Scotty was on Dr. McCoy's computer, researching the part of the galaxy that the ship had crossed into coordinates with. Captain Kirk was casually talking with Dr. McCoy, who was holding Julia in his arms. She was wrapped in a light blue, cotton blanket with pink stripes on the side. She was wearing a white nightgown with a pink ribbon at the collar on some lace and a Starfleet insignia on the top left corner in pink thread with a rattle as a picture.

"Jim, you'll make yourself sick, if you keep worrying about Spock." Dr. McCoy spoke, softly.

"I'm sorry, Bones…it's just…I've never seen Spock act like this, before." Captain Kirk answered.

"Sure you have; he acted similar, when he was going through pon farr." Dr. McCoy answered.

"Something's different with this, Bones; Spock's skin has gone completely pale, and his eyes look as if he's being controlled by someone completely else."

"I don't know what to tell you, Jim…I'm sorry."

"It's not your fault, Bones,"

"It doesn't mean I don't wish to help in any sort of way."

"Protect that sweet little lady you got there; that'll help me."

Dr. McCoy smiled and looked down at Julia, as he was gently swaying her side to side.

Captain Kirk looked over at Scotty, who was intently researching. After a few moments, Captain Kirk looked back at Dr. McCoy.

"What's Scotty so engaged in reading about?" Captain Kirk questioned.

"Don't know," Dr. McCoy answered.

Scotty continued reading information, when he found something worth paying attention to.

"Captain, McCoy, come look at this, lads!" Scotty cried.

Captain Kirk and Dr. McCoy, holding Julia, walked over to Scotty.

"What is it, Scotty?" Captain Kirk questioned.

"Look at what I found, sir." Scotty replied.

"What's it say, Jim?" Dr. McCoy questioned.

"Scotty, read it out loud to us." Captain Kirk commanded, friendly.

"It says here that these parts of the Delta Quadrant withhold an evil spirit of some sort. Based off of ancient legends told to children on the near by planets in the Sepherina Galaxy, this evil spirit consumes the body of a living human being and slowly begins the process of taking over their mind and abilities to make decisions. The person will then hypnotize several people to become its minions and eventually try to kill those that come in the way of succeeding the current leader of power." Scotty read.

"You don't think Spock's been consumed by some evil spirit, do you, Jim?" Dr. McCoy questioned.

"It's a possibility, Bones; his behavior does appear to be…illogical, as Spock would say." Captain Kirk answered.

"But Captain, the source says it's just a folk tale told to small children in the Sepherina Galaxy." Scotty stated.

"Yes, Scotty, but something seems to stand out with this situation. Bones, you said there wasn't any sort of disease that could be causing Spock to act the way he currently is, true?" Captain Kirk questioned.

"I said that there wasn't any disease that I could think of; that doesn't mean there isn't one that's not in existence. Not even doctors know everything, Jim." Dr. McCoy answered, softly.

"Let's just say, for the moment being, that Spock were possessed by some evil spirit. What would we have to do to get rid of it, before we lose Spock all together?" Captain Kirk replied.

"Depends on what it wants, Captain." Scotty answered.

"There are different types of immortal beings, Jim; it just depends on which one is possessing Spock to act in such ways." Dr. McCoy added.

"Men…if this is true…then it's up to us to save Spock and bring him back to us." Captain Kirk answered.

"Sir, Christmas is just two days away, though!" Scotty cried.

"Exactly, Scotty…which is why I wish to have Spock back before then." Captain Kirk answered.

Scotty nodded.

"Aye, sir," Scotty spoke.

The three of them left Dr. McCoy's quarters and headed for the science lab.

On another part of the ship…

Spock was wandering around a table with his three minions he had in possession.

"Gentlemen, in order to take proper action to the plan, we must be cunning, concise, neat, and clean. Failing to provide stealth and silence will ruin it completely." Spock spoke, sounding like his normal self, speaking wise, but his voice itself had gotten slightly lower and raspy; far more on the frightening side.

"Exactly, Master, what is your plan, anyways?" Riley questioned.

"The plan is simple, Mr. Riley; we will expose of the captain, Mr. Scott, and Dr. McCoy. After they have been subtracted from the equation, it shall be I that takes control of the ship, and I will make each and everyone of you my second in command." Spock replied.

"It sounds a bit risky, Master." Giotto stated.

"It may sound a bit rash for the moment's notice, but as soon as we have a specific game plan for executing my idea, then it shall become simpler for the three of you." Spock stated.

"And what shall you do?" Kyle asked.

"I will supervise and assess the quality of your work and communication with one another." Spock replied.

"Why Dr. McCoy, though," Giotto asked.

"Dr. McCoy is a threat to my plans; he would be smart enough to get into contact with Starfleet Command and report my actions to Admiral Krueger. I would be stripped of my position in the Federation, sent back to Vulcan, and serve my sentence there. Therefore, the old, country doctor must die." Spock replied, harshly.

"What about the doctor's infant child?" Riley brought up.

"Either I will take her into my custody and raise her to become another minion of mine, report her to Starfleet Command and state that her father has died in a landing party accident, or dispose of her on a nearby planet and have someone else deal with her from that point on." Spock answered.

"And Mr. Scott must die for the same reasons Dr. McCoy must perish." Kyle stated.

"Correct, Mr. Kyle," Spock answered.

The three men nodded and turned back to their leader.

"Understood, Master," Kyle, the leader of the minions, answered.

"Very well; men, you know your posts…go there." Spock ordered.

The three men nodded and left Spock to be with himself. Spock pondered in his thoughts then turned to his board with the pictures of Captain Kirk, Dr. McCoy, and Scotty posted on there with their official Starfleet positions and full legal names below them. The pictures were from their Starfleet ID badges.

"James Tiberius Kirk: Captain for the United Federation of Planets…Dr. Leonard Horatio McCoy, MD: Chief Medical Officer, Lieutenant Commander for the United Federation of Planets…and lastly, Montgomery Christopher Jorgensen Scott, Jr.: Chief Engineering Officer, Lieutenant Commander for the United Federation of Planets." Spock continued gazing at the board, as he read the information that withheld specific information on the three men he was plotting to terminate from existence. Spock gave a wicked smile and chuckled menacingly. "Not for long," He spoke, sly.