The Orion Syndicate Stardate 2258.85

Chekhov asked Martin to replay the ship's last transmission.

"This is the Cargo ship Rorruz, we're experiencing engine failure and our life support systems are failing. If you can hear this transmission, please, we need assistance!" The message said and it played over and over in a loop.

"When was this message sent?" He asked. "Over 6 hours ago sir," Martin said. Chekhov sighed and wiped his face with his hands. He deliberated with himself and then gave in. "Ensign...wake them up," he sighed.

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Kirk Stepped onto the bridge with Sulu. "What do we got?" he asked and Chekhov brought them up to date. "Martin, Get Commander Turner and Spock," Kirk said. "I sir," martin said and contacted their rooms to summon them to the bridge.

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Elyse was sleeping soundly as McCoy spooned her as they slept. She was tucked nicely into his arms with her hair partly in his face. She was supposed to go back to her room but they had fallen asleep.

"Commander Turner, please report to the bridge. Commander Turner, please report to the bridge!" Martin said into the speakers closest to her pocket communicator The sound jerked her from sleep and her head accidentally bashed into Leonard's jaw. 'Uhhggg!" He said as he saw black spots in his vision as she got up out of bed.

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Spock was already dressing before Martin called him on the speakers. He sat on the bed next to a very naked Scarlett who pulled the sheets up to cover her nakedness.

"I'm not certain what this is about but enjoy your day off. I'll try and come back if I am able," Spock said as he put on his boots. "I...wouldn't bother making the bed," he said with a straight face but he did mean that. He was enjoying making love to Scarlett and he likely would want to again when he came back.

8 Hours earlier....

"Well, what do we get out of it if I am to put my ships into danger?" Vissom said. He was an aging Orion, mostly bald with tufts of graying hair on the sides of his head. He was a very large, muscular man with just enough bulk not to slow him down. The person who sat across from him was serving him a bright blue liquid in a silver decanter. A Romulan that also had seen more years than he had left. He was of average height with gray hair cut straight across his brow.

"They have several women, some of them would fetch a small fortune," The Romulan said as he handed the man a glass. Vissom picked up the glass and looked at it. "Romulan ale?" He asked. "Ofcourse, and I have 40 cases for you...as a small gift," the Romulan said. "Alright, but why do you need us? You have ships," Vissom said. "There can be no evidence of Romulan involvement in this. All we need is for you to draw Captain James T. Kirk to the Station. And he will because you'll lead him here," The Romulan said as he handed him a data disk. "And there is a human woman. She is one of our operatives. I will want a short audience with her and then you can do with her what you want," he said. The Orion tasted the spirit and nodded. "A bit of risk, a bit of inconvenience for alot of profit...I think I can...accomodate you," Vissom said. The Romulan smiled and then nodded.

Kirk had promised that when he returned that they would talk. Nothing Kaia could say could make him stay and so he kissed her and then left. Kaia sat there for a long time before she slowly got up and got dressed. She left his quarters and headed back to her own. The doors shut behind her and she stood there for a moment before she suddenly picked up a glass bottle and threw it against the wall with a yell. She then sank down to the floor and began to sob. 


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Elyse was extremely comfortable in Leonard's arms. They had both eventually fallen asleep. Her back was to him and he had his arms around her. She was supposed to have gone back to her room, but they had both been so comfortable and neither of them had wanted her to leave. However, their peaceful slumber was disrupted by the sudden harsh voice of Ensign Martin calling her to the bridge. She was startled awake and jerked and accidentally bashed her head into Leonard's face. 

"Oh, I'm sorry!" she told him as she quickly got out of bed. She would need to get dressed and then get back to her quarters and get changed. She got her clothes on and then turned back to him. She leaned over and grinned at him. "Thanks for...everything," she said before kissing him. She then reluctantly pulled back and then left. She headed to her quarters and quickly got her uniform on before rushing to the bridge.

"What's happening?" she asked as soon as she got there.

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Scarlett and Spock's passions were almost insatiable when they were alone. They had very quickly gotten to know each other's bodies, but they weren't afraid to...experiment. They had fallen asleep after making love for the second time that evening, but their restful sleep was rudely interrupted. Scarlett sat up a little and pulled the sheet up around her body as she watched Spock get dressed. She playfully bit her lower lip at what he said. She pulled him down for one last kiss before she let him go. After he left she laid back down to get some more sleep.

