The Sirens of Thayra

Chapter 6

Iyl moved effortlessly up the outside of Hath-Menda spire, the climbing hooks scraping slofly as she ascended the smooth outer wall. She climbed the east side of the tower, being the darkest at dusk. The building behind her help conceal her up to eight stories. From there upward she had to be cautious, but the likelihood of someone spotting her was slim.

She had strapped a mottled dark gray cloak around her neck she blended with the stone and avoided lit windows as she passed them. Once she was twelve stories up she shimmied around the perimeter looking and listening at each window for an advantageous entry point. She found a window to a sitting room and pulled out a small hacking device the size of her palm. She snapped it onto the frame. Within seconds the display lit up green, unlocking the window.

She slipped inside and removed her cloak. Iyl had been well prepared, having dressed in typical Hath-Menda servants garb. She rolled the cloak up and stuffed it into the cushions of one of the couches. As she stepped into the hall Iyl made certain she would not be spotted as she accessed the terminal nearby. Again she brought out her little device, attaching it to the terminal to give her the permissions she needed to access the information she needed.

It told her the what level and cell number Hathra's new captives were being held. Thus far, the two men had not been interrogated yet. In addition, the guards on duty at this time were all males. A thin smile appeared on Iyl's dark lips. These conditions would make her job that much easier.

She moved down the hall to a service elevator, taking it down a few floors to the correct level. She stepped out and the doors opened to a small office where two male guards sat playing cards. Hathra's predecessor kept women on guard at all times, but the lack of loyalty the new Matron had maintained with her clan's police forces had led to laziness within the spire. Those in charge of the guard were all to happy to let security lapse at Hathra's expense. It was only a matter of time before she was overthrown.

By no means did that mean she would not be put to death if caught.

The two men looked at her warily, one suspicious and the other afraid. The nervous one stood up quickly, trying to hide their game and instead looked ready to serve. The other regarded her stone-faced.

“Suppression collars?” She ignored their game, making the nervous one look relieved and the suspicious man relaxed his guard. The relieved one immediately opened the case on the wall nearby and unlocked it.

“Which cell?” he asked.

“9-18b.”

“Verification?” said the other, accessing the terminal in the room.

She slipped a miniature data pad out of her pocket. “9984-12” she said, calling up the information.

“Interrogators usually have their authorization codes memorized,” said the one at the terminal.

Iyl shot him a deathly glare. “Are you suggesting there is something wrong with my memory?!”

The suspicious guard shrunk back, “Of course not. I'm sorry. Forgive me.”

She snorted and took two suppression collars from the cupboard. “You will unlock the door,” she ordered them. She turned and marched down the hall to cell 9-18b.

After she had turned a corner she slowed on her approach, listening carefully. Most of the cells in this area were empty. She could hear the two men talking and stopped to listen...

***

“Escape does not seem feasible at this time, Doctor. The locking mechanism is quite sound and can only be opened from the outside. I have no tools to manipulate the servos and therefore have no way to force the lock.” Spock stood from his crouched position by the door. “We will have to wait until an opportunity presents itself.”

McCoy's face was deeply lined with worry. “Dammit, Spock we have to find a way to get to the others or warn the ship! They're going to wonder what happened to us and if they beam down they could get captured...or hurt...or killed! Don't you care?”

“Doctor, regardless of how fond you are of criticizing Vulcan nature I must insist it should not imply that I do not care for the crew. It is simply illogical to waste energy on a problem we presently have no means to solve.”

“Well we know the Captain must be near here. What about Sulu and Tria? God man, Tria! She's never been part of a first contact mission before. She could be in danger, aren't you worried?”

Spock raised an eyebrow.

“Don't you look at me like that you green-blooded Vulcan.”

“I believe I have already stated that my concerns for the away team are just as present as your own.”

“Dammit I'm not talking about the away team. I'm talking about that woman who spends all her time with you when you're off duty.”

Spock straightened, “It is a personal matter, Doctor. I do not wish to discuss it.”

“Yeah,” McCoy waved his hands frustrated. “I figured that's what you'd say. Jim refused to say a word about it.” He frowned. “Well you two don't have to deal with a staff of gossiping nurses every day. It's all I hear about. Chapel's been moping about for a week. Damned annoying.”

He kept his face flat, but he had not considered the repercussions of Tria remaining on the Enterprise would have with the rest of the crew. Human women may be illogical, but infatuation was something where they were predictable. He had decided that there was no logical reason to inform Tria about the situation as the two women rarely interacted. “Perhaps,” he said in his most factual tone of voice, “you should instruct your staff to leave their gossip in the recreational areas and only discuss official matters while in Sick Bay.”

McCoy's response was to grumble and fall back onto his cot. Spock considered the Doctor's strange reaction for a moment, but heard something at the door. He snapped his head around, watching.

“What is it?” said McCoy.

“I believe I just heard the door unlock.”

“What?”

