From the look on Uhura's face after Spock said the word 'wife', Kirk was glad for Spock's sake that they were about to beam down to the colony. Otherwise, there was the distinct possibility of having green blood spilled all over the deck.
McCoy was obviously of the same opinion and tugged on Spock's arm to urge him toward the turbolift. Considering his recent violent tendencies, Spock went along with the doctor almost meekly. Kirk followed, giving out his order as he moved.
"Scotty, you have the con. Take care of our lady while I'm gone."
Grateful for an excuse not to have to get close again to Uhura while she was still hot, Scotty nodded with more enthusiasm than usual.
"Aye. I will, sir."
As the turbolift door shut, McCoy breathed out a sigh of relief.
"Medical advice, Spock. Don't turn your back on Nyota for awhile. It would be very bad for your health."
Spock showed a rare trace of amusement.
"Indeed. I would hardly expect less from a woman of her spirit."
Following that statement, the three men made the rest of the trip to the transporter room in silence. As they entered the area, Kyle snapped immediately into a salute. Kirk returned it automatically as he made his way onto the platform.
"Mister Kyle, did you receive the coordinates from the Vulcan colony?"
"Aye, Captain. The coordinates have been programmed in. Awaiting your command, sir."
Kirk waiting another minute to allow McCoy and Spock to get in position, then gave a curt nod.
"Energize."
In the harsh light of the arid world, the trio of transporter beams were practically invisible. As soon as the beams released them, Kirk gasped as he felt the oppressive heat hit him like a blow. The Vulcans had gone for a world as close to their lost planet as could be found - understandably so perhaps, but far more heat than the Iowa raised man was used to.
McCoy felt the heat as well, but not as keenly and he looked around, greatly interested.
"Hot enough to make the devil cry, eh Jim? Hope we don't have to walk too far in this. Spock?"
While McCoy was speaking, Spock had been looking to get his bearings. Spotting what he was searching for, he indicated the structure down below them.
"They have recreated the ceremonial grounds. That is where the wedding will take place."
Spock had already started walking in that direction, so Kirk and McCoy had to catch up, both puzzled but Kirk voiced the question.
"Marriage? Didn't you say she was already your wife?"
Slowing his stride, Spock considered the question.
"Perhaps I chose the wrong word in Terran. There is not an exact translation for the Vulcan word. It is less than a marital bond, but more than a simple engagement."
Speeding up enough to draw even with Spock, McCoy continued the questions.
"How exactly is something more than intending to be married and less than married?"
"There was a light mental bonding formed between us by our elders when our eventual marriage was agreed upon. As is ancient Vulcan custom, the match between myself and T'Pring was arranged by our families after we had reached the age of seven years. Marriages between families on Vulcan take a number of factors into consideration. The family lineage, social positions, properties and so forth."
Privately, McCoy was wondering just how much clout the Ambassador had to be able to convince any family to marry their daughter off to a half-blood. Respecting keeping his own blood in his veins, he didn't bring up that subject as Kirk commented.
"More of a business arrangement than a love match."
"Precisely, Captain. We are nearly at the grounds. As you will not know the proper ceremonies, simply stay to the back of the area and follow my lead if I signal to you that you are expected to respond."
Looking around the area as they entered, Kirk had to admit that the Vulcans had apparently done a good job of recreating their home's special features. IF he hadn't know that this area couldn't be more than a year or two old, he would have sworn the place was ancient. He was startled from his musings by the sound of a gong's vibrating tones. He looked to see Spock standing beside the oddly shaped gong, then turned at the sound of approaching footsteps.
As he got his first look at the Vulcans entering the ceremonial grounds, his attention was drawn to a Vulcan woman who was being carried in on a throne like chair by two Vulcan men. Talk about ancient . . . she looks older than the old Spock did.
A group of oddly masked and armed Vulcan men followed in her wake followed by Elder Davuk who was followed, in turn, by T'Pring who had an unarmed male walking by her side. The procession moved to a raised dais and the poles were removed from the ancient woman's chair, leaving her seated there as she studied Spock and the two humans silently.
To the surprise of all, including the guards who weren't anticipating the move, McCoy went straight up to the dais and knelt before the woman, bowing his head respectfully as he spoke.
"Ko'mekh-il."
That one word seemed to stun everyone present into frozen silence - except for Kirk, who had no idea what McCoy had said or why he'd approached the woman in the first place.
As he silently watched McCoy, Spock's mind flashed back to the Academy. During one of the times that he had confronted McCoy, the man had claimed to have met T'Pau. From the softening of T'Pau's eyes as she reached a hand down to rest against McCoy's face, it appeared McCoy had not been bluffing.
"Leonard. We had not expected to see thee again, child. No longer a child, but a man. You have accompanied Spock?"
T'Pring stepped forward before McCoy could reply, her voice tight as she glared at McCoy.
"Are our ceremonies for outworlders?"
Lowering her hand from McCoy's face, T'Pau gave T'Pring a glacial stare.
"Thou would be wise to guard thy tongue, T'Pring. I have known this one since he was too young for a bond. He has kept our secrets and he is welcome among us."
Wasting no further time on the fuming younger woman, T'Pau glanced toward Kirk, then faced Spock.
"We are acquainted with one of thy companions. Who is thy second?"
"This is James T. Kirk. Captain of the ISS Enterprise."
"These two are thy allies?"
"They are."
"Then both are welcome. Let the ceremony commence."
