The hour was approaching four in the morning when the report reached Admiral Pike. He was sleeping and in no mood to be disturbed. Still when the message came through, Pike could only grumble and take the call.

"This had better be important."

Greene's tired face flashed to life on the monitor and his voice crackled from the connection. "We found Captain Kirk and Captain Jackson's vessels."

Pike straightened a little but maintained a calm face, "And?"

"Before we could get to them. They disappeared."

Pike rubbed the back of his neck. "What do you mean disappeared?"

Greene looked to his first officer who stepped forward. "Commander Torren, sir. Before the vessels disappeared, we got unusual scans of an anomaly surrounding the planet and ships. From what we've been able to understand, the ships and planet went out of phase."

"How do we get them back?"

"Finding their exact phase could take some time."

"Are you saying there's no hope?"

Commander Torren bit his tongue and nodded. "We'll be lucky to have them come out of phase in the next million years."

Captain Greene stepped beside Commander Torren. "The Vulcans might be able to do something, Admiral."

Pike nodded. "Agreed. Send me what you have and keep your position for the next twenty-four hours in case something happens. I should have a report for you by then."

"Yes, Admiral."

Pike watched the blank screen and slammed a fist down on his nightstand. Kirk just couldn't stay out of trouble, could he? Pulling on some pants and a shirt, Pike spent the next four hours gathering information on the planet Kirk was visiting.

"Very advanced for pre-warp," Pike noted.

That's when his eyes caught a particularly chilling piece of information. This last research vessel wasn't the only one to have gone missing. There had been another team lost in those caves. One died and three lost their memory. The rest had substantial brain damage. Medical reports showed curious markings on their temples and chests but had attributed them to common scratches.

"What the hell happened on that planet?"

*

*

Olivia opened her eyes to the most gorgeous scene she had ever seen. She was lying on her back by the shore of a great lake. The setting sun spread its rays lazily across the water's surface, which shimmered like the fires of new lovers' passion. The sky was a deep sapphire with streaks of violet and pink. The grass felt soft in between her fingers and tickled the nape of her neck. She sighed and for a moment almost forgot everything that had happened the past week. But then she remembered McCoy and his eyes when they'd last parted.

A whole new feeling of fear flooded her when she remembered being pulled from that strange machine. At the edge of her vision, she had seen more of them. A part of her knew everyone else was there too. She didn't know how or why she knew but she did. In that room, McCoy and the others were trapped.

Her dream self took in a long, deep breath before stretching in the grass. Sounds of the waves softly kissing the shore drew her nearer to sleep. Feeling the hour growing late, she brought her hand to her mouth and stifled a yawn.

"I'd have thought you one to appreciate the beauty of this place. Instead you yawn."

Olivia instantly felt herself smile and push herself to her feet. The action felt natural but Olivia knew she was in a memory. These things they felt, they belonged to the past.

The gown she wore was of the finest silk, hugging her every curve like a river flows through a valley. Her gaze lifted to the one who had spoke. For some reason she could not keep her eyes from this man's face. His bright amber eyes pierced through to her soul and boiled her very blood. Breath caught in her chest, her dream self stifled a soft sigh and brought a hand to massage the dull pain in her chest.

"Surprised to see me?"

Her smile faded until a frown took its place.

"You should not be here."

The man laughed, a sound that made her spine shiver.

"Let them see." He took three strides forward until Olivia found herself surrounded in his embrace. One hand held her body close to his while the other lifted her chin to meet his gaze. Olivia could not bring herself to look away from this man's face.

"Why have you summoned me here?"

"Our world is in danger. The Tolar have become too dangerous." He brought a hand to caress her cheek, taking with it the tear that had fallen. "They have called me to finish it."

Her hand went to an object hanging around her neck. "But everyone will die. You know that."

"I know and I'm sorry. I'm so sorry."

That was when he kissed her, softly at first but then it grew in intensity. She wanted it to stop but could do nothing. When they pulled apart, their foreheads touched and fingers interlocked at the sides of their faces.

"Cuahl. I'm afraid."

He kissed her forehead, "Don't be, my love. I'll save you."

