Chapter Text
Where No Man Has Gone Before
As he rushed down the corridor that was leading to the science department, Kirk noticed a strange feeling in his guts. The last few hours were finally catching up with him. The Hoffmann 7 probe had replied and they knew that Scotty, Lieutenants Brown and Monet had re-materialised. But where the three men had ended up was written in the colloquial stars. It was also concerning that Scotty hadn’t send a follow up message, which made Kirk wonder if they were unable to do so because they were incapacitated or if the probe had malfunctioned after the initial message had been sent.
Jim's intuition was telling him not to wait for a second message. If Scotty had deemed it necessary to warn them not to follow, he would have communicated this in his first message. But Kirk also knew that Scotty knew him too well. The CEO was well aware that Kirk would ignore such a warning anyway. The captain was not one to abandon crewmembers, not as long as there was hope to rescue them. He wanted to get help and support to the three men now.
Kirk's legs seemed unusually weak as he struggled to maintain his fast pace. After the longest of days and the shortest of nights, during which he only got two hours of sleep, the captain felt exhaustion in every fibre of his body. McCoy's famous brew of Columbian coffee had only had a momentary effect on his metabolism and he had been wide-awake and alert during the emergency meeting. But the worry over the missing men exhausted the captain more than any sleep-deprivation. Kirk decided to ignore his tiredness. Sleep had to wait until further notice. But he would allow himself a quick breather, Jim decided, as he leaned against the corridor wall, the emergency meeting still fresh in his mind.
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2 hours earlier
Lieutenant Riley's news had made everyone in the conference room smile again. Even Spock had allowed himself an audible sigh of relief.
At the meeting, Kirk had agreed to Spock's proposal to send a second landing party to the coordinates of the Hoffmann 7 probe and the three missing men. Everyone present agreed that time was of the essence. If the men were injured, they’d be in urgent need of medical attention. If the probe had malfunctioned after the first message had been sent, they’d never receive the landing party’s coordinates unless it was repaired or another form of communication could be established.
As there was no confirmed incident of anyone being transported to another galaxy through a wormhole before, Spock theorised that, in all likelihood, the three men were somewhere within the Milky Way galaxy. Although, he also noted, just because there was no evidence of something never having occurred before, didn’t mean that it couldn’t occur at all. Most importantly though, Spock concluded, logic dictated that even if the landing party had found themselves in another galaxy, the fact that Scott, Brown, Monet and the probe had been transported through the wormhole and had been able to communicate back, meant that there was at least the possibility that this process could be reversed and the men could be beamed back. All that was required for such an attempt, was that the Enterprise would receive the coordinates of the men’s location.
Beaming anything, let alone a human body, to another galaxy was impossible, that much was certain. But if it turned out that the landing party had indeed ended up in a galaxy other than the Milky Way, they would have proof that beaming through the intergalactic ‘shortcut’ a wormhole provided, was possible. As long as the wormhole was present and didn’t disappear again, either temporarily or for good. So, time was of the essence to act and send a rescue team to Scotty, Brown and Monet’s aid before this shortcut vanished again.
Jim knew that he had to agree to a second landing party. They had the opportunity to send a rescue team after them and it was logical to do so. But they had no idea what awaited them on the other side. Or if they’d ever return. It was incredibly dangerous and the idea to send more men into the unknown, made Jim shudder inside.
Just as Kirk started to voice his agreement to Spock's suggestion to deploy a second landing party, McCoy interrupted him and volunteered for the mission. As chief medical officer, his participation was essential. Kirk bestowed his friend with an unreadable look but before he could respond, Spock volunteered as well, arguing it was logical that he should be part of the landing party due to his technological and scientific knowledge. If Hoffmann 7 had been damaged and Mr Scott was incapacitated, he would be able to repair the probe. Or, alternatively, modify their communicators to attempt to send messages through the wormhole back to the ship.
Jim knew, if someone would find a way back for the two landing parties, it would be his first officer.
With a quick wave, Kirk delayed the discussion about personnel until they had discussed the actual plan. Pressing his lips together tightly, McCoy crossed his arms at the captain’s reluctance to agree to his offer to volunteer. Spock raised an eyebrow toward his CO and mirrored McCoy's reaction perfectly by crossing his arms in the same, stubborn manner. United against their captain, Spock and McCoy's expressions send a clear message to their mutual friend: 'You might not like it Jim, but we'll go anyway!'
