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seren_ccdChapter Seven
The basin was filling quickly and the water had risen to her waist. Her fingers were numb from holding onto the pipe, blood trickled down from where the handcuffs dug into her wrists. She watched the red drip into the murky water.
Not like this, she thought. Not like this.
Then she saw a reed drifting towards her.
McCoy did his best to hide his yawn, but knew Spock caught it by the way he raised his eyebrow.
"Are we boring you, Bones?" Kirk asked not looking up from the roster of research scientists.
"Oh, no," McCoy said. "I often stay awake all night looking at random people's biographies in the hopes that one of them will say, 'Hey! I'm a sociopath who enjoys using remote detonated bombs and has a serious issue with rice stemming from a terrible incident in my childhood with a bowl of rice pudding.'"
Despite himself, Kirk chuckled. "So I did interrupt something earlier when I commed you?"
McCoy ground his teeth together and kept silent. Kirk just grinned and went back to the profile he was reading.
Spock merely tilted his head and said, "Have you and Lieutenant Chapel not resolved your current disagreement?"
McCoy choked on a breath and Kirk snorted.
"What the hell do you know about it?" McCoy asked Spock.
"I simply know what Lieutenant Uhura has said," Spock replied. "Namely that you and Nurse Chapel have had difficulty communicating. If there is anything I can do to be of assistance, doctor-"
"I will personally inject myself with Antarian measles, thank you, Spock," McCoy said quickly.
"I fail to see how that would help you doctor, but you are most welcome," Spock said.
Kirk covered his mouth to hide his grin.
The three continued to read the data they had requested from Dr. Hall on all the employees on the research team.
McCoy rubbed his eyes and wondered if they could even come close to determining someone's guilt from a curriculum vitae. Still, it was something to do while they waited for the worst to happen. At least he'd been able to change out of his attire from earlier and into his standard uniform.
"Hmmm," Kirk said his brow furrowing.
"Find something?" McCoy asked.
"Maybe," he said. "Maybe nothing. Why does the outpost Torpus Beta sound familiar?"
"I believe that was where Starfleet found evidence of the Syndicate's influence on the local culture," Spock said. "However, they had moved on by the time Starfleet was made aware of the threat."
"Interesting," Kirk said. "Which brings me to my next question: why—" Kirk's comm unit chimed and he answered absently, "Kirk, here."
"Captain! This is Ambassador Ruthan. You must come to the science facility immediately!"
"Slow down, ambassador," Kirk said rising to his feet, McCoy looking up from his PADD and Spock straightening. "What's going on?"
"There is a bomb in the facility!" Ruthan said his voice tight with tension. "We have no idea where. We've already started the evacuation procedure. But we must find it."
"Calm down. I'll get the Enterprise to scan for explosive devices," Kirk said as he headed to the door, McCoy and Spock following, Spock already speaking to the Enterprise to get them to initiate a scan of the building.
"Do you have engineers who can deal with it once it's found?" Kirk asked the ambassador.
"Yes, we do. They're in place," Ruthan said.
"Excellent," Kirk said. The men hurried down the stairs of their quarters and out into the courtyard. "Ambassador, how did you hear about this?"
"One of the guides," he said. "She came forward and told us. I have a team searching for the men responsible now."
"I see," Kirk said.
"Captain," Spock said. "The Enterprise has located the explosives. They are on the second and fourth floors. I have their exact locations."
"Ambassador, we've found them," Kirk said. "We'll be right there."
The next hour was filled with quiet orders, furrowed brows and clenched fists. The Enterprise's scans helped the Kalpharian unit find the bombs one by one. They were all connected to explode at the simultaneously, so the teams had to split up and disable each one at the exact same time.
Spock coordinated the effort and when everyone was in place, he gave the go ahead.
"Now."
Everyone held their breath. Then sighs of relief were heard over comm units all over the building.
"It's off."
"Disabled, commander."
"Off."
"All clear."
The small crowd outside smiled and patted each other on the back. Kirk walked over to McCoy and grinned.
