. We shall achieve orbit outside the planet抯 storm belt, and remain for a period of time. If the Enterprise does come within sensor range, we will be noticed rather quickly. 揂nd what if it doesn抰 get here after a while? said McCoy.
揥hen that time comes, we will evaluate our position logically, in light of whatever data we have available.
揂re we within scanning range of Sigma yet?Kirk asked tightly.
Chekov and Sulu exchanged quick glances, and Kirk noticed. He settled back in the command seat with a wry smile. 揑 know I just asked you that. Forgive me, Mr. Chekov. 揧es, sir. We are almost in range. All scanners on maximum forward sweep. If there抯 anything out there, we抣l pick it up.
揤ery well. At moments like these, Kirk realized just how trustworthy his crew was, without exception. He抎 have to let them do their jobs, and he channeled his nervous energy into tapping on his armrest control panel. As soon as there抯 something to report, they抣l report it.
Chekov tensed in his seat, eyes locked onto his readout screen. Kirk sat forward, at the edge of his chair. 揝omething? 揂 small vessel, sir, at the very limit. Too far off for positive identification. 揤erified, sir,said Sulu. 揗oving in high planet orbit. Kirk swiveled. 揢hura? 揂ll channel open for reception, sir. We抮e hailing on all frequencies. No communication as yet. 揂dditional sensor data, Captain,said Chekov.
揑s it the Galileo? Chekov hesitated just a beat, and Kirk tensed.
揘egative, sir. It抯 a Klingon scout vessel. Everyone on the bridge looked quickly at the main viewscreen. The mystery ship was just a shapeless spot against the backdrop of stars and the gray face of Sigma 1212.
揟hat could explain why they don抰 want to talk to us,Kirk said grimly. 揝ound Yellow Alert. Uhura punched up the intraship channel as the wall beacon started flashing. 揧ellow Alert,said the computer voice over the
speakers. 揧ellow Alert梥tand by for status update. 揝ulu, cut speed for standard orbital entry,said Kirk.
揂nother problem, sir,said Sulu. 揝everal storms in low- and mid-orbit ranges. 揗aximum orbit, then. 揅aptain,Chekov broke in, 搘e have another visitor.He leaned over and switched screen channels. The long, insectlike shape of a Klingon battle cruiser wavered into view.
Chekov抯 fingers danced across his console. 揇eflectors on maximum. Weapons crews standing by, sir. Kirk sat back and stretched his legs. Waiting had made him edgy, but at least now he knew what he抎 been waiting for. The time had arrived for action.
揋o to Red Alert. The claxon sounded and the bridge lights dimmed to a reddish glow. The computer voice sounded shipwide: 揜ed Alert桼ed Alert梐ll hands to battle stations! 揅ontinuing orbital approach, sir,Sulu said.
揗aintain. Chekov, what抯 the Klingon doing? 揟he cruiser is also making orbital approach, Captain. But he抯 aiming for the scout ship. 揥ell, they抮e not going to get away without a damn good explanation. Close on the scout, Sulu. Let抯 beat 抏m to it. 揅aptain KirkUhura said sharply, 搑eceiving a signal from the scout vessel. Channel Four-B. It抯 it抯 Mr. Spock. Kirk broke into a surprised grin and stabbed his comm selector. 揝pock, you抳e got a lot of explaining to do棓
揑ndeed, Captain,came the reply. 揥e are all well. You are almost twenty-four hours late . . . very unlike you, sir. 揙kay, okay. We both have a lot of explaining to do. You know
there抯 a Klingon battle cruiser coming to greet you? 揂ffirmative. 揑 assume he抯 expecting to find Klingons aboard. Will he be disappointed? 揘obody here but us chickens,said a familiar Georgian drawl.
揋ood to hear you, Bones. Stand by for棓
揅aptain,Uhura cut in, 揅ommander Kaidin of the Imperial Cruiser Nightwing is demanding an explanation for our presence. 揟ell him to cool his heels. Spock, we抣l have you out of there in a minute. Scotty, coordinate with the transporter room and beam our people out of there, on the double. Then stand by for maximum warp. 揂ye, sir. 揢hura, put the Klingons on main screen. 揧es, sir. The cruiser Nightwing faded and Kaidin抯 thundercloud visage took its place. 揔irk, get your slimy vessel away from our scout ship. Kirk countered Kaidin抯 glare with a mirthless smile. 揑 see you got right to the point, Commander. This is Federation territory. You抮e here only by authority of the Organian Peace Treaty, which clearly specifies that the ahem visiting vessel must show cause for its presence upon demand. And I抦 demanding, right now. 揝ave your threats, Kirk. Star Fleet cowards never back up words with weapons. 揅aptain,Scott whispered, 搕hey抮e safe and sound in the transporter room梐nd so抯 the Crown. An instant later, Kaidin抯 studied hostility gave way to surprise as a junior officer entered in near-panic and murmured urgently in the
commander抯 ear. Whatever he was told made Kaidin forget his channel was open to the starship.
揥hat?he hissed. 揌ow could our agents have vanished from their ship?The Klingon turned, saw Kirk抯 face in his viewer, spat a string of curses that covered several languages梐nd the Enterprise viewscreen went abruptly blind.
揟ake us out of orbit now, gentlemen梬arp eight! The giant starship heeled over to the right, and the intense force of acceleration pressed the bridge crew deep into their seats. On the screen, the star field became a blur.
揜eport,Kirk ordered.
揟he Klingon cruiser hasn抰 even changed course,Sulu said with barely disguised glee.
揟hey抮e still trying to figure out who was on that scout ship and what happened to them,Kirk said lightly. 揑 don抰 think they抣l be bothering us again on this trip. Cut speed to warp five and lay in a nice, straight course to Shad. Scotty, you have the con. Kirk eased out of his seat and headed for the turbolift.

