Chapter Three
Two hours into the trek, they emerged into a large cavern, glittering with all manner of cave formations, complete with a small, crystal clear pool off to one side. It was this that drew the doctor's immediate attention.
"Boy, I could sure use a drink, Spock. Can you check that water, see if it's safe?" he asked, gesturing to the subterranean pond.
After a momentary scan, Spock confirmed that it was indeed fit for consumption. McCoy moved with some alacrity, squatting at the edge, dipping his good hand in, bringing the cool, clear liquid to his lips. "You gonna have some, Spock? It's fresh and clean, and nice and cold."
"Thank you, no. I do not require fluids at this time. Vulcans are desert creatures, their need for water significantly less than that of humans." His attempt to reassure McCoy only succeeded in arousing the doctor's suspicions.
McCoy watched him in the faint light, noting a slight quivering permeating Spock's thin frame. "You okay?" he questioned, his voice edged with concern.
"I am functional," came the stiff reply.
"The hell you are," McCoy said, rising to his feet and coming to stand in front of the Vulcan. "You're shaking like a leaf, Spock. Are you hurt?" He couldn't stop himself from placing an anxious hand on the Vulcan's trembling forearm.
It was obvious Spock was in no mood to discuss it, but the doctor's gaze bored into him, its intensity jarring. Spock dropped his eyes, and began somewhat uncomfortably, "the temperature here is significantly below the average to which I am accustomed." McCoy could only imagine what that confession had cost the Vulcan. Spock hated to admit to weakness of any kind.
"So, you're just cold. No wonder you wanted to walk out of here, instead of sitting in this dank, chilly place awaiting rescue. At least if we were moving, that would help you to generate some heat and stay a little warmer." His eyes then took on a knowing look. "And you didn't want a drink, because the water is too cold," he reasoned, puzzling it out, "and that would have caused a drop in your core temperature. Is there anything I can do, Spock? You know, we could rest here a bit, use our phasers to heat up a rock and let you thaw out a little before we go on," he added helpfully, releasing his hold on the Vulcan's arm.
"That will not be necessary, Doctor."
"Blast it all, Spock!" He found he couldn't keep the frustration and sudden flare of anger in check. "Stop trying to play the martyr! If we went on without a break, we'd reach the scientist's camp sometime in the middle of the night. We have no communicators and their radio was demolished, so we'd have no way to contact the ship, anyway. Unless the Enterprise is actively scanning for us we'd have to wait to be found regardless. Staying here for an hour or so isn't going to have an undue impact on our being rescued, and it sure as hell doesn't make any sense to go on if you're not functioning on all thrusters. Besides," he threw in, as a way to save face for the Vulcan, "I'm tired, too. I could do with an hour's rest and a bit of warming up. C'mon, Spock, it'd be 'logical' for us to take a break."
"Since you put it that way, Doctor, I can see no alternative but to concur."
***
Despite the chill and the steady throb in his left wrist, McCoy had managed to drift off into an uneasy sleep, dozing in fits and starts, curled up on the cavern's floor, the adrenaline rush having worn off long ago. He lay next to a large rock they had phasered, but the heat radiating off it provided minimal comfort. Spock's voice roused him from his troubled slumber.
"There is considerable activity within the lower levels of the subterranean chambers," Spock informed McCoy, dubiously studying his tricorder readings.
"What?" He snapped instantly awake, rolling to an upright position. Spock was seated next to him, his back resting against their temporary heat source, the instrument in his hand beeping and clicking softly. "Why didn't we pick it up earlier? Life forms?"
"They are indeed life forms, but not humanoid or even mammalian. More entomolic in nature."
"You mean bugs?" McCoy asked, aghast at the revelation.
"I believe that is what I just said, Doctor."
"Well c'mon Spock, spit it out."
"They are similar to the Terran orders Isoptera and Hymenoptera, but are approximately a thousand times larger."
McCoy's eyes widened suddenly in the weak bioluminescent glow. "You mean giant ants? Roughly the same size as we are?" His eyes slid nervously to one of the passages branching off the chamber they were in. "You think maybe they had something to do with the disappearance of the survey team?"
"Quite probable. It is common knowledge that this continent is criss-crossed with a subterranean labyrinth system. It would only have been logical for the team to explore these tunnels, in hopes of discovering minerals important to the Federation. Determining the content of these underground passages was an impossibility using ship's sensors due to the presence of the perdantium, to which they have proven impenetrable. However, there was no indication in my preliminary assessment of the records we located that they had done so at present."
