Danger, Will Robinson! - August 29th
Twisted Shorts August Fic-a-Day Challenge - Day 29
Title: Danger, Will Robinson!
Author: hermione2be
Rating: PG/FR13/K+
Crossover: BtVS/Star Trek
Disclaimer: I do not own any of BtVS/Angel or Star Trek people, places, or ideas. This fiction is done simply for pleasure and I receive no profit.
Summary: A stop at Yorktown Starbase brings more problems than the Enterprise crew can manage.
Notes: Part 24 of “Immortal Kelvin Slayer” - Links Page
Seasons: Post-Series/Beyond
Word Count: 2695
Buffy shook her head. “Did we let him out on his own?”
“Aye, lass,” Scotty agreed.
“We do realize that this will end with yelling and emergency beaming?”
“I’m all set.”
“Scotty, get me out of here!” came through the communications system.
Scotty pushed a button as he looked at Buffy. “That was quick!”
“Scotty!”
It took him a moment, but he was able to transport Jim and a couple of angry tiny Teenaxi.
“Why do we let him out alone?” she asked.
“Captain,” Scotty reminded her.
“Right…still not seeing the reason, isn’t there some rule against it?”
“About not letting the captain off the ship?”
“This captain,” she corrected.
“You worry too much, lass.”
“Can I be completely honest with you?” she said softly.
“Of course.”
“I’ve got a bad feeling. I don’t know what it is, but it’s growing in the pit of my stomach.”
“About what?”
“I don’t know. It was just a vague feeling a few weeks ago…but now it’s constant. I wondered if it was just anxiety about my relationship with McCoy or something I was getting from Spock or Uhura…”
“And now?”
“There is a robot dancing in my head, constantly announcing Danger, Will Robinson. Danger!”
“Have you ever had one of these feelings before?”
“Yes, but not without a manifestation of the danger in dreams. I haven’t had a warning dream in years.” She fiddled with the end of her braid. “I swear, I feel like at any moment I’m going to come out of my own skin.”
“Have you told any of them?”
“No.”
“Well, if you get more feelings, come share them with me.”
Buffy smiled. “Thanks, Scotty.”
“Anytime.”
88888888
Buffy entered the private room with a bottle of alcohol. “I thought you guys may need this,” she said, presenting it to McCoy and Jim.
“Where did you get this?” Jim asked.
“I’m strange. I picked up a case thirty years ago. I brought two of them with me.” She set the bottle on the counter. “One for your birthday.”
“Why?”
“Because if there is one person that understands morbid anniversaries, it’s me. Problem is, alcohol is wasted on me. But I figured the two of you would appreciate it.”
McCoy lifted the bottle from her hand. “Definitely.” He pulled out three glasses and poured a fair amount in each.
“Care to join us?” Jim asked Buffy.
“No. This is not something I wanted to intrude on.” She leaned over and kissed Jim’s cheek. “But thank you.”
McCoy watched her leave the room.
“You don’t have to hang out with me, Bones,” Jim told him.
“I want to be here,” McCoy answered, looking at his friend. “I know you really don’t like to celebrate your birthday, but this is the least we can do.”
Tired as he felt, Jim grinned at his friend. “I’m nowhere as pretty as the company you want to be keeping.”
88888888
Yorktown Starbase was huge and Buffy immediately agreed with McCoy’s snow globe metaphor. They all left the ship, wanting to enjoy as much shore leave as possible while they waited for an initial analysis for their reprovision.
She wanted to go over the structural details of the place. She wanted to study it.
Crowds were milling around. She saw Sulu move across the quad before she saw that Ben and Katsumi were moving towards them. She smiled at the family’s reunion.
“What are you smiling at?” McCoy asked, grumpy at being trapped in a snow globe.
She tilted her head in the direction Sulu had gone. “Thinking about how much has changed in three years.”
“Spock,” Uhura’s voice said just behind them. “Do you have a moment?”
“Of course, Nyota,” Spock replied in a polite and even tone.
“You should have this back,” Uhura said. “After all, it belonged to your mother.”
“It is not in the Vulcan custom,” Spock said, “to receive again that which was given as a gift.”
Uhura nodded awkwardly and walked away.
“You guys break up?” McCoy asked as they approached Spock. “What did you do?”
