Getting to the Guardian of Forever was one thing: getting past the security ships stationed alongside the planet was another issue. But he was able to get past them with a loophole. He didn't want Star Fleet to know, not at all, regarding what his activities were. He hadn't been experiencing paranormal activity since the conversation with Jim. Jim was likely with Spock, where he should be. He leaped through the portal then landed onto dirt. Ow, his knees stung. And there was a distinctive pain in his calf. He felt wind brushing past his face. He opened his eyes to see Vulcans passing by dressed for the sandstorm that was occurring. How Spock had stood through Vulcan weather bewildered McCoy. Not that the nine months were not at all 'unexpected'. McCoy cursed to himself: Damn it, Leonard, you should have gone with a coat. He saw a familiar individual come to a stop alongside him.

"Do you need help?" Came a male voice.

That deep, rich voice was familiar.

"Spock?" McCoy said.

"I am not my brother," McCoy's vision cleared see light blue eyes looking back at him. He looked roughly older than Spock by a decade. That was a strong family resemblance between the two men. All except for the shape of his eyes. His hair was curled back and well cut in a very Vulcan hair style with pointed ears. "I am S'Chn T'Gai Sybok, a healer, and who might you be?"

The Vulcan held his hand out, that was covered by a glove, offering it to the doctor.

"Leonard McCoy," McCoy said, taking Mirror Sybok's hand. "Nice to meet you."

Mirror Sybok had bushy eyebrows that were raised up.

"Doctor McCoy?" Mirror Sybok said, helping the man up. "Former Chief Medical Officer of the USS Enterprise?"

McCoy smiled at first.

"Why yes," McCoy said.

He lowered his eyebrow.

"Come with me," Mirror Sybok said, and let go of the man's hand. "And do not stray."

"How come Spock never talked about you?" McCoy asked.

"Perhaps it is due to my profession," Mirror Sybok said.

"The Spock I knew wouldn't be ashamed for a relative," McCoy said, as they started a pace together.

"I am his brother," Mirror Sybok said, flatly.

"As in, 'brother' or brother brother?" McCoy inquired.

"half-brother." Mirror Sybok replied.

McCoy smiled.

"I can see the resemblance," McCoy said.

"Amanda commented the uncanny resemblance I shared with Sarek and his betrothed," Mirror Sybok said. "When was I under their household," His voice lowered. "Being the son of a Ambassador and a Priestess I come with less scrutiny and assassination attempts."

"Spock bein' a target on the ISS Enterprise is not a surprise," McCoy remarked.

"You do not wear wardrobe that Doctor McCoy usually comes in," Mirror Sybok said.

McCoy had a warm laugh.

"I didn't expect it to be Vulcan of all places, Mister Sybok," McCoy said. "But undoubtedly he would come here with the same attire as I except for some medals and pins for highlights of his achievements in torture or somethin'."

"He wears it proudly," Mirror Sybok said.

"You are still goin' to take me to him, right?" McCoy asked.

"I have only seen photos of him," Mirror Sybok said. "We have yet to meet face to face."

"So you trust me?" McCoy asked.

"I believe in your person to restrain yourself from murdering my brother," Mirror Sybok said.

"Well, now that is just mad," McCoy said. "my other self would never murder Spock. It's highly illogical!"

"Illogical? The Terran Empire make illogical, irrational decisions each day that decide the fates of planets and countless civilizations," Mirror Sybok said. "Often by the orders of Vulcans themselves. We would prefer not to conduct genocide. They make us responsible for mass genocide in this parallel universe. Vulcans seek to find logic in this world to make sense of it," His eyes landed on the shorter man. "Do Vulcans seek logic in your reality?"

"Of course," McCoy said. "And they control their emotions so well we can't tell if they don't have them. But someone like Spock . . ."

"From physician to physician, if you were quite aware of someones well being and could potentially harm themselves with their own hands. . ." Mirror Sybok said. "Would it be ethical to prevent them from doing so?" He looked at the doctor in great concern. "And would it be logical?"

