The Black Cover

Summary: Nexu V is a planet that has never been successfully explored, however once again Captain Kirk and his team are forced to do the impossible and go to explore the desert planet. What the crew members find however, will be a memory of pain, darkness, and that feeling that tells you you are insane.

Chapter One: Madness

Setting: The bridge of the USS Enterprise

"Captains Log, Stardate… Uhh.."

Kirk rubbed his forhead trying to remember the date. He finally decided to tell a yeoman to add it in later.

"We have been orbiting the planet Nexu V for seven hours with no communication between the Enterprise and the planets surface, which the scanners show, contains life. I have been debating whether or not to attempt a landing party and if so, who to send. Nexu V has only been explored once before during an expidition in which the explorers, 255 men and women of the USS Revolutionary, a science ship, never returned. That was two years ago."

Captin Kirk hit a button ending the recording. Mr. Spock looked over from where he'd been getting more information on the planet. "Captin, the planets atmosphere, as I said before, is oxygen-nitrogen at a level capable of sustaining human life. It appears to be at a technological ability equal to 2020 on earth. However human life seems to be composed of nomads." Spock said with his typical calm voice. The charts could read ridiculously odd readings- and they had in times past- and Spock would talk as calmly as a confident student answering a simple question.

The bridge remained quiet and most of the crewmen looked over at Kirk awaiting any orders or questions.

"Uhura?" Captain Kirk had no reason to finish the question, it had been asked fifteen times within the seven hour orbit.

"Nothing sir." Uhura said, much in the same manner as Spock, calm and impassive.

"Captain may I request that I lead a landing party down on the planets surface." Spock asked, a raised eyebrow adding volume to his words.

McCoy, who happened to be on the bridge looked over, a surprised expression that he was fighting to keep from bursting into a laugh, played on his features. "No Spock, but you have authorization to lead one in the core of the planet!"

Kirk suppressed a snicker and opened his mouth to arbitrate but he was having too much trouble holding in his laughter. Spock turned to face McCoy. "That is illogical Doctor the cor-"

McCoy walked off the bridge before the first officer could finish, muttering something about green blood and pointy ears. Spock looked over at Kirk. "I believe Dr. McCoy should have his hearing checked."

Kirk shook his head still suppressing giggles. "I'm sure Dr. McCoy's hearing is fine." Spock gave a look of confusion but seemed to accept Kirks answer as he turned back to his station. "Mr. Sulu any changes?" Kirk asked.

"None, still maintaining orbit sir." Sulu replied.

"I'm beginning to vant a pot of coffee and a relief." Chekov said sounding rather irritated.

Kirk rose from his chair and leaned over the railing just behind Spock. "Spock go ahead and chose two crewman and a pair of security guards and beam down."

Chekov said something Kirk didn't quite catch but Sulu, who was looking horrified at Chekov, apparently had. Chekov started beating his head on the machinery in front of him. Sulu turned rather uncertainly away from the ensign and pretended to be busy with something.

Kirk went over to stand above Chekov and looked back at Spock who was waiting patiently for a release. One good thing about Spock, Kirk realized, is that he followed orders to the letter and rarly argued. "And Spock take this… hooligan with you. Mr. Chekov, what is wrong." Kirk asked with a rather irritated sigh.

Chekov raised his head revealing the beginning of a large red mark on his forehead. "You don't vant to know sir."

Kirks face- in fact his eyes alone, said it all. Chekov swallowed nervously. "I accidently hit the phaser button firing and-"

"With no phasers prepared the ships phaser banks are going to be in need of repair." Kirk finished.

"Vell sir that vill giwe the bored crevmen something to do." Chekov said.

Kirk smiled and looked over to a nearby crewman signaling him to take over. The crewman did so and settled into Chekov's chair as the ensign got up. Kirk and Chekov head towards the elevator, moving aside as a crewman came out.

