T'Phol blinked to clear her vision. Teal had dropped back, following the birds at a greater distance, almost at the binocular's resolution limit. "There is a third craft. The flyer has entered a crevice. One shuttlecraft is following, the other climbing."
"Then they've arrived at their destination. Are the birds still on course."
"Yes."
Teal halted the flyer, grimacing as he rubbed his knee which was beginning to ache.
"Why are you stopping?"
"We'll wait until they move, we're less likely to be detected if we're still. I imagine the shuttlecraft above will land shortly. They can't help from up there. When it's clear, we'll go in. No need for bird guides now. They have their own agenda anyway."
The wait was just over twenty minutes, although it felt much longer. Teal watched through the viewer as the shuttlecraft descended, falling from view as it entered the ravine. He turned to T'Phol.
"We'll give them another minute to get situated. This will be dangerous. It's not too late to decide on caution."
T'Phol's chin jutted forward in determination. "I am ready. Are you?"
Teal nodded. "Let's go."
They passed the birds on the way and were at the crevice in minutes. Teal found a wide enough place to descend. It was deeper than T'Phol imagined, the shadows deepened as they neared the bottom.. It was also narrow, they moved forward slowly, until they rounded a bend to find the Enterprise shuttlecraft, parked one behind the other. Teal set the flyer down without a jar and turned off the engine. No one came to greet them. The shuttles were empty.
"I only have one phaser," he said quietly.
"I have never used a phaser," T'Phol said.
"Then stay close. I do not know what we will find."
They climbed out of the flyer, buttoning their coats against the cold. There wa a steady cold breeze blowing down the narrow passage, causing the dry snow to pile up against the ravine walls. T'Phol could feel the sting of tiny ice crystals on her exposed skin as they moved quietly from one corner to another, peering cautiously ahead. Except for the wind whistling, they heard nothing.
Teal looked around a sharp corner, immediately withdrawing.
He leaned close. "We're here," he whispered. "There are flyers ahead, and an opening in the wall. I don't see anyone, but they're there and watching." He studied the area again. "Follow me."
T'Phol was surprised at how quickly and quietly he could move, as he covered the short distance to the flyer in a crouching run. She picked up a couple of hefty rocks, slipping them into her coat before joining him, kneeling behind the flyer. They were meters from the entrance and they slipped around, taking positions on either side of the narrow opening. T'Phol peered briefly into the darkness. There was a faint luminescence inside, just enough to make out a bit of detail.
"There are many people inside. Perhaps a dozen. On stairs and on the ground."
Teal pushed up his glasses, rubbing the bridge of his nose.
"What do we do now?" T'Phol asked. "We cannot go back."
"No," Teal whispered in reply. "We won't go back. Let me think." He looked around. The walls near the opening were craggy, with rocky prominences, climbable for a way, unlike the smooth vertical inclines of much of the wall. He did not see another opening or any place that would suggest another entrance.
He pocketed the phaser he had been carrying. "Come on."
"What are you doing?
"We're going to surrender"
"Wait..Look!" T'Phol pointed.
The birds had arrived. They came over the edge of the precipice in a row, heading directly toward the opening. T'Phol heard Teal gasp as her breath caught in her own throat. Piasa was in the lead. He spread his wings and tail as a rudder and brake, landing just in front of her with one hop. His eyes glowed red as his beak opened in a hiss. The others landed behind him. T'Phol shrank back, afraid. He bore no resemblance to the thoughtful, almost gentle creature she and McCoy met in the woods.
A bolt of sudden pain shot through her head, hot and searing. She grabbed at her temples, in her peripheral vision she saw Teal fall to his knees. Inside the cave she could hear a commotion as well, then Piasa screamed. He jumped through the opening, followed by the others. T'Phol smelled the sharp odor as they passed within centimeters of her, the last one beginning a keening wail that cut like a knife. Then they were through. She fought against her pain and nausea and ran after them.
{Uncalennie!}
Fledgling felt McCoy's mind shoving him out and trying to close as darkness eddied around him, manufactured from the Salortog evil machine.
{No, no! I will help!} He threw himself at the cage door, which clanged open on his second attempt. Uboq looked up from his dials in alarm. Fledgeling screamed aloud as he exploded with anger and loathing. Two wingbeats and his talons connected with the Klingon's face. Uboq shouted in pain, one eye pierced, and grabbed at Fledgling's feet. Fledgling twisted, biting into the back of Uboq's neck just below the skull. The Klingon stiffened, toppling over to the hard floor.
