Spock was preoccupied. He automatically entered the necessary codes for the programming he was doing, but his mind wasn't concentrating on the task. His fingers moved on autopilot, he was busy thinking about Uhura. He couldn't figure out what was going on with her. It was true he and T'kas had been in a compromising situation and perhaps he had been taking a little too much interest in the Vulcan woman, but Uhura's response had been exceedingly abnormal. She was usually calm even if something bothered her. She could be passionate and fervent but her typical moods were nothing like the erratic emotions she seemed to be experiencing; it was like anything could set her off. He couldn't figure out if it was something he had done or not. It was like something was wrong with her. But what?

Spock paused and looked down as he realized he had finished the section he was typing, without analyzing a single line. He scanned the data, checking for errors while mentally chastising himself for his lack of concentration. The information was correct. He entered and it then glanced around at the other crew.

Chekov was assembling some last circuitry for the navigation console, helped by Kelly. Havarii was checking something on his data pad and Ensign O'Connor was busily entering analysts of the anomaly into the computer system. The only person missing was Lieutenant Smith. Where was he? Spock thought back and vaguely remembered Ensign Kelly mentioning that the lieutenant had wanted to tell Spock something? Using his time sense he estimated that it had been 1.365 hours ago approximately. Lieutenant Smith had left right after he had returned to correlate some of his data with the shuttle's flight data, but he should have been back by now. The shuttles were scheduled to leave in few hours and Smith was supposed to be helping finish the last tasks that needed completion before departure.

Spock turned around and selected the least busy person "ensign Kelly?"

The girl looked up from where she was laughing with Chekov and said "Commander Spock?"

"When did you last see lieutenant smith?"

Kelly came towards a few steps towards him; her face frowned as she thought "When did I last see him? Oh god... It was at least an hour and a half ago" She bit her lip and said "Oh, I think I accidentally told him you were at the wrong place. If so he probably went looking for you in the main control room,."

Spock knew that Lieutenant Smith while an excellent engineer and an extremely competent individual, had an unwelcome tendency to be absent minded and worry obsessively. The small somewhat chubby man was forever wringing his hands and saying "do you think this is right?"

Spock asked Ensign Kelly "Do you have any idea why Lieutenant Smith is not back yet?"

"No, not really , except he did mention that he thought he could rewire the communications console so , it was more efficient, he had to pass by the hangar deck to leave so he could be there."

Spock nodded at the ensign's words her guess was as good a hypothesis as any. He nodded "very well, Ensign Kelly find Lieutenant Smith and have him report here."

"Aye sir" She said starting off. As she passed Chekov on her way out he glanced up setting his tools down "You are going somevhere?"

"Commander Spock asked me to find Lieutenant Smith. I really should since it probably my fault he's still gone; I accidentally told him Commander Spock was in the control room."

Chekov looked at her his face worried. "I'll come vith you"

He started to stand up ,Kelly pressed him back down. "Chekov you're supposed to be assembling these circuits not following me around" She said exasperatedly at his protectiveness.

She eased up a little seeing his expression as he said "I just don't vant anything to happen to you, there's something odd about these people."

"I'll be fine you worry too much; I'll be back before you know it."

Chekov nodded, still looking like he wanted to go with her, but he picked up his tools as he watched Kelly disappear into one of the passageways.

XXXX XXXX

Lieutenant Smith hurried down the halls wishing that he wasn't so meticulous. His worrying had brought him into trouble on several occasions but this time was the worst. If only he hadn't gone back to triple check that -. The thought was unfinished he couldn't even remember now what had been so important. All he knew was that if he had avoided his obsessive –compulsive desire for perfection he wouldn't be running for his life down these dark tunnels.

After meeting Kelly, he had gone to the main control room, but Spock hadn't been there. He had ran desperately throughout the maze-like corridors of the compound trying to find some other crew. Less than an hour after seeing Kelly he was caught, cornered by several Vulcans with disruptors in an abandoned storage room. Silkar was in the lead, he gave a gesture and the guards left the room. Smith was intensely scared. He tried to summon some courage. he knew he was going to die, but he didn't want this man to know he was afraid. But as he felt something slide into his mind, cold and sharp, he knew that it didn't matter what he showed. This man already knew everything; there was nothing he would be able to hide.

