I turned as I heard the turbolift doors open.

"There's something missing, here," Bones said as he walked over, tapping his chest. "I know there is."

"The Heartless stole your heart," Sora said.

"My heart..." Bones echoed. "How do I get it back?"

"The Heartless that took it has to be destroyed," Donald answered halfway.

"And..." I started, closing my eyes for a second. "Sora has to kill you."

"Kill me?" Bones asked, stepping back. There was no emotion, but I guessed that Nobodies still have a will to live.

"Sora said it's the only way."

"And you believe him? That doesn't make any sense," Bones countered.

"It's true. That's how Nobodies are recompleted," Sora said.

"I'll just learn to live without my heart, then," Bones said without conviction.

"The real you would think that's ridiculous," I pointed out.

"Spock makes do without emotions."

"I am not like you, as you well know, Doctor," Spock said.

"Controlling your emotions isn't the same as not having them at all. You need your heart, Bones. It's part of what makes you human, more than a doctor who just does his job, and what makes you a great friend," I explained, placing a hand on his shoulder, willing him to understand. He stared at me for a moment, then shrugged my hand off.

"No."

Sora glanced over at me, and I nodded. There was no way around it. Sora began his attack. Bones fought back as best he could. I've seen him fight before, and he's not the best at it. As a Nobody, however, he was actually somewhat more powerful. It made me wonder if all Nobodies are stronger, or if it was because having no heart meant he wasn't holding back at all. I was majorly thrown off when he called to me, pleading.

"Jim! You're not going to help me? I thought you were my friend! How can you betray me like this? After all I've done for you, all we've been through?" Guilt sliced through me. Was I making a mistake? What if Sora was wrong? He said that Nobodies don't have emotions, but it sounded like the hurt in Bones' voice could be genuine.

"He's just trying to manipulate you, Captain," Sora said, divining my thoughts. I looked over at Spock. I needed to listen to logic to decide whether to put a stop to this or not.

Sora has been right so far; he's helped me get my missing crewmen back and saved my ship. He clearly has a lot of experience fighting these creatures. Bones hasn't been acting like himself or shown a shred of emotion until now since he reappeared. I had to trust Sora.

When he dealt the final blow, the Nobody groaned in pain and fell to his knees. Then he lifted his head and silently stared at me as he faded into darkness. For about thirty seconds, no one moved or made a sound. I think we were all trying to process what happened.

"Sora, do you know where we might find Dr. McCoy now?" I asked. I couldn't bring myself to thank him, at least not yet.

"If I already got his Heartless, I think he'll be back wherever he lost his heart in the first place," Sora said, his keyblade disappearing. What a strange weapon.

"So he could be anywhere. We'll have to search the most likely places and go from there." I alerted security to the search, ordering them to report if they see any remaining Heartless as well. I could have sat it out and waited to hear back, but that just isn't my way.

"I'm joining the search. Mr. Spock, you have the conn," I announced as I got up from my chair.

"Captain, you did the right thing. I am certain Dr. McCoy will be grateful," Spock encouraged. I smiled slightly and left the Bridge, Sora and his friends right behind me. We checked sickbay first, but didn't find him there. He wasn't in his office. His quarters were empty. We checked the rec rooms. Nothing. I wasn't getting any reports from security, and we weren't running into any Heartless, either.

We had been searching for over a half hour when I got a call from security.

"Kirk here," I answered, tensing in anticipation.

"Captain, we haven't found a trace of Dr. McCoy or any of the creatures yet," Lt. Hendorff said.

"Okay; neither have we. Keep me posted. Kirk out." I shut my communicator and sighed in frustration.

"Don't give up hope, Captain," Donald said.

"I won't give up searching, but hope? I don't know..." I said, shaking my head. I didn't want to accept that Bones was gone, but it was getting harder after every few minutes that went by.

"So we haven't found him yet. That just means his Heartless is still here somewhere. Don't worry, it'll show," Sora said confidently. I gave a tight nod. It better.

I don't know what I'd do without Bones. If it wasn't for him, I'm not sure how long I could last as Captain. He and Spock are the only ones I can confide in. I have to always be fine in front of everyone else in the crew. And Spock is better to talk to when I need to put my feelings aside and look at the situation from a more logical perspective. Emotional support is Bones' area.

When we turned down another corridor, one Heartless suddenly appeared. It looked like a little soldier with a helmet and red-tipped claws. It took a swipe at Sora. He hit it with the keyblade a few times and it retaliated with a spinning kick, which he blocked. After hitting it one more time, the heart was released.

"Was that it?" I asked. It was barely a minute before I got another call from Hendorff.

"We found Dr. McCoy, Captain. Deck 9. He's injured- we already alerted medical." Relief flooded me.

