Hey guys, just a few notes just in case you are not familiar with some of the terms and characters in this part of the story.

Mind meld- The ability to join another's mind and read their thoughts and emotions. Most Vulcan's are touch telepaths and have this ability. It can also be used for healing.

Katra- A person's essence or soul

Saavik or Saavik-Kam (Kam is the Vulcan way of showing affection for the person being addressed)- A half Romulan half human female that was Spock's ward. In Star Trek 2 and 3 she appeared as a Star Fleet officer being trained by Spock and goes along with them on the Enterprise. When Spock's body is regenerated on the Genesis planet Saavik helps him through Pon Farr. She ends up pregnant with Spock's child from this encounter and they marry. (In my story at least, I know there are other books that suggest the same thing, I am not trying to copy anyone).

Pon Farr- Every seven year's Vulcan Males enter an intense mating cycle. Their hormones and adrenaline reach deathly doses and if they do not mate or fight to the death, they die.

This information is what I have observed from Star Trek and have been told by friends, no copyright infringement is intended. I do not own this information or Star Trek or its characters.

Chapter Seven

Dangerous Game

M'ara closed her eyes as she repeated her chant. She could feel her awareness leaving her body and flowing into Serin's. At first it was like hitting a brick wall full force, almost breaking the meld. "What has caused such a shield to form in one so young?" M'ara thought. She increased the strength of her own telepathy to a level she did not normally use. It was very demanding the one controlling the meld.

"Serin, you must let me through the shield, our laws will not let me pass other wise," M'ara sent through his mind, trying to break through so he could hear her.

"I hear you, you feel so far away, I will try to lower my defenses," Serin's thoughts were still no more than a whisper in to her consciousness. A few moments passed and then M'ara could at last feel the weakening of the powerful shield that protected Serin's thoughts and emotions. M'ara let her Katra flow through the less intense shield.

It still took all of M'ara's strength but she could finally feel Serin's Katra, his feelings and memories chaotic at first. M'ara felt her control slipping from the exertion of the day events and fighting Serin's shield. She was dragged wherever his consciousness decided to take her. When his mind settled she found her self in a memory, back on Vulcan at the funeral ritual for his mother. Serin was only five, his little fingers wrapped around his father's. The fires were lit on the top of mount seleya in her honor.

"I shall always be grateful to you Saavik-kam, for all that you have done for me, and for our son." Spock said, his eyes sad and empty, mourning for his bond mate. Now that Saavik's Katra was given to the temple, their marriage bond was severed. Spock could no longer control his grief, and tears dripped down his face as he saw his loves body lying there on the alter. Ambassador Sarek who was standing beside his son, saw Spock's tears.

"Your tears are so human, control your emotions as I have tried to teach you," Sarek said walking away ashamed of his son. Serin's eyes were wet as well, but after overhearing his Grandfather's reprimand he did let the tears fall. M'ara could hear the child's thoughts and share his feelings of grief, anger and shame. He inwardly vowed that he would not let his emotions cause him shame. He would prove that he was not as human as his father. M'ara could sense that Serin was not pleased that this memory had been displayed. He felt vulnerable. She realized that this memory was the answer to the question she had asked when the meld began.

Then M'ara's own shield weakened and her own memories and emotions began to bleed through the meld. This usually did not happen to a trained healer. M'ara concluded that she must be almost at the end of her endurance, her own wound and exhaustion had not been treated. Her mind sent them back to her last days on Vulcan. Before M'ara could regain her control Spock's words to her before she left for Star Fleet rang through her and Serin's meld.

"Take care of my son…I have failed him…"

M'ara could feel Serin's confusion, and pain at hearing his fathers words. M'ara regained her control before more of her self could be shown. She now reached for the center of Serin's mind. This would be where his biological healing capabilities were held. Like All Vulcan's he could heal himself through meditation and complete control over his bodies functions. In this case, he needed another's strength to speed up the progress.

"Serin you must focus with me on healing your body."

"I understand" He replied. Once M'ara could feel his energy being focused on healing she reached out with her strength and did the same. It was a strange sensation, almost intimate, both of their consciousness healing Serin's body as one.

