Four

Just as Kirk and his senior staff returned to the Bridge, they received a hail from the Vulcan ship, "Captain, perhaps we could arrange a meeting to formulate a plan?"

"Absolutely, we're glad to help however we can. Let me know what's a good time for you."

There was a pause and then she replied dryly, "My schedule appears to be open for some time, Captain."

Kirk looked around the Bridge, wondering if he was the only one who thought that sounded like a Vulcan making a joke. From the quizzical looks on everyone's faces, he wasn't alone. Without any video capabilities, though, it was impossible to tell. "We can come over any time, Commander. My senior staff was about to start working on some options, but a tour of the ship and any information you can provide would be helpful."

"I am sending the schematics over now, including the list of modifications we made during our journey. You have permission to come aboard at any time, Captain."

"We'll be there in ten minutes."

"T'An out."

"Uhura, could you take a look at their comm system and see about getting video working?" Kirk called down to Engineering, "Scotty, I need you to meet us in the Transporter Room in five minutes, we're headed over to the ShanaiKahr to evaluate the situation."

"Gladly, Captain. I can't wait to get inside their engine room."

Kirk switched to Sick Bay, "Bones, Transporter Room in five minutes. I'll need you to work with Spock on evaluating the Vulcan crew in cold sleep."

"Are we going to wake them up?"

"No idea, Bones, that's why I want you to check things out."

"On my way."

Kirk turned to Sulu, "You have the conn, Mr. Sulu," he said as he got up from his command chair and walked out, Uhura and Spock following behind.

When the five officers beamed over, T'An was waiting for them. Kirk's ta'al was much better than McCoy's had been and T'An returned the greeting. Kirk introduced his officers and Uhura executed a flawless salute and rendered the greeting in Vulcan, "Dif-tor heh smusma, Ang'jmizn T'An"

"Sochya eh dif, Ot-lan Uhura."

Scotty stared helplessly at his hand for a moment and then waved it at her, "Nice to meetcha, Commander. It's a lovely ship you have here."

"He has served us well for far longer than anyone could have expected. An honorable retirement is long overdue." T'An turned back to the group, "This is the largest available space left on the ship. You may seat yourselves at the crew stations if you like."

"We can always meet on the Enterprise."

"This ship was designed to run with a crew of 325, Captain. It has been modified as much as possible to be automated, but I cannot leave."

"We can work on getting some of my crew trained to help you, if you'd like, or assist with waking your own crew from cold sleep."

"It would be best for my crew if I did not wake them until we reached the Vulcan colony, Captain. Waking so many all at once, and with news that we are an endangered species and the home we worked so long and diligently to reach is gone forever, would go more smoothly there.

She continued, "Any modifications you could make to my ship to shorten the journey, however, would be most appreciated."

They got down to the business of arranging all the details. Kirk eventually returned to the Enterprise, leaving Uhura to work on getting visual communications working. Spock and McCoy walked through the ship to make sure the crew was still healthy, and T'An escorted Scotty down to the Engine Room. She had trained as an engineer and they were well into technical dialogue that kept the translator working overtime before the doors to the Bridge shut behind them.

Uhura quickly set up the visual communications and then tried to hail the Engine Room. None of the circuits seemed to work and she used her own communicator instead, "Uhura to Scott."

"Scott here."

"Scotty, could you let Commander T'An know that I have restored visual communications. It looks like the intraship communications are down, I can start restoring that if she agrees."

T'An's voice came on a moment later, "Unless your people need it, Commander, it would be more efficient to leave it disabled. It was one of the first things we dismantled when we needed spare parts. On a ship full of telepaths, it was illogical to maintain a redundant system."

"I'll get an extra communicator for you, then, so we can remain in contact."

"Lesekm, Ot-lan Uhura."

"You're welcome, Commander. And please call me Nyota."

"Only if you will call me T'An."

"My pleasure, T'An."

