Golden Bells and Serpent Gods

Chapter 3

Spock busied himself with taking scans of the area with the newly repaired tricorders as Captain Kirk, Mr. Scott and Doctor McCoy consumed the food brought by Ms. Masters. Spock’s initial readings confounded him. He rechecked the repairs that he just completed and performed multiple scans before he trusted the readings. His scans showed that the only sentient life forms present within a 100 kilometer radius were the Enterprise landing party and one other being.  The report of his findings was met with surprise and incredulity.

 “What does this mean Mr. Spock?”

“It means, Captain, that most of what we have experienced since our arrival has been an illusion of sorts. We are in an environment somewhat similar to our own holodecks, but much more advanced. The power source Lt. Uhura detected is most likely the computer and source of power sustaining this entire illusion.”

“Blimey,” Mr. Scott muttered.

“Then, that means the guards can’t hurt us,” McCoy added, his voice hopeful.

“The deaths of Ensign Hayes and Lieutenant Ryan upon our arrival strongly suggests otherwise,” Spock replied with a raised brow.  “My scans of the area do not include Hayes or Ryan as being among the tally of sentient life forms. Perhaps my use of the term ‘hologram’ is misleading. While what we have encountered would appear to be computer generated, their operation is more akin to automatons than holograms. Any injury we sustain at the hands of the automatons is just as life threatening as those we would sustain at the hands real people. What we are experiencing is artificial, but very real.”

“I still don’t get it,” Scotty muttered. “When we fought the guards, those men went down just like flesh and blood creatures. If they were artificial, your nerve pinch should not have done a damn thing to them.”

“An interesting and apt observation, Mr. Scott. “It would appear that the design of the automaton is quite advanced and detailed. They are programmed to move and operate just like actual human beings. As we have observed, the automatons bleed and expire. I would speculate that they are also programmed to age and perhaps even to reproduce.”

“I suppose that takes care of our pesky Prime Directive,” Jim sighed. “I don’t think I could restrain myself from interfering in the culture of a civilization built on human sacrifice.”

“You never do, Captain,” Spock replied.

“What I don’t understand is why anyone would go through the trouble to make such detailed fabrications?” Kirk asked.

“I would think the answer to that question would be evident,” Spock replied.

“He’s lonely,” Dr. McCoy answered. “Before we beamed down he was the only thinking breathing person on this planet. No wonder he wants to keep Uhura.”

“She’ll be an Eve to his Adam,” Scotty muttered.

“Precisely.”

“If Mixcoatl’s merely lonely, why not just try to keep us all, like Apollo?” Kirk asked.

“We’d be competition,” McCoy offered as he eyed Spock suspiciously.

“Indeed.”

“We’ll I don’t plan ta go down without a fight,” Scotty exclaimed.

“Nor do I, Mr. Scott,” Kirk offered as he paced the room. “Well, we all know what we must do. As soon as you get a clear shot, Mr. Spock, I want you to take out that jewel.”

“I guess our job will be to provide the distraction,” McCoy offered.

“Thankfully we now have more of a fighting chance.” Kirk held up his small blade to the light for inspection before hiding the weapon in his boot.

***************

Uhura watched the ball courts in rapt fascination. Despite the circumstances surrounding them, she could not suppress her scientific instincts. Before her the field was filled with men engaged in a complicated ball game that Mixcoatl had called ullamaliztli. It was unlike any sport she had ever observed. The men did not use their hands as they propelled a dense rubber ball about the field. Instead, they used their hips, elbows, feet or heads to keep the heavy ball in the air.

“The ulli may never touch the ground,” Mixcoatl whispered in her ear as she watched the game, his cool breath sending a shiver down her spine.

“Ulli,” Uhura repeated, rolling the word off of her tongue. “I take it that that the ulli is the ball?”

“Very good, Coyolxauhqui. You shall recall the language soon,” Mixcoatl replied, this time applying a gentle kiss to her bare shoulder before continuing to whisper in her ear. “The game is won when someone manages to guide the ulli through one of the hoops.”

