Chapter Text
His ship was dying. And so was he. The Yeerks had done enough damage in the chase through the nebula. He'd thought he could lose them in the maze of space dust and ions.
He'd been wrong.
He reached inward, trying to use biocontrol to contain the damage, slow the internal bleeding.
Not enough. Not enough to keep him alive. Not for long. His injuries would kill him, if the Yeerks didn't first. The ship— small, fast, and stolen— had a small infirmary, but not an autodoc, and not enough supplies for something this severe. And a healing trance was utterly out of the question in these circumstances.
"Computer, find the preprogrammed landing site and set us down there." Maybe, just maybe, he could still make contact...
He shivered violently; despite his efforts, shock was setting in. Somehow, as the damaged craft settled with a groan onto the alien soil, he stood and made his way to the ramp.
Compressed air hissed loudly as the ramp lowered, and he gripped a strut to keep himself upright.
His ears twitched. He could hear voices. He turned his head, and in the darkness, at the edge of the ship's lights, caught movement.
Children. Human adolescents, from what he could tell. Possibly humanoid. One female, four males, close in age by his estimate. All five standing and staring at the ship open-mouthed.
If they're expecting Solkar, they'll be rather disappointed, he thought.
He started down the ramp, but then his legs gave out, and he stumbled badly. The children lost their hesitant attitude at once, running forward and barely reaching him before he fell. One of them caught hold of him, aborting his momentum and easing him to the ground with a grunt of effort. "Whoa-! Oof!"
For a moment he simply looked up at them all, and they all stared at him, before he broke the silence— his speech unfortunately slurred thanks to a swollen, cut lip. "Hello. Thank you. Please don't be afraid."
"You're a Vulcan," one of the boys said.
He nodded. "Yes. And..." He hesitated briefly, then made his decision. He would never make his rendezvous now. But this was too important not to at least try. He took a breath, fighting to keep the shock at bay even just a little longer, to keep his mind clear enough for this one last task. "And I'm dying, and you need to listen to me. The fate of this planet is at stake, possibly the fate of the galaxy eventually. But it starts here. If you want to keep your freedom and your lives, listen to what I have to say."