Elyse was the last to arrive when she took her place at the helm. "The ship appears to be Orion. 104 crew members aboard. Craig was scanning the ship but shifted back to let Spock take a look. "I am not detecting any battle damage," Spock said. "They said it was a malfunction," Martin said. "Their energy coils appear to be fluctuating but that could mean anything Captain," Spock said. "Sulu, any other ships in the area?" Kirk asked. But before Sulu could respond 2 ships of a similiar type warped right next to them then shot them with some kind of energy beam The third ship that appeared to be adrift suddenly came to life. "Sir...their firing!" Sulu said. "Shields!" Kirk said then all went black...

2 hours later....

Kirk shifted in his chair and his left side ached. He straightened as he opened his eyes. His head throbbed horrible and he detected the sounds of movement nearby. "Jim? Are you alright?" Spock asked. Kirk blinked the blurred vision from his eyes. "Well yeah...but I feel like I was rode hard and out away wet!" he said as he groaned. "What happened?" he asked. "They hit us with some kind of neural energy beam. Nothing I've ever heard of before," Spock said as others began to stir. "there is something you should know Captain...many of the women, are gone," He said. (Suspense Music plays)

Kaia groaned as her eyes started to flutter open and the first thing she was aware of was Elyse's face hovering over hers saying her name. Elyse slowly helped her to sit up and Kaia blinked as she realized that she wasn't on board the Enterprise anymore. She looked around in horror and saw that they were in a cage. The floor was a dark stone and as she looked over she saw Scarlett huddled in the corner. She didn't appear to have on any clothes. Then, there were the sounds of people and the smell of food in the air. She gazed out through the bars saw more cages filled with women and many different alien races were mixed together walking through what appeared to be a market. Some of them stopped to look at the women in the cages. They pointed and tried to examine them more closely through the bars. Kaia had been wearing an open front sweater over her top and she pulled that off and gave it to Scarlett so she would at least have something on.

"What is going on? Where are we?" Kaia asked Elyse.

"I'm not certain. Some kind of...market. I've tried to get peoples attention but beyond just looks...they stay clear of these cages," she said as she itched around the disc on the back of her neck. She saw Kaia pulling at hers.

"Kaia, don't...you'll only..." She began and then Kaia felt her muscles tighten up as she fell to the floor. Her body was wracked by pain as if being electrocuted. Scartlett moved to tilt her head to the side as Kaia vomited. After a few seconds, it subsided.

"Commander?" A voice asked from another cage. "What's...Happening? This...this is an Orion station. I've heard about what happens on stations like these," Rodriguez said as she jerked at the bars. Her eyes welled up with tears as she began to lose her calm. There were two other women in the cage she was in but they weren't human. And they didn't respond to her when she tried to talk to them. She didn't know what race they were and they just stared off and leaned up against the bars. They were physically pretty...perhaps but it wasn't easy to tell what might be considered attractive for someone with tusks and large, broad shoulders.

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"Spock, I want to know everyone whose missing!" Kirk asked. "Right away Captain," Spock said as Kirk contacted Engineering.

"Scotty, what's been hit?" Kirk asked. "They hit us with some kind of Ionic pulse Captain. It de-energized the battery and de-polarized the warp coils. I'll have Warp Drive in 6 hours," Scotty said. "You've got 3 Kirk out, " Kirk said. Wearily Scotty sighed and got back to work.

"It appears they took 4 of our crew. Lt. Fox, Commander Turner, Lt. Wright and Ensign Rodriguez," Spock said. "Kaia? Why would they take Kaia?" Kirk asked with a troubled look and Spock raised an eyebrow when he looked at him. He suspected that Kirk might be carrying on with but not, he was pretty sure he was.

McCoy stormed onto the bridge. "What in blazes is happening!?" McCoy asked angrily. "It was a raid Bones...Orion Pirates," Kirk asked. "Well, what did they take?" he asked bitterly. "Women, 4 of them," Kirk said. "What the hell for?" McCoy asked.