Uhura tried to ignore Mixcoatl’s caresses; focusing her attention her on the ball court instead. The bare chested players twisted and undulated, moving hips, elbows and feet in their efforts to keep the ball aloft. Sweat glistened off of their russet skin, the heat of the noon sun adding to the challenge of their game. Uhura winced as players were bloodied and bruised by the heavy ball, the deerskin pads they wore doing little to lessen the impact. One player used his head to strike the ball, like several others before him, only to be knocked unconscious by the contact, his body falling limply to the stone floor. The scene was beautiful and brutal and Uhura found that she could not look away. She was roused from her attentions by a deafening roar that went up from the assemble spectators. One team had managed to propel the ulli through the hoop, ending the game.

Uhura remained seated as Mixcoatl and the others in the royal box got to their feet and applauded the winning team. She watched as Mixcoatl stepped forward and gave a short speech to congratulate the victors. She was able to translate phrases “great honor” and “reward” from the long dead tongue.

“What honor have they won?” Uhura asked once Mixcoatl retook his seat.

“The honor of being sacrificed in your honor, Golden Bells.”

“Sacrificed?” Uhura exclaimed. “Like those poor souls this morning?”

“Of course. It is a great honor for their heart to be counted worthy to be food for their goddess,” he explained gently as if speaking to a child. He caressed her cheek with the back of his hand.

Uhura slapped his hand away angrily. “Should my crewmates also count it an honor to die at your hands? You call your self a god, but you are nothing but a coward and a brute!”

Mixcoatl seized her wrist in a crushing grip. “I’ve allowed you to speak thusly to me for the last time. You may not yet remember what and who you are to me, but you will show me the respect and deference that I am due as your husband!”

Despite her efforts, Uhura whimpered from the pain. At the small sound, he loosened his grip before pulling her onto his lap and nuzzling her hair.

“Forgive me, my Golden Bells. I do not desire to hurt one that is dear to me. All will be right again...”

A horn blast cut through the air, interrupting his apology. Uhura turned to look over the ball courts once more to find Spock, Bones, Jim and Scotty being led by an escort of spear wielding guards.

“Now it begins, Coyolxauhqui.”

***************

Spock examined the court around them, taking note of the number of guards and the line of warriors awaiting them at the end of the field. They were greatly outnumbered; it was clear that Mixcoatl did not intend for it to be a fair fight. Even with their hidden weapons, Spock calculated that the odds of their besting their opponents in hand-to-hand combat were 1000 to 1.

Spock’s eyes fell on the royal observation box. Mixcoatl rose from his throne and silenced the roaring crowd with a wave of his hand. He began to speak, but Spock was deaf to his words. His gaze was fixed on Nyota. She stood beside Mixcoatl, looking at her friends with concern filled eyes, one hand rubbing her right wrist gently. He had to fight to extinguish a flame of wrath that flared in his breast. She had been injured. Spock’s logical mind reasoned that the injury she sustained appeared to be minor. He calmed.

The blast of a horn and the roar of the crowd propelled him into action; the battle had begun. The guards around them fell back as the line of warriors advanced.

“Now!” Kirk shouted.

Scotty, McCoy and Kirk brandished their knives and advanced toward the warriors. A cry went up from the guards. Spock reached for his firearm, but was prevented from extricating the weapon from his boot when a spear landed at his feet. Spock jumped back and found himself surrounded by two guards. They began to circle Spock, their weapons trained on him. Spock crouched low and began to turn slowly, keeping both guards in his line of vision. One lashed out quickly with his spear towards Spock’s abdomen. Spock leapt back, avoiding the sharp blade. Suddenly, he felt an intense burning in his side. He staggered clutching his side as a spear was wrenched from his body. Had the blade struck a few centimeters higher, his heart would have been pierced.

Spock heard Uhura’s gasp of alarm over the din of the fighting and the cheers of the crowd. Spock glanced over his shoulder at the observation deck to see her fighting to free herself from Mixcoatl’s firm grasp on her shoulders, struggling uselessly to run to his assistance. Spock breathed deeply, willing the pain away. He could not give in to defeat so easily. He resumed his fighting stance, removing his bloodied hand away from his side. A steady trickle of blood dripped from the wound to pool on the stone floor.

