- What do we know about this planet, Mr. Spock? – Captain Kirk asked, as he watched the blue-green globe on the screen which the Enterprise was approaching.
- The planet is 'M' type, with oxygen-nitrogen atmosphere, the gravitation is equivalent like on Earth. Rich flora and fauna.
- Intelligent life? – asked the Captain.
- Yes, there are intelligent, humanoid creatures on the surface, but there aren't big cities, and industry. However, they aren't technically primitive, our sensors sign some energy source and radio-waves.
- Lieutant Uhura, open a greeting channel – Kirk said.
- Greeting channel is open – said Uhura a few seconds later.
- I am James Kirk, Captain of Starship Entersprise. Our mission is peaceful, and we would like to ask for your permission to teleport to your planet, and meet you – said the Captain, in front of the screen.
A moment later, the most beautiful man appeared on it whomever they have seen. His oval face was ageless, neither young nor old. He had long, black hair, white skin, and tipped ears, like Spock's, however, he obviously wasn't Vulcan. He wore a green silk shirt with elegant, purple embroidered motives on it. Wisdom and experience of many years was in his black eyes. His voice was soft but expressed.
- Please, receive the greetings of the Eldarine, Captain Kirk. I am Laurel. We would feel honoured, if you would visit us with your companions. I give you the coordinates of the place where we are waiting for you.
- Thank you, Laurel. We will be there in a few minutes.
- Mr Spock, Dr McCoy, let's go to the transporter. We will be the greeting delegation of Earth – and Vulcan, of course.
The two officer followed him, and a few minutes later, they stood in the teleport machine.
- Captain, is it wise to go down there so quickly? We don't know anything about thus race – Spock told.
- Don't be paranoid, Mr. Spock. We've transported in the middle of obvious trouble before many times. Why wouldn't we do it now, when it seems that we will have a warm welcome? – Kirk said. – Mr. Scott, energy! – Kirk ordered, and in a few seconds, they found themselves on the surface of the planet.
Laurel and some other Eldarines were waiting for them – with feser guns in their hand. The three human even barely realised that they arrived, and everything darkened.
Spock felt wet and cold which pulled him quickly from unconsciousness. As he opened his eyes, he saw a tall, lean man in front of him with red hair and with the same ageless face like Laurel's. However, this one was not so well-dressed, as he wore simple leather and wool clothes. He was holding a bucket in his hand, from which obviously he has just poured water into Spock's face.
In the second moment, the Vulcan realised that his arms and legs are chained to the wall, causing a dull but disturbing pain. He hasn't got his clothes either, which caused him to feel even more defenceless and humiliated, especially when he took notice about Laurel, who stood behind the man with the bucket, in his silk shirt.
- Well, obviously your first question will be 'Where am I', or 'What do you want from me' – said Laurel in a sarcastic voice. – My two short answers: you are in the cellar of my house, and I want nothing from you. At least, nothing which you could find rational. I just want you to suffer. I was always curious about how long a Vulcan can bear torture before totally going insane – his sneer was more than terrifying.
But Spock was not terrified. He looked into the Eldarine's eyes, and he could see the flame of sadism there. This man was a psychopath. No logical motivations or aims. The Vulcan realised that there is no escape. He cannot convince this man with rational reasons, because his only goal was to torture him dead. The only chance can be if he does not show emotions and pain, and maybe then, Laurel will get bored with his games. However, Spock did not know how long will he be able to keep his self control.
- Someone says that the hope is important – Laurel continued. – There must be hope for escape, and it's more terrible if the object of torture realises later that there is no release. I think in a different way. If you know from the beginning that you can exit from here only as a corpse, you will start to beg sooner for death. And believe me, it's a really funny thing if someone begs for death.
Spock's face was emotionless.
- Oh, I can see, you've already decided that you'll fight. Good, very good! I like to break strong-willed people to show them their own fallibility. But enough of speech for now. Let's start it! – he said like a child who has just got a new toy. – Dinoro, give him a clip.