"They took 4 of the most attractive women on the ship doctor, I think it is clear what they want with them. Orion Pirates conduct raids for profit," Spock said. "Profit, so they intend to what...sell them like slaves?" McCoy asked in outrage. "So it would seem" Spock answered. he was maintaining his calm but inside he was terrified for Scarlett. In many ways she was sheltered from situation like these. All Starfleet women go through training where they might be captured and abused sexually but that was more or less just an informative instruction. This was really happening and he tried to sense her.

Kaia reached up and felt the back of her neck. When her fingers felt the disc that was attached there she began to pull on it to try and detach it. She heard Elyse's warning, but it came to late. Every muscle in her body was suddenly pulled as tight as a rubber band and she fell to the ground. Her body jerked as horrific pain swept through her. The pain was so much that she suddenly felt extremely ill. Scarlett held her head as her stomach emptied itself. Then, she lightly stroked her hair as the trembling slowly subsided. Kaia slowly sat up and looked out the bars at the market. She knew what happened at Orion stations...they all did. There was a moment of silence as the reality of what might happen to them set in. 

"We're going to be ok," Elyse finally said to try and bolster their spirits. "They'll come for us."

For the better part of an hour no one bothered them or even really paid them any mind. They had thoroughly checked the cages and they were magnetically sealed. All they had on them were clothes. If they had anything metal in their hair or anywhere on them it was removed though their jewelry had not been oddly enough. Anything that might make them more alluring to a buyer was left untouched. Two Orions came up with an Alien man that they did not recognize his race. "He was tall, with dark specks down his cheeks and neck. He had a Mohawk haircut or it could be how his races hair just was and his flesh had a yellowish tint to it. He looked middle-aged and was dressed like a warrior or soldier. The Onions were large, bald men with deep green leather clothing on. They had long, silvery earrings, a nose ring, necklaces and rings and other jewelry. "That one," The yellowish man said as he pointed to Rodriguez.

"That ones not for sale...yet," One of the Orions said. "Then how much to rent her for an hour or two? T'lixa likes them young," The man said. The Orions looked at one another and the second one shrugged. "Fine, 3 bars of Gold, Pressed Latinum," The Orion said. "Three bars? That's outrageous!" The odd alien said. "And if you mark her, you'll have to answer to Proctor," The Orion said The man looked at Rodriguez with a very predatory look. "Well, at least not where it could be seen," The other, more seedy looking Orion said. "Alright, deal," The man said and the Orions smiled as he handed over the Latinum. And then he stepped away through the crowd. The orions had some kind of shaft about a foot and a half long. It was metal with lights and buttons on it. The one Orion hit the buttons and Rodriguez's cage door unlocked.

"Hands on the bars...all O ya!" The Orion grunted. Rodriguez looked at Elyse. "Commander?" She asked with a fearful tremble in her voice and a pleading look in her eyes.

Kaia, Elyse, and Scarlett watched from their cage as two Orions came up to the cage that Rodriguez was in with another alien that appeared to be some kind of warrior or soldier. Elyse felt her horror rise as they began to negotiate for Rodriguez. She had nothing on her to help Rodriguez, nor to get Kaia, Scarlett, or herself out of their cage. Scarlett remained huddled in the corner. She reached up and touched the Vulcan necklace she wore. She closed her eyes as she thought about Spock. They were all trying to be strong, but the situation they were in seemed extremely bleak. 

"Just...just remain calm...." Elyse told Rodriguez. She didn't know what else to say to her and felt tears come to her eyes as she felt helpless to do anything.

An Orion entered the cage. "Commander!" Rodriguez said again as the Orion grabbed her roughly and bound her hands behind her back. Rodriguez was crying now, close to sobbing. "Commander! Commandderrr!" Rodriguez cried as she was taken out of the cage. She struggled but the Orions were large, strong brutes. They took her into the crowd and only her pleas for help gave a direction to where she went.

Two other Orions appeared in the crowd and moved up to their cage. They looked at all three of the women a moment then spoke quietly among themselves.

Elyse couldn't hold back the tears that started to stream down her cheeks as she listened to Rodriguez' pleas for help. She then saw two Orions step up to their cage and begin to look at Kaia, Scarlett, and herself. She glanced at the other two women and knew she needed to try and protect them. 