"In other words, we aren't sure if they knew about the giant bugs, and whether or not they are friendly." This was just getting better and better by the minute.
"I think it is safe to surmise that they are indeed hostile – it would go a long way to explaining the devastation we saw at base camp," Spock stated matter-of-factly.
"But why? Surely if the team did stumble on the bugs, they would have acted in accordance with the Prime Directive and shown no ill intent?" McCoy had shifted his position and was on his knees now, peering at the Vulcan in the dim light.
"It may have been unintentional, Doctor. If the scientists did begin to explore these tunnels, the creatures may have viewed that as a sign of aggression. You are also operation under the pretense that they are intelligent, and would have been able to accurately surmise the reason behind the team's investigation of these chambers."
"Do you think it's possible? That they're intelligent, I mean."
Spock pondered that for a moment before answering. "It is difficult to speculate without further data, but similar species we have encountered have shown only a rudimentary 'hive' intelligence."
"Meaning?"
"Meaning there is no independent thought per se; actions are controlled by the 'head' of the hive, which directs the activities and movements of all individuals under it," the Vulcan supplied.
"So how do we find out if this is just a hive mentality, or something more?"
"In order to do so, we would need to penetrate deeper into the caverns and observe the beings who live here."
"Maybe we should. What if some of the missing team members are down there? We could kill two birds with one stone." Spock saw a shudder pass through the doctor as he considered the prospect of the scientists being in the insects' lair.
The Vulcan eyed him warily. "That course of action is not recommended, especially since I am not reading any human life forms, and you are injured," he said, staring pointedly at the wrist McCoy was cradling.
"Oh for heaven's sake, Spock, it's not like I'm an invalid or something – haven't we been through this already?" He was starting to get annoyed.
"Perhaps I could go alone, and you can remain here. I could rendezvous with you later–"
McCoy grew alarmed at that statement. "No! We shouldn't split up. We might not find each other again."
"Then in that case, it might be best if we were to continue to execute our original plan, and attempt to make our way to the surface."
"But what if there are survivors down there, Spock? It's our duty to rescue them." It was evident that the thought of the team being in close proximity to the bugs weighed heavily on the doctor's mind.
"Doubtful, since my tricorder is not registering any human life forms," Spock reiterated.
"Is it possible that you aren't able to read them due to the perdantium?"
Spock's brow furrowed momentarily. "That is always a possibility, but the alien life forms are clearly indicated," he reasoned.
"We should at least–"
Spock held up his hand, silencing McCoy, cocking his head slightly to one side. "Doctor, I hear something approaching," he announced in a hoarse whisper. "We should endeavor to make ourselves scarce," he said, collecting the doctor, mindful not to disturb the injured arm, and pulling McCoy after himself behind a large stalagmite.
The two peered cautiously from their hidden vantage point, and McCoy was unable to suppress a grimace when the alien stepped into view. The creature was approximately two and a half meters tall, with six appendages, two on which it walked upright, the remaining four jutting out from what would be considered the thorax on a Terran insect. Each of the four, jointed, 'arms' ended in a single, razor-sharp claw. Its body was composed of three separate yet indistinct sections which except for the head were roughly the same diameter, its appearance closely resembling a termite. The exterior was hard and shiny, brownish gray in color and reminiscent of the carapace of a crab.
The head was about the size and shape of a large watermelon, sporting four antennae, which were currently waving and writhing of their own volition. The three eyes, which did not appear to be compound, were located one on either side of the head, and one in the middle, essentially giving the alien a one hundred eighty degree field of vision. Its pincered mouth was hard and serrated, and the animal was clicking its jaws together furiously at the moment, possibly some form of communication or a call for assistance.
The creature had stopped, peering into the darkness, antennae waving furiously. Zeroing in on their location, it started to move purposefully toward their hiding place, its jaws clacking menacingly. McCoy fumbled for his phaser, but Spock already had his in hand, the ruby beam lancing out and catching the alien in the head. It dropped immediately, but suddenly their chamber was swarming with the giant insects; at least a dozen had come to their comrade's aid. They managed to stun several more, but were soon overwhelmed. McCoy felt himself lifted in the bony appendages and turned to look for Spock, but something pricked his neck and everything went black.