Warhammer: The Time Traveler

Chapter 323 Empty Shell and Hope (Seventh Update)

Chen Yu's static grenade, with its effect that defies the laws of physics, instantly resolved the hostage crisis.

The pale blue energy field, like an invisible amber, held the Klingon soldiers and Vulcan children firmly in place outside of time.

Without needing further orders, Valerie and Jack quickly stepped forward.

They carefully avoided the edge of the stasis field. Valerie used her skill to pry open the Klingon soldier's stiff arms, while Jack carefully lifted the small Vulcan child from his captivity.

The child's body felt light and floaty, and its texture was no different from that of a normal Vulcan child. However, the faint energy pulses flowing under the skin made Jack feel as if he were carrying a delicate energy container.

Mann and Dorio roughly disarmed the Klingon commander who had been restrained by Mowell and the other incapacitated soldiers, and then bound them tightly with high-strength synthetic fiber ropes.

"How is the child?" Kirk strode forward, looking with concern at the Vulcan child that Jack had laid flat on a rock.

The static field effect disappeared as the device's energy was depleted. The child regained breathing and weak vital signs, but remained unconscious.

Carol immediately crouched down and used a portable medical scanner to examine him.

“His vital signs are stable, but he's temporarily unconscious due to shock and mild asphyxia,” she reported, but then her brow furrowed. “Wait… his physiological signals… are very strange. His cell activity is extremely high, his metabolic rate far exceeds that of a normal Vulcan child, and it's even accelerating…”

Chen Yu's massive body drew closer, and a slender probe arm extended from the wrist, its end sensor emitting an almost inaudible buzz as it scanned the child's body at close range.

“It’s not just a simple physiological acceleration,” his synthesized voice rang out, with an analytical calm, “his body tissues resonated deeply with the ‘creational’ energy in the surrounding environment.”

Energy is catalyzing his growth process in a way that defies the laws of nature.

Dr. McCoy also came over; he was pale and sweat beaded on his forehead.

The closer he got to the child, the more restless Spock Katra became within him, an indescribable pull that almost made him lose his balance.

Despite his discomfort, he also took out a medical triple recorder to scan, and the data corroborated the findings of Carol and Chen Yu.

“Jim…” McCoy’s voice was a little hoarse as he pointed to the complex brainwave patterns on the 3D recorder screen. “Look here… his brain… is almost blank.”

There is no formed memory data, no ripples generated by advanced thinking activities, only primitive brain waves that maintain basic life functions.

This...this doesn't seem like a brain with normal consciousness.

Kirk's heart sank. A blank mind?

Chen Yu moved the optical lens away from the child, turned to McCoy, and then looked at the unconscious child again. The scarlet light flickered steadily for a moment.

"The logical chain points to a high-probability conclusion," his synthesized voice stated calmly. "Mr. Spock's remains were exposed in the core area detonated by the 'Genesis Device.' That energy, which reshaped matter and life forms, contained the laws of creation while destroying."

It may have reversed the biological clock of the remains and, using it as a template, initiated some kind of… 'reset' procedure.

He paused briefly, allowing everyone to process the information. "This individual possesses all of Mr. Spock's biological characteristics; he is a young Spock reshaped by the forces of 'creation.'"

However, his consciousness, memories, soul—or rather, his personality data as 'Spock'—did not return with the reversal of his body.

This body is currently a pristine biological vessel, devoid of any data.

“An empty shell…” Carol murmured.

At that moment, Kirk's eyes flashed with disbelief.

An empty shell? No! This is not an empty shell, it is hope!
Isn't Spock's Katra, his soul, inside the body of "Bones" McCoy?!

"His body is...growing?" Kirk keenly grasped the key point and looked at Chen Yu and Carol.

“Yes, and extremely fast.” Carol pointed to the rapidly changing data on the scanner. “Due to the continued resonance of the residual energy from Genesis Star, his cell division and differentiation processes are being accelerated to an extreme degree. Following this trend…”

She quickly did a mental calculation: "His body will probably develop to the physiological state of an adult Vulcan within 24 to 48 standard hours."

Chen Yu added, with a warning tone: "But this accelerated growth is based on resonance with unstable planetary energy, which is unsustainable and even harmful."

If exposed to this environment for a long time, when the planet's energy field fluctuates violently or decays due to excessive consumption or reaching a new equilibrium point, his body is likely to collapse rapidly due to the loss of energy support, manifesting as rapid aging and disintegration.

Once he has completed his growth and his condition is relatively stable, he must be taken away from Genesis Star as soon as possible to sever this dangerous resonance link.

Kirk instantly sorted out his thoughts: wait for this "young" Spock's body to grow naturally to adulthood, then take him with him and leave Genesis with the Enterprise to Vulcan, where they would use an ancient ritual to return the Katra within McCoy's body to this newly transformed form!

This is far more realistic than searching for a cold body and then praying for a miracle! Spock, there really is hope for his return!
“We’ll set up a temporary camp here!” Kirk decided immediately, his voice rising slightly with excitement, but he quickly regained his composure as a commander. “Mann, increase vigilance and keep a close watch on the prisoners.”

Carol, Chen Yu the Sage, continue monitoring his vital signs and growth data. McCoy... hang in there.

McCoy wiped the sweat from his brow, nodded, and looked at the young, quiet, yet incredibly familiar face on the rock with a complicated expression.

The Katra within Spock no longer conveyed simple restlessness; it seemed to also carry a faint, indescribable expectation.

Chen Yu's mechanical body turned toward the rugged horizon, its sensors scanning the surrounding environment.

"I suggest setting up the camp 700 meters to the northwest, below a rock shelf. The terrain there is good for defense, and the geological structure is relatively stable, so it is less affected by energy turbulence." He provided the optimal solution based on data analysis.

“Let’s do as the sage says,” Kirk agreed. “We’ll move there. Quickly!”

Everyone sprang into action. Mann's team took charge of guarding and moving supplies, while Jack carefully carried Spock, who was still unconscious but whose body was quietly growing under the influence of energy, and headed towards the temporary camp.

(End of this chapter)