Spock sat in the train reading a book. There was a shelf full of books and he had chosen one about physics. He would rather read about science than anything else, and he was curious about the book and the information it had to offer.

While he was reading, Spock noticed someone coming around the side of the train, and it was not Jim and the others, nor was it Jim West or Artemus Gordon. Spock put his hat on and stood up. He recognized the visitors as the five who had ridden into town and also had come into the diner.

The leader of the bunch did not knock, but rather just walked in. "Why are you entering this train without permission?" Spock asked.

"Who are you?" the man asked.

"I might ask you the same thing. If you are looking for Mister West and Mister Gordon, they are not here at this time."

"And what are you? Their train sitter?"

"I am traveling with them at this time."

"Well, if you don't mind, we're just going to wait for them here."

Spock looked at the gun the man had just drawn. "There is no need for violence," he said.

"Well, you just take off that gun belt real peaceful like and we won't have to resort to violence," the man replied.

Spock just eyed him a moment but he took off the gun belt he wore and gave it to them. He certainly did not want to get shot. If he got shot, they would certainly know he was not a human. "I will simply continue reading if you do not mind," he said.

The man scowled at him. "You talk funny," he said.

"I am not certain what you mean by that statement."

"Where are you from?"

"I might ask you the same question. You have not told me your name nor why you are here. Therefore, I do not find it necessary to tell you anything about me."

The man was taken aback by Spock's boldness. "Sit down there," he said.

Spock sat down and picked up his book again. He was not going to argue with these people. They seemed to be looking for trouble and he would not give them any…unless they made it necessary. He wished he could get word to Jim that there was trouble but if he made any sort of move, he figured these guys would take it as aggression.

Two of the men sat down to keep an eye on Spock. Two of the others went outside to keep a lookout, and the boss stood at the windows. Spock pretended to be deeply interested in his book but he was watching the movements of the others. Only the boss seemed to have an "itchy" trigger finger as he played with his gun a lot and kept checking the load. Spock figured this one was the real threat, and the others simply followed him. He would have to figure out a way to disband this gang.

Jim and Carol had found out that they did have to pay for the bath house, and they had found that store keepers did not take kindly to anyone who was just "shopping", if they did not intend to buy anything. "I didn't think they would be so rude," Carol said.

"Neither did I," Jim replied. "I guess they get a lot of thieves."

As they came around the corner of the train station and came in sight of the train, they saw the two cowboys from the gang standing outside the train as though they were on guard duty. "Jim," Carol said quietly.

"I see them," Jim replied, and they turned across the street.

"Spock is in the train."

"I know. I know."

Jim was trying to think of something to do. "Why did West and Gordon leave us here alone like this?" he asked. "They didn't even tell us where they were going."

"It must have been something important…national security."

"Maybe. If I know Spock, he's analyzing the ones holding him hostage."

"What if they make him remove his hat?"

"Let's try to think positive."

"There has been nothing positive about this whole experience."

Jim West and Artemus Gordon were on their way back to the town. They had been out to see one of the senators about the scientist they were looking for. They had not disclosed any information about their future visitors, but they had told the senator that they wanted to speak with the scientist on behalf of the President. They now knew that his lab was not far from the town but they would take Jim Kirk and his friends with them to visit.

"Are you going along with them to stop this research?" Gordon asked.

"Perhaps they can change the parameters of the research, and maybe the outcome will be different," West replied.

"Superior knowledge equals thoughts of superiority in all aspects."

"Superior ego."

"Conceit."

"Arrogance."

They were silent a moment. "You think maybe that smart one with the pointed ears could help them?" Gordon asked.

"I guess anything's possible," West said. "I wish I could see what things are like in their time."

"I want to get married and have some heirs who will see it."

"Yeah. Maybe they'll carry my name on to that time."

"Just think…Artemus Gordon the fourth, the captain of a star ship."

West laughed. "How do you know it won't be Jim West the fourth?"

