Chapter 14: A Sudden Departure

"He bit me!"

McCoy nodded while still examining the nasty wound on Chekov's arm.

"All I did was comment on how ugly he is."

"That's all!" McCoy exclaimed wryly. "I don't see why."

"Thank you."

Obviously sarcasm was declared null and void when it came to the Ensign.

"Why did the captain allow such a disgusting creature onboard?"

McCoy sighed. "There's always some method to his madness."

He did not add that Nan's presence surely had some effect on Kirk's power and wealth.

"He is a terrible Captain."

Although McCoy didn't detest Chekov any less than Kirk he did not disagree.

"You're going to be fine. I've treated it," McCoy tried to reassure the younger man. "It won't become infected."

Chekov frowned and pulled down his sleeve. "You are the Enterprise's physician are you not? Is there any possible way you could remove that thing's teeth?"

McCoy shook his head. "No."

It was the truth. While feared and looked at with general repulsion, Nan De Zheel was being treated like royalty under the Captain's command. The only thing denied him was freedom. Three guards traveled everywhere with him, continually keeping watch. The alien did not seem to care, though. He had a room for himself, all the food and drink he could devour and all the attractive female crewmembers he could leer at.

The last he had seen Nan had been drooling over Uhura. She seemed to think he was cute and adopted him as some kind of odd pet. At least, she suffered his affection more than she had ever done with Sulu's.

"Well what about quarantine?" Chekov snapped as he stood and pulled down his sleeve.

"Maybe he should be kicked off the ship. The Empire's rules of…"

"Of what!" McCoy shouted. "Look around this place! Do you think that the Empire cares any bit about your health and safety?"

Chekov looked around and McCoy closed his eyes. He knew all too well what surrounded him. Hundreds of rusted and caked with blood instruments, more apt for torture than for healing. The beds were soiled. The place had been in shambles when Chapel had worked there and it had gone even more downhill since her departure.

He heard Chekov swear and opened his eyes to see the back of the man storming off.

McCoy knew he would see him sometime soon again. The boy had no problem causing and finding trouble. Or pain for that matter as well.

Several moments later the Sickbay doors whooshed open and the First Officer walked in.

"Spock," the Doctor greeted.

"Doctor there is no time for pleasantries," the Vulcan stated. "This is not a social call. The Captain has requested both our presence in his office."

"Couldn't he have just told me that himself?" McCoy grumbled.

"It appears to be some matter of secrecy."

"Does it have to do with that creature we took with us when we left?"

"I truthfully do not know," Spock said. "But it would seem logical that it would pertain to exactly that."

"Well let's get going. The surprise may kill me," McCoy snapped and brushed past the other man, making sure to make brief contact with the man and then walk on ignoring it.

The elevator ride to the bridge shared by Spock and McCoy was tense.

The human had avoided the Vulcan's company several times, afraid the other man would see the pity in his eyes. It was hard to forget what Kirk had divulged about Spock's past. Equally as hard as forgetting how much he had been attracted to the man the night previous to the revelation.

"You look tired," the Vulcan stated without looking at the Doctor.

McCoy jerked his head to look at the man. "I… Um… I haven't been sleeping well."

"Are you troubled by the events that occurred on Kehil Lay?"

McCoy blushed. "What?" he stammered.

"Are you also troubled by the Captain allowing an exiled alien aboard the ship he has been chosen to care for?" Spock further elaborated, calming the other man's worry.

"For as long as I've known him, James T. Kirk has only chosen to care for himself. That does not include this ship nor the people she shelters," the Doctor sighed.

"You suspect Kirk's motives to be selfish?"

"Yes. You don't?"

"I assume that he is concerned with his own desires," Spock theorized. "However, I do not see how they would be an act taken against the Empire. Considering this, I do not feel the need to go against his wishes."

McCoy looked to the ground. "All hail the marvelous Empire!" he said with complete and unmasked bitterness.

Spock suddenly turned his head and gazed sharply at the Doctor.

The door whooshed open.

"Joy oh joy we're here!" McCoy said, and with a wry smile, stepped out.

Spock brushed past him, another quick moment of contact, and moved towards Kirk's office.

When they reached the room, Spock informed the Captain that they were there.

"Well hurry in here, why don't you!" Kirk said. "Sawbones isn't getting any younger is he?"

McCoy grumbled under his breath and followed Spock into the room.

The Captain was waiting. On his desk lay a traveling bag.

"Do you know what this is?" Kirk said, smiling at them, his feet crossed and lying on the desk before him.

