.o0o.

"Sit here, please." Eltasat requested of Uhura as they returned to the examination room.

After receiving a tour of the facilities, McCoy had to admit that he was pretty impressed. They might have only recently come up with the warp technology, but their medical technology appeared to be cutting edge for what Starfleet had available and quite possibly superior in a number of areas. McCoy was already compiling a list of things to request in their trade agreements.

In one room, they'd been introduced to something similar to a decontamination chamber, but it worked specifically on radiation. Essentially, it removed the harmful particles from the body by binding them with a chemical agent that McCoy was unfamiliar with, which the body could then sweat out. An increase in temperature and the person walked away unharmed. McCoy wondered if he might be able to use that same technology to combat the occasional radiation poisoning from the warp engines.

Uhura sat patiently on the high chair which appeared to function similarly to a biobed, and even flattened itself into a bed as needed. The readings came up and Eltasat forwarded them to a handheld display. Then, he waved a medical tricorder over her. It's purpose was not unlike McCoy's own tricorder but with several other options he'd never seen before.

"What's that for?" He asked, pointing to a nondescript blinking light.

"It's a gene monitor. It looks for genetic instability or discrepancies." McCoy found himself very curious. Eltasat continued. "I could give you one that you might take back and examine."

"I'd like that very much." McCoy smiled. "And what's that bar for?"

"It evaluates the telepathic brainwaves to determine if there is any damage."

"Your people are telepathic?" Uhura beat him to the question that quickly appeared on his tongue.

"In a sense. We can perceive general emotions and intent. I assume then that your people are not." Eltasat concluded. "It would explain your peculiar readings in this area, then."

Uhura caught his glance, and McCoy wondered how much she knew about his connection with Serin. He certainly hadn't mentioned it to her, but the woman had a strange tendency to pick up on a whole lot more than others could. "Most of us. Some humans have higher psi levels than others."

McCoy felt Eltasat's disappointment, but it did not show on his face. "I see. I would like to take a blood sample, if that is permissible."

"Sure." Uhura agreed readily.

Eltasat held up a machine which first pricked her finger and then took a drop of blood. The small tablet was covered in what appeared to be a grassy film. Once the blood had soaked in, he flipped the device over where the viewscreen was.

"Is that her whole DNA sequenced there?" McCoy asked, vaguely impressed.

"Yes. I've programmed it to do a comparative scan with a sample selection of my own people." Eltasat explained. "We're looking for a specific specimen, though it would be very remarkable and unlikely if your species was adequate. You must be similar enough genetically to be applicable, yet not too similar to generate the same difficulties our people have."

"You're searching for a way to end the deaths of your females." Uhura surmised.

"I am." The device beeped. Eltasat looked over the results and felt a brief moment of deep sorrow before washing it away. "We are too similar in genetic make-up. Our races are so similar that we could easily interbreed, but the resulting child would still face the degradation of the X chromosome due to the sun's radiation."

McCoy nodded, he thought he had a good grasp of what was going on. "The X chromosome is faulty and due to overexposure to the sun's radiation caused by a tightening orbit, it breaks down to catastrophic failure in the body. However, whatever is breaking down in the X chromosome can be provided by the Y chromosome, but only if they have one. Thus, males can survive while the females cannot."

"Precisely, Doctor." Eltasat let off a wave of pleasure, like a teacher working with a quick pupil. "In this case, heart failure. I had hoped that your X chromosomes would be sufficiently different from ours as to not succumb to the radiation. But that is not the case. We will not be able to introduce your new genetic material to solve this problem."

"How have you been able to reproduce with no females?" Uhura asked innocently as she climbed down from the bio-chair.

"We have developed a system of inserting a functional womb into a male. From there, we use a chemically induced process to essentially trick the body into using its stem cells to create eggs instead of sperm." Eltasat proceeded to explain in what was clearly an effort to keep the process simple but caused a thousand questions to burst into life in McCoy's mind.

"How are the eggs fertilized? In vitro?"

"No, it can be done naturally. We simply connect the entrance to the uterus through the rectum." As if anticipating the next question, Eltasat went on, "Delivery is still, of course, caesarian to avoid damage to both parent and child."