Cuahl. A name she could finally put to the face. But who was this man?

She searched her memory and found nothing but a giant wall. A wall? She'd never felt this block on her memories before. Olivia could easily recall her childhood on Earth. Her loving parents and annoying brother were what she knew to be true. Yet, at the same time, this dream felt like a memory. Now how could both be memories? This Cuahl was not human, no human's eyes shined like his. Olivia had been dreaming about this man and the world with the sapphire sky for years. He was from another world and yet somehow she had known him, though what the relation Olivia had no clue. She felt a strong attachment to him but could not get McCoy out of her head. Pushing the dream from her mind, Olivia reminded herself she needed to find the others.

Then she realized she was stuck on this planet. After being taken hostage, she heard a couple of the guards yelling something about an escape of the prisoners. If what Sara had told her was true, then Jackson and Kirk were long gone and so was. . .Olivia refused to think McCoy would just leave her here. The thought was banished to the farthest reaches of her mind. Her objective was to find a means of escape and that started with getting out of this room.

The sound of chains clinking together made Olivia realize her wrists and ankles were bound. She opened her eyes to a bright light shining down on her. A low moan escaped her, though its echo sent her head spinning with pain. The very last thing she remembered was being pulled out of the water, naked and dripping with a thick sort of liquid. Even now she could feel the chill of it on her now barely clothed skin. Her spine shivered, but she bit her lip to keep it from showing. Trails of tears stained her cheeks, pain prickled the surface of her skin. Another moan escaped her lips followed by a whimper. The last sound caught her attention. Was she in pain? She went to move her hands to cover her eyes but found the effort wasted.

A voice emerged from the light, raspy and old. "Not so tough now without your precious McCoy to protect you."

"Sara? What. . .what happened to you?"

Footsteps breached the edge of Olivia's hearing. They were soft but increased as the figure approached. A shadow fell across Olivia's face, but she still couldn't see Sara. It was only when the light dimmed and Olivia's pupils adjusted did she see who was leaning over her.

The woman was the perfect emulation of beauty. Her hair, black as the midnight sky fell in curls around her shoulders while twin orbs of crimson gazed down at Olivia. The woman was barely clothed, leaving little to the imagination. Her long legs yielded to hips and curves unlike anything seen in a human. Olive skin made her glow like a tainted angel.

"Who are you?"

"I'm Sara. The real Sara."

Olivia began to laugh. "Bullshit. I know what Sara looks like and you are not her."

"That's because you see and remember what we want you to." The woman placed a couple fingers to a necklace and whispered a couple mysterious words. A small flash of light and the woman she'd come to know and hate was standing before her.

"You're not human." Olivia didn't pose it as a question but Sara answered it anyway.

"No, I am princess of the Tolar."

"The Tolar?" That was the name Cuahl mentioned and it resounded a ringing deep in her soul. If only she could remember.

"You must not remember yet." Sara gave a snap of her fingers and the chains undid themselves. Though Sara had offered her hand, Olivia pushed herself up. Hell would freeze over before she'd accept help from that bitch.

"Don't worry. Your friends are safe. As long as you do what we want."

"And what is that?"

"You have something we need. You will give it to us."

Olivia kept her face blank.

"Don't play dumb. You know we want the bloodstone."

"Bloodstone?" Olivia had no idea what the hell a bloodstone even was.

"Don't play dumb, it doesn't suit you." Sara stared into Olivia's eyes for several long moments. "You truly don't remember? Cuahl must have done too good a job."

"Who's Cuahl?"

"Your lover."

Sara might as well have slapped Olivia in the face.

"You see, your people and my people fought in a war long ago. It was devastating for both sides, so much so that it has been lost to time. You and Cuahl are the only survivors of your kind and those who live with me are the only survivors of mine. There is a legend that says the bloodstone will restore one to its former glory and allow its possessor unlimited power. We were so close to getting it but then Cuahl had to act all noble. Where has he hidden it?"

Olivia had no clue what to say. "I have no clue what you are talking about. I don't know who Cuahl is, the war you're talking about doesn't exist and I've never heard of a bloodstone. I don't think you understand how powerful the Federation is. They will come looking for us."

