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By Root 1243 0

with a deep breath, and then with an explosive burst of force, David was flung by the neck to his left. In the same instant the Klingon used the strength of his legs to thrust his torso upward, knocking David off balance and rolling them together over their outstretched arms, jarring the disruptor loose from their clutches. David came to rest on his back, still gripped by his throat, with the Klingon astride him. He was able to tilt his head to the left just enough to see the weapon, large as life, lying mere inches in front of his eyes, and tried twisting his left arm at an impossible angle to retrieve it, only to see the Klingon’s free hand land upon it and raise it up. But it was held by the barrel, not the grip, and as the Klingon fumbled to turn it in his hand, David knocked it from his grasp, sending it flying some distance out of their reach.

Growling, the Klingon again tightened his fingers around David’s throat, and this time the young scientist, now in an entirely defensive position, was forced to use both hands to try to prevent his windpipe from being crushed. The Klingon’s free right hand casually reached down to his belt and unsheathed a cruel-looking dagger. The blade was raised high, and David’s eyes widened, helplessly awaiting the deadly downward thrust as his vision began to darken from lack of oxygen.

And suddenly the Klingon stiffened. He loosened his grip on David’s neck, the dagger dropped from his hand, and he fell away to one side, revealing the stooping frame of Saavik, who had just released her own grip upon the Klingon’s shoulder.

David gratefully sucked in lungfuls of air as he stared in wonder at Saavik. He had heard about the power of the Vulcan neck pinch, but often wondered if it was merely a myth. He was only too happy to see his doubts proven wrong.

“Are you injured?” Saavik asked.

David quickly took inventory of his body’s moving parts. “No,” he said with a raspy voice as his larynx slowly recovered from the abuse it had taken. “I guess I’m okay.”

“Very well,” she said with urgency as she quickly scampered over to the disruptor lying a few meters away and bent to retrieve it. “We must keep moving.”

David struggled to his feet. Together they turned to the east and took no more than a few quick steps when a voice rang out behind them.

“Halt! Drop your weapons. Now!”

They froze. Saavik let the pistol drop from her grasp, and they both raised their arms in surrender.

“Turn around.”

They did so, and saw another Klingon guard, scowling viciously as he held his disruptor trained upon both of them. In front of him, marching toward them with cocksure determination, was the Klingon commander, looking over his new prisoners with glaring disapproval.

“I am Commander Kruge of the I.K.S. Katai.” He did not make eye contact as he addressed them, giving the haughty impression that to be his audience was considered a privilege. “Your ship in orbit has been destroyed. And my science officer tells me that this planet will soon destroy itself. How fortunate for you that I intend to safely remove you from this place. But you need not show me your gratitude just yet; in due time, you will happily repay me for my generosity.”

David scowled at the insincerity of the Klingon’s words. “This is Federation space!” he exclaimed. “You can’t just come barging in here like this!”

“Yet nonetheless, here I am,” Kruge said, turning toward David. The Klingon looked David up and down, then shook his head and rolled his eyes. “I have seen the reports of a Starfleet admiral, describing in lurid detail how this planet came to exist. So I come here seeking answers, which you will gladly provide.”

On the ground directly in front of them, the other Klingon guard began to stir, moaning miserably. Kruge looked down upon him with disgust.

“No, Maltz, don’t get up,” he said with condescending pleasantness. “We have everything under control. I should have known better than to trust you to handle a weakling human…” He then turned toward Saavik, and looked her over disapprovingly. “And a Vulcan woman.”

“Half Vulcan,”