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Sorry for the long delay! Happy Valentine's Day!




Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended.


Pride and Logic Chapter 23

 

Nyota lay curled on her side facing the bulkhead of her cell. Several hours had passed since she regained consciousness. She had not seen nor heard from Sybok since he had attacked her in her dorm room. She supposed that his absence was a small blessing given their last encounter. Nyota shuddered at the memory of his hands against her skin, his fingers unnaturally soft and hot as he pawed at her thighs. Did he intend to finish what he had begun in her dorm room? Perhaps he intended to do something far worse, the kae'at k'lasa. However, Nyota supposed that Sybok had been violating her mind since their first meeting, manipulating her to trust him, turning her against Spock, even willing her body to desire him.

 

Nyota scrambled up from her cot and bent over the metal toilet in the corner of the room, emptying the contents of her stomach. She slumped to the floor, wiping her mouth with the back of her hand as her body began to shake. The sound of approaching footsteps caused her to hold back a sob. She hoisted herself off of the floor and pulled her robe tight against her body when Sybok stepped into view.

 

“I hope that the accommodations are to your liking, Miss Uhura. We have a long ride to our destination. However, if you find your cot too uncomfortable, you are welcome to share my bed in the captain’s quarters. That is, if you are willing to play nice.”

 

“Take me back,” Nyota growled. “If you turn back now, I may not press charges against you for kidnap and sexual assault.”

 

Sybok laughed.

 

“No, hu’a. I think I’ll keep you just a bit longer.”

 

Nyota shook her head in disbelief.

 

“What do you want from me, Sybok? If it is money, I can assure you that my family has none to give for ransom. Starfleet won’t pay a ransom for any of their officers, much less for a cadet. I am not valuable.”

 

“Oh, for shame,” Sybok replied with a cluck of his tongue. “Everyone has value, hu’a. And you are worth quite a lot to someone; my little brother in particular.”

 

Uhura frowned. “I don’t understand. What has Spock ever done to you for you to hate him so?”

 

“He was born,” Sybok replied.

 

“That’s illogical!”

 

“Don’t lecture me on logic,” Sybok shouted, stepping closer to the containment barrier. “Was it logical for my father to take a mere human to wife in place of my mother, the daughter of queens? For him to dote upon her and her half-breed spawn when they only brought shame upon our family name? My mother had not been dead two years when he brought home his human and got it with child.”

 

“But your brother loved you,” Nyota replied. “Even when Sarek banished you he stood by your side.”

 

“What do you know of it?” Sybok sneered. His eyes narrowed as he paced closer. “Perhaps my brother values you more than I assumed. Did he meld with you, human? Perhaps your thoughts are already as one.”

 

Nyota stepped back, newly frightened by the steel in Sybok’s voice.

 

“No, you are wrong.”

 

“I see that I asked for too little,” Sybok continued, shrugging out of his coat and tossing it to the floor. “No matter. Perhaps this is the better revenge.”

 

Sybok pressed his hand to the cell’s sensor, shutting off the force field to the cell.

 

“It nearly broke Spock when I shared my thoughts with Amanda. How devastated will he be when I have his bondmate? He’ll feel your distress and pain, every touch, every bite…when you break and beg for more.”

 

“No, you’ve got it wrong,” Nyota pleaded as he stepped into her cell. “We are not bonded. He proposed and I turned him down. He doesn’t want me. He wouldn’t care.”

 

“Even if you were telling the truth, my brother would certainly care. Besides, who says your only value is in revenge. Before we were so rudely interrupted, I believe we were about to become intimately acquainted.”

 

Nyota’s fear was pushed back by her anger.

 

“As I recall, you had to use telepathy to force me. I suppose you have to resort to cheap tricks to get girls into your bed. Your brother is twice the Vulcan you’ll ever be.”

