Pain. Darkness. The creature has got me. I tried to run, I ran towards the light because they didn't seem to like sunlight. It's too late. It got me. It hurts.

Peter opened his eyes and winced. I'm not on Deneva. I'm in a shuttle.

He tried to piece together what had happened. He remembered something going wrong, navigating blind, and Soral… Soral?

Peter sat up and blinked in the darkness. No Emergency lights, but a gash in the metal above him let in a beam of light.

"Soral?"

He stood unsteadily and worked his way aft. His foot brushed against something soft. He squatted down just as Soral opened his eyes and winced. That isn't good.

"You okay?" Peter asked. Stupid question, obviously he isn't!

"My right leg appears to have been caught underneath the navigation console. It is broken in two places."

"Okay," Peter whispered trying to fight down panic, "I'm gonna go look for a phaser to cut you out of there."

"Are you injured?" Soral asked.

"Yeah, but I'm not the one with a smashed leg," Peter mumbled as he tried to work his way around the shuttlecraft. There was normally an Emergency Kit on the right bulkhead… the one that was crumpled like a ball of tin-foil. He felt around the jagged metal, ignoring the cuts he was getting, until at last he felt the smooth surface of the E-Kit. He flicked on the flashlight and worked his way back to Soral.

"How much do you trust me?" He whispered as he held up the phaser.

"I would not trust you to stay out of trouble…"

Peter snorted, "How about my ability to cut this metal without accidentally amputating your foot?"

"I have confidence in you."

"I'm glad someone does…" he whispered as he adjusted the phaser to a higher setting and began cutting the metal away. A shower of sparks fell around the two. Soral did not flinch, Peter did not blink.

He threw the phaser aside and wrenched away the heavy metal, revealing the distorted looking leg of his friend.

"Alright," Peter swallowed, "Let's see how much I remember about basic Vulcan First Aid…"

"Missing?" Kirk managed to ask clearly, despite the sudden dryness in his throat.

"We are following their last known course and investigating every possibility." The Admiral on the Viewscreen said quickly, "We will keep you informed."

"The Enterprise could be there in…" Kirk paused and shot a look at Spock who supplied, "4 days 14 hours and 32 minutes at Maximum Warp."

"I could gi'e ya somethin' more to boost us along," Scotty piped in.

"We appreciate the offer, Enterprise, but we already have a large Search Team assembled. No need to disengage from your current assignment. I remind you the ore you carry is extremely flammable and valuable. It must be delivered safely and in a timely manner."

Kirk bit his lip, "Thank you, Keep me informed."

The Transmission ended.

"Captin," Chekov spoke softly, "Surely we vill go help."

"I can navigate through the Sardonis Asteroid belt, sir," Sulu chimed in, "It would save us some time."

"We still have the cargo," Kirk grumbled, "And can't go faster than impulse as long as we have it in our storage bay."

The crew fell silent for several minutes before a loud KACHUNK was heard.

Kirk whipped his head around, "Report!"

"It seems the cargo has accidentally been jettisoned," Spock spoke up, "Unfortunately, the Enterprise is unequipped to collect it from space safely."

Kirk narrowed his eyes at the suspicious proximity of Spock's hand to the Cargo air-lock button then smirked, "Nothing for it then. Alert Starfleet that we have accidentally lost the ore, and are on our way back to Earth!"

"You performed admirably," Soral said hoarsely.

"Yeah… not bad for an amateur. Think I could be a Doctor on Vulcan?"

"I have heard of other Human's studying medicine there. However, I would not have considered that a career possibility for you."

Peter chuckled and wrapped the Emergency blanket tighter around Soral.

"Okay, listen to your doctor. That Healing Trance you can do… I know this sounds harsh, but I don't want you doing that. Not just cuz I'd miss your company, I'm seriously not sure I could keep you warm enough. Your heart rate lowers when you're in that state right?"

"Correct."

"I have a feeling it's going to get a lot colder here. And with a lowered heart rate… I'm worried about hypothermia.."

"Understood."

"I know you're in pain and your body just wants to heal itself but—"

"Your conclusion is correct. I shall endeavor to remain alert."

"Okay… I'm gonna scout around. See if I can find something to build a fire with or maybe locate better shelter. I will be gone only 15 minutes. Alright?"

Soral nodded. Peter handed him the phaser.

"You should utilize the blanket if you are going out in the elements."

"Ah it's nothing. I lived in Iowa for a while, remember? Compared to there, this is a brisk spring morning."