Kailyn took the news of her father抯 death stoically, and the formal debriefing went smoothly. The reports could be filed later, as far as Kirk was concerned. The mission was actually still incomplete, and he preferred to allow some time for unwinding on the two-day trip back to Shad. After all, they had a coronation to prepare for.
In fact, the best remedy for all the recent tensions was a long dose of R & R; unfortunately, that wasn抰 possible just yet. The next best thing was a return to quiet routine, and Captain Kirk so ordered.
For Kailyn, that meant light reading and exercise, mixed in with some special reports of information she would need to know by the time she arrived home.
Spock turned his regular duty shifts, played chess with the newly programmed computer, and began indexing the history scrolls he抎 found so absorbing on Sigma.
Down in sick bay, McCoy put his feet up whenever possible梩hey抎 earned the rest梐nd listened to music with Kailyn as he thought about the sun that had warmed his soul high up in Shirn抯 mountains. He also resumed as commonplace a job as he could think of梩he annual physical exams needed to update crew records. Kirk was next on the list, and he came in at the end of his watch.
揌ow抮e you feeling, Jim? 揥ell, I抎 say you people gave me a few more gray hairs this last week or so, but other than that and the bags under my eyes from lack of sleep, I抦 fine.He stretched back onto the diagnostic bench. McCoy turned it on and the scanners did their work, flashing results on the readout screen.
揗m-hmm,McCoy mumbled. 揢h-huh mm-hm. Press down on the hand bars. Kirk made a face. 揃ones, why do doctors do that? It抯 very disconcerting to lie here and listen to you go棓
揢h-oh. 揢h-oh? For what? 揧ou抳e been hitting the cookie jar while I was gone.
揑 have not. 揟hen why are you ten pounds overweight? 揥hat? That抯 impossible. 揝cales don抰 tell lies, Jim. 揂nd I do? 揂 little white one, maybe.McCoy glanced back at the screen. 揈verything else measures up just fine. Heartbeat, respiration, blood pressure, muscle strength. Weight抯 the only problem. 揑 swear I抳e been following that awful diet you gave me, doing more than my normal exercise 揗aybe you抳e been sleepwalking past the food synthesizers. How do I know? Am I my captain抯 keeper? Maybe you抳e been noshing, as my old Jewish babysitter used to say, and you don抰 want to admit it to your kindly family doctor for fear he抣l draw and quarter you.
揑 swear wait a minute. Ten pounds is梬hat?梐bout one-sixteenth of my normal weight? If I gained that much, wouldn抰 it show up in some of those other figures梙eart rate, muscle strength, something? If this thing抯 supposed to be so accurate棓
揑 guess it would show up棓
揂h-ha, but it didn抰. Ergo, your scale is lying. 揓im, it抯 not an antique dime-store scale that tells your fortune. It抯 a computerized sensor system that can detect a hundredth of an ounce棓
揂nd it has to be calibrated, right? 揝ure, every so often. 揟hen it can also be miscalibrated. 揓im, vanity is not becoming棓
揅heck it. 摋in a man of your breeding and character棓
揃ones, check it棓
摋and I don抰 think we抮e going to棓
揅heck it,Kirk roared.
McCoy snapped a mock salute, leaned behind the machine and opened a small access door.
揗m-hmm uh-huh Kirk rolled his eyes.
揝on of a gun,said McCoy.
揇on抰 tell me. Let me guess. Might your wonderful device be, oh, ten pounds off normal? 揥hen you抮e right, Jim, you抮e right. 揑 won抰 even say I told you so. McCoy marched away from the table to the nearest intercom.
揌ey,Kirk protested, 揻inish me up. 揑抳e got to call Chekov before he withers away to skin and bones.
The intercom whistled, and Chekov heard McCoy call his name over the speaker, but he was unable to answer just then. He was dangling from the high rings, fifteen feet off the floor of the gymnastics lounge. Uhura glanced up at him from the balance beam, her left leg arcing gracefully in midair, toe pointed like a ballerina抯.
揥ant me to get that for you? 揑t would be most helpful.he said tightly.
Stifling a giggle, the lithe communications officer stepped to the end of the beam, flipped head over heels, and landed on the floor in a perfect dismount.
揇octor, Chekov is sort of hung up right now,she said seriously as she hit the wall switch. 揂ny messages? 揧eah. Tell him to report to my office first thing, okay? 揑 will. 揗cCoy out. She crossed her arms and adjusted her skintight leotard, which hid nothing梩hough she was much more voluptuous than the traditional gymnast, there was not a single out-of-place bulge or extra ounce of fat on Uhura抯 body. 揅hekov, if you just hang there, it抯 no exercise at all.
揓ust tell me how to get down. 揙h?she said innocently. 揑 thought you knew. 揇on抰 make little jokes, or I抣l fall right on top of you. Tell me. 揓ust drop down. The floor抯 padded enough to棓
He didn抰 wait for the rest, and he landed with a resounding thud.
Uhura ambled over. Chekov was flat on his back, eyes closed. 揟hat wasn抰 very graceful,she said. 揧ou抎 lose a lot of points.

