Stalemate (For the Strange New Worlds IX Writing Contest - no I didn't get selected)

The room was empty. Two lone figures stood at a table.

“Your move, Captain,” said one of the figures.

“I know, Spock,” responded the other. “I’m thinking.”

The game had been going on for hours and there was still not a definitive winner. One player had taken three more pieces than the other.

“You’re enjoying this, aren’t you?”

Spock raised an eyebrow at the statement. “I am Vulcan. I have no emotion, therefore, I cannot enjoy this.”

“But you’re half human, Spock. I think you are enjoying this on another level.” Captain Kirk looked at the chessboard. Kirk saw that his pieces were struggling to gain any true advantage over Spock. However, even in the darkest places, light still shines, and Kirk knew it. Kirk took one of his pawns and moved it from the lower level to the second level. “There,” he said, placing the piece properly on the board.

“Captain to the bridge,” the voice echoed through the empty room.

“We’ll finish later,” Kirk’s voice trailed off.

The two exited the lounge to the nearest turbolift and ordered it to the bridge.

“Report, Mr. Sulu.”

“Captain, we have received a message from the Andorian representative. It appears that they have been attacked and are requesting assistance.”

“Set course for Andor, best speed.”

“Aye, sir,” replied the conn officer as he moved his fingers across the console. The ship turned on its axis and the engines ignited, sending the ship into warp speed.

“Lieutenant Uhura, replay the message.”

The lone woman on the bridge pressed several buttons at her station and the message started.

“This is the Andorian representative. Our Prime Minister has been killed. We need the resources of the Federation to help us in this investigation. Please send help as soon as you can.”

Static appeared at the end of the message, but the woman turned back to her captain. “The message repeats from there, sir.”

Kirk turned to his science officer. “What do you make of it?”

Without changing tone, and speaking in the same manner that he did minutes before during the chess game. “Sir, the Andorians are not currently in a civil war. They are also, according to Starfleet records, not in any known conflict with any societies.”

**

The Andorian representative, Frenlev, looked at the body of the former Prime Minister. “Who could have done this?”

A member of the security force moved toward him. “Sir, there is some evidence that suggests that this could be the work of the Aenar.”

“That can’t be possible! They are blind and can’t do anything of this magnitude.”

The security officer stepped slowly away and continued checking the surrounding area without responding to the statement.

Frenlev thought of the theory of the security guard. He dismissed it almost as quickly because of the absurdity of it.

**

Deeper in the core than most of the Andorian cities, in a whole other form of city structure, a hooded man emerged from a small building. The man walked down the path and entered a larger building next to the one he came from. As he entered, a second man was sitting on a large chair, watching the hooded man enter.

“Well?”

The hooded man approached and removed the hood to reveal his albino-pigmented skin. His eyes were closed with no hint of ever being opened. “Pawn to King’s Bishop. The Bishop has fallen.”

“Good,” the man said, but he was not completely satisfied with the answer the hooded man had offered. “What is it? What aren’t you telling me?”

The hooded man shuddered at the yell. He did not need his eyes to know that the other man was angry. “The Andorians were able to call for help,” quivered the blind man.

“What?” yelled the man, causing the blind man to kneel and beg for mercy.

“We were not able to get any of our people into the main government building. They changed their security rotation before we could react.”

“Fine,” his tone changed to a more calm and deliberate one. “Whoever comes will deal with the Andorians. Maybe they’ll even take care of the problem for us.”

**

The ship came out of warp near the edge of the system allowing them a chance to surprise the enemy if there was one.

“Lieutenant Uhura, open hailing frequencies.” Captain Kirk waited a moment and then began to speak. “Frenlev. This is Captain James Kirk of the Enterprise. We received your distress signal and are here to support you in any way.”

“Thank you, captain,” came the courteous reply. “If you could please beam down to the government building, I wish to speak to you in person.”

“Very well, Frenlev. We will be down shortly.” Kirk stood from his seat and headed toward the turbolift. “Lieutenant Uhura, have Doctor McCoy meet us in the transporter room. Spock, you’re with me. Mr. Sulu, you have the bridge.”

The door to the lift closed and made its way toward the transporter room. As Kirk and Spock exited, Doctor McCoy was waiting for them. Kirk and Spock looked at him.

