Their ride to the hospital was a circular one. Large and ride. The windows were all around the vehicle going in a straight line that curved at the front. The windows were a dark shade of blue giving some level of privacy. Spock and McCoy were set side by side, holding hands, tightly. McCoy felt emotional comfort,affectionate, and caring feelings channeling through the link. He was being pampered by the image of Spock hugging the doctor. McCoy relaxed with the image within his head. Ohalis was speaking but the Vulcan paid no heed to it as he focused on the doctors well being. Kirk listened, nodding every once in awhile, regarding the political argument that mattered heavily to a federation matter. McCoy leaned against the Vulcan's shoulder unexpectedly wrapping his arms around the Vulcan's arm once letting go of Spock's green hand. They were stuck like that for the entire duration of the ride.

"And here we are," Ohalis said, once the vehicle came to a stop. "The Dekov Saint Hospital."

"Ashayam," Spock said, gently placing a hand on the slightly shorter human's shoulder. "we have arrived."

"Wow," Kirk said. "absolutely beautiful." Spock looked up toward the building.

"Quite a admiring hospital, Chancellor," Spock said.

"Thank you," Ohalis said, proudly. McCoy looked over.

"Stunnin'," McCoy said, observing the building. "I am amazed, how did y'all get this done in five years from a old military facility that only treated military personnel?" he looked over in the direction of the Fa-tuki. "Given with construction plans, designing plans, and the actual construction on Fa-tuki . . . I thought it would have taken close to a decade."

Ohalis returned with a wide, sly smile.

"Will power and love," Ohalis said. "all that it takes." Ohalis pressed a button alongside him.

The doors flew open before the four men. Fresh, contentful new air entered the car with a nice scent to it.

Spock was the first one to exit. Spock helped the doctor out with a hand. He had no ill will toward the doctor for turning him down. He understood, yet, it made him feel as though he had asked too early in their relationship. McCoy looked up toward the commander as the reply, I will wait until you're ready to ask again, doctor. McCoy was touched by what the Vulcan had told him telepathically. Spock stepped aside allowing the human out. Spock's fingers let go of McCoy's hand yet he grazed his two fingers down the doctor's main two fingers. If he was waiting for another ten years, Spock was going to court him all the way there while at it. McCoy smiled at the thought. McCoy noticed once being to Spock's side that there were patrol cars set nearby the rounded vehicle. Agents in dark, simpler attire, that was more of suits than anything with their hands clasped together in front and wore sun glasses. It was a great improvement in fashion for the Fa-tukie civilization. There were other nationalities on the planet, some native, and some not native to the planet living there under a planetary green card. The equivalent of a visa. McCoy saw the building design was rounded a bit like a saucer design normally reported by humans in the early 21st century. Ohalis security detail surrounded them except for a open space in front of them.

"This way," Ohalis said, then started to lead the way.

"Where did you get the design idea?" Kirk asked, as they followed him away from the vehicle

"The USS Enterprise center," Ohalis said. "seemed like a obvious choice. We like the aesthetic."

"On second thought," McCoy said. "I change my mind about how the thin' looks." Spock was silent, carefully, observing his surroundings.

"Many of the medical professionals who over saw the design plans highly liked it," Ohalis said.

"The Enterprise is not a exact role model for building designs," Kirk said. "it's not really a circle. It's a oval."

"So?" Ohalis said. "We don't care." At least that hadn't changed about the Fa-tukie perception on shapes.

McCoy shook his head.

"There are better designs that ya could have chosen," McCoy said. "so many rounded corners that ya can get lost easily. It's probably like a another section of the Bermuda Triangle inside that buildin', I don't mean to be offensive, but the idea is great just not . . . Ya know, I can see parts of the Enterprise here and there. . . but ya didn't have to put us on such a high degree for helpin' ya."

"It is our thanks," Ohalis said.

"You accomplished this, Chancellor," Kirk said, sending a sharp glare in McCoy's direction.

"Yes," Ohalis said. "it is the most secure hospital on this continent. Better than anywhere else."

"Really?" Kirk asked, interested. "Why is it that way?"

"It takes longer to reach various parts of society," Ohalis explained, as the doors automatically opened. "a few prefer to use currency and hold up technological advancement for medicine, science, and education that would be greatly needed. I am still ironing out those issues that would let us continued stay in the federation. Some prefer to live the old fashioned way, no square sets with entertainment, no light fixtures powered by green energy, no refrigerators, or ipadds. Some just communicate just fine with the dark bird of messaging. They use bird feathers to write."

"That's just wron' to do on birds," McCoy said.

"Relax, doctor, they use their own birds," Spock said.

"It's the law for those kind of people. We do not need animal cruelty be practiced. . ." Ohalis came to the fork in the path then turned toward the three men. "doctor, your mother is on floor seventeen, room 893 B," he turned in the direction of the captain. "the doctors and paperwork are awaiting your arrival, captain. There is paperwork that will take a hour of your time."

"Oh, paperwork," Kirk said. The captain smiled. "I love paperwork."

"Which way do we go?" Spock asked.

"That way leads to the elevator with access to the side of the facility your mother is in," Ohalis said, gesturing toward the right with his long yet wrinkled dark blue finger that had pointy, sharp fingernails. The chancellor lowered his hand toward his side turning his attention on toward the officers."the buttons have numbers that you are keenly familiar to. Good luck."

