You open the old time novel, where the heart is gone, and the hero would be me

Part 10

After all the paperwork was done and read, Pike made his way down the hall heading in the direction of sick bay. Jim had came earlier telling him about the admiral and how stunning he was at his age. Jim and Pike had talked it out. Jim was still unable to wrap his head around it but in time he would be able. He came to a stop when he saw the older man in a bright, colorful outfit leaned against the wall with his arms folded. He was not in uniform. This had to be the admiral. Pike slowed his pace down coming toward the concerned admiral's side.

"Admiral," Pike said.

McCoy regarded the Pike as he leaned off the wall shifting to his side.

"Captain," McCoy said. "Honor to meet ya."

"Which admiral might you be?" Pike said.

"Cartwright," McCoy said. "My friend is in there. Ambassador Selek."

"I heard you're leaving with the shuttle craft," Pike said.

"That I am," McCoy said.

"Let us return you to Earth," Pike offered.

"Your offer is generous but I can't accept," McCoy said. "it's classified."

"I make classified every day, Admiral," Pike said. "You can share it with me."

"Oh, ya see, I really can't," McCoy said. "Hands are tied." he held his hands put side by side mimicking the binded gesture. "I am binded by the highest order when it comes to certain thin's."

"So it's not the kind of classified I think it is," Pike said.

McCoy nodded.

"Best no one knows," McCoy said, linking his hands behind his back. "But I can tell ya that Ambassador Seek was on a mission and handed over to Klingons by a idiot," he turned toward the closed doors with a heavy look about his face. "I am not happy about it nor is Star Fleet command." Pike had been given the message in his cabin that the Vulcan was inside being operated before leaving to stretch his legs. Una had noted the doctor was bouncing last time that she had seen him. Lieutenant Spock was still unaware of the admiral and never crossed paths with him. Pike had a inkling that the admiral wanted it to remain that way.

"Why did you come here with a shuttle?" Pike asked.

"It is a personal matter between him and I," McCoy said. "I know him best." McCoy had a fond expression as a memory crossed his mind.

Pike hesitated, considering it, then nodded in return.

"You have been friends with him for a long time," Pike said. "I never heard of this Ambassador Selek from the Diplomatic corps."

"It's a Section 31 individual," McCoy said. "He retired before ya were born."

"Vulcan's don't retire so young," Pike said.

"This one did," McCoy said. "Star Fleet deleted every trace of him after a mistake of his was brought up. No one talks about his historical standin' because of that."

"What did he do?" Pike asked.

"I rather not say," McCoy said. "Don't tell your first officer about this. No one is supposed to know."

"Will do, Admiral," Pike said.

"Good," McCoy said. "just the way it should be."

The doors opened and out came Doctor M'Benga. M'Benga's uniform was covered in light green splotches. McCoy's eyes looked panicked yet his demeanor was controlled. McCoy braced himself, internally, for what the dark man had to say. M'Benga rolled his sleeve up to his elbow.

"Admiral Cartwright," M'Benga said. "Ambassador Selek, in his condition, requires rest."

"I will make sure he gets that," McCoy said.

"The surgery to repair and remove damaged tissue went smoothly," M'Benga said. "I have logged his surgery and put it under classified per your requests. He will wake up sooner than later so I need someone he knows to lay back." McCoy grew a soft, weathered smile. A fond one in fact. "We would like you to do that. A Vulcan his age won't listen to medical professional reasoning."

"They do become that way after thinkin' they're above us and all," McCoy said, with a small smile. He bounced on the balls of his toes leaning forward then leaned himself back. "I can do that."

"If there is anything else I can do, you can tell me, Admiral," Pike said.

"Are your science officer and newest ensign in science in a relationship?" McCoy asked, point blank, shifted toward the captain.

"Yes," Pike said.

"There is nothin' ya can do except let us go back out into that shuttle and go on the next leg of our away mission," McCoy said, then turned his attention on the young man. Pike stood there processing what he had just been told. What just happened? "when will he be open to visitors?"

"After my team finishes up with him," M'Benga said.

"Can he walk?" McCoy asked.

"Given his state of being, he needs a days worth of rest," M'Benga said.

"His spine was hit?" McCoy asked.

"No," M'Benga said. "Maybe. I can't say. I fixed that."

"How did ya fix a Vulcan's spine?" McCoy asked.

"Selek is doing all the work that I couldn't," M'Benga said. "Unfortunately I can't share how I did it. He will be in private medical room 205."

"Thank ya, Doctor," McCoy said, then turned toward Pike. "Pardon me, I have somewhere to be."

McCoy walked away from the two, M'Benga returned into the room to oversee the conclusion of the operation, and Pike seemed to be unable to wrap his head around what he had just answered and heard. Something screwy was going on and Pike didn't like a bit of the weirdness going on around his ship.