“Well?”

“What is it Bones?”

“What is it? Why am I going with you?” Doctor McCoy did not have to tell the captain of his disregard for transporters. He had never been fond of being split apart into a million atoms and then rematerialized someplace entirely different than where he had been. In his time in Starfleet, he made sure to avoid using transporters except in the most important missions, and this did not seem like one of them.

“Someone’s been killed. We need you to check the body. Do an autopsy. We need your help.”

Sheepishly, the doctor moved toward the transporter room. “Alright, let’s go.”
Kirk patted him on the back and smiled. “Besides, Spock said he wouldn’t go without you.”

Spock and McCoy looked at the grinning captain, but made no motion to smile themselves. The three stood on the platform and Kirk ordered the transporter chief to initialize the transporters.

Moments later, the trio appeared at set coordinates within the planet surface. Waiting to greet them was the Andorian representative.

“Welcome, I am Frenlev.”

“Captain Kirk, Mr. Spock and Doctor McCoy,” Kirk offered pointing respectively. “What has happened here?”

“Our Prime Minister, the person that has been responsible for keeping Andor in the Federation, has been killed. We do not know how it happened. We suspect foul play, but are unsure from whom.”

“We’d like to have a look at any evidence if possible.”

“Of course. Doctor McCoy?”

McCoy was gazing at the buildings. Though underneath the snow-capped surface of Andor, the city seemed full of wonder and beauty, as if it were situated atop the surface. McCoy noticed how cold it was. It reminded him of the old morgues that he used to work at on Earth. And yet, this was a society that lived this way. It made McCoy shudder at the thought. He didn’t like morgues. At the call of his name, he was brought back to reality. “Yes, sorry.”

“I think our doctors could use a hand with the autopsy. To determine for sure what may have killed him.”

McCoy looked to Kirk for advice and a silent “go with him” was followed by a nod. McCoy did as ordered and followed the aide toward the hospital to offer what assistance he could.
Kirk turned back to Frenlev. “Who do you think would want kill your Prime Minister?”

“No idea,” he said with ease. “The security teams did notice that some of the evidence gathered made it seem like a race called the Aenar. But I highly doubt this is true.”

“Why is that?” Spock wondered aloud.

“Because their race is blind. They have no true skills because of their blindness . . .” he paused. “They are gifted with telepathy.”

Spock’s eyebrow rose as it always did when he found information to be fascinating. “Curious.”

Kirk took the hint and quickly turned to the representative. “We need as much information on the Aenar. Have it transmitted to our ship.”

“Yes, captain,” he said. “Though I do not see how it will help you. Like I said, I don’t think that they were the ones that could killed the Prime Minister.”

Kirk looked at the representative. “If there is one thing that I have learned to trust over many years, it is my first officer. When he is curious about something, it is usually an important fact.” Kirk removed his communicator from his belt. “Kirk to Enterprise. Standby for transport. Two to beam up on my mark.”

“Understood,” came the voice from nowhere in particular.

Looking to the representative again. “Please send us that information and the report on the evidence gathered. Doctor McCoy is yours until his services are finished or until we are. Thank you.” The captain looked at the representative and at Spock. He pulled his communicator toward his face. “Energize.”

The transporter beam affixed itself on the two men and beamed them back to the Enterprise. Once aboard, Kirk contacted Sulu on the bridge. “Contact me when we receive the information from the Andorian representative.”

“Yes, sir.”

**

“Your move, Mr. Spock.”

“Your style of play is illogical, captain.”

“I know, Spock. That’s what makes the game more interesting. Especially against a logical mind such as yourself.”

Spock did not pander to the comment, but continued to look at the board. Kirk stood, grinning for no apparent reason, waiting for Spock’s next move. After several minutes of waiting, Kirk became impatient. “Well?”

“I’m contemplating.”

“You’re stalling. You don’t want to lose.”

“Have I lost to you, yet?”

“There’s always a first time.”

Taking note of Kirk’s arrogance, Spock made his move and captured yet another of Kirk’s pieces. The grin disappeared from Kirk’s face quickly.

Kirk watched as Spock took the piece and placed it on the side of the table. Spock looked at Kirk with no other emotion than he had ever shown before.

