Chapter 3 – The Search for Spock
They were ten minutes from their destination and every minute closer brought a new twist to Sheppard's stomach. It churned with anticipation and anxiety. What would happen if it wasn't Rodney? Damn, why did he start doubting that feeling in his stomach now? He glanced back at the passengers. Carson was rechecking the contents of his suitcases, Teyla and Ronon were staring out the window, looking at the treetops passing by. Lorne was in the co-pilot seat. Miller and Johnston sat in the back with Mari.
Sheppard headed for the swirl of smoke in the distance. Next to a small stream was a camp. He cloaked the jumper and circled the camp. Tents fanned out from a fire in the same fashion as the Naeno.
"Lorne, is this the Kano?" Sheppard asked. Lorne nodded and the jumper display lit up with about a couple of dozen dots. The display disappeared and they watched a few people mill about the camp, but neither Sheppard nor Lorne could see the pake from this distance.
"Let's park over there," he told Lorne pointing to a clearing they'd just passed. Sheppard figured they could land the jumper five minutes walk away. That should suffice.
When the door finally lowered, they clambered out and Sheppard turned to them. "Let's go." He didn't feel like making a heart-warming speech.
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They walked in silence, with Mari and Lorne leading the way, Carson behind Sheppard and Teyla and Ronon bringing up the rear. Miller and Johnston stayed with the jumper.
Sunlight filtered through the tall trees with multi-coloured branches: red, yellow, brown and green. The crunch from their boots was a constant as they progressed towards their target. The wind played with the fallen leaves, lifting a few up during small gusts.
They moved out from the treeline and the sunshine met them in full force. Sheppard adjusted his standard issue sunglasses on his face. He couldn't see the camp over the grass, brown stalks as tall as a person, moving slightly in the wind. It was an effective shield as they heard a child's squeal of laughter close to their left but it soon faded into the distance.
Mari turned to Lorne and spoke softly. Lorne nodded and faced Sheppard and the others. "Colonel, Mari will go and announce us." They watched Mari part the stalks and a glimpse of the camp was revealed. Mari stepped through the opening, which immediately blocked their view before the stalks settled back in place completely severing the opening.
After a few moments Lorne followed Mari. They waited a few moments then they too followed. The only evidence left of their presence was a patch of flattened vegetation.
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They stood in front of the leader of the Kano. Sheppard surveyed the leader with a critical eye. She was dressed in earthy colours that complemented her darkened skin, standing regally, gazing upon the strangers in front of her. She was beautiful. Sheppard tried to hold back the Rodney remarks nipping in the back of his mind. Honestly, Colonel, you need to work on your people skills, not the flirting skills. You're a skirt chaser...mind you, they don't all wear skirts, but that's not the point...
"... and Colonel Sheppard. We have come to meet Spock." Sheppard had missed the introductions by Teyla. He smiled brightly at the leader. Flirt. Colonel, I know you can hear me. The woman raised her eyebrows as she reached her hand out to him. "I am honoured to meet you. I am Pathee."
As Sheppard grasped the woman's hand firmly he muttered to himself. That settled it. None of the people they had met, on any of the planets they had ever visited, initiated shaking hands with them. It was too coincidental.
Pathee spoke to them with a soft, clear voice. "Spock is not here. He will be back later, before the sun has settled. You are free to wait with us."
Sheppard hadn't anticipated that. He'd actually expected Spock to be there. "No worries. If you point us in the right direction we'll find him." He looked in the direction of the path they had travelled to get to the camp as he spoke. He could see the tips of the treetops. He refocused his attention on Pathee and his team.
Pathee shook her head and looked sombre. "When Spock leaves, we do not follow him. He leaves to find solitude and we do not interfere in this." At Sheppard's downcast expression she added, "He is always back before sundown. You will wait with us?"
It was a request. Teyla anticipated Sheppard's answer and inclined her head. "We would be most honoured."