“Leo,” Buffy warned.
“A typically reductive inquiry, doctor,” Spock said.
“You know, Spock, if an Earth girl says: “It’s me, not you.” It’s definitely you.”
“Excuse me,” someone said from behind Spock. “Commander Spock, may we have a moment of your time?”
Spock nodded his head once. “Excuse me, doctor. Lieutenant.” He followed the two Vulcans.
“Um…” Buffy frowned. “I need to go with them.”
“Why?” McCoy asked.
“I can’t explain it, I just…I just have to go. I’ll meet you - later.” Buffy rushed through the crowd, she was glad that Slayer agility meant she could move fast and not cause an accident.
She slowed at the large scenic balcony. It was fairly deserted. Spock stood with the two Vulcans. There was an exchanging of a box and a common Vulcan goodbye before the two left Spock alone.
Buffy approached as soon as they walked away.
“Spock?” she said.
He turned, the PADD going behind his back as though to hide it.
“What’s happened?” she asked.
Spock considered and seemed to hesitate before he brought the PADD from behind his back and held it out to her.
Buffy felt her breathing become heavier and tears filled her eyes making the face on the PADD swim before her. But she could still read it: Ambassador Spock 2230.06 - 2263.02
She took the PADD from him and stared at the aged face she knew so well. Her other hand went her mouth as she fell clumsily onto a bench. Her tears fell in torrents and she felt her heart break. The Ambassador had represented so much for her - the future, the truth, and the life she got to live now because he had told Jim about Buffy Summers. He had been her friend, given her so much, including a glimpse into his mind and his heart - and the future that Nero had stolen. The good and the bad.
“Buffy?” Spock said as he sat down next to her.
“Excuse my emotional response,” she said, though she did not quell it. “I didn’t know he was sick, but I should have…”
“What reason did you have to suspect illness?”
“Because he was getting emotional in his old age,” Buffy replied, swiping at a tear. “That’s what the whole thing…he shared with me something he shouldn’t have. I thought it was just a warning, to the future, to someone who may live to see it. But it was about his guilt.”
“You cared for him.”
Her face crumpled and she squeezed her eyes shut, nodding. “He lived longer than anyone thought he would and longer still than he probably should have.” She took a shuddering breath. “The knowledge he shared about the katra allowed me to save you. And we let him die alone.”
“He did not want to intrude.”
“I know. And seeing all of them, young and alive was painful for him… still.”
“He left no one to inherit his things, so they brought them to me.” He offered her the box he held. “Perhaps you should take it.”
She shook her head. “If he intended me to have it, he would have left it for me.” She pressed a hand to her chest. “He gave me amazing things that will live with me for all time. I could ask for nothing more.” She shoved the PADD into his hands. “Excuse me.”
Buffy made her way off the balcony to a restroom and proceeded to throw up her last meal. It had been a long time since she had felt such new, acute grief. She rubbed water over her face and took a deep breath. “This too shall pass,” she told her pale reflection as she swiped at tears.
88888888
Buffy stood on the bridge with Jim as the Enterprise, damaged beyond their control, hurtled toward Altamid. It was just supposed to be a simple rescue mission, instead the ship was in tatters and the crew flung to the corners.
“We have to go, Jim,” she said softly. She grabbed his elbow and pulled him towards the single-man escape pods at the rear of the bridge.
They each strapped themselves in and launched, watching from the air as the saucer section crashed into a rocky field. She remained whole but she would never fly again. And they didn’t even know how many of their crew was alive.
Buffy gasped, pressing her hand to her chest and her abdomen as pain radiated from within her.
The pods landed together - only Jim, Chekov, herself, and the alien woman who had asked for assistant, Kalara, weren’t captured by the swarm.
Buffy tumbled out of the pod and sat heavily on the ground.
“Buffy?” Chekov asked as he approached her.
“Hey,” she said softly.
“Are you injured?”
“Spock is,” she answered. “It’s bad.”
“Can you tell where he is?” Jim asked.
“It doesn’t really work like that,” she told him. “I can tell that he’s not alone.” She sorted through the feelings of annoyance, relief, and exasperation. “I think… I think Leo’s with him.”
“Okay, so Bones will keep Spock alive, that’s something in our favor.”
