The Enterprise dropped out of warp at the coordinates of a planet which they could plainly see had three moons. "Are you getting any readings from the surface?" Spock asked.

"Not a thing," Lieutenant Jarvis replied.

"This is it," Cax said. "I remember it."

They all looked at Spock. "So, what do we do first?" Solan asked. "We sure can't communicate with them."

"We will take a shuttle down to the planet and attempt to scan the planet from there before we do a search. If that fails, we will find Jim another way."

Spock stood up. "Lieutenant Jarvis, you have the Bridge," he said.

Solan, Cax, Helek, and Ajah followed Spock from the Bridge and they met Carol in the corridor. "Is this the planet?" she asked.

"We believe it is," Spock replied.

"I'm going with you."

"I would expect nothing else."

After they were all changed into "electro-suits" and collected weapons, they boarded a shuttle. Solan got into the pilot's seat. "Perhaps we will not have to leave the shuttle," Spock said as he strapped into the seat behind Solan.

Solan guided the ship out of the shuttle bay and they were on their way down to the planet. "I guess we don't have to worry about hiding since they've seen ships before," Solan said.

As they broke into the atmosphere, all the instruments on the ship began to malfunction. "Uh oh," Solan said. "I don't think we're going to be scanning anything."

"I have to tell you I'm nervous about this," Cax declared.

"What's the deal with this planet and its ability to mess up sensors like that?"

"I don't know. Some sort of magnetic field."

"From where? This planet has no technology to create dampening fields."

"It is not a dampening field," Spock said. "It is a strong magnetic field. It is simply scrambling the sensors."

"So, we're going to have to get out down there."

"It would seem so."

"How will we ever find him down there?" Carol asked. "We can't search the whole planet."

"That is true," Spock agreed. "However, it is likely that he would look for shelter rather than staying in the desert areas, so we should keep our searches to the wooded areas."

"That's still a lot of area to cover. Perhaps we can adjust the sensors."

"I do not believe that is possible."

"Where do you want to search first?" Solan asked as they were passing over some desert.

They all began looking out the portals as they passed over the desert, but there were no signs of life down there. "Coming up on some trees," Solan said. "Some BIG trees." He increased their altitude. "Wow. You were right about these being the tallest trees I ever saw."

"I told you," Cax replied. "Look what big leaves they have."

"I see."

"We must find a place to hide the shuttle," Spock said.

"I want an air sample too," Bones added. "That way, if Jim needs it, maybe I can come up with something to help him."

"That is a good idea, Doctor."

Solan found a place in the giant forest where there was a clearing big enough to land the shuttle. Once they were down, they stayed inside to make sure nothing was surrounding the ship. "I don't see anything moving out there," Ajah said.

"I don't think we should just leave the shuttle here unguarded," Solan declared.

"Probably shouldn't," Cax agreed. "This is not the home of the Garre though. They live further…" He paused a moment. "Now that I'm here, I remember more about it."

"That's not surprising," Carol said. "Sometimes being in a place you've been can bring back memories."

"The Garre live further to the East. This is where the elders live, and it only gets thicker and darker as you go further to the Northeast."

"The elders?" Spock asked.

"Yeah. The older bird folk live here apart from the others. They don't participate in the mating seasons anymore, so they live here away from all that. That's what I was told anyway. Garath…he's the leader of the Garre. Why is all this coming back to me now?"

"Like I said, being in a place can bring memories back," Carol said.

They activated their helmets on the electro-suits and opened the boarding ramp. They walked out into a lush, green forest that seemed more like a jungle. Bones looked around them at the large leafed plants. "I just hope none of these plants are poisonous and don't leave some spore on our suits that will infect the entire crew of the Enterprise…"

"Doctor, can we please refrain from pointing out the direst situation possible?" Spock interrupted.

"Well, excuse me," Bones replied. "You never know what's out here in this jungle."

"That is true. However, we are wearing protective suits. It is unlikely that we will be poisoned."

"I'd just as soon not think about that," Solan declared. "Makes me itch inside this thing."

"Can you guys please just stop talking for now?" Carol asked. She was nervous enough without them chattering on about nothing.

"I can't believe I'm on this planet again," Cax said. "I feel like I'm shaking. Maybe I should have stayed with the ship."

They soon came to a place where the trees were taller and were not as close together. "Look up there," Solan said, looking up into the trees.

"It's a village," Cax informed them. "Let's just hope it's the elders."

Just then, three beings came out in front of them, and they had spears. "What are you doing here?" one of them asked.

"We mean you no harm," Spock said. "We're looking for our friend."

"What friend?"

"His name is Jim Kirk."

The three bird people looked at each other. "He means the human, Ricek," one of them said.

Ricek looked at Spock and the others. "Why do you beings continue to come to this planet?" he asked.

"As I said, we are looking for our friend," Spock replied. "We believe he is stranded on this planet."

"We can't help you."

"Yes we can!" the other argued. "I am Zish. Your friend is here! He escaped or was sent out by the Garre to be hunted. He came here, but we could not hide him. He went further into the dark jungle, but he was riding a shandri."

