Chapter 5- Spock

Thanks for joining another chapter suggested viewing for the following chapters is *And the children shall lead* watch it on youtube or hulu.

Jim, McCoy and I beamed down to scientific out post. We received a distress call but when we got there adults were dead. We examined the bodies to be sure a man appeared. I recognized as Professor Starks. Jim approached him and he held a phaser to Jim. Starks looked at Jim and collapsed to the ground. McCoy examined him and announced the obvious.

"He's dead Jim."

I rolled my eyes choosing to keep my comments to myself. I picked up Starks' phaser and we walked over to one of the bodies a female. Jim turned her over she had a small vial in her mouth. Jim smelled it and handed it to McCoy.

"Zilotin." McCoy said stunned

Jim played the last few recorded moments on Starks' tricorder.

"We must destroy ourselves… Alien among us… The enemy from within." He said sounding altered.

"All of this was self inflicted. A mass suicide." Jim uttered in shock.

We heard the children at first and then they came out of a cave running and playing as if nothing had happened here. They just ran around the bodies of their parents as though they didn't even see them or they were running around rocks. They circled us and I became uneasy a feeling I am not used to around children. The oldest one spoke.

"Who are you?" He questioned.

"I'm Kirk." Jim answered.

"I'm Tommy Starks. This is Mary, Steve, Ray and Don." He said as he pointed out each of his companions.

The only girl Mary she gabbed Jim's hand.

"Come and play with us." She cried and he looked back at McCoy and me.

They formed a circle around him and began to sing an old earth children's song that Nyota sometimes sang with our own children. Ring around the roses. McCoy and I stared at one another. They were not acting like grieving children. Jim had some security guards beamed down and we buried the dead. After the burial the children ran off to play again.

Everyone in the landing party was greatly disturbed. Kelly beamed down with her new assistant cadet Amanda Shi'Kahr.

McCoy countered Jim's worries by stating that the children may have inflicted amnesia on themselves to block what they saw. I countered that humans have a way of blocking out that which is painful to them. However with Amanda helping in the investigation I was sure that the answer would be near.

Amanda had another mission besides just being a cadet. Starfleet wanted to test the difference it would make for a starship Captain to have a telepath on board. If she proved beneficial all Starships headed for deep space may have a telepath on board with them. The girl ran into Jim and that pulled me from my thoughts of my own daughter.

Jim announced to them that it was time for them to go to the ship and like children they protested. They pouted in the same way Soren and Skylar do when we inform them it's time for bed.

"I know you don't want to but it is time to go up to the ship. You'll go up with the doctors." Jim continued.

I noticed that Kelly and McCoy disagreed on the reactions or lack of reaction of the children. Amanda seemed uncomfortable.

"Cadet Shi'Kahr stay." Jim said and Amanda nodded.

Once we were sure that the others were beamed up Jim spoke to Amanda.

"Is there anything you can tell us Ms. Shi'Kahr?" Jim questioned.

"Captain whatever happened here they are not even thinking about it. None of them. I can't read anything from them except the desire to play. The desire was so strong that I almost wanted to play with them." She said sounding almost ashamed.

"Yes well cadet you are still just seven years old no matter how mature you are mentally. I need you to find out what is going on with them and report directly to me or Mr. Spock is that understood." He ordered and she stood straight.

"Yes Captain." She replied then she mocked my stance and stood with her hands behind her back.

"The attack on them had to be unprovoked." I said in my normal tone.

"Yes it had to have been." Jim replied. "But Spock it was a mass suicide."

"Yes I used the wrong word perhaps I should have used inject. Perhaps a bacteria or mass depression." I added.

"Captain." Amanda interjected. "I do not think there was an attack of bacteria or mass depression here." She continued.

"Explain cadet." He responded.

"Not an attack in the normal sense. I get the feeling that it was more of a mental attack. Some kind of outside force as Mr. Spock suggest but I can't be sure until I can talk with them but…" she paused and Jim smiled at her.

"Ok cadet I will wait for your report." Jim answered and I could see pride on his face.

He always treated Amanda as though she was his own daughter and I knew he was proud of her. This would be her first case and he was confident she could handle it as was I. I was her superior officer and father but she was not afraid to disagree with me on my hypothesis. I was very proud indeed.

My tricorder went off. When I read it, there was an energy reading coming from the cave in which the children had appeared from. The three of us walked into the cave. I informed Jim that I was not picking up any humanoid readings.

I looked down at Amanda and she was shaking then Jim began to shiver.

"That's strange. That's very strange I'm getting a feeling of anxiety." Jim said.

"Daddy." Amanda screamed holding her head in pain and trembling with fear.

