Chapter 10

The cave delved into the hillside for a few minutes before slowly leading them down into the belly of the planet. At first it was just a small space in the rock, a deep niche. Kirk's shoulders scraped on the side of the tunnel. As it descended, however, the tunnel got wider. They walked for a good forty-five minutes… and Kirk was starting to get nervous. If something went wrong it would be too difficult to get out of here, and he didn't even know where he was being led.

Just when he was contemplating asking the being that was leading him how much farther it would be, the tunnel abruptly opened up into a huge cavern. There had been small lights along the tunnel, making it just bright enough to see where he was going. The cavern, though, was strangely dim. He supposed that, with those huge, nocturnal eyes, the creatures didn't need much light to see in these caves. The cavern was not only monstrous in size (Kirk couldn't even see the ceiling) it was completely empty. Of rocks, that its. It was completely full of beings.

Kirk was a little surprised to see so many of them in one place; there must have been over 200 of them. They were very quiet. Kirk's hand drifted down to rest on his phaser. He wasn't sure what to do, they were all just standing there. He was about to ask about Spock when one of them stepped forward. Kirk recognized its coloring—it was Shar.

"Welcome," Shar said through the universal translator. He held open his wings in a way that, on a human, would have been a non-threatening, placating gesture. On Shar, it was a little terrifying, probably having something to do with the fact that he had a good thirty-foot wingspan.

"We regret that you need visit under such… uncomfortable circumstances," Shar continued. Apparently the universal translator is getting the hang of their language, Kirk thought.

"Where is Spock?" Kirk asked. Shar sighed (or what Kirk guessed was a sigh).

"Please, allow me to explain what has happened." Shar gestured to indicate all of the beings assembled in the cave. "We are the Pak'Tul. Centuries ago, we lived on the surface of this planet. However, when it began to die, we built these fortified caverns underground. We have been experimenting ever since, trying to find a way to keep this planet alive."

The explorer in Kirk was fascinated, and had a thousand questions. But there was only one that mattered at the moment.

"What does this have to do with Spock?"

"We were conducting a test when some of the gas we were using escaped through a fissure in the rock. We were unaware that any life forms were on the surface until afterwards. We regret that one of your people was harmed because of us."

"…It's all right," Kirk replied. He sensed that Shar was telling the truth, and was genuinely remorseful. But there was still the matter of…

"Where's Spock?" he repeated.

"Patience, please," Shar replied. It seemed all he was willing to say on the matter. His unwillingness to tell Kirk where Spock was when he had been perfectly forthcoming with everything else made Kirk nervous.

Not one for patience, Kirk persisted.

"I need to see Spock," he said.

"You cannot at the moment. He is being…fixed," Shar replied hesitantly.

"What do you mean, 'fixed'?"

"Repaired. Put back the way he was. Do not be concerned," Shar added quickly, seeing Kirk's alarmed expression. "We are fairly certain that it can be done."

Wonderful, Kirk thought, Spock's life is in the hands of the 'fairly certain.'

Kirk just stood there for a minute, trying to decide if he should wait or be more insistent about seeing Spock. If they were working to fix him, then Kirk couldn't really do anything. But a part of him wanted to see Spock, with his own eyes, and he wasn't sure if that was the captain in him or the part that loved Spock as more than a friend.

He had just decided to demand to see Spock and had opened his mouth to speak when he heard a voice behind him.

"Jim."

It was a voice that he had missed more than he had known, that deep, mildly amused timbre. Kirk whirled around.

"Spock!"

His friend was standing at the entrance to a different tunnel, between two Pak'Tul. He wore a simple grey jumpsuit and his usual raised eyebrow.

Kirk went to him. He grasped Spock's shoulders gingerly, reverently, as if he was afraid Spock would break. And really, after everything Spock's body had been through, it was a valid concern.

A myriad of thoughts went through Kirk's head…relief, happiness, and worry (he still wasn't entirely convinced that Spock was unharmed by the experience). But first and foremost was an overwhelming need to hug his Vulcan.

He probably won't like it, Kirk thought. Vulcans hate to be touched. He looked at Spock's face, those familiar lines, those deep brown, slightly hooded eyes.

Oh, what the hell. I've been worried sick. I deserve it.

So he hugged Spock. His first officer stiffened a little, but, surprisingly, relaxed into it after a moment. And (Kirk was shocked) he even raised one arm and returned Kirk's bear hug with a little half-hug of his own before Kirk let go.

When he pulled back, Kirk was grinning ear-to-ear, and not just because he had found Spock safe and sound.

As he turned back to Shar and back to business, he didn't see the corner of Spock's mouth twitch… and rise ever so slightly.

Author's Note:

Hey everyone. Sorry for the extra short chapter, but guess what? The next chapter will be the last! It might take me a while to get it posted, but bear with me. It's coming. I've really enjoyed writing this, and all of your great reviews. I wish I had the time to reply to all of you, but, sufficient to say, you're all great to stick with me and the story. Please wait for one more chapter…all will be revealed! Hahaha.