The office door whisked open and Chekov limped in, still in his sweaty gym suit. McCoy gave him a surprised stare. 揥here have you been? 揟rying to lose ten pounds. McCoy抯 head bobbed nervously. 揂hh about those ten pounds 揥hat about them?asked Chekov with the wary eyes of a cat near a dog kennel.
揥ell, it seems that, uh I抳e heard how hard you抳e been trying to lose them棓
摋and how everything I eat has no calories and less flavor棓
揑 don抰 know how this could happened. It was only this one table. I guess in all the excitement, somebody just wasn抰 paying attention I抦 really sorry this happened, and believe me, the person responsible will be even sorrier when I get my hands on棓
揇r. McCoy, what are you talking about? McCoy looked at the ceiling. 揧ou um you抮e not ten pounds overweight. 揂nymore?Chekov queried cautiously.
揘ever were. It was a mistake. You can go back to your old routine. Chekov slumped into a seat. 揑 don抰 believe this,he muttered.
McCoy leaned close. 揥ould you like to hit me? Would that make you feel better? 揑t would梑ut I抦 too weak from hunger. Chapter Twenty-four
The recently recaptured capital buzzed with anticipation of its first coronation in many years梩his, the coronation that would preserve the planet.
Fighting between the Loyalists and the Mohd Alliance continued in some outlying provinces, but news of the return of the Crown had had the desired effect梥ealing the fissures in the Loyalist Coalition and infusing its armies with the spirit needed to quash the revolt. The war would soon be over.

