This one is a bit dramatic!

“Go ahead and say it. This is another fine mess you’ve gotten us into, Captain.”

Spock shot Jim a derisive look just before he crouched down and fired his phaser. “Since you said it for me, there is no need.”

Jim snorted and mumbled something that sounded very much like ‘asshole’ to Spock.

They were pinned in by a rogue group of Klingons who had been holding the natives of this planet hostage when the Enterprise had arrived. Things had taken a very nasty turn as the two security officers who had accompanied them had been slaughtered by the Klingons.

Unless they were able to reach the Enterprise soon to have himself and Jim beamed up, it didn’t look good. So far Jim had been trying for ten minutes straight with no response.

“In my defense, I had no idea it was going to be an ambush,” Jim protested. “Kirk to Enterprise. Lock on to our signals and beam us up now!”

But there was no beam up and no response.

Spock could hear the growing frustration in Jim’s voice and he knew he was going to have to act to save his captain and lover. What happened to Spock did not matter. Jim’s survival was his priority.

He assessed the situation and decided he could take out the Klingons closest to Jim readily enough but ones by him might be more challenging. Perhaps he could get the ones by Jim and Jim could get the ones by him and before more arrived, they could make it to a better location on the planet to call for help.

Spock conveyed the plan to Jim who agreed.

The first part worked out well and they managed to run from the area they were trapped in after disabling their Klingon aggressors.

Unfortunately, just as Jim pulled his communicator out to contact the Enterprise another Klingon appeared near Jim’s location ready to strike.

“No!”

Spock flung himself between Jim and the Klingon and he took a hit right above his heart just as Jim fired his phaser to drop the Klingon.

“Spock, hang on, hang on.”

Spock felt Jim’s arms cradling him. He was losing consciousness.

“Do not grieve, T’hy’la. I love you.”