"The temperature on the surface was changing rapidly and soon it would be much too cold for any of them to be able to with stand it. The landing party consisting of the captain, Mr. Spock, the Doctor, and three crewmen, one from engineering to scout the dilethium signatures and two geologists. The planet was like earth and its sun had recently went nova. They were interested in watching the planet as it could forecast Earth's future.

""Enterprise to Captain Kirk. The planet's atmosphere is cooling down faster than we expected and the interference is increasing as well ;" We may lose communication soon and possibly the transporters too. I suggest you all return immediately."

"Acknowledged, Enterprise, standby"

"Kirk, the engineer and one of the scientists stayed close to the original site. Spock, the doctor and other scientists left and were several meters away and had walked down into a gully. Kirk was more than a little bit annoyed by the sudden though not unexpected turn of events but he knew the scientists were even more so. "Spock, you heard them come on!"

"We heard captain and are on our way."
;"The doctor knew he was in excellent shape but didn't remember the decent being so far. "Spock, I think the gully got deeper while we were down here." He said slightly breathless.

"Illogical doctor. Only the atmosphere is changing. This gully is still only 10.459 meters below sea level as it was when we came down. I suggest the temperature change and ice forming is getting to you as well as the fact that climbing uphill is naturally more difficult."

"if that is the case then I know it is gettin' to you too, you hot blooded pointy ear hobgoblin"

"Doctor I- "at that moment he lost his footing sliding and gashing his arm on the shard of ice that now formed on the dying shrubbery around him. He tried to ignore it and the fact that he was also for some reason dizzy and slightly nauseated. That was why he slipped he told himself.

"Spock!" The doctor somehow managed to break his fall without falling back into the gully himself. "Are you ok. That looks deep. Let me see."

"I assure you I am fine." He really didn't want to admit the reason for his lack of balance now and it was growing worse. He stopped for a moment. "Captain go on up before we lose transporters. I'll be right up behind you. I may be delayed.

"Are you okay, Spock?"

"Yes. Go. I know my limits. I will not stay long. There is shelter behind me should I need it. Have the Enterprise lock on the other others and take them too."

"I'm stayin' too" McCoy chimed in. "Spock is stubborn and he has been injured."

"Doctor, stubbornness is a human failing. I am merely stating facts captain.";"Jim Kirk shook his head. "Fine, but hurry!"

"The transporter flickered and the four other men were gone.

"As Kirk and the others stepped off the transporter pad one of the circuits popped and smoke came out of the place where the captain stood only moments before.

"What happened?

""It looks like the interference caused it to overheat. I should have it fixed in 10 minutes captain."

""Spock and Bones are down there, and the planet is getting less hospitable by the second. You have 3."

"Aye Captain."

You got this Scotty. You always do." The captain smiled and left for the bridge. "I'll be on the bridge when they get back. Tell them I want a full report. Lieutenant get those specimens to the lab quickly. I'm sure Spock will want no delays." They left quickly.

""Kirk to Bones you two stay close to your current coordinates. There has been a transport malfunction and Scotty is working on it. He should have it up shortly"

"Acknowledged, Jim. Hurry. There is more going on with Spock than just a deep cut. He won't tell me what and with my limited equipment I am unsure."

;"In 2 minutes and 58 seconds after the last communication, Spock knew this because he always does, Scotty contacted them. "Commander, I am ready to beam you and Doctor McCoy up now. Stand by."

"Acknowledged. Thank you engineer." He was uneasy now but refused to let any of it show. Fear was after all an illogical human emotion. Especially when it came to transporting. He would let McCoy keep that.

;"Spock saw McCoy dematerialize a fraction of a second before he felt his own body begin to melt away. He didn't like to think of it that way but it really did seem like how he imagined he would melt if that were possible. He tried to shake the thought. Maybe the doctor was right. Maybe the cold was beginning to "get to" him. He was being illogical. Focusing on the work and later meditating would fix it, of that he was sure.

"What was taking so long? He knew he wasn't imagining it. It had already been a full 4 seconds. Why wasn't he back on the Enterprise? Suddenly he felt a sharp white-hot pain rip through his body that was now rematerializing on the ship. He felt himself fall to his knees and instantly the doctor and captain were standing beside him.

""Spock! We thought for sure we lost you! Are you okay? Scotty what happened? I want answers!

"Spock stood slowly. "I am ok now. Thank you, captain. Thank you, Doctor."

""Scotty check that transporter again. No one is to use it until you clear it. I want it fully operational again as soon as possible. Bones, get him to sickbay. Full physical. Make sure that really hasn't affected him.

;"McCoy was already dragging him that way. Spock protested he was fine and it was all unnecessary and that all he needed was a dermal regenerator to heal his still bleeding wound.

"Scotty left leaving the transporter room empty. Moments later the transporter flickered to life and someone collapsed to his knees in the same place Mr. Spock stood earlier. He hurt. Fiery pain still ripped through his body. He was shaking more from what he considered irrational fear than from the cold or even the intense pain. Why couldn't he grab control of this fear, or any of his emotions for that matter? Why was his heart beating so slow despite the fear? Where was his logic? Was he that close to hypothermia? He really thought he could go longer than that. He had been on the planet how long now? Why couldn't he calculate it? He hated to admit it but he really needed to see McCoy as he wasn't sure meditation would work for this. He wasn't sure he could even meditate currently. His arm was beginning to throb. Oh yes, he had lost quite a bit of blood. He didn't think it had been that much though. Anyway he knew he'd definitely need the regenerator. He pulled back what was left of his blue sleeve seeing a slightly purple stain and that was when he saw it. The small streams of crimson blood that had been running down his hand.