The Fire Eternal (Confederation Reborn Book 6) Read online

  The Fire Eternal

  CONFEDERATION REBORN

  A Voyage of Captain Kirn

  Bernard Schaffer

  Tony Healey

  Author's Dedication

  To Leonard Nimoy -

  His light will never go out.

  LLAP,

  Bernard and Tony

  The Stars,

  a never-ending field of wonder

  and promise.

  Peace held together

  by the union of vast civilizations

  all working together

  to ensure freedom and justice

  in the name of interstellar Confederation.

  This is the mission of the

  ICSS Endeavor,

  to ensure that bright light of hope

  burns until the end

  of time.

  1.

  Mission Log - William Kirn, ICSS Endeavor

  1930 Hours

  I have assembled the senior command staff of the Endeavor for what may very well be the end of our careers. I want every single person in this room to either commit to what I am about to propose, or make their objections known, as part of the record.

  This is an extremely difficult situation for me. I have only been in command of this ship for a few short months, and while the crew has performed exceptionally well, I've still struggled to overcome the large shadow left by her former Captain, the well-known, and well-liked, Kenny Hunter. I feel that from this point on, there can be no turning back.

  Captain Kirn stood up from the table and folded his hands behind his back, uncharacteristically pensive. His eyes met with Saris. The Valkar looked back at him impassively, then he turned to Dr. Jax Kelley, who shook his head and looked away.

  "I realize what I am asking all of you to consider is treason," Kirn said. "It will almost certainly be met with extreme reproach by Confederation Command, if not worse. Your careers, even your very lives, may be forfeit."

  The rest of the staff turned slightly to look at one another, taking their measure, trying to determine where everyone stood. Lt. Uthando's fists clenched nervously, but she remained fixed on the Captain. The ship's security chief, Lt. Commander Walter Bryant, patted her on the arm reassuringly. He leaned in close to her and whispered something in her ear that made her smile and giggle slightly.

  "Computer," Kirn called out, "Put this on the record." He waited for the responding beep, and said, "I, William Kirn, Captain of the ICSS Endeavor, hereby notify Confederation Command that I am ordering this vessel into the Demilitarized Zone, in clear violation of Primary Regulation two-twenty-one. I do this in clear conscience, despite the potential ramifications. At this time, I invite anyone present to voice their disagreement with my decision. Your objection will be noted, and you will be confined to your quarters for the duration of this mission. No further sanction or reproach will be made against you. Those who wish to voice their protest, speak now."

  He drew a deep breath and waited.

  Saris folded his hands on the table and remained silent, but that was to be expected. Dr. Kelley grunted his displeasure and shook his head, but remained quiet. Everywhere he looked, they met his stare with resolve. Finally, at the far end of the table, the ship's barrel-chested engineer, Chief Doone, smacked his hand down and said, "I think I speak for all of us when I say to hell with regulations, Captain. What's right is right."

  Kirn nodded slightly, then said, "Computer, end of record. Everyone, to your stations. You know what to do."

  He waited for them to begin collecting their things to leave, and said, "Mr. Bryant, a moment of your time."

  "Why, certainly, Captain," Bryant said, bowing slightly.

  Instead of leaving, Saris turned to the man seated next to him, "You may also wish to stay for a moment longer, Doctor."

  Kelley cocked an eyebrow at the Valkar and watched as he stood up and said, "Captain, I wish to formally request the care and treatment of Captain Hunter be transferred to me. Doctor Kelley is no longer capable of administering aid."

  "Now hang on a second," Kelley said, jumping to his feet. "How dare you say that?"

  "Doctor, I am merely stating the obvious. Were conventional methods of medical science able to assist your patient, this situation would not have arisen."

  "You cold-blooded son of a bitch! First you drag us all the way out into the middle of nowhere, claiming you're hearing voices that can somehow perform a medical miracle, and now you're calling me incompetent? I should strangle you where you stand."

  "That would be unwise," Saris said. "If not amusing."

