Author's Notes: Part 2! Will McCoy stay? What does Gaius have to say? It was really interesting writing this chapter.. I felt like I was one of the writers on the AOS writing staff rewriting a classic episode. Kirk is such a complex character to write post-XI. You know he matures into the Captain Kirk we all know and love, but he's still not "Shatner!Kirk"... he's still young and adventurous... He's "Pine!Kirk". With so little to work off of character wise, I think I pulled a bit from Shatner and Pine... and created this mess...

Spock and Uhura's relationship, professional and personal, is tested in this chapter. Hopefully I conveyed the frustration and struggle between being lovers and being officers on a field mission.

Reviews always appreciated. Enjoy part II! The third and final part will be, hopefully, done sometime this week.

Not beta'd or proofread.

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Part II

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The young man crept from the dark corner that he stood in. He watched as the four tried to figure out their escape from their forced prison and, despite his inner voice trying to tell him to ignore the quartet and simply act as if nothing was wrong, he opened his mouth and said four words shakily and quietly. He was sealing his fate, Gaius knew this, but he couldn't bare and watch another group of strangers be tortured to death.

Not again. Not this time.

" I-it may not be much but… I know something that could… help."

McCoy, finally feeling the effects of the painkiller, threw his hand up in the air, " At this rate, kid, anything'll help us."

He knew his wrist was sprained and he needed to properly attend the injury soon, but so far the hypo was doing its job. For now at least. McCoy just needed to mentally keep note to not over exert himself with that hand for the rest of mission. Though, after quickly glancing at his friend's direction, he had doubts that would ever happen. Cowboy Heroics was James Kirk's middle name, the doctor thought sardonically, it definitely was not Tiberius.

Gaius chewed on his lower lip nervously. Uhura slowly approached the teenager and wrapped her arm around his shoulder. She pulled him close to her frame. He was shaking and she rubbed his upper arm to calm him.

" It's okay. You're safe with us." She whispered comfortingly. He looked up at Uhura and she smiled. It calmed him down slightly; enough so he could look up at the other three men in the room.

" What can you tell us, Gaius?" Kirk asked with a smile.

" This… power… not all of us have it." Gaius said with hesitation. He paused, swallowed spit, and closed his eyes. " We're only a population of twenty three… Everyone has abilities except me and…. my friend, but he's dead."

" When did it start? These powers?"

" A year? Two years after we arrived?" Gaius pulled himself away from Uhura's embrace. He looked at her and nodded and she understood. He was becoming confident, sure of himself… Perhaps, he saw there was hope with this group of individuals. " I may look like a teenaged boy, but I'm actually three hundred fifteen years old. We've all stopped aging once we've arrived here."

" Arrived here?" Spock crossed his arms. " Are you inferring that you and your people are not native to this planet?"

" No, we're not."

" Fascinating. How long have you been here?"

" Three hundred yea…rs!" Gaius stumbled backwards as his body was being taken over. " They're calling for me! I… I must gooo!" He spun around and nearly tripped over his own feet. He rushed out of the room, leaving the four to their own thoughts.

" That did not help us one bit." McCoy commented dryly. He lied back on the bench, rested his injured hand over his chest, one leg atop while the other dangled from the side.

Spock looked at McCoy. Mentally, the doctor's resignation perplexed him, nearly annoyed him, but outwardly he feigned indifference. The attitude was atypical of the thirty four year old doctor. Though, his reasoning for being such a pessimist was understandable given the personal hardships that have lead him to Starfleet. Uhura glanced between the doctor and her bond mate, clearly feeling his mild annoyance through their bond.

It was a much-needed amusement in such a tense situation. She walked over to Spock and sat down next to him. It was subliminal, but she brushed their fingertips together. He looked down at her and she up at him… there were no words that needed to be exchanged. Whatever was between them stayed between them; just those little moments of reassurance and all of it unnoticed by the ship's captain and its doctor.

" Bones, this is why Starfleet bans doctors from self medicating themselves." Kirk said with a smirk. McCoy looked over at Kirk and rolled his eyes.

" I wouldn't trust you or the pointy-eared bastard with my health even if you two were the last men in this whole damned galaxy." McCoy glanced at Uhura with a smile. " I'd trust you though, dear."

" Duly noted, Doctor." Kirk walked over to McCoy and pushed his leg aside. McCoy nearly fell off the bench as Kirk plopped himself down on the cushioned seat and crossed his legs. " Though, I have to admit, you probably gave yourself more than you needed to miss some important information."

