Author's Note: Spock and Kirk's relationship is a very curious thing to me. I do not ship them in the classic romantic way, but the love they have for each other is stronger than the average friend. Their relationship is romantic, but in a way that the way Shakespeare wrote was romantic. The way that a blue sky is romantic. How digging a small hole in the dirt and planting an apple tree is romantic. Romance does not always equal sex. If you take away an assumption that they're lovers and watch the TV show that way, you can still see the romance. Though to me the two of them are not 'in love', they do love each other, a lot. No one understands them the way they understand each other, and though it's rarely transparently spoken between them, they know how important the other is to them. That being said...it's pretty easy to read this in any way you wish. But my thoughts on them are not widely shared, so I figured I'd let you know my thought process as you read.
I'm a busy lady, I work full time and I freelance in the entertainment industry, but I spend most of my leisure time writing anyway. Feel free to read, review, comment, or none of the above...I'm just doing this because I find it fun =) LLAP
"Jesus…what happened down here, Captain?"
"I…I don't know, Sulu. Spock?"
"Speculation only, Captain, but it would seem as though some form of planetary engulfment, by disease, virus, or otherwise, consumed the planet so rapidly, the inhabitants were barely given the chance to notify us before the civilization was destroyed."
"Their apocalypse?"
"In a sense, yes."
The world around them was in crumbling flame. Buildings that had once housed diplomats, philosophers, citizens, mothers and fathers and children…piles of simmering rubble. The sky was orange with falling ash and sputtering cinders, the air hazy in it's filtering smoke. There was no sound, no cry for help nor a chime of an emergency pager, save for the occasional crash of collapsing brick and the crackling of the fires. Bodies were strewn in the street, sometimes solitary, sometimes piled atop one another, sometimes depicting a scene of what took place prior to their demise. A man with his hand wrapped around another's throat, a woman with a knife in her gut and a man in a three piece suit fingering the hilt, a person piled at the bottom of a building with a strip of their shirt hanging from the window four stories above. Sulu had to look away from them, released his mini hovobot into the air, and retreated backwards to inspect an area cleared from the gruesome scene.
"What could have happened?" Kirk turned to Spock, his face fallen and confused. To see such a promising planet, filled with an intelligent humanoid race called the Lyrii, to be taken by absolute death and horror…it was rather jarring. They'd only just joined the Federation two years ago, their way of life curious and fascinating. A kind people, an inquisitive people.
The end of a world did not happen often.
"Insufficient information to hypothesize, Captain."
"A war? A battle? It's as though a bomb was dropped…"
"Unlikely. The distress call we received listed nothing of that sort. They iterated it was internal. A planetary issue."
"I just…can't believe this." He took half a step forward, his eyes roaming over the horizon. It was destruction on every plane, the mountains themselves seeming drained of vitality and the sky devoid of light. The only generated noise was the small humming of the hovering bot, taking analysis and samples. He shook his head as he observed the ruined city. "This is a tragedy, Spock."
Spock gave a small nod. "Undoubtedly, Jim."
The universe, by it's nature, between gravity, molecular structure, temperature, and so many various factors, was possible only by very specific and almost fragile conditions. Spock could not help but think of the power of The Goldilocks Effect; that the survival of intelligent beings was in gratitude to conditions somehow specific to their needs. That life thrives due to the magnificent equilibrium of conditions made 'just right' for survival.
That effect seemed to have failed this planet.
He could not scientifically hypothesize yet, not until the data was analyzed and tested, however he could continue to speculate. Something perhaps drove the people mad, led one to brutalize another. For chaos to overcome logic. An otherwise rational people, driven to instability and insanity. Their succinct fall to absolute death—an entire civilization catyclized—was scientifically astounding. His observations panning over the bodies, the blood, and the deteriorating city, Spock was gravely curious of what could have caused this. It was unfortunate that it was the planet Lyro that was the victim of the universe's Lyrii were clever. Admirable. Their race had irrefutable potential being paired with the Federation.
Suddenly, Spock's ears pricked at the sound of scraping, behind a nearby dilapidated building. He flicked his head over in the direction and put his hand at Kirk's chest to quiet him. The captain immediately stiffened at the contact, easily recognizing Spock's body language and the intonations behind it.