  "Enough," Captain Kirn barked. "Both of you, shut up. Jax, what is the current status of your patient?"

  The doctor shrugged, "Same as before, Bill. He's in excruciating pain and screams until he passes out. Then he wakes up, and starts screaming all over again."

  "Are there any methods of relief you haven't tried yet?"

  "Just one. And it's the only one that will ease his suffering."

  Both Saris and Kirn turned to look at the doctor, and Kirn said, "That's not an option, Jax."

  "It's what he wants, damn it," Kelley snapped. "It's what he's been asking for ever since Saris convinced us to kidnap him! Keeping him alive in this condition flies in the face of all humanitarian treatment. Christ, Bill, we outgrew this kind of barbarism in the twenty-first century."

  "I will not allow the euthanization of another living being until we've exhausted all possibilities, Doctor, and that's final. You will continue treating Captain Hunter until further notice, is that clear?"

  "Anything you say, Commandant," Kelley muttered as he wound around the table and stormed out of the briefing room, smacking his fist on the corridor outside as the doors shut closed behind him.

  Bryant smiled slightly at Captain Kirn, "I hope that grumpy old bastard never changes, Bill. I really do."

  "He'll outlive all of us, Walt," Kirn said.

  Bryant leaned forward, "Let me ask you a question, Saris. How do we know this voice you keep hearing is friendly? What if you're being played for a fool and this is all some kind of trap?"

  Saris considered it for a moment, then said, "There is a distinct possibility that the inhabitants of Kazar V are not responsible for the transmissions I have been receiving. The only other alternative I can put forward is that one of our enemies may be exploiting this situation to drive us into the Demilitarized Zone. The reasons for that would be obvious. Disgrace the Confederation, disassemble the finest crew aboard the finest ship in the fleet, and potentially ignite all-out war. To answer your question Mister Bryant, I am well aware of the risks."

  Bryant laughed slightly and said, "Well, remind me never to ask you to cheer me up."

  Saris turned to Captain Kirn, "Now, permit me to ask a question of my own. If the potential for such negative consequences exists, why are we still proceeding on this course?"

  Kirn looked at him and said, "Kenny Hunter was a good man. He deserves better than whatever the hell it is that he's suffering from. If you say you know a way to help him, I believe it's worth trying."

  Saris nodded, "I am honored by your confidence, sir. I will do everything in my power to warrant it. Now, I should like to respond to Sickbay and attempt to assist Dr. Kelley. And also, to make sure he does not accidentally kill Captain Hunter, by which I mean, doing so completely on purpose."

  Bryant laughed as Saris headed through the door, and said, "You want me to send a security team down to Sickbay now, or wait until they try to kill each other?"

  "They'll be fine," Kirn said. He looked at Bryant and his voice grew quiet. "How is she?"

&nb
sp; "Mad as hell," Bryant said. "When I showed up to escort her to her quarters, she didn't take it very well."

  "Damn," Kirn said. "Did you tell her what I said?"

  "That it was for her own good? Sure. I tried. I don't think she heard me though. She was too busy throwing things at me." Bryant laughed and said, "She's got some fire to her, that one. You sure you wouldn't be happier with someone a little more easygoing?"

  "I like her fire, Walt."

  Bryant snapped his fingers and said, "What about K'oryiin girls? The ones with the blue skin. You always said you wanted to meet one. How about next shore leave, we go to one of the resorts on K'oryiin and see what they're like. What do you say, one last adventure? After all, can you really settle down before you're absolutely sure?"

  "I've let you talk me into far too many adventures already. My mind is made up."

  "Well that's good, I guess," Bryant said, sounding disappointed. "It does leave me with a question though. You gave every single person in this room the chance to decide for themselves about going on this mission. Why not her? Don't you trust her?"

  "Of course I trust her," Kirn snapped. "She'd follow me anywhere in the damned galaxy if I asked her to. But what are the odds any of us will get through this, Walt? Hell, even if we don't run into any enemies, we'll probably all be arrested by the time we get back to Confederation space."