"Oh, and my grandson will be the smart one?"

"Somebody has to be."

"It's hard to imagine, isn't it?"

"Something actually leaving this planet? Of course."

"I wonder what our new friends are doing. You think we left enough money for them?"

"It should have been enough for their breakfast."

"Jim, they need more than that. Suppose they're here for a long time? We can't keep babysitting them."

"I think they're intelligent enough to fend for themselves, Artie."

"But, they're not used to this lifestyle. Can we just abandon them?"

West considered that. "We could help them until they get on their feet, but then they have to make it on their own," he said.

"It wasn't their choice to be here," Gordon replied. "What do you think about that? This…being who sent them here. Q?"

"I guess there are just a lot of things in the universe that we don't understand."

"Many."

They were soon coming into the edge of Sacramento, and could see the train. "Looks like we have company, Jim," Gordon said.

"They don't look too friendly, do they?" West asked.

"Not at all."

"Let's get rid of the horses."

They took their rented horses to the livery stable and then walked down the boardwalk. "You think they're watching for us?" Gordon asked.

"I think that's probably what the two outside are doing," West said. "But how many are on the inside?"

"And did they hurt or kill any of our friends?"

"Let's hope not."

Jim and Carol were trying to figure out a way to get to the train when they saw Gordon and West. "Hey!" Jim whispered so that they could hear him.

West and Gordon went over to them. "Where have you guys been?" Jim demanded.

"We've been investigating," West replied.

"Well, you didn't leave us much in the way of money. We don't have our own, you know."

"I told him that," Gordon said.

"Carol needs some different clothes, and she would like a bath, and those four guys over there have our friend, Spock, in that train. If they haven't realized that he's different by now, they're very dense. We have to get him out of there."

West was silent a moment. "I know who they are," he said. "There's five of them, right?"

"Yes," Jim replied. "Who are they and what do they want?"

"The leader, his name is Tommy Brannon. He's angry at me because he thinks I killed is brother. Yet another mad scientist, Frivel, had his brother working for him, and he was secretly doing experiments on him, giving him some sort of drugs that slowly deteriorated his mind. Frivel was using human guinea pigs, and we stopped him, but there was nothing we could do to help his brother. Frivel had him convinced that he could reverse the effects, but it was a lie, and when Frivel died, he blamed me that his brother died as well. There was no helping any of them. The brain is a very delicate organ."

"Once it's deteriorated, it can't be restored," Carol said. "Perhaps if a scientist talks to him he would be convinced that Frivel was lying."

"Spock doesn't know about this though," Jim said. "I'm sure he's observing his captors. But if he gets shot…"

"It would be impossible for us to hide that he's not human."

"What do you mean?" Gordon asked curiously.

Jim looked at him. "He has green blood," he said quietly.

"Green?"

"Yes. I mean, if he bleeds, it's green. If he blushes, it's green. He's a Vulcan."

"I can see why we need to be careful," West said. He thought a moment. "I can try to talk to Brannon."

"How?" Jim asked. "You can't just walk out there like that."

"What do you suggest?"

"I don't know, but I don't think that's the answer."

"You're not in charge here, young captain. I usually like to tackle a problem from the middle and work my way out."

Carol looked at Jim. "Sounds like someone else I know," she said with her arms folded.

Jim glanced at her. "I like that way of doing things myself," he admitted. "But sometimes, you can't do it that way. I think this is one of those times. If you go out there, you're going to be putting Spock in worse danger."

"If I don't, they're gonna keep him as a hostage," West argued. "If you think they're gonna let your friend go, you're sadly mistaken."

"Then what good will it do for you to go out there to talk to him?"

"Why don't you give me a minute and I'll try to explain it to you."

Jim was not used to someone else making the plans, but he would go along with it…

Jim West walked out into view of the ones who were guarding the train. "Brannon!" he yelled. "Why don't you come on out of there so we can talk?"

