It couldn't be true.

No.

It wasn't true.

If what McCoy was showing him was accurate, then that meant that everything Jim had been told since birth about his heritage was a lie. But even so, that didn't change the fact that Nero was his father—the Romulan had still raised him as his child, but… if Nero would lie to him about his heritage, didn't that mean that there wasn't any evidence to say he wouldn't lie about more? What else could he have been lied to about? And Ayel…

Ayel.

No. Ayel would never lie to him. Ayel trusted him as Jim trusted him in turn. His uncle would never do that to him. Never. It wasn't true! It was obvious now Nero had been right all along. Federation Humans couldn't be trusted. And after all, Bones had brought his pill bottle to him, back in the holding cell, which means McCoy had known. He knew and said nothing, and instead of helping his dear friend, he'd turned against him for the sake of the Federation. This was the real lie. Bones was a liar. And Jim had almost fallen for the trap. He was a fool to think he could be the companion of a Terran. Treachery. Lies. All of it.

"Jim?" Bones asked, placing a soft hand on Jim's shoulder; Jim snapped back, throwing the doctor's hand off of him. Tears stung their way to the surface, but Jim refused to let them fall. He would not give McCoy the satisfaction of watching him crumble. "I know this is a lot to take in, but you're my friend; I care about you."

"Liar!" Jim shouted.

McCoy recoiled. "I care about you." He said again. "And I want to help you. We'll get through this—together."

"You're a liar!" Jim spat. "A fucking liar! Uncle would never lie to me!" Bones' features turned to ones of fright, making him back up from Jim's fierce yelling. "It's you who is the liar!" Jim drastically pointed, "You're Federation scum! You're just like them! Trying to confuse me!" Jim fell to the floor, his head hurting too much from all the lies. How could he have not seen it sooner? He trusted Bones! He had trusted him! Jim grasped his head, feeling something like a string had snapped within his skull. "My father loves me! I'm his good son! He loves me! He will love me!"

"Jim…" His voice sounded distant, distraught. When Jim brought his eyes up, the doctor looked terrified of him, like he was seeing a horrible creature being mangled. And if the truth be told, that's how Jim felt. He felt he was on display for the Federation's enjoyment. Well, no more.

Jim stood, angry, but steady. No one could be trusted. As such, staying undercover was no longer a requirement. He'd prove he was Romulan. He would prove he was the son of Nero, a hero. He would earn his father's love.

Jim brushed past McCoy, heading straight for the exit. McCoy, bewildered, quickly went after him. "Where are you going?" He shouted to his friend, trying to catch up. Jim didn't stop, keeping his footing for the turbolift. "Jim! You're unstable! You're emotionally compromised! You need to stay in Sickbay! We'll figure this out together!" Jim ignored him, sprinting for the turbolift, and leaving McCoy behind in the dust.

"Jim! Stop! What the hell do you think you're doing!" The turbolift doors opened quickly and Jim threw himself inside, turning to see McCoy was coming after him. Jim smiled, knowing the Federation fucker wouldn't make it in time.

"Something I should have done a long time ago." His voice was barely audible, the look of pure fear in the doctor's eyes was enough to tell him he had heard it.

The turbolift doors shut just as McCoy caught up.

Acting Captain, Mr. Spock, sat in the command chair looking over the data. They were still a safe distance from the black hole, but hadn't left the Vulcan system yet. He knew it to be illogical, but Spock couldn't shake the feeling he felt before—like Jim Kirk was the missing piece of some huge cosmic puzzle.

He'd already called off his order to Mr. Sulu, the ship sitting like a stalemate. Now, he was considering his options. Though Mr. Kirk was a criminal, a fiend, and irrational, the Human had saved them from a battle with the criminal Nero. After that, Captain Pike had given his complete trust to the hacker, making Spock wonder if he had done the logical choice by disregarding Mr. Kirk's idea to run after the enemy ship.