"Take me," she said as she looked at the Orions. Her heart was pounding in her chest, but she maintained a calm, outward appearance.

"Dalun, faer," An Orion said and they pointed at Kaia. "The dark, haired one," The other Orion said. "Hands...on bars," The first one said and held up the metal rod. These two did not appear to speak English as well as the others. Kaia knew some of what they said. But not all. It was clear to her who they wanted, Her.

"We can fight them..and get that metal rod," Scarlett said. "No, if we do, they'll just have us all on the floor. Whatever they're going to do to us, it's going to happen regardless," Kaia said bitterly. "Hands...on the bars!" The Orion warned and set his finger on the button on the rod he held. Scarlett watched them as she put her hands on the bars but Elyse would know she intended to try and make a move to the one that held the rod. he was behind the door though. Could she move fast enough to get to him? Doubtful, he just had to press his thumb down. The other Orion had no rod, just a set of shackles for Kaia.

Elyse glanced over at Kaia as they pointed at her. Kaia was scared, but she knew that if they tried anything that it would only make things worse for them all. She put her hands on the bars and Elyse and Scarlett did the same. Elyse saw Scarlett eyeing the rod that one of them held. However, Elyse could already tell that they would not be able to move fast enough to get it. She glanced over at Scarlett and shook her head to discourage her. Kaia thought about James as the shackles were placed around her wrists. She loved him so much and she didn't know if she was ever going to see him again. Elyse looked at her friend with tears in her eyes. Kaia looked back at her.

"I'll be alright."

Kaia was taken into the crowd. The market was packed with people of many different races. She could pick out some words from some of them but for the most part, it was all just gibberish in her head as she was taken to a door and then inside. It was a turbolift and they began to move up.

"The Proctor risked alot for you, so you will be on your best behavior. Or do you need another lesson on what happens when you don't?" The smaller Orion said as he held the rod. Kaia might think she could take them...if her hands weren't behind her back. And they were so tight she couldn't get them in front of her. If they were just a bit looser, she thought she might be able to do it. The door opened and the two green men took her down the hall. The place was blandly decored. The walls, ceiling and floor were a dingy tannish color like they hadn't been cleaned in a while. There were several doors they passed but one they came to the end of the hall, to a set of double doors, they began to remove he shackles. The door opened and she felt herself being shoved inside. The doors closed behind her.

This room was a complete contrast to the hall and the market. It was clean, smelled of something sweet or herbal...flowers? She couldn't be certain. It was a large office of some kind and a familiar face appeared from behind a wall. It was Nemal, her father. He smiled when he saw her and extended his arms out to her. "Saehir!" He said concernedly and also affectionately.

Kaia's ears strained to pick up on various words and phrases that were being said as she was led through the market, but it was all mixed together as people spoke and she couldn't make any of it out. She was led to a door and then inside into a turbolift. As it began to move up, she glanced over at the two Orions. Kaia knew that if her hands were bound behind her back that she would be able to take them. She flexed her hands a little to see if it was possible to get out of the shackles, but they held tight. After the doors opened, Kaia was led down a hallway. Her heart began to beat even harder in her chest as she was led to a set of double doors at the end of the hall. Just outside, she was stopped and her shackles were removed. Then, the doors were opened and she was shoved inside and then the doors were re-closed behind her. 

At first, Kaia thought she was alone in the room. It was clean and almost smelled...sweet. She massaged her wrists from where the shackles had rubbed against them. However, she stopped when she heard movement and looked up to see Nemal, her Romulan father step out from behind a wall. She saw him smile and open his arms to her. She hesitated a moment before she quickly moved forward into them. She hadn't seen him in years. Nemal had always been nice to her and had protected her. He had taught her nearly everything she knew. She owed her life to him.

"How did you know I was here?" she asked in Romulan.

Spock was canning but he paused as worry began to creep over him for Scarlett. Precious minutes seemed to go by Kirk thought. Their ignorance and lack of wariness was the cause of this. And now he may never see Kaia again. He looked over to see Spock just sitting there. "Spock...we'll get her back," Kirk assured him. He wished there was someone to ensure him though! 'If they harm any of our people!' Kirk warned.

