"For something so significant, the procedure itself seems pretty simple," Hikaru Sulu remarked as he exited the chilly lab space. As their mission would conclude soon, he and his husband had been discussing the idea of surrogacy.

Vida closed the doors and began discarding her surgical gown. "The true difficulty arises in the implantation process which I have virtually no control over."

"But you insert it, right?"

"I insert the embryo, yes, but whether it implants within the uterine lining is a matter of a variety of undeterminable factors. I believe this is an instance in which my human family members would refer to the concept of luck."

He laughed, "I get that...Speaking of, you wouldn't happen to have like a...a list of surrogates? Human ones? I don't know how all of that works."

"I do not presently have a list, however I do have Terran contacts that may be able to provide me with one which I could pass along to you-Spock."

"Spock? Oh, hello Commander." Sulu straightened up as they entered her office and found Spock hovering near the desktop. His eyes darted back and forth over the charts of data.

"Mr. Sulu," His eyebrow raised but he nodded with acknowledgement.

Looking between the two, he decided to take his leave. "I uh, should head back to the bridge soon. Thanks again V."

She nodded before turning her attention to her own mate, "You're looking at population projections."

"Did you create the mathematical model shown here?"

"Yes, it's a simple program which allows me to project changes using different proposed variables. Solving numerically for a particular percentage of growth is mathematically feasible, however complicated by actual logistics of implementation."

"Interesting. What variables account for the deviations here?" He pointed to a particular division of lines midway through the curve, prompting her to join him at his side.

"These represent different...couplings. These are curves for polygamy, here polygyny and here polyandry. While neither are present in Vulcan's history, other planets have had varying degrees of success implementing such structures in time of strain." Her fingers moved ahead, "This line represents a form of noncommittal polyamory-"

"Which does not appear to promote growth. In theory, wouldn't a greater number of short-term pairing result in more genetic diversity?"

"Yes, but that's what I was referring to with logistical complications. It's an idea so contradictory to Vulcans' cultural patterns that the implementation struggle would be counterintuitive. This is, in part, due to the Pon Farr cycle, but also due to cultural norms surrounding child-rearing and societal structure."

His head cocked to the side, "Is Mr. Sulu studying population dynamics?"

"No, Mr. Sulu was here to ask for guidance from a physician. He and his husband are considering expanding their family. Given that he had never seen the process of intracytoplasmic sperm injection, and since that would likely be the method chosen to develop his future embryos, I thought he might be interested in seeing it firsthand."

His eyebrow raised again, "You're producing embryos for his family here?"

"No," She shook her head, "These are Vulcan. Additional genetic material was beamed aboard during our recent visit. It's likely that, upon our return to New Vulcan, I implant some of these embryos in...interested parties."

His eyes lingered on the window into the lab, "Fascinating."

"Pending healthy selection and survival, of course. There's an expression used in Terran agricultural communities: 'don't count your chickens'. Literally it means not to count the number of chickens you will have using the number of eggs present, given that there could be errors or accidents resulting in eggs that are not viable. Figuratively, it means do not depend on an outcome that has yet to occur. Though...in this case...perhaps it is literal seeing as I am working with eggs." Her eyebrow raised in amusement.

"Indeed." Her explanation helped him eliminate the mental image he had of a nursery full of infants in the freezer. "I believe I have discovered a loophole to the Starfleet regulations that prohibit our on-board cohabitation."

"Elaborate."

"I have acquired a set of devices that, when placed on walls, open portals to the other device. If I install one in my quarters and one in your quarters, we could walk freely between the two as if they were adjoined."

"A logical solution. Your effort is appreciated."

"I planned to install them immediately if you find the idea acceptable."

"I do."

"Will you be long?"

"Unlikely...I will complete the series in progress before seeking the evening meal."

"I will join you then at the evening meal-"

"Wait," Vivian followed Spock's eyes, "If you're curious, you're welcome to observe." She motioned for him to follow her to a scrub station. He nodded and complied, only requiring some explanation of the lab equipment as he was already familiar with most of it.

The door that hissed open with fog beckoned them into a small room illuminated with blue lights. The burn of the cold and the smell of antiseptic burned his nose, but she was accustomed to the conditions. She busied herself with vials and petri dishes, occasionally stopping to give him a chance to look through the microscope. He was baffled by seeing the tiny units of the beginnings of what could be a living person. It reminded him of what their own bodies were capable of, and he couldn't stop from picturing similar cells in her body. His mind rushed through their impending union and the expectations on them.

I know. I think about the same things. It seems so simple, yet so complicated.

Have you considered that these may be the only eggs fertilized in peaceful conditions?

