I woke up on my back and, for a couple moments, I couldn’t move. I was stuck on the floor and my entire body felt strangely numb. My vision was blurry and a dull ringing plagued my ears. 

With a long groan, I managed to lift my head off the floor and was immediately hit by a wave of dizziness. One of my hands rose to cup the side of my throbbing temple and I felt some dried blood caked around my hairline. I slowly ran my hands down my body and tried to move my legs, accessing for any serious injuries. The back of my head felt like it was being weighed down by a bowling ball but other than the minor head injury, bruises, and impending concusion, I was otherwise uninjured. 

My eyes slowly adjusted to the dark and I came to realize that I was still stuck in the crashed alien ship. The ship that Spock and I had hijacked.

My eyes went wide at the realzation.

“Spock!” I yelled, looking frantically around the dim ship that was only lit by a few blades of light that had snuck through cracks in the hull.

Something to my left shifted and I caught a glimpse of Spock’s face as he moved suddenly. 

“I am… here,” Spock in a rasp, his voice wrought with pain. 

I pushed myself towards him, fighting against the pain in my hip that spasmed in response. 

“Spock, are you ok?!” I asked urgently, peering at him closely even though I could barely even see his shadow. 

“I have been injured but cannot access the injury in this light,” Spock replied tightly and then attempted to lift himself off the floor. 

I instantly reached out and stopped him from moving. 

“Stay still,” I insisted. “I’ll find a way out of here.”

I stood up quickly, nearly smashing my forehead into a ceiling beam. Black spots raced across my vision and I had to hold still for a moment as they passed. 

“You must proceeed with caution Ms.Malcolm,” Spock announced with a grimace. “We do not know where we have landed and could be in enemy territory.”

I didn’t reply and instead focused on finding any kind of level or handle to open the main bay door. My hands scrambled over the door until finally I found a knotch and pulled it open. 

Bright light flooded the small enclosure and I was temporarily blinded. I leaned on the door before taking another step forward with wobbly legs, shielding my eyes from the brightness. After my vision adjusted, I saw that we had crash landed right into a small stream with two large walls of rock on either side. There was no sign of enemy presence and instead we were simply surrounded by towering pines with thick branches. 

I turned back to see that Spcok was already on his feet and reached out to steady him.

Then I saw it. 

Lodged into the lower left hand side of his torso was a jagged piece of metal. The shard was about five inches in length and thin. 

“Oh shit!” I exclaimed at the sight. “Spock!”

Spock groaned in pain, inadvertently leaning into me and I quickly lifted his arm over my shoulder in support before guiding him off the alien ship. I looked down at his wound and saw that his blue shirt was matted with dark green blood and more blood was still slowly oozing from the wound.

Spock grimaced in pain with each step and we slowly made our way to a safe area on the edge of the clear steam. 

“Ok, just lay down here for now,” I said before lowering Spock to the floor. 

Spock’s normally stoic expression was twisted in pain as I took a closer look at his wound, racking my brain to remember anything about Vulcan anatomy. Unfortunately, if my memory was serving me correctly, the metal shard was located just a couple inches from his heart and had only missed a major artery by centimeters. 

My lips pursed in uncertainty as I looked around for something to stop the bleeding. 

“Uhm, ok, Spock you're, uh, you're going to be ok,” I tried, even though my head was still spinning from the crash. 

Spock’s jaw clenched in pain. “The forced optimism in your voice suggests you are trying to elicit a sense of calm - 

 “Spock!” I interrupted. “I'm doing what a good nurse does. Now put pressure on the wound" I ordered, interrupting him. The sudden nursly outburst helped me find concentration as I stood up and ran a hand through my red hair in thought. 

I needed to close the wound somehow or else he would bleed out. But with what?

"Shit!" I cursed in frustration.

Not only was the closest thing I had to a friend mortally wounded, but I was also stranded on some uninhabited planet in the middle of nowhere. Could it get any worse?

Spock lifted a brow at my outburst while cupping the wound at his abdomen.

 "I don't see how excrement of any kind would help the situation Ms. Malcolm," Spock said mundanely.

I gave him a look from the corner of my eyes but said nothing. 

Spock groaned again before trying to sit up, which only caused his wound to bleed more. 

 "Spock, you need to stay down," I ordered, nudging his shoulder back gently. 

Spock shook his head.

 "Time is a critical factor, we must find the rest of the stranded crew," Spock said but I tightened my grip on his shoulder before pushing him all the way back down to the floor. He couldn't lose any more blood. 