“Now, you’re mocking me”

“I have no need to mock you, captain.”

“You think you’re better than I am at this game.”

“Correction. I know I am better.”

“Never mind. My move.” Kirk looked at the playing pieces on the board. He still had several moves, but none that could change his stance from defense to offense. As he surveyed the board, he did note that there was one piece that he could take, almost unchallenged, but he knew it could mean sacrificing the piece later in the game. Taking his time, he began to move around the board, getting looks at all angles to insure that the move he was going to make would be the best one.

Kirk placed his hand on one of the pawns and held his hand still for a moment. Seeing that Spock was not going to make any expression, good or otherwise, he started his move. Taking the piece in hand, he moved it diagonally and took one of Spock’s knights.

The communicator in the room beeped. “Urgent message for you captain, from the surface.”

“Patch it down here, Uhura.”

The captain and Spock waited a moment before the signal appeared. The face of the Andorian representative appeared again. “Captain, you must come quick. We have discovered our Vice President dead in his home.”

Spock and Kirk subtlety turned their eyes toward each other. They left the lounge for the second time headed toward the transporter room.

“Kirk to Mr. Sulu,”

“Aye, sir?”

“Mr. Spock and I are headed to the surface again. You still have the bridge.”

“Aye, sir.”

Kirk and Spock stepped onto the transporter pad and quickly disappeared. They were immediately transported to the surface where, once again, the representative was waiting for them. This time, however, Doctor McCoy was waiting as well.

“This is damn peculiar, Jim. I haven’t found anything that I know of in the body of the Prime Minister. I just found out about the Vice President, so I was going to wait for you.”

“Captain,” the representative coughed, getting a word in edgewise. “Thank you for returning. As the doctor has kindly told you, there is no indication of what killed the Vice President, but we know that it must have been foul play. The evidence in the area this time suggests that the Aenar are somehow involved.”

At that moment, a hooded man walked past the group, bumping into McCoy. “Watch where you’re going.”

“He can’t,” Frenlev said, grabbing the arm of the man. “He’s Aenar. He’s blind. Security, arrest this man.”

The Aenar man started to run, surprisingly well for one with no vision of what obstacles were in his way. He stumbled down some steps and was slow to get up. This gave the guards enough time to capture him and drag him to the representative.

His white hand moved toward the cloak of the hooded man and the antennae on his head bobbled. “Why have you killed two people?”

The Aenar man said nothing. He looked, for what it was worth, at his surroundings. He could sense the tension in the area and the hostility toward him that the others were suddenly feeling. “We have been forced to do the bidding of another. We are pawns in his larger game.”

“What do you mean, you are pawns?” the representative said.

The Aenar man, his face now visible, though his eyes were shut, as if sewn together, said nothing, but tilted his head as each person spoke.

**

Kirk, Spock, McCoy and the Andorian representative were looking at the Aenar man in his prison cell.

“Why have the Aenar done this to our government officials?” the representative asked.

The prisoner stood, motionless, in the middle of the room. He had not spoken since he had been captured. He was waiting for the right question, and he hadn’t heard it yet.

The representative became agitated when the man did not answer his question. “Well, then, why were you trying to stop the others?”

Silence.

**

Kirk and the others had returned from the surface in order to contact Starfleet to determine their next course. While waiting, he and Spock took advantage of the extra time to finish their game.

“This is not going to be easy.”

“You are correct. There are only three possible moves that you can make that will not result in you losing the game.”

Kirk looked again at the board and was trying to see the different positions that his pieces were in. Looking further, he saw one move, but further investigation told Kirk that the piece would be captured after two moves. Indeed, the situation was delicate, but Kirk’s mind was also thinking of what was occurring on the surface. Kirk started to make his move and moved a piece from the top-most level onto the second one.

Just as quickly, Spock took his queen and moved it from the second level to the third. “Check.” Kirk sighed and looked at the board more carefully, attempting to find his best escape to the new advance by Spock. The communicator began to beep and Kirk stepped away from the chessboard.

“Kirk here.”

“Captain, the Andorian representative is hailing us again. He wishes to speak to you.”

“Patch me through, Uhura.”