A sharp cry rang out from the crowd. “Quetzalcoatl!”

“Quetzalcoatl! Quetzalcoatl! Quetzalcoatl!” The crowd picked up the chant as the guards and warriors dropped their weapons and fell to their knees, pressing their hands and faces against the stone floor.

“Spock,” Kirk staggered towards him, his shirt hanging in shreds from the collar, exposing his chest and arms. “What are they doing?”

“It would appear that my green blood has resulted in my being mistaken for, Quetzalcoatl, their feathered green serpent deity.”

“They think this pointy eared hobgoblin is a god?” Bones yelled in exasperation as he surveyed the prostrate guards around them.

“It would appear that the automaton’s programming is quite advanced.”

A roar of anger filled the air, stopping McCoy’s retort before it left his lips. All four turned towards the observation deck where an infuriated Mixcoatl railed against his servants.

“Kill them now! He is no god, but an imposter!”

“So says the egomaniacal alien that created a city of automatons to worship him,” Kirk murmured. “I think this is the distraction we wanted, Mr. Spock.”

“Indeed,” Spock replied as he eyed the bewildered guards surrounding them, torn between obeying their master and their cultural programming.

Spock quickly retrieved the firearm from his boot and aimed the weapon at the jewel. He fired, sending a projectile speeding towards the jewel’s center. It shattered in a burst of smoke and flame, sending shards of glass showering down to the ground. The crowd and temple surrounding them blinked before disappearing, leaving behind a structure of iron and steel that looked to have once been a sizable ship.

“What devilment is this, Quetzalcoatl?” Mixcoatl cried as he looked at their surroundings in a panic. “You have used witchcraft to spirit my kingdom away!”

“I think egomaniacal is not the proper adjective for this fella,” McCoy said.

“What would your diagnosis be, Bones?”

“Bat shit insane.”

“I agree,” Jim replied. “Let’s get the hell outta here.”

“Aye, Captain,” Scotty replied before whipping out his communicator. “Enterprise, five ta beam up.”

Spock felt relief as he began to feel the familiar tingle of the preliminary stages of transport before Nyota’s cry stopped his heart.

“No,” Mixcoatl bellowed. “You have taken my kingdom, but you shall not have my Golden Bells!”

Spock looked up to see Mixcoatl lift Uhura over his shoulder and run down the platform and into the surrounding jungle. Spock began to pursue them just as the rest of the landing party was transported back to the ship.

**************

“Status report, Mr. Chekov,” Jim barked as he stepped off the transporter pad, having realized that he was missing two crewmen.

“I’m sorry, Keptin. We lost Commander Spock and Miss Uhura. They moved before beam up and we lost their signals.”

“Can you lock onto them now?”

“Negative, Captain,” Scotty replied as he examined Chekov’s work. “They’re moving through some dense vegetation. We won’t be able ta beam them out until they stop.”

“Keep monitoring their frequencies, Ensign.  Beam me down to their last coordinates along with a small security detail. Scotty, you have the comm.”

****************

Uhura struggled against Mixcoatl’s iron clad grip on her legs as they sped through the dense jungle. While breaking the jewel had resulted in their regaining communication with the ship, it did not seem to have any impact on Mixcoatl beyond ending his power to shoot energy bolts. Whatever species he was, his superhuman strength was a natural attribute. Her struggles proving useless, Uhura busied herself with ensuring that they would be found. Her screams were not those of a damsel in distress, but were aimed at allowing Spock and the others to track their progress despite the compromised visibility of their surroundings.  She also managed to undo the intricately beaded necklace that also served as a shirt of sorts. She dropped several beads as they ran, hoping that their trail would not be lost as the beads rolled under the leaves and roots that covered the jungle floor.

Uhura became hopeful when she spied a flash of blue amongst the brown tree trunks and green vines. Spock was in hot pursuit. Uhura resumed her squirming and beat her fists against Mixcoatl’s back and rump. She may have just as well punched a rock. Soon the sound of rushing water reached her ears. Their progress suddenly halted as they stood on the edge of a crag, the waters of a swift wide river could be seen churning white and angry in the shallow valley below.

