I don't own anything to Star Trek. It is all property of Gene Roddenberry and whoever has the rights to it. I don't make money with it. I'm writing fanfictions about Star Trek because I love this story. So I ask you not to sue me.

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Sorry that the chapters are always so short. Actually, I wanted to get used to writing more. But then my uploading regularity is likely to be lost and I think I've gotten used to a good pace (at least I think that). I'm also happy that I've been able to prevent writer's block so far. I suspect the length of the chapters and the alternation with Short Treks are good tactics for me. I am very sorry, but the chapters will never be longer than this.

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I'm sorry for the title too. I couldn't think of anything better. Naming each chapter is a headache for me at times. But I'm not a fan of it if the table of contents says: Chapter 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, etc.

So I have weird titles.

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Thanks again to Caro for the big compliment!

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Oops!

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Despite the fact that it was early in the morning and the sun should be shining, the darkness outside was depressing. Raindrops bounced off the outer hull of the spaceship, destroying the silence that reigned in the empty corridors.

Jim watched the dirt on the window mix with the drops, listened to the splash of rainwater pouring through the holes, and even heard the faint rumble of a coming thunderstorm. These weather conditions would make this old ship even more rusty than it already was. Still, he couldn't deny that there was something comforting about the rain. He was dry and wrapped in enough old blankets to keep him warm.

The raindrops also muffled the volume of their conversation.

His buddy was wrapped up just like him and together they made themselves comfortable on the narrow bed. It reminded Jim of a time when he and Sam hid under a blanket and both told the greatest adventures. He would not hear exciting stories from Gary, however. After all, his pal wasn't known as a storyteller. There was another topic that they had to discuss.

"It's not the worst idea we've ever had," announced Gary next to him.

"So you are not averse to working with them?" Jim asked again to be on the safe side. He couldn't imagine living with strangers.

"I hate to say it out loud, but our group is not that big anymore and it could be an advantages for us to have two more," argued Gary. "Besides, this Simon is not wrong. We haven't killed each other yet. We won't find better conditions. This fact also gave me enough confidence that I slept through again. I slept like a baby! And Simon kept watch!"

It sounded like the news of the century and for a moment Jim envied him. He hadn't slept so well. Still, he laughed at his buddy in amusement.

"Okay! Then we'll expand our team. It can't get any worse than now."

Gary probably wanted to agree, but before he even opened his mouth, a pale looking Uhura appeared in their quarters.

"Is Simon with you?"

Jim and Gary shook their heads in sync. Why should the guy be here?

"Did you break up?" Gary joked but was immediately ignored. Uhura walked quickly down the hallways and Jim heard her repeatedly calling Simon's name.

This partnership started well, he thought, and freed himself from the layers of blanket that had given him warmth. Now the time to listen to the rain was over.

"Did anything happen?" Jim asked as he caught up with Uhura with quick strides.

She didn't stop for a second as she continued searching each quarters.

"At some point during the night we talked about how to proceed. What should we do with or without you two?" She called his name again. "He didn't tell me this morning that he wanted to go anywhere."

"And that's probably not his way?" Jim asked, and found himself helping her find him.

"We always stayed together", Uhura confirmed and suddenly stopped. Her face grew more and more concerned. "He would never leave me alone."

"In theory," said Gary from behind them. "Are you not alone with us as partners."

Jim's look asked his buddy without words if he really found the statement that convincing. He just shrugged. But Uhura suddenly turned to them and looked as if she had solved the riddle.

"That's right!" She uttered vigorously and let her gaze wander over the floor. She seemed to remember something. "We talked about you and how it is the first step in the right direction."

"The right direction where?" Jim asked confused.

"To a spark of humanity," Uhura replied and they both stared at each other.

It was then that Jim remembered his nightly conversation with Simon.

"If you want we can go back tomorrow and bury him."

"You don't have to," Jim heard himself speak. "It would be a waste of time."

"He was your friend, right?" Simon asked with a hint of confusion.

"You know how it goes," he replied to his rescuer before getting up and retiring to his bed.

The new knowledge hit him like a blow and he felt how he rubbed his face painfully. The guy wasn't really that stupid, is he? But Uhura's eyes were full of conviction. He shook his head.

It was Gary who broke off the silent conversation between them and asked the already answered question, "So where is this guy supposed to be?"

"He's going to get Kelso," said Jim, grimly more than he'd intended.

His feet then began to walk on their own and he noticed how he moved away from the others. He ignored the confused calls and set out purposefully. Where? Jim didn't know why, but he wanted that stupid idiot back.

Didn't the guy have eyes in his head? Didn't he see the rain? Hadn't he heard that a thunderstorm was approaching? It was stupid to be outside in this weather. Simon would be soaked to the bone. How did he think he was drying his clothes? Where did he want to find a dry place to properly warm up? The ground was wet and slippery. He could slip and injure himself while carrying the body. Even the smallest injury was dangerous.

All these thoughts raced through his head, feeding his worries and making him go faster and faster.

Why? Why go to all this trouble to bring back a corpse?

