A few people beamed down at Vulcan: Kirk, Spock, Sulu, Chekov and Bones. No one wanted to wait inactive for any results, everyone wanted to be a witness of the things that were going to happen. Bones was afraid that there won't be anything that they could be witnesses for.
They were beamed close to a place where probably was Sanaan's cave. It was a sort of tableland with lots of bigger or smaller rocks. Spock was standing for a while looking around carefully. He was trying to deduce which direction he should go.
"If you had any intuition I would advise you to follow it," said Bones. He made a wry mouth.
"I believe logic is enough."
"Well, is it? Do you know where we should go?"
"I believe I do," Spock moved on towards sunset. Everyone followed him without any questions.
Every dozen or so minutes Spock was stopping and trying to recall all details from the legend. Kirk was surprised by Vulcans precision - even their legends were so detailed that they could find places that were in these stories.
The ground was changing. The farther they were going to west the more rocks were appearing.
"If someone notices a cave let us know," said Kirk.
Suddenly Spock stopped.
"What happened?," asked Sulu.
"The place had changed a lot from the last time it was described."
"Last time? What does it mean?"
"Histories of granted wishes are today part of the legend."
"Aah," mumbled Sulu.
Vulcan was still looking around. Then he quickly moved towards southwest, but more towards the south.
"Spock," shouted Bones "slow down. Vulcan's thin atmosphere gives us a crushing blow."
Spock did what McCoy asked for. They were already walking for a long time and everyone started to doubt that there is any priestess. But Vulcan was with every minute more curious. He wanted to find the rock and the cave. He didn't know if he wanted to prove Kirk how his fad illogical is or to learn if somewhere there Sanaan really exists. He knew she did in the past - she was a part of Vulcan history.
Suddenly he stopped. The whole group saw quite big rock mountain. Its walls looked a bit like stairs. Above one of the steps there was a hole that could be an entrance to the inside of the mountain.
"'And above the stair doors show the way to her. Call and ask'" said Spock.
"Gee, what did he say?" mumbled Bones.
Spock stood just before the rock and raised his head. The entrance was high but before it there was something like a small platform that could be a kind of step.
"I believe it is here" he said.
"You believe?" irritated Kirk. The closer was to check the authenticity of the legend the more nervous he was.
"I cannot be sure for sure."
"OK. OK. What now?"
"Everyone back, please. Priestesses were living in isolation so they did not know much about the world. It was for their protection. I mean by that that she does not know creatures outside Vulcan. She also does not speak English so if she exists you will not understand her.
"OK. Just start. I can't stand this waiting."
Kirk took everyone behind the small rocks nearby. They hid in there carefully observing Spock. Spock stood a few metres from the rock wall, raised his hand in Vulcan sign and froze in this position. He was trying to make a telepathic call. He felt like he was looking for something in darkness. He didn't even know if she existed. He felt uncomfortable... He felt... that was strange already...
Czego chcesz?1
Voice came from the platform. Spock raised his head. Before the cave there was standing a Vulcan. She wore long white tunic with big rounded collar that was standing behind her neck. Her hands were hidden in long wide sleeves. She had long pointed ears and black diagonal eyebrows. Black hair were shiny and long and hidden in the big collar, her fringe was cut just above her eyebrows. Her skin was much greener than Spock's. She had big black eyes that were parallel to her brows. She was beautiful both for Vulcan and for Terran.
"She so pretty. I don't blame her she didn't want to live in the world without emotions. She would loose all the admiration," whispered Bones.
"Tc," hissed Kirk. But he understood doctor very well.
Przychodgzz prob!2 - said Spock loudly. His Vulcan ears heard the wispering behind the rocks and he hoped Sanaan's didn't. He was wrong.
Przychodgzz prob?3 - she asked looking around.
To nie ma znaczenia.4 - answered quietly Spock.
Ma!5 - shouted fervently Sanaan. She calmed down immidiately. - Czego chcesz?6
Na niebie jest meteoryt Pdzi w kierunku zamieszkaej planety Trzeba go zniszczy.7
Zamieszkaej planety??8 - she asked surprised. - Nie rozumiem.9
Jest duo planet podobnych do Vulcana Jedna jest zagroona.10
She was looking at Spock very curiously. Her face was haughty at the beginning but later it changed to curious baby's face.
Opowiedz.11
Pniej.12
A kto ty?13 - she asked suddenly like she would just notice him.
"That's amazing," whispered Bones.
Spock syn Sareka.14
Aaa...15 - smiled Sanaan. - Czego chcesz?16 - she asked one more time.
Zniszcz meteor Moesz to zrobi Odszukaj go i zniszcz.17
Tak.18
She moved back a few steps and Spock couldn't see her. After a moment she appeared just before him. She was taller. She smelled very strong and her smell was duping Spock. He reeled a bit. He didn't understand what was happening to him but his scientific brain was working. He could see all the differences between modern Vulcans and those that used to live two thousand years ago. All her bones were longer - that's why she was taller. She had also longer ears, brows and eyes. Her skin was much much greener and her irises were deep black. She looked just like at the old pictures. Spock looking through them was always thinking that the pictures were exaggerated to show ancient Vulcan's demoniac.
She was demoniac. She was so close and Spock's brain didn't want to be logic any longer. This feeling was so familiar to pon farr.
Gdzie meteor?19 She asked but Spock didn't hear her. His green blood boiled - Gdzie?20 - she repeated.
She kept looking at him for a moment and then she smiled with satisfaction. She ran around him a few times laughing loudly. It looked a bit like ritual dance. Then she stopped suddenly.