"They already sent a ship but we took care of that. No one will find us until we get what we want. I'll give you a little time to think it over but I do suggest you think of your friends and your love. My kind gets bored and with new blood just within reach, they will become anxious to partake in its flavor."

"You're sick."

"Why thank you."

Olivia thought long and hard. "How do I know my friends aren't already dead?"

Sara simply laughed, though the sound was more like scraping nails on a chalkboard. "I can show you them if you want."

Olivia bit her tongue to stop any emotion that might bubble up to the surface. "And how do I know they'll be set free alive and unharmed?"

Sara dismissed Olivia's question with a lofty wave of her hand. "You ask too many questions. Perhaps some food to calm your nerves?"

"Not hungry."

Sara made a clicking sound with her tongue. "Now, now Olivia. Is that any way to treat a person of my generosity?" She walked to the other end of the room and threw a look over her shoulder, beckoning Olivia as if she were her lap dog.

Olivia's first instinct was to spite Sara and remain where she lay. Only Sara said she would show her the others. If she could see where they were, then Olivia might have a shot of figuring out how to get them free. Biting back the pain in her ribs, Olivia got to her feet and crossed the room.

Sara watched in satisfaction, "See? Now was that so hard?"

Before Olivia had the chance to say anything else, Sara snapped her fingers and three guards entered. Two stood on each side of Olivia and the third secured a blindfold over Olivia's eyes. "Insurance," Sara added.

They walked in circles for what seemed like hours. Every turn, every smell, every sound Olivia committed to her memory, a task she discovered that was eerily easy. Finally the guards stopped and ripped away the blindfold. As her eyes blinked back the bright light, she was shoved into a chair and her hands bound. When her vision cleared, she first saw Sara sitting opposite of her.

"How much do you know of your past?" Sara smiled. "Not much if you don't recognize me, I suppose."

"Where are the others?"

"Oh why must we talk about those lowly humans? They're so weak and fragile. One could simply blow on them and they would break. To think you love one of those insects."

Her heart dropped to think of Leo connected to one of those god-awful machines. Her voice came out as a growl, "Where is he?"

"Here. On this ship." Sara's nail on chalkboard laugh cut through the air, making Olivia squirm in her seat. "We're not really on a planet. You came upon our ship and we captured you."

Olivia shook her head. "We all saw your planet. Hell we beamed down and talked with your people."

Again Sara dismissed her claim with a wave of her hand. "We can do anything we want to you, remember?"

Sara raised her hand toward a curtain. It opened to reveal a terrible looking machine. What was worse was when Olivia saw the poor creature inside it. His skin was haggard, a pale ashen gray. Wires and tubes protruded from his chest, temples and stomach. Sara beckoned her over. Curiosity dragged Olivia from her chair to the poor victim.

"He used to be one of us, before the war." She sighed, more sad than anything else. Then her sneer returned to claim her face, masking what Olivia thought might have been a human side to Sara. "Then he betrayed us. Him and those rebel scum. They caused the disease that made us hunger for flesh and kept the cure to themselves. They survived while they let us die." She motioned to the man in the tank, "Now look who is surviving."

Olivia instantly remembered the blue rash. Except when she looked down, her arms were clean. Sara noticed her staring.

"Is there a problem?"

"I was infected."

"Were you?"

Olivia closed her eyes and clenched her jaw. "That was part of the game too wasn't it?"

Sara merely shrugged. "A little bit of fun never hurt anyone."

"So there was no disease?"

"Not since after the war."

Again she mentioned the war. The dream flashed back to her memory. Cuahl mentioned a war too. Olivia couldn't recognize Sara's species, let alone her culture. She knew she should be thinking about gathering more information but Olivia's mind went back to Leo and the others.

Sara returned her gaze to the man and sneered, "His people and mine used to be one species but then they grew to be more intelligent and thought themselves better than us. But we were stronger, more strategic than them."

Olivia remained silent while Sara leaned over the glass. She placed her lengthy fingers over where the man's stoic face lay submerged in the water.

