Prompt: Kirk, McCoy - I would rather be ashes than dust! / I would rather be a superb meteor, every atom of me in magnificent glow, than a sleepy and permanent planet. (Jack London)

″We won't be able to hold them off for long, Jim. We're just prolonging the inevitable.″ Bones knew he hadn't been able to keep the dread from his tone or hi expression.

″I'd rather go out with a bang than just surrender and die without a fight.″ Jim's already white-knuckled grip on his phaser tightened even further.

″I kinda figured you'd say that.″

″What, you wanna give up? Stop now and let them catch up with us?″

″No way in hell.″ Bones surveyed the area again and spied the remnants of a rock slide tumbled across the rocky path leading away from the underground dwelling they'd just exited- big enough to shield them both and thick enough to withstand significant bombardment. ″Let's take position over there – we can pick them off as they leave the cave.″

Jim surveyed the outcropping that Leonard pointed to. ″Good thinking. It might even be far enough away to allow the Enterprise's sensors to pick us up. I'll go first, you cover me. Hopefully they haven't had time to call in backup from the surface villages yet.″

Leonard nodded. ″Got it.″

As he readied himself for a mad dash across the open space, Jim shot turned back to Leonard once more and flashed a brief grin. ″Stay positive, Bones, we might just live through this!″

Bones couldn't stop the smile from blooming over his face in spite of the situation. ″I s'pose your right, Jim. We just might.″