The absence of the First Officer did not go unnoticed by the Bridge crew nor did they fail to notice the lengthy meetings between their Captain and their CMO. None of them felt suicidal enough to bring up the subject however.
Of all of them, only Uhura knew of the orders from Komack as she had been the one to receive the initial transmission. She kept the knowledge that they were disobeying orders to herself though. Being an integral part of Kirk's crew had brought her far more gains than she could ever hope for on another ship, so she was willing to gamble that Kirk knew what the hell he was doing. The fact that McCoy was going along helped soothe her concerns about that decision.
Only Sulu tried to question Spock directly, scowling as he found the First Officer was confined to quarters under the Captain's authority, which he could not circumvent. McCoy saw him at Spock's door and, after a moment of annoyance, his eyes lit up in amusement. This could work well for them. Staying far enough away to avoid a strike, McCoy spoke up to let Sulu know he'd been seen.
"Trouble there, Mister Sulu? I wouldn't advise trying to get in, you know."
Startled and angered that he had been so caught up in speculation that he had failed to notice McCoy's approach, Sulu snapped back.
"Kirk made me head of Security. If there's been an arrest, I should have been informed."
McCoy gave a casual glance around to ensure they were still alone, then motioned for Sulu to follow him. After a brief hesitation, Sulu complied and went with McCoy into one of the conference rooms. Once they were inside with the doors shut, McCoy turned to face him.
"It's not an arrest. It's a quarantine situation. Jim and I made the call to keep it to ourselves to prevent a possible panic over an unknown condition being on board."
Sulu's scowl faded as he processed that.
"It's a Vulcan disease of some sort?"
"It's a condition I've only heard of in Vulcans, but where the hobgoblin has human blood, who knows if it might be able to affect one of us or not? Safer to keep him isolated from the rest of the crew until we can get to the Vulcan colony and get it taken care of."
"I still should have been informed."
"Wasn't my call to make, Lieutenant. You want to go tell the Captain he screwed up in his current mood? Be my guest."
After a moment, Sulu dropped his bluster. McCoy was right - as CMO, he only answered to the First Officer and the Captain. Complaining to the Captain over something like this? Not worth gaining another scar over. He and Kirk got along for the most part, but when Kirk decided someone had overreached their boundaries, he made sure to make the lesson memorable. In Sulu's case, the reminder of his lesson was the long scar that ran along the right side of his face. Not that Sulu blamed Kirk. If someone else had tried to pull on him what he'd tried to pull on Kirk, Sulu would have gutted them. In a way, the scar showed that the two of them had reached an understanding.
Seeing McCoy watching him warily .while fiddling with a hypospray that Sulu would have sworn was not in the doctor's hand a minute ago, told Sulu had been silent too long for McCoy's comfort. Reaching up one hand, Sulu ran a thumb along his scar.
"I don't think this would be worth bothering the Captain over. After all, it looks like the two of you have the situation under control."
The hypospray remained, but McCoy wore an unconcerned smile that did nothing to settle Sulu's nerves. While McCoy was dangerous in his own right - probably in the top five of the most lethal persons on the Enterprise - there was the added danger that Kirk had let it be well known that he would consider any strike against McCoy to be a strike against him. And James T. Kirk did not take strikes against him lightly.
The silence held for another minute before McCoy broke it, his drawl unnaturally thick.
"That sounds like a fine idea there, Lieutenant. 'Cause you want to know a little secret?"
Sulu couldn't help but hesitate, but finally he gave a slow nod and McCoy's smile grew larger. His voice lowered and the smoky tone it took on had Sulu fighting to suppress a shudder as he listened.
"As much as the Captain gets a bit pissy when folks poke into his private affairs? Ol' Spock makes him look like little Mary Sunshine if he thinks someone's putting their nose into his business. So as a piece of friendly advice, don't be using the word 'sick' where those pointy ears might hear it and trace it back to you. Otherwise, your head and your spine might come to a parting of ways. It's a medical study I'd like to do sometime. Strong as a Vulcan is normally? When they're mad, it's a damn sight more impressive, son."
With those words, Sulu's mind went immediately to the last landing party he and Spock had both been on. A group of rebels had attacked and he remembered very vividly what had happened when Spock got his hands on the leader. With no more emotion or thought than he would have used to step on a bug in passing, he had snapped the rebel's neck like a rotted twig before casting him aside as so much garbage. If that was how the Vulcan dealt with nuisances when he was calm, Sulu didn't want to be on the other end of his anger. Taking a deep breath to shake off those thoughts, he gave a curt nod to McCoy.
