IN THE FOOTHILLS OF VULCAN
Skan had spent the hours leading up to sunset tracking the strange path Nyota, an unknown male and an apparently dragged Spock created through the dust. An expert tracker, Skan and his team made quick work of the trail in the mazes, traveling twice as fast as the pair before them had. Still, with the time difference it grew dark and still Skan did not find them.
He was slightly surprised that they had come out to this entrance of the ruins, it had not been marked on the maps and yet it was obvious that the path was deliberate. Skan stood over the rocks and scanned the horizon, seeing nothing to indicate why the lost group had traveled in this direction. Skan made his decision. Drawing out his short sword from its sheath he motioned to group, taking only his two best trackers and sending the rest to make camp out of view and prepare for wounded. This situation smelled foul to Skan, to his warrior's instinct the path ahead held danger.
To a random passerby the Vulcan would have looked like an relic from the time before, come up from the ruins to claim his desire. Skan's pupil were dilated to their full extent, rimmed by irises hued molten honey in contrast, his short sword swung over his shoulders as he waited for the groups to split the packs and weapons up. He let his face fall into a dead grimace, haunting shadows of the darkness making the bones of his cheeks pop up in relief. Even his soldiers were wary of him, knowing the turbulent emotions of the hunter that had risen up in him. It wouldn't be long before he met with battle.
ON THE OUTSKIRTS OF THE ENCAMPMENT
Weary and near frozen Nyota was succumbing to the cold. Not lucid enough to even think of her extremeties, Nyota walked on like a zombie behind Saziz unaware that they had reached their destination until she bumped into his back. Saziz gently unbuckled her from the harness and waived to another man in the shadows to attend to Spock. Her body was limp, and felt cold even as the heat from a warm room began to work on her.
She attempted to resist as he took off the jacket and began to rub her extremeties with his large hands. They were rough, but gentle, and unable to put up much of a fight Nyota let them bring the feeling back to first her hands then feet. As she warmed up Nyota became much more aware of the touch of the man, trying to hold back the tide of discomfort at the direct contact with a touch telepath.
A spark of amusement flow from him and it felt inappropriately intimate. Nyota started to laugh nervously out loud for lack of a better response. Saziz stopped his ministrations abruptly, raised a quizzical eyebrow, and let his mouth curl into a jaunty smile as he said, "I was under the belief that foot rubs on Earth were considered relatively platonic."
Stopping at that, Nyota suddenly remembered this was not Earth and that Spock was not in the small sitting room with them, no one was. Scrambling to her feet Nyota spoke,"Would you mind taking me to see Spock? I am really worried about him, and I probably shouldn't be getting foot rubs while he is in danger."
Letting his face fall a bit, Saziz straightened up and lifted his arm so that Nyota would walk before him through the doorway. They traveled through a long hallway and Nyota stiffened at the view from several open doors along it. Bare bodies, bent and laying in the throes of ecstasy were gathered together in groups and couples. One man looked up from his lover straight at Nyota with eyes that were completely black and a lopsided grin. She quickly looked away. From the glimpses she got, Nyota had to guess they were Vulcan, but could not believe that such could be the case. Vulcans had perfect control right? But hadn't she always thought that was a lie?
Still, this was too much. Having open, raw, passionate sex where people could see was not something she could have imagined on Vulcan. Some of the groups involved such pairings as Nyota could never have imagined. There were a variety of themes in the rooms that clashed with the next. One couple had restraints and weapons designed for torture, their bodies covered in green blood they attempted to lick from each other while pumping furiously. It was too much for Nyota who had only watch a few movies with Zandi that had semi-nudity in them, giggling the whole time. Before it had been kissing and light petting, there was too much here for Nyota to understand it all.
Nyota's normally caramel complexion grew a red, then purple undertone as her embarrassment with the situation grew. Her arms inched up to cover her chest in a protective cross. She didn't realize she had been barely breathing until they had passed the long hallway and come to a door that was mercifully closed. Actually Nyota was not certain the other rooms possessed doors to close. Not wanting to stand in the hallway any longer than necessary Nyota opened the door. It was dark, with only a few small purple candles lit, in the room. Spock's body was in the center on a low table, presided over by an incredibly ancient Vulcan. The phrase "Ancient of Days" came to mind as she looked at the wrinkles that had invaded the bald head of the old bent man. His face was serene as he held his hand over Spocks forehead and appeared to be probing deep into Spock's mind.
Nyota was uncomfortable with the whole situation. This old man who seemed to be doing what any other doctor might do, Saziz who had practically taken advantage of her in the Vulcan sense, and the writhing Vulcan bodies she had seen. Somehow she would have to escape and take Spock with her or make contact with someone who could help. But she was exhausted, half frozen, hadn't eaten in half a day, and was admittedly only a teenager. Nyota felt the frustating limits of her age. If only she could have had the sense not to follow this crazy man, maybe a rescue party would have been sent. If only she could be safe in the arms of her mom and dad right now. It was childish she knew, but Nyota was too tired to care.
Saziz looked at the forlorn young woman and felt as if he was looking on a child. A sudden pulse of pity moved him and he left to get the only person in the encampment that the girl might gain comfort from.