The Vulcan Changeling Project

Back to Normal?

Talerth spoke comforting words to Muriah as he attempted to strengthen the mind meld between the two of them. "Muriah, please come back with me. The pain from your past is almost unendurable, but know this I pledge myself to you as your protector."

Muriah fought through the pain that held her in its grip. A soothing voice spoke to her. At first Muriah thought it was her father but the voice corrected her. "Muriah, my name is Talerth. I am a Romulan that has come to protect you. Feel my presence, strip bare my thoughts so you know that I am telling the truth." Talerth gasped as Muriah barreled into his consciousness. She saw his struggles to obtain peace. She saw his loneliness as he worked as scientist to improve mining conditions, but most of all she saw his aching need for a mate. The pain of a recent rejection had left him raw and Muriah saw all of it.

Spock stopped and looked off into the distance. "Jim, Muriah is attempting to break the death meld. I must help her and you must help me."

Kirk could feel that he was starting to lose contact with the meld. "Spock, what do you need me to do?"

Spock stood in front of Kirk his brown eyes locked on to Kirk's hazel ones. "What you always do, Jim, surround me with your friendship. For it is the illogical nature of our friendship that gives me strength, please help me."

Kirk nodded gritted his teeth and screamed out in fear and pain as his consciousness was blended with Spock's, then Muriah's and then Talerth's. Tears poured down Spock's cheeks, making him look like a rain drenched statue. Kirk's heart pounded until it deafened him and then he mercifully lost consciousness. The first thing Kirk saw when he opened his eyes was Nurse Chapel.

"Captain, how are you feeling?" She asked as she patted his hand.

Kirk nodded. "I'm fine. What about Spock how is he?"

Nurse Chapel smiled. "He's going to be fine thanks to you."

Later on that evening Kirk staggered down the corridor to his quarters. His body ached from emotional exhaustion. Rubbing his eyes Kirk entered his room and collapsed on the bed. "Damn," Kirk muttered as he stared up at the ceiling. Though he was tired Kirk knew that sleep was going to evade him, so it was with relief that he heard his door chime.

"Come," Kirk called out. McCoy's slump shouldered silhouette blocked the light from the hallway.

Kirk propped himself up on his elbows. "Bones, what is it? Is Spock okay?"

McCoy stepped inside. "Yes, Spock's condition is stabilized."

Kirk leaned back on to his pillow. "Thank God, I thought he was going to die."

McCoy nodded. "I know I was so preoccupied with Spock's condition that I failed to realize how badly you were injured. Jim, I can see the pain etched on your face. You should have been in sick-bay hours ago. Now as your chief medical officer and your friend I'm ordering you to sick-bay for an overhaul." McCoy braced himself for an argument and when none came McCoy knew that Kirk must really be in pain.

"Alright, Bones let's go." Kirk said as he grunted when he stood up.

McCoy winced as he examined the wound on Kirk's shoulder. "Jim, if you are going to retain full range of that shoulder you need to stay in sick-bay and rest."

"Bones, enough," Kirk growled. He was just about to give McCoy hell, when he heard the hiss of a hypo-spray. "You bast..." Kirk slurred as his head dropped to the side.

"Doctor McCoy?" Nurse Chapel asked.

McCoy whirled around for he always hated drugging Kirk against his will. "Yes, Nurse Chapel what is it?" McCoy snapped.

"Ambassador Sarek is up and wishes to speak with you." Nurse Chapel snapped back word for word.

McCoy glanced back at Kirk. "Watch him and make sure he's asleep."

"Yes, Doctor," Nurse Chapel said as she grinned as McCoy left. Things were finally getting back to normal. "Then why am I feeling that something terrible is about to happen," Nurse Chapel thought as a sense of unease gripped the pit of her stomach.