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*In ancient times cats were worshipped as gods; they have not forgotten this*
O o O
"One more assignment!" Leonard McCoy expressed, describing their latest voyage as routine and serene, which had guided Kirk, along with his first officer, Spock, and and himself, into the terrain of an alien planet full of exoticism. The task had been crowned with success, and the trio was in the final stages of preparation for their return to the ship. However, an unforeseen malfunction in the teleportation mechanism was to derail the sequence of events in a manner totally unforeseen by any of them.
"We're ready to beam up," Kirk declared, fully confident of the usual process, as he settled into his regulation undershirt. But, as the characteristic glow of the transporter dissipated, Kirk and McCoy found themselves back in the teleport room, while Spock.... Spock had undergone an unimaginable transformation! In his place, a black angora cat appeared, whose majesty was palpable. His dark fur, long and lustrous, enveloped his lean and lithe figure in an aura of elegance and softness. His ears, erect and sharp, stood alert, occasionally rotating toward any noise they caught. The eyes, a deep, captivating green, radiated an intelligence and tranquility that exceeded the expectations of his new animal form.
"Wow, Jim, watch this!" McCoy exclaimed, bringing his hand to his forehead in a dramatic gesture. From his reaction, he seemed to be confronted with the most unusual and extraordinary sight ever encountered in the cosmos. McCoy widened his eyes to the maximum, alternating his gaze between the feline and the place where Spock should have been.
Kirk, between disbelief and amazement, leaned over to examine the feline. "Spock?" he inquired, hoping against hope for an answer he knew would not come. The cat, for its part, simply blinked and emitted a meow that somehow encapsulated all of Spock's logic and serenity in a single manifestation.
"Scotty, what the hell happened?" Kirk's confusion was evident in his tone. His expression became worried, almost as perplexed as his doctor.
From his post at the control console, Montgomery Scott, was frowning at the readouts and diagrams. "I'm not entirely sure, Captain. Apparently, a quantum fluctuation interfered during the transport process."
The cat, displaying a dignity unique to its species, paced restlessly, visibly annoyed by the situation.
The Scotsman mumbled to himself, in an attempt to comprehend what had happened, until a plea from Jim forced him to offer a more concrete answer. "I'm doing everything I can, but resolving this will take time! It appears that the teleporter has mistakenly mixed Spock's DNA with some living entity on the planet they had catalogued."
"For heaven's sake!" McCoy could not contain his exasperation, as the cat approached with an elegance eerily reminiscent of its Vulcan counterpart.
Kirk knelt down to meet the animal's level. "Spock, is that you?" reaching his hand toward the cat's head, the cat instinctively dodged it, avoiding contact. The feline blinked slowly, as if understanding the questioning.
"I guess this is solvable, I want my first Officer back as soon as possible" Jim took a breath, beginning to feel distressed. "So, while Scotty fix this tremendous mess, what do we do with .... Spock?" Jim wanted to let out some oath, but he didn't, so as not to frighten the little animal.
"Damn it! Everything was going too well on that planet! And now the pointy-eared one's ears are even pointier than before! McCoy was inwardly very frightened by the strangeness and bewilderment of the situation.
Kirk was still struggling to adjust to the unusual situation. McCoy shrugged his shoulders. "I guess you and me will have to take care of him. We can't leave him alone in this condition! We are going to become an affectionate mother cat of a Vulcan!"
Jim again urged the overburdened engineer, asking for a prompt solution. Then he relaxed and patted Scotty's shoulder affectionately. "I know you're the best at this, and you're going to fix it!"
The engineer sighed. "Aye, Sir. I do not wish to leave Mr. Spock turned into a whiskered hairball forever, Captain."
Thus began the unconventional task of caring for Spock in his cat form. Kirk had the first shift. In his quarters, he tried to make progress on some reports while the cat Spock cautiously surveyed his surroundings. Kirk couldn't help but smile as he watched the normally stoic Vulcan show himself to be curious and playful.
"What do you do, Spock? You, chasing a laser pointer?" Kirk commented, straining to maintain his seriousness. The cat looked up, his green eyes flashing with a glimpse of the intelligence and dignity that had always characterized the real Spock. However, the feline was soon overwhelmed by Kirk's constant desire to interact, seeking a quiet corner in which to rest. Kirk watched, realizing that even in cat form, Spock valued his solitude and personal space.
McCoy's experience was different. With his medical expertise, he was both fascinated by the transformation and concerned for Spock's well-being. In Sickbay, he prepared a comfortable space for the cat to rest, but did not waste the opportunity to pet him and speak to him in soft, comforting tones. "I've got you, Spock. You'll soon be back to your old Vulcan self," McCoy assured him, as Spock the cat purred, unexpectedly pleased with the attention he had received.
The subsequent days on the Enterprise were indeed peculiar. Kirk and McCoy took turns caring for and protecting the cat, who had adapted surprisingly quickly to his new form. Although he initially seemed overwhelmed by the constant cuddling and petting, he soon began to enjoy the attention provided. Kirk frequently found him in his captain's chair, a sleek black presence who seemed to approve of the decisions made on the ship with his feline gaze. "Well done, Spock!" Kirk would murmur, stroking his head gently but respectfully.
