Disclaimer: I do not own Star Trek or any of its characters... I do own rhododensalvus and Niburan, however! So no touchy! Haha.

I think in this fic I truly learned for the first time how hard it is to name things... Like planets... And vegetation...

Also - Vulcan Harp - reference to episode Charlie X in season 1 - you don't have to have watched the show, but basically Spock plays the harp. In the show Uhura accompanies him, but hopefully that will be in a different fic...

Also, feel free to give me polite critiques. My specialty is oneshots, so I find it very hard to write a well rounded chapter, so feedback is definitely appreciated!

R&R


"May point out that rhododensalvus, the tree-like structures surrounding us, does not burn like earthly wood?" Spock asked me with a subtly raised eyebrow.

I looked back towards the center of camp to see the Captain trying to build a fire with no luck. With a knowing smile, I turned back to the vulcan standing beside to me.

"Oh, I am perfectly aware," I said with a wide smile. Of course it was me who gathered the wood, out of the kindness of my heart...

"And you do not think this information is valuable enough to share with him?" he asked again and I just shook my head.

"We have some time before dark - he can sweat a little," I said, looking up to see a very small smirk grace his pale face, and I knew that he secretly approved.

Tents were starting to go up around us, their colors the customary blue, red, and yellow that are associated with the Starfleet. It was a shame that Niburan's inhabitants were so cautious of outsiders - the main reason we had to sleep in the woods this evening... However, to say that the Niburans were merely cautious would be an understatement.

Planet Niburan was beautiful with crimson red skies, only now starting to fade to a lovely maroon, almost a brownish-purple. I could see three of its moons starting to rise on the horizon, although hard to spot because of the trees surrounding us. The hot, balmy weather even reminded me of my childhood in Kenya - a part of me that I kept buried deep.

Walking into camp I looked at all of the faces I have become familiar with over these past few months - Mr. Sulu, Dr. McCoy... It's almost disconcerting how a near death experience can bring people together. After retrieving one of the tents that Sulu had found in the cargo hold, I made my way into the center of camp to where Kirk was still building the fire. He was doing it correctly now, however - banging two sticks together so they would ignite from the impact. His source of knowledge sat on a makeshift bench beside him.

"You knew this crap wasn't flammable, didn't you?" Kirk accused as I walked toward the middle of camp.

"Why would you say that, Captain?" I asked with a false innocence. He just chuckled, shaking his head and I sat down next to our Vulcan first officer.

"No reason. Of course you didn't recognize the plant, Miss Four-Point-Oh," he teased. Things have been oddly smooth with the Captain lately. I could never deny that he was a womanizing pig, but there was now too much respect between us to act on it.

Who am I kidding? If he even tried to act on one of his idiotic impulses, Spock would probably rip his arm off - if I didn't beat him to it, that is.

Jim looked up at the sky and smiled sheepishly at Spock. I didn't understand until he stood up. He was still his first officer, and had to watch the ship whenever the captain was off. Taking out his communicator, he mumbled, "Spock to Enterprise." Before beaming up, however, he raised an eyebrow.

"You do remember this is not a recreational stop, Captain?"

His voice interrupted my thoughts, causing me to look over at our mentioned fearless leader and notice the drink he pulled out of his duffle. Oh boy.

"This is our first time off the ship in months, Mr. Spock. We all deserve some fun," he countered with a smile.

"I hope I do not need to remind you that the citizens of Niburan are extremely hostile," Spock continued, but the captain ignored him, taking a large swig of alcohol.

- -

"I thought we were all adults," I huffed, rolling out my bed in the empty tent. It was understandable that we all had to share tents - welcome, even. But I, being the only female officer down here, will not be sharing a tent with anyone. Admittedly, it seemed immature of me to be upset over this, but we were all adults who could decide for themselves who they wanted to sleep with. Innocently and not so innocently.

I sighed - I could understand, though. I was the communications officer, after all, and if any Niburans wandered into camp I would be the one of the only people who could speak with them. Actually, the only other person may have been Hawkins - If I remembered correctly, he did know the two dialects of the language.

I broodingly glared at the shadows the fire made on the other side of my tent wall and sat down cross-legged with a small sigh. It took a lot not to page him, but I didn't want to interrupt his work.

'What is that noise?' I thought. I had noticed the sound earlier, but now it sounded like there was some kind of dying cat outside. Confused, I stood up to investigate.

The image I was met with outside of my tent was that of Kirk playing an old, out-of-tune guitar and wailing at the top of his lungs. He was obviously under the influence, judging by his demeanor. Most of the shipmates were just laughing, some singing along, but I rolled my eyes.

