"No, but before Halls took over they said they heard her say that a trio had an idea for imports but that she could have been speaking to others."

A trio had an idea for imports. He had smiled and squeezed the shoulder under his hand, Scotty, Bones, and Spock were working on an idea to beam them back to the ship.

"Thank you. Is he,"

"If you do not allow us to secure him then you will have to hold and restrain him as the fever again is building in him. He will need many trips to the pool." the healer had looked at him.

"I will take him to the pools as the sun sets."

"One of the people will help you."

For the next five days that had been the routine of a long soak in the pool at dawn and another long soak at dusk and daily body washing with hot herbal lotions and minuscule sips of hot herbal tea. There was no noticeable change in Ty's condition apart from him not thrashing so much at night. Kirk had been able to sleep through the last two nights without having to hold Ty.

Spock remembered how McCoy had looked at him after he had said that he was uncertain how James Kirk would react should Ty Baylance have given his life to save him.

McCoy had just looked at him and said, "Well, we, you and I, just have to make sure that doesn't happen now, don't we?

"

He had wanted to point out not only how typically illogical but also how impractical the statement was because of the myriad of factors they did not know. He wanted to remind McCoy that they had to accept that they had no way of preventing it from happening. He knew that the doctor understood that they had no way of knowing exactly where the Captain was nor in what condition he was which also compounded their inability to prevent any action on the planet. He had wanted to but somehow that look of hopeful determination in the blue eyes let him know that McCoy firmly believed they could do it.

There had been so much trust and certainty in the look that he had just nodded, "What I want to do now, Doctor, is use your computer to find our more about Commodore Halls. I must use your computer as he would no doubt notice a direct inquiry into his records. I am unsure,"

"Oh," McCoy had rocked on his heels for a moment, " You are concerned about that cough of his as well and want to check if there was anything on the planet he might have an allergy to."

McCoy's remarks at first had surprised him but quickly realized that should the Commodore wish to report an investigation into his records McCoy could say there was a medically justifiable reason. He also realized that it would explain why he was not on the Bridge.

With fascination he watched as McCoy had picked up a small device he recognized as a intership personal communicator that the doctor quickly secured under his shirt, "Records to that," he had pointed to a small device on the desk, "as well as to," he had held out another small personal communicator, "only this one."

As he had taken it he realized he would hear what was said on the Bridge, would be able to gauge when he had to return, to the Bridge and realized that McCoy would bear the brunt of the Commodore's fury should he be caught. Before he had a chance to voice his concerns McCoy had left.

It had not taken him long to find a way through the security used to protect the Commodore's files when accessed though medical records. While he had been prepared for a few comments regarding the man's manner he was not fully prepared for the complaints about his inability to command, his lack of understanding of front-line crew, and noted how the only things he had been the captain of were small short-distance escort ships and transporters stationed around planets. He excelled in exact and comprehensive reports but there was a notation that he was never again to be in the position of Captain of any ship larger than a shuttle.

He had been staring at the last sixteen words when the speaker seemed to come to life.

"Where is Mister Spock?" the annoyance had been clear in the Commodore's voice.

"Checking on the possible pollen allergies you may suffer and the plant life on that planet. I asked him to check for me as I wanted to make sure you were not displaying any other symptoms."

"I have displayed no symptoms of any kind."

"You coughed upon beam up from the planet."

"I am the Captain of this ship and I tell you that was just,"

"In medical matters you will find, Sir, that I outrank you and I will not have even the remotest of possibilities that your cough was not just an allergy go un-investigated. If it is not an allergy I want to find out what caused it."

"Doctor, we are returning to the planet and I will lead the landing party,"

"Only if I give medical clearance for you to do so."