Because he cares more about your friend's remains than you do, his inner voice mocked him and Jim cursed loudly. This wasn't true. Kelso's death did not leave him indifferent, but he had to worry more about the living, about Gary and now Uhura and Simon too. He couldn't go wrong and mind such pointless things as a funeral.

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Although their partnership didn't even get official yet, the three were already starting to work together like a team. Without saying a lot, they had agreed that they had to look for and find Simon. After all, they all belonged together now. It didn't mean no one was cursing - mainly Gary - but they would have the same goals from now on.

Their way to the place where Kelso died was actually not far and if they could have run this as before, they would have been there quickly. But the stormy rain made it difficult for them to see and made it almost impossible to even climb out of the crater. The earth was muddy and slippery. It was difficult to hold on to anything or find the right support with your feet. If they weren't careful, someone would be quick to join Kelso in the afterlife.

Jim couldn't understand why Simon was so unreasonable. The guy had made such a smart impression. Damn! The rain had already soaked all of his clothes. He was shaking all over. It felt like needles piercing his skin. Maybe he should think about hitting Simon so he doesn't get into this kind of ideas again, or this partnership would be completely pointless.

Their group made slow progress, but at least without any undesirable incident. No Romulans or other survivors. In this case, they were lucky. They were even more lucky that they didn't have to look far for Simon.

The guy was sitting in an old garage and seemed to be watching the rain. Next to him was something elongated wrapped in many sheets, possibly Kelso's body.

Uhura rushed to him and when he saw her, he got up immediately and took his friend in his arms. Jim and Gary ran to him so fast to get under the roof too. At least it seemed dry there.

"There's no point walking around outside in this weather. Why didn't you stay in the spaceship?" Asked Simon in his typical relaxed tone and Jim would have liked to hit him now. It was damn cold. Everyone was soaking wet. And all because they were worried. Jim could...

The pain in his hand told him he had followed the urge to strike. He held his throbbing hand. The idiot he was, he had hit the middle of the motorcycle helmet.

Simon's head was tilted slightly to one side due to the force and while he turned it all the way back to Jim, he announced the obvious. "That was not a good idea."

"Really!" Jim cursed and pressed his hand to his stomach. He should have waited for the bum to take off his helmet.

To his surprise, Uhura did not remain idle and hit Simon hard on the chest. The guy didn't flinch a bit.

"Why didn't you tell me what you're going to do?"

Her voice sounded angry and if looks could kill her partner would have passed out already, instead he put his hands behind his back.

"In a way I have," he defended weakly.

In a way?

"In a way?" Uhura repeated, noticeably angry. She didn't look like she could take any more shit and Jim knew what that meant. He knew it from many old dates. One more wrong word and she would ram her knee into his crotch. The thought made Jim sadistic happy and he hoped Simon would say something wrong.

Simon seemed to be aware of this and shifted his body weight from one leg to the other for a moment. The movement was very subtle, but Jim saw it. He could imagine how uncomfortable the guy must feel right now.

"My suggestion has already been rejected by Mr. Kirk," Simon began again. "I thought you would stop me too. After all, this man doesn't even have emotional worth to you."

"You could have talked to me about it anyway!" Uhura countered. She was breathing hard. She was really mad. "You spoke of the right step. Of humanity. I can tell you that it was wrong to just leave me alone."

"You weren't alone. Mr. Kirk and Mr. Gary are potential partners and together you would have ... "

"That's not how partnerships work! We are supposed to talk with each other! We are supposed to decide together! Even if we are no longer alone and have support, that doesn't mean that everyone can just do what they want!"

Jim didn't envy Simon's sermon right now, but he understood Uhura. It was inconsiderate from him.

The former cadet didn't seem finished either.

"I can see why you wanted to do this, but there were good reasons why Kirk and I were against it. You cannot choose over our heads and do what you want. Your behavior put us in danger! It was absolutely inconsiderate and illogical!" She put her hands on her face and tried to take a deep breath. But you could see her inner anger. "I can't believe I have to teach you about logic, Spock! This is normaly absolutely not your style!"

Only then did she notice her slip and suddenly put her hands over her mouth. She shook her head in horror as she looked at her partner and then slowly turned to Jim and Gary. The reactions were as expected. Both stared at her.

Jim was the only one of them who still asked, "Can you repeat that?"

Uhura shook her head slightly again, which was more than an answer to his question.

"Spock?" Jim said stunned. "Spock ?!"

His eyes literally bored into that dark motorcycle helmet.

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Here you will find brief information about why the chapters are not particularly long. I always write each chapter in German first and then translate it into English. If a chapter is too long, I always have the feeling that I can't even finish translating it. Therefore they are usually the same length. Still, I hope it's always enough and that you have fun. ^^

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Some may think Spock is illogical, but I see him as someone who values life and expresses it in his own way. So he went back to get Kelso's body. I hope some can agree with me on that.

I also hope I don't make Jim seem too cold hearted, but he's never been through Tarsus in my story so he's completely new to this situation.