"Logically, if they are not harmin' you then there is no reason to interfere and so we stay out of their business," McCoy said. "Ethnically, we are obligated to make sure they don't harm themselves." Mirror Sybok turned his head away from the shorter human. "It is part of helpin' others as a friend, colleague, doctor, and a stranger. No one should be left behind."

"That is a bright future compared to what we have," Mirror Sybok said.

"Where is Spock?" McCoy asked.

"He is undergoing kolinahr at Gor," Mirror Sybok said.

"Of course he is," McCoy rolled an eye. Of course,running away from grief, McCoy thought, and it's still my fault. "Purging his emotional side."

"His logic," Mirror Sybok said.

"Spock without logic?" McCoy asked. "Are you kiddin' me?"

"Vulcan's are a unfortunate victim of joke shaming and when we joke, we do not take it lightly," Mirror Sybok said. "It can either get us killed or be threatened." His hands were inside his long drawn out sleeves. "I am searching for a dust flyer. I seem to have forgotten my way to Gor." McCoy looked over. "It has been over a decade since I last visited Vulcan."

"Vulcans do not forget," McCoy said.

"Vulcans do," Mirror Sybok said.

"Now that is somethin' I didn't know," McCoy said.

"I forgot my brother's birthday numerous times," Mirror Sybok said.

"Ah, Spock never celebrates his birthday as he had 'nothing to do with his conception'," McCoy said.

"My brother does not celebrate his birthday," Mirror Sybok said. "it is a reminder of why Sarek and Amanda had him."

"To climb the ranks and become emperor," McCoy said.

"Affirmative," Mirror Sybok said. "He prefers science over commanding a starship."

"Spock doesn't like command, no matter what timeline," McCoy said, feeling a smile grow on his face.

"That it appears. He was interested in joining the Vulcan Science Academy when his father orchestrated alienation toward him." Mirror Sybok said. "Spock was never able to quite forgive our father after learning what he had done."

"From what I know, Sarek did nothing to change his mind," McCoy said.

"It seems the relationship my brother and his father share has more potential to reconnect in your world," Mirror Sybok said.

"They started reconnecting during the conference to Babel," McCoy said. It was a fond memory for the doctor.

"The assassination attempt on Captain Kirk was futile, was it not?" Mirror Sybok said.

''what attempt?" McCoy asked. "are ya talking about the babel one?"

"Nirsh," Mirror Sybok said.

"Which attempt are ya talkin' about?" McCoy asked.

"One of your away missions, there was a first contact initiated between the Takaliens to enslave them by Captain James T. Kirk," Mirror Sybok said. "T'Plass, the doctors personal guard , attempted to kill the captain to throw everyone off."

"He was a science officer," McCoy said. "he was advising the captain when Spock was ill at the time regarding something science-y."

"So you are from a mirror version of my reality," MirrorSybok said.

"I wish he hadn't gone down there planet side," McCoy said. "A part of me wishes one of us stayed with him."

"James T. Kirk was killed by his right hand first officer in the line of duty. Doctor McCoy resigned his commission from Star Fleet and went on to be a doctor in the field of torture," Mirror Sybok explained. "Spock resigned before any action could be taken to his crime. Some say he used a machine to do it,vaporizing him. Doctor McCoy, per his accounts, say that he was marooned onto the planet to start anew. Apparently Captain Kirk posed a bigger threat."

"I don't believe you," McCoy said. "But you told me Spock is here."

"He still retains his rank but his honor is non-existant," Mirror Sybok said. "He has dismissed Sarek's guards and left himself a vulnerable target. It is as though he wishes to expired by the hands of a Vulcan."

"I have to undo this." McCoy said. "It's my big, gigantic problem."

"How is this your problem?" Sybok asked.

"I may have overwhelmed the other Spock to the point of goin' to Gor to purge his emotional half," McCoy said. "It is my fault alone. Spock tried, too. He tried to get Jim. But we weren't there on time. He is only alive because of me."

"So you believe Spock tried, too, in this world?" Mirror Sybok said.

"He would rather assume command alongside James T. Kirk than bein' on a starship without him," McCoy said. "Or unless Jim sweet talked him into takin' command. That's the only way."

"Our Spocks are not different," Mirror Sybok said.

"How about little Pree?" McCoy asked.