"Are anyone else's ears bleeding?" I asked, sitting down on one of the surrounding logs.

Only now realizing my presence he decided to stop his belting, to my relief. But, unfortunately, he continued momentarily, me suddenly his inspiration. I gasped when I heard the first chords start up and almost slapped him upside the head.

"Oh, don't be so mad, it was written about you!"

"Shut up, Jim. That is not my first name, either! Plus, that song is so old," A few around the campfire chuckled.

"You've been runnin' all over town - Guess I'll have to put your flat feet on the ground!" he belted out merrily and I rolled my eyes.

"Enterprise to Captain Kirk, this is Enterprise," something said behind Kirk, who didn't seem to be paying any attention. I got up to get it.

"This is Lt. Uhura," I said, recognizing the voice right away.

"Where is the captain?"

I held the communicator in the direction of the Captain's howling, causing Spock to hear him and groan.

"Captain, did you all fail to realize we are on a planet with close to no toleration for the human species?" demanded the half-human.

"Oh, you're just jealous that I play a manly instrument, like the guitar. Last time I checked I the harp was a girl instrument!" Kirk teased drunkenly, causing some laughter.

"Well, last time I checked, instruments don't have genders. Women are perfectly capable of playing the guitar," I chided. God, is he twelve?

"The Vulcan Harp is a very soothing instrument. I received second place in the All-Vulcan Music Competition, only beaten by my father," he stated matter-of-factly. To me, however, it was just one big pissing contest.

McCoy, who must have heard what was going on, stepped out of his tent to sit around the fire. "Just stop your howling, Jim. That's all the good lady wants. Not to mention your first officer and the rest of this Godforsaken planet," he said and I mouthed a silent thank you. And of course, knowing the Captain, the chance of impressing a lady ruled over anything and he quieted down to just some pleasant strums. I briefly wondered how many times he would go see the doctor tomorrow in need of hangover relief.

"What can I help you with, Spock?" I spoke into the communicator, moving to the edge of camp.

"Nothing, that dilemma just answered my question," he said, sounding frustrated. I waited for a moment, hoping he would explain himself, but of course he didn't.

"I'll keep a close eye on your frequencies, but be careful. I'm afraid the Niburans are more hostile than they appear," he told me and I nodded to no one in particular.

"Alright. When your shift is over, try to get some sleep. I'll send Sulu up soon for his turn to babysit the bridge," I said.

"Thank you, Spock out."

"Goodnight, Uhura out."

The night grew late, although I was much more wide-eyed than those around me, quite possibly the only sober person in the entire camp.

- - - -

I sighed happily, feeling his chest heave with every breath beneath my cheek. His fingers knotted themselves in my hair, running through each strand with fascination and care. His fingertips every so often gently scraped against my scalp, causing a pleasant shiver to run down my spine.

I opened my eyes to peer up at him. "How much time do we have?" I asked him softly, my hands moving to trace the contours of his chest. I marveled at the contrast my dark skin against the pale skin of his chest.

"Not long," he said with a small frown.

I stood up, my lips pressing against his brow. "That's alright. I'd be lying if I said I didn't want to see the Captain's thunderous hangover," I said with a playful smirk, picking my hastily discarded uniform off the floor and slipping it on quietly.

He smiled a little in return, starting to sit up but I shook my head, sitting next to him once more. "You go back to sleep, it's fine. I'll see you in a few hours," I told him gently, sweeping my long hair up into its usually high ponytail.

I tucked my communicator in my waistband and walked to the transporter room, smiling sleepily at Scotty once I entered.

"Good morning, Miss Uhura," he said kindly, with a small playful wink. I just laughed.

"Oh, hush," I said good-naturedly as I stepped onto the platform, "Energize."

The camp slowly came into view. I started to walk to the center ring of tents, a smile still on my face. Something felt... Wrong, though. Everything was too still, too silent. With a small shrug, I made my way to wake up the Captain. He was sleeping in - something that wasn't out of the ordinary, especially after getting completely drunk the night before.

I politely called in. There was no answer, so I opened the flap and with a gasp realized he was gone. I ran to Dr McCoy's tent in a small bit of a panic. "Doctor? Doctor, are you in there?" I whispered hastily. When I wasn't met with an answer, I pulled open his flap as well.

"Uhura to Enterprise," I spoke quickly, "Beam me up, the crew is gone - beam me up now."


Guess the song and you get brownie points! Haha. Oh, what a good oldie.

I was less impressed with the second part of my chapter, but hopefully it will get better. :)