Chapter Text
"It'll be good to be planetside for a while." Jim stretches his arms above his head and goes on tiptoes, almost as if he was trying to touch the top of the turbolift. "Fresh air and sunshine will do us all good."
"Do you intend to return home after our required Starfleet briefings?" Spock asks. The new Enterprise and its crew has three weeks of shore leave while the ship is resupplied and small repairs effectuated.
Jim nods. "Yeah, of course. How about you, Bones?"
Doctor McCoy leans against the back turbolift wall. "Briefings, then I've been invited to teach some seminars at the research institute at Ole Miss. I haven't decided if I'm accepting. I'll be staying at the family estate in Georgia for certain, though. If that wasn't enough, Starfleet wants my recommendations on alternative first aid kit ideas too; things small enough to be incorporated in everyday uniforms."
"In case the crew doesn't have access to escape pod supplies," Jim completes for him. A clear reference to their adventure last year on Altamid. "Can I come to Georgia to visit? I'll finally be able to meet your family! Please, Bones, please-"
"Sure, Jim. You're invited too, Spock, of course." McCoy says it casually, but his glance up at Spock is anything but casual. He actually means it. This is not an invitation he lightly offers.
"I am gratified by your invitation and I will seriously consider it."
"You should do that. I've heard that the McCoys are great. Nobody makes a pecan pie like your sister." Jim claps his hand on McCoy's shoulder. "Besides, anywhere on Earth is better than where your ex-wife is, right?"
McCoy grimly grins. "Right."
This is a subject of which Spock is aware, but for which he has no concrete details. "Where is…she…stationed?"
McCoy shrugs. His dark eyes look further shadowed by the reminder of his apparently "messy" divorce. "I don't know and I don't wanna know. Somewhere far from me, hopefully."
The turbolift reaches the transporter room, and further discussion is sidelined.
Later, though, Spock opens his PADD and pulls up the Enterprise crew personnel record. As First Officer, he has full access.
He pauses. Is this would McCoy would perceive as "prying"?
Perhaps. What is it that Uhura says: "What he doesn't know won't hurt him"?
All the same, based on the way the CMO talks about his divorce, although he has remained vague on the actual details, Spock is of the impression that contact with his ex-wife is to be avoided at all costs. For that, though, Spock would prefer to know where the woman actually resides or works.
Doctor McCoy's file lists all his major medical and personal information. Blood type, previous accolades (of which there are many), and certifications (how McCoy received his shuttle certification is unknown and incredible due to his self-professed aviophobia). This is the extent to which Spock has previously studied personnel files: he has never seen a reason to open the personal entries. None of the information would be relevant to him.
Personal Relationships:
Parents: deceased. Their photographs and names are shown as well as their dates of death. They both died in Georgia. Eleanora, 2227. The same year Leonard was born. Cause of death: complications in childbirth. David, 2249. The same year Leonard graduated from medical school. Cause of death: a chronic condition Spock is unfamiliar with.
Other Family: large extended family in Georgia. One older sister, Donna Withers, residing in Georgia with many cousins and other family.
Relationship Status: Divorced, 2255. The same year McCoy signed up for Starfleet Academy. Married in 2250. Ex-wife Jocelyn Darnell, Terran Human woman. Age: thirty-five years. No place of residence or work is recorded, a major oversight for a personnel file. No other information is included. There is no photo accompanying the entry: another glaring gap.
Out of curiosity, Spock searches civilian databases. He finds several Terran women named Jocelyn Darnell, but none have the correct age. Civilian databases are incomplete. He resolves to end this search before it becomes truly "prying."
Next of kin: Donna Withers.
Additional Notify Upon Death: CLASSIFIED
Spock's eyebrows come together. Why would that information be classified?
This is information he should know. He feels a flicker of guilt as he types in his authorization code to view the information; perhaps this is a breach of privacy. However, he is Doctor McCoy's commanding officer. He handles all matters of personnel on the Enterprise. It is logical for him to know this. If McCoy passes away (a thought that brings a shocking spike of dread to his heart), it falls upon Spock to notify this person.
His access code reveals the information.
Additional Notify Upon Death: Admiral Quinn.
Spock blinks three times. As Jim would say, Huh?
