Ajah and Helek had taken all their information to Admiral Winston, and they were waiting for Spock and the others to return, which would be another day. "Let's just think through everything," Helek said as he and Ajah were on a transmission call with Carol and Solan. "We have an idea why he took Admiral Kirk, but where did he take him?"

"Well, there's just not much chance of figuring that out without capturing someone who knows something," Solan replied.

Ajah was thinking. "I'm not so sure of that," he said.

"What are you thinking?" Carol asked.

"My novel, Desert of Torment…Jarvis said that Lieutenant Stow liked it a lot, and was practically obsessed with it. Then he also said that Stow was fascinated with some planet that has a lot of desert."

"Garresant," Helek said. "I've never heard of that planet."

"I've heard of it," Solan said. "I've never been there, but from what I hear, if you get stranded there, you're stranded, and…well, there are these bird people who live there. It's quite a different culture than ours."

"What do you mean?" Carol asked.

"They have these…" Solan was not sure he wanted to tell her about that culture, but he supposed it did not matter. "They have these mating seasons and the females are the ones who take mates. There was this one guy who was there, and he found himself captive for a week with some bird woman."

"Captive?"

"Yeah. Don't ask me about it. I haven't been there, but if Jim is there, he's in a lot of trouble."

"Why would Lieutenant Stow take him there?"

"I don't know. He might not have known about what goes on there, or maybe he left Jim there."

"Is he in danger?"

"I don't know. There are hostile tribes there. We don't even know that he's there. I'm just telling you about that planet. I really don't know."

"If he's not there, why would that guy be talking about it and talking about that novel?" Helek asked.

"It may be worth it to check it out," Solan replied. "But if we go there, we have to be careful. We could end up being a mate."

"I might just give her a shock too."

Ajah looked at Helek. "You would do that to a woman?" he asked.

Carol folded her arms. "Will you guys just stop it?" she asked. "You're all occupied with that instead of trying to figure out how to help Jim."

"Well, you wouldn't be a side of beef on that planet," Solan declared.

"Neither will you. I'll tell them you're all my mates and if they touch you, I'll shoot them."

Ajah almost laughed at that, but mostly at the look on Solan's face. "That might work," Helek said. "I think maybe you're exaggerating anyway."

"I'm just telling you what I heard," Solan replied. "You can believe it or not. We have to get back there first anyway. Spock may have some better ideas than going down into that place."

"Perhaps we could beam him out if he's there," Carol said.

"I don't know."

Jim lay in his hammock again as night had fallen. The scouts had not come back, but Garath said they would return tomorrow with news. Jim was not sure he could sleep. He had done nothing all day but sit and wonder how he could get off the planet and watched others around preparing for their mating season. Qharri had also left the village. He could not help but think of how she had flirted with him right in front of Garath. He wondered if the women took more than one mate. He had asked a lot of questions and still did not understand everything. He had finally gotten tired of asking so many and just walked around almost the length of the village taking in the beauty of it even if it did have a wild side. He had met some more of the people who lived there, and they all seemed welcoming. He thought Garath was a good leader if he could have a whole village that got along so well, but then again, they were waiting for something.

Jim did not sleep well that whole night. He was not sure why, but he thought he could feel tension, and he felt just a little eerie. He had even walked around outside to look out across the landscape, but he could see nothing out there. He could only smell that ever-present smell that seemed to emanate from everywhere. If another human besides Zawek was on this planet, they were well-hidden. Maybe he knew about this mating season and he was staying hidden until it was over.

The next day, the scouts returned around midday. They had not seen the other human nor a ship. They had not even seen any signs of the feettal. "That is odd," Garath said. "Why would the feettal migrate?"

"Migrate?" Jim asked.

"They are usually present."

"You think maybe they're after the females?"

"They do not usually bother the females in this time because of their aggression."

Jim scowled at that. "The feettal are even afraid of them?" he asked.

"No. The feettal have never moved before."

"Well, what's different now than before?"

Garath considered that. "There has been more rain lately," he said. "But it has only helped the forest."

"And this has never happened before?"

