Chapter 2
It feels like hours have passed but in reality I'm sure it's only been minutes. Even the silence is making me cringe. I need noise, voices, or at least something to break the steady hum of absolute nothingness. I can't hear the storm. Not anymore. Spock has assured me three times that it is still progressing so I stay firmly tucked in my nook, secure and safe. Not safe from my strange thoughts however.
It seems as though the thoughts are not my own - originating from some unknown source and plummeting my mood even further with each interjection. Even when I manage to get a good thought in once in a while, it's simply stamped down with something even more horrible.
' Thank goodness I'm not alone.'
'As if Spock counts as someone. He just ignores me. I could be dead over here for all he knows. When was the last time he even said anything to me? I should wander away... leave him.'
STOP. What the hell is wrong with me? I consider calling Spock over; telling him that something is wrong.
'He probably still resents me for being chosen as the captain. He'll just use my weakness against me.'
"I believe the storm is waning, Captain." I'm startled so badly that my body jolts against the soft roots and my heart pounds so hard that I can feel it in my ears. I guess I got my wish for something to break the silence.
"Should we make our way back up to the surface? Try to contact the Enterprise? " I can see Spock making his way toward me and I struggle to stand. Maybe I have been sitting for longer than I thought.
"Such a course of action is very dangerous. The fade could be only brief and therefore put us out in the open for another surge of electricity." Even as he says this I can tell that he knows there is no other option. We can't stay down here for a week. Even a few days would but pushing it, especially with my strange emotional rampage.
"Something's wrong." I say before really thinking it through. What if Spock thinks I'm so unstable that he needs to restrain me.
"Yes"
What? I strain to see Spock's face correctly. He knows about my thoughts? Or maybe he just knows something is wrong with me in general. All of that touch telepath shit. Have I touched him?
"I feel movement. It's faint but I'm certain it's coming from further down the tunnel." Spock couches down, feeling the ground. I lean against a root, not sure if I'm relieved that he doesn't suspect anything or disappointed. It's a strange feeling. I huff and straighten.
"I don't feel anything. Or hear it. I think the situation is getting to you."
"If you are implying that the circumstances are in some way inhibiting my ability to be rational, then you are quite wrong. In fact, the lack of light and sound has heightened my awareness of what is around us. You are simply not in tune with your surroundings."
Ouch. I think. I feel something, anger? It's faint and strange, swirling inside me and feeling utterly unfamiliar. I take a deep breath, trying to reach out with my mind. It sounds so stupid that I actually pull my concentration back, but not before I feel something. Feel? It was like brushing up against someone's arm - just a shuffle of something else. Something different.
"What are you doing?" The sentence is so very un-Spock that I snap my attention back to him and am surprised that even in the dim light I can make out something on his face... or in his eyes. Uncertainty? Intrigue? I've never been particularly good at reading my first officer, add no lighting and it becomes impossible. Not that it was promising in good light.
"Am I doing something?" I ask, trying to reach back in my memory and remember if I was moving or something.
"You... " Spock stops and at first I think he's fallen, but I squint and see that he's pressing his ears to the ground.
"What?" I'm getting fed up, the anger from before coming back but with more push to it.
"I believe something is heading this way." Spock stands, grace and elegance leaking from his movements, mocking me as I hunch against the root behind me again.
"Something as in something living? Because I distinctly remember someone saying something about no life being able to live on this planet because of the storms." At least I was paying attention to something.
"Our scans did not pick up any signs of life, but it is possible that the elements have protected the life forms by making them undetectable. If they were to burrow far enough under the surface, the residual interference from the storm could possible skew the readings and guard them from being hurt by the electricity. They could easily gain sustenance from consuming the roots."
I open my mouth to respond but am interrupted immediately by a low rumble. Different from the storms noises that ceased some time ago. This rumble came from further down the tunnel - likely what Spock is talking about.
"That sounds big."
"Indeed."
"Should we start our way up?"
"Such a course of action, while dangerous, has its merits."
"I'll take that as a yes."
