McCoy had no reference for how much time had passed when awareness came back to him. Could have been five seconds, five hours or five years for all he could tell. He performed the incredible task of holding his temper when he found C'ves still studying him like he was an interesting exhibit.
"We have pondered long, but have found no answer to the puzzle you put before us."
Despite trying to behave himself, McCoy couldn't stop a scowl from forming.
"I didn't put a puzzle in front of you. I stated a fact."
C'ves leaned forward in his chair.
"Then explain to us this so-called fact."
"One moment."
McCoy turned around, looking for Spock. As expected, Spock had his PADD at his side. Moving over to the Vulcan, McCoy carefully removed the PADD.
"Sorry, Spock - I really need to borrow this."
He could almost hear Spock telling him to stop being so illogical as to speak to someone in a state of suspended animation, then sighed softly. He'd give a lot right now if it meant Spock actually could fuss at him again. As expected, Spock had the equivalent of a science library downloaded into the device.
Finding what he was after quickly, McCoy moved back to where C'ves still waited.
"Where I come from, we have a small animal we call a butterfly."
C'ves was shown an image of a monarch butterfly.
"It is a delicate looking creature, but I do not see what it has to do with the topic at hand."
"You will. You see, butterflies are remarkable for the stages that they go through. They start as an egg, then hatch into a caterpillar."
Showing C'ves the picture of the caterpillar, McCoy waited for the inevitable comment.
"That cannot be a young butterfly. It looks nothing like it. It does not even possess wings."
"Hang on. There's a time-elapsed recording here."
Playing the transformation of caterpillar to chrysalis form and then the struggle to break free at the end before it emerged as a butterfly. McCoy began speaking as soon as the recording reached that point.
"There's a story I was told by one of my teachers about someone watching the butterfly fighting to break out of the shell surrounding it. They decided they would make things easier for the butterfly and weakened the shell in a couple of spots so it could break out easier."
C'ves nodded his agreement.
"That seems far kinder than to continue to watch the animal struggle."
"Yeah, that's what he thought too. But he was wrong. It's during that struggle to break out that the butterfly strengthens its wings enough so that it will be able to fly. Taking that away meant that butterfly would never become what it could have been. Never be able to fly on its own."
The frown didn't have to be seen. It could be heard in his tone as C'ves spoke.
"You believe what we would do for your planet would cause similar harm to your kind?"
McCoy was more than a little frustrated as he ran a hand through his hair.
"Listen - you want to debate with me, I'm willing. First though? How about letting these folks return to our ship? As a sign that you do actually want to help rather than destroy us."
"Why should we?"
"Why shouldn't you? If you think I'm wrong after our discussion, then you should be certain that the Captain will see your scheme as reasonable."
"And if they decide to leave without you?"
There was no hesitation in McCoy's firm response.
"They won't."
The silence that followed was a long one, but finally C'ves nodded.
"Very well then. As a gesture of our good intentions to your people, we will return the others."
It wasn't easy, but McCoy managed to keep the expression of relief off of his face.
The amount of time that had passed since McCoy had beamed down was weighing heavily on Scott's mind. The tension showed when he nearly jumped out of the Captain's chair at the announcement of an incoming message.
"Put it up on the screen, Ensign Ruebe."
"Aye, Captain."
Scott bit back the desire to tell the ensign not to call him that and instead focused on the screen. A minute later and he got his first look at C'ves.
"You are Acting Captain Montgomery Scott?"
Sitting a little straighter in the chair, Scott nodded.
"Aye. That I am."
"Very good. As your crew has doubtless informed you, we are C'ves. We request that you disengage the shielding device on your vessel for a short period of time."
Scott's immediate reaction was to not only say no, but hell no. Even as he opened his mouth to reply, a familiar voice came across the speakers.
"Let me speak to him."
C'ves simply nodded and shifted the focus of the transmission to McCoy, who stepped forward.
"It's alright, Scotty. Do it."
After taking a moment to study how McCoy was holding himself, Scott sighed. He didn't care for it, but he trusted the doctor.
"Very well then. The shield will be lowered in five minutes."
C'ves ended the transmission without further response, leaving Scott sitting back with all of the ensigns looking straight at him. Finally, Ensign Malachi broke the silence with a nervous question.
"Are you actually going to lower the shield, sir?"
Scott answered the question with a question.
"You trust Doctor McCoy, lad?"
"Yes, sir."
"Well so do I."
That said, Scott turned on the intercom.
"Bridge to Engineer. Let me speak to Chekov."
"Chekov here, Captain Scott."
"I need you to deactivate that device you rigged up to block C'ves, but I need you standing by to fire it back up again at my order."
After a hesitation, Chekov's voice came back over the system.
"When does it need to go down, sir?"
"Two minutes. Let me know when it's done. Scott out."
The next two minutes seemed to be the longest Scott had ever known, but he didn't need Chekov's call to tell him when the shield went down. With a suddenness that made everyone on the Bridge jump, the missing crewmembers started appearing around them.
Only one thing kept Scott from jumping out of the chair himself was the sudden weight holding him down. It took a moment for it to sink in that Kirk had reappeared looking confused at finding himself sitting on Scott's lap instead of on his chair.
For his part, Scott stammered a bit and blushed before he was finally able to speak.
"This is a wee bit awkward."
From the haste with which he removed himself from Scott's lap, Kirk obviously agreed.