It was illogical, crazy, and based on no facts. But, wasn't that the allure of the Human species? They had spoken profoundly to one another through the computer prompts, found so many things in common. Spock admitted it to himself, he was intrigued greatly by Kobayashi—but now Kobayashi had a face and a name: Jim Kirk. Why did he feel so drawn to him like a moth to a flame? Even after he lost his mother, it was Kirk who reminded him to stay strong. And now, here Spock was, not considering the advice from his Acting First Officer. Chris would be ashamed of him.

Somehow the pieces in his mind fell together as one. In that moment, Spock internally sighed and knew what he had to do. He would go to Mr. Kirk, apologize, and discuss the Acting First Officer's ideas on how they should approach and intercept the Narada. He only hoped it wasn't too late to make amends.

Spock stood up from the command chair the same moment the turbolift doors opened. He turned on his heels and saw it was the very person of his thoughts entering on the Bridge. Spock felt his heart flutter in anticipation that Mr. Kirk was coming to him, but his internal gratitude fell short when he gauged the look on the Human's face. Something was terribly wrong.

Jim Kirk stomped towards him, his greeting a hard fist slamming down towards his head. Mr. Spock used his reflexes, throwing his forearm up just in time to catch the hard hit. Jim recovered, and a fight ensued with a very, very baffled Vulcan Captain.

Another swing came towards his face, Mr. Kirk showing rage, but Spock avoided the collision and stepped back from the one-sided battle. He spun and twisted Mr. Kirk's next swinging arm, throwing the Human against his chest tightly, holding his arms delicately in each palm. Through his telepathic ability, Spock could feel confusion, anger, and a mix of sensations pouring from Jim Kirk. "Mr. Kirk, I will remind you that assaulting the Captain is a dischargeable offense." Jim didn't respond with words, but a loud grunt, then an unforgiving elbow to Spock's ribcage. The Vulcan recoiled, falling back and releasing Kirk.

Without warning, another fist aimed for his face, Spock catching it in his hand and staving off the power of the blow. The Bridge was moving around them, trying to get out of the way as the two fought. Some were gasping, others alerting security, and bewildered faces looking on to the scene.

Kirk threw his body weight on the Vulcan, making them fall back and collide with the science station. Mr. Kirk had him pinned, throwing fists at the Vulcan's face, but Spock kept craning his neck every which way to avoid them, succeeding marginally.

Using his strength, Spock turned the tables, flipping them over roughly until it was Jim Kirk's back plastered against the station, Spock straddling his hips to hold him down. "What is the nature of your dispute?"

"Fuck you!" Jim screamed, struggling in his grip.

"Is this how you have decided to handle my command authority?"

"No!" Jim bellowed, "This is how I decided to handle my revenge!" Kirk thrust forward, knocking the Vulcan off of him, the two falling to the floor and rolling under the other's relentless grips. After a few rolls, Spock retained control and pinned Kirk to the floor with his hands above his head. Small bruises were forming on the Human's body from their fall and minor rough-housing.

"Revenge," Spock began into the angry face, "would suggest I have done something previously to bestow hostility. I can not recall a time where I may have enraged you to account for your behaviour."

"That's because," Jim grunted, twisting then finally breaking free. He flipped them over harshly, now Spock was pinned to the floor. Jim brought his face close to Spock's, breathing right over his right pointed ear, "you haven't done it yet—and I won't let you do it again, Spock. I won't let you kill her."

Fast hands released Spock's, and both fists came together to come down and strike the Vulcan's skull. Quickly, Spock deflected it by crossing his forearms over his face at just the right moment. Then using Kirk's own body weight, he threw Jim off of him, sending the Human colliding backward towards the command chair and falling into its seat.

With cat-like agility, while Jim was recovering from the harsh throw, Spock straddled him in the chair, pinning his legs together with his thighs and holding Jim's arms torturously on the armrests. Jim looked up at him with what only could be described and pure hatred. The emotional sensations he felt vibrate up his arms from the Human's restrained hands were enough to alert him this was real. Jim Kirk's hatred was a real thing.

Mr. Kirk fought for release. His face contorting in disgust and a sense of weaker strength. It was at this moment Spock saw it, a tiny Romulan symbol hanging down from Jim Kirk's neck. As much as he wanted to say it was, this couldn't be a coincidence. "You are one of them." Spock stated in a soft breath. Jim stopped moving only to smile and laugh angrily.

