Leonard McCoy and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day...

[dctr_mccoy]

It was almost time for them to go.

Starfleet was arriving soon to deal with the Romulans, and the Enterprise would be leaving Agura's orbit and heading out on its new mission

Comments

[rn_chapel]

Tina hadn't bothered to reply to Commander Spock's message. Assuming he was reporting the situation accurately (and why wouldn't he?), delay would only make things more hectic.

When she entered the transporter room to see a crowd of children speaking in nervous, quiet voices to one another while the adults in the room looked on in horror, she was glad she hadn't waited. The kids obviously didn't remember their adult selves. They must be scared.

"Hi, guys," she said, addressing herself to the children. "My name is Tina. I'm here to help you out, okay?"

She crouched down, and then knelt on the floor, trying to mitigate the height difference a little bit. "Do you want to come over here and introduce yourselves?"

[headnursechapel]

Christine smiled encouragingly as Spock stepped forward.

God, this was awkward. She really hoped that none of the children would regain their adult memories until after this got all sorted out.

Especially very recent memories.

"Hello," she said. "That jacket looks a little big for you." She looked through the pile until she found a dress that might fit the Vulcan. "Would you like to try this instead?"

[science_blues]

She was nervous.

Spock narrowed her eyes slightly.

Clearly, the dress was poisoned.

[headnursechapel]

"It's all right," Christine assured her, and held up the dress, showing Spock both sides. "See? Perfectly safe."

"You can change in the bathroom, if you'd rather not do so in here."

[science_blues]

"If you are trying to poison me in order to further your plans of kidnapping, the end result will be fruitless," Spock stated evenly, suspiciously.

[headnursechapel]

Christine nodded solemnly.

"I understand your concern," she said. "But you don't have to worry. I haven't kidnapped you, and I'm not trying to poison you."

"If the dress was poisoned, wouldn't it be poisoning me, because I'm touching it?"

Hopefully her logic was good enough to overcome the suspicions of an eight-year-old Vulcan.

[science_blues]

"There are odorless, tasteless contact poisons to which one may become immune."

Spock only knew this because her father had a penchant for classical cinema. She also knew that it was inappropriate to gamble with Sicilians.

"Are you Sicilian?"

[headnursechapel]

"No," Christine replied honestly. "I'm Cajun French."

She paused, and smiled slightly. "I swear on the soul of my father, Patterson Chapel, the dress is not poisoned."

[science_blues]

It was appropriate.

Spock turned her eyes from the woman to the dress, very gradually. It appeared to be sufficient, if not possibly poisoned.

Very well.

Spock extended her arms to take the garment from Christine.

"I shall wear it." She braced herself for the poison.

[headnursechapel]

Christine smiled at Spock, and offered her the dress.

"Do you want to change in the bathroom?" She wasn't sure - maybe modesty was illogical.

[science_blues]

Spock would not allow this stranger to lead her into a chamber with one defined entry and a locking mechanism. She was not foolish. She took the dress from Christine and hesitated a moment.

She did not drop down dead. A good sign.

The jacket was already falling off of her, it took less than 2.5 seconds to discard it and pull the dress over her head. She adjusted it and stepped free from the clothes she had been draped in.

It was superior. Spock looked back at the woman and blinked. Thanks were illogical.

[headnursechapel]

"Much better," Christine said, smiling at Spock. She leaned closer, her expression serious. "Spock, there are a lot of children here with clothes that don't fit. Can you be my assistant, and help me see if any of them want to change?"

[science_blues]

"I am a poor selection of assistant," Spock stated flatly. "I actively dislike one of them, I do not know the others, and I have no reason to trust you beyond the length of this encounter."

She stared. "Where is my mother?"

[headnursechapel]

Oh, dear. That was a hard question. And she couldn't lie. Spock distrusted her enough already

"Well, Spock, your mother isn't here," she said slowly. "But I promise, we'll keep you safe until you can be with her again."

"What can I do to help you trust me?"

[science_blues]

Spock stared at the blonde for a while and inclined her head slowly.

"Very well, you have permission to guard me until such time as my mother arrives," Spock agreed.

She could be wily. She would lull them into security and escape, should the need arise.

Spock regarded the others and waited with the woman as the adults milled about. Would they remain here, or be taken elsewhere? She did not know.

[dctr_mccoy]

Lenny watched the other kids talking to the women with suspicion. He tried to overhear their conversation, by just ended up watching them all with a little frown.