He pulls up Admiral Quinn's public Starfleet profile. A long and illustrious Starfleet career. A man known as both a competent starship captain and an effective diplomat. Spock pulls up his service record next to McCoy's: he finds no points of similarity. There is no evidence that the two men have ever met.
So why is he listed on Leonard's record? Few people have this optional secondary contact: usually the space is reserved for children of divorced parents who require multiple emergency contacts.
Spock sets aside this inquiry. He scrolls the rest of McCoy's file. To his surprise, there is another classified section:
Children: CLASSIFIED
He sits back in his chair. He looks out over the city. He looks at those bright red words.
Logically, this presumes that Doctor McCoy does have at least one child. If he did not, why would such information be hidden?
Unfortunately, Spock cannot provide himself with a good enough reason to access the data with his command override. There is no logical reason why he must know the identity of Leonard's probable child or children.
He closes the file. He pushes this small unimportant mystery to the back of his mind.
"What the hell happened to three weeks of shore leave?" McCoy yells as he approaches them in the hangar. "Damn it, can't we go thirteen days without everything going to hell and a handbasket?"
Spock does not know what a "hell and a handbasket" means, but it does not sound good. It does accurately convey the frustration of this impromptu assignment. "It does seem as if the Enterprise and her crew are consistently at the top of priority assignments when there are other ships in the sector also able to complete this mission."
"Guys-"
"Even Spock agrees with me, Jim!" McCoy points at the shuttle that will take them up the Enterprise. "I need minimum four days to psych myself up to get on one of those and you gave me four hours-"
Jim slaps his shoulder as he passes. "It'll be fine. Come on, Bones."
"It'll be fine," McCoy grumbles. "It'll be fine, he always says. He doesn't know the future…"
"Would you like statistics regarding new improvements in shuttle safety-"
"Nope." McCoy sighs. "But thanks anyway, Spock." He hefts his duffel bag higher on his shoulder. "Once more unto the breach…"
Hardly a fitting quote for this situation, but perhaps the Doctor's aviophobia is its own battle. Spock is both baffled and admiring of how the Enterprise's Chief Medical Officer continues to drag himself into space when he is so obviously frightened of it. He does not let his fear rule him.
The shuttle contains two dozen Enterprise crew members. Most are familiar faces: about four are new recruits and transfers. Jim flits between people checking on them.
"Len!" Chekov stands when they enter. He drags another young man to his feet and pushes him forward. "Guess who just got assigned to the Enterprise!"
Doctor McCoy's eyes go wide. A grin jumps to his face. He opens his arms and pulls the young man into a big hug. "What are you doing here, kid?"
"Surprise! I've been assigned to your ship in my first posting! I was going to tell you tomorrow…"
McCoy rolls his eyes and mutters something about meddling admirals. "You two are going to give me a heart attack one of these days. I'll tell you what I told Pav: no stupid reckless shit, not on my ship. What department are you in?"
"I'm in engineering first."
"You'll be in medical next, if I have my way."
"Care to introduce us, Bones?" Jim leans against the back of Chekov's chair.
Chekov comes to attention. "Sorry, Captain (Keptin)."
McCoy elbows the new recruit when he clams up. There is something strange and soft in his eyes that Spock has only seen a rare handful of times. It comes up with the younger crew, sometimes. It comes up with Chekov, often.
"Ensign Kevin Riley, Sir."
"At ease." Jim waves them down. He raises an eyebrow at McCoy, clearly wanting an explanation of how they know each other.
The transport chief pokes her head in from the cockpit. "Ready to take off, Sir."
Everyone finds their seats. Chekov ensures that McCoy takes the middle seat between him and Riley. Mccoy insists in a no-nonsense tone that they buckle their safety harnesses despite how "uncool" they are and how "smooth" the flight should be.
Spock sits with some of his science team in a corner seat and fastens his safety harness. He pulls out his PADD to access the crew roster.
Thirteen new crew members are transferring onto the ship.
Ensign Kevin Riley: recent Starfleet graduate aged nineteen years old. He does not have an academy specialization: he was a "generalist" who would be expected to find his specialization onboard a ship by rotating through all departments. His scores for his classes and certifications are very high. His professors recommend him for engineering and communications positions.