"That seems like such an extensive practice. Why not grow the embryos in the lab?"

Eltasat shook his head. "We used to do that, long before my time, when the women had just fallen victim to the radiation and perished. Unfortunately, our young had an extremely low survival rate. Without the psychic connection provided by growing within the parent, the child's brain was unable to develop properly. Fewer than one in twenty-five children lived more than a year. So we were forced to seek alternatives."

McCoy nodded; it made sense. He felt Uhura's sadness at the fact, a sadness greater than the alien's own who recited the facts like ancient history. "Are the eggs produced solely from the X chromosome?"

"No, it follows the standard meiosis. Thus, there is a fifty percent chance that the offspring is doomed from the start. The YY fetus is inert, while the XX baby will be destroyed by her DNA within days. However, fifty percent is a great deal better than four percent." Eltasat proceeded to put away the DNA scanner, puttering around their direct vicinity.

"I'd like to see the chemical you use to induce production of eggs instead of sperm." Eltasat nodded and fetched a beaker from an adjoining room, handing it over to McCoy without hesitation. McCoy sloshed it back and forth. Uhura came closer to examine the liquid as well. "Can I borrow your tricorder?"

"Certainly, Doctor. In fact, you can keep it." Eltasat offered. Yet as he brought the device over, it whirred dramatically and his eyes were suddenly glued to the output as shock drifted from him in powerful waves. After a moment, he cleared his throat. "Doctor, I have never before registered telepathic brainwaves quite as... powerful as your own. I thought you said your people aren't telepathic?"

"It's probably just a faulty unit." McCoy attempt to wave it off, but the effect was shattered when he took the tricorder and used it to examine the chemical in his hand. There wasn't a good way out of the situation. He didn't want Eltasat to continue to scan him, but he certainly didn't want him to use an additional scanner to confirm that his mind was so unique.

Eltasat just stared at him as he worked. "Doctor, would you be willing to have a full scan as well?"

"I'd rather not." McCoy grunted because any answer was the wrong answer. His refusal would be taken as confirmation that his telepathic readings were off the charts, thanks to the Indyrin, but at least Eltasat wouldn't be able to get a closer look at those readings.

"Very well." Eltasat relented, but his interest was clearly piqued and McCoy had no doubt that this topic would come up again. Perhaps... if he could remove Eltasat's interest, he would not pursue it. He wasn't feeling that hungry urge, but he was obviously capable of taking emotions even when he didn't feel the need to as he had done with Jim earlier. Spock had suggested that a strong enough desire to absorb the emotions should be adequate to use the ability.

"I'd also be curious to know the process you us to create a uterus." McCoy began after an awkward silence.

"We do not create them." Eltasat continued in his same measured and open manner. "We harvest them from the females after they succumb to their faulty genetics and then grow them in the labs."

"You mean you take them from the dead babies?" Uhura repeated, her tone echoing the slight horror in her mind.

McCoy could understand the distaste, but he balanced it against their desperation and concluded that he might have done the same in their situation. "That must be difficult." He covered.

Eltasat just nodded, and the silence pervaded. McCoy knew he wasn't particularly offended by the comments because he was far more preoccupied with the strange readings he'd seen on the tricorder. McCoy saw his eyes fall to the device in his hand, like he was repressing a desire to ask for it back. His interest only seemed to be growing.

"I haven't seen anyone pregnant." Uhura said thoughtfully.

"Well, of course." Eltasat finally looked up, and McCoy was extremely grateful for Uhura's distraction. "Our pregnancy cycle was taxing on women before, but even more so for the men. Our male bodies aren't designed for the rigorous growth cycle that a woman's is. To become pregnant is to become bedridden until the child's birth. But I assure you, they are around. One of the president's men is pregnant right now."

Uhura frowned, though McCoy wasn't sure if it was a reference to what sounded like the president having several concubines or from the idea of being bedridden for so long. "That sounds pretty awful. Our women are generally pretty mobile for the majority of their pregnancy."

"Eighteen days can pass pretty quickly, particularly when it's mostly sleeping."

"Eighteen days?" McCoy and Uhura echoed at the same time. "I suppose that explains the bedrest." McCoy continued.

"Is that long for you?" Eltasat asked.