"No. Not while I have been alive."

Jim wondered if his captor had simply left the planet. After all, he was trapped there with no communication. The scouts also told them that the other tribes were scouting. Garath looked out across the terrain, and Jim stood beside him. "What's happening?" Jim asked.

"Something strange," Garath replied. "Something dangerous."

Jim frowned. "You think there's some natural phenomenon about to happen?"

"It is possible. There is a restlessness."

"Don't you have elders here who might have seen something in the past?"

"Most of our elders go to the high trees to the West to live out their days. They no longer participate in the mating season so they move there to avoid it. Soon, we will have several hatchlings."

"Maybe someone should make a trip over there to ask them," Jim replied. "How far is it?"

"At least three days travel."

Jim frowned. "And that's flying, I assume?"

"Yes. No one here is going to go there at this time."

"I would if I could get there."

Garath was silent a moment. "Perhaps there is a way," he said. "One of the shandri's could take you."

"What's a shandri?"

"It is an animal that the humans here use for transportation when they travel long distances. It would have to be willing to carry you there."

"Does it fly?"

"No. But it is fast."

Jim wondered what sort of creature a shandri was, but he went with Garath down to the forest and they soon came to a large clearing. Jim found that the shandri was a horse-like creature, but larger. "It is also called a tundra horse by the humans," Garath said.

"Is it a friendly creature?" Jim asked.

"Yes. Usually. If it becomes your companion on this journey, it will defend you. Zawek calls this one Renegade."

Jim smiled slightly at that. "Really?"

"It is an odd name, but the animal doesn't seem to mind."

"Renegade!" Garath called.

The horse creature looked up and trotted over to them. Jim could not help but wonder how he was going to get up on this giant horse, but it seemed very docile and sniffed him. "Renegade," Garath said as he petted the animal. "Our friend here needs a ride to the place of the elders."

Renegade snorted and looked at Jim with one eye. "He understands you?" Jim asked.

"Over time, any creature will learn some language. I think your journey will be good. We must prepare you provisions."

"Thank you. I'd like to leave as soon as possible."

"You may leave as soon as you are ready."

When Jim had what he needed for the journey, Renegade lay down so he could get on his back and then he stood up. "I only go to the west?" Jim asked.

"Yes," Garath replied. "You will know when you come to the high trees."

"They're taller than these?"

"You will see. Do not worry. Renegade knows where to go."

"I'll do what I can."

Jim leaned over to Renegade's ear. "Let's go?" he said.

Renegade started off immediately. "Be safe, my friend," Garath called.

Jim was soon leaving the tall trees of the forest, and he was back in the scraggly-forested terrain like before. Renegade was taller than a lot of the trees there, so Jim could see over the forest to where they were going from his viewpoint. Once they were traveling across desert and sparse vegetation, Renegade began to gallop. Jim leaned down and watched where they were going. They were definitely covering a lot of ground as Renegade was fast.

Jim was not sure how far they had gone by the time the sun went down but they had come into another forest, although it was not tall trees. He almost forgot how high up he was and started to dismount the horse but Renegade knelt so he could get down. "Thanks," Jim said. His legs felt stiff after that long ride so he walked around a bit. He could not help but notice how quiet it was there. He looked up through the trees at the stars and folded his arms as he felt just a little cold. He could hear nothing in this forest. He did not think he had ever been in a forest that was so silent. It was rather eerie.

Jim gathered up sticks to build a fire because Garath had not forgotten to give him means to start a fire. They had also provided food wrapped tightly in packages for each meal. He was surprised at their attention to details. He got a fire going and sat down on a rock. Renegade lay down close to him and even put his head into Jim's lap. He was surprised but he petted the animal which was more like a big pet than a wild animal. "You have a heavy head," Jim said as a large tongue smacked him on the face. Then Renegade was rolling in the dirt like any other horse.