00000000000000000000000000000
The way down seemed so much shorter. We've been walking for ages. Of course Spock is ahead, gliding over the bumpy terrain while I stumble and groan as my feet catch every bulge possible. Spock's pace picks up and I take my eyes off of the ground to see a beam of light from where we fell. Dust motes dance around it and I try to speed up too.
"How are we supposed to get back up there?" I ask as I enter the clearing around the light. I look up and am awed by the sight above us. The clouds are a spectacular range of purples. They move with intent and sparkle powerfully with the gleam of millions of tiny sparks. "Wow, Spock... do you see this?" I look to him, only to see that he's not where he was before. I turn around and catch him by the far wall to the left.
"I believe this will be suitable for us to climb, Captain." He says, testing the roots and rocks. It does appear to be less steep. I take one more fleeting glance at the sky then make my way over to Spock.
I reach out to grab a hold of a sturdy looking root and I feel my shoulder touch his. I hear a gasp. Was that me? Then I feel a rush of something. Determination. Fear? These are not mine. They are cut off suddenly and I find myself staggering backwards. I fall clumsily to the ground with a soft 'oof'.
"What the hell was that?" I stare straight at Spock, bewilderment evident on my face. I need to know what is going on.
"You... entered my mind." My first officer looks ruffled - if that's even possible.
"How? Last time I checked I couldn't do any of that telepathy stuff." I make no move to get up, fighting a bit of dizziness even as I sit. How can I enter Spock's mind? He's the one who can do that stuff. Wait! "I felt you!" Oh wow, I could've worded that better. "Earlier," I clarify, shocked to feel myself blushing. "I was... I don't know what I was doing, but I felt you!"
"I felt your mind as well." Spock walks forward. uncertainly, he holds a hand out for me to take. He's helping me up. A little surprised, I reach out and take his hand only for another rush to slam into me. So many different emotions. These can't all be Spock's. He's Vulcan. I know he has emotions, but these are so raw - so much more intense then the small brush from earlier. I'm swallowed by their colorful movement behind my eyes. And somewhere... somewhere deep within the torrential assault, I feel....
My head cracks into the ground, bouncing on a rock that I hadn't seen before. In addition to the rumbling sky, and low woosh of my head, I hear a groan. With my hands pressed to the back of my skull, I force my eyes open and see Spock. He's on his knees, both hands gripping his forehead - fingers massaging his temples.
"Are you okay?" I grind out, forgetting my own pain and crawling forward. Before I can get to him however something darts past. It's simply a blur of brown. I turn my head so quickly to track it that the world spins viciously. The last thing I see before the world closes in on me is the bright purple clouds and something leaping up and out.
My head hurts... bad. It's the first thing I feel as I wake up and immediately wish I could fall back into the world of blissful nothingness. I shift into a more comfortable position and then manage to open my eyes against the steady throb behind them. It's dark again, but a little bit further off I can see the beam of light from earlier. Oh God!
I sit up, fighting through the agonizing pain and dizziness.
"Spock!" My voice echoes up and down each direction.
"Yes, Captain?"
I turn to find Spock only a few feet away, sitting rigidly on the ground, his eyes closed. He is meditating, or at least was meditating.
"Sorry." I say before I can help myself. Now is not the time to be sitting around doing nothing.
"I am collecting my thoughts. This is a lot more important than simply 'sitting around doing nothing'." I gape at him. Did I say that out loud? No. I'm pretty sure that was in my head. Is he reading my thoughts? How dare he!
"Captain, please try to remain calm. Your sense of urgency is misguided. I've tried to contact the Enterprise to no avail, and I was also able to locate my tricorder, but it has been damaged by the storm's electrical surges."
I'm sure I'm staring at him like he's nuts, but he still continues.
"Your head is injured. I suggest you lie back and rest. The storm, while not affecting us at the moment, is still blocking all transmissions. It seems it has created a wall of disturbance. Until this is gone, we will not be able to leave."
I'm still gaping.
"I'm sorry, can we rewind a bit to the part where I'm certain you read my thoughts. Since when can you do that?" My bewilderment comes off more as anger. Spock opens his eyes.
