Crisis of Consciousness

by Dave Galanter

  “An inert solid to us, perhaps,” Spock proposed. “But many compounds are inert until a catalyst is introduced.”

  “Scientists did experiment on the compound, with all known catalysts.” Tainler’s lips puckered in the negative. “They found nothing.”

  “Indeed.” Spock emphasized his point with a raised brow. “All known catalysts.”

  “One can’t experiment with the unknown.” Tainler’s tone was defensive, and Kirk assumed she was feeling put-upon by all the recent revelations. Having an assumed-long-dead civilization return and claim your home had to shake the Maabas to their core.

  “I meant no offense,” Spock said. “I merely suggest that there may be a science here to which we are unaccustomed.”

  Rolling her head in acceptance of that, Tainler was demure.

  “Are there Kenisian computer banks here?” Spock asked.

  “Yes,” Pippenge said. “They are still at the end of that hallway.” The ambassador pointed toward a hatchway.

  “They were accessed and copied, but never translated,” Tainler provided.

  “In fact,” the ambassador said, “it was one of the first items the scientific exchange between our people and the Federation was going to undertake. We know you have a larger xenolinguistic database.”

  The database, Kirk realized, might not be necessary. If the Kenisians were truly Vulcan offshoots, then Spock might be able to decipher the ancient archives.

  The Vulcan clearly had the same idea. “I will need access to those records.”

  Pippenge did not hesitate. “Of course. Tainler?”

  “The system should have them.” She moved to activate a series of switches on the console in front of them.

  Kirk’s communicator beeped, and he excused himself. Taking a step to the side, he flipped it open.

  “Kirk here.”

  “Scott here, sir. The Kenisian vessel is gone.”

  The Kenisian ship had been at the extreme range of the Enterprise’s sensors. Maybe it was gone, or maybe it was just out of sensor range. “Mister Scott, I want you to survey the system. See if you can find them.”

  “Leave orbit, sir?”

  “I need to know if they’ve gone or are just hiding.”

  “Aye, sir.” Scott sounded skeptical. Or, more likely, his mother-hen concern was poking through.

  “Drop back into orbit every two hours to make contact if it makes you feel better.”

  “Aye, it would.”

  “Kirk out.”

  “Is there a problem?” the ambassador asked.

  “Overprotective chief engineer,” Kirk told Pippenge with a smile.

  The captain turned toward Spock and Tainler and peered past them to the console display. The screen was filled with both Maabas characters and glyphs that looked vaguely Vulcan. Not that the captain was an expert on either language.

  Kirk knew Spock would report as soon as he’d learned anything. But with the Kenisian vessel unaccounted for, the captain needed answers now.

  “What have you found?”

  “The language in the Kenisian databank is similar to some ancient Vulcan dialects, though I believe it may have more in common with certain Romulan patois. Interestingly, I even see some roots in common with ancient—”

  “Spock.”

  His first officer understood, but wasn’t able to help. “I’m sorry, sir. Nothing as yet.”

  Kirk sighed, and he turned away, allowing Spock and Tainler to return to their work.

  The captain decided they should take advantage of the extra computer stations. He clapped his hands together eagerly. “Lieutenant Palamas, bring your tricorder. We’re going to see if we can’t learn something ourselves.”

  Kirk wasn’t sure whether scanning the Maabas databanks would be useful or not, but he had to keep active. There was always the possibility that they might discover something Spock and Tainler wouldn’t.

  After a while, he found nothing of import. His anthropology and archaeology officer, however, was having a field day.

  “This is remarkable,” Palamas said yet again. “The Maabas found a computer with near sentience that they were able to reverse-engineer in under ten years. That’s an amazing feat given the limitations of their scanning equipment at the time. In fact, that helped them improve their sensors so much that future discoveries accelerated threefold.”

  “Interesting, Lieutenant,” the captain said, “but not especially helpful.”

  “Sir,” she said, “this could be quite useful in mapping a more complete technological record. We should be able to trace back exactly which technologies were influenced by the ruins and which were more inspired by original Maabas innovation.”