Chekov kneeled down to look Buffy in the eye. “You do not look well.”
“I’m not feeling too hot,” she replied. “Help me up.”
“You don’t have your communicator?”
“No. We need to design a signal that fits in my bra or on my badge.” She gestured to herself. “Something that is always on me.”
Chekov frowned at her. “We have more pressing issues.”
“Split attention to help me refocus the pain,” she explained. “Ignore me, I get bitchy and annoying the more pain I’m in.” She pressed her lips together into a thin line. “The nausea isn’t going to win me any friends either.”
“Get a move on, Slayer,” Jim snapped.
88888888
Buffy ignored the dead bodies, bodies of crewmen she had worked with for two and a half years. It wasn’t easy, but necessity dictated she keep moving. They knew Uhura had been captured. They were certain Spock and McCoy were together, hurt, and god knows where.
She forced the door open on hers and Uhura’s cabin. Her meager things had been packed for the better part of a week. She found her knife collection secure under her bunk. With an old habit, she strapped every one of her scabbards and blades to her. She coiled her hair, sticking in a pair of lock picks and a decorative comb that hid a small blade.
There was only a minute, she had to get off the saucer section and run like hell. She had no idea what Jim and Chekov had planned, but the time limit was definite. With a bag of basic necessities, she left the cabin and started running. She got off the ship and just kept running. So, she was well outside of the danger zone when the saucer flipped over.
Dust filled the air around her.
“Jim!” She yelled as soon as the thrusters went silent. “Pavel!” She walked slowly, listening with all her might. “Please, anybody!” She tamped down on the strange panic that filled her.
A cough from her right had her running in that direction. She saw Jim rise from the dusty ground, Chekov with him. She sighed. “You two were trying to scare me?”
“We got what we needed - and Krall still thinks his mole is alive,” Jim said.
“Where is Kalara?”
“Under the saucer,” Chekov assured her as he jumped down to reach her. “And you okay?”
“No. Spock isn’t doing well.”
“How ‘not well’?” Jim asked.
“It’s vague, Jim. I can’t tell if it’s physical or emotional.”
He nodded. “Mister Chekov, lead on.”
“Yes, sir.”
88888888
McCoy looked around the cave they were resting in. Spock’s usual pale pallor was looking a touch green.
“Spock!” McCoy said in concern. “Spock, wake up, damn it!”
“I am entirely conscious, Doctor,” Spock replied evenly. “I’m simply contemplating the nature of mortality.”
“Feeling philosophical, huh?” McCoy grinned. “Massive blood loss will do that to you.”
Spock tilted his head. “You asked me why Lieutenant Uhura and I parted ways. I became concerned…in the light of Vulcan’s demise that I owe a debt of duty to my species.”
McCoy nodded. “You thought you should be off making little Vulcans, huh?”
Spock nodded.
“Yeah, I can see how that’d upset her,” McCoy said.
“I intended to discuss it with her further.” He frowned. “However, I received some news which affected me unexpectedly.”
“What news?”
“Ambassador Spock has died.”
McCoy frowned. “Oh…” He looked over. “Spock, I’m so sorry. I can’t imagine what that must feel like.”
“When you lived as many lives as he…” Spock sighed in pain. “Fear of death is illogical.”
“Fear of death…is what keeps us alive.”
“I want to live as he did. That is why I decided to redirect my efforts and continue his work…on New Vulcan.”
“Did you tell Buffy or Jim?”
“No.” He swallowed. “I could not find the time.”
“Yeah, neither of them is going to like it.” McCoy looked at Spock. “Did Buffy know about the Ambassador?”
“Yes. It was what the Vulcans wanted to talk to me when we arrived at Yorktown Starbase.”
“That’s why she ran off. I knew it was something. She seemed…shaky afterwards.”
“She was…deeply affected,” Spock conceded. “She felt we left him to die alone.”
McCoy nodded. “She loves you both. If you decide to leave, she’ll try to talk you out of it.”
“That’s probably why I hadn’t told her.”
“She is stubborn.”
“And persuasive.”
McCoy rubbed his face. “Is it strange that she is the only person I’m not worried about?”
Spock raised an eyebrow. “She is someone who will be alive, whatever happens, you know this and know there is no reason to fear for her safety.”