  "Everyone…except her."

  "That's right, because the record will show she's been confined to quarters this entire time and had no part in it."

  "I see," Bryant said. He folded his arms across his chest and said, "Have you given any consideration to what I asked you about, before?"

  "No, I haven't had a chance to evaluate who I'm selecting as my First Officer yet, Walt. I told you that the most suitable candidate is Mister Saris, and I don't see any reason to deny him the opportunity just because you don't like taking orders from a Valkar."

  "Come on, Bill," Bryant said, casually. "You know it isn't about that. You and I know each other in a way that he could never understand. I know how you think, how you want things done. Hell, how long has it been since we've known each other? Day one at the Academy? That little Rothain thing, what was her name?"

  "Dephelia," Kirn said, shaking his head at the recollection of a beautiful young woman. "And you stole her from me in our Sophomore year."

  Bryant shrugged, "You were too busy worrying about your grades. It was a lesson in making command decisions, Bill. I'd say it's served you pretty well, Captain. Come on. You know I'm better suited to be your second-in-command than that Valkar could ever be. Especially with him leading us into this nightmare of a situation."

  Kirn bit his lip slightly, mulling it over. "Let's finish this mission, and if we still have a career in Confederation after this, I will make a decision. Fair enough?"

  "Fair enough," Bryant said. He watched Kirn go to the door and said, "But tread lightly with that little lady of yours, Bill. I'm worried what happens when this is all over, and she finds out you didn't trust her enough to make up her own mind."

  Kirn rounded the corner of the Ensign-level's personal quarters, heading for the security guard standing watch in front of the cabin doors at the far end of the hall. The guard snapped his feet together at Kirn's approach. "At ease, Sergeant," Kirn said. "How goes the detail so far?"

  The security officer looked back at the door warily. "She's finally stopped trying to kick her way out. She still comes around to scream at me every so often. I think she's making herself sick, though. Every so often, I can hear her, you know. Retching."

  Kirn shook his head and said, "All right. I will deal with this. Go take a break."

  The guard frowned. "Do you want me to stand by when you open the door, sir? She is likely to put up a fight."

  "No. That will be fine, Sergeant. I like to think I can handle myself."

  Kirn took a deep breath before entering the security code to unlock the cabin door. He could hear footsteps racing toward him, and a woman screaming, "You filthy son of a bitch, trapping me in here like this! I demand to be released! Bring me Captain Kirn!"

  The door swept open and Kirn stepped in, needing to raise his hands to prevent the rain of fists coming down on him. "Sara!" he shouted, "Sara! It's me. Calm down, it's me!"

  "Bill?" she gasped, stepping back to look at him. Her dark hair was a tangled mess, her face red and swollen from crying. "What is going on? W-what did I do wrong?"

  "Nothing," Kirn said quietly, turning to close the door behind him. "You did nothing wrong. This was something I had to do for your own protection."

  She wrapped her arms around him and buried her face against his chest. "Protection from what? I don't understand."

  He took her hands in his and walked her away from the door, saying, "I promise I would tell you if I could, but I can't, so I need you to trust me."

  "Are you in danger?"

  "Of course not," he said, laughing nervously. He kissed the top of her head. "Try and get some rest. Take a nap. You're always saying you never have time to just relax and read a book. Well, now's your chance. Soon, this will be over and everything will be back to normal."

  She leaned up and pressed her lips against his, fitting her body to him. "If you are lying to me, Bill, I don't know how I'll ever forgive you."

  "If that happens, I will spend the rest of my life trying to make it up to you."

  "I'll hold you to that, Captain William Kirn."

  He looked down at her, her large brown eyes as beautiful and perfect as anything he'd ever seen, and anything he imagined he'd want to see again. "Are you feeling all right? The guard outside said you were making yourself sick."

  "Making myself sick?" she said, then laughed slightly. "No, it's nothing I made myself. Bill, there's something I need to tell—"

  Dr. Kelley's voice broke over the ship's intercom, blaring, "Captain Kirn to Sickbay, right away!"