After what seemed like hours Serin's body was almost fully healed. M'ara could feel that she could hold the mind meld no longer. She quickly ended the meld, releasing Serin's consciousness from her own.

"It is finished," M'ara said weakly as he opened her eyes. Without warning her vision went very dim, she could hear Serin calling her name but she could not answer. Then she neither saw nor heard anything more.

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M'ara eyes slowly opened, and she realized that she was lying down on a bio-bed in sickbay. Su-Ling was sitting by her bedside with a worried look on her face.

"How long have I been unconscious?"

"A few hours, you forgot the most basic rule in medicine, doctor heal thy self. You had a major concussion, a broken rib and a piece of metal lodged into your shoulder. You didn't think that perhaps the "logical" thing to do would have been to take care of your self?" Su-Ling reprimanded, clearly relived that her friend was alright, but annoyed non the less. M'ara could not remember even thinking about what her medical condition was when she came to after the crash. Her mind had been focused only getting to Serin and Su-Lin. Her pain must have been masked by the adrenaline and the necessity to keep going.

"It was not intentional, I regret to have caused you worry," M'ara said, She was grateful to Su-Ling for her caring despite the fact that M'ara could not express her own feelings.

"Don't sweat it, you're fine now, just be careful from now on," Su-Ling said putting a hand on M'ara's shoulder. M'ara nodded in agreement.

"How is Serin?" M'ara asked after a few moments silence.

"Oh he's fine, walked right out of here after he caught you before you hit the floor and put you on this bed. He came back not to long ago to check on you, it was kind of sweet," Su-Ling informed M'ara as if she had been anticipating being asked this very question. M'ara had little doubt that she had healed him to the point where he would be able to do be Captain again, but she had to make sure. M'ara grabbed the blanket and pulled it off of her and got up off of the bed.

As if he had known he was the topic of discussion Serin walked into to sickbay and over to Su-Ling and M'ara.

"I m pleased to see you are well," Serin said, his eyes were warm, and fixed on M'ara. M'ara could feel his presence through their temporary bond that was created through the mind meld. They could also read each others thoughts.

Thank you, I know it was not easy.

I did what I had to.

Was your help only because of your promise to my father…

Serin…I…

It was at this point, that they saw Su-Ling was looking at them both with a bewildered expression. They realized then that they had been having a conversation that no one else could hear. Serin decided to say what it really was he came to say to them both.

"Star Fleet did not get our distress signal, they would have been here by now. I have to conclude that it was disrupted by the Romulan ship. Therefore we are on our own until they realize that we have lost contact with them. We can not stay here since the Romulans will be looking for us. We must find food, water and a good secure location that can be easily defended. What I need to know is can we get your patients safely relocated?"

M'ara and Su-Ling thought about it for a moment. M'ara spoke first.

"All but one will now be able to walk, as far as their survival; they have a better chance getting away from this ship than if we stay here." M'ara told Serin.

"Wait a minute sir, how will star Fleet know where to find us if we leave the ship, and as a science officer Serin, you should know that this planet is not exactly paradise," Su-Ling said with concern. Serin got a very patient look on his face and then began to answer.

"I have placed a homing beacon on my person that Star Fleet will be able to follow once they have reached the ship. As for the planets inhospitable climate and inhabitants, we shall have to endure it and hope the Romulan's have a worse time of it than we do,"

'What about the patient who is too ill to walk, are you suggesting that we leave her behind?" M'ara asked, since he seemed to deliberately ignore the facts the she had told him.

"No, I will have a couple of security personal carry her on a stretcher for as long as it is possible," Serin said.

"It is appreciated Captain,' M'ara said with sincerity. This was a different side to Serin. She hoped that he would not go back to his cold shell after the affects of the mind meld wore off.

We will discuss this later, M'ara

M'ara had forgotten to shield her thoughts. She fought not to show her surprise and embarrassment.

"We will be leaving in a couple hours, I would suggest that you get your equipment together and then rest while you are able, I must take my leave of you, there is much to do, if you will excuse me," Serin said to the two doctors and then without waiting for a reply he turned his back on them and left sickbay.