Jim listened to the silence of the planet which was just a little too silent. He loved the idea that it was just a natural world and it smelled fragrant, but was there nothing on this planet that made noise? He thought the trees around here smelled like pine trees, and then he smelled that flowery fragrance again which he figured was a night bloomer. Night blooming flowers always made him sneeze, and this one was no different. He grabbed his blanket and lay down beside the fire. He wondered if anyone would ever figure out that he was on this planet. How would they ever know? He did not even know who had captured him. He could not let himself feel like there was no hope, but he was starting to feel despair.

The next morning, Jim was awakened by a big, wet tongue on his face. He sat up. "Oh, that's quite a good morning," he said. "You have morning breath."

Renegade made a slight whinnying sound as he knelt for Jim to get on his back. "Give me time there, Boy," Jim said. "I'm not ready to jump in the saddle again." He took care of a few things, gathered up his provisions, and decided he would eat while on the move.

They were soon moving out across the plains again as the sun rose. Jim was in awe at the beauty of the desert as the sun rose. It seemed to come to life with colors, but they were not in the desert as long this time, but entered a rocky area. Renegade had to choose his path carefully because of narrow passages that he could not fit through.

While they traveled through the rocks, Jim started hearing a distant rumbling sound. He looked around the horizon in front of them but he could see no clouds. He turned to look behind them and could see that the sky on the horizon that way was black. At first, he thought it was a smoke, but then he realized it was lightning and clouds. "Renegade, stop," Jim said.

The horse stopped and turned sideways as Jim looked back at the dark, graying sky with furious looking lightning. Was it a violent electrical storm? He heard the rumbling again and saw flashes of light in the dark clouds. Garath had thought there was something happening.

Jim wondered if that storm was coming that way. If he and Renegade were caught out in that, they might not survive. "Let's go, Boy," he said, and Renegade immediately began walking again. Jim wondered if Garath had deliberately sent him out there. Did he know what was coming? If he did, he had pretended not to.

As the day wore on, clouds began to build where Jim was. He started looking for a shelter where he and Renegade could stay until that storm passed over. He saw a cave not far from them as he heard deep rumbling behind them. He did not want to look back and see how close it was to them. "We're going in that cave, Renegade," Jim said. "Looks like it will be big enough for you too."

They got to the cave, and Jim got down. Renegade followed him as he went into the cave which was plenty big enough for them to stay in. Jim looked around the cavern to make sure no other creatures had taken refuge in there, but he saw nothing. He did find some old wood and dried grass from nests so he used that to make a fire. By the time he got the fire going, the storm was upon them and was incredibly loud. He gathered more firewood from around the cave and then sat down.

Renegade lay down close to him and nickered softly. "We're safe in here," Jim said as he petted Renegade's head, but he almost jumped with the next crash of thunder. At least, he assumed it was thunder…maybe to the tenth degree. He ate something, fed Renegade, and rolled up in his blanket. The volume of the storm outside increased so much, he wanted to cover up his head. It was very unnerving. He tried not to shudder with the sounds but it was becoming harder all the time.

Spock had arrived back at Earth with the Enterprise and Ajah filled him in on everything they had found out. "It is highly unlikely that this being would want us to easily rescue the admiral from the planet," Spock said. "If he is on this planet, he was put there for a reason. We must know more about that reason before we go there. I would like to see Lieutenant Stow's apartment. Do you have conclusive evidence that it was he who kidnapped the admiral?"

"Well, we're pretty sure it was him," Ajah replied. "But we can't be certain. He hasn't shown up for work since Admiral Kirk disappeared…and he was kinda obsessed with one of my holonovels."

Spock was silent a moment. "This situation is not your fault, Ajah," he declared. "You only wrote your novel for entertainment, not for an example of criminal activity."

"Maybe if I hadn't made it so specific."

"Stop that right now," Helek said. "Being specific is what makes you a good writer. No one expects some egotistical maniac to try to kidnap someone over it."

"He is correct," Spock agreed.

"Well, how do we get Admiral Kirk back?" Ajah asked.

"Perhaps you should explore your holonovel and see if Lieutenant Stow left any clues. You should inspect the archives."

"I didn't think of that."

"You work on that while I learn more about this planet where we assume Jim is captive."

"What about me?" Carol asked.

