Chapter 28
Meanwhile, the Enterprise was dispatched to answer a distress call. It was an out-of-the-way planet, deserted except for one life-form.
"A very old life-form, Captain, non-humanoid. The distress beacon comes from the compound which houses this life-form."
"Uhura, open a channel."
"Audio only, Captain."
"This is Captain Young of the starship Enterprise. We are responding to your distress beacon. What is the nature of your difficulty?"
"There's no response, Captain."
Young rose gracefully and took a step toward the Science station. "Spock, what can you tell me about this life-form?"
"Very little, Captain. Organically based, approximately 200 kilos in mass, and thousands of years old. Located in an area which contains breathable air, and considerable electronic equipment."
"Why doesn't he answer our hail?"
"Unknown, Captain."
Young paused, considering.
"All right, assemble a landing party. Let's go find out what the problem is."
xxxx
Chuck was chosen to go along. Sullivan admonished him to focus on the rapport, or lack of it, between Young and the others. They gathered in the Transporter Room. Chuck was issued standard field gear for security detail, along with intradermal transponder and universal translator. The other security guard along was Eric Mechak. The other pads were occupied by Young, Spock, McCoy, Uhura, and Sulu.
"Energize."
They materialized in the central area of a very large room - several hundred feet long. The room contained vast arrays of electronic equipment, but the center was an area about thirty feet in diameter, devoid of furnishings. There was no sign of the life-form. They spread out and approached the edge of the circular area. Suddenly Young called out in alarm. Chuck turned to look, and saw that Young, Sulu, and Uhura were each enveloped by a force field. He moved to investigate, but Eric was ahead of him. He was examining the floor around the perimeter of the circle. Chuck saw him step into another small circle and be enveloped in a force field.
"Spock, Doctor, don't move," Chuck instructed. They were standing together in the middle of the circle. Chuck examined the floor and saw three other small circles. All the force fields were located around the perimeter. Chuck joined Spock and McCoy.
"If we stay here, we may be safe from the force fields. Although I do not see a way past them to get to the equipment in this room." And he explained to Spock what had just occurred.
"Med-scanner can't penetrate the shields, but they all look okay from here."
"Tricorder readings show only a high level of energy output. No evidence pinpointing the life-form." Spock had altered his tricorder for tactile output.
"Captain, can you hear me?" Chuck called.
"Yes, loud and clear. I can see you too. I just can't get to you."
The others reported the same circumstances. Chuck tried his communicator and couldn't raise the Enterprise.
"What shall we do now, Captain?" Chuck inquired.
"Opinions, Spock?" Young asked.
"Describe the nature of the force field."
"I can see through it, and hear you, but it feels like a smooth wall when I touch it."
"No electrical shock?"
"None."
"Explore the wall by touch. Are there any breaks in it?"
After a few minutes, Sulu replied. "Feels like a doorway on the far side."
"Yes," Uhura echoed. "Mine does too. Nothing else though."
They all confirmed similar findings.
"Interesting," Spock reflected. "Chuck, does the field resemble a wall on the outside as well?"
Chuck approached Young's cell cautiously. Young put his hands on the wall. When Chuck reached a distance of twelve inches from Young's hands, he began to encounter resistance. Pressing hard, he got to within six inches, but no closer.
"Much more closely resembles a standard force field," Chuck reported. "I couldn't get closer than six inches. But only mild discomfort. I don't know if it would increase with prolonged contact."
"And what is the distance between force fields at their closest point?"
"The fields are circular, and I'd guess there's less than a foot between them."
"And where are the unused force fields?"
"There's one gap to the left of the Captain. Then Sulu and Uhura are next to each other. Then two empty spots, then Eric is next to the Captain."
"Thank you. I have the picture. Captain, with your permission, I will attempt to reach the perimeter."
"Go ahead, Spock."
Spock walked directly toward Young, stopped when he reached the force field, then began inching sideways along the face of the field, pressing his body into it as he progressed.
"Please advise me when I reach your doorway."
Chuck watched Spock move past the point of closest proximity with the unused circle. Its force field did not activate.
"You're approaching the doorway now, Spock."
"Yes, I can feel a higher energy output in this area." Spock explored the doorway with his fingers, looking for any mechanism that might open the door. He found none. He took two steps backwards, and was free of the force field, and standing outside the perimeter.