“If she loses you too, she’ll never get over it.”
“I believe Buffy would say the same about losing you.”
“I just wish she wouldn’t be alone,” McCoy told him. “That we wouldn’t leave her to face…eternity alone.”
Spock nodded.
88888888
Buffy saw Jim and Chekov walk into a trap, she was several paces back, covering their six. She heard someone approach and ducked behind a tree. She removed a large sword from her back and a small dagger from her waist.
“Captain?” a familiar voice said.
Buffy frowned. “Scotty?” she called.
“Buffy?” he called back. “I’ve got a friend here you may like.”
Buffy moved as the amber-like substance was shattered around Jim and Chekov, freeing them. A woman with paper white skin, white hair, and black face markings, was with Scotty.
Buffy approached Scotty.
“If this was the bad feeling you were having, lass, you undersold it,” Scotty told her.
“No shit,” Buffy replied with an acidic feeling in her stomach.
“Mister Scott,” Jim said as he stretched, trying to relieve damage to his back. “Who is your new friend? She sure knows how to throw out a welcome mat.”
“This is Jaylah,” Scott said.
“I don’t know what a welcome mat is.” She looked at Buffy. “The female smells strange.”
Buffy smiled. “I’m going to like you.”
“Slayer?” Jim asked.
She shrugged.
“Any sign of anybody else?” Jim redirected his attention to Scotty, who waved them to start moving closer to Jaylah’s home.
“No, sir. I’m sorry,” Scotty said, “You are the only ones. What the hell happened up there, Jim? Why were we attacked?”
“They were after the artifact we brought back from Teenax.”
“Did they get it?”
“No.”
“Have you got it?”
“No…”
“This is the USS Franklin, sir,” Scotty said as they stepped onto the bridge of the old ship. “Can you believe it?”
Jaylah sidled up to Buffy. “My words…they were rude.”
“Don’t apologize for honesty, Jaylah,” Buffy said. “It reminds me of someone from a long time ago.”
“You are an elder?”
“Scotty told you?”
“He was telling me about some of his friends.”
“The two hundred and eighty-one year old who looks like she’s twenty was one of them?”
“He said that you would appreciate my taste in music.”
Buffy chuckled.
Title: Danger, Will Robinson!
Author: hermione2be
Rating: PG/FR13/K+
Crossover: BtVS/Star Trek
Disclaimer: I do not own any of BtVS/Angel or Star Trek people, places, or ideas. This fiction is done simply for pleasure and I receive no profit.
Summary: A stop at Yorktown Starbase brings more problems than the Enterprise crew can manage.
Notes: Part 24 of “Immortal Kelvin Slayer” - Links Page
Seasons: Post-Series/Beyond
Word Count: 2695
Buffy shook her head. “Did we let him out on his own?”
“Aye, lass,” Scotty agreed.
“We do realize that this will end with yelling and emergency beaming?”
“I’m all set.”
“Scotty, get me out of here!” came through the communications system.
Scotty pushed a button as he looked at Buffy. “That was quick!”
“Scotty!”
It took him a moment, but he was able to transport Jim and a couple of angry tiny Teenaxi.
“Why do we let him out alone?” she asked.
“Captain,” Scotty reminded her.
“Right…still not seeing the reason, isn’t there some rule against it?”
“About not letting the captain off the ship?”
“This captain,” she corrected.
“You worry too much, lass.”
“Can I be completely honest with you?” she said softly.
“Of course.”
“I’ve got a bad feeling. I don’t know what it is, but it’s growing in the pit of my stomach.”
“About what?”
“I don’t know. It was just a vague feeling a few weeks ago…but now it’s constant. I wondered if it was just anxiety about my relationship with McCoy or something I was getting from Spock or Uhura…”
“And now?”
“There is a robot dancing in my head, constantly announcing Danger, Will Robinson. Danger!”
“Have you ever had one of these feelings before?”
“Yes, but not without a manifestation of the danger in dreams. I haven’t had a warning dream in years.” She fiddled with the end of her braid. “I swear, I feel like at any moment I’m going to come out of my own skin.”
“Have you told any of them?”
“No.”
“Well, if you get more feelings, come share them with me.”
Buffy smiled. “Thanks, Scotty.”
“Anytime.”
