Three suns at once shone into Captain's Kirk face as he exited the shuttle that they had taken to Vulcan's capital Shi'Kahr. He wished for a moment that Starfleet would provide them with uniforms that weren't basically flannel pajamas. "I thought you said it was early evening around here?", the Captain asked his Commander who was his sole companion on this mission. "It is indeed. However, we have arrived just in time for the ha-gad celebration.", Spock explained. "The what?", Kirk asked, shadowing his eyes with a hand. Sunglasses would be a nice addition to the uniform as well. "The day of light. A solar event that only occurs all ten years. The rising times of Vulcan's three suns are so far apart that night never falls.", Spock explained. Kirk grumbled. "Sounds rather hot."
Both Captain and first Officer entered a truly pompous building. To Kirk, it resembled an old picture he had once seen of a skyscraper in Seattle on earth. It was called The Needle, he believed. Inside, they were greeted by a few security guards. "Please step through this arc.", a Vulcan with the charisma of raw potatoes ordered him. Kirk complied. Nothing happened, as they hadn't brought any weapons with them. Spock followed suit.
That done, they were standing in the lobby, a bit sheepishly. "It sounded really urgent in the transmission. Do you think anyone will come to greet us?", Kirk asked his companion. "I agree that this is rather uncharacteristically." Just then, an elevator to their left swished open and a uniformed Vulcan stepped out. Kirk realized that he looked rather disheveled. "Please excuse my tardiness.", the Vulcan said to them. "Soran.", Spock acknowledged him, seemingly a bit surprised. "Spock.", the other returned. "You have met?", Kirk asked, as Soran led them into the elevator. Spock nodded. "Soran has been my father's aide for many years. I have known him since my childhood.", the Commander whispered to Kirk.
"The T'Sai T'Pau is expecting you on the uppermost floor.", Soran said to them as the elevator's doors closed. "Do you know what this is all about? We were in the middle of a planetary study when Starfleet called us to Vulcan, but they didn't give a reason.", Kirk inquired. Soran nodded. "I do. I however believe it best if T'Pau tells you in person.", he explained. Spock raised an eyebrow. Soran gave him a weary glance and blinked for just a moment too long. The elevator stopped and let them out.
They came to a door that was flanked by two guards with ceremonial lirpas. Soran stopped. "You are being awaited inside.", he told them and indicated the direction. He walked away almost immediately. Together, Kirk and Spock entered the hall. At the end of it, T'Pau sat in a chair behind a big desk that was almost empty, it didn't even house a computer console. Off to the side was Sarek, sitting in a chair that seemed slightly more comfortable than T'Pau's. He was typing something on a PADD and didn't even seem to notice them entering. T'Pau, however, did. "Captain Kirk. Spock.", she greeted. Only now, Sarek looked up and nodded at them, but returned to his typing immediately. They had reached the Lady's desk. To his dismay, Kirk found that there were no chairs.
"Why are we here?", Kirk asked bluntly, already sick of being some pawn in a game he did not yet understand. "Vulcan shall leave the Federation." Now that was something that he hadn't anticipated. A glance to the side confirmed that Spock was surprised as well. "What do you mean, leave?", Kirk inquired, not caring that he sounded like an insolent brat. T'Pau's eyes narrowed, like a cat that had spotted a delicious bird. "The planet of Vulcan and the colonies shall secede from the Federation of planets.", T'Pau rephrased, talking slowly like she was speaking to a child. Compared to her, Kirk really was. Kirk crossed his arms. "Why have you come to this decision?", Spock asked. T'Pau did not look at any of them as she spoke. "We believe it is best for our people to return to the old ways. Therefore, it is decided that there shall be no more contact to outworlders." Sarek threw them a desperate glance that was completely out of character. T'Pau did not seem to notice.
"And why did you demand the Enterprise come to Vulcan? A ship that belongs to the Federation, might I add?", Kirk asked next. "You shall act as a neutral representative. The secession is only opposed by the house of T'Meerik in Vulcana Regar. I wish that you go there and convince the Eldest Mother to join our plans." Now, T'Pau had dropped the quasi-Shakespearian act, but Kirk wondered if she knew what the word 'neutral' meant. "But why can't you send one of your own people?", Kirk asked. "Sarek, what do thee say to this?", T'Pau prompted the man. He lay the PADD in his lap. "If the house of T'Meerik is not coerced, this situation might escalate into civil war. One that would most likely cause harm to the entire Federation. A non-Vulcan like you, Captain, is the ideal suspect to have this task bestowed upon. Spock has been asked to join to provide you with cultural guidance.", Sarek told them while looking at the ground.
Kirk sighed inwardly. He did not want to do this, he wanted Vulcan to stay in the Federation, but he did not really have a say in this. "Very well. We will leave right now.", he stated to no one in particular. "You shall be provided the beaming coordinates.", T'Pau replied. Spock spoke up. "I am afraid, my Lady, that beaming is not possible at this time. The atmosphere is currently too ionized; we had to take a shuttle to this appointment.", he explained. "How you arrive in Vulcana Regar does not concern me, just that you do.", T'Pau replied, turning her attention to a PADD on her table. Kirk and Spock just stood there for a moment, waiting if the Lady wanted to add something. She didn't. "You may leave.", she said, a little impatient it seemed.
