Star Trek: The Original Series: The More Things Change by Scott Pearson
Authors: Scott Pearson
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with a heavy thud , presumably caused by a suddenly unconscious humanoid falling to the deck on the other side.
Chapel smiled at the thrill of that victory, but it didn’t last long. Now the hatch was pushed quickly forward into the shuttle, and the return disruptor fire wasn’t set on stun. The shrill scream of the energy beams slicing through the air was deafening, the near misses still painful, as waves of heat burned even through their uniforms. Chapel thought that they may have stunned one more, but she and Spock were forced backward to the starboard hatch to avoid being hit. They stopped firing and raised their arms in surrender to bring the barrage to an end.
Smoke now filled the forward cabin, glittering with minute particles blasted from the damaged surfaces around them. The destroyed hatch clanged to the deck, and two Orion males appeared from the gloom, disruptor rifles at the ready. Chapel grimaced as the identity of their pursuers was finally revealed. The Orions were well known as pirates and slavers. Tall and muscular, they seemed to fill the shuttle as they strode forward, pinning Chapel and Spock against the starboard hatch.
Spock took a half step forward, as much as he could in the cramped space. “You are in violation of interstellar law.”
The Orions exchanged bemused smiles. The one on Chapel’s right said, “Drop the phasers.” There seemed little choice, and Chapel and Spock both let their weapons fall to the deck. The one on Chapel’s left, who was a slightly paler shade of green than the other, gathered up the weapons and tossed them into the docking tube. Then he stepped over to the door to the aft cabin. When it didn’t open automatically, he blasted the locking mechanism with his disruptor and kicked the door in with a large black boot. The wall of the medical unit was designed for privacy, not to withstand an assault.
Chapel tried to move toward the aft cabin, but she stopped when the Orion guarding them swung his disruptor into her face. Door-kicker stepped over the threshold and was immediately hit by a heavy phaser stun. He staggered backward, cracked his head on the handrails above the pilot’s seat, and fell to the floor. The remaining Orion laughed at his insensate companion and shouted, “The Trill’s definitely alive!”
A voice responded from within the docking tube. “That’s fortunate for you trigger-happy idiots.” A third Orion male entered the shuttlecraft, stepping carelessly upon the legs and arms of his unconscious crew members, two in the docking tube and Door-kicker in the shuttle. He was a little shorter than the guards who had entered first, but his bare arms were even more muscular. Chapel guessed he would have no trouble dealing with his subordinates in hand-to-hand combat.
He stepped beside his remaining guard and looked Spock up and down. “Move the Trill to my ship.”
Before Spock could reply, Chapel said, “No.” She folded her arms across her chest and glared back at the Orion.
He turned toward Chapel, a curious expression on his face. Glancing back at Spock, he said, “I’ll deal with you shortly.” He stepped closer to Chapel as he reached into his belt and drew a disruptor pistol, which he placed gently under her chin. “If you refuse, I’ll kill you and move her myself.”
Chapter 9
Chapel could feel Spock’s gaze on her, sense his readiness to fling himself between her and the Orions. But she was in command of this mission, and she would continue to take the initiative. Besides, it was her understanding that Orion women wielded the true power in their society, so she might have more of a chance at controlling this situation than Spock.
Chapel moved her chin away from the disruptor to make it easier to talk. “Why do you want her?”
The Orion commander shoved the disruptor back against her throat. “I get paid well because I don’t answer such questions. I’m not paid to spare people who get in my way.”
Chapel swallowed
Chapel smiled at the thrill of that victory, but it didn’t last long. Now the hatch was pushed quickly forward into the shuttle, and the return disruptor fire wasn’t set on stun. The shrill scream of the energy beams slicing through the air was deafening, the near misses still painful, as waves of heat burned even through their uniforms. Chapel thought that they may have stunned one more, but she and Spock were forced backward to the starboard hatch to avoid being hit. They stopped firing and raised their arms in surrender to bring the barrage to an end.
Smoke now filled the forward cabin, glittering with minute particles blasted from the damaged surfaces around them. The destroyed hatch clanged to the deck, and two Orion males appeared from the gloom, disruptor rifles at the ready. Chapel grimaced as the identity of their pursuers was finally revealed. The Orions were well known as pirates and slavers. Tall and muscular, they seemed to fill the shuttle as they strode forward, pinning Chapel and Spock against the starboard hatch.
Spock took a half step forward, as much as he could in the cramped space. “You are in violation of interstellar law.”
The Orions exchanged bemused smiles. The one on Chapel’s right said, “Drop the phasers.” There seemed little choice, and Chapel and Spock both let their weapons fall to the deck. The one on Chapel’s left, who was a slightly paler shade of green than the other, gathered up the weapons and tossed them into the docking tube. Then he stepped over to the door to the aft cabin. When it didn’t open automatically, he blasted the locking mechanism with his disruptor and kicked the door in with a large black boot. The wall of the medical unit was designed for privacy, not to withstand an assault.
Chapel tried to move toward the aft cabin, but she stopped when the Orion guarding them swung his disruptor into her face. Door-kicker stepped over the threshold and was immediately hit by a heavy phaser stun. He staggered backward, cracked his head on the handrails above the pilot’s seat, and fell to the floor. The remaining Orion laughed at his insensate companion and shouted, “The Trill’s definitely alive!”
A voice responded from within the docking tube. “That’s fortunate for you trigger-happy idiots.” A third Orion male entered the shuttlecraft, stepping carelessly upon the legs and arms of his unconscious crew members, two in the docking tube and Door-kicker in the shuttle. He was a little shorter than the guards who had entered first, but his bare arms were even more muscular. Chapel guessed he would have no trouble dealing with his subordinates in hand-to-hand combat.
He stepped beside his remaining guard and looked Spock up and down. “Move the Trill to my ship.”
Before Spock could reply, Chapel said, “No.” She folded her arms across her chest and glared back at the Orion.
He turned toward Chapel, a curious expression on his face. Glancing back at Spock, he said, “I’ll deal with you shortly.” He stepped closer to Chapel as he reached into his belt and drew a disruptor pistol, which he placed gently under her chin. “If you refuse, I’ll kill you and move her myself.”
Chapter 9
Chapel could feel Spock’s gaze on her, sense his readiness to fling himself between her and the Orions. But she was in command of this mission, and she would continue to take the initiative. Besides, it was her understanding that Orion women wielded the true power in their society, so she might have more of a chance at controlling this situation than Spock.
Chapel moved her chin away from the disruptor to make it easier to talk. “Why do you want her?”
The Orion commander shoved the disruptor back against her throat. “I get paid well because I don’t answer such questions. I’m not paid to spare people who get in my way.”
Chapel swallowed
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