"Well, that was fun," he said.
"You really should re-evaluate your definition of that word," McCoy said shaking his head.
"You're such a mood killer," Kirk said.
Drs. Hall and Owen came from the other side of the complex where they had been asked to remain until the danger had passed. Dr. Owen still had a trace of a limp in his leg from the incident earlier in the day, but his eyes were keen and focused.
"Captain, doctor," he said as he drew near. "This is becoming intolerable. We cannot continue this way."
"I believe that was the saboteur's intention, doctor," Kirk said.
Spock approached them. "The bombs have all been diffused, captain. I think we should speak to the person who alerted the ambassador."
"I agree," the captain said. He hesitated and then stepped close to Dr. Owen and spoke in a soft voice to the scientist. McCoy frowned as the scientist at first looked concerned and then looked resigned. Dr. Owen nodded and motioned for Dr. Hall. He whispered something in her ear that made her eyes widen. She sighed and placed a hand on Dr. Hall's arm. Then talking into her comm, she walked away quickly.
Kirk nodded at a security officer who inclined her head and joined Dr. Hall.
Kirk rejoined McCoy and Spock and along with Dr. Owen they headed towards the Kalpharians.
"Care to share with the rest of the class?" McCoy asked.
"All in good time, Bones," Kirk said.
"You and your flair for the dramatics," McCoy said shaking his head.
They walked over to where Ambassador Ruthan was standing with the governor and a group of officials.
The governor's face was still pale and showed the stress of the situation, but he attempted to be genial as the Starfleet officers approached.
"Thank you, captain, for the aid you provided," Governor Xanphar said. "It was only through your scans we were able to find the bombs so quickly."
"You are very welcome," Kirk said.
"You might also be pleased to hear that we have the persons responsible in custody," Ruthan said.
"Then I think we should have a word with them. Don't you think?" Kirk asked.
"Now, captain?" Ruthan asked frowning.
"Now, ambassador," Dr. Owen said, his voice quiet and strong.
Next
The basin was filling quickly and the water had risen to her waist. Her fingers were numb from holding onto the pipe, blood trickled down from where the handcuffs dug into her wrists. She watched the red drip into the murky water.
Not like this, she thought. Not like this.
Then she saw a reed drifting towards her.
McCoy did his best to hide his yawn, but knew Spock caught it by the way he raised his eyebrow.
"Are we boring you, Bones?" Kirk asked not looking up from the roster of research scientists.
"Oh, no," McCoy said. "I often stay awake all night looking at random people's biographies in the hopes that one of them will say, 'Hey! I'm a sociopath who enjoys using remote detonated bombs and has a serious issue with rice stemming from a terrible incident in my childhood with a bowl of rice pudding.'"
Despite himself, Kirk chuckled. "So I did interrupt something earlier when I commed you?"
McCoy ground his teeth together and kept silent. Kirk just grinned and went back to the profile he was reading.
Spock merely tilted his head and said, "Have you and Lieutenant Chapel not resolved your current disagreement?"
McCoy choked on a breath and Kirk snorted.
"What the hell do you know about it?" McCoy asked Spock.
"I simply know what Lieutenant Uhura has said," Spock replied. "Namely that you and Nurse Chapel have had difficulty communicating. If there is anything I can do to be of assistance, doctor-"
"I will personally inject myself with Antarian measles, thank you, Spock," McCoy said quickly.
"I fail to see how that would help you doctor, but you are most welcome," Spock said.
Kirk covered his mouth to hide his grin.
The three continued to read the data they had requested from Dr. Hall on all the employees on the research team.
McCoy rubbed his eyes and wondered if they could even come close to determining someone's guilt from a curriculum vitae. Still, it was something to do while they waited for the worst to happen. At least he'd been able to change out of his attire from earlier and into his standard uniform.
"Hmmm," Kirk said his brow furrowing.
"Find something?" McCoy asked.
"Maybe," he said. "Maybe nothing. Why does the outpost Torpus Beta sound familiar?"