"You may stay aboard the Enterprise," Spock answered. "I believe you will be safe here. We do not need to complicate matters any further."

"I understand that, but how are we going to find Jim?"

"I do not know but if he is on the planet, it should not be difficult to find him."

"Spock, what if this person has a trap set for us?"

Spock was silent a moment. "I have thought of this already," he said. "We simply have to be careful."

"Captain Spock, there's a message coming in," Uhura said.

"On screen."

Doctor Leonard McCoy appeared on the viewscreen. "Doctor McCoy," Spock said.

"Spock," Bones replied. "What's this I hear about Jim?"

"I never cease to be amazed at how information can travel through space."

"Don't give me that. Do you know where he is?"

"No, Doctor, we do not. However, we have an idea."

Bones folded his arms. He wanted Spock to ask him to come with them on this hunt for Jim, but he would not admit that. "Well, what happened to him?"

"We are not certain. He has disappeared, data has been deleted, a strange planet called Garresant has been brought to light, and holonovels have been used more often than normal. Also, we think he has a partner."

"Holonovels? What do holonovels have to do with this?"

"It is believed that the suspect is trying to live out a holonovel by using Admiral Kirk as a subject of his obsession."

Bones absorbed that a moment. "Are you telling me that some lame brain has kidnapped Jim because he's obsessed with some holonovel and he wants Jim to live out that novel on some unknown planet?"

"Precisely."

"What holonovel?"

"Desert of Torment."

Bones' mouth dropped open. "You think Jim is stranded somewhere in a desert?"

"We do not know but we are attempting to find more information and evidence."

"He might need a doctor when you find him."

Spock raised an eyebrow. He knew Doctor McCoy would never actually ask to go on a mission. "Are you suggesting that we take you with us?" he asked.

"I'm not suggesting anything. Are you asking me to go?"

"I am not sure we have time to swing by Pacifica. We are not certain where this planet is located. Solan has only heard of it in conversations with space travelers."

"Is there any place that Solan has not heard of?"

"I do not know."

"Couldn't you be coming here while you're trying to figure all that out?"

"I believe Jim would ask you if you are 'chomping at the bit'."

"Maybe I am, but Jim's in trouble."

"We will be there. By that time, perhaps we will know more."

"Right. I'll try to find out some information too."

"Spock out."

Bones ended the transmission. He had never heard of a planet called Garresant, but he intended to find out something if he could. There were always a lot of visitors on Pacifica, including space travelers and freighters. He would just go down to the depot and find some space farer who had been everywhere like Solan…if there was such a person other than Solan. Bones wondered just how old Solan was. He seemed to have been everywhere, but he did not look any older than Jim Kirk.

Bones went on down to the space port and proceeded through to the area where freight came in every day. He looked around at the crowd of old ships that looked similar to Solan's ship, and all of them looked like it would be questionable whether they could even escape gravity. He walked over to the busiest area of the hangar where many of the space pilots were making inventory lists. Bones was not sure which he should talk to. None of them were familiar, but he finally saw one guy who reminded him of Solan with the way he seemed to be paying close attention to what was being unloaded from his ship, so he walked over to him. The man was tall and looked like he did not spend his time on his ship just sitting around doing nothing but must have spent it lifting weights. He had very short blondish hair that was rather spikey and he wore a gray flight suit.

"Hey," Bones said.

The man looked at him with blue eyes that almost looked the color of his flight suit. "What do you want?" he asked. He stared at Bones a moment. "Hey, aren't you Doctor McCoy?"

Bones was rather surprised. "Yeah, I am. I was…"

"Hey, I been having a problem with something. You think you could make a house call?"

"I'd be happy to take care of any problem you have if you can spare a few minutes for me to ask you some questions."

"Sure. But I have to get this stuff unloaded first and make sure it's inventoried right."

"I see. Uhm, well, can I just ask you while you're standing here?"

"I don't see why not. Oh, by the way, I'm Caxton but most people just call me Cax. I guess you guys finished your five-year mission. I heard about it."

"Yeah, we did. Listen, I was…"

Suddenly, Cax hurried up the ramp. "Hey!" he shouted. "You be careful with that!"

