"Looks like we beat him," Kirk commented as he and Spock stood alone in the park.

"It is within Dr. McCoy's normal behavioral parameters to get carried away with medical matters," Spock offered.

"Yes."

They waited five minutes. Then they gave him ten more. Kirk was just thinking that they would have to go in and drag him out when his communicator beeped.

"Kirk, here."

"Scott, here, Captain." Scotty's accent was slightly thicker than usual. "Captain, are ye ready t'beam up? Ye missed the check-in an' I was startin' t'get worried-"

"We're fine, Scotty, we just need to pick up Dr. McCoy," Kirk relayed. "Stand by." He flipped the communicator shut.

"Captain."

Kirk looked up at the tone of Spock's voice. A Nironti was walking towards them. It was a senator, but not Perex.

"Sir…?" Kirk began.

"Captain Kirk, Officer Spock," the Nironti greeted. "I am Senator Sipaluk."

"Senator."

"I take it you are waiting for Dr. McCoy?"

"Yes," Kirk said warily. Something about this Nironti struck him as... wrong.

The senator sighed before continuing. "We had a patient suddenly go into relapse during his tour. Everyone had to jump into surgery. He offered his services. They're operating now."

"How long do you suppose it'll be?" Kirk asked.

Sipaluk spread his hands (if one could call them that). "I'm not a doctor, so I really can't give you a good estimation. Best guess? 5, 6 hours, not accounting for anything that could go wrong."

"I see," Kirk said icily.

He didn't get a chance to say much else. Sipaluk kept talking. "I must commend his generosity. Naturally, I'm sure Federation doctors are very well trained, but it can be tempting to slack one's duties when a patient is in the care of his home planet's medicine. Last I saw of him he was working remarkably smoothly with our own doctors… it makes one see good things out of collaborating with the Federation."

And the trap closed. Kirk gritted his teeth. He couldn't pull Bones away now, not without making the new diplomatic ties reflect poorly on the Federation. Sipaluk looked at him coolly, waiting to see what he would say.

"I'd like an update every hour on the situation," he forced out. Although the reasons for McCoy's detainment made sense he couldn't ignore his personal red alert going off in the back of his head.

"Of course, Captain." Sipaluk stepped back, giving them space for the transporter beam.

Kirk took the hint. "Scotty, beam us up. All questions will be answered when Mr. Spock and I arrive," he added quickly.

As Sipaluk's form and the surroundings shimmered, Kirk got a gnawing feeling in his gut. Something's not right.

Little bugs.

That's what it felt like.

Little bugs swarming all over inside of him.

Oh, God, oh God…

He lurched. He didn't know where he was, who he was, or what was going on, he only knew that little bugs were attacking him.

They surged. He could feel it. Oh, God, his head hurt. All the little bugs were amassing for his brain; pinching him, tickling him, hurting him. He opened his eyes only to find the little bugs sweeping across his vision and oh, God-

He screamed. He couldn't take anymore! He clawed at his head, at his face, ripping out his hair to get at the things inside his skull. Something seared the back of his hand but he didn't notice; the bugs were killing him.

He thrashed wildly and screamed again. They were pressing, pressing- God, his head hurt, why did it hurt so much? He collapsed sobbing.

The world wavered (world?) and darkness took him away from the little bugs.

"I don't like it, Spock," Kirk said the moment they materialized. "I don't trust that Sipaluk man."

"It would be illogical to completely trust anyone whom one has not known for a very long time," Spock stated.

"Complete-nothing!" Kirk snarled. "I don't trust him at all."

Spock raised an eyebrow. "His abrupt story of Dr. McCoy's predicament was, shall we say, suspicious, but that is no reason to completely mistrust an individual."

"It was more than just the story, Spock," Kirk said. They were on their way to the bridge. "I got… bad vibes."

Spock looked at him. "Vibes, Captain?"

"Yes, I know it's a human thing, Mr. Spock, but it's rarely failed me. My instincts are just about screaming that something's wrong."

"I understand, Captain," Spock said, much to Kirk's surprise. "I have developed a sense of- foreboding- as well."

And, Here. We. Go. Please read and review!