2 The Jewel of Cortina - The Captain and the Cadet - Circle C Adventures
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The Captain and the Cadet
2 – The Jewel of Cortina
It’s no holiday for nine-year-old Jamie Kirk when the Enterprise docks at
Deep Space Station T-12 for shore leave. Orion pirates have stolen the planet
Cortina’s most precious
national treasure. It’s a
race against time to
apprehend the pirates
and recover the Jewel
before the social
structure of Cortina
collapses. The Puzzle
Cube Jamie unwittingly buys plunges her into this deadly game of smuggling
and deception.
Chapter 1
B
oy, is that ever a long way down.”
Jamie Kirk leaned her forehead against the space station’s transparent
aluminum viewport and shivered. Deep Space Station T-12 floated above the
swirling red and orange planet like a spider hanging from an invisible thread.
Jamie knew T-12 orbited the gaseous giant planet just as securely as the starship
Enterprise orbited the station, but her heart disagreed. It was pounding like a
hammer.
Any second that planet could suck us down into its poisonous—
“Jamie, come on!”
Jamie jumped, startled. Heart thumping, she turned and peered past the crowd
The Jewel of Cortina
of tourists.
With his arms crossed, Lieutenant Sulu leaned
against an educational display filled with scientific
equipment. A bored expression covered his face.
Next to him, Ensign Chekov was yawning.
“Haven’t you seen enough of that frozen ball
of gas?” Sulu hollered. “This place is filling up
from that passenger ship that just docked. Let’s go.”
When Jamie didn’t move, he barked, “That’s an order, Cadet.”
Jamie knew better than to ignore the helmsman. After all, if it wasn’t for Sulu
and Chekov, she would still be back on the Enterprise. Instead, she’d managed to
sweet-talk the two officers into taking her around the station in exchange for extra
shore leave.
Her father had quickly agreed—too quickly. Captain Kirk seemed relieved to
have Jamie off his hands for the morning.
She pushed herself through the closely pressed bodies and stumbled into the
open corridor. “Reporting as ordered, sir.” Then she glanced back toward the view
ports and scowled. “You made me lose my place.”
“Can’t you find something better to do?” Chekov groused. “If you want to look
at the planet, you can get a better view from Enterprise’s bridge.”
Very true.
“You called me just as a team was lowering a sphere from the station into the
planet’s atmosphere. It’s an experiment. I want to watch. Please can I stay?”
Sulu threw up his hands. “Fine. You can stay ten minutes more. Then we head
back to the ship.”
“But I get shore leave all day,” Jamie reminded him.
“Not with us, you don’t. The captain asked us to show you around for a couple
2
The Jewel of Cortina
of hours this morning, and then Chekov and I would have the rest of the day to
ourselves.”
“But—”
“No buts, Jamie.” Chekov added his voice to Sulu’s. “We’ll finish up here and
see that you get back to the ship by noon. The captain should have that inspection
team off his back by then, and he can beam over with you then.”
Jamie scuffed at the smooth floor with her shoe. Those two have extra-sharp
memories.
“You don’t have to wait around for me,” she said sweetly. “Tell me where you’ll
be, and I’ll come find you in ten minutes. I promise.”
Chekov’s expression brightened, but Sulu punched him. “I don’t think so,
Cadet. If you get lost”—he made a slicing motion across his neck—“there goes our
shore leave.”
“Lost?” Jamie burst out laughing. “How can anybody get lost on a space
station? It’s just one big circle. If we walk long enough,
we end up back where we started. I’ve seen most of the
lower promenade already. The other levels can’t be
much different. I won’t get lost. It’s not like I can take a
wrong turn and end up on another planet.”
“T-12 may be a circle, but it’s very big circle,” Sulu
said. “There are plenty of places you could disappear
into.”
“Not in ten minutes.”
Sulu gave in. “All right. We’ll be at the Black Hole. It’s on the gallery above the
main promenade.”
Jamie grinned. I can talk those two into anything!
“One final word,” Sulu warned. “If you decide to wander off and disappear, I’ll
3
The Jewel of Cortina
send Commander Perry’s security team after you. I don’t think you’d like that one
bit. Clear?”
“Very clear, Lieutenant. I won’t get lost.”
Jamie waved as the two crewmen disappeared into the crowd. Then she turned
back to the view port, determined to regain her strategic position. Scrambling
through the sea of legs, Jamie arrived at the window just in time to watch the
device from the station fall into the atmosphere. Instantly, the sphere exploded in a
ball of orange.
“Awesome!” A boy’s voice rose over the murmuring crowd.
Jamie totally agreed.
Ten minutes later, she pulled herself away from the sightseers and headed
toward the Black Hole.
Sulu and Chekov are sure good sports, she thought happily. Now, I just need to
talk them into a little more time on T-12.
After all, she hadn’t shopped for her birthday gift yet.
Jamie’s smile turned to a frown. “Some birthday,” she muttered, strolling down
the promenade. As usual, her carefully laid birthday plans had gone awry.
The unexpected but joyfully received layover on Deep Space Station T-12 had
been a bad joke from the moment the Enterprise established orbit. Base
commander John Perry was still offering apologies when the Federation’s Quality
Control inspection team from Daran V beamed aboard the Enterprise for an
unscheduled inspection of the ship.
Captain Kirk had responded with tightly controlled anger to the orders the men
shoved in his face.
Engineer Scott had lost control of his temper when the inspection team
demanded access to the warp core and anti-matter pods.
Ship’s surgeon McCoy fussed and fumed every time one of the inspectors
4
The Jewel of Cortina
stepped foot in his Sick Bay.
Requests for immediate shore leaves flooded the recreation chief’s office.
No one wanted to be around the inspection team, least of all young Jamie Kirk.
Staying out of an important person’s way was a skill she’d acquired almost a year
ago, not long after finding herself “temporarily” aboard her father’s starship. She
figured if she kept a low profile and didn’t interfere with the ship’s operations,
perhaps Starfleet would forget about her.
So far, it had worked.
Maybe that’s why Sulu and Chekov let me talk them into babysitting, Jamie
decided. I’m better company than those grouchy paper-pushers taking over the ship.
She shook herself free from the memory of the past two days and stepped into
the open lift to the upper gallery of the station. She did not want to go back to the
ship just yet.