Spock watched them leave and then pressed a button to turn on his intercom. "Engineer Scott?" He only had to wait a second before a crackle and cough alerted him to someone replying.

"Aye Mr. Spock?" Scotty's voice came over loudly on the intercom and several, including Spock covered their ears. Uhura tapped some buttons and look around apologetically.

"You there?" Scotty's voice had lost much of its former volume and was now at a reasonable level.

"Yes, Mr. Scott I'm beaming down onto the planets surface and would like you to accompany me." Spock said, as always his voice held no emotion whatsoever.

"You must've known how much I wanted to get out of the engine rooms lately. Aye sir. Meet you in ten minutes in the transporter room, Scotty out." The intercom died and Scotty's excited voice stopped coming into the room.

Spock grabbed another quick look at his computer noting the readings and then headed towards the elevator. He moved aside as Kirk stepped off with a steaming cup in hand. Others began to eye him enviously. Kirk looked around like he was sizing up his enemy. "Doctors orders." He said. Spock cast him a look.

"I find the human nature to lie quite illogical, Captian." Spock said. Kirk gave Spock a light shove sending the Vulcon into the elevator before he could protest.

In the Transporter room…

Spock nodded to Chekov and Scotty as he entered the transporter room. Chekov began to laugh the second Spock walked passed them to look at the transporter and check the coordinates. Scotty gave Mr. Spock an odd glance and the Vulcon, used to odd looks, ignored it. Suddenly Chekov came forward and the Vulcon felt his shirt pulled from behind and a ripping sound had more giggles coming off of Scotty.

The Vulcon turned and Chekov held up a sheet of paper with the words 'Mad Scientist' on it. Spock gave the Vulcon equivalent to a completely puzzled human look.

"Mr. Chekov if you are indeed so angry, perhaps I should find someone else to accompany myself and Mr. Scott-"

"It was on YOUR back!" Chekov protested. Spock cocked his head.

"Indeed? Fascinating." Spock said in almost a sardonic tone.

The Engineer and Russian shook there heads. One of these days someone was going to have to give Spock a theasurous so he could look up the other words for 'fascinating' and use them too.

The three stepped onto the transporter and the man on duty energized at a nod from Spock.

On the Bridge…

Kirk sat in his chair not really noticing the crew but instead thinking, his instincts were warning him of trouble. His mind screamed at him to order the landing party up. His spirit, though always brave in the ace of danger was often the one thing that kept his head held high in the face of trouble or danger. When his brother used to fight with Kirk over petty things Kirk used to put on a 'brave face' that had his brother laughing until Kirk eventually attempted a physical fight.

Sometimes he won, sometimes Sam won, and sometimes one of their parents or someone watching them would intervene. However every time Kirk engaged an enemy in hand to hand combat he always felt better imagining it was Sam.

How Kirk missed him. Sam had died before Kirk had reached the planet, Sam's wife died shortly after they got there. Too bad they found the cure too late.

Of course after the incident Kirk had to continue to keep a brave face. Which he did. Uhura or McCoy would sometimes ask if he was alright. Uhura in that motherly tone that was natural to women and McCoy in his ever-present doctor tone.

Kirk had shrugged them off. Finally deciding that worrying about Sam wasn't going to bring him back Kirk kept strong and stable in the face of his crew. However when his was in bed alone in his room pondering the monotony of normal ship life memories would come back to haunt him and the brave Captain of the Enterprise sometimes finds he's cried himself to sleep. Even Captians have feelings.

Sulu pressed a few more buttons and smiled. "Phaser banks have now 45 power Captain."

Kirk mentally rolled his eyes. That was a big difference compared to the 42 last reported. He wondered when Spock would call in and if it would be soon. He heard the doors open and didn't even bother to turn around. In the next instant he was in a head lock and was beginning to lose eyesight from loss of air…

OO! Pardon the cliffie... I suppose I'll get a couple nasty responses for that. You don't mind do you...?