A moment later, the voice of the Andorian representative came over the speakers. “Captain Kirk. I have grave news.” He did not wait for a response. “It seems that another person has been killed. But this time, it was the sub-director of the City Maintenance Force.”
Kirk was visibly puzzled. “Did this person have any influence in the government?”

“No, captain. He just coordinated construction efforts throughout the city and made sure that repairs were done quickly to any of the systems around the city.”

“Are the conditions the same?”

“Yes. Our doctors have yet to find a reason for the death. It is just like the others.”

“Very well. We will do what we can. Kirk out.” He pressed the communicator and ended the contact. He moved toward the door and Spock, without question, followed.

As they walked down the hall, Spock, knowing that his captain needed silence to think things through, held any comment until asked for.

Kirk and Spock entered Sick Bay and walked into McCoy’s office.

“Alright, I need answers, Bones. People are dying and there’s nothing to stop them.”

“And a good morning to you, too.” McCoy placed the datapad down. “Besides,” he said as he stood. “Even if I did find a way to stop the telepathic killing, I would need to know who to protect. It would be hard enough to protect one person, let alone all of them.”

“Fine. What do you need in order to make this happen?”

McCoy stood quiet for a moment before Spock interrupted the silence.

“Captain,” Spock said. “It could be possible that the Aenar are being manipulated by another. In my research, I discovered that the Aenar have strong telepathic abilities. It is then plausible that this other person has found a way to control that ability to the level of being able to kill. This would be a strong indication for why Dr. McCoy has not found evidence of trauma or cause of death in the victims. If I may suggest possibly using the Aenar that is currently being held captive. Perhaps we could gather other information about the reason behind the murders and a way to combat them.”

**

The three beamed to the planet and spoke with the representative regarding their attempt at information gathering. With the Andorian representative in tow, Kirk, Spock and McCoy entered the jail. Looking through the bars, they noticed the blind man still standing in the middle of the small cell.

Kirk knew that if he was going to save anyone else from a horrible death, he was going to need answers quick. “Open the cell.”

The guard looked to the representative who nodded. Opening the cell door, the guard held his weapon ready in case the blind man got the urge to leave. Quite the opposite, the blind man started to cower toward the far corner of the cell. Despite this, Kirk still moved toward him.

“You have information I want.”

He didn’t say a word, but started to mumble and quiver. Kirk picked him up by his shirt and pulled him so he stared right into his non-existent eyes.

“Tell me why this is happening!”

Not a word. Just muffled sounds of fear escaping his lips.

McCoy entered the cell and pulled Kirk from the man. “Jim, let go. We need him.”

Kirk let go of the Aenar man and he dropped to the floor. McCoy proceeded to scan his upper brain activity making sure to capture everything in his medical recorder for use on the Enterprise. McCoy took a hypospray from his pack and injected the Aenar man with a sleeping agent. “He’ll be alright. Maybe he’ll be willing to talk when he wakes up.”
Kirk had exited the cell by now and was standing outside, staring at the sleeping Aenar on the floor.

“What are you doing?” McCoy said as he left the cell and stepped in front of Kirk. “I thought you wanted me to find a way to stop them from killing anyone else. I thought you wanted me to just scan his physiology and see if I could find something?”

“I know what I told you, Bones. But I wanted him to know that we mean business. He needs to know that we are willing to hurt him if he doesn’t tell us the information that we want to know.”

“And what makes you think he won’t turn around and use his brain to kill us too?”

“Doctor. If he had wanted to kill us with his mind, he would have.”
Kirk and McCoy looked to Spock in wonder.

Spock stepped closer to the cell, which had been closed by the guard again, and looked down at the body. “It could be that this Aenar is not capable of those higher telepathic functions.” He turned back to the others. “That, perhaps, this Aenar is more of a scout or diplomat, more than a warrior and the reason he hasn’t tried to kill us.”

**

The hooded man returned to the large throne room and bowed in front of the unknown leader. As he entered, he noted that the leader was not in his normal position at the throne. “Master?”

The man stepped from behind an anteroom and approached the hooded man. “Speak.”
The hooded man flinched from being startled, but quickly regained his composure. “Queen to King’s Knight. The Knight has been taken.”

