Disclaimer: I don't own the movies or its characters. They belong to their rightful owners and I only borrow them for this non-profit story.

A/N: So… here we have my translation of my German story "Panuki Geato". Please enjoy!

~ Chapter 1 ~

"All right, Chekov. Beam us onto the planet's surface."

Kirk gave the young Russian a nod before he turned around to face the crewmates, he had chosen to be part of the landing party.

Ensigns Hudson and Belgrin were talking about a friend who would have loved to join them. Belgrin's chest was swelled with pride, it was his first away mission after all. Hudson on the other hand looked quite relaxed, hands crossed behind his back.

Lt. Frankis listened to their talk still looking a bit concerned, rubbing her hands against each other. She preferred to be down in Engineering than to explore planets or – in this case – save them. Still the Captain had chosen to take her with him so that she would make more friends.

Next to him, on his left and on his right, stood Bones and Scotty, both waiting patiently for getting transported. While his CMO hadn't been to keen on this mission when Kirk had told him about it, his Chief of Engineering seemed to be quite relieved about that change of scenery. Though he really loved his engines he enjoyed the fresh air of a new planet from time to time.

It didn't take long and the landing party materialized on the planet's surface.

Panuki Geato.

Jim remembered the name quite well. The queen who had hailed the Enterprise and asked for help had been repeating it over and over again. Uhura finally managed to decrypt the message and they found out that the planet's water supplies were delivered by a machine that had been built by humans a thousand of years ago. Every single drop of water came from beneath the ground and had to be pumped above the surface. Usually, a ship of Star Fleet visited the planet every fifty years to take care of the machine's maintenance. But this year no one had come, even though the inhabitants didn't know why… and the machine was starting to break down slowly. Without its water the whole civilization who had stayed on the planet after their home had been destroyed was doomed.

Jim took a look around. They were standing in some sort of desert. The ground was dry as hell and stony and there was not a single plant growing for miles and miles, not even a blade of grass. The sun was burning and it was just so hot, no cloud to be seen – if there were any on this planet.

"Dam it! It's so hot! Where did we end up now?", Belgrin groaned and everyone sighed in agreement. Only Scotty didn't seem to be bothered by the weather since he immediately started walking towards him, patting the Ensign on his shoulder.

"Now come on, laddie. A bit of sunshine never killed nobody", he exclaimed cheerfully and Jim could nearly hear Bones rolling his eyes when the Doctor replied that the Chief should say that again once they all broke down due to heatstroke.

"Don't be so grumpy, doc."

Kirk just laughed as he watched Scotty walking over to McCoy, laying one arm around his shoulder.

"We'll be long gone before the sun can hurt us."

But Bones quickly managed to free himself from the Scotsman's grip and he crossed his arms.

"From your lips to God's ears, Mr. Scott."

"Don't judge him too hard, Bones. After all this time he spent on an ice planet like Delta Vega, Scotty's probably just glad to experience the exact opposite of it", Jim explained in a soothing manner and the Scotsman nodded in agreement.

"Aye, the Captain's right."

Before McCoy could reply something, their talk was interrupted by a voice.

"Captain Kirk?"

The landing party turned around to see an apparently female figure running towards them. Only when she reached the crew Jim could watch her more closely.

The figure definitely resembled that of an earth woman. There were two arms, two legs and even body and face looked quite human like. The biggest difference was her skin. It was green or maybe blueish, scaly, somehow like a reptile. It mostly resembled a lizard's skin. It was probably protecting her from the heat. She wore her long black hair loosely and a white garment was wrapped around her body, nearly touching the ground. She was quite pretty.

"Queen Aniria?"

The woman gave him a nod and when Jim and the others bowed down in front of her, she lifted her hands in embarrassment.

"Oh please, that's not necessary. You are here to help my family and myself. It's me who should be bowing down."

"We'll do what we can, Your Highness", Scotty said and the queen gave them all a glance. She eyed the humans suspiciously and Kirk knew that it was time to introduce themselves.

"This is the team to help you. My Chief of Engineering Mr. Scott."

Scotty bowed down once again and Hudson and Frankis who were assigned to support him did the same when Jim said their names.

"We'll repair that machine as fast as possible. I promise."

Jim looked at Bones and Belgrin.

"And these are Dr. McCoy and Mr. Belgrin. They'll take care of the injured you mentioned."

A few members of the civilization had tried to repair the machines on their own and it had caused some small explosions and electric shocks.

"Thank you. Thank you so much. Follow me and I'll show you where we live."

The crew exchanged a short glance and then they followed the queen.

'Not a single plant…'

While they walked through the desert, Jim realized that the environment didn't seem to change at all. Everything looked the same to him and it seemed to be a mystery how Aniria could make out a path. She was walking quite straight through the stony desert, a clear target in front of her eyes.

"May I ask how you're able to get through without a doctor?"

It was Bones' voice. He sounded exhausted and Kirk knew the reason for that. He too could feel his body weakening with every step he took. Sweat ran down his forehead, his throat felt dry. He couldn't imagine how life on this planet would look like if the machine stopped working. It would mean the end for every creature.

For a moment Aniria looked over her shoulder, a glimpse of sadness in her blue eyes, before she focused on the way again.

"We had a healer. Pokura. He was the best healer we ever had. But he was involved in an accident a few sunrises ago. We've lost him before his student was able to finish his apprenticeship. I… I don't know what we're going to do yet, but… I have faith in his student."