The other Eldarine in the average clothes stepped forward and hit. He was stronger that he seemed. A creek of green blood flowed from Spock's mouth, but he didn't gave a voice. If he was like Kirk, he probably would tell to the Eldarine that he is too coward to do it himself, and therefore he uses his servant to do the "dirty job", but such comment would just anger Laurel and he would become more brutal, therefore it would be illogical.
- It'll be so much fun! – said his torturer. – Now, let's count his fingers!
Dinoro went to the metal table near the wall, and picked up a pliers from it. Spock just realised that there are different tools on the table – every of them is able to cause pain.
He sat his teeth and grunted when Dinoro broke his fingers on his left hand one by one, but he did not give the pleasure of crying out for Laurel.
- Awsome – the Eldarine said. – Let's see, how about blades.
Kirk and McCoy wake up in a cell. Their fesers and communicators were missing. The chamber had no window, only a door, made of stiff metal bars. Two of its walls were made of stone, but one is from glass through which they could see another room. It was made of stone also, but it was larger than their cell, and there were lamps on the wall, so they could see it clearly. Spock was chained to the wall, naked, bleeding from many wounds, and a read-head Eldarine obviously tortured him for the commands of Laurel.
- What the hell is he doing? – shouted Kirk, and sprang at the glass, but he couldn't break it. It was flexible and stiff at the same time; not average glass. He tried it again and again until his shoulder began to hurt.
- Jim, stop it! – McCoy told him. – You cannot break it.
- I have to try! I cannot watch as he tortures my friend!
- But you won't help him if you break your arm!
The captain flopped down and leaned his back to the wall desperately. He didn't want to watch it, but he couldn't take off his eyes from the wicked, sadistic face of Laurel.
He didn't know how long could he be there, chained to the wall. Hours or days could be spent; he totally lost his time sense. In the beginning, he could isolate his mind from his body, locking out pain, but finally, it found its way and brought him back to reality.
Laurel was obviously a great anatomist. He knew every sensitive point, and he could cause incredible pain without injuring him deadly. Spock sometimes almost lost his consciousness, but the Eldarine always ordered Dinoro to do something so painful which woke him up. The Vulcan felt that his willpower lessens quickly. At least, he didn't do anything unfixable yet – broken bones and torn down nails can be healed, just as cuts and burns. Once Spock heard some dull noise from the wall on his left, and maybe he heard the voice of the Captain shouting his name – first, he thought he was hallucinating, but Laurel didn't leave any doubt.
- Oh, have I mentioned that your friends can watch it? You can see only stone wall there, but for them, it's like a window. I just wanted them to know what they can expect. By the way, I have to tell, I'm truly amused. Humans can't bear even the half of this suffering. But, it was only introduction. Let's change a level. Dinoro, blind him.
The red-head grabbed a white hot stoker.
- Have you known that heat can blind someone from a few centimetres? He even doesn't have to touch your eyeballs with the stoker, only keep it close to them. Oh, but first of all, we have to remove your eyelids so you won't be able to close your eyes.
Dinoro put down the stoker, and pick up a scalpel instead. He slowly approached to Spock who tried to turn his head away, but the Eldarine tied it to the wall with a leather string. Spock moaned, but he couldn't do anything. The scalpel neared his eyes, but before Dinoro could cut, he halted in his move, and dropped to the ground. Laurel followed him, both of them obviously dead. Spock mistily saw several humans, in the red uniform of the Starfleet's security section, with fesers in their hand, rushing into the room. Two Eldarine followed them, a woman, and a man with weapons also.
- Oh, my god! – She said when she saw the Vulcan. She pulled off the keys of his chains from the dead Laurel's belt, and she started to open the locks. – Help me! – She told to the Eldarine man.
They carefully laid down Spock to the ground, and the woman covered him with her cloak.
- Search your Captain and the Doctor – she told to the humans. – They have to be here somewhere. And be careful, there can be left some of Laurel's batboys.
She softly caressed Spock's forehead. – It's ok now. You are in safe – she said in a tender voice.
The Vulcan allowed himself the luxury of felling unconscious.
