Chapter nine: Transporter problems
Kirk, Spock and the two security guards had beamed down first. The doctor, the navigator and the two mineralogists followed soon after.
All the initial readings seemed to be accurate and the only interesting finding was a type of rock that wasn't found anywhere else in this space quadrant. The planet consisted of a cool desert-like scenery with only a few old trees and some mountains that broke up the sea of stones.
After half an hour, darkness was setting and Kirk ordered everyone back up. As there were eight of them, and only six transporter beams, Kirk and Spock stayed on while the rest transported up to the ship.
But when a minute had passed and they were still waiting for the transporter beams to make them turn into golden particles, Kirk got worried. He flipped open his communicator. "Kirk here. What's wrong, Scotty?"
The reply came in loud and clear. "Ah don't know what the problem is yet, Captain. It simply won't work."
Now Kirk started to look worried, as well as feel it. "What do you mean 'it won't work'?"
"Just what ah said. Ah can't find what's causing it, but the transporter simply doesn't work. Nor does the Shuttlecraft or the warp engines."
Kirk glanced over at Spock, who was looking back at him. "That's not like you. How long do you think it will take?" he said into the communicator.
"Ah'm sorry to say, ah don't know. But we're working as fast as we can up here."
Kirk replied. "All right. Do your best." and shut the communicator. He looked back at Spock again. He looked his usual stoic Vulcan way of his, but Kirk could sense that something was up. "Spock, what's wrong?" he asked.
Spock was surprised at how quickly the captain had picked up on his worry. He knew he didn't show it, but somehow Jim had been able to tell anyway. It was as if their bond had become stronger over the last couple of days. Maybe it was the night when he meditated in front of the captain that had done it? It was slightly unnerving, the Captain knowing him so well. But at the same time, he couldn't deny the pang of exitement and happiness that shot right through him at the revelation. He was still looking at Kirk. "I am not sure how much longer I will be comfortable in this coldness." he admitted.
"Jeez. I should have thought of that." Kirk said, looking worriedly at his friend. "Would it help if we walked around?"
"I am afraid that even the warmth arising from motion won't keep me in sufficient warmth for very long." He looked into the ground.
The planet was cool, but not so much so that it had bothered Kirk yet. But Vulcans were used to a hotter climate than Humans, and needed much more warmth. With night approaching, it was going to get even colder.
Kirk ripped off one of his sleeves and gave to Spock. "Here. Make this into a hat. You loose eighty percent of your body temperature through your head."
Spock gratefully received the fabric, but felt the need to correct his Captain. "You are mistaken. A Human looses approximately 7.8 percent of his temperature through his head when standing still. If excercising heavily, the percentage may raise up to 48.2. For Vulcans, however, it is only 5.1 percent and 23.9 percent, respectively."
Kirk smiled sweetly at him. "At least your brain hasn't frozen yet, I see."
"In order for that to happen, it would need to be at least twenty degrees colder for 53.2 hours. If it was, on the other hand, thirty five degrees colder, it would only take 26.2 hours."
Kirk smirked at him. "Let's just hope it won't get that cold then." He took out his communicator again and called the Chief Engineer. "How's it going?"
Scotty sounded confused. "Ah just don't get it. Ah can't find anything wrong with it, but it won't work either."
"You need to come up with something fast, Mr Spock isn't very comfortable in the cold." Kirk said sternly.
"We're doing our best, Ah assure you. We'll have you up as soon as possible."
Kirk turned a large button to talk to the bridge.
"Uhura here, Sir. Do you wan't me to put you through to Sulu, Sir?"
"Please." he answered, then continued. "Sulu, it's Kirk. We need to find shelter while we wait. What can you tell me about the planet's surface?"
"We've had it scanned. There are some mountains half a mile west from where you are standing. There seems to be some sort of cave by the bottom of them. I think that is your best shot, Captain."
"Stand by, Sulu."
"Aye aye, Sir."
"Kirk out." He put away the communicator and turned to Spock, who had turned the yellow sleeve into a sort of turban that covered his jet black hair. Somehow, the tall Vulcan managed to look dignified even with the silly looking thing on his head. Just as he managed to look hot, while he was actually freezing. Kirk smiled. "All right?"
Spock unclenched his jaw and gave Jim a forced smile. "Yes, Jim."
Kirk gave him a critical once-over. "Liar." He moved closer and squeezed Spock's shoulder and spoke softly. "Let's go find that cave, eh?"
