Captain's log - Stardate 2262.048

I called a meeting with my senior officers along with the ensigns who fulfilled the duties of those officers while we were all missing. Mentally, I'm still adjusting to the fact that we were missing for days when it seemed like only seconds. While a full accounting of the crew was underway, I pulled the CMO logs and reviewed them. I have to say that I'm pretty impressed with how Doctor McCoy dealt with the aftermath of what this C'ves character did, but the one point where I do disagree with his call is where he decided to meet with C'ves himself.

Yes, he did manage to get the rest of us released somehow, but he's still missing. Why didn't C'ves return him and how long does he intend to keep him?

On the planet surface, McCoy was getting frustrated. So far, no matter what approach he tried, C'ves couldn't understand why the butterfly metaphor would apply, but in the end, his frustration is what led him to a new approach after C'ves repeated his same argument for what seemed like the thousandth time.

"I see no reason why your people would not be grateful for our assistance."

Even having known McCoy for only a short time, C'ves noted the change when the frustrated look left the doctor's face and was replaced by a smile.

"Alright then, how about you tell me what your people did to thank whatever advanced race it was that pulled you out of your primitive ways?"

Seeing the indignant look forming, McCoy's smile grew. He was about to be handed the proof he needed by C'ves himself.

"We had no assistance. My people gained our advancement through a great deal of work and, yes, some blood spilled."

"But I bet that made your people appreciate their achievements all the more. I bet their all really proud of that."

"Yes, of course we . . ."

C'ves stopped speaking and looked at McCoy again, the expression on his face changing as a new awareness came to him.

"That. That is what you were speaking of. Were we to force this change on your people, you would not only lose the pride in what you have already accomplished, but you would also lose the sense of accomplishment when the day arrives that your people meet their goals."

Breathing a little easier, McCoy nodded.

"Now, that isn't to say that we wouldn't appreciate some helpful advise, but there's an awfully big difference between advising someone and pushing them out of the way to do it yourself."

"And you think your leaders might accept our advice?"

"They might not take all of it, but I'm sure they'd at least listen if it was offered as a gesture of willingness to help and not as a demand to follow it like a blueprint. After all, there's nothing wrong with us doing things different from the way your people did them. Different isn't necessarily better or worse - just different."

After a considerable pause, C'ves finally nodded.

"We concede your point. You have given us much to ponder and we will share what you have shared with us to our people. It is now our opinion that we should leave your planet to develop as it will without our interference. Contact will be made, but not forced."

There was another pause, then C'ves rose from his chair.

"We have delayed the mission of your ship. We will make amends for that. Prepare to rejoin your people."

Moving to where C'ves indicated, McCoy could no longer hear what was being said, but a smile formed as he felt the start of the sensation that always preceded a transport. C'ves really was letting him go home.

The relief was short-lived. McCoy had no more than finished forming on the transporter platform when the room went dark and alarms began sounding. Hit by sudden dizziness and disorientation, the doctor dropped down to his knees, closing his eyes and staying still as he waited for the symptoms to pass.

The alarms made it hard to hear, but he could make out Scott's voice calling for Sickbay. That puzzled him as he tried to remember what had happened. He'd agreed to beam down to the planet in exchange for Scott, so why was he still on the platform instead of on the planet?

He still hadn't arrived at an answer that made sense when he heard the doors open and felt himself being pulled up and onto a gurney.

"Wait - I can't leave. I promised to beam down."

Scott laid a hand on McCoy's shoulder.

"Easy, Len. Ye've been down there for quite awhile and only just returned. Must be something that C'ves character did - I couldn't remember being down there m'self. So settle down now and let yer people do their jobs. The Captain's been worried sick about you."

Still feeling ill enough that he didn't care to argue further, McCoy took a deep breath and forced himself to relax as he was rushed back to Sickbay. After the door closed behind them, Scott contacted the Bridge.

"Scott to Bridge. Doctor McCoy's back aboard, but he got a wee bit shaken when we lost power. He's been taken to Sickbay."

The relief could be heard in Kirk's voice.

"Good work. I need you to check over Engineering and see if you can determine what happened. If our viewscreens are to be believed, the planet we were orbiting is missing now."

The thought of that stunned Scott to silence for a minute, then he shook himself and responded.

"Aye, Captain. I'll start running full diagnostics immediately."

The sense of wrong that Kirk had was soon seconded by Chekov.

"Captain? It is not just the planet, sir. The stars are all wrong."

Kirk didn't turn to look, but he heard Spock moving to the science station. He did turn when his First Officer spoke.

"Captain, Mister Chekov is correct. It is not the planet that has gone missing. We have somehow shifted locations."

There was silence across the Bridge as Spock's words sank in, then Kirk rose.

"Mister Scott is already checking our systems, so the next order of business is to find out where we are now. Mister Spock, you have the conn. I'm headed to Sickbay to check on Doctor McCoy."

It didn't escape Kirk's notice that every Ensign on the Bridge turned when he said that and all wore various expressions of concern. Whatever all had happened while the rest of them had been gone, it had definitely forged a stronger bond between the younger crewmen and his CMO.

"I'll ask the staff when Doctor McCoy will be up for visitors and put out the word."

As Kirk exited the Bridge, Spock contacted the stellar cartography section and began coordinating with them to determine exactly where the Enterprise was currently located. He briefly pondered why C'ves would have transported them and how he might have accomplished it. He dismissed those questions for now to concentrate on their current needs. Perhaps the doctor would be able to fill in some of the gaps later.