Jamie stepped from the lift and hurried down the promenade toward the Black
Hole entertainment center. The noise streaming from the establishment gave Jamie
her first inkling of uncertainty. How would she find her companions in such a
maelstrom of activity?
Cautiously, she approached the entrance and watched a steady flow of
customers enter and leave—humans, Orions, Denebians, and Rigellians. So many
different species! Jamie’s heart beat a little faster when she noticed a large neon
sign flash a warning:
NO ONE UNDER 16 EARTH-STANDARD YEARS ALLOWED. NO EXCEPTIONS!
Jamie took up a waiting position outside the entrance. She crossed her arms
and leaned against the wall with a sigh. Five minutes passed. Then ten.
Jamie glanced at the chronometer, peeked into the entrance of the Black Hole,
and then back at the timepiece. Where are you guys? Do I go shopping by myself, or
do I go in there and get them out?
5
The Jewel of Cortina
Remembering Sulu’s threat of sending station security after her if she
disappeared, Jamie decided that disregarding the warning sign was the lesser of the
two evils. She glanced around then slipped into the darkened area.
The noise was deafening; the sights garish. Jamie covered her ears and stared at
the screaming images flashing from hundreds of video monitors lining the walls
and ceiling. Phaser fire from holo-games whined. Harsh laughter and alien cursing
assaulted her ears. She glanced around for Sulu and Chekov, but they were nowhere
in sight.
A huge Orion brushed past Jamie, and she tumbled to the floor. He stopped,
looked at what he’d done, and grinned, exposing a mouthful of jeweled teeth. With
a meaty hand, he helped Jamie to her feet and patted her on the head.
“Forgive, please.” He slurred his words and stumbled toward the bar.
Jamie scurried past the crowd of humans and aliens and ducked into another
alcove blaring with the sounds of weapons firing and ships blowing up. Except for a
few surprised expressions, nobody seemed to care she was here. She let out a sigh of
relief when she spied the Enterprise’s helmsman and navigator engrossed in an
elaborate video game.
She tapped Chekov’s shoulder.
Chekov jumped. He banged his head on the hood of the game and bellowed his
shock and pain. When he saw Jamie, he slapped a palm against his forehead.
“What are you doing in here?” He glanced around the room. “This is no place
for kids. The captain will put us on report.”
“Not to mention what Perry’s security will do to us if they see her,” Sulu added.
“We’ll get tossed in the brig, the captain will have to bail us out, and then we’ll be
put on report.”
“I waited, but you never showed up,” Jamie shouted over the noise.
Sulu brushed aside her accusation and turned to Chekov. “Let’s get out of here,
6
The Jewel of Cortina
on the double. I’m getting nervous.”
“Not as nervous as you’re going to be.” A firm grip on
Sulu’s shoulder spun him around. The hand belonged to a
Ferengi, and he wasn’t smiling. Two huge human males—
no doubt his personal security guards—flanked him.
The Ferengi snapped his fingers, and the security men
each pulled out a neural stunner. “I don’t want any trouble,
boys, so I suggest you keep still until we’re finished here.”
Jamie swallowed and backed into Sulu, clasping his hand. “Sulu?”
Sulu didn’t answer. He was staring at the Ferengi and his two henchmen.
The Ferengi manager looked at Jamie and sighed. “Personally, I couldn’t care
less who comes into my establishment. The more business, the more money I
make, and on truly free ports this is how it’s done. However, the Federation has
some very narrow-minded regulations concerning minors and I’m obliged, if I want
to keep my license, to go along with them.”
“Of course,” Sulu agreed.
The Ferengi waved a careless hand at the men’s uniforms. “I see you’re from the
starship. Perry is one strict base commander, especially when it comes to Starfleet
officers. Bringing an underage child into my place will get you locked up and your
captain fined.”
Neither Sulu nor Chekov replied.
The Ferengi turned on Jamie. “And you, hu-man child. Do you realize what will
happen if Perry’s security patrol finds you in my place? I’ll lose my license for a
month. I could be put out of business.”
Jamie gaped at the Ferengi. She had never seen such huge ears.
“I don’t know why you’re mixed up with these starship boys, but it’s time to
find your parents and—”
7
The Jewel of Cortina
“Oh, please don’t!” Jamie found her tongue. “It wasn’t Sulu or Chekov’s fault.
We’ll leave. You can’t tell my dad.”
The Ferengi frowned. “Why not?”
“Because”—Sulu sighed in resignation—“her father is captain of the starship.”
The Ferengi studied the trio with new interest. He raised a long, slender finger
to his huge ear and began to stroke it in thoughtful contemplation.
Jamie watched in fascination.
“About those fines,” Sulu said. “I don’t think we need to be hasty. How much
will it cost to forget you ever saw us?”
The Ferengi’s eyes lit up. He took on the expression of a sympathetic friend.
“Indeed. Why should Starfleet get the payment of the fines?” He smiled. “I’m sure
we can work something out that will be mutually beneficial to all.”
The Ferengi motioned his personal guards to leave and then ushered the three
offenders into his private office.
Chapter 2
Y ou owe me, Cadet. You owe me big.”
Sulu stood, hands on his hips, outside the entrance of Bastin’s Famous Foods,
far away from the Ferengi and his fees. He lifted his eyes heavenward. “Fifty credits
a piece. I can’t believe this.”
“You’re right, Sulu. It’s my fault.” Jamie reached into her pocket and pulled out
a thin plastic rectangle. “You can take what you need from my card. Daddy put
enough on here today to buy a present, but—”
8
The Jewel of Cortina
“I’m not taking your birthday money,” Sulu interrupted. “You’re going to pay
me back another way. First off, we’re taking you back to the ship. Then you’re going
to water every plant in my botany lab. It’s posted on each specimen what the plant’s
needs are.”
“Right now?” Jamie glanced at the chronometer hanging on a nearby bulkhead.
“It’s only eleven-hundred. Let me stay an hour longer. Please. I haven’t found my
birthday gift yet.”
“Whose fault is that?” Chekov accused. “We don’t want to tag along while you
shop for a gift. You’ve cost us enough time and trouble this morning.”
“You and Sulu stay right here at this café and get something to eat or drink. I’ll
look around on this level.” She pointed toward the tourist shops. “The stores are
right here, along this promenade. I’ll be back in time to beam back to the ship.”
Sulu and Chekov exchanged doubtful glances.
