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Ever since their minds had touched, the alien had occupied a place in her thoughts.
His appearance had been... off putting at first, to say the least. She can’t say she hadn’t cringed when he first shambled toward her on strange black stalks, when he first laid his cool, rubbery skin upon her wounded crust.
But she quickly found his mind did not match his monstrous appearance. It was drastically different than what little she had sensed of the other humans’ thoughts. Spock’s mind was orderly, his intelligence almost Hortalike. He felt deeply, but almost never violently. His view of the world was smaller, of course, unable to commune with the stone or to sense the balance of the minerals around him. But he was so much more than the strange, unpredictable animal she had seen in him at first. He understood her. He soothed her pain and even worked against his own species to protect her and her children. After that, their friendship had come naturally.
She had been pleased to learn of his telepathic strength when their mental link hadn’t faded with distance. It wasn’t strong or constant, but it was enough for the occasional greetings and updates, even sometimes a friendly conversation. It was through this link that she learned Spock would be visiting once again.
“Listen to me,” she warbled, and the swarm of children around her stilled, attention turning to her. She had gathered them in the Chamber of the Ages to prepare them.
“My friend is arriving soon.” A rush of enthusiasm rippled through the throng, and she trilled with satisfaction. “Are you excited to meet Spock?”
This was met with a chorus of curious, overlapping whispers. “Spock?” “Spock!” “Spock?” “Spock?”
“Listen, listen,” she called out again. “When you meet him you mustn’t be afraid. He may look a bit frightening, but appearances can be deceiving. He’s actually a gentle and rather intelligent creature.”
She felt apprehension rise up from the children, so she pushed an image of Spock into their mental link.
“Human?” “Human?” “Human?”
“Yes, he’s human. Now, some of you have met the humans who work in the refinery before. For others Spock will be the first human you meet up close. I need you all to be respectful and open minded. He’s very sensitive to emotions and we don’t want to scare him off. Do you understand?”
“Yes!” “Yes!” “Spock?” “Yes!” “Where’s Spock?” “Understood.” “Yes!” “Spock?” “We’re ready!” “Where is Spock?”
With a crackling laugh she turned away from them. “Alright, alright. I’ll check on him.”
Then she probed outward with her mind, through the layers of rock surrounding her and out into space.
“Spock?”
There was silence, and then a familiar voice.
“I am here. The Enterprise is orbiting your planet now.”
“Ah! Good.” The link was stronger and clearer now than it had been since their first meeting. “Will you be down soon?”
“Yes. I have requested to beam directly to your location ahead of the rest of the landing party, so we may have sufficient time.”
“Good.”
“I’m on my way to the transporter room now.”
“Perfect. I’ll see you then.”
“Indeed.”
She turned back to the crowd. “He’ll be here soon,” she said, and felt the swell of excitement fill the chamber.
Above her and above the high chamber ceiling, a wave of disturbance moved through the layers of stone. Then she heard a high, wobbling ring, and a column of glittering light appeared in the center of the room.
The moment Spock materialized he was swallowed by the swarm of young Hortas.
“Remember he’s very delicate! Handle him gently!” she called, but she could feel the brightness of Spock’s amusement through her children’s eagerness. She had taken care to keep the ones who hadn’t yet learned to control their secretions near the back of the crowd.
“Release him,” she called when she felt Spock’s surprise inch slightly toward panic. “What did I tell you about humans needing air?”
The children were reluctant, but one by one they tumbled back down into the swarm, revealing Spock’s now rumpled figure. He straightened his fabric coverings, and then raised one appendage and split it in his traditional greeting.
She trilled, cut through the crowd of children and crawled up onto him in her own. Her fibrous tendrils ran over him, drawing his mind close and searching for signs of damage in his sandstone colored flesh.
Finally satisfied that he was unharmed, she slithered back and returned her attention to the clamor behind her.
“Well? What do you think of my children?”
“They are...” Spock started, staring out into the chaos, and after a moment said, “Boisterous.”
She let out a hissing peal of laughter. “They are. They couldn’t wait to meet you.”
“I was quite looking forward to meeting them as well.” He looked around the chamber and warmth glowed in his mind. “What are their names?”
“Most of them are still deciding. This one calls themself Rachta, and she is Ord, and- wait, where is- oh, I’m afraid he’s been pushed to the back, hasn’t he? I hope he hasn’t wandered off again.”
Spock raised an eyebrow.
“You’ll enjoy this one,” she said as she slid back into the throng.
It took her a few minutes to find her smallest son. His size and tendency toward distraction often led him to the back of the crowd. Sure enough, she found him sizzling away at a boulder near the entrance to the chamber.
“Come, son,” she beckoned. “Don’t you want to meet him?”
The child trilled and reared back from the stone before sliding down to follow her. She led him to the front where Spock stood.
“My youngest son,” she said, and Spock raised his hand in greeting. “As far as I can keep track of them, at least.”
The child chirped and crawled forward, inching up over the human to greet him.
“He heard my stories about you and he was just- well, to borrow a phrase, fascinated.” She pushed a bloom of warmth into both her friend and her son’s minds. “He calls himself Spock.”
The wave of emotion that swelled within the human was nearly overwhelming. He crouched lower, his attention fixed on the child.
“Greetings, Spock,” Spock said softly.
The child let out a joyous crackle of laughter, pushing warmth and appreciation clumsily toward him, and he raised an eyebrow. She watched the two Spocks fondly.
A short chirp sounded from within the human’s fabrics. “Enterprise to Mr. Spock,” said a voice.
He pulled out his communicator. “Spock here.”
“The captain would like me to remind you that you’re meeting Mr. Vanderberg in the center chamber in fifteen minutes.”
Spock huffed. “Thank you, Lieutenant. Spock out.” He turned his attention back to her as he flipped the device closed. “It appears our time is up.”
“Not quite,” she replied. “I’ll take you down to the center chamber. It’s not far from here. Your captain is beaming down to meet you, isn’t he?”
“Yes, and the doctor as well.”
“Good. You’ve met my family, I’d like to reciprocate. Under better circumstances than I met them last time, that is.”
“Indeed.” Warmth flickered across Spock’s face as he stood and looked over the crowd of children. She turned to them.
“Spock has to leave now,” she called. “Everyone say goodbye.”
“Bye!” “Goodbye!” “Goodbye!” “Bye!” “Goodbye!” “Bye-bye!” “Goodbye!”
She laughed. Beside her, Spock bowed his head and raised his hand in farewell. “Peace and long life to all of you,” he said.
Then the two turned and started into the tunnels.