"A what?" Solan asked.

"A shandri, or the humans call it a tundra horse."

"How long has he been gone?" Carol demanded. "Why didn't you help him?"

Zith looked at Ricek. "Because they're afraid of the Garre," Zish said. "They do not want them to come here on their hunt."

"Have they passed through hunting him?"

"They have, but he may have found a place to hide in the dark jungle. There are caves there. Go to the Northeast. You will be there in two or three days."

"Two or three days?" Carol asked. She was not prepared for that assumption.

"Thank you for the information," Spock said.

They all began walking and looking up into the mighty trees of the forest with their gigantic leaves. "If we weren't in this situation, this place would be beautiful," Ajah remarked.

"A situation cannot take the beauty from a planet," Spock replied. "It is only those who inhabit the planet who are corrupt, not the planet itself."

"How philosophical," Bones said. "I don't feel much like looking for beauty on this world when I know Jim is out there somewhere and could be dying."

They walked for a whole day and rested that night in the jungle. The next day, the journey continued, and the jungle grew darker as they walked and much cooler. "Hey, look at this," Solan said and squatted. "Didn't they say he was riding a horse?"

"Yes," Spock replied.

They all looked at the ground where Solan was pointing. "That's a big hoof print," Bones declared. "What kind of horse is this?"

"Most likely not one we've seen on Earth," Solan said.

"Then this means Jim came this way," Carol said.

"It appears so," Spock replied.

They started walking in the direction the hoof prints led. The jungle grew darker still as they came into thicker trees and vines. "Wait!" Solan exclaimed. He squatted again. "It's human prints."

"Jim!" Carol called.

"I think it would be better if we stayed quiet," Cax said looking up into the trees.

"Do you believe we are in danger?" Spock asked.

"Not so's you'd know it. I just think she shouldn't yell like that."

"Let's continue."

They walked until night fell again, and then they found the vine-covered cave. Solan shined a light in and could clearly see prints inside the cave. "They were definitely here," he said. "But no one's here now."

They all went inside. Solan knelt beside the firepit. "This is cold," he said. "No one's been here in a while."

"It appears that someone does live here," Spock said as he shined a light into the living area. "Perhaps we can stay here for the night."

"And what if the occupant comes back?" Bones asked. "And what if they don't like visitors?"

"If they return, we will ask them where Jim has gone," Spock declared.

"Right," Carol agreed as she was checking her phaser rifle. "And they will tell us."

The others said nothing to that. Solan and Cax built up the fire again. Ajah sat beside the cave wall and typed into the pad he had brought along, which was not easy with the gloves of the suit on. Carol sat and watched Ajah and finally went and sat down beside him.

"What are you writing?" Carol asked.

"I was just…" Ajah sighed.

"Just what?"

"I was describing this planet, this jungle, the cave. It's just fascinating."

"May I read it?"

Ajah looked at her. "I don't want you to think I'm so shallow that I think of writing at a time like this. Writing just helps me cope with stress."

"Ajah, no one could ever say you're shallow," Carol said. "We can't find Jim tonight." She sighed. "I just want to know where he is. Now that I'm on the same planet, it seems worse. I want to go around a corner or tree and see him."

"Well, we know we're on the right trail. We'll eventually find him."

"But will he be okay?"

Ajah frowned. "I hope so."

"May I read what you've written?"

Ajah gave her the pad and she began reading his notes and descriptions of the planet, even about the individuals they met. She did not think she had even seen any of this because she had been completely engrossed in her thoughts of finding Jim. "This is very good," Carol said. "You saw things that I didn't see."

"I like to paint a picture for people who haven't seen it and might never see it."

"What made you start writing?"

"Well, believe it or not, there was a time when we had schools and education on Nervala Four. I guess I just fell into it from writing something there."

"Jim and I played one of your novels. It took a few days to get through the whole thing. It was so much fun." Carol was trying not to cry. "I miss him so much I think I've become a blubbering mess."

"No, you haven't. Maybe you should have stayed on the ship and let us find him."

"And do what? Sit around and worry and cry?"

Ajah was not sure what to say to that. "I was just thinking maybe it would be less stressful for you," he said.

"No, I don't think so," Carol replied. She stood up. "I'm taking first watch." She went to the cave entrance.

"Where are you going?" Spock asked.

"I'm taking first watch."

"I'm going with you," Solan declared.

"Do not engage the inhabitants of this planet," Spock said.

"What if they engage us first?"

"Try and capture them."

Carol and Solan went outside. "It's so quiet here," Carol said. "I don't think I've ever been on such a silent planet."

"Me neither," Solan replied. "It's almost creepy."

Carol looked up but she could not see much of the night sky because of the trees and their giant leaves. "Where would he get a horse?" she asked.

"Who knows what's on this planet?" Solan replied.

Cax came from the cave. "I'm not sleepy," he said. "This place gives me the creeps. Are you sure these suits won't fail?"

"That's why we have extra power packs," Carol said.

