Jim stood up, wincing slightly when he knocked into the board as he rose. A pawn keeled over and hit a knight on its way down.

“I’m feeling unwell, so I’m going to return to my quarters.”

“Captain—”

“No, it’s all right, Spock. I just ate something that didn’t agree with me. I’ll just go back to my quarters.”

The truth was he couldn’t wait to get away. He felt sick, all right, but not from anything he’d eaten. But from the plain fact that Spock didn’t feel at all the same. It was a crushing blow.