Ohalis and Kirk left the two men. Spock and McCoy went in the direction that the diplomatic figure had pointed them toward. The two men stopped in their tracks seeing the elevator entrance was shaped rounded like and rather large enough to contain a large crowd than what usual elevators on Earth could carry. McCoy pressed a button on the side of the machine with a single hard, long jab. He looked over to see that Spock had taken a smaller variation of a phaser left in his sheath. It was more of a small handgun than anything. He had a legal phaser permit for use on off duty. Spock normally did not take with him off duty. The doors opened before them. Then they walked in side by side. Spock put in the number for the floor. The doors closed before them. There was long silence between the two men as though they didn't know what to say to each other. Had absolutely nothing to talk about for that matter in the beginning of the ride.

"Is there history between you and Ohalis that you have refused to talk about?" Spock finally spoke.

"No, yes," McCoy said. "it isn't what ya thinkin'."

Spock raised his eyebrow back at the doctor, intrigued.

"Then what was it?" Spock asked.

"He was a patient," McCoy said. "while waitin' for my patient. It's funny how they blocked communicator trackin's back then. . ." the doctor sighed. "he was a general back then. While waitin' for y'all, we may have, struck a friendship. . . " McCoy regretted what would come next. "briefly."

"When Jim destroyed their machine your friendship broke off," Spock said.

"Yes," McCoy said. "I really didn't want to hurt him. And he blames me for everythin' that's happened. We could have been lon' time friends. . ." McCoy briefly closed his eyes then shook his head. "I am angry because he puts all the blame on me," he looked over toward the Vulcan. "all the blame goes to his own civilization bein' so well adjusted to a militarized dictator ship."

Spock paused, contemplating what that meant, and how to respond to something like that.

"What else happened that you don't talk about?" Spock asked turning his head away from the window. "Did you perform surgeries?"

"I rather not talk about it," McCoy said. Images flashed before his eyes. Disturbing. The things that they made him do in the exchange that they didn't kill him or the native they had come across asking for their help.

Spock placed a hand on the human's shoulder.

"I am always here for you," Spock said. "Hinek."

"Thank ya," McCoy said, in a low voice. Spock stepped forward.

"May I. . ." Spock said, offering a hand. "I can soften the memories of your time here if your memory has not faded regarding it."

"I appreciate ya offer, sweetie," McCoy said.

The doctor returned a smile as the elevator slowly went up. Spock placed a hand on the side of the doctors face, mentally chanting, "my mind to your mind, my thoughts to your thoughts. . ." and their foreheads touched. McCoy's right hand clenched Vulcan's left shoulder while his other hand was on the Vulcan's forearm. Spock softly muttered, "forget" as he focused on the memories set on Fa-tuk where he was forced to perform surgery for them. A few memories pained McCoy. Spock did not harm the interaction with other people. Disturbing events left scars behind in the dream like process. Nor longer were they able to be visualized as something that happened. No longer able to be recalled. Can't terrorize the human much longer. Spock was sure, that as a skilled mind melder, this is what the doctor would experience. Felt like it never happened. Spock's version of 'softening' was erasing the memories all together. The doctor would know that he performed the surgery, but not the inside details of it. Other Vulcans viewed 'softening ones memories' was making the memories dream like. Spock had done this with the doctor's permission.

Whatever else the doctor had seen, Spock could not pry around the human's mind without his explicit permission.

Not unless he had to be sure the human was alive.

Warmth spread through their jointly shared link.

McCoy felt safe and comfortable in the Vulcan's presence.

McCoy's grip slackened on the Vulcan as he placed a light kiss on the Vulcan's lips. The Vulcan obliged returning the kiss breaking the mind meld letting his hand slide down to the man's waist. They were like that, standing there, in the wide elevator. It was a quiet, calm room. The doors chimed once the elevator came to a stop. Spock stepped back as the doctor's hands let go of the Vulcan. Almost as though he was inaccessible to him. The walls were painted a shade of peach. There were glass like fixtures built in showing rounded circles that were small yet big enough as their thumb. They came out of the elevator side by side. Spock noticed that the life signs were being tracked, including their own. He saw Kirk's glowing yellow life sign and the Fa-Tukie's life sign a shade of blue. A jet of light blue flew out of the wall scanning the men then vanished as it had activated. Spock looked over quite intrigued gazing at the glass. Spock's hands were locked behind his back. It was quite a fascinating sight. Intriguing. It reminded him of the panels on the Enterprise that showed where to go when it came to getting lost. One could easily get lost aboard the Enterprise if they were not careful. The thirteenth deck was harbored by what crewmen called 'cryptids', only these were most of the night shift. Whenever one came down to it in the morning, all they would see is zombie like crewmen groaning, slowly, walking down the hall with half open eyes lacking sufficient energy to stand upright.

"Room 845 B, room 857 B, room 756 B," McCoy repeated. "where is a room where ya need it?"

"The room number is 893 B," Spock said, looking over in concern toward the human.

"All the numbers are ordered so oddly," McCoy said. "I doubt Vulcans use this system."

"Not at all doctor," Spock said, with a nod.

"Room 800," McCoy walked past the current section of wall space. "uh . . . Spock. . . ." he turned toward the Vulcan utterly baffled. "He did say floor seventeen?"

"Yes," Spock said, as McCoy walked back. "perhaps the next-"

Suddenly the floor moved beneath the man's death sliding in a different direction. McCoy fell into the Vulcan's arms so Spock slid him out of the way watching in fascination the walls change design while being laid above the human. Spock raised an eyebrow muttering a soft "fascinating" at the unique aspect. Spock looked up to see there was a different path leading ahead of them with three ways. McCoy looked over then rubbed his face with his right hand. Spock moved to the side then steadied himself up. Spock helped the doctor up back onto his to feet grasping the man's offered forearm rather than the hand. McCoy's head felt as though it had heated when being underneath the Vulcan. No, it hadn't, he liked to deny.