Then Chekov shrugged. “She’s right, Sulu. She can’t get lost, and she can’t find
any worse trouble than she’s already been in this morning.”
Jamie smiled. “I’ll water all your plants, Sulu.”
Sulu grunted. “For a week.”
Jamie lost her smile. “All right. For a week.”
Sulu put out his hand. “Deal?”
“Deal.”
“So long, then.” Sulu grabbed Chekov and ducked into Bastin’s. “You meet us
back here at 1200 sharp. Not a minute later. You got that, Cadet?”
“Aye, sir.”
Jamie watched her guardians disappear into the cheery café. Then she grinned
and headed toward the shops lining the main promenade.
9
The Jewel of Cortina
“Well, Jim, that’s the gist of it.” The
grim expression on Commander John
Perry’s face filled the view screen of the
Enterprise bridge. “Leave it to the Orions
to ruin a perfectly good shore leave for us
all.”
Captain James Kirk sighed. “I should
have known our layover at your station would bring more headaches than an
inspection team waiting to pounce on us.”
Perry threw his hands up in mock horror. “That wasn’t my fault, Jim. They
arrived just last week with the intention of inspecting T-12’s facilities. Can I help it
they jumped at the chance to get their hands on the Enterprise?”
“You could have warned us away, John.”
“And deny your crew shore leave on the best station in the quadrant?”
“No shore leave is worth putting up with Quality Control,” Kirk growled. “But
back to the subject at hand. Tell me how the famed Jewel of Cortina could be stolen
right out from under the Cortinians’ noses. You’d think they’d guard something
their national treasure a little more carefully.”
“It’s a mystery the Cortinians are not sharing,” Perry said. “What they are
sharing is that until they get their precious Jewel back, all negotiations between the
Federation and Cortina are at a standstill. Which,” he added thoughtfully, “is no
doubt what the thieving Orions intended all along.”
He glanced at the hard copy he was holding. “According to this transcript, the
whole planet’s gone to pot in a day. The opposing political parties are blaming each
other and screaming at us to do something.”
“Us? What can the Federation do? Cortina’s not a member planet, nor does it
sound like it will become one anytime soon.”
10The Jewel of Cortina
“They want our help tracking down the Orion thieves.”
“Just like that?” Kirk snorted. “Do they realize how big the alpha quadrant is?”
“They’ve narrowed it down to three sectors.”
“Is that all!” Kirk rolled his eyes.
Three sectors of space contained billions of square kilometers of empty space
and thousands of stars and planets. How did Cortina expect the Federation to find
one small jewel in such a vast area?
Besides, the Orions had a head start. By now they were most likely over the
Federation-Orion border and out of Starfleet’s jurisdiction.
“The Federation has agreed to assist Cortina in recovering their jewel,” Perry
went on. “They have determined there are only three stations within those sectors
where the Orions can refuel their ship: Space Station K-7, Deep Space Station 5,
and”—he smiled—“my little station.”
Perry sat up straighter. “To the point, Jim. The Enterprise has a bariat scanner
aboard, doesn’t she?”
Kirk nodded.
“That’s good news. When Starfleet heard the Enterprise was here ahead of
schedule, they immediately assigned you and me the task of thoroughly scanning
T-12 inside and out for the Jewel of Cortina. Without a bariat scanner I can’t do
much. But with the scanner we can check the entire station in less than a day.”
Kirk nodded. “True.”
“In addition,” Perry continued. “Each departing ship will undergo a bariat scan
before being given clearance. Everything from a drone barge to a luxury liner will
be scanned. If we’re lucky, the Jewel of Cortina will light up like a Christmas tree.”
“You are aware, John, that bariat scans cause havoc with sensors and shields. It
knocks them out for hours.”
“After the scan, my people will hold the affected ships by tractor beam until
11The Jewel of Cortina
everything is back online, with only minor discomfort to passengers and crew. I
have a feeling it’s going to be a long couple of days around here.”
“Shipmasters will be hopping mad about having their schedules changed and
their ships scanned, just on the off-chance they’re hiding the jewel.”
Perry shrugged. “I know. But recovering it would be a political coup for
Starfleet and the Federation.”
“I’ll get on the bariat scanning right away,” Kirk told him.
“Thanks, Jim. T-12, out.”
The screen returned to a view of the circular image of Deep Space Station T-12.
Kirk leaned back in his chair and let out a long, slow breath. It wouldn’t take
Mr. Scott long to rig up some engineering magic to scan the station this afternoon.
And the ships too. Maybe, just maybe, they’d catch an Orion or two, recover the
Jewel of Cortina, and be celebrating by tomorrow night.
Then he frowned and punched the intercom button on his armrest. He rather
doubted it would be that easy.
“Scotty, I’ve got a job for you.”
Chapter 3
A green-skinned Orion and a half-human/half-Orion closed the ramp of their
ship and made their way into the station.
They passed through the double airlock, ignoring the computer’s soft voice
that informed them of their position in relation to the rest of T-12. Instead, they
studied the screen that displayed incoming and outgoing times of ships.
Jarid, the half-human, cursed. “Starfleet’s locking up this station tighter than an
12The Jewel of Cortina
Aldebaran Shell Mouth.”
“This was a stupid idea, Jarid,” the Orion, Tobrak, muttered as they wandered
down the promenade. “Why don’t we just walk into the commander’s office and
plunk the jewel down on his desk? It’ll save everyone the trouble of tracking us
down when the station lights up during the bariat scan.”
“Don’t get started on that again,” Jarid growled. “We managed the hard part—
getting past Cortina. We’re almost clear. This lock-up is a minor inconvenience.”
“Not to mention a surprise!” Tobrak hissed. “Who’d’ve thought Starfleet would
be here waiting for us? No Starfleet ship was supposed to be anywhere near this
sector!”
“We can still make it work,” Jarid insisted. He ran his finger along the list of
ships and scowled in thought. “All we have to do is find a ship that won’t be
undergoing a bariat scan. We arrange to slip the jewel aboard. When the ship
leaves the station, we retrieve it.”
“Sure, easy as petlok pie.” Tobrak was in dark humor.
“But don’t you see? There is a ship that won’t be scanned.” He jabbed a finger at
the glowing letters listing the U.S.S. Enterprise. “The starship. All we have to do is
get the jewel aboard her, and it will get past any bariat scan.”
“You’re mad,” Tobrak whispered. “How do you propose to do that?”