XXXX XXXX

Ensign Kelly walked down the corridor , a few spaces back she had found a stylus , exactly like the one Lieutenant Smith was fond of carrying. The stylus was in the general direction, of where he was last seen and so she had set off down there. As she walked she thought about Lieutenant Smith. The man was brilliant but extremely introverted, he also had a superiority complex like none other, which was one of the reasons she reflected ruefully, that she was searching for him now. If he had just told her whatever needed to be told instead of insisting that he speak to Spock directly, she would be back with everyone else instead of wandering around these creepy tunnels.

She slowed down and was about to turn the corner when she heard another voice. "leave us" said a man's voice.

Kelly ducked back around the corner as a door opened and two Vulcans came out, their faces were stiff and cold. Ensign Kelly inwardly shivered at the sight. She wasn't sure what but there was something odd about these colonists that gave her the creeps. It was like they were being too Vulcan and putting on a show. In any case she had no desire to see them. She glanced around for a place to hide as she heard the Vulcans nearing her and noticed a small door set into the wall.

She reached out, pulled it open, and slipped in just in time to avoid being seen. She pulled the door shut behind her, as the Vulcans rounded the corner. She held her breath, when the Vulcans passed by her hiding space. For some reason she knew she didn't want them to find her. Instead of leaving however, they settled against the wall each on one side of the corridor. There was no way that she could leave her hiding space, now, without being seen. She thought for a moment about walking out the door and claiming she had gotten lost, but the cold expressionless faces of the Vulcans and the way they blocked off the corridor made her feel as though that would be a very bad idea. She moved further back from the door and pulled her tricorder out using the light from the device to see her surroundings. What she had mistaken for a room was actually a small passageway; it extended in two directions darkness swallowing up both ends. In the distance she could hear the faint murmur of voices and from the little she could make out she thought one of them was Smith's.

She moved down the dark pathway towards his voice and the corridor grew brighter as she came to a door. There was a small view hole and through it she could see Smith standing there his face turned talking to somebody out of sight. She was about to open the door , when he turned half-way and she saw a clear look of fear on his face.

"Whatever you're going to do to me, you'll be caught, I've already told. They know about you" Smith said his voice frantic. He backed away from something and Kelly saw what it was as a Vulcan came into view; it was Silkar.

She gasped as she saw the cruel smile darkening his face. He glanced toward the door and she ducked out of sight. She crouched in the darkness praying she hadn't been seen. Kelly waited several moments before cautiously pulling herself up. The Vulcan was an arm's reach from smith. "You haven't told anyone, and I can make sure you didn't before you die. Don't worry when you die it'll be seen as an accident, a horrible accident."

Smith was clearly terrified. His voice shook as he said "you'll never get away with this."

Silkar smiled "I already have" before Smith could move Silkar's hand had shot out and grabbed the man by the front of his uniform. The Vulcan pulled the man towards him and with his other hand sought Smith's temples. Then Silkar's and Smith's faces blanked as contact was made. They were motionless for several seconds, before smith began to moan, his faced pained. The cries transformed into screams, then bloodcurdling yells of agony. His face was twisted in an excruciating mask of pain.

Kelly watched sickened at the sight, each of Smith's screams cutting through her like a knife. Silkar's face was transformed with pleasure. Abruptly Silkar opened his eyes, and Smith stopped screaming. Smith's mouth moved for a moment like he was trying to say something, then he slumped in the Vulcan's grip his head lolling to the side , his eyes wide, terrified, staring,… lifeless.

Kelly stuffed a fist in her mouth to block off her scream of horror as Silkar let the dead man fall to the ground, but a whimper escaped her. Silkar turned to the door and before she could duck out of sight he spotted her.

Kelly didn't wait for him to move, she ran. She could hear the door opening behind her and shouts. Her feet thudded down the dark pathway and she ran down a staircase nearly tripping and tumbling down , but she didn't stop. if Silkar got her he would kill her, and death at his hands after what she had seen him do to Smith, was the worst thing possible. She had to find the others and warn them. She didn't know exactly what had just happened, but she knew one thing. Whatever or whoever these people weren't- they couldn't- it wasn't even possible that they were Vulcans or that they meant any good.

Next Update will be January 25th (with as always a two day margin either way). Thanks to my reviewers, followers, and favouriters. To all of you that read , I'd love to hear feedback in the form of a PM or a review. Praise or Criticism are equally welcome. Coming up Next: The crew sees a side of Chekov they haven't seen before, We find out what happens to Kelly, and Dr. Mccoy offers unwelcome relationship advice.