Not knowing the correct protocol, Kirk hinted at a bow and turned, Spock right behind him. They were almost at the door, when they heard Sarek talk. "I need to discuss a matter with my aide, please excuse me, Eldest Mother." They were barely outside when Sarek joined them. "Come", he ordered lowly. They followed him down a corridor, away from the guards and T'Pau. He stopped next to a window. "You cannot be okay with that!", Kirk half-shouted at him. Sarek's eyes shifted to the side, but nobody was watching them.
"I am not.", Sarek agreed. "Father, is the house of T'Meerik truly the only party that opposes to the secession?", Spock asked. "They are indeed. However, I do not completely understand how it could come to this. Our planet always had good relations to the Federation. A mere two months ago, T'Pau came up with her initiative, and I expected it to fail. It did not. All great houses seem to agree with her sentiment.", Sarek explained. "Would it not be an honorable choice to leave the service if you so strongly disagree with the government?", Spock asked his father. "It would be giving up. I would lose all abilities to avert this situation.", Sarek returned. "I think you should go in there and give her a piece of your mind.", Kirk interjected. "While certainly having its appeal, it would not achieve anything either. T'Pau would simply release me from my duty.", Sarek answered. For a moment, the three of them just looked at each other. Finally, Sarek spoke. "Ninety-five point three years ago, I swore an oath to serve both the Vulcan people and their government. Now, I find that I cannot do both at the same time."
"It is unlike T'Pau to forsake the good of her own people.", Spock commented. "Lately, she has not acted as I am accustomed to. I believe that her age might be afflicted her, but I do not know it certainly.", Sarek agreed. "What happens to all the off-worlders living on Vulcan?", Kirk asked like he had only just thought of it. "They shall leave the planet. Although T'Pau has hinted at something quite more sinister." Both Starfleet officer became a few shades paler. "She wants to execute them?", Kirk asked incredulously. Sarek only nodded slightly. "What will become of mother?", Spock immediately asked, not quite as unemotional as he was used to. "I have already arranged for Amanda to leave the planet. Will the Enterprise grant her asylum if she asks for it?", Sarek wanted to know. Kirk nodded. "And you, father?", Spock inquired. "I shall join her as soon as it is possible.", the ambassador simply stated. "You must be gone, before we are found conversing.", he added. "I wish you a save journey." With that, he left the hallway through an automatic door, long ambassadorial robes trailing behind him.
Just three minutes later, they were back in their shuttle. Kirk sat down at the helm. "So, Vulcana Regar.", he intoned. "I would advice that we take a route over the Forge, as it is the shortest.", Spock advised without being prompted. Kirk nodded. "Can you program the course?", he asked. Spock sat down in the other seat and began to do so. Kirk waited in silence while he did so. He used the time to be puzzled over what just happened. It was insanity!
Finally, Spock finished their itinerary. "ETA is in fifty-two minutes.", he said. "Good job.", Kirk replied, leaving his grim thoughts behind. Privately, he really liked flying shuttles. He activated the engines, and soon they left Shi'Kahr under them. Kirk followed the course Spock had programmed, while the Vulcan seemed to simply enjoy the view. It could be the last time he saw his home city, Kirk realized. He couldn't even begin to imagine how this must feel. They left the city behind and overflew a range of hills. "Are those the L'lagons?", Kirk asked to break the silence. "Indeed.", Spock answered, only to fall silent again. The hills were soon past them, and the desert the Vulcans designated the Forge stretched before them, as far as they could see, even though they were up in the sky. The sky was darkened by a sandstorm, and suddenly it seemed like it was nighttime after all. A few times, they could see lightning strike in the distance. However, it did not seem overly dangerous to fly through it.
"T'Pau might be correct in her initiative.", Spock suddenly said. "Are you serious?", Kirk asked incredulously, looking away from the instruments. Spock nodded. "Vulcan has been in many unnecessary wars since we have begun space travel. It might be best to cease such activities." Kirk shook his head. "They oppose to your very existence, and you simply agree?", he threw at Spock. The Vulcan was silent for a few minutes. "Are you familiar with Surak's doctrine that the need of the many outweigh the need of the few?" Kirk wanted to snort and answer that the many in this case was the Federation, but he didn't have a chance to.
The shuttle shook and creaked. An air pocket, Kirk supposed, but then he saw that all the instruments were going wild. "An electromagnetic discharge.", Spock shouted over the noise. 'Lightning', Kirk's brain supplied. Seeing that the navigating controls were frozen, Kirk activated the automatic seat belt. This exact moment however, the right-side engine gave out, aggressively tilting the shuttle to one side. Kirk managed to hold on, but Spock, not anticipating this , was thrown out of his seat and into the bulkhead with a thud. Kirk's seatbelt snapped in place, holding him tightly, but Spock had to struggle to get into his seat again. With one arm, Kirk reached out and pulled him closer. Somehow, the Vulcan reached his place and was immediately secured by the belt.