Kirk privately wondered how two as fundamentally different people as his friends still managed to gang up on him. Looking at the stubborn expressions on their faces - McCoy's open and angry, Spock's subtle and perplexed - Jim realised that his CSO and CMO were united by their extreme pig-headedness. They had more in common than they would ever admit.
Spock’s proposed rescue plan outlined the following: Like before, Lieutenant Kyle would use the automatic repeat function of the transporter and the second landing party would be beamed directly to where the probe had been when it transmitted its message back. The missing men would most likely be nearby.
After both landing parties had reunited and assessed the situation, all men would then come to an agreement if beaming back through the wormhole was deemed possible and safe from where they were. This cause of action required that they were able to communicate their coordinates back to the ship, either via the probe or through other available means. Spock and Kyle’s current assumption was that as the beaming process had worked one way through the wormhole, nothing at this moment in time suggested that it couldn’t work just as well the other way. But such a judgement could only be made from the other side when conditions in that location had been analysed. Due to the damages to the transporter, it was only possible to beam out but not to beam anyone back right now. But Kyle and Spock had concluded that only a few more days were required to repair it fully so the men wouldn’t have to hold out for long.
The other scenario Spock outlined, concerned the possibility that the men determined that it wasn’t safe or possible to beam back through the wormhole. In that case, if the landing party was located in this galaxy and at a retrievable distance, they would communicate their intentions back to the ship so that either the Enterprise or the nearest Federation outpost could retrieve them. So far so good. It was at this moment during Spock’s elaborations, that Kirk asked his FO to pause.
Looking grave and determined in equal measure, the captain ordered that if the men would find themselves trapped in another galaxy, or if they encountered any other situation that made rescue or a return journey impossible, it would be Mr Spock's decision as commanding officer how to proceed under such circumstances. The FO would be in command and make the decisive decisions, however hard they might be. Kirk made clear that he trusted the first officer without reservation and that he was certain that he would always act with the best interests of the missing men in mind.
McCoy frowned at Kirk's clear words, but remained silent. He trusted Spock implicitly when it came to scientific or technological matters. But when it came to emotional aspects of such a risky and uncertain mission, he wasn't so sure. And the possible situations Spock had just outlined left a lot of room for a lot of different emotions, Bones concluded privately.
Even though Kirk had initially delayed his decision regarding personnel, when the discussion turned to the subject at the end of the meeting, he didn't have to think about it for long. He wanted to keep the landing party as small, but also as strong and efficient as possible. Mr Spock as Chief Science Officer and Dr McCoy as Chief Medical Officer were the obvious choices. He did not like it, but both his friends were essential personnel for such a mission. But Jim didn't dislike the idea to send Spock and McCoy into uncertainty just because they were his friends. There was also another reason. He would have to have a word with them before they left.
Jim was convinced that the third and final member of the rescue party could only be Pavel Chekov. From his own experience, Jim intuitively knew that the young man would want to give everything to rectify any possible mistake he might have made.
When Jim shared his decision with the other officers at the meeting, the ensign looked up at his captain, wide-eyed. It was the first time that the Russian had lifted his head since the meeting had started. Kirk underpinned his order with a small, encouraging smile and Chekov replied with a heartfelt “Yes, Sair”. Kirk detected surprise but also sincere gratefulness in the navigator’s eyes, which confirmed to him that he had made the right decision.
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After the emergency meeting, Spock and McCoy headed towards the science lab while Lieutenants Kyle and Mendelson went back to the transporter room to continue with the repairs. After a quick visit to the bridge, Kirk also headed towards the science department to oversee the preparations of the rescue party.
When the captain entered the lab he was greeted by McCoy's passionate protest. The doctor deemed a third landing party member unnecessary. Kirk managed to silence his friend by giving a convincing reason for his decision.
"Bones, we need a navigator out there with excellent knowledge of space geography. Star mapping is one of Chekov's specialist areas of expertise. Plus, I know that he is dying to come along, the boy wants to redeem himself!"
McCoy could only sigh and shrug his shoulders at this. Of course, Jim was right. But he didn't have to like it anyway. At this moment the coms unit beeped and Lieutenant Kyle contacted them from the transporter room with significant news.
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While Spock and McCoy were packing their backpacks with as much scientific instruments, nutrition and water, medi kits and emergency blankets they could possibly carry, Chekov was busy in the library next door. He was transferring as much astro-geographical data onto his tricorder as possible and also packed his own backpack. When he finished, he allowed himself to sit down for a moment and reflect on what just had happened.