“Spock, if we don’t remove that thing, you’re not going to make it,” I told him, looking at him intently. “And if I take it out and can’t stop bleeding….”

Spock put the pieces together.

"Well, I see no appeal in either option" Spock stated. 

“I don’t either. Now stay still while I work please,” I insisted before standing up straight again and pacing down the edge of the stream. 

I couldn’t stitch up such a wound and there was no fancy Enterprise tool to cauterize the wound for me…. But maybe I could cauterize it myself?

Cauterization would require a fire or extreme heat though. 

My hazel eyes trailed back over to the crashed alien vessel with a thoughtful expression.

I strode back to the ruined ship and searched the interior for something useful. I opened one of the storage compartments to find a slew of strange looking alien guns. These ones were different from the one I had used on the Enterprise. They were more slender and had different endings. I snatched one of them to take a closer look and found that it had a heat emitter function that wasn’t dissimilar to the weapons the upper class used on Zaria. 

I adjusted the weapon with nimble fingers as I made my way back to Spock with an extra piece of damaged metal in my back pocket. 

“You know you should consider yourself lucky Spock,” I began before I started heating the extra piece of metal in my hand until the end was shining red. “Just a couple more inches to the left and it might have pierced your heart.”

"I believe you are correct," Spock replied, his voice nearly breaking.

My brows wrinkled at the sight and I almost felt bad about what I was about to do. 

Spocks eye’s were shut tight in anguish as I knelt by his side with the burning metal in my hand. 

“Spock,” I started, before brushing his messy black hair off his forehead. “I am so sorry.”

Spock could only offer me a confused look before I swiftly removed the metal shard stuck in his torso and pressed the burning metal piece upon the wound. 

“AHHHH!” Spock yelled in surprise, nearly writhing upon the floor. 

I clenched my jaw in concentration and held his head down with my free hand until the wound was sealed shut witha sharp sting. As soon as the cauterization was finished, I flung the extra chunk of metal in the stream where it sizzled and cooled. 

Spock let out another quiet yell and I softly shushed him while rubbing his shoulder. 

“Sorry about that, they say it hurts less when it's a surprise" I submitted sitting beside him as he recovered from the shock. 

Spock winced. "If I may adopt a diction to which you are familiar, I would say that claim is 'shit'" Spock replied sourly. 

I snorted in response and reached out with a gentle hand to access the cauterization. The wound was crude but the skin was fused together. It might result in an ugly scar in the future but it would hold for the time being. 

Suddenly a strange sound hit the air. The humming sound of an engine. 

I went still, trying to find the source of the sound before realzing it was coming from behind us. I turned with wide eyes to spot one of those alien hive crafts in the distance zooming through the air. 

“Come on Spock, we need to find a place to hide!” I announced as Spock followed my line of sight. I quickly lifted Spock from the floor with one of his arms over my shoulder again and began to walk forward to find cover. I just prayed that his wound wouldn’t reopen. 

Spock’s face went white as a sheet at the sudden movement and I had to grit my teeth as more of his weight was leaned into my smaller body. Had it not been for the few good meals I’d received while aboard the Enterprise, I wouldn’t have had the strength to practically drag him from the stream bed to safety. 

I spotted a nearby cave with a large overhead hanging that could service us.

“Come on Spock,” I enccouraged as Spock continued slowly with wobbly legs. “We’re almost there.”

Spock was nearly hyperventilating from shock when I set him down within the cave and made sure he was sitting upright against the wall. His eyes fluttered in a mixture of pain and exhaustion and, for a couple moments, I could only hold his wrists in support, hoping that his superior Vulcan durability would kick in. 

I put a hand against his forehead to find that Spock was burning up and his hairline was sweaty. I then checked his pulse and found that his heart was still racing. 

“Spock, you need to stay awake with me,” I urged as Spock’s eyes continued to droop shut.

He didn’t seem to hear me or even notice that I was there. 

“Spock!” I said louder, finally getting his attnetion. 

Spock’s eyes snapped up at me and his breathing started to become regular. He blinked once before a very strange smile spread across his mouth. My brows instantly furrowed at the foreign expression. 

“You know… your eyes are the most fascinating shade of… illogical,” Spock slurred. 

I had to fight the urge to laugh. 

“Excuse me?” I asked, not allowing myself to blush from the strange complement. 

“I just think…you’re pretty hair.. ” Spock started before a low chuckle sounded from his chest. 

At this point, I was staring wide eyed at the Vulcan but slowly, a nervous grin appeared on my mouth. 