The Great Hall of the Temple of the Covenant was filled from wall to wall with Shaddans of every age and description. Government ministers stood elbow to elbow with dirt farmers, country priests with cosmopolitan merchants, old women with small children. The giant doors in the rear were thrown open and thousands of pilgrims stood in the plaza listening to the choir sing from the balcony.
A blaze of sacramental candelabra on the wall behind the altar glimmered like heavenly stars. The archpriest, a towering old man resplendent in pure white robes, read from the holy Book of Shad. But in the half-sacred, half-circus atmosphere, at least as many spectators paid their attention梐nd money梩o vendors in the open
square, hawking everything from food to royal pennants and religious statues.
Finally, the archpriest turned toward the back of the Great Hall and lifted his arms to the choir balcony high above the inside crowd. The singers soared to a crescendo and suddenly stopped. At that signal, the voices in the temple and out in the plaza lowered to a murmur; then, silence.
揟hat抯 amazing,McCoy whispered to Kirk. The senior officers of the Enterprise occupied a front pew, close enough to feel the heat of the candles arched over the altar.
The shimmering Crown reposed on a velvet pillow of midnight blue, and the priest regarded it with a fond smile, as if it were a favorite child back with its family after a long separation. The near-complete stillness stretched to minutes, when the priest signaled the choirmaster again. The singers began a melodious hum, bass with a counterpoint melody of sopranos woven in, quiet and delicate as a butterfly at rest.
A crimson drape, reaching from the floor to the ceiling forty feet up, parted and Kailyn stepped regally toward the priest, her hand held by Haim, King Stevvin抯 trusted First General. Kirk watched the old warrior, now stooped with age but with a strong and steady step as he led the Crown Princess to the center of the pulpit stage. The captain threw quick glances at his officers桽pock, looking incredibly dignified in his dress uniform; Scott, with his jaw set at attention; and McCoy, surreptitiously wiping a proud tear from the corner of his eye, hoping no one would notice. Kirk smiled and shifted his gaze back to the stage.
Kailyn wore a long gown of sky-blue, with golden trim at her breast. Her hair flowed down her back and she stood straight and tall, with the aura of one who knew she was truly where she
belonged. The little girl who had confessed so many fears in the garden on Orand had disappeared somewhere between then and now.
The woman who had taken her place knelt before the priest and bowed her head as a symbol of humility. Then she looked straight ahead, a vision of solemn beauty. The priest lifted the Crown slowly, held it high, and lowered it onto her head. There was an absolute hush in the Great Hall.
The crystals glowed, clear and blue in their shining silver setting. Kailyn stood梐nd the choir broke into a chorus of jubilation.
McCoy poked Kirk in the ribs. 揝he looked at me, didn抰 she, Jim? 揧eah, Bones, she looked at you. Outside, the plaza shook to the sounds of tumultuous cheering, and bells pealed near and far. At long last, the war-torn planet of Shad had its new Queen of the Covenant.

The palace hadn抰 seen a banquet of any kind in almost twenty years. Somehow, a staff had been assembled, and the foyers, the broad staircases of marble and alabaster, and the main rooms had been spit-shined and decorated.
Through the whirl of dancers and revelry, a young, shaggy-haired servant found Kirk, Spock, and McCoy on a veranda overlooking the rest of the capital city. Fireworks exploded across the night sky梩he thunder of joyful celebration instead of death.
The starship officers were ushered into an empty sitting room, and the servant left them, closing the door behind him. A side door opened and Kailyn rushed into their arms; McCoy stepped forward and intercepted her, taking her hand delicately in his own. He bent low in a courtly bow and kissed her fingertips.
揧our royal Highness. Kailyn blushed. 揧ou don抰 have to call me that. 揑 just wanted to see how it sounded,he said grinning.
揑t sounds just fine. Then there was an awkward pause, broken first by the new Queen. 揟here抯 no way I can ever thank you, all of you. I owe you more than just my life. When when I left Orand, I only knew how to be a frightened child. In a lot of ways, I still am. But you抳e helped me so much. Knowing you, I抳e learned how to find strength in myself, how to love, and be loved. Most of all, I抳e learned how to keep learning, as long as I live.
McCoy started to speak, but Kailyn raised her hand.
揘o wait. I know our lives have to take different paths now, but I hope they cross again and keep crossing as long as we抮e all alive.She sniffled, trying to stop the tears before they slipped out, then lowered her head and wiped her eyes. 揘ot very queenly. I guess. She took a deep breath. 揥ell General Haim wants me to meet some people.As quickly as she抎 entered, she turned and left, and McCoy thought of the first time she抎 come to see him in sick bay梩he way she抎 darted in and out, afraid she was intruding.