"Thank you, Doctor. I will take that under advisement."As Sulu saluted and moved away, the hazel eyes seemed to flicker between reptilian green and gold as McCoy watched until he was out of sight. Then and only then did his hypospray return to its hiding place as he muttered to himself.
"Under advisement. Yeah - you do that. Keep it up and the left side of your face will end up matching the right."
And McCoy had just the nurse for the job. Chapel might get her jollies from autopsies, but little Channing had a serious fixation for scars. She had made some real works of art out of some of them. His diverse and talented staff - McCoy did love his lethal ladies. Most of the crew feared them far more than they feared him, which suited him just fine.
Looking toward Spock's door, he briefly debated asking Kirk to unseal it long enough to check on the Vulcan, but quickly decided against it. There really wasn't anything the doctor could do for Spock in his current condition any way.
Smiling as he made his way back to Sickbay, McCoy was pleased to see most of the crew giving him a wide berth. Without looking like he was paying close attention, McCoy carefully made note of those that didn't. He'd be scheduling them for an 'extra-special' physical in the near future. Personnel that got too comfortable when he was around needed to be reminded of the pecking order.
Back on the Bridge, Uhura discreetly informed the Captain of the incoming transmissions from Komack. With equal discretion, he let her know that he would approve the upgrades she and Scotty had been dreaming up in exchange for those transmission being lost in transit. Smiling, she made the appropriate changes on her panel and then spoke up for the benefit of the rest of the Bridge crew.
"The Vulcan colony has acknowledged our signal. They ask that we contact them with Commander Spock present when we establish orbit."
"Thank you, Lieutenant. That reminds me. Contact Mister Scott. He informed me there was some standard maintenance he needed to perform on your station. Tell him as long as they don't interfere with our communication to the Vulcan colony, he can begin whenever he has a moment."
"At once, sir."
There was an undertone that was almost a purr in Uhura's voice that amused Kirk. He was starting to understand why McCoy like to indulge his nurses.
With no transmissions from Admiral Komack to bother him, the rest of the journey to the Vulcan colony passed peacefully for Kirk, though a few of the side glances Sulu was sending his way were about to strain his last nerve. He knew Sulu eventually wanted his own command and Kirk wished on him exactly the same sort of helmsman that Sulu had been for him.
Over at the Communication station, Scotty was busy at work. More truthfully, half busy. He was spending as much time studying Uhura's legs up close as he was modifying the work station. Since Chief Engineering hadn't annoyed Uhura to the point where she stabbed him, Kirk opted to ignore that. He had other things to keep his mind busy, such as trying to think of ways to explain his actions to the Emperor's representative.
Chekov's voice broke into his thoughts. He scowled slightly at the way he'd allowed his attention to wander for so long.
"Captain, we will be entering orbit within the hour."
"Good. Mister Scott?"
It was with great difficulty that Kirk kept a straight face when Scotty answered him while his face was framed by Uhura's legs.
"Aye, sir?"
"Pause what you're working on for now and watch the store for me."
"Aye, Captain."
With a smirk firmly in place, Uhura moved slightly to the side so that Scotty could maneuver back out. Kirk was smirking a bit himself as he left the Bridge. Once inside the turbolift, he contacted Sickbay.
"Bones - we'll be arriving shortly. Meet me at Spock's quarters - the Vulcan colony has requested him to be present when we contact them."
McCoy had already been getting ready after having gotten a signal from Chekov. He wasn't sure why, but ever since Chekov had been his bodyguard on the Academy campus, the young Russian had gone out of his way to keep McCoy abreast of what was going on. Not that McCoy was complaining about it, but it did make him curious about what Chekov might eventually be expecting in return.
"On my way, Jim. Let's hope we didn't make this trip for nothing."
Kirk had barely made it to the door of Spock's quarters when McCoy arrived. Watching with detached amusement as the doctor readied a hypospray, Kirk spoke firmly.
"Computer. Unseal First Officer's quarters on Captain's verbal authority."
"Voice scan affirmative. Seal disengaged."
As the door opened, both men frowned and took a step back. The room was dark, hot, humid, and reeked of both sweat and pheromones.
"Reminds me of the locker room at the Academy after an obstacle course run, Jim."
"Is a bit potent, isn't it? Mister Spock, the Vulcan colony has requested your presence on the Bridge when we arrive."