Spock and McCoy finished their tour in the Engine Room, where they found Scotty and T'An working on the engines. The doctor took one look at T'An's pale, tired face and decided to make sure everyone called it a night. "I think that's enough for one day, everyone. We can meet back here after a good night's rest."

"Doctor…" Spock began to protest.

McCoy turned to him and whispered angrily, "Look at her Spock. She was exhausted when we beamed over the first time and it's been a long day. We can continue this in the morning."

He turned back to T'An, "I know you can't leave the ship, ma'am, but how would you like me to bring some supplies back here for you. I'm sure your stores have been depleted pretty badly by now."

"While the reconstituted protein cubes contain adequate nutrition, the lack of taste does wear on one over the years."

"A hot meal it is."

Spock thought about all the other things that would have caused discomfort over those years and added, "We will have food and clothing synthesizers brought over for you tomorrow. Once we have updated your power output, we will be able to adjust your environmental controls as well."

"That would be most appreciated, Commander. As you can see by my unorthodox uniform, we have not had the resources for such things."

McCoy turned to T'An, "Is there anything in particular you would like to eat, ma'am?"

"So long as it is suitable for Vulcans and hot, I have no other preference."

"I'll be back soon, then."

She inclined her head gracefully and watched as they transported out. When they were gone, she leaned wearily against the wall for a moment, composed herself once again, and then headed back to the Bridge. McCoy beamed back a few minutes later and gave her a tray loaded with food.

"Will you join me, Doctor McCoy?"

"No thank you, ma'am, I need to go check on my patients. I'll se you tomorrow morning."

"Rest well, Doctor."

"You too, ma'am."

The next morning when McCoy beamed over with breakfast, T'An greeted him in slow but perfect Federation Standard.

"You know those tapes are supposed to be used over the course of a week or so, right? Using them all in one night is a bit much, even for a Vulcan."

"I had nothing else planned, Doctor McCoy."

"Please, ma'am, there's no need to be so formal. Most everyone calls me Bones, but Leonard is fine."

"If you agree to call me T'An, not ma'am or Commander. May I enquire, what does the name Bones signify?"

"Well, most people think it has something to do with 'Sawbones,' an old name for a doctor. But, it's actually something Jim… Captain Kirk, started calling me when we first met."

She waited for more explanation, but he left it at that. He was an intensely private man to begin with, and discussing his painful and bitter divorce wasn't the topic of conversation he would bring up with a woman, especially an attractive woman from a race that bonded for life.

He watched her start eating, "So… how long has it been since you slept? Last night when you used those dream tapes doesn't count."

"I sleep every day, Leonard."

"For how long each time?"

"A few hours at most. Vulcans are capable of going for long periods of…"

"Hogwash!"

She quirked an eyebrow at him and he continued, "That's meant to be a temporary solution, not a standard of living for two years at a time! You can take all the catnaps you want, that doesn't mean they are doing you any good. Even Vulcans need some good, deep REM sleep.

"T'An, I understand that you had limited resources and were a very long way from home, doing the best you could, but you have allies now and you don't have to do everything yourself. So, the first thing we're going to take care of is getting some crewmembers trained to handle your ship and then you're going to take at least a week's vacation. On the Enterprise, not here."

She began to protest and he cut her off, "Doctor's orders, and no one has the authority to countermand them, so don't bother." He smiled at her to take any sting out of his words. "We have a good crew, they'll treat your ship well, I promise."

"I will respect your authority as a doctor, Leonard, but perhaps we can come to a compromise about this."

"A compromise?"

"I will agree to your conditions, but only if I am allowed an additional week after your crew is trained, before I take any time away from my ship. I will agree to accept a light duty schedule during that time."

"You have yourself a deal," he held out his hand, remembered she was a Vulcan, and then withdrew it again.

"Is this how your people seal a bargain, Leonard?" she held out her hand to him and he took it in his own. She met his gaze with her silvery eyes and he smiled, shook her hand, and reluctantly released it. She continued to look at him for a moment longer, then turned back to her breakfast.