"I'll be on the bridge," Sulu looked at McCoy knowing that Kirk was in a world of pain and possibly not really fit to be on the bridge. He had seen how Kirk had almost lost control when told what had happened and how Spock was. It had been an almost automatic reaction to get him off the bridge and to McCoy. He and Pavel had talked about the possibility that something had happened to Spock from the way Uhura had been after the first message and how she was after the second message all but said it out loud. They had discussed how Kirk would react and while he expected the reaction that occurred Pavel had been stunned by it. As he got to the door he looked back. Kirk still sat with his head bowed, eyes closed, and muttering, "If he, if he." and McCoy nodded to him as he picked up a hypo. He was the senior officer. It was his duty to take over.

As soon as he walked on the bridge he saw the two new officers as well as Pavel look at him, watched as he walked to the Conn and calmly, deliberately, pressed a button, "This is Commander Sulu, temporarily acting as the Captain of this ship. Engineering, give me warp five point two now, heading is still Starbase Six, and until I tell you otherwise keep it at that."

"Yes, Sir."

"Is the Keptin?"

"He will be fine, Doctor McCoy is with him and they are talking about when we arrive at Star Base Six."

The two young officers looked at one another for a moment, each aware of what the other was possibly thinking, of who they were thinking about. When Pavel started to stand Sulu shook his head, "Stay there for a bit longer, I am going to my quarters for a few minutes."

In his quarters Sulu thought of his friend and practiced some of the exercises he had instructed him in to help him relax while also improving his coordination and balance. He could hear that friend voice saying, "You are progressing very well. You will soon realize and accept that your body and mind are one when they are balanced and relaxed, when you have control over both. Let them both do what they were meant to do but at all times under your control." Once he had stilled his mind more he thought of Uhura and knew he had to check on her not only for himself but the man on Star Base Six and the one in Sickbay. He looked at the antique Japanese sword the Vulcan had pointed out to him on one of the many outposts they visited. They both had admired it, could tell it was authentic and when the shop owner had said how much it was worth he knew it was well beyond his means. They were three days out from the outpost when Spock had asked him to accompany him to his quarters, which seemed unusual as Spock invited only a few to his quarters and it was accepted that he was a private person. His quarters reflected his Vulcan heritage and he looked in the sleeping alcove where Spock had pointed, "I believe that you will hand that on to future generations who will appreciate it for what it is and what it was." The sword. He had looked at it then at Spock who had just said, "It is only fitting that it be with one who honors the significance of the instrument as well as the craftsmanship. May it bring you pleasure, now please take it to your quarters without comment, your expression and body language says all that needs be said." So many times he had seen his friend say so much with just a raised eyebrow and other times he had seen his mastery with language. He placed his hand on the sword, "I have more to say to you so you better be there." then headed for the bridge.

Lieutenant Uhura sat still in her quarters rereading what she had put down in words and filed under a heading only she would know. It stated all her feelings on the trip, her reaction to the events, and explained why she was taking the actions she was. She had started it twenty days ago and would not finish with it till after they arrived at Star Base Six and sent one copy to the Captain and one to Command. It had been difficult to not be as emotive as she wanted to be when she wrote it but she heard that beloved baritone, "A calm and logical woman with the right words is far more powerful than any sort of weapon any sentient being could create. You, Lieutenant Uhura, are a most gifted, calm and logical woman who lives a full live but remember you are also a weapon of great power. As with all things timing is everything and you will know when to use what you have to best effect." As she turned of the computer she knew when she sent it there would be definite effects on others, on herself, and knowing that the one on Star Base Six would have understood.

There was a chime letting her know somebody was at her door. She adjusted her uniform and went to the door. "Sulu, is, is,"

Sulu smiled, "I just came to see if you were okay and to tell you that as the Captain is in Sickbay I have the Conn and I have increased to warp five point two. Gives us a better chance."

She looked rather startled, "Why is he in Sickbay?"

"After you left the Admiral more or less said that," damn, how to tell someone as close as she was to the First Officer that in all likelihood he would be dead before they got there, "he will be dead before we get there." There was just a slight tremor of her body before she shut her eyes. Facing a Klingon bird-of-prey was nothing compared with just waiting for a reaction from his friend as she just stood still for a minute.