There was movement from one segment of shadow, then Spock emerged. Kirk held McCoy back. The Vulcan was noticeably thinner and didn't appear to have changed uniforms from the last time they'd seen him. When he spoke, his voice was hoarse as if he'd damaged his vocal cords from screaming. Which he well might have behind the sound-proof walls.
"We are nearly there?"
"We are. Get yourself cleaned up. I doubt you want them seeing you like that."
Spock paused and looked down at himself.
"No. No, I would not."
It was partially against his better judgment, but McCoy maneuvered past Kirk.
"Do you need any assistance, Spock?"
The eyes that looked up were so dark that McCoy couldn't see any whites at all. He expected to be turned down, but instead, Spock nodded very slowly.
"Assistance would . . be welcome, Doctor. The . . . experience is more intense than I had imagined."
Turning to Kirk, McCoy laid a hand on his shoulder.
"Head on back to the Bridge, Jim. Call when you need Spock and I'll bring him up."
The thought of leaving McCoy alone with the erratic Vulcan didn't sit well with Kirk.
"Are you sure, Bones?"
There was no hesitation in the answering nod.
"We'll be fine."
As he stepped into the room, the door slid shut behind the doctor. Kirk stood staring at the door for another minute or two, then headed back for the Bridge.
Inside Spock's quarters, McCoy moved around the near-motionless Vulcan as if undressing him was the most natural thing in the world. In truth, he had plenty of practice from dealing with a drunk Kirk during their Academy days and Spock had the advantage of not falling on top of him constantly. Crumpling up the filthy items, McCoy shoved them into the reclamation bin of the replicator before herding Spock into the sonic shower.
"So - this is a Vulcan ritual thing you're heading for. You planning on wearing your uniform or your robes?"
"There is robe I will wear. You will find it in my top storage drawer."
The drawer wasn't locked so McCoy opened it and looked over the garment. Pale grey with a large amount of silver embroidery. It looked well-kept, but old. Most likely a family heirloom and, therefore, priceless.
Gently lifting the robe out, it proved to be far lighter than McCoy had expected. A soft noise behind him made him turn and he found himself face to face with a clean, but scowling Vulcan. Forcing his tone to remain calm, McCoy stood his ground.
"You requested my assistance - remember? Come on and let me help you get dressed. The Captain will be calling us to the Bridge any minute now."
Spock closed his eyes and took several deep breaths to steady himself before nodding stiffly again. Starting to breath normally again, McCoy took a moment to study the fasteners of the robe before undoing them and helping Spock into the garment. He was still in the middle of re-fastening the robe when the call came from the Bridge.
"Kirk to McCoy. Bring him up."
"On our way, Captain."
There was no mistaking the fine tremors going through Spock's body now. The doctor in McCoy was to the forefront as he escorted Spock out of his quarters and down the corridors. The sight of the naked blade in McCoy's free hand persuaded the lower ranks to keep their distance.
The intact of air when Spock and McCoy stepped onto the Bridge was loud even to McCoy's ears. One look and any doubts Sulu had harbored about whether or not Spock was actually sick were gone. Kirk waited until Spock was in position by his chair before speaking to Uhura.
"Lieutenant, let the Vulcan colony know that we are ready."
"Aye, Captain. Response coming in."
"Main viewscreen, Uhura."
"Aye. sir."
A older Vulcan male appeared on the screen.
"Welcome, Enterprise. I am Elder Davuk. Permission to beam down to the colony is granted and the coordinates are being relayed to your ship."
Without waiting for any response from Kirk, Davuk stepped to the side and a young Vulcan woman appeared. To McCoy, the expression on her face was rather like that of someone finding they had something unwanted on their shoe. Spock didn't seem any less pleased to see her.
"T'Pring. Parted without parting. Touching without touch. I come to the appointed place."
The wording seemed peculiar to Kirk, but they struck a memory in McCoy and he found himself casting a glance over at Uhura, who was starting to frown as the Vulcan woman began to speak in turn. Kirk paid close attention to her body language and he found himself taking an immediate dislike to the haughty woman whose tone toward Spock was condescending.
"Spock. Parted without parting. Touching without touch. I await your arrival."
There was nothing else - the signal cut off without any closing as Kirk frowned. The Vulcans were playing at a dangerous game when they were so rudely abrupt with officers of Imperial Starfleet. Before he could dwell on that too long, Uhura's voice broke into his thoughts.
"She's a lovely woman, Mister Spock. A relative of yours?"
Spock's eyes didn't waver from staring straight ahead at the viewing screen even though nothing was currently showing there.
"In a manner of speaking. She is my wife."