Bones sighed. He thought he might as well wait until the guy was done with all this. He could hear him yelling inside the ship about them bumping delicate equipment with crates. He leaned on the loading ramp waiting and wondering if he could find someone else around here who was not so busy.

Soon, Cax came back down the ramp and pressed the button to close the loading ramp. "How about a drink, Doctor?" he asked.

Bones frowned. "No thanks," he said. "I just want to talk to you."

"Well, we can talk over a drink, can't we?"

"Sure."

Bones thought this was going to turn into a long drawn-out event, but he followed Cax to a tavern there practically in the entrance of the space port. When Cax had his drink, they sat at a table. "Are you ready to listen now?" Bones asked.

"Sure," Cax answered. "What's on your mind so heavily?"

"Have you ever heard of a planet called Garresant?"

Cax set his drink down on the table. "Why are you asking about that planet?" he asked.

"Because I want to know something about it."

Cax shook his head. "I'd advise you to stay away from there."

"Why?"

"You ever heard the word inhospitable?"

Bones frowned. "What do you mean?"

"Inhospitable wouldn't even begin to describe that place."

"Why?"

"I'm gonna tell you this: I don't want anything to do with that planet."

"You've been there?"

"Yeah. I made the mistake of stopping there once just because I needed to make a repair to my ship. I had never been there, and I barely got out with my sanity intact."

"Can't you elaborate on that a little?" Bones asked, hoping that his friend was not on that planet.

"Nothing there is what it seems. There are these bird people who live there…several tribes. Some are hostile, some are not, but there are others who make you think they're friendly when all the time, they're plotting against you. It's hard to explain, but they have the ability to manipulate humans to the point that you don't know what's real and what's not." Cax was silent a moment as he took another sip of his drink. "Why are you so interested?"

Bones looked at him. "I guess you've heard of Admiral Kirk," he said.

Cax laughed. "Who hasn't?"

"He's been kidnapped."

Cax frowned. "You don't think he's on that planet, do you?"

"We don't know, but that name came up."

Cax leaned on the table. "Man, I hope he's not there."

"A lot of deserts on that world?"

"Yeah, and trees so tall you're in awe, and it's so peaceful and beautiful, you don't think of anything bad going on there. It's that fragrance there. It's almost like a tranquilizer to humans. He probably doesn't even know he's in danger if he's there."

"How did you survive?"

"If I hadn't gone back to my ship and stayed inside it overnight and cleared my mind, I wouldn't have. If someone stranded him there, they did it because they know he can't survive there, and he can't get off that planet unless he has his own ship."

Bones hated the thought of Jim being in a place like that. "Can you show us where it is?" he asked.

Cax blew out a breath. "You're really serious about going there to try and find him?"

"Yeah. He's my best friend, and he would come after me."

Cax shook his head. "I've heard that about him. You can't just go there without a plan."

"We may not have to go down to the planet at all if we can beam him out."

"No, you won't be beaming him out. That planet has its own interference. It's not like any other planet you ever saw."

"You make it sound worse than Magus Three."

"Ha ha. This place makes Magus Three look like a paradise, not because of the look of the place either."

"I have to contact Spock. You come with me."

"What for?"

"Well, you said you needed a doctor. How am I supposed to doctor you if you don't come with me? And don't give me any lip about it. I'm Jim Kirk's doctor, so I know how to deal with uncooperative patients."

"Wow, you're a real grouch just like everyone says."

"Thanks."

Cax went with Bones over to the medical facility where he worked. "First, I'll take care of this medical problem you've been having," Bones said. "It's not from that planet you were on, is it?"

"I wouldn't think so," Cax replied. "That was about two years ago."

Bones scanned him, and then prepared a hypospray. "Hey, aren't you even going to ask me what kind of problems I've been having?" Cax asked.

"That scanner tells me everything I need to know," Bones said. "It's a wonder you're not already dead from roaming the galaxy and picking up some deadly virus from who knows where."

Bones gave him the injection in the neck like he liked to do and then used another device to repair Cax's shoulder. "Now, let's get over here and contact Spock," he said.

