Captain Kirk felt the mission had been an unqualified success.

Of course Spock and McCoy had argued almost the entire time – about everything from what the Vulcan could eat to the sociological solution for the natives – but the crew of the Enterprise were used to that and hardly even noticed anymore.

The only time he'd had to interrupt was when he'd been having trouble hearing his conversation partner at dinner – but then the Fesarians were very softly spoken.

And now they were all saying farewell, going back to the Enterprise with Dave Bailey in tow. The Lieutenant was far more relaxed and confident than when Kirk left him with Balok and Jim felt this was the icing on the cake of their present mission.

Kirk snapped his attention back onto their diminutive hosts, Linnik and Dassik, as they approached with wide smiles.

"We offer our thanks again for all your officers have done for our people."

Jim smiled widely in return.

"All in a day's work. I'm just glad we arrived in time."

"Indeed," Linnik nodded. "We were fortunate Lieutenant Bailey was with us to contact you."

"After all you've done for me," Dave replied, "it was the least I could do."

"We learnt from each other," Dassik replied warmly. "And speaking of such…" He turned to look up at the two science officers. "We bring you a gift, for all you accomplished."

"No gift is required," Spock spoke simply. "We were simply fulfilling our duty."

"You don't owe us anything but a promise to keep out of trouble in the future," McCoy added with a pleased bounce.

Jim privately thought getting them to agree on that much was all the gift he could ask for.

"But we wish to aid you as you have aided us," Dassik pressed.

"Because of your efforts our future is bright once more. We wish to offer you the same," Lannik agreed.

"Well…" Bones glanced to the captain who gave a slight nod. "In that case we'd be honoured."

"Excellent!" Lannik clapped his hands in delight and Dassik pulled out a small box from his robes. He opened it and held it up.

"Please, this powder will light your future."

McCoy eyed it warily as Spock surreptitiously scanned it.

"How's it do that?" Bones tried not to sound ungrateful.

"You inhale it," Dassik replied, apparently not understanding the confusion.

McCoy was about to rephrase his question when Spock interrupted.

"The powder is not harmful Doctor. It appears completely inert. I expect the significance is traditional rather than practical."

McCoy glared at the Vulcan.

"Don't insult our hosts Mister Spock," he hissed.

Spock blinked.

"I meant no disrespect for your customs," he spoke to the Fesarians honestly.

"No insult taken," Lannik waved the apology away as Dassik raised the box closer to the officers.

Spock didn't hesitate but reached in and took a pinch of dust. Carefully raising it to his nose he inhaled deeply. The crew held their breath as they watched him.

Seconds later he turned to McCoy and said,

"There is no discernible scent or immediate effect. I believe my initial analysis to be correct."

With a final glare at the Vulcan, McCoy took a generous pinch and swiftly inhaled it. If pressed, he would have to admit that Spock was apparently correct.

Dassik put the box away and final goodbyes were offered.

As the crew dematerialised, McCoy's final view was of the two grinning cherub-like faces of the Fesarians.


It wasn't that McCoy didn't trust Spock. Not at all. It was just that one couldn't be too careful when dealing with alien cultures and mysterious powders.

That was why, shortly after they all returned to the ship, he locked himself in a private examination room and ran every test on himself that he could think of.

There were no abnormal results.

He ran a couple of tests again before deciding he was being paranoid and Spock had probably been correct. Like as not the powder was part of a traditional ritual with no scientific basis. Much like mistletoe on Earth.

Damned if he'd admit that to the Vulcan though.


It wasn't that Spock doubted his initial assessment, only that it was logical to prove it beyond doubt. There were other examples of seemingly innocuous substances having a deleterious effect after all.

That was why, as soon as he finished his shift on the bridge, he retreated to his quarters and began a focused meditation. He examined his internal self detail by detail.

There were no differences to usual.

As he rose from his mat he was perfectly satisfied that his initial conclusion was in fact correct. He wondered briefly how the powder came to symbolically 'light your future'. Probably through some illogical explanation as so many Earth traditions.

He decided to ask the doctor if he could come up with an explanation.