"Chuck, if you can repeat what I did, I would be grateful for a set of eyes with which to explore some of this equipment."
"I'm on my way."
Chuck found that the energy output of the force field was indeed painful when his whole body was in contact with it. But it was bearable, until he got to the doorway. But he was able to skirt the edge of it, and step away from the force field without triggering the empty circle. But when McCoy tried it a few minutes later, he got caught, and became the fifth prisoner. So Chuck and Spock turned to the equipment panels.
Spock established a link, and with one hand on Chuck's face, and the other on his shoulder, they went exploring. It was an odd experience for Chuck. He had little understanding of what he was looking at. Spock did not speak, even mentally, but somehow Chuck knew, without knowing how he knew, what Spock wanted to see next. They explored the entire room without touching anything. They returned to Young's cell, and Spock withdrew.
"Captain," Spock reported, "we have visually explored the contents of this room. I have reached a number of conclusions. First, the person for whom this equipment was designed is very probably shorter than we are, perhaps 1.2 meters tall. Our sensors indicated the life-form was non-humanoid, but this equipment suggests the presence of manipulative appendages, such as our hands and fingers, also the desirability of sitting while working.
"Secondly, while the purpose of much of the equipment is unclear, the purpose of some of it is all too clear. Captain, unless I am much mistaken, this life-form is a scientist who uses other life-forms as victims of his experiments. The distress call is very likely a ruse to lure victims into his trap."
"I see. Recommendations?"
"A high priority is communication with the Enterprise, to warn them against sending others into the trap. I would have to either find a way to turn off the jamming mechanism, or find a way out from under the shield blanketing this facility. As exits from this room do not appear obvious, the former might prove more doable."
"Any idea how we might get out of here?"
"There appears to be a central control console that may contain solutions to both problems."
"I won't keep you then. But contacting the Enterprise is more important than getting us out of here."
"Understood."
Chuck and Spock returned to one of the first consoles they had looked at. Using Chuck's eyes, Spock began trying to break into this system. He worked for some fifteen minutes. Chuck held his communicator open, ready to send if Spock punched through.
"Interesting. This code is not what I would have expected. Almost as if he planned for us to break in. Chuck, be wary of a trap. This is too easy. There. Try it now."
"Byrd to Enterprise."
"Scott here. We lost yer signal at once. Even now, I canna beam ye up through that shield."
"It's a trap. Don't send anybody else down here. Captain's orders."
"Understood. So I'm supposed to sit and wait for you to extricate yourselves."
"You got it. Sorry, Scotty."
"Get that shield shut down, and I could lend you some help."
"We'll try. Don't know if-"
Suddenly the communicator started emitting a high-pitched whine. Chuck immediately recognized that sound. So did Spock. Without delay, Spock grabbed the communicator and hurled it aloft. They both dived for the floor and covered their heads.
The communicator exploded in the upper darkness, showering hot fragments in all directions. After a moment, they arose, unhurt, and reestablished their link. Spock turned back to the console.
"Intriguing. The code is now of an entirely different nature. Much more complex. More importantly, if the creature intended for us to do what we have just done, why? And what will he do now?"
Spock worked diligently for half an hour. Chuck had no idea what he was doing, until he spoke mentally.
*I do not know if he has an audio monitor, but it would not be surprising. I am attempting to free the Captain from the force field. He has considerable technical expertise. Ah, this might do it. Again, be wary of traps.*
"Captain, if your door is open, please join us."
As soon as Young stepped clear of his force field, Chuck heard a loud humming sound overhead. He looked up and yelled a warning.
"Look out! Above you!"
They saw an enormous insect descending. Its shape resembled that of a wasp, with many more legs, and a translucent, rather than black body. Spock had his tricorder out at once.
*Yes, the readings match. It is the thousands-of-years-old life-form. Though perhaps the form we see is not his true shape.*
Spock turned back to the console, and Chuck tore his attention away from the wasp-creature. A moment's examination revealed the code had changed again, to something even more complex. Spock abandoned the console, and he and Chuck went to Young's rescue.
