Prafali's Favor


Leonard McCoy returned to his office in an unusually good mood. In fact, he caught himself whistling on the way. Tone it down, boy, he thought to himself, you'll scare the staff.

He really shouldn't be quite so happy, but after enduring years of watching Jim pick up the conquest of the week, day (or even hour), seeing him strike out had become one of Len's little guilty pleasures. He only followed Jim on his skirt-chasing adventures because the man was his best friend and had an unfortunate tendency to pick women with jealous boyfriends and/or over-protective friends or family. Jim needed a chaperone with a medical degree.

So, seeing Jim strike out yesterday with a woman who was a real prize had made Len perversely happy. Having that same woman as much as say she preferred Len, was icing on the cake! ...not that he was tomfool enough to think he had a chance with her. She'd clearly said it mostly as a jab at Spock. (Still, it had been nice.) Hearing over lunch that Jim had scored absurdly low on the lovely lady's personal scale for potential beaus had put him right back in an excellent mood. That, and the fact that he had gotten a near double-take out of both Jim and Spock when he casually mentioned having breakfast with her.

Yep. Spock, for once, had also contributed to his good mood. He had proven surprisingly good company for Jim-sitting and in the last 24 hours he'd come as close to acting like a person instead of walking data storage device as Len had seen in a long time. Plus, getting a reaction out of him was always a bit of a personal triumph, even if the look he very briefly got in response to the breakfast comment had been none too friendly. Well, Selina was clearly a strong-willed woman with a mind of her own and Spock had no claim on her.

...Not that Len was interested. Who are you kidding? If she crooked her finger, you'd trip yourself running. But it wasn't going to happen, so the best he could hope for was to collect enough smiles from her to get Jim's blood to run as green as Spock's with envy. It almost made the thought of that monkey suit of a dress uniform bearable, knowing he'd get to see her there all dolled up in evening dress.

That happy thought was interrupted by Jim bouncing into his office looking like the cat who swallowed the canary.

"Guess who just called and asked me for a favor?" he crowed.

"Considering how puffed up you look about it, I'd say the Lord God Almighty. Except I can't think what He'd want from you other than a promise to keep your hands off His female creations."

"No, but you're close." Jim grinned devilishly. "It was definitely one of His better female creations."

Not again. Leonard restrained an urge to fill a hypo with saltpeter. He gave his friend an inquiring look instead.

"None other than Spock's lovely and very human 'sister'. She asked me to add Uhura to the list for the shindig tonight." Jim stretched back in a chair and put hands behind his head. "Turns out she's running the show, so she's going to be there too."

"You didn't know that?" Now it was the doctor's turn to grin. "Anyway, I don't see why you're so het up about it. You're the Captain, remember? Who else was she going to ask?"

"She could have gone through channels, or had someone else do it." he said a bit defensively. "But, she called herself...and I asked her if she needed a date."

Jim was smirking, and McCoy looked at him in total disbelief. "She didn't actually agree to that?"

"Well, no, she's on duty there and it wouldn't work for her to have date. But she said 'Perhaps another time.' when I suggested a rematch at the bar afterward." He beamed with optimism.

"So, let me get this straight: She didn't actually say 'when hell freezes over', so you think that's an invitation?" Why didn't Jim's libido have an off switch?

"Bones, she smiled when she said it. Not one of those imitation Spock-smiles - a real smile!"

Bones just looked at his friend. Dear God, it was like being back in high school. "Stop being an adolescent." he growled. "And get out of my office. We both need to go get our fancy duds on for this thing tonight."

Jim gave him a mock salute and sauntered out the door.

"And remember what Pike said about keeping your hands to yourself!" McCoy called after him.

So much for his good mood.

.


Nyota and Spock arrived a half hour early for the reception to go over some last minute questions with Selina. After reading the briefing packet, Nyota hoped this would give her time to adjust to the information and feel a little more at ease.

Selina was speaking with an older, very distinguished-looking gentleman, and motioned for them to come over.

"Ambassador Pak, you remember Commander Spock, and this Lt. Nyota Uhura." she said. "This is my superior, Ambassador Pak."

"Your boss, perhaps. 'Superior' could certainly be debated." The ambassador smiled kindly and bowed. "It is always a pleasure to find ourselves again in the company the valiant Mr. Spock."

Spock straightened a bit uncomfortably. "Live long and prosper, Ambassador Pak. We are honored to serve."

The ambassador turned to Nyota and took her hand. "And it is indeed a pleasure to meet you, Ms. Uhura. Forgive me if I stare, but except for the fur and robes, the resemblance is quite remarkable. I could almost believe the Trubese goddess of providence had truly favored us with her presence. Indeed, given the coincidence of your arrival, perhaps she has!"

Selina gave Nyota an apologetic smile. "When I said that the Trubese would adore you, you probably did not take my observation to be quite so literal."

"It is a bit surprising." she said nervously.

