7/1/2259
Skinar's Quarters
4:30 P.M.

McCoy entered Skinar's quarters to find the Tausian in the living/work area. He was sitting on the small couch by the window,
staring fixedly at the stars with a calm expression on his face.

Sitting not far from him was his roommate, Chief Petty Officer Trolan from Engineering. McCoy had encountered the middle-aged
Kressari only once or twice but knew that he specialized in Impulse Engines and knew his way around the rest of Engineering
as well as Filars. He worked slowly but was very methodical and once he began a task didn't stop until it was finished.
Many in Engineering affectionately called him 'The Tortoise' because 'slow but steady wins the race.'

Skinar turned to face the doctor as he approached. "You've come to examine me again, Doctor?" he asked, his voice
rougher and more grating.

McCoy nodded. "As long as you're still on this ship I'm responsible for you."

Skinar turned to Trolan. "Go, old friend. You've haven't left my side since yesterday and you need a break. Get something
to eat, take a walk, or visit Engineering for awhile, but go. We'll talk more later."

The Kressari nodded silently. He was a man of few words and, like Skinar, not very demonstrative, but emotion was clear
in his eyes. He leaned over and gave the Tausian a gentle squeeze on the shoulder before departing.

McCoy made his way over to Skinar and pulled out his instruments. The tricorder revealed the grim fact that the Tausian's
cellular deterioration was increasing at a geometric rate. Even without the instruments it was obvious that he was rapidly
declining; his skin had become pallid in color and was beginning to peel and his breathing was becoming ever more labored.

Skinar meanwhile had been observing the doctor. "I must confess that there was once an instance where I found you to
be very amusing, Doctor," he said suddenly.

McCoy looked at him startled. He had been described as a lot of things but never amusing.

"It was a week after you had first transferred to the Saratoga," Skinar explained. "I came to you for a routine physical
and I overheard you having a discussion with Nurse Belzoni. You were in a very… irritable mood and railing about how
space was nothing but 'disease and danger.'

McCoy recalled the conversation. "I admit I've never cared much for space," he muttered.

"You would have made a poor Tausian then. For my people there is no worse torment then to be separated from the stars
and no greater joy than to roam among them."

"You're right, I'd have made a lousy Tausian," McCoy agreed. "I joined Starfleet because I didn't have anywhere else
to go at the time. Now…"

"Now you're out here for the Captain's sake," Skinar finished. "If not for him you would have been more than happy to be
stationed on Earth." At the doctor's silence he continued. "My people are content within themselves, Doctor, so we don't
need the deep emotional ties that so many species do. But although we don't need close friendships we do appreciate them.
Your willingness to come into an environment that you're not comfortable with for the sake of friendship is a worthy trait.
But Doctor…"

He leaned forward slightly. "By journeying among the stars you've had a chance to see things that you never would have
had you remained on Earth. When we discover a new type of star or journey through a nebula, do you truly feel no wonder?
When you look at the stars do you truly see no beauty at all?"

McCoy sighed. "I admit that I sometimes have. And by being out here I have a chance to make new medical discoveries
and advances. I'll never really like space though. I guess to me its this dark, ghastly void filled with awful stuff waiting
to happen."

Skinar smiled slightly. It was little more than a slight twitch of his lips, but it was there. "You and the young Captain are
two men at opposite ends of the spectrum. He loves being out here and you don't. For him space is a place full of adventure
and discovery and to you its a hostile, unwelcome environment. For him space is the one place where he wants to be
and for you it's a place where you decidedly don't want to be. " His eyes crinkled slightly. "I suppose that's one reason
why you're so…ornery I believe the word is."

McCoy snorted. "I suppose so."

Skinar's expression grew thoughtful as he met McCoy's eyes. "May I pass some wisdom on to you, Doctor? From an Elder
to one still young?"

"Go ahead."

"Space is not a ghastly void," Skinar said quietly. "It's the womb from which all life springs and where all things, both good
and bad, exist. Yes, there is danger within it and yes, there is disease. But never forget that there is beauty as well."
Skinar's dark brown eyes locked with McCoy's hazel. "Don't get so focused on the ugliness that you no longer see the beauty.
And remember, young one, the darker the blackness between the stars, the brighter the stars themselves."

McCoy was silent for awhile. "I'll try to keep that in mind," he murmured.

The door chime sounded. McCoy glanced at it wondering who it was. From what he'd read on Tausians he knew that during
their brief seclusion before they died they were visited only by their chosen Attendants, usually people that he or she knew
well, or worked closely with. In Skinar's case that was Trolan and Crewman Nehru, whom McCoy knew, had already been
there for hours before Skinar had finally shooed her off to her quarters to get some rest.

"Enter," Skinar called.

The door opened to reveal Captain Kirk, dressed in civilian clothes. Upon entering he bowed slightly. "Greetings Elder."

"Greetings, Captain," Skinar said softly. "You'll pardon me if I don't rise to greet you. I'm becoming increasingly weak
and need to conserve my strength if I want to make it to shuttle-bay tomorrow."

"I'm off duty now, Elder," Kirk said softly. "Right now I'm not the Captain. I'm merely a young man addressing an esteemed
Elder. And I've come to make a request."

"Which is?"

"I've been studying Tausian customs. Before they embark on their Final Journey they go into seclusion and are visited only
by their Attendants. Normally they select their Attendants from people that they know or work closely with. However one can
request the honor." Kirk approached Skinar and held out his hands in the Tausian gesture of supplication. "I am making such
a request now, Elder. Will you please grant me the honor of serving as your Attendant?"

The Tausian nodded. "Granted."