“Let me go, Mixcoatl,” Uhura demanded as he paced the banks anxiously, looking for a method of crossing. “My crewmates will be here soon. Keeping me won’t help you.”

“I shall never give you to Quetzalcoatl, Coyolxauhqui. You are mine and mine alone. I’d rather return your head and heart to the stars than surrender you.”

“Put the lieutenant down, Mixcoatl,” Spock ordered, pointing his phaser at them as he emerged from the brush. “No harm will come to you if you comply.”

Mixcoatl dropped Uhura to her feet and pulled her roughly against his body. He produced a blade and held it at her throat.

“Leave us, Quetzalcoatl,” Mixcoatl snarled, his face contorting in rage as he glared at Spock. “Or I will return her to the skies where neither of us can possess her.”

“Mixcoatl,” Spock pleaded as he lowered his phaser. “Do not do anything rash. Release her, now. There is no need for any more bloodshed this day.”

“I shall never yield!” He shouted.

Uhura shook with fright, the tears she fought to hold back catching in her throat. She did not wish to die at the hands of a madman, but she resolved to comport herself like the Starfleet officer that she was.

“Mixcoatl, listen to me,” she pleaded using her most soothing tones. “I am beginning to remember. I won’t leave you here alone, my love. I will stay with you.”

“Nyota,” Spock protested in confusion.

“Just lower your blade, my husband,” she continued, ignoring the commander. “Quetzalcoatl won’t take me from you. I do not want him.”

“No, you lie,” Mixcoatl growled as he began to slowly back towards the edge of the cliff. “I saw you lay with Quetzalcoatl, my son. You took him eagerly between your thighs. A mortal I could abide, but Quetzalcoatl. Why did you choose him my, Golden Bells?”

“Mixcoatl, I do not want him, I want you,” Uhura cried.

“Faithless woman,” Mixcoatl shouted. “I have waited hundreds of years, sacrificing my people, shedding their blood to purchase your return. But I am merciful, my wife. I will not turn you away.”

***********

Spock watched with concern as Uhura attempted to talk down Mixcoatl. It was clear to him that Mixcoatl was a highly disturbed individual. He questioned the logic of reasoning with one who had clearly taken leave of his senses long ago.

His concern turned to horror as he watched Mixcoatl sink his blade into the flesh of Nyota’s throat, slicing a red line across her skin. She sank to the ground clutching her throat, a sickening gurgle parting from her lips as blood seeped over her fingers. A phaser burst hit Mixcoatl, just as he thrust his bloodied blade into his chest. Spock rushed forward, uncaring as to whence the phaser fire came. He reached Nyota just in time to catch her before her head hit the ground. Her eyes were wide with fear as they came to rest on his face. Spock whipped out his communicator.

“Enterprise. Two to beam up directly to sickbay.”

“Aye, sir.”

It felt like hours until Spock began to feel the familiar tingle in his limbs, although he knew only seconds had passed. As soon as they arrived in sickbay, Spock rushed Uhura to an available biobed, explaining her injuries to M’Benga and McCoy as he ran. He backed away from the bed, Uhura’s small hand slipping from his own as doctors and nurses surrounded her. Spock stood like a statue watching the scene, uncaring of the dark red blood that began to dry and cake on his skin. Uhura’s pain and fear still reverberated through his body. He wished futilely that they were bonded so that he could broadcast his calm and absorb her pain.

“Commander! Commander!”

Spock looked down; his eyes dull as they fell upon a petite nurse.

“Are you injured sir?”

“I am unharmed.”

“But you are covered in blood, sir.”

“The blood belongs to Lieutenant Uhura.”

“I am aware of that, sir. But the blood on your side is green.”

Spock looked down at his torso. Nyota’s dark blood stained the front of his shirt, the viscous liquid seeping towards the growing dark green stain on his side. A few drops of green mingled with red at his feet. Spock recalled the searing pain of the blade slicing into his side.

“It would appear that I am in error, ensign.”