Spock once again feels a small flicker of guilt as he scrolls down to the Personal section.
Parents: deceased. Jane and Quentin Riley, both deceased in 2250. Spock mentally does the math with Riley's listed birthdate: he would have only been five years old.
The "Other Family" space is blank. It does not say "none". It is simply blank. This is clearly an error.
Next of Kin: CLASSIFIED
Additional Notify Upon Death: CLASSIFIED
Spock blinks. The shuttle takes off.
He has never seen a personal record so short. He has never seen a personal record so lacking. Where is his adoption or foster record after his parents' death? Someone must have taken care of him. Why does it not list where his parents passed away, or what their cause of death was?
Why were his next of kin and additional contact classified? Why does a fresh-out-of-Academy Ensign have anything classified in his record?
Spock's eyes flicker up to the Ensign, laughing nervously at something Chekov is saying. Both young men are holding Doctor McCoy's hands and trying to distract him.
He enters his authorization code.
Next of Kin: Leonard Horatio McCoy, PhD.
Additional Notify Upon Death: Admiral Quinn. The same as McCoy.
Spock stares at the entry until a voice shakes him from his shock.
"Uh, Earth to Spock?" Jim leans against his seat. The rest of the shuttle is empty. "We're here."
Spock quickly shuts off his PADD. "Of course, Captain. I was reviewing the records of our recently transferred new crew."
He opens his mouth to ask Jim if he knows why Doctor McCoy is this new unrelated Ensign's next of kin, but he closes it. The information was classified. A better question would be why such information would be hidden from the general record.
"Doctor McCoy appears to know our new Ensign well," Spock says.
Jim's eyebrows shoot up. "Uh, yeah, Commander Obvious. What, are you jealous or something?"
Spock gives him a withering look. It never succeeds in dissuading Jim. "Curiosity is logical."
"Sure." Jim leads the way down the Enterprise corridors to the Bridge. "Of course you would just call it curiosity."
"Elaborate."
"Nothing, nothing." Jim glances over when they get to a turbolift alone together. "It's just that you and Bones have really been getting along lately. You've been sort of…watching him a lot."
"I have not." It comes out snappier and more defensive than Spock intended.
Jim shrugs. "Okay, okay. Don't bite my head off."
"Does Doctor McCoy have children?"
Jim rounds on him. "I take back my 'okay okay'. You're being weird, Spock. Why do you care?"
"Curiosity." It sounds weak even to his ears.
Jim's eyes narrow. "No, I don't think he has kids. He's never mentioned anything."
"Has he provided details regarding his ex-wife?"
"No, he doesn't like to talk about her."
"I see."
Captain Kirk rolls his eyes as the turbolift reaches the Bridge. "Great, Spock, because I sure don't."
Spock prefers to eat in his quarters, but the presence of senior officers in the crew mess hall results in a direct four percent increase in daily morale.
"That's great news!" Uhura says with a big grin. She catches Spock's eye and tilts her head for him to come over.
"What is the news?" Spock asks.
"We're getting married!" Ensign Daniels says. She holds the hand of Lieutenant Chambers. Both look blissfully happy. "He proposed last night."
Spock inclines his head deeply. "Congratulations. I wish you a long and happy marriage." A traditional Vulcan greeting, with a Human twist.
Both crew members look even happier to be acknowledged by their First Officer. They drift across the mess hall to tell other people the good news.
"Who's getting married?" Doctor McCoy swings over, yawning. He's coming off of several intense surgeries from their latest mission that had lasted through Beta shift. Spock knows he'll be going to sleep after this breakfast meal.
"Daniels and Chambers," Uhura repeats.
Sulu joins them. "That's great. They've been making eyes at each other in the xeno-bio lab for months."
"A wedding is always great news," McCoy adds. "I'll put it in the papers."
Spock raises his eyebrow. "I am unfamiliar with that expression."
McCoy leans his chin on his hand and starts methodically and exhaustedly eating his scrambled eggs and small cubed potatoes. "Back home, families would announce important events in the newspaper. Deaths and births and weddings."
"That does sound like something you would do when you got married," Uhura remarks. "You've always been old-fashioned."