Jarid winked. “You leave that to me.”
Ten minutes later the two smugglers were leaning over the counter of a fat,
furious Orion shopkeeper. Jarid slid his precious cargo across the countertop.
“Hello, Kornish. We brought you the package—as arranged.”
Kornish lifted the lid off the small, wooden box. Nestled on a cushion of blue
velvet, the throbbing, shimmering egg-sized jewel glowed a deep, rich red. Then he
carefully closed the lid.
“I can’t move this,” he whispered. “Not now. The starship appeared out of
13The Jewel of Cortina
nowhere two days ago. My shop will be scanned in a matter of hours. You’ll have to
make other arrangements.”
Jarid exploded. “Other arrangements?” He shoved the box closer to Kornish.
“We planned this heist for months, risked our hides pulling it off, and we’re not
taking it back. You’re the best smuggler in the business. We were told to deliver it
to you, and we’re delivering it.”
“This jewel is too hot for me to handle,”
Kornish insisted. “The d’slik Cortinians already
suspect me of illegal activities, and I’m not
taking any chances.”
Jarid leaned farther over the counter. “Figure
it out, Kornish. If you refuse, I’ll drop this thing
down a disposal chute. I’m not going to be
caught when the scan begins. Who knows? Maybe there’s a way to slip it aboard the
starship.”
He chuckled. “Wouldn’t that be a nice joke on the Feds?”
Kornish swore—long and violent—a sign that he would take the Jewel, even if
he didn’t want it. He slipped the box into an oversized pocket of his jacket. “Don’t
tell me my business, Jarid. The less you know about this matter, the better. But I’ll
tell you this. If I manage to smuggle the Jewel aboard the starship, then you will
have to retrieve it. I wash my hands of it.”
Jarid folded his arms across his chest. “Agreed. You get the Jewel past the bariat
scan and safely aboard a non-scanned ship, and I promise you, I’ll figure out how to
get it off.” He gave the Orion shopkeeper a wide grin. I’m half human, and my
human half is the charming, resourceful half.”
“All right, clever man. I’ll do my part. But if the Federation ends up with this
Jewel, your heads will roll.”
14The Jewel of Cortina
“As will yours,” Jarid reminded him. He plucked Tobrak’s tunic. “Let’s get out of
here.”
They headed to the Black Hole, the Jewel safely out of their hands.
Jamie glanced at the chronometer and gulped. 1130 hours! If she didn’t get
moving, Sulu and Chekov were really going to get after her.
Her birthday-present quest had so far been a bust. She saw nothing new.
Nothing interesting. And mostly, nothing the right price. Each tiny shop Jamie
entered displayed the same boring things she’d seen a dozen times before on other
star bases and outposts.
Jamie had saved all her hopes for the last stop—Station T-12’s famous toy store.
At first, Jamie didn’t want to visit a toy store. Nine years old was too old for toys.
But she wavered when she saw the large sign:
YOU WANT IT? WE’LL FIND IT. GUARANTEED!
Jamie stepped through the doorway’s arch and immediately found herself in
another world. It didn’t appear to be a store at all, but the crossroads of a dozen
different cultures.
Entire rooms were devoted to various alien games and toys. Klingon video
games, Romulan toy swords, reproduced Vulcan weapons from ancient times,
model spacecrafts from every world in the Federation—and outside as well.
Maybe I should have come here first, Jamie thought with a twinge of guilt that
she’d wasted her entire shore leave this morning. This place looks like fun!
Curious to see what sort of games Klingon children played, Jamie joined a
group of customers watching a tourist play a complicated, electronic Klingon board
game. When one of the game pieces exploded in the teenager’s face, Jamie jumped
a foot.
15The Jewel of Cortina
The rest of the onlookers burst into laughter. The customer sheepishly returned
the controls to their resting place.
A large, smiling Orion strolled up. “What do you think of Klinz’hai? The
exploding game pieces are just one of the special features programmed into this
game.”
“Took me by surprise,” the teen replied.
The Orion waved a hand over the board, clearing the controls. “Try again, if you
like. All my games are intended to be enjoyed—whether you make a purchase or
not.”
The youth nodded his thanks and took the controls.
“Help yourself, my friends,” the Orion encouraged the onlookers. “There are
more games around the corner.”
“Where’s Starship Encounter—Part V?” a human boy asked.
The shopkeeper pointed across the alcove. “The Federation games are over
there. Follow the red line on the floor all the way around the illusion display.”
Then to Jamie’s surprise, he turned and spoke to her. “And what about you,
little lady? Would you like to play a portable holo-game? They’re all the rage. You
can go anywhere, be anyone. A Klingon warrior or a Fellinum Princess. The queen
of Rigel 6 or an Orion slave dancer. You can enlist in the mercenary forces of Deneb
7 or”—his gaze swept over Jamie’s gold uniform tunic—“join Starfleet. Holo-games
are your gateway to adventure.”
Jamie shook her head. “I don’t have time to play any games today, mister. I’ve
got to find a gift and get back to the transporter terminal in half an hour.”
The Orion nodded his understanding. “Yes, it seems visitors to our station are
always afraid of missing their ships and being left behind.”
“I’m not afraid of being left behind,” Jamie told him. “Mostly I don’t want to
lose my shore leave privileges, especially on my birthday.”
16The Jewel of Cortina
“No indeed!” The Orion gave her a wide smile, exposing his jeweled teeth.
“Happy birthday.” He frowned. “That is the correct phrase for a human celebrating
their day of birth?”
“Yep. I’m nine years old today.”
“An excellent age,” the Orion remarked. “Would you accept my assistance in
finding a gift?”
Jamie grinned. She liked this old, fat Orion. He was
friendly and seemed interested in her. “Thank you. I do
need help. The rest of the shops just had boring things.”
“I am happy to assist you.” He spread his arms to
include the entire complex. “I’ve been in business on T-12
for over fifteen years. I guarantee you will not go away
from my store disappointed. You will be the envy of every
crewman on the starship.”
“How did you know I’m from the Enterprise?”
Kornish laughed. It was a jolly laugh from deep within his belly.
“I’ve seen my share of Starfleet personnel come through this station,” the Orion
explained. “You all dress the same way. And since the Enterprise is the only Starfleet
vessel in orbit at present, it isn’t hard to infer that’s where you’re from.”
He winked. “Aren’t you a little short for a crewman?”
