Captain's Log - Stardate 2261.025

I can't figure the Vians' angle. They took me away - tortured me, but they weren't after information. The only thing they did was bring the girl in and make her watch. Are they using us to threaten her into do something they want?

When they were finished, I was in a tremendous amount of pain. They wouldn't allow Bones near me, but he was able to coax Gem into helping me. Then before I knew it, the Vians disappeared again, this time taking Bones and Gem. We have to find them.

It was no more than fifteen minute at most before one of the Vians came back by himself. McCoy had only finished calming Gem a couple of minutes before and at the sight of the Vian, he lunged for the alien before Kirk could order him to stay back. The Vian seemed surprised and stepped back as he made use of his hand device again, causing McCoy to slam into the force field.

Spock took advantage of the Vian's concentration on McCoy and stepped up behind him to deliver a nerve pinch which he knew had a possibility of being useless against the unknown species. He was pleased when the alien collapsed as hoped and quickly took the hand held device. When the Vian had collapsed, the force field had as well. Both Jim and Gem went to McCoy's side

A soft noise from his tricorder drew the Vulcan's attention and, after double checking the reading, Spock called out to Kirk.

"As if was before with the equipment, I am now picking up the path to an exit to the surface. Is the doctor able to walk?"

The answer came from McCoy.

"I'll crawl if need be to get the hell out of here."

Smiling at that familiar growl, Kirk braced McCoy to help him stand and Gem mirrored him on McCoy's other side, though he braced her as much as she did him.

"No need for that while the rest of us are here, Bones. Spock, start moving."

They moved as quickly as possible without breaking into a run as it was obvious that Gem was not used to exertion. The room they were moving through narrowed and turned into a corridor and the corridor walls gradually shifted from smooth surfaces to coarse until it finally emerged into the back of a cavern similar to the one they'd taken shelter in from the winds. They were halfway to the entrance when there was a flash of light behind them.

Both Vians were there and the one who still had his device raised it and McCoy was thrown forward, away from Kirk and Gem. Then the light flashed again, leaving Spock alone with the fallen doctor, who began cursing as soon as he caught his breath.

Kirk knew he must have blacked out because he woke to find himself hanging from chains whose shackles were attached to each wrist. The Vians were looking at him dispassionately - he was starting to think they were in some sort of contest with the Vulcans. They were also, quite frankly, working on Kirk's last nerve.

"If you think you're going to get information about the Empire from me, you're mistaken."

The taller of the pair seemed almost amused.

"We have no need or desire for such knowledge."

"Then what the hell do you want? If you're going to kill me, at least tell me why."

"Should you survive, you might learn the answer in time."

Frowning at that, his eyes fell on Gem who was looking at him sorrowfully. Then the pain began and everything was forgotten except getting through it.

Spock tried his communicator and determined that the Enterprise was still out of range.

"There must have been additional flare activity that delayed their return."

"Or they returned and couldn't find us and they've gone on without us."

"I doubt your nurses would have let them get far, Doctor."

That got a laugh out of McCoy.

"You have a good point, Spock. My ladies are a formidable bunch."

"I believe the word I have heard used most often is terrifying."

"That applies. Come on. If we can't call down extra troops, we need to get back and see what the hell the Vians are doing to Jim."

Spock's brow rose.

"No concern about the girl, Doctor?"

"Plenty of concern about Gem, Greenie."

The use of that term told Spock two things - that he'd hit a raw nerve and, if he pressed further, McCoy might well lash out without consideration to the consequences. With that in mind, the Vulcan changed the subject.

"The device I took from the Vian is intriguing. I believe that with the proper adjustments I could make it work for us."

"Peachy. If you can't make it work one way, I'll make it work another."

"How so?"

"By shoving it up whatever these guys have that serves as an anus."

After a moment's thought, Spock decided that he really didn't care for further explanations, so the trip back through the cavern and corridor was made in silence. When they made it back to the area where they'd first found Gem, there was no signs of anyone else and Spock's equipment also failed to show where the equipment area had been. There were few options left to them, so McCoy chose to pace.

McCoy's pacing had reached 1,864 steps by Spock's count when the light flashed once again, depositing Kirk and Gem at the platform. For a man that was normally stoic about pain, the fact that Kirk looked to be in agony told McCoy a great deal about the Captain's condition.

The Vians were nowhere in sight, but obviously watching because the second McCoy tried to go to Kirk, the force field surrounded him and Spock. Gem raised her head. As much as Kirk's pain hurt and frightened her, the sheer need of McCoy to reach Kirk was practically radiating to her. Looking up, she met McCoy's eyes.

"Please - I can't reach him. Help him until I can."

Her hands clenched into fists as she steeled herself, then she took a final deep breath before moving to sit at Kirk's side. She reached out, but flinched back again.

"It's alright, Gem. You're doing so well."

She glanced back over her shoulder at McCoy, smiling slightly at his praise before reaching out to touch Kirk's wrists. The shackles had dug into the skin, leaving bleeding, raw flesh. Gem held back for a second more, then reached out and grabbed both of Kirk's wrists with her hand. As with the gash earlier, the wounds faded from Kirk, then formed on Gem. She pulled away again, cradling her wrists against her until those wounds faded as well.

Watching from a hidden spot, one of the Vians gestured.

"She responds positively to the one they call McCoy, Lal."

Lal silently watched as McCoy successfully coaxed Gem to rest and then try again.

"You are right, Thann. We can use the bond that has formed between them for the final test."

Nodding in agreement, the force field was released and they returned to their observations.

McCoy wasted no time getting to the platform, quickly scanning Kirk before examining Gem. To his great relief, she was showing signs of exhaustion, but nothing worse.

"Don't move, Jim. Hell if I know how, but you've got the bends. Wish I had access to a decompression unit. I've got some stuff that will help though. She got you past the point of major complications before she exhausted herself, but you're still going to be mighty uncomfortable for awhile."

Kirk winced less at the feel of the hypospray than he did at the flash of light. Before he could move or say a word, McCoy and Gem were both gone. He meant to call for Spock, but whatever McCoy had injected took effect and pulled him under.

Frowning, Spock stood still a moment longer before moving to sit beside his sleeping Captain before beginning to recalibrate the Vian device.