Spock collapsed to the floor, the shouts of the  nurse calling for assistance and packets of T-negative Vulcan blood growing dimmer as he lost consciousness.

*********

Spock dreamt that night. That night he dreamt that he was running. He was running through a dark forest. He was fleeing from a serpent with a crown of flaming feathers and the legs of a man. He was chasing a woman with bells on her cheeks. He was chasing a woman that was caught in the coils of a snake shaped cloud.  He could not catch the cloud or outpace the serpent. He could not touch the fingers of the women with bells on her cheeks, whose hands held the moon and stars. He ran to a cliff. The cloud rose into the starless sky, the woman clutched in his coils. The serpent with a crown of flaming feathers caught him. He dreamt no more.

**********

Uhura opened her eyes. The dim blue light of sickbay on beta shift greeted her. Her mouth was dry and her throat hurt. She opened her mouth to ask for water, but no sound came out. She began to panic and rose from the bed.

“Be at peace, ashayam,” Spock soothed as he eased her back down onto the bed. “You are on the Enterprise. You are safe.”

Uhura closed her eyes and sighed before motioning to her mouth. She mimed drinking a glass of water.

“I understand. Nurse, some water for the lieutenant.”

 A nurse arrived with a glass of water. Uhura reached for it, but Spock was too fast for her. She allowed him to lift her gently into a sitting position and bring the glass to her lips. Uhura drank greedily.

“Thank you,” she managed to rasp after she drained the glass.

“Doctor McCoy assured us that your voice will recover in a few days. The repairs made to your vocal chords will take sometime to heal.”

“How long have I been out?”

“You have been asleep for four days and nine point six hours.”

“How are Charlene and the others? They were not hurt, were they?”

“They are all unharmed, k’diwa.”

Uhura exhaled in relief. “And Mixcoatl?”

“You mean Greut Thygre. He was a political prisoner from the planet Devlux 7 who was sentenced to a life of solitary confinement on the planet. The palace, temple, and his subjects were all his creations, an advanced form of hologram that he developed during his imprisonment.”

“So the sacrifices were not real,” Uhura sighed, shutting her eyes against the memory of what she had seen.

“Affirmative.”

“What happened to him?”

“Thygre is dead,” Spock replied, the corners of his mouth curving down slightly, “After attempting to take your life, he stabbed himself in the heart and was hit by phaser fire from Captain Kirk.”

Uhura clutched Spock’s hand as she screwed shut her eyes. Spock felt her sadness and pity for Thygre through the tentative link formed by their contact.

“I do not understand. Why do you mourn one that sought to take your life?”

“How can I not pity him, Spock? You say he was exiled to that planet without a friendly face for all of those years. It must have driven him mad. He was such a sad confused soul. I think he just wanted companionship.”

Spock nodded. “While the needless death of any sentient being is undesirable, I cannot lament Thygre’s passing when he sought to kill she that is half of my heart.”

Uhura smiled and nearly gasped at the intensity of the feelings of love and relief that Spock broadcast through their link. Tears sprang to her eyes and she made to speak before the entrance of Doctor McCoy and the Captain interrupted her. Both men donned their uniform sleepwear as if they had been summoned from their slumber.

“Sleeping beauty has awakened,” Kirk declared as he stopped at the foot of her bed a dazzling smile splitting his face in two.

Uhura greeted her visitors while attempting to extricate her hand from Spock’s. She was surprised when Spock tightened his grip.

“You gave us all quite a scare, Uhura,” McCoy smiled as he gave her a quick scan with his medical tricorder. “Seems like you are almost back to 100% physically. However, I still want you to take a few days off and meet with Counselor Davis.”

“We all owe Mr. Spock a debt of gratitude for bringing you back to us, lieutenant,” Kirk said as he looked between the couple.

“Damn fool nearly bled to death chasing that madman down,” McCoy embellished.

Uhura looked at Spock in surprise, her concern and alarm radiating through their link.

“I am well, lieutenant. Doctor McCoy is an excellent physician.”

Jim gasped dramatically. “I do believe the First Officer gave you a compliment, Bones.”

“Well, I’ll be,” McCoy grinned.

