(UPDATE: Chapter 8 is currently being beta-read, and ratings for that particular chapter may change.)


Tenebrae et Luminis- Chapter 7


...The Vulcan, undeterred, continued up the side of the cliff to reach his Captain.

Spock's cloth-covered hand appeared on the last rock jutting out of the cliff as the Vulcan began to pull himself up into the cave's dark opening.

The Vulcan lay there for a moment on the cold cave floor, catching his breath while performing a small meditation technique to keep the pain at bay for the time being. He climbed to his feet, studying his new surroundings as he began to make his way farther down into the cave. The Vulcan didn't have to go too far to see that there was blood. ...Human blood.

Spock grew an even more sickly shade of green now that he knew that his Captain was quite possibly injured. As he continued farther down the path in the cave, more pools of human blood could be seen on the cave floor.

"...Jim!" Spock cried with almost human anguish as he ran to the Captain's side. The Captain did not look well.

Kirk's skin was clammy to the touch, with beads of perspiration collecting on his face and forehead. Not only that, Spock could see that the Captain had a multitude of injuries: the front of the Captain's command gold uniform sported many red bleeding gashes, a broken left ankle, two broken ribs, a bleeding gash alongside the jawline, the back of his neck appeared to be bleeding from two large bite-marks, and the front of the Captain's neck was also raw and inflamed.

Spock quickly tore off the black string-like bonds that bound his Captain's hands and feet. The Vulcan's eyes widened when he noticed what looked like three fingertip-shaped bruises on the meld points on Captain Kirk's face.

"...Jim." Spock said softly, as he removed the blue cloth around his right hand. The Vulcan brought his hand over to cover those very same meld points with his own. "...My mind... to your mind."


McCoy cried out as he struggled against the Creature's strength. The CMO's arm finally gave under the force exerted upon it by the Demon -with a loud crack.

Every muscle in the Doctor's body screamed in protest as the Creature overpowered him. Knife-like pain shot throughout both his arm and left lung as the Creature grasped the injured CMO up by the chin, forcing the Doctor to gaze up into the red eyes of the Demon.

"...Leave them... alone..." McCoy rasped once again as the Creature tightened Its grip upon the CMO's chin.

"You demand ME, Human, to leave YOUR friends alone? I think not!" With that, the Shadow Creature threw the CMO back onto the ground, turning on one claw-like foot to face the injured, unconscious Ensign.

"...No! Leave Pavel alone! He doesn't... deserve... this!"

...The Creature ignored the Doctor as It made Its way closer to the Ensign.


"...My mind... to your mind."

...Spock was floating. His mind worked frantically to seek out Captain Kirk's.

...The bond was still there...! Spock could feel it! The Vulcan began to probe Kirk's disarrayed thoughts tentatively, for they were filled with extreme, conflicting emotions.

"...Spock?"

Spock heard the mental plea in the meld. He turned around in the Captain's mind, facing his Commanding Officer. The Captain was visibly shaken- his skin pale.

"...Jim." Spock's eyes searched the hazel ones of the Captain. ...There was no life -no warmth- in them.

...The Captain was just ...there. Merely existing just to exist.

"Captain, I know you are in pain. Let me help heal you. We can defeat this Shadow Creature together. Let me help you in this battle, Thy'la," Spock said softly as he extended his hand.

...Sensing no ill will, Kirk slowly extended his hand to firmly grasp that of the Vulcan. ...Golden light encased both the human and Vulcan as Kirk smiled.

"...Thank-you, ...Spock."

Spock closed his eyes...

...and found himself back in the cave with the Captain.

The Vulcan took a deep breath, preparing himself for the next part of his promise to Kirk. Spock began to form another mind meld with the Captain, but this time, it was to heal the most dire of wounds: the large red gashes, the two broken ribs, and broken ankle.

...Spock placed his hand back onto the side of the Captain's face as he began to try to heal his Captain's injuries.


...To be continued.