McCoy sat up, " If I could inject myself with a sedative right now, I would."

" Mr. Spock, mind explaining to our fine doctor what key information our brave Gaius told us?"

" They are not native to this planet and had stopped aging once they've arrived. The only logical conclusion is that whatever has made them what they are today is due to whatever is on this planet."

" Look at that, Bones! You have something to do on this field mission."

Sighing in defeat, McCoy reached for his tricorder. " I'm going to need samples, first." He suddenly stood up and knocked his tricorder onto the floor in the process. " Or Later."

" Bones?"

McCoy took a few steps forward like a puppet being controlled by a puppet master. No matter what he could do, he had absolutely no control over his body.

" I can't control myself, Jim!"

McCoy, against his will, walked out of the room; then, suddenly Spock and Uhura stood up as well. In the same manner as McCoy, they too sauntered out of the room against their will. Both trying to fight, but to no avail — the control only became stronger, a painful strain against their muscles. Kirk followed after them as they made their way to Lucius' throne room.

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Spock, McCoy, and Uhura stumbled into the throne room and walked to the center where they were greeted by Lucius and Aurelia. His wife bowed gracefully with a smile and Lucius nodded his head. Behind them, to the far left, was Gaius – watching silently. Kirk finally arrived in the room and walked over to his senior officers. He stood next to Spock.

" Ah, I knew I forgot someone!" Lucius commented colorfully, clasping his hands together. " Do forgive me, Captain. I tend to forget unimportant things."

" Stop jamming communication to my ship." Kirk ordered. Lucius raised an eyebrow at the captain's brash command.

" I don't see why I should. You're all guest in my humble abode."

Kirk scoffed, " We are your prisoners, not your guests. You've blocked our communication and I want you to unblock it."

" You're being entirely rude, Captain Kirk. I've been quite generous with you all."

" You've held us hostage and against our will. I'm not a fool."

" This can all easily be resolved if you let me know what your decision is concerning your valuable doctor." Lucius smiled, blue eyes gleaming with amusement. " I'll make it easy for you to decide. I'll restore your communication to your ship and you may all leave as long as Dr. McCoy stays."

" No deal. We refuse to negotiate."

" Really, Captain, your foolish thinking escapes me. I'll ask your doctor instead," He looked at McCoy. " Will you take our offer? I promise you that you will find life here quite comfortable in exchange for your services."

The words fell from Lucius lips like sweet honey. A tempting offer from the devil himself, McCoy thought grimly. If he were a fool, he probably would have taken the offer. A life of potential luxury and all he had to do was become their doctor? Who would not have taken the offer? But, Leonard McCoy was no fool. He knew that the promises this man offered was nothing like he described. His crewmates, friends, would probably be killed before they made it back to the ship.

Leonard McCoy was a doctor, not a selfish fool. His life was on the Enterprise, not on an alien planet with strange beings who can take his will away. He would not become a puppet for the benefit of them.

" I'm sorry, but I refuse." He said. It was calm and relaxed. He wanted to play it safe; perhaps if he were diplomatic maybe this Lucius would change his mind. It was a gamble, but McCoy had learned years ago that life was a gamble. He lost it all once; he wasn't going to loose again.

Lucius' smile fell from his features. It was not the answer he had anticipated from the doctor. Perhaps, he thought, he was being too lenient. Maybe he had to use a more direct approach to get the doctor to accept his generous offer. The crew of the Apollo had refused in the same way after saving his wife's life… He made sure they never lived to leave. It was unfortunate that they would have to suffer the same fate as was bestowed upon that unfortunate crew.

" I do not take kindly to refusal." The hospitality was gone, replaced by the displeasure of their 'host'. " I guess I will have to convince you otherwise."

McCoy was forced to walk over to Lucius. He did not fight it this time – the pain that would come with the attempt was something he knew his body could not tolerate for much longer. He stepped up onto the dias and stood behind the powerful leader. McCoy felt his muscles relax, but that feeling being under someone's control still tugged in the back of his mind. Even if he wanted to attack Lucius, the tyrant would have had control over his body before he could go for the strike.

" Nothing you will do can convince me other wise."