  Kirn looked over at the speaker and cursed under his breath. Sara touched his face and said, "Go. Apparently I have no choice but to be here, until whenever you decide to come back."

  He kissed her again, "You do know I never stop thinking about you, right?"

  She pressed her hand to her stomach and closed her eyes, "I can feel it right here when you tell me things like that."

  The intercom blared again, "Captain, we have an emergency!" and this time, behind Kelley's panicked voice, he heard the sound of Saris screaming in pain. Kirn turned for the door, punched in the security sequence, and raced through it.

  Crewmen in the halls leapt aside as he ran toward them, bracing themselves to the wall to clear a path. Kirn shouted for them to call the lift, then dove through its open doors and flipped the switch to send it to Sickbay, taking a second to catch his breath. The lift stopped abruptly and he bolted through the door again, whipping himself around the corner in a full sprint. Cries of wretched suffering echoed down the corridor. A large cluster of people had gathered outside of Sickbay, looking through the door in mute horror.

  "Clear a path, Captain coming through!" someone shouted, and people jostled one another out of the way as Kirn waded through the throng, shoving his way toward the door.

  "Jax, what the hell is happening in here?" he called out, only to stop in the doorway, staring in disbelief at the scene unfolding in front of him.

  Dr. Kelley was doubled-over, clutching the wall for support. Beside him, Saris was kneeling on the floor, leaning against a hospital gurney. Saris's hands were clutching the shriveled arm of Kenny Hunter as the Endeavor's former Captain lay in bed, thrashing. Hunter's throat was hoarse from screaming, but Saris was crying out in agony also, tears dripping from his clenched eyes. "Can't…take it…too much pain…" Saris sputtered.

  Kirn grabbed Saris by the arm, trying to wrench him free, even as Dr. Kelley shouted for him not to. A wave of agony shot throughout Kirn's body, exploding through his arms and legs, sending shockwave of agony into his chest and neck. He felt needles stabbing every inch of his skin,
as if the blood pumping through his veins was poison and his insides had been lit on fire.

  Saris wrenched his arm out of Kirn's grasp and the pain vanished. Kelley backed Kirn away from the Valkar and said, "Damn it, Bill, don't you think I tried that already?"

  Kirn looked past the doctor and said, "What is he doing?"

  "Some kind of pain transferal. When we got back to Sickbay, Hunter had nearly flat lined from shock, and Saris latched onto him. I think he's using his own body as a buffer, to absorb some of whatever Hunter is going through."

  Saris threw his head back and cried out in torment, blue-tinged tears spilling down his face.

  "Damn it, we can't just stand here and let him suffer like that."

  "I agree," Jax said evenly. "It's inhuman to have let it go one for this long, Bill."

  Kirn looked at Hunter, a shriveled shell of the man he'd once been. He thought what he'd want done in that situation. Would he want the suffering to continue? Screaming hysterically in front of his old crew?

  Enough was enough, he decided.

  "Do it, Jax. But make it quick."

  "It's about damn time," Kelley said, hurrying to his medicine cabinet. He threw open the doors and quickly selected several vials from the ones stored there. "The pain relievers I was giving him were completely ineffective. Whatever this virus is, it was burning up the serum the second it reached his blood. I have just the thing, though."

  Kelley dumped the contents of the vials into a syringe and activated it. "Fifty cc of hypothesia should do it. Five cc will make a man sleep for twelve hours." He turned around to face Hunter and said, "I am ashamed of myself for letting this go on as long as it has, Captain. Forgive me."

  The doctor stepped forward, and Saris turned on him, eyes red and blaring, tears and spittle running down his chin as he snarled, "No! Stay back…do not come any closer. I…can…take…it. Captain, you must… get us to the Kazar System. That is…what we agreed."

  Kirn shook his head. "I can't let you do this, Saris. It's killing you. No one should have to suffer like this."