"Or your parents," Sulu adds. "Did they do that for you?"
"Yeah, sure, my dad did that," McCoy absently says.
Spock freezes.
The conversation continues around him, but all Spock can think about are two dates in Leonard's record:
2249: his father passes away.
2250: he gets married.
Mathematically, this does not compute.
"Doctor, I am aware that the length of human engagements can vary." Spock looks up and belatedly realizes that perhaps the conversation has moved on to a different subject. Everyone is looking at him oddly. "When did you become engaged?"
McCoy raises his eyebrows. "Uh, 2250." His tone of voice is almost quirked up in a question, as if he is unsure. Perhaps he wonders why Spock is asking.
"I see. Do you have any children?"
McCoy glares. "No."
Spock stands. When he turns to leave without having finished his morning meal, Uhura grabs the rest of her bagel and follows him.
"What is his problem today?" McCoy grumbles as they walk away.
Uhura puts her hand on her hip when they're together alone in the turbolift. "He's right, Spock. What is your deal today?"
Spock interlocks his hands behind his back. There is an odd emotion curling up darkly in his chest: confusion, anger, upset, betrayal. He does not want to be suspicious of one of his dearest friends. "Doctor McCoy is lying."
Nyota stares at him. "What?" she finally says. "What are you talking about?"
"His father died the year before he was engaged and married."
"How do you know that?"
Spock does not quite meet her eyes. "The dates are listed in his personnel record."
Uhura's eyes narrow.
"It is the duty of the First Officer to review personnel files of the crew," Spock hastily adds. It sounds far too defensive. "Therefore, his father could not have made an announcement as he said he did."
"Maybe he meant his ex-father-in-law."
"Those are not the words he said."
"Leonard isn't exactly precise, if you haven't noticed."
"It is my experience that one does not refer to the father of your ex-wife as your father." Spock stops the turbolift right before it gets up to the Bridge. "Do you know any further details about his ex-wife Jocelyn Darnell?"
Uhura's eyebrows shoot up. "I didn't even know her name was Jocelyn."
"Are you aware of any children that Doctor McCoy may have?"
She points at him. "Stop it."
"Stop what?"
"You're getting obsessive and analytical and weird, Spock. What is this really about?"
Spock hits the button for the turbolift to continue. "Nothing. I simply do not appreciate being lied to."
Uhura knows him too well: she gives him an unimpressed look. "Leonard's always evasive about his divorce. He just doesn't like to talk about that period in his life."
That is not the same thing as a direct lie, but Spock nods and lets the matter drop.
For now.
Spock, Jim, Chekov, and Uhura follow this planet's Head Minister through the halls of a high-ceiling expansive building they had called the "Institute."
"A place of advanced learning for the most gifted," Minister Ch'olok says. The Edosian man is proud to show off the accomplishments of their small colony.
Originating as a scientific research post, the colony had grown to several thousand civilian members. While most of the crew was on Shore Leave around the city and rural landscapes, Kirk had been invited by the Minister to tour important colony facilities.
Diplomacy: not Jim's favorite duty. He is good at it, but he does not like it.
"A fine institution of learning," Spock says. "It satisfies me to see the investment the colony makes in the education of its youth." People like compliments, his mother had once told him.
"I'd love to look in on some of the classes." Uhura is at her best today, too. She has a knack for "reading" a wide array of species. Spock privately has recommended that she add more diplomacy hours to her continuing command training.
Minister Ch'olok waves one of his many arms in glee. "I would welcome it. Our students here are the best."
"Minister, we'd be interested in touring other schools as well in our time here." Jim looks around. "This colony is renowned for its high level of education."
"We have no other schools, Captain. Our Institute is for our best and brightest."
Jim slowly nods. "Of course. But surely not every student is the 'best'. What about your average students, or the ones who need additional classroom assistance? I'd be interested in how your educational system handles them."
They pause to watch children playing in a sunny grassy courtyard before moving on.
"Those who do not show the aptitude for traditional education are routed to other pursuits," Ch'olok says.
Next to Spock, having been quietly observing the other more senior officers, Chekov suddenly stops "dead in his tracks". The Ensign had been assigned to this tour to get a taste of diplomacy.