Vartheb had looked on, frozen for the three seconds the attack had taken, finally raised his phaser to fire when the pain pierced his brain. The phaser clattered to the floor as he clutched his head, antenna quivering uncontrollably. Beside him, he could see Arnette holding onto the edge of a table before going down. He dropped to the floor, managing to grab the phaser, and crawled away on hands and knees.
Fledgling felt Third Son and Mother, sending mixed welcome and warning as he hopped to Uncalennie. He was on the floor, body twitching, the helmet still on his head. Fledgling used his foot, the one with three toes, to knock the thing away. He straddled him carefully, trilling, grooming his thick fine hair with his beak, urging him to wake up, but the newly formed link was one sided. Uncalennie did not reply.
The door flew open, and Thompson and Mike were the first ones to come through, phasers drawn. "Federation Intelligence, Freeze!" Then the pain hit. Thompson managed to stay on his feet for a moment. Arnette collapsed in front of him, he wrangled a pair of handcuffs from his pocket and slapped the restraint into place before falling to his knees. He was aware of dark shapes entering the room, and the pain stopped as suddenly as it had appeared, leaving only the echo of agony. He staggered to his feet, taking deep breaths. The birds had spread out over the room, standing guard on Ludedmi and the Orions. The Klingon lay bleeding across the room. McCoy lay near that carnage, two of the creatures perching over him.
"Secure the prisoners," he ordered. "Carefully!"
Kirk and Spock had been just behind the FID agents when the pain started, Spock grabbed his Captain's arm, pulling him forward, they were near the edge of the landing with no rails. Then the birds pushed through. Spock turned back the bulk of the pain, his mind casting out for a connection, a path to communication, but was met with stoney, impenetrable, defense. He moved toward the door, Kirk in tow, When the assault stopped, they were next to enter the lab.
"Bones!" Kirk gasped. He ran the short distance, stopping short when the creature raised up tall, hissing, and bearing his formidible teeth. He started to raise his phaser, but Spock interrupted, speaking softly.
"Captain, do not fire. I believe this creature is guarding Doctor McCoy. It appears responsible for the damage here." He indicated the Klingon, magenta blood still oozing from his face, one eyeball hanging against his cheek, attached to the socket by a mess of blood vessels and optic nerve. His other eye glared at them, but the bite had severed his spine, He could not move.
Kirk glanced at Uboq, turning quickly away. "We have to get to him. He could be dieing."
"Spock! Help me!"
Spock turned in surprise. T'Phol was being detained by one of the Enterprise guards, struggling to get loose. Kirk swung around, his face dark.
"Let her go," he snapped. T'Phol ran to them, slowing as she approached.
"Can you talk to the birds? We have to get McCoy to the medics."
"M'Benga and the team are on their way up now. I will try to communicate with them. This is Piasa, he is Doctor McCoys friend." She saw the casting on Fledgling's leg."And this is the young bird he treated." She bowed, humming the Blackbird song, her heart pounding. Piasa stirred, stepping back a bit. Fledgling regarded her, the colors in his eye fluctuating as he turned his head. She moved a step closer, then another, kneeling down beside them, When there was no reaction, she reached out, touching McCoy's hand. It was very cold.
"Little Birdy? Leonard calls you that, does he not?" She heard M'Benga approach behind her. "Doctor McCoy needs help, Little Birdy. You are a good guard. You have saved his life. But he needs medical help, like he gave you." She stood, reaching for M'Benga's hand, He reached out, stepping forward.
"This is Doctor M'Benga. He is a healer, and a friend and colleague to Leonard. He is here to help. You must allow us to take him. Please."
Piasa chimed, a deep, sorrowful sound. Fledgling laid his head against McCoy's, obviously as much of a caress as he could give, then stepped over him and carefully away. M'Benga and the nurse moved in with the medical kit to McCoy, the second medic started checking Uboq, and the others, except for T'Phol and Kirk, who knelt beside his friend, stepped out of the way. M'Benga glanced up. "T'Phol," he said gently, "why don't you go with Spock? They may need communication with the birds. I promise, I'll get you when we're ready to move him."
Spock was waiting, so T'Phol reluctantly joined him, moving a few paces away. Piasa and Fledgling were joined by an older bird who they both greeted with apparent emotion, particularly the youngest He turned to T'Phol.