Mr Spock and Captain Kirk had just informed him that Lieutenant Kyle had managed to repair a part of the transporter computer bank. As a result, Kyle had been able to prove, beyond any doubt, that Chekov had transferred the correct data to the transporter after all and that it could be confirmed that it was the wormhole that caused the interference and transported the landing party to their unknown destination.
“You are not at fault, Pavel”, a smiling Kirk had told him. The captain had stood opposite him and empathetically squeezed both of his shoulders.
Why didn't he feel any relief then? It hadn’t been his mistake, and yet his actions had directly led to the men going missing. Despite Captain Kirk’s protests at his opinion, Pavel believed that being only indirectly at fault, was still being at fault.
So, all he could feel right now was eternal gratefulness towards Captain Kirk that he had chosen him to be part of the rescue party. And he vowed not disappoint him again. This was his chance to make up for it all.
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After Spock and the captain returned from the library where they had shared the good news with Chekov, McCoy couldn’t help but remind both of them of his previous concerns.
"In any case, the kid shouldn’t have been anywhere near the bridge on his first day!”
Kirk put a hand on the doctor's arm, an eager glint in his eyes.
"We’ve been through this, Bones. If Chekov is ever to learn how to function under pressure, he needs to be given the opportunity to do so. He needs to be given the chance to make mistakes. We can’t protect him from that. And we can’t protect him from feeling guilt either, may it be justified or not.”
McCoy could tell from the captain's passionate voice and fiery eyes, that he was speaking of experience. The CMO smiled gently at his friend and nodded.
The doctor's gaze suddenly drifted off, as he seemed to remember something in his distant past, a past even Jim didn't know much about. This time it was the captain who knew that McCoy was speaking from personal experience.
"I think I know what you mean, Jim. Guilt can be a man's undoing... Sometimes you wish to make a million other mistakes, just to undo this one mistake."
McCoy seemed to talk more to himself, getting quieter with every word. But not too quiet for Vulcan ears though.
"That is an illogical observation, Doctor", Spock said dryly as he put additional tricoder accumulators into his backpack.
"Call it illogical, Spock. I call it human!", McCoy blurted out, back to his grumpy, irritated self.
Jim couldn't help but feel extremely annoyed that his friends insisted to argue in his presence until the last possible moment. It was one thing that they seemed to have decided to make each other’s lives a misery, but testing their CO's nerves until breaking point was another.
Bones didn't even wait for the Vulcan's reply and quickly disappeared into the medical lab that was next to science lab. Several hypos had to be prepared. God knew what condition Scotty and his men were in.
Irritated at Spock's unnecessary comment at McCoy's personal declaration, Kirk shot an annoyed glance towards his first officer.
Spock just raised an eyebrow and closed his bulky backpack.
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30 minutes later, James Kirk headed down the corridor towards the turbo-lift that would take him to the transporter room on deck A. The time had come. In a moment, they would beam the youngest crewmember and his two best friends to an unknown destination where unknown dangers of an unknown world awaited them.
It's a good thing, Chekov is coming along, Jim told himself. The youngster's eagerness and determination would hopefully direct the focus of the two senior officers.
As the captain walked towards the turbo-lift, he slowed down involuntarily, not even noticing that he was doing so. He was dreading to see his men walk up the transporter platform. Jim always felt restless if he couldn't be part of a landing party. But with the dangerous wormhole just outside his still damaged ship, he could not leave the Enterprise and her crew alone. It was always difficult to send men onto a dangerous mission but to send them to a totally unknown destination and situation was outright painful.
Jim shook his head as if to get rid of his dark thoughts. To distract himself from his worries, he reflected on what had just happened in the science lab. A soft smile lightened up his eyes. He recalled McCoy and Spock's stubborn faces when he had finally managed to ask them to make a promise after they had finished packing their backpacks. As he entered the turbo-lift and was transported down toward deck A, Kirk remembered every moment of that difficult conversation vividly.
30 minutes previously
Spock and McCoy headed for the door, ready to go to the transporter room and to get the rescue mission underway as quickly as possible when Kirk called them back.
"One moment, Gentlemen. I'd like to have a word with you before you leave."
Spock and McCoy exchanged a quick look and turned around to face their CO.