Brannon stepped out of the train. "No time for talking, West!" he replied. "All I want is to see you lying dead in the street just like my brother."

"I didn't kill your brother!"

"You did! You might as well have cut his throat! You killed the only man who could help him!"

"No! That's not true! Frivel could do nothing to help him! He's the one who killed him! That guy you have in there as a hostage. He's a scientist! He can prove it to you!"

Brannon just stood there a moment. "You're lying!"

"No, I'm not!"

Just then, they heard a train whistle that was much closer, and obviously would be coming into the town. Jim West walked closer to Brannon. "I don't know what you've told these men who are with you, but if you commit murder, you're no better than that so-called scientist who experimented on people like your brother…without their consent. He knew exactly what he was doing to your brother."

Brannon shook his head. "This is the same story you told me last time!" he declared.

"It's the truth! Truth doesn't change!"

Jim Kirk was coming around the back of the train station as West had Brannon and his men distracted. There was a door on the opposite side of the train and he intended to help Spock get out without incident. He had to help him get out without incident. Their trouble would be just beginning if Spock got shot.

Jim came to the corner of the building, and then suddenly Q appeared beside him. "What are you doing, Captain?" Q asked. He was now dressed in a western outfit, hat and all. "You're sneaking around trying to save your Vulcan friend. Oh, what would the townsfolk think if they saw a man bleeding green?"

Jim glared at him. "Why don't you send us back to our time?" he asked.

"I'm having too much fun seeing just how much the famous Jim Kirk can mix up history!"

Q looked around the corner. "Oh, a real western showdown!" he said with sarcastic enthusiasm. "Isn't this fun?"

"No, it's not," Jim replied. "Why don't you just go away?"

"Oh come now, Captain. You don't really want me to go away forever, do you?"

"Yeah! I do!"

"Just when I thought we were starting to get to know each other."

Jim thought he had never seen anyone more annoying than Q. "I have to help my friend," he said.

"Well, I guess I'll come back sometime when you're not so busy," Q replied and vanished.

Jim wished he could get hold of Q and knock some sense into him, but he supposed he could not. He ran over to the back of the train as he could hear the whistle from the approaching train again. He was between the two tracks and knew that other train would be coming right along the next track. He got over to the back door of the lounge car and looked in through the window. He could see that there were two more inside the train with Spock, but they were at the front door watching what was happening with West and Brannon.

Jim tried the knob on the door and it turned. He opened the door slightly and looked in. Spock was sitting on the couch in the lounge car, and he was looking that way. Jim motioned for him to come that way. Spock looked at his captors and was not certain that would be a good idea. He knew if he stood up, they would notice. He shook his head slightly at Jim.

Jim decided he would just have to do something drastic so he went into the train, and drew his gun as the other two were turning. "I wouldn't draw if I were you," he said.

The two froze and put their hands up. "This must be him," one of them said.

The other swallowed hard as they stared at Jim Kirk, who was curious about what they were talking about. "What do you mean, this must be him?" he asked.

"We heard about a gun fight with Curly Bill over in Carson City, and they said it was a young fella like you. Described you to a T."

Jim looked at Spock who raised one eyebrow which was usually his most common expression of surprise or confusion. "It seems you have already acquired a reputation, Jim," Spock said.

"That wasn't my intention," Jim replied.

"You seem to have a talent for accomplishing that which you did not set out to do."

"Alright. Let's just figure out how to get this mess under control."

Jim looked at the two. "Take off those gun belts," he said. "And don't do anything funny."

"We wouldn't dream of it," one of them said. "Just don't shoot us."

"Don't tempt me. You guys have held my friend here hostage and I just might get trigger happy."

Spock tried not to show his amusement at that statement. "Yes, he can get quite violent if he is provoked," he said. "You best hurry."

The two dropped their gun belts. "Now, your boss out there seems to think Mister West killed his brother," Jim said. "How did you get mixed up in this?"