"893 B," Spock said. "we are in the eight hundred ninety's."

"Ya think I could have been right instead of makin' a damn maze in here," McCoy said, placing his hands on his waist.

"It would have been logical," Spock agreed. "these people are more interested in showing off than being convenient."

"Or maybe this follows to our command," McCoy said. "movin' when we need it to."

"That is quite intriguing that they would handle halls this way," Spock said.

"Yeah," McCoy said. "it does." they walked down the hall.

"It has been awhile since your last communication with Eleanor," Spock said. "which away missions have you not vented out to her?"

"All of 'em," McCoy said.

"Good," Spock said. "I will tell her the most embarrassing stories."

"Fair enough," McCoy said.

"I am not pleased about the arrangement and never will be," the Vulcan let his displeasure spill in his tone of voice. "I prefer to get this situation done and over with."

"Spock, she is goin' to be with us for two weeks and a half," McCoy said. "it is very unfortunate for ya."

"Then we tell her once arriving to Star Base 1," Spock said.

"Uh huh. . . Just watch out," McCoy said. "she will model a character after ya."

"I do not believe she can write my character, adequately, or ever will," Spock said. "her last attempt turned into her other me into a android."

McCoy snickered.

"Lead the way," McCoy said. "Kathro-a-orhtak."

Spock walked ahead of McCoy.

"I do not like that name," Spock said.

"What?" McCoy said. "Harold not embarrassin' enough?"

"It is not spelled the same way forwards as it is backwards," Spock said. "nor is it a reasonable name."

"My ma based the complainin' security chief off me," McCoy said. "Why? I do not know." Spock looked over, baffled.

"So . . ." the Vulcan's eyebrows raised. "Leuthik of Dumbella was you?"

"Yes," McCoy said. "hilarious character. Got a lot of charm to him."

"How are you not ashamed of that?" Spock asked.

"He died a hero," McCoy said. "what is not there not to like?"

"He died saving his security team rather than his charge," Spock said. "the point of a security officer is protecting others."

"By that point, his team was his charge," McCoy said. "now tell me, if ya were in his position, would your solution be any different?"

"My solution would have been less of a sacrifice of the ship and the crew," Spock said.

"There was no other way once the crew was being hunted down like animals and changed their surroundings to their native habitat, there was no coming back, they made eggs, Spock," Spock nodded as though he understood the problem. "it would have been needed to destroyed anywhere. If the grown variations were killed, and everyone thought everythin' was well, then be attacked by their spawn, wouldn't that have defeated the point of saving the crew and the ship?" McCoy said. "Your character was the reason why they were in space anyway and it was just a transport mission that went way out of hand because of some android haters," the doctor sighed. At least your character survived, and the survivin' families, because the engineered aliens missed them by a minute! Sole survivors. Who would want that? I wouldn't, would ya?"

McCoy eyed the Vulcan, intently, waiting for a reply.

"I would not," Spock said.

"No wonder ya don't like it," McCoy said.

"The solution would have been to use a phaser rifle to destroy all the eggs," Spock said. "with the risk of being caught in the blaze."

"We don't know what killin' an egg does," McCoy said. "spit out acid? They might have died either way and the ship infested that could be boarded by visitors and then it start a chain of events that can only be stopped by massive, more powerful phaser fires."

"We should ask your mother," Spock said, as they came to a stop at the door with 893 B in golden text on the front.

"Yes, lets do that," McCoy said.

"How should we exaggerate our relationship?" Spock asked.

"Spock," McCoy said, glaring back at the Vulcan. His eyes were like daggers.

"I was joking," Spock said, showing the hint of a small smile.

"Now is not the time to joke about decievin' my ma," Spock said.

"Understood," Spock said. "after you."

"You know who goes faster than a human bein' when bein' chased?" McCoy asked. "Even beatin' a snake?"

"No," Spock said.

"A lizard," McCoy said.

Spock grew a fond, pleased expression on his well aging face.

"Remain a static person, doctor," Spock said. "you will make someone laugh to death with that humor."

"Actually, I do not wish to make someone laugh to death," McCoy said, following after the Vulcan into the room. "Hello, ma!"

McCoy smiled, warmly greeting the woman resting on the bed. He motioned over toward the woman coming to the woman's side. Her hair was graying yet she looked graceful and beautiful as she had over thirty years ago. Her curled, graying hair resting on her shoulders. She bore some resemblance to the man with the small arched eyebrows. Spock sat down alongside the human observing the woman's dulled, less loud attire. The shirt was a dark shade of gray while covered partially by a purple blanket laid below her chest. She had one hand laid on the side of the bed with another on her lap. She had lethargic, glassy eyes and quite ill at first glance. McCoy took the woman's hand. The woman had brown eyes just like he did.

"My little Len," Eleanor said. "and his fiance."

"We are not engaged for that level of engagement," Spock said.

"Ma," McCoy said, squeezing her hand. "don't I look too old for him?"

"Baby, ya look like a rock star," Eleanor said.

Spock looked over toward the human. McCoy had bags under his eyes that were not from lack of sleep but showed his age. There were jowl lines appearing alongside his mouth and his hair was starting to turn gray at the sides. Soon enough, in a few years, McCoy's dark brown hair would be turning to a shade of gray. He didn't have laughter lines yet. McCoy had refused to use a colorizer on his hair after the incident that made his hair black for a entire year. He was going to age in style under his terms not a machine's terms. Spock turned his head away with a nod. Spock, compared to him, still looked to be in his mid twenties with a well trimmed bowl hair cut and sleek thin, slanted eyebrows.

