III
Spock, when he woke, could tell that the being who entered via the overhead hatch was no ordinary pirate. The footsteps across the cold metal floor were much too light for a massive Orion male. No, it was more likely to be a jailer bringing some nourishment down to him.
Sure enough there was a clang of metal on metal or a dish being put on the ground. Turning to face the jailer he was unpleasantly surprised to find himself facing the nozzle of a sleek phaser clutched in the jailer's hand.
The person standing opposite Spock was unmistakably female as well as being somehow familiar…like he had known them a long time ago. He pushed aside his feeling of uneasiness and focused on his (presumed) captor's voice.
"I could kill you in an instant Mister Spock but then all those months of careful planning would have been wasted and that wouldn't do now would it?"
Spock could see her teeth gleaming behind the air filter concealing her face.
"Shooting you would be too quick, too painless, not at all deserving of the hero you are."
When she said hero it was with a sneer in her voice. Very slowly she backed up the stairs.
"You think it's cold here? Wait until we leave the planet. Then you'll learn the true meaning of icy. Iced up like I've been for six whole years Spock. I was only a kid trying to get along until you and your Starfleet pals came along and took my life away. But I'll change all that, it'll change now. This bay will be your new home Spock; welcome to your last resting place."
The steps retracted smoothly behind her. They weren't standard issues in bays, she must have modified the ship. She's nearly reached to top now.
'Goodbye Spock, I'm going to enjoy watching you die' she pointed to a corner of the bay 'Be a good boy and smile for the camera.'
Far above him the hatch door slammed shut.
Kirk threw himself into his captain's chair and spoke to one of the officers at the helm (driving the star ship).
'Mister Chekov, I need you to assemble a search party of six to beam back down to the planet immediately'
'Are you not coming vith us Captain?'
'No Chekov I need to speak with Starfleet Command, I need a lead on who might be behind all this. I'll join you on-planet as soon as I can.' Besides, there's somebody here I need to talk to first. Kirk wondered how he might find the small alien again.
The creature named Yaddle sat in deep thought. She could sense the child for whom she had travelled here nearby but Spock's disappearance complicated matters. It was possible help Kirk, and in some ways she felt partially responsible for what had happened, but at helping would cost her time and focus. Yaddle contemplated for several minutes more before reaching a decision and going to find Kirk.