The palace celebration lasted well into the night. Chekov was in the midst of one more pass by the long smorgasbord tables, balancing an overflowing plate with one hand and pouring from a flagon of wine with the other.
揈njoying yourself, Mr. Chekov?asked Kirk.
揚aradise to a starving man, Captain,he said, squeezing a thumb into his waistband. 揥e should come to coronations more often. 揑抣l make a note of that. Better eat fast梬e抣l be beaming up as soon as I can gather the rest of our drunken crew. 揃ut it seems like we just got here, sir. Kirk shrugged wistfully. 揋ot to get back to work sometime. McCoy and Kailyn danced a lilting waltz, smiling all the while but without a word. Impulsively, she kissed him on the cheek and his smile became a laugh.
揥hat was that for?he asked.
揑 felt like it. If the Queen can抰 kiss her dancing partner, then what抯 the good of being Queen?Then she added in a conspiratorial whisper: 揂re you afraid the Council will think there抯 something between us? 揟here is. There always will be梐nd don抰 you forget it, young lady. Her eyes brightened梩he child within shone through. 揟hen you will visit me I mean us again? He nodded梐nd felt a tap on his shoulder. He turned to look up at a young Shaddan lieutenant梑lond, baby-faced, wearing a chestful of medals. He was at least a head taller than McCoy.
揗ay I have this dance with her highness? McCoy felt a wave of old age coming on, felt stooped and gray梑ut caught it just in time and straightened up. 揙f course son.Before he yielded Kailyn抯 hand, he murmured: 揥ould you believe I used to look just like him? Now she laughed梐nd McCoy froze that image in his mind.
At the edge of the ballroom floor, he found Spock and Kirk and joined them in a last drink.
揝he certainly has grown up,said Kirk.
揝he had to, Jim. 揌er father always did what he had to. If she抯 inherited that instinct, she should be quite a Queen. 揅aptain,said Spock formally, 揑 believe you抳e found common
ground upon which Dr. McCoy and I can fully agree. 揑抎 like to make a habit of that, gentlemen,said Kirk.
McCoy shook his head and grinned. 揘ot on your life, Jim. About the Author
HOWARD WEINSTEIN lives on Long Island, New York. He graduated from the University of Connecticut with a degree in communications in 1975. 揟he Pirates of Orionepisode of the animated Star Trek series was his first television script sale, and this novel is his first book. He spends his spare time playing guitar; writing songs; and watching television, seeing movies, and reading books (all to check up on the competition). Among his friends are a large collection of stuffed creatures (who also watch television, see movies, and read books but not to check up on the competition).
Look for STAR TREK fiction from Pocket Books

Star Trek The Original Series

Enterprise: The First Adventure Vonda N. McIntyre
Final Frontier Diane Carey
Strangers From the Sky Margaret Wander Bonanno
Spock's World Diane Duane
The Lost Years J.M. Dillard
Probe Margaret Wander Bonanno
Prime Directive Judith and Garfield Reeves-Stevens
Best Destiny Diane Carey
Shadows on the Sun Michael Jan Friedman
Sarek A.C. Crispin
Federation Judith and Garfield Reeves-Stevens
Vulcan's Forge Josepha Sherman & Susan Shwartz
Mission to Horatius Mack Reynolds
Vulcan's Heart Josepha Sherman & Susan Shwartz
Novelizations
Star Trek: The Motion Picture Gene Roddenberry
Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan Vonda N. McIntyre
Star Trek III: The Search for Spock Vonda N. McIntyre
Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home Vonda N. McIntyre
Star Trek V: The Final Frontier J.M. Dillard
Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country J.M. Dillard
Star Trek Generations J.M. Dillard
Starfleet Academy Diane Carey
Star Trek books by William Shatner with Judith and Garfield Reeves-Stevens
The Ashes of Eden
The Return
Avenger
Star Trek: Odyssey (contains The Ashes of Eden, The Return, and Avenger)
Spectre
Dark Victory

