by Dayton Ward
As introductions were made, Jepolin eyed Spock with an expression of curiosity.
“Captain,” she said.
Spock nodded. “Envoy.”
“We have heard of the Vulcan people, and your long history of embracing logic over emotion. It is a subject I have always found most interesting.” Then, Jepolin brought herself up. “But I digress from matters of greater importance. Perhaps once we have addressed the reasons that have brought us to your system, we might spend time pursuing less urgent topics of conversation.”
“I welcome the opportunity,” replied the Vulcan.
After dismissing Scott—and once Spock had contacted the bridge and ordered Commander Sulu to proceed with the Enterprise escorting the Iramahl vessel to Jupiter Station—Kirk led Jepolin and her companion, Opirsa, from the transporter room. Waiting in the passageway were two security officers, whom Spock directed to maintain a discreet distance behind the group as they made their way through the corridor. Arriving at the conference room that had been prepared for use by him and the Enterprise senior officers as well as their guests, Kirk nodded to another pair of guards who stood flanking the entrance. When the door opened at his approach, he paused at the threshold, gesturing to Jepolin and Opirsa.
“After you, please.” When Jepolin paused to eye the security officers, Kirk added, “Don’t be alarmed. A security detail is standard procedure aboard a starship when guests and other non-crewmembers are brought aboard.”
Jepolin nodded, and when she smiled, it was almost as though her thin mouth might threaten to stretch her face. “I understand, Admiral Kirk. Given the circumstances of our arrival, it makes perfect sense for you to treat us with a degree of caution.”
“It’s a formality, madam,” Kirk said, following Jepolin and Opirsa into the room. The curved table had been prepared with a selection of food and beverages, both from the Enterprise’s galley as well as the Iramahl vessel. As part of his duties, Spock’s yeoman had inquired about dietary requirements and provided food and beverages for their guests.
After directing everyone to seats, Kirk took his own place at the head of the conference table. “All right, Jepolin, I think it’s safe to say that my crew and I are very interested in what you have to say.”
“Indeed,” Spock added. “Your insistence on secrecy for this discussion has also aroused our curiosity.”
Kirk had already apprised Admiral Nogura regarding the startling revelation of an Iramahl ship’s crash-landing on Earth. According to Spock’s calculations based on information provided by Jepolin, the craft had arrived at some point in the mid to late nineteenth century. There was no way to know where to even begin looking, but sensors were already being brought to bear in order to search for signs of the alien vessel as well as any remains of its crew.
Jepolin replied, “I apologize for what must seem like undue caution on my part, gentlemen, but please understand that trusting anyone from another species is not something that comes easily to us. I am afraid that is a consequence of the existence my people have endured for generations.”
“Captain Spock has enlightened us on that,” replied Kirk. “I must admit that I’d not heard of your people before today, or the plight you’ve faced.”
“That is understandable,” said Opirsa. He glanced to Jepolin, who nodded, before he continued. “Our star system is located beyond the far boundaries of one of your interstellar rivals, the Klingon Empire. Given the attention they command, as well as the other concerns you face with other adversarial powers, it is understandable how our world might be overlooked.”
The words stung, but Kirk tried not to take them as any sort of personal accusation or attack. “It wasn’t by design, I assure you. However, you’re here now. How can we help you?”
Opirsa said, “Our people have only recently emerged from under the oppressive rule of another civilization, the Ptaen, who control a small area of the space beyond the Klingon border. In fact, the Ptaen Consortium and the Klingons have had some dealings, including the transfer of Iramahl subjects to Klingon rule after the Empire began encroaching on Ptaen territory.”
Holding his hands clasped before him as he sat straight in his chair, Spock replied, “I have only briefly examined the data Jepolin provided, Admiral, but I learned that these interactions occurred approximately fifty years ago and were limited in scope and duration. Apparently, the Klingons and the Ptaen Consortium were able to reach an agreement whereby the Empire respected Ptaen territorial claims in exchange for crossing privileges through their space.” He cocked his eyebrow. “For the Klingons, it was a most magnanimous gesture, given their usual methods of expansion and conquest.”
“The Ptaen, despite their size relative to the Klingon Empire,” said Jepolin, “possess the armaments and wherewithal to defend their interests. We suspect that if the Klingons were not occupied with other concerns—such as the Federation—they would have more than sufficient resources to send against the Ptaen.” She cast her gaze toward the conference table. “However, the Consortium was still powerful enough to enslave my people.”
Kirk said, “But you were able to fight back against them.”
“After a time, and after the loss of so many of our people,” replied Opirsa.
“The resistance effort that began hundreds of years ago has only come to fruition within the last twenty years. My people initially declared our independence from the Ptaen more than seven centuries ago. What followed was a series of revolts interspersed by periods when the Ptaen reasserted control, only to be thrown off by renewed insurrection.”
