We Haven't Even Finished the Preliminaries...

"Fascinating," Spock said once he'd observed his surroundings.

"Indeed," a man with shockingly blond gravity-defying hair agreed.

In his usual calm, self-possessed manner, Spock observed the man standing before him. The hair alone defied all laws of logic known to the Vulcan, but given recent events, he found himself unsurprised. The clothing boggled the Commander's mind; it appeared, beyond simply being uncomfortable, to have no purpose other than garishness. During his time on the Enterprise, Spock had encountered numerous cultures, civilizations and peoples, each with their own unique flavor; however, nothing in his experience had prepared him for such exaggerated dress. From his quick glace around the room, excess seemed the most appropriate descriptor.

"How did you bring me here?" Spock inquired.

"I have my ways," the man answered.

"Am I correct in assuming you to be the Goblin King?" Spock asked.

"Indeed you are," the man said with a hint of pride.

"How does your planet's cloaking device work? I have never before seen one quite so effective," Spoke observed.

"I fear your logic would deprive you of any true understanding of my methods."

"My logic?"

"You are a Vulcan."

"I am."

"Many aspects of my planet defy the notions so praised by those bound by logic. I believe your Captain would have a much easier time understanding the specifics of my cloaking device."

Spock simply raised an eyebrow.

"In fact," the Goblin King continued, "I believe your Captain will be contacting me in the very near future."

The feline smile on the Goblin King's face bothered Spock. Although it was an irrational response, the way the man said Captain also bothered him. He needed to find the transport pad, or the communications center. He needed to get back to the Enterprise and her Captain. It was obvious the planet was inhabited.

"Someone tell me what just happened," Jim demanded, all pretence of composure gone.

"Scotty to the bridge."

"Scotty, this is the Captain…tell me you know what just happened."

"Sir, my guess is the planet has a teleporter system far more advanced than our own. I think Spock was transported to the planet."

"Beam him back, Scotty."

"I tried, sir."

"Try again."

"I cannot beam him back aboard, sir."

"See what you can find out about their transporter ability, Mister Scott."

"Aye, Captain."

"Kirk out."

"Lieutenant, hail the main building. See if anyone's home."

Uhura nodded, and spun around to face her station. "Yes, Captain."

Jim forced himself to stay in his chair. The urge to pace back and forth was nearly overwhelming. He knew he needed to remain calm, at least on the surface, for the good of the crew. He didn't have Spock behind him to give him that silent, but controlled, reassuring presence. Not surprisingly, he found he missed the almost detached professionalism his First Officer displayed during tense situations. At first, Jim had found the Vulcan's lack of reaction frustrating, but he had quickly come to depend upon that calm to be his center, his grounding.

"Hailing them now, Captain," Uhura announced.

Jim sat up in his chair, back straight and waited for Spock's abductors to appear on the screen.

"I'm James T. Kirk, Captain of the USS Enterprise."

"Of course you are," the Goblin King responded.

Jim forced himself to maintain eye contact as the being's hot gaze scorched him from head to toe. He was Captain of this ship and he would not be intimidated by a goblin, even if the goblin did look as though he wanted nothing more than to strip off all of Jim's clothes and pound him into the wall.

"You are known as the Goblin King?" Jim asked, pleased and amazed that his voice was sure.

"I am Jareth, the Goblin King," he answered.

"Where is Commander Spock?" Jim demanded.

"Tsk, tsk," Jareth scolded. "Where are your manners, Captain? We haven't even finished the preliminaries."

Jim settled back into his chair. Apparently, Jareth thought they were engaged in some sort of game. He'd play long enough to get his First Officer back, and then he'd load that planet so full of photons it would never reappear.

"I see I have your attention now, Captain. I do indeed have your Commander, but your tone is unnecessary. I have broken no law. He was given to me."

"Given to you?" Jim exclaimed as he jumped from his chair. "You listen to me, Jareth, King of the Goblins. You will return Commander Spock to the Enterprise or I will eradicate your planet forever."

Jareth smiled lasciviously at the Captain of the Enterprise. Humans were full of such scintillating emotions, and were so eager to express themselves. Jareth couldn't have torn his eyes away from the fire burning in James T. Kirk's eyes if his life and planet depended upon it.

"No need for threats, dear boy. I assure you, I was given your Commander freely."

"I never gave you the Commander."

A laugh, full of evil intent bubbled from Jareth. "I never said it was you." Jareth turned his gaze to the one who'd asked for his assistance.

Jim followed Jareth's gaze, and couldn't help the shock on his face when the reality of the situation registered in his brain.

"Bones?" Jim asked.

"I didn't believe in it, Jim," Bones answered, voice broken.

Jim nodded once before turning his gaze back to the Goblin King. "You are a myth."

"The events of today would prove otherwise, would they not, Captain?"

"I want Commander Spock back."

"What's said, is said."

"I don't think you heard me, Jareth. I want Commander Spock back. I will get him back to his rightful place on this ship. You can either cooperate by beaming him back aboard this ship, or I will destroy your planet piece by piece until I find him."

Jareth's eyes closed involuntarily as the heat of Kirk's words flowed over him. He knew the human would do exactly as he promised, and the prospect sent a chill of anticipation shooting down his spine. It had been far too many years since he had been in the presence of one so incandescently human.

"Are you going to send Spock back?" Jim asked, his voice demanding.

"Jim," Jareth responded, eyes flashing, "Stay on your ship and forget about the Commander."

