Spock walked into the infirmary. The CMO immediately grabbed him by the arm and sat him down onto a bio bed.

"What the devil did you do to your face, cadet? You look like a transport hit you." Spock's face was considerably bruised.

"Nothing so drastic, I simply fell."

"Down how many flights of stairs?" grumbled the doctor. He grabbed a tool and turned it on, a blue light shone on Spock's face, repairing the bruises.

"Only one, doctor. I have bruises on my arms and chest as well, but not as bad." the doctor stared at him.

"A Vulcan 'simply fell' down a flight of stairs? I don't believe that for a second. Who hit you?"

"I fell down a flight of stairs." Spock repeated.

"Who pushed you?" the doctor asked. Spock was silent. The CMO indicated for Spock to take his shirt off so he could repair those bruises as well.

"If you aren't going to tell me," he said as he worked, "I can't help you."

"I do not require assistance."

"Cadet, stop being a stubborn mule and listen! We've never had problems with discipline or violence before in the thirty years I've served here. But before, we've only had humans. Sure, ship have stopped her with other species on them but none were station here. You come along and get beat up and bullied. And I can't stand for that! I can't stand for knowing that there is some racist trash not just on this station, but in Starfleet in general! So either you tell me who they are. Or I suggest to Winaar to interrogate everyone until we find them." The doctor handed Spock his shirt back. He put it on.

"I was pushed, and I have been bullied as you put it. But I am able to handle the situation myself."

"You got hurt, that proves you can't." The doctor looked at him. "Well?"

Communique for Spock and Leonard McCoy from James Kirk.

Hey,

Sorry it's been two weeks. I was confined to quarters, and not allowed to use subspace. Basically what happened is the captain found out I was working on the bridge and I made it worse by talking back to him, telling him it was his fault anyway, I must've sounded like a five-year old! Amazingly, it's worked out. His exact words were, 'We're going to leave the Starfleet command out of this, because we're both grown men and can solve our problems without complaining.' I did get a note on my record about this, and no more bridge shifts. But the first officer told me that later, Captain Daver said he was impressed with me.

Anyway, I hope you both are doing well. And Bones, how's your girlfriend? has she had her gymnastics completion thing yet?

And we only have four weeks left in training now! See you both in a month!

~James T. Kirk

Communique for James T. Kirk from Leonard McCoy

How come you never get in trouble, Jim? You sassed your captain and he's proud of you? Dr. Braith may be nice, but she'd send be packing with way more than a note on my record for less than that!

Emony is still here. She's doing well. I'm taking her to the movies tonight, they don't have cinemas on Trill. I really do like her, Jim. And no, I don't want any 'tips' or 'hints' from you! (Give them to Chekov, has he told you about the girl he's been chasing this whole time? Annika Hansen I think it was. Apparently the latest way she's turned him down is by saying 'If I were to consider a romantic relationship with any individual, I would not consider you.' Poor kid.)

I've been helping more and more often with surgeries now. I've dissected recreations of bodies and virtual bodies on screens, but it doesn't really compare to seeing inside a living body, and repairing it as well.

See you in a month.

~L. McCoy

Spock's door chimed, he opened it and Christine walked in.

"Spock, what is going on?" she asked. "Two ensigns and a lieutenant are court-marshaled and then you're called back to Earth?"

"Christine." Spock gestured to a chair and she sat down. "They were court-marshaled on charges of racism and harassment. I'm being called back to Earth to testify." Christine stared at him.

"You told me no one was bothering you."

"They were not bothering me until quite recently. I was pushed down a flight of stairs."

"You were what!?"

"I am quite sure you heard me clearly."

"Yes, I did! How could people like that make it the whole way through the Academy? We live in the Twenty-third century, we shouldn't have problems like this!"

"But they continue to exist." said Spock. "I do not understand your anger over this issue." Christine looked at him.

"For a year, I had a crush on you. I still honestly do, but I accept and understand you do not feel the same about me, and it wouldn't matter if you did, because you keep your emotions from effecting your actions. But even with all of that on my side of this, I've still managed to just be your friend theses past two months, and it's been nice. So why couldn't you just tell me what was going on?" She was yelling.

Spock thought. He hadn't thought at all about how his problems could emotionally effect his friends. One Vulcan, if you had a problem, you did not concern others without explicit need.

"I apologize." said Spock. "I did not think that my problems would concern you. I did not mean to invoke emotion" to his (inward) surprise, Christine laughed.

"I'm sorry, I shouldn't laugh. It's just, the way you say... Spock, I guess you still have plenty to learn about humans."

Spock raised an eyebrow "It would appear so." Christine sighed.

"When do you leave?"

"In six days. I will not return for three. Possibly four"

"I'll miss you." she said. "I have some things to finish up, and I know you go back on duty soon. Bye." she walked out. Spock followed her.

"Christine," he caught her wrist, she looked around at him.

"I will be as aware of your absence while I am gone."

"Just like you're aware of Jim and Bones' absence?" she asked.

"Similarly." he let go of her arm but she didn't walked away. Spock leaned toward her and quickly kissed her and then speedily walked away.

I am in control of my emotions. he thought, but still wondering about Christine anyway.

Christine was still smiling.

Leonard stumbled into his apartment. It was late and he was quite tired.

"Lights" he said. They came on. He notice the computer in the room was displaying that it had a message. He clicked it. A report from Starfleet command was displayed. He read through it. And then immediately called Spock. Even though it was four in the morning in Martian time.

Spock answered.

"You're awake." said Bones.

"The communique signal on my computer woke me."

"Then you got it too."

"Regrettably."

"Did... Have you read the casualty list?"

"I did not have the opportunity to yet."

"It wasn't long, thank God. I'll spare you it. He wasn't on it. But that's just the dead, he could still be injured."

"I am aware. However, we both know James knew the risks of studying and serving aboard a starship, especially one of the importance of The Amazement."

"That doesn't meant he deserved to get attacked by Klingons!" snapped Bones. "It doesn't mean he deserves to be on a damaged ship, limping back to Earth and who even knows if he's okay, or if he'll even make it back alive! You read the same report I did, It was bad."

"I am confident James will be unharmed."

"How? How can be so sure?"

"I cannot. I can merely-"

"-Hope?"

"...Yes."

Bones sighed. "That stupid kid had better be okay. He'll get back to Earth the day after you do. Sorry for bugging you, I Just needed to make sure this was actually happening."

"I am afraid it is."