"How do you know who shows aptitude for education?" Chekov asks. His eyebrows are furrowed and he looks strangely serious.
Spock nods his approval: that is a good question.
"All colony children are tested at the age of five."
"And only those who show aptitude at that age are allowed to go to school?" Jim asks. His tone of voice is starting to harden.
"That is right, Captain. We do not believe in waste." Ch'olok continues to speak about their system.
Spock is distracted from his simmering frustration at such an illogical and unfair system by Chekov, whose whole body goes stiff. Chekov clenches his fists. His breathing becomes erratic and tight, as if he cannot draw in a full breath.
When the group moves on, he doesn't move.
Spock nods to Kirk. "A moment. We will catch up, Captain."
Jim catches Spock's eye, glances at Chekov, and nods. The group turns the corner out of sight.
"Ensign, are you well?" Normally Spock would snap at a crewmember about professionalism, but Chekov looks ill, not just mildly upset.
"I - I'm sorry, Sir." Chekov is trembling. "I'm not okay. May I return to the Enterprise? Can I go to Sickbay?"
Spock sees something in his eyes. Chekov is keeping a precarious lid on panic and anger. It is a similar sight…on a different person. Doctor McCoy often becomes agitated and upset upon viewing "unjust" acts when he can do nothing to interfere. In those situations, McCoy will often give a pleading angry look to Spock, knowing that neither of them can do anything.
In this case, though, Spock can do something.
"We will return," Spock decides. He is Chekov's superior officer and is therefore responsible for his safety, both physical and mental. "Allow me a moment to inform the Captain."
Chekov nods. Spock trots forward and tells Jim that he and Chekov are returning to the ship. Jim, thankfully, doesn't ask any questions. Spock had no excuse planned. He is grateful for the Captain's discretion.
"Two to beam up."
They materialize. Now that they're back onboard, Chekov's demeanor cracks even further. The young man is visibly holding back tears.
"Come along, Ensign. I will escort you to Sickbay."
"Thanks, Mister Spock, but that - that won't be necessary." Chekov follows him down the hallway and into a turbolift.
Spock observes his clearly upset friend. Chekov sees him as a mentor, and Spock thinks fondly of him as a valuable, if young, essential crew member. Chekov is starting to show a preference for the Science division, particularly in astrophysics. Spock thinks he would be an exemplary addition to his department.
"Perhaps it is not necessary, but I would prefer to do it."
"Sorry, Sir." Chekov sniffles.
"Do not apologize for showing emotion, Ensign." Spock keeps his head facing forward to provide some semblance of pretending to ignore him. "As Doctor McCoy would say, a bit of emotion is 'good' for me. Additionally, I agree that the Minister's words were…distressing. I welcome the excuse to delay my return to the colony surface."
Chekov nods. He trails Spock to Sickbay.
Sickbay is quiet today: much of the crew is on shore leave. The Medical team seems to have taken the opportunity to do a full inventory of supplies: several beds have been taken over with neat stacks of medications and tools.
"Doctor."
Doctor McCoy looks up from a stack of PADDs. He drops the one he's holding and rushes over. "What happened-"
The breath is knocked out of him by Chekov, who slams into him in a crushing hug. The Ensign buries his head in McCoy's shoulder and incoherently cries.
McCoy looks at Chekov, then looks at Spock. His eyebrows drop and his face contorts into a furious snarl. "Spock-"
Spock raises his hand. "May we speak privately?"
"Oh, you bet we'll be speaking." McCoy leads the way into his office. He pats Chekov's back.
Once they are in the privacy of the CMO office, Spock speaks before McCoy can get worked up over a false assumption. "An incident occurred during our diplomatic tour that distressed Ensign Chekov."
McCoy blinks. His furious glare fades into wariness. "What kind of incident?"
Spock puts his hands behind his back. "The Minister explained that children in the colony are tested at age five for 'educational aptitude'. Only those who score the highest are allowed to pursue education." Spock loosens his tight jaw. "He implied that allowing all children this opportunity would be a waste."
McCoy's face pales. His eyes get a familiar angry and upset look. He tightens his arm around Chekov. "That's…"
"Unacceptable," Spock finishes. Such practices were tantamount to eugenics and were not condoned on Federation worlds. "Ensign Chekov displayed great restraint in not acting rashly in response to this statement. I commend his professionalism."
