Beta Gamma 24 - 10:48 p.m.

This is ridiculous. I thought, wrapping my arms tighter around myself. Iowa was never this cold. Shaking my head, I pulled out my communicator. "Captain's Log, Stardate 4526: Following our Klingon entanglement at Starbase 6, the Enterprise has traveled to a remote planet in deep space with orders to survey the planet and make an updated map of the area where a new science outpost is to be built. I beamed down to the planet accompanied by First Officer Mr. Spock and ship surgeon Dr. McCoy, only to find the planet's climate a tad…chilly. Unfortunately, one of the tribbles had made its way into the warp core systems, and Mr. Scott is unable to beam us back. For the time being, the landing party is forced to adapt, and do whatever we can to survive." I closed my communicator with a snap and turned back to the team.

"How's that shelter coming Bones?" Dr. McCoy's head popped out from the brush, shaking his head, sending water droplets flying. "It's not much, but it'll keep us relatively safe. I swear, if I ever see one of those damn tribbles again I'm going to dissect it with a rusty spoon." He grumbled.

"Doctor, may I remind you that in this weather, with the current temperature and wind chill that hypothermia will set in within fifteen minutes if we do not get undercover." Spock said in his usual clipped tone.

"Spock, correct me if I'm wrong, but don't Vulcans have a higher core temperature than humans?" I asked, shivering from the wind.

"Yes. Due to my status as a Vulcan-Human hybrid, I am able to withstand lower temperatures than pure Vulcans, but I am not immune to hypothermic shock."

Indeed, Spock was not immune and neither were we. My fingers and toes were starting to go numb, and the wind was making Bone's wizened old face look red and chapped. Spock looked the strangest of us all, trying desperately not to shiver, as if he was above every human imperfection, and the tips of his ears and nose were tinted green as the icy wind drew his Vulcan blood to the surface of his skin.

"Well, we won't be any warmer standing out here." I said and with that, we all crawled into the shelter, first Mccoy, Spock, then finally I edged my way into the small shelter Bones had made in the bushes.

As soon as we were all inside, a gust of wind blew a branch over the entrance of our shelter and it was pitch black.

"Ouch! Dammit Spock scoot over!"

"Doctor, if I were able to move I would, the fact remains that I cannot. Believe me I find this invasion of my personal space as uncomfortable as you do."

"Just shut up and move over!"

"The perimeter of this shelter is inadequate to fit our combined body masses. Perhaps if you would have put more thought into the creation of the shelter, we would not be experiencing this issue."

"Are you calling me stupid?!"

"Gentlemen!" I called out to the darkness. There was the rustling of leaves and I felt two pairs of eyes on me. "Don't make me separate the two of you. This is all we got until it warms up again at dawn. Now, do your best to relax and try to get some sleep."

There was silence for a minute. "Alright Jim." Said McCoy finally.

"Good." I replied, as I laid down and curled up into a tight ball, wishing it wasn't so cold. It was quiet again for a long time, and then I heard Spock whisper, "One does not have to call you stupid, Doctor, for sometimes it is blatantly obvious."

McCoy growled, and I sighed, thinking to myself. It is going to be a very long night.