"I believe that was where Starfleet found evidence of the Syndicate's influence on the local culture," Spock said. "However, they had moved on by the time Starfleet was made aware of the threat."
"Interesting," Kirk said. "Which brings me to my next question: why—" Kirk's comm unit chimed and he answered absently, "Kirk, here."
"Captain! This is Ambassador Ruthan. You must come to the science facility immediately!"
"Slow down, ambassador," Kirk said rising to his feet, McCoy looking up from his PADD and Spock straightening. "What's going on?"
"There is a bomb in the facility!" Ruthan said his voice tight with tension. "We have no idea where. We've already started the evacuation procedure. But we must find it."
"Calm down. I'll get the Enterprise to scan for explosive devices," Kirk said as he headed to the door, McCoy and Spock following, Spock already speaking to the Enterprise to get them to initiate a scan of the building.
"Do you have engineers who can deal with it once it's found?" Kirk asked the ambassador.
"Yes, we do. They're in place," Ruthan said.
"Excellent," Kirk said. The men hurried down the stairs of their quarters and out into the courtyard. "Ambassador, how did you hear about this?"
"One of the guides," he said. "She came forward and told us. I have a team searching for the men responsible now."
"I see," Kirk said.
"Captain," Spock said. "The Enterprise has located the explosives. They are on the second and fourth floors. I have their exact locations."
"Ambassador, we've found them," Kirk said. "We'll be right there."
The next hour was filled with quiet orders, furrowed brows and clenched fists. The Enterprise's scans helped the Kalpharian unit find the bombs one by one. They were all connected to explode at the simultaneously, so the teams had to split up and disable each one at the exact same time.
Spock coordinated the effort and when everyone was in place, he gave the go ahead.
"Now."
Everyone held their breath. Then sighs of relief were heard over comm units all over the building.
"It's off."
"Disabled, commander."
"Off."
"All clear."
The small crowd outside smiled and patted each other on the back. Kirk walked over to McCoy and grinned.
"Well, that was fun," he said.
"You really should re-evaluate your definition of that word," McCoy said shaking his head.
"You're such a mood killer," Kirk said.
Drs. Hall and Owen came from the other side of the complex where they had been asked to remain until the danger had passed. Dr. Owen still had a trace of a limp in his leg from the incident earlier in the day, but his eyes were keen and focused.
"Captain, doctor," he said as he drew near. "This is becoming intolerable. We cannot continue this way."
"I believe that was the saboteur's intention, doctor," Kirk said.
Spock approached them. "The bombs have all been diffused, captain. I think we should speak to the person who alerted the ambassador."
"I agree," the captain said. He hesitated and then stepped close to Dr. Owen and spoke in a soft voice to the scientist. McCoy frowned as the scientist at first looked concerned and then looked resigned. Dr. Owen nodded and motioned for Dr. Hall. He whispered something in her ear that made her eyes widen. She sighed and placed a hand on Dr. Hall's arm. Then talking into her comm, she walked away quickly.
Kirk nodded at a security officer who inclined her head and joined Dr. Hall.
Kirk rejoined McCoy and Spock and along with Dr. Owen they headed towards the Kalpharians.
"Care to share with the rest of the class?" McCoy asked.
"All in good time, Bones," Kirk said.
"You and your flair for the dramatics," McCoy said shaking his head.
They walked over to where Ambassador Ruthan was standing with the governor and a group of officials.
The governor's face was still pale and showed the stress of the situation, but he attempted to be genial as the Starfleet officers approached.
"Thank you, captain, for the aid you provided," Governor Xanphar said. "It was only through your scans we were able to find the bombs so quickly."
"You are very welcome," Kirk said.
"You might also be pleased to hear that we have the persons responsible in custody," Ruthan said.
"Then I think we should have a word with them. Don't you think?" Kirk asked.
"Now, captain?" Ruthan asked frowning.
"Now, ambassador," Dr. Owen said, his voice quiet and strong.
Next