Scotty opened the doors to the bridge. "Warp power restored, Captain," he said. "Bless you Scotty...Sulu, stay your course, maximum warp!" Kirk said. Sulu moved the ship to Warp 7.

"Jim, we can't exactly go in there guns blazing. They likely have alot of ships," McCoy said. "We're going in Bones. I won't leave them...I won't leave Kaia," He said and everyone on the bridge shifted to face him. He had slipped and he silently cursed himself. No one said anything though.

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"That's not important. What is important is what you need to do. We believe Captain James T. Kirk will be here soon. What we want is a DNA sample of him," he said as he kissed her forehead then released her. He looked her over and smiled. "It's so good to see you Saehir, you're mother and I missed you so much," he said as he gently touched her face. He reached into his pocket and removed a small hand held stunner and a device that looked like a syringe but beefier and automated. "Turn around, let me take the control disc off," He said.

Saehir's confliction suddenly peaked at what her father was asking her to do. She loved James and yet she loved her family at the same time. Could she really do this anymore? She had come into this mission with the feeling that everyone but Romulans were evil. And while there were some out there that were evil, not everyone was. James in particular had shown her that. He had loved her unconditionally and she knew she loved him. But could she turn her back on those that had raised her...those that had taken care of her? They could have just killed her, but they hadn't. They had taken her in and made her one of them. But did she want to be one of them anymore? The truth was was that she didn't know who she was anymore or where she belonged.

"Father, I...I don't think I can do this. I've spent time with these people and they are not evil."

Nemal looked at her. "Saehir, you were taught this. You prolonged time with the humans has clouded your judgement. You are sympathizing with them because of such a long exposure," he said as he looked at her. "You are a Tal Shiar agent and you are my daughter. You WILL do your duty," Nemal said.

"This Kirk will find his way to the market. When he asks around he will be led here. You will stun him and then use the DNA extractor. After you acquire the DNA, you will take the turbolift to the roof. There is an unmanned scout ship there for you. Take it and head to the coordinates that are already set in its navigational computer," Nemal said. The extraction device looked...wicked. Like it might hurt Kirk. She was not a doctor so she did not know if it would kill him or not.

Saehir listened to her father, but she just wasn't sure anymore...about anything. She was quiet as her father gave her her instructions. She held the stun gun and the DNA extractor and as she looked down at them she wondered if James would even survive the extraction. The thought of physically hurting him, or worse, killing him, made her feel sick to her stomach. She didn't say anything but she slowly nodded. She let him take the disc off of her neck. Every moment she felt more and more ill.

"The others that were brought here with you. For them, do nothing. They are compensation to the Orions for allowing us to conduct our...business here in secret," he said and saw the uncertainty in her face. "Saehir, we don't want him dead. In fact, quite the opposite. We need him alive until our plans can move forward. Your mission is nearly over," he said.

Saehir's stomach twisted into knots as she thought about what was going to happen to the women she now considered friends. She had never had friends before coming to Starfleet. She liked Elyse and Scarlett and she felt she could trust them. Their biggest mistake was in trusting her though. Now, she had put everyone she cared about in grave danger. Could she fix it?

"I must go Saehir and you have your orders. Kirk can not know anything about Romulan involvement," he said.

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"Sulabons?" Kirk asked as one of the nurses worked on his ear. Spock, Nathan and McCoy all looked like Sulabons and their clothing made them seem like refugees. "Captain, best we could do on short notice sir," She said. It had taken over an hour to get the disguises made up and applied. Precious minutes where anything could be happening to Kaia, Kirk thought.



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After about 2 hours an Orion male brought Rodriguez back. Her hair was a mess and she had a forlorn, distant look in her eyes. Her face was smudged with grime and a little blood. Her clothes looked as if they had been hastily put on her body and she walked with a limp. The cage was opened and they shoved her inside. She fell to the floor and just laid there with her eyes open as she stared off at nothing.