"Neice, can you introduce me? Tell them I would like to initiate a mind meld. Explain what it is."
"I shall, but they appear to be heavily shielded. It could be risky."
"It is always a Federation high priority to establish communication with a new, sentient species. I find the risk to be well within acceptable parameters."
T'Phol turned to all three, bowing again and humming Blackbird. Piasa responded as Spock and the other two looked on.
"Piasa, this is Spock. He would like to facilitate a method of communication. It is called a Vulcan mind meld. It will not harm you. He will need to touch your face."
Spock bowed. "Piasa, the meld, if you permit, will allow two way communication, a more thorough, deeper understanding between our cultures. Our United Federation of Planets, of which Starfleet is an arm, would like an atmosphere of peace, cooperation and mutual benefit to both our worlds and yours."
There was a bit of chiming and trilling between the three birds, discussion and consent, T'Phol supposed. They were joined by Kirk, who looked tired, but had a hardness around his eyes.
"Mind meld, Spock?"
"With your permission, Captain."
"We need information. If the risk is acceptable, do it."
"How is Doctor McCoy?"
Kirk sighed. "He has a long list of things that can be fixed. M'Benga doesn't know yet how much damage was done by the Mind Sifter. They're getting him ready for the trip to the Enterprise."
He glanced around the lab, seeing Giotto amongst a group of FID agents. "Spock, find out what you can. I'm checking on the security detail."
{I can speak to him without the mind melt.} Fledgling sent to Eldest Mother. {I did it with Uncalennie.}
{My Child, the thoughts of Salortog is no place for Tribe.}
{I am near to Naming Day, Mother. Not a child.}
Mother ruffled. Third Son smoothed her mantle before agreeing.
{Eldest. Fledgling has rightness. He saved Doktor.} He paused.
{This Salortog Spock has a bright essence, a calm mind. He intends no harm.}
Eldest closed her eyes. She was weary, wondering if she had the strength to make it to the Den in one flight. Tthe place she was in had the odor of fear and dark and hidden things. She was anxious to leave. She was afraid of even the bright Salortog, no one had spoken to a Salortog in that fashion since Great Father. And Tenionifi, despite his protest, was little more than a child. An adolescent with enormous talent, combined with what was likely to be the strongest Eye the Tribe had ever known. She could not set aside a feeling of disquiet.
"Mother?" Fledgling spoke in a quiet trill. "I will not talk to this Spock unless you give permission. But I believe I can."
Mother opened her eyes to find his bright, steady gaze upon her. Fledgling's eye color was much darker, a deep garnet shot through with rich amber. The eyes of a far-seer. She wanted to hold him as a nestling, but he smelt of dark blood and battle. She touched her beak to his, a farewell to his childhood to which she undertood he would never return. This, she thought, is the price demanded by Endilinti. A world that could never be the same, a child grown before his time.
{Speak, then, if you must. Carefully, with meaning and intent. You are lifesong for Tribe. Do not forget.}
Fledgling dipped his head in understanding and thanks, and turned to Spock. Speaking to Uncalennie had been different. Once he discovered one, he found there were many pathways to speaking. Spock's mind was well ordered. Not rigid, but many fewer conduits to send his words. He explored for a moment before finding one he could use.
{Greetings from the Tribe, Spock. I am...} he hesitated for a second, {I am Liddleburdie.} He sensed Spock's surprise. {I learned to speak with Uncalennie in this fashion. Is right without mind melt.}
"Of course, Little Birdy. This is quite satisfactory. You do not object if I answer aloud?"
{No. What will happen to the Dark Salortog?}
The word was unknown, but Spock understood the pictures that formed in his mind. "They will be taken to a Federation facility where they will stand trial. If they are found to be guilty, they will spend time in prison."
{Do not forget to take the blue one.}
"The blue one?" Spock received a mental image of an Andorian.
"We will take them all to face justice. Are you authorized to speak for your Tribe?"
{Eldest Mother has -authorized- that I may speak to you. A strange word. Tribe is all we who are in the Tribe. Each thinks and speaks for himself without begging permission.}
"Is Eldest Mother theTribe's leader?"
Spock felt Little Birdy's confusion. {Eldest is Keeper of the Song, she adds to the Tribe's Story. I have parts in the Story too.} The last was sent tinted with an excited pride of accomplishment that a child might feel. Spock let Little Birdy's smile touch his face.