  “But what are the Kenisians looking for?”

  She nodded. “Oh, of course. I’m sorry, sir.”

  “It’s easy to get distracted.” The last thing Kirk wanted to discourage in his people was the thirst for knowledge.

  As they continued their investigation, every so often Palamas would chime in with another factoid about the ruins that wasn’t especially pertinent. After two hours, Scott checked in, but had no news. There was no sign of the Kenisian ship.

  Soon after Scotty’s report, Spock called the captain over.

  The Enterprise officers stepped over to the console where Spock and Tainler were working. Pippenge and McCoy gathered close behind. Kirk asked, “You’ve found something?”

  “Yes,” Spock said, and he gestured to a graphic of a molecular bond as it rotated on the screen in front of them. “This is the inert compound the Maabas scientists found, but thought useless.”

  Staring at it, Kirk searched his memory for something similar. Chemistry wasn’t his strongest subject at the Academy. “I don’t recognize it,” he said.

  “Neither do I,” McCoy said.

  Pippenge made a face that seemed to say “Don’t ask me.”

  The captain raised his hands, palms up. “Spock.”

  “It is unknown to Federation science, but according to this data, it is a synthetic composite with qualities similar to paralithium, dilithium, and trilithium.”

  “Synthetic dilithium?” Kirk was aghast, and he shared a concerned glance with McCoy and Palamas.

  “I do not understand,” Pippenge said, his brow furrowed in worry.

  “Dilithum is used in controlling warp propulsion and is inert,” Spock said matter-of-factly. “But this synthetic dilithium is not, despite sharing certain qualities with the inert dilithium. These notes suggest that it is highly unstable with the correct catalyst.”

  “Our scientists ran simulations,” Tainler said. “It’s not an explosive. Not with any catalyst we attempted.”

  “But it is housed,” Kirk pointed with his thumb to the hatchways behind them, “kilometers underground.”

  “With good reason,” Spock said. “While we may not know the catalyst that would unleash its destructive power, this is not a compound one would create and keep in high quantity without reason.”

  “The Kenisians know what the catalyst is,” Kirk said.

  “Doubtless,” Spock agreed.

  “But,” said Kirk, pacing and thinking aloud, “they don’t have this synthetic dilithium. And they need it.”

  “What’s it called?” McCoy’s voice was thick and his blue eyes were a bit glazed over. The captain knew him well enough to know that the doctor was considering all the dangerous, explosive possibilities.

  Spock checked the display. “It has been labeled Iikum na’hubis.”

  “Iikum is an old Vulcan word for compound,” Palamas said.

  “Correct.” Impressed, Spock nodded toward the A&A officer.

  “I’ve studied the ancient civilizations of all the Federation’s founding members, sir,” she said proudly.

  “It must be difficult to synthesize,” Kirk said, shrugging toward the hatchways. “Or they wouldn’t need to raid this ancient warehouse.”

  “There is one more thing,” Spock told them.

 
McCoy bristled. “Isn’t there always?”

  Spock explained, “I don’t believe the containers in which this compound is stored are merely holding vessels. They may be prototype weapons.”

  “Torpedoes?” Kirk asked.

  “More like mines.” Spock flipped two switches, and the display changed to a picture of one of the ancient Kenisian weapons. “There is no delivery system, no primer, no catalyst, but I believe there are chambers within the containers intended to hold the catalyst when called for.”

  Kirk frowned. “This was a weapons factory.”

  “A testing facility, but it amounts to the same.”

  “They want to destroy us.” Pippenge’s voice wavered, and he nervously stroked his hair between the two thumbs of his left hand. He looked to Tainler, who appeared equally worried.

  “No, they don’t,” Kirk assured them.

  Spock motioned to the display. “If the na’hubis is as powerful as the data suggest, using it would destroy not only this planet, but the entire solar system.”

  “Damn,” McCoy whispered.

  “Mister Ambassador, the Kenisians want the na’hubis. There is no logic in destroying what you hope to claim.”

  “With respect, Mister Spock,” Pippenge said shakily, “for good or ill, people are often motivated by motives other than logic.”