McCoy, for his part, found conversing with Spock in his feline form surprisingly therapeutic. "I always said you were a stubborn old cat!" he confessed to the feline as he scratched behind his ears. "But I never imagined how much it would please me if you actually transformed into one."
Even in his feline form, Spock found ways to communicate his disapproval or approval, usually by a high-pitched meow or a soft purr, respectively. Kirk and McCoy marveled at how, even without his usual Vulcan abilities, Spock maintained his presence and dignity.
Three days after the incident that transformed Spock into a cat, Chief Engineer Scotty finally brought encouraging news. With a mixture of pride and relief, he announced that he had solved the problem and that they would be ready to revert Spock to his usual Vulcan form the next day.
That night, on the eve of Spock's reversion, Jim Kirk and Leonard McCoy decided to meet in the captain's quarters for a special farewell. A bottle of Saurian brandy, already a regular feature of their recent meetings, was open and ready to be shared. It was not simply a farewell to Spock in his feline form, but also an acknowledgement of the unexpected moments of tenderness and caring that had arisen between them. Sitting comfortably on Kirk's lap, Spock the cat seemed unusually calm, as if he understood the ephemeral nature of the moment.
"I never imagined seeing Spock like this, he really is the most beautiful cat I've ever seen!" McCoy commented, pouring some more brandy into their glasses, a tired but affectionate smile on his face.
"Neither have I," Kirk admitted, watching the black cat with a mixture of awe and affection. "But, somehow, he's still Spock." They decided, almost wordlessly, to reach out their hands toward the cat, stroking it together, seeking to offer it some comfort in its unusual condition. Spock, the cat, now seemed completely at peace with the attention, purring softly under the touch of his friends. As their hands moved in a gentle rhythm, stroking the soft, silky fur, there was a small incident born of shared comfort and affection: Kirk and McCoy's hands and fingers accidentally touched, briefly becoming entangled in their effort to pamper Spock.
At first, they ignored it, absorbed in the conversation and the warmth of the moment, but as it repeated itself, they couldn't help but look at each other and smile, recognizing the humor and tenderness of the situation.
"That was my fault," McCoy said, with a restrained laugh, withdrawing his hand briefly before turning his focus back to Spock.
"Don't worry, Bones!" Kirk replied softly, his smile easy and warm. "I don't think Spock minds. And, if I might add, I don't mind either."
Leonard adopted an expression of mock displeasure, but his crooked smile betrayed his good humor.
The evening passed pleasantly, filled with shared stories, restrained laughter and the comforting presence of his feline friend. When it was time to retire, Kirk and McCoy settled the cat on the captain's bed, making sure he was comfortable. They decided to accompany their friend for that last night, sleeping next to him.
The cat perched on Kirk, kneading his chest with its paws, in a show of affection that the captain secretly appreciated. A broad smile lit up his face. "Do you realize that Spock is likely to remember this whole experience?" The doctor asked, amused. Spock, the cat, turned his head and sniffed the air. He let out a snort, clearly directed at the doctor, and leaping off Jim's chest, landed on McCoy, rubbing against his face. McCoy rolled his eyes, and began to play with the feline, teasing it for a while.
Finally the next morning arrived so longed for.
Spock, in his feline form, was carefully placed on the teleport platform. An expectant silence filled the room as the machine began to hum and the cat began to dematerialize. Everyone held their breath until, finally, Spock's figure began to materialize. Kirk and McCoy watched, nervous but hopeful. When the light dissipated, Spock was back in his original form, looking at them with his usual impassive expression.
"We missed you very much Mr. Spock, how are you feeling?" Kirk asked, relieved.
"Functional, Captain. Although I must admit, the experience was ... intriguing," Spock replied.
McCoy could not contain a chuckle. "Intriguing? You were purring in my Sickbay, next to my ear, Spock! Damn! you moved those lovely whiskers like they've always been part of your nature!"
"An unintended effect of the feline form, Doctor. I assure you that my behavior was purely physiological and reflects no personal preference for such... displays of affection."
Kirk smiled, placing a hand on Spock's shoulder. "Well, it's good to have you back, in any form. But I think we all prefer the Spock we love and respect, even if he's less prone to purr."
McCoy, still amused, asked, "Do you still feel like chasing mice?"
Spock, adjusting his tunic, nodded. "A completely illogical question, under the circumstances, Doctor."
"Do you know that cats are mysterious animals? I'm sure, one of them could walk on a cloud without going through it." The CMO added softly.
The Vulcan raised an eyebrow. "Doctor, you are not only illogical, you are even.... pleasantly poetic at times."
Leonard blushed slightly.
Jim used his most flirtatious look, and pleased, approached his friend. "Spock, any reflections on your time as a feline?" His lips made an affectionate pout.
Spock bowed his head, contemplative. "An... extraordinary experience. I have gained a unique perspective on human attachment to non-consensual contact. Though I must admit, the efficacy of such...coddles, remains highly questionable from a Vulcan point of view."
McCoy let out a laugh. "I'm glad you're back. But, I must say, you've left us with some rather lovely memories."
Kirk nodded, joining in the laughter, as he winked. "No doubt, Bones. No doubt!"
(Had Spock's transformation into a cat begun to uncover the hidden love the three friends felt for each other that went far beyond friendship? YES. Stranger things happen in the Universe!)
