Just as Bones was talking to Jim, he saw a being walking toward them who had not been there a moment before. Bones swallowed hard and took a step backward. "Uh, I think this would be a good time to run!" he said.

Korax stood there a moment longer, but Bones grabbed his arm. "This is no time for Klingon bravery!" Bones said. "Come on!"

Korax followed Bones as the individual kept walking toward them at a steady pace. "Jim, I think we need to get out of here!" Bones said into the communicator, but he got a static reply. He looked behind them and the being had come around the side of the rocks where they had just been, and he was still walking in that steady stride as though he were in no hurry at all, but he knew what he was going to do.

Bones was running by the time they got in sight of Jim and the others. "Jim! It's after us!" he yelled.

"What's after you?" Jim asked as they came together.

Bones looked behind them and they saw the pursuer come around the edge of another outcropping. "That!" Bones said pointing.

Jim stared at the being who had not slowed down at all, but he could see from where they were that it had yellow, almost glowing eyes, and it looked human, but not. "Why don't we run?" Jim asked.

They all turned around and ran back toward the area they had first appeared there. Jim took out his communicator. "Scotty!" he exclaimed, but all he heard was static. "Scotty!"

"What did I tell you?" Bones asked. "What did I tell you?"

They got over the hill between them and the transporter area. "Scotty!" Jim yelled into the communicator. "Scotty!"

"It's no use!" Bones declared. "Something's interfering!"

"Well, then it's time to take drastic measures!"

Jim took out his phaser. "Stop!" he yelled at the being. "Stop!"

The being stopped and stared at them, it's long, black cape-like garment blowing in the wind that was now blowing particles of dirt around them. He was also wearing a black outfit under the cape. His glowing yellow eyes simply stared at them from a pale face under long, brownish hair, and his stature was more than six feet. "Why do you come to this world?" he asked, with a strong accent, and his quiet voice almost sounding electronic.

Jim just stood there dumbfounded a moment. "We didn't know anyone lived here," he said. "We were just exploring!"

"Do you always go to worlds where you don't belong? Why did you really come here?"

"How did you get here?"

"I was abandoned here."

Bones swallowed hard. "I wonder why," he said quietly. "Jim, I really have a bad feeling about this."

"Just relax, Bones."

"Why were you abandoned here?" Jim asked.

The being simply stared at him. "Why are our communications disrupted?" Jim asked.

"You should think of consequences before you enter an unfamiliar world," the being replied. "The wind is coming."

With that the being turned and began his striding walk back in the direction he came from. "What does he mean, the wind is coming?" Bones asked. "Hey!"

Jim looked around them and realized the wind was blowing a lot harder than it was when they got there. "Well, we don't know anything about this planet," he said. "Maybe there's some sort of wind storm."

"And he knows where to hide from it?" Solan asked. "Maybe we should follow him."

"Are you kidding?" Bones asked. "Did you see that guy?" He looked at Jim. "Look, I don't know who he is, but I don't think he has any good intentions. He could be some homicidal maniac who was marooned here as a prisoner to this planet!"

"That is not a surprising assessment coming from you," Korax said.

"This is no time for that. I'm serious."

"You are always serious."

"Alright, guys, we have to think about what we're gonna do here," Jim said. He looked out across the plains, and could see what looked like a reddish-brown cloud coming that way. "I think we better move."

The others looked at what he was pointing at. "Where do you suggest we go, Captain?" Spock asked. "Since we cannot contact the ship." He held up the tricorder. "It appears to be a dust storm, and not only that, but it appears to have electrical activity within it." He looked at Jim. "Lightning."

"Let's go."

They all ran out the way the being had gone, hoping that they were doing the right thing. "There must be a cave around here somewhere," Jim said.

They turned around the rock outcropping, and the being they had talked to was standing waiting for them. Jim stopped so suddenly, he almost slid down, and that did nothing good for his knee. "This way," the being said.

Jim and the others just stood there. "Are we really going to follow him?" Carol asked.

"For now," Jim replied.

They went on after the being, who simply walked forward as though he knew exactly where he was going and had no time for dawdling. They soon came to what looked like a doorway in the rocks, and there was a wide open area within it, and in that area, on the other side, was a large cave…but what Jim and the others noticed most was the small space ship that sat within the area. They did not have time to investigate it because now they could hear thunder and the sky seemed to be getting darker. They followed the individual into the large cave, and once they were inside, he closed what looked like a stone door.

Bones stood there looking at that in horror, and then looked at Jim. "We're trapped in here," he said.

Jim had not known they would be in a place like this. He had been hoping they would get shelter from that apparent dust storm. "Maybe we're not trapped," he said. "We can open the door." He looked at the one who had brought them there. "Right?"

"I would not go out there right now if I were you," he said quietly. He stared at Jim with his yellow eyes as he walked by, but then his gaze turned most disturbingly to Carol.

Jim noticed that the being was staring at Carol. He put his arm around her and they went over to what looked like a stone bench and sat down. "Why did you help us?" Jim asked. "Why are you here? And whose ship is that?"