"Yes, Captain?", his expression all innocence, Spock clasped his hands behind his back and waited patiently for Kirk to continue.
McCoy frowned and his impatience was evident in his voice.
"A great time to have a chit chat, Jim. Can't it wait?"
Kirk took a deep breath, seemingly searching for the right words to begin his speech but he needn't have worried. Leave it to his friends to get the conversation under way. Spock glanced sideways at the doctor who was nervously bouncing on his toes.
"I'm sure the Captain has a logical reason to delay us for a few moments, Doctor."
"I really wish you'd have to pay me a credit every time you say that blasted word! I could retire tomorrow!"
Kirk sighed and held his hands towards his friends as if he was pleading with them.
"That's the reason why it can't wait, Bones!"
McCoy frowned and Spock looked puzzled.
"What in blazes is that supposed to mean?"
"What do you think, Doctor?", Kirk shook his head in frustration.
Suddenly feeling very tired, the captain sat down at one of the small tables in the lab and gestured McCoy and Spock to follow suit. When they hesitated, he encouraged them with a gentle smile.
For a moment McCoy forgot his worries about the imminent mission. The last 24 hours had left a toll on all of them. And Jim Kirk was no exception. He looked exhausted. But at the same time he seemed to have something important on his mind that couldn't wait. And the doctor had a suspicion what it was that troubled his captain so much that he deemed it necessary to delay them. This would not be fun.
Reluctantly, Bones sat down opposite Jim. Spock hesitated for a moment but sat down as well.
"You know what I worry about most regarding this rescue mission?", Kirk said with a heavy sigh he didn't make an effort to suppress.
McCoy frowned, while Spock lifted his right eyebrow – it was unusual for the captain to admit he was worried, even less so to speak of what troubled him. Spock offered some assistance to Kirk who still seemed to struggle to find the right words.
"There are a lot of unknown factors that could complicate this mission and that can't be defined before we embark. Hence, they are in the realms of speculation, Captain. Therefore, I propose not to worry about them before they occur."
McCoy bit his lip at this; he instinctively knew that Spock was on the wrong track here, and deliberately so. The Vulcan disliked talking about their difficult relationship just as much as he did. That much they had in common.
Bones knew that Jim had the utmost confidence in himself and Spock; that they would give their best to return to the ship safely with the three missing men. He was sure that the captain wasn't worried about their professional abilities.
He also knew that Spock's attempt just now to put Kirk's mind at ease had been good intentioned. The Vulcan, in his unique and probably only way possible to him, had tried to convey optimism to Jim, but also to him. Bones feared that his own agitation wasn't escaping the sharp senses of the man next to him. Nor the man opposite.
The CMO harrumphed several times, crossed his arms and stared grumpily into the void, unable to look at the captain.
Jim crossed his hands calmly on the table in front of him. He bestowed a gentle smile on Spock.
"In principal, I agree with you, Mr Spock. But unfortunately I can already think of one complication that will occur for certain."
Jim looked from one to the other, like a father looks at his unruly children, hoping that a mere look will make them realise their faults.
Spock knew that Jim had to be referring to some kind of emotional issue and he calmly folded his hands in his lap. Being half-Vulcan, half-Human, it was a great challenge for him to deal with emotions sufficiently. Consequently, he had come to the logical conclusion a while ago to trust his sensitive commanding officer in such matters. No matter how complex or difficult the circumstances, if need be, Jim would always give him useful advice on how to deal with emotions. The Vulcan's eyes remained fixed onto his friend's face, calmly waiting for him to continue.
Bones had understood Jim's hint perfectly well too, with the result that he got even more irritable. The captain was treating them like misbehaving children! How on earth could Spock remain so calm and collected! This was about the Vulcan as much as it was about his own good self.
"If you're referring to me and Mr Hobgoblin here, I can assure you ..."
"That the Good Doctor will give in to the logic of the situation and assist me in rationally finding a way to safely return the landing party to the ship. And ourselves", Spock finished the sentence poignantly.
The captain nodded and smiled even though his CMO's angry face turned a dark red. Jim quickly reached over the small table and touched his friends' arms.
"Spock, Bones, I want you to promise me something."
He sounded gentle, concerned, but determined at the same time.
"I can't ask you to promise that you will return safely to the Enterprise, as I can't ask you to promise something you might not be able to keep. But there is something I know that both of you can do, that will increase the chances of a successful mission significantly."