"Indeed," Spock said.

"Ya almost look like your pa, Len," Eleanor said.

Spock looked toward the human then McCoy nodded in Spock's direction.

"Leonard had to pretend to be his father last week," Spock explained, earning a eyebrow raise from Eleanor. "an old colleague of Doctor McCoy. It was Andrea Mellbig dealing with aiding in the more production of Vulcans with four Vulcans as willing participants. She knew your husband intimately." Spock's hand found it's way into the doctor's hand as the human experienced feelings about his father. McCoy missed his father. "Unfortunately. . . They had produced one hundred Vulcanian children."

"How is that unfortunate?" Eleanor asked.

"They were rather attached," McCoy said. "they had a family bond. Every single one. DNA streams were different. Some were not related and some were related. They were all given an arranged marriage at the age of seven. . . "

"They had been raised the Vulcan way," Spock picked up where the human left off. "Doctor Mellbig implied that there were others but died in their seventh year while doing their kahs-wan. She showed us how many she was still creating in test tubes. Star Fleet wanted them to be taken to New Vulcan. Including the ones when they were born. The Vulcans who had participated were praised for their efforts but not many were happy about keeping their children from the outside world for so long."

"Ah, so they were makin' a colony?" Eleanor asked.

"She intended so," Spock said. "As did the participating Vulcans." Spock squeezed the human's fingers.

"They were sure the ones were dead, dead?" Eleanor asked.

"They were dead," Spock said. "It required a level of fibbing and some persuasion from Leonard to get Mellbig to allow the children to be handed over," Spock said. "the Vulcans listened to her instead of the captain's charm, which would have been useful given how often he attracts both genders on a daily basis."

"Regardless, Jim got himself in trouble," McCoy said."even without wooin' the woman. I had to do it for him."

"It was a cave in," Spock said.

"Still, trouble," McCoy said.

"I believe y'all," Eleanor laughed, sickly.

"Miss McCoy," Spock said. "in one of your previous novels, you wrote about a starship being overrun by aliens while the cargo had escaped without a scratch. Leonard says they would have died anyway if they attempted to clean the ship out. Are the eggs capable of spilling acid out after being shot at?"

A smile grew on the weathered dark woman's face.

"Now they do," Eleanor said, then had a difficult laugh.

"See?" McCoy said. "The sacrifice was necessary."

"Leonard went to the wrong house when searching for his patient on a away mission," Spock said. "He also lost pants, his socks, and briefs over strip poker. For the same away mission," Eleanor laughed. "It was to get Mellbig to hand the children off and. . . the persuasion was all there."

"I have to use the restroom," McCoy said.

"You could have used it before we left, T'hy'la," Spock said.

As soon as that fell out of his mouth, Eleanor's tired demeanor faded then she looked back and forth at the two men as though she understood it. Very well. The words echoed in her mind over and over. She was off for one thing regarding the relationship their characters should have had, for one thing, and she was obligated to make a sequel to fix that error. If she knew Vulcans, she knew them well off her research done fifteen years ago in the Vulcanian culture. It was a fun ride, the woman recalled. It was her favorite novel to write with colorful, unique Vulcanian individuals as main characters.

"I didn't have to go then, sweetie," McCoy replied. "and I do now," the Vulcan's grip loosened. "Jeeze, all those drinks Ohalis gave us really comes down fast," the doctor let go of Spock's hand heading toward the door. The Vulcan's brown eyes were focused on McCoy's path. "Might just be me havin' a small bladder."

Eleanor gave a exasperated, tired glance at her son.

"Honey, that bladder of yours is unpredictable when it comes to sprite," Eleanor said. "Fa-tukie beverage is similar to sprite with its properties."

"Thasian alcohol is even more predictable than that, ma," McCoy said. "be right back."

McCoy exited then made his way down the hall, "bathroom, please," the passageways moved around the doctor moving him to the right turns. He came to a stop at the sign that was for both genders. The doctor speeded into the restroom. We can overhear his loud humming on a distinctive melody. Then the sound of a zipper, water coming out of a faucet into a sink, and a unique hand dryer sound. The doctor came out seemingly relaxed. He looked around appearing to be lost. He stood there, placing a hand under his elbow thinking about the number.

The doctor's brown eyes lit up.

"Right!" McCoy said. "Room 820!"

The path changed before him as he resumed his trek. He whistled to himself heading down the corridor. The color of the hall turned a shade of dark gray. The light became like flares to his eyes nearly blinding where the doctor walked. The doctor noticed the walls had changed color and design. There were protruding bars sticking out from the wall. The doctor trailed his fingers along the surface. Fascinating, someone must be determined to make it as eerie and scary looking as possible in the hospital. He saw the rug had changed to raven black. McCoy walked over until he saw a wide, octagon shaped doorway that opened before his eyes. A bad feeling sunk into his gut. McCoy took out his communicator then flipped it open.

"McCoy to Spock," McCoy said. There was only sizzles. "McCoy to Kirk."

A minute later, Kirk's voice came over.

"Kirk here," Kirk said. "what is it, Bones?"

"I forgot the number to the room," McCoy said. "Tell Ohalis that some of his halls is just damn creepy."

"I will tell him that when he gets back," Kirk said. "I think it was 892? Or 839."

"I can hear ya laughin' over here," McCoy said.