Elyse and Scarlett could do nothing but wait. Scarlett remained huddled in the corner, wearing only the sweater that Kaia had given her. Elyse paced back and forth as she waited for any sign of Kaia or of Rodriguez. Suddenly, she looked over and saw an Orion male bringing Rodriguez back. One look at her and Elyse knew what had happened. Her guilt nearly consumed her. She could still hear the woman's pleas in her head. She watched as the young woman was shoved back into the cage and then fell to the floor. Elyse didn't know what to say to her so she decided to say nothing at all. She could only hope that they would be rescued soon.

Kirk had to keep the Enterprise as far away from the station as the transporters would allow. They materialized on a loading dock. Their outfits were made of basic hides in earth tone colors and they were hooded. An Orion male moved around the corner. he had a small whip in his hand.

"Why you Sulabon scum! Get your filthy carcuses out of here!" He growled. He beat at Nathan who cowered as Spock calmly pinched his shoulder. The man dropped like a sack of potatoes. Spock searched him and took his control rod. Nathan and Kirk dragged him and dumped him into a crate.

Nathan pulled out a tricorder. "Their about 100 meters in this direction," he said. The 4 men moved to the loading dock door and it opened at their approach. Once it did all the noises and bustle of the gray market assaulted their ears and eyes. It smelled like cooking meat and smoke from some kind of tobacco as they entered. Nathan held the tricorder under his cloak as they moved deeper into the market.

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Scarlett began to wonder if this was going to be the end. Would she eve see Spock again? The love of her life? Her everything? "Elyse...what are we going to do? Are they really going to sell us, like animals? Why is this happening?" she said as she finally broke down in tears.

Spock stopped as a wave of despair suddenly grew in his heart. It was strong and crushing and he fell onto one knee. "Spock!?" McCoy asked in alarm.

"Captain, one human lifesign is above us somewhere. I can't pinpoint it and I don't know who it is," Nathan said. In the distance Kirk spotted a turbolift but it was 50 meters off yet. "And the others?" He asked. "Straight ahead," Nathan said. "I'm...alright doctor," Spock said as he stood but there was a lone tear in his right eye. He wiped it away. "They are close Captain," he said as his voice took on a stoniness that had an angry twinge to it.

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Scarlett began to feel anger and worry deep in her heart. It was not her own feelings, it was Spock. Spock was nearby, somewhere.

Elyse didn't know what to tell Scarlett. She wished she had answers, or hope of some kind. She felt tears come to her own eyes as she watched Scarlett break down into tears. She felt like she had failed them all. They had been counting on her, but she had failed them. She didn't deserve to be a Lt. Commander. She vowed in that moment that the next Orion to come to their cage and open it she was gong to attack. Even if it cost her her life, she would die at least trying to save her friends. 

As Scarlett cried, she slowly became aware of feelings that weren't her own. They were anger and worry deep in her her heart. She suddenly looked up and her tears stopped. She knew that Spock was nearby.

"Elyse...they're here...they're close."

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Saehir paced back and forth endlessly. She didn't know what she was going to do. Her father was asking her to hurt the man she loved...but her first loyalty was to her family...right? But they weren't her family...not her real one. She couldn't even remember her real parents any more...nor her real name. Did she really belong with the Romulans? Was she happy there? She hadn't known true happiness until James T. Kirk had come into her life. Every time she thought about him her heart swelled and a smile tugged at her lips. She could see a true future with him...but could she see the same thing with the Romulans?

As Nathan told them they needed to veer left Kirk stopped. "You go ahead, I'll go after whomever it is upstairs," Kirk said. Spock moved up to him. "Captain, we have a better chance at survival if we stick together. The needs of the many, outweigh the needs of the few...or in this case, the one," Spock said. "Spock, I will not leave anyone behind," Kirk told him.

McCoy and Nathan both moved ahead. McCoy, disguised as a Sulabon moved up to the cage. he put his hands on the bars as he looked down at the women. He was looking at Elyse. He had been so worried about her. And this was the rub. They were Starfleet Officers. And danger was going to be around every corner. Could he live with that? Elyse was a Bridge Officer. She'd be asked to put her life on the line. Was that a reason to deny her or himself, love? They both deserved love and he felt a deep love and respect for her. He noticed her notice him and she looked angry. It was then that he forgot they were in disguise.

"I guess these disguises work pretty well," McCoy said with a grin.