Okay, an explanation for why this took so long before anything else: My muse blew up. I'm not kidding, what was likely a four chapter story blew up into something much bigger, and much broader and I really really hate it right now, but I'm going to see it through the end. I really need to stop. Okay, I do hope you enjoy even with the wait involved. I'm really sorry, but now that I've battled it into a way I can hopefully expand, we're all good. Updates shouldn't be as sporadic now. Hopefully.
...
The next 'morning' brought more bright lights and cold, but there was no sign of their tester. Spock was still shivering; McCoy glared at everything, bristling and gnashing his teeth, pacing the radius of the area he was able. The closest analogy Spock could find was a mother wolf protecting her cubs. Or cub, he supposed. He wasn't all that sure he appreciated it, but he had to admit in a very guarded and private corner of his mind that it was amusing.
"Well…where the hell is it? It usually pops up around this time, so where the hell is it?"
"I do not know; however, I believe you should remain calm."
"Ohhhh, great advice; 'remain calm', he says, ignore the fact that we're being tortured and being treated like lab rats and 'remain calm'. I must say, Spock, you totally live up to the 'genius' status you have gained over the years."
"Thank you, Doctor."
McCoy paused, blinking, staring at him with an expression of complete and total mystification, and finally threw his head back and laughed. "I can't believe I missed how funny that is."
"Doctor…I am unsure that I comprehend your meaning…"
McCoy laughed again, sighing. "Oh, it doesn't matter. I think I'm just going senile… Finding the hobgoblin funny… Yep, Leonard McCoy, you have gone off the deep end."
"Doctor?"
"I'm sorry. I'm alright. This just really… I mean… Ah hell. Jim's gonna be off somewhere back on the Enterprise just… Shit."
"McCoy, calm yourself. You are tense and you are rambling; sit down."
"I don't see why it's any-"
"Sit," Spock stated, meeting his eyes directly; McCoy was so shocked that he sat down automatically. "Now, breathe; no, cease speaking." McCoy shut his mouth. "I wish you to take a deep breath and let it out through your nose." McCoy opened his mouth again. "If you wish you may take a breath like that, but you must calm. Now, close your eyes."
"This is stupid," McCoy grumbled, some inner part of him grinning like a maniac; he knew exactly what the hobgoblin was attempting to get him to do. He had to admit that he found it amusing as hell, but the goblin was staring at him with such conviction in his eyes that he couldn't help but concede. He was aware that Spock was trying to help him in the only way that he could think of, and for once he decided to help him along and not smash it to pieces as well as that crumbling resolve that he spotted in those eyes. That in mind he closed his eyes, and waited for further instructions.
"Calm your thoughts, or possibly a better method would be to concentrate on one thing. Light, darkness…"
"Just so long as I don't think about water."
Spock blinked, and then seemed to comprehend, his nose wrinkling almost unnoticeably. "That might be wise." McCoy couldn't help but smile at that. "Now, choose what you wish to focus on, only attempt to choose something that is conducive to a reflective and relaxed state. Otherwise the purpose will not be met."
"I've got it."
"Very well; now, focus on that object or element, ignoring any outside presence. You should enjoy meditation; you seem to do this often."
"Hey, you hobgoblin, I thought the point was to calm me down, not rile me up," McCoy snapped, but it lacked the venom. He didn't tell Spock that he was really running through various injuries he could cause their captors, but it was having the same effect as what pointy-ears seemed to want him to do, so he continued.
"Apologies; I find it easy to do so."
McCoy's mouth twitched again. "With personalities as mismatched as ours it's really no surprise."
"Indeed."
He quietly led him through various mental exercises, none of which McCoy spent much time listening to. But it seemed to calm Spock, so he let him talk.
They were interrupted by the inevitable return of their tester. He walked forward in the same stately manner as usual, and they hesitated, Spock's eyes flickering open, the both of them tensing. McCoy noted the reaction in a small corner of his brain; were they already being tamed by fear?
Spock straightened and McCoy placed his hand on the warm shoulder firmly, pressing down as both a warning and a reprimand. He was not interested in being the reason the Vulcan died, and with the way he was going, he was heading in that direction. Spock looked up at him, meeting those eyes with a flicker of apprehension appearing, McCoy ignoring him to walk over and glare at their tester.
"Well, you finally got here; it's about bloody time…"
"We beg your apologies. Certain things needed to be discussed." McCoy jerked, eyes widening as he focused on the being in front of him. Spock straightened, focusing on the being that stood there. "We have much to do today; if you would come with me?" The voice that came from that black mouth was pure, crisp, and it led to the two captives tensing, questions weighing heavily on their tongues. But they found themselves nearly unable to ask them. The being turned around to look at them. "Come."
"Wait, wait just a minute, I'm not sure you've noticed, but you're speakin' our language, and you're actually tryin' to ask us to come and allow ourselves to be tortured. You can't be serious; how the hell are you talkin'; why do you expect us to follow you; what is going on?"
