They were beamed up from Neuköln while the crew was being beamed down to the planet. Ziggy had made many preparations in such a short amount of time that even Spock looked amazed. There were buildings all over the planet, like mini-hotels, where the crew could sleep while they stayed on-planet. There was equipment to facilitate everyone's needs and food was fresh and not replicated. They'd left Scottie in charge of handling any problems any of the visitors might encounter, after he and Ziggy had a long talk about engineering.

All in all, everyone was either on the planet taking leave or patiently doing their duty on the Enterprise until it was their turn.

Jim had agreed to have Ziggy as their guest and the three beamed up to the Enterprise. Spock volunteered to give the man a tour of the Enterprise and Jim retired to his room. On the way, he had Ziggy's room prepared and had tapes sent of everything he'd missed since leaving Earth. He also sent a communication to the admiralty about Ziggy and his tale, advising them to let him enter the Academy as soon as possible. He assured them that Ziggy was no threat and that he personally took responsibility for the lonely man.

After being wrong so much by humans, it was time for Ziggy to be paid back, by the millions. Education and perhaps one day, his own position in the Fleet, would be only the beginning. Jim saw Ziggy as an ambitious man who, after being alone for so long, had forgotten how live. He would educate him on the times; teach him everything he needed to know before dropping him off at the Academy. Pike owed him a favour anyway; this was how Jim wanted to cash it in.

He strongly believed in Ziggy as did Spock going by the way he hung to the man's every word. It gave Jim an odd feeling, that perhaps Spock had found someone far more fascinating that a Star Ship captain. But he shook his head and collapsed on his bed, forgetting all about Ziggy and concentrating on the dream he had about Spock.

Anthea was a pleasure planet, Ziggy had said, and it had made a fantasy around what Jim had desired the most - namely, Spock. But why had their been two dreams? He'd wanted to meet Spock earlier in his life, perhaps at a time where his charms were at the top of their game. He had wanted to seduce Spock before the Nero disaster. He wanted Spock before he'd become this cold, human-like machine working but not living. Jim knew Spock was hurting, his mother was dead, his planet was gone and it was all because of a deranged Romulan. He blamed himself, foremost, that was clear. And it showed with every passing days as his shift finished and he retreated to his empty room to meditate. Sure, sometimes they engaged in games of chess and wrestled but most of the time Spock was either working or meditating.

It hurt Jim to see the Vulcan stewing in his own pit of self-loathing, especially when all he wanted to do was tell Spock how he felt. But it was a bad idea, he knew it, it could break Spock beyond repair and it would be his fault, not Nero's but Jim's. He was scared, to be honest, and he also knew that. He didn't want to be rejected. He didn't want to see Spock's brown eyes look at him apologetically as he told him he did not reciprocate his feelings.

Jim was scared of loosing Spock to himself more that anything and that was why he couldn't tell him he loved him.

Spock took Ziggy to the observation deck, as he had requested, answering all of his questions as thoroughly as he could. The alien seemed to have a thirst for knowledge that Spock hadn't seen for a long time. He almost enjoyed asking questions and receiving an answer only to ask another question. They ranged from aerodynamics to astrobiology and xenolinguistics. He told Spock what his area of study had been back in Anthea and what he's learned in old Earth while Spock told him of new advances and new civilizations they had discovered. Ziggy in turn told him of all the alien races his people had known and described how their civilization was one a society of assimilation. They absorbed other cultures and mixed it with their own.

"By the time the revolution began," Ziggy told him as they walked into the observation deck. "We had more than 100 different religions and practices co-existing in peace with one another. We were a peaceful people, only interested in learning and living."

"Antheans sound very much like the human race," Spock replied. "They too had periods of peace and intellectual thirst that eventually ended because of war. And they too were on the brink of destruction. But unlike Anthea, they acknowledged their problems and sought ways to overcome them." Spock paused, thinking over his next words carefully before speaking. Ziggy turned to him, looking up at the taller being, with a sad smile. "I would have greatly enjoyed visiting your planet. From your descriptions, Anthea sounded like a paradise."

"Perhaps if we'd branched out a few more light years and found your planet, both of them would still be here," Ziggy said sadly. "Jim told me what happened to Vulcan. I see now that you know what I must feel like and I wish to warn you that, perhaps over time the pain dulls, but the memories of what was lost will always hurt you." Ziggy raised a hand to Spock's face. Spock remained still, head tilted to the side in confusion. Ziggy's thumb made a small circle on the Vulcan's skin in a comforting sort of way before retracting his hand. "I know how you feel and should you ever wish to speak about it, I will listen."

"Thank you," Spock said after a moment.

Ziggy offered a small smile, turning to the room and asking, "What have you come to show me here?"

"We are in space," Spock replied. "I wanted to show you our view and a chart of the areas of space have charted so far. Perhaps you could tell us where your planet once stood so that we can send a communication back to the Federation and have it added to a list we have of planets-"

"I will," Ziggy interrupted. "I want my people to be remembered, my planet to be known instead of being locked away in my mind forever. I will show you and your admiralty everything you want to know."

"Thank you."

"Oh, stop thanking me, love! I want to do this for them, not you or me. They deserve more than to be forgotten after I've withered away and died."