"Sorry, it's just funny that you and Spock got lost," Kirk said.

"Spock is with my ma tellin' her stories that are rockin' her socks off," McCoy said.

"Oh, and captain, if I have to go through every number on this floor just to get back to ma's room, your replicator card is goin' to only get ya a salad."

"All right, Bones," Kirk said. "I am almost done. Just a few more signatures."

"Good," McCoy said. "I don't like it here. McCoy out," McCoy turned away from the door putting the communicator into his nearby pocket. "Room 839."

McCoy walked forward seeing the halls change path, color, and lighting. Finally, the movement stopped. The structures in the wall were gone but replaced by light gray. McCoy noticed there were several bars in the window. He narrowed his eyes. Something was not right here. As a medical professional, he was obligated to see what was wrong. He walked into the room to find a resting figure in a pod of some kind. It was smaller than a stasis pod. It was shaped like a oval. McCoy walked right over toward it then placed his hands on the glass. McCoy walked around searching for anything to inform him what was wrong. Or was it just their aesthetic? He noticed there were not any security cameras on his walk. He flipped the door open to the pod. The dark blue woman's eyes slowly opened. The woman gasped as she lunged forward, placing a hand on her chest grasping for air.

"Hey, lady," McCoy said. "I am Doctor McCoy. I didn't see ya file. And I didn't brin' my medical tricorder with me. . . "

"I am Seliana of the Dekoua Vloucity Senate," Seliana said. "please, help me out of here."

The doctor's hunt sunk as he could tell that she wasn't lying.

True, genuine, fear, was in her eyes.

"First, tell me, are ya a candidate for the chancellor election?" McCoy asked, helping the woman out.

"It's no election," Saliana said. "it's a affirmation of what will come. They believe him! THEY ACTUALLY BELIEVE HIM!" she grasped onto the man's shoulders. "getting my people in there has been a failure. Every single one of them. The democracy that we wanted is turning back into a dictatorship. I don't want that. No one in my state wants that."

"Let's go!" McCoy said, then fled out of the room taking her by the hand. "My captain will know what to do about this!"The two fled out of the room skidding to a stop in the middle of the hall. The long, elongated squares turned on a shade of red. The panels did not only show life signs or give a idea of where to go, but they were capable of electrocution apparently. "MOVE, MOVE, MOVE TO THE ELEVAOR!" He let go of her hand as they bolted down the hall. "ELEVATOR, ELEVATOR, ELEVATOR!"

He could hear his own breath, loudly, in his ears. It was a typical day as a star fleet officer, even off duty, trouble tends to follow. A jet of orange shot out behind them making a field of energy. The walls changed path. OH SHIT, OH SHIT, OH SHIT, OH SHIT, OH SHIT, OH SHIT, OH SHIT, OH SHIT, OH SHIT! the man thought to himself. The walls were getting darker and darker. He looked over to see the woman lagging behind. McCoy yanked her forward placing a hand behind her back. He saw the wide doorway before him laid against the wall with closed gray doors. They were getting to the exit! They were getting to the exit! They were going to get into the exit and expose Ohalis. Suddenly a familiar figure stepped in the way startling the doctor.

The woman lagged behind. And he stopoed hearing her all together as the doctor came closer to the chancellor.

McCoy was stopped in his tracks by the electrical, jelly like field keeping him in place.

"What a shame," Ohalis said, shaking his head. "To think you would have left alive."

McCoy felt agony throughout his body. The jelly like substance was pressed against his skin, soaking through his attire, and into his eyes. His eyes burned like wild life. His tongue felt as though someone had chopped it off with a single swing by a long blade while keeping him still. His heart was racing. His neck radiated in pain. His very bones. What kind of agonizing jelly did they program? Or engineer for that fact? Ohalis's security detail blocked the entrance and the exit. Ohalis went over to the panel then tapped his fingers on the screen. It felt like he had eaten a very hot pepper. His mouth was on fire. Ohalis pressed on a button lightly. McCoy's mind turned off abruptly then his legs gave out beneath him. The next McCoy saw was his world tilting sideways. A thud to the floor. And his vision grow darker and darker.

His last thoughts was a small, weak: no.

A coffin can only hold oxygen for so little time.

Laying under layers of dirt.

Suffocation would be a painful way to go.

The first thing that would kill someone buried underground is lack of oxygen, that is.

If they were not buried in a type of wood that can be broken by a desperate closed fist.

Sweet, delicious oxygen entered through the man's throat and his lungs brimmed back to life. His heart started to pump once more. When consciousness is achieved, the first thing McCoy sees is darkness. He feels something on his shoulder. Hard, firm keeping him down. It's on his left shoulder. Has he gone numb? Then his mind wondered off to something on his lips. It was familiar. Familiar green tinted lips that had a taste that McCoy couldn't pinpoint. His hand grasped onto the back of the Vulcan's neck exploring in to Spock's mouth like a old friend. Spock reached back making the Vulcan's hand slide off his neck. McCoy saw stars out there. The bright, full moon casting over the Vulcan's head making it seem like he had a crown no his head. It made his hair look shade of blue from blue.

McCoy was breath taken.

His throat felt dry.

And he had a major headache.

"He needs water!" Spock shouted over a large structure. A large bottle flew toward the Vulcan's direction. Spock caught it into his hand. For some reason, it felt like a dream. It felt so alien to him. Like he was living a real science fiction movie that had come life. It was probably the most surreal event to occur. McCoy could hear voices over the large, brown mound. One of which was strikingly familiar. And it didn't sound too happy. "Doctor, you have been underground for approximately twenty-four hours and thirty-three minutes." He opened the lid. "Drink."