"They launched genocide against us. Imagine the streets filled with murdered men, women and children."

"And you attacked?"

Sara slammed her fist against the glass. "What choice did we have? They would have wiped us out if we hadn't destroyed them. Every. . .single. . .one."

Just then Olivia heard a groan come from the doorway. Sara straightened and turned to meet three guards. Olivia instantly recognized the limp figure they held between them.

"Captain Kirk!"

Kirk heard the voice but he wasn't willing to believe whose it was. He remembered waking up on the floor, pain eating right through his side. Only when his eyes looked to his chest, there was no wound. Just then he was surrounded by guards who then carried him to this place.

With as much strength as he could muster, Kirk lifted his head. His lips curled into a smile.

"Call me Jim." The sentence would have seemed cool and confident had he not ended it with a spurt of gasps and a low groan.

Olivia turned back to Sara. "It's clear I have what you want. Let the rest of them go. They haven't done anything."

"Now why would we do that? They all are so much fun." With a snap of Sara's fingers, two of the guards dragged a heavy stone basin over to where Sara now sat. Another guard poured a blue liquid into the basin. Sara leaned over and inhaled the fumes.

"Oh how you bore me. It is time to make your choice. Tell us where Cuahl has hidden the bloodstone or your friends will die slowly, one by one."

"I don't know what this bloodstone is. I don't know who this Cuahl is, either. Let us go. We don't have what you want."

Sara's lips curled into a sneer. "Fine, play your game. But know what happens next is your fault." She motioned to a machine next to the one with the disfigured man and the guards immediately went to work wrestling him into the wires. They injected him with a substance and he went limp into the water. Seeing Olivia distracted, Sara pushed the strange smell toward Olivia.

The fumes tickled at her nose, sending Olivia's head spinning in all directions. The sensation became overwhelming. Her sight saw more, her nose smelled more, even the hairs on her skin prickled more. A funny, tickle feeling danced on her skin and made her stomach turn itself into knots. For several long moments, Olivia only felt these things. Then she began to hear a familiar beeping, like the kind found in a ship's Sick Bay. Taking a deep breath, Olivia opened her eyes and steadied her bubbling stomach.

The place looked to be in decent shape. Only there were more bodies than patients. A body in the corner caught her attention. Pulling back the sheet, she immediately recognized Kirk's features.

"Captain Kirk," she gasped.

Just then his chest heaved and he released a bout of coughs and gasps. A nurse saw this and rushed across the room.

"Impossible! Captain Kirk. Captain."

She turned to the nurse, "Get Dr. McCoy." Only the nurse didn't answer. "Hey. Did you hear me? I said get Dr. McCoy. Hurry!"

Again the nurse looked far too paralyzed to move but she didn't even seem to notice Olivia. She turned and with slight panic in her eyes started to run straight at Olivia. Olivia put her hands out but the woman didn't stop, running straight through her.

Olivia looked at her hands in disbelief, "What the hell is this?"

"Dr. McCoy!"

A door opened and McCoy somewhat stumbled out. "What is it?"

"Captain Kirk. . .is alive."

That seemed to immediately snap him out of his stupor. His gaze went to his friend whose vitals now flashed bright across the screen. His legs carried him straight to Kirk where his scanner went to work.

"I don't believe it. His brain activity is coming back." Then he noticed Jim's pale skin almost as white as the sheets he was laying on. "Blood. Get me blood."

Two hours later Kirk was at least somewhat stable. His brain waves indicated a very deep coma. McCoy was unsure if his friend would come through but damnit he had come back from being pure dead. How he managed to do this, McCoy was unsure, but if anyone could do it, it was Jim. He and Erin were called to the bridge. Olivia followed in silence, still unsure of why the others could not see her. Soon the bridge came into view. Like Sick Bay, it looked severely damaged.

"You asked to see us, captain?"