88888888
Buffy entered the private room with a bottle of alcohol. “I thought you guys may need this,” she said, presenting it to McCoy and Jim.
“Where did you get this?” Jim asked.
“I’m strange. I picked up a case thirty years ago. I brought two of them with me.” She set the bottle on the counter. “One for your birthday.”
“Why?”
“Because if there is one person that understands morbid anniversaries, it’s me. Problem is, alcohol is wasted on me. But I figured the two of you would appreciate it.”
McCoy lifted the bottle from her hand. “Definitely.” He pulled out three glasses and poured a fair amount in each.
“Care to join us?” Jim asked Buffy.
“No. This is not something I wanted to intrude on.” She leaned over and kissed Jim’s cheek. “But thank you.”
McCoy watched her leave the room.
“You don’t have to hang out with me, Bones,” Jim told him.
“I want to be here,” McCoy answered, looking at his friend. “I know you really don’t like to celebrate your birthday, but this is the least we can do.”
Tired as he felt, Jim grinned at his friend. “I’m nowhere as pretty as the company you want to be keeping.”
88888888
Yorktown Starbase was huge and Buffy immediately agreed with McCoy’s snow globe metaphor. They all left the ship, wanting to enjoy as much shore leave as possible while they waited for an initial analysis for their reprovision.
She wanted to go over the structural details of the place. She wanted to study it.
Crowds were milling around. She saw Sulu move across the quad before she saw that Ben and Katsumi were moving towards them. She smiled at the family’s reunion.
“What are you smiling at?” McCoy asked, grumpy at being trapped in a snow globe.
She tilted her head in the direction Sulu had gone. “Thinking about how much has changed in three years.”
“Spock,” Uhura’s voice said just behind them. “Do you have a moment?”
“Of course, Nyota,” Spock replied in a polite and even tone.
“You should have this back,” Uhura said. “After all, it belonged to your mother.”
“It is not in the Vulcan custom,” Spock said, “to receive again that which was given as a gift.”
Uhura nodded awkwardly and walked away.
“You guys break up?” McCoy asked as they approached Spock. “What did you do?”
“Leo,” Buffy warned.
“A typically reductive inquiry, doctor,” Spock said.
“You know, Spock, if an Earth girl says: “It’s me, not you.” It’s definitely you.”
“Excuse me,” someone said from behind Spock. “Commander Spock, may we have a moment of your time?”
Spock nodded his head once. “Excuse me, doctor. Lieutenant.” He followed the two Vulcans.
“Um…” Buffy frowned. “I need to go with them.”
“Why?” McCoy asked.
“I can’t explain it, I just…I just have to go. I’ll meet you - later.” Buffy rushed through the crowd, she was glad that Slayer agility meant she could move fast and not cause an accident.
She slowed at the large scenic balcony. It was fairly deserted. Spock stood with the two Vulcans. There was an exchanging of a box and a common Vulcan goodbye before the two left Spock alone.
Buffy approached as soon as they walked away.
“Spock?” she said.
He turned, the PADD going behind his back as though to hide it.
“What’s happened?” she asked.
Spock considered and seemed to hesitate before he brought the PADD from behind his back and held it out to her.
Buffy felt her breathing become heavier and tears filled her eyes making the face on the PADD swim before her. But she could still read it: Ambassador Spock 2230.06 - 2263.02
She took the PADD from him and stared at the aged face she knew so well. Her other hand went her mouth as she fell clumsily onto a bench. Her tears fell in torrents and she felt her heart break. The Ambassador had represented so much for her - the future, the truth, and the life she got to live now because he had told Jim about Buffy Summers. He had been her friend, given her so much, including a glimpse into his mind and his heart - and the future that Nero had stolen. The good and the bad.
“Buffy?” Spock said as he sat down next to her.
“Excuse my emotional response,” she said, though she did not quell it. “I didn’t know he was sick, but I should have…”
“What reason did you have to suspect illness?”
“Because he was getting emotional in his old age,” Buffy replied, swiping at a tear. “That’s what the whole thing…he shared with me something he shouldn’t have. I thought it was just a warning, to the future, to someone who may live to see it. But it was about his guilt.”
“You cared for him.”