"Only 15 minutes," Soral intoned heavily.

"Right," Peter responded, then darted out into the blinding white snow.

Ambassador Sarek was just finishing up a rather lengthy debate on the subject of whether or not the Vulcan-Only Airway should remain exclusively All-Vulcan when he received a message from his wife.

Peter and Soral's Shuttlecraft Missing. Enterprise 4 days away. Starfleet being stupid.

He made a mental note to speak with Amanda later about her crude and indistinct message. He then dismissed himself from the debate, and made his way to a communications relay in order to discover what "being stupid" actually involved.

Peter shivered and trudged his way through the snow faster. The snowflakes were falling rapidly, and the wind had picked up. If a blizzard started he'd likely not be able to find the shuttlecraft again. He just needed to get to the top of this blasted hill! Then he could at least see what was around. He stumbled and fell flat on his face. The snow was stained pink from his bleeding nose. He growled and crawled up again.

"I'm not gonna die right before I graduate!" he shouted to the snow around him, "And neither is Soral!"

When he at last reached the top, he was met with a rather barren looking landscape accented by rolling snowdrifts. However, there was something dark to the North. The shape was indistinct, but seemed to be stationary. Possibly a building of sorts. It looked too symmetrical to be a natural structure. He marked the position of it against the mountains around him, then started back down the hill. He lost his balance and went tumbling down it in an Olympic-Style heap.

We couldn't have crash landed on a tropical planet with pretty natives. Nope, not us. We crash land on a Rura Penthe Knock-off.

His silent griping was interrupted by a loud screeching sound. Peter jumped around and scanned the snowbank. Nothing.

He backed away a few steps before turning towards the shuttle. He heard the screech again…still nothing.

"Okay… I'm seriously freaked out now," he whispered. He set off at a run. The screeching grew louder, and seemed to come from all angles. He threw his head back looking desperately. Still nothing.

The next screech was deafening, and it was only then his mind registered; it was coming from above him. Peter covered his head with his arms just as the creature dive-bombed him. He fell in a heap as the bird-like animal pecked at his back. He rolled over and chucked handfuls of snow into the creature's face. It didn't seem perturbed in the least.

Peter yelled flailing wildly. There was another tremendous shriek, followed by a flash of light, then the creature fell over stunned.

Peter rolled over and saw Soral leaning heavily against the shuttle, holding up the phaser.

He scrambled over, "Are you nuts? You shouldn't be walking around on this leg."

"We should vacate the area," Soral winced as he allowed Peter to settle him back onto the floor, "The creature is only stunned and this shuttle will likely not hold it at bay."

"Fair point. Alright then, I saw something to the North… might be a building. We can try for that in a few minutes. Rest a bit okay? I'm gonna try to get that Distress Signal Transmitter working. Then I'll see if I can't make some sort of sled to pull you with…"

Darkness was falling on the planet, and the temperature had dropped by at least 20 degrees. Peter adjusted the rope around his arm and pulled harder at the makeshift sled behind him. Soral was propped inside the jagged piece of metal, buried under every piece of fabric Peter had been able to find. Including the seat cushions.

"You alright back there?" He called over the wind.

"Affirmative."

"I think we can make the structure before it gets completely dark… talk to me Soral, I want to know you're awake."

"I am functional."

"Uh… okay… let's see… IDIC. Infinite Diversity… so… What diversity do I bring to your life?"

"… I would likely have never attempted Titan's Turn had it not been for you."

"There ya go. That's a unique combination eh? Okay uh… how about my Uncle and Spock. What unique things have they done together that they couldn't have done apart?"

"The Organian Mission."

"That's a good one. They beat the odds didn't they?"

"Relatively speaking. The Organians… had control over the situation."

"Yeah but still… they got pretty far into that compound without actually getting killed by a Klingon. What were the odds of that?"

"Aproximately… 7,000 to 1."

"7,000? That's as close as you can calculate it?"

"…Yes."

Worry crept up inside him. Soral was never that vague. "Okay… that's fine… uh… okay how about when they discovered that rock creature? The Horta. Probably wouldn't have worked out so good for either of them had they been alone right?"

"…Reasonable Assumption..."

"Okay so lesson learned?... Soral?... Come on talk to me… what did you learn?"

"Together we are stronger."

"Exactly. So in other words, we are gonna make it. Okay? We stick together. You save my back from those bird-things and I'll keep you awake until help comes. Agreed?"

"Agreed."

Peter pulled harder on the sled. "We're gonna make it," he whispered to himself.