  “How much of this na’hubis is here?” Kirk asked.

  “Fourteen containers, if these records are correct. Enough to destroy an entire space sector, if detonated properly.”

  “Properly?” McCoy snapped. “How is a detonation that destroys a space sector proper?”

  “Please calm yourself, Doctor. ‘Proper’ meaning a correct process for a specific end. I was not making a moral judgment.”

  McCoy opened his mouth to respond but Kirk shook his head slightly, warning him off.

  “And the danger to my people?” Pippenge asked again.

  “None,” Spock said. “Again, without the proper catalyst, it is, as your scientists found, quite harmless.”

  “Why go to war to acquire it?” Kirk tried to rub a knot of tension from his neck, but it wasn’t going away.

  “Perhaps to protect it,” Spock suggested. “I’m not familiar enough with the compound to be certain. However, it could be used to produce a chain reaction, and that might cascade out of control, destroying more than one’s intended target.”

  “A doomsday device?” Palamas asked.

  Kirk shook his head. “Let’s hope not.”

  “The Kenisians’ intent is unknown,” Spock said grimly. “But the possibility of wide-scale destruction cannot be ruled out.”

  “They may not know what they have,” Palamas suggested.

  Tainler was now panicking. “Might they fear that we’ve made it into a weapon?”

  “Their intensive scans were probably checking to see if you had weaponized the na’hubis.” Kirk nodded toward the display on the console.

  “But we haven’t. They know we haven’t, don’t they? Does that mean they will leave us in peace?” Pippenge asked.

  “Unlikely.” Spock toggled a switch, and the view returned to the basic data on the compound. “Considering their actions, the Kenisians may want to continue the experiments they were conducting thousands of years ago.”

  Kirk stepped away from them, studying the consoles and the hatchways. “It’s more urgent than that.” The captain wasn’t sure if he was getting that feeling from having talked to Zhatan and the personalities within her or from when she force mind-melded with him. Somehow it must have come from her. Otherwise why would he know that the Kenisians were on a timetable?

  “They want these containers.”

  “Mines,” McCoy corrected.

  “Why do they need them?” Kirk asked. “How many other installations are there like this? How much of this compound has been stored elsewhere?”

  Spock checked the computer again, scrolling through a series of reports in the Kenisian language. “If I interpret this correctly—I can only surmise—”

  Kirk didn’t care about the qualification. “How many, Spock?”

  “I believe this was a unique installation. It is possible the Kenisians hoped this weapon would end their war, but did not have time to complete it.”

  “If they had, how would they have even used it? They’d destroy their own planet just to keep invaders out? ‘If I can’t have it, no one can’?” McCoy’s tone was thoroughly irritated, as if the Kenisians who designed the weapon were in the room.

  “It is not a rational plan. But if they’re Vulcan—” Palamas began.

  McCoy cut her off. “A modern Vulcan wouldn’t. But one without logic?”

  Spock agreed. “We were brutal and heartless before embracing Surak’s teachings. My world was devastated by war after war.” He paused. “It was not rational, but savage and vicious.”

  “They obviously don’t have the means to re-create the na’hubis.” Kirk turned directly to Pippenge. “We need to get rid of it. The Enterprise isn’t back yet. When Mister Scott returns, I can have a team beamed down to remove it all. With your permission.”

  “I— I don’t know,” Pippenge stammered. He was an ambassador, not a head of state. “I’d have to consult the Court. President Moberte would have to authorize—”

  “We may not have time for that.” Kirk pulled out his communicator and flipped it open. “Kirk to Enterprise.” He nodded toward Pippenge. “The ship may be in range. I’ll need you to contact your President and get clearance for us to beam down the proper equipment.”

  “I will do so now.” The ambassador looked away, nervously making his call.

  “Kirk to Enterprise.” The captain fussed with his communicator’s dials. “Kirk to Enterprise.” Even without the ship in orbit, there should be some kind of response signal showing a channel was open. There wasn’t. “Spock.”