Spock took a deep breath that to his dismay must have been audible to the captain and the doctor. He privately admitted his awe at Jim's ability to always voice his deepest, most personal concerns when it was necessary, when it was logical, to do so.
Bones' eyes held Jim's pleading gaze, not looking away this time. He knew that whatever the CO would ask of him now, he was willing to promise. It wasn't so much a matter of obeying a captain's order, but of honouring a friend's trust. But it wouldn't be easy.
"You have to promise me, that you will work together to the best of your abilities and do what you seem to be incapable of most of the time but I know you aren't..."
Jim stared at their stony faces, their stubbornness expressed by Spock's raised eyebrows and McCoy's pressed lips.
“Get on for crying out loud!”, Jim blurted out. Why was such a simple request so difficult to voice?
The embarrassed silence that followed gave the CO a moment to reflect on his wish. He usually didn't mind his friends' constant bickering and lively, quick- witted banter. On the contrary, more often than not it made him smile. Sure, sometimes he had to put his foot down and end their otherwise endless discussions, as neither his FO nor his CMO would ever back down. But if they wouldn't argue at any given opportunity, something would be missing from life aboard the Enterprise. Somehow this simple fact of their lives seemed to reassure them, and it sure as hell reassured him.
Jim knew that Bones argued with Spock to prove his point that emotions were necessary. McCoy felt that the science officer wasn't doing himself or anyone else any favours by suppressing his human half. And Spock never got tired to confront Bones with his illogical behaviour. The Vulcan believed it was his duty to remind the doctor that he was suffering from a regrettable lack of rationality.
But Jim had always suspected there was an additional reason for McCoy and Spock's relentless arguments. A good reason. Why else would they jump at any opportunity to exchange their own brand of pleasantries? Why, despite their apparent strong dislike for one another, would they regularly seek each other's attention, even presence? The two of them probably weren't even aware of a subconscious motivation themselves.
Jim suspected that the other reason why Spock and McCoy argued all the time was because they both were too stubborn and too proud to admit that their nemesis was actually a friend. To themselves, to one another and to everyone else as well. Including their mutual best friend. But by arguing all the time, by playing their 'game' that enabled them to even gang up on him at times, they were able to express their own brand of affection for one another without the need to call it that way.
Jim had the pressing feeling that this rescue mission would provide both of his officers with new insights about one another. This intuition didn't unnerve him, what did was his regret that he couldn't be there to guide them through such a process that surely would not be free of complications and challenges.
His friends' reaction to his request was nothing less but typical: Both of Spock's eyebrows disappeared into his hairline, he looked slightly baffled, innocent even. Spock was amazed that the captain could have directed such a request as 'getting on' towards him, as he always valued co-operation as a logical requirement for any successful mission.
McCoy on the other hand just crossed his arms, and moved uncomfortably in his chair. He didn't say a word, punishing Jim with his refusal to give a reply to his request.
Those two must be the most stubborn guys on this side of the galaxy, Jim thought to himself. Apart from myself of course, he noted privately with ironic self-critique.
Seeing Jim's soft smile, Bones' anger at his captain's talent to constantly ask the impossible of him, dissolved, and he risked a sideways glance at Spock. To his surprise the Vulcan looked in his direction and their eyes met. McCoy got the impression that he could detect anticipation in the FO’s eyes. Uncharacteristically, Spock seemed to wait for him to speak first.
Unfortunately, Bones felt hoarse in that precise moment for some reason. Must be the Saurian 'medicine' he had downed at regular intervals during the last 24 hours.
"Of course we can get along, Jim", Bones finally managed to mutter and he nodded in Spock's direction, "I just think it's usually easier for both of us not to."
The CMO shrugged his shoulders apologetically. Somehow he wasn't surprised when Spock nodded in agreement.
"An accurate observation, Doctor."
"Thanks, Spock", McCoy said with no trace of irony.
Jim had to smile again at the fact that the only thing Spock and Bones seemed to agree on was that they disagreed. But he knew that both of them understood his point. He looked at them expectantly. They still owned him a promise. Spock cleared his throat and answered in an uncharacteristic quiet tone.
"I promise, Jim.”
"Me too, Jim. I promise. Don't worry about us."
Bones returned his captain's benevolent look with a small smile. Spock slowly nodded at Jim, his lips straight but his eyes shining brightly.
Now, Jim Kirk was ready to let them go.