"T'Pring is currently in the hospital recovering from a grueling long, hard labor, that I am aware due to the rumors of the torture's activities on Vulcan," Mirror Sybok said. "I was not aware she would be in your circle of friends."

"I was her doctor," McCoy said. "Assumingly, my other self hasn't gone through the big dougnut. He is likely out there. . ." McCoy went on a trail of thought feeling a headache pulsing from the side of his head. He gripped the shoulder of the Vulcan rubbing the side of his head. "My head. It is throbbin'."

"Doctor, let me see," Mirror Sybok said. McCoy and Mirror Sybok stepped to the side out of the Vulcanian traffic alongside some food stands. Sybok placed his hand on the side of the doctor's face. He heard the distinctive mental chant in his head: Our minds are merging, Doctor. Our minds are one. I feel what you feel. I know what you know. . . McCoy felt a hand feel carefully around his head. Then a sharp razor feeling pierced into him as though he had been stabbed in the backside. It was like a blade that made him want to shout. Sybok carefully took his hand off the human's face. "Forgive me for my apparent intrusion but it appears your mental link is very sensitive to crossing realities and very delicate at this time."

McCoy opened his eyes.

"Sensitive enough to kill?" McCoy inquired.

"That was not my intention of hurting you,doctor," Mirror Sybok said, apologetically.

"Sybok, please call me Leonard," The doctor shook his hand. "you are my brother in law," The words came out so easily that he remembered the bond hadn't been consummated with Spock. "Wait, I didn't mean what I think you are interpretin' it!"

"You are his bondmate?" Mirror Sybok asked, with raised eyebrows and a surprised expression on his face.

"No, that was Jim," McCoy walked away with a huff.

Sybok trailed after McCoy.

"That makes the three of you, T'hy'lara." Mirror Sybok said. "Are you familiar to the three parts of the soul?"

"Ethos,pathos, and logos," McCoy said.

"That is my argument," Mirror Sybok said,quickening his pace. "You must fill in the blanks."

"Fill in the blanks?" McCoy said. "That's not an argument. That's the beginnin' of a introductory essay!"

Sybok ignored the doctor's remark. McCoy sighed, following after the Vulcan. Sybok took out something from his robe with a fast pace and began to speak into it. Huh, a communicator. He is likely ordering a taxi. Which was quite logical if McCoy wanted to go to Gor. McCoy had to remind himself that he had to be gentle with this other Spock. Mirror Sybok was a unique,complex individual in this mirrorverse. For all he knew, mirror Sybok might still be different in the one he returned to. Mirror Sybok came to a bench that was surrounded by a blue field. It reminded McCoy, due to its design, of the 21st century bus waiting benches. Humanity had left many of its past behind in the 21st century while progressing into a likable future. He wondered just how far humanity, in the mirror verse, split off from the original reality. Probably from the conception of human beings. Likely being the Passengers. It is the point where most civilizations, T'Pro theorized to the doctor when writing an essay regarding the obelisk using what evidence left behind by basing off her ideas off artifacts that were in the log, came from. She theorized they were indifferent to appearance and were lizard based since a theory goes that humanity could have possibly evolved, instead from monkeys, from lizards. She also accounted her theory for what animals were mostly dug up. McCoy came to the bench then sat down alongside the Vulcan.

"How big are Dust Flyers, again?" McCoy said.

"Three people can sit in the front," Mirror Sybok said.

"Uh huh," McCoy said.

"D--Leonard," Mirror Sybok said. "If you help my brother. . . I will be in your debt."

"I take it as a yes that we are goin' to Gor." McCoy said.

"Leonard,you are my--" Sybok started.

McCoy put one finger on the vulcan's lip.

"That's the cheesiest line in the history of thankin' people," McCoy said, then he took his hand off the Vulcan's lip. "Apparently, all the Sarek children are super into Star Wars and my head is ringin' with finishin' that sentence."

"I accept your gift of self," Mirror Sybok said.

McCoy briefly smiled then it faded.

"Say," McCoy said. "Theoretically, if my other self died in this reality due to my logic. Can you be the one to treat your brother?"

"I am not his physician," Mirror Sybok said.