Jim glanced at McCoy for a moment, before he replied that he was sorry about what had happened.

'A real endangerment for a whole civilization. No doctor, no experienced technician… How long will they be able to continue living on this planet?'

It was really sad. But he'd think about the planet's future later on because just now he caught a glimpse of a chain of rocks. Was his mind playing tricks on him? A hallucination caused by heat?

"There it is. Inside of these rocks my people live."

So it was real then!

"Well then… Lead the way, Your Highness."

Jim was amazed when they entered the rocks which were extending in many caves and passages. Torches hanging on the walls illuminated the passage Queen Aniria was guiding them through. From time to time, Jim looked inside some caves laying next to the main passage. He saw more inhabitants and gave them a friendly nod. In one cave, which was illuminated by a small hole in the ceiling, he recognized some kind of bed filled with green plants.

'That's how they feed themselves.'

And in that moment Jim realized once more why he had become Captain of the Enterprise. Exploring, meeting new life forms and worlds. That made his life worth living. And he never wanted to miss any of it.

The queen was leading them into a huge cave and there it was – the machine! A big thing made of metal was placed in the center. Gathered around it stood some inhabitants, watching it worriedly. When they heard steps, they turned around and their faces lit up.

'We're their last hope. I sure hope we can do something for them.'

Scotty's whistle pulled Jim's mind back into reality and he watched his Chief of Engineering stepping towards the machine, taking a closer look at it.

"Now that's what I call an antique. Pretty thing. Might need some spare parts here and there. But we'll see what we can do."

Hudson and Frankis joined him and together they started working, even though Scotty was doing most of the work.

'He just can't help it.'

Jim just smiled. That was Montgomery Scott. Every machine he touched was something like his own and he cared for them. Still, he would need the other's help sooner or later.

"Where are the injured?"

Jim's eyes wandered to his best friend who was looking around.

"Over here!"

The answer came from a young male inhabitant who was standing at the entrance of yet another cave. His dark brown hair seemed black in the less illuminated passage. He waved at them, looking excited.

"That's Hukalu, student of our healer who passed away", the queen explained and Bones gave Belgrin a short glance before he rolled up his sleeves and walked towards the cave.

"Let's see what the kid's learned up until now."

The Ensign followed him as fast as possible, carrying the heave med kit they had brought with them, not knowing how many medical supplies were available on the planet.

Jim looked after them before he turned around to face Aniria who stood next to him, watching his people doing their work. She seemed to be quite relieved and grateful, a smile on her lips.

"You'll save our lives, Captain Kirk. I can't thank you and your friends enough."

He gave her an understanding nod and when the queen offered to show him around, he happily agreed.

'New worlds. New life forms. That's all I ever need.'

Time was passing by quite fast and it was getting dark when Jim and Aniria sat down at a table in one of the caves. Jim couldn't believe it. He was actually drinking a cup of water! The queen had seen it as her duty to offer every member of the crew a cup of the water they had left. They were saving her and her people after all.

And Jim had needed it. Even though the caves were spending some cool, the feeling of thirst hadn't stopped. The first drop of water running down his throat into his stomach felt like the first drop he had ever swallowed. He immediately felt refreshed.

"Does it taste good, Captain?"

He opened his eyes, looked at Aniria smiling at him… and froze.

Her eyes.

They looked different. They weren't blue anymore like when they had first arrived but… black. Was he imagining things? Or was it because of the reducing amount of light shining down on them through a hole.

Hesitantly, he nodded, returning the smile.

"Very good. Thank you."

Aniria's smile grew even wider and it made Jim feel kind of uncomfortable. Something was… wrong. But what was it?

"I… have yet another issue to discuss, Captain. And I really hope that you can help me."

Kirk gave her a questioning look and moved his hand, begging her to continue talking.

"Your CEO and your CMO… They… are both quite talented, judging by what I saw."

Kirk laughed. The queen really had a good view for these things. Scotty and Bones had done a perfect job and it wouldn't be long until they were ready to leave.

"They are. The best I know."

"How much?"

Kirk's smile vanished from his lips and he frowned in confusion. What was she talking about? What did she mean by that? His whole body started to tingle strangely and he couldn't explain why.

"I beg your pardon?"

"How much do you want for them?"

The sip Jim just took got stuck in his throat and he coughed once, putting the cup down. Then he laughed unsettled.

"I… I don't understand?"

He still couldn't believe what he'd heard just now. Did the queen really ask him for a price for his friends?

"I want to buy them. What do you want? Gold? Silver? This planet has a lot of valuable ores and minerals."

In that second every smile faded from Jim's face. Aniria… she was being serious about this. Kirk shook his head in disbelief.

"Now… I don't know the rules of this planet but where I come from… you can't just buy people-"

"I'll give you all the gold we own. You'll take it and leave them here."

Kirk stood up and suddenly he realized that the strange tingling he'd felt before was only increasing. He swayed, feeling unsteady.

"No way! That's crazy! You can't buy my men!"

The queen had stood up too and slowly stepped next to him, laying a hand around his shoulder while Jim tried to steady himself, putting one hand on the table's surface. He blinked a few times, tried to clear his vision. But it didn't work.

"Well Captain Kirk. Your men will be mine… with or without payment."

The whisper at his ear was the last sound he heard before the world turned dark around him and he lost his consciousness.