XxX

We shot back over our shoulder every chance we got, but mostly we focused on dodging and zigzagging the oncoming fire.

"Did you get a chance to send a signal?" I called over the resounding attack.

"Yes, but I am not sure vhat good it does!" He called back.

Jim was leading our small pack and turned into an alcove for cover, throwing his hand out to catch us. This segment was ripped open and at least three stories above the ground.

"Go, go!" He called, directing Pavel to jump. The young helmsman did as he was told. Once he reached the other side, he turned around and held his hands out, urging me to follow.

Jim patted me on the back, "It will be alright!" He called over the screaming wind. My eyes chanced a look out over the open field where Eden had turned into Dante's Inferno.

Refusing to look down, I took a few steps back before racing forward to make the jump. Pavel caught me just as my feet stumbled; my heart pounded in my chest, but I could feel the adrenaline rushing in my veins. A moment later Jim joined us and pushed us to continue forward.

"What is the plan?" I called, following the boys.

"We blow the ship up, I thought you knew that?" Jim called playfully, never one to take danger too seriously. I rolled my eyes as we pressed on. We had a good head start on the enemy and made it to the jets with time to spare. Thankfully, they were still intact.

"Cap-e-tan, ve cannot hit that mark!" Pavel said, his eyes straining to make out the firing pad.

"Oh," Jim smirked, retrieving his gun and taking aim, "You mean that one right there?" He fired without warning. Before Pavel or I could advise otherwise, the jet kicked off.

"Jump!" Jim took a hold of our collars and followed his own order. We tumbled down the side of the saucer as it began tilting, banging our arms and legs all the way down. As we met the rocky ground, he began to call for us to run but we were a step ahead of him.

The crunching metal echoed behind us, deafening our ears. I could feel every part of my body, my veins pulsing and my heart racing; the basic instinct to survive kicked in and flight was the only thing I could think about.

Jim, who was in the middle, grabbed a hold of each of our arms and pulled us with him as he jumped into a small crevice. Once more we were sliding, we tumbled down the rock face before smashing into the sandy earth below. We each took our time getting up; sputtering and spitting out the sand that had gotten into our mouths.

Jim was the first to sit up, lounging against the wall, "Is…is everyone alright?" He panted.

"Da, da." Pavel muttered, prostrate on the ground.

I slowly pulled myself to my knees, nodding as I tried to regain my breath. I looked up to see the sky concealed by the Enterprise's saucer. My eyes followed along the rim and down the sole pathway.

"Let's move on and find a place to camp." Jim walked over to me and offered his hand. I stumbled as he pulled me up, but he caught me and made sure I was alright before moving to help Pavel.

"Let's go." He patted my shoulder and we shared a smile before heading out. We walked a few miles, Jim in lead, before we came to the mouth of the crevice. The night was dark and blanketed the whole scene before us; the stars were fading but we were still an hour or so from day break.

A light caught my eye and I stopped, studying the distance, "Jim." He instantly turned at my voice. I pointed to the horizon, nodding for him to follow it.

His eyes widened, seeing the bright lights in the distance, "A camp? It can't be ours. Those are powerful, electric lights, like those in a settled compound, not firelight from stranded crew members."

I shrugged, "It might be the attackers; they could have some of our people imprisoned there."

"We'll rest for a bit and then head towards it. Each of us will take a half hour watch; I'll take the first." Jim said, settling onto one of the rocks and making sure he could see both directions clearly. Pavel didn't need any more encouragement and gave a weak nod before falling against a rock. Soon enough, a snore sounded from his corner.

I made my way to Jim and plopped down next to him, leaning into his side. Thankfully this planet was temperate and we didn't have to worry about freezing temperatures. Jim tossed his arm over my shoulder and let it hang limply, his eyes constantly surveying the area around us.

"Jim," I sighed, leaning my head back, "What if…"

"Don't think that way." He warned, his arm tightening around me as he pushed his own fears away, "They are fine; we just need to find them."

I moved my head back, looking up to him, "But, what if…"

"Then…" Jim fell quiet, letting his thoughts take hold. After a while, he cleared his throat, "We complete the mission. We go back to Yorktown and figure out what to do from there. We can head back to Earth, try and find a new normal." He looked to me, a sad smile on his face, "But that is worst case scenario. It will be ok, Herms, we'll find them. Rest, alright?"

Jim knew me well enough and knew exactly what to say to put my uneasiness aside for the time being. I nodded, closing my eyes and resting in the comfort of his presence.

I would never have another Harry, and no one could ever take his place in my heart, but I would also never have another Jim, Bones, or Spock again. They each had a piece of my heart which I would never get back; it was as if we shared an unbreakable bond, as if a similar spirit dwelled in each of us, connecting us to one another. We were a family and I wouldn't stop till it was put back together.

Jim hushed a sound, trying to sooth me as he rubbed my shoulder, "Rest, it will be alright."