Her shoulders bounced, indicating silent laughter. As opposed to our usual violent rituals? You are likely correct.

I almost...Disregard.

What? Wish that wasn't the case?

Wishing is an illogical, irrelevant practice.

Partially true...However, I too, am somewhat illogically intrigued by the idea of sentiment in regard to procreation.

I dislike that our future offspring will be produced in a hormone-induced rage.

It would be possible...Disregard.

Continue.

It would be possible for me to continue use of contraceptives...We proceed through the koon-ut and resolve the plak tow with no consequence. Following our return to homeostasis, we could attempt conception with clearer minds-

It would certainly be easier to reflect on-

I will consider this further. We should revisit this conversation closer to the koon-ut.

Agreed.

She picked up a sort of syringe. "This contains the selected spermatozoon. We can discuss the selection process in depth over dinner. I'm going to gently penetrate the egg's membrane and release it. Cell division can be stimulated shortly thereafter." Instead of beginning the procedure, she hesitated. Actually, you should do it.

I am not medically trained-

I'm aware, but you are under my guidance. Move slowly, carefully, and follow my instructions promptly and exactly. She put the syringe in his hands and added an additional viewer to her scope. Careful, increase the angle-perfect, now forward SLOW-great. Begin depressing the plunger-SLOW- done! Pull back carefully, decrease the angle- and finished.

Spock set down the syringe. That will become a new Vulcan...We created-

It isn't the first one. She shrugged as she began packing up the materials and storing the combined cells.

Neither will it be the last. He extended two gloved fingers to her, which she returned.

Her mate wasn't the only crewmember fascinated by her model; it attracted the interest of someone somewhat less interested in predictive mathematics.

"Dr. Vida?" Sometimes when making large requests, particularly ones that derailed otherwise hyper-focused scientists, the Captain wandered away from the bridge. "Hey, V, you in here? I really don't feel like digging around in the fridge..." Kirk crossed his arms and rocked on his feet, grimacing at the idea of getting close to her cryogenic cooler. His eyes roamed around, taking in the flowers on the desk and abstract painting on the wall which he quickly realized was a woman's silhouette. "Good taste...where do I get one of those?" He moved on to the desktop which displayed various charts and graphs and almost dismissed it as mindless data. One phrase, however, caught his attention: intercourse frequency.

"Captain."

He jumped, "V! Hey! Just who I was looking for."

"Do you require a progress report on Project Keshtan?"

"What? No, wait- this is part of that?"

Dr. Vida nodded and walked him through the model, explaining each variable with a tone of distance and sterility that surprised her superior. He was almost disappointed to hear talk of sex with such little enthusiasm.

"And this is all just math to you?"

"There is additional significance, of course, in the continuation of my species. My specialty is multi-disciplinary in that I combine mathematics with health sciences and-"

"Yeah, no, but I mean..." His voice trailed off suggestively, but she blinked at him with the same indifference of her mate. "Kay, so human thing, or, human MALE thing-"

"You're too easily excited by any discussion of sexuality to pursue it in an academic fashion. I am familiar with such a trend, yes. I did attend a Terran school, briefly, in adolescence. There is also a trend of sketching phalluses arbitrarily: graffiti, academic texts-"

Kirk laughed, "I vaguely remember that phase. Vulcan teenagers don't do that?"

"Mark objects with poorly-rendered genitalia? No...If your visit is unrelated to this project, perhaps then there is another."

"Right," He crossed his arms and leaned against her desk with a grin. "Have I ever told you...that I think you're one of THE smartest-"

"You need not elaborate. While I recognize the accuracy of your statement that my intellectual quotient is several deviations from that of my peers, I find your tone to be suspicious."

"Me? Suspicious? Pfft, V."

"When Terran men attempt flattery, they are often requesting a favor, most often intercourse-"

"Ok, whoa- I am NOT asking you to sleep with me."

"Doing so would be unwise. The federation has fortunately evolved past a point of obliging females to provide sexual favors to higher ranking males. I understand that I am attractive by human standards and that you have quite the history with women, however I am also aware of your unwavering loyalty to my fiancée."

"ANYWAY, there's a colony that might need your help. I sent you the file."

"That would be the favor I mentioned." Dr. Vida raised her eyebrow as she sat down at her desk and accessed the file. "I see the stardate of the settlement...slow growth, occasional accidental death, beginning of onset of old age related death...Births...not in four years? Not at all?" Her brow furrowed as she scrolled furiously.

"Uh huh, their Federation Ambassador said-"

"It would seem that the first generation born on the planet's surface have now come of age and have been unable to produce offspring of their own-"

"He said that, yeah."