" Quite the contrary, Doctor," Lucius lifted his left hand and pointed at Uhura. The communication's officer stiffened and, like she was being pulled by the string of a marionette, walked to the front and center of Kirk and Spock. " I believe showing you how much our people enjoy the music and the arts will help you realize that we are a compassionate race."

" Let her go, Lucius." Kirk warned.

" May I remind you, Captain, that you are no longer aboard your ship." Uhura outstretched her arms like a ballerina. Then, she's spinning like a ballerina – performing a series fouette en tourants. Her toes ache from the pressure against the point of her boot. Uhura tries to fight against it, but it only makes the pain worst; so she searches for him in her mind. She wants to feel him; she wants Spock to take her mind away. The bond opens up and the flood of emotion and pain rush into the Vulcan's psyche. He closes his eyes and gasps.

She's suffering. His bond mate is suffering and he can't move. He is frozen in place, his body betraying his mind, betraying her. He can't help her – save her. Spock starts to breath heavily and Kirk notices. The captain looks at his first officer and then at his communication officer. The two of them both breathing in synch… Their minds were locked. Spock was carrying her pain.

" Stop it! Can't you see she's in pain?" McCoy yelled.

" But I think she makes a fine dancer." Aurelia lamented with a smile on her delicate features. Her ice blue eyes gleamed with amusement; finding pleasure in the obvious pain that the young woman was enduring. " Make her do something else."

Uhura stumbles a few steps forward as her body is forced from it's relentless twirling. Her ankles ached, her toes screamed in pain, and her legs felt nearly like jelly. Yet, the communication officer refused to cry out in pain. Hot and sweaty, she refused to give Lucius and his wife the pleasure in her suffering. Uhura could feel Spock in her mind; she knew that without him she would have suffered a lot worst. He was giving her the mental support to suppress the pain.

Like the puppet she was forced to become, her body was forced into a new position. She wobbled as she outstretched her back leg and leaned slightly forward. Completely lacking the grace of the ballerina she was forced to become. She bit her lower lip as she held the pose.

" Is this how you treat your guest? Is this how a cultured society treats people weaker than them?" Kirk barked. Lucius looked him and raised an eyebrow.

" In this world, Captain, the weak do not survive."

Uhura yelled out in pain, " Let her go." Spock said, his voice cool and even. Kirk and McCoy knew that tone of voice, especially the Captain. The last time he heard that inflection in his first officer's voice, he was on the receiving end of a brutal beat down that nearly cost him his life.

Uhura fell to the ground once Lucius lifted his control from her body. Aurelia made a disapproving sound and if anyone was paying attention to her, she was visibly pouting like a spoiled child. Breathing heavily, Uhura slowly sat up and reached for her ankle. She rubbed it through the thick leather of the knee high boots she wore and winced from the stinging pain.

" Maybe a song shall do, my dear?" Lucius looked at his wife and reached up to run a hand through her golden blonde locks. " I can see that she apparently is quite the gifted singer."

Nyota's eyes widened, " You looked into my min-!"

" Shh, I did not order you to speak. Only to sing."

" Across the stars…" She began softly, her voice quivering ever so slightly. " My heart waits for you… my love, across the stars. The bygone of days… sweet memories never to be forgotten… my love, across the stars."

Aurelia clapped happily, " She's perfect, my dear! Absolutely marvelous! She can sing, dance, and given that she's a Starfleet officer I'm sure she can do a lot more. I would love to have her as my lady-in-waiting."

" That, my dear Aurelia, is only up to the doctor." McCoy looked at Lucius and his wife.

" … I-if I stay," He looked at Uhura and closed his eyes. Perhaps he was being selfish. Maybe he needed to sacrifice himself for the safety of his crewmates. " If I say will you let them go?"

" Why, of course, good doctor. They'll be free to return to their ship."

Uhura looked at McCoy and shook her head, " Don't… you… dare."

" Whatever he does to us, Bones, you're staying!" Kirk ordered. " No matter wha—"

Kirk and Spock were forced down to their knees.

" Captain, may I remind you that you are not in command in my home." Lucius lifted hand and forced Kirk onto his hands. The captain began crawling, slowly, towards Lucius. McCoy watched in horror as the man he's known for nearly seven years, a man that he's known to have so much pride for himself in the entire galaxy, reduced to crawling on his hands and knees like a dog.

" Stop it! Stop doing this to him!"

" No matter… what… Bones…" Kirk gasped out as he fought Lucius control. " That is… an order."

