AN: Usual disclaimer, the rights to Star Trek etc. belong to someone else. The entire story is complete on my PC, and I'll try to load up a new chapter every few days. Please read and review – constructive feedback will help me finalise the remaining chapters.

Chapter 1

Present day…

They materialised in the cavernous dark void, the cold damp air seeping through their clothes. Gradually they attuned to the gloom, somewhere the gentle trickle of water flowing over rocks could be heard. This was as far as the transporter would take them.

Uhura held up the tricorder to ascertain where the duo might be located, the gentle green glow illuminated both of their faces as they huddled together to see the read out. Two green spots blinked rapidly, the name of the person hovered just above. Scotty pressed 'Spock', and his vitals floated just above the screen. 'Och…that's not good', he quietly winced to himself '…But I am absolutely sure he'll be fine', a clumsy attempt at reassurance. Slightly off screen were the life signs of several people they hoped to avoid, at least twenty of them, both knew the situation was dangerous – they were not adequately prepared for this. Searching for Kirk's life signs, Uhura saw he was in a better state. Their friends were several kilometres underground, directly below where Uhura and Scotty were standing. The journey was going to take longer than either would like. Display flicked off, it was dark once again.

Scotty's eyes peered around the cavern; the darkness totally enveloped them. 'Eh, Uhura', his harsh voice resonating around them, 'I guess this is not a good time to let you know I suffer from Nyctophobia -'. His tone nervous.

'You're scared of the dark!' normally she would be more sympathetic, but there were more important things to consider. Handing him the tricorder, he looked down momentarily at the apparatus, and then back at her waiting expectantly. Uhura gently placed a hand on each shoulder, pushed her face close to his so he could see her looking directly into his eyes, then hissed 'you need to man up!' Not messing about, she stepped past him, ponytail swishing, quickly striding towards the opening she had spotted.

'That…was not the reaction I had hoped for, Uhura-', no opportunity to finish, he spun around jogging to catch up.

With Uhura in the lead, several hours were spent walking one behind the other in silence. The only sound their breathing - exhaling and inhaling, emphasising the oppressive quiet. Their pace hindered by the equipment they carried and the route they had to take, still they had little choice. Headlamps on, an eerie path lit ahead of them, highlighting the jagged edges of the rock formations, shadows dancing as they passed by. They had a vague idea where they were heading.

'You know we're totally ill prepared for this, right…' Scotty spoke up as he scrambled over a fallen rock.

'Uh huh', Uhura mumbled back, head down focusing on the map shown on the tricorder display.

'We can't transport out and will probably have to steal one of the crafts to get off this planet...' Scotty tensely scrutinized the narrow tunnel, constantly trying to avoid banging some part of his body against protruding rock. He scowled as he felt the tell-tale sting across the knuckles of his right hand. Without looking he knew it was bleeding and brought his hand to his mouth to lick the blood away.

'Yep, or you'll do what you normally do with that big brain of yours and come up with some imaginative way for us to get out of here...', Uhura replied eyes ahead assessing their route. She treaded lightly knowing that her current footwear was ill suited to the cave floor.

'We have hours of walking before we reach them…'.

'I know…' her voice barely concealing the frustration she felt. 'What are you trying to say Scotty?' For the first time, she understood Kirk's irritation whenever she had challenged him on the bridge. Taking a deep breath she tried to rein in her temper, reasoning he was just as worried as she was.

'Nothing…but…we need to logically think how we are all going to get out of here', he reached out, forcing her to stop walking. 'I know you are worried about Jim and Spock', his green eyes darted around her face. He could see she was edgy, but she had to hear this. ' We have walking for ages and we haven't even discussed how we're going to do this…not properly...two of us versus lots of them are not good odds' his voice pleading for understanding '… we need a plan', finally releasing her arm. Uhura faced him and the reality of the situation. Scotty was correct.

'You're right, I know you're right. But I need to get to him...' She wrapped her arms tightly around her body, protecting herself from the uncertainty creeping towards her. Her breathing rapidly increased in pace, she felt light headed and her hands were clammy. Before long, she was nose first into Scotty's chest.

'You looked like you could do with a hug, that and the panic attack I could see coming…' his voice travelling over her head. Uhura listened to his steady heartbeat, 'thud', 'thud', 'thud', forcing her breathing to regulate once again. Having stood there for an undetermined length of time, she pushed out of his embrace.