“I’m not a crewman. I’m not even a real cadet.”
“Well, Miss—”
“Jamie,” she corrected. “Jamie Kirk.”
The shopkeeper acknowledged her name with a slight bow. “I’m pleased to
meet you. My name is Kornish. Now, didn’t you say you were on a tight schedule?”
Jamie threw a frantic look at the chronometer. “Sulu and Chekov are gonna kill
me!”
17The Jewel of Cortina
“Easy,” Kornish soothed. He led Jamie in the direction of a brightly decorated
display, where cubes of various colors lay stacked on top of each other. “I have in
mind the perfect gift for your birthday. If you agree, I can have it ready for you in
no time. You will meet your deadline and save your shore leave privileges.”
Jamie smiled. “You’re sure nice, Mr. Kornish.”
“That’s my job. If I weren’t nice to my customers, I wouldn’t stay in business
very long, now would I?” He stopped in front of the display of cubes. “Here’s what I
had in mind.” He picked up one of the cubes and placed it in Jamie’s palm.
Jamie examined the colorful cube. It was about four inches square and had nine
individual squares in varying colors on each of its six sides. The sides rotated freely
with the gentlest of turns.
“What is it?” she asked, wrinkling her eyebrows.
“An Aldanian Puzzle cube, a Rubik’s Cube, a Klingon
Teaser, an Orion Mixer, or a Vulcan Logic Cube. It all depends
on where you’re from. You’re from Earth?”
Jamie nodded.
“I believe Earth people call it a Rubik’s Cube.”
“What does it do?”
“There are six distinct colors on the cube. The object is to twist and turn the
cube, so that each side becomes one complete color. If you are successful, the cube
opens, and you have a place to store trinkets and such. I warn you, however. The
puzzle is difficult to solve—but not impossible.”
Kornish reached under the display table. “Let me show you a completed cube.”
He pulled out a cube and made three quick turns. Suddenly, the cube began to light
up. Each side glowed the color of the completed squares.
“Oh, wow!” Jamie felt her eyes grow wide. “It’s so pretty!”
Kornish continued flipping and turning the cube. His hands flew. “The cube
18The Jewel of Cortina
comes with an everlasting power supply, which makes each side glow when
completed. It also powers the mechanism, which operates the compartment on the
inside. Watch.”
He made one last turn with his wrist, and the cube slid into its final position,
glowing brighter than ever. Then it fell open, revealing a small chamber.
Jamie clapped her hands. “I love puzzles. I want one of these!”
Kornish nodded. “I thought you might. It’s our most popular selling item. It
comes in either the primary and secondary colors, the neon glow colors, or even
colors for Klingons. See?” He held up a pure-white cube.
“How do you solve it?”
“A Klingon’s eyesight goes into the shorter wavelengths. They can see past
violet into colors we can’t even imagine.”
Jamie had never seen anything like this. Then a worrisome thought crossed her
mind. “How much does it cost? More than twenty-five credits?”
“This week only, the primary colors are on special—twenty-five credits exactly.”
Jamie let out the breath she’d been holding. “That’s perfect. Exactly what I have.
It’s like . . . well . . . like this puzzle cube was meant for me.”
“Indeed,” Kornish agreed. “You’re in the right place at the right time. Now,
come with me to the sales counter. I’ll test the power source and wrap it up.”
Jamie followed the fat, friendly shopkeeper to the sales counter, which stood
near the archway leading to the promenade. The clerks stepped respectfully aside
as Kornish slipped behind the counter.
“Please don’t wrap it,” Jamie said. “Could you fasten it to a chain or something,
so I can carry it around?”
“Of course. And no extra charge.”
Jamie beamed and handed him her card. “Thanks, Mr. Kornish.”
“I’ll be right back.” Kornish disappeared into the storeroom behind his counter.
19The Jewel of Cortina
The Orion was gone a long time. The clerk completed the sale and handed
Jamie her now-empty card. Jamie looked at the chronometer. 1210.
Hurry up, Mr. Kornish. I’m already late. Sulu and Chekov are gonna to be so mad!
She glanced through the archway. Her guardians were nowhere in sight.
But someone else was. Red engineering uniforms milled around the entrance to
the toy store. They were setting up a strange-looking device just outside the
doorway.
“Hi, guys.” Jamie waved through the open doorway. “Whatcha doing?”
The lieutenant looked up with a start. Then he smiled. “Oh, hi, Cadet. We’re
setting up a bariat scanner.”
“A what?”
“A bariat scanner.”
“What’s a bariat scanner?”
“Something too complicated for cadets to understand.” He winked at her.
“Don’t have time to chat right now. Mr. Scott will have our paychecks if we don’t
have this up and running by 1300.”
Just then, Kornish joined Jamie and the technicians. His face turned a strange
shade of green when he caught sight of the bariat scanner.
“What’s the matter, Mr. Kornish?” Jamie asked.
The Orion handed Jamie her new cube and pointed to the bariat scanner. “That
is the matter. I hate it when officious base commanders decide to scan honest
business owners.”
He peered at the device and then glared at the two Enterprise crewmen. “What
is it, boys? Illegal pharmaceuticals? Traffic in human flesh? What’s Perry thought
up to irritate honest businessmen this time?”
“Valuable stolen relics.” The deep voice of Commander John Perry cut through
the shopkeeper’s complaints. “It’s nothing you should have any protest against, if
20The Jewel of Cortina
you’re behaving yourself these days.”
Kornish scowled at the station commander. “I resent your insinuation. I’ve
never been arrested for smuggling or passing along stolen merchandise.”
Perry nodded. “Only because you’re very, very clever.”
“Commander, I protest! A bariat scan will knock out my demo games and holos
for hours. How do you expect me to sell merchandise if the customers can’t try
them out?”
Perry crossed his arms. “I’m afraid business has taken a turn for the worse for
the rest of the day, Kornish. You’re not the only merchant who will be feeling the
impact of the scan, so spare me your griping. I’ve already had an earful from Jop,
over at the Black Hole.”
Then the commander noticed Jamie. His expression cleared. Bending slightly at
the waist, he reached out a friendly hand. “And who do we have here?” He took
Jamie’s hand and shook it. “Welcome to Deep Space Station T-12. I’m Commander
Perry.”
“I’m Jamie Kirk, from the Enterprise.”
