Star Trek: The Kobayashi Maru by Julia Ecklar

Author:Julia Ecklar
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Tags: Science Fiction, Star Trek, Fiction
ISBN: 9780671658175
Publisher: Pocket Books
Published: 1989-01-02T08:00:00+00:00

"Mister Chekov," he said aloud, "I'm sure

Mister Scott", appreciates your willingness

to go EV, but I don't' think we've reached the

point of discussing who's most expendable just yet."

Chekov looked up from where he'd been dogging

Scott as the engineer wired the accelerators. It

struck Kirk, for the first time, that Chekov was the only

one who hadn't discarded his duty jacket when

Scott reinstated the heating; the brass and

silver pips at the shoulder and cuffs glinted dully

as he stood. "I'm serious, Captain."

"You're not going," Scott stated flatly. The

Scotsman's obstinacy surprised Kirk even more

than Chekov's.

Qhekov glared down at him. "You're our only

engineer," he persisted. "If something should happen

"diso you, there isn't anyone else who could

repair the systems!"

Scott wouldn't even look up from his repairs.

"Nothing's going to break down any more than it alre

dy has."

was was brought along to navigate. We have no nav

gational abilities, we have no helm. If I

die, it wo "t make any difference."

was isten to me," Scott overrode him, rocking

back on is heels. "There's a l aser cutter

involved here. The re's a lot of connections and

conduits that need seal ng off if we aren't going

to contaminate the whole cra . There's these

accelerators to place, and a shortte memory

to install. Those are all procedures I'm bett

r qualified to perform."

was hen show me how," Chekov insisted. "I've

wor ed with you before-you know that I can learn this

equipment!"

was hekov . . . to was Scott sat for a moment in

silence. Kirk watched his jaw knot as the

Scotsman turned a narrow tool over and over in

his hand. "That was a long time ago, lad," Scott

said slowly, evenly. "I'm

concerned about the safety of the people left in the

shuttle. I could show you the equipment, I could

drill you on the procedures, but I'm the only one

who could make absolutely certain everything was done

right! If you missed even one conduit, or slipped

and damaged the pile-was

"I'll be careful."

"You won't be anything!" Scott exploded,

angry and insistent. "Because you're not going out there!"

"Why won't you even talk to me about it?"

Chekov wanted to know.

"Because you're not qualified!" the engineer shot

back. Chekov drew back as if struck, his

eyes wide and injured. "You haven't logged a

single hour with delicate equipment in nigh on

five years!" Scott continued. "I'll be damned

if I depend on you remembering enough of what I

once showed you to do this!"

Chekov stared at Scott in brittle

silence, his face blank, his back rigid. He

reminded Kirk of the antique tin soldiers his

grandfather used to have, with their identical stoic

expressions, and identical scarlet uniforms.

Kirk was immediately embarrassed for the comparison,

especially in lieu of Chekov's story and

Scout's angry words.

"Pin sorry, lad," Scott said, more gently.

"But it's true, and you know it's true. I can't

take a risk like that! Not with other people's lives."

No one said anything for a very long time. Kirk

finally broke the painful silence. "Scotty, finish

what you're doing, then get suited up and out there.

Chekov, go up front and monitor that thing's

position. We can maintain radio contact with

Scotty through the main console."

Chekov hesitated only a heartbeat, then

turned and swept into the forward hatch without even

acknowledging Kirk's decision.

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