Chapter Three - Genesis
Three people materialized on the surface of Genesis a few hours after McCoy's entrance onto the bridge. McCoy, Spock, and David were the first to set foot on the planet that might have given life back to James T. Kirk. All they had to do was find him.
David scanned for lifesigns with his tricorder, and a comforting beep pointed them to the right. And since lifeforms shouldn't have formed yet...
David broke into a run, toward the promise of life. McCoy looked at Spock, who shrugged, and the two followed at a slightly slower pace.
~~~~~~~
He was in the chilling grip of a nightmare, forced to endure the pain of death for all eternity, he thought. That final cry held loud in his ears, causing almost pain.
Blind, deaf, and unable to move. What a way to go.
A surge of icy daggers plunged into his skin, and he did the only thing he was capable of. He screamed.
~~~~~~~
McCoy and Spock stood in stunned silence after the scream faded away. There was no mistaking that voice, even under all the anguish.
"Jim," McCoy whispered.
They began to run, homing in on where the scream had come from. After only a few minutes, they caught up with David. The boy was standing at the edge of a clearing. In the middle was the Mark VI photon tube, and huddled next to it was a very familiar form.
But at an unfamiliar age.
Admiral Kirk was a lot younger than they remembered him. A LOT younger. And although he had not spoken or even moved since they arrived, they knew it had to be him. Even if he did look to be about fourteen years old.
Abruptly, Kirk screamed. David and McCoy jumped back, startled, and even Spock was surprised. The teenager thrashed around for a moment, and they could literally SEE him becoming a little older. McCoy guessed him to look about twenty-five, maybe a little older.
After the initial shock wore off and Kirk was silent again, McCoy walked forward and began scanning him. "I was right," he said. "The Genesis effect brought him back, but at a younger age. What we saw right now was rapid aging, probably linked to the rate of development on the planet. We need to get him off before he dies again."
"For the sixth time," Spock calmly commented. David stared at him.
"Sixth? What has he been doing in Starfleet that's lead him to die five times?" David asked, skeptical.
"Long story," McCoy said. "Now come on, let's get Jim back up to the Enterprise before something bad happens. And knowing him, something bad WILL happen sometime soon."
Spock flipped open his communicator. "Spock to Enterprise."
"Captain Spock, this is Enterprise," Uhura's voice came through.
"We have found what we were looking for," Spock said carefully. "Request four to beam aboard."
There was complete silence on the other end of the channel for several seconds. Then Uhura said, "Aye sir!" and cut the transmission.
~~~~~~
The landing party materialized on the transporter pads of the Enterprise. Spock easily carried the unconscious admiral to Sickbay, then left him with McCoy for the time being. David elected to stay with his father, so Spock went up to the bridge alone.
The turbolift doors opened onto the bridge, and a dozen smiling crew members. Evidently, the word had gotten around rather quickly. Spock glanced at Uhura, who just shrugged.
"Our work here is finished," Spock said, sitting down in the command chair. "Helm, set course for Earth. Best possible speed."
"Aye sir," Sulu replied. His fingers flew over the console. "Setting course for Earth. Warp Six."
The Genesis Planet disappeared as the stars leaped across the viewscreen, marking entry to warp speed. The atmosphere on the bridge was considerably more relaxed than it had been a week ago.
Doctor McCoy stepped onto the bridge a few minutes later. Spock swiveled his chair to look at him. "Report."
"Well, he's got mild amnesia and quite a bit of psychological trauma, but other than that he's fine," McCoy said, not even trying to hide his grin. "And he's alive."
"It is fortunate to know that, Doctor. When will he be fit for duty?" Spock asked.
McCoy shrugged. "Who knows? Nothing like this has ever happened before, not even with Jim. Although you'd think he'd have experienced it a few times by now." He shook his head. "It's really odd, Spock, to see him looking like that. Makes me feel like we're on that first five-year mission all over again."
"Understandable," Spock agreed.
"Well if that's all settled, I hope you don't mind if I head back to my quarters," McCoy said. "This whole damn thing hasn't let me get any sleep."
"Very well Doctor, you are dismissed."
