4.
"So?" Kirk asked as McCoy ran the scanner over Spock.
Sulu was a little way ahead of them, doing his best to give the Vulcan some sense of privacy.
"Much like before, Jim. He's weak due to loss of blood but he's okay." McCoy told him.
"Doctor, do you remember me coming to see you in sickbay previous to this mission?" Spock asked
"Yes of course."
"And your findings?"
"I..." he faltered. His mind telling him Spock had been fine. But he was weak from blood loss and McCoy would never call that fine. "I'm not sure."
"What is this about blood loss, Bones? I know Spock injured his hand but he lost very little blood from it."
"The blood loss was substantial, Captain." Spock said. "I can tell in my own body that I am in a weakened state, though it is not life threatening."
"There was barely a trace of blood." Kirk said. "Sulu?"
He came over to the others. "yes Captain?"
"In the tomb, you saw Mr Spock's blood, did you not?"
"Yes, Sir."
"Can you explain what you saw, Sulu?" McCoy asked.
"There was a small amount at the entrance, where you cut yourself but I saw nothing else."
"Strange still Doctor that after I came to see you the first time, you healed my injury, however..." Spock pulled his sleeve up slightly to show the injury that had reappeared.
"What's going on, Spock?" Kirk asked.
Spock thought for a moment. "Lilitu is a powerful telepath. I believe she is able to manipulate us all quiet easily- to see what she wants us to see and hear what she wants us to hear."
"But she's affected you, Spock? You have blocks, don't you?"
"She is only able to communicate through telepathy so I have had to lower my shields for that purpose."
"Can you block her?"
"Possibly. However I shall have to test her in a safe situation. I shall have to ask her not contact me telepathically and then see if she tries to and if she is successful. If I cannot block her, it will be safer for us not to anger her until we have a plan of how to deal with her."
"But she's drinking your blood," McCoy stated.
"Yes. It makes sense. She took food earlier but it made her ill. I believe that as my blood was what she used to get herself into a state in which she was able to come to life again, she cannot drink the blood of the humans on the ship, so the crew are safe from her."
"She can't keep draining your blood, you'll die." Kirk said
"Captain, it is in her best interest to keep me alive. I am her life source. However, I do believe we should not explore this planet further."
"Explain?"
"There are no life readings on the planet. Lilitu appears to be 'alive'. I suspect she was in a state of deep sleep, awoken by the smell of blood. She fed up me to gain strength and now has a strong physical presence and strong mental powers too. Captain, there's the possibility that more life forms like Lilitu could be on the planet. We need to beam back up to the Enterprise."
"Will she be able to manipulate us as soon as we go on board?"
"if she wished. She has only shown manipulation to keep her identity secret. As long as she feels we are no threat to her, she will not need to use her powers."
"Okay, before we go anywhere we need to establish was a threat might be to her. Spock?"
"You must not know what she truly is- do not try to find out. You must not know how she survives."
"Wait a minute though, Spock. You came to see me in sickbay and she manipulated you?"
"No Doctor, she manipulated you."
"But you came to me for a reason?"
"Of course. I was uncertain of the weakened state I was in. Now it makes sense."
"But she's going to need to feed more. That's not going to help you." McCoy stated.
"You have to remember Doctor that she need to feed to sustain her life. She will not allow me to die as I do not believe human blood will sustain her. It is too different from mine."
"Bones is right though, Spock. If you need medical help..."
Spock considered the dilemma for a moment.
"A fake code, Captain. Something that I can report to you that you will understand and she will not."
"Sir, will she be able to get any of this information from us, by reading our minds?"
"I do not know. Her power may be far greater than I suspect, but the only way to test it, is to ask her to show me her potential."
"Isn't that dangerous."
"Exceptionally."
"Then you are to make sure that doesn't happen, Mr Spock."
Spock nodded.
Lilitu was still in Spock's bed when he returned to his room.
She smiled at him.
'Are you well?' he asked her.
'I missed you' she told him.
'May I ask you some questions about your planet and your people?' Spock enquired.
'Am I not not enough for you?'
'I'm intrigued by you. I want to know more about you. But you are more than enough. If it offends you..'
'No, I am sorry. I need you.'
'I know, but you are not indebted to me in any way.'
'You gave me life back. There was none without you, your ship, your help.'
Spock nodded at her. A wave of dizziness hit him.
'You need to rest, you are weak. I shall go to my quarter. You come to me when you are rested.'
'That is sufficient.'
She left the room. Spock touched her mind 'can you find your way or shall I guide you?' he enquired.
'I remember well.' she told him.
Spock was surprised that he had slept at all.
He had intended to wait until Lilinu had drifted off and then gone to speak to the Captain but he found himself drifting. She had linked them together in sleep so he had done nothing without her, a worrying development if he wished to do anything without her.
He sat up feeling stronger and saw he had a message on the computer. The Captain wished to speak to him when he could. Spock noted that the message was timed at 7 hours ago. 'Lilinu, do you know how long I have slept?' he asked her.
'We sleep much.' she had no real concept of time.
'I need to go and see the Captain, then I shall come to you.'
'Good. I miss.'
Spock and Kirk materialised on the planet together.
"You like to keep a man waiting, Spock'
'I apologise, Captain. It seems that Lilinu wanted me to rest as she rested.'
Kirk looked concerned. "well you look better for it."
"She has spoken of missing me when I am gone. I am hoping to find out about her home planet and people but she is yet to divulge anything."
A sudden sharp stab of pain sent Spock stumbling forward.
"Spock? Spock!"
"I'm okay captain. It is Lilinu. She needs me."
TBC