Their seats weren't the best, but it was all they could get in such short notice as two hooded, nameless men. Lacing his fingers with Vince's, Kirk looked around for a moment before turning fully to his companion. No one paid them mind and he was feeling a little foolish.

Grinning, he leaned forward and pecked the commodore on the lips. The thrill of doing so incognito was making him feel at least ten years younger.

"Two more hours and we'll be together, Vince, can you believe it? After all these years?" Kirk whispered, watching as the other brought his hand to his lips. The younger man shivered and he wasn't sure for a moment whether or not it was out of revulsion or delight. In the end, after a split-second's pain, he was convinced it was the latter. Yes, yes, it had to be the latter if it didn't hurt anymore.

It was absurdly easy breaking out of the Enterprise and if Kirk really cared anymore about the ship, he would be concerned. However, he wasn't as Vince had suddenly become the center of his world. He didn't dwell on it. Dwelling on it just meant pain and sadness, which he shouldn't feel being with the one he had always wanted and needed.

--

The Phylians were a peaceful, telepathic race of tripeds that resembled scaly lizards with two centered, glowing eyes and two arms. Humans found their appearances unsettling and their hissing dialect of standard even more distressing. Yet, the Phylians were discreet and many came to their violet planet simply for its calm, cloudy weather and seclusion from the rest of the world.

The Enterprise had been on planet to discuss a renewal of a trade agreement just last week and the natives were extremely fond of Spock, as they had been inducted into the Federation through Ambassador Sarek decades ago. Thus, when the first officer of the Enterprise requested to use their docking facilities to capture two refugees, they were more than willing to cooperate. No questions asked.

Hiding behind several scattered pillars, the security waited patiently for Spock's signal as he remained seated and heavily cloaked upon the greeting bench. McCoy was nowhere to be seen. The Enterprise had warped out of orbit almost immediately after beaming the landing party down, being given instructions to rendezvous in seven hours. If anyone thought that was too long, no one voiced their concern within hearing range of the acting captain.

The landing party's wait wasn't long. The first liner arrived ahead of schedule by fifteen minutes. As the passengers got off, a few spared the slumped form of the black-cloaked Spock a glance or two, but no one wished to approach him. After all, on Phylius Ter'o'na, discretion was very important.

The stream of people started to dwindle and Spock didn't raise his head once, not even when he heard the familiar care-free laughter of the one he'd been waiting for. The laugh made his heart clench and he saw green from behind his eyes, but he held such an illogical reaction in check. Once he heard the pair pass him by a meter, he rose and suddenly a group of red-clad security officers had their phasers aimed at the couple.