  Instantly, Spock drew his tricorder from the lip of the console where he’d set it down. He began scanning and pulled his own communicator out to watch what happened when it tried to open a frequency. “Jammed.”

  Kirk knew it, but needed the science officer to confirm. “Try to find the source, Spock. We have very little time.” He turned to Pippenge. “I need to see those containers.”

  The ambassador nervously stroked his hair. “Tainler can escort you.”

  “I have the plans to the site.” Tainler moved toward one of the hatchways. “Follow me, please.”

  Kirk ordered Palamas, “Recall the elevator. Let Kaalburg and Ottenbrite know to be on their guard.”

  “Aye, sir.” She walked toward the elevator.

  The captain turned to follow Tainler.

  McCoy called after him. “Jim, what’s going on?”

  His useless communicator held tightly in his right hand, the captain looked solemnly at his friend. “A fable is coming true.”

  “Captain Kirk, wait.” Pippenge ran after him. “Please explain. A fable?”

  On his way through the hatch Tainler had opened, Kirk stopped to meet the ambassador’s eyes. “The demons are coming, Mister Ambassador.”

  THE CAPTAIN AND TAINLER returned to the central control room after only two minutes. They found Pippenge nervously pacing, shedding hair into his hand and onto his robes: loose strands of both dark and white had fallen and were laying oddly across his breast.

  A bit out of breath, Kirk huffed to Spock, “What about the jamming? Can you tell where it’s coming from?”

  “From here.”

  They all looked toward the elevator, its doors now open. Zhatan stood inside, flanked by two heavily armed soldiers. A third hulking soldier held a squirming Palamas. He pointed a weapon to the A&A officer’s head. It looked like a cross between a Romulan disruptor and an ancient Vulcan laser pistol, which suggested some cultural designs were deep-seeded.

  “My men.” Kirk instantly thought of Kaalburg and Ottenbrite.

  “You might say they, too, are ‘jammed.’ ” Zhatan didn’t smile. She didn’t s
eem to be enjoying this as much as her words might suggest.

  Kirk hoped his men weren’t dead. Perhaps there was a Kenisian neck pinch. They had a weapon to Palamas’s head but hadn’t shot her. So there was a chance.

  “I knew you weren’t gone.” Kirk wouldn’t play games by asking Zhatan what she wanted. They all knew. He only hoped to delay her long enough that Scott would return, get no answer to his hails, and beam down a security team.

  “You’re an insightful commander,” Zhatan said. She motioned in a way that encompassed them all. “Remove your weapons and communications devices, please.”

  With Kirk’s nod, the landing party removed their equipment and placed everything on the lip of the console. As the captain lay down his phaser, he pulled Palamas away from the Kenisians and moved her behind him.

  “As proficient as you are,” Zhatan continued, “we are better. Collectively we have hundreds of years more experience than you.”

  “Experience, but not wisdom,” Kirk said, hoping to engage her in debate now that Palamas was out of direct danger. “Why do this to the Maabas? You could have a home here. With them. In peace.”

  “Peace,” Zhatan said bitterly, “no longer interests us.”

  SIX

  Ordering them to lead the way, the Kenisian commander directed the Enterprise officers and the Maabas to move through the hatchway that led to the ancient facility. For reasons she didn’t care to divulge, Zhatan needed the original computer banks.

  In an attempt to stall until the Enterprise returned, Kirk was happy enough to go along.

  “How did you manage to return to the system without my ship detecting you?” he asked her.

  “We’re more clever than you may credit us, Captain.”

  “Oh, I credit you quite a lot.”

  “We sense some disdain in your tone.”

  “Do you?” Kirk tried to slacken his pace so he could hang back and get closer to Zhatan, but the guard who’d threatened Palamas—a large cross between a Vulcan and a Neanderthal—pushed him forward. Of the three guards, he was the biggest and seemed focused on Kirk. The other two held their weapons on Spock and the lieutenant, and McCoy, Pippenge, and Tainler respectively.

  “If we were as vile as you think us,” Zhatan said, “would we not kill you where you stand? We do not need you.”