Jim had expected some odd amalgamation of an interior based on the outside of the buildings in this city. However, the bar was more or less like ones he used to frequent on Earth. Your typical tables and chairs, the main bar, an area to dance that was littered with trash, and a backroom with a beefy looking alien who stood guard at and ushered in or pushed away people. Jim guessed other activities happened in there. It was crowded with a menagerie of rugged aliens, some Vesulians and he could swear he spotted a few who looked more-or-less human here and there. Music blared through the air and obscured most of the conversations. Some of the louder voices he could make out and Jim's universal translator pinged at several words it couldn't translate. They made their way to the bar which Jim leaned up on. Spock opted to stand a respectable distance behind him and scan the crowd.

"So, what's your best drink?" Jim called to the barkeep which earned him a stern look from a leathery six-eyed face. The alien swayed over on four ground tentacle-like appendages while one set of arms cleaned a glass and another set of arms leaned on the bar. His large head was mostly folds of leathery skin and jowls. Two bulbous yellowish eyes glared and two smaller sets were carefully watching the rest of the occupants at the bar.

"Something a human like yourself can't ingest unless you want your insides to melt." He sneered. At the word 'Human' several heads in the bar turned towards the men and Spock shot the barkeep a sharp look.

Jim grimaced and then smiled, "Sounds spicy. What about for us humans then?"

"Human beer."

"I'll take a beer then."

"What about him?" Leather face pointed a tentacle at Spock who averted his gaze.

"Uh…" Jim looked back at Spock. Honestly, he never went drinking with his Spock so he had no idea.

Spock stared at Jim for a beat before looking at the barkeep, "I do not require a drink at this time. Should I desire one I will request it." The barkeep nodded and went to get Jim's drink.

Jim nudged Spock with his elbow and muttered to him, "Not up for a little drink, Mr. Spock?"

Spock leaned in close again to whisper, "We are not here to drink and alcohol does not affect Vulcans as it does Humans. Furthermore, I would also advise we do not stay long. Judging the reactions of the customers it is likely Vesul has already posted a wanted notice for a human and Vulcan planetside."

Jim didn't want to admit that Spock was probably right. Their window of opportunity to find this guy and interrogate him was narrow and a lot of the bar-goers here did not look friendly. In fact, they didn't look like the Empire upstanding citizens or guards from the other city. Given the appearance, mannerisms, speech, and that suggestive backroom people kept coming and going from, Jim would guess that this place wasn't exactly Empire regulation.

Maybe I can use that, "Just relax, Spock. We need to build a repertoire with our host here if we're gonna find our guy." He smiled.

The corner of Spock's mouth twitched ever so slightly -annoyed, Spock?- before he spun on his heel and begun to scrutinize the crowd. Jim smirked at the thought that he could elicit such a response from the Vulcan. A mug hit the counter in front of him, foam sloshing over the rim, and he turned his attention back to the bartender.

"So, barkeep…" Jim began before taking a sip of his beer. He grimaced and then took out a small device, sliding it to the bartender, "Looking for a friend of mine. Ugly mug, ya seen him?"

The device displayed a small holographic image of Waquar he pulled from the PADD. The bartender glanced at it before shoving it back at Jim, "Only ugly mug I seen here is you."

Jim forced a mirthless laugh, "Good one. You sure you haven't seen him? He might be in some trouble with The Emp-uh-...you know who. Thought I'd give him a heads up."

Barkeeps eyes narrowed, "Awfully nice o' ya."

"Well, I'm just a nice guy."

"I ain't seen no one like this."

"Oh, come on. You can trust me, I'm just trying to help out my friend. Now, why don't we-"

"This townie bothering you, Roh?"

Shivers ran up Jim's spine. Was it possible the initial away team was teleported here too, just to another area?

"Nothin' I can't handle." Barkeep answered to the man who seated himself next to Jim. No, not from my universe...This Hendorff didn't look vastly different from his counterpart. This one's hair was slightly longer, yet still short, he had a goatee, and several small scars marred his face. He leaned on the counter and looked at him with a smirk.

Jim gulped, "Hey, Cupcake."

Hendorff nodded to Roh, "Romulan ale." The barkeep slithered off to make the drink. Jim gawked and went to ask, isn't that illegal? But immediately snapped his mouth shut. Different universe, probably different rules.

"Thought you were supposed to be dead," Hendorff commented after Roh set his drink in front of him.

Jim could feel Spock's glare seething behind him, "I'm a hard man to kill. What brings you to a place like this?"

"'Bout to ask you the same." He grabbed the picture of Waquar off the bar and looked at it.

Spock was now on the other side of Hendorff with the Vulcan equivalent of a glare on his face, "What are your intentions here, Officer?"

Hendorff ignored him and lowered his voice, "I remember this guy. The day we docked he assigned as part of my security team."

"The security team from the Excelsior," Spock hissed, "I ask again, what are your intentions here, Officer?"

"I was only on that ship as part of his orders!" Cupcake snapped at the Vulcan, thumb jabbed in Jim's direction. Spock looked over his head to Jim who just shrugged. "I was supposed to operate on the inside and get Jim out. Sulu lost it and took Jim away before I could do anything. I didn't see him again after that, assumed he was dead and decided to lay low on Vesul. Waquar was hovering in that area that day and skittish as hell when I saw him later. Couldn't wait for the ship to leave. I can take you to him."

Spock narrowed his eyes slightly, "Jim did not inform me you were operating as a spy within the Excelsior."

Cupcake chuckled, "Can't expect your boyfriend to tell you everything now, can you?"

Jim turned red and Spock bristled, "Your assumption of our relationship is incorrect."

"Sure, sure. Keep telling yourself that." He turned back to Jim, "No one knew you were still alive for the longest time anyway. How'd you do it?"