XxX

Bones tried not to show his dwindling strength as he lugged the Vulcan along. Finally, they came to a small alcove and Bones practically collapsed once Spock was settled.

The Vulcan was quiet, his eyes wandering to the mouth of the cave to watch the star scape. Constellations began listing through his thoughts, and of course that made him think of her.

Tentatively, Bones watched his face, knowing his companion was deep in thought and didn't want to be disturbed.

Time drifted around them and the sun began to rise just over the horizon. Bones had closed his eyes, desperate to rest so his strength would return.

"Ambassador Spock died."

Those three simple words shot Bones' eyes open and he hurried to look to Spock, "What?" He asked, sitting up straighter.

Always collected, Spock turned to the doctor, "Ambassador Spock died." He repeated with ease.

Bones' mouth formed an O as he searched for words, his voice stuttering to make them, "D…did you t-tell…well, h-how do you…" He was about to say feel but thought better of it. Only Hermione could ever get away with such a question.

An eerie silence settled upon the pair and Bones kept darting his eyes to his companion, not sure what to say.

"Yesterday was also the anniversary of our son's passing." The Vulcan's voice was quiet but loud enough to echo against the bare walls.

Bones nodded, "I know." His eyes lingered on Spock, studying him, as Bones remembered how he had been the one comforting Hermione.

"I…" Spock paused, considering his next words, "I have been considering asking for a reassignment to New Vulcan."

The doctor's eyebrows disappeared into his bangs as his eyes grew, "Have you talked to Herms about that?" Of course, he already knew the answer. The Vulcan grew pensive and Bones began piecing things together, "You know, you are part human and it is natural to think about your own mortality."

"A Vulcan's only objective in life is to accomplish something within their field, for the greater good of their race. Death is something we all face, it is illogical to waste time worrying about such things."

"Spock, you might be Vulcan, but you are human too. More importantly, your wife is very human and could have used some support from her husband yesterday." He lightly chided, the fatigue and exhaustion trying his patience.

Spock nodded, his head dropping in thought, "His death was very hard on her; it was hard on all the crew." His thoughts remembered how all the crew members, human and alien alike, just doted on the child. It was fascinating to watch. They always made time to smile and coo at him whenever they saw him, and he never lacked for cuddles. The crew was in mourning for months after the incident; rarely did anyone mention the child now and if they did it always involved tears.

"Spock, he had a name." Bones requested gently, turning to face him.

With a heavy sigh, Spock allowed his eyes to close, "Khio'ri. His name was Khio'ri."

"Yes, star. Hermione was the one to name him, right?" Bones nodded.

Spock mirrored the gesture.

"Did you have any sort of attachment to him? At all?" Bones tried to ask gently, a desire to help at the forefront, "He was under a year, but you must have had a chance—"

"What are you hoping to accomplish, Doctor?" Spock turned to him sharply, cutting him off, "To uncover something of interest or provoke a reaction? Are you hoping to prove I am not an automaton?" His brow narrowed, "Very well, if you must know, it hurts. It hurts knowing that I could do nothing to save my son; it hurts knowing that the job I have worked my entire life for is what caused Hermione so much pain. An unknown, primitive disease stole our son. Our supposed advanced medicine was futile, and my wife is left feeling like a failure because her magic had no power over the alien virus. I failed as a father and husband. The fact that I could not solve such a simple problem haunts me and losing Ambassador Spock, the one person I could confide in and seek out for counsel, has left me at a loss. And, what is worse, is that I cannot explain away the hurt; it is the one thing Logic cannot answer for. It has failed me just as I have failed her."

Bones held his hand up, trying to ease the worked-up Vulcan. Only when Spock's shoulders relaxed and his breathing even, did Bones follow suite, "It wasn't a simple problem, Spock. None of us could have predicted such an epidemic."

Spock dropped his head back against the wall, "A day. 22 hours and 10 minutes exactly. By the next evening, we had the cure, but it was too late. Our son was dead."

"He was small, the virus was too strong." Bones' eyes grew as he saw a small smile spread across the Vulcan's lips.

Spock could recall with perfect memory Hermione lounging on the couch in their room with Khio'ri on her lap as she mapped out the constellations for him. Even for his young age, his eyes were constantly watching the world around him. He was the spitting image of his mother, from the mess of dark curls to the curious, chocolate eyes. The only thing that told who his father was were his pointed ears. Spock remembered watching them for a few minutes, admiring the pair, before calling for Hermione to look up and snapping a picture as she did so. The camera had been magicked, as was the picture that developed from it. That moment in time would now be captured forever. Before the epidemic, they had the image proudly displayed on their bedside table. After, Hermione had asked him to take it down. He had complied and kept the picture on his person from that moment forward.

His smile fell, "It was my fault."

"It wasn't your fault, it wasn't anyone's fault." Bones replied, "Sometimes bad things just happen."