"You know I won't do that."

"Did you ever consider that the Doctor may be right?"

Jim refused to answer the clearly loaded question.

Jareth inclined his head, acknowledging the human's show of defiance. "The Commander undermines your authority. He questions all of the decisions you make. He marooned you on a dangerous planet. He accused you of cheating. Clearly, he does not think you are fit to captain a starship."

"Is that a no?" Jim asked, fake curiosity and obvious sarcasm lacing his voice.

"I have a present for you," Jareth told Jim.

Eyes drawn together in confusion, Jim nearly leapt out of his skin as a clearly foreign object materialized in his hand.

"What is it?"

"It's a communicator. Turn it on and it will allow you to talk with your heart's desire."

"Bribery won't work, Jareth. I will find Spock. Then I will destroy your planet and erase your memory from the myths of earth."

"Don't defy me, Jim."

The spherical communicator in Jim's hand heated up so high, so quickly that Jim nearly cursed and dropped it. At the last moment, he managed to toss it safely onto his chair. The heat from the burn still stung his skin.

"You're no match for me, Jim."

"I want my First Officer back."

Jareth rolled his shoulders to relieve some of the tension building in them. The human was tenacious, and oddly enough, Jareth found him more and more attractive for it. He moved to the side and swept his arm outward. "He's there."

Jim watched Jareth point to a castle nestled in the middle of a labyrinth. For a moment so brief, Jim dared to discount it, he felt complete and utter desolation. In that moment, he doubted his ability to save his Commander, his friend. Perhaps because of that moment, Jim squared his shoulders and tilted his head defiantly.

"In your castle, at the end of the labyrinth."

Brief as it was, Jareth had noticed Jim's momentary lapse of bravado. It was that pure humanity that forced Jareth to offer him one last chance to leave with his ship and go peacefully along their way.

"Do you still want to look for him?"

Jim steeled his gaze. He knew he had to get Spock back. "Yes."

Defeated, Jareth hung his head. After a moment, he looked back up at Jim. "So be it."

In the blink of an eye, Jim found himself in a strange place, the familiar setting of his ship long gone. The area around him was hued with dark oranges and reds as if the sun were rising on the eve of a great and terrible battle. Desolate land lay before, behind and on either side of him as if the very planet sucked the vitality from every organism that dared to attempt life on it. Atop a small mountain stood the Goblin King's castle; it was an imposing stone structure with a circular dais in the very center that appeared to reach longingly for the sky. Surrounding the castle was the labyrinth, an imposing maze of stonewalls meandering forever in all directions. The sight was dizzying, but Jim fought to maintain his composure.

"Turn back, Jim," Jareth said, a tiny note of pleading in his voice.

Jim turned to face the Goblin King, his face a mask of determination.

"Turn back before it's too late."

"I can't do that."

Jareth reached out and tenderly caressed Jim's cheek. "What a pity."

Shocked by his actions, Jim stood perfectly still. The tumultuous emotions playing across the Goblin King's face were enough to make even Jim question the logic of his choice. Regardless of the consequences, which he knew could be dire, Jim had to find Spock. There was simply no alternative.

"It doesn't look that far," Jim announced, more to himself than Jareth.

"It's further than you think," Jareth whispered into Jim's ear.

At his nearness, Jim shuddered involuntarily. The whispered words danced across his senses. No matter how absolutely insane this whole planet was, he refused to leave it without Spock. For as crazy as it sounded, Jim had come to rely upon Spock, and as more than just a First Officer. He was an excellent companion, and offered a different level of interaction from other members of the crew. While Jim thought of each member of his crew as family, especially the Command Crew, Spock was important to him for the same and entirely different reasons.

"Time is short."

Noticing the distance between himself and the voice, Jim turned to face Jareth. He was standing next to a nearly dead tree. An ornate clock appeared suspended in the air near the tree.

"You have thirteen hours in which to solve the labyrinth before your Commander becomes one of us forever," Jareth dictated, his voice fading with his body into nothingness.

Jim looked down at the sphere in his hands. It was the gift the Goblin King had given to him, and while he didn't remember picking it up, he wasn't going to question having the communicator with him.

"It's not going to get any closer by looking at it," Jim announced to himself as he began the descent into the labyrinth.

"I do love your Captain's spirit," Jareth informed Spock as he materialized in the throne room where he'd left the Vulcan.

"The Captain can be an immovable force," Spock agreed.

"You were wished away by a member of your crew."

"I am aware, as you knew I would be, Jareth. You did leave the monitor on so that I might witness your communication with the Enterprise."

"You don't seem nearly as upset by the betrayal as you should," Jareth observed. "I wonder if the Doctor would have fought so tenaciously to have you back aboard the ship."

"What's done cannot be undone by a simple expression of emotion," Spock said. "In any case, I do not believe the doctor meant to have me removed from the ship."

"Come now, surely you know he wanted you out of the way. You are a threat to his relationship with the Captain."

"I was unaware the Doctor and the Captain were in a relationship. I would not do anything to prohibit the Captain's happiness."

"Oh, but you will. The Captain is on his way through the labyrinth to rescue you from me," Jareth laughed. "Because of his loyalty to you, he will endure great unhappiness."

"That is by your doing, not by mine. I can no more control the Captain's irrational actions than can you. He refused your offers to turn back multiple times."

"He will come to regret that choice. He will come to regret it deeply."

Another chapter. Please review if you like this story...I try not to beg, but I'm only human...