What it means to be Doctor McCoy; these are the ways

A feel of hope

"It appears the civilization on the planet has achieved warp drive, captain," Spock said, reading the science station screen. "with further analysis . . . we can pinpoint where the flight came from and begin first contact."

Jim looked over in the direction of McCoy.

"This is the first time you have heard about establishing first contact on the bridge," Jim said.

"Wow, I can't believe for once I came early," McCoy sarcastically said with drama in his voice. His hazel eyes on the blue eyed man. "give me a star and I will shove ya a real, sharp ninja star in the ass."

Jim laughed.

"Okay, Bones," Jim said. "how long will the analysis take?"

"Thirty-three minutes," Spock said. "there are various other warp trails so determining which one belongs to the first flight will take the appropriate amount of time."

"Want to watch a good fan cartoon?" McCoy asked, earning a head turn from the captain.

"Na, I rather wait," Jim said.

"Your loss," McCoy said. "I'll see you down at the transporter room."

"You don't have to go," Jim reminded the older man. "you do realize that, Bones."

"I don't care, someone has to make sure that ya don't die after bein' unexpectedly attacked," McCoy said, heading toward the turbo lift.

His friend cared too much about Spock and Jim.

McCoy was probably the best friend that Jim had ever made. No matter how a hot mess the young man was when they first met. Ever since he told him about failing the Kobyashi Maru and dying in it, the man has practically been following him around on away missions. Jim will admit that having his friend by his side came in handy too many times to count. He couldn't count how many times Spock had saved his life twice over. Jim suspected that the Vulcan did not like command which explained why Spock was so strongly determined on getting him back alive every time. On Hikaru's console lay a photograph of Demora. The little girl who had been crafted on a petrie dish.

Jim didn't have a family waiting for him back home.

Not a son.

Not a husband

Not a wife.

Not a daughter.

Not a pet.

Just the Kirk Family House.

And here he was, helping others, saving others, establishing more connections to Star Fleet. And that had to be good enough making friends with the natives. He might need favors from them one day. The elder Spock had to be right. Everyone had to split up eventually. But the Enterprise crew did feel like family. Parental and sibling relationships spread through out the ship. He could see the rounded planet from the view screen. Spock sent the coordinates of the location to the transporter room.

"Captain, location has been locked on," Spock said. His monotone voice drawing the captain's attention. Jim stood up from the captain's chair then walked away from it.

"Begin assembling the away team," Spock nodded then Jim came to the side of Nyota. "Lieutenant, inform Star Fleet Command we are preparing to establish first contact."

"Yes, captain," Nyota said.

Jim went into the direction of the turbo lift. Spock came after the human, silently. Spock was close to Jim's side. Jim pressed the turbo lift button to the deck that held the transporter. The turbo lift rolled down to the designated floor. The doors flew open into a familiar corridor where against it laid the doctor. Jim went first joining the man.

"I swear, Jim," McCoy said, "if ya start flirtin' with the first person ya see then I an rippin' my hair out."

"I am not going to flirt," Jim said.

"That is most pleasing," Spock said.

"Besides, I am good at this," Jim said. "I won't get off on the wrong foot. I have gotten better at making a good first impression."

"All right," McCoy said.

"And last time didn't count," Jim said. "they were against diplomatic talk."

"These people have been documented through survey ships and it's been over twenty years since the last survey ship came back with results regarding the civilization," McCoy said. "god knows what they might like after that global war."

"War is necessary to eliminate what was obsolete to society and hindering it from progressing," Spock said. "logically, they will not have ignorant preferences against people like us."

"What if they do still have some form of hate?" McCoy asked, looking at Jim with a raised eyebrow.

"Well, we will let Star Fleet deal with that," Jim said.

The pair made their way to the transporter room. McCoy had his medical knapsack on his shoulder while Spock and Jim put their phaser belts on like the rest of the security officers. McCoy recognized Lieutenant Jefferson, Lieutenant Abbigale Mills, and Security Chief Commander Jennifer Mills. Keenser was at the transporter console without Scotty. Spock stood behind the captain to his left while McCoy flanked Jim's right.

"Coordinates have been put in place, " Keenser said. "good luck with the first contact."

"How's Scottys cold?" McCoy asked.

"Enjoying a nice hot tub in the holodeck with Kevin Riley and other ensigns," Keenser said.

"Looks like Christine and the other nurses are goin' to have their hands full eventually," McCoy said, gracing onto the transporter padd.

"He loves the hot tub," Keenser said.

"Just wait until the hot tub starts glitching," Jim said, as Spock and the others joined him onto the transporter padd.

"He is going to fall out wet," McCoy said, with a snicker.

"Energize, Keenser," Jim said.

The away team was beamed down the planet surface from a dispersing crowd of individuals ranging in height walking away. Their figures became clear to the human eye. The ship that had achieved warp drive was a hybrid of a taxi and a van with nacelles built to both sides. There were cracks seen here and there on the metal. A dark blue woman leaned against the side of the machine holding what appeared to be a beer. Enricay was along the woman speaking to her in a language that the universal translator registered. The machine was set in what appeared to be a garage that was a dark shade of gray with a dark purple roof that was fading in color turning into a lighter shade of purple.

"You did good, old woman," Enricay said. "no one is ever going to try doing that again."

"No one saw it fly," the dark elder said.

"Surely someone did," Enricay said. "I saw it."

"We caught word of your shuttle craft in flight," Spock said.

The old, short blue woman turned in the direction of the away party with lines under her bright green eyes.

She blinked stepping back dropping the bottle to the grass.

Enricay stopped, staring back at the captain with fascinated eyes at him.

Jim stepped forward in the direction of the woman.

"Hello," Jim said. "we come in peace."

"Greetings," Spock gave the Vulcan salute with one hand behind his back. "I am Spock."

"Hi," McCoy waved his hand slightly. "I am your friendly neighborhood --healing--spider man, Leonard McCoy."

Spock looked over at McCoy's direction in disbelief.

"I am James Tiberius Kirk of the USS Enterprise," Jim said, reaching his hand out toward the elder. The captain smiled like a beaming sun, kindly, back at the women. "we are here to welcome you to the neighborhood and welcome you into the United Federation of Planets."