Jepolin said, “It took us some time to organize and formalize our resistance strategies, which took a number of forms. In addition to direct action through sabotage and other guerilla tactics, we also used spies, both Iramahl as well as Ptaen who were sympathetic to our cause, to gather information and relay it to contacts within the resistance movement. It was through such methods that we learned the Ptaen were controlling us through an extended campaign of genetic modification.”
“Eugenics?” asked Spock.
Opirsa nodded. “That is correct, Captain. Ptaen scientists discovered a way to alter our genetic structure so that our life spans were artificially shortened. Instead of living for the equivalent of several of your centuries, our people would live just a fraction of that time. This was the primary means of controlling our population. In the beginning, the genetic manipulation was introduced to all living Iramahl, or at least the vast majority, including our pregnant females. Over time, the process evolved both on its own and with the help of Ptaen scientists who seemed to take great joy in finding more effective ways to forward these modifications. For generations, we passed along the very chains used to enslave us. The chains were not metal, but instead the strands of our own genetic code.”
“Genetic engineering,” said Kirk, shaking his head. “We have dark chapters in our own history on that subject.”
Jepolin replied, “When we first learned what the Ptaen had done to us, there was no way to reverse or repair the condition. However, groups of scientists within our own community—working with understanding Ptaen dissenters—began to develop a way to combat the process. At first, the goal was simply to extend the average Iramahl life span, which at the time was limited to a few decades, as you measure time, but discoveries soon were made that gave us hope that the condition afflicting us could be reversed altogether.”
Kirk sighed. “I can’t imagine the Ptaen would react well to such news, once they found out about it.” His mind conjured images of spacecraft in high orbit, showering Iramahl cities with hellish retribution.
“You are quite correct, Admiral,” said Opirsa. “Once the Consortium realized we were close to discovering a means of fighting one of their key strangleholds on us, they increased their efforts to defeat the resistance. This was only exacerbated when our resistance began distributing information via subversive broad
casts, electronic media, and every other avenue available to us, making it known the resistance’s intention was to see that every living Iramahl received the cure by any means necessary. A number of threats were disseminated, warning of airborne chemical assaults in order to deliver the agent to large population centers.” The Iramahl smiled. “In truth, Admiral, the research never advanced to the point where such a bold action was feasible, but it made for good propaganda and kept Ptaen hunter squads busy as they investigated threats while resistance cells carried out other, actual attacks.”
Jepolin said, “Anyone with knowledge of this possible cure became enemies of the state. Rewards were posted for anyone, Ptaen or Iramahl, who could provide information leading to the capture or killing of such fugitives. I am ashamed to say that many Iramahl were betrayed by our own people, as often as not through false accusations. Ptaen officials and the squads they dispatched were indiscriminate, and if an innocent Iramahl fell victim to their overzealous methods, then that was simply a cost of waging the larger battle.”
Such deception and disloyalty were common in conflicts throughout history, Kirk knew. War never boiled down to a simple division between sides, let alone singular devotion to a shared ideology within one sect. Allegiances were challenged or changed as battles raged on, chewing up lives, resources, and resolve. In many cases, simple survival motivated a person to turn on a comrade, or even a friend or family member, in order to avoid being consumed by the seemingly unending war machine. Kirk had no doubts that such scenarios along with countless others colored the Iramahl’s history and their struggles with their Ptaen oppressors.
Swiveling in his seat so that he faced Jepolin, Spock asked, “What happened to the scientists and others who possessed knowledge of this cure?”
“Out of necessity,” replied the Iramahl envoy, “the number of people with access to the information was limited, and once we realized the Ptaen were aware of our efforts, those specialists and others who were helping them were scattered. Many of them went into hiding, either on their own or with help and protection from different resistance cells. Please understand, Admiral, that at this point, the cure had not yet even been proven to work; the Consortium was acting out of simple fear.” She offered another smile, though Kirk could see that the expression was not meant to convey humor.
“The propaganda was quite successful in that regard,” Jepolin continued, “as it served to incite the Ptaen to even greater action. Though it took considerable time and effort on their part, they managed to hunt down almost everyone involved with the initial efforts to develop the cure. Only a handful escaped, and for years they avoided capture, thanks to the ongoing efforts of the resistance. Even while evading the hunter squads, they continued their work to develop the cure, and for a time many Iramahl believed the fugitives would reach the end of their own curtailed life spans before achieving the success they sought. Then resistance leaders began to receive messages: the cure had been found.”
Jepolin paused, drinking from the water Spock poured for her from one of the carafes on the table. Kirk sensed her discomfort and empathized. Being the representative of an entire race carried a weight that could test even the hardiest of individuals, and that stress had to be worse given the Iramahl’s recent escape from Ptaen rule.