They were saved from answering by the communicator beeping. McCoy still had his hands full, so Uhura answered it. "Uhura here."

Jim's voice came over the speaker. "Bones with you?"

"Of course." McCoy answered, handing the beaker off the Eltasat. "And we're both perfectly fine."

"We're heading back in to the main hall for the evening here. Eldrith has offered us some pretty lavish rooms. We're talking jacuzzis and everything." McCoy could practically hear his grin. "Why don't you pack it in? You can pick up where you left off tomorrow."

"Sure, Jim, we'll be back shortly."

Uhura clicked off the communicator just as Eltasat offered to guide them back. "I should get you a different one, Doctor, just in case that one is defective." Eltasat offered, stretching out his hand for the medical tricorder. It was rather a feeble attempt to see the recorded scans from McCoy, but then again, McCoy's attempts to pass it off had been rather pathetic as well.

"That's quite all right. I'm only going to inspect it anyway."

Eltasat quickly switched tactics as he led them down the corridor. "Perhaps you would be willing to provide a... sample of your DNA for us. Given your remarkable eyes." Eltasat was clearly not a skilled liar, which McCoy supposed was a good thing.

"I would rather not." McCoy said, trying to keep his tone light. "But we could ask the captain if other volunteers from the ship with blue eyes would mind to supply a sample for you."

"I appreciate that." His emotions suggested otherwise. His eyes were still focused on him with interested intent.

McCoy stuck out his hand. Eltasat looked at it blankly. "It's a human custom called a handshake. You take my hand in yours and raise and lower it a few times. It's meant to show appreciation."

Uhura didn't call him on the slight stretch, merely looked on in interest as Eltasat shook his hand. McCoy concentrated on absorbing the emotions the other man was exuding. He found it surprisingly easy to take them on, and only slightly more challenging not to be overcome by them. Eltasat looked confused for a moment and then continued on. But McCoy wasn't sensing the intense interest any longer. At least for now.

They arrived in the main chamber and the alien excused himself to find Eldrith. Uhura turned to him expectantly. "So?"

"So?" McCoy repeated.

"Don't play dumb with me. Was he catching your link to Spock or are the rumors of you being half Indyrin now true?"

McCoy shrugged; he honestly didn't know what was going on with him anymore. "Could be both, I suppose." He didn't really like those rumors floating around but he knew the captain and Spock had discussed his new situation with the brass, so it was really just a matter of time before the whole universe knew. "Either way, I really don't think Jim would want me handing out my genetic code any more than I would want to."

"Right you are." Kirk affirmed as he came up behind them, wrapping an arm around the doctor's shoulders. "Eldrith also asked after it. He apparently wants to start of family of pretty blue eyed boys."

McCoy sighed. "Did they miss the part where I said it was a recessive trait? If both parents don't have the gene, the baby certainly won't have blue eyes."

"Unless their dark eyes are recessive in their species." Jim challenged helpfully. He was in a good mood, so McCoy figured that he'd probably had quite the success in his discussions with Eldrith. Either that or he was happy to be away from the man.

The doctor decided it was definitely a time for a change in topic. "Where's Scotty and Chekov?"

"I sent Chekov back to the ship. Apparently, some of the food didn't agree with him."

"And you didn't tell me?" McCoy crossed his arms over his chest. "He could have a serious allergic reaction."

"It wasn't serious and M'Benga has handled it just fine." Furrowing a brow, McCoy tried to read Jim's reaction. He looked like he was just being easy-going, but there was some tension below the surface. On an away mission, it would be customary for the medical personnel present to handle the situation if possible before returning to the ship. So why send Chekov to M'Benga and not him? Either Kirk didn't trust McCoy or he wanted Chekov off the planet. He was banking on the latter.

"What aren't you telling me?"

"He requested to go to M'Benga instead of you." Jim plowed through.

"Why?"

"He wouldn't say." Chekov might not have said anything, but they both undoubtedly had the same suspicion that it had something to do with the news of his strange abilities spreading. McCoy frowned. If Chekov, whom he considered more of a friend than an acquaintance, wanted to switch doctors, what did that mean for the rest of his patients? He felt a sadness overtake him. What more would the Indyrin take from him? Jim squeezed his shoulder in a comforting gesture. At least the captain had faith that he wouldn't steal his emotions. "It's probably not what you think. Chekov trusts you."