"No, it was mine and mine alone. I was the one that went to the planet, I was the one that got hurt and rushed to the med bay where Hermione was with him. It was my fault for not demanding I be put into quarantine at once."

"I'm glad we didn't lose you as well; Hermione would have been a wreck." Bones mused, knowing the Vulcan was too caught up in his own thoughts to hear what he said.

"I remember being on the table, unable to move…" Spock closed his eyes, the memory bringing back the pain anew, "And her holding him up to me, her eyes filled with tears. She though it would be the last time we were all together." Surprise colored his face as he felt the tears gather in the corner of his eye. Without permission they fell, tracing down his face, "She was right."

Bones cautiously reached out and patted his shoulder, "It's ok, Spock. It's ok."

The Vulcan just leaned his head back, his eyes firmly shut and the tears still escaping.

"You cannot have Life without Death, just like there needs to be a balance of Logic and Emotion. Light and Dark…Good and Evil…it is all push and pull." The words were almost sinister, they flowed out and resonated around the dark expanse and encircled them.

"But, I couldn't imagine a life without Hermione. I won't."

Bones chortled, "Glad to know I'm a priority…Hey, hey, where are you…" He stood just as Spock was painfully pulling himself up.

Spock held his side, almost as if he were willing himself to stay together, "We are going to find them, Doctor. We have rested long enough." On uneasy feet, Spock started towards the opening.

"Glad to know the Vulcan thinks so….no input needed from the human…" Bones mumbled, dutifully following.

XxX

Morning dawned, and we began the trek through the forest. Beauty encompassed us once more and life appeared renewed; the destruction was behind us but still ever present in our thoughts. I currently headed lead, constantly surveying the terrain.

"Aye…aye…aye!" A thunderous crack sounded, causing me to duck, and a hissing filled the rocky cavern. I looked back as Jim and Pavel came sprinting around the bend. I didn't need to be told to run before I took off, a good start on them. I looked back to see a crystallization forming along the walls, filling in what was once open. With wide eyes, my speed picked up.

I skidded down the front of a large bolder into a larger opening. My eyes scanned quickly; there was no escaping this maze. The paths still open were even more narrow than the one we had come from.

That was when I realized just how quiet it now was. I slowly turned around, wand at the ready, to find a suspended Jim and Pavel. The cloud had snatched and encapsulated them in its crystal.

My first reaction was to chuckle, they looked like limited-edition popsicles after all, but I quickly rushed towards them with a spell at the ready.

"Relashio!" I called. The purple sparks shot out and met the alien substance, forcing it to release its captives. They fell to the ground with a resounding thud, winded and soaked.

Jim looked up, a goofy grin on his face. It instantly disappeared a second later, "Behind you!"

I turned around and shot a stunning hex as I went. It contacted the form and the hologram dissolved. A call sounded out and a second being, identical to the first, jumped out to attack.

The staff she wielded hit my hand, causing my wand to fly across the arena. I threw my hand up and cast a wandless spell which threw her backwards. She was up in a matter of seconds and ready for a second attack. I was ready and took hold of her staff, holding tight as she tried to swing me off.

Finally, we stood face to face, both refusing to release our hold.

I struggled to hold fast, my teeth clenched, "Listen here you bloody git, I have had a very long night and am not in the mood!" She finally succeeded in throwing me. I tumbled across and unholstered my gun; she prepared herself for a third go.

"Oi, oi!" A familiar voice called out as a familiar red shirt stepped between us.

"Scottie!" Jim called, stumbling to his feet and towards his friend. Pavel tried to follow, still not fully with it.

Scottie looked to the scavenger and motioned for her to put her weapon away. He next turned to me and did the same.

I stowed my gun and moved to help Pavel onto his uncertain feet. My eyes remained watchfully on the newcomer. She was tall and lithe; her arms showed the muscles she had built practicing with her weapon. The dark clothing she wore brightened her skin even more and the black lines that ran along her face crafted a mask which warned others that she was a storm waiting to burst forth.

"This is Jaylah. She 'elped me out of a bit of a bind."

Jim stepped forward, hopeful, "Have you seen any other crew members? Spock, Bones, Carol? Uhura or Sulu?"

Scottie dropped his head, giving it a sad shake.

"If they are alive, they would be at his compound." The alien named Jaylah answered.

Jim wrinkled his nose, "Compound?"

"The bright light we saw." I mentioned, beginning to piece it together. Pavel stood up on his own, waving away any further help.

"Let's go." Jaylah slung her staff over her should and started down one of the paths. Scottie trailed after her, showing the trust he had in her, and Pavel trudged after him. Jim shrugged and nodded for us to follow.

I started after and then stopped, not sure if I had missed something, "Where are we going?"

Jaylah looked back, her eyes were fierce, telling of her warrior heritage, "To my House."

XxX