“Delighted to meet you, Jamie. Are you enjoying your visit to my station?”
“Very much.” She held up her Rubik’s Cube. “I found this puzzle cube in Mr.
Kornish’s shop.”
Perry eyed the merchant. “You’re not trying to sell this child a worthless piece
of junk, are you, Kornish?”
Kornish puffed out his chest. “Of course not, Commander. I carry only the
highest quality merchandise in my store.”
“Glad to hear that. Jim Kirk’s a friend of mine, and I wouldn’t like to learn you’d
sold his youngster a cheap toy.” He glanced around. “Where is he, by the way?”
“On the Enterprise,” Jamie said.
Perry did not look pleased. “Did let you beam over to the station by yourself?”
21The Jewel of Cortina
“No, sir! I came over with Sulu and Chekov. They get extra shore leave in
exchange for showing me around.”
“If that’s the case, then where are they?”
“I don’t know,” Jamie confessed. “I was supposed to meet them at noon, but I
lost track of the time.”
Perry grunted his opinion of Jamie’s escorts. He reached out a hand. “Come
with me. I’ll see you back to the ship. T-12 is not going to be safe this afternoon.”
Jamie hesitated. Would Commander Perry lock her up, like Sulu had said he
would? She bit her lip and kept her hand to herself.
“What’s the matter, Jamie?” Perry gave her a friendly smile. “Are you afraid of
getting lost on my station?”
Jamie looked up into a pair of cheerful blue eyes. He didn’t look like the stern
base commander her escorts had threatened her with. She relaxed, grasped his
hand, and waved good-bye to Mr. Kornish.
“No, sir,” she said. “It’s just that Sulu and Chekov told me I’d get in major
trouble if I wandered off. They said you’d send security after me and haul me to
your office and—”
Perry laughed. “On the contrary, I’m rather glad you wandered off. Otherwise
we might not have had this opportunity to meet. Don’t worry, Jamie. It’s your
father’s officers who dropped the ball here, not you.”
Jamie felt relieved, but only for the few minutes it took to walk to the
transporter station.
“Put a call through to the Enterprise,” Perry told the technician.
A moment later, Jamie heard her father’s voice. “What’s up, John?”
“I have somebody here who belongs to you. As much as I’d like to continue
enjoying her company, I’m afraid that will be impossible, due to the current
situation.”
22The Jewel of Cortina
There was a pause, then, “Where are my officers?”
Perry was about to reply, when Sulu and Chekov jogged up.
“Jamie!” Sulu called, clearly furious. “Where in blazes have you been?”
Perry grinned at the look on Sulu’s and Chekov’s faces. “Your officers are here
now, Jim. But I suggest that next time you give them more specific instructions
regarding the care of your daughter.”
“Perhaps.” Jamie could hear the amusement in her father’s voice. “But Jamie
knows how to give them a run for their money. Don’t be too hard on them. Kirk
out.”
Perry turned to the two Enterprise officers. “Gentlemen?”
“C-Commander Perry,” Chekov stammered. He came to attention.
Sulu followed suit.
“Good afternoon, Lieutenant, Ensign. Look what I found wandering around
alone in front of the toy store.”
Before the men could respond, he went on. “I’m pretty sure when Captain Kirk
agreed to exchange extra shore-leave privileges for showing his daughter around
the station, he didn’t mean for her to be left unattended. T-12 sees a lot of traffic—
some of it less than appropriate for a young girl.”
“Yes, sir,” Sulu and Chekov said together.
Perry continued. “A situation has come up that will shortly affect everyone on
the station. We’re to be bariat scanned, which will turn T-12 into a beehive of
activity.”
“Bariat scanned?” Sulu exchanged a puzzled look with Chekov, who shrugged.
“How soon?”
“Soon enough.” He nodded at Jamie. “I suggest you return your captain’s
daughter to the ship ASAP.”
“Yes, sir,” Sulu replied smartly. He took Jamie’s hand. “Come on, Cadet. Your
23The Jewel of Cortina
shore leave’s over.”
Jamie turned to Perry. “It was nice meeting you, Commander Perry.”
“Likewise, Jamie. I hope to see you again soon.”
Chapter 4
N ow hear this. The drama rehearsal scheduled for 1430 hours has been
changed to 1600. Rec area B.”
The ship-wide announcement did little to boost Jamie’s spirits. Even though she
had a small and insignificant part in the upcoming drama production, the reminder
of the practice only filled her with a feeling of being rushed.
More announcements flooded the intercom system. Jamie listened with only
half an ear. Most of the announcements aboard the Enterprise had nothing to do
with her.
Lt. Uhura’s pleasant voice continued to pour
from the speakers. “The briefing for all senior
officers and department heads is scheduled to
commence in ten minutes. I repeat. All senior
officers and department heads report to Briefing
Room One by 1400.”
There was a short pause. “All personnel, attention. Because of the new situation
on Station T-12, consult your displays for updated shore leave rosters. Any
scheduling conflicts with your leave time should be directed to your department
head. Consult your display for further information. That is all. Bridge out.”
24The Jewel of Cortina
Jamie set aside the watering device and called up the shore leave roster on the
computer screen in Sulu’s laboratory. She scrolled down until she came to the Ks.
“Kirk, Jamie. Shore leave canceled until further notice.”
What? No fair! Today was her birthday. Daddy had promised her shore leave all
day on T-12. What was going on?
She slumped into the chair and stared at the screen in dismay. Sulu and Chekov
had been angry with her when they’d been dressed down by the base commander,
but by the time she was whisked away by the shimmering transporter, it appeared
as though they’d cooled off. They’d given her a friendly wave good-bye and watched
her disappear.
“Those squealing traitors!” Jamie huffed. “They tattled, and now I’m in trouble.”
Gathering up the watering device, Jamie tended to her task with renewed fervor.
She wanted to be done with this before the briefing was over. She planned to be on
hand when her father walked out of his meeting.
She had to salvage her shore leave. She just had to!
Jamie was leaning against the bulkhead across from Briefing Room One, fiddling
with her new toy, when the door whooshed open. A long line of department heads
and senior officers left in groups of twos and threes, muttering among themselves.
“Hey, Jamie,” Sulu called. “Did you get the watering done?”
Tattletale! she wanted to shout at the helmsman. But she answered in a calm
voice. “Yes, sir. It took me forever. Oh, you’d better check those plants with the
reddish leaves. There’s some kind of weird fuzz growing on them.”
