1Disclaimer: Star Trek is not mine. Morlin, Turita, the Chief, the villagers, and the planet are.
Chapter Six
"Twins from our planet have a strong mental bond," Turita explained to Captain Kirk and Doctor McCoy. "If we can get down to my planet, close enough to the village, I may be able to contact her."
"And what if you can't?" Kirk asked.
"Then she's either unconscious or dead."
— — — — —
"What is this?" the Chief demanded.
Spock didn't say anything. The Chief pushed him roughly to the ground. "Answer me!" he demanded again. He pulled Spock's gloves off. "What is the meaning of this?"
Morlin tried to break free, but the warriors held her fast. There was no chance of escape; Spock was too weak. And telling the truth wouldn't help; they'd never believe it. The only thing left to do was keep quiet.
Spock knew this, too. Escaping was out of the question. Telling them the truth would violate the Prime Directive. But he could try to save Morlin.
"Chief," he said, forcing his voice to stay even. "Morlin knows nothing. I told her exactly what she told you, and no more. You have no reason to imprison her. She doesn't know who I am."
"And yet you want to save her."
"She is innocent."
"And what say you, Morlin?" the Chief asked.
"You know the ways of our people, my Chief. We do not lightly abandon our friends. I can tell you everything he can about who he is; you have my word on that. The choice is yours what to do with us, but I will stay with him. And you cannot stop me."
With a nod from the Chief, the villagers dragged Spock and Morlin roughly away.
When they had gone what Spock could roughly estimate was a mile and a half, they were dumped to the ground. He heard a sound like a stone being rolled into place and realized they were trapped. "Completely illogical," he remarked.
"What, parents don't fight with their kids on your planet?" Morlin asked lightly.
"Not . . . to this extent. But I was referring to your decision to stay."
"I guess it was. But there's no point in regretting it now. What's done is done."
"Quite correct. And this doesn't seem as bad as they made it sound." Just then, there was a noise from behind them. "On the other hand, if my hearing is correct --"
"There's nothing wrong with your hearing, Spock," Morlin confirmed. "That's the sound of a whip cracking."
— — — — —
"Be careful, Bones," Kirk warned as Doctor McCoy strapped his air tank on.
"I'm not the one you need to worry about, Jim. Turita, are you ready?"
"Whenever you are."
The two of them took their places. "Energize," Kirk said.
Bug, Vulcan of Central Park–Yes, the plot thickens. Not quite as thick as molasses, but getting there, huh? :) My apologies for such a short chapter, but school and band and cross-country and youth group and bedtime and . . . You get the point. :)