Three people materialized on the surface of Genesis a few hours after McCoy's entrance onto the bridge. McCoy, Spock, and David were the first to set foot on the planet that might have given life back to James T. Kirk. All they had to do was find him.
David scanned for lifesigns with his tricorder, and a comforting beep pointed them to the right. And since lifeforms shouldn't have formed yet...
David broke into a run, toward the promise of life. McCoy looked at Spock, who shrugged, and the two followed at a slightly slower pace.
~~~~~~~
He was in the chilling grip of a nightmare, forced to endure the pain of death for all eternity, he thought. That final cry held loud in his ears, causing almost pain.
Blind, deaf, and unable to move. What a way to go.
A surge of icy daggers plunged into his skin, and he did the only thing he was capable of. He screamed.
~~~~~~~
McCoy and Spock stood in stunned silence after the scream faded away. There was no mistaking that voice, even under all the anguish.
"Jim," McCoy whispered.
They began to run, homing in on where the scream had come from. After only a few minutes, they caught up with David. The boy was standing at the edge of a clearing. In the middle was the Mark VI photon tube, and huddled next to it was a very familiar form.
But at an unfamiliar age.
Admiral Kirk was a lot younger than they remembered him. A LOT younger. And although he had not spoken or even moved since they arrived, they knew it had to be him. Even if he did look to be about fourteen years old.
Abruptly, Kirk screamed. David and McCoy jumped back, startled, and even Spock was surprised. The teenager thrashed around for a moment, and they could literally SEE him becoming a little older. McCoy guessed him to look about twenty-five, maybe a little older.
After the initial shock wore off and Kirk was silent again, McCoy walked forward and began scanning him. "I was right," he said. "The Genesis effect brought him back, but at a younger age. What we saw right now was rapid aging, probably linked to the rate of development on the planet. We need to get him off before he dies again."
"For the sixth time," Spock calmly commented. David stared at him.
"Sixth? What has he been doing in Starfleet that's lead him to die five times?" David asked, skeptical.
"Long story," McCoy said. "Now come on, let's get Jim back up to the Enterprise before something bad happens. And knowing him, something bad WILL happen sometime soon."
Spock flipped open his communicator. "Spock to Enterprise."
"Captain Spock, this is Enterprise," Uhura's voice came through.
"We have found what we were looking for," Spock said carefully. "Request four to beam aboard."
There was complete silence on the other end of the channel for several seconds. Then Uhura said, "Aye sir!" and cut the transmission.
~~~~~~
The landing party materialized on the transporter pads of the Enterprise. Spock easily carried the unconscious admiral to Sickbay, then left him with McCoy for the time being. David elected to stay with his father, so Spock went up to the bridge alone.
The turbolift doors opened onto the bridge, and a dozen smiling crew members. Evidently, the word had gotten around rather quickly. Spock glanced at Uhura, who just shrugged.
"Our work here is finished," Spock said, sitting down in the command chair. "Helm, set course for Earth. Best possible speed."
"Aye sir," Sulu replied. His fingers flew over the console. "Setting course for Earth. Warp Six."
The Genesis Planet disappeared as the stars leaped across the viewscreen, marking entry to warp speed. The atmosphere on the bridge was considerably more relaxed than it had been a week ago.
Doctor McCoy stepped onto the bridge a few minutes later. Spock swiveled his chair to look at him. "Report."
"Well, he's got mild amnesia and quite a bit of psychological trauma, but other than that he's fine," McCoy said, not even trying to hide his grin. "And he's alive."
"It is fortunate to know that, Doctor. When will he be fit for duty?" Spock asked.
McCoy shrugged. "Who knows? Nothing like this has ever happened before, not even with Jim. Although you'd think he'd have experienced it a few times by now." He shook his head. "It's really odd, Spock, to see him looking like that. Makes me feel like we're on that first five-year mission all over again."
"Understandable," Spock agreed.
"Well if that's all settled, I hope you don't mind if I head back to my quarters," McCoy said. "This whole damn thing hasn't let me get any sleep."
"Very well Doctor, you are dismissed."