Spock placed his hand under the man's head bending it up forward.

McCoy felt numb from his other arm and his legs weren't able to move as he gulped it down.

The Vulcan lowered the bottle screwing the cap back on then tossed it back up to the top.

"I am not a dursell in distress," McCoy said.

"Can you walk?" Spock raised an eyebrow.

"No," McCoy said.

"Then you are," Spock said, moving to the side. "your mother has been awaiting word. We were unable to come sooner as Ohalis had been evasive, it only took inner searching, and . . ." his eyes gazed to the man's bare neck as he knelt down. "your necklace to find you."

"Mmmmhm," McCoy said. "it had Vokaya. Didn't it?"

"Yes," Spock said, picking the man up. He stood up. "we had some distractions and difficulties during the dig."

"Ya are beautiful in the moonlight," McCoy said, clenching the man's uniform as he snuggled in.

Then was the sound of a transporter surrounding him as his eyes returned to a close feeling his head aching.

"Are you still sleeping with Leonard?" M'Benga approached the Vulcan off duty.

Spock's hair was disheveled. His hair bangs were longer than they had been. Almost as though the Vulcan let them grown out during the complete chaotic day. There were bags under the Vulcan's brown eyes. He seemed to be slowly growing a beard on his once soft, smooth face with baby like skin. It looked as though he were a young man in his mid twenties untouched by time. His other uniform was folded neatly on a stool covered in layers of dirt. The only thing he wore was a collar less and sleeveless light gray shirt that matched the gray shorts. His light blue eyeliner wasn't there anymore staying in tact. His eyebrows less fleek perhaps a little more bushy than they had been before arriving to Fa-tuk. The Vulcan's hands were going under the sink rubbing alongside each other staring at the human with laziness that wouldn't be seen normally on a Vulcan.

"We have yet to determine that aspect of our relationship," Spock said, calmly, yet cooly enough to make one think that he wasn't emotionally compromised.

"He is going to need skin contact to calm down at nights," M'Benga said. "at least in the beginning. After this surgery . . ." he folded his arms. "I can't believe. . ." he shook his head. "how they did that to connect to his lungs is beyond me with limited time it had to be quite advanced than what star fleet has been lead me to believe," the man sighed. "Mr Spock, he'll be able to walk after the operation. You must help him with the nightmares."

"Not my first rodeo with Leonard's nightmares," Spock said.

"And. . ." M'Benga said. "get some rest."

M'Benga went past the Vulcan who straightened himself up.

"Kid," Pike said over the wide screen. "I heard a rumor that your CMO was buried alive."

"Uh huh," Kirk said.

"That's tough," Pike said. "did he survive?"

"He is in the works," Kirk said.

"Great to hear," Pike said.

"Who told you?" Kirk asked.

"I have my resources," Pike said.

"Scotty told you, didn't he?" Kirk asked.

"Well . . ." Pike looked sheepish. "I may have held back some away missions before your arrival to Fa-tukie. You've been out in space for how long?" he counted his fingers. "Five years?"

"Eight years," Kirk said

"With some shore leave, you are really stretching out your sense of relaxation," Pike said.

Kirk laughed.

"I am fine, Pike," Kirk said. "the surgery is still going. . . And Spock is getting some much needed sleep."

Pike raised an eyebrow.

"And you?" Pike asked.

"I will hit the hay," Kirk said. "soon as Doctor McCoy wakes up."

"You got a mission to a space station, a dispute between Klingons and some Romulans," Pike said. "Arguing about which border it rests on. I thought you would be the best captain to take care of that. I don't know how long I can keep them on the back burner."

"It won't be long, admiral," Kirk said. "besides, how bad could it be with little sleep?"

"I once said that and I ended up screwing over Winona's command celebration party," Pike said. "I am not going to let you have a repeat of my mistake."

Kirk leaned back.

"I will, I will," Kirk said. "The five year mission year is finally going to end in a few months," the man cleared his throat. "I feel it's time Spock gets a promotion."

"You want Spock to be captain?" Pike asked.

"He is the best officer in the fleet," Kirk said.

"The Vulcan normally doesn't like command," Pike said. "You remember how it was like with him in command of the USS Yorktown."

"He will get over it," Kirk said. "He has the loyalty and the respect from my crew. And besides, he likes the Enterprise," he shifted into his chair. "I am thinking of leaving Star Fleet for the Diplomatic Corps. I am not always going to be in space. So I can settle on needing to go into space for diplomatic matters."

"Ambassador Kirk. . ." Pike said. The older man smiled back. "you sure about that?"

"I am thinking about it," Kirk said.

"Have you told Spock?" Pike asked.

"I will tell Spock and McCoy on the way to space dock," Kirk said. "or, if I change my mind, I can always go to patrol the neutral zone. That is fun!" he placed his hands into a fist on the table fiddling with his thumbs. "Ambassadors are important people in star fleet, aren't they? You need the best. Spock is the only man I can trust in command of the Enterprise A."

"If that gets you to bed, I will take it under advisement," Pike said. "good night, son."

"Good night, dad," Kirk said.

The wide, large computer screen turned to blac, Kirk stood up from the chair then made his way around the desk. He straightened his uniform with a sigh rubbing his forehead. This all could have been avoided. Had Kirk bothered to follow his instinct and call the man back. It was a regret. Sometimes not following through his 'I am a trouble magnet, so obviously, this unknown person isn't who they claim to be' radar. He had disregarded it because he had trusted Ohalis. He made his way out of the room through the doorway. The scene transitioned into sick bay where Kirk came through the doorway. Spock was slumped against the chair with his arms folded. His eyes closed while he snored. Kirk saw most of the biobeds were empty. Spock and a on duty nurse were namely one of the few people populating the normally empty medical center. An off duty nurse came over to the captain once making her way around the rounded counter in sick bay.