"What I mean is to be there for Spock when he comes back alone," McCoy said.

"You are planning for something?" Mirror Sybok asked.

"I don't know what my other self is doin' but if I am correct, he is doin' it for Spock's sake. Or, he could be . . ." McCoy paused as a thought crossed his mind. His other self on Vulcan? "Nah. I doubt that my other self would have to go to Vulcan. Spock wouldn't need a mind meld to know that he was my mirror version."

"That would be logical," Mirror Sybok said. "I am curious, are Vulcans free?"

"Of course, Vulcans are free and don't feel paranoid twenty-four-seven," McCoy said. "Vulcans practice logic and controllin' their emotions. They follow Surak's teachings, including one of not engangin' in violence." He looked over toward the Vulcan. "I can guess that he was pro-violence in this reality."

"Surak did," Mirror Sybok said. "I cannot see the logic of not practicin' violence."

"Vulcans, at least the ones I know, are more keen on havin' peace," McCoy said. "They are more explorers and scientists than anythin' really."

"They are conquers and scientists," Mirror Sybok said.

"Ah," McCoy said. "At least the science part does not change."

"That I feel is appropriate," Mirror Sybok said. "The Dirt Flyer will be here in approximately thirty-five minutes."

"I have many stories of how they courted each other," McCoy said. "Which would you like to hear?"

"One where you were annoyed that they were not getting together," Mirror Sybok said.

"That's all of them," McCoy said. "Suppose I should start with the first. . ."

McCoy told the story to the listening Vulcan. Mmirror Sybok raised his bushy eyebrow at the human's story once or twice but generally seemed to be interested. Mirror Sybok nodded, intently. Sharing a small hint of a smile on his face. McCoy went on explaining about how he had to talk the young men into approaching each other and to share their feelings for one another. He went on to another story where they were considering of approaching each other and talking about it. The way he worded it indicated the two had this internal struggle to talk about it with each other for a year. The second story involved a game of chess. Sybok leaned his head away from the back of the seat.

"That is my brother's favorite activity," Mirror Sybok said.

"It was Jim's, too," McCoy said.

"How did they do in chess?" Mirror Sybok asked.

"Jim won," McCoy said. "every time."

"Spock would win when I played against him," Mirror Sybok said, fondly. "that is highly unlike Spock to lose."

"Unless it were foreplay, I wouldn't be surprised if it was," McCoy said,

"It is nice to hear my brother enjoyed the human's company," Mirror Sybok said, sounding pleased.

He went through the third answering questions about it. The Dirt Flyer came to a landing in front of the two. The two men boarded the small air craft, and Sybok commented, "Gor." There was a female Vulcan with black curly hair in the front. McCoy continued the story. Sybok continued listening to the doctor's story. McCoy finished the story then looked at the older Vulcan rather oddly as though considering something. One part of him was contemplating to ask or if it was rude to pry into the personal life of his former colleague. The mirror version of the planet Vulcan was not close to being different than the other. Asides to the less notable difference. Sybok seemed like a nice fellow toward McCoy. McCoy noted to himself that he had to approach Healer Sybok after getting Spock back into Star Fleet. He cleared his throat coming to a decision. He could guess how different his Spock's childhood was by doing the math.

"How was Spock as a child?" McCoy finally asked. "Asides to him ownin' a Sehlat."

"He was like a child: emotional," Mirror Sybok said. "He always wanted to make Sarek proud."

"We have roughly an hour to get back," McCoy said.

"I was his older brother and he looked up to me," Mirror Sybok explained. "It was my duty to ensure his survival when in my charge."

"You did a fine job," McCoy said.

"Some attempts that thwarted by me ended up with Spock getting hurt," Mirror Sybok said. "When his mother was called a spy, there was nothing I could do to stop my little brother except take pleasure in watching him beat up a Vulcan."

"Little Spock throwin' punches?" McCoy said. "I would have loved to see that happen."

"I was proud of him," Mirror Sybok said.

"I can see why," McCoy said. "but then I would be a bad big brother."

"No, you would not," Mirror Sybok said. "You would stand proud."

"In your world, that's probably what would be acceptable," McCoy said.