“There does not appear to be any creature living in this water,” Spock says as he stood up from the waters edge. “And it is safe to drink.”
Uhura sighed. “Thank goodness.” She started to remove the survival suit she'd been wearing for the last day and a half, dropping it to the ground beside her. She then stripped down to her underwear before testing the temperature of the water. It was warmer than she expected but then the temperature had improved all round since they'd got into the woods.
She carefully stepped into the water, Spock watching her, apprehension clear on his face. “You just told me it was safe,” she reminded him.
“I do not know what is on the bottom-”
“I'm being careful, Spock. But I have to get clean, I can't stand not washing.”
“I agree. I do not enjoy being without facilities for such a time. However, I do not share your enthusiasm for this stretch of water.”
Uhura smiled sympathetically. “I promise not to splash you,” she said. “I'm going to swim a little.”
“I won't go far. Stop worrying.” she said. She flicked a tiny bit of water off of her hand in his direction.
“You broke a promise,” he reminded her before she ducked down into the water and swam gracefully away from him.
He watched her for a short while and when he decides that she is quite safe, he starts to removed his own survival jacket and pants, leaving him in his regular Starfleet uniform. He cleans himself up and gathers water for them while Nyota finishes her swim and then cleans and dries herself. She sits beside him as she waits to dry.
“What's that?” she asks, pointing to one of the bite marks on his hand.
“The result of a small, flying insect.” he says.
“No. And I would not allow it to either.”
“Are we going to set camp somewhere near here?”
“Yes, I would like for us to stay close to the water supply. I do not wish for us to travel too deep into the woods. Finding a source of food would be beneficial. We will have enough rations to last if we are picked up on the schedule I am expecting.”
“I'm sure we will find something edible.”
Jim Kirk stepped onto the bridge and headed straight over to the Captain's chair, a seat currently occupied by Sulu. “What's going on?” he asked.
“Urgent message for you, Captain.” Sulu said, handing over the control. On the screen came the face of Captain Armanez.
“Jim Kirk, good to see you.”
“Theo, what can I help you with?”
“You can help me save lives, Jim. I'm at Della Seven and unless I get an urgent shipment of vaccinations for 'blue tongue' a whole generation is going to be wiped out here.”
“Blue tongue?” Jim repeated.
“It's the common term for it. It's a parasite that makes it's way into the mouth, borrows into the tongue and causes swelling. If it gets out of hand, those suffering choke to death. You're the only ship close enough that can reach Starbase D12 and get the vaccines here before a massive loss of life.”
“Thank you, Jim. Details are being transferred to you now. I look forward to seeing you.”
“Kirk out.” Jim says. “Mr Sulu, set course to get us there as quickly as possible. We don't have time to spare.”
“What do you think we should do first?”
“Hm?” Spock says. His eyes are closed, he's supposed to be meditating but she knows he isn't.
“Vulcan tradition or Earth wedding?”
He opens his eyes at that. “Vulcan tradition.” he says without hesitation. “It is to be expected.”
“I suppose it doesn't take long to organise, right?”
“Correct. Traditions do not deviate. I believe your Earth weddings are more complicated.”
“Well, there's more variety with it. I mean, we could have some beautiful private ceremony on a beach if we wanted. Or like, a castle with thousands of people.” She laughs when Spock silently raises his eyebrows at her suggestion. “Do you think your Father would want to come?”
“I am unsure. I believe he would.”
“Did your parents just have a Vulcan ceremony?”
“I do not know,” he says. She sense he doesn't want to talk about it.
“Well, we'll have to make sure we are somewhere nice and warm.”
“That is unnecessary. Vulcan's are quite capable of regulating their temperature.”
“You should get some rest, Spock. You're tired.”
“Very well. But you will wake me if you need me.”
“I will.” She leans over to him and kisses him.
Nyota was relieved when Spock had finally decided to get some rest.
He was laying in the small shelter they had made between some trees, an area that would stay dry in the event of a storm. She sat across the camp from him, a few feet away.
She had watched him sleep for a while, she always found him sleeping to be soothing. He looked different when he slept. Most people looked peaceful, but Spock had that peaceful look most of the time. But when he slept and more importantly, when he dreamt, he reacted to those dreams as any person did.
And she could see it all. His dreams of fear, or love, of sadness and loss all played out on his face as he slept. He was incredibly guarded about sleeping.
He had been told for years that Vulcan's did not dream. He felt his own dreams was part of his human weakness and it was something he was ashamed of.
So she had done the only thing she could think to do in this case and asked Spock's Father about Vulcan's and dreams. He was reluctant to disclose anything at first, but eventually, he told her that Vulcan's dreamed but it was a very personal thing and something they did not discuss openly.
Once she had been able to tell him that he wasn't any different from any other Vulcan, he had started to relax.
While Spock slept, she scanned several samples they had gathered from near their camp to see if anything was edible. She was half way through and had found nothing so far when a faint rumble stopped her.
She looked over to Spock, who remained sleeping. She considered calling to wake him but before she had a chance to the soil started to shift and through the ground something emerged.
It looked like some sort of underground snake like creature that felt it's way around blindly, leaving a trail of white slime.
It felt back and forth between them and she again,, considered calling Spock to wake him, but as she shifted slightly, the creature swung round in her direction. It seemed it couldn't see, but it did hear and she got the impression that as it waved itself around in her direction it seemed to be 'sniffing' the air.
She stayed still and silent and the creature faced her direction for several more seconds before spinning round and moving quickly to where Spock was. He wasn't moving or making any noise but it had zoned in on Spock and she watched in muted horror as the creature clamped it's jaws around Spock's arm.