"Is he conscious?"

"No."

"Okay, thank you, Lieutenant. Kirk out." We headed straight to sickbay, and I hoped Bones wouldn't be unconscious for long. Dr. M'Benga and Nurse Chapel checked him over. I was glad that they didn't seem very concerned.

"His readings are good. No injuries besides some cuts and bruises, so he'll just be sore for a little while," the doctor explained.

"Thank you, Doctor," I said, then pulled up a chair to sit next to the biobed. Soon, Bones opened his eyes and grimaced. "Hey, Doc! I know how much you love being a patient," I teased.

"Laugh it up," he said with a glare. "Feels like I lost a fight-" he paused as it dawned on him. "And that's exactly it, isn't it? I'm remembering what happened, but none of it makes any sense. I was attacked by one of those creatures. It did something strange to me, or was it still me? I, or he, didn't have emotions anymore. There was this emptiness..." He noticed Sora, Donald, and Goofy nearby. "You're that kid; I remember the three of you!"

"Let us help you, Dr. McCoy," Sora said with a smile. He explained again about the Heartless and Nobodies, and what they've been doing to help us. Bones tilted his head.

"Can't say I completely understand, but thank you. And Jim, I'm sorry I, er, my Nobody tried to manipulate you. I can't imagine having to make that kind of choice."

"It's alright. I'm just glad you're really back," I said, patting his shoulder. Then I stood up and turned to Sora and his friends. "Thank you for saving my crew and my ship. You'll always be welcome here."

"Glad we could help," Sora said, shaking my hand.

"Now you can seal the keyhole," Goofy said.

"Keyhole? What's that?" Bones asked.

"It's what the Heartless were trying to get through to devour the heart of this world," Donald explained. Bones raised an eyebrow.

"I've gotta see this," he said, starting to get up.

"I don't know, Bones. Shouldn't you stay in bed for now?" I said, even though I knew what he would say to that.

"Which one of us is the doctor here? I can walk just fine, Jim," he insisted, wincing as he stood, and looked a little unsteady on his feet. I frowned, but decided to allow it. I would stay close in case he needed support. We went back to Engineering to watch Sora seal the keyhole. He held the keyblade out, pointing straight at it. Bright stars gathered on the tip. Then, a thin beam shot out into the keyhole, and it flashed and disappeared with a locking sound.

"Well, that's not something I thought I'd ever see," Bones remarked.

After saying our final goodbyes, we ran into Lt. Smith on the way back to the Bridge.

"Dr. McCoy! I wanted to talk to you," she said, diverting her eyes for a second.

"Have you been feeling better?" he asked.

"Oh, yes. It's just that I want to apologize for what I said to you." She met his eyes, looking at him regretfully.

"It's okay. You had just gotten the news no one ever wants to hear," he said, shrugging it off. She shook her head and continued.

"It's not just that, though. I'm also sorry because I'm worried that this whole thing was my fault- with the creatures, I mean."

"How so?" I asked, crossing my arms. Maybe I could get some more answers after all.

"Captain, I can't help but think this all started because of the darkness that was in my own heart. I was so angry; I hated you, Doctor, for not being able to save Shane. I was thinking such ugly thoughts. And then the Heartless came. The first one was probably from me. I'm not sure- I can't remember. Anyway, we all would have been doomed if those people hadn't come to help us. I'm so sorry."

"Well, it's over and done now. You didn't cause it intentionally. You just have to learn from it," I said, glad this didn't happen because there was a traitor on board. She was grieving, and I understood that anger she felt. I felt it after Captain Pike was killed.

"Yes, sir. I'd much rather be a part of the light. Thank you." Smith went on her way, and Bones and I continued to the Bridge. I sat in the chair, while my two friends stood on either side, as they always do.

"I trust you are yourself again, Doctor?" Spock prompted, and Bones smirked.

"A little worse for wear, but yes. I still can't believe I said that I could learn to live without my heart. That is completely ridiculous."

"Even as a Nobody, you still managed to be irrational," Spock said.

"It's not irrational to act out of compassion," Bones said with a glare.

"It can be under some circumstances."

"I would say this taught us the importance of hearts. How about it, Spock?" I said, looking up at him.

"I believe it was more of a reminder about the danger anyone can present if they allow evil to prevail."

"That too," I agreed. "Be a part of the light; that's what Lieutenant Smith said. I like that. That's what the universe needs more of."

"I couldn't agree more, Jim," Bones said with a sigh. I remembered what he said when we first met: "Space is disease and danger wrapped in darkness and silence." He had a point... but we could work to make it better, rather than add to it.

"Ahead warp factor one, Mr. Sulu."