Chuck pulled out his phaser and fired. No apparent effect. He fired again. The creature was almost on top of Young, but turned to notice Chuck. Young scrambled out of reach, and Chuck fired again.
"No good, Captain," he called. "Shall I reset to kill?"
"No!" Young called back.
Chuck fired again, and the creature came toward him.
Spock melded briefly with Young, and then stepped between Chuck and the wasp-creature. Young ran to the console, and began working feverishly. Chuck stepped to one side and fired again, trying to draw the creature away from Spock. It ignored him and advanced on Spock, who stood quietly waiting for it. Chuck stopped firing when it touched Spock.
The antenna gave off a significant electric shock when it touched Spock's chest. He started to raise his hand, seeking the creature's head. The antenna delivered another shock, this time on the arm he had moved. He stopped moving. The creature delivered five more shocks in quick succession, to the other arm, both legs, another to the chest, and finally to the head.
Spock stiffened, then keeled over backwards. He felt the creature begin to move away, thinking him unconscious. Leaping up, he threw himself at the creature, found its head, straddled its neck, and planted both hands on the creature's head. It immediately tried to rid itself of the encumbrance. It shook violently. It raked Spock's body with its legs. It took off and did a variety of aerial acrobatics. Spock clung ruthlessly, ignoring all of it. He probed, seeking the mind of the one who held them captive.
Meanwhile Young succeeded in breaking into the more complexly coded system. With the creature's attention on Spock, Young had time to open the rest of the cells, reestablish the comm link with the Enterprise, and punch through the shield long enough to permit one beam-out. Young sent all five of them. Chuck and McCoy both tried to argue.
"I'm not leaving without Spock!" McCoy was adamant.
"Yes, you are, Doctor," Young's tone brooked no argument. "If possible, we'll be right behind you. But in any event, I want the rest of you out of his reach."
"Captain," Chuck ventured, "Request permission to assist Mr. Spock. You can't hold the field open, and rescue Spock at the same time."
"Request denied. Spock doesn't need rescuing. And if he did, you would be no match for that creature. Now, get out of here, all of you!"
"Aye, aye, sir," replied Sulu. "Five to beam up, Scotty."
The transporter effect caught the attention of the creature, who landed as soon as the five had gone.
"Spock!" Young called, "Get free of him, and get over here!"
The creature threw Spock off and pinned him beneath his many feet.
"Captain, I regret I cannot comply." Spock's tone was mild. "Did I hear the transporter?"
"Yes. The rest are out of here. We could leave too, if you can get free. I am working on a self-destruct sequence."
"Captain, I do not think that is necessary, or advisable."
"Why not? What else can we do with it?"
"Captain, this life-form is unique, very old, and extremely intelligent. Killing it would be a tragedy." Spock's deep respect for life came through loud and clear.
"Having it experiment on and kill countless unwary victims is a tragedy too. And if you've succeeded in talking to it, why is it still holding you captive?" Young asked suspiciously.
"I have not yet been able to talk to it."
"Then how do you know its intelligence? All I've seen is violence."
"Its violence is born of fear, pain, and desperation. It does not wish to kill."
"All right. I've got that sequence ready to go. But I won't set it in motion, unless I think he's killing you. So, talk to him. You've got thirty minutes."
"Thank you, Captain."
Spock slowly reached up and put his fingers very lightly on the underside of the creature's head.