They did not say a word. "I do not believe they wish to answer," Spock said.

"We'll see about that."

"Wait!" one of them said. "We've been riding with Tommy for a long time. We're friends. His brother used to ride with us. We kinda did a little bounty hunting and worked with the law…until Tommy's brother got involved with that scientist. Rick always liked science, even when we were in school, and when this scientist offered to let him help with an experiment, he jumped at the chance. At first, he would write to Tommy and tell him how great things were, and then after about three months, his letters got really strange, like he didn't really know what he was saying. That was when we went back to Kansas City. Frivel told us that he could cure Rick, but it wasn't two weeks before West showed up, and Frivel ended up dead in a lab fire."

Jim looked at Spock. "West says Frivel had been experimenting on Rick without his knowledge, and he destroyed his mind, and then promised Tommy that he could fix it, but it was a lie," Jim said.

"And then Mister West and Mister Gordon showed up," Spock added.

"Yes."

Spock looked at the other two men. "It is not possible to restore the human mind once it has been destroyed," he said. "Mister West did not kill your friend's brother, nor could this scientist have cured him. He was simply manipulating your friend, possibly to find more test subjects. Mister West most likely saved his life as well."

"Look, we don't know anything about it," one of the men said. "All we know is what Tommy told us, and if Jim West did cause his brother's death, then he should answer for it."

"He didn't," Jim replied. "That scientist caused his brother's death. Mister West prevented him from killing more people and subjecting them to torture. Frivel was the one breaking the laws."

Just then, they heard gun fire outside the train. Jim and Spock ducked, and the other two dived for their own guns. Jim realized they were about to come back up with their guns…all in an instant, and one of them would be aiming for Spock. "Spock, move!" Jim yelled as he came back to his feet and dived for him.

Spock heard a gunshot as he hit the floor with Jim landing hard beside him. Spock had drawn his own gun and he aimed over Jim's side and fired at the first of their attackers, and then the other before they could fire again.

As that conflict ended, Artemus Gordon came through the back door of the train, and Jim West came through the front. Spock looked at Jim who was still lying on his side. "Jim, are you hurt?" Spock asked.

Jim looked at him seeming to be a little confused. "I don't know," he said. "I can't feel my legs."

"Captain?"

"I…I can't feel my legs, Spock."

Spock looked at Jim's back and his hand was covered in blood. West and Gordon rushed over to them. "This looks bad," Gordon said as they were looking at Jim's back.

"Go get the doctor," West said.

Gordon left the train. He would have to get the Marshal as well. Spock looked at Jim West. "What should I do?" he asked.

"Hide," Jim said. He grabbed Spock by the arm. "You hide somewhere!" He looked at West. "Don't let them question Spock."

"They're gonna want to know what happened here," West replied.

"Tell them they were holding me hostage. You can't let them know Spock is…"

Just then, Carol came into the train. She stopped a moment in shock, but then she ran to Jim. "Jim, what happened!" she exclaimed as she saw the blood on his back.

Spock looked at her. "He was shot trying to protect me," he said.

"Jim!"

"Better yet, tell them they were holding Carol hostage," Jim said. He looked at Spock. "Go to the other car!"

"He's right," Carol agreed.

They could see that Spock did not want to leave but he cooperated and went to the other car. "If we're found out to be telling a lie, it's not going to look good," West said.

"Who's going to know it?" Jim asked. "Except us."

"You may be right…"

"I am right! We can't let them find out that Spock is from another planet."

"I understand."

"Tell them I was protecting Carol."

"But Spock shot them, Jim!" Carol said.

"Just tell them that you did it with my gun."

"Your gun hasn't been fired!"

"Then swap it with Spock's! Hurry!"

"Jim, they're going to want to know how you did that after you were shot like this."

Jim closed his eyes. He could not argue anymore. "Gotta protect Spock," he said.