I froze when I heard McCoy's voice come through that speaker. Something wrong with Sargon? But Sargon was in...my...

[SPOCK!] I yelled, leaping off the console and running to the turbolift. [I think he's dying!]

Spock stood up and quickly walked to the turbolift doors. "Mister Scott, you have the bridge," he said as the doors opened, then waited for me to come inside before letting the doors shut again.

My claws found tiny handholds on Spock's boot, and I quickly climbed up to his shoulder next to his left ear. [Spock, do you think Henoch is behind all this?] I asked him, still frustrated at my inability to speak English.

"Undoubtably, Captain," he answered.

The doors swooshed open, and Spock walked the short distance to Sickbay. Inside, the silence was so absolute you could have heard a pin drop.

I jumped off Spock's shoulder and glided through the air, making a sharp turn through the door and, as a consequence, almost ran straight into McCoy. I veered away and came to a rather ungraceful landing on the end of a diagnostic bed.

On the bed lay my body, a rather odd sight since I'm normally the one inside it. As I glanced at the monitor above it, I noticed something frightening. There was no flashing red light, no comforting beat of a heart. No indication of life at all.

I looked up at Bones, seeing the look of defeat on his face. "We tried to save him, Jim," he said, finally looking down at me. "We really tried."

~~~~~~~

*I completely refuse to accept it,* I said. *There has to be a way to put me back.*

"Jim, I don't have any idea how to even begin!" McCoy said. "Last time, I wasn't even allowed in the room when Thalassa revived you."

We had hooked up a Universal Translator to his desk speaker, making it much easier for me to speak with him. And by the look on his face, he was definitely regretting letting Spock set it up. And I had to admit that I was beginning to regret it, too.

*Bones, it happened before so it can happen again,* I insisted. *There has to be a way.*

"Jim, we don't have any energy being here to help you out," McCoy grumbled. "Sargon's dead, Thalassa is nowhere to be found, and Henoch will most certainly refuse to help. How the hell do you propose to transfer back?"

I looked across the room at my body, which was on full life support. So odd to see my own face from a distance, without my consciousness behind it... *I don't know,* I admitted. *But it is possible...somehow...*

"Jim, even if I did know, where would I start? I'm a doctor, not a telepath. I can't wave a magic wand and restore you to your body!"

*Dammit Bones, I know!* I yelled. I was tired, I was frustrated, and I wanted to be human again. *Look at me for a minute! I'm a lizard that can't even speak without aid of a translator! I can't command a ship like this!* I swear, I actually had a minute amount of smoke coming out of my ears. Or rather, what passed for ears on a lizard, which were technically just holes in my head. *Right now I only have two choices. I can either live out my life as a lizard, or I can try to find some way to transfer back. I would much rather choose the second option.*

"I know what you're saying, Jim, but how can we even-"

*Bones!* I shouted, and he stopped with eyes wide. *If you were in my place right now, what would you do? Would you give up in silence, or would you try to find a way to become normal?* Realization dawned on him at last, and he nodded. *I won't let this beat me. I refuse to let it rule my life. Now, are you going to help me or should I plan this myself?*

"I'll need Spock to do some research on telepaths, I need Scotty to modify a tricorder, and I need someone to get these things for me..." As he began listing the bizarre objects required for experimentation, I wished more than anything that I could smile.

~~~~~~~

*Do you have anything yet?* I demanded as McCoy walked past the desk.

He dropped into a chair, sighing heavily. "Nothing yet, Jim. I just can't figure it all out." He looked exhausted, and he damn well should be. He and Spock had been up past oh-three-hundred trying to find a way to transfer me back, and it was oh-four-fifty already. I wasn't feeling the slightest bit tired, but it was obvious I needed less sleep than them due to the fact that I was no longer human.

*Not even close?* I asked, feeling my spirits sink right into my tail. This was one helluva depressing day.

McCoy shook his head. "It's like there's not even any chemical way to do it! Spock's the only telepath we have on board, and even he can't understand any of it. We're just stumped, Jim. There's nothing more I can do today."

I studied his weary face before replying. *Bones, take a break. You could definately use some sleep. You've been up all night...in addition, don't even show up for your regular shift today. You deserve a rest.*

He straightened in his chair, trying to look less tired. "Don't talk nonsense Jim, I've got to find some way of fixing this mess..."

*You said it yourself; there's nothing more you can do today. Go sleep.* He blinked blearily at me, obviously trying to decide whether it was an order or not. After a moment I added, *Please.*

A tired smile flickered across his lips, and he nodded. "All right. But only if you promise to do the same."

I didn't even bother trying to protest. *Deal.*

I had absolutely no intention of doing so, however...

~~~~~~~

"You want me to what?" Scotty demanded.

*I need to you to transport me down to Sherok,* I explained again. *And I don't want anyone else knowing about it until afterwards. Can I trust you, Scotty?*

"Ye must be daft...all right then Captain," he said. "Let's go."

The corridors were dark and mostly empty, with only a few security patrols on night watch. None of them questioned Mister Scott's presence, nor his entrance into the transporter room. He locked the door as soon as it slid shut, and I ran over to the console. I quickly climbed up the side and hit a few switches, engaging a built-in translator, and then powered up the system.

*It's all set, Mister Scott,* I spoke through the translator. *Just punch in the coordinates and send me down.*

"Aye sir," he said, hand moving faster than I could follow. There was the comforting hum of machinery in top shape as he prepped the transporter. "She's all set, Captain."

I glided over to the first transporter pad and centered myself. Out of range of the translator, I gave the thumbs-up signal instead. I really hope this isn't a big mistake...I thought.

As do I, Captain, Spock said in my mind.

Before I could reply, the golden transporter beam swept me away to the planet, where my answers would lie.