“It’s nothing that can’t wait until tonight,” Sulu replied hastily. “I’ve got to get
back to T-12. Chekov’s saving my place at Bastin’s, then we’re going to a Tragle
contest. Catch you later, Cadet.”
25The Jewel of Cortina
“Sounds fun,” Jamie said. “What’s a tragle?”
But Sulu was gone.
She studied her puzzle cube and made another twist. Suddenly, one side began
to glow a brilliant green. “I did it!” In her excitement, she nearly missed the captain
when he sauntered out ahead of Spock and the doctor.
“Hey, Daddy! Wait.”
“Make it snappy,” Kirk warned as he headed toward the lift. “I’ve got a backlog of
messages waiting for me on the bridge and a million other things to do.”
Jamie ran to catch up. “I want to know why my shore leave’s been canceled.”
Kirk regarded Jamie with a keen look. “I’d like to
say it’s because you gave Sulu and Chekov too many
headaches today.”
Jamie hung her head. “I knew they squealed. I just
knew it. Traitors.”
“Sulu didn’t say anything about your morning,”
Kirk told her. “Neither did Chekov. The real reason
you’re staying aboard ship is because something’s
come up on the station. There’s going to be a lot of
confusion over there.”
“That bari—bariat scanning?”
Kirk nodded.
“What is it?”
“Something that involves a great deal of equipment and a lot of manpower from
the ship. Half the establishments will be shut down, and the other half crowded to
overflowing because of it. I want you out of it and safe on the ship.”
“But you promised I could have the whole day. Sulu and Chekov in the morning,
and you and me this afternoon.”
26The Jewel of Cortina
“The plans have changed, I’m afraid.” He started toward the lift. “I’m really busy,
Jamie. I’ve got to get up to the bridge. Let’s talk about it later.”
Jamie shrugged acceptance. She watched her father enter the lift, along with Mr.
Spock and Dr. McCoy. “Aren’t you even going to wish me a happy birthday?” she
called out as the lift doors shut.
They whooshed open again.
“Go on ahead,” Kirk motioned to Spock and McCoy. “I’ll be along in a minute.”
He left the lift and motioned Jamie to him. “I’m sorry. It’s been an awful day. Happy
birthday. Did you find something nice on the station?”
Jamie held up her Rubik’s Cube and showed him the glowing side.
“Nice start,” he said. “You know, don’t you, that as soon as you begin to work on
a new side, this one”—he pointed to the green glow—“will get mixed up.”
Jamie considered his words. “I guess you’re right. This may take longer than I
thought.”
Kirk laughed. “It certainly will. Those puzzle cubes are difficult to solve. Believe
me. Your Uncle Sam had one, and I had a heck of a time solving it.”
“Did you solve it?”
“Sam helped me out. He had a knack for puzzles.”
“Maybe I do too.”
Kirk handed the cube back. “I’ll give you a hint. You’ve got one side done.
Consider it the top of the cube and solve it in layers, rather than one side at a time.”
Jamie wrinkled her eyebrows and studied the cube. Then she nodded. “All right.
Thanks.”
Kirk gave her a friendly squeeze on the shoulder. “I’ve really got to run, Cadet.
I’ll restore your shore leave privileges tomorrow when things get back to normal on
the station. Besides, we wouldn’t have any fun this afternoon with the confusion
going on over there. I’ve got an idea. Let’s make a date—a birthday sundae at
27The Jewel of Cortina
Bastin’s at 1900 hours tomorrow night. How about that?”
Jamie brightened. “Okay!”
“Enjoy the rest of your afternoon. I’ll see you at supper.”
“May I come up to the bridge later on, since I’m stuck on the ship this
afternoon?” She gave her father her most pleading look.
Kirk reached out and ruffled her hair. “Sure. It’s your birthday. Why not?”
Jamie grinned and scampered away.
Chapter 5
T he brassy-colored face of the Cortinian ship
commander filled the view screen. His black
eyes blazed with anger and frustration—anger at the
theft of his planet’s most important object and
frustration at the Starfleet captain, who refused to
allow the Well-Being to dock without a bariat scan.
Jamie saw it all from her perch just above and
behind the captain’s chair, where she was leaning over the railing and watching the
exchange.
That is one creepy Cortinian, she thought with a shiver.
“I insist you let my ship dock,” the man growled. “I have been ordered to make
sure the Federation space station does not hide the Jewel of Cortina.” He said it in a
way that made it sound as if the Federation was hiding the jewel there.
The Jewel of Cortina. Jamie repeated the words in her head. That sounds just like
28The Jewel of Cortina
something a princess would own. The Jewel of Cortina. Hidden away. Like a mystery!
Kirk rubbed his forehead. “Sir, I have my orders. T-12 is even now undergoing a
complete bariat scan. I assure you it will reveal the jewel’s location more efficiently
than your search-and-seizure command force.”
So, that’s why the station is being scanned? To find a missing jewel? Jamie
wrinkled her eyebrows. I wonder how it got lost.
“My orders, Captain, are to conduct a physical search of the station, with or
without your approval.”
“Commander Varst, under no circumstances will any ship be allowed to dock
without a bariat scan. The Enterprise will enforce those orders, if necessary.”
The Cortinian nearly turned black in the face. “I will speak with your superiors,
Captain.”
“That is your privilege, sir,” Kirk replied stiffly. “But until then, you will not be
allowed to disembark from your vessel. Enterprise out.”
The clearance came ten minutes later. Jamie knew it was bad news by the way
her father groaned.
“Captain?” Spock asked from his science station.
“The Federation must really want Cortina as a member planet. Listen to this.
‘Show all courtesy to Commander Varst. Commander Perry will allow whatever force
the Cortinians deem necessary aboard T-12. Maintain control of the situation but do
nothing to offend our guests. The bariat scan is not necessary for their vessels.
Admiral Komack, Starfleet Command.’”
“Interesting,” Spock remarked.
“Now, on top of a confusing bariat scan, the space station will be subjected to an
armed search.” Kirk tossed the paper aside. “Uhura, get me the Well-Being.”
The view screen flickered. The Cortinian commander smiled a toothy grin.
“Captain Kirk, you have news?”
29The Jewel of Cortina
“I do, sir. As a display of goodwill from the Federation, you are to be shown all
courtesy on the station. Of course, we expect courtesy in return from your landing
parties.”