"Captain," the nurse said. "Doctor M'Benga is in surgery with Nurse Chapel. . ."

"Still?" Kirk asked, raising one of his thick eyebrows.

"Technology we seen of," the nurse said. "I will be surprised if he can remove it without amputation. . ."

"I am sure M'Benga will find a way," Kirk said. The nurse nodded back.

"Captain, before Leonard was sent into surgery," the nurse said. "he requested me to tell you to get some shut eye."

"I will consider it," Kirk said.

The nurse nodded then returned to her station. The captain came to the other side of the biobed. Spock's disheveled appearance was gone replaced by a neat and tidy almost alien like human. The lighting made his hair look a shade of blue matching his blue tunic and blue pants smoothly fitting his figure. Spock's chin was laid on his chest. Kirk sat down into the neighboring chair. After all that they had gone through during McCoy's disappearance act, they all deserved some shut eye. Spock was visibly emotional in the doctor's absence. And Kirk, Kirk, was just downright sad maintaining his professionalism. Keeping Eleanor out from knowing what had happened was not at all difficult. Most of the medical staff found it hard to believe that McCoy just went and died on them. The air was less tense and sad than it had been earlier. It was relaxed and hopeful.

Mundane, typical long waiting.

Kirk's eyes opened once more when he felt a hand place itself on his shoulder.

"Captain," M'Benga said. "it's not good for your back to sleep this way."

Kirk smiled back at his concerned acting CMO.

"How was the surgery?" Kirk asked.

"Saving his arm wasn't easy," M'Benga said. "He shouldn't move it for a few hours," McCoy was softly snoring with his head turned to the side on the biobed with some drool coming down from the side of his mouth. "He will wake up on his own."

"Glad to hear," Kirk said. "You did a good job, doctor."

"Need any sleeping pills for tonight?" M'Benga asked.

"I am fine," Kirk said. "thanks for the offer."

"I will be in the office if you need me," M'Benga said. "have to report on the surgery."

M'Benga strided past the two men.

Kirk was slouched in the chair with his hands on his lap. He watched the man's chest rise up and down. It was a relaxing and relaxing to watch for the man. It drew his attention off waiting. His two favorite best friends were alive and well, in the same room, somewhat side by side, on the same ship. It was enough for this man's breakable heart. Whether time was passing, it did not matter to Kirk. Time was a non-linear subject to him. It was feeling everything happening at the same time, however, instead he was relaxed while awaiting the next impending event. His hands were clasped together. McCoy's eyebrows twitched. His fingers twitched, clawing at the bedding. Spock raised his head up lacking eyeliner while his brown eyes were halfway open and halfway closed. McCoy stopped snoring. McCoy bolted up, panting, with fear resting in his eyes. Spock and Kirk came to the doctor's sides.

"Are you okay, Bones?" Kirk asked.

"Just a nightmare," McCoy said, then he gazed up toward the concerned sapphire eyes looking over him. "what are ya lookin' at me for?" he narrowed his eyes toward Kirk's direction, specifically. "Did someone paint a permanent mustache on my mouth?" he looked back at Spock's direction then back toward Kirk. "Jim."

"I am just glad that you came back alive," Kirk said. "I don't know what I would do if we didn't make it on time."

"I as well," Spock said, coming over to the doctor's side.

"Oh, right buried," McCoy said. "does that sort of thin' to people outside of the victim. I need a whelchair."

"Why do you need a wheelchair?" Kirk asked.

"To visit my quarters," McCoy said. "to get my off duty clothes, duh. I am still not over this blue and white uniform. Blue goes terrible with brown eyes-now don't ya brin' my mother up because she looks way better than me in it."

Spock and Kirk shared a fond, amused glance toward each other.

Eleanor awoke to see her son sitting by the biobed and he felt a whole lot better. Her heart eased to see him back alive. She noticed that McCoy was in a wheelchair. Her entire body felt better. As though the weight of sickness had been lifted off her frame. A smile grew on her aged face. She didn't noticed the bandage wrapped around her son's hand. He was in dark brown khaki's and a Hawaiian buttoned up shirt. And he appeared to have been well shaved. They were alone in the private quarters.

"How's my little sweetheart?" Eleanor asked.

"I am fine, ma," McCoy said.

"Where were you?" Eleanor asked. "I have been wondering all day."

"Uh, I was busy," McCoy said. "somethin' came up. I might of had a accident."

"Your boyfriend has so many good embarrassin' stories to tell," Eleanor said. "tell me ones about him."

McCoy politely smiled back.

"Ma," McCoy said. "ya know Amanda would be more than happy to tell ya that."

"She is busy with the youn' kids," Eleanor said. "New Vulcan Learnin' Center is eatin' up all her time."

"She is not that busy," McCoy said. "she was able to knit Spock another sweater and send it to him durin' last shore leave."

"But she told me otherwise," Eleanor said.

"She has a allotted time in her day, days off, much like a teacher," McCoy said. "not like ya been houndin' her for research regardin' a book that has a scenario just like that," the woman grew a guilty expression. "Ma."

