Chapter Four

"So….Mister Spock is a woman now?" Chekov asked, finally breaking the silence after Kirk had told them what happened.

"Yes," he replied.

More silence.

"It…seems a little hard to believe, Captain," Sulu said.

"Believe me," Kirk muttered, "I know."

He heard the turbolift doors open and the tiniest intake of breath from Uhura, and he knew Spock had entered. He turned and began to say something, but whatever it was flew out of his head at the sight of Spock, standing there in his new uniform. He knew enough about interpreting Spock's emotions to recognize that he was a little uncertain. He had hesitated, and his eyes jumped around the bridge. Kirk finally got a hold of himself and cleared his throat.

"Mr. Spock, welcome back to the bridge," he said as he went up to walk with Spock to his station. He had his hair up in a simple ponytail, and his bangs were pinned back. Kirk's eyes (almost of their own free will) traveled down to the exposed skin around Spock's collar, down to his waist and hips, down to his legs…

"Captain."

Kirk's head snapped up. "What?"

Spock was looking at him strangely. "Thank you for escorting me to my station. I believe I am sufficient."

It was then that Kirk realized that he had just been standing there, checking out his first officer in the middle of the bridge. Well, sometimes he did check out his first officer from the bridge, but this was somehow different.

Before, he had done it subtly. From his chair.

Kirk hastily cleared his throat and moved away, going back to the safety of the captain's chair.

"Of course, Mr. Spock."

After he sat down, there was a moment of uncomfortable silence on the bridge. But then, to Kirk's relief, everyone returned to their duties.

"Captain," Uhura, said. "The team sent to recover a sample of that gas has returned. They're asking what you want them to do with it."

"Tell them to take it to sickbay."

"Captain," Spock interjected. "I would like to study a portion of that sample myself."

Kirk considered it. He knew McCoy was perfectly capable of analyzing the medical effects of an unknown substance. But he also knew that if it were him trapped in a woman's body, he would want to have a hand in the search for a solution. And he also figured that it would be a good idea to have as many people working on this as possible.

"Fine." He turned back to Uhura. "Tell them to split the sample and bring half up to the bridge."

"Yes, sir."

An hour later, Kirk was…bored. He rarely got bored, and when he did, he was always secretly ashamed of it. Starship Captains should not get bored. But right now, he was. He had already alerted Starfleet command to the situation and coordinated the ongoing study of the planet's seismic activity from the ship, of course. He wanted no more accidents.)His attention drifted over to the science station, where Spock was bent over the goose-necked scanner examining the gas sample. Kirk always watched Spock work, admired the long line of his broad back, the soft sheen of his hair, the graceful curve of his fingers as he manipulated the scanner controls. Watching Spock work in his female form was…interesting. Women were beautiful, all lovely lines and shapely curves, delicate features and elegant movements. Kirk watched Spock's pale arm reach over and flip a few switches. It looked soft. Spock craned his head to look at a computer readout. Kirk followed the line of his neck up to a delicate ear.

But as fascinating as it was, Kirk had already thought of Spock as beautiful. And now he was just…different.

What if he stays like that forever? Kirk thought. What if we can't find a way to change him back?

He answered his own question. I'll still feel the same way about him. And we'll get through it.

"Sickbay to Captain Kirk." The sound of McCoy's voice over the comm unit startled Kirk out of his reverie. He pushed the reply button in the arm of his chair.

"Kirk here."

"You'd better get down here, Jim. Bring Spock, too."

"You found something?" Kirk's voice was hopeful.

"Maybe." McCoy's voice just sounded grim.

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"What? That doesn't even make sense," Kirk protested.

"It's just as I said, Jim," McCoy replied. He was at his desk, a sample of the gas beside him in a canister, "This substance could not possibly have been created naturally."

Kirk paced sickbay.

"Jim," Spock said quietly. "That conclusion, however illogical, is consistent with my findings. The gas is an artificial construct."

"What are you two saying? That it was created for some purpose?"

"Or is perhaps a byproduct of some other function," Spock suggested.

Kirk was silent for a moment before McCoy and Spock decided to add yet another complication.

"There's something else, Jim," McCoy said hesitantly.

"What?"

McCoy glanced at Spock. This bit of information was clearly not in his jurisdiction.

"I have consulted with geologist Stevens," Spock said. "He has examined both the tricorder and on-board readings that were taken before and after the seismic disturbance. He has come to the conclusion that the cracks that formed during the earthquake were not, in fact, caused by it. After reviewing his data, I must confess that I am inclined to agree with that assessment." Spock was standing near McCoy's desk, and he picked up the canister as he spoke, turning it over in his hands. "Although it would be unwise to begin making hasty assumptions," he continued, "it would appear that-"

"Someone…or something, released that gas," Kirk finished for him. He had been staring at the floor, now he raised his eyes to Spock's and frowned.

"On purpose."