Sulu's feet, several yards behind them and unaware, rustled against a few pebbles as he took note of a bundle of spared ground plants. Spock ignored this and strained his ears forward.
It was there again. A rssht and the sound of something small scraping against the street. It was hardly more than 12 feet away, and then again, rssht rssht…
The planet, ravaged by some overwhelming and effective factor, was supposed to be dead.
Spock immediately retracted his hand from Kirk's chest and fluidly took his phaser from his hip, aiming it precisely at the corner of the building from which this noise was about to emit. Without hesitation, Kirk did the same and he barked for Sulu to gain attention. Spock flicked his phaser to stun, his weapon aimed as the noise skimmed against cement. Whatever it may be, it was homed on a planet that was driven to desolation by hysteria. Likely—logically—dangerous. A small black mass moved from behind the bricks, veiled in shadow, and he readied his finger over the trigger at the first sign of attack as it came around the corner—
"Is that a dog?" Kirk's braced phaser sagged as he squinted his eyes. The animal froze at their appearance, stiffening and taking a small step backwards as if it regretted it's chosen path.
"Lower phasers, lower phasers," Kirk said hastily as he stuck his back to his belt. Spock glanced over at him.
"Captain, it may be deranged…"
"It's scared, look at it…it's okay pal, come here, come on," he knelt down and brought his hand forward in invitation. "Put your damn phaser down, Spock."
Hesitantly, Spock did so as he eyed the creature. It was not foaming at the mouth, nor were there any signs of a bloodied meal coursing it's fur. It was rigid, it's head low, it's body leaning backwards. Perhaps it was scared…an emotion unbecoming of something insane.
"It's alright…come on, pup," the captain beckoned with his hands. His face had become relaxed and soft, his voice even more so. Spock studied him with idle fascination. His entire demeanor had changed at the appearance of this creature…he had never taken this facade with other beasts they came upon. The transition had been immediate.
The dog took an apprehensive step forward, obviously unsure of itself. Kirk motioned again, and it took another step, it's path indirect and circular.
"Captain, what would an Earth dog be doing here?"
"Good question, Sulu," he answered quietly. "Come on, honey, it's okay."
"'Honey', Captain?"
"It's a term of endearment, Spock."
"What is your plan of action?"
"It's a dog, Spock, not an obstacle course."
It circled around them, it's steps slow and tentative, and Kirk thought perhaps it was about to run off. It did not. It lowered it's head more, it's ears pinned down, cautious eyes looking up at them. It was flanking around to the left, observing them as it circled.
"Come on, boy," Kirk rationed encouragingly. "It's okay, buddy."
It had come half a circle to stand ten feet away from Spock's right flank. It was out from the shadows of the buildings, standing in the open area of the square they stood in. It was skeptical of it's vulnerability in the space, pawing closer anxiously, it's shoulders low. A few pieces of rubble clattered down loudly from a wall, and it whipped it's head around to look before whipping back to keep sight on the three men. Spock raised an eyebrow as he analyzed it.
It's height would perhaps reach the Vulcan's knees, and it's body seemed rather thin. The fur was black, coarse, and likely only about two inches in length. It was coated in ash and dust, it's head and back almost perceptively grey in the debris. Ears perked with acute awareness with the knob tail docked shortly behind. Being near him now, Spock could see the dour marring on the animal's left side, the flesh looking raw and angry, the fur surrounding the area singed with wound. The dog's eyes were frightened, but daring nonetheless, and it's gaze darted between them as it took a few steps forward.
"That's a good boy, come on," Kirk loosened his shoulders warmly. "Good boy…"
It was quite near them, coming right up on Spock's side, and he looked down at it curiously. Kirk held his hand out in welcome, expecting it to continue forward to sniff him, but it instead stopped a foot away from Spock and strained it's nose forward. It sniffed the science officer tentatively, looked up at him to lock eyes, then swiftly closed the gap between them. It stood beside Spock and peered anxiously around his legs to observe the other men.
Kirk and Sulu looked at each other in obvious surprise. Spock's eyebrows shot up and he did not move, almost as unsure as the creature beside him.
"I did not call for you," he offered to the animal, though he did not know why he said this, as he knew it could not understand him. He turned his head to look down at the captain, but Kirk could only offer him a shrug.