Her face crumpled and she squeezed her eyes shut, nodding. “He lived longer than anyone thought he would and longer still than he probably should have.” She took a shuddering breath. “The knowledge he shared about the katra allowed me to save you. And we let him die alone.”
“He did not want to intrude.”
“I know. And seeing all of them, young and alive was painful for him… still.”
“He left no one to inherit his things, so they brought them to me.” He offered her the box he held. “Perhaps you should take it.”
She shook her head. “If he intended me to have it, he would have left it for me.” She pressed a hand to her chest. “He gave me amazing things that will live with me for all time. I could ask for nothing more.” She shoved the PADD into his hands. “Excuse me.”
Buffy made her way off the balcony to a restroom and proceeded to throw up her last meal. It had been a long time since she had felt such new, acute grief. She rubbed water over her face and took a deep breath. “This too shall pass,” she told her pale reflection as she swiped at tears.
88888888
Buffy stood on the bridge with Jim as the Enterprise, damaged beyond their control, hurtled toward Altamid. It was just supposed to be a simple rescue mission, instead the ship was in tatters and the crew flung to the corners.
“We have to go, Jim,” she said softly. She grabbed his elbow and pulled him towards the single-man escape pods at the rear of the bridge.
They each strapped themselves in and launched, watching from the air as the saucer section crashed into a rocky field. She remained whole but she would never fly again. And they didn’t even know how many of their crew was alive.
Buffy gasped, pressing her hand to her chest and her abdomen as pain radiated from within her.
The pods landed together - only Jim, Chekov, herself, and the alien woman who had asked for assistant, Kalara, weren’t captured by the swarm.
Buffy tumbled out of the pod and sat heavily on the ground.
“Buffy?” Chekov asked as he approached her.
“Hey,” she said softly.
“Are you injured?”
“Spock is,” she answered. “It’s bad.”
“Can you tell where he is?” Jim asked.
“It doesn’t really work like that,” she told him. “I can tell that he’s not alone.” She sorted through the feelings of annoyance, relief, and exasperation. “I think… I think Leo’s with him.”
“Okay, so Bones will keep Spock alive, that’s something in our favor.”
Chekov kneeled down to look Buffy in the eye. “You do not look well.”
“I’m not feeling too hot,” she replied. “Help me up.”
“You don’t have your communicator?”
“No. We need to design a signal that fits in my bra or on my badge.” She gestured to herself. “Something that is always on me.”
Chekov frowned at her. “We have more pressing issues.”
“Split attention to help me refocus the pain,” she explained. “Ignore me, I get bitchy and annoying the more pain I’m in.” She pressed her lips together into a thin line. “The nausea isn’t going to win me any friends either.”
“Get a move on, Slayer,” Jim snapped.
88888888
Buffy ignored the dead bodies, bodies of crewmen she had worked with for two and a half years. It wasn’t easy, but necessity dictated she keep moving. They knew Uhura had been captured. They were certain Spock and McCoy were together, hurt, and god knows where.
She forced the door open on hers and Uhura’s cabin. Her meager things had been packed for the better part of a week. She found her knife collection secure under her bunk. With an old habit, she strapped every one of her scabbards and blades to her. She coiled her hair, sticking in a pair of lock picks and a decorative comb that hid a small blade.
There was only a minute, she had to get off the saucer section and run like hell. She had no idea what Jim and Chekov had planned, but the time limit was definite. With a bag of basic necessities, she left the cabin and started running. She got off the ship and just kept running. So, she was well outside of the danger zone when the saucer flipped over.
Dust filled the air around her.
“Jim!” She yelled as soon as the thrusters went silent. “Pavel!” She walked slowly, listening with all her might. “Please, anybody!” She tamped down on the strange panic that filled her.
A cough from her right had her running in that direction. She saw Jim rise from the dusty ground, Chekov with him. She sighed. “You two were trying to scare me?”
“We got what we needed - and Krall still thinks his mole is alive,” Jim said.
“Where is Kalara?”
“Under the saucer,” Chekov assured her as he jumped down to reach her. “And you okay?”
“No. Spock isn’t doing well.”
“How ‘not well’?” Jim asked.
“It’s vague, Jim. I can’t tell if it’s physical or emotional.”
He nodded. “Mister Chekov, lead on.”
“Yes, sir.”