*I am Spock. I am sorry that I hurt you. I did not know that what I did would hurt you. I saw no other way to make you understand that I wished to talk with you. Does what I am doing now hurt you?*
*No. Your touch now is very delicate. But I do sense pain. It is not mine, however. At least, I don't think it is mine. How can this be?*
*The pain you sense is mine. It is an effect of the method of communication we are using. Does it distress you?*
*You are in pain from my legs which hold you down. How do I know this? Very intriguing. I have never encountered such a phenomenon. You are a most unusual specimen.*
*You must learn to think of me as a person, like yourself, not as an animal to be studied and cast aside when some experiment proves fatal. No self-aware being should be treated as an animal. And even animals should be treated with certain regard for their well-being. Do you understand what I am saying?*
*I must not study you because you are a self-aware being. That is disappointing, because I find much about you that arouses my curiosity.*
*I did not say you cannot study me. I said you may not treat me like an animal. I too am a scientist, and there is much about you that I would like to know. But I would not imprison you, attach wires to you, or dissect you for the purpose of studying your physiology.*
*So it's not the scientific study you object to, but the methods?*
*Yes, especially imprisoning your subjects.*
*I have instituted all these controls because the subjects keep running away.*
*Did you ask their permission to study them? Did you tell them what you were doing and why? Did your procedures hurt them? Even an animal will take steps to avoid pain.*
*I cannot communicate with any of them. I have tried. No one understands. You are the first one I have talked to in a very, very long time. But, you said an animal will avoid pain; yet you do not struggle to get free. Why not?*
*I am not an animal. Talking to you is more important to me than avoiding the pain you inflict. Also, when you voluntarily stop hurting me, I will know that you are beginning to live by my rules of conduct.*
*If I let you go, you will run away, just like all the others.*
*Will I?*
Young watched the creature slowly remove his legs from Spock's body, one by one. Spock continued to lie on his back, one hand extended to the creature's face. Young took his hands off the console and began to relax. Spock talked to it for another fifteen minutes. Then the creature took off and flew away. Spock stood up and approached Young.
"Captain, I believe you can abort the self destruct."
"Where has it gone?"
"He requires food frequently."
Young's communicator beeped.
"Cap'n! The shield is gone. Shall I beam ye aboard?"
"One moment, Scotty." Young turned back to Spock. "He shut down the force shield, and we're free to go? What about the next victim he lures into the trap?"
"I do not believe there will be any more such victims. However, I would like to request, in the interests of science, that the Enterprise remain in the vicinity for the next three days, so that we may conduct scientific research."
"We?"
"Yes. He will study me, and I will study him. He would like to study you also. I suggested you might be willing, in exchange for letting Dr. McCoy study him. Also, I would like Uhura's assistance in a study of his language. If translation is possible, it would alleviate the need for mind-melds."
"All this in three days?"
"Yes, sir. Enough to file reports, after which others will come to work with him."
Spock spent the entire three days on the planet. So did Uhura, except for sleeping. She discovered the creature's language was pitched higher than humans could hear. She rewired a couple of translators to compensate, and the language problem was solved. She wasn't satisfied however, without a complete linguistic analysis of the language. The creature, whose name was Dajinu, was happy to speak several hours' worth into her recorder.
McCoy's initial exam was over in a few minutes. The doctor thanked him and turned to go. Dajinu was surprised.
"Is that all? But you haven't done anything!"
"This little machine tells me a great deal, without my having to touch you."
"But Spock and Young have both allowed me to do a complete study of their physiology, including blood samples, tissue samples, and dozens of tests. There is no substitute for hard data!"
"They did, did they? Well, in that case, yes, there's a good bit more I'd like. But let me study what I've got first. I'll be back in an hour or two."
McCoy returned to take samples, and again for a variety of other tests. Dajinu cooperated fully. He learned more from McCoy about how to treat his subjects than he had from either Spock or Young. Spock would point out after the fact that something he'd done was not right. Young simply endured in silence. But McCoy treated him the way he should treat others. Quite an education.
It was nearing the end of their three days together. Spock had been in mental contact with Dajinu for most of those three days. Dajinu preferred it to the translators, and Spock didn't blame him. Dajinu had explored Spock's mind extensively, and in turn, Spock had learned much from Dajinu. Each considered the exchange worth the price.
*Spock, you are a complex being. I have learned much of you, and from you. I understand how great a privilege you have extended to me.*
*You are most welcome. I too have learned much. Is there anything else you would like to know before I go? The time draws near.*
*Relationships are very important to you. Your shipmates, your friends; you would die for them. Yet you hold yourself aloof from them emotionally. Except for one. Why is he different? Tell me of Jim Kirk.*
*I do not object to your knowing, but there is more detail than we have time for, and I do not know if I can explain why Jim is different. Though I am far more open emotionally with several others, than I would have been if it were not for Jim.*
And Spock described his relationship with Jim Kirk, summarizing certain incidents. He went into more detail concerning their encounter with First's people, as well as the more recent events associated with Kirk's abduction by the Klingons.
*So, even though there is no evidence, you believe he lives.*
*The only evidence is within my own mind, but it is sufficient. I know he lives.*