"Pet him, Spock."
"Captain?"
"Pet the dog. He should know it's okay to trust us."
"Again, I must ask your plan of action regarding the animal."
"He's hurt, Spock. We can't just leave him here, can we?"
"…Of course not, Captain, that was never my intention. However, I do not understand what 'petting' it will accomplish."
"Dogs are not wild creatures, Spock. They need love and support, to know the people opposite them will be kind to them. He's probably seen hell down here, don't you think? He could probably use some love and support."
Spock regarded him thoughtfully then turned his gaze back to the animal to his other side. It was still peering around him, it's ears twitching at the sound of Kirk's voice. Spock's clenched his hand, somewhat apprehensive, and made a move to touch the animal. Quickly, it lowered and looked up at him at the sudden movement, to which Spock straightened back up and simply looked at it. Kirk stifled a laugh and gestured to the Vulcan.
"Kneel down, Spock. Bring yourself to his height so you're not so threatening."
His ear cocked towards the captain in listen, Spock slowly bent his knees and lowered down to meet the dog's eye level. It looked back at him with, to Spock's slight surprise, rather profound eyes. Brown, wide, alert. An uncertainty lied behind them. Spock found he did not wish the animal to be frightened, for fear was an extremely unpleasant sensation. It was, after all, only a lost dog in a wholly ruined world.
"Offer your hand," instructed Kirk gently.
Spock brought his hand out a few inches away from his body, and the animal, without taking it's eyes off of him, sniffed it. The final crumble of a caving temple caused the dog to jump and it suddenly pushed itself into Spock's side, it's eyes immediately off him and turned away to inspect the intimidation that was the city. Spock looked back over to Kirk, who smiled in spite of himself and gave him a little nod. It was not usual to have to tell Spock how to do something.
It's body quivering in constant fear, it's eyes darting in several directions, and it's body pushed into Spock's, Spock finally brought his hand down to rest upon it's back. It gave a small jerk at the touch, then looked back up at him. There was only a brief hesitation, then it leaned further into his hand and rested it's head down upon his knee, as if it could no longer ignore the exhaustion that had plagued it for so long. Spock blinked down as it's whole weight rested against him, himself somewhat taken aback by this contact. He had really never had interactions with Earth canines before, save for their guest appearances in his Terran studies.
"I think he likes you, Spock," said Sulu with a smile. "He seems tired."
"Quite…"
"We have what we need down here, gentlemen?" asked Kirk as he rose to his full height. Sulu nodded.
"I believe so, sir," he said as the hovobot landed in his palm.
"Good. Let's get this dog a bed, hmm?"
Spock gave the animal a few small strokes, and in a relieved sort of comfort, it closed it's eyes in it's own exhaustion. "Fascinating…" he muttered to himself.
Vulcan sehlat's responded somewhat similarly to this sort of touch, finding a solace in the contact of their more sentient people. Though, Spock thought, sehlat's were rather different than the animal beside him. Large, intimidating, lethal, teeth that could skewer a lion — but gentle when calm. This dog was easily frightened and unsure of itself in compromising situations. It needed direction for survival. Sehlats were rather the opposite, although, like dogs, they too found total peace in the ownership between beast and man.
Spock had been rather fond of his sehlat, I-Chaya…but as his father had reminded him, affection was a mistake. I-Chaya's affection for Spock had resulted in the beast's death.
It was a time Spock consciously chose not to reflect upon. Had Spock not undertaken the kahn-wan ordeal prematurely, I-Chaya would not have been killed. Had Spock not left his home in an emotional outburst, unannounced, I-Chaya would not have had to save the young Vulcan's life from an attacking le-matya.
But this was not a sehlat, nor was he on Vulcan, nor was he a child. This was a canine, on a desolated planet, and it was he and the ship's civil responsibility to ensure it's recovery and replacement to a habitable area.
"Kirk to Enterprise."
"Scott here, Captain."
"You'll pick up four lifeforms, I think. Beam us up. Have a decontamination chamber ready for a canine."
"…Did ye say a 'canine', Captain Kirk?" Scotty's voice asked with a touch of disbelief. Kirk gave a small chuckle.
"You heard right, Scotty. Energize."
