When Home is Gone

Part Nineteen - Almost There

Kirk's Point of View - USS Enterprise NCC-1701

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Spock was monitoring the damage and repairs of the ship while Luna was in her quarters, painting with Nurse Chapel. They were completely oblivious to what was about to happen in the turbolift until the explosion rocked the ship and both Luna and Spock cried out in pain and Spock fell from his chair, startling those around them. Kirk was the first to react.

"Spock! What's wrong?"

Spock looked up at Kirk, wincing as he raised a hand to his head.

"I believe I have just felt Ray's death through my connection with Luna."

Kirk was stunned. He grabbed Spock's arm and helped him back to his chair. McCoy was still on the bridge and was by Spock's side with a tricorder in hand. Everyone else got back to work on the repairs. Kirk walked over to his chair in the middle of the room and opened a channel to Luna's room.

"Kirk to Luna."

"This is Chapel, Luna is sedated and resting. She was saying something about feeling someone die and was quite shaken. Is everything alright?"

"Spock said the same thing. There was an explosion in the turbolift while Ray was returning to his quarters. We believe Ray might not have made it."

Chapel was quiet. When she did speak, her voice wavered.

"Thank you for informing me."

She closed the channel and Kirk sat down, head in his hands. He sat like that for a few minutes before a hand rested itself on his shoulder. He looked up to see McCoy standing next to him.

"Jim, if the turbolift wasn't in pieces I would tell you to go and lie down, but instead I'm going to give you a sedative to help you relax."

McCoy pulled a hypospray out of his black medical bag and injected it into Kirk's arm.

"Please take it easy, Jim."

Kirk nodded as the sedative took its effect. He watched as Sulu and Chekov managed the controls that steered the ship and set her course. Then Sulu turned slightly towards Kirk.

"Captain, we will be arriving at the coordinates in 12 hours and 49 minutes."

Kirk nodded again, seeming tired, and leaned back to watch the stars as they slowly disappeared off screen. He reached over and opened a ship-wide channel.

"Attention all personnel, this is the Captain. As you all know, we have taken aboard two guests. Luna and Ray Void. Unfortunately, Ray has been presumed dead due to a malfunction including the turbolift. Our mission is the safe return of Luna to her home planet. We shall be arriving at the planet in 12 hours and 45 minutes. Captain out."

He closed the channel and rested his head on his arm, drifting off to sleep. No one interrupted their captain as he slept, until they were an hour from the planet.