The mysterious figure stepped back toward the anteroom and revealed a chessboard. There were several pieces on one side of the board and three pieces located at the opposite side. Noting what the blind man informed him of, the unknown man took the knight piece from the board and placed it on his side of the board. “It is almost complete.”

**

The president was in his office. He was standing, looking out at his city. The city that for the longest time didn’t want him to be president. The city that, once he did become president, rallied behind him to support his plans for the future. The city that was starting to fall apart around him.

The Andorian representative entered the room and held his statement for a moment, allowing the president his peace, while waiting to be acknowledged.

“Yes, Frenlev?”

“Your Excellence,” he said with a bow. “I bring grave news. It seems that the Aenar are the ones that are behind the killings.”

The president sighed and lowered his head, but made no remark. The representative moved closer. “We still have no motive and the one Aenar we have captured does not seem to want to talk. He has yet to say anything more to us.”

The president turned to face the representative. “Do what you need to. If you need the army to round up the Aenar, then so be it. I authorize you to do whatever is necessary to stop these murderous people.”

The representative bowed. “Yes, sir.” Turning on his heels, he left the throne room and stopped at the aide’s desk. “Get me the General.” The aide picked up a small communicator and spoke into it for a moment. He took the communicator and handed it to the representative. “General. I have been given the authority to use your army. Please prepare for the capture and imprisonment of all Aenar people on the planet. No matter where they are. If they are Aenar, they are to be detained. Thank you.” The representative handed the communicator back to the aide and walked away. The aide, who had been listening, took the communicator and placed it back on the desk. He was frightened by what the representative said. However, he was not willing to offer a statement in regards to it because he did not want to seem like a sympathizer. A sign that he, too, should be imprisoned. So he said nothing.

**

“Spock, why do you think certain people are being killed and not others?”

“You will not distract me, captain. Please make your move.”

Kirk took one of his bishops and moved it across the board toward Spock’s side, not paying attention to its path. “Now will you offer a theory?”

“Yes, captain,” Spock replied as he also considered his next move. “It is my opinion, captain, that someone is controlling the Aenar in an attempt to cause a coup. This person, whomever it may be, wants certain members of the government out of the way, perhaps to start a revolution.” Spock took his remaining knight and took the bishop that Kirk had just moved.
Kirk’s expression turned downward slightly as he saw Spock remove the piece from the playing field. “Are you saying that there could be more killings?”

“Indeed. It is my suspicion that the president would be the next target.”

“We have to see Bones.”

**

The president was in his quarters, alone. There was a knock at the door. The president looked at the clock on the wall. Right on time he thought. He walked to the door and opened it carefully. Seeing an older Aenar man, he quickly escorted him into the room. Closing the door behind them, he pulled the Aenar toward the middle of the room. “I am glad you came. The moment that has been haunting us has arrived.”

“I knew that was why you had contacted me. With everything that had been going on, I knew it was only a matter of time.”

“I chose you long ago for this task. You were there at the birth of my first born, half Aenar, son and yet you held no ill toward me. You took care of the child as if it were your own. And now you must do what has been asked.”

“You asked me to do it, but I do not know if I can.” The man backed up. He slowly shuffled toward the door. The president moved faster and grabbed him by his arm.

“Please. If you are any kind of friend, you would kill me.”

“But why?” the man said trying to pull from the grip holding him still.

“So destiny can take its course.”

“But what of your son?”

“He will be a good president. He has been taught well.”

“That is not the son I mean.”

The president looked down and a tear rolled from his eyes. “That is why I must ask forgiveness of the gods. That thing cannot become president. Please. You must kill me. For Andor. My true son will bring the people through this crisis and will lead the planet into an age of peace.”

“But for a price.”

“Of a few hundred. Your life will be spared. I swear it. Now do what must be done.” The blind man took a bottle from inside his cloak and handed it to the president.

**

“Bones, have you found a way to stop the Aenar from killing with their telepathy?”

“Dammit Jim, I’m a doctor, not a miracle worker. Aenar brains have a lot more functionality and levels than standard human or humanoid brains. It’s not just something I can change on one level and hope that it holds for the rest.”

“Bones, the problem is that whoever is doing this is going to kill more. Until his objective is complete.”

