The crew's savior stepped into the light, and what they saw amazed yet confused the lot of them. It was a she-cat. She appeared very young, around the age of Ensign Chekov. Her face was round and beautiful, and her hair was black with short coils. She had leopard-ring spots, but instead of being faded like the other females, her rings stood out in dark, inky black. She wore what appeared to be banded red silk covering her full chest, exposing her flat white stomach, and the same fabric was then wrapped around her hips to become a skirt. But her eyes were what drew their attention; the left eye was green and right was blue, which certainly stood out in a sea of yellow.
"Now, isn't she a beauty?" gasped Scotty.
"Brock, who is that? What did she say?" asked Kurt, but no answer came. Brock was on his toes, spear in hand.
"What are you doing out here?" growled the king.
"You heard me; I will not let you kill these hairless men. They are now under my protection by law," said the female. She turned to Brock. "Tell them that they can trust me, please." Brock didn't move or speak. "Fine then I shall tell them myself."
The female cat knelt in front of McCoy. Just like Brock had with Kirk, she gently placed her fingertips on his throat. McCoy shuddered with the cool sensation that flooded his body.
"Hello," she said simply. She had a sweet voice that sounded quite kind. "My name is Calico, and I believe I just saved your lives." Calico herself then took out a dagger from a pouch around her waist, and cut the rope binding the crew's hands.
"Why are you helping us?" questioned Spock.
"I will explain once I get you away from here," Calico said quietly.
"How dare you disobey our laws with such indecency?" roared Loop suddenly.
"Our laws clearly say that a Warrior can put any victim of capture under their protection, Loop. I am now their protector, so if you even touch them without asking my consent, you will have to deal with me and only me," she growled. "And I know you don't what to that. I will take them away from here and make sure they return safely to their 'starship'."
"You fool! If you aid them, they are sure to return with more of their kind!"
Calico and Loop continued to stare each other down until the king interrupted. "Take your pets and go, Calico."
She bowed her head to the king, and then turned to Kirk. "Let's get you back to your ship, Captain."
"After you, Cal," said Kirk. He looked the she-cat over, the way Brock and the others had reacted to her sudden appearance made him wonder if they could trust her, but if she could get them back to the ship, he would follow her anywhere.
Kirk, Spock, Scotty, and McCoy followed Calico down the stairs. The courtyard was silent as they made their descent. Mothers held their kits closer to their bodies the nearer Calico got. The crew didn't go out the way they had come in on the lizards. Calico lead the group to a small tunnel under the stairs. She let the men go first then locked a door behind her. Calico then pulled a sting that set off a chain reaction, lighting small torches along the walls of the tunnels. "Follow me," she said.
"We thank you for saving our lives, Ms. Calico," said Spock.
"There is no need to thank me," she smiled. "What are your names? I already know Captain Jim Kirk."
"Red shirt's Scotty, that's Bones, and pointy ears here is Commander Spock," Jim answered for them.
"Nice to meet you," she said.
"So this planet of yours, Cal," Kirk started.
"I know what you are about to say, Captain. You do not what to leave my planet yet. I heard what you said about our home being your only discovery. I'm very sorry. I wish I could help you more, but if I allow you to stay, it could cost me your lives, and as your protector I will not let that happen." Calico's voice was filled with true guilt. Jim just couldn't understand her. She seemed friendly but the rest of her kind was terrified of her.
"Ms. Calico, are we out of sight from your people?" asked Spock.
"Yes, I am the only one who uses these tunnels anymore, but we must tread on farther if you want to contact your ship."
"Can we stop right here just for a minute?"
"Sure, Mr. Spock," said Calico confused.
Just then, Spock tackled Kirk to the ground. He then continued to punch him several times across the face.
"God damn it, get off him Spock!" shouted McCoy. Calico got behind Spock and lifted him off of the captain. McCoy shuffled over to Jim and made sure that no bones were broken.
"What the hell was that Spock?" asked Kirk, trying to stand up by balancing on Bones' shoulder.
"That, Captain, was for almost getting us killed, and for damaging a race that had never experienced human contact before," Spock responded calmly, though Calico still held tightly to his uniform afraid of another attack.
"Oh, come on, Spock! You know as well as I do that I've done a lot worse! Now, really, why did you just attack me?"
"Ms. Calico, you may let go of me," was all Spock said. Calico slowly let go of Spock's shirt. They set off again, this time with McCoy in-between Spock and Kirk. Scotty had gone up to make polite conversation with Cal. Before long, the company saw a light at the end of the tunnel. The crew followed the native up the stone steps into the outside world.
They walked into a garden that was unlike anything they had ever dreamed; it was not at all like the moist jungles that greeted them, just hours before. Flowers of all shapes, sizes, and colors blossomed in sections marked off by different stone walls. A large sculpture of large rocks sat directly in the middle of the garden, and clear water poured out from the seams of the rocks into small wooden pipes that sent the water to the flowers.
"Wow, this is absolutely amazing, Cal," gasped Kirk once his eyes adjusted to the bright light.
"Thank-you, Captain, this garden is my life's work. I spend all my time here." Cal walked over to the rock fountain and cupped her hand under the flow. Her tongue lapped up most of the water then she rubbed the rest on her face and neck. "You must be hot and thirsty, come right here and refresh yourselves." The crew did as they were told.
"We will never be able to thank you enough, Cal," said Kirk. "You saved our lives."
"There is no reason to thank me. I wish you much luck on your journey. Hopefully, you can try to find a planet that won't kill you," said Calico. She stood back from the crew as they ready to beam up.
"Wait, we can't just leave like this," sighed Kirk.
"Oi, what do ya mean, Captin'?" asked Scotty.
"Calico, would you like to join us on the Enterprise?" asked Kirk. He turned to see the shocked look on the cat's face.
"What?" she gasped.
"Captain, I must advise against this," protested Spock. "We have no idea what this creature is capable of."
"It's true, Captain. You have no idea what I can do," said Calico.
"I don't care. Cal, you disobeyed your own people's law to save us, something I do a lot. My offer still stands," said Kirk. "What do you say?"
Calico looked at the unusual aliens in front of her. "I say, Captain, get me the hell out of here."
Kirk smiled. "Now, that's what I like to hear!" he pressed the communicator on his shirt. "This is Captain Kirk to the Enterprise; five to beam up."
