Captain's log - Stardate 2661.6519
Radiation levels will be down to levels our shields can handle in a couple of hours. We'll need to go in quickly, retrieve our people and the scientists and leave before another solar flare cuts us off again. Hopefully the men have found things to keep them occupied while waiting for us.
There was no telling when the Vians might return or what they might do when they did. Since spending time considering those variables would have been a poor use of his time, Spock turned his full attention to doing what he could to improve McCoy's chances. He now appreciated that the doctor had insisted that he take a more comprehensive first-aid course than was usual for landing parties. As McCoy had pointed out, there might be times that Spock might be the one in the best position to help their Captain. Not that McCoy really considered the Captain to be accident prone, but he did consider him to be a trouble magnet. Experience had led Spock to consider that there was at least some truth in that statement.
Gem came up beside Spock as he was checking the contents of the medkit. While he wished he could communicate with her better, Spock demonstrated the workings of the dermal regenerator on one of the wounds on McCoy's wrists. Watching everything with wide, interested eyes, Gem nodded slowly then moved up to McCoy's head. She hovered both hands over his skin before taking a deep breath and touching lightly.
Discreetly turning on the doctor's tricorder, Spock kept an eye on Gem's readings using McCoy's initial scan of her as a base. As soon as she began to show signs of distress, he reached over to touch her arm. She seemed to understand and pulled back away, wrapping her arms around herself as she took care of the injuries she had pulled to her own body.
While Gem was willing to help, Spock knew that McCoy's forgiveness would be difficult to gain if the doctor discovered he had not taken care to make sure Gem didn't suffer permanent injuries in the process. The amount and seriousness of the injuries were too much for Gem to handle, but with Spock's help, she brought him from near death to critical condition.
Another tremor rocked the area, this one the most violent yet. It left Spock with a hard choice. If they remained longer, Gem would regain her strength and bring McCoy to the point where his health was not as delicate. However, remaining longer might mean the collapse of the only route Spock knew of to the surface. Once back aboard the Enterprise, the medical team there would be able to tend to McCoy's injuries.
He noted Gem's concerned eyes on him. She reached out and he allowed her touch. The feeling that came across was one of trust. Nodding to himself, Spock made his decision, getting into position to life McCoy into his arms. With his strength, it was no more of an encumbrance to him that carrying a young child would have been for a human.
Spock led the way with Gem staying close by. They were in the steeply slanting passage when another tremor struck. Spock kept his footing, but Gem had to cling to him until it had passed to avoid falling. A few rocks fell, but not enough to block their way, so Spock continued to head upward.
Light was beginning to show from above when another tremor showered them with dirt and small rocks. A deeper rumble behind them told Spock that it was a good thing he had made the decision to leave when he did. Throat and eyes stinging from the dust in the air, Spock finally stepped out into the open air of the surface.
In his mind, Spock's thoughts flashed back to the previous year when Doctor McCoy had been kidnapped by beings calling themselves Talosians, who considered other races as little more than animals to be bred for their zoo. McCoy had a deep, abiding disgust for the Talosians that Spock knew of, but couldn't fully comprehend before. Now, seeing the Vians standing in front of them once more, he fully appreciated the full depth of how McCoy felt.
The taller of the pair ignored Spock and addressed his comments to Gem.
"You have failed your people. You have not learned what we meant for you to learn. Your race will die with your planet when the star it circles ceases to exist in a matter of hours."
Frightened of them, Gem held onto Spock's arm. Normally, the sleeve would have prevented her from touching skin, but the ruined shirt offered little protection. He could sense her feelings through the contact. The Vians frightened her, but she had no comprehension of what was being said and his impression that she was very young was stronger than ever.
Possessing a very fine temper himself when roused, Spock addressed the Vians himself.
"How supposedly was this child to have saved her people."
The condescending look was turned to Spock.
"We have the power to save the inhabitants of one planet from the coming nova. They must be proven worthy of that aid by the actions of the girl. She has not proven worthy, so they will die."
Spock's eyes were hard, but he kept his voice steady.
"And what traits would she have had to developed to have been deemed worthy?"
"Compassion. Strength of will. Self-sacrifice. Qualities that make a race worthy of continuance."
Down deep, Spock thought what he was about to say might be unworthy of the son of an ambassador, but he found that didn't truly concern him at this point.
"If any race has proven itself unworthy, it is yours. What have you demonstrated to her besides contempt for other living beings? What have you taught her other than cruelty? She has more of the traits you call desirable that either of you have ever shown. You speak of sacrifice, yet it sounds as if you wouldn't sacrifice anything in the process, but you would allow an entire race to cease to exist for what equates to nothing but a whim on your part. In my lifetime, I saw my own planet and the majority of my race die because of a twisted plot by a madman. You are far worse than he was. He at least thought he had a grievance. What has this child or her people ever done to you that they deserve extinction for it?"
The Vians made no response, but disappeared again.
Spock closed his eyes briefly and centered his mind again before taking a firmer hold on McCoy. He started walking, aiming toward the area where they had first beamed down. Glancing down at Gem, he saw her smiling warmly at him as she kept close by his side. Once they were further away from the caves that interfered with the sensors, he would lay McCoy down and see if the Enterprise was in communicator range. The sooner he could get the doctor to Sickbay, the better.