Watching how the security officer Paul Oaken backed away from him in fear First Officer Spock realized just how much xenophobia was still on the Enterprise. As a result of the fight he had had with their captors when they escaped Spock found he could not hear and knew his vocal cords were damaged. He lacked a way to easily communicate.

A hand rest on his shoulder and he turned, momentarily half-expecting Jim to be there then remembered that he and Doctor McCoy had been able to beam back to the Enterprise before the last onslaught by the rebels. For a moment he looked at the man and recognized him as the second security officer, the one who had stopped the rebels from disemboweling Jim. There was a calmness about the man as they looked at one another. Without hesitation the man took Spock's hand and raised it to his head.

The other security officer was clearly yelling something and backing away but Spock ignored him. The officer before him was offering what he needed and yet Spock wondered if the man knew what it meant, if the man knew how much about him would be revealed in the meld. When the man nodded Spock placed his hand on the man's face in the correct position.

Immediately there was a flood of pain. Not his. "Ignore it. I'm Darren. What do we need to do?"

"What is our location and situation?"

"We are about fifteen feet from where the captain and doctor beamed up. Those rebels who attacked us have not returned. Too scared. We just have to wait. You were out for a long time. I did what I could. Paul has been badly shaken by attack."

Spock felt something hidden in that statement, something he was hiding, "You are badly injured and in pain."

A flash of annoyance and Darren smiled, "You feel? Never mind. It is nothing. We have to move. Rain's coming. When we move," uncertainty, puzzlement, "can you, can you hear through holding hands?"

Spock recalled there had been no indication of a change in climatic conditions and was unaware he had said, "Yes." until he felt Darren place a hand on his and he removed his hand gently from Darren's face.

As he watched Paul Oaken not look away from him as Darren picked up a backpack and then helped him up Spock was aware that something was said between them that he did not need him to hear to understand. It was not until Paul pointed at Darren's leg and obviously yelled something that Spock looked at Darren's legs. The source of that flood of pain. Two crude tourniquets appeared to be all that was stopping him from bleeding to death. The bloodied bandages down both his lower legs showed the price paid saving Jim.

"We have to go." the way it was said let him know that Darren had seen him looking at his legs. "We have to go now."

Even as they stepped out the small shelter they had been in Spock saw no sign of rain. When Darren stopped and pointed at a small rise with some trees on it he heard, "There. Hidden on high ground. Easy for the Enterprise to locate us. Should be soon."

"How long?"

"I think tomorrow. Paul's calmed now. Let's move."

Once they got to the small area Darren had pointed out he took a surprisingly short time bending the saplings and making a shelter. Paul pulled out a location transmitter and handed it to him. Spock understood why Darren had been so sure of them being beamed up soon. A hand held out a pack of mixed nuts and Spock looked up to see a rather apologetic look on Oaken's face. He nodded his thanks as he took the pack and looked at Darren and saw him release then, three point sight seconds later, retighten and secure both tourniquets. When Spock placed a hand on Darren's bloodied right hand the pain was almost more than he could tolerate yet Darren quickly pulled his hand away as the word, "No!" radiated no only from the touch but also from the look Darren gave him. There were some words that made no sense and Spock dismissed them, knowing how pain could make humans say strange things.

Darren said something to Paul who quickly unfolded the backpack turning it into a large water-proof sheet he placed over them just as a few drops fell from the arch of the shelter. Although he could not hear the rain Spock smelt the distinct aroma of wet soil and felt a damp coolness. Throughout the darkness of the night the rain continued and the shelter, despite the alacrity with which it had been constructed, had, with the sheet, kept them dry. At some state during the night Darren had lapsed into a coma and Spock felt guilty for having fallen asleep.

Just as he was starting to move to examine Darren, Spock felt the familiar sensation of the transporter beam. As they materialized on the Enterprise McCoy started to rush toward him but Spock pointed to Darren and for a moment Spock was sure McCoy would insist on examining him before Darren till Paul said something. All McCoy had done was look at Spock, nod, and press a hypospray against his arm.

Sound. Spock heard the sounds of Sickbay and slowly opened his eyes. Jim was beside the bed and the first thing the Vulcan saw was the smile on this friend's face. "Officer Oaken told me what happened. Officer Slade will be back on limited duties in ten days. Oaken told me how you were left alone after he pretended to eat a piece out of his leg."

It was in the way Kirk looked away that made Spock look over at the bed Darren was on. He had not remembered Darren's family name. He had no recollection of what Oaken was talking about but remembered the bloodied bandages. The rebels were superstitious enough to believe him evil if they believed he would eat his own flesh. Those words he thought were words of pain came back to him and he smiled.

"What, Spock."

"Just what he said down there. I understand it now."

"Mind telling me what it was?"

"He said, and I quote, You are what you eat."