"Do not be uncomfortable. The Trubese are advanced enough for space travel and beyond looking for actual avatars. No one will fall to their knees before you. However, they are a very visual race with a well-established iconography for representing Prafali's favor. If you would kindly remain near to the Ambassador, and perhaps contrive to hand him a glass of wine at some point, the suggestion that fortune favors our position may be planted." She leaned closer and whispered, "It should not be difficult - just look gracious and benevolent and smile whenever anyone agrees with the Ambassador."

"I'm reasonably sure I can carry that off." Nyota said, feeling a bit more at ease.

"Good. Then I will leave you to become better acquainted with the Ambassador. If I may borrow Cmdr. Spock for a moment, I would appreciate his input on some security measures."

As Selina and Spock walked away, Nyota turned to the Ambassador. "Sir, I do have one more question. Isn't there a danger my appearance will disturb the Aolians? Make it appear we favor their rivals?"

"A most perceptive question. But despite their space faring ability, the Aolians are a very insular society. They are unlikely to recognize the resemblance, as they are unlikely to know much of Prafali at all. Indeed, they seem to have very little interest in knowing anything of other cultures beyond what is absolutely necessary for trade. It makes working with them a distinct challenge." He looked over toward where Selina was conferring with Spock.

"Ms. Uhura, may I ask a question in turn?"

"Certainly."

"I take it you are friends with both of them?" He nodded toward the pair surveying sensor placements.

She smiled. "I think that would be a fair statement."

"You must understand that I do not mean to pry, but I owe them both a great deal. Selina has shown devotion far beyond acting as my right hand and Cmdr. Spock has saved my life before at risk to his own." The valiant Mr. Spock, Nyota thought with a smile. I wonder if I can get him to dress as Prince Valiant for Halloween?

"How do they fare?" he asked with polite concern. "I know a Vulcan is unlikely to admit to anything, but Selina is only perfectly composed on the surface. I would not ask you to betray any confidence, but my assistant is too private a person to ask directly. Therefore, I must resort to the lesson that her own father taught to me and attempt to work through back channels."

"I seem to be the back channel of choice lately." Nyota sighed. This was not quite what she had had in mind when she chose communications as her specialty. "I can assure you they both believe themselves to be perfectly fine."

.


McCoy had given up waiting for Jim and beamed to the station. He'd told him they ought to arrive early, but Jim was still nowhere to be seen. Probably still moussing his hair, McCoy thought.

His less-than-sunny demeanor was noted by the station's chief physician, already waiting in the reception hall. "What is it, Len? Spock invent some new way to make you crazy?"

"No, just chafing at this dress uniform. What idiot thought a tight collar topped with rough braid was a good idea?" he groused.

"Beauty before comfort." his counterpart admonished.

"Frank, all the gold braid in the quadrant wouldn't help your ugly mug ...or mine either for that matter."

"Oh, I wasn't talking about our beauty, or lack thereof. The beauty to dress for is over there." He nodded in the direction of the corner where Selina was standing with Spock. "Of all the trouble Spock gave me on the Yorktown, monopolizing her when she was aboard is the only thing I've never forgiven him for."

McCoy snorted. "Like you'd have had a chance anyway."

"Now, now, Len, you better be nice to me. You certainly can't expect Spock to introduce you. And I like to think I may have made a few inroads during her passes through the station." Frank smiled smugly while waving toward her.

Selina left Spock and came over to greet them. "Frank, thank you coming. The Aolians will want to hear of your research in microcellular regeneration."

"Selina, my dear, as lovely as ever! May I introduce..."

"We have already met," she said smiling and taking McCoy's hand. "Thank you for coming, Len."

"A pleasure." he replied, kissing her hand with a small courtly bow.

"Later, I will be most interested in hearing the results of the research we discussed over breakfast." she said with a wink. "But for now, you will have to excuse me. I must prepare for our other guests."

As she walked away, McCoy could feel as much as see his colleague's consternation. Since he couldn't very well do a victory dance right there, he clasped his hands behind his back and settled for bouncing on the balls of his feet.

"Breakfast?" Frank inquired weakly, his eyebrows rising in manner reminiscent of the Vulcan who been the bane of both their sickbays.

"Spock introduced us yesterday," McCoy said, grinning like a Cheshire cat. "It's the southern gentleman thing. Gets them everytime."

.


Okay, I know running into the Yorktown's former CMO is probably too much of a coincidence, but this is a comedy and he sort of sprang into my head and demanded a role. Picture someone a bit like the medical hologram doctor from Voyager if you want to know how he looks in my mind. In the same way that Spock was also a loyal friend to his first captain, I figure he probably also sparred with his first CMO. IMHO, any characterization of Spock has to include a +10 ability to drive physicians to distraction.

I love writing McCoy and have been inspired by listening to ST2009 novelization on tape. ZQ reads it ( ::drool:: ) and he actually reads McCoy almost better than Spock. Also, my daughter has become enamored of the TOS episode Journey to Babel (should I be worried that she says she likes Spock's father?). McCoy both features prominently and does that bounce-and-grin thing when he finally gets the last word at the end.

And, yes, although the love of my life is from the Midwest, that southern gentleman thing definitely works for me.