 

Sybok snarled and lunged for Nyota, who quickly ducked out of his reach. She ran for the open cell door just as Sybok’s hand whipped out and grasped the back of her robe.  Nyota stumbled backwards into Sybok but quickly recovered.  Her fingers quickly undid the loose knot holding her robe shut. As soon as the robe gave free, Nyota slammed her head backwards, striking Sybok in the jaw. Free of her robe and Sybok’s hold, Nyota ran out of the cell and slammed her hand down on the sensor for the cell door. Sybok recovered from the blow to his chin just in time to slam against the reactivated force-field barrier.

 

Nyota fell against the bulkhead, her chest heaving from exertion and the back of her head throbbing. She sneered at the sight of Sybok flinging himself against the force-field.

 

“I hope you enjoy the accommodations.”

 

 

Spock stood hunched over the ship’s scanner, peering into the blue portal for any sign of an unregistered spacecraft in the vicinity. They were three hours into their twelve hour journey to the rendezvous point Sybok had indicated. Spock hoped that they would be able to overtake Sybok’s ship before then. Every moment that Nyota remained at the mercy of his brother was a trial. Spock could feel his control eroding by the minute. He was certain that if he were now in the company of his brother, there was little that could stop him from killing Sybok with his bare hands.

 

“Spock. Are you unwell?” Shuran asked from his place at the helm.

 

“I am in optimal health.”

 

Shuran’s antennae swiveled.

 

“You are not well, my friend. Your heart rate and respiration have increased significantly over the past hour.”

 

“I said that I am in optimal health, lieutenant.”

 

“Perhaps you should allow Cadet McCoy to examine you as a precaution…”

 

“I do not require medical assistance,” Spock bit out.

 

Shuran sat back in his seat, startled, as Kirk and McCoy looked on in wonder.

 

Spock stood from his seat.

 

“I require meditation. Cadet Kirk, you will take my place at the scanner. McCoy, you will continue to monitor all communication frequencies.  Mr. Shuran, you have the helm. I shall return in 2.5 hours. Alert me if you encounter anything of significance.”

 

Spock quickly left the bridge, the eyes of his companions following his retreat.

 

As soon as Spock reached his quarters he slumped against the wall and stared at his shaking hands. He had to maintain his control. He would not be able to successfully rescue Nyota if he were to give way to the fever.

 

Spock walked further into the room, his steps heavy. He fell to his knees and folded his limbs into the proper position. Slowly, he attempted to clear his mind and enter the first level of meditation. His mind’s eye was filled with a green haze—a fog of hatred, lust, need, possessiveness and fear that churned with in him, slowly choking off his logic and reason. Spock sat for thirty minutes attempting to sink beneath the haze to no avail. Shaking, he soon gave up the effort and resorted to pacing his quarters.

 

 

Nyota held up the black tunic, her stomach rolling from the distinct smell of Sybok’s cologne. Lowering the garment, Nyota breathed deeply to calm herself. She had two choices: wear Sybok’s garments or continue to walk around the ship naked.  Nyota shrugged on the tunic and matching pants. She cinched the accompanying leather belt as tightly as she could, but the pants still rode low on her wide hips. She spotted a pair of boots in a corner and quickly put those on as well.

 

Once she was dressed, Nyota left Sybok’s quarters and made her way to the bridge of the small transport vessel. Sitting at the helm, she observed the control panel with trepidation. Nyota had only piloted a small shuttle craft in classroom simulations. Her hands trembled as they hovered over the panel. She quickly pulled them into her lap, unsure of how to proceed.

 

“Computer, what is our current location?”

 

“Federation space,” the computer began. “Allurian sector. Closest inhabited M class planet Rigel IV. Current coordinates…”

 

“Computer, how long would it take to return to San Francisco planet Earth at our current speed?”

 

“Fifteen hours, fourteen minutes and thirty-seven seconds.”

 

Nyota bit her lip.

 

“Computer, set the most direct course to Earth.”

 

“Calculating….course laid in.”

 

Nyota smiled. She looked to the control panel once more. She may not know how to properly pilot a ship, but she sure as hell knew her way around a communications board.

 

 

Spock leaned against the bulkhead of his quarters, his forehead pressed against the cool metallic surface. His breath came out in harsh gasps as his body broke out in a cold sweat. An hour and a half had passed since he sequestered himself in his quarters and he was no closer to regaining his control than before. For the past thirty minutes he had resorted to reciting the core teachings of Surak to chase away the visions of Nyota broken and helpless.