Scotty approached, breaking into the tension with a broad grin and a light mood that was clearly contagious. "It's like going back in history and being able to watch us create our first warp drive. Rudimentary, but so full of potential."

"I hope you're not giving them any pointers, Mr. Scott."

"Of course not, Captain!" And Scotty really did feel indignant about the accusation.

"We've been provided some rooms for the night in back." Jim announced, pointing the way. "Lieutenant, I'd feel more comfortable if you returned to the ship."

Uhura seemed like she might protest but Jim held up a hand, making it clear that it was an order. "Yes, sir."

"Do we have a reason not to trust these people?" McCoy asked after she'd beamed away.

"Not yet. It's just a feeling in my gut, Bones."

McCoy accepted that because his friend's gut feelings had saved them more times than he cared to admit. He followed behind Jim as they crossed the compound and found a luxury suite. There really was a jacuzzi. Attached around the outside of the suite were several doors to what appeared to be bedrooms.

They settled in around the table that was layered with food and began discussing all they had learned that day. Scotty was short and sweet, explaining that their engineering was way behind, but had a lot of potential. McCoy took the opportunity to show off his new medical tricorder and explain that Eltasat was very interested in his telepathic scans. Halfway through the explanation of the reproduction methods, Jim cut him off and requested the short version. Then McCoy was discussing some of their advanced technology in the medical field and found his former excitement about it returning. Jim seemed to find this agreeable considering that he'd discovered very little of interest in his discussions with Eldrith.

"Mostly, every conversation just seemed to wind back to how awesome he thought he was. I don't know how his ego fits on this entire planet. Heaven forbid we should try to fit it on the Enterprise." Jim was genuinely exasperated by talking with Eldrith for so long.

McCoy snorted. "You're one to talk. We'd have doubled our warp capabilities by now if we didn't have to tow your ego around with us all the time."

Jim turned to Scotty. "I think I've been insulted."

"Aye, I think you have. But the doc has a point."

"Mutiny!" Jim exclaimed. "I'll have you both hanged for this." His communicator dinged. The captain paused and pulled it open. "Kirk here."

Sulu reported in. "Captain, we've received new orders from Komack and Archer. They... seem to be contradictory. Also, Engineering is reporting that they cannot complete 64B or D from the new ordinance. I'm not sure how you'd like us to handle this."

Jim's good mood evaporated in an instant and he was back to the annoyed persona he'd held early this morning. "Understood. I'll be beaming back shortly."

McCoy looked at him in concern. He realized that Jim was constantly acting as a buffer between the Enterprise and the Admiralty, but this was getting ridiculous. The higher-ups were behaving like bratty teenage girls using passive-aggressive strategies against each other that just happened to force shiploads of people into bending to their whims. "Do you have to deal with that right now? It might be good to get a good night's rest first."

"Right now. Unless we want to see how fast Komack can find a replacement captain." Jim looked back at his two companions still seated at the table. "Bones... maybe you should..."

"We'll be fine, Jim. I haven't so much as seen a phaser on this planet yet."

"And Spock?"

McCoy felt along the link. Spock had mostly been keeping it relatively sealed all day, just as Serin had been blessedly silent, but what he did get from it suggested that if he returned to the ship tonight, he wouldn't make it out of Spock's quarters for several days. And he really wanted to get a look at the radiation research before he left, even if it meant braving Eltasat again. "Will tell me if he needs me. There's still time."

Jim seemed hesitant. "If you're sure?"

"Just check in on Spock, will you?"

Jim nodded and pulled out the communicator again and flipped it open.

"Don't worry, Captain." Scotty assured him, "I'll look after him."

McCoy rolled his eyes dramatically. He was plenty capable of looking after himself. Jim seemed to find it comforting though, so he let it drop. "Kirk to Enterprise. One to beam up."

When their captain had fully disappeared into sparkles, Scotty turned to him with a grin. "Now, if I'm not mistaken, Doc, this strange pastry here was the one that tasted exactly like an apple turnover."

.o0o.

A/N: Hooray for pseudoscience!