“Don’t you think I get that? I need more information about the Aenar. I need one that is willing to cooperate. Maybe if I can talk to the one that was captured. Maybe he’ll talk to me.”

“Bridge to Captain Kirk,” Uhura’s voice came through space.

“Kirk here, what is it?”

“It’s the Andorian president. He’s been murdered. They have captured an Aenar man that was in the room at the time. The Andorian representative requests your presence immediately.”
“Inform Frenlev that we are on our way. Kirk out.”

**

“What has happened here?” yelled the representative.

“This was his plan all along,” the Aenar man said with a stutter. “He told me it was for the good of the planet.”

“Take him out of here. Place him in the prison. I will tell his son.”

“Wait . . .” the Aenar said. “Which son will you tell? The half-blood or the pureblood? The half-blood is older.”

The Andorian representative did not think of the words being yelled at him. He stood and looked at the body of the president. His eyes slowly welled with tears but he did not let them fall. Instead, he paused and attempted to collect himself.

“Guards, please take the president to the hospital. Escort the wife and attend to her. Prepare him for the grand burial.”

The guards did as they were told as Frenlev exited the room and walked down the hall.

Stopping in front of a door, he knocked carefully. Moments later, a young man opened the door and stared, groggily at the representative.

“Master Erenev, I am afraid that your father has been killed. Murdered in his own chambers, by an Aenar man.”

The young man was stoic, he yawned, but shrugged the tiredness out of his system. “Very well. We shall proceed as has always been planned. The world will learn of these things tomorrow and I will proclaim myself president.”

“Very good, your Excellence. What is your command?”

“I understand that my father gave you authority to capture and imprison the Aenar?”

“Yes, sir.”

“Fine. That will be fine for now, but I plan on making their entire race extinct for what they have done to Andor.”

“Very well, master,” Frenlev said with a slight bow. “I will see that it is done.”

Before Frenlev could leave, another guard entered the hallway and approached him. As he started to whisper into his ear, the newly crowned president interrupted. “Whatever you have to say, I need to know.”

The guard looked afraid for his life, but just as quickly changed his demeanor to that of a soldier. “Your Excellence, I have received word that the sub-director of architecture has been killed in the same manner as the others.”

“This is madness!” screamed the new president. “Why have you not stopped these people?”

“That is what I am trying to do, sir. The captain of the Enterprise has been assisting us.”

“And where is he?”

“Right here, Mister President,” Kirk said as he, Spock and McCoy were escorted down the hallway. “Captain James Kirk,” he said extending a hand. The new president did not reciprocate the handshake and instead went back into his room and slammed the door. Kirk looked at the representative. “It appears that we are too late.”

“I am afraid you are right, captain.” The representative moved back down the hallway. “Obviously, the young man is not taking the death of his father well.”
“Obviously,” Kirk offered, following the representative back to the scene of the murder. As Kirk looked at the room, he saw the body of the president lying on the floor. “Bones, report.”

McCoy stepped to the body. Taking his tricorder out, McCoy started to examine the body. Within a minute, he noticed that there were small traces of a solution that was not in the other bodies after they were examined. “This is damn peculiar.”

“What, Bones?”

“There’s a small trace of something in the system. It could be any number of things, but it definitely wasn’t in the other bodies I looked at.”

“The Aenar man said something as he was being dragged away. Something that may prove important. We should see him right away.”

**

“Sir,” the hooded man said, entering the room in a hurry.

“What is it? I told you I did not want to be disturbed.”

“It is about your father.”

The man stood and moved closer to the hooded man. “What has happened to my father?”

“He has been taken captive in the palace. It appears that he has murdered the president.”

“What?” he screamed and pushed the hooded man to the ground. “He ruined the plan. He was not supposed to be there. The king was mine.”

“Nevertheless, sir,” the hooded man said as he gathered himself and rose from the ground. “The mission is complete. The pieces have fallen and you can ascend to your rightful place.”

“No,” he said, turning away. “By now, the other son will have taken control. We must strike quick. The pawn must capture the castle.”

“As you wish, my lord.” The hooded man began to leave the room, but paused before exiting. “But if you want to be accepted as president, the people must know that you are the rightful heir.”

