It was just like the Vulcan to demand to be beamed up without a word of explanation. What had Jim been thinking when he made him first officer; to imagine Mr. Spock as the captain… Whatever he was needed for, it had better be important, he had actually been sleeping for-
Mr. Spock appeared on the transporter, but much more startling was the figure in his arms. It was Jim's limp form, neither moving nor breathing… No! It couldn't be!
"What happened to him?" McCoy shouted at the Vulcan, "He'd better be alright! Get him to the Sickbay! What are you waiting for?"
"It is my duty to inform you that after many years of dedicated service, our Captain, James T. Kirk, is dead due to an unfortunate misunderstanding on Tamarin V." Spock's voice echoed throughout the Enterprise in an unnatural, nearly mechanical, monotone.
Dr. McCoy almost dropped his medical scanner - it wasn't getting any readings anyways - in shock and exclaimed, "What does that blasted Vulcan think he's doing?"
But Spock wasn't done yet, "For that reason, we are setting course for Earth where Captain Kirk will have a funeral, as is customary for those of his rank and heritage. All the crew of the Enterprise is invited to attend. In his absence, per the chain of command, I will assume his responsibilities as Captain of the U.S.S. Enterprise; I will be the final word on all matters on this ship and it will be my duty to ensure that no more meet the same fate."
The transmission cut off with a click and for a moment the sickbay was consumed in a stunned silence that only the overly loud machines dared to break.
"We're doctors; our duty is to the patient, not starship politics!" Dr. McCoy declared, forcing everyone back to reality.
Kirk still lay there as all the doctors and nurses the Enterprise could carry bustled to and fro around him. He was poked and prodded, injected and drawn from, scanned and even jump started, but he did not even stir. He could not even take in oxygen and pump blood through his own veins without artificial aid.
Dr. McCoy clicked on the direct channel to the bridge, he did not want to resort to this, but he had tried everything else. "Mr. Spock, report to sick bay at once."
There was no response.
"Spock, we need to you down here, now!" Dr. McCoy insisted, "Get your Vulcan-"
"He's on his way." Uhura answered and the channel was closed.
"Keep him stable." Dr. McCoy ordered, though if it had been necessary, they would have been in trouble indeed, "Do you see anything?"
"No," Nurse Chapel answered.
Finally, the door slid open with a whoosh and in walked Mr. Spock, meeting Dr. McCoy's eyes with a pointed glare, "You said I was needed?"
"Yes!" Dr. McCoy said, his frustration clearly evident, "We can't get a sign of life on him, though what gave you the idea to assume we wouldn't is beyond me! He's being kept alive artificially, but if the brain's dead we can't do anything-"
"He is gone. He died on Tamarin V." Spock answered, his voice flat.
"You're Jim's last hope-"
"The captain is dead." Spock said, louder than necessary.
The declaration echoed around the sickbay, halting all conversation for an instant, before they all hastily returned to work.
"That might be all fine and good for you!" Dr. McCoy snapped back as soon as his wits returned, "You get to be the captain now! But Jim's life is still at stake - and he trusted you! He trusted you with his life, and this is what you do with it-"
"I will attempt to contact him," Spock cut Dr. McCoy off, "But even I cannot enter the mind of a corpse."
Still, Mr. Spock slowly, deliberately stepped towards the captain, his eyes fixed on a spot on the far wall. The nurses and medical assistants stepped out of his way as he approached. He stopped at the bed and looked down at the lifeless body of Captain James T. Kirk. Carefully, Spock lifted his hand and placed it ever so gently on the captain's face, beneath the wires that forced Kirk's body to keep functioning.
Spock closed his eyes and everyone around him fell silent, moving only as much as was absolutely necessary. The minutes ticked by and everyone began to fidget. Could this be a good sign, that he was actually getting something, or was the fact that it was taking so long a sign that something had gone wrong?
"He is dead." Spock announced at long last, reluctantly removing his hand from the captain's face. Though he spoke quietly, everyone heard with perfect clarity.
He turned as if in slow motion, to face Dr. McCoy. For a moment their eyes met and they exchanged a glance of staggering anger and hatred.
"Am I needed for anything more, doctor?" Spock cut through the silence, his rage simmering just below the surface.
"Get out of here!" Dr. McCoy shouted, "You won't hear the end of this! I won't let you!"