I grabbed her up into my arms and she hugged me tightly. Tears began to stream down her face and wet my shirt.

"It doesn't sound very scientific. Does it Mr. Spock?" Jim questioned backing away from me.

"I am not aware of it Captain." I answered but I realized the two of them were feeling something.

"It is strongest right here." Amanda cried.

"Maybe that's what's registering on your tricorder." Jim said still trembling.

"I am familiar with anxiety but I did not know it could be registered on sensors." I replied.

"No of course not it's me and Amanda but what's causing your tricorder to react?" Jim questioned and began to walk back out of the cave.

I placed my hand on Amanda's back. She was fully attached to me her arms locked around my neck and her legs wrapped around my waist. In this moment she was a scared little girl in her dad's arms. She would beat herself up later for allowing her emotions to best her. But for the moment I relished having my little girl need me. She and Grayson have been self reliant for as long as Nyota and I could remember. Now she needed me. I supposed that fatherhood does that to you. Makes you want to be needed by your children.

With them trying to become officers Nyota and I have been feeling as though they were pulling away from us trying to be adults. Now she was a child again and I welcomed it. I kissed her cheek and walked out of the cave behind Jim.

Once outside Jim was relaxed but Amanda still trembled in fear.

"Captain are you alright?" I questioned.

"Yes I'm fine. I suppose it was just some sympathy vibration because of what happened here." He answered.

"Amanda are you ok now?" Jim questioned and she looked at him teary eyed.

"No Captain I still feel the fear and anxiety. It is still very strong for me." She replied and I leaned my head against hers.

"Perhaps Captain we should return to the ship." I said wanting her to relax.

"Yes I agree." He said with a smile.

I tried to have Amanda release me but she refused. We reached our quarters and I laid her in her bed. She curled into a ball. Whatever it was that was in the cave it has shaken her to a great extent. I walked out of her room and went to the com.

"Spock to Lt. Uhura." I called and waited for the melody that was her voice.

"Uhura here." She called in that wonderful melodic voice that sent shivers through me every time I heard it.

"You are needed in your quarters." I said and I could see her face even though she was on the bridge it was very clear in my mind.

"Spock." She whispered and I knew she would be blushing now.

"It's Amanda she had an experience on the planet. I have research to do I did not want to leave her unattended." I replied.

"Ok. I will get a replacement for myself I will be there shortly." She answered.

I sat on the bed with Amanda with her head in my lap. I stroked her hair to soothe her.

"I'm sorry daddy." She said in a whisper.

"What could you be sorry for princess?" I questioned.

"I collapsed under the pressure." She replied.

A soft smile appeared on my lips.

"Amanda this is your first case. You obviously felt something in that cave that overwhelmed you. You are still a child. You're a brilliant child but a child nonetheless and even adults get afraid during missions. When you are ready and you make your report it may help to understand what happened down there." I said stroking her cheek.

"You're not disappointed daddy?" She questioned and I put my hand down.

I wrapped my arm around her and pulled her up into a sitting position and sat her in my lap. I kissed her forehead softly and smiled.

"I am not disappointed. You are a very sensitive telepath. It's your job to tell us when you have a bad feeling or something affects you this way. In my opinion you have preformed your job very well today. With work one day it will not affect you so badly. For your first mission you preformed very well and I say that as one of your commanding officers not as your father." I said and she looked up at me with tears.

"But your father is very proud of you." I added and she threw her arms around me in a tight embrace.

Soon Nyota appeared at the door. She walked in quietly. I had laid down next to Amanda for her to go to sleep which she did. Nyota got in on the other side of Amanda and wrapped her arm around her.

"What happened?" Nyota questioned in a whisper.

"We went to investigate a cave on the planet and both she and Jim had a strange experience. Jim said he felt anxiety and she said she felt anxiety and incredible fear."

Nyota smiled softly and ran her hand across Amanda's face.

"I'm glad you were there." She said softly in a whisper.

"As am I. I called you because I have some research I must do in the lab. I think I will be working all night." I whispered and saw disappointment in her face.

"Ok. I'll hold down the fort Commander." She replied with the sexy smile I loved.

"Mommy?" Amanda questioned in a sleepy manner.

"Yes baby." She replied with a smile.

"Mommy can you stay with me?"

"Absolutely. Give daddy a kiss so that he can go to the lab." She answered in her sweet melody.

Amanda kissed my cheek and I returned the kiss then she turned back to Nyota.

"I love you beautiful." I said softly and our fingers connected.

"I love you too. See you later." She replied.

I walked out and made my way to the science lab. I wanted to know what was in that cave that affected both Amanda and Jim.