"I helped you because I need your help. I already told you why I am here, and that ship is mine."

"Who are you?"

"I am Jerah. Who are you?"

"I'm Jim Kirk. I'm the captain of the Federation Starship Enterprise."

"And these are part of your crew." Jerah looked at Jim with his yellow eyes seeming to glow more within the gloomy cave. "The storm will last for two days."

"Two days?"

"That is correct. You should make yourselves comfortable."

Jerah turned and walked into another area of the cave. Bones came over to Jim. "You mean we've gotta stay in this cave with that…weirdo for two days?" he asked.

"We don't have a choice unless you want to be out there in that dust storm," Jim replied.

Just then, they heard a loud clap of thunder outside. "Jim, I have a feeling that we're in serious trouble," Bones said. "And we just don't know it yet."

Carol looked at Jim. "We'll be away from the baby for two days," she said.

"Andrea will take care of him."

"I know that, but I am his mother."

Jim wanted to say that was why he did not want her to go on away missions, but he supposed this was not the time. "He'll be alright," he assured her.

"Captain, according to these readings, this storm is quite violent," Spock said. "There is a great deal of interference. I believe this storm is the reason that we could not contact the ship."

"Probably right," Jim replied. "Well, I guess maybe we can look around this cave while we're here."

"Or get lost in it," Bones said.

"Your usual pessimistic view," Korax commented.

Bones gave him one of his sardonic looks. "This is no time for optimism."

"There is never a time for it with you."

"Jim, are you gonna sit there and let him talk to me like that?"

"He's only kidding, Bones," Jim said.

Bones looked at Korax. "I don't think he is," he declared. "He just likes insulting me like everyone else."

"It's not insulting. It's just going along with your desire to make light of the situation."

"So what are we going to do?"

"I don't know."

Jim looked around them and realized Solan was gone. "Hey, where is Solan?" he asked as he stood up.

They were all a bit alarmed, but then Solan came out of one of the cave branches. "Where were you?" Jim asked.

"I was looking around," Solan replied. "Like I always do."

"Will you please tell me when you're going to disappear while we're here?"

"Sorry."

"What are we supposed to eat while we're here?" Bones asked.

Jim had been thinking of those things, and he had no answers. He had not expected to be stranded there. "We're gonna have to start taking packs with us whenever we go down to a planet," he said. "I guess we'll have to ask Jerah what we can eat."

"Where did he go anyway?" Bones asked.

"I don't know, but he may have a private room back there or something."

"In a cave?"

"I don't see anywhere else to live around here."

Just then, Jerah came back out. "We must hunt in the caves for food," he said. He drew out a blade that looked long enough to make a hunter out of anyone. "Come. You will hunt for food for your own."

"I will go, Captain," Korax volunteered.

"Only one will be necessary."

Jim did not like the idea of Korax going off with that individual alone. "Be careful," he said.

"I will," Korax replied.

Jim watched Korax go off into the tunnel following Jerah. "You're really letting him go?" Bones asked.

"Bones will you stop questioning everything I do?" Jim asked. "I can't tell Korax what to do. He's not even a member of my crew."

"I could follow them," Solan suggested.

Jim considered that. "Go ahead, but don't let them know."

"They won't know."

Jim was sure they would not. Solan had proven himself to be stealthy in his job as a bodyguard and an investigator as well. He walked off into the tunnel making sure his blaster was ready to be drawn quickly.

Bones paced back and forth a few times and then sat down beside Jim. He rubbed his face and leaned his forehead into his hand. "What's the matter?" Jim asked.

"Nothing," Bones said.

"You don't have a headache, do you?"

"No."

"You're worried about something?"

"Jim."

"Alright then."

Carol nudged Jim in the side and then got up and walked over to see what Spock was doing. Jim knew she wanted him to ask Bones about Andrea. "So, how are you and Andrea getting along?" he asked.

Bones was silent as he just sat there frowning. Jim looked at him. "Bones?"

"You've already heard something, haven't you?" Bones asked.

"Never mind that. What happened?"

"I just didn't go back."

"Why?"

"I don't know. I'm pretty sure it's over now and she can go on with Jim West. It's not like we…never mind."

"I don't understand you."

"You don't have to."

Spock came over to them and squatted as he showed the readings on his tricorder. "The electrical discharges are incredible, Captain," he said. "I do not believe this is a typical storm."

"Well, we're not on Earth, Spock," Jim replied.

"Why would Jerah be stranded here? Who would leave him here?"

"I don't know that, and I really don't think he's going to tell us."

"Or he's waiting for the big finale," Bones said. "You saw how he looked at Carol like some hungry monster."

"Do you have to say that?" Jim asked quietly, looking to see if Carol heard that. "Shut up."

"It's the truth," Bones whispered.

"He touches her, and I'll kill him."

"I'm sure you'd want to, but I'm not sure you could."

"We know nothing of this individual," Spock said. "And we do not know what he is capable of. He is possibly waiting for the storm to be over before he makes any sort of move if he has a plan."