Cax flexed his shoulder which he had been having problems with for quite a while. "Hey, I wish I had come to you sooner," he said.

"Some people never learn," Bones replied. "When you fall over dead from some deadly virus you'll wish you had come more often."

"Do you always talk about dying?"

"Yeah."

Spock arrived at Lieutenant Stow's apartment, along with Helek and Solan. "What exactly are we looking for?" Solan asked.

"Anything that might give us more clues into what this individual has been doing with his free time," Spock replied.

They spread out in the apartment and began looking to see if there was anything that would suggest Stow had been plotting anything. Spock sat down at Stow's computer terminal and began searching that.

Solan got down and looked under the bed and found a large hard-shell case. He pulled it from under the bed and opened it. It was full of books, plus holodeck information sticks. He took one of the sticks from its slot and it had a holo-novel title on it. Helek came over to Solan. "Hey, what's all that?" he asked.

"These are information sticks for a holodeck," Solan said.

"Like novels?"

"Some of them sure are…and look at the titles of some of these books: Desert Sun, Sea of Sand. This guy is obsessed."

"It still doesn't explain why he would kidnap Admiral Kirk and take him to some unknown planet."

"Maybe the answers are on some of these sticks."

Helek picked up one of the sticks. "I have never seen one of these," he said. "How do you know about them?"

"I worked with Scotty."

"Oh yeah. You know, you should be somewhere on a star ship being an engineer instead of out delivering supplies."

"I'll do what I want, thank you."

"Why do you not want to do it? You worked on the Enterprise. I'm sure Spock would…"

"I said I'll do what I want."

"Okay. Never mind."

Solan closed the case back and carried it to the other room where Spock was working on the computer database. "We found this," Solan said and opened the case.

"Interesting," Spock replied.

Solan showed him one stick in particular. "Desert of Torment," he said.

"Are these originals or are they stories that he has played or edited?" Spock asked.

"I guess there's only one way to find out about that. I thought these were only used on holodecks. Why would he have these here?"

"Interesting question. Perhaps there is more to this apartment than meets the eye."

Solan scowled at that suggestion. "I don't think he has a holodeck here," he said. "There's not enough area."

"One does not need an extremely large area as a holodeck creates the illusion of space."

Solan looked at Helek. "So, you want us to look for something that looks like a holodeck?" Solan asked.

"Explore every room of this apartment."

"Yes, Sir."

Helek and Solan went to the bedroom again. Solan scratched his head as he thought of where one would hide a holodeck. "Well, what do you think?" he asked.

"I was waiting on you to make a suggestion," Helek replied.

"I've never hidden a holodeck."

"And you think I have?"

"I don't know what you do in your free time."

"Oh, yeah, I hide holodecks for a hobby."

They looked in the closet. "Nope, no holodeck in there," Solan said.

"Does Spock really think someone could have a holodeck in this space?" Helek asked.

"Maybe he's seen one."

They searched more of the apartment but did not find anything unusual. "I think he gets holodeck time somewhere else," Solan said as they went back into the room where Spock was.

"Perhaps you are correct," Spock replied. "I have found correspondence between Lieutenant Stow and Lieutenant Brand. It is safe to say that she knew him."

"And she was most likely in on this," Helek declared. "But why? What was their motive?"

"That information will come later. We must return to the Enterprise to assess the information we have found."

They went outside and Spock called the Enterprise to beam them back. Once aboard, Spock went to the conference room, but Solan and Helek went to the holodeck. However, it was already in use as Ajah was there. "Hey, Ajah!" Solan called as they stepped into a hot desert scene.

"Wow, it really is hot in here," Helek said.

Ajah soon found them. "What are you guys doing here?" he asked. "I was looking at Desert of Torment."

"It feels like a desert of torment."

"We found something at Stow's apartment that you might want to see," Solan said. He opened the case and showed the holodeck sticks.

Ajah scowled as he looked at them. "How did he get these?" he asked. "I haven't sold these individually. These are only for public holodecks."

"Why don't we try this one and see what we find?" Solan asked.