Scotty animatedly pointed ahead of himself, 'Right, according to the tricorder, there's an opening about five kilometres ahead. We'll settle there for the night, safely away from them'. Assuming the lead, he reflected on the last 12 hours - the career changing decision they made to ignore orders and attempt to rescue their crewmates. An action that could ultimately lead to their dismissal from Starfleet - disregarding orders was cause for court martial. He could hear them now 'duplicitous actions', 'illicit access to secure comms', 'blatant disregard of the chain of command'. Never mind, he would worry about the consequences if, no when, they made it out of here with their friends. He had to be optimistic, to paraphrase his good friend there was no such thing as a no win situation. He hoped to God Kirk was right.

Less than five metres behind Uhura followed. Appreciative for the comforting gesture, it threw her that she had freaked out - it was not like her. She was Nyota Uhura, she could handle herself, she was no damsel in distress. The manic activity of the last few days had taken their toll. She took in a deep breath, and willed herself to stride faster. Those basest of thoughts, were banished for now.

Several kilometres downwards from Uhura and Scotty's location, Kirk sat wearily against a cave wall with his knees pulled up and head slumped forward. He refused to let himself think about Uhura; the last few months he had been so stupid. Now his Spock was in danger. Regret about both eating away at him. Abruptly, he lifted his head up, his eyes were bloodshot and a beard, slightly darker than his hair adorned his face. The bleeding from a cut above his right eye had finally stopped and was forming into a scab. As for his jaw, he'd survive, however it didn't mean it hurt any less to the touch. Done with internalising, he forced his gaze outwards scanning the room. Like his cell, it had been carved into the rock, but unlike his room had been fitted with the modern comforts any psychotic menace could need - weapons of all shapes and sizes, yet from his current position he could not grab a single one. The restraints saw to that, around his wrists and ankles they painfully dug in.

Kirk mauled over the various options available to him, to the guards watching him he appeared subdued, but his mind was firing off scenario after scenario. Ideas sparking to life, but just as immediately snuffed out due to impracticality. McCoy would marvel at his sudden level headedness, oh there would be time for 'fuck it and go with my gut' plans, but today, now, in this situation another way was needed. It pulled at him and he could not fathom why. His cerulean gaze now focused on his captor, security had been increased, people seemed to be moving with frenetic energy out in the corridor, he had heard the whispers and the man was riled, liable to snap at any point.

'Leave him alone. It's me that you need...' Pushing himself away from the wall, offering himself in penance for some unknown sins. On his knees he made a pitiful sight, but he would do whatever was necessary to protect his friend. 'I'm talking to you I thought we were friends, besties and all that...', there it was sarcasm which would make McCoy proud. 'Hey, fucker!'

As expected the man spun around, hot anger emanating in waves he glared at Kirk. Prowling towards him, clenching and unclenching his fist so tantalizing close to striking Kirk. Why wouldn't he drop his gaze like so many had before? As he drew closer Kirk seemed to grow in confidence, it made him halt his approach disdain clearly evident on his face. A metre separated them, Kirk glowering at him as he pulled at his restraints. Dropping down to his haunches, but maintaining the distance the man cryptically stated 'it's not your time captain' before returning his attentions to previous activities.

'Tell me how you did it?' the man casually walked around the dangling body of Spock, every now and then Kirk would appear and disappear from his line of sight. The taut chain slowly twisting Spock around, as he painfully dangled from his arms. Head hung low to his chest, one eye was swollen shut and the sweat glistened off his bare skin. The man circled around Spock, taking great satisfaction in the damage he had inflicted. He could hear the Vulcan wheezing, and see the shallow criss cross of cuts he'd lain down on Spock's skin. Raising a hand to caress Spock's chest, he purposely gouged at the open wounds. As he came to a stop, he grabbed Spock's face in a vice like grip, forcing the Vulcan to look into his snake-like eyes. 'Well...? Don't you have anything to say? You're not quite dead yet' His warm breath brushing against Spock's skin. Refusing to give him the satisfaction of responding, Spock yanked his face free.

'Cut him loose', the man barked at a nearby guard before sinisterly pointing 'and bring me the human'. A curt nod acknowledging the order. He watched as Kirk now thrashed against the guards, his wolfish grin welcomed the captain 'Oh don't worry, I'm not going to hurt you...yet'. Leaving the man in his room, Kirk lumbered into mayhem; guards and workers rushing about on high alert. He fixed his gaze on the familiar face of the person striding towards him, no longer surprised about anything about this situation.

'Well, if you're here the shit must have truly hit the fan'. He managed to shout out before being wrenched forward. Twisting to see where they went, it was worrying to see Spock being handed over.