Excerpt from Personal Log of Leonard McCoy - Stardate 2261.6507
A pair of aliens appeared that call themselves Vians, but they remind me uncomfortably of Talosians. I've been left by myself - they've taken Spock and Gem to who the hell knows where. No idea what the Vians intend, but their track record doesn't speak well for what Spock is probably experiencing.
McCoy had, quite honestly, spent several minutes venting and making use of his rather extensive knowledge of profanity after first finding himself alone. Once he finally stopped to catch his breath, he didn't restart. He was too worried about both Spock and Gem - what the Vians might be doing to them.
Those thoughts led him back to the poor souls in the tubes. Taking a deep breath, McCoy started with Doctor Ozaba, recording the full condition his body had been found in and giving the date of the outpost security tape as the estimated time of death. It was doubtful that they would be able to take the bodies with them, but he could at least make sure their deaths were properly recorded with the Federation. He would, of course, recommend that that families never be told the full details of everything the men had suffered, but the Federation and Starfleet should know everything that these Vians had done to their people.
After he finished with the last set of readings, McCoy looked at the two empty tubes. The labeling left little doubt that they were waiting for himself and Spock to be put on display. The labels were obviously meant for them - the odds were astronomical against the Vians making actual use of Terran common as their language of choice. So the labels were intended to intimidate or demoralize. They did neither to McCoy. They pissed him off.
He had turned to move away from the tubes when the force field sprang back into life around him. First Gem, then Spock reappeared in the area, but not as he had last seen them. Gem's face was wet from weeping and Spock was plainly in a bad way, crumpled in a heap on the floor.
There were only so many details the doctor could see from where he was trapped, but Spock's uniform was tattered with his uniform top little better than a rag. Both wrists were raw and green with blood and blood was also coming from his mouth and ears. The blood coming from Spock's ears was a particularly bad sign, but McCoy found that the more he attempted to reach his friend, the weaker he felt and the brighter the force field became.
Gem came as close to the force field as she could without touching it and studied McCoy intensely. He knew she didn't really understand his words, but knew that someone as sensitive as she was had to be feeling how much it was killing him to be unable to help Spock. His weakness from fighting the shield dropped him to his knees as he met her eyes.
"Please."
Extending a hand as close as she dared, Gem seemed deep in thought for a moment before withdrawing her hand and forming it into a fist that she brought to her chest before giving a firm nod.
McCoy had no idea if the nod was intended for himself or a sign of her determination, but he felt like crying in relief as she knelt beside Spock and began to heal him. She would take some injuries into herself, then retreat to near McCoy. While she held herself, he spoke encouragement to her and wished he could give her what remained of his own strength. He was too concerned over Spock to notice that the force field was growing dimmer as he ignored it. By the third time Gem came beside him for comfort, the field flickered, then disappeared completely. Surprised, McCoy wasted no time in pulling Gem in his arms and allowing her to cry on his shoulder until she felt strong enough to return to Spock, this time with McCoy by her side.
In the darkness surrounding the area, the two Vians watched closely.
"His actions are interfering with the great experiment, Thann."
"No, Lal. Look at her. She has attached herself to him. He will be the one that will put her to the final test."
Lal watched quietly as the doctor began taking care of Spock himself with Gem willingly aiding without any further urging by McCoy. A relieved smile formed on both faces when Spock opened his eyes again.
"Easy, Spock - don't move. You're out of danger, but there's still a lot of healing you need to do. Are you strong enough to go into a healing trance?"
Spock responded with a slight nod.
"Good. Go on then. We're right here beside you."
McCoy could see that Spock wanted to say something but didn't have the strength.
"Rest up. We need you healthy to get out of here."
A soft exhale was the only answer as Spock closed his eyes again. McCoy did a quick check with his tricorder to verify the trance, then stiffened as the Vians came into the light.
"You are required for the next stage of the great experiment. You will come with us."
Leaving Spock alone and defenseless wasn't in McCoy's plans.
"What the hell is this great experiment? What makes it worth the deaths of four men and the torture of my friend?"
"Their lives, your friend's life and your life - all are insignificant in comparison to the completion of the great experiment. If you participate, you will most likely die as the others did. If you will not come, we will take your friend and make use of him a second time. Should we do so, he may live but his mind will be irrevocably damaged. You have five of your Terran minutes to come to a decision."
Gem flinched slightly at the hatred she felt radiating from McCoy toward the Vians. Seeing that, McCoy took a deep breath and composed himself, taking a moment to compose a farewell message to Spock. After he laid his tricorder by Spock's side, Gem grabbed onto McCoy's hand and held it tightly.
McCoy gave her what he hoped was a reassuring smile, before looking to the Vians.
"I'll go. Will you let her stay with my friend?"
The two Vians exchanged a brief glance, then nodded.
"She will be allowed to be with him. Come now."
Giving Gem's hand a soft squeeze, McCoy smiled at her again.
"Stay with my friend. Spock will take care of you once he wakes back up."
He gently brushed away the fresh tear that started down her cheek, then gave her hand a final squeeze before releasing her and walking away. The Vians turned and walked into the darkness - he followed, steeling himself not to look back.
Once he entered the darkness, he seemed to pass out. When McCoy opened his eyes again, he found himself suspended from shackles that were already stained with green blood. That wasn't what angered him though - what angered him was the sight of Gem cowering on the floor between the two Vians.
"Guess it was too much to expect that the two of you had any sense of honor. Your word means as little as our lives, I see."
"We will keep our word - once your part in the great experiment is completed, she will be returned to his side."
"Then get it the hell over with."
As the pain shot through his body, the doctor's last coherent thoughts were to curse at the Vians for making Gem watch.