"What are you talking about, Sulu? The Phantom Zone? It sounds like something out of a comic book from the twentieth century!" Nyota said disbelievingly.
Sulu regarded her solemnly for a long while, and then he replied, "I wish it was something as infantile as what you've just described, Nyota, but I'm afraid that this state of affairs is far more dire."
Nyota felt strangely ashamed at his even reply. She knew that she shouldn't question what Sulu was telling her, because at least he was telling her something. He had made the effort to find out what could have caused Spock's condition, while she sat at his bedside like a pathetic schoolgirl.
"I'm sorry," she apologised softly, clasping his fine-fingered hand. "I'm just tired. Please explain what the Phantom Zone is."
"I think maybe we should call the Captain for this. Spock is the First Officer after all," Sulu conceded.
Nyota wanted to reply that she was Spock's partner, the only person who he had given access to not only his body, but also his inner most thoughts. Sulu should tell her what this ridiculous thing called the Phantom Zone was before anyone else, even Kirk. Then she tried to think about it rationally, and had to admit that Sulu was right. Kirk was the Captain, and if his First Officer was in danger, then maybe the entire Enterprise was, too.
"Mother, please explain why you are behaving in such an obstructive fashion," Spock said evenly.
His mother regarded him serenely before picking a rose and bringing it to her nose.
"I'm not purposefully behaving in an obstructive fashion, my Spock," she smiled. "But I can not give you all the answers. You have to be patient and wait for your mind to remember."
Spock raised an eyebrow before following her deeper into the conservatory, which seemed far larger than he remembered.
"Mother," he called, as she seemed to disappear into the solid red barrier that the roses were forming. "Please wait!"
The roses enclosed around him, and their thorns ripped into his flesh as they bore down on him.
"Mother…" he choked, as the roses swallowed him completely.
"The Phantom Zone," Kirk repeated for the umpteenth time.
"Yes Captain," Sulu replied once more.
"Listen, Jim, I think we've established that it's called the Phantom Zone, so you can stop repeating the word like a parrot, and let Sulu explain what the hell it actually means," Bones interjected.
Kirk shrugged, "Right. Carry on, Sulu."
"The Phantom Zone is a difficult concept to explain," Sulu admitted. "Its name would suggest that it is inhabited by ghosts, but it's nothing that simple. Perhaps I should start by giving you some background on how the Mortemons lived."
"That would probably help," Kirk said.
Bones gave Kirk a withering look before motioning for Sulu to continue.
"As I have already explained, the Mortemons had the capacity to intertwine with the minds of others, and literally control that being's thoughts. Despite this amazing capability, and the relatively advanced society in which they lived, the Mortemons practiced a heinous tradition," Sulu seemed to try and find a way to continue.
"Please, Sulu," Nyota said, resting her hand on his. "You have to tell us."
He sighed, "They practiced the sacrifice of both their own kind, and those unfortunate enough to be on their planet during the time when they performed the ritual sacrifices."
"Why did they practice something so barbaric?" Kirk demanded.
"They worshipped a blood thirsty god called Sanguis, who they believed dwelled in the caves situated deep within their planet. They performed a large sacrifice, of about a hundred beings or so, once a year on the day of the eclipse of their moon and sun."
Nyota pressed her fist to her mouth, and then said, "That's disgusting."
"It appears that a warrior tribe, called Matar, agreed with you, because when they landed on Mortem, and witnessed this annual mass sacrifice, they committed genocide against the Mortemons. The ironic thing is that the Mortemons believed the Matars' leader was an embodiment of a god in one of their prophecies."
"So what happened after they were all wiped out?" Bones asked, glancing at Nyota.
"Due to Mortem being situated in the Phantom Zone, the Mortemons' energy was preserved on their planet."
"But isn't that the same as being a ghost?" Kirk frowned.
"No," Sulu replied. "It's almost like what the Catholics called Purgatory, but the difference is that instead of this being a process of purification, or temporary punishment in preparation for an accession to Paradise, this is a permanent state of limbo. It's almost as if the Mortemons dwell behind a veil, able to see what happens on their planet, but unable to escape their permanent state of limbo."
"So because they're essentially trapped energy, their ability to possess other beings' minds has consumed the Mortemons stagnated existence, and the only way to escape this reality is to possess others entirely," Nyota observed in a whisper, her face devoid of all colour.
Kirk moved so they he was standing behind Nyota, and rested his hands on her shoulders.
"So Spock's trapped inside his own mind," Bones said in a strained voice.
"Yes," Sulu answered. "The only person who can exorcise himself of the Mortemon presence in his mind is Spock himself."
Spock lay in the foetal position, with his hands covering his eyes. When he opened his eyes he found that he was once again staring into darkness. Something shifted some distance in front of him, however. It appeared to be some kind of shape, which seemed to be outlined in light.
He rolled over onto his stomach and pushed himself up with his hands and feet, so that he was standing and facing the approaching shape. It finally stood in front of him and he observed that the shape had short black hair, with pale skin, pointed ears, and onyx irises that consumed both of its eyes.
"Hello Spock," the shape said in an even tone. "I am also Spock."
Indeed, he could see that the form was identical to himself, the only differentiating feature being the eyes that looked like black pools in its face.
"Fascinating," was Spock's reply.
Nyota had never doubted the incredible strength of Spock's mind. She was well aware that if anyone were to survive the possession of a phantasm being, then it would be Spock. This was what she kept telling herself in order to suppress the growing hysteria that threatened to transform her into a screaming mess.
She pressed her forehead into the sheet that was exposed next to Spock's prostrate body, and quietly wept. Her throat convulsed as her mouth hung open, seemingly trying to extrapolate her silent cries. When she could cry no longer, because her eyes felt devoid of all tears, she rose and looked at Spock. Without thinking, she leaned over him and gripped his shoulders. The strange trance like state she had entered, made her feel disconnected from the pain caused by his searing flesh.
"Wake up, Spock!" she heard herself screaming, over and over again. "Just wake up!"
The door of Spock's quarters slid open and Bones entered while referring to the PADD in his hand. When he looked up, he was shocked to see Nyota violently shaking the comatose Spock, while wisps of smoke had begun to rise from where her hands were burning from gripping the Vulcan's scorching flesh.
"Nyota!" he barked, and pulled her away.
She was still screaming, and appeared not to realise that Bones was even there, much less gripping her upper arms. Bones closed his eyes in a silent prayer before slapping Nyota hard across the face. She immediately closed her mouth and stared at him with shock filled eyes. Then he did something even more shocking, and kissed her.
At first he merely pressed his lips against hers, as if trying to stop her from screaming again, but then the kiss softened and he licked her lower lip in an effort to get her to open her mouth. She complied, and his tongue slipped passed her teeth and gently slid along her own. She found that the kiss was not unpleasant, nor was Bones' hand softly gripping the back of her head, while her hands hung at her sides. It was Bones who pulled away first and looked at her with a strange expression, as if he wasn't quite sure if he was looking at the Nyota he knew.
"I'm sorry," he finally murmured, stepping back from her entirely.
He seemed to realise that her palms were blistered, and took gel pads out of the medical belt he donned when visiting patients in their quarters. He carefully wrapped them around her scalded hands.
She looked at him for what seemed like far longer than it actually was, and then at Spock, whose stationary form seemed wholly unaffected by her hysterical assault a few moments before.
"I think I'll come back later," Bones said gruffly, as he turned and left the room.
Nyota stood still for a long time, gazing at the door to Spock's quarters, before she sat at his bedside once more, and closed her eyes.