 

“Bridge to Commander Spock,” the clear voice of Cadet Kirk rang out over the ship’s intercom. “Bridge to Commander Spock.”

 

Spock stumbled over to the communications console.

 

“Spock here.”

 

“Commander, we’ve picked up a distress call from a class 5 mid range transport vessel. The signature correlates to a ship reported to Federation authorities as stolen three weeks ago.”

 

Spock stilled.

 

“Cadet, please play the distress call over ship-wide speakers. I am in route to the bridge.”

 

“Yes, sir.”

 

Spock left his quarters and headed directly to the bridge, listening to the distress call as he walked.

 

“This is Cadet Nyota Uhura of Starfleet Academy.”

 

Spock stopped his progress at the sound of Uhura’s voice filtering through the ship speakers. He leaned heavily against the bulkhead, his eyes sliding shut as a tremor ran through his body.

 

“I have been abducted by Sybok, son of Ambassador Sarek, formerly of Vulcan. I have disabled my kidnapper and commandeered his ship. I request immediate assistance from any Federation vessel in the surrounding vicinity. My current coordinates and flight plan are attached.

 

“I repeat, I am….”

 

Spock turned and faced the bulkhead, clenching his hands into fists as he willed the tremors to leave his body. Nyota was safe, for now. He resumed his trek to the bridge.

 

Shuran turned towards the door as Spock entered, a large smile stretched over his blue face.

 

“Cadet Uhura is a formidable woman. She will make an excellent officer.”

 

Spock nodded tersely in response before resuming his seat at the helm.

 

“Have the coordinates for the cadet’s location been plotted and laid in?”

 

“Done and done, sir,” Kirk replied, his face stern.

 

“How long before we arrive at her last known location?”

 

“Four hours and twenty minutes at our current speed,” McCoy answered.

 

“Very well. Increase speed to warp six.”

 

Shuran’s antennae swiveled.

 

“Commander, travel above warp four is not considered safe for this sector. It is heavily trafficked.”

 

“Duly noted.  Increase speed to warp six.”

 

Shuran left his station and came to a stop beside Spock’s chair.

 

“I must protest, Spock,” he began, his voice barely above a whisper. “While I can understand your desire to assist Cadet Uhura, you must choose the prudent course of action. She is safe for the time being and you will be of no use to her if our ship is damaged or destroyed on our way to rescue her. What if we miscalculate and collide with an asteroid or passing freighter?”

 

“The probability of such an event occurring is at an acceptable level.”

 

Shuran lowered his voice even further.

 

“Spock, I am speaking now as your friend. I can sense that you are not well and that perhaps your decisions are not the most rational…”

 

“It is imperative that we intercept Nyota’s vessel as quickly as possible. We are unaware of the manner in which she subdued Sybok or how long he will remain so. Furthermore, she used an open frequency to place her distress call indicating that she must be either in a highly emotional state or physically injured. Nyota is a highly capable communications student. In her first communications practicum she would have learned the importance of using designated Starfleet frequencies in this sector in order to reduce the likelihood of alerting scavengers and other hostile parties to the vulnerable state of your ship.

 

“Once more, the likelihood that undesirable parties heard her distress call is high. There have been reports of Orion activity in this sector. Not only would the prospect of acquiring a Starfleet cadet be tempting for a slaver, but Sybok’s past indiscretions have led to a sizeable bounty on his head.”

 

“You’re telling me that damn Orion slavers are after your brother?” McCoy exclaimed, abandoning all pretense of not eavesdropping.

 

Spock turned in his chair.

 

“My brother has led a reckless and criminal lifestyle. It is imperative that we get to Nyota before any of Sybok’s enemies do.”

 

Shuran sighed before turning and resuming his seat. “Well, warp six it is.”