"He can't outdo us all."

After what seemed like several hours, Solan came back into the cavern. "Where are they?" Jim asked.

"You didn't want me to let them know I was there," Solan replied. "They're on their way back. And wait till you see what our food is."

Bones was sitting beside the wall. He sighed as he rubbed his face. "You gonna tell us or make us wait?" he asked.

"I think I'll make you wait."

It was not long until Korax came back into the cavern along with Jerah. Korax was dragging a snake-like creature that had two heads, and it was not small either. That was what they were dragging behind them. In the other hand, Korax had what looked like a huge spider.

Jim wondered why nothing could ever look normal. Bones stood up beside him. "Just remember, I don't have a med kit with me," he said.

"Don't remind me," Jim replied.

Jerah began slicing his own creature, so Korax began preparing theirs. Jim wondered if this was what Klingons did all the time because Korax looked quite skilled at it. "You ever ate this before?" Jim whispered.

"No," Korax replied. "But we do not have much choice. We would be quite hungry if we did not eat for two days."

"Right."

Jim waited to see what they would do once they finished cleaning the meat. Jerah built a fire in a small place in the wall of the cave that looked remarkably like a fireplace. He supposed it was since that was what it was used for.

Jerah stuck pieces of meat on long metal rods he had and sat down to roast his own. Jim took one of the pieces of meat and sat down to roast it. The others followed suit and just sat there. "So how long you been here?" Jim asked and glanced at Jerah.

Jerah looked at him. He seemed to never smile, and Jim thought he must either have permanent scruff or he shaved some time or other. He thought Jerah was a lot like a human, but his eyes were definitely not. "I have been here five years," he said. "You are the first beings to come here since."

"You said you were stranded here. Did your ship break down?"

"You have many questions."

"Well, I'm prone to ask questions when I meet new people. How often do these storms come?"

"Every week."

Jim frowned. "Is there nowhere on the planet that they don't occur?" he asked.

"It is a storm that travels around the planet, and it takes a week for it to circle the planet," Jerah replied.

"Where are you from?"

Jerah looked at the fire in the fireplace. "A long way from here," he said.

Jim thought they were not going to get any straight answers out of Jerah. "Have you tried to repair the ship?" Jim asked.

"Many times. It is impossible to repair a ship when there are no parts to use," Jerah said. "You can see why I approached you."

Jim was not sure he trusted this individual, but right now, they were stuck with him.

When the meat was cooked, Jim and the others sat and looked at it a moment. "I will test it first, Captain," Korax said.

Jim looked at him. "Well, Jerah is eating it," Jim replied. "Maybe it won't poison us."

Korax bit off a piece of the meat and chewed a moment. "It is good. Needs salt."

Bones shook his head at that last comment. He would never have thought they would have a wise-cracking Klingon on the ship. He tasted the meat himself. "He's right," he said. "At least it's not slimy."

Carol leaned back against the wall beside Jim and began eating her own. "It is quite tasty, Darling," she said.

Jim looked at her. "Don't patronize me," he replied.

Carol smiled. "I'm not."

Jim took a bite of the meat. He remembered when he was in that Klingon prison and Lolak fed him meat to keep him from being too weak. That had not upset his stomach so he hoped this would not either.

After they finished eating, they simply sat there until they got sleepy. Jerah brought blankets in there and just laid them on a rock and then went back to wherever he usually stayed.

Jim and Carol lay down together under their two blankets. Bones had his back to them on the other side of the fireplace, and could hear them talking and whispering, even giggling. He thought he wished he was somewhere else in this cave rather than there. He had not wanted to explain his actions to Jim, but when he was still like he was now, all his thoughts and stress seemed to press down on him. He did not even have any help from the medical bay either. He usually took something to help him sleep so that he would not lie awake tossing and turning and look as miserable as he felt the next morning. He had not let Jim know about that either. He did not feel that he had to tell Jim everything even if he was the captain of that ship. He supposed he would just have to make it on his own tonight, and maybe he would not talk in his sleep.

Spock was sitting beside the wall working on his report. He did not like to wait until the last minute to do something, and since he was not tired yet, he wondered if it was actually night outside. After all, they could not see out of the cave.

Solan lay with his hands behind his head. He could not imagine being in that place for two days. What were they supposed to do in that length of time? He could definitely hear that storm outside, and the ground rumbled part of the time. He was sure the crew knew something was wrong by now, but he was also sure they could do nothing to help them.

The crew on the Enterprise definitely knew something was wrong, but they could do nothing because of the sand storm. "I sure hope they found shelter down there," Scotty said.

"That storm is very violent," Sulu replied. "There are a lot of rocky structures down there though."

"According to the speed at which the storm is moving and the rotation of the planet, that storm should last for two days," John McCoy said.

"How will they survive?"

John frowned. "I'm sure they'll figure out something," he said. Sometimes he wished his brother did not always go on away missions.

"They usually do," Sulu replied. He would not tell anyone not to worry because he was worried himself.

All they could do was wait for the sandstorm to be over just like the others on the surface…