When Home is Gone

Part Four - I will find Peace

Spock's Point of View - USS Enterprise NCC-1701, Sickbay

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Spock was in pain. The sound was no longer just on the scans but in his mind. Over and over it played. Again and again it sent waves of pain throughout his body. He tried to block out the pain using the Vulcan techniques he had learned as a child, but all it did was reduce it approximately 37.94% .

Soon Spock began to hear faint words beneath the repeating sound. He had been trying to decipher the words but he had only been able to make out the words help and surface. It puzzled him to not be able to make out more of the message, but from what he could tell, the voice was female and monotone, like a Vulcan. But Vulcans could not send out telepathic distress calls that would send other telepathic beings into a state of pain, so who was she?

Doctor McCoy had informed him that they would be arriving at Archer IV in less that 15 minutes. From what Spock could recall, Archer IV was an M-class planet that inhabited multiple lifeforms, none intelligent.

After 10 minutes, the pain had faded enough for Spock to leave Sickbay and join the Captain on the Bridge. When Spock exited the turbolift, all eyes fell on him and Kirk jumped from his seat and made his way over.

"Spock! How are you feeling?" That one question always seemed to annoy Spock a little, even though it was illogical.

"Captain, may I remind you that as a Vulcan, I do not feel emotion and therefore cannot answer your question?" From behind him, Dr. McCoy spoke up and came to stand next to Kirk and Spock.

"Yeah, he's fine. Scans couldn't pick up anything, mentally or physically. But the pain evidently lessens the closer we get to the planet."

"The doctor is correct, however, whilst in Sickbay, I have made an interesting discovery. After listening to the signal repeatedly, I have began to hear a message." Kirk and McCoy both looked at him with confusion. But before they could ask him about it, Spock walked over to his science station just as Ensign Pavel Chekov was moving back to navigation.

Spock pushed a few buttons and recorded the full loop of the signal. He then proceeded to enhance and filter out some of the noise until he was satisfied with the result. Everyone was gathering around to find out what he was doing, then Spock played back the edited audio.

Everyone, except Spock, was surprised at what they heard.

"If there is anyone out there who can understand this, I am in urgent need of your help. My brother and I are trapped on this planet but are separated. I believe I am under the planet's surface in a small cavern in one of the cave systems. If you have a telepathic with you, then use them to find me. Just follow the direction that reduces the pain. Please hurry."

No one would speak as Spock looked at Kirk. A beeping came from the navigation panel and Lieutenant Commander Hikaru Sulu rushed over to investigate.

"Sir, we are now approaching Archer IV, proceeding to enter a standard orbit." He resumed his seat at the helm as everyone else went to their stations except Kirk and McCoy. Kirk looked as if he were trying to think of a plan.

Kirk then turned and began walking to the turbolift.

"Spock, McCoy, you're with me. Set phasers to stun. Uhura, keep a channel open. We will send updates every half-hour. Chekov, I want a full scan of the planet's surface, I want to know what is down there. Scotty, you have the bridge. If this is a trap, then I want you to get this ship out of here."

After Kirk ran off names and jobs, Spock and McCoy followed their Captain to transporter room three. Kirk and McCoy made their way to the transporter pad whilst Spock went to the control panel. The lieutenant on duty stood aside as Spock approached.

"Captain, there is a small man-made structure on the surface of the planet. There are two life signs nearby." Spock entered the coordinates of a spot not far from the structure before joining the doctor and Kirk on the transporter pad.

"Energize."