**

Kirk was looking at the new arrival to the prison. The original Aenar was cowered in a corner, unwilling or unable to speak. The Aenar man that had been in the president’s chamber was standing in the cell, taking in every sound and smell, while also touching the cell bars to determine his surroundings. Kirk stepped forward.

“You realize that you are guilty.”

The Aenar man said nothing, just as the other Aenar had not responded to Kirk.”You will be put to death.”

No response.

The door opened and McCoy enters quickly. “We’ve discovered that the trace element was a rare poison grown below ground in Aenar territory.”

Kirk turned back to the Aenar in the cell. “So, you poisoned the president?”

“No. I helped him die for the protection of the Andorian people.”

“Then it was suicide,” Spock said.

“It was murder!” Frenlev yelled. “He did it. He was caught fair and square.” Frenlev approached the bars. “What I want to know is what he meant by his parting statement.” The representative moved closer. “What did you mean by which son would be president? The president has one son.”

“Incorrect. And I know because he is my nephew.” The Aenar man slowly made his way to the bed on the far side of the cell and sat down. “It was thirty five years ago. The man that you called president was only a mere man then. He met a woman, my sister, and fell in love. When he discovered that she was with child, he came to me. He asked me to take care of the child as if it were my own and to never tell it of its origins. When Jarenev was born, I was there, the future president was not. My sister died in childbirth, and as promised, I took the child in and cared for him as my own. Though he was half Aenar, he was lucky and did not become blind, but gained our telepathic abilities. But he was immediately an outcast and so was I for caring for the child.”

“But why would you kill the president?” Kirk interrupted.

“Because it was part of the president’s grander plan. He asked me to help him and I did. He was my friend.”

Those outside of the prison looked at each other and then back to the storyteller. “So you killed your best friend?”

“I didn’t kill him,” the Aenar man said. “He martyred himself to save the people of Andor.”

**

In the chambers of the newly crowned president Erenev, he spoke into a communicator. It must be done. No questions. I am the president and you must obey my commands.”

“Yes, sir,” came the voice from the other side. “We shall commence immediately.”

**

The mysterious figure that had been in control of the Aenar this whole time sat in his large chair, looking at a group of Aenar in front of him. “You must kill Erenev. He will be in his chambers. Be cautious. The army is on the lookout now for Aenar. When the mission is complete, you will kill yourselves. It is the only way to protect us. This is a suicide mission, but it must be completed.”

**

The storyteller was sitting still and waiting for dramatic effect. “Your former president, my friend of thirty-five years, did not want his first child to succeed him. He wanted to make sure that Jarenev was eliminated. And the only way that could happen was if the Aenar were to be framed for killing the president.”

“But what of the other killings?” Kirk said. “Was that part of the grand plan too?”

“No. That is the work of Jarenev, the half-blood son of my friend. He was named after my father.”

“Why was Jarenev doing this, then?”

“He wanted the attention of the planet. He wanted them to know that he was the rightful heir to the presidency. That he would be the one to rule Andor and bring the people into the new age.”

“He got your attention alright,” McCoy said with a nervous chuckle, though no one responded. He cut his laughter short.

“Where is this Jarenev now?” Kirk said, raising his voice.

“With the president dead, there is only one other standing in his way.”

Kirk’s eyes opened wide with the realization that the new president, Erenev, was a potential target. “We’ve got to see the president. He’s in danger.”

**

Erenev was sitting in his room. His guards outside had been doubled as a way to protect him. He also had guards stationed outside on the balcony in order to stop anyone from attacking him. But he had not heard or read the full reports of the other deaths. He only knew that Aenar had murdered his father. He did not know that the Aenar could also kill with their minds. And it was while he was lying there in bed, waiting for morning to announce his presidency to the people of Andor, that he was killed. Quietly. Subtly. With no warning and with no sign of trauma.

**

Kirk and the others approached the door and were stopped by the guards. Frenlev caught up with them and motioned the guards to open the door. Upon entering the room, they noticed how dark it was. The fire that had been burning had gone out. Kirk moved toward the bed and attempted to rouse the young president from his sleep. With no movement, Dr. McCoy stepped to the body and checked his vital signs. Frenlev turned the lights on. McCoy let go of the president’s hand and looked to the others. “He’s dead, Jim.”