“I said I-”

The door slid open, Iyl standing outside, a small version of the weapons used on them before ready in her hand. Two brassy collars were hooked around her elbow and she had a venomous look about her. “Sit,” she commanded Spock. He did not wish to be electrocuted by their weapons again, so he obeyed. She stepped in, the door shut behind her. “The door will not open again until I command it to,” she said, directing her warning at Spock. He simply raised a curious brow, finding her perceptiveness impressive.

“The information I collected about you makes little sense. I am told your group was not a part of a clan. Where, then, did you come from?”

“We traveled from the northernmost part of this continent. There is a mountain range there, it is where we came from. We had decided to travel and visit your city.” Spock spoke flatly, factually. He had studied the geography thoroughly so that their story was believable. It was apparent that she did not believe him, still.

Something strange filled the air. It had a faint musky scent and left the taste of alum in their mouths Spock saw McCoy's face turn from wary to relaxed, a dreamy look on his face. Iyl turned to McCoy. “You. What is your name.”

“McCoy. Leonard McCoy,” the doctor said, smiling at her.

“Where are you from,” she asked.

“Mississippi. Where are you from, young lady?”

Iyl seemed dissatisfied with his answer, but not because she thought he was lying. “I am not familiar with that city. Are you from where he says you are from?”

McCoy shook his head slowly, “Oh...no ma'am. That's just somethin' we came up with to tell you folk so that you wouldn't find out we came from off-planet.”

Iyl looked confused and did not have an immediate response.

Spock was trying hard to fight the drugging affect the air was having on him. He concentrated hard, clearing his mind. “Doctor, I do not...believe it is wise to tell her where we come from.” He, too, though was having an urge to obey and satisfy Iyl's questioning in ways that were difficult to resist.

Iyl inspected Spock. “You have a strong will, male.”

“Ah he's always been stubborn, miss,” said McCoy, smiling at her.

Keeping her eye on Spock she said, “Come her, Leonard.” McCoy lept up from his cot and stood next to her. She pressed a small button on one of the collars and it unhinged. She snapped it around McCoy's neck.

“What's this?” the doctor asked dumbly.

“You will wear it until they are sure you are loyal. Sit.” Like a puppy, he sat.

She turned to Spock, whose brow was wrought with concentration. “There is something strange about you,” she said. “What did he call you?”

“Spock!” said McCoy. The Vulcan's eyes flickered to his overzealous companion.

Iyl moved to stand over Spock, the small weapon ready to attack him if he made a wrong move. She took his face in one strong hand, looking into his eyes hard. “I have never seen a male so resilient to our control...” Now that she was closer, the scent in the air became stronger and harder to resist its affects. Spock began to realized that it was she who was producing the drugging effect and pushed aside all of his theories about this phenomenon so he could concentrate on keeping his mind clear.

“You know why, don't you,” she said.

Struggling, he had little choice but to answer, “Yes.”

“Why.”

“I am not like them. I am Vulcan. I have stronger mental control than my companions.”

“What is a Vulcan? Are you specially bred?”

“No.”

“Then what are you.”

He closed his eyes, focusing deeply to resist. When he did not respond, Iyl became angry. She squeezed his face so hard the inside of his cheeks cut on his teeth.

“What are you!?”

“A-alien,” he said, straining. “We all are.”

“Alien?” She thought for a moment, trying to process the meaning of the word. She did know what to say in response, so she deftly released his face, took the collar and clipped it around his neck. She watched him closely, seeing faint green bruises appear on his jaw. “If you are all alien,” she said, still uncertain of the word, “then why are you still different than them.” She gestured at McCoy.

“They are human.”

“What else makes you different,” she said.

McCoy spoke up, “Aw Spock just help the lady out and take off that stupid hat.”

Spock started to protest but Iyl starred daggers as he opened him mouth. “Do it,” she said.

He removed the tightly fitting cap, revealing mussed black hair and his pointed Vulcan ears. She looked at him as if she were both afraid and shocked. Stiff and on her guard with her weapon she said, “Put it back on. You are to show no one if you can help it, do you understand?”

Spock all too gladly replaced his disguise.

“Are you the only one like this? The only one here?”

“No.”

“Is the other male they took to the central spire this way? Is he … resistant as you are?”

“No, Lieutenant Sulu is human.”

“Then which. I know it is not the one called Kirk. He was easily controlled by Hathra.”

Spock did not want to answer, but the scent Iyl put off was muddying his senses, making it too difficult to concentrate on resisting her demands.”It is the woman we came with, she is Vulcan, like me.”

Something about that satisfied Iyl, a bit of information she was sure no one else had discovered yet. “So then, she is not like the women here? She cannot control males as we do?”

“No,” he said, struggling, knowing the information could put Tria in danger. “She does not put off these...pheromones...as you do. She could not influence men like the women on this planet can.”

Iyl said nothing. She turned, gave a command, and the door opened.

McCoy looked on sadly, “Leaving already?”

Iyl gave him an annoyed look, shook her head, and let the door close, locking them in.