Moments later they were free of the cloud, having encountered no trouble in passing between the moon-sized gaps in the cloud’s sensing grid. Once back in free space, Kirk ordered the Enterprise in a tight circle that would bring her rapidly back to Mantilles. The starship could help supervise the return of the overcrowded evacuation ships.
But for the moment, his attention was focused on the screen. It showed the vast cloud-shape, now shrinking rapidly as it picked up speed, heading towards the outer fringes of the Milky Way. Spock was still staring after it, his mind filled with wonders he’d never be able to properly share with anyone else.
“Someday, Captain, when we are able to protect ourselves a little better, we may be fortunate enough to meet it again, or others like it.”
“And when that day comes,” Kirk agreed softly, caught no in Spock’s own sense of wonder—and his own emotional release—“when that day comes, Mr. Spock, the ant will stand on its hind legs and converse with the man…”
Together they stayed watching the screen until the last faint hint of cloud was gone.
Only infinity and a few stars remained.
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[Star Trek Logs 01] - Log One Page 20
