Chapter Two

Captain's Log. Stardate 2258.67. Supplemental. We have picked up the signal from an antiquated Data Recorder, and have beamed it on board. It began transmitting as soon as it materialized, and Mr. Spock is now working on interpreting the data within it.

Kirk and Spock had both returned to the bridge. The full data from the device had been transferred to the ship's databanks, and Spock had more interesting news to covey.

"The data recorder and the tapes inside have been badly burned, but I think I've been able to discern where and when it came from."

"And where and when did it come from Mr. Spock," Kirk asked.

"The data recorder came from the SS Valiant almost two hundred years ago. An Earth ship."

"But no Earth ship has ever probed out this far."

"Approaching galaxy edge Captain," Sulu remarked.

"Hold this position Sulu," Kirk ordered. "Send request ship-wide for department heads to report to the bridge."

"Tapes are badly burnt," Spock remarked. "Attempting to access memory banks."

After pressing a few more knobs and buttons, Spock spoke again.

"Accessing memory banks now. Starship Valiant seemed to be under attack, no wait. There was no attack, they met a strange field of energy, at the edge of the galaxy. They seemed to have passed through it, left the galaxy, and then turned back and entered the galaxy again. Severe damage. And–"

"What is it Mr. Spock"

"Odd... the captain put in a request for information on ESP."

"Extra-Sensory Perception?"

"Indeed. Not just a request, they seemed frantic about getting the information. There were seven crewman dead... no wait, make that six, one crewman seemed to have recovered."

Kirk looked at his vulcan science officer now... asking for answers.

"That's when they became interested in ESP," Spock said in answer to Kirk's expression. "Now, orders, counter-orders. Call for the ships doctor... and..."

"And what Spock," Kirk asked in ernest.

"I must have heard it wrong, it sounded like the captain giving an order to destroy his own ship," Spock said. Kirk looked alarmed at hearing this.

"Comments," Kirk asked to the department heads who had arrived at the bridge. His query was met with silence.

"Alright then," Kirk said. "We proceed."

"Proceed vhere sir," Chekov asked.

"We're leaving the galaxy Mr. Chekov. Sulu, engage warp four."

Sulu complied. They travelled at warp for no more than ten minutes before Spock said:

"Picking something up on sensors Captain. A force field of some kind."

"How far away are we from it," Kirk asked.

"Another couple of light years. Captain I do not recommend we pass through it at warp."

"Agreed. Mr. Sulu drop to impulse within a hundred thousand kilometers of the field."

"Aye sir," Sulu acknowledged. "Dropping to impulse in five... four... three... two... we're at impulse, sir."

"Begin scans Mr. Spock," Kirk ordered.

"Scans initiated, sir. But–"

Spock stopped mid sentence. Kirk did not let this slide unnoticed.

"What is it Mr. Spock," Kirk asked.

"I am turning on deflector and sensor scans."

"Mr. Spock, I don't like being left in the dark."

"Sir... sensors read density negative, energy output negative, and radiation negative. Sensors say there's something there, deflectors say there isn't"

"Well, whatever it is," Sulu remarked, "impact in ten seconds."

Kirk activated ship-wide communications.

"All hands. Secure equipment and yourselves, Brace for impact in five... four... three... two... one..."

But at first there were no effects. Nothing happened.

"Readings Mr. Spock."

"So far no abnormalities."

But no sooner had Spock uttered his assessment before his console exploded in his face. Spock fell unconscious at the same time.

"SPOCK," Kirk yelled, but he had no time to deal with the one singular man. Moments later, the unmanned engineering console exploded as well... and Sulu fell unconscious from the ships vibrations.

"Keptin, effects from ze force field are interfeering vith artifeecial grawity."

But Kirk did not need Chekov's report. Moments later, he found himself thrown forward to the forward window and viewscreen... thankful that the transparent aluminum of the window had yet to be effected. As gravity re-stabilized, Kirk headed towards the helm. He started inputting the command to turn the ship around, but Chekov finished it, having routed helm control to his console.

"Thank you Chekov." Kirk now controlled ops, and opened ship-wide communication as soon as they were out of the field.

"All decks. This is Kirk, damage reports. All stations."

The reports started coming in. After he had set an auto-pilot course away from the galactic rim, Chekov restored the controls to their original stations, and Kirk began attending to Sulu.

"Sulu, can you hear me," Kirk said as he shook the unconscious man.

"McCoy to ze bridge please," Chekov said into the comm.

After Sulu had begun to regain consciousness, Kirk turned his attention to Spock, who had not lost consciousness, at least not yet.

"Are you okay Spock," Kirk asked.

"Yes, Captain, I... I think so. Just a terrible headache."

"McCoy's on his way. He should be able to help with that."

But Kirk was stopped mid-speech. His comrade had turned towards him, and Kirk saw that Spock's eyes were, to the slightest extent... glowing.