McCoy looked at his captain, who was now at Lucius feet, and then at Uhura, who was silently trying to recover from her attack. How could he ignore his captain's order? How could he ignore Uhura's demand that he continue to deny Lucius request and watch them suffer? He was shocked to admit it, but where was the logic in that? Then, there was Spock, who he noticed was silently baring whatever pain Uhura was going through. McCoy didn't know much about Vulcan anatomy or their telepathic nature, but he definitely knew that the two had locked their minds together.

They were all suffering to protect him. How could he ignore them?

" Doctor, this all can be over…" Lucius said idly as he looked down upon Kirk at his feet.

There was a moment of silence in the chamber then the laughter of someone sprang to life in the room. Uhura and McCoy instantaneously looked to the source of the laughter. McCoy's eyes widened in shock and Uhura covered her mouth, nearly on the verge of tears; there was Spock before them laughing jovially against his will. Uhura turned around and glared at Lucius.

" Stop it! Don't you dare do this to him!" She yelled. " Don't force him to do this!"

" He's a Vulcan, Lucius! You can't force emotion out of him!" McCoy couldn't believe what he was watching. He looked at Lucius. " You'll break him—you'll break them both!"

" Oh…" Aurelia glanced between Spock and Uhura and finally realized what the doctor meant. " I see…"

" Interesting. If we can't kill him with laughter, perhaps crying will do." Lucius lifted his hand again. As quickly as Spock was laughing, he was now crying—wallowing forcefully.

Uhura closed her eyes and tried to focus on their bond. She had to be the support now and carry him like he did with her. Slowly she got up onto her feet against the protest of her legs, and limped over to her bond mate. Lucius and Aurelia watched with much amusement as the young woman got down to her knees and how he, despite his discipline being ripped away, clung onto her, buried his face in the crook of her neck and continued to cry. She stroked his hair and whispered soothing words to him. The control placed on the emotional transference of their bond began to weaken as Spock's control crumbled and soon Uhura began to cry.

It felt as if they were being exposed to the world. It was not three years ago, on the Transporter, where neither of them knew if that day was going to be their last together. No, this was forced. He was being forced to be emotional. He had his entire identity ripped from him and, in the process, her own as well. Two strong lovers, so very private, now exposed for the sick pleasures of a deranged, powerful, leader.

Spock was ashamed. He was ashamed he could not maintain control. He was ashamed that his emotional outburst was now affecting his bond mate, his lover, his wife. He was ashamed… and so angry. Very angry. And, while he could faintly feel Nyota's comfort through their bond, it wasn't enough. He failed them both… it was something he simply could not forgive himself for.

And yet, despite it all, Uhura still continued to comfort him. She continued to say it wasn't his fault. She still, through her tears, was trying to become his anchor.

" How long will you allow this to continue, Doctor? How long will you allow these two to suffer?"

" Bone—" Kirk opened his mouth but the words failed to escape. Lucius prevented him.

McCoy sullenly looked at his captain, " I… have my orders."

" Doctor… look… look at them. Show them mercy. "

He wordlessly watched his friends. What could he do? How could he let this continue? Lucius was right; he had to stop this madness before one of them died from this sick game of humiliation and physical abuse.

" … Let me think it over it… One last time."

Lucius raised an eyebrow, " One last time, Doctor. I shall grant them mercy on your behalf."

Kirk fell to his side once Lucius hold on him was lifted. Spock stopped crying and continued to rest his head in the crook of Nyota's neck as she slowly recovered from the effects. McCoy felt Lucius' control fade away and he quickly ran to Kirk's side as the man slowly got to his feet. Kirk shot a glare in Lucius' direction before looking at his Doctor.

" You okay?" He asked. Bones frowned.

" I should be the least of your worries." McCoy nodded his head in Spock and Uhura's direction. " They probably need my help the most."

" Gaius… please direct our lovely guests to their room." Aurelia commanded. The boy emerged from his corner, walked over to the entrance, and quietly waited.

McCoy and Kirk approached Spock and Uhura. The two lovers wordlessly pulled away from each other. Spock stood up and helped Uhura up, supporting her body against his own by wrapping a hand around her waist and her arm around his shoulders. He didn't say a thing to McCoy or Kirk as he followed Gaius out of the room with his wife.

" I'm sorry, Jim."

" You're following orders." They followed behind the couple. " I would not have expected anything less of you."