88888888
McCoy looked around the cave they were resting in. Spock’s usual pale pallor was looking a touch green.
“Spock!” McCoy said in concern. “Spock, wake up, damn it!”
“I am entirely conscious, Doctor,” Spock replied evenly. “I’m simply contemplating the nature of mortality.”
“Feeling philosophical, huh?” McCoy grinned. “Massive blood loss will do that to you.”
Spock tilted his head. “You asked me why Lieutenant Uhura and I parted ways. I became concerned…in the light of Vulcan’s demise that I owe a debt of duty to my species.”
McCoy nodded. “You thought you should be off making little Vulcans, huh?”
Spock nodded.
“Yeah, I can see how that’d upset her,” McCoy said.
“I intended to discuss it with her further.” He frowned. “However, I received some news which affected me unexpectedly.”
“What news?”
“Ambassador Spock has died.”
McCoy frowned. “Oh…” He looked over. “Spock, I’m so sorry. I can’t imagine what that must feel like.”
“When you lived as many lives as he…” Spock sighed in pain. “Fear of death is illogical.”
“Fear of death…is what keeps us alive.”
“I want to live as he did. That is why I decided to redirect my efforts and continue his work…on New Vulcan.”
“Did you tell Buffy or Jim?”
“No.” He swallowed. “I could not find the time.”
“Yeah, neither of them is going to like it.” McCoy looked at Spock. “Did Buffy know about the Ambassador?”
“Yes. It was what the Vulcans wanted to talk to me when we arrived at Yorktown Starbase.”
“That’s why she ran off. I knew it was something. She seemed…shaky afterwards.”
“She was…deeply affected,” Spock conceded. “She felt we left him to die alone.”
McCoy nodded. “She loves you both. If you decide to leave, she’ll try to talk you out of it.”
“That’s probably why I hadn’t told her.”
“She is stubborn.”
“And persuasive.”
McCoy rubbed his face. “Is it strange that she is the only person I’m not worried about?”
Spock raised an eyebrow. “She is someone who will be alive, whatever happens, you know this and know there is no reason to fear for her safety.”
“If she loses you too, she’ll never get over it.”
“I believe Buffy would say the same about losing you.”
“I just wish she wouldn’t be alone,” McCoy told him. “That we wouldn’t leave her to face…eternity alone.”
Spock nodded.
88888888
Buffy saw Jim and Chekov walk into a trap, she was several paces back, covering their six. She heard someone approach and ducked behind a tree. She removed a large sword from her back and a small dagger from her waist.
“Captain?” a familiar voice said.
Buffy frowned. “Scotty?” she called.
“Buffy?” he called back. “I’ve got a friend here you may like.”
Buffy moved as the amber-like substance was shattered around Jim and Chekov, freeing them. A woman with paper white skin, white hair, and black face markings, was with Scotty.
Buffy approached Scotty.
“If this was the bad feeling you were having, lass, you undersold it,” Scotty told her.
“No shit,” Buffy replied with an acidic feeling in her stomach.
“Mister Scott,” Jim said as he stretched, trying to relieve damage to his back. “Who is your new friend? She sure knows how to throw out a welcome mat.”
“This is Jaylah,” Scott said.
“I don’t know what a welcome mat is.” She looked at Buffy. “The female smells strange.”
Buffy smiled. “I’m going to like you.”
“Slayer?” Jim asked.
She shrugged.
“Any sign of anybody else?” Jim redirected his attention to Scotty, who waved them to start moving closer to Jaylah’s home.
“No, sir. I’m sorry,” Scotty said, “You are the only ones. What the hell happened up there, Jim? Why were we attacked?”
“They were after the artifact we brought back from Teenax.”
“Did they get it?”
“No.”
“Have you got it?”
“No…”
“This is the USS Franklin, sir,” Scotty said as they stepped onto the bridge of the old ship. “Can you believe it?”
Jaylah sidled up to Buffy. “My words…they were rude.”
“Don’t apologize for honesty, Jaylah,” Buffy said. “It reminds me of someone from a long time ago.”
“You are an elder?”
“Scotty told you?”
“He was telling me about some of his friends.”
“The two hundred and eighty-one year old who looks like she’s twenty was one of them?”
“He said that you would appreciate my taste in music.”
Buffy chuckled.