#1 Star Trek: The Motion Picture Gene Roddenberry
#2 The Entropy Effect Vonda N. McIntyre
#3 The Klingon Gambit Robert E. Vardeman
#4 The Covenant of the Crown Howard Weinstein
#5 The Prometheus Design Sondra Marshak & Myrna Culbreath
#6 The Abode of Life Lee Correy
#7 Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan Vonda N. McIntyre
#8 Black Fire Sonni Cooper
#9 Triangle Sondra Marshak & Myrna Culbreath
#10 Web of the Romulans M.S. Murdock
#11 Yesterday's Son A.C. Crispin
#12 Mutiny on the Enterprise Robert E. Vardeman
#13 The Wounded Sky Diane Duane
#14 The Trellisane Confrontation David Dvorkin
#15 Corona Greg Bear
#16 The Final Reflection John M. Ford
#17 Star Trek III: The Search For Spock Vonda N. McIntyre
#18 My Enemy, My Ally Diane Duane
#19 The Tears of the Singers Melinda Snodgrass
#20 The Vulcan Academy Murders Jean Lorrah
#21 Uhura's Song Janet Kagan
#22 Shadow Land Laurence Yep
#23 Ishmael Barbara Hambly
#24 Killing Time Della Van Hise
#25 Dwellers in the Crucible Margaret Wander Bonanno
#26 Pawns and Symbols Majliss Larson
#27 Mindshadow J.M. Dillard
#28 Crisis on Centaurus Brad Ferguson
#29 Dreadnought! Diane Carey
#30 Demons J.M. Dillard
#31 Battlestations! Diane Carey
#32 Chain of Attack Gene DeWeese
#33 Deep Domain Howard Weinstein
#34 Dreams of the Raven Carmen Carter
#35 The Romulan Way Diane Duane & Peter Morwood
#36 How Much For Just the Planet? John M. Ford
#37 Bloodthirst J.M. Dillard
#38 The IDIC Epidemic Jean Lorrah
#39 Time For Yesterday A.C. Crispin
#40 Timetrap David Dvorkin
#41 The Three-Minute Universe Barbara Paul
#42 Memory Prime Gar and Judith Reeves-Stevens
#43 The Final Nexus Gene DeWeese
#44 Vulcan's Glory D.C. Fontana
#45 Double, Double Michael Jan Friedman
#46 The Cry of the Onlies Judy Klass
#47 The Kobayashi Maru Julia Ecklar
#48 Rules of Engagement Peter Morwood
#49 The Pandora Principle Carolyn Clowes
#50 Doctor's Orders Diane Duane
#51 Unseen Enemy V.E. Mitchell
#52 Home is the Hunter Dana Kramer Rolls
#53 Ghost-Walker Barbara Hambly
#54 A Flag Full of Stars Brad Ferguson
#55 Renegade Gene DeWeese
#56 Legacy Michael Jan Friedman
#57 The Rift Peter David
#58 Faces of Fire Michael Jan Friedman
#59 The Disinherited Peter David
#60 Ice Trap L.A. Graf
#61 Sanctuary John Vornholt
#62 Death Count L.A. Graf
#63 Shell Game Melissa Crandall
#64 The Starship Trap Mel Gilden
#65 Windows on a Lost World V.E. Mitchell
#66 From the Depths Victor Milan
#67 The Great Starship Race Diane Carey
#68 Firestorm L.A. Graf
#69 The Patrian Transgression Simon Hawke
#70 Traitor Winds L.A. Graf
#71 Crossroad Barbara Hambly
#72 The Better Man Howard Weinstein
#73 Recovery J.M. Dillard
#74 The Fearful Summons Denny Martin Flynn
#75 First Frontier Diane Carey & Dr. James I. Kirkland
#76 The Captain's Daughter Peter David
#77 Twilight's End Jerry Oltion
#78 The Rings of Tautee Dean Wesley Smith & Kristine Kathryn Rusch
#79 Invasion! #1: First Strike Diane Carey
#80 The Joy Machine James Gunn
#81 Mudd in Your Eye Jerry Oltion
#82 Mind Meld John Vornholt
#83 Heart of the Sun Pamela Sargent & George Zebrowski
#84 Assignment: Eternity Greg Cox
#85-87 My Brother's Keeper Michael Jan Friedman
#85 Republic
#86 Constitution
#87 Enterprise
#88 Across the Universe Pamela Sargent & George Zebrowski
#89-94 New Earth
#89 Wagon Train to the Stars Diane Carey
#90 Belle Terre Dean Wesley Smith with Diane Carey

Star Trek: The Next Generation

Metamorphosis Jean Lorrah
Vendetta Peter David
Reunion Michael Jan Friedman
Imzadi Peter David
The Devil's Heart Carmen Carter
Dark Mirror Diane Duane
Q-Squared Peter David
Crossover Michael Jan Friedman
Kahless Michael Jan Friedman
Ship of the Line Diane Carey
The Best and the Brightest Susan Wright
Planet X Michael Jan Friedman
Imzadi II: Triangle Peter David
I, Q John de Lancie & Peter David
The Valiant Michael Jan Friedman
Novelizations
Encounter at Farpoint David Gerrold
Unification Jeri Taylor
Relics Michael Jan Friedman
Descent Diane Carey
All Good Things... Michael Jan Friedman
Star Trek: Klingon Dean Wesley Smith & Kristine Kathryn Rusch
Star Trek Generations J.M. Dillard
Star Trek: First Contact J.M. Dillard
Star Trek: Insurrection J.M. Dillard