"I have a theory of what is happening, but I am unable to place you into the equation."
"What? What does that even mean?" I try to push the fog in my mind away, but it stays settled - perpetually dampening everything I feel.
"I believe that the plants on this planet are capable of a form of telepathy. I think the true inhabitants of this planet live far beneath its surface and only come out when the plants communicate that it is alright." He's talking slowly. Each word is hard for me to concentrate on, but I try. I need to know what's going on.
"So you're saying that there are people down there... people that the plants are talking to?" Why did it sound so much more plausible coming out of Spock's mouth? He had the ability to make everything sound better when he said it. It must be his voice. Deep and even.
"It's possible. I've only seen various animal life, however,"
"Wait! You've seen animals? Where? How long have I been out?" And how did you read my mind?
"You've been unconscious for 1.5 hours. During which time I've assessed your injury and deemed it not life threatening." Spock stands, he looks much more composed. My mind wanders back to when our hands touched.
"Well, thank you." It sounds bitter and sarcastic. I can't seem to translate what I'm feeling in my head to my words.
"The animals are grazing above us. It is likely they are waiting for the plants to tell them when they should return to the safety of the tunnels."
"Why would the plants help the animals if they're just coming up to eat them?" None of this is making any sense. Spock walks to one of the walls and lays a gentle hand on a particularly large root.
"The plants must feed of off the dead animals. Without them they cannot survive. It is an even trade." My eyes drift closed as he speaks. The words are soothing.
"How did you know what I was thinking?" I'm mumbling, my head drooping.
"Something has happened to give you telepathic abilities. Whether the effects are permanent, I do not know. But for now, you are able to use your mind in ways you could not before." His voice is laced with something other than the extreme fascination I've come to recognize in him.
"Why is that a bad thing?" I'm awake again, snapped back from the lull with a jarring thought. This has something to do with why I was thinking the way I was.
"Because even as we speak I have to use a considerable amount of energy to keep your mind from invading my own. It is true you have telepathic abilities, but they are not honed. It is as if you are a child. "
"Hey! You don't have to insult me. And besides, I'm right here... I'm sure I'd notice if I was 'invading' your mind." I can't help but feel offended. At least that I'm able to show with my words.
"You would not even know it because you are not trained. It is actually worse than a child, because your mind is strong. It is hard to keep in place." Spock walks further back into the tunnel. He doesn't want to be near me. I feel hurt but I don't know why.
"That's why I feel this way... like I can't talk right. Or use my emotions like I usually do. That sounds dumb. I don't know how to word it. I feel heavy." I try to stand, the pain in my head flares up again, but I fight against it.
"I'm keeping your emotions dampened." I make my way slowly to my first officer, compelled by something that I cannot name.
"I didn't know you could do that without touching me." Closer.
"I cannot under normal circumstances. I am not in your mind, I am simply keeping you from being in mine." Almost there.
"But why do I feel so..." I reach out.
Spock whips around so fast that I take a step back. When did I get so close to him?
"You tricked me." I can feel the accusation.
"What? I haven't even done anything!" You're the one making me feel all weird. " I spit back, shocked at his tone.
"You're using your mind to drift me into a false sense of security. You're making me forget I need to keep you out. I'm keeping you out for a reason. The way it makes you feel is only a side effect."
"There you go again! Stop reading my mind!" I stand taller, clenching my fists. Spock takes a breath. He's trying to calm himself.
"Captain," He's reminding me that I am in charge. I fall back another step. "I am not reading your mind. You are thinking these things to me."
"What?"
"You are essentially broadcasting your thoughts to me. As I have told you, you are unable to control yourself properly."
I slouch down, feeling foolish. My hostility was unnecessary. Spock is trying to handle the situation and I'm only making things worse.
"I'm sorry." I rub the back of my head and wince as my hand hits the wound. I pull it back, expecting to see blood. There's nothing there. I wonder why I'm like this. Maybe it's just a side effect of being on the planet and Spock doesn't realize it because he is already telepathic. Was I broadcasting those thoughts about his voice? Because looking back on it, those might not have been the most masculine thoughts in the world.