The captain's chair spun around and Spock appeared to stare right at Olivia. Captain Jackson appeared next to him with that same look. After a moment of panic, she realized they were looking through her not at her just as Leo and Erin had. She slowly turned around and had to bite back a gasp. Looking as if death was shadowing him, Leo blinked back weariness but still managed to maintain an air of confidence and professionalism. His uniform was slightly disheveled and his hair was a complete mess. Dark stubble occupied the majority of his face except where his hard, but sad, eyes gazed past her to Spock. Erin stood next to him, looking just as bad. The shine that was usually sparkling behind her gold eyes was no more. Though he still had a hint of a smile, it was sad and left Olivia feeling hopeless.

"Erin," she gasped.

Spock spoke first. "Dr. McCoy, has there been any sign of the captain's revival?"

Leo swallowed, clearly in pain. It killed Olivia to see him so weak trying to be strong. "Yes. His brain activity just came back. He seems to be recovering well."

Jackson looked over to Erin. "Do you agree with Dr. McCoy's conclusion?"

Erin swallowed, "I do, sir. Captain Kirk is very lucky to be alive but alive he indeed is."

Spock nodded as if he had just been told the weather would be nice that day, "With that settled, there is another matter to discuss. Please follow us. Chekov, take the con."

"Aye, sir."

"Exciting isn't it?"

Olivia jumped when Sara spoke. She was sprawled across Captain Spock's chair. Long fingers trailed lines across the back. She smiled, "Such power in this one chair. Have you ever sat here?"

Olivia bit back a retort and tried to remain calm. "Why did you put Kirk back into this world? Once he wakes up, he'll tell the others."

"We control what he remembers. He doesn't remember a thing that happened outside the machine. When or if he wakes up, it'll be with a big headache." She jumped from the chair and bounded after the officers with Olivia close behind.

Olivia ran after Sara, "You are disgusting. How can you do this to us?"

She stopped but did not turn around. "You think this is bad? It'll only get worse until you give us what we want."

Holding her breath, Olivia took two steps forward. "I don't know how to give you what I do not have."

She rounded on Olivia and grabbed her around the throat. Pressure increasing, Sara's eyes glowed a devil red. "That's too bad. Because the more you play dumb, the more they will suffer. You will know what pain is when they are all dead."

She threw Olivia down to the ground. Struggling for breath, Olivia managed to stand. "Sara, or whoever you are, I will stop you."

Sara ignored her and followed Spock through the doorway to the captain's quarters. Without much choice, Olivia followed Sara just as the door shut behind her. Inside, Hallon, Scotty and several security officers from both ships were waiting. They stood to welcome the captains.

"Until Captain Kirk is fit for duty, I will assume command."

"Permission to speak freely, sir."

Spock turned to McCoy, eyebrow quizzically raised. "I welcome it."

"Why are we going back? You saw what happened to Jim. His chest was ripped open, a word inscribed on it. And he's now alive?" He shook his head. "Something strange is going on down on that planet and we're running back with our tail tucked between our legs."

"Your objection has been noted." Spock sat down at the table and addressed the rest of the group. "Starfleet has ordered me to compose a report that they can look over before we arrive to debrief. I have already informed them of the immense emotional and physical strain on the crew."

"Captain." Olivia could hear the immense strain in Leo's voice. "You're making the logical choice going back, but the right one? Something was going on. People on that planet could be in danger. That disease—"

"It is not our concern. Make sure the crew did not bring any of it back and attend to any physical distresses among the crew. You are dismissed."

"Spock—"

"Dismissed."

Erin stepped forward. "Captain Jackson."

"Go back to the ship, Doctor Kolshar."

Both the doctors looked a bit shocked and had to bite back the urge to argue. Erin spared a glance to Hallon who refused to meet her gaze. Defeated, the doctors retreated. Jackson drew in a breath and continued to brief the other officers.

Olivia ran after Leo and Erin, shouting at them but no one heard or saw her. She managed to get close and was about to reach out to Leo and a hand on her shoulder pulled her back.

"There are rules here. They can pass through you but you do not touch them." Olivia wanted to make a snide remark but kept her mouth shut. She knew all too well the control Sara and her minions held in this sick dream world.

*

*

"What do you think?"

McCoy analyzed Kirk's latest scans and sighed, running a hand through his already messed up hair. He turned to Doctor Kolshar with a slight roll of his eyes.