#1 Ghost Ship Diane Carey
#2 The Peacekeepers Gene DeWeese
#3 The Children of Hamlin Carmen Carter
#4 Survivors Jean Lorrah
#5 Strike Zone Peter David
#6 Power Hungry Howard Weinstein
#7 Masks John Vornholt
#8 The Captain's Honor David and Daniel Dvorkin
#9 A Call to Darkness Michael Jan Friedman
#10 A Rock and a Hard Place Peter David
#11 Gulliver's Fugitives Keith Sharee
#12 Doomsday World David, Carter, Friedman & Greenberger
#13 The Eyes of the Beholders A.C. Crispin
#14 Exiles Howard Weinstein
#15 Fortune's Light Michael Jan Friedman
#16 Contamination John Vornholt
#17 Boogeymen Mel Gilden
#18 Q-In-Law Peter David
#19 Perchance to Dream Howard Weinstein
#20 Spartacus T.L. Mancour
#21 Chains of Command W.A. McCay & E.L. Flood
#22 Imbalance V.E. Mitchell
#23 War Drums John Vornholt
#24 Nightshade Laurell K. Hamilton
#25 Grounded David Bischoff
#26 The Romulan Prize Simon Hawke
#27 Guises of the Mind Rebecca Neason
#28 Here There Be Dragons John Peel
#29 Sins of Commission Susan Wright
#30 Debtor's Planet W.R. Thompson
#31 Foreign Foes Dave Galanter & Greg Brodeur
#32 Requiem Michael Jan Friedman & Kevin Ryan
#33 Balance of Power Dafydd ab Hugh
#34 Blaze of Glory Simon Hawke
#35 The Romulan Stratagem Robert Greenberger
#36 Into the Nebula Gene DeWeese
#37 The Last Stand Brad Ferguson
#38 Dragon's Honor Kij Johnson & Greg Cox
#39 Rogue Saucer John Vornholt
#40 Possession J.M. Dillard & Kathleen O'Malley
#41 Invasion! #2: The Soldiers of Fear Dean Wesley Smith & Kristine Kathryn Rusch
#42 Infiltrator W.R. Thompson
#43 A Fury Scorned Pamela Sargent & George Zebrowski
#44 The Death of Princes John Peel
#45 Intellivore Diane Duane
#46 To Storm Heaven Esther Friesner
#47-49 The Q Continuum Greg Cox
#47 Q-Space
#48 Q-Zone
#49 Q-Strike
#50 Dyson Sphere Charles Pellegrino & George Zebrowski
#51-56 Double Helix
#51 Infection John Gregory Betancourt
#52 Vectors Dean Wesley Smith & Kristine Kathryn Rusch
#53 Red Sector Diane Carey
#54 Quarantine John Vornholt
#55 Double or Nothing Peter David
#56 The First Virtue Michael Jan Friedman & Christie Golden
#57 The Forgotten War William R. Forstchen
#58-59 Gemworld John Vornholt
#58 Gemworld #1
#59 Gemworld #2

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine

Warped K.W. Jeter
Legends of the Ferengi Ira Steven Behr & Robert Hewitt Wolfe
The Lives of Dax Marco Palmieri, ed.
Millennium Judith and Garfield Reeves-Stevens
#1 The Fall of Terok Nor
#2 The War of the Prophets
#3 Inferno
Novelizations
Emissary J.M. Dillard
The Search Diane Carey
The Way of the Warrior Diane Carey
Star Trek: Klingon Dean Wesley Smith & Kristine Kathryn Rusch
Trials and Tribble-ations Diane Carey
Far Beyond the Stars Steve Barnes
What You Leave Behind Diane Carey

#1 Emissary J.M. Dillard
#2 The Siege Peter David
#3 Bloodletter K.W. Jeter
#4 The Big Game Sandy Schofield
#5 Fallen Heroes Dafydd ab Hugh
#6 Betrayal Lois Tilton
#7 Warchild Esther Friesner
#8 Antimatter John Vornholt
#9 Proud Helios Melissa Scott
#10 Valhalla Nathan Archer
#11 Devil in the Sky Greg Cox & John Gregory Betancourt
#12 The Laertian Gamble Robert Sheckley
#13 Station Rage Diane Carey
#14 The Long Night Dean Wesley Smith & Kristine Kathryn Rusch
#15 Objective: Bajor John Peel
#16 Invasion! #3: Time's Enemy L.A. Graf
#17 The Heart of the Warrior John Gregory Betancourt
#18 Saratoga Michael Jan Friedman
#19 The Tempest Susan Wright
#20 Wrath of the Prophets David, Friedman & Greenberger
#21 Trial by Error Mark Garland
#22 Vengeance Dafydd ab Hugh
#23 The 34th Rule Armin Shimerman & David R. George III
#24-26 Rebels Dafydd ab Hugh
#24 The Conquered
#25 The Courageous
#26 The Liberated
#27 A Stitch in Time Andrew J. Robinson

