The Kobayashi Maru Read online

  It was cold again, and dismal. Kirk hoped they wouldn't have to wait for long.

  "Ah, Jim, look at her! She looks like—like an angel!"

  Relieved almost to the point of tears, Kirk didn't respond to McCoy's enthusiastic commentary; the Enterprise filled his eyes and heart beyond his ability to react to anything else, and all he could think was that, to him, the great ship looked like a fairy-tale swan.

  McCoy's shining, blue-white angel had flickered into view a mere fifteen minutes after Sulu's collapse. Growing in the starboard ports like the rising sun, the point of light rapidly took on the shape of their salvation. Kirk hadn't seen the big ship from the outside for a long time; he'd almost forgotten how beautiful she could be.

  Scott dashed about Halley, closing up equipment lockers, battening down the cannibalized panels. "What a bloody mess!" he kept exclaiming. "If I let my lads see a work area I've been in while it looks like this, I'll never get 'em to put their gear away!"

  "What are you going to tell them about the seats?" McCoy wanted to know.

  Scott groaned. "I'll say we built a drive engine out of them—it'll keep up their respect."

  "Tell them the truth," Kirk suggested. "That should build enough respect."

  "You don't know my engineers," Scott said. "Big-headed, all of 'em. It's best if they think I can build a ship out of scrap wire, believe me!"

  By the time the Enterprise's rear shuttle bay engulfed their wayward craft, Scott was trying to decide if he should dismantle the defaced interior walls or keep them for posterity. Chekov stalwartly refused to voice an opinion.

  McCoy sprang to his feet the moment Halley bumped to a cockeyed standstill at the center of the shuttle bay. Punching at the airlock controls, he complained, "Scotty! These things won't open!"

  "That's because we've got no power," the engineer replied.

  McCoy slapped at the closed doors with his hand. "Well, we've got injured people in here, damn it! How are we going to get out of here?"

  "Spock will open the doors," Kirk assured him. "Now sit down, Bones—they've got to pressurize the bay first."

  "That damn Vulcan thinks we've got all day…!" The doctor struck the door a second time before starting to pace. "It probably never occurred to him we might have casualties! Hurrying is no doubt an 'illogical' activity!" He swung about abruptly and pummeled the doors again. "Spock, can you hear me? Open this damn door!"

  As if inspired by the doctor's vehemence, the airlock slid open, releasing warm, sweet-smelling air into Halley'ss central cabin, revealing Spock framed in the doorway.

  "Good afternoon, Doctor McCoy," the science officer greeted him. "I am pleased to learn that eighteen hours of unnecessary confinement has not adversely affected your social skills."

  "Oh, get out of my way," McCoy ordered brusquely as he shouldered past the tall Vulcan. "Nurse! Get a litter in here! Have sickbay prepare for surgery!"

  Spock moved calmly out of the doorway, coming to stand by Kirk's shoulder as McCoy hurried back in with a stretcher and a small team of medics. Sulu tried to struggle upright as he was lifted from the floor. "What's going on?" he murmured fuzzily. "Where are we?"

  "Home," Chekov told him, smiling. He caught at Sulu's arm to hold the helmsman down when Sulu sat up to hug him.

  "We did it," Sulu said. Joy at finding himself still alive seemed to override any pain he might be feeling. "We actually pulled out of this! We should get some sort of medal."

  Chekov laughed and pushed his friend flat again. "I'm satisfied with being alive."

  McCoy grumbled from the head of the stretcher. "That can be rectified, Lieutenant." When the security chief only looked startled, McCoy elaborated, "I'm taking this patient to sickbay. Now, either get out of my way or walk alongside, but quit holding up the wheels of progress."

  "Sorry, Doctor." Chekov stepped meekly aside. "I'll be down later," he promised Sulu as the stretcher passed.

  "I'll wait with bated breath."

  Chekov followed the medical team out the door, and Kirk watched a swarm of chattering engineers take their places. "Don't touch the walls!" Scott bellowed at the tech who scratched at the equations with a thumbnail, seeing if the script was permanent. "I haven't decided what I'm doing with 'em yet."

  "Jesus, Mister Scott," the tech commented, startled. "They're a little heavy to frame, don't you think?"

  Kirk suspected Chekov was glad he wasn't around to hear all this.

  "A full record of my activities since your misplacement is on file on the bridge, Captain."

  Spock's voice caught Kirk's attention, reminding him of his first officer's presence. "Very good, Mister Spock—very efficient." He shifted position on the seat, angling his gaze up at Spock as though they were discussing a recent chess game. "I take it everything went well?"

  The captain detected a mental shrug in the tilt of the Vulcan's head. "With the exception of Halley'ss misfortune, everything has transpired acceptably. We are still endeavoring to reestablish contact with the Venkatsen Group, however." Kirk didn't have the heart to tell Spock that he'd all but forgotten about Venkatsen.

  When the Vulcan swept a cool look about the interior of the shuttle, Kirk glanced about as well, seeing the destruction as if for the first time. "Kind of made a mess, didn't we?"

  "I shall be interested to read your own report regarding the last eighteen hours," Spock admitted at last.

  "A report couldn't do it justice, Mister Spock," he chuckled, pushing himself to his feet. "This is something better left to tales than records." Spock surprised Kirk by offering the captain an arm for support; Kirk tried to refuse, but relented after only two stumbling steps. Leaning heavily on Spock's arm, he quipped, "Well, Mister Spock—should you lead, or shall I?"

  "Captain?" Which meant Spock didn't entirely understand.

  Kirk smiled. "Let's just say you haven't got much of a career in dance."

  "Indeed."

  The bright bay lights made Kirk blink as he trudged slowly down Halley's inclined ramp. He wondered if he'd truly believed he'd never see the Enterprise again, or if some foolish part of him maintained faint hope. He suspected the grateful ache in his heart was the answer. "Nothing's ever impossible."

  Spock glanced down at him curiously. "I beg your pardon?"

  "Did I ever tell you about my solution to the Kobayashi Maru test, Mister Spock?"

  "I think not, Captain." Spock raised an eyebrow. "By solution, do you mean to imply that you beat the scenario?"

  "Oh, yes." Kirk nodded.

  "Your solution…" Spock asked, "it has some bearing on what occurred on board Halley, I presume?"

  "All the bearing in the world," the captain answered softly. He rested his hand against the Enterprise's cool ivory bulkhead for a second, then allowed Spock to guide him out into the corridor.

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