“Spock, I think you might be getting a little delirious from the blood loss,” I decided before checking his pulse again. It had slowed slightly but he was still pretty warm. I was just thankful he was still awake and at least not suffering.

“Delirious?..” Spock asked inbetween chuckles, as though the word sounded funny.

I laughed with him, feeling the tension and stress of the crash landing ease at the sight of the laughing Vulcan. 

“You are definitely suffering from blood loss related delrium, hypovolemic shock,  and need to stay still and cool down,” I explained. Spock could only hum in response to my words and I reached out to brush his messy bangs so that they were sort of straight again.

“I’m going to find something to cool you off with, ok?” I told him before standing up with my hands on my hips and looking down at him like a school teacher. 

“Cool…I will await your return with great… anticipation,” Spock replied with a loopy grin. “And.. thank you Ms. Malcolm, for your service.”

I curled a brow.

“You can just call me Ferris, Spock,” I replied with a small grin, thinking that his innate politeness was still charming even under such dire circumstances. “And you saved me not too long ago too. I will be right back.”

Spock didn’t respond this time and instead rested his head against the wall of the cave with a small smile, his body giving into the weariness. I gave him a once over before determining that he needed to rest and recover more than anything. 

As the adrenaline from waking up and seeing Spock’s wound wore off, I too began to feel tired as well. But I coudln’t sit and rest yet and instead took a quick glance around the cave, determining it to be secure enough for me to leave Spock there. Several long vines hung over the entrance of the cave and it was hidden from aerial view. I did notice some strange markings on the cave walls that looked strangely familiar but disregarded them before leaving. 

Just before I left the cave, I spotted two more of the swarm alien crafts flying overhead and briefly ducked back into the cave for cover. I watched as they flew by and far away, heading in the direction I figured was north. 

Could they have a base in that direction? Were they keeping the Starfleet crew there? 

I didn’t know.

I sighed beofre taking a deep breath and continuing forward into the open area infront of the stream. I gripped the bottom of my shirt and ripped the cloth apart so that I could soak the fabric in the cool water. I waded into the shallow stream that only came up to my lower calf and dunked the fabric into the water. Small brown pebbles moved past my feet as the stream drew them downstream and I found myself staring at the rippling water for a few seconds too long. 

It reminded me so much of the shallow ravine that used to exist behind my childhome. Yet the water was never so clear and the stones in that stream had been a mix of burgundy red and Liztarium blue rather than brown. 

I finally wrung the cloth out and made my way back to the cave where I’d left Spock

I entered the cave to see Spock slumped onto his side with his face on the floor, no longing to sit up right. For a split second it appeared that he may not be breathing as his chest didn’t move. A jolt of alarm raced up my spine and I closed the distance between us in a flash. 

“Spock!” I called out, reaching out for his shoulder and then placing a hand on his cheek to feelt that the flesh was still warm. “Wake up!”

Spock’s dark brown eyes opened at once, no longer clouded by delirium or shock.

“Ferris, I am conscious,” Spock replied calmly even though there was some lingering fatigue in his eyes. 

I quickly retracted my hand as a silly orange blush crept up the back of my neck. 

“Here,” I offered, bringing forth the damp fabric. “This should help keep your temperature down and ease the headaches.”

I delicately placed the cloth upon his forehead and some form of relief washed upon his features from the cool fabric. 

“Any more giggles?” I asked with a small grin in my words. 

Spock shook his head weakly with a faint glint of the humour I saw earlier lingering within his gaze. 

“No, I don't believe so.”

“How do you feel?” I asked curiously while taking a seat next to him. 

Spock sighed through his nose, his eyes becoming slightly unfocused. 

“Strangely philosophical,” Spock replied.

“Well, massive blood loss can do that,” I said before streching my long legs and removing my wet shoes. 

I also noticed that I had ripped more off my shirt than intended and was inadvertently showing a decent portion of my midriff. (Padme who?)

"Is there anything you want to talk about?" I asked, breaking the brief silence. 

Spock weakly gestured to the opposite wall. "I have noticed that the markings upon the wall of this cave match that which were on the artifact the swarm crafts stole," Spock noted and I raised a brow, now eyeing hieroglyphs that were scattered around the wall suspiciously. 

"Do you think it came from this planet?" I asked curiously, returning my gaze back to him. Now that he was closer, I could see that Spock’s face was slowly regaining its color. 

 "That seems to be an imminent possibility however that artifact is ancient," Spock replied with his hand still over his now closed wound.