 

As the others focused on the controls and scanners, Kirk sat examining Spock. At first Kirk assumed that Spock’s zeal for their current mission was due to the Vulcan’s misplaced sense of duty. Sybok was his brother and he had abducted one of his students, it would only be natural for Spock to feel some obligation to rescue Uhura and apprehend his brother.  However, that theory had been dashed to pieces at Spock’s use of Uhura’s first name. Kirk began to suspect that this mission was very personal to Spock for an entirely different reason.

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Nyota lurched in her seat as another photon torpedo exploded against the ship’s shields.

 

“Sheilds: twenty one percent,” the computer announced.

 

BaQa’,” Nyota cursed.

 

If she took another direct hit she would loose her shields completely. As Nyota began to employ another evasive maneuver, she couldn’t help but second-guess her decision to evade the Orion cruiser.

 

When she first received the hail in reply to her distress call, she released an audible sigh of relief. However, her hope curdled into dread when the smirking visage of the Orion pirate filled her view screen. The smug Captain Thalack gave her two options: surrender her vessel or be destroyed. Knowing that surrender would certainly include enhanced interrogation followed by a short life as a slave girl, Nyota decided to take her chances with destruction.

 

Another torpedo blast rocked the ship, tossing Nyota from her seat and onto the floor.

 

“Shields ten percent.”

 

Nyota shook the fog from her head as she pulled herself back into her seat.

 

“Computer, are there any M class planets or moons in the vicinity?”

 

“Please specify ‘vicinity’.”

 

Nyota growled.

 

“Within 50,000 kilometers.”

 

“Calculating…”

 

Nyota pulled back on the controls, swerving to dodge another photon torpedo.

 

“Valus Beta. A M class planetoid. Uninhabited. Fauna of note includes…”

 

“Plot a direct course for Valus Beta.”

 

No sooner had Nyota said the command than her vessel was hit. Nyota was thrown from her chair once more. She landed hard, the side of her head striking the console on her way down. Nyota lay stunned on the floor as the lights on the bridge flickered off and the orange emergency lighting kicked in.

 

“Shields offline. Auxiliary power only…”

 

Nyota could barely comprehend the computer’s announcements as she struggled to retain lucidness. Black spots marred her vision and the side of her head ached.

 

“Uhura,” Thalack’s gravelly voice filled the ship. “Your vessel is disabled. Stand down and prepare for boarding.”

 

Nyota moaned as she attempted to rise from the floor to answer the hail. Suddenly she found herself pushed forcefully back to the floor.

 

“Do not trouble yourself,” Sybok said as he leaned over her, his amber eyes hard. “You are more effort than I anticipated. I begin to understand my brother’s fascination with you.”

 

He ran a finger down her cheek and smiled cruelly at her weak flinch. He rose to his feet and faced the view screen.

 

“Thalack, old friend, the pretty cadet is in no condition to negotiate. I fear you’ll have to deal directly with me.”

 

“Sybok, you bastard spawn of a heka beast,” Thalack spat. “Stand down or I’ll happily end you.”

 

Sybok laughed. “Old friend, we both know that you are too savvy for such a thing. Besides, I do not scare as easily as the human female.”

 

“Do not test me, Sybok. Quite a few parties will be very pleased to see the universe cleansed of your filth.”

 

“Such harsh words,” Sybok chuckled. “I know that you barely have the intelligence of an amoeba, but even you know that I am much more valuable alive than dead. Would you really destroy a ten million credit prize?”

 

Thalack sneered. “The fact remains that your ship is disabled. Prepare to be boarded. My men will ensure that your capture is a painful one.”

 

Sybok’s smile faltered. “Well, all I can say, old friend, is catch me if you can.”

 

With that, Sybok’s fingers flew over the control panel, sending off a barrage of laser fire as he attempted to put the ship into warp. As the ship was hit a final time and the cabin began to fill with smoke, Nyota slipped peacefully into unconsciousness.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Glossary

kae'at k'lasa= mind rape

hu’a= seductress

BaQa’= a Klingon invective indicating surprise. I wanted Nyota to shout “Crap in a hat!” in Klingon as that is my favorite curse. It sounds corny, but think about it. If someone took a dump in your hat that would really suck.












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Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended.