Uhura and Sulu didn't move until Krall and Manas were out of hearing range. Glancing briefly at Ranthon and Syl's bodies, Uhura frowned.

"So, that artifact is part of something called an Abronath. Whatever that is, it has to be pretty important to go through the amount of effort Krall is going through to get his hands on it."

Leaning back against a panel, Sulu closed his eyes as he thought back to their briefings.

"The Fibonans told the Captain that the artifact was a piece of an ancient weapon. I assumed it was broken, but what if it was disassembled?"

The reasoning that was likely behind something like that made Uhura take a deep breath.

"That sounds suspiciously like what was done to some of the planet-killers created before the Eugenics War. There was no safe way to simply destroy them, so they were dismantled and the pieces stored in different areas."

"So if Krall retrieves the other piece from the Yorktown, there's no telling how hard it would be to stop him after that."

Sulu looked into Uhura's eyes.

"I'm willing to back Kirk taking the throne, but from what I've seen, any Empire of Krall's making isn't one that I want to live in."

"Agreed. Which means we have to find a way to stop him."

"Which means we need to find the Captain."

In rare full accord, Uhura and Sulu headed stealthily back to where the rest of the crew was being held. Time to start fighting back and for that, they needed numbers.

By the time Jaylah returned with an armful of medical equipment, McCoy was coming around. Achy and with a headache that - as he phrased it - would stun a horse, but otherwise none the worse for wear. Fumbling with his own medkit, McCoy pulled out a hypo and injected himself, sighing with relief a minute later before forcing himself to his feet to check on Spock.

"Dammit, we need to fix this fast. These instruments are antiques, but if they still function, I should be able to at least make a stronger patch. Jim - come over here and distract Spock while I work."

Spock actually chuckled slightly as he spoke.

"The art of medicine consists in amusing the patient while nature cures the disease."

Snorting, McCoy double checked the equipment settings while shaking his head.

"Here I am trying to keep him from dying and he's quoting Voltaire."

Kirk was bemused by the exchange, but began talking over attack plans while McCoy ignored them both as he worked on Spock's injuries. Chekov went back to working on the sensors while Jaylah and Scotty continued with the next stage of repairs.

Curiosity finally drew Kirk's attention back to McCoy.

"So, what happened after we beamed Spock out?"

"You mean besides me getting pissed? Well, I threw a rock at the nearest ship and they took offense when it hit. After that? Can't say as I remember anything until I woke up to your sunny disposition."

"Huh. Wonder why they left you alive?"

"Since they were capturing other folks from our crew for some reason, I'm guessing they wanted me alive. Their mistake."

Grumbling under his breath, McCoy's next words could barely be heard.

"Bastards better not have hurt my people or Gem."

Finishing his work on Spock, the doctor gave a nod of satisfaction.

"Now, if you don't do anything crazy, that should hold until you heal fully."

This was McCoy's first chance to really look at his surroundings and as he looked back down at the medical instrument he'd used, he frowned.

"Is this an old Imperial ship?"

Scotty answered that from where he was making an adjustment.

"That she is, Doc. Though how she ended up here a hundred years or so ago is anyone's guess."

Finding a medical wipe and using it to remove some of the dried blood from his head, McCoy shrugged.

"Don't suppose it really matters. What matters is whether of not she's viable. So, who's your friend?"

Hearing the question, Jaylah spoke up for herself.

"I am Jaylah and this is my house. And you are Doctor Bones."

That got a bark of laughter from Kirk as McCoy shot him a dirty look which, as usual, didn't result in any lessening of Kirk's amusement. Giving up, he looked back to Jaylah.

"Close enough, I suppose. So, how did you come to be here?"

The woman scowled, but it was obviously not directed at McCoy.

"My family and I fell from the sky when we were attacked by Krall and his swarm. As you and your people were. Krall seeks a death machine and then he will leave this place and leave many families as dead as mine."

Jaylah now had Kirk's full attention.

"Death machine?"

She nodded.

"He calls it an Abronath. He has a piece of it, but it is useless without the heart of it. That is what he seeks."

McCoy growled as he spoke.

"That damn Fibonan artifact. It must be the heart."

Kirk narrowed his eyes.

"You know about this Abronath thing?"

"Never heard that name before now, Jim, but Spock and I hid in a place to catch our breath and the inside was covered with symbols that Spock said were the same kind as were on that stupid artifact. And those guys invading our ship were sure searching for something, so it makes sense, doesn't it?"

Spock didn't get up from where he was resting, but he spoke up.

"It does indeed, Leonard. And should Krall discover that it is aboard the Yorktown? He has already shown the lengths he is willing to go to in order to obtain it."

Scotty paused in his work.

"Those ships of theirs. Do you think they've the range to get there?"

McCoy's response to that was flat.

"He got Kalara to the Yorktown, didn't he?"

Sighing, Scotty nodded.

"Aye, that he did."

Kirk turned toward Chekov.

"We have a limited window. If Krall gets tired of searching our wreckage, he knows where we were last. We need to find a way to stop him before he gets to the Yorktown and puts his death machine together."

Spock slowly shifted his position.

"Do you believe this Abronath would be that dangerous, Captain?"

"We know Krall must believe that it is and I, for one, don't want to test the theory. Besides, he already needs to die for what he did to our ship."

There was no more discussion as Spock slowly rose to his feet to see what assistance he could give to Chekov's efforts.

Captain's Log - Stardate 2262.394

Bones has regained consciousness. The injuries he and Spock have were from their crashing on this planet. As far as Bones being unconscious? When they realized that Spock was teleporting, they attacked Bones. Fortunately, they seemed to have been intending to take him away as they stunned him instead of killing him. As Bones said himself, their mistake. He's mad and I personally can't think of a worse member of my crew to have mad at you. If they've damaged any of his ladies? I won't stand in his way.