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As darkness began to consume the light and the sky began to sparkle, Sheppard and the others were once again in a familiar situation; conversing with the tribe's people around a warm fire. Sheppard had distracted himself by engaging in the conversations. They talked about the people and the planets the Kano had travelled to. Stories of wondrous tools and sour trades. Life on the move and finally Spock.
So far they had gleaned that Spock was quiet and kept to himself. The Kano wouldn't go into much more detail. Even with a little prompting.
The Kano asked a lot of questions. Who was this Rodney? Why was he important? The queries may have appeared innocuous but this felt like an interrogation. They were building a picture of them. Sheppard hoped that they had passed the initiation.
Suddenly the chatter around the camp was silenced. He quickly looked up and spied a figure slowly making its way towards the fire. The person was swathed in a dark cloak, the hood covering their face, so their identity was hidden.
Pathee stood up and walked past them to greet the stranger. "Spock," she swept her left hand out behind her, gesturing towards them, "These travellers have come to meet you."
Sheppard stood. The figure paused before their pale hands pushed back the hood. Sheppard didn't even realise that the gasp came from him until he approached the man and uttered, "Rodney?"
Sheppard and the others weren't quite prepared for the reaction to their greeting.
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Spock looked at the strangers in front of him. A wisp of a memory swirled into his thoughts then left as soon as it appeared. Oh, that really annoyed him. He schooled his expression into one of wariness. He looked at Pathee then at the thin man with messed up hair, beaming at him. "Rodney?" The look he gave Spock was goofy and his eyes were full of hope.
Spock looked critically at the other strangers. Uniforms, weapons and an attitude. Oh, that was definitely familiar. But, the people were not. At least not from what he could recall. He assessed them. The one with the matted hair looked a little wild and dangerous, the woman reminded him of Pathee, and another man was eyeing him critically which gave him an odd feeling of familiarity.
Who were these people? Spock didn't know a Rodney, but it was the second time someone had called him that since his accident, maybe that had been his name. The last time had not been pleasant. It had cost him. That was why he was wary of these strangers. He had to protect the tribe. Ha, there were only five of them. If things went a little sour, he could do it. Protect the tribe.
Before the man could reach him, Spock grabbed Pathee's arm, "Can I speak to you?" He gestured with his head, "Over there." Pathee was about the only person that Spock talked to. He rarely spoke to anyone else.
Pathee turn around. "Please excuse us." As she faced Spock, she didn't miss the confused look in Colonel Sheppard's eyes and the eyes of his team members. Any lingering doubt that this man was indeed this Rodney was evident in their face. They were tense, torn between remaining where they were and rushing to embrace their newfound friend.
Spock and Pathee walked behind a tent, out of the view of the others and far from the warmth of the fire.
Spock leaned in towards her and spoke in a soft voice, "How did they find us?"
In all the time she had known him she hadn't seen Spock so nervous, his hands twitched on his thighs. She knew something had happened since the last moon. He had become a little more withdrawn and jumpy. "Mari brought them here." She tried to reassure Spock, "Kami would not have sent them, if he did not trust them." She put her hand on his upper arm, "Stay."
He straightened up and scoffed. "I'm not going anywhere."
Pathee removed her hand and looked at Spock. "Then why are you rubbing at the scar on your arm?"
Spock folded his arms, she knew him too well sometimes. "I just don't like surprises. You know that."
Pathee knew that he only did that when he suspected trouble. He hadn't even realised that he did it until she pointed it out to him one day. "We have talked with them. They know things about you." She tried to break through that thick head of his, "They could help you."
"I'm not too sure of that. They look like trouble."
"We have always been wary of strangers. You know that I would not have let them see you if I did not believe their intentions were true."
Spock muttered under his breath, "Well the screening process can't always be one hundred percent effective all of the time."
"Do you think you are able to make that judgement? Judge our ways?" Her voice rose as she gave him an admonishing stare. "Remember the market last month?"
