The next week found the crew of the Enterprise amidst a flurry of activity. The Enterprise was on the course to the planet Zodura II on maximum warp under Starfleet's orders. Apparently, they were of high priority.
"Kepten and Komander on ze bridge," Chekov announced with a huge smile as the doors of the turbolift opened, admitting Jim and Spock.
Jim greeted everyone with a smile and a wink. Spock gave a cool nod.
"Alright everyone, your attention please," Jim began. "As you all know that we are headed for the planet Zodura as per Starfleet's orders. I want all my department heads and senior officers in the briefing room in ten minutes wherein further instructions will be given. Uhura… you know what to do."
Uhura pursed her lips and gave him a rude glare before turning towards her station.
Jim bristled at the insult and had to clench his teeth shut in order to keep himself from reprimanding her on the bridge.
Spock however, who had also seen Uhura's look, had no such qualms. He asked in a perfectly even tone, "Lt. Uhura, do you have anything to say against the Captain's orders? Please enlighten the rest of us."
The whole bridge quietened as everyone on the bridge became engrossed with whatever they were doing. In fact, Jim would bet upon his last credit that some of them were even trying not to breathe.
Jim was most definitely impressed and wondered how Spock managed to insert that much of intimidation into a single sentence. He himself probably looked as threatening as a cute and cuddly teddy bear next to Spock.
Jim scowled.
Suddenly another unpleasant thought struck him, 'Holy shit, does Bones have a more intimidating scowl?'
Meanwhile, Uhura had stiffened and slowly turned to face Spock.
"No, Commander," she answered quietly.
"Are you certain? Your actions do not quite match with your words, Lieutenant," Spock countered.
Uhura bit her lips before answering contritely, "Quite sure, Commander." Saying so, she turned towards Jim, "I apologize if it seemed otherwise, Captain."
Jim nodded, letting her off the hook. "No harm done, Lieutenant. But," Jim added before she could turn back towards her station, "see that this does not happen again."
Jim gestured Spock towards the briefing room and they left together. And sure enough, on their heels came several sighs of relief.
xxx
"Zodura II is a recently discovered planet, with an arid climate and very few sentient life forms. The plant life too is scarce and scattered. The only remotely habitable areas are near the water bodies which are fed by deep aquifers," Spock informed all the officers in the briefing room.
"Remotely habitable?" Bones interrupted him. "Why the hell is this mission of a high priority then?"
Spock glared at Bones at the interruption while Bones scowled back.
Jim hastily covered his smile before either of the two men could see him. Clearing his throat, he ordered them in his best 'Captain' voice, "Now, now, children… please stop pulling each other's pigtails."
"Children…," Bones sputtered, transferring the glare to Jim while Jim simply smirked at him.
Spock gave a small sigh and continued, "Before Dr. McCoy interrupted me, I was about to elucidate that Starfleet's interest in the planet does not lie in the planet's habitability. The reason why Zodura II has been classified as a most important planet is the enormous quantity of Dilithium crystals which the planet apparently contains."
"Aye… I distinctly remember reading about it somewhere," Scotty burst in. "Starfleet made a team of scientists and sent it to the planet. It was led by… umm…"
"By the geologist Dr. Laverezer." Spock completed for Scotty before continuing, "The reports forwarded by the scientists are exemplary. The planet is habitable enough for a mining centre to be set up. The local life forms are of no threat and the Dilithium reserves are plentiful and easily accessible. But recently, the team of scientists sent to the planet lost contact with Starfleet owing to an ion storm which jammed their communicators and electronic devices. However, after the storm had passed, they were still out of contact. As of now, 48.256 hours have passed and no contact could have been established with them. Hence, they have officially been labelled as missing now."
Spock paused to look at Jim, "Captain, perhaps you would like to continue from here…"
Jim smiled at Spock before turning towards the rest of his senior officers.
"Okay, so these scientists might be perfectly all right, the problem being some faulty communicating devices. But then again, they might not be. And that's where we come in. We are to beam down to the planet, find out what's wrong, find the scientists and beam them out if the situation demands. In a nutshell… we'll be treating this as a rescue operation. Do you agree, Spock?"
"Affirmative," Spock replied. "We shall have to implement speed and stealth and be prepared for unidentified hazards. I recommend the size of the landing party to be small."
Jim nodded thoughtfully and then proceeded to give his orders, "The landing party will consist of me, Commander Spock, Dr. McCoy and Lt. Hendorff and his team of security officers. Another security team should stand ready to beam down if needed. I also want a medical team ready, awaiting our return. The science team is to scan the planet and analyze every data that Spock sends… Dr. Marcus you're in charge of that. Lt. Uhura, you and your team will try to establish communication with those scientists, and Scotty… keep an eye out for ion storms. Are the orders clear?"
A chorus of 'Yes, Captain' rang out.
"Great then, you're all dismissed. Sulu, you have the conn," Jim said grinning, excited at the thought of some upcoming action. He missed Spock and Bones sharing a wary look at his expense.
xxx
"Spock, may I talk to you for a second?" Nyota asked nervously.
