Title: Vacation
author: Cindy Ryan

They say your life flashes before your eyes when you think you're going to die. Nyota had been fortunate not to experience that full affect until now. Uhura found that adage to be true. Though in her case what she saw was her life aboard the Enterprise; her years with Spock. Her mind and heart must have thought they were the most important memories. Her soul agreed.

It'd seemed like she'd been struggling with the sea creature for hours. In reality Nyota knew it'd been less than half an hour. With the sand and dirt being disturbed by her fight Nyota couldn't tell what color the creature was. She'd caught a glimpse of it as she'd managed to free herself the first time. It was a cross between an Earth stingray and a small octopus. Uhura was mad at herself for not checking into the native sealife before she took a swim. Something she wasn't going to live down if she lived through this.

Nyota's lungs burned and screamed for air. Dark spots began to form in her vision. She had found a piece of coral to use as a weapon. The tide was strong and made Nyota's movements clumsy and unaffective. As Uhura continued to attack the tentacles that held her legs all she could think about was never seeing Spock again. Those precious moments when they were alone and he allowed his human side to show just a bit. To let her know how much he loved her. Uhura wanted to be in his arms again; some way, some how she was going to survive this.

Bones was surprised at how strong the ocean's tide was. Made him regret momentarily skipping those last few workout sessions. Just as he was about to surface for air Leonard spotted Nyota. She was fighting a creature that looked like a cross between a stingray and a small octopus. Three of it's tentacles were wrapped around Uhura's ankles. He put on a burst of speed wishing he had some kind of weapon. Uhura was using what looked like a piece of coral. Bones could tell by his friend's sloppy movements that she was running out of time fast.

On most living things the eyes are the vulnerable spot. Especially if you had more than one. McCoy swam closer and found a jagged piece of rock a few feet from the creature. He pulled it out of the ground and rammed it through the alien's eyes. Purplish liquid gushed everywhere mixing with the water. The octopusray thrashed instinctively letting go of Uhura. No longer under her own power Uhura floated upwards her arms and legs slack.

Damn it!Leonard swore as he watched his friend for a brief worried moment. He drove the stone farther into the octupusray's skull. The creature rolled as it died and Bones let go of the rock moving upwards towards Nyota. He grabbed her and pushed them both to the surface. Uhura gasped for air more on on reflex than anything. Her eyes were still closed and Bones didn't like the weakness of her pulse.

"Don't you die on me, Nyota."Bones ordered as he maneuvered them to the beach.

Once he was able to stand in the water Leonard picked Uhura up and ran. He snatched his communicator from the chair he'd been sitting in and activated it.

"McCoy to Enterprise two for emergency medical transport; direct to sickbay!"

"Yes,Sir."The male transporter tech acknowledged.

Just as the beam engulfed Bones he heard Jim's concerned voice over the com.

"Bones, what's going on?"