"Finally figured it out, eh Spock?" Jim spat. "Want to know why I singled you out? Why I hacked into the computer systems? Why I bothered to talk with you?" Spock stared into his harsh, deep blue eyes like the pit of fiery flames meeting their hottest point. "It's not because I liked you. I did it because I wanted to find your weak points. Single you out and murder you. You are my enemy. Have been since the day I was born. I am James T. Kirk, son of Nero of Romulus. I've been sent from the future to destroy you before you have a chance to destroy my planet, my home, my people, my mother." Jim inched his face forward so he was deadly close to the Vulcan's lips, but his body was still forced back in the chair. "How did it feel, Spock? Watching your mother die? Your planet slowly implode into a black hole of my people's revenge?" Spock felt his heart stop, and his grip tightened subconsciously on Kirk's wrists. Jim looked down at them, smiling at the squeezing and red/white splotches that were forming on his hands. "Yes, you feel it now, don't you? The pain of loss and suffering. Now you know how I've felt for twenty-five years. You now share my pain—you and every surviving Vulcan."

Spock's mind was so clouded from the realization as he put two and two together, that he didn't have time to react when Jim Kirk pushed him to the floor, crawling over his form like a pleased lion. Spock sat up on his elbows, looking into the face of his mother's murderer. His eyes, he knew, were wide, and his heart sank from his side to his thighs.

"But don't worry, Spock," Mr. Kirk purred, using one of his hand to caress the Vulcan's cheek like a betrothed. "I am a man of honour, a Romulan of true civility and I understand your loss. I know your pain. Allow me to end your suffering." Jim inched closer, brushing his breath over the Vulcan's forehead and bringing their lips close enough to suck each other's air. "I will bring you peace." He whispered delicately, Spock unaware that the Human was pulling up a fallen stylus and gripping it like a deadly knife. All the Vulcan could focus on were the eyes glaring into him, as if he were Medusa and turning him to stone. His voice felt caught, and his muscles didn't react. Caught in the snake's deadly glare.

Jim seductively pronounced each syllable. "Say hello to your mother for me." Then Spock saw it, Kirk's hand rising with the stylus and readying it to thrust into his body. Time stood still, and the stylus was thrown forward, aiming straight for his side where his heart pounded like a tight drum.

Time stopped.

Someone shouted, someone screamed, but the voice wasn't his own. Spock blinked to reality and saw the hand with the stylus was being held back by another gripping hand. Following it, the hand led to none other than Dr. McCoy. His face was drawn deep with anger and pity.

"Bones!" Jim seethed, trying to twist his hand from the grip, but McCoy didn't release him. Instead he used all his might and pulled Jim Kirk up from the floor, off of Spock, and threw him unabashedly towards the wall where McCoy tackled him, using his body to hold Kirk captive, one arm to put pressure across Kirk's throat while the other twisted and clawed the wrist of the hand still holding the stylus. After much struggling, cursing, and biting grunts, Kirk let go of the stylus and it fell to the floor. Both men were heaving, and Spock could only watch as Mr. Sulu and Mr. Chekov helped him from the floor.

"Romulan or Human," McCoy hesitated, "Jim Kirk is still my best friend. Whether belonging to a slave trading ring or raised on a ship of Romulans; Jim Kirk is still my best friend." He barely whispered. "Living a lie or accepting the truth… Jim," he said pleadingly into the Human's eyes, "you're my best friend. I love you, man. I would do anything for you. So please," he begged, the first sounds of a choking sob leaving his mouth, "please," he begged again, "let me help you. See the truth, Jim. I only want to help you."

Mr. Kirk didn't reply, but ceased his struggling, falling limp in McCoy's grip. The entire Bridge looked on, Spock literally feeling the emotions sweeping from the doctor even at their great distance. So much pain. Seconds felt like minutes before anything further was said.

"It's too late for me," Kirk uttered lowly, "I've already blown my cover and my father is not returning to get me. I'm a failure. Father will never love me now."

"Jim," Bones pleaded, releasing him from the wall and letting the man stand on his own. Jim's eyes dragged to the floor, heavy and silent. Then slowly, his eyes picked up, dropped down, and before McCoy could get another grasp on him, Kirk fell down and rolled across the floor, picking up the stylus in his hands once more and brutally thrusting the object into McCoy's back. The doctor wailed, falling against the wall in shock, awe, and the entire Bridge lit once again in panic.

"Wh—why?" McCoy choked as he tried to hold back the pain of his attack. Jim Kirk smiled down at the doctor, petting his head.

"I liked you, Bones. It's too bad you didn't decide to join me. We could have used a guy like you on our side." He laughed, kicking the doctor once. "But you're such a weak Human!" He laughed, turning his eyes to Spock who had readied himself for another fight. "And you'd only get in my way." His words were deadly, betraying. "And now, Spock. Let's finish this. Both of our planets are destroyed, both our mothers killed by the other. Oh, this is wonderfully even now!" He laughed again, his eerie banter sinking in Spock's mind like poison. "You and me, Spock." He punctuated with a point to the Vulcan and then to himself. "Let's go."

There was no turning back, Mr. Kirk's intentions now clear. One had already been hurt by this fight, and Spock didn't want to cause harm to more. He was about to agree when he saw a large security team burst through the turbolift doors. Someone had called them. Just as they went for Kirk, Spock stalled them. "No!" He ordered. "Do not touch Mr. Kirk." The officers around him stopped in wonder. "He is my enemy and I will deal with him."

Jim smiled. "You are a man of honour. It's a pity you have to die."

"We shall see." Spock responded and a circle formed around them of spectators as both men readied themselves for another brawl. They walked around each other, sizing the other up.

"So you admit that you are Romulan." Spock stated as they circled again. "And you say that you are from the future, where a future me has destroyed your planet and killed your mother."

Jim nodded. "This is sad, but true."

"And you seek revenge upon me, the younger version of your foe, to save a future existence of your person?"

Jim chuckled. "Bingo."

Spock continued. "If that was truly your intentions, then why did you not kill me when you had the chance? You've been enrolled for three years at the Academy. Surely, a person of your advanced knowledge could have located me sooner and fulfilled your duties."

Jim shook his head. "I like to have fun. Leading you on into a sense of security was my first step. Killing you would have been on the, oh, maybe the second date."

"So you planned your downfall as Kobayashi Alternative, planned your escape, and your boarding of this ship to take command for Romulus? Where did my death fit into these obscure plans?" Jim laughed and stopped moving, facing his enemy head-on.

"You know, you're a lot funnier when you're pissed off and scared. And you should be. I'm a pretty terrifying guy."

Spock raised a single brow. "You are hardly frightening, Mr. Kirk. If anything, this battle is out of pity for twenty-five years of misguided hatred. Tell me, should your anger really be directed towards my person when your father, Nero, could have helped you? He could have requested you to come aboard with Captain Pike and you would be home again, leaving a ship your father could destroy to his liking."

"That's a good one, Spock, but you don't know my father."

Spock held himself back, studying his enemy. "And neither do you, apparently." That made the Human's features darken. "Your father was more than capable twenty-five years ago to destroy me. If he knows so much about this time, he could have destroyed Vulcan then using the same weapon he used on Vulcan today. Your father is the coward. Your father is the one that lacks honour. He must find you most displeasing if he would send you into Federation space without the proper knowledge of your enemy."

He saw it, Jim gulped. "It must be difficult living a life where your father doesn't respect you. You said you wished to earn your father's love. Killing me is the only option for this? It sounds logical that your father is using you—using you to do what he was too cowardly to do. Murder me." Kirk's eyes turned into dark shadows. He thought if it was possible, the man would be growling right now.

"That is it, is it not? Nero is a coward." Spock stated, hoping to ruffle the Human's already angered behaviour.

"You will hold your tongue." Jim bit.

"Nero was too much a coward to kill me himself. So he sent you, after all, his own son would logically be expendable compared to his own flesh."

"Shut up, Vulcan."

"And why lose his command when he can save himself and murder his enemy from afar? That, logically, fits the definition of a coward to me." That had done it; Kirk launched himself forward, Spock just barely evading his swinging body. The Vulcan turned, anticipating another throw and ducked below a harsh kick, getting under Kirk's legs and tossing him to the floor.

Kirk rolled away, getting back up with angry eyes aligning with his. He lurched forward, tackling Spock and both hitting the floor once more. They rolled, officers trying to move out of their way. Finally, Spock gasped when his back hit the floor cruelly, Jim Kirk once again pinning him down. "You're all liars!" Jim shouted. "You don't speak the truth!"

Spock stared up at him, their eyes locking and breaths matching in their exhales. "Are you certain, Mr. Kirk? Does your anger not reveal some doubt?" Kirk's blue stare faltered, widening as if Spock had punched him in the gut. He hesitated, and that was opening enough for Spock.

Suddenly, two arms wrapped around Kirk from behind, holding the struggling enemy in place while Spock removed himself from under Mr. Kirk and stood. Jim fought, shouted, and turned to see the one who had grasped him was McCoy. He was still bleeding, but held his friend tightly. Jim bellowed, howling, trying to shake the injured man off of him. But it was for naught.

Spock approached, looking into the doctor's eyes that begged him silently to end this. And he complied. The Vulcan leaned down, grasping Jim's nape in his hand and ended the pitiful fight using the Vulcan Nerve Pinch. Jim went still, and fell to the floor.

No one said anything. The Bridge in silence.

"Get him off my ship." Spock ordered.

"Thank you Nurse Chapel," McCoy said begrudgingly when she finished with the dermal regenerator over his back wound. She was silent, but understood he wished to be alone. She left, excusing herself and leaving a sedative hypo by his medbay bed in case he was in more pain. McCoy looked at the hypo, staring at it as if it held all the answers in the world.

By now, Jim had been deployed in an escape pod to Delta Vega, a planet in the Vulcan system. It seemed, ironically, Bones got his wish. Jim was safe, safe on an ice ball where he would remain until all the Nero bullshit subsided.

Jim…

Though his back was in horrible pain, it didn't compare to the pain he had felt in his heart the moment he had to restrain his dear friend. Nothing would ever compare to that moment. His friend had been so upset, so sure, and had been reduced to an emotional mass of confusion. All Bones could do was pity the man for his ignorance and hate Nero under the surface for lying to the poor kid his whole life.

The Sickbay doors opened quickly, Bones hardly taking notice until he saw a figure in front of him. He looked up and saw Spock, standing rigidly before him. McCoy glanced away.

"I don't know if you've been told, Captain, but the CMO's been injured. If you're sick or in pain, call Nurse Chapel." Silence.

"I did not come here to seek medical assistance."

"Then why the hell are you in Sickbay?" Bones drawled, diverting from the real reason he assumed. Spock didn't give a reply right away, instead straightening his back and taking a step back as if he offended him.

"I came here to acknowledge your difficulties. I understand that Jim Kirk was a close friend to you."

McCoy rolled his eyes. "Are you thanking me?"

"I am merely taking note of your troubles and to see how your wound is healing." Here, the Vulcan walked around him and studied the wound. There was scar tissue, he knew, and he'd wear it forever, but McCoy didn't take offense to it quite as much as Spock was implying. "I am… apologetic that he betrayed you in order to attack me."

McCoy scooted over, patting the bed beside him and inviting the Vulcan to sit. Spock stared at it, unsure what to do. McCoy gave a huff and pat the bed again, this time Spock acknowledging it and, slowly, taking the offered seat. When he was settled, McCoy began.

"He didn't betray me." The announcement made the Vulcan look up.

"How can you say that when he, literally, stabbed you in the back?"

McCoy smirked, looking out into the Sickbay unit. "Because, it's just like I said. Jim didn't betray me. If he had, I wouldn't be sitting here right now." The Vulcan was neutral, but somehow Bones knew he still didn't quite get what he meant. "If Jim had really wanted to betray me, he would have killed me. He had the chance, the opportunity, but the stylus went straight through." McCoy mocked it by using his hands as examples. "He missed all my organs, didn't scratch my vertebrae—it was a clean shot. Accidents like that don't happen naturally, which means Jim had meant to miss everything. He didn't want to kill me, he just wanted me out of the way temporarily."

Spock nodded in thought. "You are suggesting what you told him may have gotten through to him?"

McCoy shook his head. "No. I'm saying that the moment I told Jim his pills were shit and not some medical miracle DNA cover-up, I'd planted the seed out doubt. I made him realize that perhaps what he'd been told all his life wasn't true. That maybe he's been pitching for the wrong team." McCoy said.

Spock studied him curiously. "You referred to pills. Mr. Kirk has been on medications?"

"No, you don't understand. You see, a year ago I found some odd pills he'd been taking, figuring he was a druggie or something, but—you know—I trusted him, so I threw that idea out. But then, when he told me he was Romulan, had been raised by Romulans as a spy and was only faking to be related to the Kirks, that's when I sampled the pills and found out they were Human necessary amino-acids. Proving Jim had been raised by anyone but Humans, but also that someone hadn't been telling Jim the truth."

Spock nodded again. "I see, so you are suggesting that Mr. Kirk has not accepted that he has possibly been a pawn in Nero's plans since birth?"

"Yeah," McCoy agreed, "that's why I think your words really hit home with him. I think he's beginning to doubt his life, his father, his everything. And something also tells me he's been abused, possibly by Nero since all he seems to want is the guy's love."

Both went silent, the room crowding in on them. McCoy felt the worst of it. "I…" Spock began unsteady, "I believe I can relate." McCoy glanced up, not knowing what the Vulcan was talking about, but the neutrality cracked just enough to let something small and Human peek through. "I think I am beginning to understand him." Spock then said into the silence. "If your theories are accurate, I regret that Mr. Kirk's ignorance will be his downfall. Logically, he would not trust us against the words of those he has considered family since his birth."

McCoy grimly nodded. "That's why I let you shoot him off the ship. Originally, I was gonna suggest we detain him in the brig, but, I don't think that will help change his mind about us." He looked off into Sickbay, looking at nothing in particular. "Whatever answers Jim needs, I don't think he'll find them here. I think he needs to find them on his own." Bones shook his head. "I only pray he'll find them."

More silence.

McCoy sighed, getting off the bed and holding out a hand to the Vulcan. "Do you mind?" He asked. Spock shook his head and took the offered hand, showing slight surprise through his eyes when the doctor pulled him into a small embrace.

"Dr. McCoy—I—"

"Do Vulcans mourn?" He asked into his neck.

"No—we are without emotion—"

"Yeah? Well, Humans do. Let me cry, Captain. I've been holding them back for too long… and I have… no one else." And McCoy started slow, increasing until he was in a sob on the Vulcan's chest. Spock didn't know how to react, feeling the various emotions spill over the doctor's surface, but he allowed it. He even went as far as to place his hands about the doctor and let him cry. Little did McCoy know that Spock was using him as a proxy, to not only cry for the loss of a dear friend, but the loss of Vulcan, Spock's people, and Spock's mother.

Together they cried, with only Bones showing his true tears.

The first thing that hit Jim was how cold he was. The next was his field of vision, slowly blurring to focus. He felt confined, closed, and uncomfortable. He lolled his head over to the side, observing he was inside an escape pod of the Enterprise.

Fucking brilliant.

"Computer," Jim began in a hoarse voice, "Where am I?" He asked when he saw out the window that he was in a completely white area, possibly a hole of some sort.

"Apologies, Mr. Kirk," said the female computer voice, "but all voice-command abilities have been voided."

"What? By who?"

"Acting Captain Spock."

Jim rolled his eyes. "Of course."

"Your orders are to remain in the escape pod until Starfleet authorities come for you."

"Yeah? Well, I got a better idea: shove it up your diodes." Jim practically snarled as he pushed open the pod's front, allowing in a terribly freezing air. A small bag was behind his seat, a survival kit, so Jim took it with him as he exited the craft.

His impact crater wasn't large, but it was deep within all the white around him. If his memory served correctly, this white stuff was frozen water: snow. Jim had always wanted to see snow, but not like this. Now he'd always relate snow to horrible things. Pity since the frozen crystals were so beautiful.

His breath came out as puffs of white in the frost. It was so cold. Hefting the survival kit over his shoulder, Jim approached the frozen impact wall, gazing up to see he was in for a small climb. His fingers already felt numb, but not as numb as his mind. As he took to the wall to start a climb out of the crater, all he could remember was his fight with that bastard Vulcan. It was safe to assume the fucker was still alive, but then, Jim had to wonder what the hell the guy had done to him and how he got in the snow.

The last thing he remembered was Spock's hand reaching for his neck, then blackness. What had happened? One thing was for certain, whatever he had done, it put so much pain in Jim's shoulder. When he found a way out of here, he would be sure to make certain their next confrontation kept the Vulcan's hands at bay.

That was, if he found a way out.

Jim crawled out onto the snowy surface, snow blowing around him like annoying flecks of paper. He stood, turned, and looked around himself. The snow went for miles, the sky above him as white as the snow. He could see nothing.

"That bastard put me in the middle of fucking nowhere…" There were no land marks, hardly any mountains that could be distinguished from the rest of the damn scenery, and nothing to tell him where he was. Pissed, he looked up into the sky once more and saw a distant planet dancing in the distance. He recognized it immediately and now knew where he was.

"He marooned me on Delta Vega." Jim half-laughed to himself. "That son of a bitch marooned me on a fucking ice ball. Great!" Jim shouted. "Your fucking coward!" He shouted to particularly no one, the sound of the blizzard silencing his echo. "You should have just killed me!"

Jim dropped to his knees and began sifting through the survival kit, thankful to find a large, warm coat. He pulled it on one sleeve at a time, cursing to the Vulcan he knew couldn't hear him. "You made a mistake, Spock!" He called, buttoning himself up. "Since I'm alive, it only leaves time for me to hunt you down and continue my mission!" Once finished, he turned and looked up to the sky. "Ya hear me? You should have killed me! Death would have been better than freezing my ass off! In fact, I'd have prefer it!"

As if on cue, and some cosmic deity hadn't thought he'd suffered enough, the ground beneath Jim's cold boots began to rumble. Jim paused, looking around for the source, but finding none. It stopped, not bringing Jim much comfort. With a wary eye, he looked around again, the rumbling starting up again and becoming hard like quakes.

A loud cracking and shrill exploded behind him. Jim hastily turned and saw the surface had broken, and from it was crawling out a large, red, creature—at least thirty feet tall! A face like an octopus—full of teeth, tentacles, and eyes. And the body—blood red and shaped like a reptile. The creature, a native to Delta Vega, stomped its large feet in Jim's frozen direction, then opened its tentacle mouth and roared, showing all its deadly sharp fangs.

Jim was frozen stiff. "I changed my mind, Spock," he said low to himself, slowly backing up from the snarling creature, "I prefer life!" He quickly turned in the opposite direction, running away from the giant creature that was now on his tail. The snow pounded beneath him, the creature roaring and growling behind. He felt the ground shake with every stomp the creature made.

Jim only looked over his shoulder once and saw the beast gaining on him. He tried to run faster, his legs aching with every step. He ran and ran, his breath running out quickly, but could feel the creature's shadow coming over him! Jim turned to look back again, just in time to see the creature lunge forward to snap at him—but Jim dived forward into the snow, the creature missing him and planting its head harshly into the snow surface. The weight of the creature had been so strong, it broke the snowy surface, showing that Jim had been running over some kind of frozen lake, but that wasn't what took the breath from his lungs. The surface cracked like a huge see-saw, the creature pushing the ice down, and Jim being unfortunate enough to be on the other side, the ice sending him up like in a catapult and flinging him through the air.