Spock looked up at her and instantly derived from her sombre expression that whatever she was going to say would be important.
"Affirmative," he replied.
He had been giving some last minute instructions to his science team before he beamed down to the planet. He wrapped it up quickly.
"That will be all, officers. You are all dismissed."
Spock waited for his officers to disperse before giving Nyota his full attention. He had not missed the look Dr. Marcus and Nyota had shared before Dr. Marcus returned back to her work station. But he chose not to question Nyota about it.
"Nyota, I have to be in the transporter room within 30.23 minutes."
Nyota nodded nervously. "I know, I just wanted to tell you to be safe. And…," she stopped abruptly and took a deep breath before continuing, "I am so sorry, Spock. I am so sorry."
Spock stared at her impassively for a moment before asking, "May know the reason why?"
She smiled self-deprecatingly. "The reason why I am sorry or why I acted like a bitch in the first place?"
"Both, if you please," Spock replied in a quiet voice.
Nyota began her confession after contemplating for a moment or two. "That day when Jim nearly died, do you remember how scared you were thinking you were going to lose him?"
Spock's mind immediately flashed back to that day…
X
"Why is not working? Why, Doctor? You said it would. You said Khan's blood would revive him. Do something."
"What do you think I am doing, you bloody hobgoblin? Now get out of here before I have to sedate you… Fuck his heart is stopping again. Damn it! Christine… the anti-haemorrhage hypo, now."
"Do not die. You promised to trounce me in chess. Keep your promise… Just keep breathing."
"His heart has stabilized for now, Spock. Don't worry, he is James T. Kirk. He is going to be all right. He knows I'll kill him if he dies. Now go outside and wait, okay?"
X
Spock drew in a sharp breath. "Vulcans do not experience fear, Nyota," he informed her in a harsh voice.
"Is that so? I was of the opinion that they do not lie either Spock. I sat with you outside while Leonard worked tirelessly to save Jim. I was so blind, so oblivious till that day. And even then I stuck my head in the sand like some ostrich rather than face the reality. And… and I became so jealous, so bitter, so scared thinking I was going to lose you," she paused, her face wet with tears.
"So many times I felt like giving you an ultimatum to make a choice between me and him."
The statement completely stunned Spock for few seconds during which he could only stare at Nyota. She started fidgeting under his heavy gaze.
He finally found his voice back and asked, "So, why did you not?"
"Because… because I already knew who you would choose," she replied quietly. "I could never compete with him. I couldn't compete when you thought he was dead. How can I ever compete now?"
"Nyota, I do not understand. Jim is my friend…," Spock started but she interrupted him harshly.
"Stop, Spock. You may be my boyfriend now, but first and foremost you are my friend. I don't want to lose your friendship. I don't want to lose Jim's friendship either. And so I think it's time. I am finally ready to end our… relationship."
Spock's eyes closed of their own accord listening to Nyota dissolving their relationship. Dissolving all their carefully laid out plans. Dissolving their future together and all that was practical and predictable.
And the only thing could feel was… relief.
He opened his eyes when Nyota laid her hand over his chest. He stood completely still as she rose upon her toes and laid a chaste kiss upon his lips.
"I am no longer afraid to lose you Spock. It's because I have finally realized… I never had you in the first place."
xxx
"Oww… damn it Bones! What the fuck?" Jim hissed as Bones attacked him with a hypospray. They were in the transporter room, about to be beamed down.
Bones gave him an unimpressed look and grumbled, "A newly discovered planet… lord knows how many stupid things you will be allergic to out there."
Jim was about to give a scathing reply when Spock joined them. He looked oddly contemplative but his stance screamed ready for battle and Jim could not help but think that the Vulcan looked ridiculously hot.
Jim blinked. 'Shit, did I just think Spock and hot in the same context? Well he is hot, of course. With a body like that… Damn it, get your head out of the gutter Jim! He's your best friend…'
"Aaargh…," Jim screamed as Bones once again hypoed him. "Holy shit Bones! Get those things away from me, you sadist."
The crew members around Jim suppressed their smiles including Spock.
"Oh that?" Bones smirked. "It was the tri-ox compound. We're going to a fucking desert if you have forgotten… with a very low amount of oxygen."
"The Doctor is right Captain," Spock interrupted. "The lack of oxygen would have hindered you."
Jim rolled his eyes, "Okay, fine. But can you both relax a bit? It's going to be a pretty straightforward mission. We get in, find out what happened to the scientists and then we get out."
Bones snorted.
"Oh come on Bones. What can possibly go wrong in a fucking desert with almost no sentient beings or dangerous life forms?"
And once again Jim missed his two senior most officers and best friends sharing a look, each sporting matching looks of trepidation.
xxx
Hours later Jim found himself running for his life with a pack of unknown wild animals behind him, intent on making him their dinner.
And to top it off, he absolutely had no idea about where he was.
'Lord help us all...'