you weren’t listening, our orders have nothing to do with Starfleet regulations.”
Spock was not to be dissuaded. “Regulations aside . . .”
Kirk looked sharply back at him. “‘Regulations aside’? When did you ever put regulations aside, Spock—even for the sake of discussion?”
“What I mean to say, Captain, is that however justification for our mission may be rationalized, such an action is morally wrong.”
Kirk barked a humorless laugh. “Regulations aside, pulling your ass out of a volcano on the verge of erupting was morally right and I didn’t get any points for that either. As it seems that I’m wrong no matter what I do, I’d just as soon go with something that has a worthwhile purpose.”
A glance at his main readout alarmed McCoy. “Jim, your vitals are spiking, and we’re not even off the ground. Calm down.”
Kirk whirled around to face the doctor. “I’m not gonna take ethics lessons from an emotionless robot who—”
“Reverting to childish name-calling suggests you are defensive,” Spock observed calmly, “which suggests you therefore find my opinion valid—any ass-pulling-out-of notwithstanding.”
At that moment, Kirk would have given a great deal to be waiting for liftoff on an entirely different shuttlecraft. “I didn’t ask for your opinion.” Reaching up, he swatted at the tricorder McCoy was passing across his field of view. “You think my vitals are up now? If you don’t get that thing out of my face . . .”
Resigned, Spock concluded his polemic. “Captain, our mission is, by its very definition, immoral. Perhaps once we are on board and under way, you might find the requisite time to reach the same conclusion on your own, as it is amply apparent that you are not going to listen to me—or to anyone else.”
Spock might have been finished, but Kirk was not. He had plenty more to say and would have done so enthusiastically—had not his line of sight suddenly been interrupted by something considerably more interesting than McCoy’s instruments.
As the door was about to close prior to departure, a last, late arrival stepped aboard. After being cleared by the irritated ensign, the blond, blue-eyed newcomer made her way through the shuttle until she stood confronting the bemused Kirk. Trim and athletic, she smiled down at him.
“Captain Kirk? Science Officer Carol Wallace. I’ve been assigned to the Enterprise by Admiral Marcus.”
Realizing he was expected to respond, Kirk kept his reply cool. “Isn’t it a bit unusual, Wallace, for a senior ship’s officer to be transferred aboard at essentially the last minute?”
“As you are aware, Captain, certain recent events have resulted in an atypical acceleration of asset application. It seems that I’m included.”
Spock made an odd sound deep in his throat. “You requested an additional science officer, Captain?”
“I wish I had.” Looking forward, a bemused but not displeased Kirk raised his voice. “I’m sure that’s everyone for the Enterprise, Ensign. You can seal the door.”
The officer hesitated only briefly before complying, thereby ensuring there would be no more surprises. This one, Kirk felt, was enough.
Moving closer, the newcomer passed her tablet to him. He skimmed the visible words silently until he came to one particular paragraph that caused him to comment aloud.
“Lieutenant Carol Wallace. Advanced doctorates in applied physics, astrophysics, materials science. Starfleet specialist in advanced weapons systems.”
“Impressive credentials,” Spock commented without rancor.
“Thank you,” she told him.
“Though redundant now that I am back aboard the Enterprise,” the Vulcan concluded.
Gesturing at the empty space between himself and his science officer, Kirk offered the new arrival a welcoming smile. “Have a seat, Doctor.” Working her way across in front of the captain, Wallace settled herself into the restraints. Preoccupied with securing herself, she did not notice that the other science officer was eyeing her in a manner that, even for a notably dispassionate Vulcan, might have been construed as something less than welcoming.
As the shuttle rose skyward on its preprogrammed path, the sprawling metropolis of Greater San Francisco fell away below. Brown and green land gave way to the immense expanse of the deep blue Pacific, which in turn surrendered to the darkness of space and thousands of unwinking stars.
Pressed into his restraints, Kirk closed his eyes and inhaled. This was as near as he could come to breathing vacuum. Soon he would be on the Enterprise again and, hopefully not long thereafter, powering through deep space on warp drive. Once far from Earth and Starfleet headquarters, he would be at liberty to cope with the still-developing situation surrounding John Harrison as best he saw fit. There would be no