"I will be,"

Even as he raced the the Bridge he had heard McCoy in his full protective mood, "I am the Chief Medical Officer on this ship. As all that is said on this Bridge is recorded it is on record that I have told you of my need to investigate what caused that cough and that Ii believe it could be a pollen. If necessary my report,"

The panic was almost palpable in the Commodore's voice, "No! There is no need for a report to be sent. I am sure,"

As he had walked onto the Bridge McCoy had looked at him and only having known the man for so long and so well had he seen the relief when McCoy looked at him, "Ah, Mister Spock, did you find any unusual lplants that could have pollen that Commodore Halls might be allergic to?"

"I told you, Doctor McCoy, that I am fine." Halls had looked from him to McCoy and then back at him.

"Doctor McCoy is the finest doctor in Starfleet. If you even give his record the most cursory of looks you will find he,"

"I know that but this mission,"

Ignoring what Halls had said but looking right at the man he had continued, "Is the most tediously pedantic researcher before he considers the best treatment for a patient. What many medical personnel would ignore Doctor McCoy is insistent on a thorough investigation to ensure that whatever the causitive agent is it does not present a danger to the crew of this ship"

"But I only coughed one. Surely,"

"Neither you nor I am as medically trained as Doctor McCoy. It is obvious that as you did not cough when you first beamed aboard the Enterprise yet did when you beamed up from the planet that Doctor McCoy believes there is an unknown causative agent. As the Chief Medical Officer of this ship it is his obligation to this ship, to find out what caused you to cough. Engineering has done a sweep along with the biological sciences of the transporter and found minute samples of botanical residue to be investigated. I am,"

"Fine. Fine." The Commodore had stood up and looked, no, glared, at him. "Enough! Did you find any reason and I want a short answer."

"There were a number of grasses and trees with pollen that can cause a minor and momentary reaction. It is most likely you had a delayed reaction to the inhalation of some of the pollen."

"Good, good, then you believe he poses no risk?" McCoy had looked at him.

"I will be going down to the planet with him and will be able to assess his condition for you, Doctor." As he had looked at McCoy he knew that they both knew who he was really talking about.

Halls had looked at Uhura in almost a threatening way, "Communications Officer, what was that remark about? What exactly did you mean when, just as I was about the talk with the contact on the planet you called out about a trio having and idea for imports?"

As he had looked at Uhura he realized something had taken place when he had been in Sickbay and before McCoy had returned. The Commodore had again made contact with the planet and Uhura had obviously tried to get another message to Jim. Uhura had kept looking at him,

"Communisations Officer, you will answer me or I will again send you to your quarters."

Three times before the Commodore had sent her to her quarters for not telling him what her talks with an unknown contact really meant. She had told him that there was no real way of confirming who she was talking with at any one time nor where they were. She reminded him that it was permissible to talk with unknown as long as not tactical information was exchanged. Commodore Halls had been furious and sent her to her quarters under isolation conditions for three days at a time. As he had kept looking at him he had seen that deep determination in her.

Slowly Uhura had turned and faced the Commodore for a moment then looked back at him, "I am sorry he spoiled the surprise, Sir, but three of us were thinking of getting you a surprise for your birthday, I thought if some others on Bridge wanted to be involved that was the best way to tell them." She had turned and glared at the Commodore, "If you want to isolate me again for that go ahead. Do it and just see what happens."

When Commodore Halls had looked back at him Spock had seen how Uhura's reaction had shaken him. He also saw that the man had no idea that Uhura had let Jim know they were going to get him back to the ship. "First Officer, you and two Security Officers will beam down with me to a location the contact gave me. It is not where we beamed down but it is where the remains of the uniforms of Officer Baylance are. We will go down, search for any remains and then we are to officiate at a treaty meeting between the two warring factions. It seems just having my ship here settled the dispute."

For a moment he had stood still but looked around and saw that the others were aware he would control Halls.

When Halls had turned and looked directly at Uhura she had just kept looking at her board and ignored him till he had moved to stand beside her. It was clear that he realized that she was not going to look at him, "I trust you will have no difficulty remaining in contact with us at all times."

