"Jim-" Spock's words are consumed by violent wheezing then sputtering coughs. Droplets of jade blood leap from his mouth as his body tries to purge itself of the excess blood. For what seems like eternity the hacking and wheezing goes on, then I realize - it's not going to stop. Spock's panicked eyes lock with mine - he's begging for answers, for me to get us out of here.

Think Jim! There has to be a way out! I'm desperate to think of something, anything. I try scanning the alleyway for something to use, but it's dark and we're running too fast for me to see anything, it's all just a blur. Despair, doubt, guilt fill me and I wonder... can I die with these feelings? Can I die knowing I caused this boy's death because I wasn't strong enough to save us? But as I hear Spock's wet, rasping breath and his feet striking the ground in determination I begin to realize. He's practically dying; he's bleeding all over the place, coughing up
blood. And yet, he's still running, he hasn't given up, he's still fighting for his life. If he's fighting...I won't give up. I'll fight too.

As the last word melts from my thoughts into the night I see it. Not twenty feet ahead, a mutilated corpse, but in its detached hand lies salvation - a small, silver hand phaser. If I could find a way to use it to our advantage, charge the cell to build up or...The power cell. There's no guarantee it's even charged. It's our only chance.

We're closing in on the corpse fast. Almost there, almost beneath our very frantic feet something shifts. The ground rumbles and shakes. The subway speeders, of course. Even after the attack the world's solar panels continued to power everything even when
people weren't around to control them. Rail cars still made their daily stops, vid screens without signals can still be heard broadcasting the sound of static.

If the subway is beneath us... then perhaps I can blast a hole through the ground - it should only be the regulation eight feet thick. Its worth a try. We reach the corpse and I dart for it, screaming at Spock to keep running. But as I try to pull the phaser from the lifeless hand it won't budge. Rigor mortis. Desperate as the creatures close in I stomp on the hand until i hear loud cracks, breaking the bones of the fingers.

Clawing at the splintered hand it finally releases the phaser. As soon as I feel its gentle warmth against my palm I bolt. My legs scream in protest as I push them past their limit to catch up with Spock. Fiddling with the phaser as I come alongside him I my heart leaps, the cell is three fourths full, almost a full charge. I just need to find a place for Spock and I to take cover as the cell builds up...

"Jim..." A wet wheeze separates Spock's words, but he makes up for it by pointing to a large crevice in the alley's wall. It's only about half a meter wide and two meters deep. It will be close, but we can squeeze in.

Setting the phaser to build up I lock eyes with my Vulcan companion. He nods and I know he understands. Closing my eyes for a split second I pray to an absent god this works, then, toss the phaser as hard as I can over my shoulder.

As soon hear it hit the icy ground behind us I grab Spock and shove him into the wall first, pushing him into the farthest end of the wall's opening, pressing my body against his wounded frame, desperate to protect him from the shrapnel that will soon be assaulting us.

"Jim...you..." Spock's words are drowned out by an unbearable, engulfing sound. The phaser's explosion. Before another word may enter my mind I feel hot metal searing into my back, melting into my skin. My screams are muted by the blast's never ending sound. Excruciating pain shoots through my limbs and consumes every living cell in my body. Scarcely aware of my actions I grasp the front of my shirt where it lies on Spock's chest. It's soaked with his blood, it smells of him, but the pain that's consuming me overpowers everything.

I press my forehead on that alien chest and try to swallow my own screams. As I do a dry hand finds my temple. A calming voice fills my
mind killing all the pain, filling me with calm. Shh...James. There is no pain...only darkness...there is no pain...only calm. I have you James...you're safe...you saved us...give in to the darkness. A cooling relief washes over my body, radiating from my temple, from this boy's hand. I feel safe, as if nothing can touch me when Spock's here. Spock...what did he...But the world blinks out of existence as I fall into unconsciousness.