Jim forced a smile, "Honestly that, uh...that part is fuzzy. Kind of hoping someone would be able to help clear that up. Waquar seemed like the best person to ask."

"I can take you to him. Just the two of us, he's right in there." Cupcake motioned towards the back door and Spock who grew impossibly stiffer.

"Negative. I shall accompany you."

Hendorff gave him a pitiful smirk, "Given how you've been hunting down the Excelsior staff, word travels fast here, I don't think he'll be too pleased to see you."

Spock stepped around Cupcake and grabbed Jim by the arm, getting him off the chair and walking a few steps away, "Jim, I would advise against this. James mentioned nothing about sending anyone to act as a spy."

"Yeah, but are you sure he would have told you? You even said he and I are different."

Spock's gaze shifted to the floor, "I do not trust Officer Hendorff."

"Aw, didn't know you cared." Jim smiled and Spock only glared. Jim coughed, "Sorry. Look, I'll be careful."

Spock considered this for a moment, "I shall remain close to the door. If you should require my assistance then yell. Vulcan hearing is superior, I should be able to hear you."

"My hero." Jim laughed and clapped him on the shoulder before striding back over to Hendorff, "You and me, Cupcake. Let's go."

Hendorff smiled, chugged the rest of his ale, then stood and led Jim to the back door. He whispered something to the guard and they were ushered through.

The back room lived up to Jim's expectations. It started out as a long hallway with doors on either side, some of which were open. Behind the closed ones the unmistakable crescendo of moans and grunts were enough to surmise what went on. Some of the open doors revealed groups of aliens lazing on couches, chairs, and the floor all in a dazed state. Jim even saw one man selling bright crystals to an alien who proceeded to inhale it. Hendorff led Jim to one of the doors near the back and let him in. The room was small, a couch that wrapped around a corner at the end of the room with a large oval table in front of it. The table was littered with empty alcohol cans, the alien equivalent of cigarette butts, and questionable devices.

"So, where's Waquar?"

Hendorff closed the door, "Here." Jim didn't get the chance to turn around before one hand clasped Jim on his left shoulder and something stabbed him in the neck on the right. Jim gasped and stumbled forward, spinning around. Hendorf stood holding a now empty hypo with a sinister grin on his face. Jim tried to run forward at him but his head decided to spin and his legs turned into jello. He fell onto his hand and knees.

"Wh-...wha...didju...dooo?"

Hendorff stuck a finger into his ear, "You were right, sir. Definitely looks like him and talks like him. I don't get it though. Kirk should be dead." There was a pause, Jim thought he could hear another voice coming from his ear but in his drugged state he wondered if he imagined it. "Yeah, he's here with me." another pause, "That security officer is in room 7B and the Vulcan is in the bar, you can get all three and call the Empire to pick them up." Cupcake shook his head at Jim, "Don't know how you did it, hick, but you won't escape death this time."

Jim's head was fuzzy, "Not...ffff'om yer...stuuupid backasswards universssse….Cuppycake."

Hendorff gave him a look and that probably pissed Jim off the most. He forced his noodly arms to push himself forward right into Cupcakes kneecaps. The large man let out a howl as he fell over. Jim thought he heard another roar before something hit him in the face and sent him rolling over. His flopped on his back but his vision continued to roll. His chest and throat felt heavy suddenly and amidst the swirling colors, Hendorff hovered above him.

"Maybe I won't give Sulu the satisfaction this time." He growled and tightened his hold on Jim's neck. Jim's arms and hands weren't cooperating. His addled brain couldn't seem to communicate right with his limbs. His hands fumbled with the man's clothing, tearing things out of pockets, untucking his shirt but not enough to put up a fight. Jim then remembered his phaser and managed to fumble a hand to his side. Twist! He commanded his hips. Just enough to grab the handle. Got it!

Jamming a finger on the trigger and loosely holding the handle he fired at random, not coherent enough to know where. For a moment he could breathe again. The sounds of things crashing, high pitched screaming, and a beastly roar from somewhere distant fluttered into his ears. Then pain exploded on his face and his neck snapped to the side. His arms flopped to the ground with a thud and he was pretty sure he dropped the phaser. He couldn't breathe again.

Underwater...Jim could hear things but they were muffled, far away. He was getting cold and he couldn't breathe. Had to be water. Or maybe...behind glass. He was gasping for air, dying, lungs and body burning yet getting cold. Again. A hand was on the glass and he struggled to touch it.

-I want you to understand why I went back for you.-

He could breathe again. Jim sputtered and gagged, desperately trying to fill his lungs. He didn't know how much time passed but when he was finally able to look up and Spock filled his vision. He was talking to Jim in a frantic voice and trying to get him up.

I made it back...I'm on the Enterprise. Thank God, Jim thought.

He'd have to talk to Scotty about the ventilation systems not working. Can't be good for his crew. He was pushed up into a sitting position and the sight of red caught his attention. Not just red like the red shirts, but a lot of red on the floor too. It was Hendorff. Only there was a hole in his chest and covered in red. So much red.

-It's a shame about Hendorff. -

Jim shook his head, "Missta Scooot?" He was being dragged out of the room. Spock was still talking but Jim didn't understand. The floor and walls were moving and Jim couldn't keep still. His vision kept fading in and out of darkness.

"Wak...wok…..waa…." his tongue was thick and heavy in his mouth, "Waaaquah….7B...room 7 bh-Spo…" Jim was vaguely aware of stopping and sitting for a moment. How long he had no idea. He was sleepy and wanted to take a nap. It was as if he were gently rocking on the waves of a sea. Jim giggled, I'm Captain of the sea. There was an audible gasp and he was being moved again with haste but he didn't care. He was drifting on the waves.