"Well how was I supposed to know the man was a farmer?" Spock waved his arms about wildly.
"Because he was selling vegetables? Because I have traded with his people for many years?" Pathee sighed and rolled her eyes, "Because I told you so?"
Spock didn't say anything and Pathee knew he was withdrawing into his mind. "You always keep to yourself and rarely talk to anyone else except to contribute your skills during trades, so why did a farmer draw your attention?"
Spock spoke quietly, "There was something about him...I can't describe it, but it's the same with them." He pleaded with his eyes, "Trust me, I have a bad feeling. This won't end well."
"Well, trust me. Just talk with them for a while. That's all I ask."
Spock stared at her for a moment then nodded.
She shivered. "Okay Spock, let's go back to the fire. It's cold here."
"Yes I suppose it is. Is there any food left?"
Pathee laughed and hugged Spock's shoulder. "You're always thinking of your stomach, Spock."
"I can't help it if I have a healthy appetite. Anyway, you know I have problems if I don't eat."
"I know, but your fixing skills don't compare to your eating skills."
Spock smiled at Pathee's attempt to lighten his mood and braced himself to meet the strangers that his friend trusted.
As they rounded the tent, Spock laughed nervously "I'm a multi-skilled guy."
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Sheppard looked at his team mates. That went well. He stood feeling a little pathetic as he waited for Pathee and Spock to return from their little meeting. What to do now? Twiddle his thumbs?
He looked up as the duo emerged from beside the tent. He smiled a little hesitantly this time. "Hey, nice of you to join us." Maybe Spock had recognised them?
Pathee moved from the shadows into the firelight. "Colonel, let me introduce Spock."
The man stepped forward and stood in front of Sheppard. It was definitely Rodney. A little thinner and sporting a nice scar on his forehead. It receded into his hairline and Sheppard wondered what other scars were hidden. He stared at the man. The longer he stared the more he realised that this wasn't Rodney. Not in the physical sense. There was no recognition in the man's eyes. No words spouting out his mouth at a million miles a minute. No. Damn it, this was not how it was meant to be.
The silence was awkward and Sheppard broke it. "Hi, I'm Sheppard, this is Teyla, Ronon, Carson, Lorne and I think you know Mari." Sheppard was waiting for the trademark scathing remarks and appropriate hand gestures but when none was forthcoming he stared at Spock. The man just silently appraised each of them. Judging them. He seemed to come to some conclusion before talking to them.
"Yes, I'm Spock. Did you come here for something to be fixed or are you here to waste my time?"
"Spock," Pathee scolded under her breath.
Sheppard watched as the man slouched a little, then paled. He swallowed a few times before straightening with a steely-eyed gaze. "I have more important things to do." Spock quickly turned and left the crowd, disappearing into the darkness.
Pathee apologised but some of them already knew the man could be abrupt and rude. At least there were some things in this universe that remained constant.
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Spock huffed as he walked out of the camp and headed towards the tree line. He was unsure what had caused the outburst. He had reacted on instinct. He didn't think he knew them, but the emotions he was feeling now betrayed that thought. He stopped beside a tree and leaned against the trunk as a familiar pain encircled his head. His hands clawed at his head. The one that was attempting to explode. The pain hadn't been this bad since…
Arghhh!!!! The sounds of crashing waves were interrupted by a sound of someone screaming as if the hounds of hell were on their tail. It wasn't long before he realised the screaming was from him.
A warm hand was placed on his. He jerked his body away from the invader. The warmth left and was replaced with a voice. "Hey buddy. Are you okay?" The concern in the voice sounded genuine but the pain in his head left no room for logic and reasoning.
"Leave me alone."
A familiar voice broke through the pain. "Spock, they have a doctor. He can look at you. Maybe give you something for this spell?"
"No…no…they can't help me. It's my burden. Mine and mine alone."
And with that a dark veil descended, swallowing all of his pain, thoughts and awareness.
TBC