"No trouble at all, Sir. All systems are fully operational and will be recording."

"Good. It is a given that only I will talk to the people we encounter as I am the commanding officer. I know the questions that must be asked and just how to ask them. We will not be gone long".

One of the women who had often brought him his meals woke him early that last day. She set before him the usual meal and held out a shiny stone which he held in his hand, "I am told that off-world it is valued. Use it to help him."

Throughout most of the morning after he had taken Ty to the pool there had been a steady steam of tribe members who came and all gave him a large shiny stone. The son of the elder looked at Ty for a long time then walked over and knelt beside him before slowly holding out a Starfleet issue phaser. "I saw you taken. This was there after. It may be his. You care for him and it."

How strangely comforting it had been to feel that phaser in his hand and he looked at the youth, "I will."

"It is him and you being here that means there will be peace. They have seen we have the power to protect our own they did not know before. They did not see you send him. They saw him save our young and heard what was done to those four. Your ship returns and we will have peace." The youth had looked at Ty and almost fearfully reached out and touched him, "Those four would have killed my woman who was giving birth to my son. You knew he would warn us as you knew he would save our young. You will care for him."

All Kirk could do was nod, the man clearly thought he had told Ty to warn them.

"Our young will know of you and him."

Others came and the last to walk in, aided by the healer, was an elderly woman who just sat just looking at him for a long time then at Ty before back it him. She reached out and took his right hand in her left hand and Ty's left hand in her right hand then closed her eyes, "I cannot help keep him here, he will not let me." she had smiled, "He says it is not my fight. Says he has only to get you home." the woman was silent for a moment and he had felt her grip his hand lightly tighter, " The poison fever is strong in him. He will get you home and there, by a knife, you will wear the same blood. You will stay and he will have to fight to stay. If you and others help him fight he will stay. While others will help it is you who must make him want to stay. You must use our ways and the ways of old. Use your healing on him later if he stays. If you care about him you will make him want to stay with you. With you, the one called Spock who cares for you, and the one with blue eyes who knows healing who care for both of you." She looked at him, "He knows you and this Spock are closer than brothers and that the one with blue eyes is almost family to you two and for that reason above all others he knows he must get you back. This Spock and the one with blue eyes may help you but you must decide how to make him fight and accept what is to be done for and with him. It will be most painful for him and take a long time. You all must be willing. He will not fight when he knows you are safe unless you all help him to fight for life."

The old woman had released their hands then very briefly laid her hands on Ty's face and closed her eyes before removing them and had looked at him. "The poison fever has him but he fights. He said not as bad as Tea Plotact. He is fighting but the poison fever is strong. Use our ways then your own but give him a reason to fight when you are safe. Thank him for us"

Two other elders had come in, thanked him, and taken the elderly woman away. The elder came in with the healer and two of his aids. The elder spoke with some sadness in his voice, "The one called Halls has arrived with others some distance from here. We must bring them here as is tradition. You must be prepared for what must happen."

Momentary fury flashed through him with one thought, betrayed.

Then watched as the healer walked slowly over to Ty and, with the help of his aids, expertly tethered him to the floor before pouring some liquid down his throat then some died powder before some other thicker liquid which it seemed he was choking on. When he went to move the elder stilled him with a tight grip, "It must be like this."

The healer's aids left and the healer approached him and rubbed some of the thick liquid through his hair and on his face before pouring some on the fire and tossing some of the powder on the fire. "You must let it fill the hut with smoke, you must face the fire but so they can see you, and you must just keep saying in a low voice, malathoa, malathoa. Here," the man put a small stone in his mouth, "so you do not sound like you."

Ty started to moan and the healer looked at Kirk, "It must be like this if you are to return. He will be as he was for two days. You must just sit by the fire and repeat what you were told and not go to him. Those who come who know you will know and the others will not." When they left all he was aware of were Ty's guttural moans and the thick smoke that smelt like pine and burnt wool.