“Of course.”
“In addition, the bariat scan is not necessary for your ship if you dock after we
have finished the station scan.”
“That is acceptable.”
“You may contact Commander Perry after 2100 hours this evening to arrange
docking facilities at your convenience.”
“Excellent, Captain.” Varst smirked. “There may be hope for an alliance between
our world and the Federation, after all.”
The view screen blinked out.
Jamie shook her head. “If all Cortinians are as grouchy as Commander Varst,
why would the Federation even want Cortina as a member planet?”
She didn’t expect an answer, so she was surprised when her father swiveled
around in his chair and grinned at her. “That, Cadet Kirk, is a very good question.”
“You should have been there, Spock,” Kirk reminisced. “I could have used some
logic, not to mention a Vulcan nerve pinch.” He leaned back in the plush chairs of
Bastin’s Famous Foods and took a swallow of coffee. They had the best coffee in the
quadrant.
“I fail to see how logic would have resolved the situation, Captain. And a Vulcan
nerve pinch has no effect on Denebian slime devils.”
McCoy sighed. “Jim meant he should have taken you along on the trip. You’d
have enjoyed it.”
Spock raised an eyebrow at McCoy’s illogical statement. “I see.”
30The Jewel of Cortina
Jamie watched the banter from behind a tall sundae. She
scooped a spoonful of whipped cream from atop a mountain of
ice cream and dark, flowing hot fudge and opened her mouth.
Then she caught Mr. Spock’s fascinated expression and said,
“Want a taste, Mr. Spock?” She held out the spoon.
Spock gazed thoughtfully at Jamie. “I fail to understand why
the captain allows you to ingest mass quantities of sucrose and
animal fats. Both substances are potentially harmful.”
Jamie plunged the heaping spoonful into her mouth and closed her eyes in
pleasure. The Matterhorn was Bastin’s most popular confection, and it beat the
Enterprise’s food processors by a long shot.
“Because it tastes so delicious,” she mumbled, her mouth full of ice cream and
chocolate. “Are you sure you don’t want a teensy bite? I’ve got more than enough to
share.”
Spock shuddered. “I assure you, I do not.”
“You’re missing something awfully good.”
When Mr. Spock raised an eyebrow and turned away, Jamie giggled and dug her
spoon into the sundae. It felt good to be sitting here, eating a hot-fudge sundae,
listening to her father laugh and joke with his officers.
The busy and tense times of the scanning business were over. She heard the
relief in her father’s voice. It felt right. Her shore leave privileges had been restored,
and tomorrow Lieutenant Uhura was taking Jamie to someplace on the station that
featured a special kind of music with a Vegan instrument Jamie couldn’t even begin
to pronounce.
“Hey, Daddy,” she said. “When I’m finished with this sundae, can I show you the
toy store where I found my puzzle cube? It’s a huge place.”
Kirk smiled at her. “Whatever you want to do.”
31The Jewel of Cortina
“And after that I—” Jamie broke off. Her eyes widened at the sight of a dozen
armed men approaching. “Look! It’s that Cortinian commander you were talking to
yesterday afternoon. He’s coming this way, and he looks really mean.”
Kirk twisted around in his seat. Marching down the center of the promenade, six
abreast, strode the silver-clad and heavily armed soldiers of the Cortinian military.
They came to a halt in front of Bastin’s. The stone-faced commander paraded past
the customers and began shouting orders to his subordinates.
“Make the search thorough, Lieutenant.”
His voice sent a shiver through Jamie. She glanced at her father for reassurance.
He said nothing, but Jamie could sense his sudden alertness.
Mr. Bastin appeared, red-faced and irritated. “Listen here, Cortinian. I’ve already
submitted to a lousy bariat scan from the starship and I’m not going to put up with
anything more.”
Commander Varst gestured to one of his men, who shoved Mr. Bastin aside with
such force that he stumbled and crashed to the floor.
Jamie yelped her surprise and dropped her spoon. It clattered to the tabletop.
She watched in horror as the Cortinians burst into the eatery.
“Commander Varst.” Kirk pushed back his chair and rose to his feet. “This
search-and-seizure farce has gone on long enough.”
The commander whirled and drew his weapon. He lowered it when he saw the
captain. “Captain Kirk, you’ll forgive me if I don’t exchange pleasantries. I’ve very
pressing matters to attend to.”
“As in terrorizing shop owners? You recall the courtesy that was granted to your
landing force? There is to be none of this harassment, sir, or station security will
accompany your men as they make their rounds. There will be order on this station.
Those are my orders.”
Varst’s expression changed as he studied the captain and his party. His gaze fell
32The Jewel of Cortina
on Jamie, who slid down in her chair to be out from under the Cortinian’s scrutiny.
“Captain Kirk,” Varst said in a patronizing tone, “this is not the best evening to
be engaged in, shall we say, family outings. I suggest you return to your ship and
stay out of my way. I will search this station until the very last second allowed. It’s
your job, and that imbecile station commander’s, to inform the shop owners to be
cooperative. Do I make myself clear?”
“Commander,” Kirk said smoothly, “how would you like your ship impounded
for violating density/mass restrictions?”
Varst gaped at the captain. He started to speak, then turned and gave a sharp
order to his men. They reformed their ranks and marched out of Bastin’s, toward the
far end of the promenade.
“Irritating bunch, aren’t they?” McCoy said when Varst was out of earshot. He
glanced at Jamie, who was watching the Cortinians with wide, scared eyes. Her
sundae had turned into a puddle of cream. “Hey, Jamie. Look at that poor sundae of
yours.”
Jamie ignored the doctor and tugged on her father’s tunic. “What did he mean
by saying we have to go back to the ship?”
“Nothing,” he assured her. “Nothing at all.” He turned to a server. “Can we get
another sundae over here? This one’s melted.”
“Right away, sir.” The server turned to go, but Mr. Bastin appeared at Kirk’s side.
“Thank you, Captain, for your timely interruption. The next sundae is on the
house.”
Halfway through her new sundae, the group was interrupted for a second time.
“Captain Kirk!” A grating, vaguely familiar voice broke into Jamie’s musings.
This is not my best birthday ever, she decided with a sigh.
Jamie abandoned her sundae and turned around in her chair. It was the tall,
thin, grouchy man from the Quality Control inspection team. He had been in the
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