"You really think we should?" Helek asked. "What if it's dangerous?"

"We'll make sure the safety protocols are on."

Ajah ended the program he was running. "I didn't find anything unusual on my original," he said.

Solan took out the stick for Desert of Torment. "Now we see if his version is different than yours," he said. He inserted the stick into the holodeck controller and activated it.

They were immediately in a desert, but it was not exactly like what Ajah had created. "This is not the same desert," he declared.

"No kidding," Helek agreed. "Your desert wasn't red like that, was it?"

"No. This looks like Mars."

"He must have downloaded your work into this so he could edit it at his convenience."

"But how? This is supposed to be locked."

"Maybe he just created this himself," Helek suggested.

"But it's titled Desert of Torment."

"So what do we do now?"

"We check this out and see what we can find," Solan said.

They began walking. "What are we looking for?" Helek asked.

"Whatever we find."

They soon came to rock formations and kept walking. "How long is this going to take?" Helek asked.

"As long as it takes," Solan replied.

"How did your story go, Ajah?"

"Not like this," Ajah replied. "But then again, we did not make ourselves part of the story. We are only observing."

As they continued, they came to another area that was mostly flat, red desert, but they could see someone lying on the ground up ahead of them. They hurried to the person and before they got there, they realized who it was. "Wait," Solan said as he and the others almost fell beside him to wake him up. "We have to realize it's not really him."

Ajah frowned. "Then this is what happened to him," he said.

They went on over to the unconscious body of Admiral Jim Kirk, who was lying on the desert ground. Beside him lay a pad. Solan picked it up and activated it. They heard the same message that Jim had heard when he woke up in the desert. "This is crazy," Solan said. "Did he take him there to chase him down? A hunted man?"

"We have to tell Spock about this," Ajah said. "Computer, end program."

The desert vanished along with Jim. "I couldn't bear to walk out of here like we were leaving him there," Ajah said.

"Maybe we should have played some more of that out to see what happens," Helek said.

"We have to tell Spock first."

They hurried to the conference room where they knew Spock would be…

Bones sat down in front of the communication terminal he had there in his office and sent a signal to the Enterprise…

"Captain, we're receiving a transmission from Doctor McCoy on Pacifica," Uhura said as the signal reached the Enterprise.

"Send it to the conference room," Spock said as Solan and the others came in.

Bones appeared on the screen again. "Spock, this is twice in one day," he said.

"I assume you have more to tell us? We are on our way to Pacifica."

"I do have more to tell you, Spock. It's not good either." Bones waved to Cax who was standing behind him. "This is Cax. He's been to that planet we've been talking about. If Jim is on that planet, he's in a lot of trouble, Spock, and most likely doesn't know it."

"Explain."

Bones looked at Cax. "Have a seat," he said.

Bones told Spock what Cax had told him and let Cax fill in anything he missed. Uhura was standing beside Spock by the time they were done with their explanation. "It's not a good situation," Cax said. "I don't know how you'll go there to help him unless you have some sort of environmental suits."

"We do," Spock replied. "And that is mostly thanks to Admiral Kirk himself. Doctor McCoy, we will arrive at Pacifica within three days. I trust you will be ready."

"I will," Bones replied. "You want me to bring our new friend here? Maybe he can help."

Cax was rather surprised. "You want to take me to that planet? On the Enterprise?" he asked.

"Yeah."

"Well, I might go."

"That is up to you," Spock said. "However, we will go with or without your help. We only need coordinates."

"I'll go if only to get to be aboard that ship."

"Very well."

"Excuse me," Solan interrupted. "I'm sorry to interrupt, but you have to hear what we found on the holodeck."

"What is that?" Spock asked.

Solan told them what they had found on the novel stick. "Then that is where Jim is," Bones said. "He's lost in some desert."

"He was," Ajah said. "The guy told him he had only five minutes to start moving and that he had to keep moving. Could the whole planet be desert?"

"Not Garresant," Cax replied. "Like I said, there's some desert but there's a lot of beauty too."

"All of this is irrelevant," Spock said. "What is important now is finding Jim."