Uhura glanced at the 10th transmission from Starfleet. The first 5 had all essentially been along the lines of "We don't believe you." Followed by "You are in so much trouble." She had effectively managed to garble them enough so that she could honestly tell the Captain that Starfleet was sending an unclear message. Goodness knows he was stressed enough that his nephew had disappeared. He certainly didn't need to add to that anxiety by listening to the command chain throw a tizzy fit.

This last Transmission, however, had a decidedly different tone.

USS Enterprise is advised to continue on their course. Any assistance they can provide in the Search and Rescue Operation of the missing shuttlecraft will be appreciated. With regards to the accidental ejection of cargo; no action will be taken against Captain Kirk at this time. Signed: Starfleet Command.

Uhura gleefully read the message allowed and watched with satisfaction as the Captain's stiff shoulders slightly relaxed.

Someone out there had the Enterprise's back.

"So tell me about your family," Peter said curling himself into a ball to keep warm, "I know you had a brother. Any other siblings?"

"No."

"What about your parents. What do they do?"

"They are Scientists stationed on a research vessel near Triangula 4."

"Cool. So you want to be a Scientist like that?"

"Affirmative."

"Why Starfleet? Why not study on Vulcan?"

"Personal reasons."

Peter frowned. He needed to keep Soral talking… not an easy task at the best of times.

"Okay your turn. Ask me something. Anything at all."

"How did you control the pain?"

"What pain?"

"From the parasite on Deneva."

"Oh… that… okay… well I was out of it for most of that ordeal. I only sort of remember the pain. The hardest thing was… waking up and finding out that my family had died. For that…Spock helped me… He helped Jim too. That's what I really remember. I had always thought Vulcans were these non-emotional beings that couldn't comprehend things like pain and loss… But Spock did."

There was a long silence.

"Soral. You awake?"

"Affirmative."

"Okay, you gotta start talking more. You're making me nervous. Tell me about Se'tek. What was he like?"

"You are… very much as he was."

"He was good looking then?"

Soral actually raised an eyebrow. Peter grinned. At least he was semi-coherent enough to respond to teasing.

"… My brother was 1.4 years younger than me. He died during his Kahs-wan ordeal."

Peter shifted his position before finally blurting out in Vulcan, "I grieve with thee…"'

"Thank you."

Silence again.

Peter stood up and began to pace the room to keep warm. He glanced at his friend, "You still with me?"

"Affirmative."

"So what do you think this building is anyway? It's nothing like I've ever seen before. Lot of strange markings and these pillars aren't like you'd expect."

"I do not recall there being any records of a civilization on this planet."

"I'll take your word for it, although I find it hard to believe that even you can remember the history of every planet in this section of the Galaxy."

"I can."

"Okay then… let's test each other… What is the population of Argellius II?"

The temperature had dropped drastically once nightfall hit. Peter shot one of the pillars with the last remaining juice in the phaser. The pillar glowed a soft orange as the heat radiated off of it.

"That was the last remaining power in the phaser, was it not?" Soral asked.

"Yes."

"We have no weapon, then, if those creatures return."

"I'm hoping they don't like this nasty cold night any better than we do. Besides we can always throw snowballs at em. I'm a pretty good aim with those."

"Snowballs?"

"Yeah… haven't you ever had a snowball fight? No never mind. Bet you haven't. Well, when we get out of here, I'm gonna have one with you. I'll kick your little green butt too."

"Perhaps."

Peter laughed, but was caught short by a strange sound.

"Soral?" he whispered, "What does that sound like to you?"

"I do not know."

Peter crawled over to the entryway of the structure they had camped in and looked out into the darkness. He subconsciously began to form a ball of snow in his hand. An instant later he saw a figure come from just behind the pillar in front of him. Without thinking he threw the snowball. It smacked the intruder square in the face. The figure frowned and wiped the snow away before speaking, "You are Peter Kirk?"

"I ask for pardon," Peter stammered out in Vulcan.

The figure approached him stiffly and said, "I am T'Enya of the Vulcan Starship D'Vahl. We picked up your distress call."

Figures. First Vulcan woman he ever met and he hits her in the face with a snowball. Peter managed to forget all the Vulcan he ever knew as he tripped over himself trying to explain what had happened.

T'Enya silently followed him to a rather astonished looking Soral. She examined him, spoke in her communicator, then set up a Pattern Enhancer around them. Moments later Peter was greeted with a welcome wall of heat as he stepped off the transporter pad onto the All-Vulcan vessel.