Title: "Aegri Somnia"

Author: tprillahfiction (2008)

See chapter 1 for header/warnings/disclaimer

AEGRI SOMNIA (Chapter 2)

The turbo lift moved up towards the bridge with the good doctor in it. It slowed to a stop to admit another passenger. "Ah, hell," he mumbled. "I don't feel like making small talk with a peppy young yeoman."

"Good morning, Doctor!" Yeoman Rand bopped into the lift looking entirely too chirpy for the early morning hours.

"Hmmph."

"What's the matter?" asked Rand. "You look a little tired."

"I think I just need a huge cup of coffee."

"Oh, okay. I'll bring it up to...where you headed?"

"The bridge."

"Oh! You haven't been up there in awhile. I heard you haven't been feeling well."

"From who? Who said that?"

"Oh, you know...ships scuttlebutt."

"I see," chuckled McCoy. "Just bring me some coffee, Yeoman."

"Sure, sweetie!"

The lift paused to let Rand out at the next deck, then continued on its ascent.

The doors opened up to the bridge in full swing, sensors purring away, crew busy at their stations and staring at a huge planet on the viewscreen.

"Analysis, Mr. Spock," ordered the captain.

"Class M, Captain. Oxygen and Nitrogen atmosphere. Earth-like conditions."

"Oh big surprise there, Mister Spock," snapped McCoy as he sauntered out of the lift.

"Ah, Doctor," Spock turned from his science station as he noted McCoy's presence. "Your usual agreeable self has returned to haunt our bridge. A delight for us all."

"Very funny, Spock. You know, with all these thousands of planets we explore, isn't it ironic about most planets out in space are just like our Earth? I mean, I know about the theory of parallel evolution. But come on...it's so boring."

"Doctor," Spock replied. "You have forgotten that the ratio of hostile planets to Class M is approximately 1.37 in 5."

"Well, so what. I said most of 'em are Earth-like. Not all."

"I seem to recall you lamenting the use of a pressure suit to explore a hostile planet. You found the experience 'unnatural and closterphobia inducing'".

"I never said that!" McCoy retorted, unable to resist. "When did I say that?"

"Two point seven weeks ago. When we transported down to Helcon III, the class C planet with the 92.5 percent carbon dioxide atmosphere."

"Hmph. Whatever Spock. I was asking the captain, anyway," McCoy grumbled. "I didn't say that, did I Jim?"

"You did," smiled Kirk.

"However, even with familiar Earth-like weather patterns," Spock continued, completely oblivious. "There is still much in the way of fauna and life forms which are completely-."

"I'd bet you'd prefer the planet to be hot, arid, and full of sand. A bit like, say, your Vulcan," shot the doctor.

Spock shook his head slightly. "What type of planet I prefer is irrelevant, Doctor. The planet is what it is."

"How anyone could prefer a desert wasteland full of computer worshipers is beyond me," mumbled McCoy.

Spock sent a sharp eyebrow up in the direction of the doctor.

Captain Kirk cleared his throat. "Bones, do you think you could stop antagonizing Mr. Spock long enough today to form a landing party?"

"Are you coming, Jim?"

"No, I think you and Spock can handle it...it's just a routine survey, you'll be down about an hour at the most."

"Oh joy", said the doctor.

"You're a laugh a minute today, Bones."

"Where the hell's my damn coffee?"

"What happened! Where are we?" McCoy shouted to Spock as they materialized into pounding rain and wind.

As Spock whirled about he also realized something was terribly wrong. "Unknown Doctor!" They could not see in front of them but for the wet coming down in droves.

"I thought you said this planet was nice?"

"As usual, your recollection of my report is incorrect! I merely stated it was Earth-like!" Spock prodded McCoy onward, and together they staggered through the gale.

The winds grew stronger knocking McCoy to the ground. Spock unable to see him, wound up tripping over the doctor and sprawled on the other side of him. "You okay?" yelled McCoy in his ear.

Spock nodded and huddled close to the doctor on the sodden ground. He pulled his tri-corder up to his face and attempted to read the scan. "It appears that there is something in the vicinity for us to wait out the rain and contact the ship. Over there."

The two of them staggered upright and pressed on with the tri-corder directing the way. There was a large rain shelter nearby, a sort of cut out in the hills. It wasn't much but it would have to do. Spock pulled McCoy and himself inside, where they sat on the ground bewildered.