“I do not intend to make a habit of it, Doctor.”

Uhura laughed at McCoy’s scowl before moaning in pain. Her throat was still very tender. McCoy quickly administered a hypospray of painkiller.

“Well, you two got to scram. Uhura needs her rest.”

“Does the Lieutenant have to remain in sickbay, Doctor?”

“Well, no…”

“Then I will escort her to her quarters,” Spock continued. “I will ensure that she rests properly and attends her session with Counselor Davis.”

Jim looked at McCoy, a small smile playing across his mouth. McCoy shrugged.

“Do whatever the hell you want, just make sure Uhura actually rests! I want the little lady tucked into bed. Alone.”

Uhura frowned. “I am not a child, Doctor. I can follow your orders on my own.”

“Of course you’re not a child, Uhura. You saved all our asses down there. I was talking to your overgrown elf!”

Spock’s eyebrows rose to his hairline.

“You heard the Doctor, Spock,” Jim laughed as he slapped the Vulcan on the back. “You might like to know, lieutenant, that I put your name and that of Lieutenant Masters up for a special commendation for your actions on Hytherox IV. Good job, Ms. Uhura. You went above and beyond the call of duty.”

“Thank you, Captain.”

Kirk patted her leg affectionately before taking his leave.

McCoy bent to kiss Uhura’s cheek. “You’re a star, Ny, an absolute star. I’ll be by to check on you in the morning.”

McCoy turned towards Spock and regarded him thoughtfully before patting him on the shoulder. “You get some rest too. Even hobgoblins need sleep, especially recovering ones. Look after her, Spock.”

“I intend to, Doctor.”

McCoy nodded and patted his shoulder once more before leaving sickbay.

“So I take it they know about us?” Uhura asked once they were alone.

“They have surmised that we are romantically involved, but I have not divulged the details of what occurred between us that night. I also omitted those details from my official report. I believe that my insistence that I be placed in a bed next to yours during my recovery and my frequent visits during your convalescence provided the Captain and the Doctor with sufficient evidence to confirm their suspicions.”

“And you don’t mind that the crew knows?”

“As I fully intend to court you for the purpose of bonding, I do not see the logic of keeping or relationship secret,” Spock replied. “However, if you wish to reconsider our relationship, I will respect your decision.”

“Oh Spock,” Nyota gasped as her eyes began to fill with tears. “My feelings have not changed. I love you.”

Spock closed his eyes, reveling in his feeling of relief and the affection that Nyota broadcast through their link.

“Was that a marriage proposal that I heard, Mr. Spock?” Nyota questioned, smiling impishly.

“In time, Nyota, in time,” Spock replied, allowing one of his near smiles to grace his face. “Now if you will allow me, I will escort you to your quarters.”

Nyota stood and pulled on a robe with his assistance before slowly making her way to her quarters. She leaned heavily on Spock’s arm, smiling lazily at the few people they passed in the halls. Once in her rooms, Spock assisted her in changing into one of her nightgowns and tucked her into bed just as McCoy ordered.

“Sleep well, Nyota,” Spock whispered to her after placing a chaste kiss on her lips. “I will be available should you have need of anything.”

Spock rose to leave but was stopped by Nyota’s gentle caress of his cheek.

“Stay with me,” Uhura requested as she pulled back the covers of her bed.

“You need your rest, k’diwa. It would not be wise for me to remain.”

“Just stay to sleep,” Uhura coaxed. “I want you near me.”

“As you wish.”

Spock undressed, leaving on his boxers and undershirt and climbed into the bed beside Nyota. Nyota snuggled into his side, resting her head on his strong shoulder and working her  hand underneath his shirt. She pressing her cool hand against the hot flesh of his side so that she could feel his heart beat steadily against her palm.

Spock lay watching the ceiling as he listened to Nyota’s breathing become slow and steady. He shut his eyes and focused on her breathing until his inhales matched her own and her exhales became like a chant. Spock dreamt that night. He dreamt that he lay under the stars on a warm Vulcan night. He dreamt that he lay with a woman with star lit eyes and sun kissed skin. He dreamt of a woman whose voice sang like bells.