"Fascinating...I will need to examine a sample of inhabitants-"

"Atta girl! Lucky for you that's our next stop." Kirk was thinking several stops ahead, actually.

Their mission would come to an end in a few brief months, and he was busy making plans for what would come next. He asked McCoy to meet him for a drink, late after hours. His friend was an alright listener, but even better to bounce ideas off of.

"Hey Bones." A grumble answered him in the dark room. A few tables and a glass bar glowed with blue lights that reflected off the transparent walls. He watched the stars for a minute, listening to the low hum of various ship functions. His anxiety began to rise as he anticipated judgement, so he decided to blurt out his thoughts immediately. "I'm just gonna get right to it: I'm going to ask Nyota to come back to Iowa with me, at least for a while- hey! You started without me."

The doctor sat at the high top with a glass and rubbed his temples, "Yessir...I did."

The Captain furrowed his brow as he stepped behind the neon bar to find himself a glass and some ice. "What are you drinking?"

"Rye whiskey."

"What? No mint julep?" He teased with a grin.

There was a groan from the table, "Not a mint julep kinda day, Jim."

The materials clanked about as Kirk poured himself a matching drink. "Really? Our preliminary reports look complete. I know V's still going over data, but-"

"She threatened to shove a cattle prod up the Ambassador's ass."

Kirk spit and began to cough, "I'm sorry- WHAT?"

McCoy grinned and shook his head, "More or less. See she needed to take samples of seminal fluid and uh, seems the Ambassador didn't like the idea of being left on his own with a little cup and all that- said it wasn't dignified. Instead, she offered the more 'dignified' option of a needle to testicles or prostate electrocution."

He cringed and almost doubled over, "Oh GOD I didn't even know either of those procedures existed. WHY? I mean..." He laughed nervously as he took his seat next to his friend. "I thought all her work was...you know... fun...sex math."

"Not exactly, no." He took a long drink and tightened his lips as his mouth swished the burning liquid. After an exhale and a smack of his lips, he continued, "But uh, speaking of her work...I got a message today from the Vulcan Academy of the Sciences- T'mol- she's a big time healer over there. 'Seems this project cash-whatever's gettin' bigger. They're splittin' up into branches and such and since they know our mission's wrappin' up, they've offered me a spot to head up some research."

"Hey Bones! That's great! You like research! Did you already have plans for after, or...?"

"No...I'd been wrastlin' with the idea of doing some instructing at the academy- not that I particularly like San Fransico."

"Then this sounds perfect! What kind of research-"

"...'Hybrid viability'...'least that's what T'mol called it."

Kirk nodded along, "Okay, yeah, New Vulcan is trying to grow the population. I don't know a lot about Vulcan genetics other than, like, Spock, but...hey he's a hybrid right? So maybe the Vulcan genes are dominant, and a generation of hybrids wouldn't REALLY change? If there's not enough Vulcans, through in some humans, good for diversity, keeps inbreeding off the table, right? It sounds...promising?"

McCoy sighed, "Yeah about that...go back to the Spock part...He's a hybrid...His mate's a hybrid-"

"Wait, do you mean-"

"They want me to study V? Yeah...they didn't say it outright but yeah, that's...that's that- study, babysit, whatever."

"Babysit?"

"Alright, think about it. Spock's gettin' into politics. He's workin' and busy off somewhere. V works in a lab or hospital, away from all of them- I think they want me to keep an eye on her, but I don't know if Spock's askin' or if it's Sarek or-"

"If T'mol just respects you as a physician and scientist and wants you on the team. If they're having half-human babies, having a HUMAN doctor around makes a lot of sense-"

"No-wait-yeah but..." His mind began to cloud as a result of the whiskey, "Dammit Jim, I'm a Starfleet surgeon, not an OBGYN."

"But you've done that kind of stuff before, right?" Kirk smirked, "I bet you're really cute in pink scrubs, Bones." His friend didn't look amused. "Well, think of it like this. If you're taking care of the Ambassador's family- that's an honor."

"Honor? HA!" He finished the booze with a tough swallow, "Like I'm gonna haul my ass across the galaxy to some desert hellscape, to dope up on triox every day, just so I can babysit my ex girlfriend until she pops out my best friend's baby..."

"Shit...when you put it like that..."

McCoy stood, and almost staggered back towards the bar, "No way, no how. Not me, nuh-uh."

"You crazy sonofabitch...You already agreed to it, didn't you?"

"You bet your sweet ass I did!" He slammed the glass on the counter triumphantly, "Guess I just...LIKE sufferin' s'all..."

Kirk jumped up to steady him. "Take it easy!"

His eyes lolled about without reason as he leaned back on the bar to appear composed, "Now what was it you was sayin' about Nyoiowa?"