"I'm soaked to the bone!" observed McCoy; shivering and teeth chattering.

"Doctor, I highly doubt that your epidermis would allow outside fluids to seep to your skeletal system."

McCoy couldn't help but crack a smile as Spock pulled out his communicator and desperately hailed the ship. There was no response at all. Spock tried a second time, then a third, and a forth. McCoy pulled out his communicator and copied Spock also with negative effect.

"The communicator's seem to be operating properly," McCoy noted; puzzled.

Spock pointed his tri-corder up in the direction of the sky. "It does appear that the ship is no longer orbiting this planet." He popped his communicator shut and let his tri-corder fall to his waist.

"Are we even certain that we're on the same planet we thought we were transporting down to?"

"I am unable to correlate the scans. Yes, it is possible we transported somewhere else. Or, it is also possible that we are indeed on the correct planet and that the Enterprise has been destroyed."

"Destroyed, huh? Well, leave it to you to come up with an even worse scenario than I'd come up with."

"Logic dictates one must consider all possibilities."

"Yes, and couldn't logic also dictate that our tri-corder doesn't register the ship and our communicators have no signal just because of the storm?" McCoy asked dryly.

"Certainly. That is another such possibility. Or the ship has been merely thrown out of sensor range."

"Right, see, there's lots of theories as to what happened. So don't be such a damn fatalist," McCoy growled, then muttered under his breath. "I bet we did transport somewhere else...damn transporter gonna beam us into open space one of these days...you just wait."

Spock let a sigh escape his lips and said nothing. In an effort to escape McCoy's grousing, he focused on a precursory investigation of the shelter. He found that it was approximately three meters in an imperfect cube and appeared to be uninhabited. There were no life-form readings of any kind in the vicinity.

McCoy perked up from his pensive mood and busied himself with the first order of business: survival. They were obviously going to be here awhile. He yanked his medi-kit off his hip and opened it; checked a few things he'd packed, and shook out a metallic blanket. All things aside, they were indeed soaked through their uniforms and in danger of hypothermia. He pulled out his phaser, aimed and fired at a medium sized rock.

As Spock attempted yet another scan of the area, the graceful head beneath the black bangs tilted to one side. "Doctor, I have noticed that you have been rather out of sorts lately."

McCoy snorted to hide his shock. "Have you? That's unusually observant of me on your part."

"Is there anything troubling you?"

McCoy glanced into the dark eyes and saw a genuine concern that touched him. He softened for an instant then snapped back to his usual demeanor. "You ask me that right now? When we have more important things to worry about?"

"If you are affected by something it is of importance. Besides, there is nothing for us to do now, but wait out the storm."

"Wait out the storm? That's it? So you enjoy doing absolutely nothing about our situation."

"Negative. Your accusations are ridiculous."

"Kind of like your supposed sensor sweeps."

Spock nodded in agreement. "You do having something there, Doctor. If we are on the same planet, which I emphatically assume to be the case, it is indeed odd that my shipboard scans of the weather patterns were so conflicting to reality. Life signs were shown in the vicinity of our transporter coordinates. However, with this tri-corder the area appears to be uninhabited."

"Yeah, that is odd. Damned odd. And darkness is falling fast. I thought we were supposed to be on the daylight side."

"It is in our best interests to be especially vigilant on this mission. You might as well get some rest, Doctor." A slight cough escaped from the Vulcan's lips. "I shall take the first watch."

"Didn't think to bring any survival gear, did we... Commander," McCoy smirked.

"It should not have been necessary."

"Inomnia paritis, Spock. Alright, I'll take first watch, you get some sleep. You're coughing."

"I was merely clearing my throat."

"Whatever you say. I'll stay up." McCoy pulled his wet tunic off, lay it near the glowing rock then motioned the Vulcan over. "Here, share this blanket with me."

"Are you certain?"

"About what, staying up? Or sharing the blanket?"

"Both. I am quite capable of forgoing-"

"Spock, don't give me that crap about being able to stay awake for four days at a stretch. You know you need sleep to stay at optimum performance."

Spock considered this for a moment, then dove under the blanket next to the doctor. "I will awaken in four hours."

"Yeah, fine. Go to sleep."

"You did not tell me what has been troubling you."

"Spock, go to sleep before I make you tell me a bedtime story."

...end of chapter 2...