Star Trek: The Original Series: The More Things Change by Scott Pearson Page B

still pointing back at Spock. As Chapel got her hands on the disruptor and started to raise it, the commander had already swung his arm around, bringing his pistol to bear on her. That’s when Spock’s hand appeared on the Orion’s beefy shoulder and pinched a particular nerve in the Orion’s neck. Spock maneuvered the unconscious commander softly to the deck.
    Chapel immediately injected the commander with the hypospray; then, stepping over him, she left the aft cabin to do the same to the other three fallen Orions. “They’ll be out for at least six hours.”
    Spock nodded. “The rest of the crew will soon check on their commander.”
    “How many more do you think there are?”
    “From the size of their ship, I would estimate at least three, possibly five.”
    “We have to get Audrid to the rendezvous. We need that ship.”
    “It is the only logical course of action open to us. And we need to neutralize the Orions for our own safety regardless.” He moved quietly to the docking tube to retrieve their phasers.
    Chapel tucked the hypospray into the medkit, which was still in the cockpit, and slung it over her shoulder. She grabbed two of the phasers. Spock grabbed a phaser and the commander’s disruptor pistol. This time Chapel raised an eyebrow at him.
    He hefted the disruptor. “I find myself unable to estimate the exact odds, but certainly this increases our chances.”
    Chapel smiled grimly and they headed into the docking tube. It was five or six meters long and shaped a bit like an S; Chapel surmised it was to provide defensible points during boardings and to keep the boardees from being able to fire shots straight back into the Orion ship.
    Spock had taken point, and Chapel felt comfortable letting the experienced officer lead the way. They rounded the final curve to find a closed hatch. Spock raised an eyebrow. “They may not yet realize anything is wrong. Although I would be surprised if they were not scanning the Copernicus .”
    “Their commander did say they were idiots.”
    “Indeed.” Spock banged on the door with the butt of the disruptor pistol and bellowed in passable Orion, “Idiots!”
    The hatch immediately swung open, revealing another Orion male, this one shirtless and displaying a weightlifter’s physique. When he saw them instead of his commander, he stood-stock still, too stunned to do anything but stare back at them, eyes wide. Chapel stunned him with both phasers, and Spock caught him, dragging him back into the docking tube. Confused shouts echoed within the Orion ship at the sound of phaser fire.
    Chapel tightened her grip on her phasers. I’m about to board a pirate ship and fight for my life. She glanced at Spock.
    Spock looked back at her, his expression the epitome of Vulcan calm and assurance. “Ready when you are, Captain.”
    Even under their dire circumstances, Chapel smiled. It was exactly what she needed to hear. Spock never failed to amaze. With a nod she said, “Hold fast, Mister Spock.” She turned toward the open hatch. “Let’s go.”

    They made short work of the two remaining pirates, neither of whom had been ready to defend their ship from being boarded. After Spock jury-rigged the docking tube to replace the destroyed port hatch and confirmed nominal life support aboard the Copernicus , they’d left all the unconscious Orions adrift aboard the shuttlecraft with an automated distress signal and a recorded warning about the passengers. With Dax aboard the faster Orion ship, they made it to the Troyval on time, even after their unexpected detour. They’d been able to contact the Troyval and confirm the new rendezvous point along the way.
    Two days after commandeering the Orion ship, Chapel and Spock finally had the chance to relax aboard the Troyval . Dax was expected to make a full recovery, in no small part due to the unorthodox treatment she had received. Chapel had felt compelled to detail her actions to the Trill physicians so that they had a