He went up and up, then yelled as he came crashing down, hitting soft snow on what looked to be an ice shelf. Since he didn't land on a flat surface, he was now sliding down a huge icy hill, the creature recovering behind him.

Jim tumbled down the snowy hill, getting all kinds of cold and wet into his coat, but not caring as long as it got him away from that beast! When he finally slid to the bottom, Jim quickly got up, out of breath, and looked up at the creature high on the top still, growling and howling at him below. Jim lightly laughed and smiled, catching his breath.

"You're not so tough." Jim mumbled to the beast, chuckling at its disadvantage of being stuck on a large hill. Jim turned away, looking at his new surroundings and seeing some caves in the distance. Shelter would be wonderful right about now. He began slowly walking towards it, sure of his escape and laughing at himself for being so frightened, when he was brought to a skidding halt.

CRACK!

He turned on his heels and looked up with blaring eyes to the creature. The beast was howling and was so heavy it was breaking the ice shelf, and now was sliding down into the snow valley!

"Fuck." He said uncharacteristically calm—then began another mad dash for the nearest cave. The creature, now with new footing in the valley, began once again on his hunt, Jim running desperately to get away. The creature was gaining.

He didn't look back this time, squeezing his eyes shut and cursing every Romulan god he knew, all Vulcans, and whatever the hell those little green tree-like things were that McCoy loved to eat with rice. Jim couldn't feel his feet, and his chest was burning like a thousand suns, but he kept on, running—running.

Jim made it to the cave, thankful for some good luck, and dashed inside, running into its depths in hopes the creature couldn't follow. No such luck, though, as directly after Jim made it inside, the beast roared and broke through the cave's entrance, still hot on his heels. Jim cursed loudly, panicking, still running! He needed to get to safety! There had to be some small nook or cranny somewhere he could hide!

But before Jim could confirm that, his weight lurched forward, his feet whipping out from under him as he hit the harsh, ice ground. He began sliding towards the opposite direction and Jim twisted, seeing that a long, slimy tongue had caught his foot. The tongue led directly to an opened mouth, full of teeth and pain, Jim shouting and cursing as the tongue inched him closer to the mouth.

Jim twisted again, trying to gain purchase on anything, grasp a hold on anything, but slipped on the ice, moving closer to his death. He was about to be lunch for the beast! Fear shook him to the core, his entire life flashing before his eyes as the thought he'd never seen anyone he loved ever again crippled him. He thrashed and kicked, trying to get away, close to gnawing his own leg off if it was needed.

He was not going to die this way!

Just as Jim was about to consider the best method to detach his own leg, he found he didn't need to. A strange figure came from nowhere, bursting out on to the scene, a torch in hand as they stomped on the gripping tongue and waved it violently in front of the beast. The tongue quickly released him, rolling back into the beast's mouth like slurping a noodle as it roared and growled at the blazing fire.

The figure kept at it, swishing the torch every which way to frighten the creature. Jim used the opportunity to crawl further away, looking at the stranger who was saving his life. The beasts roared one last time, apparently not tough enough to face the evolution of fire, and ran from the cave like a scared puppy. The stranger still chased it a few steps, making sure the monster was thoroughly frightened and wouldn't be returning. When it was safe again, an eerie silence filling the cave, did any one speak.

"The Hen-Gra." The stranger said in a husky, elderly male voice. "Notoriously afraid of heat." Jim breathed, trying to regain his breath. He sat up, still focused on the stranger. Wasn't Delta Vega uninhabited? Why would another person be here?

"Yeah," he heaved, not really caring about the improbability of it all, "thanks."

"It was no problem, only a minor—" the figure turned slowly, the torch lighting up wrinkled features, deep characteristics and specific shapes and contours Jim had had burned into retinas since he could comprehend thoughts. "—inconvenience…" The elderly man's voice dropped off, as if stunned. Jim too, lost the air in his lungs as everything he had ever learned rushed to the front of his mind.

Both men stared at the other in utter quiet, as if they were seeing ghosts. It couldn't be true! His eyes must have been lying! There was no way—

The man who had saved his life…

…was Ambassador Spock.