Chekov sobs. McCoy puts a comforting hand on the back of his neck, gently rubbing there.
"You mean he didn't punch Minister what's-his-face?" McCoy huffs. "Better than I would have done, Pav." His face softens. "Thanks for bringing him up, Spock."
Spock inclines his head. "I do not condone violence against government officials, but in this case, should your anger manifest itself in physical form…I would find myself too slow to stop you."
McCoy cracks a tired grin. "I'll just stay off the planet so there's no chance of me causing a diplomatic incident, Spock. Thanks."
"Ensign, I see no need to assign you additional tasks today. You may treat the rest of the day as Shore Leave wherever you see fit."
Chekov nods. "Thank you, Mister Spock."
Spock takes his leave. He looks back as the door closes: McCoy presses a protective kiss to Chekov's forehead. Spock was unaware that the Doctor had any relationship to Chekov closer than coworker and friend.
He files this incident away as another small mystery. What else about Doctor McCoy is Spock ignorant of?
"Bones, what the hell do you think you're doing?" Jim hisses.
Spock glances over his shoulder. He backs up a few steps to better cover the Doctor as he kneels next to an unconscious man.
No, not a man: A Romulan.
"It's called medicine, Jim." McCoy runs his tricorder over the Romulan's head. "He has a fractured skull and internal bleeding. He'll die without treatment."
"Two seconds ago he was going to kill us."
McCoy snaps open a protoplaser. He holds it to the Romulan's skull. "Because he saw us as enemies."
"We are his enemies. He's our enemy. You don't give medical treatment to the enemy, Bones."
"Medicine doesn't distinguish who deserves or doesn't deserve care, Jim." McCoy glares up. "Do we have the time, Spock? If we don't have time, I'll give him a coagulant and cross my fingers."
Spock shifts uneasily from one foot to the other. "I estimate we have four minutes before our position is discovered."
"You have three, Bones."
"Thanks, Jim." Doctor McCoy works to stabilize the Romulan. In less than three minutes, he's sliding his medkit back over his shoulder and rejoining them as they skulk through this alien prison.
Spock had privately worried that their delay might have serious consequences, but they escape to the Enterprise with no trouble.
In the Ready Room, Jim sits heavily. "Bones, you're going to have to explain in your log why you gave medical care to an enemy. I'm not touching that. I don't agree with it and I don't condone it and I never want you to do that again."
"Understood, Captain." McCoy stands straight-backed and stubborn. His hands are behind his back, fingers intertwined together.
Jim sighs. "Don't Captain me. I'm not that mad. I don't get it, Bones. I just don't get it."
McCoy side-eyes Spock. "And I suppose you thought I was illogical?"
"I believe the moral issue is more complex that simply right or wrong, Doctor. Logic and illogic are too small of concepts to handle the topic of medical ethics." Spock does not meet either of their eyes. "I do not agree with you, but I do not disagree with you."
McCoy sighs. "Hypothetical question: if a criminal came under my knife, do I have the right to refuse to operate just because I disagree with the crime they committed?"
Jim pauses, but the answer is easy for Spock. "I see your point, Doctor. The actions of a person do not determine if they deserve medical care." A commendable point of morality, though a difficult one to hold.
"What if the crime was so great as to be unforgivable?" Jim asks. "Or if the criminal hurt you and now you're expected to set all that aside and save their life anyway?"
McCoy's hands clench so hard his knuckles turn white. He heavily exhales and looks down. "I'd do anything to save their life. I don't play God. I don't decide who lives and who dies."
Looking at his passionate distressed eyes, Spock has a feeling that question wasn't so hypothetical after all.
"Dismissed," Jim softly says. "Bones…"
McCoy turns on his heel and storms out.
Jim looks at Spock. "Give him a minute, Spock."
Spock looks after McCoy. "Captain-"
"I still don't agree with it."
"It is not your decision to make, Jim." Spock understands why Kirk might be upset: in this theoretical scenario, McCoy would give medical care to Nero if he was put in that position. "It is only his."
"An impossible decision."