Hours later, Spock continued staringat the dark city through the sepia tinted windows. The tall silhouettes of the buildings rose as giants towards the night sky.

"....I mean there were humans, Caitians even... But how? How are they this far out in uncharted space?" Elden asked.

"Perhaps is an illusion. A clever mental projection similar to the—"

"But it wasn't an illusion!" Elden interrupted. "It was real, just as real as you standing in front of me right now!"

"Some species are capable of mentally transferring an image onto another's consciousness, thereby replicating sights and sounds with perfect clarity. Often times it is impossible to distinguish their reality from reality in general," Spock attempted to explain.

"But it was real," Elden moaned, sinking against the wall. "It was so real..."

A square section of the wall suddenly slid back with a loud rushing noise, revealing an open doorway. Spock turned and Elden stood and quickly crossed over to the commander as someone entered the room flanked by two large guards. The alien who entered grimaced, revealing rows of the sharp, spindly teeth. It ran its long, clawed hands down the front of its dark red suit and breathed out a sigh as he stared at Spock.

"What are you...?" It hissed, his beady eyes studying Spock carefully.

"I am Commander Spock of the USS Enterprise—"

"—Yesss, yesss, Federation ship," The alien interrupted him. "But what are you?" Its beady eyes squinted as he studied Spock, leaning uncomfortably close to him.

"I am not certain I fully comprehend the purpose of your inquiry," Spock said.

The alien shot out a clawed hand at a shockingly fast speed, grabbing Spock's face. Spock wanted nothing more than to push its hand away but it could possibly be seen as a rude gesture in their culture, so he forced himself to stand there. Elden started to move forward, but Spock signaled him to stand down. The alien turned Spock's head from side to side, studying him carefully.

"How interesssting," It remarked, his split lips grimacing. It let go of Spock, his attention now turned to his injured arm. "Green..." It hissed. "Your blood, it issss green?" It grabbed Spock's arm, yanking it painfully forward. Spock bit back a cry of pain as the creature ran its clawed fingers over his wound. Dark green blood began to well up around its claws. Elden was about to attack when the two guards aimed their weapons at him.

"I am not certain as to your intentions but you would find it in your best interests to release me immediately."

"How interessssting..." It hissed

"That was a warning, not a request," Spock informed the alien in a low voice.

The alien grimaced, rows of long sharp teeth gleaming in the dim light. It let go of Spock but did not stand down. "Interessssting," It hissed. "To what ssspeciesss do you belong...?"

"I am from the planet Vulcan," Spock told it.

"Vulcan!" The alien exclaimed. "You are a Vulcan?!"

Spock did not say anything. The alien clapped its clawed hands together, turning and pacing, making a strange, uneven clicking noise. "I have many here...have many different ones here. I have heard of your kind but I do not have the any Vulcan here yet," It said, spitting as it talked.

Spock studied the alien  before him. "And might I inquire as to who you are?" Spock asked.

"Oh, you will ssseee," It hissed, gesturing for the guards to grab Spock.

"Commander!" Elden cried as he tried to help. A guard hit him across the face, sending him sprawling back against the far wall.

The alien in the red suit grinned. "After I have finished with the Vulcan, I will come back for you," It told him as they exited the room.