"I think something is terribly wrong. Spock may be an emotionless bastard but reason cannot deny something is wrong here."

Erin nodded. "Jackson too seems to be behaving rather odd."

Olivia walked out of Leo's office and over to Kirk's bedside. "Captain, you need to wake up."

Just then a strange voice entered her head. Do not worry, my love. Be strong.

She turned but no one was there, well other than the nurses, Leo and Erin. That voice was very familiar, almost like the one she'd heard in her dream. Before she could think anymore on it, someone entered Sick Bay.

Immediately she could tell something was amiss. Spock normally didn't walk like that, nor did his eyes have a reddish tint to them. He looked in Olivia's direction and his lips tipped into the slight hint of Sara's smile. Her breath caught in her chest and she wanted to move but her legs were denying her any movement. The impersonator Spock walked with authority over to Kirk's biobed.

"Rest, captain."

Olivia stood and tried to stand in between Spock and Kirk, but Spock's hands easily went through her as he entered the commands that would sentence Kirk's virtual body to death.

"Don't worry, we're not killing him. All we need is for them to think he's dead."

All Olivia could do was watch Kirk's vitals fall away. She knew he was alive, connected to that awful machine. But something told her this whole thing wasn't right. Before Spock turned away he looked Olivia straight in the eyes and told her the worst thing she could have possibly heard.

"Once his body is sent into space, his feeble human mind will break and succumb to sweet insanity." Without another word, Spock left. Several long moments were passed in silence.

"Captain, wake up. Wake up!"

Meanwhile in McCoy's office, the two doctors heard Olivia's cries. They looked at each other with shock but soon burst into Sick Bay. If a man had ever been left speechless, McCoy looked twice that. His jaw dropped and he rubbed at his eyes again. The brief moment passed and a sense of awe took over. McCoy swallowed back the tears threatening to overtake him and ran to Olivia just as her legs gave out from under her.

"Olivia!"

Olivia heard Leo's voice but refused to believe he could really see her. Hell, she felt so weak. She could barely keep her eyes open. The last thing she saw was Leo leaning over her, calling her name. But like always, the darkness came and stole the moment from both of them.

*

*

"I don't know what to make of it, Hallon."

Back on their own ship, and way too exhausted for their own good, Hallon and Erin lay in bed. Hallon wrapped his arms tighter around Erin and placed a kiss on her forehead.

"You're saying she just appeared?"

"Yeah. Doctor McCoy and I went into his office to analyze Kirk's latest scans and then we heard her. When we came out, she collapsed and we found Captain Kirk unplugged from the machines that were keeping him alive."

"So he's really dead?"

"From what we can tell."

"What are you going to do?"

Erin looked up at Hallon and rubbed at her eyes. For a moment she could have sworn she saw a hint of red in Hallon's eyes.

"I don't know. It's their captain. I imagine Spock will want him prepared soon. I feel bad for Doctor McCoy. I can't imagine having to lose someone like that."

Sara smiled, pulling Erin close and reaching for the knife hidden under her pillow.

.

.

.

Poor human, if only she knew

*

*

*

Author's Note:

Ok guys I am SO SO SO SO SORRY this took me FOREVER!!!!! College has been sucking the energy from me, especially Physics (which I love but is very time consuming)....anywho, On the plus side, this chapter is nice and long for you. Sorry it doesn't have a lot of feel goodness but this is the part of the story where everything starts going downhill. But never fear, I will make this one a happy ending!!!

So was this worth the wait? Reviews are encouraged and will be rewarded with a chance to influence the ending!!!!

A huge massive thank you to last chapter's reviewers: miller330, Canna, Yayyou, Steff7, Freda Payne, Solstarset, Random Tweaker, thebloodrose.....btw, Freda Payne and Solstarset were right about the Plato's Cave reference. You two will be able to name red shirts in the next chapter. Send me a message with name ideas.

Hopefully this chapter will break the 100 review mark!!!! (I'm ridiculously excited)

P.S. Will Erin live?

*

Much much love,

Trekky18