((ADDENDUM: I changed the last name of the CMO of the space station to Rasul. I don't normally do that, never have before, but in this case I had a good enough reason to do it.

Didn't I say I'd use this chapter heading? This is a chorale in the Christmas Oratorio.))

Jim felt like half a child, sitting before Admiral Ndaga with Bones and T'Kray to his left and a so far empty seat to his right. 'He should be here shortly,' Ndaga said after cutting the connection to the science department. Jim used the ensuing silence to watch the man. He was very tall, so much he had to duck his head when he passed under the lamps in the mess hall. His black hair was replaced with snow at his temples, betraying his real age somewhere well over fifty. His face looked younger than he had any right to, and his lean build emphasised that. He was handsome, very much so, Jim had to admit. With his deep quiet voice he radiated calm. And he was every bit as unreadable as your average Vulcan. Jim had no idea where this was going, only that very soon he would know if they could leave together or if they were torn apart. Or if they had to stay here, all of them, which seemed like the lesser evil.

Spock arrived with his face composed and settled next to Jim. Some of his concern must have leaked through the bond, prompting Spock to calm him. They cannot separate us if we tell them that we are bonded. Or would you object to that? Jim smiled vaguely.

Of course not. But I don't want to go and leave Bones and T'Kray. Or the other way around.

'Thank you,' the Admiral said, interrupting their unspoken conversation. He adjusted the small pile of papers in front of him. That he used paper for his notes might mean that he was slightly old-fashioned, and Jim wondered if that was good or bad. 'I would like to tell you a story.' He leaned back in his chair and looked at them all in turn. 'Imagine someone working in an office, his day to day routine changing very rarely. Kirk, you can relate to that, I believe, but other than you, some people want it that way. I hear about three men returning decades younger than they are, one of them even from the dead. With them, a fourth person turns up who was supposedly dead as well, having crashed on a rather hostile planet. I find all that very interesting, I hear with some delight that they want to dedicate their considerable faculties to Starfleet again, and that they want to catch up with the current technology. So far so good.

'Much later, I receive a forwarded request from Commodore Bligh. It says that these four people want to leave the Cristóbal de Morales space station, want their own assignment, if possible, together. I think he'll be the best man to evaluate these people and inform him that I'll be all right with whatever he decides. Only he doesn't. Instead, he figures that human lives are not something worth a second thought.' Bones shook his head.

'He … Admiral, I would like to say something.'

'No need, doctor, I know. He's facing court martial, but there will be no punishment, I believe. The only question is whether he's sent to Elba II or to the Tantalus Colony.' Bones nodded at that, visibly relieved. 'Anyway, for some reason I am sent here in Bligh's absence until someone can replace him. I am to find a head for the engineering and science departments, and I am to find a permanent replacement for Bligh. I uttered my thoughts on putting unstable people in any place that might, just might, require a sober and sane mind and I believe that I was listened to. Now I don't think, Captain, that this is something you would want. To take Bligh's position.' Jim's eyes widened.

'I feel honoured, but frankly … if I have a choice, I'd rather not.'

'You want a ship. Right? And you have a very concrete idea who you want as first officer, CMO, and counsellor. Why would I let you pick them?' Jim had expected that.

'Mr Spock, Doctor McCoy, and I have worked together in the past. Fleet Admiral Williams said that after the reduction of their ranks their past achievements were without consequence, but that doesn't apply to me, or to the fact that we are a good team. I know I can trust them fully, and I know what they are capable of. They are the best I can get.' Ndaga smiled.

'That certainly was true, and I am tempted to believe that it still is. What about the counsellor, why her?'

'I have worked with her on Dainam. She is the one who saved the original inhabitants of the planet.'

'That makes her a good leader and precisely why I wonder if I shouldn't rather have her trained for command on Earth. Do you object to that?' Jim smiled vaguely.

'Doctor, I think you should answer that one.' Bones straightened in his chair.

'We're bonded.' The Admiral's eyebrows shot up, and Jim turned with surprise. That was new.

'Really? Interesting. Is that verified? No, it can't be. Not here.' His lips turned up, Jim thought that was it, that at least until they could find someone who tested them, however that might be done, Bones and T'Kray were sent to different places. The Admiral, however, wasn't Williams, and unlike him, not on a potential vendetta against any of them. 'Very well, I'll just take your word for it. But you should see a Vulcan healer at one point and get that official. I know not all Vulcans do that, but if you want to be certain that you can't be separated it is necessary.' T'Kray offered a small smile.

'I am aware of that and intended to request permission to visit my home planet for that purpose.' The Admiral nodded.

'That isn't going to be a problem. My felicitations, to both of you.' Bones grinned.

'Thanks.' He turned his head to Jim and Spock. 'Anything you might want to add?' Spock inclined his head.

I believe it would be wise. Jim nodded.

'Yes, indeed.' He cleared his throat. 'We … should go to Vulcan as well, Spock and I. For the same reason.' For a moment the Admiral looked stunned, then he threw his head back and laughed.

'There have been rumours about you both for decades, and when you came from Dainam they sprang back to life with a vengeance. It seems for once, people were right all those years.'

'Actually, they weren't. This is … recent.' He smiled, unable to stop himself. 'If you have an assignment that sends us to Vulcan it would be convenient. I don't want to push things by asking for a leave.'

'Assuming that I let you go anywhere before your year is over. Doctor Rasul says he needs you here, but I think he's got the situation well under control.' Ndaga made a dismissive gesture. 'I don't want to make you quiver when it isn't necessary. You can go. Originally I didn't intend to give you your chosen counsellor, but a bond changes that. Command training involves multiple transfers, and if I have to transfer a doctor with her, that would be a horribly bureaucratic affair.' Jim leaned back, sighing with relief. Bones, too, relaxed visibly. The two Vulcans sat with their admirable stoicism and didn't do so much as blink. 'The U.S.S. Covenant is a research vessel that is now in for a refit. Its old crew is already scattered across the alpha quadrant and we decided to pick an entire new one. I'll soon inform you about the first assignment. And when I find anything that might be needed from Vulcan, I'll make sure it's you that goes there.'