"It's the main lesson behind it," Eleanor began to explain. "everyone has to be prepared for a scenario like this. Have plenty of colonies in case the entire civilization ever comes to a genocide scenario. Everythin' copied. Plants, animals, children, all of which evacuated in a quick manner. Massive evacuation shuttle crafts replaced yearly. The New Vulcan Science Academy is helpin' me. It's a damn shame that so few were able to flee Vulcan. This novel should remind people that bein' prepared for the inevitable must be taken seriously. Vulcan's don't like bein' pitied upon. And they don't want it to happen again. Sarek approached me with a offer. Make a story about Fa-tuk experiencin' this. And no, it's more like him houndin' me to finish this damn stubborn novel."

Eleanor took out her personal padd.

"So ya were doin' research . . ." McCoy said.,n

"About how difficult it must be and how devestating, sad," Eleanor said. "for the education field."

"Ma, I am not talkin' about Amanda," McCoy said.

"Oh, yes, I was doin' research regardin' evacuation protocols," Eleanor said. "their entire civilization would go extinct."

"What?" McCoy asked.

"Ya heard me," Eleanor said. "they don't have evacuation plans. Planet wise. Not a peep."

"But. . , I thought. . ." McCoy sat there perplexed. "after a event like this, other civilizations in the federation would have made plans for this sort of thing."

"Ya see?" Eleanor said. "that's the problem about the novel. They didn't make plans."

"That's a tragedy," McCoy said. "so how were ya goin' to approach it?"

"How to approach a self destructive event, how to insert the tragedy, and how to best organize a rushed evacuation by the most intelligent people on that planet. I have interviewed many doomsday preppers who have crafted massive starships to help evacuate their people on massive scales, and animal life, the educators, and so on. Unlike Vulcans who didn't do that. There wouldn't be any evidence that the Fa-tukie people signed their own death wish by not having organized, well thought out evacuation plans. They were arrogant. Most of the documents are at the federal government office. It would be the every day people who would save the day not the federal government," McCoy scrolled down on the padd. "If they were not allowed to do so, their society, as we know it, would be gone. And they would be dead as well. So I am going with the route of 'doomsday preppers save the damn day without authority blessing'. Vulcans were lucky that they had plans for such a event."

"Wow," McCoy said. "ya really researched."

"I did," Eleanor nodded, proudly. "the current chancellor didn't like it. . ." she took the padd back. McCoy raised his head up. "I was making quite a stirr for the officials by putting it into their faces."

"Ma," McCoy said. "about that. . ."

"What is it, sweetie?" Eleanor said.

"Ya can't go back there," McCoy said, earning a smile from the woman.

"Good enough, I had done all my research, was goin' to leave anyway when I got sick," Eleanor said. McCoy smiled holding his two fingers out. Spock returned the gesture coming to the man's side with his other hand laid behind his back. McCoy smiled back.

"What will you call it?" Spock asked.

"The day after Fa-tuk's last tomorrow," Eleanor said. "but that is too long."

"Actually, I quite like it," McCoy said. "it actually gives a sense of dread."

"You have written books with long titles, Miss McCoy," Spock said.

"Yes," Eleanor said. "but normally not a mouthful."

"I am sure ya will figure it out and get warmed up to it, ma," McCoy said.

"I am sure I will," Eleanor said. She looked up toward Spock. "ya, sir, look better than earlier. Ya look marvelous."

Filing out paperwork of what happened on his end was fairly easy. His right hand was the one that hadn't been the one embedded by the long, arm length device. M'Benga had it out for display. It more so reminded the doctor of a Terminator model 800. And he hadn't expected the surprise hug from Christine, Nyota, and almost every nurse under his department. Almost. Nurse T'Spol was not the kind who expressed emotions. McCoy long ago accepted that. His eyes closed then reopened them to see darkness. He was confined. His heart jumped. It felt like it was even tighter than the last. His breath quickened as he clawed at anything, anything, really, terrified.

"Ashalik t'nash-veh," came a familiar voice. It felt like someone stroked his arm. "Ashayam t'nash-veh, nam-tor nash-veh la," his hand slid up and down on the man's shoulder with great care. "K'du nam-tor la. T'du ek'manek nam-tor t'nash-veh tun-tor."

As his other senses kicked in, the doctor realized that he was not alone anymore. The darkness cleared. There was wider space in the darkness. His left hand gripping onto the fabric of a shoulder. His right hand gripping on the fabric that wasn't flat or rounded. He felt a hand laid against the center of his back in between his shoulder blades.

"Nam-tor nash-veh ri sa'awek," Spock continued, softly. "k'du nam-tor svi' ret."

McCoy's hand let go of the Vulcan's shoulder to feel free, unlimited space.

McCoy's right hand could feel the empty space over the Vulcan's shoulder.

His breath slowly returned to normal. His heart beat returned to its normal beat as his body lost its tense demeanor. The Vulcan's body radiated in heat. Positive, tender feelings flowed into his head. The doctor saw bright, illuminating lights filling his mind. Soft, comforting thoughts lead him back into sleep while cradled in the Vulcan's arms. He felt safe in Spock's arms. He was not trapped six feet under but certainly above ground. Spock stopped muttering in soft, beautiful Vulcan.

The End.

/

A/N Here are the Vulcan translations!

Hinek=bones.

Ashalik t'nash-veh=my darling.

Ashayam t'nash-veh, nam-tor nash-veh la=my beloved, I am here.

K'du nam-tor la=you are here.

T'du ek'manek nam-tor t'nash-veh tun-tor= your safety is my concern.

nam-tor nash-veh ri sa'awek= you are not alone.

k'du nam-tor svi' ret=you are in space.