“As word of the cure began to spread,” said Opirsa, “our people renewed their fight. Soon, skirmishes were taking place all across Consortium territory as more and more Iramahl rose up in resistance. Something else had begun to work in our favor as years passed. A small yet growing number of our people were being born out of Ptaen control; they were not being subjected to the genetic modifications. It took some few generations, but eventually we began to see increases in average life span. At first, it was only a handful of years, but rates have been rising—slowly, but steadily—as time has passed. While it is not enough to give us the salvation we have long sought, it is something.”
Kirk frowned. “But what about the cure?”
“The group of scientists who made the reported breakthrough apparently tested it on themselves, and the data they were able to send corroborated their claims. This was a call to arms for our people, Admiral, and every effort was made to affect the transfer of the scientists to a safe haven. What was not realized at the time was just how far they had traveled to avoid Ptaen pursuit.”
Of course. A twinge of regret surged through Kirk’s gut as he realized where this was going. “They came all this way?”
Jepolin replied, “It seems so. The coordinates included in the encrypted distress message match the astral maps we have at our disposal. We received a later message through . . . a most unconventional means, but it was enough to inform us that they had at least survived the crash and lived for a time on Earth.”
“And you have come in search of them,” Spock said. “Do you believe they may still be alive?”
The Iramahl shook her head. “No, Captain. According to the most recent hypotheses put forth by our scientific community, we do not believe that Iramahl life spans, even without the effects of genetic manipulation, would allow them to have survived this long. Since other scientists, despite their best efforts, have so far been unable to duplicate the breakthrough they apparently made, it is our hope that they may have found a way to preserve and protect something from their work. Ideally, there might be offspring as well.”
“Even if none of their research survived,” Spock said, “if you are correct and these Iramahl tested their cure on themselves, then their blood would carry the basic components needed to reconstruct the cure. Their remains could provide genetic material sufficient to accomplish this.”
Opirsa replied, “That is our hope, Captain. Even though we have seen a marked increase in our overall life spans over the past few generations, the truth is that we continue to pass the genetic tampering to our offspring. Further, the original condition has also given way to other impacts on our health, in the form of various physical and mental aberrations. While it is possible, even likely, that we eventually will rid ourselves of this affliction, we fear it will come too late to save the Iramahl as a species. The consensus is that drastic action is required, which is why we are here.”
“It’s possible we can do something to help you,” Kirk offered. “We’ve got some of the best medical and scientific minds in the Federation at our disposal. I can’t imagine them not being able to find some kind of workable solution.”
“That is very generous of you, Admiral,” said Jepolin.
Spock said, “Given your distinct physiological differences from humans, it is logical to presume these Iramahl fugitives would have needed to avoid contact with the planet’s indigenous population.”
Jepolin replied, “That may be due to one of those health abnormalities I mentioned earlier. It is an ability that is measurable in only a small percentage of our people, though at least one of the refugees we seek possessed it, just as I do.”
When she said nothing else, Kirk looked to Spock, hoping his friend might be able to help him understand what he had to be missing. When the Vulcan merely regarded him with his usual placid expression, Kirk returned his attention to Jepolin.
The Iramahl’s seat was empty.
“What the hell?” he asked, eying the vacated chair. “Where did she go?” He looked again to Spock, who now was looking toward the seat.
“Fascinating.”
Kirk scowled. “What?” Then, before his eyes, Jepolin coalesced into existence, still sitting in the chair as though she had never moved. There had been no whine of energy or other indication that a transporter or even a cloaking device had been used. Jepolin was just there, staring at him. “You can make yourself invisible?”
“Nothing so astonishing, Admiral, I assure you.” Jepolin leaned forward in her seat. “Generations ago, some of us learned we possessed the ability to influence the thoughts and perceptions of others. Mostly it can be used to make someo
ne believe or continue to believe that they are alone. In some rare instances, those with the gift are able to appear to others as someone else entirely. I do not possess that ability myself, but I have experienced its effects. Our people are susceptible, of course, as are the Ptaen. Naturally, it was an ability we strove to keep the Consortium from discovering, and so far as I understand, they still do not know about it.”
“That’s incredible,” Kirk said. “We’ve encountered species who exhibit comparable abilities, along with telepathy, telekinesis, and other similar traits.”
Opirsa said, “We do not possess the ability to read minds, Admiral, and neither are we able to coerce another being into doing something against their will. It seems the limit of this gift is simply to allow those who possess it to hide their presence from those who can be affected by the influence.”
“In truth,” added Jepolin, her eyes widening, “I had no idea it would even work on humans.” She turned to Spock. “Though Vulcans evidently are not affected.”
Nodding, Spock replied, “It appears so.”
The intercom whistled, followed by the voice of Commander Uhura. “Bridge to Captain Spock. We have arrived at Jupiter Station, sir. Mister Sulu has entered us into a parking orbit, and the Iramahl vessel is maintaining station off our starboard bow. The station’s commander has already contacted us, asking if we need anything.”
