Two Alone

Chapter 21

Epilogue

"It is at any rate a pleasure to meet

such ontologically improbable creatures."

John Green

"The Fault in Our Stars"

Jim sat in his Command chair looking at the beauty of Perseus 2 below them. Chekov and Sulu were busy at their stations plotting their new route away from the planet. The ship would not have to leave their Perseus 2 orbit the way they had come, through the back door of the planet, so to speak. The ship had come in to the Perseus solar system by navigating very close and through the asteroids and moons which were scattered throughout the solar system, which had made traveling through and around them very risky.

The Enterprise had been becalmed and in stationary orbit above Perseus 2 for four days. Most of the Science department, under Spock's directives, had been down to the planet collecting samples, scanning, photographing, recording sounds, and very carefully observing the wild life in the forest. They returned to the ship every afternoon, long before the storm buildup. Bones and Jim had made quite sure of that. The Science Department Away teams: ecologists, biologists, geologists, naturalists, entomologists, all returned each day almost giddy with excitement about what they found. Bones had elected to go down with them a couple of times, just to see the wildlife again, he told Jim afterward. He didn't want them disturbed in any way, or frightened, recalling the strange, peaceful sight of the three different species at the stream, resting happily and content with each other. There had also been sightings of insects and a few flying creatures, some flowering plants and even a couple of different types of small fish-like specimens in the lake and stream. The ecology of Perseus 2 was unique, Spock reported, and obviously still in the process of evolutionary development. He would mark it as such in his report, making sure that any other Federation ship that came this way would be extremely careful not to disturb the process. It had now been classified a type M planet with strong warnings and caveats.

After the ship's initial comm contact with Jim and Bones, the Enterprise had arrived in three days just as Jim had anticipated. He and Bones had enjoyed themselves while waiting for the ship, exploring, relaxing, and eating their fill for a change. They had washed all their clothes, finally including their black pants, and had bathed every day in the warm sunshine. On the second day they had started out early and walked to the lake. Once there both men had enjoyed a long relaxing swim in the clear, cool water. They had also worked on their reports. For the first time, Jim included the accidental death of the Romulan warrior, and how he and Bones had handled the accident so as not to alert the Romulans of their presence. Jim had stressed that Bones had saved his life, that his weapon had been set on stun, and that the Romulan had fallen to his death from the high lookout rock. If Komack made an issue of it, he would take the brunt of his wrath. He would not let Komack harass or harangue Bones. The doctor was working hard to put the Romulan death behind him, and Jim would make sure Komack would not subject him to any more guilt.

The morning after being beamed back to the ship, Jim called a meeting of the senior crew for a formal debrief of their time on Perseus 2. He had already sent his official report to Admiral Komack and CC'd a copy to Admiral Nogura, since it involved a Romulan Warbird and the death of a Romulan warrior. It was a standing order from the C in C to all ships' Captains. He wanted a copy of any report of sightings, contacts, or confrontations with Romulans. Jim knew it would irritate Komack to know Admiral Nogura had a copy of the report, but he also knew it would curtail and contain his ire.

Now at the debrief, the Command crew sat mesmerized by the description of all that had happened to their Captain and CMO. They expressed their dismay and horror (except for Spock who sat impassively through the entire debrief ) when they heard about the Captain's close call at phaser point with the Romulan warrior, the accidental fall and death of the young warrior, their close call with the Romulan scouting party, and Jim's electrocution by the lightning strike of the cave.

"He's perfectly, fine," Leonard assured them. "I made sure of it. Tested him very carefully," he told them.

"Captain, 'tis lucky you were not killed. Very lucky," Scotty told him.

"I was Scotty. Wait until Ma hears about that one."

"Now, Jim, don't you go scarin' Winona with your tales," Bones warned. "I promised her I'd take good care if you."

"And so you have, Bones," Jim smiled his sunshine smile at him.

Spock had stayed silent during the entire debrief. After they finished, he turned off the recording. "It seems that your stay on Perseus 2 was filled with difficult situations, Captain. However, may I say, Sir, that I had no doubt your survival training and expertise would prove sufficient to overcome all difficulties or dangers that might arise."

"Well, thank you, Spock. Your faith in my abilities is certainly gratifying, but if it hadn't been for Bones, I wouldn't be here for you to say that to me."

"Indeed, Captain." Spock told him stiffly.

Jim coughed behind his hand to hide his mirth as he caught Bones' gigantic eye roll.

"Yes indeed, Spock. I'd be dead twice over if it hadn't been for Bones' quick thinking and medical expertise." He spoke soberly remembering his close calls.

"So you say, Sir."

"I do say, Mr. Spock. I say it most loudly, emphatically, and thankfully."

Spock opened his mouth and Bones interjected. "Don't say another word, hobgoblin. You're just mad 'cause it wasn't you who saved Jim this time."

Spock looked at him frostily, eyebrow raised to his bangs. "Anger is an emotion, doctor, and a highly illogical emotion at that."

"Huh! Imagine that," Leonard said, dry as dust. "Must be your human side creepin' out of you then."

As one, the Command crew snickered. They had sorely missed the almost daily Spock and Bones show.

Jim looked at his smiling crew. He had missed them terribly while on Perseus 2. Jim stood, grinned at all of them and clasped the miffed Spock on the shoulder.

"Alright everyone. Let's go mind the store," he told them, and with that, their Perseus 2 mission was over.

1. As always my thanks go out to my dear friend Carol who proof reads these chapters. Thank you, Carol! What would I do without you?