It was quiet again and I rubbed my arms anxiously. 

“Do you think anyone else survived?” I asked quietly. So many had died on the Enterprise during the attack…

“We witnessed several escape pods being taken and can assume they have been taken prisoner,” Spock said but that did little to ease my worry. “I would also think that Captian Kirk escaped the carnage as well.”

I nodded distantly. 

“I hope so too. He is a good captain,” I replied before leaning forward to stretch my shoulders. 

I reached up to the ceiling and heard several of the vertebrae in my spine pop at the movement. Just as I moved, I heard more alien ships pass overhead and was on my feet again in a split second. I silently peered out of the cave through a gap in the vines to see the ships heading in the same direction as those that came before it. I watched the ship fly until it disappeared from view and noticed that the planet’s sun was also beginning to set. 

I turned back to Spock who was also looking up with an alert expression, his body tensed and ready to react. 

“It’s just a patrol,” I announced, waving him down. “But each time they pass by they are always headed in that direction,” I added, pointing towards the north. 

Spock nodded slowly and his body relaxed. 

“We should be safe here to rest for a bit,” I noted. 

At this statement, Spock shook his head. 

“We should begin searching for other surviving Starfleet crew members,” Spock replied, attempting to lift himself off the ground. “From there we can attempt to regroup with the officers at Yorktown.”

My mouth twitched in surprise at his resilience but once again kept him from rising. 

“Spock you have lost alot of blood and need to rest,” I countered. “You're in no condition to go searching for anyone right now.”

As I leaned down to stop him from standing, my bruised hip suddenly popped, sending a jolt of pain up the side of my body. I grimaced before dropping down to one knee. Spock’s brows creased as I nearly crumpled over from the sharp pain. 

“Ferris, you are also injured,” Spock realized, a new clarity coating his eyes. 

“I’m fine,” I replied tightly while retaking my position at his side and sitting down. “Just some bruises.”

“There’s blood in your hair,” Spock pointed.

“Yeah,” I shrugged. “But it matches my natural color so well,” I replied with a wan grin, my dark humor doing little to ease Spock’s worry.

Spock reached out to access the damage and I lowered my head so he could actually take a look. If my head injury was a genuine problem then I would still be bleeding and probaply brain damaged. But I allowed him to fret even if it was only for the sake of putting the Vulcan at ease.

“The wound is clotted and it appears that there is no serious bruising or damage,” Spock said, his finges gently moving my hair so that he could see better. His touch was feather light and I nearly shivered at the contact. 

I adjusted my head so that I could look at him again. 

“There ya’ have it,” I said. “I’m fine, thanks for checking though.”

Our noses were just inches apart and in the dim light of the cave, I could only hope that Spock didn’t notice the orange blush that appeared faintly on my cheeks.

“It is only logical to ensure the well being of my companion,” Spock replied, his words ever stoic but somehow also kind. 

“Always so logical,” I said with a chuckle, not leaning away.

I glanced down nervously at the close proximity, causing a stray strand of red hair to fall into my face. 

Spock reached out in an instant and brushed the strand behind my ear, the edge of his finger brushed against the side of my cheek. His touch was so gentle, so careful, that it sent a shiver down my spine. I swallowed hard, feeling my heart thump in anticipation and my mouth go dry. 

“It is logical to ensure you have clear visibility,” he said, his voice steady, though I thought I detected a hint of something warmer in his tone

There was no way my face wasn’t totally orange by now. 

“Thanks,” I said in a whisper. 

“You are more deserving of thanks than I, Ferris,” Spock replied. “If it were not for your expertise, I may not still be alive.”

“Well, if you hadn’t found me on Zaria…” I started before trailing off and looking away. 

 I looked back up to see that Spock’s dark brown gaze had not moved and the proximity between us became charged with an unspoken energy. 

“It seems we are mutually beneficial,” he considered. 

I couldn’t help but grin at his acknowlegment. 

“I guess you could say we make a good team,” I replied, fighting the urge to do something stupid like kiss him. 

Spock nodded in agreement. “We can only hope to discover the rest of our team soon.”

“I agree but we should rest for now, while it’s dark, and hopefully heal up a little before venturing out tomorrow in the morning,” I suggested. 

“We will need our strength to face whatever lies ahead but, I am thankful to not be facing it alone,” Spock replied and had to fight the urge to not blush and look away like some school girl. 

“Likewise,” I replied, finally leaning away from him and settling against the cave wall. 

Spock and I sat there until sleep finally overcame our exhausted senses.