"Captains log star date 5682.8: We are currently in orbit around Hive89 in the Aoquma system. The mission is that of scientific importance; this is a routine check of atmosphere and mineral content. Both are similar to earth but no life forms of intelligence have been found. This will be our third and final orbit."

With a quiet click, Jim Kirk switched off the microphone. He looked around him, and frowned. If he had been anywhere but the bridge it would have been a fully fledged pout. Scientific missions were important; he knew that. This planet in particular had the potential to hold thousands of greenhouses, medicine (and money) for millions, stuff that would save lives, well into the far future.

But it was all so boring. Yes, his crew needed the break from fighting the hazards of space. And yes everything about the assignment was completely necessary. But he needed action, movement, something; sitting still and waiting was not his forte. There was always that feeling or need of having to do something, there was always something else uncompleted. That annoying little tick that lived in the back of his mind seemed to poke every time he tried to relax.

A young male science officer approached his chair; he was chipper, wearing his blue uniform with pride. He appeared to be incredibly enthusiastic about the whole dull affair. Jim sighed. Well, at least someone was.

"Sir, I've just gotten the reports back on the list of life forms, although there aren't any creatures with obvious intelligence, there doesn't seem to any that would pose too great of a danger."

Kirk raised an eyebrow. "Too great of a danger?"

"Well sir there is an abundance of meat eating, possibly cannibalistic invertebrates but the possibility of them being able to present a problem is very low."

"Fair enough, I still want a full report on any potential danger, dismissed."

"Yes, sir" The man turned back and went to his station, gazing avidly at the instruments and jotting down notes. Jim nearly groaned. The instruments kept their own records! The acute keenness which radiated off the boy made Jim itch.

"Mr. Spock, what's your estimation for this final orbit?" Jim asked turning to face the Vulcan science officer. He wanted to get off the bridge, maybe bother Bones or spar with someone. Sitting here was hell.

"Well Captain while we are mapping the complex regions of mountain we will be proceeding at 76% of our former speed. You may expect it to be at least two hours longer in duration than previous orbits."

Two more hours? The only reason he was still on the bridge was Starfleet regulations required the captain to oversee any potentially serviceable planets. As soon as this was over he was definitely going bug Bones.

One of Spock's instruments let a shrill warning Kreeeeeeee.

"Captain, there appears to-"

Something rippled over them, making the bridge seem to warp and shimmer instantaneously. It snatched Jim's breath away, making his skin shiver and crawl. The Enterprise seemed to convulse around them. The lights flickered twice and went out. All systems let out a drawn out sigh as they seemed to died; the bridge was silent.

"Uhura, contact engineering find out what the hell is going on. Sanrel I want a full system check. Tell me what's down, Mr. Sulu can you give me anything on our position?"

The captain's urgent orders sent the crew in to motion. Clattering and clicking filled the room as people tried to feel their way around in the pitch black. Sharp snaps sounded, somebody had located the emergence phosphorescence supply, a glaucous light filled the bridge.

Uhura turned. "Captain I can't get through, nothings working"

"Sanrel?"

"She's right sir all systems seem to be down"

"Get down to the engineering deck find out what the problem is and report back."

"Yes sir."

"Mr. Spock, do you have anything?"

The Vulcan shook his head. But the eager young officer in blue stepped forward and piped. "Captain, I have something. Just before all systems failed, there was an anomaly on the readouts. It appeared to be a massive energy spike. I've never seen anything like it. Literally off the scale."

Jim turned to Spock. "Explanation."

"I have none, there was nothing on my instruments that could have produced it."

"Sir?" It was Sanrel " The lift refuses to work. I can't even move the door!"

"Alright, see if you can get anything to work" Jim didn't let any of the anxiety he felt creep in to his voice,. If the ship was really dead and they were just drifting through space, he didn't want to even think of the consequences. Whoops. Too late.

"Mr. Sulu do you have anything on what we were looking at before?"

"Nothing Captain, just the terrain change we were expecting."

"Captain," Spock spoke up "We can assume that the energy abnormally either drained all power or caused all functions on the ship to short out completely-" Once again Jim felt a tingle across his skin, through his gut, making him shudder, stomach twisting and scalp prickling. The already dim bridge seemed to flicker. Everyone collectively held their breath, fearing the worst.

A moment of blackness and the back-up lights winked on. Beneath their feet the ship shivered to life, and with a distant roar, they all felt the slight but comforting vibration of the engines, purring along smoothly. A few seconds later the real lights came on; it was almost like nothing had ever happened. The entire crew breathed out.

Jim swiveled his chair forward.

"I want a full system report, what is and isn't working." People jumped too it.

The lift doors seemed to slam open; they were automated but an irate Dr. Leonard McCoy could do just about anything.

"Some one is going to have to check the lift, stopped for a good ten minutes on my way here!"

Spock raised an eyebrow "Six minutes and seventeen seconds Doctor, and the lift will be checked for malfunction as soon as we do the same for the rest of the ship."

A/N: Ah the second chapter, as confusing as things are they will probably stay that way for a while, the story has to develop. I guess you can expect at least one chapter every weekish, I will post them as soon as I write them (and the lovely cleans them up a lot).

~Elliot