"We entered the mind of your friend and took the information from him. I apologize if we caused unnecessary damage, but it was necessary to learn your language and be able to communicate."
"Well, communicate already; what's going on; why are you doing this; why won't you let us go?"
"We cannot." It was just a simple two-word answer, yet it made McCoy's mouth click shut automatically. "You will come with me, with or without your cooperation, but to make this easier for both of us, I request that you follow."
"But…"
"Please. Let us not make this more difficult than it already is. I request your cooperation."
"So we can get tortured? No thanks."
Spock had been silent the entire time, eyes flickering between the both of them as they talked. "Who are you?" he finally asked, causing both to cease their argument and turn to face him. "Our records show that there is no life on this planet, yet you exist; why would you make contact with us?"
The being blinked at him, a clear film sliding over those large eyes before retreating back into its head. "I am known as Me'rith by my people, and we made contact with others before you."
They blinked. "The ship. You made contact with that ship that sent us here."
"We did. They served their purpose, but we could no longer use them."
"What did you do?"
"Nothing that cannot be undone; they will be fine."
"What about us, will we be fine?"
Its head cocked again. "Yes. You should be."
"What purpose does this serve?"
"The safety of our people, our lives, our freedom, our health."
"What?"
"Come."
They looked at each other, staring at Me'rith as he returned their gazes. "Do not make this more difficult than it has to be. We will have what we want from you. Your cooperation will decrease the amount of pain that will come with it."
"So there will be pain."
"Without pain one ceases to know they exist."
Spock slowly, gingerly stood up, and McCoy locked eyes with him, eyes narrowing in warning. "Don't you even think about it." Spock hesitated, eyes flicking over to McCoy; Me'rith cocking his head slightly, oddly birdlike in its movements.
"I do not understand; is there something wrong with the Vulcan?"
"You bet your ass there is. He's from a desert planet and you're keepin' us in cold, you've been prickin' and proddin' him more than anyone else, and he's had his mind invaded."
"All of which was necessary. As for the cold…I am sorry, but we cannot change the temperature. We will give you warmer clothing, however, and other things to keep you warm, but we have no more time." It reached out and clasped McCoy's arm, one of the first time physical contact had been given, and he found out why a second later. He had been fully conscious, but at the hand grasping his arm everything faded to black at a prodding.
When he came to he was back with Spock, the half-Vulcan was sitting as close to him as his Vulcan sensibilities would allow. He had a blanket wrapped around him, and Spock seemed relieved as his eyes opened finally. It was then that he noticed the large green and yellow bruise that was on the right side of Spock's face. "What did you do, you hobgoblin?"
Spock's eyebrow twitched, and he favored him with a glance that was equal parts amused and chastising. McCoy was almost shocked to spot it, but he remained glaring at him. "When it grabbed you and you began to fall, I moved to pull you back, but I was unable to. Mainly because it hit me; the effects of that blow are as you see."
"Damn, come here."
Spock hesitated before leaning closer, McCoy pausing to cover his hands with the blanket before reaching up and positioning Spock's head so he could see the large bruise more clearly. He hissed through his teeth and counted it rather lucky that he hadn't had his eye damaged. It went from just under his eyebrow to his upper lip, and nearly missed his nose. "He hit you good…"
"'He', Doctor?"
"I'm getting tired of calling him 'it'; besides, I think it sounds like a he." McCoy waved it off, and Spock inclined his head as much as he was able with McCoy's hands still holding his head in place.
"Very well."
Bones finally sighed. "I can't do anything with that without any tools. Does it hurt?" He prodded at it lightly, and jerked his hand back automatically when Spock let out a hiss. "I'll take that as a yes… Dammit. I'm sorry…" McCoy let go of him, and Spock backed away.
"It is of little consequence."
"Hmph, it's because of my bullheaded idiocy that you got hit like that."
"On the contrary, had I not attempted to stop him from taking you…"
"Spock…once again, stop talking."
Spock blinked at the sudden command and finally sighed through his nose. "Doctor, we must find some other compromise aside from simply having me cease talking."
McCoy glared. "But I like that one."
Spock looked up at the ceiling and back down, and McCoy blinked before laughing. "You just rolled your eyes, didn't you?"
"Doctor, as my eyes did not follow a circular motion, I did not 'roll' them. I merely looked at the ceiling."
McCoy laughed and grinned at him. "You know, you're not that bad… For a hobgoblin, that is…"
"I am pleased to know that I have your approval."
"You better be, but don't think that means that I accept your purely logical attitude. It's not healthy."
"I find reason to disagree with that statement."
"You always find a reason."
Their banter continued as long as they were able, ignoring the lights that turned off at the same time, and continuing their conversation, pulling the blankets they had been given tighter to them. McCoy had to admit that while the location was not ideal, there was something enjoyable about merely sitting back and trying to one-up the other. Although in his mind he won every time. He knew Spock disagreed.
All the more reason to keep arguing.