Spock said something to him, but Kirk didn't understand anything besides, 'healing trance' and 'Do not be concerned.' This however, concerned him greatly. The second engine gave out as well, and it became uncomfortably warm inside the shuttle. Without thinking about it, Kirk smashed the big red button that he had hoped to never even touch. The shuttle's ceiling was blown away in a fireball, and their seats were catapulted high into the air, high over the burning wreck that was their falling shuttle. Kirk tried to concentrate on were the shuttle was going to crash, or were Spock had been thrown to, but all he could manage was utter panic over the prospect of parachuting in a lightning storm.
The blue parachute unfolded itself as Kirk pressed a tiny button to the side of the seat. For a moment, Kirk just stared upwards, studying the Federation's insignia that was printed onto the cloth. But then, he became aware of his surroundings again, particularly the sharp edge of a house-sized rock that he was heading to. He grabbed some of the parachute's strings and pulled at them, sending him away from certain death in a nauseating spiral. As the ground came nearer, Kirk put his legs so as he was sitting in a cross-legged position and made sure to lean backwards. He collided with the ground, with the backside of the seat like he had anticipated, and was dragged a few meters through the sands before the parachute dropped to the ground as well. Kirk closed his eyes and just breathed for a few moments. He realized that he was sweating profusely, but figured that it was not solely due to the heat.
He needed to find Spock! He pressed the disc on his chest and the seatbelt released him. He jumped up, finding that his legs felt like jelly. He was also quite nauseous. He realized that Spock must have landed on the other side of the rock he had barely avoided. He walked through the sand, not caring that every bone in his body protested. Soon, he had walked around the rock, only to find that there were even more, and even bigger rocks behind it. Kirk trudged past them, barely registering that there was a cave in one of them. A few meters more, and he could see something blue. Kirk was immensely glad that his friend had managed to open his parachute. He began to run towards it, stumbling a few times and even falling over once.
Spock was still in his seat, eyes closed. He had awkwardly landed on his side, telling Kirk that he hadn't been conscious when it happened. Kirk opened Spock's seating belt and pulled him out of the seat and on his back. With trembling hands, he tried to feel for a pulse. Belatedly, he remembered that he couldn't even feel Spock's pulse during normal circumstances. Instead, he held an ear to his mouth. Additionally, he checked if his chest was still moving. Kirk relaxed for just a little. At least, his friend was still breathing.
He must bring Spock out of the storm and into some form of shelter, Kirk realized. Maybe the cave he had seen? He looked at his still unconscious friend. Spock was not overly heavy, but he would not be able to carry him without bending Spock's back. He feared worsening any injuries he might have suffered. Maybe if he could drag him somehow?
It took Kirk only a moment to find a sharp-edged stone. With its help, he cut the strings of the parachute. They were very sturdy and many, so Kirk had quite some work to do until the chute was free. There were blisters forming on his hands, but Kirk ignored them. He dragged his first officer onto the thin blue cloth. He was still unconscious. "Spock?", he tried and shook him slightly. The Vulcan didn't react. With a sigh, Kirk began to pull the parachute. A few tears formed, but it seemed to work.
Kirk had to stop a few times to regain his breath. The sand was deep, and wading in it was quite a strain. Additionally, he suffered under the thin atmosphere. So, he labored and sweated. He had already lost all measure of time when he finally reached the cave. He collapsed into the sand in front of it. Breathing heavily, he checked on Spock again. The Vulcan was still breathing. Warily, Kirk glanced into the cave, to make sure nothing lived in it. When he couldn't see anything from the outside, he made a few unsteady steps into it. While it was quite dark, Kirk could still see that the walls were covered in Vulcan writings. At the end of the small cave, an altar from stone stood. Was this some sort of temple? His adventurer's heart beat faster, but he quickly remembered the dire situation he was in. Satisfied that the cave was save, he pulled Spock inside.
He put Spock to the side of the cave, were he would be save from the gale that sometimes swept sand inside. Again, he checked if his friend was still breathing. He was, but his skin temperature had significantly dropped. Kirk lay the ends of the parachute over his stiff body, so as to form a blue cocoon. Kirk couldn't stop himself from staring. Was this a healing trance? Doctor M'Benga had given him a lecture on this Vulcan phenomenon at the beginning of their five-year mission, 'just in case'. Kirk knew that he would have to slap Spock when he came around to help him focus, but he couldn't remember anything else the Doctor had said. He couldn't even tell whether this really was a healing trance, or if Spock had just suffered brain damage. He felt tears quell in his eyes, and he wished that Bones would be with him, or anybody else really, preferably somebody with a medical degree. Even with the ion storm, somebody must surely realize that they didn't arrive at Vulcana Regar. He just hoped that they were considered worth searching for. Sitting down, he leaned his head against the cave's wall and stared outside.
I created some fanart for this chapter. You can look at it under: https: double slash imgur dot com slash a slash U2xWal6 (Just replace the words with the correct signs.)