The two men who had been carrying the chair each picked up a set of bells strung on a frame that resembled the shape of the gong. A shape that suddenly reminded Kirk uncomfortably of the shape of an old-fashion coffin.
Spock gave a solemn bow to T'Pau and reached for the small mallet to strike the gong, but T'Pring darted over with surprising speed and threw her hand out with a yell.
"Kal-if-fee!"
The look that Spock gave to T'Pring was murderous, but he let the mallet drop from his hand to the ground. Kirk remembered what little McCoy had been able to tell him and felt a chill in spite of the heat.
The look T'Pau was giving the young Vulcan woman showed her displeasure, but her voice betrayed none of that as she spoke in Terran for the benefit of Kirk and McCoy.
"T'Pring - thou hast chosen the challenge and, in doing so, break the contract of thy father and forsake the protection of his house. Do you so acknowledge this and agree that thou will become the property of he who wins the challenge?"
"I call the challenge with full knowledge of my actions."
"So be it. Choose thy champion."
The Vulcan that had walked in at her side straightened proudly. Eyeing him from where he still knelt by T'Pau, McCoy was on the opinion that Spock would normally have snapped the man in two, but with Spock's recent problems with eating and meditation? The other man might well have the advantage.
Clasping her hands, T'Pring began to move in slow, measured steps.
"I have chosen the right of kal-if-fee. As it was in the days of our ancestors, as it is today, as it will be in the times to follow, I make my choice."
She had come to a stop immediately in front of the puffed up Vulcan male, but then turned her back on him. There was a trace of malevolence in her eyes as she pointed directly to McCoy.
"He is who I chose to be my champion."
McCoy looked back at her impassively even as there was an extreme emotional outburst from Kirk and, more surprisingly, from the Vulcan male. Apparently, he didn't take rejection well and the full weight of T'Pau's glare fell on him even as the guards surrounded him.
"Stonn, your outburst disgraces your family and yourself. Be silent."
Kirk had already fallen silent, though he was staring daggers at T'Pau for involving McCoy in this Vulcan ritual. T'Pau turned her attention to him next.
"Kirk, there is no hold on thee here. If you wish to return to thy ship, you may do so now."
He didn't even have to think about the answer to that.
"I will remain with my men."
Nodding her approval, T'Pau then looked to McCoy.
"While named champion, you are not of our blood and may reject her decision with no fault being cast on thee."
McCoy gave a silent nod, then gave a long look over at T'Pring. That she-snake was up to something and he wanted to know what it was. So fine - he'd play at her game.
"I accept."
"No!"
Kirk was more than a little shocked to find out that he had yelled in near-perfect unison with Spock. Spock hadn't seemed to notice. His focus was fully on T'Pau, who motioned him to her.
"This is the time to be deep into the plak tow, Spock. Has thy human blood quenched the fires of thy Vulcan blood?"
"No. I burn. But I beg of thee, forbid this. The humans do not know of our ways. They do not understand that I will do as my blood demands with no regard for anything else."
There was a moment of silence, then T'Pau gestured Spock away.
"Leonard, son of David, understands more than you give him credit for. The challenge stands. Prepare. If both survive the lirpa, they will then move to the ahn woon until only one remains."
Handed a sash, McCoy rose and moved over to where a livid Kirk was waiting. As soon as McCoy was close enough, Kirk grabbed his arm and pulled him near.
"This shit is to the death? Are you out of your damn mind, Bones? He's going to kill you!"
"Gee, thanks for that overwhelming vote of confidence, Jim. Guess we'll find out if the training I've gotten from you, Uhura and Chekov over the years has done any good."
A firm grip from McCoy stopped another rant and Kirk went quiet as McCoy spoke softly to prevent the Vulcans from hearing.
"That Vulcan bitch is up to something and I aim to figure out what. Watch her, Jim. While the challenge is underway, she might forget herself and give up what she's hiding."
McCoy handed his medkit over to Kirk before fastened the ceremonial sash around himself.
"Oh, and Jim? If this doesn't work out like I hope it will, make sure she doesn't survive their honeymoon."
"With pleasure."
One of the Vulcan guards came over with the lirpa - a staff weapon with a half-moon blade on one end and a counterweight at the other. By Vulcan methods, a lightweight weapon. For McCoy? Workable, but heavier than he cared for. Holding it as he looked to T'Pau, he called out.
"If this is a weight-lifting competition, we can call this match now. I don't mind a battle, but I do mind unfair odds. Bad enough the climate here isn't friendly to Terrans - I have to deal with an overweight and unfamiliar weapon as well?"
A brow raised and then T'Pau gave a nod.
"We have lirpa of lesser weight that our young begin their training. Davuk! Bring one at once."
At that order, T'Pring stepped up again.
"A child's lirpa? Am I to be disgraced by being fought over by a child's weapon?"
Kirk could have sworn that a light smile was playing on T'Pau's lips.
"It was thy hand that chose a champion that was not of Vulcan blood. If there is any disgrace to be had, thou hast brought it upon thyself. Step back. Thou gave away all of thy rights as an individual after making thy choice. Thy fate now rests solely with he who wins this challenge."
Obeying but obviously unhappy, T'Pring stepped back as ordered. As T'Pau called the combatants forward, Kirk grabbed McCoy's arm.
"So help me, Bones - you get yourself killed, I'll find a way to resurrect you so that I can strangle the life out of you myself."
The hazel eyes had that swirling darkness behind them that Kirk both feared and trusted as McCoy raised a hand to touch the golden hair.
"You always say the sweetest things, Jim."