'Thank you Admiral.' Ndaga raised his hands.

'You're welcome.' He adjusted his papers again. 'In that case I suggest you conclude whatever work is still in progress. The mission of the Covenant is not one that should be delayed for a long time.'

ϡ

As soon as they were dismissed, Leonard found himself cornered by Jim. 'Bonded? Since when? You didn't say!' He smiled apologetically.

'Jim, I've never been all that communicative about these things.'

'You're never communicative about anything personal.' Leonard's smile widened.

'Well, if you know that, why ask? Are you mad at me?' Jim shook his head.

'No. Just surprised. Makes me think I should have bugged you more.' He lowered his voice. 'I'm going to make good for that as soon as I can corner you.' Leonard blinked at him.

'Oh? Oh no, Jim. My lips are sealed. Anyway I've got to go. Spock? Can we free these scientists?' Spock's expression was unfathomable, but his words betrayed his amusement.

'The trees will still be there in an hour if you prefer to have a private conversation.' Jim snorted, and Leonard's eyes narrowed.

'You're the worst rescuer ever, and to add insult to injury, you're doing it on purpose. Jim, mind your own business. And stop laughing, damn you.' Jim wiped a hand over his eyes.

'A gentleman never tells, eh?' He smiled. 'All right, Bones, I shut up. What do you reckon how long you'll need for the scientists?' Leonard shrugged.

'Good question. The process itself is pretty fast, the necessary surgery uncomplicated. I'll want to keep an eye on them for, say, a week. But they're in good hands with Rasul.'

'Are you certain?'

'You never make a slip, Jim? I know I did. I was lucky enough that it never caused a catastrophe. I'm not a God, neither is he. He's not cut out to head this space station, but he's a great doctor, branded by a stupid mistake. If this station hadn't grown on him so much I'd say it's unfair he's grounded here.'

'Are you sure he's grounded?' Bones shrugged.

'I believe so, but I also think he's quite fine with that. Kind of guy that always lands on his feet.'

ϡ

T'Kray listened patiently to what little Melosia Olenyez offered. She was feeling tired, she had said, she felt cold most of the time, she needed something and didn't rightly know what. The same was true for her colleague. And that last could mean trouble. After their ordeal, the two scientists had been near-catatonic for three days, now they were better. Physically. Mentally, they had to deal with what had happened to them, and T'Kray was the one who should see to them. 'Miss Olenyez, I would like you to log your sleep pattern over the next few weeks.'

'You won't be here then.'

'I won't leave before someone is here to replace me.' That successor would come with the Covenant. The people that were going to fill the empty places would all be brought with the ship that would then take them away to … wherever. They hadn't been told yet. Apparently Ndaga enjoyed keeping them in suspense. Olenyez tilted her head.

'Aren't you a Vulcan?' T'Kray smiled slightly.

'I am.'

'Then why do you care how I am?' She sighed.

'I'm not a machine, even if that is how some of us like to be seen. And I'm a psychologist.' She leaned forward slightly. 'I will pass on to the sickbay personnel that you find the temperature displeasing. Your file says that physically nothing is wrong with you.'

'Have you looked at me?' T'Kray nodded.

'Indeed I have. And you look exactly as you used to, the only thing that's changed is the tone and texture of your skin.'

'I'm a freak.'

'Your skin can be replaced, but not all at once. I spoke to Doctor McCoy about that, I told him that this concerns you. It shouldn't be what you focus on. If you need that surgery, you'll have it.'

'I … T'Kray, I need something else.' The Vulcan nodded.

'I know. For that, too, the doctor may have found an answer. Follow me, will you?'

'Where?'

'The planet. I got clearance to take you there.' Meekly Olenyez followed her to the transporter room and then outside the research station. Standing there in the sunlight, she closed her eyes. 'Are you feeling at all better?' Olenyez took a deep sigh and T'Kray used the moment to run a scan over her. It was certainly interesting. 'I don't know the first thing about trees, Miss Olenyez, but I know that what is green produces sugar from sunlight. You skin … Well. Your skin is green. And sugar makes humans happy.'

'So I'll grow fat if I stay in the sun.'

'I thought you might ask that. No. You'd just … sweat, or that's what it would look like. What Lieutenant Spock said is that excess sugar will just leak out of your pores because that's what happens to plants. You can't even get fat.'

'And if I get the transplantation, I can?'

'I should think so. Miss Olenyez, this isn't something you've got to know now. You know you need sunlight, and I'll tell you something else. No one is going to blink at your skin tone. People aren't that shallow. Some will ask questions, but that's about it. If you find it offensive, you can still change it.' Olenyez looked at her hands.

'Maybe you are right. I should take my time. Since McCoy won't be here, can Doctor Rasul do this?' T'Kray smiled a little wider.

'Indeed he can. And Kresar will still be here to supply what knowledge is needed from a botanist. You are in excellent hands, even if we're not here. Trust me.'

'Very well, T'Kray. I'll do that.'

((I don't believe there's chlorophyll in the cambium (I admit I didn't look, but what the hell would it be doing there?), but these trees are different in many ways, aren't they? And even though some plants do leak sugar, that happens from the leaves. And it's actually excess water they get rid of, the salts and sugars are just a side effect. But like I said, these trees are different. Ever licked phlox? I know I did. Ate the flowers too.

Anyway, this is it. Next will be Water. Being that my choirs are back, I don't have the time to post every other day any more. Pity.))