Captain's log - 2261.6512
The radiation levels are still too high to return to orbit around Minara II. The crew is keeping busy taking readings of the Minarian system in case there was damage to the outpost computers and that data was lost.
It bothers me that we can't contact our landing party to let them know what's going on, but Spock has probably already figured that out from looking at the monitoring equipment in the outpost. At least they should be safe there from everything except for getting on each other's nerves. Still, I'll feel better once we have our people back onboard and have left this system.
Spock woke from his trance not to a slap, but to a feather-light touch to his temple that sent feelings of deep sorrow into him. He took several deep breaths as the hand withdrew. The first thing he saw was the rather alarming vision of Gem cradling McCoy's tricorder and medkit, but there no sign of the doctor himself.
Pushing himself into a seated position, Spock also noted they were back to the spot where they had first found Gem, but no other lights remained. Before he could consider what any of that meant, Gem caught his attention by offering him McCoy's tricorder. He accepted it and noted that the record function had been used. While he often openly disapproved of the saying McCoy was fond of using about having a bad feeling regarding a thing or situation, Spock admittedly had a bad feeling himself as he began to play the recording left for him.
After listening to it, Spock replayed the final section again.
"The Vians still won't say why they killed four men, but they're of the opinion that I won't live through this either. Get the hell out of here and take Gem away from these sadists if you can. Watch over Jim for me. It's been an honor to serve with you."
Spock found himself with the irrational desire to argue with or break the device in his hands, so he turned it off and laid it down by his side, not stopping Gem when she gathered it back up and watched him intently. In fact, he barely noticed her actions as he was deep in his own thoughts.
One thing Spock could not imagine was that McCoy would go with the Vians willingly, but they had not simply disappeared with the doctor or he would not have had time to make the recording. That led to the assumption of coercion - the Vians had given McCoy an impossible choice that had made surrendering himself the only option that the doctor could have lived with. Most likely, a threat against himself or the woman was used.
Activating his own tricorder, Spock scanned the area and found he could no longer detect where he and McCoy had first been, the area where the bodies were in stasis or the area where he had been tortured. Whatever device the Vians were using to interfere with their equipment was maddeningly efficient. Aimless wandering was unlikely to produce any positive results, yet simply remaining was an equally non-viable option. The Enterprise would be returning soon - possibly, they had already returned - but Spock doubted the ship's sensors would be able to locate them.
Frustrated for the moment, Spock looked back to Gem. Somehow, she was the crux behind this great experiment the Vians were performing. She had been present for his torture and he felt certain that she had witnessed whatever had been done to McCoy. In fact, since she had been frightened from her first sighting of them, Spock considered the odds quite strong that Gem had also seen what happened to the scientists and their two crewmen. Why was the question.
Was the torture and death meant to punish her without directly injuring her themselves? Was there something the Vians wanted to force her to do that she had refused to do for them? There was no way to ask her and the Vians had shown no desire to divulge their reasons. Part of what was so incomprehensible to him was the barbaric use of force by beings who were so technologically advanced.
The odd noise that had heralded the Vians appearance before left no further doubt to Gem's ability to hear. She clung to Spock's arm, trembling. But this time, neither Vian appeared, though Spock did have the sense that something had changed.
Gently removing his arm from Gem's grasp, Spock reactivated his scan and found that he could now locate an exit leading to the surface. By all appearances, the Vians were willing to allow him to leave, possibly with Gem, if he left the Doctor behind. Despite the doctor's stated wishes, Spock had no intention of leaving him and he had the distinct impression that, if he were to leave the area, he would never be able to locate it again.
Seeming to sense Spock's determination, Gem smiled at him and her expression mirrored the one he was used to seeing on McCoy's face when the doctor approved of something Spock was doing. In fact, when Spock paused to consider, many of her gestures and expressions were now variations on those that either McCoy used or that he used himself. He briefly wondered how much exposure Gem had had with anyone outside of the Vians before now.
Another noise startled Gem and this time, she hid behind Spock. Again, no Vian appeared, but the next scanning now showed more of the underground complex than Spock had ever been able to find before. A solitary life form registered as well. Getting to his feet, Spock assisted Gem up and took her with him, following the readings. He disliked taking her into an unknown situation but, in his opinion, leaving her alone was even less desirable.
The patch of darkness they walked through seemed deep enough to have substance, but Spock continued to lead them using his readings. Then, as if passing through a curtain, they found themselves in a lit area that Spock recognized all too well. There, hanging from the same chains he had hung from himself, was McCoy - barely conscious and, more concerning, barely breathing.
A quick examination of the area showed Spock how to lower the doctor to the ground. Gem watched and continued to hug McCoy's equipment against her as Spock freed him and quickly carried him over to an empty table. Gem was extending the medkit to him when Spock was shoved away and enclosed in the same type of force field that had held McCoy earlier. The Vians had returned.
"You will not interfere. His fate is out of your hands."
Gem's eyes widened as she looked toward Spock, then she gently sat down the equipment near McCoy's prone body. She closed her eyes for a moment, her small hands clenching and unclenching before her eyes snapped back open. Striding over to the Vians without a moment of hesitation, Gem struck out like a snake, slapping the nearest Vian hard enough that the sound echoed in the area.
The look of pure shock on the Vians face showed that this had been the last thing that they had expected. The expression on Gem's face as she looked at them was one of deep disgust. As if unable to withstand her gaze, the Vians disappeared and their force field disappeared with them.
Freed, Spock wasted no time returning to McCoy's side. There was no telling what the Vians might do next, but McCoy's was in desperate need of help. As Gem came back as well, Spock felt a twinge of guilt. Had Gem picked up his desires against the Vians and acted on it?
Spock ruthlessly shoved that concern to the side. Keeping the doctor alive was more important than worrying about his possible corrupting influence on the young empath.