"Why don't you relax, Man?" Solan asked. "We haven't been attacked so far."

"That doesn't mean we won't be," Cax said. "But we're pretty safe at night. There's no reason for guards."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes. Or I wouldn't say it."

"I guess you have a point there."

Carol reluctantly followed them back into the cave. Spock came over to them. "I believe we can all rest," he said. "It has been a long day and tomorrow may be worse."

"I am definitely ready for some sleep," Solan said. "Although I don't think it will be comfortable in this suit."

Carol sat down by herself and watched the others lie down to sleep. She did not feel like sleeping. Doctor McCoy came and sat down beside her. "You should get some rest too," he said.

"I don't feel like sleeping," Carol replied.

"I could give you something."

"No."

Bones thought he was just making her angry. "You can't walk all day without sleep," he said. "You'll either keel over from exhaustion or start seeing things. Then you have to go through some long recovery that could have been avoided just by getting some sleep."

Carol almost laughed. "You know, Jim has talked so many times about your bedside manner and how you have none."

"Yeah, well, I figure there's no need to beat around the bush."

"I think it's his favorite thing about you. You're so grumpy."

"Grumpy? Just because I point out what could happen? Don't forget the times I was right."

"How could we?"

Bones looked at Carol. "You know, it's okay to cry," he said.

"Don't tell me that," Carol snapped. "I've cried enough already, and it won't bring Jim back."

"I know, but I guess it relieves some of the stress."

Carol leaned on Bones' shoulder. She was truly exhausted but she felt alone. Bones put his arm around her. "We'll find him," he said. He could not think of a sarcastic thing to say. He was not feeling sarcastic.

Helek sat in the ship. He hated being there alone out of communication, but someone had to stay with the ship, and Ajah had wanted to go with the others. Helek had decided to stay in the ship because he was afraid some of the inhabitants of the planet might show up. It was extremely dark in the jungle, but where he was, he could see the stars and moon, although the other two moons were rising. The moons shed light into the clearing. Helek had learned to like new things while he had been living on Earth. One of those things was popcorn. He was eating popcorn now and watching an Earth movie. Doctor McCoy had introduced him to them. He and the doctor had enjoyed some movies together, and the doctor had even set Helek up on blind dates.

While Helek was sitting there, he saw someone emerge from the jungle. He paused his movie to cut the lights in the ship. The being sneaked over to the ship. Helek moved to a position where he could see what they were doing. He had to wonder how any inhabitant on this planet could know anything about a ship. He opened a hatch above the being's head. "What do you think you're doing?" Helek asked.

The being was clearly startled and looked up at Helek. Helek had never seen a being like this one, but he knew it was one of the bird people from the descriptions he had heard. "You get away from this ship," Helek said. "You're about a second from being fried chicken."

"Why are you on this planet?" the birdman asked.

"We're looking for a friend of ours who was stranded here. You tell us where he is and we'll leave."

"I do not know."

"Why are you out here at my ship?"

"You are on my planet."

"I'm not bothering you. Get away from this ship. Help us find our friend and we'll leave."

"You cannot leave this planet. Every time humans come here, more arrive."

"We wouldn't be here if you hadn't kept our friend here. Maybe you should think about your actions."

"My tribe will bring more here to destroy your ship," the other said.

"Try it, and you're going to face some hot opposition. Now get away from this ship."

The birdman gave him one more angry look and then flew away. Helek closed the hatch and locked it. If they tried to destroy the ship, he would use their own planet's magnetism against them. He would draw from it to create a negative charge. He went to a power conduit in the ship and loaded up on power. He wished he could contact someone, but as far as they knew, it was impossible. He thought maybe he would try anyway since it was dark and the atmosphere rises.

Helek sent a signal to Spock's communicator….

Spock was surprised when his communicator chirped. "Captain Spock here," he answered, but there was a lot of static.

"Spock…threatened…the ship…"

"Helek, I cannot hear you clearly."

Helek tried adjusting the frequency. "Can you hear me?" he asked.

"Yes, but there is a lot of static."

"One of those bird people came to the ship. They're threatening to destroy the ship."

The others were gathered around Spock now. "Why?" he asked.

"Apparently they don't want us on their planet. I told them to help us find Jim and we'd leave. He said he didn't know where he is."

"I believe Jim has eluded them. If we can find him, we may escape with him."

"If they come back, I'm going to show them my electrifying personality."

Ajah rolled his eyes at that remark. "We could guess that," he said.

"We should try not to harm the inhabitants of this world," Spock said. "However, if they become violent, we will respond in defense."

"I won't attack them," Helek replied. "But I won't let them disable this ship."

"I agree."

"Where are you guys?"

"We are spending the night in a cave. We will be up at first light."

"Hopefully we can still communicate."

"Hopefully. You should move the ship tomorrow. We have traveled approximately one-hundred miles to the Northeast."

"Yes, Sir. I'll try to find you."

"Spock out."

Helek ended that transmission. He grabbed his popcorn and started his movie again. He could see outside well from where he was…