Uhura took a deep breath and looked right at him, "Thank you for telling me that. I will be back on,"

"No, Doctor McCoy has you off for six days and I agree. For now Pavel and I can help the two other officers and get to Star Base Six with you resting and the Captain recovering as the reality clearly is almost too much for him. I will let you know as soon as I know anything. Officer Hanning is at your station."

Uhura nodded, Officer Hanning would fit in well and was very skilled. "Thank,"

"You can thank me by resting. You know where I am if you need me."

Once he had gone and she had managed to get her breathing back and her mind settled the way her special friend had taught her so many years ago she sat down and thought of prayer but started to sing instead as she always had found peace in song.

You're from a different place than me

Our beliefs may differ it is true

Yet as opposite as we two may be

I found a wonderful friend in you

You like it real and I like to dream

Yet no matter what we may do

Be it or be it not by some scheme

What we have always comes through

I am outgoing you are more reserved

You see many options I see only two

I've often wondered how I deserved

This special friendship I have with you

As though afraid it would be crushed by her touch she opened the cover the special book she kept in a drawer by her bed and read the note, Uhura, with thanks for sharing the music of friendship and the silence of friendship. Spock. A book of songs of all continents and at lease one song from each country on Old Earth wen it was published in 1980. She smiled as she remembered how she had been so certain she was in trouble for reporting late for a beam up when they were at Star Fleet Headquarters and there had been a concert she had gone to and got talking with one of the singers about old songs. He had been helping Scotty with the transporter and when she was the second to last to beam aboard he had looked at her and simply said, "Lieutenant, report to my quarters in eighteen minutes. I will give my report to the Captain and discuss this with you then." Eighteen minutes had seemed a lifetime as she thought of what it would do to her record to have it reported she was so late reporting back. He had been waiting for her when she arrived and before she could had said a word he had held out the book and simply said, "I believe this is yours, Lieutenant. May I remind you that you are on duty in fifteen point eight one minutes. I will see you on the bridge." No more had ever been said about either incident. When she had gone to the bridge he had been there and acknowledged her with a nod that they both knew meant more than the others would know. The silence of friendship.

While watching the two new officers trying vainly to fill the role that was filled by one Chekov was filled by conflicting emotions. It was not often he had been given the Conn, most times only when it was quiet and the First Officer was in command. He remembered twice not being sure about trusting someone when they had been on different planets and he had asked the First Officer what he should do he had seen an eyebrow raise and been told, "Is there not a Russian proverb about trust but verify that would apply here?" and a time when the Captain was about to lecture him for a minor error and there had been the sound of a throat being cleared and that voice saying, "Captain, perhaps Mister Chekov only need be reminded of the Russian proverb about there being no shame in not knowing, that the shame lies in not finding out, I am sure Mister Chekov will correct the error and find out what caused it." As he sat looking out the main screen his thoughts were on Star Base Six and of what Sulu had not said. He was trying to accept them as part of the crew but he could not accept that they did belonged there as First Officer and Science Officer. No, he could accept it but he would not accept it. For a moment he smiled as he remembered so long ago when Spock had reminded him of the difference between the two. There was still so much that quiet friend could help him with. He looked at the registers and took a moment to calculate the changes Sulu's action would have made and nodded, be there in less than five standard days. He remembered an old Russian proverb his mother used to say and knew it was true as he softly said it, "When you meet a man you judge him by his clothes, when you leave you judge him by his heart." He nodded as he added, "And you, Mister Spock, have a great heart."

Kirk felt better and knew his place was on the bridge. McCoy had not commented but the way he was looking at him showed his surprise and silently asked if he were really ready. "I better get back up there, Bones. I trust Chekov but I need to be there."

When we walked onto the bridge Chekov quickly stood and looked at him, almost as though afraid, "Keptin, Sulu,"

"Thank you but I am aware of that situation."

"Oh, ahh, we are on course for Starbase Six at warp five point two and should be there in just over four days."

The First Officer gave an annoying humph and said, "The Captain needs exact times not,"

Kirk held up his hand but the man kept looking at Chekov, "such a vague statement. It is little wonder you are not,"