**

The mysterious figure, Jarenev, was in his chambers; he knew that Erenev had been killed. His telepathic connection to the several Aenar that he sent was severed when they died. The hooded man entered once more and bowed.

“Now it is time to announce myself to the world,” Jarenev said as he stood.

“Master, I bring bad news.” He didn’t wait for permission to speak. “It seems that some of our cities are being destroyed. The attacks are calculated and precise. No survivors have been reported. We must get you to safety.”

“No. I will not evacuate when I am so close to victory.”

An explosion outside of the building knocked both men from their feet. Jarenev stood again and started running for the door. As he arrived at the private door to his chambers, several soldiers that held their weapons toward him greeted him. Before he could say anything, they fired, all at once, as if an execution squad, killing him.

The soldiers entered the room and killed the hooded man and every other Aenar that they encountered.

**

Frenlev had been quiet since they had discovered the body of the new president in his room, killed by Aenar telepathy. The group returned to the cell to find the story telling Aenar on the floor.

McCoy opened the cell and rushed to his aide. Looking at the other Aenar man, he questioned him. “Did he say anything?”

The other Aenar man pulled himself up from the ground. “Yes. He said that it was finished.”

“What did he mean?” Kirk said, moving closer to the original prisoner.

“I believe that he could tell that his ‘son’ had been killed. That Jarenev was dead. The Aenar have a telepathic link to those that they care about. When it is severed by death, it can cause near death to those that remain. It is most likely what has happened to him.”

“Can you revive him?” Kirk looked at McCoy.

“Yes. He’s stabilized for now. But I don’t know for how long.”

Kirk and McCoy helped the Aenar man onto the bed. As he gathered his senses, he spoke. “Jarenev is dead. I do not know how. But at least the grand plan is complete. I ask you for asylum, captain. I wish to leave this planet, for I fear that my life will not be long if I were to stay.”

Kirk looked to the representative, now the lone government official. He then turned back to the Aenar man. “I willingly grant you asylum. We can leave immediately.”

Kirk helped McCoy pull the Aenar man to his feet. Spock joined them inside the cell. Kirk pulled his communicator from his belt. “Kirk to Enterprise.”

“Sulu, here, sir.”

“Mr. Sulu. Four to beam up on my mark.”

“Aye sir.”

Kirk looked at Frenlev. “I don’t envy the position that you have been thrown into. You have no one to take control of your planet, so you must do it. You must take charge and lead the people of Andor through the crisis. Find a way to bridge the gap between the Aenar and the Andorians. In time, perhaps, you will come to enjoy the position of president. Or you will despise it because of how you obtained it. Nevertheless, you are the one that the people will look to in the short term. You have been a representative of the president for several years and have seen how he works. You know how things should be done. You know the protocols. Good luck, Mr. President.”

He pulled the communicator back to his face. “Energize.”

The transporter beam locked on all four people and slowly dematerialized them as they disappeared into the stratosphere. Frenlev was left at a loss. Looking at an empty cell and a government in shambles. The light of the new day began to filter in from the outside.

**

Spock and Kirk were in the lounge. “Your move, captain.”

Kirk knew that he was down to the wire. He had only a few pieces left. Both his rooks were covering his king and he had one knight and bishop left on the board.

The ship was en route to Starbase 323 for debriefing and re-supply. Kirk and Spock had not spoken about the outcome on Andor and had not discussed the possible consequences. Rather, they isolated themselves in the lounge in a vain attempt to finish the game they had started just a few days before.

All but one of Kirk’s pawns had been taken over the course of the game. Kirk studied the board and moved his bishop diagonally across the board. With a grin, he looked to Spock. “Check.”
Spock studied the move and then his pieces. Where Kirk had only one pawn, Spock had six of his left. With no emotion in his eyes or facial expression, Spock moved one of his pawns and captured the rook nearest Kirk’s king. “Check mate.”

Kirk was surprised by the sudden statement and looked at the board. Sure enough, Spock had won. His pawn had blocked the king from making any other moves.

“I saw you smile,” Kirk said.

“I do not smile, captain.”

As Spock turned to leave the room, a smirk appeared quickly on his face and disappeared just as quickly.