"I am sure you will have many more chapters in the future, including this. We extend our gratitude for the Tribe's help. The United Federation of Planets would like to open formal diplomatic contact with the Tribe. We will need to be able to communicate. Can others speak like this?"
{I do not know. None have tried.}
"Can you ask if some are willing to learn? Another possibility is to program a machine that translates your spoken language to ours and vice versa. Such a venture would require working together."
{I will tell of your need.} Little Birdy paused. {Uncalennie stopped speaking. He is hiding from the Essense Drainer. I shielded him, maybe too late.}
"Doctor McCoy could understand and reply through your link? You protected him from the Mind Sifter?"
{Yes. He is filled with brightness and despair. But his Essense is buried now. Can your Healer fix?}
"Doctor M'Benga is skilled. Doctor McCoy has a great deal of trust in him."
{You are taking him into the sky?}
"Back to our ship. I do not know how long we will remain at your world. But I will try to get word to you on his condition and recovery."
Little Birdy bowed and chimed. {My head is tired, Spock. I ask excuse for now.}
"Of course. Perhaps we can continue later. Thank you." Spock inclined his head in a bow, and Little Birdy turned back to Mother and Third Son, and they made their way through the door and outside.
"The half of the conversation I heard was intriguing. Little Birdy can talk to Leonard through a link?"
"Apparently. It will be interesting to see what McCoy has to say." Spock looked at her, his expression grave. "The Captain will also want to hear what you have to say. You have behaved recklessly here on Aminta. Were you a crew member, you would likely stand for court martial."
"Then I suppose it is a good thing I am not a crew member."
Spock's features reflected disapproval, but the discussion was cut short by the approach of Kirk and Thompson.
"Captain, are all prisoners in custody? Little Birdy said not to forget the blue one, meaning the Andorian."
"No, we don't think so. There should be two Andorians," Kirk said, "assuming Kelan and Vartheb are both here."
"There are two other rooms behind this one," Thompson said. "There may be another exit as well. We have three Orions detained so far, along with Arnette, and one worse for wear Klingon. There were no Andorians. However a combined team is searching the rest of this facility and the vicinity.
"I suppose I should be surprised to find you here," Thompson said to T'Phol, not unkindly. "But I'm not. Where is Peg?"
T'Phol's eyes widened. "I do not know. We were outside when the birds arrived, then the pain hit. I came in and have not seen him since."
Thompson took a deep breath and released it in a huff, taking a small tranceiver from his belt. "Mike? Has anyone seen Peg Teal?" He listened to the reply through an earphone, frowning as he turned to T'Phol.
"Teal is unaccounted for. You two hadn't hatched a hare-brained plan to rescue McCoy and save the planet?"
"No. I was to stay close, because he had a phaser."
"Captain Kirk?" M'Benga called from across the room. "McCoy is stable enough to transport. We are ready any time. The patients are on field stretchers, and the Klingon is heavy. We'll need portage."
"And a pilot. Sulu and Riley are with the prisoner guards. We'll pick one of them up on the way out. Spock, I guess you and I will heft the Klingon."
Thompson and the medic carried McCoy down the flight of steps, which were somewhat roughly hewn, narrow and steep with no rail. Kirk and Spock waited until they were safely at the bottom before starting with their own patient, who was indeed heavy. Despite the chill, Kirk was beaded with sweat by the time they reached the bottom. Riley went with them and they stepped through the opening , squinting in the sudden brightness. They had not gone far when they were stopped by a sibilant voice.
"Captain Kirk. All of you. Put the stretchers down, or I will shoot."
Kirk nodded, and the patients were lowered to rest on the ground.
"Now turn around slowly."
Vartheb was standing on the ramp of the camouflaged shuttle. Peg Teal stood before him, hands bound behind his back, dried blood covered one side of his face. He looked pale, but alert.. Vartheb was holding a disrupter rifle.
"I seem to have a difficulty, Captain."
"Oh? I'm sorry to hear that."
Vartheb smiled. "You should be. I have a hostage. He is someone important to your Federation, I believe. Perhaps important enough to consider a trade."
"We don't make deals with criminals, Vartheb, or whoever you are."
Thompson slowly drew his hand phaser from his pocket, keeping it turned from view.
"So you know about that? It was inevitable." Vartheb shrugged. "No matter who I am."
"Where is Kelan?"
"That is no matter as well. He is- indisposed. Enough from you." Vartheb held his palm up in a stop gesture, and Thompson fired. A bright blue energy field flashed around Vartheb and Teal.
The Andorian laughed, unscathed. Then his merriment abruptly stopped. "You had one pass. Another move, and I will kill one of you. I am surrounded by a phaser damping field, rendering your weapons useless. Mine is not affected." He suddenly pointed his rifle at Uboq's stretcher and fired. It was enveloped in a writhing pulse of energy. In a couple of seconds, a smoking pile of ashes remained where the Klingon had been.
"Very impressive," Kirk said, the stench of carnage wafting to his nostrils. "But you'll never get away, even if you kill us all."
"It may come to that, if you cannot be reasonable. My demands are simple. I want the Orions. I want the creature we captured. I want the mainframe computer banks from this location. I want a two day getaway period. Once I am satisfied, Teal will be released."
"Release Teal and we'll discuss it."
T'Phol had been following McCoy's stretcher, trailing at the end of the group. She was cold, jamming her hands deeper in her pockets for warmth when she felt the rocks she had put there earlier. She shifted them around, closing her fingers around the bigger of the two, adjusting her grip. She had never heard of a phaser damping field, briefly wondering if it would also stop a rock. Kinetic energy seemed different enough from phased plasma, she thought it likely a rock would go through.
She did not have a clear target on Vartheb, Teal was too close. She willed Teal to look at her, finally whether physic waves or coincidence, he did catch her eye. She pointed surreptitiously with her left index finger and slipped her right hand out of the pocket, turning her wrist just enough so he could see the rock. The corner of his mouth quirked in a quick smile, and he nodded once, barely moving his head. T'Phol shifted her stance to a throwing posture and waited.
There was some more back and forth between Kirk and Vartheb when Teal announced loudly, "I think I'm having a heart attack!" He slumped to his left. Vartheb raised the rifle to fire at the same time T'Phol released her rock. It hit squarely on Vartheb's temple. His arms jerked upward and the rifle fired harmlessly into the air. Immediately Kirk, Spock, Thompson and Riley stormed the ramp and Vartheb was disarmed and in cuffs. Blue blood streamed down his face, and an antennae was twisted and drooping. Thompson advised him of his rights as he led him away. Vartheb was crying, lomg hissing sobs. Thompson stopped in front of T'Phol, looking at her a moment before breaking out in a grin that crinkled his eyes.
"I guess you can consider yourself redeemed as far as I am concerned."
"Peg too?"
"That may require more consideration."
"Then you will consider it?"
Thompson nodded. "We'll talk later, after this is wrapped and secure."
He led the sobbing Vartheb back into the fissure where the prisoners were detained until they could be transferred. T'Phol knelt beside McCoy, but he was pale and non responsive. She smoothed his hair and stood. M'Benga was looking at her, his expression both softly amused and sad.
"Why doesn't he wake up?"
M'Benga sighed. "We still need to assess the damage done by the Mind Sifter. Right now, sleep is the best thing for him. We'll know more when we get him to the Enterprise." He paused. "How did you learn to throw a rock like that?"
"Practice. Vulcan has a lot of rocks,"
M'Benga found himself chuckling despite his worry. He opened the medical kit, retreiving a scanner and approached Teal. "Let's have a quick look here. I presume you are not actually having a heart attack."
"Eh, I'm all right, I think. Got clobbered by a rock." He looked at T'Phol, grinning. "Thankfully not by yours. Remind me not to tangle with you. I thought you killing that hyena was luck. I reckon not."
M'Benga palmed the scanner. "You have a slight concussion, little hematoma, abrasions. I'll patch you up in Sickbay. Come on, let's get Doctor McCoy home." He and the Medic hoisted the stretcher and T'Phol and Teal fell in behind. Kirk and Spock joined them.
They reached the Columbia. Riley climbed aboard to prepare for launch as the medical team secured McCoy's stretcher. Kirk stuck his head in as T'Phol and Teal took seats.
"Miss Grayson, that was quite a feat. I want to thank you, you probably saved some lives. We'll discuss your part in this mission later. I'll need statements from you both. Right now, Spock and I are still needed here, lots of loose ends to wrap. Riley, handle them carefully.
A few moments later they were climbing away from Aminta, her rough terrain falling behind rapidly as the shuttle climbed to meet the Enterprise.