Gdzie? Powiedz. Sama nie wiem.21
Spock didn't react. He was almost unconscious. His logical brain couldn't stand the contact with ancient Vulcan priestess. He couldn't cope with her influence. She understood that - she stood before him and she touched his head with her hand. She closed her eyes. She couldn't learn anything even straight from his head; there was just mess and chaos. She tried to calm him down. It failed. She irritated and ran away with an angry scream. But after short moment she came back with a grasping smile. She grabbed his hand and gently touched his fingers. She was standing very close to him, she reclined her forehead on his. She had to relieve the intensity. She knew very well how to do that, she was born to do that.
Spock's thoughts calmed down a bit. Sanaan grabbed his head. They were standing like that for a few minutes and then she gently pushed him. She raised her hands up and she assumed a pose like she was carrying something very long. She was singing all the time so quiet that even Spock who was standing next to her couldn't understand the words. Suddenly she threw her hand like she was throwing something away, she screamed and fell down.
Spock shook his head and awoke. He kneeled down. She was unconsciousness. He called the people hidden behind the rocks.
"I do not know if she is finished but I do not think she would do anything else," he said.
Bones kneeled down by laying Vulcan and examined her.
"She's very weak but she's OK. I think we should take her to more appropriate place. Maybe over there at this thing which looks like grass..." he said.
"She's horrible heavy," complained Chekov who was carrying her with Sulu.
"It is fascinating how Vulcans changed from her times."
"Spock, how is it possible that she is still alive?" asked McCoy.
"It is the curse."
"But how does it work?"
"I do not know. Vulcans forgot this knowledge. I do not believe it is written down and kept somewhere."
Kirk's communicator whistled.
"Kirk here."
"Captain," he heard Uhura's voice, "I received the message from Starfleet. The meteorite had blown out. They say it looked like it exploded from the inside."
"Wonderful, wonderful!"
He disconnected. Everyone was laughing. Only Spock was watching unconsciousness Sanaan lost in his thoughts.
"How long will she be lying like this?" Kirk asked doctor.
"I have no idea. All this magic exhausted her."
"Spock?"
"She is a mystery for me just like for you."
"You didn't expect her to exist, did you?" - Kirk smiled.
"Affirmative. Lots of Vulcan legends and customs are a rest after past brutal times that were long ago..."
"Like pon farr," broke in Bones.
"... but I would not expect many of them to be true. It is illogical."
"Well, I agree," said McCoy and Kirk looked at him surprised.
"Now you both agree, ah?"
"Well... The truth is it is not possible... logic as calls it Spock," Bones bowed towards Vulcan, "...it is not possible but she is still alive. For two thousand years. But she is alive anyway. It's amazing. It seems Vulcan curses have more power than Earth's."
Kirk laughed.
Sanaan moved a bit. She touched her forehead with her hand and slowly sat. She shook her head and opened her eyes. She looked around. When she saw people she got up and screamed wildly. She hid behind Spock. She was watching Terrans for a while and then she slowly and shyly approached Kirk. She grabbed his hair and bent his head back. With the other hand she touched his brow. She released him, approached McCoy and started to contemplate his ears.
Jakie okrpgie.22 - she said laughing. - Jakie okrpgie.23
"It's amazing," said the doctor. "Her mind is developed but on the other hand it's childish. She's... am... uneducated, that's how I'd call it."
"I cannot explain that I am afraid but I have a few theories," said Spock. "I would have to examine her legend... history," he corrected himself.
Sanaan kept studying Terran's physiognomy. She stopped by Sulu and Chekov. She was comparing their eyes and their skin colours.
Skd oni s?24 - she asked Spock.
Z Ziemi To planeta w U kadzie S onecznym.25
Ale oni sj rss ni!26
Takg Ludzie na Ziemi dziels siw na rasyr Rrnir sig koloremf wyst fpujf mifdzy nimi drobne rggnice w wyglffdzie ale poza tym sh identyczni.27
Aha.28
She moved back a few steps. She was watching the Enterprise crew with a bit inclined head.
To ich planeta miaza umrzezz?29
Tak.30
To midof he nie umrzej Sj mili.31
Spock's left eyebrow went up.
"What did she say?" asked Kirk when he saw Spock's face.
"She said you are nice and she is happy she saved your planet."
"Tell her that she's nice too. And we thank her. And... she's beautiful."
Spock looked at Sanaan and emitted a few strange sounds. Vulcan approached Kirk and took his head in her hands. Then she put her fingers at his cheek and the captain felt unusual. Sanaan's mind united with his. Kirk saw what she had seen, what she had lived. She wanted to communicate with him but her mind wasn't so disciplined as Spock's or other modern Vulcan was so she gave Kirk some of her memoirs. The captain was looking before him scared. She realised what was happening so she apologised and let him go.
Kirk took a look at Spock: "You were monsters... I'm not surprised you got rid of all emotions... Your history... it's only horror. How come you survived it!!" he was trembling.
Sanaan was looking at him scared.
Nie chciau am go skrzywdzij.32
"So horrible..." Kirk shook his head. "Spock, Vulcans used to be brutal monsters."
"Yes," answered shortly Spock.
The captain looked at Sanaan.
"Why did she show me that?"
"She did not want to. She does not control her mind. She is sorry you had seen it."
"Tell her I'm not angry," Kirk looked at Vulcan and warmly smiled. He looked around. "Time to go home..." he said quietly. He turned the communicator on and said - Scotty, beam us up.