Star Trek: Voyager

Mosaic Jeri Taylor
Pathways Jeri Taylor
Captain Proton: Defender of the Earth D.W. "Prof" Smith
Novelizations
Caretaker L.A. Graf
Flashback Diane Carey
Day of Honor Michael Jan Friedman
Equinox Diane Carey

#1 Caretaker L.A. Graf
#2 The Escape Dean Wesley Smith & Kristine Kathryn Rusch
#3 Ragnarok Nathan Archer
#4 Violations Susan Wright
#5 Incident at Arbuk John Gregory Betancourt
#6 The Murdered Sun Christie Golden
#7 Ghost of a Chance Mark A. Garland & Charles G. McGraw
#8 Cybersong S.N. Lewitt
#9 Invasion! #4: The Final Fury Dafydd ab Hugh
#10 Bless the Beasts Karen Haber
#11 The Garden Melissa Scott
#12 Chrysalis David Niall Wilson
#13 The Black Shore Greg Cox
#14 Marooned Christie Golden
#15 Echoes Dean Wesley Smith, Kristine Kathryn Rusch & Nina Kiriki Hoffman
#16 Seven of Nine Christie Golden
#17 Death of a Neutron Star Eric Kotani
#18 Battle Lines Dave Galanter & Greg Brodeur

Star Trek New Frontier

New Frontier #1-4 Collector's Edition Peter David

#1 House of Cards Peter David
#2 Into the Void Peter David
#3 The Two-Front War Peter David
#4 End Game Peter David
#5 Martyr Peter David
#6 Fire on High Peter David
The Captain's Table #5 Once Burned Peter David
Double Helix #5 Double or Nothing Peter David
#7 The Quiet Place Peter David
#8 Dark Allies Peter David

Star Trek Invasion!

#1 First Strike Diane Carey
#2 The Soldiers of Fear Dean Wesley Smith & Kristine Kathryn Rusch
#3 Time's Enemy L.A. Graf
#4 The Final Fury Dafydd ab Hugh
Invasion! Omnibus various

Star Trek Day of Honor
#1 Ancient Blood Diane Carey
#2 Armageddon Sky L.A. Graf
#3 Her Klingon Soul Michael Jan Friedman
#4 Treaty's Law Dean Wesley Smith & Kristine Kathryn Rusch
The Television Episode Michael Jan Friedman
Day of Honor Omnibus various

Star Trek The Captain's Table

#1 War Dragons L.A. Graf
#2 Dujonian's Hoard Michael Jan Friedman
#3 The Mist Dean Wesley Smith & Kristine Kathryn Rusch
#4 Fire Ship Diane Carey
#5 Once Burned Peter David
#6 Where Sea Meets Sky Jerry Oltion
The Captain's Table Omnibus various

Star Trek The Dominion War

#1 Behind Enemy Lines John Vornholt
#2 Call to Arms... Diane Carey
#3 Tunnel Through the Stars John Vornholt
#4 ...Sacrifice of Angels Diane Carey

Star Trek The Badlands

#1 Susan Wright
#2 Susan Wright

Star TrekBooks available in Trade Paperback
Omnibus Editions
Invasion! Omnibus various
Day of Honor Omnibus various
The Captain's Table Omnibus various
Star Trek: Odyssey William Shatner with Judith and Garfield Reeves-Stevens
Other Books
Legends of the Ferengi Ira Steven Behr & Robert Hewitt Wolfe
Strange New Worlds, vol. I, II, and III Dean Wesley Smith, ed.
Adventures in Time and Space Mary P. Taylor
Captain Proton: Defender of the Earth D.W. "Prof" Smith
The Lives of Dax Marco Palmieri, ed.
The Klingon Hamlet Wil'yam Shex'pir
New Worlds, New Civilizations Michael Jan Friedman
Enterprise Logs Carol Greenburg, ed.






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