The Klingon Treasure - CH 2 (of 5)
Seaside Rendezvous
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CHAPTER II
Seaside Rendezvous
“AS I see it, Spock, all we need is a mode of transportation.”
It was amazing to Spock the level of ignorance that humans often displayed. Jim’s sentence was stated as truth; as if the need for transportation would simply produce transportation.
“Yet we have none, nor do we have the funds to secure any craft.”
They were walking down Main Street, in the direction of the watercraft docks. Sadly, it would be a very long walk. Kirk seemed unusually happy for a person who was soon to fail at his new assignment.
“Yes, but I happen to know that today is Tuesday, Spock.”
“I am pleased that you know the current day of the week, but that has nothing to do with our dilemma.”
“Ah! But it does.” They had stopped walking. Kirk pointed to a rather well-used hovercraft parked in front of the local hardware store. The front hood was open, and a young man was hunched over the inner workings, busily tinkering.
“Scotty!” Kirk called out to the young mechanic.
Montgomery Scott tore himself away from his engine to address the duo standing before him. He was Spock’s age, and his dark brown hair was in the general condition of someone who was more interested in an engine than in a pocket comb.
“Boys! Good to see you! I was just picking up a few parts for The Queen, here.”
“As you are every Tuesday.” Kirk said, smiling.
“Tuesday is my day off. It’s the only chance I can do some work on her.”
The Queen was Montgomery’s pride and joy, though he had many mechanical projects around his home. There wasn’t a time Kirk had ever seen his friend without a tool in his hand, working on some project or machine. Queen may have been around before he was born, but Montgomery kept the elder hovercraft in top working condition. He loved Queen.
Montgomery beamed over his prize. “It’s the machine of a dream.”
Kirk added, “It’s a clean machine.”
The pistons were currently pumping.
Spock noted Montgomery’s meticulous in his care of the vehicle. “The hubcaps all gleam.”
“Well, of course! She may be old, but she’s a keeper!” Montgomery’s gaze moved from his car to Kirk and Spock. “What can I do for my two favorite chums?”
Kirk smiled. “We need a lift. We have a job.”
“Jim Kirk! What kind of a job could you possibly have lined up with Spock? You may be friends, but you rarely see eye to eye.”
“We are currently charged with a fact finding mission by Christopher Pike.”
“It’s a private eye gig, Scotty.” Kirk’s eyes twinkled. “Want to join us? It’s a grand adventure. It’s a dangerous encounter. It’s a great mystery.”
“It’s a one point seven hour walk,” Spock added, “We could use your vehicle to expedite our journey.”
Kirk winced. “Spock, you are just not a romantic. Where is your sense of adventure?”
“Our task is simply to ‘see a man about a message.’ It is hardly a rousing adventure in the truest sense of the vernacular.”
Montgomery didn’t wait for the bickering to stop, as he knew it was a constant state between the two friends. He tossed his hyperspanner lightly into the back seat, and pulled a rag from his pocket to wipe his hands. “I’m in! Let’s see a man about a message! But I drive. No one else handles Queen but me.”
Kirk laughed, “You’re in love with your car!”
Montgomery agreed, “She’s my best friend.”
“You boys goin’ somewhere?” came a voice from behind them. The group turned to find a rather lanky boy just a few years older than Spock. He had an easy going smile and light, slow drawl that betrayed his early years growing up in the southern part of the country.
“Lenny!” Kirk exclaimed. “Want to go on an adventure?”
“If it’s something you three have cooked-up, I just might want to stay right here on this sidewalk.” He motioned toward the Queen. “Especially if we’re going in that bucket of bolts, there.”
Montgomery feigned a hurt tone of voice, “What have you got against poor Queenie, here?”
“Does it have moving parts?”
“Well, of course.”
“Then that’s what I’ve got against her. You know what happens to your body when you crash in one of those things? Little bits of you all over the pavement.”
Leonard McCoy’s fear of technology always got a good laugh from the boys. But the laughs were always behind his back. Because when they were in front of him, his attitude was actually kind of annoying.
“Come on, Lenny.” Kirk said. “Hop in with us. We’re going to the old docks by Port Bay.”
Spock attempted to sound excited. “For a rousing adventure in the truest sense of the vernacular.” It didn’t seem to particularly convince Leonard. Kirk fared better, relaying the events of the afternoon, and their urgency to meet with Hector for information yet to be discovered. Spock would never understand human motivational techniques. Jim Kirk could seemingly convince anyone of almost anything.
With all the boys on board for adventure, they hopped into the hovercraft, and Montgomery turned the Queen towards the watercraft docks. The long walk became a relatively short drive, and the boys mused briefly about what information Hector might have for Christopher Pike.
“Maybe it’s not something about a current case at all,” Montgomery offered, “but something entirely new.”
“Well,” Kirk said, “he did mention that we might find some clues ourselves, after we met with Hector.”
“While this line of conversation does pass the time, it is useless to conjecture about the outcome. We will shortly learn all answers when we speak with Hector.”
Leonard raised an eyebrow. “Anyone ever tell you that cold logic makes a very boring travel companion, Spock?”
Spock raised an eyebrow. “I am merely stating a fact.”
Leonard raised both eyebrows. “So am I.”
Montgomery laughed. “If there’s one thing worse than Jim and Spock bickering, it’s Lenny and Spock bickering!”
“In any case,” Kirk said, “we’re here. We’ll all find out soon enough.”
The address that Pike had given Spock was easy enough to find: The entire area was currently alive with commotion and police activity. The boys exited the vehicle, and carefully made their way to the front of the onlookers, who were all gawking at the remains of the event. It seemed to Kirk as if half of Spaceport’s police department was at the scene.
There were several officers holding the crowd back, and three detectives were knelt over a body lying on the ground.
“This is unfortunate.” Spock said. “The man lying on the ground is Hector.”
“Are you sure?” Asked Montgomery.
“Positive. He is the appropriate weight and body mass. Even taking into account the missing appendage.”
Leonard motioned behind them. “Appendage? That’s rich. You mean his head. The one on the other side of the street.”
“Indeed.” Spock looked at the other scene and added, “Yes. Definitely Hector”
Leonard sighed, and raised his eyebrows yet again. “Well, I’m glad we have that all worked out.”
“Gentleman, please.” Kirk was crushed. There they were, on the precipice of a grand adventure, and it looked like they were stopped in their tracks before anything had a chance to even begin. How could they possibly get any information now? “Does anyone have any thoughts at all?”
“Yes,” said Leonard, “He’s dead, Jim. Can we go back now?”
Have the boys failed in their mission? Don’t miss chapter 3:
