Gateways 1 (TOS) by Susan Wright

Author:Susan Wright [Wright, Susan]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: General, Fiction, Science fiction; American, Science Fiction, Adventure, High Tech, Kirk; James T. (Fictitious character), Media Tie-In
ISBN: 9780743418546
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Published: 2001-07-30T23:00:00+00:00

Chapter Nine

Sulu waited anxiously inside the station during Captain Kirk's negotiation with the newly arrived Kalandans. He expected any moment to see the door breached and the landing party forced to defend their position. His post was inside the corridor leading to the botany labs, which was designated their fall-back route. Since it was lined by interlocking science labs, it would serve as an ideal warren for a defensive counterattack.

Sulu's grip on his phaser, set for stun, was tight as the minutes ticked by. Spock looked impassive and cool as usual, but Reinhart was sweating from nerves.

When Spock was finally notified that Captain Kirk and Dr. McCoy had successfully beamed up to the Enterprise with their Kalandan guests, Sulu realized the worst was over. It looked like they finally had a way to purge the toxic virus from their bodies. And now that the Kalandan commander and her officers were onboard the Enterprise, surely there would be no hostile move made against the station.

But Spock maintained his defensive position behind the lift in the entrance chamber. He was seated on the portable stool, his phaser out and aimed at the entryway to the station.

Sulu hesitated, then said from his post, "So that's that. Now we wait to hear back from the captain."

Reinhart uncertainly held his position near the door. As security, Reinhart had taken the first line of defense.

Spock kept watching the entryway, his communicator in front of him with the channel to the Enterprise open.

Sulu waited a few moments, but he was keyed up from the adrenaline rush of facing an all-out invasion that hadn't occurred. Finally he said, "Sir, request permission to resume searching the Kalandan living quarters."

Spock lifted one brow at him, then glanced at Reinhart, who came forward a couple of steps. "Very well, Mr. Sulu," Spock said. "You and Reinhart may proceed. Maintain communicator contact. If there is any disturbance, you will return here immediately."

"Understood," Sulu acknowledged. He jerked his head for Reinhart to come along.

Sulu was relieved to not have to stay in the entrance chamber, on constant alert against an attack. But when he was again confronted by the dozens of corridors and hundreds of chambers, he was daunted by the task ahead. Most of the things they had discovered were of no immediate value. Spock had theorized that while the colony itself appeared to be ten thousand years old, the civilization itself was much older and showed signs of millennia of development.

Sulu stayed near the quarters closest to the doorway to the botany labs. "Why not start here?" he suggested. "That way we're closer to the entrance chamber."

Reinhart looked as if, on second thought, he wasn't relishing looking through more private effects of long-dead Kalandans. "It's almost not right," he protested, stepping into the next chamber.

Sulu wanted to agree when he saw this one. Unlike the others, this chamber was not stripped and packed neatly into clear containers. It looked as if the scientist living here had stumbled up from sleep and staggered out the door, never to return again.

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