"Are you going somewhere?" McCoy asked.

Kirk shook his head. "Now that's not an answer! That's a question!"

"McCoy's question is relevant. Are you leaving the Enterprise?" Spock asked.

Kirk swung his feet off of the desk. "Yes I am. But I'm coming back."

"Oh more joy," McCoy said sarcastically.

"I knew you'd miss me, old Sawbones," Kirk smiled.

"Is this part of the Empire's plans?" Spock asked.

"Not exactly… The thing is I won't be gone long… And I'd rather that the Empire didn't know about it. I also wish that maybe you would not share the information with anyone else while I'm gone. Especially anyone here."

McCoy rolled his eyes. "So I guess that's the reason why you called me here."

Spock raised an eyebrow and looked at the Doctor.

McCoy met his dark eyes and then turned back to Kirk. "You want me to lie and say you're in Sickbay don't you?"

Kirk beamed. "You are so much more alert than when you were drunk! Clever. I'm amazed you didn't figure that one out, Spock."

Spock turned and looked at the Captain. "McCoy is an observant man."

Kirk typically shrugged the compliment to the other man away. "I will be taking Nan with me."

"Thank God for small favors," McCoy exclaimed.

"I will be coming back. He won't be," Kirk stated.

"Thank God for even more favors."

"Well you should be thanking me more but I'm a tolerant man," Kirk lied.

"You want me to also try to conceal that you are not on the Enterprise?" Spock stated.

"Yes."

"I will not lie for you," Spock stated. "But I will try to keep your secret."

Kirk nodded. "The least I can ask of you."

"Can I go now?" McCoy asked.

Kirk pretended to be shocked. "But you didn't even pry and ask where I'm going and what I'm doing?"

McCoy started to walk towards the door. When he reached it he turned and looked at the Captain. "Would you tell me?"

Kirk contemplated. "No."

"Then let's not waste one another's time. Oh is there any particular sickness you'd like me to concoct for you?"

"Anything but something questioning my virility."

McCoy smiled. "Heaven forbid."

"If you say that I'll cut off your balls, McCoy," Kirk said testily.

McCoy frowned. "All right."

The Doctor turned and looked at Spock who was not following him. "Well… Are you coming?"

"No," Spock answered. "If I am not wrong, the Captain has more to discuss with me."

Kirk nodded. "Ah back to your clever self. Yes. I do."

McCoy smirked. He looked at Spock once more and then left.

"Poor old McCoy," Kirk cooed. "A pity. You know I keep him here as an act of pity?"

Spock raised his eyebrow once more.

"No other Captain would have him: Too emotional, too forgetful and getting ancient far too quickly. I slept with his wife once, you know? That was an act of mercy too."

"That is a unique viewpoint," Spock commented.

"Look at it this way," Kirk stated. "A woman only goes looking when she's not getting what she wants right? I slept with her so her husband wouldn't have to."

Spock did not comment. "Why did you wish me to stay, Captain?"

"Well, as I was saying with Sawbones, he needs me. He would fall apart without me. I can trust him doing whatever I want and not holding any plans of betraying me."

Kirk stopped and examined the Vulcan.

"You cannot trust me? Is that what you are hinting at?"

Kirk stood. "Oh I trust you! I think you'll do what is best for the Empire. I just hope that you understand that I do as well. I just want to stress that if you continue to work for me, the Empire will also flourish. I have its best interests at heart."

Spock did not speak a word.

Kirk furrowed his brow. "If someone should make an attempt at the Captaincy while I'm gone I hope I can count on you to defend my role here on the Enterprise."

"If that is what concerns you most, I give you my word."

"Good," Kirk nodded. "Good. I must also state that I hope to find the Enterprise, when I return, the same as when I left it."

Spock nodded this time.

"Excellent!" Kirk exclaimed. "Now get out of my office I have some packing still to do."

Spock bowed slightly before leaving the room.

When he had left Kirk slowly walked towards a wall. He reached around the back of a shelf littered with various trophies and items he had collected during his years in the Empire and before. When he pressed a button a secret compartment opened. Peering inside the box the Captain smiled and pulled out the only item it harbored.

The blade of the knife was sharp. Kirk smiled as he caressed it. It had been his weapon of choice when discarding of those in his path.

He knew he would soon be discarding it for a more complex and powerful tool.

Still it could be used one last time. When he wielded it next he would not wipe the blood of Nan De Zheel from off its blade. He would let it stain it, forever in remembrance of all the glory it had won him, christening it with one more victory to add to the rest.