Chapter 336: A Smooth Return
Valerie stepped forward and showed the shaken driver a bag of gold bars—this was the "compensation" Akira had temporarily manufactured using the ship's basic element synthesizer, its value far exceeding the vehicle and the transport mission itself.
"This is your compensation, enough for you to buy ten new trucks. Now, please get out of the vehicle and walk to the side of the road. Our doctor will perform a brief health check on you and escort you to a safe area. We are temporarily borrowing this vehicle."
Looking at the gleaming gold bars in the bag, and then at this group of people acting bizarrely and possessing formidable skills, the driver wisely chose to cooperate.
McCoy immediately stepped forward, fulfilling his duty to "ensure personnel safety," while simultaneously subjecting the driver to a brief memory-blurring procedure.
This was to avoid unnecessary trouble. Although not as thorough as a neural neutralizer, it was enough to make him confused about the details of the incident for a period of time.
The transport vehicle was smoothly taken over. The members of Mann's squad quickly boarded, and Valerie took the driver's seat.
The vehicle restarted, heading toward the valley where the Enterprise was hidden.
Under Valerie's driving, the transport vehicle drove steadily toward the valley outside the city.
Inside the cabin, the members of Mann's squad had just relaxed, thinking the most difficult part was over.
However, at a seemingly ordinary intersection, a patrolling police car happened to pull up alongside them. The officer inside noticed this large, specialized transport vehicle, as well as the faces in the cab whose aura was entirely different from regular drivers.
The red light came on, and the transport vehicle stopped.
A young traffic police officer walked up and routinely asked Valerie for her driver's license and vehicle registration.
Jack immediately poked his head out from the passenger seat, his face plastered with his signature smile—a mix of enthusiasm and cluelessness. He began to endlessly spin a story, claiming they were an avant-garde art group transporting a "living sculpture" for a large-scale performance art piece, attempting to bluff their way through with exaggerated words and fabricated details.
However, Valerie could not produce a driver's license meeting the requirements of this era, and Jack's story, full of holes, only deepened the officer's suspicions.
The officer's eyes grew vigilant. He placed his hand on the walkie-talkie at his waist, signaling them to pull over and demanding everyone step out of the vehicle for a further inspection.
The situation took a sharp turn for the worse.
Valerie exchanged a glance with Mann in the back of the cabin and instantly made a decision.
Before the officer could speak again, Valerie struck with lightning speed. A precise knife-hand strike hit the side of the officer's neck, instantly rendering him limp and unconscious.
She quickly dragged the officer to a relatively safe spot by the side of the road, then jumped back into the cab and slammed on the gas. The transport vehicle shot forward amidst the ear-piercing screech of tires.
"We're exposed! Shake him off!" Valerie growled into the communicator.
The stunned officer's partner had already called for backup via his walkie-talkie.
Soon, the shrill wail of sirens sounded from behind, and more and more police cars joined the pursuit.
The transport vehicle was massive and not agile on city streets. It was on the verge of being surrounded by police cars.
Just at this critical moment, a group of people wearing bizarre outfits and riding roaring motorcycles suddenly darted out from a nearby alley—it was exactly the group of local hippies Jack had spoken to earlier, along with their biker gang friends.
They evidently recognized Jack's crew of "uniquely styled" outsiders, and also saw they were being chased by the police.
"Hey! It's those 'extraterrestrial' friends!" the leading hippie shouted, immediately throwing a few hand signals to his companions.
These young people instantly understood. It wasn't so much out of disregard for the law, but more out of a sense of brotherhood toward "kindred spirits" and a rebellious attitude toward "authority."
In an instant, the motorcycle convoy split into two streams. One accelerated to the front of the transport vehicle, deliberately driving in a serpentine pattern to block the pursuing police cars; the other flanked the transport vehicle, honking ear-piercing horns and waving clothing, creating massive chaos and noise to draw the police's attention.
Utilizing their familiarity with the city's alleys, they guided Valerie to turn onto an unplanned side street that avoided the main roads.
This sudden street chaos successfully disrupted the police's pursuit formation.
Taking advantage of the gap while the police were tied up by the biker gang, Valerie violently steered the transport vehicle into a warehouse district in an industrial zone. After a few rapid weaves and turns, they finally shook off their tail temporarily.
"Beautiful job, friends! Drinks are on us later!" Jack leaned out of the window, shouting loudly at the bikers who were scattering to draw the police away, casually tossing out a few leftover synthetic energy bars as a makeshift thank-you gift.
After a close call, the transport vehicle finally drove out of the urban area, speeding toward the valley where the Enterprise was hidden.
This unexpected street chase, although adding an unplanned risk, also surprisingly tested the reliability of the fragile alliance they had established with the "fringe elements" of this era.
Ultimately, they successfully brought the transport vehicle carrying George and Gracie back to the Enterprise.
The transport vehicle safely drove into the valley hiding the Enterprise.
The crew, who had long been prepared, immediately sprang into action.
Under Scott's command, the cargo bay doors on the Enterprise's belly slowly opened. A powerful tractor beam accurately enveloped the custom-made container, smoothly hoisting it, along with George and Gracie swimming peacefully inside, into the spacious, temporarily modified cargo bay.
Dr. Taylor followed closely throughout the entire process, directing efforts to ensure the whales were as comfortable as possible during the transfer.
When the container was finally securely fastened to the cargo bay's base, and the life support systems kicked in to simulate the appropriate water pressure, temperature, and salinity, she looked at George and Gracie—who seemed relatively unstartled in the water—and let out a long sigh of relief.
However, when Kirk signaled that it was time for her to leave and return to her era, Dr. Taylor firmly shook her head.
"No, Captain Kirk," her gaze swept across this incredible starship, finally resting on the whale container. "I've spent years studying them, understanding them. They are my responsibility.
Now you are taking them to a completely unfamiliar era, to face an unknown... probe.
They need a familiar voice, someone who can understand their condition. I must stay with them."
Kirk looked at the stubborn scientist, understanding her concerns.
Considering her knowledge of the whales and the help she could potentially provide, as well as the fact that they had already entangled her in a spacetime paradox, Kirk briefly weighed the options and agreed to her request: "Alright, Doctor, welcome aboard. But please remember, what you are about to see may turn your understanding of reality upside down."
Dr. Taylor nodded solemnly.
All personnel quickly boarded the ship, and the cargo bay doors sealed shut.
The Enterprise's engines engaged. Its optical cloaking system made the massive ship rise silently into the 20th-century sky, as if it had never been there, piercing straight into the heavens.
"All systems in place, Captain," Sulu reported.
"Set a course for the Sun. Repeat the slingshot maneuver." Kirk's voice echoed on the bridge, carrying absolute resolve.