Chapter 34

Kirk came onto the Bridge. He moved with some difficulty, but there was no effort to it. Somewhere the gray weight of fatigue had left him-and now he was merely exhausted.

He didn’t bother to conceal it from the Vulcan, or from the doctor tagging at his heels as he sank gratefully into the command chair.

“Mr. Spock, report,” he said. Spock turned from the science station to look at him. ” ‘On the ship?’ ” he asked.

“Certainly on the ship, Mr. Spock.”

“The Enterprise is under our control again. Soljenov appears to have kept his word to release our people. Gailbraith reports them clear-and he has released those he took as a countermeasure. Mr. Dobius is unharmed. The escape ship from the volcano made it safely and is departing for Zaran.”

The turbolift doors opened and Gailbraith appeared in them.

“Ambassador,” Kirk said, “what are your plans? Are we to deliver you now to Zaran?”

Ambassador Gailbraith shook his head. “I intend first to report to the Federation Council-and to certain of the New Human and other Oneness groups-the results of my mission here and its implications. I shall report that the matter of choice is crucial to all such new entities, and to the galaxy. I shall also report to the Chief of Staff of Starfleet your role in bringing me to that conclusion. And I will tell him that his choice of his servant Job was-wise. Even if he did not know that I had arranged to have it made for him…”

“I see,” Kirk said. “And have you considered who chose-Mr. Spock?”

Gailbraith smiled. “I believe that might have been the Devil himself.” He sobered. “Gentlemen, I do offer whatever form of condolence may be appropriate. I had not foreseen that it would come to-this.”

Kirk felt his jaw harden. “No. You had not. But you wished to use me, us, my ship-and her. Ambassador, I am grateful for your help in crucial matters. I applaud your decision in the matter of choice. And I would personally like to wring your neck. Would you excuse us, sir?”

Gailbraith looked at him without apology. “I would. I will look forward to dealing with you again under more propitious circumstances.” He turned on his heel and left the Bridge.

Kirk sat back tiredly.

“There are still the silver birds on Vulcan,” Spock said. It was the repetition of an offer he had made, long ago, when Kirk had lost Edith Keeler: the healing of Vulcan, a desert to walk on, and the bright silver birds…

“Thank you, Mr. Spock,” Kirk said, but he shook his head. “I think-our healing is here. Whatever we have lost-I don’t know about you, Spock-but I would not undo it, not any of it.”

Spock was silent for a moment. “Nor I, Jim.”

“The Zaran ship is accelerating, Captain,” Sulu reported. “They’re on their way.”

McCoy came to stand close behind Kirk’s chair, and for a moment he put a hand on his shoulder. “She’ll be all right, Jim.”

Kirk followed the Zaran ship with his eyes. His impulse was to go after it and take the Totality on with his bare hands or bare mind-bring her back…

He knew he would have the impulse for a long time. And he knew that she had made her choice. Had she decided, as McCoy had said at some point, that the triangle was inherently unstable? Or had she merely gone to keep the word that had saved their lives? Or for her duty and her mission? Or for all of that, and for reasons which he might never know…?

She had gone.

He would hear her voice and remember the shape of what might have been for a long time, and nevertheless, he could not regret that she had come.

He looked at Spock, and it seemed to him that the chains and the vultures had lifted. The look of control was merely deeper and more certain now. And he did not think that the Vulcan would ever regret this day, either.

One day perhaps they would have to tackle the issue of Oneness head-on. But for the moment Kirk would settle for the particular amoebas he had around him. And for the memory of one who had come, and gone.

“Heading for home, Mr. Sulu,” he said. “Warp Factor Three. Let’s go.”