I puff up again, attempting to redeem myself.
"We've gotta get off this planet." Well duh. Spock lifts one eyebrow. Way to go Captain, State-the-Obvious.
"It is up to the Enterprise to find a way. With our limited resources, we will not be able to make any progress in finding a way out. The most we can do is stay near the surface when the storm wanes."
I sigh. We're back to square one. Only now we know there are animals and that I have a potentially dangerous mind that even Spock is struggling to hold back.
"What did you mean when you said you were keeping me out for a reason?" Could I really hurt him?
"It is possible that your abilities are being forced upon you by the plants. They might have targeted you because your mind was weaker, and are now using you to destroy us both." Spock's face remains impassive, but even his sexy voice can't stop the theory from sounding like a paranoid dementia patient's thesis. Sexy?
"Sounds like a stretch Sp..." I stop, remembering before the storm. "The plant!! It blew all this gross stuff on me." Spock's brows knit together, about the most expression I've ever seen cross his face.
"When did this happen?" I feel dumb for not remembering sooner. I almost don't want to tell him.
"Before the storm..." I look away. "When Sulu and I were walking, I leaned over a huge flower and it blew a bunch of dusty stuff in my face. I didn't think it mattered." I'm sorry. I step forward and reach out only to have my hand hit away so fast that I barely see Spock move. "I don't know why I did that!" I say, horrified.
"You're acting under the influence of the plants." Yep, still sounds dumb. Spock takes a few steps back. I don't feel like I'm under any plant mind control. I think I just wanted to touch him. I blush and hope that didn't happen to be heard by Spock.
A noise turns my attention back to the beam of light. Little animals are leaping down. They look like deer. They're small, only coming up to my knees. Little rounded off horns decorate the top of their heads. They don't seem to be in any hurry, walking lazily back down the tunnel.
I step out of their way, grabbing a root.
'move to safer ground'
I feel my feet moving before I even process what is happening. It takes all of my will to stop myself. Spock is looking at me quizzically.
"Maybe your plant theory isn't so wrong after all." I say vaguely and give in to the command, my legs once again moving me without a thought. Surprisingly, I don't stumble anymore. I feel the roots before I see them - and considering the growing darkness, this will be a good thing.
I hear Spock following.
After a while, the animals still surrounding us, Spock comes up next to me.
"Is your head wound still causing you much pain?" I don't feel concern, only puzzlement.
"No, not really. Just a little twinge here and there." I answer, casting him a glance. I can't see him well, but I can make out his eyes set against his pale skin. They remain forward.
My comm crackles to life.
"Captain! Come in." My hands move like lightning.
"We're here! " I stop and turn around quickly, Spock's two steps ahead. We need to get to the surface. "Can you beam us up?"
"We can't find you! Are you guys alright?" It's Uhura. I've never been more glad to hear her. To my surprise, Spock takes the communicator from me.
"The captain has a significant head wound. There are pressing matters here. We must be beamed up immediately." I gape at him. I thought it was 'deemed not life threatening.' "We're below the surface but are making our way up now." Spock starts jogging and my newfound ability to move over the roots without tripping vanishes just as quickly as it came. I stumble after him.
"Spock! Be fast. The storm hasn't broken. There is just a hole. It's small and closing fast. If we don't get you guys now, there's no telling when we'll get another chance!"
Spock's arm drops and he breaks out in a sprint. I follow as best as I can, trying not to fall too far behind.
"We'll be up there during the storm if they can't beam us up!" I shout.
"There is no other way. We must put ourselves at risk in order to give the Enterprise a chance to get us." His voice travels back to me. It's grave. I try to pick up my pace without falling.
"Are you guys almost there? The hole is closing. Please hurry!" What did she think? That we were skipping up to the top; whistling?
We come up over the last hill and I can see the beam of light. Almost there....
I know it's a little boring!!! And there is a lot of talking. I think only a couple more chapters. I'll finish this, don't worry. I just need reviews to keep me motivated. Please! x.x thanks for reading!
